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Wildlife Health Centre Newsletter, Volume 10-1, Summer 2004

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre: Newsletters and Publications

Canada’s National Wildlife Diseases Strategy is Taking Shape
Report of the Expert Scientific Panel on Chronic Wasting Disease in Canada
CCWHC - International: Costa Rica
Protozoal Infection of the Brain in Northern Gannets
Capture Myopathy in River Otters Associated with Transmitter Implantation and High Concentrations of Mercury in Tissues
Primary Brain Tumors in Two Free-ranging Cervids
Kidney Failure in Snowshoe Hares – More Specimens Needed
Marine Mammals Emergency Network-St. Lawrence River
St. Lawrence Beluga Health Surveillance Program: 2003
Reovirus in Crows - An Emerging Disease?
Electrocution of Aquatic Animals due to Malfunction of a Submerged Pump
Knotted Tree Squirrels
Antifreeze …

Animal Science Alumni Newsletter, Summer 2004

Department of Animal Science: Departmental News

Contents:

Setting the Cornerposts of Tomorrow’s Beef Industry
Animal Science Leadership Academy
From the Department Head’s Desk
Meat Scientists Share International Prize
Animal Science Alum CEO of Societies
BSE – Its Impact on the Cattle Industry
Federal CAFO Laws Change After 30 Years
Pork Industry Study Tour
Bud Britton Golf Classic
Animal Science Graduate Student Association (ASGSA)
ASGSA Activities
Animal Science Emeritus Professor Passes Away: Charles Henry “Charlie” Adams
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Establishes Alumni Association
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Establishes Alumni Association
Animal Science Faculty Member Passes Away: Dave C. Williams, Jr.
Animal Science Graduate …

Nebline, July 2004

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Tips, Tools and Travel-Safe Foods for Summer Food Safety
Frozen Custard Ice Cream Recipe
2004 “Great Plants” Plants of the Year
Black Spot of Rose
Garden Guide
West Nile Virus: Elderly at Risk
Using DEET Repellents Safely
Is your Acreage or Farm a Mosquito-Breeding Site?
Effect of Increasing Energy Prices on Irrigation Costs
Watch for Blister Beetles in Alfalfa
Pesticide Container Recycling
New Rules for CRP—Acres Can Be Used for Hay or Pasture
Pouring Quality Concrete
Drinking Water Bacteria
Control of Muskrat Damage in Ponds
“Private Drinking Water Systems” is July Rural Living Clinic
Cool It! Use a Refrigerator/ Freezer …

Western Gray Whales Off Sakhalin Island, Russia: A Joint Russia-U.S. Scientific Investigation July-September 2003, David W. Weller, Alexander M. Burdin, Amanda L. Bradford, Yulia V. Ivashchenko, Grigory A. Tsidulko, Aimée R. Lang, Robert L. Brownell Jr.

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Research on the western gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) population summering off northeastern Sakhalin Island, Russia, has been ongoing since 1995. This collaborative Russia-U.S. research program has produced important new information on the present day conservation status of this critically endangered population. This report reviews recent findings from 2003 research activities and combines such with data from previous years, in some cases ranging back to 1994. Photo-identification research conducted off Sakhalin Island in 2003 resulted in the identification of 75 whales, including 11 calves and two previously unidentified non-calves. When combined with data from 1994-2002, a catalog of 131 …

Effects Of Joint Product Management Strategies On E. Coli 0157:H7 And Feedlot Profits, Wiliam R. Perry, Thomas Marsh, Rodney Jones, M. W. Sanderson, J. M. Sargeant, Dicky D. Griffin, R. A. Smith

Department of Agricultural Economics: Presentations, Working Papers, and Gray Literature

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Escherichia coli 0157:H7 on feedlot profits. Fecal samples from 711 feedlot pens in 73 feedlots in Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas were tested for E. coli 0157:H7. Average daily gain and feed-to-gain ratios were computed for each feedlot pen, and managers from each feedlot provided information on various feedlot management practices. Cattle performance and E. coli 0157:H7 prevalence are both affected by feedlot management practices. The indirect effect of E. coli 0157:H7 on potential feedlot profits was determined by measuring the effects of management practices on E. coli 0157:H7 …

