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Monsters And Mormons: Thirty Tales Of Adventure And Terror, Scott R. Parkin, Wm Morris, Theric Jepson Oct 2013

Monsters And Mormons: Thirty Tales Of Adventure And Terror, Scott R. Parkin, Wm Morris, Theric Jepson

BYU Studies

Short story anthologies are oddly rare in Mormon literature. We publish plenty of single-author collections, but multi-author anthologies tend to be fewer and further between. As such, they tend to be viewed as manifestos of sorts, snapshots of the current state of the Mormon literary art--at least over the past two decades. From Eugene England's Bright Angels and Familiars through M. Shayne Bell's Washed by a Wave of Wind to Angela Hallstrom's Dispensation, we look to these anthologies as signposts of our collective literary maturity and use them as introductions to notable names that we might not hear of otherwise. …

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Enticing The Sacred With Words, John Bennion Oct 2013

Enticing The Sacred With Words, John Bennion

BYU Studies

Evoking the sacred with words "is like trying to breathe joy as if it is air or to catch the wind in a butterfly net." In an effort to help the students in his writing classes capture the sacred with words, John Bennion of the BYU English faculty employs unusual methods, taking his students out of the classroom and into the wild, where they confront nature and themselves face to face. Rather than requiring writing that preaches, Bennion encourages expressive or exploratory essaying. His own essay depicts some of the successes his students have experienced.

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The Lot Smith Cavalry Company: Utah Goes To War, Joseph R. Stuart, Kenneth L. Alford Ph.D. Oct 2013

The Lot Smith Cavalry Company: Utah Goes To War, Joseph R. Stuart, Kenneth L. Alford Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

In this chapter from "Civil War Saints" (2012, published by the Brigham Young University Religious Studies Center and the Deseret Book Company), Joseph R. Stuart and Kenneth L. Alford take a close look at the cavalry unit that was called to military service on April 28, 1862, at President Lincoln’s request. Their ninety-day period of service was the only unit-level active duty military contribution Utah Territory made during the Civil War. An earlier version of this paper, written by a student for the Library Research Grant Program, can be found here.

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Second Grader’S Comprehension Of Expository Text: Examining The Effectiveness Of Text Structure As A Comprehension Strategy, Michelle Marie Mcclellan, Dr. Kendra M. Hall Sep 2013

Second Grader’S Comprehension Of Expository Text: Examining The Effectiveness Of Text Structure As A Comprehension Strategy, Michelle Marie Mcclellan, Dr. Kendra M. Hall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Teaching students to read is one of the most important aspects taught in an elementary classroom and often is one of the harder concepts to teach. Teachers use many different strategies when they teach students to read. One method of teaching the students is to teach comprehension strategies, which tends to be one of the more complex methods. Many teachers often struggle with this aspect of teaching as they try to find the most efficient way to teach their students. For the project, it was proposed that we use expository texts and text structure to see how well the students …

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Observed Physiological Changes In Na+,K+-Atpase In Bovine Lens Epithelial Cells Upon Ouabain Exposure, Steven Jason Crellin, Dr. Steven Graves Sep 2013

Observed Physiological Changes In Na+,K+-Atpase In Bovine Lens Epithelial Cells Upon Ouabain Exposure, Steven Jason Crellin, Dr. Steven Graves

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Age-related cataractogenesis is a worldwide leading cause of blindness. The fact that the causes as well as the apparent symptoms of cataract are diverse has contributed to increased difficulty in the study of the ailment. However, a ubiquitous symptom in animal cataract is the presence of elevated sodium concentrations within the lens. Therefore, studies have emphasized the importance of the sodium pump, or Na+,K+-ATPase in the lens, particularly in the lens epithelial cells.1 The sodium pump is primarily responsible for extruding three Na+ ions from within the cell and taking in two K+ ions, thus establishing a net negative charge …

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Optimization Of Kidney Cancer Cell Assay Conditions, Bryce Harbertson, Dr. Heidi Vollmer-Snarr Sep 2013

Optimization Of Kidney Cancer Cell Assay Conditions, Bryce Harbertson, Dr. Heidi Vollmer-Snarr

