2013 Abstracts

Samantha Webber, Brigham Young University Nursing Background: In November of 2012, a small group from BYU’s College of Nursing returned to Guayaquil, Ecuador to measure anemia indicators post interventions in school age children. In May of 2012 a larger group, including students, from BYU’s College of Nursing had visited Guayaquil for the fourth consecutive year to assess malnutrition and anemia rates in school age children. This multi-phase research project which began in May of 2009 found that nearly 41% of the children in this area suffered from anemia (below 11g/dl as per WHO guidelines). The adverse effects of anemia for these children can include: weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and poor concentration. Anemia may result from deficiencies of iron, B12, folic acid, and may also be the result of intestinal parasites. A nutrition survey conducted among these same school children showed that daily intake of iron, B12, and folic acid were below recommended levels. Intervention: In May of 2009 Hogar de Cristo (HDC), a non-profit organization, began distributing 6 to 8 ounce bottles of soy milk as a school snack for each school-aged child at a few of the schools in the area. A local pharmaceutical company who supplied vitamin and iron supplements during the first year of the soy milk distribution, reassessed anemia rates in those children in November of 2009. The BYU College of Nursing continued to assess school- aged children for measures of anemia and growth and development in 2010 and 2011 as directed by Hogar de Cristo. After 2011 it was difficult to correlate anemia and soy milk because of changes in the sample from year to year. In May of 2012 the BYU College of Nursing shifted their focus to four interventions with the aim of determining which one would best lower anemia rates. The study focused on students at four schools in the perimetral area, each school received one of the interventions as an adjunct to soy milk: vitamin supplements, antiparasites, vitamins and antiparasites, and a control group (soy milk only). Growth and development measures along with rates of anemia were reassessed in November 2012. Results: In May of 2012 the BYU College of Nursing tested 1041 school-ages children for growth and development and anemia. growth and development rate results spanning the four years of testing, and a comparison of anemia rates between intervention groups and control groups.

Ashlee Manwaring, Brigham Young University Nursing Purpose: To examine how the new policy of Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement being based on HCAHPS scores affects nursing care. Rationale: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) mandates that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement be based on hospital performance and patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction is measured nationally through the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey. The HCAHPS survey was development in the early 2000’s to create a uniform measure for patient perspectives regarding their inpatient stay; however, with the HCAHPS scores being related to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, hospitals are required to reevaluate their quality of care from the patient, not medical, perspective. Van Empel et al. (2011) found that physicians and nurses primarily value medical outcomes of treatment. While, at the same time, patient’s value patient-centeredness, even if it means decreasing the desired outcome of treatment. Undertaking: A literature review was completed by searching in CINAHL and Medline. Preliminary research used HCAHPS and Medicare reimbursement as key words. Second, a search was completed using HCAHPS and nursing as key words. All results were published between 2008 and 2012. Outcomes: Kutney-Lee et al. (2009) reported that patient satisfaction was primarily linked with nurse-to-patient ratio, interdisciplinary collaboration and work environment. Research by Robinson and Watters (2010) found the main factor in patient dissatisfaction was feeling like the nurses were short staffed, task-oriented and rushed, leaving the patient lacking adequately communication to understand their situation. Van Empel et al. (2011) reported patients’ willingness to change providers and facilities to received patient-centered care. Conclusion: Nurses have the greatest potential to effect patient satisfaction. Therefore, with the new regulation of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement based on patient satisfaction surveys, nurses have a greater responsibility to ensure patient satisfaction. From the research presented, the main nursing implication is to help each patient feel like their care is centered on what is important to that individual. This can most easily be accomplished by the nurse opening a line of communication with the patient, and then advocating for the patient’s wishes.

Cami Schiel, Brigham Young University Nursing 65 French hospital nurses in Avignon, France were surveyed about their opinions about healthcare. Survey results identified and described French nurses’ perceptions of their health care system as well as other systems. Access to care was a positive aspect of their healthcare system that was identified by a majority of the respondents. Abuse or lack of oversight, and budget deficit were major themes identified as negative aspects of the French healthcare system. The French nurses’ opinions about different countries’ health care systems were compared to World Health Organization [WHO] (2000) rankings. French nurses overwhelmingly ranked France’s healthcare system as number one, which matched the WHO (2000) ranking. 73% of respondents prioritized preventative care over acute treatment. Work and other professional peers were identified as the main sources of influence on French nurses’ perceptions of health- care both French and internationally. Nurses’ opinions heavily influenced other nurses in the workplace. An implication from this study is that nurses can have a powerful impact on others’ viewpoints about healthcare. They are also a valuable resource for identifying strengths and weaknesses of a healthcare system, given their lived experience working in the healthcare system.

