Digital Commons Network^™

Summary Of Beaver And Iron Counties’ Water Conservation And Provisioning Strategies, Lisa Welsh, Joanna Endter-Wada, Burdette Barker, Bethany Neilson, Anna Mcentire, Melissa Stamp, Brian Steed

Reports

This report focuses on water conservation and provisioning strategies that both Beaver and Iron Counties are pursuing to help meet their citizens’ current and future water needs and to contribute to statewide water conservation efforts. It primarily relies on publicly available data from state, county, conservancy district, and city databases, plans, and documents. The purposes of this document are to provide regional context for understanding water use in Beaver and Iron Counties and to describe water conservation strategies that can influence the trajectories of their future water use. 

In both Beaver and Iron Counties, agriculture remains the primary user of …

Rethinking Behavior - Winter 2026, Midwest Symposium For Leadership In Behavior Disorders

ReThinking Behavior Magazine

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

Winter 2026, Volume 9, Issue 2

Preserving Progress: Why The Dd Network Matters Now More Than Ever, Matt Wappett

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

No abstract provided.

Dwarf Tomato Cultivar Selection Guide, Abigail Lazier, Noah Langenfeld

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

This cultivar guide provides information on eighteen dwarf tomato cultivars grown at Utah State University. The goal is to help growers compare varieties based on plant size, productivity, fruit characteristics, and quality. Each cultivar profile includes a photograph of the plant along with key information on growth habit, size classification, yield, fruit size, and soluble solids (°brix). Whether you are selecting tomatoes for a patio, indoor garden, greenhouse, or other space-limited growing system, this guide offers an easy-to-use resource for identifying cultivars that best match your available space and production goals.

Chia Seed Gel Powder As A Clean-Label Enhancer Of Texture, Physicochemical Quality, Antioxidant Activity, And Prebiotic Function In Probiotic Low-Fat Yogurt, Mahmoud E. A. Hamouda, Ratul Kalita, Abdelfatah K. Ali, Pratibha Chaudhary, Pramith U. Don, Omar A. A. Abdelsater, Anjali Verma, Yaser Elderwy

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Student Research

This study evaluated the effect of incorporating chia seed gel powder (CSGP) as a natural, clean-label stabilizer on the physicochemical, functional, microbiological, microstructural, antioxidant, and sensory properties of probiotic low-fat yogurt (PLFY) during 21 days of refrigerated storage. Six formulations were prepared using 0–2.5% CSGP, including Control (0% CSGP), YOG1 (0.5% CSGP), YOG2 (1.0% CSGP), YOG3 (1.5% CSGP), YOG4 (2.0% CSGP), and YOG5 (2.5% CSGP). Results showed that increasing CSGP levels noticeably enhanced the total solids, protein content, viscosity, hardness, and water-holding capacity of the PLFY (p < 0.05), while consistently reducing syneresis. Antioxidant activity also rose with higher CSGP concentrations, with YOG5 exhibiting the greatest DPPH scavenging activity (35.12%). Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a denser and more uniform protein network in PLFY fortified with CSGP, consistent with rheological measurements showing increased storage (G′) and loss (G″) moduli. Probiotic viability significantly increased (p < 0.05) in CSGP-added samples, indicating a potential prebiotic effect of CSGP. Sensory results demonstrated that although higher CSGP levels slightly darkened the yogurt color, body, texture, flavor, and total sensory scores improved markedly, with YOG5 gaining the highest total score (81.77). The results demonstrate that CSGP acts as a highly effective, multifunctional ingredient that enhances texture, stability, probiotic viability, and antioxidant capacity, making it a strong clean-label candidate for developing high-quality, functional probiotic low-fat yogurt.

Virtual Teaching During Covid-19: Attitudes, Abilities, And Educational Needs Of Cooperative Extension Staff, Kathryn Yerxa, Kayla L. Parsons, Jennifer Lobley

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

This study aimed to 1) identify the attitudes and abilities of Cooperative Extension staff regarding the delivery of virtual educational programming based on their characteristics and 2) identify professional development priorities to effectively deliver programming virtually. We disseminated an adapted Faculty Readiness to Teach Online questionnaire to Cooperative Extension staff via Qualtrics. Mean and standard deviation were calculated from complete surveys (n = 67) for each virtual programming competency in the self-reported attitude and ability sections, categorized by position type, years of teaching, and program area. We conducted a MANCOVA to …

Coaching Undergraduates, A Conceptual And Practical Guide, Anna Carissa Rozzo

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

The overall aim of this paper is to provide a holistic orientation to the practice of person-centered coaching while providing tangible methods that faculty and advisors in higher education may be able to integrate into their professional practices. This conceptual paper explores the theoretical and practical intersections of coaching and teaching, presenting a flexible modality to support student-centered learning. The author provides readers with general guidance and templates for goal setting, problem solving, and assessment that practitioners may adapt to their own contexts.

