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MARS/NDRI/KSU Communications Workshop: Part 7B. Safe food for a healthier Nepal: Priming a national mycotoxin response
No full text• Low aflatoxin awareness/risky agricultural practices
• Poor drying and storage practices, need for innovation packages at multiple value chain entry points (on farm, including as service provision or community-based efforts; traders/aggregators; market vendors,..)
• Research capacity has been enhanced; however, expanded, hub-spoke, surveillance/mitigation, risk communication capacity is needed (provinces, academia,…)
• Pair enabling policy with private secto
Integrating Sensory Feedback into a Neural Bypass Device
Get PDFKirmser Undergraduate Research Award - Individual Non-Freshman category, grand prizeRoger FriedmannThe objective of the project was to identify a problem or opportunity with a company process or product and propose a change based on thorough research. For my project, I chose the NeuroLife neural bypass device produced by Battelle. The device was designed to provide hundreds of thousands of people with the opportunity to overcome devastating neurological damage and disorders. However, the current design focuses only on restoring motor function. As a result, the patient faces challenges and limitations when moving a limb due to lack of immediate feedback to the brain to inform subsequent movements. My proposed change was to integrate sensory information to build a bidirectional neural bypass device to improve patient usability and device performance. Therefore, I investigated three primary cortical stimulation techniques being researched and developed for restoring sensory feedback. I also evaluated each technique based on prominent challenges that accompany brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). The three main methods for stimulating the central nervous system include magnetic stimulation, optogenetics, and electrical stimulation. The areas I used to evaluate each method were tissue damage, specificity of neuronal excitement, ethical considerations, and types of sensory information that have been successfully restored. Based on my research and the evaluation criteria, I propose integrating electrical stimulation into a neural bypass device because it would be the most feasible and reliable. I also provide recommendations for Battelle as possible steps for implementing my proposal
2022 EDUCAUSE Horizon Report® Data and Analytics Edition
Get PDFWith the 2022 data and analytics edition, we further expand our series of Horizon Reports to focus on an emerging area of practice that is driving institutional decision-making and strategic planning for the future—the trends, technologies, and practices that are shaping the world of postsecondary data and analytics. Based on a methodology that grounds the findings in the perspectives and expertise of a panel of leaders in higher education data and analytics, in this report we summarize the panel's input on the major trends shaping higher education, including panelists' reflections on the implications of this research for the future of higher education for particular institutional roles
Sustainable management in turfgrass systems: survivability during drought via minimal irrigation and simulating nitrous oxide emissions with process-based models
Get PDFDoctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Horticulture and Natural ResourcesDale J. BremerReductions of water and nitrogen (N) inputs have long been important topics for sustainable turfgrass management. Facing rising challenges of water crises and climate change, more research is needed on such topics. With increasing city water shortages and water restrictions on turfgrasses in the U.S., it is important to research strategies to preserve C3 and C4 turfgrasses during prolonged drought. In addition, to guide the best irrigation and N-fertilization management strategies of turfgrass for the mitigation of global warming in this century, process-based models, such as DAYCENT and DeNitrification‐DeComposition (DNDC), become important tools, which simulate nitrous oxide (N₂O, an important greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting gas) and soil carbon sequestration. To find strategies for alleviating drought stress during prolonged drought with imposed water restrictions, the objectives in the first part of the dissertation were to (1) evaluate turfgrass performance during drought and recovery among irrigation levels, and (2) determine minimum water amounts for turfgrass during prolonged drought that allow for acceptable recovery. Two independent studies were conducted on C3 and C4 turfgrasses, respectively, using irrigation much lower than recommendation levels during 2 summers of drought under a rainout shelter. Results indicated that during severe drought and imposed water restrictions, minimal