The Efficacy of Foam-Based Hand Sanitizers for the Control of Enveloped and Non-enveloped Virus Transmission

Infectious disease transmission due to viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus, human noroviruses (HuNoV), and hepatitis A, can occur via person-to-person contact or contaminated surfaces. Effective hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of hand sanitizers, is considered a critical tool for the control of infectious disease transmission, as recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. However, while research on hand washing efficacy is well-documented, research on hand sanitizer efficacy, particularly for foam-based products, remains limited. This research addressed critical gaps in the area of hand sanitizer efficacy, particularly with foam-based hand sanitizers which are widely used but generally underexplored. First, the recovery of bacteriophage phi6 (Φ6; a surrogate for enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2) from the whole hands was optimized. Φ6 was applied on either the palmar surface or the whole hand, recovered based on wet or dry conditions using three eluents [lysogeny broth (LC), tryptic soy broth (TSB), and 1.5% beef extract (BE)] and three recovery methods [glove juice method (GJM), hand rinsing, and modified dish method]. Recovery methods, inoculum application type, and recovery basis significantly impacted Φ6 recovery. Study results revealed that GJM and dry basis recovery are not ideal for Φ6, however, to maximize Φ6f recovery from the hands, inoculum should be applied to the palmar surface and recovered using LC medium while the inoculum is still wet. The study also examined the in vitro efficacy of foam hand sanitizers against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The efficacy of one non-alcohol-based hand sanitizer (NABHS) and four alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHS) with benzalkonium chloride (BZK) and ethanol as active ingredients, respectively, were explored using Φ6 as a surrogate for enveloped viruses and bacteriophage MS2 (Emesvirus zinderi) and Tulane virus (TuV) as surrogates for non-enveloped viruses (e.g., HuNoV and hepatitis A) with an exposure time of 10 s. While Φ6 was completely inactivated (5.23 ± 1.64 log reduction), MS2 proved resistant to inactivation (0.04 ± 0.08 log reduction). Conversely, efficacy against TuV significantly varied across products, indicating that while 10 s may be sufficient to inactivate enveloped viruses, higher exposure time may be necessary to achieve similar log reductions against non-enveloped viruses such as human norovirus based on the tested surrogates. Finally, the in vivo efficacy of commercially available ABHS and NABHS against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses was evaluated, assessing varying dosing volumes and rubbing time. The findings revealed that the efficacy of the products is significantly affected by virus type, rubbing time, and overall formulation. Employing Φ6 as a surrogate for enveloped viruses yielded a significantly higher log reduction (2.83 ± 1.98) than MS2, the surrogate utilized for non-enveloped viruses (0.50 ± 0.53). Furthermore, when hands were rubbed until dry following hand sanitizer application, a significantly higher log reduction (2.69 ± 2.06) was observed compared to 10 s rubbing time (0.65 ± 0.75), which is typical among users

Bacterial Chondronecrosis with Osteomyelitis in Broiler Chickens: Experimental Lameness and Additive Probiotic Treatments

With the global population already surpassing 8.2 billion and expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the poultry industry has seen a surge in demand due to its unmatched efficiency and affordability for consumers across the globe. Selective breeding and quality nutrition developments since the industry\u27s commercialization have allowed producers to grow broilers up to 7 pounds by market age. While this extraordinarily efficient process has allowed quality poultry products to be available worldwide, the modern-day broiler has developed a multitude of musculoskeletal issues. Due to the lack of integral skeletal development to match the rapid production of muscle tissue, producers are experiencing an assortment of lameness issues. Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is currently the most prevalent lameness disease in modern broilers. BCO accounts for the majority of mortality and culls related to lameness in the commercial broiler. This bacterial disease is associated with a combination of poor gut integrity (“leaky gut”), aerosolized bacteria, poor skeletal integrity, and mechanical stress on the long bones of the leg. Opportunistic bacteria such as Staphylococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., and Escherichia coli hematogenously spread from the small intestine to microfractures in the growth plates of weight-bearing bones. Bacterial colonization leads to infection, inflammation, necrosis of bone tissue, and eventual death. In addition to the economic loss associated with lameness, BCO is considered a significant animal welfare issue as birds experience extreme discomfort and are often unable to access food and water properly. In Chapter One, I reviewed the literature utilized in developing my understanding of BCO. The overview presented was established and improved through my experience in co-writing a review publication on the topic, as presented in Chapter 2. Chapter Two presents a complete literature review of current publications relating to BCO. In addition to the foundational knowledge built by Dr. Wideman and Dr. Alrubaye, findings since Dr. Wideman’s 2016 review have revealed more aspects related to BCO etiology, which are presented here. In Chapter Three, we tested the efficacy of using a supplemental probiotic program alongside a multivalent electron beam (eBeam) vaccine in reducing the incidence of BCO in broiler chickens. At hatch, birds received an Enterococcus faecium spray (E. faecium 669, at 2 × 109CFU/bird), and, from day 1 to day 56, drinking water was treated with a triple-strain Bacillus-based product (B. subtilis 597, B. subtilis 600, and B. amyloliquefaciens 516 at 1 × 109 CFU/bird/day). Chicks were divided into five treatment groups under an aerosol transmission challenge model to simulate treatment effects in a commercial setting. The treatment groups included a positive control group on a wire-floor pen (T1), a negative control group (T2), a group receiving only the probiotic program (T3), a group receiving only the multivalent vaccine (T4), and a group receiving both programs (probiotic supplementation and multivalent vaccination). Broilers were assessed daily for clinical lameness from day 22 until trial completion at day 56. The data collected presented significantly reduced lameness in T3, T4, and T5 when compared to T1 and T2

