Life Sciences Commons^™

Virulence Of Photorhabdus Spp.: Examining The Roles Of Environment, Evolution, And Genetics In Insect Mortality, Dana Blackburn

Theses and Dissertations

Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) (genera Heterorhabditis and Steinernema) kill their invertebrate hosts with the aid of a mutualistic bacterium. The bacteria (Xenorhabdus spp. for steinernematids and Photorhabdus spp. for heterorhabditids) are primarily responsible for killing the host and providing the nematodes with nutrition and defense against secondary invaders. Photorhabdus is a Gram-negative bacterium in the Enterobacteriaceae family with high virulence towards their insect hosts. To achieve high mortality rates Photorhabdus produces a variety of virulence factors such as toxins, lipases, proteases, secretion systems, and fimbriae. EPNs are amenable to laboratory rearing and mass production for biocontrol applications against insects …

Qualitative Description Of College Students' Dinner Groups, Brita Michelle Ball

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to discover how college students conduct dinner groups and students' perceptions of the benefits and difficulties of participation.

Design: Qualitative study conducted with seven focus groups.

Setting: A university campus.

Participants: Thirty-six college students participating in dinner groups. Dinner groups were defined as a group of ≥3 people cooking for each other (or together) and eating together ≥4 times a week.

Analysis: The focus groups were recorded, transcribed, coded, and reconciled. NUDIST® NVivo software was used in identifying themes and subthemes.

Results: Dinner groups were composed of roommates and/or other students living nearby. …

The Effect Of Family Home Evening Nutrition Lessons On Nutritional Behavior In Latter-Day Saint Families, Jacquelyn Hansen Packard

Theses and Dissertations

Latter-day Saint (LDS) families with two parents and two children between the ages of 6-16 were recruited to participate in a weekly nutrition Family Home Evening (FHE) study and randomized into either a control group or an intervention group. Each family had to complete a nutrition screener prior to and after completing 6 weekly FHE lessons in the family's home environment. Online nutritional instruction was given to the intervention group for their FHE lessons, while the control group studied typical religious topics. Data taken from the nutrition screener were collapsed into a healthy or unhealthy diet score by averaging scores …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of Saka Or Suncho (Viguera Pascensis) In The Feeding Of Guinea Pigs (Cavia Aparea Porcellus) In The Community Of Sococoni, Muñecas Province, La Paz, Boris Rodriguez Peñaranda

Theses and Dissertations

The following work was conducted in the community of Socononi, La Paz, in which we analyzed the effects of three different portions of saka or suncho (viguera pascensis) during the growth, and fattening stages in guinea pigs (cavia aparea porcellus). We used 32 mestizo guinea pigs (improved Peruvian creole breed) weaned 21 days after birth. Four treatments were administrated to the 32 animals (16 males and 16 females), the treatments were the following: (R0) or witness, consisting of corn alone, (R2) consisting of 30% of saka, (R3) consisting of 50% of saka, and (R4) consisting of 70% saka. The variables …

Concentration Of Metabolites And Behavior Of Live Weight In Llamas (Lama Glama) Fed With Natural Grass And Barley During Gestation, Postpartum, And New Born Phases In Turco, Department Of Oruro, Eduardo Ticona Benique

Theses and Dissertations

The llama, a potential socioeconomic resource in the Bolivian highlands, faces serious nutritional deficiencies during the gestational and postpartum stages that negatively affect production. This study was conducted at the Tika Huta Experimental Center in the Llachu community of the Oruro prefecture. Our objectives were to determine metabolite concentration in blood plasma as well as live weight performance of pregnant and postpartum female llamas. Adult and juvenile llamas were fed diets of either plain natural grass or natural grass combined with 0.4 kg of barley hay. In addition, we determined metabolite concentrations in blood plasma and live weight performance of …

Metabolic Effect Of Three Protein Levels In The Nutrition Of Alpacas (Lama Pacus) In The Experimental Station Of Brigham Young University, Rolando Freddy Uruña Tito

Theses and Dissertations

This study had the principal objective of evaluating the metabolic effect of three protein levels in the nutrition of Alpacas (Lama pacus) in the experimental stations of Brigham Young University, located in the city of Provo, Utah, U.S.A at an altitude of 13696 m.a.s.l., and geographically located at 40°12’ north latitude, and 111°43’ west longitude. The climatic characteristics of the state of Utah, particularly in the city of Provo, during the current season registered the following: 4°C of minimum average temperature, 11.4°C of an average mean temperature, and 19°C of maximum average temperature, 55% of relative humidity, and a mean …

