Digital Commons Network^™

Biofilm Formation And Sanitizer Resistance Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Strains Isolated From ‘‘High Event Period’’ Meat Contamination, Rong Wang, Norasak Kalchayanand, David A. King, Brandon E. Luedtke, Joseph M. Bosilevac, Terrance M. Arthur

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

In the meat industry, a ‘‘high event period’’ (HEP) is defined as a time period during which commercial meat plants experience a higher than usual rate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 contamination. Genetic analysis indicated that within a HEP, most of the E. coli O157:H7 strains belong to a singular dominant strain type. This was in disagreement with the current beef contamination model stating that contamination occurs when incoming pathogen load on animal hides, which consists of diverse strain types of E. coli O157:H7, exceeds the intervention capacity. Thus, we hypothesize that the HEP contamination may be due to certain in-plant …

Effects Of Decreased Dietary Roughage Concentration On Energy Metabolism And Nutrient Balance In Finishing Beef Cattle, K. E. Hales, T. M. Brown-Brandl, H. C. Freetly

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

The optimal roughage concentration required in feedlot diets changes continuously for many reasons such as source, availability, price, and interaction with other ingredients in the diet. Wet distillers grains and solubles (WDGS) are common in finishing diets and they contain relatively high amounts of fiber compared with other grains they replace. Therefore, concentration of roughage could be altered when WDGS are included in feedlot diets. There has been very little data published regarding the effects of roughage concentration on energy metabolism and nutrient balance in beef steers. Therefore, the effects of roughage concentration in dryrolled corn (DRC)–based diets containing 25% …

The Impact Of Cow Nutrient Status During The Second And Third Trimesters On Age At Puberty, Antral Follicle Count, And Fertility Of Daughters, R. A. Cushman, Anthony K. Mcneel, Harvey C. Freetly

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Fluctuating feed resources to beef cows across the production cycle is a proven method for decreasing input costs; however, limiting nutrients during late gestation have been demonstrated to decrease ovarian follicle numbers in female offspring in some studies. We hypothesize that limiting nutrients to mature (≥3 yr) cross bred beef cows during the second and third trimesters would result in daughters that would have decreased follicle numbers detectable by ultrasonography as yearlings. Over four breeding seasons, pregnant beef cows (n=397) were assigned to either Low (L), Moderate (M) or High (H) nutrient …

Effects Of Winter Recreation On Northern Ungulates With Focus On Moose (Alces Alces) And Snowmobiles, Grant Harris, Ryan M. Nelson, Todd Rinaldi, Thomas Lohuis

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Winter recreation can displace ungulates to poor habitats, which may raise their energy expenditure and lower individual survivorship, causing population declines.Winter recreation could be benign, however, if animals habituate. Moreover, recreation creates trails. Traveling on them could reduce energy expenditure, thereby increasing ungulate survivorship and generating population benefits. Balancing recreation use with wildlife stewardship requires identifying when these effects occur. This task would be simpler if guidelines existed to inform assessments. We developed and tested such guidelines using two approaches. First, we synthesized literature describing the effects of winter recreation—motorized and nonmotorized—on northern ungulates. This synthesis enabled formulating six guidelines, …

Evaluation Of Grain Distillers Dried Yeast As A Fish Meal Substitute In Practical-Type Diets Of Juvenile Rainbow Trout, Oncorhynchus Mykiss, Blake S. Hauptman, Frederic T. Barrows, Stephanie S. Block, T. Gibson Gaylord, John A. Paterson, Steven D. Rawles, Wendy M. Sealy

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Grain distillers dried yeast (GDDY) is a single-cell protein obtained as a co-product during the production of fuel ethanol thatmay have potential as a protein replacement for rainbowtrout. The goal of this studywas to examine the suitability of GDDY as a replacement for fish meal on a digestible protein basis in rainbow trout diets. An in-vivo digestibility study was performed to determine the nutrient availability of GDDY. Subsequently, a control diet containing 42% digestible protein and 20% lipidwas formulated to replace fish meal proteinwith GDDY protein at eight different levels (0, 25, 37.5, 50, 62.5, 75, 87.5, and 100%). Diets …

