Digital Commons Network^™

Renegotiating Gender Roles And Cultivation Practices In The Nepali Mid-Hills: Unpacking The Feminization Of Agriculture, Kaitlyn Spangler, Maria Elsia Christie

Environment and Society Student Research

The feminization of agriculture narrative has been reproduced in development literature as an oversimplified metric of empowerment through changes in women’s labor and managerial roles with little attention to individuals’ heterogeneous livelihoods. Grounded in feminist political ecology (FPE), we sought to critically understand how labor and managerial feminization interact with changing agricultural practices. Working with a local NGO as part of an international, donor-funded research-for-development project, we conducted semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and participant observation with over 100 farmers in Mid-Western Nepal in 2017. Household structure and headship are dynamic in the context of male out-migration, pushing women to …

An Updated Review Of Atmospheric Mercury, Seth N. Lyman, Irene Cheng, Lynne E. Gratz, Peter Weiss-Penzias, Leiming Zhang

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The atmosphere is a key component of the biogeochemical cycle of mercury, acting as a reservoir, transport mechanism, and facilitator of chemical reactions. The chemical and physical behavior of atmospheric mercury determines how, when, and where emitted mercury pollution impacts ecosystems. In this review, we provide current information about what is known and what remains uncertain regarding mercury in the atmosphere. We discuss new ambient, laboratory, and theoretical information about the chemistry of mercury in various atmospheric media. We review what is known about mercury in and on solid- and liquid-phase aerosols. We present recent findings related to wet and …

A Practitioner’S Guide To Small Unmanned Aerial Systems For Bridge Inspection, Sattar Dorafshan, Robert J. Thomas, Calvin Coopmans, Marc Maguire

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Small unmanned aerial system(s) (sUAS) are rapidly emerging as a practical means of performing bridge inspections. Under the right condition, sUAS assisted inspections can be safer, faster, and less costly than manned inspections. Many Departments of Transportation in the United States are in the early stages of adopting this emerging technology. However, definitive guidelines for the selection of equipment for various types of bridge inspections or for the possible challenges during sUAS assisted inspections are absent. Given the large investments of time and capital associated with deploying a sUAS assisted bridge inspection program, a synthesis of authors experiences will be …

The Utah Statesman, November 19, 2019, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes, November 18, 2019, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Faculty Forum Debrief - Patrick Belmont
• Recommendations of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Committee - Patrick Belmont
• Human Resource Policy Changes for 348, 349, 357 and 363 - Doug Bullock
• Sexual Harassment Investigation Current and Proposed Procedures - Alison Adams-Perlac
• USUSA Annual Report - Sami Ahmed
• 401.5 Faculty with Special Appointments (2nd reading) - David Farrelly
• Faculty Diversity, Development and Equity Committee Update - Pamela Martin | Alison Adams
• Policy 386 Criminal Background Checks - Dwight Davis | Doug Bullock
• Student Representation on Search Committees
• Library Advisory Council Annual Report - Nicholas Roberts
• Athletic Council Annual Report - Edward Heath
• Academic …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, November 18, 2019, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• EPC Monthly Report - November 7, 2019
• Faculty Forum Debrief
• Recommendations of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Committee
• Human Resource Policy Changes for 348, 349, 357, 363
• Sexual Harassment Investigation Procedures
• USUSA Annual Report
• 401.5 Faculty with Special Appointments (2nd reading)

Intermountain Biological Engineering Conference A Success | College Of Engineering, Utah State University

College of Engineering News

Intermountain Biological Engineering Conference at USU on Nov. 9 was tremendous success. About 150 people were in attendance.

Pathways To Retention: Job Satisfaction, Burnout, & Organizational Commitment Among Social Workers, Aaron R. Brown, Jayme E. Walters, Aubrey E. Jones

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Purpose: Job satisfaction, burnout, and organizational commitment remain concerns for human service organizations. Few studies have utilized a large sample of social workers to investigate these factors while also considering practice setting. In the present study, work-related burnout, satisfaction with workload, and satisfaction with organizational environment are examined as factors contributing to organizational commitment while comparing the measurement and predictive strength of these factors based on practice setting. Method: Confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling were used to estimate and compare factors related to organizational commitment with a sample of 1,786 social workers practicing in the United States. Results: …

The Utah Statesman, November 12, 2019, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Internalized And Anticipated Stigmatization In Patients With Gout, Maria Kleinstäuber, Leonie Wolf, Annie S. K. Jones, Nicola Dalberth, Keith J. Petrie

Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective: To investigate the relationship between stigma perception and demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables. Methods: A sample of 50 patients with gout and prescribed urate-lowering medication (84% were males, mean serum urate 0.34 mmol/l) completed questionnaires on internalized and anticipated stigma, demographics, clinical gout-related variables, and psychosocial variables (illness perceptions, illness-related disability, illness-related body satisfaction, intentional nonadherence). Serum urate level was obtained from the most recent blood test. Results: In this sample, 26% experienced internalized stigma, 26% expected to be stigmatized by friends or family members, and 14% by health care workers. Univariate regression analyses showed that younger age, ethnicity …

