Digital Commons Network^™

Hypoxia Affects Performance Traits And Body Composition Of Juvenile Hybrid Striped Bass (Morone Chrysops X M. Saxatilis), Bartholomew W. Green, Steven D. Rawles, Sidney A. Fuller, Benjamin H. Beck, Matthew E. Mcentire

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

Performance traits and body composition of juvenile hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis) in response to hypoxia were evaluated in replicate tanks maintained at constant dissolved oxygen concentrations that averaged 23.0 ± 2.3%, 39.7 ± 3.0%, and 105.5 ± 9.5% dissolved oxygen saturation. Fish were fed a commercially formulated feed daily to apparent satiation. Total feed intake and fish growth and yield increased linearly in response to increased dissolved oxygen concentration. Nutrient utilization was reduced significantly only at the greatest level of hypoxia. With the exception of whole-body protein content, whole body compositional indices and nutrient …

Composition And Potency Characterization Of Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis Purified Protein Derivatives, Randal T. Capsel, Charles O. Thoen, Timothy Reinhardt, John D. Lippolis, Renee Olsen, Judith R. Stabel, John P. Bannantine

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

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) purified protein derivatives (PPDs) are immunologic reagents prepared from cultured filtrates of the type strain. Traditional pro-duction consists of floating culture incubation at 37°C, organism inactivation by autoclaving, coarse filtration, and protein precipitation. Three traditional production PPDs were used in this study including lot 9801, which served as a reference and has been used in the field for decades. Alternative production PPDs (0902A and 0902B), in which the autoclaving step was removed, were also analyzed in this study. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed protein smearing in traditional PPDs, but distinct bands were observed in the alternative PPD …

Fissures, Fractures & Doctrinal Drifts: Paying The Price In First Amendment Jurisprudence For A Half Decade Of Avoidance, Minimalism & Partisanship, Clay Calvert, Matthew D. Bunker

UF Law Faculty Publications

This Article comprehensively examines how the U.S. Supreme Court’s adherence to principles of constitutional avoidance and judicial minimalism, along with partisan rifts among the Justices, have detrimentally affected multiple First Amendment doctrines over the past five years. The doctrines analyzed here include true threats, broadcast indecency, offensive expression, government speech, and strict scrutiny, as well as the fundamental dichotomy between content-based and content-neutral regulations.

Improved Sugar Yields From Biomass Sorghum Feedstocks: Comparing Low‑Lignin Mutants And Pretreatment Chemistries, Bruno Godin, Nick Nagle, Scott E. Sattler, Richard Agneessens, Jérôme Delcarte, Edward Wolfrum

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

Background: For biofuel production processes to be economically efficient, it is essential to maximize the production of monomeric carbohydrates from the structural carbohydrates of feedstocks. One strategy for maximizing carbohydrate production is to identify less recalcitrant feedstock cultivars by performing some type of experimental screening on a large and diverse set of candidate materials, or by identifying genetic modifications (random or directed mutations or transgenic plants) that provide decreased recalcitrance. Economic efficiency can also be increased using additional pretreatment processes such as deacetylation, which uses dilute NaOH to remove the acetyl groups of hemicellulose prior to dilute acid pretreatment. In …

Investigation Of Heavy Metals In Zebrafish Tissue By Total Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence, Martina Schmeling, E. Jamka, J. Arroyo, K. Niaz, T. Trinh

Chemistry: Faculty Publications and Other Works

Heavy metals are present in the environment, in many consumer products and can be found in food. Some heavy metals like zinc and copper are essential for enzymatic and metabolic function while others like lead and mercury are toxic and interfere with biological pathways. Zebrafish are a very popular model organism for monitoring toxicity of heavy metals and investigating vertebrate development. In this study we explore the possibility of using total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to analyze histological sections of zebrafish embryos after exposure to nickel and lead. A methacrylate resin embedding protocol and a paraffin embedding protocol were evaluated …

Underinclusivity And The First Amendment: The Legislative Right To Nibble At Problems After Williams-Yulee, Clay Calvert

UF Law Faculty Publications

Using the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 opinion in Williams-Yulee v. Florida Bar as an analytical springboard, this Article examines the slipperiness — and sometimes fatalness — of the underinclusiveness doctrine in First Amendment free-speech jurisprudence. The doctrine allows lawmakers, at least in some instances, to take incremental, step-by-step measures to address harms caused by speech, rather than requiring an all-out, blanket-coverage approach. Yet, if the legislative tack taken is too small to ameliorate the harm that animates a state’s alleged regulatory interest, it could doom the statute for failing to directly advance it. In brief, the doctrine of underinclusivity requires …

