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Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase: Comparison Of The Enzyme From Mammalian And Bacterial Sources, Christal A. Sheppard, James S. Sumner, Phillipe Goyette, Phyllis Frosst, Rima Rozen, Rowena G. Matthews

Nebraska College of Law: Faculty Publications

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase catalyzes the reduction of methylenetetrahydrofolate to methyltetrahydrofolate, which serves as the methyl donor for the conversion of homocysteine to methionine in the reaction catalyzed by methionine synthase. Recent studies have provided evidence for association of a common polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase with elevated levels of blood homocysteine, a metabolite correlated with increased cardiovascular risk in humans. In this chapter, we review earlier studies on the properties of the mammalian enzyme, interpreting these observations in the light of the deduced amino acid sequence for the human enzyme. The catalytic portion of the human enzyme shows significant sequence homologies with …

Wigstock And The Kulturkampf: Supreme Court Storytelling, The Culture War, And Romer V. Evans, Richard F. Duncan

Nebraska College of Law: Faculty Publications

It bears repeating that the Supreme Court's decision in Romer is of trivial doctrinal import. The Court did not recognize homosexuals as a suspect or quasi-suspect class, nor did it reverse or undermine its landmark decision in Bowers v. Hardwick. Moreover, the narrow holding of Romer suggests quite strongly that typical laws disadvantaging homosexuals--the military exclusion, the heterosexual paradigm of civil marriage, and perhaps even better-crafted and more narrow versions of Amendment 2--do not offend the Equal Protection Clause. These laws rationally advance legitimate government interests and should easily pass scrutiny under the rational basis test applied by the …

Phenotypic And Genetic Analysis Of Lymantria Dispar Nucleopolyhedrovirus Few Polyhedra Mutants: Mutations In The 25k Fp Gene May Be Caused By Dna Replication Errors, David S. Bischoff, James M. Slavicek

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

We previously demonstrated that polyhedron formation (PF) mutants arise at a high frequency during serial passage of the Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) in the L. dispar 652Y cell line (J. M. Slavicek, N. Hayes-Plazolles, and M. E. Kelly, Biol. Control 5:251–261, 1995). Most of these PF mutants exhibited the traits of few polyhedra (FP) mutants; however, no large DNA insertions or deletions that correlated with the appearance of the FP phenotype were found. In this study, we have characterized several of the PF mutants at the phenotypic and genetic levels. Genetic techniques were used to group the mutations in the …

Annual Review Of The World Pheasant Association 1996/1997, World Pheasant Association

Galliformes Specialist Group and Affiliated Societies: Reports and Other Materials

Chairman's report, Richard P. Howard

Annual report of Council 1995/96

Chapter and Affiliate reports

Pheasant Specialist Group, Peter J. Garson

Partridge, Quail and Francolin Specialist Group, John P. Carroll

Grouse Specialist Group, Ilse Storch

Megapode Specialist Group, René Dekker

Cracid Specialist Group, Daniel M. Brooks and Stuart D. Strahl

Captive Breeding Advisory Committee, Han Assink

On the systematic status Crossoptilon harmani, Tso-hsin Cheng

Distribution of western tragopan, Surender S. Katoch, J. S. Jandrotia, and M. K. Seth

The rediscovery of Edwards 's pheasant, Roland Eve

Egg laying and incubation of the Polynesian megapode, Ann Goth and Uwe Vogel

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter Newsletter, February 1997

Gamma Sigma Delta, Nebraska Chapter: Newsletters

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

NEWS FROM THE HISTORIAN - Charles H. Adams

INITIATION AND AWARDS BANQUET RECIPIENTS November 24, 1996

GAMMA SIGMA DELTA ORDERING INFORMATION PRICE LIST 1997

GAMMA SIGMA DELTA 1997 COMMITTEES

Nf97-354 Omega Eggs — A Dietary Source Of N-3 Fatty Acids, Sheila E. Scheideler, Nancy M. Lewis

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact examines the nutritional advantages of Omega eggs.

