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Interfacial Phenomena In Molten Salt Systems And Wetting Transitions In Microcavities, Aaron Essilfie

Theses and Dissertations

Interfacial phenomena are the processes that occur at the interface between two phases of matter: solid-liquid, solid-gas, liquid-liquid, and liquid-gas. Wetting, spreading, adsorption, and capillarity are some features of interfacial phenomena. This research explores two areas of interfacial phenomena: the interfacial tension between a liquid and gas, and wetting transitions in microcavities. Surface tension has been a widely studied topic in surface chemistry. Many techniques have been employed to study the surface tension of liquids in various studies and research areas, but the interfacial tension between a liquid and gas has not been extensively researched. For this reason, part of …

Adapting Biological Mechanisms Into Machine Learning Structures And Gradient Propagation, Hao Yu

Theses and Dissertations

As neuromorphic computing gains traction, researchers look for learning schemes that are more suitable for brain-like structures. Although many algorithms have been discovered, such as surrogate gradient or Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity, those algorithms are either unsuitable for on-chip training or not biologically aligned. The goal of this thesis is to discover a learning algorithm which is biologically aligned and suitable for on-chip training. Through the discoveries of our two papers, we are able to introduce the concepts of synaptic clefts and neurotransmitters into a common spiking neuron network. We also designed an error propagation method aligning with biology. With …

Full Issue

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Parental Strategies For Modifying Behavior: The Positives Of Positive Reinforcement, Benjamin D. Rasmussen

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

This research investigates the effectiveness of positive reinforcement as a central parenting strategy for modifying children’s behavior, grounded in B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning theory. Using factor analysis, two key factors emerged: the impact of positive reinforcement on behavior change and its influence on parent-child dynamics. Positive reinforcement, which involves rewarding desirable behaviors with positive stimuli, has been found to promote the repetition of those behaviors and yield beneficial long-term outcomes. The evidence indicates that this approach not only strengthens desirable behaviors but also enhances the quality of relationships between parents and children, and teachers and students. Although some argue that …

A Literary Review On The Effects Of Music Therapy On Depressed Adolescents: Brain Function, Individual Therapy, And Group Psychotherapy, Bella Mccain

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

This paper presents a literature review examining the impact of music therapy on adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). Music therapy, officially recognized in 1950, is a clinical intervention that addresses various psychological and cognitive deficiencies. Adolescents show a strong affinity for music, making it a potential treatment for depression, which is prevalent among this age group. This review explores studies focused on music therapy’s effects on brain function, individual psychotherapy, and group therapy for adolescents. Research suggests that music therapy positively influences brain activity by reducing cortisol levels and shifting brainwave patterns towards healthier states. In individual therapy, music …

Finding Meaning In Psychotherapy: A Literature Review Of Logotherapeutic Methodology In Psychotherapeutic Treatment, Jason M. Hoskin

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Frankl’s logotherapy is a meaning-centered therapy, focusing on finding personal life purpose to improve one’s psychological well-being, particularly during personal struggle and suffering (Frankl, 1992). This literature review analyzes the empirical research measuring the efficacy of logotherapy in psychotherapy with a total of 27 articles from 2012–2022 reviewed and analyzed. Results illustrates that published contemporary empirical research on this topic focuses mainly on studying (1) theoretical principles of logotherapy through survey data, (2) the efficacy of logotherapy-based groups psychotherapy for individuals, or (3) psychometrics of frequently used instruments for measuring meaning in life. Overall, these categories corroborate the finding that …

Overcoming Social, Cultural, Physical And Covid-19 Barriers To Treatment For Eating Disorders Through Teletherapy, Wyatt W. Capener

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Eating disorders (EDs) are among the deadliest of mental illnesses and may affect female, male, sexual and gender minorities, young, and old populations. The effects of EDs burden individuals with cultural, social, and physical inhibitors to seeking treatment and therefore may go untreated. Additionally, there is a nationwide lack of access to mental health professionals. EDs may link to a decrease in the quality of life and an increased mortality rate; therefore, it is imperative that individuals afflicted with EDs have access to treatment. The variety of symptoms associated with EDs calls for flexible solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected …

Streamlined Production, Protection, And Purification Of Enzyme Biocatalysts Using Virus-Like Particles And A Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System, Seung O. Yang, Joseph P. Talley, Gregory H. Nielsen, Kristen M. Wilding, Bradley Charles Bundy

Faculty Publications

Enzymes play an essential role in many different industries; however, their operating conditions are limited due to the loss of enzyme activity in the presence of proteases and at temperatures significantly above physiological conditions. One way to improve the stability of these enzymes against high temperatures and proteases is to encapsulate them in protective shells or virus-like particles. This work presents a streamlined, three-step, cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) procedure that enables rapid in vitro enzyme production, targeted encapsulation in protective virus-like particles (VLPs), and facile purification using a 6× His-tag fused to the VLP coat protein. This process is performed …

Laina Farhat-Holzman: Distinguished Iscsc Author, Incisive Thinker, Fearless Commentator, Innovative Leader, Joseph Drew

Comparative Civilizations Review

It is a sad duty to report that a luminary who was long associated with this journal and with the leadership of the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations, Dr. Laina Farhat-Holzman, has died.

