Digital Commons Network^™

Risk Of Nitrate Toxicity When Grazing Annual Forages, Mary E. Lenz

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Annual forages provide a valuable grazing resource for producers; however, annuals are prone to accumulating nitrate and toxicity can be a potential challenge. There are multiple publications regarding nitrate toxicity, but few, if any, address grazing high nitrate forages. There is variability on what amount of nitrate is considered toxic to cattle, and information is not available on the frequency producers experience toxicity when feeding annual forages. To understand the incidence of nitrate toxicity in the North Central Region of the U.S., a survey was distributed through the “UNL BeefWatch” newsletter to producers. Though producers appeared concerned about nitrates in …

Public Perceptions On Domestic Sex Trafficking And Domestic Sex Trafficking Victims: A Quantitative Analysis, Faith Browder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sex trafficking is a grossly misconstrued and increasing issue within the United States. The purpose of this study was to extend current knowledge regarding the public’s education on domestic sex trafficking and perceptions of domestic sex trafficking victims. The public’s awareness of domestic sex trafficking and perceptions of domestic sex trafficking victims were examined through the utilization of a 31 closed-ended question survey. The survey included questions about domestic sex trafficking and prostitution myths, domestic sex trafficking victim characteristics, domestic sex trafficking legislation, law enforcement’s involvement in domestic sex trafficking cases, and demographics. The sample consisted of 195 Criminal Justice …

Teacher Perceptions Of Inclusion And Students With Autism, Nancy Keener

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Inclusion is considered the least restrictive environment for most students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ and administrators’ perceptions of inclusion in general education classrooms for students with autism. This included an examination of how schools determined placement for students with autism, the academic and social influences of placement in the general classroom, perceptions of teachers and administrators about inclusion for students with autism, teaching strategies that worked for students with autism in the general classroom, and the influence other students in the classroom have on students with autism. Participants in the study were from …

Cime Newsletter : December 2018, Cime

Centre for Innovation in Medical Education (CIME) Archives

-Training the Future Healthcare Leaders for the best!
-A collaborative approach to train the residents of the Department of Surgery, Section of Urology
-Training of Trainers
-Provost Talk on “Policymaking in Health”
-Certificate Course in Simulation-Based Cataract Surgery
-Identifying and managing patients at high risk in orthopaedics
-Management of Oncology Patients with Neutropenia
-Death and Dying Simulation Scenario

Infant Fall Prevention, Kristin Jensen, Nicole Roehrig, Caroline Truong, Jacklyn Wallace

Books, Presentations, Posters, Etc.

No abstract provided.

Sickness And Contamination In The Yellow Wallpaper And Maggie: A Girl Of The Streets, Abigail Callahan

Honors Theses

Sickness and Contamination in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Maggie: A Girl of the Streets” looks at feminism through the lens of nineteenth-century medical practices and how both Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Stephen Crane used them to argue against social standards for women. Most women during this time were seen as mentally ill or sick because they were in fact women. However, sexually active women were seen as even more sickly. Gilman in particular exposes sexism within the medical practice, and Crane builds on that by exposing sexism towards sexually active women through the idea of contamination. This paper refers to …

Volume 38, Number 4, December 2018 Olac Newsletter, Marcia Barrett, Debra Spidal, Richard N. Leigh, Jan Mayo, Yoko Kudo, Jay Weitz, Lisa Romano

OLAC Newsletters

Digitized December 2018 issue of the OLAC Newsletter.

The History And Political Economy Of The Hatch-Waxman Amendments, Erika Lietzan

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Alternative Milling Path Planning Strategies And Force Modeling For Nickel-Based Superalloys, Abram Pleta

All Dissertations

The objective of this research is to understand the mechanics of the trochoidal milling process and its effects on the end-product quality and overall machining cost in the milling of nickel-based superalloys, through a novel toolpath representation with semi-mechanistic cutting force models with correlations to the machining-affected zone (MAZ). Nickel-based superalloys are designed for use in extreme environments with high temperatures, where corrosion and creep resistance are required in addition to high levels of strength. Such environments are found in the aircraft, nuclear, and gas turbine industries. Due to the design of the microstructure of these alloys they represent the …

The Effects Of Embryonic Arsenic Exposure On Muscle And Olfactory Development In Killifish (Fundulus Heteroclitus), Dana Bethany Szymkowicz

All Dissertations

Arsenic is an environmental contaminant that is commonly found in drinking water, rice, and other food sources around the world. Many epidemiological studies have reported that in utero exposures to arsenic can significantly reduce muscle growth and cause neurodevelopmental abnormalities such as reduced IQ, impaired memory and spatial learning, and sensory functions. However, the mechanisms behind such effects are not well known. Because of this, we wanted to explore the potential mechanisms by which embryonic exposure to environmentally-relevant levels of arsenic are not only impairing growth but also inducing behavioral changes due to altered sensory neuron function. We were also …

