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Evaluation Of A High Protein Low Oligosaccharide Soybean Meal In Poultry Production, Kasey Matusik

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of feeding a high protein, low oligosaccharide soybean meal to optimize poultry nutrition by the effects of feeding the soybean meal to roosters, broiler chickens, and turkeys. Two research objectives were evaluated to determine whether high protein, low oligosaccharide soybean meal would have increased nutritional value. The first objective assessed the metabolizable energy (ME) content of a high protein, low oligosaccharide soybean meal compared to a conventional soybean meal. Using roosters, broiler chickens, and turkey poults, three bioassays were conducted to evaluate the ME of the soybean meal. Results demonstrated …

The Role Of Speculators In The Agricultural Futures Market And Their Impact On Prices, Clement Asamoah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The study evaluates the impact of speculative activity on agricultural commodity returns, specifically in the corn, soybeans, rice, and oats markets. The study also analyzed the influence commodity returns have on speculative positions. Weekly data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission were used as a proxy for speculative activity, and futures data were also retrieved from Barchart. Vector Autoregressive models and the Granger Causality tests were estimated to identify the relationships between returns and speculation. The paper found that speculative positions do not Granger-cause returns over the course of a week except for rice Tuesday results, which recorded a statistically …

Challenges And Opportunities In Dry Aging: Producer Perspectives And Valorization Of Dry- Aged Waste Products, Peyton Scout Arnold

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite the projected increase in the dry aging market, producers may be hesitant to incorporate dry aging practices. This thesis aims to identify primary concerns faced by producers in implementing a dry aging program. Semi-structured interview surveys were conducted via Qualtrics (N = 100). Results indicated that an “advanced” level of dry aging knowledge correlated with a higher importance in the use/sale of dry aged products (P = 0.02). Cost, demand, and sourcing were the top three concerns of producers practicing dry aging. Those considering implementation were concerned with cost, processing parameters, safety, demand, and sourcing. No significant differences were …

A Remarkable Diversity Of Syngnathid Fishes In A Highly Modified Large Coastal Embayment In The Southeastern Indian Ocean, Glenn I. Moore, Jenelle A. Ritchie, Georgia M. Nester, Glenn A. Hyndes, Alan J. Kendrick

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Southern Australia supports a high diversity of fishes in the family Syngnathidae, which is recognised as globally threatened, facing threats from coastal development, over-exploitation and bycatch. In southwestern Australia, Cockburn Sound houses a large industrial port and naval defence assets with plans to substantially expand the port facilities but also sits within a recognised syngnathid ‘hotspot’. Using a broad array of data sources, including historical museum vouchers, published records, historical and contemporary observations from notebooks and diving surveys, historical and contemporary trawl surveys, citizen science observations and environmental DNA, we compiled 4839 records of syngnathid fishes from the embayment. Twenty-one …

Soilless Substrates As A Critical Control Point For Mitigating Food Safety Risks Within Hydroponic Leaf Lettuce Production, Eric Nuertey Tetteh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The effect of hydroponic soilless substrates and microbial biocontrol agents on the persistence of foodborne pathogens in indoor lettuce production is variable depending on substrate type, pathogen species, and biocontrol formulation. This study addressed key gaps by first characterizing the ability of different substrates to support Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes survival and then evaluating the ability of pine biochar and Bacillus subtilis to suppress pathogen persistence in selected substrates under controlled conditions. In the first experiment, the persistence of Salmonella and L. monocytogenes was evaluated in four soilless substrates: rockwool (RW), low density foam (LDF), peat moss (PM) and coco …

Association Of Ultra-Processed Food Intake With Insulin Secretion And Sensitivity In Mexican American Children: Results From The Safari Study, Hemant Kulkarni, Rector Arya, Srinivas Mummidi, Sharon P. Fowler, Roy G. Resendez, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Vidya Farook, John Blangero

Human Genetics Publications

Background/Objectives: There is increasing interest in and evidence for the role of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in cardiometabolic risk. We tested the hypothesis that UPF intake score derived from dietary history is associated with measures of insulin secretion and sensitivity in a family setting even when the process of type 2 diabetes is still to ensue. Methods: We used data from our well-characterized San Antonio Family Assessment of Metabolic Risk Indicators in Youth (SAFARI) study cohort of nondiabetic children (aged 6–17 years). Dietary history was assessed using the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire. Outcomes of interest were 19 clinically useful indexes of …

