Digital Commons Network^™

Mystery Writers In Foreign Settings: The Literary Devices And Methods Used To Portray Foreign Geographies, Amy Kimball Engar

Theses and Dissertations

A sense of place is important to the construction, believability and success of regional mystery novels. Authentic representation of place is challenging if an author is not originally from the area being portrayed. Despite this, some authors are able to depict foreign places more comprehensively and realistically than others. Professor Gary Hausladen of the University of Nevada, Reno identifies: narrative description, dialogue, iconography, and attention to detail as the basic literary devices that convey sense of place. This thesis questions the manner in which successful mystery novelists writing about foreign places meet Hausladen's model. Specifically, do they use all four …

A Uintan (Late Middle Eocene) Flora And Fauna From The Uinta Basin, Utah, Stephen Dee Sandau

Theses and Dissertations

Late Middle Eocene time marks one of the most dynamic periods of the Paleogene in the western interior of North America. Analysis of an extensive, new collection of plant, invertebrate, and vertebrae fossils from the Uinta Formation in the Uinta Basin, south of Myton, Utah, USA, provides evidence of environmental change. Paleobotanical specimens are preserved in late stage Uinta Lake sediments and coarse-grained fluvial sediments which are stratigraphically 650 to 660 m above the Green River Formation. Deposition rates estimates of 18 to 55 cm/kyr, for Uinta Lake sediments in the Uinta Basin suggest a period of 1.18 Ma to …

Vegetation Response Of A Wyoming Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata Ssp. Wyomingensis) Community To 6 Mechanical Treatments In Rich County, Utah, Daniel David Summers

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, the importance of sagebrush to shrub-steppe ecosystems and associated plant and animal species has been recognized. The historical removal of herbaceous species by excessive and uncontrolled livestock grazing on many of our sagebrush ecosystems has resulted in a stagnant state where dense, competitive stands of sagebrush prevent herbaceous species from recovering. Most early research on sagebrush control was directed toward eradication to increase herbaceous forage for livestock production, rather than sagebrush thinning to improve shrub vigor and understory production for wildlife habitat and community diversity. Mechanical treatments have the ability to retain shrub and herbaceous components, while …

Simulation-Based Design Under Uncertainty For Compliant Microelectromechanical Systems, Jonathan W. Wittwer

Theses and Dissertations

The high cost of experimentation and product development in the field of microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) has led to a greater emphasis on simulation-based design for increasing first-pass design success and reliability. The use of compliant or flexible mechanisms can help eliminate friction, wear, and backlash, but compliant MEMS are sensitive to variations in material properties and geometry. This dissertation proposes approaches for design stage uncertainty analysis, model validation, and robust optimization of nonlinear compliant MEMS to account for critical process uncertainties including residual stress, layer thicknesses, edge bias, and material stiffness. Methods for simulating and mitigating the effects of non-idealities …

A Conceptual Model Of Groundwater Flow At The Midway, Utah Fish Hatchery As Constrained By Geochemical, Physical Hydrogeological, And Geophysical Methods, Camille Durrant

Theses and Dissertations

In addition to a loss of potential revenues from Utah's $393 million sport fishing industry, the state expends millions of dollars every year on costs associated with whirling disease mitigation and prevention. A state fish hatchery at Midway, Utah was closed when the shallow unconfined aquifer being used for fish culture by spring discharge was deemed to be contaminated by whirling disease. An alternative water source may exist in a confined aquifer below this contaminated unconfined aquifer. However, the complex hydrostratigraphy presents a challenge in determining if this source is a viable resource for fish culture. Geological, physical, chemical, geophysical, …

Negotiating Hope And Honesty: A Rhetorical Criticism Of Young Adult Dystopian Fiction, Lauren Lewis Reber

Theses and Dissertations

Young adult dystopian fictions follow the patterns established by the classic adult dystopias such as George Orwell's 1984 and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, but not completely. Young adult dystopias tend to end happily, a departure from the nightmarish ends of Winston Smith and John Savage. Young adult authors resist hopelessness, even if the fictional world demands it.