Coaching Graduate Students Through Early Childhood Focused Community-Engaged Learning: Graduate Student Perspectives And Course Design, Sarah Tulane, Shirlene Call Law

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

Community-engaged learning (CEL) in graduate-level coursework contributes to professional development and growth. CEL course design requires intentional and time-intensive planning. A graduate-level child development course was designed for CEL using the following process: needs assessment, training for community education, preparing materials, practicing with feedback, presenting to an authentic audience, and reflection on the experience. Students created presentations for authentic parent audiences based on a needs assessment of parent interest in child development topics. Reflections from four students in the course were analyzed using a general thematic analysis technique. Three themes emerged. …

Full Issue: Journal On Empowering Teaching Excellence, Volume 9, Issue 2, Fall 2025

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

The full-length Fall 2025 issue (Volume 9, Issue 2) of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version (with downloadable EPUB format) here.

This issue of the Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence brings together articles that highlight approaches for engaging students and broader communities through teaching, coaching, and assessment in higher education. The contributions examine community-engaged learning in graduate coursework, the use of coaching practices to support student-centered teaching and advising, Cooperative Extension staff readiness for virtual instruction, and alternative assessment strategies aimed at increasing engagement and reducing anxiety in challenging STEM courses. Collectively, the articles …

The Influence Of Early Detection And Intervention Providers' Actions And Communication On Parental Emotions And Early Intervention Engagement After A Child Is Diagnosed With Hearing Loss: A Scoping Review, Charlene M. Watson, D. Ellen Rick, Jillian Ingratta, Patti-Jo Sullivan, Xurong Zhao, Sheila Moodie

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Despite well-intentioned early hearing detection and intervention (EHDI) programs, parents receiving a newborn hearing loss diagnosis often experience distress, uncertainty, and fear, which can impact their readiness to engage in early intervention. The communication and support provided by clinicians in early hearing detection and intervention play a critical role in helping families navigate emotions, overcome barriers, and actively participate in EHDI programs. The purpose of this scoping review is to advance our knowledge of the following: For parents who have a newborn newly diagnosed with hearing loss, how do the actions/behaviors and communication (or lack thereof) of EHDI providers influence …

Geographic And Sociodemographic Disparities In Early Hearing Detection And Intervention Adherence, Amanda Pavan, Anton Kvit, Michael Van Skiba, Analise Ristic, Kirsten R. Coverstone

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Early identification and intervention are crucial to minimizing impacts of congenital hearing loss. Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) programs recommend newborn hearing screening before one month of age and a diagnostic audiologic evaluation before three months for infants who do not pass the screening. However, not all infants meet these benchmarks, as geographic and sociodemographic factors may influence adherence.

Addresses of primary contacts and audiology clinics were geocoded to calculate drive times to the nearest clinic in 10-minute intervals for infants born in Minnesota between 2019 and 2021. Birth location, NICU admittance, and sociodemographic characteristics were also analyzed. Random …

Readability Of Spanish Language Early Intervention Materials For Children Who Are D/Deaf And Hard Of Hearing, Torri Ann Woodruff-Gautherin

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This paper discusses how accessibility to information may be limited for families and considers why this is of a critical concern for families using Spanish. To look at accessibility of materials online, six search terms were used in the Google search engine. Ninety-one unique websites were included for readability analysis (43 written in English and 48 written in Spanish). Readability was assessed for English materials using Flesh-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL; mean=12.83, sd=2.737) and Flesh-Kincaid Ease of Reading Score (FKERS; mean=35.602, sd=15.651). FKGL scores were consistent with prior work (Woodruff & Cienkowski, 2021). For materials written in Spanish readability was assessed …

Fine And Gross Motor Skills Assessment, From A Caregiver's Perspective, In Children With Hearing Loss Using A Modified Ages And Stages Questionnaire (Asq-3), Steven M. Doettl, Patrick N. Plyler, Erin Plyler, Kelly R. Yeager, Leeann Hutker, Ginger Tallmadge, Aspen Gutknecht, Amy Becker

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a significant difference on ASQ-3 (Ages and Stages Questionnaire version 3) Gross (ASQ G) and Fine (ASQ F) Motor scores between children with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and children with normal hearing.

