Digital Commons Network^™

Synergistic Effect Of High Intensity Ultrasound, Antimicrobial Compounds, And Uv-A Light On Microbial Quality Of Dairy Products, Bryce Rodney Hales

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Food spoilage and contamination remains a common problem within the food industry. Furthermore, the continued change of consumer demand and perspective on food quality and products has led the food industry and researchers to find new methods of food preservation. Many of these new methods hope to use non-thermal processes since thermal processes tend to decrease the overall quality of the final product. Some new non-thermal methods that have been looked at are the use of high intensity ultrasound (HIU), ultraviolet light, and the use of natural antimicrobials. In this study, UHT milk inoculated with either E. coli K12 or …

Clothing Construction Curriculum: Exploring Gender Inclusivity, Shaelin M. Nilsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Female students have traditionally dominated enrollment in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) courses (formerly Home Economics). However, gender diversity has recently increased in many FCS areas due to changes in gender stereotypes and career opportunities. This trend is evident at Utah State University, where gender diversity in clothing construction (i.e., sewing) courses has increased drastically since the creation of the Outdoor Product Design and Development degree program. This study evaluated students’ experiences in traditionally female-dominant clothing construction courses.

Gender-inclusive courses are crucial for a productive and safe learning environment for all students. Avoiding personal biases and cultivating a relevant curriculum …

Climate-Driven Impacts Of Warming And Grazing On Sub-Arctic Coastal Wetlands In Alaska, Ryan T. Choi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Climate change is rapidly warming the Arctic, especially at lower latitudes. Warmer temperatures and earlier springs are altering the timing of plants and animals, especially for long-distance migratory herbivores. Changes in the timing of both plants and herbivores have the potential to impact plant productivity and nutrient cycling, while also altering plant community diversity and composition.

In chapter 2, I conducted a field experiment to investigate how earlier growing seasons and differences in arrival times of migratory geese influence physical traits of sedge forage species. I found that both an earlier growing season and late grazing by geese had similar …

Local And Systemic Effects Of Flavonoid Intake With Submaximal Cycling Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Stephanie Kung

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Moderate to high intensity endurance exercise is a known cause of exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome, a condition often associated with intestinal complaints such as discomfort, cramps, and diarrhea. Oftentimes, elevated intestinal inflammation and permeability (a “leaky gut”) are also observed. Previous research has shown that flavonoids, natural compounds found in many fruits and vegetables, may mitigate these exercise-induced effects. In particular, certain cocoa powders contain high levels of flavonoids, and chocolate milk is a good source of protein and sugars for sustaining intense activity. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dairy pre-workout beverage, with …

Predator Defense And Host Selection Behavior Of Billbugs (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae), Desireè M. Wickwar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Billbugs are a complex of weevils that feed on the roots of turfgrass, causing severe damage to the plants. These pests are traditionally managed with applications of insecticides. However, there is a need for non-chemical management tools. Here I investigate billbug behavior in relation to two potential avenues for more sustainable management: using resident predators to suppress billbugs (Chapter II) and selecting specific turfgrasses that resist billbug damage (Chapter III). In Chapter II, I investigate the effects of predator presence and cues associated with their presence on billbug behavior. Though resident predators contribute very little to billbug suppression through directly …

Seeding Rate, Nitrogen Fertilzer, And Cutting Timing Effects On Teff Forage Yield And Nutritive Value, Michael C. Laca

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Teff [Eragostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a relatively new forage gaining popularity in the United States; however, information regarding agronomic production practices is lacking. This study was conducted to determine the combination of seeding rate, fertilization, and harvest timing to optimize teff dry-matter yield (DMY) and nutritive value. Four seeding rates (2, 5, 8, and 11 lb/acre), four nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (0, 25, 50, and 100 lb/acre), and two harvest strategies [boot stage (2-cut) and full seed-head stage (1-cut; stockpiled)] were evaluated in 2010 and 2011 in Kaysville, UT and Yerington, NV. The effects of harvest (1- vs …