The Sweet Tooth Of Adult Parasitoid Cotesia Rubecula: Ignoring Hosts For Nectar?, Gitta Siekmann, Michael A. Keller, Brigitte Tenhumberg

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Investing time and energy into survival and reproduction often presents a trade-off to many species of animals. In parasitic wasps, both hosts and sugar sources contribute to the forager’s fitness but are often found in different locations. The decision to search for hosts or for food can have a strong impact on fitness when the forager’s lifetime is short and resources are not abundant. We investigated the tendency of flowers and hosts to attract 1-day-old female Cotesia rubecula Marshall (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with different feeding histories in a wind tunnel. Only well-fed wasps exhibited a preference for hosts. In comparison, unfed …

Defined Anaerobic Growth Medium For Studying Candida Albicans Basic Biology And Resistance To Eight Antifungal Drugs, Raluca Dumitru, Jacob M. Hornby, Kenneth W. Nickerson

Papers in Microbiology

The polymorphic fungus Candida albicans is one of the most versatile opportunistic pathogens in humans. Many organs of the human body are potential targets for infection by this pathogen, but infection is commonly localized in the gastrointestinal tract, an environment providing anaerobic growth conditions. We describe a chemically defined anaerobic growth medium for four strains of Candida albicans (A72, SC5314, MEN, and 10261). It is a defined liquid glucose-phosphate-proline growth medium supplemented with oleic acid, nicotinic acid, and ammonium chloride. The cells did not require or respond to added ergosterol. Oleic acid and nicotinic acid are growth factors which are …

The Effects Of Lactation On Seedling Damage By Mountain Beaver, Wendy M. Arjo, Dale L. Nolte, Julie L. Harper, Bruce A. Kimball

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The mountain beaver is a semi-fossorial rodent of the Pacific Northwest and is among a variety of herbivores that retard plant growth and cause tree seedling deformities and mortality. Douglas-61 seedlings are planted in the Pacific Northwest from February through March, a period coinciding with mountain beaver parturition. Previous research suggested that in spring, lactating females depend more on conifers than do non-lactating females and males. We conducted experiments to determine if female reproductive condition influenced seedling damage, and if physiological stage of the seedling affected damage. Dormant and flushing trees were offered to 6 pregnant and 6 non-pregnant females …

Postlarval Fitness Of Transgenic Strains Of Cochliomyia Hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Margaret L. Allen, Dennis Berkebile, Steven R. Skoda

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Eight transgenic strains of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were compared with the wild-type parental laboratory strain (P95) in colony. Measurements of average weight of pupae, percentage of adults emerging from pupae, ratio of males to total emerged adults, and mating competitiveness were analyzed. The parental strain colony was subcultured and exposed to handling procedures equivalent to transgenic strains for valid comparison of overall colony fitness. None of the transgenic colonies exhibited significantly lower fitness characteristics than the control parental colony. One transgenic colony had a higher ratio of adults emerging from pupae, and five colonies had higher average pupal …

Early Head Start: Identifying And Serving Children With Disabilities, Carla Peterson, Shavaun Wall, Helen Raikes, Ellen E. Kisker, Mark E. Swanson, Judith Jerald, Jane B. Atwater, Wei Qiao

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Early Head Start (EHS) is a comprehensive, two-generation program that provides services to low-income families with children under the age of 3 years. As part of their mandate, staff members of EHS programs collaborate with other service providers in their local communities, including Part C and childcare providers. The incidence of disabilities among low-income children was tracked as part of the EHS Research and Evaluation Project. The incidence of indicators of disabilities (or potential disabilities) was extremely high (87%) among these very young children living in poverty; however, only 99 participating families (4.7% of the sample) received Part C services. …

Nebline, June 2004

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Better Safe Than Sorry
Safety in the Home
Controlling Bagworms
Propagation of Shrubs from Softwood Cuttings
Garden Guide: Things to do This Month
2004 Perennial Plant of the Year
Brighten Your Outdoor Area With Hanging Baskets
President’s Notes — Janet’s Jargon
Household Hints: Water Saving Measures
More Tools for Student Success
What Has Happened to Family Time?
Respect
Effect of Increasing Energy Prices on Farming Costs
Pesticide Container Recycling
“Small Scale Animal Feeding” is June Rural Living Clinic
The Nebraska LEAD Program
Wheat Plot Tour June 10
Examine Trees For Insect, Disease Problems
Septic Tanks Must Be Pumped By Certified …

