USU Student Research Symposium 2020

This research project focuses on a Digestive Health Clinic that specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating digestive and liver disorders. In the United States, 60 to 70 million people are affected by digestive health problems and they need this type of facility to be treated properly. The goal of this kind of clinic is to advance the delivery of care for patients suffering from all digestive health conditions. Every aspect from the space planning to the finishing touches needs to be thought through with the end-users in mind. When designing a healthcare facility, it is important to create a universal design that supports the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, HIPPA Privacy Rules, and include seating accommodations for the bariatric population. Through my exploration of different digestive health disorders such as Chron's disease, celiac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome; I will see how it affects people physically, mentally, and emotionally to make informed decisions about the design. The research will be conducted on what kind of specifications a space like this will require, and it will consist of elements that bring a sense of calmness and well-being for the patients being treated. Sourcing the correct furniture, materials, and finishes is important and will be taken into consideration to create a comfortable, maintainable, and long-lasting facility.

Speakers

JayLee Liston

Wednesday April 8, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Arts, Caine College of the Arts

10:00am PDT

In Stitches: The Story of North American Quilt Making

Almost everyone has one. It may be spread atop your bed, it may be hanging over the back of a chair, it may be buried deep beneath several other items, lost or forgotten, in the abyss of the hallway closet. It is a quilt. This embodiment of home and comfort is ubiquitous in North America and, indeed, the whole world. Why then is it that quilts made by people of First Nations ancestry are so instantly recognisable? How is it that the design, pattern and colour used by Indigenous makers seems to emanate a sense of power and spiritual significance in what is generally considered a fairly mundane item? Over the course of the next few months I intend to delve into the history, process and significance of making and giving quilts within the First Nations communities of North America.
I have long been enamoured with fibre arts and the process of constructing usable and wearable articles from fabric. I feel almost as though, in those moments, I am collaborating with the people of past generations by mirroring their movements and using the shared knowledge of the process in order to create something. I watched my Mother and Aunt work in tandem on many quilts throughout my childhood and eventually joined in the endeavour. It wasn't until I met a good friend of mine, Felicia Apetagon, that I was exposed to the strong traditions and significance of quilt making in Indigenous communities, particularly the Cree Nation in Manitoba, Canada. As a result, I want to know more about this practice and observe how far-reaching the custom of quilt making goes, both historically and in contemporary First Nations culture.

Speakers

Ayla Murray

Wednesday April 8, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Arts, Caine College of the Arts

10:00am PDT

Low Income Housing Community

Visual Emotions: The Intention versus the Perception of Abstract Art

Learning Frameworks, Nobel Prizes, and World Peace

Social Science & Education, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services

In this presentation, I apply a working definition of new literacies, which are comprised of “new technical stuff” and “new ethos stuff,” to conduct an analysis of three academic papers that each describe a framework for learning. The papers of interest include one on personalized learning (Halverson et al., 2015), one on participatory culture (Jenkins et al., 2006), and one on connected learning (Ito et al., 2013). Concept coding was used to identify instances of new technical stuff and new ethos stuff, as well as other themes across these three papers. Multiple examples were found within the papers to support the framing of a new literacy that can describe learners’ activity in what may be called a “New Classroom.” Discussion focuses on comparing the three frameworks in terms of similarities, differences, goals, and potential value for defining the new literacy of the New Classroom. A new hybrid framework is briefly introduced and labeled “personalized and participatory learning."

Speakers

Nathan Justis

Wednesday April 8, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

10:00am PDT

Reflective Questions to Promote Parent Engagement in Early Intervention Services

Social Science & Education, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services

Parents are their child’s first and most effective teachers. They know their child best and their family’s priorities regarding their child’s desired speech, language, and listening outcomes. In early intervention (EI), parent coaching provides an effective model to promote parent engagement in the EI sessions. Parent coaching facilitates parents’ participation in establishing their child’s goals and identifying ideas and strategies for implementing goal-directed activities throughout the child’s day and during the family’s daily activities and routines. A component of effective coaching is the use of ‘Reflective Questions’ as described by Rush and Shelden (2011). Reflective questions are open-ended questions that increase awareness of parent knowledge and can facilitate discussion to build upon current knowledge. Reflective questions can help to review developmental progress, introduce a new topic, brainstorm intervention ideas, plan for the future, and build rapport. This presentation will 1) describe the components of reflective questions and how they can promote parent engagement, 2) provide examples of reflective questions specifically related to serving children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and 3) provide ideas for embedding reflective questions into early intervention services.

