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Intensification In A Risky Environment: The Case Of Improving Private Grazing Land For Beef Production In Utah, Louise D. Sainsbury

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Utah ranchers commonly face risks to their livelihoods. The objective of this work was to determine if ranchers could make profitable improvements to private land forage given the combined threat of low beef prices, drought, and possible loss of public grazing.

We used linear programming (LINDO) to identify the most profitable solutions for private land investment with an 11-year simulation. Operations were divided into small, medium, and large size classes. Various forage improvements and public permits were options. Two phases of a beef price cycle (peak and trough) and 2 precipitation patterns (wet and drought) were combined as joint favorable …

The Relationship Of Milk Urea Nitrogen And Dhia Production Variables In Western Commercial Dairy Herds, Rachael G. Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Monthly individual cow DHIA test records (approximately 90,000) from 96 Holstein and Jersey herds from Utah, Idaho, and Montana were analyzed used the Mixed procedure in SAS to determine the relationships of milk production parameters to milk urea N (MUN). Records spanned two consecutive years ending December 2000. Means for Holsteins were 34.1 kg/d milk yield, 15.2 mg/dl MUN, 3.18% milk protein, 3.5% milk fat, and 280,000 somatic cell count. Mean MUN for Holsteins was lowest in fall (Oct.-Dec) and highest in winter and spring. Cows with highest milk protein percent (≥ 3.2%) had lowest MUN over all levels of …

The Influence Of Parental Attributions And Parenting Behaviors On The Attributions Utilized By Children With And Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Brent R. Collett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Research suggests that the causal attributions utilized by children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) differ from those of nonclinical children. Additionally, research indicates differences among the mothers of children with and without ADHD regarding parenting behaviors and attributions for child behavior. In this study, children's attributions, maternal attributions, and maternal discipline styles were examined in ADHD and non-ADHD populations. Participants included 26 children diagnosed with ADHD and their mothers as well as a nonclinical sample of 24 children who had never been diagnosed with ADHD and their mothers. The results support the hypotheses that child and maternal attributions would differ between …

A Case Study Of The Undergraduate Biomedical Research Component Of A Federally Funded Minority Student Development Program, Nancy A. Drickey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Tremendous growth in the biomedical science workforce has increased the need for trained scientists. The current workforce is severely underrepresented by minority groups, particularly Native Americans. To address this issue, the federal government funded programs that encouraged Native American students to participate in undergraduate biomedical science courses and research. One such program, funded by the National Institutes of Health, is the Minority Student Development Program at Northern Arizona University. Little research has been done on educational programs for minority populations.

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe qualities and characteristics of the undergraduate research component of the …

The Effect Of Buttermilk Fraction Concentrates On Growth And Iron Uptake And Transport By Caco-2 Cell Cultures, Yoo-Hyun Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

To examine the effect of buttermilk fractions on growth, iron transport, and uptake, Caco-2 cells (human colon adenocarcinoma) were grown in a bicameral chamber. The Caco-2 cell culture system is a useful model to study micronutrient utilization in the human enterocyte, because Caco-2 cells continuously differentiate and form a monolayer, which has high polarity, a well-developed brush border, and a tight junction.

Iron bioavailabilty in various milks is very different depending upon milk composition. The fat fraction especially is known to be associated with iron absorption, because the fat fraction has milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), which contains bioactive molecules …

Children's Awareness, Knowledge, And Understanding Of Aids In Bahrain, Anne Thomas

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The incidence of acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is on the increase across the world. The purpose of this study was to explore young children's awareness, knowledge, and understanding of AIDS in Bahrain, in the Arabian Gulf region. This was done within the framework of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which spans development across time. Ninety-nine children aged 6 through 12 were administered a standardized interview to ascertain their knowledge about AIDS, its causes, outcomes, and prevention. The study explored whether knowledge about AIDS was related to age, gender, and parental education. It also examined the sources of children's …

