Effects of nitrogen fertilization on the nutritional quality of mule deer winter forages

January 1972.Includes bibliographic references (pages 62-64).Winter mortality resulting from starvation has been a serious problem on mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) ranges throughout much of the western United States. Such losses have occurred in Colorado during recent years after snow concentrated animals on areas having inadequate food supplies. Associated with their interest in reducing starvation losses, the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Division began testing fertilizer and 2, 4-D treatments to improve forage conditions on winter feeding sites used by mule deer in Middle Park, Colorado. This study undertook to determine how nitrogen treatments affected the nutritional quality of two forage plants on winter range. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer (33% N) treatments supplying 30, 60, 90, and 120 pounds of elemental nitrogen per acre were applied to three study sites during early November, 1969. An untreated plot on each site served as a control. Bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum Pursh) and big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) current annual growth collected from the fertilized plots during May, June, September, and December of 1970 and March, 1971 were analyzed for crude protein, cell-wall constituents, calcium, and phosphorus. Separate analyses were performed on leaf and twig portions of big sagebrush. The in vitro digestibilities of all forage samples were determined in duplicate and big sagebrush leaves were analyzed for volatile-oil content. Nitrogen fertilization failed to increase significantly (P >0.05) the concentration of crude protein in big sagebrush tissues during May and September but increased significantly (P 0.05) the concentrations of cell-wall constituents, calcium, phosphorus, or volatile oils in the tissues or the in vitro digestibility of the forages. Concentrations of all measured nutrients in the forages and the digestibilities of the forages varied among study sites and among collection dates

A MICROCOMPUTER MODEL FOR IRRIGATION SYSTEM EVALUATION

ICEASE (Irrigation Cost Estimator and System Evaluator) is a microcomputer model designed and developed to meet the need for conducting economic evaluation of adjustments to irrigation systems and management techniques to improve the use of irrigated water. ICEASE can calculate the annual operating costs for irrigation systems and has five options that can be used to economically evaluate improvements in the pumping plant or the way the irrigation system is used for crop production.Crop Production/Industries,

Neuroendocrine Pathways Mediating Nutritional Acceleration of Puberty: Insights from Ruminant Models

The pubertal process is characterized by an activation of physiological events within the hypothalamic-adenohypophyseal–gonadal axis which culminate in reproductive competence. Excessive weight gain and adiposity during the juvenile period is associated with accelerated onset of puberty in females. The mechanisms and pathways by which excess energy balance advances puberty are unclear, but appear to involve an early escape from estradiol negative feedback and early initiation of high-frequency episodic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion. Hypothalamic neurons, particularly neuropeptide Y and proopiomelanocortin neurons are likely important components of the pathway sensing and transmitting metabolic information to the control of GnRH secretion. Kisspeptin neurons may also have a role as effector neurons integrating metabolic and gonadal steroid feedback effects on GnRH secretion at the time of puberty. Recent studies indicate that leptin-responsive neurons within the ventral premammillary nucleus play a critical role in pubertal progression and challenge the relevance of kisspeptin neurons in this process. Nevertheless, the nutritional control of puberty is likely to involve an integration of major sensor and effector pathways that interact with modulatory circuitries for a fine control of GnRH neuron function. In this review, observations made in ruminant species are emphasized for a comparative perspective

Climate Variability and Impact at NASA's Marshal Space Flight Center

Climate analysis for the Southeast U. S. has indicated that inland regions have experienced an average temperature increase of 2F since 1970. This trend is generally characterized by warmer winters with an indication of increased precipitation in the Fall season. Extended periods of limited rainfall in the Spring and Summer periods have had greater areal coverage and, at other times the number of precipitation events has been increasing. Climate model projections for the next 10-70 years indicate warmer temperatures for the Southeast U.S., particularly in the Spring and Summer, with some indication of more extremes in temperature and precipitation as shown in the table below. The realization of these types of regional climate changes in the form of extended heat waves and droughts and their subsequent stress on facilities, infrastructure, and workforce could have substantial impact on the activities and functions of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) in Huntsville, Alabama. This presentation will present the results of an examination of the 100 year temperature and precipitation record for MSFC. Local warming has cause an increase in daily maximum and minimum temperatures by nearly 3F, with a substantial increase in the number of maximum temperatures exceeding 90F and a decrease in the number of days with minimum temperatures below freezing. These trends have substantial impact of the number of heating / cooling degree days for the area. Yearly precipitation totals are inversely correlated with the change in mean temperature and the frequency of heavy rain events has remain consistent with the changes in yearly totals. An extended heat wave index was developed which shows an increase in frequency of heat waves over the last 35 years and a subsequent reduction in precipitation during the heat waves. This trend will contribute to more intense drought conditions over the northern Alabama region, increasing the potential of destructive wildfires in and around the Center. MSFC has begun using this climate change information to adapt short-term and long-term plans for Center operations

