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Brigham Young University

2008

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Comparison Of Two Training Programs On Acceleration Out Of The Break In American Football, Micah Adam Alba Dec 2008

Comparison Of Two Training Programs On Acceleration Out Of The Break In American Football, Micah Adam Alba

Theses and Dissertations

Athletes of American football need the ability to stop, start, and reach top speed in an efficient manner. Football players on the defensive side of the ball require the skill of stopping a backward run and accelerating to a forward run. This action is termed the break. Football players receive year-round training in an effort to improve performance. Yet, many times, these athletes may not focus specifically on the muscular systems that are unique to the position they play. The law of specificity states that the more specific the training is for the action required, the more beneficial the outcome. …

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Menstrual Cycle And Visual Information Processing, Michelle Nash Dec 2008

Menstrual Cycle And Visual Information Processing, Michelle Nash

Theses and Dissertations

This project examined the effects menstruation may have on visual attention in women. A recent study examined electroencephalographic (EEG) gender differences using a visual object recognition task. Results indicated certain EEG amplitudes (specifically, P300 and N400) are greater in women than men. This study extended the previous findings to determine if these increased EEG amplitudes vary across menstrual phases. Eighteen female participants participated in a series of 3 EEG recording sessions using the same visual object recognition task from the previous study; 18 male participants completed this task once. Analyses from 15 of the 18 female and 16 of the …

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Decision Tree Ensemble: Small Heterogeneous Is Better Than Large Homogeneous, Mike Gashler, Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier, Tony R. Martinez Dec 2008

Decision Tree Ensemble: Small Heterogeneous Is Better Than Large Homogeneous, Mike Gashler, Christophe G. Giraud-Carrier, Tony R. Martinez

Faculty Publications

Using decision trees that split on randomly selected attributes is one way to increase the diversity within an ensemble of decision trees. Another approach increases diversity by combining multiple tree algorithms. The random forest approach has become popular because it is simple and yields good results with common datasets. We present a technique that combines heterogeneous tree algorithms and contrast it with homogeneous forest algorithms. Our results indicate that random forests do poorly when faced with irrelevant attributes, while our heterogeneous technique handles them robustly. Further, we show that large ensembles of random trees are more susceptible to diminishing returns …

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Learning-Based Fusion For Data Deduplication, Sabra Dinerstein, Parris K. Egbert, Stephen W. Clyde, Jared Dinerstein Dec 2008

Learning-Based Fusion For Data Deduplication, Sabra Dinerstein, Parris K. Egbert, Stephen W. Clyde, Jared Dinerstein

Faculty Publications

Rule-based deduplication utilizes expert domain knowledge to identify and remove duplicate data records. Achieving high accuracy in a rule-based system requires the creation of rules containing a good combination of discriminatory clues. Unfortunately, accurate rule-based deduplication often requires significant manual tuning of both the rules and the corresponding thresholds. This need for manual tuning reduces the efficacy of rule-based deduplication and its applicability to real-world data sets. No adequate solution exists for this problem. We propose a novel technique for rule-based deduplication. We apply individual deduplication rules, and combine the resultant match scores via learning-based information fusion. We show empirically …

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Estimating Tmr Reliability On Fpgas Using Markov Models, Daniel Mcmurtrey, Keith S. Morgan, Brian Pratt, Michael J. Wirthlin Dec 2008

Estimating Tmr Reliability On Fpgas Using Markov Models, Daniel Mcmurtrey, Keith S. Morgan, Brian Pratt, Michael J. Wirthlin

Faculty Publications

This paper summarizes several reliability models for modeling FPGA reliability using Markov models.

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Dynamic Load Balancing Of Virtual Machines Hosted On Xen, Terry Clyde Wilcox Dec 2008

Dynamic Load Balancing Of Virtual Machines Hosted On Xen, Terry Clyde Wilcox

Theses and Dissertations

Currently systems of virtual machines are load balanced statically which can create load imbalances for systems where the load changes dynamically over time. For throughput and response time of a system to be maximized it is necessary for load to be evenly distributed among each part of the system. We implement a prototype policy engine for the Xen virtual machine monitor which can dynamically load balance virtual machines. We compare the throughput and response time of our system using the cpu2000 and the WEB2005 benchmarks from SPEC. Under the loads we tested, dynamic load balancing had 5%-8% higher throughput than …

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Action Research As Professional Development: A Study Of Two Teachers, Wade R. Glathar Dec 2008

Action Research As Professional Development: A Study Of Two Teachers, Wade R. Glathar

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the experiences of two teachers in a public charter school who implement action research in their classrooms. The study explored the key elements of professional development as well as action research and makes the case as to why action research is an effective tool for teacher development. Participants were selected based on having little teaching experience and familiarity with action research. The study examined the experiences of teachers who have had limited professional development as they use action research in their practices. Data for the study were drawn from interviews as well as researcher and participant journals.

