Digital Commons Network^™

A Case Study Analysis Of A Regional Food System: The Sustainable Agriculture Consortium For Historically Disadvantaged Farmers Program, Tasha M. Hargrove, Walter A. Hill, John Brown, Miles Robinson, Iris Cole-Crosby, Elizabeth Myles, Billy Lawton, Karla Martin

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

The Sustainable Agriculture Consortium for Historically Disadvantaged Farmers Program (SACH) was designed to carry out an experiment by five 1890 Land-Grant Universities in partnership with five farmer based cooperatives in five states to assess marketing fruits and vegetables to Walmart from a regional perspective. Using the Consortium as a case study, this study assessed the Consortium within the framework of implementation evaluation; data were collected using semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The study answered questions such as, what did the Consortium do, and what were some of the accomplishments of the Consortium? The farmers were able to: negotiate price points; …

Extending Sustainable Irrigation Opportunities To Socially And Historically Disadvantaged Farmers In The Alabama Black Belt To Support Commercial-Level Production, Raymon Shange, Richard Martin, Victor Khan, Kwesi Daniels, George X. Hunter, Gwendolyn J. Johnson, Steve Musser, William Puckett, Walter A. Hill

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

This paper focuses on providing sustainable irrigation opportunities to socially and historically disadvantaged farmers (SHDFs). The ability to provide steady production capacity through the use of renewable energy sources and microirrigation is innovative, in that it demonstrated how to develop and utilize a sustainable irrigation system in both energy and water conservation. This venture is also innovative in that it sought to provide SHDFs with irrigation in a state in which irrigation in agriculture is minimal, while at the same time, offsetting the energy costs that normally accompany irrigation. Several farmers are profiled in their participation in the irrigation program. …

Case Study Of A Food Safety/Good Agricultural Practices (Gaps) Educational Program For Small And Limited Resource Produce Farmers, Barrett Vaughan, Audrey Zeigler, Gertrude D. Wall, Miles D. Robinson, William A. Hodge, Conrad O. Bonsi, Ntam R. Baharanyi, Walter A. Hill

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

This case study examined methods used in a food safety/Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) educational program with small and limited resource produce farmers in Alabama to assist them with obtaining certification. Two methods were used, namely, the identification of challenges to food safety certification and development of strategies to address the challenges, and the enlistment of educational methods to facilitate food safety certification. As a result, there were four challenges to food safety certification identified; needs for motivation, information, clarification, and resources. In addition, the educational methods enlisted included group meetings, instructional material distribution, individual farm instruction, and expert instruction. The …

Overview Of The Integrated Pest Management (Ipm) Terrain And Activities In Furtherance Of The Walmart Initiative To Purchase Fresh Vegetables From Local Growers In Alabama, Franklin Quarcoo, Conrad Bonsi

Professional Agricultural Workers Journal

Tuskegee University has been providing various types of technical expertise to limited resource farmers who have been supplying Walmart with collard greens, watermelons and purple hull peas. A number of pests bedevil the cultivation of these crops; cost-effective management methods for these pests are needed. The objectives of this paper are to document the IPM activities associated with supplying produce to Walmart; summarize pest problems encountered on the afore-stated crops; recommend IPM methods suitable for limited resource farmers; and suggest other activities that ensure that farmers incur even less pest-related crop losses. Anthracnose was the major pest encountered on watermelons. …

Refusing Life-Sustaining Treatment: Can We Just Say No, Edward J. O'Brien

Notre Dame Law Review

No abstract provided.

Attorney Conflicts Of Interest: The Need For A Coherent Framework, Mark I. Steinberg, Timothy U. Sharpe

Notre Dame Law Review

No abstract provided.

10th Annual Undergraduate Research Conference Abstract Book, Missouri University Of Science And Technology

Undergraduate Research Conference at Missouri S&T

No abstract provided.

Biological Feasibility Of Interstellar Travel, Matthew B. Schneck

UROP Posters

Exposure to the space environment has resulted in numerous alterations to homeostatic mechanisms within the human body. Immune suppression, musculoskeletal degradation, decreased cardiac output and fluid redistribution have all been reported throughout short and long term space flight. The goal of this review is to discover if long term interstellar travel is biologically possible for humans. The relative influence of cosmic radiation, microgravity, and high velocity travel on homeostasis has not been previously established for interstellar space travel. Real-time space flight data and ground-based studies were compiled from other researchers. This data was analyzed with the goal of establishing the …

The Role Of Timing Of Dietary Selenium And Isoflavone Supplementation In The Reduction Of Prostate Cancer Risk Factors In Tramp Mice, Ji Su Park, Dr. Merrill Christensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men, with a predicted 29,720 deaths in 2013. (1) Previous studies have shown that both selenium (Se) and soy isoflavones reduce risk for prostate cancer when consumed at high levels. (2-3) However, little is known about the effect of Se and isoflavones combined on cancer progression or whether it matters when these supplements are introduced into the diet to decrease cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the individual and combinational effects of Se and soy and the role of timing of …

The Effect Of Marital Quality On Mortality: A Meta-Analysis, Tyler Harris, Dr. Timothy Smith

