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Title: LATE-GESTATION METABOLIC STRESS IN DAIRY CATTLE : ASSOCIATION WITH COLOSTRUM YIELD AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN CONTENT
Creator: May Rossi, Renato
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Despite improvements made in the dairy industry and advances on heifer management, calf morbidity and mortality are still high. Calves rely on colostrum ingestion for acquisition of passive immunity, and provision of insufficient quantity of colostrum may lead these animals to failure of transfer passive immunity, hence leading to higher risks of morbidity and mortality. Many farms do not have sufficient colostrum available at times to feed their calves. Synthesis of colostrum starts few...
Show moreDespite improvements made in the dairy industry and advances on heifer management, calf morbidity and mortality are still high. Calves rely on colostrum ingestion for acquisition of passive immunity, and provision of insufficient quantity of colostrum may lead these animals to failure of transfer passive immunity, hence leading to higher risks of morbidity and mortality. Many farms do not have sufficient colostrum available at times to feed their calves. Synthesis of colostrum starts few weeks before calving and it is at the time when cows are experiencing augmented metabolic adaptations due to increasing nutrient demands for fetal growth, colostrogenesis, and preparation for the onset of lactogenesis. The study described in Chapter 2 aimed to compare the metabolic status of dairy cows during the last 6 wk of gestation based on colostrum volume and Ig content across seasons during a year. The results in the latter study suggest that greater availability of antioxidants might support the production of higher volumes of colostrum. Therefore, the study reported in Chapter 3, aimed to evaluate whether administering a dietary antioxidant supplement during the last 3 weeks of gestation improves colostrum volume and immunoglobulin content. Our results showed that DATS increased colostrum volume. However, despite finding higher volume of colostrum in treatment group with statistical differences compared to control, the distribution of colostrum volume between groups are relatively the same, as well for IgG, IgM, and IgA.
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Title: AN INTEGRATED OF CONTROL AND PROTECTION SCHEME FOR AC MICROGRIDS
Creator: AlZahrani, Saad Atitullah
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Numerous advances have occurred in the area of microgrids (MGs) in the last two decades. Protection is one of the most significant challenges facing the deployment of MGs. With the utilization of renewable energy resources (RES) to reduce emissions and costs, short circuit levels have drooped in comparison to those produced by conventional generating sources. Therefore, traditional protection schemes that apply to distribution system are no longer effective in protecting the microgrid against...
Show moreNumerous advances have occurred in the area of microgrids (MGs) in the last two decades. Protection is one of the most significant challenges facing the deployment of MGs. With the utilization of renewable energy resources (RES) to reduce emissions and costs, short circuit levels have drooped in comparison to those produced by conventional generating sources. Therefore, traditional protection schemes that apply to distribution system are no longer effective in protecting the microgrid against fault currents, either in grid–connected or islanded mode. In microgrid framework, distributed generation (DG) based RES require an interface of power electronic converters to regulate their output voltage, current, and frequency as well as to share the generated power properly. Mitigation the impacts of fault currents in microgrid system is an important aspect of restricting the output current of converters from exceeding their rated value, preventing power discontinuity, enhancing reliability of protection system and improving the stability of the network.For microgrid control and protection challenges, several approaches have been proposed in the last decade. However, the need for efficient and reliable protection schemes of islanded microgrid system still exists. This research thesis develops and synthesizes an adaptive integration of control and protection framework for MGs. The proposed strategy is based on detecting the faults and limiting the fault currents for short periods until the protection devices make a proper decision. A single state observer has been developed to detect the faults that occur within protection zones. Moreover, fault current limiter (FCL) devices have been utilized to achieve rapid switching with instant reduction of fault current contribution. The adaptive integrated protection proposed in this research is achievable using either centralized or decentralized control in MGs. The proposed framework has been applied to islanded microgrid configuration and is demonstrated to be an effective means to protect the system and maintain the voltage and frequency within acceptable range with the capability of power continuity during both transient and persistent faults.
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Title: SOIL SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS AND CULTIVAR CHOICE AFFECT MECHANICAL WEED CONTROL EFFICACY IN ORGANIC VEGETABLES
Creator: Priddy, Daniel Muphey
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Seed bed preparation and soil management history are thought to have a large impact on the efficacy of mechanical cultivation, but limited information is available on the mechanisms of these effects. In field trials, we tested how pre-plant bed preparation, historic compost use, and molasses applications affected soil surface characteristics and the efficacy of flextine cultivation. Contrary to expectations, historic compost and molasses application had little or no effect on the efficacy of...
