Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Assessing Soil Properties & Suitability For Optimized Irrigation Development In Sudan, Northern Africa, Suhib O. Hamid

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Masters Project Reports

In Chapter 1, soil properties essential for efficient irrigation are thoroughly assessed. Factors such as soil texture, infiltration rates, and nutrient content are analyzed to provide insights into the selection of modern irrigation systems. Utilizing data collected from 3,192 locations through GPS and laboratory analyses, alongside sophisticated ranking systems, the research determines the most suitable irrigation methods for specific soil series. Findings highlight the remarkable efficiency of drip irrigation across various soil types, contrasting with the consistently lower performance of surface irrigation. The chapter emphasizes the significance of considering soil variability, evapotranspiration, and investment factors in selecting irrigation methods for …

Lactoferrin And Lysozyme To Promote Nutritional, Clinical And Enteric Recovery: A Protocol For A Factorial, Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Randomised Trial Among Children With Diarrhoea And Malnutrition (The Boresha Afya Trial), Ruchi Tiwari, Kirkby Tickell, Emily Yoshioka, Joyce Otieno, Adeel Shah, Barbra Richardson, Lucia Keter, Maureen Okello, Churchil Nyabinda, Indi Trehan

Paediatrics and Child Health, East Africa

Introduction: Children with moderate or severe wasting are at particularly high risk of recurrent or persistent diarrhoea, nutritional deterioration and death following a diarrhoeal episode. Lactoferrin and lysozyme are nutritional supplements that may reduce the risk of recurrent diarrhoeal episodes and accelerate nutritional recovery by treating or preventing underlying enteric infections and/or improving enteric function.

Methods and analysis: In this factorial, blinded, placebo-controlled randomised trial, we aim to determine the efficacy of lactoferrin and lysozyme supplementation in decreasing diarrhoea incidence and improving nutritional recovery in Kenyan children convalescing from comorbid diarrhoea and wasting. Six hundred children aged 6–24 months with …

Effortless Mindfulness Toolkit: Easy Meditation Scripts To Begin Each Class., Brett Whysel

Open Educational Resources

The Effortless Mindfulness in the Classroom Toolkit is an open educational resource designed to create happier classrooms, boost student engagement, and foster a sense of community through brief, effective mindfulness exercises. This comprehensive toolkit provides educators with everything they need to seamlessly integrate mindfulness practices into their teaching routines, regardless of prior experience. The toolkit includes introductory slides, 15 ready-to-use meditation scripts, and accompanying audio recordings, covering a variety of mindfulness techniques such as focused breathing, body scans, and loving-kindness meditations. Each meditation is paired with a reflective prompt to deepen student engagement and reinforce the benefits of mindfulness. Additionally, …

Unraveling Wetland Ecology: The Effect Of Abiotic Heterogeneity And Habitat Size On Wetland Plant Diversity In The Piedmont, Gregory T. Gilmore

All Theses

Ecosystems around the world are seeing an unprecedented decline in biodiversity. However, to better prevent this decline we cannot only understand the drivers of biodiversity loss, but also the factors that support diversity. Traditional ecological hypotheses such as the Habitat Heterogeneity Hypothesis (HHH) and the Theory of Island Biogeography (TIB) have provided frameworks for understanding biodiversity drivers. However, recent research suggests a more nuanced relationship between heterogeneity, habitat size, and diversity than previously thought. This study looks to bridge existing research gaps by examining the ecologically and conservational important habitat of wetlands. Specifically, the study focuses on the plant diversity …

Soil Additives And Alternative Crops For Drought Defense In The Intermountain West, Tina M. Sullivan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Western U.S. looks for water optimization and conservation as agriculture is the largest water diverter, and resources are pressured by urban growth, winter snowpack instability, and drought persistence. Agricultural producers have several potential options to optimize water use with different investments associated with them. Options with varying levels of risks and known management practices include alternative crops, soil wetting agents, and crop biologicals.

An alternative crop that grew incredibly fast in popularity was industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) despite limited agronomic knowledge for best management practices. Field trials occurred (2020-2022) near Logan, UT to test a total of …

Advancing Thermal Property Measurements And Water Management For Controlled Environment Agriculture On Earth And Beyond, Chihiro Dixon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Space exploration stands as one of humanity's most profound endeavors, and plant growth in space is essential for sustaining astronauts during long-duration missions. However, operating plant growth systems under reduced gravity conditions presents challenges, particularly in ensuring uniform water distribution in the root zone. Non-uniform water distribution such as excess water and/or insufficient water in the root zone can significantly impact plant yield, necessitating the need to accurately estimate water status in the root zone and understand the dynamics of water flow in plant growth media under reduced gravity conditions. The objectives of this research were to enhance the accuracy …

Addressing Lead Exposure Disparities In Milwaukee: A Geographical Analysis Of Interventions And Equitable Strategies, Miracle Mark

