Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Agroecological Farming Systems On Human Health, Olivia Kathryn Mason

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

There is a growing concern that the current farming techniques are producing less-nutrient dense soils and foods impacting human health. To improve the health of soils, people, and the plant, a growing number of farmers are using regenerative, or agroecological, farming practices. Some of these methods include multi-cropping (growing various plants on the same plot of land), ley systems (alternating between crops and livestock), and rotational grazing of livestock. Previous studies have found that regenerative farming systems have various benefits for the lands, crops, and animals, as well as increasing the nutrient density of foods.

The purpose of this study …

Linking Microbial Community Assembly In Flowers With Function Under Diverse Environmental Conditions: A Case Study Involving Erwinia Amylovora, Christopher Skylar Mcdaniel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Fire blight, a devastating disease of pome fruit trees caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, can cause millions of dollars in losses for producers each year around the globe. Management approaches that involve use of antibiotics, such as streptomycin, can be effective; although concerns exist over pollinator and crop health when using them regularly. Recently, there have been developments that allow for biological agents such as microbes to curtail fire blight infection. These agents work by competing with Erwinia for resources or space, producing antibacterial compounds, or even killing Erwinia cells on contact. Unfortunately, these agents do not yet …

Characterization Of Enterovirus D68 In A Mouse Model And Evaluation Of Antiviral Therapies, Zoe K. Taylor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is a virus that causes respiratory disease. Children are most commonly affected by EV-D68 but immunocompromised adults can also get infected and develop severe disease signs. In 2014, the United States experienced an unprecedented outbreak of EV-D68. Similar outbreaks were also observed in 2016, 2018 and 2022. Interestingly, few EV-D68 infections were observed in 2020, likely due to public health measures put in place to reduce the spread of another respiratory disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). EV-D68 is in the same virus family as polio, and one of the most concerning findings from these outbreaks is that …

Geographic Variation In Blue Orchard Bee (Osmia Lignaria) Development And Performance As A Managed Pollinator In The Western United States, Morgan B. Scalici

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Most flowering plants, including many cultivated food crops, will only produce well-developed fruits and seeds if pollen is transferred from one flower to another with the help of an animal pollinator. Honey bees are the most well-known and ubiquitous but are poor pollinators of some commercially important crops, or are in poor supply during crop bloom. In such cases, farmers will employ other managed pollinators such as bumble bees or solitary bees like mason and leafcutting bees. The blue orchard bee is North America's most agriculturally important native mason bee as effective pollinators of spring-blooming fruit crops. Differences in developmental …

Integrated Behavioral-Health Supports: Combining Pbis And Sel At Tier 2, Thomas K. Franzmann

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Childhood behavior problems present many challenges for youth, families, and schools. To assist in preventing and reducing such problems, schools have adopted various strategies to assist with such concerns. Two widely used strategies for addressing problem behavior in schools are Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). While both have a plethora of evidence of their effectiveness independently, less is known as to whether than can compliment one another for even better outcomes. The current study examined the effectiveness of an integrated approach (PBIS + SEL) to classroom intervention for elementary school students exhibiting behavior problems. This …

Incorporating Sustainability Into Utah High School's Textiles And Apparel Curriculum, Michelle Clouse

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The purpose of this study was to propose sustainability-based curriculum changes to Utah's textiles and apparel (TA) curriculum. This study's specific curriculum change proposals are limited to Sewing Construction and Textiles (SCT) 1 and Sports and Outdoor Design (SOD) 1 courses. The proposed changes were made with the input of 24 Utah FCS TA educators via a research-developed survey on Qualtrics. FCS TA educators were asked to give their input on sustainability topics already taught in their classroom, teaching methods of sustainable topics, potential barriers to incorporating sustainability into the curriculum, and their receptiveness to curriculum change.

