SP701-B Using Switchgrass for Forage

Version 2.

SP701-B Using Switchgrass for Forage

Version 2.

SP701-B Using Switchgrass for Forage

Version 2.

SP701-B Using Switchgrass for Forage

Version 2.

Ariel - Volume 7 Number 2

Editors Mark Dembert Frank Chervanek John Lammie Jim Burke Curt Cumming

Factors Influencing Northern Bobwhite Hunter Success on a Public Wildlife Management Area in Kentucky

Hunter success is a critical measure of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) restoration. Understanding the factors influencing hunter success can guide wildlife agencies in efforts to improve success and satisfaction and sustain hunter support of conservation initiatives. We compared use of vegetation types by radiomarked bobwhite (n = 30 coveys) and hunting dogs (n = 241) equipped with Global Positioning System collars during the 2014–2015 quail hunting season on Peabody Wildlife Management Area in western Kentucky. We surveyed hunting parties (n = 252) immediately after their hunt to determine success (flushed bobwhite) and gather hunt-party characteristics. We used associated habitat metrics from the dog track, weather variables, hunter and dog characteristics (e.g., age, experience), and hunt metrics (e.g., hours hunted, no. of dogs) to determine factors that influenced hunt success. Dogs used winter wheat firebreaks more than bobwhite regardless of time of day, forested areas more than bobwhite in the morning (0700–1000 hr) and midday (1000–1300 hr), disked areas more than bobwhite during midday, and open herbaceous areas less than bobwhite during morning and midday. The probability of success was positively influenced by number of dogs and hours hunted and negatively influenced by proportion of the hunt track in disked areas. Also, hunter success was greater in November compared with December and January. Our results indicated some key features associated with bobwhite habitat (open areas) may be underexploited by hunters, whereas other features (disked areas, firebreaks, and forested areas) may be overexploited. However, success was influenced primarily by factors that may be related to covey avoidance behavior resulting from substantial hunting pressure rather than where hunters selected to hunt. Lower bobwhite encounter rates (coveys flushed/hour) could cause hunter support to wane and bias hunting data as an indicator of population abundance

Integration of Banana Streak Badnavirus into theMusaGenome: Molecular and Cytogenetic Evidence

AbstractBreeding and tissue culture of certain cultivars of bananas (Musa) have led to high levels of banana streak badnavirus (BSV) infection in progeny from symptomless parents. BSV DNA hybridized to genomic DNA of one such parent, Obino l'Ewai, suggesting integration of viral sequences. Sequencing of clones of Obino l'Ewai genomic DNA revealed an interface between BSV andMusasequences and a complex BSV integrant.In situhybridization revealed two different BSV sequence locations in Obino l'Ewai chromosomes and a complex arrangement of BSV andMusasequences was shown by probing stretched DNA fibers. This is the first report of integrated sequences that possibly lead to a plant pararetrovirus episomal infection by a mechanism differing markedly from animal retroviral systems

Oxidative stress and life histories: unresolved issues and current needs.

Life-history theory concerns the trade-offs that mold the patterns of investment by animals between reproduction, growth, and survival. It is widely recognized that physiology plays a role in the mediation of life-history trade-offs, but the details remain obscure. As life-history theory concerns aspects of investment in the soma that influence survival, understanding the physiological basis of life histories is related, but not identical, to understanding the process of aging. One idea from the field of aging that has gained considerable traction in the area of life histories is that life-history trade-offs may be mediated by free radical production and oxidative stress. We outline here developments in this field and summarize a number of important unresolved issues that may guide future research efforts. The issues are as follows. First, different tissues and macromolecular targets of oxidative stress respond differently during reproduction. The functional significance of these changes, however, remains uncertain. Consequently there is a need for studies that link oxidative stress measurements to functional outcomes, such as survival. Second, measurements of oxidative stress are often highly invasive or terminal. Terminal studies of oxidative stress in wild animals, where detailed life-history information is available, cannot generally be performed without compromising the aims of the studies that generated the life-history data. There is a need therefore for novel non-invasive measurements of multi-tissue oxidative stress. Third, laboratory studies provide unrivaled opportunities for experimental manipulation but may fail to expose the physiology underpinning life-history effects, because of the benign laboratory environment. Fourth, the idea that oxidative stress might underlie life-history trade-offs does not make specific enough predictions that are amenable to testing. Moreover, there is a paucity of good alternative theoretical models on which contrasting predictions might be based. Fifth, there is an enormous diversity of life-history variation to test the idea that oxidative stress may be a key mediator. So far we have only scratched the surface. Broadening the scope may reveal new strategies linked to the processes of oxidative damage and repair. Finally, understanding the trade-offs in life histories and understanding the process of aging are related but not identical questions. Scientists inhabiting these two spheres of activity seldom collide, yet they have much to learn from each other

