Digital Commons Network^™

Barriers To Seeking Help, Randall Haws

Student Research Symposium

• One of the major barriers to completion of an academic degree is completing the mathematics or statistics requirement
• Studies indicate that college mathematics course have the highest rates of withdrawal and failure of any category of college courses
• Research indicates failure or withdrawal from a college course has a significant impact on the resilience and persistence in college

Benefit Of Harp Music In A Music Therapy Setting, Emma Christensen

Student Research Symposium

Music therapy is an evidence based form of arts therapy that utilizes music in order to achieve non musical goals. Music therapy is an accessible, personalized form of therapy that utilizes music making in the forms of improvisation, composition, reception, and performance. This often includes, but is not limited to, the use of guitar, piano, and singing.

While not the most common instrument used in music therapy settings, the harp has a reputation for bringing peace and comfort to listeners due to the timbre and resonance of the instrument. With its similarities to the harp, research on the monochord table …

Examining Cultural Competency In Audiologists Across The United States: A Pilot Survey, Olivia Montoya

Student Research Symposium

• Cultural competency refers to the ability of systems to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors, including tailoring delivery to meet patients' social, cultural, and linguistic needs (Betancourt, 2002).

• Limited studies to date have explored the implementation of cultural competence in audiology, which begs the question of how audiologists are fighting against—instead of contributing to—healthcare disparities among ethnic minorities.

Freedom To Change: Comparing U.S. And Norwegian Recidivism, Sofia Low

Student Research Symposium

The U.S. criminal justice system is set up to fail those leaving!

Utah's Farm To Fork Landscape: Stakeholders' Perspectives On Root Causes And Potential Solutions, Utsav Bhandari

Student Research Symposium

• Farm to Fork encourages direct connection between producers and consumers reducing the intermediaries (i.e., schools, pre-schools, daycare centers, etc.)
• Empowers local producers, boosts the local economy, enhances physical and mental well-being, and promotes self-sufficiency
• Utah's Farm to Fork Task Force was formed in 2015

Gastric Survivability Of Streptomyces Narbonensis, Laramie Johnson, Laurel Hilterbrand, Ephraim Mohr, Eliza Lewis

Student Research Symposium

Human sciences and medicine have continually been advancing, and taken off in the last few centuries. This has included the development of many new medicines, antibiotics, and disinfectants. Antibiotics have to be able to survive and perform its duty within the human body, despite the changes in pH that occur naturally within the body in response to stimuli (Cotter, 2003). If a bacteria is unable to adapt to the pH environment of the human body in which it is placed, it will not be able to survive and continue to reproduce. The bacteria may be able to adapt via membrane …

Mid-Century Modern Design's Influence On Homes Of Today, Michael Lowe

Student Research Symposium

Mid century modern design emerged after the end of World War 2 with its height between 1930's-60's. There was a sense of optimism and a sense of wanting to move on from the tragedy and devestation the war had inflicted.

Color And Behavior Theory In Mental Wellness Centers, Abigail Johnson

Student Research Symposium

Color significantly influences human behavior, mood, and cognition, making it a powerful tool in design. Different colors evoke specific emotional and psychological responses due to their wavelength, cultural associations, and personal experiences. Understanding how color affects behavior helps create spaces that support desired outcomes, such as relaxation, focus, or social engagement.

Mathematical Modeling Of Color Perception Using Differential Equation, Siavash Pooretemad

Student Research Symposium

Color perception begins in the retina, where three cone types (L, M, S) detect light and initiate neural signals. These signals are processed by horizontal and bipolar cells to form opponent color channels: red-green (RG), yellow-blue (YB), and light-dark (LD). Perception is not solely based on physical input but also shaped by neural adaptation and context.

This project models color perception using a differential equation approach, simulating how color contrast and adaptation emerge from interactions between photoreceptors and lateral inhibition.

We hypothesize that a system of differential equations can model how retinal cone cells respond to and process light intensity, …

Laparoscopic Articulating Arm: In Collaboration With The Xenocor Saberscope, Zac Hastings, Lizbeth Pugliese, Rebecca Sweeten, Dallin Thomas, Dallin Treasure-Areno

Student Research Symposium

• Laparoscopy a minimally invasive procedure performed through small incisions using a laparoscope, a camera-equipped instrument, along with specialized tools.

