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Dr. Hadi Soroosh Research Presentation | Biological Engineering, Usu College Of Engineering

College of Engineering News

Rise of human population causes an increase of freshwater use and wastewater production worldwide. Wastewater contains various pathogens injurious to health and nutrients (mainly N and P) which would support photosynthesis of chlorophytes and terrestrial plants but can be also an ecological threat to the environment. The conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) require a large amount of energy (for mechanical aeration) and causes emission of CO2 and secondary contamination (by use of flocculants). Microalgae-Bacteria (MaB) biocoenosis can improve the capacity of the treatment system by simultaneous removal of the nutrients and carbon from wastewater with minimum carbon footprint and energy …

Gregory Corso, Erika Beckstrand

ENGL 6350 – Beat Exhibit

Gregory Nunzio Corso - referred to as the "Urban Shelley" of the Beat Generation - lived a life as explosive and controversial as his poetry. Growing up in Greenwich Village, New York, his youth consisted of foster homes, prison, and a brief stay in Bellevue Psychiatric ward. In his twenties, he moved to Paris, France, and founded the Beat Hotel in 1957. While there, he published his poetry through correspondence with City Lights Books in San Francisco via Lawrence Ferlinghetti. His most memorable poem "Bomb" was written in 1958 and provoked mixed reviews when first read in England. Corso was …

The Nighthawk Review, 2016, Usu Eastern English Department

Nighthawk Review

An annual publication featuring student work from Utah State University Eastern Campus.

Cultural And Economic Factors That Influence Brazilian Public Opinion On Climate Change, Jenna Williams

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Climate change is a commons problem of global proportions. The effects of climate change threaten not only the natural world, but also the human systems that we have established (IPCC 2014, 4). The devastating effects of climate change will not be confined to those regions of the world that have contributed the most to this problem. Already, every continent and ocean has been touched by climate change (IPCC 2014, 4).

An Instructional Module On Permaculture Design Theory For Landscape Architecture Students, Keni Althouse

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Permaculture guides designers to mimic patterns and relationships found in nature. It is a design theory that tailors toward many people’s desire for more sustainable living. This theory offers a unique set of design principles that are very implementable into the design process and could be of great interest to landscape architects.

The purpose of this study was to develop and implement an instructional module for landscape architecture students at Utah State University for two consecutive years. Project-based learning was implemented in order to help students better understand permaculture design theory. Effectiveness of the module was measured through an evaluation …

Effectiveness Of Traditional Land-Based Therapy Vs Aquatic-Based Therapy After Acl Reconstruction, Philip M. Boozer

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The most common knee injury is a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) which occurs to 1 in 3,000 people annually, making an ACL reconstruction (ACLR) surgery the sixth most common orthopedic procedure (Cohen, Yucha, Ciccotti, Goldstein, Ciccotti, & Ciccotti, 2009 Edgar, Zimmer, Kakar, Jones, Schepsis, 2008 Zamarioli., Pezolato, Mieli, Shimano. 2008). Over the past 20 years, there has been considerable growing attention to rehabilitation programs for post ACL reconstruction, but still no optimal rehabilitation program has been found. (Momberg, Louw, Crous. 2008 Zamarioli, Pezolato, Mieli, Shimano. 2008 Tovin, Wolf, Greenfield, Crouse, Woodfin. 1994). Though there have been improvements to rehabilitation …

A Roof Overhead: Creating A Conceptual Long Term Day Facility For Street Children And Orphans In Tehran, Iran, Marjan Safdari

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

With approximately 1.5 million orphans, over 200,000 street children, and 2,500 cases of child violence each year, Iran is not an ideal place for children. Although government groups and non-governmental organizations (NGO) have tried to provide facilities and institutional care centers, there are still many shortages that need to be addressed. Facilities that provide something more than the basic needs of these children are necessary. Orphans and street children face many difficulties during different stages of their lives that cause psychological and social problems for them. In addition, health problems and lack of education are other issues that they face. …

Comparison Of Dynamic Stability Between Gymnast And Soccer Players Following A Countermovement Jump On Land And In Water, Berangere A. Dwyer

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Gymnasts and Soccer players are faces with increasingly high injury rates and demanding impact landing forces during participation. The use of a water environment may provide some benefit by the reduced peak forces and lower impulses compared to land. The sport of gymnastics may provide specific training that promotes rapid postural stabilization upon landing a variety of jumps. The measure of Time to Stabilization (TTS) is a measure of dynamic stability and may be a method to differentiate between athletes in different sports. Purpose: This study was created to evaluate dynamic stability between soccer and gymnastics in two environments (land …

