Digital Commons Network^™

University Of Nebraska Sustainability Recommendations, Kat Woerner

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

In August 2020, the University of Nebraska (NU) system published a 5-year strategic plan with a point to “set and achieve University-wide sustainability goals.” Sustainability efforts at the University of Nebraska are well established as each campus has developed a Sustainability Master Plan (SMP) over the course of the last six years. With limited resources, a system-wide, coordinated effort is critical and requires a hierarchy of actions that are based on: clear goals and metrics that support the university mission, effective tracking systems, policies, strategies, actions, practices that support the goals, and organizational structure to oversee and support implementation.

The …

How Can Stakeholders In Food Sovereignty Achieve More Political Power?, Micah Dierks

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Food sovereignty (FSv) is a peasant-driven, transnational movement that emerged in response to land-grabbing and the consolidation of power in food production. It advocates for the rights of people to define their own food practices and systems. To provide targeted feedback for movement reflexivity, 21 ecological conflicts referencing food sovereignty were sampled from the Global Atlas of Environmental Justice (the EJAtlas). Involved groups of actors and their forms of mobilization were correlated with interpretations of success from the EJAtlas. I recommend that stakeholders in food sovereignty pursue the acquisition of greater political power through improving messaging, leveraging or disrupting existing …

Impact Of Concurrent Palliative Care In The Lung Cancer Patient, Kavita Sharma

Aurora GME

In 2010, Jennifer Temel et al. published a seminal paper in NEJM on early referral (within 8 wks. of diag) to subspecialty PC at MGH in patients newly diagnosed with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. This showed that early outpatient palliative care in addition to usual oncology care for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer improves physical symptoms, depression, sense of well-being, and not only doesn’t shorten life, but it may also prolong life. This has been a game changer for collaboration between oncology and palliative care. My talk highlights the importance of early involvement of palliative care in the lung cancer …

Influences Of Drosophila Circadian Clock On Sugar-Mediated Physiological Changes, Erica E Hassoun

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

It is widely known that high sugar consumption and poor sleep are detrimental to human health. Both are risk factors for obesity, which can lead to conditions such as heart disease. Despite this connection between sugar and sleep, little is known about how circadian clock dysfunction affects the physiological changes caused by increased sugar consumption. In this thesis, a mutant line of the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (Clk^Jrk, which contains a nonfunctional circadian rhythm gene known as Clk) that leads to circadian dysfunction, was exposed to a high sugar diet to observe how Clk affects sugar-related changes to …

Evaluating Sex-Dependent Changes In The Gut Microbiome Caused By Polychlorinated Biphenyl (Pcb) Exposure., Zayna Qaissi

College of Arts & Sciences Senior Theses

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that have been associated with fatty liver disease, cardiovascular diseases, and other metabolic dysfunctions. Our laboratory group previously demonstrated that exposures to PCBs led to sex-dependent liver outcomes with female mice showing higher susceptibility to PCB- induced liver toxicity. Some of the underlying mechanisms driving these sex-dependent outcomes that were identified included PCB-modulated endocrine disruption. However, the PCB effects on the gut microbiome and the gut liver axis have not been investigated. Therefore, the objective of the current study is to identify PCB-induced changes in the gut microbiome and identify if this could …

Effects Of One-Pass Microwave Drying On Rice’S Utilization In The Brewing Process., Christopher Stuckey

Food Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Rice is utilized as an adjunct grain by the beer manufacturing industry. Before utilization, the rice has to be dried to a desired moisture content. The drying process employed may have an impact on the rice’s physicochemical properties which influence the rice’s performance in the brewing process. This study focused on investigating the impact of microwave drying on rice’s physicochemical properties and utilization in the brewing process. Rough rice samples at an initial moisture content of 19.7% wet basis were exposed to microwave dryer set to deliver 525 kJ/kg of energy in a single drying pass. The effects of the …

Recipe Modification For Cardiovascular Health, Meg Tolbert

Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death globally. CVDs affect the heart and blood vessels. The most prominent CVDs are coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, rheumatic heart disease, and other conditions. More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes.

The most important behavioral risk factors of heart disease and stroke are unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, but also include harmful abuse of tobacco and alcohol. These lifestyle factors display themselves as phenotypes like high blood pressure, high blood glucose and blood lipids, diabetes, and obesity. These risk factors, outside of genotype …

Native And Non-Native Ant Impacts On Soil Microbes, Hannah A. Stewart

Biology Theses

Organisms produce chemical weapons for defense, but target organisms can develop resistance. In their introduced range, non-native species may bring “novel weapons” against which native organisms have not co-evolved resistance. The invasive European fire ant (Myrmica rubra) may have brought antimicrobial secretions to the Northeastern United States that are novel weapons against native fungal and bacterial soil organisms. I hypothesized that M. rubra would better inhibit seed pathogens resulting in greater emergence of native myrmecochorous Viola sororia seeds and, as a side effect, more strongly inhibit arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi than a native seed dispersing ant (Aphaenogaster picea …

Adopting Lactobacillus And Organic Acids As Alternative Treatments To Necrotic Enteritis, Javad A'Arabi

Honors Theses

From the Introduction:

"The hypothesis of this study was that the use of Lactobacillus species can inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria in the chicken gut and promote gut health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics bacteria, Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus salivarius, to protect chickens against Clostridium perfringens."

