Digital Commons Network^™

Breathe: Helping Students With Mental Disabilities- And Helping Yourself, Miranda Cundick

Tutor's Column

1 in 5 people in the United States suffer from some sort of mental illness; it follows that at least 1 in 5 students that we tutor would as well. College can be stressful, and as tutors we can help alleviate some of this stress by being mindful of and informed about the many mental health problems USU students can face- and by learning how to help.

Identification Of New Glutamate Decarboxylases From Streptomyces For Efficient Production Of Γ-Aminobutyric Acid In Engineered Escherichia Coli, Haina Yuan, Hongbo Wang, Ozkan Fidan, Yong Qin, Gongnian Xiao, Jixun Zhan

Biological Engineering Faculty Publications

Background

Gamma (γ)-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a bioactive compound is used extensively in functional foods, pharmaceuticals and agro-industry. It can be biosynthesized via decarboxylation of monosodium glutamate (MSG) or L-glutamic acid (L-Glu) by glutamate decarboxylase (GAD; EC4.1.1.15). GADs have been identified from a variety of microbial sources, such as Escherichia coli and lactic acid bacteria. However, no GADs from Streptomyces have been characterized. The present study is aimed to identify new GADs from Streptomyces strains and establish an efficient bioproduction platform for GABA in E. coli using these enzymes.

Results

By sequencing and analyzing the genomes of three Streptomycesstrains, …

Expanding The Learning Network: How Teachers Use Pinterest, Stephanie E. Schroeder, Rachelle E. Curcio, Lisa Lundgren

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This exploratory qualitative study of 117 teachers explores how educators engage with Pinterest, an online social networking site, specifically asking: (1) What similarities and differences exist in how elementary-level preservice and elementary-level in-service teachers engage with Pinterest? (2) What similarities and differences exist in how secondary-level in-service teachers and elementary-level in-service teachers engage with Pinterest? Findings indicate teachers at all levels tend to use Pinterest to search for educational resources and adapt resources to suit their classroom needs. Preservice teachers identify a more complex interaction with Pinterest than in-service teachers when determining quality resources. Findings indicate a need for future …

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

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Educational Policies Committee Program Proposal, College Of Humanities And Social Sciences, March 13, 2019, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

The President and Provost recommend that the Board of Trustees approve the proposal to offer a Social Media Emphasis in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences’ Department of Journalism and Communication.

Aggieair Partners With Udwr, Forest Service, And Gtac To Aid In Recovery Of Fishlake Streams, Aggieair

News

AggieAir recently partnered with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Forest Service Fishlake National Forest, and Geospatial Technology and Applications Center (GTAC) to aid in the assessment and recovery of three streams within the Fishlake National Forest. These three streams, Seven Mile Creek, Lake Creek, and lower Fish Creek, have known water quality and fishery issues from past grazing, forest fires, and water management.

Queering Consent: Design And Sexual Consent Messaging, Avery C. Edenfield

English Faculty Publications

For decades, sexual violence prevention and sexual consent have been a recurrent topic on college campuses and in popular media, most recently because of the success of the #MeToo movement. As a result, institutions are deeply invested in communicating consent information. This article problematizes those institutional attempts to teach consent by comparing them to an alternative grounded in queer politics. This alternative information may provide a useful path to redesigning consent information by destabilizing categories of gender, sexuality, and even consent itself.

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

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Establishing a Division of Career and Technical Education
• Offering a BA/BS in Finance with emphases
• Offering an online BS degree in Technology
• Changing the name from Parks and Recreation to Recreation Administration
• Offering an undergraduate Anticipatory Intelligence Minor
• Changing the name from English: Professional and Technical Writing Emphasis to English: Technical Communication and Rhetoric Emphasis

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• EPC/Curriculum Handbook

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

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee

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

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Establishing a Division of Career and Technical Education
• Offering a BA/BS in Finance with emphases
• Offering an online BS degree in Technology, Design and Interaction
• Changing the name from Parks and Recreation to Recreation Administration
• Offering an undergraduate Anticipatory Intelligence Minor
• Changing the name from English: Professional and Technical Writing Emphasis to English: Technical Communication and Rhetoric Emphasis

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• EPC/Curriculum Handbook
• General Education Assessment

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

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee report
• General Education Subcommittee report
• Request from the Department of Geology in the College of Science to change the department name from Geology to Earth Sciences
• EPC/Curriculum Handbook

The Utah Statesman, March 5, 2019, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Motivations For Women’S Activism In Hydraulic Fracking, Taya Godfrey

Research on Capitol Hill

Research Question: What motivates females to become anti-fracking activists?

Hydraulic fracturing is a way of obtaining natural gas and oil from deep within the earth by injecting high powered water and chemicals into shale rock to fracture it, and therefore release natural resources (Manfreda, 2015).

We have seen much activism surrounding the issue of fracking because of the environmental and health controversies associated with it. We have also noted an increasing number of female activists and hope to determine the cause. By understanding what motivates women to become anti-fracking activist we can further encourage female activism in many other spheres. …

Fermentation Of Prebiotics In Whole Food Powders By Probiotic Bacteria Strains, Michaela Brubaker, Sumira Phatak

Research on Capitol Hill

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Modification of the gut microbiome offers potential for CRC prevention.

Fake News! Russian Disinformation Targets American Cognitive Biases Through Diverse Mediums, Spencer Sproul

Research on Capitol Hill

"Fake news” is old news, but what is it and how do we combat it? The term describes disinformation, or the tactical creation and dissemination of false information.

