Digital Commons Network^™

Women In Transition At Midlife, Kay T. Rawson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Women in modern America are living longer than ever before and society's expectations are changing. In 1900, it was expected that most women would die in their forties or early fifties. However, with today's life expectancy of approximately 80 years. midlife is a viable component of a woman's total life course. Since midlife is an important part of the lives of today's women, this study examines the elements of well-being in midlife women over three transitional periods surrounding the half century birthday. A random sample of 1,041 midlife women, ages 34-66, living along the Wasatch Front in Utah, responded to …

Density And Feeding Habits Of Elk And Deer In Relation To Livestock Disturbance, Kenneth Clegg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Elk (Cervus elaphus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) density and foraging behavior were monitored in conjunction with disturbance by livestock (cattle and sheep) from 1991 to 1993 at Deseret Land and Livestock property near Woodruff, Utah. Elk and deer densities declined by as much as 92% in response to introduction of livestock, while associated areas where livestock were absent did not show this response. Biting rates and bite sizes were estimated and used to determine instantaneous intake rate. These measures were similar between pastures with cattle present or absent in 1992 but differed in 1993 for …

A New Model Species For Cultured Teleost Retinal Cell Studies: Light And Scanning Electron Microscopy, Lori Ann Steinfeldt

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Purpose: To examine retinal horizontal and bipolar cells cultured from goldfish (Carassius auratus), black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) on the light and electron microscope levels; and to compare them with cells from a more established model, the wild white bass (Roccus chrysops). Methods: Retinas from all species were dissociated by methods developed with wild white bass (Dowling et al., 1985). Cell type was identified within the first 3 hr and cells were cultured for up to 2 wk in L-15 medium. At various intervals, cells were fixed in glutaraldehyde, …

Identification And Conceptualization Of Sexual Abuse Resiliency Factors: A Review Of The Literature, Heidi J. Moss

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Resiliency, while historically grounded and defined, lacks important conceptual clarity when considering the area of sexual abuse resiliency. Considerable theoretical effort has been dedicated to this phenomena in certain specific areas of human development (e.g., children) with empirical endeavors to validate it's relevance. To date there seems to be consensus with the notion that three specific variables are correlated with resiliency outcomes, namely, biological, psychological and social influences. It is posited that these three primary variables and their substantive variables independently, as well as interactively, buffer the effects of abuse one may experience during the course of a life time. …

New Directions In Medical School Admissions, Stephen D. Neeleman

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In 1910, American medicine underwent a thorough review of its practices, policies, and most importantly, its education. The review was conducted by Abraham Flexner, under commission of the Carnegie Foundation. Flexner's task was to determine the uniformity of medical learning throughout the United States, and to develop a systematic approach whereby the nation could improve its overall health training. The subsequent Flexner report changed the face of medical education for decades. Its tenets provoked revolutionary changes in the medical school process that are still in use today. However, some have begun to question facets of the report, and even introduce …

Does Competition Drive Community Structure? An Analysis Of Grasshopper Competition, H. Joseph Lachowski

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

lnterspecific competition has been broadly defined as a negative-negative relationship between species that share a limiting resource. The impact of competition on ecological communities is a widely debated topic (Schoener 1982). Thus community structure is very complex and, in addition to competition, can be influenced by many factors, including climate, disease, parasites, and predation (Hairston et al. 1960; Stower & Greathead 1969; Wiens 1977). The importance of competition depends upon the importance of other processes (Welden & Slauson 1986).

The Effect Of Climate And Spittlebug (Aeneolamia Albofasciata) On Buffelgrass (Cenchrus Ciliaris L.) Productivity In The Sonoran Desert, Martha H. Martin-Rivera

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I conducted field studies during 1984-1988 to determine how (1) precipitation amount and distribution affect buffelgrass [Cenchrus ciliaris L. (Link) l productivity, (2) summer rainfall amount and distribution and temperature influenced the spittlebug (Aeneolamia albofasciata Lalleman) life cycle, and (3) summer burning affects spittlebug densities and buffelgrass productivity.

