Digital Commons Network^™

Estimating The Effects Of Forms Of Computer-Based Scaffolding In Problem-Centered Stem Instruction, Mason Reed Lefler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Much like Post-Sputnik 1950s era there is a lot of interest in making sure that United States does not fall behind in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. STEM learners are often presented with complex problems to solve both as part of their education and their work. Engineering education suffers from student dropout often due to how difficult it is to support students through solving problems. This dissertation is a close look at computer-based scaffolding, a method of supporting learners during problem solving through computer software. The first paper in this dissertation examines and resolves some of the debate …

The Utah Statesman, November 28, 2022, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

In Silico Analysis Of Tetrodotoxin Binding In Voltage-Gated Sodium Ion Channels From Toxin-Resistant Animal Lineages, Shana L. Geffeney, Jennie Ann Cordingley, Kenyon Mitchell, Charles T. Hanifin

Biology Faculty Publications

Multiple animal species have evolved resistance to the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) through changes in voltage-gated sodium ion channels (VGSCs). Amino acid substitutions in TTX-resistant lineages appear to be positionally convergent with changes in homologous residues associated with reductions in TTX block. We used homology modeling coupled with docking simulations to test whether positionally convergent substitutions generate functional convergence at the level of TTX–channel interactions. We found little evidence that amino acids at convergent positions generated similar patterns among TTX-resistant animal lineages across several metrics, including number of polar contacts, polar contact position, and estimates of binding energy. Though binding energy …

"The Village That Learns": A Learning Journey Across Intraventions And Domains Over Two Decades In A Rural Thai Community, Deborah A. Fields, Luis Morales-Navarro, Paulo Blikstein

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

What does it mean to become a village that learns? In this paper we document the transformative learning journey of a small Thai village over 24 years, becoming a community that identified, tackled, and iterated on problems, altering their everyday practices and lives. In that process the village shifted from a subsistence agricultural community staggeringly in debt to one known for its sustainable environmental, agricultural, and financial initiatives. To understand the village’s learning journey, we consider the village itself as the primary unit of analysis, applying an iterative case study approach, with chronological sequencing, thematic, and biographical narrative analysis …

Educational Policies Committee, Minutes, November 3, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - October 6, 2022
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee (Chad Simon)
• Academic Standards Subcommittee (Renee Galliher)
• General Education Subcommittee (Matt Sanders)
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:50 pm

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Meeting, Agenda, November 14, 2022, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
  Approval of Minutes – October 17, 2022
• University Business
• Information
  Educational Policies Committee – November 3, 2022
• Reports
  Faculty Evaluation Committee Annual Report
  USUSA Annual Report
  Honors Annual Report
• Old Business
• New Business
  Office of Equity Additional Training
  Code 404 Faculty Appointments Track Changes | Final Clean

Sea-Level Rise Practitioner Workshop Report: Leading Practices And Current Challenges, Ray Boyle, Daniella Hirschfeld, David Behar

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Seas are rising, and so is action in coastal communities to prepare. The uncertain timing of rising seas, difficulties evaluating long-term rise while facing more immediate causes of flooding such as typhoons and fluvial flooding, and simply the threat of permanent inundation of coastal zones settled for hundreds or thousands of years presents unprecedented challenges. As in all sectors impacted by anthropogenic climate change, working with others facing novel challenges to share progress and difficulties, collaborate regionally, and build competence and confidence in finding solutions can be invaluable.

Inertial Motion On The Earth's Spheroidal Surface, Boyd F. Edwards, Cade Pankey, John M. Edwards

All Physics Faculty Publications

As seen by an observer in the rotating frame, the earth’s small spheroidal deformations neutralize the centrifugal force, leaving only the smaller Coriolis force to govern the “inertial” motion of objects that move on its surface, assumed smooth and frictionless. Previous studies of inertial motion employ weakly spheroidal equations of motion that ignore the influence of the centrifugal force and yet treat the earth as a sphere. The latitude dependence of these equations renders them strongly nonlinear. We derive and justify these equations and use them to identify, classify, name, describe, and illustrate all possible classes of inertial motion, including …

Dietary Supplementation With Black Raspberries Altered The Gut Microbiome Composition In A Mouse Model Of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer, Although With Differing Effects For A Healthy Versus A Western Basal Diet, Abby D. Benninghoff

Browse all Datasets

Black raspberries (BRB) are rich in anthocyanins with purported anti-inflammatory properties. However, it is not known whether dietary supplementation would ameliorate Western-diet enhanced gut inflammation and colon tumorigenesis. We employed a mouse model of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with 5 to 10% (w/w) whole, freeze-dried BRB in male C57BL/6J mice fed either a standard healthy diet (AIN93G) or the total Western diet (TWD). In a pilot study, BRB suppressed colitis and colon tumorigenesis while also shifting the composition of the fecal microbiome in favor of taxa with purported health benefits, including Bifidobacteria pseudolongum. …