Effect Of Food Deprivation On The Metabolic Profile Of Llamas (Lama Glama) In The Letanias Experimental Station - Viacha, Edwin Eddy Ali Quisbert

Theses and Dissertations

In the highlands, where regular agriculture and livestock are not viable, raising camelids is the only means of subsistence for rural families. While grazing during the dry season in the high Andean region, llamas face serious nutritional deficiencies due to limited forage availability. This study was done at the experimental station of the Benson Agriculture and Food Institute located in the community of Letanias which is in the municipality of Viacha. The objective was to determine the effect of food deprivation on the metabolic profile of blood plasma (concentration of urea-nitrogen, total protein, albumin, and creatinine) as well as the …

The Prolamins Of Pearl Millet, Christian B. Ricks

Theses and Dissertations

Although work on the prolamins of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) has revealed partial amino acid sequences for several alcohol-soluble storage proteins (Marcellino et al. 2002) the genes encoding them have not yet been isolated. We constructed a cDNA library from developing P. glaucum seed tissue and screened it using maize zein gene probes to isolate several α-prolamin-like gene sequences. The proteins encoded by these genes generally fall into two size classes: 20.6kD and 27.1kD, which we call the 21kD and 27kD pennisetins. Both proteins are similar in composition and sequence to α-prolamins from maize, sorghum and Coix. Protein bodies that …

Effect Of The Consumption Of Farm Animals On The Diet And Hemoglobin Levels Of School Age Children In The Rural Communities Of Topo, Imbabura, Gualabi, Calpaqui, And Compania Of The Imbabura Province, Alexandra Echeverría

Theses and Dissertations

This research addressed malnutrition in the villages of Topo, Imbabura, Gualabí, Calpaquí and Compañía in the city Otavalo, which is in the Province of Imbaura, Ecuador. The research determined the effects of consumption of small-animals on the diet and hemoglobin levels in school aged boys and girls. This study involved 311 indigenous children between 6 and 12 years of age. Following parental authorization, blood tests and fecal samples were taken from each child to analyze hemoglobin and parasites. Additional information gathered from this study group included a socio-economic survey, frequency of food consumption, 24 hour inventory, animal production, and basic …

The Effect Of Religiosity And Spirituality On Transformatinal Leadership Characteristics Of Hospital Food And Nutrition Managers, Anna Naegle Sarver

Theses and Dissertations

Effective leadership in the field of dietetics is becoming increasingly vital in a rapidly changing world. A determination of factors which impact leaders and their followers is essential. This study was designed to examine the relationship between religiosity and spirituality and transformational leadership characteristics of hospital food and nutrition managers as rated by self as well as by those directly supervised by the managers. The influence of religious and spiritual beliefs on the workplace and workplace practices was also examined. Respondents were selected from the American Hospital Association database. Hospitals from 250 to 499 beds were included. Directors of Foodservice …

Apparent Digestibility In Llamas (Lama Glama) Fed With (Stipa Ichu) Treated With Urea And Molasses At The C.E.A.C., Ninfa Jacqueline Magne Colque

Theses and Dissertations

The following work was conducted at the Agricultural Experimental Center under the title of : Apparent digestibility in llamas feed with stipa ichu (Peruvian feather grass) treated with urea and molasses, for which 3 assays were performed in reference to the study : 1) percentage of assimilation of the treated and non- treated grass, 2) apparent digestibility of fiber and protein after and before feeding, and 3) determine the adequate levels of urea and molasses for the chemical treatment of the grass (Stipa ichu). For the first assay, the greater consumption was obtained at the level of 3 (3% of …

In Vivo Digestibility In Llamas (Lama Glama), Fed With Barley And Paja Brava At The C.E.A.C., Martha Jesusa Llanos Pérez

Theses and Dissertations

The Highlands of Bolivia present a great diversity of native botanical species with strong forage characteristics, providing them with a considerable potential for usage as a resource in the feeding of cattle. The following work was performed with the idea of taking advantage of the zone’s native species as a source for the feeding of llama cattle. In order to accomplish it, we took into consideration the following variables: food consumption, water consumption, amount of fecal excretions, urine volume, body weight, and the digestibility of the nutrients found in the food prepared with paja brava and barley (ash, protein, fiber, …

Body Mass Index And Soft Drink Consumption Among Adolescents, Olivia Love Mccord

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and soft drink consumption among adolescents. It is hypothesized that soft drink consumption contributes to overweight and obesity among adolescents.

