Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

Scaling Laws Of Political Regime Dynamics: Stability Of Democracies And Autocracies In The Twentieth Century, Paula Pirker-Diaz, Matthew Wilson, Soenke Beier, Karoline Wiesner

Faculty Publications

In light of the current rise of authoritarian regimes and the anti-liberal tendencies in some established democracies, understanding the dynamic and statistical properties of political regimes is of critical importance. Despite their relevance, a comprehensive quantitative assessment of these dynamics on a historical scale remains largely unexplored, and the notion that democratization is an irreversible process has gone mostly unchallenged. This study provides a rigorous and quantitative analysis of political regimes worldwide by examining changes in freedoms of expression, association and electoral quality throughout the twentieth century. Utilizing the multidimensional V-Dem dataset, which covers over 170 countries across more than …

Visceral, Neural, And Immunotoxicity Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: A Mini Review, Pietro Martano, Samira Mahdi, Tong Zhou, Yasmin Barazandegan, Rebecca Iha, Hannah Do, Joel Burken, Paul Ki-Souk Nam, Qingbo Yang, Ruipu Mu

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have gained significant attention due to their widespread distribution in the environment and potential adverse health effects. While ingestion, especially through contaminated drinking water, is considered the primary route of human exposure, recent research suggests that other pathways, such as inhalation and dermal absorption, also play a significant role. This review provides a concise overview of the toxicological impacts of both legacy and emerging PFASs, such as GenX and perfluoro butane sulfonic acid (PFBS), with a particular focus on their effects on the liver, kidneys, and immune and nervous systems, based on findings from recent …

Bridging Theory To Practice: An Evidence-Based Training Program For Implementing Animal-Assisted Therapy In Appalachian Clinical Settings, Lauren Kessler

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

No abstract provided.

The Use Of Sensory Interventions For Stress Management In College Students, Cassidy Cain

Occupational Therapy Doctorate Capstone Posters

For my doctoral capstone, I partnered with the Student Success Center (SSC) at Eastern Kentucky University and the director of the SSC, Dr. Ashley Sweat, to explore the connections between commonly used occupational therapy sensory intervention techniques and stress management for college students. The focus of my project is education and program development for the Student Success Center. In my literature review, I identified stress as one of the largest contributors to students not returning to college. The Student Success Center provides services for students who are already at a high risk of not continuing their college education. Based on …

3,5-Dihydroxy-4-Isopropylstilbene (Tapinarof) Is A Partial Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Agonist In Fish, Conner A. Dicks

All Theses

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand activated transcription factor that is essential in regulating development, immune homeostasis, and drug and xenobiotic metabolism. Activation of the AHR by specific ligands results in its translocation to the nucleus where it induces a myriad of gene products, including cytochrome P450 (CYP) drug metabolizing enzymes (e.g., CYP1A1) and other components of the chemical defensome, as well as inflammatory control. Interestingly, the AHR can bind a wide variety of endogenous and xenobiotic ligands which are able to induce unique downstream effects dependent on cell type, inflammatory context, and ligand stability. The AHR is …

Azalea Regional Welcomes New Library Manager, Ivy Corder

Georgia Library Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Low Energy Ion Irradiation Effects In Electronic Devices And Materials, David C. Mccall

All Dissertations

The physics and engineering of ion-solid interactions are governed by the ion beam characteristics (flux, charge, energy) and target(s) in question. Here I present work on two projects related to the extraction of a high flux of low charge state Argon ions from a commercial plasma source and the irradiation of an engineered target, a transistor, with high charge state Argon ions.

An end-Hall ion source that produces a a high current plasma of ions and electrons in a rough vacuum environment is characterized. Using a Langmuir probe and multiple pressure measurements, the ion and electron content of the source …

Partition, Passport And The Documentary Life Of Belonging, Haimanti Roy

History Faculty Publications

As India and Pakistan emerged as two new nation-states after 1947, questions around nationality and citizenship animated official and public discourses. While there were constitutional and legal pronouncements to clarify these matters, this article suggests that particular documents governing mobility became central to how such issues were framed and understood. In particular, this article focuses on the Indian passport and similar documents of mobility control, such as the domicile certificate, permits, and so on, to examine how they worked singly and in conjunction to frame the documentary life of belonging. The article also focuses on particular mobile groups, Muslim minorities …

Hypertension, Diabetes, And Chronic Kidney Disease In Young Adults: Nhanes Data From 2013-2018, Ashly Rodriguez Reyes

Undergraduate Scholarship and Creative Works

Background. Several studies have reported the link between diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity as risk factors for the onset of chronic kidney disease (CKD), ultimately leading to renal replacement therapies such as dialysis and kidney transplantation. Although extensively researched in adults aged 55 years and older, CKD remains under-researched for young adults. Despite its emergence as a healthcare concern, limited data exists on risk factors impacting young adults without major comorbidities.