Promoting Development Through Play: A Migrant Head Start Parent-Child Enrichment Program, Dana K. Mortensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was designed to assess the efficacy of an early intervention project focusing on early stimulating experiences through parent-child play interactions, and their impact on young migrant Latino children's mental, motor, social-emotional, and language development. An experimental group of 30 children from 26 families and a control group of 14 children from 14 families participated in this assessment. Dependent measures included the Bayley Scales of Infant Development and the Preschool Language Scale. Demographic data such as parent level of education, number of individuals living in the home, and family income were among the independent measures. Research hypotheses predicted the …

Riparian Zone Protection: The Use Of The Willingness-To-Accept Format In A Contingent Valuation Study, Catherine A. Broadhead

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The contingent valuation method (CVM) is used to evaluate the minimum compensation landowners require to forego production on farm riverbanks areas. The elicitation format used in the survey is a yes-no participation question followed by an open-ended question.

Chapter 2 presents the results of the survey. The Heckman approach is used in the econometric analysis to take care of the self-selection problem arising with this formatting of the questions. Chapter 3 is devoted to further examining the potential for undertaking valuation exercises using the willingness-to-accept format (WTA)

WTA estimates obtained with open-ended format are compared to WTA estimates obtained when …

Effect Of Land In Commons On The Decision-Making Behavior Of The Pastoralists In The Central Rangelands Of Somalia, Abdinasir Mohamed Abdulle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Degradations of the rangelands is very common around the permanent settlements of the central rangelands of Somalia. This degradation is attributed to overstocking resulting form the fact that the rangelands are communally owned and herders are ignoring the shadow value of the forage. Information about the optimal herd size would help halt the rangeland degradation.

In this study, two allocation mechanisms were compared. The first was the private ownership solution where someone owns the rangeland and decides how many animals should be grazed there. The second was the solution where the rangeland is owned in common by the dwellers of …

The Geography Of Exploration: A Study In The Process Of Physical Exploration And Geographical Discovery, Joseph St.Onge

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Exploration has been a common literary topic throughout the history of humans. However, much of this historical tradition has possessed a fairly narrow focus, emphasizing the drama and heroics of an individual explorer or concentrating on a description of a particular exploration. There has been little attempt at understanding the process of exploration and placing this important process in context with the historic and geographic phenomena that both affect and are affected by it. In this thesis, the author has broken the process of exploration down into a theoretical structure that is presented in a holistic model. This model has …

The Efficacy Of Group Bereavement Interventions: An Integrative Review Of The Research Literature, Jim D. Sharpnack

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study involves a meta-analysis of the extant English language literature reporting studies of the effectiveness of bereavement therapeutic interventions. Twenty-six studies (20 adult studies; 6 child studies) were located and served as the database for the current meta-analytic study. Questions asked of the studies in this meta-analysis included:

1. Describe background variables of subjects seeking bereavement group interventions.
2. Describe leader variables of persons leading bereavement group interventions.
3. Describe intervention variables in bereavement group interventions.

The major finding of the meta-analysis was that children and adult experimental subjects benefitted from the grief interventions in comparison to their control counterparts. The ratio …

Altered T Cell-Mediated Immunity And Infectious Factors In Autism, Yong Hu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three major questions were addressed in this dissertation: 1) Do immune abnormalities associated with autism primarily alter CD4+ T cell-mediated or humoral immune responses? 2) Are specific T cell clones expanded in autism? 3) Which, if any, infectious agents play a role in autism?

