Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Evolution Through The Lens Of Ai-Driven Protein Exploration And Phylogenetic Modeling, Mataya Duncan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Recent advances in computational biology, artificial intelligence, and sequencing technologies have enabled new perspectives for addressing longstanding questions in evolutionary biology. Increased computational power has made large-scale simulations feasible for investigating diverse aspects of evolutionary and phylogenetic modeling. Similarly, deep learning algorithms now allow for the prediction of reasonably accurate tertiary protein structures, unlocking the potential for investigating diversity and evolution of protein structure across a broad range of organisms. This thesis presents two studies that target different aspects of evolutionary inference from unique perspectives. Yet, the share an overarching goal of presenting new perspectives on the evolutionary basis of …

Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis In Broiler Chickens: Experimental Lameness And Additive Probiotic Treatments, Amanda Anthney

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the global population already surpassing 8.2 billion and expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the poultry industry has seen a surge in demand due to its unmatched efficiency and affordability for consumers across the globe. Selective breeding and quality nutrition developments since the industry's commercialization have allowed producers to grow broilers up to 7 pounds by market age. While this extraordinarily efficient process has allowed quality poultry products to be available worldwide, the modern-day broiler has developed a multitude of musculoskeletal issues. Due to the lack of integral skeletal development to match the rapid production of muscle tissue, …

Application Of Ordinal Regression Models To Acquired Stress Resistance In Wild Strains Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Carson Stacy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the application of ordinal regression to the analysis of semi-quantitative growth assays often used when comparing fitness for different strains of the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. For stress survival assays, yeast stress resistance is measured using an ordered survival score that ranges from 0 (no growth) to 4 (confluent growth). Traditional approaches to analyze this type of data either treats data as a nominal categorical variable or as a continuous numerical variable. These approaches risk loss of information or violation of testing assumptions. In contrast, cumulative logit ordinal regression uses the information contained in the order …

Comparison Of Rt-Qpcr And Rt-Ddpcr On Assessing Model Virus In Wastewater, Wafa Youssfi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There is an increasing demand for quantifying viral loads in diverse wastewater systems using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This study evaluates the performance of two commonly used workflows: reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) in wastewater. We compared the two methods by measuring the viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) of a model virus Phi6 in samples collected from various treatment stages at the Westside Wastewater Treatment Facility in Fayetteville, AR. RNA was extracted from real and synthetic wastewater samples and analyzed in parallel using both RT-qPCR and RT-ddPCR. Findings reveal that both methods demonstrated similar …

Fish Cultivation In Fallow Season Rice Fields: Effects On Landscape Methane Emissions, Samuel Carroll

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Co-cultivation of aquatic animals and rice in the same field is a fairly common practice in various parts of the world, with a number of well-established agro-ecological benefits, such as decreasing the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers, increasing soil organic matter, and reducing the land area needed for agricultural production. One area of environmental concern in rice production is greenhouse gas emissions. Rice production contributes about 10% of global anthropogenic methane (CH₄) emissions. Currently around 27.5% of Arkansas rice fields are flooded in the winter, which can increase CH₄ emissions in the fallow season by 45% …

Implications Of Acetylation And Phosphorylation On Metabolic Enzymes, Nour Fatema

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

All living things depend on glycolysis and the TCA cycle for energy production and metabolic control. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as acetylation and phosphorylation, which can change enzyme activity, substrate binding, and overall metabolic balance, tightly regulate these pathways. Diseases like cancer and metabolic problems are associated with disruptions in these alterations.

