Digital Commons Network^™

Attitude Determination & Control Algorithms, Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Purpose

• Quick-look overview of all elements of ADCS (e.g. this control loop)
• Give references and terminology but not the complete "how-to"

An End-To-End Concatenated Cnn Attention Model For The Classification Of Lung Cancer With Xai Techniques, Fariha Haque, Mohammad Asif Hasan, Md. Abu Ismali Siddique, Tonmoy Roy, Tonmoy Kanti Shaha, Yamina Islam, Avijit Paul, Muhammad E. H. Chowdhury

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

In the field of medical imaging, deep learning (DL) techniques have made significant contributions to the detection and classification of various cancers. Identifying the precise regions in medical images containing cancerous cells plays a crucial role in the diagnostic process. Early and accurate cancer detection is essential for effective treatment and improved patient outcomes. However, manual diagnosis is labor-intensive, requiring the specialized expertise of radiologists, and the increasing number of cancer cases presents challenges in processing large volumes of image data efficiently. To address these challenges, an end-to-end concatenated Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) attention model has been proposed for automatic …

Factors Impacting The Variability Of Post-Fire Forest Regeneration In Central European Pine Plantations, Florent Jouy, Maren Schüle, Yojana Adhikari, Anja Binder, Danica Clerc, Werner Gerwin, Thilo Heinken, Thomas Raab, Frank Repmann, Susanne Rönnefarth, Marina Schirrmacher, Marie-Therese Schmehl, Jens Schröder, Pierre L. Ibisch

Aspen Bibliography

Fire is increasingly posing a risk to forests and plantations, even in the temperate latitudes of central Europe. Little is known about fire ecology in this region, and therefore, appropriate approaches for the management and reforestation of burned sites are mostly lacking. In a Scots pine plantation region in Brandenburg (northeast Germany), the early tree regeneration of two nearby areas that burned 1 year apart was investigated. We observed that 3 years after the fire events, the forest in one study area showed a relatively high regeneration with a mean density of 7765 saplings/ha, clearly dominated by European aspen (93%); …

Utah People And Environment Poll 2024/25 Descriptive Report, Jessica Schad, Sydney Fisk, Zubair Barkat

Utah People and Environment Poll (UPEP)

In spring of 2023, faculty and graduate students at Utah State University (USU) started the Utah People and Environment Poll, or UPEP, to survey adult Utah residents about their perceptions on environmental issues of importance to the state. From November 2024 to January 2025 the second iteration of the survey was conducted. While some questions remained the same, others were added to account for new interests of the team and emergent environmental issues of interest.

Shifting To A Culture Of Inclusion By Design: Applying A Mixed-Methods Approach To Advance Accessibility Of Public Health Emergency Information & Communication Technology, Jessica L. Franks, Erin Vinoski Thomas

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) experience inequities in access to timely, accurate, and understandable information and communication technology (ICT), which increases risk for public health emergency (PHE)-related health disparities and impedes opportunities to achieve optimal health. This study assessed federal COVID-19 webpage accessibility levels and explored existing knowledge of and experience with filing accessibility complaints for federal ICT among adults with IDD. Through a mixed-methods approach, we evaluated compliance with accessibility standards for 18 federal agencies’ COVID-19 webpages (study 1) and interviewed 16 adults with IDD about experiences accessing federal webpages and filing accessibility complaints (study 2). We …

Enhancing Online And Blended Course Design Through Conversations And Observations: The Role Of Stakeholders, Chris Smith, Darlene Schaefer, Geetanjali Soni, Thomas Cooper, Meghan Mcgrath

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Online course enrollment for K-12 students has increased dramatically since the early 2000s. This has resulted in promising opportunities for students with disabilities but also requires careful consideration of accessibility in course design and instructional delivery. This mixed-methods study investigated how stakeholder feedback influences the design of blended courses at North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS), a graduation pathway for students with disabilities requiring significant support. Data was collected through surveys of NCVPS online teachers and co-teachers, analysis of course history documents, and the NCVPS student registration system. Findings revealed that educators often modify course templates to accommodate diverse learning …

