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Evaluation Of Spatially-Distributed Snowpack Estimation Using Pattern Recognition, Cheng-Hua Leu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A procedure for spatially-distributed snowpack estimate is proposed and evaluated herein. This procedure is divided into two parts, off-line and on-line parts. The off-line procedure uses Fuzzy c-Varieties (FCV) algorithms to perform the watershed classification based on Landsat TM data and a digital elevation model and estimate influence coefficient for all pixels in the watershed. Through the concept of influence coefficient, a set of prototypical points can be selected and located. The on-line procedure estimates snowpack properties at these prototypical points and then transforms them to estimates of snowpack properties at any point in the watershed. To effectively evaluate this …

A New Approach To Forest Site Quality Modeling, David L. Verbyla

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Multiple regression and discriminant analysis procedures are commonly used to develop forest site quality models. 'When they contain many independent variables relative to sample size, these models may be subject to predicton bias. Fit statistics such as R² in regression and classification tables in discriminant analysis show the apparent model accuracy but this may be a biased estimate of the model's actual accuracy. Sample splitting methods such as cross-validation and the bootstrap can be used to get an unbiased actual accuracy estimate.

A discriminant procedure called classification tree analysis uses cross-validation to build the classifier with the greatest estimated …

Quaternary Geology And Tectonic Geomorphology Of The Pocatello Valley Area, Idaho-Utah, John D. Garr

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Pocatello Valley in southeastern Idaho and northern Utah is a structural and topographic basin bounded on all sides by mountains composed of Paleozoic platform carbonates and elastics. In the late Pleistocene it contained pluvial Lake Utaho, which, prior to 1981, was considered to have been an arm of Lake Bonneville. This study corroborates the finding of Currey (1981) that the two lakes were separate.

The Quaternary deposits examined in this study are divided into two broad groups: those that were deposited prior to the last pluvial lake cycle, and those that were deposited during and after the pluvial lake maximum, …

Problems Of Data Collection For Economic Research In Small Farmer Agriculture: Some Experience In Somalia, Aden Abdullahi Aw-Hassan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purposes of this thesis are twofold. The first is to show problems encountered in collecting and analyzing data on small-holder agriculture. The second is to describe the role of data in supporting research and rationalization of alternatives for sustaining agricultural strategies in development.

Data collected from six villages of the Lower Shebelle Region of Somalia are taken as a case study to show the difficulties encountered in procurement and analysis of that data. The thesis discusses data collection methods that ensure gathering adequate data that can be used to undertake production economics and farm management research. The thesis also …

Nitrogen And Energy Budgets Of Production Ewes On Summer Range In Southwestern Utah, John W. Halpop

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nitrogen (N) and energy budgets for free-roaming ewes were quantified on mountain summer range in southwestern Utah in 1986 and 1987. Diet quality (%N), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and energy were estimated with the use of five esophageally fistulated ewes. Excretion rates of N and energy to feces and urine were measured by total collection from five nonfistualted ewes.

Total intake N(gN/(MBW*d^-1) tracked intraseasonal changes of dietary N percent but was apparently buffered by fluctuations in dry matter intake. In each year, total urine N was closely related to dietary N concentration, r²=0.97 (1986) …

The Modeling And Measurement Of Respiratory Carbon Use And Net Carbon Gain Of Two Agropyron Bunchgrasses, Halldor Thorgeirsson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The rate of photosynthetic carbon fixation and of root and shoot respiratory carbon use was measured in the laboratory and in the field (shoots only) for Agropyron desertorum (Fisch. ex Link) Schult. and Agropyron spicatum (Pursh) Scribn. and Smith. The rate of respiratory carbon use of the root system declined within hours of the shading or defoliation of the shoot system, resulting in as much as 60% reduction in specific rate of root respiration. The mean whole-plant growth efficiency (the ratio of whole-plant net carbon gain to gross photosynthetic carbon fixation) in full irradiance in the laboratory was 0.53 and …