Reestablishing A New Normal: Addressing The Social Injustices At The Heart Of Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic And Examining The Role Of Feutin-A As A Potential Therapy, Christopher Robinson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.

Evaluating The Accuracy And Quality Of Microgreens Training Materials Available On The Internet: A Content Analysis, Supun Chathuranga Nabadawa Hewage

All Theses

Microgreens are the young, edible seedlings of various vegetables, spices, herbs, and considered as the intermediate stage of sprouts and mature greens, suggesting microgreens may share similar food safety risks with both of these produce. Even though there are no known outbreaks due to contaminated microgreens, multiple product recalls have been reported, indicating food safety risks associated with microgreens should not be underemphasized. A recent national survey of the U.S. microgreens industry reported that almost half of growers (48.3% of 176) learned to grow microgreens by viewing websites and videos on the internet.¹ However, it is unknown whether the …

Characterization Of A Potential Glucose Transporter In Trypanosoma Brucei, Matthew Morgan

All Theses

Trypanosoma brucei, the African trypanosome, is an organism heavily dependent on glucose for ATP production during the infectious stage of its life cycle. Here, we have explored the role of an uncharacterized protein designated “novel glucose transporter” (NGT) as a potential glucose transporter. Sequence analyses suggests that NGT shares similarities (either at the primary sequence level or structurally) with Trypanosome Hexose Transporters 1 (TbTHT1), and human GLUT3, both of which are membrane sugar transporters. NGT was localized by fluorescence microscopy to subcellular structures consistent with lysosomes. Silencing NGT expression with RNA interference in parasites resulted in a growth defect …

Effects Of Forest Management On Early-Successional Avian Species In The Southern Blue Ridge Ecoregion, Michael J. Adams

All Theses

Early-successional habitats are a critical habitat type for Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and Golden-winged Warblers (Vermivora chrysoptera). In the Southern Blue Ridge Ecoregion, early-successional habitats have declined over the last 70 years, and the extent of which Ruffed Grouse and Golden-winged Warblers occupy these habitats at the edge of their ranges is unknown. Understanding the factors that drive the presence or absence of these species in this region is critical to inform quality management of early-successional forests. Additionally, increased knowledge of these species will likely benefit other species of conservation concern that rely on early-successional forests, …

Use Of 14c-Pfoa To Study Uptake And Biological Effects Of Pfoa In Brassica Juncea, Bryanna Dawn Wattier

All Theses

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a surfactant, is a member of the perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) family and is a contaminant of emerging concern for human and environmental health. PFOA is a persistent organic pollutant but currently little is known about (1) the potential ecological and toxicological effects of PFOA and (2) how PFOA moves in the environment. This study employs a radiotracer (¹⁴C-PFOA) to study the uptake and effects of PFOA in hydroponically grown Brassica juncea, a representative crop species. Plants were exposed in quadruplicate over the course of seven days (with plants sampled on day 4 and day 7) …

Corporate America Gives Back: Exploring The Best Practices And Implemented Programs That Help Combat Food Insecurity In America, Emily Uvaney

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

As businesses of all types become more self-aware and responsive to consumers’ interests, they are quickly adapting their business models to include pillars of philanthropy. Philanthropic qualities are especially important in regards to the CPG industry (consumer packaged goods) since they often produce food products. Many consumers and analysts believe that CPGs have a moral obligation to cater to people with various types of dietary needs, restrictions, and preferences while also helping customers meet their nutritional minimums. Companies can aid consumers in a plethora of ways. Beneficial programs can include initiatives like fundraising, food drives, internal employee assistance programs, and …

Weight Management Program Using Myfitnesspal© In A Rural Primary Care Setting, Taylor Rittman

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP Capstone Projects

Obesity is a growing health concern that is linked to the development of chronically debilitating physical and mental illnesses. Obesity is a result of a long-term positive imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure. Evidence has shown more than one third of U.S. adults suffer from obesity. Primary care providers in the United States report being overburdened in treating obesity, citing a lack of time, structured approach, and structured resources. Furthermore, the disparities in obesity are even more prevalent in rural areas where older adults are the fastest growing part of the population at risk for this disease. Evidence indicates …

