2020 Abstracts

Bundy, Brad; Crop, Tyler (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Bundy, Brad (Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering, Chemical Engineering)

Cell-free protein synthesis (CFPS) has proven to be a novel and effective method for recombinant protein production. However, one key disadvantage in this process is the need to store the requisite cell extract and energy source for the reaction at below-freezing temperatures. Our lab has developed a lyophilization-based system to overcome this problem. We have shown that lyophilization of the cell extract and energy system needed for the reaction are possible while still maintaining equivalent protein production capabilities of the reaction. This lyophilization-based system provides a solution to the high costs associated with the storage of these reagents, increases the shelf-life of the reagents, and, when mixed with water, allows for on-demand protein production in remote locations around the world.

Zane, Regan; Kamineni, Abhilash; Nimri, Reebal (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kamineni, Abhilash (College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department); Zane, Regan (College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department)

Transportation electrification will bring a positive effect on sustainable environments and robust economies. Electric Vehicles (EV) are emerging in today's market as a solution. However, the battery technologies on EV cannot compete with fuel and diesel cars in terms of energy storage capacity, and time needed to recharge (equivalently refuel). These limitations directly reflect on the consumers' convenience, the max miles the Vehicle can perform for, and hence EV adoption. Wireless power transfer (WPT) systems are seen as a solution to ease consumers' transition to EV. A high-level diagram of WPT is shown in Figure (**).

Major advancements in WPT technology has enabled the commercialization of stationary WPT solutions — materials technology has been a major impediment. Hence, academia and industry are jointly considering more advanced solutions in WPT, namely Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT). Implementing DWPT systems will permit on the go charging for EV the upper hand over present charging (equivalently fueling) methods and encourage EV adoption. This document reflects on some of the challenges of realizing an effective DWPT that maintains power transfer between the primary pad and secondary pad, and a proposed solution to allow dynamic charging. Also, the proposed DWPT offers compatibility with SAE J2954 (Wireless Power Transfer for Light-Duty Plug-in/Electric Vehicles and Alignment Methodology) WPT3Z3 pad.

A comprehensive approach was taken in the design of the primary pad to validate the power transfer requirements for the designed pads. The proposed solution consists of a custom primary pad and a custom secondary pad for dynamic charging. This document will refer to the custom primary pad and a custom secondary pad as DGA and DVA, respectively. DGA offers compatibility with WPT2Z3 for dynamic charging and DVA offers compatibility with the Universal Ground Assembly (UGA) for stationary charging.

Jacob, Jonathan (Westminster College)
Faculty Advisor: Pu, Xiumei (Westminster College, Environmental Studies)

This presentation examines two bodies of environmental literature--environmental writing spanning from the late nineteenth century to contemporary times by indigenous and non-indigenous writers in the United States--to ponder several questions: where do these two bodies of literature converge and resonate with one another? How do these convergences bear on current debates and efforts for ecological, environmental, and (inter)cultural healing? Existing comparative analysis of these two bodies of literature often focuses on identifying the differences and their subsequent cultural manifestations (Cronon, 1995; Buell, 1996; Buell 2005; Garrard; 2011). In this presentation, I go in a different direction by examining complex resonances that emerge from these bodies of literature around the understandings of nature, place, self, and community. Bringing these resonances to light and examining their nuances and complexities could be a step toward imagining a cross-cultural perspective on eco-cultural healing so urgently needed in our time. This presentation is based on a summer research project in which I examined twelve books and novels by indigenous and non-indigenous American environmental writers (six from each body of literature), using an approach of pairing one work from each body of literature for individual analysis, then using those pairs to synthesize a larger, cross-cultural perspective. In this presentation, I will highlight analyses of three of these pairings, while my larger conclusions will be representative of ideas gleaned from all six of the pairs.

