Life Sciences Commons^™

Estimates Of Genetic Parameters And Genetic Change For Reproduction, Weight, And Wool Characteristics Of Columbia Sheep, Kathryn J. Hanford, L. Dale Van Vleck, G. D. Snowder

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Genetic parameters from both single-trait and bivariate analyses for prolificacy, weight and wool traits were estimated using REML with animal models for Columbia sheep from data collected from 1950 to 1998 at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station (USSES), Dubois, ID. Breeding values from both single-trait and seven-trait analyses calculated using the parameters estimated from the single-trait and bivariate analyses were compared with respect to genetic trends. Number of observations were 31,401 for litter size at birth and litter size at weaning, 24,741 for birth weight, 23,903 for weaning weight, 29,572 for fleece weight and fleece grade, and 2,449 for staple …

Genetic Parameters For Weight, Weight Adjusted For Body Condition Score, Height, And Body Condition Score In Beef Cows, Jesus Arango, Larry V. Cundiff, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Weight (CW, n = 61,798), weight adjusted for condition score (WA), hip height (CH, n = 56,494), and condition score (CS, n = 61,434) of cows (2 through 8 yr of age) produced by crosses of 22 sire breeds with Angus and Hereford dams in the first four cycles of the Germplasm Evaluation (GPE) Program at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center were used to estimate genetic parameters with REML. The model included sire breed, dam breed, age in years, season of measurement (1 to 4) and their interactions, and year of birth and pregnancy-lactation code (PL) as fixed effects …

Estimates Of Parameters Between Direct And Maternal Genetic Effects For Weaning Weight And Direct Genetic Effects For Carcass Traits In Crossbred Cattle, R. K. Splan, Larry V. Cundiff, M. E. Dikeman, L. Dale Van Vleck

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations were obtained for weaning weight records of 23,681 crossbred steers and heifers and carcass records from 4,094 crossbred steers using animal models. Carcass traits included hot carcass weight; retail product percentage; fat percentage; bone percentage; ribeye area; adjusted fat thickness; marbling score, Warner- Bratzler shear force and kidney, pelvic and heart fat percentage. Weaning weight was modeled with fixed effects of age of dam, sex, breed combination, and birth year, with calendar birth day as a covariate and random direct and maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects. The models for carcass traits included …

What Makes An Animal Choose A Forage, Elizabeth A. Burritt, Frederick D. Provenza

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Consider the following scenarios: To cut the costs of ranching a researcher explores feeding cattle ammoniated straw in winter. Some of the cows maintain themselves on the diet while others lose weight, produce less milk and fail to conceive. A producer in Missouri plants a pasture rich in legumes and high in crude protein, yet his cattle prefer moldy hay and endophyte infected tall fescue to the legumes. Why do animals behave this way? Animals are thought to prefer foods that are palatable but what is palatability? We define palatability as the interrelationship between a food's flavor and postingestive feedback …

Characteristic Genome Rearrangements In Experimental Evolution Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Maitreya J. Dunham, Hassan Badrane, Tracy Ferea, Julian Adams, Patrick O. Brown, Frank Rosenzweig, David Botstein

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Genome rearrangements, especially amplifications and deletions, have regularly been observed as responses to sustained application of the same strong selective pressure in microbial populations growing in continuous culture. We studied eight strains of budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) isolated after 100-500 generations of growth in glucose-limited chemostats. Changes in DNA copy number were assessed at single-gene resolution by using DNA microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization. Six of these evolved strains were aneuploid as the result of gross chromosomal rearrangements. Most of the aneuploid regions were the result of translocations, including three instances of a shared breakpoint on chromosome 14 immediately adjacent to …

The Insulation Of Genes From External Enhancers And Silencing Chromatin, Bonnie Burgess-Beusse, Catherine Farrell, Miklos Gaszner, Michael Litt, Vesco Mutskov, Felix Recillas - Targa, Melanie Simpson, Adam West, Gary Felsenfeld

