Digital Commons Network^™

A Provable Semi-Infinite Programming Approach For Solving Constrained Dynamic Games, Tyler C. Gardner, Matthew W. Harris, Logan Lancaster

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Many engineering problems must account for the non-cooperative decisions and actions of multiple players. These problems can be modeled within a game-theoretic framework. The approach herein is to model such problems as mathematical games, convert them to semi-infinite programs, and utilize a semi-infinite program solver whose output is provably an ϵ-optimal Nash equilibrium. The approach is successfully benchmarked on two low-dimensional problems. Two types of higher-dimensional linear quadratic dynamic games are then investigated: ones where each player’s problem is convex and ones where at least one player’s problem is nonconvex. Within each type, variations based on information structure, control …

2025 Highlights From The Home And Community Department: Strengthening Utah Families And Communities, Heidi Leblanc

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

USU Extension’s Home and Community Department addresses challenges affecting family and community wellbeing, including financial instability, food insecurity, chronic disease risk, and relationship strain. In 2025, the department implemented an integrated, statewide approach combining financial education, relationship programming, nutrition education, and community wellness initiatives delivered through accessible, research-based formats. Programs produced outcomes across multiple domains. Participants reported increased financial knowledge, confidence, and adoption of behaviors such as budgeting, saving, and debt reduction. Relationship education improved communication, connection, and commitment among couples and families, while parenting and coparenting programs promoted healthier family dynamics. Nutrition initiatives led to improved dietary behaviors, increased …

Fire–Climate–Vegetation Linkages In A Quaking Aspen Forest During The Late Holocene, R. Justin Derose, Jesse L. Morris

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Fire plays an important role in shaping forested ecosystems around the globe. Unlike many other fire-driven forest types, our understanding of pre-settlement fire behavior in quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) systems is limited. To better understand the frequency and severity of fires in a putatively stable quaking aspen forest, a small, key watershed was selected for sediment coring to reconstruct fire history, vegetation change, and climatic variability. The study aim was to explore the fire–climate–vegetation linkages in an aspen-dominated catchment. For the past ~4000 years this basin has been dominated by quaking aspen but also subalpine fir (Abies …

2025 Highlights From The Youth Programs Department: Preparing Utah Youth For Life And Work, David Francis

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

USU Extension’s Youth Programs department addresses gaps in youth mental health and workforce readiness. In 2025, the department implemented a comprehensive, research-based approach grounded in Positive Youth Development and the 4-H Beyond Ready framework. Programs were delivered through afterschool activities, camps, leadership initiatives, STEM education, and career exploration experiences. Outcomes demonstrate strong gains across developmental domains. A majority of youth reported growth in competence, confidence, leadership, and problem-solving skills, along with improved emotional wellbeing and reduced stress. Participants also showed increased readiness for work and life, including responsible decision-making, community engagement, and career awareness. Collectively, these programs strengthened protective factors, …

2025 Highlights From The Agriculture And Natural Resources Department: Strengthening Utah’S Agriculture And Natural Resources, Justen Smith

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

Utah State University Extension’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Department addresses challenges affecting agricultural productivity, resource sustainability, and food security across Utah. In 2025, the department implemented a comprehensive, research-based approach integrating agronomy, livestock management, horticulture, water efficiency, and natural resource stewardship. Programs were delivered through applied research, field demonstrations, workshops, and innovative technologies such as drone-assisted monitoring. Outcomes include increased crop yields, reduced input costs, and improved grazing efficiency, generating millions of dollars in economic impact for producers. Market development efforts expanded revenue opportunities, while volunteer and community-based programs strengthened local food production capacity. Natural resource programs improved water management, …

Roots And Greens: Discovering The Power Of Indigenous Produce, Abiodun T. Atoloye, Sherif O. Olasoji, Ebunoluwa G. Ibidapo

