Home Range (?) of the Flat-tailed Horned Lizard Phrynosoma mcallii

Area used by male and female Phrynosoma mcallii (Hallowell) was studied in a population located on the Barry M. Goldwater Aerial Gunnery Range near Yuma, Arizona. Area used by males and females shifted through time and did not fit the definition of home range. Summer male and female area used was not significantly different (F=2.625, df=1, P=0.131), but male areas used were significantly larger for 15-day time periods (F=9.67, P=0.0003). Males overlapped the area they occupied in consecutive 15-day time periods more often than did females. Female area used never overlapped within a 15-day time period. Male area used overlapped those of other males and females within a 15-day time period

A Multilevel Model of RN Workgroup Intent to Stay

An understanding of how determinants of RN intent to stay on the unit vary by unit type is essential for developing the targeted retention strategies that are an important component of efforts to address the evolving nursing shortage. Relationships depicted in the multilevel RN Workgroup Intent to Stay Model were examined, after determining the appropriateness of a workgroup level measurement model for intent to stay. The model was examined using secondary analysis of cross-section data from the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI®). The sample consisted of 373 medical unit RN workgroups, which included 7,730 RNs in 157 hospitals. Data from the 2006 RN Survey were combined with hospital characteristics, unit staffing, and unit type. Psychometric analysis found the workgroup level measurement model of intent to stay appropriate. Glick's (1985) criterion for group-mean reliability was supported by ICC(2) values ranging from .521 to .598. Bliese's (2000) criteria for emergent construct validity were supported by an ICC(1) of .064 and zero-order correlations with job satisfaction subscales that were consistently higher at the workgroup level than individual level. Mixed linear modeling fit indices (BIC=2575.330) supported the fit of the revised RN Workgroup Intent to Stay Model in medical units, and pseudo R2 indicated the model accounted for 56% of the variance in RN workgroup intent to stay. Higher ratings of RN workgroup satisfaction with task and appropriate RN assignments were the most important predictors of RN workgroup intent to stay. In addition, higher ratings of RN workgroup satisfaction with nurse management, lower percent of unit RNs taking a meal break, and greater RN workgroup diversity in unit tenure and age also contributed to RN workgroup intent to stay. Findings indicated that retention strategies for RN workgroups on medical units should target perceptions of appropriate RN assignments, as well as satisfaction with task and nurse management. Refinement of the RN Workgroup Intent to Stay Model should continue by examining model relationships in other unit types

Equine Program

The horse industry has a total impact on the US Gross Domestic Product of 112 billion. This is ~16% of the gross national product (GNP) of the Agriculture Forestry & Fisheries section of the U.S. economy. In comparison with specific sectors of the manufacturing sector, this industry is 83% of the GNP of the textile mill products sector, and 65% of the lumber & wood products sector. It equals the combined output of the tobacco and leather products industries. Over 70% of the 6.9 million horses in the United States are involved in either competitive showing or recreational use, with the balance in racing. The total employment impact is approximately 1.4 million jobs. The equine program is an integral part of the Animal Science Department. The demographics of Animal Science students will continue to shift toward increasing demand for a quality equine program. The equine program consists of a variety of classes and outreach activities designed to have each student increase their knowledge of the care of horses, have each student increase their knowledge on the management of horses and horse facilities and be competent in these skills, have each student increase their interpersonal skills, have graduates satisfied with their experience within the program, and to educate youth and horse owners in the state

2009 Review —ISU Equine Teaching and Extension, Ames, IA

The current barns were built between 1923 and 1927. With the increased enrollment in Animal Science students, it is always a challenge with our facilities, as horse courses are always full. All the horses are used for teaching and outreach activities. The herd consists of Quarter Horses and Thoroughbreds. Quarter Horses are marketed towards the pleasure industry while the Thoroughbreds are marketed towards a racing career

Suave Mechanicals

In "Suave Mechanicals" guest curator Julia Miller has created a rich and vibrant array of bindings that tell the history of bookbinding from ancient times to the present through original exemplars of the art dating from as far back as the 12th century.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/120282/1/suave_mechanicals_03.pd

Frequency and Use of Medications in Horses Racing at Prairie Meadows

An analysis was made of the horses racing at Prairie Meadows race track in Altoona, Iowa during 1993 to determine the number of entries designated as racing under the influence of phenylbutazone (Bute(RX)), furosemide (Lasix(Rx)) or both medications. In a total of 1379 Quarter Horse entries, 5.7 % raced with no medication, 74.9 % raced on phenylbutazone, 0.5 % raced on furosemide, and 18.9 % raced on both phenylbutazone and furosemide. In a total of 3424 Thoroughbred entries, 2.1 % raced under no medication, 43.6 % raced on phenylbutazone, 0.4 % raced on furosemide, and 53.9 % raced on both phenylbutazone and furosemide. Overall, of the 4803 entries, 3.2 % raced with no medication, 52.6 % raced on phenylbutazone, 0.4 % raced on furosemide, and 43.9 % raced on both phenylbutazone and furosemide

