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Wayne E. Sabbe Arkansas Soil Fertility Studies 2024
Get PDFRapid technological changes in crop management and production require that the research efforts be presented in an expeditious manner. The contributions of soil fertility and fertilizers are major production factors in all Arkansas crops. The studies described within will allow producers to compare their practices with the university’s research efforts. Additionally, soil-test data and fertilizer sales are presented to allow comparisons among years, crops, and other areas within Arkansas
Arkansas Soybean Research Studies 2023
Get PDFThe 2023 Arkansas Soybean Research Studies includes research reports on topics pertaining to soybean across several disciplines from breeding to post-harvest processing. Research reports contained in this publication may represent preliminary or only data from a single year or limited results; therefore, these results should not be used as a basis for long-term recommendations.
Several research reports in this publication will appear in other University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station publications. This duplication is the result of the overlap in research coverage between disciplines and our effort to inform Arkansas soybean producers of the research being conducted with funds from the Soybean Check-off Program. This publication also contains research funded by industry, federal, and state agencies.
Use of products and trade names in any of the research reports does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the products named and does not signify that these products are approved to the exclusion of comparable products.
All authors are either current or former faculty, staff, or students of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, or scientists with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service.
Extended thanks are given to the staff at the state and County Extension offices, as well as the research centers and stations; producers and cooperators; and industry personnel who assisted with the planning and execution of the programs
The Role of Geographic Area on Juvenile Delinquency: Evidence from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
Get PDFThis study explores the relationship between geographic area and juvenile delinquency, with particular attention to how this relationship varies across the following settings: large metropolitan areas, small metropolitan areas, and rural areas. Using nationally representative data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the analysis focuses on youth under the age of 18 and incorporates additional social factors such as parental involvement, gender, grade level, and race/ethnicity. Results from my negative binomial regression models demonstrate that geographic area did not play significant role in delinquency overall. Income showed notable variation by geographic setting: in rural areas, even modest increases in household income were associated with significantly lower delinquency, while no such pattern was observed in large or small metropolitan areas. Findings indicate that higher levels of parental involvement are consistently associated with lower rates of juvenile delinquency across all geographic areas. Gender also played a significant role, with female youth less likely to report engaging in delinquent behavior, particularly in large metro and rural areas. These findings suggest that while some protective factors, like parental involvement, are universally effective, the impact of structural factors like income may be more context-specific. As a result, prevention strategies should consider both the social and geographic contexts in which youth live to more effectively address and reduce juvenile delinquency
Improving outcomes for patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
No full textAbstract
BACKGROUND
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), also known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, is a growing health concern. It is a silent disease with 75% of patients being asymptomatic until reaching significant disease and having an average three-year prognosis. If caught early in the disease process, this disease can be managed successfully in the primary care setting. Primary care providers lack guidance on how to assess, diagnose, treat, and manage metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease patients. Researchers combined clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for MASLD assessment, treatment, and management into an easy-to-use algorithm for use in the primary care setting.
AIM
To standardize assessment practices for MASLD in the primary care setting using an algorithm to improve patient outcomes.
METHODS
Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) provided analysis of outcome measures over a four-month period. This project included analysis of pre- and post-training readiness surveys and knowledge tests using a paired T-test. Participants included fourteen healthcare professionals from a FQHC chosen from convenience and described using descriptive statistics. Bar charts and histograms are used to discuss the number of algorithm data sheets completed with FIB-4 score calculations and the number of Fibroscan referrals.
RESULTS
A statistically significant difference was observed between pre- and post-training knowledge test scores (t12.550 = 14, p \u3c 0.001) and readiness survey scores (t5.520 = 14, p \u3c 0.001). As a result, there was a significant increase (244%) in the number of patients assessed for risk factors for MASLD and the number of patients identified as at-risk for MASLD (n = 45) using the assessment algorithm. Although an improvement in assessment practices occurred, there was not a significant improvement in referral practices.
CONCLUSION
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease is a complex disease. Providers must be provided with tools that support early MASLD detection to improve patient outcomes such as a MASLD algorithm. .
