Digital Commons Network^™

Ligand And Metal Effects On The Co-Release Reactivity Of Metal Acireductone And Flavonolate Complexes, Katarzyna Grubel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The research reported herein involves synthetic metal complexes of relevance to dioxygenase enzymes (Ni(II)-containing acireductone dioxygenase (Ni(II)-ARD) and quercentinase (2,4-flavonol dioxygenase) that promote oxidative carbon-carbon bond cleavage and CO release. The experiments focus on the elucidation of structure-reactivity relationships and evaluation of the conditions under which CO is generated.

It had been proposed that hydrogen bond donors in the secondary environment of the active site metal center in Ni(II)-ARD influence the coordination of the acireductone substrate on the nickel center. To evaluate this proposal, we investigated the Ni(II) coordination chemistry of an acireductone-type enolate anion using a supporting chelate ligand …

Evaluating Reliability And Validity Evidence For Merrill's 2007 5 Star Instrument, Max Hale Cropper

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Merrill’s 2007 5 Star instrument, hereafter called the M-5 Star, is based on Merrill’s well recognized First Principles of Instruction. However, the instrument has not been tested for reliability and validity. In a pilot study, Cropper’s version of his instrument (C-5 Star) showed some reliability and validity evidence, but the M-5 Star needed similar evidence. To address this gap in the literature, the purpose of this study is to assess the reliability and validity evidence for M-5 Star. Raters were drawn from a graduate course in online course evaluation and asked to rate a sample (N = 6) of …

Ecophysiology And Genetic Variation In Domestication Of Sphaeralcea And Shepherdia Species For The Intermountain West, Chalita Sriladda

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Low-water landscaping (LWL) using native drought tolerant species is an essential tool for water conservation in the arid Intermountain West (IMW) for managing limited water supplies. However, many potential species have not been evaluated for LWL. Some species are difficult to visually distinguish from each other, thus decreasing confidence in products from native plant industry. Meanwhile, some species are difficult to establish to urban landscape conditions. The overall goal of this study is to elucidate morphological, ecophysiological, and genetic distinctions within two IMW native plant genera containing species with high urban low-water landscape potential.

For the first study, a classification …

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 …

Fluency Instruction In Contemporary Core Reading Programs, Brady E. Donaldson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Core reading programs (CRPs) provide the curriculum and guide reading instruction for many classroom teachers. The purpose of this study was to conduct a content analysis of reading fluency instruction in current (2008-2011 copyright) grade 2 and 3 top-selling core reading program lessons to answer the following two research questions: (1) How do core reading programs recommend that fluency skills be taught? (2) How do reading fluency instructional practices in core programs compare to evidence-based reading fluency instructional practices defined in current research? The results of the analysis revealed that fluency instruction is more prevalent in current core reading programs …

Help In Overweight/Obesity Prevention Effort (Hope) Study – A Study To Identify Resiliency Factors To Childhood Obesity And Comparison Between Body Mass Index And Figure Rating Scales, Rebecka L. Hanson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Obesity results from a complex interaction between diet, physical activity, and the environment. The purposes of this study were to identify behaviors associated with resilience to childhood obesity, and to compare the sensitivity of the Figure Rating Scales (FRS) in reflecting Body Mass Index (BMI).

Fifty health professionals in nutrition and 35 low-income, parent-and-child pairs completed the study. Children aged 6-11, perceived as “normal-weight” by their parents, were recruited. Five children had a measured BMI above the 85^th percentile. Using a picture-sort method, each participant responded to a series of questions about 13 childhood obesity-related messages. Results included comparison …

Forest Resource Access, Dependency, And Vulnerability In Southeast And Southcentral Alaska, Mekbeb E. Tessema

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Rural communities in the western U.S. and Alaska are highly dependent upon surrounding publicly-owned forests for various economic and non-economic values. Historically, limited data has hampered the understanding of such community-resource linkages. As a result, community interests may not be adequately considered in forest management plan development and policy formulation. Addressing this imbalance is an important issue for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), particularly as it shifts from timberdominated goals to a more holistic ecosystem-based form of management.