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Courseware

The curriculum was designed in alignment with the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning (CTML), Empowerment Theory (ET), and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) frameworks. These frameworks were used to determine the selection and sequencing of learning activities. As reflected in CTML principles, the use of texts, images, infographics, and videos enhances knowledge retention and information comprehension and helps prevent cognitive overload. Through activities, homework, and family engagement, the principles of ET were incorporated into the curriculum to facilitate participants’ perceived control over food-related decisions. Additionally, by applying the principles of SCT, the curriculum incorporates scenario-based questions, opportunities to engage with peers, …

Utah Growing Water Smart: The Water-Land Use Integration Guidebook For Central Utah, Kelly Kopp, Joanna Endter-Wada

Utah Growing Water Smart

The Utah Growing Water Smart workshop brings together key staff and water and land use planning decision makers to help communities build a more resilient and sustainable water future. The workshop uses a range of public engagement, planning, communication, and policy implementation tools to help community teams realize their water efficiency, smart growth, watershed health, and water resiliency goals.

Part I: Drip Tape Irrigation For Cut Flowers, Alex Rodriguez, Melanie Stock, James Frisby, Burdette Barker

All Current Publications

Drip irrigation can be the most efficient method for delivering water and has the added benefit of keeping moisture off foliage and blooms of cut flowers. This fact sheet is the first in a series of irrigation fact sheets for cut flowers. It provides a step-by-step guide to the initial selection and installation of a surface drip tape irrigation system. Descriptions of and considerations for common components, setup, management, and repair are discussed. While this content may apply to other horticultural and garden plants, this fact sheet was developed for cut flower crops and growers. We recommend USU Extension resources …

Supporting Students With A Hearing Impairment, Kayleigh Kearsley, April Israelsen, Whitney Clawson

Curiosity

Imagine you have hearing aids and have been struggling for weeks to hear your band teacher because of the background noise in class. You approach your teacher and request that he wear an FM microphone device that transmits directly to your hearing aids, turning it on when he is talking and off again when the class is playing, allowing you to hear his voice better. The band teacher denies the request, stating that it would be too distracting for other students if he used the device during class. This is the real life experience of Abby Daum, a hard of …

Introduction To Tamil Language For Speech-Language Pathologists In The U.S.A. ~A Phonetic, Linguistic, And Cultural Guide With Clinical Applications~, Roshni Sreeram Mohan Kasthuri

Curiosity

With the increasing linguistic diversity rapidly expanding in the United States of America’s (U.S.A.) educational and health care systems, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are increasingly being asked to provide services to individuals who come from multilingual/multicultural backgrounds (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, n.d.). Among these, there are the Tamil-speaking community, representing a classical Dravidian language that has more than 80 million native speakers worldwide (Proof, 2019) and sizeable diasporas in the U.S.A.

This interdisciplinary Tamil guide provides SLPs with the foundational knowledge and information about Tamil phonetics and morphosyntax, while also emphasizing the need for a culturally responsive tool for assessment. This guide …

A Compelling Romance, Kayleigh Kearsley

Curiosity

One of William Shakespeare’s most famous romantic comedies, Much Ado About Nothing, tells the story of two individuals, Claudio and Hero, who quickly fall in love and plan to marry. However, due to another’s nefarious acts, Claudio believes that Hero is unfaithful. He cruelly and publicly shames her at their wedding, leading to her faking her death. In the end, it is revealed that Hero is both innocent and alive, and a double marriage becomes the play’s finale. Though this romance seems to be the focal point of the play, a close reading reveals that the romance between two supporting …

Motherhood Within The Patriarchal Family: Reconstructing Feminism Through "Frankenstein", Yasamin Osqueezadeh

Curiosity

In 1792, pioneering English feminist Mary Wollstonecraft published “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” arguing that women’s rights could only advance if women moved into the male-dominated public sphere, leaving behind household-centered education, traditional marriage structures, and the nuclear family dynamic. In 1818, Wollstonecraft’s daughter Mary Shelley published “Frankenstein,” in which she explored and critiqued women’s permanent and unacknowledged status as caretakers within their households. Whereas Wollstonecraft aimed to dismantle marriage completely, Shelley simultaneously argued to preserve the notion of family and marriage while also reconstructing the gender roles within those dynamics. Through the lack of female representation from …