The Rise Of China And The Concept Of Civilization: Constructing A Conceptual Apparatus For Cross-Civilizational Comparisons, Liah Greenfeld

Comparative Civilizations Review

The Rise of China and the Concept of Civilization: Constructing a Conceptual Apparatus for Cross-Civilizational Comparisons

The paper examines the deficiencies of the current understanding of “civilization” in the social science literature, among others exemplified by “civilizational analysis,” and proposes a new concept that adds to the conceptual apparatus of sociological theory — a new, fully independent of others, variant of the cultural process. This independence makes distinctions between civilizations as the root cause of socio-cultural diversity.

Combined with the idea of humanity as a culturally constituted reality sui generis, this concept allows the construction of the theoretical scaffolding …

Why Can’T I Be Forgiven? Review Of Literature On Scrupulosity Among Latter-Day Saints, Camron Angell

Student Works

Scrupulosity is a debilitating mental illness that has become more well known the Latter-day Saint community recently. Scrupulosity is a subset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that focuses on spiritual issues (McClendon, 2023). Scrupulosity is multifaceted and has cognitive, genetic, and biological causes (Abramowitz & Jacoby, 2014; McClendon, 2023; Siev et al., 2020). Scrupulosity is defined by intense anxiety that is soothed with rituals such as excessive prayer, confession, and other religious actions to calm anxiety and fear of God (Abramowitz & Jacoby, 2014; Allen et al., 2015; Weir et al., 2014). Scrupulosity is mainly treated using cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) …

Plants, Protests, Pachakuti: How Trees March And How People Tree, Ashley A. Lundquist

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores the multi-faceted role of plants, specifically Wituk and Manduru, in Amazonian protests and environmental advocacy. By examining the communicative and relational ontologies inherent in Runa culture, the study elucidates how plants influence social movements and contribute to environmental protection. Wituk and Manduru create paint. Paint facilitates good communication which creates good relationality. Good relationality allows for increased capacities and inhibits greedy consumption allowing for a balanced world order. Through the use and agency of Wituk and Manduru, movements become multi-species phenomena in which ecological entities combine with Runa bodies. The relationships shared between Runa, Wituk, and Manduru …

Using Rna-Sequencing To Explore Mechanistic Markers, New Therapeutics, And Immune Imbalance: A Study Of Cancer And Autoimmunity Through The Lens Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, And B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Naomi Lydia Rapier-Sharman

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer and autoimmune diseases both impose a substantial healthcare burden on the US and world populations. In 2016, there were over 17 million cases of cancer, leading to nearly nine million deaths. Additionally, autoimmune diseases cause substantial mortality and morbidity and are present in 3-5% of the general population. Despite the increased attention scientists now give diseases that are impacted by immune imbalance, we have yet to find regimens to treat the core cause(s) of tissue dysfunction without drastically decreasing the quality of life for many patients with either cancer or autoimmune disease. For instance, anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) …

The Design And Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Of A Pembrolizumab Single-Chain Variable Fragment, Landon E. Ebbert, Tyler J. Free, Mehran Soltani, Bradley Charles Bundy

Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Cancer is a leading cause of death. However, recently developed immunotherapies have shown significant promise to improve cancer treatment outcomes and survival rates. Pembrolizumab, a cancer immunotherapy drug, enables a strong T-cell response specifically targeting cancer cells to improve patient outcomes in more than 16 types of cancer. The increasing demand for pembrolizumab, the highest selling drug in 2023, increases global dependence on drug production, which can be vulnerable to supply chain disruptions. Methods: Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) is a rapid in vitro protein production method that could provide the production of an immunotherapy drug in an emergency and …

The Latter-Day Saint Indian Placement Program: An Examination Through An Experiential Lens, Quinn Elise Christiansen

Theses and Dissertations

The Indian Placement Program, operated by the LDS Church from around 1947 to 2000, was influenced by the Church's belief in a connection between Native Americans to a Book of Mormon group known as the Lamanites. This group held a special status within the LDS Church because of their believed Israelite heritage as well as a prophecy promising their conversion in the last days. Spencer W. Kimball, motivated by both personal goals and his authority within the LDS Church, expanded on a successful experience of a young Native girl, Helen John, growing it into the broader Indian Placement Program. This …

The Impact Of Coral Degradation On Coastal Communities In Southeast Asia, Paige Smith

