Digital Commons Network^™

Movement Of Juvenile Coho Salmon (Onchorynchus Kisutch) And Dolly Varden Char (Salvelinus Malma) In Headwater Rearing Habitat In The Kenai Lowlands Of South-Central Alaska, Kristin Berger

Theses

Patterns of juvenile salmonid movement in natal streams provide insight into factors driving movement and ways to develop proactive conservation practices for wild salmon populations. This work expands on years of ongoing investigations for a comprehensive understanding of landscape and habitat characteristics important for salmon success. This study ties into an existing model for headwater streams in the Kenai Lowlands which predicts the presence of juvenile coho salmon and Dolly Varden by age-class based on catchment topography, wetland geomorphology, water chemistry, substrate composition, channel morphology, and macroinvertebrate and fish communities (King et al. 2012). We tagged nearly 1,000 juvenile coho …

Information In Formation: Cognition Inspired Objects And Furniture, Katherine Marsh

Theses

For this thesis, I intend to identify subject matters that reflect my interpretation of modern, relevant accounts about the world. Through research into the chosen subjects, I will gather related data and observations. This information will be processed to formulate relationships and narrative. Such graphic displays of information for these stories will be my inspiration. My interpretations will be further realized visually through my design process. Archetypes of the proposed furniture or object will be chosen based on the potential relationship between them and the chosen narrative topic. Visual abstractions and patterns will emerge from inspiration derived from the topographical …

Packaging Print Buyer Willingness To Trade Off Image Quality For Environmental Benefits, Rattana Mayteekriengkrai

Theses

Consumers are increasingly concerned about environmental friendliness, in addition to product quality. However, widely used technologies are not yet capable of producing packaging that combines the highest level of image quality with the highest level of environmental friendliness. As a result, print buyers are forced to trade-off image quality for increased environmental friendliness. The amount of image quality that a print buyer is willing to trade-off for a given improvement in environmental friendliness is unknown. This is a problem for printers and print suppliers who are attempting to develop products without access to this potentially critical empirical design information. This …

Estimation Of Optimal Protein To Energy Ratio And Percent Soybean Meal Replacement Of Fish Meal In Juvenile Scaphirhynchus Sturgeon Diets, Elliott C. Kittel

Theses

Research developing artificial propagation, husbandry, and nutrition of sturgeon species has developed greatly since the collapse of the Caspian Sea fisheries in the 1980s. Sturgeon species are commercially prized for their unfertilized roe which is marketed as the delicacy, caviar. Sturgeon production units commonly utilize commercial salmonid feeds, which contain large proportions of fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO). Concerns regarding economics and sustainability have put pressure on aquafeed manufactures to efficiently utilize FM and FO, and to incorporate alternative protein sources, such as soybean meal (SBM). Therefore, the present studies estimated the optimal protein:energy ratio of juvenile Pallid …

Forage Quality Of Andropogon Gerardii Across A Precipitation Gradient, Juliette Donatelli

Theses

This study focused on the ecotypic variation in forage quality of Andropogon gerardii Vitman, a dominant C4 grass in North American grasslands and an important forage grass for native and introduced grazers. Ecotypes are genetic variations of a plant species adapted to local environmental conditions. Andropogon gerardii is represented by many local ecotypes across its range. Forage quality analyses quantify digestibility and nutrition of a plant sample and allow an assessment of nutritional value for grazers. The variability in forage quality among A. gerardii ecotypes is unknown. This study aimed to quantify variation in forage quality of A. gerardii collected …

Cross-Country Comparative Analysis Of Healthcare Financing In Western Balkans: Its Effect On Performance And Quality, Qendrim Sopjani

Theses

The principal aim of this paper is to critically assess the current situation of healthcare financing in the Western Balkan countries as it impacts the quality and performance of the system as a whole. This assessment shall be used to identify the current state of financing methods and quality of the healthcare sector in countries of Western Balkans. Specifically, by identifying the differences in financing healthcare sector among Western Balkan countries, this research paper measures the effect of financial means on the performance variables, as well as the relationship between the performance variables and the quality measurement variable i.e. life …