Tylka, Kelsie (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Petersen, Jerry (Humanities and Social Sciences, English & Literature); Vogel, Charles (Humanities and Social Sciences, English & Literature)

Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent is a tale of political intrigue and morality. Many critics believe the narrator of this tale is purely "aesthetic"; however, I argue that the narrator is essential to the plot and to exposing the purpose of the novel, which is spotlighting humanity and moral choice. The first clue to the centrality of the narrator was Conrad's failure to adapt his novel to a theatrical production. This failure intrigued me as the characterization, viewpoint, and structure of the novel seemed ideal for theatrical adaptation. The question is, what was the root of Conrad's botched attempt at a theatrical production? I came to the conclusion that the narrator was essential to the plot and the ethos of the story. For this presentation, therefore, I intend to map out how and why the narrator is indispensable, as well as give a foundational groundwork on the Greek Theater and chorus. Turning to scholarship from both literary and theater experts, I will highlight the importance of the narrator within the novel, as well as, offer a suggestion as to how The Secret Agent could be effectively adapted into a successful stage production. I present the narrator of The Secret Agent as a stand-in for the classic Greek chorus through analyzing the narrator's function as a principal character in the story. Moreover, the utilization of the narrator's "anti-dramatic" commentary is a method of alienation that encourages the reader to reevaluate morality and humanity within the novel. Finally, I hope to engage both literary and theater scholar's alike to reevaluate the functionality of the narrator and to encourage a second look at the possibility of a successful theatrical production.

Chapman, Abigail (Southern Utah University)
Faculty Advisor: Law, Donna (Southern Utah University, Government Relations)

Currently, women make up fifty-one percent of the total population in the United States, and only twenty-four percent in the U. S. Congress. (Rutgers Institute for Politics) This paper seeks to examine some possible factors for this disproportionate gender representation in politics. Using both primary data [interviews] and secondary data [biographies, autobiographies, or documentaries] of women serving in politics or public service, I will explore the similarities in upbringing found amongst women who serve on the federal, state, and local levels. Then, I analyze the narratives of the women to highlight the similarities in upbringing between them, which include: exposure to politics or public service at a young age, similar personality traits, strong work ethic, and the influence of strong mothers. I also analyze the possible influence that learning a musical instrument and the amount of time spent with extended family has in the lives of some of these women. Research supports that the similarities found among these women potentially leads to career output and could be a factor as to why these women choose careers in politics or public service. In conclusion, I discuss the reasons why we need more women to serve in politics, particularly why young girls need to be encouraged to choose careers in politics.

Roberts, Katie (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

The internet has provided students with countless opportunities for success and learning, online grammar checkers and blogs playing a significant role for many in their pursuit of education. Grammar blogs offer tips, tricks, and examples to help people learn grammar, while grammar checker websites, such as Grammarly, use AI technology to automatically review pieces of writing, sometimes offering plagiarism checks and citation suggestions with a paid subscription. While these websites proclaim to make all the difference in students' writing, are English majors finding these helpful? This research seeks to understand what upper-division English majors think of online grammar checkers.

Noorda, Meredith (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Belnap, Heather (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters); Swensen, James (Humanities, Comparative Arts and Letters)

In 1740 the Society of Dilettanti, an 18th century group of English gentlemen aiming to encourage an appreciation for the antiquities they had seen on their Grand Tours, decided to commission from George Knapton portraits of all their members. In the typical artistic vein of the early Dilettanti, the portraits, featuring many of the members in costume, exhibit a milieu where the erudite meets the comical to the outright lewd, a reflection of one of the Dilettanti's mottos of seria ludo, or "serious things done in a playful spirit." Within the wider context of London public life, these are also clear examples of the influence of the masquerade, and for a group closely aligned with the Italian Grand Tour, and thought to have been initially conceived in Venice, the appeal of those references is clear and the Dilettanti's use of them has been commented on in scholarship. However, the use of costume in George Knapton's portraits can reveal more than a simple love of Continental entertainments. Aligning oneself with the Continent and the East, as the sitters do in Knapton's works, was a subversive choice in relation to the normative British culture of the mid-18th century, in which the encroachment of Continental entertainments and fashion, among other things, was frequently feared. These portraits must be read with an acknowledgement of the ways in which the masquerade and the Italianate was seen in 18th century England, where it was not an accepted form of entertainment as on the Continent, but a controversial pastime. In turn the portraits can reveal where the Dilettanti situated themselves, and how they wanted to be represented�as internationally inclined participators in these foreign entertainments, boldly partaking in its vices, championing its creative possibilities in the self-fashioning of an individual.