The Teacher Attitudes …

Beyond ‘Bisexual’: Toward A New Conceptualization Of Bi+ Experience, Brook Hutchinson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Scholars have begun to explore sexual identity development and the impact of sexuality binaries on well-being for bi+ individuals. However, extant research has not yet fully analyzed the experiences of bi+ individuals in heterosexual relationships, particularly those who have never experienced a non-heterosexual relationship. This community remains relatively invisible in research and theory on sexuality and within LGBTQIA+ communities. The unique experiences of these individuals can provide valuable insights to the field of bi+ research by furthering our understanding of sexual identity development and queer inclusion and by underscoring the need for more inclusive research, policy, and practice. The current …

Impacts Of Area-Wide Air Pollution On Multimodal Traffic: Comparing Pedestrian, Motor Vehicle, And Transit Volumes In Utah, Prachanda Tiwari

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The impact of area-wide air pollution on multimodal traffic volumes has been underexplored. Thus, this research investigates the effect of area-wide air pollution on pedestrian volumes, motor volumes, and transit ridership across two urban areas in Utah for two years (2018 and 2019). The research employed multilevel modeling to study this effect. The model results showed an overall decrease in pedestrian volumes in both study areas, while driving volumes saw both increases and decreases in different locations. Transit ridership saw an increase during days with moderate air quality in one particular study area. Median income, vehicle ownership, and higher street …

Bells Of Mindfulness: An Online Mindfulness Meditation Course To Promote Mindfulness Meditation For Phd Students, Michael Folland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Over the last 20 years, there has been growing evidence of mental health issues in doctoral candidates worldwide (Zhang et al., 2022; Barry et al., 2019; Gewin, 2012; Radison & DiGeronimo, 2005). Practicing mindfulness meditation, which is one way to cope with stress and anxiety (Kabat-Zinn, 1991), could be a useful practice for these PhD students. However, despite all the evidence that suggests the health benefits of having a regular meditation routine, motivating graduate students to practice meditation can be challenging (Franco, 2020). This study addresses this challenge by assessing a 5-week mindfulness meditation course designed to support graduate students …

Evaluating The Effects Of Ketamine On Cognitive Flexibility In Rats Using A Probabilistic Reversal Learning Task, Anthony N. Nist

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Depression is one of the most debilitating and widespread mental health conditions in the world today. Drugs that are traditionally prescribed to combat depression are flawed in several ways, and because of this, new treatments are needed. One drug that seems capable of overcoming the limitations of traditional antidepressants is ketamine. In clinical research, a single dose of ketamine can significantly reduce symptoms of depression quickly, its effects may last for weeks to months, and its side effects appear to be limited and relatively harmless. However, clinical research is ongoing, and more research is needed to fully understand ketamine's beneficial …

Specialized Recreation, Spatial Behavior, And Ecological Implications In The Nature Reserve Of Orange County, Ca, Jake Van Deursen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

A widespread surge in park and protected area (PPA) visitation strikes managers with the imminent challenge of preserving ecological conditions and maintaining accessibility in the open spaces that are a fundamental component to the health and wellness needs of society. In the field of recreation resource management, recreation specialization, the selective channeling of interests and abilities into a specific recreational activity, has contributed to comprehensive understandings of recreation behavior, site preference, management perceptions and conservation support. Contributing to historical understandings of specialization can inform recreation planning on the diversity of uses occurring in urban-proximate PPAs. Survey data providing information on …

Investigating K-3 Spanish Dual Language Immersion Teachers' Conceptions Of Mathematics-Focused Content-Based Language Teaching, Rachel C. Reeder

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Classroom instruction is influenced by and reflects teachers’ conceptions about their teaching. In elementary Dual Language Immersion (DLI) classrooms, teachers deliver mathematics and target-language instruction with the expectation that both can be developed concurrently. This qualitative study investigated K-3 Spanish DLI teachers’ conceptions about Mathematics-Focused Content-Based Language Teaching (MF-CBLT), which emphasizes the instructional parameters guiding teachers’ integration of content (mathematics), language (Spanish), and teaching (pedagogy).

