Digital Commons Network^™

The Utah Statesman, October 16, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

"It Doesn't Just Feel Like Something A Lawyer Slapped Together." Mental-Model-Based Privacy Policy For Third-Party Applications On Facebook, Rizu Paudel, Ankit Shrestha, Prakriti Dumaru, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

Users are often unaware of the information that applications collect and are surprised by unexpected data collection and sharing practices. With numerous third-party applications on Facebook potentially accessing the personal information of billions of users, it is essential to understand users’ mental models of data sharing to help them make informed decisions. To achieve this, we conducted semi-structured interviews using drawings and think-aloud protocol with 32 participants. Our participants had misconceptions regarding third-party applications’ data sharing practices with varied mental models. Based on these findings, we created mental model-based privacy policy design that prompts users to consider a specific scenario …

Leveraging The Strengths Of Citizen Science And Structured Surveys To Achieve Scalable Inference On Population Size, Andrew N. Stillman, Paige E. Howell, Guthrie S. Zimmerman, Emily R. Bjerre, Brian A. Millsap, Orin J. Robinson, Daniel Fink, Erica F. Stuber, Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

1. Population size is a key metric for management and policy decisions, yet wildlife monitoring programmes are often limited by the spatial and temporal scope of surveys. In these cases, citizen science data may provide complementary information at higher resolution and greater extent.

2. We present a case study demonstrating how data from the eBird citizen science programme can be combined with regional monitoring efforts by the US Fish and Wildlife Service to produce high-resolution estimates of golden eagle abundance. We developed a model that uses aerial survey data from the western United States to calibrate high-resolution annual estimates of …

Contemporary Art Authentication With Large-Scale Classification, Todd Dobbs, Abdullah-Al-Raihan Nayeem, Isaac Cho, Zbigniew Ras

Computer Science Faculty and Staff Publications

Art authentication is the process of identifying the artist who created a piece of artwork and is manifested through events of provenance, such as art gallery exhibitions and financial transactions. Art authentication has visual influence via the uniqueness of the artist’s style in contrast to the style of another artist. The significance of this contrast is proportional to the number of artists involved and the degree of uniqueness of an artist’s collection. This visual uniqueness of style can be captured in a mathematical model produced by a machine learning (ML) algorithm on painting images. Art authentication is not always possible …

The Status Of Women On Utah State Boards & Commissions: A 2023 Update, Susan R. Madsen, Natasha Birchard, Brooke Scheffler

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Research shows that organizations will increasingly thrive when both men and women hold leadership roles.¹ Gender inclusivity benefits not only businesses, but also entities such as churches, state legislatures, city councils, state governments, and state and local boards and commissions. Studies have shown that there are numerous benefits to attracting, retaining, promoting, and empowering women within organizations and entities. More specifically, research demonstrates the need for the government—and democratic governance processes in general—to reflect gender diversity accurately within its constituency at all levels.² Utah is no exception. In fact, in Utah (Code 67-1-11), since 1992, appointing authorities were …

Active Analysis In The Beginning Acting Classroom, Michael Shipley

Theatre Arts Faculty Publications

Often, the exercises in the acting classroom can feel at odds with the processes used in the rehearsal room. I believe Konstantin Stanislavsky’s rehearsal method of Active Analysis provides tools and perspectives for dealing with these challenges. At The S Word Symposium in November 2022, I outlined a process I developed for teaching beginning acting using principles of Active Analysis as a tool to bridge the gap between training and rehearsing. This article outlines the experiences and thought processes that went into creating this class structure and reviews the benefits for students. Applied in this way, Stanislavsky’s impulse to place …

Genomic And Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Polygenic Architecture For Ecologically Important Traits In Aspen (Populus Tremuloides Michx.), Jennifer F. L. Riehl, Christopher T. Cole, Clay J. Marrow, Hilary L. Barker, Carolina Bernhardsson, Kennedy Rubert-Nason, Pär K. Ingvarsson, Richard L. Lindroth

