2009-11-22T19:58:02Z http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/view/oai-feed.php?verb=ListRecords&metadataPrefix=oai_dc

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/martin/MartinT0509.pdf 2009-11-04T11:15:52Z

Emergence and growth of seven grass species across a gradient of metals and arsenic in lime-amended contaminated soils Martin, Tara Noel Montana's Upper Clark Fork River Basin contains hundreds of square kilometers of land impacted by mine wastes and/or smelter emissions from decades of copper mining and related activities. Contaminated soils in the Basin are often acidic and highly enriched with the trace elements cadmium, copper, arsenic, lead, zinc, and others. Natural plant colonization is often impaired, as evidenced by barren areas that are so phytotoxic that normal germination and establishment cannot occur. One reclamation strategy being used is in-place treatment with soil amendments including lime and other products. This provides a more hospitable substrate for plants by raising pH and lowering the mobile and bioavailable fraction of metals. Since contaminants are not removed with in-place treatment, short-term and long-term effectiveness of the soil amendments and the vegetative cover continue to be debated. Several experimental plots within the Basin have been treated in-place, but have developed plant communities of limited diversity where some seeded species failed to establish or persist. A greenhouse pot study was used to determine site-specific toxicity thresholds across a dilution of total metals and arsenic that significantly reduced plant growth. Two sets of contaminated and reference soils collected from the Basin were mixed to obtain metal and arsenic concentration gradients from 244 to 5885 and 250 to 7521 mg/kg, respectively. Five native and two non-native grasses were grown in separate trials. Percent emergence, shoot height, total biomass and root mass ratio were analyzed. Sensitivity of the seven grasses varied according to the response measured and dilution series. Most species showed significant reductions in total biomass and shoot height when the sum of total metals and arsenic was 559 to 1900 mg/kg. Redtop (Agrostis gigantea Roth) was the most tolerant species, not displaying significant decreases in total biomass until the sum of total metals and arsenic reached 5783 mg/kg. Because the study used contaminated environmental samples and nonagricultural species, the results may better estimate site-specific ecological risk and toxicity thresholds for in-place treated soils in the UCFRB over studies performed in sand with inappropriate surrogate species. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/martin/MartinT0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/dorwart/DowartS0808.pdf 2009-09-21T10:39:13Z

An evidence based policy recommendation addressing body art among nursing personnel Dorwart, Shawna Drugge Body art in the form of tattoos and piercings is becoming more prevalent as a form of self-expression. Body art is found among members of all socio-economic groups and across a variety of professions. With this increased prevalence many organizations are developing policies to address body art among employees. The intent of this project is to look specifically at policy development in regard to body art among nursing personnel. A thorough review of literature was carried out, exploring body art from multiple perspectives. In addition to examining body art, careful consideration was made for the aspects of nursing potentially impacted by body art. Beyond the review of literature this investigation was expanded to include communication with an expert in body art research. Contact was also made with organizations of varying sizes to establish what policy statements currently exist regarding body art among nursing personnel. During these contacts rationale and references serving as a basis for these policies were also investigated. The desired outcome of the analysis was to identify evidence to support a body art policy among nursing personnel that provided for the well-being and safety of the patients while allowing the nursing staff as much personal freedom as possible. The results of the investigation revealed a lack of evidence identifying the prevalence of body art among nurses, or the impact of body art among nursing personnel on patient outcomes. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/dorwart/DowartS0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/glover/GloverK0809.pdf 2009-11-04T11:35:34Z

Connections: making sense of the world around us (the use of music in documentary films) Glover, Kristin Lynn Music is often a neglected and undervalued element in documentary films. This thesis looks at music cognition, film cognition, and learning theory to argue for the importance of music in documentary films. Adhering to the theory that the documentary film genre is an educational tool first and foremost, the use of music strengthens a film's potential to engage with and educate an audience. The first portion of this thesis examines brain function as it pertains to music and learning, as well as research in narrative film cognition, looking particularly at how documentary films provide a unique medium to engage an audience in a story of facts, which increases their chances of retaining information presented to them, as well as providing a unique vehicle for repetition and variety in information transmission which contributes to a stronger learning environment. The second portion of this thesis analyses three popular science and nature documentary films in order to more fully understand their use of music, and how that may or may not have contributed to their success. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/glover/GloverK0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/harker/HarkerS0809.pdf 2009-10-07T17:14:38Z

Classical mechanics with dissipative constraints Harker, Shaun Russell The aim of this thesis is to consider the mathematical treatment of mechanical systems in the presence of constraints which are energetically dissipative. Constraints may be energetically dissipative due to impacts and friction. In the frictionless setting, we generalize Hamilton's principle of stationary action, central to the Lagrangian formulation of classical mechanics, to reflect optimality conditions in constrained spaces. We show that this generalization leads to the standard measure-theoretic equations for shocks in the presence of unilateral constraints. Previously, these equations were simply postulated; we derive them from a fundamental variational principle. We also present results in the frictional setting. We survey the extensive literature on the subject, which focusses on existence results and numerical schemes known as time- stepping algorithms. We consider a novel model of friction (which is more dissipative than standard Coulomb friction) for which we can give better well-posedness results than what is currently available for the Coulomb theory. To this end, we study multi-valued maps, differential inclusions, and optimization theory. We construct a differential inclusion we call the feedback problem, for which the multi-valued map is the solution set of a convex program. We give existence and uniqueness results regarding this feedback problem. We cast the persistent contact evolution problem of our novel model of friction into the form of a feedback problem to derive an existence result. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/harker/HarkerS0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/goodman/GoodmanB0809.pdf 2009-09-29T11:14:11Z

Ichthyoplankton density and Shovelnose sturgeon spawning in relation to varying discharge treatments Goodman, Benjamin Joseph Many lotic fish species use natural patterns of variation in discharge and water temperature as spawning cues and these natural patterns are often altered by river regulation. The effects of spring discharge and water temperature variation on the spawning of shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus and other fishes in the upper Missouri River have not been well documented. In 2006, 2007, and 2008, I had the unique opportunity to study the effects of experimental discharge levels on ichthyoplankton density in the lower Marias River, a regulated tributary to the upper Missouri River. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of contrasting discharge treatments and water temperature variation on spatial and temporal variation in spawning of shovelnose sturgeon (and other species sampled as bycatch) as measured by embryonic and larval fish density in the lower Marias River. Ichthyoplankton was sampled about every four days in June and July of 2006, 2007, and 2008. Overall larval fish density was greater in 2006 than in 2007, and increased density was associated with increased discharge in 2006. In 2006, shovelnose sturgeon spawning occurred in the Marias River in conjunction with the ascending, peak (134 m 3/s), and descending portions of the spring hydrograph and water temperatures from 16 oC to 19 oC. No evidence of sturgeon spawning was documented in the lower Marias River in 2007 when peak discharge remained low (9 m 3/s to 14 m 3/s) despite the occurrence of water temperatures suitable for shovelnose sturgeon embryo development. In 2008, shovelnose sturgeon spawning occurred in conjunction with the peak (118 m 3/s) and descending portions of the spring hydrograph, and during a prolonged period of increased discharge (28 m 3/s to 39 m 3/s), coupled with water temperatures from 11 oC to 23 oC in the lower Marias River. These data suggest that discharge must reach a threshold level (28 m 3/s), and should be coupled with water temperatures suitable (12 oC to 24 oC) or optimal (16 oC to 20 oC) for shovelnose sturgeon embryo development, to provide a spawning cue to shovelnose sturgeon in the lower Marias River. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/goodman/GoodmanB0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/hiemenz/HiemenzV0809.pdf 2009-09-21T11:01:54Z

Reflexive filmmaking for wildlife and nature films Hiemenz, Vanessa Serrao Historically, wildlife and nature filmmakers have embraced the expository mode of filmmaking and a realistic style, attempting to influence their audience with compelling arguments. However, while their scripts may call for activism, their expository, realistic style, with hidden production methods, an authoritative tone, and pristine visuals, instead encourages voyeurism. In addition, standard theater and television distribution methods offer no outlet for action to viewers who do feel inspired. I offer a different model for influence in my wildlife series Nature Break: reflexive filmmaking. In this series I use such reflexive strategies to critique the voyeuristic way in which spectators consume wildlife and nature films. However, critiquing passive spectators with reflexivity is not the same as creating active spectators. Therefore, with Nature Break I go beyond simply making and distributing a film. Additionally, I will create a related website on the Internet as a platform for viewers to post their own films, discuss issues inspired by films on the site, and coordinate activism efforts. Through Internet distribution, the Nature Break series can finally live up to the reflexive filmmaker's goal of creating an art that leads to activism. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/hiemenz/HiemenzV0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/hornemann/HornemannJ0809.pdf 2009-09-21T11:44:18Z

Magnetic resonance microscopy studies of biofilms: diffusion, hydrodynamics and porous media Hornemann, Jennifer Ann Due to the complicated nature of studying living bacterial communities, Magnetic Resonance Microscopy (MRM) is a necessary tool providing unique data that is complementary to other techniques such as confocal microscopy and microelectrodes. MRM has the ability to probe an opaque system non-invasively and collect velocity measurements, imaging data, diffusion, and relaxation values and is an asset in the quest to learn how biofilms establish, grow, and die. The goal of these studies was to extend current biofilm research using MRM to enhance our understanding of transport phenomena over a hierarchy of scales, from the microscopic diffusion level to the macroscopic bulk flow. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the bacteria chosen for the biopolymer diffusion and the secondary flow studies due to its common identification in opportunistic biofilm infections. This diffusion study was the first Pulse Gradient Spin Echo (PGSE) MRM measurements of the impact of environmental and chemical challenges on the biomacromolecular dynamics in medically relevant S. epidermidis biofilm material demonstrating the ability to characterize molecular dynamics in biofilms, providing a basis for sensors which can indicate the state of the biofilm after thermal or chemical treatment and provide information to further understand the molecular level mechanisms of such treatments. The secondary flow data clearly support the conclusion that reactor size impacts studies of spatially distributed biological activity, and the idea that, scaling of transport models in biofilm impacted devices is possible but requires more study. Additionally, due to the increasing amount of CO2 in the earth's atmosphere and the need to understand the options of sequestering this CO2 to combat the impacts of global warming, studies were conducted to understand how biofilms grow in porous media. The resilience of Bacillus mojavensis biofilms to super critical CO2 is documented, and thus, this bacteria was chosen. Results indicate that by varying exchange times, T2-T2 experiments can determine the extent of biofilm growth in an opaque porous media as demonstrated in multiple glass bead pack configurations. Using MRM as a tool to study these biofilm systems over a wide range of environmental conditions is the focus of the research presented in this dissertation. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/hornemann/HornemannJ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/ingrassia/IngrassiaP0809.pdf 2009-10-19T12:02:52Z

The split-screen aesthetic: connecting meaning between fragmented frames Ingrassia, Peter Matthew The split-screen is a multi-frame technique used in film, television and video. Recent advances in digital technology make it easier to incorporate the fragmented frame into visual narrative strategies. I argue that properties inherent to the split-screen technique (including simultaneity, symmetry, visual irony, omniscient view and visual style) also emerge as attributes of a split-screen aesthetic. The split-screen aesthetic transforms a technical contrivance that has long provided an alternative to parallel editing, into a powerful narrative tool that facilitates the construction of visual stories in a spatial context. I trace the history of the use of split-screen by describing its function in selected visual works, including a medieval triptych painting, a 20th Century art installation, two films and a contemporary television program. A close analysis of a dual-screen video art installation helps characterize elements of the cinematic split-screen aesthetic. I also provide an account of the application of a split-screen design in my own experimental short video. As multi-screen formats continue to evolve, they invoke the split-screen aesthetic to shape the stories emerging from new spaces. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/ingrassia/IngrassiaP0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jewett/JewettJ0809.pdf 2009-09-21T12:13:33Z

