Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Seed Mix Density And Composition On Wetland Plant Community Assembly In The Great Salt Lake Watershed, Elana Feldman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Wetlands provide important ecosystem services to society but are in danger across the globe partly due to the spread of invasive species (species that harm humans, the environment, or the economy). One species, Phragmites australis, is a widespread invader across the country, including in the wetlands of the Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake. Phragmites australis spreads widely and quickly outcompetes native species. In places where P. australis has already been removed, seeding wetlands helps block P. australis from returning. Native plants’ ability to prevent invasive species from entering the community is affected by many factors, but two that …

Resilience Of Birds To Habitat Change: Identification Of Interspecific Variation In Avian Resilience And Its Possible Mechanisms, Amanda L. Hayes-Puttfarcken

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Humans have been changing landscape features that are important to birds for many years. This is a problem because 3 billion birds have been lost since 1970 and this affects our lives every day, since birds help us by pollinating our crops and controlling pests, among other services. It is critical that we understand which birds are most susceptible to a changing landscape so that we can slow their decline. Understanding birds’ resilience to these habitat changes can help wildlife managers make better informed decisions for birds living in a changing world. We looked at which bird species are present …

Revegetation Strategies For Native Wetland Plant Restoration In The Face Of Phragmites Australis Reinvasion And Hydrologic Extremes, Maddie Houde

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Reestablishing native plant communities in degraded habitats through seeding or planting ("revegetation") is a necessary step to restore ecosystems and their functions (e.g., supporting biodiversity, nutrient cycling, etc.). Globally, wetlands have suffered high rates of degradation and also experience numerous invasions. Invasive species are those that cause environmental, economic, or societal harm. Phragmites australis is a widespread invasive species that outcompetes native plants and reduces habitat diversity. Reestablishing native plant communities can limit P. australis invasion, yet effective methods to do so remain somewhat untested in wetlands. Additionally, stressful environmental conditions can increase plant mortality in revegetation efforts. In semi-arid …

Experimental Nonnative Wood Addition Enhances Instream Habitat For Native Fishes And Investigating Dryland River Alterations, Benjamin J. Miller

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The rivers of the Colorado River Basin (CRB) have been degraded by human activities such flow regulation, water overallocation, and the introduction of invasive riparian vegetation (primarily tamarisk tamarix spp. and Russian olive Elaeagnus angustifolia). These stressors have resulted in widespread habitat loss and simplification, which is a major contributor to the endangerment of native fishes in the CRB.

The objectives of this study were to 1) assess the effectiveness of enhancing native fish habitat by experimentally adding cut wood from nonnative Russian olive to the San Juan River, a highly degraded dryland river, and 2) determine the …

A Framework That Explores The Cognitive Load Of Cs1 Assignments Using Pausing Behavior, Joshua O. Urry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Pausing behavior in introductory Computer Science (CS1) courses has been related to a student’s performance in the course and could be linked to a student’s cognitive load, or assignment difficulty. Having an objective measure of the cognitive load would be beneficial to course instructors as it would help them design assignments that are not too difficult. Two studies are presented in this work. The first study uses Cognitive Load Theory and Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development as a theoretical framework to analyze pause times between keystrokes to better understand what types of assignments need more educational support than others. The …

The Influence Of Individual Strategies On Cougar Ecology: Insights From Predation, Space Use, And Reproduction, Kristin Nicole Engebretsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Carnivores are ecologically important to global ecosystems because they interact with their prey species and other carnivores in a variety of ways. Many carnivores have suffered habitat loss and persecution by humans, which has led some populations to become imperiled or locally extirpated. Despite these challenges, cougars (Puma concolor) continue to exist across North, Central, and South America. They exhibit behavioral adaptation across their wide range, thriving in terrain that ranges from temperate forests, to steppe scrub, to rainforest, to rugged deserts. Across these diverse ecosystems, cougars can successfully establish territories, hunt prey, and raise young to persist …

Informing Control Efforts For A Prolific Invasive Species: Characterizing Common Carp Spatio-Temporal Distribution And Evaluating The Impacts Of Gear Selectivity In Utah Lake, Rae Fadlovich

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Management programs that aim to reduce the consequences of invasive species are often challenged by populations that can rapidly recover from removal efforts. Selectivity, the relative impact of harvest on different size classes, can contribute to population recovery when younger fish are not effectively targeted. In Utah Lake, the location of one of the world’s largest freshwater fish control programs, managers have been attempting to control the common carp (Cyprinus carpio, hereafter “carp”) population since 2009 but efforts have been hindered by the use of selective fishing gears. I conducted a lake-wide field study to gain insights into …

