Digital Commons Network^™

Filipino American Parents' Experiences With The United States Special Education System: A Qualitative Study, Greyagail Custodio Surio

Theses and Dissertations

While there have been studies on Asian American (AA) parents' experiences with the U.S. special education (SPED) system, there have been no studies on Filipino American (FA) parents' experiences with the SPED system. As FAs are the third largest Asian group in the United States., there is a need for special education research to be conducted with this population. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) interviews were conducted over Zoom with FA parents of children receiving SPED services. Participants resided in various states in the United States (n = 10). Participants reported varied and nuanced experiences related to advocacy, working with the …

A Randomized Controlled Study Of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback In An Older Adult Sample, Whitney D. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is a controlled breathing treatment designed to increase the variation in consecutive heartbeats leading to improved regulation of one's autonomic nervous system thereby improving one's ability to self-regulate and maintain homeostasis. Changes in heart rate variability (HRV) are seen in those of increased age and lower HRV is associated with poorer outcomes (e.g., increased mortality, worse emotional functioning, cardiovascular risk factors). As such, older adults are a group that stands to benefit from HRVB principles. The current randomized control trial was designed to understand the impact of HRVB in an older adult population on resting …

Unlocking Your Creative Potential Through Audio Recording 2, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

This is the second article of the series of Exponential Increase of Intellectual Productivity through Audio Recording. We discuss how to increase the amount of recording. There are so many ways to accomplish it. "The sky’s the limit."

Unlocking Your Creative Potential Through Audio Recording 3, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Learning, Teaching, & Researching Optimization

This is the final article of the series of Exponential Increase of Intellectual Productivity through Audio Recording. Through this article you will learn how to utilize the accumulated records in a digital document and very speedily produce a report or paper.

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.

Understanding The Unexplored Illness Of Scrupulosity, Nicholas York

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Scrupulosity, a subset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), is a mental health disorder that is fundamentally unique and impacts both religious and non-religious perfectionistic individuals. The aim of this literature review is to highlight the difficulty in diagnosis and lack of specialized treatment for those suffering with the difficulties of scrupulosity. When someone seeks help from mental health professionals, they may remain undiagnosed due to the complexity of scrupulosity. Further, when properly diagnosed, treatment can be complicated due to the difficulty in distinguishing religious standards from obsessive tendencies. Additionally, when a therapist treats scrupulosity, they may struggle to apply general OCD …

Harm Of Screen Time On The Physical And Mental Health Of Young Children, Joseph Shearer

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

More than 10 years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a statement recommending that children under the age of two should not be allowed to view electronic screens. Although screen time is commonplace in a modern climate, the research reported within this review draws attention to the potential detriments of early exposure. These detriments include reduced levels of exercise, sleep, and creativity, as well as increased levels of unhealthy food consumption and an influx of mental health challenges later in life. Some benefits are discussed, such as opportunities for learning and/or stress reduction. Ultimately, the research over the …

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 …

It Is Not Just A Phase: Psychosocial Factors As A Window Into Adolescent Alcohol Abuse In Rural Communities, Jamie Pineda

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

Adolescent alcohol consumption in rural areas is a serious issue that has been continuously overlooked by researchers in the past. While a few scholars have explored adolescents’ genetics and mental health conditions to illuminate their motivation behind underage drinking, psychosocial factors that expose rural adolescents to alcohol have yet to be adequately explored. Similarly, the question of what can be done to prevent or limit rural adolescent alcohol consumption has also been relatively ignored. As such, this work seeks to identify social influences that may elevate underage drinking in rural communities and to determine effective alcohol abuse prevention programs 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 …

Front Matter

Intuition: The BYU Undergraduate Journal of Psychology

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Alebrijes, Shauna Christensen

The Utah English Journal

400 years into the post-apocalyptic future, 13 year-old orphan Leandro and his younger sister, Gabi, struggle to survive in a barren San Joaquin Valley. Like the other Spanish-speaking lower class field workers, they are forced to farm vegetables for the elite ruling class, or risk exile or death in the harsh desert, a barren wasteland filled with terrifying man-eating wyrms. Leandro’s plan to escape with Gabi is thrown into disarray when Gabi is caught stealing a single strawberry in the market. Leandro takes the blame and is sentenced to banishment, or he can choose to have his consciousness transferred to …

Writing Prompts In The Healing-Centered Classroom, Elizabeth Hancock

The Utah English Journal

As I began the 2013-14 school year, I encountered students with a full range of life experiences. My students’ lives ran the gamut from having the 1950s version of traditional middle- class families to being part of the Utah foster care system. Their challenges included depression over not making the school dance team, dyslexia or other learning disabilities, and responding to trauma with self-harm by using a heated curling iron. I wondered what I could do to help struggling students make it through the minefields in their lives, and remembered the character of Ponyboy, who writes about his friends’ traumatic …

Book Review: There Goes The Neighborhood, Feliciana Lopez-Goodman

The Utah English Journal

Rhea’s motives seem simple—save her best friend from eviction and stop the neighborhood from falling apart. As is true for all complex characters, there is more to Rhea, Zeke, and Malachi as they create a fake gang in their South LA neighborhood of Kofa Park. In Jade Adia’s debut novel There Goes the Neighborhood, gentrification is front and center as three teenagers take on the responsibility of saving their neighborhood and their chosen family.

