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2020 Abstracts

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Generational Differences and Impact on Work-life Balance and Job Satisfaction

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Westover, Jonathan; Hardy, Danielle; Arvizu, Annie; Johnson, Jace; Powell, Spencer (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Westover, Jonathan (Woodbury School of Business, Academic Director, Center for Social Impact)

Purpose - The purpose of this presentation and paper is to explore work-life balance predictors of job satisfaction across various generations, using international sample of workers across 37 countries. The four generational cohorts included in the analysis include Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennial.

Design/methodology/approach: This study provides a comparative analysis of work-life balance indicators of overall job satisfaction across generational cohorts, utilizing data from the 2015 Work Orientations IV Wave of the International Social Survey Program (including stratified random samples of employees across 37 different countries).

Findings: Initial analyses indicate statistically significant differences in work-life balance related indicators of employee job satisfaction across generational cohorts. Additional analyses will be performed to clarify these relationships and further explore the causes behind the differences.

Originality/Value: While many studies have been performed on job satisfaction, very few studies have explicitly examined job satisfaction levels and its indicators across generations. Additionally, while many studies have examined the role of work-life balance saliency on job satisfaction across generational cohorts, and no research has previously been done examining these relationships cross-nationally.

Keywords Job satisfaction, Generational Differences, Work-life Balance, Cross-national

Purpose/Hypothesis:

We hope to supply statistical evidence that there are differences in the saliency and impacts of work-life balance variables on job satisfaction across generational cohorts. Specific hypotheses include:

H1: There are statistically significant differences in the mean scores of job satisfaction and work-life balance variables across generational cohorts.

H2: One's age (generational cohort grouping) has a positive statistically significant impact on job satisfaction.

H3: One's age cohort has a statistically significant impact on the determinants of job satisfaction.

H4: There are statistically significant cross-national differences in the impact of generational cohort on job satisfaction.
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The Effect of Racial Dissimilarity on People of Color's Participation in Groups

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Calzado Real, Tamara; Blair, Ariel; Tenney, Elizabeth (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Blair, Barbara "Ariel" (David Eccles School of Business, Management)

The purpose of this study is to understand how racial dissimilarity affects people of color's voice behavior in a student or class group. In a group where a person's social category is underrepresented, they become more aware of that social identity and their ability to perform at their full potential reduces because they are more focused on monitoring their performance and suppressing negative thoughts and feelings than improving group performance. However, in situations where people are more identified with the group, they are more likely to feel committed to or express themselves in a group. Additionally, in groups where people of color don't perceive themselves as different from all or most of the other group members, subgroups and division among team members is less likely to occur. In order for people of color to contribute in meaningful and innovative ways, having the confidence to speak up and express new ideas is crucial. We will run a survey where participants recall groups that they have been a part of and rank their voice (participation) in the group, their perceived racial dissimilarity of the group, and the importance of race on their personal identity. Afterwards, they will placed in an online student group chat with high or low dissimilarity and will be asked to reflect on their experiences. In line with previous research we expect that the importance of race on their personal identity will be positively related to perceived racial dissimilarity and therefore, we expect peoples' voice behaviors to decrease when they are in a group where racial dissimilarity is high.
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Rhetoric of Reproductive Technologies

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Mary Lay Schuster, Mary Daly (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

There have been recent developments in reproductive technologies that are staking claims to better the lives of women. The invention and development of reproductive technologies alone is not enough to classify them as technologies aiding women, however. Ultrasound, IVF, and breast reduction technologies specifically can be as helpful to women as they were intended. Ultimately, the way they are put into practice, viewed by society and used by professionals can inadvertently make women feel more marginalized. A woman's agency is diminished by ultrasound technology as she is debating having an abortion; a woman's involvement in her own IVF-aided pregnancy can be positive or negative depending on the outcome; a woman's breasts can contribute to her femininity so long as they fit societal standards. As a technical communicator, I feel a responsibility to bridge this gap between technology and humanity because the two need to function together without one negatively impacting the other. Through my research I will prove this by drawing on the work of Mary Daly and her theory of a rhetorical foreground and background (spaces where women are oppressed and spaces where the oppression is removed, respectively) while analyzing the findings presented by Mary Lay Schuster in her article "The Rhetoric of Reproductive Technologies." Throughout this analysis, I would like to not only point out the problems women are currently encountering with different reproductive technologies, but also to suggest ways to amend the situation moving forward. Mary Lay Schuster points specifically in her article towards the practice of midwifery, and so one of my solutions would include utilizing modern medicine in combination with midwifery.
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Imagined Interaction Theory through the Dramatic Monologue Performance

