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Articles 1 - 30 of 47
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Susceptibility Of Parkinson’S Disease Following Mild Blast Traumatic Brain Injury, Glen Howel Galicia Acosta
Susceptibility Of Parkinson’S Disease Following Mild Blast Traumatic Brain Injury, Glen Howel Galicia Acosta
Open Access Theses
Blast injury-induced neurotrauma (BINT) is steadily increasing in prevalence due to escalated terror activity and constitutes the signature injury associated with current military conflicts. BINT produces significant neurological deficiencies and there is a growing concern that the injury may produce long-term consequences that affect the resilience and the performance of soldiers. One of the potential consequences is an increased susceptibility to Parkinson's disease (PD). A vital goal aimed at curtailing the post-deployment long-term consequences of blast injury-induced neurotrauma is to further our knowledge of pathogenic mechanisms responsible for the escalation of post injury diseases. The purpose of this project is …
Cover Crop And No-Till Effects On Soil Health Properties In Indiana, Sara Alford
Cover Crop And No-Till Effects On Soil Health Properties In Indiana, Sara Alford
Open Access Theses
A growing concern of soil health and long-term sustainability has increased interest in no-till and cover crops in the Midwest. Some of the challenges with no-till in the Midwest can be higher soil moisture and lower soil temperatures at cash crop planting in the spring, planter adjustment issues, and lack of immediate economic benefit. Cover crops also have some of the same issues along with extra cost of seed and termination, mismanagement of cover crops, and lack of knowledge on the benefits and costs. This project was begun in order to quantify the effects of no-till and cover crops on …
Are Cover Crops Worth It? It Depends, Joshua S. Leirer
Are Cover Crops Worth It? It Depends, Joshua S. Leirer
Open Access Theses
Society is becoming increasingly more aware of the environmental consequences of agricultural production. Farmers today are under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable farm management practices. One method to improve the sustainability of crop production is the use of cover crops. Cover crops are planted "off-season" to provide agronomic and environmental benefits. The objective of this research is to quantify the impacts of cover crops and determine where and under which management practices cover crops provide the greatest benefit. Management practices include different crop rotations, tillage practices and residue removal rates. This paper will focus on soil erosion, nitrate leaching …
Use Of Plastic Bottles As An Alternative Container Type For Propagation Of Forest Tree Seedlings In Restoration Programs, Safiullah Khurram
Use Of Plastic Bottles As An Alternative Container Type For Propagation Of Forest Tree Seedlings In Restoration Programs, Safiullah Khurram
Open Access Theses
Deforestation and forest degradation is a global issue, especially in poor and developing regions of the world. In order to combat deforestation it is critical to enhance the productivity of forest restoration operations, which often involve planting of nursery-grown forest tree seedlings. Production of low quality stock types with deformed and spiraled root systems is a significant issue hindering successful restoration programs. Polybags (i.e., small plastic bags) are a common container type for seedling propagation in developing countries. However, polybags produce seedlings with spiraled and deformed root systems that reduce outplanting survival and performance. Use of discarded plastic water bottles …
Cerebrovascular Reactivity Alterations Due To Subconcussive Repetitive Head Trauma In Asymptomatic High School Football Players, Chetas Joshi
Open Access Theses
Chronic neurological damage as a result of chronic repetitive head trauma is a major concern for football athletes today. Repetitive concussions have been linked to many neurological disorders. Recently, it has been reported that repetitive subconcussive events can contribute to long-term neurodegeneration. For these reasons, it is important to understand the effect repetitive subconcussive head trauma has on brain health in young athletes. Past research has demonstrated that cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), an important mediator of cerebrovascular regulation, is impaired following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). This impairment increases susceptibility to secondary injury following mTBI. In this study, Breath-Hold (BH) task …
Does A Family-First Philosophy Affect Family Business Profitability? An Analysis Of Family Businesses In The Midwest, Maria Victoria Iglesias
Does A Family-First Philosophy Affect Family Business Profitability? An Analysis Of Family Businesses In The Midwest, Maria Victoria Iglesias
Open Access Theses
Previous family business literature has analyzed how various management strategies or family tension has impacted profit. However, profit can vary due to the different family values and goals placed on the firm. The purpose of this study was to investigate how the business philosophy of a family business influenced profit. The present study sought to examine how the family business' philosophy, as in if they have a family-first or business-first orientation, influences profit. This study also investigates how the distribution of the business to the next generation, as well as how hiring family members who may not have the qualifications …
