Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of Electrode Materials And Potential Gradient On Electro-Osmotic Consolidation For Marine Clayey Soils, Haihui Jin, Lei Zhang, Binghui Wang, Chen Fang, Liyan Wang

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Faculty Publications

This study conducted experimental investigations into the effects of electrode material and potential gradient on the effectiveness of electro-osmotic consolidation (EO) in strengthening soft soils. Seven laboratory tests were conducted on high-water-content marine clayey soils through EO. In these experimental tests, four different types of electrodes made of steel, copper, aluminum, and composite carbon fiber (CCF) were employed in four tests each to evaluate the consolidation effectiveness. Additionally, four tests, one was the comparitive study for different eletrode materials, were carried out to determine the optimal gradient for the EO using CCF electrode. Several critical properties of the tested soils …

Impacts Of Farrowing Pen Design, Season, And Sow Parity On Litter Performance And Piglet Mortality, Verônica Madeira Pacheco, Tami M. Brown-Bandl, Gary A. Rohrer, Rafael Vieira De Sousa, Luciane Silva Martello

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Piglet mortality during lactation is a significant concern in swine production, influenced by complex interactions involving sow, piglet, environmental, and management factors. While crushing by the sow may be the ultimate cause of piglet mortality, there are many factors influencing the outcome, including parity, thermal stress, and animal housing systems. New farrowing systems are continuously being developed; however, it is difficult for producers to make decisions without any scientific basis. This study aimed to assess the impact of different farrowing pen layouts on piglet performance, considering parity and season. A total of 546 sows and 9123 piglets were monitored across …

Augusta: From Rna-Seq To Gene Regulatory Networks And Boolean Models, Jana Musilova, Zdenek Vafek, Bhanwar Lal Puniya, Ralf Zimmer, Tomáš Helikar, Karel Sedlar

Department of Biochemistry: Faculty Publications

Computational models of gene regulations help to understand regulatory mechanisms and are extensively used in a wide range of areas, e.g., biotechnology or medicine, with significant benefits. Unfortunately, there are only a few computational gene regulatory models of whole genomes allowing static and dynamic analysis due to the lack of sophisticated tools for their reconstruction. Here, we describe Augusta, an open-source Python package for Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) and Boolean Network (BN) inference from the high-throughput gene expression data. Augusta can reconstruct genome-wide models suitable for static and dynamic analyses. Augusta uses a unique approach where the first estimation of …

Implantation Of A Capsular Tension Ring During Cataract Surgery Attenuates Predicted Remodeling Of The Post-Surgical Lens Capsule Along The Visual Axis, Kurt A. Ameku, Caleb C. Berggren, Ryan M. Pedrigi

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

Introduction: Cataract surgery permanently alters the mechanical environment of the lens capsule by placing a hole in the anterior portion and implanting an intraocular lens (IOL) that has a very different geometry from the native lens. We hypothesized that implant configuration and mechanical interactions with the post-surgical lens capsule play a key role in determining long-term fibrotic remodeling.

Methods: We developed the first finite element-growth and remodeling (FE-G&R) model of the post-surgical lens capsule to evaluate how implantation of an IOL with and without a capsular tension ring (CTR) impacted evolving lens capsule mechanics and associated fibrosis over …

Electron Effective Mass In Gan Revisited: New Insights From Terahertz And Mid-Infrared Optical Hall Effect, Nerijus Armakavicius, Sean Knight, Philipp Kühne, Vallery Stanishev, Dat Q. Tran, Steffen Richter, Alexis Papamichail, Megan Stokey, Preston Sorensen, Ufuk Kilic, Mathias Schubert, Plamen P. Paskov, Vanya Darakchieva

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering: Faculty Publications

Electron effective mass is a fundamental material parameter defining the free charge carrier transport properties, but it is very challenging to be experimentally determined at high temperatures relevant to device operation. In this work, we obtain the electron effective mass parameters in a Si-doped GaN bulk substrate and epitaxial layers from terahertz (THz) and mid-infrared (MIR) optical Hall effect (OHE) measurements in the temperature range of 38–340 K. The OHE data are analyzed using the well-accepted Drude model to account for the free charge carrier contributions. A strong temperature dependence of the electron effective mass parameter in both bulk and …

