Animal Sciences Commons^™

Individual-Level Antibody Dynamics Reveal Potential Drivers Of Influenza A Seasonality In Wild Pig Populations, Kim M. Pepin, Kerri Pedersen, Xiu-Feng Wan, Fred L. Cunningham, Colleen T. Webb, Mark Q. Wilber

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Swine are important in the ecology of influenza A virus (IAV) globally. Understanding the ecological role of wild pigs in IAV ecology has been limited because surveillance in wild pigs is often for antibodies (serosurveillance) rather than IAVs, as in humans and domestic swine. As IAV antibodies can persist long after an infection, serosurveillance data are not necessarily indicative of current infection risk. However, antibody responses to IAV infections cause a predictable antibody response, thus time of infection can be inferred from antibody levels in serological samples, enabling identification of risk factors of infection at estimated times of infection. Recent …

Weak Effects Of Geolocators On Small Birds: A Meta-Analysis Controlled For Phylogeny And Publication Bias, Vojtěch Brlík, Noah G. Perlut

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

Currently, the deployment of tracking devices is one of the most frequently used approaches to study movement ecology of birds. Recent miniaturization of light-level geolocators enabled studying small bird species whose migratory patterns were widely unknown. However, geolocators may reduce vital rates in tagged birds and may bias obtained movement data. There is a need for a thorough assessment of the potential tag effects on small birds, as previous meta-analyses did not evaluate unpublished data and impact of multiple life-history traits, focused mainly on large species and the number of published studies tagging small birds has increased substantially. We quantitatively …

Decreased Sarcopenia In Aged Females With Young Ovary Transplants Was Preserved In Mice That Received Germ Cell-Depleted Young Ovaries, Tracy L. Habermehl, Jeffrey B. Mason

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Previously, transplantation of young, cycling, ovaries increased life and health span in post-reproductive female mice. The current study addressed the influence of ovarian germ cells in the improvement in health by performing transplantations of young, germ cell-depleted ovaries. The purpose of this study is to further the understanding of reproductive influences on aging health. Control mice were grouped by age. Treatment mice were age-matched and received either germ cell depleted ovaries or germ cell containing ovaries at 400 days of age. All groups underwent health span assays until sacrifice (treatment and age-matched control groups were between 680 and 700 days). …

Sex‐Biased Survival Contributes To Population Decline In A Long‐Lived Seabird, The Magellanic Penguin, Natasha J. Gownaris, P. D. Boersma

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

We developed a Hidden Markov mark–recapture model (R package marked) to examine sex‐specific demography in Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus ). Our model was based on 33 yr of resightings at Punta Tombo, Argentina, where we banded ~44,000 chicks from 1983 to 2010. Because we sexed only 57% of individuals over their lifetime, we treated sex as an uncertain state in our model. Our goals were to provide insight into the population dynamics of this declining colony, to inform conservation of this species, and to highlight the importance of considering sex‐specific vital rates in demographic seabird studies. Like many other …

Scorpions Of The Horn Of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part Xviii. Gint Banfasae Sp. N. From Somaliland (Buthidae), František Kovařík, Graeme Lowe

Euscorpius

Gint banfasae sp. n. from Somaliland is described and compared with other species of the genus. Additional information is provided on the taxonomy and distribution of the genus Gint, fully complemented with color photos of specimens of both sexes of the new species, as well as of their habitat. Included is a key for Gint.

Distribution Of Contaminants In The Environment And Wildlife Habitat Use: A Case Study With Lead And Waterfowl On The Upper Texas Coast, Brian Kearns, Stephen Mcdowell, Jena A. Moon, Elizabeth Rigby, Warren C. Conway, David A. Haukos

Faculty Publications

The magnitude and distribution of lead contamination remain unknown in wetland systems. Anthropogenic deposition of lead may be contributing to negative population-level effects in waterfowl and other organisms that depend on dynamic wetland habitats, particularly if they are unable to detect and differentiate levels of environmental contamination by lead. Detection of lead and behavioral response to elevated lead levels by waterfowl is poorly understood, but necessary to characterize the risk of lead-contaminated habitats. We measured the relationship between lead contamination of wetland soils and habitat use by mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula) on the Upper Texas Coast, USA. Mottled …

Pyganodon Grandis Growth Along A Trophic State Gradient In Eastern South Dakota Lakes, Katherine M. Wollman, Nels H. Troelstrup Jr.

