Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating How Physical Activity Affects The Perception Of Resilience In Box Butte County, Nebraska, Eric Pulver

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Physical activity is one of the modern hallmarks for good health in individuals and the public, in general. Resiliency is a growing concentration in all levels of disaster preparedness where the focus is on how to deal with the growing number of disasters stemming from global climate change. This research project’s aim is to look at the possible relationships between physical activity and resiliency in a rural Nebraska population. This was done with the use of a cross-sectional study utilizing a fifteen-question survey to gather demographics, assess the amount of physical activity, and then apply a perception of resilience tool …

Program Planning On Social Determinants Of Health For Rural Nebraska, Maria H. Cantu Hines

Capstone Experience: Master of Public Health

Social determinants of health (SDOH) are non-health factors that impact health in both direct and indirect ways. Research into SDOH and their effects has been extensive in recent years and has been further documented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the wealth of the literature on the SDOH, awareness of these important factors is not prevalent among community residents. Rural communities are as subject to the impact of SDOH just as their urban counterparts and experience additional complexities related to geography and topography.

This capstone project aims to raise awareness, provide education, and assist with tools and resources, to empower rural …

Morphine-Induced Tolerance Is Reduced By The Consumption Of A Ketogenic Diet, But Not A High Fat/High Carbohydrate Diet, Nina Beltran

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Opioid drugs like morphine are used medicinally for pain relief, but also have abuse liability that can lead to opioid use disorder (OUD), which contributes to nearly 70% of drug overdose deaths in the United States. Another rising health concern is the global obesity epidemic, and new evidence suggests that obesity and OUD might converge to impact individuals. For example, high body mass index (BMI) is associated with greater reports of pain among women. Further, opioid overdose risk is increased among individuals diagnosed with obesity, suggesting a potential relationship that might convey enhanced vulnerability among some populations. Given the high …

Insights On The Behavior Of Nano-Copper In The Agroecosystem: Mycorrhizal Associations With Spearmint (Mentha Spicata), Suzanne Annette Apodaca

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Nanotechnology offers significant potential benefits to our society, including the agriculture sector. With the advancement of nano-enabled agrochemicals towards sustainable and efficient agricultural practices, it is essential to address environmental issues associated with the use of nanoscale materials. The same properties that give promise to applications of nanotechnology in modern agriculture could have unintended consequences on ecosystem dynamics. A point of concern for risk management is the impact of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to beneficial microbial communities, which support a variety of ecosystem services.

Use of copper (Cu) products in agriculture are based on their abundance, role as a micronutrient, and …

Acute Effects Of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation On Blood Glucose And Energy Metabolism In Overweight/Obese Population, Ali Mossayebi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: In the perspective of preventing cardiovascular disease and promoting health, weight control and physical activity are the main concerns. Electrical stimulation (ES) is an alternate strategy to induce muscle contraction, using electrical impulses. However, effectiveness of ES induced muscle contraction to improve energy expenditure and glucose metabolism is not well examined.Purpose: To determine the acute effect of ES on whole body energy expenditure and body glucose metabolism in sedentary overweight or obese population Methods: Sedentary overweight/obese participants (n=8; age: 37.25 ± 6.09 years; BMI= 37.57 ± 2.43 kg/m2) were included in this study. All participants received bilateral quadriceps ES …

Exploring The Effect Of Environmental Degradation On The Shape Memory Properties Of Polymers, Jorge Mario Avila

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

A key detriment of the use of polymers by our society is the negative effect this material class has had on the environment. A category of polymers known as shape memory polymers (SMP)s have the ability to return to a programmed original shape form after deformation to a temporary shape by using stimuli such as temperature, electrical pulses and even magnetism. The shape memory effect allows for some polymers to heal if they are damaged. This ability to heal means that components made from these materials can be reused rather than thrown away if they are damaged. The work presented …

Effects Of Eccentric Cycling On Blood Flow Patterns And Vascular Reactivity, Manuel Gomez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Decrease of blood flow to tissues, due to atherosclerotic plaque formation, produces mortality and morbidity outcomes. Vascular homeostasis depends in the direct interaction between blood flow and endothelial cells, known as endothelial sheer stress (ESS). In addition, turbulent flow, which can be measured by Reynolds number (Re), has been associated with decrease ESS. Eccentric exercise (ECC) has gained attention as a novel exercise modality that increases muscle performance without increasing metabolic demands; however, little is known about ESS during ECC. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of ECC cycling in blood flow patterns and vascular reactivity in young, healthy individuals. METHODS: …