Characterization And Immobilization Of Thermophilic Lipases For The Interesterification Of Soybean Oil, Teif A. Najm

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lipases are currently used in food technology for the modification of fats and oils. Lipase can synthesize, hydrolyze, and rearrange fatty acids, thus, resulting in their extensive use in industrial applications. The thermal stability of lipase is an essential characteristic for this application. Thermophilic bacteria are an important source for producing thermostable lipases because of their tolerance to high heat. Lipolytic enzymes can be purified using several purification methods, but these purification processes are often expensive and complex. Results from this study showed that lipases can be extract from thermophilic bacteria (Geobacillius stearothermophilus (GS) and Anoxybacillus flavithermus (AF)). Molecular …

Alienation, Modernization, And Animal Welfare: Human-Animal Relationships At The Farm, State, And Country Levels, Michael D. Briscoe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Our relationships with animals are important for us as humans, for the environment, and for the animals themselves. In this dissertation I look at the relationships between humans and animals at three scales: farm, U.S. state, and country. Specifically, I address how factors like economic growth, technological innovation, and globalization affect human relationships with animals. Understanding how these factors influence human-animal relationships is important for improving these relationships and deciding which directions will most contribute to sustainable outcomes. I address the social factors that influence human-animal relationships in three studies.

In the first study I surveyed and interviewed dairy farmers …

Nitrogen Fertilizer Showed Little Effect On First- And Second-Year Corn Yield And Quality Following Alfalfa, Bailey Brent Shaffer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Silage corn (Zea mays L.) following alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a common crop rotation in Utah and southern Idaho. This is done, in part, to take advantage of residual nitrogen (N) fixed by bacteria that work in symbiosis with the roots of alfalfa. After alfalfa is terminated, much of the N that was fixed by the plant is released into the soil and becomes available for use by the rotational crop. This reduces the amount of N fertilizer that growers need to apply. The Utah Fertilizer Guide currently recommends an N credit to a rotational crop following …

Don't Get Me Started About The Water: Foodways And Power In Juvenal's Satire V, Alex Reese

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Don’t Get Me Started About the Water analyzes the food in the dinner of Juvenal’s fifth satire from the perspective of Roman foodways in the first and second centuries. This analysis provides a surprising conclusion: although the guest and host are served dishes differing vastly in quality, neither man gets a nutritious meal. This follows with arguments elsewhere in the Satires, namely that Rome itself kills its occupants and the best course of action is to abandon the city for the countryside.

Effect Of High-Intensity Ultrasound On Bubble Dynamics, Oxidation, And Crystallization Behavior Of Fats, Juhee Lee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) provide desired texture, stability, and extended shelf life in food products. These types of lipids have been commonly used in food industry. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided to remove generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status of PHOs in 2015 due to the association between PHOs and coronary heart disease (CHD), type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Hence, it is necessary to find alternative new healthy lipids or novel processing conditions that can be used to replace the functionality of PHO. Among the processing methods to be used in alternative PHOs fats, high-intensity …

Utilization Of Protective Cultures To Reduce Late Gas Formation By Paucilactobacillus Wasatchensis, Ireland R. Green

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Cheesemaking is a process susceptible to defects caused by microbes not purposefully added by the manufacturer. While these bacteria are not a health concern, they can cause problems such as producing carbon dioxide inside the cheese. This can cause slits and cracks in cheese making cheese unsuitable for slicing. One such bacteria identified by cheese researchers at Utah State University and Weber State University is Paucilactobacillus wasatchensis. When present in cheese, it can cause gas formation by using galactose to supply its energy. In doing so, it takes this six-carbon sugar and converts it into a five-carbon sugar and …

Comparison Of Microbial Diversity Of Fifteen Aged Cheddar Cheeses From Different Regions Using Next Generation Sequencing, Sophie L. Overbeck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This project was funded by BUILD Dairy to test the efficacy of using next generation sequencing to study Cheddar cheese microbiomes. The 15 different cheese samples used in this study were purchased in the retail market from various manufacturers and different origins of manufacture. Sequencing was done by the Center for Integrated Biosystems at Utah State University using Illumina MiSeq.

