Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of The Ability Of Yeast Probiotics And Paraprobiotics To Directly Interact With Gram-Positive And Gram-Negative Bacteria, Gabriel Alviola Posadas

Theses and Dissertations

Yeast probiotics and paraprobiotics, live and inactivated yeast cells, respectively, improve health and performance of livestock by stabilizing the intestinal microbial community. They have also been used for infection prevention and treatment. Despite much research already conducted, the mechanism of direct antagonism, or adhesion of bacteria to the probiotic/paraprobiotic, is under characterized. Additionally, it is unknown which probiotic/paraprobiotic is optimal to use for specific infections. The interactions between the yeast and certain pathogens were analyzed qualitatively with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and quantitatively with membrane filtration assays. Gram-positive bacteria were found to exhibit specificity under SEM. Through membrane filtration, Listeria …

Effect Of Crude Protein Levels And Metaphylaxis On Health, Growth, And Performance Of Newly Received Stocker Calves And Subsequent Feedlot And Carcass Performance, Tyler John Braud

Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of: (1) metaphylactic antibiotic administration (none or Excede on arrival); and (2) receiving diet crude protein levels (17.1 % or 11.9 % CP) on respiratory disease incidence, mortality, and growth performance of beef calves received into a stocker system as well as the influence of stocker treatment on feedlot and carcass performance. For the stocker phase, steers (n = 244) were stratified by BW and randomly assigned to 20 pens. Treatments were randomly assigned in a 2 x 2 factorial study design. At the conclusion of the stocker phase, 76 …

Subspecies Composition, Genetic Variation And Structure Of Largemouth Bass In Puerto Rico Reservoirs, Nick Ryan Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Subspecies composition and genetic variation are important to the growth and survival of Largemouth Bass and information on these genetic characteristics is required for proper management of the species. In Puerto Rico, a genetic evaluation is needed to develop management plans for Puerto Rico reservoirs and maintain Florida Largemouth Bass at the Maricao Hatchery. Subspecies composition was characterized among reservoirs and the contemporary Maricao Hatchery broodstock in Puerto Rico, and metrics were compared between subspecies and hybrids among reservoir populations. Genetic variation and structure was determined and compared to Largemouth Bass populations in their native range. Florida subspecies were prevalent …

Conserving The Mississippi Gopher Frog (Lithobates Sevosa) Through The Use Of Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Katherine Michelle Graham

Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi gopher frog (MGF, Lithobates sevosa) is a critically endangered amphibian which requires the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to successfully reproduce in captivity. Several challenges to successfully breeding MGFs were investigated to improve reproduction in this species. Accurate identification of biological sex is a necessary first step to reproducing species, thus several non-invasive techniques for sex identification were compared in the weakly dimorphic MGF. Reliably obtaining eggs from female MGFs has also proved difficult, therefore, four exogenous hormone therapies were compared for their success to induce ovulation. Ultrasound imaging was used alongside hormone treatments to improve understanding …

Application Of Proteomics In Understanding Pale Soft And Exudative Condition In Broiler Breast Meat, Monil Ajitbhai Desai

Theses and Dissertations

This experiment was conducted to determine the differences in meat quality (cooking loss and shear force), descriptive sensory characteristics, consumer acceptance, and whole muscle proteomes between normal and Pale, Soft, and Exudative (PSE) broiler breast meat. Male Hubbard × Cobb 500 birds (n = 1,050) were raised in commercial houses. Prior to harvest, a sample of the broilers (n = 900) were subjected to short-term stress (38 °C for 2 h), and the remaining broilers (n = 150) were maintained at control conditions (21 °C for 2 h). From the stressed and control condition broilers, breast samples were characterized by …

The Effects Of Stress On Physiology And Meat Quality In Cultured Channel Catfish, Mike Ciaramella

Theses and Dissertations

Stress during fish culture can impact growth, physiology and fillet quality. Maintenance of high quality seafood is important to ensure the production of a highly marketable product. The present study assessed how sequential stressors affect the physical, physiological, sensory and quality characteristics of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) fillets. Temperature (25°C or 33°C) and dissolved oxygen (DO, ~2 mg/L or >5 mg/L) were maintained for four weeks, followed by socking and transport stress for a total of 12 treatments. After each stage of stress (environment, socking and transport), physical (length, weight and feed consumption), physiological (hematocrit, plasma cortisol, pH, glucose, lactate, …

