Digital Commons Network^™

Shifting Frontiers: Understanding Species’ Abundance Range Shifts For Informed Conservation Strategies, T.J. Clark-Wolf

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Faculty Evaluation Committee Minutes December 10, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Evaluation Committee

• Agenda
• Attendees
• Action Items
• Minutes
• Follow-Up Discussion

Supporting Multicultural Scholars In Agriculture At Utah State University: Towards A Diverse And Highly Skilled Workforce, Courtney Clausen

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Developing Resilient Organic Dryland Wheat Systems In The Face Of Climate Change., Jennifer R. Reeve

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Rhizobacterial Isolates From The Native Plant Ceanothus Velutinus Promote Growth In Two Genotypes Of Tall Fescue, Ananta Raj Devkota, Sukhmanjot Kaur, Amita Kaundal

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Global warming-induced climate change haunts the world, posing a critical threat to plant health and crop production. Overusing chemical fertilizers and pesticides poses a significant threat to soil health. Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush) is a drought-tolerant, actinorhizal native plant found in the Intermountain West region of the US that harbors many plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). In this study, we evaluated the effects of PGPR CK-06, CK-22, CK-44, and CK-50 from C. velutinus on the growth and development of two tall fescue genotypes: (i) a lawn-type tall fescue blend and (ii) an endophyte-free forage-type tall fescue known as Armory. Tall fescue plants …

The Utah Statesman, December 9, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Goose Grubbing And Warming Suppress Summer Net Ecosystem Co2 Uptake Differentially Across High-Arctic Tundra Habitats, Matteo Petit Bon, Karen H. Beard, Kari Anne Bråthen, Hanna Lee, Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Environmental changes, such as climate warming and higher herbivory pressure, are altering the carbon balance of Arctic ecosystems; yet, how these drivers modify the carbon balance among different habitats remains uncertain. This hampers our ability to predict changes in the carbon sink strength of tundra ecosystems. We investigated how spring goose grubbing and summer warming—two key environmental-change drivers in the Arctic—alter CO₂ fluxes in three tundra habitats varying in soil moisture and plant-community composition. In a full-factorial experiment in high-Arctic Svalbard, we simulated grubbing and warming over two years and determined summer net ecosystem exchange (NEE) alongside its components: …

Comparing Recovery Volumes Of Steady And Unsteady Injections Into An Aquifer Storage And Recovery Well, Saeid Masoudiashtiani, Richard C. Peralta

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) can involve injecting available surface water into an unconfined aquifer and then extracting it to provide secondary water for irrigation. This study demonstrates a method for evaluating the appropriateness of steady injection versus unsteady injection for an assumed situation. In design, it can be important to affect the transient: the proportion of the injected water that would be subsequently extracted (versus that remaining in the aquifer) and the proportion within the extracted water that would be an injectate (versus ambient groundwater). These proportions can be predicted from the predicted value of an ASR well's Recovery …

Mountain Big Sagebrush Restoration In Former Dryland Pasture, Elizabeth Bailey, Eric Thacker, Thomas Monaco, Kari E. Veblen

All Current Publications

Our study supports using older naturally grown sagebrush plants (wildlings) for restoration efforts. Wildlings had already faced various environmental stresses before transplantation and then had a survival advantage when transplanted. Our study also demonstrates how successfully established transplants planted in “islands” aid in the future recruitment of sagebrush. Overall, because of their higher survival, we found that wildlings led to higher sagebrush densities and were a more cost-effective approach.

