Digital Commons Network^™

Microbial Challenge Studies Of Radio Frequency Heating For Dairy Powders And Gaseous Technologies For Spices, Xinyao Wei

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Persistence, thermal resistance, and survival of Salmonella in low moisture foods (LMF) have resulted in several foodborne illness outbreaks. Both existing and novel pasteurization technologies need to be validated for microbial safety of LMF. In this dissertation, a framework for using radio frequency (RF) heating to enhance microbial safety of milk powders and egg white powder was established. Thermal inactivation kinetics of Salmonella in milk powders were determined to guide the dairy industry for identifying thermal processing conditions for pasteurization. Storage time showed no effect on the thermal resistance of Salmonella, which can simplify the process validation study in …

Improving Accuracy Of Unmanned Aerial System Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing For Use In Energy Balance Models In Agriculture Applications, Mitchell S. Maguire, C.M.U. Neale, Wayne E. Woldt

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Unmanned aerial system (UAS) remote sensing has rapidly expanded in recent years, leading to the development of several multispectral and thermal infrared sensors suitable for UAS integration. Remotely sensed thermal infrared imagery has been used to detect crop water stress and manage irrigation by leveraging the increased thermal signatures of water stressed plants. Thermal infrared cameras suitable for UAS remote sensing are often uncooled microbolometers. This type of thermal camera is subject to inaccuracies not typically present in cooled thermal cameras. In addition, atmospheric interference also may present inaccuracies in measuring surface temperature. In this study, a UAS with integrated …

Effects Of Farrowing Stall Layout And Number Of Heat Lamps On Sow And Piglet Behavior, Suzanne M. Leonard, Hongwei Xin, Tami M. Brown-Brandl, Brett C. Ramirez, Anna K. Johnson, Somak Dutta, Gary A. Rohrer

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Farrowing stalls are used in the United States swine industry to reduce pre-weaning piglet mortality, enable efficient individual animal management, and decrease facility construction and operating costs. The quantity and quality of space provided for sows and piglets in farrowing stalls are important economic and welfare considerations. To further explore the impacts of farrowing stall space allocation, a large-scale field study was conducted to compare sow and piglet behavior when housed in three farrowing stall layouts (TSL – traditional stall layout, ECSL – expanded creep area stall layout, ESCSL – expanded sow and creep area stall layout) with either one …

Analysis Of Winter Weather Conditions And Their Relationship To Crashes In Nebraska, John Cecava

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Adverse weather conditions: such as changes in visibility, precipitation, wind speed, temperature, and road surface conditions, substantially impact highway and interstate safety. Therefore, an investigation into the winter weather conditions during highway and interstate crashes in Nebraska was conducted. Crash data were obtained from the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) for the years 2008 to 2018. In order to separate the non-winter weather related crashes and the winter weather related crashes, six filtrations were applied to make this possible. These filters were based on a few crash parameters: road classification, alcohol, and crash severity, and weather parameters within the crash …

Non-Nutritive Suck Burst Pattern Stability In Extremely Premature Infants, Alejandra Marquez

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The development of non-nutritive suck (NNS) burst dynamics in preterm infants reflects the integrity of the brain and is used clinically to assess feeding readiness and orofacial motor development (Mizuno and Ueda, 2005). The application of NNS analytics in the present report represents one outcome measurement set that is part of an ongoing clinical trial involving extremely preterm infants (EPI’s,[GA]) randomized to receive either pulsed orocutaneous stimulation therapeutics or a sham (blind pacifier), in conjunction with salivary sampling twice weekly to map gene expression of key proteins involved in neural development and molecular sensing of feeding related pathways in the …

A Performer’S Guide To The Unaccompanied Horn, Solo Horn And Fixed Media, And Horn And Piano Works Of James Naigus, Jordan Redd

Glenn Korff School of Music: Dissertations, Theses, Student Creative Work, and Performances

The horn music of James Naigus is widely known in the horn community. Naigus’ ties to prolific horn composers Paul Basler and Jeff Agrell has placed him next in line to etch his name in horn history. James’ idiomatic melody and harmony has gained popularity at a rapid pace over the past ten years. The accessibility of his music for players of all ages has led to many commissions and performances of his work all over the world.

