Digital Commons Network^™

A Survey Of Master's Qualifying Exam Practices And Content In Real Analysis, Zachary M. Coverstone

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Graduate programs in mathematics are intended to develop experts in mathematics. As part of a graduate program, many students are expected to engage in a qualifying examination that can serve myriad purposes. This dissertation investigates real analysis qualifying examinations at the master's level through a nation-wide survey of institutions in the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU). This study reveals the practices in administration of real analysis qualifying exams, institutions reported offering traditional, pencil-and-paper exams and generally asked students to prepare individually using previously administered exams. The survey results show that approximately two in three APLU institutions offering master's …

Maximizing Dryland Seed-Based Restoration Success Via Retrospective Analyses Of Species-Use Patterns And Field Testing Of Seed Mix Composition, Spencer J. Good

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Due to harsh and variable environmental conditions, successful plant establishment in "dryland" ecosystems – areas with scarce precipitation – is a major challenge for restoration. One of the most important decisions influencing restoration outcomes is choosing which species to plant (i.e., species selection). Here I explored two opportunities to improve restoration success related to species selection. First, I examined recent restoration projects across Utah, USA to understand species selection patterns by site conditions (e.g., precipitation, elevation) and seed costs, and to identify tools for matching species to sites. Second, I tested how commonly used non-native species – those not originally …

Determining The Structure And Function Of Type Iv-A Anti-Crisprs, Olivine Redman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Bacteria face a constant existential threat in the form of infection by viruses along with other forms of mobile genetic elements, such as bacteriophage and transposable elements. To survive, bacteria and other prokaryotes have evolved various immune systems to evade these would-be invaders. One such immune system is the CRISPR-Cas system, an adaptive immune system able to record the genetic signature of invading viruses in order to recognize and destroy them should they be encountered again in the future. In this thesis I present data that sheds light on the mechanism of one particular subtype of CRISPR-Cas systems: the type …

Utah State University Commencement, 2025 – Main Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

2025 Commencement Ceremony for the Main Campus of Utah State University.

Utah State University Commencement, 2025 – Eastern Campus, Utah State University

Commencement Programs

2025 Commencement Ceremony for the Eastern Campus of Utah State University.

Plant Diversity Dynamics Over Space And Time In A Warming Arctic, Mariana García Criado, Isla H. Myers-Smith, Anne D. Bjorkman, Sarah C. Elmendorf, Signe Normand, Peter Aastrup, Rien Aerts, Juha M. Alatalo, Lander Baeten, Robert G. Björk, Mats P. Björkman, Noémie Boulanger‐Lapointe, Ethan E. Butler, Elisabeth J. Cooper, J. Hans C. Cornelissen, Gergana N. Daskalova, Belen Fadrique, Bruce C. Forbes, Greg H. R. Henry, Robert D. Hollister, Toke Thomas Høye, Ida Bomholt Dyrholm Jacobsen, Annika K. Jägerbrand, Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir, Elina Kaarlejärvi, Olga Khitun, Kari Klanderud, Tiina H. M. Kolari, Simone I. Lang, Nicolas Lecomte, Jonathan Lenoir, Petr Macek, Julie Messier, Anders Michelsen, Ulf Molau, Robert Muscarella, Marie-Louise Nielsen, Matteo Petit Bon, Eric Post, Katrine Raundrup, Riikka Rinnan, Christian Rixen, Ingvild Ryde, Josep M. Serra‐Diaz, Gabriela Schaepman‐Strub, Niels M. Schmidt, Franziska Schrodt, Sofie Sjögersten, Manuel J. Steinbauer, Lærke Stewart, Beate Strandberg, Anne Tolvanen, Craig E. Tweedie, Mark Vellend

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The Arctic is warming four times faster than the global average¹ and plant communities are responding through shifts in species abundance, composition and distribution^2,3,4. However, the direction and magnitude of local changes in plant diversity in the Arctic have not been quantified. Using a compilation of 42,234 records of 490 vascular plant species from 2,174 plots across the Arctic, here we quantified temporal changes in species richness and composition through repeat surveys between 1981 and 2022. We also identified the geographical, climatic and biotic drivers behind these changes. We found greater species richness …

A Bivalent Self-Amplifying Rna Vaccine Against Yellow Fever And Zika Viruses, Peter Battisti, Matthew R. Ykema, Darshan N. Kasal, Madeleine F. Jennewein, Samuel Beaver, Abbie E. Weight, Derek Hanson, Jasneet Singh, Julie Bakken, Noah Cross, Pauline Fusco, Jacob Archer, Sierra Reed, Alana Gerhardt, Justin G. Julander, Corey Casper, Emily A. Voigt

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Introduction: Yellow fever (YFV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses cause significant morbidity and mortality, despite the existence of an approved YFV vaccine and the development of multiple ZIKV vaccine candidates to date. New technologies may improve access to vaccines against these pathogens. We previously described a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC)-delivered self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccine platform with excellent thermostability and immunogenicity, appropriate for prevention of tropical infectious diseases.

