2020 Abstracts

Roberts, Alexis (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Holt, Kerin (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

How is an enslaved woman's agency depicted in non-fiction pre-civil War narratives versus fictional neo-slave narratives? My presentation will primarily focus on the issue of the individual bodily autonomy that slaves have access to and the withholding of bodily access to the slave's master, while also discussing the individual beliefs of slaves, beliefs that do not conform to slavery from both the pre-civil war era and the post-civil war era. The comparison will be between the novel Incidents in the life of a slave girl (1861) and the novel Kindred (1979), which were written more than one hundred years apart. The comparison will primarily focus on the characters of Harriet and Dana, focusing on the differences in their perspectives as Harriet is a slave woman and Dana is a modern woman from 1976 forced into the 1800s and plantation slavery.

Speelman, Mackenzie (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Science, and Technology; Interior Design)

The numbers in homeless LGBTQ+ youth are rising by the year. These numbers are devastating and mean that eventually these youth can potentially have nothing to live for because they are rejected from their homes. (Dashow, 2017) In Utah these numbers are heartbreaking, as there is not a place for them to be able to go. (Valkenburg, 2013) In partnering with Equality Utah, we would be able to create a space for these youth that would not only provide them with a space to call their own, but also provide resources for success in the real world.

It would also provide them with the opportunity to learn life lessons that they would not normally get if they were to continue to be homeless. It would be a safe place for them to be able to learn, and potentially get a higher education and a chance to be something other than a statistic. This space will be a welcome sight to any who may need it, and a place where they are free to be themselves. It will create a home for those who no longer have one, and would provide a better quality of life for those individuals.

When considering other elements of design in relation to this project, it is also important to consider what can be considered a safe place for these individuals. Dazakir and Read did a study about how people react to different kinds of design in relation to what is considered a safe place for them. It took into account how different types of shapes and forms would elicit a response whether it be in the pleasure receptors and looked at whether or not people felt more comfortable in a space based on those shapes. What they found was "the respondents associated more pleasure within curvilinear forms and would approach and affiliate more with others in those settings compared with the settings with rectilinear forms." (Read, 2019). This will be taken into consideration with group spaces to ensure that there is a promotion of socialization within the space and to help the space feel more welcome for socialization and to make the space seem more like home.

It has been shown that Utah is one of the worst places to be LGBTQ+ and homeless, and in a survey from the Human Rights Campaign 65% of those surveyed in Utah reported being verbally harassed at school, compared to 51% nationally. It also shows 75% of teens in Utah feel they would need to move away in order to "fit in" compared to 63% of LGBT teens nationwide. (UPR, n.d.) As a result of this, we need to ensure that there is a safe place for these youth.

Tolkien, J.R.R; Burke, Kenneth; Hundley, Heather; Borchers, Timothy; Shore, Howard (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Colton, Jared (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

While most rhetorical analysis of films look at the language and visual aspects, the object of this presentation is to analyze the rhetorical power of musical sound and score. Underappreciated by some and regarded as the lifeblood of the film by others, the musical score of a film is arguably one of the most vital aspects of cinema.

For the purposes of this presentation we will be examining the film score of the time-honored series of The Lord of the Rings as directed by Peter Jackson and composed by Howard Shore. While many have examined the genius of the composition or the complexity and cohesiveness of this score, it is our intention to examine how this composition moved the audience to feelings, thoughts, and actions.

Aside from Professor Tolkien, we will also examine the works of the rhetor Kenneth Burke and his theories of Dramatism; his theory on language and symbol systems and how they create the world around us. Our examination will focus on select scenes where the score works with the cinematography showing how the score is conveying the character's feelings or state of mind, which results in persuading the audience on how they should feel.

Through this analysis it is our intention to instill a greater understanding and awareness of how film score is used to influence audiences. Developing an understanding of how filmmakers use sound and score to influence their audience can make audiences more aware of those decisions and thus make them more engaged with the consumption of film.

Benson, Olivia (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Engineering, Applied Sciences, and Technologies; Interior Design)

Feral and stray cats have long been a problem in communities across the nation. In 2014, it was estimated that over sixty million stray and feral cats live in the U.S. Considering that a female cat can have two to three litters a year with up to five kittens in each litter, theoretically speaking, one pair of breeding cats can start a family tree network of 420,000 cats in just over a seven year period. Now you may ask yourself, what is the problem with this large population? A study in 2013 by the Smithsonian Institute revealed that feral cats kill up to 3.7 billion birds a year in the United States and kill between 7-21 billion wild mammals. Aside from disrupting the Eco-system around us, feral cats are also extremely susceptible to rabies which, if contracted, can be transmitted to humans. Since the 1980's, private organizations and governmental agencies in the U.S. have tried to deal with this problem through what is known as Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs. This involves live-trapping stray and feral cats, surgical sterilization and vaccine administration and then releasing the cat back into its neighborhood. While TNR programs stop the cat population from growing, it doesn't address the long-term problems current neighborhood cats cause. Local shelters have tried to tackle this issue but are unable to keep up with the crisis due to lack of funding and the overwhelming population in the area.

