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Vitamin K For Stronger Horse Bones, Ahmad Munjizun

International Programs

There is a growing demand for research regarding solutions to skeletal problems in horses. In human medical science, various studies on the effect of vitamin K on human bones showed positive effects of vitamin K supplementation on bone health. In horses, very little information about the role of vitamin K exists. Also, since horses are fed nowadays with a huge proportion of concentrate, it is important to figure out whether this also contributes to the high prevalence of bone problems. Therefore, research on vitamin K manipulation needs to be conducted.

Infrequent Occurrence Of Peach Skin Streaking And The Role Of Rainwater Attributes On Symptom Development, Linus Schmitz

All Theses

Streaks lacking pigmentation in the skin of red blush cultivars of peaches have impacted many East Coast production areas. The underlying cause of streaking is unclear. Some evidence suggests that streaking may be caused by reactive agents in rainwater. Peach skin streaking was monitored over two consecutive years at a commercial farm with a history of streaking located near Ridge Spring, South Carolina. Six cultivars (two early season, two mid-season, and two late season cultivars) were evaluated each in two locations (LocA and LocB). Among those 12 experimental block cultivars, streaking occurred only in 2017 in cv. Scarletprince of LocA …

The Effect Of Prescribed Burning On Wood-Decay Fungi In The Forests Of Northwest Arkansas, Nawaf Ibrahim Alshammari

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Prescribed burning is defined as the process of the planned application of fire to a predetermined area under specific environmental conditions in order to achieve a desired outcome such as land management. This project used both morphological and molecular methods to identify and characterize the wood-decay fungi associated with the forests of northwest Arkansas—Pea Ridge National Military Park, Devil’s Den State Park, and the Buffalo National River—through frequent visits made between February 2018 and February 2019. In addition, in order to assess the effects of prescribed burning, incubation chambers were used to compare the growth of fungi from both unburned …

Genetic Mapping Of Grass Monoculture And Grass-Legume Mixture Compatibility Qtls In Intermediate Wheatgrass, John Mortenson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to increased environmental stewardship and fertilizer prices, there is increased interest in using legume mixes in perennial croplands. The objective of this study was to compare quantitative genetic parameters and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) when grown in 1) a non-competitive spaced environment, 2) a polyculture with alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and 3) a monoculture with crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum). Traits evaluated include plant growth characteristics (Zadok’s maturity, height, and tiller count), biomass, and forage nutritive value (CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, IVTD, NDFD, NFC, ME, RFQ). A linkage map …

Investigation Of Microbiota In Health And Disease Of Poultry, Bishnu Adhikari

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The microbiotas play vital roles in health and diseases of both humans and animals. 16S rRNA genes sequence analysis is one of the most popular and commonly used methods in the analysis of microbiotas associated with hosts. In this dissertation, the microbiotas of chickens (broilers, breeders, and layers) and turkeys were evaluated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Characterization of the culturable subpopulations of Lactobacillus in the chicken gut can serve as a valuable resource for probiotic development. In Chapter 2, Lactobacillus subpopulations recovered on MRS from chicken gut were defined comprehensively for the first time using 16S rRNA gene profiling, …

Impacts Of Size Fractionation And Processing On Functional Characteristics Of Broken Rice Kernels, Rebecca Mawusi Bruce

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Rice flour generated from broken rice (brokens) has inconsistencies in functional properties. This may be due to differences in size and composition of brokens used for the flour. It is postulated that size classification of brokens can improve flour functionality. This study sought to investigate the effect of size fractionation of brokens on the functional or pasting properties of resulting rice flour. Broken rice was generated from six cultivars of freshly harvested rough rice that were dried at 25◦C in the laboratory. The brokens were classified into large, medium and small, using US sieve size 10, 12 and 20 respectively. …

Does Civility As A Nurse Characteristic Predict Job Satisfaction And Intent To Stay?, Kimberly Anette Lewis, Leona L. Baxter, Kimberly R. Fraze, Ashley I. Hall, Enotiemwonwman "Nancy" Ekemike, Johanna Wynn, Amanda Yi Wong

International Nursing Research Congress (INRC)

This session will describe a multi-site study that tested the effect of civility on RN job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Findings indicate that civility as a self-reported characteristic is a significant independent predictor of intent-to-stay and is mediated by RN satisfaction, supporting the Cowden & Cummings (2012) theoretical model.

