Digital Commons Network^™

Recovery Plan For The Salt Creek Tiger Beetle (Cicindela Nevadica Lincolniana), Matt Hogan

United States Fish and Wildlife Service: Publications

Current Species Status: The Salt Creek tiger beetle (Cicindela [Ellipsoptera] nevadica lincolniana) was listed as a federally endangered subspecies on November 7, 2005 (70 FR 58335, October 6, 2005). On May 6, 2014 (79 FR 26013), we published a revised final rule designating approximately 449 hectares (1,110 acres) of critical habitat for the Salt Creek tiger beetle in Lancaster and Saunders Counties in Nebraska. The Salt Creek tiger beetle has a recovery priority number of 6C, which means it is a subspecies that faces a high level of threat, including conflict with development activities; a priority …

God’S Special Trio: Foreigners, Fatherless, And Widows, Tom Evans

Journal of Adventist Mission Studies

No abstract provided.

Maritime Advanced Geospatial Intelligence Craft For Oil Spill Response: Selected Resources And Annotations, C. Reid Nichols, Nikolaos I. Xiros, Jeanne Pavy

Project Documentation

This selection of resources highlights the utility of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) for use in marine spill response. Each entry is followed by a brief summary and evaluation of the source (i.e., the annotation). Most annotations will define the scope of the source, list significant cross references, and identify relevant USV capabilities. There is no attempt to provide actual hypotheses, data, or graphics, especially concerning cited articles published in refereed journals. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited. Relevance relates to the citation’s presentation of capabilities that …

Mice Fed A High-Fat Diet Supplemented With Resistant Starch Display Marked Shifts In The Liver Metabolome Concurrent With Altered Gut Bacteria, Dorothy A. Kieffer, Brian D. Piccolo, Maria L. Marco, Eun Bae Kim, Michael L. Goodson, Michael J. Keenan, Tamara N. Dunn, Knud Erik Bach Knudsen, Roy J. Martin, Sean H. Adams

Faculty Publications

Background: High-amylose-maize resistant starch type 2 (HAMRS2) is a fermentable dietary fiber known to alter the gut milieu, including the gut microbiota, which may explain the reported effects of resistant starch to ameliorate obesityassociated metabolic dysfunction. Objective: Our working hypothesis was that HAMRS2-induced microbiome changes alter gut-derived signals (i.e., xenometabolites) reaching the liver via the portal circulation, in turn altering liver metabolism by regulating gene expression and other pathways. Methods: We used a multi-omics systems biology approach to characterize HAMRS2-driven shifts to the cecal microbiome, liver metabolome, and transcriptome, identifying correlates between microbial changes and liver metabolites under obesogenic conditions …

Food And Energy For All, Bradley Stevens, Stephen Rybczynski, Deborah Herrington

Peer Reviewed Articles

When asked what plants need for photosynthesis, many students can correctly recall the reaction equation and state that plants require CO2, H2O, and light. Many students, however, do not understand that these reactants are the raw materials plants use to make sugars and instead believe that they are food for plants. Moreover, when questioned further, students often voice the idea that plants get their food from the soil (Kestler 2014). This is consistent with findings that fewer than half of current middle and high school students have a correct understanding of the process of photosynthesis (AAAS 2015). We developed this …

The 1994 Rwandan Genocide: The Religion/Genocide Nexus, Sexual Violence, And The Future Of Genocide Studies, Kate E. Temoney

Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal

In recent genocides and other conflicts—for example, the Sudan, Burma, and now Iraq—sexual violence and religion have received increasing but modest systematic treatment in genocide studies. This essay contributes to the nascent scholarship on the religious and sexual dimensions of genocide by providing a model for investigating the intersections among religion, genocide, and sexual violence. I treat the Rwandan genocide as a case study using secondary and primary sources and proffer the reinforcing typologies of “othering,” justification, and authorization as an investigatory tool. I further nuance the influences of religion on forms of sexual violation by arguing that religion indirectly …

Exploring The Production Of Extracellular Matrix By Astrocytes In Response To Mimetic Traumatic Brain Injury, Addison Walker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Following injury to the central nervous system, extracellular modulations are apparent at

the site of injury, often resulting in a glial scar. Astrocytes are mechanosensitive cells, which can create a neuroinhibitory extracellular environment in response to injury. The aim for this research was to gain a fundamental understanding of the affects a diffuse traumatic brain injury has on the astrocyte extracellular environment after injury. To accomplish this, a bioreactor culturing astrocytes in 3D constructs delivered 150G decelerations with 20% biaxial strain to mimic a traumatic brain injury. Experiments were designed to compare the potential effects of media type, number of …

