Digital Commons Network^™

Nebline, August 2017

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Back-to-School Nutrition

Food & Health

Farm & Acreage

Pests & Wildlife

Horticulture

Early Childhood

4-H & Youth

and other extension news and events

Special pullout section: Lancaster County Super Fair 2017 Schedule & Map

Promoting Gastrointestinal Health And Decreasing Inflammation With Whole Grains In Comparison To Fruit And Vegetables Through Clinical Interventions And In Vitro Tests, Julianne Kopf

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

The incidence of metabolic syndrome and its side effects are increasing throughout the world. Diet plays a key role in reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome, possibly mediated by metabolic activity of the gut microbiota. Whole grains (WG) and fruits and vegetables (FV) are two food groups that are commonly promoted for their ability to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. However, these two food groups provide vastly different nutrients that likely impact health via different mechanisms. Therefore, the primary objective of this research was to determine the impact of consuming recommended amounts of whole grains and fruit and vegetables …

Validation Of Extrusion Processing For The Safety Of Low-Moisture Foods, Tushar Verma

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

Salmonella in low-moisture foods is an emerging challenge due to numerous food product recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks. The new Food Safety Modernization Act requires the food processors to validate their process controls that indeed kills the desired number of bacteria. This research had two major objectives: 1) Develop a response surface model for Salmonella inactivation during the extrusion of low-moisture food 2) Evaluate the use of Enterococcus faecium NRRL B-2354 as an adequate surrogate for Salmonella during the extrusion of low-moisture food. Oat flour was selected as a low-moisture food model. For inoculation, cocktail of five different strains of …

An Economic Analysis Of A Total Allowable Catch-Individual Transferable Quota System In A Developing Country Heterogeneous Fishery: An Application To The Digha Fishery In West Bengal, India, Nadeeka Weerasekara

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This thesis contributes to the literature of economics of small-scale fishery communities and fishery management in developing nations. In the first section we review literature on state of the fishery resource and the livelihoods in the globe and performance of fishery management systems in developing and developed countries. Second section discusses the results of an empirical study on the economics of subsistence fishers in Digha-Shankarpur in Eastern India. Results of the empirical study shows by-catch by the trawlers leads to the depletion of target fish stock of the subsistence fishers. Underutilization of the capacity by the subsistence fishers due to …

Conservation Biological Control Of Western Bean Cutworm: Molecular Gut Content Analysis Of Arthropod Predators, Feeding Trials For Key Predators And Agricultural Surveys For Integrated Pest Management, Westen Ray Archibald

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Western bean cutworm (WBC), Striacosta albicosta, is a major pest of corn in western Nebraska. In 1999, its range expanded into much of North America causing damage from Nebraska to Canada and Mexico. WBC periodically causes kernel damage as severe as 15 bu/ac for one larva/plant. Control for WBC relies on Bt corn hybrids with Vip3A and Cry1F traits and insecticides. There has been a 5.2-fold decrease in efficacy of Cry1F for WBC. Concerns over management tactics may be creating space for conservation biological control to become part of a WBC integrated pest management (IPM) program. Objective 1, used …

Modeling The Survival Of Salmonella In Soy Sauce-Based Products Stored At Two Different Temperatures, Ana Cristina Arciniega Castillo

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

Acidified foods are defined in the regulations as “low acid foods to which acid(s) has been added to bring finished pH to 4.6 or below”. As the market for these products expands, an increasing number of them are being processed with reduced heat treatment, relying on acid alone to ensure the destruction of pathogens. When considering the survival rate of microbial pathogens in these products, pH, water activity, temperature, salt content and holding time are integral and must be considered together.