This study seeks to understand community-resource use linkages, dependency, and vulnerability surrounding the Chugach and Tongass NFs using place-level socioeconomic data from …

Socioeconomic Status, Women, And Hiv: Do The Determinants Of Female Hiv Vary By Socioeconomic Status In Cameroon?, Joyce Ndueh Mumah

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is currently one of the greatest health challenges being faced by many developing nations, especially countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that more than 25 million Sub-Saharan Africans are infected with the disease, with more than 2.8 million new infected cases in 2006. Mortality from the disease is high, with an estimated 2.1 million having already died from the disease. Women are more likely to be infected with the disease, and account for more than half of all global HIV/AIDS cases. Sub-Saharan African (SSA) women, specifically, constitute about 77 percent of all HIV/AIDS cases in the …

The Impact Of Different Play Environments On The Social Interactions Of Toddlers With Disabilities, Rebecca Buckley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Play is a crucial part of any child’s social behavior and development. It helps children develop self-determination, self-control, and identity. These skills are primarily learned through interactions with other children. Play is particularly imperative for children with disabilities approaching the age of three, an age that studies have shown to be pivotal for their social and emotional growth.

Children with disabilities often have difficulty with social interactions. Play serves as a platform for these interactions, and provides a way for children with disabilities to learn social standards and values. Children with disabilities who do not participate in play can suffer …

For Love Or Money: Has Neoliberalism Impacted Fertility? A Historical Comparison, Elizabeth Anne Kiester

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Known as neoliberalism, an economic philosophy has spread throughout the world and may be contributing to total fertility rates that have fallen well below replacement value. I present two neoliberal mechanisms and how they may have driven total fertility rates around the world well below replacement levels and inhibited growth. These include increased social risks in the labor market as well as in the household. I then build a theoretical framework based on the social embeddedness of markets as conceived by Karl Polanyi and the concept of social risk as suggested by Richard Breen, suggesting that the unique combinations of …

Using Mixed-Reality Technology To Teach Techniques For Administering Local Anesthesia, Kami M. Hanson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The ability to perform local anesthesia on dental patients is an important clinical skill for a dental hygienist. When learning this procedure in an academic situation, students often practice on their peers to build their skills. There are multiple reasons why the peer practice is not ideal; consequently, educators have sought the means to simulate the practice of local anesthetic procedures without endangering others. Mixed-reality technologies offer a potential solution to the simulated procedure problem. The purpose of this research was to determine if students could learn the techniques for providing local anesthesia using a mixed-reality system that allows them …

Exploring The Relation Between Office Discipline Referrals And Reinforcement Rates In Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Programs, Michelle Woidneck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The implementation of schoolwide positive behavioral support (SWPBS) programs is becoming increasingly common in schools across the nation. Although a primary assumption of SWPBS is that schoolwide administration of positive supports to students who meet behavioral expectations will result in fewer behavior problems, surprisingly few studies have investigated the effects of various positive reinforcement rates (RR) on office discipline referral rates (ODR). This study investigated the relationship between RRs and ODRs among schools (N = 44) implementing SWPBS programs with high fidelity. Results revealed no significant differences in RRs or ODRs between Title I and non-Title I schools but …

Successes And Challenges Of Family And Consumer Science Extension Agents In The Implementation Of Couple And Relationship Education, Stacey A. Huffaker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Although healthy relationship initiatives are becoming more common, relatively little is known about the processes and outcomes of these initiatives. This study uses a phenomenological qualitative approach to examine the experiences of Family and Consumer Science (FCS) extension agents in the implementation of couple and relationship education in the Utah Healthy Relationship Initiative. Data were collected through quarterly report forms submitted by extension agents describing successes and barriers to their work. Successes in the project related to collaborative partnerships, attendance/participation, and positive outcomes for participants. Collaborative partnerships were instrumental in reaching more participants and finding cultural resources. The challenges that …

Measuring The Removal Of Trichloroethylene From Phytoremediation Sites At Travis And Fairchild Air Force Bases, Heather A. Klein

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Past use of trichloroethylene (TCE) as a degreasing solvent for aircraft maintenance has resulted in widespread groundwater contamination at Air Force Bases around the world. Travis AFB in California and Fairchild AFB in Washington are evaluating phytoremediation as a treatment option, since trees have been reported to take up dissolved TCE from shallow groundwater and volatilize it to the atmosphere while enhancing the volatilization of TCE from surrounding soil. Previous studies generally focused on the identification of removal mechanisms. The emphasis of this research was to quantify total TCE removal from phytoremediation demonstration plots at Travis and Fairchild AFBs.

Tree …

Orchestrating Classrooms: A Collaborative Inquiry Study Of Novice Teacher Community Building, Leah G. Welte

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Creating a community of learners with and among students in a collaborative classroom environment provides the keystone for developing the skills necessary for success in the 21^st century. Some preservice teachers envision that community building can enhance the learning experience for them and their students and want to learn and employ the necessary strategies. This study examined whether such a desirous group of novice teachers could identify the key factors they believed comprise community building and could successfully establish a community of learners during their first full year of teaching, supported by participation in a collaborative inquiry group.