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In recent years divorce, abuse, neglect and other family issues have been on the rise. Many of these problems stem from a poor marital relationship. Elder Christofferson recently taught, “We have much to do to strengthen marriage in societies that increasingly trivialize its importance and purpose” (Christofferson 2012). This study seeks to illustrate the physical and psychological benefits of following this counsel. Studies have indicated that marital status can contribute to a decrease in mortality (Jaffe, 2007). Positive social support has been linked to lower mortality as well (Holt-Lunstad, 2010). It would logically follow that marital quality is also associated …

The Effects Of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate On The Abundance Of Producers And Grazers In Aquatic Communities Using Freshwater Microcosms, Stephanie R. Shipley

Honors College Theses

With increases in environmental awareness, industry has responded with products that reduce negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a rapidly degrading chemical commonly found in cleaners labeled as ‘environmentally friendly,’ has been shown to have low toxicity in single species toxicity tests. However, that organisms have different sensitivities to SLS suggests a need for measuring effects at the community level. We exposed communities of microalgae (Chlorella sp.) and invertebrate grazers (a benthic snail, Elimia sp. and pelagic microcrustacean Daphnia magna) to 0, 0.5 or 1.5 mgL^-1 SLS. Water quality and invertebrate abundance were measured …

From Histone Modification To Gene Repression: Epigenetic Regulation By Holocarboxylase Synthetase-Containing Repression Complex And Fad-Dependent Lysine Specific Demethylase, Dandan Liu

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Histones undergo different types of post-translational modifications that have been linked to a variety of biological processes and disease states. Histone acetylation and methylation are well characterized modifications with respect to regulation of chromatin structure and transcription. Histone acetylation, regulated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), is linked with gene activation. Here we introduce a novel paradigm suggesting that holocarboxylase synthetase (HLCS), the sole biotin protein ligase in the human genome, recruits nuclear receptor corepressor (N-CoR) and HDAC1 to chromatin, thereby contributing toward the removal of lysine (K)-9 acetylated histone H3 (H3K9ac) gene activation marks and the repression …

The Daily Gamecock, Wednesday, April 16, 2014, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

April

No abstract provided.

The Antelope, University Of Nebraska At Kearney

The Antelope

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Nrf2 In The Differential Susceptibility Of Male And Female Mice To Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity, Philip Rohrer

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Charter School Funding: Inequity Expands, Meagan Batdorf, Larry D. Maloney, Jay F. May, Sheree T. Speakman, Patrick J. Wolf, Albert Cheng

School Choice Demonstration Project

The revenue study is based on Fiscal Year 2010‒11 (FY11) data for each of 30 selected states plus the District of Columbia (D.C.). Traditional school districts and public charter schools were analyzed and aggregated “statewide.” For each state, one to three “focus areas” were selected based on larger concentrations of charter students – most focus areas are large cities, some are metropolitan counties. Traditional school districts and charter schools were analyzed separately in each focus area. The analytic team collected and analyzed all revenues, public and private, flowing to traditional district and public charter schools. FY11 funding includes Federal, State, …

An Analysis Of The Weight Watchers And Atkins Diets: The Effects Of Calorie Restriction And Nutrition Levels, Heather Brown

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a calorie-restricted diet versus one with restricted food groups. To accomplish this, a survey with 19 participants, age ranging from 25 to 74 years, was taken for people who attempted Weight Watchers, a calorie-restricted diet, and Atkins, a low-carbohydrate diet. The success rates of each of these diets will be compared and analyzed in this study. Participants reported short-term and long-term weight loss results. For the data analysis, descriptive statistics and two independent t-tests were performed. For short-term weight loss on Atkins, M = 20.25, and on Weight …

Evaluation Of The Distribution And Impacts Of Parasites, Pathogens, And Pesticides On Honey Bee (Apis Mellifera) Populations In East Africa, Elliud Muli, Harland Patch, Maryann Frazier, James Frazier, Baldwyn Torto, Tracey Baumgarten, Joseph Kilonzo, James Ng Ang A. Kimani, Fiona Mumoki, Daniel Masiga, James Tumlinson, Christina Grozinger

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

In East Africa, honey bees (Apis mellifera) provide critical pollination services and income for small-holder farmers and rural families. While honey bee populations in North America and Europe are in decline, little is known about the status of honey bee populations in Africa. We initiated a nationwide survey encompassing 24 locations across Kenya in 2010 to evaluate the numbers and sizes of honey bee colonies, assess the presence of parasites (Varroa mites and Nosema microsporidia) and viruses, identify and quantify pesticide contaminants in hives, and assay for levels of hygienic behavior. Varroa mites were present throughout Kenya, except in the …

April 16, 2014, The Daily Mississippian

Daily Mississippian (all digitized issues)

No abstract provided.