Characterization of theThreshold for NAD(P)H:quinone Oxidoreductase Activity in Intact Sulforaphane-treated Pulmonary Arterial Endothelial Cells

Treatment of bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cells in culture with the phase II enzyme inducer sulforaphane (5 μM, 24 h; sulf-treated) increased cell-lysate NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) activity by 5.7 ± 0.6 (mean ± SEM)-fold, but intact-cell NQO1 activity by only 2.8 ± 0.1-fold compared to control cells. To evaluate the hypothesis that the threshold for sulforaphane-induced intact-cell NQO1 activity reflects a limitation in the capacity to supply NADPH at a sufficient rate to drive all the induced NQO1 to its maximum activity, total KOH-extractable pyridine nucleotides were measured in cells treated with duroquinone to stimulate maximal NQO1 activity. NQO1 activation increased NADP+ in control and sulf-treated cells, with the effect more pronounced in the sulf-treated cells, in which the NADPH was also decreased. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) inhibition partially blocked NQO1 activity in control and sulf-treated cells, but G-6-PDH overexpression via transient transfection with the human cDNA alleviated neither the restriction on intact sulf-treated cell NQO1 activity nor the impact on the NADPH/NADP+ ratios. Intracellular ATP levels were not affected by NQO1 activation in control or sulf-treated cells. An increased dependence on extracellular glucose and a rightward shift in the Km for extracellular glucose were observed in NQO1-stimulated sulf-treated vs control cells. The data suggest that glucose transport in the sulf-treated cells may be insufficient to support the increased metabolic demand for pentose phosphate pathway-generated NADPH as an explanation for the NQO1 threshold

Exploring Management Practices of the Health Care System for Contractors

Researchers have found that military members serving in war experienced changes in physical and mental health. Military members\u27 healthcare is managed by the Department of Defense. The problem was that management practices of the system for providing long-term healthcare for employees of a contracting company working in foreign combat zones is either minimal or nonexistent. The purpose of this case study was to explore ways that contractor managers and government managers can work together to provide healthcare for those contract employees who will be deployed with the U.S. military. The primary research question was to determine what managers of contractors could do to improve the management practices to support their personnel who will serve in hostile environments. To analyze data, content analysis was used. Two theories were used in the conceptual framework for this case study, Bandura\u27s self-efficacy theory and Kolb\u27s experiential learning theory. Ten American contractor managers and 10 government managers were interviewed regarding the information they provided to their contract employees. One major finding identified was that contractor managers and government managers had little understanding about the disparity of information, services, and assistance available to contractors before participating in this study. Additional findings were that all managers understood they play a key role in the modification, development, and mitigation of any healthcare management systems for contractors in the future. Regarding social change, the contractor managers and government managers can use the findings to improve how the U.S. government and contractor management teams provide short term as well as long-term healthcare management system for future contractor personnel who serve in combat zones thus benefiting both contractors and their families

Perinatal Health and School Trajectories

Perinatal Health and School Trajectorie

Ultraviolet observations of LMC nova 1988

The IUE obtained ultraviolet spectra of a nova in an external galaxy. The spectral features do not seem unusual for a nova at maximum but it is hoped to be able to follow it for a long enough time to be able to study the high ionization lines that appear when the density drops to lower values (the nebular stage). A high dispersion spectrum was also obtained to assist in the line identification and to study the line of sight to the LMC 1 deg of arc away from SN 1987A

Observations and simulations of nova Vul 1984 no. 2: A nova with ejecta rich in oxygen, neon, and magnesium

Nova Vul 1984 no. 2 was observed with IUE from Dec. 1984 through Nov. 1987. The spectra are characterized by strong lines from Mg, Ne, C, Si, O, N, and other elements. Data obtained in the ultraviolet, infrared, and optical show that this nova is ejecting material rich in oxygen, neon, and magnesium