Digital Commons Network^™

Using Pavlovian Sign-Tracking To Increase Self-Control In Rats, Saba Mahmoudi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Impulsivity is correlated with various maladaptive behaviors (e.g., gambling and substance-used disorders), therefore many studies have been designed to find methods to reduce impulsive choice. Although these procedures (e.g., delay fading and delay-exposure training) are effective, they involve extended training durations. One method that has not yet been explored in promoting self-control is Pavlovian conditioning. During Pavlovian conditioning, a localized conditioned stimulus (CS) that signals an imminent food delivery can (a) evoke sign-tracking behavior (i.e., attraction to, and physically interacting with the CS) and (b) function as a conditioned reinforcer (i.e., the subject will work to access the CS). This …

Specialized Recreation, Spatial Behavior, And Ecological Implications In The Nature Reserve Of Orange County, Ca, Jake Van Deursen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

A widespread surge in park and protected area (PPA) visitation strikes managers with the imminent challenge of preserving ecological conditions and maintaining accessibility in the open spaces that are a fundamental component to the health and wellness needs of society. In the field of recreation resource management, recreation specialization, the selective channeling of interests and abilities into a specific recreational activity, has contributed to comprehensive understandings of recreation behavior, site preference, management perceptions and conservation support. Contributing to historical understandings of specialization can inform recreation planning on the diversity of uses occurring in urban-proximate PPAs. Survey data providing information on …

Exploring Social Hierarchy Computationally To Further Our Understanding Of Social Organizations Within Their Environments, Stanley L. Rhodes Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Hierarchy is ever-present across countless human societies, a seemingly inescapable reality of small organizations and national governments. However, there is a lot about hierarchy we don’t understand, and if we want to make better organizations and better society, it is crucial we learn more about it. This dissertation investigates three questions: 1) “What is hierarchy?” 2) “How is hierarchy useful?” 3) “How does hierarchy vary?” I find that social scientists do not all mean the same thing by hierarchy, even within the same fields; yet, they do consistently write of hierarchy as control (like boss-employee relations), hierarchy as rank (like …

The Impacts Of Maturation And Experience On Volumetric Neuroplasticity In Solitary And Social Bees, Mallory A. Hagadorn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Some animals are incredibly social, living and working together as one cohesive group. Alternatively, many animals are solitary, never living with and rarely interacting with others. A large body of biological research has focused on understanding the role that brains play in promoting these behavioral differences across species. Even so, it remains unclear why some brains facilitate social behavior while others do not. My dissertation aims to advance our understanding of this concept by characterizing bees’ brains and how they change over a lifetime. Bees are beneficial for investigating relationships between the brain and social behavior because some species are …

Phenology Of The Invasive Balsam Woolly Adelgid, Adelges Piceae (Ratz.) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), On Subalpine Fir In Northern Utah, Elizabeth L. Rideout

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Balsam woolly adelgid (BWA) is an invasive true fir pest in North America. Native to Europe, BWA was first discovered in Utah attacking subalpine fir in 2017. Recent BWA-caused subalpine fir mortality in northern Utah has prompted the need for baseline biological research to support pest management. Small-bodied and blending easily with its environment, BWA is a challenging pest to detect and study. Phenology, or the timing and characteristics of life stages through the year, of BWA varies depending on elevation and climate and is unstudied in Utah. This research focuses on defining aspects of BWA’s phenology, including the number …

Effects Of Indole Derivative Idc16 On Cell Proliferation, Transfection, And Alternative Splicing In Production Of Lentiviral Vectors By Transient Co-Transfection, Nataly Mier

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Viruses can efficiently introduce genetic material into a variety of cells through cell infection. Therefore, viral vectors, defined as virus-based gene delivery systems, effectively transfer functional gene constructs to target cells. Among different viral vectors, lentiviral vectors are of interest due to the advantages offered to research and therapeutic applications. Low productivity of lentiviral vectors in mammalian producer cells and high production cost, however, remain barriers to the vectors’ routinary use, particularly in clinical settings.