Optimizing Accessibility Training By Prioritizing Cognitive Needs Of Students With Disabilities, Lio Jones, Kari Goin, Megan Mcfarland

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Despite the significant enrollment of students with disabilities in higher education, research and practice rarely center the voices and leadership of these students, particularly in accessibility training efforts. This paper addresses this gap by presenting an autoethnographic study of a digital accessibility training initiative co-led by a student with multiple disabilities. Using a process that combines participatory research and first-person narrative, this study outlines the development and implementation of faculty training on accessibility that centers the experiences of a student with cognitive disabilities. We propose a new framework for understanding "dynamic disability," a concept that recognizes the complex and evolving …

Access To Idea Data By People With Disabilities, For People With Disabilities, Johan Rempel, Fred Edora

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The Rhonda Weiss Center for Accessible IDEA Data’s (Weiss Center) mission is to improve state capacity to collect, report, analyze, and use IDEA data in accessible formats for individuals with disabilities. IDEA stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. One of the ways we at the Weiss Center aim to achieve this is through the development and adoption of our Accessible Data Analysis and Publishing Tool (ADAPT). States are responsible for numerous federal reporting requirements on performance indicators related to infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities. States often have limited capacity and resources to ensure this data is fully accessible. …

Jail Based Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Matt Huntington

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

This session will cover how to create community partnerships with law enforcement and incarceration partners. The goal of our program with the Tooele County Sheriff's Office was to reduce jail recidivism and overdose by preparing individuals to safely leave the jail. Come join an interactive discussion on creating programs for high need communities through innovative partnerships.

Reaching Communities And Serving People: Assessing Utah's Legal Needs, Pamela Beatse J.D, Scotti Hill J.D, Keenan Carroll J.D., Hannah Kiely M.A

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

"Utah Legal Services (ULS) conducted a comprehensive legal needs assessment in 2024 to gather the necessary data and information to better meet its mission of providing high-quality civil legal aid without cost to people who are unable to afford legal representation or are facing disadvantages. Using the combination of an online survey, a series of focus groups throughout the Wasatch front, individual or group interviews, and several community soundboards, ULS conducted a broad, statewide survey. We connected with representatives, organizations, advocates, case managers, and leaders in the community as well as with client-eligible Utahns and ULS staff. This process allowed …

Guidance And Lessons Learned For Instructors Seeking To Add Video Creation To Their Skill Set, Wendy A. Swenson Roth

Journal on Empowering Teaching Excellence

Access the online Pressbooks version of this introduction here.

Videos have entered the classroom, whether for online asynchronous courses or as supplementary information in synchronous classes. COVID-19 accelerated the pace of online and video learning but left instructors with little time to explore the optimal use of this technology. Nonetheless, videos are here to stay, raising questions about what unique choices faculty must make when implementing them and what new skills are required as videos become additional content delivery sources. The following article provides implementation guidance and lessons learned for instructors seeking to add video creation to their skill set.

Precision Hinges For Origami Space Arrays, Jake Sutton, Trevor Carter, Davis Wing, Brooklyn Clark, Fisk Lundgreen, Spencer Magleby, Mark Stephen, Nathan Usevitch, Larry L. Howell

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Optical satellite performance improves with increased surface area, which enhances light capture and sensor input. Deployable array mechanisms allow satellites to remain compact during launch and expand in orbit. This study focuses on designing passive hinges in rigid-panel origami-based deployable satellites for optical applications. A novel kinematic coupling method is developed, incorporating magnets, compact Lamina Emergent Torsional (LET) joints, and principles from Maxwell couplings. This system autonomously achieves precise alignment without motorized actuation reducing complexity. The design process involved iterative testing of ten two-panel hinge prototypes to identify the most effective designs. These were integrated into a degree-four vertex pattern …

