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Early Detection Of Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis Infection In Cattle With Multiplex-Bead Based Immunoassays, Lingling Li, Bettina Wagner, Heather Freer, Megan Schilling, J. P. Bannantine, Joseph Campo, Robab Katani, Yrjo T. Grohn, Jessica Radzio-Basu, Vivek Kapur

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Johne’s Disease (JD), caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), results in significant economic loss to livestock production. The early detection of MAP infection in animals with extant serological assays has remained challenging due to the low sensitivity of commercially available ELISA tests, a fact that has hampered the development of effective JD control programs. Our recent protein microarray-based studies identified several promising candidate antigens that are immunogenic during different stages of MAP infection. To evaluate these antigens for use in diagnostic assays and reliably identify animals with MAP infection, a multiplex (Luminex®) assay was developed using color-coded flourescent beads …

Risk Parameters And Assessment Of Dietary Dsrna Exposure In Folsomia Candida, Jeffrey Edward Noland

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Assessing the risk of transgenic crop products is essential when determining the safety of a crop for deregulation and commercialization. The Organization of Economic and Cooperative Development (OECD), International Standards Organization (ISO), and governmental regulatory agencies require a battery of tests to demonstrate the safety of a GM product against several surrogate species of organisms that perform various ecosystem services. Assays are performed using toxicology methods established for pesticides. These methods have been applied to testing the safety, specificity and fate of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry protein toxins engineered into crop plants and information exists on the effects on non-target …

Ecological, Molecular, And Morphological Data: A Synergistic Approach To Resolve Species Limits Of Lytopylus From The Area De Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), Ilgoo Kang

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Lytopylus is species-rich genus of Agathidinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae), but limited information of the genus has been published. Morphological, molecular, and ecological data were compared to resolve the species limits of Lytopylus reared from caterpillars collected the Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) in Costa Rica. Molecular data were initially used to hypothesize species limits, and morphological and host use data were employed to make a final decision when molecular data was indecisive, e.g., when the genetic difference between species was slight. Thirty-two new species are described with image plates of each species. Phylogenetic analyses of the barcode region of the …

Allelic Variations Of Glutenin Subunits And Their Associationwith Quality Traits In Bread Wheat Genotypes, Hüsnü Aktaş, Faheem Shehzad Baloch

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The present study was conducted to evaluate the genotype x environment interaction of the yield and quality traits for five bread wheat varieties commonly grown in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey and 20 advanced lines developed within the framework of the International Winter Wheat Improvement Project. We also determined the allelic pattern of the Glu-1 and Glu-3 loci of these genotypes and examined whether these loci had an effect on the quality traits. There was a significant variation among the genotypes and environments in terms of grain yield, protein content, sedimentation volume (SV), and the extensograph dough energy value …

Influence Of Vermicompost Application On Soil Consistency Limits And Soil Compactibility, Serdar Sari, Ekrem Lütfi̇ Aksakal, İlker Angin

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a composite indicator of soil quality. Recycling of organic wastes is one of the environmentally compatible and economically viable options to increase and/or maintain SOM content. Our study was conducted to evaluate the effects of vermicompost (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% w/w) on the consistency limits and the Proctor compaction test parameters of three texturally different soils (sandy loam, loam, and clay) from similar climatic conditions and cropping management practices. Results showed that vermicompost increased the optimum moisture content (OMC) with an associated decrease in maximum dry soil bulk density (MBD). The increase in …

Chemical Composition And Morphometric Traits And Yield Ofcarrots Grown In Organic And Integrated Farming Systems, Natasa Sink, Maja Mikulic Petkovsek, Robert Veberic, Nina Kacjan Marsic

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Changes in chemical composition and quality traits of carrot roots (Daucus carota L.) grown in organic (ORG) and integrated (INT) farming systems were investigated during two successive years. Three carrot cultivars (Fanal, Rodelika, and Rolanka) were included. Determinations of sugars, organic acids, α- and ß-carotene, and vitamin C were performed with an HPLC system, and a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system was used for the identification and quantification of phenolics. A higher yield of carrot in the ORG system was observed (42-44 t ha-1) as compared with the INT system (37-40 t ha-1). The impact of farming system on morphometric …