The aim of this project is to provide further understanding of how using next generation sequencing can benefit the study of bacterial communities and their influence during the aging process of Cheddar cheese and the possibility of identifying defect causing …

Food Insecurity And Older Adults: An Analysis Of Food Insecurity Among Elderly Households In The Us During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Stephanie Alexandra Morales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Past research has shown that food insecurity rates among the elderly have significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, there are yet to be peer-reviewed articles that specifically address food insecurity among the elderly during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study utilized a nationally representative sample (50 states and the District of Columbia, n = 29,779) using data derived from the Household Pulse Survey (HPS). One generalized estimating equation (GEE) was estimated along with bivariate analyses. The GEE revealed that Hispanics, Asians, and those who identified as other race were significantly more likely to be food insecure in comparison to …

Exploring The Relationship Between The Distance Of Parks And Rates Of Adult Obesity In El Paso, Texas, Shawna Payan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: In El Paso, areas of the city do not have access to parks within walking distance. The rates of people suffering from obesity and the comorbidities that come with obesity are rising annually. Physical activity has been shown to increase lifespan and provide positive health outcomes for the individual. Increasing physical activity in adults by using the parks can decrease their risk for heart disease and diabetes. Objectives: The overall aim of the procedure is to determine a relationship between park density and distance from residence to the nearest park, adult population density, and the obesity rate density within …

The Role Of Fatty Acids In Ruminant Diets And Novel Feed Ingredients High In Omega-3 Fatty Acids Fed In Feedlot Diets, Mitchell M. Norman

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

A finishing study evaluated the performance, carcass characteristics and fatty acid profiles of steers fed four inclusions of a novel feedstuff Green Grass. Green Grass is a product comprised of sesame meal, giant kelp, cassava, and sorghum containing high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids. No differences were observed in initial BW, final BW, BW gain, HCW, LM area, 12^th rib fat depth, calculated YG, or liver abscess %. Dry matter intake linearly increased as Green Grass inclusion increased in the diet. Steers fed Green Grass had lower G:F than control cattle, and steers fed 30% Green Grass had a …

Low-Oxygen Dry Aging Of Beef, Joseph A. Sonderman

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The objective of this research project was to determine the effects of removing oxygen from the beef dry aging process. Boneless upper 2/3 Choice beef strip loins (n = 18) were randomly assigned to three aging treatments: wet aging, traditional (aerobic) dry aging, and low-oxygen dry aging. All treatments were aged for 41 days at 2 ± 1°C. The dry-aged treatments were held at 50% relative humidity (RH) with a fan speed of 2,200 revolutions per minute (RPM). Low-oxygen dry-aged samples were aged in chambers housed within an oxygen impermeable film bubble. After aging, yield was determined for the …

Estimation Of Breed Effects And Genetic Parameters For Age At Slaughter And Days To Finish In A Multibreed Beef Cattle Population, Lindsay Rae Upperman

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cattle efficiency during the finishing phase is a crucial factor in determining profit in the beef cattle industry. Economically relevant traits associated with efficient production include age at slaughter (AAS) and days to finish (DtF). Selection to reduce the number of days an animal takes to reach a finish endpoint would ultimately reduce production costs, increase net profits, and result in a more sustainable production system. However, most harvested animals are from commercial herds, necessitating the use of indicator traits from seedstock animals for selection. Potential indicator traits include ultrasound measurements that could be genetically correlated to DtF traits. The …

Operational Experiences Associated With The Implementation Of Near Point-Of-Care Early Infant Diagnosis Of Hiv In Myanmar: A Qualitative Study, Win Lei Yee, Hla Htay, Yasmin Mohamed, Claire E. Nightingale, Htay Htay Tin, Win Thein, Latt Latt Kyaw, Win Win Yee, Moe Myat Aye, Stanley Luchters

