Digital Commons Network^™

Intraspecific Variation In Prey Susceptibility Mediates The Consumptive Effect Of Predation: A Case Study Of Yellowstone Elk And Wolves, Lacy M. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The reintroduction of wolves (Canis lupus) to Yellowstone National Park starting in 1995 is an important case study for understanding the consequences of predation on a prey population. Simulation studies conducted prior to and shortly after wolf reintroduction predicted that wolf predation of elk (Cervus canadensis) would have a modest influence on elk abundance. Predation of elk by wolves has been well documented and elk have remained the primary prey for wolves despite a decline in elk abundance. I used two quantitative approaches to estimate the influence of wolf predation on adult female elk survival and …

The Plant Growth Promoting Ability Of The Microbiome Of Ceanothus Velutinus From The Intermountain West Region, Jyothsna Ganesh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Due to the ever-changing climate and deterioration of the earth’s ecosystem, environmental stresses like abiotic (drought, salinity) and biotic stresses (pathogen infection) gravely affected plant growth. Native plants are a great way of improving these effects on the urban landscape. They can be used as ornamental plants in landscaping as they are accustomed to their natural environment. The Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping at Utah State University has released a list of plants to be used for low water use landscaping. One such native plant is Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus). They are evergreen plants that can grow in dry and harsh …

Influence Of External Ph And Organic Acids On Internal Ph And Acid Anion Accumulation In Listeria Monocytogenes And Escherichia Coli, Savannah R. Branson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli are both among the most common microbial pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses and death. They both are capable of growing over a wide range of conditions. Organic acids are widely employed in the food industry to control growth of these pathogens to help prevent foodborne illnesses. There is substantial evidence that intracellular accumulation of organic acid anions is a major inhibitor to cell growth, and that many bacteria may combat anion accumulation by lowering their intracellular pH (pH_i). In this study, we followed the accumulation of acid anion into the cell pellet and …

Impact Of Fish Oil On Intestinal Permeability, Inflammation, And Performance In Swine, Anthony Fernando Alberto

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Our research examined the effects of fish oil supplementation on intestinal permeability, systemic inflammation and performance in piglets. An lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge was done to stimulate the synthesis and release of the cytokines, in an effort to mimic the immune response that piglets would have when facing stress or pathogen challenge. Fish oil increased feed intake but did not affect growth when compared to control. Total fatty acid digestibility increased by 6% when fish oil was included in the diet. Also, we observed a 16% increase on 16-carbon fatty acids digestibility. Fish oil did not affect the plasma …

Injection Of Iodoacetic Acid Into Pre-Rigor Bovine Muscle Simulates Dark Cutting Conditions, Jared Forrest Buhler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Following the harvest of an animal, muscle will continue to produce energy in an attempt to stay alive, primarily through the pathway of glycolysis. This occurs in the form of anaerobic (oxygen-free) metabolism of glucose and glycogen, which causes the meat to acidify. This acidification process is important for proper meat quality development and when insufficient glycolysis occurs it can cause a meat defect known as dark cutting. This defect causes the color of the muscle to become very dark, increases the water-holding capacity of the meat, and causes it to feel firm and dry on the surface because the …

Enzymatic Synthesis Of Maltodextrin Fatty Acid Esters And Their Emulsion Stabilizing And Microbial Inhibitory Properties, Namhyeon Park

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Food additives have been one of the traditional methods for preserving foods and are still in everyday use for multiple reasons. As the market size of processed foods grows, the use of food additives is increasing. Simultaneously, consumers try to avoid specific food additives or demand less processed foods because of several potential health concerns, suggesting the need for safe food additives.

In this environment, one group of food additives consisting of carbohydrates and fatty acids have received attention because of its nontoxicity and biodegradability with diverse functions. Notably, carbohydrate fatty acid compounds made of sucrose have been approved and …

Wear Behaviors Of Process Cheese With Varying Formulations And The Development Of Predictive Models On Shreddability, Jason Young

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Process Cheese is manufactured by grinding, mixing, and heating with agitation one or more of the same varieties of natural cheese with an emulsifying agent to create a cheese with desirable properties. After process cheese is made, it is often sliced or shredded. Some of its properties affect how well it can be sliced or shredded and can lead to loss of material due to cheese sticking to equipment or being too crumbly. The loss of material, called wear behavior can incur significant losses to cheese manufacturing operations. The purpose of this study was to produce process cheese formulations with …

The Utah Statesman, November 29, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan

The Utah Statesman, November 22, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, November 15, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of Minutes – October 18, 2021
• University Business
• Education Policies Committee
• Academic Freedom and Tenure Annual Report
• Libraries Advisory Council Annual Report
• Faculty Evaluation Committee Annual Report
• USUSA Annual Report
• Old Business
• Code 401 Track Changes | Clean 1st Reading
• Code 402 Track Changes | Clean 1st Reading

The Utah Statesman, November 15, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Using Dyadic Observation To Explore Equitable Learning Opportunities In Classroom Instruction, Alyson L. Lavigne, Thomas L. Good

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

Because of poverty, many children do not receive adequate prenatal care, nutrition, or early childhood education. These inequities combine to ensure that many students enter school with considerably less academic content knowledge and skills for learning than their peers. Teachers and schools did not create these gaps, but they must address them. The impact of schools in reducing gaps has been explored for decades only to yield inconsistent findings. One possible reason for these contradictory results is because these studies ignore classroom process. We argue for the inclusion of process in research on opportunity and achievement gaps to better articulate …

Educational Policies Committee Minutes, November 4, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 6 October 2021 Minutes
• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report
• Other Business

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, November 4, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report
• Other Business

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, November 4, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 6 October 2021 Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, November 4, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 6 October 2021 Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business