Aspen Bibliography

Intraspecific genetic variations in foundation species such as aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) shapes their impact on forest structure and function. Identifying genes underlying ecologically important traits is key to understanding that impact. Previous studies, using single-locus genome-wide association (GWA) analyses to identify candidate genes, have identified fewer genes than anticipated for highly heritable quantitative traits. Mounting evidence suggests that polygenic control of quantitative traits is largely responsible for this "missing heritability" phenomenon. Our research characterized the genetic architecture of 30 ecologically important traits using a common garden of aspect through genomic and transcriptomic analyses. A multilocus association model revealed …

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda October 5, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - September 7, 2023
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

Educational Policies Committee Agenda October 5, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - September, 2023
• Subcommittee Reports - Curriculum Subcommittee, Academic Standards Subcommittee, General Education Subcommittee
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Faculty Senate Committee Agenda October 2, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order. Maureen Hearns
• 3:05 University Business. Elizabeth Cantwell, President | Larry Smith, Provost
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business. Maureen Hearns | John Ferguson | Grant Cardon
• 3:25 Information
• 3:40 Reports
• 3:50 Old Business
• 4:05 New Business
• Adjourn:

Using Assessments To Promote Growth Mindset In College Algebra, Hannah M. Lewis, Kady Schneiter, David Lane Tait

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Scientific evidence highlights the positive impact of a growth mindset on student achievement. Students with a growth mindset view errors and obstacles as opportunities for growth and welcome challenges and the opportunity to learn from their mistakes. Much has been written about promoting growth mindset through lectures and attitudes, however, assessments can also be an important avenue for encouraging a growth mindset in students. In this paper, we describe how we used assessments to promote growth mindset in a college algebra class. In the sections that follow, we discuss the need for these assessments and the principles that underly their …

Storing Eggs Safely, Christine Jensen, Charlotte P. Brennand

All Current Publications

Storing eggs safely is important for your health and that of your family. A method called "water glassing" for storing eggs was popular in the early 1900s, and some still continue using this method, but it is unsafe. This fact sheet addresses proper and safe ways to store eggs, including refrigeration, freezing, and freeze-drying.

The Case For Direct Instruction, Marcy Stein, Kristen Rolf

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling Faculty Publications

For over 50 years, the best way to educate children has been heatedly debated by those who favour what might be described as ‘teacher-directed instruction’ and those who favour ‘student-centred instruction’. In this article, we contend that Direct Instruction (DI), a teacher-directed approach, offers educators, by several important measures, the most effective approach to meeting the academic needs of underperforming students.

The Utah Statesman, September 25, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Shallow Composition And Structure Of The Upper Part Of The Exhumed San Gabriel Fault, California: Implications For Fault Processes, Kaitlyn Crouch, James P. Evans

Geosciences Faculty Publications

Quantifying shallow fault zone structure and characteristics is critical for accurately modeling the complex mechanical behavior of earthquakes as energy moves within faults from depth. We examine macro- to microstructures, mineralogy, and properties from drill core analyses of fault-related rocks in the steeply plunging ALT-B2 geotechnical borehole (total depth of 493 m) across the San Gabriel Fault zone, California. We use macroscopic drill core and outcrop-sample analyses, core-based damage estimates, optical microscopy, and X-ray diffraction mineralogic analyses to determine the fault zone structure, deformation mechanisms, and alteration patterns of exhumed deformed rocks formed in a section of the fault that …

Long-Term Herbivore Removal Experiments Reveal How Geese And Reindeer Shape Vegetation And Ecosystem Co2-Fluxes In High-Arctic Tundra, Matteo Petit Bon, Brage B. Hansen, Maarten J. J. E. Loonen, Alessandro Petraglia, Kari Anne Bråthen, Hanna Böhner, Kate Layton-Matthews, Karen H. Beard, Mathilde Le Moullec, Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir, René Van Der Wal

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

1. Given the current rates of climate change, with associated shifts in herbivore population densities, understanding the role of different herbivores in ecosystem functioning is critical for predicting ecosystem responses. Here, we examined how migratory geese and resident, non-migratory reindeer—two dominating yet functionally contrasting herbivores—control vegetation and ecosystem processes in rapidly warming Arctic tundra.

