Digital Commons Network^™

Faculty Senate Minutes October 30, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order
• University Business
• Faculty Senate Business
• Information
• Reports
• Old Business
• New Business
• Adjourn

Surveying And Evaluating Pests And Beneficial Insects In Utah's Vegetable Production, Nick Volesky, Amelia Olds, Marion Murray

All Current Publications

The Utah State University (USU) Extension Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program conducted a season-long survey evaluating arthropod pests, plant diseases, pollinators, and other beneficials on a ¼-acre vegetable farm and adjacent pollinator habitat located in Logan, Utah. Understanding the roles of these groups on plant health and the efficacy of nonchemical pest management approaches critically impacts the sustainability of Utah’s vegetable industry. Survey findings have been used as a reference for developing video content, fact sheets, and presentations to educate Utah’s commercial and small-acreage farmers.

In Pursuit Of Indigenous Intellectual Justice: The Cultural And Health Institutional Review Boards Of The Eastern Band Of Cherokee Indians, Tj Holland, R. Turner Goins, Lisa Lefler

Journal of Indigenous Research

Since the inception of Cultural and Health Tribal institutional review boards (IRBs) for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) in 1998, formal proposals for academic research among the Tribe has averaged about 50 per year. The EBCI needed a formal process to accomplish three things: 1) review requests to protect the Tribe’s interests, 2) ensure the research was culturally appropriate and respectful, and 3) to ensure data control by the Tribe, exercising their right to intellectual sovereignty. Also, this formal review process was necessary due to receipt of federal grant funds to conduct research involving human subjects. It is …

Ozgene: To Advance Humanity – Inspire Curiosity, Maarit Patrick, Mike Dixon

Huntsman School of Business Teaching Scholarship Series

The case introduces the students to Ozgene, an Australian firm that experienced a dramatic reduction in lead time of their products because of implementation of Lean principles. The case can be used in undergraduate or graduate courses in operations management or supply chain management as an introduction to Lean principles. The case also encourages students to consider the challenges that make-to-order differ from those of make-to-stock and explore production design principles.

Data From: Root Distributions Predict Shrub-Steppe Responses To Precipitation Intensity, Andrew Kulmatiski, Karen H. Beard

Browse all Datasets

Precipitation events are becoming more intense around the world, changing the way water moves through soils and plants. Plant rooting strategies that sustain water uptake under these conditions are likely to become more abundant (e.g., shrub encroachment). Yet, it remains difficult to predict species responses to climate change because we typically do not know where active roots are located or how much water they absorb. Here, we applied a water tracer experiment to describe forb, grass, and shrub root distributions. These measurements were made in 8 m by 8 m field shelters with low or high precipitation intensity. We used …

Faculty Senate Agenda November 27, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• 3:00 Call to Order
• 3:05 University Business
• 3:20 Faculty Senate Business
• 3:35 Information
• Reports
• 3:40 Old Business
• 3:50 New Business
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Faculty Senate Committee Minutes November 27, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order - Maureen Hearns
• Approval of Minutes – October 30, 2023
• University Business - Larry Smith, Provost
• Faculty Senate Business - Maureen Hearns | John Ferguson | Grant Cardon
• Information
• Education Policies Committee – November 2, 2023 - Paul Barr
• Reports
• Old Business
• New Business
• Faculty Code 406 – Tenure Eligible Appointments (1st reading) - John Ferguson
• Adjourn: 3:56 pm

The Utah Statesman, November 27, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Non-Random Sampling Measures The Occurrence But Not The Strength Of A Textbook Trophic Cascade, Daniel R. Macnulty, Elaine M. Brice, Eric J. Larsen

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Although sampling the five tallest young aspen in a stand is useful for detecting the occurrence of any aspen recruitment, this technique overestimates the population response of aspen to wolf reintroduction. Our original conclusion that random sampling described a trophic cascade that was weaker than the one described by non-random sampling is unchanged.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of The Spontaneous Deformation And Auxetics Behavior During Tensile Test Of A Nematic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Model, Haoran Wang, Nanang Mahardika

