2020 Abstracts

Perisse, Iuri Viotti; Fan, Zhiqian; Wang, Zhongde; Harris, Ann; White, Kenneth L.; Polejaeve, Irina A. (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: PoleJaeva, Irina (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department)

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a recessive human genetic disease that is caused by mutations in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene. This gene is responsible to transport Cl- and HCO3- anions in epithelial cells. Previously, we generated CFTR-/- lambs using CRISPR/Cas9 and SCNT techniques. The CFTR-/- lambs display many features similar to human CF disease, including meconium ileus (MI), pancreatic fibrosis, portal fibrosis and biliary hyperplasia, small gallbladder, and absence of vas deferens. In CF patients, MI affects only 15-20% of human babies, whereas it was observed in 100% of newborn CFTR-/- lambs and was the primary cause of death. We here hypothesized that the transgenic expression of the ovine CFTR cDNA under regulation of an intestinal-specific expression promoter would promote the correction of MI in CFTR-/- sheep. In this study, we are constructing three potential vectors with different promoters to be evaluated prior to the generation of transgenic animals. Rat intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (iFABP), rat liver Fatty Acid Binding Protein (LFABP), and Villin1 promoters have already been characterized and successfully used for intestinal-specific expression. After digestion and ligation cloning, the three constructs will be sequenced to confirm the presence of all segments (promoter, cDNA, and vector) in the correct orientation. Subsequently, we plan to evaluate the transient gene expression of the constructs in CaCo-2 cells to ensure they are fully functional. Therefore, we will construct the pcDNA3.1>promoter>CFTR expression vector in order to generate intestine-CFTR transgenic CFTR-/- sheep.

Colbert, Jeffrey (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Schramm, Katherina (Weber State University, Botany); Hillbig, Bridgette (Weber State University, Botany); Walker, Edward (Weber State University, Chemistry)

Hemp is a multimillion-dollar industry; however, it is only grown in a few states in the US. In prehistoric time, there was a brackish lake that covered the valley of Utah�s Wasatch Front. Because of this lake and different drainage events, the soil chemistry and composition changed depending on the depth and salts concentration of the lake.
This study tested soils from three different locations along the Wasatch Front for their potential to support healthy growth of hemp plants. Mg, Ca, N, P, K concentrations were tested along with pH in soils from different geological strata. In an outdoor environment hemp was grown in five-gallon containers to determine if those soils will support hemp growth yielding high fiber content and quality. Potting soil was used as a control. The same soil characterization tests were conducted after the plants were harvested to show what amendments are needed for a successful crop in following seasons. Mature plants� inflorescences were tested for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabidiol (CBD) levels by Utah Department of Agriculture and Food (UDAF). All plants contained less than 0.3% THC. Fiber quantity was measured using confocal microscopy techniques and compared against the different soil collection locations. Water retting was conducted to extract fiber from stalks. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was conducted confirming UDAF�s findings of THC and CBD.

Webb, Kortney (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Jeffreys, Mark (Education, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences)

This paper applies Imagined Interaction Theory to the dramatic monologue. Imagined Interaction (II) refers to a cognitive state in which people daydream about social interactions.
These II's can be used as practice for an actual conversation with a person. There are six functions of II's self-understanding, compensation, catharsis, rehearsal, conflict-linkage, and relational maintenance. Each of these functions shows why an individual would participate in imagined interactions. There are also mental ways II's represent themselves including self-talk, daydreaming, focus on organization of thoughts, and II can also be used as a therapy tool. How does this theory relate to the dramatic monologue? II's aspects are visible in how a dramatic monologue is displayed. Although II happens inside the head, the actors have to bring their internal monologue into speech through dramatic monologue. Here, II theory applies when performing a dramatic monologue directly in II form. Despite the controversy around the definition of the dramatic monologue, II aspects can be seen through the criteria and how the dramatic monologue is displayed. For practical application this research will apply findings to the dramatic monologue by performing a monologue(s) in II form. This research is significant because this topic is not researched sufficiently and it shows how the performance of the dramatic monologue in theater can mimic real world communication in various situations.