The Bone-Protective Effect And Mechanism Of Soluble Corn Fiber, Steven A. Jakeman
The Bone-Protective Effect And Mechanism Of Soluble Corn Fiber, Steven A. Jakeman
Open Access Theses
Postmenopausal women are at greatest risk among healthy individuals of developing osteoporosis and associated fractures. Nondigestible, fermentable dietary carbohydrates have been shown to improve calcium absorption in adolescents and bone-strength parameters in the rat model. Of particular interest is soluble corn fiber (SCF), which improved rat bone strength the most in a survey of novel fibers, and improved calcium absorption by up to 13% in teen girls. Hypotheses about the mechanism behind this effect revolve around the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the large intestine during fermentation. The purpose of this work was to determine if SCF would …
Mass Transfer Of Large Molecules Through Collagen And Collagen-Silica Hybrid Membranes, Pedro Jofre Lora
Mass Transfer Of Large Molecules Through Collagen And Collagen-Silica Hybrid Membranes, Pedro Jofre Lora
Open Access Theses
Diabetes is a growing concern in the United States and around the world that must be addressed through new treatment options. Current standard treatment options of diabetes are limiting and have tremendous impacts on patient's lives. Emerging therapies, such as the implantation of encapsulated islets, are promising treatment options, but have not yet materialized due to unsolved problems with material properties. Hybrid silica-collagen membranes address some of these unsolved problems and are a promising material for cell encapsulation. However, the mass transfer properties of large molecules, such as insulin, TNF-α, IL1β, and other important proteins in the etiology of diabetes, …
Subsidizing Carbon Sequestration Via Forestry In Maryland: A Cost-Benefit Assessment, Rachel C. Hettich
Subsidizing Carbon Sequestration Via Forestry In Maryland: A Cost-Benefit Assessment, Rachel C. Hettich
Open Access Theses
Carbon sequestration by forestry is one way to mitigate climate change, and policy incentives are in place to encourage private investment in forestry. State and federal forestry cost-share programs subsidize the establishment of trees and the improvement of existing forested land. The objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of such programs in Maryland and to compare the monetized benefits from permanently sequestered carbon with the current subsidies. To meet this objective, private and social cost-benefit analyses were conducted for three forestry investment scenarios in Maryland that coincide with the main cost-share programs available there. Sensitivity analysis considered …
Market Participation And Profitability Of Cotton Production In Malawi, Daniel M. Ghambi
Market Participation And Profitability Of Cotton Production In Malawi, Daniel M. Ghambi
Open Access Theses
Cotton is traditionally a cash crop for smallholder farmers in Malawi, supporting more than 100,000 families. According to the government of Malawi, the cotton sector is a key element in poverty reduction and growth strategy. ^ In the market liberalized economy, the functioning of the market plays a major role in the allocation of resources for increased productivity. This paper investigates the impacts of cotton subsidy and marketing reforms on farm productivity, a key element for poverty alleviation, in rural Malawi. ^ The main objective of this study is to explore whether changes in market participation coupled with government policies …
Genetic Analysis Of Tocochromanol Variation In Maize Using High-Density Linkage Mapping, Megan E. Fenton
Genetic Analysis Of Tocochromanol Variation In Maize Using High-Density Linkage Mapping, Megan E. Fenton
Open Access Theses
Vitamin E is an essential nutrient in the human diet and refers to eight distinct compounds that are collectively known as tocochromanols. Tocochromanols are grouped into two classes: tocotrienols and tocopherols. Tocochromanols are the major lipid-soluble antioxidants in maize (Zea mays L.) grain. Enhancing the tocochromanol content of maize derived foods through plant breeding has important nutritional and health implications. Chapter one is a literature review that provides a foundational understanding of the biosynthesis, function and genetic control of tocochromanols in plants, with specific attention to maize (Zea mays L.). Upon this foundation two research objectives were developed that work …
Physical Actvity In Pregnant Rat Dams Reduces Mammary Tumor Formation In Offspring, Leon Clah
Physical Actvity In Pregnant Rat Dams Reduces Mammary Tumor Formation In Offspring, Leon Clah
Open Access Theses
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer death among women. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity and diet play a role in attenuating the incidence of breast cancer. Current research is beginning to show that exercise during pregnancy can convey long term health benefits to offspring. In light of these studies, the goal of this project was to determine if maternal physical activity during pregnancy could lead to reduced mammary tumor development in female offspring. Towards this goal, female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into two groups, sedentary and exercise, with the exercise …