A Pressure-Based Estimate Of Multi-Orifice Synthetic Jet Performance, Rhett T. Parry, Tim Berk

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Multiphase turbulence is a ubiquitous mechanism that drives the motion of fluid and particulate. In order to understand the behavior of this complex mechanism, it is critical to build facilities where driving parameters can be studies. Various flow actuators are used to drive turbulence, but we use synthetic jets for their geometric customizability and wide range operating parameters. Many studies based on synthetic jets focus on characterizing velocity while omitting the connection to turbulence. Additionally, most work in the existing literature is tied to the non-dimensional numbers but can obscure the limitations regarding both size and allowable driving conditions of …

A Methodology To Quantify The Shielding Efficiency Of Novel Radiation Shielding Materials, Jenny R. Whiteley, Tyler Heggenes, J.R. Dennison

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Radiation shielding is a common method used to protect spacecraft from the radiation prevalent in the space environment. A current research area of interest is Z-graded shielding, which is radiation shielding composed of various materials layered together based off of the properties associated with the material's atomic number, Z. This approach has the potential to produce new shielding materials that would be lighter and more compact than traditional shielding materials. Utah State University's Material Physics Group developed an experimental setup and analysis methodology to quantify how effectively novel shielding materials blocked beta and gamma radiation. The materials' effectiveness, termed shielding …

The Trgb–Sbf Project: Creating A New Distance Ladder With Surface Brightness Fluctuations, Mikaela Cowles, Joseph B. Jensen, Sydney Holt

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Many current observational methods to measure the expansion rate of the universe (H₀) rely on the same zero-point calibrations. Values of the Hubble constant derived from those local calibrations are in conflict with the predicted value of H₀ from the successful ΛCDM cosmological model, resulting in the "Hubble tension." In order to decrease systematic uncertainties, and to address this tension, we have created a new and independent sequence of distance measurement techniques. We have used James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) distances to 14 giant elliptical galaxies that we used …

Far-Field Uav-Enabled Antenna Radiation Pattern Mapping, Jack Fernald

Utah Space Grant Consortium

This paper presents an overview of an research project at Weber State University (WSU) focused on developing a UAV-based system for measuring far-field radiation patterns of physically large antennas operating in the High-Frequency (HF, 3–30 MHz) and Very-High-Frequency (VHF, 30–300 MHz) ranges. Leveraging commercially available unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) components, software-defined radios (SDRs), open-source software tools, and advanced simulation environments, this project aims to create a cost-effective, scalable measurement solution that addresses the logistical challenges of traditional methods. By enabling autonomous three-dimensional radiation mapping of operational antennas in open-field environments, the proposed system refines industry practices and expands our understanding …

Production Of Iron Powder From Lunar Regolith By Carbonyl Iron Refining, Jason Sheets

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Carbonyl Iron Refining (CIR) is a promising method of iron production to be used in a lunar environment. Commercially, CIR operates at pressures > 200 bar, which is a challenge in a lunar landscape due to vessel weight constraints. Here we explore the feasibility of CIR operations at pressures < 60 bar in order to optimize the process for largescale lunar iron production. Many different forms of tests were conducted, and it was concluded that it is possible for CIR to perform at a lower pressure maximum. However, further experimentation and development needs to be perused in order to optimize the parameters to justify the processes usage.