Theses and Dissertations

Lead exposure is still a major public health issue, especially for children who are the most vulnerable due to the negative effects on their development. Inner-city neighborhoods are often disproportionately impacted because they tend to have older housing stock, which includes sources of lead such as lead paint and lead service lines. While many studies have examined different types of lead interventions in the U.S., including both primary and secondary interventions, little is known about the lead intervention landscape in the city of Milwaukee. Specifically, it is unclear whether the geography of intervention matches up with the geography of exposure. …

The Role Of Efflux Pump Inhibitor In Enhancing Antimicrobial Efficiency Of Silver Nanoparticles And Methylene Blue As An Effective Photodynamic Therapy Agent, Yaran Allamyradov

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Efflux pumps are critical active transport systems utilized by cells to expel toxic substances, including antibiotics and photosensitizer complexes, thereby contributing to antimicrobial resistance. Efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), which are compounds that obstruct the transport of molecules through these pumps, play a pivotal role in enhancing the effectiveness of antimicrobial therapies against pathogens. This study investigates the effects of the EPI reserpine on the photodeactivation rate of pathogens when used in conjunction with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and methylene blue (MB), a common photosensitizer.

Our research reveals that the application of reserpine, in combination with Ag NPs and MB, leads …

Contaminant Transport Mechanisms And Source Tracking In Karst Groundwater Systems Under Agricultural Land Use, Shreya Pandey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Karst areas in general face severe groundwater contamination problems that can degrade their water quality. In comparison to other landscapes, groundwater within karst regions is more susceptible to contamination. The situation gets worse when agriculture is practiced in these karst regions, because the nutrients and bacteria like nitrates and E. coli (Escherichia coli) are released into the groundwater systems which contaminate the water quality of those karst groundwater systems. This research aims to study the impacts of these contaminants, specifically nitrates and E. coli., by identifying the contaminant transport mechanisms and source tracking of these contaminants in the groundwater under …

Robust Hydropower Planning Balances Energy Generation, Carbon Emissions And Sediment Connectivity In The Mekong River Basin, M. Tangi, Rafael Schmitt, Rafael M. Almeida, S. Bossi, Alexander S. Flecker, F. Sala, A. Castelletti

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

We present a framework for strategic dam planning under uncertainty, which includes GHG emissions mitigation as a novel objective. We focus on the Mekong River Basin, a fast‐developing region heavily relying on river‐derived ecosystem services. We employ a multi‐objective evolutionary algorithm to identify strategic dam portfolios for different hydropower expansion targets, using process‐related and statistical models to derive indicators of sediment supply disruption and GHG emissions. We introduce a robust optimization approach that explores variations in optimal portfolio compositions for more than 5,000 state‐of‐ the‐world configurations, regarding sediment origins and trapping and GHG emissions. Thus, we can rank dam projects' …

Effects Of Climate Change On (Semi)-Arid Ecosystems In The Southwestern United States, Charlotte Van Der Nagel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Climate change is considered amongst the most severe threats to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems globally. Ecosystems in the southwestern United States have specifically been impacted by intense drought conditions since 2000. Higher temperatures combined with altered precipitation stresses many ecosystems; however, ecosystem specific responses to such stressors may vary. Here, the effects of climate change on semi-arid ecosystems are analyzed for some of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the southwestern United States: lacustrine, riparian, and dryland ecosystems.

Lakes and reservoirs in arid environments often serve as drinking water sources and recreational areas where high water quality is essential. Climate change …

Characterizing Gsk3Β Interaction And Kinetics Via Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, W A Bhagya De Silva

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) is a multifunctional serine/threonine kinase involved in several key signaling pathways, including glycogen metabolism, WNT/β-catenin, and Hedgehog signaling. Hyperactivity of GSK3β has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, type II diabetes, and some cancers. Therefore, GSK3β is of interest as a target for therapeutics. Lithium ion (Li+) is a classical inhibitor of GSK3β. Structurally similar beryllium ion (Be2+) is ~1000-fold more potent. Lithium and beryllium have demonstrated pathway-specific and cell type-specific inhibition of GSK3β, prompting an investigation into the inhibitory mechanisms and thermodynamic characteristics of the metal-enzyme interaction.Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a label-free …

Canine Parasites In Southern Nevada Urban Dog Parks: Paravec Study, Miklo Azrael A. Alcala

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While dogs are one of humans’ greatest companions, they also serve as hosts for a multitude of parasites. Urban dog parks serve as environments where the transmission of diseases is likely to occur. Exposure to infective agents, contained within the soil, intermediate hosts (e.g., rodents, rabbits), and feces, can directly affect the health of dogs and their owners. Other factors that can further influence canine health include age, previous diagnoses of parasites/diseases, and migration. Many dog owners visit dog parks to encourage socialization and exercise. Such activities are meant to improve health, but unawareness of microbiological organisms can lead to …

