Digital Commons Network^™

Perceived Fairness And Effectiveness Of Rangeland Collaborative Processes, Kimberly J. Richardson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Involvement in collaborative partnerships in natural resource management has become a popular method for natural resource management agencies to collect public input, cope with conflicts, and develop ecosystem management plans. This thesis evaluates various collaborative processes, emphasizing multiple-owner partnerships. Qualitative interviews of 46 landowners in Utah were conducted to reveal concerns and suggestions regarding multiple-owner landscape-level collaborative partnerships. Landowners were concerned about private property rights infringement and losing control of their private land. Landowners were primarily concerned about the fairness and effectiveness of any partnership in which they were involved.

However, they were willing to consider participating if certain procedural …

The Effect Of The Estimate Of Resting Metabolic Rate On The Correlation Between Energy Expenditure As Estimated Using Self-Reports Of Physical Activity And Food Intake Records In Older Adults, Judy Hurd

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study measured total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) in adults at least 50 years of age. The goal was to determine the effect of the estimate of resting metabolic rate (RMR) on the relationship between energy expenditure estimates made using (a) self-reports of physical activity and (b) food intake records. The objectives were to determine if (a) RMR estimates based on body composition, body weight, and the metabolic cart were strongly related to each other, and (b) TDEE estimates based on a 7-day physical activity diary and a 7-day food intake record were more strongly related to each other when …

Assessing Mental Health Of Native American Children: Relationship Of Acculturation With Social, Emotional, And Behavioral Functioning, Christopher H. Morris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The literature indicates that, in comparison to children of other ethnic minority groups, Native American children may be at greater risk for a variety of emotional and behavioral Ill disorders and negative psychosocial conditions. Many may also struggle to resolve issues related to cultural identity. Understanding how Native American children and families relate to the cultures within which they live is a critical aspect of preventing and treating childhood mental disorders. Although Native children and families face persistent social pressure to adapt to a multicultural world, no systematic research exists examining the relationship between families' experience of acculturation and their …

Predicting Lumbar Fusion Surgery Outcomes From Presurgical Patient Variables: The Utah Lumbar Fusion Outcome Study, M. Scott Deberard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lumbar fusion surgery is a commonly used procedure to treat severe spinal pathology and associated chronic disabling low back and leg pain. Despite the common incidence of spinal fusion surgery, few studies have examined patient outcomes or predictive correlates of this procedure. The objectives of this study were to characterize Utah workers who received lumbar fusion surgery in terms of relevant presurgical and outcome variables and to identify presurgical correlates of patient outcomes. An archival prospective research design was utilized consisting of a retrospective medical chart review and a postsurgical telephone outcome survey.

Subjects were 203 workers' compensation patients from …

Utilization Of Spatially Distributed Soil Resources By Several Species Common To The Great Basin, Sarah Duke

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Heterogeneous spatial and temporal distributions of soil resources important to plant growth have been documented in the sagebrush steppe ecosystem. There can exist as much variability in soil resources within the root zone of individual plants as exists across an entire field. The objective of this dissertation research was to evaluate how plants respond to, utilize and influence the spatial heterogeneity of soil resources. The three specific sets of questions addressed are outlined in the three main chapters of this dissertation.

My first study addressed how the number and concentration of phosphorus (P) patches in the root zone of an …

Kokanee Fry Recruitment And Early Life History In The Lake Tahoe Basin, Christine K. Gemperle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lake Tahoe kokanee salmon have experienced decreasing mean adult size and fluctuating populations since 1970. We proposed to determine whether fish production was limited by spawning and incubation processes in Taylor Creek, or by growth constraints, or by mortality in the lake by studying egg-to-fry survival rates and early life history. Estimated egg-to-fry survival was 15. 9% for the 1994 brood year and 1.5% for the 1995 brood year. Egg-to-adult survival was 3.5% for the 1991 brood year and 5.9% for the 1992 brood year. Of the 35 possible survival scenarios, egg-to-fry survival was 7.5-20% and fry-to-adult survival (inlake phase) …

Bahamian Reef Communities: Composition, Recruitment And Change (10 Meters To 250 Meters), William E. Avery

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The composition, recruitment rates and fine-scale spatial dynamics of the sessile benthic community occupying hard substrata off Lee Stocking Island, The Bahamas, was determined through photography and the deployment of artificial substrata from September 1993 to September 1996. The study spanned 10 to 250 meters in depth. The benthic community exhibited a pronounced bathymetric zonation. Filamentous and macroalgae dominated the shallow communities, but were replaced by corals, sponges and endolithic algae with increasing depth. Living cover was high above 100 m, but declined significantly below this depth, being replaced by increasing amounts of bare and sediment-covered rock surfaces. Benthic zonation …