Modulation Of Non-Diffracting Hermite Gaussian Beams And Nonlinear Optical Microscopy For Nanoscale Sulfur Imaging, Gilberto Navarro

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Hermite Gaussian beams are the solutions of the scalar paraxial wave equation in Cartesian coordinates. A method was developed to modulate the intensity profile of non-diffracting Hermite Gaussian (HG) beams. The original HG beamâ??s intensity profile consists of high intense corner lobes and low intense central lobes which is not ideal for structured illumination in light-field microscopy. The modulated HG beams were generated by multiplying the original HGâ??s beam envelope by a super-Gaussian envelope to modify the intensity profile to attain equal intensity lobes. The propagation of the original HG beam and modulated HG beam were compared to determine that …

Analyzing The Supply Chain Operation Of A Fast-Food Restaurant Using Simulation Modeling And Developing A Cost Estimation Optimization Model In The Disruption Period, Amit Kumar Saha

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Supply chain operation performance is a much-discussed topic over the last decade which will lead to optimizing the resources required to provide the necessary level of customer service to a specific segment and improve customer service through increased product availability and reduced order cycle time. During disruption in supply chain, performance parameter changes, and the overall supply chain cost at each stage increases. External factors such as labor shortages, delayed and costly supplies, and decreased demand also contribute to this cost. This thesis work presents a research-focused analysis of a small pizza shop, under circumstances that include the loss of …

Correction Of Velopharyngeal Insufficiency Secondary To Palatal Gunshot Wound: Case Presentation And Review Of The Literature, Rogelio Martinez-Wagner, Cristopher Cardenas-Cruz, Ivan Ortiz-Monasterio, Edgar Vargas, Maria M. Cabrera, Pablo A. Ysunza, M. Del Carmen Pamplona, Diane E. Campos-Lopez

Articles

Reconstruction of midfacial traumatic defects secondary to a gunshot wound (GSW) is one of the most challenging head surgeries. The high impact on the functional and aesthetic quality of life, and the small margin of error to achieve a successful outcome are significant hurdles in the surgical treatment of these cases. Here we report a 33-years old patient who suffered a GSW with an entrance wound penetrating between the soft and hard palate and an exit wound on the right malar region. A description of the case and a systematic review of the literature were conducted. The treatment depends on …

Metal Transfer To Sediments, Invertebrates And Fish Following Waterborne Exposure To Silver Nitrate Or Silver Sulfide Nanoparticles In An Indoor Stream Mesocosm, Nathaniel Clark, Joanne Vassallo, Pv Silva, Arr Silva, Marta Baccaro, Neja Medvešček, Magdalena Grgić, Abel Ferreira, Martí Busquets-Fité, Kerstin Jurkschat, Anastasios G. Papadiamantis, Victor Puntes, Iseult Lynch, Claus Svendsen, Den Brink Nw Van, Gestel Cam Van, Susana Loureiro, Richard D. Handy

School of Health Professions

No abstract provided.

Rainfall Increases Alpha And Has No Effect On The Beta Diversity Of Animal-Dispersed Shrubs In Panama, Rosemary Hopson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Climate patterns affect where plants can grow and survive. In tropical areas, the main form of precipitation is rain, and rainfall has been demonstrated to influence tree species distributions. For this thesis, I examined the relationship between rainfall and the diversity of animal-dispersed tropical shrubs. To do this, I used data on shrub diversity collected in the summer of 2017. Plots were established across the Isthmus of Panama, from the drier Pacific side to the wetter Atlantic side, to survey animal-dispersed shrubs. I analyzed three metrics of diversity that weigh rare and common species differently. The first weighs rare species …

Together, Our Voices Will Strengthen The Weaving: Using Autoethnography And Narrative Inquiry To Indigenize Sense Of Belonging In Higher Education, Devon S. Isaacs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Native American students in higher education are often asked to find a sense of belonging in places and spaces that do not reflect their cultures or worldviews. This can lead to isolation and a feeling of having to choose between themselves and their identities as Indigenous peoples. This contributes to poorer mental health, loss of well-being, and decreased academic success. The purpose of this study was to ask seven Native American participants how they defined sense of belonging from their own worldviews. Participants were also asked about spaces and places in higher education that helped or did not help them …