Assessment Of Enzyme Stability In Subsurface Sediments By Computational Methods, Kambiz Kalhor

Masters Theses

The microorganisms found in marine subseafloor sediment play a vital role in global carbon and nitrogen cycles, with an estimated 2.9×10²⁹ cells, accounting for about 0.6% of Earth’s total living biomass. These microbes grow at a very slow rate, with carbon turnover occurring over the course of years to thousands of years, about six orders of magnitude slower than sulfate reducing bacteria in pure culture. These slow metabolic rates suggest that the enzymes they produce must also have extended lifespans in order to be effective over such long periods of time. As a result, these enzymes are likely to …

States Of Matter, Todd Sformo

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This is a non-fiction essay overtly about three methods used in overwintering physiology, set in the context of my first learning them, along with associated thoughts and ideas as I began working on my PhD. The mathematics shows up mainly in the final section of the essay whose subtitle plays on a poem by Wallace Stevens called “Anecdote of the Jar”. This section is fable-like in its explanation of protein purification and begins with an impossible statement that is slowly adjusted to make sense by words and math.

Suitability Assessment Of Groundwater Quality For Drinking Purposes, Md. Zahidul Islam, M. G. Mostafa

Journal of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development

The groundwater status of Northwestern Bangladesh is a complex and challenging issue due to its arid and semi-arid climates, increasing population, overexploitation for domestic and irrigation purposes, lack of adequate rainfall, and limited water resources. The study aimed to assess the suitability and health risk of groundwater quality for drinking purposes. A total of one hundred groundwater samples were collected from shallow tubewells in two seasons, the monsoon (MON) and post-monsoon (POM), in northwestern Bangladesh (Ganges River basin) and analyzed using standard methods of analysis (Atomic adsorption spectrometry, UV-visible spectrometry, graphite, ion chromatography). The trends of predominant cations were Ca2+ …

Economics - The Neglected Dimension Of Pasture Disease R&D, N D. Macleod

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Pasture utilisation underpins a significant contribution of livestock industries to Australia’s economic well-being. Pasture disease represents a direct threat to these enterprises but the economic magnitude of this threat remains largely unknown as the contribution of agricultural economics to pasture disease R&D, management and policy making has been minimal to date. Some insights to explain this apparent neglect are highlighted and a suggestion is made for a multiple disciplinary approach to R&D.

The 'Pendulum Paradigm' - Trends In Nitrogen Fertilizer Use On Temperate Grass/ Clover Pastures, R J. Eckard, F R. Mckenzie, P A. Lane

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Nitrogen fertiliser responses, on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) / white clover (Trifolium repens) dominant pastures, are compared between sub-tropical South Africa and temperate Australia. The data highlight the similarity in inflection point of the response curve, while emphasising the influence of high residual soil N at lower N application rates. The propensity of communities to oscillate between extremes in terms of N fertiliser use on intensive pasture, or the ‘Pendulum Paradigm’ is discussed. Particular reference is made to the dramatic increase in N fertiliser use in dairy pasture of temperate Australia and New Zealand. Emphasis is …

Linking Grassland And Range National Goals With The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative For National Benefit, David B. Hannaway, Walter F. Wedin, Gerald W. Evers

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grassland and Range National Goals (GRNGs) were developed to identify national research and education needs for these resources, both public and private. The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) developed within the NRCS to address the need for technical assistance for the management of privately held grazing lands. These activities are complimentary and, when combined, will address the national need for research, education, and technical assistance leading to better management of grassland and range resources.

The Effect Of Grazing On Etiolated Regrowth In Eight Grass Species, H A. Lardner, S.B M. Wright, R.D H. Cohen

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grazing by herbivores affects grass species both morphologically and physiologically. A grazing study was conducted on an irrigated pasture near Outlook, Saskatchewan, Canada during the summers of 1991 and 1992 to determine etiolated regrowth after grazing of reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners subsp. trachycaulus), intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey subsp. intermedium), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus beibersteinii Roem. & Schult.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.) Wimm.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) in …

A Vison Of The Future World Food Production And Implications For The Environment And Grasslands, Per Pinstrup Andersen, Rajul Pandya Lorch

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Increases in world population, projected to rise to 8 billion by 2020, and the resultant demand for food places great pressure on our agricultural and aquacultural resources. Anxiety about the future is exacerbated by decreasing grain stocks. Production increases of many commodities are projected to be between 1 and 2% per annum and will generally be higher in developing than in developed countries. Cultivatable land area will increase in some areas of the world but not in others. To cope with these challenges, yield increases will be essential and the application of existing knowledge and technologies will not suffice. Accelerated …

