Digital Commons Network^™

Foraging Behaviour And Herbage Intake In The Favourable Tropics/Sub-Tropics, S. C. Da Silva, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

1. Herbage intake by animals grazing tropical/sub-tropical pastures is directly related to bite mass, as it is for those grazing temperate pastures.
2. Where these swards have low proportions of stem and dead material (controlled swards), herbage intake follows a similar pattern to that of temperate pasture species, but leaf characteristics, such as lamina length play an important role and influence the short-term rate of intake.
3. Sward structural characteristics and behavioural factors are relatively more important than nutritional factors in terms of herbage intake regulation. The feeding value of the herbage produced is potentially adequate to sustain high levels of beef cattle …

Improving The Quality Of Products From Grassland, Nigel D. Scollan, R. J. Dewhurst, A. P. Moloney, J. J. Murphy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

1. Consumers are increasingly aware of the links between diet and health, and place increasing emphasis on nutritional quality as a component of product quality.
2. Meat and milk products are rich sources of nutrients such as omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, which offer health benefits to consumers.
3. Green plants are the primary source of n-3 fatty acids in the food chain.
4. Grassland production systems have the potential to enhance the content of beneficial fatty acids, improve stability (from higher antioxidant content) and alter sensory attributes of meat and milk.
5. Grassland offers considerable scope to help …

Grass And Forage Improvement: Temperate Forages, Chris J. Pollock, M. T. Abberton, M. O. Humphreys

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

1. Plant breeding has contributed significantly to the development of effective grassland production systems.
2. New technologies offer enhanced precision in breeding and access to wider genetic variation.
3. The requirement for more sustainable production systems will require genetic improvements in complex traits where the use of new technology will be vital.

Rising Demand For Meat And Milk In Developing Countries: Implications For Grasslands-Based Livestock Production2, C. L. Delgado

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

1. Meat and milk consumption in developing countries has grown three times as fast as in developed countries over the past 30 years.
2. By 2020, developing countries will consume 72 million metric tons (mmt) more meat and 152 mmt more milk compared to 2002/3, dwarfing developed-country increases of 9 mmt for meat and 18 mmt for milk.
3. Ruminant livestock will account for 27% of the increase in global meat consumption between 2003 and 2020, up from 23% over the previous two decades.
4. The inflation-adjusted prices of livestock and feed grains are expected to fall only marginally by 2020, compared to precipitous …

Grassland In Ireland And The Uk, Myles Rath, S. Peel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

1. Grassland is the dominant land use option in Ireland and the UK, and is characterised by a long growing season.
2. Dynamic, interactive systems of grassland management have been developed which combine high grass dry matter intakes with good sward quality. In the better grassland areas milk yields in excess of 7000 kg/cow are attainable with low levels of concentrate supplementation. In the times to come, measures to protect the environment will constrain stocking rates, and fertiliser and manure use on intensive grassland enterprises.
3. A high proportion of beef and sheep farms participate in voluntary, EU-funded agri- environmental schemes that promote …

Land Use History And The Build-Up And Decline Of Species Richness In Scandinavian Semi-Natural Grasslands, O. Eriksson, S. A. O. Cousins, R. Lindborg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Scandinavian semi-natural grasslands have an exceptionally high small-scale species richness. In the past, these grasslands covered extensive areas but they have declined drastically during the last century. How species richness of semi-natural grasslands was built up during history, and how species respond to land use change, are discussed. The agricultural expansion from the late Iron Age was associated with increasing grassland extent and spatial predictability, resulting in accumulation of species at small spatial scales. Although few species directly depend on management, the specific composition of these grasslands is a product of haymaking and grazing. Grassland fragmentation initially has small effects …

Recreating Pastoralist Futures, T. J. P. Lynam

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Research experience in southern Africa is used to reflect on key determinants of pastoral futures and how they might need to be addressed. The paper begins with a brief review of what we mean by marginality. A set of observations on key issues defining the option sets for pastoralism in the future is then presented. The first of these is that only a small number of structures or processes actually control the behaviour of social-ecological systems such as pastoralist systems. A second observation is that the future is so uncertain that there is a need to learn to design for …