Show moreSeed bed preparation and soil management history are thought to have a large impact on the efficacy of mechanical cultivation, but limited information is available on the mechanisms of these effects. In field trials, we tested how pre-plant bed preparation, historic compost use, and molasses applications affected soil surface characteristics and the efficacy of flextine cultivation. Contrary to expectations, historic compost and molasses application had little or no effect on the efficacy of flextine cultivation, and rolling beds prior to planting reduced flextine efficacy. Rolling beds resulted in lower soil surface roughness, but also increased soil penetrometer resistance, which was associated with reduced efficacy of cultivation. These surprising results highlight the importance of characterization of soil conditions in cultivation research. Table beets (Beta vulgaris) are among the most challenging crops to mechanically cultivate. Four beet cultivars were evaluated for their tolerance to deep planting and mechanical cultivation as well as their competitiveness with escaped weeds. Results suggest that 1) deep planting to delay emergence may improve success with stale seedbedding for some cultivars, but that results are inconsistent under field conditions; 2) adoption of cultivars with greater tolerance to mechanical cultivation and greater competitiveness with weeds can improve weed management success in table beets.
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Title: UTILIZING UVR PROTECTANTS TO OPTIMIZE BACTERIOPHAGE FOR FIRE BLIGHT MANAGEMENT
Creator: Dobbins, Madison
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: UTILIZING UVR PROTECTANTS TO OPTIMIZE BACTERIOPHAGE FOR FIRE BLIGHT MANAGEMENT By Madison Dobbins Erwinia amylovora is a devastating bacterial pathogen that is the causal agent of the pome fruit disease fire blight. For plant diseases, alternate biological controls, such as bacteriophage, are now the subject of many research studies as a potential substitute for the use of antibiotics. In several in vitro studies, bacteriophage have been shown to reduce the survival of E. amylovora; however,...
Show moreUTILIZING UVR PROTECTANTS TO OPTIMIZE BACTERIOPHAGE FOR FIRE BLIGHT MANAGEMENT By Madison Dobbins Erwinia amylovora is a devastating bacterial pathogen that is the causal agent of the pome fruit disease fire blight. For plant diseases, alternate biological controls, such as bacteriophage, are now the subject of many research studies as a potential substitute for the use of antibiotics. In several in vitro studies, bacteriophage have been shown to reduce the survival of E. amylovora; however, for field application, protection from degradation by ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is required. We examined if the addition of peptone or carrot juice, both highly pigmented liquids, and kaolinite clay could protect individual E. amylovora bacteriophage from inactivation by UVR. We studied the effects of these potential protectants to bacteriophage survival following dosing with UVR wavelengths in the UVA, UVB, and UVC range. We found that additives of either peptone or kaolinite clay acted as UV-protectants. Greater concentrations of both the peptone and kaolinite clay demonstrated greater protective qualities against UVR. In a field study, commercial bacteriophage cocktails such as Agriphage, Firequencher A and B, cocktails of E. Amylovora specific bacteriophage, were also used to demonstrate the protective qualities of additives, as well as the potential for bacteriophage to be used more regularly as a biological control agent against E. amylovora. These field studies identified three separate bacteriophage - the Agriphage cocktail (Certis and Omnylytics), Φ31 -3 and Φ21-4 - as potential protectants against the occurrence of E. amylovora.
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Title: Analysis of Positional Bias Within Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessments
Creator: Miranda, David Ray Gutierrez
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Positional bias is a pattern of responding to a specific location that can be influenced by response effort and/or prior learning history. Within the contexts of preference assessments, positional bias create additional variables that make ascertaining true preferences within a preference assessment more difficult. Prior research on positional bias within preference assessments have focused primarily on its use in paired stimulus assessments due to the complex nature of the multiple-stimulus...
Show morePositional bias is a pattern of responding to a specific location that can be influenced by response effort and/or prior learning history. Within the contexts of preference assessments, positional bias create additional variables that make ascertaining true preferences within a preference assessment more difficult. Prior research on positional bias within preference assessments have focused primarily on its use in paired stimulus assessments due to the complex nature of the multiple-stimulus without replacement preference assessment. The present study is a secondary analysis that utilized four different methods to measure side bias and center bias for 19 young children with autism spectrum disorders. Results indicate that participants had varying degrees of biased responding but collectively engaged in little biased responding. Present study includes discussion of general patterns of responding, an analysis of the four methodologies, and general recommendations for the application of these methodologies.