Canada's Forage Resources, D Mccartney, P R. Horton

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Canada is the second largest country in the world and stretches 5,500 km east to west and 4,600 km north to south. About 90% of Canada is uninhabited with 90% percent of the population living within 500 km of the Canadian-American border. About 60% of Canadians live in southern Ontario and Quebec. The grazing industry is located primarily in western Canada with British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba having 84% of the national beef herd. Ontario and Quebec have 73% of the national dairy herd. The majority of harvested forage, dehydrated alfalfa and forage seed crops are grown in western …

Opening Ceremony Address By Chairman Of The Continuing Committee, T Nolan

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board ofDirectors of the XVIII International Grassland Congress, Your Honour, Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Manitoba, Minister of Agriculture of the Province of Manitoba, Distinguished guests, members of the International Rangeland Congress, members of the International Grassland Congress, ladies and gentlemen. On behalf of the Continuing Committee, I am privileged to welcome you to the XVIII International Grassland Congress. What we will witness is the culmination of about six years of preparatory work by the Canadian Organising Committee and on your behalf! sincerely congratulate them for setting the basis for most interesting scientific and …

Closing Address: A Developing Country Perspective, Walter S. Alhassan

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

It is an honour to present this closing address for the XVIII International Grassland Congress and I do it on behalf of colleagues in Africa, Asia and South America. The thirty themes and over 800 papers presented reflect the growing complexity of our grasslands in shaping the general well-being of people on this planet. The XVIX Congress, to be held in Brazil in 2001, will move the frontiers of knowledge concerning sustainable use of grassland resources even further.

This address is being made from the perspective of developing countries that contain the majority of tropical pastures. This region of the …

Closing Address: The View From Outside, Allan Nation

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Closing Address

The Xvii International Grassland Congress And Challenges For The Future Of Tropical Grasslands: A Developing Country Perspective, W S. Alhassan

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

All too soon we are to draw down the curtains on the XVIII International Grassland Congress and it is my pleasure and honour to contribute to the closing statements of this historic event, the first of its kind in Canada and one to bring us to the end of the present millennium as we as set the stage for the next. I do this on behalf of my colleagues in Africa, Asia and South America.

The thirty themes and the nearly 2000 technical presentations underscore the growing complexity of the role of our grasslands in shaping the general well-being of …

Congress Highlights From Perspective Of Temperate Regionsr, R J. Wilkins

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

This paper commences with brief reference to points made in the concluding paper at the XVI International Grassland Congress in Nice in 1989 (Wilkins, 1989) and then gives consideration in turn to technical advances reported in the Congress and to the future socio­ economic situation and its impact on research priorities. This is inevitably a personal view which does not give justice to the 800 or so papers presented at the Congress.

Forage And Animal Management Systems On Communal Rangelands In Arid And Semi-Arid Regions, Panjab Singh, A N. Ghosh

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grasslands and savannas, which comprise about 25% of the earth's land surface, are undergoing constant degradation, particularly in ar d and semi-arid regions. The rangeland resource is constantly sinking mainly because of its conversion to crop land, leaving farmer and pastorilist vulnerable to environmental extremes. This Paper presents the existing situation and the herbage and animal Product biomass of these regions. Climate and its impact on the Vegetation are discussed. Prevalent systems of rangeland use by sedentary and nomadic herdsman are considered and the constraints 0 the system are enumerated. Livestock 'rearing has been the most important occupation in these …

Freedom As The Physical Notion. Mechanics Of A Material Point, Michael Vigdorowitsch

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

This is a novel conceptual attempt to introduce freedom as a consistent physical notion. The present consideration is limited to mechanics of a material point. Adapted to physical representation, freedom is tested throughout the paper to conform to its general perception. It is first tried on such physical notions (but not restricted to) as potency of a set, Lagrangian, action, degrees of freedom. Defined as angular and essentially nonlinear variable, it appears to be dual as that the domain affords and that the material point possesses within the domain, not necessarily equal to one another. Freedom has to degrade if …

The Potential Influence Of Immune Modulatory Molecules (Tgf-Βiii And Ctla-4) In Pathogenicity Of Pcos, Mustafa Riyadh Abdullah, Hazima Mossa Alabassi

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries, and immunological dysregulation. Immune homeostasis and inflammation management require immune functions. T-regulatory cells (Tregs) regulate PCOS's immune system, inflammation, insulin resistance, ovarian function, and homeostasis. Transforming growth factor βIII (TGF-βIII) and Cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-associated-protein-4 (CTLA-4) receptors on the surfaces of Treg cells are important for controlling the immune system. The study included 68 PCOS patients and 22 non-PCOS women controls aged 20–45. The waist-hip ratio (WHR) determines obesity. We evaluated serum levels and gene expression of TGF-βIII and CTLA-4 via ELISA and real-time PCR. Women with PCOS had significantly higher …