Digital Commons Network^™

Using A Geographic Information System To Define Regions Of Grape-Cultivar Suitability In Nebraska, Ting Chen

Department of Geography: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The thesis was undertaken to develop a methodology and digital tool, based upon the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, for delineating specific regions within the state of Nebraska that are suitable for the cultivation of two selected grape hybrids. The successful cultivation of grapes for producing wine requires knowledge of the physical and environmental conditions characterizing the local landscape. GIS technology allows the integration of multiple layers to be analyzed simultaneously, which
can provide prospective grape growers with necessary information upon which to base their management decision. In the study, nine GIS variables/layers including growing degree days, length …

Understanding Mesosystemic Influences On Reported Health Among Rural Low-Income Women: A Structural Equation Analysis, Tiffany Wigington

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

While ensuring access to health insurance and health care services is important, emerging research indicates that individual health and well-being result from a complex array of environmental, social, and psychological factors. The delineation of how factors of health and well-being unfold and impact rural low-income women is particularly salient for social workers who provide services to rural residents and who work within a rural context. Utilizing components from the ecological systems perspective, this study explored how the factors associated with health risk influenced reported health and mesosystemic processes among rural low-income women. This sample (n=304) for this study was drawn …

Characterizing The Chemoprevention Potential Of Amenity Grass Phenolic Extracts In Vitro And The Corresponding Nutraceutical Targets Within Hepg2 Carcinoma Cells, Casey J. Wegner

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

This research has revealed significant chemopreventive potential belonging to the planet’s most renewable and abundant plant source: amenity grasses.  The characterization results from Chapter 1 demonstrated the potential chemoprevention attributes of supina bluegrass and bermudagrass crude extracts linked to the extensive phenolic acid profiles of these amenity grasses.  In contrast to cereals, amenity grass phenolic extracts (AGPE) offer appreciable amounts of unbound/free ferulic acid that would be available for rapid in vivo absorption.  The literature has shown ferulic acid to be a highly available and health benefitting phenolic compound.  Chapter 1 in vitro studies demonstrated AGPE-induced antiproliferation and apoptotic induction …

Draft Genome Of The Red Harvester Ant Pogonomyrmex Barbatus, Chris R. Smith, Christopher D. Smith, Hugh M. Robertson, Martin Helmkampf, Aleksey Zimin, Mark Yandall, Carson Holt, Hao Hu, Ehab Abouheif, Richard Benton, Elizabeth Cash, Vincent Croset, Cameron R. Currie, Eran Elhaik, Christine G. Elsik, Marie-Julie Favé, Vilaiwan Fernandes, Joshua D. Gibson, Dan Graur, Wulfila Gronenberg, Kirk J. Grubbs, Darren E. Hagen, Ana Sofia Ibarraran Viniegra, Brian R. Johnson, Reed M. Johnson, Abderrahman Khila, Jay W. Kim, Kaitlyn A, Mathis, Monica C. Munoz-Torres, Marguerite C. Murphy, Julie A. Mustard, Rin Nakamura, Oliver Niehuis, Surabhi Nigam, Rick P. Overson, Jennifer E. Placek, Rajendhran Rajakumar, Justin T. Reese, Garret Suen, Shu Tao, Candice W. Torres, Neil D. Tsutsui, Lumi Viljakainen, Florian Wolschin, Jürgen Gadau

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

We report the draft genome sequence of the red harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus. The genome was sequenced using 454 pyrosequencing, and the current assembly and annotation were completed in less than 1 y. Analyses of conserved gene groups (more than 1,200 manually annotated genes to date) suggest a high-quality assembly and annotation comparable to recently sequenced insect genomes using Sanger sequencing. The red harvester ant is a model for studying reproductive division of labor, phenotypic plasticity, and sociogenomics. Although the genome of P. barbatus is similar to other sequenced hymenopterans (Apis mellifera and Nasonia vitripennis) in …

Truncated Dutpase Of Dictyostelium Discoideum Is Active And Likely To Form Trimers, Phuoc V. Nguyen

School of Biological Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Enzymes mediating nucleotide metabolism are potential chemotherapy targets of tumor cells.  Deoxyuridine triphosphatase (dUTPase) hydrolyzes dUTP into dUMP and pyrophosphate, playing a crucial role in limiting the misincorporation of uracil into DNA.  Uracil incorporated into DNA is subjected to excision, but repeated excision repair leads to DNA strand breaks and cell death.  Most dUTPases are homotrimers having three active sites with each active site consisting of motif III of the first subunit, motifs I, II, and IV from the second subunit and motif V from the third subunit.  Because the cell biology of the eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum parallels that of …