Opportunities And Challenges Of Generative Ai In Construction Industry: Focusing On Adoption Of Text-Based Models, Prashnna Ghimire, Kyungki Kim, Manoj Acharya

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

In the last decade, despite rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) transforming many industry practices, construction largely lags in adoption. Recently, the emergence and rapid adoption of advanced large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT, Google’s PaLM, and Meta’s Llama have shown great potential and sparked considerable global interest. However, the current surge lacks a study investigating the opportunities and challenges of implementing Generative AI (GenAI) in the construction sector, creating a critical knowledge gap for researchers and practitioners. This underlines the necessity to explore the prospects and complexities of GenAI integration. Bridging this gap is fundamental to optimizing GenAI’s …

Estimation Of Sugarcane Yield Using Multi-Temporal Sentinel 2 Satellite Imagery And Random Forest Regression, Alireza Taravat, Gebeyehu Abebe, Berhan Gessesse, Tsegaye Tadesse

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

Advancements in remote sensing techniques have greatly enhanced crop monitoring and yield estimation, with spectral vegetation indices (VIs) serving as a key component. Our study investigates the use of Sentinel-2 data, notable for its red-edge bands, in estimating sugarcane yield in Ethiopia's Awash Basin. Utilizing 22 VIs from S2 imagery, our approach combines Random Forest (RF) regression with the Recursive Feature Elimination (RFE) algorithm to improve the accuracy of sugarcane yield predictions. The results demonstrate the superior performance of the RF-RFE method over traditional RF with full datasets and Stepwise Multiple Regression (SMR). Particularly, VIs focusing on the red-edge spectral …

Engineering Neurotoxin-Functionalized Exosomes For Targeted Delivery To The Peripheral Nervous System, Mena Asha Krishnan, Olawale A. Alimi, Tianshu Pan, Mitchell Kuss, Zeljka Korade, Guoku Hu, Bo Liu, Bin Duan

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

The administration of therapeutics to peripheral nerve tissue is challenging due to the complexities of peripheral neuroanatomy and the limitations imposed by the blood–nerve barrier (BNB). Therefore, there is a pressing need to enhance delivery effectiveness and implement targeted delivery methods. Recently, erythrocyte-derived exosomes (Exos) have gained widespread attention as biocompatible vehicles for therapeutics in clinical applications. However, engineering targeted Exos for the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is still challenging. This study aims to develop a targeted Exo delivery system specifically designed for presynaptic terminals of peripheral nerve tissue. The clostridium neurotoxin, tetanus toxin-C fragment (TTC), was tethered to the …

Diagnosis Of Disease Affecting Gait With A Body Acceleration‑Based Model Using Reflected Marker Data For Training And A Wearable Accelerometer For Implementation, Mohammad Ali Takallou, Farahnaz Fallahtafti, Mahdi Hassan, Ali Al‑Ramini, Basheer Qolomany, Iraklis I. Pipinos, Sara A. Myers, F. M. Alsaleem

Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction: Faculty Publications

This paper demonstrates the value of a framework for processing data on body acceleration as a uniquely valuable tool for diagnosing diseases that affect gait early. As a case study, we used this model to identify individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and distinguish them from those without PAD. The framework uses acceleration data extracted from anatomical reflective markers placed in different body locations to train the diagnostic models and a wearable accelerometer carried at the waist for validation. Reflective marker data have been used for decades in studies evaluating and monitoring human gait. They are widely available for many …

Twenty-Eight Years Of Gm Food And Feed Without Harm: Why Not Accept Them?, Richard E. Goodman

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Since the first genetically engineered or modified crops or organisms (GMO) were approved for commercial production in 1995, no new GMO has been proven to be a hazard or cause harm to human consumers. These modifications have improved crop efficiency, reduced losses to insect pests, reduced losses to viral and microbial plant pathogens and improved drought tolerance. A few have focused on nutritional improvements producing beta carotene in Golden Rice. Regulators in the United States and countries signing the CODEX Alimentarius and Cartagena Biosafety agreements have evaluated human and animal food safety considering potential risks of allergenicity, toxicity, nutritional and …

Twenty-Eight Years Of Gm Food And Feed Without Harm: Why Not Accept Them?, Richard E. Goodman