Ammonium And Nitrate Effects On Growth, Development And Nutrient Uptake Of Hydroponic Wheat, Thomas M. Hooten

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The long-term effects of low and high NH₄⁺/ NO₃^- uptake ratios in a system with rigorous control of pH and nitrogen concentration are poorly understood. In two replicate studies, two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were grown to maturity with three NH₄⁺/ NO₃^- ratios in hydroponic solution: 0/100, 25/75, and 85/15%. Nitrogen was controlled at ample levels throughout the 70-d life cycle and pH was controlled at 5.8 ± 0.2. An equimolar ratio of NH₄⁺ to Cl^- was used to facilitate charge balance. Nitrogen consumption …

Influence Of Streptococcus Thermophilus Mr-1c Capsular Exopolysaccharide On Cheese Moisture Level, Deborah Low

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study investigated the role of exopolysaccharide (EPS) in cheese moisture retention. Analysis of low-fat Mozzarella cheese made with different combinations of EPS-producing (Streptococcus thermophilus MR-1C and Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus MR-lR) and non-EPS-producing (S. thermophilus TA061 and L. helveticus LH100) starters showed significantly higher moisture levels in cheese made with S. thermophilus MR-1C. To determine if the S. thermophilus MR-1C EPS was responsible for increased moisture retention, gene replacement was used to inactivate the epsE gene in this bacterium. Low-fat Mozzarella cheese made with L. helveticus LH100 plus the EPS-negative mutant, S. thermophilus DM1O, had significantly lower …

Diet, Health Practices, And Variables Associated With Breastfeeding In Caucasian And Asian Participants In The Special Supplemental Food Program For Women, Infants, And Children: A Comparative Study, Rebecca E. Blaine

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The United States Department of Health and Human Services wrote Healthy People 2000 National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives. One major goal is to reduce the mortality rate for infants by reducing low birthweight. The disparities have been great when goals and objectives are applied to poor and minority populations.

Objectives have been set to reduce risk factors associated with low infant birthweight. These include addressing inappropriate health practices, and appropriate nutrition for mother and infant.

Forty-eight Asian and 50 Caucasian participants were compared for maternal diet, health practices, breastfeeding initiation and duration, and infant growth parameters. Data were …

Effect Of Aging On The Quality Of Beef Semitendinosus Muscle Treated With Ultra High Temperature Pasteurization, Habiba Ali Nur

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of aging on the tenderness and palatability of beef from the semitendinosus muscle of the round. Tenderness may be affected by the length of the aging period and the aging temperature. Steaks from the semitendinosus muscle were stored for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 hr at two temperatures, 43.3°C and 2.2°C. Ultra high temperature (UHT) pasteurization was accomplished by subjecting the meat to 1100°C for 20 seconds. UHT pasteurization denatures surface proteins, destroys vegetative pathogens, and eliminates some spoilage organisms from the surface of the meat. UHT -treated …

Characterization Of The Proteolytic System In Lactococcus Lactis Starter Cultures, Christina Beer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The proteolytic system of Lactococcus lactis starter cultures influences both flavor and the characteristic body and texture of cheese. The ability to further understand and control how different components of this proteolytic system work together to hydrolyze milk proteins would be of immense importance to the dairy industry.

The goal of this research was to characterize Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis starter bacteria with varying prt operon compositions by proteinase specificity, aminopeptidase and lipase activities, growth, and influence on cheese flavor. By using a cheese slurry system, a statistical model to predict milk protein hydrolysis patterns was developed.

Lactococcus lactis subsp. …

Establishing Threshold Levels Of Nitrite Causing Pinking Of Cooked Meat, Kevin M. Heaton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Sporadic problems with pink color defect, or pinking, has occurred in cooked meat products for decades. Pink color can be due to the presence of undenatured myoglobin, denatured globin hemochromes, or nitrosylhemochrome. This research documented the level of added nitrite that produced nitrosylhemochrome in processed meat rolls from fabricated beef round, pork shoulder, turkey breast, and chicken breast. For each meat type, preliminary studies were conducted to narrow the range at which added nitrite caused pinking. Subsequently, the nitrite levels were increased incrementally by 1-ppm, and pink color was measured by trained panelists and by a Hunter color meter. Nitrosylhemochrome …

The Effects Of A Very-Low-Calorie-Diet On Resting Energy Expenditure, Body Composition, And Biochemical Data In Obese Outpatients, Charlene A. Perkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Obesity is a disease of major proportion in the United States. The Surgeon General has identified obesity as a national health problem that affects approximately 34 million Americans.

