Digital Commons Network^™

Food Reinforcement And Delay Discounting In Zbmi-Discordant Siblings, Denise M. Feda, James N. Roemmich, April Roberts, Leonard H. Epstein

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Objective: The interaction of food reinforcement and the inability to delay gratification are related to adult energy intake and obesity. This study was designed to test the association of sibling pair differences in relative reinforcing efficacy of food and delay discounting on sibling pair differences in zBMI scores of same-gender zBMI-discordant siblings. Design and methods: We tested main and interactive relationships between delay discounting and relative reinforcing efficacy of food on zBMI discordance in 14 zBMI- discordant biological sibling pairs (6 female pairs) using a discordant sibling study design. Results: Sibling pair differences in relative reinforcing efficacy of food were …

Registration Of ‘Newell’ Smooth Bromegrass, Kenneth P. Vogel, R. B. Mitchell, B. L. Waldron, M. R. Haferkamp, J. D. Berdahl, D. D. Baltensperger, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

‘Newell’ (Reg. No. CV-275, PI 671851) smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) is a steppe or southern type cultivar that is primarily adapted in the United States to areas north of 40° N and east of 100° W that have 500 mm or more annual precipitation or in areas that have similar climatic conditions because of elevation or latitude. It was developed to replace ‘Lincoln’, which is the most widely used smooth bromegrass cultivar in the region, by improving its forage digestibility. Newell bromegrass was developed by four generations of population improvement breeding for in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) …

Development Of A Large Set Of Microsatellite Markers In Zapote Mamey (Pouteria Sapota (Jacq.) H.E. Moore & Stearn) And Their Potential Use In The Study Of The Species, Renée S. Arias, Jaime Martínez-Castillo, Victor S. Sobolev, Nasib H. Blancarte-Jasso, Sheron A. Simpson, Linda L. Ballard, Mary V. Duke, Xiaofen F. Liu, Brian M. Irish, Brian E. Scheffler

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Pouteria sapota is known for its edible fruits that contain unique carotenoids, as well as for its fungitoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activity. However, its genetics is mostly unknown, including aspects about its genetic diversity and domestication process. We did high-throughput sequencing of microsatellite-enriched libraries of P. sapota, generated 5223 contig DNA sequences, 1.8 Mbp, developed 368 microsatellites markers and tested them on 29 individuals from 10 populations (seven wild, three cultivated) from Mexico, its putative domestication center. Gene ontology BLAST analysis of the DNA sequences containing microsatellites showed potential association to physiological functions. Genetic diversity was slightly higher in …

Increased Seed Consumption By Biological Control Weevil Tempers Positive Co2 Effect On Invasive Plant (Centaurea Diffusa) Fitness, Justin L. Reeves, Dana M. Blumenthal, Julie A. Kray, Justin D. Derner

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Predicted increases in atmospheric CO₂ and temperature may benefit some invasive plants, increasing the need for effective invasive plant management. Biological control can be an effective means of managing invasive plants, but the anticipated range in responses of plant–insect interactions to climate change make it difficult to predict how effective biological control will be in the future. Field experiments that manipulate climate within biological control systems could improve predictive power, but are challenging to implement and therefore rare to date. Here, we show that free air CO₂ enrichment in the field increased the fitness of Centaurea diffusa Lam., …

Seasonal Variation In Vitamin D Status Of Beef Cattle Reared In The Central United States, E Casas, J D. Lippolis, L A. Kuehn, T A. Reinhardt

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The objective was to retrospectively measure seasonal sunlight-associated variation in serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) in beef cattle. The concentration of 25OHD was measured in crossbred animals born from March to May in 2011 and 2012. Vitamin D status 2 to 3 mo after birth (period 1) was only available for 2012 calves and was measured in June 2012. Period 1 animals had serum 25OHD concentrations of 26.3 +- 1.5 ng/mL. The 25OHD concentrations for late summer (period 2) were 46.6 +- 1.4 and 51.0 +- 1.5 ng/mL for 2011 and 2012, respectively. Serum concentration of 25OHD in early …

An Investigation Into Bacterial Contamination In An Urban Nebraska Stream Using Microbial Source Tracking, Allison R. Speicher

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

High levels of fecal bacteria in surface waters are a public health concern due to the enteric illnesses caused by primary contact with these waters. Shortcomings in the current fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) monitoring approach and the ubiquity of pathogen-impaired water bodies has led to the development of microbial source tracking (MST), a molecular tool that can identify potential fecal contamination sources. In this study we use a bacterial community based approach examining the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to elucidate sources of fecal bacteria in Antelope Creek, an urban creek in Lincoln Nebraska.