Valorisation Potential Of Microalgae As A Sustainable Source Of Lipids And Health Promoting Compounds, Bozena Mccarthy

Theses

The transition toward a circular bioeconomy requires sustainable strategies for managing and valorising food industry effluents while reducing reliance on environmentally damaging raw materials such as palm oil, which is associated with deforestation, biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions. Microalgae represent a promising platform for converting nutrient rich industrial by-products into biomass and high-value compounds for food, nutraceutical and bio-based applications. Dairy processing generates large quantities of whey, creating environmental challenges due to its high organic load. Improved whey treatment and valorisation strategies are therefore essential for enhancing sustainability in food production systems. In this study, the biomass productivity …

An Emergent Seafood Nationalism Takes Hold In The United States, Owen Temby

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

This paper introduces the concept of ‘seafood nationalism’ to describe how, since 2024–2025, the United States increasingly uses tariffs, trade remedies, food safety enforcement and origin-based rules to favour American seafood over foreign products. Federal actions include Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, which directs agencies to address unfair trade practices, unsafe imports and to develop a coordinated seafood trade strategy. Additional measures include a tariff package imposing a 10% duty on nearly all seafood imports and 30% on seafood from China, as well as new anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders on warm-water shrimp. This paper presents Gulf …

Pearson Syndrome: Expanding The Clinical Spectrum Of A Mitochondrial Cytopathy-A Case Report, Alizah Faisal, Hooria Waqas, Hania Masood, Armeen Butt, Saad Rahman, Muhammad Sheraz Hameed, Syed Rafay Hussain Zaidi, Ali Iqbal, Muhammad Usama Naveed

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Pearson syndrome (PS) is a rare multisystem mitochondrial disorder characterized by single large-scale mitochondrial DNA deletions (SLSMDs). It typically presents in infancy with refractory sideroblastic anemia, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, and failure to thrive. Due to its heterogeneous manifestations and resemblance to other hematological conditions, early diagnosis remains a clinical challenge.

CASE PRESENTATION: A south asian male infant presented with persistent pancytopenia, severe anemia unresponsive to intravenous and oral iron and multivitamin supplements, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, failure to thrive, and metabolic acidosis. Born to consanguineous parents, the child had a significant family history of early infant deaths and hematological abnormalities. …

Plasma And Extracellular Vesicle–Enriched Protein Profiles In Chronic Rhinosinusitis, Aryana Amin, Rutviben P. Shah Bds, Dhvani Parikh Mph, Niki Mirhosseini Bs, Baharan Fekry Phd, Donyea L. Moore, Mahboobeh Mahdavinia Md, Phd

Summer Research Program Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Cryptic Habits: The Hidden Lives Of Midsouth Entomologists. Interview With Dr. Jerome Goddard, Mississippi Public Health Entomologist And Fiction Novelist, C. J. Peterson, Jerome Goddard

Midsouth Entomologist

No abstract provided.

Economic Performance And Technical Efficiency Of “Small-Scale” Vegetable Production In Ido Local Government Area Of Oyo State, Nigeria, Taiye Oluwasola Babatunde, Oluyemisi Omowunmi Babatunde

Journal of Bioresource Management

A study was carried out to examine the economic performance of small-scale vegetable farmers and how effectively they are using their resources in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. The study involved eighty vegetable farmers who were chosen randomly, and information was gathered from them using structured questionnaires. Different tools such as budget analysis, linear regression, frequency distribution, percentages, and the stochastic frontier production function were used to examine the data that was collected. The results indicated that about 41.3 % of the farmers were between the ages of 41 and 50. Most of the people who answered were …

Crispr/Cas9-Based Genome Editing: Understanding Differences In Dna Repair Pathways, Profiles, And Outcomes, Samuel Effah, Shirley Barrera, Nahia Urturi Ortiz, Will Dampier, Michael Nonnemacher, Brian Wigdahl

