Digital Commons Network^™

An Invasive Species Reduces Aquatic Insect Flux To Terrestrial Food Webs, Steven S. Merkley

Theses and Dissertations

Although it is well documented how introduced species can negatively affect native species, we only poorly understand how they may alter ecosystem functions. We investigated how an invasive fish affected the flux of aquatic insects to terrestrial food webs using mesocosms in a desert spring ecosystem. We compared aquatic insect emergence between alternative community states with monocultures and polycultures of two native species of fish, least chub (Iotichthys phlegethontis) and Utah chub (Gila atraria) plus, introduced western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). We tested three hypotheses: (1) aquatic insect biomass will be greater than terrestrial insect …

Unintended Social And Economic Consequences Resulting From The Implementation Of New Construction Technologies In The Developing World, Andrew J. South

Theses and Dissertations

One of the key components of international development is to provide adequate shelter for citizens of developing countries. This is often accomplished by governmental, non- governmental, and private organizations that seek to lower the cost, increase the quality, and expand the availability of safe, sustainable housing through the use of innovative technologies. These new technologies can affect the social and/or economic structure within communities. This paper is a case study resulting from the construction of a seventy-one-home village, including infrastructure, near Yogyakarta, Indonesia by a foreign, aid-based non-governmental organization (NGO). The village was relocated less than two kilometers from its …

Changes In Life History Within An Individual's Lifetime, Eric J. Billman

Theses and Dissertations

A central goal of life history theory is to understand the selective factors that generate the diversity of reproductive patterns observed in nature. Within lifetime changes in reproductive investment will determine an organism's fitness; however, this area of life history theory has received less attention than comparisons among population that characterize life history traits as a single population mean. Reproductive allocation can be affected by multiple cues; the integration of these cues across an organism's lifetime generates the diversity in life history strategies observed in nature. Life history studies should examine the interacting effects of multiple cues on life history …

Photoemission By Large Electron Wave Packets Emitted Out The Side Of A Relativistic Laser Focus, Eric Flint Cunningham

Theses and Dissertations

There are at least two common models for calculating the photoemission of accelerated electrons. The 'extended-charge-distribution' method uses the quantum probability current (multiplied by the electron charge) as a source current for Maxwell's equations. The 'point-like-emitter' method treats the electron like a point particle instead of like a diffuse body of charge. Our goal is to differentiate between these two viewpoints empirically. To do this, we consider a large electron wave packet in a high-intensity laser field, in which case the two viewpoints predict measurable photoemission rates that differ by orders of magnitude. Under the treatment of the 'extended-charge-distribution' model, …

Marker Discovery In Allotetraploid Cotton Using 454 Pyrosequencing, Robert L. Byers

Theses and Dissertations

A narrow germplasm base and a complex allotetraploid genome have historically made the discovery of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers difficult in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). We conducted a genome reduction experiment to identify SNPs from two accessions of G. hirsutum and two accessions of G. barbadense. Approximately 2 million sequence reads were assembled into contigs with an N50 of 508 bp and analyzed for SNPs. A total of 11,834 and 1,679 SNPs between the accessions G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, respectively, were identified with highly conservative parameters (a minimum read depth of 8x at each SNP …

Mechanical Characterization Of The Interspinous Ligament Using Anisotropic Small Punch Testing, Rachel Jane Bradshaw

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: The objective of this work was to characterize the nonlinear anisotropic material constitutive response of the interspinous ligament (ISL).

Methods: Cadaveric test samples of the interspinous ligament were tested using the anisotropic small punch test. The measured force-displacement response served as experimental input into a system identification optimization routine to determine the constitutive material parameters that replicated the measured material response.

Results: The constitutive behavior of the ISL is notably different from that reported for knee, shoulder, and hip ligaments. Specifically, the high collagen fiber content and unique collagen architecture provided a stiffer material response. The results from the …

Evaluating Nutrient Availability In Low Fertility Soils With Resin Capsules And Conventional Soil Tests, Mary Pletsch Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Commonly used soil analysis and resin capsule procedures are used to assess nutrient status in fertile soils, but their validity in semi-arid ecosystems is unknown. Three studies were performed to assess resin capsule effectiveness in semi-arid ecosystems. An incubation study was completed in which loamy sand and sandy clay loam soils were treated with rates of N, P, Fe and Zn. Each soil treatment was implanted with a resin capsule and incubated for 60 or 120 days. Resin capsules reflected NH4-N and P fertilizer at low rates in the loamy sand. NO3-N reflected rates in both soils, but did not …