Despite improvements in production, handling, and distribution of food products in recent years, protecting consumers from foodborne illness still …

The Effect Of A Youth Cooking Intervention On Nutrition Knowledge And Healthy Eating Behaviors Among 4th & 5th Graders Attending Title I Schools, Ashley B. Walther

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Childhood obesity rates have dramatically increased since the 1980’s. This has become major public health concern because children who are overweight or obese are more likely to have obesity-related health issues and are more likely to be overweight or obese as adults. Obesity is also associated with poor dietary habits. Currently, children have dietary patterns that are low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In addition, many Americans lack the knowledge on how to prepare healthful meals and because of this there is a lack of a meal preparation knowledge being transferred to children. To help address these issues it …

Assessment Of The Campus Food Environment Using Components Of The Healthy Campus Environmental Audit, Candace Sorden

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objective was to assess whether the food environment at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) campuses supports healthy eating behaviors using components of the Healthy Campus Environmental Audit (vending, dining, and convenience store audits). Secondary aims were to compare the UNL food environment to other college campuses and explore whether there are existing health promotion and obesity prevention initiatives, programs, pledges and/or policies at UNL.

Research team members accessed a secure online website to review training materials prepared by Syracuse University. Evaluators did audit practice trials to meet inter-rater reliability score standards (>80%). audits were conducted at designated sites …

Msh1-Mediated Non-Genetic Phenotypic Variation In Plants: Prospects For Epigenetic Breeding In Sorghum Bicolor, Dikungwa Ketumile

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sorghum is the fifth most important cereal crop grown in the world, and is the primary staple food for many people in developing countries. Like other major crops, its improvement is constrained by depletion of genetic diversity within breeding germplasm. Investigated in this study is the unique creation of non-genetic phenotypic variation through altering MutS Homolog1 (MSH1), a plant-specific gene, and the potential it presents for sorghum improvement. Suppression of MSH1 results in non-genetic developmental reprogramming. The derived MSH1 memory lines, when used in crossing, result in heritable phenotypic variation that enhances plant vigor and agronomic performance. A …

Analysis Of Cereal Aphid Feeding Behavior And Transcriptional Responses Underlying Switchgrass–Aphid Interactions, Kyle G. Koch

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum L., is a perennial warm-season grass that is a model species for the development of bioenergy crops. However, the sustainability of switchgrass as a bioenergy feedstock will require efforts directed at improved biomass yield under a variety of stress factors. The objectives of this research were to: (1) elucidate greenbug and yellow sugarcane aphid feeding behavior on resistant and susceptible switchgrasses using electronic penetration graphs (EPG), (2) define transcriptional changes before and during insect feeding through RNA-seq to identify candidate resistance genes in a hybrid switchgrass cultivar, and (3) utilize methods in RNA sequencing of insects to …

Comparison Of Aquaponics And Hydroponics On Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) Morphometrics And Essential Oil Composition, Lauren E. Wilson, Nathan C. Duncan, D. Andrew Crain

RURALS: Review of Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Life Sciences

Soilless farming, though in practice for over two millennia, is becoming more prevalent in modern food production as it not only saves water and space but also provides an effective option for indoor urban farming. There are currently two major models of soilless farming—hydroponics and aquaponics. While both systems are effective methods, very few studies compare the two systems. The objective of this study was to compare the water quality, basil (Ocimum basilicum) productivity, and basil essential oil profiles from plants grown in a hydroponic and newly established aquaponic system. Basil plants from two age groups (young plants …

Integration Of Mirna And Mrna Expression Profles Reveals Microrna-Regulated Networks During Muscle Wasting In Cardiac Cachexia, Leonardo N. Moraes, Geysson J. Fernandez, Ivan Jose Vechetti Jr, Paula P. Freire, Rodrigo W. A. Souza, Rolando A.R. Villacis, Silvia R. Rogatto, Patricia P. Reis, Maeli Dal-Pai-Silvia, Robson F. Carvalho

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Cardiac cachexia (CC) is a common complication of heart failure (HF) associated with muscle wasting and poor patient prognosis. Although different mechanisms have been proposed to explain muscle wasting during CC, its pathogenesis is still not understood. Here, we described an integrative analysis between miRNA and mRNA expression profiles of muscle wasting during CC. Global gene expression profiling identified 1,281 genes and 19 miRNAs differentially expressed in muscle wasting during CC. Several of these deregulated genes are known or putative targets of the altered miRNAs, including miR-29a-3p, miR-29b-3p, miR-210-5p, miR-214, and miR-489. Gene ontology analysis on integrative mRNA/miRNA expression profiling …

