Exploring Promising Practices In Temporary Informal Education Programs For Visitor And Community Engagement In The United States National Park Service, Cameron L. Miller

All Theses

According to the National Association for Interpretation (NAI), interpretation is “a purposeful approach to communication that facilitates meaningful, relevant, and inclusive experiences that deepen understanding, broaden perspectives, and inspire engagement with the world around us” (NAI, 2021). Interpretation is an integral part of a visitor’s experience to informal education venues like museums, zoos, aquariums, and parks and is at the heart of experience planning within the National Park Service (NPS). However, traditional interpretation methods, such as formal interpretation programs, tend to engage a small percentage of overall park visitors, that are typically older and white. Recognizing the need for interpretation …

Effect Of Amino Acid Derivatives And Polyphenol Supplementation On Skeletal Muscle Growth In-Vitro And In-Vivo, Gabriella C. Iheanacho

All Theses

Background

Satellite cells (SCs) are myogenic precursor cells that play a crucial role in muscle growth, and their activity can be influenced by nutrient supplementation. Muscle growth can also be stimulated using growth-promoting hormones; however, there are no approved growth hormones for use in sheep in the United States (Qaid & Abdoun, 2022). This limitation highlights a need to identify alternative compounds that would serve as nutrient supplements to enhance muscle growth and thereby improve meat production. Amino acid derivatives such as guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), along with the polyphenol quercetin, are naturally derived compounds that have shown …

Post-Harvest Storage Of Fuzzy Cottonseed: Quality, Airflow Modeling, And Energy Use, Elijah T. Porter

All Theses

Fuzzy cottonseed is a valuable byproduct of the cotton ginning process. When cottonseed exits the cotton gin, it often retains high temperatures and moisture contents. Once in a storage facility, the cottonseed needs to be conditioned for safe storage. The overall objectives of this study were to analyze quality changes in cottonseed according to storage conditions, determine the airflow resistance properties of fuzzy cottonseed, develop a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a representative cottonseed storage facility, and analyze cottonseed aeration fan strategies, runtimes, and costs. Changes in quality dictate the allowable storage time for cottonseed and are impacted by …

The Development And Application Of A Method To Simulate Commotio Cordis Inducing Impacts For The Evaluation Of Football Chest Protective Equipment, Bianca J. Henline

All Theses

As one of the most widely played and watched contact sports in the United States, football presents a significant risk of blunt chest trauma. Thus, effective chest protection is essential to prevent rare but fatal injuries like commotio cordis. Despite this, current test methods for certifying chest protective equipment fail to account for injury metrics relevant to commotio cordis events. Recent literature identifies rib deformation and viscous criterion as critical predictors of commotio cordis, yet these metrics are not adequately addressed in the existing testing standard. Furthermore, this standard exclusively assesses chest gear specific to baseball and lacrosse through projectile …

Polyphenols For The Mitigation Of Vascular Calcification; In Vitro And In Vivo Studies, Abdullah Altuhami

All Theses

Globally, cardiovascular diseases, in most cases associated with calcification, are the main cause of death. However, currently, the only effective cure is to undergo surgery to augment or receive a healthy donor heart, which could be very difficult due to the long waiting list and the associated risks. The possibility of body rejection of the foreign organs is attributed to immunoreaction or the risk of infection, since the donor must be on immunosuppressant drugs that lower the body's immunity and facilitate the body's acceptance of the new organ as one of its own. Taking that into consideration, using tissue-engineered vascular …

Effect Of Cigarette Smoke Extract And Nutrient Deficiency On Energy Metabolism And Biosynthesis: An In Vitro Intervertebral Disc Explant Culture Study, Avery E. Madden

All Theses

Low back pain consistently ranks among the leading causes of disability worldwide, with degenerative changes in spinal intervertebral discs (IVDs) recognized as a key contributor. Degeneration arises from the disruption of mechanical and biological cues within the disc’s cartilaginous tissue, often exacerbated by aging or injury. In recent decades, cigarette smoking has also been identified as a significant risk factor, as IVD degeneration is more prevalent among individuals with a history of smoking. Smoke inhalation is thought to promote degeneration both directly, by exposing cells to water-soluble toxic chemicals in smoke; and indirectly, through nutrient deficiency resulting from vasoconstriction and …

