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Utah Women and Mental Health: A 2025 Update
No full textAccording to the World Health Organization, “mental health is a state of well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.”1 Based on a 2025 ranking from WalletHub, Utah is the 4th “Happiest” state in the nation, so one might draw the conclusion that Utahns experience good mental health. However, the rankings also reveal that Utah does not perform as well in the “Emotional & Physical Well-Being” category (in 27th place).2 Because mental health is an important indicator of overall well-being, this report aims to update the previous data from a research snapshot3 published by the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) in 2017. Since the original publication, factors impacting mental health conditions have shifted, including social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic uncertainty, national and global events, and discrimination.
The previous snapshot referenced a 2015 national report that stated 17.9% of adult Americans (43.4 million people) suffered from a mental illness, and 4.0% of Americans (9.8 million people) had a serious mental illness (SMI) in the past year.4 In 2023, the numbers increased to 22.8% of US adults (58.7 million people) who experienced a mental illness, and 5.7% (or 14.6 million people) had experienced SMI.5 Recent data find that Utah holds the second-highest percentage of adults (29.9%) living with any mental illness, not far behind Oregon (30.2%).6
This research snapshot focuses on three key areas: Provides an updated overview of mental health rates for women, including trends and key demographics; Shares an analysis of factors currently surrounding mental health conditions in Utah; and Offers an update of statewide efforts being made to improve mental health among girls, women, and their families
Utahns’ Understanding & Support of Environmental Equity & Justice
No full textUtah faces its fair share of environmental problems. Top concerns among residents are issues of drought, air quality, and the drying of the Great Salt Lake (1). However, research suggests that the impacts of environmental issues like disasters, pollution, resource overuse and climate change are not shared equally across society (2). This is a challenge for environmental justice, which maintains the need for fair treatment and outcomes for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, and class, with respect to the enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies (3). Put more simply, everyone is entitled to a clean and healthy environment where they “live, work and play.
Uncoupling Batteries From EPS Design — A Power System for the Modern Era
Get PDFSpace electrical power system (EPS) architectures have often been strongly tied to the voltage of the batteries they employ; the battery operating voltages often dictate the solar cell string lengths and the voltage of the primary buses used for power distribution throughout the spacecraft, as well as internal particulars. This paper presents an alternative space EPS architecture that is independent of battery voltage, and instead, simply treats the connected batteries as a source of power and energy which can be drawn from as desired, and recharged as required. This EPS architecture utilizes a ring bus topology, wherein energy sources feed power into the ring and energy sinks (aka loads) pull power from the ring. The resulting EPS is highly configurable and supports a wide range of spacecraft configurations, giving spacecraft designers considerably flexibility in both the design and mission stages.
After a brief overview of some common space EPS architectures, we present Pumpkin\u27s 200W-class TRL9 EPSM1 and its implementation. We illustrate a variety of possible configurations, and list the design freedoms that accompany them. We address efficiency issues and what drives overall system efficiency. We discuss real-world on-orbit performance and the use of configuration flexibility in certain scenarios
A Ground System Framework for Operating Satellites in Very Low Earth Orbit
No full textIn the space industry, the space-segment and ground-segment work in tandem to effectively and safely control satellites, execute its intended missions, and obtain meaningful data. In recent years, the space industry has been exploring Very Low Earth Orbit (VLEO) for the following advantages: (a) reduced satellite traffic, (b) increased revisit frequency, (c) shorter communication distances, and (d) closer Earth observation points. However, the exponential increase in atmospheric density and gravitational forces, combined with shorter operational response times to critical events, poses significant challenges for satellite operations. While satellite design should ensure appropriate system sizing and requirements to address these issues and challenges, the operation of satellites in VLEO remains highly complex. Moreover, on-board automation and intelligence are often restricted to a minimum to avoid unforeseen failures that cannot be rectified in flight. As a result, these complex automation and decision-making processes are often handled by the ground-segment.
