Digital Commons Network^™

Experimental Infection Of Fox Squirrels (Sciurus Niger) With West Nile Virus, J. Jeffrey Root, Paul T. Oesterle, Nicole M. Nemeth, Kaci Klenk, Daniel H. Gould, Robert G. Mclean, Larry Clark, Jeffrey S. Hall

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Tree squirrels (Sciurus spp.) have exhibited high seroprevalence rates, suggesting that they are commonly exposed to West Nile virus (WNV). Many characteristics of WNV infections in tree squirrels, such as the durations and levels of viremia, remain unknown. To better understand WNV infections in fox squirrels (S. niger), we subcutaneously inoculated fourteen fox squirrels with WNV. Peak viremias ranged from 10^4.00 plaque-forming units (PFU)/mL of serum on day 2 post-infection (DPI) to 10^4.98 PFU/mL on 3 DPI, although viremias varied between individuals. Oral secretions of some fox squirrels were positive for WNV viral RNA, occasionally …

Determination Of Diphacinone Residues In Hawaiian Invertebrates, Thomas M. Primus, Dennis J. Kohler, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

A reversed-phase ion-pair liquid chromatogaphic analysis combined with a solid-phase extraction clean-up method is used to assess the quantity of diphacinone residue found in invertebrates. Three invertebrate species are exposed to commercially available diphacinone-fortified bait used for rat control. The invertebrate samples are collected, frozen, and shipped to the laboratory. The samples are homogenized after cryogenic freezing. A portion of the homogenized samples are extracted with acidified chloroform-acetone, followed by cleanup with a silica solid-phase extraction column. Diphacinone is detected by UV absorption at 325 nm after separation by the chromatographic system. The method limit of detection (MLOD) for snail …

Modeling Blackbird Abundance In The Prairie Pothole Region Using A Hierarchical Spatial Model, Greg M. Forcey, George M. Linz, Wayne E. Thogmartin, William J. Bleier

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Blackbirds are ubiquitous members of the avian fauna in the Prairie Pothole Region. However, their abundance combined with their food habits make blackbirds significant agricultural pests on sunflower. Cost estimates for blackbird damage to sunflower in the northern Great Plains range from 4-11 million U.S. dollars per year. Because of their economic impact on agriculture, it is imperative to understand the environmental factors that influence blackbird abundance patterns. This study attempts to quantify the effects of landscape-level land use and climate patterns on blackbird abundance in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States.

An Applied Study Of Putnam's Social Capital Theory In Pontotoc County, Mississippi / By Kanin L. Reese, Kanin L. Reese

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Electronic Cooling Of Power Amplifier Array Using Nanofluid Or Zigzag Fins, Kapil Gupta

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

And They Wonder Why Things Burn, Anna Baker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Deletion Analysis Of Fum Genes Involved In Tricarballylic Ester Formation During Fumonisin Biosynthesis, Robert A. E. Butchko, Ronald D. Plattner, Robert H. Proctor

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

Fumonisins are carcinogenic mycotoxins produced by the maize ear rot pathogen Gibberella moniliformis (anamorph Fusarium verticillioides). These toxins consist of a linear polyketide-derived backbone substituted at various positions with an amine, one to four hydroxyl, two methyl, and two tricarballylic ester functions. In this study, we generated and characterized deletion mutants of G. moniliformis for five genes, FUM7, FUM10, FUM11, FUM14, and FUM16 in the fumonisin biosynthetic gene cluster. Functional analysis of mutants in four genes, predicted to encode unrelated proteins, affected formation of the tricarballylic esters. FUM7 deletion mutants produced a previously undescribed homologue of fumonisin B …

Fusarium Genomic Resources: Tools To Limit Crop Diseases And Mycotoxin Contamination, Daren W. Brown, Robert A. E. Butchko, Robert H. Proctor

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

It has been almost 10 years since Joan Bennett suggested that fungal biologists create a ‘‘wish list’’ for fungal genome sequences (Bennett JW. White paper: Genomics for filamentous fungi. Fungal Genet Biol 1997; 21: 3–7). The availability of over 200 review papers concerning fungal genomics is a reflection of significant progress with a diversity of fungal species. Although much progress has been made, the use of genomic data to study mycotoxin synthesis and function, pathogenesis and other aspects of fungal biology is in its infancy. Here, we briefly present the status of publicly available genomic resources for Fusarium, a …

Registration Of ‘Goldmine’ Big Bluestem, Kenneth P. Vogel, R B. Mitchell, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Bruce E. Anderson

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

‘Goldmine’ big bluestem [Andropogon gerardii Vitman.] (Reg. no. CV-14, PI 641702) was released in May 2004 by the USDA-ARS and the Agricultural ResearchDivision, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska. Goldmine is a perennial warm-season grass cultivar that produces forage with moderately improved in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), protein concentration, and improved forage yields in some hay management systems. Animal gains from Goldmine were greater than its parent cultivar when utilized by beef cattle in well-managed grazing systems. Goldmine was tested as Kaw C3.