Kaundal, Amita; Hansen, Nathaniel; Ganesh, Jyothsna (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Kaundal, Amita (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Plants, Soils, and Climate Department)

Plants are sessile and bound to their origin so they cannot move to defend themselves against adverse environmental conditions. Soil salinity is one of such environmental stress, which limits the growth and development of plants. Salt stress directly affects crop production. It has been predicted that by 2050, about 50% of arable land will be affected by salinity. About 23% of the worldwide farmland is affected by soil salinity and the crop losses due to salinity are estimated to be tens of billion dollars per year. On top of that, an increase in the world population, the demand for food production also increases. Thus, feeding the growing population under adverse conditions is a challenge. This challenge demands to create more resilient crops to adverse conditions and to feed the growing population. In this study we are investigating General Control Non-repressible 4 (GCN4) in Arabidopsis for salt stress tolerance. GCN4 is an AAA+-ATPase (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities). AAA+ proteins have diverse functions, such as assembly or disassembly of protein complexes, protein folding or unfolding, protein transport or degradation. It has been shown previously that when AtGCN4 overexpressed in Arabidopsis, it plays a significant role in host-pathogen interaction and control stomatal movement upon pathogen infection by degrading RIN4 - 14-3-3 proteins in PM H+-ATPase complex. Besides this GCN4 when overexpressed exhibit drought tolerance. In this study, we have investigated the previously developed overexpressed and silenced GCN4 Arabidopsis transgenic lines along with wild type plants for salt tolerance at different NaCl concentrations of 90mM, 120mM, and 150mM. So far, the studies indicate that the overexpressor lines were able to tolerate up to 150mm of NaCl as compared to the WT and silenced lines. Further studies are in progress to confirm our hypothesis that GCN4 improves the salt tolerance of transgenic plants. The obtained knowledge will help to investigate the common link in the mechanisms involved in various abiotic and biotic stresses.

Dodge, Reagan; Backman, Talia (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Zahn, Geoffrey (Utah Valley University, Biology)

We assessed the ability of Pleurotus ostreatus, Oyster mushroom, to efficiently decompose waste products containing cellulose. As common pollutants are comprised of cellulose it is important to understand organisms that have cellulolytic enzymes such as P. ostreatus. The fungus P. ostreatus was introduced to the substrates of paper textiles, peanut shells, and livestock manure. After each treatment, the yield of mushroom production and remaining substrate was measured. As these substrates have been broken down during mushroom production they can be sold as inorganic fertilizer or compost. As well, Oyster mushrooms can be purchased and enjoyed in meals. Mushroom cultivation is a multi-billion dollar industry, and excessive wastes are a strain on the environment. By understanding what cellulase substrates produce the greatest yields we can eliminate waste all while increasing profits. Oh, and eating great mushrooms!

Heider, Emily; Simkins, Kylee (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Heider, Emily (Utah Valley University, Chemistry)

Expansion of science literacy is increasingly accomplished outside of formal classroom settings with reports of informal learning (IL) experiences at nature centers, demonstration shows, science museums, and scouting. Some researchers have expanded the range of informal learning to also include media, libraries, and public parks. These informal portals to science knowledge provide inclusive settings for learning, and reports of their development research opportunities and benefits are garnering increasing attention. This research describes the integration of informal museum-based learning into college general chemistry courses using the School Museum Learning Framework. Outcomes related to course content were quantified using pre- and post- assessment measures. Additional outcomes quantifying student motivation were evaluated using the Science Motivation Questionnaire. Results show improvement in some course-related outcomes as well as differences in motivation for students who participate in informal learning when compared with students who complete a conventional chemistry course.

Stevens, Shaylee (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Bialowas, Anne (Weber State University, Communications)

Since they were originally published, the Harry Potter books have become a cultural phenomenon that connects people from all around the world through its relatable characters and real-world themes. This paper examines the Harry Potter books through the lens of Cultural Studies to explain the connections in the books to the real world and how the theory can be applied to real life experiences. Previous literature related to Cultural Studies and the Harry Potter books provided a foundation for the analysis. The books were analyzed by applying three key concepts in Cultural Studies to various situations and themes in the stories. The three concepts used in the analysis were ideology, economic determinism, and hegemony. The concepts were used to explore the beliefs and values of different characters within the books, as well as the power dynamics and social structures of the wizarding world. These key themes and concepts highlight the parallels that can be drawn between the world of Harry Potter and the real world, and they show the ways in which Cultural Studies can apply to our daily lives.