CD4+ T cell-mediated (Th1) or humoral (Th2) immune responses can be distinguished on the basis of the cytokines expressed. CD4+ T-cells secrete interleukin type 2 (IL-2) and interferon-γ, whereas a Th2 response is associated with secretion of interleukin type 4(IL-4). mRNA extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear nuclear cells (PBMC) showed significantly increased levels of IL-2 and …

Returns To Public Agricultural Expenditure Under Uncertainty, Sanjeev Misra

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A vast literature has investigated the returns to investment in agriculture research and generally found extremely high rates of return. These results suggest policymakers would do well to maintain or increase resource allocation to public agricultural research. Remarkably little attention has been paid, however, to the issue of how best to allocate public agricultural research funding between competing research areas and organizations. This paper considers the relative returns to alternative uses of public agricultural research funds committed to the agricultural experiment stations of 10 western states of the United States over the years 1967-91. A model of expected utility maximization …

Rotational Structure Of Extremely Floppy Van Der Waals Complexes: Adiabatic Separation Of Angular And Radial Motion, P. Daniel Ward

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The adiabatic or Born-Oppenheimer approximation is often used in molecular calculations to simplify the solution to the Schrödinger equation. The basis of the approximation is the large difference in the relative motions of the nuclei and electrons in the molecule—the electrons are able to respond almost instantly to the movements of the nuclei. Thus, the nuclei may be regarded as being fixed in a certain position and the Schrödinger equation can then be solved using the potential obtained by solving the electronic problem at fixed nuclear configuration.

A similar argument can be used to decouple the angular and radial motions …

Interaction Between Winter Dominance And Territory Defense In Male Pronghorn Antelope, Antilocapra Americana, Charles William Gunnels Iv

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In a territorial population of pronghorn from Antelope Island, UT, interaction between male dominance and territory defense was examined. High-ranking males were more likely to defend territories. Closely ranked animals engaged in more dominance interactions than distantly ranked individuals, and middle-ranked animals were involved in disproportionately more interactions than either high- or low-ranking animals. Large males possessed large horns and prongs as well as small cheek patches. Results from a factor analysis suggested that large males defended territories with a high density of sage. However, in this study, we did not observe pronghorn feed on sage during the territorial season. …

Uptake And Transformation Of Trichloroethylene By Hybrid Poplar: Laboratory Studies, Julie K. Chard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Trichloroethylene (TCE) was widely used as an industrial solvent and degreasing agent for most of the twentieth century. It is now a widespread groundwater contaminant. Phytoremediation may be a cost-effective cleanup method for TCE-contaminated soils and groundwater. Studies of environmental TCE fate are complicated by its volatility. The literature reports both significant and insignificant plant uptake of TCE. Conflicting findings may be due to differences in exposure level, conditions, and duration of the studies, or to experimental artifacts from laboratory systems.

This research quantified plant uptake and volatilization of TCE using a unique laboratory system. Hybrid poplar trees were exposed …

Prevalence And Possible Causes Of Vitamin B-6 Deficiency Among Women In The Philippines, Siew Sun Wong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Recently maternal intake of multivitamins has been associated with a reduced risk of orofacial clefts (OFC) in human epidemiologic studies. In the Philippines, vitamin B-6 deficiency was found to be associated with increased risk of OFCs. The birth prevalence of OFCs in the Philippines is among the highest known, but Filipino emigrants in the United States have lower rates, indicating that environmental factors may play an important role in causing OFCs in the Philippines.

The prevalence and possible causes of vitamin B-6 deficiency were investigated through dietary and biochemical assessments in case-control study in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Mothers with OFC …

Utah's Rural Communities: Planning For The Future, Judith A. Kurtzman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two of the biggest concerns facing communities in the Intermountain West are the dichotomies of rapid growth and development as opposed to economic decline and stagnation. Numerous strategies have been developed by social and economic scientists to help communities manage the many problems associated with these concerns. One strategy recommended by many researchers and used by numerous communities to stabilize their economies is economic diversification. For many rural communities in Utah, tourism and recreation have been used as part of that diversification effort. Recreation and tourism also play a role in the dichotomies of rapid growth and development by often …

