Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling The Egyptian Goose (Alopochen Aegyptiaca) Invasion; And Future Concerns, Percival Matzinger Marshall

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In an increasingly interconnected world, the ecological and financial cost of invasive species is expected to continue to climb through the movement of exotic biota. Understanding the driving forces behind how a species invades, what environments promote their establishment, and what impacts they are likely to have on the invaded environment are all critical for management. Waterfowl, order Anseriformes, are one such category of invasive species of concern due to their popularity of accidental introduction, ease of movement, and propensity to affect both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) is a native to the African continent that …

Securing Rice Safety Through Innovative Radiative Heat Treatment And Proper Storage, Faith Achieng Ouma

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Securing the microbial safety of rice is a rising priority within the food industry, especially when used as an ingredient to manufacture ready-to-eat, minimally-processed products. Mold contamination is typically the most problematic for rice because certain species of Aspergillus produce toxic secondary metabolites known as aflatoxins, rendering the grain unfit for human and animal consumption. The objectives of this study are to: (1) investigate the effectiveness of using high-power (915 MHz frequency), short-duration microwaves (MWs) to inactivate microbes on rough rice; (2) use a three-level screening design to determine which storage factors, such as temperature, relative humidity (RH), storage duration, …

Anti-Inflammatory Effect Of Apiaceous Vegetables In A Mouse Model Of Colitis - Implications For Colon Cancer Risk, Laura Mariana Mariana Echavarri Ibarra

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. Dietary habits account for 50% of the cases. A westernized diet (high fat, high sugar/fructose, and low in fruits and vegetables) and inflammatory bowel diseases are risk factors for colorectal cancer. Evidence suggests phytochemicals in apiaceous vegetables (API; celery family) possess anti-inflammatory and potentially chemopreventive properties. Hence, investigation of whether the consumption of API mitigates acute colitis is warranted. Using mice fed the Total Western Diet (TWD) and administered dextran sodium sulfate (DSS; induces colitis), the objectives of this project are to identify the effects of API …

Phenotypic And Transcriptomic Characterization Of Rice Snrk1 Mutants Developed By Crispr/Cas9 Mutagenesis, Maria Clara Faria Chaves

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

SnRK1 is a heterotrimeric protein kinase that is composed of a catalytic subunit (α) and two regulatory subunits (β and βγ), and it has a main role in regulating energy homeostasis in the plant by modulating anabolic and catabolic process. SnRK1 phosphorylates and alters the activities of enzymes involved in metabolism and regulates gene expression by altering the activity of chromatin-remodeling enzymes or the transcription factors. Rice contains three functional paralogs of SnRK1α: SnRK1αa (LOC_Os03g17980), SnRK1αb (LOC_Os08g37800), and SnRK1αc (LOC_Os05g45420). This study focused on the function of these SnRK1 paralogs by evaluating the phenotypic and transcriptomic characteristics and the disease …

Generating Health-Promoting Bioactive Compounds And Nanoporous Materials From Rice Processing Byproducts Via Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Technology, Sumanjot Kaur

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice husk and bran, byproducts of rice processing, are generated in large quantities (~30-40% of the total rice weight) and are discarded as waste or burned in an open field, creating a major disposal problem for the rice industry. However, these byproducts contain high-value compounds, including phytochemicals, fiber, and proteins. Therefore, the goal of this study was to generate high-value food ingredients from rice processing byproducts using a green, innovative approach based on supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) technology. Specific objectives were to (i) extract health-promoting phytochemicals from rice husk and (ii) convert rice bran into nanoporous materials using SC-CO2. First, …

Radiofrequency And Gaseous Technologies For Enhancing The Microbiological Safety Of Low Moisture Food Ingredients, Surabhi Wason