Effect Of Differences In Metabolic Activity Of Melanoma Models On Response To Lonidamine Plus Doxorubicin., Kavindra Nath, Jeffrey Roman, David S. Nelson, Lili Guo, Seung-Cheol Lee, Stepan Orlovskiy, Kevin Muriuki, Daniel F. Heitjan, Stephen Pickup, Dennis B. Leeper, Ian A. Blair, Mary E. Putt, Jerry D. Glickson

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Lonidamine (LND), a metabolic modulator, sensitizes DB-1 human melanoma to doxorubicin (DOX) chemotherapy by acidifying and de-energizing the tumor. This report compares the effects of LND on two human melanoma lines, DB-1 and WM983B, which exhibit different metabolic properties. Using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry and Seahorse analysis, we show that DB-1 was more glycolytic than WM983B in vitro. ³¹P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) indicates that LND (100 mg/kg, i.p.) induces similar selective acidification and de-energization of WM983B xenografts in immunosuppressed mice. Over three hours, intracellular pH (pHi) of WM983B decreased from 6.91 ± 0.03 to 6.59 ± 0.10 (p …

Spaceoar To Improve Dosimetric Outcomes For Monotherapy High-Dose-Rate Prostate Implantation In A Patient With Ulcerative Colitis., Michael Trager, Benjamin Greenberger, Amy S. Harrison, James Keller, Robert B. Den

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

High-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy is an attractive option for patients receiving definitive radiation therapy for prostate cancer with decreased overall dose to the pelvis. However, ulcerative colitis increases rectal toxicity risk and may be a contraindication. A synthetic hydrogel, SpaceOAR (Augmentix Inc., Waltham, MA, USA), can facilitate the use of HDR brachytherapy for patients where rectal toxicity is a limiting factor. SpaceOAR gel (13.19 cc) was utilized in a monotherapy HDR prostate treatment with Ir-192 under transrectal ultrasound guidance, with the intention of decreasing rectal dose. SpaceOAR gel was inserted transperineally into the patient 18 days prior to the procedure. The …

The Jefferson Scale Of Empathy: A Nationwide Study Of Measurement Properties, Underlying Components, Latent Variable Structure, And National Norms In Medical Students., Mohammadreza Hojat, Jennifer Desantis, Stephen C. Shannon, Luke H. Mortensen, Mark R. Speicher, Lynn Bragan, Marianna Lanoue, Leonard H. Calabrese

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

The Jefferson Scale of Empathy (JSE) is a broadly used instrument developed to measure empathy in the context of health professions education and patient care. Evidence in support of psychometrics of the JSE has been reported in health professions students and practitioners with the exception of osteopathic medical students. This study was designed to examine measurement properties, underlying components, and latent variable structure of the JSE in a nationwide sample of first-year matriculants at U.S. colleges of osteopathic medicine, and to develop a national norm table for the assessment of JSE scores. A web-based survey was administered at the beginning …

Sumo-Mediated Regulation Of Nlrp3 Modulates Inflammasome Activity., Rachael Barry, Sidonie Wicky John, Gianmaria Liccardi, Tencho Tenev, Isabel Jaco, Chih-Hong Chen, Justin Choi, Paulina Kasperkiewicz, Teresa Fernandes-Alnemri, Emad S Alnemri, Marcin Drag, Yuan Chen, Pascal Meier

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

The NLRP3 inflammasome responds to infection and tissue damage, and rapidly escalates the intensity of inflammation by activating interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18 and cell death by pyroptosis. How the NLRP3 inflammasome is negatively regulated is poorly understood. Here we show that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is suppressed by sumoylation. NLRP3 is sumoylated by the SUMO E3-ligase MAPL, and stimulation-dependent NLRP3 desumoylation by the SUMO-specific proteases SENP6 and SENP7 promotes NLRP3 activation. Defective NLRP3 sumoylation, either by NLRP3 mutation of SUMO acceptor lysines or depletion of MAPL, results in enhanced caspase-1 activation and IL-1β release. Conversely, depletion of SENP7 suppresses NLRP3-dependent ASC oligomerisation, …

Trna 3'-Amino-Tailing For Stable Amino Acid Attachment., Howard Gamper, Ya-Ming Hou

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

Amino acids are attached to the tRNA 3'-end as a prerequisite for entering the ribosome for protein synthesis. Amino acid attachment also gives tRNA access to nonribosomal cellular activities. However, the normal attachment is via an ester linkage between the carboxylic group of the amino acid and the 3'-hydroxyl of the terminal A76 ribose in tRNA. The instability of this ester linkage has severely hampered studies of aminoacyl-tRNAs. Although the use of 3'-amino-3'-deoxy A76 in a 3'-amino-tailed tRNA provides stable aminoacyl attachment via an amide linkage, there are multiple tailing protocols and the efficiency of each relative to the others …