Consumer Preferences For Blockchain Technology In Tracking Carbon Footprint And Organic Claims In Animal-Based Foods, Josie Nasekos

All Theses

In 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (PCSC) program set aside over $3 billion to be invested in 141 projects for agricultural products produced using practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase carbon sequestration. Although the majority of the PCSC funding was canceled in 2025, save a few selected projects that could potentially receive funding under the USDA’s new Advancing Markets for Producers initiative, there is no USDA-certified label to verify the climate-smart commodities that already received funding or similar products that exist in the market. However, third-party verified carbon footprint labels can …

Determining The Impact Of Surface Roughness On Disinfection Efficacy Of Commercial Products Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa And Staphylococcus Aureus Wet Surface Biofilms, Kayley Stallings

All Theses

Biofilms are resistant to many stressors including disinfectant treatments. Disinfection may be further complicated by biofilms formed on damaged surfaces, as the damaged parts provide bacteria a better place to attach and grow. To better understand the risks, a new method to standardize surface scratching, to emulate worn surfaces via surface roughness changes was developed. These surfaces were used to grow biofilms with an adapted standardized EPA method to determine disinfection efficacy differences on scratched and non-scratched high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and stainless steel (SS) coupons treated with commercial disinfectants [hypochlorite (CL)-based, hydrogen peroxide (HP)-based, and quaternary ammonium (QA)-based]. Post-80 grit …

Quantifying The Effect Of Initial Molecular Weight Distribution On The Degradation Of Linear Polyethylene At High Temperatures Using Dissipative Particle Dynamics, Cassandra L. Simpson

All Theses

Polyolefins are the primary contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and supply chain energy requirements with respect to other commodity polymers. In order to explore more efficient methods for recycling and upcycling these plastics, it is important to consider the kinetics of polymer fragments during the degradation process to more accurately reflect experimental outcomes. The molecular weight distribution of synthetic polymers is an important factor to consider when synthesizing, processing, and manufacturing industrial plastics. The breadth of this distribution, or dispersity, is determined by the ratio of the weight average molecular weight to the number average molecular weight, and is correlated …

Plant Nutrient Interactions In High-Yielding Soybean Environments, Victoria Inklman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Plant nutrient demands and limitations are usually studied individually by nutrient. Here, we investigated how nitrogen (N) limitation in high-yielding soybean environments affects the uptake, removal, and residual of other plant macro- and micronutrients. The objective of this study was to quantify the uptake, removal, and residual levels of soybean macro- and micronutrients under N-limited conditions and to identify nutrient priorities for high-yielding soybean systems. Aboveground plant samples at physiological maturity were collected in 19 high-yielding soybean fields with N limitation across the state of Nebraska. Reference plots with ample N supply were included within each field to compare macro- …

Crop, Soil Nutrient, And Soil Health Responses Within Integrated Crop And Livestock Systems, Alyssa K. Hall

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We evaluated the influences of grazing livestock on crop production, soil nutrients, and soil health indicators of integrated crop livestock systems using three experiments during a seven-yr. period. Objectives were to (1) determine livestock grazing and cropping system effects on crop yield and soil properties across six yr. in corn-soybean (C-S) and wheat-corn-soybean (W-C-S) systems with and without periodic composted manure application, (2) explore seasonal variation in soil nutrient patterns over two yr., and (3) measure residual responses for corn grain yield plus soil health indicators in yr. seven following a six-yr. study. In experiment 1, neither livestock grazing ( …

Regulating Cutthroat Business, Luke Herrine

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

August 2025, Swosu Rural Health Center

RURAL ROCKS

• Natural Probiotics: 7 Foods to Eat for Better Gut Health
• The Overlooked Link Between Vitamin D and GI Health

• Colorectal Cancer by Stephen Drinnon, Pharm.D.

