Life Sciences Commons^™

Pathoecology And The Future Of Coprolite Studies In Bioarchaeology, Karl J. Reinhard, Vaughn M. Bryant Jr.

Karl Reinhard Publications

Human coprolites currently provide an expanding array of information about the diet, health, and ecology of prehistoric people in the Southwest, but for many years coprolites were not recognized or preserved, or they were not considered important and thus were not saved (Bryant and Dean 2006). With the expansion of archaeological field work during the last half of the twentieth century archaeologists have increasingly explored the "complete" potentials of sites, including the collection and analysis of geomorphologic, botanical, and faunal data. In some ideal habitats (e.g., very dry or frozen) this includes exploring the scientific potential of human coprolite studies. …

A Child And His Fate: Tuberculosis, Perimortem Trauma And Mummification, Sheila M. M.De Souza, Karl J. Reinhard, Bernardo Tessarollo, Jose Fernando Cardona Zannier, Adauto Araujo

Karl Reinhard Publications

A male child, sitting, 7 years, circumferential deformation, skin marked by coiled fibers, nostril plugs, consistent with Aymara practices was CT scanned. Puppae in the skin suggest exposition of the body previous to the funeral. Dark brown color at the skin suggest blood perfusion. A broken area at the right frontal with the skin partially inside is suggestive of perimorten trauma. There were no bone debris inside the skull and the CT images show two confluent fractures defined by radiating lines extending beyond the missing bone surface. The right eyeball is projected out, the tongue is outside the mouth, the …

Pathoecology Of Two Ancestral Pueblo Villages, Karl Reinhard

Karl Reinhard Publications

Pathoecology is the study of the biotic, abiotic, and cultural environments of disease (Martinson et al. 2003). A parasitic infection is the result of the pathoecological interaction of host behavior, parasite life cycle, the environment in which both life forms live, the nutritional status of the host, and host physiological responses to all of these factors. Parasites contribute to anemia in many ways. Some, such as hookworm, actually consume blood and cause iron loss through their activities. For other parasites, symptoms such as profuse diarrhea reduce intestinal absorption of nutrients. Others, such as certain fish tapeworms, actually compete for absorption …

Obituary: Terry Lamon Yates, 1950-2007., Robert J. Baker, David J. Schmidly, Joseph A. Cook, Jorge Salazar-Bravo, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

On December 11, 2007, the science of mammalogy lost one of its most valued and influential leaders. Terry Lamon Yates succumbed to complications of treatments for an aggressive form of brain cancer after a brief but courageous fight. He was born on March 17, 1950, in Mayfield, Kentucky, the older son of Ellen Wanda Byrd and William Hanley Yates. Terry’s only sibling was a brother, Johnny. He is survived by his wife Nancy Fennell Yates, his two sons, Brian Christopher and Michael Ryan, and daughter-in-law Laura Manchéno Macia.

Hybrid Zones, Genetic Isolation, And Systematics Of Pocket Gophers (Genus Geomys) In Nebraska., Hugh H. Genoways, Meredith J. Hamilton, Darin M. Bell, Ryan R. Chambers, Robert T. Bradley

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Pocket gophers of the genus Geomys are common inhabitants of many habitats throughout most of the state of Nebraska. Because the taxonomic history of Geomys has undergone numerous changes through the years, these pocket gophers have been the subjects of ongoing taxonomic and distributional studies and in more recent years genetic studies to understand relationships among populations. In order to gain deeper insight into the relationships among these taxa of Geomys, we intensively collected specimens from areas where chromosomal races were thought to form contact zones. Results from examination of genetic (chromosomes, mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene sequences, and nuclear interphotoreceptor …

Speciation Within Bonneted Bats (Genus Eumops): The Complexity Of Morphological, Mitochondrial, And Nuclear Data Sets In Systematics, Molly M. Mcdonough, Loren K. Ammerman, Robert M. Timm, Hugh H. Genoways, Peter A. Larsen, Robert J. Baker

