Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Impacts Of Lake Elevation Decline On Tui Chub, A Critical Forage Species For Lahontan Cutthroat Trout In Pyramid Lake, Nevada, Usa, Sarah Barnes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Lake level decline affects lakes worldwide, changing the availability and character of nearshore habitat used by fish to spawn, and increasing total dissolved solids (TDS), similar to salinity, a factor that negatively impacts fish health. Lake level decline can affect different lakes in different ways, but typically when lake level declines significantly, there is less nearshore habitat overall, and what nearshore habitat remains has less diverse habitat for fish. We investigated whether both impacts of lake level decline may be causing declines of Tui Chub Siphateles bicolor, a large minnow native to Pyramid Lake that spawns in nearshore habitat. …

Exploring Optimal Design Of Experiments For Random Effects Models, Ryan C. Bushman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The majority of research in the field of optimal design of experiments has focused on producing designs for fixed effects models. The purpose of this thesis is to explore how the optimal design framework applies to nested random effects models. The object that is being optimized is the model information matrix. We explore the full derivation of the random effects information matrix to highlight the complexity of the problem and show how the optimization is a function of the model's parameters. In conjunction with this research, the ODVC (Optimal Design for Variance Components) package was built to provide tools that …

Generative Ai In Education From The Perspective Of Students, Educators, And Administrators, Aashish Ghimire

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This research explores how advanced artificial intelligence (AI), like the technology that powers tools such as ChatGPT, is changing the way we teach and learn in schools and universities. Imagine AI helping to summarize thick legal documents into something you can read over a coffee break or helping students learn how to code by offering personalized guidance. We looked into how teachers feel about using these AI tools in their classrooms, what kind of rules schools have about them, and how they can make learning programming easier for students. We found that most teachers are excited about the possibilities but …

Utah Growing Water Smart: The Water-Land Use Integration Guidebook For Northern Utah, Kelly Kopp, Joanna Endter-Wada

Utah Growing Water Smart

Utah faces a formidable challenge. We have the distinction of being among the most arid states in the nation and one of the fastest growing. At the convergence of these two realities lies the challenge of providing a secure water supply for our growing population — projected to reach approximately 6 million by 2065¹ — while maintaining environmental health, economic vibrancy, and agricultural productivity.

El Nino Prediction At 1- And 3- Year Lead Times Driven By The Western North Pacific Precursor And Their Impacts, Krishna Borhara

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate variability characterized by fluctuations in the atmospheric and upper ocean conditions of the tropical Pacific Ocean that result in either warmer- or colder-than-average sea surface temperatures (SST) in the tropical eastern Pacific. These changes cause variations in weather and climate in distant locations through large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns. These variations often manifest in form of adverse effects or extremes such as heat waves, droughts, or floods, making efforts towards improving ENSO prediction critical in mitigating its impact on various sectors. This dissertation focuses on how interactions between the atmosphere and ocean in …

Decentralized Unknown Building Exploration By Frontier Incentivization And Voronoi Segmentation In A Communication Restricted Domain, Huzeyfe M. Kocabas

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Exploring unknown environments using multiple robots poses a complex challenge, particularly in situations where communication between robots is either impossible or limited. Existing exploration techniques exhibit research gaps due to unrealistic communication assumptions or the computational complexities associated with exploration strategies in unfamiliar domains. In our investigation of multi-robot exploration in unknown areas, we employed various exploration and coordination techniques, evaluating their performance in terms of robustness and efficiency across different levels of environmental complexity.

Our research is centered on optimizing the exploration process through strategic agent distribution. We initially address the challenge of city roadway coverage, aiming to minimize …

The Influence Of Individual Strategies On Cougar Ecology: Insights From Predation, Space Use, And Reproduction, Kristin Nicole Engebretsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Carnivores are ecologically important to global ecosystems because they interact with their prey species and other carnivores in a variety of ways. Many carnivores have suffered habitat loss and persecution by humans, which has led some populations to become imperiled or locally extirpated. Despite these challenges, cougars (Puma concolor) continue to exist across North, Central, and South America. They exhibit behavioral adaptation across their wide range, thriving in terrain that ranges from temperate forests, to steppe scrub, to rainforest, to rugged deserts. Across these diverse ecosystems, cougars can successfully establish territories, hunt prey, and raise young to persist …

Sustainable Fertilizer Management Practices For Container Nursery Production, Saroj Burlakoti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Growing nursery plants in containers requires a timely supply of mineral nutrients for optimum growth. However, there is a misconception among growers that the application of higher doses of fertilizers hastens plant growth; instead, it can lead to runoff and leaching loss of nutrients. Reducing fertilizer application while sustaining healthy plants can not only negate environmental consequences but also save fertilizer costs. For example, two ground covers, Lysimachia nummularia (creeping jenny, moneywort) and Vinca minor 'Bowles' (periwinkle), can be grown for three months by applying 6 mg/L of phosphorus (P) as reduction of P to single application of 6 mg/L …