Modifying At-Will Employment Contracts, Rachel Arnow-Richman

UF Law Faculty Publications

Long-term employment relationships are constantly in flux: terms of compensation, company policies, and a variety of other conditions of work are routinely altered over the course of an employee’s job. In cases involving at-will employment, the economic realities and power dynamics are such that changes in terms are likely to be introduced unilaterally by the employer, often without advance notice. To date, however, neither courts nor commentators have holistically considered this problem of “midterm modifications” - contractual documents imposed post-hire on implicit or explicit threat of termination. Bringing together the law of noncompetes, arbitration agreements, and employee handbooks, this Article …

Forest Birds Respond To The Spatial Pattern Of Exurban Development In The Mid-Atlantic Region, Usa, Todd R. Lookingbill, Marcela Suarez-Rubio

Geography and the Environment Faculty Publications

Housing development beyond the urban fringe (i.e., exurban development) is one of the fastest growing forms of land-use change in the United States. Exurban development's attraction to natural and recreational amenities has raised concerns for conservation and represents a potential threat to wildlife. Although forest-dependent species have been found particularly sensitive to low housing densities, it is unclear how the spatial distribution of houses affects forest birds. The aim of this study was to assess forest bird responses to changes in the spatial pattern of exurban development and also to examine species responses when forest loss and forest fragmentation were …

Combinations Of Mutations Within Pathway Provide For Combined Trait Phenotypes In Lines With Sacpd Mutations In Soybean, Erik Lewis Gaskin

Open Access Theses

Stearic acid is one of the five major fatty acids produced in soybean. It is an 18 carbon fully saturated lipid and is known for neutral or positive effects on LDL cholesterol when consumed by humans. Unfortunately, stearic acid only accounts for about 4% of the total seed oil produced in commodity soybean. Previous work has shown that stearic acid can reach levels as high as 28% of the total oil fraction when SACPD-C, the gene responsible for most of the stearic acid variation in soybean seed, is knocked out. In order to increase stearic acid content and create soybeans …

Diallyl Trisulfide Modulates Notch Pathway Components In Breast Cancer Cells, Violet Kiesel

Open Access Theses

Breast cancer affects one in eight women throughout the course of their lifetimes creating an immediate demand for novel prevention strategies against this disease. The Notch signaling pathway is often aberrantly activated in human malignancies including breast cancer. Alpha secretases, including A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease (ADAM)-10 and -17, are proteases that play a key role in the cleavage of cell surface molecules and subsequent ligand-mediated activation of Notch signaling pathway. High expression levels of ADAM10 are clinically associated with lower disease-free survival in breast cancer patients. The goal of this study was to determine the effect of diallyl trisulfide (DATS), …

A Pin Holds The Broken In Place, Elizabeth Jane Cooley

Open Access Theses

Cooley, Elizabeth Jane. M.F.A., Purdue University, May 2016. A Pin Holds the Broken in Place. Major professor: Marianne J. Boruch.

A Role For The Classical Complement Pathway In Hippocampal Dendritic Injury And Hippocampal Dependent Memory Deficits In A Model Of Acquired Epilepsy, Nicole Denise Schartz

Open Access Theses

Status epilepticus (SE) triggers pathological changes to hippocampal dendrites that may promote epileptogenesis. The microtubule associated protein 2 (Map2) helps stabilize microtubules of the dendritic cytoskeleton. Recently, we reported a substantial decline in Map2 that coincided with robust microglia accumulation in the CA1 hippocampal region after an episode of SE. A spatial correlation between Map2 loss and reactive microglia was also reported in human cortex from refractory epilepsy. New evidence supports that microglia are guided by proteins of the classical complement pathway (C1q and C3) to prune dendritic structures. Furthermore, components of complement have been shown to be upregulated in …

An Economic Assessment Of Household Unwanted Medicine Disposal Programs, Sofia Katherina Vielma Delano

Open Access Theses

There has been increasing concern about the environmental impact of pharmaceutical accumulations in surface and groundwater over the last two decades due to their improper disposal. Improper storage of these pharmaceuticals at home also poses a public health concern given its association with drug abuse and accidental poisoning. Several states in the U.S., including those bordering the Great Lakes, have implemented medicine take-back programs to help mitigate problems associated with unused and unwanted pharmaceuticals kept in households. Although positive benefits for society and the environment have been reported for these programs, the perceived monetary value has not been estimated. This …

Development Of A Modular Mobile Solar Heater For Applications In Low-Temperature Grain Drying, Gabriel De Melo Lima Miranda

Open Access Theses

Crop drying is an energy intensive process and a major cost incurred in production

Determining Fuel Type From Estimates Of Bulk Modulus Using Rail Pressure Measurements, Mukta Vijay Kulkarni

Open Access Theses

The intention of this project is to measure fuel properties that would lead to determination whether the fuel is diesel or biodiesel. This research is focused on developing strategies to estimate the isentropic bulk modulus, which is a critical parameter for fuel characterization. Bulk modulus of fuel affects pressure rise due to pumping events differently for different fuels. With the help of sensors available on Cummins XPI fuel system, obtaining the data for pressure rise is accomplished. The pressure rise information is extracted from raw transient rail pressure data after filtering. The effects of filtering, engine speed and sampling rate …

