Digital Commons Network^™

An Eulerian Perspective On Spring Migration In Mule Deer, Tatum Del Bosco

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many herbivores travel between low-elevation winter ranges and high-elevation summer sites. These seasonal movements allow them to avoid deep snow cover, ensure access to favorable habitat, and maximize food intake throughout the year. During the spring season, plants at lower elevations green up earlier at lower elevations than at higher elevations. It has been shown that individual animals will track this vegetation growth during their spring migration, which allows them to maximize forage intake coming out of the nutrient scarce winter. This phenomena has previously been studied by monitoring individual movement trajectories, but it is unknown how this pattern scales …

Intermachine Reliability Of The Velotron During Wingate Anaerobic Testing, Caleb Christie

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

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate inter-machine reliability of the Velotron electromagnetically-braked cycle ergometer for the Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) with power-trained athletes. Methods: Anaerobic athletes participating in football or track and field at a National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I program were recruited for participation in the study. Each participant visited the laboratory 3 times (1 familiarization trial, 2 experimental trials) within 2 weeks and at least 24 hours between visits. Participants completed a “practice trial” on the first visit to familiarize themselves with the 30-second WAnT. The WAnT procedure included a 5-minute warmup at a …

A Review Of Harmful Algal Bloom Prediction Models For Lakes And Reservoirs, Jade Snyder Echard

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

Anthropogenic activity has led to eutrophication in water bodies across the world. This eutrophication promotes blooms, cyanobacteria being among the most notorious bloom organisms. Cyanobacterial blooms (more commonly referred to as harmful algal blooms (HABs)) can devastate an ecosystem. Cyanobacteria are resilient microorganisms that have adapted to survive under a variety of conditions, often outcompeting other phytoplankton. Some species of cyanobacteria produce toxins that ward off predators. These toxins can negatively affect the health of the aquatic life, but also can impact animals and humans that drink or come in contact with these noxious waters. Although cyanotoxin’s effects on humans …

Interactive Effects Of Soil And Browsing On Big Sagebrush: Implications For Restoration Success, Kyle Nehring

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

Heterogeneity in landscape conditions (e.g., soil types) precludes a “one size fits all” management strategy across large landscapes. New management approaches that explicitly account for heterogeneous landscapes (and the variable conditions therein) will be required to maintain habitat quality. In particular, we require an improved mechanistic understanding of how the outcomes of conservation and restoration actions are contingent upon a) contextual abiotic factors (e.g., moisture availability mediated by soils and precipitation) and b) their interactions with biotic factors (e.g., browsing wildlife).

We propose to answer fundamental questions about how big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), the foundational species for sagebrush …

Patterns Of Use In A Division I University Fueling Station Before And After Implementing A Nutrition Education Intervention, Cady L. Peters

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Well-timed nutrition strategies are a well-established way to improve athletic performance and minimize recovery time, however, athletes often do not prioritize nutrition as a strategy to gain an edge over their competitors. Even with a resource such as a Fueling Station, which provides athletes with nutrient dense, convenient pre- and post-workout snacks, athletes still struggle understanding which foods are an appropriate choice for their purpose of eating.

The purpose of this research was to examine the changes in the appropriateness of the athlete’s meal choices at the Fueling Station based on their macronutrient distribution and timing of workout or training …

The Effects Of Trace Mineral Supplementation On Performance, Health, And Carcass Quality Of At-Risk Mineral Deficient Feedlot Cattle, Tevan J. Brady

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Morbidity in feedlot cattle due to disease is a common economical loss for feedlot producers. Utah is not typically considered a ‘feedlot state’, but there are several producers in the southern part of the state that specialize in receiving at-risk cattle. These cattle are at-risk because they are coming from areas known to be mineral deficient. Areas such as the western US, are known to be deficient in several trace minerals important in immune response. Therefore, it is critical that producers have an adequate plan to decrease the negative effects that this has on economic viability of their beef operations, …

Investigation Of Methionine And Lysine Derivatives As A Source Of Rumen-Protected Amino Acids For Lactating Dairy Cows, Mark Avila Fagundes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cows have a protein requirement for growth, maintenance, and lactation. In order to meet those protein requirements, dairy farmers can supplement or feed cattle with specific amino acids, the building blocks that make-up protein. However, in order for the amino acid product to be effective it must avoid degradation in the rumen and be delivered in the small intestine for absorption. Lysine and methionine have traditionally been recognized as the most limiting amino acids for lactating dairy cows. Therefore, nutrition companies have focused on finding ways to encapsulate or protect lysine and methionine from rumen microbes. The N-acetyl-L-methionine and N-acetyl-L-lysine …

