Teaching Students to Fish: Creating a Sustainable Student Peer Research Program

A Peer Research Mentor (PRM) program was developed at Musselman Library, Gettysburg College to augment traditional reference services and expand library outreach. Goals included enhancing these students’ information literacy skills helping them become better researchers, as well as sharing that knowledge with peers. This poster will highlight the initial and on-going training, their involvement at the reference desk, and outreach projects to date

Effect of progestin treatment on formation of persistent follicles in beef heifers [abstract]

Abstract only availableEffective estrous synchronization protocols frequently utilize progestins (melengestrol acetate [MGA] and Controlled Internal Drug Release [CIDR] inserts) to synchronize estrus. Previous research demonstrated that long-term treatment with MGA, in the absence of a corpus luteum, caused formation of persistent follicles and resulted in low fertility. The specific aims of this project were to determine if the presence of a new or used CIDR, in heifers without a corpus luteum, would induce the formation of persistent follicles and to compare the pattern of serum concentrations of progesterone in heifers treated with a new or used CIDR to luteal phase concentrations of progesterone (P4) in non-treated heifers. Normally cycling heifers were allocated by age, weight, and breed into four treatment groups: Control (n=8), MGA (n=4; 0.5 lbs-1hd-1day), new CIDR (n=7; 1.38 g P4), and used CIDR (n=8; new CIDR's previously inserted into cows for 7 d). Progestin treatment (MGA or CIDR) began on d 4 post-estrus and PG was injected on d 6 to induce luteolysis (d 0 = estrus). MGA or CIDR treatment continued for 14 d and length of a follicular wave was defined as the interval from follicular recruitment to ovulation or initiation of a new wave. Length of the first follicular wave (d) was 10.9a, 18.0b, 17.1b, and 16.9b (abP.05) throughout the 14 d treatment period but lower than in the control group. In summary, treatment with a new or used CIDR induced formation of persistent follicles in beef heifers and there was no difference in serum concentrations of progesterone between the two CIDR groups.CAFNR On Campus Research Internshi

Test-Retest Reliability and Responsiveness of Gaze Stability and Dynamic Visual Acuity in High School and College Football Players

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to establish reliability and responsiveness of the active dynamic visual acuity test (DVAT) at speeds of 150 to 200 degrees per second (deg/sec) and the gaze stabilization test (GST) in high school and college football players. Design: Reliability design Setting, Participants, Main Outcome Measures: A total of 50 high school and college football athletes completed vestibulo-ocular reflex testing using the DVAT and GST in the yaw (horizontal) and pitch (vertical) planes on two separate occasions within 14 days. Results: Test-retest reliability for the DVAT was good in yaw, Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) (3,3) = 0.770 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.595 to 0.861), and moderate to good in pitch, ICC (3,3) = 0.725 (95% CI: 0.515 to 0.844). Minimal detectable change (MDC) at the 95% confidence level was 0.16 logMAR for yaw and 0.21 logMAR for pitch. Test-retest reliability for the GST was moderate in yaw, ICC (3,3) = 0.634 (95% CI: 0.355 to 0.792), and poor in pitch, ICC (3,3) = 0.411 (95% CI: -0.037 to 0.666). MDC was 73.4 deg/sec for yaw and 81.2 deg/sec for pitch. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence that the DVAT is reliable at relatively high speeds in high school and college football athletes in both yaw and pitch. GST speeds were considerably higher than previously reported in the literature, but reliability of this tool for this population is only poor to moderate according to our results. From a clinical perspective, DVAT can be reliably used in the assessment of vestibular concussion for high school and college football athletes; however, GST requires further evaluation of its reliability and clinical use

Integrated weed management strategies for delaying herbicide resistance in wild oats