Quantifying Floral Resource Availability Using Unmanned Aerial Systems And Machine Learning Classifications To Predict Bee Community Structure, Jesse Anjin Tabor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Bees are important for agricultural and non-agricultural ecosystems because they pollinate both wild plants and commercial crops. Flowers provide pollen and nectar resources that bees use to survive and reproduce. Measuring the relationship between the floral community and bee community may help apiarists and land managers to make informed decisions in managing wild and domesticated bee species. Manual methods to describe and count flowering vegetation is costly in time and personnel. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology may be an efficient way to describe and count flowering vegetation on a large scale. UAVs with classification analysis and ground transect surveys were …

Immunological Tradeoffs And The Impacts Of Urbanization On The Reproductive Ecology And Physiology Of The Side-Blotched Lizard (Uta Stansburiana), Emily E. Virgin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Investing resources into reproduction can limit energy available to other competing demands, such as fighting off an infection; yet, both processes are necessary for organisms to survive and pass on their genes to the next generation. These strategies often follow patterns associated with lifespan, such that shorter-lived animals are more likely to invest more resources into reproduction over survival, and vice versa in long-lived animals. However, environmental change caused by urbanization can disrupt these relationships, and the within- and transgenerational costs of urbanization on females and offspring are unknown. I address these uncertainties in three research chapters to better understand …

Effects Of Prescribed Fire Regimes On White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) Browse, Forage, And Nutrient Availability In The Pineywoods Ecoregion Of Texas, Wyatt L. Bagwell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fire is a management tool for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) habitat, influencing browse availability, herbaceous production, and nutrient content. In 2020 and 2021, this study utilized 46 plots across East Texas to assess these habitat components. A stem count index survey method was used to assess browse utilization prior to April in both years, and preferred browse species were clipped and analyzed for nutrient availability, and herbaceous production was also measured. Additionally, white-tailed deer population data, browse survey data, and recent fire history were obtained from five different wildlife management areas to examine their relationship. Deer had preferences …

Evaluation Of Extended Aging Type And Cooking Practices On Palatability Of Beef Steaks, Katharine Anne Bugenhagen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Two studies were conducted to determine if sous vide was a viable way to improve palatability of various beef cuts, and to determine whether extended aging duration and the presence of a bone impacts the consumer ratings of beef short loins.When evaluating the impact of sous vide cooking (SVG) on multiple beef muscles, there was a muscle × method interaction for overall liking (P = 0.04). The traditionally cooked (TRAD) Longisimus lumborum (LL) was rated the highest (P < 0.05). The Chuckeye steak (CHE) was rated next, both TRAD and SVG, with the traditional ranked higher, this was followed by the Triceps brachii (TB) also for both TRAD and SVG, however for the TB the SVG ranked higher (P < 0.05). The TRAD Biceps femoris (BF) rated the lowest (P < 0.05) of all of the muscles. Shear force did no differ between the cooking treatments (P > 0.05), or was there an interaction between muscle × method for shear force measurements (P < 0.05). The LL was rated the highest for tenderness (P < 0.05) while the BF was rated the lowest (P < 0.05). The second study compared subprimals aged over three aging periods (21, 42 63 days), then split into bone-in or boneless steaks, there were no interactions observed within the consumer data (P ≥ 0.05). BI steaks were rated higher (P < 0.05) for juiciness and overall liking by consumers, however BI and BL were rated similarly by consumers for tenderness and flavor (P > 0.05). When evaluated by consumers, aging did …

Amino Acid Nutrition In Broiler Breeders, Jordan Weil

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Amino acids (AA) are commonly referred to as the building blocks of protein due to their role in the synthesis of proteins. Considering these nutrients are involved in growth and metabolism, much emphasis is placed on determining the dietary requirements of amino acids. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the amino acid requirements of performance parameters such as egg weights, egg production, egg mass, feed conversion ratios, and body weight gain in two age groups of broiler breeders. In this experiment, 648 Cobb 700 broiler breeder hens were placed in individual cages to determine the amino acid requirements of …

Diagnosing Excess Nitrogen In Rice Using Post-Season Tissue Samples, Kyle Hoegenauer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Proper nitrogen (N) management in rice production can be difficult to achieve without the aid of tools such as soil and tissue tests. There are no tests currently available to rice producers that determine whether N has been managed properly throughout the season or that detect instances of over fertilization. Rice stalk samples were collected from N response trials within 3 days of harvest from the primary Arkansas rice growing region in 2016-2018. Stalk samples were analyzed for N concentration through a KCl extraction and spectrofluorometric quantification. Samples analyzed with leaf material intact contained statistically different N concentrations than samples …

