100039 research outputs found
Sort by
Predicting Tart Cherry Stem Water Potential Using UAV Multispectral Imagery and Environmental Data via Symbolic Regression
No full textTart cherry is an important fruit crop in Utah, where irrigation is essential due to arid conditions. Precision irrigation requires reliable indicators of plant water status, and stem water potential (Ψstem), is among the most sensitive though labor-intensive and spatially limited. This study develops Ψstem estimation models using high-resolution multispectral Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery combined with meteorological and soil moisture data, applying Symbolic Regression (SR). Results show a stronger correlation between optical bands and Ψstem during the pre-harvest period. Among 85 vegetation indices, the Red Chromatic Coordinate (RCC) index performed best (R2 = 0.67). Six equations were generated for different data-availability scenarios and validated using a leave-one-tree-out (modified k-fold) approach, resulting in Ψstem estimates with R2 values ranging from 0.67 to 0.80 and root mean square errors (RMSE) ranging from 0.11 to 0.08 MPa. Notably, SR was able to produce interpretable equations that enhance model transparency and transferability. Model robustness was further confirmed using an independent dataset from a different location. To our knowledge, this is the first application of SR for Ψstem estimation, offering a scalable and interpretable tool to support irrigation management in tart cherry orchards
Using Picturebooks in Elementary School to Support Discussion, Connection, And Community Action
No full textChildren are in school to acquire knowledge, so the books they read are a significant influence on how they see themselves and others. School curricula often lack diverse voices, which may limit students’ views of themselves and how they relate to their communities. The research objective of this study was to examine the potential for fostering empathy in students, to encourage societal benefits of positive community behaviors, deepen understanding of history, and future contributions to an engaged democratic society.
The problem identified was that although much research exists discussing children’s literature and empathy, little explores whether that empathy leads to action; further, few studies use an interdisciplinary approach. This research used a framework of learning theories, critical theories (race, disability, literacy, and queer), and curriculum theory to focus on picturebooks, empathy, and action. A third-grade classroom study explored two questions: (1) How does reading and critical discussion about diverse characters in children’s literature (personal narratives) influence a student’s empathy for people with some characteristics unlike themselves? and (2) After completing a unit relating to these characters, how do students demonstrate or not demonstrate an interest in taking action/making a difference in the community?
The curriculum study featuring a variety of characters and their experiences with family, race/ethnicity, and dis/ability found that students expressed empathy across all sources of data: surveys, teacher interviews, student interviews, read-aloud transcripts, and artifacts. Students demonstrated empathy by relating experiences of picturebook characters to their own lives, and by expressing interest in and concern for these characters. Participants in the read-aloud study articulated intentions to take action to help, befriend, and speak up for others in the community.
This significant new data shows the effective use of picturebooks in classrooms and adds new information to existing research with both quantitative and qualitative methods, more empirical data collection, a wider range of subject matter, and a longer study period than previously used. It provides a practical model for schools to readily implement improved curricula with little cost for materials and training
Assessing Young Children\u27s Computational Thinking: Validation of Items and Item Design Features, And Diagnostic Approaches
No full textThe goals of this multiple-paper dissertation are to evaluate the psychometric evidence of the Computational and Spatial Thinking Assessment (CaST), designed and developed by the Coding in Kindergarten (CiK) research team (supported by NSF #1842116). In Chapter 2 (Paper 1), I evaluate the psychometric quality of the CaST assessment at the item level. The CaST has moderate item difficulty and high item discrimination, on average, with high reliability and no gender- or age-related item bias. In Chapter 3 (Paper 2), I identify seven item design features from the CaST assessment and examine their impact on item difficulty. All item design features explain a large proportion of the variance in item difficulty and successfully manipulate it. In Chapter 4 (Paper 3), I explore the feasibility of diagnostic assessment for the CaST and generate diagnostic assessment information. Among the five key CT knowledge and skills, children have mastered those related to prior knowledge for CT, whereas they have not yet mastered those related to specific CT. Further, six key mastery profiles were identified, and mastery of spatial thinking is a key factor in determining them. Overall, the findings across the three papers show that CaST is a promising assessment for educators and researchers to measure CT and support CT learning in early childhood
Effects of Subsurface-Drip-Irrigation on Alfalfa Evapotranspiration in the Intermountain West
No full textAlfalfa is one of Utah’s most important crops, but it is also the largest agricultural consumer of water. Because the state faces frequent droughts and growing pressure on limited water supplies, farmers and water managers are increasingly interested in irrigation systems that could reduce water use. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI), which delivers water directly to plant roots through buried drip lines, has shown promising results in other regions, where it often reduces water consumption and increases yield. However, little research has evaluated SDI under Utah’s unique climate, soils, and high-elevation valleys.
