Spring 2006 BYU-Idaho Undergraduate Research Conference
Conference Poster
Schedule:
Fri. Mar 10
6pm Reception (Tay 170)
7pm Welcome, Keynote address (Tay chapel)
9pm planetarium show (planetarium)
Sat. Mar 11
8-10am Poster session (Tay 170)
10am-12pm Concurrent paper sessions by discipline (Tay 120, 130)
Ag/Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geology Tay 120
Social Sci./Education, Humanities Tay 130
12 noon Judging/Lunch Break
1pm Awards Tay 120
Poster sessions will have presenters available at their display for the hour to answer questions and explain their presentation.
Talks in the paper sessions will be 15 minutes - 12 minutes for the talk and 3 minutes for questions.
Recruiters and grad schools will have booths set up in the poster hall.
Awards to top three papers in each session.
Direct questions to: Dr. Brian Pyper, BYU-I Dept. of Physics, ROM 116, Rexburg, Idaho 83460-0520 (208)496-1925 pyperb@byui.edu
Abstracts, room assignments, and times:
UGRC06 Program
Room StartTime
120
10:00 AM
Shem Thompson Physics
Comparing Constituent Fluxes of Students into and out of Physics Majors
More students leave physics for non-physics majors than visa versa. We surveyed a number of students to pin point their
initial reasons to major in physics and their reasons for then leaving physics as a major. Our survey was patterned after
Elaine Seymour's research in her book "Talking about Leaving" which addresses the issue of attrition in Science,
Mathematics, and Engineering majors. We have found some interesting results by comparing the answers of those
students who left physics as a major, those who left a different major for physics, and those who have stayed in physics.
10:15 AM
Amanda Brighton, Steven Gardner Physics
Do You Know if You Know?
Two typical introductory Physical Science classes were asked to give answers to five questions about motion. An
additional question was associated with each of these five questions to ascertain how confident each student was in their
answer. The student's metacognitive ability to determine correctly what they know or do not know was evaluated. The
student's inability to self-assess understanding was as common as the converse. When the data was analyzed by gender,
attempting to identify differences between males and females in terms of this metacognitive skill, no statistically
significant difference was found. Additionally, we identified widespread alternate conceptions when large numbers of
students were very confident in the same incorrect answer. These findings confirm previous studies regarding
misconceptions in this area.1
1 A. Arons, Teaching Introductory Physics, Wiley (1997) p.37
10:30 AM
Carson Fenimore Computer Science
NSNSDSDS: A Software Implementation for Receiving Position Tracking Signals
The Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS) allows citizens to broadcast GPS coordinates that
may be tracked by anyone. These coordinates are received using an array of hardware, typically
consisting of a radio scanner, Terminal Node Controller, and computer. This paper presents software
Digital Signal Processing techniques that replace the functionality of a Terminal Node Controller,
thereby reducing the cost of constructing an APRS monitoring station. It describes the process of
correlation using the Discrete Fourier Transform, windowing techniques, differential decoding, and
symbol synchronization. This paper also describes how this software was applied to NASA RISE
meteorological balloon launches at BYU-Idaho; it concludes by detailing how the software interfaces
with the APRS visualization software developed by Jacob Christinsen for these launches.
10:45 AM
Jacob Christensen Computer Science/Engineering
Near Space Balloon Tracking
This paper addresses the problems associated with developing a wireless tracking device, such as selecting a wireless
medium, finding a computer capable of running the hardware (i.e. GPS unit, sensors, radio), and perhaps the most
challenging of all, finding a practical way to view the data from the balloon.
The solution I developed to visualizing the data is called Thor Trak. Thor Trak consists of three modules. The first
module pulls data from the radio hardware. The second module breaks up the data into longitude, latitude and altitude. The
third module then writes these coordinates into an XML file that is read by Google Earth© and graphed in three
dimensions. This paper constitutes a working knowledge of the basics of wireless tracking with a focus on Thor Trak, the software
used in the NASA RISE near space balloon launch last semester.11:00 AM
Christopher Vanderbeek Biology
Scientific Evidence of the Genetic Factor of Migraines
The main question this research paper covers is what does scientific research show about the factor that genes play in
migraine expression? Scientists use three main types of studies to assess the genetic factor of migraines: family studies,
twin studies, and genetic linkage studies. Family studies have been important in showing the pattern of migraine
expression in families. Twin studies have been important in distinguishing between the environmental and genetic factor
of migraines. And genetic linkage studies have located parts of genes that are linked to migraine expression. Each study
has provided researchers with significant evidence of the genetic influence in migraine expression. Many sourced
conclude that half of migraine expression is due to genetic influence. Although many important discoveries have been
made through each of these studies, researchers are still working to know the specific genetics of migraine and how it is
inherited.