Oak Lake Field Station 30th Anniversary Retreat Presentations

No abstract provided.

Landscapes, Water Quality And Aquatic Assemblages, Nels H. Troelstrup Jr.

Oak Lake Field Station 30th Anniversary Retreat Presentations

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Preovulatory Estradiol On Uterine Transcriptomics And Proteomics Around Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy In Beef Cattle, Emmalee J. Northrop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Preovulatory estradiol has been reported to play a crucial role in pregnancy establishment and maintenance, but the mechanism by which estradiol exerts its effects has not been well characterized. Specifically, the interactions between the maternal uterine environment and the developing conceptus can greatly impact pregnancy success or loss. The objective of this dissertation is to determine the effects of preovulatory estradiol exposure on uterine and trophectoderm transcriptomes, and uterine luminal fluid (ULF) protein composition. Beef cows/heifers were synchronized, artificially inseminated (d 0), and grouped into either high (highE2) or low (lowE2) preovulatory estradiol. Uteri were flushed to collect d16 conceptuses …

Description And Histology Of A Small-Bodied Elasmosaur And Discription Of Mortuneria Seyemourensis Postcranium, Elizabeth Lester

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Elasmosauridae is a monophyletic group of plesiosaurs that evolved in the Early Cretaceous and radiated to achieve a cosmopolitan distribution by the end of the Cretaceous. They were a highly successful group of deep sea predators with long necks, small heads, and stout four flippered bodies. Here we describe four postcranial elasmosaurs skeletons that were collected from the shallow marine Lopez de Bertodano formation located on Seymour Island of the Antarctic Peninsula. One specimen is a small-bodied elasmosaurs. Despite its small size it has several advanced ontogenetic character states including the fusion of neural spines to the vertebral centra. The …

Long-Term Effects Of Elevated Manganese On Procambarus Clarkii Behavior, Cody W. Lambert

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Manganese is a prominent heavy metal within the earth’s crust and a micro mineral essential for biological function, however, high level exposure may lead to neurological defects. Industrial activities allow elevated manganese (Mn²⁺)to enter air and waterways. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implements secondary standards for aesthetics in drinking water at 0.05 ppm Mn2+, although evidence indicates levels at, or below this concentration negatively impact aquatic life. Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were exposed to environmentally relevant Mn²⁺ concentrations for 6 months, while the control group was kept in reconstituted fresh water for the same time period. …

Poultry And Egg Education Project (Peep) Curriculum Resource, Sandria L. Godwin, John Ricketts

Extension Publications

The PEEP Curriculum for youth is one of the major outcomes associated with a USDA-AFRI project to develop a research-based educational program comprised of consumer-focused, impactful messages addressing poultry and egg safety practices. The six peer-reviewed lesson plans and objectives herein were developed directly from the research associated with this project.

The lesson plans are complete with requisite background information, objectives, activities, videos, and evaluation tools. The lessons can be integrated into standing or special 4-H programs related to poultry, STEM, and health and food science. The lessons can also be integrated into school-based agricultural education programs, specifically in pathways …

Dna Methylation And Mirna-1296 Act In Concert To Mediate Spatiotemporal Expression Of Kpna7 During Bovine Oocyte And Early Embryonic Development, Lei Wang, Jacqelyn M. Hand, Liyuan Fu, George W. Smith, Jianbo Yao

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Abstract

Background: Epigenetic regulation of oocyte-specific maternal factors is essential for oocyte and early embryonic development. KPNA7 is an oocyte-specific maternal factor, which controls transportation of nuclear proteins important for early embryonic development. To elucidate the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the controlled expression of KPNA7, both DNA methylation associated transcriptional silencing and microRNA (miRNA)-mediated mRNA degradation of KPNA7 were examined.

