Digital Commons Network^™

Proper Care And Management Of Common Health Concerns With 4-H Steers And Heifers, Karah Nay, Matthew D. Garcia, Kerry A. Rood, Chelsea Walker

All Current Publications

The purpose of this fact sheet is to give youth and their parents a basic guide of what signs and symptoms to watch for to prevent illness or death. It includes instructions on how to take vitals, how to assist the veterinarian when called, the compiling of materials for a first aid kit, proper antibiotic administration, vaccinations, and preventive practices that the youth can implement while caring for their animal.

Proper Care And Management Of Common Health Concerns With 4-H Hogs, Karah Nay, Dennis Worwood, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

The purpose of this fact sheet is to give youth and their parents a basic guide of what signs and symptoms to watch for to prevent illness or death. It includes instructions on how to take vitals, how to assist the veterinarian when called, the compiling of materials for a first aid kit, proper antibiotic administration, vaccinations, and preventive practices that the youth can implement while caring for their animal.

Nutritional Needs Among High School Athletes, Andy Mitchell, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Natalie Norris, Carrie Durward

All Current Publications

High school athletes have a greater need for nutritional adequacy for proper growth, development, wellness and performance as compared to students who do not participate in sports. This fact sheet discusses the purpose of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and hydration, why they are necessary in an athlete’s diet, food sources of each, and fun facts to help the young athlete enhance their diet.

Create Farm Fresh Food Curriculum, Casey Coombs

All Current Publications

This curriculum focuses on increasing Food Sense participants' use of Utah farmers market. It includes information to successfully implement, and evaluate Create Farm Fresh Food classes. The goal of this set of classes is to increase SNAP participants’ use of local farmers’ markets. Markets are a great place to buy fresh fruits and vegetables that offer better taste and nutritional value than many of those found at traditional grocery stores. With the Double Up Food Bucks, and Fresh Fund incentive programs, shopping at farmers’ markets has even become more economical for our target population.

Cilantro/Coriander In The Garden, Dan Drost, Colt Miller

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes cilantro/coriander in the garden, varieties, how to grow, problems, harvesting and storage, nutrition, and frequently asked questions.

Volatile Flavor Compounds Vary By Beef Product Type And Degree Of Doneness, Kourtney Gardner, Jerrad F. Legako

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

This study aimed to determine how quality grade and degree of doneness (DOD) influence the development of volatile compounds among beef whole muscle and ground patties. Volatile compounds were quantified via head space solid phase microextraction from samples tempered in refrigerated temperatures (3 to 5 °C), room temperature (24 to 26 °C), or cooked on an electric clamshell-style grill to an endpoint temperature of 55, 60, 71, or 77 °C. Collected samples were subsequently determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Prominent compounds known to be the result of the Maillard reaction or lipid degradation were retained for comparison. Four Strecker …

Whole Cell Cross-Linking To Discover Host-Microbe Protein Cognate Receptor/Ligand Pairs, Bart C. Weimer, Poyin Chen, Prerak T. Desai, Dong Chen, Jigna Shah

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Bacterial surface ligands mediate interactions with the host cell during association that determines the specific outcome for the host–microbe association. The association begins with receptors on the host cell binding ligands on the microbial cell to form a partnership that initiates responses in both cells. Methods to determine the specific cognate partnerships are lacking. Determining these molecular interactions between the host and microbial surfaces are difficult, yet crucial in defining biologically important events that are triggered during association of the microbiome, and critical in defining the initiating signal from the host membrane that results in pathology or commensal association. In …

Utah State Magazine, Summer 2018, Utah State University

Utah State Magazine

The quarterly magazine for friends and alumni of Utah State University.

The Role Of Small Ruminants On Global Climate Change, Alda Lúcia Gomes Monteiro, Amanda Moser Coelho Da Fonseca Faro, Mylena Taborda Piquera Peres, Rafael Batista, Cesar Henrique Espirito Candal Poli, Juan J. Villalba

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Global warming, as a consequence of excessive CO2 production mainly due to anthropogenic actions, is one of the main concerns of society due to the effects it can cause in the survival of humans, plants and animals. Several climatic consequences have already been reported, such as warming the oceans and changing biodiversity in various regions of the planet. One of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, which causes a lot of concern, is methane gas from digestion of food by ruminants. Besides that, emissions of greenhouse gases are represented also by waste management, rice cultivation, burning of residues from …

Dairy In Your Child's Diet, Richelle Hudson, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Carrie Durward

All Current Publications

This fact sheet presents the health benefits of dairy and busts some common myths to assist you in making informed decisions when purchasing dairy products for your children. It also includes information on dairy alternatives for children who, for one reason or another, do not consume dairy products.