Spatiotemporal relationship between climate and Whitebark pine mortality in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem Jewett, Jeffrey Thomas Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) serves as a subalpine keystone species by regulating snowmelt runoff, reducing soil erosion, facilitating the growth of other plants, and providing food for wildlife, particularly grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). Mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) is an ideal bio-indicator of climate change, as its life cycle is entirely temperature dependent. Western North America is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of mountain pine beetle on record, and evidence suggests that a changing climate has accelerated the life-cycle of this bark beetle, allowing it to expand into new habitat. This study explored the relationships between climate, mountain pine beetles, and whitebark pine mortality in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). A time-series of Landsat satellite imagery was used to monitor whitebark pine mortality in the GYE from 1999 to 2008. The patterns of mortality were analyzed with respect to monthly climate (temperature and precipitation) variations over the 9-year period. The impacts of topography and autocorrelation (both spatial and temporal) were also analyzed with respect to whitebark pine mortality. Whitebark pine mortality was assessed using the Enhanced Wetness Difference Index (EWDI), a Landsat-derived measure of canopy moisture. Regression tree models were built to predict yearly changes in EWDI. Thirty-eight percent of the deviance in whitebark pine was explained by a regression tree with 10 predictor variables. The most important predictor variables were autocorrelation terms, indicating a strong host-tree depletion effect, where mountain pine beetles were much less likely to attack recently attacked areas. Topographic variables (elevation, slope, aspect) were not useful in predicting whitebark pine mortality. Climate variables alone were used to construct a regression tree with 14 predictor variables which predicted 15% of the dataset deviance in whitebark pine mortality. Drier climatic conditions favored increased whitebark pine mortality, likely due to the decreased ability of whitebark pine to repel beetle attacks. Warmer climatic conditions also favored increased whitebark pine mortality, likely due to a decrease in winter mortality of mountain pine beetle. These results show for the first time a statistical link between climate variability and whitebark pine mortality, likely mediated by mountain pine beetles. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jewett/JewettJ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/king/KingQ0809.pdf 2009-09-21T12:31:25Z

Contributions of pneomococcal virulence factors to secondary Streptococcus pneumoniae infection following influenza infection King, Quinton Oliver Influenza infection increases susceptibility to secondary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae resulting in significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Whereas viral contributions to this synergism have been explored, little is known concerning contributions of the bacterium, specifically those provided through bacterial virulence factors. To assess the contributions of the known pneumococcal virulence factors hyaluronidase (Hyl), neuraminidase (NanA) and pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) to secondary S. pneumoniae infection following influenza infection, mutants lacking these proteins were administered with wildtype pneumococci in a competitive growth model. Whereas mutants lacking the Hyl and NanA proteins did not exhibit attenuation, mutants lacking PspA were severely attenuated in mice without influenza infection and significantly more so in mice with a prior influenza infection. Additionally, mice received intranasal immunization with recombinant PspA protein and subsequently received primary and secondary challenges with serotypes 2, 3 and 4 pneumococci. Immunization with PspA significantly reduced bacterial burdens of all three challenge serotypes in primary and secondary pneumococcal infection and significantly reduced lung damage markers in mice receiving secondary pneumococcal challenges. In addition to known virulence factors, two surface-exposed proteins, Spr0075 and Spr1345, were assessed for virulence contributions to primary and secondary pneumococcal infections. Mutants lacking Spr0075 or Spr1345 were found to be severely attenuated in both primary and secondary pneumococcal challenges. Whereas immunization with either recombinant Spr0075 or Spr1345 significantly reduced primary pneumococcal burdens, only immunization with Spr0075 significantly reduced secondary pneumococcal burdens. Together these results indicate virulence contributions to both primary and secondary pneumococcal challenges for the PspA, Spr0075 and Spr1345 proteins. However, whereas immunization with PspA and Spr0075 significantly reduced both primary and secondary pneumococcal burdens, immunization with Spr1345 did not significantly impact secondary pneumococcal burdens. This result illustrates that a virulence contribution and/or an ability to protect against primary infection does not necessarily translate into a protein's capacity to protect against secondary infection. The results presented here are the first experimental evidence demonstrating virulence roles for the Spr0075 and Spr1345 proteins and are the first reports of immunization with pneumococcal proteins, specifically PspA and Spr0075, providing protection against secondary pneumococcal infection following influenza. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/king/KingQ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/krim/KrimJ0809.pdf 2009-09-21T12:48:53Z

Critical reflection and teacher capacity: the secondary science pre-service teacher population Krim, Jessica Sarah This qualitative study seeks to understand the development of secondary science pre-service teachers. A case study is developed about each of the five participants, in effort to answer the research questions, which are: How did critical reflection inform teacher capacity within the secondary science pre-service teacher population? What knowledge, skills, and dispositions facilitated secondary science pre-service teachers in developing a critically reflective practice? It is the author's expectation that by teaching these pre-service educators to develop their skills of critical reflection by using external methods of assessment such as videotaping, peer feedback, and student work, the participants in this study will increase and expand their capacity as teachers, or their "innate potential for growth, development, and accomplishment" (McDiarmid & Clevenger-Bright, 2008), and be better prepared to accomplish the goals that are expected of a master teacher. Data is collected from interviews, participant work samples, and observations from the researcher and other key individuals who worked with each participant, such as: the methods instructor, university supervisors, and cooperating teachers. Over the course of two semesters, the researcher developed a detailed description of each of the participants through analyzing passages selected from interview transcripts and student work samples for reflection type, factor of teacher capacity, and commonplace interaction group. The first outcome of this study includes an understanding of the relationship between critical reflection and teacher capacity and the knowledge, skills and dispositions that facilitate the development of a critically reflective practice. The second outcome of this study was the development of a new adaptation of a teacher interaction model (commonplace interaction groups) based on Schwab's Commonplaces of Educating. Lastly, three conclusions were drawn about the five participants in this study: There was a change in the participants' reflection level from the methods semester to the student teaching semester, most shifted their focus of reflection from teacher-self to teacher-student, and the weakest area of reflection with all participants was content / subject area and curriculum / standards. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/krim/KrimJ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/nixon/NixonK0809.pdf 2009-09-21T12:55:55Z

Sensitivity of 1-D hydraulic models of fish passage in culverts to descriptions of fish swimming performance Nixon, Kyle Marshall One way culverts become barriers to the upstream movement of fish is by creating excessive velocities exceeding a fish's swimming ability. FishXing, a common tool for indirectly assessing fish passage, uses fish swimming ability information with one-dimensional culvert hydraulics to predict barrier status of culverts. However, since fish swimming ability data is scarce for many fish species, predictions of a culvert's barrier status can be inaccurate and overly conservative, possibly leading to misclassification or uneconomical design. Additional fish swimming ability research is necessary to strengthen these models. The primary goal of this study was to determine the effects of different swimming ability algorithms on velocity barrier flow rates predicted by one-dimensional culvert hydraulics models. A one-dimensional culvert hydraulics model was created in Visual Basic. This model was designed to mimic FishXing's fish swimming algorithm, or use more complex fish swimming algorithms. Three diverse test culverts were selected to show how varying culvert properties (length, geometry, flow regime, and embedment) influences which fish swimming ability algorithm most affects the predicted velocity barrier flow rate. A "test fish" was designed based upon fish swimming ability literature. Each culvert was subjected to six tests, each testing the sensitivity of a particular fish swimming algorithm. This study determined that for different types of culverts, different components of fish swimming ability algorithms substantially affect the velocity barrier flow rate. The study needed only three test culverts to show that accurate quantification of the fish species' burst speed, burst duration, the burst speed/duration relationship, prolonged swimming speed, and constant deceleration time from burst to prolonged speed is necessary to model diverse fish passage situations. This study also showed that if a fish has a substantial deceleration time, a constant deceleration is probably sufficient to model it. In the future, if programs like FishXing adapt to include deceleration in fish swimming models, constant deceleration is an adequate addition. With this analysis, fish swimming ability variables substantially affecting fish passage were determined. The study can be used to guide further research so swimming ability studies can gather swimming data that is most crucial to predicting fish passage. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/nixon/NixonK0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/patterson/PattersonK0809.pdf 2009-10-07T17:16:26Z

Gene regulation in the lac operon Patterson, Kathryn Grace The lac operon, a jointly controlled series of genes in the bacteria E. coli, has been studied extensively since the 1940's. The lac operon genes are transcribed and then translated into proteins necessary for transport and digestion of lactose. The operon is activated in the presence of lactose after glucose, the preferred carbon source, has been expended. In this thesis, we introduce a biophysical model using the Shea-Ackers framework for modeling promoter dynamics. The model spans two scales: the inputs are biophysical parameters of molecular interactions and the result is a level of gene expression - a macroscopic behavior of the cell. We include all experimentally suggested control mechanisms into the model, even though the experimental evidence is stronger for some of these mechanisms than others. We compare our model to experimental data and explore the individual contribution of the proposed mechanisms by removing them one by one and testing the reduced model's fit to the data. Finally, we find a minimal model which faithfully represents the available data, yet includes only the minimal number of control mechanisms. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/patterson/PattersonK0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/redden/ReddenR0809.pdf 2009-09-21T13:44:21Z

Effects of ewe late gestational supplementation of rumen undegradable protein, vitamin E, zinc, and chlortetracycline on ewe productivity and postweaning management of lambs on feedlot performance and tissue deposition Redden, Roy Reid Lamb survival and productivity from birth to weaning and lamb postweaning management harvest are areas that the US sheep industry needs to become more efficient at to remain profitable. Western white-faced ewes were supplemented HIGH (12.5% rumen by-pass protein, 880 IU/kg of supplemental Vitamin E, 176 ppm chelated Zn, and 72.7 mg/kg chlortetracycline) or LOW (7.56% rumen by-pass protein, with no supplemental Vitamin E, chelated Zn, or chlortetracycline) supplements at 0.227 kg•ewe -1•d -1 during late gestation. Ewes of different age and body condition scores were individually supplemented for 29 d prior to expected lambing. Thereafter, each ewe was mass fed the appropriate supplement until lambing. In Experiment 3, approximately 600 ewes were group fed HIGH or LOW supplements over 2 yr. Differences in antibody transfer from ewe to lamb were detected in supplemented ewes of different age (P < 0.10); however, lamb production was not different (P > 0.10) for all 3 experiments. To investigate lamb post-weaning management, terminally sired lambs (n = 72) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 backgrounding treatments. Lamb backgrounding treatments were: ad libitum access to 80% alfalfa: 20% barley pellets (PELLET); cool season grass paddock grazing (GRASS); remain with ewe flock on fall dormant range (LATE WEAN); wean for 96 h and returned to ewe flock on dormant range (RANGE). Background treatments were applied for 29 d. Thereafter, lambs were finished on a corn based diet. Lamb BW and ultrasound measurements were taken at weaning, after background treatment, after feedlot step-up and at the conclusion of the finishing period. Pen intake was measured. Lambs backgrounded on PELLET were heavier (P < 0.10) than all other treatments after the backgrounding period and at the end of the feedlot period. Lambs backgrounded on PELLET had the greatest intakes and ADG (P < 0.10) during the feedlot period. At beginning and end of the feedlot period, PELLET and GRASS lambs had larger (P < 0.05) LM areas than RANGE and LATE WEAN treated lambs. Under the condition of the studies, late gestational supplements did not improve ewe productivity and backgrounding treatments on dormant range diminished feedlot productivity. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/redden/ReddenR0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/spuhler/SpuhlerJ0809.pdf 2009-09-21T15:38:45Z

