Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Genetic Goat And Hamster Models Of Atrial Fibrillation And Long Qt Syndrome; And Genetic Hamster Models Of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, Dane A. Rasmussen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and long QT syndrome (LQTS) are potentially lethal heart rhythm disorders that can be caused by mutations in the potassium channel gene KCNQ1. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral infection with the potential to replicate the devastating effects of the SARS outbreak in 2003. All three of these diseases are in need of genetic animal models.

To address these needs, my thesis project focused on the development of genetic goat and hamster models of AF and LQTS, and genetic hamster models of MERS. Because of the goat’s similar organ size/physiology and the hamster’s similar lipid …

Beef Average Daily Gain And Enteric Methane Emissions On Birdsfoot Trefoil, Cicer Milkvetch And Meadow Brome Pastures, Lance R. Pitcher

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Conventional production of meat products from ruminant animals in the United States requires inputs including the cultivation and nitrogen fertilization of annual grains such as corn and barley, and transportation of cattle and grain to feedlots. Consumers have concerns about the impact of feedlot conditions on animal health, and about the implications of pharmaceutical inputs such as growth hormones and antibiotics on the environment and human health. These concerns have led to a growing interest in pasture-finished meat production by consumers. Such smaller-scale livestock production systems can be healthier and lower-stress for animals, are integrated into local food systems and …

Economic Assessment Of Organic, Eco-Friendly, And Conventional Peach Production Methods In Northern Utah, Trevor D. Knudsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fruit producers in Northern Utah face several challenges to their production, urbanization, decreased availability of agricultural land, and competition from domestic producers and imports. As consumers are willing to pay premiums for foods differentiated by production method, such as eco-friendly and organic, conversion to these methods may increase the profitability of fruit growing operations.

This study found that consumers in Northern Utah are willing to pay a premium for peaches grown using organic and eco-friendly production practices over conventionally grown peaches. The study also found that of the three methods of peach production examined (conventional, eco-friendly, and organic), organic had …

Fascism And Culture In Sicily: The Centennial Of Vincenzo Bellini's Death, Olga A. Casaretti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Benito Mussolini constantly portrayed his regime as a protector of nationalism and the ultimate promoter in the re-discovery of Italian culture. The 1930s represent the highest involvement of the regime in cultural activities. Such events had the specific propagandistic goal of ingraining the idea of fascism as a solution to poverty and cultural disunity between north and south. An ongoing theme of propaganda was connecting fascism’s mission to the glory of the Italian past and of its most illustrious protagonists. The Duce and his followers built the idea of a new political establishment that legitimized its rule through a reassertion …

Microfabrication Of Bio-Analytical Devices: Microelectrode Array And Traveling-Wave Electrophoresis, Neil Draper

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The need for potable water is increasing with the ever-increasing world population. Further development of fast, portable, and cost effective analytical tools is necessary in order to create diagnostic techniques capable of supporting the water needs of the world’s population. Within the last decade microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) technologies have increased the portability and speed of detection for aqueous samples. Photolithography techniques serve as a cost effective fabrication tool to create LOC electrodes on the micron scale.

An in-depth look at the fabrication process is undertaken in this paper in order to further the development of micro-scale detection techniques. An …

The Fate Of Pharmaceuticals And Personal Care Products In Conventional And Engineered On-Site Wastewater Drain Fields, James Beardall

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Utah State University Division of Environmental Engineering student, under the direction of Ms. Judith L. Sims, has investigated the fate of six pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in conventional and engineered on-site wastewater drain fields. The presence of PPCPs in the environment, especially in aquatic environments, has raised awareness to the effects of PPCPs on aquatic life and the fate of these PPCPs, and has caused regulators to become more involved in setting requirements for the removal of PPCPs from wastewater.

This research investigated the fate of caffeine, acetaminophen, carbamazepine, sulfamethoxazole, progesterone, and fluoxetine in laboratory scaled columns that …

Microhabitat Selection By Greater Sage-Grouse Hens In Southern Wyoming, Scott T. Mabray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) populations have been declining throughout the western United States over the past 3 decades. Habitat loss within the range sagebrush steppe ecosystem is a major factor leading to sage-grouse population decline. Understanding the use of microhabitats by hen sage-grouse may provide data that will allow managers to reduce the decline in the sage-grouse population.