An Active Site Loop Mutant Of A Zinc Metallo-Deubiquitinase Suggests The Importance Of Loop Dynamics To Catalysis, Amy N. Bueno
An Active Site Loop Mutant Of A Zinc Metallo-Deubiquitinase Suggests The Importance Of Loop Dynamics To Catalysis, Amy N. Bueno
Open Access Theses
AMSH is a conserved zinc metalloprotease that functions with endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT) machinery in order to down regulate and degrade cell-surface receptors. It has been shown to have high specificity toward Lys63-linked polyubiquitin chains, a signal used for receptor down regulation by ESCRT machinery. It has previously been found that Sst2, an AMSH orthologue from fission yeast, contains a flexible "loop" near the proximal ubiquitin binding site, composed of residues L402 and F403. The different mobility of the side chains of these residues contribute to the opening and closing conformation of the catalytic cleft which allow …
Effects Of Moderate-Level Sound Exposure On Behavioral Thresholds In Chinchillas, Maria Sandra Carbajal De Nava
Effects Of Moderate-Level Sound Exposure On Behavioral Thresholds In Chinchillas, Maria Sandra Carbajal De Nava
Open Access Theses
Normal audiometric thresholds following noise exposure have generally been considered as an indication of a recovered cochlea and intact peripheral auditory system, yet recent animal work has challenged this classic assumption. Moderately noise-exposed animals have been shown to have permanent loss of synapses on inner hair cells (IHCs) and permanent damage to auditory nerve fibers (ANFs), specifically the low-spontaneous rate fibers (low-SR), despite normal electrophysiological thresholds. Loss of cochlear synapses, known as cochlear synaptopathy, disrupts auditory-nerve signaling, which may result in perceptual speech deficits in noise despite normal audiometric thresholds. Perceptual deficit studies in humans have shown evidence consistent with …
Influence And Characterization Of Microbial Contaminants Associated With The Fda Bam Method Used To Detect Listeria Monocytogenes From Romaine Lettuce, Christopher E. Bach
Influence And Characterization Of Microbial Contaminants Associated With The Fda Bam Method Used To Detect Listeria Monocytogenes From Romaine Lettuce, Christopher E. Bach
Open Access Theses
Over the past few decades in the US, fresh produce commodities have become increasingly prevalent vehicles for the attribution of foodborne illness. Recent outbreaks of the bacterial foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes linked to fresh produce highlight this immediate issue facing food safety. The most widely used method to screen L. monocytogenes from food matrices in the US is the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) developed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Detection of this pathogen from all foods is primarily accomplished by using four FDA approved Listeria selective media: Oxford (OXA), modified Oxford (MOX), Lithium chloride-phenylethanol-moxalactam fortified with esculin and …
Fuel Choice, Acute Respiratory Infection And Child Growth In Uganda, Onyekachi U. Aghasili
Fuel Choice, Acute Respiratory Infection And Child Growth In Uganda, Onyekachi U. Aghasili
Open Access Theses
This thesis seeks to explain the relationship between a household's choice of fuel and the health and nutrition outcomes of children below the age of 5 in Uganda. The first objective is to examine the association between the choice of fuel and the incidence of acute respiratory infection (ARI). The second objective is to measure the relationship between choice of fuel, ARI and nutrition outcomes of children. ^ I use data from the 2006 and 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys (UDHS). The total number of observations is 4,463. Data indicate that 94% of rural households in the DHS sample …
Individual Analysis Of T2*-Weighted Gradient Echo Imaging In Asymptomatic And Symptomatic Athletes, Xianglun Mao
Individual Analysis Of T2*-Weighted Gradient Echo Imaging In Asymptomatic And Symptomatic Athletes, Xianglun Mao
Open Access Theses
Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), is a commonly occurred sports-related injury, especially in contact sports like football and soccer. Hemorrhage will appear as hypointense lesions on T2 *-weighted images, resulting from mTBI. Thus, T 2*-weighted gradient echo pulse sequence can be used to generate magnitude susceptibility-weighted (SW) images, and to further detect negative intensity changes of different regions of interests (ROIs) inside human brains. Our goal was to investigate how the ROI-specific intensity changes in each individual sports athlete over a single competition season and to interrogate whether these changes are correlated with repetitive subconcussive or …
Extended Scaffolding: A More General Theory Of Scaffolded Cognition, Zachary R. Murphy
Extended Scaffolding: A More General Theory Of Scaffolded Cognition, Zachary R. Murphy
Open Access Theses
New and emerging technologies called neuroprostheses are challenging our ideas about where one's mind ends and the environment begins. Cochlear implants, which completely replace the functioning of the inner ear, are now a common treatment for deafness. Berger et al. developed a device that replaces long-term memory in rats (2012), while Hampson et al. created a brain-machine interface that converts a desire to move one's arm into the motor neuron impulses required to achieve that movement (2013)--both offering promising treatments for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and paralysis. Deep brain stimulation is now a common way of regulating neural activity to manage …