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Title: THE ROLE OF ETHNIC IDENTITY, PARENTING, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS SATISFACTION IN ASIAN AMERICAN EMERGING ADULTS’ EXPOSURE TO RISKS FOR DISORDERED EATING
Creator: Ma, Ruofan
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The present study aimed to understand how various factors at the individual (satisfaction of basic psychological needs), relational (parenting), and cultural (ethnic identity) levels may contribute to Asian American emerging adults’ (18 - 25 years of age) introjected regulation of eating, a regulatory style of eating in which individuals’ shame/guilt related to the amount of food they eat or their body weight/shape motivate their regulation of eating. This regulatory style is characteristic...
Show moreThe present study aimed to understand how various factors at the individual (satisfaction of basic psychological needs), relational (parenting), and cultural (ethnic identity) levels may contribute to Asian American emerging adults’ (18 - 25 years of age) introjected regulation of eating, a regulatory style of eating in which individuals’ shame/guilt related to the amount of food they eat or their body weight/shape motivate their regulation of eating. This regulatory style is characteristic of eating disorders. This study examined whether satisfaction of psychological needs mediated the relation between perceived parental psychological control and introjected regulation of eating, and whether Asian American emerging adults’ ethnic identity moderated the association between parental control and psychological needs satisfaction. Asian American emerging adults (N = 127) completed a cross-sectional survey study. Psychological needs satisfaction mediated the positive relation between parental psychological control and introjected regulation of eating. Asian American emerging adults with higher ethnic identity had stronger relations between perceived achievement-oriented, but not dependency-oriented, parental psychological control and psychological needs satisfaction. Results of this study highlighted the importance of parenting and ethnic identity in Asian American emerging adults’ particularly risk and resilience for disordered eating. These results will help refine current models of eating disorders for Asian Americans and inform the development of culturally-sensitive intervention and prevention programs attending to the needs of Asian American emerging adults.
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Title: COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY : THE CASE OF PENGLIPURAN VILLAGE, INDONESIA
Creator: Briliyanti, Astri
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Community-based Tourism (CBT), a concept that focuses on community participation to minimize the costs and maximizes the benefits of tourism development for a community, has been promoted in Indonesia since the 1990s. However, as many CBT initiatives have failed to acquire the desired positive gains, the practicality and usefulness of CBT have been questioned. This study offers case study evidence of the Penglipuran Village CBT initiative, which has received considerable recognition for its...
Show moreCommunity-based Tourism (CBT), a concept that focuses on community participation to minimize the costs and maximizes the benefits of tourism development for a community, has been promoted in Indonesia since the 1990s. However, as many CBT initiatives have failed to acquire the desired positive gains, the practicality and usefulness of CBT have been questioned. This study offers case study evidence of the Penglipuran Village CBT initiative, which has received considerable recognition for its natural and cultural protection efforts. Despite its image as Indonesia’s most successful tourism village, little is known about why its CBT is considered a ‘success.’ The village, which serves as a model of CBT in Indonesia, was selected for this study, which aims to investigate how the community has developed itself as a tourism village using CBT processes, and the effects of tourism development on the community.Based on interview with 21 villagers and 6 external stakeholders, findings suggest that the community’s pre-established traditional governance and decision-making mechanism, and its tradition of organizing its members to complete self-initiated natural and cultural protection projects, form the foundation for its CBT operations and management. Easy access and strategic location also have enabled the village to be a competitive tourist destination. The community has played a significant role in producing and selling tourism products and services, sharing tourism benefits among themselves, and independently solving and anticipating tourism-related problems. External support in the form of regulations, marketing and promotion, training, research, advice, and resource support also have contributed to the success of its CBT operations.
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Title: GET OUT AND TALK ABOUT IT : INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION AS A MEDIATOR IN GET OUT THE VOTE CAMPAIGN SUCCESS
Creator: Barry, Rachel Carolyn
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Get out the vote (GOTV) campaigns using different messages on myriad channels have promoted voter turnout, however, their effectiveness can vary widely and the mechanisms of treatment effectiveness remain unclear. By conducting a GOTV field experiment followed up by an online survey, this research aimed to better understand GOTV campaign effects and to determine whether and how interpersonal communication might play a significant role in campaign success. This study also considered the...
