Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Roadway Lighting On Safety In Utah, Samuel Lewis Runyan

Theses and Dissertations

A significant portion of severe crashes and severe crashes involving vulnerable road users, 29 percent and 39 percent respectively, occur at night in Utah, despite roughly only 25 percent of traffic occurring at night. Nighttime crash causes are less understood than daytime crashes as there are fewer nighttime crashes, but it is generally assumed that increasing street lighting can help mitigate these crashes. To test this assumption, the Utah Department of Transportation was interested in developing Crash Modification Factors (CMFs) specific to the state of Utah which correlate the quantity and quality of light to crash outcomes, to observe how …

Aircraft Control, Collision Avoidance, And Remote Autonomy In Scenarios With Ground Radar Information, Jaron Charles Ellingson

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) have become integral to various modern applications, including package delivery, security, medicine, and recreation. The autonomous operation of UAS significantly enhances their utility by improving performance and reducing operator workload, enabling collaborative missions such as boundary detection, border protection, and target tracking. To ensure safe integration of UAS, more work needs to be done in the areas of control, estimation, collision avoidance, path planning, hardware implementation, and autonomous practices in general. For this dissertation we chose to focus on the critical areas of control, collision avoidance, and remote autonomy. Our research is motivated by the need …

Lost, Or Found? Seeking And Preserving The Education Of Artisanal Arts, Jennie Doezie

Theses and Dissertations

Crafts and the artisanal arts have a complex relationship with art and art education. Nevertheless, hands-on crafts have an important and often overlooked contribution to visual art education. In addition to their value as cultural icons, the artisanal arts can contribute to cognitive development, emotional well-being, and mental health. The practice of a craft can balance some of the negative effects of 21st century screen culture. This thesis explores the following regarding crafts education: its value, its relationship to traditional art education, and its future potential. In addition to the traditional elements of literature review and research methodology, this thesis …

Implementing The Safe System Approach At Intersections In Utah, Ian Patrick Macgregor

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the principles and elements of the Safe System Approach, a new paradigm in roadway safety. A compendium of practice was created to determine recommendations on how to implement the Safe System Approach at intersections and observe how other jurisdictions are implementing it. Several strategies identified include the Safe Systems at Intersections (SSI) methodology, Safe System Alignment Frameworks, Vision Zero communities, incorporating the Safe System Approach into the Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP) or Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), mandating the Safe System Approach be considered in all projects, and the Organizational Safety Culture Self-Assessment. These policies do …

Barbie, Taylor Michelle Gale

Theses and Dissertations

The stereotypes placed over men and women throughout various forms of media, including film and TV, song, printed media, and even through objects like toys, have a large impact on society as a whole. Kumari and Joshi (2015) explain that media plays an important role in sharing information concerning what deems to be the fabric of contemporary culture, which can aid in changing, or perpetuating long standing societal norms. This study identifies how Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023) approaches the themes of the portrayal of women in the media through the Barbie film, examining themes such as objectification, self-objectification, and the …

Computational Study Of The Evolution Of The Grain Boundary Network During Anisotropic Grain Growth, Jose Nino

Theses and Dissertations

The grain boundary network (GBN) of polycrystalline materials changes during grain growth, affecting the material's properties. This research presents the results of fully anisotropic grain growth simulations. We perform simulations using three GB energy functions: an energy function that considers a GB's 5 degrees of freedom, the Read-Shockley model, and isotropic. We analyze the impact of these energy functions on the morphological evolution and various microstructural statistics, such as crystallographic texture and triple junction distribution. The results demonstrate that while individual grain evolution varies with GB energy function, certain microstructural statistics reach similar steady states across different models. In addition, …

"We Are All About Equality": D/Deaf Inclusivity In Little Wimmin, Ruth Ann Leber

Theses and Dissertations

Figs in Wigs integration of a British Sign Language interpreter in their performance of Little Wimmin is a compelling example of inclusive theatre for D/deaf audiences. By examining the works of foundational D/deaf studies scholars Neil Glickman and Paddy Ladd alongside the works of contemporary D/deaf scholars such as Tom Humphries, Carol Padden, and Michael Richardson we can gain valuable insight into the evolution of the D/deaf culture and identity. This paper will refer to diversity scholar Susanne Ricee when defining the difference between accommodation, access, accessibility, and inclusivity. It will explore the current advantages and limitations of D/deaf accommodations …

Rare Sugars And Dairy Ingredients: A Synergistic Pairing For The Reduction Of Food Waste And Sugar Consumption, Melinda Michelle Moss

Theses and Dissertations

In the future, sustainability in the dairy industry will require creative and scale-able solutions for better utilization of the primary solid component in milk: lactose. One promising avenue of “up-cycling” underutilized lactose is converting it to valuable rare sugars. Rare sugars like D-tagatose and D-allulose are increasing in popularity extremely quickly. D-tagatose and D-allulose are hexose sugars, D-allulose being an epimer of D-fructose and D-tagatose an isomer of D-galactose. They have excellent functional properties in food systems with clean sweetness profiles similar to sucrose. Critically, they also have excellent nutritional characteristics, such as low caloric values and low glycemic indices. …

