Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Antioxidant Potential Of A Non-Heme Iron Complex: Mitigating H2O2-Induced Cellular Damage, Magy A. Mekhail, David M. Freire, Cameron Bowers, Grant Elam, Nora Del Bosque, Hannah K. Pyle, Sarah K. Dunn, Spencer Lanyon, Timothy J. Hubin, Giridhar Akkaraju, Kayla N. Green

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Iron complexes with antioxidant activity have garnered significant interest for both general and medical applications, yet few studies have yielded functional nonheme iron-based mimics for H₂O₂ mitigation in aqueous environments. Here, we investigate water-soluble nonheme iron complexes derived from 12-membered pyridinophanes (^CF₃PyN₃, PyN₃, ^NMe₂PyN₃, and Py₂N₂) to evaluate the impact of ligand scaffolds on H₂O₂ decomposition activity both in vitro and in a cellular model. Speciation and kinetic analyses reveal that both electronic and geometric modulation of the macrocyclic …

Adding 3,4-Methylenedioxy-Α-Cyclohexylaminopropiophenone To A Standard Operating Procedure (Sop) For Identifying Synthetic Cathinones Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Napassawon Timpratoom

ETDs from 2020-2029

Synthetic cathinones were identified as new psychoactive substances (NPS) in the early warning advisory system by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Synthetic cathinones have been commonly referred to as bath salts, which offered “legal highs” because they were not explicitly scheduled. These compounds were detected dur-ing the screening process in casework and required internal validation for confirmation. 3,4-methylenedioxy-α-cyclohexylaminopropiophenone was the target analyte for this study. It was alternatively named N-cyclohexyl methylone and “cyputylone." The aim of the study was to validate 3,4-methylenedioxy-α-cyclohexylaminopropiophenone into a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for identifying synthetic cathinones using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry …

Cardiovascular Disease Subtypes And Alzheimer's Disease: Phenotypic And Genetic Associations In The Uk Biobank And All Of Us Research Program, Aili Toyli, Chen Zhao, Kuan Jui Su, Hui Shen, Hong Wen Deng, Qing Hui Chen, Qiuying Sha, Weihua Zhou

Michigan Tech Publications

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are major public health concerns that share overlapping risk factors and potential mechanistic pathways. Although vascular contributions to cognitive decline are well documented, the specific relationships between AD and different CVD subtypes remain poorly understood. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we examined associations between AD and 11 CVD subtypes using logistic regression models in 2 large biobanks: the UK Biobank (n=502 133) and the All of Us Research Program (n=287 011). Models were adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates. We also explored genetic overlap between AD and CVD traits through proximity-based …

Load Profile Analysis And Forecasting For Rural Mini Grids In Uganda, Prossy Mutesi, Santos L. Kihwele, Emmanuel S. Matee

Tanzania Journal of Science

Accurate load forecasting is essential for the reliable and cost-effective operation of rural mini grids, where constrained generation capacity and high penetration of renewable energy resources require well-informed operational decisions. This study examines electricity demand characteristics and forecasting performance for the Buzaami and Ssenyondo mini grids in Uganda, with particular focus on diurnal load profiles, peak demand behavior, and seasonal variability. 2022 operational data show extended peak demand from early morning to late evening, driven by socio-economic activities that strain resource scheduling and reliability management. To address these challenges, the study evaluates and compares Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, fuzzy …

Optimization Of Bio-Briquettes Production From Cassava Stems Co-Blended With Sisal Bole Bagasse Using Response Surface Methodology, Agnes Nshoma Msobi, Neema O. Msuya, Kando Khalifa Janga

Tanzania Journal of Science

This research aimed at producing bio-briquettes from cassava stems and sisal bole bagasse as an alternative source of cooking energy. A Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Face - Centered Central Composite Design (FCCCD) featured a multi-objective optimization of the effect of the production parameters, focusing on maximizing char yield and Higher Heating Value (HHV) of the produced briquette while minimizing carbonization temperature and residence time. The findings showed that bio-briquettes produced at the lowest temperature (250 ℃) and residence time (30 min) and the blending ratio of 75% by 25% had the highest char yield of 76.92% and HHV of …

