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Utb-Tsc Academic Senate Minutes 2004-12-17, University Of Texas At Brownsville And Texas Southmost College. Faculty Senate.

UTB/TSC Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Utb-Tsc Academic Senate Agenda 2004-12-17, University Of Texas At Brownsville And Texas Southmost College. Faculty Senate.

UTB/TSC Faculty Senate Agendas

No abstract provided.

Utb-Tsc Academic Senate Meeting - President's Report 2004-12-17, University Of Texas At Brownsville And Texas Southmost College. Faculty Senate.

UTB/TSC Faculty Senate Administrative Documents

No abstract provided.

Distribution And Ecology Of Exotic Plants In Wrangell-St. Elias National Park And Preserve, Alaska, Paul Christian Mckee

Natural Resources

The distribution of exotic plants and site factors influencing their abundance on roads and trails were studied in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve during the summer of 2003. Seventeen species of exotic plants were found in the park at 173 locations. The most common species (Taraxacum officinale, Plantago major) were present at all study sites, while some (Trifolium spp., Bromus inermis, Leucanthemum vulgare) were restricted to specific disturbance types and particular areas. Though sampling was limited to areas in which exotic plants were growing, percent cover of exotics was not a significant component of sample sites, and exotic species …

Transient Spatiotemporal Chaos On Complex Networks, Safia Rawoot

Physics

Some of today's most important questions regard complex dynamical systems with many interacting components. Network models provide a means to gain insight into such systems. This thesis focuses on a network model based upon the Gray-Scott cubic autocatalytic reaction-diffusion system that manifests transient spatiotemporal chaos. Motivated by recent studies on the small-world topology discovered by Watts and Strogatz, the network's original regular ring topology was modified by the addition of a few irregular connections. The effects of these added connections on the system's transience as well on the dynamics local to the added connections were examined. It was found that …

A Market Survey Of Ecotourists In The Valdivian Temperate Forest Ecoregion Of Chile, Scott Harris

Natural Resources

A survey of ecotourists in the Valdivian Temperate Forests ecoregion of southern Chile is used to determine if the experience and activity preferences of the market match what is being developed at local community-based ecotourism projects. It also compares the motivations of the same market with the motivations outlined in the definition of ecotourism. Survey design was based on a literature review, and observations and key-informant interviews collected in the study area. Ecotourists show strong preferences for the types of accommodations and experiences that exist or are being developed at ecotourism project sites: hostels, camping, low-intensity nature-based activities, pristine environments, …

Synchronization In Biological Systems, Jonathan P. Klaas

Physics

Synchronization, the adjustment of rhythms via coupling, is an essentially nonlinear effect in coupled dynamical systems. Synchronization is observed in many systems, for example the moon's periods of rotation and revolution, in pendulums suspended from a common support, in swarms of fireflies that flash in unison, and in biological circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are periodic fluctuations in multiple physiological systems that have evolved as a consequence of the daily rotation of the earth. These rhythms have been observed in organisms ranging from cyanobacteria to man. In this thesis we will present a conceptually simple model of circadian rhythms to yield …

Soil Properties And Forest Stand Characteristics Along A Toposequence Of The Smith Lake Area Near Fairbanks, Alaska, Lijie Zhu

Plant, Animal and Soil Sciences

Forests, soils and their relationships were studied along a toposequence over an elevation range from 161 meters to 213 meters near Smith Lake on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, Fairbanks, Alaska. Forest cover type and understory species composition change along the slope from top to bottom and are related to temperature and moisture. Aspen occurs on the ridge top. Paper birch grows best on the shoulder. White spruce, which has the greatest commercial value, is the only species present on all slope positions; it grows best on shoulder and back slopes. Black spruce dominates on the wet and cold …

Measurement Of Electron Density In The Earth's Magnetosphere Using Discrete Whistler Mode Echoes Observed On The Image Satellite, Jingbo Li

