Digital Commons Network^™

Examining The Predictive Validity Of Adolescent Complete Mental Health On High School Academic Performance, Nai-Jiin Yang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This multiple-paper dissertation examines how adolescent complete mental health, based on the Dual-Factor Model, predicts high school academic performance. The Dual-Factor Model considers both psychological distress (such as internalizing and externalizing symptoms) and subjective wellbeing (such as life satisfaction and positive affect). The main research objective is to determine whether this comprehensive framework offers stronger predictive power for academic success than symptom-based approaches alone.

Two studies were conducted using self-report mental health data collected at three time points during an academic year. These data were analyzed alongside end-of-quarter grade point averages in English Language Arts, math, and overall GPA using …

Enabling Sustainability Transitions For Great Salt Lake: Framing Of Public Opinion, Boundary Work, And Policy, Anna Mcentire

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This dissertation explores how people think about, talk about, and take action to save Great Salt Lake, which reached historic low levels in 2021. Using surveys, public records, and legislative documents primarily from 2022 to 2024, the research examines public opinions, collaborative efforts, and policy changes related to the lake. The first chapter looks at what people value about the lake and what actions they want to see taken. It finds that people are very concerned and want significant efforts to stop the lake's decline. The second chapter investigates how different groups work together publicly to negotiate new understandings, create …

Evaluating Maternal Polar Bear Denning Habitat Along The Arctic Coastal Plain And Assessing The Potential For Noise Disturbance In Polar Bear Dens, Ethan Ducharme

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Polar bears (Ursus Maritimus) in northern Alaska are increasingly choosing land instead of sea ice to build their maternity dens. As sea ice continues to decline due to climate change, this shift makes it more important than ever to identify and protect the areas where polar bears dig dens to give birth and raise their cubs. In the first part of my research, I used new satellite-based elevation data to map potential polar bear denning habitat across a large section of Alaska’s Arctic Coastal Plain. This technology allowed me to identify the types of sloped terrain where drifting …

Water Efficient Landscaping At Utah State University: Evaluating The "True" Value Of The Landscape Resiliency And Drought Plan, Mary Claire Jennings

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Utah faces serious water challenges due to its dry climate, growing population, and inefficient water use. While most water conservation efforts focus on homes, businesses, and farms, state institutions like universities also play a role. As Utah’s land-grant university, Utah State University (USU) uses about 260 million gallons of water each year to irrigate its 180 acres of green space, with 92% of that water being used to irrigate grass landscapes. To promote sustainability and meet state water conservation policies, USU developed the Landscape Resiliency and Drought Plan (LR&DP) to create more drought-resistant landscapes. However, implementing water-saving strategies at state …

Exploring Adverse Childhood Experiences And Bullying Of Children Who Are Deaf Or Hard Of Hearing, Alyson Connelly Ward

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and bullying can lead to psychological distress, causing both short- and long-term health and mental health problems. Children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN), including those who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), face a higher risk of ACEs and bullying, which can affect their well-being.

This study builds on existing literature by (a) reviewing ACEs and bullying in CSHCN, especially those who are DHH, and (b) using data from the 2016-2022 National Survey of Children's Health to analyze ACEs and bullying in children who are DHH, DHH+CSHCN, and CSHCN. The literature review found that disability …

From Supercomputers To Desktops: An Interactive And Portable System For Particle In Cell Simulation And Visualization Using Commodity Hardware, Kim Peterson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Generating and analyzing visual representations of simulation data in real time (i.e., during execution), has become increasingly important for handling the complexity and scale of modern computational models. Traditionally, this approach has been limited to High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments, leaving some researchers, students and educators without resources to explore cutting-edge simulations and analyses. This work attempts to show that powerful scientific simulations and real-time analysis can be made available by using more easily obtained commodity hardware. This approach may enable a broader participation in the scientific computing discovery process.

