Kansas State University
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Assessing the Integration of QR codes in Extension Outreach Communication Graphics: A Visual Content Analysis
No full textThe purpose of this study was to assess the integration of Quick Response (QR) codes in extension outreach communication graphics with the aim of enhancing extension engagement and information dissemination strategies. A visual content analysis was conducted on QR code-embedded outreach graphics (N = 105) curated from official internet platforms of the [State] co-operative extension service. The graphics were assessed by qualified raters using a codebook based on graphic design principles including color, typography, layout, and visual hierarchy, as well as visual rhetoric attributes. The results revealed strong adherence to fundamental graphic design elements like symmetry (n = 93), balance (n = 92), visual clarity (n = 85) and contrast ( n = 97). However, QR code placement was often supplementary, with only 53% of the sample placing primary emphasis on them. The findings also identified three dominant types of outreach materials—Registration/Survey/Poll (53%), educational/Informational (35%), and Promotional/Event (12%)—and showed 4-H participants as the most frequently targeted audience (n = 70%). While most graphics adhered to professional design standards, only 38% utilized emotional imagery and 56% employed interactive elements indicating potential areas to enhance audience engagement. The study\u27s findings suggest that QR codes should be purposefully placed in extension visual communication designs. To ensure that QR codes are both functional and aesthetically optimized, it is recommended that the extension service engages specific strategies in settings where access to digital content is essential
Effect of Cultural Norms and Traditional Beliefs on the Lived Experiences of Women in Agriculture in Rural Communities
No full textThis study examined the effects of cultural norms and traditional beliefs on the lived experiences of women in agriculture in rural communities in Nigeria. Semi-structured interviews with rural Nigerian women and men yielded thematically examined qualitative data. The results revealed that cultural and traditional practices significantly impact the involvement, economic and social progress of women in agriculture in rural communities in Nigeria. Conservatism and patriarchy are central cultural norms and traditional beliefs in these communities. These norms and beliefs institutionalize discrimination against women, exclusion of women from decision-making, relegation of women to domestic duties, restriction of women\u27s access to productive resources and economic opportunities, perpetuating their dependence on the menfolk, and subsistence farming. Women\u27s groups act as a support system because they enable women to voice their concerns in various forums. The study recommends interventions that promote gender justice, education, and resource access to empower women and improve their livelihoods
Using Choice-Based Assessments in an Asynchronous Online Teacher Preparation Course
No full textThe Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework is becoming increasingly popular for designing instruction in the university setting. The use of the UDL framework ensures that online learning environments are inclusive and equitable for students with a variety of learning needs and preferences. This article focuses on the third UDL principle: multiple means of action and expression. One way to incorporate this UDL principle into an online classroom is to offer students choices in assignment format. This article presents a pilot research study in which students were asked their perceptions of choice-based assignments in an online graduate-level asynchronous Introduction to Special Education course. The study found five major themes in participant responses: a) reduced student stress when choices are offered, (b) enhanced learning when provided with choices, (c) knowledge can be demonstrated through student strengths, (d) selecting an assessment format can be challenging for some learners, and (e) the use of choice-based assessments encouraged respondents to use similar options in their own classrooms. Based on the results of this research, we recommend that additional research be conducted to better understand the use of choice-based assessments in teacher education
An Investigation of Oregon and Texas Residents’ Information Seeking and Processing Behaviors During Extreme Weather Events