Ballard Brief

Coral reefs across the globe are in decline, but reefs in Southeast Asia are among some of the most threatened in the world. Climate change, triggered by fossil fuel emissions, raises sea water temperatures and lowers the ocean’s pH, contributing to coral bleaching and inhibiting coral growth. Local threats also particularly affect reefs in Southeast Asia, such as destructive fishing techniques and marine and inland sources of pollution. Coastal communities in Southeast Asia are especially vulnerable to the degradation of coral reefs due to economic reliance on these reefs and their proximity to them. Declining coral reefs can damage the …

Under Stress: Maternal Effects On Offspring Development In Live-Bearing Fish, Ruby Jensen, Emily Mead, Jerald B. Johnson

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Research has shown that the stress response in adult fish can lower sex hormone levels, disrupt mating behavior, and reduce overall reproductive success (1). While stress is known to impact an individual's ability to reproduce, its effects on offspring after birth remain unclear. Specifically, the influence of maternal stress during gestation on offspring growth and maturation is still unknown.

To better understand how maternal stress affects offspring development, we will study the live-bearing fish Alfaro cultratus from birth to reproductive maturity. We will observe the timeline of developmental milestones in offspring whose mothers experience stress during gestation to assess potential …

Tight Junction Protein Impact On Sonic Hedgehog Pathway, Josh Freeman, Hudson Christensen, Dario Mizrachi

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

The Sonic Hedgehog Pathway is critical for cell division and proliferation, and when disrupted, can be a major contributor to the overproliferation of cells and complications in the organism from the resultant cancers. Experimentation upon the organism Planaria Torva and A549 cells using chimera Occludin (COC)–a traditionally isolated tight junction protein having no role in the SHH pathway–has shown dramatic changes within the organism/cell signaling system, suggesting that tight-junction proteins may play a role in–or can be used to manipulate–this specific cell signaling pathway by inhibiting or activating key proteins. The possibility of a “mechanotransduction” effect by COC on SHH …

The Possible Role Of Cysteine Synthesis In E. Coli Mastitis, Caz Cullimore, David Erickson

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Clinical mastitis is an infection of the udders of dairy cows

Mastitis is the leading cause of economic losses to the dairy industry

E. coli is the most common cause of clinical mastitis (Gonçalves)

Genetic factors may affect the ability for E. coli to establish an infection

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) can detect genetic variants correlating with disease. However, most GWASes aren’t validated experimentally

The Effects Of A High-Carbohydrate Versus A High-Fat Shake On Heart Rate Variability When Used To Interrupt A 38-Hour Fast, Dane Jensen, Cameron Jacobsen, Landon Deru Ph.D., Elizabeth Z. Gipson, Katelynn E. Hales, Bruce W. Bailey Ph.D.

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

(HRV) is a biological phenomenon that refers to the variations in the time intervals between heartbeats and is commonly used to assess vascular health. Heart rate variability (HRV) indicates the heart’s capacity to respond to stimuli from the autonomic nervous system. High HRV has been known to be correlated with a healthy heart and autonomic nervous system, while low HRV has been known to be correlated with adverse physiological conditions [6]. While previous research has explored the cardiovascular effects of fasting and food intake, the impact of the post-fast meal on cardiovascular health remains understudied. This study aims to investigate …

Taking Out The Taxonomic Trash: Refining Skink Classification In The Genus Sphenomorphus, Phillip Cockrell, Leah Stimpson, Alison Whiting Ph.D

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Distributed in New Guinea, Wallacea, Indonesia, and SE Asia (see figure 2), Sphenomorphus is often called a “Waste Bin” genus because species that don’t fit elsewhere are “dumped” there.

These cryptic skinks (see figure 1) have been problematic for traditional taxonomy due to a lack of discrete morphological characters.

Recent molecular studies of Sphenomorphus in the Philippines find the genus to be paraphyletic.

New Guinea has one of the largest concentrations of Sphenomorphus, has been poorly studied (figure 4), and is known for its extreme biodiversity¹,².

We seek to test the monophyly of Sphenomorphus in New Guinea, and the …

Research Process Toward The Creation Of Transgenic Beetles, Taylor Coffman, Christian Mccombs, Jonah Jex, Chris Daley, Brian D. Jensen, Sandra Hope Ph.D

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Create a generalized efficient procedure for the reliable creation of transgenic insects.

Optimizing Carbon Nanotube Diameter And Copper Coating To Inhibit Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilm Growth, Owen Cramer, Jenny Finlinson, Lucy C. Bowden, Bradford K. Berges Ph.D.

