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Electromagnetic Sensor Sampling Volumes and Water Content Calibration in Coarse-Textured Porous Media Using Layered Mixing Theories
Get PDFMeasuring soil water content is crucial for various applications, such as agriculture and environmental monitoring. Scientists use sensors that rely on electromagnetic waves to estimate soil water content by measuring the dielectric of media. However, factors, including the frequency of the sensor\u27s measurements, soil particle size and distribution, and the soil\u27s electrical conductivity, can affect the dielectric measurements and, consequently, the accuracy of the water content estimation. To improve the accuracy of electromagnetic-based sensors, it is important to calibrate them properly and understand their sensing volume to ensure the use of an appropriately sized calibration container. In this study, we determined the sensing area where the electromagnetic fields form around each of nine different electromagnetic-based sensors from various manufacturers. A custom 3 dimensions-printed housing created a seal between each sensor head and the bottom of a clear calibration column in which sensors were tested using two types of media: a standard test sand (ASTM-C778) and a baked clay aggregate. Each of these materials was uniformly packed to the height of each sensor’s end-of-rod fringing distance to fully capture the permittivity of both dry and saturated media, which serves as calibration parameters. We used two simple calibration equations based on arithmetic (linear) and refractive index (curvilinear) averaging theories. Results were dependent on each sensor’s measurement frequency and on other parameters specific to each electromagnetic-based sensor under our proposed \u27wet/dry layered\u27 test conditions. The study results highlight some limitations of the method for short-rod time-domain reflectometry sensors, where reflections at the wet/dry layering interface make it difficult to interpret the waveform analysis accurately. This research contributes to the understanding of electromagnetic-based sensor calibration and sampling volume, which can help improve the accuracy of soil water content measurements in various applications
Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Maintaining Sustainable Agroecosystems
Get PDFArbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi play a crucial role in maintaining sustainable agroecosystems by forming mutualistic relationships with plant roots, improving soil health, facilitating nutrient uptake, and enhancing resilience to abiotic stresses. The mutualistic relationship between AM fungi and plants promotes a balanced microbial community and improves soil structure by forming stable soil aggregates. Additionally, AM fungi can lower the adverse effects of high soil phosphorus (P) while also enhancing plant tolerance to drought, salinity, and heavy metal toxicity through osmotic regulation and antioxidant production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi also support beneficial microorganisms, such as potassium (K)-solubilizing microbes and nitrogen (N)-transforming bacteria, which enhance the nutrient dynamics in soil. However, intensive agricultural practices, including heavy tillage and continuous monoculture, disrupt AM fungal networks and reduce microbial diversity, impairing their effectiveness. Adopting conservation practices such as reduced tillage, crop rotation, and organic amendments supports AM fungal growth. Incorporating mycorrhizal crops and utilizing native fungal inoculants can enhance AM fungal colonization and plant growth. These strategies collectively bolster soil health, crop productivity, and resilience, offering a promising solution to the environmental and agricultural challenges posed by intensive farming. By promoting AM fungi growth and colonization, agroecosystems can achieve long-term productivity and increased sustainability
Long-Term Spatiotemporal Analysis of Crop Water Supply–Demand Relationship in Response to Climate Change and Vegetation Greening in Sanjiang Plain, China
Get PDFThe Sanjiang Plain (SJP) in Northeast China, a crucial black soil region, serves as a quintessential example of a high-intensity agricultural development zone and stands as China\u27s largest commercial grain production base. In the context of global climate change, pronounced global warming and increased vegetation greening are expected to significantly impact the agricultural water resource supply and its alignment with crop water requirements in the SJP. This study assesses how climate change and vegetation greening affect the crop water supply–demand relationship in the SJP, addressing the critical question of whether natural precipitation can sustain regional agricultural development. Using the extensively validated ESSI-3 distributed hydrological model, integrated with reanalysis and multi-source satellite data, we analyzed data from 1982 to 2018. The results indicate a statistically significant rise in the regional temperature and leaf area index (p \u3c 0.05), with a notable shift around 2000. Key findings include (1) an increase in crop irrigation water requirements (IWR) post-2000, with significant spatial variation; the central and western regions experienced the highest increases, while the eastern region saw reduced risk to crop water security. Furthermore, (2) climate change accounted for approximately 37.9% of the increased IWR in central and western regions, with vegetation greening contributing about 21.2%. Conversely, in the eastern region, vegetation dynamics had a more pronounced effect (28.6%), while climate change contributed less (12.3%). These results suggest a shift in crop water deficit risk boundaries toward the east and north. To optimize water use, expanding high-water-demand crops in the eastern regions and reducing their cultivation in the west is recommended, enhancing alignment between natural precipitation and crop water needs
Aerobic Biodegradation of Algae-Derived Bioplastics Under Controlled Composting Conditions
Get PDFPlastics are versatile polymers that have become critically important materials in many industries. Although plastics are important and useful materials, they account for vast amounts of environmental pollution and climate change contribution. Sustainable bioproducts are becoming increasingly important in the effort to mitigate the impacts of pollution and climate change. The scale of environmental damage caused by plastic pollution highlights the need to implement sustainably sourced biodegradable plastics within the global economy. Bioplastics are materials that may be manufactured from biological materials or can biodegrade under certain conditions. Algae are microorganisms that can be grown using nutrient-rich municipal wastewater; the algae can be used to make bioplastics.
