Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization And Performance Of Algal Biofilms For Wastewater Treatment And Industrial Applications, Maureen Kesaano

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study was carried out on algal biofilms grown using rotating algal biofilm reactors (RABRs) with the aim of: i) characterizing their growth in terms of photosynthetic activity and morphology ii) evaluating their performance as a wastewater treatment option and a feedstock for biofuels production, and iii) examining the algal-bacteria interactions.

A review of algal biofilm technologies currently employed in wastewater treatment processes was made to compare nutrient removal efficiencies, factors that influenced algal biofilm growth, and the different bioproducts generated from algal biomass. Consequently, research efforts were directed towards addressing pertinent issues identified in literature in order to optimize …

The Colorado Plateau As A Virtual Laboratory For Mobile Games For Geoscience Education And Relations Between Rock Strength And River Metrics, Natalie Bursztyn

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This dissertation encompasses two studies: one developing virtual field trips for mobile devices for an innovative approach to lower-division geoscience education, and the other examining the role of rock strength in river erosion and landscape evolution.

The education study involves the development of three virtual field trip modules (Geologic Time, Geologic Structures, and Hydrologic Processes, all free on iTunes and Google Play) that lead students down a virtual Colorado River through Grand Canyon by physically moving around their campus quad, football field or other location, using their GPS-equipped smart phone or tablet. As students reach each location in the scaled …

The Effects Of Interactive Computer Simulation And Animation On Student Learning Of Rigid Body Dynamics: A Mixed Method Study, Oai Ha

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Engineering Dynamics (ED) courses are known as challenging and demanding for undergraduate students majored in many engineering fields, such as mechanical and aerospace engineering and civil and environmental engineering. The course is built upon the foundation and framework of mathematics and physics and requires students to have strong abstract thinking and reasoning skills. Rigid body dynamics (RBD), the second part of ED, investigates kinematics and kinetics of rigid bodies and is considered as a difficult subject by many undergraduate students because the course requires them to visualize abstract objects in motions. Although there have been many studies reporting the uses …

Religious Outsiders And The Catholic Critique Of Protestantism In America, Bradley Kime

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, numerous new religious and irreligious groups arose throughout the United States. These groups were often radical in their assertions of religious authority, their interpretations of scripture, their predictions about Christ’s second coming, their practice of supernatural gifts, their rejection of traditional Christian doctrines, or their rejection of Christianity altogether. American Catholics watched and commented as these groups multiplied and gained momentum. Catholics believed that the growth of radical religious and irreligious groups was the fault of mainstream Protestantism. Over the centuries, Catholics had argued that the Pope’s authority was necessary to provide spiritual …

Ecology, Behavior And Taxonomy Of Anurans From Brazil's Atlantic Forest, Rodrigio Barbosa Ferreira

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Anura is a diverse group with more than 7382 species described, which represents 88% of the species belonging to the Class Amphibia. Anurans are among the first organisms to be affected by environmental stressors, so when they show decline in the wild, it is a warning to other species, including humans. It is alarming that one-third of the world’s anurans are facing extinction. Following the same trend, a substantive portion of the 988 recognized species of the Atlantic Forest have suffered population declines and local extinctions, attributed primarily to habitat changes.

Despite the unique life history characteristics that make amphibians …

Sieve Structures To Control Gully Erosion On The Borana Plateau, D. Layne Coppock, Brien E. Norton, Demisachew Tadele, Jaldesa Doyo, Bedasa Eba, Dereje Teshome

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Gully erosion is a widespread problem in the Borana plateau. Gullies are the main pathway for sediment accumulation in community ponds, especially during heavy rains, which reduces pond capacity. Sediment movement in gullies can be substantially reduced by installation of sieve structures that slow down water flows and allow sediment to settle out of suspension. Sieves can be easily constructed from trees by community labour at low cost. The community should develop a landscape-level plan and follow a suitable sieve design. Project Kalo collaborators have demonstrated that a series of sieve structures down a secondary gully in the Dikale pond …

Rabies In North America, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes rabies in North America; symptoms in humans and animals, and what to do if you encounter a suspicious animal.

Finding Bambi - What To Do With Mule Deer Fawns, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes what to do if you encounter mule deer fawns that appear to be abandoned.

Educational Policies Committee Program Proposal, Emma Eccles Jones College Of Education And Human Services, July 31, 2015 – Phd In Neuroscience, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Utah State University (USU), Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services, proposes to offer an interdisciplinary doctoral program in neuroscience.

2015 Utah State University Student Orientation Guide, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

A special supplemental magazine provided by The Utah Statesman to take a closer look at some of the services and departments available at Utah State University.

