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Paraeducators, A Valuable Support in Special Education: A Mixed Methods Exploration of Paraeducator Barriers to Professional Development and Self-Efficacy
Get PDFParaeducators are an important part of the school system and vital to the success of students with disabilities. Often, they face many barriers and challenges in getting the necessary training to be confident and effective. This study examines the barriers paraeducators face such as, cost, lack of employer support, and training that are not relevant, along with the challenges the state level offices of education face providing training to paraeducators. From surveying 108 paraeducators from ten states and interviewing state education professionals from four states, the research identified financial barriers as a challenge for paraeducators, matching challenges such as lack of funding for the state offices to support training paraeducators. The findings of this study can assist schools, state offices, and policy makers build effective professional development and support systems for paraeducators to be effectively trained to provide high quality services for students with special needs
Supplementing Tannins to Increase Performance and Reduce Methane Emissions in Cows Grazing on Western Grasslands
Get PDFCattle grazing on U.S. rangelands often rely on a limited diet made up mostly of grasses. As the seasons change from spring to fall, the nutritional quality of these grasses declines, leading to less efficient digestion and higher production of methane—a potent greenhouse gas. In addition, most grass-based pastures lack beneficial plant compounds, such as tannins.
This study explored whether adding natural tannins—specifically, condensed and hydrolyzable tannins from quebracho and chestnut trees—to the diet of grazing cattle could improve how the use efficiency of nutrients and reducing methane emissions from cattle. Over two years, 24 cow-calf pairs grazed in small grass pastures, with half receiving a daily feed supplement that included tannins. We measured forage quality, weight gain, methane emissions, and nitrogen excretion in the cows to assess the overall impact of the tannin supplement on cattle health and environmental outcomes. Cows that received tannins had lower levels of blood urea nitrogen and tended to excrete less nitrogen in their urine, suggesting they were using dietary protein more efficiently. This finding is important because nitrogen from urine can contribute to environmental pollution. Although the differences in methane emissions were not statistically significant, cows given tannins consistently produced less methane throughout the study. By the final phase, their emissions were nearly 20% lower than those of cows that did not receive tannins. Cows and calves supplemented with tannins showed consistent trends of improved weight performance relative to non-supplemented animals, aligning with favorable effects on nitrogen use and reduced methane emissions. These results suggest that adding natural plant compounds, like tannins, to the diets of grazing cattle could help reduce the environmental footprint of beef production, especially by improving nitrogen efficiency and potentially lowering greenhouse gas emissions during the cow-calf stage
Water Conservation Strategies for Growing Ornamental Plants in Utah Landscapes
Get PDFWhen early pioneers settled in Utah, they faced challenges living in a dry region with limited water. They built dams, canals, and irrigation systems by working together as a community to manage their water needs. However, adoption of European landscaping methods, farming and rapidly growing population increased water need while climate change and frequent drought reduced water supply.
Today, Utah is one of the driest states and uses more water per person than most other states in the nation. If things don\u27t change, the state could run out of water by 2060. To address Utah\u27s growing water challenges, this research explored several strategies to reduce landscape water use and enhance sustainability in ornamental plant production. Specifically, we evaluated the effectiveness of commercial soil amendments under limited irrigation, investigated the use of laundry graywater as an alternative irrigation source, and assessed how fertilizer rates interact with reduced watering. We also examined the potential of spent mushroom compost as a sustainable alternative to peat moss in container plant production.
Our findings indicated that most of the commercial soil amendments we tested did not improve plant performance under water-limited conditions. Laundry graywater showed potential for landscape irrigation; however, plant response varied based on the type of detergent used. No significant effects or interactions were observed between fertilizer and irrigation rates. Although unusually high rainfall during the summer of 2023 may have confounded the results. Spent mushroom compost emerged as a promising sustainable substrate for ornamental plants.
These findings suggest that most commercial soil amendment products may offer limited benefits under drought conditions, but laundry graywater can serve as an alternative resource for landscape irrigation, and spent mushroom compost can be an alternative to peat-based production media. However, further study is needed to clearly understand the interaction between fertilizer dose and irrigation rates for landscape plants
Twisted Equivariant Matrix Factorizations
Get PDFWe introduce and study categories of twisted equivariant matrix factorizations MFαG(R, w), which are categories of matrix factorizations of a potential w over the local ring R = C[x1, . . . , xn] together with an action by a finite group G that is twisted via a 2-cocycle α. These categories provide rich examples of Z/2Z-differentially graded categories in the context of non-commutative geometry and come up naturally in the study of boundary conditions of 3d Rozansky–Witten theories. We prove that under certain assumptions on (R, w) the categories of twisted matrix factorizations MFαG(R, w) are smooth, proper and triangulated. In particular we prove that they are generated by a compact generator. Following Dyckerhoff and Polishchuk–Vaintrob, we compute the Hochschild homology and cohomology of these categories and determine explicitly all ingredients of the categorical Hirzebruch–Riemann–Roch theorem proved in [Shk13]
Apophis Cratering Experiment Mission Concept
