Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Sequential Bayesian Classification: Dna Barcodes, Michael P. Anderson, Suzanne Dubnicka

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

DNA barcodes are short strands of nucleotide bases taken from the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). A single barcode may have the form C C G G C A T A G T A G G C A C T G and typically ranges in length from 255 to around 700 nucleotide bases. Unlike nuclear DNA (nDNA), mtDNA remains largely unchanged as it is passed from mother to o spring. It has been proposed that these barcodes may be used as a method of di erentiating between biological species (Hebert, Ratnasingham, and deWaard 2003). …

A Stem Profile Model Calibrated By Nonlinear Mixed-Effects Modeling, Yuqing Yang, Shongming Huang, Shawn X. Meng

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

A stem profile model was developed for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) trees in Alberta, Canada using a nonlinear mixed model approach. The model included two random parameters to capture between-subject variation and a general covariance structure to model within-subject residual autocorrelation. After evaluating various covariance structures, the 4-banded toeplitz and the spatial power structures were chosen for further evaluation. The 4-banded toeplitz structure provided a better fit. The model was further evaluated using an independent data set to examine its validation accuracy. Model validation results showed that the model was able to accurately predict stem diameters at the …

Mapping Qtl With Covariates, Cherie A. Ochsenfeld, Kristofer Jennings, R. W. Doerge

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis is an effective tool for locating regions of the genome associated with a trait. Quantitative trait data are complex, and when statistically testing for the location of a QTL, the distribution of the test statistic is typically unknown. Historically, asymptotic thresholds have been difficult to derive for QTL analysis. Permutation testing has successfully provided significance thresholds for QTL analysis, but the need for exchangeability among the observations limits these empirically derived thresholds to simple linear models and does not permit the inclusion of important covariates in the model. We address the limitation of permutation theory …

Statistical Methods For Affymetrix Tiling Array Data, Gayla Olbricht, Nagesh Sardesai, Stanton B. Gelvin, Bruce A. Craig, R. W. Doerge

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Tiling arrays are a microarray technology currently being used for a variety of genomic and epigenomic applications, such as the mapping of transcription, DNA methylation, and histone modifications. Tiling arrays provide high-density coverage of a genome, or a genomic region, through the systematic and sequential placement of probes without regard to genome annotation. In this paper we compare the Affymetrix tiling array to the Affymetrix GeneChip® 3’ expression array and propose methods that address statistical and bioinformatic issues that accompany gene expression data that are generated from Affymetrix tiling arrays. Real data from the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana motivate this …

Application Of The Dya Method To Compare Wheat Cultivar Yields, Arlin Feyerherm, Allan Fritz

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

At the 1998 conference, we proposed use of the DYA (differential yielding ability) method to compare the yielding ability of wheat cultivars. In this paper we review the method: its models and assumptions, and then show computation of sample statistics. An example will exhibit the output from performance trial yields when the method is applied in one of the nine ecogeographic areas of fall-planted wheat in the Midwest. Results of comparable outputs over years forecasted which cultivars would become popular with growers in Kansas

Comparative Study Of Time Series And Multiple Regression For Modeling Dependence Of Cattle Body Temperature On Environmental Variables During Heat Stress, M. Pathak, A. M. Parkhurst, R. A. Arias, T. L. Mader

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

During the summer, a challenging thermal environment is known to cause a significant reduction in food intake, growth, milk production, reproduction and even death in cattle. In this study, we attempt to characterize the relationship of cattle body temperature with several environmental variables, such as air temperature, soil surface temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed, incoming and outgoing short and long wave radiation. For these variables, the measurements taken over time are correlated. This places severe restrictions on the applicability of many conventional statistical methods that depend on the assumption of independent and identically distributed errors. In addition to …

Statistical Issues In Next-Generation Sequencing, Paul L. Auer, R. W. Doerge

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

High throughput deep-sequencing or next-generation sequencing has emerged as an exciting new tool in a great number of applications (e.g., variant discovery, profiling of histone modifications, identifying transcription factor binding sites, resequencing, and transcriptome characterization). Even though this technology has generated unprecedented amounts of data in the scientific community few studies have looked carefully at its inherent variability. Recent studies of mRNA expression levels found little appreciable technical variation in Illumina’s Solexa sequencing platform (a next-generation sequencing device). Although these results are encouraging, they are limited to a specific platform and application, and have been made without any attention to …

Hierarchical Bayesian Methods To Model Heterogeneity In Cow- And Herd-Level Relationships Between Milk Production And Reproduction In Dairy Cows, Nora M. Bello, Juan P. Steibel, Robert J. Tempelman

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Two of the most important broad classifications of phenotypes for successful dairy production are milk yield and fertility. The nature of the relationship between milk production and reproductive performance of dairy cows is uncertain due to conflicting results reported in many studies. A common deficiency in many such studies is an underappreciation of the dual dimension of the production-reproduction relationship, as defined by herd (random or u) level and cow (residual or e) level sources of (co)variation. Our overall hypothesis is that the e- and u- level relationships between milk production and reproduction in dairy cows are heterogeneous and depend …

Relative Potency Estimation In Direct Bioassay With Measurement Errors*, Weixing Song

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The dosage levels measured in direct bioassays are often contaminated with measurement errors, which are usually neglected in the statistical inference. This paper proposes several estimation procedures for the relative potencies in direct bioassays taking the measurement errors into account. Asymptotic theories are developed for constructing the confidence intervals. Numerical simulations are also included to compare different estimation procedures.

