Digital Commons Network^™

Chapter 7- Innovative Pedagogies For Promoting University Global Engagement In Times Of Crisis, Steven R. Hawks

Resilient Pedagogy

Even as universities, institutes, and professional associations are renewing their commitment to global engagement and the internationalization of higher-education campuses, there are significant geopolitical and social challenges that are pushing back (van der Wende, 2017). The immediate crisis posed by the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has further hampered progress by bringing a number of critical global engagement activities to a sudden halt (Brimmer, 2020). In the midst of these challenges there is an opportunity to consider theory-driven pedagogical innovations that can move the global engagement agenda forward even in times of complexity and crisis.

Chapter 9- A New Normal In Inclusive, Usable Online Learning Experiences, Christopher Phillips, Jared S. Colton

Resilient Pedagogy

The most obvious consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic in higher education has been more students accessing their classes remotely without having the technology and other resources readily available on their local campuses. Students from underrepresented groups have been disproportionately affected as a result of COVID-19, particularly students of color (Alvarez, 2020) and students with disabilities (Hill, 2020; National Center, 2020). This neglect of underrepresented groups in higher education is not unique to the pandemic, of course, and sadly is nothing new to higher education, but COVID-19 has made this problem more apparent.

Chapter 11- Team-Based Learning Brings Academic Rigor, Collaboration, And Community To Online Learning, Elizabeth Winter, Michele C. Clark, Christopher Burns

Resilient Pedagogy

In early 2020, instructors were faced with a critical and immediate need to move education online in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to discontinue face-to-face classes as a protection from the COVID-19 virus presented several questions and challenges, including the need to quickly develop online classes without adequate time to consider the effectiveness of different strategies. While online learning provides accessible and safe educational opportunities for students sheltering in place as a protection against the COVID-19 pandemic, faculty may question if online education provides the academic rigor, needed competencies, and student learning outcomes they hoped for in …

Chapter 12- Conducting Guided, Virtual Homework Sessions To Support Student Success During Covid Campus Closures, Rebecca Campbell, Kevin Kelly

Resilient Pedagogy

College students have long used community-based practices such as study halls, review sessions, study groups, homework buddies, and the like as academic strategies to support their learning (Hogan, 1999; Madland & Richards, 2019; Thalluri et al., 2014). With increased access to online conferencing capabilities, working in community has been adapted by faculty who have used the technology to participate in virtual write-on-sites, writing retreats and writing sprints. Thus, it is no surprise that both faculty and learning centers saw the potential for creating virtual spaces for students to work together.

Chapter 14- Designing Curriculum Collaboratively: A Practice For Learning Alongside Undergraduate Teaching Assistants During Uncertain Times, Jessica Rivera-Mueller, Kresten Erickson

Resilient Pedagogy

The transition to remote learning during the Spring 2020 semester was abrupt for faculty and students, and it did not allow much time for reflection or purposeful planning, especially as individuals were faced with managing multiple aspects of their lives. Educators had to consider quickly what learning experiences and teaching practices could be preserved or revised, as well as what learning activities could or should be removed. These choices were not easy to make. During this challenging moment, however, we discovered how collaborative partnerships between faculty and undergraduate teaching assistants (UTAs) can contribute to the development of a flexible and …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Utah Women And Work: Childcare And Homeschooling, Chris Hartwell, Jared Hansen, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–2021 has impacted workers across the globe. Women have been disproportionately impacted during this time. At one point during the pandemic, a publication from the National Women’s Law Center reported that women dropped out of the workforce at a rate four times that of men. Utah has seen similar negative impacts on working women. The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah reported that from 2019 to 2020, jobs held by women declined at a rate more than double that of men, and unemployment rose more for females than males. One major reason …

Effects Of Feeding A Novel Alfalfa Leaf Pellet Product (Proleaf Max) And Alfalfa Stems (Profiber Plus) On Performance In The Feedlot And Carcass Quality Of Beef Steers, Laura A. Motsinger, Allen Young, Ryan Feuz, Ryan Larsen, Tevan J. Brady, Reganne K. Briggs, Brett R. Bowman, Chris Pratt, Kara J. Thornton