The Evaluation Of Adsorbents For The Removal Of Aflatoxin M1 From Contaminated Milk, Erika D. Womack

Theses and Dissertations

Taking precautions to restrain aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) from milk is critical, particularly due to the health and economic impact AFM1 imposes. The predominant post-harvest means of reducing AFM1 in milk includes the addition of sequestering agents to feed to diminish the bioavailability of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the parent compound of AFM1 found in contaminated feed. Still, residual AFM1 has been found in the milk. Using sequestering agents added to raw milk, we found that activated carbon was the most effective binder to reduce AFM1 contamination. The combination of 0.75% granular activated carbon (GAC) and a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min …

Promoting The Interest Of African American Teenage Girls In Science: What Can We Learn From An Exemplary African American Science Teacher?, Cynthia Stewart Mcmath

Theses and Dissertations

This study focused on science teaching that promoted the interest of African American teenage girls in the science classroom of an exemplary African American science teacher. It focused on, observed and examined the planning, teaching and learning strategies used by the science teacher. It also described what the science teacher experienced during her high school years, during college, during her teaching career. The case study approach/method was used for this research to capture the description and examination of the practices of the science teacher. This research described how an African American female science teacher serves as a role model and …

Reproductive Biology Of The Female Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus), Holley Stone Muraco

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this long-term study was to better understand the reproductive biology of the female bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and provide a hypothesis for how dolphins may communicate reproductive readiness to one another. Utilizing conditioned dolphins in aquaria, this dissertation examined several previously unknown aspects of dolphin reproduction, including ovarian follicular dynamics during the luteinizing hormone surge, urinary prolactin levels, estrus behavior, vaginal fluid arboriform arrangement, in-situ vaginal and cervical anatomy during estrus, reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) of urine samples to identify proteins and peptides that may be used in chemical communication, and a review and anatomical analysis …

Nutrient Management In Reblooming Iris 'Immortality', Xiaojie Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

For its fragrance, showy display and multi-colors, tall bearded (TB) iris (Iris germanica L.) has great potential as a specialty cut flower. This study was conducted to investigate the optimum nutrient management, especially nitrogen (N), of reblooming TB iris 'Immortality'. The objectives were to investigate the effects of N rate and form and phosphorus (P) rate on growth, flowering, and nutrient uptake, and to assess seasonal changes in the composition of nitrogenous compounds and carbohydrates. In general, greater N rates increased plant height, leaf SPAD reading, the number of inflorescence stems, plant dry weight, plant N content, and uptake of …

K Calibration For Corn And Soybean At -3 And -1/3 Bar Soil Moisture Levels (A Case Study Of Some Malawi Soils), Julia Nyembezi Qoto

Theses and Dissertations

A greenhouse pot study was conducted on three soils with varying clay contents to establish K critical value at -3 and -1/3 bar soil moisture levels. Four K fertilizer treatments (0, 0.07, 0.14, and 0.3 g/pot) replicated three times were arranged in a complete randomized block design. The Cate-Nelson graphical procedure revealed that K critical values for corn and soybeans were not equal at the two designated moisture levels. The corresponding percentage yield however was higher at -1/3 bars for corn and at -3 bars for soybean. Statistical regression analysis showed that there was a minor response in plant tissue …

Antioxidative Efficacy And Relative Accessible Hydrophobicity Of Aromatic Residue Rich Peptides In Alfa-Chymotryptic Digests Of Acid Casein, Wenjie Shao

Theses and Dissertations

Four casein-derived peptides fractions of varying hydrophobicity were obtained from á-chymotryptic digest of acid casein using hydrophobic interaction chromatography, termed fractions one through four (abbreviated, F1, F2, F3, and F4). Four standard methods involving alkoxyl, peroxyl, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazl (DPPH), and 2, 2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) ABTS•+ radicals, were used to measure antioxidative properties. While significantly superior efficacy was exhibited by F2 for all tests except against DPPH, no correlation between antioxidant efficacy and surface hydrophobicity was found. By using capillary electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography, the detection of aromatic chromophores by ultraviolet at 280 nm in the fractions revealed that …

