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Ketamine Clinics: Designing For Better Patient Outcomes, Erica Evans Apr 2023

Ketamine Clinics: Designing For Better Patient Outcomes, Erica Evans

Student Research Symposium

Bright Mind Wellness is a state-of-the-art ketamine clinic that offers a spa-like experience for patients seeking treatment for mental health disorders. The clinic's main patient demographic includes individuals suffering from major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety, PTSD, and/or chronic pain. Ketamine has been shown to be an effective treatment for these conditions, and the clinic's design is centered around creating a safe and calming environment for patients to receive their treatments.This presentation aims to explore the therapeutic benefits of ketamine and how it can be used to aid in the treatment of mental health disorders. We will delve into the science …


Oxytocin Receptor Binding In The Substantia Nigra In Schizophrenia, Ariel Snowden Apr 2023

Oxytocin Receptor Binding In The Substantia Nigra In Schizophrenia, Ariel Snowden

Student Research Symposium

Schizophrenia is a chronic, psychiatric disorder characterized by hallucinations, delusions, cognitive deficits, and social cognitive impairments. Although antipsychotic drugs are typically effective in treating psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia, the social cognitive symptoms often persist. As social cognitive functioning is predictive of successful life outcomes in schizophrenia, there is a critical need to determine the biological basis of social cognitive impairments. Due to its ability to affect social behaviors in animals and humans, the oxytocin (OXT) system has become a therapeutic target of interest for schizophrenia. Although several studies examine the OXT system in schizophrenia in the periphery, it is currently …


The Grieving Brain: Effect Of Pairmate Loss On Coyote Oxytocin Receptor Densities, Kaleb Keller Apr 2023

The Grieving Brain: Effect Of Pairmate Loss On Coyote Oxytocin Receptor Densities, Kaleb Keller

Student Research Symposium

Complicated grief is a severe mental health disorder that can have detrimental effects on individuals who have lost a loved one. Understanding the biological underpinnings of grief is essential in being able to help develop effective treatments and therapies. Oxytocin is heavily implicated in studies about grief and pairmate loss due to its importance in modulating social behavior such as pair bond formation. Previous research has primarily focused on rodents and non-human primates as model organisms of social attachment and studies have shown that monogamous prairie voles showed a decrease in oxytocin receptor (OXTR) binding in the nucleus accumbens after …


Perceptions Of Parental Acceptance And Contingencies Of Self-Worth Regarding Family Predicting Peer Relations, Jacqueline Johnson Apr 2023

Perceptions Of Parental Acceptance And Contingencies Of Self-Worth Regarding Family Predicting Peer Relations, Jacqueline Johnson

Student Research Symposium

Parent-child relationship factors, such as family-related self-worth and perception of parental acceptance,are associated with peer relations. For example, parental rejection is negatively associated with child prosocial behavior (Rothenberg et al., 2022). Parental rejection is related to more aggression and adjustment problems (Rohner, 1975; Rothenberg, 2022). Less is known about the association between self-worth related to the family and peer relations. Contingencies of self-worth refer to whether “self-esteem is sustained by successes and achievements or threatened by obstacles and failures” within these domains (Perinelli et al., 2020). For children who have been rejected, close family relationships may be less important to …


Promoting And Providing Oral Healthcare For Francophone Africa, Mckay Lund Apr 2023

Promoting And Providing Oral Healthcare For Francophone Africa, Mckay Lund

Student Research Symposium

Oral health is key to overall health. Many people in francophone African countries face challenges in oral health including: lack of access to healthcare, cost of healthcare, lack of dentists and oral surgeons, lack of funding, and lack of effective oral health public health education or ad campaigns in French or other languages they speak.


