Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Face Masks On Audiovisual Word Recognition In Young Children With Hearing Loss During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Erin Lipps, Jody Caldwell-Kurtzman, Lina Motlagh Zadeh, Chelsea M. Blankenship, David R. Moore, Lisa L. Hunter

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Objective: To investigate effects of surgical and transparent face masks during the Covid-19 pandemic on audiovisual speech recognition of words for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

Design: Recorded Word Intelligibility by Picture Identification test (WIPI) was presented in quiet via a computer monitor to children in a quiet test room. The acoustic power spectra of each mask type were compared to the baseline no mask condition. Percent correct word recognition was recorded for four mask conditions (no mask, surgical mask, transparent apron mask and ClearMask) in counterbalanced order. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to test for significant differences in word recognition …

A Study Of Incarcerated Youth: The Effect Of Student Interest On Reading Comprehension And Engagement, Joanna C. Weaver, Grace E. Mutti

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Motivating adolescents to read can be a challenge, but motivating incarcerated adolescents to read may be even more of a challenge. Developing readers in residential facilities are often overlooked by traditional classroom teachers, but much can be learned from incarcerated youth and their motivation and engagement. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of research on effective instructional reading practices that motivate and engage incarcerated youth. The existing research primarily examines the impact of literacy on recidivism instead of strategies for motivating and engaging students who are incarcerated. Numerous studies exist that focus on motivation and engagement of reading in traditional classrooms, …

Using Online Genres To Promote Students’ Audience Awareness, Elena Taylor

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Writing assignments that students complete in university courses are typically designed for evaluation and grading by the instructor, who, therefore, acts as the sole reader of student written work. However, most written genres students would--and do--encounter in the world beyond the classroom are composed for diverse audiences who influence writers’ text construction considerably. Because most students will be likely to write for multiple audiences as part of their career or future academic endeavors, it is crucial for them to develop a sense of audience awareness as an indispensable rhetorical concept that shapes composing processes. Writing online presents a great opportunity …

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 5, Issue 2, Fall 2021

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full Fall 2021 issue (Volume 5, Issue 2) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Testing The Efficacy Of Leadership For Empowerment And Abuse Prevention (Leap), A Healthy Relationship Training Intervention For People With Intellectual Disability, Parthenia Dinora, Seb Prohn, Elizabeth P. Cramer, Molly Dellinger-Wray, Caitlin Mayton, Allison D'Aguiliar

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Leadership for Empowerment and Abuse Prevention (LEAP) is an abuse prevention intervention for people with intellectual disability. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the intervention’s efficacy. Findings indicated no significant differences in scenario identification questions depicting acceptable or concerning situations. However, statistically significant improvements were noted in participants’ depth of understanding, including their ability to correctly describe why a scenario was abusive or exploitative and what to do next when confronted with unhealthy situations. Limitations and implications for practice are discussed.

Promoting Inclusion Of Adults With Disabilities In Local Fitness Programs: A Needs Assessment, Samantha M. Ross, Bridgette Schram, Kathleen Mccarty, Nicole Fiscella, Willie Chun Wai Leung, Kayla Lindland

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Fit-Pals* is a university-based, service-learning program with a mission to prepare adults with disabilities to engage in lifelong physical activity. We conducted a Needs Assessment to evaluate recent programmatic partnerships with community-based fitness organizations. We aimed to (1) evaluate organizational perceptions of Fit-Pals’ partnership efforts, and (2) identify perceived organizational needs to improve inclusion practices. Representatives from each of our seven partner organizations participated in an online-survey, follow-up interviews, and a stakeholder meeting. A thematic analysis of survey and interview responses highlighted areas for programmatic growth related to training in disability awareness and fitness accommodations, and improved communication across all …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, October 18, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of Minutes - September 20, 2021
• University Business
• Educational Policies Committee
• Athletic Council Annual Report
• Honors Program Annual Report
• Academic Freedom and Tenure Annual Report
• Libraries Advisory Council Annual Report
• PRPC Report
• What kind of format for Faculty Senate meetings (in-person/Zoom)

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes, October 18, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of Minutes – September 20, 2021
• University Business
• Educational Policies Committee
• Athletic Council Annual Report
• Honors Program Annual Report
• PRPC Report
• What kind of format for Faculty Senate meetings (in-person/Zoom)
• Vote on 401 and 402 code updates

