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8. Developing a Framework and Multidimensional Evidence Matrix for Evaluating and Documenting Teaching Excellence at a Research-Intensive University
No full textOn 19 August 2021, the Australian city of Melbourne marked an unenviable milestone: its citizens had recorded their 200th day enduring one of the longest and most arduous global lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
10. The Language of Teaching Excellence: Describing Pedagogical Expertise Through a Framework of Care
No full textDuring my 20 years of college-level teaching, I have engaged in countless conversations where instructors communicate their passion for teaching, their commitment to student learning, the depth of their disciplinary expertise, their continued pedagogical innovations, and their thoughtful reflective practices. Yet often these same teachers confide that they find it quite challenging (sometimes nearly impossible) to write about their teaching for promotion—not because they are not strong teachers, but because the language expectations for documenting teaching accomplishments can be formidable. For example, at my particular institution, teaching-centered instructors are specifically directed in our role statements to “demonstrate excellence” in our primary role of teaching. As the headnote indicates, this task is “not the time to be modest” (Toll, 2010, p. 116)—yet this well-meaning advice is not always easily applied. To be clear, expecting excellence in teaching is not the issue, nor is being an excellent teacher; however, explicitly stating that you are excellent can be a difficult barrier for some teachers to overcome. Many teachers have shared with me that writing a self-assessment for promotion that meets this directive of excellence feels like “boasting,” which directly contradicts their pedagogical and often personal commitments to student-centered classrooms, collaborative learning, and meaningful reflection. In some cases, teachers have expressed to me that they would almost rather not go up for their well-deserved promotion than write a narrative using the self-promoting language that they feel the university expects
The Community Justice Advocate Program
No full textMany Utahns do not meet the income requirements for free legal assistance but remain locked out of the justice system due to the exorbitant fees charged by private attorneys. In April 2020, the Utah Bar Foundation reported that in 62,000 debt collection cases, nearly 100% of plaintiffs had lawyers, compared to only 2% of defendants. Similarly, in 14,000 eviction cases, 90% of plaintiffs had lawyers, compared to only 5% of defendants. The Utah Bar Foundation estimates that 82% of the legal needs of low-income Utahns go unmet.
The Utah Supreme Court has implemented an experimental Sandbox model to upend traditional legal practice and encourage progressive attempts to innovate in the legal services market. These programs include non-lawyers, such as social workers, providing limited-scope legal services in various practice areas like debt collection, housing, and domestic violence. The Transforming Communities Institute (TCI) and community partners are designing and implementing a statewide initiative to train and certify new and existing social workers and other helping professionals to become Community Justice Advocates through a formalized non-credit university certificate program. Housed in the USU Department of Social Work and managed by TCI staff, the mission of the Community Justice Advocate (CJA) Program is to expand access to justice in Utah by training and certifying social workers and other helping professionals to deliver accessible civil legal services. Participants will be trained to assist clients with legal issues related to consumer debt by providing legal advice and assisting with out-of-court activities within their current agencies.
