Digital Commons Network^™

In Their Own Words: Perspectives On Collection Weeding From Library Employees And Teaching Faculty, Dan Broadbent, Megan Frost, Gregory M. Nelson, David Pixton

Faculty Publications

Following a Science and Engineering collection weeding project of over 350,000 print items, our research team conducted interviews with 20 library employees and 19 teaching faculty involved in the project. The purpose of the interviews was to assess the interviewees’ perspectives and feelings relating to the time required to complete the project, inter- and intra- library communication, the decision-making processes, and their personal assessment of the costs and benefits of the project. The interviewees also offered their views of the overall project’s successes and areas for improvement. Drawing from a qualitative analysis of the interviews, we provide guidance for other …

Flowunsteady: An Interactional Aerodynamics Solver For Multirotor Aircraft And Wind Energy, Eduardo Alvarez, Judd Mehr, Andrew Ning

Faculty Publications

The ability to accurately and rapidly assess unsteady interactional aerodynamics is a shortcoming and bottleneck in the design of various next-generation aerospace systems: from electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to airborne wind energy (AWE) and wind farms. In this study, we present a meshless CFD framework based on the reformulated vortex particle method (rVPM) for the analysis of complex interactional aerodynamics. The rVPM is a large eddy simulation (LES) solving the Navier-Stokes equations in their vorticity form. It uses a meshless Lagrangian scheme, which not only avoids the hurdles of mesh generation, but it also conserves the vortical …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Facilitating Positive Outcomes Among Veterans Experiencing Vision Impairment: Applications Of Posttraumatic Growth Theory, Emily Watkins, Corinna Trujillo Tanner

Student Works

Objective: Using an adaptation of Tedeschi and Calhoun’s model of posttraumatic growth (PTG), the psychosocial impact of vision impairment (VI) is contextualized and intervention targets are identified which nurse practitioners may utilize to optimize positive psychosocial outcomes, including PTG, for their veteran patients who are living with VI.

Method: Qualitative and quantitative studies were identified through MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, and CINAHL Complete searches. Limiters included human subjects, English language, and publication through 1996 to 2022. Search terms included vision loss, visual impairment, veterans, military, soldiers, servicemen, servicewomen, posttraumatic growth, positive outcomes, and blindness rehabilitation. Additionally, books by Tedeschi and Moore …

Electroanalytical Measurements Of Lanthanum (Iii) Chloride In Molten Calcium Chloride And Molten Calcium Chloride And Lithium Chloride, Mark H. Schvaneveldt, Ranon Fuller, Devin Rappleye

Faculty Publications

Cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV) and other electroanalytical methods have been applied to molten chloride salts to study metal ion behavior. These studies have been useful for understanding and optimizing the electrowinning of metals. Notable ions that have been studied are rare earth and actinide metal ions in LiCl-KCl salts. However, the behavior of lanthanum (La³⁺) ions in some molten chlorides or chloride mixtures (e.g., CaCl₂) has not been studied. CV experiments were conducted to evaluate La³⁺ behavior in CaCl₂-LiCl and CaCl₂ and were compared to La³⁺ behavior in …

The Power-Duration Relationship Is Just As Reproducible In Females As Males, Despite The Presence Of The Menstrual Cycle, Jessica Joy Linde

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of the menstrual cycle (MC) on exercise performance across the power-duration relationship (PDR). We hypothesized females would exhibit greater variability in the PDR across the MC than males across a similar timespan, with critical power (PCRIT) and Work prime (W') being lower during the early follicular phase than the late follicular and mid-luteal phases. METHODS: Eumenorrheic, endurance-trained females (n = 10, age = 24.1 ± 5.59) performed multiple constant-load-to-task-failure and maximum-power tests at three time points across the MC (early follicular, late follicular, midluteal phases). Endurance-trained males (n = 10 age = 29.5 ± 9.18) …

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Blossoming With Books: Syriac Manuscripts From The Egyptian Desert

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The birthplace and spiritual heart of Christian monasticism is the Nitrian Desert of Egypt and the long, shallow valley of Scetis (Wadi el-Natrun). It was to here, from the fourth century onwards, that Macarius the Great and other of the sainted desert fathers retreated from the world, devoting their lives to worship and prayer. While some monks chose to live in isolation as hermits, many others banded together to establish the first monasteries, building churches for worship and libraries for study.

Book Of Mormon Critical Text Project Completes Text Analysis

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The Maxwell Institute and Brigham Young University are pleased to announce the publica- tion of part 6 of volume 4 of the Book of Mormon Critical Text Project, Analysis of Textual Variants of the Book of Mormon. Part 6 analyzes the text from 3 Nephi 19 through Moroni 10.

