Digital Commons Network^™

Proteolytic Manipulation Of Neutrophil Responses And The Efferocytic Synapse By Porphyromonas Gingivalis., Kelley N. Cooper

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) is etiologically associated with chronic periodontitis, a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of hard and soft tissues of the periodontium. Pg is adapted to live in the human oral subgingival niche, a hostile environment dominated by excessive numbers of activated neutrophils and antimicrobial mediators. Its survival is contingent upon prompt and effective inactivation of neutrophil effector functions. In this dissertation, I uncover a novel pathogenic mechanism employed by Pg that disarms the antimicrobial capacity of live neutrophils and simultaneously sequesters them within macrophages. Mechanistically, RgpB, a cysteine protease produced by Pg …

Defining The Peripheral Plasticity Of Nociceptive Afferents Following Spinal Cord Injury And Physical Therapy Intervention., Morgan Julianna Forston

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation is to explore the peripheral plasticity of nociceptive afferents following spinal cord injury (SCI) and whether it is exacerbated or induced when physical therapy-based muscle stretching, a therapy we have shown to be detrimental to locomotor recovery in rodents, is implemented post-SCI. Chapter I provides a brief introduction on sensory afferents with particular emphasis on nociceptive afferents and their multifaceted role within the peripheral and central nervous systems. Chapter II describes SCI epidemiology and common sensory related complications that occur in patients as well and pharmaco- and physical therapies that are employed post-SCI. Chapter III …

Analysis Of The Robustness And Sensitivity Of Deep Learning Models For Automatic Target Recognition., Wael Bouchaala

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) is an essential technology in various domains such as security, autonomous vehicles, and military applications. ATR systems are designed to detect, recognize, and classify objects of interest using sensor data, typically infrared imagery, to ensure reliable real-time operations under varying environmental conditions. However, the robustness and accuracy of ATR systems are often challenged by factors such as target occlusion, varying distances, and environmental perturbations. This thesis investigates the application of state-of-the-art deep learning techniques to enhance the performance and robustness of ATR systems. Specifically, we explore the use of Vision Transformers (ViT), Swin Transformer, and a …

Feasting In Small-Scale Societies: A Fort Ancient Example., Allison Sherman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Archaeological and ethnographic feasting studies have been dominated by competitive feasts, especially those in complex societies. By studying feasting in small-scale egalitarian societies, archaeologists can better understand the range of social aspects of feasting. Turpin, an early Fort Ancient site near the confluence of the Little Miami and Ohio Rivers, provides a case study for feasting in a small-scale agricultural society. Feature 100, a large pit feature, was initially interpreted as the remains of a feasting event. Using zooarchaeological, ceramic, and paleoethnobotanical data, the assemblage of Feature 100 was compared to that of an everyday domestic deposit. Based on these …

Understanding Carceral Pathways And Outcomes Of Marginalized Adults Who Use Drugs., Carmen Renee Mitchell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation is an examination of outcomes among substance users at various stages of the incarceration process divided among five chapters. Chapter One provides an overview of substance use disorder (SUD), incarceration, and wider justice system-involvement, and explores how the political economy of health theoretical framework can be applied to examine how the criminal justice system creates and perpetuates inequality among marginalized people who use substances. Chapter Two examines post-release health outcomes among the population of incarcerated people who use substances using a scoping review and finds that people in reentry with SUD have poorer overall outcomes that without transitional …

Differential Responses Of Human Neutrophils To Legionella Species., Hannah E. Hanford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Legionella species are Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterial pathogens commonly found in freshwater or soil environments where they survive and replicate within their natural protozoan hosts. Humans serve as an accidental host for Legionella species after inhalation of contaminated aerosolized water droplets or soil particles enabling the bacteria to enter the lungs, infect alveolar macrophages, and result in severe pneumonia. Evasion of degradation and proliferation within alveolar macrophages by Legionella species and manifestation of “Legionnaires’ disease” is dependent on the Dot/Icm type IV secretion system (T4SS). The T4SS apparatus is a needle-like channel for translocation of over ~350 effector proteins, depending …