Essays In Microeconomics, Teng Ma

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of three essays of different topics in microeconomics.

Chapter 1 investigates the effect of environmental uncertainty over the issue of resource allocation in a common pool resources setting. This chapter provides a model of how agents allocate resource among abatement technology, production, and saving with an endogenously determined uncertain damage. The results of a laboratory experiment show a negative effect of uncertain damage on abatement technology adoption and a non-linear relationship between the investment in abatement technology and the self reported risk aversion. Contrary to the “common belief” that greater risk averse agents invest more in abatement …

Selectivity Of Infrared Heat Treatment On Inactivation Of Mycotoxigenic Fungi On Stored Grain, Shantae A. Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Selective Infrared (IR) heating holds great potential to decontaminate spores of unsafe fungi in corn. The objectives for this study were to investigate the impact of exposing corn to infrared energy at selected peak wavelengths (λ), infrared intensities and treatment durations, followed by tempering for further inactivation of microbes on the grain and explore a method for decontaminating Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) spores on corn. Freshly harvested corn with initial moisture contents (IMCs) of 16%, 20%, and 24% wet basis (w.b.) were used. The corn samples were treated at different infrared wavelengths (3.2, 4.5, and 5.8 μm) for 20, 40 …

Older Adults’ Expectations, And Knowledge Of Oral Health Issues: A Study Of Arkansas Seniors, Virginia Marie Hardgraves

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The life expectancy of the U. S. population is increasing. The advantages of fluoridated water, dental insurance, greater awareness of preventive oral healthcare measures, and more restorative dental services, have helped this generation of adults maintain their teeth into their advanced years. The demand for oral health care services will be greater and more complex that of previous generations. Challenges for the older adult, and the healthcare system providing for them, are complex. Increasing evidence of a link between oral health and overall health underscores the need to promote public health awareness of the need for dental care to be …

Visualizing Ischemic Skin Flap Necrosis Through Phasor Analysis Of Autofluorescence Lifetime Images, Hallie Ramser Toomer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Necrotic skin flaps are difficult to predict and treat due to the lack of quantitative biomarkers. Label-free multiphoton microscopy is well suited for non-invasively monitoring skin metabolism through NAD(P)H and other intrinsic fluorophores, and offers immediate future directions for assessing necrosis in the clinic. The objective of this study was to assess whether phasor FLIM could be used to evaluate skin flap status and treatment efficacy in ex vivo skin sections. Phasor maps revealed differences in growth factor treatment and region, but changes in skin flap autofluorescence at 755nm excitation and 460nm emission were not just related to NAD(P)H. A …

Effects Of Germination Conditions Of Brown Rice In Relation To Flour Physicochemical Properties And Bread Qualities, Wipada Wunthunyarat

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Gluten-free products from rice are gaining popularity among consumers because of its hypoallergenic characteristic. The absence of gluten results in inferior bread qualities such as hard texture, reduced volume and shorter shelf-life, which can be improved by the addition of external hydrolytic enzymes. Hydrolytic enzymes are activated during germination to stimulate plant growth, and hence these enzymes may function similarly to the external enzymes to improve gluten-free bread from brown rice. Therefore, the objective of this work was to investigate the activities of amylases and protease in germinated brown rice (GBR) from long-grain and short-grain rices under different germination conditions …

Effects Of Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation On Mental Health Among Young Adults, Ya-Hsuan Chang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The percentage of young adults who had mental illnesses has increased from 2008 to 2015. However, few existing studies investigating the potential benefits of multivitamin-mineral (MVM) supplementation on mental health focused on young adults (18-24 years of age), whose eating behaviors are often unhealthy. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a MVM supplement on mental health in young adults. One hundred and thirty-three college students (Mage=20.59, SD=1.77; 80.15% female) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants consumed either a MVM supplement or a placebo for 30 days. The supplement contained B Vitamins, Vitamin C, …

