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

Digital Commons Network

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

2007

Brigham Young University

Discipline
Keyword
Publication
Publication Type

Articles 1 - 30 of 781

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Regional Body Composition In College-Aged Caucasians From Anthropometric Measures, Robert T. Davidson, Cameron B. Ritchie Dec 2007

Regional Body Composition In College-Aged Caucasians From Anthropometric Measures, Robert T. Davidson, Cameron B. Ritchie

Faculty Publications

Quantitating fat and lean tissue in isolated body regions may be helpful or required in obesity and health-outcomes research. However, current methods of regional body composition measurement require specialized, expensive equipment such as that used in computed tomography or dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Simple body size or circumference measurement relationships to body composition have been developed but are limited to whole-body applications. We investigated relationships between body size measurements and regional body composition. Methods Using DEXA technology we determined the fat and lean tissue composition for six regions of the body in predominantly Caucasian, college-aged men (n = 32) …


Modeling Aboveground Biomass Of Tamarix Ramosissima In The Arkansas River Basin Of Southeastern Colorado, Usa, Paul Evangelista, Sunil Kumar, Thomas J. Stohlgren, Alycia W. Crall, Gregory J. Newman Dec 2007

Modeling Aboveground Biomass Of Tamarix Ramosissima In The Arkansas River Basin Of Southeastern Colorado, Usa, Paul Evangelista, Sunil Kumar, Thomas J. Stohlgren, Alycia W. Crall, Gregory J. Newman

Western North American Naturalist

Predictive models of aboveground biomass of nonnative Tamarix ramosissima of various sizes were developed using destructive sampling techniques on 50 individuals and four 100- m2 plots. Each sample was measured for average height (m) of stems and canopy area (m2) prior to cutting, drying, and weighing. Five competing regression models (P < 0.05) were developed to estimate aboveground biomass of T. ramosissima using average height and/or canopy area measurements and were evaluated using Akaike's Information Criterion corrected for small sample size (AICc). Our best model (AICc = −148.69, ΔAICc = 0) successfully predicted T. ramosissima aboveground biomass (R2 = 0.97) …


The Scotopic Visual Sensitivity Of Four Species Of Trout: A Comparative Study, Russell B. Rader, Timberley Belish, Michael K. Young, John Rothlisberger Dec 2007

The Scotopic Visual Sensitivity Of Four Species Of Trout: A Comparative Study, Russell B. Rader, Timberley Belish, Michael K. Young, John Rothlisberger

Western North American Naturalist

We compared the maximum scotopic visual sensitivity of 4 species of trout from twilight (mesotopic) to fully dark-adapted vision. Scotopic vision is the minimum number of photons to which a fully dark-adapted animal will show a behavioral response. A comparison of visual sensitivity under controlled laboratory conditions showed that brown trout (Salmo trutta) and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) had maximum scotopic thresholds (1.1 × 10−4 µmol · m−2s−1, ~0.005 lux) 2 times lower than rainbow trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) and Snake River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri), which …


Population Density, Biomass, And Age-Class Structure Of An Invasive Clam Corbicula Fluminea In Rivers Of The Lower San Joaquin River Watershed, California, Larry R. Brown, Janet K. Thompson, Karen Higgins, Lisa V. Lucas Dec 2007

Population Density, Biomass, And Age-Class Structure Of An Invasive Clam Corbicula Fluminea In Rivers Of The Lower San Joaquin River Watershed, California, Larry R. Brown, Janet K. Thompson, Karen Higgins, Lisa V. Lucas

Western North American Naturalist

Corbicula fluminea is well known as an invasive filter-feeding freshwater bivalve with a variety of effects on ecosystem processes. However, C. fluminea has been relatively unstudied in the rivers of the western United States. In June 2003, we sampled C. fluminea at 16 sites in the San Joaquin River watershed of California, which was invaded by C. fluminea in the 1940s. Corbicula fluminea was common in 2 tributaries to the San Joaquin River, reaching densities of 200 clams · m−2, but was rare in the San Joaquin River. Biomass followed a similar pattern. Clams of the same age …


Increased Willow Heights Along Northern Yellowstone's Blacktail Deer Creek Following Wolf Reintroduction, Robert L. Beschta, William J. Ripple Dec 2007