My objective was to determine the factors lead to site selection by hen sage-grouse hens. This was accomplished by addressing several questions regarding the interactions of habitat selection and predator avoidance among sage-grouse hens. I examined if (1) sites occupied …

Growth Performance, Ruminal Fermentation Characteristics, And Economic Returns Of Growing Beef Steers Fed Brown Midrib, Corn, Silage-Based Diet, Christopher Scott Saunders

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Sustainable beef production is extremely important to the beef cattle industry. Sustainability influences the environment, overall profits, and public concerns. One
factor that influences sustainability is the composition of cattle feed. This study compared conventional corn silage (CCS), which is most commonly used in beef steer feed, to brown midrib corn silage (BMR). Steers fed the two different diets were compared to determine differences in the areas of growth/animal performance, ruminal fermentation (digestion), and economic returns. The study included 24 beef steers randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. Treatment groups were a total mixed feed ration that included …

Novel Techniques To Determine Soil Evaporation Rates: Heat Pulse Probe And Automated Microlysimeter, Kashifa Rumana

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Increase in world population rate has augmented the global water use in municipal, industrial, and agricultural sectors, with renewable water resources changing
very little with time. Climate change and variability, degradation of water quality as a result of industrial waste streams, animal manure and waste, application of chemicals, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, etc. have largely influenced the quantity and quality of soil water. Root zone water helps sustain the agricultural industry by providing much of the water needed for irrigation. It is critical to monitor the soil water availability, especially within the plant root zones. The subsurface water tends to …

A Translational Investigation Of Positive And Negative Behavioral Contrast, Megan A. Boyle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Applied behavior analysts implement research-based techniques to improve behavior. However, research with nonhumans suggests that intervening to improve behavior in one context may result in a worsening of that same behavior in another context (behavioral contrast). Although there are clinical implications of behavioral contrast, the vast majority of research on contrast has been conducted with nonhuman animals. Results from basic research suggest that contrast is influenced differentially depending on whether a change in conditions follows versus precedes a given context. For example, a child might encounter three contexts each day: home, school, and daycare. An intervention to reduce the child’s …

Sexual Orientation Change Efforts, Identity Conflict, And Psychosocial Health Amongst Same-Sex Attracted Mormons, John P. Dehlin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Both religiosity and sexuality are acknowledged by the American Psychological Association as important considerations for overall psychosocial well-being. Consequently, the denunciation of same-sex sexuality as sinful by many religious organizations leads many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to experience significant identity conflict. Historically, conservative religious institutions such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) have offered
developmental (i.e., nonbiological) explanations as to the origins of same sexuality, along with various nonaffirming approaches including: (a) sexual orientation change efforts, (b) increased religious devotion, (c) celibacy, and (d) mixed-orientation (heterosexual) marriage. However, relatively little research has been conducted …

The Legend, The Madman, And The Prophet A Memoir About Fathers And Sons, Erik K. Thalman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Legend, the Madman, and the Prophet is a memoir about fathers and sons, about the experience of being a son of a man of the Rocky Mountains, a legend grown old. The narrative centers around my struggle with the fact that my father had grown old and sick while I was still young, and my consequent search for other fathers, employing two primary examples—a martial-arts instructor from my high-school years who was later exposed as a pedophile, and the eccentric figure of my ex-girlfriend’s wealthy and traditional Egyptian-American father. The memoir relates the story of my father’s impact on …

Ecology And Behavior Of Coyotes In Urban Environments At Varying Spatial Scales, Sharon A. Poessel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As urban development continues to increase throughout the world, wildlife species, including carnivores, will be affected either positively or negatively. Coyotes (Canis latrans) have learned to efficiently adapt to highly developed areas, and conflicts between humans and coyotes, such as attacks on humans and pets, are increasing. We conducted three studies of urban coyotes to understand the factors affecting habitat use by coyotes so that wildlife managers can reduce human-coyote conflicts. Each study was conducted at progressively larger scales, with the first study at a fine scale using captive coyotes, the second study at a local scale in the …

Implementation Of Online Tutoring Program To Increase University Student Information Retention, April Litchford

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis discusses an online tutoring program, MasteringNutrition©, that was implemented as a required portion of an entry level collegiate nutrition course. The tutoring program was introduced to test the ability of the program to improve memory of nutrition information taught during the course. The MasteringNutrition© program combines various teaching techniques that have been successful in increasing student learning. The major techniques discussed include: Socratic questioning, metacognition, and problem based learning. These techniques are incorporated into the MasteringNutrition© program.