Serine phosphorylation and lysine acetylation are two of the many PTMs that are evolutionarily conserved processes that alter protein function. Previously thought to be a static histone alteration, acetylation is now understood to be a dynamic regulator of metabolic enzymes that modifies contacts, charge, and conformation. In response …

Exploring The Role Of Influencer Marketing In The Animal Health Industry: A Content Analysis Of Strategies And Impact, Haylee Henry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A review of literature revealed a lack of peer-reviewed research on influencer marketing within the animal health and nutrition industry, specifically within the livestock sector. This study aimed to address this gap by analyzing how animal health and nutrition companies of different sizes utilized influencer marketing and how consumers interacted with content tailored to influencer marketing. A content analysis was conducted. This study collected and analyzed social media influencer posts from eight North American animal health and nutrition companies, three small, three medium, and two large, between January 2023 and December 2024. Influencer content included posts by individuals, partner organizations, …

The Evolving Changes In The Regionalization Of Export Bans On U.S. Poultry Trade From The 2015 And 2022 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Events, Kylie A. Roesler

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As food security becomes a growing concern worldwide in a trading system dominated by globalization, the safeguarding of a bio-secure food system is at risk. One of the greatest risks to this stability of the system is, highly pathogenic avian influenza or HPAI which is growing in frequency and impact. Therefore, the global response to disease events is evolving into a newfound understanding of disease prevalence across the animal protein industries. This study will analyze the 2022 HPAI event in the United States regarding the regionalization of restrictions imposed by trading partners accounting for trade agreements executed. The examination of …

In Vitro And In Vivo Evaluation Of The Effect Of A Commercial-Dried Enterococcus Faecium Fermentation Product As Quorum Sensing Inhibitors Of Salmonella Enterica Typhimurium, Ileana Loeza

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate Enterococcus faecium fermentation peptides (EFP) for antibacterial activity, inhibition of biofilm formation, and anti-quorum sensing properties against Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) in in vitro trials and individual body weight and ST organ colonization in therapeutic and prophylactic models in broiler chickens. Ninety-six day-of-hatch Cobb 500 broiler chickens were randomized and assigned to one of four treatments: NC) Negative Control, no EFP treatment and no ST challenge; NC+EFP) Negative Control, EFP treatment and no ST; PC) Positive Control, no EFP treatment and ST challenge, and PC+EFP) EFP treated and ST challenged. Independent trials …

Comparisons Between Traditional And Gluten-Free Cookies In Sensory Attributes, Acceptance, And Evoked Emotions, Eniola Ola

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The rise in food allergies and intolerances, notably conditions like Celiac disease, as well as a general shift of consumers to a more health-conscious lifestyle has significantly increased the demand for gluten-free products. Consumers increasingly seek gluten-free products, yet these alternatives often face challenges in replicating the sensory qualities of traditional gluten-containing foods. This study explores the sensory attributes, emotional responses, and labeling impacts on consumer perception of gluten-free and gluten-containing cookies. The main objective of this thesis was to address the gap in research on sensory evaluation of gluten free foods, specifically in terms of commercially available products. The …

Polyphenol-Protein Interactions In Pigmented Cereals – A Clean-Label Approach To Tailor Starch Viscosity, Annegret Jannasch

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Viscosity plays an important role in the food industry as it affects the quality, processing stability, and shelf-life of food and impacts physiological responses such as satiation and satiety. Greater viscosity reduces food intake by increasing the perception of satiety, primarily by delaying gastric emptying and increasing tactile stimulation. Starch is commonly added to food products as a viscosifying ingredient, which often involves chemically modifying the starch via cross-linking, to enhance its resistance to high shear, temperature and acidity. However, chemically modified starches are not “clean-label” ingredients due to the use of toxic chemicals. Therefore, further exploration is needed to …

Fixed-Time Artificial Insemination Protocols Using Pre-Synchronization In Suckled Beef Cows, Wyatt Eugene Weber

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Adoption of artificial insemination by beef producers has been limited within the United States. Estrous synchronization (ES) for fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) has been one of the most effective ways to implement artificial insemination into beef production systems, but its efficiency has primarily been restrained by the dependency on the effectiveness of the initial gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) injection in many FTAI protocols. The hypotheses of these studies were to determine practical methods of pre-synchronization to improve current FTAI protocols, ultimately increasing beef herd reproductive performance. The objective was to evaluate the use of prostaglandin F2α (PGF) and progesterone (P4) …