Show moreGet out the vote (GOTV) campaigns using different messages on myriad channels have promoted voter turnout, however, their effectiveness can vary widely and the mechanisms of treatment effectiveness remain unclear. By conducting a GOTV field experiment followed up by an online survey, this research aimed to better understand GOTV campaign effects and to determine whether and how interpersonal communication might play a significant role in campaign success. This study also considered the effects of conversation characteristics such as relational closeness, discussion agreement, and overall valence on the predicted relationship of campaign-driven discussion leading to pro-voting attitudes and voter turnout. Results found the treatment to be unsuccessful in driving turnout, and even negatively impacted some outcome variables. However, individuals who discussed voting more frequently had more positive attitudes toward voting and were more likely to vote. Furthermore, though cumulative campaign message exposure showed no direct effects on outcome variables, it did have indirect positive effects on voting attitude and voter turnout only through the mediating role of interpersonal communication.
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Title: GENERATION OF HT-B AND HT-B PLUS S-RNASE KNOCKOUT LINES TO UNDERSTAND SELF-COMPATIBILITY IN DIPLOID POTATO
Creator: Lee, Sarah
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Domesticated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world’s third most important food crop and is a food security crop according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Currently, commercial potatoes are autotetraploid and mainly produced via asexual clonal propagation. The autotetraploid nature of most cultivated potatoes in combination with acute inbreeding depression when self-fertilized over multiple generations cause challenges in making advances with traditional...
Show moreDomesticated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is the world’s third most important food crop and is a food security crop according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Currently, commercial potatoes are autotetraploid and mainly produced via asexual clonal propagation. The autotetraploid nature of most cultivated potatoes in combination with acute inbreeding depression when self-fertilized over multiple generations cause challenges in making advances with traditional breeding schemes. The benefits of moving potato to a diploid breeding model include a simplified breeding scheme, easier fixation of desirable alleles, and generation of inbred lines that may be used to generate F1 hybrids with heterotic potential. A major hinderance to self-compatibility originates from the gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system in which the S-RNase and HT-B genes play a critical role. Utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, HT-B and HT-B + S-RNase knockout (KO) lines were produced. HT-B KOs produced parthenocarpic fruit but remained self-incompatible. However, the S-RNase and HT-B double KOs were self-compatible. Self-compatibility was measured quantitatively using fruit set, fruit weight, and seed count. Fruit set varied across both self-incompatible and self-compatible lines, with no clear trend in statistical significance. Double KO lines consistently displayed higher fruit weight than incompatible lines. Seed count served as the best measure of self-compatibility, with S-RNase and HT-B double KO lines producing up to three times mean seed per fruit when compared to S-RNase only KOs from prior studies. The lines with the highest levels of self-compatibility will serve as useful additions in advancing potato breeding to the diploid level.
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Title: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF BIOGAS QUANTITY AND QUALITY IN DIFFERENT DIGESTER TYPES WITH VARIATIONS IN TEMPERATURE
Creator: Barrios Arosemena, Maria Ines
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The energy sector in the U.S. has been pushing for policies such as the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to mitigate the impacts of GHG emissions. Biogas from anaerobic digesters is a viable form of renewable energy, due to its CH4 composition, it can be used as a replacement for power and heat generation or upgraded and sold as biomethane. This study analyzed the effects of temperature in biogas quality and quantity of dairy cow manure in order to compare two main systems, a CSTR and a...
Show moreThe energy sector in the U.S. has been pushing for policies such as the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to mitigate the impacts of GHG emissions. Biogas from anaerobic digesters is a viable form of renewable energy, due to its CH4 composition, it can be used as a replacement for power and heat generation or upgraded and sold as biomethane. This study analyzed the effects of temperature in biogas quality and quantity of dairy cow manure in order to compare two main systems, a CSTR and a covered lagoon. A biochemical methane potential (BMP) test was performed to determine material biodegradability of dairy cow manure with respect to temperature. The results show that all samples are anaerobically biodegradable with samples yielding 86, 168, 440, 475 and 448 L biogas per kg initial VS for 15°C, non-mixed; 20°C, non-mixed; 30°C, non-mixed; 39°C, non-mixed; and 39°C, mixed, respectively. The BMP results demonstrated so significant difference between 30°C, non-mixed; 39°C, non-mixed; and 39°C, mixed, respectively. In addition, the effects of psychrophilic, unregulated, and mesophilic conditions were tested in small scale lab pilot digesters. Results show that mesophilic condition yielded the highest cumulative biogas production, while the psychrophilic and unregulated conditions presented higher methane yield. A life cycle analysis was performed to compare two popular anaerobic digestion systems, a CTSR and a covered lagoon, versus current manure management systems for dairy cow manure. The LCA revealed that both systems have less environmental burdens when compared to current waste management systems and a CSTR has less environmental burdens than a covered lagoon.