Effects Of High Intensity And Sprint Interval Training Frequency On 1.5 Mile Run Times In Air Force Rotc Cadets, Jared Hill Dahle

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The effects of varying high intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) frequency on 1.5 mile (2.4km) run performance in Air Force ROTC cadets were studied. Twenty-seven cadets (21.6 ± 2.8 years) were stratified then randomly assigned to 3 groups: a high frequency group (HF) that performed HIIT/SIT 3x week, a low frequency group (LF) that performed HIIT/SIT 2x week, and a continuous training group (CG) that performed moderate intensity training 3x week. HIIT workouts consisted of 4 x 3 min intervals at 90-100% of velocity at maximal oxygen consumption (vVO₂ max) with 4 min of active …

Comparison Of Propulsive Power During Loaded Countermovement Jumps In Division One Female Soccer Players And Gymnasts, Kristin N. Gollofon

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Aquatic training has become more prevalent as a means of training power, and provides unique features such as buoyancy and inflicting less stress on the body than traditional land based training. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess absolute and relative peak propulsive and mean power in loaded countermovement jumps (CMJ) performed on land and in water in Division I soccer players and gymnasts. Methods: Twenty-four Utah State University soccer players (N=12) and gymnasts (N=12) performed randomized countermovement jumps in eight conditions (Land BW, BW+10%, BW+20%, BW+30%; Chest-height water BW, BW+10%, BW+20%, BW+30%). Peak power (PP), relative peak …

Comparison Of Take Off Kinematics During Loaded Countermovement Jumps In Division One Female Gymnasts And Soccer Athletes, Ryan Moreau

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare takeoff kinematics of incrementally loaded countermovement jumps (CMJ) in water and land in female gymnasts and soccer athletes.

Methods: 24 Division I student athletes (12 gymnastics, 12 soccer) volunteered for this study. Subjects performed CMJ on land and water at a level of the xiphoid process without an arm swing. CMJs with loads of body weight (BW), 10% BW, 20% BW, and 30% BW were performed three times per trial at each load. 15 kinematic variables related to the lower extremity were examined.

Results: For environment, significant (p less than …

A Sustainability Assessment Of Utah's 29 Counties: Testing A Multivariate Graphical Method Of Sustainability Assessment, Thomas Cluff

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Sustainability provides a framework to help guide future planning, policy, investment, and development actions toward achieving multidimensional development goals. The goals of planning for sustainable development aim at a future with high quality of life in a healthy and protected environment.

This paper adopts, reviews, critically examines, and tests a previously-developed methodology for sustainability assessment. The tested approach applies an interactive evaluation model to combine existing data to explain sustainable development possibilities for each evaluated locale. The model's results, presented through a graphic interface, can build knowledge to improve planning decisions and implementation actions for sustainability. The assessment can help …

Barriers To Health Care Access For Refugees In Cache County, Utah, Michael Timo Hoggard

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The United States has a rich history of resettling refugees. The United States resettled hundreds of thousands of refugees at the conclusion of World War II, and has resettled more than 3 million refugees since 1975 (Refugee Council USA, 2016). A refugee is a forcibly displaced person who will not or cannot return to their country of origin because of fear of physical harm or persecution (United Nations, 1951). Refugees are distinct from other forms of immigrants in many ways: refugees do not choose their country for resettlement, they receive government assistance upon arrival, their residency and work permits are …

The Effects Of Hazing On Urban Coyotes, Dakota Reed

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Urban expansion has rapidly increased over the last few decades. Over half of the human population now lives in urban areas (United Nations 2014). This has resulted in many carnivores being forced to adapt and find ways to use urban resources to survive (Bateman and Fleming 2012). While larger carnivores usually end up locally extinct, some medium sized predators like red fox (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans), and raccoons (Procyon lotor) thrive in urban environments (Bateman and Fleming 2012). Having these carnivores living among humans can have both positive and negative consequences for the …

Trauma And Touch: Apprehension Of Touch And Relationship Quality In Survivors Of Military Sexual Trauma, Danielle Christensen

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Sexual assault is linked to poor romantic relationships but sexual assault in the military is linked to more severe outcomes than civilian assault (Surís et al., 2007).One in four women Veterans report military sexual trauma (MST; VA, nd). MST is highly correlated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and lower relationship satisfaction, which is problematic as relationship quality buffers against PTSD and dysfunction secondary to MST. Relationship quality is multidimensional and includes satisfaction with physical touch; the effects of sexual trauma on touch apprehension have not been examined in those with MST. Moreover, it is not clear whether contact MST (e.g., rape) …