This paper presents a generic Ground System Framework targeted for VLEO operations, which contains three key modules: (M1) an Automation Engine to handle all automation activities, (M2) an Event Analysis Software to evaluate and handle critical events, and (M3) a Flight Dynamics Software to simulate the expected trajectory of the satellite. This framework and its supporting modules are developed to support the operations of our experimental VLEO micro-satellite, Extremely Low earth orbit Imaging and Technology Explorer (ELITE). In this work, we will also discuss the operational aspects of each module, how they are augmented with external data sources and satellite telemetry; and the application of novel and cutting-edge technologies to ensure safe and smooth VLEO operations
Exploring Lunar Ionosphere Characterization Through Multi-CubeSat Occultation With Ranging Technology and Radiation Environment Analysis
No full textCharacterizing the lunar ionosphere and radiation environment is critical for advancing both scientific knowledge and the practical requirements of future lunar missions. This mission proposes deploying dual satellites in lunar orbit to perform radio occultation (RO) measurements and validate the presence and behavior of the lunar ionosphere. By analyzing the phase differences of dual-frequency signals, the electron density can be measured, enabling both temporal analysis and spatial mapping of the lunar ionospheric structure. A thorough understanding of these environmental factors is essential for identifying suitable landing sites, designing resilient infrastructure, and ensuring the reliability of communication and navigation systems—key enablers of sustained lunar exploration and long-term surface habitation. In addition, the system’s inter-satellite ranging capability and GPS-compatible signal formats support precise orbit determination, facilitate collaboration with ground-based positioning systems, and contribute to the development of a potential future Lunar Navigation Satellite System (LNSS), while a custom COTS-based Deep Space Radiation Probe (DSRP) provides in-situ radiation measurements to enhance understanding of the lunar radiation environment
Development of a Scalable Electrical and Mechanical Backplane for the GuaraniSat-2 CubeSat Mission
No full textThis paper presents the design, development, and validation of a custom backplane interface board for GuaraniSat-2, Paraguay\u27s second nanosatellite. GuaraniSat-2 is a 3U CubeSat developed through a collaborative effort led by the Paraguayan Space Agency (AEP) and SpaceLab, with the active participation of stakeholders such as the Polytechnic and Engineering Faculties of the National University of Asunción (UNA), Catholic University of Asunción (UCA), the LIESE lab at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), NASA\u27s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Astradyne, an Italian startup spun off from the Polytechnic University of Bari (Politecnico di Bari). The backplane board functions as both a mechanical backbone and an electrical hub, enabling robust communication and efficient power distribution across CubeSat subsystems. Based on the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech) Standard Bus architecture, the system employs a six-layer Printed Circuit Board (PCB) integrating USB/UART multiplexing, I2C isolation, GPS modules, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for sun sensor data acquisition, and an NXP i.MX RT1060 microcontroller. This microcontroller replaces programmable logic devices (PLDs) used in earlier designs, streamlining integration and enhancing functionality. Comprehensive integration and stress testing on a custom-built testbed confirmed the board’s electrical and mechanical stability, validating its readiness for environmental qualification. The backplane significantly reduces cable complexity, improves subsystem modularity, and provides a scalable foundation for future CubeSat missions
Faculty Senate Agenda April 28, 2025
No full text3:00 Call to Order Approval of Minutes March 31, 2025 3:05 University Business 3:20 Faculty Senate Business 3:35 Information EPC Report - April 3, 2025 The Office of Equity 3:45 Report Committee on Committees Annual Report Calendar Committee Annual Report Retention Annual Report Recruitment Annual Report 4:10 Old Business 4:15 New Business New Faculty Senate President-Elect Format & Responsibilities - 2025-2026 Faculty Senate Meetings Concluding Remarks, Passing of the Gavel College Caucus to Elect FSEC Members Adjourn: 4:30 p
Utah\u27s Farm to Fork Landscape: Stakeholders\u27 Perspectives on Root Causes and Potential Solutions
Get PDFFarm to Fork encourages direct connection between producers and consumers reducing the intermediaries (i.e., schools, pre-schools, daycare centers, etc.) Empowers local producers, boosts the local economy, enhances physical and mental well-being, and promotes self-sufficiency Utah\u27s Farm to Fork Task Force was formed in 201
Utilizing Enzymatic Microalgae Hydrolysates for Cellular Agriculture
Get PDFUPSIDE Foods is working to produce chicken products to address the growing global food insecurity crisis.1 Industrial scalability is limited due to the requirements of cell culture. Through collaboration with the company, we are working to supplement their existing media to drive costs down and improve cell viability
Rurality: A Secondary & Post-Secondary Perspective
Get PDFHow can we as secondary educators push rural students to embrace their rural identities in conjunction with their academic skills to not only become powerful members of society, but to see themselves as candidates for post-secondary education