Digital Commons Network^™

Terminal Lakes And Climate Change: Averting Catastrophe Dependent Upon Intervention Efficacy, Andrew Walker

Student Research Symposium

Terminal Lakes will drastically be affected by climate change. The Caspian Sea, by conservative estimates will drop 30 ft by the end of the century with minimal intervention uncovering an area the size of Portugal, concentrating the current ecological hardship, country conflict, and business contraction. Geoengineering, specifically Solar Radiation Management, poses a significant boon in limiting the damage with an injection of aerosols into the stratosphere to reflect the Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere to lower temperatures and reduce evaporation. So far, because of limits placed on field testing by the UN, there has been limited testing outside simulation of …

An Illness Narrative Of Pediatric Cochlear Implantation: A Case Study, Emma Bowman

Student Research Symposium

Illness narratives are personal stories that are shared to better understand one's experiences while living with an illness or health condition. Narratives are valuable because they allow us to understand our lives, as well as illuminate one's self-identity and well-being. This then gives the audience an insight into the storyteller's perspective on how they cope and process their experiences throughout their life. Our aim was to uncover the subjective experience of a young adult growing up with bilateral cochlear implants in the United States. To do so, we gathered an hour-long story from him and then transcribed and analyzed his …

Removing The Threat, Maintaining The Lore: Wolves In Medieval Icelandic Literature, Mia Jensen

Student Research Symposium

Wolves (Canis Lupus) have appeared as villains and antagonists in popular culture for centuries. Children grow up hearing stories of anthropomorphic wolves stalking and tormenting young girls in the woods and associating the animal with the phrase, “the big bad wolf.” In addition to fables and lore, negative wolf associations are prominent in idioms such as the wolf in sheep’s clothing or getting thrown to the wolves. These associations were created by cultures that relied heavily on livestock. However, deceitful, villainous, and demonic traits followed wolves in cultures that did not interact with the animal. This is the case with …

Design Solutions That Impact Mental Health, Elise Buck

Student Research Symposium

Design is about solving problems in the most beautiful and functional way possible. Within the profession it is the designer’s responsibility and obligation to provide practical, meaningful, and healthy spaces wherein people will thrive. Similar to most design projects, the sector of workplace design focuses significantly on the mental health and psychological wellness of the employees that use the space in order to combat the negative effects of bad design on long term health. According to an article published by Gettysburg College, the average person will spend approximately one-third of their life, or about 90,000 hours at work over a …

Homelessness And Hygiene, Karen Goodsell

Student Research Symposium

Persons experiencing homelessness in the United States experience significant barriers to self-care and personal hygiene, including limited access to clean showers, laundry, toilets, and hand washing facilities. The obstacles to personal hygiene associated with homelessness may increase risk of infectious disease and has increasingly had effects on the homeless population due to the recent pandemic of COVID-19. Access to adequate sanitation, including toilets, showers, and hand-washing facilities is necessary for personal hygiene and good health. A vicious cycle can negatively impact homeless people without proper access to such facilities. Lack of personal hygiene and cleanliness can cause physical as well …

Roles Of Nad In Dna Repair And Response To Oxidative Stress, Micah Forbush

Student Research Symposium

It has become a common trend for people to start their families at a later age, often due to lifestyle choices like achieving career goals first and waiting to achieve financial stability. Along with this trend of increasing parental age comes another, the decrease in fertility. While it is well established that female fertility declines significantly with age, current research is showing that male fertility may be impacted just as much. NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is an important biochemical cofactor in most metabolic reactions, and importantly, is it also essential for DNA repair. As age increases in humans, the amount …

Could Video Intervention Be The Future? Effectiveness Of Informational Video On Autism Spectrum Disorder Knowledge, Jennifer Ha

Student Research Symposium

The aim of this project is to research whether an informatic video and/or a written infographic will increase knowledge of autism spectrum disorder. The research question is: how effective is an informatic video intervention in increasing knowledge about ASD? The design of this project is a pre-test-post-test design. Participants will complete an ASD knowledge test and then receive either the video intervention, reading intervention, or no intervention (control), and then complete the ASD knowledge test after the condition has been administered. The ASD knowledge test will be randomized to prevent memorization. Participants who have a child with ASD will be …

Psychosocial Well-Being Of Adults Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Kelsey Baughman

Student Research Symposium

Background: Psychosocial well-being can interfere with engagement in activities of daily life. Consideration of psychosocial domains within hearing health care can expand audiologists’ ability to understand treatment barriers and provide an opportunity to jointly address challenges. Purpose: This study explored psychosocial well-being and predictors among adults who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). Research Design: Cross-sectional survey.Study Sample: Two-hundred and sixty-nine surveys were included in the analysis.Data Collection and Analysis: Data were collected online. Backward elimination regression analyses were used to identify significant predictors of psychosocial well-being.Results: Findings indicated most (70–80%) of the respondents’ scores were below clinical cut-off …

