Digital Commons Network^™

Quantification Of Nitric Oxide Via Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes, Jakob Meier

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical present in biological systems, can have many beneficial and detrimental effects on the body. Due to NO’s short half-life, its detection and quantification is difficult. This inability to quantify NO has hindered researchers that are trying to understand NO’s impact in healthy and diseased conditions. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), can become selective to various analytes when wrapped in specific single-stranded DNA strands. The presence of the analyte of interest can change the wavelength and/or intensity of the SWNT’s fluorescence, allowing the SWNT to be used as a sensor. One type of SWNT sensor, 6,5 …

The Role Of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells In Liver Malady Homeostasis, Fatima Cabral

Department of Biochemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Current literature described techniques for the purification of liver cell types through text alone. The techniques described for the isolation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells as well as hepatocytes described here are modified from a published article in the Journal of Visualized experiments. The video protocol allows for the user to successfully isolate cells as the most difficult parts of the procedure are demonstrated visually. The detection of liver maladies such as the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the stage if this disease and differentiation between non-alcoholic and alcoholic fatty liver disease is demonstrated in the development of a unique panel …

Women In Beekeeping: Impacts Of A Beekeeper Educational Program, Bridget Gross

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The decline in honey bee populations over the past two decades in the United States is alarming. The management provided by beekeepers to their honey bee colonies influences the survival of the colony. However, there is a lack of information on the experiences of beekeepers, specifically women beekeepers. The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) in Nebraska hosted the “Honey Bees on the Farm: Connecting Women Beekeepers and Women Farmers for Environmental and Economic Benefit” program that provided informal, educational events to women beekeepers and landowners. Using a convergent mixed methods design, the first research question examines the impacts of the …

Estimating The Age And Mechanism Of Boulder Transport Related With Extreme Waves Using Lichenometry, Maria A. Oliveira, Esteve Llop, César Andrade, Cristina Branquinho, Ronald Goble, Sónia Queiroz, Maria C. Freitas, Pedro Pinho

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Tsunamis and storms cause considerable coastal flooding, numerous fatalities, destruction of structures, and erosion. The characterization of energy and frequency associated with each wave contribute to the risk assessment in coastal regions. Coastal boulder deposits represent a physical proof of extreme inundation and allow us to study the effects of marine floods further back in time than instrumental and historical records. Age estimation of these deposits is challenging due to lack of materials (such as sand, shells, corals, or organic matter) that retain information about the passage of time. Lichenometry, a simple age estimation method, which is cost effective, quick …

The Gut Bacterium Extibacter Muris Produces Secondary Bile Acids And Influences Liver Physiology In Gnotobiotic Mice, Theresa Streidl, Isabel Karkossa, Rafael R. Segura Munoz, Claudia Eberl, Alex Zaufel, Johannes Plagge, Robert Schmaltz, Kristin Schubert, Marijana Basic, Kai Markus Schneider, Mamdouh Afify, Christian Trautwein, Rene Tolba, Barbel Stecher, Heidi L. Doden, Jason M. Ridlon, Josef Ecker, Tarek Moustafa, Martin Von Bergen, Amanda Ramer-Tait, Thomas Clavel

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Extibacter muris is a newly described mouse gut bacterium which metabolizes cholic acid (CA) to deoxycholic acid (DCA) via 7α-dehydroxylation. Although bile acids influence metabolic and inflammatory responses, few in vivo models exist for studying their metabolism and impact on the host. Mice were colonized from birth with the simplified community Oligo-MM¹² with or without E. muris. As the metabolism of bile acids is known to affect lipid homeostasis, mice were fed either a low- or high-fat diet for eight weeks before sampling and analyses targeting the gut and liver. Multiple Oligo-MM¹² strains were capable of deconjugating …

Polerovirus Genomic Variation And Mechanisms Of Silencing Suppression By P0 Protein, Natalie M. Holste

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

The family Luteoviridae consists of three genera: Luteovirus, Enamovirus, and Polerovirus. The genus Polerovirus contains 32 virus species. All are transmitted by aphids and can infect a wide variety of crops from cereals and wheat to cucurbits and peppers. However, little is known about how this wide range of hosts and vectors developed. In poleroviruses, aphid transmission and virion formation is mediated by the coat protein read-through domain (CPRT) while silencing suppression and phloem limitation is mediated by Protein 0 (P0)—a protein unique to poleroviruses. P0 gives poleroviruses a great advantage amongst plant viruses and diversifies polerovirus species, but the …