Plasma Resuscitation Attenuates Hemorrhage-Induced Glomerular Barrier Damage And Dysfunction., William Byron Risinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Acute renal dysfunction following traumatic injury and hemorrhagic shock carries significant morbidity and mortality. Despite an extensive understanding of renal tubule damage after injury, less is known regarding early alterations to the glomerular filtration barrier following hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation. Previously, our lab and others have demonstrated improved hepatic and intestinal microcirculatory parameters when resuscitation strategies incorporate fresh frozen plasma. In addition to improving end-organ perfusion, plasma reconstitutes the endothelial glycocalyx, an essential regulator of vascular permeability and microcirculatory function. However, the impact of plasma resuscitation on the glomerular glycocalyx and barrier following hemorrhage remains unknown. We hypothesized …

Carroll County Advisory Council Minutes 2020, Mikayla Cerney

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Ties That Bind: The Long Emancipation And Status Ambiguity In Early 20th-Century Southwestern Tanzania, Lydia (Wilson) Marshall, Thomas John Biginagwa

Sociology & Anthropology Faculty publications

In the 1890s, the slave and ivory trader Rashid bin Masoud established the settlement Kikole deep in what is now southwestern Tanzania. Kikole was strategically located near Lake Nyasa, a major slaving region. Masoud's followers residing at Kikole were typically referred to as his slaves by German colonists and missionaries. Local oral histories today, however, define these followers as askari (soldiers or guards) or mafundi (technicians or specialists; in this case, in using weaponry). This article considers how recent expanded excavations at Kikole can help us better understand Masoud's followers. Differences in housing investment and material access suggest status differences …

Myosin Xva Isoforms Participate In The Mechanotransduction-Dependent Remodeling Of The Actin Cytoskeleton In Auditory Stereocilia, Ana I. López-Porras, Ava M. Kruse, Mark T. Mcclendon, A. Catalina Vélez-Ortega

Neurology Faculty Publications

Auditory hair cells form precise and sensitive staircase-like actin protrusions known as stereocilia. These specialized microvilli detect deflections induced by sound through the activation of mechano-electrical transduction (MET) channels located at their tips. At rest, a small MET channel current results in a constant calcium influx which regulates the morphology of the actin cytoskeleton in the shorter ‘transducing’ stereocilia. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this novel type of activity-driven plasticity in the stereocilium cytoskeleton are currently unknown. Here, we tested the contribution of myosin XVA (MYO15A) isoforms, given their known roles in the regulation of stereocilia dimensions during hair …

Let's Get The Ball Rolling: Dynamic Affordances For An Object Retrieval Task In Virtual Reality, Elenah Rosopa

All Theses

Virtual reality (VR) is widely used in domains such as training, rehabilitation, entertainment, and gaming. For users to perceive affordances in VR, the virtual environment must provide sufficient perceptual information. Recent studies have focused on affordance perception—individuals' ability to discern action-relevant information—primarily in static environments. This study explored dynamic affordances by manipulating the size, speed, and gap width of a virtual target. Participants performed an object retrieval task, and performance was measured by the percentage of targets retrieved and the percentage of errors on each trial. Participants were more successful in retrieving larger targets, contrary to the expectation that larger …

The Case For E15: A Cheaper, Cleaner Fuel, Cassidy Skillett

Op-Eds from ENSC230 Energy and the Environment: Economics and Policies

In its name, “E” indicates that the fuel contains ethanol and “15” communicates that 15% of the gasoline blend is ethanol. When Nebraskan drivers pull up to the gas station, they can buy cheaper and cleaner E15. In 43 states - drivers are not so lucky. A new bill would end fuel discrimination of E15 at refueling stations nationwide.

This change is long overdue and would allow E15 to be available year-round in all states rather than just during the winter.

Shifting Perspectives With Procedural Modeling Techniques And Vertex Animated Textures For Real-Time Interactive Morphing, Stephanie Schulze

All Theses

As humans experience reality, they intake external stimuli using sensory receptors to process information, forming a perception. Perceptions are subjective and shape each individual’s reality. Naturally then, by changing one’s perceptions, their experience of reality is altered, for better or worse. To emphasize the idea that perception is malleable and encourage a mindset of questioning alternative ways to look at a situation, an interactive experience in Unreal Engine is developed where a dull cityscape morphs and transforms into a surreal oversized nature scene. Procedural modeling techniques are used to create a variety of morphing assets, while Vertex Animated Textures are …