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

Over a decade of advances in Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based technologies have culminated in the first-ever FDA-approved CRISPR/Cas-based therapy. Aside from this approved therapy for sickle cell anemia, several CRISPR/Cas-based therapies are currently under development or testing for a range of chronic diseases, including viral diseases like human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, genetic diseases like familial hypercholesterolemia, and cancer. The success of these therapies hinges on the effective delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components to target regions, efficient Cas endonuclease editing, repair profiles generated, and their resulting outcomes. Here, we discuss the …

Prevalence And Risk Factors Association Of Babesiosis In Cattle And Buffaloes In District Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan, Kazim Raza, Amjad Hussain, Sajid Moin, Huzaifa Arain, Muhammad Mohsen, Maria Abubakar, Erum Bughio, Barkat Ali

Journal of Bioresource Management

Background: Bovine babesiosis is a protozoan disease that is transmitted by ticks and has significant veterinary and economic impacts on tropical livestock systems. Prior to this study, no epidemiological data was available of Sindh, Pakistan.

Purpose: To estimate the Babesia spp. prevalence and estimate the risk factors with respect to cattle and buffaloes in five tehsils of District Naushahro Feroze, Sindh, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using 200 blood samples (100 Thari cattle; 100 Kundhi buffaloes; both sexes) in five tehsils (Kandiaro, Moro, Mehrabpur, Bhiria and Naushahro Feroze). Thin blood smears under Giemsa stain were viewed under oil-immersion …

Coastal Landforms Analysis Of Al-Kharrar Lagoon And Rabigh Coast Using Aster (Ast_L1t) Imagery, Western Saudi Arabia, Omar A. Alharbi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Science

The current study sought to examine the coastal geomorphology throughout the entire length of the Al-Kharrar Lagoon, in addition to the coastal region of Rabigh City, situated on the western coast of Saudi Arabia. The mechanisms underlying the formation of the wide variety of natural land features were also studied. These include sandy, pebble and rocky beaches and sand dunes; intertidal areas; salt flats (sabkhas) and marshes; elevated, terraced or fringing coral reefs; water inlets; and the deposition of terrigenous or alluvial materials, all reflecting the swift transformation that has impacted the region. Evaluation of the ASTER (AST_L1T) data enabled …

Microplastics Contamination In Marine Environment: Sources And Management Strategies, Aishah Hamdi, Mohammad Oves, Naser Alkenani, Majed Alshaeri

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Science

Microplastics (MPs) have been identified as emerging global pollutants because of their persistence, mobility, and significant ecological impacts. These particles, which result from the degradation of plastic waste and from various industrial and consumer activities, are now widespread in marine environments. The capacity of MPs to adsorb contaminants and bioaccumulate within food webs increases their ecological and health risks, prompting substantial concern regarding their long-term consequences for marine ecosystems and human health. This review synthesizes current knowledge regarding the composition, sources, transport, mechanisms, and environmental behavior of microplastics (MPs), with particular emphasis on marine systems. In these environments, the persistence …

Multi-Label Seabed Image Classification: A Comparative Study Of Deep Learning And Machine Learning Models, Anis Bel Hadj Hassin, Elyes Omri

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Science

This study evaluates the effectiveness of deep learning and machine learning models for classifying seabed images into three ecologically significant categories: algae, rocks, and sand. We investigated five models: ResNet50, VGG16, a custom-designed convolutional neural network (CNN), support vector machines (SVM), and random forests (RF). Deep learning models were fine-tuned on 1259 seabed images, with the custom CNN architecture optimized using depthwise separable convolutions and global average pooling. For SVM and RF, features were extracted using a pre-trained VGG16 network. Class weighting was applied to address potential imbalances in the dataset. The custom CNN achieved the highest validation accuracy (82.01%), …

Dynamical Behavior, Extinction And Persistence In A Stochastic Delayed Two-Strain Epidemic Model With A Generalized Crowley-Martin Incidence Rate, Amina Allali, Dounia Bentaleb, Saida Amine

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

This paper develops and analyzes a novel delayed stochastic SIR epidemic model with two interacting strains and general incidence functions. By establishing the existence and uniqueness of a positive global solution, the well-posedness of the model under stochastic perturbations is ensured. Extinction occurs when the stochastic reproduction number falls below unity, as demonstrated through Itô calculus and martingale convergence theorems, while persistence is guaranteed under the Crowley–Martin incidence when it exceeds one. Numerical experiments based on the Positive Preserving Truncated Euler–Maruyama (PPTEM) scheme confirm the analytical predictions and highlight the influence of time delay and noise intensity on the long-term …