Frequency-Dependent Linearity Characterization And Uncertainty Analysis Of The Pace Oci Short-Wave Infrared Detection Assembly, Kenneth Squire, Jacob Hedelius, James Peterson, Eric Gorman, Gerhard Meister

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) will be used to collect data on the health of the planet’s oceans and atmosphere. Essential to OCI is its Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Detection Assembly (SDA), which measures light at discrete bands of interest. The linearity knowledge of the SDA detectors is crucial for collection of accurate and meaningful scientific data. This document presents the methodology employed in measuring the linearity response of the SDA to optical inputs at various modulation frequencies as well as the accompanying linearity uncertainty analysis.

Breastfeeding: Tools For Success, Norah Ashby, Casey Coombs, Stacy Bevan, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

All Current Publications

Every mother has a unique breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding is natural, but that does not mean it comes naturally to every mother. The benefits of exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months and supplemental breastfeeding through the second year of life are well documented (Lessen & Kavanagh, 2015). However, there are many barriers that may prevent mothers from breastfeeding, including discomfort or pain, milk supply concerns, or simply not knowing how to breastfeed (Lessen & Kavanagh, 2015; Westerfield et al., 2018). Fortunately, there are a variety of tools that mothers can use to create a successful breastfeeding experience (Dennis et al., …

The Utah Statesman, October 11, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

A Marvelous Work: Reading Mormonism In West Africa, Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp

Arrington Annual Lecture

Two decades before the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began official missionary work in West Africa, pamphlets, books, and other church materials had been circulating among Christians in Nigeria and Ghana. Brought by seekers who had studied abroad or encountered church members from other countries, those texts formed the basis for a Mormon community outside the bounds of U.S. institutional authority or oversight.

What did this "native" Mormonism look like, and how did believers craft churches out of the bare materials of tracts and inspirational volumes? This talk explores the circulation and interpretation of this homegrown Mormon faith …

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, October 6, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 September 2021 Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business

Educational Policies Committee Minutes, October 6, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 September 2021 Minutes
• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report
• Other Business

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, October 6, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 September 2021 Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, October 6, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of 2 September 2021 Minutes
• Curriculum Subcommittee Report
• General Education Subcommittee Report
• Other Business

The Origins Of University Centers On Developmental Disabilities: Second Generation Expectations And Growth, Bryce Fifield, Marvin G. Fifield

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Part two of a two part publications tracing the evolution of University Centers on Disabilities. Originally University Affiliated Facilities evolved into University Affiliated Programs on disabilities. Early expectations outlined by President Kennedy's Committee on Mental Retardation grew as funding for disability services and programs became available. Key legislation, program developments and organizational decisions are described for the time frame of 1970 through 2000.

Faculty Senate Agenda, October 4, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of Minutes – September 7, 2021
• University Business
• Education Policies Committee
• Telework Policy Draft | Summary of Changes
• Educational Policies Committee Annual Report
• COVID Faculty and Staff Survey
• Format for Future Meetings

Faculty Senate Minutes, October 4, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• University Business
• Education Policies Committee
• General Education
• Academic Standards
• Telework Policy Draft | Summary of Changes
• Educational Policies Committee Annual Report
• COVID Faculty and Staff Survey
• Format for Future Meetings

Deep Anomaly Detection For Network Traffic, Eric Mckinney, Daniel Mortensen

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Canonical anomaly detection has been achieved through various means ranging from statistical tests and clustering methods to categorical decision-making and rule-based systems. Each method has its own pros and cons; however, many depend on assumptions. These assumptions can be model driven, such as assuming white Gaussian inputs, or method driven such as linear regression. In any case, assumptions are being made either about the structure of the data or its relationship with other random variables.

