Kansas State University
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Comparison of health-related fitness and modifiable lifestyle behaviors between SWAT officers and professional firefighters: An exploratory study
Get PDFEmergency responders engage in occupations that benefit from living a healthy lifestyle to ensure physical and mental preparedness. We compared fitness and healthy lifestyle behaviors between special weapons and tactics (SWAT) officers and firefighters. We analyzed data from 14 SWAT officers and 17 firefighters. Self-reported healthy lifestyle behavior measures included physical activity, sleep quality, and dietary behaviors. Fitness measures included body composition, flexibility, muscular strength, and endurance. Firefighters had higher (p \u3c .05) body mass, body mass index, body fat percentage and fat mass than SWAT officers. SWAT officers performed better (p \u3c .05) than the firefighters on vertical jump, push-ups, and a maximum plank hold. We found no difference regarding sleep quality or dietary behaviors; however, SWAT officers reported more minutes of vigorous (p = .006) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (p = .035). Our findings suggest that fitness and lifestyle behaviors vary among different emergency responder populations and public safety departments implementing health and wellness programs should consider the diversity of sub-groups of emergency responders that may exist within a department
Drivers of Food Service Need and Use among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Men with Chronic Conditions in the United States
Get PDFProper nutrition plays an important role in the management of chronic health conditions. Food insecurity is predominant and differs across certain races and ethnicities, which highlights the importance of community-based food service access and utilization. In this context, the current study examined factors associated with community-based food service needs and utilization among middle-aged and older non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic men with chronic conditions. Data were analyzed from 1,982 men who completed an internet-delivered, cross-sectional survey. Multinomial logistic regression identified factors associated with food service needs and use by race and ethnicity. While 17% of men reported needing food services, only 6% utilized them. Factors such as age, household size, household income, and number of chronic conditions significantly influenced food service utilization. Compared to men who did not need food services, each additional year of age decreased the odds of needing food services (regardless of use) in the past year (needed but not used: OR = 0.963, p \u3c 0.001; needed and used: OR = 0.974, p \u3c 0.05). However, each additional chronic condition increased the odds of needing food services (regardless of use) (needed but not used: OR = 1.101, p \u3c 0.001; needed and used: OR = 1.095, p \u3c 0.001). This study underscores the importance of tailored interventions to address food insecurity and improve the uptake of eligible food services among at-risk populations. By leveraging cultural values and community resources, practitioners and policymakers can enhance engagement with food services and improve health outcomes
Erratum: Rice Sufficiency Officers’ Role Perception and Job Satisfaction as Agricultural Research and Extension Workers
Get PDFCorrection: The DOI of the article Tanzo, I. R., & Yusongco, C. G. (2014). Rice Sufficiency Officers’ Role Perception and Job Satisfaction as Agricultural Research and Extension Workers. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 21(2), 72-82” was incorrect as published. The correct DOI is: 10.4148/2831-5960.123
Erratum: Using Non-Probability Sampling Methods in Agricultural and Extension Education Research
Get PDFCorrection: The DOI of the article Lamm, A. J., & Lamm, K. W. (2019). Using Non-Probability Sampling Methods in Agricultural and Extension Education Research. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 26(1), 52-59” was incorrect as published. The correct DOI is: 10.5191/iaee.2019.2610
“By God’s Grace, Nothing Will Prevent Me”: Exploring Intentions to Implement School-Based Agricultural Education in Liberia
Get PDFScholars emphasize the pivotal role of agricultural education in driving development in sub-Saharan Africa, and Liberia, facing challenges such as job shortages, a fragile economy, and a vulnerable post-war youth population, stands uniquely positioned to benefit from school-based agricultural education. This research is a part of a multi-institutional, grant-funded, randomly controlled longitudinal investigation that delves into the long-term outcomes of school-based agricultural education implementation in Liberia. Our study focuses on understanding the intentions of Liberian agriculture teachers, principals, and parents regarding the adoption of school-based agricultural education, including 4-H, within their schools and communities after three trainings. Participants underwent extensive training covering school-based agricultural education, 4-H and youth leadership, school demonstration farms, home entrepreneurship projects, and agricultural innovations. Post-training questionnaires, including quantitative and qualitative data, revealed unwavering determination among participants to implement school-based agricultural education, particularly 4-H and school demonstration farms. Perceived barriers included a lack of support from school administrators and parents and the need for physical resources and tools. Nevertheless, participants expressed passion for the model, foreseeing positive impacts on the youth and the country\u27s agricultural economy. This research sheds light on the potential transformative effects of SBAE in Liberia, providing insights into challenges and motivations for implementation