Market Goats: Tips For Beginning A Livestock Project, Deric Despain, Karah Nay, Kevin Heaton

All Current Publications

The purpose of this fact sheet is to provide several tips for beginning a market goat 4-H youth livestock project. 4-H market goat projects are gaining popularity, as seen by the increased level of competition and 4-H livestock shows.

Benefits Of Family Mealtime, Cindy Nelson, Makendra Goff

All Current Publications

Working together as a family can help establish a regular family mealtime habit and potential positive benefits and outcome. This fact sheet tells how.

Urine Volume And Nitrogen Excretion Are Altered By Feeding Birdsfoot Trefoil Compared With Alfalfa In Lactating Dairy Cows, Mohammad Ghelichkhan, Jong-Su Eun, Rachael G. Christensen, Rusty D. Stott, Jennifer W. Macadam

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Legumes that contain condensed tannins may have lower ruminal protein degradation than alfalfa. The present study investigated the effects of feeding birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) hay on lactational performance and N utilization and excretion. Eight multiparous Holstein cows in midlactation (150 ± 22.3 d-in-milk) were randomly assigned to 2 treatments [alfalfa hay-based total mixed ration (AHT) or birdsfoot trefoil hay-based total mixed ration (BHT)] in a crossover design with 2 experimental periods. Each experimental period lasted 17 d (14 d of adaptation and 3 d of sampling and total collection). Hays comprised approximately 50% …

Inactivation Of The Medial-Prefrontal Cortex Impairs Interval Timing Precision, But Not Timing Accuracy Or Scalar Timing In A Peak-Interval Procedure In Rats, Catalin V. Buhusi, Marcelo B. Reyes, Cody-Aaron Gathers, Sorinel A. Oprisan, Mona Buhusi

Psychology Faculty Publications

Motor sequence learning, planning and execution of goal-directed behaviors, and decision making rely on accurate time estimation and production of durations in the seconds-to-minutes range. The pathways involved in planning and execution of goal-directed behaviors include cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuitry modulated by dopaminergic inputs. A critical feature of interval timing is its scalar property, by which the precision of timing is proportional to the timed duration. We examined the role of medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in timing by evaluating the effect of its reversible inactivation on timing accuracy, timing precision and scalar timing. Rats were trained to time two durations in a …

Diel Predator Activity Drives A Dynamic Landscape Of Fear, Michel T. Kohl, Daniel R. Stahler, Matthew C. Metz, James D. Forester, Matthew J. Kauffman, Nathan Varley, P. J. White, Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Macnulty

Ecology Center Publications

A “landscape of fear” (LOF) is a map that describes continuous spatial variation in an animal's perception of predation risk. The relief on this map reflects, for example, places that an animal avoids to minimize risk. Although the LOF concept is a potentially unifying theme in ecology that is often invoked to explain the ecological and conservation significance of fear, little is known about the daily dynamics of an LOF. Despite theory and data to the contrary, investigators often assume, implicitly or explicitly, that an LOF is a static consequence of a predator's mere presence within an ecosystem. We tested …

Social Genomics Of Healthy And Disordered Internet Gaming, Jeffrey G. Snodgrass, Henri J. François Dengah Ii, Michael G. Lacy, Robert J. Else, Evan R. Polzer, Jesusa M. G. Arevalo, Steven W. Cole

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Objectives: To combine social genomics with cultural approaches to expand understandings of the somatic health dynamics of online gaming, including in the controversial nosological construct of internet gaming disorder (IGD).

Methods: In blood samples from 56 U.S. gamers, we examined expression of the conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA), a leukocyte gene expression profile activated by chronic stress. We compared positively engaged and problem gamers, as identified by an ethnographically developed measure, the Positive and Negative Gaming Experiences Scale (PNGE-42), and also by a clinically derived IGD scale (IGDS-SF9).

Results: CTRA profiles showed a clear relationship with PNGE-42, with a …

Educational Policies Committee Program Proposal, College Of Agriculture And Applied Sciences, June 15, 2018 - Animal Biotechnology, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Utah State University requests approval to offer the following Minor: Animal Biotechnology effective Fall 2018.

