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A Novel Approach of Using Electrostatic Field to Reduce Thawing Time and Improve Frozen Beef Quality
Get PDFObjective:The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of applying an electrostatic field (EF) on thawing characteristics, such as thawing speed and purge loss, as well as its impact on quality attributes during subsequent aging and retail display of beef.
Study Description:Striploins from both sides of USDA Choice carcasses (n = 12) were collected and portioned into four equal parts (n = 48). Portions were vacuum packaged and frozen at -40°F for 14 days and randomly assigned to one of four EF thawing treatments: 0 kV (control), 2.5 kV (EF-2.5), 5 kV (EF-5), and 10 kV (EF-10). Within each EF treatment, half of the striploin portions were thawed in an inside cooler (32°F) and half in an outside cooler (36°F). The thawing process was considered complete when all striploin portions reached 30.2°F. After thawing, striploin portions were weighed and purge was collected for analysis, and portions were fabricated into steaks. One steak was used for histological analysis to assess muscle fiber damage and remaining steaks were vacuum packaged and subjected to either 0 or 14 days of aging. After the aging, steaks were placed on Styrofoam trays, overwrapped with polyvinyl chloride, and retail displayed for either 0 or 7 days. Steaks were evaluated daily for objective color as well as subjective evaluation of discoloration. After completion of the designated aging and display period, steaks were utilized for Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), sarcomere length, lipid oxidation, pH, and myofibrillar protein degradation analysis.
Results: There was an increase in purge loss for all EF samples compared to the control in the outside cooler location (P\u3c0.05). Application of EF did not reduce thawing times (P\u3e0.05), with EF-10 taking longer to reach the targeted 30.2°F (P\u3c0.05). All EF treatments reduced purge aerobic plate count (P\u3c0.01) in the outside cooler location. The EF-10 had lower WBSF (P\u3c0.05), and EF-10 samples from the outside cooler location tended to have greater muscle fiber spacing (P= 0.09). For the 0-day aged samples, EF-5 on day 7 resulted in more discoloration than the rest of the treatments (P\u3c0.05). In samples aged for 14 days, the EF-5 and EF-2.5 had less discoloration than the control and EF-10 (P\u3c0.05). When looking at the impact of EF on a* (redness), EF-5 had higher a* values (more redness) than the control and EF-2.5 on days 4 and 5 of retail display (P\u3c0.05). The EF applications did not alter myofibrillar protein degradation, sarcomere length, lipid oxidation, and purge protein concentrations (P\u3e0.05).
The Bottom Line:The application of EF during thawing did not reduce purge loss and thawing times but showed potential as an antimicrobial intervention and color stabilizer
Blending and Spending: Financial Influences Impacting Childfree Stepmothers’ Relationship Satisfaction
Get PDFThere exists a need to better understand how monetary factors impact the partnerships of childfree stepmothers in blended families. The present study examines the correlation of couples’ shared financial values and congruence in financial management behaviors with relationship satisfaction among these stepmothers. Participants included 104 childfree stepmothers in blended families. Findings indicated that perceived shared financial values positively predicted relationship satisfaction. In addition, while financial behavior congruence between stepmothers and their partners did predict relationship satisfaction, it did so through a weaker inverse association. Contrary to expectations, financial behavior congruence did not mediate the association between shared financial values and relationship satisfaction. These results reflect the complex role of financial factors in the well-being of childfree stepmothers within blended families and the need for nuanced psychological and financial support tailored to this oft-overlooked group of women
Divorced from knowledge: Perceptions of Alimony Fairness in Relation to Educational Discrepancies
Get PDFSpousal support or alimony is a cash transfer from one spouse to another after divorce. The amount awarded might seem arbitrary and unfair to either one or both individuals. The public often does not see the fact patterns associated with alimony awards or agreements, and their input may provide information to policymakers and decision-makers about what a fair amount of alimony might be. This study examines data collected from 1,285 U.S. participants randomly assigned to a vignette condition that details a hypothetical alimony scenario where one spouse supported the other spouse to gain education, resulting in significantly increased income prior to divorce. Analyses conducted included logistic regression to determine the likelihood a participant would suggest alimony be awarded. A multivariate Heckman selection model was also applied, suggesting that younger generations believe an educational discrepancy does not necessarily mean the person earning less money should have more alimony. T-tests indicate participants think men who are supported through their education should pay more than women who are. A comparison was made to three commonly used alimony formulas across the United States. Evidence suggests that financial therapists should be aware of the generational differences in how individuals might feel about paying or receiving alimony when there is an educational discrepancy