A Structurally-Tunable 3-Hydroxyflavone Motif For Visible Light-Induced Carbon Monoxide-Releasing Molecules (Corms), Stacey N. Anderson, Jason M. Richards, Hector J. Esquer, Abby D. Benninghoff, Atta M. Arif, Lisa M. Berreau

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Molecules that can be used to deliver a controlled amount of carbon monoxide (CO) have the potential to facilitate investigations into the roles of this gaseous molecule in biology and advance therapeutic treatments. This has led to the development of light-induced CO-releasing molecules (photoCORMs). A goal in this field of research is the development of molecules that exhibit a combination of controlled CO release, favorable biological properties (e.g., low toxicity and trackability in cells), and structural tunability to affect CO release. Herein, we report a new biologically-inspired organic photoCORM motif that exhibits several features that are desirable in a next-generation …

Beneficial Effects Of Temperate Forage Legumes That Contain Condensed Tannins, Jennifer W. Macadam, Juan J. Villalba

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The two temperate forage legumes containing condensed tannins (CT) that promote ruminant production are birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.; BFT) and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.; SF). Both are well-adapted to the cool-temperate climate and alkaline soils of the Mountain West USA. Condensed tannins comprise a diverse family of bioactive chemicals with multiple beneficial functions for ruminants, including suppression of internal parasites and enteric methane. Birdsfoot trefoil contains 10 to 40 g·CT·kg−1 dry matter (DM), while SF contains 30 to 80 g·CT·kg−1 DM. Our studies have focused on these two plant species and have demonstrated consistently elevated rates of gain for …

Interdisciplinary Modeling For Water-Related Issues Graduate Course, Laurel Saito, Alexander Fernald, Timothy Link

All ECSTATIC Materials

The science and management of aquatic ecosystems is inherently interdisciplinary, with issues associated with hydrology, atmospheric science, water quality, geochemistry, sociology, economics, environmental science, and ecology. Addressing water resources issues in any one discipline invariably involves effects that concern other disciplines, and attempts to address one issue often have consequences that exacerbate existing issues or concerns, or create new ones (Jørgensen et al. 1992; Lackey et al. 1975; Straskraba 1994) due to the strongly interactive nature of key processes (Christensen et al. 1996). Thus, research and management of aquatic ecosystems must be interdisciplinary to be most effective, but such truly …

Integrating Literacy And Engineering Instruction For Young Learners, Amy Wilson-Lopez, Stacie Gregory

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

According to recently published national standards, elementary students should engage in engineering design activities. This article outlines ways that teachers can use literacy instruction to support young students’ engineering design activity, such as by selecting texts in which characters face problems that can be solved through engineering, providing students with opportunities to practice comprehension strategies while reading those texts, and modeling for them how to write a variety of texts that are relevant to engineers’ practices. The authors describe how they integrated this type of literacy instruction into engineering units in third- and fifth-grade classrooms.

Enclosures For Rehabilitating Pond Catchments And Implications For Grazing Management On The Borana Plateau, D. Layne Coppock, Brien E. Norton, Bedasa Eba, Jaldesa Doyo, Demisachew Tadele, Dereje Teshome, Ajebush Defar, Seyoum Tezera

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Boran pastoralists say they have one over-riding problem: Limited drinking water for both people and livestock. Ponds are therefore a critical resource. However, lack of livestock control in pond catchments subjects them to heavy grazing and trampling that creates landscapes vulnerable to erosion. Ponds collect sediment after rainfall events and water holding capacity is reduced We wanted to test a system to improve the managements of pond catchments. In March 2014 we erected bush fences to enclose catchments surrounding on demonstration pond in each of four Pastoral Associations. The purpose was to prevent unregulated livestock access and allow recovery of …

Outcomes Of A Pastoral Sustainability Conference: The Borana People Must Better Manage Rangelands And Diversify Livelihoods For A Brighter Future, Solomon Desta, D. Layne Coppock, Tesfaye Alemu, Seyoum Tezera, Bedasa Eba, Jaldesa Doyo, Dereje Teshome, Demisachew Tadele

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The Borana Plateau is an important region for Ethiopia— but it is challenged by very serious problems. Both the human and livestock populations are growing while poverty is increasing for the majority of pastoralists. The rangeland also shows signs of extreme degradation including gullying, bush encroachment, and high rates of pond siltation. This brief summarizes points made at a pastoralist conference held for 71 participants during December, 2014, in Yabelo town in the Borana Zone. The purpose of the conference was to chart a way forward for the Boran society to better address problems. The conference included speakers from the …

Safety Guide For The Adventurous Outdoor Hiker, Lori Bailey, Cindy Nelson

All Current Publications

This tri-fold brochure gives safety tips for hikers, especially 4-H youth.

Managing Rock Squirrels In Utah, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

Although they do not exist in large colonies like other ground squirrels, rock squirrels can still sometimes generate conflicts with homeowners and farmers alike. Most damage occurs when a few rock squirrels take residence in a homeowner’s back yard, and begin to forage on garden vegetables and fruit trees. There are several direct and indirect ways that private landowners can manage and reduce rock squirrels on their property. This fact sheet give management tips.

On-Ranch Application Of Dna Technology, Kevin Heaton, Katelyn Christensen

All Current Publications

Genetic analysis provides producers with another tool to identify individuals in a herd which have the greatest potential to be most productive or least productive, thus improving ranch sustainability. This project reported in this fact sheet demonstrated that on each ranch there were both genetically inferior and superior livestock for the production traits analyzed. Participating ranchers are using the results to select replacements and are cautioned to avoid single trait selection. This project also created a baseline for genetic quality which individual ranches could compare with future DNA test results.

