Digital Commons Network^™

Utah's Transportation Solution: Future Vision, Bryan Ray Farris

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In the vision statement for the future of the State of Utah drafted by the Utah Tomorrow Committee one of the primary objectives outlined is to “Build a statewide economy and infrastructure that supports a broad spectrum of opportunity for all citizens while advancing the standard of living and maintaining a high quality of life.” This statement has been reiterated by many over the last several years as the state continues to grow, experiencing along with that growth many pains along the way.

The Influence Of Fluorescent Light On The Development Of In Vitro Fertilized Bovine Oocytes, Jared Bunch

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Advances in in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture techniques have allowed considerable progress in identifying physiological requirements of mammalian embryos. Parrish et al. (11) reported a major breakthrough on in vitro fertilization when his group identified heparin as an important factor for the capacitation of spermatozoa. Capacitation is necessary for fertilization of matured oocytes. During the precoculture era of embryos (prior to 1980), the development of early preirnplantation embryos was vary limited regardless of medium, medium supplement, gas atmosphere, osmolarity or pH used (7). Coculture techniques of fertilized oocytes using somatic cells during in vitro production, particularly of bovine …

At The New Yorker, Therese Anderson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The following essays and letters grew from a notebook I kept while interning at The New Yorker last summer. Each night, in my room at the boardinghouse on 36th Street, I recorded the decorations of the day, like the conversation I had with a prominent writer in the lunchroom, or the sight of a startled shorebird on the front of the office building.

The Experience Of Psychology Paraprofessionals: Views Of Peer Counselors And Peer Educators, Heather L. Edgel

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This study was conducted to examine the experience of students as paraprofessionals in psychology. 102 peer counselors/educators from 10 universities across America were sampled. The research data generated was descriptive in nature. Paraprofessionals rated experience satisfaction and expressed opinions regarding their involvement in peer counseling and peer educating programs.

Facilitation Of Intervention Strategies Of Utah State University's Human Learning Clinic: Incorporation Of Visual Learning Techniques, Jennifer L. Roskelley

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

During Winter and Spring Quarters 1995, I had the opportunity to become a tutor for Utah State University's Human Learning Clinic under the direction of Dr. Lani VanDusen, I chose to become involved in this endeavor to fulfill an Honors Independent study requirement for my "senior honor's experience". In doing so, l spent Winter Quarter preparing for the actual tutoring by familiarizing myself with the various intervention strategies adhered to by the clinic and becoming comfortable with the administration of the activities involved in each method. Prior to the beginning of Spring Quarter, I was assigned my own personal client: …

No Evidence Of Linkage Between 35 Genetic Markers And The Spider Lamb Syndrome Gene In Sheep, Sarah Thornell South

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Spider Lamb Syndrome (SLS) is a semi-lethal congenital disorder affecting the Suffolk and Hampshire sheep breeds. The clinical manifestations of the syndrome include severe skeletal and muscular abnormalities with long, fine-boned legs, curvature of the spine and nasal septum, minimal muscling and severe muscle atrophy. The affected animals have a difficult time walking and most lambs do not survive past the first six months of life. A single autosomal recessive gene causes the disorder. Researchers believe the SLS gene arose as a single source mutation in a popular Suffolk blood line in the 1970s. Heterozygous carriers of the SLS gene …

Root Colonization By Pseudomonas Putida: The Role Of Catalase And Superoxide Dismutase Isozymes, Tawnya Lynn Bowles

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The fluorescent soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida is an aggressive root colonizer (1) that offers benefits to the host plant by suppressing soilborne pathogens and enhancing plant growth (12,13). Upon introduction in the field through seed inoculation, certain isolates of P. putida have the potential to act as an effective biological control agent (3). P. putida has also been shown to promote the growth of potatoes, sugarbeets, and radishes (13). Fluorescent pseudomonads are effective in protecting plants against pathogens such as Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici, a fungus that causes the root disease of wheat called take-all (13).