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light-sensitive compounds that, upon irradiation, become lethal to cells. These light-sensitive compounds are referred to as photosensitizers. A class of compounds known as pyridinium bis-retinoids are being investigated as potential photosensitizers, and therefore, chemotherapeutic drugs (Figure 1). One of the primary concerns in these investigations is determining the optimal conditions under which to evaluate these drugs. The optimization of these parameters will allow us to compare the effectiveness of our drugs with others already in existence, and will also serve as a basis for further investigations in animal trials and later on in clinical …

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Blood Protein Isotopic Investigation, Michael J. Gravett, Kent Hatch Sep 2013

Blood Protein Isotopic Investigation, Michael J. Gravett, Kent Hatch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stable isotope ratios have been used for a variety of purposes in the biological sciences. These ratios have been used by plant ecologists to asses the photosynthetic mode, to measure water balance, and to trace nitrogen sources (Gannes, 1997). They have been used by animal ecologists to determine trophic relationships in food webs, to discriminate between animals that live in different biomes, to trace migratory animals, to follow nutrients through the body, and to undertake dietary reconstruction of both current and extinct species (Bearhop, 2002).

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Rates Of Carbon And Nitrogen Stable Isotope Turnover In Fin Tissues Of Gambusia Affinis, Michael Bingham, Dr. Jeff Bullock Sep 2013

Rates Of Carbon And Nitrogen Stable Isotope Turnover In Fin Tissues Of Gambusia Affinis, Michael Bingham, Dr. Jeff Bullock

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The principle objectives of this research analysis were to determine the uptake and turnover rates of carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in fish and to establish if this isotope verification procedure is possible by testing tissue samples of their fins. This investigation is separated into two main experiments: first, the stable isotope incorporation in the new growth of fin tissue, and second, the rate of stable isotope turnover in the old growth of fin tissue. Both experiments of this study were done with Gambusia affinis, a species of fish better know as mosquito fish.

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Taxonomy Of Animal Hair Using A Scanning Electron Microscope, Britten D. Sessions, Dr. Wilford M. Hess Sep 2013

Taxonomy Of Animal Hair Using A Scanning Electron Microscope, Britten D. Sessions, Dr. Wilford M. Hess

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), selected mammalian species were studied to determine hair cuticular patterns. Although other studies have been conducted on mammalian hair, there exists no classification or taxonomy of Western U.S. mammals using an SEM.

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Preservation Of Mexican Harvest Mice, Daniel Hardy, Dr. Duke Rogers Sep 2013

Preservation Of Mexican Harvest Mice, Daniel Hardy, Dr. Duke Rogers

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The preservation of wildlife has been a growing concern in Mexico. Specifically, the natural habitat of many Mexican mice has been rapidly diminishing over the past few decades. A more extensive understanding of these types of animals will help contribute to increasing the awareness of the rich diversity of Mexican biota and augment the conservation efforts in this area of the world.

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Development Of A Novel Human Vestibular Schwannoma Xenograft Model In Scid Mice, John Welling, Dr. Kim O'Neil Sep 2013

Development Of A Novel Human Vestibular Schwannoma Xenograft Model In Scid Mice, John Welling, Dr. Kim O'Neil

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Vestibular Schwannoma (VS) is a benign, slow growing tumor that arises from the myelin sheath of the vestibular nerve (cranial nerve VIII). The myelin sheath is composed of flat, layered cells known as Schwann cells, which serve to insulate nerve fibers. It is increased proliferation of these Schwann cells which leads to VS tumor growth. As VS tumors grow, they place increasing pressure on cranial nerve VIII, causing hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ear), and balance dysfunction. Eventually VS tumors may lead to brainstem compression and even death.1

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Molecular Evolution And The Effects Of Amelioration In Meloidogyne Incognita, Adler R. Dillman, Dr. Byron J. Adams Sep 2013

Molecular Evolution And The Effects Of Amelioration In Meloidogyne Incognita, Adler R. Dillman, Dr. Byron J. Adams

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The process of horizontal or lateral gene transfer involves the movement of genetic information in a lateral fashion from one organism to another, regardless of phylogenetic distance. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a major mechanism of prokaryotic evolution while its role in eukaryotic evolution remains undecided, with many claims of genes being laterally transferred from prokaryotes to eukaryotes being subsequently refuted [1,2]. Recently, 12 genes of the plant parasite M. incognita have been proposed as being good candidates of HGT. Because certain rhizobial bacteria occupy a very similar niche both inside and out of the plant, and use many of …