This work presents a deep learning methodology for anomaly detection, a sampling technique for large data sets, and feature importance analysis. The anomaly detection technique …

High Value Correlates Of Caregiver Reported Counseling Service Need And Utilization For Adolescents At-Risk For Childhood Maltreatment And Neglect, Alejandro L. Vázquez, Tommy Chou, Cynthia M. Navarro Flores, Tyson S. Barett, Miguel T. Villodas, Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez

Psychology Faculty Publications

Adolescents with a history of child maltreatment experience increased risk for psychopathology that sets them on a trajectory towards a range of difficulties in adulthood. Various factors influence caregivers’ decisions to seek mental health services (MHS) that could improve developmental outcomes. The present study applied a machine learning algorithm, elastic net, to a sample of 878 adolescent-caregiver dyads from the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect. Analyses simultaneously examined a large number of factors to determine their ability to discriminate between caregivers who perceived a need for MHS and those who did not, as well as caregivers who utilized …

Teaching Archival Research Methods Through Projects In Ethnohistory, Veronica L. Denison, Alyssa Willett, Alexandra Taitt, Medeia Csoba Dehass

Journal of Western Archives

During the spring semester of 2015 and the fall semester of 2016, two cohorts of students at the University of Alaska Anchorage learned archival research skills as part of their methodological training in the course, Ethnohistory of Alaska Natives, which subsequently led to the development of further individual research projects. As part of the course, students provided metadata to folders within an archival collection. This article explores the semester long projects, including the hardships of finding and using culturally appropriate metadata, lessons learned, and the impact the project had on students, the archivist, and instructor.

The Utah Statesman, September 27, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

General Education Subcommittee Minutes, September 21, 2021, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• QL Catalog Language
• Catalog Question
• USHE GE Task Force Update

The Utah Statesman, September 20, 2021, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, September 20, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of Minutes – August 23, 2021
• University Business
• Education Policies Committee – September 2, 2021
• Educational Policies Committee Annual Report

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes, September 20, 2021, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Approval of minutes - August 23, 2021
• University Business
• Education Policies Committee
• Telework Policy Draft | Summary of Changes
• Educational Policies Committee Annual Report
• Old Business
• New Business

Growth–Defense Trade-Offs Shape Population Genetic Composition In An Iconic Forest Tree Species, Olivia L. Cope, Ken Keefover-Ring, Eric L. Kruger, Richard L. Lindroth

Aspen Bibliography

All organisms experience fundamental conflicts between divergent metabolic processes. In plants, a pivotal conflict occurs between allocation to growth, which accelerates resource acquisition, and to defense, which protects existing tissue against herbivory. Trade-offs between growth and defense traits are not universally observed, and a central prediction of plant evolutionary ecology is that context-dependence of these trade-offs contributes to the maintenance of intraspecific variation in defense [Züst and Agrawal, Annu. Rev. Plant Biol., 68, 513–534 (2017)]. This prediction has rarely been tested, however, and the evolutionary consequences of growth–defense trade-offs in different environments are poorly understood, especially in long-lived species …

Hyperspectral Imaging With Cost-Sensitive Learning For High-Throughput Screening Of Loblolly Pine (Pinus Taeda L.) Seedlings For Freeze Tolerance, Yuzhen Lu, Kitt G. Payn, Piyush Pandey, Juan J. Acosta, Austin J. Heine, Trevor D. Walker, Sierra Young

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is a commercially important timber species planted across a wide temperature gradient in the southeastern U.S. It is critical to ensure that the planting stock is suitably adapted to the growing environment to achieve high productivity and survival. Long-term field studies, although considered the most reliable method for assessing cold hardiness of loblolly pine, are extremely resource-intensive and time-consuming. The development of a high-throughput screening tool to characterize and classify freeze tolerance among different genetic entries of seedlings will facilitate accurate deployment of highly productive and well-adapted families across the landscape. This study presents a …

Hyperspectral Imaging Combined With Machine Learning For The Detection Of Fusiform Rust Disease Incidence In Loblolly Pine Seedlings, Piyush Pandey, Kitt G. Payn, Yuzhen Lu, Austin J. Heine, Trevor D. Walker, Juan J. Acosta, Sierra N. Young

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Loblolly pine is an economically important timber species in the United States, with almost 1 billion seedlings produced annually. The most significant disease affecting this species is fusiform rust, caused by Cronartium quercuum f. sp. fusiforme. Testing for disease resistance in the greenhouse involves artificial inoculation of seedlings followed by visual inspection for disease incidence. An automated, high-throughput phenotyping method could improve both the efficiency and accuracy of the disease screening process. This study investigates the use of hyperspectral imaging for the detection of diseased seedlings. A nursery trial comprising families with known in-field rust resistance data was conducted, and …