Algix, a company based in Meridian, Mississippi, specializes in manufacturing bioplastic products from algae. Algix manufactures bioplastics for many products, including shoes and agricultural mulch films. The Sustainable Waste-to-Bioproducts Engineering Center in Logan, Utah has partnered with Algix and Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility in Salt Lake City, Utah to create a bioplastic using algae grown during a wastewater treatment process. However, Algix has not quantified the biodegradation characteristics of this bioplastic.
The purpose of this research is to generate, analyze, and present data concerning the biodegradation of these algae-based bioplastics under composting conditions. In this experiment, bioplastic samples were exposed to a laboratory-scale aerobic composting process for 45 days. The carbon dioxide produced from the biodegradation process was used to measure the biodegradation of the samples. The bioplastic samples were also exposed to industrial-scale aerobic composting conditions for 12 weeks at Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility; in this test, the compost was processed through a sieve to capture remnants of the samples, which were weighed to measure their biodegradation. Under laboratory conditions, approximately 13% of the bioplastic degraded; under industrial-scale conditions, thin-film samples of the plastics completely disintegrated after 12 weeks of aerobic composting. This research will assist in quantifying the biodegradation characteristics of algae-based bioplastics in laboratory-scale and industrial-scale conditions. Furthermore, this research will assist in the integration of renewable and carbon-neutral materials into society
An Evaluation of the Horse Powered Reading® Retreat Program
No full textHorse Powered Reading® (HPR) is an equine-assisted learning program that integrates social-emotional learning with literacy skills for K -12 students. Utah State University (USU) Extension faculty held a one-day retreat to pilot the HPR program with children aged 5–17. Evaluation results showed improvements in youth’s reading skills, self-efficacy, and emotional well-being
Give Your Data a Glow-Up: Data Visualization With Tableau for Non-Programmers
No full textA well-designed data visualization can be a huge boost in effectively communicating your research findings. Tableau is the most popular, most powerful software for creating custom visualizations from complex datasets without requiring coding skills. This hands-on workshop will walk you through the basics of getting your data loaded into Tableau, choosing the right chart or graph type to best show off your findings, and customizing the results to look professional and aesthetically pleasing
Education Policy Committee Minutes February 6, 2025
Get PDFApproval of Minutes Subcommittee Reports Curriculum Subcommittee Academic Standards Subcommittee General Education Subcommittee Other Business Adjourn: 3:36 p
Self-Perception as a Predictor of Eating Disorder Severity in a Residential Sample of Women and Girls With Eating Disorders
No full textEating disorders are serious mental health conditions with significant negative health outcomes, high mortality rates, and comorbid mental health conditions. Despite many available interventions for eating disorders, treatment remains challenging due to the difficulty in maintaining treatment gains. Understanding effective treatment processes is crucial. This study aimed to examine the role of self-perception components in predicting eating disorder severity in a residential sample of women and girls. Participants (N = 175) completed measures assessing eating disorder severity, self-kindness, self-judgment, and self-esteem at admission. Correlational analyses and structural equation modeling were used to explore these relationships. Results indicated that self-judgment and self-esteem were significant predictors of eating disorder severity, while self-kindness was not. These findings highlight the importance of targeting self-judgment and self-esteem in treating eating disorders, suggesting potential areas for therapeutic focus to improve treatment outcomes. Further research is needed to refine transdiagnostic interventions for eating disorders and explore their efficacy across clinical settings
Fact Sheet for Parents: What to Know About ZYN Nicotine Pouches
Get PDFThis fact sheet provides information about ZYN, which is a nicotine pouch becoming commonly used among youth due to social media advertising. This fact sheet will help parents understand the impact of ZYN pouches and approaches to monitor, prevent, and address use among youth
Urban Coyotes as a Source of Conflict with Humans: An Evaluation of Common Management Practices
Get PDFWildlife often serves as a catalyst for conflict among stakeholders. Management actions that are intended to address sources of disagreement may initiate additional conflict. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Human–Wildlife Conflict Working Group initiated an effort to identify management actions commonly used to address unwanted coyote (Canis latrans) interactions within urban environments and identify the benefits and challenges associated with each action. Challenges with coyotes in urban environments include aggressive behavior toward humans and pets, attacks, disease exposure, and domestic livestock damage. Although elimination of all attractants would prove preventative in most instances, in practice this can be difficult. Actions evaluated include modifying human behavior, modifying coyote behavior, modifying public expectations, mitigating attractants, modifying urban habitats, exclusion, hazing, trapping (with and without relocation), sterilization, and shooting. Although specific approaches differ in financial cost, human resource investment, public acceptance, and efficacy, management agencies and municipalities must work together to determine what actions are best suited for their individual situations based on environmental, regulatory, and public sideboards.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/hwi_monographs/1004/thumbnail.jp