Background: Research examining the relationship between body mass index and soft drink consumption is inconsistent. Several studies have found a negative association between total sugar intake and BMI; however, others have found a link between sugar-sweetened drinks and obesity. There are no known studies that have controlled for physical activity.

Data and Methods: Data on approximately 225 adolescents were used. Frequency of soft drink consumption, type of milk, and calcium …

Determination Of The Nutritional Level Of Calcium And Phosphorus In Llamas (Lama Glama) In Two Seasons In The Condoriri Agricultural Experiment Center, Gustavo Adolfo León Titichoca

Theses and Dissertations

The concentrations of calcium and phosphorus were determined in 12 llamas from the Condoriri Agricultural Experiment Center (Oruro Technical University) of Oruro, Bolivia during two seasons (wet and dry) and at three ages (newborn, juvenile, and adult). Samples of flesh were taken from the arm, leg, back, rib, and neck. Pasture samples (grassland and prairie) were used to determine the rate of biting of each animal studied. The blood samples were taken by extracting blood from a jugular vein. The minerals (Ca and P) in the flesh are highest in the wet season, 113.78 mg/100 g. The newborns were found …

Analysis Of Weight-Related Advertisements And Nutrition Articles In Popular Women's Magazines, Jennifer Cardall Jacobson

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The purpose of this study was to discover whether the weight-related messages and themes from food advertisements in women's magazines reinforce or contradict the messages communicated in nutrition-related articles focusing on weight control within the same magazines.

Design: Content analysis of 48 issues of weight-related content six popular women's magazines, 2001-2002. There were three magazines in each of two categories, "homemaking" and "health." All food and nutrition advertisements were analyzed (n=954), along with all nutrition articles (n=336). Advertisements and articles were identified as being either weight-related or non-weight-related. Type of food/product advertised, claims used to market the product, and …

Digestibility Of Legumes And Grassy Forages In Guinea Pig Feeding, Javier Americo Campos Villarroel

Theses and Dissertations

With the objective to determine guinea pig digestibility of the nutritive components of Vicia villosa, red clover, and Lolium multiflorum in relation to alfalfa, the digestibility coefficients were evaluated for fiber, protein, dry matter, energy, and dry matter consumption in these three species in a completely random block design with four repetitions. The results showed that for alfalfa digestibility coefficients of 85.7% of the protein and 2806.6 kcal/kg of digestible energy, plus an economic substitution value (ESV) of fiber, protein, and energy of US$0.41 and $0.38/kg and US$0.009/1000 kcal, respectively. Lolium multiflorum had the highest tendency toward digestibility with 60.7% …

Application Of Dietary Guidelines For Guatemala In Three Rural Communities Of Chiquimula, Sandra Liseth Salazar Donis

Theses and Dissertations

In Guatemala, nutritional problems are directly related to the difficulty to purchase food fit for human consumption due to low family incomes as well as low nutritional education. This situation motivated the realization of the present study whose main objective was to apply the dietary guidelines for Guatemala in three rural communities of Chiquimula. All three communities were previously aided by Benson Institute efforts to promote changes in eating behavior. The sample was comprised of mothers from the El Pinalito, El Guayabo, and Maraxco communities of the department of Chiquimula. There were eight mothers, four literate and four illiterate, from …

I. An Isothermal Titration Microcalorimeter. Ii. Importance Of Micronutrients In Nutrition. Iii. Zinc Bibliography, John Willard Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

I. An isothermal titration microcalorimeter having a colume of 4 ml and capable of temerature control to ±2 x 10-5°C is described. Major components include a constant temperature water bath controlled to ±3 x 10-4°C, a platinum reation vessel, and an isothermal control circuit consisting of constant Peltier thermoelectric cooling and variable Joule heating controlled by a thermistor in an AC Wheatstone bridge circuit. The calorimeter was tested by measuring the heat of ionization of water and was found to produce data accurate to ± 0.1% where small samples are used such as in the investigation of many biological systems.

The Comparative Mineral Requirements Of Pioneer And Climax Range Grasses, Paul L. Steele

Theses and Dissertations

A study was made to determine the effects of variable levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium upon several species of pioneer and climax range grasses, and to determine if these grasses differ in their ability to grow when supplied with low levels of these nutrients. Five grasses were used. The climax grasses were Agropyron spicatum and Agropryon smithii, and the pioneer grasses were Aristida longiseta, Sporobous cryptandrus, and Oryzopsis hymenoides.