Beyond ‘Bisexual’: Toward A New Conceptualization Of Bi+ Experience, Brook Hutchinson Apr 2023

Beyond ‘Bisexual’: Toward A New Conceptualization Of Bi+ Experience, Brook Hutchinson

Student Research Symposium

Scholars have begun to explore the sexuality binary and the way it is experienced by and reinforced among bisexual individuals. However, extant research has not yet analyzed the experiences of bi+ individuals in heterosexual relationships, including those who have never experienced a non-heterosexual relationship. The current study seeks to fill this gap through a case study of bi+ individuals in Utah. Relying on in-depth interviews with sixteen bi+ identified individuals, this study explores the experiences of bi+ individuals engaged in heterosexual relationships and how these individuals define their sexuality and negotiate their identity. Preliminary analyses reveal unique experiences among this …


The Effect Of Video Narratives On Hearing Aid Wear Times In Adults: Preliminary Results, Vanessa Snow Apr 2023

The Effect Of Video Narratives On Hearing Aid Wear Times In Adults: Preliminary Results, Vanessa Snow

Student Research Symposium

Despite the benefits associated with hearing aid (HA) use, only 17% of the population that needs HAs uses them (World Health Organization, 2021). HA users often have no direct experiences with hearing loss (HL) and HAs due to low incidence (World Health Organization, 2021), which we hypothesized leads to the unrealistic expectations in new HA users and minimal HA use (Bille & Parving, 2003). To test this hypothesis, we designed a between-subjects experimental study that explored the effect of video narratives on HA wear times. Before they were fit with their first HAs, 16 adults with HL and no previous …


The Impact Of The Family Place Utah's Better Together Program On Parent/Caregiver Distress, Mitchell Adair Apr 2023

The Impact Of The Family Place Utah's Better Together Program On Parent/Caregiver Distress, Mitchell Adair

Student Research Symposium

Parenting challenges and overall stress have increased in recent years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic (Adams et al., 2020). The Better Together program at The Family Place Utah was developed to provide children with positive childhood experiences (PCEs), improve family functioning, and increase nurturing and attachment between parents and their children. We explore the positive impact Better Together has on parent stress.A sample of 219 caregivers with children aged 0 to 18 years participated in a randomized experiment to evaluate the effectiveness of the Better Together program. Families were randomly assigned to a treatment or waitlist group. Treatment participants started …


The Influence Of Yoga Practice On Posture Perception And Stability, Marina Brawand Apr 2023

The Influence Of Yoga Practice On Posture Perception And Stability, Marina Brawand

Student Research Symposium

Our study aimed to investigate whether there is an influence of yoga practice on posture perception and stability, and explored the relationship between postural sway and posture judgments. To conduct this study, two groups were recruited: those with recent yoga experience (2x a week for the past 3 months) and those without. Participants viewed pictures of different postures while standing on a postural plate, and reported how long they believed an individual could hold the posture for. During this, their sway was measured in both the medial-lateral and anterior-posterior directions. Eye-tracking technology was used to track where the participants were …


Autism, Light, And Rna - A Story In Three Parts, Ethan Dayley Apr 2023

Autism, Light, And Rna - A Story In Three Parts, Ethan Dayley

Student Research Symposium

Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference present in about 1 in 36 people. Autistics tend to have differences in social communication, interests, and the ways they process the world around them. Autism is an important research area because many autistics suffer from poor mental health and can have difficulties with obtaining education and maintaining employment. By better understanding how autism works at every level we may be able to help autistics have better outcomes in future. This research is a follow-up to a study published by Freeman et al. in 2018. That study demonstrated differences in oxytocin receptor binding in the …


Validity Of Ultrasound In Estimating Body Fat Percentage Compared To 4-Compartment Model, Liz Cafferty Apr 2023

Validity Of Ultrasound In Estimating Body Fat Percentage Compared To 4-Compartment Model, Liz Cafferty

Student Research Symposium

Body fat percentage (%BF) can be estimated from subcutaneous fat thickness measured by ultrasound (US). %BFUS has been compared to %BF estimates from laboratory devices such as dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and the Bod Pod; however, comparison to a four-compartment (4C) “gold standard” is lacking. PURPOSE: This study compared the accuracy of %BFUS to %BF4C. METHODS: University club sport athletes (84 women, 138 men) participated. Bod Pod, DXA, and bioimpedance spectroscopy were used to measure body volume, bone mineral content, and total body water, respectively, for the 4C model. A-mode US measures were taken at 3 sites to estimate %BFUS. …