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

• ~30% of surgical implant failure is caused by infection¹
• 10-23% of all implant-associated bone and joint infections are caused by gram-negative bacteria²
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a gram-negative bacterium, forms biofilms (bacterial communities encased in a matrix) that are extremely difficult to treat
• Carbon-Infiltrated Carbon Nanotubes (CICNT) have a surface structure that prevents the formation of biofilms³
• The mechanism of biofilm disruption on CICNT is still unknown.
• Our current research is focused on creating the optimal CICNT conditions that result in the greatest reduction of adherent P. aeruginosa.

Invasive Species And Water Loss: Automating The Study Of Phragmites In Utah Wetlands, Alexander Atkinson, Dr. Rachel Wood

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Phragmites australis is an invasive reed threatening Utah wetlands by not only outcompeting native flora and disrupting ecological system but also potentially increasing evapotranspiration (ET), the combined process of evaporation and plant transpiration. Increased ET may accelerate water loss in the already shrinking Great Salt Lake (GSL), exacerbating ecological and economic consequences.

To address this, we are developing an automated R-based data analysis pipeline to analyze Utah Geological Survey (UGS) data at the GSL Phragmites site, and to validate evapotranspiration measurements with satellite estimates from OpenET. By making the data and analyses easily accessible, we can better understand and mitigate …

Effect Of Isostatic Rebound On Soil Biodiversity, Robert Candland, Blake Harrison, Solinus Farrer, Kyle Lake, Byron Adams

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Purpose: Understand the effect of shifting tide lines on organism diversity and abundance

Parthenogenetic Pathways: Investigating The Expansion Of A Clonal Whiptail, Jordan Kirk, Vicente Fernandez Lara, Angelina Romero, Dallin Matthews, Reagan Mckee, Randy Klabacka

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Non-native species are defined as species who live in any area outside of their native range, and they often have unique adaptational strategies to be able to populate various areas, even those different from their native habitat

The New Mexico Whiptail (Aspidoscelis neomexicanus) is a parthenogenetic (asexual) species of lizard of family Teiidae. It’s native range extends from central to south-central New Mexico [1]

Parthenogenetic species can colonize/invade new territories easily due to their ability to reproduce asexually [4]

Established populations of this species of lizard in multiple localities outside of their native range have been identified in …

Engineering Chimeric Autoantibody Receptor T Cells (Caar): A Potential Cure For Graves' Disease, Kimbal Demars, Abigail Cheever, Chloe Kang, Hunter Lindsay, Mackenzie Hansen, Kim O'Neill, Scott Weber

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

• Graves’ Disease (GD) is the 4th most common autoimmune disease in the United States.
• GD is characterized by autoreactive B cells releasing anti-thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) Ab that bind to TSHR, causing an overexpression of hormones.
• Excessive hormonal release leads to hyperthyroidism, causing a variety of metabolic issues.
• No cure exists, only limited effectiveness of treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, or thyroidectomy.
• Chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T cell therapy has been effective in treating blood cancers.
• Modifying this therapy by engineering T cells that replace the antigen as the T cell receptor will selectively target autoreactive B cells, namely chimeric …

End Epilepsy: Human And Rodent Seizures Demonstrate A Dynamic Interplay With Spreading Depolarizations, Daniel Hummel, Jacob H. Norby, Noah Ricks, John D. Rolston, Shervin Rahimpour, Juha Voipio, Andrew J. Trevelyan, Elliot H. Smith, Ryley Parrish

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Affecting more than 50 million people worldwide, Epilepsy is a condition of repeated seizures. Seizures (Sz) occur when brain cells transmit uncontrolled electrical signals, and most often terminate on their own, but how this happens is unknown. A proposed mechanism of Sz termination is a spreading depolarization (SD). A SD is a wave that travels through the brain, suppressing brain activity. Currently, the relationship between SDs and seizures is not well understood. The goal of this study was to understand how the two phenomena interact in both rodent brains, and humans. Better understanding of SDs may lead to the development …

Enabling Better Interoperability And Reusability For Down Syndrome Transcriptomic Datasets, Harrison Oaks, Garrett L. Wride, Stephen Piccolo

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Introduction: Gene expression profiling has become a cornerstone of biomedical research, offering relevant insights into the molecular mechanisms that underlie complex conditions such as Down syndrome (DS), a condition caused by trisomy 21. RNA expression data from individuals with DS have highlighted critical pathways involved in development, immune function, and disease susceptibility. Despite the availability of over 100 publicly shared RNA expression datasets, their potential remains underutilized due to inconsistent metadata, diverse normalization protocols, and varying data quality. Addressing these barriers is vital to enabling researchers to standardize, integrate, and analyze datasets effectively. We do this by creating a data …

Effects Of Predation On Cognition In Brachyrhaphis Rhabdophora, Elizabeth F. Jenkins, Jerald B. Johnson

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Does predation environment affect the cognitive abilities of the tropical fish Brachyrhaphis rhabdophora?