Influence Of Burning And Grazing Management Practices On Subirrigated Sandhill Meadow Hay Production, Tara M. Harms

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

Subirrigated meadows are a valuable forage resource to Sandhills ranching operations being used for hay production, grazing, or a combination of both. Practices that sustain meadow productivity should be encouraged to ensure a consistent feed supply for cattle. The potential influence of prescribed burning or pre-freeze and post-freeze grazing on forage production and quality are not well understood on these meadows. In grasslands, including meadows, excess dead plant material can accumulate, causing a potential reduction in forage yield and quality. Results of our three-year field study suggest that burning meadows in the spring is a suitable management option to remove …

Fungicide Resistance: Surveillance, Risk Assessment And Evolution In Two Soil-Borne Pathogens, Nikita Gambhir

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

Fungicide-resistant pathogens are an increasing threat to fungicide efficacy and plant health. The goal of this dissertation was to advance the foundational knowledge required to prevent and detect fungicide resistance development in the seedling disease pathogen, Rhizoctonia zeae and the white-mold pathogen, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Corn and soybean fields in 12 states (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin) were surveyed for R. zeae. In vitro fungicide sensitivity was determined for 91 isolates to fludioxonil, sedaxane, and/or prothioconazole. Rhizoctonia zeae was sensitive to all fungicides (EC₅₀ < 3 µg/ml) except azoxystrobin (EC₅₀ > 100 µg/ml). In …

Concentration And Treatment Of Odors Generated By Landfills, Gabriel Cohen

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Landfills produce hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), an odorous compound that can be a nuisance and danger to public. Biological treatment, in particular bio-trickling filters, is a method for controlling H₂S emissions but startup costs can be costly. The goal of this study is to provide a low-cost method for improving environmental air quality in Nebraska through an odor control device. This study determined that the Loup Central Landfill located near Elba, NE would be an adequate site for the testing and implementation of the odor control device. The off-gas of the Loup Central Landfill was tested for …

Neonicotinoid Pesticide And Nitrate Removal In Floating Treatment Wetlands, Julia Lindgren

Department of Environmental Engineering: Theses and Other Student Research

Nutrient and pesticide concentrations in surface water are a growing concern in the Midwest. Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are often used to remove excess nutrients from surface water and should be considered for removal of emerging contaminants, such as neonicotinoids. Therefore, the objectives for this research project were: 1) Determine FTW neonicotinoid removal capacity, 2) Quantify neonicotinoid incorporation into floating macrophytes, and 3) Explore potential implications of neonicotinoids on microbial denitrification. A microcosm and mesocosm experiment was completed. The mesocosm experiment evaluated 3 treatments: 1) FTW mesocosm with neonicotinoids, 2) FTW without neonicotinoids, and 3) mesocosm with neonicotinoids and without …

Two New Species Of Chrysina Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae), David C. Hawks

Insecta Mundi

Two new species of Chrysina Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) are described from Oaxaca and Queretaro, Mexico: C. pricei Hawks and C. robackeri Hawks.

A Review Of The Nearctic Species Of Fornax Laporte (Coleoptera: Eucnemidae: Macraulacinae: Macraulacini) With Descriptions Of Six New Species, Robert L. Otto

Insecta Mundi

The Nearctic species of Fornax Laporte are reviewed. Three species are redescribed, and six new species are described mainly from southeastern United States. The new species are F. appalachiensis , F. con­vexicollis, F. floridana, F. lucidicollis, F. melsheimeri and F. parallelicollis. A neotype is designated for Hylochares bicolor Melsheimer, with notes on its purpose. Each species is diagnosed and imaged. A new identification key is provided for all known species of Fornax present in the Nearctic region, replacing previous Nearctic species keys of Muona (2000) and Otto (2017).

New Species Of Trachyderini From Mexico And Central America (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae), James E. Wappes, Antonio Santos-Silva

Insecta Mundi

Three new trachyderine species in the subtribe Trachyderina (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Ceram­bycinae: Trachyderini) are described: Entomosterna kovariki Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species, from Belize; Gortonia sumideroensis Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species, from Mexico (Chiapas); and Sphaeno­thecus vandenberghei Wappes and Santos-Silva, new species, from Nicaragua. A new key to Entomosterna species, and a previous Sphaenothecus key by Chemsak and Noguera (1998) is modified to include the new species, with both provided herein.

