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Conservation Implications Of Winter-Feeding Policies For Mule Deer In Utah, Chris C. Peterson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Policies regulating wildlife winter-feeding programs may have long-term impacts on conservation and future management of both target and non-target species. In 2000, the Utah Wildlife Board, upon reviewing input from a series of public regional meetings, adopted a Utah Big Game Winter-Feeding Policy. The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources used this policy to regulate winter-feeding programs for mule deer in northern Utah, 2001-2005. I monitored the program effects on mule deer biology, activity and migration, and winter browse utilization and productivity.

While feed rations generally compensated for protein and energy deficiencies, they may overlook mineral deficiencies. To determine if mule …

A Retrospective Look At A Sample Of Juvenile Sex Offenders From Two Level Six Residential Treatment Centers In Utah: 1998-2007, Miriam Elizabeth Gunn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The study and treatment of juvenile sex offenders (JSOs) has been steadily growing since its separation from the adult sex offender category in the early 1980s. Although many studies concern themselves with one specific research variable, this study looked at the presence of twelve characteristics historically associated with JSOs: sexual abuse, early exposure to sexuality, conduct disorder problems, exposure to crime in the family of origin, personal substance abuse, family substance abuse, school performance difficulties, school behavior problems, mental health difficulties, social skills deficits, changes in family structure, and nonsexual forms of abuse. This was an effort to see if …

Small Sample Methods For The Analysis Of Clustered Binary Data, Lawrence J. Cook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There are several solutions for analysis of clustered binary data. However, the two most common tools in use today, generalized estimating equations and random effects or mixed models, rely heavily on asymptotic theory. However, in many situations, such as small or sparse samples, asymptotic assumptions may not be met. For this reason we explore the utility of the quadratic exponential model and conditional analysis to estimate the effect size of a trend parameter in small sample and sparse data settings. Further we explore the computational efficiency of two methods for conducting conditional analysis, the network algorithm and Markov chain Monte …

Emerging Literacy And Family Rituals, Melanie Williamson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to extend the research on children’s early literacy development by examining the practice of daily family rituals. The assumption was that the predictability and affective meaning that rituals provide would create an environment that fosters the development of literacy skills and motivation to learn. Measures included the PALS Prek, PPVT-III, and Family Ritual Questionnaire. Although there were no significant positive relationships between regular family rituals such as dinnertime and reading aloud practices and literacy outcomes, negative correlations were found between the assignment of roles on weekends, the routine of vacations, mother’s work hours, and …

Impact Of Land-Applied Biosolids On Forage Quality And Water Movement During Rangeland Restoration Activities, Issaak R. Vasquez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The land application of biosolids to provide nutrients and organic matter is widely practiced in agricultural applications. However, the potential benefit of applying biosolids to disturbed rangelands has not been adequately evaluated. Thus the main goal of the current study was to evaluate the potential economic and environmental benefits of applying biosolids to disturbed rangeland with the main focus on evaluating the impact on forage quality and quantity as a function of biosolids type and application rate. Three types of biosolids (aerobically, anaerobically, and lime stabilized biosolids) were surface applied with no subsequent tilling at various loading rates (1, 5, …

A Laboratory Study Of Streambed Stability In Bottomless Culverts, Brian Mark Crookston

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Traditional culvert designs, in many cases, have become habitat barriers to aquatic animal species. In response, environmentally sensitive culvert designs have been developed to function as ecological bridges. Bottomless and buried invert culverts are examples of such designs and are commonly used for fish passage. Additional design guidance specific to streambed stability in buried-invert or bottomless culverts under high flow events is needed. This study investigated incipient motion conditions for four substrate materials in a 2-ft (0.61-m) diameter circular bottomless arch culvert and in a 1-ft (0.30-m) wide rectangular flume in a laboratory setting. General scour of the streambed within …

A Causal-Comparative Model For The Examination Of An Online Teacher Professional Development Program For An Elementary Agricultural Literacy Curriculum, Clay L. Rasmussen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a teacher professional development program as measured by the extent that participants have continued to use lessons and materials up to three years after the professional development experience. The professional development program was delivered online and structured by five key characteristics of effective professional development.