We hypothesized that sediment …

Regulating Mass Surveillance As Privacy Pollution: Learning From Environmental Impact Statements, A. Michael Froomkin

Articles

Encroachments on privacy through mass surveillance greatly resemble the pollution crisis in that they can be understood as imposing an externality on the surveilled. This Article argues that this resemblance also suggests a solution: requiring those conducting mass surveillance in and through public spaces to disclose their plans publicly via an updated form of environmental impact statement, thus requiring an impact analysis and triggering a more informed public conversation about privacy. The Article first explains how mass surveillance is polluting public privacy and surveys the limited and inadequate doctrinal tools available to respond to mass surveillance technologies. Then, it provides …

Arabidopsis Myosin Is Involved In The Distribution And Dynamic Behavior Of The Cellulose Synthase Complex, Chao Cai

Open Access Theses

Plant cells are encased in cell walls which are important for the growth and development of the organism. Primary cell wall consists mainly of polysaccharides with cellulose as the most abundant component. In plant cells, cellulose is synthesized by a plasma membrane (PM) localized protein complex called the cellulose synthase complex (CSC). It was previously reported that disrupting normal actin organization resulted in a reduction of cellulose content in Arabidopsis dark-grown seedlings. Furthermore, actin was found to facilitate the delivery of CSC into the PM, and inferred to be involved in endocytosis. As a motor protein that translocates cargo along …

Estimating Phosphorus Removal By Steel Slag In A Flume Experiment: Effects Of Phosphorus Concentration And Subsurface Hydrological Condition, Isis Stacanelli Pires Chagas

Open Access Theses

Excessive phosphorus (P) in water bodies is one of the most concerning water quality issues in the U.S., impacting public health, the environment and the economy. Managing excessive P is essential to reduce the incidence of environmental quality issues, such as eutrophication and harmful algal blooms. One potential strategy that is being developed for this purpose is the use of P sorption materials (PSMs) to sequester P from water systems, which is the objective of this study.

Estimating Phosphorus Removal By Steel Slag In A Flume Experiment: Effects Of Phosphorus Concentration And Subsurface Hydrological Condition, Isis Stacanelli Pires Chagas

Open Access Theses

Excessive phosphorus (P) in water bodies is one of the most concerning water quality issues in the U.S., impacting public health, the environment and the economy. Managing excessive P is essential to reduce the incidence of environmental quality issues, such as eutrophication and harmful algal blooms. One potential strategy that is being developed for this purpose is the use of P sorption materials (PSMs) to sequester P from water systems, which is the objective of this study.

Water Quality And Production Potential Effects Of Cellulosic Biofuel Crops Grown On Marginal Land, Amanda Katherine Montgomery

Open Access Theses

With an increasing global demand for fossil fuels, there is a growing amount of concern about greenhouse gas releases. Concurrently, interest in alternative sources of energy, including bioenergy has expanded considerably in the recent years. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandates that 136.3 billion liters of biofuels must be produced, with 60.5 billion liters coming from cellulosic biofuel crops by 2022. Potential sources of cellulosic biomass are: maize residue, sorghum, switchgrass, Miscanthus, and woody crops. The increase in biofuel crop production required to meet the mandate raises questions regarding the additional amount of agricultural land area needed, …

Mapping And Identification Of Increased Protein Digestibility In Sorghum, Moriah Massafaro

Open Access Theses

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is the world’s fifth most important cereal crop and a dietary staple for approximately 500 million people in over 30 countries of the Semi-Arid Tropics. Unlike other major cereals such as maize, sorghum becomes much less digestible after it is cooked in the presence of water, often providing as little as 20% of the available protein to the consumer. Digestibility appears to be under genetic control, although the specific details remain unclear. The goals of these studies were to identify sorghum cultivars that do not show this large decrease in digestibility after cooking and to …

Effects Of Organic And Inorganic Selenium Supplementation During Late Gestation And Early Lactation On Beef Cow-Calf Performance, Christopher Robert Muegge

Open Access Theses

Angus x Simmental cows (n = 48, BW = 594 kg, BCS = 5.26, Age = 2.7), pregnant with male fetuses, were used to determine the effect selenium (Se) source during the last 80 d of gestation and first 108 d of lactation on progeny feedlot performance. At 203 d in gestation, cows were blocked by body weight, age, breed composition, and calf sire, and allotted to 1 of 3 treatments: no Se, inorganic Se, or organic Se. Maternal diets were formulated to contain 10.4% CP and 0.90 Mcal/kg NEg during gestation and 12.1% CP and 1.01 Mcal/kg NEg during …

An Overview Of The Physical And Non-Physical Health Effects Of Marathon Running, Joshua David Beck

Open Access Theses

The purpose of this study is to summarize the current scientific literature and knowledge on the physical and non-physical health effects of marathon running. Five databases were queried, using the keywords marathon, endurance, training, wellness, injury, distance, runner, running, health, benefit, respiratory, infection, immunity, and/or risk in various combinations. Articles eligible for inclusion analyzed the effects of long-distance running (13.1 miles or greater), and were published in peer-reviewed English language journals after 1976. Of the 71 articles which meet the inclusion criteria, several discussed more than one aspect of marathon running; 26 discussed physical benefits, 11 discussed non-physical benefits, 40 …

