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From Congregations To Candidates: How Religion Explains The Partisan Gender Gap In State Legislatures, Ashlan Gruwell

Undergraduate Honors Theses

While much has been said about both the gender gap and partisan gender gap in representation in Congress and state legislatures, most of this research ignores the critical role of religion as an explanatory variable. I propose a new theory where the presence of a high proportion of evangelical Protestants in the electorate explains both the gender gap in representation that has long existed as well as the emergence of a partisan gap among women in state legislatures. As evangelical Protestants became politicized and flocked to the Republican Party in the 1980s and 1990s, more Democratic women were elected and …

Understanding The Origin, Evolution, And Dynamics Of Transneptunian Binaries, Benjamin C N Proudfoot

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation discusses research that focuses on understanding transneptunian objects (TNOs) using a variety of techniques and approaches. In Chapter 1, I introduce the main concepts used throughout this dissertation and discuss the current understanding of the transneptunian region. In Chapter 2, I discuss my efforts to understand how Neptune's late stages of migration affect the Haumea family, the only known collisional family in the transneptunian region. Using advanced simulations of Neptune migration, I find that the Haumea family can plausibly form before the termination of giant planet migration and show that this extensively mixes the family. The simplest explanation …

Biodegradable Magnesium Alloys For Biomedical Implants: Properties, Challenges, And Surface Modifications With A Focus On Orthopedic Fixation Repair, Kevin Koshy Thomas, Mah Noor Zafar, William G. Pitt, Ghaleb A. Husseini

Faculty Publications

Biomedical devices made from high-modulus and hardness materials play a critical role in enhancing the quality of life for people with bone-related ailments. While these materials have been successfully used in orthopedic applications, concerns including stress-shielding have necessitated the exploration of alternative solutions. An ideal biomedical implant requires a delicate balance of mechanical performance, corrosion resistance, tissue biocompatibility, and other properties such as tribological performance and osseointegration. This review explores the suitability of biodegradable magnesium (Mg) alloys as a promising material for biomedical implants. It delves into the essential properties of biomedical implants, emphasizing the importance of matching mechanical characteristics …

Progress Towards The Development Of Asymmetric Conditions For Intramolecular Heteroatom/Dehydro-Diels-Alder Reactions For Synthesizing Furo[3,4-C] Pyranones And Anticancer Podophyllotoxins, Peter Mpaata

Theses and Dissertations

Furo[3,4-c] pyranone is a unique bicyclic molecular structure found in bioactive sesquiterpene isobolivianine and in artificial cytotoxic stilbene derivatives. The structure of furo[3,4-c] pyranone is analogous to cyclopenta[c] pyran structure found in potent cytotoxic iridoids like catapol. Chiral substrates for intramolecular hetero-Diels-Alder (IHDA) reaction have been synthesized in yields ranging from 39% to 81%. These compounds undergo [4+2] cycloaddition via ambimodal/ bispericyclic process to give a mixture of furo[3,4-c] pyranone in yields ranging 40-70% and aryl tetralin lactone derivatives. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been performed to gain insight into the mechanism leading to the formation of these compounds. …

Investigating The Geochemical Trends At The Sediment-Water Interface Of The Shallow And Eutrophic Utah Lake, Abidemi Sherif Aremu

Theses and Dissertations

The sources of phosphorus (P) in Utah Lake can be diverse, including natural and anthropogenic point and non-point sources, such as atmospheric deposition, soil erosion, and industrial and urban wastewater effluents. This study collected interface sediments, column water, porewater, and sediment cores across this vast water body. These samples were then analyzed for their mineralogic, organic, and elemental composition to characterize the geochemical nature of water and sediment at the water-sediment interface within Utah Lake. The average concentrations of P and other elements found in the column water of an individual site do not significantly differ across depth suggesting Utah …