Restructuring Data Reported From State Early Hearing Detection And Intervention (Ehdi) Programs: A Pilot Study, Suhana Alam, Tammy O'Hollearn, Jim Beavers, Alyssa K. Rex, Rebekah F. Cunningham, Winnie Chung, Xidong Deng, Thuyquynh N. Do

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objective: To assess the feasibility, benefits, and challenges surrounding individual-level versus aggregate data reporting by jurisdictional EHDI programs to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Methods: Using data reported to CDC by three jurisdictions in 2011, descriptive statistics were used to assess the feasibility of collecting and reporting individual-level data. Comparisons were made on what can be learned from individual-level data as opposed to CDC’s aggregate survey data.

Results: Individual-level data provided a detailed overview of the population served, services received, and variations across jurisdictions in data collection, reporting, and quality monitoring practices. Several challenges and areas needing …

Partnering With A Pest: Genomes Of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Symbionts Reveal Atypical Nutritional Provisioning Patterns In Dual-Obligate Bacteria, Kathryn M. Weglarz, Nathan P. Havill, Gaelen R. Burke, Carol D. Von Dohlen

Biology Faculty Publications

Nutritional bacterial symbionts enhance the diets of sap-feeding insects with amino acids and vitamins missing from their diets. In many lineages, an ancestral senior symbiont is joined by a younger junior symbiont. To date, an emergent pattern is that senior symbionts supply a majority of amino acids, and junior symbionts supply a minority. Similar to other hemipterans, adelgids harbor obligate symbionts, but have higher diversity of bacterial associates, suggesting a history of symbiont turnover. The metabolic roles of dual symbionts in adelgids and their contributions to the consortium are largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the symbionts of Adelges tsugae, …

Alternative Legume Species Can Reduce The Environmental Impacts Of Cattle, Elizabeth K. Stewart, Jennifer W. Macadam, Juan J. Villalba

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes how alternative legume species can reduce the environmental impacts of cattle, grass versus legumes as livestock feed, benefits, and producer concerns.

Usu Student Organic Farm, Usu Student Organic Farm

USU Student Organic Farm Newsletter

We’ve got water! It was pretty funny when we finally got the irrigation system up and running Saturday evening of the holiday weekend, and the sky opened up. But we’re all really glad to have it ready for all those babies after a baking hot day! We’ve got the warm weather crops in, including squashes, tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant and peppers, and melons will be planted tomorrow. We’re lovingly encouraging the tail end of the cool crops to make some food already - you may have noticed your bokchoi is delicious, and so did some cabbage fam­ily loving beetles, who are …

The Truncated Bell: An Enigmatic But Pervasive Elevational Diversity Pattern In Middle American Ants, John T. Longino, Michael G. Branstetter

All PIRU Publications

Studies on elevation gradients in Panama and Costa Rica have shown that leaf-litter ants exhibit a mid-elevation peak in diversity. This diversity pattern has been observed in other groups and regions, but uncertainty remains as to just how pervasive it is and what might explain it. Here we examine the robustness of the mid-elevation peak in ant diversity across the entire Middle American corridor, from Veracruz, Mexico, to Costa Rica. We sampled 56 sites distributed throughout Middle America. All were in closed-canopy evergreen wet forest, spanning 11° latitude, from near sea level to 2600 m elevation. Ants were extracted from …

High Interspecific Variation In Nutrient Excretion Within A Guild Of Closely Related Caddisfly Species, Jared A. Balik, Brad W. Taylor, Susan E. Washko, Scott A. Wissinger

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Understanding the amount of variation in functional traits between closely related species within guilds is critical for understanding links between community composition and ecosystem processes. Nutrient excretion is an important link between animals and their environments, and aquatic invertebrate communities can supply a considerable proportion of ecosystem nutrient demand via excretion. We quantified nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) excretion rates of 10 species of larval caddisflies that inhabit high‐elevation ponds and wetlands to determine the magnitude of variation in nutrient excretion within this guild. We found considerable interspecific variation in biomass‐specific excretion of nitrogen (eightfold differences), phosphorus (sevenfold differences), and …

Utah Agriculture Teachers’ Perceptions Of Teaching Urban And Non-Traditional Agriculture Content, Ashlee Cromer, Kelsey Hall, Tyson Sorensen, David Francis, Joshua Dallin