Jordyn Whiting, Brigham Young University Nursing Purpose: To demonstrate use of a guide to help nursing students increase cultural competency gained during study abroad programs.Background/significance: In a world of increasing globalization, nurses are more likely to care for patients of a cultural background different from their own. To care for increasingly diverse patients, nurses need greater cultural competence to provide the safest and highest quality of care possible. Study abroad programs have been shown to be an excellent way to provide cultural education for students. The number of students choosing to participate in these programs has more than doubled in the last ten years. However, no research is available from a student perspective on how to plan for an optimum learning experience during study abroad. A research-based guide, from a student perspective, will help students take better advantage of experiences abroad to increase cultural competency. Methods: A literature review using online databases (including CINAHL and MEDLINE) was conducted using search terms such as nursing student, student, cultural competency, cultural sensitivity, cultural awareness, study abroad, international experience, and exchange program. Articles from the online search were used to compile a student guide. The guide includes competence-enhancing activities, formulated using brief anecdotal summaries and trending study abroad outcomes found in the articles. The guide’s framework came from Josepha Campinha-Bacote’s 2002 article, “The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services: A Model of Care,” and its subsequently updated versions (2007 and 2011). With the original version of the guide, there were 16 activities in four categories: cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural skill, and cultural desire. The guide also included 16 blank squares where students could create their own activities. The guide contains a small reflective writing portion where students can think about their experiences as a whole and how they can implement what they learned into practice. A total of 12 students, including the author, used the guide in two different study abroad programs, first while participating in a Global Health and Human Diversity program with the College of Nursing in Tonga in May 2012.

Laura Gilpin, Brigham Young University Nursing Purpose/Aims: The purpose of this pilot study was (1) to examine nursing students’ perceptions of their first experience with death in the clinical setting and (2) to determine if curricular changes are necessary to better prepare nursing students effectively cope with their first death experience as a nurse. Background: Death, particularly the unexpected death of a patient, is an emotionally charged, high-stress situation for any nurse. Nursing students encounter scenarios involving death and dying in simulation laboratories, as well as in the clinical setting. In simulation settings debriefing is routinely accomplished and is seen as a critical component of the learning experience. However, Leavy and colleagues (2011) found that even during formal simulation debriefing sessions nursing students were not able to fully process their emotions In real-life clinical settings, the stakes are even higher as nursing students must be able to effectively cope with the death of a patient. Unfortunately, research on students’ first experience with death is limited. Huang and colleagues (2010) found students may not receive adequate support from clinical nursing instructors during the dying process and after a patient’s death. Methods: This was a descriptive mixed methods pilot study. An online anonymous survey was sent to students in the Brigham Young University College of Nursing regarding their first experience with death in the clinical setting (N=306). Students were e-mailed a brief description of the research project and an invitation to participate in the study only if they had experienced the death of a patient. Completion of the online questionnaire implied consent. The participants answered 5 demographic questions and 11 survey questions with the estimated time commitment for each participant being 15 minutes. Results: The online questionnaire was sent to 306 BSN nursing students Approximately 10% initially responded (N=33). A smaller group (N=25) completed the entire survey. Qualitative comments from nursing students who experienced the death of their patient included feeling sad, shocked and uncomfortable. Fifty percent of the nursing students did not receive any debriefing from their clinical instructor following the event.

Heather Peatross, Southern Utah University Agriculture and Nutrition Sciences Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is defined as any ingestible herb, supplement, or other substance used to increase one’s health or well-being both physically and mentally. National studies have examined the usage of CAM. In 2007, the latest year surveyed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), approximately 38% of adults in the U.S. were using some form of CAM with the greatest usage among women and persons with higher education and income levels. Non-vitamin/mineral natural products are the most commonly used CAM therapies. Americans spent $33.9 billion out-of-pocket on CAM over the previous 12 months. Little information regarding CAM use and knowledge in a rural college-age population is available. The purpose of this study is to examine the knowledge Southern Utah University (SUU) students have of CAM, usage by this population, and the reasons for using these products. Do SUU students typically use CAM therapies in their daily lives? Do SUU students use CAM primarily when ill? Are SUU students using CAM as a replacement for traditional (western) medicine? What types of CAM are being used (particularly herbal or dietary supplements)? It is hypothesized that the majority (>50%) of CAM users do not discuss their alternative therapies with a health care physician. Additionally it is hypothesized that students that have been diagnosed, or have a family member that has been diagnosed, with cancer are more knowledgeable/more likely to have used CAM therapies. Four hundred and eighty students were surveyed in a convenience sample of fourteen general education classes at SUU. The survey asked about usage of CAM therapies (including for health or sport performance), overall experience with CAM products used, sources of health advice, and any discussion with their medical physician regarding CAM use. Study results and conclusions are pending.

Allison Fife, Utah State University History In 2004, Utah State University acquired a collection of approximately 1,200 rare volumes about the history of science and technology as a result of a bequest by Peter W. van der Pas. A Dutch immigrant and survivor of World War II, van der Pas proved to be an avid book collector and intellectual. Examining the nature and origins of this collection of rare books has permitted consideration of how this specific collection reflected the particular ambitions and needs of its creator. As a result, my pre-cataloging analysis of the books has developed into attempts to demystify van der Pas. Driven in part by an immigrant background, I believe that van der Pas used this collection both to demonstrate his worth as a scientist and engineer, and to legitimize himself in American academia. Through this sort of analysis, we begin to understand both the ways and reasons that significant book collections come into existence.