Grazing Animal Production Systems And Grazing Land Characteristics In A Semi-Arid Region Of Greece, I. Hadjigeorgiou, G. Economou, D. Lolis, N. Moustakas, G. Zervas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Rough grazing in Greece cover about 40% of the total land area, is publicly owned and managed extensively (Hadjigeorgiou et al., 2002). The Prefecture of Larisa is in the centre of Greece, and has 212,000 ha of rough grazing land, with a variable topography ranging from sea level up to 3,000 m a.s.l. This area is utilized by a total population of 135,000 LU (mainly sheep, goats and some suckler cows), which consumes annually an appreciable fraction of their total nutrient requirements from rough grazing.

Grass And Forage Plant Improvement In The Tropics And Sub-Tropics, Liana Jank, C. B. Do Valle, Rosangela M. S. Resende

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

1. The majority of tropical and subtropical forage grass genera and/or species have not yet been collected, or need further collection to be representative of their natural distribution.
2. New biotechnological techniques will only result in the release of superior forage cultivars if supported by strong breeding programs.
3. More funding and investment in the formation of strong public research teams in forage conservation and improvement are needed to guarantee the sustainability of tropical and subtropical pasture-based livestock systems in the future.
4. The creation of a permanent international working group on tropical and subtropical forages is essential to assist the International Plant Genetic …

Reconnaissance Of Landslides And Debris Flows Associated With The July 2022 Flooding In Eastern Kentucky, Matt M. Crawford, Zhenming Wang, Seth Carpenter, Jonathan Schmidt, Hudson J. Koch, Jason M. Dortch

Report of Investigations--KGS

Between July 25 and July 30, 2022, a series of convective storms generated approximately 14–16 inches of rainfall across parts of eastern Kentucky, predominately in Clay, Leslie, Perry, Breathitt, Knott, and Letcher Counties. The peak rainfall occurred on the evening of July 27 and the morning of July 28, with the hardest-hit areas experiencing more than 10 inches in a 24-hour period. The historic rainfall led to catastrophic flooding along many rivers and streams, but also triggered widespread landslides and debris flows that damaged roads, homes, property, and other infrastructure. Once initial relief and recovery efforts were established, the Kentucky …

Connections Network: Harnessing The Collective Influence Of Grassroots Leaders To Address Health-Related Problems In Hawkins And Hancock County, Tn, Dr. Jodi L. Southerland, Teresa Buttry, Connie Johnson, Sheldon Livesay, Lisa Nichols, Priscilla Rogers

Journal of Appalachian Health

In March 2021, grassroots leaders in two counties in northeast Tennessee formed a new network called Connections. Leaders are working to strengthen the capacity of the network and member organizations by promoting partnerships as vital to address effectively rural social determinants of health. Connections provides network members with capacity-building tools and resources, including two funding opportunities, to achieve their missions and sustain impact. Network members are also aligning around common goals to address the socioeconomic conditions affecting health outcomes. Connections will utilize findings from network activities and collaborations to identify synergies that can accelerate improvements in community health and …

Review Of Storytelling In Queer Appalachia: Imagining The Unspeakable Other, Sandra L. Cotton Dnp, Rn, Anp-Bc, Fnap, Laurie A. Theeke Phd, James Messer

Journal of Appalachian Health

The Journal of Appalachian Health is committed to reviewing published media that relates to contemporary concepts affecting the health of residents of Appalachia. Improving the health in the region of Appalachia means knowing our people as they live and thrive in communities. The book reviewed here, Storytelling in Queer Appalachia: Imagining the Unspeakable Other (Edited by Glasby, Gradin, and Ryerson), is a must read for people who wish to gain insight on the real experience of being queer in Appalachia.

Providers’ Stigmas And The Effects On Patients With Opioid Use Disorder: A Scoping Review, Peyton Mashni, Sarah Beth Bell, F. Douglas Scutchfield Md, Lauren E. Robinson

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: One of the most prevalent, dangerous stigmas in health care is the complex bias toward patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). This stigma damages the vital patient–provider relationship, further perpetuating the opioid epidemic.