Predicting Speaking Proficiency With Fluency Features Using Machine Learning, Ethan D. Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the interplay between temporal fluency measures, self-assessment, and language proficiency scores in novice- to intermediate- level language learners of Spanish and French. Analyzing data from 163 participants, the research employs both traditional linear regression and advanced XGBoost machine learning models. Findings demonstrate a moderate positive correlation between self-assessment and Oral Proficiency Interview by Computer (OPIc) scores, underscoring the dependable self-awareness of learners. Notably, XGBoost performs as well as linear regression in predicting OPIc scores and has more potential, underlining the efficacy of advanced methodologies. The study identifies Mean Length of Utterance (MLU) as a crucial predictor, highlighting …

Optimal Method To Obtain Soil Strength Properties In Sands For Laterally Loaded Pile Analysis In Lpile, Troy Roger Washburn

Theses and Dissertations

One common software program developed for analyzing single laterally loaded piles is called LPILE. Soil properties are required as input into LPILE. For sands, the soil properties required are effective soil unit weight, γ’; subgrade modulus, k; and the internal friction angle, ϕ’. There are two commonly used methods to obtain ϕ’ and subsequently k: the API method and Bolton method. Fourteen different pile test sites were used in the analysis of the API and Bolton methods to obtain soil strength properties in sands for laterally loaded single pile tests. Between the fourteen pile test sites, a total of 26 …

Local Atomic And Magnetic Structure Of Multiferroic (Sr,Ba)(Mn,Ti)O3, Braedon Jones

Theses and Dissertations

We present a detailed study of the local atomic and magnetic structure of the type-I multiferroic perovskite system (Sr,Ba)(Mn,Ti)O3 using x-ray and neutron pair distribution function (PDF) analysis, polarized neutron scattering, and muon spin relaxation (μSR) techniques. The atomic PDF analysis reveals widespread nanoscale tetragonal distortions of the crystal structure even in the paraelectric phase with average cubic symmetry, corresponding to incipient ferroelectricity in the local structure. Magnetic PDF analysis, polarized neutron scattering, and μSR likewise confirm the presence of short-range antiferromagnetic correlations in the paramagnetic state, which grow in magnitude as the temperature approaches the magnetic transition. We show …

Mechanical Characterization Of Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Forest Microelectrodes For Neural Interfacing, Spencer Mcleod Roberts

Theses and Dissertations

Silicon intracortical microelectrodes arrays (MEA) provide some of the best performance for brain computer interfaces but suffer from lifetime limitations that prevent clinical adoption. A primary contributor of lifetime limitations is the chronic foreign body response (FBR) which remains active in response to the brain tissue strain caused by implanted probes during brain micromotion. Designing probes with softer materials can reduce the chronic FBR and improve device lifetime. A high-aspect ratio CNT MEA could provide several advantages as an intracortical MEA but has yet to be mechanically characterized. CNT MEAs are infiltrated with 3 degrees of carbon infiltration and mechanically …

Characterization Of Friction At The Tool/Material Interface In Friction Stir Welding, Bryan Gonzalo Ramos Gonzales

Theses and Dissertations

Friction Stir Welding (FSW) process development is very costly, and it is still experimental. A predictive model would optimize the weld by changing parameters and obtaining results that reflect the physical process. Friction is the primary adjustable parameter in FSW modeling. Currently, friction model selection is not physic-based. It is based on what is available and contributes to the best fit between the model and experimental data. The research objective is to characterize the interface tool/base material by studying the effect of tool friction coefficient and thermal properties. This is accomplished by changing welding parameters such as force, rpm, and …

Motives And Methodologies For Improving 3d Displays, Dylan Charles Barton

Theses and Dissertations

This work contains two key contributions to the development of 3D displays. First a successful exploratory human trial research study. By comparing multiple real displays in human trials, the factors of ease of use, time, and accuracy were able to be examined in a general setting, instead of isolated to only a specific type of 3D display. These human tests showed that 3D displays in general offer better ease of use and accuracy compared to 2D displays when showing 3D media. This differs from previous studies where only a single display was examined or theoretical papers discussing factors on paper. …