A Book Review on Research Methods in Education (8th edition)
Get PDFResearch Methods in Education should be no stranger to educational and social researchers. The book was first published in 1980, and since then it has been widely recommended by scholars worldwide as an excellent manual for researchers to plan, conduct, report and evaluate research projects. Like former editions, this updated, expanded, and revised 8th edition, published in 2017, continues to be favorably received worldwide as it covers a wide range of topics discussed in great detail, focusing on current educational issues and controversies
Erratum: Comparing the Use of Visual Analogue Scales and Likert-type Scales in International Agricultural and Extension Education Surveys
Get PDFCorrection: The DOI of the article Gay, K. D., Leal, A., Ruth, T. K., Lamm, A. J., & Rumble, J. N. (2015). Comparing the Use of Visual Analogue Scales and Likert-type Scales in International Agricultural and Extension Education Surveys. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education, 22(2), 37-51” was incorrect as published. The correct DOI is: 10.4148/2831-5960.125
Effects of a Pre-weaning Socialization System on Piglet Mortality and Growth Performance, and Subsequent Sow Performance
Get PDFA total of 3,307 (PIC L 42) mixed-parity sows and 55,160 (PIC 337 × L 42) piglets were used to determine the effects of different farrowing systems on piglet livability, lifetime growth performance, and subsequent sow performance. Treatments were assigned to farrowing rooms and consisted of a conventional farrowing system (sows and piglets housed in individual farrowing crates) or a pre-weaning socialization system (crate dividers removed between farrowing crates and walkways within 6 to 24 hours post-farrowing such that 12 to 32 litters of piglets were co-mingled). A total of 40 farrowing rooms with 80 crates each were used with 20 replications per treatment. Pigs were weaned at approximately 23 d of age. No differences were observed in lactation length, total born, born alive, stillborn, mummies, or the number of pigs weaned. Pre-wean mortality was greater (P \u3c 0.001) for pigs from the pre-weaning socialization system compared to pigs from the conventional system (14.7 vs 12.6%, respectively). A greater (P ≤ 0.015) percentage of pigs died in the pre-weaning socialization system compared to pigs from the conventional system due to being laid on, starving out, Streptococcus suis, and either umbilical or scrotal ruptures. However, a greater (P = 0.014) percentage of pigs died from scours in the conventional system compared to the pre-weaning socialization system. No differences were found in subsequent sow performance, except a marginally significant (P ≤ 0.082) increase in the percentage of sows bred by d 4 and 7 for sows previously housed in the pre-weaning socialization system. A subset of offspring (4,313 pigs initially 11.9 ± 0.34 lb) were transported to a commercial research facility to evaluate lifetime performance. Weaning weights were heavier (P \u3c 0.001) for the conventional system compared to the pre-weaning socialization system. Pigs were housed in pens according to sow treatment (conventional or pre-weaning socialization) with 44 to 46 pigs per pen and 48 replications per treatment. During the nursery and grow-finish periods, pigs from the conventional system had increased (P \u3c 0.001) BW, ADG, ADFI, but poorer F/G compared to pigs from the pre-weaning socialization system. In the nursery phase, removals, mortality, and total removals and mortality were greater (P ≤ 0.059) in pigs raised in the pre-weaning socialization system than in the conventional system, but no differences were observed in the growing-finishing phase. For the overall period (d 23 to 183), pigs from the conventional system had increased (P ≤ 0.001) BW, ADG, and ADFI, but poorer F/ G compared to pigs from the pre-weaning socialization system. No differences were observed for removals and mortality. For overall carcass data, pigs from the conventional system had increased (P ≤ 0.094) HCW, carcass yield, loin depth, and lean percentage compared to pigs from the pre-weaning socialization system. In summary, pigs raised in the conventional farrowing system had increased livability, lifetime growth performance, and carcass characteristics compared to pigs raised in the pre-weaning socialization system
