Digital Commons Network^™

Spatial Variability In Forest Fuels: Simulation Modeling And Effects On Fire Behavior, Russell Andrew Parsons

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Forests in the western United States and elsewhere face a growing crisis arising from global warming, changes in fuel beds and an increasing human population. Fire management policy emphasizes fuel treatments, such as thinning and prescribed burning, to remedy this situation because fuels are the one component of the problem that we can directly affect through management action. At present, however, the tools we have for the evaluation of fuel treatments are inadequate because they do not describe the fuel bed, or effects of modifications to the fuel bed on fire behavior in sufficient detail. The work described here presents …

Evolution Of Roots, Robin Eileen Browning

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Browning, Robin, M.A., June 2008 Integrated Arts and Education Evolution of Roots Chairperson: Karen Kaufmann Committee Members: Jim Kriley and Dorothy Morrison Somewhere a seed was planted long ago. It grew, changed and developed. It was sheltered, nurtured, fed and pruned. This seed took form, evolving to become a tiny sprout. The sprout was exposed to warmth and rain, time and sometimes pain, a process lending to further maturation. This in turn, once again, changed the youngster to a young sapling. Education, unfamiliar concepts, and exposure to new and different areas and elements developed this young sapling into an adult …

Xylaric Acid, D-Arabinaric Acid (D-Lyxaric Acid), L-Arabinaric Acid (L-Lyxaric Acid), And Ribaric Acid-1,4-Lactone; Synthesis And Isolation - Synthesis Of Polyhydroxypolyamides Therefrom, Michael Raymond Hinton

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This dissertation describes the nitric acid oxidation of the pentoses D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-arabinose, and D-ribose to produce xylaric acid, L-arabinaric acid (L-lyxaric acid), D-arabinaric acid (D-lyxaric acid), and ribaric acid, respectively, or salts therefrom. Isolation of the aldaric acids from nitric acid has proven difficult in prior reports and an improved nitric acid oxidation and isolation method for each aldaric acid is described.

Aldaric acids are the starting monomers for a class of polymers known as polyhydroxypolyamides (PHPAs) or "hydroxylated nylons," produced through condensation polymerization of the esterified aldaric acid and a diamine of choice. In an effort to obtain …

Second Language Instruction With Phonological Knowledge: Teaching Arabic To Speakers Of English, Khalid Y. Huthaily

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This study examined whether explicit instruction in phonetics and the phonologies of English and Arabic improved the sound production and recognition skills of adult native speakers of English learning Arabic as a foreign language. The study utilized an intervention strategy that introduced the letters and sounds of Arabic to two groups of adult English-speaking learners of Arabic.

Forty-six students of Arabic 101 at The University of Montana participated in the study as the control and experimental groups. The experimental group received instruction on the letters and sounds of Arabic with an introduction to phonetics and the phonologies of English and …

The Vesicular Glutamate Transporter (Vglut): Heterologous Expression, Proteoliposome, Computational And Mass Spectral Studies, Chih-Kai Chao

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs) are integral membrane proteins that uptake glutamate into synaptic vesicles and are involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission. Since VGLUTs were identified and cloned, efforts have been made to characterize their functional roles. However, due to experimental limitations, the structural features of VGLUT protein remain unclear. In an attempt to better understand VGLUTs, computational and biochemical approaches were employed to characterize them. Plasmid DNA encoding rat VGLUT1 was constructed, amplified and expressed in Pichia pastoris to produce VGLUT1 protein. Immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) was employed to purify the protein for structural analysis by mass spectrometry and to …

Place-Based Conservation Legislation And National Forest Management: The Case Of The Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership, Michael Thomas Fiebig

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This paper investigates the use of place-based conservation legislation as a tool for conflict resolution, wilderness designation and unit-level administrative planning reform on national forests by analyzing the case of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Partnership in Southwestern Montana. The codification of place-based negotiated compromises over forest management is a significant departure from the administrative planning approach used to resolve multiple-use conflicts by the U.S. Forest Service. The goals of this paper were to develop a place-based legislation typology for natural resources policy, to determine the motivations for seeking this approach, and to analyze its use. Preliminary research for this project was begun …

A Clean Slate: The Archaeology Of The Donner Party's Writing Slate Fragments, Molly Elizabeth Swords

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Archaeological investigations into the whereabouts of the Alder Creek Donner family campsite yielded a number of artifacts. One type of artifact collected was writing slate fragments, the topic of this thesis. Why were writing slate fragments found at the Alder Creek camp? An investigation into writing slate in the historical record had to be conducted to address this question. The lack of pertinent research associated with writing slate posed a major obstacle, as it has been disregarded as a diagnostic artifact in historical archaeological literature. This paper addresses this problem by a history of writing slate and its uses, as …

