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Assessment Among Adults Experiencing Sheltered Homelessness: Nutrition and Food Safety Knowledge and Potential Barriers to Attending a Culinary Training Program
No full textRestaurants are the largest private sector employers in Texas. Yet only 48% of Texas restaurants have enough employees to support existing demand. The shortage of restaurant employees is an opportunity to develop culinary training programs for individuals that need employment, such as adults experiencing sheltered homelessness. Prior to program development it is important to understand their baseline knowledge of nutrition and food safety and potential attendance barriers. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among adults experiencing sheltered homelessness in Houston, Tx (October 16, 2024-November 13, 2024). Among 91 participants, on average, adults were 42 years old (SD = 12.98), 67% female, and 60% Black. Nutrition knowledge was low on 2 survey items (12% and 34% correct) and moderate on another 2 items (64% and 66% correct). Regarding food safety, 93% of the participants were able to answer 1 of the 5 items correctly. In terms of potential barriers, 82% of the sample experienced food insecurity. Seventy-seven percent of participants that had a car expressed not having money for gasoline and not making repairs to their car because of the expense. Forty-seven percent of the participants had children under the age of 18 and 44% of them needed childcare assistance in order attend a program. Curriculum associated with the culinary training program must include nutrition and food safety education. To address potential attendance barriers (food, transportation, childcare), it may be necessary to partner with community organizations that aim to reduce economic instability prior to developing and implementing the program
Explaining Condom use among Male Construction Worker Clients of Sex Workers in the Western Cape, South Africa
No full textBackground: Ten percent of sexually active men in sub-Saharan Africa report having had sex with a sex worker - a subpopulation facing a disproportionate burden of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In South Africa, an estimated 5% of new heterosexual HIV infections are attributable to female sex workers and 42% to their male clients. Despite this high vulnerability, empirical research on male clients of sex workers remains limited.
Purpose: This study examined behavioral and cognitive determinants of self-reported condom use among male construction worker clients of sex workers in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 227 male construction workers who reported sex with a female sex worker in the preceding three months. Participants were recruited across 18 construction sites operated by seven companies in the Western Cape. Three measures of self-reported condom use were analyzed: (1) condom use at last sex with a sex worker (retrospective), (2) frequency of condom use with sex workers in the past three months (retrospective), and (3) intention to use a condom at next sex with a sex worker (prospective). Logistic and multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors of condom use across these measures.
Results: Respondents’ engagement in risky sexual behaviors, HIV/AIDS transmission knowledge, attitudes toward condom use, and perceived control over condom use were statistically significant predictors across models.
Conclusion: The construction industry’s high labor mobility, informality, and limited access to health services - combined with the criminalization of sex work, entrenched masculinities, and unequal power dynamics in condom negotiation - create a unique risk environment for male clients of sex workers. The study underscores the importance of using both retrospective and prospective measures to accurately capture condom-use behavior, with the prospective measure (intention to use condoms) demonstrating the greatest explanatory power. These findings have implications for the design of future survey instruments and interventions aimed at reducing HIV risk among this population
The Effect of Perceived Risk on Consumer Attitudes Toward Upcycled Food: The Moderating Roles of Heuristic and Systematic Processing Factors
No full textUpcycled food presents transformative potential for addressing food waste within the agri-food system, yet consumer acceptance of this novel sustainable food is often hindered by perceptions of the associated risks. To better understand the formation of consumer attitudes, this study aims to how perceived risk influence attitudes toward upcycled food and examines whether cognitive processing variables from the Heuristic‑Systematic Model moderate these relationships. Data were collected via an online survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,261 U.S. consumers. Results show that perceived risk exerts a significant negative impact on attitudes, while perceived benefits have a positive effect. Importantly, two heuristic factors (i.e., social consumption motivation and trust in food producers) and two systematic factors (i.e., subjective knowledge of upcycled food and subjective knowledge of food waste) significantly weakened the negative effect of risk on attitudes. These findings clarify the cognitive mechanisms driving the influence of risk perception on consumer acceptance of upcycled food and offer practical insights for developing effective communication strategies to foster positive attitudes toward upcycled foods
Impact of Cover Crop Planting Timing and Fallow Management on Biomass Production and Soil Properties in Dryland Cropping Systems