Les biotypes de folle avoine (Avena fatua) résistants aux herbicides infestent les principales régions céréalières de l'Ouest américain et de l'Ouest canadien. Cet article passe en revue les stratégies de lutte intégrée contre les mauvaises herbes qui peuvent être utilisées pour empêcher ou retarder le développement de la résistance aux herbicides chez la folle avoine. Une stratégie de lutte intégrée contre la folle avoine, destinée à retarder ou à empêcher le développement de la résistance, devrait être basée sur la prévention de l'introduction des grains de folle avoine dans le sol. Deux façons d'y arriver sont d'empêcher l'immigration de graines dans le champ à partir de sources externes, et de réduire ou éliminer la production de graines par la folle avoine déjà présente au champ. Il est de plus en plus évident que le recours à l'utilisation continuelle d'herbicides comme seul moyen de lutte contre les mauvaises herbes n'éliminera pas la folle avoine ni les autres graines de mauvaises herbes de la banque de graines du sol. Au contraire, tout porte à croire que cette pratique va sélectionner des biotypes résistants aux herbicides utilisés, particulièrement là où des herbicides ayant le même mode d'action sont utilisés de façon continue. Il est essentiel, cependant, que les herbicides soient considérés seulement comme une composante d'un système intégré global incluant la lutte culturale et d'autres stratégies de gestion, et que les principes agronomiques soient considérés lors du développement de ce système.Herbicide-resistant biotypes of wild oats (Avena fatua) infest most major cereal producing regions in the western United States and Canada. This paper reviews potential integrated weed management strategies that can be used to prevent or delay selection of herbicide-resistant wild oats plants. An integrated wild oats management strategy to delay or prevent the development of herbicide resistance should be based on preventing the movement of wild oats seed into the soil. Two ways to achieve this are by preventing the immigration of seed into the field from external sources, and by reducing or eliminating seed production by wild oats already in the field. It is becoming increasingly clear that reliance on continuous herbicide useas the sole means of weed control will fail to eliminate wild oats and other weed seed from the soil seedbank. On the contrary, evidence is mounting that this practice will select for biotypes that are resistant to the herbicides used, especially where herbicides of the same mode of action are used continuously. It is essential, therefore, that herbicides be considered as just one component of an overall integrated System together with cultural control and other management strategies, and that agronomic principles be considered when developing this System

Peer Research Mentors at Gettysburg College

Musselman Library at Gettysburg College developed a Peer Research Mentor (PRM) program to expand the library’s formal research and instruction program. Designed and coordinated by a group of research and instruction librarians, the PRM program is built around a cohort of eight undergraduate students from a variety of class years and disciplines. Each PRM has a librarian supervisor. The PRMs participate in intensive training, provide reference service alongside professional librarians at the Research Help Desk, and develop outreach projects to better connect student patrons with library collections and services. [excerpt

Multicomponent intervention to reduce daily sedentary time: a randomised controlled trial

Objectives To test the efficacy of a multicomponent technology intervention for reducing daily sedentary time and improving cardiometabolic disease risk among sedentary, overweight university employees. Design Blinded, randomised controlled trial. Setting A large south-eastern university in the USA. Participants 49 middle-aged, primarily female, sedentary and overweight adults working in sedentary jobs enrolled in the study. A total of 40 participants completed the study. Interventions Participants were randomised to either: (1) an intervention group (N=23; 47.6+9.9 years; 94.1% female; 33.2+4.5 kg/m2); (2) or wait-list control group (N=17; 42.6+8.9 years; 86.9% female; 31.7+4.9 kg/m2). The intervention group received a theory-based, internet-delivered programme, a portable pedal machine at work and a pedometer for 12 weeks. The wait-list control group maintained their behaviours for 12 weeks. Outcome measures Primary (sedentary and physical activity behaviour measured objectively through StepWatch) and secondary (heart rate, blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference, per cent body fat, cardiorespiratory fitness, fasting lipids) outcomes were measured at baseline and postintervention (12 weeks). Exploratory outcomes including intervention compliance and process evaluation measures were also assessed postintervention. Results Compared to controls, the intervention group reduced daily sedentary time (mean change (95%CI): −58.7 min/day (−118.4 to 0.99; p<0.01)) after adjusting for baseline values and monitor wear time. Intervention participants logged on to the website 71.3% of all intervention days, used the pedal machine 37.7% of all working intervention days and pedalled an average of 31.1 min/day. Conclusions These findings suggest that the intervention was engaging and resulted in reductions in daily sedentary time among full-time sedentary employees. These findings hold public health significance due to the growing number of sedentary jobs and the potential of these technologies in large-scale worksite programmes. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01371084