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

High heat resistance and long survival of Salmonella in low moisture food ingredients (LMFIs) such as spices and seeds are concerning as they are typically consumed without cooking. Therefore, it is challenging to effectively inactivate pathogenic bacteria without negatively impacting the quality of the treated product. This dissertation aimed to develop and evaluate novel intervention technologies: in-package radiofrequency steaming and non-thermal gaseous technologies to improve the microbial safety of LMFIs. The dissertation can be divided into three parts. The first part of this dissertation on the thermal inactivation kinetics of Salmonella and a surrogate, Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354on black pepper …

Investigating And Characterizing Septin Cellular Regulators During Infection Related Development In M. Oryzae, Rinalda Proko

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The fungus Magnaporthe oryzae causes a devastating disease of rice and wheat, called blast, which poses a major threat to food security across the planet. To enter plant tissue, M. oryzae produces a remarkable pressure-generating infection cell called an appressorium, which mechanically ruptures the tough cuticle of host leaves through the application of enormous physical force directed onto a narrow penetration structure emerging from its base. Importantly, appressorium form and functionality depends on the regulated assembly of a toroidal ring-like structure, composed of septins, which forms within its base. Septins are a family of membrane-associated GTP-binding proteins that polymerize into …

Screening A Set Of Tomato Genotypes For Resistance To Bacterial Wilt And A Genomic Wide Association Study And Genomic Prediction For Yield-Related Traits In ‘Lcp 85-384’. I. Sugarcane, Theresa Makawa Phiri

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis comprises two studies that focused on screening tomato genotypes for bacterial wilt resistance and a genome-wide association study and genomic prediction for yield-related traits in sugarcane with the aim of contributing to the breeding programs. In the first chapter, 40 tomato accessions from the USDA collection were evaluated for their resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum isolate P822 under controlled greenhouse conditions. The plants were inoculated, and disease symptoms were visually assessed. Disease severity was rated on a scale of 0 to 4, where 0 represented no wilting and 4 indicated complete leaf wilting. Among the tested accessions, five (PI …

Assessing The Effects Of A Mixed Eimeria Spp. Challenge On Performance, Intestinal Integrity, And The Gut Microbiome Of Broiler Chickens, Danielle Graham, Victor Petrone-Garcia, Xochitl Hernandez-Velasco, Makenly E. Coles, Marco A. Juarez-Estrada, Juan D. Latorre, Jianmin Chai, Stephanie Shouse, Jiangchao Zhao, Aaron Forga, Roberto Señas-Cuesta, Lauren Laverty, Kristen Martin, Carolina Trujillo-Peralta, Ileana Loeza, Latasha Gray, Billy M. Hargis, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

A mixed Eimeria spp. challenge model was designed to assess the effects of challenge on broiler chicken performance, intestinal integrity, and the gut microbiome for future use to evaluate alternative strategies for controlling coccidiosis in broiler chickens. The experimental design involved broiler chickens divided into two groups: a control group (uninfected) and a positive control group, infected with Eimeria acervulina (EA), Eimeria maxima (EM), and Eimeria tenella (ET). At day-of-hatch, 240 off-sex male broiler chicks were randomized and allocated to one of two treatment groups. The treatment groups included: (1) Non-challenged (NC, n = 5 replicate pens); and (2) challenged …

B. R. Wells Arkansas Rice Research Studies 2022, J. Hardke, X. Sha, N. Bateman

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Arkansas is the leading rice producer in the United States. The state represents 50.1% of total U.S. rice production and 49.8% of the total acres planted to rice in 2022. Rice cultural practices vary across the state and across the U.S. However, these practices are also dynamic and continue to evolve in response to changing political, environmental, and economic times. This survey was initiated in 2002 to monitor and record changes in the way Arkansas rice producers approach their livelihood. The survey was conducted by polling county extension agents in each of the counties in Arkansas that produce rice. Questions …

The Future Of Public And Private Plant Breeding According To Plant Scientists, Lexie Burris