Fractured Inheritance: Quantifying the Economic Impact of Heir’s Property on Arkansas Farmers

Heir’s property arises when the original owner still holds the title despite their passing, and ownership is distributed among their heirs. This was driven by barriers to retaining land ownership and access to legal support in predominantly African American populations in the early 20th century. This approach allowed land to remain in the original owner\u27s name while granting continued ownership to future generations without formal paperwork. Additionally, allowing limited land access, land management, and disparities in capital access compared to property with direct ownership rights. This analysis examines how modern heir’s property impacts agricultural returns. This study develops a conceptual model to analyze heirs’ property policies in Arkansas, including a detailed budget analysis of conventional rice and heirloom tomato enterprises. Budgets are separated into a full single owner and heirs to represent a formal operation and an Heir’s Property operation. This comparison illustrates the profitability disparities based on the legal formality used in land ownership. We find that heterogeneity in farm profitability relates to farm scale, access to capital, and policy implications of heir’s property. These results provide continued evidence for policy changes in support of mitigating the limitations of heir’s property in agricultural production

Geochemical Analysis for Potential Critical Mineral Resources in Carbon Fly Ash

The growing demand for critical minerals, coupled with the increasing supply chain vulnerabilities, has intensified the need for alternative domestic resources of critical minerals beyond traditional mining. Many of these critical minerals are essential for advanced technologies, energy storage, and national security, yet the United States remains heavily dependent on foreign imports, particularly from China. This study evaluates the economic potential of critical mineral recovery from Carbon Fly Ash (CFA), a byproduct of coal combustion, to determine its viability as a secondary source of critical minerals. A geochemical and mineralogical assessment was conducted on CFA samples from various storage sites to analyze the concentration of 33 critical minerals. The study identified varying concentrations and economic potential, which are influenced by factors such as the type of coal burned and the scale of the CFA deposits. Results indicate that 24 of these critical minerals exhibit viable economic potential, suggesting that processing CFA for their recovery could offer high financial return while contributing to the strengthening of global infrastructure resilience. Given the growing urgency to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, especially in light of recent trade restrictions and supply chain disruptions, developing domestic processing infrastructure for critical mineral recovery from CFA could provide a strategic advantage. Additionally, many of these high-value critical minerals co-occur or share similar extraction and processing methods, allowing for cost effective co-recovery. While challenges remain, including CFA heterogeneity and the need for large-scale processing capabilities, the findings of this study underscore the importance of investing in critical mineral recovery from CFA as a means to enhance resource security, strengthen economic resilience, and mitigate risk associated with geopolitical supply constraints

Lucky Charms: Leveraging Consumer Data Analysis for Strategic Decision-Making at General Mills

This undergraduate thesis examines the application of data analytics in sales strategy and consumer insights from the perspective of a summer internship at General Mills. It gives an overview of the company’s background, industry position, and intern’s role within the sales organization. It outlines the personal learning objectives established before the internship and how they evolved through practical experience. A central focus of the summer internship was the analysis of consumer demographics within the cereal category to enhance sales performance and optimize retail execution. Using the Data Science Analytics Process as a framework, this thesis details the problem statements, methodologies, and analytical approaches employed to complete the intern projects. By leveraging demographic data, purchasing patterns, and market segmentation, insights were generated to drive more effective product positioning and promotional strategies. A literature review contextualizes the project within existing research, evaluating relevant methodologies in sales analytics and their applicability to the internship assignment. Results highlight key insights gained, the impact of data-driven decision-making on sales operations, and recommendations for improving business performance. The analysis was conducted using Walmart Luminate, NielsenIQ, and E2Open, three business intelligence tools that provide data on consumer behavior, market trends, and sales dynamics. These tools enabled insights into sales performance and competitive positioning that were shared cross functionally with brand and supply chain teams. This thesis also discusses the challenges encountered in working with large-scale retail data and the strategic implications of these data-driven decisions. This thesis contributes to a broader understanding of how data analytics can be used to understand consumer behavior, optimize sales strategies, and drive growth within the cereal market. It offers a practical intern perspective on the growing role of data science in the corporate sales environments, particularly within the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry

Unbridled Healing: Identifying the Barriers of Equine-Assisted Therapy

Despite the documented benefits of equine-assisted therapy (EAT) for mental health conditions, this complementary approach remains underutilized. This qualitative study investigated barriers preventing wider EAT implementation by examining challenges faced by clients, facilities, and volunteers. Data collected through open-ended surveys from 33 participants and the researcher\u27s autoethnographic observations revealed eight common barriers: Accessibility (48 mentions), Money (43), Time (30), Awareness (23), Physical Factors (13), Relationships (13), Risk (13), and Weather (7). Clients identified financial constraints as their primary barrier, particularly insurance limitations. Facilitators struggled most with accessibility challenges, including lack of resources, trained staff, suitable horses, and appropriate facilities. Volunteers faced significant time constraints and communication difficulties. Novel findings included communication issues for volunteers, relationship barriers affecting retention, physical limitations to participation, and weather-related constraints affecting all stakeholder groups. The study\u27s findings support advocacy efforts to address these barriers and potentially expand EAT access to more diverse populations.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc25/1046/thumbnail.jp

Cross-Facility Reliable Deep Learning Based Beef Marbling Assessment Via Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Regression

Beef is one of the most important sources of animal protein and plays a crucial role in daily diets to support muscle growth, energy production and overall health. Historically, each beef carcass was evaluated by 3-5 skilled United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) meat graders, which are still considered as the gold standard for grading. Since 2009, electronic imaging grading systems have been approved by the USDA and have been gradually adopted in the grading facilities. Accurate and consistent beef grading plays a critical role in maintaining the quality, market value, and consumer trust in U.S. beef products. The USDA beef grading system, primarily based on fat marbling characteristics, has long served as the industry standard for classifying beef quality. However, traditional grading methods relying on human visual inspection have been prone to variability among graders and inconsistencies across processing plants. To address these challenges, this study developed a deep learning based solution to predict USDA beef grades by analyzing fat marbling patterns in carcass images collected from multiple processing facilities. The dataset provided by the USDA, which includes expert-graded images of beef carcasses from seven processing plants, provides numerical scores on a range of 0-1500, which was used to train convolutional neural networks (CNNs) such as ResNet, VGG, and Inception. Additionally, this study proposes a unified unsupervised domain adaptation regression method, which was employed to enhance the models’ ability to generalize across different environments. The dataset reflected real-world variability, such as differences in lighting, equipment, and operational practices, ensuring the models could adapt to diverse plant conditions. By correlating image-based features with USDA grades, the models successfully identified intricate marbling patterns and reduced variability compared to human graders. Statistical analyses showed that the deep learning based approach provided more uniform results across plants, addressing the inconsistencies of traditional methods. In comparison with commonly utilized generic CNN deep learning models, the newly proposed unsupervised domain adaptation model achieves a significantly better marbling score prediction performance in different processing facilities. This study not only automated the beef grading process but also introduced a scalable and efficient solution for the industry. The integration of domain adaptation ensured robust performance in varying plant environments, making the system practical for widespread adoption. Beyond reducing labor costs and improving grading accuracy, this research contributed to a fairer system for producers by further standardizing grading criteria across facilities. By bridging advanced technology with traditional practices, this study provides a framework for policy makers to regulate and approve deep learning based beef grading protocol into commonplace beef grading practices.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc25/1041/thumbnail.jp

Quantifying Temperature Effects on Developmental Rate and Plant Quality of Compact Container-grown Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

Mean daily temperature effects on plant development rates and quality were evaluated for compact container-grown tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Compact tomato varieties ‘Siam’ and ‘Red Velvet’ were grown in greenhouses at 18 to 26 °C (Experiment 1) and 20 to 30 °C (Experiment 2) under supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting and 16-hour photoperiod. The number of days to first open flower, first ripe fruit, and from flower to ripe fruit were measured and development rates calculated by taking the reciprocal (e.g. 1/days). Temperature effects were predicted by fitting a linear (for first open flower) and a nonlinear exponential function (for first ripe fruit and between first open flower and ripe fruit) which included base temperature (Tmin) and maximum developmental rate (Rmax) parameters. Plant quality attributes were measured in Experiment 2. As temperature increased, the time to flower and fruit decreased (i.e. developmental rates increased) for both varieties. Estimated Tmin was 8.7 °C for ‘Siam’ and 11.4 °C for ‘Red Velvet’ whereas Rmax was similar between varieties (0.030 at fruit, and 0.037 from flower to fruit). ‘Siam’ and ‘Red Velvet’ grown at ≈25 °C had a relatively short crop time, compact canopy, adequate fruit size, and a high number of fruits per plant at finish. Compact tomatoes are new crops being grown by greenhouse floriculture operations for ornamental and edible value, and the information from this study can help growers schedule these crops to meet critical market windows and determine the impacts of changing growing temperature on crop timing and quality