Nebline, January 2014

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: 4-H Youth Serve Their Community By Volunteering

Food & Health

Family Living

Farm & Acreage

Home & Family Living

Horticulture

Pests & Wildlife

4-H & Youth

Extension Calendar

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Frequency-Modulated Orocutaneous Stimulation Promotes Non-Nutritive Suck Development In Preterm Infants With Respiratory Distress Syndrome Or Chronic Lung Disease, Steven M. Barlow, Jaehoon Lee, Jingyan Wang, Austin Oder, Sue Hall, Kendi Knox, Kathleen Weatherstone, Diane Thompson

Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders: Faculty Publications

Background—For the premature infant, extrauterine life is a pathological condition which greatly amplifies the challenges to the brain in establishing functional oromotor behaviors. The extent to which suck can be entrained using a synthetically patterned orocutaneous input to promote its development in preterm infants who manifest chronic lung disease is unknown.

Objective—To evaluate the effects of a frequency-modulated orocutaneous pulse train delivered through a pneumatically-charged pacifier capable of enhancing non-nutritive suck (NNS) activity in tube-fed premature infants.

Methods—A randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of pneumatic orocutaneous stimulation 3x/day on NNS development and length of stay (LOS) in the NICU …

Evaluation Of Constitutive Iron Reductase (Atfro2) Expression On Mineral Accumulation And Distribution In Soybean (Glycine Max. L), Marta W. Vasconcelos, Thomas E. Clemente, Michael A. Grusak

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

Iron is an important micronutrient in human and plant nutrition. Adequate iron nutrition during crop production is central for assuring appropriate iron concentrations in the harvestable organs, for human food or animal feed. The whole-plant movement of iron involves several processes, including the reduction of ferric to ferrous iron at several locations throughout the plant, prior to transmembrane trafficking of ferrous iron. In this study, soybean plants that constitutively expressed the AtFRO2 iron reductase gene were analyzed for leaf iron reductase activity, as well as the effect of this transgene's expression on root, leaf, pod wall, and seed mineral concentrations. …

Marine Mammal Science And Conservation Priorities For The National Marine Fisheries Service

United States Marine Mammal Commission

No abstract provided.

Gastrointestinal Problems In Children With Autism, Developmental Delays Or Typical Development, Virginia Chaidez, Robin L. Hansen, Irva Hertz-Picciotto

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Abstract To compare gastrointestinal (GI) problems among children with: (1) autism spectrum disorder (ASD), (2) developmental delay (DD) and (3) typical development (TD), GI symptom frequencies were obtained for 960 children from the CHildhood Autism Risks from Genetics and Environment (CHARGE) study. We also examined scores on five Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) subscales comparing ASD children with high versus low frequency GI symptoms. Compared to TD children, those with ASD [aOR 7.92 (4.89–12.85)] and DD [aOR 4.55 (2.51–8.24)] were more likely to have at least one frequent GI symptom. Restricting to ASD children, those with frequent abdominal pain, gaseousness, diarrhea, …

Ellagic Acid Inhibits Adipocyte Differentiation Through Coactivator-Associated Arginine Methyltransferase 1-Mediated Chromatin Modification, Inhae Kang, Meshail Okla, Soonkyu Chung

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Chromatin remodeling is a key mechanism in adipocyte differentiation. However, it is unknown whether dietary polyphenols are epigenetic effectors for adiposity control. Ellagic acid (EA) is a naturally occurring polyphenol in numerous fruits and vegetables. Recently, EA-containing foods have been reported to reduce adiposity. In the present study, we sought to determine whether EA inhibits adipogenesis by modifying chromatin remodeling in human adipogenic stem cells (hASCs). qPCR microarray of chromatin modification enzymes revealed that 10 μmol/L of EA significantly inhibits histone deacetylase (HDAC)9 downregulation. In addition, EA was associated with up-regulation of HDAC activity and a marked reduction of histone …

Relationship Of Follicle Size And Concentrations Of Estradiol Among Cows Exhibiting Or Not Exhibiting Estrus During A Fixed-Time Ai Protocol, G. A. Perry, O. L. Swanson, E. L. Larimore, B. L. Perry, G. D. Djira, R. A. Cushman