Characterization and isolation of Archael thermophilic hosts and viruses from Yellowstone National Park Spuhler, Joshua Lupine My research is focused on the identification and characterization of new archaeal viruses that inhabit the thermal features of Yellowstone National Park (YNP). I have undertaken the systematic survey of more than 90 different thermal features found in Yellowstone through a variety of means including culturing of hosts, MDA amplification, qPCR for known archaeal viruses, 16S rRNA gene analysis of potential resident archaeal hosts, tangential flow and end point filtration approaches to sample new viruses, and general water geochemical analysis. From this work a new host has been isolated from YNP. rDNA analysis has shown a 98% similarity to Thermocladium modestius. Routine culturing of this host has lead to the discovery of multiple viruses. Some of these associated viruses have similar morphology to other known archaeal viruses. The first is a 90x60 nm spindle shaped virus that was originally isolated from Rabbit Creek thermal feature (Temp78, pH3.5). Our initial genomic analysis shows that there is no obvious similarity to other known archaeal viruses, included the SSV spindled shaped viruses for Sulfolobus. The second sequencing effort has come from Nymph Lake thermal feature (Temp 85, pH 2.5). This virus population was gathered from a primary enrichment culture. This culture had two dominate virus morphologies present. The first is a 15nmx210nm rod-shaped virus with tapered ends. The second morphology seen is a 90nm spherical virus. Both of these viruses are hoped to be new additions to the archaeal virus families providing a more in depth view of the necessities of life at high temperatures. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/spuhler/SpuhlerJ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/smart/SmartF0809.pdf 2009-09-21T14:01:51Z

Minimum-data analysis of ecosystem service supply with risk averse decision makers Smart, Francis Clayton There is a need for models that produce results that are both timely and sufficiently accurate to be useful to policy makers. The minimum-data approach of Antle and Valdivia (2006) responds to this need by supplying a spatially explicit first order approximation that models ecosystem supply by producers. However, producers in developing nations often are observed to deviate from simple expected profit maximization. Risk is one possible explanation for this divergence. This study builds upon the minimum-data approach by allowing for risk averse producer preferences. The study presents a framework for translating relative risk aversion measurements into the parameters needed for the mean-standard deviation utility function. This study utilizes experimental and econometric measurements of risk aversion by other researchers to parameterize the model. Historic weather data are used with crop yield models to simulate temporal variation in crop yields. The model is used to simulate the supply of carbon sequestration in Machakos, Kenya. At low levels of risk, producers behave in a manner consistent with risk neutrality. However as risks and risk aversion levels increase, there is an increasing divergence from the behavior implied by expected profit maximization. The effects of varying the structure of risk preferences were also examined. This study finds that, consistent with the results in a number of other studies, the level of risk aversion is generally a more important factor in simulated behavior than the structure of risk preferences. This study also examines the effects of increasing the spatial variation of returns. As the spatial variation of returns increases, the predicted producer behavior converges on a fifty percent rate of adoption of the carbon sequestering system, regardless of other parameters. Overall, this study finds that - at levels of risk aversion measured in similar populations in developing nations - the inclusion of risk aversion in the model provides an explanation for why the observed behavior of producers appears to diverge from expected profit maximization. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/smart/SmartF0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/tschache/TschacheC0809.pdf 2009-09-21T15:57:32Z

Importance of financial literacy and financial literacy content in curriculum Tschache, Candice Arrington Teachers, administrators, parents, business owners, and community members need to know the importance and value of a Personal Finance class. In this study, a two page survey was given to teachers, administrators, parents, business owners, and community members to determine the importance they placed on financial literacy curriculum and what content they think should be included in a financial literacy curriculum at Bozeman High School. The results of this survey showed that most participants of the survey thought financial literacy was important and that financial literacy curriculum was also important. The conclusions of this study were that financial education is beneficial and that the concepts taught in that type of curriculum were valued. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/tschache/TschacheC0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/treloar/TreloarA0809.pdf 2009-09-21T15:50:18Z

Change in practice used to quantify breast milk intake of pre-term infants in a neonatal intensive care unit: test-weighing to 'Salt Lake Feed Plan' Treloar, Allison Kirsch A local community hospital in Montana expressed a desire to establish a written clinical guideline for transitioning preterm infants from enteral gavage feedings to oral feedings. This desire was prompted by a change in the method of quantifying breast milk intake of preterm infants when transitioning them from enteral gavage feedings to at-breast feedings in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The hospital changed from the practice of test-weighing as a clinical indicator to quantify breast milk intake to the "Salt Lake City Feed Plan". Procedures: Retrospective data from four consecutive years were collected from quality assessment chart audit data provided to the author in aggregate form. Twenty-nine records met the selection criteria. A descriptive presentation of the aggregate data follows. Results: The average number of total deliveries per year was 1,151. The average percentage of preterm deliveries that occurred between 32 - 37 completed weeks of gestation was 16.3 percent. Of the twenty-nine records that met the selection criteria, 17 were male and 12 were female. The birth weight ranged from 1.75 kilograms (kg) to 2.31 kg. Weight at discharge ranged from 2.66 kg. to 2.99 kg., indicating a weight gain of 0.68 kg. to 0.91 kg. at discharge. Number of days with an indwelling nasogastric enteral feeding tube ranged from 1 to 23 days. Length of hospital stay ranged from 7 to 29 days. The length of stay for exclusively bottle fed preterm infants ranged from 13 to 27 days, whereas the breastfeeding preterm infants who utilized test -weighing or the "Salt Lake City Feed Plan" ranged from 7 to 29 days. Breast fed preterm infants in whom test-weighing or the "Salt Lake City Feed Plan" was utilized had 4 to 4.315 fewer days of hospitalization compared to preterm infants who were exclusively bottle-fed. Conclusion: The literature review and the aggregate data collected by the rural community hospital provide baseline information to create, implement and support an evidence-based clinical guideline to transition preterm infants from enteral gavage feedings to oral feeding. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/treloar/TreloarA0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wiese/WieseJ0809.pdf 2009-09-21T16:02:50Z

Establishment and seed production of native forbs used in restoration Wiese, Jessica Linsay The importance of incorporating native wildflowers into seed mixtures for disturbed land revegetation projects is widely known and accepted. However, further assessment of weed management approaches is a necessary step to successfully establish and produce native wildflower seed. We examined the impact of pre and post-emergence herbicides alone and in combination with hand weeding on 5 wildflower species [slender white prairie clover (Dalea candida(Michx). ex Willd), blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata Pursh), fuzzy tongue penstemon (Penstemon eriantherus Pursh var. eriantherus), silverleaf phacelia (Phacelia hastata Douglas ex Lehm.), and prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl)] under greenhouse and field conditions. Herbicides evaluated included Treflan (trifluralin) 189 l/ha, Lorox (linuron) 1.121 kg/ha., Permit (halsulfuron) 91 g/ha., Plateau (imazapic) 560 g/ha, and Prowl (pendimethalin) 4.2 l/ha. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine wildflower seedling tolerance to post-emergence herbicides, 2) evaluate the effect of pre-and post-emergence herbicides on native wildflower seedling establishment, weed control, and wildflower seed production. For objective 1 a randomized block design was used and repeated twice. A Monte Carlo resampling assessed herbicide damage and a randomized block design analysis of variance (ANOVA) assessed herbicide impact on fresh and dry biomass. Results indicated that the D. candida and R. columnifera were minimally affected by herbicide treatments, while G. aristata and P. hastata were strongly affected, the first by linuron and halosulfuron and the last by halosulfuron and imazapic. Objective 2 assessed hand weeding and pre and postemergence herbicide effects on native wildflowers. A randomized block design was used to assess wildflower establishment, percentage cover, yield, and seed germination and viability, along with weed community composition and cover as a function of weed management approach. Data were analyzed with a randomized block design analysis of variance (ANOVA) to test for differences in wildflowers seedling emergence, percent cover of wildflowers, and seed yield. Wildflower species responded uniquely to weed management, indicating caution should be used when applying herbicides to the tested species. Specifically, emergence of P. eriantherus, D. candida and P. hastata were negatively affected by trifluralin, indicating this herbicide may not be suited for the tested wildflowers. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wiese/WieseJ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/campanelli/CampanelliM0809.pdf 2009-10-01T17:15:20Z

Multicellular mathematical models of somitogenesis Campanelli, Mark Benjamin Somitogenesis is an important pattern formation process in the developmental biology of vertebrates. The phenomenon has received wide attention from experimental, theoretical, and computational biologists. Numerous mathematical models of the process have been proposed, with the clock and wavefront mechanism rising to prominence over the last ten years. This work presents two multicellular mathematical models of somitogenesis. The first is a phenomenological phase oscillator model that reproduces both the clock and wavefront aspects of somitogenesis, but lacks a biological basis. The second is a biologically informed delay differential equation model of the clock-wave that is produced by coordinated oscillatory gene expression across many cells. Careful and efficient model construction, parameter estimation, and model validation identify important nonlinear mechanisms in the genetic control circuit of the somitogenesis clock. In particular, a graded control protein combined with differential decay of clock protein monomers and dimers is found to be a key mechanism for slowing oscillations and generating experimentally observed waves of gene expression. This represents a mode of combinatorial control that has not been previously examined in somitogenesis, and warrants further experimental and theoretical investigation. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/campanelli/CampanelliM0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/gunderson/GundersonK0809.pdf 2009-10-02T11:30:49Z

Re-constructing dialogue: literary sensibility and non-violent subjectivity Gunderson, Kory Marika With this project, I seek to advocate the relevance of literary scholarship to the problem of the use of sanctioned violence to solve conflicts. I propose that, unlike the empirical sensibility, what I will call the literary sensibility is, at heart, a non-violent means for creating and recreating understanding. When the literary sensibility is used to negotiate the unknown into the known, each subjective participant in the encounter is able to grant and maintain his or her own integrity as well as the integrity of all other subjective participants as subjects. I define my understanding of the literary sensibility by engaging the work of Jacques Derrida, who is himself concerned with the philosophy of literature and the literary. I show that because of limitations within his understanding of subjectivity, the deconstructive interpretive act is ultimately violent. Derrida maintains a formal impossibility that would allow a subject to recognize an Other as a subject, and without this possibility, a subject can only objectify the Other, an act of subjugation and violence in which the Other has no agency to define terms (or itself). Derrida, I think, understands the violence of objectification and subjugation, but because he maintains the impossibility of understanding the Other as a subject, Derrida can only resolve the problem by perpetually deferring what, for him, is inevitable violence. Therefore, Derrida's treatment of the literary is at odds with what the literary sensibility can truly accomplish. In A Room with a View, E.M. Forster demonstrates and represents what I consider to be the subjective moment influenced by the literary sensibility. By engaging this work, I argue that we can maintain a possibility for re-constructing a dialogic meaning making process that allows for the same qualities of deferral, multiplicity, simultaneity, and literariness that deconstruction affords and prioritizes while, at the same time, providing an invitation to non-violent practice. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/gunderson/GundersonK0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/matheson/MathesonK0809.pdf 2009-09-28T18:07:41Z