Anna Maria Guadarrama, Utah State University Languages, Philosophy, and Communication Studies Guerrilla warfare is an ancient style of armed conflict that continues to be practiced throughout the world today. Many countries and peoples have either taken part in guerrilla warfare or have sought to counteract irregular war with counterinsurgency methods (e.g. United States). This thesis project consists of an analysis of the guerrilla warfare theories and battlefield strategies utilized by Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara—the Argentine-born Cuban revolutionary considered by most people as the premier thinker on the nature of guerrilla warfare. Guevara developed his foco theory of guerrilla warfare based on the model of warfare used successfully during the Cuban Revolution, and then sought to replicate this achievement in The Congo and Bolivia. After a brief introduction on the nature of guerrilla warfare in general, the thesis proceeds to analyze the theoretical writings on guerrilla warfare by Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, as seen in his seminal treatise Guerrilla Warfare: A Method (1963). The thesis then proceeds to analyze Guevara’s application of his foco theory as an on-the-ground guerrilla leader to evaluate the praxis of Guevara’s foco theory during his guerrilla campaigns in Cuba, The Congo, and Bolivia.

Nina Cook, Utah Valley University History As events of the 1978 April Revolution in Afghanistan played out during the Cold War, U.S. policy makers became concerned about the Soviet sphere of influence and began to fund the Mujahedeen-rebel groups that formed in Pakistan. The Mujahedeen, inspired by jihad, remained divided across ethnic lines, began a religiously inspired struggle against Communist usurpers and oppressors. The United States saw the Mujahedeen as a useful Cold War tool in order to contain Soviet expansion and therefore throughout the 1980’s the United States continued to head the effort to supply the rebels with money and weapons. This aid was crucial in the Soviet decision to withdraw from Afghanistan and contributed to the eventual breakup of the Soviet Union. Yet, many of the Arab Mujahedeen saw this outside the Cold War context, as a victory for concepts of militant Jihad. Thus, the Soviet-Afghan war became a catalyst for the ideas of Radical Jihad, which would lead to a global holy war against the U.S and the West by the al Qaeda network, created during the Soviet-Afghan war, beginning in the 1990s. The significance of the Soviet-Afghan War, then, lies in some unintended consequences for the U.S.: Cold War containment of the Soviets in Afghanistan fueled Jihad, which in turn targeted American interests in an entirely new war.

Kimberly Williamson, Utah Valley University History “There is nothing particularly interesting about one’s life story,” Eleanor Roosevelt wrote, “unless people can say as they read it, Why, this is like what I have been through. Perhaps, after all, there is a way to work it out.” Humans throughout time have recognized the need for storytelling and have been preserving oral histories. Narratives supplement our historical memory and offer an in-depth account of personal experience and reflections, which allows another to feel a commonality that often dissolves the barriers of race, class, gender, and even time. During the 19th century, the fight for enfranchisement united Utah’s early settlers with national suffragists. Feminists such as newspaper editor, Emmiline B. Wells and “presidentes” of the women’s organization within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), Eliza R. Snow, were in the forefront of this movement. Wells, Snow, along with other women were actively involved in their family responsibilities. However, they also held public and political positions within their communities that were not typical for women of that period. The women’s movement of the seventies recognized that literature wasn’t acknowledging women’s prominent role in society. Not only was there a lack of sources by and about women, but the historiography in general was male dominated. Hence, the LDS church initiated a crusade to collect women’s journals, letters, and other writings of Utah’s pioneers. These sources increased scholarship of Utah’s suffragists, which caused national recognition of the role they played during First Wave Feminism. Nevertheless, there is a trivial amount written about the women in Utah during Second Wave Feminism from the 1970’s to late 1980’s. My research focuses on stories of women in Utah during Second Wave Feminism. I interviewed four women within higher education where they expressed personal experiences that are similar in spirit to Utah’s early settlers. Inadvertently each woman had some connection with the LDS church. My thesis will argue that by extrapolation there were many women, particularly at Utah Valley University who transcended patriarchy to achieve positions of leadership and notoriety. Their personal narratives challenge the feminist theory of patriarchal suppression, which seems paradoxical considering the fact that Utah’s dominant religion, the LDS church, functions as a male governed society.

A. Emma McFarland, University fo Utah Languages and Literature The Romance of the Rose of Guillaume de Lorris recounts the story of a dreamer who, wandering through a garden, encounters a rose and is overcome with desire for it. While it is undisputed that The Romance of the Rose is an allegory of love, the kind of love it portrays and the stance it takes on the matter remain hotly debated. Is The Romance an ideal depiction of “courtly love” where the rose is the woman admired? Is it an erotic tale of the conquest of desire, the rose symbolizing forbidden sexual aims? This paper conceptualizes The Romance of the Rose as the lover’s quest to attain his erotic desire within the confines of a system of courtly love that valorizes fin amor over fol amor. Romantic love and erotic desire are irreparably alienated from one another within medieval courtship and, here, Guillaume seems to use his allegory to elucidate the harms inflicted by this courtship system. Juxtaposing the woman Rose with the textual image of the rosebush, we see the violence incurred by this love object that has been both exalted into oblivion and objectified into bits. This paper traces the dissection of the rose image, reads the rose as a euphemism of sexual aims, and studies the God of Love as the personification of courtly love’s enforcement. In the realm of The Romance of the Rose, to love is to suffer and both lover and loved are relentlessly subjugated to violence.