Metabolic Regulation By Stress Mediators In Fetal Ovine Skeletal Muscle And Adult Bovine Myoblasts, Elena Marie Merrick

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Our objective was to determine the effect of stress mediators such as inflammatory cytokines and β adrenergic agonists on developing skeletal muscle. Fetal sheep exposed to chronic maternal inflammation had decreased skeletal muscle glucose oxidation rates when stimulated with insulin or TNFα. In addition, activation of Akt by insulin was decreased after maternal inflammation when compared to controls and there were not differences in skeletal muscle fiber type ratios between the two treatment groups. This indicates that maternal inflammation does not affect overall oxidative capacity in the developing fetus, but rather insulin signaling pathways are disrupted.

We sought to determine …

Evaluation Of Distillers' Grains Components For Finishing Beef Cattle, Jordan E. Burhoop

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

With the large expansion of the ethanol industry in previous years, there has been an increase in supply of distillers grains plus solubles (DGS) for the feedlot industry. Distiller’s grains are a common byproduct used in feedlot diets for added protein or energy. Recently, ethanol companies have been using different extraction techniques to remove various parts of the DGS to sell separately, such as corn oil and fiber. Previous research trials have tried to determine the contribution of individual nutrients in distillers grains that improve performance in order to predict the impact of removing certain components. In previous studies, fiber …

The Effects Of Supplemental Rup In Corn Silage Growing Diets And Rup Digestibility Of Corn Silage, The Utilization Of Aggressive Implant Protocols, And The Effect Of Inoculate On Corn Silage And High Moisture Corn, Colton Ray Oney

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Three experiments evaluated the effect of implant strategies on feedlot performance and carcass characteristics of crossbred steers and Holstein steers. Final BW, ADG, and G:F were not different between implant strategies in Exp. 1 and 2. The utilization of more aggressive implant strategies has minimal impact on both feedlot and carcass performance of cross breed steers.

Four experiments evaluated the effects of supplemental RUP in corn silage growing diets and RUP content and RUP digestibility of corn silage. Exp. 1, supplemented five concentrations of RUP to growing calves consuming a corn silage diet. As supplemental RUP increased ADG and ending …

Effect Of Fat And Fiber On Methane Production And Energy Utilization In Lactating Dairy Cows, Olivia Rose Drehmel

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Due to rising concerns of greenhouse gases and that ruminants are the largest livestock methane producers, an emphasis has been put on developing methane mitigation strategies to reduce methane emissions in ruminants. Other than reducing methane, maximizing the energy utilization of cattle is also important for producer’s overall productivity and profitability.

In the first experiment, fat or cellulose was added to fiber isolated from dried distiller’s grains and solubles. Isolated NDF residue from an in vitro setting was fermented 1) alone (control); 2) with feed grade corn oil at 20%; or 3) with cellulose powder microcrystalline at 20% using the …

Advancing Chemical Characterization Of Feedstuffs Commonly Included In Dairy Cow Rations, Ellan I. Dufour

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Chemical composition of feedstuffs commonly included in dairy cow rations is variable within a feed type, which raises a potential for nutrient inadequacies for an animal. There are multiple methods to characterize and determine chemical composition including in vitro and in situ methods, as well as refining processing procedures to produce a consistent feed product. Feed component digestibilities can also be evaluated using similar methods.

Research reported in Chapter 2 focuses on characterizing chemical composition and determining the digestibility of fiber and protein fractions of corn dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) originating from seven different production sites across Michigan, …

Starch-Entrapped Microsphere Fibers Improve Bowel Habit But Do Not Exhibit Prebiotic Capacity In Those With Unsatisfactory Bowel Habits: A Phase I, Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Human Trial, Heather E. Rasmussen, Bruce Hamaker, Kumar B. Rajan, Ece Mutlu, Stefan J. Green, Michael Brown, Amandeep Kaur, Ali Keshavarzian

