2013 Abstracts

S. Geneva Balin, Weber State University Anthropology In the past, mythology served as a guide to how life should be lived and provided a context for the condition in which people found themselves. As the sacred gave way to the secular, mythology lost its power to influence and guide the people as it did in the past. Rather than myths, people turned to literature for guidance. These stories have been told and retold through different eras in history. They have also been shared in contemporary forms such as books and movies which now reach a large audience. This paper will examine stories of social outcasts in an interpretive exploration into culture through the lens of literature. The multiple versions “The Phantom of the Opera” and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” reflect the cultures in which they were produced as well as the contemporary cultures that love them. A basis for comparison will be established by first recounting, in summary, the plotline for each of the novels. Then theories relevant to exploring meaning will be approached, notably those of Claude Levi-Strauss, Émile Durkheim, Dame Mary Douglas and Carl Jung. From here, variations of the stories and the history surrounding them can be examined to discover potential social meaning and show the importance of stories as a way to bind a culture together.

Melissa Lewis, Dixie State University English Both George Eliot and Thomas Hardy have been called determinists partly as a result of their novels The Return of the Native and The Mill on the Floss. The role of fate or destiny largely guides the plot of these works, regardless of the decisions and merit of the characters. A comparison of the style of determinism between the two authors reveals that George Eliot emphasizes a moral force while Thomas Hardy focuses on a force associated with nature. Eliot’s determinism suggests that the world is determined but that humans still remained morally responsible for their actions, as Maggie is responsible for not feeding Tom’s rabbits or for her lack of decision as she drifts down the river with Stephen Guest in The Mill on the Floss. Hardy tends to be more of a naturalist. The naturalist is a product of post-Darwinian theory that humanity is controlled entirely by nature. For example, the fate of Eustacia Vye in The Return of the Native seems to be controlled by the hand of Egdon Heath. Both novels depict extraordinary characters in a world bent to squash them. These novels reveal that the individual exists as a solitary entity, and the relationship that used to exist between God and individual is now between the individual and society. Both Eliot and Hardy create novels where the world seems determined and cruel and characters that don’t adhere or fit in this mold are eliminated or reduced.

Hanna Higginson, University of Utah Anthropology The study, “Sentimentality Preserves Our Past” focuses on two branches of nostalgia: sentimentality and historical utility and their relationship to cultural relics. Our approach assumes we can recognize similarities and differences between cultural communities by describing the extent to which individuals are sentimental or utilitarian with regard to their possessions. We are currently collecting data from the northern Utah community and Utah Tongan community. We set up a preliminary exercise asking participants to free list the items they have a difficult time throwing away for sentimental reasons. So far we have collected 40 questionnaires and 13 interviews that focus on the five most referenced items. Our target is to conduct about 45 questionnaires and 45 interviews for each community. For the Utahan population we have enough data to identify an S:U RANK – the ratio between a participant’s measure of sentimentality to the measure of utility. For the 25 questions where a respondent’s answer could be classified as appealing to sentimentality (s) or historic utility (h), we summed the totals then divided it by the sum of the answers appealing to utility (u). All totals above 1 indicate that the respondent prefers protecting items for nostalgic purposes; all answers below 1 indicate the respondent prefers items of utility. The S:U RANK gives a general view into a particular population. From this we can discuss the effect of variables such as age, marital status, children, age of children, and years in Utah on an individual’s preference. Currently, the pattern from the S:U RANK suggests that marital status and children are having the greatest effect on the ratio, but this will become clearer as the interviews progress. The research began as an effort to understand the presence of nostalgia as applied to five common relics among a particular diaspora, in light of the incoming data, this question is developing into an attempt to understand nostalgia in a cultural and universal sense as well.

Betty Stoneman, Utah Valley University Philosophy The “American Dream” and the “Working Class Promise” are ubiquitous ideologies in American culture. For this paper, I will argue these ideologies are social constructs which perpetuate and reinforce discrimination, the social hierarchy and the domination of the American working class. First, I will define the key concepts of this paper: ideology, stereotyping, domination, discrimination, the ideologies of the American Dream and the Working Class Promise. Secondly, I will argue these ideologies, as defined by communications professor Kristen Lucas, lead to discrimination and domination of the working class. I will argue the Working Class Promise is an example of philosopher Frederick Nietzsche’s slave morality, where a lower status group attaches positive values to themselves which only serves to perpetuate discrimination against them. Further, I will argue domination arises from such discrimination by examining a study by psychologists Shannon K. McCoy and Brenda Major regarding positive stereotyping, self-stereotyping, discrimination and domination. Next, I will argue, using sociologist Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus, both the Working Class Promise and the American Dream are structured and structuring social concepts which reinforce discrimination and domination through exclusion. In line with Bourdieu, I will use social philosopher Louis Althusser’s arguments to show how the Working Class Promise and the American Dream reproduce the roles of the social hierarchy and domination. I will support this demonstration with evidence from McCoy and Major’s study showing how various forms of discrimination are reproduced in society when individuals believe in the American Dream. Having accepted the social insights of these scholars, I would propose, based on the arguments of philosopher Immanuel Kant regarding the intrinsic worth of rational beings and contrary to elitist or socialist views, the solution is for Americans to reject these ideologies.

Echo Smith, University of Utah English and Classics In his novel Querelle Jean Genet depicts homosexual relationships among men, primarily in the navy, as narrated by the character of Lieutenant Seblon. The main object of Seblon’s affections and infatuations is Querelle, after whom the work is titled, the reigning protagonist. As the novel quite overtly depicts the occurrence of sexual acts between men, it is easily read as homosexual literature. However, what I argue is that homosexuals, within the novel, are identified more by verbal expressions than acts of the body. Throughout the text, Genet frequently draws attention to the mouth and the ways in which it expresses, imbibes, or expels. Using Georges Bataille’s theories of the mouth, which also focus on a type of oral release, I opine that one can see the relationship between this orifice and the way in which we, as humans, take in or eject things from our bodies. This notion coupled with Genet’s employment of the mouth as a means of homoerotic expression provides for a queering of the mouth to occur. Therefore, I conclude that the mouth, in the text of Querelle, becomes the orifice through which homosexuality is released from the body, primarily through verbal expression, and becomes the more accurate indicator of the homosexual within the text.

April Jackson, Dixie State University English With the publication of Kate Chopin’s complete works in 1969, proponents fighting for a new paradigm regarding women’s choices in regard to sexuality, marriage, and motherhood found much to consider in her work. Often, critics will analyze Chopin’s works with a limited feminist lens, focusing on themes of marriage, sexuality and sexual independence, and the creation of self-identity through marriage and sexual awakenings. However, Chopin’s works do not focus on women and the world they face to the exclusion of men; in writing about women and their lives, she also draws attention to the effects the attitudes of men have on women. Focusing on Chopin’s male characters, who often serve as satellite figures, this paper will analyze the way men in her texts can create an atmosphere in which women can, without fear of societal rejection, shape their own lives. In her larger body of works, two men exemplify this ideal man: Gouvernail, who appears in “Athenais” and “A Respectable Woman”; and Offdean, who appears in “A No-Account Creole.” These two men represent a model of masculinity that is most conducive for women to fully assert and create their sexual and social independence and self-identity. With the study and analysis of these satellite male characters, rather than limiting the analysis to just the women’s experiences, deeper and newer readings of Chopin’s work will surface and allow for additional themes to come forward in the broader area of Chopin studies.