Light-Driven Zonation And Community Structure Of Aerophytic Microalgae In A Tropical Limestone Cave (Gua Tempurung, Malaysia), Wan Maznah Wan Omar, Mohammad Basri Eshak, Luthfiana Aprilianita Sari, Zulaihat Hamza Abdullahi, Yusuf Abdullahi

International Journal of Speleology

Cave ecosystems host specialized phototrophic biofilms structured primarily by light availability, yet quantitative assessments of aerophytic microalgal community organization in tropical limestone caves remain limited. This study investigated spatial variation in the structure of aerophytic microalgal communities across four ecologically distinct zones (entrance, transition, penetration, and low light) of Gua Tempurung, Malaysia. Stratified sampling was conducted during three seasonal periods. Dominant phototrophic morphospecies were identified using microscopy, and community composition was analyzed in relation to key environmental variables. Twenty-three dominant microalgal morphospecies were recorded across the cave gradient. Cyanobacteria constituted the major component of both richness and abundance, followed by …

Environmental Tolerances And Habitat Association Of Three Endemic Crayfish Species In Texas, Andrew Walker

Biology Theses

Little is known about many of the 52 crayfish species in Texas. This thesis investigates physiological tolerances of three species endemic to the Jackson Vale ecoregion of Southeast Texas, the Bastrop crayfish (Procambarus texanus), Nueces crayfish (Procambarus nueces), and the Fayette’s crayfish (Procambarus fayettei) as well as the White River crayfish (Procambarus acutus), which is ubiquitous throughout East Texas. Thermal, hypoxia, and acidity tolerances were tested on wild caught individuals through laboratory assays. Findings from this study will inform wildlife managers of future conservation strategies relating to these endemic species.

Topographic Control Of Forest Species Distributions In The Interior West From Forest Inventory And Analysis Data, R. Justin Derose, Matthew F. Bekker

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The geographic distribution of forest and woodland ecosystems in the Interior West United States is strongly influenced by topographic factors that, in part, control moisture availability through their effect on insolation, precipitation capture, and retention. Through an empirical approach, we use unique, plot-level data from the Forest Inventory and Analysis Program (n = 13,437) over eight ecoregions within eight Interior West states to characterize the distribution of the 12 most abundant tree species with respect to the effects of elevation, slope aspect, and slope steepness. Across species, elevation, and aspect, most forested plots occurred on gentle slopes and the …

Instructions To Authors, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Keynote Address And Meeting Program, Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Business Meeting Report (Secretary's And Treasurer's Report), Academy Editors

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Investigating Quinclorac Binding To Human Serum Albumin Using Spectroscopy And Molecular Docking, Le Nguyen, L. Hicks, L. Jodoin, S. Carby, D. S. Sanford, D. Benavides, A. Mishra, R. Yadav

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Human serum albumin (HSA) is the most abundant plasma protein and serves as a major transporter and reservoir for a wide range of endogenous ligands, including fatty acids, heme, bilirubin, prostaglandins, and metal ions, as well as numerous exogenous compounds, such as pharmaceuticals. HSA is a 66 kDa monomeric, multidomain protein containing two principal ligand-binding sites, Sudlow sites I and II. Sudlow site I contains Trp214, the sole tryptophan residue in HSA, whose intrinsic fluorescence provides a sensitive probe for studying ligand–protein interactions.

In this study, the interaction between HSA and the persistent organochlorine herbicide quinclorac (QNC) was investigated using …

A Review Of Herpetofaunal Distributions In Arkansas With Special Emphasis On Contributions From Citizen Science: Part Ii – Turtles, Lizards, And Alligators, L. Hobbs, E. Kelley, J. Jackson, J.D. Willson, K. G. Roberts, R. Kannan