This writing summarizes the unaccompanied horn, solo horn and fixed media, and horn and piano works of James Naigus. Inside, the reader …

Zara Strategic Analysis, Jessica Ha

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Zara is the Spanish flagship store for one of the world's largest and most successful fashion retailers, Inditex. The brand is an overarching global clothing brand with thousands of in-store locations and presence in e-commerce. This strategic audit on Zara will take a deeper look into the company's business model and strategies through an external and internal analysis. The analytic tools: Porter's Five Forces, PESTEL, and SWOT analyses are utilized to understand the fashion retail industry's competitive environment and how Zara sustains its leadership through its niche in fast fashion. Strategic recommendations and implementation ideas are also extended with the …

Recovery Method For Mites Discovered In Mummified Human Tissue, Jessica Smith

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Much like other arthropods, mites have been discovered in a wide variety of forensic and archaeological contexts featuring mummified remains. Their accurate identification has assisted forensic scientists and archaeologists in determining environmental, depositional, and taphonomic conditions that surrounded the mummified remains after death. Consequently, their close association with cadavers has led some researchers to intermittently advocate for the inclusion of mites in archaeological site analyses and forensic case studies. However, despite their potential value, mites have been underutilized with a variety of reasons for the lack of inclusion of mites in archaeological and forensic analyses. Chief amongst these reasons is …

Clinical Case Study: The Effects Of Real-Time Iemg Biofeedback On Facial Muscle Activation Patterns In A Child With Congenital Facial Palsy, Alyssa Molina

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Experimental findings are limited concerning efficacious procedures for facial reanimation following persistent idiopathic facial paralysis or paresis. Additional research examining the use of real-time integrated electromyography (iEMG) biofeedback for young children with persistent idiopathic facial paralysis is one approach to further understand the efficacy of electrophysiology biofeedback techniques in facial reanimation for this age group and etiology. iEMG research has applications in interventions for pathology of nerves and muscles affecting animation of the face. The proposed clinical case study will adopt real time iEMG visual biofeedback to facilitate facial reanimation in a preadolescent child. Quantitative measurements will determine orofacial muscle …

Growth And Characterization Of Molecular Ferroelectric Thin Films, Yifan Yuan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Compared with inorganic ferroelectrics, organic ferroelectrics have advantages of low cost and low toxicity, are in increasing demand in capacitors, piezoelectric, and memory devices to reduce the environmental load. This work focuses on two types of organic molecular ferroelectric materials, croconic acid (CA) and 2-methylbenzimidazole (MBI). The work here introduces several origins of ferroelectricity in typical organics and their switching mechanism. We then investigated the nucleation, growth, and ferroelectric measurements of CA thin films. We explored the effect of substrate temperature and an external electric field on the nucleation and growth processes. The results can be used to improve the …

Microfluidic-Based Bacterial Molecular Computing On A Chip, Daniel P. Martins, Michael Taynnan Barros, Benjamin O'Sullivan, Ian Seymour, Alan O'Riordan, Lee Coffey, Joseph Sweeney, Sasitharan Balasubramaniam,

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Biocomputing systems based on engineered bacteria can lead to novel tools for environmental monitoring and detection of metabolic diseases. In this paper, we propose a Bacterial Molecular Computing on a Chip (BMCoC) using microfluidic and electrochemical sensing technologies. The computing can be flexibly integrated into the chip, but we focus on engineered bacterial AND Boolean logic gate and ON-OFF switch sensors that produces secondary signals to change the pH and dissolved oxygen concentrations. We present a prototype with experimental results that shows the electrochemical sensors can detect small pH and dissolved oxygen concentration changes created by the engineered bacterial populations’ …

Considering Student Voices In Reading Intervention: Re-Conceptualizing And Rethinking Possibilities For High School Reading Through Arts-Based Educational Research, Angela Kramer

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Theses and Other Student Research

This study examines best practices for secondary literacy intervention and instruction. It also exemplifies the ability of Arts Based Educational Research to give voice to struggling and striving high school readers. This dissertation encompasses three time horizons. The first was the crafting of a ‘non-fiction fiction ‘ play (Goldenstein, 2013; Sizer, 1984). The play’s characters, setting, and plot, were built on my review of literature, and years working with reading students as both a general and special education teacher. The second phase, inspired by the Chicana feminist epistemology process of testimonio, involved a student centered read through and revision of …

Lydie Salvayre, Maintenant Même, Warren Motte, Lydie Salvayre, Bernard Wallet, David Lopez, Marie Cosnay, Mahir Guven, Stéphane Bikialo

Zea E-Books Collection

Warren Motte, «Dans le vif du vivant»

Lydie Salvayre et Warren Motte, «Une conversation avec Lydie Salvayre»

Lydie Salvayre, «Deux artistes»

Lydie Salvayre, «Projet en cours»

Lydie Salvayre, «Quatre photos»

Bernard Wallet, «Lydie Salvayre, écrivain baroque’n’roll»

David Lopez, «Almuerz»

Marie Cosnay, «Diamant brut»