Effects Of Uv Exposure On Fecundity, Survival, And Performance Of A Stored Grain Pest, Callosobruchus Maculatus, Colby Christensen, Fielding Mumford, Spencer Brinton, Anna Goates, Md Mirajul Islam

Curiosity

Seed beetles (Callosobruchus maculatus) are a pest of stored leguminous grains that can dramatically decrease yields. Management strategies to control infestations of C. maculatus are important for economic and food security. Radiation exposure is one possible management strategy that has shown promise. In two separate course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), we tested how exposure to UV-C light affects C. maculatus fecundity, survival, and performance. Callosobruchus maculatus individuals were exposed to UV-C at two different life-stages: parent and egg exposure during oviposition and larval exposure during development. Whereas UV exposed two-week old eggs experienced slightly increased mortality, no significant …

Seed Endophyte Bacillus Atrophaeus Colonizes Root And Shoot Tissues Providing Antifungal Activity During Wheat Seedling Establishment, Anagha Wankhade, Zhiting Xu, Ashlynn Clark, David Britt

Biological Engineering Student Research

Seed-associated endophytes become active during germination, playing important roles as early colonizers of plant tissues and contributing to plant health while residing in a protective niche. In this study, we characterized a wheat-derived bacterial isolate, JunSE1L, to determine its functional traits and ecological role in the plant microbiome. The isolate was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus based on 16S rRNA analysis. JunSE1L exhibited nutrient-dependent plasticity in colony architecture, forming robust hydrophobic biofilms and pellicles under rich nutrient availability while swarming and forming thin, often dendritic colonies under defined nutrition. JunSE1L produced highly surface-active compounds that lowered the surface tension of water …

Data-Driven Lpv Modeling Via Parametric Dmd And Predictive Control Of Highly Flexible Aircraft, Larry Catalasan, Tianyi He, Weihua Su

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

This paper presents a method of data-driven parametric dynamic mode decomposition (p-DMD) to derive a linear parameter-varying reduced-order model (LPV-ROM) and predictive control for the nonlinear aeroelasticity of highly flexible aircraft. It directly uses the data snapshots obtained at varying flight conditions and encodes a nonlinear model’s polynomial dependency on flight conditions to produce a polynomial-dependent LPV-ROM. The modeling method can handle not only equilibrium flight conditions but also continuously varying flight conditions. In numerical studies, the proposed data-driven p-DMD modeling is applied to a highly flexible cantilever wing perturbed around equilibrium conditions and a flexible aircraft with time-varying angles …

Perceptions Of Care: An Exploratory Case Study On Residents’ Perceptions Of Neighborhood And City Maintenance, Taylor Coats

Transforming Communities

Where one lives impacts both their physical and mental well-being. Though one’s builtenvironment is an important factor, the perception of one’s environment influences mental well-being. This qualitative study examines what influences residents’ perceptions of theirneighborhood and local governmental efforts to maintain and improve their community. Thisstudy utilized a case study methodology to interview residents, stakeholders, and politicians intwo neighborhoods in a mid-sized urban city in the Midwest (N = 16). This study identified threecore aspects that influence participants' perceptions of their neighborhoods and city efforts tomaintain and improve their community: 1) history with the city; 2) geographic location withinsegregated neighborhoods; …

Coenzyme Q10 Improves Functional And Structural Parameters Of Dairy Goat Sperm During Cooling And Cryopreservation, Ranadheer Narlagiri, Abdallah M. Shahat, Courtney Henry, Ashvini Pawar, Niki C. Whitley, Iman B. Shaheed, Mahipal Singh, Brou Kouakou, Irina A. Polejaeva, Adel R. Moawad

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Cryopreservation of gametes is crucial for conserving genetic diversity in livestock and endangered species, but the process can significantly impair sperm quality due to oxidative stress. Our aim was to evaluate the impacts of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on the in vitro quality of cooled and cryopreserved goat semen. Semen samples collected from six mature Saanen bucks were pooled then diluted with AndroMed^® semen extender to a final concentration of 800 × 10⁶ sperm/mL. Diluted semen was supplemented with 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 µM CoQ10. Extended semen was either cooled at 4 °C for 72 …

