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Cougar Predation And Ecological Energetics In Southern Utah, Bruce Bennet Ackerman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Diet of cougars (Felis concolor) was studied from December 1978 to August 1981, on a 4500 km2 study area near Escalante, Utah. Prey eaten was determined from analysis of 112 animals consumed as prey, and from 239 cougar scats. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were the major prey item, comprising 81% of biomass consumed. Lagomorphs, large rodents, and smaller predators were also important components. Cattle comprised <1% of the diet, although commonly grazed on the cougar's summer range. Adult male and juvenile (<1yr) mule deer were killed more often than expected, in fall (P<0.10) and in winter (P<0.005). Cougars were a major cause of mortality of adult deer (41% of all adult female deaths, 35% of male), but only 6% of mortality of juveniles. Selection of prey seemed to be a function of prey vulnerability, rather than one of active choice by the predator.

Motion-sensitive radio-transmitters were placed on 15 cougars, from 3 months to 7-9 years of age. Three parameters of the radio signal were used to determine activity levels during 6843 …

Toxicologic Effects Of Extracts Of Cestrum Parqui L'Héritier In Mice, Tomás A. López

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cestrum parqui L'Héritier is a Solanaceous weed of wide distribution throughout the world. It causes poisoning of animals, particularly cattle and sheep, and constitutes a serious problem for animal production in some countries.

The present study was undertaken to develop a biological test for the detection of toxicity of extracts obtained from the plant. This test will be utilized to assess the toxicity of extracts obtained from the plant in future studies.

The plant is known to induce poisoning in laboratory animals, but there are no precise references on doses to be utilized and of appropriate routes of dosing. Oral …

Models For Estimating Energy And Protein Utilization For Feeds, Muhammad Fadel Wardeh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Data on the proximate nutrient content of feedstuffs, digestibility and energy utilization available from the International Feedstuffs Institute (Utah State University) were used to develop mathematical models for estimating energy and protein utilization of five classes of feedstuffs for various kinds of animals.

Classes of feedstuffs were subdivided into more related subclasses. Furthermore, data from all feeds were pooled together then subgrouped into more related subgroups in an attempt to gain high precision in prediction of digestible proximate nutrients and TDN from a single chemical entity by the use of simple regression models (Y = bo + b₁x …

Examination Of The Effect Of Physical Exercise On Metabolic Control In Type I Insulin-Dependent Youth With Diabetes Mellitus, Gayle Ann Brazzi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There is evidence for the importance of physical exercise balanced with diet and insulin therapy in the treatment and control of Type I insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Recent attention in the literature has focused on the once neglected component of treatment--exercise. A well-controlled exercise state is generally believed to be beneficial for the individual with diabetes. Limited studies are available on the effect of exercise on long-term metabolic control. Before exercise levels can be professionally prescribed for a given population of youth with diabetes, current exercise patterns should be evaluated as to the effect on long-term metabolic control.

It is the …

An Investigation Of The Rework Defect In Process Cheese, Patricia Ramirez Baca

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effect of time that processed cheese was held ex- posed to heat alone or with agitation, the level of rework cheese, and the type and level of emulsifying salt were evaluated by determining finess of emulsion based on scanning electron microscopy measurements, meltability, and rheological measurements using a Universal Testing Machine.

Process cheese held in the cooker at 82°C for up to 4o minutes became less meltable and more firm and the emulsion became finer while that held at 82°C outside of the cooker without agitation was only slightly affected. Loss of meltability and increased firmness associated with pro-longed …

Effect Of Atmospheric Oxidation On Bioavailability Of Meat Iron And Liver Weights In Rats, Kathleen M. Cardon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Iron bioavailability of diets containing oxidized turkey and oxidized beef meat was investigated in two experiments. In both studies male, weanling rats were made anemic by consumption of a low iron diet and bleeding. The experimental diets were prepared so that meat was the only source of iron. Hemoglobin regeneration served as the basis for measuring iron utilization. In experiment 1, lyophilized, uncooked turkey meat was allowed to oxidize at 20-22°C for 0, 48, 96, 144, 216, or 264 hours and then fed to the rats. The length of oxidation time of the turkey meat did not significantly affect the …

