Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Strategies To Improve The Quality Of Low-Fat Mozzarella And Cheddar Cheeses, Ranjeeta Wadhwani

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ranjeeta Wadhwani in supervision of Dr. D. J. McMahon, has worked on investigating the various strategies to improve three qualities of low-fat cheeses. These three qualities were meltability, color, or feasibilities to incorporate dietary fiber into the low-fat cheese with its simultaneous effect on texture. There has been an ongoing research on improving the quality of low-fat cheese. In our study, low-fat Mozzarella cheese curds of 4 different fat content (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0%) were comminuted and externally added with melted butter in the amount to get 6% fat in final cheese for low-fat claim. Addition of melted butter …

Effect Of Heavy Metals Found In Flue Gas On Growth And Lipid Accumulation For Green Algae Scenedesmus Obliquus, Reece Butler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In recent years there has been a growing interest within the United States to replace fossil fuels with biofuels for environmental and national security reasons. Algal feedstocks have the potential of producing significantly higher yields of oil for biofuels than any other source. It is well known that high concentrations of CO₂ can increase algal yields. Flue gas from coal fire power plants is an obvious source of CO₂. The flue gas, however, will contain other chemicals besides CO₂ that may not be beneficial to the algae. The research objectives for this study were to determine …

Exploring The Relationship Between Place Identity And Personalization Of Space In Temporary Student Housing, Joshua H. Rowley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study is to better understand the relationship between the personalization of one’s physical environment and the degree of place identity the person has toward their space, specifically those living in temporary student housing. There have been several studies on peoples’ inherent need to personalize their space. While previous research has identified key factors that help to define place identity in general, this study addresses the fact that not much has been said about how people in temporary housing, specifically student housing, actually go about creating their living spaces.

The key issues this research addressed were the …

Prize-Based Contingency Management: A Vehicle Miles Of Travel Reduction Intervention, Joshua D. Marquit

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

During the past 50 years, air pollution has become a growing problem throughout the Intermountain West because of increases in personal vehicle ownership and usage. Scientists continue to design interventions to improve air quality by encouraging people to reduce their personal vehicle miles of travel (VMT). However, results of these interventions have only seen modest reductions in VMT because of some methodological and measurement issues. To address these limitations, a 14-week driving reduction intervention was conducted in Cache County, Utah. This intervention employed a prizebased contingency management system within a single-subject, A-B-A withdrawal research design that rewarded participants with prizes …

Global 4-H Network: Laying The Groundwork Survey, Jennifer Major

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A descriptive study examining 4-H programs in Africa, Asia, and Europe was conducted for the National 4-H Council. Program size, scope, structure, organization, and funding varied greatly by country and few of the programs were connected to a university, but many partnered with other 4-H organizations around the world. Program participants were found to be primarily male with few programs specifically for women. A list of content areas provided by the 4-H programs was also obtained and compared to top agricultural commodities in their country. Very few content areas offered by the country aligned with their major agricultural commodities even …

Quantitative Genetic Analysis Of Reproduction Traits In Ball Pythons, Benson H. Morrill

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Although the captive reproduction of non-avian reptiles has increased steadily since the 1970’s, a dearth of information exists on successful management practices for large captive populations of these species. The data reported here come from a captive population of ball pythons (Python regius) maintained by a commercial breeding company, The Snake Keeper, Inc. (Spanish Fork, UT). Reproductive data are available for 6,480 eggs from 937 ball python clutches. The data presented suggest that proper management practices should include the use of palpation and/or ultrasound to ensure breeding occurs during the proper time of the female reproductive cycle, and …

Evaluating The Effects Of Reinforcer Choice And Reinforcer Variation On The Response Rates Of Children With Autism, Alice Ann Keyl Austin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Motivating individuals with autism can be challenging for clinicians and educators seeking to increase skills or decrease problem behaviors. Even when highly preferred reinforcers have been identified, they tend to lose their effectiveness over time. Over the years, several strategies have been developed to maintain the effectiveness of reinforcers. Reinforcer variation has been demonstrated to attenuate decreases in responding associated with repeated exposure to a single reinforcer. Another strategy that has been used to help maintain responding is allowing an individual a choice among reinforcers. Several researchers have suggested that providing choice among several reinforcers may produce the same effects …

Causes, Extent, And Consequences Of Lead-Pellet Ingestion By Chukars (Alectoris Chukar) In Western Utah: Examining Habitat, Search Images, And Toxicology, R. Justin Bingham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lead ingestion adversely affects humans and over 130 species of wildlife. Wild chukars (Alectoris chukar) are documented to ingest lead, but the causes and consequences of this ingestion are poorly understood. The objectives of this research were to 1) examine the influence of habitat use, the hunting season, and seasonal climate on the extent and severity of lead ingestion by chukars in western Utah, 2) assess the effects of habitat use, feeding behaviors, and lead density on the causes of lead-pellet ingestion in captive and wild chukars, and 3) investigate the consequences of lead-pellet ingestion in captive chukars as a …

