Digital Commons Network^™

Family And Consumer Sciences Preservice Teachers' Computer Technology Preparation, Kathy C. Croxall

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate and analyze the preparation of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) preservice teachers to teach FACS content using computer technology, a study that had not previously been undertaken. The focus of the study was FACS methods classes and activities, as reported by FACS teacher educators. A survey instrument was developed to determine how computer technology is incorporated into, modeled by the teacher, and required of students in FACS methods courses. The support FACS teacher educators receive from their college or university for teaching with technology, teacher educators' perceived computer skill and comfort levels, …

Bioavailability/Toxicity Of Iron From Aerobically Processed Organic Fertilizer, Stacey Marie Wilson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

For an undergraduate Honor's project, I worked under the direction of Dr. Jeffery Hall to determine the bioavailability and toxicity of iron from Milorganite® fertilizer, an aerobically processed organic fertilizer. The Milorganite® Company is a subsidiary of the Milwaukee Municipal Sewage District and produces a fertilizer of high iron content (approximately 5-7%). The high iron content has resulted in concern about the toxic potential, which until now was unknown. This thesis paper will explain iron chemistry, bioavailability, requirements, absorption, toxicity, and treatments, followed by a description of fertilizer types and contents. This will be followed by a description and reasoning …

The Effect Of Ginkgo Biloba On Alzheimer's Disease, Allison Marie Wozney

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive dementia associated with increasing loss of memory, intellectual function, and disturbances in speech. It is the most common form of dementia. It is an incurable disease and has four stages which culminate in coma and death. The average survival rate for Alzheimer's is seven years. Presently, the only treatments approved in the United States for Alzheimer's are the drugs tacrine and donepezil. These drugs improve cognitive function in early Alzheimer's. However, Ginkgo biloba has recently been looked at as another treatment option and has been approved for use in Germany. Ginkgo Biloba was originally used …

Eating Trends In Childhood, Emily Willmore

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Children ages 6 through 11 years are progressing in many aspects of their life. Of interest, children are establishing eating patterns that will be carried throughout their lives. Some of these patterns can be considered problematic and need to be addressed, these include: overfeeding or obesity, adequacy of major minerals and establishing healthy eating patterns. We conclude that while some children's eating patterns are problematic, there are means to resolve these trends. They include counseling, family involvement, physical exercise and nutrition education in school at a young age.

Bear River City: Future Studies For Urban Growth And Land Use Planning, Joshua Alexander Runhaar

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide Bear River City and the surrounding communities with viable options and development strategies for future growth. Studies have been developed for Bear River City and the surrounding area, focusing primarily on the riparian areas of the Bear River and Malad Creek. Studies have also been completed to show possible greenway corridors, trail systems, incentives for agricultural land protection, regional context planning, and various implementation strategies.

Perry City Trails Study, Lisa Marie Ogden

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Perry City was settled in 1851 when Orrin Porter Rockwell (Figure 1), a Mormon pioneer, and his brother, Merrill laid claim to land about 2 1/2 miles southwest of the center of Box Elder, which is now known as Brigham City, Utah. It was adjacent to a large spring known as Porter's Spring.

Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy Placement Time In People With Cystic Fibrosis, Sarah Gunnell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A retrospective chart review was conducted on pediatric patients at the Intermountain Cystic Fibrosis Center who had a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placed between 1993 and 1999. Height velocity improved significantly in the group of patients with a PEG placed; however, pulmonary function declined more significantly over time.

Questionnaires regarding attitude toward PEG placement were sent to patients enrolled in accredited cystic fibrosis centers in the mountain west region and to their parents. The overall response rate was 54.25% for the PEG questionnaire and 24% for the non-PEG questionnaire. Ninety-six percent of the patients with a PEG reported that weight …

Aromatic Amino Acid Catabolism By Lactobacillus Spp.: Biochemistry And Contribution To Cheese Flavor Development, Sanjay Gummalla

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Amino acids derived from the degradation of casein in cheese serve as precursors for the generation of desirable and undesirable flavor compounds. Microbial degradation of aromatic amino acids is associated with the formation of aroma compounds that impart putrid-fecal, barny-utensil, and floral off-flavors in cheese, but pathways for their production had not been established. This study investigated Tyr and Phe catabolism by Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus helveticus cheese flavor adjuncts under simulated Cheddar cheese-ripening conditions (pH 5.2, 4% NaCl, 15°C, no sugar). Enzyme assays of cell-free extracts and micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography of supernatants indicated that L. casei and L. …

Rapid Actions Of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 On Phosphate Uptake In Isolated Chick Intestinal Cells, Bin Zhao

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ [1,25(OH)₂D₃] has been shown to promote phosphate transport rapidly in the perfused duodenal loop, relative to controls, reaching treated/av basal at T = 40 min = 1.82 ± 0.42 and 1.11 ± 0.21, respectively.

