Digital Commons Network^™

Tree Size But Not Forest Basal Area Influences Ant Colony Response To Disturbance In A Neotropical Ant–Plant Association, Thomas S. Davis, Nathaniel E. Foote, Kevin C. Grady

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

Ant–acacia mutualisms are conspicuous biotic associations in Savannah and neotropical ecosystems; however, the effects of tree size and forest structure on ant behaviour and tree traits are rarely examined. We tested two hypotheses related to these effects: (1) ant responses to disturbance are influenced by tree size and forest basal area; and (2) tree traits important to ants are predictable by tree size and forest basal area. We investigated these hypotheses in a dry tropical forest (Ometepe Island, Nicaragua) with the myrmecophytic Collins acacia (Vachellia collinsii Saff.) and the ant Pseudomyrmex spinicola (Emery 1890). We measured trees from three …

Evaluation Of A Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay For Pseudorabies Virus Surveillance Purposes, Eraldo L. Zanella, Laura C. Miller, Kelly M. Lager, Troy T. Bigelow

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

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is the cause of Aujeszky’s disease, a disease that is significant economically for the swine industry worldwide. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay based on the gB and gE genes was used to identify PRV nucleic acid in diagnostic samples. Using virus isolation (VI) as the gold standard, the PCR assay performed well in a variety of diagnostic matrices. Testing was conducted on 1,027 nasal swabs with the following findings: gB sensitivity: 94.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 92.3–96.4%), specificity: 71.0% (95% CI: 64.0–77.3%); gE sensitivity: 94.6% (95% CI: 92.3–96.4%), specificity: 79.3% (95% CI: 72.9–84.7%). Diagnostic performance …

Fum And Bik Gene Expression Contribute To Describe Fumonisin And Bikaverin Synthesis In Fusarium Verticillioides, I. Lazzaro, M. Busman, P. Battilani, R. A. E. Butchko

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

Fusarium verticillioides is a maize pathogen that produces toxic secondary metabolites, including fumonisins and bikaverin. The regulation of biosynthetic gene expression and the production of these metabolites are not fully understood and in this study we investigated the influence of water activity (0.955 and 0.990) on the expression of 5 genes (FUM3–FUM8–FUM13–FUM14 and BIK1) in F. verticillioides strains after 14 and 21 days incubation. Fumonisin production and biosynthetic gene expression were greatest at a_w=0.990, and the same trend was observed for bikaverin production, and BIK1 expression. FUM3 and FUM14 were the most highly expressed genes and …

Identification Of Gene Clusters Associated With Fusaric Acid, Fusarin, And Perithecial Pigment Production In Fusarium Verticillioides, Daren W. Brown, Robert A. E. Butchko, Mark Busman, Robert H. Proctor

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

The genus Fusarium is of concern to agricultural production and food/feed safety because of its ability to cause crop disease and to produce mycotoxins. Understanding the genetic basis for production of mycotoxins and other secondary metabolites (SMs) has the potential to limit crop disease and mycotoxin contamination. In fungi, SM biosynthetic genes are typically located adjacent to one another in clusters of coexpressed genes. Such clusters typically include a core gene, responsible for synthesis of an initial chemical, and several genes responsible for chemical modifications, transport, and/or regulation. Fusarium verticillioides is one of the most common pathogens of maize and …

Trends In U.S. Farmland Values And Ownership, Cynthia Nickerson, Mitchell Morehart, Todd Kuethe, Jayson Beckman, Jennifer Ifft, Ryan Williams

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

Because farm real estate represents much of the value of U.S. farm sector assets, large swings in farmland values can affect the fi nancial well-being of agricultural producers. This report examines both macroeconomic (interest rates, prices of alternative investments) and parcel-specifi c (soil quality, government payments, proximity to urban areas) factors that affect farmland values. In the last few years, U.S. farmland values have been supported by strong farm earnings, which have helped the farm sector in many regions to withstand the residential housing downturn. Historically low interest rates are likely a signifi cant contributor to farming’s current ability to …

Modifying Crops To Increase Cell Wall Digestibility, Hans-Joachim G. Jung, Deborah A. Samac, Gautam Sarath