Survey Of Nasal Mites (Acari: Rhinonyssidae, Ereynetidae, Turbinoptidae) In Birds From Three States In The United States, Alexis Danel Hilario Perez

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Avian nasal mites are obligate endoparasites that spend their entire life in the respiratory system of birds. In North America, bird nasal mites are represented by different unrelated families in three different orders of mites: Rhinonyssidae (Mesostigmata), Ereynetidae (Prostigmata), and the Cytoditidae and Turbinoptidae (Astigmata). The most-diverse and most-abundant family of nasal mites is the Rhinonyssidae, in which mite species may have different levels of host specificity from host orders to families or even species level. Nasal mites in North America have been surveyed in different locations, such as studies ranging from the Gulf Coast of the US to Canada. …

The Effects Of Using Cinnamon Leaf And Bark Essential Oils On Listeria Monocytogenes (L.M.), Salmonella Typhimurium (S.T.), In Model System, Strawberry Shake And Fresh Celery, And Sensory & Shelf Life Studies, Wafaa Brnawi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Essential oils derived from the bark and leaves of the cinnamon plant have long been used as natural preservatives and flavoring agents in different types of foods. In this study, we evaluated the antimicrobial effects of cinnamon essential oils (CEOs), obtained from cinnamon leaf or bark, against two foodborne pathogens i.e., Salmonella Typhimurium (S.T.) and Listeria monocytogenes (L.m.). Two different concentrations of microbial loading were used i.e.,109 and 104, cultured in nutrient media broth, strawberry shakes, and on celery sticks. Both CEOs of leaf and bark at 0.5% and 1% were found to completely inhibit S.T. and L.m., immediately after …

Immunotherapeutic Strategies To Reverse Tumor Associated Immunosuppression In Breast Cancer, Sruthi Ravindranathan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Heterogenous cancers such as breast carcinoma, would highly benefit from personalized vaccine approaches such as autologous tumor cell vaccines (ATCVs). By using cancer cells that are isolated from self, this approach has the potential to generate a polyclonal immune response against tumor antigens, that are specific to the individual. However, so far, ATCVs against breast cancers have not had any clinical success due to the poor immunogenicity of the malignant cells.

In this study, for the first time, we determined tumor derived G-CSF to play a major role in affecting immune response against breast cancer ATCVs. By using CRISPR/Cas9 genome …

Effects Of Fermentation By Yeast And Amylolytic Lactic Acid Bacteria On Grain Sorghum Protein Content And Digestibility, Christina Day

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Grain sorghum is an underutilized crop despite many advantages to its cultivation. A drought-tolerant plant with many pest-resistant cultivars, its applications are limited by problems with nutrient availability, particularly protein digestibility. Digestibility of grain sorghum protein is reduced by antinutritional compounds in the grain like tannins and phytates, and by moist-heat cooking. Some of these concerns can be mitigated by how the grain is processed. Fermentation is one processing method that can improve digestibility. Fermentation can also concentrate protein in a substrate. In this experiment, grain sorghum was subjected to different treatments and used as a substrate for yeast fermentation. …

The Oncolytic Potential Of Tanapoxvirus To Treat Retinoblastoma, John D. Christie

Masters Theses

Retinoblastoma is the leading cause of intraocular malignancy in children under 2 years of age. Current treatments, while generally effective in eliminating the tumor, have many negative side effects. Oncolytic virotherapy is the use of either wild type or recombinant viruses, to destroy tumor cells. There are currently several viruses being engineered as potential therapeutics for a wide range of cancers. They offer tumor specific alternative to current therapies with lesser toxicity. This study looked at the oncolytic efficacy of multiple tanapoxviruses (TPV) recombinants in an in vitro retinoblastoma. Here we have tested recombinants of TPV for their ability to …

December 2016 Faculty Senate Packet, University Of Nebraska At Kearney Faculty Senate

Faculty Senate Packets

No abstract provided.

Research & Strategic Partnerships: Quarterly Review, Volume 3, Issue 3, Portland State University. Research & Strategic Partnerships

Portland State Research Magazine

This issue of the Quarterly Review focuses on population health and strategies to improve it. Although these strategies may be revised and added to in the years ahead, the “Triple Aim” of addressing health costs, improving the experience of care, and maintaining healthy populations will undoubtedly remain unchanged, as will our drive to better understand the role of public health in developing resilient people and communities.