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

We phylogenetically analyze 705 base pairs of the cytochrome-b gene and 351 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) bands from populations of the karyotypically variable Wagner’s bonneted bat, Eumops glaucinus, and the Florida bonneted bat, Eumops floridanus (Chiroptera: Molossidae). Three karyotypes have been documented across the range of E. glaucinus, and we report that the karyotype from Cuba is morphologically similar to that from Jamaica. A 4th karyotype is present in specimens from western Ecuador. Three distinct lineages are present in both the cytochrome-b and AFLP trees. One lineage is restricted to western Ecuador and exhibits cytochrome-b …

Characterization Of A Contact Zone Between Two Subspecies Of The Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus Fuscus) In Nebraska, Justin D. Hoffman, Hugh H. Genoways

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

Two subspecies of the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) are reported to occur in Nebraska. The eastern race, E. f. fuscus, is reportedly bigger and darker than its western counterpart E. f. pallidus. Where these 2 subspecies come in contact is the subject of debate. We used external, cranial, and colorimetric data to investigate geographic variation among populations of E. fuscus in Nebraska to determine the location of the zone of contact between E. f. fuscus and E. f. pallidus. We discovered significant variation in external, cranial, and colorimetric data, suggesting that E. fuscus is …

Simulations With Elaborated Worked Example Modeling: Beneficial Effects On Schema Acquisition, Debra K. Meier, Karl J. Reinhard, David O. Carter, David W. Brooks

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Worked examples have been effective in enhancing learning outcomes, especially with novice learners. Most of this research has been conducted in laboratory settings. This study examined the impact of embedding elaborated worked example modeling in a computer simulation practice activity on learning achievement among 39 undergraduate students within a classroom environment. The students from one introductory forensic science course were randomly assigned to one of two groups that worked through computer-based simulations containing worked example modeling conditions presented in varied order. The computer software administered the modeled simulations, prior knowledge test, pretest, posttests, and a second domain test. Findings from …

Neuroimaging Research Into Disorders Of Consciousness: Moral Imperative Or Ethical And Legal Failure, Stacey A. Tovino

Faculty Articles

In this article I explore the ethical and legal implications of enrolling individuals with disorders of consciousness (DOC) in neuroimaging research studies. Many scientists have strongly emphasized the need for additional neuroimaging research into DOC, characterizing the conduct of such studies as morally imperative. On the other hand, institutional review boards (IRBs) charged with approving research protocols, scientific journals deciding whether to publish study results, and federal agencies that disburse grant money have limited the conduct, publication, and funding of consciousness investigations based on ethical and legal concerns. Following a detailed examination of the risks and benefits of neuroimaging research …

Chemical Control Of Septoria Blight Of Parsley Caused By Septoria Petroselini, Fati̇h Mehmet Tok

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The effects of various fungicides on spore germination, mycelial growth, seed transmission, and infection by Septoria petroselini Desm., the causal agent of Septoria blight of parsley, were determined in this study. Eleven fungicides (azoxystrobin, benomyl, captan, copper oxychloride, kresoxim-methyl mancozeb, maneb, propineb, tebuconazole, thiram, and trifloxystrobin) were tested at various concentrations ranging from 0.025 to 50 mg l^{-1} in spore germination and mycelial growth assays. Tebuconazole was the most effective fungicide in all the experiments, with an EC_{50} value < 0.052 mg l^{-1}, followed by azoxystrobin, captan, and trifloxystrobin, with EC_{50} values of 0.053, 0.06, and 0.066 mg l^{-1}, respectively. Many of the fungicides were effective on spore germination in PDA medium at concentrations ranging from 0.052 mg l^{-1} (Tebuconazole) to 23.032 mg l^{-1} (copper oxychloride). Captan, mancozeb, maneb, and thiram were very effective at reducing spore germination, but were less effective at reducing mycelial growth, for which their EC_{50} values were up to 735-, 192-, 192-, and 191-fold higher, respectively. Seed transmission of Septoria blight of parsley was controlled by tebuconazole, benomyl, azoxystrobin, kresoxim-methyl, and captan, which had inhibition rates of up to 95%, 93%, 93%, and 66%, respectively. Azoxystrobin, benomyl, kresoxim-methyl, trifloxystrobin, and tebuconazole inhibited Septoria blight in vivo, but captan, mancozeb, and maneb were effective at reducing the number of lesions only when they were applied before inoculation. Copper oxychloride, the most extensively used fungicide for controlling Septoria blight by parsley growers, was surprisingly the least effective in all the experiments.