The Effects Of Different Plant Densities And Silage Corn Varieties On Silage Yield And Some Yield Parameters In No-Till Seeding, Mehmet Zahi̇d Malasli, Ali̇ Khatami̇, Ahmet Çeli̇k

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, the possibility of growing silage corn, which is used as an important nutrient in livestock and whose production is increasing in recent years, by no-till seeding method under Erzurum conditions was investigated. For this purpose, three silage corn varieties (DKC-5783, Prestige, and ADA-9510) suitable for Erzurum's climatic conditions in terms of vegetation period were selected from a large number of silage corn seeds widely grown throughout Turkey and their development conditions under no-till seeding conditions were investigated. A precision vacuum no-till seeder with double disk type furrow opener was used for silage corn seeding. Based on three …

More Than Food: An Analysis Of Multidimensional Relationships In Our Food System, Jessica Erin Newnan

Honors Theses and Capstones

Food is an integral part of everyday life for human beings, thus meriting particular attention from research and education. Looking further in depth at the factors that influence food, it becomes apparent that this is a complex topic that is related to several systems within the constructs of society. Here, the food system is approached with the understanding that several systems influence food consumption options and decisions including the agricultural, economic, education, energy, health, and political systems. To identify the relationships more closely, a three-dimensional model was built to represent the food system and depict several key factors, their relationships, …

Livestock-Livelihood Linkages In Uganda: The Benefits For Women And Rural Households?, Elizabeth Ransom, Carmen Bain, Iim Halimatusa'diyah

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Livestock are an important component of rural households and gendered livelihood practices throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Widespread within the development literature is the belief in the livestock ladder, with poorer households often owning small stock and wealthier households owning large stock, with the assumption that poor households can utilize livestock to build their asset base and overtime this would allow poorer households to expand from small stock to large stock, in so doing climb the livestock ladder. There is also an assumption in the literature that women are more likely to oversee small stock. In addition, some well-known agricultural development programs …

An Analysis Of Factors Impacting Hay Auction Prices And The Potential For Nap To Reduce Alfalfa Revenue Risk, Madeline L. Dant

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Hay auctions have generally been understudied due to their unique market structure. Therefore, the factors that influence the price of hay at auction markets are not well-known. The price of hay at auction markets reflects the various characteristics that differentiate each lot of hay sold. This study is aimed at analyzing the determinants of Central Kentucky hay prices. A hedonic price model is estimated using data collected from a Central Kentucky hay auction. Known hay attributes include forage species, form, bale weight, and nutritive value. An important aspect of this analysis is to determine whether the quality measures of the …

Stored Grain Volume Measurement Using A Low Density Point Cloud, Aaron P. Turner, Joshua J. Jackson, Nicole K. Koeninger, Samuel G. Mcneill, Michael D. Montross, Mark E. Casada, Josephine M. Boac, Rumela Bhadra, Ronaldo G. Maghirang, Sidney A. Thompson

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

This technical note presents the development of a new apparatus and data processing method to accurately estimate the volume of stored grain in a bin. Specifically, it was developed to account for the variability in surface topography that can occur in large diameter bins when partially unloaded. This was accomplished using a laser distance meter to create a low density point cloud, from which a surface was interpolated using ArcMap geoprocessing tools. The manually controlled and portable system was designed to hold the laser distance meter and provided a common reference point. The data from the laser distance meter was …

Fourth-Generation Fan Assessment Numeration System (Fans) Design And Performance Specifications, Michael P. Sama, George B. Day, Laura M. Pepple, Richard S. Gates

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

The Fan Assessment Numeration System (FANS) is a measurement device for generating ventilation fan performance curves. Three different-sized FANS currently exist for assessing ventilation fans commonly used in poultry and livestock housing systems. All FANS consist of an array of anemometers inside an aluminum shroud that traverse the inlet or outlet of a ventilation fan. The FANS design has been updated several times since its inception and is currently in its fourth-generation (G4). The current design iteration (FANS-G4) is reported in this article with an emphasis on the hardware and software control, data acquisition systems, and operational reliability. Six FANS-G4 …

