Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2024

The 2024 edition of the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies Series includes research results on topics pertaining to corn and grain sorghum production, including weed, disease, nematode, and insect management; economics; irrigation; agronomics; soil fertility; drone use; and research verification program results. Our objective is to capture and broadly distribute the results of research projects funded by the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board. The intended audience includes producers and their advisors, current investigators, and future researchers. The Series serves as a citable archive of research results. The reports inform and guide our long-term recommendations, but should not be taken solely as our recommended practices. Some reports may appear in other University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station publications. This duplication results from the overlap between disciplines and our effort to broadly inform Arkansas corn and grain sorghum producers of the research conducted with funds from the Corn and Grain Sorghum Check-off Program. This publication may also incorporate research partially funded by industry, federal, and state agencies. The use of products and trade names in any of the research reports does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the products named and does not signify that these products are endorsed or approved to the exclusion of comparable products. All authors are either current or former faculty, staff, or students of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture or scientists with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. We extend thanks to the staff at the state and county extension offices and the research centers and stations, producers and cooperators, and industry personnel who assisted with the planning and execution of the programs

In Vitro Assessment of the Antihistomonal Activity of Methyl Jasmonate and Jasmonic Acid

Histomonas meleagridis is a protozoan parasite and the causative agent of histomonosis in gallinaceous birds. There are currently no approved prevention or treatment options available for histomonosis control in the United States. Mortality in affected turkey flocks can exceed 80% which highlights the urgent need for research investigating novel strategies to mitigate histomonosis in the field. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antihistomonal and antibacterial effects of of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and jasmonic acid (JA), two plant-derived compounds, in a xenic culture of H. meleagridis. Assays were conducted using cultured H. meleagridis (PHL strain) treated with varying concentrations of MeJA (0.5–10 mM; 3 assays) and JA (1–10 mM; 2 assays). Viable histomonad concentration (Log10 H. meleagridis cells/mL) was determined at 44-48 hours post-incubation at 40C. Chromagar Orientation agar was used for bacterial recovery (Log10 CFU/mL) in MeJA assay 3 and JA assay 1. Across the MeJA assays, treatment with MeJA ≥7.5 mM significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced H. meleagridis to a non-detectable level compared to the non-treated control. Bacterial recovery was significantly higher in the groups treated with 5 mM (7.85 ± 0.12) and 10 mM (7.81 ± 0.03) of MeJA compared to the non-treated control (6.77 ± 0.03) and the group treated with 1 mM of MeJA (7.09 ± 0.13), suggesting a trend of increasing bacterial growth as histomonad viability declined. In both JA assays, H. meleagridis concentration was significantly reduced in all groups treated at 1 mM, 5 mM, and 10 mM compared to the non-treated control. Although the effect of JA at all concentrations was significant, the effect of JA only reduced histomonad concentration by \u3c 1 log compared to the non-treated control group. In Assay 1, bacterial recovery was markedly reduced in the group exposed to 10 mM JA (8.26 ± 0.02) compared to the non-treated control (8.68 ± 0.12). These results suggest that MeJA potency and effect on histomonad growth in vitro is more pronounced than JA and that the impact of both compounds on H. meleagridis was not related to inhibition of the bacterial population in the xenic culture. Research is underway to assess the prophylactic and therapeutic effect of MeJA treatment in H. meleagridis infected turkeys

Pricing the unknown: An Analysis of Expected Value of Young Horses and Price-Determining Factors

From a seller’s point of view in a market, it is crucial to plan the pricing strategies based on perceptions of buyer preferences and their willingness to purchase to ensure market success in selling and pricing. Applying this to the equine industry, this paper studies the factors determining the price of young horses (age ≤ 2 years) in digital auction platforms. Using data from Professional Horse Services, LLC (2012–2023), a Heckman’s two-step approach was employed, which involves a probit model as the first step and a hedonic price model as the second, aiming to correct for sample selection bias in the data. The first step evaluates the probability of sale of a young horse, and the results indicate that variables of breed category, veterinary information, and auction season significantly impact the sale probability of a horse. The second step evaluates the determinants of the final bid price of a horse based on observed sales, where the model’s key findings show that the final bid price is impacted by season of the auction, breed type, health and veterinary information, and discipline specialization. A comprehensive understanding of the findings reveals that various attributes influence the sale and final bid price of a young horse, providing buyers and sellers with better information to inform their bidding decisions and pricing strategies on digital auction platforms, respectively

Empowering Through Technology: An Internship Report on Augmentative and Alternative Communication Devices

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices play a crucial role in supporting individuals with communication challenges, particularly children with developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This paper provides a comprehensive review of the literature on AAC and offers a detailed report of an internship experience at the University of Arkansas WE CARE Summer Camp. During the internship, firsthand experiences provided valuable insights into how AAC technologies can be applied to enhance communication, foster social connections, and support behavioral regulation. The literature review explores the different types of AAC systems, including both aided and unaided options, and discusses the benefits and challenges of implementing these technologies. The internship report reflects on the day-to-day experiences of working with children who use AAC, highlighting the practical applications of the devices in a supportive camp environment. Observations from the internship illustrate the importance of individualized communication strategies and the impact of AAC on a child\u27s confidence and overall quality of life. By combining academic research with real-world experiences, this report offers a well-rounded perspective on the role of AAC in the lives of children with developmental disabilities. It highlights the importance of continued education, caregiver and educator training, and collaborative support to maximize the benefits of AAC in various settings

