Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Brigham Young University

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 4351 - 4380 of 10994

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Prior Experience Affects Allocation To Current Reproduction In A Burying Beetle, Eric J. Billman, J. Curtis Creighton, Mark C. Belk Apr 2014

Prior Experience Affects Allocation To Current Reproduction In A Burying Beetle, Eric J. Billman, J. Curtis Creighton, Mark C. Belk

Faculty Publications

The cost of reproduction hypothesis predicts that the level of reproductive investment to current reproduction is constrained by an individual’s future reproductive potential or residual reproductive value. Therefore, age, or differences between young and old individuals in residual reproductive value, is expected to influence reproductive investment. However, recent theoretical work suggests that residual reproductive value is also influenced by an individual’s state or condition which may in part be determined by prior reproductive experience. We evaluated the reproductive investment of same-aged female burying beetles (Nicrophorus orbicollis) to determine how prior reproductive experience affects current reproduction. Consistent with previous …

Go to article

The Predictive Capabilities Of Ketamine Sensitivity For Future Alcohol Consumption, Andrea Sorenson, Dr. J. Dee Higley Apr 2014

The Predictive Capabilities Of Ketamine Sensitivity For Future Alcohol Consumption, Andrea Sorenson, Dr. J. Dee Higley

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alcohol is one of the most abused drugs in the United States; with a large number of adolescents having used alcohol. A substantive portion of those adolescents (15%, about 7% females and 20% of males) will go on to become addicted to alcohol. Because alcoholism is such a large issue it is imperative that research is done to find a predictive measure for alcoholism (Kessler et al, 1994). This study proposed looking at the relationship alcohol drinking patterns and responses to the anesthetic ketamine in adolescent rhesus macaque monkeys. If there is a relationship between ketamine and alcohol consumption this …

Go to article

A Meta-Analytic Evaluation Of The Ern As A Biological Marker Of Depression And Anxiety, David Rackham, Dr. Michael Larson Apr 2014

A Meta-Analytic Evaluation Of The Ern As A Biological Marker Of Depression And Anxiety, David Rackham, Dr. Michael Larson

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Anxiety and depression disorders have a high rate of prevalence in the adult U.S. population (anxiety 18.1%; depression 9.5%; “Mental Disorders,” 2010). Indeed, it is estimated that by the year 2020 depression will be the second most prevalent health concern worldwide for all ages and both sexes (“Depression,” n.d., para. 2). Many disciplines are seeking effective treatment options, as well as exploring potential preventative solutions for these disorders. One such preventative possibility is the elucidation of endophenotypes, which are unobservable characteristics that are linked with a behavior known to be a phenotype of the disorder. Research on the etiology of …

Go to article

Orca Project For Taylor Turnbull, Taylor Turnbull Apr 2014

Orca Project For Taylor Turnbull, Taylor Turnbull

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Our project went according to plan, with a few small modifications along the way. Initially, we had proposed to incorporate gender profiling in attempt to understand the differences in serum proteomics profiles in men and women. As planned the information concerning gender was obtained and used to effectively design an additional project, to analyze serum differences between Alzheimer’s and non-Alzheimer’s individuals. Utilizing the novel capillary liquid chromatography method outlined in our proposal we were able to analyze our serum samples. By comparing the resulting mass spectra using specialized statistical methods we have been able to identify several biomarkers. The information …

Go to article

In Vitro Activation Of Human Follicular Dentritic Cells And Its Effects On Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, Sean Llewellyn, Dr. Gregory F. Burton Apr 2014

In Vitro Activation Of Human Follicular Dentritic Cells And Its Effects On Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection, Sean Llewellyn, Dr. Gregory F. Burton

Journal of Undergraduate Research

HIV is known to survive on follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) for many months and is believed to contribute to persisting HIV infection. FDCs protect HIV from degradation, thereby prolonging the infectivity of the virus. Moreover, when virus is trapped on FDCs, it escapes the ability of neutralizing antibodies (NtAb) to block infection of CD4+ T cells and subsequent removal of virus from the body. We postulate that FDC CD32 and/or CD21 contribute to maintaining virus infectivity and permitting infection in the presence of NtAb. Furthermore, when HIV forms an immune complex with antibodies and binds to CD32 and/or CD21, the …