Fatty Acid Composition Of Forages And Their Effect On The Fatty Acid Composition In Beef Cattle, Britney G. Allen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study focused on how diet changes the rumen microbiome in the cattle and the effects of that on the long chain fatty acids (LCFA) by microbes in the rumen, and on the short chain fatty acids (SCFA) these microbes produce from feed carbohydrates like fiber and starch. The abundance of bacteria belonging to the phyla Tenericutes and Proteobacteria increased in response to high-fiber or high-starch diets, respectively. The production of two SCFA was positively correlated with the presence of increased Tenericutes (acetate) and Proteobacteria (propionate). A greater acetate to propionate ratio is associated with elevated production of enteric methane …

Effect Of Dietary Short And Medium Chain Fatty Acids In Murine Lethal Sepsis Model, David Son Dang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Sepsis is defined as the presence of an infection in combination with systemic inflammation in a host. One of the detrimental results of sepsis is multiple organ failure which eventually leads to death. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin that can be found on the outer surface of gram-negative bacteria, can be used as a model for sepsis. LPS present in the circulatory system of hosts can induce symptoms that are seen in patients during septicemia.

Previous studies have suggested that including milk fat in a diet may protect against a lethal dosage of LPS in rodents. Milk fat has a unique …

Seeding Rate, Herbicide, And Irrigation Effects On Spring-Seeded Oat-Alfalfa Companion Crops, Carson D. Roberts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Small grain companion crop seeding rate recommendations for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) establishment are dated and inconsistent, and how a small grain companion crop seeding rates should be adjusted at different moisture levels is unknown. A study was conducted to provide clarity about oat (Avena sativa L.) companion crop seeding rates that maximize weed suppression and forage yield and minimize the effect on alfalfa stand establishment. This experiment considered oat companion crop seeding rates at various irrigation levels. Companion crop treatments consisted of oats sown at 89, 45, 22, 10, and 0 (with and without herbicide) kg ha …

Trends In Cooperative Extension Calls From 2010 - 2019, Emily Elizabeth Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purposes of this study are to assess the most frequently addressed topics that the public has for Family Consumer Sciences (FCS) related Extension professionals and to indicate whether the topics are changing over time, with a specific interest in changes to food safety and preservation inquiries. The CES office in one county in a western state has been collecting FCS data from the years 2010 to 2019. This data is about the FCS-specific phone calls received to the office. The data was then coded and put into an Excel spreadsheet. There were a total of 5,863 phone calls with …

Compost And Cover Crop Effects In Dryland Organic Wheat, Michael D. Deakin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Producers of dryland organic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the western USA struggle to maintain adequate soil fertility due to the high cost of organic fertilizers and concerns over moisture use of cover crops. Low soil fertility results in decreased wheat yield and quality, and increased year-to-year variability in yield and quality based on weather. This study was conducted to measure the effects of, and interactions between, cover crop mixes and a one-time compost application on soil health and winter wheat yield and quality. The study was located on three adjacent certified organic wheat farms near Snowville, UT, each …

Variability In Long Bone Processing: The Result Of Bone Resiliency Or Marrow Utility?, Jonathan P. Keith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In archaeology, the study of animal remains helps researchers understand what animals past hunters sought to prey upon and what decisions they made related to field butchery. Archaeological excavations in sites of the Northern Great Plains and the Snake River Plain have shown that a disproportional amount of bison limb bones occur relative to other bones in the body. Limb bones contain marrow, and to break these open ancient butchers would use hammer stones and rock anvils. Such processing behaviors often leave impact scars, and these often vary in frequency from one part of the skeleton to the next.