A Model Of Energy Expenditure In White-Tailed Jackrabbits (Lepus Townsendii) Based On Integrated Studies Of Energetics And Field Ecology, Gordon L. Rogowitz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Field and laboratory studies were conducted to develop a model of energy expenditure in a population of white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii). Field work in southwestern Wyoming during 1985-87 showed that the breeding season commenced at snowmelt and ceased during late- July drought. Adult females reproduced relatively synchronously and produced a mean of three litters annually. Greatest fetal production occurred in the second litter period. Collections indicated a 1:1 sex ratio, few jackrabbits >2 years-old, and a density of 7 animals / km² in the population. Postnatal growth was sigmoidal, culminating in heavier adult females than males. Using …

Parameter Estimation For Generalized Pareto Distribution, Der-Chen Lin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The generalized Pareto distribution was introduced by Pickands (1975). Three methods of estimating the parameters of the generalized Pareto distribution were compared by Hosking and Wallis (1987). The methods are maximum likelihood, method of moments and probability-weighted moments.

An alternate method of estimation for the generalized Pareto distribution, based on least square regression of expected order statistics (REOS), is developed and evaluated in this thesis. A Monte Carlo comparison is made between this method and the estimating methods considered by Hosking and Wallis (1987). This method is shown to be generally superior to the maximum likelihood, method of moments and …

Overall Life Satisfaction Of Ileostomates: Conventional Brooke Ileostomy Versus Modified Kock Pouch, Sandra Sisson Briscoe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this thesis is to analyze various aspects of quality of life and to determine if there is a difference in quality of life offered by a conventional ileostomy versus a continent ileostomy.

An instrument was developed to measure several factors thought to influence quality of life as well as several structural/demographic variables. This instrument was designed for persons with a conventional ileostomy and was modified for persons who had undergone conversion surgery from conventional to continent ileostomy.

Analysis of variance was performed to determine differences in quality of life for persons with a conventional, conversion, or original …

Maximal Rank-One Spaces Of Matrices Over Chain Semirings, Daniel Joseph Scully

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Vectors and matrices over the Boolean (0,1) semiring have been studied extensively along with their applications to graph theory. The Boolean (0,1) semiring has been generalized to a class of semirings called chain semirings. This class includes the fuzzy interval. Vectors and matrices over chain semirings are examined. Rank-1 sets of vectors are defined and characterized. These rank-1 sets of vectors are then used to construct spaces of matrices (rank-1 spaces) with the property that all nonzero matrices in the space have semiring rank equal to 1. Finally, three classes of maximal (relative to containment) rank-1 spaces are identified.

Kinetics Of Two-Substrate Reactions Using Integrated Rate Equations, Leonard D. Holmes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The usual procedure employed in enzyme kinetic analysis is the method of initial rates. However, it has been appreciated for years that the analysis of enzyme-catalyzed reactions could, in principle, be more efficiently performed by examining the entire time course. There is much more information contained in a progress curve than in a simple initial rate. With the appearance of the computer, the formidable computations necessary for the use of integrated-rate equations are quite possible. The intention of this research was to develop the analytical and statistical methodology for applying an integrated-rate equation to a two-substrate reaction. I have analyzed …

Synthetic Studies Toward Key Portions Of The Didemnins, Ok-Soon Kim

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Three different synthetic approaches toward N-[(2SR, 4S) - 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3-oxohexanoyl]-Lleucine methyl esters were carried out by use of i) aldol condensation and amination ii) Claisen condensation and soft acid coupling reaction iii) methylation of Hia-Leu derivative in relatively high yields. (4S)-3-[(2SR, 4S)-2,5-Dimethyl-1,3-dioxo-4-(methoxyethoxy-methyloxy)hexyl]-4-(1-methyletheyl-2-oxazolidinone was prepared by the reaction of aldol condensation of lithium enolate of Evans' chiral auxilary in 80:20 diastereomeric ratio. A new method for the synthesis of (4S)-4-(t-butoxycarbonyl)amino-5-methyl-3-oxoheptanoic acid ethyl ester (Statone) was developed by the reaction of Boc-leucine with Meldrum's acid, followed by transesterification and decarboxylation in modest yield. Other a-amino acids also were applied to this methodology in …

A Simple Model To Predict Optimal Harvest Time Of Alfalfa Using Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy, Environmental, Morphological, And Growth Parameters, Jody A. Gale

