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Microstructural Investigation Of Graphene Reinforced Nickel Aluminum Bronze Prepared Via Laser Powder Bed Fusion, Wen Qian, Maxwyll Mcconnell, Jazmin Ley, Luke Schwaninger, Xin Chen, Bai Cui, Joseph A. Turner

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Nickel aluminum bronze (NAB) powders coated with reduced graphene oxide (RGO) were successfully fabricated using additive manufacturing (AM) via laser powder bed fusion. The resulting samples were characterized using a suite of complementary techniques, including x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, nanoindentation, x-ray computed tomography, and electron backscatter diffraction. These methods were employed to reveal the micro- and nanoscale features within the fine dendritic microstructure. The as-fabricated microstructures were observed to deviate significantly from typical as-cast configurations. In the AM RGO-coated NAB specimens, the formation of the κ_I phase was notably suppressed and is attributed to the …

Teacher Leadership In Social Studies: The Search For Meaning And Identity, Zachary F. Lawson

Dissertations

This qualitative research study brings together social studies education and teacher leadership. Social studies lacks study in the teacher leader literature. This study aimed to understand whether the disciplinary nature of social studies education influenced the enactment of teacher leadership. This study sought an answer to the central research question: What does it mean to be a social studies teacher leader? Using a hermeneutic phenomenology research design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews across two groups of participants. Seven social studies teacher leaders made up one group, and five social studies teachers without leadership roles comprised the other. Findings indicated …

Cotton Yield And Tissue-Potassium Response To Potassium Fertilization, Maria Paula Ramos Do Prado

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Potassium (K) deficiency is a common yield-limiting factor in cotton (Gossypium hirsu tum L.) production across the U.S. Cotton Belt. Adequate fertilizer-K management is paramount to ensure optimum plant growth and development, minimizing yield losses. Currently, fertilizer K recommendations for cotton in Arkansas are derived from expected yield responses of other crops, with no calibrated fertilizer-K rates or critical tissue-K concentrations defined to maxim ize crop yield. Our research objectives were i) to investigate cotton yield response and fiber qual ity to K fertilization on soils with different K availability; ii) to correlate relative yield with tis sue-K concentrations at …

Radiation Induced Vaporization Of Exoskeletal Droplets As Potential X-Ray Acoustic Contrast Agents, Mohamed E. Eldib, William N. Frantz, Mark A. Borden, Ryan Lanning, Moyed Miften, David H. Thomas

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: In vivo dosimetry is a crucial component of ensuring accurate and safe radiation therapy (RT) delivery, but many existing techniques face challenges such as low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which can limit their clinical applicability.

PURPOSE: In this study, we investigate a novel contrast agent sensitive to megavoltage (MV) radiation in vitro, ultimately aiming for in vivo dosimetry.

METHODS: Vaporizable exoskeletal droplets were engineered to phase-change into ultrasound-responsive microbubbles upon exposure to MV photon radiation. These droplets comprised a hydrocarbon (HC) exoskeleton doped with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) surrounding a liquid fluorocarbon (FC) core. Radiation absorbed by the GNPs induced localized …

Resilience Redefined: Exploring The Impact Of Childhood Trauma On The Value Systems Of High-Achieving Corporate Men, Lana B. Henry

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study employed Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore how childhood trauma influences the value systems of high-achieving corporate men. In contemporary corporate culture, where stoicism, performance, and independence are often rewarded, little attention is paid to how early adversity informs internal frameworks of meaning, leadership, and success. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six high-achieving men, all executives and leaders in high-performing industries, who self-identified as having experienced childhood trauma. Data were analyzed using a six-step IPA process and interpreted through the lens of Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values and social constructivism. Findings revealed that childhood trauma deeply …

End Times: American Mortality, Death Materiality, And Social Death In The 1990s, Jordan A. Savage

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The United States in the 1990s was marked by pervasive representations of death in popular culture. As death imagery became increasingly visible in entertainment, there was a growing detachment from the embodied, biological realities of death, a tension intensified by the ongoing AIDS crisis. This project explores how death is politicized and how decisions about who lives and dies are shaped by power. I draw on a constellation of theoretical frameworks that collectively illuminate the operations of state-sanctioned death and social abandonment. These include Michel Foucault’s concept of biopolitics, which examines the management of life by state power; Giorgio Agamben’s …

Inhibitor Development And Clinical Characteristics In Children With Severe Hemophilia A In The Athn 8 Us Cohort Study., Courtney D. Thornburg, H Marijke Van Den Berg, Martin Chandler, Lynn Malec, Matthew Manuel, Carrie O'Neill, Michael Recht, Elizabeth Taggart, Shannon L. Carpenter, American Thrombosis And Hemostasis Network (Athn) 8 Investigators Study Group

