Digital Commons Network^™

Damsel In Distress Or Princess In Power? Traditional Masculinity And Femininity In Young Adult Novelizations Of Cinderella And The Effects On Agency, Rylee Carling

Theses and Dissertations

Retellings of classic fairy tales have become increasingly popular in the past decade, but little research has been done on the novelizations written for a young adult (YA) audience. Critical multicultural analysis determining the effect of race, gender, disability, and more has been completed for both original fairy tale retellings and fairy tale retellings for children, but scholars have neglected popular YA novelizations. This study aims to determine how traditional masculinity and femininity affect agency in both male and female characters in YA novelizations of Cinderella. To examine the role of traditional masculinity and femininity in young adult novelizations of …

Defining And Measuring Learner-Content Interaction In Digitally Augmented Learning Experiences, Sandra Thatcher Powell

Theses and Dissertations

Using content analysis, researchers reviewed literature to identify the meanings attached to and methods used for measuring learner-content interaction in digitally augmented learning experience. Digitally augmented learning experiences are defined in this dissertation as situations where a learner interacts with content delivered using a computer. Examples include online learning using a desktop, laptop, or mobile device, classroom use of a device to interact with content such as a digital textbook, computer simulation, augmented or virtual reality, smart watch or phone, or other similar educational activities. These activities can be delivered directly from a digital device, over a wireless connection, or …

Novel Αvβ6 Inhibitor Reduces Fibrotic Progression In Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Murine Model, Rebecca C. Viazzo Winegar

Theses and Dissertations

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most aggressive and severe interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) for which there is no cure. IPF is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fibroblasts which secrete an abundance of extracellular proteins such as collagen. These processes lead to repetitive tissue scarring and fibrosis in the lung parenchyma. As a result, lungs become rigid limiting oxygen intake and gas exchange. Once diagnosed, IPF is fatal within 2-3 years. There is no known cause or proven treatment that significantly improves outcomes. Although the cause is unknown, the current model of IPF suggests that an overactive …

The Mtc Cat And Other Folklore Of The Provo Missionary Training Center, Cambree Fogg

Final Projects

Stories, traditions, and legends about the Provo Missionary Training Center.

The Folklore Of The Chaco - A Folk Life Approach, Summer Toffoletti, Roberto Toffoletti

Final Projects

Folklore gathered from the Chaco region of South America, specifically Argentina. This project takes a Folk Life approach, as it is centered on the region of the Chaco and the folk group which resides there (mainly gauchos and farmers); the collection includes a variety of folk genres taken from this folk group.

Galectin-1 Improves Sarcolemma Repair And Decreases The Inflammatory Response In Lgmd2b Models, Matthew F. Rathgeber

Theses and Dissertations

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B) is caused by mutations in the dysferlin gene, resulting in non-functional dysferlin, a key protein found in muscle membrane. Treatment options available for patients are chiefly palliative in nature and focus on maintaining ambulation. Our hypothesis is that galectin-1 (Gal-1), a soluble carbohydrate binding protein, increases membrane repair capacity, myogenic potential, M2 macrophage polarization and decreases NF-κB inflammation in dysferlin-deficient models. To test this hypothesis, we used recombinant human galectin-1 (rHsGal-1) to treat dysferlin-deficient models. We show that rHsGal-1 treatments of 48 h-72 h promotes myogenic maturation as indicated through improvements in size, myotube …

Does Inhibitory Control Training Reduce Weight And Caloric Intake In Adults With Overweight And Obesity? A Pre-Registered, Randomized Controlled Event-Related Potential (Erp) Study, Kaylie A. Carbine, Alexandra M. Muir, Whitney D. Allen, James D. Lecheminant, Scott A. Baldwin, Chad D. Jensen, C. Brock Kirwan, Michael Larson

Faculty Publications

A cognitive intervention that may reduce weight and caloric intake is inhibitory control training (ICT; having individuals repeatedly withhold dominant responses to unhealthy food images). We conducted a randomized controlled trial where 100 individuals with overweight or obesity were assigned to complete a generic (n = 48) or food-specific ICT (n = 52) training four times per week for four weeks. Weight and caloric intake were ob- tained at baseline, four-weeks, and 12-weeks. Participants also completed high-calorie and neutral go/no-go tasks while N2 event-related potential (ERP) data, a neural indicator of inhibitory control, was measured at all visits. Results from …

