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Evaluation And Utilization Of Biodiversity In Triticeae For Wheat Lmprovement, A. B. Damania, J. Valkoun

Herbarium Publications

To adapt new varieties to a wide spectrum of environments breeders and farmers have emphasized the need for broadening the current narrow genetic base of modern varieties of important cereal crops such as wheat and barley. In response to this need, several thousand samples of indigenously cultivated Triticeae species and their wild relatives have been collected from the centers of diversity. However, gene bank collections are of little use if they are not evaluated and the information disseminated widely. Evaluation is essentially the link between conservation and use. Some of the collected material has been evaluated at the International Center …

Forage Species In Xinjiang Northern Natural Grasslands: Grasses, Li Bao-Jun

Herbarium Publications

Forage germplasm resources, their distributions, potential agronomic characteristics and genetic aspects of the perennial grasses originating in Xinjiang northern regions are discussed. Grass diversity in the natural grasslands is immense for the range of environments to which it is endogenously adapted. Among the perennial species in the mountain area are summer growing and winter-dormant ecotypes, whereas in the plain outland summer-fast-growing, summer-dormant and winter dormant ecotypes occur. Flowering uniformity within the grass tribe provides the chance for gene exchange. The genetic variation for growth rate, tiller development, regrowth and yield between species and within a species has provided plant breeder …

Diversity Of Trypsin Inhibitors In Cultural And Wild Barley, Ladogina M. P., Ovchinnikov A. N., Fetisov A. V.

Herbarium Publications

Diversity of trypsin inhibitors was studied in 35 spring barley cultivars (Hordeum vulgare), 21 samples of H. spontaneum, and 3 samples of H. agriocrithon. Six variants of trypsin inhibitor spectra were identified by native electrophoresis method followed by specific development of activity. Four variants were found in both cultivated and wild barley, and the other two were revealed only in H. spontaneum. Trypsin inhibitor activities (TIA) and soluble protein contents were determined in four cultivars with different variants of trypsin inhibitors. It was shown that TIA differed in the cultivars studied and did not correlate …

Plant Germplasm Resources, S. A. Eberhart, H. E. Bockelman

Herbarium Publications

Landraces and wild relatives of crops from centers of diversity have been rich sources of resistance to new pathogens, insect pests, and other stresses as well as for traits to improve food and fiber quality, animal feed, and industrial products. Because very few crops grown in the U.S. are native, plant introductions are vital to our agriculture. The National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS) was established to acquire, preserve, and distribute plant genetic resources from around the world so that scientists have immediate access to these source materials. The active collection is maintained and distributed by 19 national germplasm repositories. The …

Influence Of A Corpus Luteum Tissue Extract On Rabbit Ovarian Mesothelial Cells, S. V. Nicosia, R. J. Narconis, B. O. Saunders

Scanning Microscopy

This study investigates rabbit ovarian mesothelial (OM) cells exposed in vitro to a crude corpus luteum extract (CLE; 60 μg/ml). The growth of OM cells was evaluated by measuring the change in cell number (mean % ± standard error of mean, SEM), the number of cell population doublings (CPD ± SEM), and the cell population doubling time in hours (CPDT ± SEM) after 7.5 days of culture in a serum-poor medium. Quantitative estimates of surface morphology changes were obtained by analyzing the total number (mean no. ± SEM), density (mean no./100 μ.m² ± SEM), and length-to-diameter ratio (mean L/D …

Distribution Of Ca-Atpases In The Medial Habenula In Mouse, A. Kittel

Scanning Microscopy

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of the ecto-Ca,Mg-adenosine-triphosphatases (ecto-Ca,Mg-ATPases) in the medial habenular nucleus. Nerve terminals that seemed to be similar in morphological terms showed a different distribution of enzyme activity. Also, synapses showed a different distribution of enzyme activity. This could be related to the involvement of different neurotransmitters and modulators.