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

Improving digestibility of roughage cell walls will improve ruminant animal performance and reduce loss of nutrients to the environment. The main digestibility impediment for dicotyledonous plants is highly lignified secondary cell walls, notably in stem secondary xylem, which become almost non-digestible. Digestibility of grasses is slowed severely by lignification of most tissues, but these cell walls remain largely digestible. Cell wall lignification creates an access barrier to potentially digestible wall material by rumen bacteria if cells have not been physically ruptured. Traditional breeding has focused on increasing total dry matter digestibility rather than cell wall digestibility, which has resulted in …

Analysis Of Off-Grid Hybrid Wind Turbine/Solar Pv Water Pumping Systems, Brian D. Vick, Byron A. Neal

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

While many remote water pumping systems exist (e.g. mechanical windmills, solar photovoltaic, wind-electric, diesel powered), few combine both the wind and solar energy resources to possibly improve the reliability and the performance of the system. In this paper, off-grid wind turbine (WT) and solar photovoltaic (PV) array water pumping systems were analyzed individually and combined as a hybrid system. The objectives were to determine: (1) advantages or disadvantages of using a hybrid system over using a WT or a solar PV array alone; (2) if the WT or solar PV array interfered with the output of the other; and (3) …

Registration Of ‘Byrd’ Wheat, Scott D. Haley, Jerry J. Johnson, Frank B. Peairs, John A. Stromberger, Emily E. Hudson, Scott A. Seifert, Rebecca A. Kottke, Victoria A. Valdez, Jeff B. Rudolph, Guihua Bai, Xianming Chen, Robert L. Bowden, Yue Jin, James A. Kolmer, Ming-Shun Chen, Bradford W. Seabourn

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

’Byrd’ (Reg. No. CV-1073, PI 664257) hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was developed by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station and released in August 2011 through a marketing agreement with the Colorado Wheat Research Foundation. In addition to researchers at Colorado State University (CSU), USDA-ARS researchers at Manhattan, KS, St. Paul, MN and Pullman, WA participated in its development. Byrd was selected from the cross ‘TAM 112’/CO970547- 7 made in 2002 at Fort Collins, CO. TAM 112 (PI 643143) is a hard red winter wheat cultivar released by Texas A&M University in 2005. CO970547-7 is an experimental line …

Nuisance Flies On Australian Cattle Feedlots: Immature Populations, Jerome Hogsette, R. Urech, P.E. Green, A. Skerman, M.M. Elson-Harris, R.L. Bright, G.W. Brown

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

Species composition, seasonality and distribution of immature fly populations on a southern Queensland feedlot during 2001–2003 were determined. Similar data were collected on feedlots in central New South Wales and central Queensland. The fly species recovered in the highest numbers were Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), Stomoxys calcitrans L. (Diptera: Muscidae) and Physiphora clausa Macquart (Diptera: Ulidiidae). Houseflies were the dominant species at all feedlots. Houseflies preferred the warmer months from October to June, but stable flies preferred the cooler months and peaked in spring (September–November) and autumn (March–May). Larval abundance ratings recorded in the feedlot and numbers of larvae …

The Octopus Wrestler, J. S. Khan

Yalobusha Review

No abstract provided.

Interview With Lynn Emanuel, Lynn Emanuel, Susan Muensterman, Travis Smith

Yalobusha Review

No abstract provided.

Volume 17 (2012): Complete Issue, Journal Editors

Yalobusha Review

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Animal Service Officers' Views On Their Readiness To Recognize And Report Domestic Violence, Abigail M. Malick

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past few decades there has been research dedicated to understanding the roles that animals play within violent households. The American Humane Association (2010) has developed what they termed The Link. This concept examines how forms of violence, including domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse, and animal abuse, are often intertwined. This qualitative study was facilitated using focus groups and interviews of animal service officers in Orange County, Florida to evaluate the relationship and training provided from a local domestic violence shelter. There were a total of 22 Orange County Animal Services employees who participated in four different focus …

Age As A Factor In Inter-Tissue Spacing Of Stable Carbon Isotope Values In Juvenile Human Remains From The Dakhleh Oasis, Egypt, Annie Laurie Norris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although stable isotope analysis is routinely utilized in bioarchaeology and relies on principles that are well-understood, there are still fundamental issues that have not been thoroughly investigated. This thesis examines the relationship between inter-tissue spacing of carbon stable isotope values (δ13C) and age in juvenile human remains. Analyses of tissues within the same individual reveal disparate isotopic values for a variety of physiological and biological reasons discussed herein. This project examines the distance between the δ13C values in bone collagen, skin, hair, and nail, and examines how these distances vary between different age groups, utilizing data collected from 52 well-preserved …

