May 12, 2023
11:00 AM
404 NH Lincoln
160 PKI Omaha
Jascika Maclean: Surface water impact of the AltEn Biofuels Plant
The presentation will evaluate the extent of pollution caused by an ethanol plant located in Mead using pesticide treated seed as feedstock. The presentation discusses the occurrence of neonicotinoid insecticides and Strobilurin fungicides in two surface waters close to the plant i.e., the Johnson creek and ENREC creek. 7 locations in both creeks were monitored with both grab and passive samplers. The pesticides were detected using LC-MS/ MS.
Maryam Mahdieh: Investigation of the fate and infectivity of chronic wasting disease prions after landfilling
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a contagious disease caused by an infectious prion protein when a normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) converts to a misfold and disease-associated form (PrPSC). CWD negatively affected free and captive cervids and can be shed to the environment through infected animal excreta since preclinical stage to postmortem decomposition. Contaminated environment such as soil and surfaces can serve as prion reservoirs for horizontal transmission of CWD whereas prions resist degradation under both natural and engineered environmental conditions. In this research we investigated the degradation/ inactivation and transport of CWD prions in landfills or burial pits.