Utilization Of Canopy Reflectance To Predict Yield Response Of Corn And Cotton To Varying Nitrogen Rates, Totsanat Rattanakaew

Theses and Dissertations

Fertilizer N is one of the most costly inputs in corn (Zea mays L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production and is a strong yield determining factor. Variable rate N fertilization has the potential to improve resource use efficiency, profitability, and help to minimize adverse environmental impacts. Vegetation indices (VIs) may be useful for in-season crop health monitoring to assist in fertilizer N management and yield prediction. This research determined the utility of aerial imagery in detecting corn and cotton response to varying N supply using five selected VIs. The VIs derived from aerial images, chlorophyll readings and tissue N …

Influence Of Market Setting And Time Of Purchase On Counts Of Aerobic Bacteria, Escherichia Coli, And Coliform And Prevalence Of Salmonella And Listeria In Beef, Pork, And Chicken In Vietnam, April Kathleen Mccain

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of market type and sampling time on Salmonella and Listeria prevalence and microbiological quality of 540 beef, pork, and whole chicken samples collected in 6 supermarkets (SM), 6 indoor markets (IM), and 6 open markets (OM) at opening (T0) and 4 h after the opening (T4) in Vietnam. Salmonella and Listeria prevalence ranged from 30.4 to 71.0% and 56.6 to 99.9 %, respectively, in beef, pork, and chicken in Vietnam. Aerobic bacteria counts ranged from 10.5 to 11.6 log CFU/g, whereas, E. coli and coliform counts ranged from 7.2 to …

Investigating Phylogenetic Relationships Of Mosquito-Borne Avian Malaria In Mississippi, David Alan Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The vectors of avian malaria (Haemosporida) are an understudied component of wildlife disease ecology. Most studies of avian malaria have focused on the secondary bird hosts. This imbalance leaves a significant gap in our knowledge and understanding of the insect hosts. This study investigates the diversity of malaria parasites carried by mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) in the state of Mississippi. Using PCR techniques, haemosporidian infection rates were determined and parasites were identified in a phylogenetic context to those previously annotated. A total of 27,157 female mosquitoes representing 15 species were captured. Five of those species tested positive for malaria parasites with …

Identification Of Purpurogallin In Brewed Beverages And Effect Of Roasting On Antioxidant Activity And Phenolic Compounds In Coffees, Yu-Chen Liao

Theses and Dissertations

Coffee contains many antioxidants including purpurogallin, which is a hydrophobic phenolic antioxidant that is difficult to measure with reported methods. A method combining solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was developed to detect and quantify purpurogallin in brewed beverages, including coffee. For beverage preparation, water extraction was adopted for improved correlation with moka pot brewing. Purpurogallin was detected in all commercial coffee samples, and its content in ground coffees ranged from 455-630 ng/g dry weight. Purpurogallin was only detected in two English breakfast tea samples (335-360 ng/g dry weight) and was not detected in any cocoa sample. Antioxidant activity, total …

Evaluation Of Initial Body Weight And Supplementation Levels On Health And Performance Of Newly Received Stocker Calves, William Corey Wilkins

Theses and Dissertations

These study objectives were to evaluate the effects of: initial bodyweight, energy supplementation, distance and days traveled and hair coat shedding on performance and health. Crossbred heifers (n=120) were purchased as either lightweight (136 kg) or heavyweight (226 kg) calves. Factors affecting morbidity and growth were tested using Poisson or linear regression (PROC GLIMMIX), with a correlation structure defining clustering by pen. Incidence density was 53.7/103 calf-days and 19.0/103 calf-days for light and heavy initial BW, respectively. Lightweight calves were 2.8 times more likely to be treated for BRD (p=0.02) and each increase in hair shed score increased risk for …

Feed Quality Effects On Modern Heavy Broiler Performance, Robert Benjamin Sellers