Avian Retinal Photoreceptor Detection And Classification Using Convolutional Neural Networks, Edward Durham Collier

Open Access Theses

Avian retinas contain special light filtering cones called photoreceptors. These photoreceptors help filter out specific wavelengths of light, giving birds a good range of distinction between colors. There are five distinct types of photoreceptors: red, yellow, transparent, colorless and principle. A specific photoreceptor can be identified by an organelle called an oil droplet. Dectecting and classifying the oil droplets is currently done by hand which can be a time consuming process. Using computer vision detecting and classifying the photoreceptors can be done automatically. The recent introduction of deep learning in computer vision has revolutionized automatic classification, producing classification results identical …

Establishing And Improving Control Strategies That Sustain Plant Health In A Botanical Bio-Filter, Bhargav Ronjoy Rajkhowa

Open Access Theses

This research is a study of the effectiveness of the mechanical, hydroponic and software components of a biowall that improves indoor air quality through plant assisted phytoremediation. The research investigates the ability of the device to sustain plant health in a controlled environment over an extended period. This is because, the biowall has intermittent airflow through it. This airflow, has a detrimental effect on the health of the plants in the biowall. After studying the horticultural and mechanical aspects needed to operate a biowall, appropriate control algorithms were developed. These algorithms controlled the biowall’s lights, irrigation, and fan.

Measurment And Analysis Of Agricultural Productivity In Colombia, Manuel Ignacio Jimenez

Open Access Theses

Worldwide agricultural commodity prices boomed from 2006 to 2011, peaking up

The Effect Of Adjuvants On Apple Disease Management, Chelsi Patricia Abbott

Open Access Theses

The management of common apple diseases such as apple scab ( Venturia inaequalis) and bitter rot (Colletotrichum spp.) relies heavily on effective fungicide applications. However, the development of fungicide resistance to newer fungicides has resulted in management failures and significant economic losses. This has led to a greater reliance on captan, an older fungicide, because there is a low risk of pathogens developing resistance. Label restrictions limit growers to 18 kg of captan per season, which may not provide sufficient control of both apple scab and bitter rot in wet years. Consequently, apple growers are faced with two …

Assessment Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs: The Search For A Diagnostic Method, Gahee Kim

Open Access Theses

The aims of this study were: (1) to explore the environmental factors and behaviors associated with the owners’ perception of separation anxiety based on the questionnaires completed by the owners along with video recordings of their dogs during the owners’ absence, and (2) to determine whether clotting conditions and hemolysis status affect canine serum BDNF levels. This study has two parts based on the two aims.

Interdisciplinary Mental Health Approach To Equine Assisted Therapy For Veterans, Elizabeth Large, Brier Van Valin

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this program plan, Veteran Equine Therapy Services: An Interdisciplinary approach (VETS), is to provide an interdisciplinary, theory-driven structure to increase veterans’ occupational performance in the community using equines as a therapeutic medium.

Methods: A thorough literature review was completed focusing on current PTSD treatment options for veterans, beneficial effects of using animals and equines in treatment, and interdisciplinary team effectiveness. Scholarly articles were retrieved through databases found on the Harley E. French Library website located at the University Of North Dakota School Of Medicine and Health Sciences including PubMed, Google Scholar, Sociological Abstracts, CINAHL, and PsycInfo. …

Does Adherence To A Plant-Based Diet Cause A Statistically Significant Decrease In The Risk Of Cardiovascular Events?, Amber H. Johnson

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• One of the current problems in many affluent societies is the straightforward access to convenience and fast foods. Although these selections have suitability for today’s fast-paced world, overall nutritional value becomes the martyr of such practices. It is a logical thought that there could be a correlation between this nutritional pattern and the ever-increasing presence of obesity, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, cancer, and other conditions carrying a proverbial death sentence.

• The intent of this review of the literature was to determine the effect a plant-based diet versus an omnivorous diet would have on adults, …

Macronutrient-Flavonoid Interactions, Effects In Model Food Matrices, Jennifer Louise Allen

Open Access Dissertations

Macronutrient-flavonoid interactions have been well documented through the years. Chapter 1 of this document provides an introduction of the literature documenting the theoretical and mechanical framework of their importance in human health, biological interactions, macronutrient interaction, and general bioaccessibility and bioavailability. Though macronutrient interactions have been characterized, often the levels utilized are above those that may be seen in processed food products due to undesirable effects. This document covers the effects two commonly used plant extracts, green tea extract and grape seed, may have on the macronutrient functionality in model food matrices. In Chapter 2 the effects of crude extracts …