Purpose: Unfortunately, research on the relationship between OUD and provider stigma is greatly lacking. To fill this gap, the present in-depth study undertakes a scoping review of research on providers’ stigma toward OUD in order to determine how enacted stigma affects treatment plans.

Methods: Four databases were used to identify articles published from 1999 to 2021. A comprehensive search strategy was developed through a collaborative process …

Over The Hills And Through The Hollers: How One Program Is Assisting Residents Of Appalachia With Opioid Use Recovery, Aubrey E. Jones, Jayme E. Walters, Aaron R. Brown

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: The consequences of increasing opioid misuse in the U.S. over the last two decades have been severe, contributing to hundreds of thousands of lives lost and heavy tolls on individuals, families, and society. The Appalachian Region has been hit particularly hard, with its predominantly rural landscape seeing disproportionate increases in opioid misuse and overdoses. These cases have been difficult to address due to poor treatment access and capacity constraints in many areas of Appalachia.

Purpose: The current study focuses on evaluating The Kentucky Access to Recovery Program (KATR), which provides services to individuals recovering from opioid addiction residing in …

Evaluating The Association Between Depressive Symptoms And Glycemic Control Among Residents Of Rural Appalachia, Brittany L. Smalls, Adebola Adegboyega, Ellen Combs, Eli W. Travis, Felipe De La Barra, Lovoria B. Williams, Nancy Schoenberg

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a range of co-morbid physical and psychological conditions, including depression. Yet there is a dearth of evidence regarding the prevalence of depression among those in Appalachia living with T2DM; this gap persists despite the higher regional prevalence of T2DM and challenging social determinants of health.

Purpose: This study aimed to provide greater detail about the relationships between T2DM and depressive symptoms in adults living in Appalachia Kentucky.

Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data derived from an ongoing study of Appalachia Kentucky adults living with T2DM. Outcome …

Association Between Low Health Literacy And Adverse Health Behaviors In North Carolina, 2016, Manan Roy, Adam Hege, Erin D. Bouldin

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Health literacy (HL) is an urgent public health challenge facing the U.S. HL is a critical factor in health inequities and exacerbates underlying social determinants of health.

Purpose: This study assesses the association between low HL (LHL) and adverse health behaviors, which contribute to poor health.

Methods: Researchers used North Carolina’s 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data, namely, the Health Literacy optional module which asks respondents to rate how difficult it is for them to get health-related advice or to understand medical information (verbal or written). Health behaviors analyzed were excessive alcohol consumption, lack of adequate exercise and …

The Relationship Between Psychosocial Factors, Self-Care, And Blood Sugar In An Appalachian Population, Brittany L. Smalls, Md. Tofial Azam, Madeline Dunfee, Philip M. Westgate, Susan C. Westneat, Nancy Schoenberg

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Appalachian residents are more likely than other populations to have Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and to experience more severe complications from the disease, including excess and premature mortality.

Methods: This study examines health alongside sociodemographic factors, psychosocial factors (including knowledge, empowerment, social support/function, religiosity, distress), and perceived problems in diabetes management that may influence self-care and HbA1c among vulnerable rural residents. A survey of a community–based sample of 356 adults with diagnosed diabetes or HbA1c > 6.5 was conducted in six counties in Appalachian Kentucky.

Results: Findings suggest that neither religiosity nor social support/function mediate/moderate the relationship between psychosocial …

An Intersectional Queer Case Study Of Two Youth Organizations In A Rural Kentucky High School, Eric Michael Moser

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Secondary schools in the United States are hostile environments for students in the queer community. Schools in rural communities often pose greater challenges for queer students with less access to affirming and accepting educators. Rural schools often offer school-based agricultural education (SBAE) and the National FFA Organization as opportunities for students. Both programs have been found as unwelcoming environments for underrepresented groups, with little known about the experiences of queer students. To address hostility toward queer youth, schools have implemented Genders and Sexualities Alliances (GSAs) as an opportunity to discuss queer topics and create safe spaces. This qualitative case study …

