The Healing Organization

How do we transform our organizations into spaces of community, wellness, collaboration, and safety? Looking at the entire campus as “The Healing Organization” we focus on human-centered leadership practices to create a better future for our departments and our classrooms

Source-Sink Manipulation and Its Impacts on Canola Seed Filling Period

Canola yield production is driven by the balance between source (leaves) and sink (pods and seeds) activity during the reproductive period of a crop. However, previous literature has not reported the impact of source-sink limitations under different nitrogen (N) supplies, and its effect on seed filling. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to 1) explore the impact of source-sink manipulations during the seed filling period and its main parameters: duration and rate; and 2) understand the interactions between N supply and source-sink manipulations to explain variations in seed weight. With these objectives, a field experiment was conducted during 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 (Kansas, U.S.). One winter canola hybrid was tested under two N fertilization levels (0 and 134 lb/a), and three source-sink modifications (control; reduced sink, 50% pod removal at pod setting; and reduced source, 100% defoliation at pod setting). The reduced sink treatment resulted in a larger seed weight relative to the control. The duration of seed filling was longer for the control relative to the rest of the treatments. Even though no significant differences were found with different N fertilization, the highest seed weight values were obtained with the high N level (134 lb/a)

Navigating Your Department Post Pandemic with Creative Wellness

Presenters will discuss and participants will practice creative counseling skills including mindfulness, empathy, effective questioning, reflecting emotion and goal setting which will assist the evolving work-life concerns of faculty, staff, and students following the pandemic

Effects of Almond Hull Inclusion on Growth Performance of Limit-Fed Growing Cattle

Objective: The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effects of almond hull inclusion and almond hull processing on growth performance of limit-fed growing beef cattle during a 56-day growing period. Study Description: A total of 364 steers were assigned to one of four diets. The control diet contained (dry matter basis) 39.5% dry-rolled corn, 7.5% supplement, 40% wet-corn gluten feed, and 13% prairie hay. Almond hulls replaced prairie hay or prairie hay and dry-rolled corn and were fed at 13 and 26% of the diet, respectively. A subset of almond hulls was processed using a grinder mixer with no screen. Processed almond hulls replaced prairie hay and were fed at 13% of the diet. Diets were limit-fed for 56 days. The Bottom Line: These data were interpreted to suggest almond hulls can be utilized as an alternative to prairie hay in limit-fed growing beef cattle diets while maintaining or slightly improving growth performance

Evaluation of Bovine Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms and Muscle Fiber Cross-Sectional Area on the Eating Quality of 11 Different Beef Muscles

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of muscle fiber type and size on the eating quality of 11 different beef muscles. Study Description: Eleven different beef muscles were utilized from two separate studies. In study 1, shoulder clod, flank, knuckle, mock tender, top sirloin butt, brisket, eye of round, and ribeye were collected from 10 U.S. Department of Agriculture choice carcasses (n = 80), and each muscle was fabricated into steaks at 2 days postmortem. In study 2, strip loin, tri-tip, and heel were collected from 10 USDA low choice carcasses (n = 30). Myofibrillar proteins were extracted and analyzed by immunoblot to determine muscle fiber type. Cross sectional area (CSA) and muscle fiber diameter were determined under the microscope. An average of 400 fibers per sample were analyzed to determine CSA and muscle fiber diameter. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between muscle fiber type, CSA, and diameter with the results for the eating quality of beef as determined by a trained panel that were reported in previous studies. Results: In study 1, there was a positive correlation between fiber type 1 and initial juiciness (r = 0.37; P \u3c 0.05), sustained juiciness (r = 0.39; P \u3c 0.05) and lipid flavor (r = 0.41; P \u3c 0.05). Conversely, there was a negative correlation between fiber type 2A and initial juiciness (r = -0.40; P \u3c 0.05) sustained juiciness (r = -0.42; P \u3c 0.05), and lipid flavor (r = -0.45; P \u3c 0.01). Both studies saw a negative correlation between muscle fiber CSA and diameter with connective tissue content (P \u3c 0.05), but positive correlations to overall tenderness (P \u3c 0.05). The Bottom Line: This study shows that muscles predominated by type 1 fibers will likely deliver a higher eating quality experience for consumers, while muscles with more glycolytic fibers 2A and 2X will deliver a less favorable eating experience for consumers. On the other hand, these data also demonstrated that larger muscle fiber CSA and diameter are not necessarily a negative eating quality marker as muscles with those characteristics had less connective tissue and had greater tenderness scores

Investigating Moderation in the Prospective Relationship of Marijuana Use to Subsequent Illicit Substance Use: Evidence from Add Health

While socially normalized substances (e.g., marijuana) may increase the probability of subsequent progression to more harmful illicit substances, previous empirical research on the topic has yielded inconsistent results. Few studies have prospectively examined whether age of first documented current marijuana use is related to later harmful illicit substance use over multiple life course stages, or considered potential moderation of the process by age of first documented current marijuana use, gender, or race/ethnicity. To investigate this topic, data from five waves the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult (N=20,774), spanning ages 12-42, were used to analyze the prospective association of current marijuana use at any of the five waves to current illicit substances in early middle adulthood (i.e., Wave 5), conditional on sociodemographic controls. Moderation in the effect of first documented current marijuana use on later illicit substance use was tested for three putative moderators, gender, race/ethnicity, and age of first reported current marijuana use, using interaction effects. Multiple imputation was used to address a modest amount of missing data. Results indicate that current marijuana use at any wave was strongly associated with documented current illicit substance use in early middle adulthood (OR=4.506, p