Browse all Datasets

Nematic liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) are advanced materials known for their shape-changing capability in response to external stimuli such as heat, light and electromagnetic fields. This makes them excellent candidates for applications like soft robotics and energy harvesting. While studies on their physical behavior have shed light on the complex nonlinear mechanics of LCEs, investigations through all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations remain an underutilized avenue compared to experimental and theoretical analyses. This limited use is primarily due to the lack of well-established frameworks for conducting high-fidelity atomistic simulations of LCEs. To bridge this gap, we introduce an all-atom MD simulation …

Dynamics And Scaling Of Particle Streaks In High-Reynolds-Number Turbulent Boundary Layers, Tim Berk, Filippo Coletti

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Inertial particles in wall-bounded turbulence are known to form streaks, but experimental evidence and predictive understanding of this phenomenon is lacking, especially in regimes relevant to atmospheric flows. We carry out wind tunnel measurements to investigate this process, characterizing the transport of microscopic particles suspended in turbulent boundary layers. The friction Reynolds number Re_𝜏 = O(10⁴) allows for significant scale separation and the emergence of large-scale motions, while the range of viscous Stokes number St⁺ = 18–870 is relevant to the transport of dust and fine sand in the atmospheric surface layer. We …

Changes In Fecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites In Captive Coyotes (Canis Latrans): Influence Of Gender, Time, And Reproductive Status, Eric M. Gese, Patricia A. Terletzky, Cole A. Bleke, Erika T. Stevenson, Susannah S. French

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Reproduction is considered an energetically and physiologically demanding time in the life of an animal. Changes in physiological stress are partly reflected in changes in glucocorticoid metabolites and can be measured from fecal samples. We examined levels of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in 24 captive coyotes (Canis latrans) to investigate responses to the demands of reproduction. Using 12 pairs of coyotes (five pairs produced pups, seven pairs did not), we analyzed 633 fecal samples covering 11 biological periods (e.g., breeding, gestation, and lactation). Levels of fGCMs showed high individual variability, with females having higher fGCM levels than males. …

“...I Have My Dad, Sister, Brother, And Mom’S Password”: Unveiling Users’ Mental Models Of Security And Privacy-Preserving Tools, Prakriti Dumaru, Ankit Shrestha, Rizu Paudel, Cassity Haverkamp, Maryellen Mcclain Verdoes, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

Purpose: Security and privacy-preserving tools (for brevity, we term them as ‘security tools’ in this paper, unless otherwise specified) are designed to protect the security and privacy of people in the digital environment. However, inappropriate use of these tools can lead to unexpected consequences that are preventable. Hence, it is significant to examine why users do not understand the security tools.

Methodology: We conducted a qualitative study with 40 participants in the USA to investigate the prevalent misconceptions of people regarding security tools, their perceptions of data access, and the corresponding impact on their usage behavior and data protection strategies. …

Merging Acceptance And Commitment Therapy With Exposure Exercises To Treat Social Anxiety In A Teen, Caleb D. Farley, Michael P. Twohig

Psychology Faculty Publications

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) often develops during teenager years, and it is important to conceptualize developmentally appropriate interventions. Exposure therapy framed from a perspective of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) shows promise for decreasing pathology and increasing wellbeing. This case illustrates the process through which exposure therapy was integrated with ACT to elicit meaningful outcomes in a case of SAD with a 16-year-old female. Treatment outcomes assessed included engagement in values-based activities as well as assessments of depression, social anxiety, separation anxiety, generalized anxiety, experiential avoidance, and contextually targeted school-based wellbeing. Intervention centered on learning ACT principles through relatable metaphors …

Coyotes In The Great Basin Desert Do Not Exhibit A Spatial Response Following The Removal Of Anthropogenic Water Sources, Nadine A. Pershyn, Eric M. Gese, Erica F. Stuber, Bryan M. Kluever

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Coyote (Canis latrans) range expansion into desert ecosystems has highlighted the role of anthropogenic water sources in arid ecosystems. Despite hypotheses that additional water facilitated this expansion, previous studies reported that coyotes did not exhibit a spatial or dietary response to removal of anthropogenic water. We used GPS data to examine if coyotes responded to water removal at a finer spatial scale than previously investigated. Our integrated step selection analysis did not find evidence that coyotes adjusted their distance to water following water removal. Vegetation was an important factor in habitat selection of coyotes, with riparian and agricultural …

