Archives for: August 2009Monday Aug 31, 2009
Websites of Interest
BioEd Online: Genes, Health and Society: The BioEd Online project from the Baylor College of Medicine has been creating high-quality instructional resources for a number of years, and this web-based course is one of the most recent additions to their site. The "Genes, Health and Society" course is intended for educators, undergraduates, and anyone else interested in "exploring both classic knowledge and current thinking in the fields of genetics and genomics." Visitors will need to complete a free registration form before accessing the course. After this registration process is complete, users can look over the three modules of the course: "Transmission Genetics", "The Nature of Genetic Material", and "Medical Genetics". Throughout the course, users are asked to complete self-assessment questions and problems, record their observations, and access supplementary resources in areas called "Side Trips".
Farmers, Warriors, Builders: The Hidden Life of Ants: The website of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has a highly informative and just plain delightful interactive exhibit on ants. The exhibit explains how, much like humans, "ants achieve domination by being social creatures". Dividing the ants' lives into "food", "warriors", "shelter" and "communication", the exhibit offers an array of photos in its photo gallery to illustrate the variety of ant life and behavior on earth. Clicking on the thumbnails will enlarge the photos and reveal a brief description of the photo. More than half a dozen videos of ants taken throughout the world can be found under the "Ant Videos" link on the left side of the page. Visitors interested in learning more about myrmecology (ant science) would be remiss if they didn't visit the "Ant Web Links" section of the website, which can also be found on the left side of the page.
National Wetlands Inventory: Wetlands went through a hard time in the 19th and much of the 20th centuries as they were summarily drained and used for real estate development. Today, scientists, planners, and recreationists are well aware of the value they provide in terms of their role as lively animal habitats and as a way to recharge groundwater. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the primary federal agency that provides information on the state of the country's wetlands, and this site provides extensive geospatial data on their current extent and location. Visitors can check out the "What's New" area to get started, and they will want to look at the recent annual reports and some of their research highlights. On the right-hand side of the homepage, visitors can click on the "Wetlands Mapper" tool and also view the wetlands via Google Earth. On the left-hand side of the homepage, visitors can elect do download digital wetlands data by state or quadrant, and they can also learn more about obtaining hard-copy maps.
Unseen Life on Earth: An Introduction to Microbiology: Viruses, DNA testing, and the world of microorganisms are but a few of the topics covered by this fine series produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting. Presented as part of the Annenberg Media website, this video series consists of twelve half-hour video programs designed primarily for college and high school students. Throughout the programs, students get to meet up with scientists working in the lab and in the field. Some of the programs here include "Genetic Transfer", "Microbial Evolution", and "The Unity of Living Systems". Visitors to the site can watch the videos and they should also look over the "Related Resources" area. Here they will find related programs sponsored by Annenberg Media as well as links to other resources.
Xeno-Canto: Bird Sounds from the Americas: Xeno-Canto is a fabulous website that exemplifies how the Internet can bring together people from around the world who have a common interest. This website offers bird songs, recorded by ornithologists and amateur birders alike, of almost 4500 species from around the world. The site is divided up into "Americas", "Asia", "Africa", "Europe", and "Australasia", and visitors can click on any region they desire, in the far right hand corner of any page. There are many ways to view the information in the site, keeping in mind that the English and Latin are used to identify the birds. Under Collection, on the menu found on the left side of any page, visitors can click on the link "All Species" to see a list of all the species with recorded songs, for the region they selected. The number of recordings of each species of bird is listed next to their name. The fun "Mysteries" link, underneath the "Participate" section also found on the left side menu, has bird recordings that the recorder can't identify and has posted for discussion hoping for some insight.
Friday Aug 28, 2009
On-Farm Research Webcasts Help Growers Make Science-Based Management Decisions
High-quality research plays an important role in boosting yield and profitability on the farm, yet many lack the background or training to benefit from it. Through its webcasted On-farm Research Conference, Iowa State University helps give consultants, growers, and other agricultural professionals the knowledge to complete, recognize, and understand scientifically sound crop production research. Project organizers designed the conference to give growers and agriculture professionals another tool in farming decisions.
The webcasts cover three main subject areas: the basics of on-farm research design, data collection methods, and ways to improve data quality. Speakers include factuly and extension staff from Iowa State University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. All the presentations can be found on the Plant Management Network (PMN) and are freely available to NC State personnel because NC State is a PMN partner.
Wednesday Aug 26, 2009
Recent Articles from Agriculture and Resource Economics Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Animal Science Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Biology Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Crop Science Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Entomology Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Genetics Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Horticulture Science Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Microbiology Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Molecular and Structural Biochemistry Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences Department Researchers at NCSU
Friday Aug 21, 2009
New Theses & Dissertations in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Animal Science.
WESTON, EMILY IRIS.
Evaluation of Cortisol in Saliva Relative to Serum in Lactating Cows, Heifer Calves and Piglets in Response to Applied Stress.
(Under the direction of Dr. Scott Whisnant.)
Biology.
MORRIS, JAMES ADIEL, JR.
The Biology and Ecology of the Invasive Indo-Pacific Lionfish.
(Under the direction of James A. Rice and John J. Govoni.)
SUPPLE, MEGAN A.
Probabilistic Allele Calling to Improve Population Size Estimates from Non-Invasive Genetic Mark{Recapture Analysis.
(Under the direction of Dr. Kenneth H. Pollock).
Biological and Agricultural Engineering.
CAO, ZIHAN.
Determination of Particle Size Distribution of Particulate Matter Emitted from a Layer Operation in Southeastern U.S.