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Clotting factor concentrate (CFC), used to treat and prevent bleeding in hemophilia, is rendered ineffective if clotting factor neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) develop. Inhibitors occur most often in children, early in treatment. The American Thrombosis and Hemostasis Network (ATHN) 8: US Cohort Study of Previously Untreated Patients (PUPs) with Congenital Hemophilia, conducted in children born in 2010 to 2020 with severe or moderate hemophilia, was designed to determine the percentage of participants who developed a confirmed, clinically significant inhibitor within the first 50 CFC exposure days (EDs). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate risk factors for inhibitor development in …

Antithrombotic Strategies And Outcomes In Neonates And Infants With Cardiac Shunts: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis., Amy L. Kiskaddon, Neil A. Goldenberg, Marisol Betensky, Joshua W. Branstetter, Dina Ashour, Pamela Williams, Arabela C. Stock, Michael Silvey, Therese M. Giglia, Nhue L. Do, Cardiac Disease Thrombosis And Hemostasis Working Party Of The Isth Ssc Subcommittee On Pediatric And Neonatal Thrombosis And Hemostasis

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

BACKGROUND: Cardiac shunt thrombosis in neonates and infants remains a concern for shunt failure and mortality. The optimal strategy for thromboprophylaxis remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic review aims to characterize antithrombotic strategies and outcomes in neonates and infants with a cardiac shunt.

METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched from inception through July 2024 for studies reporting shunt thrombosis prevalence among infants who received a cardiac shunt. We estimated the pooled prevalence of shunt thrombosis using random-effects meta-analysis. In the subgroup analysis, we evaluated the effects of shunt type and antithrombotic strategies on shunt thrombosis prevalence.

RESULTS: A total …

Clostridioides (Clostridium) Difficile In Children And Adolescents In The Community In Cambodia, Lengsea Eng, Paul Turner, Kefyalew Addis Alene, Deirdre A. Collins, Su Chen Lim, Pisey Tan, Sona Soeng, Dylorng Hun, Sotera Yohn, Sarim Vong, Archie C.A. Clements, Thomas V. Riley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile transmission between community and healthcare settings has been increasingly reported. We aimed to identify the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of C. difficile colonising adolescents and non-hospitalised children in Cambodia. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 266 students at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) in Phnom Penh, between July and August 2022, and 246 children ≥1 year old visiting the outpatient department (OPD) at Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, between January and August 2022. C. difficile culture, toxin gene detection and PCR ribotyping were performed. Results: Overall, C. difficile was recovered from 07/266 specimens …

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 …

Systematics, Evolution, And Species Delimitation Of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) Based On Ultraconserved Element Phylogenomics, Brandon Ross Claridge

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The diversity of life on Earth is highly skewed towards a few key groups of organisms. Parasitoid wasps are among the most species-rich yet understudied organisms on our planet. Ichneumonidae, the largest parasitoid wasp family, includes 25,000 known species out of an estimated total of 100,000, far exceeding the nearly 70,000 species of vertebrates. As parasitoids, ichneumonids lay a single egg onto or inside their hosts, and the resulting ichneumonid larva consumes its host, ultimately killing it. Most hosts are the larvae or pupae of moths, butterflies, flies, beetles, and other wasps, including many pest species injurious to agriculture and …

Gender-Diverse Individuals' Mathematics Self-Efficacy, Aliya Halterman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Many factors influence how well someone learns and achieve in school and daily living, with motivation being especially important. One key part of motivation is something called self-efficacy, which refers to how much someone believes they can successfully do a specific task (Bandura, 1986; 1997). Research has shown that self-efficacy plays a major role in how well people do, and the quality of their efforts (Pintrich & Schrauben, 1992; Weinstein & Mayer, 1986; Zimmermann, 2000). Additionally, mathematics skills are tied to better outcomes in school, careers, and in daily life. Mathematics also has also had a complex history when it …

Geochemical And Stratigraphic Characterization Of The Morrison Formation And Cedar Mountain Formation Contact In The Island Park Quadrangle, Uintah County, Utah, Emily Mcdermott

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation and Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation are among the richest sources of dinosaur fossils. Despite a 24-million-year gap in time (the Jurassic–Cretaceous unconformity), these formations are difficult to distinguish due to their similar rock types and colors. In Utah's Island Park quadrangle (IPQ), these formations are not separated on existing geological maps. This study focuses on identifying and understanding the formational boundary between them using field observations, stable isotope analysis, clay mineralogy, and chemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF).