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Title: USE OF CONCRETE GRINDING RESIDUE AS A SOIL AMENDMENT
Creator: Bollinger, Patrick E. B.
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Discarded or landfilled construction debris (specifically from roadway projects) may have untapped recycling potential to help stabilize different types of soil. However, blending some types of debris may not produce the desired results in all soils. Concrete diamond-grinding on pavement projects generates a non-hazardous waste byproduct called concrete grinding residue (CGR). CGR has known cementitious characteristics that suggest a latent use as a soil-stabilizing amendment, especially for...
Show moreDiscarded or landfilled construction debris (specifically from roadway projects) may have untapped recycling potential to help stabilize different types of soil. However, blending some types of debris may not produce the desired results in all soils. Concrete diamond-grinding on pavement projects generates a non-hazardous waste byproduct called concrete grinding residue (CGR). CGR has known cementitious characteristics that suggest a latent use as a soil-stabilizing amendment, especially for poor and problematic soils. In Phase 1 of this study, Western Iowa loess soil was amended with CGR and subjected to rainfall simulations were performed on CGR-amended soils to measure the erodibility of several soil mixtures. In Phase 2, lab-based wind erosion simulations were performed on CGR-amended soils to evaluate wind erosivity due to “wind whip” from passing vehicles. Phase 1 of this study reviewed different methods for collecting CGR discharge; discussed design, construction, and use of a uniform compaction apparatus; and analyzed stormwater runoff from soil forms tested in an indoor rainfall simulator. Post-rainfall analysis included pH, water quality (turbidity) and total suspended-solids (TSS) tests. Lab tests on rainwater runoff samples from CGR-amended loess exhibited dramatically higher turbidity with an increase in TSS from 1.8 to 4.7 times that of untreated loess. In Phase 2, soil loss due to wind erosion was measured for CGR-amended loess and Class A-1 highway shoulder soils. Results showed that erosion was reduced in more granular shoulder material, decreasing -2.2 tons/mile (-25%) to -5.3 tons/mile (-58%), respectively. Conversely, for shoulder material containing more organics, soil erosion increased from 0.9 tons/mile (25%) to 1.9 tons/mile (50%) on average with the 20% and 40% CGR dosages, respectively.
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Title: An Evaluation of Preference Stability Within MSWO Preference Assessments in Children With Autism
Creator: Melanson, Isaac Joseph
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The purpose of this paper was to analyze the effects of presentations of assessmentrounds on preference stability during subsequent rounds of a multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment in preschool aged children with autism. We conducted a secondary data analysis based on videos recorded during the data collection phase of Sipila-Thomas et al. (2021) and calculated preference stability across consecutive rounds using Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients ...
Show moreThe purpose of this paper was to analyze the effects of presentations of assessmentrounds on preference stability during subsequent rounds of a multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment in preschool aged children with autism. We conducted a secondary data analysis based on videos recorded during the data collection phase of Sipila-Thomas et al. (2021) and calculated preference stability across consecutive rounds using Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients (Spearman’s ?) for 13 participants with autism. We defined preference stability as the Spearman’s ? critical r value meeting or exceeding .6 for consecutive round comparisons. Additionally, we present a new definition for patterns of stability and variability across rounds of a MSWO preference assessment. We observed patterns of preference stability for 10 participants and patterns of preference variability for 3 participants. The implications of these results are discussed.
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Title: Applications of Drone-Based Remote Sensing in Carrot and Tomato Cropping Systems
Creator: Metiva, Michael Abraham
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Using models of canopy height and vegetation indices (VIs), drone-based remote sensing (RS) can allow for large-scale assessments of plant growth and nutrient status. The goal of this thesis was to assess drone-based RS in addressing research and production challenges in processing carrots and fresh-market tomatoes. In processing carrots, a two-year trial was conducted to investigate the effects of topdress N rate, number of topdresses, and timing of split applications on processing carrot...