Climate Change, Increased Wildfire Frequency, And Rodent-Exclusion Create Opportunities For Exotic Grass Invasion And Alter The Timing And Availability Of Soil Water, Joshua Clark Gilman

Theses and Dissertations

In deserts, global environmental changes, plant community structure, and soil water availability form a complex relationship characterized by direct and indirect relationships and feedbacks. Plant community structure is affected by the establishment and spread of invasive grasses, which form a positive feedback with wildfire. Plant community structure is also controlled by top-down trophic interactions by small-mammals and climate change, which alters the timing and amount of soil water. In deserts, soil water availability mediates the effects of global environmental changes and trophic interactions on plant community structure because it is the limiting resource for plant growth. In order to predict …

Brunettes, Redheads, And Blondes Meet Careers, Construction, And Cars: An Analysis Of 17 Blonde Jokes, Natalya Nielsen

Final Projects

This project focuses on blonde jokes and the analysis of recently collected ones.

Designing A Job Aid To Prepare An On-Location Immersive Virtual Expedition (On-Live), Sandra Powell

Instructional Psychology and Technology Graduate Student Projects

Brigham Young University (BYU) Division of Continuing Education (DCE) completed the proof-of-concept phase of an innovation proposal to create On-Location Immersive Virtual Expeditions (on-LIVE) for an online geology course. On-LIVE uses 360-degree video to give students a front-row experience at locations of educational interest. Using Articulate Storyline, this 360-degree view allows viewers to look in all directions and interact with specific parts of the location.

The product is a set of documents including a decision tree to determine if an on-LIVE is valuable for a course, step-by-step instructions for designing the interaction, planning and preparing for the 360-degree video shoot, …

A Lake Divided: Regional Shifts In Trophic Niche Structure Of Lake Powell Fishes Corresponding To The Invasion Of Quagga Mussels, Nathan Richard St Andre

Theses and Dissertations

Introduced species can become invasive and cause catastrophic alterations to the system they invade. Both zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena bugensis) have caused significant ecosystem alterations wherever they have invaded. These Dreissena species have caused changes in water quality and biodiversity and have disrupted energy pathways which can have cascading effects on other trophic levels. Recently quagga mussels invaded Lake Powell, a reservoir located in the southwestern USA, creating the possibility of a trophic cascade that could alter energy flow in the reservoir and change the trophic niche structure of the fishes in the lake. However, due …

Full Issue, Vol. 12

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Checklist Of The Vascular Flora Of The Kaibab Plateau, Coconino County, Arizona, Glenn R. Rink, Wendy Hodgson, Barbara Goodrich Phillips

Monographs of the Western North American Naturalist

Seven hundred and ninety-two vascular plant taxa were documented for the Kaibab Plateau through a review of herbarium records (primarily online) and targeted fieldwork focusing on springs, natural ponds, cattle tanks, and sinkholes. Taxa not previously published or currently recorded on SEINet for the Kaibab Plateau include 7 taxa for Grand Canyon National Park, 4 taxa for the Kaibab National Forest, 51 taxa for the Kaibab Plateau, 6 taxa for Coconino County, and 5 taxa for the state of Arizona. Two hundred and thirty previously published records or records on SEINet were eliminated from the flora area by reviewing specimens …

The Layered Frames Of Performed Tabletop: Actual-Play Podcasts And The Laminations Of Media, Brendan Decicio

Theses and Dissertations

Despite their sudden growth in popularity, the role-playing actual-play podcasts have either been ignored or grouped with the genre of audio drama in prior scholarly works. Examination using frame analysis shows, however, that these podcasts are distinct in their engagement of the audience on multiple, simultaneous levels; levels which correspond with well-known media genres such as Documentary, Fiction, and Game Play. Each frame has its own layer of identities, conduct, and avenue for appealing to audiences just as these genres have their own distinct appeals. Through the combinations of these frames, familiar tropes and techniques such as Short-Form Improv and …