Key words: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Algorithms; Liver assessment; Fatty liver disease; Guidelines for fatty liver
Core Tip: This DNP project aimed to improve patient outcomes using a MASLD assessment algorithm in the primary care setting. The goal was to align clinical practice guidelines with current clinical practice. Pre- and post-training readiness survey and knowledge test scores showed a statistically significant difference. After implementing the MASLD algorithm, assessment of patients with risk factors improved by 244% and forty-five patients were identified as being at-risk for MASLD based on their calculated FIB-4 score. However, there was no improvement in Fibroscan referral practices for patients identified as at-risk for MASLD
Political Nonverbal Dynamics: An Analysis of Smiles in Contentious Political Events
Get PDFThis study analyzes smiles during the 2024 U.S. Presidential Debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, revealing how nonverbal cues act as emotional signals and social tools. Findings indicate Harris displayed a significantly higher percentage of smiles than Trump. Limitations include potential human error in coding and influences of facial cosmetic procedures. The analysis underscores the importance of nonverbal communication in political settings and suggests future research on specific types of smiles, such as fear smiles, which are less understood in the context of political interactions
Patient Specific Medical Balloon Forming Machine And System
Get PDFPatient specific medical balloons, assemblies, and systems for forming the same, and devices and methods for treating patients in need of a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are disclosed. The assembly for forming the medical balloon comprises a form for receiving a parison where the form is configured to prepare a patient specific medical balloon matched in geometry to a blood vessel or a lesion for a patient in need of a PCI
Soft Robotic Gripper For Berry Harvesting
Get PDFA berry harvesting berries system including a mobile platform and a tendon-driven gripper having fingers made of a compliant material, which prevents unwanted damage to the berries
Effectiveness of Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance Administered to Newly Received, High-Risk Stocker Calves
Get PDFStocker cattle purchased at auction can be susceptible to disease due to the stressors associated with the auction process. These cattle are labeled “high-risk” due to their compromised immune system during transportation, handling, and vaccination processes. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of a maternal bovine appeasing substance, FerAppease, on growth performance and behavior of stocker cattle. Male beef calves (n=80) were purchased at auction and transported to the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Savoy Research Complex Beef Stocker Unit. Steers and bulls were of varying age, breed, and temperament. Upon arrival to the facility (day 0), bulls (n = 48) were castrated by banding and cattle were assigned to 8 pens (n = 10 calves/pen; 6 bulls and 4 steers/pen). On day 0, cattle in 4 pens were treated with FerAppease (FA) on the nuchal skin (n = 40) and cattle in the other 4 pens were not treated and served as controls (CON, n = 40). All cattle received commercial clostridial and respiratory vaccines and were treated with an anthelmintic. Cattle were offered bermudagrass hay for ad libitum intake and were fed a grain supplement (1.8 kg/day) to meet or exceed nutrient requirements. During the trial, 1 calf was removed on day 3 for a total of 79 calves (n = 33 steers and 46 bulls). To measure growth performance, body weight (BW) was recorded on days 0, 3, 14, 28, 41, and 42 of the study and used to calculate average daily gain (ADG). Days 41 and 42 BW were averaged to calculate final BW. To measure behavior, exit chute velocity (ECV) was measured with an electric timing system and recorded on days 3, 14, 28, 41, and 42. Accelerometers were attached to the left pastern of 16 calves (n=1 steer and 1 bull per pen) for 8 days, and the mean number of bouts and time spent lying with leg out, lying on the sternum, and standing were analyzed. A patch of hair above the tail was collected from 40 calves (n=5 calves/pen) on days 0 and 42, and cortisol was measured using radioimmunoassay. To measure inflammation, blood was drawn from 5 calves/pen (n = 3) bulls and 2 steers/pen) on days 0, 3, 28 and 42 and haptoglobin was measured in blood serum. Serum haptoglobin was log-transformed to improve normality and model fit. Linear mixed effects models in R were used to analyze data for the effects of treatment and day, with pen as a random effect. The Cox Hazard Ratio determined the probability of antibiotic treatment for BRD. There was no treatment effect on any of the measures collected. However, CON bulls were at greater (P = 0.05) risk of BRD morbidity by the end of the trial (63%) compared to other groups (41% FA bulls, 6% CON steers, and 30% FA steers). Overall, the results from this study indicate that there could have been some effect of the treatment through a reduction in morbidity
Managing Graphical Fidelity with Stylized Shaders for Independent Game Development
Get PDFThis paper outlines work performed by the author within the Unity3D game engine to gain preliminary experience with technical art implementation and suggests design choices that could be useful to other students or independent game developers to manage complexity within their games while maintaining visual appeal. The final product of the discussed project is a small game consisting of an outdoor urban city environment as well as an interior aquarium environment. This paper begins with the author’s motivations and goals for the project before describing the implementation of specific aspects of technical art, including 3D modeling, rigging, animation, level design, lighting, programming, and performance optimization. Finally, this paper includes an analysis discussing the project’s success in terms of visual appearance and overall performance and describes areas for improvement and potential future work
Backyard Renaissance
No full textThis thesis is a collection of poetry documenting my pursuit of reclaiming my autonomy. The collection contains themes of nature, childhood, family conflict, and emotional growth. This is a creative work using memory and metaphor to understand the feelings I have struggled to articulate throughout my life. The purpose of this collection is to give myself a voice after years of staying silent and to reclaim my identity apart from my family and past. The collection contains 23 poems, organized chronologically, some playing with tenses and ideas of the future