Experiment I was conducted from 1985 through 1988. Forage samples collected at 15-day intervals were separated into live, recent-dead standing, old-dead standing, and litter. There was a positive relationship between the summer precipitation and the live biomass. Recent-dead standing and old-dead standing decomposed during the summer, fall, or spring.

Experiment …

The Contribution Of Meats To Energy And Essential Nutrient Intakes Of Women In The United States, C. Dian Martin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study used the 1987-88 USDA Nationwide Food Consumption Survey to investigate the contribution meat products make to intakes of nutrients at risk of inadequate or excessive consumption by women. The study is unique in that meat nutrients were extracted from mixed dishes, providing a more accurate picture of consumption. Cluster analysis was used to classify nonpregnant, nonlactating women 19 years and older based on their consumption patterns of total meat and individual meats (beef, poultry, processed meats, pork and seafoods) as percent of caloric intake.

Total fat and SFA intakes exceeded National Research Council (NRC) goals regardless of meat …

Sedimentology And Foraminiferal Taphonomy In Siliciclastic Environments: The Northern Gulf Of California, Mexico, Liping Zhang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Holocene sediments from intertidal and shallow subtidal zones in Bahia la Choya, Mexico exhibit significant differences based on their mineralogical content, constituent composition, textural parameters, and foraminiferal assemblages. The intertidal sediments are characterized by low calcium carbonate content, being dominated by quartz, and are moderately well sorted and coarse skewed with a fine mean grain size {M_z = 2.73 phi}. Total numbers {living and dead} of benthonic Foraminifera per ml of sediment are relatively low (12/ml) in the intertidal zones. In contrast, the subtidal sediments are characterized by high calcium carbonate content, being dominated by molluscan shell fragments, and …

Incorporating Vegetative Diversity Measures In Forest-Level Planning: A Case Study On The Utah State University School Forest, David N. Holland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three indices of forest stand structural and compositional diversity were incorporated into a linear programming, timber-harvest scheduling model to examine the tradeoffs between managing stands for timber production and biodiversity objectives. While harvest-level objectives were fairly compatible with the maintenance of biodiversity, present net worth maximization resulted in substantial reductions in all three measures of biodiversity.

Factors Associated With The Highway Mortality Of Mule Deer At Jordanelle Reservoir, Utah, Laura A. Romin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Highway mortality of deer (Odocoileus sp.) is a nationwide concern. In 1991, 538,000 deer-vehicle collisions occurred nationwide. Property damage to vehicles, human injuries and fatalities, and potential impacts to local deer populations occur from deer-vehicle collisions. Techniques have been evaluated to reduce highway mortality of deer; however, an effective, cost-efficient solution does not exist for widespread use. If mitigative technologies are to be successful, we need to understand deer behavior and movement patterns associated with highway relationships. Most research about highway deer kills has focused on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in mixed hardwood habitat types. The …

Assessing Mourning Dove Population Declines: Changes In Nesting Dynamics And The Role Of Perch Sites, Paul M. Meyers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I replicated a nesting study carried out 40 years ago in southern Utah to assess reasons for long-term population declines of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in the western United States. I compared current nesting patterns to similar data collected in 1952. I saw little difference in nest success and nest predation, but reproductive output and nest density decreased dramatically. The number of young fledged per pair of adults was only 64% of that estimated in 1952. A 1-2 week delay in the nesting season contributed to this decrease, but cannot explain it entirely. Nest density was about 20% …

The Response Of Five Tropical Plant Species To Natural Solar Ultraviolet-B Radiation, Peter S. Searles