Metabolomics Of Acid Whey Derived From Greek Yogurt, Muriel Mercedes Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Acid whey, a byproduct of Greek yogurt production, has little commercial value due to its low protein content and is also environmentally harmful when disposed of as waste. However, as a product of microbial fermentation, acid whey could be a rich source of beneficial metabolites associated with fermented foods. This study increases understanding of acid whey composition by providing a complete metabolomic profile of acid whey. Commercial and lab-made Greek yogurts, prepared with three different bacterial culture combinations, were evaluated. Samples of unfermented yogurt mix and cultured whey from each batch were analyzed. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics were …

Soil Water Dynamics Within Variable Rate Irrigation Zones Of Winter Wheat, Elisa Anne Woolley

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the spatial and temporal dynamics of soil water and crop water stress within a field is critical for effective Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) management. Proper VRI can result in improved protection of the crop from early onset of crop water stress while minimizing runoff and drainage losses. The objectives of this study are (1) to examine zone delineation for informing irrigation recommendations from volumetric water content (VWC) and field capacity (FC) to grow similar or greater wheat yields with less water, (2) evaluate the ability to model soil and crop water dynamics within a season and within a field …

Improving Rangeland Seedling Recruitment Using Fungicide Seed Coatings And Golden Eagle Reproductive Success In Relation To Explosive Military Tests And Trainings, Benjamin William Hoose

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the first chapter of this thesis was to determine whether fungicide seed coatings constitute an effective strategy for increasing seedling recruitment in restoration scenarios in the Intermountain West. We tested a mixture of four fungicides that address potential fungal pathogens to bluebunch wheatgrass, a dominant bunchgrass that is commonly used in restoration. Across two sites and three years, we found that the fungicide seed coating increased emergence in five of the six sites and years, with an average increase of 59.1% over the control. There was a strong interaction (P < 0.001) between the effects of fungicide treatment, the year and the site on emergence. This interaction was likely related to the effects of the hydrothermal microsite environment on disease severity. Further research is necessary to fully understand the conditions under which fungicide seed coatings are most likely to be effective. The objectives the second chapter of this thesis were to 1) estimate the effects of golden eagle nest proximity to explosive disturbances on reproductive success given other relevant habitat variables (e.g. indices of topography and vegetation), and 2) determine the relative importance of nest proximity to explosive disturbances as a predictor of golden eagle reproductive success compared to other relevant habitat variables. Reproductive success data were collected from nesting territories within and surrounding land controlled and managed by the US Department of Defense. We fit the reproductive survey data using generalized linear mixed-effects models comprised of unique, hypothesis-based sets of habitat variables. We compared the models using AICc-based model selection processes. Given the best approximating model, we found no evidence that the likelihood of reproductive success was affected by nest proximity to explosive disturbances (P = 0.460). We further found nest proximity to explosive disturbances consistently ranked in the bottom 50% of relative variable importance. These results may indicate golden eagle tolerance or habituation to explosive military tests and trainings. Although the two chapters of this thesis are disjointed, they are loosely unified by the ecological importance of disturbance, invasive species, and restoration within the Great Basin ecoregion.

Swarm-Based Design Of Proportional Integral And Derivative Controllers Using A Compromise Cost Function: An Arduino Temperature Laboratory Case Study, Paulo De Moura Oliveira, John Hedengren, Eduardo Solteiro Pires

Faculty Publications

Simple and easy to use methods are of great practical demand in the design of Proportional, Integral, and Derivative (PID) controllers. Controller design criteria are to achieve a good set-point tracking and disturbance rejection with minimal actuator variation. Achieving satisfactory trade-offs between these performance criteria is not easily accomplished with classical tuning methods. A particle swarm optimization technique is proposed to design PID controllers. The design method minimizes a compromise cost function based on both the integral absolute error and control signal total variation criteria. The proposed technique is tested on an Arduino-based Temperature Control Laboratory (TCLab) and compared with …

Movements And Space-Use Of Female Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus) During Nesting And Breeding Seasons, Drew W. Retherford