Theses and Dissertations

Commercial broilers are fed exclusively pelleted diets; this is due to research that has demonstrated numerous benefits to feeding pellets. The first objective was to investigate the effects of modest improvements in pellet quality on two modern broiler strains. Regardless of strain, feeding 80% pellets improved broiler performance from d 28 to 42. The second objective was to investigate the effects of feed form and liquid application method on feed augering segregation and subsequent broiler performance. In general, percent pellets steadily decreased across location throughout feed augering. Also, phytase segregation occurred throughout augering and was exacerbated in post-pellet liquid application …

Folate Stability In Fortified Corn Masa Flour, Tortillas, And Tortilla Chips, Renee Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

Neural tube defects (NTDs) occur at higher rates in Hispanic populations in the USA. Such populations would benefit from folic acid fortification of corn masa flour (CMF). This study evaluated folate stability in fortified CMFs and products made from the flours, tortillas and tortilla chips. There was no significant loss of folate during the six-month shelf-life of fortified tortilla CMF and tortilla chip CMF. There was a 13% loss (P < 0.05) of folate during tortilla baking and no loss during tortilla chip frying. Both tortillas and tortilla chips showed significant folate losses over the two-month shelf-life for these products, with a 17% loss in fortified tortillas and 9% loss in tortilla chips. Folate in fortified CMFs, tortillas and tortilla chips is relatively stable and comparable to the stability of folate in wheat flour and breads.

Stability Of Whole Wheat Flour, Rolled Oats, And Brown Rice During Long-Term Storage And Preparation, Victoria Elizabeth Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Whole grains are an increasingly popular health food in America. However, shelf life of whole grains is compromised due to the presence of lipoxygenases in the bran and germ, which lead to rancidity and generation of oxidative byproducts. These byproducts reduce sensory quality and may have a degradative effect on vitamins in whole grain products. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of lipid and vitamin degradation during long-term storage of three whole grains: whole wheat flour, brown rice, and rolled oats. We also examined vitamin loss after cooking to determine if oxidative byproducts had an effect …

Effects Of Various Mobility Aids On Lower-Extremity Muscle Activity, Michael Ryan Sanders

Theses and Dissertations

Millions of people each year spend some portion of their time using mobility aids to facilitate periods of non-weight bearing ambulation. The use of these devices changes the loading conditions of the lower extremities, which may result in skeletal muscle adaptations. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of 3 types of mobility aids on lower-extremity muscle activity. Evaluation was based on 1) measured muscle activation signals using electromyography (EMG), and 2) measured joint kinematics and ground reaction forces, which were used to predict muscle forces. 16 healthy subjects (7 female, 9 male), ages 18-27 participated in …

Virulence Of Photorhabdus Spp.: Examining The Roles Of Environment, Evolution, And Genetics In Insect Mortality, Dana Blackburn

Theses and Dissertations

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema) kill their invertebrate hosts with the aid of a mutualistic bacterium. The bacteria (Xenorhabdus spp. for steinernematids and Photorhabdus spp. for heterorhabditids) are primarily responsible for killing the host and providing the nematodes with nutrition and defense against secondary invaders. Photorhabdus is a Gram-negative bacterium in the Enterobacteriaceae family with high virulence towards their insect hosts. To achieve high mortality rates Photorhabdus produces a variety of virulence factors such as toxins, lipases, proteases, secretion systems, and fimbriae. EPNs are amenable to laboratory rearing and mass production for biocontrol applications against insects …

Maternal Denning Phenology And Substrate Selection Of Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) In The Southern Beaufort And Chukchi Seas, Jay Wesley Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Loss of sea ice due to global warming may affect the phenology and distribution of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) denning by altering access to denning habitats. We examined trends in the selection of maternal denning substrate (land versus sea-ice denning) in the southern Beaufort Sea (SB), addressing the potential influence of summer land-use and fall sea-ice conditions on substrate selection. We developed an algorithm based on statistical process control methods to remotely identify denning bears and estimate denning phenology from temperature sensor data collected on collars deployed 1985–2013 in the SB and Chukchi Sea (CS). We evaluated cub …