Catherine Howell-Dinger, University of Utah English While feminist projects have often acknowledged that discourse creates specific material conditions and lived realities, it has rarely been asked how these conditions might influence discourse itself. This paper investigates the politics of textual production and argues that some texts have thought of the material conditions of the narratives which they disclose as inseparable from, and present in, the text itself; however, other texts show a high level of anxiety about their relationship to materiality, and ultimately attempt to suppress this relationship as a means of ensuring a particular privileged position. For example, Toni Morrison’s Beloved has been read by some critics as an example of Kristeva’s semiotic. Pursing this reading further, I argue that a more active conception of the body is present in Morrison’s work than was previously observed by these critics. In Morrison’s work, the body is not simply something that is written; rather, it is something that actively shapes and inflects the text vis-a-vis its own disruption of the text. On the other hand, although the body seems to figure prominently in the work of some authors, such as James Tiptree’s “The Girl Who was Plugged In,” its relationship to textual production is eclipsed in order to maintain political power and hegemonic masculinity. The authorial voice in Tiptree’s work ultimately attempts to cover over its own connection to the feminine body of its composer, Alice Sheldon, in order to give its own feminist message authority.

Carlos Junior Guadarrama, Utah State University English My poster explores the history of the Migrant Head Start program at the former Indian Intermountain School location in Brigham City, Utah. No one to my knowledge has gathered a history of this program, which operated from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. I intend to explore this Migrant Head Start’s foundations as an informal school for the children of Latino migrants, as well as how it grew and developed over the almost two decades that it existed, before it became the Centro de la Familia de Utah. I plan to interview a former principal, several teachers, as well as former students. I argue that this Head Start played an extremely important educational and social role in the lives of many inhabitants of Brigham City.

Jeffrey Green, University of Utah Linguistics Although learning a second language can be difficult, especially for adults, many people believe that once an individual has acquired a second language, it will be easier to learn a third. Individuals may utilize strategies learned from studying a second language (L2) to their study of a third, but this does not necessarily mean that learning a third language (L3) will be easier. As individuals study an L3, their knowledge of both their native language (L1) and their L2 will compete with their developing knowledge of the L3. Previous research has shown that during early stages of L3 acquisition, both L1 and L2 phonology (that is, the underlying sound system of a language) influence the phonology of their L3. This is evident, for example, in learners’ production of some word-initial consonants, such as d, p, and k. Languages differ in the timing between the articulation of the consonant and the beginning of vibration of the vocal folds (voicing) associated with a following vowel sound. This timing is known as Voice Onset Time (VOT). Studies suggest a stronger influence from L2 than from L1 in L3 VOT production. However, learners in these studies had some (if limited) knowledge of the L3, and the influence of this knowledge is unclear. In addition, previous studies have addressed L3 production, but not L3 perception. Research has yet to investigate (i) the influence of L1 and L2 phonology in the very initial stages of L3 acquisition (when the language is totally unfamiliar), and (ii) the influence of L1 and L2 phonology on the perception of VOT boundaries. This study investigates (i) and (ii) by presenting English and Spanish bilinguals with stimuli representing a range of VOT in their L1 and L2, as well as from a third, unfamiliar language in a series of tasks designed to elicit evidence of VOT boundaries in each language. The results of these tasks will be examined to determine whether learners rely more on their L1 or their L2 for processing a third, unfamiliar language. Preliminary results and analyses will be available by February 2013. This research will give important insights into the process of acquisition of a third language.

Ryan Krage, Utah Valley University English and Literature Within Freshman Composition Studies, little research has been produced on writing conferences between students and teachers since Laurel Johnson Black’s Between Talk and Teaching: Reconsidering the Writing Conference in 1998. Most published research has not included any systematic information about the nature of the writing conference, a consultation between the student and teacher designed to discuss the student’s paper in order to make changes. Student feedback and involvement in this study is of crucial importance because there is no existing data whether teacher-student conferences are working from a student perspective. The major research question is “What is the relationship between types of teacher-student conference interaction and subsequent revision of students’ papers?” The purpose of the research is to discover what the writing conference between teacher and student accomplishes in terms of better writing outcomes, what the expectations of the student are, and what and how the power dynamics between student and teacher affect the quality and quantity of revision from both student and instructor perspectives. We will examine the connection of students’ perceptions about the writing conference to their final scores and other data. During the spring 2012 semester, we drafted three surveys designed to capture students’ perspectives and expectations regarding the conferences (a pre-conference, post conference, and post final grade). The methodology includes transcribing voice recordings of conferences, collecting student surveys before and after conferences, and collecting students’ rough and final drafts for two papers during the semester. This raw data will be coded into usable data, which will then be analyzed to identify behaviors that facilitate or impede the conference and determine its overall effectiveness. We hypothesize that a dialogic conference will occur when the power dynamic between student and teacher is more equitable, resulting in more student-ownership over the revision process. The extent of student ownership within the revision process will be determined by both the quantity and quality of revision. These findings will, in turn, enable teachers to take a closer look at the nature of their own writing conferences in order to develop better consultations with their students.

Jacob Robinson, Brigham Young University Mechanical Engineering Figure skating is a competitive sport that requires athletes to practice up to 5 days a week year round performing 50 to 100 jumps per day. This results in high, repetitive impact forces on the skater’s body which may lead to overuse injuries. While the negative effects of figure skating are well documented, the cause of these injuries is still unclear because the complexity of artistic figure skating limits current instrumentation from accurately measuring impact forces. This project has sought to fill this void by developing a force measurement system that will allow the figure skater to perform their jumps without any hindrance while accurately measuring the magnitude of the impact forces in the vertical and horizontal directions. Using strain gauges attached to the stanchions of the ice skate combined with a data collection system that attaches to the bottom of the boot, we have developed a prototype that accurately measures the forces produced in the ice skate. This will lead to a fully developed ice skate measurement system which will be used by researchers to investigate the impact forces generated in figure skating jumps and landings.

Connor George, Utah State University Electrical and Computer Engineering The SABER instrument, aboard the TIMED satellite, measures optical data regarding parameters of the Earth’s atmosphere with respect to altitude. Approximately once per minute, SABER performs a limb-scan measurement on the Earth’s atmosphere from which altitude emission profiles of key atmospheric gasses, including hydroxyl at wavelengths of 1.6 μm and 2.0 μm, are derived. Most hydroxyl profiles within the SABER dataset contain a single peak in the airglow altitude profile centered near an altitude of 87 km, but a significant portion of the profiles display two or more local maxima. MATLAB code was written to analyze the geophysical and temporal global distribution of the multiple-peak profiles. Graphs have been created which display relationships between the percentage of multiple-peak profiles and the local time, the cardinal orientation of the SABER device, and the latitude and longitude at which the atmospheric profile was measured. Patterns have been observed in multiple-peak profile distribution with respect to these variables. Possible causes of the multiple-peak occurrences in the hydroxyl altitude profiles include waves, geometrical effects of the SABER instrument, and/or chemistry of the atmosphere. In addition to graphing software, analysis software was written which counts the number of peaks present in any given altitude profile, and which ascertained the percentage of profiles displaying multiple-peak characteristics. A small (<1%) portion of hydroxyl altitude profiles were found to have abnormal distributions due to erroneous or noisy data collected by SABER. Software has also been written to remove such exceptions from the dataset. Additional investigation into the relationship between multiple-peak occurrences and cardinal direction orientation of the SABER device is required in order to further identify the causes for multiple peak profiles. An investigation into seasonal patterns for multiple-peak profiles is to be conducted. As the dataset grows, exception software will be updated to identify invalid altitude profiles. Also, ozone has been found to have multiple-peak altitude profiles similar to those of hydroxyl, and studies complementary to those performed on hydroxyl altitude profiles will be performed on ozone.