James Gardner, Utah State University Anthropology Distinct perceptions on healthcare reform exist in every part of a society. This paper examines the volatile healthcare system of Nicaragua and the perceptions of healthcare reform among Nicaraguan medical professionals. Data were gathered through ethnographic field methods including participant observation, informal interviewing, and open-ended questions. The informants were selected from the medical personnel of the E.R. in the Hospital Amistad Japón-Nicaragua in Granada, Nicaragua. First, a framework of the history of Nicaraguan healthcare is discussed. This history is presented as a reflection of the sporadic nature of the Nicaraguan political environment over the last 30 years. The changes in healthcare policy over this time period are then examined through the lens of the hospital’s healthcare providers. Perspectives on public vs. private systems, the limited ability to affect reform, and motivations behind entering the medical profession are analyzed as they pertain to job satisfaction of healthcare workers.

Paul Greenhalgh, Weber State University History Much has been written about the tactics and strategies of World War II, as well as the effects of the war on the world. Far less, however, has been written about the cultural aspect of the war experience, and in particular about the day-to-day culture of the servicemen during the war. Archival research at the Library of Congress and The Institute on WWII and the Human Experience at Florida State University yielded the bulk of the primary sources while a review of the literature on WWII and the culture of U.S. servicemen during the war provided context. Additionally, a cross-disciplinary review of psychological literature on pets and their importance to well-being, as well as why it is important for people to create a sense of home, has nuanced the research. This study looks at the personal effects that servicemen had during the war and how their possessions contributed to the creation of a sense of home while they were deployed. Servicemen carried a vast variety of possessions with them that were not Government Issue. These possessions included diaries, pictures of, and letters from, loved ones, Bibles, pets, musical instruments, and talismans. Moreover, in letters and in diaries, these servicemen have described why they personally have carried these objects with them. This study adds to the body of knowledge on the cultural aspect of WWII servicemen, and therefore adds to the overall understanding of WWII and the culture of war in general.

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.

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.

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.

Duke Cruz, Westminster College Philosophy This research focuses on the nineteenth-century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, his philosophy, and how that relates specifically to what he thinks about music. In general this presentation will consist of three main parts: 1) analyzing passages on music in a few of Nietzsche’s works, specifically, “The Birth of Tragedy”, “Beyond Good and Evil”, and “Twilight of the Idols’” with supplementary material relating to his philosophy taken from “The Anti-Christ”, and Walter Kaufmann’s biography of Nietzsche “Nietzsche: Philosopher, Psychologist, Antichrist”; 2) showing the relation of music and reason in each example; 3) postulating the importance of this relation. Throughout my research on Nietzsche and his thoughts surrounding music, it is apparent that whenever he discusses music, it is never about the specific score, keys, melodic content, etc. Instead, I found that in most of the passages that I have ran across, Nietzsche’s thoughts on music collide directly and importantly to his philosophy. In this presentation I aim to elucidate what the importance of this relation between music and reason could be for Nietzsche.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brook Owen, Dixie State University Theatre My theory is that theatre can portray emotion and convey a story without verbal communication. As an actor, I struggled to portray emotion while using a memorized script. As I worked through my theatrical training, I was introduced to exercises that took away language. I found artistic freedom in these exercises and formulated a research project to understand what would happen if actors were given freedom from language completely. This research is founded in the works of artists such as mime John Weaver and absurdist Samuel Beckett. One of the most prominent movement artists of our time is Anne Bogart. Her movement technique, called Viewpoints, focuses on the physical aspects of portraying emotion and kinesthetic response. This is where my physical research started. In rehearsal, actors experiment with Bogart’s viewpoints, while responding to different styles of music. Then I begin to move away from Bogart’s research. While allowing them to maintain their own organic choices, I give my actors more specific acting objectives with which to work. For example, “Imagine that your character wants to purpose.” Once completed, the actors talk to me about how the exercise expanded their physical toolbox. One comment from an actor symbolizes the heart of this research. “When the music starts, you think of an emotion, and then you start responding to that emotion. That’s when the character starts to form. And the next thing you know, you have a little story around it.” Repetition of this process will culminate in a narrative movement piece.

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.

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.