Examining Stable Isotope Variation Of Herbivores In South Luangwa Valley In The Context Of Anthropogenic Influences, Taylor Hubbard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stable isotopes are an effective tool for inferring mammalian behavior. Though there are multiple factors that can influence mammalian diets, anthropogenic influence is one that is often overlooked. For example, it is important to consider how wildlife living in areas where there are frequent, documented human-wildlife interactions will modify behavior. National Parks (NPs) are a great example of this because of the common misconception that since there are protections in place, that means it is devoid of anthropogenic influence. South Luangwa National Park contradicts this misconception. Though there are protections for wildlife in place within the park, it is unfenced …

Space And Subjectivity In The Emerging American West, Scott Hendry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The American West resists theoretical definition. As myth, ideal, region, contact zone, place, space, symbol, territory, home, assemblage, dream, and home, the West is continually changing. As a region, the West is not a closed space; it is an open, ongoing constellation of processes, an unfolding simultaneity of storied events or happenings. This dissertation, “Space and Subjectivity in the Emerging American West,” explores literature and cinema of the modern West. My project seeks to answer the question “What is the American West?” by examining the work of novelists, poets, filmmakers, cultural geographers, philosophers, and photographers who reimagine identity, locality, and …

Quick Response Codes In Extension Outreach Communications: Insights From A Visual Content Analysis And Educators’ Perceptions, Kobina Danful Fanyinkah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Increased smartphone use presents an opportunity to enhance the creative inclusion of Quick Response (QR) codes in extension outreach efforts. Tailoring extension programs to communicate with specific audiences has been identified as essential, highlighting the need for targeted and context-specific strategies. The development of QR code technology has provided a unique approach that allows extension professionals to target clientele with specific extension messages and programs. While extension has a commendable record in educational delivery through traditional forms of outreach, research on how best to employ digital tools with extension audiences is thin at best. Though the rising popularity of QR …

Impacts Of Toxic Fescue Seed Consumed By Pregnant Heifers On Maternal Blood Flow And Offspring Growth Parameters: Potential For Melatonin As A Therapeutic To Improve Offspring Growth, Rachel Scott

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The southeastern United States is home to endophyte-infected (E+), toxic, tall fescue grass. Consumption of E+ fescue by livestock has been linked to fescue toxicosis, a disease reported to cost the United States beef industry around $1 billion in annual losses. The primary objective of this dissertation was to evaluate the influence of pregnant cattle consuming E+ seed during gestation on uterine artery blood flow and growth performance of female offspring. The secondary objective was to investigate melatonin supplementation as a mitigation strategy for expected fescue-associated decreases in uterine artery blood flow and offspring growth performance. The study reported in …

Gene Expression And Transfection Of C15orf57 In Chicken Show Clear Correlation To The Function Of The Ap2 Complex, E. Ashton Magdich

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Discovering the functions of functionally unknown genes has made a huge impact on biological understanding including poultry species. In this thesis, C15orf57 (or C5H15orf57, chicken chromosome 5 human ortholog H15 open reading frame 57), was studied to understand its genetic characteristics and function. Chapter one is literature reviews on annotation of genes, the gene information on C15orf57, the importance of characterizing unknown genes in the genome, and what is known now about C15orf57. The Chapter 2 is for the structural characterization of C15orf57, gene expression of C15orf57 in various organ tissues using the qPCR method and effect of overexpression of …

In Vitro Investigation Of Macrophage Functional And Metabolic Modulation, Shelby Nicole Bess

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Macrophages are a subset of immune cells with a variety of functions that are abundant in numerous tumor types such as colorectal and breast cancer. It has been suggested that macrophages may serve an important function as immune mediators in tumor behavior; however, macrophage activity is complex and remains not completely understood. The overall goal of this dissertation was to explore and exploit tumor-associated macrophage phagocytic function and the changes in their interactions with cancer cells in an in vitro mouse model and in 2D and 3D in vitro culture models. First, we wanted to better understand macrophage behavior under …