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

We update and present a comprehensive review of the distributions of the species of lizards (14), alligators (1), and turtles (16) in Arkansas. We compare historical and current distributions with citizen science data uploaded and verified in iNaturalist, a leading online citizen science biodiversity monitoring database. The Arkansas Herpetological Atlas, an online resource maintaining species occurrence records, is also used and compared. We highlight the role played by iNaturalist in enhancing our knowledge of the distributions of these species in Arkansas. As of 13 February 2025, verified and vetted Research Grade (RG) iNaturalist observations from Arkansas include 7,462 observations of …

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy For Monitoring Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection In Experimentally Challenged Calves, Erin Blanchard, Jelena Muncan, Grace Beddingfield, Cassandra Barber, Florencia Meyer, Santiago Cornejo, Merrilee Thoresen, Amelia Woolums, Carrie Vance

Endeavors: Mississippi State Undergraduate Research Journal

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a multifactorial disease complex that causes significant economic loss in the cattle industry. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), one of the primary viruses included in BRD, primarily targets the lower respiratory tract and causes a wide variety of subclinical and clinical signs. Current diagnosis techniques require off-site laboratory testing, creating delays that allow BRSV to spread through herds and highlighting the need for rapid diagnostic methods. The objective of the study was to evaluate near-infrared spectroscopy as a diagnostic tool for BRSV detection across varying infection severities. Twenty-two Holstein bull calves were reared in research …

Microplastic Analysis In Fish Larvae (Family: Gonostomatidae And Myctophidae) From The Banggai Sea, Indonesia, Noer Kholis, Luqman Ilyas Ardito, Luqmanul Hakim, Augy Syahailatua, Agus Saleh Atmadipoera, Rina Zuraida, Tuan Nurul Sabiqah Tuan Anuar, Mufti Petala Patria

Makara Journal of Science

Microplastic pollution is recognized as a threat to marine ecosystems, yet its impacts on early life stages of mesopelagic fishes remain poorly understood. This study investigated the occurrence and characteristics of microplastic ingestion in fish larvae of the families Myctophidae and Gonostomatidae from the Banggai Sea, Indonesia. Morphometric measurements and microplastic content were analyzed in 40 larvae (20 per family). Gonostomatidae larvae, despite being smaller in total length, exhibited significantly larger mouth widths and ingested more microplastic particles (mean = 3.90 ± 0.72 particles) than Myctophidae (mean = 3.40 ± 0.38 particles). Correlation analysis showed no significant relationships between morphometric …

Effects Of Anchor Scheme On Torque And Neuromuscular Responses During And Following Fatiguing Isokinetic Forearm Flexion Tasks: Insights From High-Density Electromyography And Wavelet Analysis, Dolores Guadalupe Ortega

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This study examined the effects of anchor scheme on torque and neuromuscular responses during and following fatiguing isokinetic forearm flexion tasks. Thirteen men (mean ± SD; age: 22.0 ± 1.9 yr; height: 183.0 ± 6.4 cm; body mass: 90.2 ± 18.1 kg) completed pretest and posttest maximal, concentric, isokinetic forearm flexion muscle actions at 30°∙s-1 before and after continual, concentric, isokinetic forearm flexion tasks at 30°∙s-1 at an RPE of 6 (RPE6T) and the torque (TRQ6T) produced during the first repetition of the RPE6T. Monopolar electromyographic (EMG) signals were recorded from the biceps brachii using a high-density EMG sensor. A …

Lost In The Weeds No More! Revision Of The Robust Herb Gall Wasps (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Aulacideini) In North America, Louis F. Nastasi, Charles K. Davis, José Luis Nieves-Aldrey, Cecil N. Smith, Simon Van Noort, Ebony G. Murrell, Timothy S. Frey, Chris Friesen, M. J. Hatfield, Heather M. Hines, John F. Tooker, Andrew R. Deans

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

We revise the North American fauna of Aulacideini (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) using morphological, ecological, and genetic (DNA barcode) data, incorporating observations from over 5,000 adult specimens and galls. Prior to revision, the fauna included 24 species in four genera. Six new genera and 25 new species are described, all authored by Nastasi: Argyrix gen. nov., Barathria gen. nov., Cosmita gen. nov., and Ketsia gen. nov., for species previously placed in Antistrophus Walsh; Prixima gen. nov., for a new species inducing galls on Pyrrhopappus DC.; and Tookeria gen. nov., for a new species inducing galls on Silphium L.; Antistrophus frieseni sp. nov., …