Never wash away: a case study of video-centered outreach in the Republic of Congo Matheson, Kelly Ann Since its inception, documentary film has been thought to be an effective way to galvanize social change. With the explosion of video for change organizations and projects both filmmakers and funders have a growing need to make a solid connection between the power of film and its concrete impact. This thesis will set forth the key principles for successful advocacy filmmaking and explore how the International Conservation and Education Fund's (INCEF's) Great Ape Public Awareness Project incorporated these principles into its approach to advocacy filmmaking. This exploration will be accomplished via a review of the organization's methodology combined with field observations from the first half of the 2008 field season in the northern villages of the Republic of Congo. This thesis will also highlight the successes and challenges INCEF faced during the three stages of advocacy filmmaking: 1) production; 2) strategic dissemination; and 3) impact evaluation, in an effort to inform the creation, implementation and evaluation of future advocacy video projects. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/matheson/MathesonK0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/mousseau/MousseauK0809.pdf 2009-10-02T12:51:21Z

Determination of critical micelle concentration of an amphiphilic siderophore Mousseau, Kenneth Scott The sodachelins are a group of six amphiphilic siderophores produced by a halophilic bacterium. Amphiphilic siderophores, such as the sodachelins, are important in the solubilization and sequestration of iron related to microbial metabolism and are also unique in their ability to form micelle and vesicular structures. This professional paper describes siderophore importance in iron bioavailability, siderophore chemistry and biological function and a thermodynamic analysis of forces that drive micellization and vesicle formation. A description of experiments conducted to isolate, separate and purify the sodachelins for the purpose of measuring their critical micelle concentration (CMC) follows the review of literature. Initial siderophore isolation was achieved using XAD-2 resin to generate a crude extract. This crude extract was then purified by HPLC, and the measurement of CMC of a single siderophore, sodachelin E, was performed with a tensiomat instrument. Crude separation by XAD resin was proven successful; XAD resin has a strong affinity for siderophores as shown by experiment with the siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFB) as a control. Purification of the crude siderophore extract by only one pass on the HPLC was proven insufficient to generate a single, pure siderophore. At least a second pass on the HPLC is required to remove all contaminants. The protocol developed for CMC analysis is consistent and accurate based on a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) control experiment. An approximate CMC value of 140 micron for sodachelin E was obtained, however, HPLC analysis showed contamination of another sodachelin and possible other organic solutes, indicating that this value may be inaccurate. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/mousseau/MousseauK0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/olsen/OlsenJ0809.pdf 2009-10-06T18:11:11Z

Changes in temporal leptin concentrations and other metabolic factors in primiparous, postpartum, anestrous, suckled, beef cows exposed to bulls Olsen, Jesse Riley Exposing cows to bulls or excretory products of bulls stimulates resumption of ovarian cycling activity in postpartum, suckled, anestrous cows. This biostimulatory effect may be mediated by pheromones produced by bulls that stimulate physiological changes in metabolic regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis of cows. In Experiment 1, the hypotheses tested were that concentrations of glucose, NEFA, thyroxine (T4), tri-iodothyronine (T3), and T3:T4 ratios do not differ between cows exposed to bulls or steers. The biostimulatory effect of bulls was associated with lower mean concentrations of NEFA in postpartum cows. Experiment 2 was designed to determine if continuous (24-h daily) bull exposure alters temporal patterns of leptin concentrations in postpartum, anestrous cows. Cows exposed to bulls that resumed cycling activity after the start of the experiment tended to have higher leptin concentrations by the end of the 30-d exposure period than cows not exposed to bulls. However, it was not known if these changes were related to resumption of ovarian cycling activity in postpartum, anestrous cows. Experiment 3 tested the hypothesis that temporal leptin concentrations may depend upon duration of daily bull exposure. Cows had higher daily leptin concentrations and resumed ovarian cycling activity sooner as duration of daily bull exposure increased. In conclusion, as duration of daily bull exposure increases, the biostimulatory effect of bulls alters temporal leptin concentrations and this change may facilitate or support the function of the HPO axis and accelerate resumption of ovarian cycling activity in primiparous, postpartum, suckled, anestrous cows. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/olsen/OlsenJ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/palmer/PalmerN0809.pdf 2009-10-02T12:59:28Z

Smart composites: evaluation of embedded sensors in composite materials Palmer, Nathan Reed As an emerging form of renewable energy, horizontal wind turbines have experienced advancements in improving efficiency and reliability. These advances have pushed the limits of current technology used in wind turbines. Smart blades have been proposed as a method of addressing these limitations. Sensor integration within blade construction is the first step in development of smart blades. Thus, several low cost sensors were chosen, 1 axis strain gages, polyvinylidene fluoride films (PVDF), and single mode fiber optics either coated in acrylate or polyimide. To ensure successful bonding between sensor and composite two surface treatment techniques were developed. The first, dipping of the sensor into a bath of 20% by weight solution of nitric acid and the second was submersion of the sensor in the nitric acid for ten seconds prior to removal. These treatments were compared against sensors not surface treated prior to embedding. These sensors were embedded within samples created of fiberglass and epoxy or vinyl ester resin. Two different material tests were conducted. Tensile testing allowed for evaluation of sensor sensitivity, sensor failure point, material tensile modulus, and material tensile strength. Mode I fracture toughness evaluation, indicated the level of successful bonding which occurred during resin curing. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was conducted to further confirm the level of bonding between resin and sensor, post fracture. Results for embedded strain gages showed an adverse effect for vinyl ester samples. Epoxy samples fared better, thus concluding manufacturing success for epoxy samples, submersion being preferred, and alternative methods needed for vinyl ester samples. PVDF films had good qualitative FESEM images combined with increasing trends. It was concluded that integration for both resin groups with sensors submerged in nitric acid was successful. Fiber optics coated in acrylate also showed good bonding under FESEM imaging as well as testing. It was thus concluded that submersion was the preferred treatment. Lastly, fiber optics coated in polyimide embedded in vinyl ester composites showed significant drawbacks and it was concluded that alternative methods need exploration. Those embedded in epoxy were successfully integrated and submersion in nitric acid showed the most potential. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/palmer/PalmerN0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/purdie/PurdieA0809.pdf 2009-10-07T11:48:26Z

Market valuation of certified green homes: a case study of Colorado's Built Green and Energy Star programs Purdie, Amy Joanne Green building is a rapidly growing industry. The residential sector is responsible for 21.8 percent of the United States' energy consumption so an increased penetration of the green building industry could affect national energy consumption. Previous willingness to pay studies suggest that buyers are willing to pay a premium for green homes. The presence of a green certification is used as an indicator for sustainable attributes in homes built and sold in Colorado between 1999 and 2009. A hedonic price regression model predicts the sale price of the home as a function of home attributes and green certification status. The presence of green attributes fails to statistically affect the sale price indicating that, contrary to survey data, buyers may not have a willingness to pay for green construction attributes. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/purdie/PurdieA0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wilkinson/WilkinsonJ0809.pdf 2009-10-06T18:17:29Z

The biostimulatory effect of bulls on postpartum follicular wave development in postpartum, anestrous, suckled beef cows Wilkinson, Jarrod Robert Charles The objective of this experiment was to determine if bull exposure influences follicular wave dynamics in primiparous, postpartum, anestrous, suckled, beef cows exposed to bulls. In Experiment 1, cows were exposed (continuously 24 h/d), (EB; n = 5) to bulls or not exposed to bulls (NE; n = 5) throughout the experimental period. In Experiment 2, cows were exposed to bulls for either 12 h, (EB12; n = 15), 6 h, (EB6; n =14) or not exposed to bulls (NE; n = 10) from the start to the end of the experimental period. In Experiments 1 and 2, cows were 67 d ± 3.8 (mean ± SE) and 51.5 ± 2.3 d postpartum at the start of the experiment. Follicular characteristics of each cow were examined by transrectal ultrasonography. In Experiment 1, interwave interval for wave 3 was shorter in EB than NE cows. Maximum dominant follicle (MDF) diameter tended to be greater during wave 2 for EB than NE cows, while wave 3 was greater for EB than NE cows. However, MDF diameter for wave 6 was greater for NE than EB cows. In Experiment 2, EB12 cows had fewer follicular waves to the resumption of luteal activity (RLA) than NE cows, while the number of waves to RLA for EB6 cows did not differ from that of EB12 or NE cows. Normalizing follicular waves to the time of RLA for cows within the EB12 and EB6 indicated that those cows at RLA had larger MDF diameters for the wave that produced the ovulatory follicle than cows that did not RLA. These data show the effects of bull exposure in altering follicular growth and developmental patterns, shortening the inter-wave interval and increasing the MDF diameter. Though the mechanism through which bull exposure alters postpartum follicular development is not entirely understood, these data provide new understanding. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wilkinson/WilkinsonJ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wolfenden/WolfendenM0809.pdf 2009-10-02T13:35:32Z

Using PAMAM dendrimer frameworks to investigate multivalent binding in protein-carbohydrate interactions Wolfenden, Mark Leroy Polyvalent interactions in biological systems have been of great interest recently; how nature creates high affinity polyvalent binding with low monomeric affinity, is yet to be clearly understood. We have created a bivalent lectincarbohydrate binding system using dendrimers as the carbohydrate mounted scaffold and Concanavalin A (Con A) as the mannose/glucose binding lectin to investigate this mode of interaction. The relative affinities of the utilized carbohydrates toward Con A are: mannose binds 4 times stronger than glucose, and galactose shows no affinity. With these relative affinities in hand and changing the ratios of mannose, glucose and galactose on the periphery of the PAMAM dendrimer scaffold, we have made a predictable and tuneable system with which to control the polyvalent binding relative affinity. By changing the carbohydrate presentation and varying the size of PAMAM dendrimer used, we can tune the affinity between two orders of magnitude. Although the relative affinities can be predictably altered, the clustering ability across the same generation dendrimer is not affected. In exploring more complex lectin : carbohydrate systems we have made a library of lactose, galactose and galNAc functionalized dendrimers to study binding to galectin-3. This lectin is implicated in numerous cancer related pathway, cellular proliferation and apoptosis. An ELISA based assay was developed to gain binding information of this intruiging interaction. The assay results suggest a reduced effect of binding association even with a large range of monomeric affinities, indicating a multivalent system. The monomer affinities did however affect the lectin recruitment to the dendrimers adsorbed onto a surface. The report here indicated a delicate interplay of modes of multivalent binding that dictate the biological behavior of this important galactose binding lectin. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wolfenden/WolfendenM0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/savage/SavageS0809.pdf 2009-10-06T18:34:15Z