Nutrient Management Of Cannabis In Controlled Environments, Julie A. Hershkowitz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Cannabis has been cultivated for millennia as a multipurpose crop for food, fiber, and medicine. Secondary metabolites called cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD) and the psychoactive Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9 THC), are responsible for the medicinal properties of cannabis. The intoxicating nature of THC resulted in legislation prohibiting the possession and production of cannabis within the United States during the 20^th century. As a result, research programs on cannabis production were halted at most institutions. In recent years, cannabis production has become widespread within the US as a result of increasing legalization. However, modern cannabis production nutrient management programs often include …

Novel Kinetic Description Of Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Characterizes Interrelated Effects Of Sample, Master Mix, And Cycle Time, David Tafur

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction fluorescent curves are influenced by the quantification method, template length, primer sequence, polymerase activity, reaction conditions, and unwanted side reactions. Interpretation of these curves depends on understanding the subjacent mechanisms by which those factors can alter the curve profile, particularly on highly diluted analytes or impure samples. However, such factors are individually described today, or their interplay is not fully developed. The present work examines the effect of primer dimer formation and extension, resource competition, template reannealing, and polymerase thermodegradation, in addition to novel descriptions of polymerase competitive inhibition, extended primer amplification, and the probability …

An Expansive Framing Intervention And Its Influence On Nursing Students' Perceptions Of Value For Mathematics, Kimberly Evagelatos Beck

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Nurses regularly use mathematics on the job, yet they often do not view their work as mathematical. This may indicate a lack of transfer from the nursing school mathematics context to nursing practice. Further, nursing students often perceive very little usefulness and relevance for learning mathematics beyond simple calculations. Expansive Framing (EF) is a theory and instructional technique that has been shown to foster transfer by establishing intercontextuality, or connections made between disparate contexts. This research explored whether creating intercontextuality created through broad framing also improved perceptions of mathematics value and transferability, and how intercontextuality functioned as the driver of …

Mapping Quaking Aspen Using Seasonal Sentinel-1 And Sentinel-2 Composite Imagery Across The Southern Rockies, Usa, Maxwell Cook, Teresa Chapman, Sarah Hart, Asha Paudel, Jennifer Balch

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen is an important deciduous tree species across interior western U.S. forests. Existing maps of aspen distribution are based on Landsat imagery and often miss small stands ( < 0.09 ha or 30 m²), which rapidly regrow when managed or following disturbance. In this study, we present methods for deriving a new regional map of aspen forests using one year of Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2) imagery in Google Earth Engine. Using observed annual phenology of aspen across the Southern Rockies and leveraging the frequent temporal resolution of S1 and S2, ecologically relevant seasonal imagery composites were developed. We derived spectral indices and …

The Utah Statesman, April 29, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Priming Through Persuasion: Towards Secure Password Behavior, Rizu Paudel, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

Users tend to create weak passwords even for the important accounts. The prior research shed light on user’s insecure password behavior, and why the interventions, including requirement specification (e.g., password composition policies) and feedback systems (e.g., password meters) fail in practice. To this end, we propose and evaluate the concept: priming-through-persuasion in the realm of secure password creation. In particular, we created visual designs, aimed at priming users about the repercussions of weak passwords before their password creation. We base our designs on two forms of persuasion methods: pathos and logos. Pathos appeals to people’s emotion in order to persuade …

“It’S Hard For Him To Make Choices Sometimes And He Needs Guidance”: Re-Orienting Parental Control For Children, Prakriti Dumaru, Hanieh Atashpanjeh, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

With access to devices and online platforms at an increasingly younger age, it is essential to protect children from potential online risks. In our studies, we particularly focused the parents who have a child under 13 years of age. To this end, deriving from developmental psychology, we base our low-fidelity prototype design (termed as ‘treatment’) on a set of design principles focusing on open communication, instilling self-regulation, and availing granularity along with designs of existing Google’s parental control as a baseline. First, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 parents to understand their perceptions, including suggestions for design improvement within our …

The Utah Statesman, April 22, 2024, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Sustainability And Drivers Of Populus Tremuloides Regeneration And Recruitment Near The Southwestern Edge Of Its Range, Connor D. Crouch, Nicholas P. Wilhelmi, Paul C. Rogers, Margaret M. Moore, Kristen M. Waring