Development Of Value Added Products From Spent Kluyveromyces Marxianus Yeast, Rahul Sharma

Theses

Biochemical analysis of spent Kluyveromyces marxianus yeast confirmed the following composition on a dry matter basis: 43.16 % crude protein, 34.56 % total carbohydrate, 7.02 % RNA, and 13.12 % ash content. Carbohydrate components were shown to consist of 20.97 % β-glucan, 9.76 % mannan and 1.21 % chitin while protein characterisation confirmed this yeast’s protein to be a good source of essential amino acids. Total nitrogen, α-amino nitrogen, and descriptive sensory analysis was carried out on yeast extracts derived from yeast autolysis processes carried out at different pH and temperature values. Yeast extract obtained at 50ºC, pH 7.0 was …

Integrating Site-Specific Environmental Graphic Design Within An Urban Context, Sanjyot Wagle

Theses

There are opportunities for environmental graphic design solutions that can enable urban residents to grasp information faster, reach destinations sooner and foster memorable experiences. In the daily negotiation of city living there may also be opportunities for educating residents about meaningful community-related topics. Graphic design can play a key role in addressing these goals. Environmental graphic design and wayfinding can help make urban experiences easier and more interesting. Incorporating the strategies of layering and sequencing within environmental graphic design solutions can strengthen the overall design and the particular messages being conveyed. One socially important topic city residents need to be …

Production Of Canola As A Biofuel Feedstock In The Piedmont Region Of North Carolina, Matthew Rhyan Miller

Theses

Canola in the past and present has been evaluated as a domestic fuel source and a means to stimulate rural economic development. In order to ease the transition of the economy in North Carolina new rotational crops can be looked upon as sources of additional revenue. Canola Brassica napus (L.) production was evaluated for cultivation in a Piedmont soil (Mecklenburg Sandy Clay Loam) at NC A&T State University research farm located in Greensboro, NC (Guilford County). The experiment was conducted using a split plot design with main plot factor cultivar (Virginia and DKW 46-15) and subplot factor fertilizer: (N-P2O5-K2O) in …

Eliminating The Shortage Factor: Modeling The Behavior Of Future Donations Using Forecasting Techniques To Improve The Distribution Efficacy Of A Food Bank, Jessica Rena Terry

Theses

Food insecurity is defined as the inability to provide food for oneself. As of 2011, more than 14.9% of American households suffered from food insecurity. Many individuals suffering from food insecurity obtain assistance from governmental programs and nonprofit agencies. Food Banks are one of many non-profit organizations assisting in the fight against hunger. They serve communities by distributing food to those in need through charitable agencies. Many of the food distributed by the food bank come from donations. These donations are received from various sources in uncertain quantities at random points in time. Due to this variability, predicting the quantity …

Consumer Acceptability And Storage Stability Of Cupcake Supplemented With Fish Oil Emulsion, Olariyike A. Fasanya

Theses

Omega-3 fatty acid (fish-oil) has gained attention as a functional food, and it is one of the best supplements used by several researchers to improve the nutritional value of different food products such as yogurt. The study was conducted to determine the effect of fish-oil emulsion on the physical attributes of shortened cupcake (control cake and five treatments) with different whey protein isolate concentrations. Emulsion concentration in each treatment included (1) 250mg Fish-oil + 0.5% Xanthan gum, (2) 250mg Fish-oil + 5% WPI, (3) 250mg Fish-oil +10% WPI, (4) 250mg Fish-oil + 0.5% Xanthan-gum + 5% WPI, and (5) 250mg …

Investigating Moringa Oleifera Lam As A Dietary Supplement To Promote Immune Health: A Mouse Model, Donja S. Smith

