Kansas State University
Not a member yet
19105 research outputs found
Sort by
Determining the Dose-Response Effects of a Modified Corn Protein Product in Nursery Pig Diets
No full textThis experiment was conducted to determine the dose-response effects of a modified corn protein product (MCP; Cargill Starches, Sweeteners, & Texturizers, Blair, Nebraska) on growth performance, fecal dry matter, removals and mortalities, and apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of energy in nursery pigs. A total of 320 weanling pigs (DNA 600 × 241; initially 12.5 lb) were used in a 42-d growth study. Pigs were weaned at approximately 18 d of age, randomly allotted to pens in light (10.8 lb) or heavy (14.5 lb) weight blocks, and then pens were allotted to one of four dietary treatments in a completely randomized block design. There were five pigs per pen and 16 pens per treatment across two barns. Dietary treatments consisted of 0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5% MCP in phase 1 and 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.0 % MCP in phase 2. Modified corn protein replaced enzymatically treated soybean meal, conventional soybean meal and feed-grade amino acids in the control diet. Treatment diets were balanced for amino acids and minerals, but not energy, and fed in two dietary phases from d 0 to 10 and d 10 to 24, respectively, followed by a common phase 3 corn-SBM-based diet that did not contain MCP and was fed for the remainder of the trial. The percentage of pigs that lost weight on d 3 increased (linear, P = 0.045) as MCP increased. From d 0 to 10, ADG and d 10 BW decreased (quadratic, P \u3c 0.05) and F/G worsened (linear, P = 0.002) as MCP increased, with the largest difference occurring when MCP increased from 10.0 to 12.5% of the diet. From d 10 to 24, ADG (quadratic, P = 0.086) and ADFI (quadratic, P = 0.023) increased then decreased as MCP increased, with the best performance observed at 2.5% MCP. Day 24 BW tended to decrease (linear, P = 0.064) as MCP increased. From d 24 to 42 when all pigs were fed a common diet, no differences in performance were observed. Overall, there were no ADG or ADFI effects observed, but pigs fed increasing MCP had poorer (linear, P = 0.042) F/G. Fecal DM was not affected by dietary treatment on d 10, but increased then decreased on d 20 (quadratic, P = 0.016) as MCP increased, with the greatest DM observed in pigs fed 5% MCP. In summary, increasing MCP in early nursery diets reduced ADG and worsened F/G. However, in phase 2, when added MCP was reduced, ADG and ADFI, as well as fecal DM, increased then decreased with increasing MCP. For the overall study, increasing MCP had no effects on ADG or ADFI, but worsened F/G, which might reflect the lower dietary ME and NE as MCP increased
Diabetes Distress, Emotional Dysregulation, and Depressive Symptoms among Black Adults with Type 2 Diabetes
Full text linkThe daily demands of diabetes self-management can be distressing, causing greater depressive symptomatology. Further, diabetes distress is positively associated with feelings of frustration and worry, causing increased emotional dysregulation that may further explain the association between diabetes distress and depressive symptomology. The current study used cross-sectional data to assess the role of emotional dysregulation as a mediator of the association between diabetes distress and depressive symptoms in Black adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants (n = 284, 72% female, 62±11 years old, mean diabetes diagnosis duration 11±9 years) were recruited through local churches and completed self-report measures of diabetes distress, emotional dysregulation, and depressive symptoms. Path analyses were performed using Mplus 8 MODEL INDIRECT. Bootstrapping was used to establish robust point estimates. There was a significant direct effect between diabetes distress and depressive symptoms (β = .12, p = .02). A significant indirect effect was also found between diabetes distress and depressive symptoms through emotional dysregulation (β = .30, p \u3c .001). The overall association between diabetes distress and depressive symptoms, including both direct and indirect effects, was β = .42, p \u3c .001. Thus, the positive association between diabetes distress and depressive symptoms was mediated by emotional dysregulation. These findings suggest that strategies aimed at enhancing emotional regulation along with strategies to reduce diabetes distress may decrease depressive symptoms among Black adults with type 2 diabetes
