Digital Commons Network^™

Reburns Of High Severity Patches: Effects On Ponderosa Pine Regeneration And Plant Community Composition, Nadav Mouallem

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The area burned in high severity fire as well as the proportion of fires burning at high severity have been increasing in southwestern ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests since the 1980s. These fires often contain large patches (>100 ha) of 100% tree mortality, which are a concern as they can lead to the establishment of nonnative species and conversion to non-forest vegetation. And, with an increasing amount of fire on the landscape, high severity patches are reburning. However, information on the ecological trajectory of reburns of high-severity patches as well as the utility of remotely sensed burn severity metrics …

Understanding Ion Rejection Mechanism Of Freeze Desalination By Molecular Dynamics Simulation, Mahbuba Jannat

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study explores a method called freeze desalination, which uses the natural process of ice formation to remove salt from water at lower than freezing temperature of water, which is 235K (Freezing temperature of this water model is 249K), making it safe for potable water. Unlike traditional methods, freeze desalination can be more efficient and environmentally friendly, but how it rejects salt at the molecular level is not very clear to understand. Using molecular dynamics simulation, this research aims to uncover the details of this process. We focused on understanding how water molecules interact with salt ions during freezing. Our …

Md Simulations Of Collision Effects For A Strongly Coupled Plasma, Jawon Jo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Studying strongly coupled plasmas can be effectively accomplished using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We have developed an advanced MD simulation code that can analyze plasmas with various coupling parameters. This code employs a spherically symmetric cut-off Coulomb force verified through convergence tests by modulating the cut-off and minimum force ranges. Additionally, it incorporates a new algorithm for optimizing the initial positions of particles at a given temperature. This method maintains the temperature constant and the velocity distribution unchanged. As a result, we eliminate the unphysical initial rises and oscillations in temperature that a random distribution of positions causes. The code …

From Inbreeding To Admixture: How The Diverse Consequences Of Gene Flow Shape Evolutionary Dynamics And Population Viability, Amy L. Springer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

When Homo sapiens traveled out of Africa and interbred with the Neanderthals of Europe, human genes spread into the Neanderthal population. Likewise, genes from Neanderthals spread into the human genome—genes humans still carry to this day. The process whereby genetic material from one population is spread to another is known as gene flow. Gene flow—or the absence thereof—can have critical consequences for a population’s health and survival. On one hand, if no gene flow occurs, mating among close relatives can lead to high levels of inbreeding. Inbreeding can have devastating consequences for the health of populations, in some cases even …

Anomaly Detection On Wind Turbine Blades Using Aerial Imaging, Image Processing, And Deep Learning, Bridger Kohl Altice

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In reaction to rising global temperatures and carbon dioxide emissions, many countries are looking to use energy sources other than fossil fuels. One such source of energy is wind energy, which can be harvested by wind turbines. By rotating at high speeds, the blades of these large turbines are able to convert wind energy to kinetic energy, which is then converted to electricity usable by the power grid. Traditional methods for inspecting these turbines for damages are expensive, unsafe, and susceptible to human error. These turbines are so tall and so large that inspectors run the risk of falling from …

On The Varieties Of Religious Experience In Latter-Day Saint Temples, 1836–1940, Jared Gage Bennett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

From 1836 to the present, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have constructed and undertaken rituals in buildings called temples. In the first temple in Kirtland, Ohio, its 1836 dedication was the scene of visions and speaking in tongues, much like those the apostles had at Pentecost in Acts 2. The second temple in Nauvoo, however, had none of these, and the third set of temples built in Utah, with the first completed in 1877, again saw a number of religious experiences but of a radically different form: mainly the appearance of the spirits of …

Linking Community-Level Food Sovereignty To Subjective Wellbeing: Framing Perspectives On Food Systems In The Upper Yakima River Basin, Alexander W. Theophilus

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Food sovereignty is a framework focused on achieving a wide range of changes in food systems that yield more equitable outcomes for consumers, workers, farmers, and future generations. Food sovereignty is also believed to be an important driver of community wellbeing. However, there is limited research linking perceptions of community-level food sovereignty to subjective wellbeing. Additionally, the complex determinants of food sovereignty are not fully understood. Through two papers linking community-level food sovereignty and subjective wellbeing, I discuss the factors that influence food sovereignty and the impact of food systems on wellbeing in Washington’s upper Yakima River Basin.