Assessing Public Attitudes Toward Endangered Freshwater Mussels, Belyna Marie Bentlage

Open Access Theses

The Tippecanoe River, situated in northcentral Indiana, supports five federally endangered and one federally threatened species of freshwater mussels. Past overharvesting and present water quality degradation threaten the survivorship of these mussels. To increase awareness about the imperilment of the mussels, we are designing an outreach and education campaign. The first step of the campaign is to collect baseline data about riparian landowner attitudes toward the federally listed mussels. We surveyed 1804 landowners who own property along the Tippecanoe River. We found significant differences in attitudes among landowners based on their awareness of a conflict that occurred as a result …

Evaluating The Walking Ability Of Pekin Ducks Using A Treadmill Performance Test, Christopher James Byrd

Open Access Theses

Reduced walking ability is one of the most important welfare concerns facing the commercial duck industry. This is due to the likelihood that impaired walking is associated with pain, and may inhibit a duck’s ability to reach needed resources, such as food and water. Additionally, ducks with severe walking impairments are culled from the flock, which poses an economic challenge for the producer. Therefore, strategies for evaluating reduced walking ability are important for monitoring the prevalence of affected ducks within a flock. Currently, gait scoring is the most popular method for assessing walking ability on-farm. Gait scoring requires an observer …

Food Safety Research For Fresh Produce, Jun Won Chang

Open Access Theses

Recent outbreaks and recalls associated with cantaloupe contaminated with Salmonella s.v. Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes have led to an increasing need for methods consumers can use at home to clean and sanitize cantaloupe before consumption. Hot water (82°C) and household chemicals, such as bleach, vinegar, iodine, salt and hydrogen peroxide, were tested to determine their efficacy for the reduction of S. Typhimurium and L. monocytogenes inoculated on cantaloupe surfaces. The hot water treatment was the most effective at reducing S. Typhimurium (3.8 log reduction) and L. monocytogenes (2.5 log reduction) on the cantaloupe surface.

Impact Of Processing On Potato Phytochemicals, Amber Nicole Furrer

Open Access Theses

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are an important staple crop in both developed and developing countries around the world. These tubers offer an important source of nutrients, micronutrients, and health-promoting phytochemicals to the diet. However, reported content and process stability of phytochemicals in commercial potatoes and potato products is inconsistent. The objectives of this research were to compare phytochemical content in white/yellow and pigmented commercially relevant varieties, determine changes in phytochemical content of select potato varieties through commercial processing, and assess differences in phytochemical content between freshly “home” prepared and reconstituted, commercially processed white and sweet potato products. To carry out the …

The Effects Of Ozone Gas On The Common Bed Bug (Cimex Lectularius L.), James C. Feston

Open Access Theses

Ozone gas is a strong oxidizing agent that is a naturally occurring component

An Exploratory Study Of Client Culture, Meat Perceptions, Social Climate, And Information Preferences In Northwest Indiana Food Pantries, Amanda C. Gee

Open Access Theses

Food insecurity has been an increasingly important, and troubling, issue across the nation and world in the last 20 years. Definitions of food insecurity vary, but the core idea is that food insecure people are unable to acquire enough food to have a healthy life. Lack of dependable access to healthy food can lead to additional concerns. Visiting hunger-relief organizations is one of the primary coping strategies used by the food insecure. In the U.S., approximately 46.5 million individuals, or 17.5 million households – more than 14 percent of the population – used the hunger-relief network Feeding America in 2013. …

Factors That Influence The Adoption Of Hermetic Storage, Evidence From Nepal, James Henry Flock

Open Access Theses

ABSTRACT

Can We Put Photobiology To Work? Using Light To Manipulate The Nutritional And Sensory Properties Of Greenhouse Tomatoes, Michael Dzakovich

Open Access Theses

While generally viewed within the context of plant growth and development, different qualities of light are also powerful elicitors of secondary metabolic pathways in plants that affect the nutritional value and flavor of edible tissues. Leveraging fundamental photobiology principles, our studies sought to use different qualities of supplemental light including ultraviolet-B (UV-B), UV-A, blue, red, and far-red as an environmental treatment to restore garden-grown flavor and nutritional attributes to greenhouse-grown tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum); a commercially important crop that has a poor reputation compared to its garden-grown counterparts. To test our hypotheses, we used a battery of physicochemical analyses that included …

Investigating The Amino Acid Digestibility Of Alternative Protein Sources And Determining The Impact Of Dietary Fiber On Energy, Nitrogen, And Amino Acid Digestibility In Growing Pigs, Bradley M. Cotten