Aspen Bibliography

Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) ecosystems are highly valued in the southwestern United States because of the ecological, economic, and aesthetic benefits they provide. Aspen has experienced extensive mortality in recent decades, and there is evidence that many areas in Arizona, United States lack adequate recruitment to replace dying overstory trees. Maintaining sustainable levels of regeneration and recruitment (i.e. juveniles) is critical for promoting aspen ecosystem resilience and adaptive capacity, but questions remain about which factors currently limit juvenile aspen and which strategies are appropriate for managing aspen in an increasingly uncertain future. To fill these critical knowledge gaps, …

Building Neuro-Inclusive Community, Strengthening Mental Health: The Autism After 21 Utah Project, Sumiko T. Martinez, Anna Smyth, Ann C. Carrick

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Over two decades of research shows strong positive relationships are a consistently powerful indicator of wellbeing and resilience. However, the U.S. Surgeon General notes that loneliness and isolation is an epidemic in the U.S., and that it is exacerbated for individuals with physical and mental disabilities as well as those with isolating economic or environmental situations. A recent review shows that many autistic adults in particular face challenges in finding the connections they want and need. They also often have compounding mental health conditions, such as depression and mental illness, lower incomes, isolating home environments due to a lack of …

Testing Resilience Of Microalgae Biofilms When Exposed To Hydrothermal Liquefaction Aqueous Phase, Davis Haag

Student Research Symposium

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a process that transforms wet biomass into a mixture of aqueous phase (AP), biochar solids, biocrude oil, and biogas.

The HTL process is not economically viable on a large scale partially because the HTL-AP is a toxic waste product with no current use.

The HTL-AQ contains high amounts of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), but also environmental toxins such as phenolic compounds. The N and P could potentially be used to grow algae if it can survive the toxins.

Rotating algal biofilm reactors (RABRs) provide a method to grow algae biomass as a biofilm on plastic …

Chemical-Mediated Mate Attraction In Clover Root Curculio; Sitona Hispidulus (F.), A Below Ground Pest, Kristin Leutgeb

Student Research Symposium

Few control options

• Registration of broad-spectrum soil fumigant insecticides discontinued
• Effective monitoring is time- and resource-intensive

Crop damage from feeding on root nodules by soil-dwelling CRC larvae

• Nodules are a symbiotic relationship between the plant and rhizobia, which provide nitrogen to the plant host
• Curculionid beetles can sense the nodules

Mating by pheromones. CRC produces contact and volatile chemicals for mating and egg laying (oviposition).

• Utilize pheromone during active mating above ground

Variable Drought Impacts On Stream Habitat Across The Northwestern Us, Sophia Withers

Student Research Symposium

The United States has been in a continuous drought since 2002. Stream quality, specifically in the context of fish habitat, depends on many variables, including vegetation quality. Drought conditions affect vegetation conditions, however it is unclear how drought conditions impact stream habitat quality for fish. Objectives for my project include:

• How does stream habitat quality relate to drought across National Forests of the Northwestern US?
• Has drought increased impacts on riparian vegetation over the past 20 years?

The Dynamic Interplay Of Self-Regulated Learning, Academic Emotions, And Cognitive Load Theory In Student Learning, Shaf Ahmed

Student Research Symposium

The Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the dynamic interaction between SRL, academic emotions, and CLT to address a significant gap in educational research, focusing on their collective impact on student learning.
• Examine the complex, bidirectional relationships among academic emotions, SRL, and CLT, considering their changes over time and across different educational contexts.
• Advance understanding of student engagement and learning outcomes by merging theoretical insights with practical strategies for educators, aiming for a comprehensive approach.
• Develop targeted educational interventions by offering a holistic perspective that integrates key psychological and cognitive factors, tailored to meet the needs of students in diverse settings. …

Effects Of Process Design And Light Quality On Biomass Growth And Nutrient Uptake In Rotating Algal Biofilm Reactors, Emily Hanson, Hayden Harrison, Colby Hamson, Shanelle Sorensen

Student Research Symposium

Goal: Produce algae, to be used as bioproducts, from wastewater containing high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous. Determine if a single-stage or a two-stage reactor has a higher algae biomass yield.

Approach: Use single-stage and two-stage reactors to conduct experiments in triplicate to determine the reactor design that leads to the highest biomass yield and nutrient uptake.