Methods: Data was gathered from the ASQ-3 as reported by parents/caregivers of 61 children (28 normal hearing children and 33 children with SNHL) ages 6-36 months. Results were averaged across the participants for both groups. Independent sample t-Tests were used to assess for any statistically significant difference in the ASQ scores between groups. Chi-square analysis …

From Policy To Practice In Deaf Education: American Sign Language And Spoken English Outcomes Of Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Children In Kansas, Jena Mcdaniel, Shreyas Teegala, Rebecca Maloney, Angie Walker, Mary S. Dietrich, Matthew L. Hall, Leah C. Geer, Julie Bustos

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

Purpose: In the context of the recent expectation for state Early Hearing Detection and Intervention programs to track language milestones of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children, we examine how to leverage statewide assessment programs for improving language outcomes of DHH children. We present the degree to which DHH children in Kansas are meeting their language milestones for American Sign Language (ASL) and English and the influence of two measurement features.

Method: Performance on the ASL/English Language Milestones for 198 children who were DHH (aged 1 to 8) was analyzed for attainment of age-expected language skills and …

Factors Affecting Timely Intervention For Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing: Perceptions Of Texas Early Intervention Providers, Julianna C. Wanek, Sandy K. Bowen

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions and experiences of early childhood intervention (ECI) professionals concerning timely intervention for children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) in Texas. The data for this study was collected through semi-structured, qualitative interviews of 10 ECI practitioners in Texas. Interview data analysis followed the six-phase framework of Thematic Analysis. The data collected identified three major themes: (a) roles and responsibilities, (b) family attributes and experiences, and (c) “deaf” is different. Overall, the findings reveal that the referral and service process for infants and toddlers who are DHH in Texas …

Journal Of Early Hearing Detection And Intervention: Volume 10 Issue 2, Pages 1-80

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

No abstract provided.

Agricultural Producer And Food Maker Food Processing Operation Needs Assessment Overview, Makaylie Langford, Kynda R. Curtis, Karin E. Allen, Ruby Ward

All Current Publications

In 2024, Utah State University conducted a study of Utah's farmers, ranchers, and food makers related to value-added food production and processing. This fact sheet provides an overview of the survey results related to respondents, their operations, products, and marketing outlets. It also discusses respondents’ familiarity with key regulatory and resource organizations, the types of products and business resources they find difficult to obtain or access, and the primary obstacles to their processing operations. These results can be used by Extension faculty, policymakers, agricultural organizations, and local economic development agencies to guide targeted support for Utah’s farmers, ranchers, and …

Academic Standards Subcommittee Agenda December 18, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Welcome and approval of November 20, 2025 minutes
• New Topics:
• Proposal for Academic Grievance Policy rewrite
• Proposal to add Bachelor of Applied Sciences (BAS) academic degree requirements
• Information item: Attendance and Excused Absences policy clarification

Academic Standards Subcommittee Minutes December 18, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Welcome and approval of November 20, 2025 minutes
• Topic 1: Proposed Academic Grievance Policy rewrite
• Topic 2: Proposal to add Bachelor of Applied Sciences (BAS) academic degree requirements
• Topic 3: Information Item

Acceptance And Commitment Therapy: A Treatment Option For Substance Use Disorders, Miriam N. Mukasa, Ashley Yaugher, Ty Aller

All Current Publications

There are many evidence-based treatments for individuals experiencing substance use disorders (SUDs) that support both individuals and families. Psychological treatments are effective for a wide range of SUDs, making them a key approach for helping people with differing needs. This fact sheet provides information on treatments and provides more detail about acceptance and commitment therapy as a SUD treatment support.

