Life Sciences Commons^™

The Qingdao Twin Registry: A Focus On Chronic Disease Research, C. Anderson Johnson, Zengchang Pang, Feng Ning, Jennifer B. Unger, Shaojie Wang, Qian Guo, Weihua Cao, Liming Lee

CGU Faculty Publications and Research

With the changing patterns of morbidity and mortality in China, noncommunicable chronic diseases have become the major threats to the health of the Chinese population. The causes of chronic diseases include genetic factors and behavioral risk factors such as the use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs, unhealthy dietary behaviors, and lack of physical activity. Twin studies offer a unique opportunity to disentangle the genetic and environmental risk and protective factors for chronic disease. The Qingdao Twin Registry (QTR) was initiated in 1998 as part of the National Chinese Twin Registry. Over 11,000 pairs of twins and multiples of all …

Regression Cubes With Lossless Compression And Aggregation, Yixin Chen, Guozhu Dong, Jiawei Han, Jian Pei, Benjamin W. Wah, Jianyong Wang

Kno.e.sis Publications

As OLAP engines are widely used to support multidimensional data analysis, it is desirable to support in data cubes advanced statistical measures, such as regression and filtering, in addition to the traditional simple measures such as count and average. Such new measures will allow users to model, smooth, and predict the trends and patterns of data. Existing algorithms for simple distributive and algebraic measures are inadequate for efficient computation of statistical measures in a multidimensional space. In this paper, we propose a fundamentally new class of measures, compressible measures, in order to support efficient computation of the statistical models. For …

Outcomes Of The Wetline Review. The Minister For Fisheries Proposed Decision For The Future Management Of The West Coast And Gascoyne Commercial 'Wetline' Fisheries, Department Of Fisheries Western Australia.

Fisheries Management Papers

This document details my proposed decisions regarding the new management arrangements for the West Coast and Gascoyne commercial “wetline” fisheries. Before finalising my position on the new management arrangements for these fisheries I invite any final comments on the proposed arrangements set out in this document. Although specific issues have been identified, your views are sought on any or all of the matters in the document of significance to you and/or your group.

Asexual Propagation Of Four Cultivars Of Vaccinium Corymbosum And Weed Management In An Established Orchard Of Vaccinium Corymbosum 'Bluejay' (Highbush Blueberry) In South Central Kentucky, Kyle Daniel

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

In response to the changing economy of Kentucky tobacco, producers are seeking an economically viable alternative that can be produced on a similarly small acreage. Blueberries are an emerging crop that satisfy the needs of these producers and are popular with consumers for their flavor and health benefits. In addition to selling the berries, local producers are experiencing much success selling blueberry plants to homeowners and other producers. However, the protocol for propagating specific cultivars under local environmental conditions is unknown. Rooting percentages for producers has been extremely variable. A two year study conducted at Western Kentucky University investigated asexual …

Clarification Of Basal Relationships In Rubus (Rosaceae) And The Origin Of Rubus Chamaemorus, Karen Michael

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Determination of phylogenetic relationships among ancestral species of Rubus has been elusive. Most Rubus species (including blackberries and raspberries), representing nine of the 12 subgenera, occur in a large, well supported clade named 'A' for reference). The remaining nine species are excluded from this group and represent three subgenera: subg. Anoplobatus (R. bartonianus, R. deliciosus, R. neomexicanus, R. odoratus, R. parviflorus, R. trilobus), subg. Chamaemorus (R. chamaemorus), and subg. Dalibarda (R. lasiococcus, R.pedatus). In addition, Rubus dalibarda L. is often treated in its own monotypic genus as Dalibarda repens L. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data from chloroplast regions and …

Hammer Strength Vs. Free Weights: Upper Body 1 Rm Comparisons, Matthew Thoma

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Thirty-one trained male subjects performed one-repetition maximum lifts (IRM's) on three Hammer Strength Externally Loaded Machines and three comparable Free Weight Exercises. All tests were counterbalanced and randomly assigned. Subjects performed two 1RM tests during each lab session, with at least 48-72 hours of recovery between each. IRM's were recorded as the greatest amount of weight lifted with proper technique. 1RM data was used to (1) determine the relationship between 1RM performed on Hammer Strength machines versus Free Weights and (2) to develop regression equations that can accurately predict IRM's when switching from one exercise modality to another. Statistics revealed …

Desulfosporosinus Lacus Sp. Nov., A Sulfate-Reducing Bacterium Isolated From Pristine Freshwater Lake Sediments, S. Ramamoorthy, H. Sass, H. Langner, P. Schumann, R. M. Kroppenstedt, S. Spring, J. Overmann, R. Frank Rosenzweig

