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Improved Production Of Antifungal Angucycline Sch47554 By Manipulating Three Regulatory Genes In Streptomyces Sp. Scc-2136, Ozkan Fidan, Riming Yan, Du Zhu, Jixun Zhan

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Sch47554 and Sch47555 are two angucyclines with antifungal activities against various yeasts and dermatophytes from Streptomyces sp. SCC‐2136. The schgene cluster contains several putative regulatory genes. Both schA4 and schA21were predicted as the TetR family transcriptional regulators, whereas schA16shared significant similarity to the AraC family transcriptional regulators. Although Sch47554 is the major product of Streptomyces sp. SCC‐2136, its titer is only 6.72 mg/L. This work aimed to increase the production of this promising antifungal compound by investigating and manipulating the regulatory genes in the Sch47554 biosynthetic pathway. Disruption of schA4and schA16 led to a significant increase …

Genetic And Spatial Structuring Of Populus Tremuloides In A Mixed-Species Forest Of Southwestern Utah, Usa, Matthew Bishop, Tucker J. Furniss, Karen E. Mock, Jim A. Lutz

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Populus tremuloides Michx. (aspen) is an iconic species of the southwestern United States, where it is known for its extensive clonality. The size of clones and pattern of clonal distribution within and among stands can provide important clues to the species' evolution and ecology, but there are very few studies that have conducted the type of sampling necessary to define these features. We examined the genetic composition and habitat associations of aspen in a mixed-species forest in Cedar Breaks National Monument on the Markagunt Plateau, southwestern Utah. Genetic analysis of 94 stems ≥1 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) selected …

Wild Bee Diversity Increases With Local Fire Severity In A Fire‐Prone Landscape, Sara M. Galbraith, James H. Cane, Andrew R. Moldenke, James W. Rivers

All PIRU Publications

As wildfire activity increases in many regions of the world, it is imperative that we understand how key components of fire‐prone ecosystems respond to spatial variation in fire characteristics. Pollinators provide a foundation for ecological communities by assisting in the reproduction of native plants, yet our understanding of how pollinators such as wild bees respond to variation in fire severity is limited, particularly for forest ecosystems. Here, we took advantage of a natural experiment created by a large‐scale, mixed‐severity wildfire to provide the first assessment of how wild bee communities are shaped by fire severity in mixed‐conifer forest. We sampled …

Professor Receives Award From The Center For Women And Gender | College Of Engineering, Utah State University

College of Engineering News

USU engineering professor, Elizabeth Vargis was awarded the ‘Early Career-Faculty award’ from the Center for Women and Gender.

Climate And Lawn Management Interact To Control C4 Plant Distribution In Residential Lawns Across Seven U.S. Cities, Tara L. E. Trammell, Diane E. Pataki, Christopher J. Still, James R. Ehleringer, Meghan L. Avolio, Neil Bettez, Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Peter M. Groffman, Morgan Grove, Sharon J. Hall, James Heffernan, Sarah E. Hobbie, Kelli L. Larson, Jennifer L. Morse, Christopher Neill, Kristen C. Nelson, Jarlath O'Neil-Dunne, William D. Pearse, Et Al.

Ecology Center Publications

In natural grasslands, C₄ plant dominance increases with growing season temperatures and reflects distinct differences in plant growth rates and water use efficiencies of C₃ vs. C₄ photosynthetic pathways. However, in lawns, management decisions influence interactions between planted turfgrass and weed species, leading to some uncertainty about the degree of human vs. climatic controls on lawn species distributions. We measured herbaceous plant carbon isotope ratios (δ¹³C, index of C₃/C₄ relative abundance) and C₄ cover in residential lawns across seven U.S. cities to determine how climate, lawn plant management, or interactions between …

Faculty Senate Agenda, April 1, 2019, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• EPC Monthly Report - March 7, 2019
• 2019-2020 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Budget and Faculty Welfare Annual Report
• Research and Graduate Studies Annual Report
• 405.11.2 Term Appointment Promotions (second reading)
• Library Discussion (subscription costs)
• Call for Nominations - Faculty Senate President Elect

Faculty Senate Minutes, April 1, 2019, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 2019-2020 Faculty Senate Calendar
• Budget and Faculty Welfare Annual Report
• Research and Graduate Studies Annual Report
• Library Discussion (Subscription Costs)
• Spring Break 2020 Calendar Update
• Koch Task Force Resolution