Preschool Children’S Willingness To Try And Preference For Docosahexaenoic Acid Omega-3 Foods, Bethany Joann Bettenhausen

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

During the preschool years, obesigenic eating habits are formed which are strongly associated with risk of developing chronic diseases later in life particularly cardiovascular disease. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) omega-3 fatty acid is a polyunsaturated fat with known benefits for heart health, brain cell structure, and retinal development. Current intakes of DHA are below recommended levels. United States (US) Midwestern children may be particularly at risk for suboptimal intakes of DHA. However, foods fortified with life’sDHA^TM, a product of Martek Biosciences and omega-3 eggs may provide culturally acceptable sources of DHA to Midwestern children.

Very little is known about …

Omega-3 Dietary Intakes, Knowledge, And Attitudes In Patients Screened For Colon Cancer, Cindy Kaminski

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

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid intakes in colonoscopy patients and to examine knowledge and attitudes held about dietary fats.

Subjects/Methods: Men (n=32) and women (n=47) patients were recruited from a Midwestern gastroenterology clinic. A dietitian obtained informed consent, a food recall and response from a 152-item n-3 food frequency questionnaire (n-3 FFQ) at the clinic using visuals and food models. Two additional 24-h recalls, including a weekend recall, were returned by mail. A questionnaire measuring diet fatty acids knowledge, diet attitudes and beliefs was also obtained.

Results: Daily intake of n-3 fatty …

Content Validation Of A Standardized Language Diagnosis By Certified Specialists In Gerontological Nutrition, Paula K. Ritter-Gooder, Nancy M. Lewis, Kent M. Eskridge

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Faculty Publications

Validation of the nutrition standardized language assures the language is accurate for use in practice, policy, and research, but few validation studies have been reported. The purpose of this descriptive study was to validate content of all components of the nutrition diagnostic term involuntary weight loss using experts providing care for older adults in health care settings. A Nutrition Diagnosis Validation Instrument was developed that contained the definition, etiologies, and signs and symptoms of the diagnosis plus items added from literature review. Questions on clarity and completeness of the language were included. The Nutrition Diagnosis Validation Instrument used a Likert-type …

A Survey Of Agricultural Productivity And Nutritional Status In Rural South Wollo, Ethiopia, Anne M. Cafer

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

Although many studies have focused on the plight, poverty, and severe malnutrition of rural Ethiopians, few have managed to incorporate qualitative and quantitative data to examine connections between health status and food production. This project is unique in that both types of data are combined and anthropometric measurements and a structured questionnaire are used to explore the link between agriculture, development, and nutrition. Additionally the research design incorporated feedback from local development agents, faculty and staff at an Ethiopian university, and community leaders. A survey of 120 households in seven villages within two districts of South Wollo revealed that a …

Evaluation And Analysis Of Beef Contamination By Low Levels Of Ammonia, Sely Prajitna

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

Leakage of ammonia in food facilities has been known to occur in the past. Ammonia leaks often lead to food contamination in food plants and can cause illness among consumers who accidentally consume the food products contaminated with high levels of ammonia. Therefore, a rapid, simple yet accurate method has to be established for on-site ammonia level screening in food plants to ensure the food is safe. One of the primary objectives in this study was to verify and optimize an ion selective electrode (ISE) method for its accuracy and reproducibility in determining ammonia in meat. Different extraction procedures (blending …

Native Grassland Management Guidelines For Nebraska's Wildlife Management Areas, Gerry Steinauer, Kent Pfeiffer, Jarren Kuipers

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: White Papers, Conference Presentations, and Manuscripts

This document is one of a four part series produced by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to provide direction to managers of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Nebraska. Other documents in the series cover management of woodlands, wetlands, and converted habitats.

Prior to EuroAmerican settlement grasslands covered 98% of the Nebraska landscape and supported the majority of the state’s biodiversity. Since settlement, Nebraska’s native grasslands have suffered serious decline. For example, approximately 98% of eastern Nebraska’s tallgrass prairie has been lost to development. In central and western Nebraska grassland losses have been less dramatic though still substantial. Remnant grasslands …

Transfer Of Sorghum, Millet Production, Processing And Marketing Technologies In Mali Quarterly Report January 1, 2011 – March 31, 2011, Intsormil