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

A novel sulfate-reducing bacterium was isolated from pristine sediments of Lake Stechlin, Germany. This strain, STP12 , was found to contain predominantly c-type cytochromes and to reduce sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate using lactate as an electron donor. Although STP12 could not utilize elemental sulfur as an electron acceptor, it could support growth by dissimilatory Fe(III) reduction. In a comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences, STP12 was 96.7 % similar to Desulfosporosinus auripigmenti DSM 13351 , 96.5 % similar to Desulfosporosinus meridiei DSM 13257 and 96.4 % similar to Desulfosporosinus orientis DSM 765 . DNA-DNA hybridization experiments revealed that strain STP12 …

Sagestep News, Fall/Winter 2006, No. 2, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Biomass Estimation And Classification Of Secondary Succession Using Radar And Optical Remote Sensing Data Based On Textural And Spectral Analysis In Amazonia, Ping Jiang

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Deforestation that happened during past decades in the Amazon Basin has been potentially affecting the global climate and carbon-cycle by contributing a vast amount of carbon into the atmosphere. Above-ground biomass (AGB) estimation of secondary successional and mature forests using remote sensing technology has been attracting scientists' attention. Optical sensor data are sensitive to forest canopies only, and therefore have limitations in AGB estimation, especially for tropical forests with complex structures and abundant species. Radar signals have the ability to penetrate canopies to detect the sub-layers of forests, and therefore potentially have a better performance in AGB estimation. Based on …

Lpe Center News, December 2006

Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center: Newsletters

In this issue:

• Integrated Nutrient Management and Limits of the P-Index

• Pathogen Resources Available on the Website

• Quick Start Your Search with Dynamic Bibliographies

• Environmental Management Systems for Agriculture

Ard News December 2006

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

CONTENTS:

Comments from the Dean
William G. Whitmore Student Travel Endowment
David H. and Annie E. Larrick Fund, 2007
UNDERGRADUATE HONORS RESEARCH PROGRAM
ARD Foundation/Grant Processes
New or Revised Projects September and October 2006
Proposals Submitted for Federal Grants September and October 2006
Grants and Contracts Received for September and October 2006

Spring Ephemeral Plant Diversity As It Relates To Gap Dynamics In Vigo County, Indiana, Jodi K. Farrell Sparks

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

During the course of 25 years, plant specimens from several local locations have been collected and deposited into the Indiana State University (ISU) Herbarium by plant taxonomy students. The locations of some of these plots were reestablished in the spring of 2004. In each plot, all woody and spring herbaceous plants were collected from 26 February 2004 to 12 May 2004. These specimens were identified and compared to previous collections to examine species change in the context of gap dynamics. I compiled a species list for each plot and each preserve. Objectives for this thesis were to document plant diversity …

Review Of "Plant Exploration For Longwood Gardens" By T. Aniśko, Nicholas J. Kaplinsky

Biology Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Patric: The Vbi Pathosystems Resource Integration Center, Gongxin Yu

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The PathoSystems Resource Integration Center (PATRIC) is one of eight Bioinformatics Resource Centers (BRCs) funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases (NIAID) to create a data and analysis resource for selected NIAID priority pathogens, specifically proteobacteria of the genera Brucella, Rickettsia and Coxiella, and corona-, caliciand lyssaviruses and viruses associated with hepatitis A and E. The goal of the project is to provide a comprehensive bioinformatics resource for these pathogens, including consistently annotated genome, proteome and metabolic pathway data to facilitate research into counter-measures, including drugs, vaccines and diagnostics. The project’s curation strategy has three …

Phylogenetics Of North American Psoraleeae (Leguminosae): Rates And Dates In A Recent, Rapid Radiation, Ashley N. Egan

Theses and Dissertations

The scientific discipline of phylogenetics involves understanding the diversity of life in the context of history. Technological advances in molecular biology and computational power have created an exponential increase in the number and kind of phylogenetic studies, allowing exploration of all manner of questions concerning the evolutionary history of a group. This dissertation research is focused on phylogenetic theory and applying these methods to the plant tribe Psoraleeae (Leguminosae; Fabaceae) with an emphasis on North American (NAm) members. First, theory of phylogeny estimation is explored in a review chapter focusing on strengths and weaknesses of phylogenetic methodology. Second, methods are …

Convergence, Constraint And The Role Of Gene Expression During Adaptive Radiation: Floral Anthocyanins In Aquilegia, Justen B. Whittall, Claudia Voelckel, Daniel J. Kliebenstein, Scott A. Hodges