The primary goal of the CJA Program is to increase access to quality legal services for underserved Utahns. The CJAP aims to train social workers and other human service providers in Utah as alternative legal providers to help close Utah’s access to justice gap. TCI, in partnership with social workers and licensed attorneys, is currently developing a course that will train prospective CJAs to offer limited scope legal services to consumer debtors. This poster presentation will explain the CJA Program’s community-engaged research, planning, and implementation
The Dynamic Responses of the Mouse Gut Microbiome to Dietary Supplementation with Various Anthocyanin-Rich Foods in the Context of a Western Diet
No full textBackground/Objectives: Chronic inflammation and Western-style diets elevate colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, particularly in individuals with colitis, a feature of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Diets rich in polyphenol-containing functional foods, such as cocoa, may reduce gut inflammation and modulate the gut microbiome. This study examined the effects of cocoa polyphenol (CP) supplementation on inflammation and microbiome composition before, during, and after colitis in mice fed either a healthy or Western diet. We hypothesized that CPs would attenuate inflammation and promote distinct micro-biome shifts, especially in the context of a Western diet. Methods: A 2×2 factorial design tested the effects of basal diet (AIN93G vs. total Western diet [TWD]) and CP supple-mentation (2.6% w/w CocoaVia™ Cardio Health Powder). Inflammation was induced using the AOM/DSS model of colitis. Results: CP supplementation did not reduce colitis severity as measured by disease activity index or histopathology. CPs did not alter gene expression in healthy tissue or suppress the colitis-associated pro-inflammatory transcriptional profile in either diet group. However, fecal microbiome composition shifted significantly with CPs prior to colitis induction, with persistent effects on several rare taxa during colitis and recovery. Conclusions: CP supplementation did not mitigate inflammation or mucosal injury at the tissue level, nor did it affect immune-related gene expression. While CPs altered microbiome composition, most notably in healthy mice before colitis, these shifts did not correspond to changes in inflammatory signaling. Basal diet remained the primary determinant of inflammation, mucosal damage, and colitis severity in this model
Establishing Methods for In Vitro Static Culture of Gut Microbiomes for Nutritional Intervention Studies
No full textLipid oxidation products (LOPs), which form during high-heat processing of oils common in Western diets, are known to cause inflammation and cellular damage. While LOPs have been implicated in exacerbating colitis and promoting colon tumorigenesis in mouse models, their direct impact on the gut microbiome remains poorly understood. This capstone project aimed to develop a low-cost in vitro protocol to culture the mouse gut microbiome under anaerobic conditions, enabling future investigations into the direct effects of bioactive dietary compounds such as LOPs. The study also assessed whether viable microbial communities could be recovered from fecal samples stored at -80°C. Fecal inocula from fresh and frozen samples were cultured in an anaerobic Atmos bag system for 48 hours. Microbial growth was monitored by optical density, and 16S rRNA sequencing was used to assess community composition. Results indicated a significant loss in microbial diversity and a shift toward dominance by facultative anaerobes, particularly Enterobacteriaceae, within 24 hours of culture. These changes were consistent across replicates and timepoints and were likely driven by trace oxygen exposure and limitations of batch culture conditions. While the system enabled microbial growth, limitations in maintaining strict anaerobic conditions likely contributed to reduced community diversity over time. In contrast, microbial communities from fresh and frozen samples exhibited similar profiles, indicating that short-term freezing does not compromise microbiome recovery. Although the protocol did not fully preserve the complexity of a healthy gut microbiome, this study provides a valuable foundation for refining in vitro culture methods and confirms the feasibility of using archived fecal material in future experiments
Adaptation of Influenza A Virus Strains A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) and A/Shanghai/1/2013 (H7N9) for Development of Effective Mouse Models
No full textThe emergence of avian Influenza A (H7N9) virus strains in humans poses a significant threat to human health globally due to their pandemic potential, limited human immunity, and lack of virus-specific interventions. This capstone aims to address some of the limitations in antiviral research regarding Influenza A H7N9 virus by adapting two low-pathogenic virus strains A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) and A/Shanghai/1/2013 (H7N9) to BALB/c mice through sequential passaging through lung tissue. Following 12 serial passages, increased virulence was observed as evidenced by increased virus replication, increased weight loss, and increased mortality in infected mice. Titration of the initial non-adapted virus isolates were not lethal to mice while later infections with the mouse-adapted virus resulted in increased weight loss and mortality. The mouse models established through the adaptation of A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7N9) and A/Shanghai/1/2013 (H7N9) virus strains may serve as a valuable tool for future antiviral research and development of candidate drugs and vaccines
Untapped Potential: Many Intelligent Female Accountants are Not in the Workforce