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Nowhere To Hide: Finding Plagiarized Documents Based On Sentence Similarity, Nathaniel Gustafson, Yiu-Kai D. Ng, Maria Soledad Pera Dec 2008

Nowhere To Hide: Finding Plagiarized Documents Based On Sentence Similarity, Nathaniel Gustafson, Yiu-Kai D. Ng, Maria Soledad Pera

Faculty Publications

Plagiarism is a serious problem that infringes copyrighted documents/materials, which is an unethical practice and decreases the economic incentive received by authors (owners) of the original copies. Unfortunately, plagiarism is getting worse due to the increasing number of online publications on the Web, which facilitates locating and paraphrasing information. In solving this problem, we propose a novel plagiarism-detection method, called SimPaD, which (i) establishes the degree of resemblance between any two documents D1 and D2 based on their sentence-to-sentence similarity computed by using pre-defined word-correlation factors, and (ii) generates a graphical view of sentences that are similar (or the same) …

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The Gendered Meanings Of Assets For Divorce, Jeffrey P. Dew Dec 2008

The Gendered Meanings Of Assets For Divorce, Jeffrey P. Dew

Faculty Publications

Scholars identified a negative relationship between assets and divorce decades ago, but the mechanisms behind this relationship remain unknown. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households (N = 4,721 couples), this study compared three mechanisms that might link assets and divorce. Non-proportional Cox hazard models indicated that two of the three mechanisms explained the relationship between assets and divorce. Wives’ marital satisfaction and their perceptions of their hypothetical post-divorce standard of living completely mediated the relationship between assets and divorce. The relationship between assets and divorce was not related to husbands’ characteristics.

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Faith And News: A Quantitative Study Of The Relationship Between Religiosity And Tv News Exposure, Raquel Marvez Dec 2008

Faith And News: A Quantitative Study Of The Relationship Between Religiosity And Tv News Exposure, Raquel Marvez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between religiosity and broadcast news usage. This study examines the level of religiosity of individuals and its correlation to broadcast news exposure. The correlation between religiosity and perceptions of violence on broadcast news was also measured. Two theories were applied in this study. Uses and Gratifications asserts the active character of the audience to choose what they watch, how often, etc., and Selective Exposure defends the ability of the individual to select media that coincides with personal value systems. These two theories complement each other and provide support in the …

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Does Shape Predict Performance? An Analysis Of Morphology And Swimming Performance In Great Basin Fishes, John R. Aedo Dec 2008

Does Shape Predict Performance? An Analysis Of Morphology And Swimming Performance In Great Basin Fishes, John R. Aedo

Theses and Dissertations

Swimming performance strongly influences fitness in aquatic organisms and is closely tied to external body morphology. Although this connection has been closely examined at the individual and species level, few studies have focused on this relationship as it pertains to functional group assemblages. Using functional groups based on similarities in habitat use and morphology, I tested the hypothesis that swimming performance can be reliably predicted by functional group composition. I measured swimming performance as burst speed using a simulated predator attack and as prolonged speed using a step-endurance test in a laboratory flume. I measured morphology using geometric morphometric techniques. …

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Investigation Of Heterogeneity Of Fsw Inconel 718 Coupled With Welding Thermal Cycle, Dong Fang Huang Dec 2008

Investigation Of Heterogeneity Of Fsw Inconel 718 Coupled With Welding Thermal Cycle, Dong Fang Huang

Theses and Dissertations

In order to develop a better understanding of the property, microstructure evolution and thermal history of FSW Inconel 718's, the strain, strain rate and thermal cycles need to be determined. In order to estimate the strain field of a deformed body, a displacement function needs to be determined. A 3D deformation model was developed to determine the displacement coefficients. A rectangular box created in this model deforms following a linear displacement function. Three orthogonal planes cut this deformed box, which leads to three deformed planes. The shape parameters (L, H, θ¹ and θ²) on the three orthogonal planes can be …

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A Population Genetic Study Of Middle Eastern Populations Using Dys 458 Microvariants And Cohen Modal Haplotypes, Enass Nabeel Tinah Dec 2008

A Population Genetic Study Of Middle Eastern Populations Using Dys 458 Microvariants And Cohen Modal Haplotypes, Enass Nabeel Tinah