Theses and Dissertations

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are a species of conservation concern throughout their range including the state of Idaho. Little is known about the size of areas used by female sage-grouse during the breeding and nesting seasons, fidelity of females to those areas, or fidelity of female sage-grouse to specific leks or nest sites. The recent miniaturization of global positioning system (GPS) transmitting devices allows for a more thorough analysis of this behavior. We placed GPS transmitters on 234 female sage-grouse in Idaho, USA, from 2015 to 2019. We monitored 145 nest attempts, 15 of which occurred in consecutive years, from …

Lower Predation With Increasing Altitude In The Mesquite Lizard Sceloporus Grammicus, Miguel A. Domínguez-Godoy, J. Erick Gómez-Campos, Robyn Hudson, Aníbal H. Díaz De La Vega-Pérez

Western North American Naturalist

We evaluated differential predation pressure on the lizard Sceloporus grammicus at 3 sampling sites along a high-mountain gradient, using 3 methods of assessment: attacks on plasticine lizard models, frequency of lizard tail autotomy, and estimation of the richness of potential predators. We placed a total of 720 lizard models at each sampling site (2600, 3100, and 4150 m asl) on 6 d during the reproductive season and on 6 d during the nonreproductive season. Each day we placed 60 models (n = 30 for each sex, with each sex having 10 each of 3 gular color morphotypes [gray, yellow, …

Marsupial Visitation To The Inflorescences Of The Endemic Agave Cupreata In Western Mexico, Rosario Arreola-Gómez, Eduardo Mendoza

Western North American Naturalist

We report, for the first time, visitation to the inflorescences of the endemic Agave cupreata by 2 marsupial species, Didelphis virginiana and Tlacuatzin canescens, in the state of Michoacán, western Mexico. These 2 species were recorded drinking the nectar of A. cupreata and transporting large amounts of pollen among the flowers. This agave is restricted to the mountainous slopes of the Balsas River basin in the states of Michoacán and Guerrero, and it constitutes the raw material for local production of a traditional beverage known as mezcal. In contrast to many other agaves that can propagate vegetatively, A. cupreata …

Brood Parasitism Of Greater Sage-Grouse By California Quail In Idaho, Jordan C. Rabon, Sarah E. Mcintire, Peter S. Coates, Mark A. Ricca, Tracey N. Johnson

Western North American Naturalist

We describe a case of brood parasitism of a Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) nest by California Quail (Callipepla californica; hereafter, quail) in southwestern Idaho during 2019. We observed one quail egg in the parasitized nest; the egg partially hatched, but the chick was dead upon the final nest check. Of the 6 sage-grouse eggs in the nest, only 2 hatched, although the eggs contained chicks that appeared nearly completely developed. Identification of the quail chick was confirmed using mitochondrial DNA. Additional monitoring and documentation of this behavioral interaction is warranted to better understand its …

Columbine And The Myth Of The Juvenile Superpredator, Christopher M. Mosqueda

Theses and Dissertations

Mass media has great influence over its audience. When a sensational story hits the news waves, the general public's attention is instantly riveted to the television screen. News stories that involve the deaths of innocent people often create a culture of fear, fuel false narratives, and scatter misinformation. In fact, this culture of fear, coupled with misleading information, created the myth of the juvenile superpredator, a phrase coined by DiIulio in the early 1990s. The stereotyped superpredator was a homicidal, uncontrollable youth hiding within areas where crime and violence are rare. In particular, this myth was propagated following the massacre …

Representation Of The National Trauma In Train To Busan: Based On A Semiotic Approach, Junshik Shik Yun

Theses and Dissertations

The object of this project is to dissect the filmic elements in Train to Busan (2016) to analyze how the film represents the Sewol Ferry incident, a national disaster occurred in South Korea, and how the audience is able to engage with the trauma. As the first zombie blockbuster created in South Korea, Train to Busan adapted the elements of the zombie genre that has been delineated repeatedly. The film inherited the traits of zombies, representation of government and media, and feature of human characters from the genre created in Hollywood. Additionally, national characteristics had been added through reflecting the …

Gastrointestinal Parasites In The Neotropical Otter (Lontra Longicaudis Annectens) In Central Mexico, Erika Y. Badillo Flores, Marcos G. Torres Tobón, C. Gustavo Aguilar Cabrera, O. Eric Ramírez-Bravo, Eva Romero Callejas

Western North American Naturalist

We analyzed 47 scats of neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis annectens), collected along the Necaxa River in Central Mexico, using the Willis flotation technique with a 48% saturated saline solution. Along with plant material, we found the endoparasites Oxyuris equi, Ascaris sp., and Strongylus equinus, among others. Our results indicate that otters in the Necaxa River have a parasite load that needs further analysis, particularly because 2 of the parasite species are associated with human activity.