No full textExtreme weather events plague the United States with increasing frequency and intensity. In 2020, Oregon was met with historic wildfires and Texas experienced the significant impacts of Winter Storm Uri. As these types of events increase and unfold, it is crucial for those impacted to have the information needed to navigate the risks and potential effects. This study sought explore how individuals seek and process information to make decisions about extreme weather events. Comparing data from both Oregon and Texas weather disasters, our analysis yielded helpful insights to better understand information seeking and processing. Despite different events, we found no differences in information gathering capacity and information sufficiency threshold between disasters. We also found information gathering capacity to decrease as information sufficiency increased. Regarding the types of information sought, participants from both states indicated a major need for information about the risks and impacts of the extreme weather event and its severity. Finally, we found participants largely relied upon systematic processing routes to assess information about the extreme weather events in their states. Implications and recommendations for future research are discussed
The Future of Farming: Californians’ Attitudes About AI in Agriculture
No full textGiven the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the agricultural sector, especially in states like California, it becomes increasingly important to understand public attitudes toward these emerging technologies. Existing research highlights the potentially important role that media and value predispositions play in the formation and reinforcement of attitudes toward science, technology, and agriculture. Grounded in programmatic and genre-specific cultivation, this study uses a survey of California residents (N = 601) to determine how different types of media viewing behavior and value predispositions, such as deference to scientific authority, political ideology, and religiosity, influence attitudes toward AI in agriculture. A series of OLS regressions found that following technology news closely, engaging with political news, watching news channels like Fox News, and watching a lot of science fiction are all associated with varying degrees of support for AI. Additionally, deference to scientific authority serves as a robust measurement that is strongly associated with positive attitudes toward AI. Taken together, the results have both theoretical and practical applications for our understanding of the connection between media, agriculture, and emerging technologies
Evaluation of Trypsin Inhibitor Unit Level with or without the Addition of Protease and an In-feed Acidifier on Nursery Pig Growth Performance, Fecal Dry Matter, and Nutrient Digestibility
No full textA total of 360 barrows (DNA 200 × 400; initially 12.9 ± 0.59 lb) were used in a 40-d growth trial to evaluate the effects of increasing trypsin inhibitor with or without the addition of protease and benzoic acid on nursery pig growth performance, fecal dry matter, and nutrient digestibility. Pigs were weaned at approximately 21 d of age and randomly allotted to pens. Pens of pigs were blocked by initial BW and allotted to one of eight treatments in a randomized complete block design with five pigs per pen and nine pens per treatment across two barns. The eight treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design with main effects of trypsin inhibitor (1.4 or 2.8 TIU/mg of complete feed), protease (none or 50 mg/kg ProAct 360), and benzoic acid (none or 0.5% VevoVitall). Soy flour (80 TIU/mg) was added at the expense of soybean meal (7 TIU/mg) to create the 1.4 or 2.8 TIU/mg of complete feed levels. Diet formulation was based on analyzed nutrient values of the soy flour and soybean meal, assuming digestibility coefficients for soy flour equivalent to those of soybean meal. Experimental diets were fed in three phases: phase 1 from d 0 to 10, phase 2 from d 10 to 24, and phase 3 from d 24 to 40. Feces were collected from three pigs per pen on d 10 and 40 to determine fecal DM, and d 40 fecal samples were used to determine apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM and CP. The main effect of TIU negatively impacted (P ≤ 0.014) growth performance in all phases, while the main effect of acidifier tended (P ≤ 0.089) to improve ADG and F/G in phase 3. No significant main effects of protease in the phases were observed. Overall, from d 0 to 40, there was a three-way interaction observed (P = 0.024) where in low TIU diets, pigs fed diets with either acidifier or protease had numerically lower ADG compared to the low TIU control and the low TIU diet with both acidifier and protease. However, in high TIU diets, pigs fed either acidifier or protease had greater ADG compared to the high TIU control diet without any additive and the high TIU diet with both acidifier and protease. A similar TIU × protease × acidifier interaction was marginally significant for ADFI (P = 0.054). Pigs fed diets with 2.8 TIU/mg of complete feed