Cost Analysis Of Requirements, Design, And Code Reviews And How This Impacts The Cost Of Quality, Mark W. Huston

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis examines the difference between accepted theoretical and real world return on investment of requirements, design, and code reviews. The differences have a significant impact on the cost of quality. The goal of this thesis is to examine the differences between two data sets (one derived from widely accepted software principles and one derived from real-world data) and draw conclusions about the effectiveness (cost vs. increase defect detection) of reviews based upon these analyses. This thesis will compare accepted relationships pertaining to cost per defect and overall project cost against actual data from a real world project in order …

Fire In My Backyard: Place Meanings And Landowner Views On Fire And Fuels Management On The Kootenai National Forest, Mt, Michael Anthony Cacciapaglia

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Federal land management agencies are currently striving to become more democratic and open to citizen participation in decision-making. Recently, the build-up of hazardous forest fuels and ensuing increase in high-intensity wildland fire events across the western U.S. has led to growing interest in integrating local communities and their views and interests into the planning process for fuel reductions projects. One way to investigate local perspectives and make them available to local fire management officers is through qualitative research into relationship to place and preferences for proposed management actions using in-depth interviews with landowners residing in the wildland-urban interface. This study …

Geomorphological Mapping Of The K2 Area, Pakistan Using Gis And Remote Sensing, Deborah Jeanne Belden

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Geomorphological mapping assists in evaluating the polygenetic role of glaciation, mass movement denudation, and fluvial erosion in landscape development. A series of thirteen 1:100,000 geomorphological maps covering the area between Skardu and K2 were produced using field mapping and photography, GPS measurements, ASTER satellite imagery, and digital elevation model (DEM) analyses. Satellite and morphometric analyses were performed using GIS software. The landforms are described in relation to geology, geomorphological processes, and altitudinal zones. Case studies include flash flood deposits, active landslide areas, sackungen, and rock avalanches. The Skardu Basin has tills preserved on many higher slopes, and sand dunes cover …

Mallard Nesting Ecology In The Great Lakes, Jonas Ian Davis

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Understanding how habitat features influence vital rates that drive population growth is fundamental for delivery of effective conservation programs. Past decisions in management of Great Lakes mallard (Anas platyrynchos) populations were based largely on paradigms established in the mid-continent because regional data were lacking. Recent sensitivity analyses from the Great Lakes Mallard Study show that population growth (i.e., λ) is most sensitive to changes in nest success (16%) and duckling survival (32%). In spring of 2001 to 2003, as part of the Great Lakes Mallard Study, 536 mallards were radio-marked at nine sites in four states (Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and …

A Comprehensive Case Report On University Of Montana Forensic Case 66, Christopher John Buckley

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

UMFC 66 is an anatomical specimen from the Physical Anthropology Lab at The University of Montana-Missoula. It is a nearly complete skeleton that exhibits no trauma. I examined the literature on suitable approaches to estimating age from the skeleton, because age is difficult to estimate for this case and presents an interesting challenge. I also estimated sex, ancestry, stature, and weight. I concluded that UMFC 66 is an American Indian, perhaps 20 to 28 years of age with a relatively short stature of about 1.56m (5’01”), weighing approximately 115 to 129 pounds. There is severe osteomyelitis throughout the left lower …

Testing Xuml: A Study Of Implementing And Testing Model Driven Architecture, Dylan O. Flaherty

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Model Driven Architecture (MDA) is a relatively new and completely different approach to developing software in which diagrams and formal specifications are written and then translated into executable programs. Development using this approach takes longer than using traditional software engineering approaches, but results in products that more correctly meet user requirements and take less maintenance effort. While there is considerable information available regarding development using MDA, the implications for testing have not been fully explored or measured. In order to investigate this facet of MDA, a traditional C++ program which had previously been tested was rebuilt as an MDA model. …

Development Of An Environmental Law Curriculum For Kosovo Universities, Nebojsa Vlajic

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This paper aims to improve environmental problem solving in Kosovo by introducing an environmental law course to the Kosovo university system. No school in Kosovo currently teaches environmental law and lawyers practicing environmental litigation are nonexistent. There are not many experts who can be consulted or who can help draft the environmental laws Kosovo must enact in order to harmonize its laws with those of the European Union. Lawyers having proper and formal training for doing the Environmental Impact Assessment are also extremely limited in number. The first part explains the rationale for proposing an environmental law course at law …

Digital Photography, Julie F. Whipple

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

My professional paper is designed as a teaching tool to help other instructors to be able to teach the basics of digital photography to their students. It includes a brief history of the development of photography, information about the digital camera, how to take better pictures, and how to begin working with photos using Photoshop. Instructions and lesson plans are designed to teach all levels of students learning abilities.