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Preventing Malnutrition Within Ecuador, Tiffany Covington, Dr. Alison Campbell Sep 2013

Preventing Malnutrition Within Ecuador, Tiffany Covington, Dr. Alison Campbell

Journal of Undergraduate Research

La Rinconada is a unique indigenous village tucked away in the northern mountainous regions of Imbabura, Ecuador where the children of local subsistence farmers suffer from nutritional deficiencies. Studies completed by The Benson Institute show that before the year 2000, 50 percent of the villagers did not consume vegetables. Similar studies also show that meat consumption was often saved and therefore not consumed except for special occasions. Macro and micro-nutrient deficiencies within the children are evident through stunted growth patterns, hair discoloration, loss of eyesight, and premature death.

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Type Iia Procollagen – Osteoarthritis Biomarker In Dmm Mice, John Mcallister, Kenneth Merrell, Dr. Robert E. Seegmiller Sep 2013

Type Iia Procollagen – Osteoarthritis Biomarker In Dmm Mice, John Mcallister, Kenneth Merrell, Dr. Robert E. Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Arthritis is a painful, debilitating disease that affects sixty-six million Americans (The Arthritis Foundation 2005). Osteoarthritis (OA), results in joint degeneration caused by cartilage erosion and synovial inflammation. While the causes of OA remain unclear, current evidence suggests that both mechanical and biochemical factors can initiate OA. Ethical and practical issues limiting the availability of human tissue in OA research necessitate the use of animal models. Mice with the disproportionate micromelia mutation (Dmm) exhibit histological characteristics similar to those of humans with OA. Use of Dmm as a model of OA may lead a discovery of a common mechanism associated …

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Chondrocyte Apoptosis As A Biomarker In Animal Models Of Osteoarthritis, Luke M. Gessel, Dr. Robert E. Seegmiller Sep 2013

Chondrocyte Apoptosis As A Biomarker In Animal Models Of Osteoarthritis, Luke M. Gessel, Dr. Robert E. Seegmiller

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Apoptosis, or “programmed cell death”, is one process used by cells to terminate their existence. The phenomenon of an increase of apoptotic cell death in cases of osteoarthritis (OA) has recently become a much disputed topic among laboratories dedicated to the advancement of OA research . The standard progression of OA, based on our current knowledge, shows an increase in cellularity, or cell density, of the cartilage cells known as chondrocytes, followed by a subsequent decrease in this chondrocyte cellularity and a breakdown of the cartilage. Apoptosis would provide a mechanism through which this rapid decrease in cellularity may occur, …

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Identification Of Resistance Gene Analogs In Chenopodium Quinoa, Maria C. Sederberg, Dr. P. Jeff Maughan Sep 2013

Identification Of Resistance Gene Analogs In Chenopodium Quinoa, Maria C. Sederberg, Dr. P. Jeff Maughan

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Chenopodium quinoa is an important but under researched crop and is the main source of sustenance for subsistence farmers in the Andes Mountains. The resources needed to bring quinoa up to par with well-researched and well-utilized crops, such as maize and wheat are severely lacking in its area of domestication; the ability to study and map its genome would greatly enhance its yield and durability, contributing significantly to quality of life for the people of the Andes. One of the gaps in our knowledge of the quinoa genome is our understanding of its pathogen immunity, or resistance; this is the …

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Endophyte And Turf Grass Study, Alan H. Chambers, Dr. Brad Geary Sep 2013

Endophyte And Turf Grass Study, Alan H. Chambers, Dr. Brad Geary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Endophytic fungi live within the interstitial spaces of various grasses provide symbiotic benefit to their hosts. These endophytes produce various alkaloids and secondary metabolites that offer pest and drought resistance, and/or may cause livestock toxicity. This project was aimed at investigating the differences in the isolated endophyte DNA by AFLP analysis.

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Analysis Of The Seed Storage Proteins Of Pearl Millet, Christian Ricks, Dr. Craig Coleman Sep 2013

Analysis Of The Seed Storage Proteins Of Pearl Millet, Christian Ricks, Dr. Craig Coleman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Over half of the protein consumed worldwide comes from seeds. Of these harvested crops, the cereal crops such as corn, wheat, and rice are the most important with over 2 billion tons harvested annually. Although the world relies on these cereals, they are low in protein content, and some important species like maize lack essential amino acids. For many years researchers have studied the seed storage proteins of these plants to better understand the synthesis and structures of these proteins which have such a huge impact on the nutritional and processing properties of these crops.

