Digital Commons Network^™

The Effectiveness Of Housing First In Improving Mental Health Outcomes Among Homeless Individuals: A Rapid Review, Nya Harper

Student Research Symposium

Objective: The purpose of this study was to review primary research regarding the efficacy of a Housing First (HF) intervention compared to existing treatments for improving mental health outcomes in homeless adults with mental illness.

Methods: A rapid review was conducted from the PubMed database using a predetermined search protocol and inclusion criteria to identify eligible articles.

Results: HF was significantly more effective at helping homeless adults with mental illness become stably housed. HF groups’ subjective measures of mental health were not consistently higher than usual treatment groups.

Conclusion: Evidence supports the efficacy of HF over existing treatments in a …

Comparative Analysis Of Feature Selection And Machine Learning Models For Breast Cancer Risk Prediction, Tonmoy Roy

Student Research Symposium

The comparative analysis of feature selection and machine learning models for breast cancer risk prediction aims to develop accurate and efficient models for diagnosing breast cancer. In this analysis, we explore different feature selection techniques and machine learning models to identify the most effective feature combination for breast cancer risk prediction. Our study provides valuable insights into the importance of feature selection and model selection in developing accurate breast cancer risk prediction models. Using the three features provide high accuracy to detect breast cancer. Overall, this study highlights the importance of combining feature selection techniques with machine learning algorithms to …

Mapping Of Corticotropin-Releasing Factor (Crf) Receptors In The Coyote Brain, Rachel Tong

Student Research Symposium

Forming strong social bonds is essential to our everyday life and is part of what makes us human. The loss of a loved one often results in grief, stress, and loneliness, and the stress response system of the body has been implicated in the physiological symptoms associated with grieving. The hormone that initiates the stress response in the body is called corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), which acts via binding to CRF receptors (CRFR). Coyotes are an appropriate animal model to study social bonds and social loss because they display monogamy and pair bonding, which is a trait seen in human …

Machine Learning In Analyzing Atmospheric Gravity Waves, Anastasia Brown

Student Research Symposium

The ANtarctic Gravity Wave Instrument Network (ANGWIN) is an international collaboration aimed at investigating the upper atmosphere dynamics over a continent-size region, using a network of all-sky imagers. In an effort to streamline the identification of “clean” windows in the extensive database of all sky-imager data obtained since 2012, we have developed a machine learning algorithm that sorts “clean” (marked as 0) images from “obscured” (marked as 1) images. Already, we have successfully created a LightGBM (Light Gradient-Boosting Machine) model that accurately sorts through images taken at the Davis and McMurdo research stations in Antarctica. The LightGBM model for the …

The Water To Land Transition: Changes In Frog Skin Across Development, Kayla Hancey

Student Research Symposium

Amphibians are vulnerable to changes in the environment due to their permeable skin. As the climate changes, the resilience of different species can be illuminated by traits that vary across clades. Skin changes during metamorphosis provide details that may help us anticipate desiccation risk. It is useful to understand histological details in a relatively successful species, such as the American green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) when determining species survivorship. Documentation of skin changes including gland development in H. cinerea has never been done.

Study On In Vitro Seed Germination And Seedling Development Of New Phalaenopsis Hybrid, Prakriti Nepal

Student Research Symposium

Phalaenopsis sp., commonly known as moth orchids, is one of the most popular orchids sold as cut flowers or potted plants because of their high ornamental value. Cross pollination of seed parent (Phalaenopsis mannii x Phalaenopsis ‘Yaphong Javaking’) and pollen parent (Phalaenopsis schilleriana) was conducted to obtain hybrids which presumably possess the combined traits and characteristics from the parent plants. Seeds were collected 112 days after hand pollination and sown in five germination media: half-strength Murashige and Skoog Medium (⅟2 MS), Vacin and Went Medium (VW), Orchid Seed Sowing Medium (OSSM), BM-1 Terrestrial Orchid Medium (BM-1), and Knudson C Orchid …

Visual Blackout Poetry: An Emerging Form Of Creative Expression, Basil Payne

Student Research Symposium

Visual blackout poetry focuses on the relationship between words, images, and other sensory modes. It borrows from and blacks out words from published texts and blurs the line between poetry and visual art.

