Digital Commons Network^™

Revised Unsteady Drag Force And Its Impact On Particle Dynamics At High Reynolds Numbers, Ahmad Talaei, Timothy J. Garrett

Physics Student Research

The accurate modeling of particle motion in viscous fluids at high Reynolds numbers remains a fundamental challenge, particularly under unsteady flow conditions where nonlinear effects dominate. This study introduces a revised unsteady drag formulation, extending its applicability beyond previous studies. By integrating classical solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations, the new formulation overcomes the limitations of the Maxey–Riley–Gatignol (MRG) equation, addressing non-physical memory effects associated with Basset drag and extending its applicability to higher Reynolds numbers.

Through experimental comparisons and direct numerical simulations (DNS), the revised equation of motion is compared to the MRG equation, both during steady-state conditions and non-equilibrium …

Transition To Organic: Alfalfa Production In Utah, Earl Creech, Ryan Larsen, Marion Murray, Jennifer R. Reeve, Michele Schahczenski

All Current Publications

Transitioning to organic production may not require drastic operational changes on the part of the producer, as alfalfa production lends itself to more organic practices by default. Producers may decide to transition to certified organic production to capture organic price premiums, access niche market opportunities, reduce the use of synthetic inputs, meet growing consumer demand, enact personal values around environmental stewardship, and support soil and biodiversity conservation. Whatever a grower’s motivation, this fact sheet covers transitioning to organic production through understanding organic production systems, the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations, and crop-specific considerations.

What Utahns Can Do To Strengthen Girls & Women: Findings From Community Conversations Across Utah, Corinne Clarkson, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

For many people, Utah is a great place to live.¹ The state consistently ranks high in national rankings and boasts high volunteerism, affordability, happiness, outdoor recreation, social mobility, and more.² These top rankings emphasize qualities we can—and should—be pleased with. However, extensive research continues to show that women and girls are not thriving in many critical ways, and that has detrimental effects for Utah families and communities.³ From economic insecurity, limited access to mental healthcare, sexism in the workplace, and unequal representation in all sectors of leadership, Utah women face a myriad of challenges, often without the …

A First Look Into Parental Strategies, And Challenges Around Children’S Device Usage In Urban Nepal, Rizu Paudel, Prakriti Dumaru, Ankit Shrestha, Mahdi Nasrullah Al-Ameen

Computer Science Student Research

There have been substantial changes in the landscape of technology use by children in Global South during COVID-19, when the shift to online learning platforms necessitated parents to avail personal devices (e.g., smartphones, computers) for their children to fulfill their educational needs. However, the use of devices by children are not limited to serving educational purpose only. Our study positions itself in a critical post-pandemic period in Nepal, characterized by the increase in device use by children, while a little study to date, investigated parental mediation in this developing country. To this end, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 parents, …

Mulberry Leaf Disease Detection By Cnn-Vit With Xai Integration, Mohammad Asif Hasan, Fariha Haque, Hasan Sarker, Rafae Abdullah, Tonmoy Roy, Nishat Taaha, Yeasin Arafat, Abdul Karim Patwary, Mominul Ahsan, Julfikar Haider

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

Mulberry leaf disease detection is vital for maintaining the health and productivity of mulberry crops. In this paper, a novel approach was proposed by integrating explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques with a convolutional neural network (CNN) and vision transformer (ViT) for effective mulberry leaf disease classification with three disease classes. Initially, in this proposed CNN-ViT model, features are extracted using a customized CNN architecture, and then the extracted features are fed into ViT for leaf disease classification in a more streamlined approach. The CNN-ViT model achieved promising results with a projection dimension of 64, utilizing 8 heads and 8 transformer …

Convergence Research For Microplastic Pollution At The Watershed Scale, Heejun Chang, Elise Granek, Amanda Gannon, Jordyn M. Wolfand, Janice Brahney

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Microplastics are found in Earth's atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere, and ecosphere. While there is a growing interest and need to solve this grand challenge in both the academic and policy realms, few have engaged with academics, policymakers, and community partners to co-identify the problem, co-design research, and co-produce knowledge in tackling this issue. Using a convergence research framework, we investigated the perception of microplastic pollution among different end users, delivered educational materials to K-12 teachers and practitioners, and identified key sampling points for assessing environmental microplastic concentrations in the Columbia River Basin, United States. Three community partner workshops identified regional …

Gnss Technology, Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL presentation on GNSS Technology

Enhancing Stability And Emissions In Metal Halide Perovskite Nanocrystals Through Mn2+ Doping, Thi Thu Trinh Phan, Thi Thuy Kieu Nguyen, Trung Kien Mac, Minh Tuan Trinh

Chemistry and Biochemistry Student Research

Metal halide perovskite (MHP) nanocrystals (NCs) offer great potential for high-efficiency optoelectronic devices; however, they suffer from structural softness and chemical instability. Doping MHP NCs can overcome this issue. In this work, we synthesize Mn-doped methylammonium lead bromide (MAPbBr₃) NCs using the ligand-assisted reprecipitation method and investigate their structural and optical stability. X-ray diffraction confirms Mn²⁺ substitution at Pb²⁺ sites and lattice contraction. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements show a blue shift, significant PL quantum yield enhancement, reaching 72% at 17% Mn²⁺ doping, and a 34% increase compared to undoped samples, attributed to effective defect passivation and …

