Digital Commons Network^™

A Residential Camp’S Impact On Youths’ Leadership Skills And Natural Resource Knowledge, Shandra Nicole Frey, Vernon Parent

Extension Research

Learning transcends the classroom. To better understand the natural world around them, it is critical that youth have opportunities to make connections and apply their learning in real-world settings. Improving youths’ perceived skills and knowledge contributes to increased academic motivation and continued leadership development. Multi-day residential natural resource camps have shown the ability to teach ecological concepts and develop land management skills, critical thinking skills, and decision-making skills. We tested the ability of a remotely located residential camp to improve leadership skills and natural resource knowledge, using a pre- and post-camp self-assessment, combined with a pre- and post-camp knowledge test. …

Biological Agent Dispersal, Jake Israelsen, Chris Springmeyer, Will Wightman, Camiel Zorn

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

BIO-TERRORISM THREAT MITIGATION

Overview

• Understanding the importance understanding how airborne particles behave
• Computer models to describe open air release of Anthrax

Creation of 300 m x 100 m testing facility

• Determine distance traveled based on spore size and wind speed
• Determine important parameters for facility to safely control dispersion

Importance of the problem to society

• Immediate bio-terror-threat response training
• Contamination remediation for first responders
• Future response plans including timely contamination zone determination

This must be researched in order to plan for an undesirable event

University Rover Competition, Nicholas Huld

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The Mar’s Society University Rover Challenge (URC) is a robotics competition held annually in the desert of Southern Utah. The competition tasks the engineers with building a remotely operated rover to accomplish four primary missions:

1. Science mission- The rover must conduct an in-situ analysis to determine the presence of life, either extinct or extant, at designated sights.
2. Extreme retrieval and delivery- The rover must pick up and deliver objects in the field while traversing a wide variety of terrain no further than 1 km.
3. Equipment servicing- The rover must perform operations on an equipment system after traveling …

Utah State University Faculty Survey: Report Of Findings, Merrill-Cazier Library, Ithaka S+R Survey

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

The Utah State University implementation of the Ithaka S+R Faculty Survey was launched on April 8^th, 2019, and was closed to new responses on May 15^th, 2019, with a total of 291 complete responses. The questionnaire covers topics in several key areas, including: how faculty members discover and access materials for research; faculty members’ usage of scholarly communication services; faculty members’ research practices, including data preservation and management behaviors and needs; faculty members’ perceptions of students’ research skills; the role of the library in supporting faculty members’ needs; faculty member’s instructional practices, including OER and learning …

Preliminary Evidence Of Acceptance And Commitment Therapy For Death Anxiety In Iranian Clients Diagnosed With Ocd, Mohammad Hassan Davazdahemami, Abolfazl Bayrami, Julie M. Petersen, Michael P. Twohig, Maryam Bakhtiyari, Mohammad Noori, Ali Kheradmand

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study investigated the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on death anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with eight adult females in Iran. The ACT protocol was conducted in 8 weekly solo sessions (45 minutes each). The results were analyzed by visual analysis method and improvement percentage. ACT resulted in decreases in death anxiety (60-80%) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (51-60%), thereby indicating promise for ACT as a treatment for OCD and death anxiety.

Spotted Lanternfly [Lycorma Delicatula (White)], Lori R. Spears, Ann Mull

All Current Publications

This fact sheet describes spotted lanternfly, an invasive planthopper that is native to China and first detected in the U.S. in 2014. It includes information on plant hosts, damage symptoms, life history, monitoring, and management,

Minimizing Regrowth When Removing Russia Olive = Points To Consider, Dennis Worwood, Ron Patterson, Steve Price

All Current Publications

This fact sheet provides the results of a variety of trials conducted to gain a greater understanding of the patterns of Russian olive regrowth and determine management practices that reduce the regrowth potential of mechanically-removed Russian olive.

Greater Sage-Grouse Translocations: The Science Behind Utah's Conservation Policy, Michel Kohl, Melissa Chelak, Terry Messmer

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses the history of translocating greater sage-grouse in Utah. This includes information on protocols, success rates, and genetic implications.