Unlike other areas where a conglomerate layer marks the boundary, the …

The Validation Of The Patient’S Endorsement Of The Biopsychosocial Model Of Chronic Pain (Peb) Scale In Young Adults, Mathias M. Sanyer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This research examined a new tool designed to measure how patients view their chronic pain. While healthcare providers increasingly recognize that chronic pain involves biological, psychological, and social factors (a "biopsychosocial approach"), no previous tool existed to assess whether patients share this perspective. This study tested the reliability and effectiveness of the Patient's Endorsement of a Biopsychosocial Model of Chronic Pain (PEB) Scale in young adults with chronic pain. Results confirmed the scale accurately measures a single, consistent concept and correlates with patients' willingness to consider new pain management approaches. Unlike in older adults, the scale didn't predict active maintenance …

Risk Perceptions And Water Governance: Experiences Of Irrigation Companies In The Great Salt Lake Basin Of Northern Utah, United States, Bailey M. Holdaway

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Irrigation companies are important water management entities in the Western US. However, these companies often face barriers when managing water. Particularly as the state of Utah grows and water resources are drying, there is much finger pointing at those in irrigation and agriculture for better water management. However, pointing fingers without the participation of these companies often does not lead to effective water management outcomes. Therefore, it is important to understand the role of these irrigation companies, and particularly how they are approaching water management.

I set out to understand the role of these irrigation companies, specifically in the Great …

Graph-Based Machine Learning: Higher-Order Interactions, Guided Generation, And Knowledge-Graph Tools, Thomas J. Kerby

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This dissertation brings the power of graph thinking to three key challenges in modern AI, making complex data more transparent, generative design more controllable, and scholarly exploration more intuitive. First, we introduce Local CorEx, a new machine learning technique that uncovers hidden relationships among variables, making it easier to understand complex datasets without heavy computation. Next, we show how to guide the creation of new molecules by viewing the generation process itself as a walk through a "state graph," letting researchers steer outcomes toward desired chemical properties—without any extra model training. Finally, we deliver an open-source toolkit that builds interactive …

Examining The Development Of Collective Classroom Efficacy At The Secondary Level, Bradley K. Dutson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

How can educators develop cohesive and productive learning communities at the secondary level? Prior research has investigated how classrooms develop collective classroom efficacy (CCE) or the shared belief that, as a classroom, they can achieve their learning goals together as a community. Previous studies suggest that CCE at the elementary level is developed with a teacher acting in the role of a community organizer. The teacher employs social and academic practices which incorporate the use of relevance, relationship, and responsibility. These help to establish four key elements of developing CCE which include: 1) a positive classroom environment, (2) persistence and …

Evaluating The Effects Of 3d User Interactions And Virtual Displays On Human Cognition And Perception For Immersive Analytics, Dongyun Han

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

This research investigates how virtual reality (VR) can be utilized effectively for users to explore data. Traditional data analysis typically takes place on flat, two-dimensional computer screens. In contrast, immersive technologies like VR offer a three-dimensional environment where users can engage with data more naturally and intuitively. Such immersive experiences have the potential to improve comprehension, memory, and insight during data analysis tasks. Despite this potential, several challenges remain in making immersive analytics practical and effective. Key questions include which types of 3D interaction techniques are most helpful and how accurately people perceive visual information in immersive environments. To address …

A Provable Semi-Infinite Programming Approach For Solving Dynamic Nash Games, Tyler C. Gardner

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Many engineering problems must account for the non-cooperative decisions and actions of multiple players. These problems can be modeled within a game-theoretic framework. The approach herein is to model problems as Nash games, convert them to semi-infinite programs, and leverage provable semi-infinite algorithms to solve the original problem. A particular algorithm that leverages off-the-shelf solvers is used to solve four low-dimensional benchmark problems successfully. Two types of linear quadratic dynamic games are then investigated: ones where each player’s problem is convex and ones where at least one player’s problem is nonconvex. Within each type, variations based on information structure, communication …

Optimization Of The Root Zone In Controlled Environment Agriculture, Brendan Fatzinger

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) helps grow plants in spaces where resources like water and nutrients are limited, such as deserts or spacecraft. Effective management of water in the root zone, the area where plant roots grow, is vital to keeping plants healthy, especially in closed-loop systems where water cannot be wasted, as will be necessary for long-duration space missions.

