Digital Commons Network^™

Commercially Available Products In Increase Soil Water-Holding Capacity, Shital Poudyal, Jake Powell, Rowe Zwahlen, Grant Cardon

All Current Publications

Although adding organic matter is traditionally the most effective way to enhance soil water-holding capacity, several commercial products in the market also have the potential to increase soil water-holding capacity. In this fact sheet, we discuss the properties and characteristics of those commercially available products and recommended application rates. We also explore some limitations of using these products.

The Utah Statesman, February 19, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

A Relational-Cultural Approach To Examining Concealment Among Latter-Day Saint Sexual Minorities, Samuel Skidmore, Sydney A. Sorrell, Kyrstin Lake

Psychology Student Research

Sexual minorities often conceal their sexual identity from others to avoid distal stressors. Such concealment efforts occur more frequently among sexual minorities in religious settings where rejection and discrimination are more likely. Using a sample of 392 Latter-day Saint (“Mormon”) sexual minorities, we assess (a) the effect of religious affiliation on concealment efforts, (b) the relationship between social support, authenticity, and religious commitment on concealment, and (c) the moderating effect of authenticity on religious commitment and concealment. Multi-level model analyses revealed that religious affiliation alone accounted for over half (51.7%) of the variation in concealment efforts for Latter-day Saint sexual …

The Status Of Women In Utah Politics: A 2024 Update, Kolene Anderson, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Although Utah has a rich heritage of women’s involvement in voting, advocacy, and various types of political participation, for decades Utah has lagged the nation in terms of women running for and serving in elected political roles. The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) began reporting on the status of women in Utah politics in 2014, with updates in 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023, and now 2024. Although strides have been made to increase the number of women serving in political roles in the last decade, there is still work to do. Research continues to confirm that when both men and …

The Domestication Of Machismo In Brazil: Motivations, Reflexivity, And Consonance Of Religious Male Gender Roles, H. J. François Dengah Ii, William W. Dressler, Ana Falcão

Sociology and Anthropology Faculty Publications

The relationship between culture and the individual is a central focus of social scientific research. This paper examines motivations that mediate between shared culture norms and individual actions. Inspired by the works of Leon Festinger and Melford Spiro, we posit that social network conformation (the perceived adherence of one’s social network with norms) and internalization of cultural norms (incorporation of cultural models with the self-schema) will differentially shape behavior (cultural consonance) depending on the domain and individual characteristics. For the domain of gender roles among Brazilian men, religious affiliation results in different configurations of the individual and culture. Our findings …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda February 20, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - January 22, 2024
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Information
• Education Policies Committee - December 7, 2023 | January 4, 2024
• New Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Policy
• Reports
• Faculty Diversity, Development, & Equity Annual Report
• Parking and Transportation Committee Annual Report
• Sustainability Council Annual Report
• Old Business
• Update on IRB Ad Hoc Committee
• Update on Faculty Code 405
• New Business
• 
  Faculty Code 407 Redline - Clean | 408 Redline - Clean
• Adjourn: 5:00 pm

The Utah Statesman, February 12, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Relevance Of Individual Data When Assessing The Gastrointestinal Nematode Infection Level, Nutritional And Productive Variables In A Tropical Farm Context: The Median Isn’T The Message, Gabriel Andrés Ortíz-Domínguez, Pedro Geraldo González-Pech, Juan Felipe De Jesús Torres-Acosta, Javier Ventura-Cordero, Juan Villalba, Carlos Alfredo Sandoval-Castro

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

We evaluated the relationship between individual and herd GIN infection level, nutrition, production performance and anemia parameters in a tropical farm context. Fifty-four female goats were monitored to assess their body condition score (BCS, nutritional status indicator), live weight (LW) and LW gain (LWG, both used as production level indicators), FAMACHA© and hematocrit (HT, both used as anemia indicators). Goats browsed for 4 h in a tropical forest and received balanced feed and chopped grass. The eggs per gram of feces (EPG) indicated the GIN burden, with fecal samples obtained at 7:00 (AM) and 15:00 h (PM.) from each goat …

Response To Commentary: The Framework For Systematic Reviews On Psychological Risk Factors For Persistent Somatic Symptoms And Related Syndromes And Disorders (Psy-Pss), Paul Hüsing, Abigail Smakowski, Bernd Löwe, Maria Kleinstäuber, Anne Toussaint, Meike C. Shedden-Mora