Barred From Every Angle: Ninety Days To Save Your Life from Arkansas Prisons

Charlie Vaughn has been incarcerated since 1991 in Arkansas’s Tucker Unit maximum security prison, serving a life sentence for a first-degree murder he did not commit. His actual innocence is simply irrelevant in the State of Arkansas due to strict adherence to procedural court filing rules. He has only been denied without opinion or procedurally barred. Despite both state and federal constitutional protections safeguarding liberty and freedom through various rights, including to counsel, to remain silent, a speedy trial, a jury of peers, and due process, wrongful convictions persist. Arkansas stands out among other top incarceration rate states as one where notably few exonerations have occurred. A closer look at the stringent limitations and practical implications of the state’s primary post1conviction remedy, Arkansas Rule of Criminal Procedure 37 (“Rule 37”), reveals that very few inmates with innocence claims ever receive a review of their case on the merits because their claims are often procedurally barred just ninety days into incarceration. This Comment begins with Charlie Vaughn’s story, followed by an overview of how a defendant progresses through Arkansas courts after being found guilty of a felony, providing a past to present overview of collateral post-conviction remedies available. Part II focuses on analyzing the practical implications of Rule 37, the primary state remedy available to wrongfully convicted defendants seeking to overturn their original conviction. Part III concludes with specific recommendations for achieving stated goals of the state in post-conviction relief remedies while defending life and liberty as guaranteed by the Arkansas Constitution

Classification of TikTok Videos about Menthol Restriction Laws

Significance. Globally, nations, states, and localities have enacted laws to restrict tobacco products that include menthol flavoring. While literature has examined policy discussions on text-based social media platforms, less is known about the characterization of menthol bans on video-based platforms, such as TikTok, that are popular among youth and young adults. The purpose of this study was to classify video content from TikTok about menthol restriction policies to identify products commonly portrayed and main themes of policy discourse. Methods. A sample of 1260 TikTok videos posted between October 2018 and September 2023 were collected via a TikTok application programming interface (API) from https://console.apify.com/ using #menthol (135.3 million views). A codebook was developed using the first 100 videos, where three authors expanded, collapsed, and edited codes. Using the final codebook, all data were annotated to classify: type of product (cigarette, non-menthol menthol cigarettes, e-cigarettes); flavor injection device demonstration; retail environment; method of circumventing law; and race-based discourse. We also identified if the video was posted by a social media influencer or micro-influencer (\u3e1,000 followers) and the influencers’ sentiment about the menthol restriction policy. Overall, 710 (56.3%) were relevant to menthol restriction policies. Frequencies were reported as a total of the relevant posts. Results. Cigarettes (49.6%) were the most commonly portrayed tobacco product in the videos, followed by e-cigarettes (20.7%). Overall, 23.7% of relevant videos included a flavor injection device and 18.6% were demonstration videos, that displayed how to inject a flavor capsule into a cigarette. 8.7% of the videos displayed a retail environment, and 13.4% described methods of circumventing the policy. Overall, 31.8% of the videos were social media influencers and micro-influencers discussing the policy. Most sentiment negatively portrayed the policy (58.4%), 32.3% was neutral, and 3% was positive. Implications. Video-based social media platforms are being used as a platform to share information about menthol restriction policies. Understanding methods of circumventing these policies can help policymakers and enforcement agencies ensure policy language does not create loopholes for flavor injection devices. Further, those creating messaging campaigns about such laws can address issues raised in popular social media posts.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/hnrcsturpc25/1028/thumbnail.jp

Surviving Their Stripes: the Diagnostic Odyssey and Impact of Life with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Background: Hypermobile type Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) is subtype of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome that is a genetic connective tissue disorder with complexities involving joint hypermobility, tissue fragility and severe pain. Patients often experience misdiagnosis, medical dismissal and years of waiting for a diagnosis. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the quality of life and diagnostic journey for patients living with hEDS.https://scholarworks.uark.edu/coesym25/1008/thumbnail.jp

Exploring Emotional Intelligence as a Determinant of Sales Performance: An Analysis using the Ability Model of Emotional Intelligence

This multi-phase research project explores the evolving role of emotional intelligence in the sales profession by focusing on four key themes: comprehending the intricacies of the sales field, understanding emotional intelligence, comparing emotional quotient to traditional sales tactics, and ultimately, harnessing emotional intelligence as a sales advantage. The study begins with an in-depth review of emotional intelligence theories and models, ultimately selecting the Ability Model as the framework for further analysis. Using this model, an emotional intelligence assessment was administered to students participating in the Walton College Sales Competition. Statistical analysis was then conducted to determine whether a correlation exists between higher emotional intelligence scores and stronger performance in the competition. The findings offer valuable insights into the potential impact of emotional intelligence on sales success and its implications for future sales training and recruitment strategies