A System For The Prediction Of Election Results Using Vader And Hybridized Machine Learning Model, Abraham E. Evwiekpaefe, Khadijah Kabir, Georgina N. Obunadike

Tanzania Journal of Science

Integrating different classifiers along with sentiment lexicons like Vader, can enhance the performance of sentiment analysis systems. However, such a hybrid model remains underexplored, particularly in the context of regional elections in developing countries like Nigeria. The aim of this research is to develop a hybrid model that combines three machine learning classifiers and Vader lexicon to possibly achieve a higher accuracy. A case study of the 2023 governorship election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo State, Nigeria was examined. Twitter API library was utilized to extracted public and personal tweets using hashtags and keywords related to the target data from …

Robust Real-Time Uav Target Tracking With Onboard Vision-Based Yaw Control, Rylan Malarchick, Jose Castelblanco, Enrique Amaya, Carmen Dimario, Graysen Brinkman, Chirag Kumar, Kiwon Yoon, Sajid Berhane

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

Autonomous tracking of agile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) presents significant challenges for real-time perception and control systems. This work presents AIRHOUND (Autonomous Intelligent Rotorcraft for Hostile Object Unified Navigation and Detection), a UAV platform implementing vision-based yaw tracking through a modular ROS2 software architecture. The system employs YOLOv8 object detection optimized with NVIDIA TensorRT for embedded deployment on an NVIDIA Jetson Orin companion computer. Detected targets are processed through a geometric tracking module that converts pixel coordinates to angular yaw errors using pinhole camera intrinsics, with a proportional controller generating rate-limited yaw commands. These commands are streamed to a PX4 …

Impact On Energy Budgets In Grassland Production And Conservation Of Possible Production Of Energy From Biomass Crops, R J. Wilkins

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is commonly a conflict between output/unit of area of land and output/unit of support-energy (SE) input. The possibil­ity of using a proportion of the total land area for biomass energy production suggests an approach for calculating grassland out­put/ha unconfounded with differences in SE input. Output can be calculated for an area of land that is devoted to grassland and biomass energy crops in proportions that result in a net demand for SE of zero. Outputs of utilized metabolizable energy (UME) are related to inputs of SE for (1) grazed grass with high application of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and (2) …

Efficiency Of Dairying Under Contrasting Feeding And Management Systems In North America, Israel, Europe, And New Zealand, J.D. J. Scott

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Four different systems of feeding and managing dairy cattle are seen in major milk-producing countries. These are (1) feeding purchased roughages and concentrates to zero-grazed, intensively penned cows; (2) home growing of roughages and most con­centrates for zero-grazed animals; (3) feeding concentrates with conserved pasture and other roughages in winter and reduced concentrates to grazed cattle in spring-summer; and (4) feeding cattle on grazed pasture and conserved pasture throughout the year. The following data on the four systems were obtained from examples in southern California, Wisconsin, England/Wales, and New Zealand. Average fat-corrected milk (FCM)/cow is approximately 7,140, 5,300, 4,670, and …

Potential Contribution Of White Clover To The Economics And Support-Energy Inputs Of Grass-Based Beef-Production Systems, T A. Stewart, R E. Haycock, A S. Laidlaw

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Biological output, gross margins, and efficiency of support-energy usage in an 18-month beef-production system on grass-white clover swards receiving either 50 kg N/ha stocked at 3.3 head/ha (low N) or 300 kg N/ha stocked 4.5 head/ha (high N) were compared. To date, two production cycles (1977-1979 and 1978-1980) at two sites have been completed. Mean live-weight and carcass gains/ha were, respectively, 17.5% and 14% higher from the high-N than from the low-N system. Gross margin/head was higher from the high-N system in the first production cycle but not in the second. In the low-N system as com· pared with the …

