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We Take Back The Moon, Zoey Jean Adam

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

My creative manuscript, tentatively known as We Take Back the Moon, is an in-progress fantasy novel in verse. Set in a world not like our own where the only bipedal inhabitants are elves, it is a tale of two best friends contending with a society where those who lack the ability to use magic are sentenced to the Colony—essentially a prison camp. Chkal, one of the protagonists, was a child prodigy in magic and still lives in the Capital, while her best friend, Esari, was sent away at age thirteen to the Colony. The story follows Chkal’s struggle with her …

A Narrative Study Describing The Transition From Residential Treatment As A Child: An Adult Perspective, Alison Marie Vogelsang

Dissertations and Theses

To date, the literature sorely lacks empirical research exploring treatment outcomes among children in residential treatment centers (RTCs). Consequentially, there is an increasing demand for more studies examining such outcomes, particularly as they pertain to an individual’s experience leaving an RTC. There is even less research exploring the perspectives of individuals who resided in an RTC as a child due to the vulnerable nature of this population and difficulty in accessibility. The transitional period is believed to be a salient component impacting treatment outcomes, yet little is known about how this component of residential treatment is experienced and whether it …

Nonhematopoietic Erythropoietin: A Study Of Signaling, Structure, And Behavior, Nicholas John Pekas

Dissertations and Theses

Erythropoietin (EPO) is a cytokine hormone known for initiating red blood cell proliferation by binding to its homodimer receptor (EPOR)2 in the bone marrow. Recent progress in neurobiology has shown that EPO also exerts robust neurotrophic and neuroprotective activity in the CNS. It is widely thought that EPO’s neurotrophic activity is centrally involved in its antidepressant and cognitive enhancing effects. However, EPO’s potent erythropoietic effects prevent it from being used in the clinic to treat psychiatric disorders. A chemically engineered non-erythropoietic derivative of EPO, carbamoylated EPO (CEPO), produces psychoactive effects without activating hematopoiesis. However, CEPO is expensive to produce and …

Single Cell Lineage Tracing Reveals Mechanisms Of Tumor Initiation And Chemoresistance In Small Cell Lung Cancer, Hannah Wollenzien

Dissertations and Theses

Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) is a devastating disease characterized by a very low two-year survival rate and almost universal acquisition of chemoresistance. Nearly all patients have tumors driven by functional inactivation of the tumor suppressors Rb and p53, but despite the uniform origins of this tumor, not all patients are genetically or phenotypically identical. SCLC can be subtyped into four unique molecular subtypes, determined by the expression of ASCL1, NEUROD1, POU2F3, or YAP1. These subtypes are plastic, and subtype switching after chemotherapy has been documented. Without the understanding of how tumor heterogeneity arises, we cannot solve the challenge of …

User Experience In The Visual Notifications On Smart Devices, Young Ae Kim

Dissertations and Theses

Notifications on smart devices have a crucial role for the end-users to help decide their action to the information. Despite the flexible customization of notifications for the intuitive user experience, users feel overwhelmed by the number of notifications they receive daily. The nature of notifications is short-lived, but they are extremely intrusive and disengaging. While user experience and user interface are advanced, notifications have remained broken despite their complexity. In fact, the notifications have the poorest usability that users may struggle to customize notifications in their smart devices and choose to ignore them. Irrelevant notifications not only get ignored, but …

Disruption Of Cholesterol Biosynthesis Contributes To Glial Dysfunction And Disturbs Astrocyte-Microglia Crosstalk, Bethany Ann Freel

Dissertations and Theses

The brain is the most cholesterol rich organ in the body, containing ~25% of the body’s total cholesterol content. Due to the blood-brain barrier, cholesterol in the brain is primarily synthesized de novo by astrocytes and transported to neurons. Genetic disorders of cholesterol biosynthetic enzymes result in reduced CNS cholesterol levels and sterol precursor accumulation. Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is caused by mutations in 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), which is responsible for the reduction of 7- DHC to cholesterol in the final step of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. SLOS results in broad neurodevelopmental malformations and neurological deficits. While much work has focused …

Affective Dependence, Self-Regulation, And Alcohol-Related Problems: Between- And Within-Person Associations, Kyle James Walters

Dissertations and Theses

This study sought to elucidate the role of affective dependence (i.e., PA-NA correlation) as a predictor of goal pursuit and alcohol-related problems at the within- and between-person levels and trait urgency at the between-person level. Affective dependence, that is, the extent to which PA and NA are correlated, may be a marker for self-regulation on the one hand (weaker dependence) and impulsivity on the other (stronger dependence). Importantly, the association between PA and NA varies both within and between individuals (Dejonckheere et al., 2019; Zautra et al., 2001). I designed and implemented an intensive longitudinal study to test hypotheses that …

Embodied Intelligence: Smooth Coping In The Learning Intelligent Decision Agent (Lida) Cognitive Architecture, C. Kronsted, S. Kugele, Z. Neemeh, K. Ryan, S. Franklin

CCRG Papers

No abstract provided.