Leatham, Dallin (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Domek, Matthew (Weber State University, Microbiology); Oberg, Craig (Weber State University, Microbiology); Culumber, Michelle (Weber State University, Microbiology); Walker, Edward (Weber State University, Biochemistry)

Gouda cheese is known for its buttery flavor which is produced by the compound 2,3-butanedione or more commonly known as diacetyl. To measure the concentration of diacetyl in cheese a colorimetric test for vicinal diketones is used, known as the Voges and Proskauer (VP) method. This method involves using 5.0% a-naphthol and 0.4% creatine-KOH to develop a pink to red color. In the VP method the concentration of diacetyl is directly related to the absorbance. When this method was performed using known concentrations of Diacetyl in dH2O, a linear relationship was found to have a R2 value of .9571 confirming that the VP method is a viable method of testing for diacetyl concentration. It was proposed that by using a GC-MS to measure these concentrations a simpler test could be performed with similar or improved accuracy. Extracting of the diacetyl from Gouda cheese was done using a stomacher and a mixture of 50:50 acetone:dH2O. Before the concentration of cheese was measured dilutions of diacetyl concentrations were run in a 50:50 acetone:dH2O mixture at 0.1 uL/mL, 1 uL/mL, and 10 uL/mL. The concentrations of diacetyl that gouda cheese commonly contains are from 0.01 uL/mL to 0.1 uL/mL. It was found that the concentration of .1 uL/mL of diacetyl could not be distinguished from the background interference of the instrument. Currently it seems that using a GC-MS to determine diacetyl concentrations in gouda cheese might not be a practical method. Further research and a better understanding of the equipment could improve this method in order to obtain readable results.

Tooley, Sarah (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Powell, Jake (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Landscape Architecture and Environment Planning Department)

The dry, arid climate of Utah makes water a limited and precious resource. However, Utahans are the second largest per capita water users in the nation, with over 60% of that water used on outdoor landscapes. High landscape water use in the face of limited availability is a complex socio-cultural phenomenon reaching back to when pioneers first settled Utah. Settlers were from places with cultural perceptions of landscapes and climates much different then what they found when they arrived. Their desire to create a place that felt like home established a cultural landscape vernacular where Utahan's prefer a landscape more lush and green than we have water to support. With the projected increase in Utah's population, the traditional Utah landscape is quickly becoming unsustainable. As an Extension service I designed 5 landscapes following established water wise design principles which are: planning and design, plant selection and hydro zones along with practical turf areas. The purpose of these designs was to demonstrate that water wise designs can both be water efficient as well as functional, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing. The results of these planning and design efforts are currently being installed into residences in two Utah communities. I will share the design and implementation methods and results of these designs and visitor feedback data from one of the sites. This design research showcases a potential method others in Utah can use to make their landscapes more water wise and begin to redefine the vernacular landscape in Utah and the Intermountain West.

Tyler Hacking, Jonathan Wasden and Dr. Michael Stevens (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Stevens, Michael (Science, Biology)

Abstract:

Plant growth can be affected by both genes and the environment. To test genetic effects on growth we used two varieties of lettuce. To test environmental effects on growth, we used four different water treatments. We were interested in the main effects of genes and the environment and also in their interaction. In other words, is the effect of water treatment different across two lettuce varieties? Two varieties of Lactuca sativa were cultivated in a growth chamber in pots using vermiculite as the growth medium. The two varieties were treated with four types of water: tap, tap-aerated, reverse osmosis, and reverse-osmosis-aerated throughout the experiment. Aeration was accomplished using both surface aeration (waterfall and vortex) and sub-surface aeration using submerged waterstones. All plants were fertilized using 8-15-36 (N-P-K) water-soluble lettuce fertilizer powder plus trace minerals by Greenway Biotech, Inc. The plants were harvested and dried to a constant weight for analysis of biomass. We observed varietal differences in growth with the Buttercrunch variety producing 145% more biomass than the Butterhead variety (p < 0.001). The water treatments affected growth, with the plants watered with tap water producing 31% more biomass than the plants watered with reverse-osmosis water (p < 0.001). The other two water treatments (tap-aerated and reverse-osmosis-aerated) were intermediate between the tap-watered plants and the reverse-osmosis-watered plants in terms of biomass. Finally, we observed a variety-by-environment interaction such that the Buttercrunch showed a marked response to water treatment whereas the Butterhead was only minimally affected by water treatment (p < 0.001). The Buttercrunch produced more biomass than the Butterhead because of its shorter life cycle. By the end of the experiment, the Buttercrunch plants were already bolting and producing flowers. This could also explain why the Buttercrunch was more responsive to differences in water treatments.