Ard News June 2004

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

CONTENTS:
Comments from the Dean
ARD Advisory Council Report
The GMO Food Debate
Richard Ferguson Selected for Leadership Development Course
Nominations Sought for Junior Faculty Excellence in Research Award
Channing B. and Katherine W. Baker Fund
Undergraduate Honors Research Program
ARD Interdisciplinary Research Grants Program
Proposals Submitted For Federal Grants
New or Revised Projects
Grants and Contracts Received April and May, 2004

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 36, No.2 June 2004

The Prairie Naturalist

PREDICTING NEONATAL AGE OF WHITE-TAILED DEER IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS . . T. J. Brinkman, K. L. Monteith, J. A. Jenks, and C. S. DePemo

DUCK NESTING ON ROTATIONAL AND CONTINUOUS GRAZED PASTURES IN NORTH DAKOTA . R. K. Murphy, D. J. Schindler, and R. D. Crawford

MORPHOLOGY OF LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS IN KANSAS ▪ C. A. Hagen, J. C. Pitman, R. J. Robel, and R. D. Applegate

DAILY AND SEASONAL BEHAVIOR OF BISON ON AN OKLAHOMA TALLGRASS PRAIRIE . E. J. Maichak, K. L. Schuler, and M. E. Payton

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA 2003 ▪ R. N. …

Science-Based Organic Farming: A Resource For Educators, Charles A. Francis, Mindi Schneider, Brad Kindler

Publications from the Center for Applied Rural Innovation (CARI)

Organic farming is an important and growing part of the United States food system. The organic sector has grown by at least 20% per year for the past two decades, and currently shows no indication of slowing in this growth. There is increasing consumer concern about where and how food is produced, and people want to be assured access to safe and healthy food products. Interest and concern about food security, and discussion about the merits of a local food system as compared to the vulnerable globalized marketplace are also becoming increasingly important. In Nebraska we have only limited local …

Celebrating 4-H, Youth, And Technology: The Nebraska 4-H Cyber Fair, Patricia Fairchild, Diane Vigna, Jamie Fassett

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

What began as a meta search for 4-H curricula available on the Internet became a phenomenon that has served more than 18,000 Nebraskans in an amazing example of creating partnerships; blending resources; and celebrating 4-H, youth, and technology. Welcome to the Nebraska 4-H Cyber Fair. When the Nebraska 4-H Office conducted an extensive review of Web-based curricula and CD-ROMs created by Cooperative Extension and 4-H nationwide, it became apparent that considerable material was available for delivery by computer. Although some of the material discovered was Nebraska-based, it was not necessarily known to Nebraskans involved in 4-H programming. Nebraska youth in …

Characterization Of Oxidative Enzyme Changes In Buffalograsses Challenged By Blissus Occiduus, Tiffany Heng-Moss, Gautam Sarath, Frederick P. Baxendale, Dana Novak, Shauna Bose, Xinhi Ni, Sharron Quisenberry

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

This research investigated the role of oxidative enzymes in the defense response of buffalograss, Buchloe dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann, to Blissus occiduus Barber. Changes in catalase and peroxidase activity were observed in both resistant and susceptible buffalograsses in response to chinch bug feeding. Susceptible plants were shown to have a lower level of catalase activity compared with their respective control plants. By contrast, catalase activities of resistant plants were similar between infested and control buffalograsses throughout the study. Resistant plants had higher levels of peroxidase activity compared with their control plants, whereas peroxidase activities for control and infested susceptible plants remained …

Distribution Of Kaposi Sarcoma–Associated Herpesvirus/Human Herpesvirus 8 In Maternal Saliva And Breast Milk In Zambia: Implications For Transmission, Brad P. Brayfield, Chipepo Kankasa, John T. West, Jubra Muyanga, Ganapati Bhat, Winslow Klaskala, Charles D. Mitchell, Charles Wood

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

Background. The seroprevalence of Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) in sub-Saharan Africa suggests that multiple routes of transmission exist. In the present study,we examined 2 possible routes of mother-to-child transmission, through breast milk and saliva, during the first 6 months after delivery. Methods. The prevalence of HHV-8 DNA in the breast-milk cells (n=75), milk supernatant (n=56), colostrum (n=2), and saliva cells (n=65) of HHV-8–seropositive mothers who recently gave birth was examined. Polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed for the detection of HHV-8 in cross-sectional samples isolated at 2, 4, and 6 months after delivery.