The study examined 11 teachers’ statements and teaching samples to investigate their knowledge, beliefs, and preferences (i.e., conceptions) about MF-CBLT. A survey and individual teacher interviews provided access to what teachers had to say while …

The Impacts Of Maturation And Experience On Volumetric Neuroplasticity In Solitary And Social Bees, Mallory A. Hagadorn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Some animals are incredibly social, living and working together as one cohesive group. Alternatively, many animals are solitary, never living with and rarely interacting with others. A large body of biological research has focused on understanding the role that brains play in promoting these behavioral differences across species. Even so, it remains unclear why some brains facilitate social behavior while others do not. My dissertation aims to advance our understanding of this concept by characterizing bees’ brains and how they change over a lifetime. Bees are beneficial for investigating relationships between the brain and social behavior because some species are …

Virtual Structures Based Autonomous Formation Flying Control For Small Satellites, Tyson K. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Many space organizations have a growing need to fly several small satellites close together in order to collect and correlate data from different satellite sensors. To do this requires teams of engineers monitoring the satellites orbits and planning maneuvers for the satellites every time the satellite leaves its desired trajectory or formation. This task of maintaining the satellites orbits quickly becomes an arduous and expensive feat for satellite operations centers. This research develops and analyzes algorithms that allow satellites to autonomously control their orbit and formation without human intervention. This goal is accomplished by developing and evaluating a decentralized, optimization-based …

Phenology Of The Invasive Balsam Woolly Adelgid, Adelges Piceae (Ratz.) (Hemiptera: Adelgidae), On Subalpine Fir In Northern Utah, Elizabeth L. Rideout

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Balsam woolly adelgid (BWA) is an invasive true fir pest in North America. Native to Europe, BWA was first discovered in Utah attacking subalpine fir in 2017. Recent BWA-caused subalpine fir mortality in northern Utah has prompted the need for baseline biological research to support pest management. Small-bodied and blending easily with its environment, BWA is a challenging pest to detect and study. Phenology, or the timing and characteristics of life stages through the year, of BWA varies depending on elevation and climate and is unstudied in Utah. This research focuses on defining aspects of BWA’s phenology, including the number …

Evaluating Implementer Preference For And Correspondence Between Structured Descriptive Analysis And Trial Based Functional Analysis, Kacy Rodamaker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Determining the function of maladaptive behavior aides in the creation of effective intervention measures to change that behavior. Three assessments that are used to determine behavioral function include the trial based functional analysis (TBFA), structured descriptive analysis (SDA), and antecedent-behavior-consequence (ABC) recording. In the present study, we compared the time it took to conduct each of these assessments as well as the similarity between the functions identified by each assessment. Additionally, we compared procedural acceptability and implementer preference between the SDA and TBFA by collecting survey results from a staff participant who implemented the two measures with the support of …

Using Telehealth To Teach Caregivers Mand Training Using A Speech Generating Device, Sara Jeppson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Children with ASD often have struggles with social communication and developing a functional vocal output. Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) can be used in different modes such as speech generating devices (SGDs) to help these individuals develop a vocal output. Caregivers are optimal to aid their children in learning these communication skills. Past studies such as Suberman and Civindini-Motta showed that behavioral skills training (BST) can be effective to teach caregivers communication training using an SGD. The current study aimed to replicate the procedures of Suberman and Civindini-Motta but extended it by adapting the procedures described using telehealth.

Dominant Cognitive Strategy In Aphantasia, Sarah N. Pope

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The purpose of this research was to explore the impact on thinking when an individual is not able to "see with a mind's eye." This is known as aphantasia and is the reduction or absence of visual imagery, which can have large impacts on problem solving and remembering one's own past. The current study examines these impacts by exploring the different ways in which thinking may occur, verbal-analytical, visual imagery, spatial imagery, and how a one's dominant thinking strategy affects performance on a paired work task, a mental rotation task, and an object memory task. Comparing those with typical imagery …

Relative Hepatotoxocity, Carcinogenicity, And Toxicogenomics Of Select Dehydropyrrolizidine Alkaloids In Mice, Michael J. Clayton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids are arguably the most important plant derived toxins in terms of impact on human and animal health. Dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids are a large group of chemically related compounds found in 3% of flowering plants worldwide. Human exposure occurs from ingestion of herbal products including teas supplements or contaminated grain. Animals are exposed through contaminated feed or grazing. There are at least 350 identified toxic PAs, from more than 6,000 plants. The toxins primarily cause liver damage, but some are proven to cause cancer. Indidvidual dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids vary in their toxic effects. Riddelliine is the only dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloid with extensive …

Restoration Strategies For Wetlands In The Arid West: Seeding And Planting Approaches For Lakeshore Ecosystems, Jes Braun