Gheen, Jared; Callander, Denton; Winner, Langdon (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Edenfield, Avery (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

Technology has made great strides in advancing the dating opportunities for gay men through various dating apps and websites. Men, whether in or out of the closet, can utilize these tools to find potential friends, dates, hookups, or relationships. These advancements have enabled increased networking for gay men, but these technologies have been used to enforce racial biases.
This presentation will analyze how dating apps and websites designed for gay men have been used to further marginalize groups of individuals within the gay community. My research will examine what I have denoted as the "3 Ps" that should drive design/interface decisions: Purpose, Perception, and Practice. Each feature and design within these applications should have a purpose that takes into account prejudicial biases that may be present. In addition to the intended purpose of the feature, the perception of how users will interpret the feature should also be heavily considered. Finally, the actual practice of the feature should be tested to ensure that the practice, perception, and purpose of the feature align and are not misused to marginalize members of the community.

Research will include work done by others in the field, specifically Denton Callander, due to his extensive research on racism and sexual racism on dating web services. Specific features within apps will also be examined and analyzed through the method of the "3 Ps" to explain their (un)intended consequences.

The results from my research will enable future technical communicators, software developers, and technology consumers to be aware of and address technologies that may reinforce or enable marginalization of minority groups.

McDannell, Colleen; Kessler-Harris, Alice; Derr, Jill Mulvay; Schneider, Dorothy; Thistle, Susan (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: McDannell, Colleen (University of Utah, Humanities)

My research aims to understand and analyze the ways in which Latter-day Saint women in the 1950s justified and reconciled their participation in wage labor with their religion.
My research is based on primary source material in the Aileen H. Clyde Twentieth Century Women's Legacy Archive. This archive includes a collection of letters that were written to Ramona Cannon to be published in the "Confidentially Yours" column in the Deseret News from 1948 to 1965 and include writings of women addressing their challenges and concerns. I use this resource to analyze the experiences of individual women and specifically their understanding and justification of their involvement in wage labor. I also use secondary source material to establish women's relationship to labor in the United States.

My goal is to draw conclusions about how LDS women who were involved in wage labor justified their participation when they lived in a society heavily influenced by the LDS Church and it's on emphasis women's domestic roles. The Archive letters show a pattern of women who felt they had to justify their labor practices through extenuating circumstances that necessitated temporary participation in wage labor, including wives with sick husbands, single mothers, and a society dealing with the effects of WWII, as well as women who actively sought to participate in the workforce by selectively choosing jobs and opportunities to supplement what could be seen as extensions of the domestic roles they were expected to fill in the home.

This balancing act for women is relevant not only to the twentieth century but reflects an ongoing struggle worldwide for women. This case study of Latter-day Saint women illustrates how women in a close-knit religious community reacted to changes in labor expectations and provide an important outlook on understanding the relationship between women and wage labor.

Anderson, Bethany; Ward, Hannah; Froerer, Cecily (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Gillam, Sandra (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department); Gillam, Ron (Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services, Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education Department)

Children with language disorders face difficulties in producing organized and complex narratives. Many different assessments have been designed to allow clinicians to evaluate a child's narrative ability. The Test of Early Written Language - 3 (TEWL) is a formal test to assess the early written narrative abilities of children. Valid and reliable tests of the written language skills of young elementary age children are needed for assessing the outcomes of narrative interventions for children who are at-risk for language and literacy impairments.

The purpose of this study is to determine if the TEWL is a valid measure of narrative language in written stories by children who are at-risk for language and literacy problems.

Narrative samples from 189 children ages 6-11 were gathered as part of a larger study. Narrative samples were transcribed and scored using the Monitoring Indicators of Scholarly Language (MISL) rubric that assesses language microstructure and macrostructure. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were computed to determine the extent to which the total raw scores on the TEWL were related to MISL microstructure, macrostructure, and total scores. Item analyses were conducted to determine whether a subset of items on the TEWL differentiate between writing mechanics and written language. Results are critical for using the TEWL as a valid outcome measure in studies of interventions for oral and written language comprehension and production.

