Digital Commons Network^™

Energy Drinks Maintain High Motivational Value Even When Access Becomes Costly, Tyler Hansen

Research on Capitol Hill

Energy drinks are extremely popular among adolescents and young adults in the United States. These beverages contain high amounts of caffeine and sugar. Consuming energy drinks, especially in large quantities, has been shown to pose health risks.

Ant Queens Divide Tasks Among Themselves To Maximize Efficiency In Multi-Queen Colonies, Ian Brush

Research on Capitol Hill

Before workers arrive, founding queens must sustain the colony on their own. In single-queen colonies, one queen performs all necessary tasks. In contrast, when several queens co-found a colony, their contributions often differ: some queens invest more in egg-laying, while others devote more effort to brood care or nest maintenance.

Oxytocin May Shape How Reward Is Perceived And Increase Self-Control, K.A. Wachtel

Research on Capitol Hill

Social contact, driven by oxytocin, is inherently rewarding. However, less is known about how oxytocin impacts the perception of nonsocial rewards, like food or drugs.

A New Tool Predicts The Risk Of Surface Damage And Subsequent Spacecraft Charging, Trace Taylor, Ashley Bahora

Research on Capitol Hill

We measured secondary electron yield (SEY), a key factor in spacecraft charging, across multiple materials under different surface conditions. SEY is a measure of how many electrons a surface releases when hit by radiation.

Student Mentorship Can Build A Growth Mindset For Global Entrepreneurs, April Buys

Research on Capitol Hill

Entrepreneurship programs often teach skills (budgeting, pricing, record-keeping), but many fail because they ignore a deeper barrier: Mindset. For individuals living in poverty, persistent scarcity limits cognitive bandwidth, reduces long-term planning, and reinforces the belief that change is impossible—even when resources become available.

At Utah Lake, Large Changes In Water Level Impact The Restoration Of Native Plant Species, Mac Havens

Research on Capitol Hill

Native plant communities at Utah Lake matter for top-class recreation opportunities, migratory bird populations, June Sucker recovery efforts, and local economies.

The Loneliness Epidemic: Decreased Social Connectedness Influences Misogyny, Eva Jones, Hannah Jensen, Sophia Baumann

Research on Capitol Hill

This project investigates the relationship between how socially connected (or lonely) someone is and their gender beliefs.

Act Therapy Benefits Diverse Racial, Ethnic & Disabled Groups, Jared Vance

Research on Capitol Hill

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has been widely studied, but most research has focused on white, western populations. We need to know if ACT works equally well for people from diverse racial, ethnic, and disability backgrounds to know if it is a helpful tool for these groups. This meta-analysis brings together studies from around the world to answer that question.

Utah’S Waste Glass Makes Concrete Stronger And Improves Durability, Rosemary Yahne

Research on Capitol Hill

Utah landfills receive thousands of tons of waste glass annually while our concrete industry relies on cement, one of the world's largest sources of CO₂ emissions.

We discovered that finely ground recycled glass can replace up to 30% of cement in concrete and improve performance.

This research tests whether Utah's waste-recycled glass can create stronger, more durable concrete for our roads, bridges, and buildings.

How Can We Protect Utah Vineyards From Insect Pests And Diseases?, Josh Westhora

Research on Capitol Hill

The Utah Plant Pest Diagnostics Lab (UPPDL) at USU conducts surveys of Utah vineyards for plant diseases and insect pests affecting production to notify growers of their presence. Last year’s survey was conducted without funding to provide immediate support to growers. Funding for this year’s has been requested through the USDA APHIS PPQ PPA 7721 program.

Utah Wildflower Microbes Boost Plant Growth Without Using Chemical Fertilizers, Rebecca Thorley

Research on Capitol Hill

Modern agriculture relies on chemical fertilizers to boost crop yields, but these short-term gains come at a steep cost:

Soil degradation: Chemicals kill beneficial soil organisms and damage soil structure over time

Water pollution: Fertilizer runoff contaminates rivers and lakes, creating toxic algae blooms

Rising costs: Fertilizer expenses now account for 30-50% of crop production costs

Climate impact: Fertilizer production and use generate significant greenhouse gas emissions

The challenge: Feed growing populations while restoring soil health and protecting the environment.

