Life Sciences Commons^™

Getting The Most Out Of Your Maternity Leave, Joey Averett

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

Poverty In Association To Academic Achievement In Children, Sara Tolley

Family Perspectives

This paper explores the impact of poverty on academic achievement in children. It begins by outlining the general effects of poverty before delving into its specific consequences for educational outcomes. Findings indicate that poverty significantly affects self-esteem and family relationships, which, in turn, contribute to lower academic performance among children. Additionally, the paper proposes underlying causes for these outcomes and potential interventions. These insights are supported by a diverse range of data, highlighting the urgent need to address this critical issue.

The Relationship Between Immigration And Academic Achievement In Hispanic Children, Jasmine Selph

Family Perspectives

This literature review explores the relationship between immigration and academic achievement among Hispanic immigrant children in the United States, focusing on the impacts of immigration trauma and poverty. With immigration levels reaching record highs, Hispanic immigrant children face unique challenges that significantly influence their educational outcomes. Research highlights the profound effects of immigration trauma, including familial separation, violence, and insecurity, which manifest in physical, emotional, and cognitive difficulties that hinder academic performance. Additionally, poverty compounds these challenges, creating barriers to educational success through limited resources, language acquisition difficulties, and intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. The review also examines the roles of …

Suicidal Ideation Of Queer Adolescents, Haley Kamikawa

Family Perspectives

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in youth ages 15-29 around the world. This literature review examines some of the reasons why adolescents are likely to experience suicidal ideation and emphasizes why queer adolescence are at a much greater risk for suicidal ideation (Li Kitts, 2005; McDermott et al., 2018; Wichstrøm & Hegna, 2003). Bullying and lack of parental support were found to be the greatest contributors for queer adolescence experiencing suicidal ideation (Czyz et al., 2018; Sultana et al., 2023; Wedell, 2024). Bullying and lack of parental acceptance has been found to increase levels of emotional distress …

How To Face Conflict In Marriage And Emerge As A Stronger Couple, Taylor Lancaster

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

The Menstrual Cycle And Relationships, Anna Stewart

Family Perspectives

No abstract provided.

Parental Media Moderation: How Parents Can Help Their Children Navigate Digital Media, Allison Rowberry

Family Perspectives

This essay explores the impact of electronic media on children’s behavior and the critical role of parental mediation in shaping media consumption. With nearly universal access to mobile and touchscreen technology among adolescents, excessive media use has become a pressing concern, often exceeding the recommended limits set by the American Academy of Pediatrics (e.g., Gentile et al., 2012). The literature review investigates three primary parental mediation styles: restrictive mediation, active mediation, and co-viewing, each with distinct implications for child development. Restrictive mediation sets limits on content and time, potentially fostering negative outcomes when autonomy is disregarded. Active mediation emphasizes open …

Achievement Goals And Burnout In Pre-Health Profession Undergraduate Students, Jamie Jensen, Hunter Nelson, Grant Rousseau, Kenneth Harrington, Isaiah Aduse-Poku, Alexis Call, Tanner Brown

ScholarsArchive Data

These are survey results of BYU undergraduates who are enrolled in pre-health programs. We assessed their Achievement Goal Orientations and their feelings of Burnout.

Hybrid Bermudagrass Drought Tolerance In A Cool-Season Climate, Ashley J. Beazer

Theses and Dissertations

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) (KBG) is the most commonly grown cool-season C3 turfgrass. However, as global temperatures rise, KBG struggles to tolerate higher temperatures, leading to increased irrigation demands--a growing concern in arid and semi-arid regions facing escalating drought conditions. In contrast, hybrid bermudagrass (HBG; Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy), a warm-season C4 grass, has demonstrated promising adaptability in traditionally cool-season climates. Since 2008, HBG has been successfully grown with minimal winterkill in Provo, UT, USA, and is now being considered for broader adoption in similar climates. Two separate studies were conducted to evaluate the …

Water Conservation For The Great Salt Lake: Measuring Success And Uncertainty In Utah's Efforts, Sarah E. Witney

Theses and Dissertations

The Great Salt Lake in Utah, United States is one of many saline lakes worldwide that is currently in decline. The shrinkage and collapse of global saline lakes is primarily caused by irrigated agriculture and other human consumptive uses, with secondary contributions from global climate change. Great Salt Lake's area has decreased by more than 50% relative to its long-term natural level. The decline of these lakes triggers serious and long-lasting socioeconomic consequences, including destruction of habitat, degradation of air quality, and damage to the economy. The Utah state government has instituted a variety of programs to conserve water to …

