Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Simultaneous Script-Training And Fading Procedures On The Mand Variability Of Children With Autism, Kristen N. Kelley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Individuals with autism often display rote and repetitive responding across behavioral topographies. One area that is often affected is the individual’s verbal repertoire. In an attempt to build and expand verbal repertoires, script and script fading procedures have often been implemented to teach individuals new and varied verbal behavior. Script training and fading procedures have also been used specifically to remediate deficits in an individual’s mand repertoire. Researchers have examined the effects of script training and fading procedures on the variability within an individual’s mand repertoire. This line of research is of great importance since a lack of variability in …

Novel Aminoglycosides: Bioactive Properties And Mechanism Of Action, Sanjib K. Shrestha

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

More than 90% of crop diseases are due to fungal infections, which globally cause enormous economic losses. Fungal infections in humans and animals have also become a serious concern, especially in immunocompromised individuals. However, only a few new fungicides have been introduced since the mid-1980s, and concerns with inconsistent and declining effectiveness due to resistance, environmental impacts, animal and human toxicity, and costs continue to challenge the use of available fungicides. There is a serious and persistent need for new antifungal agents that are more effective, eco-friendly, less toxic, and available at reasonable cost.

This study reveals two novel aminoglycosides, …

Improving Surrogate Monitoring Techniques For Suspended Sediment, Brant R. Whiting

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The quality of water of our nation’s rivers and streams is important to many vital uses including drinking water treatment, recreation, and the natural environment. Water quality can be severely impacted by the quantity and type of suspended sediment found therein. Because suspended sediment can be associated with many other contaminants that degrade water quality, it is noted as the most common impairment to water quality in the United States. Suspended sediment can cause significant ecological impacts to the chemical and biological characteristics of surface waters. The ability to accurately quantify suspended sediment concentrations at the appropriate time(s) and location(s) …

Effects Of Integrating Mathematical Concepts Into An Animal Science Curriculum, Andrea Rae Clark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nationwide, mathematical scores have been a topic of concern among elementary and secondary educators for many years. Teaching contextualized math has been found to be effective and includes providing a direct application to real-life scenarios rather than teaching linear equations and algebraic principles outside of their application.

A study was conducted measuring the effects of integrating mathematical skills in an animal science curriculum. All students were taught a unit of instruction about animal nutrition and feeding. The control group received a typical nutrition unit and the treatment group received the same unit of instruction with the addition of mathematical skill …

Diet-Induced Obesity Decreases Liver Iron Stores In Mice Fed Iron Deficient, Adequate, Or Excessive Diets, Brett J. Healy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Epidemiological and observational evidence suggests that obesity is related to poor Fe status. To determine interactions between obesity, dietary Fe intake and Fe status; male, weanling C57BL/6J mice were fed either high fat diets to induce obesity or a standard diet for 16 weeks. Fe concentrations of both the high fat or control diet (4.5 vs 3.8 kcal/g) were set at: 5, 50 or 500 mg Fe/kg diet. Mice fed the high fat diets had significantly higher percentage body fat (17.9%) compared to mice fed control diets (5.3%, P<0.001). Among obese mice, dietary Fe levels did not significantly influence body composition. Conversely among lean mice, mice fed the iron excessive diet had significantly less fat mass when compared to mice fed the iron deficient diet (P<0.05). Obesity and/or dietary Fe concentration did not significantly affect plasma Fe levels. ANOVA analysis showed significant effects of diet-induced obesity, dietary Fe and an interaction between both factors on liver Fe levels (P< 0.05). Obese mice had significantly lowered liver Fe levels compared to lean cohorts fed the same amount of dietary Fe (P<0.05 for all comparisons). Moreover, lean mice fed the Fe deficient diet (5 mg Fe/kg diet) had similar liver Fe levels (127 mg Fe/kg ± 0.04) compared to obese mice fed the 50 mg Fe/kg diet (132 mg Fe/kg ± 0.05). These data suggest that obesity, independent of dietary Fe intake, influences liver Fe stores.