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Tropical regions currently receive the highest global levels of solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280-320 nm) even without ozone depletion. Thus, the influence of natural, present-day UV-B irradiance in the tropics was examined for five tropical species, including three native rainforest tree species and two economically important species. Solar UV-B radiation conditions were obtained vi using either a UV-B excluding plastic film or a near-ambient UV-B transmitting film in a small clearing on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama (9 ° N). Significant differences were often exhibited as increased foliar UV-B absorbing compounds, increased leaf mass per area, and reduced leaf blade …

Study Of Circulating Antibodies To Heat-Shock Proteins 60 And 70 In Autistic Subjects, Fang-Yi Chiu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Autism is a behavioral syndrome characterized by a severe impairment of reciprocal social relations, and of verbal and nonverbal communications. Many different etiologic factors such as viral infection and genetic predisposition have been proposed to explain the development of this disorder. Immune abnormalities, such as a decreased lymphoblastic response to T-cell mitogen, defective antibody responses to rubella vaccine, and decreased numbers of T lymphocytes, also have been identified in a subpopulation of patients with autism, which implies that the development of autism in some cases may be due to autoimmune mechanisms.

Recent evidence suggests that immune response to the heat-shock …

Pantothenate-P-Nitroanilide As A Substrate For Pantetheinase Assay, Robert T. Davidson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pantothenate-p-nitroanilide has been synthesized for use as a substrate in a continuous spectrophotometric assay of pantetheinase activity monitoring absorbance at 410 nm. Pantothenate-p-nitroanilide is a crystalline compound with a molecular weight of 338.0 and a melting point of 146-149°C. Use of this substrate in the described assay is suitable for enzyme activity determination in high protein content media such as blood serum. Serum pantetheinase activity was determined for rats of varying pantothenate nutriture. Rats with mildly (but significantly, p < 0.05) lower serum pantothenate levels had significantly higher serum pantetheinase activities than the control group (6.24 nmol/min/ml ± 0.72 and 16. 16 nmol/min/ml ± 4. 14, respectively, p=0.0005).

Uptake, Absorption, And Adsorption Kinetics Of Ferrous And Ferric Iron In Iron-Replete And Iron-Deficient Rats, Madhavi Ummadi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Various concentrations of ferrous and ferric iron solutions were held at room temperature for 60 min before they were assayed for ferrous iron, which may be unstable due to oxidation. The ferrous and ferric solutions (in pH 2 HCl) were maintained as such for 60 min without the use of chelators. There was no significant oxidation of ferrous iron. Also, four different levels of each ferrous and ferric iron were injected into proximal duodenal loops of rat intestine and uptake was determined at four different time intervals. Two iron-replete rats were assigned to each of the treatments. The in situ …

A Response Surface Study Of Extruded Corn Starch/Skim Milk Powder Blends, Sachin Singh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Skim milk was ultrafiltered to three lactose/protein ratios and spray dried. The skim milk powder was extruded with pearled corn starch at different moisture contents, protein contents, lactose/protein ratios, and feed rates (control variables). Response surface methodology and a central composite in cube experimental design were used. This design required 30 experimental runs with 16 factorial points, 8 axial points, and 6 center points for replication. The physical and functional properties evaluated were expansion ratio, product temperature, bulk density, color, shear stress, viscosity, and water absorption index (response variables). Scanning electron microscopy was done to evaluate the microstructural attributes of …

In Vivo Biopotency Evaluation Of Chromium-Containing Complexes, Jay Rulon Keller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Seven chromium-containing complexes were tested for effects on blood glucose regulation, serum cholesterol levels, serum triglyceride levels, and body composition. The compounds included Cr picolinate, Cr chelidonate, chromate, Cr chelidamate, Cr arginate, nichrome, and Cr chloride.

The study was divided into two major sections, a rat study and a chicken study. In the rat study all seven chromium-containing complexes were tested. They were administered to the rats in four different testing periods at 1 ppm, 5 ppm, and 25 ppm of chromium. Methods of administration varied for each testing period. After the chromium compounds were administered, a glucose tolerance test …

Consumption Of Iron-Fortified Cheese And Lipid Peroxidation In Females, Gene Joseph Giunti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dairy products are important sources of calcium and other nutrients but are a poor source of dietary iron. Cheese comprises a substantial portion of dairy food consumption and has been determined an appropriate medium for iron-fortification. However, iron may promote the potentially harmful process in food and biological systems known as lipid peroxidation. Therefore, the safety of consuming iron-fortified cheese was examined.