Engineering

In this thesis, a new whistler mode sounding method has been developed to measure magnetospheric electron density using the RPI instrument on the IMAGE satellite. During the 2000-2002 period, RPI frequently recorded discrete whistler mode (WM) echoes in the ~10-400 kHz frequency range when IMAGE was at low altitudes (<7000 km) in the inner plasmasphere or near its perigee in the southern hemisphere. Most discrete cases were observed in the wintertime in the southern hemisphere during the local morning or nighttime. Ray tracing simulations indicate that the discrete echoes may result from reflections of RPI signals from the earth-ionosphere boundary. By comparing the measured and calculated time dispersion of discrete WM echoes, it is possible to determine the plasma density along the ray path as well as the nonducted or ducted modes of propagation. The ray tracing simulations were carried out for 8 cases observed in the year 2002 when discrete echoes were accompanied by Z mode echoes. The 8 cases were chosen to cover the maximum and minimum local electron densities, which varied from ~300 - 4000 el/cc at the satellite location as measured from Z mode echoes. The simulations showed that the electron densities at the F2 layer peak (~250 km altitude) varied from 1 x 10⁵ to 7 X 10⁵ el/ cc for all the cases. The extrapolated electron density of the calculations at ~4000 km altitude varied from ~200 - 2000 el/cc (L <4) and ~60 - 1000 el/cc (L> 4). The extrapolated electron density at ~8000 km altitude ranged from ~100 -1000 el/cc (L <4) and from 20 - 60 el/cc (L> 4). These results are in general consistent with previous observations of plasma density in the low altitude magnetosphere. The ray tracing simulation results also indicate that in each of the 8 cases studied whistler mode …

Architectural Analysis And Fold Geometry Of Syntectonic Fluvial Conglomerate In The Nanushuk Formation, Brooks Range Foothills, Alaska, Emily Suzanne Finzel

Geosciences

The fluvial style and syntectonic deposition of conglomerate in the upper part of the Nanushuk Formation are resolved using facies architectural analysis and structural geometry. Along the Kanayut River in the northern foothills of the Brooks Range, Alaska, fluvial conglomerate is exposed as benches on the north and south flanks of the Arc Mountain anticline. Photo mosaics of each bench on the north side, along with thirty-three detailed measured sections, were used to evaluate facies architecture. Eight lithofacies were described that characterize six facies associations including longitudinal and transverse gravel bars, diffuse gravel sheets, sediment gravity flow deposits, crevasse splay …

Neotectonic Framework Of The North-Central Alaska Range Foothills, Sean Patrick Bemis

Geosciences

The northern foothills of the Alaska Range form a northward-convex salient at the apex of this orogen and the Denali fault. Despite the proximity of the northern foothills to the Denali fault and several historic large-magnitude earthquakes, the tectonic framework of this region has not been well-studied. A distinct pattern of east-trending folds and faults exists in both the bedrock and the geomorphic features. To assess the active structures of the region, I interpreted previous geologic mapping, developed cross-sections across the foothills belt, analyzed topographic and stream profiles, mapped the sequence of Quaternary fluvial terraces, and performed GPS transects across …

Physical Volcanology Of A Sub-Plinian And Phreatomagmatic Eruption At Okmok Volcano, Alaska: Implications For Explosive Mafic Volcanism, Lily J. Wong

Geosciences

The Middle Scoria Unit (M.S.) of Okmok Volcano is a basaltic andesite (̃54 wt. % SiO₂) fall deposit that is stratigraphically located between two caldera-forming eruptions (̃12,000 and 2050 y B.P.). Stratigraphy, geochemistry, vesicularity, and crystallinity data imply that the M.S. erupted in three phases that began with an initial phreatomagmatic phase followed by a sub-Plinian phase caused by rapid ascent of magma. The sequence culminates with short-lived Vulcanian eruptions that demonstrate a strong magmatic influence and a possible decrease in ascent rate. The M.S. covers ̃300 km² and averages about 2 m thick. Estimates from this work suggest a …

Foraging Ecology Of Yellow-Rumped Warblers In An Alaskan Boreal Forest Following A Spruce Beetle Outbreak, Kristen Bartecchi Rozell