The Molecular Mechanism Of Migraine, Kristin Dawn Watson

Theses and Dissertations

Migraine is a common, episodic neurological disorder that includes headache, nausea and hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli. During the headache phase of migraine, migraine patients can be especially hypersensitive to thermal stimuli. The unpredictable and episodic nature of migraine makes it difficult to treat and much of the mechanism of migraine has yet to be elucidated. A T44A substitution in casein kinase 1δ is inherited with migraine with aura. A transgenic mouse model suggests that animals with this mutation exhibit increased sensitivity to thermal stimuli after injection with nitroglycerin (NTG). We performed behavior assays that measure animal responses to thermal stimuli, …

Structures Of Poliovirus And Antibody Complexes Reveal Movements Of The Capsid Protein Vp1 During Cell Entry, Jun Lin

Theses and Dissertations

In the infection process, native poliovirus (160S) first converts to a cell-entry intermediate (135S) particle, which causes the externalization of capsid proteins VP4 and the N-terminus of VP1 (residues 1-53). The externalization of these entities is followed by release of the RNA genome, leaving an empty (80S) particle. Three antibodies were utilized to track the location of VP1 residues in different states of poliovirus by cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM). "P1" antibody binds to N-terminal residues 24-40 of VP1. Three-dimensional reconstruction of 135S-P1 showed that P1 binds to a prominent capsid peak known as the "propeller tip". In contrast, our initial …

Reproductive Success And Soil Seed Bank Characteristics Of Astragalus Ampullarioides And A. Holmgreniorum (Fabaceae): Two Rare Endemics Of Southwestern Utah, Allyson B. Searle

Theses and Dissertations

Astragalus ampullarioides and A. holmgreniorum are two rare endemics of southwestern Utah. Over two consecutive field seasons (2009-2010) we examined pre-emergent reproductive success, based on F/F and S/O ratios, from populations of both Astragalus ampullarioides and A. holmgreniorum, estimated the density of the soil seed bank of A. holmgreniorum as a measure of potential post-emergent reproductive success, and estimated seed persistence within the soil seed bank. Fruit/flower (F/F) ratios and seed/ovule (S/O) ratios varied significantly between populations and among years in both species, and showed low reproductive output in both taxa. In Astragalus ampullarioides F/F and S/O were 0.06±0.01 …

Appetite, Dixie L. Partridge

BYU Studies

No abstract provided.

Genome Snapshot And Molecular Marker Development In Penstemon (Plantaginaceae), Rhyan B. Dockter

Theses and Dissertations

Penstemon Mitchell (Plantaginaceae) is one of the largest, most diverse plant genera in North America. Their unique diversity, paired with their drought-tolerance and overall hardiness, give Penstemon a vast amount of potential in the landscaping industry—especially in the more arid western United States where they naturally thrive. In order to develop Penstemon lines for more widespread commercial and private landscaping use, we must improve our understanding of the vast genetic diversity of the genus on a molecular level. In this study we utilize genome reduction and barcoding to optimize 454-pyrosequencing in four target species of Penstemon (P. cyananthus, …

God's Plan And Satan's Proposal, John E. Fossum

Religious Educator: Perspectives on the Restored Gospel

No abstract provided.

7- And 12-Month-Olds' Intermodal Recognition Of Affect: 7-Month-Olds Are "Smarter" Than 12-Month-Olds, Mark Oborn Whiteley

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that by 7-months of age infants demonstrate recognition of emotion by successfully matching faces and voices based on affect in an intermodal matching procedure. It is often assumed that once an ability is present the development of that ability has "ceased." Therefore, no research has examined if and how the ability to match faces and voices based on affect develops after the first 7-months. This study examined how the ability to match faces and voices based on affect changes from 7- to 12-months. Looking at infant's proportion of total looking time (PTLT) results showed that, consistent with …

Devices And Methods For Electro-Physical Transport Of Dna Across Cell Membranes, Quentin Theodore Aten

Theses and Dissertations

A novel method for charged macromolecule delivery, called nanoinjection, has been developed at Brigham Young University. Nanoinjection combines micro-fabrication technology, mechanism design, and nano-scale electrical phenomenon to transport exogenous DNA across cell membranes on a nano-featured lance. DNA is electrically accumulated on the lance, precision movements of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) physically insert the lance into cell, and DNA is electrically released from the lance into the cell. Penetration into the cell is achieved through a two-phase, self-reconfiguring metamorphic mechanism. The surface-micromachined, metamorphic nanoinjector mechanism elevates the lance above the fabrication substrate, then translates in-plane at a constant height as the …

