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Access, Gender, And Agency On Study Abroad: Four Case Studies Of Female Students In Jordan, Jordan Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study follows the experiences of four female students as they sought to gain access to native speakers and the L2, engage with the culture, and fulfill program speaking requirements (two hours of speaking the second language outside of class per weekday) in Amman, Jordan. The research explores the following questions: what challenges did female participants on BYU's intensive Arabic study abroad (SA) program face as they accessed native speakers and the L2 outside of the classroom, how were participants able to persevere through and overcome these challenges, and how were program interventions set up to help participants persevere …

Sertraline Effects On Cerebrospinal Fluid Monoamines And Species-Typical Socioemotional Behavior Of Female Cynomolgus Monkeys, Carol A. Shively, Thomas C. Register, James Dee Higley, Stephanie L. Willard

Faculty Publications

Rationale—Although widely prescribed, little is known about selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) effects on social behavior and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) monoamines in female primates.

Objective—To determine the effects of sertraline on agonistic and affiliative behavior.

Methods—21 adult female cynomolgus monkeys were housed in small, stable social groups, trained to participate in oral dosing, and began a 5-week cumulative dose response study. Serial doses of 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/kg of sertraline were administered orally for one week each. Behavior was recorded daily during 10-minute observations before and 4 hours after dosing. On the 7th day of dosing, circulating …

Role Of Epstein-Barr Virus Induced Gene Ii (Ebi2) In Epstein-Barr Virus Infection And B-Cell Chemotaxis, Brian Poole

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The academic objectives of this proposal were met. Using the funding provided by the MEG, we generated data that was used to publish three peer-reviewed journal articles:

Post-Translational Modifications Of Thymidine Kinase 1, Dr. Kim O'Neill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is one diagnostic and prognostic marker which has shown promising potential in a variety of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Unfortunately there have been challenges associated with developing a clinically useful immunoassay which have prevented TK1 from being fully utilized in the clinical setting at present. One of the major goals of this study was to produce a dependable, reproducible, immunoassay to detect TK1 in serum from cancer patients. There have been many attempts at detecting protein or genetic material in the serum or sputum of lung cancer patients but these all have failed due to …

Habitat Selection By The Pygmy Rabbit (Brachylagus Idahoensis) In Northeastern Utah, Jennifer M. Schmalz, Barbara Wachocki, Masako Wright, Samuel I. Zeveloff, Michele M. Skopec

Western North American Naturalist

The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), the world’s smallest rabbit, has a limited distribution due to its year round dependence on sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) for food and shelter. Due to accelerating habitat loss from fragmentation, development, and fire, understanding the pygmy rabbit’s ecology has become increasingly important. In 2010, we initiated a study of the status of a pygmy rabbit population and its habitat requirements on U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land near Woodruff in northeastern Utah. We first observed and recorded the presence of the rabbit and its use of the area, and then measured …

Front Matter, Vol. 74 No. 4

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Biological Control Of Saltcedar (Tamarix Spp.) By Saltcedar Leaf Beetles (Diorhabda Spp.): Effects On Small Mammals, William S. Longland

Western North American Naturalist

The spread of introduced saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) throughout many riparian systems across the western United States motivated the introduction of saltcedar leaf beetles (Diorhabda carinulata, D. elongata; Chrysomelidae) as a biological control agent specific to saltcedar. I monitored small mammal populations for up to 12 years as saltcedar defoliation progressed at 3 of the original saltcedar beetle release sites and at an additional site where beetles established through dispersal. There was no evidence of any linear effect of increasing defoliation over time on small mammal species richness. Estimated population sizes of 4 small mammal species, based on mark-release-recapture …

Trimerotropis Aberasturii (Orthoptera: Acrididae: Oedipodinae), A New Species Of Band-Winged Grasshopper From North Central Nevada, Timothy J. Mcnary

Western North American Naturalist

Trimerotropis aberasturii, a new species of band-winged grasshopper, is described from the mountains of north central Nevada. It appears most closely related to T. suffusa and T. verruculata. Trimerotropis aberasturii is distinguished from the other 2 species by a more extensive black hind wing band, features of the male genitalia, and geographic distribution.


