Digital Commons Network^™

Microbial Glycosylation Of Antitubercular Agent Chlorflavonin, Jie Ren, Jixun Zhan

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Flavonoids have shown health-benefiting properties, such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities, and are commonly used as nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Although flavonoids are predominantly identified from plants, several filamentous fungal species have also been reported to produce bioactive flavonoids, including chlorflavonin from Aspergillus candidus, a novel halogenated flavonoid with potent antifungal and antitubercular (anti-TB) activities. Unfortunately, the low water-solubility of this molecule may hinder its bioavailability. Glycosylation is an effective method to enhance the polarity of natural products and alter their physicochemical properties. This work focuses on the development of novel water-soluble chlorflavonin derivatives to combat the threat of drug-resistant …

Maple Tapping In Utah, Nicole King, Darren Mcavoy

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides a brief introduction to tapping maple trees in Utah and the Intermountain West. Included is an overview of maple tree identification, weather conditions, and how to start tapping.

Are Plant–Soil Feedbacks Caused By Many Weak Microbial Interactions?, Julia K. Aaronson, Andrew Kulmatiski, Leslie E. Forero, Josephine Grenzer, Jeanette M. Norton

Wildland Resources Student Research

We used high-throughput sequencing and multivariate analyses to describe soil microbial community composition in two four-year field plant–soil feedback (PSF) experiments in Minnesota, USA and Jena, Germany. In descending order of variation explained, microbial community composition differed between the two study sites, among years, between bulk and rhizosphere soils, and among rhizosphere soils cultivated by different plant species. To try to identify soil organisms or communities that may cause PSF, we correlated plant growth responses with the microbial community composition associated with different plants. We found that plant biomass was correlated with values on two multivariate axes. These multivariate axes …

Education Policies Committee Meeting Agenda November 2, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - October 5, 2023
• Subcommittee Reports
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Curriculum Subcommittee Meeting Agenda November 2, 2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - October 5, 2023
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm

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

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order - Maureen Hearns
• Approval of Minutes - September 5, 2023
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Information - Education Policies Committee & Human Resource Policies
• Reports - Education Policies Committee Annual Report & Honors Program Annual Report
• Old Business - Resolution on Reducing USU Greenhouse Gas Pollution & Divestment Request
• New Business - Faculty Senate & SEA Collaboration & Task Force
• Adjourn 4:45 pm

Faculty Senate Committee Agenda October 30, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order - Maureen Hearns
• Approval of Minutes - October 2, 2023
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Information - Education Policies Committee & Human Resources Policies
• Reports - Academic Freedom & Tenure Annual Report & Athletic Council Annual Report
• Old Business - Faculty Code 405
• New Business - Faculty Code 406 & Policy 104 Concerns
• Adjourn - 4:20 pm

The Utah Statesman, October 23, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Forest Composition Change And Biophysical Climate Feedbacks Across Boreal North America, Richard Massey, Brendan M. Rogers, Logan T. Berner, Sol Cooperdock, Michelle C. Mack, Xanthe J. Walker, Scott J. Goetz

Aspen Bibliography

Deciduous tree cover is expected to increase in North American boreal forests with climate warming and wildfire. This shift in composition has the potential to generate biophysical cooling via increased land surface albedo. Here we use Landsat-derived maps of continuous tree canopy cover and deciduous fractional composition to assess albedo change over recent decades. We find, on average, a small net decrease in deciduous fraction from 2000 to 2015 across boreal North America and from 1992 to 2015 across Canada, despite extensive fire disturbance that locally increased deciduous vegetation. We further find near-neutral net biophysical change in radiative forcing associated …

Older Adult Falls In The Community: Does Unsafe Home Environment Have A Risk Role Through The Mediating Effect Of Functional Limitations?, Debasree Das Gupta, Uma Kelekar, Sidney C. Turner

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Background and Objectives: Fall incidents from unsafe home environment are frequent in older-adult homes but the literature is ambiguous whether it is the presence/absence, or the interplay of such conditions and physical functioning that is of salience. We therefore estimated whether unsafe home environment adversely associated with subsequent falls among older adults and what proportion of this association was mediated through limitations in daily and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL/IADL).