Go to article

Up-Regulation Of Receptors For Advanced Glycation End-Products (Rage) In The Lung Results In Significant Tissue Loss And Neonatal Lethality, Jeff Stogsdill, Dr. Paul Reynolds Apr 2014

Up-Regulation Of Receptors For Advanced Glycation End-Products (Rage) In The Lung Results In Significant Tissue Loss And Neonatal Lethality, Jeff Stogsdill, Dr. Paul Reynolds

Journal of Undergraduate Research

The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is becoming an increasingly popular molecule of study after having been initially characterized in relation to a number of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s and atherosclerosis among others. It has recently been noted that RAGE is found at high quantities in lung diseases such as lung fibrosis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) coupled with emphysema, yet the specific role it plays to date is unknown. In this research, RAGE has been conditionally over-expressed in the mouse lung in order to determine its contribution to pulmonary development and …

Go to article

Engineering Cell-Free Systems For Vaccine Development, Self-Assembling Nanoparticles And Codon Reassignment Applications, Mark T. Smith Apr 2014

Engineering Cell-Free Systems For Vaccine Development, Self-Assembling Nanoparticles And Codon Reassignment Applications, Mark T. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation reports on the technology of cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) including 1) stabilized lyophilized cell-free systems and 2) enhanced heterogeneous cell extracts. This work further considers applications of CFPS systems in 1) rapid vaccine development, 2) functional virus-based nanoparticles, 3) site-specific protein immobilization, and 4) expanding the language of biology using unnatural amino acids. CFPS technology is a versatile protein production platform that has many features unavailable in in vivo expression systems. The primary benefit cell-free systems provide is the direct access to the reaction environment, which is no longer hindered by the presence of a cell-wall. The “openness" …

Go to article

Essay: An Observation On The Universal Significance Of Western Civilization, Laina Farhat-Holzman Apr 2014

Essay: An Observation On The Universal Significance Of Western Civilization, Laina Farhat-Holzman

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Go to article

The Paradox Of Thinking And The Unthinkable, Walter Benesch Apr 2014

The Paradox Of Thinking And The Unthinkable, Walter Benesch

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Go to article

From Globalization Waves To Global Civilization, Andrew Targowski Apr 2014

From Globalization Waves To Global Civilization, Andrew Targowski

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Go to article

The Roles Of Phosducin-Like Protein 1 And Programmed Cell Death Protein 5 As Molecular Co-Chaperones Of The Cytosolic Chaperonin Complex, Christopher M. Tracy Apr 2014

The Roles Of Phosducin-Like Protein 1 And Programmed Cell Death Protein 5 As Molecular Co-Chaperones Of The Cytosolic Chaperonin Complex, Christopher M. Tracy

Theses and Dissertations

A fundamental question in biology is how proteins, which are synthesized by the ribosome as a linear sequence of amino acids, fold into their native functional state. Many proteins require the assistance of molecular chaperones to maneuver through the folding process to protect them from aggregation and to help them reach their native state in the very concentrated protein environment of the cell. This study focuses on the roles of Phosducin-like Protein 1 (PhLP1) and Programmed Cell Death Protein 5 (PDCD5) as molecular co-chaperones of the Cytosolic Chaperonin Complex (CCT).Signaling in retinal photoreceptors is mediated by canonical G protein pathways. …

Go to article

Analysis Of Laws Governing Combination Products, Transgenic Food, Pharmaceutical Products And Their Applicability To Edible Vaccines, Simon Maxwell Apr 2014

Analysis Of Laws Governing Combination Products, Transgenic Food, Pharmaceutical Products And Their Applicability To Edible Vaccines, Simon Maxwell

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Holding Polluters Responsible: Redistributing Externalities Through Pigovian Taxes, Krista Alford Apr 2014

Holding Polluters Responsible: Redistributing Externalities Through Pigovian Taxes, Krista Alford

Brigham Young University Prelaw Review

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Civilizations: Which Constitutes Africa's Most Effective Choice?, Tseggai Isaac Apr 2014

Civilizations: Which Constitutes Africa's Most Effective Choice?, Tseggai Isaac

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

Go to article

Cost-Savings Achieved In Two Semesters Through The Adoption Of Open Educational Resources, John Hilton Iii, T. Jared Robinson, David Wiley, J. Dale Ackerman Apr 2014

Cost-Savings Achieved In Two Semesters Through The Adoption Of Open Educational Resources, John Hilton Iii, T. Jared Robinson, David Wiley, J. Dale Ackerman

Faculty Publications

Textbooks represent a significant portion of the overall cost of higher education in the United States. The burden of these costs is typically shouldered by students, those who support them, and the taxpayers who fund the grants and student loans which pay for textbooks. Open educational resources (OER) provide students a way to receive high-quality learning materials at little or no cost to students. We report on the cost savings achieved by students at eight colleges when these colleges began utilizing OER in place of traditional commercial textbooks.