Biochemical Studies Of Abce1, Lynn Sims

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The growth and survival of all cells require functional ribosomes that are capable of protein synthesis. The disruption of the steps required for the function of ribosomes represents a potential future target for pharmacological anti-cancer therapy. ABCE1 is an essential Fe-S protein involved in ribosomal function and is vital for protein synthesis and cell survival. Thus, ABCE1 is potentially a great therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Previously, cell biological, genetic, and structural studies uncovered the general importance of ABCE1, although the exact function of the Fe-S clusters was previously unclear, only a simple structural role was suggested. Additionally, due to …

Contributor Biographies

Sound Scripts

No abstract provided.

Working The Companion Animal In The Context Of New Interpersonal Relationships, Steven Remic

School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations

Companion animals are found in the majority of western households. In surveys it has been found that companion animals are often viewed as family members. There is debate in psychological literature on what people mean when they describe companion animals in familial terms, with three theoretical frameworks posited to help explain the pets-as-family phenomena. Attachment theorists suggest that pets meet all four criteria for psychological attachment. Other researchers have suggested that companion animals are positioned within family systems, and are part of the dynamic interplay between human family members. Evolutionary psychologists have suggested that companion animals take advantage of in-built …

Pet Loss And The Elderly, Daphne D’Gama

School of Psychology and Social Science Presentations

Companion animals are known to provide numerous psychosocial benefits to their owners. It is due to these prominent and positive contributions that individuals develop a deep attachment with their pet. Consequently pet owners experience intense grief reactions following the death of a cherished pet. While numerous studies have focused on the experiences for children and young adults, the experience of pet loss for the elderly remains relatively unexplored. An in-depth qualitative research design guided by a phenomenological framework was used to explore the experiences surrounding pet loss for the elderly. Data was collected though one-on-one semi-structured interviews with thirteen participants …

Capturing The Cape: A Photographic Case Study Of The Cape Range Bioregion Of Northwest Australia, David J. Bradley

ECU Research Week

No abstract provided.

Conceptualising Rehabilitation Goals And Making Them Smarter, Deborah Hersh

ECU Research Week

No abstract provided.

Calling For Justice In The Goldfields Of Tanzania, Madoshi H. Makene, Jody Emel, James T. Murphy

Geography

Tanzania is the third largest gold exporter in Africa, thanks in part to the liberalization of the mining sector which started in the early 1990s. Neoliberal mining reforms promised a win-win situation in which government, investors and local host communities would benefit through export earnings, profits, local employment, andcorporate social responsibility initiatives (e.g., the building of schools and clinics). While the rising price of gold and foreign investments in mining activities have delivered on some of these promises, many residents in mining regions have not benefited socioeconomically. Worse still, their communities have unjustly borne the brunt of the environmental, social, …

The Effects Of Host Nutritional Status And Dietary Factors On The Treatment Efficacy Of Albendazole In School-Age Children Infected With Hookworm In The Kintampo North District Of Ghana, Sara Ann Nguyen

Public Health Theses

Background: In endemic settings unable to support economic growth, inexpensive anthelminthics, such as albendazole, are the cornerstone for hookworm infection treatment and control. However, the overall efficacy of albendazole against hookworm may be reduced after periodic chemotherapy. (Hotez et al., 2004) In addition, there are few studies exploring the role of nutritional status as a potential host factor influencing drug response and the constituents of diet has often been overlooked when determining anthelminthic efficacy, despite previous accounts of nutrient content of a meal or consumed food item affecting drug metabolism. Evaluating nutritional status as a potential host factor may partly …

Characterization Of Bis-(3', 5')-Cyclic Dimeric Adenosine Monophosphate As A Mucosal Adjuvant And Its Relevance In A Model Of Hookworm Pathogenesis, Shawn Terryah

Public Health Theses

Most pathogens invade their human host or establish infection at mucosal surfaces. In contrast to parenteral vaccines, mucosal immunization has the potential to induce a robust immune response at mucosal surfaces capable of blocking the entry and establishment of many pathogens. Despite these advantages, very few mucosal vaccines are licensed for human use, largely because antigens administered by the mucosal route are either poorly or non-immunogenic. A strategy to overcome this problem is co-administering vaccine antigens with a mucosal adjuvant. Recently, bis-(3',5')-cyclic dimeric adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) was identified as a potential mucosal adjuvant. To evaluate c-di-AMP as a mucosal adjuvant …