Ecological Thought, Now And Then., Jared Glenn Parkinson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In recent years a movement has surfaced which has greatly influenced many different aspects of society. This movement, referred to as the environmental movement, is supported by the central idea that humans are internally related to the environment and that humans have the ability to impair natural systems from being able to maintain themselves and evolve. Some activists in this movement believe that the earth is a living organism and that all objects have intrinsic worth. Environmentalists generally accept a more ecocentric view of the wilderness. This environmental movement is referred to by many different names including the ecological, green, …

Going Back, To Begin, Ilena Starsun Coulbrooke

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This thesis project explores. in poetry, the effects of atomic testing and unrestrained pesticide use on the people who lived in or near Utah in the fifties and sixties.

Nuclear testing began in Nevada in 1951, the year I was born in south-east Idaho, where my family lived under radiation tainted clouds for a decade along with the Utah downwinders. My father died of lung cancer caused from breathing pesticide-laden air in 1962, the year Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring. These two dates stand out in my mind as important markers in my quest to discover why I think and …

The Right To Die: A Brief Look At Physician-Assisted Suicide, Brooke Meredith Sanders Purves

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Recently, there has been some discussion in Congress about writing a Constitutional amendment declaring that every American citizen has the "right to die" if he or she so sees fit. Opponents of this amendment believe that it will be abused - that although the amendment would generally apply to terminally ill patients, depressed teenagers and the like will be able to commit suicide if they feel like it, and mothers with deformed infants may act as guardians and exercise the right for their children, with no protection from the state. Their concern is certainly warranted. It is not the goal …

Using Empathy As A Tool To Reduce Prejudice, Traci Lloyd

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Children are not born with prejudices. However, they are born with a natural inclination to categorize people and situations (Byrnes, 1988). As early as two years of age, children may begin asking questions concerning the differences and similarities they observe in the people around them (Derman-Sparks, 1993). Children may develop negative beliefs about these differences from a variety of sources. Parents and extended family may, through their words and actions, play a major role in the attitudes children develop about differences. Teachers, peers, television, books and movies also make large contributions (Byrnes, 1988; Derman-Sparks, 1993).

Articulation, Kendra Evans

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As my major is Art with an emphasis in Graphic Design, and my minor is English, with Departmental Honors and a focus on poetry, my Honors Senior thesis, ARTiculation, exists as a link between these two arts. This collection of essays explores the similarities and relationships between painting and poetry, and the influences each has on the other. The format in which I have chosen to present my writing in is editorial layout of periodical publication, a medium of communication where the visual and written arts overlap in technique and style.

Geršgorin And Beyond•••, Jason Knight Belnap

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Eigenvalues are useful in various areas of mathematics, such as in testing the critical values of a multi variable function to see if it is a local extrema. One of the more common ways to define eigenvalues is:

Definition (1): Given that A is an n by n matrix, λ is an eigenvalue of A if and only if det(A - λI_n) = 0. Any nonzero vector in Null(A - λI) is called an eigenvector associated with λ.

Development Of An Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay Capable Of Detecting Antibodies Specific To The Cytomegalovirus, Rachel Bird

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

The cytomegalovirus (CMV) is capable of causing serious illness and death in immunocompromised individuals. The objective of this research is to develop a method of detecting antibodies against CMV. This has lead to the development of an Enzyme linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) that is capable of detecting CMV or anti-CMV antibodies. The process in the development of such an assay involves; 1) the purification of Hyperimmune Rabbit Serum containing anti-CMV antibodies, 2) determination of the appropriate concentrations necessary to provide a clear and concise response to the test, and 3) testing of monoclonal antibodies to determine their specificity towards the …

Recreation, At A Glance, Michelle A. Wilkins

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

As Utah prepares to showcase its majestic landscapes worldwide during the 2002 Olympic Games, countless travelers continue to explore the state's splendor. Utah is famous for its land of many faces. From the red rock of Canyonland National Park to the snow-capped mountains along the Wasatch front, the state is rich in natural diversity. This diversity translates into a broad spectrum of recreational opportunities the state can offer. For instance, Utah's alpine and cross-country ski conditions are among the best in the world. In warm months, rigorous alpine and rock trails have earned Utah the reputation as the "bicycling capital …

History Of Fermat's Last Theorem, Amanda Brown

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Around 1637, Pierre de Fermat made a now-famous mathematical conjecture. However, Fermat's conjecture neither began nor ended with him. Fermat's last theorem, as the conjecture is called, has roots approximately 3600 years old. The proof of the theorem was not realized until 1994, over 350 years after it was proposed by Fermat.