Heftel, Christian (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Abbott, Scott (Humanities and Social Sciences, Integrated Studies)

The story of Oedipus and the Sphinx establishes man as an upright, standing creature who is defined, at least in the prime of his life, by his ability to stand and walk on two legs, having ceased using his arms for locomotion. The corollary to this is that things that cannot stand, or that have a different number of limbs, are definitionally inhuman. In "The Metamorphosis," Franz Kafka introduces a character who wakes up having gained a myriad of small, insectoid legs and having lost the ability to stand upright. Throughout the story, the author repeatedly draws attention to Gregor's new, strange limbs, emphasizing their inhumanity and their inability to support him bipedally. At the same time, the story repeatedly describes its human characters in terms of the actions of their arms and legs, the limbs which make bidepality possible.

This paper explores the contrast between Kafka's human and inhuman characters through the lens of the standing metaphor established in the Oedipus myth. It examines the points of similarity between Gregor's metamorphosis and Athanaeus's and Apollodorus's accounts of the Sphinx's riddle. In the end, it suggests that Kafka uses the notion of bipedality to emphasize not only the physical inhumanity of Gregor Samsa, but also the inhumaneness of his family.

Todd, Mariah (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Nigro, Jenna (Utah Valley University, History); Winans, Adrienne (Utah Valley University, History); McPherson, Kate (Utah Valley University, Honors/English)

This project is focused on anti-nuclear protests that took place in Utah surrounding the MX Missile System in the late 1970s and early 1980s. This anti-nuclear activism was especially interesting due to the diverse groups of people who were involved. Environmentalists, Native Americans, socialists, and various religious organizations, among others, all became involved in resisting the MX Missile in Utah. The purpose of this project is to analyze the ways in which these activists managed to be successful and come together behind a common cause. This will largely look at the methods or tactics employed by these activists, how religious organizations played a role, and how the political landscape of Utah allowed for or encouraged such activism to take root and become successful. These issues will be studied through analysis of primary source records from numerous activists who were directly involved in the protests. This research will showcase how activists used different methods to unify disparate groups against the MX Missile, which may include tactics such as localizing politics, garnering national attention, remaining nonpartisan, and seeking support from religious groups. This project was significant for both shedding light on an event that has been largely neglected in the field of anti-nuclear history and for contributing to the effort to localize nuclear history so as to better understand the intricacies of these events and ideas.

Bedard, Tenaya G. (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Allison, James (Brigham Young University, Anthropology); Chase, Zach (Brigham Young University, Anthropology)

This research discusses the analysis of the faunal bones excavated from Coal Bed Village and how it compares to the other Montezuma Canyon sites in southwestern Utah. During the Pueblo I-III time periods, previous analysis for Montezuma Canyon sites has found a trend of subsistence strategies that rely heavily on cottontail rabbit for Pueblo I, deer for Pueblo II, and turkey for Pueblo III. This research determines that Coal Bed Village follows these trends, but we see an unexpected increase of cottontail rabbit in the Pueblo III period. This research discusses the possible reasons for this increase and how it could change our understanding of subsistence strategies among Montezuma Canyon in the Southwest during the Puebloan eras.

Gonzalez Herrara, Cindy; Garcia, Ignacio (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Garcia, Ignacio (History)

Guillermo Balderas became the first Hispanic, Spanish speaking bishop in the United States in the 1930s. By understanding his background in serving the church, we come to understand his views of the Mormon gospel, and through him, we get a glimpse of the Hispanic Latter-day Saints living in El Paso, Texas, and indirectly others across the United States. By looking at his life, we learn about the struggles of being Latter-day Saint and Mexican on the northern side of the southern border. Guillermo was also the son of Apolinar de Jesus Balderas, the second Spanish-speaking branch president in the United States.

Guillermo's family immigrated to El Paso, Texas in 1910.2 The community he lived in was segregated and he went to school in a segregated public school system. Guillermo's life spanned a time when Mexicans and Mexican Americans were starting to find their voice within their communities, and in the larger society. While he did not participate in politics or the activism of his time, Guillermo brought an ethnically-focused perspective to his religion. Part of that perspective came from his friendship with people of the Third Convention--a Latter-day Saint insurgency against the American church in Mexico--and also he lived experiences as a brown man in American society. For this presentation, I will discuss a letter he sent to church authorities when he was released and replaced by the first white bishop of his ward, and changes were made to minimize the wards "Hispanic ways". While he was unsuccessful in lobbying for his ward members, Guillermo, nonetheless, previewed some of the "outside imposed" concepts that have hampered Hispanic wards in developing their identity. At the same time, his letter reveals some of the concepts that Hispanic leaders in the church have carried out in their ministry. Through his dedication and faithfulness in the church, we see a reflection of what many Hispanic Latter-day Saints experience during this time. Despite the challenges, he continued to become a devoted leader within the church and helped many people within his congregation. He became an advocate for those of his color while still seeking to educate his white brothers/sisters.