The New Natural Distribution Area Of Aspen (Populus Tremula L.) Marginal Populations In Pasinler In The Erzurum Province, Turkey, And Its Stand Characteristics, Halil Bariş Özel, Sezgin Ayan, Serdar Erpay, Bojan Simovski

Aspen Bibliography

Background and Purpose: Genetic diversity is the basis for adaptation and survival of tree species under changing environmental conditions, representing the key issue of stability and productivity of forest ecosystems. This paper studies the marginal population characteristics and stand dynamics of aspen tree (Populus tremula L.) in natural, pure and mixed forest stands with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). These populations were observed on founding sites between Timarli Valley and Timan Plateau located in Pasinler in the Erzurum Province in Turkey.
Materials and Methods: Three replicated sample sites were established according to a randomised block design …

Power In Pairs: Assessing The Statistical Value Of Paired Samples In Tests For Differential Expression, John R. Stevens, Jennifer S. Herrick, Roger K. Wolff, Martha L. Slattery

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications

Background: When genomics researchers design a high-throughput study to test for differential expression, some biological systems and research questions provide opportunities to use paired samples from subjects, and researchers can plan for a certain proportion of subjects to have paired samples. We consider the effect of this paired samples proportion on the statistical power of the study, using characteristics of both count (RNA-Seq) and continuous (microarray) expression data from a colorectal cancer study.

Results: We demonstrate that a higher proportion of subjects with paired samples yields higher statistical power, for various total numbers of samples, and for various strengths of …

Parent And Household Influences On Calcium Intake Among Early Adolescents, Jinan Banna, Jessica O'Driscoll, Carol J. Boushey, Garry Auld, Beth Olson, Mary Cluskey, Miriam Edlefsen Ballejos, Christine Bruhn, Scottie Misner, Marla Reicks, Siew Sun Wong, Sahar Zaghloul

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Calcium intake during early adolescence falls short of requirements for maximum bone accretion. Parents and the home food environment potentially influence children’s calcium intakes. This study aimed to quantify parental psychosocial factors (PSF) predicting calcium intakes of Asian, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic white (NHW) early adolescent children from a parental perspective.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving the administration of a validated calcium-specific food frequency questionnaire to a convenience sample of children aged 10–13 years and the primary individual responsible for food acquisition in the child’s household. Based on Social Cognitive Theory, parental factors potentially associated with children’s calcium …

Dependence Of Aspen Stands On A Subsurface Water Subsidy: Implications For Climate Change Impacts, D. M. Love, M. D. Venturas, J. S. Sperry, P. D. Brooks, J. L. Pettit, Y. Wang, W. R. L. Anderegg, X. Tai, D. S. Mackay

Aspen Bibliography

The reliance of 10 Utah (USA) aspen forests on direct infiltration of growing season rain versus an additional subsurface water subsidy was determined from a trait- and process-based model of stomatal control. The model simulated the relationship between water supply to the root zone versus canopy transpiration and assimilation over a growing season. Canopy flux thresholds were identified that distinguished nonstressed, stressed, and dying stands. We found growing season rain and local soil moisture were insufficient for the survival of 5 of 10 stands. Six stands required a substantial subsidy (31–80% of potential seasonal transpiration) to avoid water stress and …

Proceedings For The 10th International Symposium On Poisonous Plants (Isopp)., Kevin D. Welch

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

The 10^th International Symposium on Poisonous Plants (ISOPP) was held on September 16-20, 2018 at the Red Lion Conference Center in St. George, Utah, USA. The meeting was truly international with 55 attendees from across the globe. The attendees were a diverse mix of research scientists, academicians, students, veterinarians, private industry representatives, extension agents and government regulators. Dr. Joseph Betz, Acting Director of the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, was the plenary speaker for the symposium, wherein he spoke regarding the safety of botanical supplements. There were six sessions of oral presentations including sessions …

Dependence Of Aspen Stands On A Subsurface Water Subsidy: Implications For Climate Change Impacts, D. M. Love, M. D. Venturas, J. S. Sperry, P. D. Brooks, Joseph L. Pettit, Y. Wang, W. R.L. Anderegg, X. Tai, D. S. Mackay

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The reliance of 10 Utah (USA) aspen forests on direct infiltration of growing season rain versus an additional subsurface water subsidy was determined from a trait‐ and process‐based model of stomatal control. The model simulated the relationship between water supply to the root zone versus canopy transpiration and assimilation over a growing season. Canopy flux thresholds were identified that distinguished nonstressed, stressed, and dying stands. We found growing season rain and local soil moisture were insufficient for the survival of 5 of 10 stands. Six stands required a substantial subsidy (31–80% of potential seasonal transpiration) to avoid water stress and …

Carbene Triel Bonds Between Trr3 (Tr=B, Al) And N-Heterocyclic Carbenes, Zongqing Chi, Wenbo Dong, Qingzhong Li, Xin Yang, Steve Scheiner, Shufeng Liu