By using isolated chick enterocytes, studies were undertaken to determine whether 1,25(OH)₂D₃ has a direct effect on isolated intestinal cells that is manifested by either enhanced uptake or extrusion of phosphate.

In time course studies, with 4- to 8-wk-old chicks, ³²P uptake in enterocytes at 10 min after addition of test substance was 0%, 130%, …

Dietary Protein Intake As Measured By A Picture-Sort Food Frequency Questionnaire And Risk Of Osteoporotic Hip Fracture In Aging Residents Of Utah, Heidi Jensen Wengreen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Protein is an important component of bone, but the role of dietary protein intake in osteoporosis remains controversial. The Utah picture-sort food frequency questionnaire was found to produce a useful estimation of usual dietary intake in the elderly. This method of dietary assessment was used in a population-based case-control study to examine the relationship between protein intake and risk of osteoporotic hip fracture in elderly Utah residents. Analyses of risk of hip fracture across increasing quartiles of protein intake were stratified by age-group. Higher protein intake was associated with a reduced risk of hip fracture in men and women aged …

The Relationship Between The Educational And Occupational Aspirations Of Latino Youth And Their Parents, Andrew O. Behnke

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study used the qualitative technique of focused interviewing to understand the educational and occupational aspirations of ten Latino youth and their parents in a small town in rural Utah. The qualitative nature of this study allowed for an in-depth look into each parent's aspirations for themselves and for their youth, each youth's aspirations, the barriers to aspirational attainment for both parents and youth, the perceived parental support in these families, and their perceived needs for aspirational attainment. This study used two open-ended interview forms and a 12- question demographic questionnaire to collect data from each of the 30 persons. …

Adopted Adolescents' Heterosexual Relationship Formation And Sexual Behaviors, Mathew Christensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Adolescents' perceptions and behaviors about romantic heterosexual relationships and sexual intercourse were compared among adolescents living with adoptive, biological, and stepparents. Data come from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). In 1995, over 20,000 adolescents living throughout the United States completed a 90-minute in-home interview that asked numerous questions about romantic relationships and sexual behaviors. Add Health used a multi-stage cluster design to collect a random sample representative of adolescents attending U.S. schools.

Results showed that several demographic characteristics (gender, age, race/ethnicity, parent's education, and number of parents in the household) were associated with adolescents' perceptions and …

The Transition To Parenthood: Predictors Of Father Involvement And Marital Satisfaction For First-Time Parents, Jerry L. Cook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined some of the factors that influence father involvement for first-time parents. These variables included: general or cultural attitudes of father involvement, personal expectations for father involvement, and level of satisfaction with the marriage. A secondary purpose was to examine factors that buffer the decline of marital satisfaction associated with the transition to parenthood. It was proposed that marital satisfaction was associated with having similar expectations for father involvement, having father involvement that met or exceeded personal expectations, and accurately perceiving spousal identity. A final purpose was to create a model of father involvement, originally represented by the …

Therapists Who Do Not Seek Therapy: An Examination Of Marriage And Family Therapists In Three Western States, Austin Wood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This was an exploratory study of 243 MFTs in the states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. A majority (66%) reported that they had been in therapy at some time during their careers. The purposes of this research were to (a) find out how therapists effectively and ethically cope with stress, (b) find out more about the therapists who do not utilize therapy, and (c) find out what barriers therapists face in seeking therapy when they do need or desire it.

Effective coping strategies for stress included religious activities, exercise, and spending time with family and friends. Characteristics associated with not …

Good Grief Kids: An Exploratory Analysis Of Grieving Children And Teens At The Dougy Center In Portland, Oregon, Karen Sorensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Every year in the United States, anywhere from 200,000 to 400,000 youths under the age of 19 will experience the death of a parent (or both) or a sibling. The Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon, was established in 1983 to assist grieving children. Support groups are based on principles of nondirective play therapy. During the years 1996-2000, The Dougy Center administered questionnaires to a number of its clients. The results of one of these questionnaires, The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), showed that 48% of those receiving services were severely depressed at the time of entrance into the program …

The Association Between Writing About Marital Experiences And Individual Distress And Marital Satisfaction, Brad Hess