Bovine Muscle Cathepsin D: Purification And Proteolytic Activity On Muscle Proteins, Paul Hwaleun Fan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An affinity column for cathepsin D was prepared making use of the strong affinity of pepstatin for cathepsin D. Pepstatin is an N-acylated pentapeptide from Actinomycetes with the following structure: isovaleryl-L-valyl-L-valyl-4-amino-3-hydroxy-6-methylheptanoyl-L-alanyl-4-amino-3-hydroxy- 6-methyl heptanoic acid. A relatively rapid and efficient method for cathepsin D purification has been developed; Steps include homogenization, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and chromatography on pepstatin-Sepharose column. The final preparation has a specific activity of 38 units/mg. and shows a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate corresponding to a subunit molecular weight of 42,000. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis studies did not reveal any impurities. The …

Bioavailability Of Calcium, Fluoride And Iron In Mechanically-Deboned Beef Fed To Growing Rats, Kathryn Mclaughlin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Weanling rats were fed diets containing raw lyophylized hand-deboned shank beef (HDS) supplemented with CaCO₃, retorted lyophylized mechanically deboned shank beef (MDS), or raw lyophylized MDS. Ca in the latter two diets originated from bone during the mechanical deboning process. Ca absorption, Ca retention, bone weight, and bone breaking strength were similar for comparative dietary levels of Ca regardless of the source. Bone ash and Ca content was significantly higher (P < .05) in the MDS 393 (3.93 g Ca/kg diet) diet and in the retorted MDS 460 diet compared with the HDS 488 diet. Relative biological values for the MDS diets calculated relative to the HDS diets ranged from 102 to 132 when the linear regression of Ca consumed, Ca retained, or dietary Ca level vs bone ash or bone Ca content was obtained. The retorted MDS 460 diet contained the highest Fe level and exhibited a lower percent absorption, terminal hemoglobin level, and liver Fe storage. Humerus F content increased as dietary F (also present from bone) level increased. Dietary F level did not determine humerus breaking strength.

Educating The Dietitian On Nutritional Counseling Principles In Diabetes Mellitus And Their Application For Adolescents With Insulin-Dependent Diabetes: Use Of A Learning Package, Eileen R. Deleeuw

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to develop and test a Learning Package on nutritional counseling principles in diabetes mellitus with specific application for adolescents with insulin-dependent diabetes. The Learning Package was designed to be used as continuing education material for the clinical dietitian. It consisted of two audio tapes, 2 1/2 hours in length, recorded by the author and an accompanying handbook or resourcebook. The resourcebook materials were designed to give further details, provide resources and materials for future reference, visually reinforce the audio presentation, summarize information given in the presentation, and give a bibliography of the references cited. …

The Effects Of Myoglobin, Nitrosylmyoglobin, And Free Iron On The Growth Of Clostridium Botulinum In Cured Meat, Susan K. Fortier Collinge

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Although nitrite is a known inhibitor of Clostridium botulinum in cured meats, the mechanism of inhibition is not understood. The observation has been made that iron is required for growth of C. botulinum and that the role of nitrite may be to alter the pathway of iron uptake by these organisms. Since the color change in cured meats is due to the binding of nitrite to the heme group of meat pigments, it was hypothesized that nitrite may also be tying up an essential iron source, heme. This experiment was an investigation of the possibility that myoglobin added to a …

Factors Affecting The Measurement Of Undenatured Whey Protein Nitrogen In Dried Whey By A Modified Harland-Ashworth Test, Reyad M. Aboumahmoud

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Harland-Ashworth test for measuring undenatured whey protein nitrogen in nonfat dry milk was modified to measure undenatured whey protein nitrogen in dried whey. The new test was designed to measure absorbance in Harland-Ashworth filtrates at 280 nm to eliminate difficulties associated with turbidimetric measurements. One gram dried whey was reconstituted in 25 ml pH 6.7 phosphate buffer (.1M) in a 25 x 150 mm test tube. Ten grams sodium chloride were added. The test tubes were incubated for 30 min in a water bath at 37C and shaken 8-10 times in the first 15 min. The tubes were removed …