Finding Patterns In Disturbance: Modeling Ecosystem Recovery Using A Machine Learning Approach, Paden D. Allsup

Theses and Dissertations

Some of the most visible effects of Anthropogenic climate change are shifts in resource (water) availability, and disturbance regimes across the world. Ecosystems across the world are now being forced to adapt to amplified disturbances, or in some cases, completely new disturbance types. These shifts have major implications for ecosystem stability and functioning, and more broadly for nutrient cycling across the world. In the western USA, wildfire is playing a larger and more dramatic role than before, altering vegetation communities, landscape stability, and soil and stream chemistry. While fire has always played an important role in semi-arid ecosystems, the scale …

Assessing Innovations In Wildlife Monitoring: Estimating Abundance And Inferring Parturition Of Ungulates With Technology, Elicia Cotcher

Theses and Dissertations

Enhancements in technology are creating opportunities for novel methods of wildlife monitoring. Traditional methods of wildlife monitoring are often costly or time-consuming, and new technological advancements such as remote cameras and GPS collars are creating opportunities for exploration as these technologies become more accessible and reliable. We sought to assess the efficacy of two novel methods of ungulate monitoring. The first is an abundance estimation method using remote cameras termed Instantaneous Sampling (IS). IS seeks to estimate abundance using time lapsed remote cameras on a population of unmarked individuals. Our goal was to compare IS estimations against the true observed …

Effects Of Novel Fire Regimes On Plant And Animal Communities, Ryan Pienaar

Theses and Dissertations

Human actions are threatening global biodiversity through changes to ecosystems to which species are not well adapted. One of the main pathways by which humans affect change is through altered disturbance regimes. This includes changes in the size, frequency, and severity of wildfires. The impact of wildfires on native plant and animal communities varies across ecosystems as species in a community have adapted relatively predictable fire patterns over time. Changing fire patterns alters successional dynamics that can favor certain species over others and thus have a negative impact on biodiversity. This dissertation evaluates responses of different plant and animal species …

Methamphetamine Effects On The Striatal Neuroimmune System, Hillary Adelaide Wadsworth

Theses and Dissertations

Dopamine is thought of as the reward molecule of the brain, and while it does deal with reward, it is also associated with motivation and crucial for controlled movement. There are two main dopaminergic systems in the brain, the nigrostriatal system, which originates in the substantia nigra compacta and projects dopamine into the dorsal striatum; and the mesolimbic system, which originates in the ventral tegmental area and projects dopamine into the nucleus accumbens. While the mesolimbic dopamine system deals with motivation and reward, the nigrostriatal pathway underlies movement. Microglia are the immune cells of the brain and are incredibly dynamic. …

Maximizing Germination Of Three Native Plants For Rangeland Restoration And Urban Landscapes Through Seed Enhancements, Janetta Teichert

Theses and Dissertations

Native plants offer numerous ecological benefits and opportunities for both rangeland restoration and urban landscaping, making their integration essential for building sustainable ecosystems. They enhance soil health, promote pollinator activity, increase microbial diversity, and support both wildlife and livestock, all of which contribute to overall ecosystem resilience. A promising strategy to improve the use of native plants is the application of seed enhancement technologies, which can optimize seed germination, improve seedling establishment, and enhance overall plant success in challenging environments. These post-harvest seed treatments incorporate materials that improve seed performance, often through coatings composed of binders, fillers, and active ingredients. …

Genetic Regulation Of Anthocyanin Biosynthesis In Flower Color In Gilia, Veronica Mosquera

Theses and Dissertations

Gilia was the model species in this research to study the genetic regulation of flower color. I generated an F2 population from a cross of two closely related leafy-stemmed Gilia: G. capitata with blue and G. yorkii with white flowers, to obtain the fertile F1, which was selfed. The F2 population showed a segregation ratio between pigmented versus white flowers 3:1, suggesting a single locus with a major effect on the regulation of flower color. Then, the G. yorkii genome was assembled and annotated to become the reference genome to genotype-by-sequencing (GBS) 189 F2 individuals. The Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) …

Differential Binding Of Host Cell Proteins By Vpr Mutant R77q Compared With Wild Type Vpr, Madison C. Wagley