Redescripción De Eulachnesia Boteroi Monné Y Monné, 2015 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Hemilophini), Sergio Devesa

Insecta Mundi

Eulachnesia boteroi Monné y Monné, 2015 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Hemilophini) es redescrito, ilustrado dorsal, ventral y lateralmente, así como diversos detalles de su morfología. Es realizada la designación de un neotipo y la especie es registrada por primera vez para Ecuador. Adicionalmente, es propuesta una clave para la identificación de las especies del género.

Eulachnesia boteroi Monné and Monné, 2015 (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Hemilophini) is redescribed and illustrated dorsally, ventrally and laterally, with several specific details. The designation of a neotype is made and the species is registered for the first time for Ecuador. Additionally, a key is proposed for …

Selenopidae (Arachnida: Araneae), A New Host Spider Family For The Spider Wasp Tachypompilus Ferrugineus (Say) (Hymenoptera: Pompilidae: Pompilini), Frank E. Kurczewski, Rick C. West, Sarah C. Crews, N. R. Jenzen-Jones

Insecta Mundi

Four online photographs from Oaxaca, Mexico taken by N. R. Jenzen-Jones and posted on inaturalist.org reveal Selenops sp., probably S. mexicanus Keyserling (Arachnida: Araneae: Selenopidae), as a new host spider species, genus and family for the common and widespread American spider wasp Tachypompilus fer­rugineus (Say) (rusty spider wasp). The wasp transported the immobilized spider up an exterior stucco wall of a house, dorsal side upward, walking backwards for 3 m to her nest in a gap between the wooden planking and stucco wall beneath the roof, while grasping the femur of its right pedipalp with her mandibles.

Addendum And Update To Zidek (2020):Catalogue Of Species-Group Names Assigned To Copris Geoffroy, Coptodactyla Burmeister, Litocopris Waterhouse, Microcopris Balthasar, Paracopris Balthasar, Pseudocopris Ferreira, Pseudopedaria Felsche, Sinocopris Ochi, Kon And Bai, And Thyregis Blackburn (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Coprini), Jiri Zidek

Insecta Mundi

The catalogue of species-group names of nine coprine genera (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae: Coprini), published earlier this year, is updated and revised. Presented are species-group taxa overlooked in compiling the catalogue and new species-group taxa described in 2020, i.e. after the cut-off date of the catalogue.

Validation Of Chrysina Valentini Zubov And Ivshin, 2019 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) By Morphometric And Cuticular Reflectance Analyses, David C. Robacker, Karen M. Robacker, William C. Warfield

Insecta Mundi

Micromorphometric analyses of genital capsules and comparison of adult cuticular reflectance of two species of Chrysina Kirby (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae) support the status of C. valentini Zubov and Ivshin, 2019 as a valid species. Compared with its closest relative C. optima (Bates, 1888), capsules of C. valentini are proportionately wider at the base of the parameres than those of C. optima, and taper toward the apex more abruptly. Reflectance of C. valentini under natural light appears slightly greenish while C. optima is uniformly reddish. The number of teeth on the protibia and the shape of the mesosternal process, characters …

A New Species Of Oncotophasma Rehn, 1904 (Phasmida: Diapheromeridae) From Colombia, Andres David Murcia, Oscar J. Cadena-Castañeda, Daniela Santos Martins Silva

Insecta Mundi

Abstract. Oncotophasma aurantiaviridiata Murcia, Cadena-Castañeda, and Silva new species (Phasmida: Diapheromeridae) from the Colombian Andes is described. The new species is distinguished by its peculiar coloration, which highlights greenish and orange tones. It is also the first record of the genus for the eastern slope of the Colombian Andes. The previous distribution recorded for the genus is the Chocó biogeographic region from Costa Rica to Colombia, with species being found in the Colombian areas of influence of this biogeographic region, such as the western and central slopes of the Andes.

Resumen. Se describe a Oncotophasma aurantiaviridiata Murcia, Cadena-Castañeda y …

Description Of The Male Of Euschistus (Euschistus) Baranowskii Eger And Bianchi (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Carpocorini), Joseph E. Eger Jr.

Insecta Mundi

Euschistus (Euschistus) baranowskii Eger and Bianchi (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Pentatominae: Carpocorini) was described based on a single female specimen. In this paper, I describe the male of the spe­cies, primarily the genitalia, and compare it to other species of Euschistus (Euschistus) Dallas.