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Alfalfa is often included in the diets of beef animals; however, the nutrient content of alfalfa is variable depending on the region in which it is grown, climate, soil, and many other factors. The leaf portion of alfalfa has a less variable nutrient composition than the stem portion of the plant. The variability that is present in the alfalfa plant can make the development of total mixed rations of consistent nutrient content difficult. As such, the purpose of this study was to determine how the inclusion of fractionated alfalfa leaves and alfalfa stems impacts performance and carcass quality of finishing …

Rapid Muscle Activation Changes Across A Competitive Collegiate Female Soccer Season, Kazuma Akehi, Eric C. Conchola, Ty B. Palmer, Brennan J. Thompson

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a competitive soccer season on rapid activation properties of the knee extensors and flexors in Division II female soccer players. Methods: Eighteen collegiate female soccer players participated in the present study, however, due to injuries during the season a final sample of 16 players were included for study analysis. Participants performed two maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of the knee extensors and flexors before, during, and at the end of a competitive college soccer season. Electromyography root mean square (EMG RMS; μV), rate of EMG rise (RER; %Peak …

Special Topic: Island Invaders, S. Nicole Frey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This is the call for papers for the special issue on island invaders.

Water Quality Degradation In The Lower Mekong Basin, Ratha Sor, Peng Bun Ngor, Savoeurn Soum, Sudeep Chandra, Zeb S. Hogan, Sarah E. Null

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

The Mekong River is one of the world’s largest rivers, unparalleled in terms of its biodiversity and ecosystem services. As in other regions, sufficient water quality is required to support diverse organisms, habitats, and ecosystems, but in the Mekong region, water quality has not been well studied. Based on biological and physical-chemical data collected over the last two decades, we evaluated spatial-temporal water quality of the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) using biotic and abiotic assessment metrics. We found that during the 2000s, water quality in the LMB was unpolluted, with “very good” metrics for tributary rivers and “good” status for …

Reu Site: Stem For Plant Health, David W. Britt

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Case Studies In The Classroom: Assessing A Pilot Information Literacy Curriculum For English Composition, Rachel Wishkoski, Katie Strand, Alex J. Sundt, Deanna Allred, Diana J. Meter

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

Purpose

This mixed-methods study assesses a pilot library curriculum in a general education English composition course. Case-based learning (CBL), a form of problem-based learning (PBL), was used to scaffold information literacy skills and concepts across sessions. This article explores the approach's impact on student learning and engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants were enrolled in four sections of an undergraduate composition course. Two sections were taught with the CBL library curriculum, and two with the standard library curriculum as a control. Pretest/posttest surveys included quantitative and qualitative measures to assess students in several areas of information literacy. Weekly reflections from a subsample of …

But Were We Successful? Using Online Asynchronous Focus Groups To Evaluate Library Services, Rebekah Cummings, Lindsay E. Ozburn, Andrea Payant, Michael Shelton, Ryan Bushman

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

USU launched a program in 2016 to connect researchers seeking federal funding with librarians to assist them with data management. This program assisted over 100 researchers, but was it successful? Our presentation will discuss how we evaluated the success of this program using online asynchronous focus groups (OAFG) in conjunction with a traditional survey. Our cross-institutional research team will share our findings as well as the challenges and successes of using OAFGs to assess library services.

Homeward Bound: How To Move An Entire Cataloging Unit To Remote Work, Andrea Payant, Becky Skeen

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Utah State University Libraries Cataloging and Metadata Services (CMS) unit, including student workers, transitioned to remote cataloging in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The presentation will outline the process undertaken by supervisors to evaluate and modify services and workflows to continue cataloging service during the time when the library was shut down.