Production Potential Of A Natural Pasture Compared To A Wheat Pasture, Both Grazed By Lactating Goats Under Mediterranean Climate Conditions, Basri̇ Hakan Hakyemez, Ahmet Gökkuş, İsmai̇l Yaman Yurtman, Türker Savaş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The aim of this study was to extend the grazing period using a wheat pasture that produced high quality forage, and to compare the productivity of natural and wheat pastures for grazing goats during a 3-year period (2003-2005) in a Mediterranean zone of Turkey. Twelve 3-4-year-old Saanen goats were allocated to each pasture (10 goats ha^{-1}). Pastures were grazed for 2 months (May and June) in 2003 and for 3 months (April, May, and June) in 2004 and 2005. In the study, pasture yield and hay intake, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content …

Effect Of Different Planting Dates On Yield And Yield Components Of Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L.), Öner Canavar, Mustafa Ali̇ Kaynak

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study was conducted in the experiment fields at the Field Crops Department of the Faculty of Agriculture at Adnan Menderes University in 2004-2005. The experiment was performed in a split-plot design with 3 replications. The goals of this study were to determine the appropriate planting date for peanut under the ecological conditions of Aydın and to investigate the effect of different planting dates on some agronomic traits, yield, and yield components of 3 commercial peanut cultivars (Gazipaşa, Florispan, and NC-7) and the local cultivar. It was determined that the planting date had a statistically significant effect on pod yield, …

Litter Mass Loss Rates In Deciduous And Coniferous Trees In Artvin, Northeast Turkey: Relationships With Litter Quality, Microclimate, And Soil Characteristics, Temel Sariyildiz, Mehmet Küçük

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Plant litter decomposition is controlled by both biotic and abiotic factors. It has been widely hypothesized that litter quality and climatic and soil conditions regulate decomposition. The present study examined the decomposition of native forest tree litter on 2 aspects (the north and the south) and at 3 altitudes (top, middle, and bottom) on each aspect in Artvin province to determine the influence of litter quality, microclimate, and soil characteristics on the rate of decomposition. A litter-bag experiment was performed using beech, oak, fir, and pine litter. The litter bags were placed on the north- and south-facing sites and at …

Comparison Of Different Chemical Pulps From Wheat Straw And Bleaching With Xylanase Pre-Treated Ecf Method, Sai̇m Ateş, Celi̇l Atik, Yonghao Ni, Esat Gümüşkaya

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Different pulping processes, kraft-anthraquinone (AQ), bio-kraft, soda-AQ, ALCELL, and FORMACELL were studied for wheat straw. Fungal pre-treatment with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, white rot fungi, was applied to wheat straw before kraft-AQ pulping, the so-called bio-kraft process. Fiber properties, carbohydrate contents, FT-IR analyses, strength properties of resultant paper, and bleachability characteristics were included to determine the properties of these pulp samples. In addition, the effects of the xylanase pre-treatment on the subsequent Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) bleaching process were investigated. The results indicated that kraft-AQ pulps from wheat straw exhibited better characteristics than the other pulp samples with lower kappa number, higher …

A Dgge-Cloning Method To Characterize Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Community Structure In Soil, Zhanbei Liang, Rhae A. Drijber, Donald J. Lee, Ismail M. Dwiekat, Steven D. Harris, David A. Wedin