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Approximately one-third of individuals in the United States experience unsatisfactory bowel habits, and dietary intake, especially one low in fiber, could be partly responsible. We hypothesized that intake of a fermentable fiber (starch-entrapped microspheres, SM) that has a delayed, slow fermentation profile in vitro would improve bowel habit while exhibiting prebiotic capacity in those with self-described unsatisfactory bowel habits, all with minimal adverse effects. A total of 43 healthy volunteers completed a 3-month,double-blind, parallel-arm randomized clinical trial to assess the ability of a daily dose (9 or 12 g) of SM vs. psyllium (12 g) to improve bowel habit, including …

Providers Perspectives On Self-Regulation Impact Their Use Of Responsive Feeding Practices In Child Care, Dipti A. Dev, Katherine E. Speirs, Natalie A. Williams, Samantha Ramsay, Brent A. Mcbride, Holly Hatton-Bowers

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

Supporting children's self-regulation in eating through caregivers' practice of responsive feeding is paramount to obesity prevention, and while much attention has been given to supporting children's selfregulation in eating through parents' responsive feeding practices in the home setting, little attention has been given to this issue in childcare settings. This qualitative study examines childcare providers' perspectives on using responsive feeding practices with young children (2–5 years). Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with providers until saturation was reached. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. The final sample included 18 providers who were employed full-time in Head Start or state-licensed center-based childcare …

Molecular And Culture-Based Assessment Of Root/Crown Rot Fungal/Oomycete Complex Of Bean In Mozambique, Suzana Vanessa Ismael Fernandes

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Dry edible beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) play an important role in food security, alleviating hunger and malnutrition and adding value to the economy in Mozambique. Recently, root/crown rot (RCR) has caused yield losses in bean fields in Mozambique. A diverse taxa of fungi and oomycetes have been associated with RCR. However, in Mozambique little information on root rot is available. The purpose of this study is to use Illumina sequencing platform, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture-based methods to identify the primary pathogens associated with RCR in Mozambique. A total of 88 plants showing symptoms of RCR disease were …

Cultural Self-Identification Among Extension Educators' And Cultural Competence In Cooperative Extension, Ruddy Y. Benavides

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

As immigration and globalization are increasing, the number of people in our country who speak more than one language is also increasing (Center for Public Education, 2012). These trends are creating needs for culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students and families in schools, specifically, the need for culturally responsive pedagogy and culturally competent teachers. In addition to formal educational contexts, non-formal educational contexts such as Cooperative Extension need to adapt to cultural changes as well. The purpose of this study was to explore the personal beliefs and professional experiences of present Extension Educators (EEs), and the techniques they practice in …

Water Current, Volume 49, No. 3, Summer 2017

Water Current Newsletter

New University competition is “Testing Ag Performance Solutions”

Summer brings research work, students, tours and farm shows

Trophic Dynamics Of Flathead Catfish In The Missouri River Bordering Nebraska, Dylan R. Turner

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Understanding the trophic dynamics of large, riverine ecosystems is complex and requires knowledge from several inputs and outputs of the ecosystem. Most riverine ecosystems have been altered in some way whether through damming, channelizing, or diverting water. The Missouri River is not immune to these anthropogenic alterations. The river has dams throughout its middle portion and is channelized from Sioux City, Iowa to its confluence with the Mississippi River. Flathead Catfish pylodictus olivarius are one of the most ecologically harmful introduced species but little research has looked at the influence native populations of Flathead Catfish have on native prey populations …

Attenuating The Side Effects Of Caloric Restriction Through Exercise And Increased Protein Intake, Jay A. Petersen

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The effects of caloric restriction (CR) on weight loss and health outcomes are documented, but few controlled studies have addressed its effect on performance. Fat free mass (FFM) is reduced during CR, which may impair performance. The purpose of this thesis was to explore the capacity of these strategies to attenuate the side-effects of calorie-restricted weight loss: Exercise, which preserves FFM during CR, may be employed to maintain performance in an energy-deficient state, and a high protein intake may work in combination with exercise to further protect FFM and performance. Two studies were utilized to address this purpose. In study …

Adaptive Thermogenesis And Metabolic Changes Following Diet- And Exercise-Induced Weight Loss, Alexandra R. Martin