The Psychological And Physiological Effects Of Using A Therapy Dog In Mindfulness Training, Courtney L. Henry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined the psychological and physiological effects of adding animal-assisted therapy to a modified mindfulness-based stress reduction program (MBSR) for clients experiencing psychological distress, including anxious and depressive symptoms. State and trait mindfulness, state and trait anxiety, psychological distress, blood pressure, and heart rate were collected during each session of the intervention from college students recruited at Utah State University. Results support that participants experienced less anxiety and depressive symptoms and increased mindfulness skills from pre- to posttreatment. No significant difference was found between the control and experimental groups, indicating that that interaction with a therapy dog had no …

Most Progress Made Algorithm: Combating Synchronization Induced Performance Loss On Salvaged Chip Multi-Processors, Jacob J. Dutson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Most modern personal computers come with processors which contain multiple cores. Often, one or more of these cores is damaged during manufacturing. These faults are increasing as manufacturers try to make processors run faster. Many processor designs allow a damaged core to continue working after manufacturing, but these salvaged cores run slower than a fully functional core.

In an attempt to make software run as fast as possible for its users, software designers write applications that are split into multiple parts called threads. These threads can be run on separate cores at the same time and get more work done …

Interspecific Interactions Between Penstemon Palmeri And Shrubs In The Arid Shrublands Of The Spring Mountains, Nevada, Jesse M. Poulos

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A project involving shrub removal was undertaken by the United States Forest Service in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area (SMNRA) to reduce accumulated woody fuels, which can pose risks to human communities. The SMNRA is also home to a variety of species that occur within these fuel reduction boundaries and are protected under the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) of Clark County, Nevada. It is unknown how MSHCP covered species will respond to shrub removal. This research focuses on the interactions between shrubs and the herbaceous plant Palmer’s penstemon (Penstemon palmeri), one of many nectar sources …

Risk And Climate At High Elevation: A Z-Score Model Case Study For Prehistoric Human Occupation Of Wyoming's Wind River Range, Ashley K. Losey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Holocene climate likely influenced prehistoric hunter-gatherer subsistence and mobility as changing climate patterns affected food resources. Of interest here is whether climate-driven resource variability influenced peoples in the central Rocky Mountains. This study employed the z-score model to predict how foragers coped with resource variability. The exercise enabled exploration of the relationship between climate, resources, and foraging strategies at High Rise Village (48FR5891), an alpine residential site in Wyoming's Wind River Range occupied between 2800-250 cal B.P. The test was applied to occupations dating to the Medieval Warm Period (1150-550 cal B.P.) and the Little Ice Age (550-100 cal B.P.). …

American Debtors' Prison: The Rise Of The New York Citizen As A Commercial Participant During The Early American Republic, 1800-1836, Ryan M. Braeger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The following research explores the development of financial culture in the early American republic through the examination of New York's use of debtors' prisons. Beginning with the construction of the historical context surrounding the passage and abolition of the National Bankruptcy Act of 1800, the project takes use of a series of archival sources that exemplify the character of credit in early American economic practices. The emergence of republican financial culture was often at odds with federal judicial and legislative action, the result of which was the creation of state policy and third party organizations dedicated to solving the plight …

Late Prehistoric Technology, Quartzite Procurement, And Land Use In The Upper Gunnison Basin, Colorado: View From Site 5gn1.2, Jonathan Mitchell Peart

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis presents the results from archaeological test excavations at site 5GN1.2. The focus of this research is to evaluate Stiger’s Late Prehistoric settlement-subsistence hypothesis. According to Stiger, post-3000 B.P. occupations of the Upper Gunnison Basin were limited to big-game hunting forays originating from base camps located outside of the basin. Test excavations at 5GN1.2 documented archaeological deposits reflecting aboriginal occupation during the Late Prehistoric between about 3000 and 1300 years ago. Archaeological features include four hearths associated with abundant small-mammal remains, burnt plant seeds, stone tools and stone tool manufacturing debris.