Generic Language in the Communication of Health Research
Full text linkGeneric claims imply universal rules about categories or groups by glossing over individual variability and exceptions. Consider, for example, the generic news headline ‘Exercise helps teens quit smoking’ relative to the non-generic ‘Exercise helps some teens quit smoking’. When generic language is used in primary reporting of scientific research (i.e., journal articles) the reported claims are perceived to be more important and more generalisable than when non-generic language is used. This study aimed to establish whether the same effects would be present within secondary reporting of research (i.e., news articles aimed at the public), with a particular focus on personal health claims. Participants read a series of genuine news headlines in either their original generic format (e.g., ‘Exercise helps teens...’) a past-tense non-generic format (e.g., ‘Exercise helped teens...’) or a qualified non-generic format (e.g., ‘Exercise helps some teens...’). Generic headlines were rated as slightly more important and more generalisable than headlines qualified with the word ‘some’. In contrast, we found no differences in perceived importance or generalisability between generic headlines and past-tense non-generic headlines. Our results suggest that writers must be explicitly non-universal when summarising research in order to accurately communicate constraints on generality
Hospitality and Tolerance: Portrayals of Migrant Communities in Jenny Erpenbeck’s Gehen, ging, gegangen (2015) and Saša Stanišić’s Herkunft (2019)
Full text linkThis essay analyzes two recent German-language texts, Jenny Erpenbeck’s Gehen, ging, gegangen (2015) and Saša Stanišić’s Herkunft (2019) that present different perspectives of refugee experiences. Utilizing the frameworks of refugee studies and hospitality, I interpret how these authors portray the treatment and reception of refugees in Germany. I juxtapose Derrida’s focus on the need to subject hospitality to jurisdiction with Sara Ahmed’s writings about post-coloniality and critical refugee studies scholars’ efforts to re-center the refugee experience in my analysis of the portrayals of migration, asylum, and refugees in Erpenbeck’s and Stanišić’s texts. Both depict the precarity of the refugee existence and the hurdles that migrants face as they seek to find welcome and acceptance in the “foreign” country of Germany
Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on Growth and Development of Bull Calves
Full text linkObjective: The objective was to evaluate the supplementation of omega-3-based fatty acids to developing, post-weaned beef bull calves on growth and reproductive development.
Study Description: This study was conducted over a 64-day period involving purebred Angus, Hereford, and Simmental bull calves (n = 42) born in spring 2023. The bulls were randomly assigned to three groups that included a control that did not receive the omega-3 supplement (n = 14) and calves that received 0.5 lb (n = 14) or 1.0 lb (n = 18) of the omega-3 supplement. The bulls were fed according to a ration formulated using the Growing Bull module of the Excel-based Beef Ration and Nutrition Decision Software (BRaNDS) formulation program.
Results: No differences (P = 0.98) in initial body weight (BW) were observed among the treatment groups. Final BW for the 1.0 lb supplement group showed a trend toward higher values compared to the control; however, this was not significant (P = 0.77). Omega-3 supplementation increased (P = 0.04) average daily gain (ADG) in the 1.0 lb group with ADG values of 4.25 lb/day compared to 3.60 lb/day in the control group. The dry matter intake was consistent across groups (P = 0.64), indicating no effect of omega-3 supplementation on feed intake. However, the probability of passing the breeding soundness exam (BSE) was lower (P = 0.0097) in the 1.0 lb group, suggesting a negative impact on reproductive soundness.
The Bottom Line: Omega-3 supplementation at 1.0 lb/day improved weight gain but had negative effects on reproductive soundness, lowering BSE pass rates
Determining the Spoilage Threshold for Ground Beef Using Microbial, Color, and Oxidation Measures
Full text linkObjective: The objective of this study was to determine the point at which ground beef becomes spoiled relative to microbiological, lipid oxidation, and color measurements.