In the …

Shifting Paradigms In Recreation Management: Applying Social-Ecological System Frameworks To Parks And Protected Areas, Noah Creany

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Park and protected area (PPA) recreation management is often characterized by social, ecological, and managerial dimensions. These dimensions have increasingly been conceptualized as social-ecological systems (SESs) to understand the complex interrelationships between them. Contemporary trends of increased visitation on public lands in the United States, including US National Parks, have accentuated the complex interactions between the amount of recreation use, the capacity of the setting, the quality of the visitor experience, and ecological resource conditions. These challenges of managing recreation use and understanding these interactions will be further compounded by climate change and its effects on ecosystem composition and dynamics. …

Mind-Body Bridging (Mbb) Techniques And Emotional Regulation In Political Discourse And Confidence In Political Talk, Joseph Ofori Acheampong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

In today's politically divided landscape, conversations across political lines can often provoke intense feelings of anger and anxiety, making productive dialogue difficult. This polarization not only dampens the quality of public discourse but also affects individual emotional well-being and the broader societal cohesion. This study explores a novel approach to alleviating the negative emotional effects caused by political polarization, using Mind-Body Bridging (MBB) techniques. It specifically targets emotional regulation- how we control and manage our feelings- during political discussions, without attempting to change participants' political beliefs. The study involved participants from Utah State University setting who engaged in MBB training. …

Working Together For Working Lands: Knowledge Braiding And Adaptive Capacity At The Confluence Of Rangelands, Climate Adaptation, And Watershed Stewardship, William Wesley Munger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Working lands are a mosaic that hold critical opportunities for biodiversity, rural community wellbeing, and climate change adaptation. This landscape mosaic is made up of public lands, tribal lands, and private ranches, farms, and forests. The current era of ecological restoration and climate adaptation requires engaging in working lands conservation because the most promising strategies require working across multiple ownership boundaries. This dissertation argues that supporting working lands conservation, climate adaptation, and ecological restoration is a joint venture. Building adaptive capacity for climate change involves both social and ecological components. Adaptive capacity consists of building social collaborative capacity and ecological …

Evidence For Partitioning? A Comparison Of Thermal Niche In Three Species Of Sympatric Lizards In Northeastern Utah, Kristopher B. Pedersen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Lizards actively maintain a narrow range of body temperatures through behavioral thermoregulation and microhabitat selection. Body temperature plays a critical role in many physiological processes. As a result, there is a range of body temperatures at which a lizard’s reproductive success (fitness) is maximized, known as the lizard’s thermal niche. There is strong evidence linking the available temperatures, or thermal properties of a microhabitat, to success in maintaining body temperatures within a preferred set range. Microhabitats have differing thermal properties, and so have different relative quality. Because thermal properties are limited in space and time, competition for high quality microhabitat …

The Effects Of The Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services Non-Indicated Intervention On Improving Documentation Notes, Leigha Thorum

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Human Services (PDC-HS) is an assessment used in human service settings to determine effective interventions to improve employee performance. In this study, we used the PDC-HS assessment to help find a type of training that would best improve the quality of session note documentation completed by RBTs® in an autism clinical setting. The participating RBTs® all showed an increase in documentation quality during the non-indicated intervention phase. The results suggest that the PDC-HS non-indicated intervention was effective in improving RBT® performance in completing session note documentation and further research should be conducted to study the impact of …

Filter Incidence Narrowband Infrared Spectrometer For Space-Based Methane Measurement And Plume Detection, Bruno Mattos

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Monitoring methane emissions from space is essential for reducing global warming. This dissertation introduces the Filter Incidence Narrowband Infrared Spectrometer (FINIS), a compact, lightweight instrument designed for nanosatellites to accurately measure methane emissions. FINIS uses two innovative imaging spectrometers to capture the Earth's reflected light, focusing on the strongest methane absorption feature at 1666 nm. By using tiled interference filters, each imager collects detailed spectral data, allowing precise methane detection. FINIS has been significantly improved from its prototype to its space-ready version, set to launch on the ACMES CubeSat in late 2025. The new design includes a binocular optical system …

Evaluating Bluebunch Wheatgrass Plant Materials For The Central Great Basin And Range, Mckenna Delton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Bluebunch wheatgrass is a perennial grass from North America’s Intermountain West. This area has faced many ecological disturbances, including dryland farming, wildfire, and grazing. These have led to a decline in the populations of native perennial grasses. While bluebunch used to be widespread throughout the region, it often cannot compete with some non-native grasses that are better adapted to these disturbances. Therefore, there is a demand for bluebunch wheatgrass plant materials that have undergone selection for overall better performance in restoration.