We Can Use Coyotes As A Model To Understand How Social Loss Alters The Brain, Rebekah Rowe

Research on Capitol Hill

While we understand some factors that increase psychological distress for grieving individuals, little is known about this biological basis.

In Conservation Efforts People Prioritize Smart, Friendly Animals, And Focus On Their Faces, Jacey Hopkin

Research on Capitol Hill

Conservation programs are often inefficient. They provide the public logical information in hopes they will act logically, but people's actions instead rely on their pre-held beliefs, attitudes, and biases.

Ovarian Transplants Drastically Improved The Health Of Post-Menopausal Mice, Nathan Mccoy

Research on Capitol Hill

Women generally experience health advantages compared to men before menopause. Following menopause, this advantage diminishes, and women become more susceptible to metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Legislative Chamber Characteristics Affect The Introduction Of Hot-Button Issue Legislation, Sophie Christensen

Research on Capitol Hill

With increased polarization in the US, state legislatures have become a venue where hot-button social issues are pursued. Legislation directed at the LGBTQ+ community has been introduced at dramatically increasing rates over the past five years.

Pavlovian Cues Promote Self-Control Choices In Rats And Kindergarteners, Emily Kuehnl

Research on Capitol Hill

Impulsive choices occur when we prefer a small reward now over a larger reward later and is predictive of substance-use disorders, pathological gambling, and other behaviors that negatively impact health.

Crops Grown Below Ground Can Be 20-40°F Warmer Than Above-Ground Outdoor Crops, Jessie Miller

Research on Capitol Hill

At USU, 33% of students are considered food insecure. The walipini, a pit-style greenhouse, shows food can be grown year-round for a low cost.

Nanoparticles May Improve How Antiviral Compounds Are Delivered For Herpes Virus 1, Emilia Huff

Research on Capitol Hill

HSV-1, a strain of herpes, infects the majority of adults in the US and has been linked to neurological damage.

Could Gene Editing Increase Chicken Resistance To Avian Influenza?, Alta Crane

Research on Capitol Hill

Avian Influenza is a viral infection that causes outbreaks of "bird flu," greatly affecting avian health. Influenza A virus (IAV) relies on various host factors for efficient replication. Previous studies in human cells have identified four genes as critical host factors required for IAV infection. To investigate whether similar host– virus interactions exist in avian species, we utilized gene editing systems to generate knockout fibroblast cell lines targeting those four genes and then applied these techniques to germ cells.

Aspen Graffiti Are Close To Trails And On Large-Diameter Trees, James A. Lutz, Soren Struckman, Joseph D. Birch

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

Key results

1. Close to the trail

75% of all graffiti was within 60 feet of the trail.

2. On the largest trees

Graffiti was concentrated on the largest diameter aspen (larger than 8 in diameter).

3. Higher growth in marked aspen

Aspen with graffiti had 24% higher radial growth, relative to unmarked aspen. This is likely because people carve the healthiest aspen.

Pest Management For Utah Cut Flower Production: Insects And Their Relatives, Nick Volesky, Marion Murray, Melanie Stock

All Current Publications

Pest management is important in cut flower production, marketability, and farm profitability. This fact sheet focuses on animal pests (insects, arthropods, mollusks, and vertebrates), not diseases or weeds, and has two parts. Part 1 applies Integrated Pest Management (IPM): using preventive techniques, pest thresholds, and best management practices with pests in cut flower crop production. Part 2 highlights the top 10 common pests of cut flowers in Utah and their management.