Data Reduction And Photometry For Surface Brightness Fluctuation Measurements, Sydney Holt, Mikaela Cowles, Joseph Jensen

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Among the most pressing issues in modern cosmology is the Hubble tension, in which early-universe measurements of H₀ differ from late-universe measurements by > 5σ. This tension, now verging on crisis, implies continued systematic errors in either early or late universe measurement, or deeper issues with the widely accepted ΛCDM model of cosmology. To reduce systematic uncertainty, we have been developing an independent distance ladder relying on surface brightness fluctuations (SBF) and tip of the red-giant-branch (TRGB) star calibrators with data from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Before distance measurements can be …

International Rocket Engineering Competition, Ryan Lewis, Nick Woolsey, Wyatt Daugs, Brandon Williams, Hagen Walker, Ava Wilkey, Alex Nielson, Jared Jones, Ryan Johnson, Ethan Baer, Mike Wendell, Weston Fausett

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The Intercollegiate rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) challenges teams to design, build, and launch a high-powered rocket to a target altitude of 10,000 feet while recovering all components, Our team must integrate propulsion, avionics, recovery, and payload systems within strict safety, budget, and design constraints, demonstrating proficiency and innovation in rocketry.

Cubesat: Structure, Berk Mair, Korbin Burton

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Design, prototype, redesign, test, and fabricate the best 3U structure for the Utah Tech CubeSat to contain and protect the payload and necessary subsystems.

300-900 Mhz Midband Array Design For The Lunar Farside Technosignatures And Transients Telescope, Daniel A. Kemp, Jamie A. Frei, Caleb S. Edmunds, Karl F. Warnick

Utah Space Grant Consortium

The Lunar Farside Technosignature & Transients Telescope (LFT3), planned as an ultra-high frequency (UHF) phased array near the lunar antipode, is introduced as a pioneering mission capitalizing on recent advancements in analog beamforming. LFT3's midband array specifically leverages a described analog beamformer to achieve critical baseline measurements, enabling observations of astrophysical phenomena free from terrestrial interference. The authors describe the development of a wideband, low-power analog beamformer suitable for lunar-based radio astronomy, evaluating the primary architectures: a combiner tree, Rotman lens, Butler matrix, Nolen matrix, and Blass matrix. Each approach is analyzed in terms of performance, complexity, reliability, and suitability …

Using Nasa Awe Observations To Investigate The Global Distribution Of Concentric Gravity Waves, Anastasia King-Brown, Ludger Scherliess

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Upward propagating atmospheric gravity waves (GWs) originating from various lower atmosphere sources can transport energy and momentum into the Earth's upper atmosphere. In the ionosphere, GWs produce traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs), generate electric fields, and appear to contribute to the seeding of equatorial plasma bubbles that have detrimental effects on navigation, communication, and surveillance systems. Despite their importance and decades of research there are still many open questions regarding the morphology and dynamics of gravity waves. Of particular interest are concentric gravity waves (CGWs), as they are the direct result of the coupling between lower and upper atmosphere . For …

Biosignature Analysis In Saline Environments Using The Microfluidic Organic Analyzers For Biosignatures (Moab), Andrew Pack, Parker Jenkins, Jungkyu (Jay) Kim

Utah Space Grant Consortium

This study examines amino acid stability in high-salinity environments to enhance biosignature detection technologies. Using both absorption spectroscopy and capillary electrophoreses (CE), we investigated the survivability of valine and serine in laboratory-created brines simulating those found on celestial bodies throughout the solar system. Our findings reveal a protective effect of brines on amino acids, with reduced degradation rates compared to control samples containing no salts. During the 12-day observation period, both polar and non-polar amino acids showed enhanced stability in high-salinity environments, though non-polar amino acids exhibited more pronounced benefits from this protective effect. Valine concentrations in saline conditions decreased …

A Curriculum Development Study: Crafting And Teaching Curricula For Ell Students In China, Kayleigh Kearsley

Curiosity

When teaching English Language Learners (ELL), it is important to understand the best practices and tools available to teach these students effectively and engagingly. In this curriculum development study, I examine and utilize effective and engaging practices for teaching ELL students and offers ten lesson plans taught to a native Chinese speaker that reflect the implementation and development of these practices. Research consisted of both practical and theoretical sources concerning critical pedagogy for teaching ELL students. An understanding of students’ background shapes an understanding of language transfer, thus providing a more tailored teaching approach (Rigby, 2004). The scaffolding of lessons …