Department of Plant Pathology: Faculty Publications

Although arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are crucial for ecosystem functioning, characterizing AMF community structure in soil is challenging. In this study, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were combined with cloning of fungal 18S ribosomal gene fragments for the rapid comparison of AMF community structure in soil. Reference AMF isolates, representing four major genera of AMF, were used to develop the method. Sequential amplification of 18S rDNA fragments by nested PCR using primer pairs AM1-NS31 and Glo1-NS31GC followed by DGGE analysis yielded a high-resolution band profile. In parallel, 18S rDNA fragment clone libraries were constructed …

Chapter 6: Nebraska Experience, S. R. Walker, J. C. Lund, D. G. Schumacher, P. A. Brakhage, B. C. Mcmanus, J. D. Miller, M. M. Augustine, J. J. Carney, R. S. Holland, Kyle D. Hoagland, John C. Holz, Todd M. Barrow, Donald C. Rundquist, Anatoly A. Gitelson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Nebraska agencies and public health organizations collaboratively addressed cyanobacterial issues for the first time after two dogs died within hours of drinking water from a small private lake south of Omaha on May 4, 2004. A necropsy on one of the dogs revealed that the cause of death was due to ingestion of Microcystin toxins. Within two weeks after the dog deaths, state and local officials jointly developed strategies for monitoring cyanobacterial blooms and issuing public health alerts and advisories. Weekly sampling of public lakes for microcystin toxins and cyanobacteria was initiated during the week of May 17, 2004. ELISA …

Modeling Responses Of Dryland Spring Triticale, Proso Millet And Foxtail Millet To Initial Soil Water In The High Plains, S. A. Saseendran, D. C. Nielsen, Drew J. Lyon, L. Ma, D. D. Baltensperger, G. Hoogenboom, L.R. Ahuja

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Dryland farming strategies in the High Plains must make efficient use of limited and variable precipitation and stored water in the soil profile for stable and sustainable farm productivity. Current research efforts focus on replacing summer fallow in the region with more profitable and environmentally sustainable spring and summer crops. In the absence of reliable precipitation forecasts for the crop growing season, farmers rely mainly upon knowledge of plant available water (PAW) in the soil profile at planting for making crop choice decisions. To develop a decision support strategy for crop selection based on initial PAW, experiments were conducted with …

Agricultural Systems: Agroecology And Rural Innovations For Development [Book Review], Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

To welcome yet another book on sustainable development, a reviewer must look for what is unique and what adds value to the volumes already published. In Agricultural Systems, editors Sieglinde Snapp and Barry Pound have assembled a collection of chapters that goes beyond the usual praise and criticism of the green revolution and the focus on economic development. Their book provides a first-hand story by people with lengthy experiences in the field, especially in Africa, who have developed and tested grassroots, participatory development approaches. The result is a valuable set of principles, strategies and case studies that paint a new …

Determining Optimum Planting Dates For Pearl Millet For Two Contrasting Environments Using A Modelling Approach, C. M. T. Soler, N. Maman, X. Zhang, S. C. Mason, G. Hoogenboom

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L) R. Br.] is an important cereal crop in Niger, West Africa and a potential crop for the United States of America (USA). Only a few studies have been conducted in either country to identify the optimum planting dates for high and stable yields, in part because planting date experiments are resource-intensive. Crop simulation models can be an alternative research tool for determining optimum planting dates and other management practices. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the performance of the Cropping System Simulation Model (CSM)–CERES-Millet model for two contrasting environments, including Mead, …

A Case Study To Teach The Diagnostic Process: Determining The Cause Of Chlorosis In A Crop Of Cut Dicentra, Marci Spaw, Kimberley A. Williams, Laurie Hodges, Ellen T. Paparozzi, Ingrid L. Mallberg