Simulating Government Institutions In Networked Societies, Michael Richards

Theses and Dissertations

Modern human societies give rise to the expression of complex group dynamics between the members of said society due to the abundance of continued interactions. Of particular interest are how institutions affect these interactions between societal members, alter the resulting group dynamics, and impact society as a whole through their rules. Simulating these dynamics allows for greater insight into how these institutions function and allows researchers to pose interesting questions and test hypotheses within a laboratory setting. We present a novel approach to simulating institutions, particularly governments, within a networked society. This approach builds upon the Junior High Game, which …

Effect Of Parenting Techniques On Anxiety In Children, Amber Burton

Student Works

As anxiety among children becomes more prevalent, understanding how parenting styles affect its development may become more relevant. Anxiety affects various aspects of individuals' lives (socially, intellectually, physically, and spiritually), adding extra challenges. Anxiety can be influenced by genetics but is also potentially impacted by the child’s environment. Evidence suggests that children whose parents display higher levels of warmth through acceptance and caring behaviors tend to experience lower levels of anxiety (Butterfield et al., 2021). Additionally, lower levels of anxiety have been found in children with parents who utilize increased levels of autonomy, giving their children the freedom to make …

Bridging The Gaps: Characterizing Alzheimer's Disease In Native Hawaiian And Pacific Islander Populations, Justina P. Tavana

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation addresses critical gaps in dementia research in Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities. Focusing on Samoan and Tongan communities, the study successfully adapted and validated the AD8 informant interview and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale in native languages, establishing these instruments as reliable tools for detecting cognitive impairment in these populations. The research process prioritized meaningful community engagement and forged partnerships with indigenous professionals, ensuring alignment with and responsiveness to the specific needs of the community. These invaluable connections were the foundation of making this difficult work possible. Subjects assessed with these adapted instruments were enrolled …

Tipping The Mesoscales: Advances In Multipeak Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging, J. Nicholas Porter

Theses and Dissertations

Material failure begins with strain between atoms and cascades upward into macroscopic damage such as cracks. Therefore, our ability to predict (and therefore prevent) material failure is largely limited by our understanding of this process. This understanding, however, has been impeded by the difficulty of directly observing such phenomena. In this thesis, I discuss recent advances in Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) which produce three-dimensional, mesoscopic images of interior strain in microcrystals. In particular, I present a novel algorithm, based on the concept of cyclic-constrained optimization (CCO), for the rapid, coupled reconstruction of a microcrystal from multiple Bragg diffraction patterns. …

One The Equal And Opposite Of The Other: More Humanity Than Christianity In "Our Sea Of Islands" And Tales Of The Tikongs, Drois Nadia Vi

Theses and Dissertations

Tongan scholar and author Epeli Hau'ofa's "Our Sea of Islands" is an influential essay in several fields including archipelagic studies, Pacific Islands studies, and transpacific studies. However, his poems and short stories have been overlooked as a parallel attempt to advocate for and influence Tongan people. The main purpose of his writings is to educate both Pacific Islanders and Westerners on the importance of putting a stop to viewing the Pacific as small, isolated, and poor. The short stories in his collection Tales of the Tikongs are both satirical and very humorous, yet these moments of satire are not just …

Portuguese Language Use Among First Generation Brazilian Immigrants In Utah County: Some Considerations About Language And Ethnic Identity, Simone Pizzio

Theses and Dissertations

The current study presents an investigation of the Portuguese language use among first generation Brazilian immigrants in Utah County. The research was carried out with 54 first generation immigrants. Several studies have shown that ethnic identity is related to shared cultural characteristics such as practices, beliefs, and languages (Liebkind, 2010; Pennycook, 2010; Reyes, 2010; Souza, 2016). This study explores the relationship between language and ethnic identity by analyzing the attitudes toward the Portuguese language, the contexts and factors that influence language choice, and the purposes for which the Portuguese language has been used by this selected group of immigrants. The …