• Laparotomy or "open" surgery, requires a large incision to perform an abdominal operation.

Housing Attainability In The Bear River Area, Peyton Reynolds

Student Research Symposium

Utahns are experiencing numerous challenges related to affording, securing, and maintaining housing.

The Importance Of High-Quality & Culturally Sensitive Maternity Centers, Dani Merrick

Student Research Symposium

Culturally sensitive maternity care is essential for improving maternal and infant health, especially in underserved communities. Despite the U.S. spending $111 billion annually on maternal care, the country experiences some of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates among high-income nations. Limited access to prenatal and postnatal care increases birth complications, preterm births, and postpartum health issues, particularly in rural areas. Research shows that community-based maternal health models, including midwifery and doula services, improve outcomes by addressing social determinants of health and increasing access to care. By offering prenatal exams, education, counseling, prenatal massage, and midwife-led deliveries, maternity centers can …

Rurality: A Secondary & Post-Secondary Perspective, Emmalee Folsom

Student Research Symposium

How can we as secondary educators push rural students to embrace their rural identities in conjunction with their academic skills to not only become powerful members of society, but to see themselves as candidates for post-secondary education?

Latinx Education: Catalyst For Permanent Socio-Economic Change, Evan Schellhous

Student Research Symposium

This poster explores the transformative impact of education in empowering the Latinx community, drawing on insights from four contemporary films: Spare Parts, McFarland USA, Walkout, and A Million Miles Away. Each film depicts unique narratives where education is pivotal in overcoming socio-economic challenges, cultural barriers, and systemic inequities. Spare Parts narrates the inspiring journey of Latino students who, with determination and innovative spirit, defy stereotypes to excel in science and technology. McFarland USA illustrates how mentorship and community support enable under-resourced Latinx athletes to break the cycle of poverty through academic and athletic success. In Walkout, historic student-led protests …

Peribacillus Simplex Does Not Exhibit Antimicrobial Properties Against Staphylococcus, Dallin Thomas, Jordan Wheeler, Natalie Yoho

Student Research Symposium

Antibiotics are powerful drugs that combat previously fatal diseases. These miracle drugs have saved countless lives, but have the tendency to be misused. They are used incorrectly to treat patients who don't need them, and given to animals for non therapeutic use. Antibiotics are also known to pollute soils and groundwater all around the world (3). As antibiotics are found more readily in the environment, they encourage evolution, recombination, and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (5). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (6) antibiotic resistance kills at least 1.27 million people worldwide for diseases that used to …

Atomistic Simulations Of Shape Memory Behavior And Negative Poisson's Ratio Effect Of Liquid Crystal Elastomers, Nanang Mahardika

Student Research Symposium

• LCEs are suitable materials for soft robotics application because it is programmable, responsive to various stimuli and has flexibility.

Learning Partial Differential Equations Of Solid Diffusion From Atomistic Simulations, Wongel Nadew

Student Research Symposium

Why do we study diffusion in solid materials?

Cooling Potential Of Ornamental Vines Under Different Irrigation Regimes For Urban Heat Mitigation, Saroj Burlakoti

Student Research Symposium

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect is a phenomenon where urban areas become significantly warmer than their surrounding rural areas (Debbage et al., 2015; Phelan et al., 2015; Yang et al., 2016)

Tacting The Functions Of Behavior And College Mental Health: A Mobile App-Based Approach To Developing Psychological Flexibility, Benjamin G. Pierce, Michael P. Twohig, Michael E. Levin

Psychology Faculty Publications

This study evaluated a brief Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Matrix app to improve college student mental health in a randomized waitlist-controlled trial. It was hypothesized that participants assigned to the ACT Matrix app would report greater improvements than the waitlist condition on measures of psychological inflexibility (e.g., Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II; Tacting of Function [TOF] scale), distress (e.g., Patient Health Questionnaire), and functioning (e.g., Satisfaction with Life Scale) as well as that changes in psychological inflexibility variables would predict improvements in distress and functioning at post-intervention and 4-week follow up. The sample included 106 students reporting elevated depression or …