Four …

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 …

The Role Of Phosphoinositide Signaling In Breast Cancer Metastasis Suppressor 1-Mediated Metastasis Suppression Of Human Breast Carcinoma Cells, Sitaram Harihar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in U.S. women. Despite numerous advances in treatment strategies against breast cancer, the presence of undetected distant metastasis of the primary tumor remains the main cause of mortality. Current screening and detection methods such as mammograms are simply not sensitive enough to detect formation of metastasis. Further, currently available therapies against metastatic breast cancer do not provide a complete cure for the disease. Thus, understanding the biology and molecular factors involved in cancer metastasis will help aid in preventing the onset …

Factors Moderating The Association Between Multiple Rating Sources Of Geriatric Depression: Self, Informant, And Physician, Daniel J. Hatch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Late-life depression is a major public health concern, associated with poor health outcomes, including doubling of dementia risk. Psychiatric evaluation is impractical in large epidemiological studies, which instead typically rely on self/informant reports, which are subject to various biases (stigma, recall). Few studies have addressed level of agreement between sources. This study examined associations between these sources and assessed whether subject and informant variables moderated these associations. In a population-based study of dementia in Cache County, Utah (2002-5), 1,480 subjects completed an in-depth clinical assessment (CA). Major depression was assessed via the self-report Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and informant-rated Neuropsychiatric …

Design Of A BiobrickTm Compatible Gene Expression System For Rhodobacter Sphaeroides, Junling Huo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The concept of introducing engineering principles of abstraction and standardization into synthetic biology has received increasing attention in the past several years and continues to be in the forefront of synthetic biology. One direction being pursued by synthetic biologists is creation of modular biological parts (BioBrick^TM) that can be readily synthesized and mixed together in different combinations. However, most standard BioBrick^TM parts in the Registry were designed for E. coli, although synthesis of specific BioBrick^TM parts for other bacteria, such as for yeast and cyanobacteria, have begun. Besides, at the present time, there are only …

The Adoption Of Computer Security: An Analysis Of Home Personal Computer User Behavior Using The Health Belief Model, Chester L. Claar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The primary purpose of this research was to examine the adoption of computer security software in the home computer environment. The use of the Health Belief Model as a framework to design a model to examine home user adoption of computer security provided the basis for this research.

The method of the investigation was a cross-sectional study using a self-reported web-based survey to test the theoretical model derived from the Health Belief Model. The survey targeted individuals who are responsible for the selection, installation, and maintenance of software on their home computers. The data collection relied on a snowball sampling …

Predicting Bullying Among High School Students Using Individual And School Factors: Analysis Of A National Survey, Chad M. Bohn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Being bullied has been recognized as a problem within the U.S. school systems. Individuals who have been bullied physically, verbally, relationally, or electronically typically suffer from mental health problems as a result. As it has been shown that males are more at risk for being bullied, it is important to understand what variables can predict males being bullied in order to design appropriate preventions and interventions to curb bullying in the schools. Four forms of school bullying behaviors among U.S. adolescent males and their association with type of bullying, school environment, and school performance and engagement variables were examined.

Data …

Lifestyle Behaviors And Cognitive Status In A Community Sample Of Older Adults, Heeyoung Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lifestyle behaviors have been associated with better cognitive status and reduced risk of dementia. However, only individual or combinations of a few lifestyle behaviors have been studied. The present study examines the association between lifestyle behaviors and cognitive status in older adults including six lifestyle behaviors: cognitive activities, social activities, physical activities, religious involvement, diet, and alcohol consumption.

The study population is a sample of 1,216 community-dwelling men and women age 65 years and older from Cache County, Utah. The present study is conducted using the extant data from the Cache County Study on Memory Health and Aging (CCSMHA), a …

Determining Profitability Strategies For Various Retained Ownership Enterprises In Utah, Matthew H. Hirschi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

With the price of corn now over $6 per bushel, and with feedlot total cost per pound of gain now approaching $1.00 per pound of gain there are new incentives to try and add weight to calves outside of feedlots. The question then arises of how to add weight to a calf in the most economical manner. There are many different feeding programs to consider. However, with few exceptions, the cheapest way to add weight outside of a feedlot usually involves the calf grazing for an extended period of time. Winter pasture grazing, wheat pasture grazing and corn stalk grazing …

Dynamic Testing For A Steel Truss Bridge For The Long Term Bridge Performance Program, Cody Joshua Santos

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Under the direction of the Federal Highway Administration the Long Term Bridge Performance Program (LTBP) selected Minnesota Bridge number 5718 as a pilot bridge for evaluation. This program focuses on the monitoring of bridges for a 20-year period to understand the structural behavior over time due to the various loads and weathering. In monitoring this bridge a better understanding can be acquired for the maintenance issues related to the nation's deteriorating bridge infrastructure.