Using a rhetorical approach established by Wayne Booth in The Rhetoric of Fiction and The Company We Keep, this thesis traces the reasons for the inclusion of hope and the strategies by which hope is created and maintained. Booth's rhetorical …

Two-Photon Ionization Of The Calcium 4s3d 1d2 Level In An Optical Dipole Trap, Jared Estus Daily

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reports an optical dipole trap for atomic calcium. The dipole trap is loaded from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) of calcium atoms cooled near the Doppler limit (~1 mK). The dipole trap is formed by a large-frame argon ion laser focused to 20 microns into the center of the MOT. This laser runs single-line at 488 nm with a maximum power of 10.6 watts. These parameters result in a trap of 125 mK for calcium atoms in the 4s3d 1D2 state. The 488 nm light also photo-ionizes the trapped atoms due to a near-resonant transition to the 4s4f 1F3 …

The Use Of Graphics, Animation, And Interactivity In A Computer-Based Lesson On Light In Digital Space, Alexander Phillip Vance

Theses and Dissertations

A discussion of the design, development, and evaluation of a computer-based lesson treating the subject of how light is represented in digital space. The report contains an analysis of the need for the project, a description of the product itself, and the methods and results of the evaluation. It also contains a literature review that discusses the supporting research concerning instructional graphics, animation and interactivity, as well as instructional design in general.

A Statistical Performance Model Of Homogeneous Raidb Clusters, Brandon Lamar Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

The continual growth of the Internet and e-commerce is driving demand for speed, reliability and processing power. With the rapid development and maturation of e-commerce, the need for a quick access to large amounts of information is steadily rising. Traditionally, database systems have been used for information storage and retrieval. However, with online auctions, rapid Internet searches, and data archival, the need for more powerful database systems is also growing. One type of distributed database is called Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Databases (RAIDb). RAIDb clusters are middleware-driven to promote interoperability and portability. RAIDb clusters allow for multiple levels of data …

Phylogenetic History, Morphological Parallelism, And Speciation In A Complex Of Appalachian Salamanders (Genus: Desmognathus), Nathan D. Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the mechanisms that generate shared morphologies across closely related taxa is important when identifying distinct evolutionary lineages using morphological characters. Desmognathus salamanders are an ideal group for testing hypotheses concerning the correlation between morphological similarity and genetic exchange within and among nominal species due to a pattern of high discordance between the two. Phylogeographic hypotheses are tested for populations of the D. quadramaculatus species complex throughout southern Appalachia by combining phylogenetic and population genetic methods with geographical information. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic inferences are then assessed in conjunction with morphological characteristics that have traditionally diagnosed taxonomic entities to understand the …

The Translator's (In)Visibility In Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, Amy Dawn Glauser

Theses and Dissertations

Transferring words and ideas from one language to another has always been a puzzling and difficult matter for those involved in it. For centuries, English-speakers and translators have dealt with these difficulties by enforcing, through professional codes of ethics and through publishing contracts, what Lawrence Venuti calls "the translator's invisibility," as chronicled in his book by the same name. By evaluating translation solely on the transparency and fluency of the target language translation (that is, by making a translation not seem like a translation), English translators and audiences assured that translators remained faithful to original authors' intents, or so they …

The Purposes And Evaluation Methods For State Residential General Contractor Licensing, James Ellis Fenn

Theses and Dissertations

The main topic in the licensing debate is whether licensing affects construction quality. Available literature and previous studies indicate that it does not. The real question is not whether licensing improves quality, but whether the improving quality is the actual purpose of licensing. There is little information available on the purpose of licensing as defined by state licensing departments as well as a general lack of information on how states evaluate whether licensing is fulfilling the intended purpose. In order to effectively resolve some of the issues surrounding the construction licensing debate, the true purpose of licensing and the methods …

Preparing Students For Peer Review, Alison Irvine Mcmurry

Theses and Dissertations

In order to enhance the effective use of peer review, I have developed materials to assist teachers in compliance with the standards for Masters' projects enacted by the Department of Linguistics and English Language. Published literature shows that as peer review grows in popularity in both L1 and L2 English writing classes, many researchers and teachers are trying to increase its effectiveness. In some cases it is very effective, while in others it is marginally effective. This has led researchers to ask why. The difference between helpful and less helpful peer review seems to be in the preparation. In studies …

The Silent Majority: Conservative Perception, Mobilization, And Rhetoric At The Utah State International Women's Year Conference, Jenny Lynn Mcgee Harris

