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Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 37: Bivesiculata Olson Et Al., 2003 (Suborder): Small, Rare, But Important [Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea, Plagiorchiida], Thomas H. Cribb, Scott C. Cutmore

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the the small, rare, but important group of trematodes (flukes) in suborder Bivesiculata Olson et al., 2003, found in the intestine of marine bony fishes in the class Osteichthyes. Includes identification methods, general morphology, life cycles, and taxonomy.

Chapter 37 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology by Thomas H. Cribb and Scott C. Cutmore. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap037

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 18: Taenia (Genus) [Platyhelminthes, Cestoda, Eucestoda], Sumiya Ganzorig, Scott L. Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Discusses the cestode (tapeworm) genus Taenia, several species of which infect humans, including their general morphology, the asexual reproduction of the metacestodes, identifcation, systematics, phylogeny, distribution, hosts, and their medical and veterinary importance.

Chapter 18 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the genus Taenia by Sumiya Ganzorig and Scott L. Gardner. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap018

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 63: Siphonaptera Latreille, 1825 (Order): Fleas [Arthropoda], Marcela Lareschi

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of fleas, order Siphonaptera Latreille, 1825, the adults of which are highly specialized holometabolous arthropods adapted to parasitic life and are morphologically very different from other insects. Fleas are parasites of birds and mammals, but their greatest specific richness is associated with rodents. There are nearly 3,000 species and subspecies placed in 19 families that are currently known worldwide. Includes discussion of the general morphology of the imago, larva, pupa, and eggs, their morphological adaptation to parasitism, phylogeny, systematics, taxonomy, geographic distribution, host associations, biology, reproduction, and medical and veterinary importance.

Chapter 63 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 51: Heterakoidea (Superfamily): Cosmopolitan Gut-Dwelling Parasites Of Tetrapods [Nemata, Secernentea], F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the cosmopolitan gut-dwelling nematodes (roundworms) in the superfamily Heterakoidea, which occur most often in the cecum and large intestine of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Discusses the general morphological characteristics, diagnosis, distribution and host associations, general biology, evolution, systematics, phylogeny, ecology, and conservation, including coverage of species of veterinary importance, Heterakis gallinarum and Histomonas meleagridis.

Chapter 51 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by F. Agustín Jiménez-Ruiz. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap051

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 57: Nematomorpha (Phylum): Horsehair Worms, Matthew G. Bolek, Ben Hanelt

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

An overview of the horsehair worms, phylum Nematomorpha, including discussion of their general morphology, life cycle, distribution, diversity, taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology, and behavior.

Chapter 57 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology, by Matthew G. Bolek and Ben Hanelt. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap057

Concepts In Animal Parasitology, Chapter 09: The Coccidia Proper: Important Apicomplexa Other Than Haemoprotozoa [Protozoa, Apicomplexa], Donald W. Duszynski

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Chapter 9 in Concepts in Animal Parasitology on the Coccidia Ppoper, important Apicomplexa other than Haemoprotozoa by Donald W. Duszynski. 2024. S. L. Gardner and S. A. Gardner, editors. Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States. doi: 10.32873/unl.dc.ciap009

Effects Of Crate Size On Mortality And Postural Behavior In Post-Farrowing Sows, Md Towfiqur Rahman, Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Gary A. Rohrer, Sudhendu R. Sharma, Yeyin Shi

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Preweaning mortality (PWM) is a economic and animal well-being issue for swine producers in the US. On average, producers face about a 16% pre-weaning mortality. A significant portion of this, around 6%, is because sows accidentally overlay their piglets in farrowing crates. The posture behavior of sow plays a vital role in overlaying piglets and this behavior has a significant effect on farrowing crate dimensions. This study aims to explore the interplay between farrowing crate size, mortality rates, and postural behavior in post-farrowing sows. This study employed three farrowing stalls: Traditional (T), Expanded creep area (C), and Expanded sow area …

That’S Not In My Position Description: A Discourse Analysis Of Sbae Migratory Context, Becky Haddad, Jonathan Velez, Josh Stewart, Haden Botkin

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

While the choice to move to a new school is personal, many play a role in justifying that choice for the mobile teacher. These justifiers—or influencers—make up the socializing network for teachers (in this case, SBAE teachers) in new settings. Our study outlined how mobile SBAE teachers rationalize the choice to change schools and validate career moves. We used a positioning theory approach to discourse to give migrators (teachers who change schools) and influencers a voice. Positioning theory allowed us to situate migrators as they reflected on their choice to change school districts, and influencers as they recounted their …

