Digital Commons Network^™

Behavioral And Neural Correlates Of Sensory Processing And Anxiety In Autistic Children, Kelsey Lee Ustach Tindall

Theses and Dissertations

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are known to experience higher levels of sensory processing differences as well as anxiety, compared to the neurotypical population (NT). Both theory and evidence suggest that there is an interrelationship between sensory processing, anxiety and fear, and prediction abilities in autism. However, much more remains to be discovered about their relationship and especially underlying neural mechanisms. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to examine the behavioral relationship between sensory processing, fear and anxiety, prediction, and related brain activity in autistic children. To this end, 30 autistic children (ages 6-11 years) and …

Taxonomy And Phylogenetics Of Island Damselflies (Odonata: Coenagrionidae: Vanuatubasis), Natalie Anne Saxton

Theses and Dissertations

Odonata is an order of charismatic insects, commonly called dragonflies and damselflies, that provide a rewarding study system to answer questions such as those related to diversity and biogeography. Despite being relatively well-studied compared to other insect orders, odonates have suffered from inconsistencies and disagreements about proper morphological terminology that provide barriers to incoming workers. These disagreements have subsequently led to confusion and the incorrect application of terms. Here, we clarify the terminology and propose standard terminology for terminal appendages. This terminology is employed in a taxonomic revision of Vanuatubasis Ober & Staniczek, 2009. This endemic genus of damselfly found …

Variability Of The Aerodynamic Measures Of Leporine Larynges Exposed To Inhaled Corticosteroids, Miriam Angela Cannon Bake

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examined the effects of combination inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) on the stability of six aerodynamic measures of phonation utilizing a traditional benchtop model with leporine larynges. The motivation for this study was based on the increase of voice disorders associated with IC use in recent years. The aerodynamic measures examined were phonation threshold pressure (PTP), phonation threshold flow (PTF), onset resistance, sustained pressure, sustained flow, and sustained resistance. Leporine larynges were selected as the model for this study due to histological similarities between leporine and human vocal folds that make them ideal for translational research. Rabbits were either exposed …

The Role Of The Cytosolic Chaperonin Cct In Folding Β-Propeller Proteins, William Grant Ludlam

Theses and Dissertations

Many Proteins require the aid of molecular chaperones to achieve a stable folding state and avoid misfolding pathologies. A major eukaryotic chaperone is the cytosolic chaperonin CCT. While CCT is known to fold a significant portion of all cytosolic proteins, there is no general model for the mechanism CCT uses to fold substrate proteins. One class of proteins that CCT is known to fold are β-propeller containing proteins. Here, we present structural and biochemical data on the processes that CCT uses to fold three distinct β-propeller proteins: the G-protein Beta 5 (Gβ5) subunit of the Gβ5-RGS complex, mLST8 of the …

Cationic Steroid Antimicrobials: Applications To Medical Device Coatings, Mechanism Of Pro-Osteogenic Properties, And Potential Synergy With Common Antifungals, Brian J. Hilton

Theses and Dissertations

Cationic steroid antimicrobials (CSAs or ceragenins) are a novel class of synthetic, cholic acid-based mimics of endogenous antimicrobial peptides. These small molecule compounds display broad bactericidal activity against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, potent ability against fungal pathogens, and cidal effects against drug resistant and multidrug resistant microbes. Implantable medical devices provide an abiotic surface upon which bacteria and fungi can accumulate--thereby leading to localized or systemic infection. We proposed that CSA antibiotics can be incorporated into medical device surface coatings which can be optimized for the active release or elution of the CSA compounds over time to prevent device-associated infections. …

Application Of Compositional Data Analysis To Determine The Effects Of Heating Mode, Moisture Status And Plant Species On Pyrolysates, David R. Weise, Thomas H. Fletcher, Mohammad-Saeed Safdari, Elham Amini, Javier Palarea-Albaladejo