Potential Antimicrobials For Controlling Listeria Monocytogenes In Frankfurters, Aaron Rashad Bodie

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic microorganism that causes Listeriosis. Listeriosis is a highly mortal disease with approximately 20% mortality rate. Listeria is psychrophilic, therefore it is able to survive in the refrigerator. This affects foods at cool storage such as fresh produce and RTE meats. To ensure the safety of RTE meat, post processing treatments are used such as vacuum packing, edible films, dip and treatment. One-way RTE can be treated is with the use of antimicrobials. However, in the past chemical substances were used. Currently, consumers want more natural and organic preservatives to combat health problems from toxic components …

"It Takes Less To Be A Man Nowadays": Exploring Persistence And Change In Masculinity Narratives Among College-Aged Men, Shelby Lynn Clark

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Over the last several decades, a growing field of scholarship unpacks the concept of masculinity and its implications for gender and social hierarchy. Of particular interest are the ways in which hegemonic masculinity is perpetuated through the media and social discourse. The current study uses content analysis to highlight themes in the commodification of masculinity depicted in a series of Playboy Magazine’s “What Sort of Man Reads Playboy?” ads throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Conducting focus groups, I then use responses to these historical images and a contemporary equivalent to explore the persistence and evolution of portrayals of masculine ideals …

Characterization Of The Swine Gut Microbiome Dynamics, Culturomics And Probiotics, Xiaofan Wang

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The gastrointestinal tract is a critical place where the immune system concentrates many of its protective functions. It exerts both physical and biochemical defenses against invading foodborne pathogens and other hazards. In pigs, the gut microbiota community assembled postnatal plays a very important role in the development of multiple physiologic aspects, such as development of the gastrointestinal tract, nutrient exchange, immune defense against foreign pathogens and growth performance. Microbiome-host communication changes with age. Despite recent advances in understanding the swine gut microbiome at different growth stages, a comprehensive longitudinal study of the lifelong dynamics of the swine gut microbiome is …

A Quality Improvement Project To Enact Evidence-Based Guidelines To Improve Documentation Of Hemoglobin A1c For Inpatient Diabetes Populations, Karyn C. Kinney

Master's Projects

The purpose of this paper is to describe a quality improvement project aimed to improve the documentation of hemoglobin A1c in the discharge instructions for patients with a diagnosis of diabetes prior to a transition from the acute care setting. Clinical practice guidelines from the American Diabetes Association and patient education recommendations from The Joint Commission are the impetus for this process improvement. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model was utilized to identify, design, and implement the process change in collaboration with an interprofessional team. The documentation rate of hemoglobin A1c was measured on two medical-surgical inpatient hospital units both pre- and …

Incorporating Technology Into The Icook 4-H Program, A Cooking Intervention For Adults And Children: Randomized Controlled Trial, Sarah Colby, Lauren Moret, Melissa D. Olfert, Kendra Kattelmann, Lisa Franzen-Castle, Kristin Riggsbee, Magen Payne, Ainsley Ellington, Cary Springer, Chelsea Allison, Sanearlda Wiggens, Rochelle Butler, Douglas Mathews, Adrienne A. White

Health and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Families who cook, eat, and play together have been found to have more positive health outcomes. Interventions are needed that effectively increase these health-related behaviors. Technology is often incorporated in health-related interventions but is not always independently assessed.
Objective: The objective of this study was to describe challenges and facilitators to incorporating technology into the iCook 4-H intervention program.
Methods: Dyads (n=228) composed of children (mean 9.4, SD 0.7 years old) and an adult primary meal preparer (mean 39.0, SD 8 years) were randomly assigned to a control (n=77) or treatment group (n=151). All treatment group dyads participated in …