Theses and Dissertations

A comprehensive population study in the Middle East was conducted using different genetic markers in order to establish a wider genetic profile of the Middle Eastern populations. The main goal of this study was to analyze DNA from samples collected from different locations, and produce genetic motifs and patterns that could be used to identify and distinguish the target populations. This information will allow us to analyze the ancestry of these populations, their interactions through time and space, and the effects these interactions have on the populations' structure. We have collected around 1300 individual samples from different populations in the …

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The Ability Of Children With Language Impairment To Understand Emotion Conveyed By Prosody In A Narrative Passage, Chelsea Celeste Voorhees Dec 2008

The Ability Of Children With Language Impairment To Understand Emotion Conveyed By Prosody In A Narrative Passage, Chelsea Celeste Voorhees

Theses and Dissertations

Several recent studies indicate that children with Language Impairment (LI) have difficulty recognizing and inferring meaning from emotional prosody. The present study is a replication investigating the ability of children with LI to recognize emotion conveyed by prosody in an orally presented narrative passage. Twenty-two children with LI and twenty-two age matched peers ranging from age 7;0 to 10;11 (M= 9.11, SD= 2.54) were selected to participate. Participants listened to recordings of a seven sentence passage read by actors to express happiness, anger, sadness, and fear. The children's task was to identify which emotion the speaker portrayed. Scores obtained from …

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Value Conflicts In Psychotherapy: Psychology Graduates' Perspectives, Shannon Vincent Wilde Dec 2008

Value Conflicts In Psychotherapy: Psychology Graduates' Perspectives, Shannon Vincent Wilde

Theses and Dissertations

Although psychotherapy has been viewed historically as value-neutral, developments over the last half-century have led to the generally accepted position that values are inescapable in therapy. However, many questions remain as to how values should be managed in psychotherapy in order to protect client autonomy. These issues are of particular concern to training programs, which bear the responsibility of instructing new psychologists in ethical values management and of helping trainees manage personal values when those values are in conflict with those of their clients or with the values of the field in general. One aspect that has not previously been …

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Using Geoscience Education Graduate Students To Help Faculty Transform Teaching Practice, Teagan L. Tomlin Dec 2008

Using Geoscience Education Graduate Students To Help Faculty Transform Teaching Practice, Teagan L. Tomlin

Theses and Dissertations

Universities make claims about student learning that graduates don't often achieve and are under pressure to show improvement in teaching and learning in their undergraduate programs. This has been the constant focus of university-level professional development programs, but most teachers are still not using the most effective teaching methods. Individual departments need to find ways to help their instructors overcome three main challenges associated with adopting more effective student-centered teaching methods. No matter what strategy is adopted, instructors need considerable support to 1) change their beliefs about what constitutes effective teaching and learning, 2) learn to effectively implement new strategies, …

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Monarch Cheers, Integration Whimpers, And A Loyalty Conflict: Kansas City Call's Coverage Of The Black Yankees, 1937-1955, Eric M. Eames Dec 2008

Monarch Cheers, Integration Whimpers, And A Loyalty Conflict: Kansas City Call's Coverage Of The Black Yankees, 1937-1955, Eric M. Eames

Theses and Dissertations

Already regarded as one of the top teams in Negro League baseball, the Kansas City Monarchs became known as a powerhouse unit in the 1930s and 40s. They rolled into towns with lights, amazing athletes, and competitive play. They won championship after championship during these years as Kansas City baseball fans strongly supported them. As they became an integral part of the city, the Monarchs' success, open-seating policy, and jazzy home openers fostered a large following of mixed-race fans. The local black newspaper, the Kansas City Call, held them up on a pedestal, while sportswriters for the mainstream Kansas City …

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A Correlational Study: The Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels, Physical Self-Worth, And Global Self-Worth In High School Physical Education Students, Ashley Danelle Eyre Dec 2008

A Correlational Study: The Relationship Between Physical Activity Levels, Physical Self-Worth, And Global Self-Worth In High School Physical Education Students, Ashley Danelle Eyre

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity levels, physical self-worth, and its sub-domains; (a) skill, (b) body attractiveness, (c) fitness and conditioning, and (d) strength, and overall global self-worth in high school students. One-Hundred and sixty-seven students (male = 66;female = 101) from the western United States, ages 13-18, participated in this study. Each participant completed a minimum of four days of physical activity (PA) data collection and completed the self-worth questionnaire. Pedometers were used to collect PA levels, calculating mean step counts, and the Children and Youth Physical Self-Perception Profile (CY-PSPP) was used …

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Views And Use Of Theory By Practicing Instructional Designers, Joseph B. South Dec 2008