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Insulators are DNA sequence elements that can serve in some cases as barriers to protect a gene against the encroachment of adjacent inactive condensed chromatin. Some insulators also can act as blocking elements to protect against the activating influence of distal enhancers associated with other genes. Although most of the insulators identified so far derive from Drosophila, they also are found in vertebrates. An insulator at the 5′ end of the chicken β -globin locus marks a boundary between an open chromatin domain and a region of constitutively condensed chromatin. Detailed analysis of this element shows that it possesses …

Defining A New Ethical Standard For Human In Vitro Embryos In The Context Of Stem Cell Research, Sina A. Muscati

Duke Law & Technology Review

This iBrief discusses some of the social, ethical and legal considerations surrounding the use of unimplanted, in vitro embryos in stem cell research. It proposes that a new ethical standard be elucidated for these embryos. The iBrief gives an overview of two proposals for such a standard at opposite ends of the spectrum: treating the in vitro embryo as a legal person versus treating it as mere property. It argues against both approaches. The former can have undesirable social implications including undue interference with female reproductive autonomy, while the latter would objectify potential human life and reproductive potential. The iBrief …

Selection For Maternal Behavior In Mice—Direct And Correlated Responses, Chung-Feng Chiang, Rodger K. Johnson, Merlyn K. Nielsen

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Three generations of divergent selection for a maternal care index (MCI) in mice were practiced in each of three replicates. MCI was recorded for 29–32 dams and litters in each replicate/line subclass. Pups of the top (or bottom) 6– 10 dams in each replicate, depending on number of females in the litters, were selected in high (H) and low (L) MCI lines. At birth, litters with more than 10 pups were standardized to 10 pups whereas litters with no more than 10 pups remained intact. On day 4, 8, 12, and 16 of lactation, time budgets during a 30-min session …

Bolboceras Kirby, 1819 (July) (Insecta, Coleoptera): Proposed Precedence Over Odonteus Samouelle, 1819 (June), Mary Liz Jameson, H. F. Howden

University of Nebraska State Museum: Entomology Papers

The purpose of this application, under Articles 23.9.3 and 8 1.2.3 of the Code, is to conserve the generic name Bolboceras Kirby, 1819 for a group of scarab beetles (family GEOTRUPIDAE) by giving it conditional precedence over the older name Odonteus Samouelle, 18 19 whenever they are considered to be synonyms. The name Bolboceras is threatened by a single usage by Krelljn 1990 of the otherwise unused name Odonteus.

Influence Of Moderate Training On Gait And Work Capacity In Fibromyalgia Patients: A Preliminary Field Study, Peter Tiidus, Michael Pierrynowski, Kimberley A. Dawson

Kinesiology and Physical Education Faculty Publications

This field study examined the influence of moderate intensity training on gait patterns and work capacity of individauls with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS). FS is a chronic condition of unknown etiology, characterized by muscle tenderness, pain and stiffness and often accompanied by depression and fatigue which seems to occur primarily in middle aged females. There is no known cure for FS but treatment often includes a prescription of mild exercise. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of mild exercise on work capacity and gait patterns in FS patients. Participants were 14 females (age 47.0±7.6 y) who participated in a 10 wk …

Using Gis For Forest Recreation Planning On The Longleaf Ridge Special Area Of The Angelina National Forest, East Texas, I-Kuai Hung

Faculty Publications

Longleaf Ridge Special Area (LRSA) located in the Angelina National Forest is the westernmost example of a longleaf pine savanna community. Ecologically, the area is one of the most diverse communities in Texas. Due to its size, abundant natural and historical resources, numerous outdoor recreation opportunities exist. In this study, GIS was used to develop a forest recreation concept plan on LRSA. Most of the geospatial data came from public entities. Information for demand analysis on forest recreation was obtained from the 2000 National Survey on Recreation and the Environment database. U.S. Forest Service recreation fee envelope data were analyzed …

Center For Grassland Studies Center, Winter 2002, Volume 8, No. 1

Center for Grassland Studies: Newsletters

Study Shows Importance of Biodiversity to Grasslands

Managing Prairies for Biodiversity by Chris Helzer, The Nature Conservancy

2002-2003 Nebraska Ranch Practicum

2002 Nebraska Range Shortcourse by Lowell Moser, Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL

Maine Ag Trader, New England Environmental Finance Center, University Of Southern Maine

Local Food Systems

A free classified advertising website for listing anything you need to make your Maine food business succeed.

