Digital Commons Network^™

Analysis Of Some Farm Driving Variables And Its Relation With Milk Production In A Pastoral Dairy Farm Of Buenos Aires, Argentina, J. L. Rossi, A. Ayala Torales, G. Acosta, V. A. Deregibus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The quantity of milk solids produced determines a dairy farm income and contributes to its profit. Total pasture production, forage quality and herd consumption are factors to be managed in this production system. The outcomes of two years were analyzed. Primary production showed its dependence on climatic conditions and use of technological inputs. Forage quality was promoted through interseeding legumes, applying fertilizer and maintaining the pasture young and leafy. Total forage removed by the herd was similar in both years although pasture production decreased. It was possible to cope with seasonal variations in forage production, by varying the grazing pressure …

Effects Of Probiotics Supplementation With Lactobacillus Sp. Bacteria On Growth And Survival Rate Of Cultured Mullet Fish (Mugil Sp.) In Floating Cages, Balqees Saleh Bin Breek, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Dohail, Khaled Salem Yahya

Hadhramout University Journal of Natural & Applied Sciences

This study was conducted to determine the effect of probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus on the growth parameters of Mugil sp. fish, their approximate biochemical composition and the environmental conditions of their culture for 12 weeks in floating cages. Six hundreds of fish were randomly distributed in two groups of 100 fish in each floating cages (length of 1 m, width of 1 m, depth of 2 m) with an initial weight of 39.5± 0.2 g. The first group was fed with the control diet and the second group with probiotics diet. The results showed significant differences (P <0.05) between fish fed on probiotics diet and fish fed on control diet in weight gain (WG), relative growth rate (RGR) and food conversion rate (FCR). The weight gain in the probiotics group was 18.3 g, while in the control group was 12.2 g. There was no significant difference (P> 0.05) for the specific …

Efficacy Of An Enhanced Implementation Strategy To Increase Parent Engagement With A Health Promotion Program In Childcare, Courtney T. Luecking, Cody D. Neshteruk, Stephanie Mazzucca, Dianne S. Ward

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Previous efforts to involve parents in implementation of childcare-based health promotion interventions have yielded limited success, suggesting a need for different implementation strategies. This study evaluated the efficacy of an enhanced implementation strategy to increase parent engagement with Healthy Me, Healthy We. This quasi-experimental study included childcare centers from the second of two waves of a cluster-randomized trial. The standard approach (giving parents intervention materials, prompting participation at home, inviting participation with classroom events) was delivered in 2016–2017 (29 centers, 116 providers, and 199 parents). The enhanced approach (standard plus seeking feedback, identifying and addressing barriers to parent participation) …

Nutritional And Physiological Constraints Contributing To Limitations In Small Intestinal Starch Digestion And Glucose Absorption In Ruminants, Ronald J. Trotta, David L. Harmon, James C. Matthews, Kendall C. Swanson

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Increased efficiency of nutrient utilization can potentially be gained with increased starch digestion in the small intestine in ruminants. However, ruminants have quantitative limits in the extent of starch disappearance in the small intestine. The objective is to explore the nutritional and physiological constraints that contribute to limitations of carbohydrate assimilation in the ruminant small intestine. Altered digesta composition and passage rate in the small intestine, insufficient pancreatic α-amylase and/or small intestinal carbohydrase activity, and reduced glucose absorption could all be potentially limiting factors of intestinal starch assimilation. The absence of intestinal sucrase activity in ruminants may be related to …

Development And Validation Of A Shortened And Practical Frailty Index For People With Intellectual Disabilities, J. D. Schoufour, A. Oppewal, M. C. Van Maurik, Thessa Hilgenkamp, R. G. Elbers, D. A.M. Maes-Festen

Physical Therapy Faculty Research

Background: There is no widely used instrument to detect frailty in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs). We aimed to develop and validate a shorter and more practical version of a published frailty index for people with IDs. Method: This study was part of the longitudinal ‘Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disability’ study. We included 982 people with IDs aged 50 years and over. The previously developed and validated ID-Frailty Index consisting of 51 deficits was used as the basis for the shortened version, the ID-FI Short Form. Content of the ID-FI Short Form was based on statistics and clinical and practical …