Temperature And Radiation Measurements In A Pressurized Oxy-Coal Reactor, Dustin Peter Badger

Theses and Dissertations

To understand the behavior and performance of a new 100 kW pilot scale pressurized oxy-coal reactor, radiation measurements of the flame have been made using a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer. From these radiation measurements, gas temperatures were obtained using integrated spectral infrared (ISIR) emission from the CO2 and water vapor of the combustion product gases. Radiative emission from the product gases in the reactor were collected through a quartz window 1.524 m downstream of the burner. An optical probe focused culminated emission from the combustion chamber into a silica fiber which transported the radiative signal to the spectrometer. The …

Multi-Material 3d-Printed Silicone Vocal Fold Models, Clayton Adam Young

Theses and Dissertations

Self-oscillating synthetic vocal fold (VF) models are often used to study human voice production. In this thesis, a method for fabricating multi-layer self-oscillating synthetic VF models using silicone 3D printing is presented. Multi-material 3D printing enables faster fabrication times with more complex geometries than traditional casting methods and builds a foundation for producing VF models with potentially more life-like geometries, materials, and vibratory characteristics. The printing method in this study used a custom dual extruder and slicing software to print UV-curable liquid silicone into a gel-like support matrix. The extruder was fabricated using high-torque stepper motors with high resolution leadscrews …

Cataloging Conundrums: Challenging Items That Have Crossed Our Desks, Rebecca A. Wiederhold, Sharolyn Swenson, Kjerste Christensen, Jessie Louise Christensen

Faculty Publications

Some of the most interesting items that cross the cataloger’s desk present difficult cataloging challenges. When cataloging a collection of suspected forgeries, how do you determine the “publication” date for faked documents? Which cataloging workform do you use for a LEGO model of the Salt Lake Temple? Is it a kit? A game? A sculpture? In this session, we will share examples of unique items we’ve cataloged and demonstrate how to effectively solve the questions that come up when trying to help patrons discover exactly what they’re looking for.

A Visual Focus On Form Understanding, Brian Lafayette Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Paper forms are a commonly used format for collecting information, including information that ultimately will be added to a digital database. This work focuses on the automatic extraction of information from form images. It examines what can be achieved at parsing forms without any textual information. The resulting model, FUDGE, shows that computer vision alone is reasonably successful at the problem. Drawing from the strengths and weaknesses of FUDGE, this work also introduces a novel model, Dessurt, for end-to-end document understanding. Dessurt performs text recognition implicitly and is capable of outputting arbitrary text, making it a more flexible document processing …

Defining Dyslexia Within And Across Disciplines: A Systematic Review Of The Literature, Ann Marie Trumbo

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: In the present study, we conducted a systematic review to investigate the core features of the definition of dyslexia across different disciplines according to their associated professional organizations and published research in order to evaluate the presence and type of inconsistencies within and across disciplines in how dyslexia is defined. Method: Definition statements of dyslexia from professional organizations in medicine, education, speech-language pathology, psychology, and the International Dyslexia Association were collected via scope of practice guidelines or via the organization's official website. Using a database with a wide disciplinary reach, we collected 764 of the most cited articles from …

Incorporating Inclusivity In Our Catalog, Nicole Lewis, Rachel Jane Wittmann

Faculty Publications

This presentation was given at the Utah Library Association Annual Conference in Layton, Utah.

In early 2021, the University of Utah embarked on the journey to review and update harmful subject headings in their catalog, digital library metadata, and finding aids. This session will discuss the background of the project and where we are currently at in the process of changing harmful subject headings.

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Wordprint Analysis And Joseph Smith’S Role As Editor Of The Times And Seasons, Paul Fields, Matthew Roper, Atul Nepal

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

One of the issues that swirls around discus- sions of Book of Mormon geography is the rightful place the editorials in the 1842 Times and Seasons must take. The story of the editorials begins with Joseph’s receipt of John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood’s Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chaipas, and Yucatan, published in 1841. In early 1842, the Times and Seasons published several enthu- siastic articles that drew attention to the discoveries of Stephens and Catherwood in Central America and compared them favorably with the Book of Mormon. Two of these articles were signed by the editor, while …

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Zarahemla: Revisiting The “Seed Of Compassion”, Pedro Olavarria, David E. Bokovoy

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

More than ten years ago, Stephen Ricks and John Tvedtnes presented a case for interpreting the Book of Mormon proper noun Zarahemla as a Hebraic construct meaning “seed of compassion” or “child of grace, pity, or compassion.” The authors theorized:

It may be that the Mulekite leader was given that name because his ancestor had been rescued when the other sons of King Zedekiah were slain during the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem. [See Mosiah 25:2.] To subsequent Nephite generations, it may have even suggested the deliverance of their own ancestors from Jerusalem prior to its destruction or the anticipation of …

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

An Early Islamic Challenge To Christian History, D. Morgan Davis

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

One of the great lessons to be drawn from the Islamic world of the Middle Ages is that in order for people of varying faiths and persuasions to coexist peacefully, it is not necessary that significant differences between them be settled or even downplayed. Islamic society was vibrant with debate and ideological rivalry. But there was a framework of tolerance that allowed for these differences while preserving basic modes for coexistence. For example, the Islamic caliphates (beginning in the seventh century and continuing into the early modern period) treated the Jews and Christians living within their domains as ahl al-kitab …

Tabletop Extreme-Ultraviolet Source Using High Harmonic Generation For Polarization Sensitive Imaging, Taylor Jordan Buckway

Theses and Dissertations

We are developing a tabletop extreme-ultraviolet source using high harmonic generation at Brigham Young University. The thesis goes over the theory of high harmonic generation using the three-step model. This tabletop source was designed for probing magnetic domains of iron nanoparticles. We present optimization of the 42 eV and 52 eV harmonics through phase matching. Phase matching consists of tuning the intensity of the IR beam and pressure of the gas medium. The target gas medium used for this thesis is argon. The 42 eV harmonic was optimized to 8.2 billion photons per second. This was used with a 1500 …

Contextual Factors Associated With Organizational Learning In Hospitals: An Instrument Development Study, Bret Lyman, Kylie C. Thorum

Faculty Publications

Aim: Develop a valid, reliable research instrument to measure contextual factors associated with organizational learning in hospitals.

Background: A valid, reliable instrument for measuring contextual factors associated with organizational learning is needed so nurse leaders and researchers can improve healthcare by facilitating and studying organizational learning.

Methods: The Organizational Learning in Hospitals model guided development of the Organizational Learning Instrument-Context. Content validity was refined and evaluated through cognitive interviews and expert reviews. The instrument was distributed to direct care nurses in Magnet® hospitals in the United States. Intraclass correlation coefficients validated the use of multilevel analyses. Construct validity was assessed …

The Effect Of Two Rate Change Approaches On Speech Movement Patterns, Noelle Marie Lewis

Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined the effect of different rate change approaches on speech movement patterns, including increasing and decreasing speaking rate volitionally, as well as with delayed auditory feedback (DAF). There were 10 participants, five male and five female, with a mean age of 25 years. All were typical speakers. Participants spoke the sentence “Don’t fight or pout over a toy car” under slow, fast and DAF speaking conditions. A total of 5 sensors were glued to each participant’s tongue, teeth, and lips. NDI Wave electromagnetic articulography recorded the articulatory movements from these sensors as the participants spoke. Metrics for …

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Dysphemisms, Paul Y. Hoskisson

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

All of us are familiar with puns, wordplays, and the fun such word games provide. Euphemisms, where an objectionable word is replaced by a less objectionable one, are a practical and sometimes amusing aspect of these word games. For example, in the nineteenth century and extending into the twentieth century, the word pregnant seems not to have been common in polite conversation. Instead, euphemisms such as “with child” or “in a family way” were used. I can remember my mother, in hushed conversations, rather than saying “pregnant,” would quietly declare, “She is PG.” This may explain why the large, white …

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Syriac Manuscripts From The Egyptian Desert, Carl Griffin

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The birthplace and spiritual heart of Christian monasticism is the Nitrian Desert of Egypt and the long, shallow valley of Scetis (Wadi el-Natrun). It was to here, from the fourth century onwards, that Macarius the Great and others of the sainted desert fathers retreated from the world, devoting their lives to worship and prayer. While some monks chose to live in isolation as hermits, many others banded together to establish the first monasteries, building churches for worship and libraries for study.

Full Issue

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

No abstract provided.

New Byu Booth Debuts At Aar/Sbl Conference

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

In November, the Maxwell Institute teamed up with BYU Studies and the Reli- gious Studies Center to launch a new booth at the American Academy of Religion/Society for Biblical Literature annual meeting. The booth was designed by students and faculty at the BYU Adlab.

Journal Of The Book Of Mormon And Other Restoration Scripture: New Issue Released

Insights: The Newsletter of the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship

The second issue of the Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture for 2012 features five articles that delve into aspects of words in the Book of Mormon. The cover design reflects that unifying theme and presents word in various languages and scripts.