Results: Comparison of DNA methylation profiles at the proximal promoter of KPNA7 gene between oocyte and 6 different somatic tissues identified 3 oocyte-specific differentially methylated CpG sites. Expression of KPNA7 mRNA was reintroduced in bovine kidney-derived CCL2 cells after treatment …

The “Motor Of The Day”: Parent And School-Age Children’S Cognitions, Barriers, And Supports For Breakfast, Kaitlyn M. Eck, Colleen L. Delaney, Rashel L. Clark, Miriam P. Leary, Karla Pagan Shelnutt, Melissa D. Olfert, Carol Byrd-Bredbenner

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Despite the many benefits of regular breakfast consumption few parents and children consume this meal every day and research examining the determinants of breakfast consumption is limited. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine breakfast-related cognitions (i.e., beliefs, attitudes, facilitators, barriers) of parents and school-age children (ages 6–11 years) using the constructs of Social Cognitive Theory as a guide. Parents (n = 37) and children (n = 41) participated in focus group discussions held in community settings in 3 states (FL, NJ, WV). Data were qualitatively content analyzed to detect trends. Parents felt breakfast was important for numerous …

Time-Activity Budgets Of Stiff-Tailed Ducks In Puerto Rico, Nickolas S. Goodman, Jack C. Eitniear, James T. Anderson

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Habitat loss and degradation have contributed to declining populations of stiff-tailed ducks including the migratory northern ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis rubida), and non-migratory masked duck (Nomonyx dominicus) and West Indian ruddy duck (Oxyura j. jamaicensis). Studies collecting time-activity budgets on waterfowl can provide important insight into habitat use, behavior, and niche partitioning. Even though the northern ruddy duck and West Indian ruddy duck are recognized as the same species, we treated them separately to appraise possible ecological differences. We recorded 24-h time-activity budgets for masked ducks (n = 142), northern ruddy ducks ( …

Nutritional Condition And Physiological Stress Levels Of Elk In The Black Hills, South Dakota, Chadwick P. Lehman, Christopher T. Rota, Joshua J. Millspaugh

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Percent of body fat and physiological stress are important correlates to wildlife demographics. We studied winter percent of body fat and physiological stress levels for a declining elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) population in South Dakota, 2011–2013. We obtained percent of winter body fat, pregnancy status, lactation status, and physiological stress data from 58 adult females (2+ years old). We compared physiological stress level data from 2011 with data collected from this same herd when elk densities were much higher (1995–1997). Our objectives were to determine percent of body fat during winter, examine if winter body fat was correlated with pregnancy …

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Genomic Loci Affecting Filet Firmness And Protein Content In Rainbow Trout, Ali Ali, Rafet Al-Tobasei, Daniela Lourenco, Tim Leeds, Brett Kenney, Mohamed Saleem

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Filet quality traits determine consumer satisfaction and affect profitability of the aquaculture industry. Soft flesh is a criterion for fish filet downgrades, resulting in loss of value. Filet firmness is influenced by many factors, including rate of protein turnover. A 50K transcribed gene SNP chip was used to genotype 789 rainbow trout, from two consecutive generations, produced in the USDA/NCCCWA selective breeding program. Weighted single-step GBLUP (WssGBLUP) was used to perform genome-wide association (GWA) analyses to identify quantitative trait loci affecting filet firmness and protein content. Applying genomic sliding windows of 50 adjacent SNPs, 212 and 225 SNPs were associated …

The Identification Of Differentially Expressed Genes Between Extremes Of Placental Efficiency In Maternal Line Gilts On Day 95 Of Gestation, Shanice K. Krombeen, Vijay Shankar, Rooksana E. Noorai, Christopher A. Saski, Julia L. Sharp, Matthew E. Wilson, Tiffany A. Wilmoth

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: Placental efficiency (PE) describes the relationship between placental and fetal weights (fetal wt/placental wt). Within litters, PE can vary drastically, resulting in similarly sized pigs associated with differently sized placentas, up to a 25% weight difference. However, the mechanisms enabling the smaller placenta to grow a comparable littermate are unknown. To elucidate potential mechanisms, morphological measurements and gene expression profiles in placental and associated endometrial tissues of high PE and low PE feto-placental units were compared. Tissue samples were obtained from eight maternal line gilts during gestational day 95 ovario-hysterectomies. RNA was extracted from tissues of feto-placental units with …