Derek Chang, University of Utah Bioengineering Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, is a rapid, irregular heart beat arising from uncontrolled and asynchronized electrical activation in the atria. This disruption of the normal electrical signaling hinders the contraction of the heart, leading to decreased blood flow, possible clot (thrombus) formation, and an increased risk of stroke. The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a small muscular pouch of highly variable anatomy within the left atrium. The LAA plays a prominent role in thrombus formation in patients with AF because of decreased blood flow within this structure. Thus, we hypothesized that the shape of the left atrial appendage is different in AF patients with a documented history of stroke. We used statistical shape analysis to determine which LAA shape variations contribute to stroke based on a cohort of AF patients who had both MRI and CT scans and a documented history of stroke. We manually delineated the boundaries of the LAA from each patient’s CT and MRI scans to analyze the resulting LAA segmentations for shape variations across imaging modalities and history of stroke. The results showed that patients who have AF and a history of stroke have an LAA with a narrower insertion site into the left atrium and are larger in size. In contrast, patients who have AF, but no history of stroke, have an LAA with a wider insertion site, which are smaller in size. By isolating specific LAA shape variants indicative of an underlying risk of stroke, we can use this shape classification scheme to better tailor AF therapies to each individual patient.

Autumn Pando, Brigham Young University Mechanical Engineering The wrist is one of the most common sites for joint injury. Over two-thirds of 75,000 annual repetitive joint injuries occur at the wrist. Excessive or abnormal wrist forces are thought to be one of the main contributing factors, yet no characterization of normal wrist forces exists. The purpose of this research is to fill this lack by creating a systematic, quantitative characterization of wrist forces and torques experienced in daily life. This database will aid further research in developing better and more personalized treatments as well as improving design considerations for human-machine interfaces. Ten healthy subjects participated in the experiment. Subjects performed 25 activities representative of daily life (e.g. hygiene maintenance, food preparation, using technology). Electromyographic (EMG) sensors recorded wrist muscle activity and electromagnetic motion sensors recorded wrist kinematics. Each subject performed a calibration task prior to the experimental protocol to determine the proportionality constant between EMG activity and torque. Wrist force and torque were determined from EMG activity using a constant of proportionality (identified by calibration), muscle length, and muscle velocity. Co-contraction was computed from torque. Wrist muscle usage, forces, torque magnitudes, torque angles, and percentage of co-contraction at varying levels of contraction were characterized. The results indicate muscle use, forces, and torques are unevenly distributed.

Mitchell Dabling, Utah State University Civil and Environmental Engineering Water management and flood control are essential elements of civilization. Linear weirs (e.g. ogee crest, sharp crested, and broad crested weirs) are often used in irrigation channels or reservoir spillways to regulate the discharge and upstream water level during flood flows. As hydrologic data sets increase in size and accuracy, the highest probable maximum flood (PMF) discharge is becoming increasingly more accurate, and in many cases much larger than previous estimates. Because of this, an older weir may need to be rehabilitated to ensure it can pass the updated PMF discharge safely without upstream flooding. A nonlinear weir (e.g. labyrinth or piano key weir) can replace a linear weir in a channel or spillway to pass significantly more discharge without requiring increased channel width. The Utah Water Research Laboratory at Utah State University, with the help of Utah Mineral Lease Funds, has developed and published design data for multiple configurations of nonlinear weirs. In 2012, the Utah Division of Water Resources used this data to design a labyrinth-style nonlinear weir that will replace the spillway currently in use at Millsite Reservoir in Emery County. This rehabilitation project will significantly decrease the flooding potential of the surrounding area.

Kay (Beau) Freckleton, University of Utah Mechanical Engineering Current quad-rotors provide excellent maneuverability and opportunity for data collection in large scale areas such as agriculture, but lack the capability to maintain flight for an extended period of time. This is due primarily to a lack of energy supply, requiring operators to replace the battery source before the quad-rotor completes its designated purpose [1]. In this paper, we introduce a mechanism to enable flying robotic rotorcraft, such as quadrotors and helicopters which utilize vertical takeoff and landing, to perch similar to a bird. The mechanism is passive, using only the weight of the rotorcraft for actuation. Such a mechanism will dispel the need for multiple batteries by allowing the quadrotor to perch amid its designated flight course, recharge using solar energy, and complete data collection over large scale areas in less time. In previous research to this same end, biomimetic approaches were pursued, resulting in designs that looked similar to the legs and feet of birds. The design in this paper utilizes a Sarrus mechanism to convert rotorcraft weight into perch grip. We began by designing the mechanism for a range of cylindrical perch sizes. Using MATLAB, we developed a program to optimize the various mechanism dimensions needed to perch within this range while also maximizing the mechanical advantage of grip force. Using SolidWorks, a 3-dimensional model was created and manufactured with these dimensions. In testing, the mechanism successfully allowed a small RC helicopter to perch on a 4cm diameter rod with some resistance to external forces. However, in crash tests, the mechanism was unable to withstand certain moment forces and developed large fractures. Further research will focus on decreasing these moment forces’ ability to weaken the mechanism while optimizing perching capability.

Kimberly Uchida, University of Utah Bioengineering and Oncological Sciences Programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) loses its function as a tumor suppressor when co-expressed with a specific binding partner, protein arginine methyltransferase-5 (PRMT5). A better understanding of the regulation of PDCD4-PRMT5 interaction may lead to cancer therapies targeted at restoring the tumor suppressive function of PDCD4. Using Xenopus laevis (frog) eggs to generate extract trapped in either interphase or mitosis, we found that PDCD4-PRMT5 interaction is regulated by the cell cycle. Full-length PDCD4 bound PRMT5 more robustly in interphase than in mitosis. However, a truncated version of PDCD4, that retained the PRMT5 binding site, bound PRMT5 equally in interphase and mitosis. These results indicate that there may be a component of full-length PDCD4 that occludes the PRMT5 binding site in mitosis. Furthermore, we found that both full-length and the truncated PDCD4 are preferentially phosphorylated in mitosis, but preferentially methylated in interphase. From these results we speculate that phosphorylation of PDCD4 in mitosis allows PDCD4 to fold upon itself and effectively block the PRMT5 binding site. Additionally, phosphorylation may prevent methylation even when PRMT5 can bind PDCD4, explaining the lack of PDCD4 methylation in mitosis. Such an inhibitory mechanism may be useful in therapeutically restoring the tumor suppressive function of PDCD4. Future research will be aimed towards completing our understanding of PDCD4-PRMT5 interaction in the cell cycle, such as proving our model in human cells.