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This exploratory project studied the association between positive and negative writing assignments on marital satisfaction and individual distress levels. The sample consisted of 110 individuals (30 couples in the positive writing group, 25 in the negative writing group). Individual distress was measured with the OQ -45 .2 and marital satisfaction was measured with the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). MAN OVA was used to test differences between pre- and post-writing intervention scores on the OQ -45.2 and RDAS. When pairing time, gender, and group in the analysis, time was the only statistically significant factor for both measures. The change from …

Lincoln Elementary School Needs Assessment Follow-Up: Examining A Community-Based Intervention, Gregory J. Dunkley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study explored and expanded a model of community intervention that proposes researcher, practitioner, and community member unification to produce communitywide programs used to improve society. The data were obtained from the community members of Hyrum, Utah, who participated in a needs assessment and then a follow-up survey, which began an examination and refinement process of the city's community programs. Research questions addressed the impact of the community programs in the areas of community safety, cultural relations, and family involvement.

The data suggested that after one year of program implementation, the follow-up study participants perceived a general trend of lowered …

The Effects Of Performance Feedback On Exercise, Physiological Reactivity, And Affective State Among Hostile College Students, Crystal Chia-Sheng Lin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Hostility has been found to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. One proposed pathway between hostility and cardiovascular disease is an increase in cardiovascular reactivity among hostile individuals when faced with challenging, competitive situations, in which interpersonal stressors are present. A potential situation that may elicit this exaggerated reactivity is found in cardiac rehabilitation exercise programs. Such factors may be competition and feedback regarding their performance. This study sought to find out how hostile individuals would respond physiologically, behaviorally, and affectively when presented with negative and positive performance feedback, while exercising in a challenging, competitive setting. It was found …

An Investigation Of The Prevalence And Nature Of Child Sexual Abuse Among The Deaf Population, Rachelle Hester

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence rates and effects of child sexual abuse in both deaf and hearing individuals living in Utah. A total of 104 deaf and 69 hearing individuals responded to the survey. The survey inquired about participants' experiences with sexual abuse and their mental health status.

The difference in rates of abuse between the two groups was not statistically significant. However, deaf individuals tended to be abused more often than hearing individuals. Deaf victims also experienced more severe forms of abuse and were abused more frequently than hearing victims. However, hearing victims experienced …

Effects Of Physical Activity And Religiosity On Psychophysiological Reactivity In An Aging Population, Tera L. Lensegrav Benson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Physical activity is known to offer health benefits. Additionally, research has linked religious involvement with health. Psychophysiological reactivity has links to coronary heart disease. This study examines the relationship between physical activity and religiosity in light of psychophysiological reactivity. The sample included 75 subjects, with a mean age of 71. 7 (SD = 6.11 ), with no history of cardiac incident. Religiosity was measured with the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS). Physical activity was assessed utilizing the Typical Week Physical Activity Scale. Psychophysiological reactivity was measured by blood pressure, heart rate, and self-report anger ratings in response to interpersonal challenge. …

Addressing Disruptive Behaviors In The Preschool Classroom: An Adaptation Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (Pcit) For Head Start Teachers, Brent R. Collett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Several researchers have begun to investigate early intervention and prevention programs, seeking to alter the trajectory of early-onset behavior problems. While it appears that multi-modal programs are the most promising approach, researchers have only recently begun to evaluate programs that use a similar treatment approach across settings and there is currently little information about classroom-based treatments for disruptive behaviors among preschoolers. The purpose of this study was to develop a classroom-based intervention based on the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) model developed by Eyberg. In addition, this study provides an initial investigation of the efficacy of this program with an emphasis …

Identifying The Bases For Gender Differences In Guilt And Shame, R. Shawn Edmondson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Gender differences are frequently revealed on the popular TOSCA-2 measure of guilt- and shame-proneness. These gender differences could reflect biases in the eliciting conditions that participants evaluate and confounds between them. A new instrument, the Gender Relevant Test of Self-Conscious Affect (GR-TOSCA), was developed to eliminate these confounds, thereby introducing a gender-sensitive, and therefore more valid, measure of guilt and shame proneness. The psychometric integrity of the new instrument, hypotheses regarding condition-specific gender differences in the two emotions, and relationships of guilt- and shame-proneness scores to gender role endorsement were examined in a sample of undergraduate students (93 men and …

Internalizing Symptoms In A Sample Of Native American Adolescents, Georgia Lee Matt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Internalizing disorders can have negative effects ranging from diminished self-esteem to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Native American children and adolescents often face pressures that put them at increased risk for the development of internalizing disorders, yet research within this population is almost nonexistent.