The Utah Statesman, November 1, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Nutrient Enrichment Increases Invertebrate Herbivory And Pathogen Damage In Grasslands, Anne Ebeling, Alex T. Strauss, Peter B. Adler, Carlos A. Arnillas, Isabel C. Barrio, Lori A. Biederman, Elizabeth T. Borer, Miguel N. Bugalho, Maria C. Caldeira, Marc W. Cadotte, Pedro Daleo, Nico Eisenhauer, Anu Eskelinen, Philip A. Fay, Jennifer Firn, Pamela Graff, Nicole Hagenah, Sylvia Haider, Kimberly J. Komatsu, Rebecca L. Mcculley, Charles E. Mitchell, Joslin L. Moore, Jesus Pascual, Pablo L. Peri, Sally A. Power, Suzanne M. Prober, Anita C. Risch, Christiane Roscher, Mahesh Sankaran, Eric W. Seabloom, Holger Schielzeth, Martin Schütz, Karina L. Speziale, Michelle Tedder, Risto Virtanen, Dana M. Blumenthal

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

1. Plant damage by invertebrate herbivores and pathogens influences the dynamics of grassland ecosystems, but anthropogenic changes in nitrogen and phosphorus availability can modify these relationships.
2. Using a globally distributed experiment, we describe leaf damage on 153 plant taxa from 27 grasslands worldwide, under ambient conditions and with experimentally elevated nitrogen and phosphorus.
3. Invertebrate damage significantly increased with nitrogen addition, especially in grasses and non-leguminous forbs. Pathogen damage increased with nitrogen in grasses and legumes but not forbs. Effects of phosphorus were generally weaker. Damage was higher in grasslands with more precipitation, but climatic conditions did not change effects of nutrients …

Promoting Inclusion Of Adults With Disabilities In Local Fitness Programs: A Needs Assessment, Samantha M. Ross, Bridgette Schram, Kathleen Mccarty, Nicole Fiscella, Willie Chun Wai Leung, Kayla Lindland

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Fit-Pals* is a university-based, service-learning program with a mission to prepare adults with disabilities to engage in lifelong physical activity. We conducted a Needs Assessment to evaluate recent programmatic partnerships with community-based fitness organizations. We aimed to (1) evaluate organizational perceptions of Fit-Pals’ partnership efforts, and (2) identify perceived organizational needs to improve inclusion practices. Representatives from each of our seven partner organizations participated in an online-survey, follow-up interviews, and a stakeholder meeting. A thematic analysis of survey and interview responses highlighted areas for programmatic growth related to training in disability awareness and fitness accommodations, and improved communication across all …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, October 18, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of Minutes - September 20, 2021
• University Business
• Educational Policies Committee
• Athletic Council Annual Report
• Honors Program Annual Report
• Academic Freedom and Tenure Annual Report
• Libraries Advisory Council Annual Report
• PRPC Report
• What kind of format for Faculty Senate meetings (in-person/Zoom)

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes, October 18, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of Minutes – September 20, 2021
• University Business
• Educational Policies Committee
• Athletic Council Annual Report
• Honors Program Annual Report
• PRPC Report
• What kind of format for Faculty Senate meetings (in-person/Zoom)
• Vote on 401 and 402 code updates

Breastfeeding: Tools For Success, Norah Ashby, Casey Coombs, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

All Current Publications

Every mother has a unique breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding is natural, but that does not mean it comes naturally to every mother. The benefits of exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months and supplemental breastfeeding through the second year of life are well documented (Lessen & Kavanagh, 2015). However, there are many barriers that may prevent mothers from breastfeeding, including discomfort or pain, milk supply concerns, or simply not knowing how to breastfeed (Lessen & Kavanagh, 2015; Westerfield et al., 2018). Fortunately, there are a variety of tools that mothers can use to create a successful breastfeeding experience (Dennis et al., …

Evaluating Alternative Feed Sources During Drought, Matthew D. Garcia, Ruger P. Carter, Ryan Larsen, Eric Thacker, Jacob Hadfield, Reganne K. Briggs, Justen Smith

All Current Publications

During years of drought, it is important to critically evaluate alternative feed sources available for cattle. The traditional method for sustaining a herd through a drought is feeding extra stored forage to compensate for decreased forage production or decreased forage quality available on rangelands and pastures due to drought conditions. However, hay prices rise substantially, and availability decreases due to irrigation water limitations and increased demand from livestock producers. This fact sheet will evaluate why hay prices rise and what alternatives are available to compensate for forage reductions during drought.

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, October 6, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 September 2021 Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business

Educational Policies Committee Minutes, October 6, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 September 2021 Minutes
• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report
• Other Business

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, October 6, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 September 2021 Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, October 6, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 September 2021 Minutes
• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report
• Other Business

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes, September 20, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of minutes - August 23, 2021
• University Business
• Education Policies Committee
• Telework Policy Draft | Summary of Changes
• Educational Policies Committee Annual Report
• Old Business
• New Business

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, September 20, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of Minutes – August 23, 2021
• University Business
• Education Policies Committee – September 2, 2021
• Educational Policies Committee Annual Report

Increasing Fiber Intake During Childhood And Adolescence, Madison Gunter, Stacy Bevan, Casey Coombs, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

All Current Publications

Fiber is an important part of a healthful diet that provides numerous benefits when adequately consumed. Yet, many individuals do not know what fiber is, let alone how to eat enough. Thus, it is no surprise that fiber has been a dietary concern among children and adolescents for over a decade, with less than 10% of youth meeting recommended fiber intakes (Finn et al., 2019; Kranz et al., 2012; McGill et al., 2015). In this fact sheet, we will discuss what fiber is, along with its health benefits, current recommendations, and strategies for incorporating fiber into your child’s diet.