Chd Chromatin Remodelers Promote Epigenetic Control Of Development In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Benjamin Carter

Open Access Dissertations

Chromatin remodeling is a vital biological process that facilitates activation and repression of gene expression as well as compaction of large eukaryotic genomes into compact nuclei. The CHD3 family of chromatin remodelers play key roles as epigenetic modifiers and transcriptional regulators in both plants and animals. PKL is a CHD3 remodeler that represses expression of seed genes during germination in Arabidopsis. Unlike animal CHD3 remodelers, PKL does not function as a member of a multi-subunit Mi-2 NuRD complex. Instead, PKL acts as a monomer in vivo and promotes the epigenetic modification H3K27me3, which is associated with transcriptional repression of tissue-specific …

Underwater Bonding With Polymer Mimics Of Mussel Adhesive Proteins, Michael A. North

Open Access Dissertations

When it comes to underwater adhesion, shellfish are the true experts. Mussels, barnacles, and oysters attach to rocks with apparent ease. Yet our man-made glues often fail miserably when trying to stick in wet environments. Results described herein focus on poly[(3,4-dihydroxystyrene)-co-styrene], a polymer mimic of mussel adhesive proteins. Underwater bonding was examined as a function of several parameters including polymer molecular weight and composition. In doing so, several surprising results emerged. Poly[(3,4-dihydroxystyrene)-co-styrene] may be the strongest underwater adhesive found to date. Bonding even exceeded that of the reference biological system, live mussels. Adhesion was also found to be stronger under …

Regulation Of T Cells And Tissue Inflammation By Short Chain Fatty Acids, Jeong Ho Park

Open Access Dissertations

Intestinal microbiota regulate various biological processes in the host. Intestinal microbiota produce short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) via dietary fiber fermentation. SCFAs have profound effects on the immune system. We investigated the roles of SCFAs in regulating T cell differentiation and tissue inflammation. We found that SCFAs regulate T cell differentiation and T cell-mediated immunity. SCFAs enhanced both IL-10+ T cell and Th1/Th17 effector T cell differentiation. SCFAs inhibited histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and upregulated acetylation of p70 S6 kinase and mTOR activation in T cells. We also found that prolonged exposure to high concentration of SCFA cause ureteral obstruction …

A Self-Powered Single-Chip Wireless Sensor Platform, Alice Jou

Open Access Dissertations

"Internet of things” require a large array of low-cost sensor nodes, wireless connectivity, low power operation and system intelligence. On the other hand, wireless biomedical implants demand additional specifications including small form factor, a choice of wireless operating frequencies within the window for minimum tissue loss and bio-compatibility This thesis describes a low power and low-cost internet of things system suitable for implant applications that is implemented in its entirety on a single standard CMOS chip with an area smaller than 0.5 mm2. The chip includes integrated sensors, ultra-low-power transceivers, and additional interface and digital control electronics while it does …

Linear And Nonlinear Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging For Biosensing Applications, Nur Pradani Damayanti

Open Access Dissertations

Fluorescence techniques, based on both linear and non-linear excitation, have been widely used in biosensing application. Among fluorescence techniques, Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) has gained increased importance because of their robust and versatile feature. FLIM is a technique to visualize the spatial distribution of picosecond to nanosecond excited state lifetimes within microscopic images. In this work, FLIM technique combined with Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCPSC) Technology was used to develop several novel biosensing approaches. Using linear or nonlinear excitation source, TCSPC-FLIM enabled real time monitoring of cellular metabolite profiles, as well as longitudinal observation of post-translational enzyme activity such …

Deciphering The Role Of Hsp31 As A Multitasking Chaperone, Kiran Aslam

Open Access Dissertations

Among different type of protein aggregation, amyloids are biochemically well characterized state of protein aggregation that is commonly associated with a large number of neurodegenerative diseases in mammals and cause heritable traits in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Among many other neurodegenerative diseases linked with amyloids, Parkinson’s disease is the second most common disorder that is caused by progressive deterioration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. Cellular stresses such as accumulation of high level of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial dysfunction and α-syn aggregation lead to toxicity and neuronal cell death in Parkinson’s disease patients. Mutations in certain genes are also involved in the …

A Mechanistic-Based Approach To Reduce Biological Adhesion, Chelsey Del Grosso

Open Access Dissertations

Since the early ages of oceanic transportation, ship hulls have been encrusted with foulers including barnacles, oysters, and mussels. With the attachment of these animals, vessels exhibit a decrease in top speed while fuel consumption increases. This not only becomes expensive, but also has contributions to climate change. Current antifouling coatings function by releasing toxic copper into the water, keeping hulls clean at the expense of marine life. Consequently, there is great need to develop environmentally benign coatings to reduce biological adhesion. Recent mechanistic insights suggest that the marine mussel, Mytilus edulis, adheres with proteins that undergo oxidative cross-linking. Our …