Geothermal Play Fairway Analysis, Part 1: Example From The Snake River Plain, Idaho, John W. Shervais, Jacob Deangelo, Jonathan M. Glen, Dennis L. Nielson, Sabodh Garg, Patrick Dobson, Erika Gasperikova, Eric Sonnenthal, Lee M. Liberty, Dennis L. Newell, Drew Siler, James P. Evans

Geosciences Faculty Publications

The Snake River Plain (SRP) volcanic province overlies the track of the Yellowstone hotspot, a thermal anomaly that extends deep into the mantle. Most of the area is underlain by a basaltic volcanic province that overlies a mid-crustal intrusive complex, which in turn provides the long-term heat flux needed to sustain geothermal systems. Previous studies have identified several known geothermal resource areas within the SRP. For the geothermal study presented herein, our goals were to: (1) adapt the methodology of Play Fairway Analysis (PFA) for geothermal exploration to create a formal basis for its application to geothermal systems, (2) assemble …

Provoking Gut-Level Reactions: A Study On Journalistic Framing During The 2020 Meatpacking Crisis, Michelle Rossi, Patrick Ferrucci

Journalism and Communication Faculty Publications

This study investigates news frames used by mainstream news media in the United States to portray the 2020 meatpacking crisis. By integrating framing and animal standpoint theory, it reveals the mechanisms that perpetuate social ignorance about daily practices within the meat industry, particularly those that exclude the perspectives of farmed animals. Through an engagement with intersectional ecofeminism and Critical Animal and Media Studies (CAMS), the investigation probes the cyclical patterns of violence inflicted upon farmed animals in the meat industry as portrayed by news outlets, a phenomenon that simultaneously impacts marginalized human communities. The inclusion of farmed animals as news …

Guide To Pivot Track Management, Matt Yost, Behnaz Molaei, R. Troy Peters, Clara Anderson, Burdette Barker, Jonathan Holt, Dustin Larsen

All Current Publications

Irrigation uniformity can be reduced by wheel track rutting because of tire slippage (Meyer & Hoffman, 1983). These impacts can result in costly repairs to equipment, including gear boxes (about $700 each) and center-drive motors (about $550 each), or hydraulic pumps and motors on certain makes of pivot. Labor and crop damage associated with freeing or repairing a pivot or caused by downtime can also be a great expense to the farmer. This guide covers different strategies for managing wheel track rutting for center pivots and lateral-move systems.

What Iron County Leaders And Residents Can Do To Strengthen The Impact Of Girls And Women In Their Area, Deborah Lin, Susan R. Madsen

All Current Publications

This fact sheet is part of a series from the Utah Women & Leadership Project. This idea sheet is based on a 2023 gathering of 33 leaders in Iron County. Girls and women face challenges unique to the area in which they live, and the goal of this gathering was to identify those barriers and determine strategies and initiatives that local leaders and residents can implement to address them. This document includes recommendations in the following areas: home and family, education, community engagement, business and economics, and culture.

Iron Deficiency In Pregnancy And Children, Brianna Kane, Stacy Bevan, Carrie Durward, Mateja R. Savoie-Roskos

All Current Publications

Meeting the proper iron recommendations is important for both children and mothers because iron is essential for growth and development. An inadequate intake of iron is the most common reason for iron deficiency. Eating appropriate amounts of iron during these stages of life is of upmost importance. Including sources of heme iron and vitamin C can help increase absorption of iron.

