Digital Commons Network^™

Relative Importance Of Environmental Variables For Spawning Cues And Tributary Use By An Adfluvial Lake Sucker, Brian A. Hines

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The endangered June sucker (Chasmistes liorus mictus), which is only found in Utah Lake, UT, historically spawned in all streams flowing into the lake, but due to human-caused changes their spawning is restricted to the Provo River. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the spawning and early life-history of the
June sucker for recovery purposes. My specific objectives were to determine:

1. what environmental factors attract or deter June suckers to certain Utah Lake tributaries for spawning,
2. what cues June suckers to migrate upstream to spawn,
3. if June suckers use more than one …

An Assessment Of Vegetation Metrics And Plot Types To Measure Seasonal Variation And Grazing Effects On Riparian Plant Communities, Caroline M. Laine

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Monitoring changes in vegetation is important on public lands. Observing how plant communities respond to changes in land management can give insightful information about which management practices are sustainable. Because water is scarce in the western United States, many land managers focus their monitoring efforts along streams. However, monitoring streamside vegetation is challenging due to a variety of factors and can be confounded by factors such as seasonal climate variation and management activities, like cattle grazing.

In vegetation assessment, there are a variety of measurements that are taken to glean valuable information. Some attributes of interest include how much vegetation …

The Effects Of Early Identification And Intervention On Language Outcomes Of Children Born With Hearing Loss, Catherine A. Callow-Heusser

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study included a comprehensive review of the literature in which the effects of early identification of hearing loss and intervention on language outcomes were investigated. Previous reviews of studies were not comprehensive in their coverage and did not include a common measure for comparing results across studies. Without a more rigorous analysis of the primary research, conclusions drawn from these reviews are tenuous. The review of primary studies showed they exhibit many methodological problems including weak experimental designs, small sample sizes, attrition or questionable sample selection methods, differences in length of treatment and characteristics of the participants, and inadequate …

Assessment Of Colorado’S Wilderness Areas: Manager Perceptions And Remoteness Modeling, Gary D. Vaughn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study assessed visitor use levels and resource and social conditions in wilderness areas across the State of Colorado using existing and collected spatial data. This is the first attempt to spatially assess wilderness conditions at the state level. A state-wide assessment of wilderness conditions allows local and regional managers to make informed regional decisions and to prioritize and direct their time and energy efficiently. This assessment clarifies the recreational use and impacts across the state. This study consists of two projects: 1) managers’ perceptions of the location and extent of resource and social condition problems; and 2) a geographic …

A Dynamic State Metabolic Journey: From Mass Spectrometry To Network Analysis Via Estimation Of Kinetic Parameters, Arockia Ranjitha Dhanasekaran

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The term "metabolism" refers to the chemical processes occurring in a living organism to convert the food consumed into the energy needed to maintain a living state. Metabolism consists of two states, namely, a dynamic state and a steady state. In the dynamic state, the rate of chemical conversion of a substance is proportional to the amount of substance available, whereas in the steady state this rate is constant and independent of the amount of substance present (Chapter 4 Figure 1). Like all other fields of engineering, metabolic engineering involves the analysis and synthesis of metabolism. Molecular biological tools for …

Designing Predictive Mathematical Models For The Metabolic Pathways Associated With Polyhydroxybutyrate Synthesis In Escherichia Coli, Angela Dixon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Plastics are a versatile and widely used material. However, traditional plastics are derived from petrochemicals and are not biodegradable. Polymers synthesized from microorganisms that have similar properties to plastic are potential biodegradable replacements. The objective of this project is to use mathematical modeling as a tool to engineer a strain of bacteria optimized for the production of bio-plastics.

Production costs can be reduced by using a bacterial strain specifically optimized for bio-plastic production. By reducing production costs, bio-plastics will be able to commercially compete with traditional plastics. Society will benefit as bio-plastics replace traditional plastics. Fossil fuels will not be …

Mexican American Youths’ Academic Outcomes: The Role Of Ethnic And Academic Socialization In Buffering Discrimination, Spencer M. Richards

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An increasingly diversifying educational landscape in the United States has accompanied distressing academic disparities among ethnic minority youths. As Latinos represent the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority group within the U.S., particular attention to their academic outcomes is warranted. Alarming educational statistics have been reported for Latinos, with some estimating that nearly half fail to complete high school, and only a fraction go on to complete a degree in higher education. As Latinos grow to represent an increasing segment of the American educational system, more attention is required to understand what leads Latinos to engage (or disengage) in the …

Orchard Floor Management, Marc A. Rowley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Managing fruit orchards involves both the management of the orchard trees, and the orchard floor. Orchard floor management is vital to tree health, yield and fruit quality. Current standard management practices include maintaining a vegetation free tree row and a grass-covered alleyway. This system effectively controls weeds and creates a favorable environment for the fruit trees. However, limitations to standard orchard floor practices are that the grass alleyway provides no nutrient benefit, and current practices do not readily lend themselves to organic management. Alternative in-row and alleyway systems are requisite to creating improved orchard floor management systems.