Designing An Effective Employee Wellness Program: A Targeted Approach Using Employee Health Surveys, Sierra Giles

Student Research Symposium

Purpose – Given that employees typically spend a significant amount of their time at the workplace, an effective workplace wellness program has the potential to reduce employees’ health risks and improve their quality of life. The purpose of this project was to collect and assess baseline data on current health status for a Utah organization with approximately 400 employees and use the results to inform a comprehensive wellness program. Methods – Based on validated questionnaires from the literature, I developed an employee health screening survey which consisted of two parts – a biometric screening and a mixed methods health assessment …

Medicine And The Media, Baylee Dusenberry

Student Research Symposium

PROBLEM: The media has become a normalized part of American society. The use of media in reporting COVID-19 is a prime example of how media can impact a public's medical knowledge and opinion. The main concern: are people properly filtering the influx of information between evidence-based practices and medical opinion? With the accessibility of information comes a likelihood that the public isn't doing their part to fact-check what they're given. Inaccurate information can cause health issues among the public. STUDY DESIGN: The study design will be a representational online survey sent to American Adults ages 18 years and older. Univariate-ANOVA …

Illegal Wildlife Trade Increases Probability Of Zoonotic Disease Spread In The United States, Ryan Bushman

Student Research Symposium

Illegal wildlife trade is a major contributor to the spread of zoonotic disease in the United States and may potentially lead to further public health emergencies, a significant loss of life, and can cost billions of dollars. The trade of bushmeat and exotic pets are examples of illegal wildlife trade that can result in the spread of zoonotic diseases. These illegal activities are driven by deep-rooted cultural beliefs, financial necessity, and luxurious lifestyles. An analysis of the existing literature on these subjects through the lens of anticipatory intelligence reveals certain areas of the current systems that combat illegal wildlife trade …

Isolation Of Halotolerant Bacteria From The Rhizosphere Of Ceanothus Velutinus May Lead To Contributions In Plant Health In Saline Conditions, Jacob Davis

Student Research Symposium

As global temperatures have been steadily rising in the past few decades, soil salinity has been steadily increasing in many parts of the world as well. This increase in salinity has proven detrimental and especially challenging for many plant species. The soil directly in contact with the roots of plants is known as the rhizosphere. The rhizosphere hosts plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR plays a significant role in a plant's ability to deal with stressors such as drought, heavy metal contamination, and extreme cold temperatures. Native plants are known to show versatility to these stressors as well. One such native …

Impact Of Fecal Microbiota Transfer (Fmt) On Phenotype Of Mice Fed A Standard Diet And A Western-Style Diet Using A Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer Model, Abbey Horrocks

Student Research Symposium

A variety of genetic and environmental factors can affect the composition of the human gut microbiota, including a poor diet. Western diets are typically associated with dysbiosis and other adverse health outcomes that are expressed phenotypically. The primary objective of this study is to determine the contribution of gut microbiota from mice donors who have previously consumed one of two basal diets: 1) the standard AIN93G diet, which is designed to promote rodent health; and 2) the total Western diet (TWD), which promotes inflammation-associated colorectal tumorigenesis. The donors’ microbiota were transferred to a cohort of mice who were fed either …

The Influence Of Types Of Debt On Financial Anxiety And Financial Well-Being, Loryn Law

Student Research Symposium

Financial anxiety from debt has shown to increase health issues (Moore, 2018), decrease marital satisfaction (Dew, 2011), and reduce resources left for retirement (Kim et al., 2017; Payne et al., 2019). Research has also shown that employees with more debt are more likely to be less productive at work than those with lower debt levels due to their financial stress (Moore, 2018). As debt levels for Americans are increasing, it is important to examine which types of debts have the greatest effects on financial anxiety and financial well-being. Using data from the 2018 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), this study …

Bolstering Southeast Asia's Livestock Biosecurity And Climate Change Resilience Essential For Global Health, Madelyn Kunzler

Student Research Symposium

A large factor of climate change is its effect on infectious zoonotic diseases. Zoonotic diseases are diseases that can be transferred from animals into humans. Cases of zoonotic diseases have increased as humans have interacted more with animals, and as worldwide travel has become more frequent. It is predicted that 60% of emerging human diseases will be zoonotic. The cases will continue to increase to due climate change. As climate change continues, research has shown that new diseases will emerge from the melting permafrost and ice caps. It is also likely that pre-existing diseases will be able to migrate to …

Loved By People And The Environment: The Future Of Green Building Design, Marley Jackson