Rush, D.D. & Shelden, M.L. (2011). The Early Childhood Coaching Handbook. Brookes Publishing, Baltimore, MD.

Speakers

Samantha Gotcher

Wednesday April 8, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Fernanda Mejia

Speakers

Niranjan Poudel

Wednesday April 8, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

Validating pedestrian traffic signal push button data as a measure of walking activity at signalized intersections

Existing data collection methods for pedestrian travel monitoring are generally difficult, expensive, and/or time-consuming. In this study, we demonstrate the validity of using a novel and relatively ubiquitous big data source, pedestrian push button data from traffic signals'contained within one state's (Utah's) Automated Traffic Signal Performance Measure (ATSPM) system'as a proxy measure of pedestrian activity. Every time a person pushes a push button or makes a pedestrian call to cross the street, this information can be logged and archived in a central database.
We used observed pedestrian counts (from recorded videos) to validate these signal-based pedestrian activity measures. We recorded multiple days of video at nearly 90 randomly selected signalized intersections throughout Utah, and then manually counted pedestrian events. Although data collection continues, we have already watched over 5,000 hours of footage and counted well over 30,000 pedestrians. For each hour, we then compared our pedestrian volumes to pedestrian signal data from ATSPM. Our preliminary results show generally good correspondence between pedestrian signal events and pedestrian volumes (71% of signals had correlations greater than 0.75), demonstrating the relative accuracy of such proxy signal data for estimating pedestrian activity levels. Transportation agencies can use pedestrian signal data to help improve pedestrian travel monitoring, multimodal transportation planning, traffic safety analyses, and heath impact assessments.

Speakers

Ferdousy Runa

Wednesday April 8, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

Virtual Strain Gage Study to Optimize Optical Strain Measurements

Speakers

Benjamin Hill

Wednesday April 8, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

From Trash to Invasion: The Role of Landfills in Spread of Invasive Plants

Engineering, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences | Life Science, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Landfills are sites of high disturbance, which allow for the establishment of invasive plants and noxious weeds. The Logan Landfill in Cache Valley is approaching closure, a process which involves several environmental checks. A commonly overlooked factor, however, is the presence of invasive plants and noxious weeds. Due to the prevalence of earthwork equipment and continuous inputs of construction and residential waste, there is high potential for introducing and spreading invasive plant and noxious weed propagules. This project looks at plant species currently present at the Logan Landfill in order to predict the potential for the landfill to act as an invasion epicenter. A field study was conducted to determine the diversity of plant species at the Logan Landfill. Soil samples were collected at 0-10 cm depths from three sites around the landfills. In each area, 10 samples were collected, bagged, and stored at below 0 C until planting in the research greenhouses at USU. Additionally, samples of compost from the on-site facility were collected to investigate viable seeds coming into the green waste facility. The samples at each site were allowed to thaw in the greenhouse and mixed with potting mix and watered to assess species growth. Research has been done on the effects of landfills are centers for invasions, but this study focuses on the species present in Cache Valley. My hypothesis is that several invasive species will be found in landfill soil as evidence of the role of the landfill as a center for invasion. These results shed light on the importance of managing invasive plants and monitoring their spread through the life of a landfill. Monitoring and remediation may be necessary depending on site specific requirements.

