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Showcase Abstract 2020

Smart Home Residents’ Behavior Analysis

Smart Home Residents’ Behavior Analysis

Primary author: Beiyu Lin
Faculty sponsor: Diane Cook

Primary college/unit: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

In 2030, 19 percent of the population in the United States will be aged 65 and older. In 2050, it will be 22 percent. With population growth and aging problems, we anticipate that there will be increasing healthcare needs of seniors for their physical and mental health problems. We want to design technology to help them live independently as long as possible at home and help them have a positive quality of life.

With decades of behavioral data from over 100 smart homes, we now can design new approaches to model human behavior from smart home sensors for extracting insights about our health. We design a new approach based on inverse reinforcement learning, which considers a house plan as a grid and each cell in the grid includes spatial-temporal features of a resident. For example, we design methods to study a resident’s in-home trajectory during the time s/he is healthy and then use deviations from this learned function to predict abnormal behaviors which may indicate potential health problems. Residents who make changes in their routine, such as sleeping in a living room recliner rather than a bed, are due to their health deterioration, such as increased breathing difficulties.

We are the first group to utilize inverse reinforcement learning to study indoor behavior patterns and its indication of health conditions. This model will help researchers having a greater understanding of human routine behavior and its variations that can transform how healthcare services are delivered to millions of homes.

Three-dimensional(3D) printing conductive martial on fabric

Three-dimensional(3D) printing conductive material on fabric

Primary author: Dan Liang
Faculty sponsor: Hang Liu

Primary college/unit: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

3D printing is an additive manufacture technology, which prints material in a layer by layer mode. Because 3D printing technology has lots of advantages, such as personalized customization, lower parts cost, accurate production, increasing material utilization rate, and accelerating prototyping and manufacturing by eliminating costly model, it becomes a fashionable technology in various industries. In the textile industry, there is great potential to impart advanced functions to traditional textile materials by 3D printing, such as electrical conductivity, sensitivity in heat and chemicals, and shape memory. FDM (fused deposition modeling) is the most used type of 3D printing. However, FDM printed part will increase stiffness and decrease adhesion to textiles. Direct inkjet writing (DIW) has better adhesion and flexibility to fabric than FDM. In this research, the DIW of conductive polymers on three textile fabrics (100% cotton, 100% polyester, and 50%cotton/50% polyester blend) was explored. The resistivity change with tensile stretching was evaluated and compared to FDM. The electricity resistivity change of printed fabrics with abrasion test were measured. The research adopts the PLA, PEO, and PCL as part of the printing material and carbon nanotube as the conductive material. Resistivity measurement, tensile test, abrasion test, FTIR, and TGA are implemented in the research. Overall, FDM printed fabrics had lower resistivity (high conductivity) compared to DIW printed ones. However, the FDM samples are more brittle than DIW. The resistivity of DIW printed fabric is more stable compared to FDM during the tensile test. DIW printed samples performed better during abrasion test.

My Dog Ate My Behavior Chart: Examining Discrepancies in Reporting of Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors between Teachers and Parents of Head Start Preschoolers

My Dog Ate My Behavior Chart: Examining Discrepancies in Reporting of Externalizing and Internalizing Behaviors between Teachers and Parents of Head Start Preschoolers

Primary author: Austin Lau
Faculty sponsor: Tammy D. Barry

Primary college/unit: Arts and Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Externalizing and internalizing behaviors constitute two classes of “problematic” behaviors that children can exhibit at a young age. To illustrate, hyperactive (e.g., fidgeting, not sitting still) and aggressive behaviors (e.g., punching, fighting) fall in the externalizing domain, and withdrawn behaviors (e.g., depression, mood disturbances) fall in the internalizing domain. The earliest reporters of externalizing or internalizing behaviors are typically students’ parents or teachers. Teachers may observe externalizing or internalizing behaviors of their students at an increased frequency, as students may cope with the more structured demands of the classroom environment by colloquially “acting out” or “shutting down.” Conversely, parents may observe unique patterns of externalizing or internalizing behaviors from their child in an environment with less structure. To better understand the potential discrepancies in reporting, Cohen’s kappa statistics were calculated between parents’ report and teacher’s report of behaviors within a nationally-representative, at-risk youth sample enrolled in Head Start. Parents and teachers rated children with equivalent rating forms with acceptable internal consistency.The kappa statistics for matching conditions (e.g., parent-reported and teacher-reported withdrawn behaviors) suggest that agreement between parent and teacher were overall low. Parent-reported and teacher-reported student hyperactive behaviors exhibited significantly low agreement, with withdrawn behaviors trending significance. Discrepancies in agreement between levels of externalizing/internalizing behaviors across settings may lead to repercussions toward individual behavioral treatment planning as well as the systemic coordination of care between school and home. Future work should examine the importance of convergence or divergence patterns for specific externalizing or internalizing behaviors.