Relationships Of Beef Cattle Temperament With Feedlot Performance, Jeffrey James Briscoe

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This study determined relationships between beef cattle temperament and their feedlot performance. Thirty-five Angus cross-bred steers and heifers (18 steers and 17 heifers) were placed in the Utah State University feedlot to take part in the feed trial. Cattle temperament was measured by a chute score (CS, ranging from 1 = calm and not moving to 5 = rearing and violently struggling) and flight speed. Flight speed was measured by two observers to determine how long the animal took to travel 12 feet from the exit of the squeeze chute. Feedlot performance was assessed by body weight (BW) measurements, average …

The Influence Of Prior Motor Actions On Motor Planning In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Daisha Lynn Cummins

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Studies have found children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have a rigidity of motor plans and difficulties planning and executing movements. Children with ASD also exhibit repetitive behaviors such as nail biting and rocking back and forth. When planning for movements, repetitive behaviors might manifest as difficulty in formulating new or switching between different motor plans. In typically developing individuals, actions are often influence by recently performed motor actions. We sought to determine if this influence was stronger in children with ASD.

A rotation motor task was created to evaluate the rigidity of motor planning of five children with ASD …

The Relationship Between Water Shortage Concern And Age In Utah, Viviane S. Baji

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

It is unclear whether current water supplies in Utah will be able to accommodate the needs of the future. Population in the state is expected to double by 2050 and climate change models predict declines in water availability in the region. Public perceptions of the adequacy of the water supply (and concerns about potential shortages) are key factors that could influence water use behaviors and support for public policy interventions. This paper explores the research question: "Are young people in Utah more concerned about water shortages than older cohorts?" It was expected that young people would be more concerned about …

Institutional Constraints Limiting Social Services For Immigrants, Grant Alan Holyoak

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This study advances the literature by identifying the factors that constrain the resource provision activities of social service agencies for immigrants. We consider whether and how coercive, mimetic and normative constraints shape organizational practices in this field. Drawing on twenty-five in-depth interviews with social service providers in Utah, we find that despite providers' commitment to serving immigrants, organizations remain significantly constrained due primarily to external coercive constraints including restrictive state laws and increasing competition over limited funding. We conclude by exploring the implications of our findings for policy and practice.

The Affordable Care Act And Health Care In America, Michael Ryan

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

What you are about to read is a final project meant to incorporate ideas from my undergraduate coursework with my interests in medicine and economics. Issues in health care, especially insurance, fascinate me and I chose to use my Honors Capstone Project as an opportunity to further my understanding of issues important to me as both a future physician and businessman. The purpose of this paper is to practice critical and analytical thinking skills by exploring some of the challenging issues surrounding American health insurance and the Affordable Care Act while also gaining a deeper understanding of the nuances of …

The Opm Data Breach: Lessons Learned, Michael Wheat

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In 2015 the federal government announced the largest data breach in United States government history. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was hacked, and the personal information of more than 25 million American people was lost to foreign attackers. This incident has spawned concern and outrage about the security of government data in the emerging digital age.

Moving forward from the breach questions remain about how this event happened. It's clear that there were weaknesses that were taken advantage of by malicious threats abroad, and investigations into the attack have yielded surprising results. Not only was the security in place …

Intergenerational Care: A Strategic Approach To Senior Care, Amanda Lundholm Stadel

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Our society has become increasingly segregated between generations, specifically with senior adults. During the last years of a senior adult's life, he or she may often feel socially isolated which is closely correlated to depression, mental health challenges, and physical decline. These challenges may likely increase considering the number of adults age 65 and older is predicted to double within the next 25 years.

Intergenerational care is an innovative model that combines both child and senior care in a way that bridges the gap between generations. Studies have shown that implementing this model can benefit residents in ways that other …

Qualities That Influence Guardian Ad Litem Effectiveness, Ilana Kornfeld

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The use of Guardians ad Litem (GALs) in child abuse and neglect cases has become increasingly common throughout the world. It has, in fact, become standard procedure in child welfare proceedings in the United States. GALs are charged with presenting children's best interests in court and ensuring that each child has a voice in the process. Ideally, GALs are consistently effective in doing so. However, GALs have extremely high caseloads that potentially limit the time they can spend with their children. In addition, little research has been done on what qualities make an effective GAL. Knowing what qualities increase GAL …

