Digital Commons Network^™

An Inventory And Assessment Of Sample Sources For Survey Research With Agricultural Producers In The U.S., Jessica D. Ulrich-Schad, Shuang Li, J. G. Arbuckle, Edem Avemegah, Kathryn J. Brasier, Morey Burnham, Anil Kumar Chaudhary, Weston M. Eaton, Wei Gu, Tonya Haigh, Douglas Jackson-Smith, Alexander L. Metcalf, Amit Pradhananga, Linda S. Prokopy, Matthew Sanderson, Emma Wade, Adam Wilke

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Researchers need probability samples to collect representative survey data about the behaviors and attitudes of agricultural producers they study in relation to the natural resources that they manage, yet obtaining accurate and complete sampling frames is challenging. We extract data from a publication database to identify the most commonly used sampling frame sources in survey research of agricultural producers in the U.S., finding that government program participant lists are used most often, while private vendor samples are increasingly being purchased. Based on our research experience, we find that for many projects, private vendors can provide the most rigorous samples. Given …

Using Smart Foodscapes To Enhance The Sustainability Of Western Rangelands, Juan J. Villalba

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Collaborative Research: From Cooperation To Exploitation: Context-Dependent Effects Of Nectar Microbes On Pollination Mutualisms, Robert Nelson Schaeffer

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Create Better Health Curriculum, Casey Coombs, Jaqueline Neid

All Current Publications

CBH is a comprehensive nutrition curriculum designed to teach adult SNAP-Ed participants how to eat well and be active on a budget. CBH combines nutrition and physical activity recommendations from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Each lesson has three components: a nutrition topic based on the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a physical activity discussion based on USDA recommendations, and a Create recipe demonstration and sample. The components are woven together in eight lessons that are designed to keep participants engaged, while actively learning the skills needed to create a healthier lifestyle.

Ai And Ambitious Learning Practices, Cindy E. Hmelo-Silver, Sadhana Puntambekar, Krista Glazewski, Luettamae Lawrence, Nikol Rummel, Vincent Aleven, Gautam Biswas, Suraj Uttamchandani, Asmalina Saleh, Haesol Bae, Thomas Brush, Bradford Mott, James Lester, William Goss, Dana Gnesdilow, Rebecca Passonneau, Purushartha Singh, Chanmin Kim, Marcelo Worsley

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This symposium will provide opportunities for discussion about how Artificial Intelligence can support ambitious learning practices in CSCL. To the extent that CSCL can be a lever for educational equitable educational change, AI needs to be able to support the kinds of practices that afford agency to students and teachers. However, AI also brings to the fore the need to consider equity and ethics. This interactive session will provide opportunities to discuss these issues in the context of the examples presented here.

The Antidepressant And Anxiolytic Effects Of Cannabinoids In Chronic Unpredictable Stress: A Preclinical Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Noa Reuveni, Cole A. Carlson, Sarah Schwartz, Diana Meter, Tyson S. Barrett, Sara M. Freeman

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

Neuroscience research presents contradictory evidence in support of both the protective and destructive effects of cannabinoids in depression. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the existing preclinical literature on the effects of cannabinoid administration in the chronic unpredictable stress model of depression in order to evaluate the effects of cannabinoids and identify gaps in the literature. After protocol registration (PROSPERO #CRD42020219986), we systematically searched Scopus, Embase, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, APA PsychINFO, PubMed, CINAHL Complete, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global from the earliest record of the databases, February 1964, to November 2020 for articles that met inclusion …

Asian Longhorned Beetle, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears

All Current Publications

Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) is a large wood-boring pest that threatens maple and other North American hardwood tree species. This fact sheet describes its life stages, plant hosts, damage symptoms, and monitoring, prevention, and management.

