2018 Abstracts

Daniel Allred, Utah Valley University

James Keyes, Utah Valley University

Christopher Neu, Trevor Alder, Brigham Young University Nonverbal communication or body language is a large part of how humans interact, especially in relationships. However, prior research has reported varying conclusions about if there is a relationship between nonverbal communication decoding(NCD) and marital satisfaction, and if there is, the strength of that relationship. We believe this is because of underlying moderators. Therefore, we hypothesized that empathy, self-worth, and sexual satisfaction would moderate the aforementioned relationship. We believe that empathy moderates this relationship because it provides incentive to decode and pay attention to a spouse’s body language. Similarly, sexual satisfaction and self worth would increase attention to body language both of one’s self as well as that of the partner and therefore moderate the relationship between NCD and marital satisfaction. We gathered responses from 500 participants through Amazon’s Mturk. We found that NCD was significantly related to marital abuse when sexual satisfaction was low, and additionally that NCD was related to marital interaction when empathy was low. All other relationships between NCD and marital satisfaction measures were insignificant.

Aubrey Passey; Kennedi Eggertsen; Becca Polson, Utah State University

Jacquelyn Monroe; Brian Jensen; Laura Bridgewater; Natalie Kwon, Brigham Young University

Dewey Potts, Brigham Young University

Gift Ifijeh, Dixie State University

Kyler Radmall, Southern Utah University

Steiner Houston; Carrie Stone; Eric Young, Weber State University

Madelaine Campbell, Brigham Young University This research looks at Britain’s release of her former colonies during the 20th century, and the motivations behind their actions. South Africa moved towards unification in 1908 with Britain’s support in the drafting of the South Africa Act and Lord Selbourne’s involvement in the National Convention. By examining original communications within the British government regarding South Africa and the parliamentary papers surrounding the South Africa Act the British motivation towards its former colonies becomes apparent. In this case study of South Africa’s movement towards independence, we see that Britain wanted to give as much control to the South African delegates as possible without relinquishing their hold on the natural resources and strong leadership that South Africa provided. In their quest to maintain a good relationship with South Africa, Britain overlooked some of the damaging decisions made by the South African leaders which led to racial and class conflict in South Africa later, during the rest of the 20th century.

Melissa Swedin, University of Utah

Hannah Grow, Jamie Easler, Nora Evans, Brigham Young University Background: Numerous stressors are associated with parenting, and many of these stressors are intensified when the mother is the sole caregiver and provider of her family. Further stressors are experienced when children have disabilities. Single mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and single mothers of children with Down Syndrome (DS) may experience parenting differently than couples of children with ASD or DS. Aims: The present study examined differences between single mothers of children with ASD and single mothers of children with DS in the following areas: (a) socio-economic status, (b) maternal adaptation as measured by hassles, uplifts, caregiver burden, and depression, and (c) respite care. Methods: Participants were 330 non-cohabitating mothers with at least one child with ASD or DS (ASD n = 201; DS n = 129). The mothers completed a survey that asked questions pertaining to their daily lives. Results: More families with children with ASD qualified for free/reduced lunch than families with children with DS. In the areas of hassles, caregiver burden, and depression, single mothers of children with DS had lower scores, suggesting that they have an easier time caring for their children than mothers of children with ASD. In the category of uplifts, there were no significant differences between mothers of children of ASD and mothers of children with DS. Also, no significant differences existed between mothers in the survey who received respite care and mothers who did not. Conclusions: These findings suggest that although both mothers of children with DS or ASD need additional emotional support, even more support is needed for mothers of children with ASD.

Jake Rowley, Dixie State University

Paul Consalvo; Amy Carmellini; Nikki Quinney; Travis Whitfield; Caleb Buahin, Utah State University

Mikala Lowrance, Southern Utah University

Juan Valladares; Hanna Prieto; Niyeli Herrera; Yerenia Flores, Brigham Young University

Sarai Holbrook; Kate Scott; Tristin Hampshire; Hailey Ashcroft; Megan Israelsen, Utah State University

Sarai Holbrook; Sierra Browning; Amanda Miller; Cortney Hoffman; Natalie Johnson; Sierra Southwick, Utah State University

Alexander Cipro, University of Utah

Diehl Mutamba, Brigham Young University

Xela Armstrong, Dixie State University

Brian Allen, Brigham Young University

Sam Cook, Southern Utah University

Madeline Peterson; Alison Barlow; Natalie Green; Madison Horrocks, Utah State University

Morgan Millar; Kyl Myers; David Turok; Zoe Kozlowski; Jessica Sanders; Matt Pierce, University of Utah

Austin Weenig, Brigham Young University

Rachel Stoddard, Brigham Young University

Shay Bauman, Southern Utah University

Luke Ekstrom, Brigham Young University

Kalli Abbott, Brigham Young University

Kelsie Orton, Dixie State University

Mandy Parsons, Brigham Young University

Debra K Wing; Mike Mcneil; Camry Shawcroft, Brigham Young University

Devan Reische; Cecily Froerer; Serina Mumford; Teigan Beck; Sarai Holbrook, Utah State University

Logan Winder; Reggie Gates; Jessica Cerchiari; Katie Erbe; Sophie A. George, Dixie State University

Stephanie Parsons, Brigham Young University

Alyson DeNittis, Utah Valley University

Diabetes affects over 30 million Americans and 185,000 Utahn’s. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are characterized by decreased functional β-cell mass and insulin production. Diabetes also results in increased circulating glucose and fatty acid levels, which damage and destroy β-cells over time. Our study will shed further light on the effects of palmitate, the most commonly made fatty acid in the liver, on hyperlipidemia. In this study we test the specific effects of chronic palmitate exposure on various cell lines acclimated to 0.15 mM, 0.3 mM, and 0.5 mM concentrations of palmitate. We demonstrate the effects of progressive long-term exposure to palmitate on β-cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. We demonstrate mechanistic changes that result in the observed phenotypes. Our goal in this study is to explore how β-cells adapt to exposure to hyperlipidemia, and to define interventions to protect β-cells from the harmful effects of hyperlipidemia.

Thomas Hill, Utah State University

W. Zachary Horton, Brigham Young University

Gemma Clark, University of Utah

Maile Marriott; Laura Lupi, University of Utah

Ireland Green, Weber State University

Bess Bauer, Weber State University

Riannon Smith; Melena Garrett, Utah State University

Joselyn Rodriguez, University of Utah

Erin Kinnally; John Capitanio; Elizabeth Wood; Angus Bennion; Ryno Kruger; Christina Barr; Stephen Lindell; Stephen Suomi, Brigham Young University

Diana Villicana; Kaitlin Veylupek, Southern Utah University

Erin Kinnally; Jefferson Hunter; John Capitanio; Erika Jones; Elizabeth Wood, Brigham Young University

Lydia Morley, University of Utah