Mapping changes in Yellowstone's geothermal areas Savage, Shannon Lea Yellowstone National Park (YNP) contains the world's largest concentration of geothermal features, and is legally mandated to protect and monitor these natural features. Remote sensing is a component of the current geothermal monitoring plan. Landsat satellite data have a substantial historical archive and will be collected into the future, making it the only available thermal imagery for historical analysis and long-term monitoring of geothermal areas in the entirety of YNP. Landsat imagery from Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensors was explored as a tool for mapping geothermal heat flux and geothermally active areas within YNP and to develop a change analysis technique for scientists to utilize with additional Landsat data available from 1978 through the foreseeable future. Terrestrial emittance and estimates of geothermal heat flux were calculated for the entirety of YNP with two Landsat images from 2007 (TM) and 2002 (ETM+). Terrestrial emittance for fourteen summer dates from 1986 to 2007 was calculated for defined geothermal areas and utilized in a change analysis. Spatial and temporal change trajectories of terrestrial emittance were examined. Trajectories of locations with known change events were also examined. Relationships between the temporal clusters and spatial groupings and several change vectors (distance to geologic faults, distance to large water bodies, and distance to earthquake swarms) were explored. Finally, TM data from 2007 were used to classify geothermally active areas inside the defined geothermal areas as well as throughout YNP and a 30-km buffer around YNP. Estimations of geothermal heat flux were inaccurate due to inherent limitations of Landsat data combined with complexities arising from the effects of solar radiation and spatial and temporal variation of vegetation, microbes, steam outflows, and other features at each geothermal area. Terrestrial emittance, however, was estimated with acceptable results. The change analysis showed a relationship between absolute difference in terrestrial emittance and earthquake swarms, with 34% of the variation explained. Accuracies for the classifications of geothermally active areas were poor, but the method used for classification, random forest, could be a suitable method given higher resolution thermal imagery and better reference data. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/savage/SavageS0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/ehresman/EhresmanJ0809.pdf 2009-10-26T17:03:14Z

Integration of actuators and sensors into composite structures Ehresman, Jonathan David The need for more efficient wind turbine blades is growing in our society. One step in accomplishing this task would be to make wind turbines blades into smart structures. A smart structure is one that incorporates sensors, complete control systems, and active control devices, in order to shed, or redistribute the load placed on the structure. For wind turbine blades this means changing the shape of the blade profile as it encounters different wind conditions. In order to have active control surfaces functioning on wind turbine blades, the existing blades would have to be retrofitted, and the new blades being manufactured would have to be redesigned. There are different control surfaces to consider: gurney flaps and false wall flaps are two that can perturb the boundary layer across the low pressure side of the wing. A flat plate and blade section test bed will be manufactured in order to gather empirical data from wind tunnel testing. For actuation of the control surface there are many choices: electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electro-hydrostatic. These actuator types will be investigated under a set of criterion to determine the best one for turbine blade application. Sensors will be investigated with respect to their use in sensing strain, temperature, acceleration, humidity, and delamination. Sensors are also used for health monitoring. This helps engineers design under a damage tolerant philosophy as opposed to a safe life structure philosophy. These sensors will be placed into laminates and different surface treatments will be reviewed to find the best configuration for each sensor. The sensor will be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol, dipped in a 20% by mass solution of nitric acid, and submerged in a 20% by mass solution of nitric acid for 10 seconds. Detailed surface images will be taken of sensors with different surface treatments in order to better understand the bonding between the sensor and laminate. These images indicate that submerging the sensors into 20% by mass solution of nitric acid is the best surface treatment. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/ehresman/EhresmanJ0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/cummins/CumminsB0809.pdf 2009-10-07T17:13:53Z

Determining the biomechanical response of a filiform hair array: a low Reynolds number fluid-structure model Cummins, Breschine A model system that has been the subject of many anatomical, developmental, functional, and theoretical studies over the last 30 years is the cercal sensory system of the cricket. This system is composed of two antenna-like appendages covered with hundreds of filiform mechanosensory hairs, and encodes information about the direction and dynamics of low-velocity air currents. The encoding is determined by the biomechanical properties of the mechanosensory hairs. These properties are poorly understood, primarily because accurate experimental measurements of the air-current-driven movements of the hairs are difficult to obtain, and adequate mathematical tools for modeling arbitrarily complex hair-to-hair interactions within the canopy have been absent. The study presented here solves fundamental problems in both of these areas. Previous studies have characterized the biomechanics of the filiform hairs, but only one study considered the fluid-mediated interaction of closely-packed hairs. A major goal of our work was to model the motion of a dense patch of thin filaments driven by bulk fluid flow, in a context that is immediately relevant to the cercal system. To understand the function of the sensory epithelium as a whole, we developed a numerical model based on a novel mathematical tool: the method of regularized unsteady Stokeslets. This method is generally applicable to low Reynolds number fluid flow in domains that are subject to periodic forcing along the boundary. The numerical scheme associated with our mathematical model is fast, scalable, accounts for the interaction between arbitrary arrangements of hairs. We measured the biomechanical stimulus-response properties of 19 filiform hairs, and used that data to fit parameters to our mathematical model. We demonstrate for the first time that one of the mechanical parameters controlling filiform hair motion depends on the frequency of the air stimulus. Our numerical simulations demonstrate that damped and synergistic hair interactions can occur between closely-packed hairs. Low frequency signals (< 50 Hz) are damped, and higher frequency signals (50-200 Hz) are amplified. We hypothesize that the characteristic dense patch of hairs at the proximal end of the cercus acts as a noise cancellation filter that removes low frequency components of ambient environmental stimuli. 2009-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/cummins/CumminsB0809.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/allen/AllenT0509.pdf 2009-06-26T15:17:18Z

Agronomics of reseeding winterkilled winter wheat Allen, Thomas Lee Winterkill has long been a problem for winter wheat growers in Montana. In any given year up to 50% of the seeded acres of winter wheat may have to be reseeded to spring wheat. Research has addressed injury thresholds on when to reseed winter wheat. But little information is available regarding reseeding to spring wheat. The objectives of this study were to determine the level of injury whereby it is more profitable to reseed to spring rather than leave the reduced stand of winter wheat. Eighteen treatments were used to simulate different levels of winter injury and methods of termination of the winter wheat before reseeding. Soil water and nitrogen use by the winter wheat before termination was also determined. Mechanical and chemical termination of 60%, 40% and 20% stands of winter wheat were replanted to spring wheat. An early and late reseeding was also imposed. A 20% stand of winter wheat out yielded the early seeded spring wheat check in all environments. Early reseeded treatments were significantly better than late reseeded treatments. There was no difference between mechanically and chemically terminated plots. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/allen/AllenT0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/alonso/AlonsoN0509.pdf 2009-10-07T17:13:16Z

An Alternating-Direction Sinc-Galerkin method for elliptic problems on finite and infinite domains Alonso, Nicomedes III Alternating-Direction Implicit (ADI) schemes are a class of very efficient algorithms for the numerical solution of differential equations. Sinc-Galerkin schemes employ a sinc basis to produce exponentially accurate approximate solutions to differential equations even in the presence of singularities. In this dissertation we begin with a broad overview of sinc methods for problems posed on both finite and infinite, one- and two-dimensional domains. We then present a variety of finite difference methods that lead to the introduction of a new Alternating-Direction Sinc-Galerkin scheme based on the classic ADI scheme for a linear matrix system. We note that when a Sinc-Galerkin method is used to solve a Poisson equation, the resulting matrix system is a Sylvester equation. We discuss ADI model problems in general and then prove that when a symmetric Sinc-Galerkin method is employed, the resulting Sylvester equation can be classified as an ADI model problem. Finally, we derive our Alternating-Direction Sinc-Galerkin (ADSG) method to solve this resulting Sylvester equation, specifying the use of a constant iteration parameter to avoid costly eigen-value computations. We end by applying ADSG to a variety of problems, comparing its performance to the standard technique that uses the Kronecker product, the Kronecker sum, and the concatenation operator. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/alonso/AlonsoN0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/barker/BarkerT0509.pdf 2009-06-25T15:31:46Z

A description of sleep patterns and sleep hygiene practices for adults in cardiac rehabilitation programs in Southern Montana Barker, Tina Marie Despite the importance of coronary heart disease (CHD) as a major health problem and cardiac rehabilitation as a means of secondary prevention, no previous studies have been found which describe sleep patterns and sleep hygiene practices in this population. Sleep is essential for mental and physical well being and good sleep hygiene practices promote high quality sleep. Poor sleep quality can increase the risk of a myocardial infarction in persons with CHD. The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe sleep patterns and practices of adults diagnosed with CHD and participating in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Two survey tools, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Sleep Hygiene Index, were used to collect data on a convenience sample of 31 adults participating in cardiac rehabilitation programs located in southern Montana. The questionnaires were returned with a response rate of 69.3%. Study results indicate poor sleep quality in this sample population which was primarily due to poor sleep efficiency and sleep disturbance. Sleep hygiene practices of this sample were relatively good, with only a few areas of deficiencies observed. The findings from this study provide a basis for future research. Future research needs to approach the cardiac rehabilitation population on a larger scale and determine if specific sleep hygiene practices correlate with poor sleep quality. Nurse practitioners and other providers can incorporate this knowledge into interventions to promote sleep and sleep hygiene practices. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/barker/BarkerT0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/bickham/BickhamM0509.pdf 2009-06-25T16:55:23Z

Distress in nurses following patient death: a local response to the need for debriefing Bickham, Melanie Ann The purpose of this clinical project was to determine if nurses in an acute care setting would report a need for debriefing following a patient death. The review of current literature revealed mixed results regarding the effectiveness of debriefing as an intervention. Literature shows that emotional expression is perceived as cathartic by nurses and is viewed as a positive coping mechanism. However, randomized controlled trials of debriefing models did not demonstrate that participation in debriefing prevented distress symptoms. A survey was created to assess nurses' views regarding debriefing following a patient's death. Surveys were placed in mailboxes of Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses in a 220 bed hospital in Montana. There were 55 respondents. Demographically, the average participant in the survey was 38 years of age, held a bachelors degree, had been a nurse for 9 years, worked in a critical care unit, and had experienced approximately 15 patient deaths over their career. The majority of nurses surveyed felt that an information-sharing and event processing session among peers (debriefing) would be helpful in coping with their emotions after a patient's death. Thirty of those surveyed reported they would be very likely to participate or would definitely participate in a debriefing session if it were available. The overwhelming majority (n=52, 94.3%) reported experiencing one symptom of distress after a patient death. Comments written on the surveys were grouped into themes. These themes included catharsis/sharing, positive coping, past experiences with debriefing, prevention of death, perceived need for formal debriefing, no perceived need for formal debriefing, emotional distancing, and debriefing only for special circumstances. Surveys revealed that the majority of nurses surveyed felt that debriefing sessions would be helpful in processing their emotions following a patient death. The author wrote a nursing policy regarding the use of debriefing in a hospital setting for nurses following a patient death and made this available to the organization surveyed. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/bickham/BickhamM0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/bendick/BendickE0509.pdf 2009-06-23T17:28:12Z