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

With more than two-thirds of adults in the United States considered as overweight or obese, a myriad of weight loss programs and products that promise quick results have infiltrated the market. While many individuals successfully lose weight over the short term, almost half of the initial weight lost is regained within one year, indicating a general predisposition for weight cycling and fat replenishment. As weight is lost, fat-free mass (FFM) also decreases, and resting metabolic rate (RMR) declines, decreasing energy expenditure. After accounting for decreases in FFM, there remains a greater-than- predicted decrease in RMR, referred to as adaptive thermogenesis …

Dissecting The Genetic Basis Of Salt Tolerance In Rice (Oryza Sativa), Malachy Thomas Campbell

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Excessive salt is a major factor limiting crop productivity. Rice is an important food crop worldwide, and provides a major source of calories for billions of people in tropical and subtropical developing countries. In many regions throughout Southeast Asia, rice is grown in low-lying coastal regions, which are prone to ingress by seawater. Rice is highly sensitive to salt stress, with mild salinity resulting in large reductions in yield. Improving salt tolerance in rice is essential for ensuring food security for many individuals throughput the developing world.

In this work, the overall goals were to characterize a diverse collection of …

Data Sets For “Pubh-D-17-00335r2 Effects Of Selected Socio-Demographic Characteristics On Nutrition Knowledge And Eating Behavior Of Elementary Students In Two Provinces In China”, Ling Qian, Fan Zhang, Ian Newman, Duane F. Shell, Weijing Du

Department of Educational Psychology: Faculty Publications

The 2 attached digital files are placed in UNL Digital Commons for access by readers of open access journal BMC Public Health < https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/ >. The data set supports the analysis reported in the study “PUBH-D-17-00335R2 Effects of Selected Socio-demographic Characteristics on Nutrition Knowledge and Eating Behavior of Elementary Students in Two Provinces in China” by Ling Qian, MD PhD; Fan Zhang, MD PhD; Ian M. Newman, PhD; Duane F. Shell, PhD; Weijing Du, MD PhD.

The paper has been accepted by BMC Public Health. It is the journal’s policy that the data on which the conclusions are based are …

Assessing Plant-Wax Markers As A Tool To Estimate Intake And Diet Composition In Beef Cattle, Emily J. Hilburger

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Estimating feed efficiency of ruminants in grazing environments is difficult due to challenges in measuring intake and diet composition of animals that are freely grazing. Plant-wax markers, especially n-alkanes (ALK), have been shown to be a potential tool to calculate intake and diet composition.

Two indoor experiments were conducted in successive years to assess ALK reliability to facilely estimate DMI (EDMI) and diet composition. Heifers were fed a ration of 69.8% corn silage and 30% ground alfalfa with a daily supplement containing a ALK marker (C₃₂). Using a pooled fecal sample increased the …

Dietary Red And Processed Meat Intake And Markers Of Adiposity And Inflammation: The Multiethnic Cohort Study, Weiwen Chai, Yukiko Morimoto, Robert V. Cooney, Adrian A. Franke, Yurii B. Shvetsov, Loïc Le Marchand, Christopher A. Haiman, Laurence N. Kolonel, Marc T. Goodman, Gertraud Maskarinec

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Objective—The potential influence of dietary factors on inflammation is important for cancer prevention. Utilizing data from control participants (312 men, 911 women) in two nested case-control studies of cancer within the Multiethnic Cohort, we examined the associations of red and processed meat intake with serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 and the mediator effect of body mass index (BMI) on the above associations (if present).

Methods—Multivariable linear models were applied to assess the association between red and processed meat intake at cohort entry and serum biomarker levels measured 9.1 …

Honey Bee Gut Dysbiosis: A Novel Context Of Disease Ecology, Kirk E. Anderson, Vincent A. Ricigliano

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The honey bee microbiota has become a hot-spot of recent research. Highly co-evolved with its host, the hindgut microbiota of a worker honey bee consists of six bacterial species shown to occur reliably in particular proportions. Altered microbiota structure is associated with host deficiencies, and a variety of bacteria found throughout the hive environment can dominate the worker gut suppressing or displacing microbiota function. The synthesis presented here suggests environmental insults alter gut bacterial balance, leading to decreased host function and disease progression. Specific functional groups of native bacteria represent a model system to investigate dysbiosis and the evolution of …