Analizamos 47 excretas de nutria neotropical (Lontra longicaudis annectens), colectadas a lo largo del Río Necaxa en el Centro …

Postfire Breeding Behavior In Couch's Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus Couchii) Along The San Pedro River, Arizona, Sidney B. Riddle, Cheyenne J. Herzog, Heather L. Bateman, Mason J. Ryan

Western North American Naturalist

Fire is an important ecosystem process that can impact local amphibian communities and breeding behaviors. Riparian gallery forests of the American Southwest are an important habitat for amphibians that breed in river channels, wetlands, and pools within the floodplain. High-intensity fires are rare in these riparian forests, and there is no information on how amphibians respond to fire in this system. We documented the presence and reproductive attempts of Couch’s spadefoot (Scaphiopus couchii) in the San Pedro River following a high-intensity wildfire in riparian gallery forest. These observations are the first recorded breeding events of Couch’s spadefoot in …

Jaguars And Roads In The Calakmul Region, Evidence Of Road Crossing And Collisions With Vehicles, Edwin L. Hernández-Pérez, Joaquín López Sosa, Diana Friedeberg, Fernando M. Contreras-Moreno, Mircea G. Hidalgo-Mihart

Western North American Naturalist

Jaguars (Panthera onca) suffer from the negative effects of roads, mostly significant habitat fragmentation and increased risk of mortality due to vehicle collisions. In Mexico records of jaguars killed on roads are scarce and mostly anecdotal. The Calakmul-Balam-Kú jaguar population is the most important jaguar population in Mexico, but it is threatened by an extensive road network in which Federal Highway 186 Escárcega–Chetumal (hereafter called Hwy. 186) serves as the main road in the region. As part of a study to determine the diversity and abundance of medium- and large-sized mammals around Hwy. 186, we set 47 camera …

Aspergillosis In An Augmented Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus Urophasianus) Population In Central Utah: A Case Report, Melissa S. Chelak, Avery A. Cook, David D. Frame, Terry A. Messmer

Western North American Naturalist

We present the first known case of aspergillosis found in a wild, augmented Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) population. This case was not directly associated with the sage-grouse translocations and is the first documented in wild sage-grouse populations since the mid-1900s. Aspergillosis is a fungal infection of the lungs caused by an inoculation of Aspergillus spp. spores. Wild birds that are infected by the pathogen’s spores die from the resulting infection. We hypothesize that the Aspergillus spp. spores were propagated either in mesic nesting conditions or in residual damp mulch piles created from sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitat restoration …

William Clark, The Fur Trade, And Indian Affairs, Jay H. Buckley

Faculty Publications

There are so many things that are admirable about William Clark. Sometimes I shudder to think what the great expedition would have been if Clark had declined Lewis’ offer to share in what Clark called “the dangers, difficulties, and fatigues” of the journey. Without wishing to denigrate the possible contributions of Moses Hooke, I believe that the expedition would have been a much less successful enterprise if Clark had remained at the Falls of the Ohio when Lewis ventured into the unknown in 1803.

Predators As Agents Of Selection And Diversification, Jerald B. Johnson, Mark C. Belk

Faculty Publications

Predation is ubiquitous in nature and can be an important component of both ecological and evolutionary interactions. One of the most striking features of predators is how often they cause evolutionary diversification in natural systems. Here, we review several ways that this can occur, exploring empirical evidence and suggesting promising areas for future work. We also introduce several papers recently accepted in Diversity that demonstrate just how important and varied predation can be as an agent of natural selection. We conclude that there is still much to be done in this field, especially in areas where multiple predator species prey …