Investigation looking at the repeatability of 20 Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) qualified saddle fitters’ observations during static saddle fit

Saddle fit is widely considered to be a crucial factor for the health and performance of riding horses; however, there have been no studies looking at the agreement between professionals who fit and assess saddles. The aim of the study was to determine the agreement between Society of Master Saddlers (SMSs) qualified saddle fitters when statically fitting a saddle following the SMS guidelines. Twenty SMS qualified saddle fitter volunteers were recruited via social media and asked to statically assess the fit of the saddle following the “7 points of saddle fit” guidelines of the SMS in 10 horses. Descriptive statistics and Fleiss Kappa (as a measure of agreement beyond chance) were used to determine agreement between fitters. Agreement varied from slight to substantial between the different saddle assessment criteria with the assessment of overall saddle fit resulting in a fair agreement of k = 0.32. Substantial agreement was found for saddle clearance front (k = 0.66), top (k = 0.78), and rear (k = 0.81). Fair agreement was found for clearance of the saddle—side (k = 0.28) and how the girth straps line up with girth groove (k = 0.31) and panel contact (k = 0.38). Slight agreement was found for tree width and length (k = 0.12) and tree length (k = 0.12). Horse height in some criteria affected agreement. Agreement varied between the standard criteria. In cases where it was difficult to visually evaluate saddle fit, agreement was lower. Further work should aim to standardize the criteria which had suboptimal agreement

Consumer Acceptance of Novel Breads Containing Vitamin D and Soy Given Three Different Nutrition Information Conditions

Functional foods are an innovative area of food science that improve the health of consumers through the use of synergistic ingredients. A Vitamin D bread with soy was developed by scientists at the Ohio State University and is poised to reduce the deficiency of Vitamin D in the United States. A survey was conducted to see which identifying claims on four different breads (whole wheat, whole wheat with soy, whole wheat with 50% Vitamin D, and whole wheat with 100% Vitamin D) would make this product most appealing to consumers. The survey compared three levels of nutrition information: a front of pack (FOP) claim, a FOP claim with the traditional nutrition facts label, and a FOP claim with the proposed new nutrition facts label. It was hosted through Qualtrics, LLC and distributed to consumers in the state of Ohio. Across all three levels of information, a majority of respondents preferred traditional wheat bread, although a statistically significant shift of consumer preference towards whole wheat bread with 100% Vitamin D occurred between the FOP claim and the FOP claim with a nutrition label. Additionally, a majority of consumers, preferred to pay $2.00-2.99 per loaf, while a significant shift in willingness to pay occurred between the FOP claim and the FOP claim with a nutrition label. No change was noted in consumer preference with the new nutrition label. It was concluded that the financial success of the bread in the market place could not be guaranteed through the results of this survey alone, and that further study was necessary to understand consumer perception of claims, nutrition labels, and the impact of Vitamin D in the body.Food Innovation CenterNo embargoAcademic Major: Food Science and Technolog

Inspiring Students in Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Using Science Fairs

Science fairs have many benefits when it comes to students’ academic success. They are an opportunity for them to explore, experiment, and find their own interests. Science fairs help provide students with experiences and pursue future careers in STEM. Given the importance in STEM, not all school districts host science fairs for their students. The purpose of this capstone project is to examine the benefits of science fairs on students through the use of literature review, teacher and school administrator interviews, and student surveys. The findings indicate that science fairs inspire students to create a love for science and continue their education beyond the school yard, as well as questioning a career in STEM in their future

The Cincinnati Environmental Justice Ordinance: Proposing a New Model for Environmental Justice Regulations by the States