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Plant breeding has been effective in addressing food insecurity by increasing agricultural yields and productivity. Historically, public plant breeding programs have long-term, integrated approaches to plant breeding research, germplasm enhancement, and variety development, but as funding is reduced the future is less certain as to areas of focus. This survey builds off those before it and asks the next logical question, if a divergence between private and public breeding is taking place, what aspects should each sector focus on? The impetus of this study was to ask opinions of plant breeders globally regarding the direction they believe the public and …

The Economic Effects Of Covid-19 On Smallholder Farmers In Kenya, Sarah Hope Brasche

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Like many Sub-Saharan African countries, the Kenyan economy heavily relies on agriculture. Agriculture in Kenya accounted for 50% of the total workforce in 2019 and 70% of the rural workforce. Though reliant on agriculture for employment and subsistence, Kenya has been historically impoverished and malnourished. Kenya has been experiencing an economic recession since 2018, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Relatively speaking to other African countries, Kenya managed to escape the worst health effects of the pandemic, but the economic effects were substantial. This study analyzes survey responses from 1,059 Kenyan smallholder agricultural producers on the economic impacts they …

Understanding The Environmental And Genetic Influence On Fluctuating Asymmetry And Developmental Instability In Primates, Ashly N. Romero

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explored the impact of environmental factors on the development and perpetuation of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) and sought to understand the role evolution may play in the FA exhibited in two primate populations: the free-ranging Cayo Santiago rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and the Southwest National Primate Research Center olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis). Demographic, ontogenetic, secular, external, and genetic factors were examined. Specifically, this dissertation investigated FA over all ontogenetic stages, across decades, between sexes, in association with ecological catastrophes, and with tooth pathology to try and tease apart factors that may influence FA and developmental instability. This dissertation …

Factors Affecting Food Security And Participation In Food Pantries In The U.S., Alexis Jade Skinner

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Given the rise in food inflation, reduction of SNAP benefits, and the increased demand for food pantry participation, a more holistic understanding of potential barriers to obtaining assistance from non-Federally regulated food pantries is warranted. In May of 2022, 625 surveys were administered to low-income participants in the United States who participated in food collection from a food pantry in the previous month. Those participants were asked to select what information they were asked to provide during their visit, including home address, place of employment, Social Security card, driver’s license, household size, blood test, or others. Some forms of the …

Seeking And Providing Social Support In Online Forums For Individuals Experiencing Depression, Anna Gentry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis project investigates how individuals suffering from depression seek support, provide support, and describe experiences of stigma in an online support platform. A phronetic-iterative and constant comparative approach guided an in-depth analysis of 37 posts on a discussion board designed for individuals with depression. The findings demonstrated that individuals use online discussion forums to request support both implicitly and explicitly. In response to sought support, individuals provided informational, emotional, and network support. Finally, discussion board participants discussed social and self stigma. Despite the limitations of the study, the findings indicate the utility of online social support platforms for individuals …

Consumer Valuation Of Rice Quality In Colombia, Juliann Phillips

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice is a crucial contributor to global food security and is an important staple for over half the world’s population. In Colombia, total rice consumption has grown by 25% in the last decade (2011-2021), reaching 1.9 MMT in 2021, yet in 2021 around 15.5 million Colombians were classified as food insecure. Colombia is the third largest rice producer in Latin America, producing 1.8 million metric tons (milled basis) in 2021. Increasing rice consumption coupled with high levels of food insecurity highlights the necessity that rice markets effectively price rice according to consumer preferences. Therefore, the goal of this study focuses …

Injectable Immunomodulatory Strategies To Enhance Muscle Recovery Following Injury, Tai Huu Huynh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Although skeletal muscle displays an astonishing regenerative capacity, injuries or diseases that resulted in bedridden or chronic muscle wasting can overwhelm this intrinsic feature of skeletal muscle and lead to functional deficit (range of motion and/or strength) and overall reduction in quality of life. Microenvironmental cues within injured skeletal muscle dictate regenerative and repair process which are tightly coordinated interplay among resident cells, cells recruitment and immune response following an assault in the muscle extracellular matrix (ECM). The successful regeneration of functional tissues requires both appropriate modulation of the inflammatory response, and activation of a variety of cell populations. Biomaterials …