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wetlands are widely recognized for their valuable benefits such as providing habitat, improving water quality, and reducing the impacts of flooding. However, wetlands face threats from development, drought, and invasive species. This is particularly apparent in the arid west, where upstream water use and drought make water scarcer and contribute to dramatically changing water levels. Here, I investigated revegetation techniques for lakeshore wetlands, using Utah Lake as a case study. Although recent management efforts have minimized invasive Phragmites cover, the desired plant communities are not returning as quickly as needed, highlighting the need to research restoration techniques. Through my research, …

Metapopulation Genomics Of American Goshawks In The Intermountain West, Megan M. Sidran

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Understanding a species dispersal ecology and population dynamics is essential to effectively manage and conserve a species. As advancing technology improves our knowledge of species movements, it is becoming clear that many species form metapopulations to some extent. A metapopulation is a network of interconnected subpopulations that exchange reproductive individuals with subpopulations occupying nearby patches. Metapopulations have been observed in a variety of species, ranging from plants to vertebrates, and can vary greatly in their dynamics (level of connectivity and gene flow) based on the species behavior and life history strategy.

Forming a metapopulation can add much resilience to the …

Essays On The Economics Of Hurricanes, Haishan Yang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This dissertation explores how Hurricanes Katrina and Rita affected the economy in New Orleans and nearby areas in Louisiana. Using a variety of econometric techniques, my dissertation aims to understand the effects of these storms on employment, wages, and housing prices.

In the first essay, I focus on employment in New Orleans. I find that Katrina led to significant and lasting job losses in nearly every sector, while the construction sector stood as an exception, recovering within just three months. Interestingly, wages increased in most sectors. This suggests that with fewer workers available, those who remained became more valuable, leading …

Reducing Inputs And Adding Value To Turfgrass Systems Through Clover Inclusion And Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Applications, Paige E. Boyle

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Recently, the US has seen an expansion in the amount of turfgrass land cover (lawns, parks, roadsides, sports fields, and golf courses), as well as an interest in reducing fertilizer, water, and pesticide use in these grass systems. To help maintain quality and function while reducing resource inputs, two promising approaches have emerged: planting clover into lawns and applying plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.

White clover and grass mixtures have been studied for their ability to cut down on fertilizer usage and provide a uniform, dark green lawn, but other clover types have not been as widely studied and may provide similar …

Blastocyst Quality And Reproductive And Perinatal Outcomes: A Multinational Multicentre Observational Study, Haowen Zou, James M. Kemper, Elizabeth R. Hammond, Fengqin Xu, Gensheng Liu, Lintao Xue, Xiaohong Bai, Hongqing Liao, Songguo Xue, Shuqin Zhao, Lan Xia, Jean Scott, Vincent Chapple, Masoud Afnan, Dean E. Morbeck, Ben W. J. Mol, Yanhe Liu, Rui Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

STUDY QUESTION: Does the transfer of single low-grade blastocysts result in acceptable reproductive and perinatal outcomes compared to the transfer of single good-grade blastocysts? SUMMARY ANSWER: The transfer of single low-grade blastocysts resulted in a reduced live birth rate of around 30% (14% for very low-grade blastocysts) compared to 44% for single good-grade blastocysts, but does not lead to more adverse perinatal outcomes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: It is known that low-grade blastocysts can result in live births. However, the current studies are limited by relatively small sample sizes and single-centre designs. Furthermore, evidence on perinatal outcomes after transferring low-grade …

Parapapillary Βbm And Γ Zones Played Different Roles In Axial Elongation Among Young Adolescents Using Optical Coherence Tomography, Yin Guo, Jiayan Li, Feifei Tian, Rui Hou, Lijuan Liu, Jiali Duan, Ang Ji, Youxin Wang, Xiuhua Guo, Deqiang Zheng, Wei Wang, Lijuan Wu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: To evaluate the influencing factors of parapapillary BM and zones incidence in young adolescents and to explore their associations with axial length progression. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 976 seventh-grade students from nine secondary schools in Beijing, China, were enrolled and followed up 1 year later. Parapapillary BM zone was defined as retinal pigment epithelium loss while Bruch's membrane was present. Parapapillary zone was defined as the absence of retinal pigment epithelium and Bruch's membrane. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of BM and zone incidence. A linear mixed model was used to analyze …