Theses and Dissertations

HIV Viral protein R (Vpr) is a multifunctional accessory protein which plays a role in nuclear import of the pre-integration complex, transactivation of HIV LTR promoter, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis during HIV infection. R77Q is an HIV Vpr mutant which is associated with long-term non-progressor phenotypes, and which has previously been connected to higher levels of apoptosis compared to wild type Vpr in vitro. There are observable differences in host binding partners with HIV Vpr between wild type and R77Q strains as shown via coimmunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry. In one run R77Q samples showed binding to histone 1.2, 1.3, …

Development Of Raman Spectroscopic Methods To Analyze Chemical, Biological, And Physical Constituents For Food Safety And Quality, Hannah C. Broadbent

Theses and Dissertations

Ensuring food safety and quality is crucial for consumer health, satisfaction, and regulatory compliance. This study aims to develop rapid, reliable methods for detecting food constituents (i.e. lactose), pathogens (i.e. Listeria monocytogenes), and contaminants (i.e. micro- and nano-plastics) using Raman spectroscopy. With advantages like high specificity, minimal sample preparation, and fast analysis, Raman spectroscopy offers a promising alternative to traditional methods. This research explores its application in assessing chemical, biological, and physical properties of food to enhance safety and quality monitoring. Lactose-free products are increasingly popular due to the global prevalence of lactose intolerance, creating a need for effective verification …

Studies Evaluating Practices For Water Conservation: In-Situ Sensors For Determining Soil Field Capacity And Water Application Savings From Rebate-Driven Residential Landscape Transformations, Madison E. Martini

Theses and Dissertations

Water conservation is a critical issue that requires solutions to address growing water scarcity. In both agricultural and urban settings, targeting conservation efforts is essential for lasting progress as well as protection of communities and ecosystems. This research focuses on identifying practical means to reduce water use by studying separate conservation strategies in urban and agricultural contexts. Given their interdependence, addressing water use in both sectors is essential for achieving meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. Agricultural water conservation relies on efficient irrigation practices, which depend on accurately determining soil field capacity (FC)--the amount of water soil can retain after excess …

Intervention Strategies To Overcome Hpv Vaccine Hesitancy Among Hispanic Immigrants In The Usa: A Video-Based Ap-Proach, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

These data come from a nationwide survey administered by Qualtrics testing a video intervention to help Hispanic Immigrants overcome barriers to HPV vaccination.

Associations Between Linguistic Factors And Vaccine Attitudes In A Hispanic Immigrant Population In The United States, Jamie Jensen

ScholarsArchive Data

Data are results of a nationwide survey administered by Qualtrics to Hispanic Immigrants concerning HPV vaccine uptake and hesitancy factors.

Development Of A Qualitative Spot Assay For Zinc Detection In Fortified Cereal Grain Matrices, Ashley L. Lamborn

Theses and Dissertations

The present thesis is a compilation of a literature review, journal manuscript, and two standard operating procedures (SOP) on the qualitative determination of zinc in fortified cereal grain products and matrices. The literature review addresses the premise of the research as well as potential solutions for the development of a rapid qualitative spot assay for zinc determination. Quality assurance assays affirm the presence of micronutrients in food fortification initiatives, but no rapid qualitative spot methods for the assessment of zinc currently exist. Chromogenic reagents that may perform a key role in the rapid determination of zinc are identified. The journal …

Analysis Of Nitrogen Accumulation And Gene Expression In Hydroponically-Grown Chenopodium Genotypes, Teal Kalt

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient required by all plants to complete their life cycles. Inefficient N uptake contributes to over fertilization and subsequent environmental and sustainability issues resulting in the need for improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). Chenopodium quinoa is a resilient pseudocereal crop that is relatively adapted to N-deficient soils. Previous studies have uncovered the unique genetic structure of quinoa and its physiological responses to N availability; however, gaps remain in understanding its molecular mechanisms for NUE. This study investigates four quinoa genotypes (Real-1, 0654, KU-2, and QQ74) hydroponically grown in N-deficient conditions. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis identified …

Elucidating The Antibiofilm Characteristics Of A Carbon Infiltrated Carbon Nanotube Surface And A Copper-Coated Carbon Infiltrated Carbon Nanotube Surface, Lucy Christena Bowden

Theses and Dissertations

Post-surgical implant-associated infections cause considerable patient morbidity and mortality. These infections are often caused by biofilm-forming bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacterial biofilms are resistant to immune clearance and are a reservoir of antibiotic resistance. Implant materials that resist bacterial colonization may be able to improve patient outcomes. Carbon infiltrated carbon nanotubes (CICNT) are a potential surface modification for medical implants. The work presented in this dissertation focuses on characterizing the antibiofilm effect of the CICNT surface, better understanding its mechanism of action, and characterizing the enhanced antibiofilm effect of a copper-coated CICNT surface. S. aureus biofilms …