Show moreUsing models of canopy height and vegetation indices (VIs), drone-based remote sensing (RS) can allow for large-scale assessments of plant growth and nutrient status. The goal of this thesis was to assess drone-based RS in addressing research and production challenges in processing carrots and fresh-market tomatoes. In processing carrots, a two-year trial was conducted to investigate the effects of topdress N rate, number of topdresses, and timing of split applications on processing carrot production, as well as the potential for VIs to guide N topdress decisions. Yield and shoot biomass were found to increase with higher N rates. Splitting applications did not affect yield but increased shoot biomass and N uptake in a wet year. Both early and late split applications showed potential to increase N loss. VI-based sufficiency indices explained at most 66% and 29% of the variation in carrot root yield in 2019 and 2020, respectively, but explained greater variation on average than petiole sap nitrate (6%) and recommended N applications 26% less often. In fresh-market tomatoes, RS was integrated into a cover crop by N fertilizer rate experiment to compare RS measurements to manual measurements of plant height, leaf tissue N, and leaf chlorophyll meter (SPAD) readings. Crop surface model plant height estimates were good estimators of measured heights (R2 = 0.89-0.96), with comparable correlations to final yields and ability to resolve significant treatment differences. Foliar N identified more significant differences between treatments than SPAD or VIs. In both experiments, drone-based RS demonstrated the potential to detect relevant in-season plant treatment responses comparably to manual measurements, with possible advantages in scalability, cost, and resolution.
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Title: A FARM-BASED BIOREFINERY FOR CHEMICAL PRODUCTION FROM AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES
Creator: Frost, Henry James
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: The purpose of this study is to investigate a new process of chemical production from agricultural residues. The studied system reduces the environmental impacts and power requirements of current chemical production methods. The feedstocks, corn stover and swine manure, are utilized by a three-step biological and physical conversion process to produce value-added chemicals lactic acid and chitin. Anerobic co-digestion was applied on the feedstocks to produce biogas and generate carbohydrate...
Show moreThe purpose of this study is to investigate a new process of chemical production from agricultural residues. The studied system reduces the environmental impacts and power requirements of current chemical production methods. The feedstocks, corn stover and swine manure, are utilized by a three-step biological and physical conversion process to produce value-added chemicals lactic acid and chitin. Anerobic co-digestion was applied on the feedstocks to produce biogas and generate carbohydrate-rich solid digestate. The solid digestate was then processed by a mechano-biocatalytic one-pot hydrolysis to release mono-sugars.Rhizopus Oryzae, a fungus, was used to convert mono-sugars into lactic acid and chitin. Under the steady state, anaerobic co-digestion produced 249±71 mL biogas/g volatile solids loading/day with a methane content of 62% (v/v). The mechano-biocatalytic process produced hydrolysate with high titers of glucose, xylose and acetic acid (32.90, 21.35, 4.06 g/L, respectively). The liquid hydrolysate was then fermented by R. oryzae to produce lactic acid (14.23 g/L) and mixed biomass (119 g dry matter) with a chitin content of 18% (w/w). A mass and energy balance on a farm-based biorefinery concluded that 199 m3 of biogas, 22 kg of lactic acid and 34 kg chitin per day can be produced by processing 1,000 kg dry feedstock per day. The energy balance showed that a positive net energy output of 2,200 MJ/1,000 kg dry feedstock was achieved by proposed process. Therefore, the studied system not only addressed the environmental challenges of agricultural residues handling and disposal but also produces value-added chemicals to generate revenues from the residues.
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Title: THE IMPACT OF SUPPORT CLAIMS ON CONSUMER WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR ORIGIN AND NUTRITION LABELS : THE CASE OF TART CHERRY JUICE
Creator: Hubbell, Caitlinn Brooke
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Modern consumers are continually searching for more information about where their food comes from and its nutritional value. As a result, policy makers and the food industry are using origin and nutrition labeling to capitalize on this change in demand. This study employees a discrete choice experiment on tart cherry juice selection to determine consumer preferences and willingness to pay for origin and nutrition related food attributes namely nutrient content claims, health-related claims,...