Marginalia No. 46, Merrill-Cazier Library, Utah State University

Marginalia

• Dear Friends, page 2
• Welcome New Library Employees, page 3
• The Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation Tribal Library, page 5
• USU Libraries Engages in Utah Power Systems Project, page 7
• Celebrating 2020 USU Faculty Authors, page 8
• Kathy Christiansen Elected New Friends President, page 9
• Library & Friends Wish Dean Brad Cole a Happy Retirement, page 10

Aconitum Lycoctonum L.: Phenolic Compounds And Their Bioactivities, Erna Karalija, Adisa Paric, Sabina Dahija, Renata Besta Gajevic, Sanja Cavar Zeljkovic

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

The very first report on the phenolic composition of aerial parts of Aconitum lycoctonum L., a species belonging to the toxic Aconitum genus, is presented here. Aerial parts were subjected to the extraction with four different solvents and analyzed via LC-MS/MS for the content of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Furthermore, isolated extracts were tested for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Ethanolic extracts of both flowers and vegetative parts (leaves and stems) were found to be the richest in the phenolic compounds, following the water extracts. Ethanolic extract of flowers was very rich in flavonoid apigenin, while high levels of salicylic and …

Drought-Tolerant Options For Southwest Agriculture: Edible Produce, Emily Rice, Kynda R. Curtis

All Current Publications

The arid Southwest has been heavily impacted by drought and climate change. The Southwest states are some of the driest in the nation. From 2000 to 2020, 65% of the state of Utah experienced abnormally dry conditions, 78% of Arizona, 69% of New Mexico, and 71% of Nevada. Drought can damage pastures and crops, leading to economic losses in agriculture. Sustaining agricultural production (crops, food, livestock) on tribal lands will become progressively more challenging in the future due to decreased water availability, extended droughts, and changes in precipitation quantities and timing. This fact sheet is the second in a series …

(Re-)Defining Permaculture: Perspectives Of Permaculture Teachers And Practitioners Across The United States, Kaitlyn Spangler, Roslynn Brain Mccann, Rafter Sass Ferguson

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

The solutions-based design framework of permaculture exhibits transformative potential, working to holistically integrate natural and human systems toward a more just society. The term can be defined and applied in a breadth of ways, contributing to both strengths and weaknesses for its capacity toward change. To explore the tension of breadth as strength and weakness, we interviewed 25 prominent permaculture teachers and practitioners across the United States (US) regarding how they define permaculture as a concept and perceive the term’s utility. We find that permaculture casts a wide net that participants grapple with in their own work. They engaged in …

Maples In The Landscape, Sheriden M. Hansen, Jaydee Gunnell, Andra Emmertson

All Current Publications

Maple trees (Acer sp.) are a common fixture and beautiful addition to Utah landscapes. There are over one hundred species, each with numerous cultivars (cultivated varieties) that are native to both North America and much of Northern Europe. Trees vary in size and shape, from small, almost prostrate forms like certain Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) and shrubby bigtooth maples (Acer grandidentatum) to large and stately shade trees like the Norway maple (Acer platanoides). Tree shape can vary greatly, ranging from upright, columnar, rounded, pyramidal to spreading. Because trees come in a range …

Passive Atmospheric Safety Feature For Small Molten Salt Reactors In Accident Conditions, Brent Edgerton

Utah Space Grant Consortium

This investigation aims to discover the utility of atmospheric cooling of residual heat in Martian applications (1.5 MW_t). It also considers the possible terrestrial application (45 MW_t) of these concepts. The peculiarities of atmospheric cooling require novel geometric arrangements and material selection. The average convection coefficient is derived and applied to ANSYS Transient Thermal analysis for both terrestrial and Martian environments. This preliminary analysis found that atmospheric cooling is a viable method of Martian passive cooling and may serve as a possible method in terrestrial conditions. The key finding of this investigation is that the …

Automatic Data Collection System And Video Laryngoscope Database, Gabrielle Hoyer

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The aggregate intubation data collected by a network of video laryngoscopes can be processed to understand the quality of an individual’s or a group of individual’s practice(s). Currently, all data surrounding intubations is self-reported and not understood on an aggregate basis. We are developing a technology which can enable monitoring and benchmarking of intubations across a wide variety of practices.