Mountain Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata Ssp Vaseyana) Seed Production, Melissa L. Landeen

Theses and Dissertations

Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) is the most widespread and common shrub in the sagebrush biome of western North America. Of the three most common subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), mountain big sagebrush (ssp. vaseyana; MBS) is the most resilient to disturbance, but still requires favorable climactic conditions and a viable post-fire seedbank for successful unassisted recovery. This study was designed to assess MBS seed production throughout post-fire recovery. We performed 2 pilot studies to develop methods for estimating seed production and plant age. The results of the pilot studies and a space-for-time substitution strategy were used to measure …

Decomposition And Nitrogen Dynamics Of Turtle Grass (Thalassia Testudinum) In A Subtropical Estuarine System, Monica Delgado

Theses and Dissertations

Seagrass beds are pivotal in the functioning of coastal ecosystems in terms of productivity, organic matter turnover and nutrient cycling. Aiming to document decay and nitrogen (N) dynamics of turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) in a subtropical estuarine system, decomposition patterns of leaves and rhizomes were characterized and compared. Nitrogen usage during decomposition of tissues, and of live tissues and epiphytes growing on live leaves, was also quantified and compared. Stable isotope ratios allowed tracing N within the seagrass bed, following N incorporation into seagrass tissues from the surrounding media (water, sediment). Leaves had a higher N content and decomposed at …

The Effect Of A Writing Course On The English Language Arts State Assessment Examination In A South Texas High School, Esmeralda V. Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact a writing course will have on test scores for At-Risk students who are taking the English I and/or English II State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness End-of-Course exam. The group analyzed was comprised of 2nd and 3rd year cohort students.

Evaluation Of Breastfeeding Curricula In Didactic Programs In Dietetics And Dietetic Internships Across The United States, Maria Diane Swiss

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Breastfeeding is known to have many benefits for both mothers and infants. With the Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding, health professionals have increased their attention on breastfeeding competency. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate breastfeeding curricula that are currently being covered in didactic programs in dietetics (DPDs) and dietetic internships (DIs) across the United States. Methods: Two-part surveys were sent to all directors of DPDs and DIs (n=475) with instructions to forward the second portion of the survey to instructors of classes that taught about breastfeeding. Qualtrics software was used for data …

Instrumental Music Participation And The Differences In Academic Performances For Students In Poverty, Shawn A. Oban

Theses and Dissertations

Because of the emphasis on No Child Left Behind and high stakes testing, school districts and administrators have been limiting or eliminating fine arts courses from an already shrinking curriculum, focusing on the subjects being tested. Students living in poverty are often entering formal schooling behind academically.

The researcher examined longitudinal test data from 2010-2015 from middle school aged students in a large Midwest school district. The researcher focused on test scores from the sixth grade when instrumental music was offered, examined test data from tenth grade, and studied academic growth. All student scores were included, but the independent variables …

Promoting Behavior Change In Rowan University Students Through Fitness And Wellness Programming, Megan E. Mchugh

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of participation in the Rowan University Recreation Center’s 2015 RU Heart Strong incentive program, and to explore behavior change in college students as a result of fitness and wellness programming at Rowan University. Data were collected from 59 subjects who participated in a survey that assessed subjects’ physical activity levels and various psychosocial constructs such as social support, self-efficacy, and expectations in relation to the 2015 RU Heart Strong incentive program. Data analysis suggested that students who participated in the RU Heart Strong incentive program practiced behaviors to maintain a …

Influence Of Dietetic Internship Directors' Involvement With Research On The Research Curriculum In Dietetic Internship Programs, Amanda Margaret Bergschneider Newell

Theses and Dissertations

Research is considered to be at the foundation of the profession of dietetics. It is a required component of the dietetic curriculum and is especially important as a part of the dietetic internship (DI) process. However, there are increasing concerns that dietitians and dietetic educators are not actively involved with research. This disconnect is concerning; therefore, it was the catalyst for the present study. Though many factors likely contribute to this issue, a novel area of inquiry is the influence of the research experiences of DI Directors on the DI curriculum. The theory of experiential learning was utilized as the …