The Effects Of Exercise On Soluble Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Related Protein In The Blood Of Athletes And Non-Athletes, Matthew John Nielsen

All NMU Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Distribution Of The Deer Tick (Ixodes Scapularis) In A Corridor Between Marquette And Menominee In The Upper Peninsula Of Michigan, Kimberly Jaclynn Miedema

All NMU Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Involvement Of Hemoproteins From Black Locust Roots In Phytoremediation, Kenneth J. Zanon

All NMU Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Mechanisms Of The Persistence Of Antibiotic Resistant Enteric Bacteria In Freshwater Wetland Environments, Andrekeus Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Sound Monitoring With Wireless Sensor Networks, Alex V. Jaramillo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Feeding Behavior Of Japanese Medaka As A Measure Of Neurological Activity For Marine Natural Products, Amanda J. Feldhaus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Begging For Justice? Or, Adaptive Jurisprudence? Initial Reflections On Mandatory Adr To Enforce Women's Rights In Rwanda, Phyllis E. Bernard

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Article presents the author's personal reflections on the promise and perils involved in blending rules of modern law with traditional values of African culture. The project began from a basic premise that both Americans and Rwandans should proceed with caution when expanding the privatization of public justice. Nevertheless, an outside observer's caution must be balanced with respect for a nation's right to self-determination, even when those choices may clash with generally accepted ADR theory as developed in the United States. This Article suggests that we can all learn much from Rwanda's bold, pragmatic experiment in redefining the essential nature …

Language, Morals, And Conceptual Frameworks In Dispute Resolution: Establishing, Employing, And Managing The Logos, Michael T. Wawrzycki

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

Any lawyer knows that words and language are important. A single word can derail a painstakingly written contract; the characterization of a would-be killer as a victim framed by racist police officers, rather than a jealous husband, can change the outcome of a case. Yet like many maxims, this important lesson is often forgotten when one is not confronted with the direct principles of words and language. Moreover, even most lawyers do not fully understand how to appropriately utilize the language tools that can change outcomes: myopically focusing on specific issues or characterizations rather than the overall conceptual frames.

Developments And Hurdles In Generating Vaccines For Controlling Helminth Parasites Of Grazing Ruminants, W.D. Smith, D.S. Zarlenga

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

As a direct consequence of rising drug resistance among common nematodes of grazing animals, efforts toward state-of-the- art vaccine development have clearly intensified in recent years, fuelled primarily by the advent of newer technologies in gene discovery, by advancements in antigen identification, characterisation and production. In this regard, it is appropriate to review progress that has been made in generating helminth vaccines and in particular, vaccines against common nematodes of production animals for consumption. In like manner, it is prudent to evaluate barriers that have hindered progress in the past and continue to present obstacles that must be solved when …

Effect Of Fenbendazole On Turkey Semen Quality, M. R. Bakst, M. Kramer, J. Long

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

Fenbendazole (FBZ) is an anthelmintic recently approved to treat and control nematode infections in growing turkeys. When administered to growing turkeys there are no detrimental side effects. However, when we used FBZ to treat nematodes in mature breeder toms, we observed a decrease in semen quality and a subsequent precipitous decline in fertility to less than 20% within 6 wk of administration. An experiment was designed to determine the impact of FBZ administration on aspects of spermatogenesis and semen quality. We discovered that although sperm viability and concentration was not significantly affected by FBZ, this drug significantly reduced sperm mobility. …

Spermatogenesis In The Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo): Quantitative Approach In Immature And Adult Males Subjected To Various Photoperiods, Jérôme Noirault, Jean-Pierre Brillard

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

The objectives of this study were to identify and quantitate the germ cell populations of the testes in sexually mature male turkeys (Trial 1), determine the duration of meiosis based on BrdU labeling and stereological analyses (Trial 2), and examine the impact of various photoperiods on germinal and somatic cell populations in immature and adult males (Trial 3). In Trial 1, both testes within a male had similar stereological components (P > 0.05) for all parameters analyzed. In Trial 2, the duration of Type-1 spermatocytes and round spermatids in turkeys lasted 4.5 ± 0.5 and 2.0 ± 0.5 days, respectively. In …

Separation And Identification Of Soybean Leaf Proteins By Two-Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis And Mass Spectrometry, Chenping Xu, Wesley M. Garrett, Joseph Sullivan, Thomas J. Caperna, Savithiry Natarajan

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

To establish a proteomic reference map for soybean leaves, we separated and identified leaf proteins using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and mass spectrometry (MS). Tryptic digests of 260 spots were subjected to peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) MS. Fifty-three of these protein spots were identified by searching NCBInr and SwissProt databases using the Mascot search engine. Sixty-seven spots that were not identified by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis were analyzed with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and 66 of these spots were identified by searching against the NCBInr, SwissProt and expressed sequence tag (EST) databases. …

The Best Dna Markers Pennies Can Buy A Specialized Set Of Cattle Markers For Improving Food Safety And Beef Quality, Michael P. Heaton

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

Researchers at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) in Clay Center, Nebraska are developing a set of 100 DNA markers that will provide essential genetic information for improving food safety and beef quality in North American beef and dairy cattle. This powerful set of markers has been thoroughly screened to accomplish both DNA fingerprinting and parentage testing in essentially all U.S. beef and dairy populations, an ability that only a small fraction of known DNA markers have.

