Digital Commons Network^™

A Pressure-Based Estimate Of Multi-Orifice Synthetic Jet Performance, Rhett Parry

Student Research Symposium

Synthetic Jets

• Zero-Net Mass Flux
• Wide voltage and frequency response
• Trends with physical and nondimensional parameters

The High Cost Of Substance Use Disorder And Recidivism, Paula Hogg

Student Research Symposium

What policy changes can the Idaho State Criminal Justice System implement to address problems of high incarceration and recidivism rates for individuals with substance use disorder?

The Correlation Between Mental Health And Electronic Media Usage In Adults, Thea Lefave

Student Research Symposium

How does an adult's electronic media usage impact their levels of anxiety and depression and overall emotional well-being?

Distributor-Specific Variability In Balb/C Mouse Mortality Following Sars-Cov-2-Ma10 Infection, Taylor Kerr

Student Research Symposium

In recent years SARS-COV-2 has become a rapidly expanding area of research. To model human infections, this virus was adapted to mice enabling valuable insight into these processes.² Mice are often an effective research model due to their low cost, short reproduction time, and ability to adapt to a wide variety of viruses. Research into these immunological responses is crucial in developing vaccines, treatments, and furthering our understanding of this virus' behavior.¹ However, genetic variability in mouse models may be confounding previous and on-going research.

American Reads Mentor/Tutor, Rivers Tullis

Student Research Symposium

This was a great opportunity to work in the community and to learn how to better work with younger kids. For this past school year I worked for an after-school program at Summit Elementary doing a variety of educational activities. We were able to invite several different organizations to help introduce the kids to new technologies such as drones and coded remote-control cars. This helps kids to think creatively and give them opportunities to find their passion for a potential future career.

Activation Of Enkephalinergic Neurons Modulate Pain Within The Brain, Lucy N. Scribner, Oakley M. Statham, Greydon R. Durrant, Callie M. Newson

Student Research Symposium

The endogenous opioid system, consisting of three neuropeptides and canonical receptors, is ubiquitously expressed throughout the brain and is heavily involved in modulating pain[1]. However, research has placed tremendous focus on investigating the receptors of this system, and less attention has been devoted to the peptides. One such opioid peptide, enkephalin, is notably absent within the pain center of the brain, the periaqueductal gray (PAG)[2]. To further understand the role enkephalins play in modulating pain, we aimed to target and activate specific enkephalin-containing neurons that connect to the PAG. By activating these enkephalinergic projections, we hypothesized that this would lead …

Research Presentation, Cassee Pugmire

Student Research Symposium

• How does childhood environment influence an individual's likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior?
• Home Life Situation
• Parents' Information and Involvement
• Status Offense vs Delinquent Offenses

Effects Of C-Section Birth On Vasopressin 1a Receptors In The Prairie Vole Brain, Caleb Hart

Student Research Symposium

The goal of this study was to understand how the brain might change depending on the birth experience: a vaginal birth or a cesarean section. C-sections have been associated with an increased risk of obesity and other behavioral and metabolic health conditions that are related to the function of hypothalamic hormones in the brain¹. Vasopressin is one neuropeptide hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus and influences a variety of metabolic functions and behaviors, including water balance and social pair bonding². This study used prairie voles to assess the effect of birth experience on the brain …

Gendered Rehabilitation: Male And Female Offenders' Experiences In Reintegration, Ellie Hansen

Student Research Symposium

• Gender: Socially constructed roles, behaviors, and expectations assigned to women, men, girls, and boys (World Health Organization).
• Gender specific (responsive) programing: Tailored interventions addressing distinct learning styles, relationship dynamics, and life circumstances of men and women (The Oregon Intermediate Sanctions for Female Offenders Policy Group 1995).
• Recidivism: Relapse into criminal behavior after sanctions or interventions (NIJ).
• Reentry: The inevitable consequence of incarceration (Visher 2015).
• Rehabilitation: Programs reducing crime by addressing root causes and improving reintegration outcomes (NIJ).
• Reintegration: Reconnecting individuals with societal institutions as both a process and goal (Visher 2015).