Most existing plant materials for bluebunch wheatgrass come from the Columbia Plateau region, but interest is growing in new …

Applying Implementation Supports To Professional Development To Improve Implementation Of The Caught Being Good Game, Dylan Zimmerman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Disruptive behavior in the classroom can cause challenges for both teachers and students, creating high levels of teacher stress and preventing students from accessing academic instruction. Training on evidence-based classroom management is often resource-intensive and has inconsistent impact on teacher behavior in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of professional development on paraprofessionals' treatment fidelity of the Caught Being Good Game. We used a multiple baseline design to provide a tiered model of professional development to provide the least intensive level necessary to support implementation. Results indicate that all four teachers successfully implemented most …

Reactivity On Student On-Task Behavior: An Analysis Of On-Task Operational Definitions And Observer Presence On Student Behavior, Daria G. Fuell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study examines student engagement during academic tasks, specifically investigating how the presence and type of observer affect student performance. The objective was to understand the influence of different observer conditions—no observer, an observer behind an observation window, a researcher in the session room, and a caregiver in the session room—on student behavior. Using a multi-element design, the study assessed three measures: active on-task behavior, passive on-task behavior, and academic work completion. The literature review identified a lack of recent research on how students respond to adult observers during academic tasks and highlighted the variability in definitions of engagement. To …

Functional Electrolytes Designing And Studying For Lithium Metal And Non-Aqueous Zinc Metal Batteries, Liping Zhang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Our current energy policy relies heavily on burning fossil fuels, raising serious concerns due to CO₂-related global warming. Consequently, significant progress is being made in pursuing renewable and green energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy. These renewable energies require rechargeable batteries as energy storage systems to compensate for their intermittent nature.

Over the decades, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become the dominant power sources for portable electronic devices. Current LIBs rely on graphite anodes with a limited theoretical capacity (372 mAh g^-1), which restricts their advanced applications. Li metal (Li⁰) anodes, with …

Impacts Of Anthropogenic Disturbances And Urbanization On The Behavior And Morphology Of Two Free-Living Lizard Species (Uta Stansburiana And Aspidoscelis Neotesselatus), Layne O. Sermersheim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Urbanization can alter wildlife, requiring species to adjust to anthropogenic changes via life history strategies. Reptiles are particularly vulnerable to these changes, as ectotherms directly rely on their environment to maintain their optimal homeostatic state. As urbanization changes the landscape, reptiles will have to adapt to anthropogenic change, but it is unclear what behaviors may be aiding in this adaptation and whether there are morphological tradeoffs existing to support this change. To analyze the impact of urbanization and anthropogenic disturbances on reptile behavior and morphology, I conducted three research studies on two different species – the common side-blotched lizard and …

Advancing Quantitative Approaches For Estimating Avian Population Responses To Environmental Change Using A Data-Rich Species: The American White Pelican, Aimee Michele Van Tatenhove

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Advancements in wildlife data collection technology and analysis are helping us understand how human-caused environmental change is impacting bird species. Yet data collection for many species remains challenging, and often the data are difficult to analyze. Improved methods for collecting and analyzing avian data are needed to understand how species respond to environmental change. However, before applying new methods to poorly understood species, it is crucial to test methods on well-studied species to ensure their effectiveness. The American White Pelican is a well-studied species that is ideal for testing new analysis methods. Pelicans have been studied extensively due to conservation …

The Utah State University Ambassador Program: Predictors Of Acceptance And Rural High School Representation, Mariah P. Spencer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Utah State University Ambassador Program focuses on leadership, recruitment, and service. In addition to the Logan Main Campus, there are ambassadors on the USU Eastern and Statewide Campuses. The Logan Program is the most competitive, receiving 450-700 applications each year. Selected applicants receive a scholarship of 100% tuition and fees renewable for up to four years. This study looked at what factors predict whether students are accepted into the University Ambassador Program in Logan for in-state and out-of-state first-year applicants. Factors considered included involvement in student government, school and community activities, whether the student is the first in their …

Teachers' Descriptions Of Their Professional Learning Networks And Spaces, Nathan Justis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The purpose of this study is to understand teacher professional learning through the eyes of teachers to assist them in improving their teaching and better support student learning. Teachers learn to improve their practice in many different ways and from many different sources. Researchers have studied teachers' descriptions of learning resources they value and have labeled this personal collection of resources a teacher's professional learning network (PLN). This study explored teachers' descriptions of their PLNs and closely examined what teachers do in professional learning spaces of their choosing. This study also provided teachers with an opportunity to voice what they …

Herbivore Effects On Litter Quality And Quantity And Influences On Carbon Cycling, Taylor Saunders

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Plants are responsible for a large amount of the movement of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) through terrestrial systems. One way that plants affect the movement of C and N is through plant litter inputs to soils. Plant litter highly influences processes such as soil microbial respiration and decomposition. Herbivores, such as geese in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, affect these processes by changing litter quality and quantity. These changes cause differences in soil respiration, microbial communities, and nutrient turnover. However, because geese influence litter quality, quantity, and habitat characteristics simultaneously, it is not yet clear which of these …