Evaluation Of Drought Tolerance In Usda Tomato Germplasm And Genome-Wide Association Study And Genomic Prediction Of Fusarium Wilt Resistance In Common Bean Core Collection, Kenani Edward Chiwina

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Drought stress and Fusarium wilt disease present significant challenges to plant growth and agricultural productivity, particularly affecting crops such as tomato and common beans. To address these issues, researchers have extensively evaluated germplasm collections under field and greenhouse conditions to identify genotypes with drought tolerance and disease resistance. This study aimed to achieve two objectives. Firstly, we conducted a phenotypic evaluation of drought tolerance in USDA tomato germplasm to identify drought-tolerant accessions for future breeding programs targeting enhanced drought tolerance in tomato cultivars. Secondly, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and genomic prediction (GP) on USDA common bean germplasm …

Effects Of Supplemental Trace Minerals As Amino Acid Complexed Or Inorganic Sources For Beef Cattle From Receiving Through Finishing, Robin Ashley Cheek

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of experiments was to investigate the effects of inorganic or amino acid-complexed sources of trace minerals on health, gain performance, liver mineral concentrations, and carcass characteristics of beef heifers from receiving through finishing. To investigate the effects of inorganic or amino acid-complexed sources of trace minerals (zinc, copper, manganese, and cobalt) on performance and morbidity of beef heifers during the receiving period, crossbred beef heifer calves arriving on 3 delivery dates were used in a 42-day receiving trial. Treatments consisted of supplemental zinc (360 mg/d), copper (125 mg/d), manganese (200 mg/d), and cobalt (12 mg/d) from complexed (Availa-4, …

The Influence Of Climate And Landscape On Allocapnia Mohri Distribution In Arkansas, Brianna Leigh Annaratone

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stoneflies are a globally threatened aquatic insect order. In Arkansas, a diverse group of winter stonefly (Capniidae: Allocapnia) have not been surveyed since the 1980s, likely because species-level identification requires the rarely-collected adult form. Allocapnia mohri, a regional endemic, was previously commonly found in mountainous, intermittent streams from the Ouachita Mountains ecoregion north to the Ozark Highlands, but no species distributional models including land use or climate variables exist to our knowledge. We collected adults from 70 stream reaches from the historic Arkansas range from November to April 2020 and 2021. We modeled distributions using random forest (RF) models populated …

Evaluation Of Heat Stress And Dietary Amino Acid Density On Nutrient And Energy Partitioning In Broilers, Jean-Remi Teyssier

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The simultaneous increase in the global demand for animal-based protein products and the rise in temperature associated with global warming pose important challenges to the poultry industry. Heat stress (HS) occurs when an animal’s heat production (HP) surpasses its capacity to dissipate heat into the surrounding environment, ultimately leading to reduced feed intake (FI) and negative impacts on performance. A better understanding of bird responses to elevated temperatures is required to propose effective nutritional strategies that mitigate the adverse effects of HS. Therefore, this dissertation aimed to characterize the nutritional and physiological mechanisms explaining the loss in performance and carcass …

Beef And Dairy Substitution Effects Associated With Carbon Labeling And An Information Intervention, Sara Gardner Hedgecock

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding consumer perceptions of carbon emissions in agriculture is a critical step to help increase the sustainability of food consumption. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 14.5 percent of all global anthropogenic GHG emissions are estimated to be represented by livestock (FAO), and cattle, raised for beef and milk, are the largest animal species responsible for emissions, comprising over 60 percent of the livestock sector’s emissions. This motivates this study’s analysis of beef and dairy milk products and alternatives. To better understand how consumers may substitute meat and milk products when provided with information about …