Online, On Trial: Pornography, The Constitution And The Communications Decency Act Of 1996, Brian E. Bowcut

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Cyberspace, in its present condition has a lot in common with the 19th Century West. It is vast, unmapped, culturally and legally ambiguous ... hard to get around in, and up for grabs. ...It is, of course, a perfect breeding ground for both outlaws and new ideas about liberty...1

So assesses Grateful Dead lyricist-turned-cyberguru John Perry Barlow the new frontier, that vast expanse of computer networks known as the Internet. Yet, in recent months, the law has come to this chaotic domain, where anything goes and nothing remains unsaid. With the passage of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 (CDA), …

George Crumb And Makrokosmos, Volume 1, Jennelle Anderson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

In the words of David Burge, "George Crumb provided his listeners with something of the sensation of awe, wonder, and enigmatic beauty that he himself felt concerning the 'mysteries.' He named movements after geological eras, referred to images as coming from 'the dark land,' invented visual symbols for his scores, and concocted numerological schemes. For many listeners these extra musical trappings provided an avenue into the music itself, allowing them to listen to it openly and with interest rather than with resistance and skepticism" (Burge, 1990, p. 212).

A Comparison Of Landsat Tm Imagery Versus Aerial Photographs For Classifying And Monitoring Riparian Vegetation, Sara Goeking Rodemaker

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Ouray National Wildlife Refuge contains important riparian habitat s for fish and wildlife. The dominant woody plant species are Populus fremontii, Salix sps., and Tamarix ramosissima, a nonnative shrub that has become established in the Upper Colorado Basin in this century. T. ramosissima is quickly becoming the dominant riparian species, and could affect habitat quality and ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling. A current vegetation map of the refuge was developed using Landsat thematic mapper imagery. Maps were also generated from aerial photographs to delineate areas of Tamarix invasion between 1936 and 1996. The two sources of remote sensor data …

What Limits Tailed Frog Tadpole Density And Distribution In Western Montana Streams?, Megan Barker

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

We explored the possible limitation of temperature and other habitat features on tailed frog tadpole populations in northwestern Montana. We sampled densities and habitat features in two regions with different climatic regimes and in streams with and without tadpoles, expecting larger density and size in the warmer region. We also expected habitat conditons to be more optimal (higher gradient, swifter velocity, and less canopy cover) in streams with tadpoles. Temperature appeared to positively influence tadpole size, though both tadpole size and density were strongly correlated with other variables. Density was correlated with gradient, canopy, depth, and elevation, whereas length was …

Schaller And Matthiessen Journey Through The Himalayas: Two Contemporary Nature Writers Synthesize Science And Spirituality, Audrie Jane Turner

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Long before Charles Darwin's time, members of Western civilization viewed the sciences and spirituality as antithetical approaches to life. In the last 150 years, the argument for superiority of one over the other has continued, and Darwin's theories merely intensified the debate. However, American nature writing has evolved in a way that often synthesizes science and spirituality. This thesis will discuss this synthesis, and how two contemporary nature writers have dealt with the combination of science and spirituality in the natural and literary world. The merging of these two seemingly opposed subjects may be one of the most instructive and …

The Effect Of Peer Counseling Training And Experience On Peer Counselors, Holly Day Mcfarland

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This study was designed to measure improvement in communication skills of 11 peer counselors after training. The instrument utilized was the Interpersonal Communication Inventory which was given in a pretest-treatment-posttest format. The treatment consisted of a three month intensive training program which emphasized improving communication skills in the areas of listening, empathy and understanding. The results indicated that the peer counselors improved their communication skills dramatically. The mean on the pretest was 83.82, while the mean after the treatment was 100.09.