In this paper, we explore how advanced simulation and visualization frameworks …

Exploring The Long-Term Impact Of Dating And Family Violence On American Indian Youth And Adults: The Role Of Belongingness In Moderating Negative Effects, Racheal M. Killgore

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Exposure to violence during childhood and adolescence is an important issue, particularly among Native Americans, who experience violence at higher rates compared to other racial/ethnic groups. This early exposure to violence can significantly affect future physical and mental health outcomes—including depression, substance abuse, suicide attempts, obesity, and premature death—while also shaping subsequent relationships in adulthood. Though widely studied in the general population, research focused on American Indians is lacking, with cultural contexts and factors uniquely shaping the experiences of those affected. In AI/AN communities, belongingness is important for well-being and, as such, is a relevant cultural factor that calls for …

Migration As Adaptation: Place-Based Vulnerability Near The Drying Great Salt Lake, Dallin Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The drying of the Great Salt Lake presents a complex and evolving threat to Utah residents, with wide-ranging environmental, economic, and health implications. This study explores the individual and structural factors impacting Utahns' ability to utilize migration as a form of adaptive capacity in response to these threats, using mobility justice and cumulative advantage and disadvantage theory as guiding frameworks. Drawing on survey data, a multilevel logistic regression model identifies key structural factors, including age, income, and gender, that influence perceived migration ability. Additionally, a 2x2 typology categorizes distinct profiles of vulnerability to the Great Salt Lake based on different …

A Focus On Student Education: Determining Student Attitudes Towards Transparent Autograding And Developing Artificially Intelligent Tools To Help Students Succeed, Andra Rice

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis is composed of two parts both relating to helping students succeed. First, the focus is on determining how we can help students feel more comfortable using an AI tool that can provide them immediate feedback. Second, machine learning algorithms are explored in relation to tracking student tasks to encourage healthy study habits.

The development of effective autograders is key for scaling assessment and feedback. While AI based autograding systems for open-ended response questions have been found to be beneficial for providing immediate feedback, autograders are not always liked, understood, or trusted by students. Our research tested the effect …

Impacts Of 4r Nitrogen Management And Water Optimization On Soil Health, Kamaldeep Kamaldeep

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Farmers in Utah and Idaho are facing growing challenges due to high fertilizer costs, limited irrigation water, and pressure to improve long-term soil health. To better understand current practices and grower attitudes, a survey was conducted in 2020 targeting 5,000 producers of small grains, corn, and potatoes. Although the response rate was low, 146 growers representing over 25,000 hectares of cropland participated. Survey results showed that most growers are open to improving nitrogen and irrigation practices and care about their soil health, even if not all are fully using 4R or precision agriculture methods.

This thesis includes two field studies …

Setting Salinity Water-Quality Standards Protective Of Aquatic Life: Insights From Analyses Of The Effects Of Salinity On Stream Insects, Katlyn M. Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Freshwater ecosystems are becoming saltier due to human activities like agriculture, urbanization, and resource extraction. This change in salinity is important because we know very little of how stream salinity affects aquatic insects at natural concentrations, much less at elevated concentrations. Increases in salinity may harm aquatic macroinvertebrates, which play important roles in stream food webs and are widely used as indicators of ecosystem health. Understanding how salinity affects aquatic insect growth, survival, and distribution is critical for developing effective criteria protective of aquatic life, but existing methods often rely on field surveys where multiple environmental factors covary, making it …

Evaluation Of Novel Biomarkers As Predictive Measures Of Mastitis – Establishing A Relationship With Health Status, Lamb Performance, And Determination Of Prevalence Of Mastitis In Ewes Under Intensive Management, Courtney Berghoff

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Inflammation of the mammary gland, also known as mastitis, is a prevalent and financially impactful disease in sheep production. The objectives of this survey were to 1) evaluate current testing methods: somatic cell count (SCC), California Mastitis Test (CMT), and bacterial culture, as well as novel biomarkers: lamb performance, milk composition, and udder conformation, for their impact on ewes categorized as clinically healthy or unhealthy under intensive management systems at 15 days in milk (DIM) and 30 DIM, and 2) identify biological markers that are correlated with clinical and subclinical mastitis. Milk, blood, and fecal samples, a visual and physical …

The Socioecology Of Indigenous Archaeological Maize In The Uinta Basin, Utah, Sara Saouma

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This thesis investigates the phenotypic variability of maize (Zea mays spp.) from archaeological sites located in the Uinta Basin, Utah. Maize was first introduced to the American Southwest around 5,000 years ago following its migration via trade routes from its native region of southern Mexico (Vint 2017). The adaptation of maize to the arid and temperate conditions of the American Southwest and Mexico triggered significant phenotypic change resulting from human and environmental selection pressures. This thesis focuses on the analysis of uncharred maize cobs from seven archaeological sites in the Uinta Basin. The analysis includes 70 corn cobs—most …