Biological Sciences

I examined the foraging ecology of the Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) several years after an outbreak of spruce beetles (Dendroctonus rufipennis) in the Copper River Basin, Alaska. With increased beetle-induced mortality of white spruce (Picea glauca), a preferred foraging substrate, we predicted warblers would respond through: (1) decreased overall use of white spruce, (2) increased selectivity of live white spruce that remained, and (3) reduced foraging efficiency, reflected by a greater proportion of time spent foraging and lower prey attack rates. We examined warbler foraging behavior and arthropod biomass on commonly used foraging substrates, and in stands with low-moderate ( …

King Eider Wing Molt: Inferences From Stable Isotope Analyses, Michael J. Knoche

Biological Sciences

The western North American population of the king eider is thought to have declined by over 50% between 1974 and 1996 without an apparent cause. The non-breeding period of king eiders consists of 80-100% of their annual cycle if not impossible by observation. I used stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values of feathers and muscle to examine the wing molt and migration ecology of king eiders in 2003. Eider primary feathers were isotopically homogenous along the length of the feather, implying invariable diets during wing molt. Captive eiders in their hatch-year did not fractionate nitrogen isotopes, potentially indicating preferential protein …

Genetic And Chemical Studies Relating To Α-Aminoisobutyri Acid (Aib) Metabolism, Jeffrey A. Bickmeier

Chemistry and Biochemistry

The non-protein amino acid a-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) occurs naturally in soil. Burkholderia cepacia utilizes Aib as a sole nitrogen source by virtue of a 2,2-dialkylglycine decarboxylase, which is encoded by the dgdA gene. In this study, 30 prokaryotes were cultured on minimal media containing Aib as the sole nitrogen source and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Several attempts were made to clone dgd genes from these organisms. Plasmid libraries were constructed in E. coli from DNA isolated from four Aib-utilizing bacteria. Libraries were screened for clones which demonstrated the ability to grow on Aib containing media and therefore contained …

Tribological Comparison Of Materials, Bing Shi

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Approximately 600,000 total joint replacement surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Current artificial joint implants are mainly metal-on-plastic. The synthetic biomaterials undergo degradation through fatigue and corrosive wear from load-bearing and the aqueous ionic environment of the human body. Deposits o f inorganic salts can scratch weight-bearing surfaces, making artificial joints stiff and awkward. The excessive wear debris from polyethylene leads to osteolysis and potential loosening of the prosthesis. The lifetime for well-designed artificial joints is at most 10 to 15 years. A patient can usually have two total joint replacements during her/his lifetime. Durability is limited …

Genetics And Sex Expression In Alaskan Populations Of Silene Acaulis, Amber Klaas

Biological Sciences

Gynodioecy, the coexistence of hermaphrodites and females within plant populations, is often caused by an interaction between maternally-inherited cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) genes and nuclear male fertility restorer genes. Previous population studies have found cytoplasmic alleles associated with femaleness. We analyzed the spatial distributions of mitochondrial and chloroplast alleles and the sexual phenotype of individuals within five Alaskan populations of Silene acaulis. Sex ratios were variable between two mountain ranges in this study, possibly due to differences in the frequencies of CMS genes. Clustering of mitochondrial alleles, but not sex, was found within two populations at a scale <̲ 2 m. This result may be because maternally-inherited mitochondrial genes are locally spread through seed, but nuclear restorers are spread through pollen and seed. We also investigated sex ratios and CMS genes temporally and did not find patterns of changing sex ratios or mitotypes across size classes. This does not support the theory that females and the mitotypes they carry have been selected against over time, implying that female clusters were not broken-up due to pollen limitation. Patterns of mitochondrial and chloroplast alleles suggest either non-maternal inheritance of cytoplasmic markers or multiple reversals in the evolutionary history of cytoplasmic markers.