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Webb, Kortney (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Jeffreys, Mark (Education, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences)

This paper applies Imagined Interaction Theory to the dramatic monologue. Imagined Interaction (II) refers to a cognitive state in which people daydream about social interactions.
These II's can be used as practice for an actual conversation with a person. There are six functions of II's self-understanding, compensation, catharsis, rehearsal, conflict-linkage, and relational maintenance. Each of these functions shows why an individual would participate in imagined interactions. There are also mental ways II's represent themselves including self-talk, daydreaming, focus on organization of thoughts, and II can also be used as a therapy tool. How does this theory relate to the dramatic monologue? II's aspects are visible in how a dramatic monologue is displayed. Although II happens inside the head, the actors have to bring their internal monologue into speech through dramatic monologue. Here, II theory applies when performing a dramatic monologue directly in II form. Despite the controversy around the definition of the dramatic monologue, II aspects can be seen through the criteria and how the dramatic monologue is displayed. For practical application this research will apply findings to the dramatic monologue by performing a monologue(s) in II form. This research is significant because this topic is not researched sufficiently and it shows how the performance of the dramatic monologue in theater can mimic real world communication in various situations.
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An Analysis of Harry Potter Through the Lens of Cultural Studies

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Stevens, Shaylee (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Bialowas, Anne (Weber State University, Communications)

Since they were originally published, the Harry Potter books have become a cultural phenomenon that connects people from all around the world through its relatable characters and real-world themes. This paper examines the Harry Potter books through the lens of Cultural Studies to explain the connections in the books to the real world and how the theory can be applied to real life experiences. Previous literature related to Cultural Studies and the Harry Potter books provided a foundation for the analysis. The books were analyzed by applying three key concepts in Cultural Studies to various situations and themes in the stories. The three concepts used in the analysis were ideology, economic determinism, and hegemony. The concepts were used to explore the beliefs and values of different characters within the books, as well as the power dynamics and social structures of the wizarding world. These key themes and concepts highlight the parallels that can be drawn between the world of Harry Potter and the real world, and they show the ways in which Cultural Studies can apply to our daily lives.
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The Interplay between Technology and Humans: Psychotherapuetic mobile applications and identity-forming

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Nye, David; Winner, Langdon (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

The purpose of this research project is to examine the interplay between psychotherapeutic mobile applications, such as Calm and Headspace, and the people that use them. Using Langdon Winner and David Nye's discussions on technologies and the discourses surrounding them, I aim to synthesize the existing literature, which primarily investigates the effectiveness of these mobile technologies as forms of psychotherapy, with the concept of technology as an identity-forming tool. I hope to address how these psychotherapeutic technologies can both enable and disallow users, and how users, through their engagement with these mobile applications, are challenging prevailing definitions of psychotherapy and technology. Through a thorough analysis of current literature, together with Winner and Nye's work and my own evaluations of public online reviews of psychotherapeutic mobile applications, I intend to advance the research that considers how technologies affect people and how people affect technologies.
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Exploring Perceptions of Adopting a Non-GMO Policy by U.S. Restaurants: A Proposed Framework Based on Roger's Five Characteristics of an Innovation

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Harrison, Jake; Bartkus, Kenneth; Marlowe, Byron (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Bartkus, Kenneth; Marlowe, Byron

The use of genetically modified organisms in the production of food products in the U.S. appears to be pervasive. For example, it is reported that 90 percent of corn, soy and other crops grown in the U.S. are currently genetically modified and 75 to 80 percent of food products contain GMOs or GMO components. Unfortunately, a gap exists between what scientists and consumers believe with regard to the health safety of GMO foods. Specifically, it has been reported that while "Nearly 9 out of 10 scientists from the American Association for the Advancement of Science say GMOs are 'generally safe' to eat, more than half of general public believe it is not a good idea." This presents a challenge for restaurants. That is, should they continue to use GMO food products given assurances from the scientific community or should they respond to consumer concerns and begin the process of adopting a non-GMO policy? The purpose of this research is to address this question by proposing a framework that helps explain why a restaurant might decide to adopt (or not adopt) a non-GMO policy. Based on an adaptation of Roger's Characteristics of an Innovation, the framework has five constructs: (1) Relative Advantage, (2) Compatibility, (3) Complexity, (4) Trialability, (5) Observability. An exploratory application of the model to U.S. restaurants suggests that the framework can provide meaningful and systematic insights into the perceptions of U.S. restaurants with regard to the adoption or non-adoption of a non-GMO policy. Recommendations for further application of the framework, along propositions for additional analysis are provided. Implications for decision making are also presented.
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The Feminist Rhetoric of 30 Rock

