Impacts of learning experiences within an online extension initiative on application of research-based principles by beef stakeholders

The objective of this study was to evaluate, characterize and quantify the learning experiences and subsequent application of research-based technologies by beef producers upon conclusion of an online extension certification program (44 Farms International Beef Cattle Academy, IBCA). Upon conclusion of the program, paricipants were invited to complete a structured interview. Interview transcripts (n = 19) were coded, categorized, and merged into four overarching themes: Strengths, Struggles, Courses, and Geographical origin. Within Strengths, the most frequent codes were Connections, Application, and Instructor Experience, with 61, 53, and 50 coded segments respectively. Within Struggles, the most frequent codes were Time Management, Level of Knowledge, and Language issues, with 27, 18, and 15 coded segments, respectively. For Courses in the program, the most frequently mentioned were Nutrition, Reproduction, and Genetics, with 35, 28, and 24 coded segments respectively. Correlation between codes was evaluated using Pearson and only statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) correlations were included in the matrices for network analysis. Interpretation of the generated network analysis map (P ≤ 0.05; Q = 0.468) including all four categories of codes revealed close relationships between Application and the Strengths of Time management, Instructor Experience, and Connections. Application was also directly related to the Courses of Reproduction and Genetics, and the Struggle of Student Engagement and Guidance. Geographical origin was an important factor mediating different correlations. Developing countries (Brazil, Panama, Dominican Republic, and South Africa) were more closely related to the Struggle of Tuition cost, which, in turn was related to the perceived Prestige of the program. In Europe (Romania, Germany, and Kazakhstan), a stronger correlation to the Struggles of Material Relevance and Language Issues was described. Collectively, these results support the positive impact of a comprehensive and interactive extension initiative to leverage application of research-based principles by beef stakeholders around the world. Further, these outcomes indicate that the most valued aspects of the program regarding application are related to interpersonal experience with faculty and peers of the industry (Instructor Experience and Connections) and that perception of struggles and strengths is greatly influenced by socio-cultural aspects of the learning community.

The primary afferent pathway of extraocular muscle proprioception in the pigeon

Recent physiological experiments in our laboratory suggest that extraocular muscle proprioceptive signals are involved in oculomotor control in the pigeon [e.g., Knox and Donaldson (1993) Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 253, 77-82]; the present results provide information about the primary afferent pathway involved in these actions. In other physiological experiments [Hayman et al. (1993) Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 254, 115-122] we have shown that extraocular muscle afferent signals modify vestibularly driven neck reflexes in the pigeon; the present results suggest an anatomical substrate for these effects. The localization of the cell bodies and of the central terminations of afferent fibres from the extraocular muscles of the pigeon was examined using transport of horseradish peroxidase. The results showed that primary afferent cell somata subserving extraocular muscle proprioception are located within the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion. The presence of heavily labelled brainstem neurons reported in a previous study [Eden et al. (1982) Brain Res. 237, 15-21] was confirmed; however, these cells were shown to be accessory abducens motoneurons innervating the quadratus muscle, and presumably the pyramidalis muscle also, and not proprioceptive afferent somata as had been suggested. The central projections of extraocular muscle afferent neurons were found consistently in a restricted area of the external cuneate nucleus. This is in contrast to findings in a number of mammals in which the terminal label has been seen to cluster in portions of the spinal trigeminal nucleus. The presence of a lateral trigeminal tract in the pigeon, through which the afferent axons course, which terminates exclusively in the ventral portion of the external cuneate nucleus may explain this finding.