The Effect Of Varying Active Layer And Soil Climate On Net Nitrogen Mineralization And Foliar Nitrogen In A Boreal Watershed, Jennifer K. Rohrs-Richey

Biological Sciences

In the Alaskan boreal forest, black spruce (Picea mariana) is the forest type most severely limited by nitrogen mineralization. Nitrogen cycling in upland black spruce forests of the Interior is affected by the interactions between permafrost, soil climate, and litter quality. Permafrost and soil climate also play a significant role in nitrogen acquisition of shrubs, which are important for biomass turnover and element cycling in the understory. This study took place in a boreal watershed and addressed the question of how variation in soil climate and active layer between north and south-facing aspects affected 1) net nitrogen mineralization rate and …

Who's "Fat", Who's Not: Sociocultural Influences On Female Adolescent's Body Image, Lindsay Astheimer Paxton

Counseling

Sociocultural influences, media, parents and peers, on adolescent females' body image, as perceived by female high school students of a military related community were investigated. A body image survey was administered to 26 adolescent females. Ultimately, the research revealed that media, parents and peer groups influenced adolescent body image and significantly contributed to female students' perceptions and attitudes.

Market Opportunities For Carbon Sequestration In Alaska, Jennifer Elizabeth Duval

Economics

Global climate change has been at the forefront of environmental concerns for the last few decades. Based on the success of the United States' sulfur dioxide cap-and-trade program, a market for greenhouse gas emissions has slowly emerged. Russia's recent ratification of the Kyoto Protocol will bring an international market into force in February 2005. This thesis examines the economic theory behind cap-and-trade markets as solutions for environmental problems and discusses the characteristics of the markets for greenhouse gas emissions. The opportunities for Alaska's participation are examined, particularly offsetting diesel emissions from rural generators with wood or alternative energies. The calculations …

2004 Fall Commencement Program: Winona State University, Winona State University

WSU Commencement Programs

This is the Winona State University Fall 2004 commencement program. Commencement was on Friday, December 17, 2004.

Oscillatory Interlayer Exchange Coupling In [Pt/Co]N/Nio/[Co/Pt]N Multilayers With Perpendicular Anisotropy: Dependence On Nio And Pt Layer Thicknesses, Z. Y. Liu, Lanping Yue, D. J. Keavney, Shireen Adenwalla

Materials Research Science and Engineering Center: Faculty Publications

Interlayer exchange coupling has been studied in a series of [Pt( t_Pt Å)/Co(4 Å)]n/NiO( t_NiO)/[Co(4 Å)/Pt( t_Pt Å)]_n multilayers with perpendicular anisotropy. The coupling oscillates between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic as a function of t_NiO with a period of ~5 Å, and the oscillatory behavior is related to the antiferromagnetic ordering of the NiO layer. This interlayer coupling between two Co/Pt multilayers is shown to occur domain by domain by magnetic force microscopy imaging. For the strongest antiferromagnetic coupling at t_NiO = 11 Å, an oscillation with a period of ~6 Å is superposed …

The Social And Economic Costs Of Employee Misclassification In Construction [Massachusetts Report], Françoise Carré, Randall Wilson

Center for Social Policy Publications

With this study, a cross disciplinary team of the Center for Construction Policy Research has taken a first and significant step in documenting employee misclassification in the Massachusetts construction industry. This report documents the dimensions of misclassification and its implications for tax collection and worker compensation insurance.

Misclassification occurs when employers treat workers who would otherwise be waged or salaried employees as independent contractors (self employed). Or as one report commissioned by the U.S. Department of Labor put it, misclassification occurs “when workers (who should be) getting W-2 forms for income tax filing instead receive 1099- Miscellaneous Income forms.”

Governing The Globalization Of Public Health, Allyn L. Taylor

Faculty Scholarship

There is growing awareness that contemporary globalization has led to the proliferation of cross border determinants of health status and is undermining the capacity of nation states to protect health through domestic action alone. Consequently, globalization is creating a heightened need for new global health governance structures to promote coordinated intergovernmental action. This article seeks to contribute to the emerging discussion on global health governance by examining how globalization and the rising need for new global health governance structures is a driving force behind the expansion of conventional international health law. The article considers whether the present international institutional framework …

Assessing The Production Of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus Nerka) At Chilkat Lake, Southeast Alaska, Using Current Trophic Conditions And The Paleolimnologic Sediment Record, David Barto