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

This universally accessible, Web-based decision case presents the challenge of determining the cause of foliar chlorosis in a crop of dicentra (Dicentra spectabilis) being forced as a cut flower for Valentine's Day sales. The case study serves as a tool to promote the development of diagnostic skills for production dilemmas, including nutritional disorders, disease problems, and evaluation of the appropriateness of cultural practices, Cut dicentra is a minor crop and standard production practices are not well established. Solving this case requires that students research production protocol, as well as nutritional and pest problems, and determine whether they have …

Home Range, Habitat Use, And Food Habits Of The Black Bear In South-Central Florida, Wade Allen Ulrey

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

I studied a small, enigmatic, and imperiled black bear population in south-central Florida from 2004 - 2006. Annual home ranges of males (96.0 km²) were larger than those of females (32.2 km²). Female home ranges were smaller in winter than in summer or fall. At the landscape scale, bears selected forests, scrub, and citrus, but avoided urban areas. At the home range scale, bears selected bay swamp and hardwood hammock, but avoided urban areas and grassland. Bears selected bay swamp in winter, forests and scrub in summer, and forests, scrub, and marsh in fall. The bear’s …

Harvest Frequency And Cultivar Effects On Yield, Quality, And Regrowth Rate Among New Alfalfa Cultivars, Thomas Adam Probst

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most important forage crop in the United States and consistently produces high yields and quality, but harvest frequency is the most significant factor for maximizing forage yield and quality. The objective of this research was to determine forage yield, quality, and regrowth rate among new alfalfa cultivars under four different harvest frequencies. Some of these cultivars have been marketed as having rapid rates of regrowth after cutting to maximize the number of harvests per year. Five cultivars were placed under four harvest frequencies of 25, 30, 35, and 40 days in a split-plot …

Inorganic And Organic Phosphorus Interactions With Hydroxy-Interlayered Soil Minerals, Paul D. Shumaker Ii

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Phosphorus (P), a necessary plant and animal nutrient, can also lead to eutrophication of fresh waters when in excess. Appropriate P management is necessary to prevent fresh water pollution. Mineralogy of soil clays has been shown to affect P adsorption, desorption, and movement through soils. Specifically, hydroxy-interlayered minerals have been shown to adsorb and retain inorganic P in soil systems. This study was designed to determine the sorption and desorption characteristics of inorganic, organic, and mixed forms of P interacting with soil hydroxy-interlayered vermiculites (HIV) and smectites (HIS), and compare the findings to sorption and desorption processes of natural aluminum …

Quantifying Cellulase In High-Solids Environments, Alicia Renée Abadie

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

In recent years, fungal and bacterial cellulases have gained popularity for the conversion of lignocellulosic material to biofuels and biochemicals. This study investigated properties of fungal (Trichoderma. reesei) and bacterial (Clostridium thermocellum) cellulases. Enzymatic hydrolysis was carried out with T. reesei using nine enzyme concentration and substrate combinations. Initial rates and extents of hydrolysis were determined from the progress curve of each combination. Inhibition occurred at the higher enzyme concentrations and higher solids concentrations. Mechanisms to explain the observed inhibition are discussed. Samples of C. thermocellum purified free cellulase after 98% hydrolysis were assayed to determine …

Evolutionary And Functional Characterization Of Os-Pollux, A Rice Gene Orthologous To A Common Symbiosis Gene In Legume, Cui Fan

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Root symbioses with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobial bacteria share a common signaling pathway in legumes. Among the common symbiosis genes are CASTOR and POLLUX, the twin homologous genes in Lotus japonicus that encode putative ion channel proteins. Orthologs of CASTOR and POLLUX are ubiquitously present in both legumes and non-legumes, but their function in non-legumes remains to be elucidated. Here, we use reverse genetic approaches to demonstrate that the rice (Oryza sativa) ortholog of POLLUX, namely Os-POLLUX, is indispensible for mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice. Furthermore, we show that Os-POLLUX can restore nodulation, …