Mahir Guven, «À propos de Lydie Salvayre»

Stéphane Bikialo, «Éloge de la fuite»

«Ouvrages de Lydie Salvayre»

An Analysis Of The Behaviors Used By Physicians And (Pre)Medical Students To Cope With Stress, Carter Bracht

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Physicians (both practicing and resident) in the U.S. are experiencing high rates of burnout and mental health issues because of the stressors related to their career and the lack of coping mechanisms in practice by these physicians. As a population, physicians normalize internalization of their stress as members of a “proud” community. This study sought to examine the positive, negative, and positive addiction coping mechanisms that physicians use to relieve job-related stress using the following coping domains: emotion-oriented, task-oriented, and avoidance-oriented coping. We further sought to examine stressors and coping mechanisms that are introduced in (pre)medical school and how they …

Wimmin In The Mass Media, Terry Nygren, Mary Jo Deegan

Zea E-Books Collection

Introduction to the 40th Anniversary Edition: Wimmin in the Mass Media and Centennial College, Looking Backwards • Mary Jo Deegan

WIMMIN IN THE MASS MEDIA: Articles Collected at the Centennial Education Program, Fall 1980

Introduction: Wimmin and the Mass Media — Construction of the Self • Mary Jo Deegan and Terry Nygren

Examining the Top Ten, or Why Those Songs Make the Charts • Jane Pemberton

Images of Women in Rock Music: Analysis of B-52’s and Black Rose• Sheila M. Krueger

Women in Sitcoms: “I Love Lucy”• Nancy Grant-Colson

Horatio Alger is Alive and Well and Masquerading as a Feminist, …

Modern Silicon Dynamics Of A Small High-Latitude Subarctic Lake, Petra Zahajska, Carolina Olid, Johanna Stadmark, Sherilyn C. Fritz, Sophie Opfergelt, Daniel J. Conley

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

High biogenic silica (BSi) concentrations occur sporadically in lake sediments throughout the world; however, the processes leading to high BSi concentrations vary. We explored the factors responsible for the high BSi concentration in sediments of a small, high-latitude subarctic lake (Lake 850). The Si budget of this lake had not been fully characterized before to establish the drivers of BSi accumulation in this environment. To do this, we combined measurements of variations in stream discharge, dissolved silica (DSi) concentrations, and stable Si isotopes in both lake and stream water with measurements of BSi content in lake sediments. Water, radon, and …

Understanding Perceptions Of Quality Among Early Childhood Education Stakeholders In Tanzania And Lesotho: A Multiple Qualitative Case Study, Dawn Davis, Debra Miller, Dorothy Mrema, Moikabi Matsoai, Ntsoaki Mapetla, Abbie Raikes, Anna Burton

Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies: Faculty Publications

Recent global efforts around early childhood education (ECE) have led to increased investments and access, especially in low- and middle-income countries (UNESCO, 2019). As access grows, focus has shifted from enrollment to quality (Gove, 2017). This paper explores how ECE stakeholders in Tanzania and Lesotho define ECE quality. Findings show that stakeholders define quality in similar ways, highlighting the importance of trained teachers who implement specific teaching practices, strong partnerships with families and the community, critical infrastructure, and government support. However, review of the country contexts found that current conditions and support for these quality indicators were lacking.

A Task-Driven Feedback Imager With Uncertainty Driven Hybrid Control, Burhan A. Mudassar, Priyabrata Saha, Marilyn Wolf, Saibal Mukhopadhyay

School of Computing: Faculty Publications

Deep Neural Network (DNN) systems tend to produce overconfident or uncalibrated outputs. This poses problems for active sensor systems that have a DNN module as the main feedback controller. In this paper, we study a closed-loop feedback smart camera from the lens of uncertainty estimation. The uncertainty of the task output is used to characterize and facilitate the feedback operation. The DNN uncertainty in the feedback system is estimated and characterized using both sampling and non-sampling based methods. In addition, we propose a closed-loop control that incorporates uncertainty information when providing feedback. We show two modes of control, one that …

The Importance Of Managerial Positions In The Agile Development Process, Adam Gray

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

In software engineering, the Agile development process is becoming one of the most effective methods to handle the issues of continuous change and fast development. However, there are still some perceived issues that many Agile developers face, and a lot of these issues can seemingly stem from their managers. For example, it may seem like the manager is not always up-to-date on the various aspects of the project, or that they have closed off their mind to new ideas. In this paper, we include an in-depth analysis of the various managerial positions that can be found in the Agile development …

Effective Gamification Within Educational Virtual Reality Environments, Adrian Pilkington