The aim of this study was to investigate the very-low-calorie diet, Optifast 70. Measurements for resting energy expenditure (REE} and body composition via circumference measurements (CBF} and infrared photospectromerty (NIR} with a Futrex 5000 were collected at weeks 1, 7, 13, 19, and 25. Biochemical data, including serum chemistry panel (SMA-12} and complete blood count (CBC}, were collected on weeks 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, and 25. Lipid profiles were drawn …

Influence Of Stress Treatments On The Resistance Of Lactococcus Lactis To Freezing And Freeze-Drying, Chan Lin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study investigated the effect of cold, heat, or osmotic shock treatment on the resistance of L. lactis subsp. cremoris MM160 and MM310 and Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis MM210 and FG2 cheese starter bacteria to freezing and freeze-drying. The ability to withstand freezing at -60°C for 24 h was variable among lactococci, but resistance to this treatment was significantly improved (P < 0.05) in most strains by a 2-h cold shock at l0°C or a 25-min heat shock at 39°C (L. lactis subsp. cremoris) or 42°C (L. lactis subsp. lactis). Stress treatments that improved lactococcal freeze resistance were also found to significantly (P < 0.05) enhance the resistance of most strains to lyophilization. Increased resistance to freezing or lyophilization was not detected when stress treatments were performed in broth that contained erythromycin, which indicated stress-inducible proteins were involved in cell protection. Membrane fatty acid analysis of stress-treated cells suggested that enhanced resistance to freezing and lyophilization may be related to heat or cold shock-induced changes in cell membrane composition. Heat-shocked cells had a higher 19:0 cyclopropane fatty acid content than did control cells, and cold-shocked cells contained a lower ratio of saturated to unsaturated fatty acids. Other factors must also be involved in cell protection, however, because similar changes in membrane composition were also detected in strains whose resistance to freezing and lyophilization was not improved by heat or cold shock.

Analysis Of Gender And Success-Related Kinematic Differences Of Elite Sport Rock Climbers During Competition, Russell Slaugh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study compared differences in kinematically based performance success characteristics of elite sport rock climbers during competition both within and across the variable of gender. The purpose of this study was to identify kinematically based performance success and gender differences in elite sport rock climbers for the development of further studies and gender-specific training procedures. The dependent variables included the kinematics of the dynamic grasping hand (DGH) and the center of mass (CM) and the timing of these variables.

The participants included both the men and women competitors registered for the 1997 American Sport Climbing Federation's Fall National competition held …

Development And Validation Of Forest Habitat Models In The Uinta Mountains, Utah, Tracey S. Frescino

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A significant question currently facing environmental managers is how to accurately and efficiently quantify forest diversity and resources. Numerous studies have demonstrated the use of modern spatial analytical tools, such as geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing devices, and statistical models for predicting the distribution of dominant vegetation cover types. This study examines the ability of generalized additive models (GAMs) to delineate structural diversity in forested ecosystems (specifically the Uinta Mountain Range in Utah) using GIS tools and satellite spectral data, and analyzes the effect of including different forms of satellite data in model construction (i.e., Landsat thematic mapper (TM), …

Regeneration Ecology Of Chrysopogon Aucheri And Cymbopogon Jwarancusa In Grasslands Of Upland Balochistan, Pakistan, Sarfraz Ahmad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Field experiments were conducted to investigate the seed attributes, movements and fates of dispersal units, and seedling establishment of Chrysopogon aucheri and Cymbopogon jwarancusa in a representative grassland ecosystem in upland Balochistan, Pakistan.

Cymbopogon jwarancusa had more filled and viable caryopses than Chrysopogon aucheri. Seeds (spikelets) of both species had similar morphological features. Chrysopogon aucheri had one dispersal unit, a triplet spikelet. Cymbopogon jwarancusa had four types of dispersal units: a paired spikelet, a partial raceme, an entire raceme, and a partial inflorescence comprised of two racemes.

Paired spikelets and partial racemes of Cymbopogon jwarancusa had greater …

Relationship Between Teton Science School Programs And Teachers' Ability To Teach About The Environment, Jennifer A. Levy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis presents an analysis of 1996/97 survey research data regarding the relationship between three types of Teton Science School (TSS) programs and classroom teachers ' ability to teach about the environment. Based on observations by resident instructors and faculty at TSS, three research questions were developed. The primary objective of the research questions was to consider the relationship between TSS residential education programs and participating teachers' ability to teach about the environment.

Analyses are based on comparing descriptive statistics of teachers who have participated in one of the three types of TSS programs or a combination of the three …

Effects Of Uv-B Radiation On Egg And Larval Golden Shiner (Notemigonus Crysoleucas) In Castle Lake, California, Jai-Ku Kim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I studied effects of UV-B radiation on egg and larval golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) in Castle Lake, California, USA. To compare egg hatching and survival of larval golden shiner, I exposed eggs and larval fish to three different UV-B treatments, low UV-B (4% UV-B), high UV-B (92% UV-B), and ambient (100% UV-B). The egg experiment was conducted in lake and pond water, whereas proto- and mesolarval stage experiments were conducted in lake water only.