Utah State University Commencement, 1994 – Main Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

101st Annual Commencement of Utah State University

Establishment Of White Oak Seedlings With Three Handling Methods On Deep-Tilled Minesoil During Reclamation, Roger Kjelgren, Brenda Cleveland, Mike Foutch

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Three methods to improve first-year establishment of bare-root white oak on compacted minesoil during reclamation were investigated. We applied tree-shelter, hydrophilic-polymer, and nitrogen-fertilization treatments to seedlings planted on deep- and untilled soil. Predawn and midday water potential, and midday stomatal conductance (gs) were measured in early, mid, and late season. Leaf area, trunk diameter growth, and survival were measured in early fall. Single-row deep tillage loosened the soil to 0.7 m (2.3 ft), but outward from the midrow the effect dissipated rapidly. Water stress increased in all treatments during an extended mid-summer dry period. deep tillage resulted in higher initial …

Confocal Fluorescence Ratio Imaging Of Ion Activities In Plant Cells, M. D. Fricker, M. Tlalka, J. Ermantraut, G. Obermeyer, M. Dewey, S. Gurr, J. Patrick, N. S. White

Scanning Microscopy

Fluorescent probes allow measurement of dynamic changes of calcium and pH in living cells. Imaging using confocal scanning laser microscopy provides a route to spatially map these dynamics over time in single optical sections or in 3-D images. We have developed a dual-excitation confocal system to allow ratio measurements of pH and calcium, that compensate for changes in dye distribution, leakage and photobleaching. Application of these techniques to plant tissues is complicated by the difficulty in loading the tissues with dye. We describe a new technique to assist dye loading in intact leaves of Lemna using a pre-treatment with cutinase. …

Insights, Spring, 1994, Utah State University

Discovery Magazine

Bi-annual alumni newsletter for the College of Science of Utah State University in Logan.

The Importance Of Dominance Interactions To Juvenile Birds, Joanna Leary

Biology

I conducted a field study of dominance interactions among a flock of free-living, individually-marked juvenile dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis) to determine if attaining high dominance status conferred any short-term benefits. A priori, I predicted that dominant juvenile juncos in this population would have greater foraging success and spend less time on vigilance behavior than would subordinate juveniles. Hematocrit values, heterophil numbers, and a heterophil/lymphocyte ratio were also documented for each bird to determine whether physiological condition was correlated with dominance status. Dominant juveniles did have greater foraging rates and took less time to handle each food item and …

The Organization Of Shrub-Steppe Spider Assemblages: A Hierarchical Evaluation Of Deterministic And Stochastic Influences, William James Ehmann

Biology

This dissertation addresses deterministic and stochastic factors that are expected to influence the co-occurrence of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in a shrub-steppe environment. First, a field test assessed the role of substrate diameter in spider habitat selection using artificial habitat modules. Second, the effect of alternative spider dispersal modes (passive, long-distance, aerial transport versus active, local ground transport) on assemblage patterns on sagebrush (Artemisia) shrubs was evaluated using an exclosure design. Spider counts from exclosure and reference shrubs were compared at two spatial scales (shrub and plot) and among three potential levels of spider assemblage organization (individuals, species, and …

The Nighthawk Review, 1994, Usu Eastern English Department

Nighthawk Review

An annual publication featuring student work from Utah State University Eastern Campus.

Disturbance In Alpine Tundra Ecosystems: The Effects Of Digging By Northern Pocket Gophers (Thomomys Talpoides), Eve F. Davies

Biology

This study examined the extent to which northern pocket gophers (Thomomys talpoides: Geomyidae) influence an alpine tundra ecosystem on Niwot Ridge, Colorado. Experiments and observations were designed to determine (1) whether gopher density and associated disturbance was proportional throughout vegetation types on the site; and (2) whether the plants that colonize old gopher mounds are determined by the immediately adjacent plants, or by plant species that characterize disturbed alpine tundra. To quantify pocket gopher disturbance on the site, three 1-ha study plots were established. On each plot, the percentage of each major vegetation type was determined, all active …

Assessment Of Parental Expectations: A Preliminary Investigation Of The Expectation Sort For Parents, Jennifer J. Stepan

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The standards that parents set for their children and the expectations they hold are an important consideration in studying family dynamics, development of a child's self-esteem, quality of parental care, emotional responses to required and desired behavior, and virtually any other aspect of the parent-child relationship. Parents maintain expectations of their child's physical, socio-emotional, and intellectual development. Children's self-concept, self-esteem, and general emotional well-being are all affected by their ability to fulfill parents' expectations. Failure to live up to a standard that is important to the parent could lead to psychological distress for the child and disruption in the family. …

The Acoustic Transparency Of Ad*Hear Wax Guards When Measuring Dpoaes, Tiffany Lloyd Shelton

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Approximately one to six of every 1,000 children is born deaf or with some degree of permanent hearing loss (Parving, 1993; Watkins, Baldwin, & McEnery, 1991; White, & Behrens, 1993). Reduced hearing acuity during infancy and early childhood may interfere with the development of the child's speech and verbal language skills (NIH, 1993). Reduced auditory input can also have harmful effects on the child's social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development (NIH, 1993). Because hearing is crucial for the development of speech and verbal language skills, the developmental future of a child born with a significant hearing loss depends greatly on …