Jennifer Sumsion, Utah Valley University Art I am influenced by natural elements, the combination of shapes, colors and textures are what interest me. The commonplace, banal and unnoticed aspects of nature draws my focus and inspires me capture images to my vision and transform them onto paper and canvas. The constant change in rocks, leaves, skies, trees and water continue to focus my attention and are reflected back into my images. The balance of lines, colors and tones adds patterns energy and new life when mixed together. Nature can look foreign when viewed close-up, intensifying the smallest detail. Unnatural influence on the environment has added a unique aspect to nature. It can create extraordinary patterns and encourage new images that are beautiful in themselves. I enjoy the way leaves fall on a sidewalk, the patterns of melted water and salt on the road after a snowstorm, the ice crystals that form on tree limbs when pollution levels are high and the light and shapes reflected in shoveled snow when it begins to melt. I use cool and warm colors together to create a bounce off of each other. I enjoy using oil paints, ink charcoal, acrylic, and nupastels in my work.

Rodolfo Rafael, Weber State University Performing Arts In preparation for choreographic projects for my degree, I attended the world-class Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company workshop on an undergraduate grant. The workshop included various subjects, but the most valuable and challenging approach was the emphasis on the “frame” of a work of art and how by changing the frame, the meaning and impact of art is affected. I became interested in the artistic and societal frame of marriage, and decided to use this frame for my student choreographic project. Since it was in an academic setting, I presented the idea in an open-ended manner, one that allowed the students to express their concerns. I was intent not so much on the outcome of the piece, but that the subject of marriage be questioned. I started by having a discussion with the students. I solicited and noted their boundaries. After finding an agreed upon point of compromise on how to approach this issue, we decided to move forward. Unfortunately, some never came back. In fear of losing more students, I changed directions. This experience brought me to a new issue. How much academic freedom do students have? Is higher education supposed to provide a platform where students are free to explore open inquiries? What if others aren’t willing to deal with social issues? Should students change the subject matter of their research to avoid offending others? How do we encourage others to discuss issues they don’t agree on? Is there a way we can find common ground and share the frame?

Kelsey Spaulding, Weber State University Interior Design Research states that the youth in almost any setting, will always need attention and assistance in navigating life. Pre-teen and teen years can be a time when children need attention, guidance, and direction while developing into mature citizens of their community and world (Larson, Positive Development in a Disorderly World, 2011). Within schools, adolescents are taught only a few of the fundamental ideas and practices that would help them to better navigate in an ambiguous world. In a study done by the New York State Afterschool Network, learning opportunities outside of the classroom help to increase the application of lessons and give adolescents a higher probability for achievement (Network, 2012). Outside of school, adolescent youth need to be able to interact with each other and gain an understanding of themselves and others in relation to the world. Without an interaction with other youth and different aspects of society, adolescents may become apathetic and lack an understanding of the effect they may have on others and their community (Balsano, 2005). In Ogden, Utah, there are a variety of cultures and backgrounds from which adolescent youth come (Bureau, 2012). It is important during the age of adolescence to interact in a personal, societal, and healthy environment during the time when their brains and personalities develop most (Larson, Adolescents’ Development of Skills for Agency in Youth Programs: Learning to Think Strategically, 2011). When given the proper tools, guidance, and opportunities to work with others and their community, adolescents become better leaders of the future. In turn they benefit society as a whole by creating a culture of understanding and willingness to work for an improved future (Network, 2012).In downtown Ogden a building has been proposed as a gathering place for youth between the ages of 14 and 18. The name of the building would be The Northern Utah Youth Center. The proposed design of the building has been created to accommodate a unique style of learning. It will provide a creative environment where youth are allowed to explore and experiment through the application of hands on learning. Utilizing the use of appropriate lighting, color and architectural design will allow for the youth to feel more at ease, creative, and constructive (Saxton, 2012). Within the two floors of the building, multipurpose rooms may be divided with partitions to maximize the use of space.

Thomas Skousen, Dixie State University Art Concordia apostolorum, the union of apostles, is found in literature, art, and even the topography of Rome. Rome is unique in the fact that it unites Peter and Paul. Early Christians revered these saints and dedicated two of the most important churches in the city to them. Their deaths in Rome were a crucial factor in identifying Rome as the principal capital of Christendom. As Christianity spread and was accepted throughout the empire, different Christian centers arose, aside from Jerusalem and Rome. In order to maintain its place at the top tier of the Christian hierarchy, the Roman Popes used the idea of concordia apostolorum to not only speak to Roman citizens, but also to pilgrims who visited the city. The use of concordia apostolorum extended into the ninth century with Pope Paschal I’s (817-824) mosaics at Santa Prassede. These have historically been categorized into the Carolingian Renaissance. However, Paschal and earlier popes were trying to create a uniquely Roman Renaissance, and Peter and Paul’s place in art is crucial to their propaganda. The apse mosaic in Santa Prassede employs concordia apostolorum to promote the primacy of Rome. Louis the Pious inherited the empire from his father Charlemagne and surrounded himself with bishops and scholars who questioned the authority of the pope, thus igniting a struggle between the pope and the Carolingians. This paper will show that Paschal I commissioned art that emphasized his role in carrying out the ministerial work of Peter and Paul. In art and in life, Paschal sought to become not only the principal figure in Christianity, a living apostle, but also a chief player in Europe’s political structure.

Krista Brown, Weber State University Interior Design Research has shown that through January 2007, the wounded-to-fatality counts of Operation Iraqi Freedom is higher (about 7.6) than during earlier U.S. military conflicts, such as the ratio of 5.2 for Vietnam (Goldberg, 2010). This means that more soldiers are dying more from hostile combat rather than sickness or non-battle injuries. The Salt Lake area is not currently set up to accommodate the needs of these returning military personnel who have been inflicted with a war injury. Rooms are not adequate and not all necessary areas such as burn rehabilitation are addressed. The government has allowed for a veteran support home to be put into an existing building in Salt Lake City, UT. The objective of the veteran’s support home, “Hope Against Hope,” is to create a facility approximately 15,000 square feet that creates an area for veterans to heal and adapt to their new life style. Currently there is a lack of facilities in Utah that can fulfill all of the needs the “Hope Against Hope Veteran Support Home,” plans to accommodate. This support home will be located in Salt Lake City near the University of Utah hospital. This area was chosen because of the close proximity to the airport, the local medical support and emergency services, as well as the beauty of the surrounding area. Among the needs for the “Hope Against Hope,” center include future expansion, comfort, and should reflect universal design principles. In addition day lighting principles will be a focus. Research has shown that people in institutional areas don’t receive adequate exposure to natural light needed to synchronize sleeping patterns (Brawley, 2009). An advantage of the current location of the center is the close proximity to the Wasatch Mountain Range which provides spectacular views. This advantage will be used to promote healing as well as giving patients a sense of night and day in a home like setting. Color, common rooms, and a flowing floor plan will also provide a new life and hope for injured veterans as they recover from injuries sustained in military service.

