Life Sciences Commons^™

Authentication And Message Integrity Verification For Emerging Wireless Networks, Ebuka Philip Oguchi

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

This dissertation presents a comprehensive body of research on authentication and message integrity verification for emerging wireless networks, focusing on secret-free and physical layer security techniques across diverse, challenging, and unconventional environments.

It comprises four first-author contributions that span underground wireless systems, over-the-air (OTA) channels, vehicular communications, and nanoscale molecular networks.

The first contribution, Soil-Assisted Trust Establishment for Underground Wireless Networks (STUN), introduces a physical-layer trust bootstrapping protocol that achieves authentication and message integrity without pre-shared secrets. Leveraging underground-to-air propagation laws and trusted relay nodes, STUN resists active signal injection attacks and demonstrates security comparable to the unbalanced oil and …

Impact Of Adoption Of Fall Armyworm And Stemborer Pest Control Practices On Maize Yields In Rwanda: A Multinomial Endogenous Switching Regression Approach, Vincent Gadamba Misango, Jonathan Makau Nzuma, Patrick Irungu, Menale Kassie

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The use of push-pull technologies (PPT) as an alternative control method for fall armyworms and stemborer pests amongst maize farmers has recently received considerable global attention. However, the impact of adoption of PPT on the maize productivity remains largely unexplored. This study used a multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) to evaluate the impact of adoption of PPT on smallholder maize farmer's yields in Rwanda. The MESR model was estimated on a sample of 398 households operating 967 maize plots selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Overall, 25, 20, and 14 percent of the households used traditional methods, PPT and …

Heterogeneous Yield Effects Of Cover Crop Adoption In U.S. Corn And Soybean Systems, Ethan Kendall

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Identifying the conditions where cover crops will succeed or fail is crucial for advancing conservation agriculture. Cover crops have been widely accepted as a conservation practice that can improve soil health and might improve or stabilize crop yields, though these benefits are not consistent across different regions. This study examines how heterogeneous factors can shape the effectiveness of cover crops on corn and soybean yields across the United States. Using the National Commodity Crop Productivity Index (Index) to measure soil productivity, this study examines how cover crop impacts vary across different levels of soil quality. A county level, 16- year …

Bifunctional Fusion Protein Pdl1sfv/Micae For Cancer Immunothearpy, Junyi Li

All Dissertations

Cancer immunotherapy has highlighted the importance of immune checkpoint blockade and innate immune cell engagement in battling tumor-mediated immune suppression in the past few decades. However, with cancer development, advanced tumors are often found to develop resistance towards single-target immunotherapy due to the complexity of the immunosuppressive mechanisms within the tumor microenvironment (TME). To address this, we developed a novel bifunctional fusion protein, PDL1sFv/MICAe, which combines the tumor-targeting capability of an anti-PDL1 single-chain variable fragment (sFv) with the NK cells immunostimulatory properties of the MICA extracellular domain.

In vitro functional assays revealed that PDL1sFv/MICAe significantly enhanced cytotoxicity towards natural killer …

Evolutionary Biomechanics In Cetartiodactyla: Impacts Of Ecological Shifts On Bone Material Properties And Control Surface Morphology, Danielle S. Adams

All Dissertations

Extreme ecological transitions expose organisms to novel selective pressures that can reshape morphology and performance. This dissertation investigates how the transition from land to water has influenced form and material properties in cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), a clade that has undergone dramatic morphological and physiological adaptations to a fully aquatic lifestyle. I integrate comparative morphology, material property testing, and phylogenetic analyses, to explore how ecological demands, particularly related to foraging mode and prey detection, have shaped multiple aspects of cetacean morphology and function. Using nanoindentation and microCT, I measured elastic modulus and bone density of the skull and mandible …

Distribution, Roles And Environmental Drivers Of Bacterial Communities In The Chesapeake And Delaware Bays, Mir Alvee Ahmed

All Dissertations

In this dissertation, water samples from the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay estuaries were analyzed to see how estuarine environmental gradients drive distributions, functional potential, growth estimates and gene expressions of bacteria. To answer this, the abundant and versatile taxa– Rhodobacterales and Actinobacteriota, along with broader particle-attached (PA) vs. free-living (FL) bacterial assemblages of these Bays were analyzed using a multifaceted ‘omics approach.