Examining The Role Of Early Bilingualism On Interference Suppression And Prefrontal Connectivity, Matthew L. Cook, Lisa K. Boyce, Allison S. Hancock, Mackenzy S. Turner, Spencer D. Bradshaw

Human Development and Family Studies Student Research

Inhibitory control is a core cognitive function that is primarily associated with activation in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and is the cognitive function that inhibits impulses, thoughts, and suppresses irrelevant information to an identified goal or task. Prior research suggests that bilingualism may affect brain activity related to inhibitory control, yet few studies have compared functional activity between monolingual and bilingual children. The current study used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine region of interest comparisons and task-state functional connectivity across the PFC during an interference suppression Simon task with 13 bilingual (East Asian or Ibero-romance paired with English) and …

Return Of Ospree: In Situ Spectroscopic Measurements During Atmospheric Reentry, Ashwin P. Rao, Jack D. Crespo, Paolo Valentini, Vanessa J. Murray, Erin I. Vaughan, Zach Davis, Robert Alviani, Marat Kulakhmetov

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) measurements of the reentry shock layer can provide invaluable information about the dynamic aerothermal chemistry during atmospheric reentry and yield critical data needed to improve fluid dynamics modeling of reentry systems. On 28 February 2025, the Air Force Research Laboratory successfully executed the Optical Sensing of Plasmas in the ReEntry Environment (OSPREE) experiment using Varda Space Industries’ W-2 hypersonic test-bed vehicle, obtaining in situ shock-layer radiative emission measurements during reentry from an altitude of 105 km down through 50 km, encompassing a range of Mach numbers between 29.5 and 15.0. We present a summary of the …

Homelessness Among Utah Women: A 2025 Update, Robyn C. Blackburn, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

In 2025, the total number of Utah residents experiencing homelessness on any given night grew to 4,584,¹ up from 3,131 in 2020² (a 46.4% increase), as reported in our 2022 research snapshot³ on this topic, and an 18.0% increase from 2024.⁴ According to The Office of Homeless Services under the Utah Department of Workforce Services, the number of people who accessed homelessness services in Utah sometime during the year grew 27.2% between 2021 and 2025, from 24,037⁵ to 30,578 individuals.⁶ Homelessness continues to remain a concern for many Utah women and families, and it …

Exploring Biostimulant Efficacy For Onion Cultivation Under Limited Water And Nitrogen In Utah, Prakriti Nepal, Dan Drost, Youping Sun, Milena Oliveira

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides information on using biostimulants to address the challenges of growing onions in Utah's semi-arid climate. It covers the role of biostimulants, Utah State University Extension case studies in Utah, harvest, and provides suggestions to mitigate nitrogen and water stress in onion production.

Target Consumers For Beef Jerky, Kynda R. Curtis, Makaylie Langford, Karin E. Allen, Ruby Ward

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the target market (consumer group) for packaged beef jerky, based on survey data collected from a Utah State University study in the fall of 2024. It includes details of the study and recommendations for beef jerky producers and retailers.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda December 15, 2025, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes November 17, 2025
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Information
• EPC Report - December 4, 2025
• 3:40 Report
• Council on Teacher Education
• Scholarship Annual Report
• University Studies Report
• 4:05 Old Business
• 4:10 New Business
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Development Of Broadly Protective Vaccines Against New World Arenaviruses, Brian B. Gowen

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Mexican Bracero Railroaders In The United States During World War Ii: An Endangered History, Emily Mizokami

Journal of Western Archives

Mexican citizens came to the United States during World War II to work the most grueling railroad jobs through a contractual agreement between the U.S. and Mexican governments. These 136,000 Mexican men, however, have been the focus of less academic research than other groups during World War II. The railroaders were part of the larger bracero program which primarily employed farm workers. The railroad arm of the program lasted only two and half years, while the agricultural branch went on for 22 years. The short duration of the program, combined with the difficulty of accessing archival records documenting living and …

Acute Effects Of Multi-Joint Eccentric Exercise On Lower-Extremity Muscle Activation Measured During Land And Water Walking, Brayden Worley, Brennan J. Thompson, Jon Carey, Talin Louder

Kinesiology and Health Science Student Research

Falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence in older adults, often linked to deficits in lower-limb muscle function and gait mechanics. Eccentric exercise can improve muscular resilience, while aquatic walking offers a safe, supportive environment to retrain gait; however, little is known about how these modalities interact at the neuromuscular level. This study compared lower-limb muscle activation during gait on land and in water, before and after an acute bout of eccentric exercise, in healthy young adults. Surface electromyography was collected from the tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius medialis (GM), vastus lateralis (VL), and biceps femoris (BF) …

The Directive Force Of Cultural Models And Their Health Outcomes: An Examination Of Motivations, Consonance, And Well-Being In Brazil, Henri Jean-Francois Dengah

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.