A Graph Theoretical Approach To Experimental Prioritization In Genome-Scale Investigations., Stephen K Grady, Kevin A Peterson, Stephen A Murray, Erich J Baker, Michael A Langston, Elissa J Chesler

Faculty Research 2024

The goal of systems biology is to gain a network level understanding of how gene interactions influence biological states, and ultimately inform upon human disease. Given the scale and scope of systems biology studies, resource constraints often limit researchers when validating genome-wide phenomena and potentially lead to an incomplete understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Further, prioritization strategies are often biased towards known entities (e.g. previously studied genes/proteins with commercially available reagents), and other technical issues that limit experimental breadth. Here, heterogeneous biological information is modeled as an association graph to which a high-performance minimum dominating set solver is applied to …

The Mutant Mouse Resource And Research Center (Mmrrc) Consortium: The Us-Based Public Mouse Repository System., Yuksel Agca, James Amos-Landgraf, Renee Araiza, Jennifer Brennan, Charisse Carlson, Dominic Ciavatta, Dave Clary, Craig Franklin, Ian Korf, Cathleen Lutz, Terry Magnuson, Fernando Pardo-Manuel De Villena, Oleg Mirochnitchenko, Samit Patel, Dan Port, Laura G Reinholdt, K C Kent Lloyd

Faculty Research 2024

Now in its 25th year, the Mutant Mouse Resource and Research Center (MMRRC) consortium continues to serve the United States and international biomedical scientific community as a public repository and distribution archive of laboratory mouse models of human disease for research. Supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the MMRRC consists of 4 regionally distributed and dedicated vivaria, offices, and specialized laboratory facilities and an Informatics Coordination and Service Center (ICSC). The overarching purpose of the MMRRC is to facilitate groundbreaking biomedical research by offering an extensive repertoire of mutant mice that are essential for advancing the understanding of …

Green Gatekeepers, Luca Enriques, Alessandro Romano, Andrew F. Tuch

Minnesota Law Review Vols. 106:2 onward (2021-present)

Products are routinely labeled “carbon neutral,” “recycled,” “biodegradable,” “ocean-friendly,” and “sustainable.” Bonds are marketed as “green” and mutual funds as “ESG,” while firms may pledge to become “net zero.” But are statements concerning environmental qualities reliable? It is often hard for consumers and investors to tell. Environmental qualities tend to have credence attributes; they cannot be verified even after consumption. Green gatekeepers constitute an increasingly important response to this problem. Occasionally required by law but more often enlisted voluntarily by firms, green gatekeepers certify claims made about the green qualities of products or firms, promising to significantly mitigate information asymmetries …

Rumen-Protected Methionine Supplementation Improves Lactation Performance And Alleviates Inflammation During A Subclinical Mastitis Challenge In Lactating Dairy Cows, A. Paz, T.C. Michelotti, M. Suazo, J. Bonilla, M. Bulnes, A. Minuti, D. Luchini, E. Trevisi, A.F. Lima, J. Halfen, M. Rovai, J.S. Osorio

Dairy Science and Food Science Faculty Publications: 2022 to Present

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rumen-pro- tected Met on lactation performance, inflammation, and immune response, and liver glutathione of lactating dairy cows during a subclinical mastitis challenge (SMC). Thirty-two Holstein cows (145 ± 51 DIM) were enrolled in a randomized complete block design. At −21 d relative to the SMC, cows were assigned to dietary treatments, and data were collected before and during the SMC. Cows were blocked according to parity, DIM, and milk yield and received a basal diet (17.4% CP; Lys 7.01% MP and Met 2.14% MP) plus 100 g/d of ground corn (CON; n …

Wine-Rs Or Losers: Assessing Socio-Economic Impacts Of Eu Regulations On Climate-Exacerbated Plant Diseases And Pests Within Northern Italian Viticulture, Kyley N. Fishman

Undergraduate Honors Theses

As climate change furthers weather events and unprecedented hot and wet seasons, European farmers are amongst those challenged by these threats. Balancing sustainable and traditional practices while maintaining socio-economic stability can be difficult, especially under European Union (EU) agricultural regulations. A key area of concern for some agro-regulations is viticulture, or grape growing, which is amongst the most climate-sensitive agricultural sectors. These agro-regulations address multiple goals, including sustainability, exports, and cultural heritage protection. Yet, to what extent EU climate-driven agricultural regulations influence regional wine-growing operations’ socio-economics remains unclear, particularly in managing climate-aggravated pests and plant diseases. My thesis aims to …