Objective. This research study aims to understand the potential risk factors unique to this population, seeking to guide prevention strategies and improve prognosis in already diagnosed individuals. Additionally, …

Trophic Roles And Climate-Driven Vulnerability For Benthic Invertebrates At Artificial Reefs In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Amanda Kirkland

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Artificial reefs are deployed to enhance marine habitats and fisheries, yet their role in supporting secondary production and their vulnerability to climate stressors remain understudied. This dissertation investigates the trophic ecology and climate sensitivity of benthic invertebrates at artificial reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Chapter 1 assessed reef food webs using stable isotopes from fishes, invertebrates, and primary producers across six reefs and two seasons. Mixing models showed that most fishes rely on benthic reef carbon, while suspension feeders consume plankton and sediment microphytobenthos. Isotopic niche analysis revealed functional diversity and seasonal shifts in δ¹³C and δ³⁴S, though …

Breeding Biofortified Protein Rich Organic Pulses For Better Human Health, Sonia Salaria

All Dissertations

Pulse crops are dry grains of legumes, the second most consumed plant crops in the world after cereals. These crops are one of the primary sources of plant-based protein and contain high concentrations of pre-biotic carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Recognizing the health benefits of pulses intake, their demands as sustainable food and changes in people’s diet preferences for plant-based protein have increased awareness for pulses consumption. With this scenario, improving the nutritional profile of pulse crops for rich nutrition has been an opportunity for breeders to explore and tailor the available germplasm to develop nutrient dense pulses. Furthermore, the genomic …

Population Analysis Of Cyanobacteria In Rotating Algal Biofilm Reactors, Eric H. Matthews

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Algal biofilms have numerous applications in wastewater treatment and bioproduct production. The Sustainable Waste-to-Bioproducts Engineering Center at Utah State University is working to develop rotating algal biofilm reactors (RABRs) to remove excess nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater effluent while producing biomass for downstream production.

Genetic analysis of algal biofilms on various RABRs was performed to gain improved understanding of the biofilm populations. This analysis focuses on a pilot-scale RABR and how it compares to several other RABRs. Additionally, old methods of genetic analysis filtered out important cyanobacterial populations. A new method was developed to identify the cyanobacteria within the biofilms. …

Modeling For Functional Traits In Bluebunch Wheatgrass Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav) High-Throughput Phenotyping, Brittany L. Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Changing climates and shifts in community composition in the Intermountain West threaten sagebrush-steppe ecosystems, impacting both plants and animals. Restoring native grasses like bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata; BBWG) can help ecosystems resist invasive species and recover from stress and disturbances. As a native cool-season grass, BBWG is widely used in rangeland restoration for the western U.S. Breeding programs for restoration plant materials, such as seeds for ecological projects, often require years or decades of field testing while facing staffing constraints. High- throughput phenotyping (HTP), which rapidly measures observable plant traits, offers a faster solution using drones to capture time-series …

Linking Variation In Mule Deer Nutritional Condition And Age To Population Performance In A Temperate Environment, Kent R. Hersey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The amount of body fat animals have as they enter and exit winter can have major impacts on how well they survive and reproduce. Mule deer are widely distributed herbivores whose survival and reproduction are strongly tied to weather patterns and the quality of vegetation they consume, which in turn impacts nutritional condition. The objective of this study was to identify and quantify the factors (animal specific, climatic, or habitat) influencing mule deer body fat during both summer and winter in Utah and examine how nutritional condition influences survival. We found December body fat was most affected by December lactation …

Ecology And Management Of Forest Grouse: Breeding Acoustic Monitoring, Spatial Behavior, And Harvest, Logan Clark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Forest grouse are difficult to study and manage in the Intermountain West because they live in remote, rugged areas and do not gather at predictable display sites like other grouse species. From 2023 to 2025, I studied two species, dusky grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) and ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), to test new survey tools, track their seasonal movements, and evaluate hunting impacts.

First, I tested whether small audio recording devices placed in the forest could minimize labor needed for spring breeding surveys. To do this, I conducted traditional surveys with human observers at the same time and …

From Supercomputers To Desktops: An Interactive And Portable System For Particle In Cell Simulation And Visualization Using Commodity Hardware, Kim Peterson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Generating and analyzing visual representations of simulation data in real time (i.e., during execution), has become increasingly important for handling the complexity and scale of modern computational models. Traditionally, this approach has been limited to High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments, leaving some researchers, students and educators without resources to explore cutting-edge simulations and analyses. This work attempts to show that powerful scientific simulations and real-time analysis can be made available by using more easily obtained commodity hardware. This approach may enable a broader participation in the scientific computing discovery process.