Composted Sewage Sludge Application Reduces Mineral Fertilization Requirements And Improves Soil Fertility In Sugarcane Seedling Nurseries, Rafael Dos Santos Silva, Arshad Jalal, Raimunda Eliane Nascimento Do Nascimento, Nathércia Castro Elias, Karen Cossi Kawakami, Cassio Hamilton Abreu-Junior, Fernando Carvalho Oliveira, Arun Dilipkumar Jani, Zhenli He, Fengliang Zhao, Marcelo Carvalho Minhoto Teixeira Filho, Raffaella Rossetto, Gian Franco Capra, Thiago Assis Rodrigues Nogueira

Biology, Agriculture and Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sugarcane demands large amounts of nutrients to reach a high level of productivity. Nutrients are generally supplied by mineral fertilizers, but their high costs and negative environmental impacts have generated interest in greater use of organic nutrient sources such as composted sewage sludge (CSS). In this study, we evaluated changes in soil chemical properties after the application of CSS or CSS/mineral fertilizer (MF) combinations to soil containing sugarcane seedlings under nursery conditions. Treatments included: T1: conventional mineral fertilization (MF) without application of CSS, T2: 100% of the recommended MF (06–30–24); T3: application of 2.5 Mg−1 CSS; T4: 5.0 Mg−1 CSS, …

Development Of A Dual-Mode Cmos Microelectrode Array For The Simultaneous Study Of Electrochemical And Electrophysiological Activities Of The Brain, Geoffrey Mulberry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Medical diagnostic devices are in high demand due to increasing cases of neurodegenerative diseases in the aging population and pandemic outbreaks in our increasingly connected global community. Devices capable of detecting the presence of a disease in its early stages can have dramatic impacts on how it can be treated or eliminated. High cost and limited accessibility to diagnostic tools are the main barriers preventing potential patients from receiving a timely disease diagnosis. This dissertation presents several devices that are aimed at providing higher quality medical diagnostics at a low cost. Brain function is commonly studied with systems detecting the …

Leveraging Human-Centered Insights And Vision Transformers To Understand And Detect Online Risks In Teens' Private Social Media Conversations On Instagram, Joshua Gracie

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

With the growing ubiquity of the internet and internet enabled devices, the issue of online risk and the need for safety measures against such risks has grown paramount. Many researchers have analyzed the scope and characteristics of online risk, especially with respect to demographics, yet few have studied the risky media itself. This work sets out to move the conversation from surveys and interviews to content analysis and automation through a comprehensive thematic analysis of online multi-media risks (images and videos) sent to and from teens in private messages on Instagram. These messages, along with demographic information such as age …

Multivariate Cognitive Walkthrough Of Qubitvr: An Educational Quantum Computing, Virtual Reality Application, Pauline Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Quantum computing is a promising field but understanding how it works can be challenging for a beginner. There are also not many educational resources to visualize and learn about quantum computing. To advance knowledge in this area, we have created QubitVR, which employs a Bloch sphere representation of a qubit, and supports trajectory visualizations and state equations in a virtual reality (VR) setting. We also conducted a multivariate cognitive walkthrough with subject matter experts (SMEs) on QubitVR to assess the effectiveness of trajectory visualizations and state equations in learning about quantum gates. The results were that trajectory visualizations aided users …

Algorithms For The Detection Of Resolved And Unresolved Targets In The Infrared Bands, Bruce Mcintosh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This dissertation proposes algorithms for the detection of both resolved and unresolved targets in the infrared bands. Recent breakthroughs in deep learning have spurred major advancements in computer vision, but most of the attention and progress has been focused on RGB imagery from the visual band. The infrared bands such as Long Wave Infrared (LWIR), Medium Wave Infrared (MWIR), Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) and Near Infrared (NIR) each respond differently to physical phenomena, providing information that can be used to better understand the environment. The first task addressed is that of detecting vehicles in heavy clutter in MWIR imagery. A …

Forage News [2022-01], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Land Reversion And Zoonotic Spillover Risk, John E. Vinson, Nicole L. Gottdenker, Luis Fernando Chaves, Rajreni B. Kaul, Andrew M. Kramer, John M. Drake, Richard J. Hall

Integrative Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

Deforestation alters wildlife communities and modifies human–wildlife interactions, often increasing zoonotic spillover potential. When deforested land reverts to forest, species composition differences between primary and regenerating (secondary) forest could alter spillover risk trajectory. We develop a mathematical model of land-use change, where habitats differ in their relative spillover risk, to understand how land reversion influences spillover risk. We apply this framework to scenarios where spillover risk is higher in deforested land than mature forest, reflecting higher relative abundance of highly competent species and/or increased human–wildlife encounters, and where regenerating forest has either very low or high spillover risk. We find …