Department of Food Science and Technology: Faculty Publications

Since the first genetically engineered or modified crops or organisms (GMO) were approved for commercial production in 1995, no new GMO has been proven to be a hazard or cause harm to human consumers. These modifications have improved crop efficiency, reduced losses to insect pests, reduced losses to viral and microbial plant pathogens and improved drought tolerance. A few have focused on nutritional improvements producing beta carotene in Golden Rice. Regulators in the United States and countries signing the CODEX Alimentarius and Cartagena Biosafety agreements have evaluated human and animal food safety considering potential risks of allergenicity, toxicity, nutritional and …

Yap Mechanotransduction Under Cyclic Mechanical Stretch Loading For Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteogenesis Is Regulated By Rock, Eunju Kim, Brandon D. Riehl, Tasneem Bouzid, Ruiguo Yang, Bin Duan, Henry J. Donahue, Jung Yul Lim

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Faculty Publications

While yes-associated protein (YAP) is now recognized as a potent mechanosensitive transcriptional regulator to affect cell growth and differentiation including the osteogenic transcription of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), most studies have reported the YAP mechanosensing of static mechanophysical cues such as substrate stiffness. We tested MSC response to dynamic loading, i.e., cyclic mechanical stretching, and assessed YAP mechanosensing and resultant MSC osteogenesis. We showed that cyclic stretching at 10% strain and 1 Hz frequency triggered YAP nuclear import in MSCs. YAP phosphorylation at S127 and S397, which is required for YAP cytoplasmic retention, was suppressed by cyclic stretch. We also …

Developing And Sustaining A Graphic Scholarship Collection For Academic Libraries, Stewart Brower, Toni Hoberecht, Zane Ratcliffe, Bethie Seay

SANE journal: Sequential Art Narrative in Education

In early 2021, the Schusterman Library at the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa satellite campus took a new step towards building a culture of interest by creating the Graphic Scholarship Collection. This new endeavor is a curated collection of graphic novels, primarily non-fiction, aligned with the academic programs on campus, as well as promoting University initiatives in diversity, equity, and inclusion. A new organizational structure for the collection materials and their circulation metrics will be examined in detail. There will also be consideration of the challenges of selection and acquisition by a mixed team of selectors, some of whom have no experience …

Enhancing Estimation Of Cover Crop Biomass Using Field-Based High-Throughput Phenotyping And Machine Learning Models, Geng Bai, Katja Koehler-Cole, David Scoby, Vesh R. Thapa, Andrea D. Basche, Yufeng Ge

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Incorporating cover crops into cropping systems offers numerous potential benefits, including the reduction of soil erosion, suppression of weeds, decreased nitrogen requirements for subsequent crops, and increased carbon sequestration. The aboveground biomass (AGB) of cover crops strongly influences their performance in delivering these benefits. Despite the significance of AGB, a comprehensive field-based high-throughput phenotyping study to quantify AGB of multiple cover crops in the U.S. Midwest has not been found. This study presents a two-year field experiment carried out in Eastern Nebraska, USA, to estimate AGB of five different cover crop species [canola (Brassica napus L.), rye (Secale …

Course Portfolio For Biochemistry 1: Structure And Metabolism (Bioc431), Didier Mena

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This benchmark portfolio encapsulates a comprehensive exploration aimed at enhancing the educational landscape of the BIOC431 course, a part of the general biochemistry course series (431 and 432). These courses are designed to offer a general introduction to the structure and function of cells in the body, along with their chemical reactions. Specifically, BIOC431 focuses on the structure, function, and metabolism of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and other major metabolic pathways. The three primary objectives addressed in this portfolio were the reevaluation of learning objectives, reassessment of assessment methods, and documentation of effective classroom strategies. Through background design, the learning objectives …

Converting Mass And Energy Balance Chemical Engineering Concepts Into Fundamentals Of Environmental Engineering (Enve 210), Kaycie Lane

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This evaluation of teaching examined the Fall 2023 semester of ENVE 210: Fundamentals of Environmental Engineering. The purpose of this study was to change the format of the class from a lecture-based to a flipped classroom approach through the use of pre-lectures, in-class problem sets and group work activities. In addition, this study aimed to better adapt chemical engineering textbook content related to mass and energy balances to environmental engineering by creating new environmental engineering specific and sustainable development problems. The study learning outcomes proved difficult to implement and evaluate in a hybrid distance learning class and will require future …