One key to success has been the careful sampling of U.S. beef and dairy populations to create a test panel representing the …

Impact Of Trap Design, Windbreaks, And Weather On Captures Of European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) In Pheromone-Baited Traps, Thomas W. Sappington, Brendon J. Reardon, Douglas V. Sumerford

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

Pheromone-baited traps are often used in ecological studies of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). However, differences in trap captures may be confounded by trap design, trap location relative to a windbreak, and changes in local weather. The objectives of this experiment were, first, to examine differences in O. nubilalis adult (moth) captures among the Intercept wing trap, the Intercept bucket/funnel UNI trap, and the Hartstack wire-mesh, 75-cm-diameter cone trap (large metal cone trap) as well as among three cone trap designs. Second, we examined the influence of the location of the large metal cone trap relative …

Usmarc Beef Carcass Instrument Grading Systems, Tommy Wheeler, Steven Shackelford, Mohammad Koohmaraie

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

Evaluation of Beef Carcass Grades with Image Analysis

Beef Tenderness

Post-Weaning Performance Of Steers From Varying Calving And Weaning Strategies In Montana, E. E. Grings, W. A. Phillips, R. E. Short, H. Mayeux, R. K. Heitschmidt

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

The impact of varied calving and weaning times on post-weaning production of steer calves was evaluated in a 3- yr study. Steers (approximately 12 steers per calving-weaning treatment per year) born in late winter or early spring were weaned at 190 or 240 d of age, and steers born in late spring were weaned at 140 or 190 d of age after grazing with their dams on native range. Steers were pen-fed a growing diet until approximately 375 kg BW. They were then moved to an individual feeding facility and fed a higher-energy diet. Steers were allotted to harvest dates …

Host Specificity Of Divergent Populations Of The Leaf Beetle Diorhabda Elongata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), A Biological Control Agent Of Saltcedar (Tamarix Spp.), Lindsey R. Milbrath, C. Clark Deloach

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

The leaf beetle, Diorhabda elongata (Brullé) sensu lato, was released in 2001 for the classical biological control of exotic saltcedars, a complex of invasive Tamarix species and hybrids. It did not establish at sites south of 37°N latitude where summer daylengths are below the critical photoperiod of the northern-adapted populations of the beetle that were released. Therefore, we assessed the host specificity of four D. elongata populations collected from more southern latitudes in the Old World (Tunisia, Crete, Uzbekistan, and Turpan, China). All populations were similar to each other and the previously released populations of D. elongata in their …

Investigating The Effectiveness Of Redundant Text And Animation In Multimedia Learning Environments, Shiau-Lung Chu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In multimedia learning environments, research suggests that simultaneous presentation of redundant text (i.e. identical narration and on-screen text) may inhibit learning when presented with animation at the same time. However, related studies are limited to testing with cause-and-effects content information (e.g., Moreno & Mayer, 1999, 2002). This study examined the effects of redundant text on learners' memory achievement and problem solving ability. The study replicated and extended prior research by using descriptive, rather than cause-and-effect content information. The primary research questions were (a) does redundant text improve learning performance if learners are presented with instructional material that addresses subject matter …

A Comparison Of Mentored And Non-Mentored Novice Elementary Principals In Respect To Job Satisfaction, Colleen Skinner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if mentoring programs had an impact on job satisfaction for beginning elementary principals in the state of Florida. It also examined if the following factors impacted job satisfaction: (a) length of the mentoring program, (b) frequency of meetings, (c) selection process for the mentor, (d) the position of the mentor, or (e) age and gender of the beginning principal. The population for the study consisted of 108 elementary principals with more than six months and less than fours years of experience in the state of Florida. Twenty-four districts participated in the study, …

The Effect Of Cognitive Styles Upon The Completion Of A Visually-Oriented Component Of Online Instruction, Jia-Ling Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to examine whether a person's prepositioned cognitive style influenced learning achievement in a visually-oriented task for an online learning environment in higher education. Field dependence-independence was used to identify individuals' cognitive styles. A true experimental study was conducted in the fall 2005 term at the University of Central Florida. This researcher followed Dwyer and Moore's research (1991, 2002) and divided learners into three groups (field dependent [FD], field neutral [FN], and the field independent [FI] students). Eighty-three preservice teachers participated in this study; the data from 52 of the FD and the FI participants were analyzed …

Teacher Retention In Brevard County, Florida K-12 Schools, Kenneth Winn

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This descriptive study was designed to determine the extent to which selected self-reported practical and professional factors of teaching influenced teacher job satisfaction and retention within the K-12 public education system. The population of the study was 1321 certified teachers from a large Central Florida school district. The researcher developed the survey instrument based on the constructs of teaching known for motivating teachers to remain within the public school setting (Brunetti, 2001; Farkas, Johnson, & Folena, 2005). The researcher's survey was based on the studies of Perie (1997), Brunetti (2001), and Gary (2002). The researcher personally distributed 1321 surveys, respondent …