Discussion And Measurement Of Soil Erosion In Iceland, Kimberly Jane Richardson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Soil erosion has occurred since the beginning of time. It is a natural process, but one that has been increasing at an alarming rate. Once soil is eroded--whether it is blown out to sea or washed down a river to sedimentize a lake--it is lost. It is almost impossible to reestablish similar soil components and characteristics in a given system. Since soil and vegetation reestablishment is expensive, the prevention of soil erosion by controlling its causes has become the most cost-effective reclamation effort.

After spending six months in Iceland, I wrote this paper on the unique erosion problems facing that …

A New Model Species For Cultured Teleost Retinal Cell Studies: Light And Scanning Electron Microscopy, Lori Ann Steinfeldt

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Purpose: To examine retinal horizontal and bipolar cells cultured from goldfish (Carassius auratus), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) on the light and electron microscope levels; and to compare them with cells from a more established model, the wild white bass (Roccus chrysops). Methods: Retinas from all species were dissociated by methods developed with wild white bass (Dowling et al., 1985). Cell type was identified within the first 3 hr and cells were cultured for up to 2 wk in L-15 medium. At various intervals, cells were fixed in glutaraldehyde, …

Assessing Mourning Dove Population Declines: Changes In Nesting Dynamics And The Role Of Perch Sites, Paul M. Meyers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I replicated a nesting study carried out 40 years ago in southern Utah to assess reasons for long-term population declines of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in the western United States. I compared current nesting patterns to similar data collected in 1952. I saw little difference in nest success and nest predation, but reproductive output and nest density decreased dramatically. The number of young fledged per pair of adults was only 64% of that estimated in 1952. A 1-2 week delay in the nesting season contributed to this decrease, but cannot explain it entirely. Nest density was about 20% …

Transcriptional Regulatory Elements Of The Phosphodiesterase Gene Of Dictyostelium Discoideum, Yin-Shan Tai

Biology

The Dictyostelium discoideum cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) is synthesized during growth and at different developmental stages and is controlled by three stage-specific promoters. The aggregation-specific promoter is induced by extracellular 3', 5' -cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and is developmentally regulated. Regulatory elements of the aggregation-specific promoter were analyzed by serial deletions and by subcloning promoter segments. The full-length promoter was found to consist of disperse and redundant developmental regulatory elements. A region -556 to -450 upstream of the transcription start site is critical for extracellular cAMP-mediated expression. This region was used as a probe in gel shift assays to detect …

Interactions Of Harvester Ants And Seeds In A Sagebrush-Steppe Ecosystem: The Effect Of Trunk Trail Foraging, John F. Mull

Biology

The primary goal of this study was to document spatial variation in the interactions between a granivore, the western harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex occidentalis), and its seed resources in the semiarid sagebrush-steppe of southwestern Wyoming. A major focus of this research was the effect of foraging trail use by P. occidentalis on spatial patterns of seed predation. Three seed removal experiments, soil seed sampling and an experiment designed to test the role of visual landmarks on foraging trail formation were the major elements of this investigation. In the first two seed experiments, seed removal rates, from both high- and …

Results From The First World-Wide Web Survey, James Pitkow, Mimi Recker

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

The explosion of World-Wide Web (WWW) across the Internet is staggering, both in terms of number of users and the amount of activity. However, to date, no reliable characterization exists of WWW users. In this paper, we report results from a survey that was posted on the Web for a month, in January of 1994. There were several goals motivating our survey. First, we wished to demonstrate a proof of concept for WWW technologies as a useful survey medium. Second, we wanted to bet a-test the design and content of surveys dealing with the Web. Third, as mentioned, we hoped …

Consumption Of Iron-Fortified Cheese And Lipid Peroxidation In Females, Gene Joseph Giunti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dairy products are important sources of calcium and other nutrients but are a poor source of dietary iron. Cheese comprises a substantial portion of dairy food consumption and has been determined an appropriate medium for iron-fortification. However, iron may promote the potentially harmful process in food and biological systems known as lipid peroxidation. Therefore, the safety of consuming iron-fortified cheese was examined.