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Cows exhibiting estrus near fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) had greater pregnancy success than cows not showing estrus. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between follicle size and peak estradiol concentration between cows that did or did not exhibit estrus during a fixed-time AI protocol. Ovulation was synchronized in beef cows by applying the CO-Synch protocol [GnRH (100 mg) on day-9, prostaglandin F2a (PGF_2α; 25 mg) on day-2, and a second injection of GnRH 48 h after PGF_2α (day 0)] to both suckled (experiment 1) and nonsuckled (experiment 2) cows. Follicle size (day 0) …

Use Of Ultrasound Scanning And Body Condition Score To Evaluate Composition Traits In Mature Beef Cows, J. C. Emenheiser, R. G. Tait, Jr., S. D. Shackelford, L. A. Kuehn, T. L. Wheeler, D. R. Notter, R. M. Lewis

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

The experiment was designed to validate the use of ultrasound to evaluate body composition in mature beef cows. Both precision and accuracy of measurement were assessed. Cull cows (n = 87) selected for highly variable fatness were used. Two experienced ultrasound technicians scanned and assigned BCS to each cow on 2 consecutive days. Ultrasound traits were backfat thickness (UBFT), LM area (ULMA), body wall thickness (UBWT), rump fat depth (URFD), rump muscle depth (URMD), and intramuscular fat (UIMF; %). Cows were then harvested. Carcass traits were HCW, backfat thickness (CBFT), LM area (CLMA), body wall thickness (CBWT), and marbling …

State Of Nebraska 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Results, Bureau Of Sociological Research

Nebraska Student Health and Risk Prevention Surveillance System (SHARP)

No abstract provided.

Associations Between Prenatal Exposure To Air Pollution, Small For Gestation Alage,And Term Low Birthweight In A State-Widebirth Cohort, Lisa C. Vinikoor-Imler, J. Allen Davis, Robert E. Meyer, Lynne C. Messer, Thomas J. Luben

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

A range of health effects, including adverse pregnancy outcomes, have been associated with exposure to ambient concentrations of particulate matter (PM) and ozone(O3). The objective of this study was to determine whether maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) andO3 during pregnancy is associated with the risk of term low birth weight and small for gestational age infants in both single and co-pollutant models. Term low birth weight and small for gestational age were determined using all birth certificates from North Carolina from 2003 to 2005. Ambient air concentrations of PM2.5 and O3 were predicted using a hierarchical Bayesian model …

Depressive Symptoms And Observed Eating In Youth, Mira Mooreville, Lauren B. Shomaker, Samantha A. Reina, Louise M. Hannallah, L. Adelyn Cohen, Amber B. Courville, Merel Kozlosky, Sheila M. Brady, Tania Condarco, Susan Z. Yanovski, Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Jack A. Yanovski

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Depressive symptoms in youth may be a risk factor for obesity, with altered eating behaviors as one possible mechanism. We tested whether depressive symptoms were associated with observed eating patterns expected to promote excessive weight gain in two separate samples. In Study 1, 228 nontreatment- seeking youth, ages 12–17 y (15.3 ± 1.4 y; 54.7% female), self-reported depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory. Energy intake was measured as consumption from a 10,934-kcal buffet meal served at 11:00 am after an overnight fast. In Study 2, 204 non-treatment-seeking youth, ages 8–17 y (13.0 ± 2.8 y; 49.5% female), self-reported depressive …

Filaria Zoogeography In Africa: Ecology, Competitive Exclusion, And Public Health Relevance, David Molyneux, Edward Mitre, Moses J. Bockarie, Louise A. Kelly-Hope

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Six species of filariae infect humans in sub-Saharan Africa. We hypothesise that these nematodes are able to polyparasitise human hosts by having successfully, through competitive exclusion, adapted to distinct niches. Despite inhabiting the same host, adult stages reside in different tissue sites. Microfilariae of some species exhibit temporal separation by reaching peak levels in the blood at specific times of day. Spatial and temporal distributions in microfilaria location are exploited by the vector feeding-behaviour whereas adult survival is enhanced by occupying exclusive ‘ecological’ niches of the body. We present specific examples to demonstrate this concept, which is not only important …