had increased d 10 fecal DM; however, there were no differences on d 40. For the ATTD of DM and CP, there was an interaction (P = 0.028) between TIU and acid, where pigs fed the acidifier had improved ATTD compared to pigs fed no acid in a diet containing 1.4 TIU/mg of complete feed; however, pigs fed 2.8 TIU/mg of complete feed had similar ATTD regardless of acid inclusion. For overall main effects, increased TIU worsened (P \u3c 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and F/G; protease tended to worsen (P = 0.067) F/G; and acidifier had no effects on growth performance. This study suggests that increased dietary TIU negatively affects nursery pig performance, but the inclusion of either a protease or benzoic acid may help mitigate a portion of the effect of high TIU, even as low as 2.8 TIU/mg of complete feed
Effect of Zinc Source and Level on Growth Performance, Fecal Dry Matter, and Fecal Zinc Concentration of Nursery Pigs
No full textA total of 2,268 pigs (initially 12.5 ± 0.68 lb) were used to evaluate the effect of zinc (Zn) sources and levels on nursery performance and fecal dry matter. At weaning, pens of pigs were sorted by body weight (BW) and then randomly assigned to one of the seven dietary treatments in a 3 × 2 + 1 arrangement, with main effects of Zn source and level. The Zn sources included zinc oxide (ZnO) and two sources of Zn hydroxychloride. The total dietary Zn levels were set at 1,500 ppm or 1,000 ppm during phase 1 and at 1,000 ppm or 500 ppm during phase 2. An additional treatment was included as a positive control, utilizing 3,000 and 2,000 ppm of Zn from ZnO in phases 1 and 2, respectively. After the experimental period (dietary phases 1 and 2), all pigs were fed a common phase 3 diet for 14 d, which contained 100 ppm of added Zn from ZnSO4. On d 7 and 21, fecal samples from three pigs per pen were collected for dry matter analysis. During the experimental phase, common phase, and overall, no significant Zn source × level interactions or main effects of Zn source or level were observed. Within the diets provided Zn from ZnO, no differences were observed between treatments for growth performance, mortality, removals, and fecal dry matter. For the d 7 fecal Zn concentration, a significant interaction (P = 0.009) between the Zn source × level was observed, where a greater (P \u3c 0.05) fecal Zn concentration was observed as the dietary Zn inclusion increased when ZnO or Zn hydroxychloride source B was used, but no differences (P \u3e 0.10) between levels were observed in the Zn hydroxychloride source A. At d 21, the fecal Zn concentration decreased (P \u3c 0.001) as dietary Zn concentration decreased, independent of the Zn source (P \u3e 0.10). In conclusion, the source and level of dietary Zn did not significantly impact growth performance, removals, mortality, or fecal dry matter of nursery pigs. However, utilizing lower dietary Zn levels independent of the source resulted in lower fecal Zn concentration
Effect of Dietary Formulation Strategy, Water Source, and Water Acidification on Growth Performance and Fecal Dry Matter in Nursery Pigs
No full textA total of 987 weanling pigs [PIC 800 × (Fast LW × PIC L02), initially 14.9 ± 0.8 lb] were used to determine the effect of dietary formulation strategy, water source, and water acidification on growth performance and fecal dry matter (DM). Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of dietary formulation strategy (low ABC-4 vs conventional with ZnO), water source (rural vs well), and water acidification (with or without). Experimental diets were fed in two phases followed by a common phase 3 diet. Diets were formulated to have a dietary ABC-4 value of either 199 or 427 meq/kg in phase 1, and 249 or 441 meq/kg in phase 2. The conventional formulation strategy contained pharmacological levels of Zn from ZnO (3,026 and 2,270 ppm Zn in phase 1 and 2, respectively), whereas the low ABC-4 diet had low levels of Zn (110 ppm) provided by the trace mineral premix. Water was supplied by either rural or well sources. For the water acidification treatment, PerpHect H2O (Acid Products Company Inc., Chicago, IL) was used to acidify both water sources to a targeted pH of 4.0. Numerous 2- and 3-way interactions were observed. Overall, (d 0 to 33), a tendency for a 3-way interaction was observed for ADG (P = 0.081) where pigs fed the conventional diet with ZnO had better performance than those fed the low ABC-4 formulation strategy when provided acidified or non-acidified well water or acidified rural water. However, formulation strategy did not result in a significant change in ADG when pigs were provided with non-acidified rural water. For overall ADFI, a three-way interaction was observed (P = 0.034) where pigs fed the conventional diets with ZnO had better ADFI than those fed the low ABC-4 formulation