Hilary Wolfley, Brigham Young University Dance The purpose of this project is to enhance the caliber and reputation of ballet in higher education-specifically contemporary ballet at BYU-while strengthening my own choreographic abilities under the guidance and coaching of my mentor, Shani Robison, Associate Professor. I have choreographed an original contemporary ballet entitled “Transition” that explores the ways in which we react to the challenges of change in our lives. Through exploring this theme, creating innovative movement, and rehearsing with talented dancers, I am working closely with my mentor to fulfill UCUR’s mission to creatively contribute to the discipline of contemporary ballet. I recently completed this project as the culmination of my undergraduate work at BYU as a dance major. This is the link to my project as performed last week at the BYU Ballet Showcase: http://youtu.be/j1t0MPcLUyw (DVD available upon request). The BYU Ballet Program has selected me as the only ballet student from BYU this year to represent undergraduate student creative work by presenting my project at the American College Dance Festival Northwest Region at Southern Utah University March 11-15, 2013 (ACDF). During this festival, my piece will be viewed by collegiate dance students and educators from across the country and adjudicated by internationally renowned experts in the dance field.

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.

Jason Bartholomew, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences After disturbances in plant communities (i.e. wildfire), there is a natural succession of plants in which plants colonize the empty area and are gradually replaced by more competitive species. In subalpine forests, the principle colonizers after wildfire are quaking aspen (Populous tremuloides) which are later replaced by subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). It has been shown that aspen facilitate, or enable, the establishment of subalpine fir at their base. This study examines the aspen-subalpine fir interaction in order to better understand the dynamics of the shift from aspen to fir dominance. It is hypothesized that the fir in a facilitated pair eventually exerts a competitive influence on the aspen resulting in a decrease in aspen fitness. The growth rates of the two species were examined in different stand types (aspen, mixed and subalpine fir), as independent trees or in facilitated pairs, and in three separate size classes. Samples were collected by taking a core sample or cross-section from trees within the categories listed above. The age and annual growth rings were measured with a measuring stage. The annual growth rings were used to calculate basal area increase (BAI) which was used to determine growth rates. The results suggest the growth rate of aspen in facilitated pairs decreases as firs mature thereby decreasing fitness within the aspen population due to competitive influences from facilitated firs. This may explain the mechanism for the successional shift that can significantly impact indigenous animal populations and local fire cycles.

Bryce Anderson, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology Antigen presenting cells digest and display peptides from foreign and infected cells on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) that are recognized by T-cells through their T cell receptor (TCR). The affinity of TCR:peptide-MHC interactions has been shown to be low however, and in order to effectively use a soluble TCR for therapeutics we need to engineer TCRs with increased affinity. To do this, we have designed a single chain TCR (ValphaVbeta) called LLO118 that is specific for a naturally occurring Listeria monocytogenes epitope. Using yeast display, stable mutants that expressed the LLO118 scTCR at higher levels than the wild type on the surface of yeast were isolated and sequenced. In order to improve affinity of LLO118 we are mutating amino acid residues in the complementarity determining regions, sites important for the TCR to bind with the peptide-MHC. We are generating unique libraries of yeast cells with TCRs that have potential affinity mutations and using fluorescently labeled peptide-MHC tetramers to select cells that have TCRs with higher affinity. By repeating this process with the cells that have higher affinity we are working to get a TCR that binds with much higher affinity than the wild type TCR. These high affinity TCRs are promising for further research in connecting them to a cytokine, greatly reducing systemic damage and other complications caused by administration of this cytokine throughout the body. Thus, our goal is to design a high affinity TCR fused to a cytokine that can be tested for therapeutic use in targeting specific cells in the immune response and improving T cell memory.

Brad Ackerson, Brigham Young University Neuroscience The highjacking by alcohol and drugs of abuse of the mesocortico-limbic system in the brain is responsible for addiction, specifically the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and its projecting dopaminergic neurons to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Over the course of addiction, a hedonic response is developed from lower than normal levels of dopamine (DA) in which the individual pursues drug-seeking behavior. The current accepted treatment methods for addiction are replacement drug therapies, group therapy, or individual counseling – the prior being associated with additional side-effects and an inability to overcome the hedonic response of the addiction. The aim of this study was to evaluate alternative and natural therapeutics that produce long-term potentiation (LTP) of the neuronal systems involved in order to overcome addiction with minimal to no side-effects. Using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry (FSCV), the effects of baicalein, a flavonoid isolated from the root of Sculletaria Baicalensis, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on DA release in the NAc core were evaluated in vitro and in vivo in Wistar rats. Local stimulation evoked in vitro demonstrated that baicalein administration (10, 50, 100 uM) 30 minutes prior to 80 mM ethanol attenuated the DA inhibition of ethanol. DA signals were evoked in vivo in the core of the NAc by electrical stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) at the level of the lateral hypothalamus (60 Hz, 60 pulses) in isoflurane anesthetized rats. Both the intraperitoneal (IP) administration of baicalein (1.0 mg/kg) and the administration of LLLT (25 Hz, 630 nm) 30 minutes prior to ethanol (2.0 g/kg) administration IP attenuated the DA inhibition of ethanol. These findings suggest that baicalein and LLLT may prove as effective clinical therapies for addiction.