No full textSoil health and ecosystem benefits of cover crops (CCs) in semi-arid dryland cropping systems are dependent on CC biomass productivity. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of CC planting time (spring vs. fall) on CC biomass, and fallow management [no-tillage (NT) vs. occasional tillage (OT)] and CC effects on residue cover, and soil aggregate stability in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench)-fallow (WSF) rotation. The experiment was conducted at the Kansas State University Hearting Beason (HB) Ranch using a split-plot randomized complete block design with four replications. The main plots were crop phase and sub-plot treatments with triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.), pea (Pisum sativum L.) and rapeseed (Brassica napus var. napus) mixture planted in the fall, oat (Avena sativa L.), triticale and pea CC mixture planted in the spring, NT fallow, and OT fallow. Results showed that CC biomass productivity was not significantly different between fall and spring-planted CCs. However, there was a trend for greater biomass production with fall-planted CCs. This suggests flexibility in planting time for maximizing CC biomass productivity in the WSF rotation. Fall-planted CCs had the highest residue cover (89%), followed by spring planting (81%), and NT (78%), while OT had the lowest (67%) due to increased soil disturbance. Soil aggregate stability was greatest under fall and spring-planted CCs, while OT reduced aggregate stability compared to CCs or NT fallow. These findings showed NT with CCs either planted in the fall or spring can maintain soil health by increasing residue cover and soil aggregation in semi-arid dryland cropping systems
Intrava DX for Residual Weed Control in Spring Fallow
No full textIntrava DX, KFD-881, and Preview herbicide mixtures provided excellent control of kochia, Palmer amaranth, and Russian thistle through four weeks following application at Garden City and near complete common lambsquarters and horseweed control at Hays. At Garden City, Russian thistle control exceeded 94% with all herbicides at 77 days after treatment (DAT). Kochia control remained excellent with Preview at either rate 77 DAT as well. Only the high rates of Intrava DX and KFD-881 provided as much as 70% Palmer amaranth control at 77 DAT at Garden City. Overall, Palmer amaranth control was higher at Hays, but the high rates of Intrava DX and KFD-881 were most effective at this location as well. These results show promise that these herbicides may effectively control weeds in fallow for extended periods of time
Late Fees in the Academic Libraries of the Four-year Public Universities of Kansas
No full textWhile there has been a general movement in public libraries away from fines for late return of materials, as they are perceived as a barrier to access (American Library Association, 2019), the situation on abolishing fines is not as clear in the academic library community and there is a general lack of literature on this topic concerning academic libraries.
The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the structure of late fees for various materials in the 4-year public universities in Kansas to gain insight into current practice in academic libraries in Kansas. In addition, the researchers wanted to determine if all policy information related to late fees was freely available on pubic-facing web pages in each library’s website.
The library websites of each of the target universities (Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, Pittsburgh State University, University of Kansas, Wichita State University, and Washburn University) were searched for each institutions policy on return of library materials and any late fees charged. All institutions but one were found to provide details of late fee policies on their web pages, but the location of the policy information was not consistent across institutions and was not always obvious in the structure of the library websites.
The data showed a wide range of policies across the various universities. All universities had some form of fee structure related to late or lost items but there was little consistency. Fine amounts were also considered relative to the undergraduate tuition costs of each institution to see if this might explain the widely differing fee amounts
Findability Is Not Access: Coping With Shortcomings In Automated Information Systems
No full textAutomated information systems (AIS), including inter library loan (ILL) systems, aggregated databases, institutional repositories, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced search engines provide the information seeker with many more tools and opportunities to identify information of interest in libraries more quickly and easily than was previously possible. However, although identification of resources may now be easier, there can still be multiple barriers to information retrieval, both technological and human.
This paper follows up on the project presented at a previous CULS conference on the necessity of human interaction to ensure the success of ILL transactions (Smith and Velasquez, 2023), and presents new findings on the many ways in which automated information systems by themselves and in conjunction with human decisions or misunderstanding of the automated systems can hinder accessibility to information that is apparently freely available.
Topics covered include cataloging and metadata, especially the need to update metadata to reflect the digitization of older materials in the collection; “open access” materials that are embargoed or partially embargoed; “open” repositories that are restricted to users from the degree-granting institution; conflicting policies on retrieval and lending of items from off-site storage; and again the extensive human interaction required to obtain access.