An Evaluation Of The Black Walnut- Tall Fescue Pasture-Management System, H E. Garrett, W B. Kurtz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The economic and biological feasibility. of a black walnut-livestock-grazing multicropping-management regime bas been evaluated for comparison with a similar livestock-management regime conducted in the open. Pure tall fescue plots were established under open and black walnut-shade conditions. Forage yields on a dry-weight basis were estimated for a 3-year period. A concurrent grazing trial was co􀀌ducted on similar sites using 1.2-ha plots. Black walnut seedlings were planted within the plots on a 3 x 12-m spacing and protected from grazing animals by electric fencing. The economic analyses of the alternate grazing systems were based on their respective present net worth and …

Economics Of Renovating Mountain Hay Meadows, J J. Jacobs

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There are approximately 0.5 million hectares (ha) of irrigated native grass hay in the mountain and intermountain regions of California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado. Often these lands are not producing at their full physical or economic potential. The objectives of this study were to identify alternative improvement procedures to increase hay production and to determine the economic feasibility of those alternatives. The principal means of identifying alternative mountain hay-meadow improvement practices and their costs was personal in­terviews with ranchers. The ranchers interviewed were owners and/or operators of mountain ranches in Wyoming who were us­ing or had …

Pasture Demonstration Program For Beef: Economic Considerations, P R. Hasbargen, R H. Craven, N P. Martin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study made an economic evaluation of several alternative pasture improvement programs on beef farms in northern Minnesota. Three questions were addressed relative to several pasture improvement systems. These were (1) Will it pay? (2) Is there a cheaper way? and (3) Is there a more profitable system for a particular farm resource situation? Partial budgeting and computerized linear programming techniques were used to analyze pasture cost and return data obtained from several ranches in northern Minnesota. Study results show that rented pastures, when available, provided the cheapest source of additional summer feed, and that legume pastures provide cheaper sources …

Pennsylvania's Alfalfa Growers Program: Four Years Of Success, J E. Baylor, L E. Lanyon, W K. Waters

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most important perennial forage legume grown in Pennsylvania. However, yields currently reported by farmers are considerably below what might be expected when all production inputs are utilized. Therefore, a pro­gram was developed (1) to measure how much alfalfa hay, protein, and energy can be pro􀀗uced on 1 ha of Pennsylvania land under nonirrigated conditions, (2) to determine the mineral content and uptake by high-yielding alfalfa crops, and (3) to obtain more realistic on-farm estimates of alfalfa production costs. To achieve the program goals, hay production for each harvest from 2.02-ha farm fields was …

Estimation Of Digestibility Of Legume Forages By Means Of Morphological Parameters, W Kuhbauch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage quality is normally evaluated by time-consuming and costly laboratory analyses. It appears promising to use mor­phological parameters to evaluate forage quality in alfalfa and red clover. During progressive growth of white clover, red clover, and alfalfa, the leaf and stem portion was separated to determine the fiber fraction according to the Van Soest method and to

estimate digestibility by the procedure of Tilley and Terry. Stem : leaf ratio and stand height as a measure of stem length were used as morphological parameters. Leaves of the three legumes vary only slightly in concentration of cell-wall material and in digestibility …

Income, Costs, And Profits Associated With Feeding Selected Forages To Dairy Cows, D D. Dornfeld, D A. Rohweder, W T. Howard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Over the last i0 years, dairy-farm enterprises have g:ro-wn in size, with an apparent increase in use of improved scientific feeding and management techniques. There in growing emphasis on automated feeding and milking and on management stcategies in an attempt to reduce labor needs and allow more cows/worker. The average herd size in the sample population was 76.8 cows. There was difficulty finding herds over 100 and under 40 head. It appears that the trend toward increasing growth will continue, as much as sufficient capital, management ability, and debt service capacity eJi:ist to permit the growth to occur. Forage management …

Economic Analysis Of The Impact Of Management Decisions On Production And Use Of Silage For A Dairy Enterprise, A J. Corrall, H D. St. C Neal, I M. Wilkinson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this work was to examine the influence of variations in grass management and methods of ensiling on the economics of milk production for autumn-calving cows. A simulation model was developed to combine knowledge of plant and animal responses and their interactions in order to calculate the effects of management options on economic balances. Input data were compiled for herbage production from cut­ting strategies that gave herbage at four digestibilities, at two levels of applied nitrogen, and in three climates. Experimental evidence was also collated to construct matrices of loss of dry matter and changes in digestibility and …