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, Issue #63 January 2024

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

President's message, Paul E. Read

Gamma Sigma Delta committees 2024

2022 chapter awards: The Honor Society of Agriculture, Gamma Sigma Delta

New members inducted

Annual dues notice, Robert J. Wright, membership Coordinator

Membership list

Membership renewal form

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Outstanding Graduate & Undergraduate Student Award Fund

In memoriam: Dennis Lee Kahl (February 8, 1950-August 12, 2020); Col. Warder L. Shires (March 23, 1932-March 6, 2021); Dr. Leland "Lee" Julius Albert Volker (October 24, 1942-March 11, 2022); Richard "Dick" Dam (September 17, 1929-September 17, 2022); John W. Doran (November 12, 1945-November 30, 2022); Donald H. Steinegger (January 1, …

Powerless Beings: Solitary Confinement Of Humans And Nonhumans In America, Michael B. Mushlin, David N. Cassuto

Nebraska Law Review

Every day, thousands of humans and millions of nonhumans endure solitary confinement. Human prisoners held in this way are confined for twenty-two to twenty-four hours a day for weeks, months, or even years on end in cells the size of a parking space. For these humans, the experience is tortuous. Captive animals held in solitary confinement similarly spend much of their lives locked into tiny spaces, isolated, and deprived of the types of interactions and environment essential to their wellbeing. And, like humans, they are driven mad. In human and nonhuman settings, the agony of solitary is chillingly alike and …

Legal Issues In Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, And Non-Fungible Tokens (Nfts), Christa J. Laser

Nebraska Law Review

When do new technologies require changes in the law? Judge Easterbrook argued in 1996 that there is no more need for a “Law of Cyberspace” than there ever was for a “Law of the Horse.” Rather, existing laws spanning multiple fields are often sufficient to cover niche factual applications and even new technological change. The same is true now for “The Law of Blockchain.” Nonetheless, blockchain marketplace participants lack any cohesive, useful analysis to turn to that is neutral in outcome and performs a comprehensive analysis spanning the multitude of laws affecting the whole ecosystem. We might not need a …

Red Cabbage Juice-Mediated Gut Microbiota Modulation Improves Intestinal Epithelial Homeostasis And Ameliorates Colitis, Emily Jean Wilson, Nagabhishek Sirpu Natesh, Parsa Ghadermazi, Ramesh Pothuraju, Dipakkumar R. Prajapati, Sanjit Pandey, Jussuf T. Kaifi, John R. Dodam, Jeffrey Bryan, Christian L. Lorson, Aude A. Watrelot, Jason M. Foster, Thomas J. Mansell, Siu Hung Joshua Chan, Surinder K. Batra, Jeyamkondan Subbiah, Satyanarayana Rachagani

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and can potentially prevent IBD through microbial-derived metabolites, making it a promising therapeutic avenue. Recent evidence suggests that despite an unclear underlying mechanism, red cabbage juice (RCJ) alleviates Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Thus, the study aims to unravel the molecular mechanism by which RCJ modulates the gut microbiota to alleviate DSS-induced colitis in mice. Using C57BL/6J mice, we evaluated RCJ’s protective role in DSS-induced colitis through two cycles of 3% DSS. Mice were daily gavaged with PBS or RCJ until the endpoint, and gut microbiota composition …

A Revision Of Dyscolotaxia Horn, 1890 (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Macraulacinae: Macraulacini), With The Description Of Amazotaxia New Genus From South America, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

Abstract

The Neotropical eucnemid genus, Dyscolotaxia Horn, is revised following the examination of specimens from five collections, examination of the published original description of Plesiofornax tetratoma Chassain, and from images provided by Fernanda Salazar-Buenaño (QCAZI). Dyscolotaxia championi Horn is redescribed with included descriptions of the male genitalia and a female specimen. Three new species of false click beetles (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae) are described from the Neotropical region. These new species are: Dyscolotaxia chiriquiensis (Panama), Dyscolotaxia hispaniolensis (Dominican Republic), and Dyscolotaxia picea (Ecuador). Amazotaxia new genus is described from South America for Plesiofornax tetratoma Chassain, creating Amazotaxia tetratoma (Chassain) new combination. Morphology …

Determining The Presence And Size Of Shoulder Lesions In Sows Using Computer Vision, Shubham Bery, Tami M. Brown-Bandl, Bradley T. Jones, Gary A. Rohrer, Sudhendu Raj Sharma