Understanding The Role Of A Putative Type I Polyketide Synthase In Chlorflavonin Biosynthesis, Ammar Mussaji Apr 2023

Understanding The Role Of A Putative Type I Polyketide Synthase In Chlorflavonin Biosynthesis, Ammar Mussaji

Student Research Symposium

Flavonoids are an important class of plant secondary metabolites with a variety of biological functions in the development processes of hosts. These molecules have also shown health-benefiting properties such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. As such, they are commonly used as pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. In plants, flavonoids are assembled through a type III polyketide synthase (PKS) and associated tailoring enzymes such as hydroxylase and glycosyltransferase. Some filamentous fungi also produce flavonoids, such as chlorflavonin from Aspergillus candidus. Chlorflavonin is a novel halogenated flavonoid found in nature reported to possess antifungal and anti-tuberculosis activity. Unlike plants, the biosynthetic process of flavonoids …


Grounded In Reality: An Exploration Of Acceptance In Relational Conflict, Audrey Johansen Apr 2023

Grounded In Reality: An Exploration Of Acceptance In Relational Conflict, Audrey Johansen

Student Research Symposium

Acceptance work encompasses “the processes that allow us to be fully grounded in reality” (Canfield, 2023). It allows individuals to embrace what truly is, both the good and the bad. It enables them to be at peace with what they can’t control, so that they can put their energy into changing what is within their power. This project explores how acceptance work connects with other aspects of conflict process, including grieving, emotional regulation, and other concepts. Research was conducted by studying materials on communication and conflict processes, and by applying the materials to the author’s life. Throughout the course of …


Applying A Health-Risk Model To Climate Change Communication: The Benefits And Barriers Of The Eppm For Inciting Carbon Footprint Reductions, Mikenna Debruin Apr 2023

Applying A Health-Risk Model To Climate Change Communication: The Benefits And Barriers Of The Eppm For Inciting Carbon Footprint Reductions, Mikenna Debruin

Student Research Symposium

Whereas over 99% of the scientific community believes in the concept of anthropogenic climate change, lay support is still lagging behind. I suggest three key factors to lagging lay support: 1) complexity, 2) manufactured scientific controversy, and 3) doom-and-gloom framing. Because of these factors, individuals are less willing believe in the prevalence of human-induced climate change, nonetheless do something about it. The Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM), however, presents a model to assuage eco-anxiety and counter psychological distance from the problem. The EPPM, proposed by Kim Witte in the 1990s, combines appeals to threat and appeals to efficacy to contextualize …


The Effectiveness Of Translation Apps And Understanding The Flaws Of Language Learning In Classroom Settings, Mia Knight Apr 2023

The Effectiveness Of Translation Apps And Understanding The Flaws Of Language Learning In Classroom Settings, Mia Knight

Student Research Symposium

There are over 7,000 languages spoken around the world. In the past twenty years alone, the internet has digitized and improved much - including translation apps. With apps specific to particular languages and topics and with the ability to access so much information at the touch of a finger, it is easy for individuals to engage themselves in communicating with those who speak different languages. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2022, language learning in the United States was at its lowest point in twenty years.2 Conversely, translation app use has increased. Although these mobile translation apps, e.g., Google …


Sunrise Mental Health Clinic, Kassie Kunzler Apr 2023

Sunrise Mental Health Clinic, Kassie Kunzler

Student Research Symposium

How color affects our mental health and how we can apply it in interiors to help in the healing process.


Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Soil Health Indicators In Corn Silage Production In A Semi-Arid Environment, Phearen Miller Apr 2023

Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Soil Health Indicators In Corn Silage Production In A Semi-Arid Environment, Phearen Miller

Student Research Symposium

The world faces the challenge of increasing food production while reducing the impact of excess reactive nitrogen (N) in the environment. A field study was conducted at USU Greenville farm in northern Utah since 2012 to examine the effects of different N sources in corn silage under semi-arid conditions. The study used a randomized complete block design with four blocks and four treatments: control (no nitrogen) (denoted as Control), low ammonium sulfate (AS 112 kg N/ha) (denoted as AS100), high ammonium sulfate (AS 224 kg N/ha) (denoted as AS200), and steer manure compost (224 kg total N/ha) (denoted as Compost). …