The PA fraction, differing from the FL in taxonomy, distribution, functional potential and estimated growth rates across salinities, and bays harbored genes degrading complex aggregates, and surface attachment. The FL counterpart presented genes involved in nutrient uptake …

Application Of Artificial Neural Network Algorithms For Irrigation Scheduling, Lisa Umutoni

All Dissertations

Neural networks have been extensively used in predicting soil water tension for improved irrigation scheduling and management. However, their lack of interpretability constrains their efficacy in grasping the nuanced patterns prevalent in soil water tension time series data. The first goal of this research was to develop interpretable deep neural network models for soil water tension prediction across multiple soil depths (0.15m, 0.3m, 0.46m and 0.6m) and prediction horizons (1h, 6h, and 12h). The Neural Hierarchical Interpolation for Time Series (N-HiTS) and Neural Basis Expansion Analysis Time Series (N-BEATS) models were used in this research. Historical soil water tension data …

Factors Influencing Swift Fox Reintroduction Success To Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana, Dana Nelson

All Dissertations

Reintroductions are an important conservation tool for reestablishing wildlife populations, and studying the factors influencing reintroduction outcomes is important to improving success rates over time. Swift fox are a small canid native to the short- and mixed grass prairies of western North America that have experienced severe population declines due to habitat loss and poisoning in the late 1800s. While swift fox now occupy approximately 40% of their historic range, reintroduction to northern Montana may promote the species’ long-term persistence, encourage connectivity in an existing range gap, and return species to areas where it is culturally significant. We studied the …

A Convergent Mixed Methods Study Of The Social Studies Academy In South Carolina Middle Schools, Audie Cherry

All Dissertations

There is a global labor shortage in the agricultural industry and middle school is a critical time to get students serious about career decision making. The Studies of Occupations, Culture, and Innovations toward Agricultural Literacy (SOCIAL) Studies Academy is a high impact professional development program in South Carolina that provides experiences and for middle school social studies teachers (N = 12) to become more suited to teach their standards associated with the agricultural sciences with hopes of encouraging more students to pursue agricultural careers. This study was a mixed-methods convergent parallel design that examined 1) Academy Fellows (n = 4) …

Changing Globally, Acting Locally: Responses Of Coastal Plant Functional Traits To Global Change Are Mediated By Biotic And Abiotic Interactions., Shannon L. Walker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We live in a time of rapid global change with substantial consequences for planet-wide functioning. Local ecosystems reflect this change, yet we struggle to predict their responses. Coastal ecosystems, like dune and interdunal wetlands, have declined rapidly and predicting their responses to global change is essential for future management. Functional traits may be particularly informative as they drive species and ecosystem responses and can provide generalizable findings. This dissertation investigates how global change, especially anthropogenic nitrogen (N) enrichment, interacts with abiotic and biotic factors to affect coastal sand dune and interdunal wetland plant functional traits. First, I used a long-term …

The Influence Of Psychological, Biological, And Social Determinants On Disordered Eating Behaviors Among U.S. Young Adults: Evidence From Nhanes 2015-2018., Samantha Kaye Gerbine

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Disordered eating behaviors (DEBs) are influenced by biological, social, and psychological factors, yet research often narrowly focuses on White, college-aged women. This study assessed the predictors and prevalence of DEBs in a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults using data from the 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Survey weights were applied to generate national estimates. Descriptive statistics characterized the sample, and logistic regressions tested biological, social, and psychological predictors of DEBs. A composite risk score was developed using variables retained in the final model. The unweighted sample (n = 1,062) represented 64 million U.S. young adults. …

Blackberry Long-Cane Cold Storage And Forcing Strategy Effects On Flower And Fruit Development, Leala Machesney, Ryan Dickson, Amanda Mcwhirt, Margaret L. Worthington, Stephanie E. Burnett