Results. None of the …

K8 And K12 Are Biotinylated In Human Histone H4, Gabriela Camporeale, Elizabeth E. Shubert, Gautam Sarath, Ronald Cerny, Janos Zempleni

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

Folding of DNA into chromatin is mediated by binding to histones such as H4; association of DNA with histones is regulated by covalent histone modifications, e.g. acetylation, methylation, and biotinylation.We sought to identify aminoacid residues that are biotinylated in histone H4,and to determine whether acetylation and methylation of histones affect biotinylation. Synthetic peptides spanning fragments of human histone H4 were biotinylated enzymatically using biotinidase. Peptide-bound biotin was probed with streptavidin– peroxidase. Peptides based on the N-terminal sequence of histone H4 were effectively recognized by biotinidase as substrates for biotinylation; in contrast, peptides based on the C-terminal sequences were not biotinylated. …

Annual Report Of The Nebraska Center For Research On Children, Youth, Families And Schools

Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools: Presentations

CYFS MISSION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
MILESTONES
WHO WE ARE
TABLE 1: FACULTY AFFILIATES
2004 RECIPIENTS OF CYFS AWARD
WHAT WE ARE ABOUT/WHAT WE DO
ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES BY OBJECTIVES
OBJECTIVE 1 & 2
TABLE 2a: GRANTS AWARDED
TABLE 2b: GRANTS IN SUBMISSION
TABLE 2c: GRANTS IN PROGRESS
OBJECTIVE 3
TABLE 3: FACULTY AFFILIATES BY RESEARCH SPECIALTIES
OBJECTIVE 4
OBJECTIVE 5
OBJECTIVE 6

Chromatographic Analysis Of Sagebrush Monoterpenes In Blood Plasma, Bruce A. Kimball, Luthando E. Dziba, John J. Johnston, Frederick D. Provenza

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

An analytical method is required for the analysis of monoterpenes in animal plasma to support a pharmacokinetic study. Monoterpenes common to sagebrush are extracted from sheep plasma by employing solid-phase extraction (SPE), followed by analysis of the extracts by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection. The analytes are quantitated versus an external standard and by comparison with a surrogate standard added to the sample prior to extraction. In addition to comparing the two quantitative methods, the storage stability of the analytes in plasma and SPE columns is evaluated. Both methods employed for quantitation yield precision suitable for pharmacokinetic studies. However, …

Center For Grassland Studies Newsletter, Spring 2004, Volume 10, No. 2

Center for Grassland Studies: Newsletters

CGS Coordinates New Professional Golf Management Program

Alternatives to Grazing Drought-Stricken Pastures by Ivan Rush, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, UNL

2004 Nebraska Grazing Conference in Kearney August 10-11

Dave and Loretta Hamilton: Grazing and Ranch Management Mentors by Dana Larsen, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA

Loess Hills Conservation Measures Improve Rangeland Conditions and Aid American Burying Beetle in Nebraska by Thomas Walker, Jr., Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Jerry Volesky, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL Wyatt Hoback, Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney

XX International Grassland Congress, Ireland, 2005

Allan Savory on Holistic Resource Management at …

National Science Foundation-Sponsored Workshop Report. Draft Plan For Soybean Genomics, Gary Stacey, Lila N Vodkin, Wayne A. Parrott, Randy C. Shoemaker

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

Recent efforts to coordinate and define a research strategy for soybean (Glycine max) genomics began with the establishment of a Soybean Genetics Executive Committee, which will serve as a communication focal point between the soybean research community and granting agencies. Secondly, a workshop was held to define a strategy to incorporate existing tools into a framework for advancing soybean genomics research. This workshop identified and ranked research priorities essential to making more informed decisions as to how to proceed with large scale sequencing and other genomics efforts. Most critical among these was the need to finalize a physical …