Dynamic Modeling Of A Nuclear Integrated Energy System With Thermal Energy Storage And Hydrogen Production, Seth J. Dana

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Historically, nuclear reactors have used water for cooling and moderating the nuclear reaction within the core. Advanced generation IV nuclear reactors currently under development are designed with different coolants which enable operation at higher temperatures. A higher operating temperature makes nuclear power suitable for co-located hydrogen production via high temperature electrolysis. Natrium, an advanced reactor design by TerraPower and GE Hitachi, combines a sodium fast reactor with molten salt thermal energy storage. The work presented in this thesis models and analyzes three Natrium systems which integrate hydrogen production with the Natrium nuclear power plant. The first two configurations focus on …

Evaluating Social Interactions As A Byproduct Of The Good Behavior Game Within An Elementary Small Group Classroom, Emma Walton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Children with Autism exhibit significantly fewer social interaction behaviors than their neurotypical peers. Much of the research around this deficit focuses on early intervention, and specialty services such as ABA intervention. The Good Behavior Game is an interdependent group contingency that has been shown to improve academic, social and appropriate behaviors in a variety of settings. This study explored the effects of the GBG on the social interactions of elementary students within special education without specifically targeting social interactions with peers through the game's rules. This study found negative (null) results, indicating that the GBG did not affect the social …

The Credit Card Behaviors And Financial Satisfaction Among Emerging Adults During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Jessica Ralphs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Using data from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), this study focused on poor credit card behaviors and financial satisfaction of emerging adults ages between 18 and 29 (N=1,944). The descriptive results show that 45.8% reported carrying over a balance in the past 12 months and 51.3% reported paying the minimum payment some months. It was also found that 28.3% reported being charged a late fee for late payment some months in the past 12 months, whereas 21.7% reported being charged an over the limit fee for exceeding their credit limit some months.

The multivariate results indicated …

Relationship Between The Physical Properties And Oil Binding Capacity Of Fats, Melissa Abigail Marsh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Fats play a significant role in shaping the characteristics of foods, influencing texture, mouthfeel, appearance, and nutritional attributes. An important property of fats is their ability to entrap liquid oil known as oil binding capacity (OBC). Poor OBC of fats frequently leads to shortened-shelf life of foods caused by quality issues due to unwanted chemical and physical changes. In natural nut butters without additives, low OBC often results in a visual oil layer forming at the surface. In filled chocolates such as truffles, pralines, and peanut butter cups this low OBC can result in unwanted textural and visual changes.

The …

Predicting Individual Hiking Trail Intensity Using Statistical Learning, Kelci Hannan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Hiking is an increasingly popular choice for people wanting to engage in recreation and physical activity. It not only offers the many benefits of exercise but also the opportunity to explore nature and to socialize. To ensure that new hikers are prepared to hike and remain safe while on the trail, knowledge of a hiking trail's difficulty is important. Trail difficulty information is sometimes available at the trailhead if the trail is well-trafficked and maintained but is nearly always available online or through a hiking-specific mobile application, such as AllTrails. Both trailhead and online sources provide only one difficulty rating …

Using Digitized Building And Weather Records To Improve The Accuracy Of Ground To Roof Snow Load Ratio Estimations, Gideon Parry

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Reliability target loads refer to the amount of accumulated snow a roof needs to be able to support to ensure that the probability of collapse is sufficiently low. Since ground snow weight, or load, is much easier to measure than roof snow load, models for roof snow loads rely on ground snow load measurements along with a statistical model that estimates roof snow retention as a ratio of the measured ground snow load. This thesis focuses on improving the roof snow retention model using data from Canadian case studies that include information about building geometry and local wind speeds. This …

Trade-Offs In Lighting For Dic Strain Measurements In Vibration-Based Fatigue Testing, Jacob R. Rigby

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Vibration based fatigue testing offers a fast and efficient method for determining the breaking point of a material. This method often uses a device, called a strain gage, to measure the deformation of a test sample at a single spot on the test sample. However, these strain gages often break before testing is complete. To overcome this premature break, a laser vibrometer is often used to measure the amount of movement or the speed of the test sample throughout the vibration test. The deformation measured by the strain gage is compared against the amount of movement or velocity of the …

Identifying Sociodemographic Group Changes In A Blended Family Relationship Education Program, Takoma R. Lindsay

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study evaluated if levels of change in mental health, conflict resolution, support, and companionship differed between sociodemographic groups who participated in a blended family relationship education program. Regarding individual mental health, females who were students improved more than non-students and those who had a bachelor’s or advanced degree improved more than those with a high school education or less. Male mental health across sociodemographic groups tended to be worse at posttest than baseline. Among couples, conflict improved more for those who were married and the female partner had a bachelor’s or advanced degree, were low income and female partners …