weekly irrigation of at least 20 to 30% reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and 40 to 50% ETo could reduce turfgrass damage and conserve water in zoysiagrass (C4; Zoysia japonica Steud., hereafter referred to as zoysia) and tall fescue (C3; Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), respectively. The failure of Kentucky bluegrass (C3; Poa pratensis L.) to survive extended drought was possibly related to being first-year sod. To inform and guide irrigation and N-fertilization management of turfgrass for global warming mitigation, the objectives of the second part of this dissertation were to 1) calibrate DAYCENT and DNDC for N₂O emissions from Meyer zoysia; 2) validate and test the two calibrated models and compare their prediction accuracies; and 3) predict long-term N₂O emissions, C sequestration, and global warming potential (GWP) of different irrigation and N-fertilization practices. A combination of global sensitivity analysis and a Bayesian method was used to calibrate DAYCENT and DNDC. After calibration, both models were validated using field measurements from two studies of zoysia. Validation results indicated DAYCENT (R² = 0.22 to 0.89; relative RMSE = 36 to 171%) outperformed DNDC (R² = 0.01 to 0.38; relative RMSE = 119 to 193%) in biweekly N₂O fluxes. Annual N₂O emission estimates obtained from validation of DAYCENT were within -49 to +26% of annual estimates interpolated from measurements, whereas DNDC simulations generally underestimated N₂O emissions by up to -86%. Results indicated DAYCENT, but not DNDC, can adequately simulate the impacts of irrigation and N-fertilization practices on N₂O emissions in C4 turfgrasses such as zoysia. When assuming no further climate change, the validated DAYCENT model predicted that the typically recommended N-fertilization and irrigation practice in fairway zoysia turf would reduce net GWP by encouraging soil carbon sequestration in the first 40 years of establishment, better than no N-fertilization, after which reducing N and water inputs would be beneficial in mitigating increases of N₂O emissions and net GWP. A medium global warming scenario would accelerate increases in N₂O emissions and GWP, especially with higher N and water inputs
Investigating the effects of calcium carbonate and benzoic acid, corn protein sources, and a dried fermentation product in the diets of nursery pigs
Get PDFMaster of ScienceDepartment of Animal Sciences and IndustryJoel DeRoucheyJason C. WoodworthThe 3 chapters of this thesis involve 1) effects of added calcium carbonate with and without benzoic acid on weanling pig growth performance, fecal dry matter, and blood Ca and P concentrations, 2) evaluation of different corn protein sources on nursery pig growth performance and fecal dry matter, and 3) evaluation of a dried fermentation product administered through drinking water on nursery pig growth performance, fecal E. coli characterization, antibiotic usage, and mortality. Chapter 1 utilized 1,055 pigs in two experiments. In Exp. 1, 695 pigs were used in two groups to evaluate increasing calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) levels from 0 to 1.80%. Experiment 2 utilized 350 pigs to investigate the interactive effects between CaCO₃ and benzoic acid. In Exp. 2, CaCO₃ was included at 0.45, 0.90, and 1.35% with and without 0.50% inclusion of benzoic acid. In both experiments, increasing CaCO₃ in the diet decreased G:F. In Exp. 2, there was no evidence for CaCO₃ x benzoic acid interactions, but providing benzoic acid improved ADG, ADFI, and tended to improve G:F. As well, the level CaCO₃ was directly reflective of serum Ca; as CaCO₃ decreased in the diet, so did serum Ca. Chapter 2 involved 670 nursery pigs in two experiments to investigate corn co-products as replacements to specialty protein sources in the swine industry. Experiment 1 utilized 315 pigs and observed decreased growth performance when feeding 5 or 10% of corn protein sources. The second experiment utilized 355 pigs and observed that a fourth corn protein source did not influence growth performance compared to a control. Increasing this fourth corn protein source increased daily gain and feed intake, with intermediate inclusion levels having the greatest ADG and ADFI. Gain-to-feed decreased linearly with increasing this fourth corn protein. Finally, chapter 3 utilized 34,749 pigs in two experiments to evaluate a dried fermentation product administered through drinking water on nursery pig growth performance, fecal E. coli characterization, antibiotic usage, and mortality. Experiment 1 was conducted in a research setting utilizing 350 nursery pigs, where the dried fermentation product did not influence growth, antibiotic usage, fecal consistency, or E. coli presence. Experiment 2 was conducted in commercial nurseries utilizing 34,399 nursery pigs, where providing the dried fermentation product did not influence growth performance, reduced antibiotic injections, but increased nursery mortality