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The carbene triel bond is predicted and characterized by theoretical calculations. The C lone pair of N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) is allowed to interact with the central triel atom of TrR₃ (Tr = B and Al; R = H, F, Cl, and Br). The ensuing bond is very strong, with an interaction energy of nearly 90 kcal/mol. Replacement of the C lone pair by that of either N or Si weakens the binding. The bond is strengthened by electron‐withdrawing substituents on the triel atom, and the reverse occurs with substitution on the NHC. However, these effects do not strictly follow …

Phylogeographic Analyses Of A Widely Distributed Populus Davidiana: Further Evidence For The Existence Of Glacial Refugia Of Cool‐Temperate Deciduous Trees In Northern East Asia, Zhe Hou, Zhaoshan Wang, Zhanyang Ye, Shuhui Du, Shuya Liu, Jianguo Zhang

Aspen Bibliography

Despite several phylogeographic studies had provided evidence to support the existence of glacial refugia of cool‐temperate deciduous trees in northeast China, the species used in these studies were limited by the species ranges, which could not exclude the possibility that northern populations were the colonists from southern refugial populations during the last glacial maximum (LGM). Here, we estimated the nucleotide variation in Populus davidiana, a widespread species distributed in Eurasia. Three groups in northeast, central, and southwest China were constructed according to the simulation results from SAMOVA, composition of chloroplast haplotypes and structure results. We revealed that the northeast …

Parental Habituation To Human Disturbance Over Time Reduces Fear Of Humans In Coyote Offspring, Christopher J. Schell, Julie K. Young, Elizabeth V. Lonsdorf, Rachel M. Santymire, Jill M. Mateo

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

A fundamental tenet of maternal effects assumes that maternal variance over time should have discordant consequences for offspring traits across litters. Yet, seldom are parents observed across multiple reproductive bouts, with few studies consider‐ ing anthropogenic disturbances as an ecological driver of maternal effects. We ob‐ served captive coyote (Canis latrans) pairs over two successive litters to determine whether among‐litter differences in behavior (i.e., risk‐taking) and hormones (i.e., cortisol and testosterone) corresponded with parental plasticity in habituation. Thus, we explicitly test the hypothesis that accumulating experiences of anthropogenic disturbance reduces parental fear across reproductive bouts, which should have disparate phenotypic …

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Agenda, December 10, 2018, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• EPC Monthly Report - December 6, 2018
• USUSA Annual Report
• Professional Responsibilities and Procedures Committee Annual Report
• Council on Teacher Education Annual Report
• Scholarship Advisory Board Annual Report
• USUSA Recommendations (ASR 2018-2019-03 | ECR 2019-02)
• 405.8.2 Code – Faculty with Tenure below the Rank of Professor

Stirred, Not Shaken—Considerations For Improved Mammalian Cell Culture Scale-Up, Joshua Daniel, Zachary Ellsworth, Makali Lunt

Biological Engineering

GE Healthcare specializes in providing optimized medium for companies culturing cells in bioreactors for pharmaceutical purposes. Small scale testing, typically in shaker flasks, is a crucial part of this process, but scaling between these and larger impeller driven reactors has proven difficult in the past.

This study sought to develop a relationship between shaker flask bioreactors and a micro-bioreactor setup called the ambr® system. Important scale-up parameters such as oxygen transfer rate, 𝑘_L𝑎, and energy dissipation rate, 𝜀_𝑎, were calculated and used to compare the two systems. The following equations were taken from literature [2],[3]:

Tertiary Ammonia Treatment Of Lagoon Effluent Using Microvi MneTm Technology, Bryan Burbank, Sydney Burtenshaw, Nathan Guymon, Mike Langston, Luke Lemmon

Biological Engineering

Nutrient pollution is a growing problem threatening many waterways. High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in water can cause algae to grow rapidly. This growth decreases water quality, kills aquatic life, and elevates toxin levels creating health hazards for people. Due to increases in nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, the Logan City regional wastewater treatment plant is currently updating from a lagoon system to a mechanical plant to meet future discharge limits imposed by federal, state, and local governments. The intent of our design is to add a tertiary nitrification system using Microvi MicroNiche Engineering^TM (MNE^TM) technology.

Tertiary Wastewater Treatment Through Mbbr Technology, Ethan Ackerman, Grant Harris, Gregory Jensen, Christopher Ruben, Stephen Sadler

Biological Engineering

Wastewater treatment is an essential component to public health as it removes harmful compounds and allows for water reuse and recycle. Biological nutrient removal has entered into the public spotlight as effluent flows with high nitrogen concentrations have detrimental effects on water discharge bodies. Traditional suspended growth biological treatment methods are expensive and produce excess biomass that can reduce the efficiency of nutrient removal if not maintained. Research on the benefits of attached growth processes, namely moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology, presents an exciting innovation in wastewater treatment that can increase nutrient removal efficiency and reduce overall cost.

