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Winter Ecology Of Sandhill Cranes (Grus Canandensis) In Northern Mexico, Ingrid Barcelo

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sandhill Cranes (Grus canadensis) are a widespread species in North America and one of the most studied cranes in the world. However, most of the research has focused on the breeding grounds of Canada and Alaska and the staging grounds of Nebraska. Although an important proportion of the Mid-continent Population of Sandhill Cranes winters in northern Mexico, little information exists on distribution, status, and ecology of the species in Mexico. The goal of this dissertation was to provide new information on Sandhill Crane winter ecology from a regional perspective to better understand population trends. I examined the physiological …

Assessing Local And Landscape Constraints On Habitat Management For Grassland And Upland Birds, Christopher F. Jorgensen

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Species-habitat relationships are a central tenant to ecological theory and are critical in species management. Yet, despite a long-standing tradition of utilizing species-habitat relationships in both theoretical and applied ecology, there remains to be no clear predictors of how species relate to habitat. In order to further our understanding of the habitat selection process, we must begin to comprehend what spatial scales species form habitat decisions and what potential behavioral or life-history predictors underlie the scale of habitat decisions. During 2010-2012, I conducted point counts for grassland birds across Nebraska and assessed habitat relationships over multiple spatial scales to construct …

Population Characteristics, Development Of A Predictive Population Viability Model, And Catch Dynamics For Pallid Sturgeon In The Lower Missouri River, Kirk D. Steffensen

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Population characteristics and long-term population trends of pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus in the lower Missouri River are relatively unknown. As recovery efforts continue, understanding and quantifying these characteristics and trends are critical for species recovery and future management decisions. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the pallid sturgeon population characteristics, predict changes to the pallid sturgeon population based on different management and life history scenarios, and examine trot line catch dynamics in the lower Missouri River. Catch rates for pallid sturgeon collected with gill nets did not significantly change while catch rates using trot lines significantly declined …

Nitrous Oxide Emissions From Smooth Bromegrass Pasture Under Nitrogen Fertilizer And Ruminant Urine Application In Eastern Nebraska, Laura K. Snell

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

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a greenhouse gas primarily produced in soils by denitrifying and nitrifying organisms. Agricultural soils account for 70% of emissions in the United States, but little data is available for contributions from managed pasture ecosystems. This study focused on the production of N₂O in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) pastures established on silt loam soils in eastern Nebraska. Thirty smooth bromegrass plots (1.5m x 1.5m) were treated with five different fertilizer treatments (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg N/ha) and two urine treatments (urine and no urine). Herbage sampling was taken …

Ecology And Invasive Properties Of Musk Thistle (Carduus Nutans) In The Central Prairies Of Nebraska, Chengchou Han

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

Musk thistle (Carduus nutans) is an herbaceous monocarpic herb introduced to the U. S. from Eurasia. The invasion of musk thistle can reduce forage area, soil stability, and reduce recreation and open areas for humans and wildlife.

Resistance of warm season and cool season perennial grass communities to musk thistle invasion is important for land managers to consider, especially where disturbance has made an area particularly susceptible. Our results show that disturbances, such as overgrazing can open up niches in canopies of warm season grass communities and facilitate invasion but not in cool season grass communities. The mechanism …

Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 In The Medial Prefrontal Cortex: Role In Cocaine Sensitization And Addiction, Kristin Marie Timmer

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Cocaine sensitization is associated with cocaine-induced hyperexcitability of pyramidal projection neurons within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Such hyperexcitability presumably results in increased glutamatergic input to reward-affiliated brain regions such as the ventral tegemental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), consequently facilitating drugseeking behavior. Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) has been implicated in cocaine addiction and demonstrated to increase neuronal excitability, therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of intra-mPFC mGluR5 manipulation on behavioral and neurochemical sensitization and drug-seeking. Bilateral cannulae were implanted into the mPFC of male Sprague-Dawley rats and mGluR5 antagonist MTEP (15 …

Pepsin And Amylase In Oral And Tracheal Secretions Of Patients With Standard Versus Continuous Subglottic Suctioning Endotracheal Tubes, Katherine Allen

HIM 1990-2015

The aspiration of oral and gastric substances is a well-known risk for ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in the intubated, mechanically ventilated (MV), patient of the intensive care unit (ICU) population. The gastric biomarker pepsin and the oral biomarker salivary amylase have been identified as evidence of aspiration prior to the manifestation of acute pulmonary illness. In an effort to decrease the risk for aspiration, several evidence based nursing practices are in place. Actions include 30 degree head of the bed positioning, oral care, suctioning, and circuit change interval protocols, as well as the administration of medication with the objective of …