Fiber optic vines on the third wall: cultivating natural media in the digital age Bendick, Eric Louis Twenty-thousand years ago, the earliest known depictions of natural forms were inscribed by primitive man onto the surface of the "third wall" . . . be it cave, grotto, overhang, or alcove. Today the myriad representations of our natural world, along with the expanding cosmic narratives of 'natural history' that animate and describe such characters within an ornate epistemological framework (part-science: evolution, thermodynamics, ecology, and part-social criticism: environmental justice, sustainability, conservation) proliferate in ever-increasing mobile permutations; not only in our textbooks and living rooms, but also in our cars, on billboards, Jumbotrons, laptops, cell phones, and portable media players. Throughout history, changes in representational 'mode' (across and through new technical mediums) have ushered in significant narrative metamorphoses, formal innovations, and accompanied revolutionary transitions in symbolic language. The focus of this paper is to assess the implications of recent technological shifts, especially those characterized by the widespread contemporary adoption of digital technologies and the emergence of vast, interconnected networks of computing power, on the representation, production, and distribution of 'natural world' (both science and social) new media content. Through a detailed survey of popular case-studies, analytical research, and data trends, this paper will analyze new media models both from within and without as they relate to digital publishing, non-linear content creation, social networking, and the increasingly permeable interface between consumer and producer in our contemporary mediascape. Finally, this paper applies formative research to prescribe a more general use of 'best practices' in new technology which may facilitate a more progressive and participatory moment in post-industrial 'natural world' media-making, in concert with peers and fans, corporations and collectives, and open to interpretation, cross-pollination, and synergistic hybridity. It is no exaggeration to remark that this technological transformation will forever change the way we learn, evaluate, and participate in a global dialogue whose subject is none other than the globe itself. As our ancestors surely harnessed the power of the 'third wall' to communicate in both personal and broad strokes, so this essay seeks to re-imagine the 'digital third wall' as a place of increasing ubiquity, intimacy, contention, and epistemological power throughout the evolving realms of scientific and social natural representation. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/bendick/BendickE0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/black/BlackW0509.pdf 2009-06-26T15:10:24Z

Training responses of two-year-old Quarter horses fed rapidly fermentable carbohydrates Black, Wade Raymond Two replicated experiments (Exp. 1: May 14 to June 8; Exp.2: June 25 to July 20) evaluated effects of feeding grain to 2-yr-old Quarter horses on behavior and physiological parameters during early stages of training. In each experiment, 6 different horses were allotted by sex and weight to 2 diets; hay only or hay plus 2.3 kg/d grain. Horses were group-housed with ad libitum access to grass/alfalfa hay and water, and were individually fed 1.15 kg grain or 40 g salt (placebo) at 0800 and 1600 for 7 d prior to and during training. The trainer was blind to diet assignments. Horses were trained 5 d/wk for 3 wk and scored (1 to 5) by the trainer daily on obedience (willingness to ride with a loose rein and little leg pressure), life (willingness to move at any desired speed), and direction (suppleness in the poll and loin), while an observer scored fearfulness. A heart monitor recorded minimum, maximum, and mean heart rate daily during training. Categorical data were transformed by subtracting the daily median as each horse's score was relative to the other horses on that day. Data were analyzed as repeated measures (Proc Mixed of SAS) with horse as the experimental unit. In Exp. 1 grain did not affect (P = 0.83) obedience, while horses fed grain in Exp. 2 were less obedient during training (P = 0.02) than those not receiving grain. Horses fed grain showed greater (P = 0.05) fearfulness than horses fed hay alone. Life:direction (ideal is 1.0, > 1.0 indicates high self-preservation) was higher (P = 0.04) in horses fed grain than in those fed hay alone (1.29 vs. 1.08, respectively). Maximum heart rate was not affected (P = 0.21) by grain, while mean heart rate was higher (P = 0.03) for horses fed grain than hay alone (126 vs. 119 beats/min, respectively). Horses fed grain during training exhibited more self-preservation behavior, increased mean heart rate, and an unbalanced life to direction ratio, which could inhibit training effectiveness. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/black/BlackW0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/chapman/ChapmanC0509.pdf 2009-07-07T10:57:46Z

Novel pharmaceutical combination confers protection from delayed cell death following transient cerebral ischemia Chapman, Courtney Myfanwy Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability throughout the world; ischemia is the most common form of stroke. Medical procedures such as cardio-pulmonary bypass surgery can cause ischemic stroke can be caused. There are no treatments to limit neural impairment following stroke. The current research investigates neuroprotection offered by treatment with a novel drug combination consisting of Simvastatinâ„¢, Gemfibrozilâ„¢, Troglitazoneâ„¢, and Spironolactoneâ„¢. Animals were treated with the drug cocktail three weeks proceeding and one week subsequent to surgery. Ischemic insult was induced by clamping the carotid arteries for 5 min. Sham subjects underwent similar surgical procedures, but the carotids were not clamped. Twenty-four hrs following the surgical procedure locomotor activity was monitored in an open field for 5 min. Seven to fourteen days following ischemia or the sham procedure animals were sacrificed and sections containing the hippocampal CA1 region were mounted on slides and stained with cresyl violet. The CA1 region was rated on a 4-point scale for level of damage. Rodents generally show increased locomotor activity following transient global ischemia in an open field. In our study, ischemic animals that received vehicle demonstrated increased activity relative to the animals that received the drug treatment on all behavioral measures. Ischemic animals that received vehicle treatment had significantly more neural damage in the hippocampal CA1 region than ischemic animals receiving the drug. The appearance of neurons in the CA1 hippocampal regions of animals in the sham condition was not significantly different from ischemic animals in the drug treatment condition. It is concluded that the drug treatment is effective in offering neuroprotection during transient global ischemia. The next step is to characterize the biochemical mechanisms behind the neuroprotection conferred by the drug treatment. Contrasting the protein expression levels of animals receiving the vehicle treatment with animals receiving the drug treatment following an ischemic insult will assist in elucidating these pathways. Predictions are made regarding the biochemical mechanisms affected by the drug treatment based on previous research on the biochemical pathways affected by each pharmaceutical. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/chapman/ChapmanC0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/cochran/CochranA0509.pdf 2009-07-08T17:42:11Z

Assessing the venture captial legacy: an investigation of post-IPO performance and impact Cochran, Andrew Carl While extensive literature documents the venture capital impact around the initial public offering, little is known about the enduring effects of venture financing. This paper follows the post-IPO performance of venture-backed U.S. firms in different IPO cohorts from 1970 to 2006, and measures the duration of any venture capital advantages after the IPO. Venture capital strongly correlates with higher R&D and market-to-book ratios ("q"), and venture-backed firms grow faster and perform better particularly in high-tech industries. This apparent advantage for venture-backed firms remains for years following the IPO. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/cochran/CochranA0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/costanti/CostantiP0509.pdf 2009-06-23T17:40:30Z

Sustaining the memory [history] of place Costanti, Peter John Our minds have the ability to recall and sustain memories, so why can't architecture do the same? Our built environment exhibits the ability to form expectations of the future, while conducting investigations into the past. Every place has an identity, a location, and a memory that characterizes its existence. Memory is a component that, at the moment, may be vacant within the context of our forgotten sites, our terrain vague. These places are currently unseen, ignored, or forgotten, but this does not mean the history is unworthy of resurrection. There is certainly a story that exists, that can classify, identify, and categorize the historic capacity of these places. Without paying homage to, and focusing awareness on our past, we risk losing it completely. As our industrial era evolves into the technological age, we face a decision: to bury our past industrial sites along with their collective memories, or embrace them well into the future. To address this topic I will research, plan, and design an appropriate solution to the port/waterfront area of Bellingham, Washington. This 170 acre location was once the home of the thriving Georgia Pacific pulp mill that has now been terminated due to economic changes. Not only has this site been socially forgotten, it has been physically mistreated and neglected with the introduction of toxins that affect and systematically dismantle the local ecology. The importance of this site is evident because it represents industrial sites throughout our coastlines that have been closed down and/or re-programmed. Without proper recognition, we will be unable to sustain the historical relevance of this site, along with many more. Our society should always keep one foot in the past while making a simultaneous stride towards the future. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/costanti/CostantiP0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/drummer/DrummerK0509.pdf 2009-06-23T17:51:49Z

A Chippewa Cree students' college experience: factors affecting persistence Drummer, Kadene Sue Educators working with Chippewa Cree students need to understand how the students' precollege experiences, college experiences, and cultural backgrounds influence their success in higher education in order to design learning environments, procedures, and policies that will increase the graduation rate of this population. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore factors that help or hinder successful completion of a bachelor's degree by students from the Chippewa Cree Tribe. Data was collected in face-to-face interviews using a peer-reviewed interview protocol consisting of open-ended questions for graduates and student services personnel determined by the concepts identified after examination of related literature. Thirty graduates from the Chippewa Cree Tribe and 5 student services personnel from two state colleges in Montana were interviewed. Factors that the graduates found most relevant to their success were family, personal goal, friends, institutional support, and academic preparation. The greatest obstacles they reported were finances, loneliness, commuting, life responsibilities, discouragement, unpreparedness for college work, lack of study skills, and lack of time-management skills. Suggestions to improve the graduation rate for new students included persistence, responsibility, preparation for the transition from high school to college, time management, willingness to leave their comfort zone and develop their social skills, study skills, class attendance, willingness to ask for help, lack of discouragement, academic preparedness, and completion of school work. Recommendations include designing recruiting and retention strategies to meet the specific needs of the Native American student, collaborating with K-12 schools and the community to develop programs that encourage early preparation for college, establishing and advertising Native American centers on campuses, organizing professional development seminars on diversity issues designed to give faculty and staff a safe environment to explore different cultures, encouraging increased faculty-student interactions, creating an advisory committee charged with increasing Native American student retention, recognizing and giving appreciation for success, developing a comprehensive college finance and budgeting workshop that includes the student's whole family, and developing and maintaining an up-to-date data base within the Chippewa Cree Tribe to collect data on educational and cultural issues. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/drummer/DrummerK0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/dutkowsky/DutkowskyM0509.pdf 2009-07-08T17:48:44Z

Institutions, third-parties, and water markets: an analysis of the role of water rights, the no-injury rule, and Water Code 386 on water markets in California counties Dutkowsky, Monique Renee Given the apparently large potential gains from the trade of water, why do we observe so few market transactions? This paper argues that policy-driven transaction costs are an important trade-hindering factor. More specifically, this paper examines the allocation of property rights under the No-Injury Rule, which gives rights to riparian users, and Water Code 386, which gives quasi-blocking rights to third-parties, making water rights less clear. Both laws are predicted to decrease the likelihood of observing an active export market and the volume of exports in the county. To test these predictions, this paper uses the cross sectional variation in the number of riparian rights holders and the number of third-parties to estimate their effect on all county-level water trades in California from 1990 to 2001. The empirical results show that the effect of Water Code 386 on exports is inconclusive. The results for the No-Injury Rule indicates that for the average county, a one standard deviation increase in the ratio of riparian rights holders to the total population will decrease the likelihood that the county will have an active export market by 30 percent and will decrease the ratio of exports to appropriations by 7.4 percent. This suggests that if California's goal is, as stated in the 1970's, to reallocate water to its highest valued use via water markets, the current allocation of property rights may be creating policy-driven costs that hinder reaching that goal. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/dutkowsky/DutkowskyM0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/ernst/ErnstJ0509.pdf 2009-06-23T18:06:35Z

[Re] defining transit culture Ernst, Jeffrey Troy Environmental concerns and energy crisis have heightened awareness of energy consumption and instigated thought into alternative and updated means of travel. High speed rail has been highly utilized for travel and transport in Europe and Japan and is experiencing its initiation in the U.S. in the state of California with future proposals in cities across the country. This thesis addresses the notion of high speed rail in a society where travel is dominated by the automobile and the geographies of cities and suburbs exist under a unique paradigm compared to other countries and continents. A proposal is created in a scenario that incorporates the automobile into a network of transportation modes in which efficiency amongst and between each mode is considered the ideal. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/ernst/ErnstJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/evans/Evans0509.pdf 2009-06-23T18:11:52Z