Stubble Height Effects On Limpograss Pasture Characteristics And Performance Of Beef Heifers, Y. C. Newman, Lynn E. Sollenberger, W. E. Kunkle, D. B. Bates, C. G. Chambliss, A. M. Fox

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima [Poir.] Stapf. & C.E. Hubb.) is a C₄ species used in Florida beef production systems because of its cool-season growth, persistence on poorly drained soils, and high yield and digestibility. Animal performance on limpograss pastures, however, has been limited by low herbage crude protein (CP). This study evaluated the effect of canopy height of limpograss pastures and N supplementation of grazing cattle on sward characteristics and weight gain and blood urea N (BUN) concentration of yearling beef heifers. Under continuous stocking, six treatments were imposed that included all combinations of three stubble heights (20, 40, …

The Duration Of Regrowth Period And The Structural Traits In A Rotationally Grazed Panicum Maximum Sward, Carlos A. M. Gomide, J. A. Gomide

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Panicum maximum 'cv'. Mombaça was rotationally grazed by steers. Three regrowth periods based on the number of expanded leaves per tiller: 2.5; 3.5 and 4.5, were compared. Three groups of seven tester steers, one for each treatment, grazed the replications of each experimental paddocks, the animals being removed from a paddock after 4 to 5 day grazing period when its sward leaf area index (LAI) was 1.5, on the average. Sward height and available biomass increased while tiller population density and leaf-stem ratio decreased with regrowth period. Overall averages observed for LAI and photosyntheticly active radiation interception by the end …

A Comparison Of The Effects Of Heat Therapy And Exercise Training On Vascular Function During Passive And Active Exercise, Taysom Erica Wallace

Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence suggests that heat, a major byproduct of exercise, may be the mediator for many vascular adaptations that come from exercise. Thus, heat therapy that increases muscle temperature in a comparable way to exercise may be an advantageous alternative for enhancing cardiovascular health in individuals where treatment with exercise is either not possible or undesired. PURPOSE: Compare the effects of exercise and heat training on resistance artery function at rest and during exercise. METHODS: Thirty-five (18 female) healthy, untrained subjects completed a 6-week training program utilizing either high intensity knee extension (KE) exercise (40 min), localized heat therapy (pulsed …

Predicting Drug-Induced Liver Injury With Artificial Intelligence, Ting Li

Theses and Dissertations

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is an undesirable side effect to the liver caused by the common use of drugs, which is of great concern to the patients, physicians, the pharmaceutical industry, and government regulators. The current animal testing models do not present reliable results on the human DILI risk prediction during the preclinical phase. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find alternative methods to improve the human DILI risk prediction during the early stage of development. Utilizing the accumulated high-throughput transcriptomics profiles from L1000, we constructed an 8-layer deep neural network for human DILI prediction based on the largest …

A Tale Of Three Resources: The Influence Of Multiple Resources On Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Neha Mohan Babu

Dissertations - ALL

Although studies indicate that plant growth can be co-limited by multiple resources, particularly water, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), the role of co-limiting resources in driving plant-herbivore interactions remains poorly understood. Evidence indicates that the resources that limit plant and herbivore growth may differ which likely influences trophic interactions. In this dissertation, I explored how multiple resource limitation of plants affects herbivore abundance, herbivore impact on plant biomass, and plant traits, using both theoretical and empirical methods. As none of the existing hypotheses account for the effects of multiple resource limitation, I developed a novel theoretical model to predict the …

Intralocus Sexual Conflict Over Optimal Nutrient Intake And The Evolution Of Sex Differences In Life Span And Reproduction, Michael Hawkes, Sarah M. Lane, Scott K. Sakaluk, John Hunt, Clarissa M. House, Kim Jensen, James Rapkin

Faculty Publications – Biological Sciences

1. Despite widespread variation in life span across species, three clear patterns exist: sex differences in life span are ubiquitous, life span is commonly traded against reproduction, and nutrition has a major influence on these traits and how they trade-off. One process that potentially unites these patterns is intralocus sexual conflict over the optimal intake of nutrients for life span and reproduction. If nutrient intake has sex-specific effects on life span and reproduction but nutrient choice is genetically linked across the sexes, intralocus sexual conflict will occur and may prevent one or both sexes from feeding to their nutritional optima.
2. Here …

Agricultural Support For The Old Colony Mennonites Of Belize: A Collaborative Effort Between North American Old Order Mennonites And A Cornell Extension Educator, Judson Reid