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The Maya Defensive Earthworks And Agricultural Land Use Of Tikal, Ryan Sweetwood, Dr. Richard Terry Sep 2013

The Maya Defensive Earthworks And Agricultural Land Use Of Tikal, Ryan Sweetwood, Dr. Richard Terry

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Concurrent with the settlement surveys and excavations, Soil scientist from Brigham Young University and from Guatemala examined 62 soil profiles and collected soil samples for analysis at the Brigham Young University soil and plant analysis laboratory. The samples are currently being characterized for physical and chemical properties at the laboratory. Stable carbon isotopes will be analyzed to investigate the extent of ancient maize agriculture in the areas inside and outside the earthwork, using methods recently applied in several parts of the Maya Lowlands (Jensen 2003; Jensen et al. nd; Webb et al., nd; Webb, Henry, and Healy 2004). The soil …

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Overcoming Anthropogenic Impediments Of Reintroduced Bighorn Sheep Populations In North-Central Utah, Loren Chase Sep 2013

Overcoming Anthropogenic Impediments Of Reintroduced Bighorn Sheep Populations In North-Central Utah, Loren Chase

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) were historically abundant in many places in Utah, however, when the area was settled, humans brought with them many causes for bighorn extermination. Unregulated hunting, competition for resources by livestock, reduced water availability, reduce range quantity, home range encroachment, and the lungworm/pneumonia complex are all major reasons as to why the bighorns are threatened in the western states (Enk 2001, Karpowitz and Stewart 2000, Smith et al. 1988, Smith and Flinders 1992). The first two problems were handled at the socio-political level, by managing people rather than wildlife. However water scarcity persists, urban sprawl continues to …

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Conservation Genetics Of Mexican Deer Mice, Melina C. Walden, Dr. Duke S. Rogers Sep 2013

Conservation Genetics Of Mexican Deer Mice, Melina C. Walden, Dr. Duke S. Rogers

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In the field of biology, the job of documenting, describing, and defining the species of the world is a critical, yet overwhelming task. By focusing research in a specific area of interest, however, scientists work to contribute one small piece at a time to the much larger puzzle. In researching the biological relationships between the Mexican deer mice Peromyscus megalops and P. melanurus, my project contributes to one of the primary goals of biology.

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Cheatgrass, Scott A. Davis, Dr. Bruce Roundy Sep 2013

Cheatgrass, Scott A. Davis, Dr. Bruce Roundy

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The invasion of non-native species, mainly cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), into our rangelands, especially following the destruction caused by wildfires, has made it necessary to find viable options for the restoration of native plant species to these areas. The aim of this project was to determine whether or not it was possible to create models for the germination and seminal root growth of a suite of species using heat accumulation. By creating these models, we hoped to be able to discover other native species that not only compete with cheatgrass by establishing early, but provide a good food source for native …

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Correctly Assigning Dna Barcodes To Organisms, James B. Finlay, Dr. Keith A. Crandall Sep 2013

Correctly Assigning Dna Barcodes To Organisms, James B. Finlay, Dr. Keith A. Crandall

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Harvard biologist Edward O. Wilson suggested that what makes humans unique is our innate need for closeness to other forms of life. This “biophilia” has been evident since recorded history and was brought to the forefront of science with Darwin’s famous writings about the origin of species. Since that time there has been a major thrust to categorize all life into groups and subgroups in a field known as taxonomy. There are an estimated 10-15 million extant species (Hammond, 1992) on the earth. Taxonomists have classified roughly 1.6 million of these organisms (Wilson, 1992), indicating that much work needs to …

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The Significance Of Isotopic Ratios In Migratory Pathways, Rachel Hart, Kent Hatch Sep 2013

The Significance Of Isotopic Ratios In Migratory Pathways, Rachel Hart, Kent Hatch

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Stable isotope research is an important asset in securing the migratory paths of birds. By matching elemental isotopic ratios in different parts of a bird’s body to the water it drinks, important stopover sites may be conserved and the biological phenomenon of migration may be preserved. Thus far, such research among migratory birds has suggested a positive correlation between certain elemental isotopic ratios found in water sources and those in the composition of bird feathers. Hydrogen (δD) and oxygen (18O and 16O) isotopes have been examined in scientific literature but have not been tested thoroughly, as there are still many …