Dna Methylation-Based Age Prediction And Telomere Length In White Blood Cells And Cumulus Cells Of Infertile Women With Normal Or Poor Response To Ovarian Stimulation., Scott J. Morin, Xin Tao, Diego Marin, Yiping Zhan, Jessica Landis, Jenna Bedard, Richard T. Scott, Emre Seli

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Faculty Papers

An algorithm assessing the methylation levels of 353 informative CpG sites in the human genome permits accurate prediction of the chronologic age of a subject. Interestingly, when there is discrepancy between the predicted age and chronologic age (age acceleration or "AgeAccel"), patients are at risk for morbidity and mortality. Identification of infertile patients at risk for accelerated reproductive senescence may permit preventative action. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of the "epigenetic clock" concept in reproductive age women undergoing fertility treatment by applying the age prediction algorithm in peripheral (white blood cells [WBCs]) and follicular somatic cells (cumulus cells …

Factors Associated With Follow-Up Compliance Among Clients Referred By A Local Health Department For Hiv Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, Lauren R. Cirrincione

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a public health strategy to limit HIV infection among at-risk populations. Local health departments (LHDs) promote PrEP initiation by referring patients to private and academic specialty care centers. However, low follow-up compliance remains a challenge in this setting. Between January 2016 and September 2018, Douglas County Health Department, a LHD in Omaha, Nebraska, externally referred 126 clients for PrEP at an academic specialty care center, and only 20 (15%) clients completed a PrEP initiation follow-up appointment. The purpose of this study is to describe the characteristics of clients referred by …

Descriptive Census Survey Of Community Gardens Supported By The Big Garden, Abigail R. Hughes

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

The goal of this capstone and service learning project is to provide The Big Garden, an Omaha, NE based nonprofit organization, with survey data on the growth of their sites and programming over the past five years along with information on current garden needs and capacity. A census survey of a subsample of gardens supported by The Big Garden will provide leadership with information needed as they plan next steps for the organization and specific programming planning. Surveys were distributed to all gardens within their network to collect data on garden characteristics (e.g., size, length of time in operation), production …

Factors Associated With Medical And Dental Compliance For Adults With Diabetes Mellitus, Mahua Saha

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Over the few decades, diabetes has become one of the most common chronic conditions in the U.S and worldwide. With the increasing number of incidences of diabetes and the cost associated with the treatment, adherence to treatment regimens is one key factor, which immensely affects the success of the diabetes treatment. The American Diabetes Association recommends annual preventive care for diabetes in terms of self-care practices such as daily blood glucose check and daily foot check. An eye examination with pupil dilation and a dental checkup are also recommended as part of annual care for diabetic patients. Considering the …

Examining The Impact Of Hiv Medical And Social Case Management Program On Viral Load For Clients Living With Hiv/Aids In Nebraska, Abdulla Munir

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Abstract

Case management (CM) is one of the standard practices that has been implemented since 1990 to help people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the United States. The program is designed for low-income populations and it aims to address the barriers related to access to health care and improve the HIV outcomes. Previous studies identified a positive association with the provision of CM and improvement in viral outcomes. Increasing the viral suppression rates among HIV diagnosed individuals proved to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection, and disease incidence. Although CM program is provided to Nebraskans diagnosed with HIV, but …

A Descriptive Analysis And Assessment Of Predictive Factors For Participation In A Clinical Trial As Front-Line Therapy For Patients Enrolled In The Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group Registry, Jonathan L. Tefft

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Clinical trial participation, especially among cancer clinical trials in adult populations, continues to be low despite the large number of clinical trials available across the U.S. Estimates for clinical trial participation are as low as 5% in some adult cancer populations, however in some lymphoma populations this figure may be as high as 13.9%. This figure can be confusing, given that as much as 70% of Americans are estimated to be willing to participate in a clinical trial. Previous research shows that as much as 95% of surveyed respondents who said they had previously participated in a clinical trial …

Burden And Risk Factors Associated With Hcv Infection Among People Living With Hiv Infection In Nebraska: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study From 1997 To 2017, Issaka Kabore

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Previous studies have shown high prevalence of HCV infection among people living with HIV infection. Coinfected people are at risk of developing liver diseases resulting an increase rate of mortality. Several risk factors for HIV/HCV coinfection have previously been identified with injecting drug users (IDU) as the common route of exposure.

