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Comparative Study Of Machine Learning Models On Solar Flare Prediction Problem, Nikhil Sai Kurivella

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Solar flare events are explosions of energy and radiation from the Sun’s surface. These events occur due to the tangling and twisting of magnetic fields associated with sunspots. When Coronal Mass ejections accompany solar flares, solar storms could travel towards earth at very high speeds, disrupting all earthly technologies and posing radiation hazards to astronauts. For this reason, the prediction of solar flares has become a crucial aspect of forecasting space weather. Our thesis utilized the time-series data consisting of active solar region magnetic field parameters acquired from SDO that span more than eight years. The classification models take AR …

Climate-Driven Impacts Of Warming And Grazing On Sub-Arctic Coastal Wetlands In Alaska, Ryan T. Choi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Climate change is rapidly warming the Arctic, especially at lower latitudes. Warmer temperatures and earlier springs are altering the timing of plants and animals, especially for long-distance migratory herbivores. Changes in the timing of both plants and herbivores have the potential to impact plant productivity and nutrient cycling, while also altering plant community diversity and composition.

In chapter 2, I conducted a field experiment to investigate how earlier growing seasons and differences in arrival times of migratory geese influence physical traits of sedge forage species. I found that both an earlier growing season and late grazing by geese had similar …

Dietary Shifts Related To Water Availability And The Demographic Response To Changing Prey Abundance Of Carnivores In The West Desert, Utah, Ashley E. Hodge

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The decrease in number and range of North American large carnivores, has often all owed smaller carnivores ( < 15 kg) to fill the role of the top predator. This has favored some carnivores such as coyotes (Canis latrans), who have expanded their distribution. Other small carnivores such as kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) have experienced a range shrinkage and their population status throughout the United States is a concern. Historically, western U.S. natural resource management agencies installed artificial water sources to assist desert wildlife, but some researchers believe the access to water allowed more coyotes to live in Utah’s West Desert. In the late-1980s, research proposed that without free drinking water, coyotes would have to triple …

Venturi Meter Performance When Installed On The Branch Of A Tee Junction With Converging Run Flow, E. Elliot Naulu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Venturi flow meters are often installed downstream of disturbances such as a tee junction, valve, or elbow. In such a case, a laboratory calibration may be needed to measure the Venturi meter’s performance under said limitations so that accurate metering is achieved. However, in some cases, laboratory calibration may not be possible.The purpose of this research was to investigate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) ability to simulate a Venturi meter installed on the branch of a tee junction with converging run flow.

This study used CFD to compare against laboratory results to illustrate CFD’s capability as a calibration method. The results …

Religious Sexual Minorities And Suicide Risk: The Moderating Role Of Lgbq And Religious Belongingness, Samuel Skidmore

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study aimed to provide insights into the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer/questioning (LGBQ) people within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (CJCLDS), and to explore how aspects of sexuality and religiousness relate to suicidal ideation. Through survey data from 910 participants across two separate studies, several conclusions were drawn. Feelings of belongingness in the CJCLDS may predict decreased suicidal ideation. LGBQ belongingness led CJCLDS service attendance to be more strongly predictive of suicidal ideation, whereas it decreased the negative effects of feeling negatively toward one’s sexual identity. More generally, concealing one’s sexual identity, feeling negatively …

When The Desert Meets The Classroom: A Mixed Methods Study On Experiential Learning And Andragogy For Design-Situated Curricula, Julie K. Lamarra

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study’s significance examined how outdoor experience in place can influence students’ designs in the context of outdoor recreation. Historically, experiential education and outdoor education have been used widely across curricula but are not so commonly accepted in design education except in the form of internships. This study sought to examine how being in the place that activity occurs and learning about the cultural aspects of place, activity, and community impacted students’ designs.

This study looked at how existing theories such as Landscapes of Practice and the development of boundaries, knowledge, and identity are formed within communities of practice and …

Fitting Cell-Based Biomechanical Models From Spatiotemporal Data: A Gradient Descent Approach, Namita Raghuvanshi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Biological systems that contain multiple living cells exhibit complex self-organization during development of an embryo as individual cells coordinate their behaviors to form intricate patterns. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie this emergent behavior is within reach because of advances in cell imaging that can now track hundreds of cells’ states and positions in real time. However, computational methods are needed that can fit physical scientific models to these observations in space and time. This work introduces a new method to solve this problem that applies automatic differentiation and gradient descent, techniques that underlie deep-learning advances. The method fits a biomechanical …

Intraday Stock Trading Using Reinforcement Learning: An Investigation Of Visual Representations Of Price, Kanak Tenguria

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In this study, we are developing a reinforcement learning-based strategy for the intraday trading of stocks. This study’s primary goals include developing an environment that can be used as a simulator for the day trading stock market and, train an agent to trade in this environment by performing actions and finding the optimal policy to maximize its reward.