Calculation Of Fractal Dimension From Cattle Thermoregulatory Responses, R. L. Korthals, Y. R. Chen, G. L. Hahn, R. A. Eigenberg

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

Fractal dimension analyses have previously been shown to objectively classify thermoregulatory responses of cattle to non-stressing and stressing thermal environments. This report presents a geometric method for calculating fractal dimensions (D) from time-series datasets of tympanic temperatures, and evaluates the effects of sampling intervals, recording system resolution and noise, and length of sample datasets on the calculated D-value. From these analyses, recommendations were developed for minimum temperature data resolution (0.16°C), sampling interval (3 to 15 min), and data set length (integer multiples of 24-h periods). To reduce the impact of ‘noise’ in the recording system to less than …

Nesting Piping Plover And Least Tern On The Kansas River, William H. Busby, Daniel W. Mulhern, P. Gregory Kramos, David A. Rintoul, William C. Tuttle

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

A portion of the Kansas River in northeastern Kansas was surveyed by boat and air in 1996 and 1997 for nesting colonies of piping plover (Charadrius melodus) and least tern (Sterna antillarum). Both species were found breeding on sandbars at a total of five sites along a 30-km reach of the Kansas River. In 1996, at least two breeding pair of piping plovers and seven breeding pair of least terns were documented. In 1997, at least one pair of piping plovers and five pairs of least terns bred. These are the first known breeding records for …

1997 North American Conference On The Monarch Butterfly

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

The Monarch Butterfly has attracted much interest because it is unique not only among insects, but among all living things. The largest Monarch population emerges in the central and northeastern United States and Canada and flutters its way south several thousand kilometers to remote fir forests in the central mountains of Mexico. There they overwinter in about twenty compact colonies—sometimes numbering in the tens of millions—often within a stone’s throw of local subsistence farms sustaining Mexican campesinos (small-scale farmers) and indigenous peoples. In the spring, the northward trek begins, often with an additional generation being required to reach the northern …

Environmental Contaminants In The Aquatic Bird Food Chain Of An Oil Refinery Wastewater Pond, Pedro Ramirez Jr.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Bird mortalities have been documented in oilfield waste pits in Wyoming and various other oil-producing states in the western United States. In the semi-arid West, migratory birds mistake wastewater ponds or pits for wetlands. Most refineries use large ponds to contain their wastewater. One refinery in Casper, Wyoming actively discharged refinery wastewater into a closed basin, Soda Lake. This created a wetland that attracts numerous aquatic birds, in particular, nesting colonies of gulls (Larus spp.), terns (Sterna spp.), double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis), dabbler ducks (Anas spp.) and American avocets ( …

G97-1319 Management Of Smooth Sumac On Grasslands, John Ortmann, Katherine L. Miles, James L. Stubbendieck, Walter H. Schacht

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The herbicide 2,4-D LV4 ester provides excellent low-cost smooth sumac control. Prescribed burning before herbicide application does not substantially improve sumac control, but may ease herbicide application and provide other benefits.

Smooth sumac (Rhus glabra L.) is a native deciduous shrub that forms dense thickets from widely spreading roots. It is found in the Sandhills, mixed-grass, and tallgrass areas throughout Nebraska. Introduced cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), invade the thickets, and production of desirable forage species is reduced below the dense canopies. Trees and other shrubs readily establish in aging sumac thickets, accelerating the …

Ec 97-1550-B Nebraska Management Guide For Arthropod Pests Of Livestock And Horses, John B. Campbell

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Extension Circular 97-1550-B: This circular gives information over different ways to manage arthropod pests of livestock and horses. The information is organized by type of pest, giving information on the pest and recommended ways of managing said pest.

The Probe, Issue 173 – January/February 1997

The Probe: Newsletter of the National Animal Damage Control Association

From The President... -- Gene LeBoeuf
James E. (Jim) Forbes retifed on December 31 as ADC State Director in New York.
Donald Hawthorne returned to the state of Oklahoma as State Director of USD A-APHIS-ADC, effective December 8.
A strain of rabies carried primarily by raccoons has spread to the Midwest from the mid-Atlantic states.
A Colorado woman was killed by two wolf hybrids in December, according to the El Paso Co. sheriffs office.
According to Range magazine, half of the 40 endangered black-footed ferrets transplanted into Montana to establish a new colony have been killed by coyotes.
It has …