"How Could Anyone But A Madman Have Thought This Sleeping Girl Dead?": L.T. Meade's Approach To The "Buried Alive" Literary Tradition In Support Of Death Certification Reform, Shelby Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

A March 1866 issue of The Lancet observes, "If a newspaper were in want of a startling story with which to enliven a dull copy in the 'off season,' it could not do better than select one with the heading "'Buried Alive'"("Premature Interment" 295). Stories of being buried alive gave readers of all backgrounds a thrill. However, the stories frustrated the medical and scientific communities who were quick to dismiss the threat of live burial as a possibility in a modern world. Drawing on the literary history of "buried alive" stories and medical knowledge surrounding death signs and catalepsy, this …

Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Among Racial And Ethnic Minority Groups: A Content Analysis, Tyson William Lovell

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, racial and ethnic minority (REM) communities have faced reduced access to resources for mental and emotional health issues. While research has placed a greater emphasis on REM experiences, there is still a need to further understand the unique contextual factors surrounding mental health challenges among these marginalized groups. Research on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) among REM communities is one area in need of further evaluation. Therefore, this study is a content analysis of literature analyzing the current research focused on the intersection of REM communities and OCD experiences. The purpose of the study is to analyze OCD research among …

The Association Between Adolescent Mindfulness, Sexual Mindfulness, And Sexual Consent: Does Parent-Child Open Or Controlling Sexual Communication Moderate?, Whitney Lenna Mcewan

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I investigated how mindfulness and sexual mindfulness (i.e. awareness and non-judgment) related to sexual consent beliefs among adolescents, and how these relationships were influenced by mothers' and fathers' communication about sex. My approach was grounded in Self-Determination Theory, which posits that healthy sexuality is best achieved when self-determined sexual relationships meet the fundamental human needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Previous research has suggested a positive link between mindfulness and sexual mindfulness and sexual consent beliefs among teenagers. On one hand, effective open communication between parents and children, especially regarding sensitive topics such as sexuality, can enhance …

Eating Disorders And Adolescents: A Plea For Early Childhood Intervention, Abby Smiley

Student Works

According to Gerbasi et al. (2014), eating disorders are considered a global health crisis, if not a worldwide epidemic. Early intervention in adolescence may be effective in slowing the prevalence of disordered eating behaviors in this at-risk demographic. Bills et al. (2023) concluded that physical complications may come from participating in disordered eating and may eventually attribute to the development of an eating disorder; these complications may include diminished brain function and health, as well as diminished heart function and health. It was also concluded that eating disorders may be linked to suicidal ideation and other mental health issues (Bills …

Plant Material Selection And Seed Enhancement Technologies Improve Seed-Based Restoration In Dryland Systems, Travis G. Sowards

Theses and Dissertations

The restoration of large-scale heterogeneous landscapes is typically approached using seed-based restoration as a cost-effective means to achieve project goals and objectives. However, seeding is often met with low survival rates primarily driven by low seedling emergence and establishment. This dissertation investigates opportunities to enhance restoration focusing on 1) seed treatments, 2) plant materials, and 3) a synthesis of seeding strategies. • Fungal pathogenesis can cause high seedling mortality. Fungicide seed coatings used in the agriculture industry are novel to wildland restoration. We assess the effect a fungicide seed coating has on the recruitment of Pseudoroegneria spicata seedlings across a …

Digitization And Digital Preservation Of P.Herc. 817, Marissa Anne Bischoff

Theses and Dissertations

The large cache of scrolls from Herculaneum were opened to scholars in spite of and because of the destruction of the volcano and damaging unfurling techniques. The fragments inherited have been studied closely by scholars. Digitization and technological work on the Herculaneum papyri, including the important infrared imaging completed by BYU in the early 2000s, and the 3-D imaging and inchoate virtual unwrapping technology by EduceLab, have amplified and aided scholarship on the scrolls and will continue to do so. P.Herc. 817 is a unique Latin text within the collection that has been heavily studied by scholars due to its …