Broom Snakeweed Extracts Dosed To Late-Term Pregnant Cattle Do Not Cause Premature Parturition, Dale R. Gardner, Benedict T. Green, Bryan L. Stegelmeier, Kevin D. Welch

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Broom snakeweed [Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton and Rusby] and threadleaf snakeweed [G. microcephala (DC.) A. Gray] are found on many rangelands in western North America. Snakeweeds are generally unpalatable; however, animals will graze them when other forage is not available and there are field reports that pregnant cows that graze snakeweeds may abort calves. Subsequent feeding studies using fresh cut snakeweed, ground and gavaged into pregnant cattle have failed to reproduce abortions, though it was evident that at high doses snakeweed quickly damaged the rumen microflora resulting in severe rumen atony, bloating and acidosis. We report here an …

Model Averaging In Agriculture And Natural Resources: What Is It? When Is It Useful? When Is It A Distraction?, Philip M. Dixon

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture and Natural Resources

I use two examples to illustrate three methods for model averaging: using AIC weights, using BIC weights, and fully Bayesian analyses. The first example is a capture-recapture study that estimates the population size by averaging over 4 models for capture probabilities. The second is an analysis of a study of logging impacts on Curculionid weevils using a before-after-control-impact (BACI) study design. The estimated impact is averaged over 4 ecologically relevant models.

Both examples demonstrate the sensitivity of model weights, or posterior model probabilities, to the choice of prior model probabilities and prior distributions for parameters. The model averaged estimates and …

Random Regression For Modeling Semen Fertility In Hf Purebred And Crossbred Bulls Using A Bayesian Framework, Vrinda Ambike, R. Venkataramanan, S. M. K. Karthickeyan, K. G. Tirumurugaan, Kaustubh Bhave, M. Swaminathan

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture and Natural Resources

Data on insemination records of Holstein Friesian (HF) purebred (n=45,497) and crossbred (n=58,497) collected from the BAIF Research Foundation were utilized. The conception rate was modeled as a binary trait, using linear repeatability models. Random regression models (RRM) were used to obtain the trajectory of variance components across age of the bulls. Legendre Polynomials up to order of fit of 4 were used for the random effects of additive genetic and permanent environmental effects. 200,000 Gibbs samples were generated with a burn-in of 20,000 and thinning interval of 50 using the THRGIBBS1F90 program. Heritability estimates were very low (0.1) in …

Overview Of Optimal Experimental Design And A Survey Of Its Expanse In Application To Agricultural Studies, Stephen J. Walsh

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture and Natural Resources

Optimal Design of Experiments is currently recognized as the modern dominant approach to planning experiments in industrial engineering and manufacturing applications. This approach to design has gained traction among practitioners in the last two decades on two-fronts: 1) optimal designs are the result of a complicated optimization calculation and recent advances in both computing efficiency and algorithms have enabled this approach in real time for practitioners, and 2) such designs are now popular because they allow the researcher to ‘design for the experiment’ by working constraints, cost, number of experiments, and the model of the intended post-hoc data analysis into …

Checking In: Learner Perceptions Of The Value Of Language Study In College, Julian Ledford, Tijá Odoms

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this article here.

An understanding of the products that Generation Z students value the most from their college-level language study is essential for instructors who must effectively unpack second language theories within the context of their classroom instruction. This preliminary study examines the value system regarding language study as revealed in the language-learning perceptions of a group of current language learners (n = 53) and recent college graduates (n = 49) at a small, private, liberal arts college in the southeast. Through qualitative analysis of student responses, the following emerged as language-learning …

Thermoregulation In Deer, Elk, And Pronghorn Antelope: The Structure Of Hollow Hair And How It Helps In Winter Conditions, Taylor Millett, Wendy Schatzberg, Samuel Tobler

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Thermoregulation in animals is an adaptation made to live through hot summers and cold winters. Big game animals such as: deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope have the adaptation more commonly known as a summer coat and a winter coat. We measured and compared an animal's winter coat and summer coat using a scanning electron microscope to show why an animal can survive outdoor temperatures. We used a scanning electron microscope to identify the different topography of the individual hair and focused on the thermodynamics of each individual hair.