Go to article

Biomechanical Applications And Modeling Of Quantum Nano-Composite Strain Gauges, Taylor David Remington Apr 2014

Biomechanical Applications And Modeling Of Quantum Nano-Composite Strain Gauges, Taylor David Remington

Theses and Dissertations

Biological tissues routinely experience large strains and undergo large deformations during normal physiologic activity. Biological tissue deformation is well beyond the range of standard strain gauges, and hence must often be captured using expensive and non-portable options such as optical marker tracking methods that may rely upon significant post-processing. This study develops portable gauges that operate in real time and are compatible with the large strains seen by biological materials. The new gauges are based on a relatively new technique for quantifying large strain in real-time (up to 40 %) by use of a piezoresistive nano-composite strain gauge. The nano-composite …

Go to article

Unattended Remotely Operated Deep-Water Sediment Oxygen Demand Chambers, Drake Theodore Mailes Apr 2014

Unattended Remotely Operated Deep-Water Sediment Oxygen Demand Chambers, Drake Theodore Mailes

Theses and Dissertations

Dissolved oxygen (DO) depletion in a water body is governed by two primary mechanisms: biological oxygen demand (BOD) from the water column, and sediment oxygen demand (SOD) from sediments. SOD is the dominant oxygen sink in many water bodies; measurements show as much as 95% of oxygen consumption as attributable to SOD (Truax, Shindala, & Sartain, 1996). Measuring SOD in surface water impoundments is an essential component in evaluating and an important input for modeling the health of a water body. Traditional SOD measurement methods are difficult in deeper waters, such as in reservoirs or lakes, because traditional SOD measurement …

Go to article

Stream Turbidity: A Variable To Co-Habitation Of Fish Predators And Prey?, Nicholas Davis, Dr. Ryan Jensen Mar 2014

Stream Turbidity: A Variable To Co-Habitation Of Fish Predators And Prey?, Nicholas Davis, Dr. Ryan Jensen

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Global bio-diversity is being threatened by many different factors. Most of this is man induced. One of these factors is the introduction of non-native organisms to new locations. One hypothesis that explains why some non-native invasive organisms are so successful is that the native organisms have not evolved strategies to effectively interact with the new organism’s strategy (e.g. competition, predation impacts). Essentially, they are unprepared to defend themselves or deal with the novel threat.

Go to article

Quantitative Assessment Of Supraorbital Osseous Bar Stability And Symmetry After Frontal Orbital Advancement For Unilateral Coronal Craniosynostosis, Aaron Hart, Chia-Chi Teng, Dr. Richard Hopper, Dr. David Khechoyan, Dr. Jennifer Brown Mar 2014

Quantitative Assessment Of Supraorbital Osseous Bar Stability And Symmetry After Frontal Orbital Advancement For Unilateral Coronal Craniosynostosis, Aaron Hart, Chia-Chi Teng, Dr. Richard Hopper, Dr. David Khechoyan, Dr. Jennifer Brown

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Abstract— Frontal-orbital advancement is the accepted surgical treatment for correcting the cranial deformity associated with premature fusion of one of the coronal cranial sutures. Removal and reshaping of the brow and lower forehead bone is performed to correct ipsilateral frontal flattening and parietal bulging, recession of the supraorbital rim, and contralateral forehead bossing. In addition to the functional aspects of the treatment, bilateral symmetry is one desirable outcome that is difficult to achieve because of the recessive movement and shape changes of the supraorbital rim that continue to occur over a prolonged period of time after the operation. Surgeons often …

Go to article

A2 Protein Incorporation Into The Qβ Virus-Like Particle, Derek Bush, Dr. Band Bundy Mar 2014

A2 Protein Incorporation Into The Qβ Virus-Like Particle, Derek Bush, Dr. Band Bundy