Show moreModern consumers are continually searching for more information about where their food comes from and its nutritional value. As a result, policy makers and the food industry are using origin and nutrition labeling to capitalize on this change in demand. This study employees a discrete choice experiment on tart cherry juice selection to determine consumer preferences and willingness to pay for origin and nutrition related food attributes namely nutrient content claims, health-related claims, origin labelling and a novel “farmer support claim.” Tart cherries are the ideal case to study these two labels as they possess health-promoting nutrients and are a staple United States specialty crop. We find that consumers are willing to pay a premium for origin and nutrient content labels when accompanied by a farmer support claim and health-related claims, respectively. These findings are relevant for the tart cherry industry as they work to improve the market of domestic tart cherries in a crowded United States market.
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Title: LANDSCAPE PLANT SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT FOR SLOPE RESTORATION ON URBAN FREEWAYS
Creator: Dubelko, Madeleine Nicole
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Roadsides can be difficult environments for plant establishment, but site preparation techniques can help improve plant survival and establishment. To improve roadside plantings in the state of Michigan, we investigated the impacts of site preparation and evaluated plant selections in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation. We conducted a large-scale field study at two locations (Warren, MI and Roseville, MI) along I-696 near Detroit, MI. The objective of the site...
Show moreRoadsides can be difficult environments for plant establishment, but site preparation techniques can help improve plant survival and establishment. To improve roadside plantings in the state of Michigan, we investigated the impacts of site preparation and evaluated plant selections in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation. We conducted a large-scale field study at two locations (Warren, MI and Roseville, MI) along I-696 near Detroit, MI. The objective of the site preparation study was to evaluate the effect of site preparation (tillage and addition of compost) on establishment of roadside plantings. 16 selections of shrubs, perennials and grasses were planted in four site preparation treatment. In a supplemental plant evaluation study, the establishment and survival of 16 additional plant selections. In the site preparation experiment, compost application had positive effects on plant growth and ground cover in 2019 and 2020, however compost did not affect plant survival in either year. Possible aspect effects were observed as well. Overall, shrubs had increased rates of survival and groundcover when compared to perennial plants. Plant selections that had no mortality in 2020 were Hemerocallis ‘Happy Returns’, Hemerocallis ‘Stella De Oro’, Amsonia hubrichtii ‘Halfway to Arkansas’, Diervilla sessilifolia ‘Butterfly’, and Cephalanthus occidentalis ‘SMCOSS’.
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Title: ANALYZING THE QUALITY OF PREHOSPITAL STROKE CARE IN MICHIGAN : LEVERAGING A STATE-WIDE STROKE REGISTRY TO QUANTIFY VARIATION IN EMS CARE AND IDENTIFY PREHOSPITAL PERFORMANCE METRICS ASSOCIATED WITH OPTIMAL DOWNSTREAM CARE
Creator: Oostema, John Adam
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Introduction: Acute stroke is a debilitating condition responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality and for which the efficacy of treatment is highly time dependent. As such, emergency medical services (EMS) are a key link in the stroke “chain of recovery.” However, studies of EMS stroke care are limited and suggest a high degree of variability in care. Methods: This analysis utilized linked data from state-level EMS and stroke registries in Michigan to perform an audit of EMS...
Show moreIntroduction: Acute stroke is a debilitating condition responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality and for which the efficacy of treatment is highly time dependent. As such, emergency medical services (EMS) are a key link in the stroke “chain of recovery.” However, studies of EMS stroke care are limited and suggest a high degree of variability in care. Methods: This analysis utilized linked data from state-level EMS and stroke registries in Michigan to perform an audit of EMS compliance with 6 performance measures derived from clinical guidelines, determine factors contributing to variability in compliance, and examine associations between EMS performance and downstream stroke care.Results: Among 5708 EMS-transported stroke cases identified between January 2018 and July 2019, compliance with performance measures varied widely. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, those with very low or high stroke severity, and those who presented later tended to receive less compliant EMS care and there was substantial group-level variability between EMS agencies. In multivariable models, compliance with each of the EMS performance measures was associated with early CT acquisition in the Emergency Department. EMS stroke recognition and hospital prenotification were also associated with the odds of receiving timely acute ischemic stroke treatment with alteplase.Conclusions: EMS compliance with recommended practices for stroke was variable in Michigan and is influenced by both patient-level and EMS agency-level factors. EMS compliance with performance measures also predicts favorable stroke care following hospital arrival.