My …

Investigating Routes And Effects Of Pesticide Exposure On The Blue Orchard Bee (Osmia Lignaria), Andi M. Kopit

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

With native pollinator species on the decline and the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) industry suffering, it is imperative that we understand the impacts of agricultural practices on pollinators. The blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria (Megachilidae), is an important alternative pollinator of commercial orchards. Osmia lignaria are solitary, cavity nesting bees with a wide distribution across North America. This species and other solitary, cavity nesting bees experience different routes of pesticide exposure than social pollinators, such as colony-dwelling bumble bees and honey bees. Chapter I focuses on routes of pesticide exposure experienced by cavity-nesting bees, incorporating the relative importance …

The Utah Statesman, April 26th, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Consequences Of Host Life Cycles For Symbiont Genome Evolution, Ashley Dederich

Student Research Symposium

Obligate symbionts play a crucial role in both the survival and evolution of their host. However, symbiont genomes degrade substantially over evolutionary time, sometimes losing genes presumed essential to the partnership. Buchnera aphidicola (Buchnera), the obligate nutritional symbiont of aphids, serves as a model for studying genomic degradation in obligate symbiotic systems. Previous literature has theorized that the patterns of Buchnera genome degradation may result partly from aphid gall formation, as galls generally have elevated levels of nutrients. However, the association of aphid life cycle type with patterns of Buchnera genome degradation has not been tested. To test this, I …

The Utah Statesman, April 12th, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Indoor Vertical Farming Potential Solution To Long-Term Global Food Security Issues, Natalie Rigby

Student Research Symposium

Indoor vertical farming may be a solution for global food security issues, especially those driven by climate change, supply chain disruptions, environmental decline, and urban sprawl. This method of cultivation has numerous benefits and drawbacks dependent on the different options used. This presentation will use resilience frameworks developed by USU's Center for Anticipatory Intelligence to help identify these threats facing global food systems and how they may be mitigated by indoor vertical farms. In the coming years, rapid climate change issues are predicted to play an important role in agriculture around the world. The world currently faces a number of …

Fecal Microbiota Transfer (Fmt) From Tumor-Bearing Mice Fed The Total Western Diet (Twd) Does Not Contribute To A Higher Tumor Burden In Mice Fed A Healthy Diet, Porter Green

Student Research Symposium

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Diet and gut microbiome have shown to influence the development of colitis associated colorectal cancer (CAC). For this study, the goal was to determine the association between colon inflammation, diet and microbiome in the development of CAC in mice. The primary objective of this study was to determine the contribution of gut microbiota from mice donors who have previously consumed one of two basal diets: 1) the standard AIN93G diet, which is designed to promote rodent health; and 2) the total Western diet (TWD), …

Ὁ Δρόμος: Testing The Charge At Marathon, 490 Bce, Daniel Porter

Student Research Symposium

In 490 BCE, a heavily outnumbered Greek force of mainly Athenians fought an invading Persian army at Marathon to preserve their freedom. According to Herodotus, the Hellenes charged at a run (δρόμος) across the plain, a distance of eight stades (.9 miles), to engage and subsequently repel the Persians. Herodotus continues on to claim that this was the first Greek charge. The reason for this was that the phalanx, the Greek military formation, required close ranks and heavy armor, so running was not easy. Modern historians have questioned Herodotus’ veracity as well as the actual plausibility of this event due …

Cytokine Indicators Of Inflammation In Mice Fed A Western Type Diet, Eliza Owens, Emily Mortensen

Student Research Symposium

Colorectal cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The risk of colon cancer increases in individuals who suffer from colitis, which is inflammation of the colon lining. Colitis is common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The development of colorectal cancer is complex and can be associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, which has been shown to be affected by diet. Disruption of the gut microbiome can lead to the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria which can contribute to disease. Pathogenic bacteria and other bacterial byproducts that manage to cross the epithelial …

Mitochondria Delay Proteolysis In An In Vitro Model Simulating Postmortem Conditions, Mackenzie Taylor

Student Research Symposium

In fresh meat products, the most important attribute dictating consumer satisfaction is tenderness. Accordingly, researchers have rigorously studied the biochemical mechanisms involved in meat tenderization during aging, and found that proteolytic degradation of structural muscle proteins is one of the major mechanisms. Postmortem proteolysis is driven by endogenous proteases present in the muscle, and calpain-1 has been identified as the main protease involved in the tenderization process. Calpain-1 is a calcium-dependent protease that rely on calcium to become proteolytically active. Recently, mitochondria have garnered interest due to their ability to sequester and decrease cytosolic calcium concentration. However, it remains unclear …