In order to fund a shelter that can keep up with demand and stay afloat, an all-in-one cat facility had to be created. Beyond vaccination care that shelters offer, multiple hospitality and commercial settings will be implemented to generate more cash flow which includes a cat cafe, general store, and grooming salon.

McCaela Michas (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Allison, James (Family, home, and Social Sciences; Anthropology)

In 1849, settlers from the Salt Lake Valley ventured south to erect Fort Utah, Provo's first settlement. However, records from this time are scarce, and thus its exact position along the Provo River has since been lost through time. Efforts in the late 1930s and 1970s to establish the location of the fort were inconclusive. In the late 1990s, archaeologists from Brigham Young University and members of the Utah State Archaeological Society dug a series of test trenches near I-15 along the Provo River in hopes of finding tangible evidence of the fort and its location. Artifacts from this excavation include fragments of fauna bone, glass, ceramics, and metal, as well as pieces of brick, chalk, concrete, charcoal and a marble. While these artifacts appear to be historical and possibly connected to the fort, they had not yet been thoroughly analyzed until now. This paper will discuss the recent analysis of these artifacts to determine if the location of Fort Utah has finally been found.

Averett, Ty; Peterson, Kendall (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: López González, Crescencio (College of Humanities and Scoial Sciences; Languages, Philosophy and Communication Studies Department)

The case Méndez v. Westminster in California in 1947 brought Latinx families the hope that their students would no longer be segregated. Unfortunately, although Méndez v. Westminster brought an end to de jure segregation, Latinx students' fight for equity in education was just beginning. The de facto segregation that followed remains in our system today. This research explores this de facto segregation as exemplified in Stand and Deliver by Ramón Menéndez, McFarland, USA by Niki Caro, and several other films. These films demonstrate the experience of Latinx youth with the school system. While students may still be segregated between schools due to class differences between neighborhoods, they can also be separated within schools in subtler ways. An example of this is tracking: the practice of dividing students into various levels of classes based on ability level (i.e. remedial math, grade-level math, honors math). While, in theory, this may seem to be a reliable and helpful way to teach students on their level, it can be detrimental to the progress of minority students, leaving them even further behind. Because of biases on all levels of the system, a majority of minority youth find themselves in lower classes, increasing their feelings of hopelessness and putting them on a trajectory for dropout. This analysis details the effects of tracking on Latinx students, along with suggesting solutions and alternatives as demonstrated in the films mentioned above.

Adams, Sidney (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Weber State University, Interior Design)

The SMART Recovery Youth Rehabilitation Center will be designed to help youth gain the skills they need to recover from their addictions, and hopefully further eradicate such problems as homelessness in the Salt Lake area. By providing a rehabilitation facility that is welcoming and comfortable for struggling youth, I hope to create a supportive atmosphere where change can take place. This facility will be functional and safe for both staff and patients.

Facility design has a tremendous impact on patient safety. It impacts how people move through the building, how much of a given area staff can see at one time and how people feel when they are in specific spaces. (Sammer, 2018) Patient safety will be a top priority in the design of this facility, and anti-ligature products will be specified. This Youth Rehabilitation Facility will combine functionality with a calming aesthetic to make patients feel secure and at home, and to ensure a successful road to recovery. Everything from seating arrangements to recreational areas will be thoughtfully considered to encourage a supportive atmosphere. Studies show that therapeutic architecture immensely benefits drug patients, especially when environmental factors such as acoustics, smell, color schemes, views, and natural light are considered. (Abdelhay and Dewidar, 2016) In addition, sustainable products and practices will be sourced and implemented in effort to achieve LEED certification.