Evaluating The Untapped Potential Of U.S. Conservation Investments To Improve Soil And Environmental Health, Andrea Basche, Katherine Tully, Nora L. Alvarez-Berrios, Julian Reyes, Laura Lengnick, Tabitha Brown, Jennifer M. Moore, Rachel E. Schattman, Lana Koepke Johnson, Gabrielle Roesch-Mcnally

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

There is increasing enthusiasm around the concept of soil health, and as a result, new public and private initiatives are being developed to increase soil health-related practices on working lands in the United States. In addition, billions of U.S. public dollars are dedicated annually toward soil conservation programs, and yet, it is not well quantified how investment in conservation programs improve soil health and, more broadly, environmental health. The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is one of the major U.S. public conservation programs administered on privately managed lands for which public data are available. In this research, we developed a …

Editorial: Structure And Function Of Chloroplasts - Volume Ii, Yan Lu, Lu Ning Liu, Rebecca L. Roston, Jurgen Soll, Hongbo Gao

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Dct4—A New Member Of The Dicarboxylate Transporter Family In C4 Grasse, Sarit Weissmann, Pu Huang, Madeline A. Wiechert, Koki Furuyama, Thomas P. Brutnell, Mitsutaka Taniguchi, James C. Schnable, Todd C. Mockler

Center for Plant Science Innovation: Faculty Publications

Malate transport shuttles atmospheric carbon into the Calvin–Benson cycle during NADP-ME C4 photosynthesis. Previous characterizations of several plant dicarboxylate transporters (DCT) showed that they efficiently exchange malate across membranes. Here, we identify and characterize a previously unknown member of the DCT family, DCT4, in Sorghum bicolor. We show that SbDCT4 exchangesmalateacrossmembranesanditsexpressionpatternisconsistentwitharoleinmalatetransportduringC4 photosynthesis. SbDCT4 is not syntenic to the characterized photosynthetic gene ZmDCT2, and an ortholog is not detectable in the maize reference genome. We found that the expression patterns of DCT family genes in the leaves of Zea mays, and S. bicolor varied by cell type. Our results suggest that …

Sustainable Drug Release From Polycaprolactone Coated Chitin‑Lignin Gel Fibrous Scaffolds, Turdimuhammad Abdullah, Kalamegam Gauthaman, Azadeh Mostafavi, Ahmed Alshahrie, Numan Salah, Pierfrancesco Morganti, Angelo Chianese, Ali Tamayol, Adnan Memic

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Non-healing wounds have placed an enormous stress on both patients and healthcare systems worldwide. Severe complications induced by these wounds can lead to limb amputation or even death and urgently require more effective treatments. Electrospun scaffolds have great potential for improving wound healing treatments by providing controlled drug delivery. Previously, we developed fibrous scaffolds from complex carbohydrate polymers [i.e. chitin-lignin (CL) gels]. However, their application was limited by solubility and undesirable burst drug release. Here, a coaxial electrospinning is applied to encapsulate the CL gels with polycaprolactone (PCL). Presence of a PCL shell layer thus provides longer shelf-life for the …

Race And Ethnic Variation In College Students’ Allostatic Regulation Of Racism-Related Stress, Jacob E. Cheadle, Bridget J. Goosby, Joseph C. Jochman, Cara Tomaso, Chelsea B. Kozikowski Yancey, Timothy D. Nelson

Department of Sociology: Faculty Publications

Racism-related stress is thought to contribute to widespread race/ ethnic health inequities via negative emotion and allostatic stress process up-regulation. Although prior studies document racerelated stress and health correlations, due to methodological and technical limitations, they have been unable to directly test the stress-reactivity hypothesis in situ. Guided by theories of constructed emotion and allostasis, we developed a protocol using wearable sensors and daily surveys that allowed us to operationalize and time-couple self-reported racism-related experiences, negative emotions, and an independent biosignal of emotional arousal. We used data from 100 diverse young adults at a predominantly White college campus to assess …

Linking Mosquito Surveillance To Dengue Fever Through Bayesian Mechanistic Modeling, Clinton B. Leach, Jennifer A. Hoeting, Kim M. Pepin, Alvaro E. Eiras, Mevin B. Hooten, Colleen T. Webb