Obesity As A Risk Factor For Hospital Acquired Infections In Pediatric Trauma Patients: A Pilot Study, Elyor Vidal

Public Health Theses

Context

The prevalence of obesity among young Americans in the 6 to 19 year old category has tripled since the 1960's. Today, 50% of individuals in this age group are either overweight or obese (Kimm, 2002). Studies have shown that increased percentage of body fat weakens the body's immune system (Falagas, 2009). Moreover, trauma can be an immuno-compromising condition. A study by Brown et al. in 2006 showed that obese pediatric trauma patients had more sepsis (15% vs 4%, P = .007) and wound infection (26% vs. 8%, p = .03), along with other clinical complications.

Objective

This project serves …

Governance Implications Of Global Infectious Disease Epidemics Under Shared Health Governance Scheme. Lessons From Sars, Ruosi Wang

Public Health Theses

The world is becoming flat. With the progress of globalization and world integration, the past century has witnessed a growing number of emerging and reemerging diseases. It has become a common concern the world will face a deadly infectious disease pandemic and the international community needs to set up a functional system to face up the challenge. Over the past decade, outbreaks of SARS, H5N1 and H1N1 pandemic have raised concern among public health officials and the public in general on the need of global and local pandemic control. Infectious agents have been able to take advantage of the dramatic …

Cigarette Smoking And Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk In Xiamen, China, Dongni Ye

Public Health Theses

Recent epidemiologic studies suggest that cigarette smoking may increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet inconsistent dose-response relationships still exist with this association. We examined whether cigarette smoking was associated with HCC risk and explored their dose-response relationship in a case-control study including 590 incident HCC cases and 784 hospital controls in Xiamen, China. Comparisons of HCC cases with hospital controls were conducted for each of the four measures of exposure levels of cigarette smoking - age started smoking, years smoked, cigarettes per day, pack-years in lifetime. After adjustment for demographic factors (sex, age, education, and income level) and …

Intrauterine Exposure To Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) And Childhood Asthma: Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Hanae Fujii-Rios

Public Health Theses

Background: Past studies have reported conflicting results regarding the association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risk of developing childhood asthma.

Objectives: To perform an updated review on past studies investigating the association between prenatal acetaminophen use and the risk of developing asthma within the first ten years of life.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted using PubMed search (1950-December 1, 2011) to identify studies that investigated the association between intrauterine exposure to acetaminophen and childhood asthma. Inclusion criteria consisted of a study design restricted to prospective cohort studies, primary exposure of acetaminophen intake during pregnancy, and …

A Pilot Project To Assess The Effect Of Tobacco Smoking On Multiple Sclerosis Susceptibility And Severity, Milena Anne Gianfrancesco

Public Health Theses

The field of multiple sclerosis (MS) is in need of a consistent method of measuring smoking to examine its role in disease risk and severity. A pilot study was conducted to examine the association between smoking and disease risk in MS cases (n=26) and controls (n=26). Disease severity within MS patients was assessed through clinical and radiological outcomes. These measures were confirmed within a larger dataset of MS patients (n=512) that additionally contained genotyping information. There were no significant differences in disease risk or severity in the pilot study. Within the larger dataset, clinical score trended toward significance (p=0.13). Stratification …

Handicraft Revolution: Ukrainian Avant-Garde Embroidery And Meaning Of History, Alla Myzelev

Art History

No abstract provided.

Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography As A Noninvasive Method To Assess Damaged And Regenerating Adult Zebrafish Retinas., Travis J. Bailey, Darin H. Davis, Joseph E. Vance, David R. Hyde

Biology

These experiments assessed the ability of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) to accurately represent the structural organization of the adult zebrafish retina and reveal the dynamic morphologic changes during either light-induced damage and regeneration of photoreceptors or ouabain-induced inner retinal damage. Retinas of control dark-adapted adult albino zebrafish were compared with retinas subjected to 24 hours of constant intense light and recovered for up to 8 weeks or ouabain-damaged retinas that recovered for up to 3 weeks. Images were captured and the measurements of retinal morphology were made by SD-OCT, and then compared with those obtained by histology of the …