Digital Commons Network^™

Low-Cost Orchard Vehicle Location Tracker, Kobe Yost

Student Research Symposium

GPS signal often fails under the canopy of orchards.

This research provides a solution to harvest location tracking without solely relying on the use of GPS.

Reliable speed and distance tracking results in accurate yield mapping and orchard management.

Qualitative Findings From A Pilot Study Of A Single Session Digital Mental Health Intervention For Adults With A Recent Dementia Diagnosis, Sharon Benson, Shanna Peterson, Lindy Strand

Student Research Symposium

Dementia and Mental Health

• A dementia diagnosis significantly impacts life, leading to higher rates of mental health issues like depression and anxiety (Leung, 2021), and reducing well-being and quality of life (Martyr , 2018).

• Most Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) interventions for individuals with dementia (IwD) are designed for in-person completion and typically range from 6 to 50 sessions. The length and extensive resource requirements can pose barriers for IwD.

• Digital, online interventions can address these barriers.

A Curriculum Development Study: Crafting And Teaching Curricula For Ell Students In China, Kayleigh Kearsley

Student Research Symposium

Learning Target: Today I want to teach you that good readers identify key moments in a story in order to understand the plot. One way to do this is by tracking character’s emotions.

Can Walkability Solve Utah's Housing Shortage?, Jordan Taft

Student Research Symposium

52,000

Housing Units Short (2022)

1,445,808

Projected New UT Households (by 2023)

$510,867

Median Home Price

Anthropological Perspectives Of The Relationship Between Landscape And Human Health In The Neo-Assyrian Empire, Sydnee Jensen

Student Research Symposium

Drought can directly impact human health through agriculture. In the distant past, human health data is limited, however we can use studying agricultural data to gain insight into the impacts of drought on human health. This study focuses on phytoliths from animal diets in to shed light on human health during the Assyrian Empire (911 – 609 BCE), an agrarian empire that declined during an arid period.

Automatic Aurora Detection, Cameron Eggleston

Student Research Symposium

Aurorae happen when particles in the earth’s magnetosphere become excited and emit visible light. Below is a picture that shows this process more meaningfully:

The colors of each aurora is determined by these electrons as well. Below is a diagram showing where the different colors of aurora come from. In addition to being nice to look at, aurorae can be caused by Coronal Mass Ejections(CMEs). CMEs can affect radio communication, power grids, GPS systems, and more.

Expressing And Purifying Homologs Of Crispr Systems, Gabe Parrish

Student Research Symposium

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeat)-Cas (CRISPR- associated) is a protein-nucleic acid adaptive immune system in Bacterial and Archaeal organisms that defends against invading foreign genetic material.

Terra Sol Retreat: Combining Ancient Building Principles And Modern Technology To Design A Sustainable Desert Resort, Christian Graham

Student Research Symposium

Ancient desert civilizations developed ingenious building techniques to adapt to extreme heat, scarce water, and harsh winds. One of the most effective strategies was the use of thermally massive materials such as adobe, rammed earth, and stone, which absorbed heat during the day and released it at night, creating natural temperature regulation. The Navajo (Diné) hogan, a traditional dwelling of the American Southwest, exemplifies this principle. Hogan walls were often built with packed earth and timber, providing insulation against both the searing daytime heat and the frigid desert nights. Their circular shape also helped distribute heat evenly, while the entrance …

Effects Of Cbt For Anxiety On Sleep Quality (A Proposed Study), Brin Bement

Student Research Symposium

Good sleep has consistently been associated with good mental and physical health, yet nearly 1 in 5 Americans report sleep disturbances. Sleep-related problems (SRPs) are highly comorbid with anxiety, and the two variables have a bidirectional relationship.

Exercise And Its Effect On The Nad Content Of Tissues In Niacin Deficient Mice With Free Choice Running Wheels, Stellaluna Star

Student Research Symposium

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) content of tissues decreases over time during aging. In our study, we determine if physical exercise has an effect on the NAD content in tissues of transgenic mice that were NAD- deficient because of vitamin B3-free diet. The underlying hypothesis of this study is that exercise can prevent NAD decline and maintain higher level of NAD in tissue. A potential impact of this study is that exercise could be used to lengthen healthspan compared to individuals not participating in any physical exercise.