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Virus-like Particles (VLPs) are noninfectious synthetic copies of the outer protein shell of viruses. They are highly symmetrical nanostructures that self-assemble from approximately 200 copies of a single “coat” protein. This symmetry makes attachment of singular foreign entities to the VLPs difficult, which limits their current uses in medical and engineering applications. In this research project we have worked to demonstrate the insertion of a single copy of the “A2” protein into the VLP from the Qβ bacteriophage to serve as a possible location for future site-specific VLP modification. Ultimately we believe that this work will lead to the development …

Go to article

Comparative Sedimentology Of Lake Bonneville And The Great Salt Lake, Kevin Michael Mcguire Mar 2014

Comparative Sedimentology Of Lake Bonneville And The Great Salt Lake, Kevin Michael Mcguire

Theses and Dissertations

Ooids of Great Salt Lake, Utah (GSL) have been studied periodically by geologists since the 1960's. These studies have documented the locations of ooid deposits, bulk composition, mineralogy, and internal structural variations of GSL ooids. Ooids have also been identified in sediment cores from lakes predating the Great Salt Lake, but similar descriptions have not been made for these ooids. Samples of ooids from cores in Pilot Valley, UT/NV and Knolls, UT have been obtained, along with samples from the Great Salt Lake at Bridger Bay and Rozel Point. The cortical fabrics and crystal morphologies of these ooids were studied …

Go to article

Exploring The Retention Of Credit-Hour Value In Terms Of Workload For University Core Courses Taught In A Time-Compressed Format, Lyndell E. Lutes Mar 2014

Exploring The Retention Of Credit-Hour Value In Terms Of Workload For University Core Courses Taught In A Time-Compressed Format, Lyndell E. Lutes

Theses and Dissertations

This study compared the workload and value of work done outside of class reported by 3512 undergraduate students at Brigham Young University completing 16-week semester and 8-week term University Core (General Education and Religion) classes. Based on the results of this analysis, significant differences in workloads were found when comparing them by occasion (semester versus term). Significant differences were also found in workload and value of homework based on the autonomy of the instructors. On average, the workload difference by occasion equates to approximately 54 minutes more per week in a 3-credit semester course when compared to a term course. …

Go to article

The Effects Of Laryngeal Desiccation And Nebulized Isotonic Saline In Trained Male Singers, Robert B. Fujiki Mar 2014

The Effects Of Laryngeal Desiccation And Nebulized Isotonic Saline In Trained Male Singers, Robert B. Fujiki

Theses and Dissertations

Vocal fold hydration is important for healthy function of the vocal mechanism. Vocal fold surface fluid protects the mucosa and facilitates efficient vocal fold oscillation. Dry air exposure, mouth breathing, insufficient intake of liquids, and behavioral factors may contribute to laryngeal dehydration. Singers are believed to be particularly at risk for voice problems related to dehydration due to environmental and voice use factors. Laryngeal desiccation and nebulized hydration treatments have been shown to influence phonation threshold pressure (PTP) and self-perceived phonatory effort (PPE) in females. However, little research exists exploring the effects of hydration in males. Additionally, few studies have …

Go to article

Calorespirometric Determination Of The Effects Of Temperature, Humidity, Low O2 And High Co2 On The Development Of Musca Domestica Pupae, J. J. Joyal, L. D. Hansen, D. R. Coons, G. M. Booth, B. N. Smith, D. D. Mill Mar 2014

Calorespirometric Determination Of The Effects Of Temperature, Humidity, Low O2 And High Co2 On The Development Of Musca Domestica Pupae, J. J. Joyal, L. D. Hansen, D. R. Coons, G. M. Booth, B. N. Smith, D. D. Mill

Journal of Undergraduate Research

Evolutionary fitness [1, 2] and physical activity [3] are related to the metabolic activity of organisms. The metabolic rate of an organism may be measured as the rates of CO2 or heat production, or of O2 consumption [4–6, 7]. Calorespirometric data on both heat and CO2 rates allows calculation of anabolic rates, calculation of efficiencies of conversion of substrate into anabolic products, and provides information on the nature of the substrate carbon source [6, 7]. In this study, heat and CO2 production rates of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) pupae were measured during exposure to varied humidity, temperature, decreasing O2 partial …

Go to article

Role Of Α6 Nachrs In Ethanol Modulation Of Vta Neurons, Samuel Injae Shin Mar 2014