Bats And Rabies In Utah, Nicki Frey

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the 10 species of bats found in Utah, what to do if you are bitten and how to avoid contracting diseases from them.

Synergistic Effects Of Fire And Elephants On Arboreal Animals In An African Savanna, Robert M. Pringle, Duncan M. Kimuyu, Ryan L. Sensenig, Todd M. Palmer, Corinna Riginos, Kari E. Veblen, Truman P. Young

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

1. Disturbance is a crucial determinant of animal abundance, distribution and community structure in many ecosystems, but the ways in which multiple disturbance types interact remain poorly understood. The effects of multiple-disturbance interactions can be additive, subadditive or super-additive (synergistic). Synergistic effects in particular can accelerate ecological change; thus, characterizing such synergies, the conditions under which they arise, and how long they persist has been identified as a major goal of ecology.
2. We factorially manipulated two principal sources of disturbance in African savannas, fire and elephants, and measured their independent and interactive effects on the numerically dominant vertebrate (the arboreal gekkonid …

Partially Hydrogenated Oils And Trans Fats Information For Consumers, Karin Allen

All Current Publications

Companies have been given until June 2018 to remove PHOs from the foods they produce, or to petition the FDA to allow specific uses for trans fats. The FDA has not banned trans fats. But what does that mean? And how will it change the foods we eat? To help consumers understand the FDA's actions, this fact sheet looks at three questions: What is trans fat? What are PHOs? What will replace PHOs?

Gardening In Clay Soils, Katie Wagner, Michael R. Kuhns, Grant Cardon

All Current Publications

This fact sheet covers the basics of clay, silt and sand soils with an emphasis on gardening in soils with a high clay content. It includes information on the composition of clay soils, gardening tips for managing clay soils, and the types of plants that grow best in clay soils.

Recolonizing Wolves And Mesopredator Suppression Of Coyotes:Impacts On Pronghorn Population Dynamics, Kim Murray Berger, Mary M. Conner

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Food web theory predicts that the loss of large carnivores may contribute toelevated predation rates and, hence, declining prey populations, through the process ofmesopredator release. However, opportunities to test predictions of the mesopredator releasehypothesis are rare, and the extent to which changes in predation rates influence preypopulation dynamics may not be clear due to a lack of demographic information on the preypopulation of interest. We utilized spatial and seasonal heterogeneity in wolf distribution andabundance to evaluate whether mesopredator release of coyotes (Canis latrans), resulting fromthe extirpation of wolves (Canis lupus) throughout much of the United States, contributes tohigh rates of …

Huntsman Alumni Magazine, Spring 2015, Usu Jon M. Huntsman School Of Business

Huntsman Business Magazine

Alumni magazine for the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.

Sagestep News, Spring 2015, No. 26, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Utah State University Commencement, 2015 – Main Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

128^th Annual Commencement of Utah State University.

Mitigation Of Medusahead (Taeniatherum Caput-Medusae) Through Grazing And Revegetation On The Channeled Scablands Of Eastern Washington, Clinton A. Stonecipher

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A large portion of the historical steppe and shrub-steppe habitats in eastern Washington have been altered through biotic and abiotic processes resulting in the annual grass medusahead becoming a large component of the altered vegetation. Experiments were conducted to determine: 1) if supplementing cattle with protein would help increase utilization of medusahead, 2) the grass species that could establish in the region, and 3) if mechanical disturbance would aid in such revegetation efforts. Cattle grazing medusahead-infested rangeland increased consumption of medusahead after all forage matured due to a reduction in the quality of forage alternatives. Cattle supplemented with protein increased …

Parent-Child Book Reading: Using Home Literacy Units To Foster Language Development In Children Who Are Dhh, Sydney Fryer

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

Children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) often experience delays in language and literacy, making rich language opportunities with parents in the home very important (Lederberg, Schick, & Spencer, 2013). Parent-child book reading promotes language and vocabulary development in children through word-object associations and expanding vocabulary (Farrant & Zubrick, 2012). Additionally, parent-child book reading is enhanced when parents are taught how to use engaging book reading techniques with their children (Crain-Thoreson & Dale, 1991). While many studies have been conducted to evaluate parent-child book reading in the home, few have focused on children who are DHH or sought …

Group Housing And Social Stress In Side-Blotched Lizards (Uta Stansburiana), Marilize Van Der Walt

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Stress in regards to an animal's social housing environment is well studied in mammals; however there are few studies examining this in reptiles and the results are thus far unclear. For example, behavioral evidence shows adverse effects from individual housing in juvenile chameleons, however physiological measures in whiptail lizards show adverse effects from group housing. Because some reptiles appear to be affected negatively by their social housing environment while others are impacted positively, if we can discover the reason for these differences, we will be able to implement the most effective housing regimes for reptiles. In this study, we tested …