Population Health, East Africa

Background: Timely diagnosis and early initiation of life-saving antiretroviral therapy are critical factors in preventing mortality among HIV-infected infants. However, resource-limited settings experience numerous challenges associated with centralised laboratory-based testing, including low rates of testing, complex sample referral pathways and unacceptably long turnaround times for results. Point-of-care (POC) HIV testing for HIVexposed infants can enable same-day communication of results and early treatment initiation for HIV-infected infants. However, complex operational issues and service integration can limit utility and must be well understood prior to implementation. We explored and documented the challenges and enabling factors in implementing the POC Xpert® HIV-1 …

Acrolein-Induced Epigenetic Modification Of Dna Methylation In Rat Kidney Disease Tissue, Uchechi Grace Nwaiwu

Dissertations (2016-Present)

Acrolein, an alpha-beta unsaturated aldehyde, and a very reactive and toxic compound is released into the environment from different sources. As a pervasive environmental pollutant, acrolein poses a serious environmental health threat acknowledged by investigators, health, and environmental government agencies. Acrolein is released into the environment through the burning of organic compounds. The main sources of acrolein pertinent to human health and toxicity include cooked foods, combustion of fossil fuels, cigarette smoke, overheating of frying oil, endogenously produced via lipid peroxidation, metabolism of polyamine, and anticancer drug cyclophosphamide. Exposure of humans to acrolein is mainly through inhalation of contaminated air, …

Faktor-Faktor Yang Berhubungan Dengan Fatigue Pada Masinis Pt Kereta Api Indonesia Daerah Operasional 3 Cirebon, Citra Amaliyah, Doni Hikmat Hikmat Ramdhan

National Journal of Occupational Health and Safety

Fatigue is a significant factor regarding safety issues such as transportation incidents and errors. As a part of land transportation, safety has also become an issue in the railway industry. In 6 years, there have been at least 700 extraordinary incidents in the railway industry in Indonesia, including train collisions. From the National Transportation Safety Committee investigation report, it was also found that several cases of train crashes occurred due to train drivers’ fatigue. Therefore, this study aims to determine the level and the factors associated with fatigue in train drivers. This research was conducted in January – June 2021 …

Intersections Of Ageism And Gender Stigma: Exploring Long-Term Care Employees’ Attitudes Towards Aging, Tarah Loy

All Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed methods, single case study was to explore long-term care (LTC) employees’ attitudes towards age and gender. The intersection of Rosemary Garland-Thomson’s theory of feminist disability (2001) and Hailee Gibbons’ compulsory youthfulness theory (2016) provided the conceptual framework for this project. The sample consisted of 60 LTC direct care employees, all employed at the same organization, who completed an on-line survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey consisted of demographic questions and the Fraboni Scale of Ageism. Twenty-one of these employees participated in a 30 minute phone interview. Cultural artifacts were also collected. Although quantitative results …

Effects Of Exogenous Glucocorticoid Infusion At Birth On Appetitic Center Brain Development During Early Postnatal Life And Its Impact On Voluntary Feed Intake In Beef Cattle, Keelee Jae Mccarty

All Dissertations

The objective of study was to determine the effects of exogenous cortisol administration on leptin concentrations relative to 1) appetitic center development of the hypothalamus by gene expression in dairy bull calves and 2) altered voluntary feed intake in beef calves. In experiment 1, Holstein bull calves (n = 27) were weighed and randomly assigned to treatments within four hours of parturition (day 0). Each calf was intravenously infused with either a low cortisol (LC; n = 9, 3.5 ug/kg of body weight (BW)), high cortisol (HC; n = 9, 7.0 ug/kg of BW), or a sham infusion control (CON; …

Genetic Contribution To Growth Of Cryptococcus Neoformans In The Environment Of The Human Host, Piotr Ryszard Stempinski