Sixty-five participants of Food, Land, and People (FLP) professional development completed an online survey answering certain demographic variables and indicating the number of lessons and activities they had used from the FLP professional development. An implementation and continued use measurement model was …

Origins Of The Y Genome In Elymus, Pungu Okito

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Triticeae tribe DUMORTER in the grass family (Poaceae) includes the most important cereal crops such as wheat, barley, and rye. They are also economically important forage grasses. Elymus is the largest and most complex genus with approximately 150 species occurring worldwide. Asia is an important centre for the origin and diversity of perennial species in the Triticeae tribe, and more than half of the Elymus are known to occur in the Asia. Cytologically, Elymus species have a genomic formula of StH, StP, StY, StStY, StHY, StPY, and StWY. About 40% of Elymus …

Self-Rated Health And Community/Social Relations, Rachel Kingsford

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was done to examine the relationship between self-rated health and social/community relations. Due to advances in modern medicine, multifactorial diseases are more prevalent than acute infectious diseases and a greater understanding of the impact sociological variables has on health is of great importance. In prior research, self-rated health has been demonstrated to be a robust predictor of mortality, even when controlling for other variables known to impact health. Presence of a strong social network and attachments to community have been shown to be protective of self-perceptions of health.

The Health and Living study was conducted in the Bear …

Nutritional Analyses Of Intuitive Eaters As Compared To Dieters, Anne Wilson Banks

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Rates of obesity in the United States have been increasing despite an increase of dieters. A new paradigm, intuitive eating, has been introduced to counter the negative effects of dieting. Intuitive eating has not been compared to dieters on a nutritional level, however. The main purpose of this study was to determine the nutritional differences between intuitive eaters and dieters.

Participants were asked to complete questionnaires regarding food consumption and attitudes about eating. Participants (N = 32) were then classified as intuitive eaters or dieters and asked to complete six, 24-hr food logs. Data received from these food logs were …

Algorithm Development Of The Aglite-Lidar Instrument, Christian Marchant

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Particulate emissions from agricultural operations are increasingly receiving attention from regulatory bodies as a potential source of air pollution. The Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) has developed the Aglite system, a suite of instruments including a lidar that is capable of measuring particulate emission levels from agricultural facilities. This system provides a novel method of measuring particulate mass (PM) pollution, allowing measurements to be taken of diverse types of facilities with high temporal and spatial resolution. This high resolution allows for the measurement of emission levels generated by specific activities, fostering the development and determination of best management practices.

The Aglite …

Reproductive Biology Of The Coyote (Canis Latrans): Integration Of Behavior And Physiology, Debra Anne Carlson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Wild Canis species possess a unique suite of reproductive traits including social monogamy, copulatory lock/tie, and biparental care. Females are seasonally monestrous and experience an obligatory pseudopregnancy after spontaneous ovulation. While these characteristics have been ascribed to coyotes, an integrated profile of behavior and physiology has not yet been described. In this study, temporal correlations between steroid hormone levels and socio-sexual mating behaviors were documented, as were changes in vaginal epithelium. Pseudopregnancy was compared to pregnancy by contrasting hormone (progesterone, estradiol, prolactin and relaxin) profiles of unmated females to patterns obtained in alternate years when they bred. Meanwhile, social interactions …

Dietary Folate, Other B-Vitamins And Incident Alzheimer's Disease: The Cache County Memory, Health, And Aging Study, Chailyn Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study involves data from the Cache County Study, which began in 1994 with joined efforts by Duke University, Utah State University, and Johns Hopkins University. It consisted of 5,092 participants from Cache County, Utah, located in the northern part of the state. Characteristics of the population include high participation rates (~ 90%), a majority of participants are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, longer life expectancy than the general US population, a greater than 80% rate of at least a high school education, and low rates of migration.

Subjects cognitive status was screened using the …

Pathophysiology Of Arbroviral Encephalitides In Laboratory Rodents, Aaron L. Olsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) is an arboviral pathogen naturally found in North America. The primary disease phenotype associated with WEEV infection in susceptible hosts is a relatively long prodromal period followed by viral encephalitis. By contrast, in the current work, experimental inoculation of WEEV into the peritoneum of Syrian golden hamsters produced rapid death within approximately 96 h. It was determined that direct virus killing of lymphoid cells leads to death in WEEV-infected Syrian golden hamsters, and that inflammatory cytokines have the potential to enhance virus-induced lymphoid cell destruction. It was further concluded that WEEV retains its ability to …

Preference, Resistance To Change, And Qualitatively Different Reinforcers, Christopher Aaron Podlesnik

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Preference for one stimulus context over another and resistance to disruption within those contexts are a function of the conditions of reinforcement arranged within those contexts. According to behavioral momentum theory, these measures are converging expressions of the concept of response strength. Most studies have found that preference in concurrent chains and resistance to change are greater in contexts presenting higher rates or larger magnitudes of reinforcement. The present series of experiments attempted to extend behavioral momentum theory by examining whether differences in reinforcer type affect relative response strength with rats lever pressing for different types of food. In Experiment …