Archaeological evidence rules out site 5GN1.2 as a …

Assessing Vehicle-Related Mortality Of Mule Deer In Utah, Daniel D. Olson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Roads are essential in modern societies, but as populations grow and traffic volumes rise, roads will continue to be built and expanded. As a result, the effects that roads have on wildlife will likely intensify, making it imperative that managers understand those effects so mitigation can be directed accordingly. In Utah, considerable areas of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) habitat have been bisected by roads. Mule deer are commonly involved in vehicle collisions and there is concern that roads and vehicle traffic are impacting populations. This project was conducted to determine the number and demographic effects of deer-vehicle collisions, …

Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Habitat Resistance And Resilience To Climate Change, Kate H. Olsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Government agencies and private organizations spend large amounts of public money attempting to return ecosystems to a more natural state, which have often been harmed or even destroyed as a result of modern development. Colorado River cutthroat trout, Oncorhyncus clarki pleuriticus, are a subspecies of cutthroat trout. Cutthroat trout live in the Rocky Mountains of the western United States. The population of this particular subspecies has been severely reduced by human actions, and currently only 12% of its historic populations still exist. To improve the condition of cutthroat trout, fisheries professionals and biologists are working to restore natural populations. …

Evaluation Of Survey Methods And Development Of Species Distribution Models For Kit Foxes In The Great Basin Desert, Stephen J. Dempsey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Historically, kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) once occupied the desert and semi-arid regions of southwestern North America, ranging from Idaho to central Mexico. Their range-wide decline has warranted the kit fox to be designated as a state sensitive species in Utah. Once considered the most abundant carnivore in western Utah, the kit fox has been in steep decline over the past decade, creating a demand to determine kit fox presence in the Great Basin desert. Currently there is little consensus on which survey methodology is best for detecting kit fox presence. We tested 4 survey methods (scat deposition, scent …

A Comparison Of Resistance To Extinction Following Dynamic And Static Schedules Of Reinforcement, Andrew R. Craig

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Behavioral momentum theory states that the Pavlovian stimulus-reinforcer relation governs resistance to extinction. Thus, higher baseline reinforcer rates should produce more persistent behavior than lower baseline reinforcer rates. Though this positive relation generally is observed when behavior is maintained and subsequently disrupted in multiple schedules, the opposite relation is observed when single schedules are used. An alternative framework of extinction performance based on Bayesian change detection may be applied intuitively to describe resistance to extinction in single schedules of reinforcement. This approach asserts that detection of changes in reinforcer rates during extinction should be easier following training with rich reinforcer …

Causes And Consequences Of Local Variability In Aroga Websteri Clarke Abundance Over Space And Time, Virginia L.J. Bolshakova

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Sagebrush steppe habitat is rapidly declining in the Intermountain West in both quality and quantity. Observed reductions in animal and bird populations associated with sagebrush, invasion of exotic annual grasses such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and other concerns with climate change have led to a growing awareness of the need to monitor and better understand the rate of habitat loss. Sagebrush lands are subject to periodic loss caused by insect feeding damage, and human activities have the potential to promote unnaturally high levels of such loss. The sagebrush defoliating Aroga moth, Aroga websteri Clarke (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), can kill …

Vital Rates, Population Trends, And Habitat-Use Patterns Of A Translocated Greater Sage-Grouse Population: Implications For Future Translocations, Orrin V. Duvuvuei

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) populations have declined range-wide with some local populations exhibiting dramatic decreases. In 2009–2010, radio-marked hens (30 hens in 2009 and 30 hens in 2010) were translocated from Parker Mountain in south-central Utah to augment a rapidly declining population on Anthro Mountain in northeastern Utah. Thirty-two resident female sage-grouse on Anthro Mountain were also radio-collared from 2009–2012.