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

The Old Colony Mennonites of Belize practice a conservative form of Anabaptism where technology, dress and lifestyle choices are informed by church standards. Members live in a spatially contiguous Colony, which creates land pressure over time as population increases. The development of new Colonies is necessary for the Mennonites to participate in agricultural livelihoods. The Indian Creek Colony of Belize has experienced agricultural and economic hardships since its inception in the 1989 due to land costs, crop failures and debt structure. Old Order Mennonites of North America developed an outreach effort to assist with on-farm production of vegetable crops to …

Hotline Number To Reach And Offer Agricultural Information To Plain Anabaptists During The Covid-19 Workplace Closures, Emily Shoop, Carly Becker, Nathan Glenn Briggs, Danielle Smarsh

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

The Penn State Extension Animal Systems Team developed a toll-free hotline phone number to convey short educational messages to maintain contact and outreach to Pennsylvania’s animal producing Amish, Mennonite, and other plain Anabaptist populations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Penn State Extension’s programming went largely online via webinars, online courses, and emails. This change in programming excluded a large sector of Pennsylvania farmers who do not use or have access to the internet and, as such, were liable to miss important best management practice reviews and timely updates in animal agriculture. The Animal Systems Hotline offered callers the choice to listen …

Ohio’S Amish And Mennonite Produce Growers: Farm Trends, Information Needs, And Agricultural Communication Preferences, Brad Bergefurd

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

This study (1) describes the characteristics of Ohio Amish and Mennonite produce farmers and their operations; (2) determines awareness of and participation in OSU Extension programs by Amish and Mennonite produce farmers; (3) determines the methods used by Amish and Mennonite produce farmers to acquire farming information; and (4) identifies subject matter needs of Amish and Mennonite produce farmers for future Extension programming. In order to provide effective future Extension programming efforts for this particular clientele, a mail survey was used to collect data from 345 Ohio Amish and Mennonite farmers who participate at Ohio produce auctions. They were asked …

Farm Food Safety Training For Amish Produce Growers Covered Under The Food Safety Modernization Act (Fsma), Luke Laborde, Jeffrey Stoltzfus, Kaila Thorn

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Commercial production of fruits and vegetables on Amish farms provides significant amounts of fresh produce that are regionally distributed through wholesale markets. In response to several multi-state foodborne disease outbreaks linked to contamination of fresh produce, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandated farm food safety standards that most commercial produce growers must implement. Although there have been no foodborne disease outbreaks attributed to fresh produce grown on Amish farms, this regulation poses regulatory challenges for those who sell produce at wholesale produce auctions, cooperatives, and distribution warehouses. This article describes recent farm food safety standards issued by the …

Performing Amish Agrarianism: Negotiating Tradition In The Maintenance Of Pennsylvania Dairy Farms, Nicole Welk-Joerger

Journal of Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies

Amish people have a reputation for being ecologically and environmentally conscientious. As numerous scholars in Amish and Plain Anabaptist studies have demonstrated, Amish views of the environment are diverse and ultimately anchored in the understanding that God made nature for human use. In these cases, Amish views of the environment could be described as much more anchored in traditional philosophical notions of “agrarianism” than “environmentalism.” In this article, I explore how some Amish approach agrarianism with a turn from more traditional farm life toward necessary economic engagement with multi-faceted operations and diversification. Based on intensive ethnographic research and participant observation, …

An Examination Of Poverty: Dimensions, Causes, And Solutions, David Nii O. Tackie

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

This article, based on the 2021 Southern Rural Sociological Association (SRSA) Presidential Address, assesses the dimensions, causes of, and solutions to poverty. It finds that the definition of poverty varies based on the criteria used, and even by which agency or institution is defining it. It also finds that poverty indices vary by state and by county. For instance, in selected SRSA states, Virginia has the lowest poverty rate and Mississippi has the highest poverty rate. There are several causes of poverty, some of which are lower levels of education, lower levels of health, unemployment, lack of livable wages, and …

Genetic Contributors Of Incident Stroke In 10,700 African Americans With Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis From The Genetics Of Hypertension Associated Treatments And Reasons For Geographic And Racial Differences In Stroke Studies, Nicole D. Armstrong, Vinodh Srinivasasainagendra, Amit Patki, Rikki M. Tanner, Bertha A. Hidalgo, Hemant K. Tiwari, Nita A. Limdi, Ethan M. Lange, Leslie A. Lange, Donna K. Arnett, Marguerite R. Irvin

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: African Americans (AAs) suffer a higher stroke burden due to hypertension. Identifying genetic contributors to stroke among AAs with hypertension is critical to understanding the genetic basis of the disease, as well as detecting at-risk individuals.