Methods: YFV and ZIKV prM-E antigen-expressing saRNA constructs were created using a TC-83 strain Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus-based replicon and complexed with NLC by simple mixing. Monovalent and bivalent vaccine formulations were injected intramuscularly …

One Size Doesn’T Fit All: Towards Design And Evaluation Of Developmentally Appropriate Parental Control Tool, Prakriti Dumaru, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

As children progress through developmental stages, they undergo substantial biological, cognitive, and social changes, creating unique needs for online safety across different age groups (e.g., young children, tweens, teens). The existing parental control tools fail to account for these differences, leaving a notable gap in the literature on parental mediation. To this end, we conducted 10 focus group sessions with a total of 20 parents to understand their preferences for age-appropriate design components that promote self-regulation and open communication, followed by an ideation workshop with four UX design experts to translate these preferences into customized features. We then evaluated these …

The Utah Statesman, April 28, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Integrating Human-Centered Design Into Undergraduate Stem Capstone Courses: A Food Product Development Case Study, Saadeddine Shehab, Dawn Bohn, Lucas O'Bryan, Luettamae Lawrence, Mike Tissenbaum

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

This study examines the integration of human-centered design (HCD) in a Food Science capstone course and explores its impact on students’ learning outcomes and skill development. This case study investigated how 42 undergraduate students engaged with HCD processes—including understanding, synthesizing, ideating, prototyping, and implementing—to develop innovative food products. Through pre- and post-surveys, interaction analysis, and performance assessments, the findings revealed that HCD activities significantly enhanced students’ knowledge, collaboration, creativity, and metacognitive skills. Additionally, students demonstrated improved food science competencies, such as product formulation and sensory evaluation. This study highlights the benefits of embedding HCD within STEM curricula to foster authentic, …

Below-Ground Carbon Gradients Surrounding Saskatchewan's Native Agricultural Copses, Andrea V. Cline, Colin P. Laroque

Aspen Bibliography

As carbon markets develop, understanding the carbon storage capabilities of agricultural land is imperative to maximizing carbon storage. Ecosystems store two-thirds of their carbon below ground. Shrubland and shelterbelt carbon storage have been well documented in agricultural settings, yet little is known about the carbon stored under the native woody vegetation scattered across the Prairies. This study aims to be the first to quantify the below-ground carbon under and around these native trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) copses in the Canadian Prairies. For this study, the leaf, fibric, humic layer (LFH) and soil samples up to 60cm were collected …

The Utah Statesman, April 21, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Avian Detection Data And Environmental Covariates For Utah, Usa Over The Years 2017-2021, Amanda L. Hayes-Puttfarcken

Browse all Datasets

Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) detection data for the state of Utah, USA, and LANDFIRE uncharacteristic exotic Departure Score data over Utah during our study period, as well as additional environmental covariates used to make the model more ecologically accurate. Environmental covariates include average May precipitation, average June temperature, distance to the nearest road, percent canopy cover, and the percent of three habitat types as defined by LANDFIRE; open tree canopy, herbaceous, and shrubland.

Effectiveness Of Silvicultural Options In Renewal Of Trembling Aspen–Jack Pine Mixedwood Stands, 21 Years After Treatment, Rongzhou Man

Aspen Bibliography

Regenerating conifers after harvest through planting and postharvest broadcast application of herbicide is effective in ensuring the survival and growth of seedlings, but faces challenges in meeting broad social and ecological objectives of forest management. This study reports the effectiveness of alternative options in regenerating jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), 21 years after harvest of trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.)-dominated boreal mixedwood stands. The treatment options included (i) preharvest spray—aerial broadcast spray prior to harvest, (ii) postharvest partial spray—ground herbicide application in strips, (iii) partial harvest in strips, (iv) postharvest aerial broadcast, and (v) uncut reference. Twenty-one years …