Get PDFApophis is set to become one of the most extensively studied asteroids in history thanks to the detailed observation campaign of OSIRIS-APEX during its 2029 and 2030 extended mission to the near-Earth object, alongside Ramses which is expected to launch in 2028. To supplement those missions, we propose the Apophis Cratering Experiment (ACE), an impactor mission that leverages OSIRIS-APEX or Ramses as a dedicated observer, during and after the collision, to maximize scientific return at a low cost. In addition to providing significant science return, the mission offers a low-cost opportunity to demonstrate novel SmallSat technologies in deep space as non-critical payloads to increase the momentum transfer to the asteroid. There are several low-C3 (\u3c 5 km2/s2), ballistic transfer opportunities in 2029 and 2030 that impact Apophis at velocities of 4 to 6 km/s after the OSIRIS-APEX science campaign. At these speeds, the proposed 85 kg ACE spacecraft will create a crater 20-50 m in diameter and 2-8 m deep, far below depths explored by previous missions. At the same time, the impact is “assuredly safe” and will not increase the risk of a future Apophis-Earth encounter. This mission concept study introduces the mission objectives and ties them to high-level spacecraft and mission requirements. We present a preliminary mission design, including several options for launch periods, and one resonant transfer that offers multiple opportunities to impact Apophis. Preliminary spacecraft requirements are presented, with summaries of the subsystems and optical navigation strategy for targeting impact. The mass of ACE is driven by the primary science objectives, rather than the spacecraft subsystems. An 85 kg spacecraft is required to create a large crater and transfer a significant amount of momentum to the asteroid. Rather than flying inert ballast, this mass requirement offers an opportunity to fly a variety of SmallSat technology demonstrations in deep space at a low cost, without relying on them for mission success
Warming of the Southern Ocean During the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum: Inferences From Foraminifera at Site U1580
Get PDFThe Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, ~56 million years ago) represents an ancient episode of rapid global warming, offering critical insights into climate dynamics and the Earth\u27s response to increased greenhouse gases. This project aims to quantify the magnitude of warming across the PETM at newly recovered IODP Site U1580 (Agulhas Plateau, Southern Ocean) through the analysis of Mg/Ca and δ18O ratios of planktic foraminifera. Understanding the extent of warming at Site U1580 is crucial for comprehending past climate variability and improving future climate predictions. Site U1580 is particularly well-suited to foraminiferal geochemistry because of high carbonate content throughout the event: well-preserved foraminifers are present even in the PETM onset phase, which is typically missing from deep-sea records because of dissolution. Because of vertical sediment mixing across the Paleocene-Eocene boundary, individual foraminifera were analyzed for carbon and oxygen isotopic composition using a modified small-sample isotope-ratio mass spectrometry technique. Individual foraminifer results show two distinct populations representing pre-CIE individuals and CIE individuals. The proportion of pre-CIE vs. CIE individuals can then be used to unmix multi-shell Mg/Ca data. Combined oxygen isotope and Mg/Ca data indicate an SST warming of 5-8°C at Site U1580. A secondary result was to establish the magnitude of the carbon isotope excursion in planktic foraminifera, thereby contributing to our understanding of past climate dynamics and improving predictive models for future climate scenarios
Building Community Power Using the Principles of Mutual Aid
No full textGlobally, many communities are fragmented and struggling to have their needs met. One strategy to meet local needs is to adopt a bottom-up approach, working within communities to build power. This strategy is especially effective because it allows people to make decisions around issues impacting them directly and forge critical connections with one another. Mutual aid offers a framework for establishing power by mobilizing community members to support one another based on solidarity and reciprocal relationships, which can be adapted to many different contexts. Here, we will turn the basic principles of mutual aid into an interactive roundtable in which participants will discuss their experiences with community engagement and consider how we can work toward building community power through our engagement. Although mutual aid is not applicable in every situation, we, as practitioners, should push ourselves to adopt the core idea that we are part of the communities we serve. By approaching all conversations and actions with that basis in mind, we can forge strong connections on equal ground and not just amplify community voices, but collaborate to create spaces where all voices are valued and amplification is not needed. One of the best ways to push ourselves to go farther with our community engagement is to engage in critical, self-reflective conversations with each other, which is the goal of this roundtable discussion
The Utah Statesman, February 3, 2025
No full textWeekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/newspapers/2889/thumbnail.jp
Pollination and Essential Oil Production of \u3cem\u3eLavandula angustifolia\u3c/em\u3e Mill. (Lamiaceae)
Get PDFLavandula angustifolia Mill., lavender, is an aromatic plant in the Lamiaceae family. Lavender, which is native to the Mediterranean region but cultivated throughout the world, is an important economic plant. Several studies have investigated two aspects of this aromatic plant: (1) which pollinators, particularly bees, pollinate lavender, and (2) the composition of lavender essential oil. However, little research has been conducted to investigate how pollination affects either the yield or phytochemistry of lavender. The current study, which was conducted in North America, investigates which bee species visit lavender and how pollination affects plant chemistry, specifically the essential oil produced by lavender. Over the course of the 5-week observational period, a total of 12 species (across 10 genera) of bees were identified visiting lavender. Compared to previous studies on cultivated lavender at the same site (Mt. Nebo Botanical Farm, Mona, UT), four bee species not previously observed on lavender were identified. These included Hoplitis producta, Nomada sp., Osmia trevoris, and Megachile snowi. Pollinated lavender, compared to lavender excluded from pollinators, produced more essential oil (yield (w/w) = 1.49% vs. 1.07%), lower relative amounts of linalool (35.4% vs. 39.9%), and higher relative amounts of linalyl acetate (21.3% vs. 16.8%). The findings of this study demonstrate the ecological interactions between pollinators and lavender, and how those interactions impact phytochemistry
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Enhanced Behavior Therapy as an Intervention for Trichotillomania and Excoriation Disorder (Skin Picking): A Review
No full textAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) – enhanced behavior therapy (A-EBT) is the most empirically supported treatment for trichotillomania. The data supporting A-EBT for excoriation disorder (skin picking) is small but growing. In this paper we review the model behind A-EBT including support for targeting psychological inflexibility as well as the use of more traditional behavioral procedures to reduce non-focused behaviors. To date there are 15 studies investigating A-EBT for trichotillomania and skin picking across ages and treatment delivery methods (individual, group, telehealth, and asynchronous web-based delivery). The work has occurred by multiple research teams. Data on process of change is reviewed. Future directions and limitations are discussed