Seasonal And Sex-Based Variation In Coyote Responses To Social Olfactory Stimuli, Giuliana Carneiro

Student Research Symposium

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are socially complex, often forming strong pair bonds that can persist across multiple breeding seasons³. Scent marking, particularly urine marking, is a key form of communication used to establish territory, convey reproductive status, and maintain social hierarchies¹. This behavior is influenced by factors such as sex and season, and is central to understanding their social dynamics⁴. This preliminary study is part of a broader investigation into coyote behavior, specifically examining how these factors affect responses to olfactory stimuli from familiar and unfamiliar individuals².

In this study, coyote …

Neonatal Intensive Care Internship, Moroni Butler

Student Research Symposium

Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted to be a part of the Neonatal Intensive Care team and learn to provide the life-saving care they practice each day. My younger brother had bilateral pneumothoraces (holes in the walls of each lung allowing the escape of air). When I visited him in the NICU and saw all the wires and cords attached to his little body, I had the realization that he may never come home. The NICU team saved his life, and I've loved every minute with him since. I wanted to take this position in the NICU …

Drivers Of Recruitment For A Population Of Cutthroat Trout In Northern Utah, Abbigail Lane, Austin Garner

Student Research Symposium

• Understanding recruitment dynamics informs effective management of sensitive populations (Camp et al. 2020).

Latency To Approach Social Olfactory Stimuli In Female Coyotes: Pairmate Vs Sibling, Jenny Malm, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• Scent marking is a common form of communication among mammals, including coyotes¹.

Qualitative Assessment Of Coyote Olfactory Behavior In Response To Urine Stimuli, Sophie Isom, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• The coyote (Canis latrans) marks territorial boundaries with scent cues.¹

Effect Of Prolonged Water Immersion On Isometric Mid-Thigh Pull Performance, Justus Rammell, Joonsun Park, Paxton Castillon

Student Research Symposium

• The aquatic environment may contribute to enhanced muscle strength by promoting cerebral blood flow and cortical activation, potentially driven by hydrostatic pressure-induced cephalad fluid shifts and sensory stimulation during static water immersion.

Mdpk Cell Lines Can Be Used For In Vitro Antiviral Testing With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5n1), Jada L. Westover

Student Research Symposium

• Outbreak in agricultural poultry starting in 2022
• In March 2024 first confirmed case in Dairy Cattle
• Tested drugs T705, Oseltamivir, Baloxivir, Ribavirin, EIDD-2947, and EIDD-2749 on three different cell lines
• Goal: See if MDBK cell lines could be used for in vitro studies

Does Bacillus Mycoides Inhibit The Growth Of Botrytis Cinerea?, Jaymen Brough, Macy Brooks, Jackson Bronsell, Brent Bowler

Student Research Symposium

Botrytis cinerea is a fungal pathogen shown to threaten agricultural stability. In attempts to find biological controls against such pathogens, some bacteria have demonstrated antifungal properties. Among these, Bacillus mycoides has been identified as a potential producer of antifungal agents that may be relevant to agricultural, horticultural, and medical settings (Kahn et al., 2018). In an effort to identify the effectiveness of B. mycoides as an antifungal biological control, we have tested whether Bacillus mycoides inhibits the fungal growth of Botrytis cinerea.

Accuracy Of An Automated Approach To Auditory Brainstem Response Analysis, Katelyn J. Chapman, Jarrod J. Mau, Marlana J. Petersen, Kyler J. Vugteveen, Will J. Allen

Student Research Symposium

• Hearing loss affects 1.5 billion people worldwide [1]
• Hearing loss is primarily diagnosed through pure-tone audiometry
• Pure-tone audiometry is not sensitive to many disorders, especially neural disorders that cause hearing difficulty
• Pure-tone audiometry cannot identify site-of-lesion

Attitudes & Beliefs About Homelessness In Cache County, Rachel Didericksen, Brynlee Wright, Bailee Allred, Natalie Rust

Student Research Symposium

The rise in homelessness at the local level calls for community member engagement in solution-building. In order to inform policy and funding decisions, it is important that we understand what perceptions community members have regarding persons experiencing homelessness (PEH), perceptions of gaps in resources, and the degree of support for expanding resources.