An improved automated watering system designed for use in space-like environments was developed over several trials. Early designs using suction to draw water through tubes faced problems with uneven watering and roots blocking the tubes. Switching to a system that pushed …

An Embodied Social Demography For Trans And Nonbinary Workers, Jesse Ezra Shircliff

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Recently, the separation of “sex” and “gender” has seen intense debate in public discourse, stemming from skepticism about the social sciences and the measurement and study of gender specifically. Meanwhile, the United States population is becoming more gender diverse, with roughly 1 in 200 people now identifying as trans gender or gender nonbinary (that is, as a gender that is different from that person’s sex assigned-at-birth or outside of the sex-gender binary). This growing population experiences numerous disadvantages across social life, including obstacles in one particularly important aspect of the American Dream: the right to have and hold a job. …

Adapting To Change In Amenity-Oriented Communities: Innovative Strategies For Shifting Social And Environmental Needs, Emma L. R. Epperson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Amenity-oriented communities are places with significant and desirable natural amenities that are highly visited and plentiful within the Intermountain West. These high rates of visitation create complex challenges such as congestion in recreation spaces and in towns and increase costs of living. These communities are typically rural and often do not have the resources, funding, or infrastructure to combat these challenges. Although tourists provide financial stability and other amenities to these towns, local wellbeing is highly impacted. Outdoor recreation and the nature connections derived from outdoor experiences are major contributors to wellbeing in amenity communities. This research investigates the changes …

Optimizing Delphinium And Larkspur Through Timing And Protective Cultivation Methods For Cut Flower Production, Nicholas Kirwan Volesky

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Cut flowers have become an increasingly important specialty crop for small farms nationwide, and particularly in Utah, where decreasing agricultural land has heightened the need for profitable cropping options. However, production is challenged by Utah’s high-elevation climate, which presents unique constraints not addressed by current recommendations. Cool-season crops, like delphinium (Delphinium spp.) and larkspur (Consolida ajacis L.), are underproduced yet highly marketable, generating strong interest among growers throughout the state. Developing region-specific production guidelines is essential to help optimize yields, extend harvest windows, and meet local demand. This research evaluated spring planting dates in high tunnel and field …

Cutting Propagation And Out-Planting Of White-Margined Beardtongue (Penstemon Albomarginatus M.E. Jones), A Vulnerable Herbaceous Perennial Of The Mojave Desert), Alexander Stosich

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Plant biodiversity is crucial for the proper functioning of ecosystems, with many species needed to maintain the variety of functions provided, especially with increasing environmental change. However, plant biodiversity is threatened in many different ecosystems, primarily through habitat loss. Species can be conserved by protecting their original habitat and mitigating for threats such as invasive species or altered disturbance regimes (plant conservation); however, with declining population numbers and continued habitat loss and/or disturbance, it may be necessary to actively move plants (plant restoration). Plant restoration is dependent on developing the capacity to a) reliably propagate plants in a nursery and …

Evaluating Cyanotoxins In Surface Water And Aerosols Near Utah Lake, Dylan R. Mcpeake

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Utah Lake is a freshwater lake in Utah County near Provo, Utah. It is the third- largest lake in Utah and is important for recreation and local businesses. However, from June to October, the lake often has cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cHABs), which contain a toxin called cyanotoxin. These toxins can be dangerous to people who come into contact with the water. Government agencies regularly check for cHABs and warn people when the water is unsafe for activities like swimming. Collecting water samples to test for cHABs can be risky because it can possibly result in direct contact with the …

From Rifles To Running Shoes: How Outdoor Recreation Trends Are Reshaping Conservation Efforts, Lane James Arthur

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Parks and protected areas (PPAs) serve a dual purpose: they conserve wildlife and natural habitats while providing spaces for people to enjoy outdoor recreation. However, balancing conservation with recreation can be challenging, especially as outdoor activities continue to grow and evolve. In Utah, Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are set aside to protect important wildlife habitats and provide opportunities for hunting and fishing. Recently, these areas have seen an increase in activities such as mountain biking, trail running, and dog walking, some of which take place in areas which prohibit recreational activity in effort to protect wildlife. These shifts in recreation …

Effects Of Elevation, Fire Age, Burn Severity, And Pre-Fire Vegetation On Post-Fire Sagebrush Songbird Communities, William D. Harrod

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Sagebrush Biome of western North America has been threatened by a combination of interconnected threats. In the Great and Columbian Basins, a large portion of sagebrush loss has been due to an increase in higher-severity wildfires, caused by invasive annual grasses. As sagebrush declines, numerous wildlife species that rely on the biome have experienced similar trends. Sagebrush-adapted songbirds such as sage thrasher, Brewer's sparrow, and sagebrush sparrow as well as steppe-songbirds, have all experienced population declines. Currently, limited information exists as to how fire severity or recovery affect these songbirds or what resource managers can do to improve their …

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 …

Habitat Selection Analysis Of Mule Deer To Determine Efficacy Of The Coyote Bounty Program In Utah, Xaela M. Walden

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Mule deer populations have been declining over the past couple of decades in many parts of the western United States. Often times, predators are blamed for the decreases in deer populations. Because of this, wildlife managers implement programs focused on reducing the number of predators on the landscape in an attempt to increase deer populations. However, predator removal programs have had mixed results, thus further investigation is needed to determine if coyote removals by the public through a bounty program have a positive effect on mule deer populations. My study investigated whether coyote removals through the bounty program in Utah …

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 …