USAID Mali Mission Awards

Table of Contents

Introduction..................... 3

Acronyms and Abbreviations..................... 4

Executive Summary of Achievements ..................... 5

Progress ..................... 8

Production-Marketing ..................... 8

Food Processing ..................... 12

Décrue Sorghum ..................... 13

Training ..................... 24

Gender Related Achievements ..................... 26

Synergistic Activities Achieved with Partners..................... 27

Production-Marketing..................... 27

Décrue Sorghum ..................... 50

Indicator Data Table..................... 61

Problems..................... 62

Success Stories ..................... 64

Malian Thick Porridges and Satiety..................... 64

Activities Planned for Next Reporting Period..................... 66

Beef Cow Replacement Decisions: Is Keeping Open Cows Possible?, Trenton T. Bohling, Darrell R. Mark

Cornhusker Economics

In the past few years, some cow-calf producers have encountered abnormally large numbers of open, or unbred, cows in their herd. A couple of years ago, trichomoniasis, a venereal cattle disease spread by bulls, contributed to high percentages of open cows. This year, open cows are again showing up in herds, hypothesized to partially be the result of difficult winter conditions last winter and “washy” grass early last summer. In some cases, 40-70 percent of a cow herd has tested open, leaving producers to determine how best to replace these animals. Typically, options considered to replace these open cows are …

Women In Agriculture Conference 2011, Cheryl Griffith

Cornhusker Economics

Taking Charge of Our Future was the theme of the 26th Women in Agriculture (WIA) Conference, February 17-18, 2011. Nearly 400 women participated in the event, hosted by the Department of Agricultural Economics, University Extension and the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR).

Attendees were from all corners of Nebraska, with others making the trip from Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Indiana. The average attendee has attended the conference six times over the 26 years. For 53 women this was their first experience attending a WIA Conference, and two have attended the conference all 26 years. The College …

Nebline, March 2011

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Connect, Learn, and Share With Extension

Farm Views

Horticulture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Environmental Focus

Urban Agriculture

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Weed Awareness Insert

The Sugar Sensor, Trehalose-6-Phosphate Synthase (Tps1), Regulates Primary And Secondary Metabolism During Infection By The Rice Blast Fungus: Will Magnaporthe Oryzae’S “Sweet Tooth” Become Its “Achilles’ Heel”?, Jessie Fernandez, Richard A. Wilson

Fungal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

Rice blast disease is considered one of the most serious diseases of cultivated rice and is mediated by the causal agent, Magnaporthe oryzae. During infection, dome-shaped fungal cells, called appressoria, form on the surface of the leaf and generate turgor through the accumulation of glycerol. This enormous pressure is directed down onto a thin penetration hypha emerging from the base of the cell, forcing it through the surface of the rice leaf and allowing fungal colonization of the plant interior. The non-reducing disaccharide, trehalose, is present in conidia of M. oryzae and is mobilized during appressorium formation. The first step …

Host-Microbial Symbiosis In The Vertebrate Gastrointestinal Tract And The Lactobacillus Reuteri Paradigm, Jens Walter, Robert A. Britton, Stefan Roos

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Vertebrates engage in symbiotic associations with vast and complex microbial communities that colonize their gastrointestinal tracts. Recent advances have provided mechanistic insight into the important contributions of the gut microbiome to vertebrate biology, but questions remain about the evolutionary processes that have shaped symbiotic interactions in the gut and the consequences that arise for both the microbes and the host. Here we discuss the biological principles that underlie microbial symbiosis in the vertebrate gut and the potential of the development of mutualism. We then review phylogenetic and experimental studies on the vertebrate symbiont Lactobacillus reuteri that have provided novel insight …

What Is The Potential Of Substituting Legumes For Synthetic Nitrogen In Warm Season Perennial Grasses Used For Stocker Cattle Grazing?, J. Biermacher, John A. Guretzky, Ryan Reuter, Maru Kering, Twain Butler, Job Springer, James Rogers, John Blanton, Joe Bouton

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Stocker cattle grazing warm season perennial grasses is an important economic activity in the southern Great Plains. Substantial increases in the price of nitrogen fertilizer is negatively affecting forage producers’ profitability. Two alternative nitrogen management systems that use annual and perennial legumes have been developed for bermudagrass pastures. The goal of the study is to determine if the legumes systems are more profitable than the conventional practice of applying synthetic sources of nitrogen. Enterprise budgeting techniques were employed to compare the economics of the legume systems relative to the common practice. Results of the two-year grazing study show that the …

Delivery Of Prolamins To The Protein Storage Vacuole In Maize Aleurone Cells, Francisca C. Reyes, Taijoon Chung, David Holding, Rudolf Jung, Richard Vierstra, Marisa S. Otegui