• PHARMACIST’S IMMUNIZATION TRAINING PROGRAM

• PHARMACY TECHNICIAN IMMUNIZATION TRAINING PROGRAM

• How Pharmacies Can Address Social Drivers of Health

Technology-Enabled Foreign Object (Fo) Prevention, Christopher Lee Colaw

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The aviation industry incurs $14 billion per year in cost due to Foreign Object (FO) damage and the prevention and resolution techniques associated with foreign object debris. While aircraft loss, material scrap and rework contribute to that cost impact, a traditional approach to aircraft design and manufacturing which is based on human performance is also a significant driver. Failure modes and effects analysis of human based aircraft manufacturing reveals that two of the largest risks are associated with unknown potential for FO creation and the inability to recall or objectively provide evidence of FO conformity for cases of inquiry, learning, …

Restoring Balance: Choctaw Policy And The Environment In New Spain's Eighteenth-Century Frontier, Fior Daliso Garcia Lara

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

During the colonial period, Indigenous peoples in the Lower Mississippi Valley used their deep ecological knowledge to respond to imperial pressures. Eighteenth-century Louisiana was a contested borderland where Spain, France, and England vied for expansion through alliances, warfare, and trade with Native tribes. As European powers vied for control of the region, Native groups devised strategies to assert sovereignty over their territories and livelihoods. My dissertation examines the ecological history of the Choctaw and Spanish Louisiana from 1763 until the United States Indian Removal Act in the 1830s. It argues that imperial disputes over Indigenous lands compelled the Choctaw to …

Characterization Of Glyt1 Expression And Glycinergic Circuits, Laura Patricia Montes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Glycine is one of the main inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. Glycine is regulated by the glycine transporters 1 and 2 (GlyT1 and GlyT2, respectively) in the synaptic cleft. Both transporters participate in glycinergic inhibitory neurotransmission. Moreover, GlyT1 also participates in glutamatergic excitatory neurotransmission. GlyT2 is devoted to caudal regions of the brain and is used as a marker for glycinergic neurons. In contrast, GlyT1 is expressed across the brain in the rostrocaudal axis and is highly associated with GlyT1-positive glial cells. Data from our laboratory has identified GlyT1-positive neurons in the rodent brain. Therefore, we hypothesize that …

Regulating Cutthroat Business, Luke Herrine

Articles

The production of meat is almost entirely controlled by a small group of multinational agribusinesses. These "packers" own everything from animal genetics to feed to wholesaling to slaughtering to butchering-leaving only the raising of the animals to nominally independent farmers, who are, in turn, controlled through one-sided contracts. Packers use this power both to push down costs and make raising and slaughtering animals more specialized and efficient and to extract more money from farmers, workers, retailers, consumers, and state and local governments. They also wield their resources to avoid accountability for the costs they impose on others and to shape …

The Role Of Cleavage And Polyadenylation Spcific Factor 6 (Cpsf6) In Hematopoiesis, Fengxi Ye

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Cleavage and polyadenylation specific factor 6 (Cpsf6) translocation is frequently reported in APLL, which is Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)-like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and other types of blood diseases associated with abnormal hematopoiesis. CPSF6 is a subunit of the Cleavage Factor I mammalian (CFIm) complex, which regulates post-transcriptional alternative polyadenylation (APA) of pre-mRNAs. Previous research indicated that Cpsf6 plays an essential role in alternative polyadenylation, development, and tumorigenesis. However, the role of Cpsf6 in hematopoiesis is unknown. Given its roles in APA, development and cancer, we hypothesize that Cpsf6 plays a critical role in hematopoiesis and that its …

Migratory Patterns Of Juvenile Shortfin Makos (Isurus Oxyrinchus): Evidence Of A Nursery In The Western North Atlantic, Julia A. Crews