Soybean Hulls as an Alternative Feed for Horses

Soybean hulls (SH) have been successfully fed to ruminant animals as an economical substitute for hay. This feedstuff is a source of highly digestible fiber and does not contain starch. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate SH as a replacement fiber in horse diets. Four cecally cannulated Quarter Horse geldings, aged 6 to 10 years and averaging 502 kg, were used in a 4x4 Latin Square design with 21-day periods. Diets consisted of alfalfa-bromegrass hay (14.4% CP, 58.1% NDF, 39.1% ADF) with the addition of either 0, 25, 50, or 75% unpelleted SH (13.1% CP, 60.6% NDF, 43.7% ADF). Diets were offered at 2% of bodyweight (as fed) daily and body weights were measured weekly. Cecal samples (90-min post-feeding) and total fecal collections (3 d) were taken at the end of each treatment period. Fecal collection bags were emptied every 6 hours and 10% of the total amount was frozen for later analysis. Total cecal VFA production increased linearly from 70 mM to 109 mM as proportions of SH in diets increased (P = 0.02). Proportions of propionate increased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) and cubically (P = 0.03) with means of 15.7, 18.0, 16.6, and 21.9 moles per 100 moles total VFA for the 0, 25, 50, and 75% SH diets respectively. Proportions of butyrate decreased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) from 5.3 to 3.9 moles per 100 moles total VFA. The acetate to propionate ratio decreased linearly (P = 0.02) and cubically (P = 0.03) with means of 4.9, 4.2, 4.9, and 3.3. Apparent digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, ADF, cellulose, and hemicellulose did not differ (P \u3e 0.24) with treatment. Apparent digestibility of N decreased linearly (P \u3c 0.01) as concentrations of SH increased in the diet, most likely due to increased cecal fermentation and microbial biomass production. Cecal pH decreased linearly (P = 0.01) from 7.00 to 6.45 as the level of SH increased, but there was no change (P linear = 0.68) for cecal ammonia (mean concentration of 3.85 mM). Soybean hulls appear to stimulate cecal fermentation and to be a suitable replacement for hay in equine diets. This may be an especially important finding for owners of geriatric horses that often have difficulty consuming roughages

The Effect of Furosemide on Arterial Blood Gases and Performance in Quarter Horses Performing a Fatigue Test on a Treadmill

Four Quarter Horses (1 filly age 2, 1 mare age 5 and 2 geldings ages 3 and 4; average weight 539 kg) were used in a 2 x 2 crossover design. The effects of furosemide (Lasix(Rx)) on arterial blood packed ceii voiume (PCV), hemogiobin (Hb), pH, pO2, pCO2, HCO-3 and base excess (BE) were measured. Plasma lactate, heart rate, and fatigue time were determined as indicators of perlormance while the horses performed a fatigue test on a high-speed treadmill. The left carotid artery was surgically elevated subcutaneously to facilitate collection of arterial blood samples. Horses were conditioned for 13 weeks with increasing intensity then randomly assigned furosemide (F) or physiological saline (C) as treatments. Treatments were administered 4 hours prior to the fatigue test in accordance with racing regulations. Arterial blood samples were collected prior to treatment dose, prior to exercise, at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th minute during the fatigue test, at fatigue, and at the 5th, 15th, 30th, and 45th minute post-exercise. Arterial blood samples were analyzed for blood gases, Hb, PCV, and plasma lactate. Heart rate and fatigue time were recorded. No difference between treatments (P \u3e 0.05) was observed for blood gases except for pCO2 at rest, and HCO-3 and BE at the 2 minute collection period. No difference between treatments (P \u3e 0.05) was observed for Hb, PCV, lactate and heart rate except at 15 minutes post-exercise for Hb and PCV, and 45 minutes postexercise for Hb. Fatigue times were 11 min 56 sec ± 5 min 30 sec for F horses and 11 min 35 sec--± 2 min 6 sec for C horses. No difference (P \u3e 0.05) was observed in fatigue time. Based on our data, the trend indicated that all parameters measured returned to pre-exercise levels more rapidly for furosemide treated horses. However, furosemide did not enhance performance