Hexapod Herald - Vol. 14, No. 6, December 2002

Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters

Calendar of events

Congratulations

Welcome

Farewell

Faculty news

Graduate student news

From the office

Museum news

Grants

Publications

Travel

Condolences

This 'n that

Shellfish And Water Quality Monitoring Activities That Support The New Hampshire Estuaries Project, Stephen H. Jones, Richard Langan

PREP Reports & Publications

No abstract provided.

Fisheries Research Report No. 142 - Identifying The Development Stages Of Preserved Eggs Of Snapper, Pagrus Auratus, From Shark Bay, Western Australia, J. Norriss, Gary Jackson

Fisheries Research Reports

The characteristics used to identify 19 developmental stages of preserved eggs of snapper, Pagrus auratus, collected from Shark Bay, Western Australia, during annual plankton surveys, are described and illustrated. A key is provided to enable the age of each egg stage to be estimated based on sea surface temperature and salinity observed during sampling. This report is intended as a reference for inexperienced staff, to ensure that between-year comparisons of snapper spawning biomass, estimated using the daily egg production method, are based on consistent egg staging and ageing methods.

Fisheries Research Report No. 143 - Methods Used In The Collection, Preparation And Interpretation Of Narrow-Barred Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorus Commerson) Otoliths For A Study Of Age And Growth In Western Australia, Paul Lewis, M. C. Mackie

Fisheries Research Reports

The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) is wide ranging throughout the Indo-West Pacific region where it has been the subject of various age and growth studies. Methods used in these studies have varied considerably and in some cases may have led to misleading conclusions. The purpose of this report, therefore, is to document in detail the methods used in determining the age and growth during a FRDC funded stock assessment of the species in the waters off Western Australia. These methods are considered to optimise the collection, processing, accuracy of microincrement counts, and interpretation of the annuli in both whole …

Web Service Technologies And Their Synergy With Simulation, Senthilanand Chandrasekaran, Gregory S. Silver, John A. Miller, Jorge Cardoso, Amit P. Sheth

Kno.e.sis Publications

The World Wide Web has had a huge influence on the computing field in general as well as simulation in particular (e.g., Web-Based Simulation). A new wave of development based upon XML has started. Two of the most interesting aspects of this development are the Semantic Web and Web Services. This paper examines the synergy between Web service technology and simulation. In one direction, Web service processes can be simulated for the purpose of correcting/improving the design. In the other direction, simulation models/components can be built out of Web services. Work on seamlessly using simulation as a part of Web …

Coastal Habitat Use By Wood Storks During The Non-Breeding Season, A. L. Bryan Jr., Karen F. Gaines, C. S. Eldridge

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

We documented roosting and foraging habitat use by Wood Storks during the post-breeding season in the coastal zone of Georgia from 1994-1998. Larger, more persistent aggregations of roosting storks typically oc- curred in enclosed wetlands on large estuarine islands. Smaller, more ephemeral aggregations tended to occur on salt marsh/upland ecotones, where storks appeared to be waiting for local conditions (tide levels) to become suit- able for foraging. Examination of habitat types within a 2-km radius of the larger (mean > 10 storks/survey) vs. smaller (mean <10 storks/survey) roosts showed that surrounding habitat structure, including those used for for- aging, were similar. Foraging storks typically fed in close proximity (median = 0.5 km) to large roosts, much closer than storks using coastal wetlands during the breeding season. Tidal creeks were used almost exclusively as foraging habitat (92%). Storks and other wading birds were almost always present when the study bird arrived. The foraging patterns of study birds and four storks carrying radios suggested that storks often used the same foraging sites and/ or marsh systems in the non-breeding season. Coastal Wood Storks apparently selected roosting sites based on the presence of conspecifics, abundant local prey, or possibly as shelter from adverse weather conditions