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Title: SOLIDARITY & RESISTANCE : WOMEN’S PERSPECTIVES ON EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SELF HELP GROUPS
Creator: Mishra, Manasi
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Development interventions mostly aim to ‘empower’ rural women by increasing their income and livelihood but rarely consider the voices of their beneficiaries. I study the meanings and experiences of empowerment or nari shakti as understood and described by rural women who lead self-help groups (SHGs) engaged in savings, micro-credit and income generation. I conducted the research in the central Himalayan region of rural India in Uttarakhand State using in-depth interviews with 11 SHG leaders....
Show moreDevelopment interventions mostly aim to ‘empower’ rural women by increasing their income and livelihood but rarely consider the voices of their beneficiaries. I study the meanings and experiences of empowerment or nari shakti as understood and described by rural women who lead self-help groups (SHGs) engaged in savings, micro-credit and income generation. I conducted the research in the central Himalayan region of rural India in Uttarakhand State using in-depth interviews with 11 SHG leaders. The findings indicate that the participants experience empowerment as solidarity and collective power that manifest in the form of self-reliance, courage, and independence. The participants associate their self-reliance with courage and inner strength which they have built as a means to survive the pain and struggle. Their stories of nari shakti are also stories of pain and struggle.This research implies the need to examine perspectives of feminists on empowerment related interventions. Further research is needed on how micro-credit SHGs help build collective action that can challenge patriarchal power structures and bring about social change. Such research can help provide solutions on how non-profits can utilize feminist strategies of consciousness raising while still meeting donor expectations for the SHG programs.
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Title: What’s Behind the Impact : A Case Study of a Chinese Photojournalist’s Environmental Reporting
Creator: Du, Weiting
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: This thesis examines three environmental stories written and photographed by Chinese photojournalist Chen Jie and employs a critical qualitative analysis to research them and present their impact, including government actions and public engagement. Eventually, this thesis explores why these stories received a different response. This thesis is vital for understanding how environmental journalism gained impact in China, which is an under-researched topic. It examines and displays the selected...
Show moreThis thesis examines three environmental stories written and photographed by Chinese photojournalist Chen Jie and employs a critical qualitative analysis to research them and present their impact, including government actions and public engagement. Eventually, this thesis explores why these stories received a different response. This thesis is vital for understanding how environmental journalism gained impact in China, which is an under-researched topic. It examines and displays the selected stories and their different impact based on public information and an interview with Chen Jie. A set of assumptions that describes the context of environmental reporting in China was organized to situate this thesis’s arguments. Results suggest that the impact of an environmental photo story published during 2014-2015 in China is mainly influenced by four factors, the story and its publisher, public engagement, government engagement, and timing; the importance of the four factors ascends by order of precedence.
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Title: PRECISION DIAGNOSTICS AND INNOVATIONS FOR PLANT BREEDING RESEARCH
Creator: Hugghis, Eli
Date: 2021
Collection: Electronic Theses & Dissertations
Description: Major technological advances are necessary to reach the goal of feeding our world’s growing population. To do this, there is an increasing demand within the agricultural field for rapid diagnostic tools to improve the efficiency of current methods in plant disease and DNA identification. The use of gold nanoparticles has emerged as a promising technology for a range of applications from smart agrochemical delivery systems to pathogen detection. In addition to this, advances in image...
Show moreMajor technological advances are necessary to reach the goal of feeding our world’s growing population. To do this, there is an increasing demand within the agricultural field for rapid diagnostic tools to improve the efficiency of current methods in plant disease and DNA identification. The use of gold nanoparticles has emerged as a promising technology for a range of applications from smart agrochemical delivery systems to pathogen detection. In addition to this, advances in image classification analyses have allowed machine learning approaches to become more accessible to the agricultural field. Here we present the use of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the detection of transgenic gene sequences in maize and the use of machine learning algorithms for the identification and classification of Fusarium spp. infected wheat seed. AuNPs show promise in their ability to diagnose the presence of transgenic insertions in DNA samples within 10 minutes through colorimetric response. Image-based analysis with the utilization of logistic regression, support vector machines, and k-nearest neighbors were able to accurately identify and differentiate healthy and diseased wheat kernels within the testing set at an accuracy of 95-98.8%. These technologies act as rapid tools to be used by plant breeders and pathologists to improve their ability to make selection decisions efficiently and objectively.
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