Exploring the Determinants of Agritourism Business Owners’ Expansion Intention
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to identify the determinants informing Kansas agritourism owners’ intention to expand their business guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior. Agritourism can bring economic, environmental, and social benefits to agricultural and community systems. To realize these benefits, agritourism business owners need related goals, community support, and a multi-modal communications effort. A quantitative, descriptive survey research design was used to gather data from businesses registered with the Kansas Agritourism Program. Results showed agritourism operators\u27 attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms were positively and significantly correlated with, and predictive of, their intention to expand their business. Attitudes were measured by goals for the business, of which capturing new customers was the most important. Subjective norms were measured by community perception of the agritourism businesses’ local contribution, of which contributing to the growth and success of the local economy was the most prominent. Perceived behavioral control was measured by barriers to expansion, of which deciding how to promote the business to target customers was the biggest problem. The importance and number of communication channels used were also positively and significantly correlated with agritourism business owners’ intention to expand their business. The most important communication channels for agritourism promotion were word-of-mouth and Facebook. Future research needs include a richer understanding of these findings through qualitative analysis. Practitioners should address agritourism operators’ goal of targeting new customers and barriers to effectively promoting to them by providing tailored trainings and resources for strategic communication
Overcoming Barriers: Describing Cattle Producers’ Motivations & Perceived Barriers Toward Adopting Sustainable Practices to Inform Communication Strategy
Get PDFSustainability has continued to be a focal point of the cattle industry, as both on-farm and public pressures demand increased attention to the three pillars of sustainability: social, environmental, and economic. The adoption of sustainable practices relies on producers’ acceptance and increased integration on their operations. In this study, we applied the Theory of Diffusion of Innovations and social marketing framework to assess cattle producers’ outcome perceptions, adoption status, and perceived benefits and barriers toward adopting sustainable practices to inform communication campaigns promoting holistic sustainability. An intercept survey was distributed to producers attending a national cattle convention to gain quantitative data. Results indicated producers have the highest intent to adopt practices focused on supporting the local economy, maintaining the overall welfare of cattle, and preserving ranching culture. Additionally, producers viewed protecting water quality, protecting the welfare of cattle, and maintaining healthy ecosystems as the top benefits to adopting sustainable practices on their operation; whereas, financial concerns and risks, changes to equipment and technology, and perceptions of inefficacy were viewed as barriers toward implementation. Communication to cattle producers should focus on how adoption can elevate their perceived benefits and minimize reported barriers. Additional research should focus on continued approaches to understand the types of information cattle producers need to further explain communication strategy in this area by qualitative approaches and message testing. Furthermore, implementing social marketing in the classroom is recommended to equip students with techniques that identify a target audience’s barriers and benefits to inform effective communication campaigns that promote long-lasting behavior change
Effects of Flavolac Top Dress on Sow Body Weight and Litter Performance
Get PDFA total of 271 mixed-parity sows (PIC 1050) were used to evaluate the effect of feeding Flavolac in lactation diets on sow farrowing performance and litter growth performance during summer conditions. Flavolac (Agroceres Multimix; Rio Claro, Sao Paulo, Brazil) is a commercial product containing several compounds, including AAs, antioxidants, botanicals, direct fed-microbials, and vitamin-like compounds that have been shown to improve litter weaning weight or preweaning mortality in previous research. The experiment was conducted at a commercial sow farm located in northwest Texas. A total of four rooms (288 stalls; 144 stalls per treatment) were used. At approximately d 112 to 114 of gestation, sows were moved to the farrowing house and randomly allotted to one of two treatments based on parity and caliper score. Treatments consisted of a control (no Flavolac) or the control with an added Flavolac top-dress (80 g/d in a single feeding). Sows were weighed before entering the farrowing house and at weaning. Sows were provided approximately 4 lb per day of a common lactation diet without Flavolac pre-farrowing. After farrowing, sows were provided ad libitum access to lactation feed. The weaning age averaged approximately 21.3 d. There was no evidence of difference (P \u3e 0.10) in sow at entry, weaning, or overall BW change. There was no evidence of differences (P \u3e 0.10) for sow entry caliper, weaning caliper score, caliper score change, or average daily lactation feed disappearance. In addition, there was no evidence of difference (P \u3e 0.10) in total litter, or piglet birth BW. However, administration of Flavolac tended (P \u3c 0.10) to increase litter weaning weight, total litter weight gain, and litter average daily gain. Moreover, inclusion of Flavolac led to a tendency (P = 0.091) for a reduction in pre-weaning mortality and therefore an improvement in percentage of pigs weaned. In summary, the inclusion of Flavolac during the lactation period resulted in a tendency for reduced pre-weaning mortality and tended to improve total litter weight gain, and thus weight at weaning
