Diffusion and utilization of scientific and technological knowledge within state and local governments: Executive summary

The requirements for technology transfer among the state and local governments are analyzed. Topics discussed include: information systems, federal funding, delivery channels, state executive programs, and state legislature requirements for scientific information

Projecting habitat of the nonbreeding Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) under various climate scenarios

Understanding a species’ range, and how it may change over time, allows researchers to develop more robust species management plans and to identify vital habitat for conservation planning. For migratory bird species, different habitats are utilized during different times of year. While a neotropical migratory species’ breeding grounds may be adequate, its wintering ground or various stopover areas may be under threat. In what is known as a carry over effect, the degradation of wintering grounds can lead to poor quality individuals in the breeding range (Rockwell et al., 2012), thus reduced fitness. The tropics are predicted to experience changes in temperature and precipitation as a result of climate change (Neelin et al., 2006). These changes may result in the decline of food resources required by migratory species wintering in the tropics. Resource rich mangrove ecosystems and riparian habitats are highly threatened by climate-induced sea level rise and storm surges (Şekercioğlu et al., 2012). The Prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is a habitat specialist that relies on the endangered mangrove forests of coastal wetlands. The effects of climate change may cause species with narrow environmental niches, such as the Prothonotary warbler, to shift their ranges to less suitable habitat (Şekercioğlu et al., 2008)

Orion GN&C Fault Management System Verification: Scope And Methodology

In order to ensure long-term ability to meet mission goals and to provide for the safety of the public, ground personnel, and any crew members, nearly all spacecraft include a fault management (FM) system. For a manned vehicle such as Orion, the safety of the crew is of paramount importance. The goal of the Orion Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) fault management system is to detect, isolate, and respond to faults before they can result in harm to the human crew or loss of the spacecraft. Verification of fault management/fault protection capability is challenging due to the large number of possible faults in a complex spacecraft, the inherent unpredictability of faults, the complexity of interactions among the various spacecraft components, and the inability to easily quantify human reactions to failure scenarios. The Orion GN&C Fault Detection, Isolation, and Recovery (FDIR) team has developed a methodology for bounding the scope of FM system verification while ensuring sufficient coverage of the failure space and providing high confidence that the fault management system meets all safety requirements. The methodology utilizes a swarm search algorithm to identify failure cases that can result in catastrophic loss of the crew or the vehicle and rare event sequential Monte Carlo to verify safety and FDIR performance requirements

Effects of habitat type and drying on Ascogregarina barretti (Eugregarinida : Lecudinidae) infection in Aedes triseritatus (Diptera : Culicidae)

The intensity and prevalence of parasitism by Ascogregarina barretti (Vavra) in aedes triseriatus (Say) did not differ between tires and tree holes in field samples taken in September 1996. There was significant variation in the intensity of parasitism among containers that was not significantly cor-related with the pH, conductivity, or temperature of the container water. In an experiment manipulating habitat drying, treatments had a significant effect on A. barretti infection of Ae. triseriatus, only during midsummer in one of two years. Containers maintained at maximal volume had the lowest prevalence of parasitism, and containers that dried out had the greatest prevalence. In this experiment, there was also a season-dependent difference in the intensity and prevalence of infection between tree holes and tires. The first larvae to reach the fourth instar in tires in the early summer had lower intensity and prevalence of infection than did larvae in tree holes during the same period. The seasonal difference in intensity of parasitism between tires and tree holes was not related to differences in pH, conductivity, and temperature

Interview and Focus Groups Analysis of Decreased Composite Benchmark Scores on Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills DIBELS from Kindergarten to First Grade Students