Exploring Leadership In An Extreme Environment: A Haiti Farm Project, Tami Strickland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study examined the impact Situational Leadership Theory II® has on followers in a small community in Haiti. Many studies have examined Situational Leadership Theory II® in corporate environments, but not in the low-income context of Haiti. The study focused on how the leadership characteristics and adaptability levels of an expatriate influenced the construction and the ongoing management of a Haiti egg farm project, which is timely based on the volatility currently in the country prior to and after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. Using various data gathering instruments, the study explored the expatriate’s leadership …

Micronutrient Concentration Effects On Lettuce Growth And Susceptibility To Pythium, Kalyn M. Helms

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In hydroponic production waterborne pathogens such as Pythium are ubiquitous and continually threaten a wide range of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) crops in hydroponic production, including but not limited to: lettuce, spinach, basil, arugula, cucumber, tomato, sweet pepper, roses, chrysanthemums, and cannabis (Sutton et al., 2006; Gull, 2002; McGehee and Raudales, 2021; Gillespie, 2020). Despite extensive sanitation measures, disease control in hydroponics is fallible and requires constant surveillance and management to minimize outbreaks (Sutton et al., 2006). A potential disease suppression strategy is to increase micronutrient concentrations within hydroponic systems to naturally strengthen plant defenses against pathogens such as Pythium. …

Thermal Inactivation Kinetics Of Salmonella In Milk Powder As Impacted By Water Activity And Powder Type, Erika Litta Kadas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Historically, low-water activity (aw) foods (aw <0.65) were considered to be microbiologically safe for consumption. However, these foods have been implicated in outbreaks of pathogens such as Salmonella enterica, at a frequency that surely challenges this assumption of safety. Although usually implicated in outbreaks involving poultry and egg products, Salmonella spp. have frequently been the culprit in several outbreaks and recalls associated with low-water activity foods (LWAF) due to contamination resulting from the environment, animals, or even the employees during pre-or post-processing. One such LWAF that has been associated with Salmonella spp. outbreaks is milk powder. Milk powders are used in a variety of products ranging from infant formula to confectionary goods. With their widespread use, improving their safety is imperative. A key step in improving their safety is to thoroughly investigate preventive controls related to milk powder processing. The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) established the Preventive Controls for Human Foods Rule, which mandates that processors design and establish a food safety plan outlining any potential hazards and the steps they will take to ensure those hazards do not compromise the safety of the product. Presently, the dairy industry does not have an established kill-step for milk powders post-spray drying. Spray drying may reduce some microbial populations, however, desiccation(e.g., spray drying) is not considered a kill-step. The work outlined in this thesis aims to assist our dairy industry partners in establishing their own thermal process for milk powders post-spray drying. Moisture sorption isotherms of two milk powders (nonfat dry milk: NFDM and a milk protein concentrate with 85% protein content: MPC-85) were determined and showcased that the temperatures at which the isotherms were determined (23, 40, or 60°C) significantly affected both the adsorption and desorption isotherms (p<0.0001) for each powder. Secondly, the thermal inactivation kinetics of Salmonella spp. in both powders were evaluated at two different water activities (0.20 and 0.30) and three temperatures (75, 80, and 85°C) to determine the effect of water activity on the thermal resistance of a cocktail of Salmonella spp. The D-values of Salmonella were heavily influenced by the thermal treatment temperature (p< 0.0001), but not the water activity (p >0.05). The overall findings contained within this thesis provide valuable information about the thermal inactivation kinetics of Salmonella spp. to our partners in the dairy industry so that they may implement an appropriate thermal process for their milk powders.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Aberrant Circulating Steroid Hormones In Gnrhr-Ii Knockdown Boars And Their Control Littermates, Dorothy H. Elsken

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Swine are the only livestock species that produce a functional protein for both GnRH-II and its receptor (GnRHR-II). Our laboratory reported that the interaction between GnRH-II and GnRHR-II facilitates testosterone production, independent of LH stimulation. To further examine GnRHR-II function, we developed a swine line with 70% reduced GnRHR-II mRNA levels (GnRHR-II KD) compared to control littermates. Mass spectrometry analysis of serum revealed that circulating levels of gonadal steroids were reduced in mature transgenic vs. control boars. Paradoxically, evaluation of testicular tissue indicated no difference between lines for gonadal steroid hormone levels. To address a potential cause for this discrepancy, …

Impacts Of Feeding Biochar To Beef Cattle On Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Performance And Characterizing Yearling Steers Grazing Smooth Bromegrass Pasture Using Gps, Holly A. Heil

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As global warming continues to rise, the pressure and growing demand for sustainable animal production is increasing. Livestock naturally produce greenhouse gas emissions through enteric fermentation. Dietary manipulation strategies have been sought out to decrease emissions in ruminants using feed additives.