Biology

Convergent phenotypes are testament to the role of natural selection in evolution. However, little is known about whether convergence in phenotype extends to convergence at the molecular level. We use the independent losses of floral anthocyanins in columbines (Aquilegia) to determine the degree of molecular convergence in gene expression across the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway (ABP). Using a phylogeny of the North American Aquilegia clade, we inferred six independent losses of floral anthocyanins. Via semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), we monitored developmental and tissue-specific variation in expression of the six major structural ABP loci in three Aquilegia species, two that …

A Study Of Factors Affecting Scale Roughness In The Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus Atrox), Amber Gail Skach

Biology Theses - Archive

Reptilian scales are very complex with patterns across their surface like a human fingerprint. These patterns are species specific, but there has been no way to quantify differences. A new technique using the confocal microscope allows measurement of the roughness of a surface. The roughness of the scales of Crotalus atrox were measured and compared with factors such as sex, age, clade, and various environmental variables to determine if this technique may be useful in determining species. The results found that the roughness of a scale decreased as the snake aged, and was significantly different between the two clades; the …

Geographic Variation In The Morphometrics Of Emydoide Blandingii, Maggie M. Camperlengo

Biology Theses - Archive

Morphometric measurements were taken from museum specimens Emydoidea blandingii. Samples were taken from Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, New York and Minnesota as well as from Ontario, Canada. Populations of this species have become increasingly fragmented and isolated during the past century due primarily to the urbanization of North America which has included increased road related fatalities and habitat destruction. An examination of physical characteristics was conducted to determine if morphometric analysis could indicate differences among the various populations. Twenty-eight measurements were made and compared to detect physical distinctions between populations. Individuals were then classified geographically based on east (C), …

A Comparison Of The Amely Gene Sequence In Argali (Ovis Ammon) And Domestic (Ovis Aries) Sheep, Kimberly Elwood

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Amelogenin (AMEL) is a gene responsible for tooth bud development. It is located on the X-chromosome, thus called AMELX, in mammals. AMEL has been shown to be present in fish, amphibians, and reptiles, though the exact location on the chromosome has not been determined. Amelogenin-like gene (AMELY), an AMEL homolog encoded on the Y-chromosome in some mammals, including sheep, cattle, deer, bears, humans, and some primates, is shorter than the sequence on the X-chromosome. It is unknown whether AMELY is transcriptionally active, but it has been found to be useful for human sexing purposes in forensics, archaeology and prenatal diagnosis, …

Does Seed-Caching Experience Affect Spatial Memory Performance By Pinyon Jays?, B. Lucas Stafford, Russell P. Balda, Alan Kamil

Papers in Behavior in Biological Sciences

Food-storing birds use spatial memory to find previously cached food items. Throughout winter, pinyon jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) rely heavily on cached pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) seeds. Because of a recent severe drought, pinyon pine trees had not produced a significant seed crop for several years. Therefore, 1- and 2-year-old birds never had the opportunity to cache and recover seeds and birds 4 or more years of age had not recovered seeds in 3 years. This study examined whether natural but extreme variability in experience might result in differences in abstract spatial memory ability during a non-cache …

Forage News [2006-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Grazing Conference
• FEED: Biggest Cost Item
• Heart of America Grazing Conference
• KFGC Presents Annual Awards
• KFGC Installs New Officers
• Fayette County Producer Becomes Forage Spokesperson
• Kentucky Hay – 2006
• Methods to Manage Soil Phosphorus Levels on Kentucky Poultry Farms
• Meat Goat Performance and Carcass Parameters When Finished on Orchardgrass, Red Clover, or Alfalfa Pastures
• The Case for Forage Legumes
• Upcoming Events

Index To Volume 74

Nebraska Bird Review

Index to Volume 74 (11 pages)

Abraham, K. 105

Accipiter sp 28-29, 65

Allmand, Matt 40

American Ornithologists' Union 38, 105, 132-133

Amiotte, Sue 4I, 112

Anhinga 71

Ankney, C. D. 105

Armknecht, Henry 25, 40

Aubushon,
Dottie 25
Kathy 25

Audubon. lohn lames 132-133, 136

Austin, J. E. 97

Avocet, American 48,84, 11 7, 142

....

Yellowlegs,
Greater 48, 85, 117
Lesser 48, 66, 85, 117, 129

Yellowthroat, Common 57,68,92, 125, 131, 142

Vi, Chunhui 25

Young, Betty 25

Zahurones, Penny 25

Ziewitz. J. W. 98

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review December 2006

Nebraska Bird Review

The Nebraska Bird Review is published quarterly by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc., as its official journal, and is sent to members not in arrears of dues. Annual subscription rates (on a calendar-year basis only): $15 in the United States, $18 in Canada and $30 in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $4 each, postpaid, in the United States, $5 in Canada, and $8 elsewhere. Send orders for back issues to Mary Lou Pritchard, NOU Librarian, c/o University of Nebraska State Museum, W-436 Nebraska Hall, Lincoln, NE 685880514.

