Digital Commons Network^™

Interacting Effects Of Disease And Weather Variability On Rangeland Biodiversity Associated With Black-Tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys Ludovicianus) Colonies, Courtney J. Duchardt, J. D. Hennig, D. Pellatz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Rangeland ecosystems worldwide are experiencing novel pressures during the Anthropocene, including land conversion, disease dynamics, non-native species, and climate change. These issues can be compounded in rangelands occupied by burrowing rodents. Often considered keystone species important for maintaining rangeland biodiversity, these species often experience widespread control efforts because of their potential to reduce forage for livestock. We examined the effects of climatic variation and disease on bird communities associated with a North American burrowing rodent, the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus). Following an outbreak of sylvatic plague (Yersinia pestis) in the prairie dog population, we observed …

Influence Of Grazing Intensity On Nutrient Concentrations In Grass Tissue: Evidence From Two Savannah Grass Species, C. Munyati

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

High grazing intensity can accelerate the recycling of animal nutrients on savannah rangelands through the deposition of dung and, subsequently, nutrient mineralisation, uptake and concentration in grass tissue. The actual magnitude of this influence can vary depending on the grazing system. This study derived grazing system-dependent magnitudes of the influence of grazing intensity on concentrations of major (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na) and trace (B, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Zn) animal nutrients in above ground grass tissue. Two grass species were examined: Brachiaria nigropedata, a decreaser, and Eragrostis lehmanniana, an increaser. For the …

Recent Advances Of Wind-Solar Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems For Power Generation: A Review, Pranoy Roy, Jiangbiao He, Tiefu Zhao, Yash Veer Singh

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

A hybrid renewable energy source (HRES) consists of two or more renewable energy sources, such as wind turbines and photovoltaic systems, utilized together to provide increased system efficiency and improved stability in energy supply to a certain degree. The objective of this study is to present a comprehensive review of wind-solar HRES from the perspectives of power architectures, mathematical modeling, power electronic converter topologies, and design optimization algorithms. Since the uncertainty of HRES can be reduced further by including an energy storage system, this paper presents several hybrid energy storage system coupling technologies, highlighting their major advantages and disadvantages. Various …

If It’S Not In The Newspapers, Don’T Believe It!, Kopana Terry, Reinette F. Jones

Library Presentations

Kentucky newspapers are a major asset for historical research and genealogical work. They hold the treasures not found in any other resource and are a great educational tool for all ages. We will share with the audience how the Kentucky Digital Newspaper Program (KDNP) came to exist in its present form, who uses it, and why it is free to all who have internet service. Added to that, will be the overview of why so much local African American history can be found in the newspapers, and how the newspapers have been a vital resource in the development of the …

Unpacking The Behavioural Components And Delivery Features Of Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Interventions In The Topchild Collaboration: A Systematic Review And Intervention Coding Protocol, Brittany J. Johnson, Kylie E. Hunter, Rebecca K. Golley, Paul Chadwick, Angie Barba, Mason Aberoumand, Sol Libesman, Lisa Askie, Rachael W. Taylor, Kristy P. Robledo, Seema Mihrshahi, Denise A. O'Connor, Alison J. Hayes, Luke Wolfenden, Charles T. Wood, Louise A. Baur, Chris Rissel, Lukas P. Staub, Sarah Taki, Wendy Smith, Ana Maria Linares

Nursing Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about how early (eg, commencing antenatally or in the first 12 months after birth) obesity prevention interventions seek to change behaviour and which components are or are not effective. This study aims to (1) characterise early obesity prevention interventions in terms of target behaviours, delivery features and behaviour change techniques (BCTs), (2) explore similarities and differences in BCTs used to target behaviours and (3) explore effectiveness of intervention components in preventing childhood obesity.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Annual comprehensive systematic searches will be performed in Epub Ahead of Print/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane (CENTRAL), CINAHL, PsycINFO, as well as …

