Digital Commons Network^™

“Synchronized Parenting Is Like Mixing Oil And Water”: Reimagining Parental Control For Co-Parenting In The Divorced Households, Prakriti Dumaru, Audrey Flood, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

Children from divorced households are granted access to devices (e.g., smartphones, tablets), helping them to maintain meaningful contact with both parents. However, regulating their device usage across two households presents unique co-parenting challenges, which are little studied in the existing literature on parental mediation. As we begin to address this gap, we used low-fidelity prototype designs, guided by the principles of fostering open communication and instilling self-regulation. We evaluated those designs (presented in the form of storyboards) through semi-structured interviews with 23 divorced parents, whose children are active Internet users and aged 13 years or below. Based on our analysis, …

Ecological Restoration And Ecosystem Memory Of Wildlife Forage And Understory Diversity In A Young Pine Monoculture Plantation In Central-Interior British Columbia, Julia Claire Bizon

Aspen Bibliography

Ecological restoration has recently taken center stage in the rehabilitation of degraded forest ecosystems to improve multifunctionality, biodiversity, and wildlife habitat conservation. The research summarized herein assessed the efficacy of variable stand density thinning (200, 400, and 600 stems/ha) and artificial canopy gaps (0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 ha in size) as potential restoration treatments to enhance wildlife forage and native biodiversity in a young lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm. ex S. Wats.) forest in central-interior British Columbia. Field data collection was conducted from May-August, 2023 to assess the early response (1-3 years post-treatment) of the forest …

Evaluating 51 Years Of The High School Range Camp, Cory Farnsworth, Ashley Longmore, Eric Thacker

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Established in 1973 by Utah State University (USU) Extension and the Utah Society for Range Management, Utah’s high school Range Camp has provided students with immersive experiences in sustainable rangeland practices for over five decades. Survey findings revealed that the camp had a significant impact on the educational paths and careers of the youth. Many participants continued to apply what they learned, demonstrating the camp’s lasting impact. Ongoing efforts focus on improving data collection, monitoring FFA competition performance, and expanding recruitment. Range Camp effectively guides youth toward higher education and careers related to the range while promoting responsible rangeland management.

Utah State University’S Role In Latino Youth Leadership Development, Celina Wille, Lendel K. Narine

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

This evaluation study explores the impact of the Latinos in Action (LIA) leadership boot camps on Latino youth development. Since 2018, these programs have improved participants' communication, teamwork, and goal-setting skills, fostering civic engagement and academic success among middle and high school students within Utah's growing Latino population.

Cultivating Community And Commerce: A Summary Of The Statewide Social And Economic Impacts Of Utah Farmers Markets, Jaclyn Pace, Bryn Watkins, Roslynn Mccann, Steven Price

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Data collected from six markets throughout the market seasons between 2023 and 2024 highlights the transformative impact of Utah’s farmers’ markets on the state’s economy, health, and sense of community. According to market patrons, Utah’s farmers' markets are vital economic and social hubs supporting local agriculture, small businesses, and community well-being.

Rethinking Behavior - Spring 2025, Midwest Symposium For Leadership In Behavior Disorders

ReThinking Behavior Magazine

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

Spring 2025, Volume 8, Issue 3

Use Of Electrical Household Appliances And Risk Of All Types Of Tumours: A Case-Control Study, Shabana Noori, Abdul Aleem, Imrana Niaz Sultan, Afrasiab Khan Tareen, Hayat Ullah, Muhammad Waseem Khan

Biological Engineering Student Research

Introduction: The use of electrical appliances using extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) has increased in the past few years. These ELF MF are reported to be linked to several adverse health effects. However, only a couple of studies have been conducted on the association between risk of tumours and use of electronic devices using low frequency (LF) EMF. Methods: We studied the use of common household electrical appliances and suspected risk of tumours in a multi-hospital-based case-control study. In total, 316 patients were included in the final analysis. Results: The study results showed a below unity risk for …

Streamlining Field Note Analysis: Leveraging Gpt For Further Insights, Saríah López-Fierro, Umar Shehzad, Alireza (Sina) Zandi, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

As an integral part of qualitative research inquiry, field notes provide important data from researchers embedded in research sites. However, field notes can vary significantly, influenced by the researchers' immersion in the field, prior knowledge, beliefs, interests, and perspectives. As consequence, their interpretation presents significant challenges. This study offers a preliminary investigation into the potential of using large language models to assist researchers with the analysis and interpretation of field notes data. Our methodology consisted of two phases. First, a researcher deductively coded field notes of six classroom implementations of a novel elementary-level mathematics curriculum. In the second phase, we …

Faculty Senate Agenda March 31, 2025, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes March 3, 2025
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Information
• EPC Report - March 6, 2025
• 3:40 Report
• Budget and Faculty Welfare Committee
• Sustainability Council
• Policy 323, 378, 389
• 4:00 Old Business
• 4:05 New Business
• 2025-2026 Calendar and Committee Reports
• President-Elect Nominations
• Adjourn: 4:30 pm

Bird Richness As A Mediator Between Greenspace And Mental Health Relationships, Sihao Chena, Huaqing Wang, Wenyan Xu

Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning Faculty Publications

Neighborhood greenspaces are widely known to benefit bird diversity and human mental health. However, whether bird richness mediates the relationship between greenspace and mental health is unknown. We ascertain such mediation effects in 294 census tracts in Los Angeles City. We obtained greenspace data from one-meter resolution satellite imagery, bird species data from eBird citizen science datasets, and prevalence of poor mental health from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mediation analysis combined with spatial error models was used to assess the mediating effects while controlling for geographic, demographic, and socio-economic factors. We found that the higher greenspace …

The Utah Statesman, March 31, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Aspen Health On National Forests In The Northern Rocky Mountain Region (2008/2009 To 2024), James T. Blodgett, Kurt K. Allen, Megan Wilson, Bradley Lalande

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a widely distributed species in the western United States, but in the northern Rocky Mountain Region it is a rare forest component. In national forests (NF) of the northern Rocky Mountain Region this species comprises only 1% of the Bighorn, 3% of the Black Hills, and 1% of the Shoshone cover types (DeBlander 2002, Menlove 2008, Witt 2008). Since aspen forests provide increased species richness, support wildlife, are an important component of watersheds, and have aesthetic value, there are concerns regarding the health of this relatively rare forest cover type.

Lung Segmentation With Lightweight Convolutional Attention Residual U-Net, Meftahul Jannat, Shaikh Afnan Birahim, Mohammad Asif Hasan, Tonmoy Roy, Lubna Sultana, Hasan Sarker, Samia Fairuz, Hanaa A. Abdallah

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Examining chest radiograph images (CXR) is an intricate and time-consuming process, sometimes requiring the identification of many anomalies at the same time. Lung segmentation is key to overcoming this challenge through different deep learning (DL) techniques. Many researchers are working to improve the performance and efficiency of lung segmentation models. This article presents a DL-based approach to accurately identify the lung mask region in CXR images to assist radiologists in recognizing early signs of high-risk lung diseases. Methods: This paper proposes a novel technique, Lightweight Residual U-Net, combining the strengths of the convolutional block attention module (CBAM), the Atrous …

Preserving Trees During And After Lawn Removal, Miles Becker, Shital Poudyal

All Current Publications

Utah is one of the driest states in the United States. Outdoor irrigation accounts for approximately 65% of its municipal and industrial water use. As the state grapples with water scarcity, lawn or turf removal to reduce irrigation has become a prominent strategy to promote more water-efficient landscaping practices. The nonfunctional turf targeted for removal often surrounds trees and shrubs. Improper or careless lawn removal can damage tree roots and lead to tree decline or death. This fact sheet provides guidance on how to protect trees while removing turf.

Creaciones En La Cocina Para Comer Juntos En Familia, Celina Wille, Lacee Jimenez, Casey Coombs, Heidi Leblanc, Lea Palmer, Jocelin Gibson

All Current Publications

Esta publicación, basada en la guía nutricional del programa SNAP-Ed, ofrece consejos prácticos y recetas culturalmente relevantes para promover una alimentación saludable y fortalecer los lazos familiares durante las comidas. Incluye conceptos básicos de planificación, un menú de muestra, guías de MiPlato e información para fomentar la participación de los niños en la cocina.

Bear Lake Water Quality And Chemistry: 114 Years Of Water Management, Connely Baldwin

Spring Runoff Conference

Motivation: Fall 2024 Bear Lake Sediment-Nutrient Reduction Workshop (Bear Lake Watch) motivated deeper dive into water quality and chemistry status and trends

Innovative Genetic Methods For Predicting Microcystin Toxin Production In Cyanobacterial Blooms: Real-Time And Pre-Bloom Public Health Monitoring, Liyuan Hou

Spring Runoff Conference

EQL emphasizes an integrated engineering and science approach to the environmental quality of land, water, and air

From Vulnerabilities And Concern To Action: How Perceived Climate Vulnerabilities And Concern For The Great Salt Lake Desiccation Shape Utahns’ Migration Decision, Mufti Nadimul Quamar Ahmed, Jennifer E. Givens

Spring Runoff Conference

In light of the current climate crisis, how do Utahns perceive their climate or disaster vulnerabilities and concern for the Great Salt Lake desiccation? Does the perception of vulnerabilities and concern for the Great Salt Lake desiccation influence their intention to migrate from Utah?

We Shall Have A Seat At The Table, Yanna Liang

Spring Runoff Conference

Uniqueness of ESE 

• The only environmental BS program in the nation that has “Sustainable” in its title.
• Sustainability in water treatment, air pollution control, energy production, resource re-utilization 

The Once And Future Variability Of Colorado River Water Resources, Balaji Rajagopalan

Spring Runoff Conference

The Plot – “Millennium Drought” Since 2000 

• Current Water Crisis 

Draft Genome Data Including Functional Annotation Of An Emerging Fungal Pathogen (Neodothiora Populina) Causing A Canker Disease Of Trembling Aspen In Interior Alaska, Ursel M. E. Schütte, Mace Wages, Aaron Buechlein, Jorda P. Kovash, Danielle C. Wrenn, Tereza Smrhova, Andrea Zubrova, Doug B. Rusch, Loretta M. Winton, Gerard C. Adams, Roger W. Ruess, Mary Beth Leigh, Devin M. Drown

Aspen Bibliography

Neodothiora populina is a black yeast-like fungus in the family Dothioraceae. It causes an aggressive canker disease of trembling aspen that results in widespread mortality of aspen across the boreal forest of Interior Alaska. Here we report a high-quality draft genome including functional annotation of this emerging fungal pathogen based on Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read sequences. Our initial genome assembly totaled 23,960,169 bp and contained 18 contigs, and we identified 7,343 genes. This resource announcement provides new genomic data that are useful long term for improving our understanding of forest health in Alaska.