Open Access Theses

Three experiments were designed to quantify the nitrogen (N) and amino acid (AA) digestibility of various protein sources fed to growing pigs. The protein ingredients were sunflower meal, cottonseed meal, canola meal, camelina meal, egg albumen, casein, blood meal, plasma meal, potato protein concentrate, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate, and linseed meal, which were fed as the sole source of amino acids for the animals and were included in semi-purified, corn starch-based diets. A semi-purified, nitrogen-free diet (NFD) was used to estimate endogenous losses of AA. In each experiment, pigs were surgically fitted with a simple T-cannula at the …

Identification, Description, And Activity Of Proteins In The Tergal Glands Of The German Cockroach, Blattella Germanica (L.), Aaron Myers

Open Access Theses

German cockroaches are important urban pests that have been linked to asthma and serious allergic reactions in sensitized individuals. In this research project I, (i) identified different proteins expressed in the tergal glands of male German cockroaches, (ii) determined the expression levels of these proteins in different cockroach life stages and tissues, and (iii) investigated the role of the tergal gland alpha-amylase (BGTG-1) protein. ^ Four major tergal gland proteins were separated on denaturing polyacrylamide gels. With peptide sequencing two of these proteins were identified as alpha-amylase (BGTG-1) and Blattella germanica allergen 2 (Bla g 2). Both of these proteins …

Management Effects On The Environmental Footprint Of Swine Production, Aaron M. Jones

Open Access Theses

Livestock production in general is a very small contributor to GHG emissions. However, swine producers will continually be faced with a series of challenges to minimize the environmental impact of swine production. The main objectives of the the studies in this thesis were to evaluate the effects of reducing dietary CP with the supplementation of synthetic AA and the effects of feeding diets with or without antibiotics on manure generation and excretion of N and C. In Exp. 1, thirty-two barrows were used in a metabolism study to evaluate the effect of feeding reduced CP, amino acid (AA) supplemented diets …

Investigations Into The Anti-Collagenase Efficacy Of Serum And Plasma, Emily Dakin Conway

Open Access Theses

Corneal ulcers are a commonly encountered problem in domesticated species and can cause significant pain, incur a high cost for the owner, and result in blindness or eventual enucleation. The progressive deepening of corneal ulcers is mediated by enzymatic destruction of stromal collagen (termed keratomalacia) when collagenases from endogenous and exogenous sources are active on the corneal surface. The inhibition of collagenases can therefore be crucial to mitigating the damage that breakdown of corneal stromal collagen causes. In ulcers where collagenase activity is suspected, the use of topical serum has been recommended, in both human and veterinary medicine, primarily due …

Infusing An Occupational Perspective Into Chronic Disease Management: A Manual For Occupational Therapists, Katelyn Mari, Abby Wicklund

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Problem: In 2014, the National Council on Aging reported that almost 92% of older adults were affected by a chronic condition and 77% of these individuals had at least two chronic conditions. In addition, chronic disease is responsible for 75% of United States health care spending. Ironically, only 1% of health care dollars are spent on public education and other efforts to reduce the incidence of chronic disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to provide a framework for occupational therapists to deliver effective treatment for individuals with chronic disease. Due to the longevity of chronic disease, encouraging …

Alpha Lipoic Acid: A Potential Therapeutic Option For Painful Peripheral Neuropathies, Jessica Curcio

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a major public health concern.

• There are many etiologies for PN including injury, infection, toxicity, genetics, metabolic disease and nutritional deficiencies.

• Alpha lipoic acid (ALA), also known as thioctic acid, is a potent antioxidant and cofactor in many cellular metabolic processes.

• Oxidative damage plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of both diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

• Because of the antioxidant capability ALA has been studied for its potential benefit in preventing and treating PN

The Effects Of Income Inequality On Society, Jessica Lee Clark

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an examination of the relationship between income inequality and numerous indicators that capture the physical health of the citizens, additionally controlling for numerous other confounding factors. The analysis contributes to the literature by examining this relationship at a more disaggregated level within the Unites States than previous studies. This approach may help us to explore any impacts of income inequality on health that are lost in aggregation. The analysis also includes the most recent recession and adds to the literature the impact of inequality on health during a period of economic crisis. Results suggest that there is …

Disaggregating Tree And Grass Phenology In Tropical Savannas, Qiang Zhou

Theses and Dissertations

Savannas are mixed tree-grass systems and as one of the world’s largest biomes represent an important component of the Earth system affecting water and energy balances, carbon sequestration and biodiversity as well as supporting large human populations. Savanna vegetation structure and its distribution, however, may change because of major anthropogenic disturbances from climate change, wildfire, agriculture, and livestock production. The overstory and understory may have different water use strategies, different nutrient requirements and have different responses to fire and climate variation. The accurate measurement of the spatial distribution and structure of the overstory and understory are essential for understanding the …