Digital Commons Network^™

Optimizing The Physical And Nutritional Environment Of Unleached Root-Zones, Curtis B. Adams

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Unleached root-zones represent an environmental ideal by eliminating wasteful leaching of nutrients and water. NASA grows plants in space in unleached root-zones, incorporating polymer-coated fertilizer (PCF) into a ceramic media (Turface or Profile). However, lack of growth productivity in space has led to the need for research to improve the nutritional and physical environment of the root-zone, which is the objective of this research. PCF types are diverse in release characteristics and the effects of temperature and substrate water content have not been well characterized. In spite of widespread use, studies on chemical properties and applied studies to verify soil …

Evaluation Of Semiochemical Strategies For The Protection Of Whitebark Pine Stands Against Mountain Pine Beetle Attack Within The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Greta Katherine Schen-Langenheim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

High-dose verbenone, verbenone plus nonhost volatiles (NHVs), and both semiochemicals in combination with aggregant-baited funnel traps were tested for stand- level protection against mountain pine beetle attack for two consecutive years (2004-2005) at three seral high elevation whitebark pine sites in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In 2004, two 0.25-hectare treatments comprised of 25 high-dose verbenone pouches or verbenone pouches combined with single baited funnel traps were tested in a push-pull strategy. In 2005, 25 high-dose verbenone and 25 NHV pouches, or verbenone and NHV in combination with baited funnel trap clusters were tested. In both years, treatments were compared to …

Characterization And Physicochemical Modifications Of Polymer Hollow Fiber Membranes For Biomedical And Bioprocessing Applications, Benjamin R. Madsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) formed through phase inversion methods exhibit specific physicochemical characteristics and generally favorable surface and mechanical properties, supporting their use in diverse applications including ultrafiltration, dialysis, cell culture, bioreactors, and tissue engineering. Characterization of, and modifications to, such membranes are important steps in achieving desired characteristics for specific applications.

HFMs subject to gas, irradiation, and chemical sterilization techniques were characterized based on several analytical techniques. It was revealed that these common sterilization techniques can cause inadvertent changes to HFM properties. While these changes may cause detrimental effects to HFMs used in filtration, the methods of sterilization are …

Host Signaling Response To Adhesion Of Bifidobacterium Infantis, Reed N. Gann

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Investigations of the molecular binding partners of the probiotic bacterium Bifidobacterium longum subspecies infantis (B. infantis) and the pathogen Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2 (Salmonella ser. Typhimurium) found that these two very different bacteria bind gangliosides. However, these organisms lead to completely different host health outcomes when present in the gut. B. infantis is the founding microbial population in the intestinal tract of breast-fed infants. S. typhimurium is the most important food-borne pathogen that results in humans. This study used an in vitro gut epithelial cell model to examine the host cellular response to adhesion …

Analysis Of Ammonia And Volatile Organic Amine Emissions In A Confined Poultry Facility, Hanh Hong Thi Dinh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The National Air Emission Monitoring Study (NAEMS) project was funded by the Agricultural Air Research Council (AARC) to evaluate agricultural emissions nationwide. Utah State University (USU) is conducting a parallel study on agricultural emissions at a Cache Valley poultry facility. As part of this parallel study, samples of animal feed, eggs and animal waste were collected weekly from three manure barns (designated: manure barn, barn 4 - manure belt and barn 5 - high rise) from May 2008 to November 2009.

These samples were analyzed to determine ammonia content, total Kjeldahl nitrogen content and ammonia emission. The yearly average calculated …

Development Of A Laboratory Based System For Selecting Insect Pathogenic Fungi With Greatest Potential For Success In The Field, Chad Alton Keyser

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many insects are important agricultural pests, and active control is necessary to keep them at abeyance. The naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium is a promising tool to control pest insects, and its use avoids the well-known harmful side effects of chemical pesticides. Thousands of unique isolates of Metarhizium exist throughout the world. These isolates vary widely in their ability to cause infection and to tolerate stressful habitats. The research reported here tests the THESIS: A laboratory-based system can be devised that identifies, from among many Metarhizium isolates, those isolates with the greatest potential for successful biological control of pest insects …

