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Introduction To The Vegetable Session & Usu Vegetable Production Lab, Milena Maria Tomaz De Oliveira

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Outline

I. Meet the specialist & current role at USU

II. USU vegetable programs/Utah's Unique challenges

III. Overview of current & Upcoming studies

IV. Survey/Poll

V. Q&A

Tracking The Effects Of Time Zone Shift On An Individual’S Circadian Rhythm, Amaka Eziakonwa, Erich Stahmer, Amega Nguyen, Samuel Park, Madison Payne, Alexis Salinas, Deborah Bell-Pedersen, Julie A. Zacharias-Simpson

Annual Research Symposium

This poster presentation aims to understand how a rapid time-zone change can affect an individual’s circadian rhythms. By quantifying changes in physiological rhythms, the study seeks to develop targeted therapeutic interventions to mitigate the negative effects of jetlag.

Can We Eliminate The Negative Consequences Of Circadian Desynchronization Caused By Night Shift Work By Using A Light Therapy Lamp To Simulate A Sunset?, Amega Nguyen, Madison Payne, Amaka Eziakonwa, Erich Stahmer, Alexis Salinas, Samuel Park, Julie A. Zacharias-Simpson, Deborah Bell-Pedersen

Annual Research Symposium

This poster aims to understand the relationship between desynchronosis of circadian rhythms and night-shift work and how light therapy can mitigate some of the issues of desynchronosis. This study seeks to develop therapies for disrupted circadian rhythms from night-ship works.

A Report On Health Care Access By The United States Citizens., Kelvin Njuki, Emil Agbemade

Data Science and Data Mining

Access to health care is a critical factor in ensuring public health. This study analyzes data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for the years 2015–2018 to examine the relationship between health care coverage, affordability, and costs among U.S. families. Re-sults indicate that families with at least one member covered by health insurance were more likely to afford medical care and incur lower health care costs. Despite a high proportion of families with health care coverage during this period, the number of insured family members declined over the years. These findings underscore the importance of health care coverage in …

Nonadhesive Membranes: Preparation And Characterization Of Modified Phbhx Membranes, Funda Alkan, Murat Demi̇rbi̇lek, Oktay Aydin, Berrak Gümüşkaya Öcal, Neli̇sa Laçi̇n Türkoğlu, Mustafa Türk, Mehmet Ali̇ Onur

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

After abdominal surgery, there is a possibility of adhesions between the abdominal organs and the abdominal wall. Theadhesions can lead to problems such as chronic pain, intestinal blockage, and infertility. To prevent adhesion, antiadhesion patchescan be used. In this study, poly hydroxybutyrate-co-hexanoate membranes were fabricated as antiadhesion patches and modified witheither fatty acids or polyethylene glycol. The homogeneity and protein absorption of the membranes were assessed. The effects onblood coagulation factors were determined and the adhesion-proliferation properties of human fibroblast cells on the membranes weredetermined. The results show that myristic acid slightly increases surface free energy (40.7 ± 4.2 mN/m), …

02.17.2025 Ored Connect, Liz Williamson

ORED Newsletter

SOP Research Day

Preparation And Characterization Of Rhfe/G-C3n4 Nanoparticles For Efficient Hydrolysis Of Sodium Borohydride, Merve Uçar Kaya, Mehmet Yurderi̇, Mehmet Zahmakiran

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

Highly effective graphitic carbon nitride-supported RhFe Nanoparticles (denoted as RhFe/g-C3N4) were prepared using a simple wet impregnation-reduction method for the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4). The obtained RhFe/g-C3N4 catalyst was characterized using advanced analytical/spectroscopic techniques such as inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Powder X-ray diffraction (P-XRD), X-ray spectroscopy (XPS), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The catalytic activities of RhFe/g-C3N4 catalysts with varying Rh/Fe molar ratios were investigated, demonstrating superior catalytic activity compared to monometallic Rh and Fe. The initial turnover frequency (TOF) value of the Rh0.48Fe0.52/g-C3N4 catalyst was calculated as …

Masking Of Iron And Other Interferences During The Spectrophotometric Analysis Of Aluminum From Soil Samples Using Alizarin Red S, Hafiz Zain Ul Aabidin, Muhammad Inam Ul Hassan, Tariq Yasin, Muhammad Zubair Rahim, Ahsan Amin Bhatti, Hamayun Imtiaz, Asif Raza