Assessment Of Genetic Diversity Among Peruvian Amaranth (Amaranthus Caudatus L.) Germplasm Using Snp Markers, Felix Ruben Jimenez Rondan

Theses and Dissertations

Amaranth (Amaranthus caudatus L.) is an important pseudocereal in the Andes. The seed has excellent nutritional value (high in protein, essential amino acids, and minerals) and ample capacity for growth in diverse, harsh Andean subsistence-production conditions such as water deficiency, salt stress, and soil mineral nutrient deficiency. The objective of this study was to characterize and quantify the genetic diversity among a series of 178 mostly Peruvian amaranth genotypes using 96 biallelic single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 96 co-dominant, biallelic markers were developed using KASPar™ assays on a 96.96 Fluidigm EP1 array system. The 178 amaranth genotypes …

Death Becomes Her: Theodicy In Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, Jack K. Mallard

Theses and Dissertations

A study of Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, particularly "The Sound of Her Wings" and "The Kindly Ones: Part 13," demonstrates its theological richness. The Sandman's ability to participate in theodicy becomes clear by framing that study within a framework provided by Ernest Becker's ideas about the terror of death and Karen Armstrong's observations of the historical utility of negative theology and compassion. The analysis of the formal characteristics of The Sandman shows the range of aesthetic possibility inherent in the comics form. Lastly, the study makes apparent the continued readerly desire for engagement with questions about God, transcendence, …

Rendering Realistic Cloud Effects For Computer Generated Films, Cory A. Reimschussel

Theses and Dissertations

This work addresses the problem of rendering clouds. The task of rendering clouds is important to film and video game directors who want to use clouds to further the story or create a specific atmosphere for the audience. While there has been significant progress in this area, other solutions to this problem are inadequate because they focus on speed instead of accuracy, or focus only on a few specific properties of rendered clouds while ignoring others. Another common shortcoming with other methods is that they are not integrated into existing rendering pipelines. We propose a solution to this problem based …

The Movement Of An Object Through A Field Creates A Complex Situation, Jared Scott Greenleaf

Theses and Dissertations

I aim to move the viewer through a system that consists of science fiction, of world building, with themes of nature, technology, and a subtle allusion to comic book aesthetics. Removing customary sci-fi and comic book narrative in favor of concept, self-awareness, and open-ended exploration, the outcome creates a complex setting. The report herein documents the various methods used to create this multifaceted installation space, which was the focus of my selected project.

The Conduit: A Creative Thesis, Rachelle Larsen

Theses and Dissertations

This is a high fantasy novel about Iníon Ríúil, a girl who discovers she has the ability to manipulate magic. Two weeks before Iní­'s seventeenth birthday, thieves attack their home and her grandmother is murdered. After her grandmother's death, Iní­ goes in search of the father she has never met and ends up joining the Magical Alliance, where she learns more about her unique skills. Iní­ is a full conduit, someone who possesses all four of the possible conduit abilities: shielding, absorption, transformation, and amplification. Because someone has been kidnapping other conduits, the Magical Alliance assigns guardians for her protection: …

Transcriptome Characterization And Polymorphism Detection In Subspecies Of Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata), Prabin Bajgain

Theses and Dissertations

Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is one of the ecologically most important shrub species in western North America. The species serves as a major source of food and habitat for the near-threatened sage grouse and various other fauna. Habitat loss due to a combination of disturbances followed by establishment of invasive plant species is considered as a serious threat to sustainability of the big sagebrush ecosystem. Because of its importance, restoration of this species is very crucial to those dependent on big sagebrush community. However, restoration of big sagebrush carried out by using diverse seed source can lead to …

Unorthodox Oral Expressions In English Dictionaries, Corpora, Textbooks, And English Language Instructional Materials, Khemlada Chittaladakorn

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this project is to provide useful data from published dictionaries, corpora, and instructional materials, as well as sample lessons, to promote the teaching of Unorthodox Oral Expressions (UOEs) to learners of English as a second/foreign language. In the first chapter, the author reviews relevant literature, explains what UOEs are, and discusses the importance of incorporating UOEs in EFL or ESL classrooms. In the second chapter, a linguistic categorization of UOEs is given. In the third chapter, the results are given of an examination of 10 different dictionaries. The purpose of this examination was to find which of …

Writing About Literature In The Digital Age, Derrick Clements, Gideon Burton, Taylor Gilbert, Matthew Harrison