Kyra Marie Bell, Weber State University Interior Design The negative impacts that tourists can have on the environment is a major reason that so many pristine natural habitats are off limits to travelers. With so many tourists around the world, the effects of carbon emissions from transportation, excessive waste, and harm to delicate ecosystems, these restricted areas seem to be growing (Center for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD), 2009) As a result, ecotourism has started to gain popularity, as it focuses on minimizing ecological and socio-cultural impacts (TIES, 2012). With the emergence of LEED certification, builders and designers are now provided with a way to implement green building design throughout the entire building process (USGBC, 2011). This makes it possible to not only construct a hotel built in sustainable ways, but to continually have a lower impact on the environment and educate people on ways they can lessen their own footprint. However, less than 100 hotels world-wide have achieved LEED certification, and as of 2010 there is only one such hotel in Utah (HKS, 2011). In Southern Utah, where many of the states national parks are located, lodging that meets the needs of ecotourism by limiting its impact on the environment is nearly non-existent. In order to visit the beautiful, undisturbed environments available in these regions, tourists need a place where they can stay that they know focuses on sustainability and limited impact on the environment as much as the tourists do. Having an ecotourism hotel in Southern Utah would encourage “tourism that seeks to minimize ecological and socio-cultural impacts while providing economic benefits to local communities” (TIES, 2012).In order to meet these needs, The Hotel Viridi will be built as a 15,000 square foot eco-tourism hotel in Southern Utah that meets all the LEED certification requirements as well as the 12 Aims of Sustainable Tourism (Center for Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD), 2009). These needs will be met through the use of an adaptive re-use building, in which the hotel will incorporate four different aspects of design; hospitality design as found in all public areas of the hotel, a residential area for hotel guests to stay, healthcare design in the form of an onsite gym, and commercial design where the offices and lecture hall are located.

Sarah Breinholt, Weber State University Interior Design Spiriti Forti Rebuild and Recovery Center is a facility that heals the psychological and body issues for individuals with eating disorders. Research has shown that long-term stay care facilities should contain a “home-like” atmosphere that reflects the site’s surroundings. In a study by Schneider (2008) explains the importance for the patient to feel comfortable and relaxed in order to achieve maximum recovery. In addition, a study by Kaya (2009) explores the effect that color has on individual’s emotions and health. A study that was completed on a group of individuals of all ages and all nationalities shows that overall; people have very similar reactions to the same colors in spite of age or race. The colors blue and green have been recognized to reduce anxiety and promote calmness and well-being. Because of this reason, this color palette will be implemented in the design of this recovery center. A former historic train station in St. George, Utah has been acquired by Spiriti Forti Rebuild and Recovery Center to be renovated to accommodate a getaway for patients to escape the world and rebuild their body image and self-esteem. Among the features of the care center will cafeteria/kitchen that focuses on education and nutrition, rooms for long-term stay, as well as spaces for multiple activities for individual and group building exercises. This facility should become a place that provides all the necessary components for patients to make a full recovery of their psychological and image disorders.

Kinsley Oates, Weber State University Interior Design Research shows that athletics help pave the wave for student to pay for college and obtain an education. (Proposition 48, N.C.A.A 2010) Proposition 48 supports this cause by focusing on the output of graduating students, rather than the input of entrance standards. The N.C.A.A studies show, “The persistence of low-achieving students in college have suggested that participation in athletics is frequently the catalyst for student who have not performed well in high school to study more diligently and, ultimately, to graduate.” Steve Kendall wrote that for many at-risk students, athletics is the only reason they go to school. He states, “These at-risk students who have no other reason to attend school other than athletics benefit from this policy. They are in classes and participating in the activities and exercises happening in the classrooms.” Jerry Tarkanian a coach at UNLV defends his stance on trying to help underprivileged players deserve a shot at straightening out their lives. The Maple Leaf Training Center located in Spanish Fork Utah, will provide at-risk student who attend high school a privilege to obtain scholarships and a chance of going to a college or university. Students who live in poverty and low income home do not have an option to get into colleges or universities. This 23,000 square foot facility will help 1st generations college students train and obtain scholarships, both academic and athletic for them to continue on to a college or university to pursue their future.

Kristina Hess, Weber State University Interior Design Technology According to USA Today & Thompson Healthcare Center for Health Statistics and Bureau of Census Data, Utah is has the highest rate of depression in the nation. Research shows that girls become more likely to experience depression than boys in adolescents (NIMH)Prominence Residential Depression Treatment Center for adolescent girls will house the staff needed to perform program duties and will house the in-patient care residents. The facility requires an accredited high school, patient and staff housing, food preparation area, a cafeteria, a nursing station, therapy rooms, admin room, a homework room, and a free time room. Daylighting strategies will be needed for the treatment process. The program at Prominence will incorporate the research from Nedley (2011). The study concluded that part of depression is caused from not getting enough vitamin D that the sun produces. In addition, Prominence wants to promote safety and security for patients and as well as provide a family atmosphere. An appropriate color scheme to facilitate healing as well as accessibility will need to be taken into consideration and planned for accordingly.

Jessica Corey, Weber State University Interior Design Research has shown that senior citizens, due to the aging eye, need special accommodations in their daily activities and living (Moller, 2008). “The purpose of [the International Building] codes is to establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare through structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation, adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards attributed to the built environment and to provide safety to fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations” (IBC 101.3 Intent). The independent senior living facility, Riley Court is being renovated to cater to the elderly. In addition to implementing universal design concepts, research on the aging eye, community-dwelling for elders, and functional limitations will enhance their ability to be independent. Moller’s research showed that visual impairment is one of the top four reasons for a loss of independence among seniors. The study suggested that lighting, color, and accessories have a high priority of focus when designing for older individuals. Riley Court, a 15,000 square foot independent senior living facility, located in Bountiful, Utah will feature a fully accessible facility and finishes that reflect the research from Moller’s study. In addition, adequate lighting will be provided as well as a home-like atmosphere for residents.

Brittany Brown, Weber State University Interior Design According to the article Contributions of Built Environment 68% of the adult population is considered obese. (Rahman, 2011) The article also states that childhood obesity is on a steady rise. The research provides evidence that obesity shortens Americans life expectancy by 2 to 5 years on average. The study by Rahman recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly and at least 60 minutes every day. The Spencer Weight Loss Retreat is a 18,000 square foot facility located in Meridian, Mississippi. The weight loss retreat will provide weight loss training and medical attention for those residents of Meridian who are considered obese and want treatment to gain back their lives. The weight loss center will provide each patient with a personal trainer who will guide in their weight loss. The facility will provide the patients access to their gym where they can use treadmills, bikes, weights, outdoor routines, and other activities to meet the 150 minute workouts a week. The Spencer Weight Loss Retreat will provide a classroom to educate the patients in nutrition and other life skills.

Machaela Burt, Utah State University Theatre Arts This research study explores the efficacy of the “Living Literature Project”, a program that teaches traditional English curriculum in high school classrooms using theatre-based strategies to enhance understanding of Shakespearean texts. The study was piloted with two control classes and two intervention classes in 2012 with strategies such as viewing performances by experienced actors during class and paraphrasing texts into modern speech to assess the impact on learning through the use of teacher-administered pre and post project surveys assessing student attitudes towards Shakespeare as well as content quizzes. The results of the pilot study suggested that students who participated in the project achieved higher quiz scores, but their attitudes about Shakespeare were not changed. The pilot study informed further developments of the teaching strategies and led to further curriculum development. The project is currently in session for the 12-13 school year. The study is being expanded to include a larger number of classes that will also assess teacher satisfaction with the academic progress made by the students involved. The results will be assessed through revised surveys and quizzes as well as focus groups with the students. Results are anticipated in April 2013. The pilot study suggested that arts integration and the building of cross-curricular relationships have a positive effect on student learning. The current study hopes to reinforce these results with more accurate assessments and to see increased topical interest, measured through focus groups.