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

With the advent and now widespread use of mobile phones and computers in educational settings, exploring effective and new ways of using technology in the classroom is important for educating the next generation of students. Innovative technology, like Virtual Reality, has started being discussed and researched for its potential benefits in educational settings. This paper presents a brief history of VR, game theory, and examines two VR educational games from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Nursing’s (UNMC) Senior Design teams. The two games will be used to replace lecture-style classes and to go out and educate the community. We …

Structural Basis For Clostridium Perfringens Enterotoxin Targeting Of Claudins At Tight Junctions In Mammalian Gut, Alex J. Vecchio, Sewwandi S. Rathnayake, Robert M. Stroud

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

The bacterium Clostridium perfringens causes severe, sometimes lethal gastrointestinal disorders in humans, including enteritis and enterotoxemia. Type F strains produce an enterotoxin (CpE) that causes the third most common foodborne illness in the United States. CpE induces gut breakdown by disrupting barriers at cell–cell contacts called tight junctions (TJs), which are formed and maintained by claudins. Targeted binding of CpE to specific claudins, encoded by its C-terminal domain (cCpE), loosens TJ barriers to trigger molecular leaks between cells. Cytotoxicity results from claudin-bound CpE complexes forming pores in cell membranes. In mammalian tissues, ∼24 claudins govern TJ barriers—but the basis for …

Locus Of Heat Resistance (Lhr) In Meat-Borne Escherichia Coli: Screening And Genetic Characterization, Manita Guragain, Dayna M. Brichta-Harhay, James L. Bono, Joseph M. Bosilevac

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Microbial resistance to processing treatments poses a food safety concern, as treatment tolerant pathogens can emerge. Occasional foodborne outbreaks caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli have led to human and economic losses. Therefore, this study screened for the extreme heat resistance (XHR) phenotype as well as one known genetic marker, the locus of heat resistance (LHR), in 4,123 E. coli isolates from diverse meat animals at different processing stages. The prevalences of XHR and LHR among the meat-borne E. coli were found to be 10.3% and 11.4%, respectively, with 19% agreement between the two. Finished meat products showed the highest LHR …

Characterization Of The Domestic Goat Γδ T Cell Receptor Gene Loci And Gene Usage, Alexandria Gillespie, Al Yirsaw, Karthick P. Gunasekaran, Timothy P. L. Smith, Derek M. Bickhart, Michael Turley, Timothy Connelley, Janice C. Telfer, Cynthia L. Baldwin

Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center: Reports

Goats and cattle diverged 30 million years ago but retain similarities in immune system genes. Here, the caprine T cell receptor (TCR) gene loci and transcription of its genes were examined and compared to cattle. We annotated the TCR loci using an improved genome assembly (ARS1) of a highly homozygous San Clemente goat. This assembly has already proven useful for describing other immune system genes including antibody and leucocyte receptors. Both the TCRγ (TRG) and TCRδ (TRD) loci were similarly organized in goats as in cattle and the gene sequences were highly conserved. However, the number of genes varied slightly …

Music Makers, Michaela Diehm

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

After school kids club that learns about music notes and incorporates games and dances to help students learn more about music, how to create their own music, and its importance to everyday life.

World Tour Diversity Club, Katie Hawk, Lauren Hartman

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

In this club, students will travel to a different country with each lesson. They will learn about the different cultures around the world and see how our differences bring us together.

Ecosystems And Nature Club, Megan Ott, Joycin Stonacek

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

For students to appreciate the diversity and complexity of the environment around them, foster stewardship, and facilitate interactions with ecosystems

Healthy Living Club, Odessa Ohrt, Elisha Reiners

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

Throughout the semester we explored various aspects of living a healthy lifestyle, we started in the topic of MyPlate and introduced the five food groups, touched on other elements of a healthy life (such as exercise, sleep, and the nine dimensions of wellness). Towards the end of the semester, we incorporated cooking lessons that taught the students safe kitchen habits and where their food comes from. We tried to incorporate physical activity, visual, audio, and hands-on elements into each club meeting.

Girls Computer Science Club, Emily Hogge, Mya Miller

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

No abstract provided.

Brain Games, Gabe Conant

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

Our club is called “Brain Games” and is meant to challenge the participants’ cognitive skills and expand their social skills. We wanted to incorporate life lessons into our educational lesson every week during an icebreaker.

Celebrate 10 Years With Platte Basin Timelapse, Madison Husmann, Madison Smart, Justine Cherovsky

Environmental Engagement in the Community (ENVR 319): Student Projects

Environmental Engagement in the Community projects, spring 2021

Poster titled Celebrate 10 Years with Platte River Basin with client Brooke Talbott.