Organisational Drivers And Sustainability Implementation In The Mining Industry: A Holistic Theoretical Framework, Prince Amoah, Gabriel Eweje

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While few studies have examined the role of institutional pressures on sustainable business practices, there is a dearth of empirical research regarding the influence of internal organisational characteristics on sustainability implementation in developing countries. This paper examines internal organisational features and how they influence multinational companies (MNCs) operating in a resource-rich developing country to embrace and embed sustainability into corporate policies and practices. The findings show that the history of past sustainable practices, the level of internationalisation and managerial cognition internally drive MNCs to implement sustainability in their host countries. We discuss that managerial cognition drives MNCs to embrace sustainability …

How Does Apolipoprotein E Genotype Influence The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Alzheimer’S Disease Risk? A Novel Integrative Model, Jaisalmer De Frutos Lucas, Kelsey R. Sewell, Alejandra García-Colomo, Shaun Markovic, Kirk I. Erickson, Belinda M. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background:

Wide evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) confers protection against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). On the other hand, the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) ε₄ allele represents the greatest genetic risk factor for developing AD. Extensive research has been conducted to determine whether frequent PA can mitigate the increased AD risk associated with APOE ε₄. However, thus far, these attempts have produced inconclusive results. In this context, one possible explanation could be that the influence of the combined effect of PA and APOE ε₄ carriage might be dependent on the specific outcome measure utilised.

Main body:

In …

Mapk1 Promotes The Metastasis And Invasion Of Gastric Cancer As A Bidirectional Transcription Factor, Yue Wang, Zheng Guo, Yueli Tian, Liang Cong, Yulu Zheng, Zhiyuan Wu, Guangle Shan, Yao Xia, Yahong Zhu, Xingang Li, Ying Song

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) has both independent functions of phosphorylating histones as a kinase and directly binding the promoter regions of genes to regulate gene expression as a transcription factor. Previous studies have identified elevated expression of MAPK1 in human gastric cancer, which is associated with its role as a kinase, facilitating the migration and invasion of gastric cancer cells. However, how MAPK1 binds to its target genes as a transcription factor and whether it modulates related gene expressions in gastric cancer remains unclear. Results: Here, we integrated biochemical assays (protein interactions and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)), cellular …

Assessing Risks For Bovine And Zoonotic Tuberculosis Through Spatial Analysis And A Questionnaire Survey In Fiji – A Pilot Study, Jenny-Ann L. M. L. Toribio, Keresi Lomata, Sam Fullman, Aaron Jenkins, Elva Borja, Shumaila Arif, Jarrad Mckercher, David Blake, Anabel Garcia, Richard J. Whittington, Frank Underwood, Ben J. Marais

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Mycobacterium bovis causes tuberculosis in cattle and when transmitted to humans typically causes extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) has a global distribution and is controlled in most countries to protect animal and public health. Recent studies revealed that bTB is established on dairy farms in Fiji where EPTB cases have been reported in people. The aims of this pilot investigation were to look for putative zoonotic TB (EPTB) cases in people and to evaluate practices that might contribute to the persistence and transmission of M. bovis between cattle and to humans. Existing data sets were shared between the Fiji …

Assessment Of The Performance Of Haematological And Non-Invasive Fibrotic Indices For The Monitoring Of Chronic Hbv Infection: A Pilot Study In A Ghanaian Population, Eric N. Y. Nyarko, Christian Obirikorang, W. K. B. A. Owiredu, Evans A. Adu, Emmanuel Acheampong

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective: Haematological and liver fibrotic markers could be appreciably utilized for effective monitoring of Chronic Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection, thereby increasing patient’s treatment outcome. The objective of this study was to assess the applicability of complete blood count (CBC) and non-invasive liver-fibrotic indices as markers of prognostic outcome and monitoring in HBV infections. Results: Significant differences in levels of white cell and differentials counts, red blood cell count, hemoglobin indices, and platelet indices were observed between HBV-infected patients (cases) and uninfected persons (controls). Levels of haemoglobin (Hb), total white blood cells (tWBC), neutrophils, monocytes, platelets, and Platelet Distribution width …