Characterization And Localization Of Cyclin B3 Transcript In Both Oocyte And Spermatocyte Of The Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss), Wenzhi Guan, Liangjie Qiu, Bo Zhang, Jianbo Yao, Qing Xiao, Gaofeng Qiu

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

B-type cyclins are regulatory subunits with distinct roles in the cell cycle. To date, at least three subtypes of B-type cyclins (B1, B2, and B3) have been identified in vertebrates. Previously, we reported the characterization and expression profiles of cyclin B1 and B2 during gametogenesis in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In this paper, we isolated another subtype of cyclin B, cyclin B3 (CB3), from a cDNA library of the rainbow trout oocyte. The full-length CB3 cDNA (2,093 bp) has an open reading frame (1,248 bp) that encodes a protein of 416 amino acid residues. The CB3 transcript …

Revisiting The Historic Distribution And Habitats Of The Whooping Crane, Jane E. Austin, Matthew A. Hayes, Jeb A. Barzen

United States Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: Publications

Understanding the historic range and habitats of an endangered species can assist in conservation and reintroduction efforts for that species. Individuals reintroduced into a species’ historic core range have a higher survival rate compared to individuals introduced near the periphery or outside the historic range (Falk and Olwell, 1992; Griffith et al., 1989). Individuals on the periphery of a species’ range tend to occupy less favorable habitats and have lower and more variable densities than those near the core of their range (Brown, 1984; Brown et al., 1995, 1996). Such conclusions, however, presume that historic habitats have not changed since …

Prevalence And Correlates Of Food Insecurity Among U.S. College Students: A Multi-Institutional Study, Aseel El Zein, Karla P. Shelnutt, Sarah Colby, Melissa J. Vilaro, Wenjun Zhou, Geoffrey Greene, Melissa D. Olfert, Kristin Riggsbee, Jesse Stabile Morrell, Anne E. Mathews

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Background: College students may be vulnerable to food insecurity due to limited financial resources, decreased buying power of federal aid, and rising costs of tuition, housing, and food. This study assessed the prevalence of food insecurity and its sociodemographic, health, academic, and food pantry correlates among first-year college students in the United States. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among first-year students (n = 855) across eight U.S. universities. Food security status was assessed using the U.S. Department of Agriculture Adult Food Security Survey Module. Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Eating Attitudes Test-26 were used to …

Latest Documented Fall Record Of Oporornis Agilis (Connecticut Warbler) In North America, Noah G. Perlut

Environmental Studies Faculty Publications

On 11 November 2017, a male hatch-year Oporornis agilis (Connecticut Warbler) was killed by a Felis catus (Domestic Cat) in Scarborough, Cumberland County, ME. This specimen, housed in the University of New England ornithological collection, is the latest documented fall record of this species in North America.

Activity Budgets And Behavior Of Captive Black-Handed Spider Monkeys (Ateles Geoffroyi) At The Central Florida Zoo And Botanical Gardens, Stephanie Hargrave

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Establishing baseline activity budgets for zoo-housed captive animals can be important in tracking behavior changes that may indicate medical or other concerns, as well as assessing overall welfare and the need for implementation of interventions such as increased amounts of enrichment. This study sought to calculate activity budgets for the current spider monkeys residing at the Central Florida Zoo, a father-daughter pair of Ateles geoffroyi. Having a baseline activity budget is also valuable because major changes in behavior may accompany the upcoming introduction of new individuals to this particular group of spider monkeys. BORIS behavior coding software was used to …

The Effect Of Maternal Diet With Fish Oil On Oxidative Stress And Inflammatory Response In Sow And New-Born Piglets, W. L. Luo, Z. Luo, X. Xu, S. Zhao, S. H. Li, T. Sho, J. Yao, J. Zhang, W. N. Xu, J. X. Xu

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Pregnancy is an oxidative stress and immune challenge for the mother. Fish oil is rich in EPA and DHA, which can partly inhibit aspects of inflammation and restore antioxidant capacity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of maternal diet with fish oil during the late gestation period on oxidative stress and inflammatory response in sows and their progenies. Twelve second-parity sows were allocated equally into two groups. Sows were fed either the soybean oil diet (SD) or soybean oil+fish oil diet (FD) during the gestation period. The plasma of sows, cord blood, and new-born piglets were collected. Full-term …