Detection Of Bovine Immunodeficiency Virus Antibodies In Cattle By Western Blot Assay With Recombinant Gag Protein, Shucheng Zhang, Wenzhi Xue, Charles Wood, Qi-Min Chen, Sanjay Capil, Harish Minocha

Nebraska Center for Virology: Faculty Publications

A western blot assay using purified recombinant bovine immunodeficiency virus gag protein has been developed for detection of bovine immunodeficiency virus antibodies in bovine serum samples. The test was standardized with known bovine immunodeficiency virus positive and negative bovine serum samples and the monoclonal antibody to gag protein. Both naturally and experimentally infected cattle sera demonstrated positive test results. The result of western blot assay was compared with polymerase chain reaction test results in 134 blood samples collected from Kansas. Twenty-six samples tested positive for bovine immunodeficiency virus DNA with polymerase chain reaction (18.7%) and 25 were positive for the …

An Investigation Of Irrigation-Related Contaminants In Water, Bottom Sediment, And Biota From Goshen County, Wyoming., Kimberly Dickerson, Pedro Ramirez Jr.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of trace element concentrations in water, sediment, aquatic vegetation, aquatic invertebrates, waterbird eggs, and fish resulting from irrigation drainwater during 1995 in Goshen County, Wyoming. We also analyzed waterbird eggs and fish from this area for organochlorine residues and attempted to determine the nesting success of various waterbirds.

Boron concentrations were elevated (>300 ug/g dry weight) in aquatic vegetation above concentrations shown to adversely affect sensitive waterfowl; however, these concentrations are similar to those found in aquatic vegetation sampled in other areas throughout Wyoming. Mercury concentrations in aquatic vegetation, aquatic invertebrates, and fish were …

Vertebrate Pests Of Agriculture, Forestry And Public Lands: 1997 Annual Meeting

Western Region Coordinating Committee for Vertebrate Pests of Agriculture, Forestry, and Public Lands (WCC-95)

New approaches to reducing gnawing and digging behaviors in the northern pocket gopher, Monty Sullins

A comparison of zinc phosphide and strychnine oat baits for the control of the northern pocket gopher, Leonard Askham

Efficacy of Turf Shield® Repellent to reduce goose and duck use of grass areas adjacent to ponds, lakes and rivers, Dale Nolte

Efficacy of selected commercial repellents to inhibit deer browsing, Gary Witmer and Brian Moser

The effects of wild and domestic ungulate grazing on the vegetation, birds, and small mammals on Bridge Creek Wildlife Area, northeastern Oregon, Timothy Van Deelen

Deer-northern white cedar interactions and …

Molecular Analysis Of An Enhancin Gene In The Lymantria Dispar Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus, David S. Bischoff, James M. Slavicek

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

A Lymantria dispar nuclear polyhedrosis virus (LdMNPV) gene has been identified that encodes a homolog to the granulovirus (GV) enhancin proteins that are capable of enhancing the infection of other baculoviruses. Enhancin genes have been identified and sequenced for three species of GVs but have not been found in any other nuclear polyhedrosis virus to date. The LdMNPV enhancin gene is located between 67.6 and 70.1 kbp on the viral genome. Northern and primer extension analyses of viral RNAs indicate that the enhancin gene transcripts are expressed at late times postinfection from a consensus baculovirus late promoter. The LdMNPV enhancin …

G97-1315 Composting Manure And Other Organic Residues, Bahman Eghball

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Composting is becoming more common in Nebraska because of the many advantages it offers. This NebGuide provides information on the composting process and its management and related issues.

The Composting Process

Composting is the aerobic decomposition of manure or other organic materials in the thermophilic temperature range (104-149°F). The composted material is odorless, fine-textured, and low-moisture and can be bagged and sold for use in gardens, or nurseries or used as fertilizer on cropland with little odor or fly breeding potential. Composting improves the handling characteristics of any organic residue by reducing its volume and weight. Composting can kill pathogens …

G97-1314 Medication Withdrawal In Beef Cattle, Dicky D. Griffin, Dale Grotelueschen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide lists the current withdrawal times for medications used in beef cattle.