Microbiological, Thermal Inactivation, And Sensory Characteristics Of Beef Eye-Of-Round Subprimals And Steaks Processed With High-Pressure Needleless Injection, Laura Kahealani Jefferies

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

High-pressure needleless injection (HPNI) is a process where small-diameter, high-velocity burst of liquid, penetrate foods at pressures ≤ 10,000 psi. The potential of HPNI as an enhancing technique for meat was studied. In study 1, HPNI translocated surface E. coli O157 into the interior of beef eye-of-round subprimals with an incidence of 40 (±7), 25 (±8), and 25 (±8)% for meat that had been surface-inoculated with a four-strain cocktail at 0.5, 1, and 2 log₁₀ CFU/cm², respectively. Run-off water contained 2, 2, and 3 log₁₀ CFU/ml and was used for HPNI of additional subprimals, which resulted …

Temperature Increase Effects On Sagebrush Ecosystem Forbs: Experimental Evidence And Range Manager Perspectives, Hilary Louise Whitcomb

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Sagebrush plant communities are among the most threatened in North America. This project had two goals: to test how increased temperature affects native and nonnative forb species common to the Western sagebrush region and to evaluate land manager beliefs about changes in their ecosystems, including those affecting forb species.

Native forbs Sphaeralcea munroana, Crepis acuminata, Linum lewisii, Penstemon palmeri, and Oenothera pallida and non-natives Erodium cicutarium and Lactuca serriola were each subjected to two treatments: experimental warming using open-top chambers and a control. Knowing how forbs used in restoration might respond to future conditions is both …

Indoor Photography, Stephen Sagers, Ron Patterson

All Current Publications

Photography is the science of recording light in an artistic way to create a pleasing image. Indoor photography requires a photographer to become familiar with some of the built in functions of a camera.

Remote Control And Automation Of The Crockett Canal Head Gates, Tyler Dean Richards

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

In order to improve the control of the Crockett canal an automated control system for the head gates was proposed and an analysis of design alternatives was conducted. Design alternatives were analyzed based on the criteria of reliability, operational improvement, cost and safety. After the analysis was completed recommendations as to which type of automation system to install were made. A comprehensive design of the recommended design is included. The automation of the head gates has been separated into two phases. Items to be included in phase one are: retrofit each of the existing head gates with a multi-turn gate …

Grass-Fed Vs. Conventionally Fed Beef, D. R. Zobell, J. Severe

All Current Publications

This publication defines grass-fed and conventionally fed beef and discusses the advantages and disadvantages to both.

Process-Based Management Of Downy Brome In Salt Desert Shrublands: Assessing Pre- And Post- Rehabilitation Soil And Vegetation Attributes, Merilynn Carol Hirsch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

As an ecosystem driver, downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) presents obstacles to land rehabilitation efforts, including restoring desirable species cover. Because damaged ecosystems may have crossed both abiotic and biotic thresholds, ecologically-based control strategies may assist with altering successional trajectories and restoring desirable plant species. My thesis research had three objectives: 1) assess soil and vegetation relationships in degraded salt desert ecosystems prior to implementing downy brome control treatments, 2) determine the effects of control treatments on soil properties and resident plant species, and 3) evaluate the relative importance of shrubland soil type, herbicide type, and herbicide rate on seedling …

Nondrug Reinforcement Loss And Relapse To Alcohol Seeking In Another Context, Adam D. Pyszczynski

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Extinguished alcohol-maintained responding has been shown to relapse in a
resurgence preparation when food-reinforced responding is subsequently extinguished within the same context. However, drug and nondrug reinforcers are often specific to different contexts. Accordingly, the present experiments sought to determine whether loss of an alternative source of nondrug reinforcement in one context could produce relapse to drug seeking in a separate context. In one experiment, rats made topographically different responses for food or alcohol in alternating components of a multiple schedule. Both reinforcers were delivered during baseline, alcohol was withheld during the second phase of the experiment, and finally both …

Comparative Studies On Scale-Up Methods Of Single-Use Bioreactors, Emily B. Stoker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was performed to increase knowledge of oxygen mass transfer (kLa) and mixing times in the scale-up of disposable bioreactors.Results of oxygen mass transfer studies showed kLa to increase with increasing agitation and aeration rates. By maintaining a scale-up constant such as gassed power to volume or shear, an almost constant k_La was achieved during scale-up from 50 to 2000 L. Using the scale-up constant P_g/V resulted in statistically higher kLa values at greater reactor volumes. Mixing times were revealed to be significantly affected by agitation, but not by the aeration rates tested. No pattern …

Three Essays On The Economic Impact Of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy In The United States, Rachna Gollamudi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The first native-born case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or commonly known as Mad Cow Disease) in North American continent was reported on 20 May 2003 in central Alberta, Canada. The first case of BSE in the United States was announced on 23 December 2003.