Glycosylation Of Anti-Tb Agent Chlorflavonin For Combating Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Jie Ren Apr 2023

Glycosylation Of Anti-Tb Agent Chlorflavonin For Combating Mycobacterium Tuberculosis, Jie Ren

Student Research Symposium

More than two billion people were infected by the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in 2020. However, during the past 50 years, the first-line (isoniazid, delamanid, and rifampicin) and second-line (capreomycin, streptomycin, and cycloserine) therapies have remained unchanged with disadvantages such as long treatment periods and severe side effects. The slow development of anti-TB drugs cannot combat the fast development of drug resistant M. tuberculosis strains from multidrug-resistant (MDR) into extensively drug resistant (XDR), which further hinders the World Health Organization’s goal to end the global TB pandemic by the year 2035. Flavonoids are a type of natural product with …


Women's Healthcare In Kenya, Anne Szymanski Apr 2023

Women's Healthcare In Kenya, Anne Szymanski

Student Research Symposium

Research on the current healthcare that women have access to in Kenya and how the design of a facility can solve problems.


Haven Women's Shelter: Interior Design Promoting Equality, Safety, And Comfort, Sierra Martineau Apr 2023

Haven Women's Shelter: Interior Design Promoting Equality, Safety, And Comfort, Sierra Martineau

Student Research Symposium

The objective of this project was to develop a concept that would not only enhance accessibility for occupants of a women’s shelter, but also create an environment where interior design fosters healing and comfort for its residents. The space was designed to cater not only to women but also their children and pets, offering all necessary facilities to meet the residents’ needs within the shelter’s premises.To create this vision, included in the space is a comprehensive set of amenities, including a therapy room with an onsite therapist, a medical room staffed by a qualified registered nurse, a daycare area for …


Dignity And Functionality In Affordable Housing Design, Olivia Wallentine Apr 2023

Dignity And Functionality In Affordable Housing Design, Olivia Wallentine

Student Research Symposium

The cost of housing across the United States is becoming a major issue that seems to be spiraling quickly out of control. The percentage of Americans who report that the availability of affordable housing is a major problem in their community is rising quickly, and it is becoming much more difficult for young adults to buy a home than in previous generations. The inability to afford housing, or anything beyond housing, has severe consequences across society. These include but are not limited to poverty, homelessness, poor public health, economic decline, population decline, high crime rates, and low education rates.Affordable housing …


Trauma-Informed Design, Annie Canfield Apr 2023

Trauma-Informed Design, Annie Canfield

Student Research Symposium

Cache Refugee and Immigrant Connection is a non-profit organization in Cache valley that serves refugees and immigrants from over 36 countries. The mission of CRIC is to, “promote integration, economic self-sufficiency, and positive connections among refugees, immigrants, and the wider community through two-way education, improved access to existing services, and development of new services.” To help them best serve their clients, this project is an exploration of how the 6 PRINCIPLES OF TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE can reach beyond human communication into the physical built environment.


Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability Study, Conner Deppe Apr 2023

Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability Study, Conner Deppe

Student Research Symposium

The reliability of electric vehicle chargers is critical for the widespread adoption of EVs. To consumers, an indication of charging reliability is the unscheduled downtime of EV charging equipment. Unscheduled downtime brings the need for online EV health monitoring and remaining useful lifetime estimation technology. Though there are many different topologies and configurations for EV chargers, the core processing components remain the same. These components, known as silicon carbide MOSFETs, are important devices that provide better efficiency and power density than their silicon counterparts. In recent years, it is found that device on-resistance is a common indicator used in health …


Elementary Education In Ethiopia, Sarah Wiscomb Apr 2023

Elementary Education In Ethiopia, Sarah Wiscomb

Student Research Symposium

In developing and developed countries alike, children do not have access to basic education because of inequalities that originate in sex, health and cultural identity (ethnic origin, language, religion). These children find themselves on the margins of the education system and do not benefit from learning that is vital to their intellectual and social development. Factors linked to poverty such as unemployment, illness and the illiteracy of parents, multiply the risk of non-schooling and the drop-out rate of a child by 2. Undeniably, many children from disadvantaged backgrounds are forced to abandon their education due to health problems related to …