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Mary Daly, Tina Fey, Erin A. Frost (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Colton, Jared (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

The TV show 30 Rock has been described as many things; laugh-out-loud funny, immature, witty... but is it feminist? The show's main character makes claims to feminism in almost every episode, and several episodes cover the topic in various ways. However, she often falls short in her feminism, and the argument can be made that this is intentional. For my presentation, I'll be analyzing the show through the rhetorical lens of Mary Daly's theory on foreground/background spaces. Spaces where women are oppressed and free of oppression, respectively; for example, in the show, the characters are creating a sketch comedy TV show, a place where women have traditionally been marginalized by mainstream media - in contrast, the writers' room is a place where they can speak their minds freely about any topic of their choosing. Through my analysis, I'll also be looking to see if this can be a space for second and third wave feminists to meet. Many third wave feminists are doing things that would be considered "traditionally feminist" without identifying themselves with the term "feminist". There are a few characters in the show who identify as such, and the main character, considered to be a traditional second wave feminist, learns to work together with them. As a result of my analysis, I want to be able to present 30 Rock and other similar spaces as a middle ground for all feminists to meet and agree on, in order to be able to move forward as a movement.
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Language, Gender Norms, and Rape Culture

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
West, Bethany (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Van Gilder, Bobbi (Weber State University: Lindquist College of Arts and Humanities, Communications)

Gendered language, and the way it dictates societal norms, has been a topic of interest for feminist scholars since the 1970's. However, gendered language and its connection with rape culture has yet to be explored, presenting a substantial gap in research. I researched the ways that language may influence and perpetuate rape culture by analyzing #MeToo stories, which are victim's accounts of being sexually assaulted. I focused on the specific language victims used to describe their sexual assault, such as sexist or gendered language. By analyzing the language used in sexual assault victims' stories, I drew connections between rape culture and gendered language. Many female victims emphasized that power differentials between them and their male attacker, such as being viewed as subordinate in their relationship with their attacker, played a significant role in their abuse. Other victims emphasized that social discourse normalized rape for women, and placed blame on victims rather than attackers. Victims also indicated that social norms regarding sexual assault asserted that only heterosexual women were victimized, silencing marginalized victims such as men and members of the LGBTQ community. Socially implicated stereotypes regarding gender and rape were found to create situations in which assault victims were silenced and further abused. By understanding and challenging the discourse regarding language, gender norms, and the roles that they play in sexual assault, society may be able to combat rape culture and those who are at risk for victimization.
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Limits of growth: Applying a physics-based model to mainstream economics; assessment of electrical grid infrastructure and finite resource consumption in Cache Valley, Utah

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Alder, Jacob (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Tainter, Joseph (S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, Enviroment and Society Department); Robert, Davies (College of Science, Physics Department); Fjeldsted, Paul (Jon M. Hunstman School of Business, Economics and Finance Department)

Abstract: Have you ever wondered why economists always talk about a growing economy? Modern economists today rely on several fundamental assumptions in the same way physicists rely on laws governing energy and motion. Economists use growth—ideally unrestricted growth—as the key assumption upon which we build models and policy recommendations. The central economic theory explains that growth will enhance individual well-being over time. However, every known physical system has boundaries beyond which it will collapse, and the observed reality is that economic growth cannot be separated from physical resource consumption. As a result, many societies are overshooting physical, ecological boundaries.

This project focuses on outcomes generated by a few of those complexities in a growth-oriented economy in Northern Utah. It analyzes the ways traditional economic models prioritize growth as the primary means of improving quality of life. It explores several positive and negative impacts of limits to growth, whether they are elective policy measures (like paying a carbon tax) or reactions to a collapsed system (like depleted natural gas deposits). It draws on electricity data from two electricity utility providers and compares trends with interconnected behavioral and technological changes.