Ianova: Multi-Sample Means Comparisons For Imprecise Interval Data, Zachary Rios

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In recent years, interval data has become an increasingly popular tool to solve modern data problems. Intervals are now often used for dimensionality reduction, data aggregation, privacy censorship, and quantifying awareness of various uncertainties. Among many statistical methods that are being studied and developed for interval data, the significance test is particularly of importance due to its fundamental value both in theory and practice. The difficulty in developing such tests mainly lies in the fact that the concept of normality does not extend naturally to interval data (due the range of an interval being necessarily non-negative), causing the exact tests …

Simulating Ice Particle Properties Under Varying Electric Fields, Joseph Cooney

Physics Capstone Projects

In this study, the interactions between atmospheric water molecules and an electrically charged dust particle were simulated in python to determine the role of electric charge and electric fields in atmospheric ice formation. Multiple levels of electric charge were tested, corresponding to different strengths of atmospheric electric fields. The TIP4P-2005 model for water was used to simulate these molecules under the influence of a central electric potential to represent the charged dust particle. These included a control group with no electric field (0 C), a group under a fair-weather strength of electric field (1.6*10-14 C), a foul-weather electric field (1.6*10-12 …

Combining Empirical And Physics-Based Models For Solar Wind Prediction, Rob Johnson, Soukaina Filali Boubrahimi, Omar Bahri, Shah Muhammad Hamdi

Computer Science Faculty and Staff Publications

Solar wind modeling is classified into two main types: empirical models and physics-based models, each designed to forecast solar wind properties in various regions of the heliosphere. Empirical models, which are cost-effective, have demonstrated significant accuracy in predicting solar wind at the L1 Lagrange point. On the other hand, physics-based models rely on magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) principles and demand more computational resources. In this research paper, we build upon our recent novel approach that merges empirical and physics-based models. Our recent proposal involves the creation of a new physics-informed neural network that leverages time series data from solar wind predictors to …

Supply, Demand, And Fiscal Sustainability Of Outdoor Recreation In Utah, Jordan W. Smith, Chris Monz

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Because Utah's outdoor recreation destinations are managed by several different federal and state agencies, there is no comprehensive and consistent information on the amount and types of outdoor recreation resources available within the state. Additionally, there has been no research to date on how state programs whose revenues are dependent on outdoor recreation activity, are likely to fare in the coming years. This report begins to address these limitations by: 1) compiling and synthesizing data that characterize the amount and location of outdoor recreation resources throughout the state; and 2) presenting the results of a suite of econometric forecasting models …

Non-Destructive Thickness Uniformity Measurement Of Photosensitive Gelatin Film, Clayton Halper

Physics Capstone Projects

Volume phase holographic gratings (VPHG’s) depend on dichromate gelatin of which uniform thickness is vital. The photosensitive nature of the film makes current thin film measurement devices not viable for production means. This project attempts to create a non-destructive measurement of photosensitive gelatin film used in VPHG production. Application of thin film interference at chosen wavelengths enable analysis of uniformity by comparison between the thin film inference patterns at different wavelengths. An initial proof of concept was established and a path towards a production ready device is outlined.

Exploring Practical Measures As An Approach For Measuring Elementary Students’ Attitudes Towards Computer Science, Umar Shehzad, Mimi M. Recker, Jody E. Clarke-Midura

Publications

This paper presents a novel approach for predicting the outcomes of elementary students’ participation in computer science (CS) instruction by using exit tickets, a type of practical measure, where students provide rapid feedback on their instructional experiences. Such feedback can help teachers to inform ongoing teaching and instructional practices. We fit a Structural Equation Model to examine whether students' perceptions of enjoyment, ease, and connections between mathematics and CS in an integrated lesson predicted their affective outcomes in self-efficacy, interest, and CS identity, collected in a pre- post- survey. We found that practical measures can validly measure student experiences.

The First Variational Formula, The Phase Space Of Solutions, And The Ostrogradsky Formalism, Matthew Pontius, Drew Watson

Physics Capstone Projects

We consider Lagrangians for classical mechanics which depend upon an arbitrary number of time derivatives of the configuration variables. From the boundary term in the first variation of the Lagrangian we derive the Ostrogradsky formulas which define the Hamiltonian formulation of mechanical systems.