The Utah Statesman, November 7, 2022, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Curriculum Subcommittee, Minutes, November 3, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - October 6, 2022
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Cycles Of Learning And Growth: Developing The Tribal Digital Stewardship Cohort Program Guided By Indigenous Perspectives, Lotus Norton-Wisla

Journal of Western Archives

This article provides lessons learned through four cycles of the Tribal Digital Stewardship Cohort Program at Washington State University’s Center for Digital Scholarship and Curation. The author coordinated the hybrid online and in-person training program from 2015-2020, focused on the unique needs of staff at Indigenous archives, libraries, and museums at the beginning of digital projects with unique access considerations. The learning and professional growth of program staff was informed by the participants in the program, whose words and work are highlighted in the article. The author reflects on the program design, curricular outcomes, site visits, building relationships and peer …

Educational Policies Committee, Agenda, November 3, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - October 6, 2022
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee (Chad Simon)
• Academic Standards Subcommittee (Renee Galliher)
• General Education Subcommittee (Matt Sanders)
• Other Business
• Adjourn

Coping With Grief And Loss For Agricultural Producers, Jacob D. Gossner, Elizabeth B. Fauth, Tasha Howard

All Current Publications

As humans, we are social beings who form strong relationships; when these relationships end, through death, divorce, or estrangement, it is natural to feel a sense of loss. This resource is meant to provide some ideas for agricultural producers (individuals and families) seeking to cope with and respond to losing a loved one. We also include information for agricultural producers experiencing other types of loss, such as losing the farm or livestock.

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, November 3, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - October 6, 2022
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Importance Of Risk And Hazard Assessment Of River Projects In India, Jitesh N. Vyas, Supriya Nath, R. B. Deogade

International Symposium on Hydraulic Structures

Rivers are the lifeline for every country as they provide water for proliferation, sustenance and propagation of life since time immemorial. With increasing population pressure, water demand increased for drinking, irrigation, and industrial consumption. This water deficit required utilization of available water resources in the best possible manner through various hydrological projects like construction of dams, weirs, barrage, etc. There is a disparity in water availability between north and south India as most of the perennial rivers are situated in the north while seasonal rivers in south India. To resolve this disproportionate distribution and to maintain the balance of water …

The Utah Statesman, October 17, 2022, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Pausing While Programming: Insights From Keystroke Analysis, Raj Shrestha, Juho Leinonen, Albina Zavgorodniaia, Arto Hellas, John M. Edwards

Computer Science Student Research

Pauses in typing are generally considered to indicate cognitive processing and so are of interest in educational contexts. While much prior work has looked at typing behavior of Computer Science students, this paper presents results of a study specifically on the pausing behavior of students in Introductory Computer Programming. We investigate the frequency of pauses of different lengths, what last actions students take before pausing, and whether there is a correlation between pause length and performance in the course. We find evidence that frequency of pauses of all lengths is negatively correlated with performance, and that, while some keystrokes initiate …

The Utah Statesman, October 10, 2022, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Curriculum Committee, Agenda, October 6, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - September 1, 2022
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Curriculum Deadlines - Toni Gibbons
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Educational Policies Committee, Agenda, October 6, 2022, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - September 1, 2022
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee (Chad Simon)
• Course Approvals - 128
• Academic Standards Subcommittee (Renee Galliher)
• General Education Subcommittee (Matt Sanders)
• Minutes - September 20, 2022
• Other Business
• Curriculum Deadlines - Toni Gibbons
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Faculty Senate Agenda, October 3, 2022, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• University Business
• Information
• Educational Policies Committee - September 1, 2022
• Reports
• Educational Policies Committee Annual Report
• Empower Teaching Excellence Annual Report
• Old Business
• Code 401 Track Changes | Clean Version
• New Business
• Brief Overview of Senate Responsibilities | Orientation
• Adjourn: 4:30

Scalability And Robustness Of Feed Yard Mortality Prediction Modeling To Improve Profitability, Ryan Feuz, Kyle Feuz, Jeffrey Gradner, Miles Theurer, Myriah Johnson

Applied Economics Faculty Publications

Cattle feed yards routinely track and collect data for individual calves throughout the feeding period. Using such operational data from nine U.S. feed yards for the years 2016-2019, we evaluated the scalability and economic viability of using machine learning classifier predicted mortality as a culling decision aid. The expected change in net return per head when using the classifier predictions as a culling aid as compared to the status quo culling protocol for calves having been pulled at least once for bovine respiratory disease was simulated. This simulated change in net return ranged from - $1.61 to $19.46/head. Average change …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee, Agenda, September 19, 2022, Utah State University - Continuing Education