Speakers

Jeffrey Kennedy

Wednesday April 8, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

May Swenson, the Question of Home, and Gender

May Swenson, a writer active throughout the majority of the mid-twentieth century, authored many poems laden with imagery and theming surrounding traditional gender roles and her dissatisfaction with expectations for women—including herself. Through poems that highlight the disparity in opportunity and treatment that women—in her time especially—have faced in and because of their sexuality, Swenson urges readers to consider that the roles assigned to women traditionally do not resonate with many women because western views of gender impose unnatural boundaries on sexuality. By firmly placing the feminine and masculine into separate spheres, women are limited by their femininity in ways that nature is not. Contrary to what was deemed proper at the time, Swenson believed that “Male and female exist in every person. The world is made up of male, female, and combinations thereof” (Swenson, 123). This view is reflected throughout her writing; in poems such as “The Centaur,” “Sun,” and “A Couple,” objects of nature like animals as well as the sun and moon, are assigned gender and discussed symbolically in order to blur the line between the genders in order to exalt nature’s more relaxed take on sex. In other selections like “Women,” women are addressed in plainer terms in order to make a statement about the objectification of women and the oppression of their sexuality. Although it has been decades since Swenson published these pieces, the debate surrounding the validity of traditional gender roles is ongoing. Swenson, who views humans as simply “another animal” believes that humanity’s reverting back to evolutionary tendencies would result in a more equal and fulfilling existence for all.

Speakers

Emma Chadwick

Wednesday April 8, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Humanities, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

1:00pm PDT

Day versus night irrigation effect on microclimate modification in urban crops

Engineering, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences | Life Science, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences | Physical Science, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

The population in Utah is increasing with the increasing demand of water for irrigation in urban areas. To address this upcoming challenge, we studied the effect of daytime versus nighttime irrigation on microclimate in two types of vegetation which are common in homeowners. Four irrigation treatments were tested: daytime irrigated turf, nighttime irrigated turf, daytime irrigated zinnia, and nighttime irrigated zinnia. The same irrigation amount was applied to all treatments. Wind speed and air temperature at night were high. In turf, canopy humidity difference between day versus night was the same at the irrigation event i.e. (5 to 10%) but decrease in canopy humidity lasts for about 3hr in day irrigated plot and 10-12 hours in night irrigated plot. In the case of zinnia canopy humidity reduction was 4 to 20% for 3hours in day irrigated plots and12+ hours in nighttime irrigated plot. Day time irrigation causes ~4ºC reduction in canopy temperature for 2 hours whereas ~2ºC reduction for more than 12 hours and also the legacy effect is seen even after an irrigation event. In general, due to lower wind speed and low air temperature at night we assume that there exist irrigation uniformity and less wind drift and evaporation loss. Also, our result suggests that due to the positive microclimate effect for a long time in the night irrigated plot, more water is available to plants. Still, more studies are needed to quantify microclimate modification and water saving. As adjusting irrigation timing doesn’t cost extra expenses to homeowner

Speakers

Samikshya Pyakurel

Wednesday April 8, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

1:00pm PDT

Estimating Snow Water Equivalence using easily accessible climate variables

Speakers

Jesse Wheeler

Wednesday April 8, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Engineering, College of Science | Physical Science, College of Science

The Decentralization of Humans in the Universe: May Swenson and the Search for a Human Home

Humanities, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Speakers

Elsa Torgersen

Wednesday April 8, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

2:00pm PDT

Two-Insert Assembly for High-Throughput Vibration-Based Fatigue Testing

This research analyzes an improved high-throughput method for vibration-based fatigue testing. This method builds off previous research by Bruns and Zearley, where a carrier plate assembly containing a test specimen vibrates to failure. In this work, an aluminum carrier plate was designed to load multiple specimens instead of one. This revised design allows multiple specimens to be fatigued simultaneously, reducing total testing time. The assembly designs were simulated in ANSYS to perform parametric modal analysis. The initial three-insert design was chosen such that cyclic stress was concentrated on the specimens rather than the carrier plate, extending the life of the plate for reusability. For experimental testing the assembly was excited using an electrodynamic vibration shaker following the procedures of the Bruns and Zearley assembly. A pair of high-speed cameras in conjunction with stereo digital image correlation (stereo DIC) was used to monitor the mode shape of the assembly during testing. During initial testing the three-insert assembly exhibited the same modal shape as was predicted in simulation. However, continued testing of the three-specimen insert was not completed due to the large accelerations required to generate relatively small strains. The assembly was modified to load two specimens instead, decreasing the acceleration required. Further modal analysis of carrier plates with varying length to width ratios was explored to maximize the number of samples fatigued simultaneously. Additional work is needed to physically validate these simulations.