Given the serious implications of and the lack of research on internalizing disorders among this minority group, the present study was designed to provide information on the rate of internalizing symptoms in a sample of Native American adolescents, and provide normative data utilizing this sample for the Internalizing Symptoms Scale for Adolescents. Data were collected using the …

Fear Of Crime And Perceptions Of Law Enforcement Among American Youth, Bruce K. Bayley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fear of crime and the public's satisfaction with police has been a focus of criminologists for a number of years. Most studies, however, have focused on the general population as a whole. What is not known is how fearful American youth are of the crime in their neighborhoods and how they perceive those in law enforcement. The purpose of this study was to explore this subgroup of the population and to begin the investigation of youths' fear of crime and their perceptions of law enforcement.

Using a national sample of 1,897 youth ages 16-25 collected from 12 cities throughout the …

Adoption Of Range Management Innovations By Utah Livestock Producers, Elizabeth Anne Didier

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Recent years have seen changes in ecological conditions, ownership patterns, and political-legal forces that affect the sustainability of Western range livestock production. Enterprise diversification and implementation of improvements are advocated as ways for ranchers to cope with marginal returns from ranching while better managing resources. However, relatively few ranchers make such substantive changes in their operations, and previous research suggests that rates of adoption may be especially low in Utah.

Using a qualitative approach, this study explored innovation adoption among Utah ranchers. During preliminary interviews with 13 key informants, commitment to traditional ranching lifestyles, the state's settlement pattern, and availability …

Los Betabeleros: Hispanic Sugar Beet Laborers In Cache Valley, 1941-1981, Rosermary Washburn Cole

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

In the late 1840s and early 1850s, the United States annexed over 800,000 square miles of formerly Mexican land. Boundary changes initiated by war and lucre thrust many Mexican people into the United States of America. The new political demarcation appeared artificial; Mexicans and Mexican Americans continued to travel to and from the new American southwest as they always had.

Migration to the United States from Mexico mushroomed after 1910, when a tumultuous revolution and poor economic conditions in Mexico encouraged Hispanics to look to the U.S. for jobs and stability. Mining industries, railroad companies, and farms in the United …

The Wetland Wonders Education Program: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Kristen Gilbert

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

Wetland Wonders Field Experience Program (WWFEP) at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge connects U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation and education goals with an educational need (understanding wetlands) in the Great Salt Lake Ecosystem by using innovative education and volunteer initiatives. The WWFEP has two principal components, the Education Program Module (EPM) and the Volunteer Instructor Module (VIM).

The EPM provides a well rounded environmental educational experience to third, fourth and fifth grade students based on constructivism, inquiry-based learning, subject integration and theoretical model of environmental education. Third graders study Wetland Creatures (adaptations and habitats), fourth graders study the …

The Obesity Epidemic: Characteristics Of Successful Weight Management Programs And Colorado's Approach, Michele Singer

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

Obesity is rapidly growing in the United States with no sign of decreasing with current treatment options available to Americans (1). There are many treatments for obesity, but few are effective. The State of Colorado has numerous community nutrition programs available to its residents ranging from government programs such as universities and state health departments to healthcare providers and volunteer organizations such as the American Heart Association. Current treatments that are available for overweight and obese individuals include commercial programs, popular diet books, Internet programs, and individualized counseling. This paper will discuss different treatments and their efficacy, successful weight loss …

Parents Of Children With Severe Disabilities: Parental Stress, Depression, And The Marital Relationship, Melinda W. Christensen

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

This paper provides an overview of parental stress and depression in families with children diagnosed with severe cognitive disabilities. Previous research on parents with children with disabilities was reviewed. Studies were selected from peer-reviewed journal articles that specifically included children with an IQ below 70 or a noted cognitive impairment of a severe degree. Children in the study had to be living at home and below the age of 21. Significant levels of stress and depression were not found consistently in the studies reviewed. Parents of children with disabilities did report levels of stress and depression above the control groups …

Brain Injury In Children: Assessment And School-Based Interventions, Deanne Smith

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

A traumatic brain injury is an acquired injury to the brain caused by an external physical force, resulting in total or partial functional disability or psychosocial impairment that adversely affects a child's educational performance. It is considered the leading cause of mortality and disability among children with estimates of over one million occurrences each year. The 1990 revision of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act included Traumatic Brain Injury as a special education diagnostic category. Although this allowed students greater access to appropriate services, it pointed out the need for additional knowledge and training for educators working with this population. …