Comparison Of Trend Detection Methods, Katharine Lynn Gray

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Trend estimation is important in many fields, though arguably the most important applications appear in ecology. Trend is difficult to quantify; in fact, the term itself is not well-defined. Often, trend is quantified by estimating the slope coefficient in a regression model where the response variable is an index of population size, and time is the explanatory variable. Linear trend is often unrealistic for biological populations; in fact, many critical environmental changes occur abruptly as a result of very rapid changes in human activities. My PhD research has involved formulating methods with greater flexibility than those currently in use. Penalized …

Projectsnap: Addressing The Project Fragmentation Problem, Erin Michael Brimhall

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

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The Creation Of Cargo Scanner Software To Improve The Container Packing Process, Jonathan Adams

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Dr. Joel Henry was tasked under a research and development contract with the DPRA to create a computer program that, when given a list of cargo items and a list of containers, would approximate the number of containers required to pack the items and determine a packing order for the cargo items. When commercially used, a computer trained employee runs the program and prints off the resulting packing list. This list is then given to another employee, who works in a different location and performs the physical packing. This is a tedious and time consuming process. This project will examine …

Homeowner Views On Housing Market Valuation Of Energy Efficiency: An Empirical Investigation, Caleb David Lande

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This paper investigates the relationship between energy efficiency and owner reported home value using American Housing Survey data. A hedonic price model is developed in order to isolate the impact of home energy use on the owner’s perceived market value of the home. In order to limit the impact of fixed housing characteristics on the model, the fixed effect regression technique is used. Empirical estimation provides evidence that homeowners feel the housing market assigns very limited value to the energy efficiency of their homes.

Celebrating African Drumming And Dance In A Rural Montana Classroom, Lisa Bossert Nicholls

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Nicholls, Lisa, M.A., Summer 2007 Fine Arts, Integrated Arts and Education Celebrating African Drumming and Dance in a Rural Montana Classroom Chairperson: Karen Kaufmann Community is the key word when describing Lone Rock School, a rural, K-8 school located in the Bitterroot Valley in Montana, and my place of employment. Lone Rock takes pride in the fact that it is the oldest continuously operating school in the Northwest. The school and community have a symbiotic relationship, both maintaining strong identities, in part due to their close relationship. The challenge is to maintain and enrich this relationship, helping it to remain …

Controls On Thermal Discharge In Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Jacob Steven Mohrmann

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Controls on Thermal Discharge in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming Director: Nancy W. Hinman Significant fluctuations in discharge occur in hot springs in Yellowstone National Park on a seasonal to decadal scale (Ingebritsen et al., 2001) and an hourly scale (Vitale, 2002). The purpose of this study was to determine the interval of the fluctuations in discharge and to explain what causes those discharge patterns in three thermally influenced streams in Yellowstone National Park. By monitoring flow in these streams, whose primary source of input is thermal discharge, we were able to find several significant patterns of discharge fluctuations. Patterns were …

The Structure Function Relationship Of Silica Polyamine Composites, Mark Anthony Hughes

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The goals of this thesis were to improve the performance of silica polyamine composites by manipulating the surface structure and to understand the relationship between, polymer structure and ligand modification of the grafted polyamine. Improvements in silica polyamine composite performance resulted from modifying silica gel with methyltrichlorosilane (MTCS) substituted for a molar fraction of reagent chloropropyltrichlorosilane (CPTCS), which has been traditionally employed. MTCS does not possess a terminal chloride group thus preventing the subsequent attachment of a polyamine to this moiety. MTCS has a smaller molecular volume than CPTCS and as a consequence greater coverage of the silica gel surface …

Effects Of Seed Dispersal By Gibbons, Sambar, And Muntjac On Choerospondias Axillaris Demography, And The Disruption Of This Mutualism By Wildlife Poaching, Jedediah Farrell Brodie

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Rampant illegal hunting threatens wildlife populations inside many tropical protected areas, compromising their long-term effectiveness. A critical question concerns whether such harvest has indirect effects on non-hunted organisms that interact with the game species. For example many tree species are demographically reliant on seed dispersal by vertebrates that are threatened by hunting; the anthropogenic disruption of this animal-plant mutualism can severely alter the composition of tropical forests. Here I show that illegal poaching has reduced or extirpated several mammal species from national parks in northern Thailand. This, in turn, has negatively affected the demography of the canopy tree Choerospondias axillaris, …

