140816 research outputs found
Sort by
Use of High-throughput Phenomics with and Without Fungicide as a Wheat Breeding Tool
No full textWheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important food staple for many countries around the world and current consumption and production data demonstrate a production deficit. Breeders are challenged to help close this gap in production by selecting better cultivars with improved yields. Several methods aim to accelerate the breeding process to reduce the time required for releasing an elite variety. One of the main breeding bottlenecks is the lack of fast and reliable phenotypic data acquisition that could dissect physiological and morphological plant data. High-throughput remote sensing could have the potential to reduce this bottleneck by streamlining data acquisition, reducing time and effort. To achieve this, a split plot trial was designed with 17 commercially available cultivars as subplots and 10 fungicide treatments applied according to label instructions as main plots. Each pass of plots represented a treatment and the 17 cultivars were randomly distributed in each pass. Correlation analyses by data collection date were performed to evaluate how the sensors data could predict yield variability. Results showed that most of the sensor data was affected by the genetic effect (p \u3c 0.05) with the exception of canopy temperature on 2015 (p = 0.9763). Fungicide did not have a significant effect on most variables, with the exception of reflected photosynthetic active radiation (RPAR p = 0.0074) and fractional photosynthetic active radiation (fPAR; p = 0.005). No cultivar by fungicide interactions were detected for sensor data (p \u3e 0.05). Correlation analysis between sensor data and yield, produced coefficients of determination of up to R² = 0.48 (p \u3c 0.0001) for indices like normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) during the growth stages between Zadoks 40 and 59. Similar results were obtained for indices such as normalized difference red edge (NDRE), leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll content (CHL), and adjusted fPAR. Sensor data showed correlations with two hundred kernel weight and plant dry weight. Environmental effects limited the use of sensor based data as predictors of grain protein content. Results suggest that sensor data could become a useful tool to characterize the genetic response of different variables to characterize for yield and yield components that otherwise would require labor intensive or destructive sampling.
Advisor: Katherine Frel
Egg White Hydrolysate in Hypertension: A Mechanistic Investigation of Gut Microbiota Dependent and Independent Pathways
No full textCardiovascular 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 digestion-resistant proteins and peptides (GI-U) which could reach the colon. This dissertation elucidates EWH simultaneously modulation of hypertension mechanisms through in vitro and in vivo models. EWH ACE-inhibition was confirmed in vitro, and it was able to reduce inflammation markers as VCAM-1 (750 µg/mL) and ICAM-1 (100 µg/mL) in endothelial cells. Fermentation of EWH digestion resistant fraction increased short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production with lower detrimental metabolites compared to peptone in vitro. EWH also acted on inflammation and RAAS markers in vivo by reducing VCAM-1 and increasing MasR expression, involved in vasodilation, in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) aorta when administered at 1,000 mg/kg BW. Taxonomic analysis of the microbiome elucidated the presence of SCFA taxa at a genus level, being Phascolarctobacterium common during the in vitro and in vivo studies. The dissertation also pioneered the evaluation of SHR EWH-modulated microbiome on the modulation of high blood pressure in a normotensive model. The EWH-modulated microbiome did not induce an increase in blood pressure compared to the SHR control microbiome. Hence, the findings support EWH as a holistic preventive strategy for hypertension by simultaneously modulating its mechanisms while harnessing the gut microbiome to enhance its anti-hypertensive capacity.
Advisor: Kaustav Majumde
Delineating ecologically distinct groups for annual cycle management of a declining shorebird
No full text2025 Perkins County Canal Litigation Update
No full textOn July 16, 2025, the state of Nebraska filed a lawsuit with the US Supreme Court (SCOTUS or Supreme Court of the United States) alleging that Colorado has interfered with Nebraska’s water rights for the Perkins County Canal in the 1923 South Platte River Compact. This newsletter issue discusses the provisions of the South Platte River Compact, Colorado irrigation in the South Platte basin, recent South Platte basin developments, Nebraska’s lawsuit, and what to look for as the lawsuit unfolds
Primary Investigation of Rice-Fish Co-Culture: Investigating the Feasibility of Raising Fish in Flooded Rice Paddies in the Southern USA
No full textWith limited land and water resources available it has become critical to maximize output for agricultural products while maintaining sustainable farming practices. Ricefish co-culture can be used to maximize limited land and water resources for production of rice and fish concurrently and reduce the need of chemical inputs. While rice-fish co-culture has been practiced in Asia for centuries, very few studies have examined the feasibility and economic impact of rice fish co-culture in the U.S.A. Two studies were conducted in Stuttgart, Arkansas, U.S.A. from 2023-2024 to investigate the suitability of raising Koi carp in flooded rice paddies with a sushi rice variety, Eclipse. The objectives of the studies were to determine if co-cultivation of Koi carp and rice in the Southern U.S.A. could enhance rice production and quality while providing additional economic return from Koi carp. Our studies showed that Koi carp with two different initial weights can be grown concurrently in a flooded rice-fish production system and result in enhanced rice yield, milling yield, and protein content, and positive estimated net returns for Koi carp production. This system appears to offer U.S.A. rice farmers a potential diversification strategy for smaller fields where specialty rice varieties are grown, however, a full economic feasibility study still is needed
Considerations for Leasing: Cash Rent vs. Crop Share
No full textLeasing farmland is a foundational part of Nebraska’s agricultural economy. It provides landowners a way to generate income without actively farming and offers producers access to acreage without the high capital investment of land ownership. Two common lease arrangements — cash rent and crop share — are widely used across the state. While each has its place, they come with different risk levels, profitability potential, and tax implications that both landowners and tenants must carefully evaluate.