Analysing Economic Costs Of Invasive Alien Species With The Invacost R Package, Boris Leroy, Andrew M. Kramer, Anne-Charlotte Vaissière, Melina Kourantidou, Franck Courchamp, Christophe Diagne

Integrative Biology Faculty and Staff Publications

1. The reported costs of invasive alien species from the global database InvaCost are heterogeneous and cover different spatio-temporal scales. A standard procedure for aggregating invasive species cost estimates is necessary to ensure the repeatability and comparativeness of studies.
2. We introduce here the invacost r package, an open-source software designed to query and analyse the InvaCost database. We illustrate this package and its framework with cost data associated with invasive alien invertebrates.
3. First, the invacost package provides updates of this dynamic database directly in the analytical environment R. Second, it helps understand the heterogeneous nature of monetary cost data for invasive …

Posthuman Ethics In The Science Fiction Of Rosa Montero And Rita Indiana, Brittany Frodge

Theses and Dissertations--Hispanic Studies

In this dissertation I put Posthumanist theory in tension with the ‘lived’ experiences of the posthuman protagonists of two recent Science Fiction trilogies. My aim in doing so is to uncover the shortcomings of Posthumanist accounts of ethics and discover alternative paths forward.

The first chapter of my dissertation is an overview of Posthumanist theory and Science Fiction, with a particular emphasis on the contributions Hispanic authors and women have made to the genre. In the second chapter, I develop a critique of Posthumanist ethics that place the onus of ethical-political intervention on marginalized subjects through a close reading of …

How Can Economic And Social Marginalization Explain Mexico’S Drug War Violence? An Assessment Of The Role That Poverty And Social Marginalization Plays In Explaining Variations In Homicide Rates., Diego Flores

Pitzer Senior Theses

The violence characterizing the Mexican drug war necessitates studies that seek to understand the causal mechanisms at play in prompting this violence. Given that ongoing violence, is inherently a multicausal phenomenon, this study seeks to understand the role that marginalization plays in the increase of violence, specifically homicide rates in 2010 at the municipality level. The relationship between the independent variable, marginalization indexes of all Mexican municipalities, is run in multiple least squares regression with the dependent variables homicide rates per 100,00 also at the municipality level. I hypothesize that an increase in the marginalization index will lead to an …

An Improved Understanding Of Diplodia Ear Rot In Kentucky Corn, Nolan Ryan Anderson

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Stenocarpella maydis and Stenocarpella macrospora are both causal agents of Diplodia ear rot (DER) of corn in the U.S. The current prevalence and distribution of each is unknown worldwide. Signs and symptoms of DER include white mold on and between kernels, bleached husks, and pycnidia visible in the cob pith. The term hidden Diplodia describes when no mycelia or bleached husk is present, but pycnidia are still visible inside the cob. This phenomenon is reported to be caused by late infections of Stenocarpella spp. New fungicide nozzle technology has been promoted to increase spray coverage in the lower canopy, which …

Use Of Heterothallic Mat Deletion Strains Of Fusarium Graminearum As Test Mates In Crosses To Evaluate The Genetics Of Pathogenicity And Fitness, Gabdiel Emmanuel Yulfo-Soto

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Fusarium Head Blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum sensu stricto and other members of the F. graminearum species complex (FGSC), is a plant disease that occurs on cereal crops worldwide. FHB causes yield losses not only by reducing grain weight, but also by contaminating the kernels with dangerous trichothecene mycotoxins, especially deoxynivalenol (DON). There is a high degree of genotypic and phenotypic variation among pathogen species and strains, but current FHB risk assessment models and treatments do not account for pathogen diversity. Therefore, it is difficult to predict what will happen if a new, potentially more aggressive variant is introduced, …

Ic025: Patricia Starck, Transcript, University Of Texas Health Science Center At Houston. School Of Nursing

Cizik School of Nursing 50th Anniversary

Transcript of the oral history interview with Patrica Starck. See more at University of Texas School of Nursing records and its finding aid.

The Duality Of Spirit Possession And Mental Illnesses In Islam, Tahia Rahman

Spectrum

No abstract provided.

A Nonsense Mutation In Gsdmc Is Associated With Cancer Mortality In Dogs, Hang Li

Public Health Theses

Over 400 distinct canine breeds today were result from artificial selection during the last centuries. And due to the selection pressure from human interest and the founder effects, the difference among individual genomes from one same breed is less than the difference between breeds. 446 samples were included in this study to recognize the cancer-associated nonsense mutations in canine genome. 17 of the 446 samples were lab-recruited dogs, and the other 429 samples were downloaded from Sequence Read Archive. One nonsense mutation in GSDMC protein is found significantly associated with cancer risk in dogs. Since nonsense mutations could provide premature …

How Federal And Maryland Courts Review Administrative Agency Actions, John R. Grimm, Landyn Wm. Rookard

Maryland Law Review

No abstract provided.

