From mini-robots that can — in a pinch — be used to carve up the holiday bird to details on how to manage family friction at the dinner table, there’s a lot to be thankful for in Nebraska research.
To showcase the versatility and fine-touch of his virtual incision mini-robot, Shane Farritor, professor of mechanical and materials engineering, recently used the Nebraska-developed surgical device to carve into a rotisserie chicken.
Developed with Dmitry Oleynikov, a professor of surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, the mini-robot is designed for general surgery abdominal procedures with an initial focus on colon resection. While not yet commercially available, the researchers have used the robot in a successful first-in-human procedure. Learn more about the Virtual Incision mini-robot.
And if you need details about prepping the perfect bird for carving, check out these tips from Lisa Franzen-Castle, a Nebraska Extension educator.
Other projects in the Nebraska research cornucopia that can be used this holiday season include:
Family Thanksgiving, friendsgiving or both?
Dawn Braithwaite, professor of communication studies, examined friction that can lead to conflict around the holidays when people maintain strong ties to both traditional family and “chosen” family.
“If you’re going to have both of these relationships, how are you going to navigate that?” Braithwaite said. “Holidays and celebrations are a little trickier.”
Learn more about how to successfully navigate this balancing act.
Holidays can be overwhelming for kids
Annette Wragge, coordinator of the Nebraska Autism Spectrum Disorders Network, reported that priming a special needs child prior to new activities can help smooth out the busy holiday season.
The key is to integrate priming sessions that are short, concise and meant to familiarize a child with an upcoming lesson or event. Review instructions, ideas and more to help with this transition.
Tiny tastes add up
Alice Henneman, a Nebraska Extension educator, tallied a few “sneaky” bites in a day’s time and showed how seemingly innocuous treats can lead to weight gain of more than a pound every week. Watch a slideshow and video about these tiny diet busters.
Food prep tips can keep guests healthy
True or false: Turkey is safely cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit? If you don’t know the answer, then check out Nebraska Extension’s multiple tricks, ideals, recipes and guidelines on how to prepare a holiday feast. Learn more food tips that can save your guests from an unpleasant experience.
Budget before you shop those sales
Post-Thanksgiving sales seem to come in all forms, from Black Friday to Cyber Monday. All the deals can be hard to pass up, so, Nebraska’s Student Money Management Center is offering the chance to create a game plan to smartly conquer holiday spending. Learn more about this money-saving program.
Thanksgiving isn’t the only time to enjoy food
Nebraska Extension has created a calendar that highlights days celebrating hundreds of favorite eats and reminders on how to make better, more nutritious choices. Just a heads up — January is Fiber Focus month, and Peanut Butter Day is Jan. 24. Learn more about the Nebraska Extension food calendar.
Discovery, achievement, recognition
And, when you have a few moments after the turkey, shopping, football and family time this holiday, check out the life-changing innovation that University of Nebraska–Lincoln researchers dished up in the 2016-17 fiscal year. The university’s annual research report highlights the creativity and diligence that drives the institutions research growth— which in the last year accounted for $295 million in expenditures. Learn more about this report and key advances made in the last year by Nebraska research.