In this paper, we explore how advanced simulation and visualization frameworks …

Exploring Biotic And Abiotic Drivers Of Ecosystem Properties: The Influence Of Waterbirds And Photodegradation On Wetland Ecosystems, Lindsay Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wetlands provide a wide range of valuable ecosystem services: these are benefits from the environment that support human well-being, such as water filtration, fish and bird habitat, and shoreline protection. Despite their importance, wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems, facing increasing pressure from natural and human activities. To better predict the future of wetlands and guide effective management and restoration practices, we need to understand the various forces shaping their ecological properties. In this thesis, we examined the influence of two forces: waterbirds and photodegradation (the process by which sunlight breaks down plant material). To explore each of these …

What’S The Beef With Agriculture? Evaluating The Effectiveness Of An Agricultural Literacy Intervention On Students’ Attitudes And Knowledge Toward Sustainability And Animal Agriculture, Jenny E. Bennett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Agricultural literacy is essential for helping individuals understand how food systems impact their daily lives and society. While most research has focused on students’ knowledge, this study addresses the underexplored role of attitudes—critical predictors of behavior—as outcomes of educational interventions. This research analyzed survey data collected before and after an agricultural literacy intervention delivered to high school students in school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs. The curriculum focused on sustainability in animal agriculture.

Findings from paired samples t-tests showed statistically significant improvements in students' attitudes (from moderately neutral to more positive) and knowledge scores. Further analyses revealed that demographic factors such …

Impacts Of 4r Nitrogen Management And Water Optimization On Soil Health, Kamaldeep Kamaldeep

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Farmers in Utah and Idaho are facing growing challenges due to high fertilizer costs, limited irrigation water, and pressure to improve long-term soil health. To better understand current practices and grower attitudes, a survey was conducted in 2020 targeting 5,000 producers of small grains, corn, and potatoes. Although the response rate was low, 146 growers representing over 25,000 hectares of cropland participated. Survey results showed that most growers are open to improving nitrogen and irrigation practices and care about their soil health, even if not all are fully using 4R or precision agriculture methods.

This thesis includes two field studies …

Setting Salinity Water-Quality Standards Protective Of Aquatic Life: Insights From Analyses Of The Effects Of Salinity On Stream Insects, Katlyn M. Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Freshwater ecosystems are becoming saltier due to human activities like agriculture, urbanization, and resource extraction. This change in salinity is important because we know very little of how stream salinity affects aquatic insects at natural concentrations, much less at elevated concentrations. Increases in salinity may harm aquatic macroinvertebrates, which play important roles in stream food webs and are widely used as indicators of ecosystem health. Understanding how salinity affects aquatic insect growth, survival, and distribution is critical for developing effective criteria protective of aquatic life, but existing methods often rely on field surveys where multiple environmental factors covary, making it …

Soil Health On Utah's Farms And Ranches, Jenae Dean

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The term soil health has gained popularity in agriculture due to prolonged droughts, rising food costs, and the growing public concern for sustainable and organic practices. Soil health practices can offer solutions to all of these pressures. This thesis provides Utah's farmers and ranchers with quantifiable data on implementing soil health practices in Utah's unique climate. It presents the first two years of on-farm trial results on yield and quality after implementing various soil health practices on five categories of crops: corn, mixed hay, alfalfa, produce, and dryland grain. Over a two-year period, none of the soil health practices resulted …

Water Conservation Strategies For Growing Ornamental Plants In Utah Landscapes, Jenny L. Koller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

When early pioneers settled in Utah, they faced challenges living in a dry region with limited water. They built dams, canals, and irrigation systems by working together as a community to manage their water needs. However, adoption of European landscaping methods, farming and rapidly growing population increased water need while climate change and frequent drought reduced water supply.

Today, Utah is one of the driest states and uses more water per person than most other states in the nation. If things don't change, the state could run out of water by 2060. To address Utah's growing water challenges, this research …

Genwriter: Reducing Gender Cues In Biographies Through Text Rewriting, Shweta Soundararajan, Sarah Jane Delany

Conference papers

Gendered language is the use of words that indicate an individual’s gender. Though useful in certain context, it can reinforce gender stereotypes and introduce bias, particularly in machine learning models used for tasks like occupation classification. When textual content such as biographies contains gender cues, it can influence model predictions, leading to unfair outcomes such as reduced hiring opportunities for women. To address this issue, we propose GenWriter, an approach that integrates Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) with Large Language Models (LLMs) to rewrite biographies in a way that obfuscates gender while preserving semantic content. We evaluate GenWriter by measuring gender bias …

Identification Of Anti-Inflammatory Pathways Induced By Enterotoxin B Subunits For Use As Therapeutics In Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Hannah Juel Hedelius

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Vibrio cholerae’s AB5 enterotoxin, cholera toxin (CT), has a homopentameric, non-toxic B subunit (CTB). CTB is a well-known vaccine adjuvant used for its ability to create a strong immune response, however more recent studies have shown its ability to also behave in an anti-inflammatory manner, performing as a protective agent in a variety of different inflammatory diseases. Escherichia coli (E. coli) produces a heat-labile AB5 enterotoxin (LT) that is very homologous to CT, with its B subunit (LTB) being used in a similar manner as a vaccine adjuvant. There have been many studies comparing LTB to CTB due …