Paige McAllister, Brigham Young University Psychology Negative body image among younger women has grave ramifications including eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. In order to more accurately detect negative body image among women, we created the Body Image and Social Comparison Survey (BISCS). The BISCS is a 10 item self-report measure using a 4-point Likert scale. Our two domains were attitudes about personal body image and social comparisons. We took a convenience sample of 115 women between the ages of 18 and 30 and administered our survey to establish psychometrics for the BISCS. It was discovered that the BISCS has high internal consistency, and 43 out of 45 of the Pearson correlations between items were significant. Factor analysis revealed two primary factors. All questions loaded onto the factors we expected them to except there was one question that loaded onto both factors. Content validity ratios ranged from .48 to .81. Future applications and improvements for the BISCS are discussed.

Sasha Trae, Dixie State University Communication This research critiques prevailing economic, political, and social discourses that create or uphold disadvantage, inequity, and oppression against women. Using multiple Critical Discourse Analysis tools, such as, lexical suppression and absence and representational strategies, this researcher will examine activist, political, and socio-cultural discourse, including Take Back The Night, to expose underlying ideology. This paper analyzes ideological functions of these and other constructions identified in the discourse. This researcher will illustrate how the analyzed discourse shapes our reality that the ownership of women’s equality and safety are in the hands of men. Additionally, this researcher will unveil the ideological suppression and absence of the perpetrator; consequently, twenty-first century public discourse places the responsibility in the hands of women to prevent and address violence against women, the victims. Further, this researcher will demonstrate how the revealed ideologies indicate that violence against women is random or unstoppable; thus, setting up women to continue being integrated into a system that is hostile to them. Moreover, the breadth of this ideology indicates that every society within the nations of our world declare that women are a subset of humanity, and that it is men who get to resist relinquishing this equality while women expend their efforts to obtain it. This paper concludes that violence against women is part of an economic and political system that has been codified and written into the laws of nations; therefore, creating and perpetuating the very structures responsible for the violent climate that we fear and live in.

Marlee Olsen, Snow College Psychology This study focuses on how college students interpret and understand new knowledge. Participants will be answering a number of questions via survey about their personal beliefs such as religion, reliable sources of knowledge, and other possible mitigating factors. After reviewing existing research, we found studies being done over long-term acceptance of beliefs, and also studies of the affects on understanding and acceptance of new beliefs after exposure to relative information. However as we reviewed the literature we found lacking information specifically regarding whether college students, when exposed to new concepts, accept the information before understanding it, or postpone acceptance until further understanding. The survey will be given out to students in different geographic regions across the nation to obtain various religious backgrounds, race, gender, and geographic background. We project to find a correlation between religiosity and the rate of acceptance of new beliefs before understanding. Other mitigating factors such as ratings for source of knowledge and geographic background are expected to also have affects. Results will be discussed.

Laura Steffen, Brigham Young University Psychology There is a wide spectrum of opinion on female gender roles, or what behaviors are appropriate for women. Attitudes towards gender roles can hypothetically be influenced by a variety of factors, including religion. Sexist views have been found to be held by members of many faiths, including Catholics, Muslims, and Evangelical Christians (Glick, Lameiras, & Castro, 2002; Maltby, Hall, Anderson & Edwards, 2010; Tasdemir & Sakalli-Ugarlu, 2010). To our knowledge, this phenomenon had not yet been studied among members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Our measure, the LDS Attitudes Towards Female Gender Roles Scale, (LDS-AFGR) was created in the hopes of accurately assessing opinions of female gender roles among the LDS population, in regards to both religious social contexts. All questions on the LDS-AFGR yielded superior to moderate content validity, and two components were yielded by factor analysis. This suggests that our scale has initial promise, and could be further revised to obtain more accurate data about opinions on female gender roles among LDS church members.

Adrianne Miller, Brigham Young University Psychology Recent studies in rhesus macaques suggest that social competence and sociality, as measured by ease of forming new relationships, is modulated by genetic and behavioral factors. In research centers that study primates, pairing unfamiliar subjects is the most costly and difficult problem that researchers face. We investigated several factors believed to influence social competence: rearing condition, serotonin transporter genotype (5HTT), temperament, and stress responsiveness, as measured by infant plasma cortisol levels. We assessed 354 pairings from subjects housed at the California National Primate Research Center (n=177 male and n=177 female adult pairings). Temperament and plasma cortisol was assessed at three to four months of age. Analyses showed that males were more difficult to pair than females. High cortisol, nursery rearing, and temperament ratings for high emotionality during infancy was predictive of adult pairing failures. Intriguingly, our data showed that the high risk 5HTT genotype was also predictive pairing failures, and that 5HTT genotype interacted with sex, with pairs of males where one or more of the subjects in a pair possessed the high risk 5HTT allele were more likely to be unsuccessful in their pairings. To the extent that our results generalize to humans, our data suggest that early temperament, perhaps modulated by the serotonin transporter genotype, as well as sex and early experiences lead to social competence and success in social relationships.

Jordin Kirkham, Snow College Psychology The purpose of this study is to observe, and analyze how average college students perceive professors in the media and if these perceptions have an effect on our own personal behaviors in the setting of a classroom, the influence of grades, and other factors. Based upon the review of literature, we have discovered that many of the studies regarding professors in the media have barley skimmed the surface, not providing much detail. We plan on going into more depth in our personal observation-analysis studies, seeing how we mainly perceive professors in movies, television, books, newspapers, etc. Results will be discussed.

Jyssica Seebeck, Brigham Young University Psychology Until recently, there were very few meta-analytic comparisons between individual and group formats to determine if reliable outcomes were produced. However, Burlingame, Strauss, and Joyce (2013) recently identified a dozen diagnosis specific meta-analyses (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.) and twenty-three new studies published over the last decade that test for differential format efficacy/effectiveness. This meta-analysis builds upon these by selecting the most rigorous studies drawn from these meta-analyses. More specifically we selected studies that tested equivalent treatments enabling us to make strong causal conclusions about differential efficacy/effectiveness. We began with published meta-analyses that tested for format differences, went to each and determined whether individual studies summarized in these meta-analyses compared treatments that were equivalent. If they did, the study was included herein. We also conducted a literature search to identify studies that tested individual and group treatments not included in the aforementioned meta-analyses. Computed effect sizes tested differential outcomes (group versus individual) and also estimated the effectiveness of format compared to waitlist controls. Moderator variables of outcomes, such as group type and theoretical orientation were also tested. Results are reviewed with reference to treatment recommendations, feasibility of implementation, and evidence based recommendations.