Current Challenges And Future Of Agricultural Genomes To Phenomes In The Usa, C. K. Tuggle, J. L. Clarke, B. M. Murdoch, E. Lyons, N. M. Scott, B. Benes, J. D. Campbell, H. Ching, C. L. Daigle, S. D. Choudhury, J.C. M. Dekkers, J.R.R. Dorea, D. S. Erti, B. O. Fragomeni, J. E. Fulton, C. R. Guadagno, D. E. Hagen, A. S. Hess, L. M. Kramer, C. J. Lawrence-Dill, A. E. Lipka, T. Lubberstedt, F. M. Mccarthy, P. S. Schnable

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

15-Yr Biomass Production In Semiarid Nebraska Sandhills Grasslands: Part 1—Plant Functional Group Analysis, B. Zhao, B. M. Stephenson, T. Awada, J. Volesky, B. Wardlow

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Implementing Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education With The Food-Energy-Water (Few) Nexus, C. B. Romulo, S. Venkataraman, S. Caplow, S. Ajgaonkar, C. R. Allen, A. Anandhi, S. W. Anderson, C. B. Azzarello, K. Brundiers, E. Blavascunas, J. M. Dauer, D. L. Druckenbrod, E. Fairchild, L. R. Horne, K. Lee, M. Mwale, J. Mischler, E. Pappo, N. S. Patel, N. D. Sintov, C. S. Ramsdell, S. G. Vincent

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Delivering And Evaluating Climate Services: The North Central Climate And Drought Webinar Series, T. Haigh, D. Kluck, D. Todey, L. Nowatzke

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Flash Droughts Across The South-Central United States In 2022: Drivers, Predictability, And Impacts, J. I. Christian, T. M. Grace, B. J. Fellman, D. F. Meshaske, S. G. Edris, H. O. Olayiwola, J. B. Basara, Brian Fuchs, J. C. Furtado

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Nitrate Removal By Floating Treatment Wetlands Under Aerated And Unaerated Conditions: Field And Laboratory Results, J. M. Mccoy, M. Chaffee, A. Mittelstet, T. Messer, S. Comfort

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Prioritization Of Research On Drought Assessment In A Changing Climate, J. Lisonbee, B. Parker, E. Fleishman, T. W. Ford, R. K. Bocinsky, B. Fuchs Et Al.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

15-Year Biomass Production In Semiarid Nebraska Sandhills Grasslands: Part 1 – Plant Functional Group Analysis, B. Zhao, M. B. Stephenson, Tala Awada, J. D. Volesky, Brian D. Wardlow, Y. Zhou, Y. Shi

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

15-Year Biomass Production In Semiarid Nebraska Sandhills Grasslands: Part 1 – Plant Functional Group Analysis, B. Zhao, M. B. Stephenson, Tala Awada, J. D. Volesky, Brian D. Wardlow, Y. Zhou, Y. Shi

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Topography-Driven Microclimate Gradients Shape Forest Structure, Diversity, And Composition In A Temperate Refugial Forest, B. H. Mcnichol, R. Wang, A. Hefner, C. Helzer, S. M. Mcmahon, S. E. Russo

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Towards A Standardized, Ground-Based Network Of Hyperspectral Measurements: Combination Of Time Series From Autonomous Field Spectrometers With Sentinel-2, P. Naethe, A. Desanctis, A. Burkart, Pke Campbell, J. A. Gamon Et Al.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Spatial Variation In Transit Time Distributions Of Groundwater Discharge To A Stream Overlying The Northern High Plains Aquifer, Nebraska, Usa, C. E. Humphrey, D. K. Solomon, T. E. Gilmore, M. R. Macnamara, D. P. Genereux, A. R. Mittelstet Et Al.

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Assessing Multi-Scale Atmospheric Circulation Patterns For Improvements In Sub-Seasonal Precipitation Predictability In The Northern Great Plains, C. M. Carrillo, Francisco Munoz-Arriola

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Method To Estimate Climate Drivers Of Maize Yield Predictability Leveraging Genetic-By-Environment Interactions In The Us And Canada, P. Sarzaeim, Francisco Munoz-Arriola

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.