Using proper livestock medications is very important. Proper use not only ensures maximal benefits from the medication but minimizes the chances of an unwanted residue. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has worked hard to develop a premiere quality assurance program. In conjunction with other national and state beef and veterinary associations, the Beef Quality Assurance program now extends to almost every state in the nation. As a result, the safety and quality of beef has never been better. The outstanding record includes having an extremely low rate …

Habitat Use By Migrant Whooping Cranes In Saskatchewan, Brian W. Johns, Eric J. Woodsworth, Ed A. Driver

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We investigated habitat use by migrating whooping cranes (Grus americana) in Saskatchewan between 1986 and 1990. At foraging and roosting sites and a sample of randomly selected sites we measured various habitat parameters. Palustrine and lacustrine wetlands were the most frequently used wetlands. Temporary and seasonal wetlands were the primary roost habitat during spring migration, and semi-permanent and permanent wetlands were frequently used during the fall. Cranes were attracted to areas of higher than average wetland density. Land use within 2 km of roost sites was intensively modified by man. Cereal crops were the most used feeding areas. …

Availability Of Stopover Habitat For Migrant Whooping Cranes In Nebraska, Dale W. Stahlecker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Four stratified random samples of 512 National Wetland Inventory (NWI) maps within the central Nebraska portion of the Wood Buffalo-Aransas whooping crane (Grus americana) migration corridor were used to evaluate the availability of wetland roost sites. Wetlands were eliminated as potential roosts if visibility was obscured by vegetation or slope, if certain human activities occurred within 100-800 ro, or if water < 30 em deep was not available. Seasonal emergent wetlands, available as roosts primarily in spring, dominated all samples, particularly in the nortb. Sixty-five percent of all wetlands >0.04 ha passed map review and 52 % passed when ground-truthed. NWI map review was a good predictor of both suitability (63 % correct) and unsuitability (73 % correct). More than one-half of all open and emergent …

Woody Vegetation Expansion And Continuing Declines In Open Channel Habitat On The Platte River In Nebraska, Paul J. Currier

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Aerial videography in 1988 and 1994 of the same selected segments of the Big Bend reach of the Platte River in central Nebraska was compared. During this 6-year period, channel area declined 4 to 41 % (median 26%). In river segments where the channel had already narrowed significantly and at sites where channel habitat is actively managed declines were less (17-18%). These substantial changes occurred during a time that included a relatively low flow period (1990-92). Flows during the summer gertttination and establishment period (mid-May through August) for cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and willow (Salix spp.), the …

Home Range And Habitat Use By Isolation-Reared Sandhill Cranes, Wenrui Duan, Theodore A. Bookhouts, Richard P. Urbanek

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We isolation-reared, placed radio transmitters on, and released 38 greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) on Seney National Wildlife Refuge (Seney) in 1988-90 to develop procedures for initiating new populations of cranes. Here we report on habitat selection by breeding birds with functional radio transmitters. Home ranges established by 6 cranes in 1992, when they were 2 to 4 years old, averaged 199±50.8 (SE) ha (harmonic mean method, 75 % utilization) and were of 2 types: feeding grounds separated from nesting habitat and feeding grounds adjacent to nesting habitat. Home ranges consisted of 36% emergent palustrine wetlands, 28% …

Recent Advances In Scheduling Strategies And Practical Techniques In Crane Artificial Insemination, Scott R. Swengel, Monica L. Tuite

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We analyzed fertility patterns of 339 eggs laid 1985-93 at the International Crane Foundation by cranes whose sole means of fertility was artificial insemination (AI). Ten of 15 crane species were studied. Fertility rates increased significantly (P < 0.05) with (I) higher sperm density, (2) greater sperm motility, and (3) 2 vs. 1 vs. 0 inseminations 4-7 days before oviposition. Semen sample size was inversely related to sperm density and had no strong relationship with egg fertility. Inseminations less than 2.5-3.0 days before an egg is laid are probably too late to contribute to fertilizing the egg but may contribute substantially to fertilizing the next egg. We also describe practical knowledge gained during the past 10 years that apply to certain species or situations. Wattled cranes (Bugeranus carunculatus) have a long fertile period post-AI (up to 16 days), but may require more careful methods and special AI scheduling strategies. We also describe techniques for AI just after oviposition that are especially beneficial for Siberian cranes (Grus leucogeranus), and methods for maximizing sample delivery to the female.