The Promising Practice of Agritourism

The Promising Practice of Agritourism

Primary author: Trevor Lane

Primary college/unit: Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
Campus: WSU Ferry County Extension

Abstract:

Research revealed small farms and ranches struggle financially. Since the 1930’s, the USDA states more than 4 million farms have been lost completely or absorbed by large or corporate farms. Hence, diverse revenue streams and extra income are crucial to success. In 2012, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) showed that approximately $44.1 million in agritourism activities benefitted small to mid-sized farms in Washington. This farm or ranch revenue has a direct impact on the State’s economy. Thus, the goal of this research project was to demonstrate agritourism as a promising practice for small farms and ranches. However, it was hypothesized there are barriers to startup and achieving success.

Agritourism is any activity that brings a person to a farm for entertainment or education. Activities include but are not limited to fairs, festivals, farm to fork meals, bed and breakfast operations, dude ranches, U-Pick farms, farm stands, horseback riding and more.

While agritourism can generate extra farm or ranch income, a review of the literature revealed more than 60% of small farms are precluded from agritourism participation. Therefore, success means overcoming agritourism startup barriers. A qualitative study and modified gap analysis using Knowledge, Motivation, and Organizational (KMO) influences as a framework revealed the barriers and how to achieve success in pursuit of extra farm or ranch income. The study revealed how to increase knowledge, foster motivation, and leverage organizational resources to overcome barriers.

To help small farms or ranches pursue agritourism, Agriculture Professionals must know how to help.

Co-Design Process Used to Determine Best Library and Park Site

Co-Design Process Used to Determine Best Library and Park Site

Primary author: Robert Krikac
Co-author(s): Michael Sanchez

Primary college/unit: Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Royal City, Washington is a rural community located in central Washington with a young and growing population. It also has many challenges that are associated with growth, two of which are outgrowing its small library and the need for increased park space. The City of Royal City requested the Rural Communities Development Initiative (RCDI) at WSU work with them to determine which of two sites for a park and new library would best serve the needs of the community.

The RCDI, using faculty and students from the design disciplines of the School of Design and Construction, led a series of two co-design workshops where community stakeholders provided input as to the community’s specific needs and wants of their park and library site. Co-design is “designing with” rather than “designing for”. The major issues identified were ease of access, safety, challenges and opportunities posed by the geography of each location.

The RCDI developed plans that gave the community graphic views of how each site could be designed to accommodate a new library and serve the recreational needs of the town. The first workshop was documented and design possibilities and challenges were presented back to the community in a second workshop where stakeholders decided that one site’s features clearly made it the best choice for park and library expansion. Feedback from the second workshop was used to develop final conceptual plans that the city is using to proceed with more detailed designs and future construction.

Televised Teen Dating Violence: Making Sense of Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Responses to Teen Dating Violence in a Reality TV Program

Televised Teen Dating Violence: Making Sense of Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Responses to Teen Dating Violence in a Reality TV Program

Primary author: Soojung Kang
Co-author(s): Stacey Hust; Kathleen Rodgers; Rachel Lutovsky
Faculty sponsor: Stacey Hust

Primary college/unit: Edward R. Murrow College of Communication
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

One-third of U.S. teens experience teen dating violence (TDV) in their heterosexual relationships (Halpern, Oslak, Young, Martin, & Kupper, 2001), and one in ten teens reported being physically hurt by a romantic partner in the past year (CDCP, 2009). Sexualized, violent, and gender-stereotyped media messages can inform sexual schemata that can put adolescents at increased risk for becoming victims or perpetrators of TDV (Sears et al., 2007; Vezina & Hebert, 2007). We conducted 16 focus groups across Washington State, with 58 high-school adolescents (32 females; 26 males) and 48 young adults (27 females; 21 males). Participants viewed a clip from the widely popular TV program 16 and Pregnant that featured two teenage parents in an emotionally and physically violent argument. Then, participants were asked to identify their understanding of the content and their perceptions of the TDV. The overwhelming majority of participants identified that the clip was not similar to what they saw in their personal lives. However, they rarely referred to it as violence or abuse, and primarily blamed the mother for the conflict. Participants also provided situational explanations for the conflict (e.g. the couple is stressed; the couple is too young). That participants didn’t identify the conflict as violence or abuse suggests such televised portrayals may have become normalized, even though the portrayal was not similar to what they saw in their daily lives. Further, the findings suggest participants viewed the conflict through traditional gender scripts in that they blamed the victim and rationalized male aggression.

Scaffolded Research Assignment Analysis for Roots of Contemporary Issues

Scaffolded Research Assignment Analysis for Roots of Contemporary Issues

Primary author: Corey Johnson
Co-author(s): Jennifer Saulnier

Primary college/unit: Libraries
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Since Fall 2012, Roots of Contemporary Issues (RCI; HISTORY 105/305) has served as the foundational, and only required, course for Washington State University undergraduates. All sections feature a term length individual research project with a scaffolded series of Library Research Assignments (LRAs) and a culminating final research paper. In 2019, a group of RCI instructors and librarians received a WSU Smith Teaching Grant to study the LRAs and their role in producing quality final papers. The project involved 445 randomly selected student cases spread evenly across nine semesters from Fall 2012 to Spring 2017. The presenters and content of this poster will explain when and how topic formation / thesis development, source selection, and citation skills develop over the span of the LRA sequence. Readers of this poster will get a better understanding of the ways students refine topics. For example, when comparing student success within the topic refinement categories “who,” “what,” “when,” and “where,” student had most success with “what” (sub-topic) type narrowing. Readers will gain knowledge about the kinds of sources and how often sources consulted in the preliminary stages of research ultimately appear in their final papers. For instance, only 57% of the sources listed in the final paper bibliography appeared in any of the preliminary LRAs. Finally, information about scaffolding assignment components like annotated bibliographies and outlines, will be offered in reference to which students utilize most effectively and why.