Audiovisual Translation Bridges Cultural Gaps, Annalee Thompson

Student Research Symposium

Audiovisual translation includes dubbing, subtitling, surtitling, and voiceover of media. Each variation has different implications and considerations considered in the translation.

• Subtitling/Surtitling requires condensing of dialog and descriptive messaging to fit in the space. Translators may choose to adapt the message to the target audience or not.

• Dubbing/Voiceover requires creative solutions to match up the translation with the exact timing of the original gestures and body language. More domestication of the message is required to make the media flow for the target audience in the same way it flows for the original audience.

Reading Assessment For English Language Learners, Natalli Hull

Student Research Symposium

“When Stars Are Scattered” by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

The book follows Omar and his nonverbal, epileptic younger brother, Hassan, as they navigate life in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya, focusing on their daily struggles, the importance of education, and the hope for a better future.

How Has Lgbtq+ Representation In Media Influenced The Perceptions And Identities Among Both Lgbtq+ And Non-Lgbtq+ Individuals Ages 18-24?, Miki Beckstrom

Student Research Symposium

The modern era has allowed for a new age of storytelling. As our society continues to diversify, the question we must ask ourselves, how is the media we consume reflective of our society? Internet discourse surrounding representation of race, sexuality, and gender have continued to infiltrate our community and be a topic of contention. This study hopes to explore both the positive and adverse effects that LGBTQ+ representation in media can have.

Tiny Fixers, Big Impact: Can This Bacteria Replace Your Fertilizer?, Jocelynn Burton, Abby Feragen, Tyler Miller, Landen Winder

Student Research Symposium

If cultured on a media lacking available nitrogen, then our isolated bacteria will continue to proliferate through the assimilation of nitrogen available in the air.

Slam Dunks And Social Media: The Rise Of Usu Men's Basketball On The Court And Online, Isabel Howell

Student Research Symposium

Branding is everything in the world of sports. A large part of a team’s success comes from their branding, and an essential part of that is social media. The USU men’s basketball team has had an eventful and memorable season, but that’s not just due to their success on the court. The Aggies have been very active on social media, engaging students, fans and viewers across the country. Since January, the team’s Instagram handle has shared hundreds of different posts, from post-game highlights, event and game promotion, and behind-the-scenes of the beloved players. This research dives into some of the …

2017 Seasonal Variation Of Atmospheric Gravity Waves Above Rothera Station, Antarctica, Elijah Kroeber, Zhao Yucheng, Pautet Dominique, Taylor Michael

Student Research Symposium

As a part of the international Antarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network (ANGWIN), Utah State University operates an infrared (IR) all-sky imager at the British Rothera Station in Antarctica (67°34’S, 68°07’W) which observes several hydroxyl (OH) emission bands.

Human Centered Library Design, Myriam Musgrave

Student Research Symposium

Odyssey Childrens Library is designed as a dynamic and adaptable space that fosters learning, creativity, and community engagement. Inspired by the ocean, the architecture and interiors reflect fluid, organic forms and a calming yet invigorating color palette. The layout balances open, social areas with quiet, reflective spaces, ensuring a welcoming environment for all users. With a focus on flexibility, the library includes adaptable study rooms, a collaborative makerspace, and a multi-purpose community area that can host events, workshops, and group activities. Thoughtful wayfinding, varied seating options, and intuitive zoning create a seamless user experience. The Odyssey Library is more than …

Electron-Phonon Coupling In Copper, Joseph Pigott

Student Research Symposium

The behavior of metals is all about the motion and behavior of the metal's electrons. When interactions between the electrons and vibrations in the crystal lattice (phonons) are considered, the electrons act as if they are "heavier" than they otherwise would be. This is accounted for by introducing the mass- enhancement parameter λ, which represents the strength of electron- phonon interactions. This study explores whether λ can be accurately calculated by comparing literature data for two known quantities: the electronic coefficient of specific heat and the density of states at the Fermi energy.

The Applicability Of A/B Testing In Clinical Trials, Carlie Prinster

Student Research Symposium

• A/B Testing is a study method that allows researchers to compare two different options in a variety of different contexts, most usually in a business context (i.e.: font color).