Teaching Antenatal Counseling Skills To Neonatal Providers, Theophil A. Stokes, Katie L. Watson, Renee D. Boss

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Counseling a family confronted with the birth of a periviable neonate is one of the most difficult tasks that a neonatologist must perform. The neonatologist's goal is to facilitate an informed, collaborative decision about whether life-sustaining therapies are in the best interest of this baby. Neonatologists are trained to provide families with a detailed account of the morbidity and mortality data they believe are necessary to facilitate a truly informed decision. Yet these complicated and intensely emotional conversations require advanced communication and counseling skills that our current fellowship-training strategies are not adequately providing. We review educational models for training neonatology …

The Inky Story Of The Dinky Oak Gall, Ken Sulak

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Maybe you have noticed these little spheres before – but did not give them much thought. Or maybe, you puzzled: What are these wooden pearls? How did they get there? Well, a tiny wasp, called the pea galler wasp or gallfly, Belonocnema treatae, is the culprit. The diminutive female gallfly (one of nearly a thousand species in the gall wasp family Cynipidae), about the size of a fire ant, lays eggs on a freshly budded live oak leaf in spring. When the larva hatches, it produces a chemical that induces the oak to enclose it in a protective and …

Tissue-Specific Molecular Immune Response To Lipopolysaccharide Challenge In Emaciated Anadromous Arctic Charr, Mathilakath Vijayan, Anju Philip, Even Jørgensen, Alec Maule

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) undergo voluntary winter fasting for months in the Arctic. We tested the hypothesis that extended fasting will compromise the ability of this species to evoke an immune response. Charr were either fed or fasted for 85 days and challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the molecular immune response in the liver and spleen assessed at 8 and 96 h post-injection. LPS increased IL-1β, IL-8, and serum amyloid protein A (SAA) mRNA levels in both groups, but the liver IL- 1β and IL-8, and spleen IL-8 responses were reduced in the fasted group. Fasting upregulated SOCS-1 and …

Keep Wrestling, Steven Kirchner

Nebraska College Preparatory Academy: Senior Capstone Projects

Wrestling has been on the chopping block at all levels for many years. Wrestling deserves to stay a core sport at all levels because there is no professional league for the sport, wrestling teaches life lessons, youth sports are necessary to the development of an athlete, and officials have made significant changes to help “modernize” the sport.

Fire Effects On Seedling Establishment Success Across Treeline: Implications For Future Tree Migration And Flammability In A Changing Climate, F. S. Chapin Iii, Teresa N. Hollingsworth, Rebecca E. Hewitt

Joint Fire Science Program Research Project Reports

Understanding the complex mechanisms controlling treeline advance or retreat in the arctic and subarctic has important implications for projecting ecosystem response to changes in climate. Changes in landcover due to a treeline biome shift would alter climate feedbacks (carbon storage and energy exchange), ecosystem services such as wildlife and berry habitat, and landscape flammability. Wildfire frequency and extent has increased in the last half-century in the boreal forest and tundra in response to warmer weather and lower precipitation. Invasion of tundra by trees may be facilitated by wildfire disturbance, which exposes new seedbeds, increases nutrient availability immediately post-fire, and creates …

Controlled De-Cross-Linking And Disentanglement Of Feather Keratin For Fiber Preparation Via A Novel Process, Helan Xu, Yiqi Yang

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Pure protein fibers were fabricated from chicken feathers via a potentially green process. In the last several decades, efforts have been made to produce keratin-based industrial products, especially fibers. However, the methods of producing keratin fibers directly from chicken feathers could not be repeated. In this research, protein fibers from chicken feathers were developed using chemicals that could be either derived from renewable resources or facilely recycled. Backbones of keratin were preserved after cleavage of disulfide bonds using cysteine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was applied to dissolve keratin for spinning. Increasing SDS concentration intensified the ordered conformation of keratin, first …

Effect Of Development System On Growth And Reproductive Performance Of Beef Heifers, H. A. Lardner, D. Damiran, S. Hendrick, K. Larson, R. Funston