Speakers

Emma German

Wednesday April 8, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Examining socio-demographic changes of sprawl retrofitting projects in minnesota

Life Science, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Speakers

Hooman Hadayeghi

Wednesday April 8, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

2:00pm PDT

Exploring canid monogamy: Characterization of the distribution of oxytocin receptors in the brain of the coyote (Canis latrans)

The exploration of the connection between instrumentation and musical preference in a relaxation techniques as used by a MT-BC.

As music therapy students, part of our studies is learning how to successfully facilitate relaxation techniques. These are used in all different clinical settings to address a range of goals such as: reminiscence, pain management, catharsis, decreasing anxiety/agitation, etc. Understanding how to effectively facilitate a relaxation technique in a way that stimulates a physical response can benefit both our current studies and our future practice. The purpose of the study will be to understand the difference in perceived relaxation between different instrumental timbre (piano, strings, guitar, brass.) The research will take into account personal, historic musical involvement and preference in a qualitative manner at the beginning of the study. This will be done with a survey presented to college students studying both music and non-music degrees. After explaining their musical background, they will first be presented with a group of listenings. These will include four, minute-long excerpts of the same piece played at the same tempo (between 50-60 bpm) containing different instrumentation (guitar, cello, oboe, piano.) Following these listenings, they will be asked to explain which instrument allowed them to feel the most relaxed and why they perceived that to be. This study, along with allowing us a better tool and understanding of how to more effectively treat future clients, can also lead to further research on the connection between instrumentation and relaxation.

Speakers

Amanda Rhea

Thursday April 9, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Arts, Caine College of the Arts

10:00am PDT

Visualizing Bicycle-Roundabout Safety

The automobile has transformed modern American cities. With the growth of cities, traffic has worsened resulting in more frequent accidents. In the early 1900’s the first roundabout was introduced to America and more than 4,200 have been built since. Roundabouts minimize driver conflict and traffic build up. Bicyclists, however, tend to avoid roundabouts because of actual and perceived danger. This is because the quick movement of cars entering and exiting a roundabout creates multiple accident-prone areas for bicyclists. The purpose of this project is to create rendered images and videos of multiple roundabouts in order to assess how bicyclists will react to and engage with different design concepts. Design concepts will employ a range of roundabout characteristics (e.g. roundabout size, 1-2 lanes, types of bike paths). 3d modeling software’s (i.e. Sketchup, Rhino, and Unreal Engine) were chosen for the project because of their hyper realism. These results will be used in a further project that will use the produced images and videos.

Speakers

Conner Howard

Thursday April 9, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am PDT

Engineering, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

10:00am PDT

Equality in Education for Latina Women.

Humanities, College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Latina women in the United States face various educational, social, and familial pressures while striving to obtain a valuable education and break boundaries created by stereotypes in the country. Stereotypes of Latinas in the media have created false beliefs regarding their characters and abilities, in turn causing negative repercussions in communities and social environments. They often face unfair and biased treatment in schools and don’t receive adequate help from teachers or counselors to excel in high school and prepare for college. Much of this inequality inhibits their ability to feel confident in their future of education. Not only must Latina women navigate the demands of school achievement, but they must also make decisions regarding the traditions of their families. The conflicting petitions of family members, culture, and tradition, cause some women to feel unsure of how they should pursue educational goals. With few successful examples of Latina women of education present in media, literature, or news, the challenging decisions are even more difficult. This study analyzes the challenges Latina women must face in education and the social and educational pressures that arise. Through the examination of the several articles and the movies Real Women Have Curves, The Bronze Screen, Walkout, McFarland USA, and Spare Parts, the challenges, stereotypes, and pressures that Latina women face and overcome will be discussed. The future of women in education will also be discussed and various opportunities that can help perpetuate a positive change for women in school, college, and social environments.