A Difference Of Opinion: How Resilience Can Change Your Life, Haleigh Fors

Student Research Symposium

Racial bias is often a difficult topic to talk about, even though it is a daily occurrence. these prejudices appear in all aspects of the lives of the people who are affected. Mexican Americans are one of the minorities that experience the greatest prejudice because of their race, and these prejudices are not limited by age. Mexican-American children are at the greatest disadvantage because there is little they can do to change their situations, and it becomes even more difficult when you consider that many children also do not have the support of their parents.

My analysis serves to consider …

Exploring The Role Of Ethanol In Bumblebee-Yeast Interactions, Austen Grizzell

Student Research Symposium

Why care? Bumblebees are known to be attracted to yeasts present in nectar when foraging. Yeasts produce ethanol via fermentation of sugars found in flower nectar and bee honey. Ethanol may act as a foraging cue for bumblebee species. This has wider implications for plant-pollinator interactions, including the pollination of dozens of bumblebee-pollinated crops such as tomato, eggplant, and strawberries.

Designing To Harmonize With The Environment, Demi Harmon

Student Research Symposium

Architecture has the power to either disrupt or harmonize with the natural environment. This research explores how buildings can be designed to blend seamlessly with their environment through three key principles: form integration, material integration, and site-adaptive design. By studying how natural landscapes shape architectural form, how locally sourced materials create harmony, and how buildings can work with rather than alter topography, this project highlights strategies for designing spaces that feel like an organic part of their surroundings. Through case studies of successful projects, this research demonstrates that thoughtful design can enhance both the built and natural worlds, proving that …

A Novel Method For Deriving The Binaural Interaction Component And Its Association With Spatial Listening Ability In Adults, Kate M. Fisher, Marlana J. Petersen, Mindee Anderson, Annika P. Williams

Student Research Symposium

• Spatial listening helps children detect and focus on specific sounds in noisy environments.
• Classrooms require filtering relevant speech (e.g., teacher's voice) from background noise, which is challenging without strong spatial listening skills.

Does Peer Influence Impact Substance Use Intentions In Pre-Adolescence? A Longitudinal Examination, Aubrey Low

Student Research Symposium

• Substance use in adolescent populations remains a significant public health concern. Although many studies have explored the association between peer influence and adolescents' substance use intentions, little has focused on how pre-adolescent populations are impacted by peer influence and their susceptibility to substance use. This gap in knowledge presents to be concerning given the increased vulnerability to social pressures during this developmental stage. This study aims to close this gap by investigating the association of the role of peer influence in shaping pre-adolescents' intent to use substances.

Designing For Everyone: The Impact Of Ada In Interior Design, Mimi Miyazawa

Student Research Symposium

In interior design, everyone is considered in the design process to ensure each place is safe, functional, and comfortable. ADA (American Disability Act) is always used in public buildings and is considered for individuals and families in residential buildings. Interior designers ensure places can be usable. This also helps companies prevent lawsuits and become more friendly, allowing people to trust and feel welcome.

Utilizing Enzymatic Microalgae Hydrolysates For Cellular Agriculture, Maelyn Andreasen, Sophia Hessami, Eli Sheley, Elise Barton

Student Research Symposium

UPSIDE Foods is working to produce chicken products to address the growing global food insecurity crisis.¹ Industrial scalability is limited due to the requirements of cell culture. Through collaboration with the company, we are working to supplement their existing media to drive costs down and improve cell viability.

Learning To Laugh At The Bomb: Las Vegas & Atomic Testing, Max Demers-Wolf

Student Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Effects Of The Built Environment On Intergenerational Interaction, Hyrum Worth

Student Research Symposium

What are the effects of intergenerational interaction? Who do they impact, and how?

Motivations For Engaging In Act Guide: An Online Digital Mental Health Intervention, Willa Freeman, Danny Cottle

Student Research Symposium

Mental Health in the United States

• 24% of Americans, 60 million, experienced a mental health concern in the past year (Reinert et al., 2024).
• In 2024, 1 in 4 adults with continuous mental distress could not see a doctor due to cost (Reinert et al., 2024).
• Online programs can help provide resources to improve quality of life that are cost-effective and easily accessible

How Does Social Media Influence The Self-Perceived Well-Being Of Rural Residents?, Danalee Welch-O'Donnal

Student Research Symposium

No abstract provided.