Harnessing Synergy: Galloping Together To Achieve Common Goals, Katie Richardson Mlis, Kathryn Renton Phd, Janice Gunther Martin Phd, Katrin Boniface Abd

Journal of Western Archives

“Harnessing Synergy: Galloping Together to Achieve Common Goals'' is a case study focusing on how the Head of Cal Poly Pomona University Library Special Collections and Archives joined forces with the founding board members of the Equine History Collective to drive research and advancement in the study of equine history–a key collecting area of the University Library Special Collections and Archives unit. Through sharing expertise, jointly producing events, and developing longer-term strategies together, these collaborative efforts have enhanced outreach of Cal Poly Pomona Special Collections and Archives and associated scholarly activities, enriched perspectives on equine cultural heritage, and facilitated innovative …

Education Policy Committee Minutes December 05, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes
• Subcommittee Reports
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:30pm

General Education Subcommittee Minutes December 05, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals
• New Business
• Additional Items
• Adjourn: 9:22am

The Status Of Women Leaders In Government – Utah Cities And Towns: A 2024 Update, April Townsend, Susan R. Madsen, Kolene Anderson

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Research shows that communities and organizations increasingly thrive when men and women work together in leadership roles.¹ Gender inclusivity benefits not only businesses, churches, schools, and state legislatures, but also state and local governments. American democracy is grounded in the idea of representation.² “Representative bureaucracy” is the term for government entities employing a workforce that shares the demographic characteristics of the communities they serve,³ and the combined experiences and perspectives of that workforce represent and benefit all residents within its purview.⁴ This includes the thousands of government professionals who run the daily functions of municipalities in …

Curriculum Subcomittee Minutes December 5, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:02pm

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda December 05, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00pm

Education Policy Committee Agenda December 05, 2024, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes
• Subcommittee Reports
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 4:00pm

General Education Subcommittee Agenda December 05, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals
• New Business
• Additional Items
• Adjourn: 9:30am

Reconstructing Long-Term, High-Resolution Groundwater Storage Changes In The Songhua River Basin Using Supplemented Grace And Grace-Fo Data, Chuanqi Liu, Zhijie Zhang, Chi Xu, Wanchang Zhang

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) enables large-scale monitoring of terrestrial water storage changes, significantly contributing to hydrology and related fields. However, the coarse resolution of groundwater storage anomaly (GWSA) data limits local-scale research utilizing GRACE and GRACE-FO missions. In this study, we develop a regional downscaling model based on the linear regression relationship between GWSA and environmental variables, reducing the grid resolution of GWSA obtained from GRACE from approximately 25 km to 1 km. First, we estimate the missing values of monthly continuous terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA) for the period from 2003 to 2020 using interpolated multi-channel …

Visionary Indigenous Training And Leadership For Natural Resources (Vital4nr), Peter D. Howe

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Correlation Between Maximal Eccentric And Isometric Multi-Joint Lower-Extremity Strength And Vertical Jumping Performance In Young Adults, Joonsun Park, Cassidy Weeks, Brennan J. Thompson, Talin Louder

Kinesiology and Health Science Student Research

Maximal eccentric (MES) and isometric (MIS) muscle strength may enhance vertical jump performance by facilitating preloading and reducing energy loss during the eccentric (ECC) phase of the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC). However, the contributions of ECC and isometric (ISO) strength to the countermovement (CMJ) and depth jump (DJ) remain unclear due to variability in assessment methods (e.g., dynamometry, isometric mid-thigh pull) and the limited range of metrics examined in prior research. The aim of this study was to assess correlations between multi-joint lower extremity MES and MIS, obtained using a seated multi-joint isokinetic dynamometer, and 13 vertical ground reaction force (GRF) …

Ai And Your Research, Erica Finch, Stephanie Western

Library Faculty & Staff Presentations

Your research is being used to train generative AI. Join us for an interactive discussion on how major publishers are selling your work as training material, and how that impacts your rights as an author. We'll explore the potential impacts of AI training on faculty, institutions, and the broader academic landscape. Share your thoughts and insights and help shape the future of AI and research.