Creating An Identity: Analyzing The Journal Of Western Archives, J. Gordon Daines Iii, Ryan K. Lee, Cory L. Nimer

Journal of Western Archives

The Journal of Western Archives was created as a "manifestation of a Western regional identity for archivists" and to "foster the continuing development of a unique regional identity for archivists working and living in the American West by promoting an improved discourse about archival work and providing another venue for the socialization of new archivists." The journal was founded with the explicit purpose to "provide a venue where archivists working in the West can highlight their unique contributions to the archival profession." The Journal of Western Archives is now fifteen years old and has established itself as an important voice …

Civic Center Curriculum Committee Agenda February 25, 2026, Utah State University

Educational Policies Committee

• Call to Order
• New Business
• Assessing Durable Skills
• Program Learning Outcomes
• Adjourn: 10:30 am

Factors Associated With Substance Use Treatment Seeking During Covid-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Applying The Gelberg–Andersen Model For Vulnerable Populations, Dorothy Wallis

Social Work Faculty Publications

Treatment seeking among individuals who misuse substances can be a complex process, with many factors contributing to treatment seeking. Guided by Gelberg–Andersen’s Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations, this research seeks to establish predisposing, enabling, and need factors contributing to treatment seeking during COVID-19. A total of 201 individuals participated in the study. Contrary to existing literature, no predisposing factors were associated with treatment seeking during COVID-19. However, variations were seen in enabling and need factors. Perceiving a need for treatment and having reliable transportation to treatment were associated with treatment seeking during COVID-19, underlying the importance of addressing both physical …

Electric Pressure Cookers: What You Need To Know, Callahan Adams, Emily Smith

All Current Publications

Electric pressure cookers (EPCs) offer convenience, versatility, and efficiency in everyday cooking. EPCs offer multiple cooking functions beyond pressure cooking, including sautéing, slow cooking, steaming, cooking rice, and preparing yogurt. They are not suitable for pressure canning, as confirmed by multiple Extension research studies and national guidelines. When used properly, EPCs provide a safe and effective way to prepare meals quickly while saving counter and storage space.

Biological Opinion Monitoring Of Riparian Habitat And Forest Stand Resources, Peter D. Howe

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Automated, High-Resolution, Three-Dimensional Pest Scouting In Orchards Using Aerial And Ground Vehicles, Sierra N. Young

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Decolonizing Postpartum Depression: A Review Of Postpartum Depression In Adolescent American Indian Mothers, Brandi A. Richardson, Christopher J. Cutter, Mark Beitel

Journal of Indigenous Research

Postpartum depression (PPD), defined as at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest in daily activities accompanied by symptoms such as altered eating habits, suicidal or infanticidal thoughts, feelings of inadequacy, and low energy, is a significant public health problem in the United States. Poor infant and maternal health increase risk for PPD. In addition, adolescent mothers are at higher risk of prenatal depression, birth complications, and PPD. Current research fails to address adolescent American Indian / Alaska Native (AI/AN) mothers experiencing PPD. This review seeks to integrate what has been discovered about PPD within Native communities …

A Pre-Service Māori Educator's Perspective On Māori Influence On Education In New Zealand, Ashleigh Franco

Journal of Indigenous Research

Māori students have historically performed below mainstream students in New Zealand (PISA 2018, 2019). This narrative inquiry spotlights Tahi, whose lived experiences reverberate issues facing the Māori curriculum – Te reo Māori – in New Zealand (Barr & Seals; 2018; Macfarlane, 2015; Manning; 2018; Ritchie, 2012 Stewart, 2016; Torepe et al., 2018). Additionally, Tahi's narrative underscores social and democratic issues of systemic injustice and white privilege, including the influence of both on education in New Zealand.

Preparando Para Su Edad Y Su Futuro: Latina Mothers’ Perspectives Of Navigating Postsecondary Transition For Autistic Youth, Kristina Rios Dr., Katherine R. Brendli Brown, Genna Kieper, Cynthia Velasquez, Amber Brown Ruiz

Developmental Disabilities Network Journal

Families play a critical role in the education and service provision of Autistic students. However, much of the existing research on family involvement and expectations has centered on families of younger Autistic children and has disproportionately reflected the experiences of White families, even though Latinx families may include individuals of any racial background. Furthermore, while there is growing transition literature focused on families of color, Latinx families—particularly those with Spanish-speaking caregivers—remain underrepresented in studies examining the postsecondary transition. There is a critical need for research that captures Latinx caregivers’ perspectives on navigating the transition process and identifies how educators can …