Russia And Climate Change: A Comparative Analysis Of Climate Change Framing In Russian News Media, Kaylee Anthon

Curiosity

This study conducted a comparative analysis of how climate change is framed in state owned versus independent news media in Russia, focusing on the state source RT International and the independent news source The Moscow Times. The findings revealed that RT International portrays climate change as primarily non-local, emphasizing temperature increases and vague natural disasters, while the Moscow Times presents it as a global issue with statistically significant consequences. Both sources employ framing techniques to either support or criticize varying governments.

Women And Finances − What Utahns Need To Know: A 2025 Update, Robyn C. Blackburn, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

The history of Utah women and finances shows how various policies, societal beliefs, and behaviors impact the financial standing of women in the state. Upon the arrival of pioneers from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Salt Lake Valley in the 19th century, 41 women were allocated lots during the initial distribution of the land, including single, widowed, and “head of household” women whose husbands were away.¹ Interestingly, around the same time, the Oregon Donation Act of 1850 incentivized female migration to the West by allowing women land ownership rights. Additional federal land laws, such …

Near-Earth Object (Neo) Surveyor Development: Challenges And Opportunities In Support Of Planetary Defense, G. Loftus, B. Carlsen, P. Scott, S. Backlund, L. Reinhart, T. Martin, T. Hoenes, R. Burgon, S. Ashby, J. Peterson, B. Lamborn, J. Bowman

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

The Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission is a key element in our future planetary defense portfolio, which will survey our solar system in the infrared to discover and characterize asteroids and comets.

The mission is designed to detect, track, and characterize small bodies throughout our solar system. By United States Congress mandate, NASA must discover more than 90% of all asteroids and comets that are larger than 140 meters in diameter and could potentially impact Earth. NEO Surveyor will provide critical decision support for stakeholders who must assess the risks of NEO impacts to Earth and identify potential mitigation strategies. …

Dynamics Of Rotating 2d Ellipse In Stratified Flow, Anton G. Kadomtsev

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Submersible vehicles that move through seawater are subjected to a variety of effects. Seawater has a non-uniform density because of uneven heating and the tendency of dense saltwater to sink. This non-uniform density distribution induced by gravity is known as stratification and introduces vertical confinement and internal gravity waves to flows around bodies. Along with translational motion, these vehicles also perform rotational motion. To identify the effects of density gradient, body shape, and rotation on the flow, 2D direct numerical simulations (DNS) are run and analyzed. The simulations are conducted using the open-source CFD solver Nek5000, utilizing its overset-grid-based methodology. …

Designing Accessible And Dependable Tools For Vocational Rehabilitation Data Analysis, Ruth E. Taylor

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Since 1973, the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) has partnered with state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agencies to help individuals with disabilities achieve meaningful employment and independence. RSA-911 datasets play a crucial role in this effort by capturing detailed participant data, but their complexity can hinder effective analysis.

To simplify this process, we present an R software package to streamline the cleaning and analysis of RSA-911 and Transition Readiness Toolkit (TRT) data, a new measure of program effectiveness. We also deliver a user-friendly dashboard, empowering both VR researchers and counselors with the opportunity to conduct analyses. Using our developed tools, we …

Contrastive Representation Learning For Highly Imbalanced Multivariate Time Series With Extreme Instance Strategy, Onur Vural

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Time series data refers to a sequence of data points collected or recorded at regular time intervals. In many fields including space weather, healthcare, and finance, predicting events from such data is crucial because these predictions can help protect infrastructures, improve healthcare outcomes, and forecast financial trends. However, one challenge in working with time series data is the presence of rare events, which are often underrepresented in the data. This imbalance makes it difficult for traditional prediction methods to provide accurate results, as they tend to focus more on the more frequent events and overlook the rare ones. To tackle …