Applied Sciences, Technology, and Education Student Research

While agriculture teachers may focus on guiding students into agricultural and natural resource career pathways, many have expressed the need to prepare existing and upcoming agricultural educators with a more extensive set of skills and knowledge to better prepare students for a broader scope of career opportunities in agriculture. Agricultural education programs are expanding across the country, including more programs in urban areas, but agricultural education teachers often have little exposure or experiences related to less traditional agricultural careers that might be found in urban areas. Furthermore, agriculture teachers are often prepared to teach agricultural content through coursework that is …

Utah Agricultural Teachers' Perceptions Of Urban And Non-Traditional Agriculture Curriculum & Saes: An Application Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Ashlee Cromer, Kelsey Hall, Tyson Sorensen, David Francis, Joshua Dallin

Applied Sciences, Technology, and Education Student Research

While studies have been conducted to learn about urban students’ attitudes and motivations (Anderson, 2013) and the establishment of urban agricultural education programs (Brown & Kelsey, 2013), little attention has been devoted to understanding how prepared agricultural education teachers are in implementing curriculum, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), and career information about the global, national, and regional issues facing agriculture (e.g. climate change, urban agriculture, bioengineering, water quality, food security, bioenergy). Agricultural education teachers have indicated a need for professional development in these areas of new and emerging careers and technology (Perkins, Sorensen, Hall, Dallin, & Francis, 2017). This study fits …

Woodland Caribou Habitat Selection Patterns In Relation To Predation Risk And Forage Abundance Depend On Reproductive State, Rebecca Viejou, Tal Avgar, Glen S. Brown, Brent R. Patterson, Doug E. B. Reid, Arthur R. Rodgers, Jennifer Shuter, Ian D. Thompson, John M. Fryxell

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The ideal free distribution assumes that animals select habitats that are beneficial to their fitness. When the needs of dependent offspring differ from those of the parent, ideal habitat selection patterns could vary with the presence or absence of offspring. We test whether habitat selection depends on reproductive state due to top‐down or bottom‐up influences on the fitness of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), a threatened, wide‐ranging herbivore. We combined established methods of fitting resource and step selection functions derived from locations of collared animals in Ontario with newer techniques, including identifying calf status from video collar footage and seasonal …

Utah State University Commencement, 2018 – Main Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

131st Annual Commencement of Utah State University.

Tremblings, May 2018, Western Aspen Alliance

Tremblings

Wyoming's High Desert: Aspen habitat presents challenges

Kevin Spence

The high elevation desert of southwest Wyoming occurs between 6,040 ft. and 9,550 ft. Isolated “high points” in the area are dryland oases supporting high aquatic and terrestrial wildlife species richness, as vegetative diversity provides essential life stage habitat needs for numerous species. Although aspen makes up the smallest percentage of all vegetation types on this landscape, I consider aspen stands and their associate understories the most ecologically important in this ecosystem. Just a few benefits these aspen stands provide include: solid dam building material for beaver pond complexes providing riparian …

Characterization Of Lactose Fatty Acid Esters For Their Microbial Growth Inhibitory Activity And Emulsification Properties, Seung-Min Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Sugar esters, substances made from bonding fatty acid tails to a sugar head, can play a number of key roles in food systems from antimicrobial agents to emulsifiers. These unique and very useful properties result from their water-loving and water-avoiding ends. Lactose, a sugar found in milk, based esters are important, as they are environmentally friendly and inexpensive, however, they are not very well understood. I created four different types of lactose esters: lactose monooctanoate (LMO), lactose monodecanoate (LMD), lactose monolaurate (LML) and lactose monomyristate (LMM), and then compared them to each other to see which would be the best …

Enamel Hypoplasia And Its Relation To Ethnicity And Socioeconomic Status In The 19th Century United States, Amanda Drew Olivas Cook

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Linear enamel hypoplasia (LEH) is a condition of tooth enamel characterized by linear bands in tooth enamel that result from metabolic stress during the childhood years of enamel formation. The presence of LEH has frequently been used in biological anthropology as a marker of stress experienced during childhood. This paper uses a biocultural approach to investigate the occurrence and severity of LEH defects on the teeth of African American and European American adult male remains in the Terry Anatomical Skeletal Collection. The Terry Collection consists of low socioeconomic status individuals whose remains were unclaimed at St. Louis morgues and hospitals, …