Tuning Radiation And Microgravity Exposure For Human Brain Organoids, Bailey Mcfarland

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The environment of space, specifically radiation and microgravity, poses a substantial threat to astronauts' brain health. Understanding the damage mechanism and therefore paving the way to finding potential remedies is critical to protect astronauts during space flight. Current models are insufficient at representing the human brain, and insufficient research has been conducted on the effect of radiation and microgravity on the higher structures of the human brain. This ongoing research aims to use brain organoids, a tissue-engineered model that recapitulates the human brain's anatomy and structure and investigate the effects of radiation and microgravity on the brain. At the current …

Connecting Land Cover To Benthic Cover Within The Watershed: Quantifying Impacts Of Terrigenous Sediment On Coral Reef Health And Morphology Using Remote Sensing And Machine Learning, L. Kalai Ellis

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Erosion, with associated sedimentation of reefs and loss of habitat for marine and coastal species, is one of the most pressing environmental challenges in Hawaii. Identifying hotspots of soil erosion guides management on land, but limited work has been done connecting land cover to coral reef health and morphology. Current reef survey methods overgeneralize the spatial variation of benthic cover and this has been reflected in incorrect Geographic Information System (GIS) layers of the reef. We propose a novel and more holistic approach to improve accuracy by connecting sedimentation from source to sink using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Unmanned Surface …

Long-Term Spatiotemporal Monitoring And Analysis Of Chlorophyll-A Concentrations In Utah Lake, Kaylee Tanner

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Utah Lake is a unique and valuable natural resource in the semi-arid Utah Valley. Shallow, turbid, eutrophic, and slightly saline, the lake degrades and stabilizes pollution well [1]. The lake is a highly productive ecosystem and provides ecological habitats, water storage, and recreation. Detection of harmful algal blooms (HABs), however, has closed Utah Lake beaches every summer since 2016 [2] and raised concerns over the health of the lake ecosystem [3, 4]. HABs, which involve excessive algal growth that can cause hypoxic and/or toxic water conditions [5], have numerous detrimental effects [6] on lakes and reservoirs in the United States …

Predicting Propofol-Induced Burst Suppression Using An Individualized Model-Based Approach Over Repeated Treatments, Jason C. Huang

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Our group is investigating the antidepressant effects of high-dose propofol, but dosing propofol to induce standardized changes in EEG activity (“burst suppression”) is challenging due to limited knowledge of each subject’s pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). In this paper, we approximated PK-PD models for propofol-induced burst suppression (PIBS), based on multiple subjects over repeated treatments. We then applied these models to predict BSR in each subject’s repeated treatment, then evaluate their predictive performances. We hypothesized that predicting BSR from a greater number of previous treatments would improve performance, but our current results are not conclusive enough to validate the hypothesis. …

Monitoring Acute Kidney Injury Risk With Urine Oxygen Partial Pressure, Lars Lofgren

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication associated with cardiac surgery. AKI is associated with increased hospital costs, hospital length of stay (LOS), and mortality risk. The current diagnostic criteria rely on serum creatinine measurements and urine output data. Serum creatinine is not renal specific. It is known that there are factors other than renal injury that influence serum creatine concentrations. Serum creatinine levels are measured as concentrations which means large changes in fluid balance may alter the serum creatinine concentration. Urine output is not a reliable measurement of renal injury, either. During surgery it is common to administer …

Feedback Control Of Particle Positions Using Electric Fields And Chemical Gradients, Mark Mcdonald

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Programmable self-assembly is a promising route to new biomaterial and metamaterial synthesis methods. An important step towards programmable self-assembly is moving component parts to desired locations. We do this by designing and simulating a controller that modifies an external field to move particles on desired paths. We first design a controller using electric fields by modifying established methods, then we apply the insights gained from the electric field controller to a chemical controller that uses model predictive control.

Utah State University Commencement, 2021 – College Of Agriculture And Applied Sciences Convocation, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

2021 Convocation for the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences of Utah State University.

Utah State University Commencement, 2021 – Moab Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

2021 Commencement Ceremony for the Moab Campus of Utah State University.

Wrdc 2021, Don Albrecht

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.