Role And Effectiveness Of U.S. Universities In Training Professionals For Work In International Agriculture, D F. Fienup

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Problems of hunger, malnutrition, and world food security became a major world concern in the 1970s. Two U.S. presiden­tial reports have emphasized the seriousness of the situation and the need to expand food production and distribution, par­ticularly in the less-developed countries (LDCs) where hunger is most severe. The LDCs need to strengthen agricultural teaching, research, and extension in order to develop and disseminate the ap­propriate technology farmers need to increase food production. The most limiting factor is often the lack of trained scientists to provide local leadership and expertise. Here U.S. and other developed-country universities are needed to train LDC …

Innovations In Academic Curricula For International Education, D D. Dwyer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A major contribution of U.S. AID to developing countries has been to support the education of host-country nationals. This form of assistance has not been without its problems, as both AID and the universities themselves have been less than totally ef­fective in meeting the challenge of providing an education that best serves the student and the home country. In most developing countries, the B.S. degree serves as an adequate scientific foundation for staffing agricultural programs. This is not to argue against higher levels of education but to state that faster progress could be made by spreading the educational efforts among …

Effective Training For International Students, G W. Thomas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The observations made in this paper are based upon contacts with international students, both in the U.S. and in many other countries. Two of the most serious problems in increasing world food production in the developing world are (1) lack of trained people, and (2) technology transfer. A third constraint, inadequate research, is also critical but not of the magnitude of the other two, since there is a great amount of research information available that is not being adequately ut:ilized. Training needs fall into two general categories in which deficiencies are obvious: (1) graduate-level programs, particularly in the applied fields …

West Virginia University Allegheny Highlands Project: A Ten-Year Experiment In Technology Transfer, B S. Baker, P E. Lewis, E K. Inskeep, R H. Maxwell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

West Virginia's livestock industry is characterized by relatively small units located predominantly on rough terrain not suited to highly mechanized or intensive agriculture. As a result of changes in West Virginia agriculture during the last 40 years, there has been a reduction in support from agribusiness, marketing alternatives, and profitability. Some agriculturalists contend that if present technology were adopted, beef and sheep farms in mountainous regions could be profitable and could contribute to the local economy. The objective of the Allegheny Highlands Project (AHP) was to test the effectiveness of a method for delivering technological information to farmers to promote …

Legume Renovation Of Grass-Dominant Swards: A Data-Based Educational Program That Led To Adoption Of Practices By Kentucky Farmers, J K. Evans, G D. Lacefield, W C. Thompson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Kentucky has about 2.83 million ha of forage crops, most of which are on land with moderate to severe erosion hazards. By the early 1950s, one cultivar (Kentucky 31) of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) had been seeded on a relatively large area. Legumes grown with grasses had been showri to improve quality of forage markedly. Legumes were lost from many Kentucky grass fields during the relatively dry summers of 1953 and 1954. Research on legume establishment was expanded at the University of Kentucky in 1955. By 1959 sufficient data had been accumulated to formulate recommendations and begin educational programs …

Alternative Forage-Production Patterns For Dairy Cattle Under Conditions Of Limited Water Supply In Northern Mexico, R A. Martinez, M Quiroga, N Thomas, K F. Byerly

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the desert climate of northern Mexico ground-water resources are being exploited in forage production for the dairy in• dustry. As rest-water levels are currently falling by 1. 75 m annually, there is urgent need to examine the water-management effi­ciency index (WEI) of present forage cropping patterns and to replace the less efficiently managed species without decreasing the overall regional mean milk production of 141/cow/day. The present study describes the approach taken to achieve this goal and the implications of the approach for increased water-management efficiency in this region. Data are drawn from (1) on-farm surveys of 68 forage and …