Comparison Of Skim Milk Starter, Whey Base Starter And A Direct Set Method On The Yield, Quality And Economics Of Cottage Cheese Production, Wayne G. Geilman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three different methods of acidifying skim milk(milk starter, whey base starter and direct acid set) for making cottage cheese were evaluated for their effect on yield, quality and acidification cost. Cultured cottage cheese was produced with milk starter and pH controlled whey-base starter by the short set method. Five percent milk starter and 2.4% whey base starter were approximately equivalent in activity and gave average setting times of 234 to 255 minutes. Direct acid set cottage cheese was made by the Vitex/American method. The setting time required for direct acid set cottage cheese was 158 minutes. Yields of cottage cheese …

Vitamin A And Vitamin E Status Of Persons On Hemodialysis, Kathleen S. Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The study was designed to assess the vitamin A and vitamin E status of persons receiving maintenance hemodialysis. Blood samples from thirty persons receiving hemodialysis, as well as age and sex-matched controls, were analyzed for vitamin A, vitamin E, and carotene using a spectrofluorometric assay for vitamins A and E, and a spectrophotometric assay for carotene. Dietary intakes of vitamins A and E were estimated via verbal questioning. Samples of dialysate were also studied. Results of the investigation showed significantly elevated vitamin A, normal vitamin E, and decreased carotene levels in persons with renal failure receiving maintenance hemodialysis, when compared …

The Effect Of Parent Involvement In A Nutrition Education Program For Primary Grade Pupils, Barbara A. Kirks

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three schools were matched for socioeconomic data, location, and quality. Students in kindergarten through grade three in two schools received nutrition education; the third school was the control. Of the two treatment schools, one was randomly assigned to receive parent as well as student education in nutrition. Three-hundred and seventy cognitive scores, 168 affective scores, and 100 plate-waste analyses were collected in both pretest and posttest phases. At the end of the four-month treatment period, 24-hour food frequency recalls were collected for 151 children.

Students at the school where both parents and their children were involved had higher dietary quality …

Fall Regrowth Of Crested Wheatgrass And Fourwing Saltbush, Noor Mohammad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

During 1980-81, studies with crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) and fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) were conducted in controlled environment growth chambers as well as under field conditions to achieve the following objectives:

1. To determine the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the water use efficiency.

2. To determine the effects of various temperature, water stress and nitrogen treatments on the productivity, nitrogen content and carbohydrate reserves.

3. To determine the effects of N fertilization on fall and spring regrowth.

Crested wheatgrass and fourwing saltbush plants were maintained in three growth chambers for 60 days under three temperature …

The Energy Expenditure Of Heifers Grazing Crested Wheatgrass Rangeland In West-Central Utah, Kris M. Havstad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The free-roaming ruminant requires energy for the demands of vii grazing, traveling and thermoregulation that are not required by its confined counterpart. Literature estimates of these additional costs range from 10 to 170 percent above maintenance. The uncertain magnitude of this increased demand and the factors that contribute to it impede the ability of the rangeland ruminant nutritionist to establish guidelines for the energy requirements of the free-roaming herbivore. This study was designed to estimate the energy expenditure of yearling Angus heifers while grazing a declining supply of available crested wheatgrass forage (Agropyron cristatum) on rangeland in west-central …

Seasonal Temperature Preference Of Adult Mountain Whitefish, Prosopium Williamsoni, Jean M. Ihnat

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Temperatures selected seasonally by adult mountain whitefish were measured in the laboratory in a horizontal gradient. Final preferendum estimates, based on acute (3-hour) preference tests conducted with fish acclimated to 5, 10, and 15 C each season, were 17.7 C (pre-spawning), 11.9 C (post-spawning), 9.9 C (winter), and 16.3 C (spring). Seasonal influence on temperature selection was evident on the basis of differences in final preferenda, covariance analysis of responses of laboratory-acclimated fish, and temperature selection by fish held at ambient river temperatures. Post-spawning and winter groups selected lower temperatures than did pre-spawning and spring groups. Pre-spawning fish selected temperatures …

Some Morphological And Chemical Responses Of Blackbrush (Coleogyne Ramosissima) To Goat Browsing: Influences On Dietary Blackbrush Selection By Goats And Cattle, Frederick D. Provenza

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Domestic goats were used to modify the growth form of blackbrush, a spinescent shrub occurring in nearly monospecific stands on several million hectares of rangeland in the southwestern United States. The objective of this research was to evaluate goat browsing as a means of improving these rangelands for cattle. Winter goat browsing stimulated spring twig growth from basal and axillary buds which resulted in increased production.