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Our ability to effectively prevent the transmission of the dengue virus through targeted control of its vector, Aedes aegypti, depends critically on our understanding of the link between mosquito abundance and human disease risk. Mosquito and clinical surveillance data are widely collected, but linking them requires a modeling framework that accounts for the complex non-linear mechanisms involved in transmission. Most critical are the bottleneck in transmission imposed by mosquito lifespan relative to the virus’ extrinsic incubation period, and the dynamics of human immunity. We developed a differential equation model of dengue transmission and embedded it in a Bayesian hierarchical …

Risk Of Injury Analysis In Depth Jump And Squat Jump, Curtis L. Tomasevicz, Jeffrey C. Woldstad, [email protected]

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Introduction: The depth jump (DJ) and squat jump (SJ) are accepted ways to assess and train power producing ability but are not without risk of injury. Methods: Sixteen male participants (age = 21.7 ± 1.54 yrs., height = 177.7 ± 11.4 cm, mass = 77.7 ± 13.6 kg) were evaluated for power exertion capabilities while being assessed for risk of injury in the knee and low back through a range of resistances based on a percentage of participants’ heights in the DJ (0% through 50%) and bodyweights for the SJ (0% through 100%). Two variables were used to assess the …

Economic Analyses Of Federal Scientific Collections: Methods For Documenting Costs And Benefits, David E. Schindel, Economic Study Group Of The Interagency Working Group On Scientific Collections

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

Federal object-based scientific collections have been created to serve agency missions and, in a few cases, to comply with legislative and regulatory mandates. “Project collections” (those managed by the researchers who obtained them for restricted use) and their costs and benefits were considered too varied for standard methodologies that assess costs and benefits. In a few cases, departments and agencies are required by legislation or regulations to retain objects in long-term “institutional collections.” In most cases, decisions to retain objects are based on long-term costs relative to the perceived potential for benefits to taxpayers. Federal collections vary in their philosophies …

Flowers Are Essential To Maintain High Beetle Diversity (Coleoptera) In A Neotropical Rainforest Canopy, Susan Kirmse, Caroline S. Chaboo

University of Nebraska State Museum: Staff and Affiliates, Publications

Many hypotheses have been proposed to explain the megadiversity of angiosperms and insects. Flowers and their pollinators represent the most common terrestrial mutualistic interaction today and this is thought to have driven the evolution of angiosperms and their visitors. Within the framework of that interaction, this paper develops and tests two new hypotheses: 1) megadiversity of canopy beetles in tropical rainforests is largely based on flower resources, and 2) the majority of adult canopy beetles are adapted to visit flowers. To test hypothesis 1, the beetle fauna associated with 23 canopy tree species (13 families, 45 individuals) in a 1.4 …

Machine Learning Augmentation Micro-Sensors For Smart Device Applications, Mohammad H. Hasan

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

Novel smart technologies such as wearable devices and unconventional robotics have been enabled by advancements in semiconductor technologies, which have miniaturized the sizes of transistors and sensors. These technologies promise great improvements to public health. However, current computational paradigms are ill-suited for use in novel smart technologies as they fail to meet their strict power and size requirements. In this dissertation, we present two bio-inspired colocalized sensing-and-computing schemes performed at the sensor level: continuous-time recurrent neural networks (CTRNNs) and reservoir computers (RCs). These schemes arise from the nonlinear dynamics of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), which facilitates computing, and the inherent ability …

Enhanced Antifibrinolytic Efficacy Of A Plasmin-Specific Kunitz-Inhibitor (60-Residue Y11t/L17r With C-Terminal Iek) Of Human Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor Type-2 Domain1, Kanagasabai Vadivel, Anne K. Zaiss, Yogesh Kumar, Frank M. Fabian, Ayman E.A. Ismail, Mark A. Arbing, Wallace G. Buchholz, William H. Velander, S Paul Bajaj

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Current antifibrinolytic agents reduce blood loss by inhibiting plasmin active sites (e.g., aprotinin) or by preventing plasminogen/tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) binding to fibrin clots (e.g., ε-aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid); however, they have adverse side effects. Here, we expressed 60-residue (_NH2NAE . . . IEK_COOH) Kunitz domain1 (KD1) mutants of human tissue factor pathway inhibitor type-2 that inhibit plasmin as well as plasminogen activation. A single (KD1-L17R-K_COOH) and a double mutant (KD1-Y11T/L17R- K_COOH) were expressed in Escherichia coli as His-tagged constructs, each with enterokinase cleavage sites. KD1-Y11T/L17R-K_COOH was also expressed in …