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The Onnagata: A Note Regarding the Male Actor of Female Roles in Japanese Theatre
No full textThis paper discusses the influence of the Kabuki onnagata, male actors portraying female characters, on Japanese culture
Performing Piety, Commerce, and Community in the Medieval Italian Town
No full textThis paper explores the characters and set–like aspects of the Italian medieval town where much of the drama of the emergence of the modern individual and economy played out and examines the various changes in the presentation of the human body within Christianity and the evolution of the façades of the buildings of the medieval Italian street
Gourd Gun Powder Flask (image 2)
No full text“Some of the old granny women still administer gunpowder and water to women in labor, believing that it stimulates the muscular contractions which expel the child...”
This g by Jake O. Ry alongside a tin of Remington’s Central Fire gunpowder in 1906.
While both the original owner and artisan a mystery, the gourd flask is inscribed with the initials of R.A.T and features a rawhide stopper. This object is part of a great tradition of gourd craft within the Ozarks and the Americas as the tradition can be attributed to several indigenous nations as far back as nearly 10,000 years.4
Just as the gourd functions outside of its original intended purpose, gunpowder operates 5supporting this practice, midwives and “granny women,” as Randolph refers to them, alike believe that the mixture acts to stimulate muscular contractions and thus expel the child.6
4 Webb, Emily. “All in Gourd Fun.” Lees McRae University, November 17, 2022. https://www.lmc.edu/about/news- center/articles/2022/all-in-gourd-fun.htm.
5
6 Randolph, Vance. “Ozark Superstitions.” The American Journal of Folklore 46, no. 179, March 1933.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/uamucc/1002/thumbnail.jp
The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in College Students
No full textThis study explored the interaction effects of physical activity levels and race on college students\u27 physical and mental health, focusing on Native American students. A total of 245 students participated, categorized by physical activity levels (low, moderate, and high) and race (Native American and others). Descriptive statistics outlined the sample characteristics and physical activity behaviors. At the same time, a two-way ANOVA was conducted to assess the effects of race and physical activity on health-related quality of life, measured through physical and mental composite scores (PCS and MCS). The results revealed a significant interaction effect between race and low physical activity levels on physical health, indicating that Native American students in the low physical activity group had significantly lower PCS scores compared to their non-Native American counterparts. However, no significant main effects of race or physical activity levels on PCS scores existed. Regarding mental health, no significant differences were observed across physical activity levels or between racial groups. Similarly, the interaction between race and physical activity levels did not significantly affect mental health outcomes. These findings suggest that the relationship between physical activity and physical health may be particularly relevant for Native American students with low physical activity. In contrast, mental health outcomes remain unaffected by race or physical activity levels
Evaluation of Tracheal and Cecal Microbial Composition in Heat Stressed Broilers Supplemented with Phytogenic Additives
No full textThe rise in global temperatures has become a concern due to its significant impact on the agricultural sector, including poultry production. Heat stress caused by high temperatures directly affects animal welfare, health and productivity, leading to major losses in the poultry sector. In broilers, heat stress affects feed consumption, weight gain, mortality and may also lead to changes in the microbiome, which can increase the predisposition to disease and impact the overall performance of these animals. The aim of this thesis was to reproduce field conditions, simulating an increase in temperature, and to evaluate possible changes in the respiratory and intestinal microbiome. At the same time, to assess the possible potential compounds to mitigate the deleterious effects of HS. For this purpose, broiler animals were divided into groups according to treatment, where Lippia origanoides essential oil associated with herbal Betaine were used in two different concentrations in the diet (initial/growth/finishing). The animals were exposed to heat stress cyclically, starting on day 10 of life for 12 hours a day (8:00-20:00) until day 42. The cecal contents and tracheal lavage were collected to evaluate the possible changes in the microbiome of birds exposed to heat and, comparatively, birds that received supplementation with Lippia origanoides and herbal betaine. The first chapter consists of a brief review of this thesis. Chapter 2 provides a literature review of the physiological aspects of heat stress in poultry, the respiratory and cecal microbiome, as well as a brief review of essential oils and their applications in poultry farming. Chapter 3 covers the research carried out, demonstrating the results of using these phytogenic compounds in situations of heat stress in poultry production
Consumer Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice for Animal-Raising and Environment-Related Labeling Claims