Transforming Obesity Prevention For Children (Topchild) Collaboration: Protocol For A Systematic Review With Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis Of Behavioural Interventions For The Prevention Of Early Childhood Obesity, Kylie E. Hunter, Brittany J. Johnson, Lisa Askie, Rebecca K. Golley, Louise A. Baur, Ian C. Marschner, Rachael W. Taylor, Luke Wolfenden, Charles T. Wood, Seema Mihrshahi, Alison J. Hayes, Chris Rissel, Kristy P. Robledo, Denise A. O'Connor, David Espinoza, Lukas P. Staub, Paul Chadwick, Sarah Taki, Angie Barba, Sol Libesman, Ana Maria Linares

Nursing Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Behavioural interventions in early life appear to show some effect in reducing childhood overweight and obesity. However, uncertainty remains regarding their overall effectiveness, and whether effectiveness differs among key subgroups. These evidence gaps have prompted an increase in very early childhood obesity prevention trials worldwide. Combining the individual participant data (IPD) from these trials will enhance statistical power to determine overall effectiveness and enable examination of individual and trial-level subgroups. We present a protocol for a systematic review with IPD meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions commencing antenatally or in the first year after birth, and …

A Muscle Cell-Macrophage Axis Involving Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 Facilitates Extracellular Matrix Remodeling With Mechanical Loading, Bailey D. Peck, Kevin A. Murach, R. Grace Walton, Alexander J. Simmons, Douglas E. Long, Kate Kosmac, Cory M. Dungan, Philip A. Kern, Marcas M. Bamman, Charlotte A. Peterson

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in skeletal muscle plays an integral role in tissue development, structural support, and force transmission. For successful adaptation to mechanical loading, remodeling processes must occur. In a large cohort of older adults, transcriptomics revealed that genes involved in ECM remodeling, including matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), were the most upregulated following 14 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training (PRT). Using single-cell RNA-seq, we identified macrophages as a source of Mmp14 in muscle following a hypertrophic exercise stimulus in mice. In vitro contractile activity in myotubes revealed that the gene encoding cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor ( …

A Muscle Cell-Macrophage Axis Involving Matrix Metalloproteinase 14 Facilitates Extracellular Matrix Remodeling With Mechanical Loading, Bailey D. Peck, Kevin A. Murach, R. Grace Walton, Alexander J. Simmons, Douglas E. Long, Kate Kosmac, Cory M. Dungan, Philip A. Kern, Marcas M. Bamman, Charlotte A. Peterson

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

The extracellular matrix (ECM) in skeletal muscle plays an integral role in tissue development, structural support, and force transmission. For successful adaptation to mechanical loading, remodeling processes must occur. In a large cohort of older adults, transcriptomics revealed that genes involved in ECM remodeling, including matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), were the most upregulated following 14 weeks of progressive resistance exercise training (PRT). Using single-cell RNA-seq, we identified macrophages as a source of Mmp14 in muscle following a hypertrophic exercise stimulus in mice. In vitro contractile activity in myotubes revealed that the gene encoding cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor ( …

Short Chain Fatty Acids Taken At Time Of Thrombectomy In Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Are Independent Of Stroke Severity But Associated With Inflammatory Markers And Worse Symptoms At Discharge, Nicholas Henry, Jacqueline A. Frank, Christopher J. Mclouth, Amanda L. Trout, Andrew J. Morris, Jianzhong Chen, Ann M. Stowe, Justin F. Fraser, Keith R. Pennypacker

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) are gut microbiota-derived metabolites that contribute to the gut-brain axis and may impact stroke outcomes following gut dysbiosis. We evaluated plasma SCFA concentrations against stroke severity parameters and identified SCFA-associated protein networks.