Bayesian Nonparametric Bioassay Estimation, Bahman Shafii, William J. Price

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Estimation of unknown pesticide levels in experimental samples is an important aspect of many agricultural and environmental studies. Such measurements are often made utilizing a “standard” dose response curve. This methodology compares the biological response of a target organism at known dosages to the response of the same organism exposed to an unknown sample. These “bioassays” are typically more efficient in time and resources than direct chemical assessment of the unknown sample. The form and choice of the standard curve, however, is subjective and can influence the estimation of the unknown dose. Problems may also arise when incomplete or preliminary …

Associating Snps With Binary Traits, Alexander E. Lipka, George P. Mccabe, R. W. Doerge

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Association mapping uses statistical analyses to test for relationships between genomic markers called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and traits. This research focuses on the use of logistic regression to assess the additive, dominance, and epistatic effects when investigating associations between SNPs and binary traits, such as disease status. A very specific phenomenon that results in infinite maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of logistic regression parameters, called quasi-separation of points (QSP), is investigated. We provide a solution that relies on the use of Firth’s MLE to estimate logistic regression parameters. Simulated and real data are utilized to investigate the use of Firth’s …

Editor's Preface And Table Of Contents, Gary L. Gadbury

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

These proceedings contain papers presented in the twenty-first annual Kansas State University Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture, held in Manhattan, Kansas, April 19 - April 21, 2009.

Landscape Ecology On College Campuses To Promote Environmental Sustainability, Erin Stempinski

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Stereospecific Enzyme Isolation From Carrots, Jacqueline Greer, Eileen Rigsby

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Solids Of Revolution About The Line Y=Mx, Harvey Marquis Iii

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Biodiesel: Tomorrow's Fuel, Today's Solution, Roberto J. Molina, Racheal A. Persuad

Undergraduate Research Conference

Study of physical and chemical properties of biodiesel fuels derived from poultry and plant fats.

Going Green Makes Cents!, Anthony Caldwell, Logan Fountain, Tiffany Snider

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

The Road To Leed Certification: Human Sciences South, Claire Collins, Kim Stockley, Whitney Kirkland

Undergraduate Research Conference

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Existing Buildings a set number of voluntary standards. LEED EB focuses on the performance of a building rather than it’s design.

The Green Business Revolution, Jacob Martin, Penny Mcclendon, Brian Watson, Jimanna Watson

Undergraduate Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Communication Across Random Landings, Kerron Joseph, Jay Walbran

Undergraduate Research Conference

The idea to do this project began with a simple question: Suppose that people carrying communication radios parachute out of a plane, if each device has a certain range, what is the probability that once everyone lands they will be able to communicate. To study this problem I assumed that the spot where each individual lands is normally distributed.

We discuss the different ways the communication radios can work. In particular we examine the situation where all the radios have to be within a certain radius r to operate correctly and the situation where the radios work on a relay …

Spectroscopic Studies Of Fluoranthene And 3-Nitrofluoranthene, Matthew Parks

Undergraduate Research Conference

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known byproducts of anthropogenic sources including incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. They are known to be teratogenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic. This study investigated the spectral properties of fluoranthene and 3- nitrofluoranthene using NMR, UV-Vis and infrared techniques. The acquisition of spectral data provides a means to identify these compounds in mixtures and can be used which to develop model formulae for quantitation. A 2-D NMR method (HMQC ) was used for assigning 13C peaks. The infrared spectrum for 3-nitrofluoranthene showed characteristic strong absorption peaks at 1323 and 1516 cm-1 assigned to symmetric/asymmetric nitro stretches, respectively. …

North American Energy Roundtable: Panel 1, Ricardo Samaniego-Breach, Angela Colarusso, Jeff Rush, Len Webber

North American Energy Roundtable

Panel presentation & Panel questions Moderator: Dennis Pirages, Dean's Professor of Government, UNLV Department of Political Science 31 PowerPoint slides

North American Energy Roundtable Program

North American Energy Roundtable

Roundtable schedule Roundtable participant biographies Sponsor: The North American Energy Roundtable is sponsored by the UNLV Urban Sustainability Initiative in collaboration with the UNLV Department of Political Science and the Consulate General of Canada.