Nickolal Mullen, Brigham Young University Psychology Previous studies have shown that the monoamines are related to risk for alcoholism, and that both are affected by early rearing experiences. This study builds on previous research in examining the effect of alcohol on monoamine neurotransmitter systems, by exposing macaques to a set dose of alcohol and measuring CNS monoamine metabolites. We explored

Ryan Woodbury, Brigham Young University Psychology Ample evidence suggests that religiousness can serve as a protective factor against risk behaviors (Regnerus, 2007), and can be an important context for positive youth development (Lerner, Roeser, Phelps, & Benson, 2008). Many correlates of religiousness have been identified, but our understanding of underlying mechanism is still nascent (Regnerus, 2007). Building on the notion of religion as a source of social control, one potential mediator may be religious norms (Cochran, Chamlin, Beeghley, & Fenwick, 2004), or perceptions of the behaviors proscribed and prescribed by religions. Unfortunately, research on religious norms is scarce. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to identify adolescent and parent perceptions of religious norms, examine individual differences in these perceived religious norms, and assess links between perceived norms and adolescent behaviors. Adolescents (N = 419; age range 15-18) and one of their parents (N = 313) completed online surveys. Qualitative questions asked participants to name three behaviors their religion most encouraged adolescents to do and three behaviors their religion most discouraged adolescents to not do. Quantitative measures consisted of ratings of 18 perceived religious norms and frequency of 18 adolescent behaviors. We investigated the following research questions (RQ):RQ 1: What religious norms do adolescents and their parents perceive? Three coders, using grounded theory, placed qualitative responses into themes. Seven themes emerged from adolescents’ and eight themes emerged for parents (see Table 1).RQs 2 and 3: To what extent and in what ways do these religious norms differ by adolescent and parent gender? And, how do these religious norms differ by adolescent and parent religious affiliation? Two MANOVAs (one comparing gender, the other comparing religious affiliation) were run to indicate respective differences. Both qualitative and quantitative religious norms differed between certain religions (not between adolescent gender; see Table 1).RQ 4: To what extent and in what ways do adolescent and parent perceived religious norms correlate? Bivariate correlations between adolescent and parent perceptions of religious norms for negative behaviors ranged from .07 – .51 (M = .26, SD = .09), and for positive behaviors they ranged from -.01 – .53 (M = .31, SD = .10).

Trenton Simmons, Brigham Young University Psychology Endogenous opioids are believed to modulate social sensitivity and aggression. The mu-opioid receptor gene in rhesus macaques has two common variants thought to be orthologous to human variants: C77G (CG) and C77C (CC). Based on previous studies, we predicted that rhesus macaques with the CG variant would exhibit higher rates of antisocial and aggressive behavior during social challenge. To test this hypothesis, we subjected mother-reared (MR) and nursery-reared (NR) subjects to an intruder challenge. 130 subjects were genotyped for the mu-opioid receptor gene variant. Behaviors were recorded after an unfamiliar intruder of the same sex and age was placed adjacent to the subjects’ home cage. CG, MR males received more non-contact aggression from group members than any other condition (p range<0.012), instigated more contact aggression than any other condition (p range<0.018), and received more contact aggression from the intruder than all other conditions except CC, NR males. In contrast to high rates of aggression, male, CG, MR subjects exhibited the lowest time in social affiliation when compared to all other genotype, sex or rearing conditions (p<0.026) except for CG, NR females. Our findings suggest that the mu-opioid receptor gene modulates aggression and antisocial behavior but only in the context of rearing and sex. These findings suggest one potential pathway for antisocial aggressive behavior development in men.

Amanda Stouffer, Snow College Psychology There have been many studies on the topic of magazine covers, whether it is the contents of the magazine or specifically what is depicted on the cover of the magazine. Such studies typically look at the ethnicity, gender, and age of the people shown on magazines’ covers. They also study what trends exist with these different factors. For example the number of women shown on covers is going up. These studies have been done on many magazines including Rolling Stone, Sports Illustrated, Playboy, and Cosmopolitan. These extensive studies have also found an increasing amount of sexual objectification, especially of women. The magazine Psychology Today has not been studied in-depth, but as psychology is a supposedly progressive field that uncovers and empirically studies inequalities one might guess Psychology Today breaks that stigma. However it does not. Through the study of the cover photos of Psychology Today the present study will look at: perceived age, sex, ethnicity, amount of clothing, passive vs. active scene, body parts shown, arousing vs. disturbing picture, whether the overall message is positive

Jenna Jackson, Brigham Young University Psychology We examined the effect of social separation stress and serotonin transporter genotype (5HTT) on behavior during mother-infant (MI) reunions using infant rhesus macaques. Based on previous studies, we predicted that infants and mothers who posses the less efficient short (s) allele would display more anxious and aggressive behaviors in both their relationship and also within the larger social group. MI behaviors were recorded during a reunion period after being separated for five days from their mothers. Subjects were 140 rhesus macaques that were tested in one of two separation conditions: mother removed from the social group with the infant left behind, or the mother and infant were each housed alone in single cages. Time spent in behaviors that characterize MI and peer relationships were recorded as dependent variables, while genotype was used as the independent variable. Results showed that MI interactions were especially affected if both the mother and the infant possessed the Ls genotype. Moreover, infants with the Ls genotype also displayed less social contact with other group members, and higher rates of aggression with their peers. Our findings suggest that when both the mother and the infant possess the 5HTT short allele, the MI relationship is strained, showing higher levels of stress and that peer bonds are also affected negatively by the Ls genotype. To the extent that our findings generalize to the human condition, they suggest that the 5HTT genotype influences environmental conditions to influence the mother-infant bond and other social interactions.

Casey Kidman, Snow College Psychology Many people these days are using emoticons in electronic communication. Our topic of research is how people interpret and define these emoticons. This research will include both high school and college students as well as other individuals. We will have students fill out a survey in which they view an emoticon and then write a one-word or brief description of it. We also will evaluate the false consensus effect by asking them on the survey what percentage of people they believe would agree with the way they define the emoticon. Research thus far has not looked into how emoticons are defined, while there is research on how often they are used and what gender uses them more frequently. There are holes in the current research and we are laying the ground work in answering the question of if and how emoticons are universally defined. We expect the very basic emoticons such as “:)” and “:(“ to be generally defined the same; however, as emoticons get more complex we believe the definitions will vary significantly.

Brian Redford, Brigham Young University Psychology Small group treatment is a well-recognized as an effective intervention for persons diagnosed with schizophrenia. The most frequently used and efficacious types of small group treatment include psychoeducational, multifamily and skills groups. These groups are second only to psychopharmacology and frequency of use (Burlingame, Strauss & Joyce, 2013). Using the following search terms (group psychotherapy OR group counseling OR group treatment AND schizophrenia from 1990-2000) 62 studies were identified that used the aforementioned small group treatments. Of these, 29 were excluded based on strict inclusion criteria (i.e., sample size, study design, statistical methodology). 26 studies produced active group comparisons with controls, 3 studies produced single group pre-post comparisons and 5 studies produced waiting list control comparisons studying 2,248 patients. We conducted a meta-analysis using several descriptive (e.g. setting, ethnicity) and moderator (e.g. age of onset, group type) variables examining outcomes on key dimensions (e.g. relapse, hospitalization, medication adherence). Effect sizes estimated treatment effects (pre to post) and if these effects were maintained (post to follow up). Findings are examined in reference to treatment recommendations, feasibility of implementation and evidence based recommendations with respect to illness, protective, mechanisms of action and risk factors.