All Dissertations

Cryptococcus neoformans is an environmental basidiomycetous fungus and opportunistic pathogen that primarily infects the immunocompromised patients. The ability to adapt to mammalian body temperature is essential for survival and successful virulence. Cryptococcus neoformans relies on a multiple complex signaling network and virulence factors for the adaptation and survival in the environment of human host. This dissertation presents result of genetic screen assay performed on 4,031 gene knockout strains of C. neoformans. The analysis has resulted in identification of 46 genes with significant contribution to the maximum temperature at which C. neoformans can proliferate. Our research described previously uncharacterized genes that …

Data Management Report August 2021, Tennessee. Department Of Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities

Compliance & System Data/Reports

This monthly report provides data on various aspects of the department's activities and programs.

Ecophysiology Of Toxic Bloom-Forming Cyanobacteria And Their Symbionts, Dominique J. Lockwood

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Currently, there is a pernicious microbe in the genus Microcystis that is putting the world’s freshwater resources at risk. A member of the phylum Cyanobacteria, otherwise referred to as blue-green algae, Microcystis forms massive algal blooms in lakes and has the potential to produce a toxin, which does not only harm humans, but also pets, livestock, and aquatic life. As recently as 2016, in the city of Toledo, Ohio, nearly 1 million residents went without clean drinking water for an entire weekend due to one of these Microcystis blooms. However, Microcystis does not only bloom in Ohio. In fact, …

August 2021, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

SWOSU COVID-19 Vaccination Opportunities

• The Delta variant is nearly twice as contagious as previous variants.

• Some data suggest the Delta variant might cause more severe illness than previous strains in unvaccinated persons.
• Unvaccinated people remain the greatest concern.

• The greatest risk of transmission is among unvaccinated people who are much more likely to contract, and therefore transmit the virus.

Doing More With Less: A Quantitative Analysis Of Mindfulness, Meditation, Sustainable Consumption Awareness And Practice Among University Undergraduates, Teresa Van Horn

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Climate change, overconsumption, air, and water pollution continue to be pressing issues for society. Given the significant impact of overconsumption, the search for strategies to promote more sustainable behavior has become a topic for investigation. Universities are uniquely positioned to help students work toward sustainable solutions. This research explored the role of mindfulness in university students' sustainable consumption awareness and practice as there are gaps in the literature concerning definitions, constructs, and research regarding mindfulness and sustainable consumption.

To address these disparities, this research used stepwise regression analysis to investigate the extent to which mindfulness and select demographic measures …

Socioecological Factors And Farmer Perceptions Impacting Pesticide Use And Pollinator Conservation On Cucurbit Farms, Elias H. Bloom, Dana Marie Bauer, Abigail Kaminski, Ian Kaplan, Zsofia Szendrei

Economics

While research suggests that pollinator decline is linked with agricultural practices, it is unclear whether farmers share this view and adapt management to promote pollinators based on their understanding of these threats. To address these issues, we surveyed farmers of pollinator-dependent cucurbit crops across four states in the Midwest, USA. We grouped farmers by their perceptions of pollinator declines and routes of pesticide exposure and used statistical models to evaluate if farmers manage pests and pollinators based on these perceptions. Out of 93 completed surveys, 39% of farmers believed pollinators were in decline. When grouped, 17% of farmers were classified …

Developing Outpatient, Clinic-Based Education For Patients With Diabetes And Prediabetes, Ruth Ann Slayton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract Education and support provided to the newly diagnosed prediabetic or Type 2 Diabetic are inadequate in the outpatient arena. In rural areas, instruction for diabetes is minimal to nonexistent, and patients are paying for this with their health and lives many times. The financial burden of diabetes in the United States is astronomical. The loss of life and life quality is significantly high as well. A systems-based approach to education in the rural health clinic would be of great benefit and has proven to be enough to reverse or avoid the progression of the disease. A clinic or field-based …