Psychology Faculty Publications

Persistent somatic symptoms (PSS) are common in all fields of medicine. Current classification systems for mental disorders in this field, i.e. Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD; DSM-5) or Bodily Distress Disorder (BDD; ICD-11), now stress the relevance of psychological features associated with the physical complaints. It is well known that psychological criteria are among the relevant risk factors for the development and/or worsening of persistent physical symptoms, however, the selected diagnostic criteria remain subject to debate. Numerous psychological concepts have been studied and discussed in the scientific field. However, empirical evidence remains scattered, individual factors have not been reviewed systematically, and …

Creation Of A Southwestern Authors Archive: Revisiting The Laverne Harrell Clark Collection Ten Years Later, Erin R. Wahl, Pamela Pierce, Wendy Burk, Julie Swarstad Johnson, Sarah Kortemeier

Journal of Western Archives

This article details the processing of the LaVerne Harrell Clark Photographic Collection by University of Arizona Poetry Center librarians, archivists, and interns, and the current status and next steps of the collection. The LaVerne Harrell Clark Photographic Collection, which contains thousands of portraits and candids of poets taken circa 1960-2000 by LaVerne Harrell Clark, the Poetry Center’s first director, is deeply entwined with the Poetry Center’s institutional identity. In addition, the authors explored ways in which the collection and the institution as a whole are positioned as uniquely Western and also of national significance. Those processing the collection became interested …

Faculty Senate Agenda February 5, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:45 Call to Order
• 3:50 University Business
• 4:05 Faculty Senate Business
• 4:10 Information
• 4:25 Reports
• 4:45 Old Business
• 4:50 New Business
• Adjourn: 5:00 pm

Faculty Senate Minutes February 5, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order - Maureen Hearns
• University Business - Elizabeth Cantwell, President | Larry Smith, Provost
• Faculty Senate Business - Maureen Hearns | John Ferguson | Grant Cardon
• Information
• Reports
• Old Business
• New Business
• Adjourn: 4:58 pm

The Utah Statesman, February 5, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Oystershell Scale (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) Population Growth, Spread, And Phenology On Aspen In Arizona, Usa, Connor D. Crouch, Richard W. Hofstetter, Amanda M. Grady, Nylah N.S. Edwards, Kristen M. Waring

Aspen Bibliography

Oystershell scale (OSS; Lepidosaphes ulmi L.) is an invasive insect that threatens sustainability of aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) in the southwestern United States. OSS invasions have created challenges for land managers tasked with maintaining healthy aspen ecosystems for the ecological, economic, and aesthetic benefits they provide. Active management is required to suppress OSS populations and mitigate damage to aspen ecosystems, but before management strategies can be implemented, critical knowledge gaps about OSS biology and ecology must be filled. This study sought to fill these gaps by addressing 3 questions: (i) What is the short-term rate of aspen mortality in …

Domestic Violence: Research Summary, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

During the fall of 2023, Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) researchers conducted a statewide study to establish a baseline for public perceptions related to the awareness, understanding, and attitudes about challenges that Utah women and girls face (see Background & Methods for details). The study was created to support the work of 18 areas of focus (spokes) within the movement called A Bolder Way Forward, which is dedicated to helping more Utah girls and women thrive. One of the 18 areas of focus is domestic violence, and this summary shares findings that illuminate present perspectives and establishes a baseline …

Sexual Assault: Research Summary, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

During the fall of 2023, Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) researchers conducted a statewide study to establish a baseline for public perceptions related to the awareness, understanding, and attitudes about challenges that Utah women and girls face (see Background & Methods for details). The study was created to support the work of 18 areas of focus (spokes) within the movement called A Bolder Way Forward, which is dedicated to helping more Utah girls and women thrive. One of the 18 areas of focus is sexual assault, and this summary shares findings that illuminate present perspectives and establishes a baseline …

Educational Policies Committee Agenda February 1, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee (Chad Simon)
• Academic Standards Subcommittee Report (Renee Galliher)
• General Education Subcommittee Report (Matt Sanders)

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes February 1, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews

• College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences
• Caine College of the Arts
• Jon M. Huntsman School of Business
• Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services
• College of Engineering
• College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources
• College of Science
• College of Veterinary Medicine
• Other
• Other Business

Educational Policies Committee Minutes February 1, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee (Mateja Savoie-Roskos)
• Academic Standards Subcommittee Report (Renee Galliher)
• General Education Subcommittee Report (Matt Sanders)
• Other Business

Circuit Training Improves The Levels Of Β-Amyloid And Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Related To Cognitive Impairment Risk Factors In Obese Elderly Korean Women, Duwang Kang, Suhan Koh, Taekyu Kim, Eadric Bressel, Doyeon Kim