University Of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Connect, May 2004

Connect (University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension)

Inside this issue:

Pg. 3 Biosolids as fertilizer
Pg. 4 Youth business sense
Pg. 7 Ag employer workshop

Field Guide: Diseases And Parasites Of Marine Mammals Of The Eastern Arctic, Kara L. Vlasman, G. Douglas Campbell

Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre: Newsletters and Publications

The purpose of this guide is to provide information on the diseases, parasites, and abnormalities that may occur in marine mammals of the eastern Canadian Arctic. It also provides instructions on collection and submission of samples from animals that appear diseased or abnormal to laboratories for examination and testing.

Chronic Wasting Disease—Prion Disease In The Wild, Steve Bunk

Zoonotics and Wildlife Disease: Publications

In 1967, mule deer in a research facility near Fort Collins, Colorado, in the United States apparently began to react badly to their captivity. At least, that was the guess of researchers working on the natural history and nutrition of the deer, which became listless and showed signs of depressed mood, hanging their heads and lowering their ears. They lost appetite and weight. Then they died—of emaciation, pneumonia, and other complications—or were euthanized. The scientists dubbed it chronic wasting disease (CWD), and for years they thought it might be caused by stress, nutritional deficiencies, or poisoning. A decade later, CWD …

Ard News April 2004

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

CONTENTS:

Comments from the Dean
Unit Performance Characteristics
Selected Resources on Grant Writing
Guidelines for ARD Projects - New Projects
Facility GIS System Development
Layman Awards
Grants and Contracts Received February and March, 2004
Proposals Submitted for Federal Grants
News or Revised Projects

Cost Analysis Of The Built Environment: The Case Of Bike And Pedestrian Trials In Lincoln, Neb, Guijing Wang, Caroline A. Macera, Barbara Scudder-Soucie, Tom Schmid, Michael Pratt, David Buchner, Gregory Heath

United States Public Health Resources

We estimated the annual cost of bike and pedestrian trails in Lincoln, Neb, using construction and maintenance costs provided by the Department of Parks and Recreation of Nebraska. We obtained the number of users of 5 trails from a 1998 census report. The annual construction cost of each trail was calculated by using 3%, 5%, and 10% discount rates for a period of useful life of 10, 30, and 50 years. The average cost per mile and per user was calculated.
Trail length averaged 3.6 miles (range=1.6–4.6 miles). Annual cost in 2002 dollars ranged from $25 762 to $248479 (mean=$124927; …

Scwds Briefs: Volume 20, Number 1 (April 2004)

Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study: Publications

• First Culture of the STARI Agent for Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensulato, the most common tick-borne disease of humans worldwide and the most frequently reported vector-borne disease in the United States.
• Unusual wild elk mortality that began in late January to early February 2004 in the Red Rim area southwest of Rawlings, Wyoming, has been preliminarily diagnosed as lichen (Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa) toxicosis.
• During 2003, hemorrhagic disease (HD) was documented in seven states through virus isolation at SCWDS. Most of our isolations were associated with an outbreak in western Idaho and adjoining eastern Washington. Both epizootic …

Editorial Matter For Volume 5, Number 1, Ada Long, Dail Mullins, Rusty Rushton

Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council Online Archive

Editorial Policy
Contents
Call for Papers
Submission Guidelines
Dedication to Joan Digby
Editor's Introduction, Ada Long
About the Authors

Management Of Vegetation To Reduce Wildlife Hazards At Airports, Brian E. Washburn, Thomas W. Seamans

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) pose a serious safety risk to aircraft. Wildlife strikes cost civil and military aviation at least S490 million annually in the United States (Cleary et al. [I]). Over 46,500 wildlife strikes with civil aircraft were reported to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during 1990-2002 (Cleary et al. 111). Aircraft collisions with birds accounted for 97% of the reported strikes, whereas strikes with mammals and reptiles were 3% and Larus spp.), waterfowl such as Canada geese (Branta canadensis), raptors (hawks and owls), and blackbirds (Ictennae)/starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) are the species presently of …