Digital Commons Network^™

Germ Cell-Depleted Ovaries Improve Metabolic Health In Post-Reproductive Mice, Kyleigh Tyler

Research on Capitol Hill

Reproductive senescence is correlated with many deleterious heath conditions. In human females, the decline of health associated with reproductive function is termed “menopause.“ One of the declining health factors is metabolism.

In order to understand how ovaries contribute to metabolic health, we further studied the structure of ovaries. Within ovaries, there are two main types of cells:

• Germ Cells (oocyte): Play a central role in reproduction (egg)
• Somatic Cells: Supporting cells for germ cells

This study aimed to understand the relationship between germ cells and somatic cells and how this relationship influenced metabolism.

Kids Killing Kids: Mental Illness, Adolescence, And Mass Murder, Levi Cragun

Research on Capitol Hill

Are rates of mental illness higher in adolescents who commit mass violence compared to other adolescents? Are rates of mental illness higher among adolescents who commit mass murder compared to adults who commit mass murder?

Molecular Relatedness Of Two Distinct Type Iv Crispr-Associated (Cas) Proteins, Matt Armbrust

Research on Capitol Hill

CRISPR-Cas systems are prokaryotic adaptive immune systems. Bacteria use CRISPR systems as a defense against foreign nucleic acid invasion such as phage infection.

Inducing Reversions Between Asexual And Sexual Reproductive Strategies In Daphnia, Alex Braeger

Research on Capitol Hill

We are testing the effects of numerous treatments (both chemical and non-chemical) on crustaceans, with the goal of controlling the male to female ratio and the method of reproduction they use (sexual or asexual).

Assessing Speech & Swallowing Therapy Needs Of Childhood Cancer Survivors, Kierstin Dewey

Research on Capitol Hill

Approximately 420,000 childhood cancer survivors are currently living in the United States. The rise in survival rates makes the need for professionals to help improve quality of life for pediatric cancer survivors a high priority.

Speech and swallowing can be largely impacted In children receiving radiation therapy for cancers of the head, neck, or brain (hereafter referred to as HNBC). Cancer tumors themselves, as well as cancer treatments, cause acute and long-term side effects that cause pain, restricted range of motion, and decrease in overall function of the structures necessary to communicate, eat, and drink.

To help design interventions to …

Developing A Computer Game For Measuring Delay Discounting, Haylee Downey, Ryan L. Becker

Research on Capitol Hill

Would you prefer $75 now or $100 in the future? What about an unhealthy dessert now or good health in the future? Both of these questions involve a smaller sooner reward option and a larger later reward option. These types of choices can be described in part by delay discounting.

• Delay discounting is the tendency for rewards to lose value when they are presented after a delay .
• Impulsivity is defined as a pattern of choosing smaller sooner rewards. High levels of impulsivity are associated with problematic behaviors.

High levels of impulsivity are associated with high levels of delay discounting. …

Motivations For Women’S Activism In Hydraulic Fracking, Taya Godfrey

Research on Capitol Hill

Research Question: What motivates females to become anti-fracking activists?

Hydraulic fracturing is a way of obtaining natural gas and oil from deep within the earth by injecting high powered water and chemicals into shale rock to fracture it, and therefore release natural resources (Manfreda, 2015).

We have seen much activism surrounding the issue of fracking because of the environmental and health controversies associated with it. We have also noted an increasing number of female activists and hope to determine the cause. By understanding what motivates women to become anti-fracking activist we can further encourage female activism in many other spheres. …

Between Commercial And Nonprofit: Communicating Social Business, Cassidy Gummersall

Research on Capitol Hill

Social businesses uniquely communicate their organizational purpose as a balance between a social mission and revenue generation.

The Influence Of Neighborhood Cohesion On Homelessness In Cache Valley, Utah, Madison Elliott

Research on Capitol Hill

• The 2017 Utah Point in Time Count reported that 2,852 Utah residents were identified as being homeless (Utah Housing and Community Development Division, 2017).
• There is a large gap in research that explores one’s likelihood of becoming homeless and its relation to community integration and neighborhood cohesion. Community integration can be defined through the feelings of acceptance within one’s social network(s), sharing common norms and values with those around you. (Sayer, et al., 2011) Neighborhood cohesion is the sense of shared morals and trust within a neighborhood community.
• Current bodies of knowledge in social science literature discuss other causes of …

Fake News! Russian Disinformation Targets American Cognitive Biases Through Diverse Mediums, Spencer Sproul

Research on Capitol Hill

"Fake news” is old news, but what is it and how do we combat it? The term describes disinformation, or the tactical creation and dissemination of false information.

My research seeks to combine traditional national security studies with cybersecurity and big data analytics to gain insight into the issue of “Fake news”, particularly regarding the Russian disinformation campaign leading up to and after the 2016 US presidential election.