Increased Willow Heights Along Northern Yellowstone's Blacktail Deer Creek Following Wolf Reintroduction, Robert L. Beschta, William J. Ripple

Western North American Naturalist

Gray wolves (Canis lupus) were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995–1996. In August 2004 we measured plant architecture of Geyer willow (Salix geyeriana) stems along three 100-m reaches of Blacktail Deer Creek in Yellowstone's northern elk (Cervus elaphus) winter range to evaluate changes in patterns of browsing and height growth following wolf reintroduction. Average browsing intensities (n = 3 stream reaches) of 100% in 1997 decreased to 0%–55% by 2003, whereas average stem heights of 25–74 cm in 1997 increased to 149–268 cm by 2003, indicating that willow height growth was inversely …


Discovery Of A Large Population Of The Rare Winter Stonefly Isocapnia Mogila Ricker In The Mad River, California (Plecoptera, Capniidae), Richard W. Baumann, Jonathan J. Lee Dec 2007

Discovery Of A Large Population Of The Rare Winter Stonefly Isocapnia Mogila Ricker In The Mad River, California (Plecoptera, Capniidae), Richard W. Baumann, Jonathan J. Lee

Western North American Naturalist

Isocapnia mogila, a rare winter stonefly, is found in good numbers in Humboldt County, California. In the 50 years since this species was described, very few specimens were recorded from only 4 sites in California and Oregon. Emergence seems to be higher in the fall and early winter than in the late winter and spring.


Growth And Demography Of One Population Of The Lizard Sceloporus Mucronatus Mucronatus, Angela M. Ortega-León, Emily R. Smith, J. Jaime Zúñiga-Vega, Fausto R. Méndez–De La Cruz Dec 2007

Growth And Demography Of One Population Of The Lizard Sceloporus Mucronatus Mucronatus, Angela M. Ortega-León, Emily R. Smith, J. Jaime Zúñiga-Vega, Fausto R. Méndez–De La Cruz

Western North American Naturalist

We report on growth and demography of Sceloporus mucronatus mucronatus, a lizard subspecies endemic to central Mexico. We characterize the life history of this subspecies, provide quantitative information relevant to conservation, and add to the growing literature on the diversity of life histories in the genus Sceloporus. We calculated body growth rates and fitted them to the Von Bertalanffy, the logistic-by-length, and the logistic-by-weight growth models. The Von Bertalanffy model provided the best fit, and we used it to analyze the growth pattern. Growth rates were similar during the 1st year of life in both sexes, but after …


Diatom Species Composition And Ecology Of The Animas River Watershed, Colorado, Usa, Gerald V. Sgro, John B. Poole, Jeffery R. Johansen Dec 2007

Diatom Species Composition And Ecology Of The Animas River Watershed, Colorado, Usa, Gerald V. Sgro, John B. Poole, Jeffery R. Johansen

Western North American Naturalist

The diatom flora of selected sites in the Animas River Watershed, San Juan County, Colorado, was studied. Eighty diatom taxa were identified from 10 sites: 8 sites on the Animas River and 1 site each on the Cement and Cascade tributaries. The sample diatom abundance was dominated by Achnanthidium minutissimum, Encyonema silesiacum, Aulacoseira distans, Hannaea arcus, and Diatoma mesodon. The presence of teratologic specimens of Fragilaria and Achnanthidium in the samples indicated the possibility of metals contamination. Diatom diversity was low and Lange-Bertalot pollution index scores indicated little organic pollution evidenced from diatom composition. There …


Long-Term Vegetation Dynamics In A Cut Western Juniper Woodland, Jonathan D. Bates, Richard F. Miller, Tony Svejcar Dec 2007

Long-Term Vegetation Dynamics In A Cut Western Juniper Woodland, Jonathan D. Bates, Richard F. Miller, Tony Svejcar