Improving K-12 Classroom Literacy Instruction with the Model of the Complete, Literate Student: Shared Perspectives by MSEd Reading Program Graduates

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an instructional model, used in a Master of Science in Education in Reading (MSEd) Reading program, on K-12 classroom literacy instruction. Recent, MSEd Reading program graduates had an opportunity to share their perspectives on The Model of the Complete, Literate Student. Findings from this research study will be utilized to better understand the impact of this instructional model on K-12 classroom literacy instruction, as well as current practitioners’ professional growth as literacy leaders

Annual Summary of Weather Data for Parsons - 2022

This report includes the annual summary of precipitation and temperatures from 2022 at the research locations represented in the 2023 Southeast Research and Extension Center Agricultural Research Report

A Multi-Method Analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Websites of Fortune 500 Agricultural and Food Companies

Each year, Fortune magazine publishes a list of the 500 largest corporations in the United States of America based on total revenue in the previous fiscal year. As successful companies, these organizations must prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for a multitude of reasons. The purpose of this study was to determine how agricultural and food companies on the 2021 Fortune 500 list demonstrated a commitment to DEI efforts on their corporate websites. Thus, we analyzed the DEI website of each food and agricultural company listed on the 2021 Fortune 500 list. Quantitatively, most websites only required two clicks to access resources and information regarding how the company supports diverse audiences in the workplace when navigating from the main corporate website. Corporations should ensure DEI is a priority for and clearly communicate this on the website using definitions, statements, and employee resources on websites. Additionally, using visuals such as photos, videos, and graphics can improve communication in this space. For the qualitative portion of the study, we analyzed the use of executive and employee voices in communicating about DEI on the corporate landing page. Two themes emerged. Within the corporate theme came the work-to-be-done subtheme which addresses corporate DEI work as a work in progress. The second theme was the personal and professional theme which helps support the personal and professional wellbeing of employees and stakeholders. We offer suggestions for communicators and executives for communicating about DEI in the food and agriculture webspace and offer recommendations for future researc

Evaluating HiPhorius Phytase in Two Diet Formulation Strategies on Finishing Pig Growth Performance, Serum Chemistry, Bone Mineralization, and Carcass Characteristics

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of HiPhorius (DSM Nutritional Products, Parsippany, NJ) phytase on finishing pig growth performance, serum chemistry, bone mineralization, and carcass characteristics. In Exp. 1, 1,161 pigs (PIC 337 × 1050; initially 80.9. ± 1.06 lb) were used in a 105-d trial. There were 27 pigs per pen and 10 or 11 replications per treatment. Treatments consisted of: 1) Control diet with no added phytase and formulated to NRC (2012) requirement estimates for standard total tract digestible (STTD) P; 2) 600 FYT/kg added phytase formulated to the same STTD P as the control diet considering a release of 0.13% STTD P and 0.095% STTD Ca; 3) 1,000 FYT/kg added phytase formulated to the same STTD P as the control diet considering release of 0.16% STTD P and 0.107% STTD Ca; and 4) high STTD P (no phytase; approximately 22% above NRC requirement estimates). All diets were formulated to a 1.30:1 STTD Ca:STTD P ratio. Overall, pigs fed NRC (2012) or high STTD P had increased ADG (P \u3c 0.05) compared to pigs fed the treatments with added phytase. Pigs fed diets with phytase tended to have decreased (P = 0.056) 25-hydroxyvitamin-D3 compared to pigs fed NRC levels of STTD P without phytase. In Exp. 2, 1,160 pigs (PIC 337 × 1050; initially 167.4 ± 2.92 lb) were used in a 58-d trial. There were 27 pigs per pen and 11 replications per treatment. Treatments were the same as in Exp. 1, except diets were formulated to the same total Ca:P ratio (the phase 1 ratio was 1.15:1; the phase 2 ratio was 1.12:1) without an STTD Ca release consideration from phytase. Overall, there were no differences in ADG, ADFI, or F/G among treatments (P \u3e 0.10). For pigs fed NRC or high STTD P, there was an increase (P \u3c 0.05) in metacarpal bone density, and a tendency for increased bone ash weight (g) (P \u3c 0.10) and percentage bone ash (P \u3c 0.10) compared to pigs fed treatments containing phytase. In conclusion, regardless of diet formulation strategy, pigs fed diets with phytase had decreased growth performance (Exp. 1) and bone mineralization (Exp. 2). The unexpected result may be caused by several, or a combination of, factors, such as low or no monocalcium phosphate being included in the diets with phytase, lower analyzed than formulated P (based on sampled diets), not enough phytate-bound P in the diets for phytase to provide sufficient P, too wide of an analyzed Ca:P ratio that may have reduced phytase activity compared to the intended Ca:P ratio, or the expected P attributed to the phytase being overestimated