Three different approaches …

Using Species Distribution Models To Assess Invasion Theory And Provide Management Recommendations For Riparian Areas In The Eastern Columbia And Western Missouri River Basins, Diane R. Menuz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Globalization has created opportunities for plant and animal species to be transported to novel ecosystems. A subset of these species become invasive species, which are able to persist and spread rapidly to become influential components in their new ecosystems. Invasive species are often able to out-compete co-occurring native species and can alter fundamental ecosystem properties, such as soil nutrient availability or time between wildfires in a region. The United States is estimated to lose $34 billion per year to invasive plant species through costs to control unwanted species and lowered crop and forage production.

We used statistical models to better …

Effect Of Voluntary Exercise And Diet On The Unfolded Protein Response In The Brain Of Mice, Yu Ho Kim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The medical costs for many chronic diseases are increasing dramatically and placing a major financial burden on nations and individuals in both developed and developing countries. A number of chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and some neurodegenerative diseases are all attenuated by a history of physical activity suggesting that they may be interconnected in some way. It has been suggested that cellular stress is a major factor promoting these chronic diseases.

Cellular stress occurs in a specific compartment within the cell, the endoplasmic reticulum, whose normal function is in the synthesis and folding of proteins into the …

The Biogeography Of Marbled Godwit (Limosa Fedoa) Populations In North America, Bridget E. Olson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Toward fulfillment of that mission, a priority of the USFWS is conservation and management of migratory birds. Effective conservation actions to ensure the continued existence of a species on the landscape cannot be designed without first understanding basic life history characteristics of a species. It is common in the case of migratory birds, that we lack understanding of some of their elemental biological traits.

The Marbled Godwit, …

Causes And Consequences Of Plant Spatial Patterns On Natural And Experimental Great Basin (Usa) Plant Communities, Andrew P. Rayburn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The processes by which plant spatial patterns are formed, and the effects of those patterns on plant community dynamics, remain important areas of research in plant ecology. Plant spatial pattern formation has been linked to many ecological processes that act to structure plant communities at different spatiotemporal scales. Past studies of pattern formation are common, but recent methodological advances in data collection and analysis have permitted researchers to conduct more advanced observational studies of pattern formation in space and time. While studies of the effects of plant spatial patterns were formally rare, they have increased in the last decade as …

Analysis Of The Import, Export, And Bioavailability Of Nitrogen And Phosphorus Within Pineview Reservoir, Brady K. Worwood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was conducted to provide new and useful data about Pineview Reservoir and its watershed, produce water and phosphorus (P) budgets for Pineview Reservoir, test the validity of conclusions made in the Pineview Reservoir Total Maximum Daily Loading (TMDL) document, and create estimates of nitrogen (N) loading to the reservoir from both surface and ground water sources. The production of the water and P budgets, as well as the N loading estimates, was accomplished by measuring flow, nitrate, ammonium, total phosphorus (TP), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) that was entering and exiting the reservoir through surface water sources and …

The Relationship Of Acculturation And Acculturative Stress In Latina/O Youths’ Psychosocial Functioning, Marsha Tafoya

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was conducted to better understand how acculturation and acculturative stress are related to self-esteem, depression, substance use, and substance use problems in 206 Latina/o youth. Acculturation is the social and psychological process of change that occurs when an individual or group comes in contact with a different culture. The acculturation process can be positive, improving one’s life chances in the new culture, or it could be negative due to the challenging nature of change and adaptation to new cultural and social expectations. This difficulty creates a type of stress, called acculturative stress that has been found to be …

Whole Body Vibration In Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation, Sara Ruby Vargas

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

There has been an increasing prevalence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. In the literature describing ACL rehabilitation program flexibility, muscle strength, proprioception, and postural stability have been identified as reoccurring struggles that have arisen during rehabilitation. Whole Body Vibration (WBV) has been investigate as a rehabilitation tool that can be used when recovering from an ACL injury. Research has suggested that WBV can be used to increase flexibility, improve muscular strength, increase proprioception, and improve postural stability. The purpose of this review is to gather the WBV protocols used in previous research and apply them to ACL rehabilitation. An …

Optimization Of A Low Reynold's Number 2-D Inflatable Airfoil Section, Todd A. Johansen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A stand-alone genetic algorithm (GA) and an surrogate-based optimization (SBO) combined with a GA were compared for accuracy and performance. Comparisons took place using the Ackley Function and Rastrigin's Function, two functions with multiple local maxima and minima that could cause problems for more traditional optimization methods, such as a gradient-based method. The GA and SBO with GA were applied to the functions through a fortran interface and it was found that the SBO could use the same number of function evaluations as the GA and achieve at least 5 orders of magnitude greater accuracy through the use of surrogate …

Seasonal Transport Of Suspended Solids And Nutrients Between Bear River And Bear Lake, Cody M. Allen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I measured inflows and outflows of nutrients and suspended solid through the wetland complex, known as Dingle Marsh, at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge between October 2007 and September 2008. My analysis of changes throughout the year will help Dingle Marsh managers adjust the timing and volume of water movement between Bear River and Bear Lake to meet defined refuge goals, such as improving bird or other animal habitat. These results could also be used to protect Bear Lake’s water quality.