The Role Of Disease & Insects In Aspen Ecology, John C. Guyon Ii

Aspen Bibliography

Aspen is a keystone species in montane forests, and enhances a number of key resource values including wildlife habitat, water resources, and fire behavior. Recently, aspen forests have experienced episodes of dieback and decline across western North America (Worrall et al. 2010, Guyon and Hoffman 2011). A large proportion of the dieback and decline has been linked to drought stress or drought-prone locations (Hanna and Kulakowski 2012). However, insects and diseases are commonly found in declining aspen stands, leading to confusion about the role of insects and diseases in aspen ecology. Additionally, aspen has a reputation for being susceptible to …

Applying Principles Of Crossbreeding To Maximize Hybrid Vigor, Matthew D. Garcia, C. Kim Chapman, Deric Despain

All Current Publications

This fact sheet explains how crossbreeding can be a powerful tool to improve the productivity and profitability of a beef cattle operation when it is used correctly.

3-Hydroxyflavones And 3-Hydroxy-4-Oxoquinolines As Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecules, Tatiana Soboleva, Lisa M. Berreau

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs) that enable the delivery of controlled amounts of CO are of strong current interest for applications in biological systems. In this review, we examine the various conditions under which CO is released from 3-hydroxyflavones and 3-hydroxy-4-oxoquinolines to advance the understanding of how these molecules, or derivatives thereof, may be developed as CORMs. Enzymatic pathways from quercetin dioxygenases and 3-hydroxy-4-oxoquinoline dioxygenases leading to CO release are examined, along with model systems for these enzymes. Base-catalyzed and non-redox-metal promoted CO release, as well as UV and visible light-driven CO release from 3-hydroxyflavones and 3-hydroxy-4-oxoquinolines, are summarized. The visible …

Optical Stability Of 1,1′-Binaphthyl Derivatives, Nikolay V. Tkachenko, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The racemization process of various 1,1′-binaphthyl derivatives is studied by quantum calculations. The preferred racemization pathway passes through a transition state belonging to the C_i symmetry group. The energy barrier for this process is independent of solvation, the electron-withdrawing/releasing power of substituents, or their ability to engage in H-bonds within the molecule. The primary factor is instead the substituent size. The barrier is thus reduced when the −OH groups of 1,1′-bi-2-naphthol are replaced by H. There is a drop in the barrier also when the substituents are moved from the 2,2′ positions to 6,6′, where they will not come …

Association Of Rare Coding Mutations With Alzheimer Disease And Other Dementias Among Adults Of European Ancestry, Devanshi Patel, Jesse Mez, Badri N. Vardarajan, Lyndsay Staley, Jaeyoon Chung, Xiaoling Zhang, John J. Farrell, Michael J. Rynkiewicz, Lisa A. Cannon-Albright, Craig C. Teerlink, Jeffery Stevens, Chris Corcoran, Et Al.

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE Some of the unexplained heritability of Alzheimer disease (AD) may be due to rare variants whose effects are not captured in genome-wide association studies because very large samples are needed to observe statistically significant associations.

OBJECTIVE To identify genetic variants associated with AD risk using a nonstatistical approach.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Genetic association study in which rare variants were identified by whole-exome sequencing in unrelated individuals of European ancestry from the Alzheimer’s Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP). Data were analyzed between March 2017 and September 2018.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Minor alleles genome-wide and in 95 genes previously associated …

Expression Of The High-Affinity K+ Transporter 1 (Pphkt1) Gene From Almond Rootstock ‘Nemaguard’ Improved Salt Tolerance Of Transgenic Arabidopsis, Amita Kaundal, Devinder Sandhu, Marco Duenas, Jorge F. S. Ferreira

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Soil salinity affects plant growth and development, which directly impact yield. Plants deploy many mechanisms to cope with, or mitigate, salt stress. One of such mechanism is to control movement of ions from root to shoot by regulating the loading of Na+ in the transpiration stream. The high-affinity K+ transporter 1 (HKT1) is known to play a role in the removal of Na+from the xylem and bring it back to the root. As almond is a salt-sensitive crop, the rootstock plays an important role in successful almond cultivation in salt-affected regions. We currently lack knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved …

Expression Of The High-Affinity K+ Transporter 1 (Pphkt1) Gene From Almond Rootstock ‘Nemaguard’ Improved Salt Tolerance Of Transgenic Arabidopsis, Amita Kaundal, Devinder Sandhu, Marco Duenas, Jorge F. S. Ferreira

