Development and management of fishing leases

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311

Development and management of fishing leases

The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service periodically issues revisions to its publications. The most current edition is made available. For access to an earlier edition, if available for this title, please contact the Oklahoma State University Library Archives by email at [email protected] or by phone at 405-744-6311

Cow/Calf Production Record Software.

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Cow/Calf Production Record Software.

16 p

A large scale hearing loss screen reveals an extensive unexplored genetic landscape for auditory dysfunction

The developmental and physiological complexity of the auditory system is likely reflected in the underlying set of genes involved in auditory function. In humans, over 150 non-syndromic loci have been identified, and there are more than 400 human genetic syndromes with a hearing loss component. Over 100 non-syndromic hearing loss genes have been identified in mouse and human, but we remain ignorant of the full extent of the genetic landscape involved in auditory dysfunction. As part of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium, we undertook a hearing loss screen in a cohort of 3006 mouse knockout strains. In total, we identify 67 candidate hearing loss genes. We detect known hearing loss genes, but the vast majority, 52, of the candidate genes were novel. Our analysis reveals a large and unexplored genetic landscape involved with auditory function

Programming human pluripotent stem cells into white and brown adipocytes

The utility of human pluripotent stem cells is dependent on efficient differentiation protocols that convert these cells into relevant adult cell types. Here we report the robust and efficient differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into white or brown adipocytes. We found that inducible expression of PPARG2 alone or combined with CEBPB and/or PRDM16 in mesenchymal progenitor cells derived from pluripotent stem cells programmed their development towards a white or brown adipocyte cell fate with efficiencies of 85%–90%. These adipocytes retained their identity independent of transgene expression, could be maintained in culture for several weeks, expressed mature markers and had mature functional properties such as lipid catabolism and insulin-responsiveness. When transplanted into mice, the programmed cells gave rise to ectopic fat pads with the morphological and functional characteristics of white or brown adipose tissue. These results indicate that the cells could be used to faithfully model human disease.Stem Cell and Regenerative Biolog

Global chemical effects of the microbiome include new bile-acid conjugations

A mosaic of cross-phylum chemical interactions occurs between all metazoans and their microbiomes. A number of molecular families that are known to be produced by the microbiome have a marked effect on the balance between health and disease. Considering the diversity of the human microbiome (which numbers over 40,000 operational taxonomic units), the effect of the microbiome on the chemistry of an entire animal remains underexplored. Here we use mass spectrometry informatics and data visualization approaches to provide an assessment of the effects of the microbiome on the chemistry of an entire mammal by comparing metabolomics data from germ-free and specific-pathogen-free mice. We found that the microbiota affects the chemistry of all organs. This included the amino acid conjugations of host bile acids that were used to produce phenylalanocholic acid, tyrosocholic acid and leucocholic acid, which have not previously been characterized despite extensive research on bile-acid chemistry. These bile-acid conjugates were also found in humans, and were enriched in patients with inflammatory bowel disease or cystic fibrosis. These compounds agonized the farnesoid X receptor in vitro, and mice gavaged with the compounds showed reduced expression of bile-acid synthesis genes in vivo. Further studies are required to confirm whether these compounds have a physiological role in the host, and whether they contribute to gut diseases that are associated with microbiome dysbiosis

DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF FISHING LEASES

The popularity of developing sportfish leases is increasing rapidly in the South, much as development of hunting leases has done over the past three decades. This trend is occurring because an increasing number of: (1) landowners realize that their ponds and reservoirs are valuable resources capable of generating additional profits and (2) anglers desire a level of exclusivity not normally available on public waters. A sound economic evaluation of sportfish leasing opportunities is essential if landowners are to identify their most profitable alternatives. Net present value analysis is recommended as one method for evaluating compared profitability of selected investment and leasing strategies. Case studies are presented to illustrate analyses where sportfish leasing is the sole recreational lease and where sportfish leasing is viewed as a value-added amenity when combined with a hunting lease. Key economic values directly affecting the profitability of sportfish leasing alternatives include investment costs, lease rate, annual operating costs, interest rates, and desired rate of return on investment