Non-Energy Circular Economy Potential Of Rice Husks: A Techno-Eco-Environmental Assessment, Winfred Oppong Yeboah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The non-energy circular bioeconomy potential of rice husks was examined via sustainability assessments, namely life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle impact cost assessment (LCICA), and techno-economic assessment (TEA). The study was conducted with three objectives. The first objective was to review previous studies on the non-energy utilization potential of rice husks by the method of meta-analysis. This review followed a systematic approach where research papers were collected following a defined set of criteria. The study revealed 16 key utilization pathways, all of which showed promising results. However, a comprehensive sustainability assessment was lacking in all of the pathways. The second …

The Effect Of Herbal Adaptogen On Feeding-Related Hypothalamic Neuropeptides In Heat-Stressed Broilers, Maryam Afkhami Ardakani

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Heat stress is a major issue in the poultry industry, having numerous negative consequences for chicken productivity. Decreasing feed intake is one of these issues, which results in higher mortality and poor growth performance. Moreover, Herbal adaptogens, plant extracts that are also known as stress response modifiers, are metabolic regulators that improve an organism's ability to adapt to environmental stresses and minimize damage from such stressors. Previously, we published data indicating that herbal adaptogen supplementation increased feed intake under heat stress conditions. Therefore, we hypothesized that dietary herbal adaptogen supplementation might exert these effects through alteration of the expression of …

Investigation Of Consumer Freezing Practices, Condition And Duration On Palatability Of Beef, Elizabeth Sue Neal

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of these studies was to determine: the impact of extended periods of frozen storage duration and packaging type on palatability traits of cooked beef steaks from two muscles and the impact of freezing type and storage duration on objective and subjective measures of ground beef palatability traits. In study 1, no differences were elicited from any of the possible interactions (P= 0.95) for SSF or CL: package × muscle × freezing duration, package × muscle, package × duration or muscle × duration. However, freezing duration did impact both SSF (P < 0.01) and CL (P < 0.001). Generally, for both SSF and CL steaks that were frozen for 9-months elicited both the highest SSF values as well as the greatest percentage of CL among all treatments. In comparison, EM was impacted by the interaction (P = 0.059) of packaging type  muscle  freezing duration. Samples from OW GM stored for 9-months elicited the highest percentage of EM while fresh OW LL samples resulted in the lowest. Additionally, expressible moisture was impacted by the interaction (P = 0.047) of muscle  freezing duration. Among all treatments, GM steaks that were frozen for 9-months elicited the highest EM values and fresh LL samples the lowest EM values. Contrastingly, there was no significant difference observed in expressible moisture for the interaction (P  0.18) of package type  freezing duration or for the interaction (P = 0.70) of package type  muscle. Generally, fresh OW GM steaks resulted in the greatest concentration of lipid derived volatile compounds such as aldehydes, hydrocarbons and alcohols which contrasted sensory ratings of trained panelists that indicated oxidized and refrigerator-stale ratings increased as storage time increased for OW steaks. In study 2, The interaction of freezer treatment × storage duration impacted gumminess (P = 0.05), a TPA attribute. In greater detail, samples stored in RF for 6-months resulted in the greatest gumminess values (P < 0.001), while those stored in the CF for 12-months elicited the lowest (P < 0.001). Similarly, flavor development was also impacted by the interaction (P = 0.05) of freezer treatment × storage duration. Three lipid derived compounds were of greatest concentration among RF patties stored for 1-month. In contrast, the interaction of freezer treatment × storage duration elicited no impact on consumer ratings, SF or TBARS. Nonetheless, frozen storage duration impacted TPA, flavor development, consumer ratings, SF and TBARS as a main effect (P < 0.05), especially in regard to tenderness and juiciness. Moreover, beef flavor development, tenderness and juiciness are impacted by freezing duration, muscle, freezer type and packaging, however these factors are not necessarily independent of one another. Furthermore, the retail display period is a critical period for fresh beef steaks, especially when packaged in aerobic conditions. For optimal eating experience, beef products should be stored for extended periods in a vacuum packaging, in a designated freezer that is not opened frequently to allow for optimal air flow regulation and minimize freezer burn to improve tenderness and juiciness.