North American Energy Roundtable Presenters

North American Energy Roundtable

Roundtable presenters (list)

Afternoon Concurrent Track 1: Sustainability In The K-16 Classroom, Ellen Ebert, Rebecca Reichenbach, Nick Pretasky, Dale Walsh

Education for a Global Future: 21st Century Challenges in Sustainability & Climate Change Education

AFTERNOON CONCURRENT TRACK 1: SUSTAINABILITY IN THE K-16 CLASSROOM Moderator Gale Sinatra Student Union Room 207 Ellen Ebert – Using the STS/EEE Model in 6-12 Curriculum to Understand the Sustainability Issues Related to the Colorado River System Abstract: Beginning in 1982, the National Science Teachers Association called for curriculum designers to develop materials that demonstrate the interconnectedness among science, technology and societal issues while presenting both positive and negative influences. This session will focus on using the STS/EEE learning model to design curriculum for secondary science that emphasizes sustainability issues focused on the Colorado River system. The presentation will outline …

Afternoon Concurrent Track 2: The "State" Of Climate Change Education, David M. Hassenzahl, Michael Collopy, Scott Mensing, Paul Buck, Donica Mensing, Hans-Peter Plag, Jen Huntleysmith

Education for a Global Future: 21st Century Challenges in Sustainability & Climate Change Education

AFTERNOON CONCURRENT TRACK 2: THE “STATE” OF CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION Moderator Scott Mensing Student Union Room 211 David Hassenzahl, Michael Collopy, Scott Mensing – NSHE EPSCoR Climate Infrastructure Grant Education Component Abstract: The Nevada System of Higher Education has received funding from the National Science Foundation EPSCoR program to develop climate change research infrastructure. This session will present information on what the Education Component is doing and plans to do, and solicit ideas on future climate education efforts for NSHE. Education is one of six components of this grant, and will support NSHE efforts on: Undergraduate research. Each school year …

Afternoon Concurrent Track 3: Green Curricula At Unlv, Thomas Jones, Ken Teeters, Barbara St. Pierre Schneider, Nancy Menzel, Lori Candela, Yu Xu, Sally Miller, Scott Nowicki

Education for a Global Future: 21st Century Challenges in Sustainability & Climate Change Education

AFTERNOON CONCURRENT TRACK 3: GREEN CURRICULA AT UNLV Moderator Carolyn Yucha Student Union Room 213 Tom Jones, Ken Teeters – Incorporating Sustainability into a Hospitality Management Curriculum Abstract: For the past 15 years, faculty members in the Harrah College of Hotel Administration who teach Facilities Management (HMD 395) have incorporated a sustainability management component in this required course. The concepts of sustainability and global climate change are introduced through readings and multi-media. The concept of Triple Bottom Line is presented and is applied to almost every component in the course. Students are assigned a variety of semester-long service-learning projects that …

Keynote Address: Sustainability And Student Learning, Geoffrey Chase

Education for a Global Future: 21st Century Challenges in Sustainability & Climate Change Education

Keynote address & Keynote speaker biography

Morning Concurrent Track 1: What Does It Mean For K-12 Students To Think About Sustainability In The Western U.S.?, Ellen Ebert, Rebecca Reichenbach, Allison Brody, Amy Page, Marcel Parent, Signa Gundlach

Education for a Global Future: 21st Century Challenges in Sustainability & Climate Change Education

MORNING CONCURRENT TRACK 1: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR K-12 STUDENTS TO THINK ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY IN THE WESTERN U.S.? Moderator Kent Crippen Student Union Room 207 Ellen Ebert - Using the STS/EEE Model in 6-12 Curriculum to Understand the Sustainability Issues Related to the Colorado River System (repeats Afternoon Concurrent Session #1) Abstract: Beginning in 1982, the National Science Teachers Association called for curriculum designers to develop materials that demonstrate the interconnectedness among science, technology and societal issues while presenting both positive and negative influences. This session will focus on using the STS/EEE learning model to design curriculum for secondary …

Morning Concurrent Track 2: Creation And Correction Of Myths About Global Warming, Matthew S. Lachniet, Gale Sinatra, Carolanne Kardash, Gita Taasoobshirazi, Doug Lombardi, E. Michael Nussbaum

Education for a Global Future: 21st Century Challenges in Sustainability & Climate Change Education

MORNING CONCURRENT TRACK 2: CREATION AND CORRECTION OF MYTHS ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING Moderator Robert Futrell Student Union Room 211 Matthew Lachniet – Global Warming Misconceptions and Myths: Barriers and Opportunities for Communicating Climate Change Science to a Non-scientific Audience Abstract: Opinions on an anthropogenic influence in global warming abound. Within the non-scientific public, the strength of one’s opinion commonly seems to be in inverse proportion to their knowledge of climate science. One reason for this disconnect between reality and opinion is the persistence of many climate change myths in popular knowledge of global warming. These myths are regularly propagated in …