Student Research Symposium

CO2 levels have been rising exponentially for the last several years accounting for the increase in global warming and causing major climate changes across the world. When analyzing how to remove extra carbon from being emitted into the atmosphere, we often think of transportation in finding alternative fuel sources, but what about the spaces we spend almost 90 percent of our time in? Buildings account for 39 percent of CO2 released in the United States, which is more than any other sector. The United States has the second highest emission in the world. We have designed buildings without thinking of …

3d Bioprinting Presents Positive Health And Social Benefits—But Equitable Utilization Necessary, Kade Roberts

Student Research Symposium

Organ donation shortages paired with high demand present a great issue for the general population. Every year, thousands of patients lay on organ donation waiting lists and never receive their necessary care. The increased research and success into 3D printed organs could solve many of these problems regarding demand, in addition to solving other biotechnological issues. As with every emerging biotechnology, the implications of its introduction must be established. This project provides an opportunity analysis on the problems 3D bioprinting will solve, in addition to projecting future issues the technology may create. Presentation Time: Thursday, 10-11 a.m.Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/83484931836?pwd=TlpyRWsrSjYvVVl6dTVXRi9YQ3JOZz09

Wabi-Sabi: Improving Mental And Physical Health In The Built Environment, Kyler Sullivan

Student Research Symposium

Japanese design (Wabi-sabi) influences far beyond aesthetics and form; it is instilled in interiors and lifestyles of the people. Philosophies stemming from Shintoism and Japanese Buddhism formed over centuries to create the seven pillars of Wabi-sabi: Kanso (simplicity), Fukinsei (asymmetry), Shibui (beauty in the understated), Shizen (naturalness), Yugen (subtle grace), Datsuzoku (freedom from habit), and Seijaku (tranquility). These principles have been incorporated extensively in Japan for many generations due to their positive effect on mental health and individual spirituality.Mental health has risen to be a high priority among any who deal with the daily stresses of life. In 2013, the …

The Integrative Trust-Expectancy Framework For Understanding Hearing Aid Non-Use: An Introduction And Call For Research, Heather Reid

Student Research Symposium

Research shows that 80% of the people who would benefit from hearing aids (HAs) are not using them (McCormack & Fortnum, 2013), despite the fact that HA use elevates quality of life for individuals (Yamada et al., 2017), reduces fatigue in daily life (Holman et al., 2019), and facilitates communication (Perepa, 2017). Increasing the number of people using HAs would benefit them in many aspects of their lives. Audiology research alone has not led to a significant increase in HA use to date, and thus a different approach is warranted. For this paper, we surveyed the literature at the intersection …

Is Mitigation Of Drought Stress By Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Driven By A Nano-Specific Mechanism Or Mitigation Of Micronutrient Deficiency?, Justin Deakin

Student Research Symposium

It has been reported that zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) can promote drought tolerance in crops when used as soil amendments. However, many of these experiments were conducted in Zn-deficient growth media with no comparison to currently available Zn fertilization methods, making it unclear if the benefits from adding ZnO NPs were caused by a nano-specifc mechanism or simply by the mitigation of a micronutrient deficiency. A review of the literature shows that of 12 published experiments considering the effects of ZnO NPs on plant health, 5 out of 6 studies that did not include a comparison to currently available …

Rotc Cadets' Nutrition Knowledge & Behaviors: A Pilot Study, Mikaela Blake, Annika Israelsen, Tori Gossling, Jacob Lamb

Student Research Symposium

The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) prepares college students for future military service. The ROTC includes a rigorous physical training program. As such, effective nutrition practices are necessary to maintain performance. The purpose of this study was to assess USU Cadets’ nutrition knowledge and practices to inform future research and intervention needs. Cadets were recruited through email and classroom announcements. Participants completed an online survey that gathered demographic, fitness, nutrition knowledge, nutrition behaviors, Intuitive Eating, perceived stress, and food security data. Results indicated that most cadets had a moderate knowledge of nutrition with a deficit in sports nutrition. This study …

Identification, Isolation And Characterization Of A Novel Glucosyltransferase From Beauveria Bassiana, Jie Ren

Student Research Symposium

Quercetin is a naturally occurring phenolic compound that is commonly used due to its various biological activities, but its low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability hinder further clinical applications. For assessing the effect of the glycosylation of quercetin on its aqueous solubility, one glucosyltransferase gene (BbGT) was cloned from the genome of the strain Beauveria bassiana ATCC 7159 and heterologously expressed in different microorganism host cells, namely Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pseudomonas putida, and Pichia pastoris. Then, the glycosyltransferase was purified, and its glycosylation capacity toward quercetin was verified. The result showed that the purified BbGT (50.4 kDa) could convert …

Does Maternal Psychological Risk Affect Responsive Parenting Practices And Infant Emotion Regulation?, Haylie Demercy