Memberships in the NOU (on a calendar-year basis only): …

Fall Field Report, August-November 2006, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

First, I want to say how much I appreciate observers' responses to my requests for additional details on various sightings, not just rarities, but early and late dates. It's important to have these details for the archives to help future readers and researchers feel more comfortable with records from our era.

Patterns that were apparent included a generally quiet fall for waterfowl (they were all at Lake McConaughy), but excellent numbers of the rarer two scoters (but NO White-winged!) and a surprising 16 Red-necked Grebes. On the other hand, numbers of staging Western Grebes were down significantly, apparently due to …

The Nebraska Bird Review Whole Issue December 2006

Nebraska Bird Review

Table of Contents

Fall Field Report, Aug.–Nov. 2006 by W. Ross Silcock....................... 110

Fall Field Days at Lincoln, Sept. 15–17, 2006....................... 128

The Art and Artistic Legacy of Louis Agassiz Fuertes by Paul A. Johnsgard ....................... 132

The 2006 Nebraska Nest Report by Wayne J. Mollhoff ....................... 142

Index to Volume 74....................... 148

Subscription and Organization Information....................... 159

Evaluating Diet Composition Of Pronghorn In Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, Christopher N. Jacques, Jaret D. Sievers, Jonathan A. Jenks, Chad L. Sexton, Daniel E. Roddy

The Prairie Naturalist

The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) was reintroduced into Wind Cave National Park (WCNP), South Dakota, in 1914, and thus, has inhabited the Park for nearly a century. During the 1990's, a decline in the population raised concern for the continued existence of pronghorn inside WCNP; an investigation into the observed decline was initiated. Primary objectives of our study were to evaluate diet composition and forage selection by pronghorn in WCNP. Microhistological analysis was conducted on 58 fecal samples collected opportunistically from pronghorn during 2002. Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), common juniper (Juniperus communis), and northern bedstraw …

Evaluation Of Habitat Enhancement Structure Use By Spotted Bass, Stanley L. Proboszcz, Christopher S. Guy

The Prairie Naturalist

Habitat enhancement is a common and effective method used to positively influence fish populations. However, there is a paucity of speciesspecific evaluations of stream habitat enhancement structures for warmwater fishes. We evaluated use of half-log, rootwad enhancement structure, and simulated undercut bank (LUNKERS) by adult and juvenile spotted bass (Micropterus punctulatus) in natural and experimental streams. Enhancement structures were installed in Otter Creek, Kansas. Adult spotted bass use of natural and enhancement structure was documented weekly during summer and fall of 2001 and 2002 with radiotelemetry. Mean total length (TL) of adult fish was 292 mm (SE = …

Morphometrics Of Six Turtle Species From South Dakota, Sarah J. Bandas, Kenneth F. Higgins

The Prairie Naturalist

During 2002 and 2003, morphometric measurements were recorded for 755 turtles representing six species in South Dakota. Turtles were captured in a wide variety of wetland habitats across the entire state. With few exceptions, morphometric measurements for South Dakota were near or within the range of measurements reported for all six species from studies in nearby states or provinces. We recommend that morphometric measurements be taken on turtles in future turtle studies and particularly for the less common and rare species.

Effects Of Caffeine On Muscular Strength, Scott Wilson

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Caffeine is the most widely consumed drug in the world. Research has suggested that caffeine can enhance aerobic performance. However, its benefits in the resistance training world are not fully understood. Due to caffeine's ability to alter pain perception and the onset of peripheral fatigue it may positively affect performance. This study examined the effects of caffeine on muscular strength, determined by the number of successfully completed reps at 85% of 1RM bench press. Fifteen recreationally trained males were tested for their 1RM on bench press. Subjects completed 3 randomized, double blind tria ls at 85% of their 1RM to …

Identifying Individual Eurasian Otters (Lutra Lutra) Based On Measurements Of Their Footprints Standardization Of The Method And Its Potential For Censusing And Monitoring Wild Otter Populations, Jitka Vetrovcova

Biology Theses - Archive

A method for identifying individual Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) from measurements of their footprints was first tested by performing experiments with captive animals. Digital photographs were taken of imprints in mud of all paws of 12 known individuals. Using customized software, 131 distance, angle, and proportion measurements were generated and subjected to discriminant and canonical analyses. The stepwise procedures of discrimination were the principal statistical analyses used. Analyzing each foot separately while using all available imprints yielded 86-93% correct classification and 59-77% Jacknife cross-validation. The efficiency of these analyses was not significantly affected by randomly reducing the number of …