Adam Olson, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences Forests systems of the Central Rocky Mountains rely on an intricate balance of natural disturbance cycles in order to develop properly. Forest fires are one such disturbance, however, certain fire characteristics, particularly fire severity, can vary widely across forest landscapes. In our study, we examined the influence of fire severity on aspen regeneration as well as aspen defense against wildlife and livestock browsing. Our results indicate that high or moderate burn severity is more favorable to aspen regeneration and survival. These areas of severe burn result in a higher density of aspen suckers, more vertical and lateral growth, greater chemical defense concentrations, and less browse damage than the neighboring plots of low or no burn. This data suggests that fire severity should be taken into account when considering plant regeneration and susceptibility to browse damage in burned landscapes.

Michael McEntire, Brigham Young University Biology Female mate choice (intersexual selection) and male dominance interactions (intrasexual selection) can each play important roles in sexual selection. These two mechanisms tend to be discussed in isolation. The goal of this study is to explore the interaction between these two forms of sexual selection. To test this idea, we focused on the livebearing tropical fish system Poecilia gillii. We grouped males into similarly sized pairs and observed them for a week to determine which male was dominant. These pairs were then presented to females in mate choice trials to ascertain female preference. We also photo- graphed the males to determine coloration. We found that females were unable to detect dominant males without viewing the physical contest and that carotenoid coloration bore no effect on female preference. Females tended to choose the male to their left, suggesting the preferential use of their right eyes in making decisions on mate choice.

Ji Su Park, Brigham Young University Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science Selenium (Se) and soy have each been shown to reduce risk for prostate cancer when consumed at high levels. The purpose of this project was to define the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer chemoprevention by Se and soy, and to describe how timing of dietary treatment modifies those effects. [C57BL/6 X FVB] F1 TRAMP (TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of Mouse Prostate) male mice were fed stock diets high or low in soy, with or without a supplement of Se (4.0 mg Se/kg BW as Se-meth- ylselenocysteine) by gavage 5 d/wk in a 2 X 2 factorial design. Mice were exposed to different diets starting from conception, 6 weeks, or 12 weeks of age and were sacrificed at 18 weeks. Three-way ANOVA showed that supplemental Se increased serum and liver Se, with significant interactions with both time and soy intake. Selenium dosing decreased BW independent of soy intake and time of dietary intervention. Both Se and soy decreased epididymal fat pad weights, with Se’s effects being more pronounced in mice exposed to diets from conception than from 6 wk. Urogenital tract weights, a measure of prostate proliferation and tumor volume, were significantly reduced by Se supplementation (P<0.001) and soy (p=0.044), independent of time of dietary intervention. Histological examination of mouse prostates is in progress to determine dietary effects on disease progression. These data suggest that, in this model, chemopreventive efficacy of Se and soy does not differ between prenatal and early post-natal introduction.

Whitney Hoopes, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology HspB2 is one of eleven known small Heat Shock Proteins (sHSP) that is expressed in human heart and skeletal muscle. In response to cellular stress, heat shock proteins play a vital role to help misfolded proteins and proteins susceptible to denaturation maintain their structure. Two members of the sHSP family, CryAB and HspB2, are both required for normal heart function and cardiac muscle integrity. CryAB-deficient mice have defects in cardiac muscle structure whereas HspB2-deficient mice display energy deficits (Rajasekaran et al. 2007). The contrasting phenotypes of CryAB and HspB2 suggest differential roles for these molecular chaperones in the heart. HspB2 has been found to localize with the mitochondria in several different cell lines and overexpression of this sHSP has been shown to support survival of cells against heat stress (Nakagawa, 2001). To understand the role and mechanism of HspB2 in cardiac muscle energy regulation, we have used a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system to uncover the novel protein binding partners specific to HspB2. From screening a human heart cDNA library, HspB2 interacted with approximately 10,000 out of 20 million plasmids. We have sequenced more than 1000 of these putative interactors and have identified over 100 unique proteins. Over 40% of these protein partners are involved in mitochondrial energy production and another 25% in cardiac muscle structure maintenance. In addition, we have identified an interaction between HspB2 and the related sHSP CryAB. We then compared this data with mitochondrial HspB2 binding partners identified by mass spectroscopy (MS) through a large-scale bioinformatics analysis and constructed a protein-protein network. Y2H dependency tests were conducted to verify interactions identified by both Y2H and MS. Following yeast verification, a subset of the interactions were confirmed in C9H2 cardiac cells through coimmunopurification. Our research describes the first protein-protein interaction network for any sHSP, supports a role for HspB2 in mitochondrial energy production and suggests a link between mitochondrial energy production/redox stasis and stressed cardiac muscle maintenance.