Home Range (?) Of The Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard Phrynosoma Mcallii, Peggy Anderson Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Area used by male and female Phrynosoma mcallii (Hallowell) was studied in a population located on the Barry M. Goldwater Aerial Gunnery Range near Yuma, Arizona. Area used by males and females shifted through time and did not fit the definition of home range. Summer male and female area used was not significantly different (F=2.625, df=1, P=0.131), but male areas used were significantly larger for 15-day time periods (F=9.67, P=0.0003). Males overlapped the area they occupied in consecutive 15-day time periods more often than did females. Female area used never overlapped within a 15-day time period. Male area used overlapped …

In Vitro Growth Of Muscle Satellite Cells Isolated From Normal And Callipyge Lambs, Beatriz T. Rodriguez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The muscle hypertrophy of lambs expressing the Callipyge phenotype is possibly linked to characteristics of their muscle satellite cells. Therefore, characteristics (proliferation, fusion %, and protein accretion) of cultured satellite cells isolated from the longissimus muscle of Callipyge (n = 3) and normal (n = 3) lambs were compared in this study. In the first experiment, we tested whether or not the lll proliferation rates differ for satellite cells isolated from Callipyge or normal sheep when cultured in the presence of different serum types (horse, normal lamb, or Callipyge lamb). The average population doubling time (PDT, h) during log phase …

Studies On The Utilization Of Deboned Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Frames In Fish Snack, S. Muralidharan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Snack food development studies were conducted to iii utilize trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) frames, a by-product of the filleting operation, using extrusion and conventional technology. Twin screw extrusion studies were conducted to study the effect of fish mince, non-fat dry milk, process temperature, and moisture content on the physicochemical properties of the extruded snack food. Response surfaces were plotted to understand the effects of the independent variables on dependent variables such as bulk density, expansion ratio, shear strength, and water absorption index. Quadratic models expressed the relationship between the dependent and independent variables.

Based on the extrusion studies, conditions …

A Product Development Study: Rainbow Trout Bologna, Marshall Dean Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mechanically deboned rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was analyzed and then used in texture studies. The meat contained a moderately low amount of fat (10% ± 2%, x ± SD). Pre-deboned meat had more calcium than deboned meat (P < 0.001). Sausages were made of fish and various non-meat ingredients including egg whites, collagen, soy protein isolate, starch, cellulose, and wheat gluten. Adhesiveness, cohesiveness, hardness, shear and springiness of the cooked sausages were measured to describe texture. The data were fit to linear and quadratic models. Adhesiveness data did not fit the model (F(6,50)=1.1, P > {F{=0.37). A combined response model predicted formulations for fish sausage that would closely duplicate the texture of commercially available processed meats. A thermal model was developed that helped verify the thermal properties of rainbow trout. Thermal conductivity was measured (k == 0.48 W/m·K) and specific heat was calculated (C_p= 3200 J/kg·K).

4-H Contest Winners In Utah: Risk And Protective Factors, Ann E. Henderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study describes levels of asset development and involvement in at-risk behaviors among 4-H youth. To collect the data, 202 4-H teens participating in the 1996 Utah State 4-H Contests completed surveys. Results reveal numerous differences between males and females. Females scored significantly higher on 18 of 29 assets. Males reported significantly higher levels of involvement on 8 of 10 at-risk behaviors. Significant differences existed between types of 4-H clubs on 4 of 29 assets and 1 of 10 at-risk behaviors. No significant differences were found based on grade in school, years in 4-H, number of 4-H project areas, and …

Using Maslow's Needs Model To Assess Individuals' Attitudes Toward Money, Mark D. Oleson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Few things occupy as central a place in our lives as money. Although the study of money has a long history in the behavioral sciences, others have only recently begun examining this important topic. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between basic human need levels and money attitudes in a university-age cohort utilizing a theory of hierarchical needs. Needs theory, introduced by Abraham Maslow, suggests that as we interact with the environment we accumulate specific needs that motivate us to respond to life experiences.