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Reproductive performance was evaluated in beef heifers born over a 2-yr period to determine the effects of target breeding weight (TBW) and development system (SYS) on growth and subsequent reproductive efficiency. Spring-born Angus heifers (253 ± 0.7 kg) were randomly allocated over 2 consecutive yr (yr 1, n = 80; yr 2, n = 96) to be developed to either 55% (350 kg) of mature BW (moderate gain, MG) or 62% (395 kg) of mature BW (high gain, HG). Each MG and HG group was further assigned to 1 of 2 replicated systems: (1) bale graze bromegrass-alfalfa round bales in …

Bioeconomic Factors Of Beef Heifer Maturity To Consider When Establishing Criteria To Optimally Select And/Or Retain Herd Replacements, M. C. Stockton, R. K. Wilson, D. M. Feuz, L. A. Stalker, R. N. Funston

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Understanding the biology of heifer maturity and its relationship to calving difficulty and subsequent breeding success is a vital step in building a bioeconomic model to identify optimal production and profitability. A limited dependent variable probit model is used to quantify the responses among heifer maturities, measured by a maturity index (MI), on dystocia and second pregnancy. The MI account for heifer age, birth BW, prebreeding BW, nutrition level, and dam size and age and is found to be inversely related to dystocia occurrence. On average there is a 2.2% increase in the probability of dystocia with every 1 point …

Edible Grain Legumes, George J. Vandemark, Mark A. Brick, Juan M. Osorno, James D. Kelly, Carlos A. Urrea

Panhandle Research and Extension Center

Edible grain legumes, including dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), dry pea (Pisum sativum L.), chickpea (Cicer arientinum L.), and lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus), have served as important sources of protein in the human diet for thousands of years. In the United States, these crops are consumed nationally and produced for export markets. The objectives of this study were to examine yield gains in edible grain legume crops over the past 25 yr. Genetic gain in dry bean during the past 30 yr based on common trials was 13.9 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ (0.77% yr …

2014 Extension Highlights

Lancaster County, Nebraska Extension: Reports

Nebraska Extension is your local connection to university research-based information. We extend knowledge, provide solutions and change lives. Here’s a look at some of Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County’s 2014 accomplishments.

Agricultural Research Magazine, Vol. 62, No. 1, January 2014, United States Department Of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Magazine

Forum-Success in Controlling Some Cotton Pests Opens the Door to Others

Diverse Approaches To Tame an Emerging Pest

Mulching and Guar Gum: Substitutes for This Familiar "Binder" Tested

Flower Power Protects Organic Lettuce Fields

Specialty Greens Pack a Nutritional Punch

Pampering Anjou: Studying Storage of a Popular Pear

Chickens Open Wide for Gelatin Bead Vaccine

National Inventory Takes Stock of Crops' Wild Relatives

New Rice Naturally Fends Off Weeds

Locations Featured in This Magazine Issue

Agricultural Research Magazine, Vol. 62, No. 2, February 2014, United States Department Of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Magazine

Forum—Building on the Basics About Soil Carbon A Surprising Supply of Deep Soil Carbon Potatoes Show Promise for Meeting Climate Change Challenges New Tool for Improving Soybeans Test Strip Quickly Detects Botulism-Causing Toxins Taking Purées to a New Level Obesity During Pregnancy: Scientists Explore Impacts on Baby's Bone Health Aspirin-Like Compound Primes Plant Defense Against Pathogens Myelin Matters to Piglet Movement, Reflexes, and Coordination Locations Featured in This Magazine Issue

Agricultural Research Magazine, Vol. 62, No. 3, March 2014, United States Department Of Agriculture

Agricultural Research Magazine

Forum—Fighting Diseases That Threaten the Poultry Industry Reducing the Threat of Exotic Avian Diseases Safer Eggs: New Technique Uses Radio Waves to Zap Salmonella What Makes an Avocado Delicious? Scientists Seek Clues to Fruit's Flavor Cleaning Honeycombs With Ozone Dietary Products: Some are Underresearched, Overmarketed Coats Protect Seeds Planted in Cold, Wet Soils Probiotics for Pigs: Less Manure, Better Health New Reference Provides Uses and Origins of Economically Important Plants Locations Featured in This Magazine Issue