No full textIn the fall of 2024, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) updated its guidelines for substantiating animal-raising and environment-related claims used on meat and poultry products. The updates aim to address numerous comments and petitions from industry stakeholders by improving guidance and strengthening the documentation recommended for substantiation. While the updates included both minor and substantial revisions, the most notable addition was the strong emphasis on the inclusion of a third-party certification in the substantiating documents. The timely update comes on the heels of heightened scrutiny regarding animal-raising claims, as issues of non-compliance and agency oversight have continued to arise. Noncompliance issues raise questions about consumer trust in animal-raising and environment-related claims, as well as the value consumers place on third-party certification given agency oversight. This study explored consumer trust in nine distinct animal-raising and environment-related claim categories, as explicitly defined by the FSIS in its guidelines for claim substantiation. These claim categories include Animal Welfare, Breed, Diet, Living or Raising Conditions, Negative Antibiotic Use, Negative Hormone Use, Source or Traceability, Organic, and Environment-related. Data were collected from 1,485 respondents using a web-based survey. A best-worst scaling (BWS) approach was used to determine which animal-raising and environment-related claims were the most and least trusted; these data were examined for the entire sample and also stratified by household shopping roles and by meat consumption frequency. Additional survey questions were asked to determine knowledge of and trust in certifying agencies (e.g., USDA) and a third-party certifier. The results indicate disproportionate levels of trust across the nine different claim categories. We find that consumers trust claims about the Breed and Source/Traceability the most, while claims about Animal Welfare, Environment-related, and Living/Raising Conditions were trusted the least. However, consumers generally had low levels across all nine animal claim categories. Additionally, household food shopping roles and meat consumption frequency have little to no interpretable impact on trust. Findings also indicate that consumers primarily trust the USDA the most to certify animal-raising and environment-related labeling claims. Finally, the inclusion of a third-party certification would positively affect consumer trust. This study provides a novel contribution to the conversation of food labeling by providing quantified values of trust in food claims found on meat and poultry products. While the findings highlight issues of trust, they can be used to improve consumer understanding and confidence in animal-raising and environment-related claims through targeted interventions and enhanced labeling practices
Limb Regeneration in Damselflies Based on Developmental Stage
No full textInjury is common in wild animals, yet some species possess an adaptive advantage: regeneration. Enallagma vesperum, a species of damselfly, exhibits this regenerative ability, though its persistence and effectiveness across developmental stages remain poorly understood. While previous studies indicate that regeneration ceases following adult emergence, it is unclear whether this ability also diminishes prior to the final larval molt. This study investigated the effectiveness of limb regeneration in E. vesperum across early and late larval instars. I hypothesized that earlier instars would exhibit greater regenerative success due to fewer competing energetic demands compared to later instars, which may prioritize resources for processes such as tissue differentiation and physiological preparation for metamorphosis. My results support this prediction, demonstrating that E. vesperum in early developmental stages exhibited much greater limb regenerative success than those in later stages. These findings highlight the role of developmental timing in shaping regenerative capacity and suggest potential trade-offs between regeneration and other growth-related processes as larvae approach metamorphosis
The Connection Between Workplace Wellness Activities and Job Satisfaction in Manufacturing
No full textEmployers in all industries are concerned with creating and maintaining a workplace where their employees are engaged in their work. Job dissatisfaction is shown to lead to higher levels of turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism. The purpose of this quantitative study will be to examine the connection between workplace wellness activity participation and job satisfaction, specifically for manufacturers in Southwest Missouri, Southeast Kansas, and Northeast Oklahoma. Manufacturers have experienced increased global competition in the last three decades, not just for their products or services but for quality talent. The value of this study is to show manufacturing employers that by providing workplace wellness activities to encourage healthier behaviors for their employee population, it could lead to higher job satisfaction (Richemond, 2016). By providing workplace wellness programs and activities that are aligned with the employee population to create healthier behaviors, employers have an opportunity to attract and retain employees (Diestel et al., 2014). Higher job satisfaction may lead to higher productivity and profitability as well as a reduction in turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism