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Trace Element Contamination in Urban Soils: Testing and Management
Get PDFTrace elements, often referred to as heavy metals, naturally occur in the soil at low levels. Certain land use histories can elevate the concentrations of trace elements to levels that present health risks. Understanding which elements and soil test values may impact human or crop health is an important aspect of gardening and micro-farming, particularly in urban environments that are at increased risk of soil contamination. This fact sheet provides instructions on interpreting soil test results for trace elements through the Total Element Composition EPA 3050B Soil Test (#S19) at Utah State University Analytical Laboratory
Effects of Differing Radiation Methods on Charge Transport in Polymers
Get PDFSpacecraft charging issues are understood and mitigated through an understanding of material properties. Material properties are dynamic in the harsh environment of space. Approximations must be made to simulate the space environment in the laboratory. This paper reports on the investigation of the approximation that energy deposition causes the same aging effects in the materials regardless of the radiation source. Samples of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyether-etherketone (PEEK) were irradiated with x-rays, γ-rays, or electrons at total ionizing dose (TID) of either 2 x 104, 2 x 105, or 2 x 106 rad. Charge was then injected in each sample with an 80 keV mono-energetic electron beam. The resulting charge distribution and charge transport properties were probed via pulsed electroacoustic measurements. Samples were measured in a parallel plate capacitor configuration where they were first grounded, a DC bias was applied, and then grounded again. Measurements of the thermal and structural properties were investigated via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicate that there appear to be at lease three distinct phases of charge transport characteristics in PTFE, while PEEK showed no substantial change at these TID. Measurable differences in both the DSC and FTIR measurements were apparent for both PTFE and PEEK
Utah State University Commencement, 2024 - Blanding Campus
Get PDF2024 Commencement Ceremony for the Blanding campus of Utah State University.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/commencement/1162/thumbnail.jp
Utah State University Commencement, 2024 - Tooele Campus
Get PDF2024 Commencement Ceremony for the Tooele campus of Utah State University.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/commencement/1160/thumbnail.jp
Utah State University Commencement, 2024 - Moab Campus
Get PDF2024 Commencement Ceremony for the Moab campus of Utah State University.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/commencement/1158/thumbnail.jp
Critical Comparison of Potential Machine Learning Methods for Lightning Thermal Damage Assessment of Composite Laminates
Get PDFThe present study assesses the potential of using machine learning (ML) methods to predict the extent of lightning thermal damage in fiber-reinforced composite laminates using three supervised machine learning (SML) algorithms: (1) linear regression (LR), (2) decision tree (DT)-based, and (3) MLP models. These models were based on the 10 most significant factors that influence the severity of lightning damage, including three current waveform parameters, four material configurations, and three orthogonal electrical conductivities of each composite. All models demonstrated good performance with coefficient of determination (R2) values between 0.84 ~ 0.96. The multilayer perceptron (MLP) regression model trained with the lightning matrix damage dataset showed the most promising results (R2 \u3e 0.94). Additional hyperparameter optimization was performed to improve the prediction performance of the baseline MLP model. The hyperparameter optimization (Adam optimizer, tanh activation function, and three hidden layers with 234 neurons) slightly improved the performance of the baseline MLP model by ~0.02, but achieved faster convergence. This result suggests that the baseline MLP model trained with the lightning matrix damage dataset is sufficiently accurate and robust. This paper highlights that ML-informed regression models can serve as an efficient first pass-estimator of lightning matrix damage in composite laminates, potentially reducing the amount of extremely time-consuming and expensive laboratory-scale lightning tests or streamlining the development of complex lightning damage models for future design
Zoographics in the \u3ci\u3eJournal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior\u3c/i\u3e: Increasing Inclusion of Female Animals
No full textWe examined the zoographics, or the characteristics of nonhuman animal subjects, reported for the entirety of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB) through the most recent complete year (1958–2023). Animal sex in particular was evaluated to determine whether the lack of inclusion of female subjects in other disciplines extends to JEAB. Through systematic coding of all nonhuman empirical articles, we found consistent underreporting of most zoographics and a disproportionate use of male subjects relative to female subjects. Additionally, animal sex was commonly unreported and the inclusion of both male and female subjects was sparse. Recent years show some improvement, but greater inclusion is required. Lack of female subjects in research as well as underreporting of zoographics can generate unrepresentative results and hamper replication, generalization, and translation. We provide resources to guide future research and reporting suggestions such as equal inclusion and disaggregation of data by sex. We also clarify misunderstandings about the use of both sexes in research such as beliefs that it necessarily increases the cost of research
Bells of Ireland Cut Flower Production in Utah
Get PDFBells of Ireland, also known as shellflower, is an annual cut flower often used as greenery or as a filler. Its characteristic apple-green, bell-shaped blooms lend themselves well to both classic and modern floral designs. Considered a staple in a cut flower garden, fast-growing bells of Ireland are popular and profitable. This cut flower is also an excellent crop for early high tunnel production. Harvest can be staggered by pairing high tunnels with an unprotected summer field crop
Regular Surveys Rescue Wildlife: What a Lucky and Unlucky Individual Tsukuba Clawed Salamander
Get PDFThe Tsukuba clawed salamander (Onychodactylus tsukubaensis), native to Japan\u27s Tsukuba mountain areas, faces peril from human activities and climate change. Classified as critically endangered by both the Japanese Ministry of Environment and the IUCN Red List, limited research has been conducted since its identification as a distinct species. Monthly surveys initiated in August 2023 aimed to understand its ecology. During a December 2023 survey, a remarkable encounter unfolded: a trapped individual salamander was discovered, initially assumed dead but miraculously alive. Despite an ulcerated tail wound, the salamander\u27s survival presents a hopeful outcome for this endangered species. Uncertain of the cause, we maintain our commitment to regular surveys, believing they offer opportunities not only for research but also to rescue and safeguard wildlife, reinforcing our dedication to the conservation cause
Outcomes and Impacts of the Virtual Utah Marriage Celebration
Get PDFThe Utah Marriage Celebration is a popular annual virtual event designed to educate and entertain couples while strengthening their relationships. Participants experience improvements in their relationship skills, commitment level, and overall relationship strength. The event’s virtual format reduces common participation barriers and ensures its sustainability into the future