Brown Study An Original Musical Recording, Alan Clark

HIM 1990-2015

For a year and a spring semester, I have been in the works of a school music project. I set out to make a record of ten self-penned songs. Along the length of the project, I would discover musicians and recording artists. I notated my songs on a staff and recorded demos to assist players of drums, electric bass, French horn, and violin. I play guitar, percussion, synthesized instruments, and do all of the singing on Brown Study, the record's title. The technology used to create the songs include a Tascam 2488 (home digital recording device), computers, printers, cell phones …

The Influence Of Beliefs On People's Perception Of Illness In The Spanish Golden Age, Nicole Cruz

HIM 1990-2015

Medicine is a field of science that is always changing and promoting new ideas and innovations. Throughout history, medicine has been an important factor in the lives of people around the world since the beginning of civilizations. This study focused on the literature of medicine as it relates to the Spanish Golden Age period. By looking at the history and critical studies in medicine during sixteenth and seventeenth century Spain as well as during the pre-colonial period in America, this thesis overviews the effects and influences in regards to health and illness in Spain and the Americas during the Spanish …

Influencing Opinions About Bats The Impact Of Levels Of Interaction During Educational Presentations, Samantha Hynes

HIM 1990-2015

This experiment was run to see whether the educational presentations done at zoos and other educational facilities are effectively changing patrons' negative misconceptions about the animals they were seeing. Participants were invited to attend one of three educational presentations, where they were exposed to either a low, intermediate or high level of interaction involving a bat. I hypothesized that regardless of the level of interaction, participants would learn the information, but that a higher level of interaction would cause the biggest perceptual change in terms of how participants felt about the bat and the highest degree of learning. Across the …

Art As A Questioning Process, Elizabeth Perez

HIM 1990-2015

The topic of this thesis is, broadly, the crisis of postmodernity and the solution that French rhetorician, Michel Meyer, presents in his theory “problematology.” Meyer looks to relocate the focus of philosophical attention on the question as opposed to the answer. Meyer calls preoccupation with answers “propositionalism.” Propositionalism can be likened to the looming scientism that threatens philosophy in general. Meyer shows, through an examination of questioning, how philosophy can be rescued from obsolescence without being detracted to scientism. Although Meyer’s philosophy is promising, it could not be considered thorough if it did not address art. Using Gilles Deleuze and …

My Peace I Give Unto You Christianity's Critique Of Roman And American Exceptionalism, Ryan Tindall

HIM 1990-2015

Throughout the history of the United States, its inhabitants have looked upon their nation as a special place. In some cases, this has exceeded the natural and simple love of home and country and taken a more extreme form. Important to this bent is the tendency to see the nation, its beliefs, and its actions around the world as divinely sanctioned and inspired in some regard. This is a generally necessary component to the idea of American Exceptionalism, which views the United States as a nation with a divinely imposed mission to spread civilization, freedom, and democracy to the ends …

Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy As An Effective Therapy In Comparison To Or In Conjunction With Traditional Therapies, Kristen Wilson

HIM 1990-2015

Mental disorders are a prevalent health issue that has an extensive amount of variability in the quantity of disorders, affected populations, and treatment. There are a multitude of approaches or therapeutic methods used by the mental health community. Although each therapy is valuable in unique ways, each therapy may not be suitable to treat every disorder or client. Traditional approaches, such as talk therapy, are effective for certain individuals, whereas some clients may not respond well to any of the traditional talk therapies. When traditional therapies are not working, a referral can be made for a therapy that might suit …

Navigating Authenticity In The Age Of The Internet A Phenomenological Exploration Of The Existential Effects Of Social Media, Douglas Zimmerman

HIM 1990-2015

Our world is a world of technology, and technology is part of what has made human beings so adept at survival. Yet, the 21st century has seen a new type of technology that is unlike anything ever seen before. This new information technology is known as social media (including such things as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.), and it has the power to influence our very being. However, we are seemingly uncritical and unconcerned about social media in relation to society. This project attempts to analyze social media and its relationship to human beings from an ontological standpoint. I do so …

Project Implementation: Classification Of Organic Soils And Classification Of Marls—Training Of Indot Personnel, Alain El Howayek, Antonio Bobet, Sulaiman Dawood, Andrew Ferdon, Marika Santagata, Nayyar Zia Siddiki

JTRP Technical Reports

This is an implementation project for the research completed as part of the following projects: SPR-3005 - Classification of Organic Soils and SPR-3227 – Classification of Marl Soils. The methods developed for the classification of both soils have been incorporated in INDOT standard specification 903.05 and 903.06 respectively. Both projects included recommendations for implementation that reflected input from the project PA and SAC. A specific recommendation from both projects was that INDOT soil technicians be trained to perform the required tests and classify soils based on the revised classification systems. This project was initiated to carry out the implementation of …