As agricultural economists, we are frequently asked, “Which is better: cash rent or crop share?” The answer is: it depends. The best lease structure is the one that fits the goals, risk aversion, and other preferences of both parties, and one they can mutually agree upon. Strong communication between landowners and tenants is essential for a successful relationship, regardless of the lease type
Roots of Justice: A History of Race and Racism in Nebraska
No full textThere is much to understand about the history of Nebraska and how the past shapes the present. This book attempts to bring into clearer focus the triumphs and trials of five broad groups whose lives have often been overlooked when the state’s history is told. The authors know some of this history of racism firsthand: Most of them have lived as people of color in Nebraska. They’ve experienced “the good, the bad and the ugly” that makes up our state story. We encourage educators, scholars and family historians to continue to dig, to document and to tell these stories. And then to ask: How can we best acknowledge the racism that is part of our history? How might Nebraskans remedy the wrongs of the past and create a future in which racism is no longer a divisive issue? Can we imagine a culture in which differences and stereotypes do not rule the future for our children and grandchildren? How is it possible for all Nebraskans, through what organizations and institutions, to work for the common good in Nebraska? May this history compel us all to imagine a better future – and then to take action to make it happen!--From the Foreword by Bill Arfmann
Introduction by M. Dewayne Mays and Paul A. Olson, Native Americans I by Gabriel Bruguier, Native Americans II by Kevin Abourezk, African Americans — A History of African Americans in Nebraska by Preston Love, Jr., with Adam Fletcher Sasse and Heather Fryer, Latinos — Voices of Latinidad: A Truth and Reconciliation Movement to Preserve Latino and Latina History by J.S. Onésimo (Ness) Sándoval, Asian Americans — Exclusion from the Good Life: The Impact of Anti-Asian Racism on Asian Nebraskans by Heather Fryer and Sharon Ishii-Jordan, Recent Arrivals: Refugee Resettlement in Nebraska by Emira Ibrahimpašić and Julia Reilly
Separate chapters/essays are available for download @ https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/truth/
DOI 10.32873/unl.dc.rj0https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/zeabook/1170/thumbnail.jp
Between Two Worlds: A Case Study of Third Culture Identity and Reentry for UNL International Students
No full textThird Culture Kids (TCKs) and international students share many commonalities, such as their globalized nature, adaptability, and the adoption of cultural components from their host country versus their home country. However, they contain enough differences to be considered separate groups. Traditionally, people need to be immersed in a culture different from their parents’ culture between the ages of 0 and 18 to be considered a TCK, whereas international students are typically between 18 and 24 years old by the time they attend universities overseas. The cultural absorption of TCKs in their formative years is usually greater than that of international students; however, the TCK phenomenon can still be used as a lens to view the experiences of international students returning to their home countries, which is the aim of this study. TCKs have been known to experience difficulties with identity and belonging, so this study aims to investigate whether international students face similar issues. The study employs an exploratory case study approach to interview primarily ethnically Chinese Malaysian college transfer students who have stayed in the U.S. for 5 years or more and have since moved back to their home country, exploring their experiences of moving back home Specifically, the study examines how some individuals in developing countries are sent abroad by their families to gain a competitive advantage and secure leadership roles in the workforce upon their return. The results of this study show that while international students do internalize host culture elements similar to TCKs, they are still able to return to their home countries in a much smoother manner than TCKs do and never lose their identity in the process. The study also indicates that international students, like TCKs, tend to act more independently and think differently from their peers, which makes them feel they have an edge in the workplace. Ultimately, the results show that international students feel their experiences made them “more than” the regular person who did not go abroad. Lastly, the question is raised whether ethnically Chinese Malaysians might already be considered TCKs due to their culturally diverse upbringing, with a recommendation for further research to explore this possibility.
Advisor: Heather Aki
Analysis of Graph-based Decoders for Quantum Low Density Parity Check Codes
No full textQuantum computing has the potential for radically increased computational ability. However, the physical realization of quantum states are fragile and susceptible to noise and decoherence. For this reason, robust quantum error correction is imperative to achieve quantum computation at scale.
Of particular interest in realizing effective quantum error correction are quantum low density parity check (QLDPC) codes. Classical LDPC codes were invented by Robert Gallager in the 1960s and came in to prominence in the 1990s. Due to Daniel Gottesman’s stabilizer formalism and the invention of Calderbank-Shor-Steane (CSS) codes, we can apply LDPC codes to the quantum setting.
As in classical decoding, the decoding of QLDPC codes suffers from the presence of structures in the code’s Tanner graph representation. The contribution of this dissertation is threefold. First, we analyze absorbing sets, combinatorial structures known to cause decoding failures in classical decoding, and see that they remain problematic within the QLDPC decoding framework. Secondly, we extend our understanding of problematic structures to partitions of absorbing sets and situate symmetric stabilizers, a purely quantum harmful structure, within this framework. Finally, we explore the benefits of adding redundancy to CSS codes and see improved decoding performance for CSS codes constructed from Hamming codes.
Advisor: Christine A. Kelle