Christensen, Nikki (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

Folklore is one of the hardest subjects to define for students and professors alike. To this day, folklorists still dispute its accurate definition. The most popular contemporary definition is, "artistic communication in small groups"(Dan Ben-Amos). This research is to discover if English majors are more educated about folklore than non-English majors at Utah State University. Often, students will be immersed in folklore in their daily lives and never know it. This research is to answer how relevant folklore still is in today's society.

Jensen, Mia (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kinkead, Joyce (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, English Department)

Undergraduate English majors are constantly bombarded with writing heavy assignments. Although these students are some of the most comprehensive writers in the university, several are still apprehensive about their writing assignments. Meditation (active mindful breathing), is increasingly growing traction in the mental health community as a means to lower stress. Could students utilize the calming effects of meditation to improve their apprehension towards writing? The study conducted aims to identify what relationship if any, meditation has on the journals of English majors at Utah State University. Eight English majors gathered together and wrote in a journal for ten minutes. Afterward, they listened to a ten minute guided meditation practice followed by another ten minutes of journaling. Finally, the students answered a Qualtrics survey about their experience. The research sought to answer questions like, "did their vocabulary change?", "did they feel more or less apprehensive writing the second journal?", and, "could they focus more or less on the second journal?". Could the results influence students and teachers alike to include meditation in their pre-writing rituals?

Johnson, Marian (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Abunuwara, Kim (Utah Valley University, Integrated Studies); Dunn, Paul (Utah Valley University, Biology); Oliveira, Andre (Utah Valley University, Economics)

Current American perceptions of ecological systems are toxic to a relationship with the natural world. Human-led extinction rates are unsustainable and obliterating untold amounts of diversity which could potentially help humans. A lack of appreciation for the intrinsic value held by non-human species contributes largely to cultivating an ignorant relationship between humans and their surroundings. The value of non-human species is currently difficult to calculate. Many species are not noticed until they are threatened or extinct due to their invisibility in the context of America's heavy emphasis on monetary value. Expecting an emphasis to be placed on ecological diversity without proper education on the significant long-term ramifications will hold no weight for individuals, corporations, and policy-makers. A cultural shift must be initiated before concrete policies can be implemented. Several aspects of this cultural shift are exposing value in species who are annoying, ugly, or seemingly give nothing to humans. Invisible species are some of the quickest to be swept away in ecological ignorance, contributing heavily to loss of diversity. The focus of this thesis is to suggest potential cultural tools in making this shift. Indigenous cultures which possess a sustainable and mutualistic relationship with the natural world ought to be explored as a model for which the United States can take steps to adopt. Fragments of American culture such as social media, monetary gains, tax incentives, and new additions to the public school curriculum are potential tools in strengthening and informing a realistic ecological opinion.

Truman, Jorden (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Pilkington, Olga (Dixie State University, English)

This paper uses literary analysis and theoretical framework of Regionalism to examine Barbara Kingsolver's novel Flight Behavior. Flight Behavior features Dellarobia, an inhabitant of a poverty-stricken Appalachian town, who discovered that a hill in her backyard became home to millions of wintering Monarch Butterflies. This abnormal flight behavior of the Monarch Butterflies for many in Dellarobia's community is seen as a gift from God, but for the outsiders, it is an ominous sign of climate change. The results of my analysis show that Kingsolver, although praised for her other novels set in the Appalachias, fails to address what Regionalist novels are criticized for: preventing the reader from taking sides with the educated master narrator against the abnormal or aberrant natives. Kingsolver's pursuit of the moral imperative comes at the cost of disparaging and humiliating the communities that makeup Appalachia. The ramifications of Flight Behavior are troubling because this "if you are not with us, you are against us" style of narration is prominent in climate change activist's discourse: creating enemies instead of allies.