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Knowledge of relationships between nutrient levels, yield, maturity, and environmental influences on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are necessary to estimate when to harvest alfalfa to maximize quality and yield. Objectives were to document the change in nutrient content, yield, and growth stage of alfalfa grown in Utah as it matures and to develop a simple model to predict optimal harvest date. The study involved three locations in major alfalfa producing regions in Utah. Samples were collected from three commonly grown alfalfa varieties between 26 April and 26 September in 1987. Maximum and minimum levels of crude protein (CP) observed were …

Verbal Interactions Among Elementary Students With The Jigsaw Ii Learning Method, Katherine Gilbert

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The cooperative learning method, Jigsaw II, was implemented in a grade four social studies class for the purpose of examining the verbal interactions among students as they learned from each other. Jigsaw II is structured to enhance cooperation because each student has exclusive information that is needed by other group members to do well on a test. It was hypothesized that the more capable students in a heterogeneous learning group would help the less capable ones learn the material. As the lower ability students gained proficiency in teaching their information, the variance in the rates of speaking would be less …

Petrology Of The Middle Cambrian Langston And Ute Formations In Southeastern Idaho, Daniel T. Rogers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Middle Cambrian Langston and Ute formations were studied in the northern portion of the Bear River Range and the south-central part of the Portneuf Range in southeastern Idaho.

The rocks of the Langston and Ute formations were divided into 17 different rock types. The 17 rock types were formed within four recognizable lithofacies: I) Shoal - or Coastal-Peritidal Carbonate Complex; 2) Agitated Shoal; 3) Inner Marine Shelf; and 4) Outer Marine Shelf. Clastic sediments belonging to the Spence Shale Member of the Langston Formation (outer marine shelf) were deposited over the carbonate complex. A transgressive sequence marks the base …

Demographic And Professional Dimensions Of Child Care Providers, Carol Joan Armga

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this investigation was to develop a demographic profile of current child care providers in 3 selected Western states. Further, this study sought to assess dimensions of professionally in the day to day activities of child care workers.

Utilizing a mailed questionnaire, 226 child care providers in Salt Lake City, Utah; Eugene, Oregon; and Boise, Idaho were surveyed for information on demographics and professional dimensions. Results suggest that the demographic profile created by a cross-sectional sample of child care providers differs markedly from a profile created by a sample based on professional affiliation. Statistical analyses suggest that education …

The Relationship Between The Content Component Of Cognitive Moral Development And Premarital Sexual Standards, Janet H. Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between the content of moral thought and premarital sexual standards. The sample used (n=159) was homogeneous and purposive; the majority of the sample was female, second year college students, and Caucasian. A discriminant analysis using the sexual standards of permissiveness with affection and the traditional standard as dependent variables, and the moral constructs of egoism, hedonism, nonhedonism, utilitarianism, deontology, rule-utilitarianism, act-utilitarianism, rule-orientation, and act-orientation as independent (predictor) variables was run. This analysis resulted in a final model in which egoism, hedonism, nonhedonism, act-utilitarianism, and rule-orientation were found to …

Hydrogeology And Hydrochemistry Of Springs In Mantua Valley And Vicinity, North-Central Utah, Karen C. Rice

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Chemical and tritium analyses of groundwater, precipitation and discharge records, fracture orientations, lineaments, and structural, stratigraphic, and topographic relationships have been used to describe the groundwater systems of Mantua Valley, north-central Utah. Groundwater flows through fractured Paleozoic quartzites and carbonate rocks and discharges from eleven perennial springs in Mantua Valley. Permeability in quartzites is the result of intense faulting and jointing. Groundwater in carbonate aquifers flows through fractures and/or fractures modified by solution and discharges as relatively large springs (up to 227 liters per second). Neogene normal faulting, rather than extensive karst processes, has produced valleys which are closed or …

Comparing Different Methods For Determining Moisture In Wheat Using Nesr Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy, Weider Chang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

One hundred wheat samples, with moisture ranging from 14.42 %to 7.66 %, were used to test the moisture loss from grinding, the accuracy of moisture content from two different electric moisture meters, and the accuracy and precision of Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy whole wheat moisture determination.