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Soil salinity affects plant growth and development, which directly impact yield. Plants deploy many mechanisms to cope with, or mitigate, salt stress. One of such mechanism is to control movement of ions from root to shoot by regulating the loading of Na+ in the transpiration stream. The high-affinity K+ transporter 1 (HKT1) is known to play a role in the removal of Na+ from the xylem and bring it back to the root. As almond is a salt-sensitive crop, the rootstock plays an important role in successful almond cultivation in salt-affected regions. We currently lack knowledge on the molecular mechanisms …

Providing Education To Enhance Wildlife Conservation In South Africa Through The First Wildlife School For Game Rancers - A Grassroots Effort By Government Authorized Conservationists, David L. Bergman, Nico Avenant, Francoais Schutte, Michael J. Bodenchuk

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The establishment of the game ranching industry in South Africa has resulted in the conversion of 20 million hectares of marginal agricultural land to an economically viable and conservation oriented industry. The single biggest driving factor in the growth of the game ranching industry in South Africa was the promulgation of the Game Theft Act 105 of 1991 which conferred private ownership of game. Due to the Act, wildlife became economically viable and were managed according to the creation of this new market. The growth in game animals has reached its highest point since 1850 with over 20 million animals. …

Feral Swine Disease Surveillance – National Targets And Pilot Projects, Vienna R. Brown, Rachel M. Maison, Thomas Gidlewski

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The National Feral Swine Damage Management Program (NFSP) in collaboration with the National Wildlife Disease Program (NWDP) and USDA APHIS Veterinary Services works to identify the diseases of national concern in feral swine. The current national disease surveillance program includes classical swine fever (CSF), swine brucellosis (SB), and pseudorabies (PRV). CSF is a foreign animal disease and feral swine samples collected and tested serve as part of Veterinary Services surveillance stream for this pathogen. Both SB and PRV have been eradicated from U.S. commercial swine operations; however, as they are endemic diseases in feral swine populations, monitoring of feral swine …

Effects Of Common Ravens On Greater Sage-Grouse In The Great Basin, Region, Usa, Peter S. Coates, Shawn T. O'Neil, Joseph L. Atkinson, Brianne E. Brussee, Pat J. Jackson, David J. Delehanty

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Anthropogenic modification to ecosystems can result in the redistribution of species at higher trophic levels. Humans have re-organized predator-prey dynamics, namely by removing top predators and subsidizing more generalist mesocarnivore species. As a result, some mid-level predator species have increased in abundance and distribution, often to the detriment of lower-level species that are not adapted to increased predation rates. One example of a native avian predator that has experienced population increase following increased anthropogenic subsidization is the common raven (Corvus corax; hereafter, raven).The raven is an ubiquitous predator within sagebrush ecosystems in the western U.S.,and may contribute to …

Efficacy Of An Avian Repellent Applied Using Drop Nozzle-Equipped Ground Rigs In Reducing Blackbird Damage To Sunflower, Page E. Klug, Michael H. Ostlie, Scott J. Werner

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In North Dakota large flocks of blackbirds feed on ripening crops, after breeding and prior to migration, resulting in an annual damage estimate averaging $3.5 million for sunflower. Since the repellent needs to be ingested to be effective, one obstacle is applying sufficient repellent directly to the sunflower face. Thus, we tested efficacy of an anthraquinone-based repellent when applied via drop-nozzle to sunflower using enclosed blackbirds in a semi-natural field setting. We used a ground-rig equipped with 360 Undercover^® drop nozzle sprayers to apply 20 gal/ac of solution to sunflower plots with a product application rate of 1.0 gal/ac …

Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles For Bird Harassment On Fish Ponds, Ciera A. Rhoades, Peter J. Allen, D. Tommy King

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The effects of aquaculture decline on piscivorous birds in the Mississippi Delta concern catfish farmers, with possible increases in fish loss and disease transmission. Piscivorous birds quickly habituate to most current methods of harassment (loud noises and visual disturbances) leading to increased depredation and disease. Our study was designed to test the efficacy of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to effectively control piscivorous birds at fish farms. We hypothesized that a UAV would be more efficient at reducing the number of fish-eating birds on fish ponds than current forms of harassment. We conducted pre-treatment bird surveys, harassment observations, and post-treatment …