2. We collected vegetation and ecosystem carbon (C) flux data at peak plant growing season in the two longest running, fully replicated herbivore removal experiments found in high-Arctic Svalbard. Experiments had been set up independently in wet habitat utilised by barnacle geese Branta leucopsis in summer and in …

Development And Initial Validation Of Scales For Coming Out Vigilance And Positive Coming Out Responses, Samuel J. Skidmore, G. Tyler Lefevor, Kiet D. Huynh, Connor O. Berg

Psychology Faculty Publications

Coming out involves sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) disclosing their identity to others, and is often related to improved health, well-being, and social support. However, coming out is not always perceived as a positive event, and outcomes of identity disclosure may vary depending on how coming out is approached and how others respond. The present study reports on the development and validation of the Coming Out Vigilance (COV) and the Positive Coming Out Responses (PCOR) measures. Two subsamples of SGMs with varying degrees of outness— totaling 399 individuals—were utilized in the development and validation of these measures. Exploratory and confirmatory …

Rising Coastal Groundwater As A Result Of Sea-Level Rise Will Influence Contaminated Coastal Sites And Underground Infrastructure, K. Hill, D. Hirschfeld, C. Lindquist, F. Cook, S. Warner

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Sea-level rise (SLR) will cause coastal groundwater to rise in many coastal urban environments. Inundation of contaminated soils by groundwater rise (GWR) will alter the physical, biological, and geochemical conditions that influence the fate and transport of existing contaminants. These transformed products can be more toxic and/or more mobile under future conditions driven by SLR and GWR. We reviewed the vulnerability of contaminated sites to GWR in a US national database and in a case comparison with the San Francisco Bay region to estimate the risk of rising groundwater to human and ecosystem health. The results show that 326 sites …

Faculty Senate Committee Minutes September 5, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order - Maureen Hearns
• Approval of Minutes - May 1, 2023
• University Business - President Cantwell and Provost Smith
• Faculty Senate Business
• Information - Faculty Senate Committee Assignments and Periodic College Reporting
• Reports - Empowering Teaching Excellence Annual Report
• Old Business - Committee on Committee Nominations and Task Force Updates
• New Business - Faculty Code 405
• Adjourn 4:16 pm

Making Hay While The Sun Shines: Answering The Urgency In Audiovisual Preservation, Benjamin Harry

Journal of Western Archives

Many twentieth-century audiovisual formats are becoming obsolete and/or the physical carriers are deteriorating, warranting the need to digitize this content as soon as possible. Balancing efficiency and urgency with digitization and digital storage resources is a challenging endeavor. This article documents the efforts of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections (LTPSC) at Brigham Young University to begin a systematic effort to digitize audiovisual content found in manuscript collections.

A Novel Fuzzy Relative-Position-Coding Transformer For Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Ultrasonography, Yanhui Guo, Ruquan Jiang, Xin Gu, Heng-Da Cheng, Harish Garg

Computer Science Faculty and Staff Publications

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women worldwide, and early detection is crucial for successful treatment. Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) systems have been developed to assist doctors in identifying breast cancer on ultrasound images. In this paper, we propose a novel fuzzy relative-position-coding (FRPC) Transformer to classify breast ultrasound (BUS) images for breast cancer diagnosis. The proposed FRPC Transformer utilizes the self-attention mechanism of Transformer networks combined with fuzzy relative-position-coding to capture global and local features of the BUS images. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated on one benchmark dataset and compared with those obtained by …

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes September 7, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes – April 6, 2023
• Program Proposals

• Semester Course Approval Reviews: https://usu.curriculog.com/

• Other Business

• Adjourn: 2:55 pm

An Improved Digestion And Analysis Procedure For Silicon In Plant Tissue, Noah James Langenfeld, Bruce Bugbee