Research Design and Methods: Using a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries (≥65 years) in the 2018-2019 National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS; n=2,599), we conducted bivariate …

Suppressing A Blocked Balance Recovery Step: A Novel Method To Assess An Inhibitory Postural Response, David A. E. Bolton, Charlie C. Baggett Iv, Chase A. Mitton, Sara A. Harper, James K. Richardson

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Stepping to recover balance is an important way we avoid falling. However, when faced with obstacles in the step path, we must adapt such reactions. Physical obstructions are typically detected through vision, which then cues step modification. The present study describes a novel method to assess visually prompted step inhibition in a reactive balance context. In our task, participants recovered balance by quickly stepping after being released from a supported forward lean. On rare trials, however, an obstacle blocked the stepping path. The timing of vision relative to postural perturbation was controlled using occlusion goggles to regulate task difficulty. Furthermore, …

Making Space: A Randomized Waitlist-Controlled Trial Of An Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Website For Hoarding, Jennifer Krafft, Julie M. Petersen, Clarissa W. Ong, Michael P. Twohig, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Hoarding disorder causes significant impairment, but existing treatments have notable barriers to access and do not target several psychological processes that may contribute to hoarding. Therefore, this study evaluated an acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) self-help website for hoarding with minimal coaching in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial to evaluate initial feasibility and efficacy.

Methods: Participants were 73 U.S.-based adults with clinically significant hoarding symptoms. The website comprised 16 self-help sessions to be completed over 8 weeks. Measures were taken at baseline, posttreatment, and 1-month follow-up.

Results: Multilevel models indicated that the ACT condition improved significantly more than waitlist on …

Talking Circle Intervention Among Urban Native American Youth: A Cultural Safety Research Exemplar, Rose Wimbish-Tompkins, John R. Lowe, Melessa Kelley, Eugenia Millender

Journal of Indigenous Research

Urban Native Americans are experiencing a perpetual cycle of substance use in relation to historical trauma (HT). Currently, alcohol and drug use has become a leading health risk factor among urban Native American youth. Cultural Safety is a means to foster insight and autonomy that is beneficial to promoting health and wellbeing among Native American and Indigenous people. The primary objective of this paper examined implementation of the Urban Talking Circle Intervention and cultural safety for the prevention of alcohol and drug use among urban Native American youth. This study employed a 2-condition quasi experimental design and utilized convenience and …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda October 16, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:30 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - September 18, 2023
• 3:35 University Business
• 3:50 Faculty Senate Business
• Promotion Processes
• 4:00 Information
• Education Policies Committee
• Human Resources Policy 313
• Human Resources Policy 350
• Human Resources Policy 398
• 4:15 Reports
• Academic Freedom & Tenure Annual Report
• Athletic Council Annual Report
• 4:25 Old Business
• Faculty Code 405
• 4:30 New Business
• Faculty Code 406
• Policy 104 Concerns
• Mandatory Employee Reporting
• Adjourn: 4:45 pm

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

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Understanding The Challenges In Academia To Prepare Nursing Students For Digital Technology Use At Workplace, Ankit Shrestha, Prakriti Dumaru, Rizu Paudel, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

Digital technology has transformed workplaces in recent years. The technology adoption in medical institutions has challenged nurses to evolve in using complex digital systems. However, academic institutions often fail to keep up with the rapid changes in professional practice in preparing their students. To this end, we conducted semi-structured interviews with five nursing faculties in the USA. In our study, we examined the current status of digital technology and privacy education, and identified the challenges in adequately preparing nursing students to embrace and adapt to the changes in digital technology use at healthcare organizations. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights …

"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 …

The Utah Statesman, October 9, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Psychosocial Development Measures Modification For Adolescents With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Myles Maxey, Troy E. Beckert, Diana Meter, Trenton Landon

Human Development and Family Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Although diagnosis and identification of IDD is improving, adolescents with IDD receive limited attention in research, particularly concerning their psychosocial development. Measures developed and normed with typically developing populations may not be appropriate for IDD populations and may result in biased assessment. Aim: This study aimed to develop and validate modified psychosocial development assessments for adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), addressing the absence of such assessments.