Changes in Life Goals Over College: A Comparison Between Men and Women Majoring in STEM
No full textInformed by goal congruity theory and emerging adulthood theory, this study examined changes over time and gender differences in the importance that college STEM majors placed on three life goals that have been hypothesized to explain the differential retention of men and women in STEM: Marriage-Family, Career-Status, and the desire to have a positive Social Impact. 251 students (n = 128, 51% women; n = 191, 76% White) completed three surveys, one year apart. Participants rated the importance of different life goals at each time point. Changes in importance ratings over time were moderated by gender. Men and women only differed in the importance placed on Marriage-Family goals at Time 1 and differences in Social Impact goals emerged at Time 3. Men’s ratings for Marriage-Family and Social Impact goals decreased over time, but women’s ratings did not significantly change. For both genders, ratings of Career-Status goals decreased over time. Secondary analyses suggest that gender differences in Marriage-Family and Social Impact goals emerge midway through college for STEM majors. Findings suggest that women who are retained in STEM majors place a high value on Marriage-Family and Social Impact goals, similar to non-STEM majors, but may be able to better visualize a future STEM career that affords these goals. Explanations for gender differences in STEM interest based on goal congruity theory should consider that the importance of different life goals may change over college
Environmental & architectural phenomenology. Vol. 33, issue 2
No full textArchitect Christopher Alexander died in March, and philosopher Robert Mugerauer died in May. This issue of EAP is entirely a memorial to these two significant thinkers whose works were a major contribution to environmental and architectural phenomenology. The issue includes entries from philosopher Ingrid Leman Stefanovic, anthropologist Jenny Quillien, and computer-program researcher and poet Richard Gabriel. We republish several essays and passages from Alexander and Mugerauer’s writings. The issue includes a portfolio of photographs of Alexander’s Eishen Campus in Japan, kindly provided by Japanese photographer Takeshi Kakeda
Marginal cost of carbon sequestration through forest afforestation of agricultural land in the southeastern United States
Get PDFOne tool to mitigate climate change is to sequester carbon through changes in land use. The purpose of this study is to analyze the cost-effectiveness of carbon sequestration through afforestation of cropland via the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in the United States. We use the correlated random effects (CRE) probit model to estimate the impact of an increase in the CRP rental payments on land use transitions between cropland and forest. Our estimates are used to simulate land use change and carbon sequestration supply curves over different time horizons. Increasing the CRP rent to reflect the social cost of carbon of $154/tonne of carbon increases annual carbon sequestered by 7.42 million tonnes, 23.58 million tonnes, and 34.96 million tonnes over 1, 5, and 10-year horizons
Kansas Forest Service Annual Report 2021
No full textThis publication is an annual report of the services provided and a summary of the 2021 Kansas Forest Service's operating year
Genome assembly and visualization of aggressive wheat blast strain 16MoT01
Get PDFWheat blast, a highly destructive fungal disease caused by pathotype Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum, can cause up to 100% yield loss in wheat fields under optimal pathogen conditions. Until 2016, the disease had been confined to South America, but recent outbreaks of the disease in Asia and Africa threaten the global wheat supply. This study aims to characterize the genome structure of strain 16MoT01, which has proven to be particularly aggressive even towards wheat genotypes that have previously been resistant to blast. Genomic DNA from 16MoT01 was sequenced using Oxford Nanopore long read sequencing, assembled with Canu, and polished using Illumina reads, resulting in a finished chromosome-level assembly consisting of seven core-chromosomes, a mini-chromosome, and a mitochondrial genome. When compared to the reference genome of strain B71, the core-chromosomes show high similarity and the mini-chromosome shows a high level of divergence. The presence of mini-chromosomes will be confirmed through contour-clamped electric field (CHEF) gel electrophoresis. The CHEF protocol was developed using genomic DNA from a rice blast fungus. This assembly provides another reference genome and potential insights into what makes this strain so aggressive