The Current Status Of Utah Women & Girls: A Research Synopsis: 2026, Susan R. Madsen, Corinne Clarkson

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

In 2025, U.S. News and World Report rated each state using 71 metrics across eight categories. Utah was rated the #1 “Best State Overall” for the third year in a row, ranking first in fiscal responsibility and third in both the economy and infrastructure categories and fourth in education.¹ Utah was also ranked number one for “Economic Outlook” by Rich States, Poor States in 2025, a forward-looking forecast that is based on 15 state policy variables.² WalletHub ranked Utah as the second “Most Charitable State” and the number one state for volunteering and service.³ In addition, ConsumerAffairs …

Heart Initiative January 2025-December 2025, Gabriela Murza, Ashley Yaugher

All Current Publications

This report reviews the Health, Extension, Advocacy, Research, Teaching (HEART) Initiative programming and impacts for 2025. This USU Extension initiative transitioned from a programmatic initiative addressing the opioid epidemic in the most affected counties to a statewide prevention and workforce development model, with programs focused on prevention and education, stigma and harm reduction, strengthening community ties, and resilience building. The programs and resources expand access to evidence-based health and wellness resources, promote community engagement, and support statewide education efforts.

Building Capacity And Inspiring Change: The Impact Of Louisiana’S Ucedd Across The Lifespan, Alicia Kowitz, Constance Alphonse, Phil Wilson, Maria Blanco

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Human Development Center (HDC), as the state’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), serves as a catalyst for inclusive systems change through interdisciplinary training, community engagement, and evidence-based service delivery. This manuscript highlights the breadth and impact of HDC’s initiatives across early childhood, education, transition, and community inclusion. Through programs such as Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood, PAYCheck, and LEND, HDC builds capacity among professionals, empowers individuals with disabilities and their families, and strengthens systems to be more responsive and equitable. The stories and outcomes shared illustrate how intentional, collaborative efforts …

The Impact Of Covid-19 On Longevity Trends And Disparities Among Native Americans And Whites In The Four Corners States, Ashley M. Lenarz, Hyojun Park, Max T. Roberts, Anwesha Pan, Erin Trouth Hofmann, Eric N. Reither

Sociology and Anthropology Student Research

Prior research has shown suboptimal health and longevity among Native Americans in the Four Corners region of the United States, which encompasses Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Our study (1) investigates how life expectancy trends and disparities changed among non-Hispanic Native Americans and Whites in the Four Corners States (FCS) during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) examines the extent to which longevity changes are directly attributable to COVID-19, relative to other causes of death. Data sources include mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Life expectancy at birth for …

Preserving The Harvest: How To Preserve Chokecherries, Callahan K. Adams, Andrea Schmutz

All Current Publications

A treasured wild fruit in Utah and across the Intermountain West, chokecherries offer both cultural heritage and culinary versatility. With proper handling and research-tested preservation methods, you can safely transform them into delicious jellies, syrups, and more. Whether using a steam juicer or stovetop method, following tested recipes and adjusting for elevation ensures both safety and quality. This fact sheet provides information and recipes to safely preserve chokecherries.

Contemporary U.S. Anthromes As Defined By Hanpp Regimes, Aishwarya Chandrasekaran, Kat F. Fowler, Christopher Lant

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The concepts of anthromes and human appropriation of net primary production (HANPP) are both valuable in understanding our human-dominated planet, yet they have never been integrated theoretically or empirically. Here we utilize an extensive county-level dataset on HANPP and its product-level components to derive, through cluster analysis, ten contemporary US anthromes. From highest to lowest density of harvested HANPP, the anthromes are: rainfed corn–soy, dairy fodder, spring wheat–small grain, dryland winter wheat, subtropical soy–cotton, commercial timber, mixed hardwood and pasture, recovered eastern forest, prairie–sagebrush rangeland, and arid and alpine sparse grazing. Expanding to thirteen anthromes maintains these, while bifurcating the …