Horticulture Faculty Publications and Presentations

Blackberry (Rubus subg. Rubus) production using soilless culture and "long-cane" techniques offers growers the potential to achieve off-season harvests and increase yields. This study investigated the feasibility of achieving early spring harvests and high yields with four blackberry cultivars (Natchez, Ouachita, Prime-ArkVR Freedom, and Prime-ArkVR Traveler) grown using long-cane techniques and six different cold storage and forcing environment strategies. Long-cane blackberry plants were container-grown outdoors during 2020 and were overwintered either at an outdoor nursery or in a cold storage facility (4 degrees C). Dormant plants were then forced the following spring at the outdoor nursery location or in a …

The Influence Of Retail Display Conditions On Ground Beef Quality And Palatability, Sarah Lynn Shoup

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objectives of these studies were to evaluate the impact of retail display case type and muscle type on meat quality attributes, including color, lipid oxidation, texture, and volatile compound profiles, as well as to assess economic implications based on retail color degradation. Case type effects were further evaluated by considering environmental factors such as temperature, air velocity, and relative humidity and their influence on the shelf life of beef patties. An economic analysis was also conducted to estimate the value of patties based on a* (redness) scores at different points during retail display. In Study 1, differences in L* …

Hepatic Lipid Metabolism Of High And Low Water-Efficient Broiler Lines Under Heat Stress, Maria Fernandez Cuadrado

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Heat stress (HS) is one of the most critical environmental challenges negatively impacting global poultry production, significantly compromising broiler performance, welfare, and economic viability. Specifically, heat stress profoundly disrupts physiological and metabolic processes, including hepatic lipid metabolism. Two broiler lines were divergently selected for high (HWE) or low (LWE) water efficiency. Heat-stressed HWE birds showed reduced fat content compared to their LWE counterparts, and HS reduced abdominal fat content in both lines. The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in underlying molecular mechanisms involved in this divergent fat content between the lines. Day-old chicks were placed in …

Performance And Feasibility Of Pasture Rangeland And Forage Insurance In The Delta Region, Walker Bradley Davis

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Despite being available nationwide since 2016, enrollment in Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage (PRF) insurance remains low in many regions of the country. The program's performance also presents regional discrepancies, with loss ratios varying significantly. Studies that have simplified the complexity of interval selection for producers have been shown to positively affect PRF enrollment. Such studies remain limited in several forage-producing areas. This study aims to address the lack of information in Arkansas specifically. Arkansas has among the nation's lowest participation rates and loss ratios. Low loss ratios signal that participants pay more in premiums than received in indemnities and may …

Impact Of Lighting Wavelength On Broiler Behavior, Health, And Performance, Angela Perretti

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Lighting influences broiler production, health, and behavior. Due to their advanced visual system, avian species perceive a wide spectrum of light. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of white (W, 350 to 780 nm) blue (B, 450 nm), and green (G, 560 nm) light on broiler production, processing performance, activity, fear, stress, blood cell profiles, tibiotarsi (tibia) morphology, and depth perception. Day-of-hatch by-product chicks from a Cobb 500 female line (N=600) were randomly assigned to 12 pens (N=4 treatment replicates). Body weight and feed consumption were recorded on day (D) 0, 14, 28, and 41, and …

The Bacteria Who Lived: Uncovering And Mitigating The Persistence Of Pathogens In Low-Moisture Food Processing, Kavita Shripati Patil

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Low-moisture food (LMF) processing environments pose a persistent food safety risk due to Salmonella survival and harborage on surfaces. This work investigates persistent bacterial populations (PBPs) in LMF production environments, focusing on identifying a suitable surrogate and evaluating sanitation strategies. Three potential surrogates, Escherichia coli MP 26, Enterococcus faecium, and Pediococcus acidilactici, were compared to Salmonella PBPs formed in nonfat dry milk (NFDM) on stainless steel coupons stored at 25°C under 30% or 70% relative humidity (RH) using two different inoculation methods. E. faecium showed survival patterns most similar to Salmonella, with no significant differences in log reductions (p > 0.05), …