Pokémon Go: Fostering Community In Location-Based Augmented Reality, Miranda Ward

Communication Studies

While most modern video games are played from the comfort of one's own home, Pokémon GO (2016) is a game that requires people to leave their homes and interact with other people in the real world. Pokémon GO contains community-building mechanics that reward players for interacting with each other and catching Pokémon. Due to this, players use third-party applications to organize meetups, particularly through Campfire, which is an app owned by the same company who created the game, Niantic. Uses and Gratifications Theory can be applied to understand why players choose to play Pokémon GO and what needs the game …

Prioritizing The Parent Perspective: A Mixed Methods Approach To Deconstructing Learning Deficiencies Within Marginalized And Underserved Communities, Zea Wallace

McNair Scholars Research Journal

No abstract provided.

First Breeding Confirmation For Red-Breasted Nuthatch (Sitta Canadensis) Along The Big Bend Reach Of The Platte River, Jacob C. Cooper, Cody Mcgregor, Letitia M. Reichart, Janet Steele

Nebraska Bird Review

The Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) is a highly nomadic species of North American nuthatch prone to large movements across the entire continent (Ghalambor and Martin 2020). This behavior has resulted in both a lack of geographic variation across the continent and propensity to colonize isolated patches of suitable habitat (Ghalambor and Martin 2020). In the Bessey District of the Nebraska National Forest (NNF), Red-breasted Nuthatches were one of the first coniferous-forest bird species to colonize and begin breeding in the isolated planted stands of pine (Zimmer 1913, Bray 1994). Despite the increasing number of records for the species …

Index To Volume 92

Nebraska Bird Review

Able, K. A. 131
Adams, H. 88
Alexander, Jan 33
Allard, Savannah 33
Allen: C.R. 167; Edward 58
Allison, Betty 34
Altman, Dakota 33
Ames, Cheryl 68
Amy, Peter 68
Anderson: Ann 157; Brett 32, 34; Logan 61; Rachel 33; Will 125
Andersson, Justin 34
Ani, Groove-billed 134
Archer, Kellen 33
Arends, Jim 34
Audubon, John J. 18, 19, 20
Austgen, Jane 34
Avocet, American 58, 92, 111, 148, 169

. . .

Zach, Joel 34
Zicafoose, Kirby 32
Zimmer, J.T. 167
Zimmerman, Kelsey 63
Zoller, Lawrence 61
Zonotrichia leucophrys: leucophrys 16, 72; oriantha 16, 72

Mccook Fall Field Days, Sept. 20–22, 2024, Gary Roberts

Nebraska Bird Review

The 2024 NOU Fall Field Days were held in McCook on September 20–22, with approximately fifty-one people in attendance. The programs were held at McCook Community College Student Union. A special thanks to Boni Edwards and Jan Johnson for planning the meeting.

Field trips were led by Bill Flack—Medicine Creek Reservoir and Cambridge Park, Robin Harding—Red Willow Reservoir and Culbertson Trail, Joel Jorgenson—Swanson Reservoir and Hitchcock County, and T.J. Walker—Rock Creek Recreation Area and Dundy County. Counties included were Chase, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Hayes, Hitchcock, Lincoln, Perkins, and Red Willow.

A total of 139 species were observed with notable sightings …

Fall Field Report, August–November 2024, W. Ross Silcock

Nebraska Bird Review

First off, I should reiterate that records are only mentioned in this Introduction and in the text when they add to or fine-tune data included in BONO (Birds of Nebraska – Online (outdoornebraska.gov). It was my expectation that as the number of birders and in particular those reporting to eBird continue to increase, gaps in the database will be filled and my job will become simpler. However, this expectation is yet to be realized, likely due to increasing movements and activity among birds that appears to be due to increasing severity of weather events, such as heat, cold, and drought, …

The Nebraska Bird Review (December 2024) 92(4), Whole Issue

Nebraska Bird Review

Fall Field Report, August–November 2024, by W. Ross Silcock

First Breeding Confirmation for Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) along the Big Bend Reach of the Platte River, by Jacob C. Cooper, Cody McGregor, Letitia M. Reichart, and Janet Steele