Western North American Naturalist

Western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis spp. occidentalis Hook.) expansion in the northern Great Basin has reduced shrubsteppe productivity and diversity. Chainsaw cutting of western juniper woodlands is commonly applied to remove tree interference and restore sagebrush plant communities. Studies assessing understory response following cutting have been limited to early successional stages and have not evaluated the effects of western juniper debris on plant succession. Cutting western juniper produces a large amount of debris which is commonly left on site, occupying a significant portion of treated areas. This study evaluated successional dynamics spanning 13 years after western juniper cutting. Four 0.45-ha …


Censusing Bobcats Using Remote Cameras, Eveline S. Larrucea, Gianluca Serra, Michael M. Jaeger, Reginald H. Barrett Dec 2007

Censusing Bobcats Using Remote Cameras, Eveline S. Larrucea, Gianluca Serra, Michael M. Jaeger, Reginald H. Barrett

Western North American Naturalist

We estimated bobcat (Lynx rufus) density for 3 different locations in northern California using active infrared-triggered cameras. Using differences in pelage pattern as well as other physical characteristics, we identified individual bobcats from photographs, and used mark-recapture techniques to estimate population density. Camera density affected the precision of population estimates. The same population was estimated using camera densities of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 cameras · km−2. Higher camera densities resulted in more captures and recaptures of bobcats and, consequently, in more precise density estimates. Similarly, the number of photo-captures and recaptures increased with …


Forest Health Impacts Of Bark Beetles, Dwarf Mistletoe, And Blister Rust In A Lake Tahoe Basin Mixed Conifer Stand, R. F. Walker, R. M. Fecko, W. B. Frederick, D. W. Johnson, W. W. Miller Dec 2007

Forest Health Impacts Of Bark Beetles, Dwarf Mistletoe, And Blister Rust In A Lake Tahoe Basin Mixed Conifer Stand, R. F. Walker, R. M. Fecko, W. B. Frederick, D. W. Johnson, W. W. Miller

Western North American Naturalist

Interactions between forest health variables and mensurational characteristics in an uneven-aged eastern Sierra Nevada mixed conifer stand were examined. The stand was located in the Lake Tahoe Basin on a site featuring a coarsely textured granitic soil and numerous rock outcrops. Its composition was dominated by California white fir (Abies concolor var. lowiana [Gord.] Lemm.), with Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Dougl.) less prominent and incense-cedar (Libocedrus decurrens Torr.) and mountain alder (Alnus tenuifolia Nutt.) the most minor constituents. The majority of saplings and seedlings were white fir. …


Home Range Size Of Black-Backed Woodpeckers In Burned Forests Of Southwestern Idaho, Jonathan G. Dudley, Victoria A. Saab Dec 2007

Home Range Size Of Black-Backed Woodpeckers In Burned Forests Of Southwestern Idaho, Jonathan G. Dudley, Victoria A. Saab

Western North American Naturalist

We examined home range size of Black-backed Woodpeckers (Picoides arcticus) in burned ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) / Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests of southwestern Idaho during 2000 and 2002 (6 and 8 years following fire). Home range size for 4 adult males during the post-fledging period was 115.6–420.9 ha using the 95% fixed-kernel method, and 150.4–766.1 ha using the 100% minimum convex polygon method. Smoothed bootstrap estimates (95%) were 130.0–521.9 ha. Home range sizes were significantly smaller 6 years after fire than 8 years after fire. Each male had from 2 to 8 areas of …


There Is No Valid Record Of Cliff Chipmunk (Tamias Dorsalis) In The Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, Jennifer K. Frey Dec 2007

There Is No Valid Record Of Cliff Chipmunk (Tamias Dorsalis) In The Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, Jennifer K. Frey

Western North American Naturalist

A report of the cliff chipmunk (Tamias dorsalis) from the Sandia Mountains, New Mexico, was erroneous. The capture location of the specimen was actually the Rio Puerco drainage in Sandoval County. There are no records of the cliff chipmunk from the Sandia Mountains or elsewhere east of the Rio Grande.


Hay Piles Of The Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia Rufa) Delay Plant Decomposition, Richard Karban, Claire Karban, Jesse Karban Dec 2007

Hay Piles Of The Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia Rufa) Delay Plant Decomposition, Richard Karban, Claire Karban, Jesse Karban

Western North American Naturalist

Mountain beavers cache plants in neat piles above the ground near the entrances to their underground burrows, although the purpose of these hay piles remains controversial. We tested the hypothesis that drying plants in piles above ground may slow decay when the plants are stored underground. Predried plants and undried controls were placed in abandoned burrows. Plants that had been predried retained more green and decayed more slowly than undried controls. This experimental test supports the hypothesis that haying may extend the time during which plants are useful to mountain beavers.