An Analysis Of Cellular And Tissue Function Of Lipin In Drosophila Melanogaster, Judah Christian Scott

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Regulation of energy expenditure and energy storage is a key characteristic of life. Numerous enzymes play a crucial role in regulating energy metabolism. Lipins are a highly conserved family of proteins that function in both lipid synthesis and gene regulation. In the glycerol-3 phosphate pathway, lipins act as a phosphatidate phosphatase (PAP) producing diacylglycerol. In gene regulation, lipins act as transcriptional co-regulators of metabolic genes. The enzymatic PAP activity occurs in the cytoplasm; however, for lipins to function as gene regulators, they must translocate into the nucleus. Nuclear translocation is facilitated by the nuclear localization signal (NLS) within the protein. …

Crispr-Cas9 Integration Of Salmon Elovl2 In Zebrafish Enhances Lc-Pufa Biosynthesis And Growth Across Diets, Waleed Sami J. Al-Bachry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Fish are a rich source of EPA and DHA, which are well-known long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). The sustainable production of these essential fatty acids poses significant challenges, mainly due to our dependence on marine fish and certain nuts. CRISPR-Cas system was utilized to insert the elongation of long-chain fatty acids-like2 (Elovl2) gene from Salmo salar into Danio rerio. Elovl2 was introduced at 10-15-minute post-fertilization, and successful integration confirmed by PCR genotyping, sequencing and expression of EGFP. Approximately 67% of injected embryos successfully exhibited EGFP and sequence results verified the gene integration of Salmo salar Elovl2 at the first start …

Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis In Broilers: Etiology And Selected Mitigation Measures, Khawla Saud Alharbi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) is the predominant cause of lameness in broiler chickens. It mainly impacts broiler production and animal welfare, causing substantial financial losses accounting for 1- 2% due to bird condemnations at the marketing age. Remediating BCO lameness disease demands investigating its causes using appropriate models and evaluating preventive measures, such as enhancing epithelial tissue health and tight junction integrity in the digestive and respiratory tract, strengthening immune functions, and improving bone strength. Therefore, the objectives of this dissertation were to 1) study predisposing factors for BCO lameness by investigating the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin …

Evolutionarily Conserved Functions Of The Gene Frazzled In Midline Axon Guidance In Drosophila Melanogaster And Tribolium Castaneum., Piyasi Ghosh

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Axon guidance in bilaterians is often controlled by various signaling pathways in the nervous system, which determine the fate of the axons if they cross the midline or not. One such pathway involved is the ligand-receptor pair Netrin (Net) and Frazzled (Fra), which is also known as the attractive pathway that promotes midline crossing axons in insects and other bilaterians. Orthologs of the pathway ligand Netrins and their receptors Frazzled [Fra] in insects and Deleted in Colorectal cancer [DCC] in vertebrates are widely conserved in bilaterians. How well these regulatory roles of the protein are conserved is poorly understood. In …

The Effects Of Wwii Service On Black South African Soldiers, 1939-1950, Zachary Wilmoth

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the experiences and motives of black South African soldiers who were a part of the Native Military Corps during the Second World War. It argues that these Black South African soldiers gained a growing sense of racial consciousness as a result of their service and corresponding experiences. In doing so, this thesis challenges previous historical interpretations of the Native Military Corps that have perpetuated the notion that Black veterans gained little political or racial understanding as a result of their service. Previous historians have predominantly relied on archival governmental records to substantiate their claims. However, such source …

Crispy Not Risky: Effects Of Environmental Conditions On Low-Moisture Food Persistent Bacterial Pathogens, Manita Adhikari