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

Zeins, the prolamin storage proteins found in maize (Zea mays), accumulate in accretions called protein bodies inside the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of starchy endosperm cells. We found that genes encoding zeins, a-globulin, and legumin-1 are transcribed not only in the starchy endosperm but also in aleurone cells. Unlike the starchy endosperm, aleurone cells accumulate these storage proteins inside protein storage vacuoles (PSVs) instead of the ER. Aleurone PSVs contain zeinrich protein inclusions, a matrix, and a large system of intravacuolar membranes. After being assembled in the ER, zeins are delivered to the aleurone PSVs in atypical prevacuolar compartments …

Nebline, February 2011

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: Got Bed Bugs? Don't Panic! There are Steps You Can Take

Farm Views

Horticulture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Environmental Focus

Urban Agriculture

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

Effect Of Brown Midrib Corn Silage And Dried Distillers Grains Plus Solubles On Lactational Performance And Nitrogen Utilization By Dairy Cows, Hugo A. Ramirez

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

Thirty six Holstein cows, four ruminally cannulated, (mean ± SD, 111 ± 35 DIM; 664 ± 76.5 kg BW) were used in replicated 4×4 Latin squares to investigate the effects of brown midrib (bm3) and conventional (DP) corn silages, and the inclusion of dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) on milk production and N utilization. In each 28 d period cows were assigned to one of four treatments: DP plus 0% DDGS (CON); bm3 plus 0% DDGS (BMR); DP corn silage plus 30% DDGS (DP+DG); and bm3 plus 30% DDGS (BMR+DG). Dry matter intake was greater (P < 0.01) for cows consuming bm3 (25.8 VS 24.4 ± 0.47 kg), likewise for DDGS (24.3 and 25.9 ± 0.47 kg/d for 0 and 30%). Compared to DP hybrid, NDFD was higher (P < 0.01) for bm3 (32.5 VS 38.1 ± 1.79%). There was a hybrid × DDGS interaction (P < 0.01) for total concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA) and rumen pH as the highly digestible treatment BMR+DG resulted in the highest VFA and the lowest pH. Milk yield was not affected by treatment and averaged 30.6 ± 1.09 kg/d. Milk protein yield (MPY) was greater (P < 0.01) for bm3 and DDGS treatments. There was a hybrid by DDGS interaction (P = 0.02) for milk fat yield (MFY) resulting in 1.03, 1.08, 0.84 and 0.78 ± 0.045 kg/d for DP, BMR, DP+DG and BMR+DG. Fat corrected milk (FCM) was affected by DDGS (P < 0.01) and averaged 30.0 and 26.4 ± 1.0kg/d (0% and 30% inclusions). Urinary N excretion was similar among treatments; however fecal N was lower (P = 0.03) for diets containing bm3 corn silage which caused lower (P = 0.02) manure N. These results indicate that bm3 corn silage and DDGS increase DMI, NDFD and MPY; however high inclusion of corn silage with 30% DDGS reduces FCM. Nitrogen excretion was reduced when cows consumed bm3.

Sensory Evaluation Of Ice Cream Made With Prebiotic Ingredients Substituted For Sugar, Jennifer M. Wood

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

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that beneficially affect the host by selectively stimulating growth and/or activity of beneficial bacteria in the colon. The project objective was to determine consumer acceptability of ice cream with prebiotic ingredients substituted for part of the sugar and to determine sensory attributes of sweetness, smoothness, and vanilla flavor. A commercial ice cream mix was made substituting 0%, 10%, 20%, or 30% of the sugar for either fructooligosaccharides (FOS) or inulin. Sensory analyses were conducted using 95 non-trained panelists. Overall consumer acceptability and sensory attributes were measured on a 175 mm anchored hedonic scale. When 10% …

Connecting Print And Electronic Titles: An Integrated Approach At The University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Judith A. Wolfe, Joan Latta Konecky, Dana W. R. Boden

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries: Faculty Publications

Libraries make heavy investments in electronic resources, with many of these resources reflecting title changes, bundled subsets, or content changes of formerly print material. These changes can distance the electronic format from its print origins, creating discovery and access issues. A task force was formed to explore the enhancement of catalog records to increase the connections between print and electronic titles, thus improving patron discovery and access to electronic resources. The investigation considered the relationships between parent and dependent titles, title changes, and publication subsets. The resulting recommendations included interdepartmental cooperation, record-display best practices, and methods for tracking catalog-record enhancements.