Investigation Of Different Equations Of State (Eos) To Calculate Thermodynamic Properties Of Methanol In Subcritical And Supercritical Regions, Md Sajedul Islam Sakir

Student Research Symposium

The Equation of state (EOS) is a PVT relationship that specifies the properties and characteristics of fluids in different conditions. Fluids have different phases. In the subcritical region, fluid is in a gaseous and liquid state. On the other hand, fluid is not a liquid nor a gas in the critical and the supercritical regions. The properties and characteristics of critical and supercritical fluids are different from that of subcritical regions. In critical and supercritical regions the properties of fluid change very abruptly. To specify the properties of the fluid in different regimes different equations of state (EOS) is being …

Evaluating Two Penstemon Species For Salinity Tolerance, Asmita Paudel

Student Research Symposium

Penstemons are among the most attractive native flowers of North America with high aesthetic importance in urban landscape. Limited studies have been conducted previously to determine their salt tolerance. In this study, we examined how salinities ranging from the electrical conductivity (EC) of 1.0 to 10.0 dS·m-1 affected the growth and physiology of two penstemons [Penstemon barbatus ‘Blue’ (rock candy series beardtongue) and Penstemon strictus ‘Rocky Mountain’ (Rocky Mountain beardtongue)]. Salinity stress reduced the growth rate and biomass production of penstemon species. Penstemon barbatus had slight foliar salt damage with an averaged visual score of 3.2 (0 = dead, 5 …

Overcoming Seed Dormancy: A Critical Challenge For Rangeland Species, Fnu Surbhi

Student Research Symposium

The mechanisms of seed dormancy serve the purpose of delaying germination until conditions become conducive for the survival of seedlings (Fenner et al., 1985). This study aimed to determine the effect of temperature treatments on the dormancy release of five wildland forbs and legumes, 3 species (Utah sweetvetch, Lewis flax and Showy goldeneye) showed faster germination at room temperature and 2 were found highly dormant and germinated only at chilling temperature. Understanding how seeds from various species responds to different temperature can help us identify and eliminate the associated dormancy barriers.

Chikungunya: The Evaluation Of Compound X In A Mouse Model Of Chikv Disease, Kaitlyn Blotter

Student Research Symposium

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an infectious alphavirus spread by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. Recently, there have been various outbreaks in the Americas, the Caribbean, and across Asia and Africa (Bettis et al., 2022). Although mortality rates of Chikungunya disease are relatively low, the disease has been shown to have high morbidity and chronic effects. Currently, there are no approved antivirals for treatment of CHIKV infection. The goal of this study was to identify whether Compound X is an effective treatment in a mouse model of CHIKV infection. Compound X was active in cell culture models of CHIKV infection, …

How Aspen Trees Affect Fire Behavior, Emily Lane

Student Research Symposium

Aspen trees (Populus tremuloides) are widely distributed across North America. They provide important wildlife habitat, livestock forage, understory biodiversity, landscape diversity, and aesthetic value. They have also been regarded as important for their ability to act as fuel breaks, at least under average conditions. There have been many qualitative accounts of crown fires dropping to surface fires or being extinguished when they encounter aspen stands. These observations of aspen reducing fire behavior (i.e., flame length, rate of spread, fire intensity) when compared to conifers has led to the idea that aspen could be strategically planted on the landscape, such as …

Strawberry Ability To Take Up Nitrogen From Compost, Mark Kindred

Student Research Symposium

Strawberries could become a popular crop to grow in the intermountain west. To help promote this crop in organic systems, growers should know what cultivars grow the best on organic fertilizers such as compost. The main nutrient tested was nitrogen. To see how much nitrogen strawberry plants were taking up, we collected the dry weights and chlorophyll measurement at the end of the experiment. In addition, nitrogen content in the plants and in the leachate will be measured.

Tuning Random Forests For Interpretability, Kelvyn Bladen

Student Research Symposium

Random Forests are a widely used predictive technique in the modern data analyst’s toolkit. As with other machine learning methods, Random Forests have hyper-parameters that should be tuned for getting the best predictive accuracy and for interpretation. Variable importance measures give users valuable insights regarding which features are most informative for prediction. The subject of my research is the commonly used permutation importance algorithm with Random Forests. Key results of my research are: 1. When predictive features are highly correlated, importance values can be misleading. 2. The best choice of the Random Forests hyper-parameter mtry for importances may be quite …

Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (Pgpr) From The Native Plant Ceanothus Velutinus Promote Growth In Tall Fescue, Ananta Devkota

Student Research Symposium

Increasing reliance on chemical fertilizers for farming is hazardous to soil health. It may alter the soil’s chemical composition with time and run, making it unfit for our crops. The rhizospheric bacteria associated with the hardy native plants could be important assets for sustainable farming and a substitute for chemical fertilizers. The Intermountain west region of the US possesses several native plant species adapted to its drier climatic condition. Among them is Ceanothus velutinus (Snowbrush), which is not only drought tolerant but also harbors nitrogen-fixing Frankia species. The study was conducted to evaluate the Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on the …