Associations Between Residual Feed Intake And Apparent Nutrient Digestibility, In Vitro Methane-Producing Activity, And Volatile Fatty Acid Concentrations In Growing Beef Cattle, Jocelyn R. Johnson, Gordon E. Carstens, Wimberly K. Krueger, Phillip A. Lancaster, Erin G. Brown, Luis O. Tedeschi, Robin C. Anderson, Kristen A. Johnson, Arieh Brosh

Faculty Publications

The objectives of this study were to examine the relationship between residual feed intake (RFI) and DM and nutrient digestibility, in vitro methane production, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations in growing beef cattle. Residual feed intake was measured in growing Santa Gertrudis steers (Study 1; n = 57; initial BW = 291.1 ± 33.8 kg) and Brangus heifers (Study 2; n = 468; initial BW = 271.4 ± 26.1 kg) fed a high-roughage-based diet (ME = 2.1 Mcal/kg DM) for 70 d in a Calan-gate feeding barn. Animals were ranked by RFI based on performance and feed intake measured …

Feasibility Of A Mhealth Approach To Nutrition Counseling In An Appalachian State, Melissa D. Olfert, Makenzie L. Barr, Rebecca L. Hagedorn, Dustin M. Long, Treah S. Haggerty, Mathew Weimer, Joseph Golden, Mary Ann Maurer, Jill D. Cochran, Tracy Hendershot, Stacey L. Whanger, Jay D. Mason, Sally L. Hodder

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Abstract: West Virginia is a rural state with an aging population that may experience barriers to accessing nutritional and lifestyle counseling. This study examined feasibility of an online personalized nutrition tracking application, Good Measures (GM), with patients at seven health care clinics throughout the state. Fourteen healthcare providers and 64 patients 18 years or older with a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 and access to the Internet were recruited for this 12-week feasibility study. Patient participants logged meals and exercise into the GM application via smart phone, tablet, or computer and virtually engaged with a …

Increasing The Concentration Of Linolenic Acid In Diets Fed To Jersey Cows In Late Lactation Does Not Affect Methane Production, J. V. Judy, G. C. Bachman, T. M. Brown-Brandl, S. C. Fernando, K. E. Hales, K. J. Harvatine, P. S. Miller, P. J. Kononoff

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Although the inclusion of fat has reduced methane production in ruminants, relatively little research has been conducted comparing the effects of source and profile of fatty acids on methane production in lactating dairy cows. A study using 8 multiparous (325 ± 17 DIM; mean ± SD) lactating Jersey cows was conducted to determine effects of feeding canola meal and lard versus extruded byproduct containing flaxseed as a high-C18:3 fat source on methane production and diet digestibility in late-lactation dairy cows. A crossover design with 32-d periods (28-d adaptation and 4-d collections) was used to compare 2 different fat sources. Diets …

Jackrabbit Dairy And Food Review, Vikram V. Mistry

The Jackrabbit Dairy & Food Review

This is the Winter 2017- 2018 Jackrabbit Dairy and Food Review. It contains the following articles and information: Message from the Department Head, 2017 Graduates, David A. Thompson Endowment, New Faculty and Visitors, information on the Dairy Club and Food Science Club, Judging Activities, Student Accomplishments, Professional Activities of Faculty and Staff, Distinguished Alumni, Dairy Facilities, a list of Scholarships and Dairy and Food Science Students, information on Departmental Outreach and Research Highlights.

Ua66/5/4 Ogden College Of Science & Engineering Agriculture Events, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Records about Agriculture events.

Forage News [2019-01], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

• Get NAFA's 2019 Alfalfa Variety Ratings
• Evaluation of the Efficacy of Various Herbicides for the Control of Broadleaf and Buckhorn Plantain in Alfalfa
• Save Hay by Reducing Feeding Waste
• Don't Miss "The Dollars and Sense of Grazing", Forages at KCA, January 18th in Owensboro
• Taking Stock
• Winter Meeting Rundown