Ultimately, this project develops a case study to assess ways in which society could thrive without traditional economic growth. By using axioms from physics, primarily the first and second laws of thermodynamics (energy and entropy) this project assesses population projections and increased resource consumption, drawing connections between a growing population, a growing economy, and growing energy use.
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Beyond Journalism's Stagnation

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Mendiola, Diego (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Bullock, Cathy (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Journalism and Communication Department)

To understand journalism and communication is to know who we are as human beings and what our journey through time means to us; through the systematically detailed logging of our daily experiences we witness the creation of our history; living out moral, ideological and cultural ideals through the word. It is to see ourselves reflected, to see our time, our values, our hypocrisy, our psychology reflected onto the depths of space and time.

For this reason, I believe it is imperative that we get a grip on the methods we use to communicate that historical dialogue we call journalism effectively, providing the least amount of trouble to the living generations of people that inhabit the earth. The promise of an educated, autonomous population is the one that keeps journalism alive and relevant. I have found a set of solutions that are to be discussed among professionals and academics alike, including the reforming of communicative structures and a more conversational relationship with the audience about the larger direction of media.
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Plugged-In: Rural Readiness for Technology Industry

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Johnson, Hayden Allen; Harris, Laurie (Southern Utah University)
Faculty Advisor: Harris, Laurie (Southern Utah University, College of Science and Engineering)

Rural communities in Utah may be an excellent place for technology companies to expand. Many rural Utah communities face major problems with declining economies. Adding to the problem, median incomes in nine rural counties is $48,306 while the statewide median income is $62,961 (US Census Bureau, 2017). Rural areas seem to be an untapped well of potential to help both the state’s economy and tech companies themselves. This research explores how to effectively use that potential.

The object of this research is to identify needs and limitations that currently exist in rural communities that would prevent or could be seen as obstacles for technology industry to grow in these areas. Ongoing research being conducted is looking into the viability of technology companies being able to expand and/or start up in rural Utah by exploring if those areas are ready for the technology industry. Specifically, the research examines:

1. Current educational opportunities related to technology in rural area school systems.

2. Interest among potential workforce in technological fields.

3. Presence of skilled workforce in these rural areas.

4. Potential to form partnerships between higher education and high schools to offer better education and generate interest.

5. Infrastructure of rural areas to support growing technology industry.

Additionally, obstacles that are preventing these areas from being able to support technology industry are found and examined. This research constitutes the first step in helping bolster rural economies through an increase of jobs and industry into those areas. By conducting extensive research and getting in on the “front-lines” of the problem, current situations are more understood and potential suggestions are being developed.
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Simulated Physiological Environment Stimulates Corrosion in Stainless Steel Substrates following Carbon-Infiltrated Carbon Nanotube Surface Modification

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Bowden, Lucy; Monroe, Jacquelyn; Bowden, Anton E.; Jensen, Brian D. (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Bowden, Anton (Engineering, Mechanical Engineering); Jensen, Brian (Engineering, Mechanical Engineering)

Previously our lab has shown that carbon-infiltrated carbon nanotube (CI-CNT) surfaces enhance osseointegration and resist biofilm formation, making them attractive possibilities as orthopedic implant materials. For these applications, CI-CNTs and their underlying substrate material must be able to withstand aqueous physiologic conditions. Due to microstructural changes that occur during CI-CNT production, we hypothesized that stainless steel substrate materials experience a loss of their protective, passivating layer, subsequently corroding when immersed in a simulated biological environment. The purpose of the study was to compare corrosion resistance of CI-CNT coated stainless steel substrates to bare stainless steel control samples after two days of incubation in different physiological analog media.

CI-CNTs were grown on 316L stainless steel samples which were sonicated for 20 minutes in isopropyl alcohol and given a 2 minute heat treatment in air at 800°C, followed by a 20 minute growth at the same temperature in ethylene and argon. Carbon infiltration was done for 5 minutes in the same gases at 900°C. The samples were autoclaved and placed into different media including deionized water, phosphor buffered saline solution (PBS), and DMEM culture media. The samples were then incubated for 48 hours at 37°C.