Effects of Increasing Histidine:Lysine Ratio During Lactation on Sow and Litter Performance
Get PDFA total of 88 sows (Line 241, DNA) and their offspring were used to evaluate the effect of increasing SID His:Lys ratio in lactating sow diets on sow and litter performance. Sows were blocked by parity and body weight (BW) on approximately d 110 of gestation and allotted to one of three dietary treatments of increasing SID His:Lys ratios (40, 50, or 60% of Lys). Sows were fed approximately 6 lb/d of their treatment diet from d 110 of gestation until farrowing, after which they were allowed ad libitum access to their treatment diet. Litters were cross fostered within 48 h after farrowing to equalize litter size. Increasing SID His:Lys ratio did not affect (P \u3e 0.10) sow BW, backfat, caliper score, or loin depth on d 110 of gestation or at weaning and did not alter the change in those measurements over the lactation period. Total born did not statistically differ (P \u3c 0.10) based on sow lactation diet, however, there were numerical differences between treatments. Increasing SID His:Lys ratio tended to increase and then decrease (quadratic, P ≤ 0.062) d 7 and weaning litter weight with sows fed a SID His:Lys ratio of 50% having the greatest litter weight. Increasing SID His:Lys ratio tended to increase d 7 to wean piglet ADG (linear, P = 0.100) but did not impact litter ADG or pre-weaning mortality (P \u3e 0.10). Increasing SID His:Lys ratio increased and then decreased (quadratic, P = 0.027) total milk yield from d 2 of lactation until weaning and tended to increase and then decrease average daily milk yield (quadratic, P = 0.078) with sows fed a SID His:Lys ratio of 50% having the greatest total and average daily milk yield. Increasing SID His:Lys ratio (P \u3e 0.10) did not affect milk composition. These results suggest that increasing the SID His:Lys ratio to 50% tended to increase litter weight on d 7 and at weaning and average daily milk yield
Effects of Maternal Swine Appeasing Substance on Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs
Get PDFTwo experiments using a total of 640 weanling pigs were conducted to determine the effects of a maternal swine appeasing substance (FerAppease, FERA Diagnostics and Biologicals, College Station, TX) on growth performance, salivary cortisol concentration, and fecal microbiome of nursery pigs. In exp. 1, a total of 360 weanling pigs (DNA 600 × 241; initially 12.6 lb) were used in a 24-d study with five pigs per pen. Due to the potential contact of pigs in adjacent pens transferring the test product, pens were grouped by treatment within the barn and groups were distributed in the barn to minimize this risk. In exp. 1, there were two blocks of pens for each treatment (four total blocks of pens), with each block having 18 pens. In exp. 2, a total of 280 weanling pigs (DNA 600 × 241; initially 12.1 lb) were used in a 45-d study with five pigs per pen in 56 pens split in two rooms. Treatment groups were located in blocks of seven pens to avoid contact between treatment groups, and each treatment was assigned to four blocks (eight blocks total). Block of like treatments was considered the experimental unit for analysis of growth performance data. In both experiments, pens were assigned either a control (placebo of mineral oil) or the appeasing substance (FerAppease, FERA diagnostics and Biologicals, College Station TX). Applications of 3 mL/pig were done at d 0 (weaning) and d 10 by spraying the substance on the forehead of each individual pig. To limit any cross-contamination, either empty pens or the walkway separated the groups to physically segregate treatments from each other. All pigs were fed the same two-phase diet regimens: from d 0 to 10 and d 11 to 24, with phase 3 added in exp. 2 from d 25 to 45. In phase 1 (d 0 to 10, Table 2), control and FerAppease pigs had similar (P \u3e 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and F/G, as well as BW at d 10. Similar results were observed in phase 2 with no evidence of a difference observed between treatments (P \u3e 0.05). For the overall period, when combining phases 1 and 2 (both experiments) and 1, 2 and 3 (only in exp. 2), no differences (P \u3e 0.05) between the two treatments were found for ADG, ADFI, F/G, and BW at d 24 and d 45. Salivary cortisol was measured on d 1 post-weaning and again on d 11 (both 24 h after product administration). There was no evidence (P \u3e 0.10) of a treatment × day interaction or main effect of treatment. Salivary cortisol was greater (P \u3c 0.0001) on d 1 post-weaning compared to d 11 post-weaning. Numerically, on d 1 post-weaning pigs applied with the FerAppease had reduced salivary cortisol concentrations; however, there were no statistically significant differences observed. Fecal samples were collected from two pigs per pen on d 0 and 10, and fecal microbiome analysis did not result in any differences between treatments for alpha or beta diversity, and no meaningful differences were observed in evaluation of class and genus relative abundance data. In summary, the post-weaning application of maternal pheromone to the forehead of nursery pigs post-weaning did not result in any improvements in feed intake, growth rate, feed efficiency, or fecal microbial composition