• A/B Testing is starting to used in biostatistical application, such as for clinical trial recruitment improvement.

• A study done by previous researchers aimed to apply A/B Testing to clinical trial recruitment improvement.

• My goal was to build a model that used the data from this study but implement a dependent structure.

Sorella Women's Center - Fortifying Community Through Trauma-Informed Design, Melayne Dunlap

Student Research Symposium

Sorella Women’s Center is a trauma-informed community resource designed to support and empower women, particularly survivors of domestic violence, who often face limited access to critical services. Rooted in the principles of safety and trust, choice and empowerment, collaboration and community, and beauty and joy, the center provides a welcoming, accessible space for healing and growth. Sorella offers legal advocacy, emotional support, mental health resources, and skill-building opportunities to help survivors regain autonomy and build strong, supportive networks. By fostering connection and resilience, Sorella seeks to break the cycle of abuse, countering the isolation that so often sustains it.

How Do The Implications Of A Juvenile's Surroundings Genuinely Affect Them And Their Upbringing?, Ramon Ramirez

Student Research Symposium

Traditional theories assume that socioeconomic status and residential mobility in a neighborhood are linked to criminal behavior, but the findings showed that variations in ethnic composition didn’t have a significant effect.

Effects Of Rapid Temperature Change On Soil Microbe Growth, Jordan Donahue, Gabby Pulsipher, Caylee Roe, Halli Fuller

Student Research Symposium

Many bacterial microbes have a maximum growth curve at 29-37 degrees Celsius. But, many microbes, like those found in soils, are exposed to the elements rather than an incubator. As the weather is becoming more unpredictable due to climate change, are our soil microbes suffering? If they are, we may be at risk of losing novel sources of antibiotics before they are discovered.

Effects Of Uv Radiation On Algae Biofilms Of Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactors, Rebecca Sweeten

Student Research Symposium

Goal: Discover effects of UV-A and UV-B radiation on the biofilm production of algae using a Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactor (RABR)

Method: Expose 3 RABRs in triplicate to UV-A, UV-B, and PAR to identify differences in biomass, nutrient uptake and pH levels.

Results: RABR’s under UV-B light have the highest productivity

From Home To Campus: Multicultural Experiences On The Usu Campus, Baruja Javeed, Tian Xiao

Student Research Symposium

• Interview study
• Purpose: Explore multicultural students’ experiences on USU campus

Digital Audience: The Bystander Effect On Social Media, Riley Carlisle

Student Research Symposium

In the United States, cyberbullying is a massive problem that shows no sign of slowing down. - Cyberbullying effects 46% of teens aged 13-17 (Vogels, 2022)

- We are more connected than ever before

- Cyberbullying will only increase as we become more connected over social media

Ion-Induced Electron Yield Database Development Through Data Mining For Exploratory Data Analysis And Predictive Analytics, Trace Taylor

Student Research Symposium

• What is ion yield and what affects it?

• Why create a database?

• Status of the database

• Ion yield data comparisons

• Conclusions

• Future work

Wishes In The Digital Age: How Make-A-Wish Transforms Lives Through Social Media, Haleigh Deming

Student Research Symposium

Make-A-Wish is an inspiring nonprofit organization whose mission is to create life changing experiences by granting wishes to children with critical illnesses. Along with countless donations and volunteers, Make-A-Wish uplifts families by spreading the word and promoting wishes throughout multiple social media platforms.

Connections Around The Globe: Duolingo's Unique Approach To Expanding Its Target Audience Through K-Pop, Savanna Seal

Student Research Symposium

In the contemporary marketing landscape, brands must forge genuine connections with their target audiences to cultivate engagement and loyalty.

Are Rotating Black Holes Rigid?, Luis Fernando Temoche

Student Research Symposium

What is rigidity for a black hole?

Harmonic Series: Fundamentals, Physics And Sound, Emmarose Santa Maria

Student Research Symposium

• The relationship between math and music has been one of the many wonders of nature (White & White, 2014).
• While the two fields may seem unrelated, physics is the driving force behind the production of music.
• Modern musical systems are based on intervals and ratios that were first discovered by Pythagoras and the production of sound is based on waves (Bain, 2003).