The Effect Of Biochar On The Growth Of Agricultural Weed Species, Karen Anne Mitchell
The Effect Of Biochar On The Growth Of Agricultural Weed Species, Karen Anne Mitchell
Open Access Theses
Biochar, a carbon-rich residue similar to charcoal, has been proposed as a soil amendment to improve soil quality and increase crop yields while simultaneously mitigating climate change by the sequestration of carbon. The beneficial effect of biochar on crops may extend to weed species and, although it is well known that weeds reduce crop yields, there is little published research on the effect of biochar on agricultural weed species. In a series of greenhouse and growth chamber experiments, three questions were addressed. First, how does nitrogen interact with biochar produced from a single feedstock to affect weeds? Second, how do …
Assessing The Spatial Variability Of Soils In Uganda, Joshua Okach Minai
Assessing The Spatial Variability Of Soils In Uganda, Joshua Okach Minai
Open Access Theses
Uganda's soils were once considered the most fertile in Africa, but soil erosion and soil nutrient mining have led to soil degradation and declining agricultural productivity. Lack of environmental awareness among farmers, traditional agricultural practices, minimal inorganic fertilizer use, and little to no use of improved crop varieties all contribute to continued soil degradation. The objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize the spatial distribution of selected physical and chemical soil properties in Uganda on a national scale utilizing the data collected by Nkonya et al. (2008), and (2) to identify the major factors and processes that are dominant …
Stages Of Succession Planning And Factors Of Transferring Management And Ownership For The Family Agribusiness, Ryan D. Musselman
Stages Of Succession Planning And Factors Of Transferring Management And Ownership For The Family Agribusiness, Ryan D. Musselman
Open Access Theses
Although many family business owners want to maintain family control of the business for future generations, few businesses survive across generations. Neglecting to plan an entry and exit strategy for family members are just two factors that explains why more businesses don't succeed in transferring the business to the next generation in the family. Ordered Probit models and Probit models were used to discover factors that influence the process of family business transfer of management and ownership. Data came from a survey of 736 businesses in four Midwest states. ^ Four factors were found to be correlated with the transition …
Baylisascaris Spp. In Non-Raccoon Procyonid Hosts And Assessment Of Potential Risk Of Human Exposure, Max Carlin Parkanzky
Baylisascaris Spp. In Non-Raccoon Procyonid Hosts And Assessment Of Potential Risk Of Human Exposure, Max Carlin Parkanzky
Open Access Theses
Baylisascaris procyonis (Bp) is a large roundworm of the common raccoon (Procyon lotor) which serves as the definitive host. Bp is an important cause of clinical larva migrans, including severe neurological disease, across numerous taxa including humans. Other procyonids, as well as occasionally dogs, can act as definitive hosts for this or other Baylisascaris spp. Many of these animals are becoming more common as household pets, posing a risk to people who come in contact with these animals. We have investigated whether patent Baylisascaris spp. infection exists in captive non-raccoon procyonids and if humans who contact these animals …
Eco-Evolutionary Factors Drive Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles, Which Intercept Plant Defense, Elizabeth K. Rowen
Eco-Evolutionary Factors Drive Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles, Which Intercept Plant Defense, Elizabeth K. Rowen
Open Access Theses
Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) mediate a wide variety of interactions in ecosystems. However, many volatile compounds are found across plant taxa, and some are exploited to attract natural enemies for biological control. Subtle changes in HIPV blends can produce profound changes in the behavior of predators, parasitoids and herbivores, and may also alter the defensive processes of neighboring plants. I investigated different ecological and evolutionary factors to understand how plant volatile emissions are affected by feeding guild, herbivore diet breadth and domestication. I meta-analyzed 109 studies and found that specialists induce more total volatiles than generalists. Domesticated species have stronger …
Persistence And Internalization Of Listeria Monocytogenes In Romaine Lettuce, Lactuca Sativa Var. Longifolia, Archana G. Shenoy
Persistence And Internalization Of Listeria Monocytogenes In Romaine Lettuce, Lactuca Sativa Var. Longifolia, Archana G. Shenoy
Open Access Theses
Listeria monocytogenes, has been implicated in a number of outbreaks involving fresh produce. While no L. monocytogenes outbreaks have been linked to romaine lettuce, the number of lettuce recalls specific to L. monocytogenes is increasing. Understanding the potential of persistence and internalization of L. monocytogenes on and within romaine lettuce will aid in determining food safety risk. Persistence of three L. monocytogenes strains on three romaine lettuce cultivars was assessed independently by inoculating seeds in 25 ml of 8 log CFU/ml for 30 minutes. Seeds were grown on two soil types (i.e. standard potting mix, Indiana top soil) or sterile …