General Education Subcommittee Agenda 10-5-2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order – Matt Sanders
• Approval of Minutes –September 7,2023
• Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals
• New Business
• Additional Items
• Adjourn: 9:00

General Education Minutes 11-2-2023, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order – Matt Sanders
• Approval of Minutes –October 5,2023
• Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals
• New Business
• Additional Items
• Adjourn: 8:50

Herbivores Influence Biogeochemical Processes By Altering Litter Quality And Quantity In A Subarctic Wetland, Taylor Saunders, Jaron Adkins, Karen H. Beard, Trisha B. Atwood, Bonnie G. Waring

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Global change drivers that modify the quality and quantity of litter inputs to soil affect greenhouse gas fluxes, and thereby constitute a feedback to climate change. Carbon cycling in the Yukon–Kuskokwim (Y–K) River Delta, a subarctic wetland system, is influenced by landscape variations in litter quality and quantity generated by herbivores (migratory birds) that create ‘grazing lawns’ of short stature, nitrogen-rich vegetation. To identify the mechanisms by which these changes in litter inputs affect soil carbon balance, we independently manipulated qualities and quantities of litter representative of levels found in the Y–K Delta in a fully factorial microcosm experiment. We …

The Utah Statesman, November 13, 2023, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Minutes November 13, 2023, Utah State University

Faculty Senate & Faculty Senate Executive Committee

• Call to Order - Maureen Hearns
• Approval of Minutes – October 16, 2023
• University Business - Elizabeth Cantwell, President | Larry Smith, Provost
• Faculty Senate Business - Maureen Hearns | John Ferguson | Grant Cardon
• Information Educational Policies Committee – November 2, 2023 - Paul Barr
• Reports
• Old Business Faculty Code 405 (3^rd reading) - John Ferguson
• New Business Faculty Code 406 – Tenure Eligible Appointments (1^st reading) - John Ferguson
• Adjourn: 4:23 pm

Usu Army Rotc Cannon Assessment, Annalyn Jensen, Emma Sharp, Hunter Esplin, Spencer Fairbanks, Tannon Merrill

Biology Student Research

An assessment was conducted by students from the USU Industrial Hygiene Program on November 11th, 2023, to determine the noise exposure of USU Army ROTC Cadets involved in firing a 75 mm howitzer cannon at home football games. The assessment utilized personal dosimetry and sound level mapping to measure peak noise (Lzpk), average noise level (Lavg), and time-weighted average (TWA) levels. Findings indicate that two of the sampled Cadets were exposed above the Department of Defense (DOD) peak noise exposure limit and all three exceeded Lavg limits. The given recommendations include continuing the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) and …

Choral Repertoire: Promising New Directions For Music Theory Teaching, Meghan Hatfield

Music Student Research

Choirs are an integral part of music departments and schools, particularly at institutions with large choral education programs. In its standards for music education, the 2022 NASM handbook states that “Teachers should be prepared to relate their understanding of music… both in general and as related to their area(s) of specialization.” Yet despite the large number of students participating and/or specializing in choir, choral music is nearly absent from music theory textbooks. Perhaps as a result, research has shown that high school choir directors struggle with harmonic score study (Rowher et al. 2014) and, anecdotally, choir students and teachers are …

Relation Between Halogen Bond Strength And Ir And Nmr Spectroscopic Markers, Akhtam Amonov, Steve Scheiner

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty Publications

The relationship between the strength of a halogen bond (XB) and various IR and NMR spectroscopic quantities is assessed through DFT calculations. Three different Lewis acids place a Br or I atom on a phenyl ring; each is paired with a collection of N and O bases of varying electron donor power. The weakest of the XBs display a C–X bond contraction coupled with a blue shift in the associated frequency, whereas the reverse trends occur for the stronger bonds. The best correlations with the XB interaction energy are observed with the NMR shielding of the C atom directly bonded …

Senior Recital - David Jones, David Jones

All Music Department Programs

This recital is in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Bachelor of Arts in Music.

Predicting Current And Future Alfalfa Hay Prices In Seven Western States, Dillon M. Feuz, Ryan Larsen

All Current Publications

Alfalfa hay prices were analyzed in the seven western states. Utah hay prices were most closely correlated with Oregon and Washington hay prices. Corn grain, feeder cattle, and milk prices all impact alfalfa hay prices, as do the May 1 USDA hay stocks and alfalfa hay exports. Using these price relationships, an alfalfa hay pricing tool was developed to predict hay prices up to 9 months into the future.