Urine Oxygen Partial Pressure Monitoring To Assess Acute Kidney Injury Risk, Lars Lofgren, Kai Kück, Natalie Silverton

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication associated with cardiac surgery. AKI is associated with increased hospital costs, hospital length of stay (LOS), and mortality risk. The KDIGO criteria are the most common diagnostic criteria and are based on changes in serum creatinine and decreased urine output. While useful for estimating renal function, serum creatinine and urine output are not renal specific, can be influenced by factors other than kidney injury and lead to delayed AKI diagnosis which precludes injury prevention. To overcome these limitations, researchers have primarily focused on chemical biomarkers. The use of these tests is limited …

Investigating The Effects Of Radiation And Microgravity On Human Brain Organoids, Bailey Mcfarland, Chen Cheng, Yu Huang

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The brain is arguably the most important and complex component of any crewed mission. New technological developments must be made to gauge the damage of space to the brain, especially in complex and long-term missions. While it is understood that microgravity and radiation cause changes in the brain of astronauts, the nature and effects of these changes are largely unknown. To aid in elucidating these effects, we conducted experiments using a rotary cell culture system (RCCS) and are working actively with NASA to implement a chronic low-dose gamma radiation system. Initial trends in the effects of microgravity on brain organoids …

Utah State University Commencement, 2022 - Main Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

2022 Commencement Ceremony for the Main Campus of Utah State University.

Quagga Mussel And Zebra Mussel, Ann Mull, Lori R. Spears

All Current Publications

Quagga mussel and zebra mussel can cause significant ecological, economical, and recreational impacts. This fact sheet describes these two-sided mollusks and reviews impacts, monitoring, and management of these invasive species.

Visions Of Science: An Art Historical Exploration Of Medieval Scientific Manuscripts, Olivia Brock

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The late 16th century saw a new movement in the world of science to push scientific ideas and practice out of academia and into the hands of the layman. No longer were scholars the sole proprietors of science –everyday laborers, craftsman, and artists now had practical scientific principles at their fingertips that they could incorporate into their professions. This new spread of science was facilitated in several ways, including the publication of books incorporating detailed, explanatory images, new utilitarian instruments, and public lectures. Though science was disseminated through a variety of means, I have been particularly interested in the ways …

Estimating Cattle Density Using Wildlife Cameras, Emily Bonebrake

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Quantifying the abundance and distribution of animal populations is critical for effective wildlife research and management. Due to their cost-effectiveness, wildlife cameras have become an increasingly popular tool for estimating population densities. Previously, this technique relied on ‘capture-recapture’ models that utilized re-sightings of individually marked animals, but in recent years methods have been developed to estimate the population densities of unmarked animals. One such method is the random encounter and staying time (REST) technique, which does this by assuming that the cumulative time animals stay within the view of the camera scales linearly with the number of individuals. This allows …

A Sentiment And Content Analysis Of Facebook Posts Regarding Wild Horse Management, Libbie G. Anderson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to better understand public sentiment and current conversations on Facebook regarding wild horse management practices, including adoption, roundups, and contraception, in the timeframe between the June 2021 BLM Wild Horse Advisory Board meeting and January 31, 2022. Social media monitoring and quantitative content analysis were used to examine the Facebook posts of four organizations communicating about the wild horse controversy. The research questions guiding this study included: (1) How many total mentions of “fertility control,” “contraception,” “roundup,” “gather,” “adoption,” and “management” as they pertained to wild horses occurred across Facebook from June 1, 2021 …

A Music Composition Through The Use Of Animal Sounds, Andy Nguy

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The knowledge on animals has been studied over many years by researching and understanding animal behavior and creativity with music. Bioacoustics shows a great deal when it comes to collecting sounds through many principles for sound data collection. With saved recording of animals, music, speeches, and so much more, it has impacted the way music is created through technology. Music production has been advancing in many creative ways. The foundation of sound manipulation is musique concrète. The project uses these concepts of audio recording and digital sounds to produce a composition that includes animal sounds.