Se describe una nueva especie de saltamonte de alas con banda, Trimerotropis aberasturii, de las montañas del centro-norte de Nevada. Ésta parece más estrechamente relacionada con T. suffusa y T. verruculata. Trimerotropis aberasturiidistingue de las otras 2 especies por una más amplia banda de ala …

Immunoassays Of Potential Cancer Biomarkers In Microfluidic Devices, Jayson Virola Pagaduan

Theses and Dissertations

Laboratory test results are important in making decisions regarding a patient's diagnosis and response to treatment. These tests often measure the biomarkers found in biological fluids such blood, urine, and saliva. Immunoassay is one type of laboratory test used to measure the level of biomarkers using specific antibodies. Microfluidics offer several advantages such as speed, small sample volume requirement, portability, integration, and automation. These advantages are motivating to develop microfluidic platforms of conventional laboratory tests. I have fabricated polymer microfluidic devices and developed immunoassays on-chip for potential cancer markers. Silicon template devices were fabricated using standard photolithographic techniques. The template …

Genomic Size And Ploidy Level Patterns Of Intermountain West Lepidium Determined Using Flow Cytometry, Robert W. Lichvar

Western North American Naturalist

The taxonomic status of members of the genus Lepidium in the Intermountain West has been in flux for years. Species concepts and classification of these endemic species from the western United States center on the highly variable L. montanum complex. Until recently, classification treatments that use morphological features in this group have been adequate, but as new species are discovered and more locations reported, the limited number of morphological features available for classification and defining species concepts has led to more uncertainty about taxonomic rankings. As part of a molecular and morphological-based treatment of the group, flow cytometry was used …

Size Distribution And Nutrient Excretion Of Melanoides Tuberculata In A Southern Nevada Spring Ecosystem, Knut Mehler, Kumud Acharya

Western North American Naturalist

To better understand the impact of Melanoides tuberculata on ecosystem processes via nutrient recycling, we quantified the body size distribution, density, and ammonia-nitrogen (NH₄–N) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) excretion of M. tuberculata in Rogers Spring, which is located in southern Nevada. We examined how nutrient recycling rates were related to body size and body nutrient content. We found that small individuals dominated the size structure, density, and NH₄–N and SRP excretion rates and that nutrient recycling was determined by biomass rather than by high per capita excretion rates. The NH₄–N excretion rates of …

Influence Of Prescribed Burning On Bird Abundance And Species Assemblage In A Semiarid Great Plains Grassland, Ashley M. Long, William E. Jensen, Raymond S. Matlack

Western North American Naturalist

Encroachment of woody plants is widespread in semiarid grasslands of the southwestern United States. Wildlife responses to shrub removal techniques in the region are relatively unknown. In 2008 and 2009, we examined avian responses to prescribed burning of ungrazed shortgrass prairie within a study area (4811 ha) near Amarillo, Texas, that is heavily encroached by honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and cholla (Opuntia spp.). Specifically, we compared relative abundance, species richness, and species diversity of breeding birds across large, spatially replicated experimental plots burned every 2 or 4 years since 2002 and unburned controls. We found no significant …

A Survey Of Spiders Found In Fallen Pine Cones In Eastern Washington State, Laurel J. Ramseyer, Rodney L. Crawford

Western North American Naturalist

Fallen pine cones are a microhabitat for spiders in Washington State. Eighty-nine species of spiders from 24 families and 70 genera were identified from 1060 specimens collected from over 4567 cones of Pinus ponderosa and Pinus monticola between 2008 and 2013. Euryopis formosa Banks 1908 (Theridiidae) and Pholcophora americanaBanks 1896 (Pholcidae) were the most abundant species collected (27% and 9.3% of identified specimens, respectively) and occurred most frequently (49% and 21% of sampling sites, respectively). Fallen cones may be an important microhabitat for these species in Washington. Fallen cones produced 18 spider species rare in Washington, including Theridion rabuni …

Genetic Structure In Populations Of Baetis Tricaudatus In The San Bernardino Mountains, Brian Spitzer

Western North American Naturalist

To examine genetic structure in populations of the mayfly Baetis tricaudatus and make inferences about its dispersal abilities, I analyzed 3 microsatellite regions in individuals collected from 14 locations in the San Bernardino Mountains of southern California. Genotypes separate into 2 strongly differentiated clusters, suggesting that B. tricaudatus as currently recognized consists of more than one species. Within each cluster, there is significant genetic differentiation among collection sites, but no significant trend of genetic isolation by distance. Heterozygote deficiencies exist at various sites for all loci. Gene flow appears to prevent isolation by distance across the 60-km stretch of the …

Geographic And Elevational Distribution Of Fringed Myotis (Myotis Thysanodes) In Colorado, Mark A. Hayes, Rick A. Adams

