Life Sciences Commons^™

Parent Nutrition Education And The Influence On Family Lifestyle Behavior Changes, Kelsey Rich

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Utah State University in the collaboration with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) proposes to develop and implement a program to help families develop healthy eating habits and lifestyle behaviors. Recently, childhood overweight and obesity has reached epidemic proportions. The diseases associated with adult obesity are now being seen in the pediatric population; therefore, there is a call for preventative efforts. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in combination with an active lifestyle discourages the presence of obesity. Currently, most childhood obesity prevention efforts have taken place in the school setting and have only had short term …

Assessing Mourning Dove Population Declines: Changes In Nesting Dynamics And The Role Of Perch Sites, Paul M. Meyers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I replicated a nesting study carried out 40 years ago in southern Utah to assess reasons for long-term population declines of mourning doves (Zenaida macroura) in the western United States. I compared current nesting patterns to similar data collected in 1952. I saw little difference in nest success and nest predation, but reproductive output and nest density decreased dramatically. The number of young fledged per pair of adults was only 64% of that estimated in 1952. A 1-2 week delay in the nesting season contributed to this decrease, but cannot explain it entirely. Nest density was about 20% …

Changes In The Vulvular And Vestibular Tissue Of The Bovine During The Estrous Cycle As Determined By The Use Of Near Infrared Interactance, Robert Alan Kunzler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy is routinely used for the analysis of quality components of feedstuffs. Near infrared spectrophotometers, coupled with a fiber optic probe, could enable direct measurements of the live animal. This study was conducted to characterize changes in the vulva and vestibule during the bovine estrous cycle using near infrared (NI) spectroscopy. Sixteen cycling Holstein cows were observed for estrus twice daily from 40 days postpartum for three estrous cycles or until conception was verified. In addition, weekly rectal palpations, cowside milk progesterone tests, and tailhead chalk were used to aid in estrous detection. Near infrared spectra of …

The Economic Impact Of Potential Changes In Federal Grazing Policies On Ranchers In Wayne County, Utah, Kib Elden Jacobson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to select an area in Utah that was predominantly livestock oriented which used federal lands for livestock grazing, and to develop model ranches exemplifying the typical live-stock operation in the area. These model ranches were then used in a Budget Generator Program (BG) and a Linear Programming framework (LP) to simulate reductions of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% reductions of BLM land usage. The results were then used to determine income changes, herd size changes, and resource usage in the models as the reductions took place.

The area chosen was Wayne County, Utah because …

Changes In Spider Community Attributes Along A Subalpine Successional Gradient, Gerald Norman Waagen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The spider communities of four stages of a successional sere leading to and including spruce forests were studied in northern Utah. Four seral stages were recognized. These include: meadows, aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands, subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) forest, and the climax Engelmann spruce (Pica engelmanii) forests.

During the snow-free periods of 1976, 1977 and 1978, 15,987 spiders were collected by three methods including: pitfall traps, by beating vegetation, and with sweep-net samples. Additionally, 1600 15-second intervals of behavioral observations, and measurements of 182 web locations were made.

Of 99 species collected, 44 were considered …

An Analysis Of Farm Land Use Changes Related To Inheritance Taxes, Estate Planning, And Sale For Retirement In Selected Utah Counties During 1971-1975, Randall Nolan Parker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Because of increasing rural land values, potential estate problems have been created for farm owners. This study was conducted to analyze land use changes when the farm owner dies. Land use changes and factors related to use change for estates subjected to probate court during 1971-1975, in the selected Utah counties, are described in this thesis.

County records were searched for information pertaining to farm estates probaged in six Utah counties. Individuals handling the affairs of the estates were contacted by mail. Questionnaires returned were used in the analysis and are the basis for the conclusions of this study.

General …

A Study Of Ultrastructural Changes In Tolerant And Susceptible Lines Of Alfalfa Induced By Stem Nematode (Ditylenchus Dipsaci Kühn), Dorris C.N. Chang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fine structural analyses of host tissue (alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.) response to infection by the stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci Kühn) were conducted. Hypocotyl regions were taken on 1,3 and 7 days after inoculation.

Electron micrographs of infected tissue indicated the types of damage were the same between Lahontan (tolerant line) and Ranger (susceptible line). Only the infection rate (in percent) and degree of damage were different between lines and among the different temperatures (15, 20 and 25 C). The higher the temperature, the more injury resulted. After 3 to 7 days of infection, the symptoms observed were swelling and …

Effects Of Pre- And Post-Harvest Applications Of 6-Furfurylaminopurine And N6-Benzyladenine On Physio-Chemical Changes In Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L.), Hussein Ibrahim El-Mansy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The extent and nature of physio-chemical changes that take place in detached leaves after harvest and during storage have been reviewed and discussed by Osborne (1962) and Rogers (1955). These changes include loss of moisture (Wittwer et al., 1962), chlorophyll degredation (Person et al., 1957), Protein loss (Thimann and Manmahan, 1960), and result in subsequent appearance of the visual manifestations of senescence of plant tissues.

As lettuce, like most leafy vegetables, deteriorates rapidly and steadily after harvest. Loss of quality is inevitable and can only be minimized by rapid handling and with the best possible storage conditions (Pratt …

Income Adjustments From Fee And Permit Changes On Utah Cattle Ranches Using Public Ranges Yearlong, C. Kerry Gee

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Within the boundaries of Utah are approximately 52.7 million acres of land. About 41 million acres are rangeland, of which 73 percent is federally owned and 5 percent state owned (6).¹ The portion owned by the Federal government is administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Forest Service. Most of this land is either arid or mountainous and has been used mainly for grazing in the past. IT has other uses, however, such as mining, forestry, recreation, and watersheds. Due to recent increases in population, personal income, shorter work weeks, and improved transportation facilities, these alternatives …