Carolina Silva, Jasmin Alves, Katrina England, Courtney Hammond, and Ethel Tackle-Yarbol; Westminster College Psychology Bullying among adolescents is a common problem that deserves attention. Youth City, a multi-site after school youth program in the Salt Lake City area catering to youths ages 8-13, expressed an interest in learning more about bullying experiences in their attendees with the aim of developing a program for intervention and prevention. We partnered with Youth City to develop the current project, the goals of which were twofold: (1) to measure the prevalence and types of bullying experienced by 53 youths attending one Youth City site (our participants) and, (2) to work with the youth and the site coordinator to develop a bullying intervention and prevention program. Participants completed a modified version of the Olweus Bully Victim Questionnaire, in which 31 behaviors of bullying were assessed. Behaviors included examples of physical bullying, relational bullying, cyber bullying, and bullying due to one’s ethnicity or sexuality. Participants were asked to report whether each behavior had ever been done to them (victim role), done by them to another (bully role), or witnessed by them in the role of bystander. Results showed that the participants had experienced many of the behaviors as either victims, bullies, or bystanders. The second step was to conduct focus groups in which participants were asked more about their bullying experiences and what they felt could be done to more effectively intervene and prevent bullying. Transcripts from the focus groups were analyzed for emergent themes. These themes, combined with input from staff and information gleaned from research into other programs, were used to draft a bullying intervention and prevention plan to be implemented at one Youth City site in the coming school year.

Dani Willis, Utah State University Political Science In this era of increasing complex electric utility corporate restructurings, prudence review is an important analytical tool that should be applied by state regulatory commissions in an informed and reasonable manner to address and balance risk sharing between electric utility investors and utility ratepayers. The payer examines the legal and economic considerations concerning the development and application of the analytical tool of prudence review by state regulatory commissions concerning the revenue requirement regulation of electric utilities.

Noreen Barnes, Weber State University Political Science Many women in Guatemala suffer poverty and repression their entire lives. This situation is not unique to countries in Central America, but what is unique is the level of violence that is perpetrated in Guatemala compared with neighboring countries, the lack of engagement by law enforcement, and the complicity of the media. The Guatemalan civil war helped to create an atmosphere riddled with violence and alcohol. There is only a two percent conviction rate for murder. The majority of media outlets report on Femicide as if it were the woman’s fault she was killed; they portray her as a prostitute when there is no evidence to support the conclusion. In 2000 there were 213 femicides in Guatemala, by 2009 that number had jumped to 708 (Guatemalan Human Rights Commission 2010). My research has come from peer reviewed articles in both English and Spanish, Guatemalan government figures, personal experiences and international sources such as the World Health Organization. How do these details combine to create the perfect storm of increasing Femicide in Guatemala, and what can be done to help stop this tide of violence? There are women who have taken steps to improve their lives despite the many challenges they face. Micro-credit, small loans given to women to help them start or expand a business, have helped women who have a desire to flee abusive situations by giving them self-esteem as well as the financial means to accomplish their desires. There is a movement amongst women to convince their husbands to join Evangelical Christian churches that do not permit drinking in an effort to control rampant alcoholism. It will take time to alter the prevailing attitudes of machismo, prejudice, and lack of tolerance that threatens to drown the wonderful of Guatemala, but it can be done.

Scott Ploharz, Weber State University Psychology A pilot study conducted in spring of 2012 by the same researchers, suggested that sexting, or the sending of text or picture messages containing sexual content is common among young adults ages 18-30. This pilot research suggests that there were differences in personality and relationship satisfaction among those who engaged in sexting and those who did not. This current study further examines the effect of sexting on individuals and their relationships, as well as the reasons individuals may choose to engage in sexting. This study examines personality traits that may be related to engaging in sexting using both the Big 5 personality inventory and the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). The relationship between engaging sexting and relationship satisfaction is measured using the Revised Dyadic Assessment Scale(RDAS). To measure the effect on the individual, along with providing a possible explanation for sexting, self-esteem will be measured using Rosenberg’s RSE. Previous research suggests adult attachment style as a possible method of explanation as to who engages in sexting and the reasons for the behavior. Attachment style is measured using the Experiences in Close Relationships Revised (ECR-R) and the Experiences in Close Relationships Revised Structures (ECR-RS). Analysis of the data is expected to be completed by January 31st 2013. Results are expected to show that those with an Anxious or Anxious/Avoidant attachment style are more likely to sext. It is also expected that there will be a small positive correlation between the personality trait extroversion and sexting. It is also expected that specific domains of narcissism and lower self-esteem scores, will relate to engaging in sexting. There is also expected to be a negative correlation between sexting and relationship satisfaction.

Scott Ploharz and Britaini Delbo, Weber State University Psychology Youth or Peer Courts are diversionary programs designed to lower recidivism and re-offense rates among youth offenders. These programs focus on lowering risk factors and enhancing protective factors among the youth they serve. This study will look specifically at the Youth Court based in Layton Utah. Using a projected sample of 280 youth offenders over a 4 year period, the efficacy of this program will be evaluated. Efficacy will be measured by the rate of re-offense compared to youth in the traditional juvenile justice systems who have committed similar offenses. Analysis will also be performed using participant surveys, to determine which risk and protective factors are associated with re-offending. We anticipate completing this project by January 1st 2013.

Alysha Waters, Utah State University Psychology Emotional distracters impair cognitive function. Emotional processing is dysregulated in affective disorders such as depression, phobias, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Among the processes impaired by emotional distracters, and whose dysregulation is documented in affective disorders, is the ability to time in the seconds-to-minutes range, i.e., interval timing. Presentation of task-irrelevant distracters during a timing task results in a delay in responding suggesting a failure to maintain subjective time in working memory, possibly due to attentional and working memory resources being diverted away from timing, as proposed by the Relative Time-Sharing (RTS) model. We investigated the role of the prelimbic cortex (PrL) in the detrimental effect of anxiety-inducing task-irrelevant distracters on the cognitive ability to keep track of time, using local infusions of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (FLX). Given that some anti-depressants have beneficial effects on attention and working memory, e.g., decreasing emotional response to negative events, we hypothesized that FLX would improve maintenance of information in working memory in trials with distracters, resulting in a decrease of the disruptive effect of emotional events on the timekeeping abilities. Our results revealed a dissociation of the effects of FLX infusion in PrL between interval timing and resource allocation, and between neutral and anxiety-inducing distraction. FLX was effective only during trials with distracters, but not during trials without distracters. FLX reduced the detrimental effect of the distracters only when the distracters were anxiety-inducing, but not when they were neutral. Results are discussed in relation to the brain circuits involved in RTS of resources, and the pharmacological management of affective disorders.

Ariel Hargrave, Weber State University Psychology A review of the literature surrounding mental health literacy has suggested that there are many misconceptions about those with a mental illness. These misconceptions effect help-seeking, treatment, mental health policies, early intervention and social support. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offers a peer-to-peer taught class called Building Recovery of Individual Dreams and Goals through Education and Support (BRIDGES). This class addresses these misconceptions and aims to educate those suffering with mental illness on how to self-advocate. Research suggests that a peer-to-peer approach has been found useful in a consumer’s recovery process. Support and education are crucial in society’s understanding of mental illness and aids in their ability to strive towards a stigma free environment. The objective of this study is to measure the effectiveness of this class by conducting a pre and post assessment at the beginning of the class before material is presented and at the end of the class. A population of approximately 100 participants over the age of 18 diagnosed with a mental illness will be used. The assessment includes eleven total questions that identify key factors to recovery and mental health literacy. A five point likert scale will be used to measure participant’s responses. Data will be collected starting in January of 2013 and will be completed in March of 2013. Data will then be analyzed using a T-test in SPSS.