Comparison Of Gravity Waves Observed By Atmospheric Waves Experiment (Awe) And Simulated By High-Resolution Waccm-X, Jiarong Zhang, Han-Li Liu, Yucheng Zhao, Dominique Pautet, Ludger Scherliess, Michael Taylor

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Outline

Data: AWE and High-Resolution Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model with thermosphere and ionosphere extension (HR-WACCMX) simulation

• Quantify gravity wave (GW) activity
• Compare GW activity observed by AWE and simulated by high-resolution WACCMX
• GW activity over Western Europe

Irrigation Companies: Perspectives In The Great Salt Lake Basin, Bailey M. Holdaway, Courtney G. Flint

Environment and Society Student Research

In an effort to better understand the water management practices of Utah irrigation companies within the Great Salt Lake Basin, interviews and surveys were conducted with company representatives. These discussions aimed to capture insights across a variety of key topics related to water resource management. This report describes the interview and survey efforts undertaken to assess these irrigation companies. Findings from both interviews and surveys are organized by question topic and then by theme.

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

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

Purpose

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

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

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Faculty Publications

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

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

Aspen Bibliography

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

Geometric Calibration Of Near Focus Infrared (Ir) Sensors For Spacecraft Missions, Alex Allgrunn

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

SDL Presentation on Geometric Calibration of Near Focus IR Sensors for Spacecraft Missions

Microstructural Characterization Of Sheet Lamination-Based Additively Manufactured Fiber-Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites, Samiul Alam, Devin Young, Dae Han Sung, Juhyeong Lee

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Additive manufacturing (AM) of fiber-reinforced composites has garnered significant interest for its versatility in creating intricate parts and rapid prototyping. Short fiber-reinforced composites are typically fabricated through fused deposition modeling (FDM), but they possess several challenges including limited fiber volume fraction, low printing speed, and low throughput for industry scales. Composite-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) is a novel sheet laminationbased AM process, combining non-woven fabric reinforcement with thermoplastic materials to fabricate three-dimensional objects. CBAM offers notable advantages over FDM, including the potential for achieving higher fiber volume fractions and faster production rates, making it a promising technology for further investigation in …

Microstructure-Based Homogenization Of Elastic Properties In Additively Manufactured Thermoplastic Composites, Md Tareq Hassan, Samiul Alam, Juhyeong Lee

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Student Publications and Presentations

Additive manufacturing (AM) of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites has emerged as a promising technology, enabling the fabrication of lightweight, complex geometries with reduced material waste and lower production costs. Among various AM methods, composites-based additive manufacturing (CBAM) has gained attention for its rapid prototyping and producing parts with enhanced mechanical properties. Regardless of these benefits, CBAM-printed composites may inherently possess a certain level of defects introduced during the manufacturing process, such as voids, microcracks, and non-uniform porosity. To address these challenges, understanding the relationship between microstructural characteristics and effective mechanical properties is critical. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) is a powerful technique for …

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

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

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

Women And Stem − A 2025 Update, Robyn C. Blackburn, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Although the term STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) was coined in 2001 by Judith A. Ramaley of the National Science Foundation and had been used informally in the previous decade,¹ the push for STEM in the US began in the 1950s with Russia launching Sputnik and the US subsequently pouring billions of dollars into educating students to ensure the nation became a technological global power. However, the gender gap in STEM fields today reduces the innovation that could be achieved with more unique perspectives contributing to the field. Closing the gender gap in STEM is vital because scientific …

Detecting Burn Severity And Vegetation Recovery After Fire Using Dnbr And Dndvi Indices: Insight From The Bosco Difesa Grande, Gravina In Southern Italy, Somayeh Zahabnazouri, Patrick Belmont, Scott David, Peter E. Wigand, Mario Elia, Domenico Capolongo

Watershed Sciences Faculty Publications

Wildfires serve a paradoxical role in landscapes—supporting biodiversity and nutrient cycling while also threatening ecosystems and economies, especially as climate change intensifies their frequency and severity. This study investigates the impact of wildfires and vegetation recovery in the Bosco Difesa Grande forest in southern Italy, focusing on the 2017 and 2021 fire events. Using Google Earth Engine (GEE) accessed in January 2025, we applied remote sensing techniques to assess burn severity and post-fire regrowth. Sentinel-2 imagery was used to compute the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI); burn severity was derived from differenced NBR (dNBR), and …

From Paywalls To Practice: Accessing And Using Evidence For Community Impact, Jayme Walters, Becky Thoms, Kacy Lundstrom, Rachel Blume

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Leaders and practitioners have a responsibility to utilize reputable, up-to-date research to inform their work in communities. However, peer-reviewed literature is often hidden behind paywalls, with an average cost of $30-$50 per article. An increase in predatory publishing has also made it difficult for readers to decipher reliable articles from those that are of poor quality. Additionally, even when openly accessible to readers, peer-reviewed articles are generally written by academic researchers for other academic researchers, resulting in articles that are too dense both in length and readability. This workshop will equip participants with practical strategies for locating and identifying quality, …

Community Strategy For Equitable Home Electrification, Alyson Bergomi, Kelbe Goupil, Kevin Emerson

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

Between 2021-2023, Utah Clean Energy collaborated with four community partners to develop the Community Strategy for Equitable Home Electrification. This involved developing an understanding of the barriers and challenges to home electrification, creating a vision statement for equitable home electrification, developing four high-priority solutions to the barriers to home electrification, and creating several action steps for each solution, all based on community input. This document is intended to inform and guide the design and implementation of programs and policies related to home efficiency and electrification that are intended to expand access for low-income and disadvantaged communities.