(Under the direction of Lingjuan Wang.)
YAO, HAIYAN.
Ammonia Emission from Stored Broiler Cake.
(Under the direction of Dr. Sanjay B. Shah).
Crop Science.
KUMP, KRISTEN LYNN.
Combined Population Analyses for Mapping Loci Conditioning Resistance to Southern Corn Leaf Blight.
(Under the direction of James B. Holland and Peter J. Balint-Kurti.)
Entomology.
TRAUTWEIN, MICHELLE DENEE.
Multi-gene Phylogenetics to Resolve Key Areas of the Fly Tree of Life.
(Under the direction of Brian M. Wiegmann.)
Genomic Sciences.
KIM, JIHYE.
Mining of Cis-Regulatory Motifs Associated with Tissue-Specific Alternative Splicing.
(Under the direction of Steffen Heber).
YIN, HAIFENG.
Expression And Developmental Requirement For Transcription Factor Sp2.
(Under the direction of Jonathan M. Horowitz).
Horticultural Science.
MCCORD, PER HILDING.
Genetic, Genomic, and Transgenic Approaches to Understand Internal Heat Necrosis in Potato.
(Under the direction of G. Craig Yencho and Bryon R. Sosinski.)
MEYERS, STEPHEN LAWRENCE.
Interference and Control of Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in Sweetpotato.
(Under the direction of Katie Jennings and Jonathan Schultheis.)
Plant Pathology.
BELCHER, ARABY RUTH.
The Physiology and Host Genetics of Quantitative Resistance in Maize to the Fungal Pathogen Cochliobolus heterostrophus.
(Under the direction of Dr. Peter J. Balint-Kurti.)
Electronic Theses and Dissertations Available at NCSU Libraries
Browse available NC State Electronic Theses and Dissertations by Author
Browse Available NC State Electronic Theses and Dissertations by Graduate Program
Search Available NC State Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Tuesday Aug 18, 2009
New Books in Agriculture and Life Sciences
Wednesday Aug 12, 2009
Recent Articles from Food, Bioprocessing, and Nutrition Sciences Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Agriculture and Resource Economics Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Animal Science Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Biology Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Crop Science Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Entomology Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Environmental and Molecular Toxicology Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences Program Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Genetics Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Horticulture Science Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Microbiology Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Molecular and Structural Biochemistry Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Plant Pathology Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from Poultry Science Department Researchers at NCSU
Recent Articles from the Soil Science Department Researchers at NCSU
Wednesday Aug 5, 2009
New Theses & Dissertations in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Monday Aug 3, 2009
Websites of Interest
Laboratory Techniques Videos: Students preparing to work in the laboratory will find this website from the University of Calgary to be a most welcome find. Created by a team of educational experts at the University, the videos here demonstrate a variety of techniques that are commonly used in laboratory settings. There are a dozen videos here, including "Filtration", "Reflux", "Distillation", and "Using a Separatory Funnel". The films are available in a number of different formats, including Quick Time and Windows Media. The site also includes an "Interactive Tutorials" section. Here visitors will find tutorials that will introduce them to spectroscopy, separation and isolation, and the rather amusing world of "Detective O-Chem", which asks the user to take on a fictional avian flu outbreak.
Pesticide Alternatives Laboratory: The Pesticide Alternatives Laboratory of Michigan State University is on the cutting edge of pest control in the Upper Midwest, whether on agricultural or non-agricultural lands, public or private. Visitors interested in seeing the pesky adversaries of the lab, should click on "Bugs of The Lab", then on "Research Subjects". Along with photos of a dozen pests, including the "Plum Curculio", "Mites", and the "Oblique-Banded Leaf Roller", visitors can read a description of the pest, learn about and see images of the damage they do to specific crops, and discover where they are found on the plant. Also of interest are the Resistant Pest Management Newsletter and the "Ask an Expert About Resistance Issues" section, which lists ten regions of the earth, and when one of the regions is clicked on, several experts' names pop up with their area of expertise, e-mail, and location. Additionally, anyone who is an expert and qualified, but is not on the list, may have their name added after filling out the "Expert Application". All of the experts are volunteers.
Science Nation (NSF): Billed as "The Online Magazine That's All About Science for the People", the online magazine Science Nation reports on important science breakthroughs. Created by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the site reports on scientific and technological developments by using video clips, first-hand reporting, and well-written articles. On the homepage, visitors can take in their latest report, and then move on down to the "Science Nation Topics" area. Here they will find reports on tornadoes, new technologies for the visually handicapped, and the effect that climate change will have on Emperor penguin populations in Antarctica. Each topic is accompanied by related images and links to additional websites of note. Finally, visitors can also sign up to receive updates from the site via email and they are welcome to send along their feedback.
Wetlands (EPA): The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created this site to inform the general public about their role in wetland preservation and restoration. At the top of their page, visitors can click on the "What are Wetlands?" area to get some basic definitions, look over some fact sheets, and learn about the recent history of wetlands in the United States. Also on the homepage are sections such as "Why Protect Wetlands?", "How are Wetlands Protected?", and "What You Can Do To Protect our Vital Resource". These sections are meant for general audiences, and they might be used in classroom settings as a way to illuminate the role of the EPA and some of the broader concerns surrounding different natural environments. The right-hand side of the homepage features "In the News" items about recent regulatory changes, interagency agreements, and public hearings and comment periods. Finally, the left-hand side of the page contains thematic sections like "Monitoring and Assessment", "Restoration", and "Education."
|
|
 |