Development Of Novel Methods And Their Utilization In The Analysis Of The Effect Of The N-Terminus Of Human Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1 Variant 1 On Enzymatic Activity, Protein-Protein Interactions, And Substrate Specificity, Brenda Bienka Suh-Lailam

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) are enzymes that catalyze the methylation of protein arginine residues, resulting in the formation of monomethylarginine, and/or asymmetric or symmetric dimethylarginines. Although understanding of the PRMTs has grown rapidly over the last few years, several challenges still remain in the PRMT field. Here, we describe the development of two techniques that will be very useful in investigating PRMT regulation, small molecule inhibition, oligomerization, protein-protein interaction, and substrate specificity, which will ultimately lead to the advancement of the PRMT field. Studies have shown that having an N-terminal tag can influence enzyme activity and substrate specificity. The first …

Effects Of Corn Silage Hybrids And Dietary Nonforage Fiber Sources On Productive Performance In Early Lactating Dairy Cows Fed High Forage Diets, Michael Shane Holt

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of corn silage hybrids and nonforage fiber sources (NFFS) in high forage diets formulated with high dietary proportion of alfalfa hay (AH) and corn silage (CS) on ruminal fermentation and productive performance by early lactating dairy cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows (4 ruminally fistulated) averaging 36 ± 6.2 d in milk were used in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Cows were fed 1 of 4 dietary treatments during each of the four 21-d periods. Treatments were: 1) conventional corn …

Natural Caregiving Practices And Mothers' Decisions, Shannon L. Searle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mothers care for their infants in various ways, many similar and others more unique, and are influenced by a variety of factors. Influences such as doctors' advice, attending prenatal and child development classes, reading books and magazines, and learning from personal experience contribute to the caregiving decisions mothers make. A type of parenting that focuses on the responsiveness and sensitivity of the mother to the infant's needs is known as natural parenting. Natural parenting involves caregiving practices that are expected to co-occur, such as breastfeeding and frequently maintaining close physical contact with the infant. Two other practices that some mothers …

Effects Of Pluronics On A Beneficial Soil Microbe Pseudomonas Putida Strain Kt2440, Priyanka Gajjar

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This report summarizes the effects of a range of Pluronics on cellular responses in bacterial and mammalian cells through a review of published findings. Effects of Pluronics on drug delivery, efflux systems, growth, and nutrition are reported for eukaryotic cells. For microbial cells, their effects on adhesion, movement, biofilm formation, energy status and secondary metabolism are discussed. Guided by findings in the literature, a series of experiments were conducted exploring the responses of a beneficial environmental soil microbe, Pseudomonas putida strain KT2440, to selected Pluronics. These results are presented. The report has four sections: an Introduction 4 that covers published …

Depression Detection In Hospitalized Cardiac Patients, Martine S. Geddes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Depression has been shown to increase an individual's risk for heart disease. Despite this finding, physicians are not identifying depression in their hospitalized cardiac patients. This study looked at hospitalized cardiac patients and determined whether their physicians were identifying depression in those that scored ≥ 5 on the PHQ-9 depression inventory. Methods included assessing patient depression during their stay at an intensive care unit using the PHQ-9. Those patients scoring ≥ 5 were determined as depressed. Chart audits were performed after the patient discharged from the hospital to discover whether physicians were identifying these patients as depressed. The results showed …

Transesterification And Recovery Of Intracellular Lipids Using A Single Step Reactive Extraction, Daniel R. Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A single-step, extractive reaction for extraction of lipids such as biodiesel components, omega-3 fatty acids, or other triglycerides from microbial cells was examined. Conventional methods for lipid extraction use toxic solvents, and require multiple steps and long processing times. When the goal is to produce fatty acid methyl esters or FAMEs, the extracted lipids are subjected to a separate transesterification reaction with simple alcohols in the presence of an acid or base catalyst. A simplified, single-step reactive extraction method can be applied that combines the sequential extraction followed by transesterification using acidified alcohols - a process known as in situ …

