Animal Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Threshold Selection Methods For Microarray Gene Co-Expression Matrices, Bhavesh R. Borate, Elissa J. Chesler, Michael A. Langston, Arnold M. Saxton, Brynn H. Voy

Animal Science Publications and Other Works

Background

Network and clustering analyses of microarray co-expression correlation data often require application of a threshold to discard small correlations, thus reducing computational demands and decreasing the number of uninformative correlations. This study investigated threshold selection in the context of combinatorial network analysis of transcriptome data.

Findings

Six conceptually diverse methods - based on number of maximal cliques, correlation of control spots with expressed genes, top 1% of correlations, spectral graph clustering, Bonferroni correction of p-values, and statistical power - were used to estimate a correlation threshold for three time-series microarray datasets. The validity of thresholds was tested by comparison …

Investigating The Maintenance Of The Lyme Disease Pathogen, Borrelia Burgdorferi, And Its Vector, Ixodes Scapularis, In Tennessee, Michelle Erin Rosen

Masters Theses

Lyme disease (LD), caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and transmitted by blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease is endemic in northeastern states, whereas southern states report far fewer cases. This research evaluated the potential LD health risk to humans associated with blacklegged ticks in Tennessee.

I surveyed 1,018 hunter-harvested deer from 71 counties in fall 2007 and fall 2008. Of these, 160 (15.7%) from 35 counties were infested with I. scapularis — 30 of the counties were new distributional records for this species.

I also evaluated …

Direct Effects Of Heat Stress During Meiotic Maturation On Bovine Oocyte And Cumulus Rna, Rebecca R. Payton

Doctoral Dissertations

Heat-induced reductions in developmental competence after direct exposure of oocytes to 41ºC have been coincident with reduced protein synthesis. Since heat stress perturbs RNA integrity and polyadenylation in somatic cells, it was hypothesized that heat stress during meiotic maturation may alter RNA within oocytes and/or their surrounding cumulus to account for some of the reductions in development. Initial efforts utilized microcapillary electrophoresis to examine oocyte and cumulus RNA without heat stress as a first step toward transcriptome profile analysis. Size distribution of RNA, rRNA ratio, and other related endpoints differed for oocyte RNA compared to cumulus, and were conserved across …

Farm Focus - Fall 2009, Brian K. Whitlock, Matt Welborn, Maria Prado, Amy Plummer

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Pb 1663-2010 Beef Integrated Resource Management Calendar, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Animals/Livestock

Having a planned breeding/calving season and the availability of handling or working facilities are very important to getting the most from the Beef IRM Calendar. Neither is essential for using the calendar. Both a planned breeding/calving season and handling facilities would be good goals if they are lacking on your farm.

Population And Genetic Impacts Of A 4-Lane Highway On Black Bears In Eastern North Carolina, Jeremy Michael Nicholson

Masters Theses

A 19.3-km section of U.S. Highway 64 in Washington County, North Carolina was rerouted to a 4-lane, divided highway with 3 wildlife underpasses during 2001–2005. I determined the short-term population and genetic impacts of the new highway on American black bears (Ursus americanus). I used DNA from hair samples collected during 7 weekly sampling periods within the project area of the new highway and a nearby control area during 2000 (pre-construction phase) and 2006 (post-construction phase; n = 70 sites for each study area). DNA from the hair samples was used to obtain genotypes of sampled bears using …

Deer Forage Available Following Silvicultural Treatments In Upland Hardwood Forests And Warm-Season Plantings, Marcus Alan Lashley

Masters Theses

Thinning, herbicide release, and prescribed fire have been used to increase forage availability in pine forests for white-tailed deer, rivaling that available in warm-season food plots. Related data are lacking for hardwood forests. I measured forage availability following 7 silvicultural treatments, including controls (C), forest regeneration methods, and Timber Stand Improvement practices in 4 upland mixed hardwood stands, July–September 2007 and 2008. I also measured forage availability in 4 paired warm-season food plots, including soybeans, lablab, and iron-andclay cowpeas, July–September 2007, and three varieties of soybeans, July–October 2008. I compared nutritional carrying capacity (NCC) of selected species and species from …

Effects Of Weaning And Syndyphalin-33 On Appetite Regulators In Swine, Tabatha Anne Cooper

Masters Theses

The synthetic met-enkephalin syndyphalin-33 (SD-33) increases feed intak in sheep and recently-weaned pigs. An experiment focused on changes in hypothalamic levels of mRNA transcripts from the following genes: μ-opioid receptor (MOR), neuropeptide Y (NPY), orexin (hypocretin; HCRT), melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), and agouti-related protein (AGRP). There was no effect of treatment on BW or FI at any point in the study. There is a strong positive correlation (p <0.001) between MOR and MC4 that remains regardless of treatment or time. Weaning resulted in a numerical increase in hypothalamic MOR mRNA expression. There was a treatment effect of MOR expression levels 4 days postweaning. Hypothalamic NPY expression was unchanged through time or treatment. In …

Effects Of Syndyphalin-33 On Appetite, Endocrine, And Immune Parameters In The Recently Weaned Pig, Sarah Jo Jenkins

Masters Theses

This thesis discusses the background information regarding the physiological effects the pig encounters during weaning as well as a potential factor that can be used to assist the pig during this time. Specifically, the research focus is to assess the ability of the tri-peptide opioid agonist, Syndyphalin-33 (SD-33), to increase feed intake and body weight and modulate immune responses during the post-weaning period. The results of this research have demonstrated that SD-33 increases feed intake, transiently increases growth hormone and cortisol levels, and increases total white blood cell counts while selectively increasing monocyte numbers in healthy weaned pigs. This research …

Muskrat-River Otter Interactions In And Adjacent To Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, Ryan H. Williamson

Masters Theses

Anecdotal observations have suggested that muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) populations were dramatically reduced in streams where the North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) were reintroduced. Muskrats predate upon freshwater mussels and it was speculated that river otter reintroduction could result in increased mussel numbers. My objectives were to evaluate the ecological relationship between otter, muskrat, and mussels on the Green and Nolin rivers in Mammoth Cave National Park (MCNP). Seventeen river otters were captured in or relocated to MCNP from January to May 2007. The augmentation was only marginally successful with 3 male river otters establishing home …

Pb1769-A Guide To Successful Wildlife Food Plots-Blending Science With Common Sense, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Wildlife and Fisheries

Planting food plots is by far the most popular habitat management practice among landowners wanting to enhance wildlife habitat. Indeed, planting food plots is an excellent way to improve available nutrition and increase the nutritional carrying capacity of a property for wildlife. Research has shown quality food plots can provide more than 10 times the amount of digestible energy and protein available in recently regenerated forests or within properly managed mature forests. Food plots not only provide nutritional benefits, but also can increase and enhance hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities. Planting and managing food plots also provides recreational activity, and …

Farm Focus - Spring 2009, Brian K. Whitlock, Matt Welborn, Maria Prado, Amy Plummer

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Large Animal Clinical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Volume 6, Number 1 (2009), Ut Institute Of Agriculture

Tennessee Land, Life and Science Magazine

Issue Highlights:

• Innovations in Learning

Volume 6, Number 2 (2009), Ut Institute Of Agriculture

Tennessee Land, Life and Science Magazine

Issue Highlights:

• Developing Safer Sports Turfs