Fifty samples were ground through three grinders, Wiley, Cemotec, and UDY Cyclone grinder. Moisture content was determined from these ground samples, and compared with whole wheat moisture. The Cemotec grinder caused the least amount of moisture loss, followed by Wiley and then UDY Cyclone.

Fifty whole wheat samples were used to calibrate the Tecator …

Shamat: A Matrix Manipulation Program, Shahriyar Dadkhah

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This report is both a users guide and a programmers manual for running and modifying the program SHAMAT, an interactive matrix calculator. The program is written in Turbo Pascal version 3.0 for MS-DOS computers. This software enables the user to type in matrix equations for solving statistical problems such as multiple regression, analysis of variance, etc. All matrix operations necessary for linear models analysis are included in this program. Since each operation uses a separate subroutine, program enhancement, modification and updating is demonstrated to be easy.

Disturbed Alpine Ecosystems: Seedling Establishment Of Early And Late Seral Dominant Species, Jeanne C. Chambers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined the effects of seedbed and seedling environment on establishment of early and late seral dominant alpine species. Species studied included late seral dominant forbs (Geum rossii, Artemisia scopulorum, and Polemonium viscosum), early seral dominant forbs (Potentilla diversifolia and Sibbaldia procumbens), a late seral dominant grass (Festuca idahoensis), and early seral dominant grasses (Calamagrostis purpurascens and Deschampsia cespitosa). Germination responses of each species to wet vs. dry cold stratification and light vs. dark conditions were investigated. No statistical differences were observed in the seed germination of early and late …

Surficial Geology Of The Smithfield Quadrangle, Cache County, Utah, Michael V. Lowe

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Smithfield 7.5' quadrangle is located about 13.8 kilometers (8.6 miles) south of the Utah-Idaho State Line and occupies the central portion of the eastern side of Cache Valley, Utah. The mapped area contains more than 55 square miles. The Bear River Range on the eastern side of the quadrangle contains stratigraphic units ranging from Precambrian to Quaternary age. Cache Valley contains deposits of Tertiary and Quaternary age. Quaternary units in the Smithfield quadrangle are subdivided into thirty-two map units based on age and genesis. Five ages of Quaternary units are identified, and these units are assigned to one of …

Petrology Of Pliocene (?) Basalts Of Curlew Valley (Box Elder Co.), Utah, Steven Brent Kerr

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Basalt outcrops in Curlew Valley consist of several flow remnants and eruptive centers situated along the valley margins. Basalt is also found in association with salic rocks that erupted in the central portion of the valley. The basalts are of probable Pliocene age and were erupted during a period of active extensional tectonics. Since their emplacement, the basalts have been extensively eroded and downfaulted. The present morphology reflects the erosional and depositional processes of prehistoric Lake Bonneville.

Twelve samples were analyzed chemically for major oxides, trace elements, and rare-earth elements. The basalts form a hypersthene normative series ranging from olivine …

The Effect Of Ultrafiltration On Protein Quality Of Skimmilk And Cottage Cheese, Rita Y. Y. Tung

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Protein quality in freeze-dried skimmilk (SM), regular cottage cheese (RCC), retentate (Ret) and cottage cheese made from ultrafiltrated skimmilk (UFCC) were evaluated by chemical (amino acid score) and biological methods. Biological evaluation was at 5, 8 and 11% protein level in growing rats by measuring biological value (BV), net protein utilization (NPU) and nitrogen efficiency for growth (NEG) over a 14-day period. A 28-day protein efficiency ratio (PER) was determined on the same products at 10% protein level. Effects of added lactose on PER of retentate, regular and UFCC were also evaluated. The most limiting amino acids were cystine + …

Expert System Technology And Concept Instruction: Training Educators To Accurately Classify Learning Disabled Students, Mary Anne Prater

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Many learning disabled student being served by the public school systems have been inaccurately classified. Training and research efforts are needed to assist members of the multidisciplinary team in making more accurate learning disabilities classification decisions.

CLASS.LD2, a computer-based expert system, was designed to assist multidisciplinary teams by providing second-opinion advice regarding the appropriateness of a learning disabilities classification for individual student cases. The existing expert system, CLASS.LD2, was combined with strategies for effective concept instruction to create an instructional package entitled LO.Trainer.