Views And Use Of Theory By Practicing Instructional Designers, Joseph B. South

Theses and Dissertations

Formal instructional design (ID) theories, intended to guide instructional designers' decision-making and design practices, have grown in abundance in recent years. These ID theories are based on learning theories that form the foundation for applied work in the field. However, researchers are concerned that these theories may not be applicable to the day-to-day practice of instructional designers. While some studies investigate the application of ID process models, studies of learning theory and ID theory in practice are rare. Consequently, there is little information about the nature and extent of the gap between our field's theory and its practice. This qualitative …

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Teaching The Teacher Program To Assist Nurse Managers To Educate Nursing Staff In Ecuadorian Hospitals, Sheri P. Palmer, Sondra Heaston Dec 2008

Teaching The Teacher Program To Assist Nurse Managers To Educate Nursing Staff In Ecuadorian Hospitals, Sheri P. Palmer, Sondra Heaston

Faculty Publications

Continuing education for hospital staff nurses is a concern worldwide. Current research shows that continuing education among nurses can positively affect patient outcomes (O’Brien, T., Freemantle, N., Oxman, A, et al., 2002. Interactive continuing education workshops or conferences can improve professional practice and patient outcomes. Journal of Evidence Based Nursing. 26 (5)). Seeing a need for improved patient outcomes among hospitals in Ecuador, we conducted a teaching the teacher program to assist nurse managers to carry-out continuing education in their hospital system. This teaching the teacher program was established through the collaboration between one College of Nursing in Utah, USA …

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Manager Tools Podcast: A Study Of Podcasting's Effectiveness With Profit Potential, Quincy Frodesen Beal Dec 2008

Manager Tools Podcast: A Study Of Podcasting's Effectiveness With Profit Potential, Quincy Frodesen Beal

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to understand further the effectiveness and profit potential of podcasting. The study combines the theories of uses and gratifications and subjective theory of value to create a model for podcasting's value. The model is put to the test using the Manager Tools podcast as the subject. Data suggest the three main drivers behind perceived podcast effectiveness are pleasure, habit, and information gathering. Relaxation proved to have a negative influence on perceived effectiveness. The audience's willingness to pay was determined by perceived effectiveness, scarcity, and habit. Though not a generalizable study, the conclusion discusses the findings' implications on …

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Work Is Fun: The Phenomenon Of Boys Enjoying Work In A Camp Setting, Zina Lenore Bennion Dec 2008

Work Is Fun: The Phenomenon Of Boys Enjoying Work In A Camp Setting, Zina Lenore Bennion

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived outcomes of participation in a summer camp that included physical work and service as a major component. A qualitative data analysis approach was used. A convenience sample of 10 male adolescents and 10 parents were selected. The data was analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Data analysis was used to ascertain perceived outcomes from the program from both boys and their parents. Analysis of the data showed the emergence of a core theme of boys learning to work and enjoying work. Enjoying work was the term chosen to represent …

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Marital Problems And Marital Satisfaction: An Examination Of A Brazilian Sample, Nalu De Araujo Nunes Dec 2008

Marital Problems And Marital Satisfaction: An Examination Of A Brazilian Sample, Nalu De Araujo Nunes

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study is to examine the types of problems faced by Brazilian couples in the sample, the gender differences in the perception of marital problems, and the associations between marital problems and marital satisfaction. The sample used in this study was part of the third wave of data collection of a longitudinal study of 126 families living in Porto Alegre, a city in southern Brazil. The RDAS was the instrument used to assess marital satisfaction. Marital problems were identified by asking participants to check the problems they perceive in their marriage from a list of common marital …

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The Effect Of Liquid Hot Filling Temperature On Blow-Molded Hdpe Bottle Properties, Benjamin S. Hudson Dec 2008

The Effect Of Liquid Hot Filling Temperature On Blow-Molded Hdpe Bottle Properties, Benjamin S. Hudson

Theses and Dissertations

The occurrence of deformation in plastic bottles is a common problem in the bottling industry where bottles are blow molded, hot filled at high temperatures and sealed. Plastics have unique properties that make it difficult to predict when and why such changes may occur. The root cause of such deformation is unknown by many bottle producers and recent attempts have been made to minimize the occurrence of such defects. The purpose of this research is to determine which variables involved in the bottle production process influence bottle shape. Earlier variables that were tested included both blow molding resin and total …

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Altered States Of Style: The Drug-Induced Development Of Jack Kerouac's Spontaneous Prose, Eric M. Izant Dec 2008