Errata: Water Main Break Rates In The Usa And Canada: A Comprehensive Study, Steven Barfuss

Reports

Page 5 – Major Finding 6 (change also made in text on Page 18):

Added “in the reported pipe inventory” to better clarify the percentage reduction

Page 6 – Major Finding 14 (change also made in text on Page 31):

Changed “six” to “five” years to explain the time elapsed between the 2018 and 2023 studies

Page 7 – Major Finding 28 (change also made in text on Page 46):

Added “percentage” to better clarify the percentage of acceptance

Page 8 – Section 1.1:

Updated “(WRF, 2017)” to “(Grigg, 2007)” and “(US Conference of Mayors, 2018)” to “(Anderson, 2018)”

Page …

Ocean Temperatures Do Not Account For A Record-Setting Winter In The U.S. West, Matthew D. Laplante, Liping Deng, Luthiene Dalanhese, Shih-Yu Wang

Journalism and Communication Faculty Publications

The record-setting winter of 2022–2023 came as an answer to both figurative and literal prayers for political leaders, policy makers, and water managers reliant on snowpacks in the Upper Colorado River Basin, a vital source of water for tens of millions of people across the Western United States. But this “drought-busting” winter was not well-predicted, in part because while interannual patterns of tropical ocean temperatures have a well-known relationship to precipitation patterns across much of the American West, the Upper Colorado is part of a liminal region where these connections tend to be comparatively weak. Using historical sea surface temperature …

Anomaly Detection On Small Wind Turbine Blades Using Deep Learning Algorithms, Bridger Altice, Edwin Nazario, Mason Davis, Mohammad Shekaramiz, Todd K. Moon, Mohammad A. S. Masoum

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Wind turbine blade maintenance is expensive, dangerous, time-consuming, and prone to misdiagnosis. A potential solution to aid preventative maintenance is using deep learning and drones for inspection and early fault detection. In this research, five base deep learning architectures are investigated for anomaly detection on wind turbine blades, including Xception, Resnet-50, AlexNet, and VGG-19, along with a custom convolutional neural network. For further analysis, transfer learning approaches were also proposed and developed, utilizing these architectures as the feature extraction layers. In order to investigate model performance, a new dataset containing 6000 RGB images was created, making use of indoor and …

Integrating Moral Norms And Stewardship Identity Into The Theory Of Planned Behavior To Understand Altruistic Conservation Behavior Among Hunters In Southwestern Utah (Usa), Jacob C. Richards, Zachary D. Miller, Russell Norvell, Jordan W. Smith

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

We integrate moral norms and stewardship identity into the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to predict the use of non-lead ammunition in the California condor recovery zone of southwestern Utah. Data were collected from licensed hunters via an online survey. Structural equation models of the TPB without and with the moral norms and stewardship identity constructs were compared to evaluate the utility of integrating these constructs into the TPB. Moral norms did have a significant direct influence on hunters’ behavioral intentions. Both moral norms and stewardship identity had significant indirect influences on behavioral intentions via the core constructs of the …

Cambrian Trilobites From The Nounan Dolomite And Lower St. Charles Formation (Upper Marjuman To Lower Sunwaptan; Miaolingian To Furongian Series), Smithfield Canyon, Northern Utah, Frederick A. Sundberg, Hannah R. Cothren, Carol M. Dehler

Geosciences Faculty Publications

The trilobite faunas that occur with the Steptoean Positive Isotope Carbon Excursion (SPICE) at Smithfield Canyon, Utah, have been reported, but not illustrated. Given the importance of the SPICE at this section for international correlations, the trilobites from new collections from the upper Nounan Dolomite to lower St. Charles Formation at Smithfield Canyon are reported herein and integrated with the previously reported taxa. Trilobite assemblages indicate that the upper Cedaria to the Ellipsocephaloides biozones (Miaolingian Series, Guzhangian Stage to Furongian Series, Jiangshanian Stage) are present stratigraphically below or above the SPICE.

Some of the taxa reported herein may represent new …

Facilitating Mathematics And Computer Science Connections: A Cross-Curricular Approach, Kimberly E. Beck, Jessica F. Shumway, Umar Shehzad, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

In the United States, school curricula are often created and taught with distinct boundaries between disciplines. This division between curricular areas may serve as a hindrance to students' long-term learning and their ability to generalize. In contrast, cross-curricular pedagogy provides a way for students to think beyond the classroom walls and make important connections across disciplines. The purpose of this paper is a theoretical reflection on our use of Expansive Framing in our design of lessons across learning environments within the school. We provide a narrative account of our early work in using this theoretical framework to co-plan and enact …

Moab Local Food Guide 2024, Roslynn Mccann, Shiree Duncan

All Current Publications

Thank you for picking up this Moab Utah Local Food Guide. Those growing and producing food within a 100 mile radius from Moab have been included in this guide to help YOU make locally sourced purchasing decisions!