Two independent finishing feedlot experiments evaluated two types of biochar and its effects on animal performance, carcass characteristics and greenhouse gas emissions. Experiment 1 utilized pistachio shell biochar and experiment 2 utilized biochar sourced from ponderosa pine wood waste, both types included at 1% of the diet DM. The addition of biochar to the diet did not impact animal …

The Nebraska 4-H Equine Advancement Level Program’S Role In Positive Youth Development Using The Five Cs Model: An Exploratory Study, Eunhye Mccarthy

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Positive youth development (PYD) focuses on developing the strengths of youth through positive activities and behaviors rather than reducing negative tendencies. A well-researched model of PYD is the five C’s model that is popularly used in youth development organizations such as 4-H. The Nebraska 4-H Equine Advancement Level program was intended to serve as a guidebook for instruction and assessment of youth as they learn more about horses and horsemanship skills. Each of the four levels has an emphasis in developing a 4-H member’s responsibility, self-discipline, self-reliance, patience, and pride of accomplishments. The program was started approximately 30 years ago …

Environmental Determination Of Gastrointestinal Parasitism In Katahdin Sheep, Brian Arisman

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) negatively affect the performance and wellbeing of sheep and are difficult to control due to anthelmintic resistance. Producers are therefore choosing breeds naturally resistant to GIN infection, such as the Katahdin. Katahdin are raised in various climates and management systems in the U.S., and those environmental factors can be combined into eco-management clusters. We hypothesized that GIN challenge varies predictably based on the characteristics of these clusters. Katahdin producers from across the U.S. were surveyed for management information. Body weights (BW), fecal egg counts (FEC) and FAMACHA scores (FAM) were collected on 3,527 Katahdin lambs around 90 …

Evaluation Of Nutritional Factors Affecting Sow Reproductive Longevity, J'Nan E. Wittler

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sow reproductive longevity is an important trait for swine operations from a production and economic standpoint. Previous research has shown that a sow needs to produce 3 litters before she covers the costs associated with introducing her to the operation. A literature review of research conducted related to sow longevity is discussed in Chapter 1. Chapters 2 and 3 present data from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln’s long-term sow longevity research. The research looks at the effects of energy restriction with soy hulls during gilt development on sow reproductive longevity through 4 parities. Chapter 2 presents data from replications …

Students' Perceptions Of Online Equine Courses And Their Impacts On Learning Outcomes, Blaire L. (Gibbens) Speck

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Post-secondary education is always changing and evolving. Over the last few years, significant changes in education have resulted in an increased number of online courses. Approximately 28% of students seeking higher education participate in at least one online course and 14% are enrolled exclusively in distance or online programs (Allen & Seaman, 2016). However, courses that are typically hands-on, like equine science, may be more challenging online. The hands-on experiences in equine science classes help prepare students for future careers. Due to an increase in students choosing to take courses online, a review of online teaching methods was conducted to …

Wild Foods Contribute To Higher Dietary Diversity In India (Dataset And Code), Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek

NRM Departmental Data Sets

This data set and code files are in relation to a submitted research article with the working title : Wild foods contribute to higher dietary diversity in India

Article abstract:

Wild foods, from forests and common lands, can contribute to food and nutrition security. Most previous studies have established correlations between wild food consumption and children’s dietary diversity in Africa, but other groups and geographic contexts remain understudied. Here, a rigorous quasi-experimental method was combined with monthly-interval data to assess the contribution of wild foods to women’s diets. We collected 24-hour diet recall data monthly, from November 2016 to November …

Pregnancy And Childbirth: Male Partner Involvement In Uasin Gishu, Kenya, Kamau Tabitha, Roselyter Riang’A, Mwanzia Lydia, Buluku Elizabeth, Sawe Caroline, Wambugu Beth, Patel Kirtika, Mutai Judith, Pauline Mwenje, Kemboi Sharon

Population Health, East Africa

Introduction: In many African countries, pregnancy and childbirth has traditionally beenregarded as a woman’s affair. As a result, male partner involvement and participationin pregnancy and childbirth has been minimal, which is thought to have contributed tothe high rate of maternal and neonatal morbidities and mortalities. Male partners areoften key decision-makers in African households for cultural reasons, yet their role inpregnancy and childbirth is not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to examine anddocument male partner involvement in maternal healthcare in Kenya.

Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional descriptive study design was used.Systematic random sampling was used to …