I compared population vital rates (i.e., nest and brood success, and survival) of resident and translocated hens in Anthro Mountain’s population to those of a translocated population in Strawberry Valley, Utah and the source population. Of these …

Integrated Management Of Downy Brome (Bromus Tectorum L.) Infested Rangeland, Heather Elwood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Invasive weed species are a threat to the health and functionality of many rangeland systems. Downy brome (Bromus tectorum) is an invasive annual grass that affects the productivity of rangelands by decreasing the grazing capacity for livestock as well as altering the wildfire cycle and competing against more desirable vegetation for limited resources.

In 2006, an Invasive Plant Management Plan and Environmental Assessment was approved for Dinosaur National Monument, calling for prioritization of invasive species management on high value wildlife habitat, vector areas, and for species with a high ecological impact. The Cub Creek Watershed was identified as a priority …

A Qualitative And Evaluative Study On Recruiting And Retaining Students In College Computer Science Programs, Matthew Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Computer science is a discipline that is increasing in importance and value in our society, yet we are still failing to graduate a sufficient number of students to keep up with the demand required in the United States economy. We research several ways to retain students. We also discuss ways to increase students’ interest in the major, i.e., those who normally would not know about computer science. We discuss ways to increase female participation as well as overall participation in the major.

Roads And The Reproductive Ecology Of Hesperidanthus Suffrutescens, An Endangered Shrub, Matthew B. Lewis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

We studied the pollination ecology of the endangered Utah desert shrub, shrubby reed-mustard (Hesperidanthus suffrutescens). We also studied the impacts that dust from unpaved roads has on successful reproduction. In addition, we looked at the relationship between the total number of plants, the spacing of plants, and reproduction. We found that shrubby reed-mustard requires pollinators for successful pollination. Pollinators include many small native bees from the genera Andrena, Dialictus, and Halictus. Additionally, we found that reproduction of shrubby reed-mustard is limited, possibly due to scarcity of these bees. We found that dust from the road …

Legacy Effects Of Habitat Degradation By Lesser Snow Geese On Ground-Nesting Savannah Sparrows Along The Hudson Bay Lowlands, Stephen L. Peterson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Little is known of the direct and indirect legacy of Lesser Snow Goose (LSGO) habitat degradation in northern Canada on the biodiversity of other avian species. It is believed that a human-induced trophic cascade caused in part by agricultural habitat modification along migratory routes and wintering grounds has contributed to the increase in LSGO numbers, which has resulted in increased foraging pressure by LSGO on northern breeding and stopover sites. This habitat degradation may lead to decreased abundance and richness of Arctic / sub-Arctic avian species across landscapes that LSGO utilize and degrade.

Here we evaluated the annual change in …

Student Engagement In Lds Seminaries, Thomas P. Aardema

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This qualitative study examined student engagement in seminaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). This study sought to answer the following question: "What are seminary teachers, who have been identified by content experts as having high levels of student engagement, doing to generate high levels of student engagement in their classrooms?" Ten LDS Seminary teachers were selected as participants for this study. The findings from this study were organized around the concepts of: competence, school membership, clarity of purpose, fairness, personal support, caring, authentic work, extrinsic reward, intrinsic interests, sense of ownership, connection to real-world application, …

Mule Deer And Wildlife Crossings In Utah, Usa, Megan Schwender

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVCs) negatively impact wildlife populations and create dangerous driving situations for motorists. In Utah, USA, mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) encounter a variety of hazards as they attempt to cross highways and interstates, some of which are 8 lanes wide. Agencies have sought to mitigate the risks posed to drivers and mule deer by building crossing structures for wildlife. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness of crossing structures in Utah to safely pass mule deer under highways and to determine the variables that best explain mule deer passage use. From 2008 - 2011 …

Nutritional And Economic Analysis Of Small-Scale Agriculture In Imbabura, Ecuador, Jake Erickson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Intervention projects in the developing world normally aim to satisfy either the nutritional needs of a group, or advancing the economic stability, but not both. One of the many issues that may arise by narrowly focusing and creating an aid program is that although a group may be fed, they are not equipped to mitigate risks that will arise after project completion and thus continue or revert back to a malnourished state. A bridge is required to join the economic and nutritional programs to create aid interventions that are sustainable past the point of donor separation.