Method: It involved two phases: modifying existing instruments and validating the revised versions. Four stakeholder groups participated: adolescents with IDD, parents, and scholars in adolescent developmental and disabilities. Validation included two …

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 …

Women, Infants, And Children (Wic), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet from the Hunger Solutions Institute at Utah State University outlines the Utah Women, Infants, and Children program known as WIC. It addresses who qualifies, the benefits, and how to access more information.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet from the Hunger Solutions Institute at Utah State University outlines the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as SNAP. It addresses who qualifies and how to apply for benefits and access more information about associated programs, such as Double Up Food Bucks and Create Better Health.

Food Assistance Programs For Seniors (60+), Palak Gupta, Carson Johnson

All Current Publications

This fact sheet from the Hunger Solutions Institute at Utah State University outlines the various food assistance programs for seniors ages 60 and over, such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) and Meals on Wheels, among others. It addresses who qualifies and how to access more information.

The Utah Statesman, October 2, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Maple Sap Collection And Sap Processing Systems, Jesse Mathews, Youping Sun, Steven Price, Darren Mcavoy, Michael Farrell, Paul Harris, Kelly Kopp

All Current Publications

Starting a maple syrup operation as a hobby or a business can be a daunting task. This fact sheet can help a new maple syrup producer get started on their sugaring journey with information on sap collection methods and processing equipment.

Create Healthy Gardens: Evaluation Of A Snap-Ed And Master Gardener Collaboration, Emma Parkhurst, Lacee Jiminez, Sheriden M. Hansen, Kristi Strongo, Heidi Leblanc

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

A multidisciplinary team established the Davis County Create Healthy Gardens (CHG) program to improve access to fresh produce and help low-income residents gain skills to grow food and prepare nourishing meals. An evaluation of the program shows that participants had access to over 275 pounds of fresh produce, and most participants reported an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption. They also reported an increase in their knowledge in gardening and food preparation.

Addressing The Opioid Crises: An Evaluation Of The Community Opioid Education Pilot Program, Gabriela Murza, Cris Meier, Lily Ward, Sydney O'Shay, Dru Faldmo

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah's opioid crisis presents unique challenges as progress was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic. This pilot study assessed the effectiveness of a brief webinar-based professional development program aimed at improving knowledge and confidence among health and behavioral healthcare professionals. Results indicated positive changes in participants' confidence and knowledge regarding opioid treatment options, misuse, and connecting individuals to resources.

Urban Homestead Education For Backyard Gardeners In Utah, Andree Walker Bravo

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Utah State University Extension Urban Homestead Expo caters to individuals and families interested in maximizing their self-sufficiency while living in an urban setting. The Urban Homestead Expo is designed to provide content to those wanting more than basic gardening classes, but who may not identify as producers. Workshops include backyard chickens, fruit production, water-wise irrigation, beekeeping, vegetable-integrated pest management, water harvesting, and other sustainability-related topics.

Impact Of An Opioid Harm Reduction Consortium: Emergency And Justice Engagement, Maren Wright Wright Voss, Gabriele Ciciurkaite, Matthew Huntington, Melissa Flint, Emily Hamilton, Jennifer Peatross

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension engaged first responders and law enforcement officials in a consortium to identify local needs related to opioid use disorder (OUD). To this end, the Tooele Opioid Response Network (TORN) conducted three first-responder harm reduction summits to meet local overdose prevention needs. The initiative trained over 200 personnel, which resulted in an 87.5% increase in knowledge related to harm reduction. TORN also facilitated the acquisition of $90,000 in funding for jail-based opioid medication and the disbursement of 400 naloxone kits and training to incarcerated persons at discharge.

Rethinking Behavior - Fall 2023, Midwest Symposium For Leadership In Behavior Disorders

ReThinking Behavior Magazine

A magazine for professionals serving children and youth with behavioral needs.

Fall 2023, Volume 7, Issue 1