Western North American Naturalist

Fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes) is considered a bat species of conservation concern in Colorado and in western North America. The purpose of our research was to describe the geographic and elevational distribution of fringed myotis in Colorado and consider the potential influence of the Southern Rocky Mountains on the distribution of this species. We documented, mapped, and analyzed 729 Colorado capture and occurrence records for this species, and used 546 records in a 2-way ANOVA comparing elevational distribution among sex and reproductive classes. Mean elevation of occurrence was significantly different among reproductive classes (F = 7.03, P …

Current Distributional Status Of The Striped Skunk, Mephitis Mephitis, In Baja California, Mexico, Jorge H. Valdez-Villavicencio, Gorgonio Ruiz-Campos, Jonathan Escobar-Flores, Aldo A. Guevara Carrizales, Salvador González-Guzmán

Western North American Naturalist

We provide information on recent records of the 2 subspecies of striped skunk occurring in the northeastern (Mephitis mephitis estor) and northwestern (M. m. holzneri) region of Baja California, Mexico. Most of the recent records for these subspecies come from valleys and suburban zones.


Aportamos registros recientes para las dos subespecies del zorrillo rayado Mephitis mephitis que ocurren en el noreste (M. m. estor) y noroeste (M. m. holzneri) de Baja California, México. La mayoría de los registros recientes de estas subespecies provienen de los valles y zonas suburbanas.

New White-Lipped Peccary (Tayassu Pecari) Records For The Coast Of Campeche, Mexico, Mircea G. Hidalgo-Mihart, Fernando M. Contreras-Moreno, Luz A. Pérez-Solano, Alejandro Jesús De La Cruz

Western North American Naturalist

Using camera traps, we recorded presence of the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari;WLP) in the Chenkan region, an area of wetlands, mangroves, and tropical flood forest located on the coast of Campeche in Mexico. The WLP had been considered extinct in the area, so its rediscovery in Chenkan increases the known range of the current distribution of this species, which is classified as endangered in Mexico. The presence of WLP in Chenkan highlights the importance of the area for the conservation of this endangered species. Therefore, it is necessary to take effective conservation actions to maintain the region’s natural …

End Matter, Vol. 74 No. 4

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Insights Into Ultrasonic Release From Eliposomes, Marjan Javadi, William G. Pitt

Faculty Publications

A novel nanosized liposomal carrier was prepared consisting of perfluorocarbon emulsion droplet(s) encapsulated inside a liposome, which is called an eLiposome. This 200-nm construct is useful for acoustically activated drug delivery because ultrasound causes the emulsion droplet to expand from liquid to gas, which expansion ruptures the eLiposome bilayer and releases the internal contents. This study focuses on the parameters that influence control of the release of calcein (a model drug), including ultrasound amplitude, insonation time, and perfluorocarbon vapor pressure as a function of temperature and composition. The results show that calcein release increases as the ultrasound amplitude or insonation …

Egypt Excavation Conservation Training, Kerry Muhlestein, Lincoln Blumell, David Whitchurch, Paul Stavast, Giovanni Tata, R Paul Evans, Kristin South

Journal of Undergraduate Research

With the monies from the MEG granted to me and the BYU Egypt Excavation Project, we were able to accomplish wonderful things. As per our proposal, we have used the monies granted through this MEG to do conservation work in Egypt and Provo and to train students in conservation and museum skills.

The ‘Ohana Mana Challenge: An Intervention Study On Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islander Nutrition And Activity, Jane H. Lassetter

Journal of Undergraduate Research

In our recent study, 84.4% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) in Hawaii and Utah were overweight or obese, which puts them at increased risk for obesity-related diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Pre-colonization NHPI diets were rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and fish, but research indicates current NHPI diets consist largely of processed and fast foods. Along with this change in NHPI diet came a change in activity, from fishing and farming to more sedentary jobs. The changes in diet and activity likely contribute to high NHPI overweight and obesity prevalence. People can make wise …

Elucidating A Precise Role For The Small Heat Shock Proteins Cryab And Hspb2 In Cardiac Robustness, Julianne H. Grose

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Evaluation of how well the academic objectives of the proposal were met

• Specific Aim 1: Perform yeast two-hybrid screens on wild type CryAB, R120G CryAB, and HspB2 in order to create a protein-protein interaction network and identify potential substrates.
• Achievements: Large-scale yeast-two hybrid screens were performed on wild type CryAB, R120G CryAB and HspB2 in order to identify their protein-protein interaction networks and to identify putative substrates.
• Specific Aim 2: Validate the protein-protein interaction network via Y2H dependency tests (A), affinity purification from mammalian cells (B) and chaperone activity assays (C).
• Achievements: Y2H dependency tests were performed for all three …

Byu Undergraduates Execute A Familial Study Of Non-Demented Individuals In High-Risk Alzheimer’S Disease Pedigrees, John S.K. Kauwe

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Successful enrollment in and completion of graduate programs requires a constellation of skills. Students must be prepared to plan and execute experiments, present their findings both verbally and in manuscript form and interact effectively with senior scientists in the field of their choice. In this MEG I will mentor four undergraduate students (Kevin Boehme, Lyndsay Staley, Kaitlin Bell and Mark Wadsworth) as they develop skills in study design, data analysis, manuscript preparation, presentation and networking while identifying genetic factors that protect individuals from Alzheimer’s disease.