To test the effect of the Mastering© tutoring program, ten questions specific to course learning objectives were asked of students in …

An Investigatory Study Of Relationships Among Selected Theoretical Components Of Letter-Writing Fluency, Pamela C. Reutzel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Research that shows the need for letter-writing fluency as a foundation for being able to attend to higher-level thinking skills in writing calls for more research as to what the components of letter-writing fluency actually are and how they are related to writing efficiency. To study the components of letter-writing fluency, four assessments were used to evaluate 49 kindergarten students’ letter writing abilities. These assessments were made in December of their kindergarten year. The first assessed subskill was letter-naming fluency (LNF), which has previously been shown to be predictive of reading ability. The other two subskills that were assessed focus …

Risk Characterization From Multipathway Exposure Associated With Land Applying Biosolids By Accounting For Multimedia Mass Loss, Karthik Kumarasamy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There continues to be concern among communities living in the vicinity of biosolids land application sites about potential adverse health effects from the chemical contaminants present in biosolids. This study describes a procedure that will help answer questions about the risks involved in biosolids land application at the site level, thus, this study will provide a crucial communication tool for wastewater treatment facilities and biosolids land appliers to address the concerns of the public. Specifically, the study quantifies the exposure concentrations that a human being can become exposed to during their lifetime from the practice. Crucially, it takes a quantitate …

Introducing Two New Weed Control Tools: A "Smart" Spray Wand And A Wildland Weed Treatment Time Model, Bryan E. Dayton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Wildland invasive weed treatment, a primary task of land managers, is expensive. Variables including weed canopy cover, slope, land cover, and weed visibility can affect treatment time and cost. A partnership was established with the Department of Plants, Soils, and Climate at Utah State University, Providia Management Group (PMG Environmental LLC) and Jardyne Technologies to develop a wildland weed treatment time model to better understand the effect of these variables on treatment time.

The “smart” spray wand (SSW) is a new precision tool used to develop this model. The SSW is a spray wand with an integrated GPS and a …

Microbial-Derived Oils And Value-Added Products: Biosynthesis And Applications For Biofuel Production, Alex T. Mccurdy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Efforts are being made to replace petroleum-derived fuels with biofuels in a cost competitive manner. It is apparent that the continued use of petroleum is futile as population and technological growth put increasing pressure on the demand for cheap energy and chemicals. Diminishing resources, civil unrest in the Middle East, and the impact of using petrochemicals on the environment are critical driving forces for research in generating renewable petroleum replacements that can be produced with a limited carbon-footprint. Today, biofuels are derived mostly from land-based plants, but their potential for displacing petroleum is limited due to the competition with available …

Concentrated Use Areas: Characteristics And Management Strategies On The Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Zachary F. Maughan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Outdoor recreation management has become common practice on public lands over the past century. The United States Forest Service (USFS) has been a leader in the category of recreation management during that time period as well. One management niche associated specifically with national forest land is the field of dispersed recreation. Within the field of dispersed recreation management, USFS staff address recreation use in a variety of ways. One such method has been the development of Concentrated Use Areas (CUAs) in dispersed recreation settings. These areas are generally defined as undeveloped recreation areas that sustain resource impacts and require management …

Clinician Recasts And Production Of Complex Syntax By Children With And Without Specific Language Impairment, Rebekah Wada

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined whether children with specific language impairment (SLI) respond differently than children who are typically developing in response to an intervention composed of the strategies of priming and recasting. Twenty-six children between the ages of 6 years, 10 months to 10 years, 11 months participated in the study (13 with SLI and 13 developing typically). The intervention was completed in one session. Findings revealed that both children with and without SLI were able to be primed to produce subject relative and object relative sentences with subject relative clauses being easier to produce than object relative clauses.

Molecular Sensing And Imaging Of Human Disease Cells And Their Responses To Biochemical Stimuli, Lifu Xiao

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Advancement in microscopic and spectroscopic techniques could significantly improve our ability in the study and diagnosis of diseases. Especially, being able to image and detect human diseases at the cellular and molecular level allows people to diagnose diseases at early stages and to study the molecular mechanisms behind various diseases. Currently, histopathological techniques are most widely used for prognosis and diagnosis of human diseases. However, conventional histopathology requires a complex process of sample preparation, which limits the diagnostic efficiency of this technique. More importantly, it requires fixation of tissue or cell sample, making it unsuitable for the study of dynamic …

Representations Of Us Acts Of Extra-Territoriality As Illustrated In Pakistani-English Political Cartoons, Aina S. Niaz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The significance of Pakistan as an international state cannot be downplayed. Not only is Pakistan the first Islamic state to develop its nuclear power, but Pakistan has served as an important geostrategic state to the US on several occasions. The US-Pakistan geopolitical relationship was most vividly highlighted during the final years of the Cold War; and has reemerged again in the Global War on Terror. This thesis will examine Pakistani-English political cartoons to examine the way US extra-territoriality is represented visually. Approximately 2940 political cartoons are collected from four Pakistani-English newspapers: Dawn, The Express Tribune, The Nation, …