Effectiveness Of A Frailty Assessment Index To Predict Early Readmission Rates In Frail And Older Adult Renal Transplant Patients, Marilyn Barnett

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing DNP Capstone Projects

Background: Renal transplantation is a complex intervention integrating both medical and surgical modalities, and is considered the treatment of choice for many individuals with end-stage renal disease. The complicated care of patients undergoing renal transplantation puts them at risk for adverse outcomes including infection, allograft loss, and a greater risk for some types of cancer. Evaluating patients to ensure they have the ability and support to cope with the stress of surgery and recovery, is an important part of determining the most appropriate candidates to receive the limited supply of organs available. Frailty has increasingly been identified as a predictor …

Effects Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Health Behaviors And Feelings Of Career Preparedness Of Baccalaureate Nursing Students, Mary Haggard

The Eleanor Mann School of Nursing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The aim of this study was to determine if the COVID-19 pandemic affected the health behaviors and feelings of career preparedness of undergraduate nursing students. Participants were recruited from the pre-licensure program at the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville during the Fall 2021 semester. The final sample consisted of 92 participants. This study used a cross-sectional design, retrospectively measuring behaviors and attitudes pre-pandemic and during the lockdown period. Two-tailed paired t-tests were run on the health behavior sections and feelings of career preparedness sections independently. Results were deemed significant with an alpha value set …

The Role Of Perceived Organizational Support In Anxiety And Depression, Chloe Dingens

Honors Projects

This study seeks to explore the relationships between employees’ levels of perceived organizational support (POS) and their levels of anxiety and depression. Eisenberger et al. (1986, p. 500) defines POS as an employee's perception about how much the organization they work for values them and cares about their well-being. It was hypothesized that workers who experience higher POS will report lower anxiety and depression. Survey data were collected from 494 adults who worked an average of 39.9 hours per week (SD = 8.3). Participants completed survey measures of POS, anxiety, and depression, and reported demographics (e.g., job tenure) that were …

Effects Of Branched Chain Amino Acid Supplementation On Post-Exercise Muscle Recovery And Muscle Growth, Kyla N. Marquez

Honors Projects

BCAA supplements are composed of three main essential amino acids, including leucine, isoleucine, and valine. The concept of BCAA supplementation comes from the fact that essential amino acids cannot be made by the body and must be derived from food and diet, as amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and muscle. Thus, by increasing intake of these essential amino acids, BCAAs are believed to reduce the effects of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) by increasing availability of these important compounds. However, BCAAs are not approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as the FDA does not regulate dietary …

The Effect Of One Night Of Sleep Fragmentation On Aerobic Exercise Performance, Tara L. Thompson

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Purpose: People can experience sleep fragmentation for many reasons. The negative effect this has on a person’s daytime function and sleepiness has already been studied extensively, yet there is little on the effect it has on a person’s aerobic athletic performance. Many athletes experience frequent wake-ups in the middle of the night, due to nerves and other factors, which could potentially affect their performance.

Methods: For each of the eight subjects, testing began with a VO2max test and a familiarization trial. Following this, subject’s then participated in two experimental trials, where they were randomly assigned either a night of sleep …

Food Quality, Security, And Thermal Refuge Influence The Use Of Microsites And Patches By Pygmy Rabbits (Brachylagus Idahoensis) Across Landscapes And Seasons, Peter J. Olsoy, Charlotte R. Milling, Jordan D. Nobler, Meghan J. Camp, Lisa A. Shipley, Jennifer S. Forbey, Janet L. Rachlow, Daniel H. Thornton

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

How intensely animals use habitat features depends on their functional properties (i.e., how the feature influences fitness) and the spatial and temporal scale considered. For herbivores, habitat use is expected to reflect the competing risks of starvation, predation, and thermal stress, but the relative influence of each functional property is expected to vary in space and time. We examined how a dietary and habitat specialist, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), used these functional properties of its sagebrush habitat—food quality, security, and thermal refuge—at two hierarchical spatial scales (microsite and patch) across two seasons (winter and summer). At the …

The Effects Of A Nutrition Education Intervention On Supervised Practice Students' Meal Preparation Attitudes And Behaviors, Kathy M. Nunez

Student Projects for Graduate Degrees

Background Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who can help individuals make positive lifestyle changes, including the adoption of healthy culinary habits like meal preparation. However, many dietetic students and entry level RDNs themselves may be lacking the culinary and meal preparation knowledge, attitudes and behaviors necessary to prepare them for this role. Goal To evaluate the effect of a nutrition education intervention on the meal preparation attitudes and behaviors of supervised practice students. Methods Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) supervised program practice directors received an original email invitation for students to participate …