Assessing The Demand For Weather Index Insurance In Shandong Province, China, Lisha Zhang

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Shandong Province, renowned as China’s greatest agricultural province, is dominated by smallholders growing rain-fed crops and vulnerable to severe weather shocks that can increase poverty rates. Weather index insurance, an innovative agricultural risk management product, may be an effective mechanism to address vulnerability to catastrophic weather risk in rural regions of China, including Shandong. This project evaluated current household livelihood and risk management strategies and farmer interest in weather index insurance. Data from 174 participants were collected using a methodology that included focus groups, questionnaires, and personal interviews. Despite limited access to formal financial services, Shandong farmers generally employ informal, …

Standardized Ileal Digestible Tryptophan To Lysine Ratios In Growing Pigs Fed U.S. Type And Non U.S. Type Feedstuffs, Anthony David Quant

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The objective of these studies was to determine the optimum standardized ileal digestible tryptophan to lysine (SID Trp:Lys) ratio for growing pigs fed both U.S.–type (corn–soybean meal) and non–U.S.–type (wheat–barley) diets.

When feeding U.S.–type diets, average daily gain (ADG) and plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations improved as SID Trp:Lys ratios increased, yielding optimum ratios of 15.32% (P<0.001) and 15.25% (P<0.001), respectively. Averaging these resulted in an optimum SID Trp:Lys ratio of 15.29%. In non–U.S.–type diets, feeding increasing SID Trp:Lys ratios improved ADG and PUN, displaying optima of 15.99% (P=0.048) and 15.29% (P=0.054), respectively. This produced an average optimum SID Trp:Lys ratio of 15.64%. The final study included the other dietary essential amino acids (EAA) at a higher level, and ADG and PUN improved as SID Trp:Lys …

A School-Based Approach To Increasing Fruit And Vegetable Intake Of High School Students, Rebecca Larson

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to establish whether nutrition education would increase high school student consumption of fruits and vegetables, increase knowledge and self-efficacy, and advance students through the stages of change. Additionally, factors that influence intake were studied.

Students (n=260) enrolled in Health and Nutrition & Wellness classes were randomly assigned to intervention or control by class. Intervention consisted of 1 ½ hours for five days of fruit and vegetable focused education. Students completed pre- and post-surveys.

Results showed that fruit and vegetable intake did not change in intervention classes but significantly decreased (p<0.0484) in control classes. Knowledge significantly increased (p<0.0151) in intervention classes. No changes in self-efficacy or stage of change were observed.

Nutrition education must be …

The Development Of Caching Behavior, Cache Site And Cache Item Defense Tactics, And Cache Site And Cache Item Sharing In Orphaned Fledgling Blue Jays (Cyanocitta Cristata) At A Songbird Rehabilitation Center, Deanna Martinez

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

One of the primary goals of songbird rehabilitators is to promote controllable factors that increase survivorship in orphaned songbirds upon to release. As caching serves an important function in corvid life, this study sought to determine if this behavior would develop with or without outside input. Eight orphaned blue jays (consisting of both hatchlings and nestlings) were brought into the care of the Bird Center of Washtenaw County, Inc. in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Birds were videotaped and observed for the development of caching behavior, cache item and cache site sharing, and cache defense tactics. Caching behavior and cache defense tactics …

The Effect Of The Food Allergen Labeling And Consumer Protection Act (Falcpa) On The Accidental Food Allergen Ingestion Rate In Adults With Self-Reported Food Allergies, Susan Liebert

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Background: The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) recently required bolded allergens or “contains” statements on food product labels. Very few U.S. studies have looked at the accidental food allergen ingestion rate in adults. Since the emotional and medical costs of allergic reactions can be high, it is important to determine if the FALCPA is helping to reduce the accidental food allergen ingestion rate in adults with self-reported food allergies.

Background: The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) recently required bolded allergens or “contains” statements on food product labels. Very few U.S. studies have looked at …