This study compared an SDI system with a traditional wheel-line sprinkler system in two neighboring alfalfa fields in Richmond, Utah, during the 2024 growing season. To measure crop water use (evapotranspiration, ET), the project used an eddy covariance (EC) tower, LI-710 ET sensors, and satellite-based modeling with the Two-Source Energy Balance (TSEB) approach. Together, these methods provided both detailed short-term measurements and full-season ET estimates.
Unexpectedly, the SDI field used more water than the wheel-line field. TSEB results showed seasonal ET totals of 445 mm for SDI and 410 mm for wheel-line irrigation. The SDI field also produced lower yield, the opposite of what many previous studies have found. Several factors may explain these results. The SDI field experienced stand damage during installation, leaving gaps and reducing early-season canopy cover. A likely shallow water table may have supplied extra moisture, increasing water use. Additionally, the two fields were managed by different farmers using different schedules and practices. Because of these differences, the results should be interpreted cautiously.
Based on this limited dataset, there is no evidence that SDI reduced water use or increased yield at this site. Instead, the study highlights how irrigation performance depends strongly on local soils, groundwater conditions, and management practices. More controlled, multi-year studies are needed before making statewide conclusions about SDI in Utah
Cultural Adaptation of a Single Session Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Guide for College Students in Uganda
No full textMental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and stress are common among Ugandan university students and can make it difficult for them to succeed in school or maintain well-being. However, many students do not have access to professional mental health care. Digital self-help programs can make support more available, especially when they are designed to fit the local culture and context. This project examined how an online program called ACT Guide Lite, which teaches skills from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), could be adapted for use with Ugandan college students. Students and other university community members first completed the program and then joined group discussions to share their experiences. Their feedback was analyzed using a structured framework to identify ways to make the program more relevant and user-friendly. Participants showed high engagement with ACT Guide Lite and reported that the program was helpful, acceptable, and easy to use. Only small changes were suggested, showing that the program’s stories and exercises already fit well with Uganda’s diverse languages, tribes, and cultures. Participants found the ACT metaphors and examples meaningful and easy to relate to. They also highlighted how mental-health stigma could be reduced by using more familiar terms such as stress instead of anxiety. Women reported somewhat higher distress levels than men, suggesting a need for greater attention to gender differences. Overall, the study found that ACT Guide Lite was both feasible and culturally appropriate for Ugandan students. Psychoeducation about mental health emerged as an important need but adding it directly to the program could make it too long and affect engagement. Future work should explore creative ways to provide brief, effective psychoeducation alongside self-help programs like ACT Guide Lite to address barriers to access in mental health services. This work helps make digital mental-health programs more accessible and relevant in Uganda and across sub-Saharan Africa
Creating Sustainable School and Home Gardens: Creative Ways to Store Seeds
No full textSeed saving, the practice of collecting and preserving seeds from plants (e.g., vegetables, herbs, and flowers), allows them to be planted in future seasons. It’s commonly used by home gardeners, farmers, and seed stewards. This fact sheet provides information on seed storage, cultural and historical connections, seed rematriation, creative ways to store seeds, and creative uses for seeds. Many resources are included
Game Changing Education: Empowering High School Stem Teachers to Teach Engineering Using Games
Get PDFIn response to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) released in 2013, there was a nationwide push for K-12 schools to include engineering concepts in science classrooms. However, there is an overall lack of teacher preparedness and training towards engineering topics as shown by common engineering misconceptions. To improve this issue, I initiated a qualitative study to describe the strategies and attitudes of high school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers that have implemented game-based, engineering activities into their classroom. Game-based learning is an instructional framework that utilizes game-like elements in a classroom and was used in this study because the practice helps students develop the problem solving skills required in engineering disciplines while increasing motivation. I collaborated with and supported four Utah, high school STEM teachers on implementing game-based learning strategies into their classroom to teach engineering components of the NGSS. I collected data in the form of interviews, observations, and lesson plans to analyze common themes that describe strategies and attitudes towards using game-based learning to teach engineering. I developed three themes to understand the background experiences with engineering, teaching practices, and outcomes based on the teacher’s experience. This work resulted in developing emergent connections to how teachers view themselves and connections between game-based learning classroom strategies and engineering design process elements. Strategies observed such as feedback, classroom competition, team collaborations, were used to help with understanding in the problem definition and optimization portion of the engineering design process. This work contributes to understanding strategies and attitudes towards engineering and computer science that teachers use to teach to the new NGSS standards that involve developing and implementing engineering design skills in the K-12 classroom
Adversarial Voltage Transients in Multi-Tenant FPGA Environments
Get PDFA Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a special type of computer chip that can be reconfigured to implement a nearly unlimited number of functions. Recent trends have led some companies to offer cloud-based FPGA solutions. Researchers are exploring how to properly secure multi-tenant environments where the designs from two or more customers are placed on the same FPGA with logical and spatial isolation, though multi-tenancy is not yet commercially available in cloud FPGAs. The digital circuits within an FPGA require a clock to synchronize timing within the design. The maximum speed that this clock can run at is determined by the amount of logic in a single clock cycle, quality of the silicon chip, supply voltage, and several other factors. Furthermore, if the voltage is reduced without reducing the clock speed, the device will encounter timing errors and produce erroneous outputs.