The Utah Statesman, April 14, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Interactions Among Nutrients Govern The Global Grassland Biomass–Precipitation Relationship, Philip A. Fay, Laureano A. Gherardi, Laura Yahdjian, Peter B. Adler, Jonathan D. Bakker, Siddharth Bharath, Elizabeth T. Borer, W. Stanley Harpole, Erika Hersch-Green, Travis E. Huxman, Andrew S. Macdougall, Anita C. Risch, Eric W. Seabloom, Sumanta Bagchi, Isabel C. Barrio, Lori Biederman, Yvonne M. Buckley, Miguel N. Bugalho, Maria C. Caldeira, Jane A. Catford, Qingqing Chen, Elsa E. Cleland, Scott L. Collins, Pedro Daleo, Chris R. Dickman, Ian Donohue, Mary Ellyn Dupre, Nico Eisenhauer, Anu Eskelinen, Nicole Hagenah, Yann Hautier, Robert W. Heckman, Ingibjörg S. Jónsdóttir, Johannes M. H. Knops, Ramesh Laungani, Jason P. Martina, Rebecca L. Mcculley, John W. Morgan, Harry Olde Venterink, Pablo L. Peri, Sally A. Power, Xavier Raynaud, Zhengwei Ren, Christiane Roscher, Melinda D. Smith, Marie Spohn, Carly J. Stevens, Michelle Tedder, Risto Virtanen, Glenda M. Wardle, George R. Wheeler

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Ecosystems are experiencing changing global patterns of mean annual precipitation (MAP) and enrichment with multiple nutrients that potentially colimit plant biomass production. In grasslands, mean aboveground plant biomass is closely related to MAP, but how this relationship changes after enrichment with multiple nutrients remains unclear. We hypothesized the global biomass–MAP relationship becomes steeper with an increasing number of added nutrients, with increases in steepness corresponding to the form of interaction among added nutrients and with increased mediation by changes in plant community diversity. We measured aboveground plant biomass production and species diversity in 71 grasslands on six continents representing the …

Crop Advisor Approaches To Soil Health Advising And Opportunities For Improvement, Peggy Petrzelka, Jessica D. Ulrich-Schad, Matt Yost, Jenae Dean, Earl Creech, Linda Schott, Tony Richards, Kristy Davis

All Current Publications

In this report, we use data from a 2023 online survey of crop advisors in Utah and Idaho to examine how they are working with their clients on soil health and where opportunities for improvement exist.

Ethical Concerns And Implications Of Expanded Carrier Screening, Emily Andres

Student Research Symposium

The rapid evolution in the field of genetics is often met with uncertainty and skepticism. With the advancements in genetic technologies, expanded carrier screening (ECS) has emerged as a powerful tool in reproductive medicine. While ECS provides prospective parents with insight into their genetic risk, it also raises serious ethical questions for many.

Impacts Of Reef Fish Length On Foraging Radius: Exploring Behavioral Patterns Within A Patch Reef Ecosystem, Kilia Brawand

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Coral reefs support high levels of marine biodiversity

• Patch reefs serve as vital refuges for small fish.
• Predation risk shapes how far fish stray from their reef, creating a “foraging radius”— the maximum distance traveled before retreating.

Absolute swimming speed in fish increases with body size (1).

• Therefore, larger fish may travel farther away from their refuge to forage over greater areas

This study tested the following question: Does a reef fish’s length influence how far it travels from its patch reef refuge?

Investigation Of Immune/Performance Trade-Offs In Neonate Children's Pythons, Ellie Hartman

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Energetic trade-offs are a key consideration when understanding an organism’s life history. One of these tradeoffs occurs between investment in immunity and performance.

• Individuals that invest more energy into immunity may be less equipped to avoid predation or find food, while those prioritizing performance may be more susceptible to infection
• Hypothesis: In response to a novel antigen, neonate snakes will have an immune response we can measure by counting immune cells. Additionally, we predict that strike frequency, swim speed, and endurance will be reduced in snakes undergoing an immune response and that with greater immune response we will see …

Evaluating The Effects Of Oxidative Stress On Primary Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells, Sophia Hessami

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss worldwide, affecting 200 million adults over the age of 40

• Affects subretinal layers: retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), Bruch’s membrane, and choroid (Fig. 1)

Problem: Early mechanisms of AMD are not well understood; oxidative stress is often cited as a key contributing factor to the development of AMD.3 Current studies neglect to use primary RPE cells when investigating oxidative stress.

Oxidative Stress occurs when there is an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cellular antioxidant defenses

• Overabundance of ROS results in damage to tissue and …

Evaluating The Stress System Of The Grieving Brain: Corticotropin-Releasing Factors And Partner Loss In Coyotes, Rachel Tong

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Social bonds are fundamental and essential

• Positive and negative effects

The stress system¹ :

• Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) system
• CRFR1 and CRFR2
• Acts on the HPA axis, amygdala, and hippocampus

Genetic monogamy is common among coyotes

Importance:

• Coyotes’ greatest threat are humans
• An abandoned partner can disrupt biology and behavior

Animals experience social loss too!