Is This My Thing, Or Your Thing?: Differentiation Of Self As A Moderator Between Pornography Use And Marital Outcomes, Naomi Mcallister Noorda

Theses and Dissertations

Pornography use is fairly common in today's society, which suggests that one or even both partners of many couple relationships may use pornography. Persons with high or low levels of differentiation of self may experience relationship attachment and sexual satisfaction differently depending on their partner's pornography use. On one hand, those with high differentiation may view a partner's pornography use as the partner's issue. On the other hand, those with low differentiation may view their partner's pornography use as something they are responsible for or need to change. Using data from 1,665 couples across the United States from Wave 6 …

Revisiting Marshallese Causative Constructions Using Lexical Aspect, Damon Hatch Swain

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reexamines causative constructions found in Marshallese; an Austronesian language spoken in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Both Bender, Capelle & Pagotto (2016) and Willson (2008) hint that lexical aspect is a necessary predictor of causative behaviors in Marshallese, but offer no explanations. The primary focus of this thesis is to examine lexical aspect's influence on causative derivations. This project shows that Marshallese stative verbs display two distinct causative constructions: stative causatives and causative abstract nouns. The Marshallese causative prefix, ka-, tends to exhibit common crosslinguistic patterns of causative constructions as laid out by Dixon and Aikenvald (2000). …

A Personal Tribute To Professor Ashok Midha, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

When I received the news that Professor Ashok Midha had passed away, I was grieved by the unexpected news. But I also felt another emotion: gratitude for having known him. I am grateful for him, for the opportunity I had to learn from him, and for the influence he has had on my life and career. I wanted to honor his memory in some way. This document is in response to that desire.

Some of my thoughts at his passing are summarized in the first chapter and the conclusion. The other writing is taken from a draft of my personal …

Assuring Netlist-To-Bitstream Equivalence Using Physical Netlist Generation And Structural Comparison, Reilly Mckendrick, Jeffrey Goeders, Keenan Faulkner

Faculty Publications

Hardware netlists are generally converted into a bitstream and loaded onto an FPGA board through vendor-provided tools. Due to the proprietary nature of these tools, it is up to the designer to trust the validity of the design’s conversion to bitstream. However, motivated attackers may alter the CAD tools’ integrity or manipulate the stored bitstream with the intent to disrupt the functionality of the design. This paper proposes a new method to prove functional equivalence between a synthesized netlist, and the produced FPGA bitstream. The novel approach is comprised of two phases: first, we show how we can utilize implementation …

The Gender Load: Case Assignment Differences In A University Counseling Center, Samantha Kristine Brumble Heder

Theses and Dissertations

Recent research has explored the unique case load of mental health professionals working in university counseling centers (UCCs) and is working to better understand therapist burnout. However, there is a gap in the literature surrounding therapist caseload composition and how this composition can impact the experience of therapists in UCCs. Specifically, more research is needed to understand how therapist caseloads might differ by gender identity of therapist. The current study explored this topic by looking at how therapist caseload varies by gender. Retrospective data gathered at a large western United States UCC from 2014 to 2021 was analyzed using Hierarchical …

伝道スピリットが増して, Yoshihiko Ariizumi

Spiritual Proficiency

この伝道のスピリットが増した経験を読んでいただくことで、具体的にどんな点に注意したら、自然な形で充実した主の業に携わる方法が見えてくると思います。

Where Do I Fit In God’S Plan? Mixed-Orientation Marriages In The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Camron Angell

Student Works

Mixed-Orientation marriages (MOMs) are a complex reality of many Latter-day Saints. A MOM is when one or both partners in a relationship are either lesbian, bisexual, or gay (Kort, 2015). This paper overviews the effects on mental health and the sustainability of MOMs. Research suggests that MOMs have a negative effect on mental health, and LGB members are much less likely to get help from mental health professionals due to stigma and fear of rejection (Dyer et al., 2023; Legerski et al., 2016; McGraw et el., 2023). MOMs are also up to 30% more likely to end in divorce (Dehlin, …