Educational Concerns Of Implementing Biosand Water Filters In Rural Uganda, Matthew Engman Spowart

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

The world is facing a shortage of clean drinking water. Current predictions, due to growing population, urbanization, and climate change estimate access to clean water to be further challenged in the coming years. Research has indicated that point of use (POU) technologies are likely to be the most efficient at delivering clean water (water cleaned of diarrhea causing microbes and bacteria) to rural populations. POU technologies, and specifically the biosand filter (BSF) are shown to be affordable, effective, and sustainable in rural areas. Many studies point to the need of proper education and follow-up with BSF users. BSF technology has …

Nebraska Legislative Planning Database 2012-2013, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Past Publications

The Nebraska Legislature's Planning Committee was created in 2009 with the passage of LB 653, in order to help establish a process of long-term state planning with the Nebraska Legislature. The committee was created to assist state government in identifying emerging trends, assets, and challenges of the state and the long-term implications of the decisions made by the Nebraska Legislature.

The goals and benchmarks in the database were developed and approved by the Legislature's Planning Committee to present a common-sense and data-driven assessment of key areas important to Nebraskans' quality of life. This database is a joint initiative with the …

Analysis Of Microsatellites From Sclerocactus Glaucus And Sclerocactus Parviflorus To Assess Hybridization Levels And Genetic Diversity, Anna Louise Schwabe

Master's Theses

Sclerocactus glaucus is an endemic Colorado species that is federally threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Sclerocactus glaucus is losing habitat due to disturbance by oil and gas exploration, urbanization, open range cattle grazing and recreational land use. Due to the low number of wild populations, conservationists question the genetic integrity of the species. Field biologists have observed S. glaucus populations with individuals possessing morphological characteristics of the closely related and widely distributed Sclerocactus parviflorus. Individuals from 28 populations of S. glaucus, 9 populations of S. parviflorus, and 1 population of S. cloveriae were sampled. Microsatellite analysis using 13 variable …

The Ugliness Of Gorgeousness: An Exploration Of The Obsession Of Beauty In Neil Labute's "Reasons To Be Pretty", Asedo Wilson

Master's Theses

This thesis is the culmination of the two-year process of researching, conceptualizing, organizing, rehearsing, directing and producing Neil LaBute’s reasons to be pretty with theatre students from the University of Northern Colorado. The show was performed in March of 2012. The guiding questions for this project included: Why is it important to analyze a character’s internal and external qualities? How can one develop a strong ensemble? What is the role of the media in society’s perception of beauty? How can a successful production with rehearsal limitations be produced? What is it about this material that will keep the actors and …

Pumilio Proteins Regulate Translation In Embryonic Stem Cells And Are Essential For Early Embryonic Development, Katherine Elizabeth Uyhazi

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are defined by their dual abilities to self-renew and to differentiate into any cell type in the body. This vast potential is precisely controlled by spatial and temporal gene regulation at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic levels. Recent studies have revealed several transcription factors that are essential for stem cell self-renewal and pluripotency, but the role of translational control in ES cells is poorly understood. Translational control is a fundamental mechanism of gene regulation during early development, and likely explains the discrepancies between the transcriptome and proteome profiles of stem cells and their differentiated progeny. Pumilio proteins …

Blogging As A Strategy To Support Reading Comprehension Skills, Casey Vanepps

Education Masters

For the purpose of this study, four students were given access to a blog during guided reading instruction in hopes to answer the question: can blogging be used to support reading comprehension? Through questionnaires, observation, and student work samples, I saw a clear increase in the participants‟ ability to respond to literature, as well as an increase in their motivation to work through a fiction novel. These findings call for teachers to evolve their instructional practices and make sure they are utilizing the rapidly changing technologies that are available to their students on a daily basis. By incorporating these technologies, …

Toxicity And Biological Effects Of Azo Dyes On Caenorhabdits Elegans, Dominique Sapp

Theses (Pre-2016)

Azote (AZO) dyes are a large class of synthetic organic dyes that contains in its structure an azo group, R-N=N-R', and make up most of the commercial dyes used in clothes and some in food. Some of these dyes have been found to cause carcinogenesis in different specimens. Caenorhabditis elegans is used to test the toxicity of several azo dyes at 50􁪽g/mL (50 ppm) and 20 ug/ml. (20 ppm) concentrations through bioassay. The brood size and life span are also determined placing the C. elegans onto Nematode Growth Media (NGM) agar that contains the concentrations of the highly toxic azo …

Application Of Wireless Power For Charging The Battery Of A Wireless Mouse, Jacob Keast, Vincent Jison