The Indications And Potential Complications Of Supplementing With Fat-Soluble Vitamins, Krista Thielges

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

There is a seemingly infinite list of available formations of over-the-counter supplements, including vitamins. According to Grand View Research, the nutritional supplement industry has grown in popularity in recent years, increasing its worth to an estimated 140 billion dollars in 2020 globally, with vitamins accounting for 31.4% of the revenue. An estimated half of Americans take a daily vitamin or supplement. With the increasing number of people supplementing, the incidence of disease should be trending down. This literature review focuses on fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin A, D, E, and K. Supplementation of these vitamins proposes the prevention of chronic diseases such …

Impacts Of Methods And Pose On Performance Of Two Modern American Football Helmets, Ta’Quoris Newsome

Honors Theses

The standardization of American football helmets began with the development of the National Operating Committee for Safety in Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). The organization successfully developed a certification that quantifies a helmet’s ability to mitigate blunt force to prevent skull fractures; however, the ability to assure the same level of protection against concussion has been elusive. Regardless, The National Football League (NFL) and Virginia Tech University (VT) have developed blunt and rotational impact testing methodologies that aim to provide consumers with the effectiveness and safety of American football helmets through their respective ranking system. These ranking systems are intended to aid …

Examining The Effects Of Oral Contraceptive Use On Thermoregulation, Whitley C. Atkins

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of combined (estradiol and progestin) monophasic oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use on thermoregulation. Further, we sought to evaluate OCP use on acute rehydration post-exercise in the heat using recommended rehydration guidelines. Methods: Twelve healthy, aerobically trained (VO2peak = 47.8 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min), long term female oral contraceptive users completed a familiarization trial and two experimental days separated by ≥ 7 days. The two experimental trials were identical except for the hormone dosing phase. One trial was completed during the third week of active pill dosing (ACT) and one during …

The Influence Of Dash Diet Education On Knowledge And Adherence In Primary Care: A Quality Improvement Project, Paige Bekker

Masters Projects

Background/Local Problem: A rural family practice was concerned about the number of

patients with uncontrolled hypertension, 19.86% n = 56, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). After several quality improvement (QI) initiates to lower the prevalence rate of uncontrolled hypertension, including proper measurement techniques and home monitoring, the modifiable risk factor of adapting one’s food intake was introduced using the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet as an intervention. The DASH diet is an evidence-based approach for lowering blood pressure. The QI project was completed with the purpose of implementing DASH diet education and …

Adipocyte-Derived Serum Amyloid A Promotes Angiotensin Ii–Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms In Obese C57bl/6j Mice, Preetha Shridas, Ailing Ji, Andrea C. Trumbauer, Victoria P. Noffsinger, Steve W. Leung, Adam J. Dugan, Sean E. Thatcher, Lisa A. Cassis, Frederick C. De Beer, Nancy R. Webb, Lisa R. Tannock

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Obesity increases the risk for human abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) and enhances Ang II (angiotensin II)-induced AAA formation in C57BL/6J mice. Obesity is also associated with increases in perivascular fat that expresses proinflammatory markers including SAA (serum amyloid A). We previously reported that deficiency of SAA significantly reduces Ang II-induced inflammation and AAA in hyperlipidemic apoE-deficient mice. In this study. we investigated whether adipose tissue-derived SAA plays a role in Ang II-induced AAA in obese C57BL/6J mice.

Methods: The development of AAA was compared between male C57BL/6J mice (wild type), C57BL/6J mice lacking SAA1.1, SAA2.1, and SAA3 …

The Role Of Obesity In Macrophage-Mediated Mechanisms Promoting Early-Onset Colon Cancer., Katharina Marietta Scheurlen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Early-onset colon cancer (EOCC) is a leading cause of cancer death among people younger than 50 years of age in the United States and is associated with metabolic dysfunction and obesity. Anti-inflammatory tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) and low Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Gamma (PPARγ) gene expression in colon cancer (CC) tissue promote tumor progression and decreased patient survival. Obesity-related hormones, such as leptin and adiponectin, have the potential to affect gene expression in TAM to promote CC progression and thereby link obesity and EOCC. The aim of this project was to identify target genes in human CC and to investigate the …

Positive And Negative Deviant Counties: Identification Of Factors Associated With Health Outcomes, Olivia Egen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rural counties in the United States vary drastically on metrics related to socioeconomic status and dominant economic industry as well as health behaviors and outcomes. This study sought to understand the underlying structural reasons why some rural counties have better or worse than expected health outcomes using a positive deviance (PD) approach. The study aimed to: 1) create an area deprivation index and divide counties into quartiles using the index; 2) identify positive, negative, and non-deviant counties using health outcome metrics; 3) analyze differences between deviance on a variety of local public health system metrics; and 4) analyze differences between …