Linking Water And Carbon Cycles To Train Students To Meet 21st Century Grand Challenges In Environmental Science, Richard Gill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The central aim of this proposal is to provide opportunities for students from diverse academic backgrounds to work collaboratively on a number of federally funded environmental change experiments across four of Utah’s ecosystems—Mojave Desert, Great Basin Shrub Steppe, Subalpine Tall Forb, and Colorado Plateau Grassland. This proposal funded 4 students from life sciences and engineering.

Loneliness And Social Isolation As Risk Factors For Mortality: A Meta-Analytic Review, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Timothy B. Smith, Mark Baker, Tyler Harris, David Stephenson

Faculty Publications

Actual and perceived social isolation are both associated with increased risk for early mortality. The objective of this meta-analytic review is to establish the overall and relative magnitude of social isolation and loneliness and examine possible moderators. A literature search of studies (January 1980 to February 2014) was conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Social Work Abstracts, and Google Scholar. The included studies provide quantitative data on mortality as affected by loneliness, social isolation, or living alone. Across studies that statistically controlled for a variety of possible confounds, the independent random effects weighted average effect sizes for social isolation OR = …

Persuasion And Sexuality, Emily Sullivan

BYU English Symposium

The sexual transformation of the protagonist, Anne Elliot, in Austen's Persuasion shows a self-confidence and independence uncommon during the Regency era. This article studies the sources and factors of this change and why the change is so revolutionary.

Redefining Atonement In The Eco-Dystopian World Of Margaret Atwood's Oryx & Crake, Rachel Gilman

BYU English Symposium

What if there was no God? Margaret Atwood’s Oryx & Crake infiltrates a faithful reader’s mind to consider her eco-dystopian world with this question in mind. From a perspective of faith in God and in atonement, considering this dystopian world becomes an exercise in placing human identity in the context of self-creation and self-destruction rather than in divine origin. Without a spiritual genesis of animals and the natural environment, their purpose becomes more dictated by the progress of human need and their end becomes less intertwined with the fate of humanity. Characters that act as creators and destroyers who are …

The Blind Can See: Revisiting Disability In Jane Eyre, Gina Schneck

BYU English Symposium

Scholars have often criticized Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre for its antiquated approach to disability. However, these scholars tend to focus on physical or biological disability without delving into the possibility of metaphorical disability (such as Jane's naiveté). By looking at disability as both literal and figurative, we can see how both Jane and Edward are blind, and that their story is one of learning to see through breaking down the binaries associated with blindness and disability.

American Masculinity, Corinn Pratt

BYU English Symposium

This paper explores Walt Whitman’s “Children of Adam” and contends that the writer and his work are an embodiment of American masculinity. Within our current culture neither Whitman nor his work would be perceived as masculine, let alone the epitome of it. However, a review of historical information within Whitman’s time period, particularly Dr. Fowler’s book of creative and sexual science, gives a unique view of masculinity and of Whitman. Taking this information into consideration Whitman’s “Children of Adam” takes on new meaning. This paper concludes that a historical reading leads one to realize that Whitman believes himself to be …

The Central Aim Of This Proposal Is To Provide Opportunities For Students From Diverse Academic Backgrounds To Work Collaboratively On A Number Of Federally Funded Environmental Change Experiments Across Four Of Utah’S Ecosystems—Mojave Desert, Great Basin Shrub Steppe, Subalpine Tall Forb, And Colorado Plateau Grassland. This Proposal Funded 4 Students From Life Sciences And Engineering., Mark C. Belk

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The proposal was to compare life history characteristics and the cost of reproduction tradeoff among populations of a burying beetle (Nicrophorus orbicollis). We conducted two major experiments with the MEG funding directed toward this goal. Both experiments required that we collect beetles from the wild and then raise their offspring in the lab to document responses. First, we compared lifetime reproductive output among two populations at two distinct temperatures. Second, we evaluated parentage of offspring (using newly developed molecular techniques) after manipulation of parental care.