Theses and Dissertations

Held in 1977, the Utah State International Women's Year (IWY) Conference became a battleground. Mobilized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) and conservative groups, 14,000 women revolted against the state coordinating committee. Chaired by Jan Tyler, Utah's IWY committee tried to plan the conference to include both liberals and conservatives; however, they found themselves overwhelmed by the audience. The participants rejected all nationally formulated resolutions, voted against or reworded workshop sponsored resolutions, and elected to the National IWY Conference an overwhelmingly LDS, conservative slate of delegates. Mobilization of conservatives at Utah's meeting was complex. The LDS …

An Analysis Of Seawinds Simultaneous Wind/Rain Retrieval In Severe Weather Events, Jeffrey R. Allen

Theses and Dissertations

Scatterometers, such as SeaWinds, can provide wide coverage of ocean surface winds. They estimate near-surface wind vectors by relating measured radar backscatter to a geophysical model function. However, SeaWinds measurements are also sensitive to rain, and conventional wind retrieval degrades in rainy conditions. An algorithm that exploits SeaWinds' sensitivity to both wind and rain has be developed. This algorithm, termed simultaneous wind/rain retrieval, retrieves both wind vectors and rain rates for a given ocean area. Instantaneous results of simultaneous wind/rain retrieval in Hurricane events is analyzed through comparison with the NEXRAD ground-based radar system. This comparison allows validation of retrieved …

Contextual Relationship Model Across Four Cultures, Gary T. Horlacher

Theses and Dissertations

Research by a number of scholars working with different data has shown validity for a contextual model of relationships whereby a person's background characteristics affects or predicts her/his interpersonal style, which then affects or predicts her/his relationship satisfaction. This study tests if this relationship model is equivalent across four different cultural samples. This research also presents descriptive family data on a sample from Micronesia, a culture that has not previously been described in family science literature, compared to three other cultural groups. A total of 550 individuals from Micronesian (N=131), Hispanic-Americans (N=139), Non-LDS Caucasians (N=140), and LDS-Caucasians (N=140) filled out …

The Effect Of Religiosity And Spirituality On Transformatinal Leadership Characteristics Of Hospital Food And Nutrition Managers, Anna Naegle Sarver

Theses and Dissertations

Effective leadership in the field of dietetics is becoming increasingly vital in a rapidly changing world. A determination of factors which impact leaders and their followers is essential. This study was designed to examine the relationship between religiosity and spirituality and transformational leadership characteristics of hospital food and nutrition managers as rated by self as well as by those directly supervised by the managers. The influence of religious and spiritual beliefs on the workplace and workplace practices was also examined. Respondents were selected from the American Hospital Association database. Hospitals from 250 to 499 beds were included. Directors of Foodservice …

Real-Time Evaluation Of Vision-Based Navigation For Autonomous Landing Of A Rotorcraft Unmanned Aerial Vehicle In A Non-Cooperative Environment, Dale D. Rowley

Theses and Dissertations

Landing a rotorcraft unmanned aerial vehicle (RUAV) without human supervision is a capability that would significantly broaden the usefulness of UAVs. The benefits are even greater if the functionality is expanded to involve landing sites with unknown terrain and a lack of GPS or other positioning aids. Examples of these types of non-cooperative environments could range from remote mountainous regions to an urban building rooftop or a cluttered parking lot. The research of this thesis builds upon an approach that was initiated at NASA Ames Research Center to advance technology in the landing phase of RUAV operations. The approach consists …

Flexural Behavior Of Carbon/Epoxy Isotruss Reinforced-Concrete Beam-Columns, Monica Joy Ferrell

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis quantifies the flexural behavior (strength, stiffness and failure) of IsoTruss®-reinforced concrete beam-columns for use in deep foundation pile applications. Four-point bending tests were performed in the laboratory on two instrumented carbon/epoxy IsoTruss® reinforced concrete piles (IRC piles) and two instrumented steel reinforced concrete piles (SRC piles). The piles were approximately 14 ft (4.3 m) in length and 14 in (36 cm) in diameter and were loaded to failure while monitoring load, deflection, and strain data. The steel and IsoTruss®® reinforcement cages were designed to have equal flexural stiffness to permit a relative strength comparison. Moment curvature diagrams reveal …