Avondet, Callie (University of Utah)
Faculty Advisor: Taylor, Jason (College of Education; Education, Leadership & Policy)

A shocking 33% of student parents graduate from college (Institute for Women's Policy Research, 2014). Part of this low graduation rate has been attributed to scheduling difficulties: the hours classes are offered, planning group-project meetings, and out of class requirements making it difficult to coordinate childcare (Kensinger and Minnick, 2018). Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) is a federal program that provides money for childcare services to qualifying students at institutions whose students receive a total of $350,000 or more in federal Pell grant funding (Baskerville, 2013) . In fiscal year (FY) 2018 the overall amount of funding allocated to CCAMPIS and the number of schools getting this government grant nearly doubled. This provided CCAMPIS funding to many colleges that did not previously have it (Department of Education, n.d.). This project interviews the child care director from one randomly selected community college from each of the 9 US Census districts (excluding DC and Puerto Rico) to understand how CCAMPIS funding for FY 2018 changed institutional policy, practice, and programs related to child care in community colleges that did not receive CCAMPIS funding in FY 2017. Although data is still being collected, preliminary data suggests that CCAMPIS allows institutions to mold their childcare programs to the needs of their students through various projects. It also frees up more funding to help students who would still struggle financially to get access to childcare but do not meet the formal requirements for CCAMPIS money.

West, Bethany (Weber State University)
Faculty Advisor: Van Gilder, Bobbi (Weber State University: Lindquist College of Arts and Humanities, Communications)

Gendered language, and the way it dictates societal norms, has been a topic of interest for feminist scholars since the 1970's. However, gendered language and its connection with rape culture has yet to be explored, presenting a substantial gap in research. I researched the ways that language may influence and perpetuate rape culture by analyzing #MeToo stories, which are victim's accounts of being sexually assaulted. I focused on the specific language victims used to describe their sexual assault, such as sexist or gendered language. By analyzing the language used in sexual assault victims' stories, I drew connections between rape culture and gendered language. Many female victims emphasized that power differentials between them and their male attacker, such as being viewed as subordinate in their relationship with their attacker, played a significant role in their abuse. Other victims emphasized that social discourse normalized rape for women, and placed blame on victims rather than attackers. Victims also indicated that social norms regarding sexual assault asserted that only heterosexual women were victimized, silencing marginalized victims such as men and members of the LGBTQ community. Socially implicated stereotypes regarding gender and rape were found to create situations in which assault victims were silenced and further abused. By understanding and challenging the discourse regarding language, gender norms, and the roles that they play in sexual assault, society may be able to combat rape culture and those who are at risk for victimization.

Dickamore, Erik (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Colver, Mitchell

Becoming integrated into the social sphere of an institution is a vital step for new and continuing students in a university setting. There is a body of studies that have examined the impact of different aspects of the student experience on persistence. Many of them center on how becoming integrated into the social sphere of an institution is impactful on persistence. While social integration is considered essential for success, few studies have rigorously considered if social integration through student involvement and leadership is associated with persistence toward graduation. This research is intended to estimate causal links between treatments and expected student outcomes. More specifically, this research will highlight the estimated causal impacts on persistence to the next term for students who participate in student involvement. Historically, there has been a roadblock of understanding the effect that leadership and student involvement programs have on students due to self-selection bias. This research uses Prediction Based Propensity Score Matching (PPSM), a quasi-experimental method, to control for baseline variability and account for self-selection bias. Results highlight an estimated causal link to persistence and being involved in leadership positions at a 4-year institution in the mountain west of the United States.

Mendiola, Diego (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Bullock, Cathy (College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Journalism and Communication Department)

To understand journalism and communication is to know who we are as human beings and what our journey through time means to us; through the systematically detailed logging of our daily experiences we witness the creation of our history; living out moral, ideological and cultural ideals through the word. It is to see ourselves reflected, to see our time, our values, our hypocrisy, our psychology reflected onto the depths of space and time.

For this reason, I believe it is imperative that we get a grip on the methods we use to communicate that historical dialogue we call journalism effectively, providing the least amount of trouble to the living generations of people that inhabit the earth. The promise of an educated, autonomous population is the one that keeps journalism alive and relevant. I have found a set of solutions that are to be discussed among professionals and academics alike, including the reforming of communicative structures and a more conversational relationship with the audience about the larger direction of media.