ACCase cross-resistance in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) sub-populations from Oregon, US

ACCase-resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is one of the most troublesome weeds in US wheat production systems. This study had the objective of determining the resistance pattern of three subpopulations selected from a winter wheat field with history of ACCase-inhibitor herbicides applications in Oregon. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test four ACCase-inhibitor herbicides for the control of the three sub-populations: Pinoxaden, clethodim, sethoxydim and clodinafop. All three sub-populations were cross-resistant to the commercial dose of at least two herbicides. One sub-population was cross-resistant to all herbicides tested. This resistance pattern highlights the need of studying different ACCase herbicides for crossresistance, as well as herbicides with different modes of action for multiple-resistance to control these subpopulations.Keywords: Acetyl-coA carboxylase, aryloxyphenoxypropionate, cyclohexanodione, herbicide resistanceACCase-Kreuzresistenz bei Subpopulationen des Italienischen Weidelgrases (Lolium multiflorum) in Oregon, USAACCase-resistentes Italienisches Weidelgras (Lolium multiflorum) ist eines der problematischsten Ungräser in nordamerikanischen Weizenanbausystemen. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist die Bestimmung des Resistenzmusters dreier Subpopulationen, die aus einem Winterweizenfeld mit einer ausgeprägten Historie von Herbizidapplikationen mit ACCase-Inhibitoren stammten. Ein Gewächshausversuch wurde durchgeführt um die Bekämpfung der drei Subpopulationen mit vier ACCase-Inhibitoren zu untersuchen: Pinoxaden, Clethodim, Sethoxydim und Clodinafop. Alle drei Subpopulationen zeigten bei einer Applikation mit der empfohlenen Aufwandmenge Kreuzresistenzen gegen mindestens zwei der getesteten Wirkstoffe. Eine Subpopulation erwies sich als kreuzresistent gegen alle vier getesteten Wirkstoffe. Die beobachteten Resistenzmuster unterstreichen die dringende Notwendigkeit der Erforschung verschiedener ACCase-Inhibitoren bezüglich ihrer Kreuzungsresistenzmuster, sowie die Untersuchung von Herbiziden mit unterschiedlichen Wirkungsweisen auf vorhandene multiple Resistenzen mit dem Ziel der Bekämpfung dieser Subpopulationen. Stichwörter: Acetyl-coA-carboxylase, Aryloxyphenoxypropionate, Cyclohexanodione, Herbizidresisten

Gene flow from single and stacked herbicide-resistant rice (\u3ci\u3eOryza sativa\u3c/i\u3e): Modeling occurrence of multiple herbicide-resistant weedy rice

Background: Provisia™ rice (PV), a non-genetically engineered (GE) quizalofop-resistant rice, will provide growers with an additional option for weed management to use in conjunction with Clearfield® rice (CL) production. Modeling compared the impact of stacking resistance traits versus single traits in rice on introgression of the resistance trait to weedy rice (also called red rice). Common weed management practices were applied to 2-, 3- and 4-year crop rotations, and resistant and multiple-resistant weedy rice seeds, seedlings and mature plants were tracked for 15 years. Results: Two-year crop rotations resulted in resistant weedy rice after 2 years with abundant populations (exceeding 0.4 weedy rice plants m–2) occurring after 7 years. When stacked trait rice was rotated with soybeans in a 3-year rotation and with soybeans and CL in a 4-year rotation, multiple-resistance occurred after 2–5 years with abundant populations present in 4–9 years. When CL rice, PV rice, and soybeans were used in 3- and 4-year rotations, the median time of first appearance of multiple-resistance was 7–11 years and reached abundant levels in 10–15 years. Conclusion: Maintaining separate CL and PV rice systems, in rotation with other crops and herbicides, minimized the evolution of multiple herbicide-resistant weedy rice through gene flow compared to stacking herbicide resistance traits

Filamentous Actin in the Role of Diagnosing Seronegative Type 1 Autoimmune Hepatitis