Offering Alternatives To Biblical Literalism May Be The Key To Increasing The Public’S Acceptance Of Evolution, Jamie Jensen, Dalton Bourne, Kenneth Harrington, Grant Rousseau, Jessica Abele, Daniel Ferguson

ScholarsArchive Data

These are data from two cohorts: a nationwide dataset, and a BYU-specific student dataset. We gathered information on evolution acceptance (using the I-SEA), biblical literalism (using the EALS) and religiosity (using the Sethi and Seligman instrument).

Characterizing The Effects Of Rage Upregulation In Lung Development, Derek Michael Clarke

Theses and Dissertations

The Receptor for Advanced Glycation End-products (RAGE) is a transmembrane, multi-ligand cell surface receptor highly expressed in pulmonary tissue, where it plays a critical role in mediating inflammatory responses. Under chronic toxicant exposure, often associated with cigarette, e-cigarette, and diesel particulate, RAGE transitions from a protective to a deleterious state, contributing to pathological processes. In adult models, RAGE's role in the development of lung disease has been well studied, yet in the context of lung development RAGE has not been well studied with a small number of clinical papers finding increased levels of RAGE in bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD) and respiratory distress …

Transgenerational Impacts Of Covid-19: Exploring The Epigenetic Impacts Of Sars-Cov-2 Infection On Parental Reproductive Health And Offspring Development, Isaac Mckay Stirland

Theses and Dissertations

The mechanisms and consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, including clinical manifestations, immune response, pathogenicity, long-term sequelae, etc., have been studied in detail following the 2019 pandemic however, very little has been done to explore the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 and host DNA methylation. Given the role of DNA methylation in genetic regulation, genomic imprinting, and induction of transgenerational effects, an understanding of viral interaction(s) with the host methylome is imperative in promoting reproductive and developmental health. Numerous reports describe infections with similar pathogenicity to SARS-CoV-2 and their correlation to altered host tissues at the epigenetic, physiologic, and macroscopic level. These reported epigenetic …

Using Rna-Sequencing To Explore Mechanistic Markers, New Therapeutics, And Immune Imbalance: A Study Of Cancer And Autoimmunity Through The Lens Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, And B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Naomi Lydia Rapier-Sharman

Theses and Dissertations

Cancer and autoimmune diseases both impose a substantial healthcare burden on the US and world populations. In 2016, there were over 17 million cases of cancer, leading to nearly nine million deaths. Additionally, autoimmune diseases cause substantial mortality and morbidity and are present in 3-5% of the general population. Despite the increased attention scientists now give diseases that are impacted by immune imbalance, we have yet to find regimens to treat the core cause(s) of tissue dysfunction without drastically decreasing the quality of life for many patients with either cancer or autoimmune disease. For instance, anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) …

Under Stress: Maternal Effects On Offspring Development In Live-Bearing Fish, Ruby Jensen, Emily Mead, Jerald B. Johnson

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

Research has shown that the stress response in adult fish can lower sex hormone levels, disrupt mating behavior, and reduce overall reproductive success (1). While stress is known to impact an individual's ability to reproduce, its effects on offspring after birth remain unclear. Specifically, the influence of maternal stress during gestation on offspring growth and maturation is still unknown.

To better understand how maternal stress affects offspring development, we will study the live-bearing fish Alfaro cultratus from birth to reproductive maturity. We will observe the timeline of developmental milestones in offspring whose mothers experience stress during gestation to assess potential …

Tight Junction Protein Impact On Sonic Hedgehog Pathway, Josh Freeman, Hudson Christensen, Dario Mizrachi

Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2025

The Sonic Hedgehog Pathway is critical for cell division and proliferation, and when disrupted, can be a major contributor to the overproliferation of cells and complications in the organism from the resultant cancers. Experimentation upon the organism Planaria Torva and A549 cells using chimera Occludin (COC)–a traditionally isolated tight junction protein having no role in the SHH pathway–has shown dramatic changes within the organism/cell signaling system, suggesting that tight-junction proteins may play a role in–or can be used to manipulate–this specific cell signaling pathway by inhibiting or activating key proteins. The possibility of a “mechanotransduction” effect by COC on SHH …