Three hundred thirty-eight college students attending Utah State University satellite campuses responded …

Influence Of Type Of Supplemental Carbohydrate On Ruminal Responses And Methane Output From Ruminants Consuming Low-Quality Forage, Raul J. Lira

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In a completely randomized design with a factorial arrangement, three energy supplements and two species (cows and ewes) were evaluated in two identical experimental periods: gestation and lactation. The three supplement treatments were a control, barley, and sugar beet pulp (SBP). The basal diet was tall wheatgrass straw (5.52% CP).

Forage and total dry matter intake (FDMI and TDMI, respectively) interacted (P=.04) with species, supplements, and physiological stages.

An interaction of physiological stage and sampling time occurred for pH. Supplement and sampling time interacted for butyric acid proportion and total VFA concentration.

Diet digestibility displayed an interaction between …

A Survey Of The General Public Assessing Public Attitudes Toward Animal Damage Control Management Policy, Douglas K. Reiter

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A mail survey of randomly selected stratified U.S. households assessed general attitudes toward wildlife and specific concerns about wildlife damage management and the federal Animal Damage Control program. Respondents strongly supported federal government's role in ensuring public safety, engaging in public education, and continuing research into nonlethal control methods. Weaker support was found for lethal control of predators and crop depredators, and financial compensation for losses due to wildlife activities was generally opposed. Lethal methods of control were generally considered to be inhumane and nonlethal methods humane. When asked to rank the importance of factors to be considered when selecting …

Modeling Habitat Attributes Of Cavity-Nesting Birds In The Uinta Mountains, Utah: A Hierarchical Approach, Joshua J. Lawler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Birds may have the ability to view their environments at a wide range of spatial scales; accordingly, they may make habitat-selection decisions at multiple spatial scales. I investigated the implications of hierarchy theory and a landscape perspective on nest-site selection in cavity-nesting birds in the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah. I used three different approaches to address the concept of a multi-scaled nest-site selection process. First, I conducted an exploratory study in which I investigated nest-site selection at three spatial scales for Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and …

Efficacy Of Guard Llamas (Lama Glama) In Reducing Canid Predation On Domestic Sheep, Laurie E. Meadows

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Predation, especially by canid predators, is a significant cause of sheep loss for many producers. In recent years, the use of llamas to protect sheep from predators has gained recognition as a depredation control method. I conducted a field experiment to test the effectiveness of llamas in reducing canid predation on domestic sheep. Twenty-one llamas were placed with Utah sheep producers. Data collected from these flocks over 20 months were compared to similar data collected from flocks without llamas. Comparisons between treatment and control flocks included (1) proportion of flocks with losses to predators, (2) mean predation rates on ewes …

Effects Of Perceived Sugar Or Chocolate Intake On Self-Reported Food Cravings, Mood States, And Food Intake: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study, Lara J. Schultz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many dieters and compulsive overeaters report that sugar and chocolate are the most commonly craved foods. Further, many individuals have proclaimed themselves to be "addicted" to sugar or chocolate. It remains unclear, however, what factors lead to report of specific food addictions. A number of researchers have suggested that highly repetitive consumption of sugar and chocolate may result from various physiological processes (e.g., neurochemical imbalances, glucose/insulin malfunctioning). However, there is also considerable evidence that psychosocial factors (i.e., expectancies, classical, and operant conditioning) play the major role in the development and maintenance of excessive sugar/chocolate intake. Empirical studies examining factors that …

A Social Analysis Of Grazing Management On National Forest Lands: A Case Study In Catron County, New Mexico, Alexis S. Watts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The rural west in this country faces increased national pressure concerning the management of natural resources on public lands. Issues regarding natural resource management are becoming more important as they continue to affect rural communities and capture the attention of a variety of interest groups. Natural resource managers are increasingly required to consider social dimensions of resource use and management. Lack of consideration in these areas can lead to dissatisfied, and even hostile, local residents and interest groups. Often land managers face criticism from many groups at once as a result of management decisions.

This study analyzed a particular resource …