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In whole-rock geochemical analysis, the quantification of aluminum in geological samples is performed using differentanalytical techniques including UV-Vis spectrophotometry. During the spectrophotometric analysis of aluminum utilizing AlizarinRed S, iron causes significant interference, leading to inaccurate measurements of the amount of aluminum in the sample. In caseswhere leached or processed samples contain titanium, interference is also observed. However, appropriate masking agents can removethese interferences. In this study, various masking agents including Tiron, oxalic acid, ascorbic acid, and thioglycolic acid were utilizedfor the masking of iron. Among these masking agents, ascorbic acid proved to be the best candidate for masking iron. A …

A New Water-Soluble Silicon Phthalocyanine That Catalyzes The Photodegradation Of Pollutant Dyes, Damla Nur Kaya, Behi̇ce Sebnem Sesalan

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The removal of color arising from water-soluble dyes in wastewaters is necessary to counter the threat to health. Because of thedifficulty in elimination of these dyes by conventional methods, their photodegradation using photosensitizers such as phthalocyanines(Pcs) has been employed recently. When compared to peripherally substituted derivatives, silicon Pcs are reported to be morebiocompatible with low toxicity. Thus a new silicon Pc substituted with two quaternized dimethylamino phenoxy units (compound 1)and its quaternized derivative (compound 2) were synthesized to test its photocatalytic ability employing the dyes methylene blue (MB),eosin B (EB), erythrosine (ERB), sulforhodamine B (SRB), and brilliant blue FCF (BRB), …

Simultaneous Determination Of Sunset Yellow And Tartrazine In Real Samples On An N-Butylamine-Graphite/Polyaminophenol Composite Electrode, Mürşi̇de Ceren Afşar, Zekerya Dursun

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

A composite electrode was fabricated for simultaneous determination of sunset yellow (SY) and tartrazine (Tz) in foods andsyrup. It is based on n-butylamine intercalation into graphite and then dropped on a poly (4-aminophenol)/glassy carbon electrode(GCE). The electrode surface morphologies, chemistry, and electrical properties were identified by scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Thenew composite electrode significantly increased the electrochemical response of SY and Tz relative to a bare GCE. The peak currentof SY and Tz increased linearly depending on their concentrations from 0.006 μmol L–1 to 1.0 μmol L–1 (r = …

Prediction And Control Of Ground Vibrations Due To Blasting Activities In Aggregate Mines, Iddi Ramadhani Bulushi, Geleta Warkisa Deressa, Bhanwar Singh Choudhary

Journal of Sustainable Mining

Predicting and controlling ground vibrations from blasting is crucial for protecting structures and minimizing environmental impacts. This study investigates how explosive quantity and scaled distances affect peak particle velocity and establishes empirical equations to estimate this velocity at different distances from the blast area. The study found that the maximum charge per delay at a peak particle velocity of 10 mm/s was reduced to 13.46% as the delay timing was increased from 0 to 25 ms and 9.99% from 0 to 50 ms delay timing. The reduction of maximum charge with increasing delay timing leads to the reduction of ground …

Managing Cybersecurity In Local Governments: 2022, Donald F. Norris Phd, Laura K. Mateczun Jd

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice

This paper, based on data from our second nationwide survey of cybersecurity among local or grassroots governments in the U.S., examines how these governments manage this important function. As we have shown elsewhere, cybersecurity among local governments is increasingly important because these governments are under constant or nearly constant cyberattack. Due to the frequency of cyberattacks, as well as the probability that at least some attacks will succeed and cause damage to local government information systems, these governments have great responsibility to protect their information assets. This, in turn, requires these governments to manage cybersecurity effectively, something our data show …

Tailor-Designed Oxalic Acid-Crosslinked Poly(Vinyl Alcohol)/Chitosan Biodegradable Films For Active Food Packaging Applications, Reem Hazem Fathy Anwar Elaasar

Theses and Dissertations

Food packaging plastic waste is posing great threats to ecosystems, human health, and the planet's overall sustainability; therefore, research has been directed towards the fabrication of biodegradable food packaging materials. In this study, active and biodegradable oxalic acid (OA) crosslinked poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/chitosan (CS) composite films of different weight ratios were synthesized via the solvent casting technique and their food packaging properties were investigated. Owing to its water resistance and antibacterial superiority, the composite film with the ratio of OA chemically crosslinked PVA/CS 80:20 was elected to be coated with green tea extract (GTE) to ameliorate its antibacterial and antioxidant …

Self Supervised Artificial Intelligence Predicts Poor Outcome From Primary Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma At Diagnosis, Nicolas Coudray, Michelle C. Juarez, Maressa C. Criscito, Adalberto Claudio Quiros, Reason Wilken, Stephanie R. Jackson Cullison, Mary L. Stevenson, Nicole A. Doudican, Ke Yuan, Jamie D. Aquino, Daniel M. Klufas, Jeffrey P. North, Siegrid S. Yu, Fadi Murad, Emily Ruiz, Chrysalyne D. Schmults, Cristian D. Cardona Machado, Javier Cañueto, Anirudh Choudhary, Alysia N. Hughes, Alyssa Stockard, Zachary Leibovit-Reiben, Aaron R. Mangold, Aristotelis Tsirigos, John A. Carucci

Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Biology Faculty Papers

Primary cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is responsible for ~10,000 deaths annually in the United States. Stratification of risk of poor outcome at initial biopsy would significantly impact clinical decision-making during the initial post operative period where intervention has been shown to be most effective. Using whole-slide images (WSI) from 163 patients from 3 institutions, we developed a self supervised deep-learning model to predict poor outcomes in cSCC patients from histopathological features at initial diagnosis, and validated it using WSI from 563 patients, collected from two other academic institutions. For disease-free survival prediction, the model attained a concordance index of …

An Inventory Of Private Well Programs Across The United States, Bethany G. Foust, Ann S. Ojeda, Jessica Curl, Eve Brantley, Stephanie R. Rogers

Journal of Extension

Private well owners comprise approximately 15% of the United States (US) population and are responsible for managing their well water. Management of domestic wells can be burdensome, requires knowledge, and is critical for maintaining clean drinking water. Management resources vary by state and the resource landscape across the US is unclear. Thus, our objective was to inventory where resources exist, while also highlighting geographic areas that may need improved resources to ensure that people have the ability to safely manage their drinking water. Results of this inventory showed that 64% of states have programs; 72% of which were Cooperative Extension.

Fluorinated Block Copolymer: An Important Sorbent Design Criteria For Effective Pfoa Removal From Its Aqueous Solution, Sadifa Anjum, Michael Arik, Arya Patel, Nyalah Abasali, Laying Wu, Amrita Sarkar

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

An important question remains unresolved, despite extensive studies on polymer-based sorbents for adsorbing poly and perfluoro alkyl substances (PFAS): How does the positioning of the fluorine-rich segment in polymer affect PFAS removal? Herein, we designed a linear, uncharged triblock copolymer incorporating a fluorinated moiety in the polymer backbone, which effectively removed perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) from water. In contrast, polymers without fluorogenic moiety or with it in the side chains showed significantly poorer PFOA removal. Our finding suggests that PFOA adsorption is more influenced by C-F···F-C interactions when the fluorinated segment is in the polymer backbone, not in the side chain.

Proxy Panels Enable Privacy-Aware Outsourcing Of Genotype Imputation, Degui Zhi, Xiaoqian Jiang, Arif Harmanci

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

One of the major challenges in genomic data sharing is protecting participants' privacy in collaborative studies and in cases when genomic data are outsourced to perform analysis tasks, for example, genotype imputation services and federated collaborations genomic analysis. Although numerous cryptographic methods have been developed, these methods may not yet be practical for population-scale tasks in terms of computational requirements, rely on high-level expertise in security, and require each algorithm to be implemented from scratch. In this study, we focus on outsourcing of genotype imputation, a fundamental task that utilizes population-level reference panels, and develop protocols that rely on using …

2025 Draft Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Quality Assurance Project Plan (Qapp), Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Draft Final 2021-2022 Residential Metals Abatement Program (Rmap) Butte School District No. 1 (West Elementary School And Butte High School) Soil Remedial Action Construction Completion Report, Pioneer Technical Services, Inc.

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Towards More Sustainable Oceans: A Review Of The Pressing Challenges Posed By Marine Plastic Litter, Peter Yang

Faculty Scholarship

Marine littering is a global challenge and a significant threat to a sustainable planet, requiring comprehensive and effective mechanisms to address it in a comprehensive manner. This study reports on a bibliometric analysis that has identified the extent to which the topic has been explored in the international literature, by focusing on geographical scope, the emphasis on (micro)plastic litter and on policy measures. Additionally, as a complement to the assessment of the recent literature on marine plastic litter, this study reviews some case studies, identifying some trends on how to cope with this problem. The findings underscore the imperative for …

Re: Butte Mine Flooding Site Cd, Cv 02-35 Bu-Rfc, 2024 Fourth Quarter Report, Mark Thompson, Dave Griffis

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Modeling The Relationship Between Calories And Activity Metrics: A Regression Analysis With Variable Selection, Felix Yeboah

Data Science and Data Mining

Physical activity monitors have become integral to daily routines, with wearable devices such as the Apple Watch and Fitbit offering continuous data on users’ physical activity. This study compares the measurement accuracy of these devices by examining how they record parameters relevant to fitness and health. Employing multiple linear regression, we modeled the relationship between calories expended and a set of explanatory variables, including heart rate, steps, distance, age, activity level, weight, and device type. Evaluation of all possible variable combinations identified heart rate, steps, distance, weight, and watch type as the most effective predictors of calorie expenditure. Although the …