Effects Of Flavonoids On Reducing Colon Cancer Risk Via Macrophage Polarization, Gracien Jules

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer is one of the most fatal diseases in the United States. Chronic tissue inflammation can cause cell proliferation, which leads to tumor formation and cancer development. Macrophages are responsible for maintaining tissue homeostasis and for inflammatory responses. M1 macrophages exhibit proinflammatory responses while M2 macrophages exhibit anti-inflammatory responses. Imbalance between M1 and M2 macrophages is closely related to inflammation-associated disease development. The anti-inflammatory effects of apiaceous vegetable constituents, specifically flavonoids, have been studied for their preventative effects towards reducing disease risk. However, sufficient evidence is lacking on the mechanisms by which flavonoids impact M1/M2 macrophage polarization. RAW 264.7 …

Adiponectin-Regulated Macrophage Responses In Aspergillus Fumigatus Infection: Mechanisms Of Uptake And Killing, Sri Harshini Goli

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Invasive aspergillosis (IA), caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised individuals, necessitating novel host-directed therapies. Macrophages are pivotal in antifungal defense, yet their function can be dysregulated; the influence of the adipokine adiponectin (APN) on this process is not fully understood. This thesis investigated the role of APN signaling in alveolar macrophage (AM) and bone marrow-derived macrophage (BMDM) responses to A. fumigatus and assessed the therapeutic potential of the APN receptor agonist, AdipoRon. Initial studies revealed that genetic deficiency in APN or its receptors renders AMs intrinsically pro-inflammatory and significantly impaired fungicidal activity against A. fumigatus. Subsequent …

Dermatoglyphic Fluctuating Asymmetry In Schizotypy, Marcus R. Thomas

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Schizotypy has been linked with many of the proposed endophenotypes of schizophrenia, but research is limited on the relationship between schizotypy and dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry. The present study sought to examine relationships between schizotypy, dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry, handedness, and season of birth. 146 undergraduate students were identified as schizotypes (n = 52) or controls (n = 94) based on the Multidimensional Schizotypy Scale and had their finger and palm prints collected along with completing additional measures of schizotypy and handedness. Schizotypes did not exhibit a greater degree of dermatoglyphic fluctuating asymmetry, negative schizotypy was associated with increased absolute finger ridge …

Applying Transcriptomics For Technology Development And Conservation In North American Marine Organisms, Cory Von Eiff

Dissertations

RNA biology is a rapidly expanding field, with many avenues of discovery among marine organisms. In this study, we analyze both mollusks and sawfish. First, we perform an evaluation of sRNA biogenesis pathways throughout Mollusca, with emphasis on the easter oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Understanding these molecules prescribes RNAi-based gene silencing approaches, benefiting genetic investigation and biotechnology. Similar to other animal groups, mollusks have conserved microRNAs (miRNAs), with some shared with ecdysozoans and deuterostomes; however, there is no evidence of an endogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway. These results suggest that long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-based RNAi is not appropriate for gene …

The Inside Scoop: Elucidating The Three-Way Relationship Between Schistosoma Mansoni, The Gut, And Vaccines, Mariam A. Mhanna

Biomedical Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects over 250 million people worldwide. This blood fluke infection burdens communities and areas with limited to no access to clean fresh water. When a host is exposed to cercariae, the infectious agent, in a body of water, it matures in the host’s circulation into adult female and male worms. Copulated adult worms migrate to the mesentery, in the case of Schistosoma mansoni, and produce eggs that can cross the intestinal barrier and get excreted in the feces to continue the lifecycle. The effects of S. mansoni infection on the host …

Eccentric Hamstring Strength And Acl Injury Risk In Ncaa Division I Female Field Hockey Athletes, Killian Patrick Ferrell