The majority of environmental justice policies today exist as extremely decentralized municipal ordinances or as extremely centralized government agency strategies. Each system of regulation presents distinct advantages. Therefore, an analysis of the City of Cincinnati Environmental Justice Ordinance within the context of the ongoing debate between the benefits of centralized versus decentralized environmental regulations (the centralization-decentralization debate) examines the advantages of each scheme of regulations more extensively. However, each argument in favor of one type of regulation represents a disadvantage of the other, so this Note argues that by implementing environmental justice regulations at the state level, with the Cincinnati Ordinance as a model, the benefits of both local and national policies can be combined while mitigating the relative disadvantages. To illustrate the inadequacies of both federal and local level attempts to achieve environmental justice, this Note canvasses a brief history of the environmental justice movement at the federal, state, and local levels, including a description of the specific provisions of the Ordinance. As the history of the movement will show, neither the federal, state, nor local level governments provide effective or efficient legal remedies for environmental justice. However, state administrative agencies, whose regulatory authority mirrors those at the federal level, have the flexibility to expand their environmental justice policies with the cooperation of state legislatures. Part III of this Note then provides an analysis of the Ordinance regarding the effectiveness of its provisions in achieving the goals of the environmental justice movement. The Ordinance provides an effective model for future environmental justice policies because it enhances government accountability. Additionally, Part III analyzes the Ordinance with respect to the centralization -decentralization debate. Theoretically, environmental justice regulations can be promulgated at any level of government--either by the national government as the supreme law of the land or under the state and local police powers. However, an analysis of the Ordinance within the context of the centralization-decentralization debate is necessary to show that practical considerations weigh in favor of neither local nor national environmental just policies, but for regulations at the state level instead

The Cincinnati Environmental Justice Ordinance: Proposing a New Model for Environmental Justice Regulations by the States

The majority of environmental justice policies today exist as extremely decentralized municipal ordinances or as extremely centralized government agency strategies. Each system of regulation presents distinct advantages. Therefore, an analysis of the City of Cincinnati Environmental Justice Ordinance within the context of the ongoing debate between the benefits of centralized versus decentralized environmental regulations (the centralization-decentralization debate) examines the advantages of each scheme of regulations more extensively. However, each argument in favor of one type of regulation represents a disadvantage of the other, so this Note argues that by implementing environmental justice regulations at the state level, with the Cincinnati Ordinance as a model, the benefits of both local and national policies can be combined while mitigating the relative disadvantages. To illustrate the inadequacies of both federal and local level attempts to achieve environmental justice, this Note canvasses a brief history of the environmental justice movement at the federal, state, and local levels, including a description of the specific provisions of the Ordinance. As the history of the movement will show, neither the federal, state, nor local level governments provide effective or efficient legal remedies for environmental justice. However, state administrative agencies, whose regulatory authority mirrors those at the federal level, have the flexibility to expand their environmental justice policies with the cooperation of state legislatures. Part III of this Note then provides an analysis of the Ordinance regarding the effectiveness of its provisions in achieving the goals of the environmental justice movement. The Ordinance provides an effective model for future environmental justice policies because it enhances government accountability. Additionally, Part III analyzes the Ordinance with respect to the centralization -decentralization debate. Theoretically, environmental justice regulations can be promulgated at any level of government--either by the national government as the supreme law of the land or under the state and local police powers. However, an analysis of the Ordinance within the context of the centralization-decentralization debate is necessary to show that practical considerations weigh in favor of neither local nor national environmental just policies, but for regulations at the state level instead

Radiological differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative children with cholesteatoma

Introduction: HIV-positive children are possibly more prone to developing cholesteatoma. Chronic inflammation of the middle ear cleft may be more common in patients with HIV and this may predispose HIV-positive children to developing cholesteatoma. There are no studies that describe the radiological morphology of the middle ear cleft in HIV-positive compared to HIV-negative children with cholesteatoma. Aim: Compare the radiological differences of the middle ear cleft in HIV-positive and HIV-negative children with cholesteatoma. Method A retrospective, cross-sectional, observational analytical review of patients with cholesteatoma at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital over a 6 year period. Results: Forty patients were included in the study, 11 of whom had bilateral cholesteatoma and therefore 51 ears were eligible for our evaluation. HIV-positive patients had smaller (p=0.02) mastoid air cell systems (MACS). Forty percent of HIV-positive patients had sclerotic mastoids, whereas the rate was 3% in HIV-negative ears (p<0.02). Eighty-two percent of the HIV-positive patients had bilateral cholesteatoma compared to 7% of the control group (p<0.02). There was no difference between the 2 groups with regards to aeration of the middle ear cleft, bony erosion of middle ear structures, Eustachian tube obstruction or soft tissue occlusion of the post-nasal space. Conclusion: HIV-positive paediatric patients with cholesteatoma are more likely to have smaller, sclerotic mastoids compared to HIV-negative patients. They are significantly more likely to have bilateral cholesteatoma. This may have implications in terms of surveillance of HIV-positive children, as well as, an approach to management, recurrence and follow-up. HIV infection should be flagged as a risk factor for developing cholesteatoma