Theses

Moringa oleifera Lam (MOL) is a tree, native to the tropics and sub-tropics of Asia and Africa. All parts are edible and because it is rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants it has many nutritional benefits. For example, many of the vitamins and minerals are known to modulate immunity, suggesting that MOL could be a good dietary supplement to boost immunity. Our lab is interested in identifying natural products that can be used to enhance immunity and health among animals. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate immune modulation by Moringa using a mouse model. Two trials were …

Systemic Optimization Of Microalgae Grown On Swine Wastewater As A Biofuel Feedstock, Rifat Hasan

Theses

This research broadens the scope of research on microalgae grown on swine wastewater as it offers a combination of wastewater treatment and biofuel production. Swine wastewater is an enriched source of phosphorus, nitrogen and other organic compounds that are necessary for the growth of microalgae. While growing in swine wastewater, algae consume the nutrients from the wastewater, so there is no need of arable land for their growth. Current biofuel production relies on limited arable lands to supply feedstock making it impossible to meet the global biofuel demands without disrupting food production. Algae can potentially produce 1,000-4,000 gallons of oil/acre/yr …

Effect Of Oxidative Stress On Human Brain Vascular Pericytes, Rasha Mohamed

Theses

The occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) increases with extended life expectancy. The rise in elderly populations is resulting in an increased incidence of cognitive impairment, and a high risk for developing dementia. Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of neurovascular disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). It has also been linked to disruption of blood brain barrier (BBB) in hypoxic-ischemic injury. As part of the neurovascular unit, pericytes are inevitably subjected to insult from oxygen and nitrogen radicals, generated in the central nervous system (CNS), leading to cell dysfunction or damage. In …

Rural And Urban North Carolina Parent-Child Feeding Behaviors, Kayla J. Brooks

Theses

This pilot study was conducted to describe parental feeding factors and explore the association between these factors and region of residence. Data was collected from 60 parents of children ages 2-11 in the form of a self-administered questionnaire. Thirty participants resided in a rural community and 30 resided in an urban community in North Carolina. Of the respondents, 87% were mothers, 50% were African Americans, 25% were Caucasians, and 20% were Hispanic Americans. This study’s findings indicated a significant difference in the frequency of consumption of home cooked meals (p=0.002). The intake of fruits (p=0.000), vegetables (p=0.001), meat, fish and …

Evaluation Of Fc Receptor Genes In Bovine Neutrophils, Jamie S. Williams

Theses

Receptors for the Fc portion of IgG, Fc receptors (FcR) are found on immune cells and contribute to protective functions of the immune system. The FcγRs (I, II and sub isoforms) bind specifically to IgG molecules and are important due to stimulating effector cells to destroy pathogens by phagocytosis and intracellular killing. The SYK kinase is critical for FcγR mediated phagocytosis and signal transduction in cells. Neutrophils contain a heterogeneous population of FcR. The objectives of this study were to evaluate genetic variation and the impact of IgG binding on transcription of FcγR and secreted levels of phosphorylated Syk between …

Comparative Study Of Sheep And Goat Innate Immune Responses On Pasture, Randall Merriott

Theses

The objective of this study was to evaluate the innate immune response in goats co-grazed with St. Croix sheep. Boer goats (20) and St. Croix sheep (10) were co-grazed on the same pasture. A second group of Boer goats (10) were grazed on a separate pasture. On days 0 and 56 of the study body weights, FAMACHA© scores, blood (for packed cell volume and white blood cell differentials) and fecal samples (for fecal egg counts) were collected and the data analyzed using SAS PROC GLM. To evaluate the goat’s infection status blood from sheep and goats with low infection (7) …

Effect Of Soil And Irrigation Water On Microbial Quality Of Fresh Produce Grown In North Carolina, Tracie Davis

Theses

Foodborne outbreaks involving Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, and E. coli O157:H7 from contaminated fresh produce have been increasingly recognized all over the world. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of irrigation water and soil on microbial quality of leafy greens and tomatoes grown in different parts of North Carolina (NC). Soil and water samples were collected from 4 small farms located in NC and inoculated onto selective media (TSA for total aerobic count, XLT4 for Salmonella spp. (SS), and MacConkey for total E. coli species, EC). All plates were incubated for 48 hours at 37°C. Following …