Exercise Science Theses & Dissertations

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries remain a pervasive issue in female collegiate athletics, particularly in sports demanding frequent decelerations, cuts, and high-speed movements such as field hockey. Despite the high injury burden, limited research has investigated biomechanical and workload-based risk factors specific to NCAA Division I female field hockey athletes. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between changes in eccentric hamstring strength and movement load metrics with changes in a composite ACL Risk Index. The sample included nine NCAA Division I female field hockey players who completed a 13-week offseason strength and conditioning program. Eccentric hamstring strength was measured …

Mode Regulates Alternative Nitrogenase Expression In Themethanogen Methanosarcina Acetivorans, Melissa Chanderban, Daniel J. Lessner

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

All methanogens that can fix nitrogen use molybdenum (Mo) nitrogenase. Some methanogens, including Methanosarcina acetivorans, also contain alternative vanadium- and iron-nitrogenases, encoded by the vnf and anf operons, respectively. These nitrogenases are produced when there is insufficient Mo to support Mo-nitrogenase activity. The factors that control the expression of the alternative nitrogenases in response to Mo availability are unknown in methanogens. Here we show that ModE is the regulator that represses transcription of the vnf and anf operons in M. acetivorans when cells are grown with Mo. CRISPRi repression of modE results in a significant increase in the transcription of …

Celebrating The Fifth Edition Of The International Symposium On Fungal Stress – Isfus, A Decade After Its 2014 Debut, Alene Alder-Rangel, Amanda E A Rangel, Arturo Casadevall, Asiya Gusa, Chaoyang Xue, Charles M Boone, Chris Todd Hittinger, Claudio A Masuda, Consuelo Olivares-Yañez, Deborah Bell-Pedersen, Erica J Washington, Gerhard Braus, Guilhem Janbon, István Pócsi, Jason E Stajich, Jay C Dunlap, Joan W Bennett, Joseph Heitman, Ling Lu, Lucia Landi, Mari L Shinohara, Maurizio Del Poeta, Mavis A Acheampong, Mia R Maltz, Michael C Lorenz, Minou Nowrousian, N Louise Glass, Nichole A Broderick, Nicolás Pedrini, Nir Osherov, R Blake Billmyre, Sabrina Sarrocco, Salomé Leibundgut-Landmann, Vânia Aparecida Vicente, Xiaorong Lin, Xin-Qing Zhao, Yong-Sun Bahn, Zachary A Lewis, Drauzio E N Rangel

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

The Fifth International Symposium on Fungal Stress (ISFUS) brought together in Brazil many of the leaders in the field of fungal stress responses, from fourteen countries, for four days of outstanding science ranging from basic research to studies with agricultural, medical, industrial, and environmental significance. In addition to the excellent oral and poster presentations, the Symposium organisers ensured that all participants had ample opportunity to engage, socialise, and network to exchange ideas and share research. The conference was enhanced by the world-class venue near Iguazu Falls, probably the greatest natural phenomenon in South America.

12/15-Lipooxygenase Inhibition Reduces Microvessel Constriction And Microthrombi After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage In Mice, Ari Dienel, Sung Ha Hong, Hussein A Zeineddine, Sithara Thomas, Shafeeque C M, Dania A Jose, Kiara Torres, Jose Guzman, Andrew Dunn, P Kumar T, Gadiparthi N Rao, Spiros L Blackburn, Devin W Mcbride

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Impaired cerebral circulation, induced by blood vessel constrictions and microthrombi, leads to delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). 12/15-Lipooxygenase (12/15-LOX) overexpression has been implicated in worsening early brain injury outcomes following SAH. However, it is unknown if 12/15-LOX is important in delayed pathophysiological events after SAH. Since 12/15-LOX produces metabolites that induce inflammation and vasoconstriction, we hypothesized that 12/15-LOX leads to microvessel constriction and microthrombi formation after SAH, and thus, 12/15-LOX is an important target to prevent delayed cerebral ischemia. SAH was induced in C57BL/6 and 12/15-LOX−/− mice of both sexes by endovascular perforation. Expression of 12/15-LOX was assessed …