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Low-moisture foods (LMFs) were not historically seen as safety risks due to their ability to inhibit pathogen growth, but evidence shows pathogens can survive in LMFs long-term, causing outbreaks and recalls. Previous studies have lacked the ability to replicate real-world contamination scenarios in LMF processing environments. This research aimed to develop inoculation methods to form LMF persistent bacterial populations (LMF PBPs) and assess pathogen responses to environmental factors, culturing methods (broth vs. lawn), and matrix type and ratio. Inoculation methods tested were “direct” (combining bacterial culture and powder on a stainless-steel coupon) and “slurry” (premixing culture and powder). Matrices included …

Women’S Participation In Homegrown And Domestic Terrorism Plots, Caroline Johnson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The 21^st century ushered in major social, political, and cultural changes in the United States, including a new era of homeland security and new forms of domestic terrorism. Little is known about how such shifts may have impacted women’s participation in terrorism plots. In response, data from the American Terrorism Study (ATS) are used to comparatively examine the involvement of women in homegrown and domestic terrorism plots before and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Findings of similarities and differences in women’s involvement in terrorism across time periods are presented and contextualized.

The Efficacy Of Foam-Based Hand Sanitizers For The Control Of Enveloped And Non-Enveloped Virus Transmission, Francis Torko

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Infectious disease transmission due to viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), influenza virus, human noroviruses (HuNoV), and hepatitis A, can occur via person-to-person contact or contaminated surfaces. Effective hand hygiene, including hand washing and use of hand sanitizers, is considered a critical tool for the control of infectious disease transmission, as recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. However, while research on hand washing efficacy is well-documented, research on hand sanitizer efficacy, particularly for foam-based products, remains limited. This research addressed critical gaps in the area of …

Characterization Of Streptococcus Gallolyticus: An Emerging Pathogen Causing Turkey Streptococcosis, Latasha S. Gray

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

During the past five years, there has been an increased occurrence of Streptococcus gallolyticus in young turkey poults. This emerging pathogen previously affected turkey flocks without any indication of disease prior to acute mortality. However, recently there has been two cases of neurological presentation associated with S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus that are unique to traditional disease presentation in turkey poults. The objectives of the present dissertation were to compile data associated with the two neurological cases and compare different S. gallolyticus strains as well as pathogenic Enterococcus cecorum to the neurological strains. The two neurological cases occurred between July and …

Sonic Subversion: An Intersectional Analysis Of South African Punk, 1976-Present, Amber Lenser

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The 1970s in South Africa were plagued by systematic racial segregation, widespread political violence, and fervent censorship under the apartheid regime. Political tensions were rising precipitously in the final years of the decade, stoked by the brutal police response to the Soweto Uprising (1976) and the murder of Black Consciousness leader Steve Biko (1977). It was amidst this atmosphere of profound oppression and increasing political unrest that punk made its South African debut. Apartheid South Africa served as a fertile breeding ground for punk’s inherent culture of defiance and anti-authoritarianism. Remarkably, punk has demonstrated the power to transcend sociodemographic boundaries …

Effects Of Fast And Slow-Wilting Soybean Genotypes On Plant-Herbivore Interactions, Jessica Ayala

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is one of the most important food crops in the world due to its multiple uses in agriculture sector. A major limiting factor in soybean production system is drought stress, causing up to 80% reduction in yield. Due to climate change and associated rise in ambient temperatures, water scarcity is a major concern in crop production, and consequently researchers are turning to soybean accessions that demonstrate better water use efficiency (WUE) traits. However, field grown soybean is also under severe pressure from insect herbivores, often accounting for a 30% reduction in yield. Among these, …

Predicting Different Psychological Profiles Amongst Substance Users., Zach J. Gray

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are some of the most prevalent issues facing society. As SUDs are highly individualized in how they manifest, recent work has attempted to classify distinct profiles of drug users to better understand what factors put someone at risk for shifting from casual substance use to developing a substance use disorder (SUD). Common risk factors for SUD development include stressor exposure, difficulties with emotion regulation, personality, and risky decision-making. As many of the behaviors that constitute SUDs are exhibited prior to potential diagnosis, developing “profiles” that combine these traits and experiences could eventually predict SUDs. The current …