The Effect of Tree Width on Thoracolumbar and Limb Kinematics, Saddle Pressure Distribution, and Thoracolumbar Dimensions in Sports Horses in Trot and Canter

This study evaluated the effect of saddle tree width on thoracolumbar and limb kinematics, saddle pressure distribution, and thoracolumbar epaxial musculature dimensions. Correctly fitted saddles were fitted by a Society of Master Saddler Qualified Saddle Fitter in fourteen sports horses (mean ± SD age 12 ± 8.77 years, height 1.65 ± 0.94 m), and were altered to one width fitting wider and narrower. Horses were equipped with skin markers, inertial measurement units, and a pressure mat beneath the saddle. Differences in saddle pressure distribution, as well as limb and thoracolumbosacral kinematics between saddle widths were investigated using a general linear model with Bonferroni adjusted alpha (p ≤ 0.05). Compared with the correct saddle width, in trot, in the wide saddle, an 8.5% increase in peak pressures was found in the cranial region of the saddle (p = 0.003), a 14% reduction in thoracolumbar dimensions at T13 (p = 0.02), and a 6% decrease in the T13 range of motion in the mediolateral direction (p = 0.02). In the narrow saddle, a 14% increase in peak pressures was found in the caudal region of the saddle (p = 0.01), an 8% decrease in the range of motion of T13 in the mediolateral direction (p = 0.004), and a 6% decrease in the vertical direction (p = 0.004) of T13. Compared with the correct saddle width, in canter, in the wide saddle, axial rotation decreased by 1% at T5 (p = 0.03) with an 5% increase at T13 (p = 0.04) and a 5% increase at L3 (p = 0.03). Peak pressures increased by 4% (p = 0.002) in the cranial region of the wide saddle. Altering the saddle fit had an effect on thoracolumbar kinematics and saddle pressure distribution; hence, correct saddle fit is essential to provide unhindered locomotion

Relationship between saddle and rider kinematics, horse locomotion and thoracolumbar pressures in sound horses

Reason for performing the study: Saddle fit is considered to be a crucial factor for the health and performance of horses, yet there is a paucity of scientific data. Objective: To determine the relationship between saddle and rider kinematics, horse locomotion and thoracolumbar pressures in sound horses. Method: Seven horses with asymmetric saddle position were tested before and after correction of the saddle positioning asymmetry. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using motion capture, inertial sensors and a pressure mapping system. Data of horses showing saddle roll to the right were normalised to represent saddle roll to the left. Results: When comparing saddle roll with saddle correction in trot, this study found that once the saddle had been corrected on the rein with saddle roll to the outside (here: right rein) there was an increase in outside front fetlock hyperextension (P=0.02) and inside hind fetlock hyperextension (P≤0.05); there was a reduction in peak pressures after saddle correction under the inside portion of the panel in trot (P≤0.05) and canter (P=0.04), riders showed increased thoracic side bend (lean) on the contralateral side to the direction of saddle roll (P=0.02). Conclusion: The presence of saddle roll creates changes in fetlock hyperextension and hence likely force production, increased peak pressures beneath the panel on the contralateral side to the direction of saddle roll and affects rider position, with the rider leaning in the opposite direction to saddle roll likely in order to optimise balance