As …

The Textbook Game, Cy Robinson

USU Student Folklore Fieldwork

The spouse game. My friend came up with this game during a biology class in 7^th grade. The game is played as such. Each participant looks through the textbook that both students have, usually one provided in class. Each would sign to the others a page number containing an “attractive” person and then make eyes as the other flipped to the respective pages. The other person would try not to smile or make eyes back to the other person as they signed the next page back to them. The game started off really juvenile until we realized that the …

Residents' Opinions On Fracking In Utah, Kelsey Gale

Fall Student Research Symposium 2018

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release gas inside.

Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.

This can be a very controversial topic, especially in the Western United States where fracking is a major part of the economic growth of the states.

The public forms opinions both negative and positive regarding fracking in the state of Utah.

Studies have been done to discover the impacts, good or …

Modeling The Effect Of Post-Dispersal Seed Predation On Tropical Tree Species In Panama, Justin Tirrell

Fall Student Research Symposium 2018

Palm trees provide a unique opportunity to study what conditions optimize the probability that a seed will grow successfully. The seeds of palm trees, endocarps, are large and easy to locate. When they don't grow, predators leave marks on them that tell the story of their fate. The focus of my experiment is to determine how the current distribution pattern of parent palm trees in Panama Palm trees affects the the future distribution of seedlings. I have programmed a versatile model that takes the assumption that bruchid beetles are the sole predators acting on the seeds, and that these fall …

Chemical Analysis Of Aerosol Particle Surfaces, Hillary Woolf

Fall Student Research Symposium 2018

Aerosol particles are thought to impact climate properties. The ability to probe aerosols to understand their chemical properties has been difficult due to a lack of appropriate analytical techniques. Here we present interface-specific SHS techniques to allow for in situ analysis of aerosol particles. Transportation of aerosols from their collection site to the laboratory disturbs their chemical and physical properties thus making it difficult to take accurate measurements of aerosol particles. We show that using a CCD detector is a more effective option for producing more sensitive results and can greatly reduce sampling time and could possibly detect measurements from …

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes, December 6, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Adding an Associate of Science Degree in Veterinary Technology
• Offering a Certificate of Completion in Ranch Horse Science at the Blanding Regional Campus
• Changing the name from Master of Science International Food and Agribusiness to MS Agribusiness
• Offering a BA/BS Degree in Business Administration with Emphases
• Renaming the BA/BS Degree in Business Administration to Management
• Adding a Social Media Emphasis
• Changing the department name from Geology to Earth Sciences

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• Zero Credit Course Discussion
• Changing January’s meeting date
• Future Discussion Items
• Introduction of the new catalog editor

Educational Policies Committee Minutes, December 6, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee report
• Academic Standards Subcommittee report
• General Education Subcommittee report
• Zero Credit Course Discussion

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda, December 6, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

Program Proposals

• Adding an Associate of Science Degree in Veterinary Technology
• Offering a Certificate of Completion in Ranch Horse Science at the Blanding Regional Campus
• Changing the name from Master of Science International Food and Agribusiness to MS Agribusiness
• Offering a BA/BS Degree in Business Administration with Emphases
• Renaming the BA/BS Degree in Business Administration to Management
• Adding a Social Media Emphasis
• Changing the department name from Geology to Earth Sciences

Semester Course Approval Reviews

Other

• Zero Credit Course Discussion
• Changing January’s meeting date
• Future Discussion Items

Educational Policies Committee Agenda, December 6, 2018, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Zero Credit Course Discussion

Priming Of Grasping Muscles When Viewing A Safety Handle Is Diminished With Age, David A.E. Bolton, Sarah E. Schwartz, Manhoud Mansour, Garrett Rydalch, Douglas W. Mcdannald

Kinesiology and Health Science Faculty Publications

Merely viewing objects within reachable space can activate motor cortical networks and potentiate movement. This holds potential value for smooth interaction with objects in our surroundings, and could offer an advantage for quickly generating targeted hand movements (e.g. grasping a support rail to maintain stability). The present study investigated if viewing a wall-mounted safety handle resulted in automatic activation of motor cortical networks, and if this effect changes with age. Twenty-five young adults (18–30 years) and seventeen older adults (65+ years) were included in this study. Single-pulse, transcranial magnetic stimulation was applied over the motor cortical hand representation of young …