Lupher, James (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Pilkington, Olga (Dixie State University, English)

In today's society, climate change is one of the most polarizing issues. Indeed, it seems as though there is a war being waged between believers and deniers with the believers being "scientifically minded" Americans and the deniers being "religious people". There is significant evidence, though, that religious peoples' ostensible incapacity to understand science is not really the issue, but rather, that the issue is political in nature. Barbara Kingsolver's novel Flight Behavior tackles this issue of a perceived dichotomy between science and religion in the setting of Appalachian Tennessee. We are presented first, with Dellarobia, a native of Feathertown, Tennessee who married into a religious, agricultural family. Using Carl Jung's definition of religion from The Undiscovered Self, I limn Dellarobia as the book's avatar of pure religion. Later, Ovid Byron enters the plot. As an entomologist and lepidopterist, who is concerned with what butterfly migrations tell us about climate change, he represents the ethos of science in America. I argue that though, at first glance, these two characters represent extremes, as the book progresses, they are revealed to be multidimensional. Dellarobia's religious nature remains intact, as she accepts the reality of climate change and Ovid reveals a capacity for a religious-like reverence for the natural world. The multidimensionality of these characters I argue subverts the perceived dichotomy between religion and science, suggesting that people on both sides of the political spectrum need to give each other credit and stop falling for politicized versions of the debate found on many mainstream media outlets.

Jackson, Gregory (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Jackson, Gregory (Utah Valley University, Integrated Studies)

The United States has a significant interest in Mexico as our ally, top trading partner and our neighbor. Current relations between both states remains friendly, however tensions have increased over trade disputes, tariffs, immigration and border security issues. Currently, securing the border between the U.S. and Mexico has become a major focus but is primarily based off stereotypes on Immigration policies and the negative perspectives of Mexico regarding their economics, politics and stability. It is critical to understand the fundamental structure and culture of Mexico in order to work on policies that will protect both Mexico and U.S. security as well as strengthen our relations rather than divide our countries. if we continue to look at the colonization of Mexico as the same process or similar to that of the U.S., we mistakenly ignore key elements that affect Mexico's current economy, society and politics resulting in strains on relations and cooperation between both nations. While looking at the foundations of Mexico's history and the imprint of Spain's influence, we will effectively show the weight of Mexico's development in comparison to that of the U.S. and the affects this has on National Security policies between the two countries.

Beatson, Bridget; Bolanos, Diana; Jackson, Corinne (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Vargis, Elizabeth (College of Engineering, Biological Engineering Department)

Origami, traditionally known as the art of paper folding, is not limited solely to paper media. The concepts used in folding paper can also apply to more pliable materials such as fabric. As with paper, different fabric-based origami designs exhibit properties such as shape compliance, increased surface area per unit volume, and selective stiffness. This study explores selected fold patterns in various incontinence product fabrics, aiming to increase fluid wicking performance and thus reduce sag due to saturation. The most suitable materials from various adult incontinence product brands were tested then utilized to develop new concepts for integration into an innovative and revolutionizing product. For the liquid dispersion layer, the concept of pleated fabric was incorporated into the design, mimicking the origami characteristics of peaks and valleys. Tests were performed on suitable materials to measure the spread of fluid in the modified layer as would be actuated by human urination. Final results from this testing indicated significantly broader dispersion of the synthetic urine utilized for testing as compared to that of the unmodified materials. When incorporated into a final product, this would allow for larger distribution of the fluid, thus increasing the product's holding capacity and enabling a more even distribution of the weight of the fluid, helping to reduce sag. This result could greatly increase the comfort and functionality of adult incontinence products.

Clayton, Abigail (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Horrocks, Jamie (Humanities, English)

Prior to its public auction in 1847, Shakespeare's Birthplace—the home where he was born on Henley Street in Stratford-upon-Avon—was passed down through various private owners and their tenants who turned the property into an inn and a butcher shop. A mere sign indicated that "Shakespeare was born here." By this point in time, Shakespeare's literary influence permeated both Europe and America, but his status as a cultural icon was not strongly associated with the physical space of his home. However, this was about to change. In 1842, P.T. Barnum, the American showman of circus fame, was touring England with "The Greatest Show on Earth" when he went to visit Shakespeare's home. Five years later, as he was always on the lookout for more "oddities" to add to his menagerie, the public auction of the Birthplace caught his interest, and he could not resist making an offer. This attempt by a foreign invader to "steal Shakespeare" inflamed the British public and sparked debates regarding the cultural ownership of the great playwright. Among leaders of these debates was Charles Dickens, who initiated a series of events across England in an attempt to raise enough money to reclaim Shakespeare for the British people. Although Barnum and Dickens never met in person, the way in which nineteenth-century media manipulated their celebrity personas and followings reveals the way in which transatlantic celebrity was crucial to the formation of Shakespeare as a British heritage icon. The cultural warfare between the two, as represented by sensationalist journalism of the time, started debates over the appropriation of Shakespeare as a symbol of national heritage and identity that have lasted into the twenty-first century.

