Digital Commons Network^™

Yeast Lab, Matthew Lewis, Jim Powell

Laboratory Experiences in Mathematical Biology

Yeast are grown in a small, capped ask, generating carbon dioxide which is trapped in an inverted jar full of colored water. The volume of carbon dioxide produced can either be measured directly or using time-lapse imagery on an iPad or similar. Students are then challenged to model the resulting data. From this exercise students gain greater understand- ing of ODE compartment models, parameter estimation, population dynamics and limiting factors.

Leaky Bucket Lab, Jim Powell, Jim Haefner, Brynja Kohler

Laboratory Experiences in Mathematical Biology

Students test Torrecelli’s law and develop and compare their own alternative models to describe the dynamics of water draining from perforated containers. From this exercise students gain experience and perspective using a classic model as well as greater understanding of ODE compartment models, parameter estimation and fluid flows.

Stream Lab, Miro Kummel, Andrea Bruder, Jim Powell, Brynja Kohler, Matthew Lewis

Laboratory Experiences in Mathematical Biology

Dead leaves, ping-pong balls or plastic golf balls are floated down a small stream. The number of leaves/balls passing recording stations along the stream are tallied. Students are then challenged to develop a transport model for the resulting data. From this exercise students gain greater understanding of PDE modeling, conservation laws, parameter estimation as well as mass and momentum transport processes.

Cultivate Spring/Summer 2016, Utah State University

Cultivate Magazine

No abstract provided.

Utah State University Interfaith Diversity Experiences & Attitudes Longitudinal Survey - Time 1 Report: Summer/Fall 2015, Matthew Mayhew, Alyssa Rockenbach, Eboo Patel

Interfaith Initiative Research

Together with more than 120 other colleges and universities around the United States, USU is participating in the national Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Study or "IDEALS" survey. This survey was co-developed by Interfaith Youth Core and North Carolina State University to measure the impact that university experiences have on the emergence of a worldview that promotes religious "pluralism" (appreciative engagement across religious divides). View the first year report here.

Exploring Alternative Career Choices, Ty Charley

Biology Posters

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Wound Healing On Innate Immune Function In Grass Lizards (Takydromus Viridipunctatus), Julianne Wood, Alison Webb, Lorin A. Neuman-Lee, Susannah S. French

Biology Posters

To better understand how an animal’s physiological regulation of the immune system can shift in response to a physical stressor, we investigated changes in immune function and circulating plasma testosterone in response to a cutaneous wound in male grass lizards (Takydromus viridipunctatus).

Teaching: Natural Or Cultural?, David F. Lancy

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

An important part of the common lore of anthropology is that “other people have culture.” That is, most people fail to recognize or appreciate how much of their lives are governed by habits, values, and expectations that are largely the product of history and culture. They fail to acknowledge that their own way of doing things is not necessarily universal or even widely shared. This ethnocentrism can have enormous consequences for the construction of child development theory and education.

Playing With Knives: The Socialization Of Self-Initiated Learners, David F. Lancy

Sociology, Social Work and Anthropology Faculty Publications

Since Margaret Mead’s field studies in the South Pacific a century ago, there has been the tacit understanding that as culture varies, so too must the socialization of children to become competent culture users and bearers. More recently, the work of anthropologists has been mined to find broader patterns that may be common to childhood across a range of societies. One improbable commonality has been the tolerance, even encouragement, of toddler behavior that is patently risky, such as playing with or attempting to use a sharp-edged tool. This laissez faire approach to socialization follows from a reliance on children as …

Purification Of Recombinant Spider Silk Protein From Escherichia Coli., Randolph V. Lewis, Justin Jones, Todd Brown

Biology Posters

Spider silk has many applications including human health (sutures, vaccine encapsulations, i.e.) and military usage (underwater Velcro-type fasteners). In order to test these applications, we need large quantities of spider silk protein to use in our experiments. One way to make spider silk is by using Escherichia coli (E. Coli) to produce the protein. E. Coli has many advantages: it can be produced in larger amounts, it is inexpensive to grow, and it can be easily transported. We usually start with a culture mass weighing 4 kg but we are scaling up to produce even greater amounts of product. The …

Geographic Patterns And Possibility Of Predation, Jennica Blasi

Biology Posters

A poster documenting if lizard and feral cats inhabit the same areas in the St. George, UT region.