Commercial-scale batches of Cheddar cheese were iron-fortified to a level of two milligrams of iron per ounce with either ferric chloride, ferric-casein complex, or ferric-whey protein complex. Fifty-four premenopausal females were divided into three treatment groups and supplemented …

Molecular Toxicology Of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids, Hea-Young Kim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are cytotoxic, carcinogenic, and anti-carcinogenic in vivo and in vitro, and they produce many hazardous effects in humans and animals. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) also cross-link with DNA and/or protein. However, whether such cross-linking is important to the toxic action of PAs is not known. In addition, the exact mechanism underlying these DNA cross-links or cytotoxicity is also not clear.

In three separate studies, I characterized the nature of PA-induced DNA cross-links and the relationships between PA structures and cross-linking potency. In the first study (Chapter II), I found that cross-linking potency of PA congeners coincided with their …

The Pharmacodynamics And Toxicodynamics Of Inotropic Drugs In Calves With Natural And Artificial Hearts, Scott D. Everett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Inotropic support for the failing myocardium as the therapy for congestive heart failure (CHF) is intended to achieve an increase in cardiac output via positive responses in myocardial contractility and vasodilation. A novel approach to differentiate these two responses is the use of an animal with an implanted total artificial heart (TAH). Three inotropic drugs, dobutamine, enoximone, and pimobendan, were tested in eight animals with their natural heart intact and five animals implanted with a TAH. Baseline values of the TAH and natural heart (NH) were compared to determine their hemodynamic similarities. Each of the three drugs was given randomly …

Fate Of Β-Lactoglobulin, Α-Lactalbumin, And Casein Proteins In Ultrafiltered Concentrated Milk After Ultra-High Temperature Processing, Mark Christopher Alleyne

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The problem of age gelation in ultra-high temperature (UHT) sterilized milk retentate (ultrafiltered 3x concentrated) is investigated in this work. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), utilizing the microcube encapsulation technique and protocols for immunolocalization of milk proteins, provides insight into the phenomenon of age gelation of UHT-sterilized, ultrafiltered (UF) milk retentate. Primary antibodies (specific for the native as well as the complexed forms of milk proteins) and secondary antibodies (conjugated to gold probes) are used to elucidate the positions of the milk proteins in various samples of milk from the stage of milking through UHT sterilization and storage for 12 months, …

Quantitative Dark-Field Mass Analysis Of Ultrathin Cryosections In The Field-Emission Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope, S. Brian Andrews, Roger A. Buchanan, Richard D. Leapman

Scanning Microscopy

The availability of a cryotransfer stage, highly efficient electron energy loss spectrometers, and ultrathin-window energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometers for the VG Microscopes HB501 field-emission scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) provides this instrument with the potential for high resolution biological microanalysis. Recent technical advances offer cryosections that are thin enough to take advantage of the analytical capabilities of this microscope. This paper first discusses the quantitative characterization of freeze-dried, ultrathin cryosections of directly frozen liver and brain by low-dose dark-field STEM imaging. Such images reveal high-quality sections with good structural detail, mainly due to reduced preparation artifacts and electron beam damage. These …

Multivariate Statistical Analysis Applied To X-Ray Spectra And X-Ray Mapping Of Liver Cell Nuclei, Carmen Quintana, Noël Bonnet

Scanning Microscopy

Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Factorial Analysis of Correspondence (FAC), two Multivariate Statistical Analyses (MSA), were applied to the analysis of X-ray data. MSA are descriptive methods which graphically display the correlations and anticorrelations between a large number of elements. Series of X-ray spectral data and X-ray maps obtained from rat liver were analyzed with reference to the diffusible elements Na, Mg, Cl, K and Ca and also P and S.