Faculty Publications

Pyrolysate gas mixtures are multivariate and relative in nature. Statistical techniques applied to these data generally ignore their relative nature. Published data for permanent gases (CO, CO2, H2, CH4) and tars produced by pyrolysing 15 wildland fuels were reanalysed using compositional data analysis techniques. Mass and mole fractions were compositionally equivalent. Plant species, moisture status and heating mode effects on compositional balances formed from subsets of pyrolysates were tested. Plant species affected the amount of phenol, primary and secondary/tertiary tars relative to permanent gases and relative amounts of single- and multi-ring compounds. Plant moisture status affected the amount of CO …

Parental Incarceration And Juvenile Delinquency: The Role Of Gender, Kirstie S. Weyland

Theses and Dissertations

Parental incarceration is connected to many negative outcomes for children including negative externalizing behaviors. Most studies are not conclusive in determining whether maternal incarceration or paternal incarceration has a more detrimental impact on children. This study looks at a sample of 2,458 youth from the Fragile Families and Child Well-Being Study (FFCWS) and their parents and compares the gender of the incarcerated parent and that of the child to determine if there are differences in the risk of delinquent behavior among adolescent children. Results found that parental incarceration overall increased the risk of juvenile delinquency and that female children are …

Hydroviewer: A Web Application To Localize Global Hydrologic Forecasts, Kyler R. Ashby, Riley Chad Hales, Jim Nelson, Daniel P. Ames, Gustavious P. Williams

Open Water Journal

Earth observation data are increasingly ubiquitous, easily accessible, often freely available, and more usable due to improvements in software, data standards, network infrastructure, and national policies. As a result, greater opportunities arise for using these data in emerging fields such as decision support for local and regional environmental and water resources management. In parts of the world where in situ data are less readily available, global Earth observation data, used in decision support tools, can be a boon to government and other water management agencies. The Group on Earth Observations Global Water Sustainability Initiative (GEOGloWS) works to bring global water …

San Bernardino Flying Squirrel Use Of Residential Areas: A Citizen Science Approach, Kevin Clark, Scott Tremor, Brian Gibson, Kimberly Ferree, Clark Winchell

Western North American Naturalist

The San Bernardino flying squirrel (Glaucomys oregonensis californicus) is a California Species of Special Concern restricted to montane forests of southern California. We confirmed the distribution of this species in residential areas of the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains with the assistance of citizen scientist volunteers. Project participants placed motion sensor camera traps near bird feeders on their property and uploaded their results to a project webpage and associated iNaturalist project. Flying squirrels were documented at all sites monitored in the San Bernardino Mountains but were not detected in the San Jacinto Mountains, consistent with survey results …

Population Dynamics Of Mule Deer (Odocoileus Hemionus): Maternal Effects And De Novo Genome, Sydney Lamb

Theses and Dissertations

Population dynamics of large ungulates are complex and vary with fluctuations in factors such as predation, resource availability, human disturbance, and weather (Gaillard et al. 1998, Forrester and Wittmer 2013). These regulating factors exhibit similar effects on ungulate populations by changing vital rates such as birthrate, death rate, emigration or immigration (Gaillard et al. 2000). To better understand the mechanisms influencing population change, it is useful to involve tools from multiple disciplines (Krausman et al. 2013). Here we explore population dynamics of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) through the lenses of two distinct fields: population ecology and genomics. In the first …

Failure To Report: The Detrimental Effects Following Sexual Assault, Lindsey R. Osborne

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Sexual assault is a prominent issue in society, yet many people remain unaware of the serious effects following sexual assault. Victims who report to legal authorities tend to experience disbelief and blame because of the prevalence of rape myths. Due to the severity of the trauma, hormones released by the brain hinder proper brain functioning and can cause a little-known evolutionary response termed tonic immobility (TI). The psychological outcome of sexual assault commonly results in or worsens several psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and drug and alcohol abuse. Guilt, self-blame, and adverse emotions are accelerated with negative interactions while …

More Than Stories: Indigenous Environmental Reciprocity In The Poetry Of Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, Rebecca Purse

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis brings to the forefront the traditional stories Marshallese poet, performer, and climate change activist Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner shares in her published poetry. Indigenous studies scholars agree that Indigenous stories have power--power to change, power to inform, and power to heal. The traditional stories in Jetñil-Kijiner's poetry reveal the power of the environment and the potential relationships that can exist between humans and natural beings. While these traditional stories work to disrupt the narrative that Indigenous perspectives, knowledges, and cultures are somehow inferior to their colonial neighbors', they also assert the need for a return to environmental reciprocit--or the establishment …

An Engaging Worksheet: Number Ninjitzu, The Mobile Game, Abby Hull

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

The purpose of this project was to make a math worksheet more engaging by turning the answering of elementary math questions into a game. The game should encourage young learners to practice arithmetic more. The project takes the form of a mobile platformer game and the target audience is 1st-3rd graders.