Glycemic Load And Risk Of Alzheimer's Disease: The Cache County Study On Memory, Health, And Aging, Eun Young Choi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Carbohydrates are a major energy source for the human body and particularly glucose is the only energy source for the brain. Thus glucose metabolism is important to maintain normal brain function. Evidence showed insulin resistance and diabetes are associated with cognitive decline and a large amount of highly processed carbohydrate intake; in other words, a high glycemic load diet, which increases blood glucose faster and insulin demand, is associated with increased risk of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Based on this premise, the hypothesis that a high glycemic load (GL) diet increases the risk of incident Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was examined …

Granivores And Restoration: Implications Of Invasion And Considerations Of Context-Dependent Seed Removal, Steven M. Ostoja

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Granivores are important components of sagebrush communities in western North America. These same regions are being altered by the invasion of the exotic annual Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass) that alters physical and biological dynamics in ways that appear to promote its persistence. This research directly relates to the restoration of B. tectorum-dominated systems in two inter-related ways. First, because these landscapes have large quantities of seeds applied during restoration, it is important to determine the major granivore communities in intact sagebrush communities and in nearby cheatgrass-dominated communities. Second, it is important to develop an understanding of patterns of seed harvest …

Simulated Browsing Impacts On Aspen Suckers' Density, Growth, And Nutritional Responses, Koketso Tshireletso

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Heavy and repeated ungulate browsing on reproductive suckers has limited trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) regeneration on many Western landscapes. However, little is known about the specific effects of season and intensity of browsing. My objectives were to determine the effects of season and intensity of clipping (simulated browsing) on suckers’ (1) density and growth characteristics, and (2) nutritional quality and quantity.

Three randomly selected stands were clear-felled in mid-July, 2005, and fenced. Simulated browsing treatments of 0%, 20%, 40%, and 60% removal of current year’s growth were randomly applied in early, mid-, and late summers of 2006 and …

Application Of Quantitative Models Of Choice To Alcohol-Maintained Behavior, Corina Jimenez-Gomez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Choice procedures and quantitative models of choice behavior have been used to assess the reinforcing efficacy of drugs. Few studies, however, have used quantitative models of choice for the study of behavior maintained by alcohol. In addition, no studies have assessed the usefulness of quantitative models of concurrent-chains performance for the study of drug-associated cues. The purpose of the present series of experiments was to test the generality of the matching law with alcohol as a reinforcer and extend the use of quantitative models of concurrent-chains performance to behavior maintained by alcohol and alcohol-associated cues. In the first experiment (Chapter …

Land Use And Development In The Mojave Desert Region Of San Bernardino County, California: The Impact Of Changing Demographic Trends, Pete Gomben

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research contributes to the field of land use planning by examining the effects of demographic trends--also known as demographic futures--on growth and development projections for seven communities in the Mojave Desert region of San Bernardino County, California. Demographic trends based on California Department of Finance projections and land development data supplied by the Southern California Association of Governments were obtained for each of the communities for the period between 1990 and 2001. By using a spatially explicit urban growth model, these trends and data were then used to allocate community-specific future growth for Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Hesperia, Twentynine …

Nutrient Mobility From Biosolids Land Application Sites, Mai Anh Vu Tran

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three types of biosolids (lime-stabilized, aerobically digested, and anaerobically digested biosolids) were applied on 0.13-ha test plots on disturbed rangelands in Western Utah at rates of up to twenty times (20X) the estimated N-based agronomic rate. Soil samples at depths up to 1.5 m were collected and analyzed for nitrogen, phosphorus, regulated metals, pH, and electrical conductivity for up to two years after biosolids application.

NH₄-N at the soil surface (0.2 m) was primarily lost through ammonia volatilization and nitrification. This observation was consistent with reported increases in nitrate (NO₃-N) concentrations found within the soil surface …

Testing The Functional Equivalence Of Retention Intervals And Sample-Stimulus Disparity In Conditional Discrimination, Ryan Ward

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Memory-trace theories of remembering suggest that performance in delayed matching-to-sample (DMTS) procedures depends on a memory trace that degrades with time. By contrast, the theory of direct remembering suggests that increasing the delay between sample and comparison stimuli in DMTS procedures is functionally equivalent to decreasing the disparity between sample stimuli. The present dissertation tested this assumption by assessing the degree to which changes in the frequency of reinforcement for correct choices biased the distribution of choice responses in a conditional-discrimination procedure. Seven pigeons responded under a temporal-discrimination procedure in which temporal sample-stimuli were categorized as being of either short …

Livestock Foraging Behavior In Response To Interactions Among Alkaloids, Tannins, And Saponins, Tiffanny Lyman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Plant secondary compounds abound in every plant mother nature has to offer. From common garden vegetables to poisonous plants, there are secondary compounds in every plant any animal, as well as we, chooses to eat. In the past, secondary compounds were mostly considered waste products of plant metabolism, but over the last several decades research has shown that these compounds play an active role in plant and animal behavior, health, and productivity. Though often seen only in terms of their negative impacts on intake and production, we are becoming increasingly aware of their beneficial roles in plant, animal, and human …