The project consisted of analyzing both news and academic literature on this new Russian strategy. Its target is US citizens’ cognitive decision-making shortcuts. The campaign’s goal appears to be to covertly manipulate …

High Tunnel Greenhouse Produces Higher Cut Flower Yields In Utah, Maegen Lewis

Research on Capitol Hill

• Utah State University is performing research to develop management guidelines for cut flower production.
• High tunnels, simple inexpensive greenhouses, moderate temperatures. This allows cut flowers to be grown despite unfavorable conditions.
• Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) and sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus) were selected as cool season annual crops to evaluate high tunnel benefits during cool spring temperatures.
• Research will be used to develop crop management guidelines for cut flower growers in Utah.

Cultural Traits Of Salvadoran Gangs Offer Chance For U.S. To Weaken Ms-13, Hannah Penner

Research on Capitol Hill

MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) was founded by Salvadoran immigrants fleeing a harsh civil war in California during the 1980s. It became an international organization after deportation tactics in the LA barrios exported the threat to El Salvador.

Survey Of Bird/Window Collisions At Utah State University-Brigham City, Spencer Smith

Research on Capitol Hill

When birds fly at full speed into the highly reflective glass windows of human structures, death is often the outcome. This research investigates the impact of architecture on bird population through a specific case study. Bird/window collisions claim from around 350 million to over 1 billion birds per year (Kahle, Flannery, & Dumbacher, 2016). Studies have shown that window surface area (Borden, Lockhart, Jones, & Lyons, 2011) can increase incidents of bird-window collisions. In 2015, Utah State University –Brigham City campus finished their new Classroom and Student Services building which features large windows and an interior tree that can be …

Environmental Insights From A Utah Pilot Study On Well-Being, Casey Trout

Research on Capitol Hill

This project focuses on the importance of the natural environment to the well-being of those surveyed during a 2018 pilot study. The pilot study marked the beginning of the Utah Well-being Project, a 5-year study to assess well-being across Utah communities.

The survey asked participants questions about their overall well-being and their well-being in relation to twelve commonly articulated “domains”, including those that are listed in Figures 1 and 2.

Establishment Of Fuel Breaks To Protect Sage-Grouse Habitat In Northwest Utah, William Price

Research on Capitol Hill

One of the largest threats to greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus ursophasianus) is habitat loss due to wildfire. Cheatgrass is an invasive annual grass that increases the frequency and severity of wildfire, creating an even larger threat to sage-grouse.

One approach to protect sage-grouse habitat is to implement fuel breaks of perennial grasses to slow the spread of wildfire. Perennial grasses are used in these fuel breaks because they stay green longer into the summer and are more resistant to the spread of fire.

The fuel breaks were implemented in Dry Basin in 2016 and Badger Flat in 2011 by …

The Art Of Seduction: Male Perceptions Of Sexual Willingness, Lisa Starrett

Research on Capitol Hill

The United States continues to have the highest sexual assault rates of any developed nation.

The vast majority of sexual assault research studies exclusively female survivors. This overlooks half of the nation’s population. To find holistic solutions, we must address both genders.

The current study addresses:

• The male experience
  Recent research shows significant numbers of men react with shock, guilt, shame, and depression when confronted with sexual assault charges. This opens questions of intent.
• Confirmation bias & “echo chambers”
  Social media and preference tracking amplify our tendency to see information that confirms our existing worldview. This further separates genders.
• Environmental …

Drones And “Ghost Guns”: Unregulated Legal Space, Tori Bodine

Research on Capitol Hill

Law enforcement agencies are fighting a two - pronged battle when it comes to emerging technologies: keeping up with new ways criminals are using technology and developing effective ways to combat these innovations, while balancing these challenges against preserving the individual liberties of law - abiding citizens. This conflict is especially apparent with regard to criminal use of commercial drones and the developing fringe market surrounding homemade untraceable firearms (“ghost guns”).

Fermentation Of Prebiotics In Whole Food Powders By Probiotic Bacteria Strains, Michaela Brubaker, Sumira Phatak

Research on Capitol Hill

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Modification of the gut microbiome offers potential for CRC prevention.

Building The Medieval Trebuchet: Assembling A Half-Scale Historical Machine, Daniel Bertrand

Research on Capitol Hill

In the Middle Ages, armies built trebuchets to destroy enemy castles. The trebuchet is a type of catapult that uses a falling counterweight to throw projectiles.

Many trebuchets were huge machines over 60 feet tall and their construction was complex. The methods used to erect a trebuchet in history are not widely known.

My Research Question: How were trebuchets designed and assembled in the Middle Ages?

Through experimental history, I used primary sources to design a trebuchet. This machine is half-scale: 30 feet tall.

I built this trebuchet with medieval techniques, assembled it with an ancient type of crane hoist, …