Maternal Effects In Transmission Of Self-Medicative Behavior From Mother To Offspring In Sheep, Udita Sanga

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Mammals begin learning food preferences in utero and maternally mediated influences early in life help offspring develop their feeding habits. Mammals also learn by individual experience to ingest medicinal compounds such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), which attenuates the negative post-ingestive effects of tannins, a group of potentially toxic plant secondary compounds. The objective of this study was to investigate the transmission of acquired self-medicative behavior from mother to offspring using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a medicine to relieve malaise caused by tannins. I hypothesized that: 1) mothers trained to associate the beneficial effects of PEG while consuming tannins will pass …

Generation And Analysis Of Verbal Route Directions For Blind Navigation, John Nicholson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

According to the National Federation of the Blind, there are an estimated 10 million people in the United States who are visually impaired. Of these, 1.3 million are legally blind. Many people with extreme vision loss receive orientation and mobility training in order to help them learn skills that allow them to travel and navigate multiple types of indoor and outdoor environments. Even with this training, a fundamental problem these people face is learning new routes, especially in environments with which they are not familiar. Although the research community has developed a number of localization and navigation aids that are …

Terrestrial Ecosystem Classification In The Rocky Mountains, Northern Utah, Antonin Kusbach

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Currently, there is no comprehensive terrestrial ecosystem classification for the central Rocky Mountains of the United States. A comprehensive classification of terrestrial ecosystems in a mountainous study area in northern Utah was developed incorporating direct gradient analysis, spatial hierarchy theory, the zonal concept, and concepts of diagnostic species and fidelity, together with the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification approach used in British Columbia, Canada.

This classification was derived from vegetation and environmental sampling of both forest and non-forest ecosystems. The SNOwpack TELemetry (SNOTEL) and The National Weather Service (NWS) Cooperative Observer Program (COOP) weather station network were used to approximate climate of …

Effects Of Underwater Treadmill Exercise On Mobility Of People With Knee Osteoarthritis, Jaimie Roper

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Gait, pain, and self-efficacy alterations in osteoarthritis (OA) patients may be precursors for pathological alterations and are important variables to examine in an aquatic therapy study aimed at improving mobility. A greater understanding of these alterations will be useful for the treatment of OA and the prevention of OA progression. The purpose of this thesis was twofold: to review the effects of certain land and aquatic therapies on gait kinematics and mobility of people with osteoarthritis, and to examine the effects of short-term aquatic treadmill exercise on gait kinematics, perception of pain, and mobility in OA patients. A direct comparison …

Greater Sage-Grouse Response To Sagebrush Reduction Treatments In Rich County, Utah, Roger Blair Stringham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Management of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the west has changed over the last several decades in response to environmental and anthropogenic causes. Many land and wildlife management agencies have begun manipulating sagebrush with herbicides, machinery, and fire. The intent of these manipulations (treatments) is to reduce sagebrush canopy cover and increase the density of grass and forb species, thus providing higher quality sage-grouse brood-rearing habitat. However, monitoring of sage-grouse response to such manipulations has often been lacking or non-existent. The objective of our study was to determine the response of sage-grouse to sagebrush reduction treatments that have …

Ecology Of Isolated Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Inhabiting The Wildcat Knolls And Horn Mountain, Southcentral Utah, Christopher J. Perkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) currently inhabit about 56% of pre-settlement distribution of potential habitat. In 2005, the Castle Country Adaptive Resources Management Local Working Group (CaCoARM) was formed to address concerns regarding local sage-grouse populations in Carbon and Emery counties. In 2006-2007, CaCoARM identified the Wildcat Knolls and Horn Mountain as areas of special concern for greater sage-grouse conservation. Both sites selected by the group were inhabited by what appeared to be small isolated sage-grouse populations. Factors limiting small isolated greater sage-grouse populations throughout its range are diverse and largely site-specific.