This work attempts to cause a voltage-induced timing error in a multi-tenant FPGA environment where one design is a victim AI application and the other is a malicious power plundering design intended to cause short disruptions in the supply voltage called voltage transients. This is done by dramatically increasing the power usage of the malicious design over a very short period of time. Although the power supply is capable of delivering this much power, it takes time for it to adjust to the increased demand. This brief period, where the power supply has not caught up with the demand, causes a voltage drop which can lead to timing errors if severe enough. The opposite, a voltage spike, occurs when power usage dramatically decreases
On the Multi-Modal Psychological Experience of Competence in Youth Sport
Get PDFOver the past half century, beliefs about athleticism (i.e., sport competence) have been thought of as central to motivation for youth sport. In this time, however, these competence beliefs have been narrowly studied which has limited their value in explaining youth sport participation. To expand our understanding of competence beliefs and their motivational significance in youth sport, the three studies of this dissertation tested a longstanding but understudied idea that competence beliefs encompass both judgments of, and emotions about, competence. In Study One, existing research on judgments of competence in youth sport was reviewed. This study showed that many personal and social factors are linked with judgments of competence in youth sport. In Study Two, the relationship between judgments of, and emotions about, competence in youth sport was investigated. This study showed that more positive judgments of competence were linked with more pleasant and less unpleasant emotions about competence in youth sport. In Study Three, young people\u27s judgments of, and emotions about, competence were tied to participation outcomes in youth sport. This study found that judgments of, and emotions about, competence were more closely tied to present than future participation outcomes in youth sport. Together, these studies highlight the value of treating competence beliefs as consisting of both judgments of, and emotions about, competence
Analyzing Microalgae-Bacteria Population Changes in Response to Environmental Parameters for Improved Wastewater Treatment
Get PDFMicroalgae are incredible organisms that have a variety of uses such as wastewater treatment, fertilizer, livestock feed, and bio-compound production. Microalgae require a light source and minimal nutrients space to proliferate, making them an environmentally friendly and sustainable option for such processes. The Sustainable Wastes-to-Bioproducts Engineering Center at Utah State University is developing and implementing a Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactor (RABR) to remove total nitrogen and phosphorous from the Central Valley Wastewater Reclamation Facility wastewater effluent. Harmful compounds such as nitrates and phosphates are metabolized by the microalgae and converted into useful bioproducts, resulting in a circular economy. These RABRs are being optimized to treat the expected increase in human waste from the Salt Lake valley and meet the new Environmental Protection Agency\u27s wastewater effluent guidelines. This study used a biological-based optimization approach by investigating the complex microbial-bacteria communities within the RABR biofilms.
The purpose of this study was to characterize biofilm communities in the RABR inoculum, throughout system scale-up, identify key algal constituents, and identify environmental parameters for optimal RABR operating parameters. Metagenomic amplicon sequencing of the 16S, 18S, ITS, and 23S rRNA genes was used to characterize the prokaryotic, eukaryotic, fungal, and phototrophic communities, respectively, for a well-rounded understanding of the biofilm microecosystem. Microscopy was used as a complimentary and secondary method of microalgal classification.
This study found that the CVWRF trickling filter can be used as an inoculum from May to November. At the lab-scale, the data suggested temperature can be used to modify prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities, while harvesting frequency can be used to alter phototrophic communities. At the bench-scale, polyester substratum tended to allow for higher species richness while cotton hosted a high abundance of Chlorella. A significant find was discovering that none of the communities significantly changed with scale-up suggesting long-term stability of the microalgae-bacteria populations. This study resulted in a pipeline that can be used in future research to characterize microalgae-bacteria biofilms. The workflow was successfully implemented to discover significant relationships between genera and RABR operating parameters, providing valuable data to the scientific community and a step forward to optimizing the RABR for simultaneous wastewater treatment and valuable compound production