Macroscopic observation showed no obvious signs of corrosion (e.g., discoloration of the liquid media, cloudiness, physical changes in sample appearance) for any of the control samples, or for CI-CNT coated samples in deionized water. In contrast, the CI-CNT coated samples immersed in PBS and culture media exhibited significant discoloration and a cloudy appearance. Subsequent SEM images of the CI-CNT coated samples which had been immersed in culture media and PBS showed foreign residue. Energy dispersive x-ray analysis characterized this residue as having markedly higher levels of sodium and phosphorus than a baseline CI-CNT coated stainless steel sample. SEM images of the bare stainless steel samples and the CI-CNT samples cultured in deionized water showed no signs of corrosion or residue.

Our preliminary results illustrate that media containing salts initiated corrosion of CI-CNT coated stainless steel samples, likely due to disruption of the passivating layer in the substrate. Future work will explore methods for re-establishing the passivating layer in stainless steel materials.
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Micropatterning Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells to Model the Effects of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Barney, Nate; Paterson, Chase: Farjood, Farhod; Vargis, Elizabeth (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Vargis, Elizabeth (College of Engineering, Biological Engineering Department)

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. Often the cause of irreversible blindness is abnormal blood vessel growth, or angiogenesis, into the retina during AMD. This abnormal vascular growth affects a tissue monolayer called the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The RPE cells transport nutrients and maintain the photoreceptors of the eye. The loss of cells in the RPE layer can cause photoreceptor death and consequently blind spots in an individual's vision that steadily increase in size as AMD progresses. Early research suggests RPE cell disruption plays a role in abnormal angiogenesis as RPE cells lacking neighbors have higher production rates of angiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). To better understand the effects of RPE detachment on angiogenesis, cells can be grown and characterized in vitro. This research can lead to an in vitro model of degeneration in the human retina that could be used to investigate specific causes of abnormal angiogenesis and potential therapeutics. Our research to date has shown the benefits of using micropatterning as a technique to simulate the areas of cell-cell detachment. To do so, we used photolithography to create thin PDMS stencils with 100 _m holes. ARPE-19 cells were grown across the stencil until confluent, and the stencil was peeled away to cause controlled cell-cell detachment. The concentration of angiogenic factors can then be analyzed to see the effects of cell-cell detachment. My ongoing research will include the use of human RPE cells and analyzing retinal images that show varying levels of degeneration to create micropatterns that are more representative of retinal degeneration during AMD.
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Optogenetics in Engineered Cardiac Tissue Maturation

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Moncada, Silvia; Allen, Bryce; Hafen, Tanner; Valencia-Amores, Sebastian; Hanson, Luke; Dorian, Sariah; Bechtel, Matth;ew; Smith, Seth; Myres, Isaac; Holding, Clayton; Jacobs, Dallin; Hellwig, Lexi; White, Joshua; Evanson, Davin; Cheney, Cladin; Taylor, Sloan; Grossman, Jesse; Donaldson, Jesse; Jepsen, Emily; Johnston, Maren; Porter, Kaiden; Jardine, Alyson; Garfield, Seth; Larson, Spencer; Gardiner (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Mizrachi, Dario (College of Life Sciences, Physiology & Molecular Biology)

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. During myocardial infarction cardiac tissue suffers a lack of nutrients and oxygen that leads to the formation of unregenerable scar tissue which causes a loss of myocardial functionality. With the advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), the promise of engineering autologous cardiac tissues (ECTs) as a translatable treatment to cardiac disease and as a model for pharmaceutical research is ever closer. We create ECTs using iPS-human induced cardiomyocytes (hiCMs) and extra cellular matrix (ECM) derived from a decellularized left ventricle of a porcine heart. Decellularized matrices allow the preservation of important architectural cues found in the native heart for hiCMs development (Momtahan, 2015). Nevertheless, ECTs still face some challenges before they can be useful in a clinical or pharmaceutical research setting i.e. poor ECT contractile force, hiCM maturity, proper cell morphology and architecture, etc. (Dwenger, 2018). In this study, we seek to combine the mechanical cues of the preserved architecture of a decellularized matrix with the spatiotemporal accuracy of optogenetics as a novel technique to stimulate ECT functionality assessed through contractile force, proper hiCM elongation, and alignment.
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UAV Photogrammetry Ground Truth Spacing Methodology to Accurately Model Reservoir Shorelines