Utah Tick Surveillance An Animated Public Service Announcement, Keith Wilson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As the United States’ population grows, we develop more land into housing and recreate farther into wilderness areas, consequentially encountering ticks with increasing frequency. As the climate continues to change, tick population distributions are also changing, influencing our population’s exposure to tick-borne diseases. Lyme disease, a tick-borne disease named after Lyme, Connecticut, is one of the fastest growing emerging diseases in North America, and the most prevalent vector-borne infection in the United States. There are two species of tick in North America, Ixodes scapularis and Ixodes pacificus, known to be carriers of the causative agent of Lyme disease, a …

Margin Of Error, Aubrey Felty

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

According to Utah State University’s Office of Analysis, Assessment, and Accreditation during the Fall semester of 2020, about 18% of students enrolled were students of color. About 2.5% of students enrolled identified as two or more races. Margin of Error is a docudrama that elevates the voices of multiracial college students and promotes a better understanding of multiracial individuals. The project involves actor portrayals of interviews with multiracial college students who discuss navigating their multiple racial identities at often predominantly white universities. It also features reactions and commentary on the students’ experiences from faculty and students at Utah State University. …

Effect Of Basal Diet And Black Raspberry Supplementation On Gene Biomarkers Of "Leaky Gut" In A Mouse Model Of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer, Eliza Catherine Stewart

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Colorectal cancer is currently the second leading cause of cancer death in the world. The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases significantly in individuals who suffer from colitis, which is inflammation of the colon lining, seen in Irritable Bowel Disease. The term “leaky gut” is often used to describe increased intestinal permeability and is closely related to colitis. Leaky gut is associated with dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, which can occur through diet. This dysbiosis leads to prolonged inflammation and affects genes that encode for proteins involved in the tight junctions between cells. Compromised intestinal integrity allows for translocation of …

The Evolution And Unraveling Of The American Eugenics Movement, Anneka Walton

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

While the evolution of American eugenics surrounding the time of Nazi Germany has been well-documented, the periods before the explosion of American eugenics and the result of the movement in the wake of the Holocaust are not so well known. Many historically-based works have described the path and growth of eugenics from the time the term was coined to the public acknowledgement of World War II and the point where Americans ended eugenic euthanasia and slowed eugenic sterilizations. There are also many works within the realm of disability history that document these events from the more common social viewpoint. This …

The Tinker Bell Jar, Kayla Berryman

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This poetry thesis is a collection of poems thematically linked together. Each poem revolves around characters from fairy tales and children’s books who are stuck in situations with abusive or harmful family members and crave an escape. In Part One of this collection, the poems take place in what readers might identify as the real world. In Part One, the poems have elements of fairy tales in them, and the speaker, or narrator of the poems, uses fairy tales to understand and relate the relationship between her parents and brother in a way that she can understand. The speaker of …

Methods In Costume And Projection Design For Theatre, Jessica Wallace

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

A report detailing multiple practices for theatre design in costumes and projection. It is focused on playscript analysis, the design process, and the final build of the design for production.

Sporkling, Mia Jensen

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

For my thesis, I wrote and illustrated a graphic short story that captures the confusing experiences associated with aging out of childhood. My thesis, titled “Sporkling,” follows a twelve-year-old girl named Moira as she confronts her fears with the help of the recently thawed disembodied head of the quirky nineteenth-century inventor, Samuel W. Francis. The central topics of the project reflect on the unification of the body and mind. Whereas the young, naïve Moira represents the body, the disillusioned, decapitated Samuel represents the mind. As the two spend an afternoon trapped in Moira’s father’s secret laboratory, they must assist each …

Building 6c’S (Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Culture, Connectivity) In The Chinese Learning Classroom, Weixi Dong

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This teaching portfolio is a product of the author’s studies in the Masters of Second Language Teaching Program at Utah State University and her experiences as a teacher of Chinese at the elementary school level in the State of Utah’s public school Dual Immersion program. The author provides a selection of teaching reflections and research that have had the most impact on her teaching practice. First, the author offers personal reflections and a theoretical framework for her pedagogy in the Teaching Perspectives section, through a discussion of her professional environment and teaching experience; this is followed by the Teaching Philosophy …

Teaching And Learning Chinese Characters In The Chinese As A Foreign Language Classroom, Wanru Xue

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

This portfolio covers the author’s perspectives in the field of Chinese as a foreign language when she was in the Master of Second Language Teaching program at Utah State University. The portfolio has three main sections. The first section includes the author’s teaching philosophy statement, rooted in her second language learning and teaching experience, and a reflection on classroom teaching observations. The second section contains two research perspectives on teaching and learning Chinese as a second language. The final section consists of an annotated bibliography on the topic of collaborative writing in a second-language context.