High and ambient UV-B radiation affected the hatching rate of golden shiner eggs. The mean hatching rate was 13% lower in high UV-B, and …

Short-Eared Owl Post-Fledging Survival And Breeding Season Diet, Thomas A. Rivest

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

My research primarily focused on the survival of short-eared owls (Asio flammeus) from leaving the nest until their emigration from their natal territories during 1993 and 1994. I attached tarsal-mounted radio transmitters to nestlings prior to fledging. Of 25 fledgling short-eared owls monitored, 16 (64%) died prior to dispersal and one (4%) died after dispersing. Mammalian predation (5, 29.4%) was the primary cause of mortality followed by starvation (4, 23.5%), exposure (2, 11.8%), auto collision (1, 5.9%), burial (1, 5.9%), and unknown causes (4, 23.5%). Hatch date was found to be negatively correlated with fledgling survival.

A secondary …

A Geographic Information System Assessment Method For Fire Management: Identifying Fire Danger Areas, Richard D. Stratton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, a geographic information system (GIS) was used to create a wildland fire assessment methodology. GIS layers (or themes) include topography, infrastructure, vegetation, climate, "sensitive" natural values, and fire history. Two phases of assessment are presented: a preliminary analysis designed for planning use at the landscape level, and a detailed analysis for site-specific use.

Results of the phase 1 assessment are density grids delineating areas of high fire occurrence and suggesting to managers where a phase 2 assessment is needed. By using the environmental, …

Attitudes And Roles Of Women And Minorities In Community And Urban Forestry Professions, Hope A. Bragg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Community and urban forestry is a multifaceted field ranging from tree planting to removal, hazard assessment, and public relations. However, the racial and gender diversity of the community forestry workforce is remarkably low. To gain a better understanding of this lack of diversity, I surveyed professionals in two major community/urban forestry organizations. Age, income, and years in the profession were considered, along with education level, to determine if there is some underlying reason for low representation of women and minorities in the community/urban forestry field. I found that while white males dominated all work sectors (especially private organizations), women were …

Optimizing Separate Phase Light Hydrocarbon Recovery From Contaminated Unconfined Aquifers, G. S. Cooper, Richard C. Peralta, Jagath J. Kaluarachchi

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

A modeling approach is presented that optimizes separate phase recovery of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPL) for a single dual-extraction well in a homogeneous, isotropic unconfined aquifer. A simulation/regression/optimization (S/R/O) model is developed to predict, analyze, and optimize the oil recovery process. The approach combines detailed simulation, nonlinear regression, and optimization. The S/R/O model utilizes nonlinear regression equations describing system response to time-varying water pumping and oil skimming. Regression equations are developed for residual oil volume and free oil volume. The S/R/O model determines optimized time-varying (stepwise) pumping rates which minimize residual oil volume and maximize free oil recovery while …

Games To Teach Mathematical Modelling, James A. Powell, Jim S. Cangelosi, Ann M. Harris

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

We discuss the use of in-class games to create realistic situations for mathematical modelling. Two games are presented which are appropriate for use in post-calculus settings. The first game reproduces predator-prey oscillations and the second game simulates disease propagation in a mixing population. When used creatively these games encourage students to model realistic data and apply mathematical concepts to understanding the data.

They're Hoppin' Our Way - Grasshoppers, Dennis Hinkamp

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Venomous Snakes, Gerald W. Wiscomb, Terry A. Messmer

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Non-Venomous Snakes, Terry A. Messmer, Gerald W. Wiscomb

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Explaining The Uneven Penetration Ofindustrialization In The U.S. Dairy Sector, Douglas B. Jackson-Smith, F. H. Buttel

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

One of the most dramatic trends in American farm-structural change over the past several decades has been the industrialization of livestock production. Many now expect that dairying in the United States will be the next major livestock sector to succumb to the industrialization trend. This paper utilizes a multidimensional definition of industrialization to critically examine evidence for and against the dairy industrialization hypothesis. The authors find that while there is a persistent trend toward larger units of production, and a geographical shift towards states with more industriallike farm operations, the penetration of industrial relations of production has occurred more slowly …

Environmental Assessment Caribou Timber Sale, United States Forest Service

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

One of the decisions made in the 1985 Bighorn National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) was that timber sale offerings would be made. The Caribou timber sale was proposed in order to implement that Forest Plan allocation decision. The selection of this sale area was based upon several factors, including: Past forest management decisions and silvicultural prescriptions; the existence of a road system, which will minimize impacts upon wildlife habitat and water quality; the opportunity to change the forested vegetation to improve, or at least maintain within the Forest Plan standard and guidelines and other legal requirements, …