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of circuit training on β-amyloid, BDNF, and cognitive function in untrained obese elderly Korean women. Methods: The subjects for the study were aged 65–70 years and were each assigned to a circuit training group (EG, n = 12) or a control group (CG, n = 11). The 60 min combined exercise was performed 3 times per week for 16 weeks. The exercise intensity was progressively increased from a 40% heart rate reserve to a 70% heart rate reserve. The test data were analyzed using a paired t-test, an …

The Utah Statesman, January 29, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Safety And Health Management Planning For Veterinarians, Jessie Salter, Michael Pate, Kerry A. Rood

All Current Publications

Veterinary staff health and safety are of primary importance to the profession. Although this is inherently understood, oftentimes, staff safety is not given the time and resources needed to promote a safe work environment free from unnecessary risks or exposures. This handbook educates clinic leaders on valuing and creating a safety culture in practice as well as implementing appropriate safety policies and procedures. Veterinary personnel are more likely to experience a work-related injury than policemen, firefighters, and construction workers. These statistics illustrate the need for a stronger safety culture in veterinary medicine. This handbook provides an outline on how to …

Skills To Support Mental Health In Uncertain Times, Part 1: Being Open, Rachel Byers, Heather H. Kelley, Ty Aller, Timothy Keady

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the skill of being open, an important component of psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility, being able to respond to uncomfortable thoughts and feelings in a flexible and values-aligned way, can help protect and improve an individual's quality of life. Openness includes learning to accept uncomfortable thoughts and sensations rather than pushing them away. The fact sheet includes exercises that research has shown can help increase openness. Two other fact sheets are part of this Skills to Support Mental Health in Uncertain Times series, including "Part 2: Cultivating Awareness," and "Part 3: Being Engaged."

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda January 22, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:30 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - December 11, 2023
• 3:35 University Business
• 3:50 Faculty Senate Business
• 4:00 Information
• Education Policies Committee
• Policy 200: Executive Summary
• Policy 382: Time and Attendance
• Policy 326
• 4:25 Reports
• Honorary Degrees and Awards
• Office of Research Annual Report
• PRPC Annual Report
• School of Graduate Studies Annual Report
• 4:45 Old Business
• 4:50 New Business
• Adjourn: 5:00 pm

The Utah Statesman, January 22, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes January 22, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order - Maureen Hearns
• University Business - Elizabeth Cantwell, President | Larry Smith, Provost
• Faculty Senate Business - Maureen Hearns | John Ferguson | Grant Cardon
• Information
• Reports
• Old Business
• New Business
• Adjourn: 4:50 pm

Increasing Transcultural Competence In Clinical Psychologists Through A Web-Based Training: Study Protocol For A Randomized Controlled Trial, Selina Studer, Maria Kleinstäuber, Ulrike Von Lersner, Cornelia Weise

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background In mental health care, the number of patients with diverse cultural backgrounds is growing. Nevertheless, evaluated training programs for transcultural competence are missing. Barriers for engaging in transcultural therapy can be identified in patients as well as in therapists. Besides language barriers, clinical psychologists report insecurities, for example, fear of additional expenses when involving a language mediator, ethical concerns such as power imbalances, or fear of lack of knowledge or incorrect handling when working with patients from other cultures. Divergent values and concepts of disease, prejudices, and stereotyping are also among the issues discussed as barriers to optimal psychotherapy …

Microbes From Native Plants Show Drought Tolerance Potential, Ty Wilson

Research on Capitol Hill

Climate-induced environmental stresses, and the increased use of fertilizers, significantly threaten food production and soil health. In natural soils, microbes perform a vital function of restoring the soil and assisting native plants’ growth.

Computer Models Can Help Us Learn More About How Eye Diseases Progress, Cassandra Corry

Research on Capitol Hill

Eye diseases are difficult to study because taking samples from living eyes can be challenging and uncomfortable. We need a model that mimics the human eye; running computer simulations seems like a promising way to conduct this research.

Persistent Voluntary Vaping In Rats Supports Biological Basis For Electronic Cigarette Use, Kiernan T. Callister, Mariah E. Willis-Moore

Research on Capitol Hill

Nicotine vaping, or e-cigarette use, is a pervasive health concern among adolescents and young adults that has many harmful impacts, such as permanent changes in brain development. 

Rats have shared neurobiology with humans and can therefore be used to examine phenomena that are difficult to experimentally study in humans. 

Our study seeks to develop and validate a new system of nicotine vaping in rats.