Simple Landscape Irrigation Demand Estimation: Slide Rules, Roger Kjelgren

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Irrigated urban landscapes must increasingly maintain economic and ecosystem value with less water in response to drought amplified and shifted by climate change. Efficient landscape water management requires estimating water amount demanded by plants that can be replaced by irrigation to meet minimum performance expectations. The extant approach to estimating landscape water demand is conceptually muddled and often regionally inappropriate. Simplified Landscape Irrigation Demand Estimation (SLIDE) Rules distills scientifically credible assumptions about urban landscape biological and physical complexity into guidelines for estimating water demand that are conceptually accessible and operationally useful. SLIDE Rules are: 1) oasis urban reference evapotranspiration (ETo) …

Arakniprint: 3d Printing Of Synthetic Spider Silk To Produce Biocompatible And Resorbable Biomaterials, Ashley Ruben, Brianne Bell, Chase Spencer, Craig Soelberg, Dan Gil, Thomas Harris, Richard Decker, Timothy A. Taylor, Radolph V. Lewis

Undergraduate Honors Projects

No abstract provided.

Bigtooth And Quaking Aspen Propagation From Roots Versus Seed, Joseph M. Vande Hey

Aspen Bibliography

No abstract provided.

The Material Ethics Of Juana Manuela Gorriti’S Peregrinaciones De Una Alma Triste, Elisabeth L. Austin

Decimonónica

Juana Manuela Gorriti’s novella Peregrinaciones de una alma triste (1876) opens in a most Romantic vein: Laura, the protagonist, suffers from tuberculosis and is subjected to arsenic poisoning by her doctor in an attempt to cure her.¹ As her doctor prescribes “mañana doble dosis; triple, pasado mañana” (4), he declares, with the zeal of a true believer, “niña mía [. . .] desde hoy comienza usted a tomar para curarse aquello que a otros da la muerte: el arsénico. Arsénico por la mañana, arsénico en la tarde, arsénico en la noche…¡Horrible! ¿no es cierto?” (4). The lovesick Laura promptly …

Celis: Compact Eyesafe Lidar System, Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL has developed a novel Compact Eyesafe Lidar System (CELiS) designed to monitor airborne particulate matter (PM) emissions. It uses a 1.57 µm wavelength commercial laser, an 8 inch off-axis parabolic mirror, and a 200 µm diameter InGaAs avalanche photodetector (APD). The laser, mirror, and APD are mounted on a carbon fiber breadboard and housed in an environmentally-sealed housing. CELiS can operate over an 80°C temperature range with an optical path change of only 100 µm.

Metabolism, Gas Exchange, And Carbon Spiraling In Rivers, Robert Ogden Hall, Jennifer L. Tank, Michelle A. Baker, Erin R. Hotchkiss, Emma J. Rosi-Marshall

Biology Faculty Publications

Ecosystem metabolism, that is, gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER), controls organic carbon (OC) cycling in stream and river networks and is expected to vary predictably with network position. However, estimates of metabolism in small streams outnumber those from rivers such that there are limited empirical data comparing metabolism across a range of stream and river sizes. We measured metabolism in 14 rivers (discharge range 14–84 m³ s⁻¹) in the Western and Midwestern United States (US). We estimated GPP, ER, and gas exchange rates using a Lagrangian, 2-station oxygen model solved in a Bayesian framework. …

High And Dry: Post-Fire Tree Seedlingestablishment In Subalpine Forestsdecreases With Post-Fire Drought Andlarge Stand-Replacing Burn Patches, Brian J. Harvey, Daniel C. Donato, Monica G. Turner

Aspen Bibliography

Aim: Climate warming and increased wildfire activity are hypothesized to catalyse biogeographical shifts, reducing the resilience of fire-prone forests world-wide. Two key mechanisms underpinning hypotheses are: (1) reduced seed availability in large stand-replacing burn patches, and (2) reduced seedling establishment/survival after post-fire drought. We tested for regional evidence consistent with these mechanisms in an extensive fire-prone forest biome by assessing post-fire tree seedling establishment, a key indicator of forest resilience.