An Investigation Into The Obstacles And Barriers Preventing Farmers In Rural Areas Using Information Communication Technologies, David O'Leary

Theses

Technology and in particular, mobile devices can help farmers both from a social and business perspective. This study focuses on the areas preventing farmers using smart phones and the downfalls they might be facing on a regular basis in the adoption of mobile devices. The objectives of this study were to identify what devices are being used and for what purpose, identify who helps the farmer when they are in difficulty with their device, identify if broadband is an obstacle and to develop a set of recommendations based on my research for the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) …

Biology And Detection Of Pregnanes During Late Gestation In The Mare, Michelle Arelia Ann Wynn

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Progesterone in the mare declines to almost undetectable concentrations in late gestation. It’s metabolized into several pregnanes, some circulating at very high concentrations. Although the function of many pregnanes remains unclear, 5α-dihydroprogesterone and allopregnanolone are bioactive. Measurements of pregnanes in late gestation are typically by immunoassay, although results are confounded by cross-reactivity with related pregnanes. Conversely, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) allows differentiation of individual pregnanes. The purposes of these studies were: 1) to evaluate the ability of a 5α-reductase inhibitor, dutasteride, to alter pregnane metabolism and pregnancy outcome, 2) to evaluate changes in target pregnanes in late gestation …

Exploring Predator-Prey Interactions In Agroecosystems Through Molecular Gut-Content Analysis, Kacie J. Athey

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Generalist predators can contribute to vital ecosystem services by potentially inducing trophic cascades as natural enemies of pests in agroecosystems. As the human population of the world gets larger, we need to produce more food on ever-smaller swaths of available land relying on ecosystem services, in the form of pest control, that may contribute to agricultural sustainability. Teasing apart the exact trophic linkages between predators and prey is a vital first step and essential to uncovering which predators are inducing trophic cascades and should be enhanced through conservation biological control.

Combined with ecological experimentation, the main tool used throughout my …

Binding, Protection, And Rna Delivery Properties Of Porous Silica Nanoparticles In Spodoptera Frugiperda Cells, Emily Nadeau

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Traditional methods of pest control are threatened by the development of insecticide resistance, both to traditional insecticides and Bt toxins. Discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) has created opportunities to develop new insect control mechanisms. However, RNAi responses appear to be robust in coleopteran pests, but other orders, e.g. Lepidoptera and Hemiptera, present varied or ineffective RNAi responses. Current delivery strategies for double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) include microinjection, ingestion, and soaking. These approaches have benefits and problems. This study investigates the potential for porous silica nanoparticles (pSNPs) to improve the delivery of dsRNA and induce an RNAi response in Spodoptera frugiperda cells. …

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Native Woody Species, Combretum Glutinosum And Piliostigma Reticulatum, On Soil Fertility In Dialacoto, Senegal, Gwen Jacobson

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

In the low-fertility soils of Senegal, West Africa, management of woody species in agricultural fields has the potential to improve soil fertility and crop production. However, optimal species for this purpose have not been clearly defined. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for two native woody species, Combretum glutinosum and Piliostigma reticulatum, to improve soil fertility. Soil samples were collected from beneath tree crowns of P. reticulatum and C. glutinosum and compared with fertilizer-amended and non-amended soil from adjacent open fields in a bioassay experiment. Two common crops, millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and maize (Zea mays), …

Distribution Of Quercus Spp. And Pinus Nigra Mixed Standsin Semiarid Northern Central Anatolia, Gülzade Kahveci̇

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Central Anatolia has semiarid ecological conditions that limit tree growth. In addition, long-term human activity has resulted in degradation of existing forests lands. Current forest cover mainly includes oak, juniper, and pine species. In this study, the distribution and present state of Pinus nigra L. and Quercus spp. (Quercus cerris L. and Quercus pubescens L.) mixed stands, and the relationship between different environmental factors and abundance of oaks and pines were analyzed. The results indicate that interactions of environmental variables and human disturbance may have influenced the frequency and abundance of species in the region.