By using an in situ precipitation method, the pyroantimonate method, it was found that the free, precipitable cations Na⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ are, in …

Analysis Of High Quality Monatomic Chromium Films Used In Biological High Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy, Robert P. Apkarian

Scanning Microscopy

During the recent employment of field emission (FE) in-lens scanning electron microscopes (SEMs), refractory metal deposition technology has co-evolved to provide enhanced contrast of 1-10 nm hydrocarbon based biological structures imaged at high magnifications (> 200,000 times). Pioneer development employing the Penning sputter system in a high vacuum chamber proved that imaging of chromium (Cr) coated biological specimens contained enriched secondary electron (SE)-(I) contrasts. Single nanometer size fibrillar and particulate ectodomains within the context of complex biological membranes were accurately imaged without significant enlargement using the high resolution SE-I mode (HRSEM). This paper reports the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) testing …

The Preparation Of Cultured Cells For X-Ray Microanalysis, Alice Warley

Scanning Microscopy

X-ray microanalysis of cells in culture is being used increasingly for the study of relationships between element (ion) content and cell function. There is, however, no one single method which can be used for the preparation of all different cell types for study by microanalysis. Cells in suspension are usually concentrated by centrifugation, before cryofixation, cryosectioning, and freeze drying. On the other hand cells grown as monolayers are more often studied as whole cell mounts, which are washed to remove the external medium before cryofixation and freeze drying. The alternative approach, sectioning of cell monolayers is rarely used. Some of …

Scanning Electron Microscopic Examination Of The Putative Olfactory Structures Possessed By The Phorid Fly, Megaselia Halterata (Diptera, Phoridae), R. M. Pfeil, R. A. Walsh, R. O. Mumma

Scanning Microscopy

The antennae, palps, and mouth parts sheath of Megaselia halterata (Wood) (Diptera, Phoridae) were examined by scanning electron microscopy to locate putative olfactory sensilla (POS). Most POS were found on the third antenna! segment (Johnston's organ). These POS included a lanceolate peg, a bulbous peg, and two types of pit sensilla. Female flies could be distinguished from males by the predominance of the lanceolate peg on the female Johnston's organ. One type of pit sensillum with a single exterior opening was located below the cuticular surface and housed several pegs. The other type of pit sensillum was domed with a …

Utah Science Vol. 55 No. 1, Spring 1994

Utah Science

No abstract provided.

The Microvasculature Of Human Infant Oral Mucosa Using Vascular Corrosion Casts And India Ink Injection Ii. Palate And Lip, Q. X. Yu, K. M. Pang, W. Ran, H. P. Philipsen, X. H. Chen

Scanning Microscopy

The microvasculature of human hard and soft palate and lip originating from four infant males and six females, aged 6 months to 2 years was studied by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and light microscopy of India ink injected specimens. The capillary loops of the hard palate mucosa and vermilion border of the lips were found to be tall, numerous and consisted of primary, secondary and tertiary loops. Those of the soft palatal and labial mucosa were short, few in number and demonstrated a simple hair-pin shape originating directly from the subpapillary vascular network. It was concluded that …

The Microvasculature Of The Larynx: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study, Peter Franz, Seyedhossein Aharinejad

Scanning Microscopy

In ten adult guinea pigs, the microvascular architecture of the larynx was evaluated using microvascular corrosion casts and scanning electron microscopy. The vocal cords were provided with a subepithelial capillary network. The capillaries, freely anastomosing with each other, were supplied and drained via strongly undulating arteries and veins. The undulation of the latter vessels may explain their adaptability to volume changes of the larynx during phonation. The vasculature of the internal perichondrium of the thyroid cartilage was interrupted at the anterior commissure where an avascular zone was present at the origin of the vocal cords. This avascular area is common …