Introduction: Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory liver disease, which without adequate diagnosis and treatment, can progress to cirrhosis. There are no distinguishing clinical features to discriminate this from other liver pathology; therefore, diagnosis is made by the presence of circulating autoantibodies, elevated serum globulin levels, and histologic examination. Initial treatment is with immunosuppression by glucocorticoid monotherapy or by combination of glucocorticoid with azathioprine. Case: We present the case of a 65-year-old female with no PMH and non-specific abdominal complaints who was found to have unexplained liver cirrhosis. There was no evidence of past or present alcohol abuse. Transaminases were greater than 10x the upper limit of normal, while IgG was greater than 3x the upper limit of normal. Viral hepatitis panel and hemochromatosis mutation gene were negative. AIH was strongly suspected due to exclusion of other etiologies. Subsequently, ELISA for filamentous actin (FA) was tested and resulted positive; however, reflex to smooth muscle antibody (SMA) was negative. Autoantibodies including antinuclear, liver/kidney microsomal, soluble liver antigen, and antimicrosomal were negative. Without adequate evidence of autoantibodies, treatment was withheld until liver histopathology confirmed Type 1 AIH (AIH-1). Prior to discharge, the patient was started on oral prednisone with plans to taper immunosuppression based on therapeutic response (i.e. transaminase levels). Unfortunately, the patient was readmitted roughly 10 days later with severe complications of cirrhosis and ultimately passed away. Discussion: The subset of SMA with specificity for FA, SMA-T, is the prototype autoantibody correlating with AIH-1. Testing for SMA-T is done by immunofluorescence staining, which can be difficult to visualize when titers are low. FA is detected by ELISA; however, this test has not been fully standardized leading to varying cutoff values depending on assay/laboratory, as well as inability to directly correlate with immunofluorescence titers. In addition, false positive results have been reported in which FA is instead linked to SMA-V, which is seen in a variety of viral illnesses, and not SMA-T. Several factors ultimately contributed to the outcome of this case including hesitation from the patient to pursue invasive measures resulting in a postponed biopsy, and thus diagnosis. However, FA levels were significantly elevated early in the course of illness, indicating the need for standardization of FA assays, as well as correlation between assay and immunofluorescence results. Development of reliable testing for FA has the potential to provide earlier diagnosis and treatment of AIH-1 in patients where SMA titers are negative

Effects of Field and Greenhouse Solarization on Soil Microbiota and Weed Seeds in the Northeast USA

Soil solarization using clear plastic is a promising weed management strategy for organic farms in the Northeast USA. Based on grower concerns that the practice might negatively affect beneficial soil microbiota, we conducted experiments to measure the effects of 2 and 4 weeks of solarization in a field and a closed greenhouse. Soil microbial communities were assayed by dilution plating on semi-selective agar media. Populations of general bacteria, general fungi, bacilli, and florescent pseudomonads were unaffected by field solarization, but fluorescent pseudomonads were reduced following greenhouse solarization. At plastic removal, soil biological activity was reduced non-significantly in the field and by 45% in the green- house. Soil biological activity fluctuated following field solarization, being significantly suppressed at 5 but not 14 days after plastic removal. In the greenhouse, biological activity remained suppressed up to 28 days after plastic removal. Solarization increased available nitrogen in the field and greenhouse. Four weeks of solarization reduced viability of buried weed seeds by 64% in the field and 98% in the greenhouse, indicating that the practice can cause substantial weed seed mortality. Maximum soil temperatures, measured at 10 cm depth under solarization, were 44◦ C in the field and 50◦ C in the greenhouse; temperatures were theoretically sufficient for the reduction of some soil borne pathogens. A subsequent experiment measured the effects of solarization and tarping (black plastic) on soil biological activity. During mulching, biological activity was unaffected by treatment, but 14 days after plastic removal, biological activity was reduced in the solarized treatment as compared with the control. Overall, these results suggest that solarization can deplete the weed seedbank. Although soil biological activity was reduced by solarization, it may bounce back after a period. Greenhouse solarization achieved higher temperatures and was more lethal to weed seeds and some microbiota than field solarization