Methods: The Blood and Clot Thrombectomy Registry and Collaboration (BACTRAC), a continuously enrolling tissue bank, was used to obtain stroke samples. Arterial blood distal and proximal to the thrombus was obtained from Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS) Patients (n=53) during thrombectomy. Patient demographics, stroke presentation and outcome parameters were reported. The SCFAs were isolated from proximal plasma via chemical derivatization UHPLC coupled tandem …

Seasonality And Grazing Management Effect On Growth And Nutritional Composition Of Herbage On Semi-Natural Grasslands Grazed By Dairy Cows In Southwest Germany, E. Velasco, S. Perdana-Decker, J. Werner, U. Dickhoefer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Natural and semi-natural grasslands represent an attractive forage source for cows in organic dairy farming. Throughout the grazing season, however, diverse factors such as climatic conditions, botanical composition, as well as grazing and herd management, can influence growth and nutritive value of forage on grasslands. We aimed at investigating the influence of seasonality and grazing management in forage growth and nutritional quality in seven commercial organic dairy cattle farms during the grazing season 2019 in South Germany. Therefore, forty exclusion cages (1 m²) were installed on pastures, which were under three different grazing systems: rotational, short-grass, and continuous …

Effect Of Cutting Stage And Turning Frequency On Nutritive Value And Digestibility Of Two Tropical Forages, M. M. Chiphwanya, F. C. Chigwa, H. D. C. Msiska

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Malawi, feed shortage during the dry season (June-October) is a critical factor affecting smallholder dairying. Though suitable improved forages were long introduced, important parameters that indicate forage and hay quality for dry season feeding have been less well studied. This study evaluated the effect of cutting stage and turning frequency at drying of two tropical forages on nutrient composition and digestibility. A 2³ factorial experiment laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design was conducted in Mzuzu milk shed area. Centrosema pubescens and Chloris gayana were established on four plots (5m x 3m) each by 24 dairy farmers; two …

Effect Of Cutting Height On Productivity And Quality Of Alfalfa In Northern Area Of Korea, Jong Geun Kim, C. Liu, S. N. Wei, Y. F. Li, E. C. Jeong, H. J. Kim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa is a very important forage for livestock feeding. In particular, due to the high crude protein content, it is widely used as a dairy cattle feeds. However, the cultivation of alfalfa is quite limited and main source is imported hay in Korea. There are many reasons, but most importantly, low productivity due to lack of boron in the soil. This experiment was conducted to expand domestic production and use of alfalfa. Alfalfa was sown in the fall of 2018 at 30 kg/ha seeding rate. Alfalfa was harvested four times (3 May, 2 July, 11 September and 13 October) in …

Economic Injury Level For Bermudagrass Stem Maggot (Diptera: Muscidae) In Bermudagrass Forage Production In Texas, V. Corriher-Olson, A. Knutson, F. Mitchell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The bermudagrass stem maggot, Atherigona reversura Villeneuve, was first reported damaging bermudagrass Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers grown for forage in 2010 in the southeastern US. Damage results from individual larvae feeding internally on the vascular tissue just above the terminal node of the grass stem. Damage slows plant growth and reduces forage accumulation. To address the need for economic guidelines to manage this new pest, the relationship between the percent of stems damaged by bermudagrass stem maggot and forage yield was measured in commercial bermudagrass hay fields in northcentral Texas during 2016 and 2017. The slope of the linear regression, …

Diversity And Taxonomic Identity Of Rumen Bacterial Community In Cattle Fed Different Diets, B. K. Korir, J. K. N. Kuria, D. M. Mwangi, M. M. M. Wanyoike

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In this study, the identity of rumen bacterial community and their taxonomic classification in Zebu heifers (n=24) fed 4 different diets (range grasses, Bracharia MulatoII, Azolla and Cassava leaf meal) was surveyed using metagenomics sequencing of the 16SrRNA gene. Rumen liquor samples were collected from the heifers from which a total of 192 DNA samples were amplified and the resulting 16S rRNA sequences compared to the existing sequences at the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) BLAST database through the MetagenAssist . Bioinformatics analyses indicated that 17 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were present at the phylum level. Of these, 43.3% …

Current Status And Future Strategy In Megathyrsus Maximus Breeding Program At The Alliance Bioversity - Ciat, L. M. Hernandez, V. Castiblanco

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Megathyrsus maximus (Jacq.) B.K. Simon & S.W.L. Jacobs is one of the most important grass species cultivated for cattle production in cut and carry systems. There is a need to search for superior hybrids with high potential for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. A big proportion of the M. maximus germplasm, preserved in the CIAT GeneBank has been agronomically characterized and genotypes with desirable traits such as high drought tolerance, high BNI potential (Biological nitrification inhibition), high nutritional quality (biomass production, dry matter, crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber and dry matter digestibility) and high seed production …

Cross-Protection Against Als-Inhibiting Herbicides In Non-Transgenic Switchgrass Selected For Imazapic Resistance, C. M. Adams, J. I. Morrison, B. S. Baldwin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a North American native warm-season perennial grass that is a cornerstone species in conservation systems and can also be utilized as a high-quality forage. ‘Tusca’ is a cultivar of lowland switchgrass selected from ‘Alamo’ (USDA NRCS, Knox City, TX) for resistance to the herbicide imazapic. This study was conducted to determine if selection in Tusca conferred cross-protection to other ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Five ALS-inhibiting herbicides, including imazapic (IPIC), imazamox (IMOX), imazapyr (IPYR), imazethapyr (ITHR), and metsulfuron methyl (MSUL), were tested on Tusca, Alamo, and wildtype johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense L. (Pers.)) at five rates (25, …

Comparison Of Causality Of Temperature And Precipitation On Italian Ryegrass (Lolium Multifloru Lam.) Yield Between Cultivation Fields Via Multi-Group Structural Equation Model Analysis In The Republic Of Korea, M. Kim, J. Y. Kim, M. H. Jo, C. H. Kim, K. Sung

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study aimed to compare the causality of climatic factors affecting the yield of Italian ryegrass (IRG) between upland fields and paddy fields, by multi-group structure equation modeling. The raw data (n = 728) on forage contains both yield, field type, and the plantation address were collected from the Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea. The climatic factors were: growing days, temperature and precipitation - in autumn and next spring seasons - from the climate big data of the weather information system of Korean Meteorology Administration. In the result, the composition of climatic factors was similar, but the causality by …

Reactive Oxygen Species (Ros) And Antioxidants As Immunomodulators In Exercise: Implications For Heme Oxygenase And Bilirubin, David Travis Thomas, Nicholas R. Delcimmuto, Kyle D. Flack, David E. Stec, Terry D. Hinds Jr.

Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition Faculty Publications

Exercise is commonly prescribed as a lifestyle treatment for chronic metabolic diseases as it functions as an insulin sensitizer, cardio-protectant, and essential lifestyle tool for effective weight maintenance. Exercise boosts the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and subsequent transient oxidative damage, which also upregulates counterbalancing endogenous antioxidants to protect from ROS-induced damage and inflammation. Exercise elevates heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and biliverdin reductase A (BVRA) expression as built-in protective mechanisms, which produce the most potent antioxidant, bilirubin. Together, these mitigate inflammation and adiposity. Moderately raising plasma bilirubin protects in two ways: (1) via its antioxidant capacity to reduce ROS and …

Geospatial Applications Of Cave Resource Data To Better Understand Epikarst And Unsaturated Zone Groundwater Flow Path Development, Sierra M. Heimel, Benjamin W. Tobin

Faculty, Staff, and Affiliated Publications--KGS

The unsaturated zone is a critical component of karstic groundwater systems and is shown to provide substantial storage capacities. Understanding the spatial patterns and controls on flow path activation is often a challenge. Previous research focused on remotely sensed data or inferential analyses to quantify these patterns. Here, we use two cave systems—one in Arizona, USA and a second in Kentucky, USA—to show the value of the cave survey and inventory data in the direct observation of speleogenesis and unsaturated zone processes. Using geospatial statistical analyses, we show that passage size varies with distance from some faults, indicating that these …