During 2008-2009, I captured, radio-collared, and monitored …

Static Versus Dynamic Stretching Effect On Agility Performance, Patrick Troumbley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to compare effects of static and dynamic stretching on explosive agility movements, and to examine the effect of the interaction of dynamic and static stretching prior to explosive agility movements. Fourteen men and 10 women performed the different warm-up protocols, including no warm-up (NWU), static stretching (SS), dynamic stretching (DS), and dynamic stretching with static stretching (DS+SS). The T-Drill was used to assess agility. The results indicated no difference between the NWU and SS conditions (effect size = 0.40, p = 0.06), as well as no significant difference between the NWU and DS+SS conditions …

Role Of Protein Kinase C Isotypes In 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Mediated Signal Transduction Through The 1,25d3 Membrane Associated, Rapid Response Steroid Binding Receptors In Chick Intestinal Cells, Sakara Tunsophon

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

It is now accepted that 1,25(OH)2D3 mediates its rapid actions on the control of phosphate and calcium homeostasis through its membrane receptor termed the 1,25D3-MARRS (membrane associated rapid response steroid binding) protein. I determined the various PKC isotypes involved in the rapid regulation of phosphate uptake and calcium extrusion in chick intestinal cells. 1,25(OH)2D3-mediated phosphate uptake was stimulated within 1 min after addition of the hormone. Western blot analyses on isolated intestinal cells treated with steroid hormone resulted in dose-dependent increases in PKC alpha and PKC beta in postnuclear centrifugation fractions, but not in the low speed centrifugation fractions. The …

A Multi-Scale Evaluation Of Pygmy Rabbit Space Use In A Managed Landscape, Tammy L. Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Habitat selection has long been viewed as a multi-scale process. Observed species responses to resource gradients are influenced by variation at the scale of the individual, population, metapopulation, and geographic range. Understanding how species interact with habitat at multiple levels presents a complete picture of an organism and is necessary for conservation of endangered species. The main goal of this dissertation is to evaluate distribution, relative abundance, and habitat selection of a rare species, the pygmy rabbit Brachylagus idahoensis, at multiple scales in order to improve management and conservation for this species.

At the broadest scale, pygmy rabbit occurrence …

Greater Sage-Grouse Seasonal Ecology And Responses To Habitat Manipulations In Northern, Utah, Eric T. Thacker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Declining greater sage-grouse populations (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse) have led to increased concern regarding the long-term stability of the species. Previous research has identified factors contributing to the observed population declines. Habitat degradation and loss have been implicated as major factors in population declines. Although much is known about sage-grouse biology, more information is needed about population responses to specific management actions. This research was conducted to document sage-grouse responses to site-specific management actions. Additionally, I evaluated sage-grouse temporal and seasonal habitat-use and the comparability of techniques used by range and wildlife managers to measure vegetation responses of …

The Influence Of Collective Action And Policy In The Development Of Local Food Systems, Lori Porreca

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The modern global agrifood system has had significant negative impacts on consumers and producers. This has precipitated the rise of local food systems that are purported to improve the health and livelihoods of consumers and producers. High expectations have led to significant public and private resources dedicated to the development of local food systems. Despite this, there has been little systematic research exploring the social and institutional conditions that facilitate or frustrate local food system development.

Using a comparative case study approach, this study explored the ways local structural conditions, collective action, food system policies, and the political context affect …

The Hypericum Perforatum Herb As An Antimycobacterial Agent And Its Implications As An Additional Tuberculosis Medication, Trent W. Mortensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

An immediate demand exists for new tuberculosis (TB) antibiotics due to the ever-increasing spread of drug-resistant strains. The drug-development process goes through four phases, the first (Phase 0) of which is to demonstrate and investigate drug effectiveness and toxicity. This research investigated the effectiveness of the Hypericum perforatum herb (commonly St. John's wort (SJW)) in its growth inhibition of mycobacteria and its viability effect on human lung cells.