Christian Boekweg, Brigham Young University Plant and Wildlife Sciences It has been shown that the population densities of deer and elk in the Rocky Mountains are at an unprecedented high. The heavy browsing of said species (ungulates) on regenerating aspen suckers can be devastating, leading to homogenously aged aspen stands that now have reduced resilience to drought, fire or logging disturbance, and an increased susceptibility to pathogens. Lastly, the extensive, highly selective herbivory of the aspen suckers may cause a shift in forest composition away from the aspen tree to an increase in other, less palatable species. We selected 186 sites across the 3 national forests of Central and Southern Utah, and characterized stand composition using the point quarter method. Stands were defined by successional stages from early to late; aspen, mixed or conifer. We then used pellet counts to estimate animal density and evaluated the effect of animal density and stand type on the regeneration success of aspen suckers. The key result of our study is that high ungulate density is highly correlated with reduced sucker heights (p<0.001). This indicates that high ungulate density impedes aspen regeneration by preventing aspen from recruiting into the overstory. Our study suggests that closer monitoring of the long term effects of herbivory on aspen development and regeneration is necessary to ensure vigorous aspen forests.

Michael Peterson, Brigham Young University Biology A person’s predisposition to Alzheimer’s Disease is known to be influenced by both genetic factors as well as environmental factors. One know environmental factor is that known to affect risk for disease is early parental death. The purpose of this research is to better understand the complex factors that influence the disease by analyzing the relationship between the environmental factor of early parental death with genetic variants known to influence the disease. We used extant data from the CCSMHA, an ongoing aging study including 89.7% (5092 of 5677) of all of the eligible residents of Cache County, Utah. This data includes information about environmental and psychosocial stressor of the subjects as well as information about physical examinations, metal screenings, and individuals’ genotypes at many loci that are known to be related to Alzheimers Disease. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine the effect of early parental death by SNP interactions on risk for AD. For the analysis we cleaned the data by removing SNPs less than a minor allele frequency of 0.01, a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium value of 110-6, and a maximum missing snp call of 0.2. Individuals were also removed if genotyping rate was less than 0.2. After filtering we had 262 cases, 239 controls and 0 missing Final Results will be presented at the Conference.

Jesse Cobell, Brigham Young University Biology Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the sixth major cause of death in the U.S. However, at present, no diagnostically useful serum markers for AD have been identified. Hence, we used a novel serum proteomic approach to interrogate the low molecular weight proteome for serum biomarkers. This allowed for survey of around 5000 low MW species. To reduce ion suppression, an acetonitrile precipitation step was used to remove high abundance serum proteins. Protein-depleted sera from 58 cases and 55 controls were analyzed by cLC-ESI-QTOFMS/MS using reverse phase chromatography. Data were reviewed using Applied Biosystem’s Analyst-QS software to compile spectra. Differentially expressed peptides (cases vs. controls) were analyzed statistically using the Student’s t-test. This led to discovery of 36 candidate biomarkers. Additionally, we compared AD subjects with more severe disease (Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) =3) with non-demented individuals (CDR=0) and found 23 biomarkers. Furthermore, on comparison of mild and moderate stage AD individuals (CDR = 0.5, 1, 2) with those with severe disease (CDR = 3), we found 24 biomarkers. Some of these biomarkers appeared more prominent in one gender. We then fragmented several of these biomarkers on an LTQ-Orbitrap XL hybrid mass spectrometer and cLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/ MS system using collision-induced dissociation to determine amino acid sequence analysis. We have identified 5 biomarkers and are in the process of identifying the remaining biomarker species. This serum proteomics approach found statistically different peptide abundances in subjects with AD. Additional biostatistical evaluations are underway to determine sensitivity and specificity of individual biomarkers and their combinations. Future studies will assess biomarkers according to disease stage and validate current biomarkers in blinded comparisons of other AD sera. This serum proteomics approach appears promising in locating and identifying clinically useful serum biomarkers of AD.

Rachel Perry, Brigham Young University Life Sciences Previous studies have indicated that Visinin-like protein (VILIP) may be a powerful tool in predicting disease progression and guiding prognosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was collected from hundreds of individuals with varying levels of AD. The CSF was then analyzed for levels of VILIP protein using Luminex technology. SNPs were genotyped using the Illumina OmniExpress chip. SNPs found to have a Hardy-Weinberg frequency less than 1×10-4 were not included, assuming that this variance was due to a genotyping error. SNPs and samples missing more than five percent of the data were also not included. Following the cleanup of the data, an association test using linear regression was performed. Covariates used in the analysis included age, gender, and covariates that accounted for population stratification (PC1 and PC2). Over one hundred SNPs were found with a p-value less than 1×10-5. The genomic inflation factor for the generated data was 1. One marker showed significance at the genome-wide level. We have identified a genetic marker that shows significant association with CSF VILIP levels. This finding may provide insight into genetic control of VILIP levels, which may be a useful in understanding the pathological processes involved in AD.