Speakers

Megan Warburton

Thursday April 9, 2020 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Competition between Bassia scoparia drought tolerant varieties of corn

Life Science, College of Engineering

Drought Tolerant (DT) corn hybrids are being increasingly selected by growers for use in arid and semi-arid regions. The competitive ability of DT corn against weeds is largely unknown. Kochia (Bassia scoparia), a highly invasive plastic commonly found in cropping systems of the Western US, can reduce yields directly through allelopathy and indirectly by competition. Kochia contains toxic substances such as saponins, alkaloids, oxalates, and nitrates; these toxins can be more potent during periods of drought (Dickie and James, 1983). Across the US and internationally, drought conditions are increasing and to address the issue of crop failure born of these water shortages Utah State University created a Drought Tolerant (DT) Corn variety. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the competitive ability of DT corn against kochia. Corn and kochia were planted in 5 different combinations (corn: kochia, 0:8, 2:6, 4:4, 6:2, 8:0) in a replacement series experimental design to test inter- and intra-specific competition. Timing of kochia planting varied from 0 (with corn), 1, and 2 weeks after corn to simulate field conditions and to inform growers as to how to best plant to impede kochia invasion through maximizing competitive suppression. My hypothesis is that kochia will be more competitive against corn at higher populations and the more closely the planting of the weed matches corn. Resisting drought is important for crops grown in dryer parts of the US, but so is the competitive ability against weeds, especially for extremely troublesome species like kochia. This study will provide growers with additional knowledge in how best to manage weeds.

Speakers

Jacilyn Fielding

Thursday April 9, 2020 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

11:00am PDT

Construction of candidate vectors for correction of the intestinal CFTR gene expression in Cystic Fibrosis sheep fetal fibroblast cells

Effects on pollution levels if Utah State University converted its vehicle fleet to electric.

Clustering and Classifying Geophysical Rock Properties of the San Andreas Fault Zone

Speakers

Jared Bryan

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Physical Science, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

12:00pm PDT

Comparing Performance of Alfalfa Crimper Systems

Speakers

Jesse Mathews

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

Coriolis Force: Conceptual Understanding of Motion on our Ellipsoidal Earth

Speakers

Ridge Cole

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

Determining the chaotic nature of periodic orbits

Using Lyapunov exponents as a measure of chaos in integrable systems, we characterize the chaotic
nature of 1243 distinct periodic modes in a two-magnetic dipole system. After finding these distinct
modes from previous research we wanted to understand their long-term behavior. We implemented an
algorithm to compute the spectrum of Lyapunov exponents for the dipole system, determining the chaotic
nature of the orbit by the largest exponent found. The use of Lyapunov exponents for this particular
system hasn't yet shown clear results of which orbits are chaotic or not, due to the non-smooth nature
of the equations. We are looking at other means of determining chaos with methods such as the Small
Alignment Index (SALI) or the Generalized Alignment Index (GALI).

Speakers

Bo Johnson

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

Fitting Snow Loads to Probability Distributions for Safer Buildings

Speakers

Miranda Rogers

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

Growth and survival of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris strains during cheddar cheese manufacturing and after salting.

Physical Science, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Traditional starter cultures for cheddar cheese are combination of Lactococcus lactis. , subsp. lactis and subsp. cremoris. Acidifying rates and temperature dependence vary with both subspecies. Acid production from lactis is faster but cremoris is more suitable for flavor development. Our goal was to compare their growth and survival during cheesemaking and after salting and pressing. Two commercially suitable strains of lactis and cremoris were used (600-M1, E36 and B36, G61 respectively). Starter culture numbers were enumerated by plating on both M17 and Reddy's agar. A standardized make procedure was used with 88'F set temperature and 101'F cook temperature using 1200-lb of pasteurized milk. Curd was sampled at after cut, before draining, after pack and before salting. Final curd was salted with 2.0, 2.4, 2.8, 3.2 and 3.6% salt, pressed for 3 hours and stored at 42'F for 6 days. Cheese after the 6th day was evaluated using plate count and flow cytometry. Flow cytometry measured both living and dead cells based upon permeability to Propiduim iodide and Sybr green. Cheese make time (set -to-mill time) varied from 210 - 400 min depending on the strain. L. lactis subsp. cremoris B36 strain took the longest manufacturing time among all the four strains. The E36 lactis strain had the highest number at before salting than any other strains. The two cremoris strains (B36, G61) were different from each other in terms of acid production, regeneration and cheese make time. There was no difference in cell numbers based on salt content after 6 days.
Conclusion: There was difference in performance between same subspecies. Limitation of plate count method was that not all cells multiplied to form colonies. Use of flow cytometry would help track number of living cells during cheese storage and flavor development.