This study also focuses on experimentation with different state representations to understand how data representation affects the learning system. We have experimented with three different state representations. All the representations focus on presenting the intraday stock data as images. We have chosen …

Investigating The Habits Of Mind Of Practicing Engineers, Theresa K. Green

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

One goal of undergraduate engineering education is to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and decision-making strategies that are necessary for success in engineering practice. One proposed method to teach students these skills is to incorporate habits of mind into K-12 and undergraduate curricula. Habits of mind are the intelligent, social behaviors that engineers should aspire to have when solving problems, engaging with others, and dealing with uncertainty. Previous literature has suggested that incorporating ideas about habits of mind in educational curricula can teach students the disciplinary skills, technical knowledge, and social values that would help prepare them to enter …

Passive Cavity Deflation After Water Entry Facilitated By A Vented Tube, Emma R. Fraley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

When an object enters water, a crater, or air cavity, can form around the object and remain attached as the object travels underwater. Cavities can be beneficial and reduce drag force but there may be times when the cavity needs to be removed. This research proposes a method to remove air cavities by letting air leave the cavity, deflating the cavity similar to how a balloon is deflated. To provide air a path to leave the cavity, a tube with vent holes is attached to the object. The vent holes are located near the object, where the air cavity forms, …

A Mixed-Methods Approach To Explore Student Perceived Needs For Peer Mentorship In A College Of Engineering, Darcie Christensen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

“Nobody makes it alone. Nobody has made it alone” (NOVA SHRM & Dulles SHRM, 2012, p. 5). Mentoring generally has positive outcomes, such as increasing output, staying in work or school, increasing confidence, and others (Campbell & Campbell, 2007; Crisp & Cruz, 2009; Eby et al., 2008; NASEM, 2019; Pfund et al., 2016). This dissertation study focused on student perceived needs for peer mentorship in engineering, which can fill in gaps of traditional mentorship by pairing mentors and mentees at similar levels, increasing comfort and emotional support to mentees (Allen et al., 2017; Haggard et al., 2011; Kram & Isabella, …

Insights On Reticulate Evolution In Ferns, With Special Emphasis On The Genus Ceratopteris, Sylvia P. Kinosian

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The history of life is often viewed as a evenly branching tree; however, in reality it is more like a tangled hedgerow. Many groups of organisms are known to have such a net-like or reticulate evolutionary history, but it is particularly common in ferns and lycophytes (also known as pteridophytes). This dissertation investigates how net-like evolution affects different groups of ferns, with a special emphasis on the model species C-fern (Ceratopteris richardii, also called the antler or water sprite fern). Genomic data are utilized to under-stand hybridization, cryptic species and reticulate evolution in two groups of ferns. The …

Cultural Memory And Media: Spanish Republicans And The Spanish Civil War, Stuart Cameron

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This project examines the interplay between memory, history, and politics relating to Spanish Republican memories of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the following authoritarian dictatorship of Francisco Franco (1939-1975). In my analysis of this relationship, I focus on the years around the passage of the Law of Historical Memory in 2007; I explore how Spaniards used several forms of media, namely books, graphic narratives, and interviews, to relay their messages regarding the recovery, preservation, and passage of the memories of the defeated Republicans. The authors in each medium, despite telling different stories, both real and fictional, portrayed the act …

Community And Cultural Reentry: Exploring Reverse Culture Shock Among Returning Missionaries Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Sydney Pond

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Considerable research asserts that individuals who have immersive experiences in foreign cultures may experience mental and emotional challenges upon returning home, a phenomenon known as reverse culture shock. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints annually sends tens of thousands of proselytizing missionaries to various locations around the globe, and the nature of their missionary service places them at risk of experiencing problems during reentry. Despite this risk, reverse culture shock among returning Latter-day Saint missionaries remains relatively unexplored. The aim of this study was to examine how former Latter-day Saint missionaries made sense of their experiences returning to …

Understanding The Marginal Utilities Of Commute Time, Work Time, Travel Cost, And Income Using Stated Preferences Surveys, Niranjan Poudel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In transportation economics, measuring the willingness to pay (WTP) for a reduction in travel time–the monetary value of travel time savings (VTTS) –plays an important role in understanding the social benefits of various transportation projects. These monetary appraisals (WTP, VTTS) are better understood either through expensive daily activity-travel-expenditure diaries or using discrete choice experiments (DCEs). This study made use of data collected from two different stated preference surveys – a type of DCEs - (one from Portland, Oregon, US, and one from all over the US) to understand the marginal utilities of work, commute, income, and travel cost. The marginal …