Determining The Effect Of An Educational Intervention On Medical Support Personnel's Knowledge To Administer A Standardized Developmental Screening Tool., Leslie Chiaventone Lopez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early treatment of developmental delays leads to improved outcomes for children (Yeung et al., 2014). In order to benefit from early intervention, children with developmental delays must be identified and referred at a young age. Although the use of validated developmental screening tools is supported by American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, these instruments are used variably by general physicians in pediatric practice (King et al., 2010). Because of the expanding work roles of medical support personnel, it is worthwhile to determine if this group can administer and score a developmental screening tool after completing an educational intervention to assist …

Sensemaking In The Process Of Inquiry: A Qualitative Case Study Of A Networked Improvement Community, Bethany Fillers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There are persistent and pervasive issues plaguing American education, and almost seventy years of educational reform efforts have failed to adequately improve educational outcomes for many of America’s children. Networked improvement communities (or NICs) are a type of social organization created to address such problems and are proposed as an effective and efficient way to organize improvement efforts. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the sensemaking experience of a newly-formed networked improvement community as members engaged in inquiry around a chosen problem of practice. During network initiation, NIC members engage in experiences to collaboratively identify and …

Oxygenation And Activation Of The Vastus Lateralis During Dynamic Constant External Resistance Leg Extension Muscle Actions In Older Women With And Without Sarcopenia, Brianna D. Mckay

College of Education and Human Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The purpose of the present study was to compare muscle strength, size, activation, and oxygenation between older women with and without sarcopenia during dynamic fatiguing leg extension bouts with high (5-repetition maximum[5-RM]) and low (30% of estimated 1-RM[30%1-RM]) loads. Eleven women (n = 6 non-sarcopenic [mean ± SE; age = 75.8 ± 2.6y] and n = 5 sarcopenic [age = 74.5 ± 3.1y]) were screened for eligibility and sarcopenic status. Descriptive assessments including demographics (age, height, and weight), body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (fat mass[FM], fat-free mass[FFM] and percent body fat[BF%]), muscle size by ultrasonography (leg extensor muscle cross-sectional …

Promoting Bee Communities Through Habitat Enhancements On Public And Private Lands In Nebraska, Kayla A. Mollet

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Wild and managed bees are the most effective pollinators, accounting for about 80% of the pollination of flowering plants and 75% of fruits, nuts, and vegetables in the United States (USDA, 2019; USFWS, 2019). An estimated 4,000 species of bees reside in North America, the majority of which are wild and unmanaged. Wild bee communities are critical for maintaining healthy ecosystems, as they sustain native flora that provides soil stability and habitat for other wildlife. In a changing landscape, floral enhancements on privately and publicly-owned lands may have great impact for improving habitat for pollinators across the United States. Planting …

3-Hydroxy Fatty Acids Induce Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cell Lipoapoptosis, Mona Hadidi

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO) plays an important role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis, especially during catabolic stress. Genetic mutation in gene that encodes for mitochondrial FAO enzymes could result in metabolic stress especially during fasting or hypoglycemic condition. Mutation in the active site residue (1528G>C) of long chain 3-hydroxy acyl CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) results in the loss of LCHAD enzyme activity. Children’s with LCHAD mutation were known to accumulate 3-hydroxy fatty acids such as 3-hydroxy palmitic acid and 3-hydroxy myristic acids, long chain free fatty acids, acyl carnitine and 3-hydroxy dicarboxylic acid due to their defective enzyme activity. These …

Inhibitory Effects Of Shiitake-Derived Exosome-Like Nanoparticles On Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation, Yizhu Lu

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical mediator of inflammation and consists of the sensor NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), the adaptor apoptotic speck protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), and the effector caspase-1. Dysregulated or excessive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to pathogenesis of diverse inflammatory diseases such as Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Therefore, the NLRP3 inflammasome is a promising therapeutic target for treating these diseases. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enclosed tiny particles released by almost any type of cells and they are involved in the intercellular communication by transferring their cargos including RNAs, …

Transport And Distribution Of Bovine Milk Exosomes And Mir-34a Cargo In Murine Cerebral Cortex Endothelial Bend.3 Cells And Bv2 Microglia, Pearl Ebea

Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses an obstacle in the delivery of drugs to the brain. Bovine milk exosomes (BME) are explored for delivering antisense oligonucleotides to tumors, because BME are bioavailable and protect RNA cargos against degradation in the gastrointestinal tract. This study had the following objectives: 1) assess the transport kinetics of BME and their RNA cargos and secretion of RNA across the apical membrane in murine cerebral cortex endothelial bEnd.3 cells and 2) determine whether murine brain BV2 microglia have the potential to accumulate and, therefore, eliminate BME that crossed the BBB. The uptake of BME labeled with …

The Bioaccumulation Of Cyanotoxins In Aquatic Food Webs, Amanda Lee Murby Mcquaid

Doctoral Dissertations

Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring photosynthetic bacteria, ubiquitous in nature. Increases in temperature and nutrients have supported the proliferation of cyanobacterial growth globally, especially in freshwater systems. Many taxa can produce biotoxins referred to as “cyanotoxins”. While toxic cyanobacteria are a growing public health concern, little is known about the accumulation of cyanotoxins in lake food webs. This research investigates the seasonal occurrence and the potential role of toxic cyanobacteria in two lakes of contrasting water qualities and food web structures. Objectives of this study were to test the bioaccumulation of microcystins (MCs) and beta-methyl-alanine-amino acid (BMAA) in zooplankton. I further …

Long-Term Forest Growth And Decadal Soil Chemistry Change Across The White Mountain National Forest, Olivia L. Fraser

Doctoral Dissertations

Forest ecosystems are subject to a variety of stressors including human land use, air pollution and climate change. A challenge for detecting temporal change, however, is disentangling heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales. Therefore, we need a better understanding of the mechanisms influencing forest growth and soil formation, how to improve existing long-term sample designs, and quantify variability at multiple spatial scales. Identifying the areal extent of bedrock outcrops and shallow soils has important implications in understanding the spatial dynamics of surrounding vegetation, stream chemistry gradients, and soil properties. Manual methods of delineating bedrock outcrops and associated shallow soil are still …

Striped Bass Strain Effects On Aquaculture Performance Traits, Stress Responsiveness And Hybrid Offspring Growth, Linas Kenter

Doctoral Dissertations

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and their hybrids have been well studied and are widely cultured as a food and gamefish. Recent increases in striped bass aquaculture have generated interest in domestication programs where growth performance and stress tolerance are among the traits of interest. Unique geographic stocks, or strains have previously been identified and these populations will presumably exhibit distinct culture traits across different environments. Before application of genetic principles, domestication programs should begin by evaluating available strains for superior performance in the environments intended to be utilized during culture. In this effort, a series of experiments were conducted to …

Essays On Behavioral And Cognitive Anomalies: Implications For Stated Preference Valuation And Economic Pedagogy, Scott Lemos

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines a set of behavioral and cognitive issues in the stated preference non-market valuation framework and economic pedagogy. Drawing from the fields of behavioral and environmental economics, this research examines two empirical deviations between theory and behavior, namely, anchoring effects and attribute non-attendance. This work contributes to the non-market valuation literature by attempting to correct for and explain these behavioral anomalies, both ex-ante and ex-post. In the presence of these anomalies, corrections are necessary if the tenets of welfare economics are to remain a viable analytical foundation for valuing environmental goods.

In the first chapter, I examine the …

Dish It Up! The Influence Of Kind Diningtm& Green House Model Food And Food Service Innovations On The Resident Experience In Residential Care Facilities., Mary E. Jensen

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand how innovative practices affect the satisfaction elder-care facility residents have with their food-related life. The study looks through the lenses of food and food service activities, related medical care activities, and facility design.

The Older Americans Act of 1965 defined the basic rights of elders in American society. The statement and objectives codified in that Act have provided the outline for eldercare in the community and in residential care facilities ever since. Legislative updates in 2017 more clearly identified “person-centered” care as the ideal in elderly care homes. Research using the diffusion …