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Hitting for Average: Educational Assessment, Unidimensionality, and the Connection to Baseball Hitting Statistics
Get PDFThe traditional points system and subsequent Grade Point Average (GPA) in education perpetuates an evaluation of academic performance which reflects arbitrary weighting of assignments and/or assessments. As such, GPAs which are calculated using a traditional points system are not unidimensional in their design. The baseball batting and slugging percentage, which serves as established metrics for performance evaluations among baseball players, better reflects unidimensionality. In essence, this paper puts forth an analysis and discussion which posits that baseball batting average and slugging percentage can serve as an example for how unidimensionality can become more prevalent in educational assessments, especially as it relates to the traditional points system and GPA
GreatO+ Supplementation Leads to Greater Proportions of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in the Small Intestines of Holstein Steers
Get PDFObjective:This study aimed to determine if supplementation of GreatO+, an extruded blend of flaxseed and microalgae (NBO3, Manhattan, KS), in Holstein steers would lead to greater amounts of fatty acids, particularly omega-3s, in the small intestines.
Study Description:This study utilized 12 cannulated Holstein steers assigned to two treatments: with or without supplementation of GreatO+as a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Two periods were utilized, consisting of a 15-day adaptation interval and a four-day collection interval. After the end of the collection period, each steer was transitioned to the other treatment for the second period. This study was conducted at the Kansas State Intake Facility, equipped with automated feed and water troughs.
The Bottom Line:Cattle supplemented with GreatO+have greater amounts of omega-3 fatty acid available for absorption in the small intestines
Reducing Tick Populations Through Prescribed Burning
Get PDFObjective:Explore the effect of prescribed fire on tick population dynamics in the Kansas Flint Hills.
Study Description:Ticks were collected from spring (April), summer (August), or fall (September) burned pastures as well as control, unburned areas. Burning had been carried out for four consecutive years prior to this study. Tick populations were sampled every other week from March to August using material dragging and dry ice bait sampling methods. Tick species, sex, and life stage were identified morphologically and the total numbers for each burn treatment were calculated.
The Bottom Line:Consecutive burning of grazing pasture could be considered an effective tick control treatment to reduce tick abundance in cattle pastures and reduce the need for the use of chemical acaricides on Flint Hills prairie
Stocker Steer Gains and Fly Numbers as Impacted by Burn Date and Type of Mineral on Tallgrass Native Range – Year 5
Get PDFThis study aims to evaluate effectiveness of two operational management systems for steer gains and fly control. The first strategy evaluated was pasture burn date of March (MAR) or April (APR). The second management strategy was free-choice mineral with spices (SPICE) or without spices (CON). Eight pastures (n = 281 steers; initial weight 566 lb) were used in a 2 × 2 factorial treatment structure. Steers were weighed individually, randomly assigned to treatment, and grazed for 89 days. Weekly, 33% of steers were photographed to count flies and evaluated for hair coat score. Steers that grazed pastures that were burned in March had a greater average daily gain than those grazing pastures that were burned in April and March resulted in nearly 30 pounds more gain per calf during the grazing season. Steers that consumed the mineral that contained the spices/essential oils had a 0.10 pound per day advantage as compared to steers on the control mineral. There was an interaction between pasture burn date and mineral type where steers gained the most on March burned pastures (with no difference in mineral type), had the second greatest gains on the April burned pastures with SPICE mineral, and had the lowest gains on the April burned pastures with CON mineral. Weather plays a very important role in cattle performance following a complete pasture burn, and in a year with excessive spring moisture and extreme drought beginning in June, a March burn was the better management practice
Preventing Childhood Obesity and Its Long-term Effects
Get PDFChildhood obesity affects nearly one in every five children and adolescents in the U.S. This epidemic has led to the development of chronic illnesses in adulthood, such as metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and asthma. This literature review examined intervention programs and their effectiveness in reducing childhood obesity. The application of health behavior theories and their impact on altering children\u27s behavior was also explored. This paper presents an analysis that describes the success of multiple childhood obesity intervention programs in addition to effective prevention strategies. The findings associated the effectiveness of programs with the socioeconomic status of children, and suggested more substantial state or regional policies to increase physical activity in schools. The most successful childhood obesity intervention programs were implemented using close relationships, community resources, and a holistic approach
Mentoring Assistant Professors: Supporting and Nurturing Talent Needed to Grow a Program
Get PDFThis paper provides an overview of a land grant university\u27s college of education assistant professor mentoring program, and how mentoring is needed to develop successful junior faculty and grow an academic program in a neoliberal environment