Electrical Engineering

Electronic devices are a part of all modern homes, but restricted by available outlets and the hassle of wires. With the modern wireless mouse, this is also the case. When the battery is low the consumer has several options: it is replaced with a new battery, it can be recharged using a USB wire, or the mouse is placed on a charging dock. This project provides an alternative to these options and allows the mouse’s battery to be charged via wireless inductive coupling. The wireless power charging system that was implemented in this project was successful in its ability to …

The Satanic Nature Of Racist “Christianity”, Susan Peppers-Bates

Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium

In this paper, Dr. Peppers‐Bates ponders the persistence of individual and institutional racism among modern‐day Christians by applying the anthropological‐psychological lens of the scholar René Girard and his concepts of mimesis and the scapegoating mechanism. The message of the Gospel is incompatible with violence and hatred, yet those who embrace racial stereotyping, even as they call themselves ‘Christians’, are deaf to it.

Imitating Individualized Facial Expressions In A Human-Like Avatar Through A Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization - Tabu Search Algorithm, Evan Husk

HIM 1990-2015

This thesis describes a machine learning method for automatically imitating a particular person's facial expressions in a human-like avatar through a hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization - Tabu Search algorithm. The muscular structures of the facial expressions are measured by Ekman and Friesen's Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Using a neutral face as a reference, the minute movements of the Action Units, used in FACS, are automatically tracked and mapped onto the avatar using a hybrid method. The hybrid algorithm is composed of Kennedy and Eberhart's Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (PSO) and Glover's Tabu Search (TS). Distinguishable features portrayed on the …

The Eagleville Times,Volume 10, Issue 12, Debbie Ryan

Eagleville Times

No abstract provided.

The Application Of Tomographic Reconstruction Techniques To Ill-Conditioned Inverse Problems In Atmospheric Science And Biomedical Imaging, Vern Philip Hart Ii

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Tomography is an imaging technique in which 3D models of objects are created from several 2D projections viewed at different angles. When the number of available projections is limited, the resulting data are said to be sparse. This restriction is often a direct result of the imaging geometry used to acquire the data. One-sided views and a small number of receivers can reduce the range of available projections, which makes the object more difficult to reconstruct. Approximate solutions to difficult imaging problems can be obtained using a class of iterative algorithms known as the algebraic reconstruction techniques (ARTs). The presented …

Mechanisms And Signal Transduction Pathways Involved In Bovine Oocyte Activation, Ammon Hanson Bayles

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Being able to create a genetically identical, living replicate of a prized animal sounds impossible. Through advanced scientific methods and the wonders of mother nature it can be accomplished by a process called cloning. In 2003, the USU Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science department and Dr. Kenneth L. White gained world wide recognition when they, along with a team for Idaho, cloned the first equine species.

Cloning certain animals could be very advantageous to the agricultural industry. Prized animals that have died could be cloned, producing the best meat and milk supply. Animals that are sterile or endangered could be …

Modulation Of The Host Response To Tacaribe Arenavirus Infection In Ag129 Mice By My-24, Eric Sefing

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

MY-24 is a new antiviral compound recently shown to protect immunocompromised mice from lethal challenge with Tacaribe virus (TCRV). Tacaribe virus is incapable of causing disease to humans, but is closely related to the highly pathogenic New World arenaviruses that cause often-fatal viral hemorrhagic fever syndromes. Remarkably, MY-24 prevents mortality without reducing virus burden in the circulation or tissues. To investigate the mechanism by which MY-24 protects AG129 mice against Tacaribe virus infection, we first characterized the natural history of disease in the model with an emphasis on host immune response and blood vessel function to establish the best times …

The Effect Of Cone Opsin Mutations On Retinal Structure And The Integrity Of The Photoreceptor Mosaic, Joseph Carroll, Alfredo Dubra, Jessica C. Gardner, Liliana Mizrahi-Meissonnier, Robert F. Cooper, Adam M. Dubis, Rick Nordgren, Mohamed Genead, Thomas B. Connor Jr., Kimberly E. Stepien, Dror Sharon, David M. Hunt, Eyal Banin, Alison J. Hardcastle, Anthony T. Moore, David R. Williams, Gerald Fishman, Jay Neitz, Maureen Neitz, Michel Michaelides

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose.

To evaluate retinal structure and photoreceptor mosaic integrity in subjects with OPN1LW and OPN1MW mutations.

Methods.

Eleven subjects were recruited, eight of whom have been previously described. Cone and rod density was measured using images of the photoreceptor mosaic obtained from an adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). Total retinal thickness, inner retinal thickness, and outer nuclear layer plus Henle fiber layer (ONL+HFL) thickness were measured using cross-sectional spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images. Molecular genetic analyses were performed to characterize the OPN1LW/OPN1MW gene array.

Results.

While disruptions in retinal lamination and cone mosaic structure were observed …