Editorial: Intelligent Robots For Agriculture -- Ag-Robot Development, Navigation, And Information Perception, Sierra N. Young

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Agriculture is undergoing a paradigm shift driven by global challenges such as climate change, labor shortages, and the increasing demand for sustainable food production. In response, intelligent robotics are emerging as a transformative technology, enhancing agricultural efficiency, precision, and sustainability. This Research Topic, “Intelligent Robotics in Agriculture -- Ag-Robot Development, Navigation, and Information Perception,” highlights advancements in agricultural robotics, including breakthroughs in system design, autonomous navigation, multi-sensor fusion, and machine learning applications. The collected works contribute significantly to the evolving landscape of smart farming by addressing critical challenges in agricultural automation.

The Utah Statesman, April 7, 2025, Utah State University

The Utah Statesman

Weekly student newspaper of Utah State University in Logan.

The Role Of Answer Justification In Multiple-Choice Testing: Effects On Performance And Metacognitive Accuracy, Spenser A. Clark, Michellle L. Rivers, Acacia L. Overono

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Student Research

Multiple-choice (MC) tests are widely used in educational settings but have been criticized for promoting passive recognition rather than active retrieval. Our research explores how adding a simple component to MC tests—answer justification—influences test performance and metacognitive accuracy. Across two experiments, university students studied a textbook chapter and completed either a standard MC test (MC-only group) or an MC test requiring them to justify their answers (answer justification group). Participants also provided predictive and postdictive metacognitive judgments. The results showed that the answer justification group significantly outperformed the MC-only group on an immediate test (Experiments 1 and 2) and scored …

Sdl Optomechanical Engineering Discussion, Tyrel Rupp

Space Dynamics Laboratory Publications

• About SDL
• SDL Manufacturing Capabilities
• Optomechanical Example-AWE
• Optomechanical Example – AWE Telescope Design
• Optomechanical Example – AWE Telescope Fabrication
• Optomechanical Example – AWE Optomechanical Assembly
• AWE Infrared Radiance of OH Layer Above Hurricane Helene
• Current Challenges in Optomechanics for SDL
• Precision Manufacturing IR&D (ongoing)
• Low CTE Moldable Composite IR&D: Athermal Design Background
• Low CTE Moldable Composite IR&D: Overview
• Low CTE Moldable Composite IR&D: Lens Tube Fabrication
• Low CTE Moldable Composite IR&D: Lens Tube Fabrication

Child Sexual Abuse: What Utahns Need To Know, Kolene Anderson, Susan R. Madsen

Marketing and Strategy Faculty Publications

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a significant social, criminal justice, and public health issue that impacts families, neighborhoods, and communities of all racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds. CSA is underreported, underfunded, and often accompanied by lifelong negative impacts on survivors’ physical, mental, and emotional health. Importantly, we acknowledge that not all who have experienced child sexual abuse feel that the term survivor (instead of victim) adequately conveys their feelings and experiences. However, for the sake of simplicity and to align with the terminology used in most research, we use the term in this report. Unfortunately, most survivors do not …

Educational Policies Committee Agenda April 3, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - March 6, 2025
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 4:00 pm

Educational Policies Committee Minutes April 3, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - March 6, 2025
• Subcommittee Reports
• Curriculum Subcommittee
• Academic Standards Subcommittee
• General Education Subcommittee
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:20 pm

General Education Subcommittee Minutes April 3, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order
• Approval of Minutes - March 6, 2025
• Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals
• New Business
• Depth designation discussion
• Election of a committee chair
• Additional items
• Adjourn: 9:32

General Education Subcommittee Agenda April 3, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order – Matt Sanders
• Approval of Minutes – March 6, 2025
• Course Approvals/Removals/Syllabi Approvals
• New Business
• Additional Items
• Adjourn: 9:30 am

Curriculum Subcommittee Minutes April 3, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - March 6, 2025
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Senate Bill 334 update
• Year-End Summary
• Other Potential Business
• Adjourn: 2:36pm

Curriculum Subcommittee Agenda April 3, 2025, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Approval of Minutes - March 6, 2025
• Program Proposals
• Semester Course Approval Reviews
• Other Business
• Adjourn: 3:00 pm