Is The Pen Mightier Than The Computer? An Analysis Of Digital Natives’ Preference For Writing Tools, Dylan Ash, Landon Corbett, Jane Harvey, Clarissa Lloyd, Ellie Miller, Lauren Myers, Hannah Potter, William Spence, Mason Bodell, Avery Truman, Anna Tuite, Isabelle Vasquez, Nevaeh Villastrigo Apr 2023

Is The Pen Mightier Than The Computer? An Analysis Of Digital Natives’ Preference For Writing Tools, Dylan Ash, Landon Corbett, Jane Harvey, Clarissa Lloyd, Ellie Miller, Lauren Myers, Hannah Potter, William Spence, Mason Bodell, Avery Truman, Anna Tuite, Isabelle Vasquez, Nevaeh Villastrigo

Student Research Symposium

Students in Honors 1320, History of Writing, investigated traditional, college-aged students and their preferred writing implements. Digital Natives--people born after 1980 who grew up with technology--are assumed to prefer digital writing implements such as computers, tablets, and Smartphones. Do they really tend to use digital implements, or do they use analog instruments such as pens and pencils? To find out, the researchers designed a Qualtrics survey to ask students about their use of digital and analog writing tools. A second data source were essays on the topic 'My Favorite Writing Implement,' which were analyzed on a spreadsheet, counting each instance …


Parkinson's Accessible Home, Bailey Wilde Apr 2023

Parkinson's Accessible Home, Bailey Wilde

Student Research Symposium

I chose this research topic because I have watched my uncle and his family change every aspect of their lives due to the diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Over the past 10 years, his health has progressively gotten worse and his living conditions are in no shape to adapt with him and his family's needs. He is in need of a home where he can age in place.


How Interior Design Promotes Productivity In The Workplace, Emily Caine Apr 2023

How Interior Design Promotes Productivity In The Workplace, Emily Caine

Student Research Symposium

This office space was designed with productivity and mental and physical wellness in mind. Many people overlook the way their workplace environment affects them, however, it can contribute heavily to their productivity and well-being. Well-designed and productive office spaces pay attention to: ergonomics, acoustics, flexibility, breakout space, technology, adequate storage, color theory, climate and airflow, nature, and natural light. The layout of this office design focuses heavily on the employee experience. “87% of workers would like their employer to offer healthier workspace benefits”. Intentional interior design will change the way you feel in a space. The traditional office space with …


Proper Acoustics Create Better Learning Environments In The Classroom, Brian Harris Apr 2023

Proper Acoustics Create Better Learning Environments In The Classroom, Brian Harris

Student Research Symposium

The acoustics of a classroom can greatly help or hinder the learning process for many students. Studies have found that speech intelligibility can be affected by poor acoustics and this can lower the student’s comprehension scores. When correct acoustic tools are implemented, student success can be augmented.


Retirement Community Living Center, Abbigail Epperson Apr 2023

Retirement Community Living Center, Abbigail Epperson

Student Research Symposium

When researching the best way to design for a retirement community living center (RCLC) there were a couple specifics I wanted to focus on. The first being color, specifically how color can help direct people around a specific spaces (wayfinding). The RCLC is a large building, getting lost can easily happen for seniors. The second is how lighting and color of light can effect the health and safety of the seniors living in the RCLC.


Does Diet Effect The Brain?, Janna Hart Apr 2023

Does Diet Effect The Brain?, Janna Hart

Student Research Symposium

Short-chain fatty acids are biomolecules produced from bacterial fermentation of dietary fiber in the gut. Short-chain fatty acids are used in the gut to supply energy and reduce inflammation but are also believed to have effects on the brain. While we do not know how short-chain fatty acids affect the brain and behavior, recent research has led to the idea of using dietary changes as a treatment for mental health disorders. In my research, we aimed to visualize where short-chain fatty acids act in the brain with a particular focus on neural immune cells called microglia and the neurons that …