Twig production by heavily browsed plants (>95 percent removal of current season's twigs) was a function of precipitation, soil depth, branch location on the plant, and period of rest after browsing. As precipitation …

Natural Pastures Of The Macquarie Region Of New South Wales: Their Origin, Composition And Management, David Leslie Michaelk

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two experiments were conducted in the semi-arid (400 millimeter annual rainfall) Macquarie region of New South Wales, Australia, at the Trangie Agricultural Research Station (31° 59'S; 147° S7'E), to examine (a) the way botanical parameters can be used to separate grazing and climatic impacts on range vegetation, and (b) how this delineation affects application of range science tenets (site, condition and trend) to different pasture types.

Two range sites were studied: Site 1, a light soil type, was dominated by annual grasses, legumes and forbs, whereas perennial grasses (mainly Chloris acieularis and Chloris truncata) dominated the heavy soils of …

Investigations On The Great Northern Beans (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.): Protein Functionality, Antinutrients, Flatus Factors, Fermentation, And Carbohydrates, Shridhar K. Sathe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Protein content of the Great Northern beans was 26.10 percent on a dry weight basis. The apparent isoelectric pH of the NaCl extractable proteins was about 4.4. Among the several solubilizing agents, Na₂CO₃, K₂SO₄, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), and NaOH at the respective concentrations of 0.5, 5.0, 5.0 (all w/v), and 0.02 N were the best protein solubilizing agents, solubilizing 93.6 grams Lowry protein per 100 grams Kjeldahl protein. AIbumins and globulins accounted for 21.18 and 73.40 percent, respectively, of the total bean proteins. The bean proteins were fractionated and protein concentrates …

An Economic Analysis Of Farm Flock Sheep Production In Utah, Ken Beck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic aspects of farm flock sheep production in Utah. Using 1979 as a base year, costs and returns were calculated from data obtained from twenty- six Utah farms. Characteristics that typify the states· farm flock sheep production, at this writing, with regard to: 1) the farm flock producers and 2) the farm flock enterprise, were presented.

Various models were dev eloped and examined using Multiple Regression and Linear Programming analytical techniques. Multiple Regression was us ed to estimate the effects that different variables had on the profitability of the sheep enterprise. …

Effect Of Rain Leaching On Chemical Composition Of Alfalfa Hay, Mercedes M. Garcia De Hernandez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Yield and chemical changes of second-cutting alfalfa hay treated with artificial rain were determined in a 2 x 3 x 2 factorial experiment. Factors were 2 stages of maturity (1 = late vegetative; 2 = early bloom), 3 levels of artificial rain applied (1 = no rain; 2 =low or approximately 5 mm; 3 = high or approximately 20 mm), and 2 times of applying artificial rain (1 = when drying forage was 40-60% dry matter; 2 = when drying forage was 60-75% dry matter). Thirty samples of alfalfa were collected at the 2 stages of maturity when the alfalfa …

The Interactions Of Electrical Conductivity, Sodium Adsorption Ratio, Water Volume And Rhizobial Strain On Phaseolus Vulgaris L., David A. Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine the interactive effects of water salinity, volume of water applied at each irrigation, sodium adsorption ratio and rhizobial strain upon 15 plant growth parameters of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Four levels of water salinity (EC_W 0.4, 3.0, 6.0, or 9.0 mmho/cm), three levels of water volume (200, 400, or 800 ml per pot), three levels of SAR (4, 16, or 64) and three strains of Rhizobium phaseoli (K-17, K-47, or K-52) were used. The treatments were replicated with all possible combinations. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, multiple comparisons, and path coefficient …

Fertility And Saline Water Management Interactions On Plant Growth And Nitrogen Fixation In Phaseolus, Robin R. Drysdale Rodriguez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A greenhouse study was conducted involving interactive effects on bean yield of three levels of irrigation water salinity, three frequencies of irrigation water app li cation, two level s of nitrogen, and seven levels of phosphorus fertilization to determine if the effects of adverse saline conditions or water stress could be overcome by fertility and/or saline water management.

