2020 Undergraduate Student Research Awardees

Agricultural Economics
Kate Knobbe
Kate Knobbe

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Fabio Mattos

The behavior of futures price spreads and its information content in grain markets

In the past few years, there has been high levels of volatility in commodity futures markets from extreme weather conditions to unforeseen events. This has dramatically increased the questions and concerns regarding the content of futures prices and their forecasting accuracy. The purpose of this research is to investigate the behavior of futures price spreads in corn and soybean markets through studying the information content released in multiple reports like the WASDE and the Crop Progress Report. The goal is to provide new insight into the price discovery function of futures markets from a broader and more updated investigation of the forecasting effectiveness of the term structure and how futures prices respond to new information.




Stefanie Sherman
Stefanie Sherman

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Elliott Dennis

How do health management protocols align between feedlot producers and veterinarians?

The US livestock industry is facing increasing pressure from government, retailers, and consumers to limit the use of antimicrobials in production. This discussion largely stems from concern that antimicrobial use in livestock can build bacterial resistance which can allegedly be passed to consumers via consumed meat products. The goal of this project is to measure the difference of classification of high health-risk cattle between feedlots and veterinarians. Correctly aligning the attributes feedlots and veterinarians believe are most important in high health-risk cattle will allow feedlots and veterinarians to effectively work together to lower costs, reduce the use of antimicrobials, and diminish the risk of antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Biochemistry
Elise Webb
Elise Webb

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steven Comfort

Abatement of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Using Electrochemical Oxidation

Throughout the United States, there is a growing concern for contamination of groundwater with harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These forever chemicals have no natural degradation pathways, and the science community has not had any significant breakthroughs to remediate contaminated sites. Electrochemical oxidation using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode shows excellent potential for becoming an effective therapy for such PFAS contaminated sites. This research shows the efficacy of electrochemical oxidation using the BBD electrodes to remove PFAS at low concentrations. The advisory limits for PFAS are much lower than most water contaminants (70 ppt), and this study focuses on producing therapy for such PFAS contamination levels.

Biological Systems Engineering
Kunjan Theodore Joseph
Kunjan Theodore Joseph

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gregory Bashford

Validating a Novel Index for Spatial Frequency Analysis of Human Tendons using Ultrasound

Tendinopathy is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and functional limitations. Currently, very poor correlations exist between tendinopathy symptoms and the uniquely identifiable structural arrangement of tendon, imaged using Ultrasound. Quantification of the amount of disorganization in this tissue using spatial frequency analysis would prove to be helpful in diagnosing and setting a reference scale to measure the degree of tendon health, which can help physicians assess treatment and monitor progress. The goal of this project is to improve the current method of calculating one of the spatial frequency parameters called P6 Width and to test its accuracy by its ability to differentiate control and tendinopathic groups of human tendon images reliably.

Food Science & Technology
April Johnson
April Johnson

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Mary-Grace Danao

Effects of High-Pressure Processing (HPP) on Color, Chemical, and Microbial Quality of Raw Meats

High-pressure processing (HPP) is a non-thermal processing technique that reduces active microbes in products. This study aims to determine how low initial product temperatures (-10 to 20°C) subjected to varying pressures affect the color, chemical, and microbial quality of raw meat samples (ground chicken, chicken liver, ground pork, and ground beef). A better understanding of how pressure levels, treatment times, product temperatures, and processing fluid temperatures work to inactivate microorganisms and affect meat quality is needed for HPP to be widely adopted by the industry. This research aims to enhance the application of HPP to raw meats, and ideally, allow for meat and raw pet food companies to establish HPP as an economical pasteurization option.




Yih Chyuan Looi
Yih Chyuan Looi

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Ozan Ciftci

Interesterification of Camelina Seed Oil with Sorghum Wax

In the last decade, there has been an increasing demand to seek alternative natural wax sources due to growing industrial, food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic applications of waxes. Sorghum is an unexplored promising alternative natural wax source and United States is the largest producer and exporter of sorghum in the world. The goal of my project is to use enzymatic interesterification (EIE) in a green reaction system to modify the physical properties of camelina seed oil with sorghum wax to produce a replacement for hydrogenated oils or saturated fatty acids. EIE will allow manufacturers the option to substitute these ingredients in their formulations thereby creating a healthier line of products for the consumer.

Nutrition & Health Sciences
Jillian Power
Jillian Power

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Sathish Kumar Natarajan

Maternal Obesity induces Activation of FoxO Transcription Factors and MicroRNA 34a and Lipoapoptosis in Placental Trophoblast cells

I hypothesize that free fatty acids like palmitate and stearate induce lipoapoptosis by way of FoxO3 activation, and upregulation of FoxO3downstream targets such as PUMA (p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis) and microRNA 34a (miR-34a) expression. Initially, I will test to see if the saturated free fatty acids palmitate and stearate cause activation of FoxO 1, Fox03 in placental trophoblast cells in vitro. First, I will use the immunoblot method to measure the amount of FoxO dephosphorylation and acetylation. Second, I will use the cell fractionation method to determine if activated FoxO’s has localized to the nucleus. Together, these two methods will demonstrate the activation of FoxO transcription factors in placental trophoblasts.

School of Biological Sciences
Audra Hessenflow
Audra Hessenflow

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Hiep Vu

Development and Validation of a Luciferase Immunoprecipitation System against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), is among the most economically significant swine infectious causative. While current diagnostic tests are available, they're not completely effective. The objective of this project is to develop a luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) against PRRSV. LIPS works by developing a plasmid containing the antigen of interest and Renilla luciferase. The plasmid is then transfected and harvested. The Ruc-antigen complex is then incubated with serum in which antibodies fuse to the complex. Finally, the complex is captured by protein beads and unbound luciferase antigen is washed away. Light units then determine antibody quantification. Through quantification, the most immunodominant antigens can be determined, thus diagnostic technologies could be improved to determine what proteins to be targeted against in vaccine development.

School of Natural Resources
 Matthew Chen
Matthew Chen

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessica Corman

Human impact on nutrient concentrations and periphyton abundance in the Niobrara River

There will be two overarching goals/objectives of the proposed research: 1) to assess the impacts of recreation on the Niobrara River and 2) to assess the impact of the 2019 flooding on river health. We have been offered a chance, with the flooding, to take a look at something that does not present itself very often. By collecting water chemistry data, periphyton density and nutrient limitation data we will be able to conclude whether or not recreation negatively impacts the river ecosystem. By using the data collected in 2020 we will be able to compare between flood impacted data (2019) and what is expected to be 'normal' conditions (2020). This will allow for insight into how ecosystems respond to flooding.




 Phuong Minh Tu Le
Phuong Minh Tu Le

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Steven Thomas

Bioassessment on Haines Branch of Salt Creek from early to late growing season (April to October)

A streams’ biological community (macroinvertebrates, fish, and algae) have been increasingly relied on over the last several decades to describe a streams condition. These “bioassessment” tools can quantitatively rank stream conditions. In this project, we collect stream macroinvertebrate communities at previously established sampling locations and combine those data with physical & chemical data collected by others to estimate Bioassessment Scores for each site following existing Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy protocols. Appropriate statistical methods will be used to assess whether stream scores vary with land use characteristics of each station's sub-basin and other data collected by the project. Results from these analyes will establish the baseline health of Haines Branch as the Prairie Corridor Project moving forward.