Α-Latrotoxin Genes Are Highly Divergent Between Species Of Widow Spiders (Genus Latrodectus), Kacy M. Bennett

Honors College Theses

Widow spiders (genus Latrodectus) possess neurotoxic venom that varies in potency among species. α-latrotoxin is the main protein in widow venom that affects vertebrates, including humans. The European black widow, Latrodectus tredecimguttatus, is currently the only species in this genus where the gene for α-latrotoxin has been characterized. The study presented here characterizes the genetic composition of α-latrotoxin from two additional species, the brown widow (L. geometricus) and the southern black widow (L. mactans). Genetic differences among the three species were quantified for α-latrotoxin. Between species genetic divergence in α-latrotoxin was also compared to …

Racial Comparisons In Police Officer Bench Press Strength Over 12.5 Years, Robert W. Boyce, Tyler K. Willett, Glenn R. Jones, Edward L. Boone

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 140-151, 2014. Strength, when considering gender and race, provides a basis for training, hiring, and retention for police officers. The purpose of this study is to identify muscular strength differences among racial groups from initial-recruit to in-service tests. Strength variables included bench press, bench press/lean mass and bench press/body mass. Scores were retrieved for the 1990 to 1995 recruit classes and were paired to the 2006 in-service fitness log. Sample included 309 officers: 30 females (13 black, 17 white) and 279 males (41 black, 238 white). Mean age of recruit was 24.6 ± …

Manuscript Has Been Retracted, Michael Smith, Eric Trexler, Allan Sommer, Brooke Starkoff, Steven Devor

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 128-139, 2014. Manuscript has been retracted.

Factors Associated With Diabetes Risk In South Texas College Students, Jordan W. Stack, Sara E. Mahoney, Christopher M. Hearon

International Journal of Exercise Science

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 110-118, 2014. South Texas has a high prevalence of diabetes and college students may be particularly at risk. While increased BMI, sedentary activity and depression have been associated with diabetes progression in the general population, it has not been established whether these factors contribute to increased diabetes risk in college students. The purpose of this study was to assess diabetes risk and determine whether depressive symptoms or physical activity patterns are associated with increased diabetes risk in college students. Sixty-nine college students were assessed for diabetes risk using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score …

Academic Senate - Meeting Minutes, 4/15/14, Academic Senate

Academic Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Uncoupling Reproduction From Metabolism Extends Chronological Lifespan In Yeast, Saisubramanian Nagarajan, Arthur L. Kruckeberg, Karen H. Schmidt, Evgueny Kroll, Morgan Hamilton, Kate Mcinnerney, Ryan Summers, Timothy Taylor, Frank Rosenzweig

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Studies of replicative and chronological lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have advanced understanding of longevity in all eukaryotes. Chronological lifespan in this species is defined as the agedependent viability of nondividing cells. To date this parameter has only been estimated under calorie restriction, mimicked by starvation. Because postmitotic cells in higher eukaryotes often do not starve, we developed a model yeast system to study cells as they age in the absence of calorie restriction. Yeast cells were encapsulated in a matrix consisting of calcium alginate to form ~3 mm beads that were packed into bioreactors and fed ad libitum. Under these …

Rates Of Sustainable Forest Harvest Depend On Rotation Length And Weathering Of Soil Minerals, Matthew A. Vadeboncoeur, Steven P. Hamburg, Ruth D. Yanai, Joel D. Blum

All Materials

Abstract

Removals of forest biomass in the northeastern US may intensify over the coming decades due to increased demand for renewable energy. For forests to regenerate successfully following intensified harvests, the nutrients removed from the ecosystem in the harvested biomass (including N, P, Ca, Mg, and K) must be replenished through a combination of plant-available nutrients in the soil rooting zone, atmospheric inputs, weathering of primary minerals, biological N fixation, and fertilizer additions. Few previous studies (especially in North America) have measured soil nutrient pools beyond exchangeable cations, but over the long rotations common in this region, other pools which …

Feeding Practices In Cusco, Peru, Delanah Colbert

Collection of Engaged Learning

No abstract provided.

The Allure And Impact Of Fast Food In China, Xinqi Mike Ren

Collection of Engaged Learning

This project involves surveying university students in China, using the Newest Vital Sign (NVS) – a commonly accepted nutrition literacy test, in order to analyze their nutrition literacy and dietary choices, specifically their attitude towards American fast food. A colleague, Jeffrey He, will investigate the cultural implications of fast food in China. The ultimate goal is to understand Chinese youth’s opinions of fast food as well as provide health and nutritional information to help students in China make informed dietary decisions

Success By The Plateful: Rates Of Successful Vocational Training In Adjudicated Youth, Rebecca Swarm

Collection of Engaged Learning

The United States has one of the highest rates of juvenile incarceration in the world. Once sentenced to a detention center, it is increasingly likely that a person will spend the rest of their lives rotating in and out of the correctional system due to high recidivism rates. This cycle is not only a financial burden on the state and federal systems but it is also harmful to incarcerated individuals, families, and neighborhoods. Youth Village Resources of Dallas and Café Momentum attempt to break this cycle of recidivism through vocational training pre-and post adjudication. Positive changes in attitudes and beliefs …

Bite Me: Food As Culture In Dallas And London, Lauryn Bodden

Collection of Engaged Learning

I studied food culture locally in Dallas and abroad in London, so that I could better understand and analyze the global food movement. I looked at the relationship Americans have with food and their eating habits compared to that of London.