Organic-solvent SJW extracts were effective at inhibiting every nonpathogenic genetically sequenced Mycobacterium isolate currently available (six isolates) in preliminary studies. Quantitative studies of five Mycobacterium isolates showed an order of concentration sensitivity …

Correlation Of Age-Specific Phenylalanine Levels On Intellectual Outcome In Patients With Phenylketonuria, Krista S. Viau

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study includes data collected from a retrospective chart review of patients with phenylketonuria treated at the University of Utah Metabolic Clinic. Among the
approximately 175 patients treated for phenylketonuria at this clinic, 55 patients (28 female) met the inclusion criteria for the present study. Based on the diagnostic Phe
level, 66.7% were classified as having classic phenylketonuria, 18.5% with moderate phenylketonuria, and 14.8% with mild phenylketonuria.

Subjects’ cognitive status was measured with one of three neuropsychological tests: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children third and fourth editions and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale third edition. Due to structural differences among …

Biological And Mechanical Approaches To Sunscald Management In Bell Pepper Production, Samuel D. Day

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Producing red bell peppers in high temperature and light environments can be challenging because many new semi-indeterminate varieties produce small plant canopies that leave fruit exposed to damage (sunscald) caused by solar radiation. Pepper production in Utah coincides with high air temperatures and solar radiation levels during July, August, and September. Increasing plant canopy size is one way to protect fruit from solar radiation. Low tunnels optimize plant growth by increasing air and soil temperatures. Growing plants under low tunnels early in the season could increase fruit shading later in the season. Another way to protect fruit is by using …

Surviving Sexual Violence In Eastern Democratic Republic Of Congo, Susan Bartels, Jennifer Scott, Jennifer Leaning, Denis Mukwege, Robert Lipton, Michael Vanrooyen

Journal of International Women's Studies

Since 1996 a deadly conflict has been ongoing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Within this conflict, sexual violence has been inflicted upon women as a strategic weapon of war. Given the challenges of working in this setting, this sexual violence epidemic has not been well studied. The current work is a retrospective chart review of women presenting to Panzi Hospital in 2006 requesting post-sexual violence care. The goals were to describe the demographics of sexual violence survivors and to define the physical and psychosocial consequences of sexual violence in Eastern DRC. A total of 1021 patient medical records …

Poverty Among Women In Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review Of Selected Issues, Hazel M. Mcferson

Journal of International Women's Studies

Gender discrimination resulting in greater poverty among women is widespread throughout the developing world. However, the incidence of women poverty, as well as its depth and their vulnerability, is particularly marked in Sub-Saharan African countries of the tropical belt, albeit with significant rural-urban differences. The article reviews the interaction of traditional restrictions on women property rights, weak governance and violent civil conflict in perpetuating gender discrimination and women poverty in those countries. Statistics show some progress in women development indicators in Sub-Saharan Africa during the last decade, partly associated with improvements in governance and the end of civil war in …

Impact Of After-School Nutrition Workshops In A Public Library Setting, Marjorie Freedman, Audrey Nickell

Faculty Publications

Objective: To determine if after-school nutrition workshops conducted in public libraries were related to lasting changes in food choice.Methods: “Snack Smart” workshops, based on Social Cognitive Theory, were conducted in 8 branch libraries (49 ethnically diverse children, ages 9 to 14) to assess changes in consumption of targeted food items by pretest, posttest, and follow-up food frequency questionnaires. Results were analyzed using the Friedman test for repeated measures and Wilcoxon signed rank test.Results: Intake of milk, vegetables, and water significantly increased at 3-week posttest (P < .05), but only water intake showed a significant change from pretest to follow-up 3 months later.Conclusions and Implications: This low-intensity program did not produce lasting behavior change, as measured by changes in food frequency at 3 months post- intervention. The study supports the need to critically evaluate out-of-school nutrition programs for lasting impact.

An Evaluation Of Lead In Imported Candies Within Clark County, Nevada, Usa, Lee Reuben Ibarra

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Imported candies from Latin America pose a danger to children because of the potential for those candies to contain harmful levels of lead. This study sought to identify characteristics of imported candies that typically display higher concentrations of lead. This study also explored the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic model developed by the EPA. Using lead exposure data specific to Clark County, Nevada, the IEUBK model was used to estimate the amounts of candy a child would have to consume in order to raise his blood lead level to over 10µg/dL (the federal allowable limit).

The results showed that candies with …