Automated samplers took readings of dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH and water temperature every 30 minutes. These values were …

Genetic Status Of Isolated Populations Of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarkii Pleuriticus) In The North Fork Little Snake River Drainage, Wyoming, Rachel Van Horne

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Over the last century native cutthroat trout populations have declined in the western United States. Habitat fragmentation is one of the main causes for this decline. Human actions such as the construction of roads, weirs, dams, and water diversions intersect streams and prevent the natural movement of fish. In many cases native cutthroat trout are now confined to headwater streams above human-created barriers. These barriers not only fragment the populations but also increase the risk of individual population extinction.

This study established a baseline genetic structure for nine isolated populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout in the North Fork Little …

Hemipteran Beneficiosos: Damsel Bugs, Ricardo Ramirez, Ron Patterson, Forest Young

All Current Publications

Los insectos depredadores pueden proveer un control de pestes natural al comer insectos no deseados. Este servicio beneficioso se llama control biológico. Los insectos depredadores son una de las razones por las que las poblaciones de pestes pueden mantenerse a niveles no-dañinos.

Termitas Subterraneas, Erin Hodgson, Alan H. Roe

All Current Publications

Las termitas subterráneas son insectos sociales con un sistema de castas, y pertenecen al orden Isoptera y a la familia Termitidae. Estas termitas están relacionadas cercanamente a termitas de madera seca (Kalotermitidae) y de madera húmeda (Termopsidae).

Western Flower Thrips (Frankliniella Occidentalis), L. Irene Terry, Diane Alston

All Current Publications

Western flower thrips (WTF; Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are native to western North America and are widespread throughout this region.

Black Bear Conflicts And Safety And Utah Campgrounds, Barrie Gilbert

All Current Publications

Utah had its first black bear attack in June of 1992 when a young girl was dragged from a camper at Strawberry campground.

Chinches De Cama (Bed Bugs): Para Profesionales En El Control De Pestes, Ryan S. Davis

All Current Publications

En la última década, reportes de infestaciones de chinches de cama (Cimicidae: Cimex lectularius) han estado en aumento en todo Norte América y en otros países. De acuerdo con esto, las presentaciones de chinches de cama al Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab también han aumentado. Esta hoja de datos ha sido diseñada para informar a los profesionales en el control de pestes de las complejidades involucradas en la erradicación de chinches de cama.

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, December 1, 2011, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Course Approvals
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee

Bumble Flower Beetle, Taun Beddes, Ryan S. Davis

All Current Publications

The bumble flower beetle (BFB) is a common member of the Scarabaeidae (scarab) beetle family. Its common name originated because adult BFB’s often fly close to the ground and emit a loud buzzing sound similar to that of a bumble bee. Larvae (grubs) and adults are often found in or near fermenting and/or decomposing organic matter.

Corn Earworm, Diane G. Alston, Shawn Olsen, James Barnhill

All Current Publications

In Utah, there are typically three generations of corn earworm (CEW) each year. The first generation of adults either come from overwintering pupae (southern and central Utah), or migrate into northern Utah. The adult moth is tannish brown with a 1 1/2 inch wingspan. The front wings are marked with a distinct dark spot in the center and darker bands near the outer margins. The hind wings are lighter tan, with a dark band along the outer margins. The male moths have green eyes. Moth flight occurs primarily on warm, overcast evenings. Moth populations can be monitored using pheromone or …

Biology And Impacts Of Pacific Island Invasive Species: 8. Eleutherodactylus Planirostris, The Greenhouse Frog (Anura: Eleutherodactylidae), Karen H. Beard, Christina A. Olson, William C. Pitt

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The greenhouse frog, Eleutherodactylus planirostris, is a direct-developing (i.e., no aquatic stage) frog native to Cuba and the Bahamas. It was introduced to Hawaii via nursery plants in the early 1990s and then subsequently from Hawaii to Guam in 2003. The greenhouse frog is now widespread on five Hawaiian Islands and Guam. Infestations are often overlooked due to the frog’s quiet calls, small size, and cryptic behavior, and this likely contributes to its spread. Because the greenhouse frog is an insectivore, introductions may reduce invertebrates. In Hawaii, the greenhouse frog primarily consumes ants, mites, and springtails, and obtains densities of …

Attention, Educators: Here Are Two Events Your Students Should See, Center For Persons With Disabilities

Blog Posts

No abstract provided.

Educational Policies Committee Program Proposal, College Of Science, November 4 , 2011, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Utah State University (USU) proposes an administrative move of the Department of Computer Science (CS) from the College of Science to the College of Engineering.

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, November 3, 2011, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences

• Add Repeatable for Credit

Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

• Prerequisite Change

Department of Art

• University Studies Request
• Delete Course

Department of Management Information Systems

• Prerequisite Change, Course Description Change
• Prerequisite Change

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

• Dual List Change

Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation

• Reactive Course

Elementary and Secondary Education Program (School of TEAL)

• New Course
• Prerequisite Change
• Title Change, Course Description Change

Department of Special Education and Rehabilitation

• Credit Hour Change
• Title Change, Course Description Change

College of Engineering

• New Course

Department of History …