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Shortfin Makos, Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810, are lamnids that have a global distribution in temperate and tropical oceans. Locations of critical early life history events including birthing and nursery areas are unknown or unconfirmed for most populations. The objective of this study was to identify if a nursery area for Shortfin Makos in the northern waters of the Mid-Atlantic Bight using the criteria articulated by Heupel et al. (2007). Satellite tags were used to track the movement of juveniles (<200 cm TL, n=7) up to 5 months. Tag detections (n=882) confirmed that young makos stay in continental shelf waters of the northern Mid-Atlantic Bight off Long Island through the meteorological summer (June–August) and early meteorological fall (September–October) when sea surface temperatures are 18–23°C. There was clear migratory movement from juveniles once sea surface temperatures fell below 15°C. During late fall, some young sharks moved south towards Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, while one shark moved east up to 1,800 km into the open north Atlantic Ocean into meteorological winter. These movement data of juvenile Shortfin Makos combined with multi-year catches and sightings (2018–2024) provide strong evidence for a nursery area in the northern Mid-Atlantic Bight. By identifying a nursery area for Shortfin Makos, knowledge gaps that currently exist for this vulnerable species and support effective management can be closed.

Site Fidelity, Seasonality, Movement, And Fish Associates Of Sand Tigers Carcharias Taurus In North Carolina, Ara L. Mcclanahan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sand tigers Carcharias taurus are mackerel sharks with a disjunct global distribution in tropical and temperate seas. In the northwest Atlantic, sand tigers migrate along the coast of the eastern United States from the Gulf of Maine to Florida and occupy structurally complex benthic habitats. The long-term, underwater camera installation, SharkCam, at Frying Pan Tower, off Cape Fear, North Carolina, USA, sits atop an expanse of hard bottom reef frequented by sand tigers. The citizen-science platform Spot A Shark USA (SAS USA) uses images of sand tigers to identify and track individuals. This study utilized image encounters from SAS USA …

A Multi-Isotope Investigation Of Mammoth Diet, Habitat, And Movement Patterns In The Central Great Plains, U.S.A., Jacob Mccloskey

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the Great Plains in Nebraska consisted of wooded parklands and grasslands, whereas spruce (Picea) forests, parklands, and steppe grasslands dominated east of the Missouri River. I analyzed bulk carbon (δ¹³C), oxygen (δ¹⁸O), and strontium (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) isotopes from tooth enamel in isolated mammoth (Mammuthus) molars to compare diet and movement patterns in two late Pleistocene assemblages: one in Nebraska (n = 24), and one in western Iowa and Missouri (n = 17). Furthermore, I identified a morphometric subset of molars as …

Evaluation Of Performance Characteristics And Groundwater Contamination Risks Associated With On-Farm Swine Carcass Disposal Via Composting And Shallow Burial With Carbon, Gustavo Castro Garcia

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation evaluates the performance of three on-farm swine carcass disposal methods: whole carcass composting (WCC), ground carcass composting (GCC), and shallow burial with carbon (SBC), focusing on biosecurity factors and groundwater contamination risks. Foreign animal diseases (FADs), such as African swine fever and classical swine fever, pose severe economic and animal well-being risks if introduced to the United States. With confirmation of an FAD, swine movement will be halted, creating an urgent need for practical, biosecure, and environmentally responsible on-farm disposal strategies for swine carcasses. Nebraska, as a leading swine-producing state, exemplifies the vulnerability of high-density livestock regions to …

Hormonal Modulation Of Sexual Approach And Avoidance Among Women With A History Of Sexual Trauma, Anneliis Susan Sartin-Tarm

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

A history of sexual trauma places women at a high risk for sexual dysfunction and other health sequelae, yet the influence of ovarian hormones in this population is poorly understood. This dissertation tested the theory that the effects of ovarian hormones are mediated by cognitive approach-avoidance systems to shape sexual well-being, and that this process is moderated by sexual trauma history. This was investigated across three studies examining the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptive use, and menopause. Across each chapter, I present complementary evidence demonstrating that hormones interact with the interpretation of ambiguous internal and external cues with respect to sexual …

Dreaming, Building, And Enduring Black Voices: Black Media In Omaha In The Post-Civil Rights Era, Elodie C. Galeazzi-Kelly

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation examines the purposes and roles of Black media in Omaha during the post–Civil Rights Era. It asks how African Americans and their allies in Omaha developed innovative media forms, institutions, and communication strategies to amplify Black voices, build community, and advocate for Black interests amid the rapidly shifting political and social landscape of the time. The study focuses first on three traditional forms of media (newspapers, radio, and television) and then broadens the definition of media to include key Black cultural institutions. These include a dramatic arts collective, a historical museum and archive, a memorial foundation, and an …

The Advancement Of Automation In Beef Packaging Pack-Off Systems, Matthew Newman

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Marble Technologies has developed a new system for beef, pork, and lamb producers that improves quality and worker experience in the packing of products. This work explores the augmentation of this system with the introduction of robotic packing to further reduce labor, increasing worker availability for value-added tasks.