The Effects Of Shed Antler Hunting On Ungulate Movement, Space-Use And Resource Selection, Steven B. Bates

Theses and Dissertations

Shed antler hunting has increased in popularity during the past decade, but little is known about how this recreational activity affects ungulate movements and space use. We placed geographic positioning system (gps)-collars on 133 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), bison (Bison bison), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) to quantify their movements, space use, and resource selection during shed antler hunts on Antelope Island Utah, USA, from 2012 to 2015. In Chapter 1, we calculated means and 95% confidence intervals for distance moved during 90-minute segments (16 points/day); pre-event (control, seven consecutive days prior to event), event (one to two days), and …

The Effects Of Interspecific Competition And Predation On Survival Of Neonate Mule Deer, Daniel W. Sallee

Theses and Dissertations

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) populations are influenced by multiple factors, including interspecific competition and predation. Interspecific competition can affect resource acquisition and survival through altering space use and access to preferred habitat. Mule deer in some areas alter space use in the presence of competing species, including bison (Bison bison), cattle (Box taurus), elk (Cervus canadensis), and feral horses (Equus caballus), however the influence of competition on survival of mule deer during specific life history stages, such as birthing and rearing of neonates, is largely unknown. In addition to competition, predation can influence mule deer populations and even limit population …

Lesser Long-Nosed Bat (Leptonycteris Yerbabuenae) Range Expansion Into Northern Grant County, New Mexico, Keith Geluso, Kenneth N. Geluso

Western North American Naturalist

The lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) previously was known only from extreme southwestern New Mexico in southern Hidalgo County. Herein, we documented L. yerbabuenae from northern Grant County along the Gila River on the southern edge of the Mogollon Plateau, which represents a 110-km range expansion to the north. We captured mostly volant young-of-the-year (68.5%) and adult females (25.9%) as well as a few adult males (5.6%) in September 2019. With assistance from local residents, we have evidence that nectar-feeding bats have been using hummingbird feeders in the area at least since 2014 and are a relatively …

"Out Of The Living Rock": The Assemblage Of Ruins In H. Rider Haggard's She, Rachel E. Rackham

Theses and Dissertations

H. Rider Haggard's imperial gothic novel, She, A History of Adventure (1887), is a narrative of ruins that speak of a vanished past and presage ends: of empire, of history, of culture. Haggard's novel follows two British adventurers as they travel to Africa in search of a mysterious woman that a potsherd--a ruin in miniature--tasks them with killing. There, they encounter ruin after ruin: pots, roads, caves, canals, sculptures, and more. These ruins serve as sentinels, as walkways, and as homes; they signal, warn, resist, witness, remind, and--not least--exist in a landscape that is anything but empty. Though seemingly inert, …

Of Zoos And Tools: Conceptual Metaphor Theory In The Language Of Incarcerated People And Correctional Officers, Chloe Rampton

Theses and Dissertations

Prison language is heavily influenced by its environment and is noteworthy for its use of metaphor and metonymy. This study examined the use of metaphor and metonymy, including metaphtonymy, in prison language and how they are influenced by aspects of the environment. The metaphoric and metonymic expressions were selected from the language of incarcerated people and of correctional officers (COs). Data for this study was collected from the podcast Ear Hustle that is produced from inside San Quentin State Prison in California, USA and has been qualitatively analyzed using grounded theory. Additionally, Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) was used to identify …

Empathy And Fairness In Nonhuman Primates: Evolutionary Bases Of Human Morality, Colt Halter