Spa47 Is An Oligomerization - Activated Type Three Secretion System (T3ss) Atpase From Shigella Flexneri, Jamie Lee Kingsford

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Gram-negative pathogens often use conserved type three secretion systems (T3SS) for virulence. The Shigella type three secretion apparatus (T3SA) penetrates the host cell membrane and provides a unidirectional conduit for injection of effectors into host cells. The protein Spa4 7 localizes to the base of the apparatus and is speculated to be an ATPase that provides the energy for T3SA formation and secretion. Here, we developed an expression and purification protocol, producing active Spa47 and providing the first direct evidence that Spa47 is a bona fide ATPase. Additionally, size exclusion chromatography and analytical ultracentrifugation identified multiple oligomeric species of Spa47 …

Impact Of Participation In A Small Music Group On The Academic Achievement Of Primarily Hispanic Youth, Danielle Juliana Keaton

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The purpose of the present study was to explore the effects of participation in a children' s violin instructional music program, The Young Violinists from St. Thomas Aquinas (YVSTA), on the primarily Hispanic participants' academic achievement. Data collection involved obtaining YVSTA attendance records and participants' academic records: their standardized test scores, attendance records, and academic transcripts. The participants were 5 boys and 14 girls ranging in age from 6 to 14, enrolled in Kindergarten to eighth grade. Children attended the YVSTA between 9 and 57 times, representing 36.36% to 86.36% attendance. All children but one were identified as being Hispanic; …

Pedicle Lengthening Spacer, David S. Wood

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In the lumbar region of the spine, the spinal cord travels through a small hole in your vertebrae called the spinal canal. There is a medical condition where the spinal canal becomes restricted. This condition is called stenosis. There are several reasons for this pinching of the spinal column. These include the growth of bone spurs, the accumulation of ligaments in the canal, or a genetic trait. When these occur in the lower five vertebrae (the lumbar region), it is called lumbar stenosis. The symptoms of Lumbar Stenosis are shooting pain through the legs, especially during activity, and feelings of …

Dynamic Stability On Land And In Waist-Deep Water: Comparison Between Young And Middle Aged Adults, Christie Bunnell

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The purpose of this study was to compare dynamic stability on land and in water, between young and middle-aged adults performing plyometric exercises. Twenty adults were asked to volunteer: Young = 24.40 ± 2.63 years, n = 10 and middle-aged = 46.80 ± 3.05 years, n = 10. Participants performed three plyometric exercises (countermovement jump, squat jump, and drop landing) on land and in waist-deep water. Dynamic stability was assessed during landing for each exercise using a time to stabilization (TTS) paradigm. Data were collected via a waterproof force plate positioned on an adjustable-depth pool floor and analyzed with a …

Understanding The Mormon War Of 1838, Tabitha Merkley

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

For my thesis I decided to do a literature review about the 1838 Mormon War in Missouri. The Mormons started settling in Missouri in 1831 because Joseph Smith told his followers that Jackson County was set aside as the place where they would establish Zion. Almost right away there were conflicts between the Missourians and the Mormons. The Missourians were suspicious of the Mormons and their beliefs because the Mormons had told Missourians that God was going to take the land away from the Missourians and give the land to the Mormons. As a result of these suspicions, the Mormons …

Analysis And Modeling Of Pedestrian Walking Behaviors Involving Individuals With Disabilities, Mohammad Sadra Sharifi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Walking facilities like walkways and stairs are important infrastructures which must be designed to effectively accommodate the behavior of pedestrians. Heterogeneity in pedestrian composition is one important factor generally overlooked in walking facility design guidelines and handbooks. While individuals with disabilities constitute a significant portion of the population in the United States, they are often overlooked due to lack of available data. To remedy this, large scale controlled walking experiments were performed at Utah State University (USU) to study the walking behavior of various types of individuals with disabilities (including vision and mobility impairments) in different walking environments. These environments …

Socialization Of Respeto In Immigrant Mexican Families, Marsha Tafoya

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Respeto is a cultural value considered to be essential in Latina/o families. Latina/o parents endorse respeto as being an important to teaching to their children. Mental health professionals argue that it is important to understand cultural values in delivering appropriate and relevant services to ethnic and culturally diverse clients. Some experts argue that such focus on cultural context also improves the effectiveness of interventions. The current study examined the cultural value of respeto in immigrant Mexican parents with a child between 4 and 9 years of age. Two scales were developed to examine the behavioral displays of respeto in boys …