No full textAs the shortage of accountants in the U.S. continues to increase, it is crucial to examine what barriers are keeping women from remaining in the workforce. This research project focuses on women in accounting, especially mothers, and what changes can be made so that they are more likely to continue pursuing career growth, instead of becoming stay-at-home moms. This report focuses on what barriers women in Utah’s accounting profession face when trying to get promotions while fulfilling family commitments and how their perspectives differ from those of their management. The basis of this research was done through a survey that was sent out to thousands of accounting professionals across Utah. The survey consisted of questions related to work-life balance barriers when pursuing promotions. I hypothesized that employers were not aware of all of the barriers that women face when trying to get promoted while balancing a family. I believe that the three biggest challenges they face are culture, support from their spouse, and work-life balance challenges. This research project concluded that women are more likely to stay in the workforce while having a family if the company offers flexible work hours, part-time positions, paid time off, equal promotion opportunities, and parental leave. Concerning promotions, the most valuable resource is a mentor within the organization. It would also be very helpful for companies to outline clear promotion paths for part-time employees. These findings will help employers to make changes in their companies that will create more welcoming work environments for women
The Effects of a Combined Exercise Intervention on Body Composition, GDF-15, Apelin-12, And IL-15 Among Older Korean Women According to Obesity Status
Get PDFBackground: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 16-week exercise program combining aerobic and resistance training on body composition, growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), apelin-12, and interleukin-15 (IL-15) in older Korean women according to obesity status. Methods: Participants were divided into obesity (n = 15) and normal-weight groups (n = 14). A walking exercise was performed at 60–70% heart rate reserve (RPE 13–15). The bodyweight resistance exercises were progressively intensified over 16 weeks. Analysis methods included two-way repeated measures ANOVA, ANCOVA, and paired and independent t-tests. Results: Significant main effects of time and group were observed in body weight (p \u3c 0.001), and both groups demonstrated significant within-group reductions in body mass index (BMI) (obese: p \u3c 0.001; normal-weight: p \u3c 0.05), along with significant between-group differences (p \u3c 0.001). The percentage of body fat significantly decreased over time (p \u3c 0.01) and differed between groups (p \u3c 0.001). GDF-15 exhibited a significant group × time interaction (p \u3c 0.05) and a main group effect (p \u3c 0.05). Although no statistically significant changes were observed in Apelin-12 levels, an opposite trend was identified between groups, with an increase in the obese group and a decrease in the normal-weight group. For IL-15, no significant interaction effect was found between the groups. Conclusions: The 16-week combined exercise intervention improved key markers of body composition, particularly in obese older women, and led to increased GDF-15, indicating potential metabolic benefits. While changes in apelin-12 and IL-15 were not statistically significant, the findings support the utility of combined exercise for mitigating fat accumulation and promoting healthy aging in older adults
Development of Model Predictive Control Approach for Precise De-Orbit of Nanosatellite Using Aerodynamic Drag
Get PDFSmall satellite missions in low Earth orbit (LEO) can utilize propellant-free aerodynamic drag for maneuvering, but achieving precise orbit control is challenged by non-linearities and uncertainties. This paper proposes a nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) framework designed for precise trajectory tracking under these conditions. By focusing on following a given reference path, our NMPC controller overcomes time-varying perturbations (e.g., J2, J3, J4 effects). We validated this tracking-focused approach with simulations incorporating stochastic atmospheric models. Monte Carlo analysis, using controlled de-orbiting profiles as reference trajectories, demonstrates that our NMPC system provides a powerful tool for enabling precise, propellant-free maneuvers. This work presents an effective solution for small satellite missions where following a pre-defined path with high fidelity is critical
Machine Learning for Interference Detection and Mitigation on Space Telecom Software-Defined Radio Signals
Get PDFDetecting anomalies and interference is an essential capability of contemporary flight radios and ground support equipment. The advent of software-defined radios (SDRs) has made this task feasible. These radios allow real-time monitoring and potential mitigation of interference by adjusting frequency bands. This feature is useful as spacecraft components degrade and interference from other instruments may disrupt communications. The implementation of automated anomaly detection systems on SDRs can enhance both spacecraft and ground station testing by identifying abnormal waveforms and potential interference in communication channels. First, this work investigates how machine learning compares against classical signal processing approaches for the anomaly detection task on SDR signals, when no assumptions can be made about the interference signal. By adding more realistic assumptions to the modeled signals, we show cases where classical signal processing methods start to fail in comparison to machine learning approaches. In the second part, we explore the more general problem of mitigating the anomaly by removing it from the received signal. A classical approach (independent component analysis) is shown to be effective if the problem has more receivers than signal sources. This work considers an under-determined setting, i.e., the number of receivers is less than number of sources, where deep learning has been shown to be effective in separating multiple sources from one receiver, as illustrated in the literature for audio source separation