Changes In Crude Protein And Fiber Contents Of Small Grain Cereals For Forage Over Time, J. L. Zaragoza-Ramirez, N. Zayago-Ramos, P. A. Martinez-Hernandez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Oat, triticale, wheat and barley are small grain cereals used as forage in many temperate Mexican regions. The objective was to determine crude protein and van Soest fiber contents of these forages cut at 80, 96, 108, 121, 138 and 153 days after seeding. Cultivars used were: Chihuahua (OC) for oat; Arne (TA), Bicentenario (TB) and Siglo XXI (TS) for triticale; Saturno (WS) for wheat; and San Marcos (BSM) for barley. Experiment was under greenhouse conditions from November 2015 to May 2016. Crude protein (CP), neutral (NDF) and acid (ADF) detergents fibers were determined on the forage harvested at each …

Collection Priorities Of Pasture Genetic Resources In The Paniceae Native To South Africa, F. L. Müller, M. Trytsman, E. L. Masemola, M. I. Kgonothi, N. R. Mkhize, T. J. Tjelele

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is an urgent need for the prioritization and ex situ conservation of pasture grass species. Many pasture grasses are still in the process of domestication and grasslands in the tropical, subtropical, semi-arid and arid regions of the world are therefore a major source of genetic material for future forage improvement. Within South Africa, it was found that the Paniceae contains several species with high pasture value and that many populations of these species are found in water-limited environments. Therefore, it was proposed that a strategy be developed for the South African National Forage Genebank to prioritize efforts to collect …

Changes In Defoliation Patterns Of Plant Functional Groups Under Variable Herbage Allowance In Campos Grasslands, N. Caram, F. Casalás, Pablo Soca, M. Wallau, M. Cadenazzi, P. Boggiano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Several studies have evaluated separately forage production, botanical composition, leaf traits and animal performance. However, few of them have focused on defoliation patterns at the level of functional groups (FGs) under different and variable herbage allowance (HA), especially in natural, diverse grasslands. The objective was to evaluate the relationship between HA and leaf traits on defoliation patterns of mature beef cows in the autumn, winter and spring. We evaluated the grazing probability (GP), intensity of defoliation (ID), and leaf traits on 14 species that represent more than 80% of total dry matter of the pasture. The experiment at which we …

Atomistic Engineering Of Phonons In Functional Oxide Heterostructures, Seung Gyo Jeong, Ambrose Seo, Woo Seok Choi

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Engineering of phonons, that is, collective lattice vibrations in crystals, is essential for manipulating physical properties of materials such as thermal transport, electron-phonon interaction, confinement of lattice vibration, and optical polarization. Most approaches to phonon-engineering have been largely limited to the high-quality heterostructures of III–V compound semiconductors. Yet, artificial engineering of phonons in a variety of materials with functional properties, such as complex oxides, will yield unprecedented applications of coherent tunable phonons in future quantum acoustic devices. In this study, artificial engineering of phonons in the atomic-scale SrRuO₃/SrTiO₃ superlattices is demonstrated, wherein tunable phonon modes are observed …

Evaluation Of The Accuracy Of Different Pv Estimation Models And The Effect Of Dust Cleaning: Case Study A 103 Mw Pv Plant In Jordan, Loiy Al-Ghussain, Moath Abu Subaih, Andres Annuk

Mechanical Engineering Graduate Research

The estimation of PV production has been widely investigated previously, where many empirical models have been proposed to account for wind and soiling effects for specific locations. However, the performance of these models varies among the investigated sites. Hence, it is vital to assess and evaluate the performance of these models and benchmark them against the common PV estimation model that accounts only for the ambient temperature. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the accuracy and performance of four empirical wind models considering the soiling effect, and compare them to the standard model for a 103 MW PV plant in …