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Shoulder sores predominantly arise in breeding sows and often result in untimely culling. Reported prevalence rates vary significantly, spanning between 5% and 50% depending upon the type of crate flooring inside a farm, the animal’s body condition, or an existing injury that causes lameness. These lesions represent not only a welfare concern but also have an economic impact due to the labor needed for treatment and medication. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of computer vision techniques in detecting and determining the size of shoulder lesions. A Microsoft Kinect V2 camera captured the top-down depth and …

Exploring The Population Dynamics Of Waterfowl Hunters Using A Mark‐Recapture Approach, Katherine A. Graham, Mark P. Vrtiska, Dale D. Humburg, Larkin A. Powell, Andrew H. Raedeke, Patrick K. Devers, Christopher J. Chizinski

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

The number of waterfowl hunters in the United States has declined since the 1980s despite relatively abundant waterfowl populations and liberal hunting regulations. Programs focused on recruiting, retaining, and reactivating (R3) waterfowl hunters have become important to avoid further losses in traditional revenue for habitat management and protection and political support for waterfowl conservation and management. We focus on 4 waterfowl hunter population vital rates (i.e., recruitment rate, retention probability, license purchase probability, realized population growth rate), which can be used to improve the effectiveness of waterfowl hunter R3 activities and initiatives by providing a deeper understanding of waterfowl hunter …

Palmitate Induces Integrated Stress Response And Lipoapoptosis In Trophoblasts, Prakash Kumar Sahoo, Chandan Krishnamoorthy, Jennifer R. Wood, Corrine Hanson, Ann Anderson-Berry, Justin L. Mott, Sathish Kumar Natarajan

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Maternal obesity increases the risk of childhood obesity and programs the offspring to develop metabolic syndrome later in their life. Palmitate is the predominant saturated free fatty acid (FFA) that is transported across the placenta to the fetus. We have recently shown that saturated FFA in the maternal circulation as a result of increased adipose tissue lipolysis in third trimester of pregnancy induces trophoblast lipoapoptosis. Here, we hypothesized that palmitate induces integrated stress response by activating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and granular stress and lipoapoptosis in trophoblasts. Choriocarcinoma-derived third-trimester placental trophoblast-like cells (JEG-3 and JAR) referred …

Importance Of Sanitation For Stored-Product Pest Management, Georgina Bingham, David W. Hagstrum

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Sanitation is essential for the cost-effective pest management of stored-product insects. The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 led to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tightening regulatory standards, and many local surveys, courses and conferences were organized to prepare the industry for these new regulations. Sanitation removes insects and residual food, which may also provide shelter for insects, with heat treatments and insecticide applications. The number of insects removed by cleaning may be reduced as the number of available hiding places increases. Decreased sanitation negatively affects the efficacy of most other pest management practices, with means of 1.3- …

Deep Learning Models To Predict Finishing Pig Weight Using Point Clouds, Shiva Paudel, Rafael Vieira De Sousa, Sudhendu Raj Sharma, Tami M. Brown-Bandl

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The selection of animals to be marketed is largely completed by their visual assessment, solely relying on the skill level of the animal caretaker. Real-time monitoring of the weight of farm animals would provide important information for not only marketing, but also for the assessment of health and well-being issues. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a method based on 3D Convolutional Neural Network to predict weight from point clouds. Intel Real Sense D435 stereo depth camera placed at 2.7 m height was used to capture the 3D videos of a single finishing pig freely walking …

Deep Learning Models To Predict Finishing Pig Weight Using Point Clouds, Shiva Paudel, Rafael Vieira De Sousa, Sudhendu Raj Sharma, Tami M. Brown-Bandl

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The selection of animals to be marketed is largely completed by their visual assessment, solely relying on the skill level of the animal caretaker. Real-time monitoring of the weight of farm animals would provide important information for not only marketing, but also for the assessment of health and well-being issues. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a method based on 3D Convolutional Neural Network to predict weight from point clouds. Intel Real Sense D435 stereo depth camera placed at 2.7 m height was used to capture the 3D videos of a single finishing pig freely walking …

Crop Dna Extraction With Lab-Made Magnetic Nanoparticles, Haichuan Wang, Xueqi Zhao, Li Tan, Junwei Zhu, David Hyten