Co-Habitate Evans, Meaghan Terese This Thesis reinforces the natural characteristics in the zone of civilization's periphery and reverses the negative human impact on the natural world by developing a controlled experiential interaction between people and their environment. Explorations in spatial overlap, flexibility, and human activities resulted in three installations that define architectural space as a dynamic relationship between the human lifestyle, the dwelling unit, and its environment. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/evans/Evans0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/fischer/FischerS0509.pdf 2009-07-08T18:14:44Z

Human capital accumulation among Native Americans: an empirical analysis of the national assessment of educational progress Fischer, Stefanie Jane Native Americans have low levels of human capital accumulation. In 2005, only 21% scored at the proficient level on the NAEP math test compared with 37% of all other test takers. One cause of their low human capital accumulation may be factors that commonly explain low academic performance among other minority groups within the United States, such as school quality and family background. Alternatively, Native American students may perform low academically due to factors that are unique to this population such as living on Native land or the political institutions that govern them. This paper will empirically examine Native American students' human capital accumulation decisions. Using data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), I find Native American students residing on Native land score 1/4 of a standard deviation lower on the math assessment than Native American students living off Native land, with no other controls added. After controlling for other area characteristics, family background, peer effects and school resources, the effect of living on Native land is not statistically significant in explaining test scores. Family background and peer effects explain most of the variation in Native American students' human capital accumulation decision. Students who identify with the white peer group score 1/5 of a standard deviation higher than students who identify with the Native American peer group. Although legal institutions do not explain student test scores, they do appear to affect students' attendance. Students living in areas under tribal jurisdiction are 13% more likely to miss a week or more of school in a month, ceteris paribus. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/fischer/FischerS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/flink/FlinkS0509.pdf 2009-06-23T18:33:24Z

Million Dollar Blocks Flink, Stephen Sperling Public housing in today's society is an accumulation of truths. These truths are a construct of institutions that are vastly different and sometimes conflicting but control and arrange life within the community. Public housing has transformed into a place of actual and perceived boundaries which constrict the control residents possess within the housing and its surroundings. The lack of control socially segregates, isolates, and stigmatizes residents as well as creates a dangerous environment. The residents' exclusion from outside communities prohibits them from functioning cohesively within society. With the objective of reducing crime rates, this thesis focuses on the physical environment's ability to transform the strict boundaries which separate public and private space within public housing. Blurring the influence of existing private spaces will give residents the ability to express territoriality within the public housing complex. A new order will be generated through localized interrelationships of private and public spaces. This environmental transformation will give residents among the public housing a sense of territoriality and the ability for self surveillance within their community. Inducing modes of habitation found outside of the public housing paradigm will return much needed control of space to the residents within the community. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/flink/FlinkS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/fullerton/FullertonT0509.pdf 2009-06-23T18:42:37Z

Creative forum at Montana State University Fullerton, Tyler Barlow The creative process is a key element to generating great architecture, art and science. In order to best utilize this process one must understand different types of creativity, environments that inspire creativity, different processes and techniques and how the conscious and subconscious handle creative thought and creative production. To architecturally explore creative process and production I will design a structure on campus with the purpose of assisting creativity and creative production in the ways that I have come to understand them. Understanding the creative process as it applies to and/or derives from psychology, philosophy, art and/or design is essential to guide and increase creativity. Communicating what is found is equally as important as finding it. A structure with the primary purpose of communicating and allowing creative thought, an architectural muse to inspire creative production, is intended. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/fullerton/FullertonT0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/gorelova/GorelovaO0509.pdf 2009-06-23T18:54:20Z

Postmodernism, Native American literature and issues of sovereignty Gorelova, Olena Criticism of Native American literature is barely two centuries old, while criticism of Western literature boasts a history that is quite a bit longer. The questions on how to read and interpret tribal narrative and modern American Indian fiction are still urgent topics that trigger numerous debates among literary scholars. What theories to employ and what approaches to use to dispel misinterpretations of the literature are still matters open to suggestion. Postmodernism, the new world trend, has influenced all spheres of life, not excluding literature. Although it does seem to better account for American Indian voices as it shifts attention to local narratives and re-evaluation of history, the issue of whether it is applicable and favorable to Native American literature and its cause is a debatable one. Postmodern theory claims to liberate the suppressed voices including those of Native Americans, but at the same time presents the danger of limiting Native American literature to another set of frames while denying it its purpose, i.e. achievement of the establishment of Native American national literature. Many American Indian scholars insist that American Indian literature should not be interpreted using mainstream approaches, such as postmodernism, since they have already done enough damage, but implementing American Indian philosophies instead, such as nationalism. It also seems premature to apply postmodern theory since it deconstructs history and identity, which are still to be constructed in Native American literature. Tribal literature and tribal realities are closely connected and, therefore, the fight for Native American literature and how to interpret it appears to be a part of a bigger fight, the one for sovereignty, both national and intellectual. The "post" of postmodernism, as well as the "post" of post-colonialism, might simply not be present for Native American literature yet and, therefore, theories offered by nationalism can at the given moment be more promising to American Indian literature and its purposes. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/gorelova/GorelovaO0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/gould/GouldS0509.pdf 2009-08-05T16:20:52Z

Identity: psychological relationships between place and occupant informing Burmese refugee communal design Gould, Shawn Patrick Place is an active participant in determining who we are; it becomes part of one's identity. People use space as a vehicle in which individual and social experiences are carried out and remembered, ultimately shaping who one is. An attachment to place is formed. Place becomes vital to one's mental being and survival because it is a piece of a whole in how one defines herself/himself and his purpose. But what happens when place attachment is broken? The consequences can be severe. For example, Burmese refugees responding to political persecution, persistent poverty, and most recently the ramifications of Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, were forced to abandon their homes and communities---- their place. They lost part of their identity. In doing so, the already dire situation they experienced grew more grievous. This continues today. Now these refugees congregate in camps along the Burmese/Thai border looking for relief. Only tactile issues (food, shelter, water) are addressed by relief agencies, not psychological issues, such as the part of their identity they have lost. Because of this oversight , their recovery and survival lay in jeopardy. This thesis will seek to demonstrate how architecture can ascribe to various design considerations that acknowledge the importance of fundamental place attachment between occupant and place. I will illustrate these considerations by creating a community for Burmese refugees that recognizes not only the physical but the psychological factors that are imperative to recovery, such as self, social, and place identity. Ultimately this exploration hopes to instill identity back into the refugees by applying a design strategy when developing the community that is informed by the interactions of the aforementioned psychological factors. These issues of identity are pertinent to design today, when increasingly, many people like the Burmese refugee are in situations that demand thought and action for their recovery and survival. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/gould/GouldS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/gower/GowerC0509.pdf 2009-06-24T10:32:23Z

Behavioral responses of elk to winter wolf predation risk in the Madison Headwaters Area, Yellowstone National Park Gower, Claire Natasha Over the past few decades a large body of literature has provided evidence that predators can influence the ways in which prey behave. This in turn may influence prey demography and predator-prey dynamics and therefore predators may influence the structure and function of populations and communities, independent of direct killing. Using data collected from 1991 to 2007, I evaluated the behavior of elk (Cervus elaphus) in the Madison headwaters area of Yellowstone National Park in response to the colonization and establishment of wolves (Canis lupus). Changes in home range size, fidelity, group size, foraging behavior, and large-scale spatial responses were evaluated. After wolf colonization, elk movements were more dynamic as elk moved more over the landscape as they were increasingly encountered, attacked, and displaced by wolves. Home range sizes were larger, with slight decreases in fidelity. These results show that elk made modest adjustments in space use presumably to reduce their vulnerability from predators at a fine-scale within their range. More dramatic larger scale spatial shifts were also documented as radio-collared elk adopted long-distance dispersal and migratory movements away from high-density wolf areas. These apparent predator-avoidance movements were never observed prior to wolf colonization or from areas where the risk of predation was lower. Prior to wolf colonization, the grouping behavior of elk was relatively stable and predictable as elk attempted to conserve energy and decrease starvation risk in the absence of wolves. Following wolf reintroduction group size and group size variation increased. This more dynamic behavior likely reflects a strategy to minimize predation risk and maximize food acquisition. The decision to forage was heavily influenced by local snow, habitat type, and time of day but remained relatively stable with and without the presence of wolves. The lack of any substantial change in the foraging behavior of elk in the presence of wolves illustrates that elk can maintain the same level of foraging time and retain a relatively constant level of nutrition. Together these results suggest that in a harsh winter environment such as the Madison headwaters, elk can adaptively manage their behavior to cope with environmental constraints both in the presence and absence of wolves. Landscape variation such as snow pack severity and habitat types, complexity, and patch size also influences predation risk and may dictate the way in which prey behave. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/gower/GowerC0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/seyler/SeylerA0509.pdf 2009-06-30T17:59:40Z

Prove It: climate change films and the skeptic Seyler, Amber Dawn Science and natural history documentaries can be an entertaining and effective way to teach the public about a scientific topic. The topic of climate change presents a unique set of problems that require that a successful climate change film must rethink how the science is presented. Climate change is unique in that it has been so politicized that not only is it controversial, but a whole segment of the population (including those in government) simply doesn't believe that climate change exists. So each climate change film must be seen as an argument, and as a political document, if its goal is to persuade a skeptic that climate change does exist and needs to be actively addressed by the public and by government. Aristotle's rhetoric is a valuable foundation for creating a persuasive climate change argument in a climate change film. Each of Aristotle's proofs provides a guideline for persuasion. But these proofs are not complete without knowing how to frame your argument. Framing is a valuable cognitive political tool, used by conservatives for decades, and because each climate change film is a political document, framing is a necessary tool for the climate change filmmaker to use. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/seyler/SeylerA0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/parker/ParkerJ0509.pdf 2009-07-08T18:20:52Z

Development and implementation of a low cost image correlation system to obtain full-field in-plane displacement and strain data Parker, John Wesley When using multi-axial testing, obtaining in-plane strain and displacement data can be difficult and costly. Montana State University's In Plane Loader (IPL) can apply any number of loads in the X and Y axes and as rotation but can only provide the displacement data at the grips. This project uses a Canon consumer-model digital single lens reflex camera and a series of matlab codes to provide in-plane displacement and strain data at as many points on the surface of the loaded specimen as required using Digital Image Correlation. The system has been successfully used to measure surface and boundary displacements on composite and aluminum samples, as well as on glued aluminum joints. The software system has been shown to estimate strains with a strain error of less then 0.0002 m/m or ±0.5% placing it within ASTM-B2 classification. It also has been shown to measure displacements to within 0.02 pixels accuracy, which for tests on the IPL translates to 0.007mm. The hardware/software system has also been used with the IPL to estimate Young's modulus of aluminum with less then 5% error and yield strength with just over 10% error. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/parker/ParkerJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/hiris/HirisL0509.pdf 2009-06-24T19:02:53Z

Atlantis Unbound Hiris, Lori E. The data derived from the study of the hereditary traits in Drosophila-Melanogaster remind the viewer of the tremendous potential in technology and genetic engineering. My Installation is witness to this ever-changing technology and how it shapes our culture, history, and politics. Dreams and nightmares coexist in this installation and my intent is merely to invite the viewer to consider the consequences. Inheritance in the age of database culture and the sovereignty of the Algorithm conspires to envision utopia - a New Atlantis: Bound and Unbound. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/hiris/HirisL0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/greenfield/GreenfieldN0509.pdf 2009-06-26T15:19:50Z