The purpose of this study was (a) to develop a computer-based instructional package combining expert system technology …

The Relative Susceptibilities Of Interresponse Times And Post-Reinforcement Pauses To Differential Reinforcement, Nancy L. Trapp

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Post-reinforcement pauses (PRP) and interresponse times (IRTs) were examined to determine if these two temporal units changed in a similar fashion as a function of the delivery of differential reinforcement. Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment 1, four pigeons were exposed to a series of procedures in which PRP and IRT durations were gradually increased and then decreased. A fixed-ratio two (FR 2) differentiation schedule was used. Reinforcement was delivered if the PRP or IRT durations were greater than (PRP > and IRT > procedures) or less than (PRP < and IRT < procedures) specified temporal criteria. Criteria were gradually changed across procedures. Results showed that PRPs and IRTs changed in accordance with the differential reinforcement as specified by the various contingencies. When PRPs and IRTs were free to vary, the PRPs tended to change in a direction consistent with the IRT shaping contingencys whereas, the IRTs tended to shorten regardless of the PRP shaping contingency. In Experiment 2, two subjects were exposed to both an FR 2 and FR 1 schedule to determine if schedule size influenced the effects obtained on the differentiation procedures. PRPs were systematically changed using a differentiation procedure with a response requirement of either FR 1 or FR 2. Results showed similar changes in PRP durations between FR 1 and FR 2 differentiation procedures. An analysis of errors made on each shaping condition in both experiments was conducted to determine whether PRPs or IRTs were more susceptible to the differential reinforcement contingencies. Fewer errors were made on the PRP shaping conditions, indicating that PRPs were more easily changed. Implications for a comprehensive theory of reinforcement were discussed.

Academic Achievement Of Bereaved Children: Comparison With A Nonbereaved Population, Rebecca W. Valcarce

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research was to study the effects of bereavement on the academic achievement of secondary school students who had lost a parent through death by comparing them with students attending the same schools but who were living with both natural parents. The subjects in both groups were matched on pretest scores and demographic characteristics at the beginning of the study. Achievement posttest scores and overall high school grade point averages of both groups were compared using ANCOVA and multiple regression analyses. None of the analyses were found to be statistically significant, implying that academic achievement is not …

Study Of America's Adopt-A-Horse (Or Burro) Program, Peter A. Lawson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study analyzes aspects of Wild and Free-Roaming Horse and Burro adoptions. After primary data are gathered by a questionnaire sent to wild horse and burro adopters, various statistics, and regression test results are reported, which indicate that the demand for the wild horses is multifaceted and that the wild animals are not a homogeneous product. The results overwhelmingly indicate that young and female horses are preferred by the majority of adopters. This finding had supportive evidence in both a price determination model as well as adopters' responses to the survey that was conducted as a part of this study. …

Spatial And Temporal Landslide Distribution And Hazard Evaluation Analyzed By Photogeologic Mapping And Relative-Dating Techniques, Salt River Range, Wyoming, John B. Rice Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The distribution of landslide type and age was analyzed to determine the causes and timing of landsliding, and to assess landslide hazards in the study area. 1173 landslides and zones of landsliding were mapped on 1:15,840 scale air photos and designated by their style of movement and age. Slides were assigned to one of four age classes based on their degree of morphologic modification visible on air photos. Relative dating (RD) methods previously applied to glacial deposits were used to refine and calibrate the age classification.

Eleven RD para meters were measured on 21 rockslide and 19 glacial deposits. Cluster …

Variational Principles Of Fluid Mechanics And Electromagnetism: Imposition And Neglect Of The Lin Constraint, Ross Roundy Allen Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Variational principles in classical fluid mechanics and electromagnetism have sprinkled the literature since the eighteenth century. Even so, no adequate variational principle in the Eulerian description of matter was had until 1968 when an Eulerian variational principle was introduced which reproduces Euler's equation of fluid dynamics. Although it successfully produces the appropriate equation of motion for a perfect fluid, the variational principle requires imposition of a constraint which was not fully understood at the time the variational principle was introduced. That constraint is the Lin constraint. The Lin constraint has subsequently been utilized by a number of authors who have …