2022 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The purpose of beef cattle and beef product research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is to provide reference information that represents the various populations (cows, calves, heifers, feeders, carcasses, retail products, etc.) of beef production.

Dedicated in memory of Dr. Terry Klopfenstein (March 10, 1939-April 30, 2021), Professor Emeritus, Animal Science Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Cow-Calf Nutrition and Management

Impact of Cow Size on Economic Profitability in the Cow-Calf and Feedlot Production Systems

Comparison of Partially Confined and Traditional Cow-Calf Systems

Concepts in Stress Physiology

Inflammatory Modulators Improve Daily Gain of Heat-Stressed Wethers

Zilpaterol Supplementation Improved Indicators of Well-Being, but …

Fate Of Salmonella In Beef Steaks During Sous Vide Cooking, Heather B. Hunt, Samuel C. Watson, Byron D. Chaves, Gary Sullivan

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Sous vide cooking meat products has become a popular in-home method of food preparation. Previous research from UNL Meat Science using generic E. coli demonstrated the potential risk of sous vide cooking at temperatures recommended by some popular press items. To increase the understanding of the safety concerns of cooking beef products to temperatures below USDA-Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) guidance temperatures, the experiment was conducted with Salmonella. Steaks were internally inoculated with three serovars of Salmonella, and sous vide cooked to internal temperatures of 115, 125, and 130° F. At least a 5 log₁₀ reduction was achieved …

Effects Of Lime Amendment On Antibiotic Resistance In Beef Cattle Manure Of Open Feedlots, Noelle A. Mware, Galen E. Erickson, Amy Schmidt, Shannon L. Bartelt-Hunt, Xu Li

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of lime amendment on the reduction of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes in beef cattle manure in open feedlots. Hydrated lime was uniformly applied to the surface of feedlot pen floor 1 day prior to cattle harvest at a rate of 0.36 lb/ft² and samples were collected over time. Collected samples were analyzed for change in pH and levels of antimicrobial resistant bacteria and antimicrobial resistance genes. Lime amendment elevated the pH of pen floor surface materials to pH > 12 for 4 hours and then pH > 11 …

Impact Of Spring Corn Residue Grazing On Soil Physical Properties And Crop Yield, Morgan T. Grabau, J. C. Macdonald, Zachary E. Carlson, M. E. Drewnoski

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The effects of stocking density for spring corn residue grazing on soil physical properties and soybean yield were evaluated in an experiment with three treatments: no grazing, normal density, and high density. Normal density was stocked at 3 calves/acre and grazed 45 days starting in mid-February. High-density was stocked at 9 calves/acre and grazed 15 days starting in mid-March. Increased stocking density decreased residue cover and increased surface roughness. Bulk density and penetration resistance were increased for normal density compared to no graze, with no difference between grazed treatments, illustrating that grazing may cause minor compaction, regardless of stocking density. …

Evaluation Of Methane And Co2 Production In Growing And Finishing Cattle Raised In Conventional Or Partial Confinement-Based Herds, L. J. Mcphillips, Z. E. Carlson, Rick R. Stowell, J. C. Macdonald, Andrew E. Suyker, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Methane emissions from growing and finishing calves compared either a spring calving, conventional cow system or a summer calving, partially-confined cow system. Calves weaned from the confinement-based production system were smaller at weaning and compensated with greater gain during the growing phase. More days on feed in the finishing phase were needed for the calves from the confinement system to reach same backfat thickness. Over the entire growing and finishing phases, calves from the confinement-based system produced more total CH₄ and CH₄ per lb. HCW. Production of methane and CO₂ per lb. of gain was lower in …

Impact Of Biochar Supplementation In Finishing Diets On Greenhouse Gas Emissions, J. L. Sperber, Braden C. Troyer, Mitchell M. Norman, Levi J. Mcphillips, Heather Nobert, Andrea K. Watson, Galen E. Erickson

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

A study was conducted to evaluate the impact of feeding biochar in a finishing diet on cattle performance, methane and carbon dioxide emissions, and carcass characteristics. Two treatments were evaluated, a high-concentrate control diet without biochar and a diet with biochar included at 1.0% of the diet dry matter, replacing high moisture corn in the diet. Pens of cattle were rotated through a two-sided emissions barn (2 pens evaluated simultaneously) to capture CH4 and CO2 production. There were no statistical differences in gas emissions for biochar supplemented steers compared to control. There was a 2.4% decrease in dry matter intake …