Student Research Symposium

Poor parental mental health outcomes can have negative effects on infant attachment and emotion regulation (Swain et al., 2007). Maternal depression (Paulson et al., 2006) and parenting stress (Coyl et al., 2002) have been correlated with reduced maternal responsiveness and negative infant social-emotional outcomes (El-Sheikh et al., 2009). Neuroimaging techniques have shown that attachment and responsive parenting practices lead to increased emotion regulation and secure attachment throughout childhood (Miller and Commons, 2010). The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of maternal psychological risk on responsive parenting practices during parent-infant play interactions and infant emotion regulation in a …

Application Of A Self-Disinfecting Surface For Hemodialysis, Katie Christensen, Sierra Flores, Ivy Hansen, Cody Paraso, Andrea Peterson

Biological Engineering

The Biological Engineering Department at Utah State University (USU) is collaborating with Fresenius Medical Care (FMC) to develop a novel method of bacterial reduction for hemodialysis systems.

In the United States, approximately 34% of reported hemodialysis hospitalizations have been due to infections [1]. The water inlet line was identified as an area with potential to introduce bacteria into the system.

Utah Majesties: A Sustainable Rug Collection, Emeryann Hare

Student Research Symposium

“Art will never be able to exist without nature” - Pierre Bonnard Utah’s outdoor escapes are as diverse as they are spectacular. From the Wasatch Mountain Range all the way down to the red rocks of Lake Powell, Utah is filled with nature’s most extraordinary artwork. Inspired by four contrasting environments, the Wasatch Mountain Range, Bonneville Salt Flats, Little Sahara, and Arches National Park, this project seeks to feature abstractions for a sustainable rug collection. Featuring the diversity of these four landscapes, each rug design was conducted thoughtfully through the study of science, understanding of history, and personal involvement. This …

Pathogen Survey Of Natural Osmia Lignaria Say (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) Nests Collected From Utah, Mary-Kate Williams

Student Research Symposium

Understanding pathogen presence in Osmia lignaria populations is critical. Suppose we do not understand pathogen distributions, let alone their presence. In that case, we may be spreading pathogens to environments without localized infections and other bee species, including other bee species used in orchard pollination. To better comprehend pathogens, we utilized molecular techniques to identify some of the pathogens present in natural populations, seldom done throughout the United States. Presentation Time: Wednesday, 1-2 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/87892002075?pwd=Ym1Tcy9NOVhaaGZWczZWY1JCL3owUT09

Usu Rotc Cadet Focus Group Perspectives On Nutrition And Dietary Intake, Karli Mcrae, Hailee Pulli, Lexie Jex, Natalie Steiner

Student Research Symposium

Nutrition plays a significant role in supporting the physical performance of USU ROTC Cadets. The purpose of this research was to learn more about ROTC cadets' dietary habits, the reasons for their dietary choices, and gain feedback on what they think could improve their dietary intake. Two, 1-hour focus groups were conducted with 8 participants total. During each focus group, participants completed a brief survey about their dietary habits and discussed factors that influenced their food choices.The discussion included information on frequency of meals and snacks, impact of food on performance and lifestyle, ROTC culture surrounding nutrition, and potential helpful …

Role Of Novel Receptor Gpr171 In Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain, Taylor Edwards

Student Research Symposium

First-line chemotherapies against solid tumors are highly efficacious in reducing the tumor burden, but have many adverse side-effects including nerve damage, leading to chronic pain. Non-addictive, efficacious pain relievers are an area of active interest, and we propose a novel target to address this pressing issue. GPR171 is a G-Protein Coupled Receptor that was recently deorphanized and was identified to be expressed in the brain in regions that regulate reward, anxiety, and pain. Within the pain circuit, it was shown previously that systemic administration of the GPR171 agonist enhances morphine antinociception in acute pain tests. Preliminary data from our lab …

Vaughan Williams's The Lark Ascending As An Elegy For Environmental Loss, Kirsten Barker

Student Research Symposium

The idea that music embodies meaning is largely accepted and uncontroversial. However, how this relationship is articulated is complicated and contributes to music’s ability to project different meanings, especially according to time and place. Such is the case with the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’s romance for violin and orchestra, The Lark Ascending (1920). This work contains both musical and extra musical traits that can be interpreted as pastoral and nostalgic. Understanding how these meanings interact through time provides the opportunity for reinterpretation the work in the present through an environmentally-oriented framework. Previous research regarding The Lark has specifically focused …

Common Presenting Problems Among Youth Exposed To Substance Abuse In Their Household, Amalia Gamboa

Evidence-Based Social Work Practice Guide Series

This is an Evidence-Based guide for practitioners who are looking for ways to understand common presenting problems among youth exposed to substance abuse in their household