Description Of A Poorly Differentiated Carcinoma Within The Brainstem Of A White Whale (Delphinapterus Leucas) From Magnetic Resonance Images And Histological Analysis, Sam H. Ridgway, Lori Marino, T. P. Lipscomb

Veterinary Science and Medicine Collection

In this study we used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to investigate neuroanatomical structure in the brain of a white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) that died from a large tumor within the brainstem. This specimen was also compared with a normal white whale brain using MRI. MRI scans of the white whale specimen show how the tumor deformed surrounding brain structure. Histopathological analysis indicated a poorly differentiated carcinoma of uncertain origin. These analyses demonstrate the usefulness of supplementing histological analyses of pathology with studies of gross morphology facilitated by MRI.

Assessment Of Fungal Diversity Using Terminal Restriction Fragment (Trf) Pattern Analysis: Comparison Of 18s And Its Ribosomal Regions, N. S. Lord, Christopher W. Kaplan, P. Shank, Christopher L. Kitts, Susan L. Elrod

Biological Sciences

Assessment of fungal diversity in environmental samples is currently a challenge. Several recently developed molecular methods offer new avenues for determining the presence and diversity of fungi in complex microbial communities. Terminal restriction fragment (TRF) pattern analysis was tested as a method for assessing the fungal molecular diversity of a terrestrial microbial community. Community DNA was isolated from sand samples taken from a pilot-scale petroleum-contaminated land treatment unit. PCR amplification was carried out using primers, one of which was fluorescently labeled, designed to hybridize to conserved sequences in the fungal ribosomal small subunit (18S) or the internal transcribed spacer ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 …

Identifying The Developmental Stages Of Preserved Eggs Of Snapper, Pagrus Auratus, From Shark Bay, Western Australia, Jeffrey V. Norriss, Gary Jackson

Fisheries Research Reports

The characteristics used to identify 19 developmental stages of preserved eggs of snapper, Pagrus auratus, collected from Shark Bay, Western Australia, during annual plankton surveys, are described and illustrated. A key is provided to enable the age of each egg stage to be estimated based on sea surface temperature and salinity observed during sampling. This report is intended as a reference for inexperienced staff, to ensure that between-year comparisons of snapper spawning biomass, estimated using the daily egg production method, are based on consistent egg staging and ageing methods.

Small Grains: 2003 Variety Recommendations (2002 Crop Performance Results), Cooperative Extension Service, South Dakota State University

SDSU Extension Circulars

Variety selection is a fundamental element in a sound crop production program. This report contains variety recommendations, descriptions, and yield data for the spring-seeded small grains – hard red spring wheat, oat, and barley, along with the fall-seeded small grain –hard red winter wheat. Key factors in variety selection include yield, yield stability, maturity, straw strength, height, test weight, quality, and disease resistance. Yield is an important factor; however, a variety with good disease resistance, straw strength, and high grain quality may be more profitable in some cases than the highest yielding variety. Disease resistance information is based on reactions …

Comparison Of Nutrient Concentration In Four Fertility Treatments After Poultry Litter Application To Orchardgrass And Sorghum-Sundangrass Hayfield Soils, Amanda Canty

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Field experiments were established in 2001 at the Agricultural Research and Education Complex in Bowling Green, Kentucky to evaluate soil fertility values before and after poultry litter application to orchardgrass and sorghum-sudangrass hayfields. A randomized complete block design was utilized with each treatment being replicated four times. Orchardgrass plots consisted of sixteen 7.6 m rows, 91 m in length and separated by alleys 4.6 m in width. Sorghum-sudangrass plots consisted of sixteen 7.6 m rows, 60.96 m in length and separated by alleys 4.6 m in width. Four separate fertility treatments were utilized: inorganic fertilizer (I), poultry litter applied to …