Methods: In a population comprising over 10,700 AAs treated for hypertension from the Genetics of Hypertension Associated Treatments (GenHAT) and Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) studies, we performed an inverse variance-weighted meta-analysis of incident stroke. Additionally, we tested the predictive accuracy of a polygenic risk score (PRS) derived from a European ancestral population in both GenHAT and REGARDS AAs …

Nondestructive Detection Of Codling Moth Infestation In Apples Using Pixel-Based Nir Hyperspectral Imaging With Machine Learning And Feature Selection, Nader Ekramirad, Alfadhl Y. Khaled, Lauren E. Doyle, Julia R. Loeb, Kevin D. Donohue, Raul T. Villanueva, Akinbode A. Adedeji

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Codling moth (CM) (Cydia pomonella L.), a devastating pest, creates a serious issue for apple production and marketing in apple-producing countries. Therefore, effective nondestructive early detection of external and internal defects in CM-infested apples could remarkably prevent postharvest losses and improve the quality of the final product. In this study, near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral reflectance imaging in the wavelength range of 900–1700 nm was applied to detect CM infestation at the pixel level for three organic apple cultivars, namely Gala, Fuji and Granny Smith. An effective region of interest (ROI) acquisition procedure along with different machine learning and data processing …

Late-Life Exercise Mitigates Skeletal Muscle Epigenetic Aging, Kevin A. Murach, Andrea L. Dimet-Wiley, Yuan Wen, Camille R. Brightwell, Christine M. Latham, Cory M. Dungan, Christopher S. Fry, Stanley J. Watowich

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

There are functional benefits to exercise in muscle, even when performed late in life, but the contributions of epigenetic factors to late-life exercise adaptation are poorly defined. Using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS), ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and mitochondrial-specific examination of methylation, targeted high-resolution methylation analysis, and DNAge™ epigenetic aging clock analysis with a translatable model of voluntary murine endurance/resistance exercise training (progressive weighted wheel running, PoWeR), we provide evidence that exercise may mitigate epigenetic aging in skeletal muscle. Late-life PoWeR from 22–24 months of age modestly but significantly attenuates an age-associated shift toward promoter hypermethylation. The epigenetic age of muscle …

Adipose-Specific Pparα Knockout Mice Have Increased Lipogenesis By Pask–Srebp1 Signaling And A Polarity Shift To Inflammatory Macrophages In White Adipose Tissue, Terry D. Hinds, Jr., Zachary A. Kipp, Mei Xu, Frederique B. Yiannikouris, Andrew J. Morris, Donald F. Stec, Walter Wahli, David E. Stec

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

The nuclear receptor PPARα is associated with reducing adiposity, especially in the liver, where it transactivates genes for β-oxidation. Contrarily, the function of PPARα in extrahepatic tissues is less known. Therefore, we established the first adipose-specific PPARα knockout (Ppara^FatKO) mice to determine the signaling position of PPARα in adipose tissue expansion that occurs during the development of obesity. To assess the function of PPARα in adiposity, female and male mice were placed on a high-fat diet (HFD) or normal chow for 30 weeks. Only the male Ppara^FatKO animals had significantly more adiposity in the inguinal white …

The Health-Related Quality Of Life Of Adults With Down Syndrome, Rebecca Jermyn Graves

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and factors associated with the HRQOL of adults with Down syndrome (DS) as reported by adults with DS and their caregivers. The study was designed to compare measures of HRQOL, health problems, health risks, and health-care utilization of adults with DS based on self-report with those from caregiver-report and to explore associations between HRQOL and health problems, health risks, health-care utilization, adaptive behavior, and demographic characteristics.