Faculty Senate Agenda December 2, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Information
• EPC Report
• Library Budget
• 3:45 Report
• Faculty Evaluation Committee Annual Report
• USUSA Annual Report
• 3:55 Old Business
• 4:00 New Business
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Faculty Senate Agenda December 2, 2024, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Information
• EPC Report
• Library Budget
• 3:45 Report
• Faculty Evaluation Committee Annual Report
• USUSA Annual Report
• 3:55 Old Business
• 4:00 New Business
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Outcomes And Impacts Of The Virtual Utah Marriage Celebration, Naomi Brower, Lisa Schainker, Jared Hawkins

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Utah Marriage Celebration is a popular annual virtual event designed to educate and entertain couples while strengthening their relationships. Participants experience improvements in their relationship skills, commitment level, and overall relationship strength. The event’s virtual format reduces common participation barriers and ensures its sustainability into the future.

Environmental Views On The Rural To Urban Continuum, Sydney Fisk, Jessica D. Ulrich-Schad

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

As climate change and other environmental issues continue to worsen in Utah and worldwide, understanding Utahns’ top concerns and their opinions about political leaders’ efforts to address these environmental issues is increasingly important. In the 2023 Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP), a representative statewide sample of respondents were asked how concerned they were about a myriad of environmental problems in Utah including drought, the drying of the Great Salt Lake, poor air quality, population growth, climate change, and wildfires. Survey respondents were also asked to rate how well they believe politicians are addressing the same environmental issues. Looking at …

Reporteras En Acción, Amy Hiatt, Avery Hunsaker, Beth King, Emma Holmgren

Student Spanish Newspapers Collection

A Spanish magazine written and organized by four students in the Spanish 3060 Fall 2024 course. The magazine includes articles in four subjects: news, chronicles, interviews, and personal opinions.

An Analysis Of Psychological Concepts In Interactive Media, Kieryn Funk

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

An analysis of how video games display psychological concepts and facilitate psychological experiences. Video games are an extremely competent medium for experiences and learning psychology due to the manner in which they elicit emotions and teach procedurally. Psychological concepts are explained in a brief way, then specific examples are brought up from video games connecting the concept to an element in the game, specifically in gameplay mechanics, narrative story, or aesthetics and elements in the game world. Behavioral science is examined both on a conceptual level and on a technical level showing how video games, in general, display the theories …

Asian American Reproductive Rhetorics: A Rhetorical Analysis Of "The Farm" By Joanne Ramos, Mckinlee Armstrong

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Rhetorical scholars have long analyzed the idea of choice in the context of reproductive rights and have concluded that individual choice does not override the systematic barriers women of color face in accessing reproductive healthcare. Most Asian American rhetorical artifacts that have reached this same conclusion are case studies. I propose that analyzing Asian American fiction, specifically The Farm by Joanne Ramos, is just as necessary because fiction demonstrates the barriers that might exist in the future and how to prevent them from happening. The framework I use to analyze this text is the Asian American rhetorical concept of restiveness, …

Analysis Of Contemporary Choral Music, Meghan Hatfield

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This capstone is a culmination of work from the past two years to create an upper-level music theory elective called “Analysis of Contemporary Choral Music.” In this document, I will describe the process of designing the course, how it was implemented, how I participated in the teaching of the course, and what I learned through each process.

This project, which I started in the fall of 2022 as an URCO grant, was created with three goals in mind:

1. Getting more choral music into music theory classrooms
2. Getting more music theory into choral classrooms
3. Doing these things while reflecting the diversity …

The Feminist Cultural Exchange Between Japan And The United States: A Study Of Articles 14 And 24 In The Japanese Constitution, Kiara Adams

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper explores the feminist cultural exchange between the United States and Japan, focusing on how this exchange has shaped each country’s respective feminist movement. A central component of the paper is its examination of the histories of women’s rights in both nations, shaped by key historical events such as war, economic crises, and feminist activism, and how these histories have influenced current gender policies. It also explores how cultural narratives, including the creation myths of Japan and the U.S., have defined gender roles and women’s rights in each country. Through historical analysis, the paper examines the reciprocal influence between …