Kaput® Feral Hog Bait Containing 0.005% Warfarin: An Overview Of Its Usefulness Against Feral Hogs And Safety To Wildlife And Humans, Richard M. Poche', David M. Poche', Gregory A. Franckwoiak, Tyler Clark, Larisa Polyakova, Batchimeg Tseveenjav

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Warfarin has been approved for use in the United States as a rodenticide since 1948. The United States Environmental Protection approved Kaput^® Feral Hog Bait (0.005% warfarin) for use as a toxicant to control wild pigs in 2017. The level of warfarin is 80% less than in commercial rodenticide formulations. Since 1994 we have conducted wildlife safety studies examining the potential effects of warfarin on non-target mammals and birds. Over a 25-year period, non-target toxicity research was completed with European ferrets, pied magpies, mallard ducks, bobwhite quail, Norway rats, house mice, and American alligator to assess primary and secondary …

Vertebrate Community Response To Wild Pig Control In An Agroecosystem, D. J. Steakley, Adrienne Dykstra, Garrett Street, Bronson Strickland, Kurt Vercauteren, Michael Colvin, Marcus Lashley

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Biological invasions often have negative effects on native wildlife and in the case of feral swine, also can cause extensive agricultural damage. As a result, the rapidly increasing swine populations and associated damages have led to wide-spread control efforts focused in agricultural areas. In a previous study, via camera trapping, we determined feral swine reduced observed vertebrate species richness by 26% when they invaded remnant forest patches in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. To determine the effectiveness of removal efforts in recovering the lost vertebrate richness, in January 2018, we initiated a before-after control-impact designed experiment in 5 forest patches to …

The Prevalence Of Two Common Internal Parasites In White-Tailed Deer With And Without Significant Interaction With Domestic Sheep, Kathryn M. Metro, Mckenzie J. Weisser, Shelby N. Rorrer, Sunday O. Peters, George R. Gallagher

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of two internal parasites (strongylate nematodes and Nematodirus spp.) in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) sharing a home range with domestic sheep (Ovis aries), compared to deer likely having minimal contact with sheep. Fecal samples were collected from sheep (n=75), deer (n=99) within 300m of the sheep center, and deer (n=98) located 1.3km away from the livestock center, over a 7-week period during the summer. Sheep had the highest (p<.001) number of strongylate eggs (1,212.7 ± 2.8/g) compared to deer near the livestock facility (13.9 ± 0.3/g) or deer located away from the sheep center (18.3 ± 0.3/g). Eggs of Nematodirus spp. were greater (p<.001) in sheep (33.7 ± 0.5/g) compared to deer samples collected near the sheep center (5.1 ± 0.2/g) and deer away from the sheep facility (3.0 ± 0.1/g). Additionally, strongyle and Nematodirus spp. egg counts were different (p<0.001) in the fecal samples collected from deer residing closer to the sheep facility compared to those located farther away. Results of this study suggest the interactions of white-tailed deer and domestic sheep does not influence the prevalence of these internal parasites within the deer.

Comparison Of A 2-Layer Electric Fence And A Single Strand Electric Fence In Mitigating Browsing Of Impatiens By White-Tailed Deer, Shelby N. Rorrer, Mckenzie J. Weisser, Kathryn M. Metro, George R. Gallagher

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

The objective of this study was to evaluate two electric fence configurations in minimizing damage to impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Each of 3 sites consisted of 3 plots (3mx3m), containing 16, evenly spaced impatiens planted on the perimeter of each plot. Plots within each site had a control, single strand and 2-layered electric fence. Control plots had no fencing. Single strand plots had one electrified wire attached to posts at 40 cm height, surrounding the plot. Two-layered electric fence had energized wire attached to posts at 25 cm and 60 cm height, …

Reducing Prairie Dog Populations And Damage By Castration Of Dominant Males, Gary W. Witmer

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) occur widely across the prairie states of North America. They compete with livestock for forage, transmit plague, and damage lawns, landscaping, and property. Interest in non-lethal methods, such as immunocontraception, is growing; however, reductions in the population due to contraception may be offset by increases in survival because adults and yearlings are not subject to the energetic demands of reproduction, and lower densities may increase the amount of resources available to growing offspring. Surgical sterilization provides a means for modeling these effects. Thus, we castrated males prior to the 1998 breeding season to …