Matthew Schneider, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, affects millions of people per year. Research has shown that Alzheimer’s affects the hippocampus brain region, which is involved in learning and memory. Understanding learning and memory functions is imperative to comprehending both healthy brain functions and Alzheimer’s disease. Many researchers seek to understand both the causes and treatments of the disease, but tangible information remains elusive. Studies thus far have shown that to encode memories, the brain must change neural synapses to either strengthen or weaken those pathways, a process known as synaptic plasticity. Using electrophysiology techniques on mouse hippocampal slices, this project will provide further insight on memory formation and regulation by imitating synaptic plasticity mechanisms. I will look at a specific cellular pathway involving the protein receptor GPR55, which has recently been shown to induce synaptic plasticity. By understanding how the GPR55 pathway functions, this research will contribute to the understanding and treatments of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

David Marriott, Brigham Young University Physiology and Developmental Biology Acute stress has been shown to decrease Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of the mouse hippocampus. Additionally, stressed animals show signs of anxiety and suffer decreases in spatial memory tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation. Conversely, exercise has been shown to increase spatial memory task performance in mice, attenuate anxiety-like behaviors and enhance neurogenesis and LTP in the dentate gyrus. While the effects of stress and exercise have been examined independently, there is currently a lack of experimental evidence that connects how stress and exercise, when experienced by the same animal, might modulate LTP in the CA1 region of the hippocampus. In our ongoing study, mice have been separated into a control group, a stress group (restraint and tail-shock), and an exercise + stress group where mice have voluntary access to a running wheel (for 30 days) before undergoing the stress protocol. We hypothesize that exercised animals will experience a protective effect against the reductions in CA1 LTP. In the stress only group, preliminary data shows a modest stress effect on LTP, yet we are learning that factors such as controllability of the stressor or the ability to develop coping mechanisms might potentially attenuate

Tara Hammond, Brigham Young University Microbiology and Molecular Biology Genetic diseases, including Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis, and many cancers, can be detrimental to individuals and their families. Gene therapy can possibly cure these diseases by inserting a correct copy of the gene into the chromosome, upregulating good genes, or downregulating the harmful gene. When DNA is packaged into a cell, it wraps around histones-an octamer made up of two tetramers, each containing four different subunits to create nucleosomes. Where the nucleosome sits on the DNA sequence determines whether or not a gene can be transcribed. In heterochromatin, nucleosomes are denser and DNA is tightly packed, thus causing genes to not be transcribed. Euchromatin contains looser packed nucleosomes and therefore has higher transcription levels. This project seeks to determine if modified nucleosomes have DNA sequence preferences. We are working with histone H3 to tri-methylate lysine 4, which has been shown to correlate with euchromatin. The modified histone will be used to create octamers. C. elegans DNA will be added to modified histones and to unmodified histones and allowed to create nucleosomes. The wrapped DNA will be sequenced, allowing us to compare the modified and unmodified nucleosome DNA preference. The difference in preference will enhance our ability to know how to move nucleosomes, thus aiding in gene therapy.

Spencer Foutz, Brigham Young University Biology CSF AB42 levels are a biomarker for Alzheimer’s Disease. The APOE e4 allele associates with CSF AB42. Little is known about SNPs in the region independent of apoe e2/e3/e4 isoforms. By adjusting for the effect of these isoforms, statistical analysis uncovered new SNPS associated with CSF AB42. Information was used from 1338 individuals from four datasets, specifically: The WU-ADRC, ADNI, University of Washington, and UPENN. Samples included individuals with and without AD. The 169 SNPs used were extracted from the APOE region and surrounding 50 kb using 1000 Genome Software. Linear regression analysis was performed, adjusting for specific covariates. Adjustments were made for the APOE e2 and e4 alleles before repeating the analysis. Significant SNPs were tested in e3 homozygous individuals. Each series was separately analyzed and combined in a meta-analysis for confirmation. P-values, sample sizes, and effect sizes were used in the meta-analysis. Results from these analyses allowed us to conclude rs769449 is associated with lower levels of CSF AB42 and acts independent of the APOE e4 allele.

Rachel Schneider, Brigham Young University Neuroscience The ability to create distinct memories for very similar stimuli and events is called pattern separation. Pattern separation is thought to be dependent on neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons) in the dentate gyrus, a subregion of the hippocampus. Neurogenesis is reduced in depression, as is overall memory performance. It has been proposed that depression negatively impacts pattern separation abilities, however a link between depression and performance in pattern separation memory tasks has yet to be identified. Accordingly, we designed a study to investigate the relationship between pattern separation performance and level of depression. Eighty-two participants completed a pattern separation memory test and a set of questionnaires to gauge their level of depression. During the task, participants were presented with 600 images one at a time on a computer screen in a continuous recognition paradigm. Participants were asked to determine whether each image was new, old, or similar. Images seen for the first time during the task qualified as “new”, images that were repeated following a variable delay qualified as “old”, and images that were similar to previously presented stimuli, but not exactly the same, qualified as “similar”. A pattern separation score was calculated based on the proportion of correctly identified similar stimuli. We found a negative correlation between depression scores and pattern separation scores (r(82) = – 0.301, p < 0.01). This relationship held constant even when we controlled for other factors known to affect neurogenesis, such as exercise and anxiety levels. These results provide support for the theory that depression is negatively related to pattern separation performance, possibly due to a decrease in neurogenesis in the hippocampus.