Exploring the Use and Opinions of Digital Communication in Student Pharmacists

Exploring the Use and Opinions of Digital Communication in Student Pharmacists

Primary author: Pari Iverson
Co-author(s): Maggie Godsey; Arliegh Cayanan
Faculty sponsor: Dr. Jennifer Robinson

Primary college/unit: College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Campus: Spokane

Abstract:

Background: Digital communication is any form of communication that is written word. In-person communication includes face-to-face conversations, video chats, and phone calls. This study was focused on the differences in technical aspects of communication such as wording, phrasing, and tone when delivered digitally versus in-person. Additionally, emotional aspects of communication were explored as well. These aspects included anxiety related to each type of communication, fear of miscommunication, or being perceived as unprofessional.

Results: On a pre-course survey, 60% of students identified that the statement, “I sometimes worry that my digital communications will be perceived negatively (angry, sarcastic, annoyed, etc.) even though that is not my intent” either describes them or often describes them while on a post-course survey, 70% of students responded that the statement describes or often describes them. For the following statement, “When speaking with a peer face-to-face, I rely on the actual words I’m saying to convey the message I am trying to send”, 27% students responded that this statement describes them on a pre-course survey whereas on a post-course survey 43% students identified that this statement describes them.

Conclusions: Following the educational intervention, the number of students who were concerned that their communications would be perceived negatively regardless of their intent increased by 10%. This indicates that the educational intervention was effective in demonstrating to student pharmacists the importance of tone and wording when communicating digitally. Additionally, students recognized the importance of the actual words that they say when communicating face-to-face with their peers.

A Rapid and Highly Sensitive Assay for the detection of Dahlia mosaic caulimovirus in Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis)

A Rapid and Highly Sensitive Assay for the detection of Dahlia mosaic caulimovirus in Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis)

Primary author: Romana Iftikhar
Authors: Romana Iftikhar, Lindani Moyo, Hanu Pappu

Primary college/unit: Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) is a highly valued ornamental plant widely grown in the U.S. and several other countries for its flowers, and the Pacific Northwest boasts more than a dozen dahlia societies. Dahlia mosaic virus (DMV), an aphid-transmitted caulimovirus in the family Caulimoviridae, is an important pathogen of dahlia (Dahlia variabilis). DMV genome consists of a circular, double-stranded DNA, approximately 8kb in size, and the DNA is packaged in spherical virus particles. Development of rapid, and sensitive diagnostic tools is essential in surveillance and management of DMV.

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed for DMV detection. The LAMP assay targets the reverse transcriptase region of the DMV genome and is optimal at a temperature of 60°C and run time of 60 min, and amplification was detected through fluorescence detection and by agarose gel electrophoresis. The assay detected DMV in DNA concentration as low as 10 ? 3 ng. The LAMP assay was found to be more sensitive than polymerase chain reaction test. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a LAMP assay for the detection of DMV, a plant DNA virus. This assay will be useful in rapid and sensitive detection of DMV and in reducing the virus incidence through production of virus-free planting material.

Stanwood Strategic Planning Surveys: Extension helps a community shape its future

Stanwood Strategic Planning Surveys: Extension helps a community shape its future

Primary author: Season Hoard
Co-author(s): Brian Anderson; Martha Aitken; Christina Sanders; Brad Gaolach

Primary college/unit: Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
Campus: Pullman

Abstract:

City governments are increasingly engaging university researchers to aid their strategic planning processes. Through these collaborations, these entities can better engage with their communities to understand perceptions of government performance as well as identify priority areas that should be addressed in future planning. The City of Stanwood contracted with WSU Extension to conduct surveys of Stanwood residents and residents of Camano Island and unincorporated Stanwood to support their strategic planning efforts. The surveys were designed to ascertain opinions of City services, and community priorities over the next two to five years.

In the summer of 2019, three online surveys were distributed: 1) a random household survey of Stanwood residents, 2) a convenience survey of Stanwood residents, and 3) a convenience survey of Camano Island and Unincorporated Stanwood residents (who live outside of the city, but frequently use Stanwood services). WSU developed the surveys in partnership with the City to ensure information collected would be useful for future planning. City representatives distributed the convenience survey links via various outlets, including social media, websites, newspapers, and community events, while the random household survey was distributed via post card. A total of 688 survey responses were received across all three surveys.

Analysis across the three surveys suggests that improved streets and traffic flow, improved parks and amenities, more police officers, more hotels and lodging, and more recreation programming are top priorities for strategic planning. Additionally, Stanwood needs to focus on business recruitment and retention as well as improve communication with residents.