School districts in the state of Utah are required to use Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) as an assessment of reading ability for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The Logan City School District (LCSD) kindergarten end of year (EOY) Composite DIBELS data have been strong over the past 5 years with over 90% of students scoring at benchmark. In comparison, in each of those 5 years, first grade beginning of year (BOY) data drops considerably. LCSD is concerned with this trend because it is larger than the state trend of 13-14%, the trend is increasing, and this decrease is the biggest among all grade levels. The purpose of this study was to gather information from experts, a representative from DIBELS, and a representative from the DIBELS reporting company Amplify, in an interview; then the interview was shared along with the LCSD DIBELS data with three focus groups of administrators, kindergarten teachers, and first grade teachers, to analyze the data. The strongest hypothesis of the focus groups for the reason for the large decrease from EOY kindergarten to BOY first grade Composite data on DIBELS for LCSD students was awareness of how proficient the student performance was at benchmark. The focus groups discussed possible hypothesis and made recommendations for the district on steps to take to further study the issue. This study has brought to the attention of administrators and educators the need to analyze LCSD DIBELS data more intently and to begin to effect change moving forward

What We Owe to Nature

For my presentation, I will be discussing the aspect of nature in May Swenson\u27s poems, particularly through Swenson\u27s approach to nature, why she uses this approach, and why it is important for you and I. Through the study of selected Swenson poems, I have found that Swenson focuses on the use of ecocriticism, flat ontology, and environmental humility to deconstruct the popular romantic view of nature, and create a more relatable and understandable view that nature is us and we are nature. Through the speakers of her poems, Swenson shows us that we are not apart from the natural world - but rather part of it. This is important for you and I, because this view asks us, as humanity, to reflect upon our experience and relationship with nature. We are then pushed to explore our duty to the natural world and understand the impact we can have upon it. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 9-10 a.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/81298203941?pwd=WXZkRjhqdlZNTVlidXk3UnB1K2VtUT0

Demographics and Growth History of Whitebark Pine on Undisturbed Sites Across the Northern US Rocky Mountains

Along with fluctuating precipitation and temperatures in the form of climate change, whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) has seen a territory wide increase in mortality leading to a decline in population. While the most direct influences on whitebark pine health and mortality are mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) outbreaks, fire exclusion policies, and the spread of white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola), climate change can impact the intervals and severity of such beetle, rust, and fire disturbances, and may affect the growth and health of whitebark pine directly. The objectives of this study were to identify whitebark pine stands within the northern US Rocky Mountains exhibiting low or no impacts of beetle attack and blister rust, to document the regeneration levels and structural components of these stands, and to examine the climatic controls on radial growth of the mature whitebark pine over the last 100 years. Across the high elevation forests of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, 92 minimally disturbed stands were identified. While free of blister rust and pine beetle damage, these stands still contained a high proportion of standing dead trees (24% of standing mature trees (\u3e4.5” DBH) were dead on average). These stands also contained a high proportion of subalpine fir (on average, 14.4% of the mature tree density), but nonetheless exhibited high levels of whitebark pine regeneration (on average 1,195/acre below 4.5” DBH and 1,044/acre \u3c4.5’ in height). Tree ring growth analyses of the mature whitebark pine did not show any long-term trends, but inter-annual variations were positively correlated with growing season precipitation and negatively correlated with growing season temperatures. Tree ring indices also show that more recent radial growth rates are still within the range of variability for the 100 years sampled and do not appear to be decreasing with the increasing stress predicted by ongoing climate change. Over the same 100 years, yearly mean climate averages calculated using PRISM data attributed to the individual sites showed a range of 30.7° F for maximum temperatures, 40.2° F for minimum temperatures, and 97.03” for total precipitation

Increasing Diversity Exposure In Rural, Homogeneous Elementary Classrooms Through Picture Books

This Capstone Project examined the question: How can educators increase diversity exposure in rural, homogeneous elementary classrooms using picture books? Text sets with nine different categories of diversity were created and thirty-nine books were included for educators to use within classrooms. Using the theory of mirrors, windows, and doors for examining diversity in books guided the books to include within the text sets so that all students can see themselves represented or learn about others that are different from them. Key influences included Larrick for one of the first studies on diversity within children’s books, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center for their consistent reporting on diversity within children’s publishing, Style for introducing mirrors, windows, and doors, and Matias for addressing the whiteness of education and how teachers can be culturally responsive teachers. Diversity in children’s books has never represented the demographics of the United States, but diverse book choices are increasing since reports were published and the Cooperative Children’s Book Center have been tracking statistics