Understanding Hydroclimate In The Contiguous United States: Roles Of Temperature Vs Precipitation And Subtropical Pacific Warming, Grace Esenam Affram

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This study investigates the physical drivers and mechanisms of hydroclimate variability across the Contiguous United States (U.S.), using a combination of observable data, reanalysis data, land modeling, and coupled climate model experiments. One of the major findings is that the historic 2021 drought event across the Western U.S. was primarily driven by a severe lack of precipitation rather than increased temperatures. The study further finds that anthropogenic forcing has substantially increased the risk of this extreme drought by approximately 26 times relative to a world without the influence.

Additionally, the study reveals that the Pacific Meridional Mode (PMM) characterized by …

Authentic Digital Writing Parameters In College Composition: Design, Implementation, And Assessment Of A Culture Jam, Mary Ellen Greenwood

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

As technology reshapes communication, college classrooms must adapt to prepare students for writing in a quickly changing world. This dissertation investigates how authentic writing—writing that feels meaningful, relevant, and tied to real-world purposes—can enhance student motivation, confidence, and writing skills in college composition courses.

The study introduces a multimodal assignment called a Culture Jam, where five participants critiqued and remixed media messages, such as advertisements or social media posts, to create their own critical digital compositions. Over three weeks, participants created their Culture Jams, shared feedback with peers, and reflected on their experiences. This project focused on five key elements …

Role Of Quartz Grain Size And Saturation On Fault Strength And Frictional Healing, Sapana Regmi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Rocks near the Earth's surface (less than 5 kilometers deep) often break and grind against one another to create crushed rock materials known as fault gouge. These fault gouges are filled with fragmented particles and broken rocks, which vary in grain size over time and space due to repeated earthquakes. This variation in grain size distribution along fault gouge can affect the strength of the fault, how it slips during an earthquake and how it 'heals' or recovers strength between earthquakes. Further, fault gouges often contain water from underground sources, which can influence how they slip. Previous studies have examined …

Breaking Up In The Digital Age: Examining The Relational Dissolution Model On Instagram, Alana Haupert

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Breakups can be an emotional time as individuals experience breakup distress and begin to explore the options and potential actions that are associated with relational dissolution on social media. This study seeks to explore how certain online behaviors, as they relate to stages of relational dissolution, affect breakup distress, relational uncertainty, social media engagement, and overall attitudes towards singlehood. Findings suggest that social media engagement plays a key role in exploring the phases of relational dissolution. Higher social media intensity linked breakup distress and behaviors of the social phase, or when individuals share information about a potential breakup. Grave-dressing behaviors …

Modeling For Functional Traits In Bluebunch Wheatgrass Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Uav) High-Throughput Phenotyping, Brittany L. Johnson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Changing climates and shifts in community composition in the Intermountain West threaten sagebrush-steppe ecosystems, impacting both plants and animals. Restoring native grasses like bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata; BBWG) can help ecosystems resist invasive species and recover from stress and disturbances. As a native cool-season grass, BBWG is widely used in rangeland restoration for the western U.S. Breeding programs for restoration plant materials, such as seeds for ecological projects, often require years or decades of field testing while facing staffing constraints. High- throughput phenotyping (HTP), which rapidly measures observable plant traits, offers a faster solution using drones to capture time-series …

Beyond The Click: Investigating Mental Models, Targeted Attacks, And Behavioral Interventions Against Clickbait, Ankit Shrestha

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Clickbait is misleading or exaggerated content on social media that tricks people into clicking on links by making them curious. For instance, posts that use headlines such as “This is the worst day to visit a restaurant”. These clickbait posts can lead to fake news, wrong information, and even harmful websites. Even though many people know clickbait can be risky, they often still fall for it. Existing tools to stop clickbait don’t always consider how people think, the situations they are in, or their different needs. This research looks at how people understand and react to clickbait, and develops different …

Insights Gained From Applying Molecular Techniques To Gray Triggerfish (Balistes Capriscus Gmelin, 1789) In The Mexican Caribbean, The Southern And Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Geaceli G. Orive

Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on Balistes capriscus (Gray Triggerfish), a reef-associated species dependent on hard-bottom habitats in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Using mitochondrial DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analyses, genetic structure across four sites was assessed: Rio Grande Valley (RGV), Veracruz, Chinchorro Bank, and Xahuayxol. Samples from RGV and Veracruz exhibited limited haplotype diversity, minimal nucleotide divergence, and weak genetic differentiation-patterns consistent with recent population expansion and ongoing connectivity within the GOM. While the study centered on B. capriscus, all individuals from Chinchorro and Xahuayxol unexpectedly grouped with Canthidermis maculata (Spotted Oceanic Triggerfish), suggesting misidentification, cryptic diversity, or taxonomic uncertainty in …

Comparison Of Recovery Methods After Resistance Exercise For Power Performance, Isaac D. Huerta

Theses and Dissertations

Elite athletes engage in intense training to secure marginal performance advantages, placing considerable physical strain on their bodies. Effective recovery techniques are critical to rapidly restore physical function. Conventional methods like ice baths, hydrotherapy, and massages are often impractical due to cost and logistical barriers. This study examined the efficacy of voluntary deep slow breathing (VDSB) as a cost-effective recovery method compared to static stretching (SS) and no recovery method (control) in untrained male athletes aged 18–26. Using a within-subjects, randomized crossover design over four weeks, participants visited the lab seven times to complete a standardized full-body workout involving plyometric …

Experiences Of Discrimination During Pregnancy Predict Altered Neonatal Hair Cortisol At Birth, Kimberly D'Anna-Hernandez, Lillybelle K. Deer, Özlü Aran, Kenia M. Rivera, Melissa Nevarez-Brewster, Jenalee R. Doom, Benjamin L. Hankin, M. Camille Hoffman, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology Faculty Research and Publications

Objective

Prenatal glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol) are a widely proposed prenatal programming mechanism, yet few studies directly measure fetal cortisol. Neonatal hair provides a non-invasive method to assess fetal cortisol. The current studies test the association between maternal exposure to discrimination and fetal cortisol, as measured in neonatal hair, in two cohorts.

Methods

Study 1: Pregnant individuals (N = 65) and their neonates (61.8 % female) participated in study 1 between 2017 and 2021. Participants self-identified as Asian (6.2 %), Black (21.5 %), Latinx (35.4 %), Multiracial or Multiethnic (35.4 %), and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (1.5 %). Experiences …

Axicons For Improved Resolution And Depth Of Focus In Adaptive Optics Scanning Light Ophthalmoscopy, Ruth E. Woehlke, Robert F. Cooper

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopes are instrumental for studying the eye, yet they use truncated Gaussian illumination and are limited by diffraction, restricting resolution and depth of focus (DOF). Non-diffractive Bessel beams have emerged as an alternative. Here, we use two axicons configured as: (1) an extended DOF beam for resolving multiple retinal layers; and (2) an annular beam for increasing lateral resolution. We compare both approaches to truncated Gaussian illumination using a variety of metrics. Using Configuration 1, we successfully observed multiple retinal layers simultaneously. Using Configuration 2, we observed enhanced lateral resolution but decreased signal-to-noise ratio.

An Injectable, Dual-Curing Hydrogel For Controlled Bioactive Release In Regenerative Endodontics, Meisam Omidi, Daniela S. Masson-Meyers, Jeffrey M. Toth

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Regenerative endodontics seeks to restore the vascularized pulp–dentin complex following conventional root canal therapy, yet reliable neovascularization within the constrained root canal remains a key challenge. This study investigates the development of an injectable, dual-curing hydrogel based on methacrylated decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM-MA) and compares its performance to a conventional gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA). The dAM-MA platform was designed for biphasic release, incorporating both free vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for an initial burst and matrix-metalloproteinase-cleavable VEGF conjugates for sustained delivery. The dAM-MA hydrogel achieved shape-fidelity via thermal gelation at 37 °C and possessed tunable stiffness (0.5–7.8 kPa) after visible-light irradiation. …

Impact Of Patient Diaries On Children, Families, And Healthcare Professionals In Paediatric Intensive Care Settings: A Scoping Review, Fiona Lynch, Jos M Latour, Ruth Endacott

School of Nursing and Midwifery

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this scoping review was to understand the current landscape, features, and volume of evidence that address the review question: what is the impact of Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patient diaries on children, families, and healthcare professionals (HCPs)? To provide context: descriptions of diary models was also provided.