Bridge Number 5718, which is located just outside of Sandstone Minnesota, is a steel truss bridge that spans the Kettle River. Constant monitoring of the bridge along …

Counseling And Psychotherapy With Clients Of Middle Eastern Descent: A Qualitative Inquiry, Sara Boghosian

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It is becoming increasingly important for clinical and counseling psychologists to have multicultural competence skills for treating an increasingly diverse client population. The psychology literature related to culturally competent treatment with persons of Middle Eastern descent is currently limited. In this study, qualitative methodology was utilized to explore the mental health attitudes and psychotherapy experiences of clients of Middle Eastern descent. Participants described culturally influenced mental health attitudes. Major themes included the severity of stigma associated with mental illness, the importance of family in responding to mental illness, and the process of grieving in Middle Eastern cultures. Study findings suggest …

The Social Validation Of Institutional Indicators To Promote System-Wide Web Accessibility In Postsecondary Institutions, Heather Ann Mariger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Internet is an integral part of higher education today. Students, faculty, and staff must have access to the institutional web for essential activities. For persons with disabilities, the web is a double-edged sword. While an accessibly designed website can mitigate or remove barriers, an inaccessible one can make access impossible. If websites that provide necessary information are not accessible, those with disabilities will be unable to independently complete their daily tasks or compete in the modern world.

Project GOALS (Gaining Online Accessible Learning through Self-Study) has developed a document outlining a set of four institutional indicators of Web accessibility. …

The Impact Of Study Skills Courses On Academic Self-Efficacy In College Students, Brenna M. Wernersbach

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Colleges across the nation are increasingly interested in improving retention of students. Many universities have begun offering workshops and courses targeted at improving study skills in academically underprepared students with the goal of helping students succeed in higher education and continue enrollment. The impact of such courses on study skills themselves has been supported, but prior research has not examined the courses impact on students' beliefs about their ability to succeed in college–that is, their levels of academic self-efficacy. This study examined pre- and post-test levels of academic self-efficacy in college students enrolled in a study skills course in comparison …

Development Of A Beef Flavor Lexicon And Its Application To Compare Flavor Profiles And Consumer Acceptance Of Grain- And Pasture-Finished Cattle, Curtis A.J. Maughan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Flavor lexicons are used in sensory evaluation to determine the flavor profile of a food product. The objective of this study was to develop a flavor lexicon for cooked beef, which can then be used in various projects relating to beef quality such as studies investigating animal diet, marinating, ageing, or other enhancements. A descriptive panel of 10 people was used to develop a flavor lexicon of 18 attributes, including astringent, barny, bloody, brothy, browned, gamey, grassy, juicy, fatty, livery, metallic, oxidized, roast beef, and the five basic tastes (bitter, salty, sour, sweet, and umami). In contrast to other studies …

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 …

The Effectiveness Of A Structured, Long-Term, Multi-Component, Family-Based Weight Management Program In Reducing Body Mass Index Z-Scores And Improving Lifestyle Habits In Overweight/Obese Children And Adolescents, D. Pauline Williams

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Few studies have evaluated structured, long-term, family-based, weight management programs in children. This study’s purpose was to determine if completion of such a program resulted in reduced body mass index (BMI) z-scores and improved lifestyle habits.

An observational study overtime from 2008-2010 was conducted with 89 overweight/obese children. Subjects were divided into two groups, compliers (completed ≥ 7 intervention classes) and non-compliers (completed < 7 intervention classes.) The LiVe program, a 12-month structured, multi-component, family-based program, served as the study intervention. Anthropometric measurements and a written survey on lifestyle habits were used to obtain changes over 12 months in anthropometric, nutrition, activity, and behavior habits for subjects.

Descriptive statistics, chi square, analysis of co-variance, and a mixed model logistic regression were used to determine anthropometric and lifestyle habits change over time as well as differences between age, gender, and compliance groups. No demographic differences …