11:15 AM
Steven Wyler Biology
Soluble DNA as a Target for PCR Detection and Identification of Aquatic Organisms
All cells release DNA when they die, but detection of rare DNA targets (e.g. < one molecule per ml) requires concentration
before amplification.. Soluble DNA (sDNA) can be recovered and concentrated from water through anion exchange and
used as a template for detection and identification of any biological target. Extraction and concentration of sDNA (0.2 μm
filtered water) from three separate water sources was attempted: two mesothermic springs and a fish run. The two warm
springs failed to yield any detectable DNA or amplifiable bacterial target. The fish run, which contained fry from several
species including Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout) yielded DNA at 94 ng/l. The major histocompatibility complex of
rainbow trout was amplified from the DNA concentrate. The utility of this approach for bio-monitoring is applicable to
all DNA sources, is scalable to extremely rare targets, and should be quantifiable within narrow limitations. Research was
funded by NIH P20RR16454.
11:30 AM
Tamara L. Duncan Chemistry
Efforts Towards the Total Synthesis of Gambieric Acid-A
The synthesis of the J-sidearm and A-ring portions of gambieric acid-A and the proposed synthesis of D-allal for the study
of diastereoselective oxidation of cyclic enol ethers.
11:45 AM
Christina Velton Chemistry
Hypothesis driven synthesis of isoxazoles
This experiment involved the synthetic derivation of isoxazoles. In doing so, we hope to determine the Structure Activity
Relationship (SAR) of metabotropic Glutamate Receptors (mGluR) and the system xC Transporter.
Room StartTime130
10:00 AM
Brian Conary Spanish
The Modern Day Tower of Babel: Diacronic Adaptation from Latin to Spanish
Many studies of the progression of Latin to Romance to Arcaic Spanish to Modern Spanish have been performed. (1) In
my Spanish 490 R class, I am presently investigating the phonological changes that occured from Latin to Modern
Spanish. Some areas of interest include; letters can represent more than one sound; the same letter does not always
represent the same sound/sounds throughout time (even in the same language); temporal, societal, social, and geographical
factors change languages. I will show this by comparing Luke Ch. 3 in Latin to its equivalent in the Spanish Bible through
various time periods.
(1) Penny, Ralph. A History of the Spanish Language. Cambridge University Press. New York. 2004.
10:15 AM
Matt Hull Spanish
Spanish came from what?: The development of a Romantic language
Contemporary Spanish is know by many to be part of a group of languages know as the Romance languages. But what
does that mean? How can any language be romantic? In discussing linguistic changes throughout time we discover changes
in pronunciation, orthography, and syntax. This past semester we have discussed the history of the Spanish language, in
these areas, as it has derived from Latin. Thus exploring its Romantic roots - that is, from Rome.
10:30 AM
Peter Mifflin Spanish
Vulgar Latin and Modern Spanish
What role did linguistic variation in the transition from Vulgar Latin to Old Spanish to Modern Spanish? Since there are
no known audio recordings of Vulgar Latin as it was spoken when it arrived on the Iberian Peninsula; it is necessary that
certain trends in variation be inferred. The main thrust of the research will come from a comparative analysis of the
Vulgate text of the New Testament compared against the Old and Modern Spanish versions of the Bible.
10:45 AM
Adam Clark English
Faulty Theories and Skewed Observations:
The Origins of the Debate between Creation and Evolution
A heated and ongoing debate exists between creationists (who believe that a divine being crafted the universe) and
evolutionists (who believe that everything came into existence through natural processes). Because creationists adhere to
theology and evolutionists adhere to science, no definitive test can be conceived that will conclusively falsify one side or
the other, and thus end the conflict. However, a compilation of old and new commentary on the subject shows that the
conflict between the two theories only exists as the product of assumptions on both sides.
Both creationists and evolutionists have their own theories as to the process of the earth's formation, each theory based on
certain observations. These theories and observations are based upon certain assumptions from both sides, some of which
are logically cohesive, and some of which are internally unsound. When this assumptions are addressed, the faulty ones
can be laid aside, and the respective observations of science and religion, which now appear to contradict each other, fall
into harmony, and one theory can be explored which fits all observations.
11:00 AM
Candice Humpherys Physics
Threatened Because of Gender?