The Effects Of An Active Learning Intervention On Increasing Parental Efficacy Regarding Sexual Communication With Toddlers And Young Children, Melissa M. Ferguson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In the United States, it is estimated that 1 in 5 children will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. To reduce child sexual abuse more effectively and to increase positive sex attitudes and behaviors, a change is needed in how individuals and society view and discuss sexual health and sex education. Parents are in a powerful and readily available role to teach sexual topics in a positive way, but many are lacking sexual knowledge and confidence in their ability to address sexual topics with their children. This study looked at how personal and contextual factors relate to confidence …

A Multilevel Meta-Analysis Of Paired Oral Reading Methods In Elementary Classrooms, Jacob D. Downs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

For decades, researchers and practitioners have supported developing readers via synchronous oral reader with a stronger peer or adult tutor. These methods–collectively known as Paired Oral Reading—are purported to promote reading achievement for tutee readers. However, despite nearly 60 years of investigation, no known research has adequately reviewed and synthesized the effects of similar practices commonly known as Paired Oral Reading. This dissertation systematically reviewed the published literature on the various methods of Paired Oral Reading with elementary-age students then meta-analyzed the quantitative studies that met pre-established inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis calculated the effect of Paired Oral Reading outcomes on …

Computational Techniques For Elucidating Plant-Pathogen Interactions: A Case Study On Citrus-Hlb Interactome, Cristian D. Loaiza

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Citrus fruit industry in the United States has been affected during the last two decades because of the outbreak of the citrus greening disease, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB). Many people and organizations are working in therapeutics to help mitigate the impact of this disease, unfortunately there is not a cure yet. There are many mechanisms that needs to be understood about this disease, especially at the molecular level. Not only HLB, but many other infectious diseases are controlled by the interaction of proteins from the host (Citrus in this case) and from the pathogen that causes the disease. …

Active Stability Monitoring And Stability Control Of Dc Microgrids Using Incremental Continuous Injection, Rohail Hassan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Electrified transportation and integration of renewable energy in the electric power grid requires the use of power electronic converters for integrating different forms of power; from ac to dc, dc to ac, dc to dc, etc. Recent trend towards electrifying automobiles, aircraft and ships, and increasing penetration of renewable energy has increased the required power levels and number of the power electronics converters connected together in a dc microgrid system. Stable operation of these interfacing converters for all operating conditions has been a topic of renewed interest in the last couple of decades. Traditionally, dc microgrids have been designed conservatively …

Relationships Between High School Students' Performance In Aleks Placement, Preparation, And Learning (Ppl) Modules And Performance On The Aleks College Mathematics Placement Exam, Jenny V. Nehring

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The misalignment between the mathematics taught in high school and the mathematics expected at colleges and universities has created a difficult transition for high school students in the U.S. from high school to college level mathematics. Intelligent Tutoring Systems (ITS) have been used to help high school students transition from the mathematics taught in high school to the mathematics expected at colleges and universities across the country. The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between high school students’ performance in Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS) Placement, Preparation, and Learning (PPL) Modules and …

Local And Systemic Effects Of Flavonoid Intake With Submaximal Cycling Exercise: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Stephanie Kung

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Moderate to high intensity endurance exercise is a known cause of exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome, a condition often associated with intestinal complaints such as discomfort, cramps, and diarrhea. Oftentimes, elevated intestinal inflammation and permeability (a “leaky gut”) are also observed. Previous research has shown that flavonoids, natural compounds found in many fruits and vegetables, may mitigate these exercise-induced effects. In particular, certain cocoa powders contain high levels of flavonoids, and chocolate milk is a good source of protein and sugars for sustaining intense activity. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a dairy pre-workout beverage, with …

Predator Defense And Host Selection Behavior Of Billbugs (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae), Desireè M. Wickwar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Billbugs are a complex of weevils that feed on the roots of turfgrass, causing severe damage to the plants. These pests are traditionally managed with applications of insecticides. However, there is a need for non-chemical management tools. Here I investigate billbug behavior in relation to two potential avenues for more sustainable management: using resident predators to suppress billbugs (Chapter II) and selecting specific turfgrasses that resist billbug damage (Chapter III). In Chapter II, I investigate the effects of predator presence and cues associated with their presence on billbug behavior. Though resident predators contribute very little to billbug suppression through directly …