METHOD: The search strategy was structured using the Population, Concept, and Context model to focus the review question. The inclusion criteria were intentionally broad to include all studies published in English from January 2016 until November 2024. The databases CINAHL, Medline, and EMBASE were used to retrieve articles, …

Enhancing Gaas Solar Cell Efficiency Through Nanostructured Features: A Comprehensive Review Of Recent Advances, Challenges And Future Outlook, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Boon Kar Yap, Tiong Sieh Kiong, Mohammad Khairul Basher, Tarek Abedin, Mohammad Aminul Islam, Mohd Adib Ibrahim, Mayeen Uddin Khandaker, Narottam Das

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article aims to provide a synopsis of recent advances in the use of nanostructured features to augment the conversion efficiency of gallium arsenide (GaAs) solar cells. GaAs are a very well-known and highly advantageous material for solar cells because they possess an extraordinary bandgap (i.e., approximately 1.4 eV), wide spectral absorption coefficient, and favorable carrier mobility. Numerous studies have explored the use of nanostructures, such as antireflection (AR) nanofilms/nanocoatings, nanoparticles (NPs), and nanogratings (NG), to improve the conversion efficiency of GaAs-based solar cells. These structures are generally designed to enhance light transmission capacity and absorption while reducing light reflection …

Incorporating Ecosystem Service Assessments Into Development Planning − Impact From A Dredging Project In South Australia On Seagrass, Sam Gaylard, Rachel Colella, Matt Nelson, Paul Lavery, Michelle Waycott

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Major infrastructure development is required for economic development and to improve human well-being, however conflict exists between developers and the community. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is used in over 100 countries to evaluate potential impacts of major developments across environment, economy, and social benchmarks. However, EIA has been criticized for a lack of transparency and accountability, lack of consultation or participation and inadequate science. An ecosystem service assessment (ESA) recognizes the links between the environment and the socio-economic environment, resulting in a more holistic evaluation of potential impacts and effective community consultation. Despite this, its inclusion within EIA's is rare. …

Digital Tools To Promote Or Measure Health Literacy In Children Aged 3–5 Years: Scoping Review, Caron Molster, Jennifer Irvine, Amanda Devine, Ruth Wallace, Lennie Barblett, Leesa Costello

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Health literacy is a determinant of health that should be promoted and measured in early childhood. In the era of digitalization, this could involve digital platforms. However, little knowledge exists on the extent, range, and nature of literature on digital tools for promoting or measuring young children’s health literacy. Addressing this gap, a scoping review was undertaken to explore what digital health literacy tools for children aged 3–5 years could be identified in the literature, what their key features were, how they were designed, whether children were codesigners, and whether the tools had been evaluated. Eligibility criteria included the literature …

The Moderating Effect Of Dietary Patterns On The Association Of Depression And Anxiety With Cognitive Function, Hilal Salim Said Al Shamsi, Samantha L. Gardener, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Ralph N. Martins, W. M.A.D.B. Fernando

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aims: Investigating modifiable risk factors, such as diet, is crucial in understanding their effects on the relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cognitive decline and related conditions. This study assesses whether dietary patterns moderate the relationship between symptoms of depression, anxiety, and cognitive function in older adults. Given that biological and psychosocial differences between sexes may influence dietary behaviours, mental health symptoms, and cognitive outcomes, conducting sex-stratified analyses will allow for identification of differential associations. Method: Cross-sectional data from cognitively unimpaired older adults (n = 1174, age ≥60 years) from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study were …

The Role Of Diet In Moderating The Relationship Between Symptoms Of Depression And Brain Amyloid Load, Hilal Salim Said J. Al Shamsi, Samantha L. Gardener, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Kevin C.M. Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Vincent M. Doré, Christopher L. Rowe, W. M.A.D.Binosha Fernando, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Healthy lifestyle factors, including diet, may affect brain amyloid beta (Aβ) load. This study examines dietary patterns as moderators of the relationships among symptoms of depression, anxiety, and brain Aβ load. Method: A cross-sectional study of cognitively unimpaired older adults (n = 524) from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers, and Lifestyle study assessed dietary patterns, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and brain Aβ load. Moderation and simple slope analyses were conducted. Results: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet moderated the relationship between depressive and anxiety symptoms and brain Aβ load. Higher symptoms were associated with greater Aβ load in …