Errata Dec 2007

Errata

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.


Observations On An Association Between The Weevil Scaphomorphus Trivittatus (Say) And Two Astragalus Species On Selenium-Rich Soils In Carbon County, Utah, Gary R. Hooper, Boyd F. Holdaway Dec 2007

Observations On An Association Between The Weevil Scaphomorphus Trivittatus (Say) And Two Astragalus Species On Selenium-Rich Soils In Carbon County, Utah, Gary R. Hooper, Boyd F. Holdaway

Western North American Naturalist

The weevil Scaphomorphus trivittatus (Say) was found in close association with Astragalus praelongus var. elliseae (Rydb.) and Astragalus asclepiadoides (Jones) in selenium-containing soils in Carbon County, Utah. The weevils fed on roots of the Astragalus species and formed soil cocoons, which were attached to the tap roots. The weevils pupated and developed into adults in these cocoons over the fall and winter and then emerged in the spring. The plants and soil cocoons contained highly elevated levels of selenium compared to the soils. The weevils, in contrast, differed little from the soils in selenium content.


End Matter, Vol. 67 No. 4 Dec 2007

End Matter, Vol. 67 No. 4

Western North American Naturalist

No abstract provided.


Large Mixed-Species Dispersal Flights For Predatory And Scavenging Aquatic Heteroptera And Coleoptera, Northern Arizona, Usa, Lawrence E. Stevens, John T. Polhemus, Richard S. Durfee, Carl A. Olson Dec 2007

Large Mixed-Species Dispersal Flights For Predatory And Scavenging Aquatic Heteroptera And Coleoptera, Northern Arizona, Usa, Lawrence E. Stevens, John T. Polhemus, Richard S. Durfee, Carl A. Olson

Western North American Naturalist

We report 4 incidents of large (hundreds to hundreds of thousands of individuals) mixed-species flights of predatory and scavenging aquatic Heteroptera and Coleoptera. The events occurred on normal (mostly clear, calm) autumn 2005 and spring 2006 late afternoons near Flagstaff, Arizona. Flight days were either near the full moon or in advanced waning lunar periods. At least 18 species were involved in the flights, with as many as 16 species (7 species of Heteroptera in 3 families, 9 species of Coleoptera in 2 families) in a single flight. Heteroptera (especially from the family Corixidae) were 2–4 orders of magnitude more …


Extending The Information Partition Function: Modeling Interaction Effects In Highly Multivariate, Discrete Data, Paul C. Cannon Dec 2007

Extending The Information Partition Function: Modeling Interaction Effects In Highly Multivariate, Discrete Data, Paul C. Cannon

Theses and Dissertations

Because of the huge amounts of data made available by the technology boom in the late twentieth century, new methods are required to turn data into usable information. Much of this data is categorical in nature, which makes estimation difficult in highly multivariate settings. In this thesis we review various multivariate statistical methods, discuss various statistical methods of natural language processing (NLP), and discuss a general class of models described by Erosheva (2002) called generalized mixed membership models. We then propose extensions of the information partition function (IPF) derived by Engler (2002), Oliphant (2003), and Tolley (2006) that will allow …


Digital Germany: Virtual Archives, Powerful Portals, Wise Wikis, Richard Hacken Dec 2007

Digital Germany: Virtual Archives, Powerful Portals, Wise Wikis, Richard Hacken

Faculty Publications

Presented in the Winter 2006-2007 issue of the Global Resources Newsletter, the German-North American Resources Partnership issue. Online portals and digital gateways into focused subject and area studies are both boons and blessings. For German Studies but even more extensively, for all disciplines relevant to the German-North American Resources Partnership this past year has seen explosive growth in the preparation, expansion, proofing, and proclamation of virtual libraries, scholarly digital projects, and multidisciplinary portals. German digital scholarship has reached a maturity that calls for the types of systematic registry and centralized access that are vital to researchers from Aachen to Zzyzx.