Soil Health And Water Conservation, Tony Richards

Spring Runoff Conference

What are Healthy Soils? 

• Stable 
• Functional 
• Productive 
• Resilient 

Great Salt Lake Model Depletion, Katherine Wright

Spring Runoff Conference

When does water leasing make sense? Using New Information to Make Better Leases.

Lease, but only if it makes sense.

• Farmers have a legal right to use water on their farms for agriculture.
• Leasing might be a good economic decision for you, but not your neighbor.
• Leasing is voluntary, the purpose of this presentation is to explain the benefits of leasing and give you the information you need to decide if it is right for you. 

Utah Water Research Lab, David Tarboton

Spring Runoff Conference

The concept of a dedicated water research laboratory evolved over years, with significant contributions from Vaughn E. Hansen, Dean F. Peterson, and George D. Clyde. The UWRL represents the culmination of a long-held vision at USU to advance water research.

Canada Thistle (Cirsium Arvense) Identification And Control, Caitlin Henderson, Robert Nelson Schaeffer, Corey Ransom

All Current Publications

Cirsium arvense is an invasive perennial weed adaptable to a wide range of habitats. Since its arrival in North America in the 1600s, it has spread throughout much of the country. It has become prevalent in rangelands and disturbed areas in the Intermountain West, displacing native plant species, reducing crop yields, and affecting pasture quality. This fact sheet outlines how to identify Canada thistle, its life cycle, and how to manage it through cultural, mechanical, biological, and chemical control.

The Utah Statesman, March 24, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Two Unique Cases Of Ponderosa Pine Needle-Induced Abortions, Kevin D. Welch, Megan A. Dietz, Steven E. Edmonds, Dale R. Gardener, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) needles can induce abortions in cows when consumed during the last trimester of pregnancy. Traditionally pine needle-induced abortions occur in areas where cattle are forced into a stand of ponderosa pine trees to seek shelter and feed during a winter storm that is either very cold, has heavy snow or high winds. However, here we report two incidences of pine needle-induced abortions in cattle that were unique. In one case, there was no weather-related event that forced the cattle into the stand of pine trees, rather the cattle went into the pine trees seeking …

Elevated Extinction Risk In Over One-Fifth Of Native North American Pollinators, Tara Cornelisse, David W. Inouye, Rebecca E. Irwin, Sarina Jepsen, Jonathan R. Mawdsley, Margaret Ormes, Jaret Daniels, Diane M. Debinski, Terry Griswold, John Klymko, Michael C. Orr, Leif Richardson, Nicole Sears, Dale Schweitzer, Bruce E. Young

Biology Faculty Publications

Pollinators are critical for food production and ecosystem function. Although native pollinators are thought to be declining, the evidence is limited. This first, taxonomically diverse assessment for mainland North America north of Mexico reveals that 22.6% (20.6 to 29.6%) of the 1,579 species in the best-studied vertebrate and insect pollinator groups have elevated risk of extinction. All three pollinating bat species are at risk and bees are the insect group most at risk (best estimate, 34.7% of 472 species assessed, range 30.3 to 43.0%). Substantial numbers of butterflies (19.5% of 632 species, range 19.1 to 21.0%) and moths (16.1% of …

Community-Oriented Policing In A Majority-Black Neighborhood: In Search Of A Local Solution To A National Problem, Nasaskyia R. Hicks, Shanada Mcfadden, Natallia Sianko

Transforming Communities

Few issues loom larger today than how the United States can rehabilitate its criminal justice system. Although justified and undoubtedly timely, the national focus often shifts attention away from local, interpersonal, and community processes that shape how criminal justice is administered and experienced differently in communities across the country. Our goal is to contribute to the national conversation on community-oriented policing and social innovation to improve police-community relations and increase public trust in majority-Black neighborhoods. This article offers a call to action for the scientific and policy communities to reflect on effective practices that bring the voices of local stakeholders …

Variable Fire Behavior Causes Greater Bacterial And Fungal Richness, James A. Lutz, Joseph D. Birch

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Results of research in forest health and forest futures in Utah.

Key Results

1. Fire reduces microbial richness

Nine years after fire, burned soils had 19 - 31% lower richness, compared to unburned refugia.

2. Pathogens like it hot?

Pathogens made up a larger proportion of burned communities compared to unburned refugia.

3. Unburned refugia communities are tough

Refugia communities had greater resistance to disturbance than burned communities.