My research seeks to combine traditional national security studies with cybersecurity and big data analytics to gain insight into the issue of “Fake news”, particularly regarding the Russian disinformation campaign leading up to and after the 2016 US presidential election.

The project consisted of analyzing both news and academic literature on this new Russian strategy. Its target is US citizens’ cognitive decision-making shortcuts. The campaign’s goal appears to be to covertly manipulate …

The Art Of Seduction: Male Perceptions Of Sexual Willingness, Lisa Starrett

Research on Capitol Hill

The United States continues to have the highest sexual assault rates of any developed nation.

The vast majority of sexual assault research studies exclusively female survivors. This overlooks half of the nation’s population. To find holistic solutions, we must address both genders.

The current study addresses:

• The male experience
  Recent research shows significant numbers of men react with shock, guilt, shame, and depression when confronted with sexual assault charges. This opens questions of intent.
• Confirmation bias & “echo chambers”
  Social media and preference tracking amplify our tendency to see information that confirms our existing worldview. This further separates genders.
• Environmental …

What Elementary School Administrators Can Do To Strengthen The Impact Of Utah Girls, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

This idea sheet is based on a 2019 gathering of 25 elementary school principals and other administrators who met to discuss ways they can support girls in Utah, both in educational success and in many other areas of life.

Livestock Grazing And Sage-Grouse: Science, Policy, And The 7-Inch Rule, David K. Dahlgren, Eric Thacker

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses livestock grazing and its impact on sage-grouse.

Profile Of A Social Media Manager, Paul Hill, Laurel Farrer

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides a profile of a social media manager for a remote location, including job description, average salary skills and tools needed, and career path.

Everybody’S Publishing But Me! How A Writing Group Can Help Actualize Your Publishing Dreams, Dory Rosenberg, Karin M. Kettenring, Anne R. Diekama

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

On any given day, one can go to the Chronicle of Higher Education and see a new article on the trials and tribulations of publishing and seeking tenure in academia. Anxiety inducing titles such as “Measuring Up” and “The Stress of Academic Publishing” reaffirm the notion that one must publish, or perish. While this type of pressure pushes some to success, for others, it makes it harder to write. However, you don’t have to travel this writing and publishing road alone. Inspired by the book Every Other Thursday: Stories and Strategies from Successful Women Scientists by Ellen Daniell, a small …

Profile Of A Virtual Assistant, Paul Hill, Laurel Farrer

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides a profile of a virtual assistant for a remote location, including job description, average salary skills and tools needed, and career path.

Radiometric Method For Determining Canopy Stomatal Conductance In Controlled Environments, Oscar Monje, Bruce Bugbee

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Canopy stomatal conductance is a key physiological factor controlling transpiration from plant canopies, but it is extremely difficult to determine in field environments. The objective of this study was to develop a radiometric method for calculating canopy stomatal conductance for two plant species—wheat and soybean from direct measurements of bulk surface conductance to water vapor and the canopy aerodynamic conductance in controlled-environment chambers. The chamber provides constant net radiation, temperature, humidity, and ventilation rate to the plant canopy. In this method, stepwise changes in chamber CO₂ alter canopy temperature, latent heat, and sensible heat fluxes simultaneously. Sensible heat and …

The Utah Statesman, February 26, 2019, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

The Cost Of Care And The Impact On The Archives Profession, Alexis Braun Marks, Rachael Dreyer, Jennifer Johnson, Michelle Sweetser

Journal of Western Archives

The archives profession has, in recent years, exerted considerable effort to become more welcoming and inclusive to diverse archival professionals. Many of these efforts have focused intensively on recruiting a diverse workforce. In this article, the authors propose a new approach through which to create and sustain inclusive archival work environments: caregiving. National research has shown that caregiving responsibilities affect women more than their male counterparts, and within these gender divides there are aspects of caregiving that impact individuals of different racial and cultural backgrounds unequally. The issue of navigating the demands of caregiving, work responsibilities, and professional engagement must …

The Doorway From Heart To Heart: Diversity's Stubbornly Persistent Illusion, Terry Baxter

Journal of Western Archives

Archivists have been working to diversify the archival endeavor for 35 years. On the face of things, this work has had limited success. Perhaps archivists should recognize that diversity is already in place and their role is in hiding and revealing that diversity. They should also recognize that their power flows from community and connection, not from control.

Introduction, Helen Wong Smith

Journal of Western Archives

Introduction to the Special Issue on Diversity and Inclusion.

Extensive Review On Laminated Bus Bar For Low And High Power Applications, Prashant B. T. Singh, Phaneendra Babu Bobba, K. Suresh, Benny J. Varghese

Electrical and Computer Engineering Student Research

This paper explains about wide range of applications for Laminated Bus Bar used for high and low power applications. Authors also explains ways to effective utilize laminated bus bar when compared to conventional bus bar. Laminated bus bars are designed with low stray inductance and high capacitance with a uniform current distribution in conducting plate. Parameters like Length, Width, material thickness and other miscellaneous parameters effect Laminated bus bar performance. With a proper design of Laminated bus bar it can best utilized, laminated bus bar are suitable for many low and high power applications which are discussed in this paper. …

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

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Usu Aggieair Program Selected For Critical National Airspace Operation | College Of Engineering, Utah State University

College of Engineering News

Utah State University’s premier unmanned aerial systems organization will take part in a highly anticipated NASA-led operation.

Rare Disease Day: I'M A Circus Freak And I'M In Great Pain, Storee Powell

Blog Posts

The blog post is about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.