My dissertation is divided into three essays on the economic impact of the outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in the United States in December 2003. The first essay focuses on quantifying the impact of the outbreak of BSE in the United States and Canada on the stock returns of major publicly traded agribusiness firms …

Press Start & Small Things, Brian Mark Brown

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This thesis project comprises two essay-length memoir pieces exploring the dimensions of fatherhood accompanied by a critical introduction. The essay “Press Start” explores the influence of video games on a young father, tapping his own childhood experiences to illuminate his relationship to the games as well as to his spouse and children. “Small Things” shows his efforts in preparing for the arrival of twins, an event which threatens to disrupt the family dynamic. Touching on issues of protection, separation, and control, the essays work together to comment on the complexities of the father-child relationship from a father’s point of view. …

Climate Change And Community Dynamics: A Hierarchical Bayesian Model Of Resource-Driven Changes In A Desert Rodent Community, Glenda M. Yenni

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Predicting effects of climate change on species persistence often assumes that those species are responding to abiotic effects alone. However, biotic interactions between community members may affect species’ ability to respond to abiotic changes. Latent Gaussian models of resource availability using precipitation and NDVI and accounting for spatial autocorrelation and rodent group-level uncertainty in the process are developed to detect differences in seasons, groups, and the experimental removal of one group. Precipitation and NDVI have overall positive effects on rodent energy use as expected, but meaningful differences were detected. Differences in the importance of seasonality when the dominant group was …

Alternative Futures For The Upper Colorado River Ecosystem: Phase Two, Temis G. Taylor

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (2001) reports that habitat destruction is the main factor responsible for species endangerment. Trends in land use and expansion of urban areas into adjacent open space will continue to consume land and fragment or destroy habitat (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , 2001). Studies have shown that habitat loss negatively impacts overall species abundance and reduces biodiversity (Andren, 1997; Fischer & Lindenmayer, 2007; Hansen et al., 2005; McKinney, 2002; Pimm & Raven, 2000; Sole, Alonso, & Saldafia, 2004, and others). Habitat destruction and fragmentation are believed to be core causes for biodiversity decline, although species' …

Selected Projects In Costume Design, Lindsay Anne Beardall

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

I started my collegiate career as an art major in 2-D design with the intent that I would be an art director for an advertising agency. I took a costume construction class two years into my major and I promptly left 2-D design for costume design. Costume design is a wonderful combination of my love of art, history, sewing, drawing, design and creating. I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to design four different shows during my time at Utah State University. During my time as a costume designer at Utah State University I designed costumes for four …

Improvement In Nutrition Knowledge And Retention About Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Among Hispanic Pregnant Women, Debra M. Waldron

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Objective: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the demographic data of the study population, compare nutrition knowledge and retention in Hispanic pregnant women who were newly diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GDM) or with a history of GDM at time of GDM diagnosis and prior to delivery, and determine if the Sweet Success education program’s curriculum was effective in improving overall knowledge in pregnant women with GDM.

Design: A quasi-experimental design was used with a convenience sample.

Subjects/Setting: Ninety women between the ages of 18 and 45 years and of Hispanic or Hispanic American descent were recruited for this …

Establishing Weed Prevention Areas And Evaluating Their Impact, Stephanie Christensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The spread of invasive weeds continues to be a serious economic and environmental threat. Weed prevention has the potential to stop weeds before they become well established in an area conserving time, energy, and resources. Unfortunately, weed prevention is often overlooked. Weed Prevention Areas (WPAs) are a relatively new tool developed to help improve the application of weed prevention. They are cooperatively managed areas that focus on implementing prevention and early detection strategies at a community level. The purpose of this research was to establish baseline data that will be used to evaluate the overall effectiveness of the WPA concept, …

Hydrologic Controls On Equilibrium Soil Depths, L. Nicótina, David G. Tarboton, Teklu K. Tesfa, A. Rinaldo

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper deals with modeling the mutual feedbacks between runoff production and geomorphological processes and attributes that lead to patterns of equilibrium soil depth. Our primary goal is an attempt to describe spatial patterns of soil depth resulting from long-term interactions between hydrologic forcings and soil production, erosion, and sediment transport processes under the framework of landscape dynamic equilibrium. Another goal is to set the premises for exploiting the role of soil depths in shaping the hydrologic response of a catchment. The relevance of the study stems from the massive improvement in hydrologic predictions for ungauged basins that would be …

The Utah Statesman, April 29, 2011, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Timing Of Seasonal Migration In Mule Deer: Effects Of Climate, Plant Phenology, Andlife-History Characteristics, Kevin L. Monteith, Vernon C. Bleich, Thomas R. Stephenson, Becky M. Pierce, Mary M. Conner, Robert W. Klaver, R. Terry Bowyer

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Phenological events of plants and animals are sensitive to climatic processes. Migration is a life-history event exhibited by most large herbivores living in seasonal environments, and is thought to occur in response to dynamics of forage and weather. Decisions regarding when to migrate, however, may be affected by differences in life-history characteristics of individuals. Long-term and intensive study of a population of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA, allowed us to document patterns of migration during 11 years that encompassed a wide array of environmental conditions. We used two new techniques to properly account for interval-censored …

The Utah Statesman, April 22, 2011, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

The Utah Statesman, April 15, 2011, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

The Utah Statesman, April 13, 2011, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

The Utah Statesman, April 11, 2011, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.