Comparison Of Two Halophyte Species (Salsola Soda And Portulaca Oleracea)For Salt Removal Potential Under Different Soil Salinity Conditions, Sema Karakaş, Mehmet Ali̇ Çullu, Murat Di̇ki̇li̇taş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Salt-induced land degradation has gradually increased in several major irrigation schemes within arid and semiarid regions. To maximize crop productivity under saline conditions, either salt tolerance crops should be cultivated or areas should be desalinated. One of the most promising and cost-effective ways to maximize crop productivity is to use salt tolerant plants to remove salt from the soil. For this study, four levels of saline soils were cultivated with the halophyte species Salsola soda L. and Portulaca oleracea L. in pots. The soils had the following salinity levels: 1) nonsaline soil (NSS, 0.9 dS m-1), 2) slightly saline soil …

Bioinformatics Profiling And Characterization Of Potentialmicrornas And Their Targets In The Genus Coffea, Farzana Bibi, Muhammad Younas Khan Barozai, Muhammad Din

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of noncoding small endogenous RNAs with lengths of 18 to 26 nucleotides that have been shown to regulate gene expression at posttranscriptional levels by targeting mRNAs for degradation or by inhibiting protein translation. Although thousands of miRNAs have been identified in many species, limited miRNAs have been reported in the genus Coffea, a member of the family Rubiaceae that is endemic to tropical Asia and South Africa. The genus Coffea, whose seeds are known as coffee beans, is used to make coffee. In this study, we identified 51 potential genus Coffea miRNAs, belonging to 51 …

Selected Engineering Properties Of Tiger Nut As A Function Of Moisture Content And Variety, Ahmet İnce, Kubi̇lay Kazim Vursavuş, Yasemi̇n Vurarak, Pinar Çubukcu, Meli̇h Yavuz Çevi̇k

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Some physical and mechanical properties of two tiger nut varieties (Sarışeker and Balyumru) were determined at four moisture contents. Physical properties including length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter, mass, 1000-tuber mass, bulk density, tuber density, surface area, terminal velocity, angle of repose, porosity, and friction coefficient were affected by moisture content at a 1% probability level, excluding sphericity. All parameters decreased with a decrease in moisture content except tuber density, porosity, and firmness. Variety only had a statistically significant effect on width, geometric mean diameter surface area, and terminal velocity at different probability levels. Force, deformation, firmness, energy absorbed, and …

Afforestation Of Arid And Semiarid Ecosystems In Turkey, Servet Çalişkan, Meli̇h Boydak

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Sustainable management of arid and semiarid forests requires careful planning and implementation. Afforestation by planting and seeding is a fundamental tool for the establishment of new forests on barren landscapes and restoration of degraded forests in arid and semiarid ecosystems. In afforestation efforts, the consideration of site preparation, selection of species, seed source, and planting methods pose a number of ecological and economic challenges. Possessing one of the world's richest floras, Turkey suffered from heavy degradation during the last millennia. Some studies suggested that forests and steppes once covered 60%-70% and 10%-15% of the Anatolian landscape, respectively. Growing population, overgrazing, …

Effect Of Pollenizers On Production And Fruit Characteristics Of Date Palm(Phoenix Dactylifera L.) Cultivar Medjool In Mexico, Ricardo Salomon-Torres, Noe Ortiz-Uribe, Rafael Villa-Angulo, Carlos Villa-Angulo, Susana Norzagaray-Plasencia, Cristian Garcia-Verdugo

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Pollen from four date palm cultivars (Medjool, Zahidi, Khadrawy, and Deglet Noor) was selected to study the effect of pollenizers on Medjool female production and fruit characteristics. The study was conducted during the 2016 season in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico. Three bunches of each of the four selected female palms were pollinized by each source of pollen. Results were statistically analyzed using the ANOVA test. Set percentage and fruit characteristics showed a significant effect depending on the selected pollenizer. Bunches pollinized with the Zahidi cultivar had the highest fruit set percentage at 50.30%, while bunches pollinized with the Khadrawy …