Implementing A Service Dog Registration In The United States, Avary Martin

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

The presence of fake service animals in public spaces is increasing every day. These mislabeled dogs are posing a great danger to working service dogs and the rights of the handlers that utilize them. In order to reduce the number of fake service dogs in public and ensure equal accessibility to service dog users, a service dog registration should be implemented across the United States. Requiring a public access test to be conducted before a dog can be registered would ensure that any dog working in public has reached the standard of behavior required to be a service dog. This …

Community Supported Agriculture Values: A Comparison Across Groups, Thomas B. Pierce

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs offer consumers the chance to share the risk with farming operations while gaining access to fresh, local foods. While research on CSA shareholder values such as share affordability or the local impact of participation has been conducted in the past decade and beyond, less attention has been paid to direct value-mapping of the shareholders themselves. This research seeks to determine consumer values around the CSA purchasing decision using the Best-Worst Scaling Approach. Based on a focus group discussion with CSA shareholders in a university wellness voucher program, we used affinity diagramming to develop a list …

Addressing Money Laundering In The United States Real Estate Sector, Hunter Mccormick

Undergraduate Public Policy Capstone Projects

The United States faces threats to economic stability and legal integrity from money laundering practices in the real estate market. Legislative loopholes, complicit enablers, and aging technological systems used by government agencies allow individuals to flow ill-gotten wealth into the United States with little effort. As a result of these factors, local economies suffer job loss, once-inhabited properties lie empty in decay, and trust in government weakens. Illegal wealth is transformed into protected assets in the form of property and can stored to later fund terrorism organizations or influence the American people. Approximately $2.3 billion was laundered through real estate …

Sex Differences In Cardiometabolic Risk Factors In Youth With Obesity, Lucrecia Valdez

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Background: The prevalence of hypertension in children and adolescents is rising, with 13% having elevated blood pressure and 5% having hypertension. Sex differences play a role in cardiovascular diseases in adults but are not well defined in youth. The objective of this study is to identify sex differences in obesity-mediated cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents. Methods: This is a pilot study of n=82 youth with obesity recruited from a High BMI Clinic. Clinical data and blood samples were collected at a single time point. Serum sterols were quantified via LC-MS/MS. Number of cardiometabolic risk factors were evaluated. Data are mean …

An Analysis Of The Clear Horizons Program In Perry County, Kentucky On Smoking Cessation, Julia Kollitz

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

Perry County is an Appalachian county located in southeastern Kentucky. The population is 28,473 people (United States Census Bureau, 2020). It is a predominately white community, with 95.9% of people falling in this category, which is higher than the national percentage of 75.8% (United States Census Bureau, 2020). Being a rural county, this community uses few news sources, with the primary outlet being WYMT Eastern Kentucky News. This news outlet is a subset of CBS (WYMT, 2023). When comparing statewide and nationwide data, Perry County does consistently worse. They have a high school graduation rate that is lower than the …

A Brief Mindfulness Intervention And Its Effect On Stress Response And Recovery: Rumination As A Moderator., Kacie Peters

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

It is inevitable that every human will encounter many stressors in their life, so research on this topic is generalizable to many and carries a heavy weight. While facing one small stressor may not be enough to have a significant impact, it is the degree of the stressors and the response to them that can dictate whether or not it leads to serious consequences (WHO). Stress can be characterized as a stressor or combined stressors that lead to physical, emotional, and mental strain (WHO). It is important that we know the ways in which to best recover from stress, otherwise …

Exploring The Therapy Experiences Of Latinx Individuals Working With Non-Latinx Therapists, Edith Del Moral

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Latinos are the largest minoritized ethnic group in the United States. Despite having a population of 62.1 million Latinos in the United States, the representation of Latinx therapists remains low. Therefore, the chance for Latinx individuals and families to receive mental health services from a Latinx therapist is very low. This phenomenological study examines the experiences of six Latinx individuals who worked with non-Latinx therapists. The resulting themes included therapist client match, awareness, respect for boundaries, and genuineness. These themes informed by the personal stories of people who have gone through the therapeutic process will aid professionals in the field …