Phylogeny And Historical Biogeography Of Uroleucon Aphids, Audrey Mullen

Student Research Symposium

Research Questions

• Are South American Uroleucon aphids endemic or recently introduced?

• If endemic, did the aphids come from North America or Eurasia?

• When did dispersal events occur?

• Did temperate zone-adapted Uroleucon aphids cross through equatorial tropical forest?

Optimizing Antibiotics: The Ph Factor, Tyler Barry, Camila Campos, Claire England, Carson Porter

Student Research Symposium

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a global concern. Antibiotic production depends on factors like pH and salinity. Antibiotics are waiting to be discovered in soil that can aid with health treatments [1]. We isolated colonies from soil. One isolate produced antibiotics, forming an inhibition zone against Staph. epidermidis. Our soil had a pH of 8, suggesting it's an alkaliphile that can thrive in basic conditions. Optimal pH enhances antibiotic production, benefiting medicine [3].

Wiped Out?: Testing Peribacillus Frigoritolerans Against Hospital Disinfection Techniques, Alexis Lupus, Ashtyn Whatcott, Asaria Zizumbo, Cade Neuberger

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Hospital disinfection is essential to patient health, as harmful bacteria can compromise patient health. Factors like pathogen type and cleaning frequency influence disinfection efficacy. Sani-Cloth® disinfectant wipes are widely used in healthcare settings and have shown high effectiveness, particularly on surfaces such as iPad screens. The Sani-Cloth® disinfectant wipes tested in this experiment protect against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria .This experiment evaluates three types of Sani-Cloth® wipes against Peribacillus frigoritolerans, a gram-positive soil bacterium. Given the range of microbes introduced in hospital environments, especially in high-traffic areas like emergency departments, identifying the most effective wipes helps ensure optimal infection …

Establishing Methods For In Vitro Static Culture Of Gut Microbiomes For Nutritional Intervention Studies, Jeremy Case

Student Research Symposium

The National Cancer Institute reports colorectal cancer as the leading cause of cancer death for individuals under 50 in the United States (American Cancer Society). These rates continue to rise with poor diet, microbiome dysbiosis, and gut inflammation being the primary drivers.

Our lab performs nutrient- intervention studies on DSS/AOM colitis-induced mouse models fed the total Western diet, reflective of the average American’s diet. A poor diet promotes gut microbiome dysbiosis and subsequent colitis, ultimately yielding colon cancer. We seek to understand how the introduction of a bioactive compound may lessen or promote these effects in in vivo mouse models. …

Implications Of Positive Nitrogen Fixation Capabilities Of Peribacillus, Weston Farley, Ariana Long

Student Research Symposium

Recent studies highlight the versatile role of Peribacillus simplex in sustainable agriculture. This bacterium has been shown to alleviate saline and alkaline stress in maize, promoting plant growth and improving crop yield under challenging conditions and enhance agricultural sustainability by supporting soil health and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers. Its role in fixing nitrogen and improving plant health makes it an essential player in eco- friendly farming practices.. Other species of Peribacillus have been shown to fix nitrogen, suggesting that our sample bacteria may also have these same capabilities.

• Our goal in this research is to determine whether …

Evaluating Exoelectrogenic Potential Through Hydrogen Production, Alec Merryweather, Jaxon Schenk, Hannah Castillo, Madison Weiers

Student Research Symposium

This research project investigates the electrical output of local exoelectrogenic bacteria to develop sustainable energy sources. By identifying and optimizing these bacteria, the aim is to advance microbial electrochemical cells. The experiment involved collecting and culturing local bacteria, then measuring their hydrogen production through the use of an H2Blue test. Successful outcomes could lead it to become an eco-friendly energy solution.

Disjunction In Arachnospila (Pompilidae: Hymenoptera): Convergent Evolution Or Recent Dispersal?, Bridger Jorgensen, Steven Madsen

Student Research Symposium

Convergent evolution is defined as unrelated species evolving similar traits. A disjunct distribution is the appearance of species or groups of species in disconnected geographical areas. Is the disjunction we see in Arachnospila due to a recent disjunct distribution/long distance dispersal event or long-term convergent evolution?

Establishing Mixed-Biofilm Systems: To Transform Waste Into Value-Added Products, Jessica Silva Cuero

Student Research Symposium

The bioeconomy, which leverages biological agents such as microbes to convert waste (e.g., agricultural waste, wastewater, etc.) into valuable resources (Fig 1.), offers a sustainable solution to global waste challenges while generating new economic opportunities.