Experimentation conducted to date has explored handling delicate meat products in the standard Marble system and the proposed robotic systems. These mechanical subsystems are critical intermediaries in safely and reliably delivering products to robots and from robots to boxes. Two case studies are presented to walk through the process and challenges of …

Egg White Hydrolysate In Hypertension: A Mechanistic Investigation Of Gut Microbiota Dependent And Independent Pathways, Emerson David Nolasco

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide in which hypertension is a risk factor. Present pharmacological interventions require long-term adherence to the therapy and are often associated with undesirable side effects. Moreover, treatments have overlooked the role of the microbiome in the development of hypertension. Egg white hydrolysate (EWH) has exhibited antihypertensive properties with potential to be used as a natural alternative for the prevention and management of hypertension. However, EWH peptide’s effect on the gut microbiome remains yet to be elucidated. Studies have described that a portion of the ingested protein can remain undigested as …

Functional Genomics Of Phosphatidylcholine Biosynthesis In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Amanda Marie Maliva

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) is a prominent structural building block of cell and organelle membranes in animal, plant, and fungal cells and some bacteria. Due to its abundant nature in the plasma membrane and intracellular organelle membranes in eukaryotes, the biosynthesis of PtdCho must remain regulated to preserve the correct membrane lipid composition. Dysregulations in PtdCho metabolism can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, cell death, and the development of diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, and hepatic diseases. Knowledge of PtdCho has remained limited to the genes involved in its three biosynthetic pathways (Kennedy (K), methylation (M), and acyltransferase (A)), despite the growing realization of …

Characterization Of Undergraduate Biology Instructors’ Goals And Strategies For Implementing Quantitative Reasoning, Anum Khushal

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Quantitative reasoning (QR) is the application of mathematics and statistics to real-life and scientific contexts. It is essential for understanding complex biological phenomena and analyzing large datasets in both academic and professional settings. In response to the growing demand for QR skills, biology educators and researchers have engaged in curricular reforms and education research. This qualitative study explores how undergraduate biology instructors integrate QR into their teaching using a framework informed by pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and QR. The study involved 21 biology faculty from various U.S. institutions who intentionally incorporated QR in their instruction. Data was collected through semi-structured …

Aptamer Selection And Development Of Electrochemical Aptamer-Based Sensors For Neuropeptide Y, Evelyn Adela Carreto Guevara

Department of Chemistry: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this thesis, we report the results of four aptamers obtained from an aptamer selection process called the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) with affinity to Neuropeptide Y (NPY). NPY is a highly abundant peptide transmitter with widespread distribution throughout the body which affects various physiological functions. These functions include energy homeostasis, appetite regulation, stress response, and anxiety regulation. Dynamic monitoring of NPY levels is crucial for better understanding behaviors in individuals with neurological disorders associated with NPY. Aptamers are synthetic oligonucleotides obtained through SELEX which have a binding affinity to a target of interest when in …

Depuration Of A Solitary Ascidian Depletes Transient Bacteria Without Altering Microbiome Alpha-Diversity, Brenna Hutchings, Susanna López-Legentil, Lauren M. Stefaniak, Marie L. Nydam, Patrick M. Erwin

Marine Science

Depuration, or the process of clearing impurities from the gut, is commonly applied to marine food products due to its efficacy in removing human pathogens from shellfish and edible ascidians. Recent studies also reported that depuration of filter-feeding animals helped reduce transient bacteria and identify resident symbionts in gut microbiome studies. Here, we examined the impact of depuration on bacteria in the branchial sac, gut, and hepatic gland of the solitary ascidian Pyura vittata. Replicates were kept in filtered seawater for 4 days prior to dissection (aquaria-depuration) and compared to samples that were immediately processed following collection (wild-no depuration) and …