This paper proposes the …

Nutrition Education To Minimize Health Risk: Approaches For Teaching College Students And Female High School Athletes, Katie Nicole Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Obesity, heart disease, and osteoporosis are among the major health concerns facing Americans today. Obesity, elevated blood cholesterol, and even atherosclerosis are affecting America’s children and adolescents and putting them at increased risk for heart disease later in life. Similarly, low bone mineral density is seen among some adolescents including female athletes, increases their risk for immediate and lifetime fracture. Female athletes who do not consume enough calories to compensate for calories expended during physical activity are in a state of low energy availability which can lead to menstrual dysfunction, as well as bone loss, and injury (the female athlete …

Feasibility And Co-Benefits Of Biomass Co-Firing: Case In Utah, Bibek Paudel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This research examines the physical and economic feasibility of 5% biomass co-firing in the coal-fired power plants of Utah. Transportation models is used to find out the physical feasibility of 5% biomass co-firing, as well as locate the supply zone for each power plant that would minimize the transportation cost. Additional cost required for 5% biomass co-firing and the economic benefits associated with biomass co-firing are calculated. The additional cost required for 5% biomass co-firing is estimated to be $34.84 million. Previous studies on CO₂ emission reduction are used to compute the economic benefit attain from CO₂ reduction …

Small Burnet (Sanguisorba Minor Scop.) Response To Herbicides Applied Postemergence, Ryan Lee Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Small burnet is a relatively unknown plant that is commonly used in North America. It is a hardy, relatively long lived forb native to Eurasia that grows well in most of North America. It is considered to be excellent forage for livestock and wildlife and because of its evergreen nature there is interest in its use to extend grazing of pastures and rangelands into late fall and winter.

Popular sources reference its use in salads, ice drinks, with cream cheese, as a desirable garnish due to its distinct cucumber aroma and flavor. It is also reported to be a superb …

Nutrient Contribution Of The Shallow Unconfined Aquifer To Pineview Reservoir, Thomas Nyanda Reuben

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pineview Reservoir, near Utah’s populous Wasatch Front, could play an important role in modulating water supply as water demands and water uses change in response to increasing population densities. The reservoir’s water quality may decline if nitrogen and phosphorus additions to the reservoir are not controlled. Most of the water flowing into the reservoir in summer and fall is contributed by the shallow ground water. The quantity and quality of the shallow ground water to Pineview Reservoir were studied from February 2010 through November 2011. The objectives were to: 1) increase understanding of nitrogen and phosphorus transport from ground water …

Studies On Nitrogen And Silicon Deficiency In Microalgal Lipid Production, Curtis Adams

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Microalgae are single celled plants that inhabit aquatic and terrestrial environments across the planet. Many species are oleaginous, which means they are capable of producing oils, similar to many higher plants we are familiar with like canola, safflower and coconut. Different from higher plants, however, algae have simple structures that allow them to grow at very high rates. Due to these characteristics—oil production and rapid growth rates—algae are considered a promising future source of oil. Algal oils could be useful for production of food for people, feed for animals, biodiesel, detergents, and many other applications.

Algae have not been heavily …

Exploring Three Fifth-Grade Teachers' Understanding Of Historical Thinking: A Case Study, Deanne Rigby Murray

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Deanne R. Murray at Utah State University conducted a qualitative case study aimed at examining the understanding and practice of historical thinking of three fifth-grade teachers. These three teachers had each been a participant for 3 years in a federally funded Teach American History (TAH) grant project aimed at increasing teachers' historical knowledge and classroom practices. This TAH project in Utah was particularly focused on teachers learning to use cultural tools in socially mediated settings with the ultimate goal of improving their students' performance in history.

This study sought to understand the development of these three teachers' historical thinking through …