Indicators And Benchmarks For Wind Erosion Monitoring, Assessment And Management, Nicholas P. Webb, Emily Kachergis, Scott W. Miller, Sarah E. Mccord, Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Joel R. Brown, Adrian Chappell, Brandon L. Edwards, Jeffrey E. Herrick, Jason W. Karl, John F. Leys, Loretta J. Metz, Stephen Smarik, John Tatarko, Justin W. Van Zee, Greg Zwicke

Ecology Center Publications

Wind erosion and blowing dust threaten food security, human health and ecosystem services across global drylands. Monitoring wind erosion is needed to inform management, with explicit monitoring objectives being critical for interpreting and translating monitoring information into management actions. Monitoring objectives should establish quantitative guidelines for determining the relationship of wind erosion indicators to management benchmarks that reflect tolerable erosion and dust production levels considering impacts to, for example, ecosystem processes, species, agricultural production systems and human well-being. Here we: 1) critically review indicators of wind erosion and blowing dust that are currently available to practitioners; and 2) describe approaches …

Dna Persistence In Predator Saliva From Multiple Species And Methods For Optimal Recovery From Depredated Carcasses, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Susan A. Shriner, Julie K. Young, Doreen L. Griffin, Peggy Callahan, Darren J. Wostenberg, Eric M. Gese, Matthew W. Hopken

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Molecular forensics is an important component of wildlife research and management. Using DNA from noninvasive samples collected at predation sites, we can identify predator species and obtain individual genotypes, improving our understanding of predator–prey dynamics and impacts of predators on livestock and endangered species. To improve sample collection strategies, we tested two sample collection methods and estimated degradation rates of predator DNA on the carcasses of multiple prey species. We fed carcasses of calves (Bos taurus) and lambs (Ovis aires) to three captive predator species: wolves (Canis lupus), coyotes (C. latrans), and …

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, November 7, 2019, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Offering a PhD in Career and Technical Education
• Changing the name of the Bachelor of Interior Design to Bachelor of Interior Architecture and Design
• Changing the name of the Bachelor of Music Piano Performance emphasis to Piano Performance and Pedagogy with the intent to de-activate the Bachelor of Music Piano Pedagogy emphasis
• Discontinuing the Bachelor of Music Piano Pedagogy degree
• Including a Quantitative Economic History emphasis in the BS/BA degree in Economics
• Adding emphases in Hotel Management and Wealth Management to the BS/BA degree in Management
• Relocating the Minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Department of …

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, November 7, 2019, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Offering a PhD in Career and Technical Education
• Changing the name of the Bachelor of Interior Design to Bachelor of Interior Architecture and Design
• Changing the name of the Bachelor of Music Piano Performance emphasis to Piano Performance and Pedagogy with the intent to de-activate the Bachelor of Music Piano Pedagogy emphasis
• Discontinuing the Bachelor of Music Piano Pedagogy degree
• Including a Quantitative Economic History emphasis in the BS/BA degree in Economics
• Adding emphases in Hotel Management and Wealth Management to the BS/BA degree in Management
• Relocating the Minor in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the Department of …

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, November 7, 2019, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Community Engagement and Service Learning Course Designation - Kate Stephens
• Continuing Education Unit 5700 Courses Discussion - Jessica Hansen

Educational Policies Committee Minutes, November 7, 2019, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee report
• General Education Subcommittee report

A Rolling Perspective: Fear, The Mind-Killer, Jennifer Holland

Blog Posts

The blog post is about dealing with fear.

The Status Of Women On Utah State Boards & Commissions: A 2019 Update, Susan R. Madsen, Megan Roper

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Research shows that organizations will increasingly thrive when both men and women hold leadership roles. 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. These benefits are discussed at length in a previous brief titled “Why Do We Need More Women Leaders in Utah?”2More specifically, research demonstrates the need for the government—and democratic governance processes in general—to reflect gender diversity accurately within its constituency at …

What Women In Medicine Can Do To Strengthen The Impact Of Utah Girls And Women, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

This idea sheet is based on a 2019 gathering of 25 female medical practitioners (physicians and advanced practice providers). Wellinformed health care providers are uniquely positioned to support and strengthen girls and women over a lifetime. This discussion focused on how practitioners can influence through providing quality patient care, serving as visible role models, educating their communities, mentoring, and advocating broadly to promote women’s wellbeing.