Black, Brent; Peterson, Savannah (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Black, Brent (College of Agriculture and Applied Science; Plants, Soils, and Climate Department)

Utah has 1,200 acres of commercial peaches (15th largest peach producing state) making it the second most important fruit crop in the state. However, Utah soils are alkaline, and many trees grown on alkaline soils struggle with iron chlorosis. Peaches and other fruit trees are a combination of the desired variety (scion) grafted onto a rootstock. Some peach rootstocks may be better adapted to Utah's alkaline soils. An orchard comparing 12 peach rootstocks was planted in Utah County in 2007 and evaluated in the 2019 season for survival, tree size and iron chlorosis (leaf chlorophyll content, an indicator of alkaline soil tolerance).The scion for all trees was O'Henry. Most rootstocks had good survival after 13 years (>80%). Empyrean 2 and Julior had the poorest survival (< 50%). The largest trees were on Monegro, Empyrean 1 and Nickels rootstocks, and the smallest were on Lovell, Julior and Krymsk 86. Leaf chlorophyll was lowest (most chlorotic) for Lovell, Julior and Empyrean 1. Selecting the best adapted rootstock is essential for an orchard to be successful and profitable. These results will be useful for Utah growers to select trees best adapted to their conditions.

Vasquez, Cesar; Dockstader, Patrick; Havertz, Brett; Phillips, Justin (Dixie State University)
Faculty Advisor: Chellamuthu, Vinodh (Dixie State University, Mathematics)

For any business, understanding the customer’s behavior is vital to maximizing income and minimizing costs. Our work aims to create an algorithm that analyzes the historical data from the customers and determines the target customers in an optimal way. We take on a data set from a transmission shop in California and seek out which factors produce higher potential for client value. We created a mathematical model that classifies the clients as low, medium, or high potential using this historical data. Furthermore, we demonstrated the model utility using the transmission shop’s data to compute the correlation of paying customers and customer history. The correlations are then used to create a conditional probability distribution which served to predict an expected rating score. Moreover, our results are validated by comparing the predicted ratings with the actual ratings in varying train and test cases from the data set. Our results show that the proposed algorithm is fast, simple, and intuitive, which could be utilized by the transmission shop in the future.

Waldron, Connor; Moley, Laura; Isom, S. Clay (Utah State University)
Faculty Advisor: Isom, S. Clay (College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences; Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences Department)

In vitro maturation (IVM) is a process that immature oocytes undergo before in vitro fertilization is performed. During IVM, immature oocytes are extracted through aspiration from follicles and receive the necessary hormones to resume meiosis in culture. Success rate of IVM is significantly lower compared to in vivo maturation of oocytes. Oocytes selected for IVM are extracted from small ovarian follicles (1-3mm), which are 4-6 weeks away from complete maturation and subsequent ovulation. During that period, the DNA of the oocyte is undergoing the process of DNA methylation, the addition of a methyl group to cytosines within a CpG context. DNA methylation is an epigenetic change that causes modification to gene expression where methylated gene promoters turn off gene expression. Proper oocyte gene expression is very important in the development of a healthy embryo. Incomplete methylation of aspirated oocytes may be another factor contributing to the low success rates of IVM. We hypothesize that there is a difference in the amount of methylation between oocytes from small ovarian follicles that are further from natural ovulation and oocytes from large ovarian follicles which are developmentally closer to ovulation, with higher levels of methylation in oocytes from large ovarian follicles. To test our hypothesis, large porcine ovarian follicles (7mm and larger) and small porcine ovarian follicles (1-3mm) will be aspirated for ovaries. The oocytes will be stained the two stains, one to visualize the nucleus of the oocyte indicating the presence of DNA and the other to visualize DNA methylation. Fluorescent images will be taken of the oocytes, and the small and large follicle oocyte groups will be compared for genome wide methylation levels.

Larsen Gibby, Ashley; Crockett, Kaelie (Brigham Young University)
Faculty Advisor: Larsen Gibby, Ashley (Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Family Life)

Past research has found a strong association between sibling characteristics and academic achievement, but very few studies have considered the impact of adoption. Family theories, such as resource dilution, stress, and compensation theories, suggest that adoption may negatively impact biological children's educational outcomes by reducing the resources available to these children and introducing stress and complexity into their family. However, despite its likely importance, no representative studies have investigated the impact of adoption on biological children, to our knowledge. Using the American Community Survey Data from 2013-2017, we test the relationship between having an adopted sibling and being held back in school among 1,684,608 biological children. We use logistic regression and included several child and household characteristics as controls. We find that having an adopted sibling is significantly associated with an increased likelihood of being held back but that this association is almost entirely explained by family size and socioeconomic status. Therefore, we conclude that although our findings suggest a negative impact of having an adopted sibling on non-adopted children, this impact may actually be capturing differences in socio-economic status, rather than adoption itself. Further investigations of the differences among children with or without adopted siblings are needed to understand the associated classed nuances.