Plasticity And Genetic Diversity May Allow Saltcedar To Invade Cold Climates In North America, Jason P. Sexton, J. K. Mckay, Anna Sala

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Two major mechanisms have been proposed to explain the ability of introduced populations to colonize over large habitat gradients, despite significant population bottlenecks during introduction: (1) Broad environmental tolerance-successful invaders possess life history traits that confer superior colonizing ability and/or phenotypic plasticity, allowing acclimation to a wide range of habitats. (2) Local adaptation-successful invaders rapidly adapt to local selective pressures. However, even with bottlenecks, many introduced species exhibit surprisingly high levels of genetic variation and thus the potential for evolutionary increases in invasive traits and plasticity. Here we assess the invasive potential of Tamarix ramosissima, by examining the degree of …

Avian Use Of Chinese Tallow Seeds In Coastal Texas (Abstract), Warren C. Conway

Faculty Publications

The Chinese tallow tree (Sapium sebiferum) (Euphorbiaceae) was introduced into coastal Texas in the late 1800s and forms monotypic woodlands once naturalized. However, few studies have examined avian use of tallow seeds during fall migration in coastal Texas. We documented use of Chinese tallow seeds and compared foraging frequency on Chinese tallow seeds among permanent, summer, and winter residents and migrants. We also tested the hypothesis that Chinese tallow seed germination was enhanced by foraging activities of yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica coronata), the most common species observed foraging on tallow seeds. During fall migration 1995 and 1996, …

Developing Impervious Surface Estimates For Coastal New Hampshire, David G. Justice, Fay A. Rubin

PREP Reports & Publications

Future population growth and the corresponding increase in development in the coastal zone of NH are widely recognized as major threats to the integrity of coastal systems and their watersheds. The potential impacts associated with the expansion of developed land, and specifically with increasing amounts of impervious surfaces – rooftops, sidewalks, roads, and parking lots - may include significant changes in water quantity, degradation in water quality, and habitat loss. Because asphalt, concrete, stone, and other impenetrable materials effectively seal the ground surface, water is repelled and is prevented from infiltrating soils. Instead, stormwater runoff flows directly into our surface …

On Computing Condensed Frequent Pattern Bases, Jian Pei, Guozhu Dong, Wei Zou, Jiawei Han

Kno.e.sis Publications

Frequent pattern mining has been studied extensively. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of this mining is often limited, since the number of frequent patterns generated is often too large. In many applications it is sufficient to generate and examine only frequent patterns with support frequency in close-enough approximation instead of in full precision. Such a compact but close-enough frequent pattern base is called a condensed frequent patterns-base.

In this paper, we propose and examine several alternatives at the design, representation, and implementation of such condensed frequent pattern-bases. A few algorithms for computing such pattern-bases are proposed. Their effectiveness at pattern …

Ard News December 2002

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

CONTENTS:

Comments from the ARD Office Staff
How to State the Value of Your Research
Proposals Submitted for Federal Grants
Grants and Contracts Received October and November, 2002
ARD Budget Reductions - Round 3
Undergraduate Honors Research Program
Recognition of Junior Faculty for Excellence in Research
ARD-Administered Grant and Awards Programs

Public Perceptions Of Food Safety: Assessing The Risks Posed By Genetic Modification, Irradiation, Pesticides, Microbiological Contamination And High Fat/High Calorie Foods, Michael D. Mehta

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

[Excerpt] "In general, people in the developed world have access to a safe and varied supply of food. Instead of systemic hunger, many developed countries have problems with obesity and other kinds of eating disorders among their citizenry. It is within this context that some find public concerns about the safety of food both paradoxical and misplaced. Nevertheless, understanding how people perceive the risk associated with food is an important exercise in demonstrating accountability and in setting priorities for regulation. With the advent of technologies for producing genetically modified foods, and the development of fat blockers like Olestra, the public …