Renewal, Clara Sharon Mclane

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This paper documents the process of completing a Creative Project in Integrated Arts and Education. The project has two distinct arms: one, to develop a teaching unit on illustration, and two, to renew my artistic identity by producing and exhibiting artworks after a twenty-seven year hiatus. The third part of the paper lays a philosophical foundation for the rest. The Illustration Unit was successfully researched, developed, taught and revised, and is available as a PowerPoint presentation. Thirteen artworks were successfully completed and exhibited—the paper details my process and techniques. I realized my goal by taking my place as a professional …

Drug Use, Mental Health And Encounters With The Legal System In Missoula County, Samantha Renee Cumley

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

It has been well documented in the criminological literature that drug use and crime co-occur (Eilliot, Huizinga and Ageton 1985, Goldstein 1985). Data from the Missoula Arrestee Drug Use Monitoring Study were used to investigate the relationships between drug use, treatment experiences, encounters with the legal system and amenability. It was hypothesized that substance use and dependence would predict encounters with the legal system. It was also hypothesized that treatment experiences would predict lower drug and alcohol dependency scores and fewer encounters with the legal system. Additionally, substance dependence and encounters with the legal system were expected to predict high …

The Effective Viscosity Of Ash-Laden Flows, Kirstin Anne Burns

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Debris flows can drastically alter ecosystems and damage infrastructure, and there is an increased risk of debris flows following a wildfire. In general, runoff and erosion drastically increase following a wildfire as a result of many processes, one of them being debris flows. Large debris flows are common in the months and years after wildfire in mountainous areas throughout the western U.S.A. The progressive bulking of surface runoff may be the dominant triggering mechanism of these debris flows. Vegetative ash on the hillslope becomes entrained in the flow, along with other fine-grained sediment and increases the effective viscosity of the …

A Markedness Approach To Epenthesis In Arabic Speakers' L2 English, Elizabeth Dawn Alezetes

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This thesis explores how Cairene Arabic, Iraqi Arabic, and Najdi Arabic speakers deal with complex syllable margins in their L2 English. While previous studies have attributed Cairene and Iraqi speakers’ pronunciations of English syllables that contain consonant clusters to transfer of allowed syllable structures from their native language, this thesis illustrates that the universal markedness of consonant clusters could be a factor that motivates L2 speakers to simplify complex syllable margins. Universal markedness has to do with the frequency that a structure occurs cross-linguistically. Languages that allow complex syllable margins, such as English, also contain simple syllable margins. Many languages …

Effect Of Medicinal Herbal, Panax Notoginseng, On The Fate And Function Of Professional Antigen Presenting Cells, Ava-Gaye Tania Rhule

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Antigen presenting cells (APCs) perform the essential task of integrating responses between the innate and adaptive immune system. Several approaches have been undertaken to manipulate the effects of APCs for therapeutic purposes. Panax notoginseng is a medicinal herb that is purported to possess a number of properties including modulation of the immune system. However, limited information exists on the effects and toxicities of this herbal on APCs. In this regard, we assessed the effects of Panax notoginseng on the fate and function of professional APCs in murine models using macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). APCs were stimulated with the toll-like …

Forests And Farming: An Analysis Of Rural Livelihood Programs For Poverty Reduction In Eastern Zambia, Garrett Kenneth Olson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This paper investigates the effectiveness of Joint Forest Management (JFM) and agricultural programs at reducing rural poverty in Zambia. Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) programs in Africa have been aimed at improving livelihoods, creating tangible benefits, and increasing incomes from forests and forest products through the sustainable use and conservation of forest resources. Agricultural programs have often had similar goals regarding improved livelihoods, benefits, food security, and income generation for soil conservation and reduced forest conversion due to agricultural expansion. With increased rates of deforestation and forest conversion, Zambia is in need of effective measures for the sustainable utilization and …

Legitimacy And The Use Of Natural Resources In Kruger National Park, South Africa, Randy Tanner

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Around the globe, protected area managers confront an increasingly complex web of interests and demands, expressed by a variety parties, that often compete or conflict. When an action concerning the governance and management of a protected area is infused with such complexity, decision-making requires an evaluation of that action's legitimacy. Most often, this evaluation is implicitly made rather than expressly articulated. The purpose of this dissertation was both to illustrate the importance and utility of explicitly evaluating legitimacy and to provide a conceptual framework for understanding how the legitimacy of protected area governance and management may be understood. To better …