The paper highlights the need for librarians at both ends of the information transaction to overcome the access barriers that can be created by automated systems. It also offers an opportunity for academic librarians to reflect on the ways in which the increased findability of library materials, particularly older library materials, creates an information demand that can be frustrated by the way in which automated information systems in the library are configured, by library policies that do not take into account the new information environment, and by lack of librarian understanding, all of which can frustrate the successful retrieval of desired information
The Effect of Sow Body Weight Change During Gestation on Sow Body Weight Change and Litter Average Daily Gain During Lactation
No full textA retrospective study was conducted to assess the impact of sow BW change during gestation on sow BW change and litter ADG during lactation. Data from 1,978 gilts and sows across three studies were categorized by parity (gilts: n = 1,098; sows: n = 880). Maternal BW gain during gestation was calculated as the difference between estimated BW at 24-h post-farrowing and BW at d 1 of gestation, while lactation BW change was determined as the difference between BW at weaning and estimated BW at 24-h post-farrowing. Litter ADG was calculated as the difference between litter weight at weaning and litter weight after cross-fostering, divided by lactation length. Regression analyses were performed to model gestation BW change as a function of sow BW at d 1 of gestation, lactation BW change as a function of gestation BW change, and litter ADG as a function of gestation and lactation BW change, along with other covariates. Final models were selected using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Results indicated that in both parity categories, sow BW at day 1 of gestation was negatively associated with gestation BW change (P \u3c 0.05), and gestation BW change was negatively associated with lactation BW change (P \u3c 0.05). Conversely, litter ADG was positively related to both gestation and lactation BW gain (P \u3c 0.05). In gilts, the effect of gestation BW change on litter ADG was modest and can be explained by the offsetting effect of lactation BW change that is negatively influenced by gestation BW change. In contrast, the offsetting effect of lactation BW change on the relationship between gestation BW change and litter ADG was less substantial in sows. In conclusion, the dynamics of sow BW change during gestation and lactation significantly influence litter ADG. Increased BW gain in gilts during gestation led to greater BW loss in lactation without negatively affecting litter ADG, whereas BW loss in sows during gestation led to compensatory gain during lactation at the expense of litter ADG
Effects of a Bacillus-Based Feed Additive in Nursery Pig Diets Containing Low or High Levels of Soybean Meal
No full textA total of 4,320 nursery pigs (PIC 337 × 1050, initially 14.7 ± 0.21 lb) were used in a 42-d study to determine the effects of a bacillus-based feed additive on growth performance and fecal dry matter (DM) in nursery pig diets with low or high levels of soybean meal (SBM). At approximately 21 d of age, pigs were weaned, blocked by initial BW and allotted to one of four dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with 20 replications per treatment. Diets were formulated in three phases and fed from d 0 to 7, 7 to 21, and 21 to 42, respectively. The four treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of bacillus-based feed additive (none or 106 colony-forming units (CFU)/g of complete feed; Argis, Kent Nutrition Group, Muscatine, IA) and SBM level (low or high). On approximately d 14 (range of 9 to 20 days post placement) of the study, fecal samples were collected from three pigs per feeder to determine fecal DM. From d 0 to 7, an SBM × bacillus interaction was observed (P \u3c 0.05) for ADFI, where pigs fed high SBM diets had decreased ADFI compared to pigs fed low SBM when bacillus was not in the diet; however, when bacillus was in the diet, SBM level did not affect ADFI. Additionally, pigs fed high SBM had decreased (P \u3c 0.05) ADG and poorer F/G compared to pigs fed low SBM. From d 7 to 21, the SBM × bacillus interaction was observed (P \u3c 0.05) for ADG and F/G, where pigs fed high SBM had increased ADG and improved F/G compared to pigs fed low SBM when bacillus was not in the diet; however, when bacillus was in the diet, SBM level did not affect ADG, and there was a smaller improvement in F/G in pigs fed high SBM compared to those fed low SBM. Pigs fed high SBM had decreased (P \u3c 0.05) ADFI compared to pigs fed low SBM. From d 21 to 42, there was a tendency (P = 0.076) for pigs fed bacillus to have higher ADG compared to pigs not fed bacillus. Overall, the SBM × bacillus interaction was observed (P \u3c 0.05) for F/G, where pigs fed high SBM had improved F/G compared to pigs fed low SBM when bacillus was not in the diet; however, when bacillus was in the diet, SBM level did not affect F/G. For fecal DM, pigs fed high SBM had decreased (P \u3c 0.05) fecal DM compared to pigs fed low SBM. The SBM × bacillus interaction was observed (P \u3c 0.05) for total removals and mortality, where pigs fed high SBM had increased total removals and mortality compared to pigs fed low SBM when bacillus was not in the diet; however, when bacillus was in the diet, SBM level did not affect total removals and mortality. In summary, high SBM had negative effects on phase 1 growth, fecal DM, and removals and mortality, but high SBM improved phase 2 ADG and phase 2 and 3 F/G. When bacillus was not in the diet, high SBM increased removals and mortality; however, when bacillus was in the diet, SBM level did not affect removals and mortality