Location: Subalpine forests, US Rocky Mountains.

Methods: We analysed post-fire tree seedling establishment from 184 field plots where stand-replacing forest fires were followed by varying post-fire climate conditions. Generalized linear …

Abc’S Bird-Smart Wind Energy Campaign: Protecting Birds From Poorly Sited Wind Energy Development, Michael Hutchins, Mike Parr, Darin Schroeder

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This article summarizes American Bird Conservancy’s (ABC’s) strategies and goals for achieving Bird-Smart wind energy in the United States. We describe the current and projected impact of wind energy development on birds and bats in the United States. We also discuss how bird (and bat) conservation goals could be made more compatible with wind energy development through improved science and regulation. We provide examples of poorly sited wind energy projects, existing and proposed, which call into question the efficacy of current voluntary federal permitting guidelines. We discuss the need for improved transparency and independent site-by-site pre-construction risk assessment, science-based decision-making, …

Influence Of Transmission Line Construction On Winter Sage-Grouse Habitat Use In Southern Utah, Erica P. Hansen, A. Cheyenne Stewart, S. Nicole Frey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The construction and operation of electric power transmission lines (“power lines”) and their associated infrastructure has been identified as a conservation threat to the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse). The conservation buff er zones recommended by state and federal agencies to avoid potential impacts on breeding populations diff er because information regarding the effects of power lines on sage-grouse is lacking. Little information is available regarding sage-grouse responses to power lines placed in winter habitat. Hence, we evaluated sage-grouse habitat use before and after construction of the Sigurd-Red Butte (SRB) 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in winter habitat. The …

Wind Energy Development: Methods For Assessing Risks To Birds And Bats Pre-Construction, Todd Katzner, Victoria Bennett, Tricia Miller, Adam Duerr, Melissa Braham, Amanda Hale

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wind power generation is rapidly expanding. Although wind power is a low-carbon source of energy, it can impact negatively birds and bats, either directly through fatality or indirectly by displacement or habitat loss. Pre-construction risk assessment at wind facilities within the United States is usually required only on public lands. When conducted, it generally involves a 3-tier process, with each step leading to more detailed and rigorous surveys. Preliminary site assessment (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tier 1) is usually conducted remotely and involves evaluation of existing databases and published materials. If potentially at-risk wildlife are present and the developer …

Lack Of Human Awareness And The Need For Increased Public Education Regarding The Zoonotic Parasite, Baylisascaris Procyonis, Jacob L. Ogdee, Scott E. Henke, David B. Wester

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Baylisascaris procyonis is a large parasitic nematode found in the small intestines of raccoons (Procyon lotor), the definitive host, and causes larva migrans in humans and other animals. Humans can become infected by ingesting B. procyonis eggs, which can remain viable in the environment for years and adhere to vegetation, soil, water, raccoon feces, or hands. Parasitic infections manifest in humans with neural and ocular larva migrans, characterized by clinical symptoms of head and body tilt, circling, recumbency, ataxia, blindness, nervous behavior, paralysis, and coma, leading to death. Prevalence of B. procyonis in humans is unknown. However, human …

Impact Of Sagebrush Nutrients And Monoterpenes On Greater Sage-Grouse Vital Rates, Brian R. Wing, Terry A. Messmer

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) depend on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) to complete its annual life cycle. The winter diet for sage-grouse consists almost entirely of sagebrush leaves, and individual birds may gain weight while foraging on sagebrush. Previous studies have reported higher crude protein and lower monoterpene concentrations in the sagebrush species selected as winter forage by sagegrouse. However, no studies have attempted to link female sage-grouse vital rates (i.e., nest initiation and success, egg fertility, clutch size, and adult survival) to crude protein or monoterpene concentrations of sagebrush plants browsed during pre-nesting periods. From March …