Thor: The Hybrid Online Repository, Timothy W. Van Der Horst

Theses and Dissertations

Digital credentials enable users to perform secure interactions by proving either their identity or that they posses certain attributes. Special care is taken to protect these credentials and their associated private keys during transaction time. However, protection of these items outside of the transaction is often delegated to a secure credential repository. A mobile environment creates significant challenges for secure repositories. We examine these challenges with respect to existing repository practices and produce a set of requirements that a repository must meet in order to cope with the harshness of a mobile environment. We also present the design and implementation …

A Study Of The For The Strength Of Youth Pamphlet, Jared A. Jepson

Theses and Dissertations

This study is an examination of changes in the various editions of the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet, an outline of standards and expectations for the youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Over the course of the past forty years, eight editions of the pamphlet have been printed. The first edition was published in 1965 and the most recent publication was in 2001.

The study revealed that significant changes have been made in the various editions. The initial six pamphlets, which were published from 1965-1972, focused on social behavior of the youth such as dress …

Calorespirometric Evidence For Adaptation Of Blackbrush And Shadscale To Growth Season Temperatures In Cold Deserts, Heidi A. Summers

Theses and Dissertations

Coleogyne ramosissima Torr. (blackbrush) and Atriplex confertifolia [Torr. & Frem.] Wats. (shadscale) are cold desert shrubs from different families that often grow together in the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau in the life zone between 800 and 2000 m elevation. Tissue and seeds from the two species were collected from several localities. Metabolic heat and carbon dioxide production rates were measured with calorespirometry on tissue from field-grown plants and on seedlings at temperatures from 5 to 35°C at 5°C intervals. Blackbrush adapts to higher temperatures earlier than does shadscale, and once it has adjusted to higher temperatures, anabolic rates …

Optical Detection Of Ultracold Neutral Calcium Plasmas, Elizabeth Ann Cummings

Theses and Dissertations

We demonstrate an optical method to detect calcium ions in an ultracold plasma. We probe the plasma with a 397 nm laser beam tuned to a calcium ion transition. The probe laser beam is focused to a 160 µm waist allowing fine spatial resolution. Ions are detected by measuring fluorescence using a Photo-Multiplier Tube (PMT). The signal, an average of 4000 acquisitions, has a temporal resolution of 120 ns. We present the details of this method, potential improvements, and prospects of imaging the expanding plasma ions. We also present preliminary work on spatially resolved absorption measurements, as well as additional …

How To Set Up A Digital Learning Co-Laboratory For Chinese Studies Between The Universities Of America And China, Meng Zhan

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

The Book Trade In China: Impressions From A Buying Trip, Wen-Ling Liu

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews, Lily Kecskes

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

Fabrication Of Hollow Waveguides With Sacrificial Aluminum Cores, John P. Barber, Donald B. Conkey, Jeffrey Ryan Lee, Neal B. Hubbard, Larry L. Howell, Aaron R. Hawkins, Gongliang Yin, Holger Schmidt

Faculty Publications

We have developed a process to fabricate dielectric waveguide structures with long hollow cores formed by etching a sacrificial core material. The process is compatible with other planar silicon fabrication techniques. Using aluminum as the sacrificial material, we have investigated fabrication limits and design parameters that determine mechanical integrity of the waveguides. Internal pressure due to the production of gaseous compounds during the core removal process was identified as the yield-limiting factor. A mechanical model based on finite element analysis and confirmed by experiment, predicts ultimate pressures sustainable by these structures. Waveguides less than 10 m wide with 2- m-thick …

Fast And Robust Incremental Action Prediction For Interactive Agents, Jonathan Dinerstein, Parris K. Egbert, Dan A. Ventura

Faculty Publications

The ability for a given agent to adapt on-line to better interact with another agent is a difficult and important problem. This problem becomes even more difficult when the agent to interact with is a human, since humans learn quickly and behave non-deterministically. In this paper we present a novel method whereby an agent can incrementally learn to predict the actions of another agent (even a human), and thereby can learn to better interact with that agent. We take a case-based approach, where the behavior of the other agent is learned in the form of state-action pairs. We generalize these …

Front Matter/ Webwise, Marriage &. Families

Marriage and Families

No abstract provided.

News: Beyond The Mommy Track: Successfully Integrating Work And Family Responsibilities Without Sacrificing Job Status And Pay/ International Conference Focuses On Strengthening Traditional Families, Tonya Fischio, Marriage &. Families

Marriage and Families

No abstract provided.