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; U.S. Department of State; The Walk Free Foundation; The Borgen Project; Ling, Bonny; (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Guo, Li (College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Languages, Philosophy and Communication Studies Department)

It is a historical fact that human trafficking for the purposes of sex and forced marriage has been a cancer in societies and civilizations throughout the history of the world. China has a well documented history of trafficking women for the purpose of forced marriage. The main objective of this research is to investigate trends found in the forced marriage markets of China from the rise of Mao Zedong in the mid-twentieth century until 2019. The author used interviews with victims of the forced marriage markets in China as well as secondary data collected from NGOs and watchdog organizations, government publications, and relevant journals. My findings are significant because they illuminate patterns and trends that governmental and non-governmental organizations can use to identify high risk populations and to take action on educating and protecting women who are at high risk of being forced into marriage in China.

Alanizy, Malak (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Arnold, Kristen (Weber State University, Interior Design Technology)

Youth impact is a unique organization serving kids who is dealing with poverty, drugs, incarceration of a parent, gang influences and the general needs of that child for the day. By giving them the education and skills necessary to succeed and prosper. The design of the building needs to function while supporting various programs including family support, learning clubs, arts for spirituality, and training. Improving the func-tionality of the interior spaces of the organization will be the focus of the project.
Color will assist in defining the psychological functioning of end users because "color in interior design can be more easily personalized, strongly interacts with the color of other decorating objects, and its pleasantness could affect home attachment." (Marco, Sergio, Mattia, & Iacopo, 2018).
Designating areas where students can engage in a variety of short, instructional activities and other areas where student can work without interruption. "If there is too much structure set in place it can stifle creativity, and if there is not enough structure it can lead to distractions and little focus." (Ryan Hannah 2013).
By addressing the physical needs of the students in the classroom will be designed to conceptualize and monitor the academic, emotional, and behavioral needs of students experiencing child traumatic stress. "The cognitive and psychological effects of trauma exposure are paired with difficulties in academic and social functioning." (Kassandra Reker 2016).
Overall, Project Bloom Village at Youth Impact implementing fundamental elements and principles of design with sound research will provide a well-designed space to simplify the mission of the organization.

Mark Langeveld (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Langeveld, Mark (University of Utah, Engineering)

Introduction:

The risk of getting type 2 diabetes has been widely found to be associated with lower socioeconomic position across countries. Not only the financial burden but also the clinicians often having the long waitlists for one-on-one assessment of chronic disease patient's behavior makes it difficult for timely treatment and monitoring supplies. Among the top 10 diseases that are causes of death, Diabetes is the most self-manageable chronic disease. Type 2 diabetes patients often require insulin therapy as well as self-managing on eating well and exercising. A mobile app can be applied as a self-managing mechanism that treats chronic complications of diabetes. I will describe my work to analyze five commercially available mobile apps that are effective in improving diabetes-related outcomes.

Method:

I analyzed with technology reviews of iterative mobile app design of each mobile app(Glucose Buddy, Diabetes care4Life, Diabetes Diary, BlueStar Diabetes, Gather Health) and reviewing comments from peer and public review. I organized the findings by test process with diabetes patients through three categories for this report: 1. App features (on which platform that the app is available, what the app does, cost, etc.) 2. App usability and quality of tracking presented as an average of three scores given by the University of Utah healthcare researchers 3. Summary of the evidence from the evaluation of each category of patients who are motivated and who were not: monitoring glycemic control, glucose control, blood pressure, HbA1c improvement, weight, and diabetes treatment satisfaction

Result:

The record comprised 30 patients, of which 10 completed the mobile app module for 6 weeks. Demographics were similar for users and nonusers. Of the application users, the behavior improvement of pre-test and posttest scores were better for users compared with non-users (+1.8%). Of the users, 92% reported that the application had significant improvement (p < 0.05) in an outcome compared with HbA1c and glycemic control. The usability score of each app evaluated by healthcare researchers was (Glucose Buddy: 72.3 (out of 100), Diabetes care4Life: 45, Diabetes Diary: 16, BlueStar Diabetes: 85, Gather Health: 60) Without additional support from a health care provider, 5 mobile apps demonstrated an improvement in fasting blood glucose, 2-hour post-breakfast blood glucose, diabetes knowledge, and self-care behaviors compared with controls.

Conclusion:

I have analyzed and created a prototype of a mobile app that fills the gap between efficacy, cost, and features from the limited statistical evidence. Patients were satisfied with the use of the mobile health app for Diabetes, and the use of the program significantly improved their behavior and knowledge retention. Tailoring the traceable evaluation of mobile app to patient preferences and needs and updating the tools could empower and guide the patients to effective mobile apps in improving diabetes outcomes.