Incorporating Grain Size Effects In Taylor Crystal Plasticity, Bradley S. Fromm Dec 2007

Incorporating Grain Size Effects In Taylor Crystal Plasticity, Bradley S. Fromm

Theses and Dissertations

A method to incorporate grain size effects into crystal plasticity is presented. The classical Hall-Petch equation inaccurately predicts the macroscopic yield strength for materials with non-equiaxed grains or materials that contain unequal grain size distributions. These deficiencies can be overcome by incorporating both grain size and orientation characteristics into crystal plasticity theory. Homogenization relationships based on a viscoplastic Taylor-like approach are introduced along with a new function, the grain size and orientation distribution function (GSODF). Estimates of the GSODF for high purity α-titanium are recovered through orientation imaging microscopy coupled with the chord length distribution. A comparison between the new …


Preparation Of Divalent And Trivalent Antigens For Immunogical Studies On Degranulation Of Mast Cells And Preparation Of Ceragenins For Antiviral Studies Against Vaccinia Virus., Dianliang Geng Dec 2007

Preparation Of Divalent And Trivalent Antigens For Immunogical Studies On Degranulation Of Mast Cells And Preparation Of Ceragenins For Antiviral Studies Against Vaccinia Virus., Dianliang Geng

Theses and Dissertations

CHAPTER 1

Aggregation of receptors for IgE (Fc RI) causes mast cells and basophils to release preformed contents of granules, including histamine and a variety of enzymes. This process, called degranulation plays a central role in allergic reactions. Methods to study this process are to create multivalent ligands which can interact with the receptors and, in turn, lead to aggregation of the receptors. We prepared a series of fluorophore-labeled divalent and trivalent antigens to study the degranulation of mast cells. Trivalent antigens proved to be much better stimulators for degranulation of mast cells than divalent antigens. These results indicate that …


Pyridinium Bisretinoids: Synthesis And Photoactivated Cytotoxicity, Junping Gao Dec 2007

Pyridinium Bisretinoids: Synthesis And Photoactivated Cytotoxicity, Junping Gao

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses pyridinium bisretinoid compounds (PBRs), which were prepared for two purposes: 1) to use them as standards for detection of novel fluorophores in human RPE cells, which may be involved in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and 2) to use them in the development of a targeted and triggered drug delivery system for cancer therapy. We prepared a selection of PBRs using a one-pot biomimetic method; synthesis, mechanisms for formation, and characterization of these compounds is described. We also explored the photoreactivity of three novel PBR compounds and found that these PBRs form oxidation products under blue-light irradiation. The …


A Biomechanical Analysis Of Male And Female Intermediate Hurdlers And Steeplechasers, Laurence R. Bollschweiler Dec 2007

A Biomechanical Analysis Of Male And Female Intermediate Hurdlers And Steeplechasers, Laurence R. Bollschweiler

Theses and Dissertations

In the sport of track and field, proper hurdling technique is a complicated combination of various running and jumping kinematics. With most research having been done on sprint hurdling, there is a growing need for research on hurdling events of different lengths. The intermediate hurdles (IH) and the steeplechase (SC) are two events where there are a number of differences in hurdling technique. This study compared the differences in hurdling technique between events (IH and SC) as well as the differences in technique between genders. Subjects for this study consisted of 20 elite intermediate hurdlers (10 male, 10 female) and …


Adolescent Girls' Perception Of Residential Treatment Centers: A Qualitative Study Of How Treatment Works, Tyler Adam Money Dec 2007

Adolescent Girls' Perception Of Residential Treatment Centers: A Qualitative Study Of How Treatment Works, Tyler Adam Money

Theses and Dissertations

RTCs play an increasingly significant role in the continuum of treatment of emotionally disturbed adolescents. However, outcome research in this area has lagged behind the growth of treatment centers. More specifically, there has been very little investigation of the relative efficacy of the many different aspects of residential treatment, which are referred to as mechanisms of change in other research. The present study attempts to develop a phenomenological understanding of RTC patients' experience of all of the interventions that make up residential treatment. Results suggest that patients view social support, non-therapist staff members, family involvement and family therapy, as most …