Adoption Of Leucaena For Cattle Grazing In Australia, J H. Wildin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The tree legume Leucaena leucocephala is a high-quality cattle forage in many tropical countries. For the past 30 years, cat­tlemen have not planted leucaena despite conclusive evidence from small grazing experiments that it improved beef production and was suited to a large area of northern Australia. Seed of four cultivars was available in the 1960s. In 1968 cv. Peru, an ex­ cellent forage type, was planted in a 24-ha block specifically for seed production. But little of this seed was used in Australia. There were sev.eral probable reasons for the nonadoption of leucaena. Adverse publicity on the extreme effects of …

Grassland Societies In Manitoba, G Bonnefoy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Farmers with forage and livestock problems were organized into grassland societies and cooperated with extension staff sup­plied by 􀀇anitoba Agriculture. The purpose of the grassland societies is to improve by demonstration the traditional manage­ment practices used by livestock producers for pastures and forage production for beef and dairy herds. Results over 5 years were clearly positive. Significant improvements were noted in both field and animal husbandry practices. The experience confirmed the principles of the diffusion-adoption process and its application to adult extension education.

Pasture Demonstrations For Beef: Agronomic Considerations, N P. Martin, P R. Hasbargen, R L. Arthaud, G J. Sullivan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Beef cattle supply a major portion of farm income of northern Minnesota, but the major resource supporting this enterprise, forage, is vastly underutilized. A 5-year on-the-farm demonstration was conducted by the Agricultural Extension Service of the University of Minnesota and the Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission to improve income in this area by improving man­agement of the beef enterprise.

We compared one or two improved pasture systems with an unimproved permanent grass pasture composed predominantly of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), system A, on each of six ranches. Improved systems included use of a cool-season grass fertilized with 138 kg …

Optimizing The Use Of Grazed Dryland Pasture In Western Oregon, T E. Bedell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

When they are properly fertilized, western Oregon dryland pastures of subterranean dover with grasses such as perennial rp:g:rass, tall fescue, and resident annuals produce total annual dry-matter yields averaging 6,500 kg/ha. Some sites are capable of over 9,000 kg/ha. Optimum use of this forage is complicated by its highly seasonal availability. Over 50 % of the total growth occurs from late April to mid-June. Only about 10% takes place during autumn-early winter, and virtually none occurs during summer. Research shows livestock weight gains from 300 to over 700 kg/ha can be expected depending upon pasture mixture and kind of grazing …

Development Style And Graduate Education In The U.S.A For Students From The Developing Countries: Prospects For The Eighties, E F. Fuenzalida

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The purpose of this paper is to examine the past and present relevance of graduate education in the U.S.A. for students from developing countries and to suggest a number of changes that would make that education better adapted to developing countries' needs. The first section of the paper argues that in recent decades U.S. graduate education has been relevant for students from developing countries because most of those countries have adopted a particular style of development based on the modern

transnational corporation. The requirements of this transnational sryle of development have led in turn to the need for an ever· …

Value Of Lucerne As A Grazing Supplement For Sheep Grazing Natural Pastures In A Semiarid Area Of Australia, D L. Michalk, G E. Robards, E A. Armstrong, J Lacy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the central areas of New South Wales, the natural pastures are dominated by annual species that grow during the cooler months, producing good-quality grazing that is particularly abundant during spring. -However, these species mature rapidly in late spring and provide poor-quality summer grazing. The 4-year study reported here was designed to examine the value of sown lucerne, equivalent to one-third of the total area, as a supplement to be grazed mainly during late spring and summer. The availability of lucerne for spring grazing by ewes and lambs was of benefit only in one year when maturing grass seeds were …

Growing Beef Cattle On Native Pasture Oversown With The Legume Fine-Stem Stylo In Subtropical Australia, K G. Rickert, G M. Mckeon, J H. Prinsen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fine-stem stylo (FSS), Stylosanthes guianensis var. lntermedia, is a perennial legume suitable for sowing into native Heteropogon contortus pastures on well-drained soils in southeastern Queensland. A grazing system is described that aims to maintain a productive FSS pasture and grow steers to 480 kg live weight at 27 months of age. This goal requires gains of 300 kg/steer in 20 months after weaning. Results from a short-term field study of the system were analyzed for long-term repeatabil­ity using a simple model that predicted animal production from stocking rate and weather records. The system was studied near Gayndah, Queensland, on 11.3 …