Growth Parameters Of 'Golden Delicious' Apple Trees (Malus X Domestica Borkh), Biying Shi
Growth Parameters Of 'Golden Delicious' Apple Trees (Malus X Domestica Borkh), Biying Shi
Open Access Theses
High yield and high quality of tree fruit result from appropriate orchard design and management practices. This requires an accurate knowledge of vegetative growth, branching, and flowering processes of fruit trees. Tree development knowledge is the fundamental information necessary to build functional-structural tree models, which have various applications in agriculture. To build such models, information is needed on the distributions of growth parameters, not merely means as are often reported. The objective of this study was to quantitatively analyze shoot development and examine the correlations between fruit quality and light distribution in apple trees. This study was conducted in 2014, …
Potential Of Ozone Technology For German Cockroach (Bblattella Germanica (L.)) Management, Yanlin Tian
Potential Of Ozone Technology For German Cockroach (Bblattella Germanica (L.)) Management, Yanlin Tian
Open Access Theses
German cockroaches (Blattella germanica (L.)) are important urban pests that adversely impact human health. Previous studies indicated that ozone technology (ozone gas) can be used as a management tool to control insect pests in grain storage facilities, stored foods and some finished products. The goal of my study was to broaden the applicability of ozone from traditional stored grain pests to B. germanica. The first part of my study determined the concentration-time (CT) relationship of ozone required to achieve 100% mortality in various life stages (adults, nymphs and eggs) ofB. germanica. Results showed that eggs were the most ozone-tolerant …
Magnetic Manipulation And Multimodal Imaging For Single Cell Direct Mechanosensing, Robert L. Wilson
Magnetic Manipulation And Multimodal Imaging For Single Cell Direct Mechanosensing, Robert L. Wilson
Open Access Theses
The study of internal mechanics of single cells is paramount to understand mechanisms of mechanoregulation. External loading and cell-mediated force generation result in changes in cell shape, rheology, and the deformation of subcellular structures such as the nucleus. Moreover, alterations in the processes that regulate these responses have been further correlated to specific pathologies. Cellular deformation is often studied through application of forces in the environment of the cell, relying on strain and stress transfer through focal adhesions and the cytoskeletal system. However, the transfer of these external forces to internal mechanics can introduce uncertainties in the interpretation of subcellular …
Evaluation Of Nutritional Traits Of Soy Protein Concentrate (Spc) In Broiler Chicks And Turkey Poults, Noorjan Zazai
Evaluation Of Nutritional Traits Of Soy Protein Concentrate (Spc) In Broiler Chicks And Turkey Poults, Noorjan Zazai
Open Access Theses
The objectives of this study were to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen corrected AME (AMEn) of soy protein concentrate (SPC), and standardized ileal amino acid digestibility (SIAAD) of (SPC) and dehulled soybean meal (SBM) in broiler and turkey poults. Soy protein concentrate and SBM was the only source of CP in their respective semi-purified diets used for estimating SIAAD in 7 and 21 d-old broiler chicken and turkey poults. Two experiments (Exp 1 and 2) were conducted with 6 replicate cages of 20 (d 7) and 6 (d 21) birds/cage. In Exp.1, experimental diets containing 0, …
Tracking Sales Activities In Agribusiness, Jiayu Li
Tracking Sales Activities In Agribusiness, Jiayu Li
Open Access Theses
Decisions in the sales area, including customer and product selection and margin discipline, shape profits for companies in agribusiness. Management of the sales function takes place at the organizational, managerial, and practitioner level, each of which requires data about the process. Individual salespeople benefit from better knowledge of customers (Dixon & Adamson, 2011), and sales managers benefit from understanding the activities of salespeople. Organizationally, data on sales activities may be used to determine progress toward organizational goals or to compensate salespeople. ^ This research utilized surveys to investigate how agribusiness companies differ in the ways they keep track of sales …
Consumer Inferences Of Corporate Social Responsibility (Csr) Claims On Packaged Foods, Gaeul Kim
Consumer Inferences Of Corporate Social Responsibility (Csr) Claims On Packaged Foods, Gaeul Kim
Open Access Theses
With the growing public demands in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the food industry, CSR claims have begun to appear on food packages, as companies started communicating their CSR initiatives to consumers. Although food packages emerged as an important CSR communication tool, consumers' processing of CSR claims and the effects of these claims on product evaluations still remain unknown. In this regard, the present study carries two important research questions. First, do non-health/nutrition-related CSR claims influence consumers' product evaluations, such as perceived health benefits or tastes? If so, how does the effect of CSR claims differ by type of CSR …