Student Works

Writing about Literature in the Digital Age is a collaborative effort by students at Brigham Young University who are pushing boundaries of traditional literary study to explore the benefits of digital tools in academic writing. This eBook is a case study of how electronic text formats and blogging can be effectively used to explore literary works, develop one's thinking publicly, and research socially. Students used literary works to read the emerging digital environment while simultaneously using new media to connect them with authentic issues and audiences beyond the classroom. As literacy and literature continue their rapid evolution, accounts like these …

Getting More Media Bang For Your Buck: Understanding Attitudes And Beliefs Toward Internet, Television, And Print Advertising, Ashley Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the following study is to provide advertisers with a better understanding of how Internet, television, and print media influence the perceptions of an advertisement and how those perceptions can influence purchasing behavior. This study uses Q Methodology, a methodology used to measure attitudes and beliefs. Three distinct groups emerged from the data labeled the Avoiders, the Traditionalists, and the Actives. Avoiders sought to bypass advertising, Traditionalists showed a liking toward traditional forms of advertising, and Actives were neither seeking out nor abstaining from viewing advertising. All three groups showed distrust toward Internet advertising.

Investigating The Influence Of Computer Programs On Perception And Application Of Mathematical Skills, Neil M. Bly

Theses and Dissertations

Existing research suggests an intuitive relationship between mathematics and computer programming. These previous studies have focused primarily on the cognitive connection and have ignored the potential impact of programming on an individual's perception and application of mathematical skills. By surveying and interviewing a variety of participants, this study aims to provide a descriptive foundation for the experiential side of cognitive correlations and causalities. These phenomenological accounts, garnered from individual interviews of seven different programmers, indicate four specific areas of interest. First, learning to program provided context for many abstract concepts. Second, programming illustrated the important distinction between understanding the application …

Cross-Cultural Ecotheology In The Poetry Of Li-Young Lee, Sienna Miquel Palmer Dittmer

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the cross-cultural ecotheology of contemporary American poet Li-Young Lee by looking at the intersection of the human, the natural, and the sacred in his poetry. Close readings of Lee's poetic encounters with roses, persimmons, trees, wind, and light through the lens of Christianity and Daoism illustrate the way Lee is able to merge the Eastern concepts of interconnection and mutual harmony with Western ideas of sacredness and divinity. This discussion places Lee in direct conversation with modern and contemporary ecopoets who use the creative energy of language to express our moral and ethical responsibility to the world …

A Study Of The Correlation Between Working Memory And Second Language Ei Test Scores, Eve Kiyomi Okura

Theses and Dissertations

A principal argument against the use of elicited imitation (EI) to measure L2 oral proficiency is that performance does not require linguistic knowledge, but requires only rote memorization. This study addressed the issue by administering two tests to the same group of students studying English as a second language: (1) a working memory test, and (2) an English oral proficiency EI test. Participants came from a range of English language proficiency levels. A Pearson correlation was performed on the test results for each participant. The hypothesis was that English EI scores and working memory scores would not correlate significantly. This …

Redefining Self In The Midst Of "Things": Marilynne Robinson's Housekeeping, Kristin Lowe

Theses and Dissertations

In this essay, I examine the role of material culture in Marilynne Robinson's novel Housekeeping (1980) to understand how the prominent presence of material culture introduces complex questions about the relationships among objects, reality, and the self. By recognizing objects' fluidity of meaning, Housekeeping offers its characters a way to see their individuality and conceptions of reality in a similar state of flux. Significantly, it is in the act of recognizing that the socially accepted uses of objects are not necessarily "natural" parts of existence, and, like elements of the natural world, the meanings and uses of these items are …

Principles Of Learning: A Conceptual Framework For Domain-Specific Theories Of Learning, Christian J. Weibell

Theses and Dissertations

This study is predicated on the belief that there does not now exist, nor will there ever exist, any single theory of learning that is broad enough to account for all types of learning yet specific enough to be maximally useful in practical application. Perhaps this dichotomy is the reason for the apparent gap between existing theories of learning and the practice of instructional design. As an alternative to any supposed grand theory of learning—and following the lead of prominent thinkers in the fields of clinical psychology and language teaching—this study proposes a shift toward principles. It presents a principle-based …

Byu Indoor Flight System Circa June 2011, John C. Macdonald, Robert Leishman

Faculty Publications

This report documents the state of our indoor flight platform as of June 2011, the time of its first flight without a human in the loop. The report is intended to give enough detail that someone might have a reasonable hope of replicating our work from scratch.