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Molecular breeding methods, such as marker-assisted selection and genomic selection, require high-throughput and cost-effective methods for isolating genomic DNA from plants, specifically from crop tissue or seed with high polysaccharides, lipids, and proteins. A quick and inexpensive high-throughput method for isolating genomic DNA from seed and leaf tissue from multiple crops was tested with a DNA isolation method that combines CTAB extraction buffer and lab-made SA-coated magnetic nanoparticles. This method is capable of isolating quality genomic DNA from leaf tissue and seeds in less than 2 hours with fewer steps than a standard CTAB extraction method. The yield of the …

Understanding The Impact Of Pedagogical Changes In An Honors Activism Course: A Case Study, Aaron Peeksmease

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

The purpose of this portfolio is to document learning outcomes after initiating three pedagogical changes in an Honors Sociology of Activism course taught at UNL in both the Fall of 2022 and Fall of 2023. The first change was to provide students with prior student work of an assignment to see if student performance on the assignment improved. Findings indicated that providing examples of previous student work did not raise grades on the overall assignment, but did result in stronger projects for that one aspect of the overall assignment. The second change examined the impact of introducing reading quizzes and …

Role Of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone 2 And Its Receptor In Human Reproductive Cancers, Dr. Amy T. Desaulniers, Brett White

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH1) and its receptor (GnRHR1) drive reproduction by regulating gonadotropins. Another form, GnRH2, and its receptor (GnRHR2), also exist in mammals. In humans, GnRH2 and GnRHR2 genes are present, but coding errors in the GnRHR2 gene are predicted to hinder full-length protein production. Nonetheless, mounting evidence supports the presence of a functional GnRHR2 in humans. GnRH2 and its receptor have been identified throughout the body, including peripheral reproductive tissues like the ovary, uterus, breast, and prostate. In addition, GnRH2 and its receptor have been detected in a wide number of reproductive cancer cells in humans. Notably, GnRH2 analogues …

Combined Purebred And Crossbred Genetic Evaluation Of Columbia, Suffolk, And Crossbred Lamb Birth And Weaning Weights: Systematic Effects And Heterogeneous Variances, Napoleón Vargas Jurado, David R. Notter, Joshua B. Taylor, Daniel J. Brown, Michelle R. Mousel, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Despite the benefits of crossbreeding on animal performance, genetic evaluation of sheep in the U.S. does not directly incorporate records from crossbred lambs. Crossbred animals may be raised in different environments as compared to purebreds. Systemic factors such as age of dam and birth and rearing type may, therefore, affect purebred and crossbred performance differently. Furthermore, crossbred performance may benefit from heterozygosity, and genetic and environmental variances may be heterogeneous in different breeds and their crosses. Such issues must be accounted for in a combined (purebred and crossbred) genetic evaluation. The objectives of this study were to i) determine the …

A Mathematical Model For Frogeye Leaf Spot Epidemics In Soybean, Chayu Yang, Jin Wang

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

We propose a new mathematical model based on differential equations to investigate the transmission and spread of frogeye leaf spot, a major soybean disease caused by the fungus Cercospora sojina. The model incorporates the primary and secondary transmission routes of the disease as well as the intrinsic dynamics of the pathogen in the contaminated soil. We conduct detailed equilibrium and stability analyses for this model using theories of dynamical systems. We additionally conduct numerical simulations to verify the analytical predictions and to implement the model for a practical application.

Formation Of Hollow Solid Lipid Microparticles From Natural Waxes Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, Purlen Sezer Okur, Deniz Ciftci, Ozan Ciftci

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

In this study, the potential of natural waxes, namely, candelilla wax (CLW) and carnauba wax (CW), was explored to form extra-hard shell hollow solid lipid particles using a particle formation process based on supercritical fluid technology. Melting behavior and volumetric expansion of CLW and CW in pressurized CO₂ were investigated as a function of pressure. The melting point of waxes decreased linearly with increasing pressures up to a certain level; then stayed constant regardless of further elevated pressures. The highest melting point depressions of 13.0% and 8.3% were observed for CLW and CW at 140 and 130 bar CO …

Resolution Of The Tetrabothrius Jagerskioeldi Cryptic Species Complex Among Holarctic Alcidae (Charadriiformes): Cestodes Among Fraterculinae—Exploring Marine Diversity, Host Range, And Dynamic Oceanography In The Greater North Pacific, Eric P. Hoberg, Kaylen Marie Soudachanh, Svetlana K. Bondarenko