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
(Pace, Jenessa; Ence, Elodie; Kunz, Allison; Stevens, Rebecca; Kunz, Amber; Cooper, Izaak; Nelson, Alicia; Asplund, Alyssa; Stock, Julianna) (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Williams, Gustavious (Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology, Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Photogrammetry using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) has become more relevant to water resources issues. The models generated can be highly accurate and detailed. The use of ground truth is an integral part of ensuring the accuracy of such models. Ground truth based on GPS-obtained data of visual targets gathered in the field prior to UAV data collection are used to improve post processing accuracy. Proper spacing of ground truth is primarily dependent on the flight path of the UAV during data collection, flight height, and image resolution.
One developing task is creating models of full-pool bathymetric maps for reservoirs - using UAVs for above the waterline and sonar for below. Due to their erratic shapes, capturing the shorelines of reservoirs requires erratic flight paths. Planning ground truth spacing requires special care.
To determine proper ground truth spacing we completed a field survey at Starvation Reservoir, near Duchesne, Utah. We selected a two mile stretch along the north side of the reservoir to test various ground truth spacings. We flew the test stretch with two flights, one taking nadir photos and one with the photos taken at an angle of about 30 degrees, more normal to the shoreline. The primary placement of ground truth points was approximately 0.25 miles apart. After the data was recorded, we created models using Metashape software using different ground truth spacing, using spacings of 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mile. We used Cloud Compare software to determine the error between each model. We assumed that the model generated using 0.25 points/mile was "truth". We used this preliminary information to determine that for bathymetry maps, a ground truth spacing of 1 mile/point was acceptable, we are continuing our research to refine this finding.
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Investigating The Biocompatibility Of Novel Recombinant Hagfish Thread Keratins As A Platform For Mammalian Cell Culture

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Walker, Caleb; Justin A. Jones (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Jones, Justin (College of Science, Biology Department)

In recent years there has been a large push towards exploring the possibility of using protein-based materials to replace petroleum-based materials. Proteins such as those found in spider silk have been investigated, and this exploration has led to proteins not only being used for fibers, but also gels, foams, and films. As research progressed in protein-based filaments, hagfish intermediate filaments have started being explored, specifically, how to recreate these proteins synthetically and what material forms could be produced from them. In the last year, significant progress has been made into the production and of these novel proteins as well as studying their material applications.

The biocompatibility and cytotoxicity of protein films made of these novel recombinant hagfish proteins was evaluated through in vitro testing with a NIH/3T3 mouse fibroblast cell line. The films were produced from alpha and gamma hagfish proteins, purified as insoluble bodies from genetically engineered E. coli bacteria. Cytotoxicity of the films was tested through direct contact and extract testing using cell viability ratios, cell morphology, a cell proliferation assay, and a DNA quantitation assay.

This preliminary data is important for further experimentation with the novel hagfish proteins being used in the Jones lab for biomedical applications. The understanding of the cytotoxicity of these proteins is required before further testing can be done in any biomedical aspect, as in vitro studies provide the foundational data for moving forward with in vivo testing. This project is the first step into the biomedical field for these novel proteins and their potential applications.
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Modular Design of In-Road Pads for In-Motion Wireless Power Transfer

December 30, 0020 12:00 AM
Hansen, Matthew; Kamineni, Abhilash; Zane, Regan (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kamineni, Abhilash (College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department); Zane, Regan (College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department)

Electric vehicles (EV) are becoming a cleaner, more popular mode of transportation. However, more convenient charging solutions are required for higher EV adoption. One possible solution is wireless charging of in-motion EVs, but that technology still needs to mature before realization. This research explores a novel charging technology for an in-road wireless charging pad that may increase the feasibility of in-motion wireless EV charging. The research is based on a commonly used pad design. The charging pad on-board the vehicle operates without direct input from the in-road pad, which simplifies current EV wireless charging designs. When the vehicle is not near an in-road pad, negligible energy is used by the vehicle's charging pad, increasing overall efficiency. As the vehicle approaches an in-road pad, the electromagnetic effects of the approaching, enabled vehicle pad activate the in-road pad. An innovative scheme is used to synchronize the in-road pad to the vehicle pad, achieving maximum power transfer. Protections against system instability have also been included. The control scheme only observes the electromagnetic effects of the approaching vehicle, eliminating the need for any radio frequency communication between the vehicle and road and between subsequent in-road pads. The result is a modular, secure, reliable, and simple design. The design improvements can be an enabling technology to in-motion wireless EV charging and broader EV adoption, which can result in lower emissions in populated areas.
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