A good deal of research has been done on the issue of stereotype threat.1, 2 This research proposes that if a person
identifies with a group of people that is negatively stereotyped for performance, then they will not perform as well as
someone from the same group of people who is not made aware of the negative stereotype. The research we conducted
investigates the legitimacy of stereotype threat based on gender in the area of science in the BYU-Idaho student
population. Our results have significance in the current national debate about the lack of women pursuing careers in
scientific disciplines.
1 Quinn, Diane M.; Spencer, Steven J.. (2001). The Interference of Stereotype Threat With Women's Generation of
Mathematical Problem-Solving Strategies. Journal of Social Issues. 57(1):55-71.
2 Schmader, Tony, & Johns, Michael. (2003). Converging Evidence That Stereotype Threat Reduces Working Memory
Capacity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 85(3):440-452.
11:15 AM
Emily Keister Child Development
Examining the Relationships Among, and the Effects of, Feminism, Attitudes towards Abortion,
and Dual-Earner Households on Marital Happiness
Little is known concerning how feministic attitudes and one's marital happiness are correlated. However, the feminism
movement has affected the family by attacking traditional gender roles of parents. This study hypothesized that
individuals who held more feministic views (e.g. a preschool child is not likely to suffer if his mother works) would be less
happy in marriage. This study utilized multiple regression to study the relationship among several variables, including
marital happiness and feminism. Although none of the hypotheses were supported, this study found that age is an
important variable when considering levels of marital happiness. This study also found that women's attitudes towards
abortion and working outside the home are not high indicators of marital happiness. Future studies could operationalize
"feminism" and "happiness" differently.
170
8:00 AM
Carson Fenimore, Jacob Christinsen,
Brandon Brodhead, et al.
RISE
Reaching the Space Shore: BYU-Idaho's Entry into
the NASA RISE Program
Numerous challenges are presented when constructing a high-altitude balloon capsule capable of
reaching over twenty miles in the air. These capsules gather sensor data, transmit their location using
long-range digital wireless networks, and provide aerial photos and video of the earth. Typically, such
capsules are fairly expensive and are therefore expected to return safely to earth to be reused. BYUIdaho
has just begun constructing a high-altitude program, which is now NASA funded. This poster
presents our program's approach to constructing inexpensive and innovative high-altitude platforms. It
shows data and pictures gathered from the last two flights, as well as the custom software and hardware
solutions used. It also depicts the design of the currently planned launch.
William Hokanson Geology
Understanding the Movement of Nitrates in Ground Water of the Eastern Idaho Snake River Plain
Using Maps Derived from Driller's Logs
Water samples collected near Ashton, Idaho contain concentrations of nitrates that exceed EPA MCL guidelines. The
distribution of wells yielding samples with high concentrations of nitrate initially appears to be random. To understand the
stratigraphy of the subsurface, driller's logs, obtained via the Internet from the Idaho Department of Water Resources were
examined. A table was created from the elevation of the lithologic breaks using sea level as the datum. Elevation
boundaries were defined on the basis of rock type, color, and fracture characteristics provided in the driller's logs.
Generalized subsurface maps were created for the different rock units. Major rock units identified were unconsolidated
alluvium, basalt flows, and felsic volcanics. The maps will aid in understanding migration pathways of nitrates in the
subsurface and help explain the apparent pattern of nitrate contamination in wells.
Amanda Boyd Biology
NESTING HABITAT TYPIFICATION: RED-TAILED TROPICBIRD Phaethon rubricauda ON
MIDWAY ATOLL.
Red-tailed tropicbirds (Phaethon rubricauda) are pantropical pelagic birds which nest on Midway Atoll (National Wildlife
Refuge). Red-tailed tropicbirds nest in both the native Naupaka (Scaevola sericea) shrublands and the introduced Ironwood
(Casuarina equisetifolia) forests. Nest site characteristics were compared between the two different habitats types. Nest
density was also determined for each habitat type. Nest density varied between the Naupaka shrublands and the Casuarina
forests (51/Ha vs. 18/Ha). Other nest characteristics which include aspect, temperature, and nest proximity to edge of
plant, also varied in the 77 nests sampled. We suggest that in the future a survivability study be conducted to further
understand the differences of nesting Red-tailed tropicbirds in the two different habitat types.
Holly Morgan Biology
DENSITY AND SEED BANK OF VERBESINA ENCELIOIDES ON MIDWAY ATOLL
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.
Golden Crownbeard (Verbesina encelioides Family: Asteraceae) is a highly invasive annual plant species on Midway Atoll
(USFWS National Wildlife Refuge). Golden Crownbeard occupies approximately 70% of the 1600 acres of the refuge.