Electric School Buses: Optimal Routing & Partial Charging, Megh Kc

Student Research Symposium

The transportation industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The carbon footprint of diesel school buses in the United States is being overlooked despite their significant portion as public transportation. Sense of an urgent need for school bus electrification raises the importance of the effective and efficient operation of school electric buses. However, capital investment, battery range anxiety, charging strategy, and riding time remain significant obstacles to implementing this solution.To address these issues, we have developed a mathematical optimization model that considers the practical constraints of school bus operation and employs a weighted multi-objective function. The model is …

Reducing Impulsive Choice In Female Rats, Joshua Jones, Christine Layne, Sofia Sperber

Student Research Symposium

Early and prolonged exposure to reward delays has been found to be effective in reducing impulsive choice in male Long-Evans rats. Replication in female subjects ensures that this effect is generalizable across the sexes. Such studies also expand our knowledge of factors associated with impulsive control. The present study randomly assigned 12 female Long Evans rats into a delayed exposure group (DE) or an immediate exposure group (IE). Groups completed 120 sessions (80 trials each) of training. In each of these training trials, rats pressed a lever to earn a food reward. For DE rats, food was delayed by 17.5 …

Protein Nutrition And Immunity In Male Bumblebees Of Bombus Impatiens, Carson Stoker

Student Research Symposium

Male bumblebees play a vital but undervalued role in their colonies. They are important to colony reproduction and success despite not emerging until the end of the colony's life cycle. Little research has been conducted on the biology and the role of male bumblebees. Further understanding could lead to heightened colony success in agricultural and environmental conditions. The objectives of this study are to 1) understand the effect of protein nutrition on the melanization responses of male bumblebees, 2) measure gene expression of various immune genes after an immune challenge with different diet conditions, and 3) further scientific knowledge about …

Netosis In Naked Mole-Rats: A Step Towards Cancer Resistance, Thomas Smith

Student Research Symposium

The purpose of this project is to identify and characterize neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in Naked Mole Rats (NMRs) as a step towards understanding their remarkable cancer resistance. The vision is that in doing so we can translate this understanding to human cancer research in ways that could eventually open new clinical treatment methods. Naked mole-rats are incredibly cancer resistant, and yet they possess immune cell ratios more similar to humans than to mice. Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cell in humans. They release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a process referred to as NETosis, as part of an immune …

Effect Of Different Rates Of Phosphorus Application In Creeping Jenny And Periwinkle, Saroj Burlakoti

Student Research Symposium

Growing nursery plants in containers requires a timely supply of mineral nutrients for optimum growth. There is a misconception among growers that the application of higher doses of fertilizers hastens plant growth; instead, it can lead to runoff and leaching loss of nutrients. Reducing fertilizer application while sustaining healthy plants could not only negate environmental consequences but also save fertilizer costs. In this study, we wanted to determine the minimal level of phosphorus (P) application in nursery containers without significantly affecting the growth in a fast-growing ground cover i.e., Lysimachia numularia (Creeping jenny) and slow-growing ground cover i.e., Vinca minor …

Evaluating Sex Differences In Behavioral Responses To Social Scents In Coyotes, Kodie Jenkins

Student Research Symposium

Understanding the importance of social dynamics and how olfaction in coyotes (Canis latrans) is used as the primary form of communication between individuals, this communication is often regulated by the diversity of personality types that occurs between individuals. We exposed four adult pairs of captive coyotes (2 males, 2 females) at the USDA National Wildlife Research Center’s Predator Research Facility in Millville, Utah to coyote odor attractants (1 mL urine) from siblings, pair mates, and strangers. One pair contained individuals born in 2016, and the other contained individuals born in 2022. Each coyote was placed in a separate …

Characteristics Of Future Mobility Devices For Individuals With Paraplegia, Dan O'Crowley

Student Research Symposium

This presentation outlines wheeled exoskeleton development for individuals with paraplegia and my research to develop criteria for designs focused more on independence and social interactions. A summary of past attempts and comparable mobility devices will be outlined with their strengths and weaknesses. Another section will explain the different activities users should be able to complete independently and what features/functions need to be included for the device to have a positive impact on their social interactions. The presentation will cover the journey of a prototype attempting to meet the criteria developed and lessons learned from that experience. A financial summary will …