Impact of asthma on educational attainment in a socioeconomically deprived population: a study linking health, education and social care datasets

BACKGROUND: Asthma has the potential to adversely affect children's school examination performance, and hence longer term life chances. Asthma morbidity is especially high amongst UK ethnic minority children and those experiencing social adversity, populations which also have poor educational outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that asthma adversely affects performance in national school examinations in a large cohort from an area of ethnic diversity and social deprivation. METHODS AND FINDINGS: With a novel method (using patient and address-matching algorithms) we linked administrative and clinical data for 2002-2005 for children in east London aged 5-14 years to contemporaneous education and social care datasets. We modelled children's performance in school examinations in relation to socio-demographic and clinical variables. The dataset captured examination performance for 12,136 children who sat at least one national examination at Key Stages 1-3. For illustration, estimates are presented as percentage changes in Key Stage 2 results. Having asthma was associated with a 1.1% increase in examination scores (95%CI 0.4 to 1.7)%,p = 0.02. Worse scores were associated with Bangladeshi ethnicity -1.3%(-2.5 to -0.1)%,p = 0.03; special educational need -14.6%(-15.7 to -13.5)%,p = 0.02; mental health problems -2.5%(-4.1 to -0.9)%,p = 0.003, and social adversity: living in a smoking household -1.2(-1.7 to -0.6)%,p<0.001; living in social housing -0.8%(-1.3 to -0.2)% p = 0.01, and entitlement to free school meals -0.8%(-1.5 to -0.1)%,p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Social adversity and ethnicity, but not asthma, are associated with poorer performance in national school examinations. Policies to improve educational attainment in socially deprived areas should focus on these factors

1961

My Ideal Course, Underwater, U.S.A. (page 1) From the Editor (3) Turf Management Club News (3) Quotes from 1961 Seniors (4) The United States Most Western Owned Golf Course: Armed Forces Golf Course, Guam (5) Turf Majors Participate in Horticultural Show (7) Picture - G.C.S.A Scholarships Awarded to Three Turf Seniors (8) Picture - Stockbridge - Majors in turf Management (9) Opportunity and Education (10) The Most Outstanding Turf Senior for the Year - 1961 (11) How We Prepare Our Greens Before Topdressing (12) An Inexpensive Cure for Weeds and Poa Annua (13) Watering (14) Picture - Honorary Members of the Turf Management Club (16) Picture - Graduates of Winter School for Turf Managers - 1961 (17) Welcome Speech by Narry Sperandio (A-1) Handle with Care by Dr. Ellsworth H. Wheeler (A-2) Current Ideas on Green Construction - Panel Discussion (A-4) Automatic Systems for Watering by Robert F. Harper (A-14) History of Golf Course Architecture by Geoffrey S. Cornish (A-22) Effect of Nutrition on Turf Diseases by Dr. Houston B. Couch Turf Disease Control and Use of Fungicides by Dr. R. J. Lukens Trees and Tree Care by Gordon S. King (A-38) Arsenical Toxicity by Dr. C. R. Skogley (A-41) Soil Reaction to Arsenical Compounds by Joseph E. Steckel Brush Control For the Golf Course by Dr. William I. Boyd (A-51) Massachusetts Highway Herbicide Program by Joseph L. Beasley (A-54) General Turf (Alternate Session): Observations on Highway Turf Establishment & Maintenance by E.F. Button (A-62) Pre-emerge Chemicals for the Control of Crabgrass by Dr. John R. Havis, John M. Zak & Joseph Troll (A-70) Root Growth of Turf Grasses as Affected by Different heights of Cut and Nutrient Levels by Evangel J. Bredakis (A-71) The Use of Sod by Daniel Pellegrino (A-72