Wild Horses, Livestock, And Wildlife Use Of Springs And Riparian Areas On The Devil's Garden, Laura K. Snell, David F. Lile, Madeleine Levy, Roger A. Baldwin

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

In Modoc County, located in northeastern California there is a unique rangeland area heavily populated by wild horses and managed primarily by United States Forest Service known as the Devil's Garden. Wild horses have significantly exceeded (4000 horses) appropriate management levels (206-402 horses) in recent years and expanded their range outside of the wild horse territory (258,000 acres) and on to private and tribal lands (over 450,000 acres). This increase has prompted concern about resource degradation particularly associated with riparian areas. In otherwise arid sage steppe rangelands, springs provide critical watering sources as well as wildlife habitat for sage grouse, …

Developing Training Standards For Wildlife Control Operators, Raj Smith, Paul D. Curtis, Scott Hygnstrom

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Wildlife have always threatened peoples’ comfort, safety, crops, domestic animals, and other property. Historically, wildlife and predator control were largely regulated by fur trapping and hunting laws, especially if an individual was protecting his or her property. Current laws that regulate problem wildlife are rooted in environmental conservation law. Enforcement of these regulations and laws regarding the capture and disposition of wildlife are conducted by game wardens or environmental conservation officers, whose primary mission is to enforce hunting and trapping laws. Under the Public Trust Doctrine, stewardship of wildlife is a government responsibility. State wildlife agencies have insufficient staff, however, …

Native Wildlife Adjust Activity Patterns To Temporally Avoid Wild Pigs, Adrienne Dykstra, Dj Steakley, Garrett Street, Bronson Strickland, Kurt Vercauteren, Marcus Lashley

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Wildlife species have defined activity patterns that are important for conserving biological rhythms and altering these rhythms can cause physiological stress. Species often shift activity patterns to minimize predation risks or to temporally partition competition. Thus, when a new predator or competitor is introduced into a community, the activity patterns of the whole community could be affected, and this effect may increase the stress wild pigs cause to native wildlife. To test the hypothesis that wild pig activity patterns affect those of native wildlife, we monitored activity patterns of native wildlife and wild pigs before and after aerial gunning events …

Factors Influencing Common Raven Occurrence And Density Across Cold-Desert Sagebrush Ecosystems Of The Southwestern U.S., Shawn T. O'Neil, Peter S. Coates, Brianne E. Brussee, Pat J. Jackson, David J. Delehanty

Wildlife Damage Management Conference

Common ravens (Corvus corax) are a predator of eggs and chicks of numerous species including greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Raven abundance and distribution is increasing within sagebrush ecosystems as a result of anthropogenic resource subsidies. Despite concerns about subsequent predation pressure on sage-grouse, broad-scale spatial information about raven populations remains lacking. We used hierarchical occupancy and distance sampling models to map raven density and distribution in response to natural and anthropogenic landscape covariates using >15,000 point count surveys occurring within the Great Basin region since 2007. Anthropogenic factors contributing to greater raven occurrence included increased road …

The Water Entry Of A Sphere In A Jet, Nathan B. Spiers, Jesse Belden, Zhao Pan, Sean Holekamp, George Badlissi, Matthew Jones, Tadd T. Truscott

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

The forces on an object impacting the water are extreme in the early moments of water entry and can cause structural damage to biological and man-made bodies alike. These early-time forces arise primarily from added mass, peaking when the submergence is much less than one body length. We experimentally investigate a means of reducing impact forces on a rigid sphere by placing the sphere inside a jet of water so that the jet strikes the quiescent water surface prior to entry of the sphere into the pool. The water jet accelerates the pool liquid and forms a cavity into which …

The Effect Of Phylogenetic Uncertainty And Imputation On Edge Scores, K. Bodie Weedop, Arne Ø. Mooers, Caroline M. Tucker, William D. Pearse

Biology Faculty Publications

Faced with the challenge of saving as much diversity as possible given financial and time constraints, conservation biologists are increasingly prioritizing species on the basis of their overall contribution to evolutionary diversity. Metrics such as EDGE (Evolutionary Distinct and Globally Endangered) have been used to set such evolutionarily based conservation priorities for a number of taxa, such as mammals, birds, corals, amphibians, and sharks. Each application of EDGE has required some form of correction to account for species whose positions within the tree of life are unknown. Perhaps the most advanced of these corrections is phylogenetic imputation, but to date …