Compliant Structures Facilitate Less Invasive And Biomechanically Improved Lumbar Spinal Implants, Daniel J. Orr

Theses and Dissertations

Implants used in lumbar spinal fusion and lumbar total disc replacement procedures have improved substantially over the years, however, the opportunity remains to improve either the adjustability, durability, motion, or minimally invasive characteristics which could aid in achieving optimal surgical outcomes. It is hypothesized that the inherent advantages of compliant mechanisms specifically Deployable Euler Spiral Connectors (DESCs) and a new mechanism known as the interior contact aided rolling element (I-CORE) are well suited for each of these applications and will be explored and utilized as the basis of these proposed designs. By addressing these challenges, the research endeavors to improve …

Sound Innovations For Biofabrication And Tissue Engineering, Mengxi Wu, Zhiteng Ma, Zhenhua Tian, Joseph Rich, Xin He, Jianping Xia, Ye He, Kaichun Yang, Shujie Yang, Kam W. Leong, Luke P. Lee, Tony Jun Huang

Faculty Publications

Advanced biofabrication techniques can create tissue-like constructs that can be applied for reconstructive surgery or as in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models for disease modeling and drug screening. While various biofabrication techniques have recently been widely reviewed in the literature, acoustics-based technologies still need to be explored. The rapidly increasing number of publications in the past two decades exploring the application of acoustic technologies highlights the tremendous potential of these technologies. In this review, we contend that acoustics-based methods can address many limitations inherent in other biofabrication techniques due to their unique advantages: noncontact manipulation, biocompatibility, deep tissue penetrability, versatility, precision …

Engaging Families Of Minoritized Bilingual Preschoolers In Designing A Family Literacy Program, Melany Hooker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative exploratory study was to include culturally and linguistically diverse minoritized parents in the design of a family literacy program. Parents of traditionally marginalized emergent bilingual Spanish-speaking preschoolers provided feedback on family literacy resources generally and specific resources from the Systematic and Engaging Early Literacy (SEEL) family literacy program, including the website, a lesson plan, and a training video. Culturally relevant pedagogy and user experience (UX) design were applied to determine what these families found accessible, instructive, and important. Feedback was collected through individual interviews and focus groups using UX design. Thematic analyses revealed five main …

Full Issue

Marriott Student Review

No abstract provided.

Reflection On The Marriott School Values, Samantha Freeman, Mckay Abbot, Julia Woolley, Kirstyn Dewsnup, Thomas Hall, Todd Lewis, Jennah Sheffield, Chad Larson, Parker Waters

Marriott Student Review

Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) is an honor society for juniors, seniors, and graduate students who have top GPA’s in their college. BYU has had a PKP chapter on campus for almost 75 years. In the Spring of 2024, PKP MSB students were given the opportunity to share their thoughts about the Marriott School Values and the impact these values have had on their lives. The following article includes excerpts from their essays.

Implementing Generative Ai In Higher Education, Braden Stephenson

Marriott Student Review

On November 30, 2022, ChatGPT was released to the public. Just days later, one of my professors scratched part of his planned lecture to explore ChatGPT as a class. We gave “Chat” a complex word problem to solve. ChatGPT got the question right and even explained how to get the answer!

The Dark Truth About Cyber Security, Jaiden Larson

Marriott Student Review

Every year, millions of people have their credentials stolen by cybercriminals. Criminals use simple techniques such as phishing to manipulate people into giving up their usernames and passwords. This can lead to major assets being compromised or stolen. Unfortunately, criminals know that many individuals reuse the same passwords or variations of the same password across many sites. Criminals use this information to test stolen passwords on other sites, which can be done on a massive scale. Such attacks can become life-threatening and destructive to many companies and individuals.

From Cog To Captain, Matthew Peery

Marriott Student Review

I recently caught up with a friend who is graduating soon with his MBA. When I asked him about his career plans, I expected to hear that he was joining the masses in corporate finance, consulting, banking, or big tech. Instead, he said the last thing I ever would have guessed.

Investigating Secondary Metabolites Of Streptomyces And Bacillus Bacteria That Inhibit Colony Growth Of Pathogenic Potato Fungi (Colletotrichum Coccodes, Pythium Ultimum), Jacob R. Henrie

Theses and Dissertations

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a crucial global food crop, yet its production is threatened by fungal pathogens such as Pythium ultimum and Colletotrichum coccodes, which cause significant yield losses and impact tuber quality. In this study, we investigated the antifungal properties of various Streptomyces and Bacillus isolates against these pathogens. The Streptomyces isolates, known for their prolific secondary metabolite production, were selected for their varying efficacy against these fungi. Despite the anticipated potential, Streptomyces isolates exhibited limited antifungal activity against Pythium ultimum and only moderate activity against Colletotrichum coccodes. In contrast, Bacillus isolates, particularly B1, demonstrated strong inhibition of C. …

Full Issue

Marriott Student Review

No abstract provided.