Dry matter and bean yields were reduced with decreasing irrigation frequency (2 days to 8 days) and increasing salinity of irrigation water (0.5 mmho/cm to 8.0 mmho/cm). At low salinity levels (0.5 mmho/cm) dry matter production and the number of pods per …

Effects Of Ddt Upon The Hematology And Immunology Of The Goldfish (Carassius Auratus), Maurice G. Zeeman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

DDT can cause hematological and immunological alterations in mammals and birds. Interference with normal hematological and immunological defense systems has been strongly linked to increased incidences of disease and tumors. Fish exposed to pesticides have been noted to be more susceptible to disease. This study examined DDT effects on goldfish hematological and immunological parameters.

Adult goldfish were kept in 250 liter aquaria at 25 ± 1° C. Fish were dosed intraperitoneally with p,p'-DDT in corn oil. Doses ranged from 0 to 500 mg/kg for acute (96 hour) hematology studies to 0 to 50 mg/kg for sub-acute hematology and immunology studies. …

Utah Employer Attitudes Towards Sponsoring Day Care For Employees, Diane Hart

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purposes of this study were to: 1) examine and contrast hospital administrator attitudes and manufacturing company president (or manager) attitudes in relation to the possibility of having more Utah employers establish organized day care facilities on sites of employment, and 2) determine which factors of employee composition and available facilities and services affect employer attitudes towards day care involvement.

Information from the questionnaire developed for the study was statistically analyzed by the Pearson r correlation coefficient and one-way analysis of variance. Many factors proved to be statistically significant.

Overall, it was found that hospitals were more interested in day …

Common Use Grazing Studies On Southern Utah Summer Range, Al F. Schlundt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two common use grazing trials were conducted during two summer grazing seasons (1978-1979) on a typical shrubby grassland site on the Kolab Terrace, about 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Cedar City, Utah, at an elevation of about 8500 feet (2600 m). Two animal units of ewes with lambs, or cows with calves, or both were stocked in each of six, one-acre (0.39 ha) pastures. A five to one substitution ratio provided two single-species and one mixed (five ewes with lambs and one cow with calf) livestock treatments replicated twice. The pastures were grazed for nine days during which time …

Involving Parents In A Nutrition Education Program For Preschool Children, Cheryl Wright

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The primary intent of this study was to ascertain the effectiveness of parents in the role of teaching nutrition to their children. This research endeavor was an extension of refinement of a three-year program in nutrition education in the Department of Family and Human Development at Utah State University. Fifty-seven children enrolled in the Child Development Laboratory at Utah State, and their parents were involved in the study. Eighteen children were taught nutrition by their mothers. Twenty-one children were taught nutrition by their mothers and fathers, and 18 children served as the control group and received no nutrition using an …

Impact Of Young Mothers Program On Lives Of Teenage Mothers (Program #2 In Granite District, Salt Lake City, Utah), Lou Jean C. Shaw

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact oi the Young Mothers' Program #2 Granite School District, Salt Lake City, Utah, and the aspects of the program that were responsible for that impact, upon the lives of the Young Mothers who have attended the program since its existence. This study could possibly serve as a guide in evaluating other programs of this nature, locally and nationally. Knowing the value of a program could help establish it more firmly in the education system.

A questionnaire was mailed to sixty students who had attended Young Mothers' Program #2 for one …

Evaluation Of A Wescor Dew Point Microvoltmeter Model Hr 33t For Measuring Water Activity In Foods, Ranga N. Kidambi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Wescor Dew Point Microvoltmeter, Model HR 33T, together with a Wescor C-52 sample chamber, was used to measure water activities between a_w 1.0 and a_w 0.60. Because of temperature gradient problems, the sample chamber was mounted in a styrofoam insulation box constructed so that the chamber could be opened and the sample replaced while it remained inside the closed insulation box. The standard psychrometric procedure was used for samples with a_w between 1 and 0.94. A modified procedure was used for samples dryer than a_w 0.94. The sample chamber was first loaded with water, and …