Utah Growing Water Smart: The Water-Land Use Integration Guidebook For Southwestern Utah, Kelly Kopp, Joanna Endter-Wada

Utah Growing Water Smart

The Utah Growing Water Smart workshops bring together teams of key community staff and water and land use planning decision makers to help build a more resilient and sustainable water future. The workshops use a range of public engagement, planning, communication, and policy implementation tools to help community teams realize their water efficiency, smart growth, watershed health, and water resiliency goals.

This 3^rd edition of the Utah Growing Water Smart curriculum guidebook was prepared for the workshop focused on the Washington County Water Conservancy District service area and held on the campus of Southern Utah University in Cedar City, …

Search For Osme Bonds With Π Systems As Electron Donors, Xin Wang, Qingzhong Li, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The Osme bond is defined as pairing a Group 8 metal atom as an electron acceptor in a noncovalent interaction with a nucleophile. DFT calculations with the ωB97XD functional consider MO₄ (M = Ru, Os) as the Lewis acid, paired with a series of π electron donors C₂H₂ , C₂H₄ , C₆H₆ , C₄H₅N, C₄H₄O, and C₄H₄S. The calculations establish interaction energies in the range between 9.5 and 26.4 kJ/mol. Os engages in stronger interactions than does Ru, …

Teaching Reproducibility To First Year College Students: Reflections From An Introductory Data Science Course, Brennan L. Bean

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

Modern technology threatens traditional modes of classroom assessment by providing students with automated ways to write essays and take exams. At the same time, modern technology continues to expand the accessibility of computational tools that promise to increase the potential scope and quality of class projects. This paper presents a case study where students are asked to complete a “reproducible” final project in an introductory data science course using the R programming language. A reproducible project is one where an instructor can easily regenerate the results and conclusions from the submitted …

Water Main Break Rates In The Usa And Canada: A Comprehensive Study, Steven L. Barfuss

Reports

Deteriorating Infrastructure

Municipalities and the people they serve depend on pipe networks that provide safe drinking water. This piping is underground, out of sight, and often neglected.

Overall assessment of water infrastructure condition is not good. Using the US as an example:

• In 2009, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) issued a US report card and gave a D- to drinking water infrastructure.
• In 2017, the grade improved to a D.
• In 2021, the grade was raised to a C-, better but still not good.
• Utilities are currently losing 11% of their water to leakage.
• Pipe life estimates of …

Tropical Atlantic Temperature And Hydrologic Shifts During The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Chels Howard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is a geologic climate event that is studied heavily due to the similarities to anthropogenic climate change. This event occurred approximately 56 million years ago (Ma) and is characterized by a rapid release of carbon into the atmosphere, which resulted in an increase in temperature and a change in global climate events such as changes in patterns of evaporation and precipitation. We see this effect occurring in modern anthropogenic climate change due to the burning of fossil fuels releasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. In this study I use elemental data of …

Movement Patterns Of A Federally Endangered Minnow In A Fragmented Desert River, Martinique J. Chavez

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Fishes are unified in their need to move within the systems they occupy, and their movement patterns can be fundamental to their ecology and survival. Many large rivers in North America are fragmented by dams that modify natural flow regimes, compromise connectivity, and imperil freshwater fishes dependent on unrestricted movement in order to complete their life history. Coincident with widespread river fragmentation, are the declines of numerous endemic desert fishes in the American southwest. The Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus amarus, RGSM), has experienced a 95% reduction in its historical range and is now restricted to a highly …

Solar Flare Prediction From Extremely Imbalanced Multivariate Time Series Data Using Minimally Random Convolutional Kernel Transform, Kartik Saini

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Solar flares are characterized by sudden bursts of electromagnetic radiation from the Sun's surface, and caused by the changes in magnetic field states in solar active regions. Earth and its surrounding space environment can suffer from various negative impacts caused by solar flares ranging from electronic communication disruption to radiation exposure-based health risks to the astronauts. In this paper, we address the solar flare prediction problem from magnetic field parameter-based multivariate time series (MVTS) data using multiple state-of-the-art machine learning classifiers that include MINImally RandOm Convolutional KErnel Transform (MINIROCKET), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Canonical Interval Forest (CIF), Multiple Representations SEQuence …

Prospects And Constraints For A Recreational Fishery On East Canyon Creek At The 910 Ranch, S. Bishop, A. Garner, G. Mclaughlin, T. Oman, N. Omer, C. Stewart

Watershed Sciences Student Research

Summit County Lands and Natural Resources has retained students from Utah State University’s Management and Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems program to evaluate current conditions of East Canyon Creek (ECC) in the 910 Ranch and propose prospects, constraints, and potential actions to establish a recreational trout fishery.