McCook Fall Field Days, Sept. 20–22, 2024, by Gary Roberts

Index to Volume 92

Subscription and Organization Information

Household Vegetable Gardening In Quezon City, Philippines: Practices, Benefits, And Constraints, John Luis D. Lagdameo, Angelica Nicolette B. Dejaresco, Ma. Cecilia M. Gonzales, Liz Ignowski, Pepijn Schreinemachers, Arma R. Bertuso

Leadership and Strategy Faculty Publications

The study collected a wide range of information from respondents. It included details about their identities, such as names, ages, and genders. Additionally, it examined household characteristics, including house size, sources of income, and the number of floors in their homes. The research also explored urban food production and planting practices, identifying the types of vegetables grown, the locations of these planting activities, and the technologies used. Moreover, it investigated food acquisition and meal preparation, focusing on sources of food, safety concerns, and the challenges faced in obtaining these items. Diet diversity was assessed through a one-month recall of food, …

Citation Bias, Diversity, And Ethics, Keisha S Ray, Perry Zurn, Jordan D Dworkin, Dani S Bassett, David B Resnik

Faculty and Staff Publications

How often a researcher is cited usually plays a decisive role in that person's career advancement, because academic institutions often use citation metrics, either explicitly or implicitly, to estimate research impact and productivity. Research has shown, however, that citation patterns and practices are affected by various biases, including the prestige of the authors being cited and their gender, race, and nationality, whether self-attested or perceived. Some commentators have proposed that researchers can address biases related to social identity or position by including a Citation Diversity Statement in a manuscript submitted for publication. A Citation Diversity Statement is a paragraph placed …

Evaluation Of Biochar As A Remediation Tool For Aminopyralid Contaminated Compost, Steven James Parris

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Aminopyralid is a synthetic auxin herbicide which is applied to grass pastures to control broadleaf weed populations. Aminopyralid can contaminate compost through inputs derived from treated pastures such as manure and grass clippings. This possibility poses the threat of inadvertent herbicide exposure to sensitive vegetable plants through using compost contaminated with aminopyralid. Biochar can absorb pollutants and has a synergistic effect with compost when applied to the compost mixture. This study examined the relationship between biochar and aminopyralid through compost consisting of dairy manure and sawdust 1:1 mixture, aminopyralid (10μg/kg), and biochar at four treatment levels of total mass of …

The Atheroprotective Impact Of Anti-Mir-33a-5p/3p In Cultured Pro-Inflammatory Endothelial Cells, Kun Huang

All Dissertations

Atherosclerosis is the process of cholesterol buildup within arterial cells, which is considered a leading factor that causes certain cardiovascular diseases. Cholesterol accumulation within pro-inflammatory endothelial cells is thought to induce atherogenesis and accelerate atherosclerosis progression. Evidence suggests inhibiting the microRNA miR-33a in arterial cells may promote atheroprotection via increasing ABCA1 protein expression. MiR-33a is processed into two functional strands, miR-33a-5p and miR-33a-3p. The potential atheroprotective effect of inhibiting miR-33a-5p and/or miR-33a-3p precisely in pro-inflammatory endothelial cells is not fully understood, as data is scant regarding what potential atheroprotective impact ABCA1-dependent cholesterol within pro-inflammatory endothelial cells demonstrates, which occurs via …

Scavenging As An Accelerant In The Postmortem Interval Estimate: Refining Quantitative Regressions For Decomposition Analyses In Southeast Nebraska, Jenna L. Alexander

Department of Anthropology: Theses and Student Research

In forensic anthropology, the postmortem interval (PMI) is an estimation of the time elapsed from the moment of death to the point of discovery or examination. Contemporary approaches for estimating PMI have sought to refine broad quantitative regressions by addressing variance among intrinsic and extrinsic influences of decomposition at a regional level. Southeast Nebraska and the broader Great Plains region encompass one of the most influential agricultural ecosystems, featuring a unique climate type and a diverse spectrum of vertebrate scavengers. While there has been minimal research addressing how the biogeoclimatic conditions of Nebraska affect predicted estimates for PMI using known …