Breeding And Preliminary Characterization Of Novel Lentinula Edodes (Shiitake) Strains, Dietrich J. Blum

Theses

In order to increase productivity and yield of the edible shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes (Berkley) Pegler, monokaryons from each of six strains, in the culture collection of the Mushroom Biology and Fungal Biotechnology Lab were inter and intra bred to produce 566 novel strains. The objective of this study was to breed and characterize progeny strains for superior mycelial growth and temperature tolerance. Parental strains, monokaryons and their progeny were evaluated for mycelial growth rate at 10-30oC. The mating type of monokaryons and dikaryotic progeny was determined. Five of six parents were found to have homozygous mating type alleles indicating …

Effects Of Phase Feeding Different Levels Of Fungus Myceliated Grain On Broiler Performance And Health, Joi N. Jackson

Theses

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of phase feeding a combination of 3 different medicinal mushrooms (Lentinus edodes, Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus) via Fungus Myceliated Grain (FMG) on broiler performance and health after natural and experimental exposure to field strains of Eimeria. A total of 300, day-of-hatch, female broiler chickens were weighed and randomly assigned into the following dietary treatment conditions: 1) 1 % starter, 2) 1 % grower, 3) 1 % starter-grower-finisher, 4) 5% starter, 5) 5% grower, 6) 5% starter grower-finisher, 7) 10% starter, 8) 10% grower and 9) 10% starter-grower-finisher. Each treatment was replicated 3 …

Utilisation Of Spent Dairy Yeast Kluyveromyces Marxianus For The Production Of Flavoured Yeast Extracts., Brendan Mccarra

Theses

Spent dairy yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus (SDYK), a by-product of whey to ethanol fermentations, was investigated as a natural biomass source for the production of alternative flavoured yeast extracts. SDYK which was characterised by a high protein content (55.3% (w/w) ± 0.8) and comparable levels of flavor enhancing amino acids to that of S. cerevisiae was prepared for induced autolysis at different pH values in the presence of inductors sodium chloride and the proteolytic enzyme papain. An induced autolysis process was developed for the production of flavoured yeast extracts in which pH and autolytic treatment applied were found to have a …

Identification And Characterisation Of Campylobacter Ureolyticus: A New And Emerging Gastrointestinal Pathogen, Susan Bullman

Theses

Campylobacter jejuni is universally recognized as the leading bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis. However, within recent years a growing number of non- jejuni/coli Campylobacter species have been acknowledged as emerging human and animal pathogens. Advances in molecular diagnostics and development of pioneering culture methodologies have led to the detection of a range of under-appreciated and nutritionally fastidious Campylobacter species, including C. ureolyticus. Herein, we provide the first report of C ureolyticus in the faeces of patients presenting with gastroenteritis and suggest a role for this organism as an emerging enteric pathogen.

Employing a two-tiered molecular study, we report C. ureolyticus …

Evaluation, Adaptation And Validation Of A Model To Predict Grass Growth In Ireland, Christina Hurtado Uria

Theses

Budgeting grass supply allows producers to minimise the quantity of purchased feed required in the diet of grazing livestock. One tool for managing grass supply could be a mathematical model that can simulate grass growth. The development of such a model would allow better management around the variability of feed supply and help identify feed surpluses and deficits, and therefore increase the accuracy of management decisions. This would be a key feature of profitable milk and meat production systems in the future which will be hugely important as global food demand increases due to population growth. It is forecasted that …

Historical Remedies Versus Current Pathogens : Laboratory Investigation Of The Efficacy Of Traditional Herbal Remedies Against Present-Day Common Causes Of Bacterial Pneumonia, Eibhlin Mccarthy