Commercial-scale batches of Cheddar cheese were iron-fortified to a level of two milligrams of iron per ounce with either ferric chloride, ferric-casein complex, or ferric-whey protein complex. Fifty-four premenopausal females were divided into three treatment groups and supplemented …

Legend: The Song Of The Family, The Voice Of A Woman, Kimberly Roth Shumway

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The Song of the Family

I do not believe that lives are lived in isolation, but rather are connected by ties of humanity and of family. For me because of this intimate human connection, every life experience, trivial or tremendous, is a poem. The poems blend into one--a great symphony of the human condition. An experience, even if left unverbalized, shapes the minds of both the one experiencing it and those connected to him or her by either close or distant ties.

In this collection I combine the poetic experiences most relevant in shaping me. They are the songs of …

A Proposed Analysis Of Planning Factors Within The Interpretive Planning Process, Christopher W. Sands

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

Every year, millions of people visit parks and preserves and in the process, learn about the natural and cultural resources of these areas. These resources typically include, but are not limited to, unique features of geology, hydrology, wildlife, vegetation, and historical and prehistorical influences. Many of these resources may be fragile, which is often the reason for park or preserve establishment, and therefore vulnerable to the impacts created through uncontrolled visitor use. If these resources are not protected from improper recreational use, the activities have the potential to influence the species composition and diversity of vegetation, soil properties and stability …

The Effect Of Climate And Spittlebug (Aeneolamia Albofasciata) On Buffelgrass (Cenchrus Ciliaris L.) Productivity In The Sonoran Desert, Martha H. Martin-Rivera

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I conducted field studies during 1984-1988 to determine how (1) precipitation amount and distribution affect buffelgrass [Cenchrus ciliaris L. (Link) l productivity, (2) summer rainfall amount and distribution and temperature influenced the spittlebug (Aeneolamia albofasciata Lalleman) life cycle, and (3) summer burning affects spittlebug densities and buffelgrass productivity.

Experiment I was conducted from 1985 through 1988. Forage samples collected at 15-day intervals were separated into live, recent-dead standing, old-dead standing, and litter. There was a positive relationship between the summer precipitation and the live biomass. Recent-dead standing and old-dead standing decomposed during the summer, fall, or spring.

Experiment …

Incorporating Vegetative Diversity Measures In Forest-Level Planning: A Case Study On The Utah State University School Forest, David N. Holland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three indices of forest stand structural and compositional diversity were incorporated into a linear programming, timber-harvest scheduling model to examine the tradeoffs between managing stands for timber production and biodiversity objectives. While harvest-level objectives were fairly compatible with the maintenance of biodiversity, present net worth maximization resulted in substantial reductions in all three measures of biodiversity.

Factors Associated With The Highway Mortality Of Mule Deer At Jordanelle Reservoir, Utah, Laura A. Romin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Highway mortality of deer (Odocoileus sp.) is a nationwide concern. In 1991, 538,000 deer-vehicle collisions occurred nationwide. Property damage to vehicles, human injuries and fatalities, and potential impacts to local deer populations occur from deer-vehicle collisions. Techniques have been evaluated to reduce highway mortality of deer; however, an effective, cost-efficient solution does not exist for widespread use. If mitigative technologies are to be successful, we need to understand deer behavior and movement patterns associated with highway relationships. Most research about highway deer kills has focused on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in mixed hardwood habitat types. The …

Dungpat Microenvironmental Effects On Germination And Establishment Of Crested Wheatgrass, Ghulam Akbar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Complementary greenhouse and field studies investigated the effects of ambient environmental conditions on cattle dungpat moisture, temperature, nutrient concentration, and crust formation dynamics, which in turn influence seed germination and seedling establishment in dungpats. 'Hycrest' crested wheatgrass [Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) X A. cristatum (L.) Gaert.] was used as a representative revegetation species.

After collecting feces from Holstein steers that had been fed crested wheatgrass seeds, uniform dungpats were prepared and placed on two soil types (loam and coarse sand) in containers under three watering treatments (field capacity, 1/2 field capacity, and no water) in the greenhouse. Dungpat …

Density And Feeding Habits Of Elk And Deer In Relation To Livestock Disturbance, Kenneth Clegg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) density and foraging behavior were monitored in conjunction with disturbance by livestock (cattle and sheep) from 1991 to 1993 at Deseret Land and Livestock property near Woodruff, Utah. Elk and deer densities declined by as much as 92% in response to introduction of livestock, while associated areas where livestock were absent did not show this response. Biting rates and bite sizes were estimated and used to determine instantaneous intake rate. These measures were similar between pastures with cattle present or absent in 1992 but differed in 1993 for …