Dairy Cow Performance On Pasture-Based Feeding Systems And In Confinement, Renato S. Fontaneli, Lynn E. Sollenberger, C. R. Staples

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Interest in grazing systems is growing among farmers in the USA as a means of reducing feed costs for lactating dairy cows. An experiment was conducted near Gainesville, FL to compare milk production and composition and milk income minus feed costs from two pasture-based systems with those of a conventional confinement housing system over a 276-d period. System 1 was based on a mixture of rye (Secale cereale L.), annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.), and red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) during the winter-spring seasons and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] …

Exploring Resilience In Exemplary Rural School Superintendents, Silas Gaussoin-Radcliffe

Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory phenomenological study was to identify and describe the strategies used by exemplary rural superintendents to maintain personal resiliency based on Everly, Strouse, and McCormack’s (2015) five factors of personal resilience (active optimism, decisive action, moral compass, relentless tenacity, and interpersonal support).

Methodology: This exploratory phenomenological study used purposeful criterion sampling and recommendations from the county superintendents in the identified geographic area. Each of the 8 identified exemplary rural superintendents was interviewed using an instrument aligned to the five factors of personal resilience and their definitions. The researcher collected rich qualitative interview data, that were …

2021 Grand River Water Quality, Allison Romanski, Madeleine Lang

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

2021 Grand River Water Quality Sampling

The goals of this research project were to collect repeat samples at designated reaches and under different flow conditions along the Grand River, sample the entire Grand River over a short period of time, collaborate with wastewater treatment plant labs and technicians to analyze water samples, and to calculate a Water Quality Index (WQI) for samples collected.

Seven different reaches were sampled and over 120 samples were collected between May 7th and August 12th of 2021. Water samples were collected and analyzed for nitrate, total phosphate, ammonium, chloride, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand , …

Usage Statistics: Project Counter R5 Tr_J1 Report Fy2021 - Journal Requests (Excluding Oa_Gold) By Title, Andrée Rathemacher

Technical Services Reports and Statistics

Project COUNTER R5 Report TR_J1 for the University of Rhode Island for the period from July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021. The TR_J1 report is defined as "Journal Requests (Excluding OA_Gold)." This report presents an annual total only and only includes those platforms successfully configured for automated harvesting via SUSHI.

File for download is Excel spreadsheet generated by Alma Analytics.

Results:

• Total Item Requests - 696,705
• Unique Item Requests - 513,492

2012 August University Of Memphis Commencement Program

Commencements

Program for the Summer convocation of the 100th commencement of the University of Memphis at Memphis, Tennessee, held at the FedEx Forum on August 12, 2012.

Effects Of Lemon Or Cinnamon Essential Oil Vapor On Physicochemical Properties Of Strawberries During Storage, Elise Christine Anita Freche

Master's Theses

Essential oils are currently being investigated for their potential role as food preservatives. They contain a mixture of bioactive compounds that would help increase the shelf life of food and might help preserve fruits without using synthetic chemicals. Although much research has been conducted on their antimicrobial properties, their effect on the physicochemical properties and organoleptic characteristics needs more investigation. In this study, the effects of lemon or cinnamon essential oil vapor on the physicochemical properties of strawberries were analyzed, focusing on the weight loss, color, firmness, acidity status, sugar content and visible decay. Strawberries were treated for 12 hours …

Recommendations For A Water Conservationist Diet In California, Helen M. Lee

Master's Theses

As the world’s population continues to increase, a focus on nutrition security and water sustainability is needed to ensure enough resources for future generations and their wellbeing. The agricultural sector uses the most water worldwide, so identifying agricultural commodities that use less water and are more nutritious could help society reach these goals. California is the largest producer of agriculture in the United States. Therefore, an analysis of water use and nutritional value was conducted using water footprint (WF) and nutrient rich food scores (NRF) of California’s agricultural products. The results of the WF and NRF analysis showed that the …

Food Insecurity And Dietary Changes During Covid-19 In The San Francisco Bay Area, Iris Vanessa Tablas-Mejia

Master's Theses

Shelter-in-place and social distancing protocols were issued across the country to containthe spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19); however, these safety measures gave rise to unprecedented unemployment rates and disruptions to food access. This study investigated how COVID-19 affected food security and food consumption patterns in the San Francisco Bay Area. A validated survey developed by the National Food Access and COVID Research Team (NFACT) was distributed online from August to November 2020. The survey measured food access and eating behaviors during the pandemic. Seven hundred and twentyfour participants (403 female, 76 male, average age 43.9 ± 15.0 years) completed …