First Recombinant Expression, Purification, And Film Formation Of A Single Solitary Bee Silk Protein From Osmia Lignaria, Oran Wasserman, Kristin K. Durrant, Jackson J. Morley, Paula E. Oliveira, Mallory R. Wootton, Brianne E. Bell, Ethon D. Van Noy, Randolph V. Lewis, Justin A. Jones

Biology Student Research

Solitary bees account for most described bee species worldwide, with many spinning silk fibers to form protective cocoons during development; however, solitary bee silk proteins remain largely unexplored in recombinant systems and biomaterial fabrication. Here, we report the first recombinant expression and biomaterial formation from a solitary bee silk protein. Osmia lignaria silk fibroin 2 (OligF2) was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) using an expression and purification scheme adapted from a recombinant hagfish intermediate filament (rHIF) workflow, yielding 0.34 g/L at ~70% purity. The purified OligF2 protein was cast into films at 0.75% and 1% (w/v). …

Health Navigation During Pediatric Emergency Department Visits: Addressing Previously Identified Disparities In Unmet Social Needs, Divya Sundar, Quinne Shultz, Tarynn Kerr, Perla Rivera, Maija Holsti, Katharine Osborn

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Unmet social needs (USN) are associated with poorer health outcomes and increased healthcare utilization. Families experiencing USN are more likely to rely on emergency departments (EDs) for care, particularly when preventive care is inaccessible. In 2022, Tedford et al. identified a high prevalence of USN among families presenting to this pediatric emergency department (PED), highlighting the PED as a critical access point for intervention and the need for targeted programs within the same clinical setting.
In January 2024, a Health Navigation course was implemented within the Pediatric Clinical Research Education program at the University of Utah. Undergraduate and graduate students, …

What Happens When A Community Organizes? Five Years Of Coalition Opioid Response In Tooele County, Matt Huntington

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

The Tooele Opioid Response Network (TORN) was formed to address the opioid crisis through
coordinated, community-driven action. Over the past five years, TORN has grown from a small
coalition into a countywide consortium that connects public health, behavioral health,
emergency services, law enforcement, education, and community organizations around a
shared response to substance use.

This presentation will highlight both the reach and the systems-level impact of the network.
Attendees will learn how TORN has engaged hundreds of residents through prevention,
education, awareness, and recovery-focused events, while also advancing larger structural
changes in the community. These include expanded access to treatment, …

Service That Leads Somewhere: Community-Engaged Service As A Career Pathway, Janell C. Torres

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Session outcomes: Understand the elements of a complete service-to-career framework, including credentialling and sector-aligned pathways, identify principles of the service-to-career framework to your program design and pathways to institutionalizing the frameworks, and identify new partners to engage to strengthen and scale a service-to-career pathway approach.

2026 Utah Conference On Community Engagement Program, Utah State University, Erin Jensen

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Conference Program

Preparing A Qualified Workforce To Support The Disability Community Through The Lend Interprofessional Learning Experience, Megan K. Roberts, Beth W. Degrace, Mark J. Fisher, Sandra H. Arnold

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Leadership and workforce preparation are vital roles of the nation’s academic institutions to advance health care services for the members of our communities. Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and other Related Disabilities (LEND) programs aim to prepare leaders in health care services and advocacy to improve systems and the quality of care and supports for the disability community, specifically children with developmental disabilities. LEND programs enhance standard health care pre-service training by providing interdisciplinary learning experiences for student trainees from a minimum of ten disciplines in 300 hours of learning activities over one academic year. An innovative feature of LEND programs …

Brief Reviews Of Books And Products: Theses On The Metaphors Of Digital-Textual History, David Advent

Library Faculty & Staff Publications

Theses on the Metaphors of Digital-Textual History is an exploration of seven key metaphors that Martin Paul Eve, Professor of Literature, Technology, and Publishing at Birkbeck College, University of London, argues have structured our cultural and linguistic understandings of the world around us. Eve organizes the book around eight chapters (“theses”), with each metaphor comprising a separate chapter. The theses are connected thematically in pairs, save for the closing chapter. Eve decodes each metaphor into its basic elements and interweaves the complex digital and textual histories behind each metaphor. Overwhelmingly, Eve wants readers to recognize how striking the parallels are …