Study Of The Reproducibility Of Proteomics Methods And Variability Of Fruit Fly Proteomes., Thomas Franklin Culwell Dec 2007

Study Of The Reproducibility Of Proteomics Methods And Variability Of Fruit Fly Proteomes., Thomas Franklin Culwell

Theses and Dissertations

The reliability of biomarker discovery by means of proteomics has been called into question. It was speculated that "background noise" variation resulting from differences in preparation and handling of samples and proteome dynamics may mask subtle, yet important, differences due to the biological condition. Little is understood about complex proteomes and their variability. A critical aspect of proteomic biomarker research that is largely unexplored is the comparative reproducibility of certain methods such as two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. In particular, with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, it is not known whether variability in peptide quantitation is dependent on any of …


Thermodynamic Evidence That Ganglioside-Mediated Insertion Of Botulinum A Into The Cholinergic Nerve Ending May Precede Endocytosis And Acidification: A Langmuir Film Study, Bradley Adam Strongin Dec 2007

Thermodynamic Evidence That Ganglioside-Mediated Insertion Of Botulinum A Into The Cholinergic Nerve Ending May Precede Endocytosis And Acidification: A Langmuir Film Study, Bradley Adam Strongin

Theses and Dissertations

Botulinum Neurotoxin (BoNT) is one of the most potent toxins known to human kind. The Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) was employed to investigate the conditions under which BoNT type A heavy chain would bind and/or insert into mica supported dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) lipid bilayers. As an alternate technique, DPPC/GT1b or total ganglioside extract (80:20) monolayers of a Langmuir Blodgett (LB) Trough were adapted to be artificial membrane models for toxin insertion studies. We conclude that LB monolayer studies are a promising candidate for BoNT/A membrane insertion investigation. Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A insertions into the LB monolayers in the presence of BoNT/A …


Pyridinium Bis-Retinoids A2-Dopamine And A2-Cadaverine: Implications In Age-Related Macular Degeneration And Cancer, Mckenzie Ruth Pew Dec 2007

Pyridinium Bis-Retinoids A2-Dopamine And A2-Cadaverine: Implications In Age-Related Macular Degeneration And Cancer, Mckenzie Ruth Pew

Theses and Dissertations

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the United States of America. The pyridinium bis-retinoid A2-ethanolamine (A2E) has been implicated to play a role in AMD. We have observed novel pyridinium bis-retinoids through melanolipofuscin and human RPE extractions that may also play a role in the pathology of AMD. We have begun the construction of an amino-retinoid library in order to identify these ocular compounds. The compounds from the amino-retinoid library are also used in a targeted and triggered drug delivery system for treating cancer. Folic acid is coupled with the amino-retinoids to specifically target cancer …


Reducing Curvature In Complex Tool Paths By Deviating From Cam-Produced Tool Paths Within A Tolerance Band, George Benjamin Naseath Dec 2007

Reducing Curvature In Complex Tool Paths By Deviating From Cam-Produced Tool Paths Within A Tolerance Band, George Benjamin Naseath

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis develops an algorithm to decrease high-curvature sections in tool paths for complex parts to achieve shorter machining times resulting in higher production rates. In the research sample cases, the algorithm decreased machining times by 1% to 9% for design-induced sections of high curvature and by 16% to 75% for CAM induced ripples using high path tolerances. High-curvature sections in tool paths are caused by complex part geometry, noise, and discontinuities in the model. The curvature is decreased by deviating the tool path within an allowable path tolerance. The feedrate along the tool path is directly related to the …


A Corpus-Based Approach To Determining Standard American English, Delys Ann Waite Snyder Dec 2007

A Corpus-Based Approach To Determining Standard American English, Delys Ann Waite Snyder

Theses and Dissertations

Many teachers, test designers, textbook writers, and instructional designers turn to books written by usage experts to determine what is correct standard written American English. Unfortunately, though, experts often disagree about what is correct and what is incorrect, and this disagreement can create problems with validity when people create and assess instruction about usage. One way to discover the rules of standard English usage is to describe what writers actually do in printed, edited English. Researchers can access large collections of standard English through digital text archives, which can be searched electronically. The text archives for this study were taken …