Since most lentiviral vectors are derived from human immunodeficiency virus type I, their genome has been engineered to increase safety. Nevertheless, modifications of the lentiviral …

Relative Hepatotoxocity, Carcinogenicity, And Toxicogenomics Of Select Dehydropyrrolizidine Alkaloids In Mice, Michael J. Clayton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids are arguably the most important plant derived toxins in terms of impact on human and animal health. Dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids are a large group of chemically related compounds found in 3% of flowering plants worldwide. Human exposure occurs from ingestion of herbal products including teas supplements or contaminated grain. Animals are exposed through contaminated feed or grazing. There are at least 350 identified toxic PAs, from more than 6,000 plants. The toxins primarily cause liver damage, but some are proven to cause cancer. Indidvidual dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids vary in their toxic effects. Riddelliine is the only dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloid with extensive …

Dusky Grouse Population Ecology And Thermal Landscape Ecology In The Great Basin Ecosystem, Stephanie M. Landry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Dusky Grouse are a mountainous forest grouse found throughout the western, inland mountain ranges of the United States and Canada. While a few studies have looked at Dusky Grouse in the Rocky Mountain Ecosystem of their range, there have been no prior studies of the Dusky Grouse in the Great Basin Ecosystem aside from a brief survey by Zwickel and Bendell in 2004 in the Duck Creek Range of Nevada. With the available habitats differing in both species diversity and availability on the landscape between the two Ecosystems, I wanted to assess characteristics about the Dusky Grouse populations at the …

Optimal Stopping Of Multi-Robot Exploration For Unknown, Bounded Environments, Trey D. Crowther

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Limited resources and uncertainty pose a substantial problem for multi-robot exploration of unknown environments. This research paper looks to determine the optimal time to terminate robot exploration while maximizing information gathered. Whilst making this determination, the system's resources and capabilities must be taken into account. To see if our strategy works, we ran many simulations in varying environments. The results of this research are important for real-world uses like robot exploration, search and rescue missions, and automated surveillance. Determining when to stop exploring can help the system save resources, explore faster, and make better decisions.

Restoration Strategies For Wetlands In The Arid West: Seeding And Planting Approaches For Lakeshore Ecosystems, Jes Braun

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wetlands are widely recognized for their valuable benefits such as providing habitat, improving water quality, and reducing the impacts of flooding. However, wetlands face threats from development, drought, and invasive species. This is particularly apparent in the arid west, where upstream water use and drought make water scarcer and contribute to dramatically changing water levels. Here, I investigated revegetation techniques for lakeshore wetlands, using Utah Lake as a case study. Although recent management efforts have minimized invasive Phragmites cover, the desired plant communities are not returning as quickly as needed, highlighting the need to research restoration techniques. Through my research, …

Furthering Indaziflam-Based Management Strategies Of Three Invasive Annual Grasses In Northern Utah, Peter Weston Maughan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Indaziflam is an herbicide highly recognized for its potential to effectively control weedy, winter germinating grasses, such as downy brome, as the herbicides prevents seed germination for several years. Unfortunately, most of these studies only capture the first 2-3 years of indaziflam’s 3-5 years soil activity. This thesis sought to better understand indaziflam’s long-term effects by monitoring both a healthy ecosystem and a degraded ecosystem for up to 5 years after indaziflam application. A secondary study was also conducted to better understand the potential of revegetation via reseeding in indaziflam treated soils. The study concluded that indaziflam very little long-term …

Investigating Parents' Value Of Children Learning About Agriculture, Amelia J. Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

It is commonly held that parents have a profound impact on child development. Decades of research investigated the ways parents, the community, and school staff interact to foster student learning during kindergarten through twelfth grade education. Agriculture provides for daily needs through the growth, harvest, and processing of food, fiber, fuel, and forestry products. This research sought to understand the level of importance parents place on their children learning about agriculture in school.