Human And Mouse Alzheimer's Seeds Differentially Affect Amyloid Deposition And Microglia-Dependent Plaque Response In Aged Mice, Juana Andreo-Lopez, Cristina Nuñez-Diaz, Kelly Do Huynh, Marie Minh Thu Nguyen, Celia Da Cunha, Francisco J Cantero-Molina, Cynthia Campos-Moreno, Stefania Zimbone, Francesco Bellia, Maria Laura Giuffrida, Laura Trujillo-Estrada, Juan Antonio Garcia-Leon, Miriam Bettinetti-Luque, Nazaret Gamez, Catalina Valdes, Rodrigo Morales, Stefania Forner, Alessandra C Martini, Antonia Gutierrez, Frank M Laferla, David Baglietto-Vargas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative proteinopathy in which Aβ and tau misfold and aggregate into entities that structurally unsettle native proteins, mimicking a prion-like or "seeding" process. These Aβ and tau "seeds" can arrange in different conformations or strains that might display distinct pathogenic properties. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that microglia play a key role in the amyloidogenic event and can modulate the propagation and aggregation processes. Here, we employed histological and molecular approaches to determine whether seeds from human AD brains compared to those from transgenic mice (3xTg-AD) are more prone to induce Aβ and tau aggregates …

Cardiologists' Perceptions Of Cardiogenetic Testing And Management, W H Wilson Tang, Quan M Bui, Allison L Cirino, Lisa Dellefave-Castillo, Brendan J Floyd, Alejandra Guerchicoff, Marianna Guerchicoff, Amit V Khera, Joshua W Knowles, Kristen Lafayette, Andrew P Landstrom, Daria W Ma, Ana Morales, Kate M Orland, Daniel E Pineda-Alvarez, Siddharth K Prakash, Paul Theriot, Melissa Dempsey

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Cardiogenetic testing has become clinically relevant as genetic insights increasingly contribute to the understanding and management of cardiovascular diseases of genetic origin. However, utilization of cardiogenetic testing remains variable and underutilized.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess cardiologists' perceptions of cardiogenetic testing and identify relevant barriers, facilitators, educational needs, and clinical applications.

Methods: We surveyed 161 cardiologists using the American College of Cardiology CardioSurve Panel between March and April 2024.

Results: Among respondents, 80% reported that they have directly ordered or facilitated a referral for cardiogenetic testing for their patients. Generally, cardiologists from our testing group …

Crystal Structures Of Escherichia Coli Glucokinase And Insights Into Phosphate Binding, Joseph Andrews, Joshua Sakon, Chenguang Fan

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Here, we report the crystal structure of Escherichia coli glucokinase (GLK), which has phosphate bound in the cleft between the alpha and beta domains adjacent to the active site. A ternary complex consisting of GLK, glucose and phosphate is also reported in this work. Diffraction data were collected at 2.63 angstrom resolution for the phospate-bound form (R-work/R-free = 0.191/0.230) and at 2.54 angstrom resolution for the ternary complex (R-work/R-free = 0.202/0.258), both at 297 K. A B-factor analysis of the phosphate-bound GLK structure revealed consistently lower values for phosphate-interacting basic residues in the alpha 4, alpha 5 and alpha 9 …

Evaluating Quadrupedal Locomotion In Bats: A Geometric Morphometric Comparison Of Vertebral Adaptations Across Mammals, Jessica Upham

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Flight is the primary locomotion of bats, while quadrupedal locomotion is not often observed and is widely variable among bats. Frugivorous bats in Pteropodidae are more efficient climbers than frugivorous bats in Phyllostomidae and insectivorous bats in Vespertilionidae, while phyllostomids and vespertilionids are better at walking on horizontal surfaces. The aim of this study is to investigate whether bats with differing modes of nonflight locomotion also exhibit disparity in thoracolumbar vertebral morphology. Using geometric morphometrics, we compared the thoracolumbar vertebral shapes of these bat families with other terrestrial and arboreal mammals. The results revealed distinct vertebral shapes among bat families …