Doubling Down on Disaster: Resilience and the New Normal
Get PDFDoubling Down on Disaster: Resilience and the New Normal
Abstract
K-State Libraries is no stranger to disaster or the need for resilience. In May of 2018, a fire severely damaged the main library on campus. While no one was injured and most of the physical collections were saved, it took years to restore the building and access to the collections. During this time, library faculty and staff were dispersed across campus and had to build new methods of working together and collaborating. The very day a main floor of the library was scheduled to open, the university shut down all physical operations for the pandemic. Instead of coming together again, they separated even farther by moving from temporary offices to working from home in even more isolation. By the time they emerged from both these disasters, it was noted they were suffering from significant burnout and employee disengagement. Many employees left during the years of upheaval, including newly hired employees who didn’t stay long. To help understand what people were experiencing and how they could help colleagues navigate these stressful situations, an Employee Engagement and Burnout project was launched. This project had three phases, including a survey, focus groups, and implementation of recommendations from the findings. Demographics collected included these three components.
1. Length of service—specifically, if an employee was hired before the fire, during the fire/pandemic, or after both disasters.
2. Employee designation—support staff, professional staff, or faculty (librarians).
3. Division—administrative services, public services, or technical services
By studying survey answers based on each of these three aspects, trends and stressors for each group became apparent, including differences and commonalities. Focus groups were designed for these different areas to discuss further ideas for address employee stress and disengagement. The most telling results were from the length of service—not surprisingly, employees hired during the fire recovery and pandemic reported the highest instances of disengagement and employees hired before the fire reported the greatest burn out.
Participation in both the survey and focus groups was unusually high and much valuable information was shared.
With a theme of resilience for the 2024 KLA-CULS conference, sharing this project may be useful for others experiencing circumstances of employee turnover and concerns about recruitment and retention of librarians and staff
Beyond Books: Library Exhibits Provide a Different Form of Storytelling
Get PDFLibrary exhibits advance the academic mission of the university and enrich the communities we serve
Rural & Small-Town Police Crime: A National Scale Description and Comparison to Urban Places
Get PDFScholarship on police misconduct has almost exclusively focused on urban police working within large cities. This study utilizes media-based data to describe 2,592 arrests for crimes committed by rural and small-town police officers working in non-metropolitan counties across the United States. We compared these cases of police crime to those committed by officers working within more urbanized metropolitan counties. Findings demonstrate: 1) the dispersion of cases of police crime across a continuum of geographic places and types of police agencies including the most rural counties, and 2) significant differences between metropolitan and non-metropolitan cases of police crime including both type of crime and organizational dispositions. The study contributes to the scholarly literature on police misconduct and the study of rural and small-town policing
Relations between social anxiety and alcohol use problems via depression: The influence of distress tolerance
Get PDFIt is crucial to investigate factors influencing the relation between social anxiety and alcohol use problems. In separate moderated mediation analyses, we explored whether social anxiety indirectly explained alcohol use problems via depression, and if 1) emotional distress tolerance (self-report) and 2) physical distress tolerance (breath-holding duration) moderated the relation between depression and alcohol use problems. Undergraduates (N=208, 76.9% women-identified) completed questionnaires and tasks. At low physical distress tolerance, there was a conditional indirect effect of social anxiety on alcohol use problems through depression (effect=.12, 95% CI=.03, .22). At high physical distress tolerance, there was no conditional indirect effect of social anxiety on alcohol use and problems through depression (effect
Key Words: social anxiety, depression, alcohol, alcohol use problems, distress tolerance, breath-holding duratio