Affiliating Cultural Heritage Through Material Analysis, Lucy Mattinson

Student Research Symposium

The Utah State University Museum of Anthropology’s collection includes seven metal tipped arrows. These arrows have no documentation, notes, or additional archival information. My aim was to use material analyses to link these arrows to where they came from and learn how to preserve them for the future.

Identify And Quantify The Adverse Effects Of Plastics In Water-Soil-Plant System, Junjie Tang

Student Research Symposium

Plastic pollution has become impossible to ignore.

- Within that roughly 20-year span, we have generated 2.5bn tonnes of plastic waste and each year we produce about 380 million tonnes. More.

- Plastic waste:

(1) beaches

(2) landfills

(3) fruits and vegetables

(4) human organ

Resveratrol Supplementation In Ivm/Ivc Media For Embryo Development, Clark Riddle

Student Research Symposium

• Development of techniques to increase embryo development rates, and improvement of the quality of those embryos are two major interest points in synthetic embryology.
• Resveratrol is a antioxidative phytoalexin which has been shown to be beneficial to embryos in certain conditions by reducing oxidative stress. [1]
• Previous studies have shown that use of resveratrol in in vitro culture (IVC) media significantly increased blastocyst rate. [2]
• The aim of this study is to determine the effect of resveratrol supplementation in in vitro maturation (IVM) media in addition to IVC supplementation on cleavage rates and blastocyst rates

Searching For Commonalities In Secondary Structure Of Prmt Targets With Python Programming, Emeline Haroldsen

Student Research Symposium

PRMT is an enzyme that:

• Methylates protein targets without use of a consensus sequence
• Has implications in embryonic development, carcinogenesis, cardiac health and many other diseases^1,2,3
• Has 9 isoforms. Native PRMT1 is tetrameric (figure 1)

The mechanisms underlying PRMT target recognition and binding are unknown, limiting the study of PRMT related diseases. However: •

• Proteomics have identified thousands of PRMT targets⁴
• Commonalities in secondary structure may indicate a recognition element²
• Prior research predicted (with JPred5) a surprising proportion (20.35%) of target methylation sites within alpha helices of proteins (figure 2).

Effects On Cytokine Supplementation On Bovine Embryo Development, Pratt Griffeth

Student Research Symposium

• Artificial reproductive techniques (ARTs), such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), allow for embryo production beyond what is naturally possible.
• To conduct IVF oocytes must reach maturity via in-vitro maturation (IVM), be fertilized by IVF, and the resulting embryos cultured via in-vitro culture (IVC).
• Modifications in maturation media and culture media are often tested experimentally to increase effectiveness of ARTs.
• Researchers have found that supplementing a group of three cytokines (fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), leukemia inhibiting factor (LIF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), together known as FLI) in maturation media improved oocyte maturation in pigs and bovine cloning success.^1-2
• Our …

Wake Characteristics Of In-Phase And Out-Phase Array Of Oscillation Airfoils, Yi-Cheng Chen

Student Research Symposium

In order to solve the hydrodynamics of a school of fish using the open-source SEM solver Nek5000, an oscillating mesh is required to simulate fish oscillations and at the same time simplify the process of mesh partitioning and satisfy the limitation of nek5000 that the mesh must be quadrilateral.

Survival And Growth Of Early Stages Of Solanum Spp. After Insect Herbivory, Aj Hammond

Student Research Symposium

• Early survival and performance are key life-history traits that account for the variation in individual fitness and shapes population dynamics (Fig 1).
• The early stages of a plant’s life cycle (Fig 2a) are usually the most critical, being vulnerable to pressures such as herbivores and parasites more than later stages.
• Questions: How do natural enemies impact early survival and regrowth of plants?

Solace Space: College Students & Mental Health, Kelsey Wise

Student Research Symposium

In envisioning a safe place for college students struggling with mental health, we came up with Solace Space. It is a meditation room where students can go and feel the calming effects of Feng Shui and Light therapy to nurture students well-being. The design harmonizes elements of nature, optimizing energy flow for serenity. Soft, earthy tones and minimalistic décor create a calming ambiance. Advance light therapy fixtures simulate natural sunlight, aiding mood regulation. This intimate space becomes a sanctuary for rejuvenation. It’s holistic haven where students can explore mindfulness, find balance, and embrace the healing power of both ancient wisdom …