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Darwin offered an evolutionary perspective on the origins of human morality, suggesting that humans share a biological foundation with nonhuman primates. This paper reviews the current literature on moral and prosocial behaviors of nonhuman primates, specifically examining whether nonhuman primates exhibit behaviors that are typical of empathy and fairness. The literature documents that nonhuman primates exhibit empathetic behaviors regarding emotional contagion and sympathetic concern. There is also evidence that nonhuman primates have a sense of fairness, seen in their reciprocal behaviors and aversion to inequity. Taken together, this suggests that there are evolutionary roots of morality, lending empirical support to …

Effect Of Schematic Congruence On Mnemonic Discrimination In The Hippocampal Subregions, Ariana M. Hedges-Muncy

Theses and Dissertations

Two experiments are presented in this dissertation to investigate the effect a schema may have on mnemonic discrimination. We developed stimuli composed of a foreground item on a background that was either schematically congruent or incongruent. For the encoding phase of both experiments, these stimuli were presented to 98 participants, who were tasked with determining the congruency of each foreground-background pair. Next, the two experiments diverged for the retrieval phase, where participants were presented with either the same object as before (Target) or one that was similar (Lure). Forty-six participants in Experiment 1 saw stimuli with the same background as …

Courtship Behavior Of The Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus Hudsonius), Ethan A. Brem, William J. Israelsen

Western North American Naturalist

We describe the first recorded observations of courtship behavior of the meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius) made in wild-caught and captive-reared animals. Male meadow jumping mice performed a series of courtship behaviors upon approach to the female, including rapid fanning of the muzzle with the forelimbs, self-grooming, muzzle fanning, retreat, and eventual mounting attempts. During courtship, female jumping mice may retreat, ignore the courting male, or bat at the male with forelimbs until the male retreats. Active rejection of the courting male by the female is suggestive of female mate choice in this species.


Describimos las primeras observaciones …

A Simple Method For Restraint Of Small Mammals For Sampling Blood Or Tissue In The Field, John L. Orrock

Western North American Naturalist

Because wild rodents often harbor zoonotic pathogens that can be transmitted via saliva, urine, or feces (e.g., hantaviruses), researchers can be at risk when collecting rodent blood or tissue samples that are required for innumerable assays (e.g., infection status, hormone assays, etc.). I describe how inexpensive, readily available 50-mL centrifuge tubes can be easily modified to create a handling tube for the safe restraint of small rodents while a blood and/or tissue sample is collected from the tail. This approach has been used to successfully sample thousands of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), the primary host for Sin Nombre …

Musculoskeletal Injuries In The Austere Setting: A Pilot Training For Student Nurses, Diego H. González

Student Works

Registered Nurses (RNs) make up the largest proportion of healthcare workers in the United States. As such, RNs are frequently involved in responding to emergencies in austere settings such as natural disasters and wilderness environments. Many injuries in the austere setting are categorized as musculoskeletal. Currently, nursing programs do not provide any curricular training on austere medicine. This leaves nurses unprepared to face the challenge of responding to emergencies in the austere environment.

Purpose: Create and pilot test an effective training for a nursing program at a private university in the Western United States on musculoskeletal injuries in the austere …

Cognitive Empathy And Longitudinal Changes In Temporo-Parietal Junction Thickness In Schizophrenia, Derin J. Cobia, Tatiana Karpouzian-Rogers, Julie Petersen, Lei Wang, Vijay A. Mittal, John G. Csernansky, Matthew J. Smith

Faculty Publications

Objective: Deficits in cognitive empathy are well-documented in individuals with schizophrenia and are related to reduced community functioning. The temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is closely linked to cognitive empathy. We compared the relationship between baseline cognitive empathy and changes in TPJ thickness over 24 months between individuals with schizophrenia and healthy controls. Methods: Individuals with schizophrenia (n = 29) and healthy controls (n = 26) completed a cognitive empathy task and underwent structural neuroimaging at baseline and approximately 24 months later. Symmetrized percent change scores were calculated for right and left TPJ, as well as whole-brain volume, and compared between groups. …