Jasmonoyl-L-Tryptophan Disrupts Iaa Activity Through The Aux1 Auxin Permease, Paul E. Staswick, Martha Rowe, Edgar P. Spalding, Bessie L. Splitt

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Amide-linked conjugates between tryptophan (Trp) and jasmonic (JA) or indole-3- acetic (IAA) acids interfered with gravitropism and other auxin-dependent activities in Arabidopsis, but the mechanism was unclear. To identify structural features necessary for activity several additional Trp conjugates were synthesized. The phenylacetic acid (PAA) conjugate was active, while several others were not. Common features of active conjugates is that they have ring structures that are linked to Trp through an acetic acid side chain, while longer or shorter linkages are inactive or less active. A dominant mutant, called tryptophan conjugate response1-D that is insensitive to JA-Trp, but still sensitive …

Leveraging Agroecology For Solutions In Food, Energy, And Water, Marcia Delonge, Andrea D. Basche

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Global agriculture is facing growing challenges at the nexus of interconnected food, energy and water systems, including but not limited to persistent food insecurity and diet-related diseases; growing demands for energy and consequences for climate change; and declining water resources, water pollution, floods and droughts. Further, soil degradation and biodiversity loss are both triggers for and consequences of these problems. In this commentary, we argue that expanding agroecological principles, tools, and technologies and enhancing biological diversity can address these challenges and achieve better socioeconomic outcomes. Agroecology is often described as multi- or transdiscplinary, and applies ecological principles to the design …

Validation Of Qtl Mapping And Transcriptome Profiling For Identification Of Candidate Genes Associated With Nitrogen Stress Tolerance In Sorghum, Malleswari Gelli, Anji Reddy Konda, Kan Liu, Chi Zhang, Thomas E. Clemente, David R. Holding, Ismail M. Dweikat

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Background: Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) detected in one mapping population may not be detected in other mapping populations at all the time. Therefore, before being used for marker assisted breeding, QTLs need to be validated in different environments and/or genetic backgrounds to rule out statistical anomalies. In this regard, we mapped the QTLs controlling various agronomic traits in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population in response to Nitrogen (N) stress and validated these with the reported QTLs in our earlier study to find the stable and consistent QTLs across populations. Also, with Illumina RNA-sequencing we checked the differential expression of …

Simulating Foodborne Pathogens In Poultry Production And Processing To Defend Against Intentional Contamination, S. Lankford, D. R. Thompson, S. C. Ricke

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

There is a lack of data in recent history of food terrorism attacks, and as such, it is difficult to predict its impact. The food supply industry is one of the most vulnerable industries for terrorist threats while the poultry industry is one of the largest food industries in the United States. A small food terrorism attack against a single poultry processing center has the potential to affect a much larger human population than its immediate consumers. In this work, the spread of foodborne pathogens is simulated in a poultry production and processing system to defend against intentional contamination. An …

Food Waste Reduction Strategies In Supermarkets: The Lived Experiences Of Perishable Food Managers In Michigan, Kelly K. Zimmermann

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

At the retail level, 25% of sellable food is wasted, and perishable foods account for 72% of food waste in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the food waste reduction strategies used by supermarket perishable food department managers, which are covered under the Good Samaritan Food Donation Acts (state and federal). The participant population was comprised of 17 managers who are responsible for perishable foods departments (bakery, deli, meat, dairy, and produce) at local, regional, and national supermarkets in Midland, Michigan. Goal systems theory served as the conceptual framework lens for which the …

Growing Yeast For Livestock, Zachary Christman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Over 500,000 tons of organic materials such as food scraps are disposed of each year in Wisconsin. A large percentage of this material could be composted or turned into useful products. The purpose of this article is to educate farmers and organizations on how to turn food waste into a high value food source for livestock. Yeast can be grown at any time of the year without the large inputs of agricultural chemicals and machinery that is common with other feed production methods. A yeast growing facility can be scalable to any size the producer wants such as a small …