strategy, regardless of water source or water acidification, with the greatest magnitude of improvement in pigs provided the acidified rural water. Pigs provided with rural water tended (P = 0.072) to have increased fecal DM compared to pigs provided with well water. No differences were observed for removals and mortality. Conventional diets with added ZnO resulted in increased (P \u3c 0.05) ADG and ADFI compared to low ABC-4 diets without ZnO, which was likely due to the ZnO in the conventional diets as opposed to the ABC-4 level itself. In conclusion, formulating diets with pharmacological levels of Zn improved performance compared to low ABC-4 diet formulation strategies without added Zn, with marginal effects on performance due to water source or its acidification
Effect of Copper Source on Finishing Pig Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics
No full textA total of 2,160 pigs (PIC 337 × 1050; initially 53.1 ± 1.31 lb) were used in a 113-day study with 27 pigs per pen and 20 replications per treatment across two barns. Pens of pigs were blocked by weight and randomly allotted to one of four dietary treatments: a control diet containing a base level of Cu, or a pharmacological level of one of three sources, tribasic copper chloride (TBCC) source 1 (TBCC, 58%, SAM Nutrition, Bloomington, MN), TBCC source 2 (Intellibond C, 54%, Selko, Tilburg, Netherlands), or CuSO4. All diets contained a base level of CuSO4 provided by the trace mineral premix contributing 16 mg/kg Cu in phases 1 and 2, 13 mg/kg Cu in phase 3, and 11 mg/kg Cu in phase 4. An additional 150 mg/kg Cu was added from each specific source. Treatment diets were formulated in four phases from approximately 50 to 110 lb, 110 to 165 lb, 165 to 220 lb, and 220 lb to marketing (approximately 280 lb). Mortality and removals were recorded for the duration of the trial, and economics were calculated. In the grower period (d 0 to 56), pigs fed pharmacological levels of Cu had greater (P \u3c 0.001) ADG and BW compared to pigs fed the base Cu level. No evidence of a difference was observed between Cu sources when fed at pharmacological levels. A tendency (P ≤ 0.059) for increased ADFI and improved F/G was observed in pigs fed pharmacological levels of Cu compared to the base level. In the finishing period (d 56 to trial end), there was no evidence of any differences in ADG, ADFI, or F/G between treatments. Overall, pigs fed pharmacological levels of Cu had greater (P = 0.018) ADG and a tendency for a greater (P = 0.072) ADFI than pigs fed the base level of Cu. Hot carcass weight was greater (P = 0.031) in pigs fed pharmacological levels of Cu than in pigs fed the base level of Cu. No evidence of differences was found for other carcass characteristics or removals and mortality. There was a tendency (P = 0.083) for pigs fed pharmacological levels of Cu to have higher feed cost per lb/gain than pigs that were fed basal levels of Cu. However, it did not impact IOFC, and no other differences in economic criteria were observed. These data suggest that feeding pharmacological levels of Cu improves growth performance, with the largest benefit observed during the grower period; however, there were no differences between Cu sources when fed at pharmacological levels
Camaraderie, Culture, and Connection: A Photovoice of a Long-Term International Fellowship
Get PDFAs globalization intensifies, the demand for culturally competent professionals rises, necessitating innovative approaches to international education. This study delves into the transformative learning experiences of participants engaged in long-term agricultural education fellowships in Ghana. The research involved a cohort of nine agriculture graduates participating in a program aimed at agricultural education and food security initiatives in rural Ghana. Through the innovative method of photovoice, participants visually documented and reflected on their experiences, generating rich data for analysis. The findings revealed ten prominent themes encompassing the fellows\u27 initial month abroad, including Camaraderie, Struggles, Recognition of Empowered Women, Appreciation of Culture and History, Exploration, Finding Community, Personal Growth, Time in School & 4-H Ghana, Student Appreciation & Connection, and Agriculture Knowledge Gain and Appreciation. This study provides valuable insights into the transformative potential of long-term agricultural education fellowships, shedding light on participants\u27 intricate interplay with the local community, culture, and educational system. Recommendations for program enhancements, including tailored training on cultural acclimation, gender-specific empowerment, and increased emphasis on historical and cultural site training, are offered to maximize the impact and effectiveness of similar initiatives in the future