Elm Fork of the Trinity River Floodplain Management Study

Wendy Lopez and Associates, Inc. (WLA) was asked to provide a conservation and ecological restoration overview for the City of Dallas as part of an Elm Fork Floodplain Management Study. This study encompasses a unique portion of the main stem of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River, Dallas County, Dallas, Texas. The project area includes approximately 8.5 square miles, half of which lie within a 100-year floodplain. Approximately 15% of the project area is mature bottomland hardwood forest and serves as an inner city haven for wildlife. Historically, the project area is located in the Blackland Prairie physiographic region, includes 5 to 10 percent jurisdictional waters and wetlands, and contains wildlife habitat typical of bottomland hardwood forest and riparian communities. At least six identified federal and state listed threatened and endangered species have utilized Dallas County as a migratory corridor. Over the last 100 years, the project area has experienced industrial development, including several inactive landfills. Due to the practice of filling the floodplain for development and the resulting seasonal flooding, the City of Dallas has decided to evaluate several flood management alternatives. Critical objectives for this study involved defining areas for valley storage, recreational development, and identifying ecological restoration opportunities. The study deliverables included a local drainage master plan for three tributaries of the Elm Fork and a report outlining overall watershed management concepts and restoration opportunities for the project ecosystem. The WLA assessment included natural and cultural resource impacts, hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste (HTRW) issues, and general water quality concerns. In order to assess local concerns, coordination with an Elm Fork advisory committee and numerous public meetings with property owners and stakeholders were completed. Additional advisement for the project was sought through federal, state, and city agency coordination. A Section 404 review and a comprehensive natural resources inventory of existing conditions within the main stem and the three tributaries were completed. Existing wetlands, vegetation cover, land use patterns, water and cultural resources, and related wildlife habitat utilization were documented. Assembled information included aerial photographs (historical and existing), soil classifications, and site hydrology. In addition, a modified Phase I environmental assessment (ESA) was performed to assess the risk of hazardous, toxic and radioactive waste (HTRW) impact. Several site visits revealed industrial uses and inactive registered and unregistered landfills occupied most of the project area, while residential areas were minimal. The preferred alternative, selected by an advisory committee, included channel improvements to existing waterways, a new diversion channel, new recreational areas, and habitat restoration opportunities. Recommendations for future work include developing a natural resource and forest management plan, outlining detailed environmental preservation and restoration opportunities and incorporating them into a phased approach and framework plan

Joppa preserve – wetland and wildlife habitat restoration

Joppa Preserve is a representative piece of a greater Trinity River, bottomland hardwood forest that once dominated this portion of North Texas. Located in Dallas County, the existing core (327 acres) of the project is located downstream of the Dallas Floodway, a flood damage reduction project completed in 1959. As the project sponsors, Dallas County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) initiated a feasibility study with project implementation costs estimated at $12,000,000. This study is intended to identify existing natural resources, environmental constraints, and develop a restoration plan for Joppa Preserve. Objectives of this feasibility study included identifying the environmental degradation resulting from previous construction and restoration of Joppa Preserve. Water resources within Joppa Preserve include Lemmon Lake, Little Lemmon Lake, Honey Springs, and an unnamed tributary of Five Mile Creek. This feasibility study identified measures designed to restore critical ecosystem components. Potential ecosystem restoration alternatives included restoration and expansion of wetlands and habitat improvements to existing riparian forests. The most critical hydraulic need included the repair of a large earthen embankment isolating Lemmon Lake from the Trinity River. Numerous field surveys were conducted by personnel of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Wendy Lopez and Associates, Inc. (WLA) to detail existing conditions and define natural resources within the project area, evaluate potential ecosystem restoration opportunities, and identify any constraints that might limit the implementation of future ecosystem restoration measures. Several coordination and workgroup meetings were undertaken with USACE, USFWS, Dallas County, City of Dallas, and WLA, to refine these critical steps in the plan formulation process. Through the use of IWR-PLAN software, WLA completed an Incremental Cost Analysis (ICA) in which multiple alternatives were evaluated in a habitat improvement process. USFWS and WLA modeled wildlife utilization by employing the Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP). Possible combinations and solutions were identified and represented the best financial investments through the life of the project. Alternatives included: lake embankment restoration, expanding the boundaries of Joppa Preserve, wetland creation, aquatic habitat improvements to Little Lemmon Lake, maintenance of water levels, restoration of a poison ivy parkland, repair of the water outfall control structure, reforestation, and a recreation plan. The plan of interest derived from this process included acquiring additional buffer areas for Joppa Preserve, improving the lakes complex, restoring 15 acres of grassland/woodland, removing existing and creating new water control structures, reforestation of 3 acres of bottomland hardwood habitat, acquiring 69.5 acres of disclimax communities, and restoring 1500 linear feet of the lake embankment