Study Description: One lb ground beef packages from a case-ready facility were stored at 36 to 40°F in the absence of light until displayed in coffin-style cases under fluorescent lighting. The packages were assigned to one of eight display periods (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 days). Samples were evaluated by consumers for visual appearance, touch, and odor liking, as well as evaluated for discoloration, redness, off-odor presence, and characteristic beef texture by trained sensory panelists. Additionally, objective measurements of aerobic plate counts (APC), Enterobacteriaceae plate counts (EB), and Escherichia coli (E. coli) coliform plate counts (ECC) for microbiology were obtained along with thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) for lipid oxidation and L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) values for color.
Results: Logistic regression models were generated to identify purchase intent thresholds and consumer spoilage classification based on the objective measures. Consumer appearance liking showed the strongest predictor values relative to the microbiological assays, explaining 81% of the variation when predicting consumer purchase intent. Logistic models for APC (R2 = 0.59; P \u3c 0.05) identified values of 7.3, 6.7, 6.1, and 5.8 log colony forming units (CFU)/g representing 50, 75, 90, and 95% likelihood a consumer would purchase the product. Additionally, APC values (R2 = 0.46; P \u3c 0.05) of 5.3, 5.9, 6.8, and 7.7 log CFU/g relating to 5, 10, 25, and 50% likelihood a consumer would consider a product spoiled. The EB and ECC models also showed the strongest relationships corresponded to appearance liking, but were not as relevant as the APC predictors. Overall, all objective measurements in relation to consumer appearance liking explained the most (P \u3c 0.05) variance within the model.
The Bottom Line: Though changes in objective measures occurred throughout 14 days of display, the strongest determining factor when predicting consumer purchase intent and spoilage was the consumer appearance liking scores
Evaluating Ground Grain Sorghum as an Alternative to Dry-Rolled Corn in Finishing Cattle Diets
Full text linkObjective: The aim of this study was to evaluate ground grain sorghum as an alternative to dry-rolled corn.
Study Description: Beef steers (n = 300; 764 lb initial body weight) in 30 feedlot pens (10 animals/pen; 15 replicates) were fed finishing diets containing ground sorghum or dry-rolled corn for 182 days. Diets were balanced to contain similar crude protein and starch and fed once daily. Average daily gain, dry matter intake, feed efficiency, carcass traits, and digestibility of diet components were determined.
The Bottom Line: The energy value of ground sorghum grain was approximately 94% that of dry-rolled corn. Future efforts should focus on the development of superior sorghum hybrids and processing methods that enhance nutritional value of sorghum
Southeast Kansas Climate Summary for 2024
Full text linkThe divisional data in this report are from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The NCEI generated monthly divisional averages based on individual station data from observers within the 14 counties that comprise this division. The observations come from official reporting sites such as airports, as well as co-operative and citizen observers who measure both temperature and precipitation
Corn, Soybean and Sunflower Production – 2024 Summary
Full text linkSoybean and corn varieties were tested in replicated field trials at the Southeast Research and Extension Center in Parsons through the Kansas State University variety testing program. In 2024, 16 corn varieties were planted in March 2023. Excess rain led to a very poor stand, and the corn varieties were replanted in mid-June. The late planting led to very poor performance and the test was abandoned. The soybean variety test also failed and was abandoned. Twelve sunflower varieties were tested and harvested. The 2024 growing season was nearly average, but divergent rainfall resulted in flooding early, and long periods of drought in mid- to late summer. Lack of early autumn rains greatly reduced soybean yields. Temperatures throughout the summer were above the 14-year average
School Social Workers Preparation for Special Education Practice: An Exploratory Study
Full text linkSchool social workers are designated as related service providers under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to support students with disabilities and their families. Despite this, state requirements for school or special education-specific training among social workers providing these services vary significantly. This mixed method study explored the potential impact of preservice training on school social workers’ self-reported knowledge and skills to prepare them as related service providers. School social workers across the United States participated in an online survey to report knowledge and skills for special education practice upon beginning work in schools and at present. Analysis found a statistically significant difference in self-reported knowledge and skills for special education practice between school social workers who reported specific preservice training and those who did not. Findings highlight the potential importance of preservice training in special education to prepare social workers as related service providers in schools