Co-Creating A Community Of Learners Through Interactive Read-Alouds Of Expository Texts, Kari Allsup

The Utah English Journal

I am reading aloud Zombie Makers: True Stories of Nature’s Undead (Johnson, 2013) to a group of 7th grade students. The text describes the larva stage where a young jewel wasp feasts on the cockroach’s insides. As I read, there are scattered exclamations of “ewwww,” “sick,” and audible gasps. I stop reading to dig into these reactions.

From The University To The Universe: A Scientific And Historical Overview Of The West Mountain Observatory, Amber Zendejas, Dan Broadbent

BYU West Mountain Observatory Project

BACKGROUND

• November 1980 - Construction began on the observatory’s main building

• 1981 - Observations begin, away from Provo’s Light Pollution

• Located on West Mountain, west of Spanish Fork, UT

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.

Full Issue

Comparative Civilizations Review

No abstract provided.

The Utah English Journal, Volume 53, 2025: Full Issue

The Utah English Journal

No abstract provided.

Talent, Passion, And Teaching Writing: A Teacher’S Reflection, Kelley Paystrup

The Utah English Journal

Which comes first, the passion to write or the talent? Every school year I share examples of my written work with my classes, and every time I hear students tell me they can’t write like that; they will never be that talented. I respond that I’ve had more practice and experience than they have, and I earned a Master’s in Writing and Rhetoric, so they shouldn’t compare. I wonder if I should show them my work since it’s discouraging for so many.

Editor’S Note: Want To Help Develop A Textbook On Comparative Civilizations?, Joseph Drew

Comparative Civilizations Review

Is anyone here in the United States or elsewhere teaching a course in the comparative study of civilizations at the undergraduate level these days?

Since I was thinking about organizing the writing of a textbook on the topic, I began recently by considering what the major areas were to be covered in such a book. What, I wondered, have been the significant approaches scholars have taken over the past century or so to address the fluid, debatable, tenuous meanings and shapes of civilizations?

Ethiopia: Ancient Glory, Awaiting Recovery, Tseggai Isaac

Comparative Civilizations Review

The name Ethiopia is associated in the Book of Genesis with the creation of the world, indicating a sacred and ancient heritage. We find Ethiopia mentioned as having relations with the ancient Biblical nations such as Israel, Egypt, Assyria, and Mesopotamia. Ethiopians get uplifting gratification in reading specific scriptural references from the Bible and applying them to the country. These Biblical allusions include discussion of the Queen of Sheba and her son, King Menelik the First, born from her relationship with King Solomon, who was himself the son of King David, the founder from whom came the lineal parentage of …

Russia’S Geopolitical Civilizational Narratives And Strategic Direction In The Contemporary Multipolar World Order, Sharyl Cross, Igor Okunev

Comparative Civilizations Review

This article sets forth the foundations for recent geopolitical civilizational narratives in Russia that are influencing Moscow’s contemporary foreign policy behavior and the future direction of the Russian “civilizational state” in the global multipolar world order. This article is not intended to provide justification for Russia’s foreign policy choices and actions, but rather the purpose is to explain Moscow’s official geopolitical narratives, and thus to provide a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the considerations informing Russia’s foreign policy behavior.

Vladimir Putin has been at the helm of leadership in Russia exerting unparalleled influence as President and Prime Minister since …

Christopher Dawson And The Challenges Of Interdisciplinary Studies, Joseph T. Stuart

Comparative Civilizations Review

The following interview was conducted by Ms. Bibi Pelic, the Director of Communications for the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations. The recording is available on the ISCSC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so-hS2SdoZc

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 …

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 …

Transfer Learning For Thickener Control, Samuel Arce Munoz, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

Thickener control is a key area of focus in the minerals processing industry, particularly due to its crucial role in water recovery, which is essential for sustainable resource management. The highly nonlinear nature of thickener dynamics presents significant challenges in modeling and optimization, making it a strong candidate for advanced surrogate modeling techniques. However, traditional data-driven approaches often require extensive datasets, which are frequently unavailable, especially in new plants or unexplored operational domains. Developing data-driven models without enough data representative of the dynamics of the system could result in incorrect predictions and consequently, unstable response of the controller. This paper …

Memory In Haruki Murakami's 'Norwegian Wood', Merry Ling

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores how Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood challenges conventional perceptions of memory as a linear process tied to self-understanding and reconciliation. Through the protagonist Toru Watanabe's struggle to confront his traumatic past, Murakami presents memory not as a straightforward tool for resolving the present but as an elusive, fragmented phenomenon. Toru's hesitance to release his attachment to the past, alongside his interactions with characters who embody different approaches to memory and trauma, underscores the complexity--and often the impossibility--of achieving closure. While the novel appears overwhelmed with tragedy, trauma, and loss, and offers no clear resolution for Toru, Murakami's subtle …