Annals Of Forest Science Promotes Multidisciplinary Research On Forests And Wood In A Changing World And Is Now A Full Open Access Journal, Erwin Dreyer, Jean Michel Leban, Shuguang Léo Liu, Andreas Bolte, John M. Lhotka, Marco Ferretti, Véronique Lesage

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Can Livestock Alone Be The Main Source Of Income From Rangelands In Poor Countries?, Hossein Arzani, Mohammad Jafari, H. Moradii

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In many countries due to the high population of land holders, there is insufficient range area for each land holder to cover all life expenses. In such places, the income of only livestock in rangelands is not enough to cover living expenses of landholders. The ideas in this paper suggest that researchers should create and explore economic models that incorporate the multiple use concept in rangelands and show how multiple uses are compatible with livestock grazing and to sustain the livelihood of rangeland families.

Assessment Of Climate Events In Changma Season (Korean Monsoon) For Production Trend Of Sorghum-Sudangrass Hybrid (Sorghum Bicolor L.) In The Central Inland Regions Of Korea Using Time Series Analysis, M. Kim, J. Y. Kim, M. H. Jo, K. Sung, H. Jo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study aimed to assess the impact of climate events in the Changma (Korean Monsoon) season on the production trend of sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (SSH) in central inland regions using time series analysis. The dataset in Suwon from 1988–2013 (n = 388) was generated by merging SSH data and climate data. The accumulated temperature (SHAT, ℃), rainfall amount (SHRA, mm) and sunshine duration (SHSD, hr) from seeding to harvesting were used to assess their impact on the trend of dry matter yield (DMY, kg/ha) for SSH. Furthermore, heavy rainfall (HRF) and typhoons (TPH) were considered as climate events. As a result, …

Assessment Of Causality Between Climate Variables And Production For Whole Crop Maize Using Structural Equation Modeling, M. Kim, J. Y. Kim, M. H. Jo, H. Jo, K. Sung

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study aimed to assess the causality of different climate variables on the production of whole crop maize silage (Zea mays L.; WCM) in the central inland region of the Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the effect of these climate variables was also determined by looking at direct and indirect pathways during the stages before and after silking. The WCM metadata (n = 640) were collected from the Rural Development Administration’s reports of new variety adaptability from 1985‒2011 (27 years). The climate data was collected based on year and location from the Korean Meteorology Administration’s weather information system. Causality, in …

Analysis Of Ensiling Suitability Of Moringa, A Woody Plant, Z. Du, F. Yang, Y. Lin, Y. Cai

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To effectively use the woody plant resources as animal feed, the ensiling suitability of Moringa including the dynamics of microbial community, chemical composition, and silage fermentation were studied. Tender stems and leaves of Moringa at the full-bloom stage of second cutting was used for silage preparation in Guizhou, China. After 3, 7, 15, 30, and 60 days of ensiling, five silos for each treatment were opened to analyze the fermentation characteristics. Moringa before ensiling contained 10⁴ lactic acid bacteria (LAB), 10⁶ aerobic bacteria, 10⁴ coliform bacteria, 10² yeast, and 10⁴ mold based on colony-forming unit/g …

Impact Of Grazing Management On Productivity Of Tropical Grasslands, Moacyr Corsi, Geraldo B. Martha Jr., Domício Do Nascimento Jr., Marco A. A. Balsalobre

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Beef and dairy cattle enterprises from tropical pasture-based systems are notoriously of low productivity. The low soil fertility, the exploitation of native grasslands, the low genetic potential of the animals and the poor management of soil, pasture and animal components are all arguments used to explain these “low-productivity systems”. In fact, research has consistently indicated up to 50% increase in calving rate when animals grazing unfertilized pastures were supplemented with trace-mineralized salt (Table 1) but unfortunately less than 90% of Brazilian farmers use this management strategy (Tosi, 1997). However, a recent survey conducted by São Paulo State government showed that …