MANTER: Journal of Parasite Biodiversity

In the biosphere, limits for diversity among species, communities, and biomes are revealed through intensive and extensive field-based inventory and assembly of voucher specimens and associated informatics examined in a phylogenetic, historical, ecological, and biogeographic arena. Archival resources for specimens and information contribute to a cumulative view of faunal structure and assembly under a comparative umbrella. Ultimately, species definitions, and inclusive partitions among populations and lineages, are fundamental in articulating hypotheses that examine interactions about evolution, the nature of organisms, and the condition of environments across space and time. We conclude our proposals establishing species limits for tapeworms of the …

Microbiome-Enabled Genomic Selection Improves Prediction Accuracy For Nitrogen-Related Traits In Maize, Zhikai Yang, Tianjing Zhao, Hao Cheng, Jinliang Yang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Root-associated microbiomes in the rhizosphere (rhizobiomes) are increasingly known to play an important role in nutrient acquisition, stress tolerance, and disease resistance of plants. However, it remains largely unclear to what extent these rhizobiomes contribute to trait variation for different genotypes and if their inclusion in the genomic selection protocol can enhance prediction accuracy. To address these questions, we developed a microbiome-enabled genomic selection method that incorporated host SNPs and amplicon sequence variants from plant rhizobiomes in a maize diversity panel under high and low nitrogen (N) field conditions. Our cross-validation results showed that the microbiome-enabled genomic selection model significantly …

Emerging Trends In Wheat (Triticum Spp.) Breeding: Implications For The Future, Mujahid Alam, P. Stephen Baenziger, Katherine Anna Frels

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Wheat (Triticum spp and, particularly, T. aestivum L.) is an essential cereal with increased human and animal nutritional demand. Therefore, there is a need to enhance wheat yield and genetic gain using modern breeding technologies alongside proven methods to achieve the necessary increases in productivity. These modern technologies will allow breeders to develop improved wheat cultivars more quickly and efficiently. This review aims to highlight the emerging technological trends used worldwide in wheat breeding, with a focus on enhancing wheat yield. The key technologies for introducing variation (hybridization among the species, synthetic wheat, and hybridization; genetically modified wheat; transgenic …

Bingroup2: Statistical Tools For Infection Identification Via Group Testing, Christopher R. Bilder, Brianna D. Hitt, Brad J. Biggerstaff, Joshua M. Tebbs, Christopher S. Mcmahan

Department of Statistics: Faculty Publications

Group testing is the process of testing items as an amalgamation, rather than separately, to determine the binary status for each item. Its use was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic through testing specimens for SARS-CoV-2. The adoption of group testing for this and many other applications is because members of a negative testing group can be declared negative with potentially only one test. This subsequently leads to significant increases in laboratory testing capacity. Whenever a group testing algorithm is put into practice, it is critical for laboratories to understand the algorithm’s operating characteristics, such as the expected number of …

Mycorrhizal Feedbacks Influence Global Forest Structure And Diversity, Camille S. Delavaux, Joseph A. Lamanna, Jonathan A. Myers, Richard P. Phillips, Salomón Aguilar, David Allen, Alfonso Alonso, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Matthew E. Baker, Jennifer L. Baltzer, Pulchérie Bissiengou, Mariana Bonfim, Norman A. Bourg, Warren Y. Brockelman, David F.R.P. Burslem, Li Wan Chang, Yang Chen, Jyh Min Chiang, Chengjin Chu, Keith Clay, Susan Cordell, Mary Cortese, Jan Den Ouden, Christopher Dick, Sisira Ediriweera, Erle C. Ellis, Anna Feistner, Amy L. Freestone, Thomas Giambelluca, Christian P. Giardina, Gregory S. Gilbert, Fangliang He, Jan Holík, Robert W. Howe, Walter Huaraca Huasca, Stephen P. Hubbell, Faith Inman, Patrick A. Jansen, Daniel J. Johnson, Kamil Kral, Sabrina E. Russo, Et Al.

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

One mechanism proposed to explain high species diversity in tropical systems is strong negative conspecific density dependence (CDD), which reduces recruitment of juveniles in proximity to conspecific adult plants. Although evidence shows that plant-specific soil pathogens can drive negative CDD, trees also form key mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi, which may counteract these effects. Across 43 large-scale forest plots worldwide, we tested whether ectomycorrhizal tree species exhibit weaker negative CDD than arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species. We further tested for conmycorrhizal density dependence (CMDD) to test for benefit from shared mutualists. We found that the strength of CDD varies systematically with mycorrhizal …