Use Of Microorganisms For The Enrichment Of Zn And Se By Using Solid-State Fermentation, Rashmi Rangaswamaiah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) are essential minerals for human health and naturally found in many food sources. However, the risk of Zn and Se deficiency has been recognized in several countries. As most people throughout the world consume rice, grains, and cereals as staple foods in their daily diet, which contain a certain amount of phytic acid (antinutrients), the phytic acid content inhibits mineral absorption (Zn and Se) by the human body. Moreover, the low levels of Zn and Se content found in the crop's soil also reduce the amount of minerals in the food sources. Therefore, it is …

A Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Region Associated With Seed Protein Content In Cowpea, Yilin Chen, Haizheng Xiong, Waltram Ravelombola, Gehendra Bhattarai, Casey Barickman, Ibtisam Alatawi, Theresa Makawa Phiri, Kenani Chiwina, Beiquan Mou, Shyam Tallury, Ainong Shi

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp., 2n = 2x = 22) is a protein-rich crop that complements staple cereals for humans and serves as fodder for livestock. It is widely grown in Africa and other developing countries as the primary source of protein in the diet; therefore, it is necessary to identify the protein-related loci to improve cowpea breeding. In the current study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on 161 cowpea accessions (151 USDA germplasm plus 10 Arkansas breeding lines) with a wide range of seed protein contents (21.8~28.9%) with 110,155 high-quality whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to identify …

The Time-Course Of Cancer Cachexia Onset Reveals Biphasic Transcriptional Disruptions In Female Skeletal Muscle Distinct From Males, Francielly Morena, Seongkyun Lim, Ana Regina Cabrera, Eleanor R. Schrems, Ronald G. Jones, Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell, Tyrone A. Washington, Kevin A. Murach, Nicholas P. Greene

Health, Human Performance and Recreation Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background

Cancer-cachexia (CC) is a debilitating condition affecting up to 80% of cancer patients and contributing to 40% of cancer-related deaths. While evidence suggests biological sex differences in the development of CC, assessments of the female transcriptome in CC are lacking, and direct comparisons between sexes are scarce. This study aimed to define the time course of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC)-induced CC in females using transcriptomics, while directly comparing biological sex differences.

Results

We found the global gene expression of the gastrocnemius muscle of female mice revealed biphasic transcriptomic alterations, with one at 1 week following tumor allograft and another …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2022, Victor Ford, Jason Kelley, Nathan Mckinney Ii

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The 2022 edition of the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies Series includes research results on topics pertaining to corn and grain sorghum production, including weed, disease, and insect management; economics; sustainability; irrigation; post-harvest drying; soil fertility; mycotoxins; cover crop management; and research verification program results. Our objective is to capture and broadly distribute the results of research projects funded by the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board. The intended audience includes producers and their advisors, current investigators, and future researchers. The Series serves as a citable archive of research results.

Reports in this publication are 2–3 year summaries. …

International Rice Outlook: International Rice Baseline Projections 2022-2032, A. Durand-Morat, S. Bairagi, W. Mulimbi

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

Rice prices in Asia increased since the Summer of 2022 mainly due to worries about a reduction in rice production in India caused by an abnormal monsoon season (Fig. 1). The upward trend in export prices solidified after India implemented a 20% export tariff on brown and milled long-grain rice, and a complete ban on exports of broken rice, in September 2022 to curve down exports and release the pressure on domestic rice prices. India’s rice export prices increased since then and proportionally to the value of the export tax. The latest estimates put rice production at 128 million metric …