Speakers

Rhitika Poudel

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Kinetic Analysis of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Point Mutants

Physical Science, College of Engineering

Speakers

Kade Fish

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

12:00pm PDT

Materials Outgassing and Kinetics

Contamination due to outgassing of materials can cause the degradation of critical hardware of a spacecraft. Using outgassing rates, kinetic expressions can be developed and used in models to predict the evolution of molecules and migration of contaminants for specific materials. These models could be used in the selection process of materials to help mitigate the amount of contamination of mission critical hardware for the expected life of the spacecraft. By using the ASTM E1559 test standard this can be achieved. This standard uses the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) collection approach. A temperature-controlled effusion cell, containing the sample material, impinges outgassing flux onto three QCMs. One QCM is held at LN2 level temperature to measure the total mass loss (TML) as a function of time. The other two QCMs are controlled to selected temperature values to measure the volatile condensable material (VCM) as a function of time.
Using mostly existing vacuum hardware, a design for the ASTM E1559 and stand were created using solid edge. All pieces were spec'd to create a stand for the test chamber itself and a data rack for all the supporting hardware. This includes the design and wiring of an electrical control box and assembling all of the hardware.

Speakers

Alex Kirkman

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Speakers

Clayton Hansen

Thursday April 9, 2020 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Social Science & Education, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services

Thursday April 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

1:00pm PDT

The Relationship between Methods of Paying College Tuition and Academic Performance

The main focus of this study is to examine the relationship between the methods students use to pay for college tuition and their academic performance. Our sample consisted of 672 students attending Utah State University. The descriptive results showed that 53.1% of USU students who held a lower GPA were receiving Federal Pell Grants. 44.9% of respondents who held student loans had lower GPAs beneath 3.0. In contrast, 62.3% of those who received scholarships reported a higher GPA (above 3.0). This information shows that holding a student loan or having a scholarship are significant factors in determining whether a student had a higher GPA. Federal grants and student loans were both negative factors in determining a student's GPA, while scholarships was a positive factor in determining a student's GPA. The logistic regression analysis showed that students who held a scholarship were 219% more likely to have a high GPA, while students who had student loans or Federal grants were 32% and 27% less likely to have a higher GPA. One important implication for this study is that students who receive scholarships are much more likely to have higher GPAs. This may be because students feel more responsible when receiving money from an outside source, or due to the fact that many scholarships have GPA requirements. This method of paying for school may help students to focus on the importance of their higher education. On the other hand, students who held student loans were less likely to hold higher GPAs. This could be due to the lack of student loan education. Without a proper education on the future requirements and consequences of student loans, current student may not associate this debt with their academic performance. This method of payment may be causing many students' effort in education to suffer.

Speakers

Emily Hales

Thursday April 9, 2020 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Alise Williams Condie

Thursday April 9, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

2:00pm PDT

Shared Roots: an examination of the interconnectedness of cultures and nations manifest through art and design

An Evaluation of Web-Based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Dementia Caregivers

Social Science & Education, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services

