Digital Commons Network^™

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.

Exploring Biostimulant Efficacy Under Limited Fertilizer And Water In Utah's Watermelon Production, Evan Christensen, Milena Maria Tomaz De Oliveira, Prakriti Nepal, Youping Sun

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

The western U.S. has recently experienced some of the driest conditions on record, and Utah has been in a multi-year drought (2019-2023) that affected the agricultural sector, including vegetable producers. While vegetables are not a primary agricultural crop in Utah, they are still an important part of the horticultural economy with 763 farms growing 6,138 acres. As the fourth largest acreage vegetable crop in Utah (almost 10% of the acreage) watermelon and related crops in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae (nearly 36% of total vegetable acreage) are important to vegetable growers. Watermelon is a water-intensive crop and requires an adequate supply …

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 …

Integrating Elementary Computer Science And Mathematics Instruction: One Size Does Not Fit All, Umar Shehzad, Jody Clarke-Midura, Mimi Recker

Publications

This paper presents a model, the double integration model, for integrating Computer Science (CS) and mathematics in upper elementary instruction. Fifth-grade students (n=1,037) participated either in the double integrated model (Condition 1; integrated in both CS and Math instruction) or integrated lessons only in CS instruction (Condition 2). After each lesson, students rated their enjoyment, perceived ease, and perceptions of CS-math connections. Multilevel analyses revealed that Condition 1 students reported significantly more positive perceptions and stronger CS-math connections of the lessons than Condition 2 students. Girls in Condition 1 responded more positively than boys on enjoyment and connection items, and …

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 …

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

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.

Faculty Senate Minutes March 31, 2025, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - March 3, 2025
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Information
• EPC Report - March 6, 2025
• Reports
• Budget and Faculty Welfare Committee
• Sustainability Council
• Policy 323, 378, 389
• New Business
• Old Business
• Adjourn - 4:00 pm

Evaluation Of Sars-Cov-2 Antibody Detection Methods For Wild Cervidae, Joshua Hewitt, Grete Wilson-Henjum, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Aaron T. Phillips, Diego G. Diel, W. David Walter, Alec Baker, Jennifer Høy-Petersen, Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Tadao Kishimoto, George Wittemyer, Jeremy Alder, Sara Hathaway, Kezia R. Manlove, Travis Gallo, Jennifer Mullinax, Carson Coriell, Matthew Payne, Meggan E. Craft, Tyler J. Garwood, Tiffany M. Wolf, Maria A. Diuk-Wasser, Meredith C. Vanacker, Laura Dudley Plimpton, Mark Q. Wilber, Daniel Grove, Justin Kosiewska, Lisa I. Muller, Kim M. Pepin

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Wildlife surveillance programs often use serological data to monitor exposure to pathogens. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a serological assay quantify the true positive and negative rates of the diagnostic assay, respectively. However, an assay’s accuracy can be affected by wild animals’ pathogen exposure history and quality of the sample collected, requiring separate estimates of an assay’s detection ability for wild-sampled animals where an animal’s true disease status is unknown (referred to hereafter as sampling sensitivity and specificity). We assessed the sampling sensitivity and specificity of a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT) and …

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.

Prey Size Mediates Interference Competition And Predation Dynamics In A Large Carnivore Community, Jack W. Rabe, Wesley J. Binder, Colby B. Anton, Connor J. Meyer, Matthew C. Metz, Brian J. Smith, Toni K. Ruth, Kerry M. Murphy, Joseph K. Bump, Douglas W. Smith, Daniel R. Stahler

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Direct competition for resources is especially fierce among predators, leading to disproportionately strong effects on fitness and functional roles. These competitive effects are exacerbated in complex predator guilds with dominance hierarchies that have clear winners and losers. The direct costs of losing these competitions are well understood, but the drivers of such interactions, and their indirect effects on prey, are not. We evaluate the drivers of interference competition for cougars, and how such competition affects cougar-prey dynamics, by leveraging 23 years of cougar predation data from Yellowstone National Park, USA. We show that the effect of prey size is context-dependent, …

Buyer Beware: Pay-For-Play Research Outreach Services, Erica Finch, Cameron Nielsen

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Shortly after completing a groundbreaking study, a researcher receives an email from a science news website offering to promote their findings to a wider audience. But there’s a fee attached, and they want to know if the library will help cover the cost …

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.

Improving Wetland Revegetation In The Intermountain West: Wetland Manager And Native Plant Vendor Insights And Challenges, Annie L. Henry, Rae Robinson, Kate Sinnott, Mark W. Brunson, Emily E. Tarsa, Adrienne Ernst, Karin M. Kettenring

All Current Publications

Diverse native vegetation supports the many ecosystem services that wetlands provide to society. In degraded wetlands, the native vegetation often needs to be reseeded or replanted as part of the restoration process. However, such wetland revegetation practices of managers are relatively undocumented and the availability of native plants for wetland restoration from vendors has been unclear. We conducted surveys of wetland managers and wetland native plant vendors in the Intermountain West in 2023 to understand their practices, challenges, and perspectives. We found that wetland managers in the Intermountain West revegetate diverse habitats for important ecosystem services despite very limited budgets …

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 …

Impacts Of Irrigation System, Irrigation Rate, And Cultivar On Hemp Production In The Semiarid Intermountain West, Tina Sullivan, Matt Yost, Dakota Boren, Burdette Barker, Earl Creech, Bruce Bugbee

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

The industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) industry rapidly emerged in Utah in 2019 with nearly 480 ha of production. Production declined rapidly due to flooded floral hemp markets, but the industry is still viable in the state. Two of the most pressing questions about hemp management among growers in this region include cultivar selection and irrigation management. An outdoor hemp research trial was established in 2020 near Logan, UT (41.66 N, −111.91 W), to investigate fundamental irrigation strategies and cultivar performance. This trial (2020–2021) examined combinations of three hemp cultivars, four irrigation technologies, and three irrigation rates (100%, 75%, …

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

Growing Roots: Water Conservation, Innovative Research And Public Education, Aurora Wallis Durfee

Spring Runoff Conference

Hydroponics allows for efficient, sustainable food production, using less water and space than traditional farming methods.

Davis Aqueduct Reach 1 - The Design And Construction Of Large Diameter Pipelines, Shane Mcfarland

Spring Runoff Conference

Designing and building a seismically resilient 72-inch pipeline.

District Overview: Weber Basin Water Conservancy District

Water And Journalism Panel, Heather May, Anastasia Hufham, Ben Winslow, Sheri Quinn

Spring Runoff Conference

Respondents’ sources of information on Great Salt Lake issues

What Does Our Water Year Look Like?, Candice Hasenyager

Spring Runoff Conference

Drip Drip Drop: Water in Utah

In Utah, we are either in drought or preparing for the next one

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 

Awe Mission Overview, Ludger Scherliess, Michael J. Taylor, Jonathan Snively, Jeffrey M. Forbes, David Fritts, Stephen Eckermann, Diego Janches, Hanli Liu, Burt Lamborn

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

AWE is the first dedicated NASA mission to investigate the global properties of gravity waves (GWs) in the upper atmosphere and their impacts on the ionosphere- thermosphere-mesosphere (ITM)