Effects Of Elk And Bison Herbivory On Narrowleaf Cottonwood, Linda C. Zeigenfuss, Kathryn A. Schoenecker

Western North American Naturalist

Ungulate browsing influences the structure and composition of woody plant communities, including species composition and biomass production as well as age distribution, recruitment, and mortality. We evaluated effects of elk and bison herbivory on narrowleaf cottonwood (Populus angustifolia) communities in a semiarid ecosystem in southern Colorado. Cottonwoods in this ecosystem have been aged at ≥300 years old and are among the oldest cottonwood trees in North America. We compared browsing intensity and structural and productivity responses of cottonwood to ungulate herbivory. We compared responses in sites with elk and bison, sites with elk but no bison, and sites …

Estimating Abundance Of Desert Mule Deer Using Fecal Dna–Based Capture-Recapture, Stephen S. Pfeiler, Mary M. Conner, Jane S. Mckeever, Rachel S. Crowhurst, Clinton W. Epps, Gerald P. Mulcahy, Erin P. Meredith, Thomas R. Stephenson

Western North American Naturalist

Wildlife conservationists and managers often need to estimate abundance and demographic parameters to monitor the status of populations, and to ensure that these populations are meeting management goals. DNA capture-recapture surveys have become increasingly common in situations where physical surveys are consistently difficult or counts are small or variable. Desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus eremicus) inhabit rugged terrain, occur at low population densities, and demonstrate cryptic behaviors, making monitoring and assessing population status difficult. We assessed the effectiveness of a fecal DNA–based capture-recapture method for estimating abundance and survival of desert mule deer. We designed and implemented a …

Mistreatment Of Wild Animals In Captivity, Madison Coleman

Ballard Brief

Wild animals kept in zoos, aquariums, marine parks and theme parks, and other types of captive establishments endure severe mistreatment. both due to the inherently stressful nature of captivity as well as certain conditions within these facilities that exacerbate the mistreatment. The general views that society holds of animals, the ability for humans to profit from captive animals. inadequate monitoring of animal treatment, and inadequate worker training are all causes of this animal mistreatment. When animals suffer this mistreatment, they endure severe psychological harm (evidenced by chronic stress. stereotypic behavior. hyper-aggressive behavior, and maternal neglect) and physical harm (such as …

Abuse And Neglect Against Elderly Adults In Nursing Homes In The United States, Erica Bassett

Ballard Brief

Elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes has been publicly regarded for several decades but is likely to increase as the Baby Boomer generation ages Into retirement. Certain demographics are more at risk for abuse and neglect, particularly patients with dementia or Alzheimer's disease. Abuse can include physical abuse. psychological abuse, sexual abuse. emotional abuse, neglect, and other inappropriate behaviors. Current internal structures such as poor patient-staff ratios. poor staff credentials, and staff burnout contribute to the prevalence of abuse and neglect against elderly patients, who often are dependent on staff for care. As a result of abuse, elderly victims …

Migrant Smuggling Across The Mediterranean Sea, Lorin Utsch

Ballard Brief

Many migrants are making the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea through the use of migrant smugglers. Though illegal, migrants choose to make this journey due to a combination of push and pull factors. including instability in their homeland and a lack of legal options of emmigration. The smugglers are highly motivated by profit and take advantage of the migrants· needs, leading to instances of monetary exploitation. sexual abuse. and human trafficking. As a result of the smugglers· motivation for profit. the lives of the migrants are often placed in hazardous situations, often resulting in death. Because of the illicit …

Roboethics In Covid-19: A Case Study In Dentistry, Wendy C. Birmingham, Yaser Maddahi, Maryam Kalvandi, Sofya Langman, Nicole Capicotto, Kourosh Zareinia

Faculty Publications

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused dramatic effects on the healthcare system, businesses, and education. In many countries, businesses were shut down, universities and schools had to cancel in-person classes, and many workers had to work remotely and socially distance in order to prevent the spread of the virus. These measures opened the door for technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence to play an important role in minimizing the negative effects of such closures. There have been many efforts in the design and development of robotic systems for applications such as disinfection and eldercare. Healthcare education has seen a lot …