Sandhill Crane Hunts In The Rio Grande Valley And Southwest New Mexico, C. Gregory Schmitt, Barry Hale

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Annual limited permit hunting seasons for sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) were initiated in southwestern New Mexico (SWNM) in 1982 and in the middle Rio Grande Valley (MRGV) in 1986. Within the MRGV and SWNM are wintering areas for 3 migratory subspecies, including the lesser sandhill crane (G. c. canadensis) (lessers). Canadian sandhill crane (G. c. rowani) (Canadians), and greater sandhill crane (G. c. tabida) (greaters). We summarized annual season dates, bag limits, requirements for permits, procedures for examination of crane specimens at check stations, number of hunters, estimated harvest, mean harvest per …

Results Of An Experiment To Lead Cranes On Migration Behind Motorized Ground Vehicles, David H. Ellis, Brian Clauss, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, R. Curt Mykut, Matthew Kinloch, Catherine H. Ellis

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Ten greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) , trained to enter and ride in a specially-equipped truck, were transported at ca 80 days of age from their rearing site at Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (patuxent), Maryland, to a reintroduction site located within the species' former breeding range in northern Arizona. After 5 additional weeks of training, these juvenile cranes were led south ca 600 km to a wintering area on the Arizona/Mexico border. Nine of the 10 survived the trek, 495 km of which were flown, although only a few cranes flew every stage of the route. Their …

Corrigendum Crane Migration In Northern New Mexico, Dale W. Stahlecker

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

These tables were not included in the above article. They are published here so that interested readers will have access to them while reading the results and discussion presented in that paper. It is now well documented that sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) from outside the Rocky Mountain Population stage in spring and autumn in the San Luis Valley of southern Colorado (Benning et al. 1997). Therefore, the high autumn counts reported in the 1988 paper and discussed in relation to Table 3 could also have included cranes from other populations.

Survival And Habitat Use Of Greater Sandhill Crane Colts On Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, California, Kevin J. Desroberts

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Radiotelemetry was used to monitor 13 (1990) and 14 (1992) greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida) colts on Modoc National Wildlife Refuge, California, to determine causes of mortality, brood habitat utilization, and effects of habitat management on colt survival. Colt survival rates were 0.36 (1990) and 0.54 (1992). Coyotes (Canis latrans) killed 3 colts and mink (Mustela vison) killed 4; I colt died because of a bacterial infection (Staphylococcus aureous). Broods used 6 different habitat types and 79% used more than I type. Irrigated meadows (74%), cultivated uplands (53 %), and marsh …

Monogamy And Productivity In Sandhill Cranes, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Thomas C. Tacha

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Marked pairs of Florida (Grus canadensis pratensis) and greater sandhill cranes (G. c. tabida) were monitored for 426 pair-years. Among pair members, females averaged 3.7 ± 3.6 (SD) years older than males. Pair longevity was not correlated with pair productivity (P ~ 0.279) for pairs that were together >3 years. Forty-four percent of 72 Florida sandhill crane pair bonds were broken during the study, 67.7% due to death and 32.3 % to divorce. Among both Florida and greater sandhill cranes, the incidence of divorce was related to a failure to reproduce; 52.6% of pairs that failed to produce …

History Of Breeding Pairs And Nesting Sites Of The Mississippi Sandhill Crane, Jacob M. Valentine Jr., Scott G. Hereford

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Thirty-four Composite Nesting Areas (CNA's) of endangered Mississippi sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pulla) within the current breeding range in Jackson County, Mississippi, were located from 1965 to 1996, primarily by ground searching. Of those 34 CNA's located, 28 were on I of the 3 refuge units and 6 were off but adjacent to the refuge's Ocean Springs Unit. Five of the CNA's had 2-3 distinct smaller core nesting areas within. Two CNA's had active nests in more than 20 years, and those nests accounted for 11 % of the total. Nine CNA's accounted for 130 (63%) of the …