Altered States Of Style: The Drug-Induced Development Of Jack Kerouac's Spontaneous Prose, Eric M. Izant

Theses and Dissertations

Jack Kerouac's spontaneous prose method was inspired in part by his use of drugs while writing. While there is abundant biographical evidence that Kerouac used drugs frequently, little attention has been paid to their effects on the development of his style. This thesis attempts to demonstrate that the altered states of consciousness produced by Kerouac's drug use should be considered in conjunction with historical, cultural, and biographical forces in tracing the evolution of Kerouac's creative growth. As a member of the Beat Generation, Kerouac used drugs both as a social statement of rebellion and for artistic insight. In fact, he …

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The Effects Of Excess Corticosterone On Lkb1 And Ampk Signaling In Skeletal Muscle Of Rats, Gary N. Nakken Dec 2008

The Effects Of Excess Corticosterone On Lkb1 And Ampk Signaling In Skeletal Muscle Of Rats, Gary N. Nakken

Theses and Dissertations

Cushing's syndrome and glucocorticoid therapy lead to central obesity, insulin resistance, and symptoms of altered energy regulation similar to those observed in the metabolic syndrome. We hypothesized that excess glucocorticoids alter energy sensing/signaling in skeletal muscle through mediation of the LKB1/AMPK signaling pathway. To test this hypothesis, three 100 mg pellets of corticosterone were implanted subcutaneously in each of nine rats for two weeks. Responses were compared with sham operated controls fed ad libitum or food restricted to produce the body weights similar to the treatment group rats. After the treatment period, animals were anesthetized and the right gastrocnemius-plantaris and …

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Psychometrically Equivalent Thai Monosyllabic Word Recognition Materials Spoken By Male And Female Talkers, Chela Williams Dec 2008

Psychometrically Equivalent Thai Monosyllabic Word Recognition Materials Spoken By Male And Female Talkers, Chela Williams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and psychometrically equate a set of Thai monosyllabic word lists to use in the measurement of word recognition ability. A native male and female talker from Thailand, who were judged to have a standard Thai dialect, participated as talkers in digitally recording familiar Thai monosyllabic words. Twenty native Thai participants were used as subjects to determine the percentage of correct word recognition for each word at 10 intensity levels ranging from --5 to 40 dB HL in 5 dB increments. The 200 words with the highest raw scores were …

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A Quantitative Study Of The Effectiveness Of Positive Behavior Support In Secondary Schools, Rebecca Lynn Raftery Dec 2008

A Quantitative Study Of The Effectiveness Of Positive Behavior Support In Secondary Schools, Rebecca Lynn Raftery

Theses and Dissertations

This study was conducted to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of a second tier intervention on at risk students' behaviors and academic success. The study included 113 middle school and junior high students identified as being at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders using the Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders (SSBD). The participants were assigned to a control group (no treatment), one, two, or three semesters of the intervention. The intervention integrated components of social skills instruction, self-management techniques, and social and emotional awareness. Students' behaviors and academic success were measured using school data (i.e. GPA, Office Discipline Referrals, attendance, and …

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Using Pedometers As A Valid Method Of Determining Physical Activity Intensity Level, Alan M. Groves Dec 2008

Using Pedometers As A Valid Method Of Determining Physical Activity Intensity Level, Alan M. Groves

Theses and Dissertations

As researchers explore the benefits of using pedometers to assess physical activity they are discovering that intensity of physical activity may be estimated from steps per minute (SPM). The purpose of this study was to determine the SPM and kilocalories (kcals) expended associated with moderate physical activity in middle school students (12 - 14 years old). Methods: Ninety-three (49 boys, 44 girls) middle school youth between the ages of 12 and 14, walked on a treadmill at four different speeds (4.0, 4.8, 5.64, and 6.4 km/h) for three minutes at each speed. Each participant wore a pedometer in order to …

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Assessing Water Quality Modeling In Subtropical Regions Based On A Case Study Of The Aguamilpa Reservoir, Oliver Obregon Dec 2008

Assessing Water Quality Modeling In Subtropical Regions Based On A Case Study Of The Aguamilpa Reservoir, Oliver Obregon

Theses and Dissertations

The shortage of water in Mexico has made public and private institutions look at reservoirs as an alternative solution for present and future water supply. However, eighty percent of the existing reservoirs in Mexico are contaminated at some level, many severely. Water quality models are water-management tools used to diagnose water quality problems and the impact of various environmental conditions. They can be effective in assessing various measures of remediation leading to improved water quality. In most of the cases such water quality models have been successfully applied in reservoirs located in temperate climates. However, the use of water quality …

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