The Kinematics Of Motor Planning Span, Megan Sparks

Student Research Symposium

In the Sensory Motor and Behavior Lab, we are developing a new measure of motor planning span. Motor planning is defined as preparing for movement before any movement occurs. This is a critical process that allows us to do any and all physical activity. The ability to do motor planning can be impacted after a traumatic brain injury or in the case of having a neurological disorder such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many studies have looked at motor planning span with discrete starting and ending positions, but our study will be analyzing continuous movements. We will collect reaction time, movement …

The Role Of Extracellular Vesicles In Immunomodulation During Bovine Pregnancy, Amber Thornton

Student Research Symposium

During pregnancy, the maternal immune system must be altered to allow the tolerance of a semi-allogeneic fetus. Our previous studies show a strong inflammatory response in the uterus of cows carrying somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) pregnancies due to dysregulation in the proteins expressed by trophoblast cells. Between 30 and 90 days the rate of pregnancy loss is 50-100% for SCNT compared to 2-10% for artificial insemination (AI) pregnancies. Abnormal immunological crosstalk during placentation is a major cause of this loss in SCNT pregnancies. The trafficking of extracellular vesicles (EVs), membrane-bound cargo carriers, potentially represents a key form of crosstalk …

Comparing Vasopressin Receptor 1a Density In Paired Vs. Widowed Coyote Brains, Jacey Hopkin

Student Research Symposium

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a neuropeptide known for its key role in the formation of social bonds and acts through binding to the AVP 1a receptor (AVPR1a). Most notably, research has demonstrated that monogamous species have higher levels of AVPR1a compared to non-monogamous species. AVPR1a is typically found in brain regions facilitating individual relations, social memory, and interspecies attachment; these areas are closely associated with partner preference and monogamous behavior. In addition, it has been observed in prairie voles that levels of social neuropeptides, such as oxytocin, will decrease when pair-mates are separated for extended time periods. A majority of …

Optimizing Treatment Of Cytomegalovirus, Alisa Dabb

Student Research Symposium

The current treatment to Cytomegalovirus, ganciclovir, kills neutrophils, a type of cell in the immune system. In an effort to reduce the concentration of ganciclovir, quercetin and poloxamer 188 have been added in treatment in a cellular and mouse model. This treatment has been successful, but can be further optimized by reworking the ratio of quercetin to poloxamer 188 and by adding vitamin c to prevent oxidation.

Obstacles To Usu Prehealth Students In Applying To Medical School, Cory Watts

Student Research Symposium

Every year tens of thousands of students apply to medical schools across the nation. Despite successful completion of undergraduate degrees, current matriculation rates range between 40% and 50% each year. Matriculation rates at Utah State University experience some fluctuation, but in the past 5 years matriculation rates have fluctuated around 60% to 75%. Within this larger number though, only 17% to 30% of Utah State applicants are getting accepted to MD programs. As part of a nation wide survey being conduced by Tyra-Lee from the AMSA National Board of Trustees, we sought responses from current students at USU to better …

Ethical Issues With Schizophrenia Research And Treatment, Chloé Brogdon

Student Research Symposium

Schizophrenia is a complex and debilitating mental disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. As researchers and practitioners seek to better understand and treat this condition, it is crucial to consider the ethical implications of research and treatment approaches. This project investigated the nature and scope of schizophrenia as an illness in order to delve into ethical issues with current research and treatment approaches. Ethical issues identified and analyzed include issues with informed consent, stigmatization, and access to treatment.

Phragmites Australis Seeds From Great Salt Lake Have A Lower Salinity Tolerance Than Expected, Sandra Johnston

Student Research Symposium

The Great Salt Lake is an important part of Utah’s natural resources. However, Great Salt lake wetlands are becoming overtaken by Phragmites australis, an invasive species originating from Eurasia. Introduced into North America, this plant has spread to create dense monocultures, quickly taking over native species and degrading avian habitat. Several P. australis populations have been found to survive in salinities up to 45-60 parts per thousand (ppt). However, there are multiple studies with conflicting results about the maximum salinity tolerance of P. australis (i.e., 23-60 ppt). This experiment will compare the salinity ranges of native species and non-native P. …

Nutrient Management For Semi-Arid Cannabis Production, Tina Sullivan

Student Research Symposium

The industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) industry rapidly emerged in Utah in 2019 with nearly 480 new hectares of hemp production. Production declined and stabilized during 2019-2022 due to low returns in a flooded pharmaceutical market. Though small and specialized, the hemp production industry is still viable in Utah and surrounding states. Many questions remain on optimal production practices for this new and potentially high-value crop. Research throughout the United States is limited on a large scale and regionally. One of the first Utah outdoor hemp research sites was established in 2020 near Logan, Utah (41.66N, -111.91W), looking at multiple …