Evaluating Wildlife–Vehicle Collision Hotspots Using Kernel-Based Estimation: A Focus On The Endangered Asiatic Cheetah In Central Iran, Alireza Mohammadi, Mohammad Kaboli

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The transportation networks within and adjacent to protected areas degrade natural habitats and contribute to a higher risk of mortality through roadkill. Following years of unplanned and unsustainable road network development in Iran, the protected areas of significant biodiversity value have suffered from such phenomenon. Yazd Province, one of Iran’s important biodiversity reservoirs for large mammals, especially the Asiatic cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), has witnessed a noticeable rate of road expansion along with an associated anthropogenic development. A large percentage (7 out of 50–70) of Asiatic cheetahs has been lost due to vehicle collisions in the region over …

Ecology Of Greater Sage-Grouse Populations Inhabiting The Northwestern Wyoming Basin, Casey J. Cardinal, Terry A. Messmer

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Range-wide population declines of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) have been largely attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation. However, the specific conservation threats affecting the ecology of sage-grouse populations may diff er by region. Although the status of the Bear Lake Plateau and Valley (BLPV) sagegrouse populations in the Wyoming Basin has been monitored using male lek counts since the 1960s, little was known about their ecology, seasonal movements, and habitat use patterns. From 2010–2012, we radio-marked 153 sage-grouse (59 females and 94 males) with very high frequency necklace-style radio-collars throughout the BLPV study area, which encompassed parts …

Economic Utility For The Anthropogenic Spread Of Wild Hogs, Joe N. Caudell, Emily Dowell, Katelyn Welch

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Wild hogs (Sus scrofa) are an invasive, exotic species that has spread through much of the United States through anthropogenic means. Many states have laws and regulations with the intent of preventing the illegal importation, introduction, and establishment of wild swine populations. However, in many cases, these laws have been ineffectual at stopping the anthropogenic spread of wild swine. To assess the risk for moving wild hogs, we examined various wild hog-related laws throughout the United States and assessed the potential reward for their illegal movement of releasing hogs for hunting purposes. We found that fines ranged from …

In The News, Jason Matthews, Joe N. Caudell

Human–Wildlife Interactions

No abstract provided.

Avian Fatalities At Wind Energy Facilities In North America: A Comparison Of Recent Approaches, Douglas H. Johnson, Scott R. Loss, K. Shawn Smallwood, Wallace P. Erickson

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Three recent publications have estimated the number of birds killed each year by wind energy facilities at 2012 build-out levels in the United States. The 3 publications differ in scope, methodology, and resulting estimates. We compare and contrast characteristics of the approaches used in the publications. In addition, we describe decisions made in obtaining the estimates that were produced. Despite variation in the 3 approaches, resulting estimates were reasonably similar; about a quarter- to a half-million birds are killed per year by colliding with wind turbines.

Impact Of Wind Energy On Bats: A Summary Of Our Current Knowledge, Cris D. Hein, Michael R. Schirmacher

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Since 2003, when it was discovered that large numbers of bats were being killed at wind turbines in the eastern United States, our understanding of the impact of wind energy development on bats has increased and consistent patterns of fatality, including seasonality and species composition have become evident. Yet, many questions remain despite the wealth of data collected across numerous post-construction monitoring studies. We synthesized the recent literature to provide an overview of our current understanding of patterns of bat fatalities at wind energy facilities in the United States and Canada. Our understanding of the impact of wind energy development …

Mitigating Wind Energy Impacts On Wildlife: Approaches For Multiple Taxa, Edward B. Arnett, Roel F. May

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Mitigating impacts of wind energy development on wildlife is important for conservation and public acceptance of this energy source. We provide an overview of approaches to mitigate impacts of onshore wind energy development on wildlife, following steps in the mitigation hierarchy, including avoidance, minimization, and compensatory mitigation. Planning and avoiding predicted high-risk areas is fundamental to reduce impacts on birds and bats. Contrary to avoidance, once facilities are built, options to minimize impacts need to be tailored to species at the specifc site, and can be limited especially for bats. Curtailing wind turbine operations is the only approach proven effective …