Densities varies from <1 ind/M2 to 282.4 ind/M2. Various techniques have been used to reduce densities with hand
pulling being the most common. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of hand pulling on density of re-growth
and the seed bank of Golden Crownbeard in selected plots. Germination tests were also performed on fresh and seed bank
material to evaluate the productivity of the seed bank. Hand pulling has showed to have no significant difference in regrowth
density from one year to the next when compared to untreated sites. Density of the seeds bank showed a
significant reduction (α = .15) between treated and untreated sites. This might be indicative of depletion in the seed bank
over time.
Jordan Nielson Biology
YELLOWSTONE CUTTHROAT TROUT POPULATION ASSESSMENT: TETON
RIVERHEADWATERS
A quantitative assessment of trout populations from fifteen headwater creeks of the Teton River was performed during the
summer of 2005. Using backpack electrofishing units, 100m of each stream was sampled every 2 km starting from a
random point within 1 km of the Caribou/Targhee National Forest boundary. At one out of every three sample sites, a
multiple pass survey was done to extract capture efficiencies in order to determine population numbers at all sites. Species
abundance and size of individuals was also noted. Using the population numbers extracted, comparisons were made with
the population numbers from 1998/1999 IDFG surveys. Four streams have only Yellowstone Cuttroat Trout (YCT)
(Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri). Eastern Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) comprised 75% of the trout populations in
nine of the streams. Where Cutthroat Trout and Brook Trout co-exist, Brook Trout is the dominate trout species. YCT
populations showed dramatic declines since 1998/1999 surveys in 5 streams and show stable populations in 3 of the
streams studied.
Makayla Montero Biology
Identification of Cytosol Proteins as Targets in Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity
Cardiotoxicity of daunorubicin limits its therapeutic use in treating cancer patients. Proteins that may mediate
daunorubicin cardiac toxicity were identified in cytosol from left ventricle of four different groups of rats. Rats were
treated either with saline, daunorubicin, ICRF-187 (a daunorubicin cardioprotectant), or daunorubicin plus ICRF-187 .
Two dimensional gel electrophoresis was performed on cytosols from each group at pH 5-8. Proteins that were downregulated
in the daunorubicin treated gel but returned to control density in the daun+ICRF treated gel were extracted using
in-gel tryptic digestion methods and proteins identified by trandum mass spectroscopy. Proteins identified using
LC/ESI/MS/M were albumen and dehydrogenase B; this work funded in part by NIH P20RR16454 and MSTMRI.
Kwang ho Ha Biology
Elucidating the role of calpain I cleavage of α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease and dementia with
Lewy bodies
Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with lewy bodies (DLB) are both neurodegenerative diseases characterized by
motor dysfunction and dementia with loss of cognitive skills, respectively. While distinct in their clinical presentation,
both PD and DLB share a common pathological feature: the presence of neuronal inclusions termed lewy bodies (LBs)
consisting of a 140-amino acid protein, α-synuclein (α-syn). A key step in the development of LBs is the fibrillization of α-
syn following its abnormal turnover by, as yet unidentified, proteases. The present study is aimed to determine whether
calpain I, a ubiquitously expressed protease, is able to cleave α-syn in vitro and in vivo. Using Western blot analysis and
immunohistochemistry, it was demonstrated that calpain I is able to cleave α-syn. Based on our preliminary results, we
provide evidence that calpain I may be a candidate protease involved in modifying α-syn, leading to the formation of LBs
in vivo. This work was funded by NIH-P20RR016454.
Patrice McNulty Biology
Innate Immunity of the nematode C. elegans
All organisms face constant exposure to pathogens which they must defend themselves against. As a result, an innate
immune system evolved very early and is conserved throughout phyla. The innate immune system can be very complex
and difficult to study in large organisms, therefore an invertebrate model was chosen. C. elegans was chosen as the model
because it is easy to grow and maintain, has a short generation time, reproduces hermaphroditically, and is transparent for
easy microscopy. The worms were infected with a newly isolated species, Pseudomonas filiscindens strain ISU3, over a
16 hour period and were stained with Evans Blue to detect damaged cells. It was found that increased concentrations of
lipoic acid, an antioxidant, increased necrosis of cells in the worm. This indicates that reactive oxygen species may play
an important part in the innate immunity of C. elegans. This gives us more insight into the defenses of C. elegans, and may
lead to more insight on the innate immunity of more complex organisms.