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order - John Ferguson
• Approval of Minutes
• University Business - Noelle Cockett, President | Larry Smith, Provost
• Information
  • Educational Policies Committee - September 1, 2022
• Reports
  • Educational Policies Committee Annual Report
  • Empowering Teach Excellence Annual Report
• Old Business
• New Business
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

An Assessment Of The Location Of The Bears Ears National Monument Cultural Center, Jordan W. Smith, Eunjung Yang, Anna B. Miller

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

A cultural center at Bears Ears National Monument, if well planned, could serve as an anchor destination through which visitors could learn about, experience, and appreciate the cultures, histories, and landscapes that define southeastern Utah. A cultural center also holds the potential to bolster the regional economy, by signaling a long-term investment in the sustainability of the region’s outdoor recreation and tourism industry. Our intent with this analysis is to establish a foundational understanding of potential locations for a cultural center. We develop and analyze a set of cultural, environmental, and economic metrics that can be used to shape ongoing …

Strengthening The Radiometric Link To The Si: Achievements From The Chipscale Project, Marit Ulset Nordsveen, Jarle Gran

The Characterization and Radiometric Calibration for Remote Sensing Annual Meeting (CALCON)

The EURAMET European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) project chipS·CALe aims to improve and simplify radiometric traceability with a focus on strengthening the link between radiometric measurements and the international system of units (SI). In this project, several national metrology institutes (NMIs) and research institutions in Europe have collaborated to develop improved low-loss Predictable Quantum Efficient Detector (PQED) photodiodes with an external quantum deficiency in the 10 ppm range or below from 400 nm to 850 nm.

These induced-junction photodiodes are simple in their structure, making them suitable for 3D computer simulations. In a 2 minute animation video …

Development And Characterization Of Type I Interferon Receptor Knockout Sheep: A Model For Viral Immunology And Reproductive Signaling, Christopher J. Davies, Zhiqiang Fan, Kira P. Morgado, Ying Liu, Misha Regouski, Qinggang Meng, Aaron J. Thomas, Sang-Im Yun, Byung-Hak Song, Jordan C. Frank, Iuri V. Perisse, Arnaud Van Wettere, Young-Min Lee, Irina A. Polejaeva

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Type I interferons (IFNs) initiate immune responses to viral infections. Their effects are mediated by the type I IFN receptor, IFNAR, comprised of two subunits: IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. One or both chains of the sheep IFNAR were disrupted in fetal fibroblast lines using CRISPR/Cas9 and 12 lambs were produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for IFN-stimulated gene expression showed that IFNAR deficient sheep fail to respond to IFN-alpha. Furthermore, fibroblast cells from an IFNAR2^−/− fetus supported significantly higher levels of Zika virus (ZIKV) replication than wild-type fetal fibroblast cells. Although many lambs have …

Editorial: Mammalian Responses To Climate Change: From Organisms To Communities, Johan T. Du Toit, Robyn S. Hetem, M. Denise Dearing

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Mammals have displayed spectacular evolutionary success ever since an asteroid impact caused the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event ~66 million years ago, when the non-avian dinosaurs disappeared. Now another mass extinction event is underway because of another major planetary disturbance, but this time it is directly caused by just one over-achieving species among all those mammals: Homo sapiens.

Pando's Pulse: Vital Signs Signal Need For Course Correction At World-Renowned Aspen Forest, Paul C. Rogers

Aspen Bibliography

Upland aspen (Populus spp.) forests contribute significantly to biodiversity in their circumboreal role as keystone species. As aspen ecosystems flourish or diminish, myriad dependent species follow suit. The 43-hectare Pando aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) clone in Utah, USA, is thought to be the largest living organism on earth, but is faltering due to chronic herbivory. Long-term resilience in aspen communities, including Pando, rests on successful recruitment of vegetative suckers that are nutritiously desirable to browsing ungulates. Here, I evaluate aspen reproduction alongside numerous vital indicators of Pando's status in the first trend assessment of this embattled iconic forest. …

Ungulate Herbivores As Drivers Of Aspen Recruitment And Understory Composition Throughout Arid Montane Landscapes, Elizabeth S. Reikowski, Tyler Refsland, J. Hall Cushman

Aspen Bibliography

Herbivory by wild and domestic ungulates can influence tree recruitment and understory forest communities throughout the world. Herbivore-driven declines in tree recruitment have been observed for quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), a foundation species whose health and management is recognized as a critical priority throughout much of its range. Livestock fencing is commonly used to promote aspen regeneration, but its effectiveness is rarely assessed, especially across large spatial scales. Using a livestock-reduction experiment, we evaluated the effects of ungulate herbivory on aspen in the Great Basin and southern Cascades, an expansive and environmentally heterogeneous region where aspen faces the …