Fisheries

Anadromous sockeye salmon are the only Pacific salmon that require an extensive rearing period in a lake environment. Recent studies suggest changes in lake nutrient inputs are directly related to the magnitude of annual spawning populations (escapement), and can be quantified by sediment stable isotope analysis of nitrogen ¹⁵N). Marine nitrogen supplied by returned salmon is enriched in ¹⁵N relative to the freshwater nitrogen, which is derived from atmospheric N₂ (ð¹⁵N=0 ⁰/₀₀). Recent (1987-1996) limnological investigations of Chilkat Lake, Alaska, matched to brood year escapement estimates, indicate that sockeye marine-derived phosphorus and nitrogen contributed up to 87% and 20%, respectively, …

Phylogenetic Relationships And Identification Of Juveniles Of The Genus Sebastes, Zhuozhuo Li

Fisheries

The genus Sebastes is speciose and most members are distributed in the northeastern Pacific Ocean (NEP). Historically, morphology has been the basis for species identification and determination of phylogenetic relationships. However, because many Sebastes species overlap in range and are similar in morphology, especially during early life stages, morphological characters are often inadequate for species identification. This study examines the potential of using restriction site variation in the mitochondrial NADH-dehydrogenase subunits -3 and -4 and 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA genes to resolve the problems in species identification and phylogenetic relationships, particularly assignments to subgenera. Of the 71 species representing …

Relationships Among Temperature, Depth, And Abundance Of Commercially Important Fish Captured By Trawl Vessels In The Kodiak Area Of The Gulf Of Alaska, Usa, Allison Eileen Barns

Fisheries

Increased understanding of the factors influencing fish distributions and abundance may improve fisheries management and stock assessment models and may provide the fishing industry with a means to reduce bycatch. I investigated the associations of ambient seawater depth and temperature with catches of commercially important species in the Gulf of Alaska. Time-depth recorders were attached to trawl nets to collect depth and temperature data during commercial bottom trawl fishing operations. The data collected from these recorders were combined with species composition data collected by onboard observers to determine associations between these physical variables and catch of fishes. Parameters for depths …

Maturation Of Walleye Pollock, Theragra Chalcogramma, In The Eastern Bering Sea In Relation To Temporal And Spatial Factors, Jennifer Paige Stahl

Fisheries

Walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma, are both ecologically and commercially important in the eastern Bering Sea (EBS). Maturity is a critical parameter in the stock assessment to set annual total allowable catch. Pollock maturity has not been examined in the EBS since 1976, and possible interannual and geographic variation has not been studied to date. Our goal is to estimate correct maturity schedules for EBS pollock. Maturity data, fish lengths and macroscopic maturity stages were collected aboard pollock trawlers during winter 2002 and 2003 across the EBS from 10,197 pollock. Similar data were collected by NMFS scientists during hydroacoustic surveys from …

How Chemical Differences In Dissolved Organic Matter Relate To Vegetation, Sarah Jean Seelen

Engineering

The purpose of this study was to better understand the link between dissolved organic matter (DOM) in soil leachate and different vegetation attributes. Soil cores were collected from the Caribou Poker Creeks Research Watershed (CPCRW) and subjected to a laboratory leaching procedure. The leachates were then subjected to a number of analytical tests, including pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (py-GC/MS). Py-GC/MS is a 'molecular fingerprinting' technique that was used to help determine similarities and differences in organic matter leached from soils with different vegetation attributes. Numerous statistical tests were performed including Student-t, analysis of variance, principal components analysis, and partial least squares …

Resource Estimation And Analysis For Offshore Placer Deposit Using Gis Technology, Hui Li

Engineering

In this thesis, an advanced GIS system is developed to manage, analyze and distribute Alaskan near-shore marine mineral deposition data. The developed GIS system is applied in a case study of the marine gold deposits in the offshore area of Nome, Alaska. The data collected during the previous phases of the research project are compiled using several computer application softwares such as ArcGIS8.3, Microsoft Access 2000 and others. Two improved relational geodatabases are created, in which various maps integrated with digital data sets are stored. The first database is known as the 'Integrated Geodatabase', which stores all the relative data …