Faculty Senate Agenda, November 4, 2019, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• EPC Monthly Report - October 3, 2019
• Faculty Diversity, Development and Equity Committee Update
• Policy 386 Criminal Background Checks
• Student Representation on Search Committees
• Library Advisory Council Annual Report
• Athletic Council Annual Report
• Academic Freed and Tenure Annual Report
• College Level Faculty Forum Discussion
• 401.5 Faculty with Special Appointments (1st reading)

The Total Syntheses Of Jbir-94 And Two Synthetic Analogs And Their Cytotoxicities Against A549 (Ccl-185) Human Small Lung Cancer Cells, Cathy L. Mangum, Mica B. Munford, Alyssa Sam, Sandra K. Young, Jeremy T. Beales, Yagya Prasad Subedi, Chad D. Mangum, Tanner J. Allen, Miranda S. Liddell, Andrew I. Merrell, Diana I. Saavedra, Becky L. Williams, Nicole Evans, Joseph L. Beales, Mike A. Christiansen

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

We here disclose the total syntheses of the natural polyphenol JBIR-94 and two nonnatural analogs, whose structures are of interest for their bioactivity potential as radical scavengers. Although we initially attempted this by dually acylating both of putrecine’s amine nitrogens in a single pot, our endeavors with this method (which has been successfully reported by other groups) proved ineffectual. We accordingly opted for the lengthier approach of acylating each amine individually, which gratuitously prevailed and also aligns with separate literature precedent. Moreover, we here share our analysis of these target compounds’ cytotoxicities and IC₅₀ values against A549 (CCL-185) human …

Faculty Senate Minutes, November 4, 2019, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Faculty Diversity, Development and Equity Committee Update - Pamela Martin | Alison Adams
• Policy 386 Criminal Background Checks - Dwight Davis | Doug Bullock
• Student Representation on Search Committees - Dexton Lake
• Library Advisory Council Annual Report - Nicholas Roberts
• Athletic Council Annual Report - Edward Heath
• Academic Freedom and Tenure Annual Report – Patrick Belmont
• College Level Faculty Forum Discussion - Patrick Belmont
• 401.5 Faculty with Special Appointments (1st reading) - David Farrelly

Early Adolescent Substance Use In A National Sample Of Mexican Youths: Demographic Characteristics That Predict Use Of Alcohol, Tobacco, And Others Drugs, Alejandro L. Vázquez, Melanie M. Domenech Rodríguez, Sarah E. Schwartz, Nancy G. Amador Buenabad, Marycarmen N. Bustos Gamiño, María De Lourdes Gutierrez López, Jorge A. Villatoro Velázquez

Psychology Faculty Publications

The United States and Mexico have seen significant increases in the prevalence of substance use among Latinx adolescents in the last 20 years. Research is needed to address rising national rates of substances use to inform the development of policies and intervention programs targeting Latinx youth. Our primary aim was to identify demographic factors associated with substance initiation and use among elementary age Latinx youth. Data for the present study include 52,171 elementary students in 5th and 6th grades, who participated in the National Survey of Drug Use Among Students (ENCODE) in Mexico. Youths reported demographic information, rates of substance …

Fluoride: From Birth To Adolescence, Ben Clark, Lydia Bangerter, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Casey Coombs, Carrie Durward

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses the benefits of using fluoride, the most common concerns about fluoride intake in children, and recommendations from birth to adolescence.

Body Condition Scoring For Horses, Karl Hoopes, Eric Thacker, Linden Greenhalgh

All Current Publications

Horse enthusiasts are often concerned about their horse’s health, appearance and performance. A major key to accomplishing these three goals is to keep your horse at a desirable body condition, or degree of fat cover. However, being able to accurately evaluate a horse to tell if they are over or underweight has been a subjective practice for many years. As with all aspects of horse ownership, horse owners have different opinions on what is an ideal body weight for an individual horse. Also, because horses come in all shapes and sizes, many horse owners are not able to objectively evaluate …

Technoference Strategies: Managing Family Screen Time, Brandon Mcdaniel, David G. Schramm

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides steps and strategies to manage family screen time.

Hazardous Fuels Reduction Using Flame Cap Biochar Kilns, Darren Mcavoy, Megan Dettenmaier

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes a do-it-yourself technique for making small-batch biochar. The Utah Biomass Resources Group has demonstrated this method for reducing hazardous forest fuels, protects soils, and creates biochar using simple, low-cost materials.

Chitalpa Tashkentensis, Rick Heflebower

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes the Chitalpa tree, a small to medium shade tree that grows well n warmer climates of the Intermountain West, including extreme Southern Utah. It includes its origin, growing concerns, and advice for homeowners and plant industry workers.

Baby-Led Weaning: An Approach To Introducing Solid Foods To Infants, Lydia Bangerter, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos, Casey Coombs

All Current Publications

This fact discusses what baby-led weaning is and strategies to help parents feed their infant using this approach.

An Exploration Of Automated Narrative Analysis Via Machine Learning, Sharad Jones, Carly Fox, Sandra Laing Gillam, Ronald B. Gillam

Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Faculty Publications

The accuracy of four machine learning methods in predicting narrative macrostructure scores was compared to scores obtained by human raters utilizing a criterion-referenced progress monitoring rubric. The machine learning methods that were explored covered methods that utilized hand-engineered features, as well as those that learn directly from the raw text. The predictive models were trained on a corpus of 414 narratives from a normative sample of school-aged children (5;0-9;11) who were given a standardized measure of narrative proficiency. Performance was measured using Quadratic Weighted Kappa, a metric of inter-rater reliability. The results indicated that one model, BERT, not only achieved …