Methods: This was cross -sectional study using HIV and HCV registries maintained by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NE DHHS) from1997 to 2017. A descriptive analysis was used to characterize the sample. Chi-squared test and Fisher exact test were selected to compare the different groups. …

The Public Health Lens: An Introduction To Population-Based Care In Athletic Training, Jenna L. Allocco

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Historically, the athletic training profession has been focused on the individual; however, potential exists to drive large-scale prevention efforts in the athletic community with a population-based, public health approach. Relationship between the two professions has been acknowledged in in previous literature to do with educational competencies and opportunities for research, as well as in policy development involving sudden cardiac death, sport-related concussion and osteoarthritis prevention. Incorporating public health concepts such as the ecological model, health literacy, health behavior and evidence-based program planning and evaluation may improve athletic training health outcomes and prove beneficial to each respective discipline.

An Evaluation Of Implementing Trauma-Informed Care Training In Healthcare Settings, Amanda Kis

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Background: Trauma-informed care (TIC) has recently become a popular topic in medical science. Many patients’ health conditions have been diagnosed and treated purely as medical issues, yet emerging research indicates that trauma is sometimes the source of many physical and mental conditions. Implementing TIC education in healthcare systems may lead to preventing the onset of symptomology related to undiagnosed, chronic trauma experience.

Objectives: The primary goal of this Capstone project was to implement TIC training developed by Trauma Matters Omaha Coalition and assess preliminary evidence for changes in participants’ confidence, clinical knowledge, professional knowledge, self-awareness, and assumptions and biases regarding …

Factors Associated With Participant Attrition In A Longitudinal, Survey-Based Rheumatic Disease Databank, Kathryn A. Grafel

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Introduction: Participant attrition is a problem common to many longitudinal studies, and when it occurs nonrandomly, it can impact the study’s validity and generalizability. Identifying factors associated with attrition can help to detect bias and aid in developing targeted interventions to reduce attrition. Methods: Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards regression models were constructed separately for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other rheumatic diseases who participated in the FORWARD study between 1998 and 2018. Results: Patient characteristics associated with attrition included male sex, younger age, non-White race, and less education, each of which was identified in multiple …

Nutritional Factors Associated With Thyroid Cancer And Nodules Using The Integrated Cancer Repository For Cancer Research (Icare2), Dong Liu

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Introduction: The incidence of thyroid cancer in the United States has rising on average 3.1% each year over the last 10 years. Much of this increase is attributed to increased detection using ultrasound. Dietary habits can be an important modifiable risk factors for different types of cancer, but the association between dietary factors and thyroid cancer has not been well studied. The goals of this capstone were to: 1) review the literature for the association between dietary factors and thyroid cancer, 2) describe demographic and behavioral characteristics of patients with thyroid nodules and cancer in a hospital-based registry, and 3) …

Ethical Cannabis Lawyering In California, Francis J. Mootz Iii

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

Cannabis has a long history in the United States. Originally, doctors and pharmacists used cannabis for a variety of purposes. After the Mexican Revolution led to widespread migration from Mexico to the United States, many Americans responded by associating this influx of foreigners with the use of cannabis, and thereby racializing and stigmatizing the drug. After the collapse of prohibition, the federal government repurposed its enormous enforcement bureaucracy to address the perceived problem of cannabis, despite the opposition of the American Medical Association to this new prohibition. Ultimately, both the states and the federal government classified cannabis as a dangerous …

Autonomy Isn't Everything: Some Cautionary Notes On Mccoy V. Louisiana, W. Bradley Wendel

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

The Supreme Court’s May 2018 decision in McCoy v. Louisiana has been hailed as a decisive statement of the priority of the value of a criminal defendant’s autonomy over the fairness and reliability interests that also inform both the Sixth Amendment and the ethical obligations of defense counsel. It also appears to be a victory for the vision of client-centered representation and the humanistic value of the inherent dignity of the accused. However, the decision is susceptible to being read too broadly in ways that harm certain categories of defendants. This paper offers a couple of cautionary notes, in response …

Conflicts Of Interest And Law-Firm Structure, Cassandra Burke Robertson

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

Business and law are increasingly practiced on a transnational scale, and law firms are adopting new business structures in order to compete on this global playing field. Over the last decade, global law firms have merged into so-called “mega-brands” or “mega-firms”—that is, associations of national or regional law firms that join together under a single brand worldwide. For law firms, the most common mega-firm structure has been the Swiss verein, though the English “Company Limited by Guarantee” structure is growing in popularity as well, as is the similar “European Economic Interest Grouping.” All of these structures allow related entities to …

A Heuristic Inquiry Into Female Student-Athletes' Experiences Of Identity Loss After Retirement From Sport, Catherine Cody Wooten

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of retired female athletes after they have retired from Division I athletics. The study sought to understand retired female athletes' subsequent transition out of athletics and their loss in identity, if any. With increased understanding of psychological and emotional facets of retired female athletes, counselors may be able to provide more appropriate and well-tailored interventions, support, and guidance required for adaptive transitions in identity. Six retired female athletes were recruited to describe their lived experiences of transition out of athletics in a single semi-structured audio interview. Data comprised participants' …