The Use Of The Xylose Tolerance Test As An Indicator Of Malabsorption In Cryptosporidiosis, James A. Evans

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Cryptosporidium parvum, a protozoan parasite infecting epithelial cells lining the intestinal tract of animals and humans, causes fulminate diarrhea and malabsorption of essential nutrients following damage to the cellular brush border. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the use of a pentose sugar (D-xylose) in a standardized tolerance test as an indicator of malabsorption due to cryptosporidiosis in the dexamethasone (DEX)-immunosuppressed adult C57BL/6N mouse model. One group containing 14 experimental mice (in addition to appropriate control groups) was immunosuppressed using daily intraperitoneal injections of DEX (125 μg/mouse). On day 7 postimmunosuppression, mice were inoculated orally with 104 C. …

Environmental Mediation: An Assessment And Case Study Of The Logan Canyon Highway Controversy, Jared Glenn Parkinson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

For a little more than twenty years, alternative methods of dispute management have been employed to address various environmental conflicts in order to avoid the more traditional method of litigation. Mediation is a voluntary process which involves face-to-face negotiation among parties and the use of a neutral third-party negotiator. Environmental mediation has helped manage disputes related to land use, natural resource management, use of public lands, water resources, energy development, air quality and toxins (Bingham 1986).

Small Business Advising Highpoint Roofing, Llc., Angie Newman Hull

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Highpoint Roofing is a new sub-contracting business that specializes in roofing new homes and re-roofing older homes. During the short time they have been in business there has been evident success. The owners would like to continue the success of the company and plan to do so through improving their financial status, being aware of market fluctuations, cutting-costs, expanding, and creating and following a budget.

Teaching Thinking And Reasoning Skills More Effectively, Marcus R. Mumford

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Political pundits whine that the world would be a better place if only more people thought like them. A clever engineer once told me that the world needs (his arms come together in a weight lifting pose, hands rounded together) more circles! Me? I want a world full of wise, thinking individuals. This is a world of minds that have an "inner balance wheel"; minds that protect themselves from extremes and under-use. Rudyard Kipling set up the model of a well-trained mind, "If you can keep your head while all around you are losing theirs and blaming it on you... …

Radd - Respect All, Don't Discriminate Grant Proposal, Heather Mason

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Diversity. Not only a politically correct term, but a reality in the world today. Diversity surrounds us through ethnicity, ability, gender and race. Through the advent of Congressional mandates, our country is beginning to recognize the value of a workforce and community infused with a variety of people. But, in order to give momentum to this sweeping movement, an attitude of acceptance must begin early. For it is during the formative years when self-esteems are formed, and it is during these years we begin formulating our perception of those who are different.

Gregory Natural Bridge & La Gorce Arch: Escalante River Landscapes And History, Jared Randall Farmer

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Among abundant natural splendor, the canyons of the lower Escalante River enclose immense arches and bridges. Secluded in a jungle of slickrock, these natural spans attracted minimal attention until mid-century. Not until 1940 was Gregory Natural Bridge officially-if not genuinely-discovered. The "discoverer " was Norman Nevills, one of the most prominent and most colorful early commercial river runners in the West. Like Glen Canyon, Nevills' staple run, much of the bygone wilderness of the lower Escalante River now lies beneath Lake Powell. Gregory Natural Bridge was submerged by the filling reservoir, easily the largest span lost that way. Its present …

Effects Of Copper On Oxidative Stress And Growth Of Pseudomonas Putida, Tiffany Marshall

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Oxygen is an essential compound in all aerobic systems; however, it can also take part in toxic reactions involving active oxygen species (AOS) and transition metals. Most of the time, antioxidant enzymes act as defense mechanisms and keep the production of AOS to a minimum. However, if the defense mechanisms are not adequate, damage may occur and possibly lead to the breakdown of biomolecules such as DNA, lipids, and proteins that are vital to both simple and complex organisms. Oxidative damage could also be a contributing factor to many human pathological conditions including, aging, atherosclerosis, carcinogenesis, diabetes mellitus, lung cancer, …

Optimization Of Torquer Coil Design For Use With The Small Satellite Attitude Control Simulator, David Deloyd Anderson

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

This paper presents a procedure used to optimize the performance of a ferromagnetic core magnetic torquer coil design for use on the Space Dynamics Laboratory (Logan, UT) Small Satellite Attitude Control Simulator. The items of optimization include the primary goal of maximizing the coil 's magnetic moment while reducing power consumption and system mass within given power, mass, and dimensional constraints. The optimization process makes use of several simple equations to determine a few starting points for design, after which an iterative approach based on experimentation is used to produce the final design. It is found that optimal magnetic moment …