Transportation And Quality Adjusted Basis: Does The Law Of One Price Hold For Feeder Cattle?, Chad Harris

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Beef cattle and calves are raised in all areas of the United States. Since beef cattle are scattered throughout the US, there are many different types of cattle with numerous different quality characteristics which are valued differently. Many calves raised until weaning age across the US are then sent to cattle feeding areas primarily located in Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska. The prices that are offered for beef calves vary considerably based on quality and location. The theory of the law of one price suggests that prices in areas that trade should not differ by more than the cost of …

Seepage Evaluations In Cache Valley Irrigation Canals, Katerine N. Molina

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Estimation of seepage was done in 39 selected reaches of 11 irrigation canals in the Logan and Blacksmith Fork Irrigation Systems of Cache Valley, Utah. The measurements were performed from June to October, 2008, which includes part of the irrigation season for these canals. The inflow-outflow method was used to measure seepage, in which area and velocities were measured under steady flow conditions. Velocity measurements were done with an acoustic flow meter and the mean velocity was determined using the reduced-point method (velocity measurements at 0.2, 0.6 and or 0.8 of the depth from the water surface).

As a result, …

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Knowledge And Practices: A Survey Of Pediatricians And Family Practice Physicians, Kara L. Spielmans

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder often treated by pediatricians or family practice physicians. ADHD knowledge held by treating physicians may be an important predictor in patient outcomes. This study examined ADHD knowledge and common assessment and treatment practices of pediatricians and family practice physicians via a national survey sent to members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Mailings included the Knowledge of Attention Deficit Disorders Scale--Revised (KADDS-R) and a demographic/practice questionnaire. Although both physician types reported utilizing assessment and treatment methods consistent with current ADHD practice guidelines, findings suggested that …

Vulnerability Of Shallow Aquifers Of The Conterminous United States To Nitrate: Assessment Of Methodologies, Karthik Kumarasamy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Groundwater is an important natural resource for numerous human activities, accounting for more than 50% of the total water used in the United States. Groundwater is vulnerable to contamination by several organic and inorganic pollutants such as nitrate, heavy metals, and pesticides. Assessment of groundwater vulnerability aids in the management and protection of limited groundwater resources.

The focus of this thesis is to (1) statistically compare two groundwater vulnerability assessment models; modified DRASTIC (Acronym for Depth to water, net Recharge, Aquifer media, Soil media, Topography, Impact of vadose zone, and hydraulic Conductivity of aquifer) and ordinal logistic regression for NO …

Identification Of Factors Affecting Bovine Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Efficiency And Characterization Of Transcriptional Profiles Of Nuclear Transfer Embryos And Cotyledons, Kenneth Ivan Aston

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Since the production of the first sheep by somatic cell nuclear transfer a great deal of effort has been made to improve efficiency and to understand nuclear reprogramming mechanisms. Unfortunately efficiency remains low, and nuclear reprogramming mechanisms remain uncharacterized. The objectives of this research were to identify factors associated with somatic cell nuclear transfer efficiency and to analyze the transcriptome of blastocyst-stage clone and control embryos and cotyledonary tissue in an effort to elucidate mechanisms responsible for the low developmental efficiency and high post-implantation losses.

The experiments reported here identify factors including oocyte source and timing of activation following nuclear …

A Formal Approach To Specifying And Verifying Spacecraft Behavior, Allan I.S. Mcinnes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Process algebra can provide spacecraft designers with a mathematical formalism for specifying, understanding, analyzing, and verifying spacecraft system behavior. Although it is standard practice to mathematically model and analyze the subsystems of a spacecraft to ensure that they will function correctly when built, the system-level behavior of the spacecraft is generally understood in much less rigorous terms. This leaves the spacecraft system vulnerable to design errors which may not become apparent until the integration and test phase, when design changes are most expensive. In this dissertation, we develop a formal approach to engineering spacecraft behavior, based on mathematical models of …

Effects Of A Synthetic Cannabinoid On The Reinforcing Efficacy Of Ethanol In Rats, Ericka M. Bailey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The co-abuse of alcohol and marijuana is widespread, although the mechanisms underlying this behavior are unclear. There is some evidence of a relationship between the neural processes that mediate the effects of ethanol and marijuana. For example, research has shown that exposure to marijuana increases responding for, and intake of, ethanol. The alcohol deprivation effect is an anima l model of alcoholism that suggests that the reinforcing efficacy of ethanol, as measured by intake, increases following a period of deprivation. Recent research indicates that rats chronically exposed to marijuana during periods of alcohol deprivation consume ethanol above and beyond deprivation …