A 26-question survey was distributed to a nationally representative sample of parents having at least one child in K-12 education within the United States. Results of this …

Movement Patterns Of A Federally Endangered Minnow In A Fragmented Desert River, Martinique J. Chavez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Fishes are unified in their need to move within the systems they occupy, and their movement patterns can be fundamental to their ecology and survival. Many large rivers in North America are fragmented by dams that modify natural flow regimes, compromise connectivity, and imperil freshwater fishes dependent on unrestricted movement in order to complete their life history. Coincident with widespread river fragmentation, are the declines of numerous endemic desert fishes in the American southwest. The Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus, RGSM), has experienced a 95% reduction in its historical range and is now restricted to a highly …

The Mojave Poppy Bee (Perdita Meconis) And A Primary Plant Host, The Las Vegas Bear Poppy (Arctomecon Californica): Status And Interactions, Sarit Chanprame

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Mojave Desert is one of the most biodiverse places in North America. A harsh environment with many species results in complex relationships between animals and plants. This study focuses on one bee-plant relationship, the Mojave poppy bee, and the Las Vegas Bear Poppy.

The Mojave poppy bee is rare and has only been collected from Las Vegas Bear Poppy, Dwarf Bear Poppy, and a few species of prickly poppies. A 1995 report suggested the bee was a major contributor of pollination for the Las Vegas Bear Poppy in Clark County, Nevada. More recently (2019), their local extinction in southwestern …

Reducing Inputs And Adding Value To Turfgrass Systems Through Clover Inclusion And Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Applications, Paige E. Boyle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Recently, the US has seen an expansion in the amount of turfgrass land cover (lawns, parks, roadsides, sports fields, and golf courses), as well as an interest in reducing fertilizer, water, and pesticide use in these grass systems. To help maintain quality and function while reducing resource inputs, two promising approaches have emerged: planting clover into lawns and applying plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.

White clover and grass mixtures have been studied for their ability to cut down on fertilizer usage and provide a uniform, dark green lawn, but other clover types have not been as widely studied and may provide similar …

Ecology And Management Of Dyer's Woad (Isatis Tinctoria) In Northern Utah, Erin Marie Hettinger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Dyer’s woad (Isatis tinctoria L.) is a non-native forb that continues to threaten natural areas throughout Northern Utah and much of the Intermountain West. Once introduced, dyer’s woad can become extremely invasive, decreasing forage quality, and displacing native species. While dyer’s woad is found throughout much of Northern Utah, its range in other states remains limited. If promptly managed, control success in these areas will be much higher and populations may be kept at bay before ecological damage becomes severe.

This project tested the ability of dyer’s woad seedlings to compete with common rangeland grasslands at varied densities as …

Comparing City Park Perspectives: Users Vs Organizers, Kalli Hull

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Green spaces and parks are an essential aspect of a healthy community. Incorporating parks into the landscape of a city can benefit the community. Understanding the relationship between park management and park users is important for creating the most effective use of space and accessibility. This project looks at the comprehensive viewpoints of both park managers and park users through a series of interviews and reviews of previous research and literature. Logan City, Utah is used as the location of interest for collecting and determining outcomes. This project displays the key findings of the priorities and viewpoints of both park …

Instrumentality: How We Develop Relationships With Objects And People, Nathaniel Bee

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

There are many different types of relationships a person will have throughout their life, each being given varying levels of authenticity, weight, and care. One’s attention is primarily placed upon the meaningful relationships in one’s life, but often deeper consideration of one’s “lesser” relationships is neglected. Networking and professional relationships are often impersonal. Family members will often lie to each other in favor of avoiding conflict. The emotional labor of service workers often goes underappreciated and undercompensated. Careers in the political sphere revolve heavily around maintaining a positive public image, and there are well-observed disparities between politicians’ stated values and …

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda December 7, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn

Ozgene: To Advance Humanity – Inspire Curiosity, Maarit Patrick, Mike Dixon

Huntsman School of Business Teaching Scholarship Series

The case introduces the students to Ozgene, an Australian firm that experienced a dramatic reduction in lead time of their products because of implementation of Lean principles. The case can be used in undergraduate or graduate courses in operations management or supply chain management as an introduction to Lean principles. The case also encourages students to consider the challenges that make-to-order differ from those of make-to-stock and explore production design principles.