Hunt, J. Porter; Wilding, Kristen M.; Barnett, R. Jordan; Robinson, Hannah; Soltani, Mehran; Cho, Jae; Bundy,Bradley C. (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Bundy, Bradley (Brigham Young University, Chemical Engineering)

In this research, a cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) platform is used to create a biosensor aimed towards detecting concentrations of amino acids or enzymes in a sample. A CFPS biosensor is an effective method to detect these molecules due to its rapid, high-throughput nature. Additionally, the biosensor analysis can be done on-site. Potential applications of this assay include monitoring dietary health, adjusting cancer treatments, and the diagnosis of the onset of certain disease.

Howlett, Dylan (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Fullwood, David (Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering); Bowden, Anton (Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering)

Identifying motion of the human spine, and irregularities in movement can be vital for diagnosing a back injury patient. Modern methods of identifying injuries include an expensive X-ray or MRI scan, simple inspection by a trained professional, or very primitive two point instruments. We have developed a strain gauge with high flexibility that is able to withstand repeated high-strain. This gauge is able to properly measure the motion of the lumbar spine, allowing health professionals and patients to monitor the state of their back. This paper presents a survey of different manufacturing methods for these gauges, including screen printing, extrusion and compression molding. The gauges are analyzed for their piezoresistivity vs strain and optimized for the desired application.

Keyser, Michael A.; Jiang, David; Timmins, Lucas H. (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Timmins, Lucas (University of Utah, Biomedical Engineering)

Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States and is caused by a buildup of atherosclerotic plaque blocking blood flow in a coronary artery. Stents are used to restore blood flow to affected regions by reopening the blocked artery. Failure among stents is common, and a 3D reconstruction of a stent can be used to investigate the cause of failure. We have previously established a 3D stent reconstruction technique that utilizes optical coherence tomography (OCT) and micro-computed tomography imaging data to provide a high-spatially resolved stent reconstruction. However, analysis revealed that each OCT image was subjected to a curvature induced rotational drift due to the imaging process. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vessel curvature and OCT image drift. Four separate channels of constant curvatures, 0, 1/60, 1/30, and 1/20 mm^-1 were drilled out of Delrin using a CNC machine resulting in a 'U' shaped channel. Each channel was imaged, and the rotational drift for the curvature of that channel was determined by calculating the average change in image orientation. The orientation of an image was the angle of the top edge of the 'U' with respect to a horizontal line. Results demonstrated the rotational drift was -0.172, -0.598, -0.927, and -1.124 degrees for curvatures of 0, 1/60, 1/30, and 1/20 mm^-1 .We discovered the relationship between the curvature of the channel and the rotational drift of an image to be _=-19.12_-0.227 where _ is the curvature of the channel _ is the rotational drift of the OCT image in degrees. In conclusion, we demonstrated that there is a linear relationship between curvature and OCT image circumferential drift that can be used to improve the overall accuracy of the reconstruction.

Parkinson, Bethany; Andrews, David; Magleby, Spencer (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Magleby, Spencer (Brigham Young University, Mechanical Engineering)

Increasing worldwide urbanization is leading to a rising population of people living in apartments. Apartments typically have short leases, which lead to a high turnover rate, or number of renters that move in per year. For example, the 2018 turnover rate in New York City was 30.5%. People who move this often usually buy cheap furniture each time they change apartments, because carrying furniture on public transportation is impractical. The goal of our research is to create furniture that allows people who move often to avoid re-purchasing furniture. This goal leads to three design requirements. First, the furniture should be easily collapsed and deployed. This permits the furniture to be conveniently stored and transported. Ideally, the furniture could be deployed with one hand. Second, the furniture should be inexpensive, both in manufacturing processes and material selection. Lastly, the furniture should be aesthetically pleasing. We have utilized origami as a method to achieve these design objectives, because it can be deployed in one motion.

There are significant challenges to designing and implementing origami-inspired furniture. For example, any joints between the legs, seat, table, and back of the furniture need to allow not only for the furniture to be stable in its deployed state, but also to be flat in its non-deployed state. Additionally, the employed joints must account for the thickness of the material. Each type of joint that is adaptable to thick materials was therefore considered and analyzed in the specific loading situation of a chair. Using these criteria and three unique types of joints, a variety of chairs were conceptualized. After prototyping, each type of chair was expanded to create an entire family of furniture, including a table, stool, and couch. The principles and design approaches developed in this project have generated origami-inspired furniture that is easily transportable, functional, inexpensive, comfortable, and aesthetic.