The research highlighted in this issue also bears witness to the importance of community and the ways in which Portland State University and the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health are empowering communities to live …

It’S Complicated: Does Food Web Structure Affect Detrital Processing In Streams?, Stephen H. Tentinger

Biology Theses

Trophic cascades involve powerful feeding interactions that can alter the flow of energy and the abundance of species in an ecosystem. In western NY streams, the negative impacts of a new benthic invertivore, the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is altering benthic community structure and leaf litter decomposition. Streams with round gobies have a reduced abundance of shredders and slower leaf decay than streams without gobies. However, crayfish, as shredders of leaf litter, may be large or aggressive enough to avoid predation by round gobies. I used a 30-day full factorial field experiment with blocks to determine if round gobies affected …

Mechanism Of Resistance, Gene Flow, And Integrated Management Of Ragweeds (Ambrosia) In Nebraska, Zahoor Ahmad Ganie

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

Common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) and giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) are native annual broadleaf weeds in the United States found in diverse agroecosystems, roadsides, and wastelands. They are economically important weed species in the Midwest and sources of pollen allergies. Confirmation of glyphosate-resistant (GR) common and giant ragweed in Nebraska justified the need to determine the mechanism of resistance, dispersal of resistance genes via pollen, and to develop an integrated management program. The objectives of this research were to: 1) determine the mechanism of glyphosate resistance in a common ragweed biotype from Nebraska; 2) evaluate the effect …

H-Ns, Its Family Members And Their Regulation Of Virulence Genes In Shigella Species, Michael A. Picker, Helen J. Wing

Life Sciences Faculty Research

The histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) has played a key role in shaping the evolution of Shigella spp., and provides the backdrop to the regulatory cascade that controls virulence by silencing many genes found on the large virulence plasmid. H-NS and its paralogue StpA are present in all four Shigella spp., but a second H-NS paralogue, Sfh, is found in the Shigella flexneri type strain 2457T, which is routinely used in studies of Shigella pathogenesis. While StpA and Sfh have been proposed to serve as “molecular backups” for H-NS, the apparent redundancy of these proteins is questioned by in vitro …

A Qualitative Analysis Of The Health Informatics Role In Addressing The Public Health Crisis Of Addiction And Overall Effectiveness Of Treatment, Daniel Del Toro

Applied Research Projects

In recent years, the implementation of Health Information Management (HIM) data systems has had significant positive impacts in nearly all aspects of both health and healthcare delivery. However, during this time, there has also been a dramatic increase in the demand for addiction and mental health treatment. The rising number of individuals requiring mental health treatment for addiction has resulted in its declaration as an urgent public health epidemic by the Department of Health and Human Services. The all-encompassing effects of addiction are prevalent in all areas of society, seen in the form of across-the-board rising healthcare costs, addiction related …

Land Use And Land Cover Based Habitat Analyses Of Invasive Species Along The Lower Tonawanda Creek Applying Unmanned Helicopter Remote Sensing, Chenliuli Jiang

Great Lakes Center Masters Theses

Trapa natans (water chestnut) is an exotic annual aquatic plant, which is native to Eurasian and African continents. It is an invasive species in North America and has already caused serious environmental problems because of its strong capability of adaption and propagation. The objectives of this research were to survey and map water chestnut in the lower Tonawanda Creek (Erie Canal) applying unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), evaluate the current management of controlling and removing water chestnut, and analyze how land use and land cover (LULC), as well as habitat conditions, influence the growth of water chestnut. The UAV was not …

Preliminary Investigation Of Walking Motion Using A Combination Of Image And Signal Processing, Bradley Schneider, Tanvi Banerjee

Kno.e.sis Publications

We present the results of analyzing gait motion in first-person video taken from a commercially available wearable camera embedded in a pair of glasses. The video is analyzed with three different computer vision methods to extract motion vectors from different gait sequences from four individuals for comparison against a manually annotated ground truth dataset. Using a combination of signal processing and computer vision techniques, gait features are extracted to identify the walking pace of the individual wearing the camera as well as validated using the ground truth dataset. Our preliminary results indicate that the extraction of activity from the video …

Decline In Methylmercury In Museum-Preserved Bivalves From San Francisco Bay, California, Allison C. Luengen, Heather M. Foslund, Ben K. Greenfield

SIUE Faculty Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity

There are ongoing efforts to manage mercury and nutrient pollution in San Francisco Bay (California, USA), but historical data on biological responses are limited. We used bivalves preserved in formalin or ethanol from museum collections to investigate long-term trends in methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations and carbon and ni- trogen isotopic signatures. In the southern reach of the estuary, South Bay, MeHg in the Asian date mussel (Musculista senhousia) significantly declined over the study duration (1970 to 2012). Mean MeHg concentrations were highest (218 ng/g dry weight, dw) in 1975 and declined 3.8-fold (to 57 ng/g dw) by 2012. This …

Avengers Assemble...In Therapy: An Exploration Of Superheroes And Their Trauma, Megan R. Butler

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Superheroes are more than just their superhero abilities. They are representations of individual and societal traumas experienced by many in our universe. By studying superheroes we may critically develop new methods of therapy to aid in the healing process to traumatic experiences. Through this, individuals may find their own superpower and aid others in the discovery of theirs.