The Utah Statesman, November 27, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Non-Random Sampling Measures The Occurrence But Not The Strength Of A Textbook Trophic Cascade, Daniel R. Macnulty, Elaine M. Brice, Eric J. Larsen

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Although sampling the five tallest young aspen in a stand is useful for detecting the occurrence of any aspen recruitment, this technique overestimates the population response of aspen to wolf reintroduction. Our original conclusion that random sampling described a trophic cascade that was weaker than the one described by non-random sampling is unchanged.

Changes In Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites In Captive Coyotes (Canis Latrans): Influence Of Gender, Time, And Reproductive Status, Eric M. Gese, Patricia A. Terletzky, Cole A. Bleke, Erika T. Stevenson, Susannah S. French

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Reproduction is considered an energetically and physiologically demanding time in the life of an animal. Changes in physiological stress are partly reflected in changes in glucocorticoid metabolites and can be measured from fecal samples. We examined levels of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in 24 captive coyotes (Canis latrans) to investigate responses to the demands of reproduction. Using 12 pairs of coyotes (five pairs produced pups, seven pairs did not), we analyzed 633 fecal samples covering 11 biological periods (e.g., breeding, gestation, and lactation). Levels of fGCMs showed high individual variability, with females having higher fGCM levels than males. …

Provoking Gut-Level Reactions: A Study On Journalistic Framing During The 2020 Meatpacking Crisis, Michelle Rossi, Patrick Ferrucci

Journalism and Communication Faculty Publications

This study investigates news frames used by mainstream news media in the United States to portray the 2020 meatpacking crisis. By integrating framing and animal standpoint theory, it reveals the mechanisms that perpetuate social ignorance about daily practices within the meat industry, particularly those that exclude the perspectives of farmed animals. Through an engagement with intersectional ecofeminism and Critical Animal and Media Studies (CAMS), the investigation probes the cyclical patterns of violence inflicted upon farmed animals in the meat industry as portrayed by news outlets, a phenomenon that simultaneously impacts marginalized human communities. The inclusion of farmed animals as news …

Iron Deficiency In Pregnancy And Children, Brianna Kane, Stacy Bevan, Carrie Durward, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

All Current Publications

Meeting the proper iron recommendations is important for both children and mothers because iron is essential for growth and development. An inadequate intake of iron is the most common reason for iron deficiency. Eating appropriate amounts of iron during these stages of life is of upmost importance. Including sources of heme iron and vitamin C can help increase absorption of iron.

The Utah Statesman, November 13, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

The Utah Statesman, November 6, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Manure And Wastewater Sampling Guide, Rhonda Miller, Cody Zesiger, Kalen Taylor, Matt Yost

All Current Publications

Manure and wastewater are resources that can reduce your fertilizer needs and help improve soil and your bottom line. It is important that manure and wastewater be sampled and tested so one can apply the manure and nutrients appropriately. Sampling and analysis should occur as close to land application as possible as nutrient concentration in manure and wastewater can change over time due to runoff, leaching, and changes in moisture percentage. Nitrogen can also be lost due to volatilization. There are two primary approaches for when to sample: (1) just before land application, and (2) at the time of land …

The Utah Statesman, October 30, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Invading Nonnative Frogs Use Different Microhabitats And Change Physiology Along An Elevation Gradient, Jack R. Marchetti, Susannah S. French, Emily E. Virgin, Erin L. Lewis, Kwanho C. Ki, Layne O. Sermersheim, George A. Brusch Iv, Karen H. Beard

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The coqui frog (Eleutherodactylus coqui) was introduced to the island of Hawai'i in the 1980s, and has spread across much of the island. There is concern they will invade higher elevation areas where negative impacts on native species are expected. It is not known if coqui change behavior and baseline physiology in ways that allow them to invade higher elevations. We investigated where coqui are found across the island and whether that includes recent invasion into higher elevations. We also investigated whether elevation is related to coqui's microhabitat use, including substrate use and height off the forest floor, …