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Silicon (Si) in plant tissues reduces abiotic and biotic stress, but it is incorporated as silica (SiO₂), which is difficult to solubilize for analysis. We modified an oven-induced tissue-digestion and analysis method to improve Si solubilization and validated its accuracy by quantifying the mass-balance recovery of Si from the hydroponic solution and plant tissues of cucumber (Cucumis sativus). Leaf, stem, and root tissues were dried, finely-ground, and digested in 12.5 molar sodium hydroxide at 95°C for 4 hours. Solutions were then acidified with 6 molar hydrochloric acid to achieve a pH below 2 for measurement of …

Educational Policies Committee Minutes September 7, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - April 6, 2023
• Subcommittee Reports - Curriculum Subcommittee by Chad Simon, course approvals, requests from departments, Academic Standards Subcommittee by Renee Galliher, minutes from April 13, 2023 academic grievance proposal/draft, General Education Subcommittee by Matt Sanders, minutes from March 21, 2023 discussion of R470 policy
• Other Business - graduate school grievance process, new baccalaureate programs template, cross/dual listed info for the EPC Handbook, minimum GPA requirements, BYU Idaho and Western Governor's 90-credit bachelor's degree
• Adjourn: 4:05 pm

Technology Acceptance Model(Tam) And Ai Hallucination Survey Dataset, Jared Hansen, Jeff Christensen, Paul Wilson

Browse all Datasets

This dataset came from the research paper “Understanding the antecedents, advantages, and mistakes of technology adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within consumers’ tourism decision-making processes” coauthored by the researchers. The project examines the integration of elements from the technology acceptance model, theory of planned behavior, and three new variables (AI prior general usage, AI familiarity, and AI hallucination potential) to prediction behavioural intention to use AI (ChatGPT) in making future tourism decisions.

Cache Code Math Mathematics Lesson Plans: Exponents And Repeats, Jody Clarke-Midura, Jessica Shumway, Kimberly Beck, Umar Shehzad, Mimi Recker

Instructional resources

This document contains four 5th grade mathematics lesson plans. The activities are intended to be implemented in conjunction with the computer lab activities found in Cache Code Math Computer Lab Lesson Plans: Repeated Addition & Multiplication. The mathematical focus of these lessons is conceptualizing exponents as repeated multiplications fractions.

Cache Code Math Computer Lab Lesson Plans: Repeated Addition & Multiplication, Jody Clarke-Midura, Jessica Shumway, Kimberly Beck, Umar Shehzad, Mimi Recker

Instructional resources

This document entails a number of computer lab concepts and accompanying activities for fifth grade students. The activities are intended to be implemented in conjunction with the mathematics lessons "Cache Code Math September Unit: Repeats in Math and Programming" and "Cache Code Math Computer Lab Lesson Plans: Exponents and Repeats". Here the mathematics concepts of repeated addition and multiplication are explored using the computer coding concept of repeat loop blocks.

The Utah Statesman, August 28, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Pediatric Hearing Aid Management: Experiences And Perspectives Of Spanish-Speaking Parents, Karen Muñoz, Diego Guillen, Carlos Muñoz, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

Purpose: The purpose of the study was twofold: (a) to explore hearing aid management experiences of Spanish-speaking parents who have young children using hearing aids and (b) to explore parents' access to the Internet and perceptions about remote audiology services.

Method: The study used a mixed methods design. Data were collected through a phone interview.

Results: Eleven mothers of children aged 14-60 months participated. Most of the children (9/11) had a bilateral hearing loss, and two had an additional disability. Three themes emerged for hearing aid management experiences: audiology services, routines, and emotional challenges/supports. Parents had variable levels of confidence …

Mrs. His Name: Reparative Description As A Tool For Cultural Sensitivity And Discoverability, Elspeth A. Olson

Journal of Western Archives

Reparative description, a term coined by La’el Hughes-Watkins to describe the role of revising archival metadata in social justice, becomes a tool of both practical discoverability and cultural sensitivity toward the past when applied to the issue of married women’s names in legacy metadata in finding aids. The Mrs. His Name Project at the University of Nevada, Reno, represents a case study in balancing the practical with the ethical in identifying married women formerly identified solely by their husband’s names in finding aids. The project further suggests methodology which may be applied to other reparative description projects in archives, and …