Multi-Proxy Approach To Robustly Capture Earthquake Temperature Rise At The Punchbowl Fault, California, Emma M. Armstrong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Earthquakes produce heat along a fault surface from friction created as two blocks of rock move past each other. The amount of heat generated depends on a variety of factors, including rock type, stresses, and thickness of the fault zone. Identifying evidence for and quantifying this earthquake (coseismic) temperature rise are essential for identifying past earthquakes in the rock record. Indirect methods, such as textures and geochemical signatures that change with temperature, can serve as paleothermometers. Here we compare two paleothermometers, biomarkers and thermochronometry, from two transects across the Punchbowl fault (PF), California. The PF is an ancient fault strand …

Control Of Series Connected Battery Powered Modules, Joshua K. Wooten

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Batteries are a very common type of power source used for all sorts of applications. However, these batteries do not last forever. The purpose of this thesis is to explain and implement a strategy which allows batteries to have a second life; to be able to be re-charged and re-used for another set period of time once they no longer meet a system’s requirements. The preferable way to do this is to make each cell have the same state of charge (SOC) which will lead to a longer lasting battery pack. These batteries will be hooked up to a battery …

Exact And Approximate Relaxation Techniques For Computational Guidance, Sheril Avikkal Kunhippurayil

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The focus of this dissertation is in the development and application of relaxation techniques that enable efficient and real-time solution of complex computational guidance problems. Relaxations transform a non-convex constraint into a convex constraint and provides proof that the optimal solutions to the relaxed problem are optimal for the original problem. Unique contributions of this work include: 1) a relaxation technique for solving fixed final time problems between fixed points, 2) a performance analysis on the application of computational guidance for the Mars Ascent Vehicle, and 3) establishment of sufficient conditions for non-singularity of optimal control for problems on a …

Seeding Rate, Nitrogen Fertilzer, And Cutting Timing Effects On Teff Forage Yield And Nutritive Value, Michael C. Laca

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Teff [Eragostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a relatively new forage gaining popularity in the United States; however, information regarding agronomic production practices is lacking. This study was conducted to determine the combination of seeding rate, fertilization, and harvest timing to optimize teff dry-matter yield (DMY) and nutritive value. Four seeding rates (2, 5, 8, and 11 lb/acre), four nitrogen (N) fertilizer rates (0, 25, 50, and 100 lb/acre), and two harvest strategies [boot stage (2-cut) and full seed-head stage (1-cut; stockpiled)] were evaluated in 2010 and 2011 in Kaysville, UT and Yerington, NV. The effects of harvest (1- vs …

Phytochrome Physiology And Plant Perception Of Far-Red Photons, Paul Kusuma

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Photons are the primary energy source for most life on Earth, as they drive photosynthesis, a process that turns the CO₂ in air into food. One crucial parameters for the optimization of growth is leaf area, which determines the ability of a plant to capture photons for photosynthesis. In order to gain access to photons in shaded environments, plants have evolved unique sensors, called photoreceptors, which respond to changes in the color and intensity of light.

Far-red photons (photons at the edge of human vision that appear as dim red light) hold particular promise in regulating plant shape and …

Comparing Theoretical Explanations Regarding United States Decision-Making On Regime Change In Peru And In Chile From 1968 To 1973, Lauren Roberts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis examined the common idea that the CIA is a regime change advocate by testing the merits of two competing political science theories, one focused on internal (endogenous) influences within CIA and one focused on external (exogenous) pressures on CIA emanating from the American public and elected officials. This was accomplished through two case studies – one where the CIA conducted covert regime change operations and one where it did not. Of the two hypotheses, public choice theory, which focused on the external pressure on the CIA, offers the most potential as an explanatory tool for CIA involvement in …

Analysis Of Large Embankment Dam In Case Of Rapid Drawdown And Earthquake Aftershock, Pothikul Vivithkeyoonvong

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Dams and reservoirs are important as a source of freshwater as well as for regulating flooding and producing hydroelectricity. The same as with any other manmade structure, dams need to monitored and maintained to prevent disastrous failure.

One of the events that can reduce the stability of an embankment dam is rapid drawdown. Rapid drawdown is when the water level decreases at such a rapid rate that the dam material(s) cannot drain and adjust to the change in time. Without the buttressing effect of the water, the upstream slope of the dam becomes less stable. Another threat to dam stability …

3d-Printed Morphing Wings For Controlling Yaw On Flying-Wing Aircraft, Benjamin C. Moulton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The flaps on an airplane wing are used to control the aircraft during flight. These flaps traditionally have at most three articulation or hinge points. Recent studies have shown improved flap efficiency using a conformal flap, which deforms following a curved shape. Much of aircraft improvement comes through increasing its efficiency during flight. This efficiency is generally improved by decreasing the drag force on the aircraft. A potential solution to decrease drag is to remove additional lifting surfaces, such as the horizontal and vertical stabilizer ubiquitous on general aviation aircraft. These additional lifting surfaces are used to trim and control …