Re: Comment Letter For The Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Draft Final Materials Management Plan (Dated November 21, 2024), Emma Rott

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

An Analytical Prior Selection Procedure For Empirical Bayesian Analysis Using Resampling Techniques: A Simulation-Based Approach Using The Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Data From The Seer Database, Aditya Chakraborty, Mohan D. Pant

Epidemiology, Biostatistics, & Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: In the field of medical research, empirical Bayesian analysis has emerged as an increasingly applicable approach. This statistical framework offers greater flexibility, enabling researchers to incorporate prior information and rigorously estimate parameters of interest. However, the selection of suitable prior distributions can be a challenging endeavor, with profound implications for the resulting inferences. To address this challenge, this study proposes a new analytical procedure that leverages resampling techniques to guide the choice of priors in Bayesian analysis. Subject and Methods: The study group consisted of patients who had been diagnosed and had died of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (cause-specific death) who …

Silver Bow Creek Butte Area Npl Site 4th Quarter 2024 Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Interim Site-Wide Surface Water Monitoring Data Report. Consent Decree- Civil Action No. Cv 89- 039-Bu-She, Josh Bryson

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Re: Silver Bow Creek Butte Area Npl Site 4th Quarter 2024 Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit Interim Site-Wide Surface Water Monitoring Data Report. Consent Decree- Civil Action No. Cv 89- 039-Bu-She, Josh Bryson

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Mutational Scanning And Binding Free Energy Computations Of The Sars-Cov-2 Spike Complexes With Distinct Groups Of Neutralizing Antibodies: Energetic Drivers Of Convergent Evolution Of Binding Affinity And Immune Escape Hotspots, Mohammed Alshahrani, Vedant Parikh, Brandon Foley, Nishank Raisinghani, Gennady M. Verkhivker

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has led to the emergence of variants with increased immune evasion capabilities, posing significant challenges to antibody-based therapeutics and vaccines. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive structural and energetic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain (RBD) complexes with neutralizing antibodies from four distinct groups (A–D), including group A LY-CoV016, group B AZD8895 and REGN10933, group C LY-CoV555, and group D antibodies AZD1061, REGN10987, and LY-CoV1404. Using coarse-grained simplified simulation models, rapid energy-based mutational scanning, and rigorous MM-GBSA binding free energy calculations, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms of antibody binding and escape mechanisms, identified key …

The Evolution And Future Of Microservices Architecture With Ai-Driven Enhancements, Jill Willard, James Hutson

Faculty Scholarship

Microservices architecture has revolutionized software development by enabling the decomposition of monolithic applications into smaller, more manageable services. While this shift has reduced risks and enhanced system resiliency, the increasing complexity of managing numerous microservices presents new challenges. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, there is a growing need to explore how autonomous AI agents can optimize microservices architectures, particularly in terms of communication and workflow orchestration. The purpose of this study is to investigate how AI agents can autonomously interact and manage microservices, reducing human intervention and enhancing system efficiency. The key research question guiding this investigation relates …

Restore The Shore: A Guide To Lakeshore Revegetation In The Great Basin, Jes V. Braun, Rae Robinson, Annie L. Henry, Karin M. Kettenring

All Current Publications

Lakeshore vegetation supports many valuable aspects of lake ecosystems: foraging areas for birds, rearing grounds for fish, nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual values. Yet, the vegetation of many lakeshores has been lost or heavily impacted by humans. What can be done to restore lakeshore vegetation to ensure that lakes remain healthy for future generations? In this guide, we summarize best practices for lakeshore revegetation (i.e., the process of actively reintroducing vegetation, usually native species, to a restoration site through seeding and planting) in the Great Basin.

Characterization Of 1,8-Cineole (Eucalyptol) From Myrtle And Its Potential Antibacterial And Antioxidant Activities*, Humera Khan

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

1,8-Cineole is a naturally occurring chemical molecule predominantly found in fragrant plants, particularly Myrtle. Its aroma is distinctive and has been the subject of numerous investigations due to its various biological actions. This study examines the characterization of 1,8-Cineole derived from Myrtle and investigates its antibacterial and antioxidant properties. This study seeks to compare 1,8-Cineole with antibiotics like Amoxicillin and Tetracycline, and moreover, to investigate its antioxidant capabilities against diverse bacterial strains (both Gram-positive and Gram-negative). 1,8-Cineole exhibits the most effective antibacterial properties, demonstrating an inhibition zone of 12.00 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and 10.00 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. …