Animal Science
Emily Schulz
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Jessica Peterson
Investigation into the Potential Linkage of Maternal Stress in Polypay Ewes with Congenital Heart Conditions in their Lambs using Differential Gene Expression
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is a fetal condition typically resulting in low birth weight, underdeveloped muscle mass, and increased insulin sensitivity. Studies have shown maternal stress can induce IUGR leading to detrimental effects on progeny. Recent findings have suggested stress treatment of Polypay ewes may also lead to congenital heart defects. This study aims to identify differential gene expression attributed to maternal stress in the cardiac muscle of fetal lambs utilizing RNA sequencing. This research will provide insight into how maternal stress impacts offspring development. While this study focuses on sheep, maternal stress is of concern in a multitude of livestock breeds. Therefore, this research will not only impact the ovine industry but the agricultural industry as a whole.
Laura Reiling
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Gary Sullivan
Evaluation of the effects of high-pressure processing (HPP) and lactic acid treatments on quality characteristics of ground pork throughout retail display.
Salmonella is an increasing concern in the pork industry and has the potential to lead to the food borne illness Salmonellosis. That being said, there are currently no current performance standards for Salmonella in pork products. The ultimate goal of this research project is to evaluate antimicrobial treatments (lactic acid, mild HPP, or a combination of them) that reduce Salmonella in pork for their effect on product characteristics during retail display. This will be done by measuring color, lipid oxidation, and microbial growth throughout the duration of the project. These characteristics of pork are important because a reduction in product quality, may impact consumer acceptance.
Biochemistry
Camden Jones
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Limei Zhang
"Investigation of the Oligomeric State and Function of Potentially Monomeric Transcription Factors in Mycobacterium tuberculosis"
With the growing instance of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, the discovery of new treatments that target the transcriptional regulatory and metabolic pathways in pathogens has become more critical. As the second most infectious killer pathogen in the world, the interest in the understanding of Mycobacterium tuberculosis's highly complex regulatory systems has increased. While there is a large amount of research done investigating the function of dimeric transcription factors (TFs) in transcriptional regulatory systems, there is much left to the unknown about the function of monomeric TFs and their protein-protein interactions. This project aims to fill the gap in what is known about monomeric TFs in Mtb by investigating the function of potential monomeric TFs involved in the transcriptional regulation of the pathogen.
Biological Systems Engineering
Ry Steffen
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Forrest Kievit
Characterizing Sex-based Behavioral Differences Based on Treatment Window in Nanoparticle Treated Mouse Models of Traumatic Brain Injury
This research will be focused on characterizing sex-based behavior differences based on treatment window in mouse models of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBIs are a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. There are two stages of a TBI. The primary stage of TBI is characterized by a disruption to the brain that causes damage. There is then a secondary stage to TBI characterized by the biochemical spread of damage in the brain and can last for days or years post-injury. The disruption of the brain leads to higher permeability in the blood brain barrier, which presents an opportunity for treatment. However, studies have suggested that male and female mice have different susceptibility to treatment at different times following a TBI.
Joseph Oboamah
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Xin Qiao
A Low-Cost Camera System for Recognition of Flow Meter Readings at Irrigation Wells
Groundwater is vital to the well-being of Nebraskans and the economic prosperity of the state. There are over 90,000 irrigation wells in Nebraska and collecting data from these wells on groundwater usage is critical for regulatory agencies and water users. Currently, at most places, collecting groundwater usage data from these wells requires staff from Natural Resources Districts to manually visit these sites and record readings from flow meters. While telemetry solutions are available provided by commercial companies, they often require a subscription which is based on per device per year and are relatively expensive. This project aims to use artificial intelligence to capture flow meter readings and transmit the data wirelessly using Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN), a low-cost telemetry option.
Entomology
Edith Ikuze
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Joe Louis
Understanding the role of CCoAOMT gene in sorghum defense to sugarcane aphids
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a beneficial economic and food crop around the globe. Since 2013, in the United States, sorghum production has been hindered by the attack of a new piercing-sucking mouthparts insect pest, Sugarcane aphid (SCA; Melanaphis sacchari). CCoAOMT, an enzyme that contributes to lignin modification, is suspected to increase/trigger the resistance of sorghum to SCA. In this study, will use the common pollinator line, RTx430, and two CCoAOMT gene overexpressed lines, CCoAOMT9a and CCoAOMT28b, to assess the role of the CCoAOMT gene in sorghum resistance to SCA.
School of Natural Resources
Yvon UKWISHAKA
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Arindam Malakar
Evaluating Nitrogen-based Redox Processes in the Vadose zone: Tracking pathways and transformation of nitrogen species.
Excessive and continuous nitrogen input in the agricultural intensive areas leads to groundwater contamination from mobilized nitrogen species. Especially nitrates, highly soluble ions that quickly leach through the vadose zone. This study uses undisturbed soil cores packed in six columns (three columns per set) to track pathways and the transformation of nitrogen species in the vadose zone - groundwater system. One set (three columns) will receive irrigation water, and the other group will not. Different levels of carbohydrates and carboxylic acids will be used to make a 1% dissolved organic solution of the irrigation water, which will simulate root exudates of maize. Geochemical modeling will be used to measure geochemical transformation, and the presence of nitrate and ammonia will be analyzed in soil and porewater samples collected from columns. The study will provide preliminary understanding on the fate of nitrogen species in the vadose zone due to intensive irrigation.