Effect Of High Intensity Ultrasound On Crystallization Behavior And Functional Properties Of Lipids, Yubin Ye

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The elimination of trans-fatty acids from food formulations has resulted in the search of new lipids and novel processing conditions that can provide optimum functional properties in fats while providing good nutritional properties. High intensity ultrasound (HIU) has been extensively studied on sonocrystallization of lipids since early 2000. Sonocrystallization refers to the induction of crystallization by HIU without generating any chemical changes. This dissertation aims to provide information on the effects of HIU on crystallization behavior and physical properties of different shortenings based on previous sonocrystallization research. Results in this dissertation showed that HIU successfully induced the crystallization of …

Factors Contributing To The Conservation Of Phacelia Submutica (Boraginaceae), A Threatened Species In Western Colorado: Reproductive Biology And Seed Ecology, Alicia M. Langton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Conservation and recovery plans for rare species require biological and ecological information to discern how they may be susceptible to human disturbances. Phacelia submutica is a threatened annual species in western Colorado. Human activities including energy development, recreation, and livestock grazing are occurring within the species’ range. To provide conservation practitioners with a scientific basis for management, this research aimed to elucidate elements of the species’ ecology. Chapter 2 describes the reproductive biology of P. submutica. Potential insect pollinators were not observed during two years of observations. Floral traits and development ensure self-pollination and reduce the likelihood that insects …

Improvement Of Nutrient Utilization Efficiency, Ruminal Fermentation And Lactational Performance Of Dairy Cows By Feeding Birdsfoot Trefoil, Rachael G. Christensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Condensed tannins (CT) are compounds that have shown potential to reduce the environmental impact of dairy farming waste products. In two live animal studies and a continuous culture study, it was hypothesized that feeding birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus, BFT), a CT-containing legume, would improve nutrient utilization, milk, and component yield of dairy cows compared with feeding alfalfa hay or grass pasture in two studies, while feeding BFT forage would decrease methane production and improve rumen fermentation in addition to concentrate supplementation was the hypothesis of the third study. Reduction in milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and …

Mechanical Properties Of Kenaf Composites Using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis, Thomas A. Loveless

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Natural fibers show potential to replace glass fibers in thermoset and thermoplastic composites. Kenaf is a bast-type fiber with high specific strength and great potential to compete with glass fibers.

In this research kenaf/epoxy composites were analyzed using Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA). A three-point bend apparatus was used in the DMA testing. The samples were tested at 1 hertz, at a displacement of 10 μm, and at room temperature.

The fiber volume content of the kenaf was varied from 20%-40% in 5% increments. Ten samples of each fiber volume fraction were manufactured and tested. The flexural storage modulus, the flexural …

Price Slides Within Cattle Markets Over Time And Space, Justin Edward Dickamore

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The production of cattle in the United State is a very large business. Production begins at the cow-calf level, where a calf is born and raised to a specific weight. This weight is the weaning weight and averages between 300-600 pounds. The calf is then typically shipped to a feedlot, where it is fed a high corn ration which increases the weight of animal quickly and cost effectively to reach a sufficient slaughter weight. Cattle production takes place primarily in 5 different geographical locations which include the North Central, Southeast, Northern Plains, Southern Plains, and West regions. Due to the …

Indicator 13 Training For Transition Teachers: Comparison Of Pre-And Post Test Scores On Writing Of Goals, Christina B. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Special education teachers sometimes experience problems with knowing how to construct and write transition goals that meet Indicator 13 requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This project examined the effects of teacher training in Indicator 13 requirements on the quality of transition goals. Participants included 17 special education teachers from one school district located in a western state. Target behaviors where increasing each participants’ post-test goal quality scores from individualized transition plans (ITP) written after they demonstrated knowledge about requirements through a post-instruction goal quality writing probe. Procedures involved (a) a pre examination of participants’ transition goals that …

Scalable Bio-Production Of High Value Products In Bacteria, Yukie Kawasaki

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Natural products are structurally and chemically diverse bioactive compounds produced by living organisms. The complex structures of natural products are often difficult to duplicate synthetically and thus industrial production of natural products most often depends on use of the host organisms. In this dissertation research, scalable production of natural products was pursued in bacterial platforms.

Biliverdin IXα is a natural anti-inflammatory compound which is emerging as a potent cytoprotectant in the medical field. Syringomycin E is a natural fungicide expected to be an effective agrofungicide in organic farming. Both biliverdin IXα and syringomycin E have limited supplies in the market. …

Disinfectants Against Avian Influenza Viruses, David D. Frame

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This fact sheet describes disinfectants that can be used to fight against Avian influenza viruses, including the advantages, disadvantages and how to use.