With increased prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, family caregivers are providing up to ten years of unpaid care. Informal dementia caregivers are frequently exposed to behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) that can cause distress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an empirically tested subset of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy shown to improve caregiver depressive symptoms, use of positive coping skills, and management of role demands. Caregivers face barriers to accessing face-to-face therapy because of factors that delay seeking help until post-crisis. Online ACT is easily accessible, navigable, and free, and has been demonstrated to improve mental health indicators in other populations. Program evaluation will consist of extant data from a pilot study of the first web-based ACT for dementia caregivers, conducted in Utah. Pre-, post-, and four-week follow-up post-tests were conducted, which 46 participants successfully completed all 10 sessions and tests, which is an appropriate sample for a pilot study. To be evaluated are which ACT skills are most helpful in decreasing BPSD distress and in increasing valued-based living (a central goal of ACT), and whether factors of perceived helpfulness and reported effort of practicing ACT skills moderate those outcomes. Correlation analyses will be performed on individual ACT session-related variables and regression analysis will evaluate predictor and outcome variables relating to all ACT sessions. Predictor variables include perceived helpfulness of practicing ACT skills between sessions, reported effort on those practice activities, and use of five ACT skills since intervention completion. Outcome variables include caregiver stress reactions to BPSD and progress toward values-based living.

Speakers

Hannah Cragun

Thursday April 9, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

Evaluating the Effects of Differential Outcomes on Impulsive Choice in Rats

Social Science & Education, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services

Speakers

Sari Christensen

Thursday April 9, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

2:00pm PDT

Exploring the Influence of Group Work and Resource Selection on Engineering Course Performance: A mixed methods study

Social Science & Education, College of Engineering

This poster presents findings from a mixed methods research study that aimed to identify relationships between students' peer and course resource interactions with student performance in a large (100+) face-to-face (f2f) engineering course. Prior research has shown peer interaction may positively influence student performance in online engineering courses, as well as in f2f courses in other disciplines. However, more limited research relates the motivations for and effects of student interactions with peers and resources to performance in large, f2f engineering courses.

This mixed methods study uses Social Network Analysis (SNA) and Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) to generate new insights about potential relationships that exist between levels of student interaction and performance in a large, second year engineering course offered during the spring 2019. Quantitative and qualitative data were generated over a single semester by administering nine self-report surveys online to student participants in the course. SNA and QCA were used to examine closed (SNA) and open (QCA)-ended survey responses to questions that asked students about their connectedness with peers and resources during the semester.

Mixed data analyses sought to identify correlations existing between individual and network-wide SNA measures and student performance. Findings describe: (1) the relationships between student resource interactions and student performance in the course, (2) the development of student study networks over time, and (3) students' motivations for adapting resource use. Findings have implications for engineering educators of large undergraduate courses.

Speakers

Jack Elliott

Thursday April 9, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

2:00pm PDT

Exploring the Role of Mobile Technologies in Place-Based learning: A Review of Literature

Social Science & Education, Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services

Place-based learning (Smith, 2002) has been developing along with the evolving technologies that are leveraged to education. Integrating technologies with the place enhances the entanglement between learner and the place, which constitutes of dynamic networks of cultures and identities (Jocson, 2016), and thus creating an enriched conceptualization of place-based learning.

The development of technologies provides new opportunities of learning through the place. Researchers have recognized the impact of emerging technology on place-based learning. Recent research focuses on the role of technology in building relations. Mobile augmented reality technologies connected diverse learners and help to build deeper, more meaningful relationships with their local environments (Litts & Whitney, 2018).

To better understand the recent trend of using technologies in place-based learning, it is needed to delineate the trajectory of technologies used and identify their related roles. The purpose of this study is to conduct a systematic review of studies on place-based learning with technology so as to understand what research has been conducted regarding technology in place-based learning and what insight could be drawn from the current practice.

Findings of the research are based on the theme emerged from the coding of each article. Specifically, we identified three different roles of mobile technologies in terms of place-based learning:1) Technologies helps to create the identity of the explorer of the place, 2) technologies increase the interactivity with the place, 3) technologies explain the leaners' embodied experience.

Speakers

Lili Yan

McKay Colleni

Student, Utah State University

Thursday April 9, 2020 2:00pm - 3:00pm PDT
TBA https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trkonboarding-landing

The Relationship Between Reinforced Variability and Psychological Flexibility in People with Depression