Engaging Youth In Community Problem Solving Through Community Partnerships, Kim Hales, Catherine Jurado, Mercedis Zismer

Utah Conference on Community Engagement

This panel discussion will present a community-engaged project in which four community partners work with youth in the context of a USU ENG 1010 or USU ENG 2010 writing assignment. This assignement asks students to identify a problem in their community by which they are directly impacted. The student then works with the community partner to document the problem and to brainstorm possible solutions to the issue. The panel will invite audience members to share their experiences with similarly designed assignments and to offer input, critique, and suggestions. Audience members will also be invited to ask questions to the panel …

An Adaptation Of Nonlinear Aerodynamic Models For Non-Traditional Control Effectors, Christian R. Bolander, Douglas F. Hunsaker

Engineering Education Faculty Publications

This paper presents the development of a novel aerodynamic model tailored for the Bio-Inspired Rotating Empennage (BIRE), a non-traditional fixed-wing aircraft empennage inspired by avian flight. The BIRE replaces the conventional vertical stabilizer with an extra degree of freedom for the horizontal stabilizer, which is allowed to rotate about the body-fixed x axis. This empennage is similar to the tail of a bird, and allows control of both longitudinal and lateral moments. However, such a design introduces complex nonlinear longitudinal and lateral aerodynamic interactions, not typically accounted for in most fixed-wing aircraft aerodynamic models below stall. This work presents a …

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

Utah Space Grant Consortium

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

Mapping And Examining Recreation In Indian Creek, Bears Ears National Monument, Elisabeth Currit, Neil Hansen, Brigham Daniels, Alex Long, Katy Merritt, Mary Proteau, Sam Spackman

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Recreation is growing in desert areas of the western United States, and mapping the expansion of these activities is vital to management and conservation efforts. Desert ecosystems provide many critical ecosystem services, including carbon storage, and the growing popularity of outdoor recreation in Western US desert regions poses a threat to these ecosystems. Unregulated recreational activities can harm desert plant and soil health, including the functioning of biological soil crusts. This research project focuses on mapping several types of popular recreational activities in order to monitor and evaluate the impact of these activities within the Indian Creek areas of Bears …

Multi-Point Fabrication Of Terahertz Metal Mesh Filters, Jared E. Payne, Brad Ferguson, Christian Chinh, Gregory N. Nielson, Stephen M. Schultz

Utah Space Grant Consortium

A metal mesh filter is fabricated by creating metallic squares on a dielectric substrate. This capacitive metallic filter is fabricated using direct write laser ablation consisting of a femtosecond laser in combination with a high numerical aperture objective. A multipoint fabrication approach is employed by using a holographic beam splitter element to split the beams into several identical gaussian beams. The transmission and reflection characteristics are discussed.

Surface Impact Dissociation Of Neutralized Ions: Studying Unimolecular Gas-Phase Reactions In The Context Of Cassini Inms Data, Dallin Tyger, Brandon Judd, Elijah Pehrson, Noah Durst, Daniel E. Austin

Utah Space Grant Consortium

Analysis of spaceborne analytes using mass spectrometers is complicated by hypervelocity impacts (v > 6 km s^-1), which induce dissociative scattering of analyte molecules and obscure compositional signatures. However, neutral dissociative scattering remains poorly understood due to the lack of controlled experimental data. To address this gap, we are developing the Surface Impact Neutralization Dissociation Instrument (SINDI), a laboratory platform that reproduced and analyzes these processes under controlled conditions. SINDI implements a two-stage experiment. First, mass-selected ions are accelerated onto a gold-plated surface to induce neutralization and dissociation. Second, following dissociation, the resulting neutral fragments are adsorbed onto …

Ultra-Low Power Adcs For Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry Of Martian Dust, Eric Christie, Wood Chiang

Utah Space Grant Consortium

This paper presents a complete system integration strategy for a proven Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry (CDMS) instrument designed to analyze charged dust particles on Mars. To enable deployment in a power-constrained rover environment, an ultra-low supply voltage (ULV) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is required. ADC architectures operating below 0.21 V are compared to identify candidates that meet the system's stringent power and performance demands. A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO)-based ADC is proposed and for ULV operation. Circuit-level implementations of VCO topologies are designed and evaluated in the TSMC 28 nm CMOS process using Cadence simulations. Based on simulation results, a VCO-CDAC topology …

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

Utah Space Grant Consortium

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

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

Utah Space Grant Consortium

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