The Real Cost Of Tipping, Daniel Taylor

Marriott Student Review

Amidst the backdrop of inflation and a potential recession, tipping in the United States has been repeatedly scrutinized. As consumers grapple with the burden frequent tipping imposes on their finances, a pressing question emerges: can this trend be sustained indefinitely? These considerations prompt a deeper analysis of tipping and its economic impact.

It’S Time To Break Up With Work, Cody Larimer

Marriott Student Review

A recent study shows that employees are productive for only two hours and fifty-three minutes of an eight-hour workday. At first glance, three hours might not seem terrible, but this statistic demonstrates that employees are productive at work just over one-third of the time.

Full Issue

Marriott Student Review

No abstract provided.

Advancements Of A Vibration-Based Sound Power Method For Direct And Indirect Applications, Ian Charles Bacon

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation advances the Vibration-Based Sound Power (VBSP) method for measuring the sound power of vibrating structures, expanding its applicability to a wider range of geometries and acoustic environments. The research addresses limitations of traditional sound power measurement techniques by developing an alternative method that achieves near Precision (Grade 1) accuracy while maintaining feasibility for in situ testing under uncontrolled acoustic conditions. After reviewing the current VBSP method in Unit 1, Unit 2 introduces stitching techniques for Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer (SLDV) measurements, enabling accurate 3D scans and extending the method to complex geometries. Experimental validation is provided for baffled …

Biodegradable Polymeric Microspheres For Magnetically Guided Drug Delivery To Tumors, Tyler Payson Green

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the feasibility of utilizing biodegradable polymeric microspheres loaded with the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) to magnetically deliver the cancer therapeutic 5FU to a target tumor in the human body. The primary method of material loading consisted of a w/o/w double emulsion mechanism which 1) loads and protects 5FU in the inner water phase consisting of distilled water and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), 2) dispersed SPIONs in the biodegradable polymeric organic phase consisting of methylene chloride (MeCl2) for eventual magnetic transport, and 3) suspended these w/o emulsion droplets in an outer aqueous phase …

Ignis: A One-Dimensional Laminar Flame Code, Jansen P. Berryhill, Jacob K. Spinti, David O. Lignell

Faculty Publications

Laminar flame codes have an important role in combustion modeling. They can provide a fundamental understanding of flame dynamics and provide a basis for building subgrid scale models in turbulent flow simulations. This paper presents Ignis, an open-source laminar flame code with the capability to offload submodels, like soot formation and radiation, using external packages and libraries. Ignis is written in C++, is documented with Doxygen, and is available on GitHub. It contains three different flame formulations: diffusion flames, premixed flames, and laminar flamelets solved in the mixture fraction coordinate. An option to facilitate creation of a diffusion flame table …

Book Review: When Machines Become Customers, Marianna Richardson

Marriott Student Review

By Don Scheibenreif and Mark Raskino

Ready or not, AI enabled non-human customers are coming to your business. How you adapt will make or break your future.

Data Literacy: Finding Knowledge From Data, Taylor Anderson

Marriott Student Review

Data literacy is the skill to turn data into useful knowledge. This universal skill is essential in our technology driven world. Data literacy helps people make better decisions, increases innovation, and grows productivity.

Exceptional Experiences Equal Content Customers, Brenna Black

Marriott Student Review

Would you rather spend money on a designer bag or on a trip to Hawaii? According to University of Texas marketing and psychology professor Amit Kumar, “People derive more satisfaction from experiential purchases than material purchases.” Experiences carry meaning. In today’s society, people are willing to pay a significant amount of money to have a better experience. Customers are no longer satisfied with simply receiving a product or service; the process involved in receiving a product or service matters more than ever.

More Than A Cashier: Making Space For Neurodivergent Individuals In The Workplace, Abby Ebert

Marriott Student Review

Most people know someone – a friend, a sibling, a schoolmate, or otherwise – who has autism, down-syndrome, Asperger’s, or is otherwise on the spectrum. These individuals likely function mostly normal, but have an especially hard time in social situations coming off as awkward, uncomfortable, or nervous. Thinking of a friend of yours in this situation, what future do you see for them? Knowing them as individuals had you thinking of cool careers that would fit their personality – an engineer, programmer, or lawyer. However, people belonging to this demographic find themselves unemployed or in low entry-level positions, such as …

Embrace: Full Issue

Marriott Student Review

No abstract provided.

A Tour Of Lucerne Reveals The Spirit Of The Belle Epoque, Kurt Messmer

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Swiss cities such as Lucerne experienced an epochal transformation around 1900. Its medieval centre was expanded to include prestigious residential and commercial buildings, stations, postal and administrative offices, school buildings, hotels and villas. However, architecturally this modernisation bore the hallmarks of the past. Time for a virtual tour of Lucerne.