Moving Beyond Trauma: Activating Resilience to Support Our Most Vulnerable Youth
Get PDFIt is well-documented that exposure to toxic stress in childhood is associated with impaired social, emotional, behavioral, and neuro-biological development that often results in an inability to develop healthy relationships, learning difficulties, poor emotional regulation, and impaired problem-solving skills. Further, youth who grow up in unsafe environments or are subjected to structural inequality are faced with challenges over which they have no control. Using a positive, future-oriented, and trauma-responsive perspective while intentionally building resilience can effectively engage and support youth who have experienced toxic stress to overcome feelings of hopelessness and achieve positive outcomes. This paper includes a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with several youth who have experienced significant adversity as they participate in an intervention designed to support them to articulate, develop, and pursue their goals for transition from adolescence to adulthood. The paper includes a description of how systems and individualized interventions can build resilience, and the need for further research of the impact of relationship-based, person-centered approaches on the perspectives and outcomes of youth and young adults who have experienced significant trauma
Rooting Comparison of Zoysiagrass Cultivars in the Greenhouse
Get PDFThis study evaluated the growth performance of 12 zoysiagrass genotypes under controlled conditions to assess the relationship between rooting characteristics and shoot quality for drought tolerance. The experiment was conducted from May to August 2023 at the Kansas State University Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, Throckmorton Plant Sciences, Manhattan, KS. Zoysiagrass cultivars were sampled from turf plots and planted in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes filled with calcined clay to facilitate root observation. The experiment used a completely randomized design with five replicates for each cultivar. Weekly data collection included recording maximum root length and shoot quality on a 1 to 9 scale (9 = best, 6 = acceptable), with clippings dried and weighed. Root harvesting occurred from the 14th to the 19th week after planting for further analysis. Root analysis involved scanning and processing with WinRHIZO Pro software, while shoot quality was rated visually. Results showed significant variability among cultivars in root growth patterns, shoot quality, and drought tolerance. Cultivars such as Chisholm and DALZ 1701 demonstrated extensive rooting, while others showed varying degrees of performance. Rooting depths varied among cultivars, indicating differences in root establishment. This study provided valuable insights into the growth performance and potential drought avoidance of zoysiagrass genotypes, facilitating cultivar selection for various landscaping and turf applications
Crop Production and Soil Properties Impacts of Integrating Annual Forages and Ruminant Livestock into Wheat-based Cropping Systems
Get PDFIntegrating annual forages and ruminant livestock to intensify dryland cropping systems can increase profitability, increase water use efficiency, and improve soil health. The objective of this study was to determine the crop yield and soil property impacts of intensifying traditional no-till winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor Moench)-fallow (WW-GS-F) with annual forages as well as integrating livestock to graze forages and crop residues. This study was initiated in 2021 at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center-Hays in Hays, KS. Treatments were WW-GS-F (control), WW-GS-F with grain sorghum residues grazed, winter wheat/forage sorghum-forage sorghum-fallow (WW/FS-FS-F) with forage sorghum grazed, and WW/FS-FS-F with forage sorghum hayed. The treatments were replicated four times with all phases of the rotation present each year. Grain and forage yields were determined every year with sampling to characterize soil properties in fall 2023. Results showed that full-season forage sorghum harvested for hay produced 5,994 lb/a on average, while post-wheat forage sorghum harvested for hay produced 1,682 lb/a. Before grazing, full-season forage sorghum produced 9,735 lb/a with about 51% of biomass remaining as residue after livestock were removed. On average, post-wheat forage sorghum produced 2,988 lb/a before grazing. Because of smaller yields, post-wheat forage sorghum plots were grazed only in one year when 82% of biomass remained as residue on the plots after livestock were removed. In 2023, WW yields were low due to dry weather, but there was no difference among treatments and average was 15 bu/a. The WW/FS-FS-F (grazed) treatment had greater crop residue cover (77%) at winter wheat planting than all other treatments (53%) in fall 2023. No differences in bulk density or penetration resistance in the 0 to 2-inch and 2 to 6-inch soil depths were observed across treatments. Despite no differences in bulk soil organic carbon (SOC) in the 0 to 2-inch and 2 to 6-inch soil depths, dry aggregate associated SOC was greater with WW-GS-F (grazed) and WW/FS-FS-F (grazed) treatments than WW-GS-F and WW/FS-FS-F (hayed). No differences in mean weight diameter (MWD) of water stable aggregates or the wind-erodible fraction were observed across treatments. These preliminary results suggest that intensifying the WW-GS-F rotation with annual forages and integrating livestock increased available forage, soil residue cover, and dry aggregate associated organic carbon with no effect on winter wheat yields