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A New Species Of Blackish Deer Mouse, Jared B. Lee, Dr. Duke S. Rogers Sep 2013

A New Species Of Blackish Deer Mouse, Jared B. Lee, Dr. Duke S. Rogers

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Biodiversity is a hallmark of our planet. We can see this everyday in the various habitats and environments that we live in, from the desert in Utah to the lush rain forests of South America. These great ecosystems provide a diversity of life in plants and animals. Biologists study and classify these organisms to better understand how this world came into being. All the time new species are being described and discovered in areas throughout the world. In this research project, we used traditional and modern techniques to better understand the diversity and variation in populations of a rodent in …

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Patterns Of Genetic Diversity In The Galapagos Archipelago: Identifying And Preserving Evolutionary Processes, Rebecca Baum, Dr. Jack W. Sites Sep 2013

Patterns Of Genetic Diversity In The Galapagos Archipelago: Identifying And Preserving Evolutionary Processes, Rebecca Baum, Dr. Jack W. Sites

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The Galapagos Archipelago, located 1000 km off the coast of Ecuador, arose 1-5 million years ago by the eruption of underwater volcanoes. It consists of 13 larger islands, 6 smaller islands, and numerous islets. The Archipelago is a national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site, yet very little is known about its “hotspots” of genetic diversity or the processes that generate this diversity. The identification of areas of high genetic diversity provides information not only about lizards but also other native species. This information can be used to prioritize conservation efforts such as non-native (i.e. cats, rats, goats) species …

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Investigation Of Plant Species And Environments For Large Scale Buildings, Michelle Chandler, Dr. Brad Geary Sep 2013

Investigation Of Plant Species And Environments For Large Scale Buildings, Michelle Chandler, Dr. Brad Geary

Journal of Undergraduate Research

As I began working on my project, I was also asked to work as the lead student coordinator for a national conference that was to be held at Brigham Young University. In discussions with Dr. Brad Geary, Dr. Phil Allen and Greg Jolley it was decided that since my original thesis could no longer be studied we changed the focus of my ORCA grant to focus on PLANET Student Career Days conference that was to be held at BYU. This conference was to be held March 2006. The new thesis focused on the coordination, planning, and management of 54 teams …

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Motivation And Peer Relations In A Second Grade Spanish-English Dual-Immersion Program, Melinda Clement Hardman Sep 2013

Motivation And Peer Relations In A Second Grade Spanish-English Dual-Immersion Program, Melinda Clement Hardman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

While there are many different models for how motivation works and what it is in second language acquisition, Gardner’s model dominated the research for over 30 years and continues to be the most well-known (Oxford 1996). Gardner explained motivation in second language acquisition with what he called the Socio-Educational Model (Gardner 1998). This model distinguished between three levels of motivation which move upward toward a broader and broader degree of motivation. At the first level is integrative orientation (An orientation, according to Gardner and Tremblay 1994, is a group of reasons for studying a language). Integrative orientation deals with having …

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Bipedal Locomotion, Jamie Nichol, Dr. Paul Eastman Sep 2013

Bipedal Locomotion, Jamie Nichol, Dr. Paul Eastman

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Creating an artificial biped (two legged machine) has proven a challenge. The first stage of the project, designing and building the mechanical frame, has required that I study several engineering disciplines. I have also learned many lessons by trial and error.

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A Hairy Tale Analysis Of Adobe-Embedded Hair From Arrowhead Hill, Escalante, Utah, Bradley A. Newbold, Dr. Joel Janetski Sep 2013

A Hairy Tale Analysis Of Adobe-Embedded Hair From Arrowhead Hill, Escalante, Utah, Bradley A. Newbold, Dr. Joel Janetski

Journal of Undergraduate Research

During the Spring Term of 2004, the BYU Archaeological Field School excavated a portion of Arrowhead Hill, a Formative (or early agricultural) Period site a few miles west of Escalante, Utah. Two intriguing finds were made during that field season: two pit-house structures of varying style situated within a few meters of each other and multiple large, deep, spherical underground pits. Diagnostic characteristics of Formative Period pit-houses are, among others, the style of structure construction and the style and type of ceramic vessels recovered on or near the original floor of the structure. From this, it was concluded that one …

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