Theses

Despite the medical advances of recent years, pneumonia is still a common disease in Ireland, accounting for approximately 7% of deaths in this country'. While national databases such as those run by CIDR and SARI ensure that incidences of systemic and notifiable infections such as tuberculosis are recorded, there are currently no available statistics on commonplace respiratory isolates within Ireland. This study analysed the available data on bacterial pathogens isolated from respiratory samples at a 355 bed Irish hospital over a one year period. Seasonal variations and resistance patterns were noted. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus (27%), …

An Exploration Of The Past, Present And Future Of Nursing In Early Parenting Services In Australia, Elaine Bennett

Theses

Nursing has a long history of providing services to families and children over the past century and more within Early Parenting Services (EPS) in Australia. Much has been written on issues regarding the general nursing workforce and requirements for the future, but little is known about the role of nursing within the EPS area around Australia in the context of an interdisciplinary team.

The aim of this study was to describe how nursing has responded to the changing needs of EPS in Australia and to investigate nurses’ and allied professionals’ perceptions of the nursing role within an interdisciplinary team. This …

The Impact Of Domestic Violence Upon Default From Colposcopy Services, Rachael R. Collier

Theses

This thesis explores a possible mechanism by which the presence of domestic violence may lead to poorer health outcomes in women. Whilst the cost and impact of domestic violence in the literature has been well documented, it is less clear exactly ‘how’ domestic violence leads to the reported variety of adverse health outcomes. The key hypothesis in this thesis is that the health impact of domestic violence is partly mediated through failure of affected women to attend for treatment and follow up. This then results in their poorer health outcomes.

Perception Of Poverty: Promoting Social Responsibility Through Multi-Sensory Integration, Daniel Skrok

Theses

Traditional graphic design and marketing rely heavily on visual forms of communication. With advertisements all around us, the constant visual bombardment has led to an over stimulated consumer, creating a challenge for designers to invent alternative ways to capture the audience's attention. Multi-sensory integration overcomes this challenge in my opinion, by integrating more than the sense of sight and is more effective and memorable, because it conveys the core message through multiple senses rather than one. The integration of additional senses within the field, particularly olfactory in my opinion, helps to enhance the overall communication and facilitate a more potent …

The Association Of Blood Lipid Levels With The Epigenetic Regulation Of The Cpt1a Gene, Nikita Patel

Theses

DNA methylation directly influences gene expression. Previous studies showed that diet and genetics influence blood lipid levels. However, the association between DNA methylation and lipid levels is unknown. This study demonstrates a link between epigenetic variation and fasting blood lipid levels, particularly in triglycerides and VLDL-C. Approximately 470,000 CpGs were evaluated in 995 individuals to find epigenome-wide associations between methylation and lipid levels. Two CpGs sites located within theCPT1A gene showed strong association with fasting triglyceride and VLDC-C levels. Furthermore there was an inverse relationship between methylation levels at the most significant CpG within CPT1Aand its fold expression levels. CPT1 …

Determining A New Alignment Scoring Matrix For Disordered Proteins, Adam Handen

Theses

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are polypeptide sequences that do not form a rigid three dimensional structure when isolated in the cytosol of the cell. These sequences are very common in most genomes, and usually are involved in many protein-protein interactions. IDPs also play a key role in many diseases, including cancer and Huntington's disease. However, IDPs are difficult to study because of their amorphous shape, high mutation rate, and unique amino acid composition. These obstacles make homology studies especially difficult.

This study focused on generating a new substitution matrix designed to aid in homology studies of IDPs. The matrix was …

Effect Of Microwave Heating On The Migration Of Additives From Ps, Pp And Pet Container Into Food Simulants, Ruoyin Cai

Theses

Microwave food packaging has become a tremendous element in the food manufacturing process. The purpose of any food packaging regulations concerned with the safety of the food is to control and limit the migration of substances from the packaging into the food. The main objective of this thesis is to test three different microwaving packaging materials that are the most common material in the market, viz. polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), migrated into four food simulant solutions. Four different simulant solutions were used based on the food type and FDA recommendations and regulations. These food simulants include …