Agronomy & Horticulture Newsletter, January 28, 2011, Kathy Schindler

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Monthly Newsletters

Information from our HAPPI Business Center.............1

A Word From Your Office Professionals………..2

Please Welcome Our Newest Employee………..3

Congratulations! ………..3

Spring 2011 Seminar Schedule For Agronomy & Horticulture………..3

Brown Bag Sessions On Life Sciences Curriculum………..4

Mark Your Calendars………..4

New Short Course Offered This Summer In North Platte………..4

For Your Information………..5

Funding Announcements………..5

Agronomy & Horticulture Newsletter, January 14, 2011, Kathy Schindler

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Monthly Newsletters

Schedule For Agronomy & Horticulture Faculty Meetings.............1

Information From Our Happi Business Center.............1

Live Healthy Nebraska 2011.............2

Departmental Photo Contest.............2

A word From Your Office Professionals.............2

Please Welcome Our Newest Employee.............2

Congratulations!.............3

Spring 2011 Seminar Schedule For Agronomy & Horticulture.............4

Mark Your Calendars…………4

2011 Crop Production Clinics.............4

New Short Course Offered This Summer In North Platte.............5

For Your Information.............5

Fluorine Substitutions In An Antigenic Peptide Selectively Modulate T Cell Receptor Binding In A Minimally Perturbing Manner, Kurt H. Piepenbrink, Oleg Y. Borbulevych, Ruth F. Sommese, John Clemens, Kathrynq M. Armstrong, Clare Desmond, Priscilla Do, Brian M. Baker

Food for Health: Publications

T cell receptor (TCR) recognition of antigenic peptides bound and presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules forms the basis of the cellular immune response to pathogens and cancer. TCRs bind peptide/MHC molecules weakly and with fast kinetics, features which have hindered detailed biophysical studies of these interactions. Modified peptides resulting in enhanced TCR binding could help overcome these challenges. Further, there is considerable interest in using modified peptides with enhanced TCR binding as the basis for clinical vaccines. Here, we studied how fluorine substitutions in an antigenic peptide can selectively impact TCR recognition. Using a structure-guided design approach, we …

Assessment Of Pubertal Development Of Boars Derived From Ultrasonographic Determination Of Testicular Diameter, J.J. Ford, T.H. Wise

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

At the onset of puberty, seminiferous tubules rapidly increase in diameter, thereby occupying a greater proportion of the testis, resulting in a rapid increase in testicular size. The objective of the current studies was to evaluate ultrasonography for assessing testicular diameter, as a basis for ranking boars relative to their extent of pubertal development. In the initial study, prior to castration at 4, 5, 6, or 7 mo of age, testicular length and diameter were assessed by ultrasonography in 160 anesthetized boars. After castration, testes were weighed. Mean diameter of seminiferous tubules and percentage of the testis occupied by tubules …

Determinants Of Bovine Thermal Response To Heat And Solar Radiation Exposures In A Field Environment, Brad Scharf, Michael J. Leonard, Robert L. Weaber, Terry L. Mader, G. Leroy Hahn, Donald E. Spiers

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

Continuous exposure of cattle to summer heat in the absence of shade results in significant hyperthermia and impairs growth and general health. Reliable predictors of heat strain are needed to identify this condition. A 12-day study was conducted during a moderate summer heat period using 12 Angus x Simmental (Bos taurus) steers (533± 12 kg average body weight) to identify animal and ambient determinations of core body temperature (T_core) and respiration rate (RR) responses to heat stress. Steers were provided standard diet and water ad libitum, and implanted intraperitoneally with telemetric transmitters to monitor T_{core …}

Effect Of Feeding Wet Distillers Grains With Solubles To Beef Cattle On Air And Manure Quality, M. J. Spiehs, D. N. Miller, B. L. Woodbury, R. A. Eigenberg, V. H. Varel, D. B. Parker

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

Air quality is becoming a pressing issue for beef feedlot producers. Feeding practices influence the excretion of starch, fiber, nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) in manure, thereby affecting nutrient content and the production of ammonia (NH₃) and odorous compounds. Wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) are a common and economical ingredient in feedlot diets. WDGS are high in protein, fiber, phosphorus (P), and S but low in starch. The objective of this study was to compare NH3 concentration in the air and nutrients and volatile organic compounds (VOC) concentration in manure between two dietary treatments fed to feedlot …

Utilization Of Compatible Technology International (Cti) Grinders For Sorghum Flour Production In Central America, Vilma Ruth Calderón, Kris Duville, Lily Lopez, Lloyd Rooney, Carla Bermudez, Yesenia Chacon, Elliiana Pinilla

INTSORMIL Presentations

Slides discussing efforts by the Centro Nacionál de Tecnología Agropecuaria y Forestal (CENTA) to raise awareness of sorghum products and technologies. Programs highlighted include CENTA's collaboration with the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIRMC) Nutritional Program, and the progress in the distribution and use of sorghum grinders in El Salvador.