Social Ecological Factors And Medication Treatment For Opioid Use Disorder Among Justice-Involved Rural And Urban Persons: The Geographic Variation In Addiction Treatment Experiences (Gate) Longitudinal Cohort Study Protocol, Carrie B. Oser, Evan Batty, Marisa Booty, Kate Eddens, Hannah K. Knudsen, Brea Perry, Maria Rockett, Michele Staton

Sociology Faculty Publications

Introduction Three medications are Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD); however, these medications are underused within prisons, which elevates the risk of relapse and overdose when persons with opioid use disorder (POUD) are released. Research is scant regarding the multilevel factors associated with POUDs’ willingness to initiate medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) while in prison and their continued engagement in treatment after release. Furthermore, rural and urban populations have not been compared. The Geographic variation in Addiction Treatment Experiences (GATE) study seeks to identify multilevel factors (ie, individual, personal network, and …

Contraception And Healthcare Utilization By Reproductive-Age Women Who Use Drugs In Rural Communities: A Cross-Sectional Survey., Ximena A. Levander, Canyon A. Foot, Sara L. Magnusson, Ryan R. Cook, Jerel M. Ezell, Judith Feinberg, Vivian F. Go, Kathryn E. Lancaster, Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, Gordon S. Smith, Ryan P. Westergaard, April M. Young, Judith I. Tsui, P. Todd Korthuis

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Women who use drugs (WWUD) have low rates of contraceptive use and high rates of unintended pregnancy. Drug use is common among women in rural U.S. communities, with limited data on how they utilize reproductive, substance use disorder (SUD), and healthcare services.

OBJECTIVE: We determined contraceptive use prevalence among WWUD in rural communities then compared estimates to women from similar rural areas. We investigated characteristics of those using contraceptives, and associations between contraceptive use and SUD treatment, healthcare utilization, and substance use.

DESIGN: Rural Opioids Initiative (ROI) - cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) involving eight rural U.S. regions …

Convicted Felons And Voting, Olivia Corley

Undergraduate Public Policy Capstone Projects

Felony disenfranchisement impacts nearly 4.6 million individuals in the United States with low-income communities and communities of color disproportionately affected. This policy is a practice that restricts the voting rights of individuals who have been convicted of a felony. This brief provides an overview of the challenges faced by those affected by felony disenfranchisement, as well as the implications for democracy in the United States. Highlighting a 50-state scan of state voter restrictions, I showcase the different laws and policies that restrict the voting rights of individuals with felony convictions across the United States. The history of felony disenfranchisement in …

Redefining Paternalistic Practices In Women’S Health: How Dysfunctional Trust Relationships Impact Medical Autonomy Of Female Patients In The Contemporary Clinical Setting, Lauren K. O'Dell

Theses and Dissertations--Philosophy

Utilizing Trudy Govier’s (1997) conception of social trust, this dissertation will provide a framework for understanding trust in healthcare relationships and highlight some of the ways that unequal power distribution and dependency, poorly defined roles, and institutions complicate trust between women and their providers. This framework will also explain how distrust, especially prejudicial distrust, leads to paternalistic attitudes on the part of providers. Paternalism limits patient autonomy because medical autonomy is constitutively relational. This means that insofar as distrust causes paternalism, it also damages autonomy. Through negative outcomes, this lack of autonomy can cause patients to distrust healthcare, which can …

Effects Of Elevated Extracellular Dopamine On Astrocytes In The Nucleus Accumbens, Mengfan Xia

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Nucleus accumbens is involved in processing of motivational and affective behaviors and plays a significant role in development and maintenance of substance use. Released from the ventral tegmental area into the nucleus accumbens, the mesolimbic dopamine controls incentive salience and facilitates learning of reinforcement and reward-related motor functions. Recent studies reveal that, in the context of cocaine exposure, dopamine transmission in the ventromedial striatum is pivotal to the regulation of initial drug use. Astrocytes, a major subpopulation of the brain glial cells, are an active component of the so-called tripartite synapse and communicate with neurons through the release of transmitters …