The Benefits Of Outdoor Education Curriculum For Elementary School Students With Nature Deficit Disorder, Madison L. Allen

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

The benefits of implementing outdoor education curriculum and outdoor learning into the state standards are plentiful, and the consequences of children who do not get the exposure to outdoor learning and activity can be severe. Nature deficit disorder is a term coined by Louv (2008) in his book Last child in the woods describing a child with little to no contact to nature and the outside world around them. Louv (2008) made connections to behavioral and developmental disorders that may have to do with the lack of outdoor exposure in the child’s life. There are countless advantages to implementing outdoor …

Benefits Of Therapeutic Recreation For Young Adults With Special Needs, Summer L. Esseff

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

There are many benefits of therapeutic recreations; however, due to the lack of knowledge about the organizations and services available, many young adults with special needs are not able to fully participate within the community. The purpose of this project is to discover those benefits specifically for people who have special needs. Through a vast literature review and several interviews among local therapeutic recreation organizations, the findings indicate that therapeutic recreation provide many benefits that contribute to a person's physical, social, and all around quality of life and well-being.

Synthesis, Characterization, And Purification Of Boron Nitride Nanotubes Intercalated With Magnesium, Roxana J. Moraga

Honors Capstones

Intercalation of Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) with magnesium (Mg) is explored due to its potential super-conductive properties. Various syntheses were performed under different sets of conditions in order to optimize reaction conditions. These include the presence of zinc as a catalyst and the temperature at which the reaction is carried out (either 700 or 800°C). All products were then analyzed and characterized, using methods such as Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Both TEM and FTIR results confirmed the formation of BNNTs, and EDX showed the presence of magnesium …

Exploring The Implementation Of Mother Tongue As A Medium Of Instruction In Lower Primary School. A Case Of A Rural Public School In Rarieda Sub-County, Kenya, Elias Okello Okal

Master of Education

Using mother tongue as a language in education is the best strategy for realizing quality education for young children. This study sought to explore how mother tongue as a medium of instruction is implemented in lower primary. Children first come to school with mother tongue which they understand and this can be instrumental in teaching. The study was conducted in a rural public school in Rarieda Sub-county, Western Kenya. The study adopted qualitative research approach and case study design. Purposive and stratified random sampling was used to identify the research site and recruit participants. The participants included the head teacher, …

Exploring Community Primary Teachers’ Experiences In The Generalist Based Teaching Subject Allocations. The Case Of Two Schools In Newala Urban, Ahmad Awadh Mussa

Master of Education

The approaches to allocating subjects to primary school teachers in Tanzania have been affected with the changes in the systems of instruction between the generalist and specialist systems. While the prevailing approach to subject allocations is based in the generalist system, the presence of both specialist and generalist teachers in schools have made those teachers experience varying associated feelings, challenges, and ways to address those challenges. This study explores these experiences of teachers by first creating an understanding, strengths and weaknesses of each system before examining teachers’ views regarding the more ideal approach to subject allocations. Data was collected using …

Exploration Of Students‟ Perceptions On The Teaching Strategies In The Chemistry Classroom: A Case Study Of One Public Secondary School In Jinja District- Uganda, Ajiga Swale Kelili

Master of Education

Chemistry is a crucial subject in the school curriculum, equipping future citizens with crucial knowledge and understanding, both in the world of work and in everyday life. Against this, literature can be found indicating that chemistry is considered to be a difficult and remote subject, hierarchical in nature, using notation which is not readily understood. The current study sought to explore students‟ perceptions on teaching strategies in the chemistry classroom, and was conducted in one rural public secondary school in Jinja District, Uganda. 100 senior 3 students completed a questionnaire asking their perceptions as to what teaching methods get used …

Commencement Program, December (2016), Minnesota State University Moorhead

Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Moving Towards Harmonization Of The Food Safety Standards: Role Of The Tpp And Ttip Agreements, Ksenia A. Petrovets

Journal of Food Law & Policy

We are now less dependent on locally available food resources that we have ever been. The continuing industrialization of food production, the advancement in technologies and the rapid development of supply chains granted us the luxury of immediate access to a variety of products originating from local supermarkets all over the world. This, along with the greater level of food production industrialization, inevitably comes the rise of related food safety risks. Because of the enlargement of producing operations, an emerging safety threat in one place may result in a foodborne illness outbreak thousands of miles away from its place of …