Role Of Α6 Nachrs In Ethanol Modulation Of Vta Neurons, Samuel Injae Shin

Theses and Dissertations

The prevailing view is that enhancement of dopamine (DA) transmission in the mesolimbic system leads to the rewarding properties of alcohol and nicotine (NIC). The mesolimbic DA system consists of DA neurons in the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA) that innervate the nucleus accumbens (NAc). DA neurotransmission is regulated by inhibitory VTA GABA neurons, whose excitability is a net effect of glutamate (GLU) and GABA neurotransmission that are modulated by NIC cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) on afferent terminals. We have previously demonstrated that VTA GABA neurons are excited by low-dose ethanol but are inhibited by moderate to high-dose ethanol, and they …

Go to article

The Effect Of Age On Second Language Acquisition In Older Adults, Charisse Alaine Major Mar 2014

The Effect Of Age On Second Language Acquisition In Older Adults, Charisse Alaine Major

Theses and Dissertations

A primary purpose of second language (L2) research is to determine what factors hinder or help L2 acquisition. One aspect that has a strong effect on L2 proficiency is learners' age of onset of acquisition (AOA) (Johnson & Newport, 1989). These studies and others suggest that younger learners are more adept than older learners at learning an L2, especially to a near-native level. However, some older learners can become quite proficient in an L2 (Ioup, et al. 1994; Bialystok, 1997; Bongaerts, 1999), although learners who have acquired the L2 over the age of 30 are rarely studied. Why is it …

Go to article

The Effect Of Formative Assessments On Language Performance, Brian W. Radford Mar 2014

The Effect Of Formative Assessments On Language Performance, Brian W. Radford

Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to improve the language learning outcomes at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. Young men and women between the ages of 19-24 are taught a foreign language in an accelerated environment. In an effort to improve learning outcomes, computer-based practice and teaching of language performance criteria were provided to missionaries in an effort to allow them to progress at their own pace outside of the classroom. The effect of computer-based practice and the teaching of language performance criteria were assessed in a 2x2 factorial design. The dependent variable was speaking proficiency in the Spanish language. This …

Go to article

Teachers Observing Teachers: Factors That Contribute To Critical Thinking In Peer Coaching, Jessica Lafern Bryan Mar 2014

Teachers Observing Teachers: Factors That Contribute To Critical Thinking In Peer Coaching, Jessica Lafern Bryan

Theses and Dissertations

Many university language programs draw on undergraduate as well as graduate students to conduct their courses. These student instructors do not always have adequate pedagogical preparation or experience. Past research suggests that conducting peer observations followed by a group reflection on basic teaching practice would help teachers become more aware of their own teaching. This research aims to investigate whether peer coaching followed by peer reflection meetings increases instructor effectiveness and confidence, as well as whether it is the observations or the reflections that encourage teachers to think more critically and improve their teaching.

Go to article

The Effects Of Laryngeal Desiccation And Nebulized Isotonic Saline In Male Speakers, Whitney Jane Robb Mar 2014

The Effects Of Laryngeal Desiccation And Nebulized Isotonic Saline In Male Speakers, Whitney Jane Robb

Theses and Dissertations

Hydration of the vocal folds is important for the production of normal voice. Dehydration makes voice production more difficult and increases vocal effort. Laryngeal desiccation has been shown to increase phonation threshold pressure (PTP) and self-perceived phonatory effort (PPE) in females. Nebulized saline may reverse or offset this effect. However, few data exist regarding the effects of laryngeal desiccation and nebulized treatments in males. Further, the dose-response relationship between laryngeal desiccation and nebulized hydration treatments is unknown. This study examined the effects of two doses of nebulized isotonic saline following a laryngeal desiccation challenge in healthy male speakers. In a …

Go to article

Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging: Instrumentation, Optimization And Capabilities, Manan Dhunna Mar 2014

Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging: Instrumentation, Optimization And Capabilities, Manan Dhunna

Theses and Dissertations

Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass spectrometry Imaging (DESI-MSI) is an area of great interest and a promising tool in the field of chemical imaging. It is a powerful, label-free technique, which can determine, map and visualize different molecular compounds on a sample surface. The amount of information acquired in a single DESI-MSI experiment is enormous compared to other techniques, as it can simultaneously detect different compounds with their spatial distribution on the surface. The experiment can be used to produce two-dimensional and three-dimensional images. Chapter 2 focuses on the design and optimization of the setup for performing DESI-MS imaging on various …

Go to article

First Prev Next Last