Roles Of Nad In Dna Repair And Response To Oxidative Stress, Micah Forbush

Student Research Symposium

It has become a common trend for people to start their families at a later age, often due to lifestyle choices like achieving career goals first and waiting to achieve financial stability. Along with this trend of increasing parental age comes another, the decrease in fertility. While it is well established that female fertility declines significantly with age, current research is showing that male fertility may be impacted just as much. NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is an important biochemical cofactor in most metabolic reactions, and importantly, is it also essential for DNA repair. As age increases in humans, the amount …

Designing An Effective Employee Wellness Program: A Targeted Approach Using Employee Health Surveys, Sierra Giles

Student Research Symposium

Purpose – Given that employees typically spend a significant amount of their time at the workplace, an effective workplace wellness program has the potential to reduce employees’ health risks and improve their quality of life. The purpose of this project was to collect and assess baseline data on current health status for a Utah organization with approximately 400 employees and use the results to inform a comprehensive wellness program. Methods – Based on validated questionnaires from the literature, I developed an employee health screening survey which consisted of two parts – a biometric screening and a mixed methods health assessment …

Impact Of Fecal Microbiota Transfer (Fmt) On Phenotype Of Mice Fed A Standard Diet And A Western-Style Diet Using A Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer Model, Abbey Horrocks

Student Research Symposium

A variety of genetic and environmental factors can affect the composition of the human gut microbiota, including a poor diet. Western diets are typically associated with dysbiosis and other adverse health outcomes that are expressed phenotypically. The primary objective of this study is to determine the contribution of gut microbiota from mice donors who have previously consumed one of two basal diets: 1) the standard AIN93G diet, which is designed to promote rodent health; and 2) the total Western diet (TWD), which promotes inflammation-associated colorectal tumorigenesis. The donors’ microbiota were transferred to a cohort of mice who were fed either …

Rotc Cadets' Nutrition Knowledge & Behaviors: A Pilot Study, Mikaela Blake, Annika Israelsen, Tori Gossling, Jacob Lamb

Student Research Symposium

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) prepares college students for future military service. The ROTC includes a rigorous physical training program. As such, effective nutrition practices are necessary to maintain performance. The purpose of this study was to assess USU Cadets’ nutrition knowledge and practices to inform future research and intervention needs. Cadets were recruited through email and classroom announcements. Participants completed an online survey that gathered demographic, fitness, nutrition knowledge, nutrition behaviors, Intuitive Eating, perceived stress, and food security data. Results indicated that most cadets had a moderate knowledge of nutrition with a deficit in sports nutrition. This study …

Pathogen Survey Of Natural Osmia Lignaria Say (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) Nests Collected From Utah, Mary-Kate Williams

Student Research Symposium

Understanding pathogen presence in Osmia lignaria populations is critical. Suppose we do not understand pathogen distributions, let alone their presence. In that case, we may be spreading pathogens to environments without localized infections and other bee species, including other bee species used in orchard pollination. To better comprehend pathogens, we utilized molecular techniques to identify some of the pathogens present in natural populations, seldom done throughout the United States. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 1-2 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/87892002075?pwd=Ym1Tcy9NOVhaaGZWczZWY1JCL3owUT09

Usu Rotc Cadet Focus Group Perspectives On Nutrition And Dietary Intake, Karli Mcrae, Hailee Pulli, Lexie Jex, Natalie Steiner

Student Research Symposium

Nutrition plays a significant role in supporting the physical performance of USU ROTC Cadets. The purpose of this research was to learn more about ROTC cadets' dietary habits, the reasons for their dietary choices, and gain feedback on what they think could improve their dietary intake. Two, 1-hour focus groups were conducted with 8 participants total. During each focus group, participants completed a brief survey about their dietary habits and discussed factors that influenced their food choices.The discussion included information on frequency of meals and snacks, impact of food on performance and lifestyle, ROTC culture surrounding nutrition, and potential helpful …

The Utah Statesman, April 5, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, April 1, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Approval of 4 March 2021 Minutes

Program Proposals

• Create a Student Money Management Center.
• Create a Community Development Economics Minor.
• Change the CIP Code for the BS Aviation Technology- Professional Pilot degree from 49.0102 to 49.0101.
• Discontinue the Computer Science MS Plan C degree program.

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other Business

• EPC/Curriculum Handbook Update
• New Curriculum Committee Chair Appointment