Low cost range and attitude determination solution for small satellite platforms Greenfield, Nathan Joseph The ability to determine the range and attitude between two satellites can be a challenging venture. It can be made more challenging when considering the use of such a system on a small satellite. Successful implementation of a small and low power range and attitude sensor could open potential doors to multiple small satellite constellations and formation flying maneuvers. After successfully demonstrating an electromagnetic docking system on a one-dimensional air track, it was determined that continued work into two and three-dimensional systems would require a more functional range and attitude sensor than was originally used. Such a sensor would have to be small enough for use aboard a small satellite, require little power while operating and provide accurate data over the required range of operation, all while maintaining a minimal monetary cost. The SATellite Range and Attitude Imaging SystEm (SATRAISE) was developed to meet this demand. In order to meet all of the listed requirements, a system based on an embedded Linux computer platform was developed. The hardware for the system utilized consumer grade, commercially available parts, including a standard computer webcam and LEDs. The software for the system made use of existing image processing libraries in order to facilitate the detection and identification of target points in frames captured by the webcam. Following successful integration of the hardware and implementation of the required software, the SATRAISE was characterized under a variety of operating conditions in order to verify the accuracy, stability and power requirements of the system. The results showed that the SATRAISE met or exceeded all of the established design goals. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/greenfield/GreenfieldN0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/heineman/HeinemanS0509.pdf 2009-06-25T16:53:02Z

Fish eating behavior and stages of change in rural, low income women of childbearing age Heineman, Sara Christine Methyl Mercury (MeHg) is a known neurotoxin associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes in children. The primary route of exposure of MeHg in humans is from consumption of contaminated fish. Although some disparities in exposure patterns have been identified, little is known about rural, low income, women of childbearing age and their fish eating behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between stages of behavioral change in fish eating behavior and self-reported consumption of fish among 106 rural low-income women of childbearing age. Results of the one-way ANOVA do not show a statistically significant difference in fish consumption within the sample based on stage of change. However, many of the participants of this study may be at risk for significant exposures to MeHg based on total fish consumption regardless of their decision to limit fish consumption. Further investigation is needed to determine types and sources of fish being consumed and fully understand exposure risks. Once risks are established, opportunities for prevention can be utilized to reduce impacts from MeHg exposures. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/heineman/HeinemanS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jones/JonesD0509.pdf 2009-06-25T11:07:33Z

Patterns of distribution and factors influencing riparian breeding birds along the Yellowstone River in Montana Jones, Danielle Anne Riparian zones harbor some of the most diverse bird communities. However, most riparian zones have been significantly modified by human activities. It is important to identify relationships between riparian birds and characteristics of the environment to understand the potential influences of floodplain management on birds. I examined patterns of riparian bird species distribution, as well as the factors affecting occurrence and abundance of species along the Yellowstone River in Montana. Point counts were conducted and vegetation data collected at 234 locations along 725 kilometers of the river. Occupancy or linear regression models were used to estimate occurrence or abundance of 14 bird species. First, I examined patterns in the distribution of bird species and their habitats. A gradient exists along most rivers that represents downstream changes in environmental conditions; I expected the distribution of vegetation to reflect this gradient, and birds to respond to these changing habitat conditions. Mature cottonwood habitat types were identified using cluster analysis, and habitat was an important driver of bird occurrence and abundance. However, there was little evidence that habitats were organized along a downstream gradient. River location was very important to birds, even after accounting for the influence of habitat, suggesting that the distributions of bird species are related to gradients that are not always reflected by habitat. Second, I used model selection methods to investigate the influences of local habitat, forest cover, land use, and river location on the occurrence or abundance of bird species. There was strong evidence that these factors were important drivers of bird distribution, and the relative influences of each factor depended upon life history characteristics of each species. The effect of river location on the occurrence or abundance of species suggests that broad-scale influences are important predictors of bird distribution along rivers. River location may reflect unmeasured environmental resources (e.g. food) that are important to birds, or variation in a species' distribution within its range boundaries. The Yellowstone River may serve as a reference for understanding the factors influencing the distribution of birds along a river, and provide valuable information for the management of riparian species. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jones/JonesD0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/johnson/JohnsonJ0509.pdf 2009-07-07T12:19:02Z

Reworking Myth: casting lots for the future of library workplaces Johnson, Joshua Kevin The purpose of this work is to provide understanding regarding the future of library workplaces by, first, establishing the relationship between Joseph Campbell's functions of mythology in traditional cultures and workplace texts, and then showing libraries as workplaces with such texts. With this framework in place, it is possible to pick-out the fundamental cycle inherent in library workplace cosmology, highlight pedagogical cycles inherent in library texts, and generate an informed understanding of future cosmological and pedagogical trends using educated extrapolation of such cycles. These steps all serve to lay further groundwork in understanding library workplace mythology and its sociological effects, and, using the relationship between ever-moving cosmological and pedagogical cycles, it becomes possible to form an educated picture of future library sociology. In the end, library workplace mythology has no new revelations about the direction of library workplace sociology, only new ways of dispelling predictions often made about the future of libraries and their workplaces. By looking at library workplaces as sites of mythology, this work offers expectations that the same cycles inherent in past and present library workplaces will continue to overcome changes in the technological, political, and social constructs of future library workplaces. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/johnson/JohnsonJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/junkert/JunkertL0509.pdf 2009-06-25T12:12:02Z

The grid overlay system model Junkert, Levi Daniel The grid overlay system model is a new technique for forming a grid computing model for research computing. In this method we construct a grid that is dynamically allocated from a set of resources in a unique and progressive manner. This new system model allows for construction of virtual environments for execution of applications on many diverse shared resources. The system can dynamically scale to create a range of resources from a single machine to a virtual cluster of machines. This model provides a virtual container that can run legacy and customized software in an emulated environment or directly on the host's hardware through virtualization. Using this model on current consumer hardware allows for a unique blend of software containment with dynamic resource allocation. Our model, in combination with commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware and software, is able to create a large grid system with multiple combinations of hardware and software environments. In our model we propose a unique set of abstraction layers for systems. The combination of our model with current consumer hardware and software provides a unique design principle for addressing grid implementation, hardware reusability, operating system deployment and implementation, virtualization in the grid, and user control techniques. This provides a robust and simple framework that allows for the construction of computational research solutions in which performance can be traded for flexibility, and vice versa. Our model can be applied to computational research grids, service oriented grids, and even scales to collections of mobile or embedded system grids. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/junkert/JunkertL0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/littenberg/LittenbergT0509.pdf 2009-06-25T12:37:10Z

A comprehensive Bayesian approach to gravitational wave astronomy Littenberg, Tyson Bailey The challenge of determining whether data from a gravitational wave detector contains signals which are cosmic in origin is the central problem in gravitational wave astronomy. The "detection problem" is particularly challenging for low amplitude signals embedded in "glitchy" instrument noise. It is imperative that we can robustly distinguish between the data being consistent with instrument noise alone, or noise and a weak gravitational wave signal. In response to this challenge we have set out to develop a robust, general purpose approach that can locate and characterize gravitational wave signals, and provided odds that the signal is of cosmic origin. Our approach employs the Markov Chain Monte Carlo family of algorithms to construct a fully Bayesian solution to the challenge - the Parallel Tempered Markov Chain Monte Carlo (PTMCMC) detection algorithm. The PTMCMC detection algorithm establishes which regions of parameter space contain the highest posterior weight, efficiently explores the posterior distribution function of the model parameters, and calculates the marginalized likelihood, or evidence, for the models under consideration. We illustrate our approach using simulated LISA and LIGO-Virgo data. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/littenberg/LittenbergT0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/lucas/LucasO0509.pdf 2009-07-06T16:54:55Z

Molecular and systemic functions of the vertebrate-specific TATA-binding protein N terminus Lucas, Olivier The invertebrate/vertebrate transition and associated innovations can be regarded as a major event in evolution. Recent molecular progresses invite to an analysis of the events leading to the apparition of vertebrates and the underlying embellishment in gene regulation. In eukaryotes, the TATA-Binding Protein (TBP) has a central role in transcription initiation of most genes. TBP is comprised of a highly conserved DNA binding domain and, in vertebrates, it also contains a novel region: the N-terminal TBP protein coding sequence. The role of the TBP-N is largely unknown, but previous studies suggest that it is important for fetal survival. Most animals lacking the TBP-N (tbp ΔN/ΔN) die before weaning. The goal of the present work was to establish a deeper knowledge of the vertebrate-specific TBP-N. It was hypothesized that TBP-N could be involved in protein-protein interactions and that the high degree of similarity of TBP-N protein sequences in different species could correlate with similar functions. To test those hypotheses, two independent approaches were taken: (1) Protein-protein interactions involving the TBP-N via unbiased screens were characterized. (2) The mouse TBP-N was replaced by a similar and homologous TBP-N, in vivo, through homologous recombination. The TBP-N-replacement mutation was characterized through pathway analyses, bioinformatics, and whole-animal physiology. Screens for proteins interacting with the TBP-N of hagfish (hf), a basal vertebrate, uncovered hfPitxA. The Pitx family of transcription factors are proteins important in vertebrate development. The mouse paralogs of hfPitxA, Pitx1 and Pitx2, were found to interact with the mouse TBP-N. Moreover, the interaction appeared functional as it regulated the expression of nppa, a known target gene of Pitx2. In vivo replacement of the mouse TBP-N with the similar hfTBP-N did not affect the survival. Gene expression analysis indicated that lipid metabolism pathways were affected in animals lacking the TBP-N or when the hfTBP-N was present. Further analyses pointed toward a potential defect in insulin response and an abnormal hepatic fat storage. The data presented here argues in favor of an important role for TBP-N in vertebrate-specific gene regulation. More specifically, it is likely involved in heart development and in regulation of lipid metabolism. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/lucas/LucasO0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/marcille/MarcilleL0509.pdf 2009-07-09T18:15:48Z

Loneliness as experienced by women living with chronic illness in rural areas Marcille, Lisa Ann Chronic illness is often accompanied by multiple life altering challenges for individuals especially those living in rural locations. Rural dwellers generally do not have readily accessible healthcare resources; as a result, there is a risk for poor heath related outcomes. Loneliness is one such outcome. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the existing body of knowledge related to loneliness as experienced by women living with chronic illnesses in rural areas. This was accomplished by identifying and exploring factors related to loneliness. The aims of this study were to: (a) to describe the levels of loneliness, depression, stress, and social support for a group of rural women with a chronic illness; (b) identify the factors associated with loneliness; and (c) explore participants' shared conversations to gain further insight into the rural chronically-ill woman's experience of loneliness. This study was conducted as a secondary analysis of data previously collected by the Women to Women (WTW) research team at Montana State University. The WTW study provided rural women with chronic illnesses computer training and support through an online forum. The data for the secondary analysis were generated by 57 women. The key concepts were: loneliness, depression, stress, and social support. Age, education, degree of rurality, employment status, and length of chronic illness were the demographic characteristics of interest. Degree of rurality was assigned using the MSU Rurality Index. These characteristics and the key concepts were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate analytic techniques. Content analysis was the method used to analyze the women's conversations in the online forum. The data were obtained from 12 women who were identified as the most vulnerable to loneliness. Three categories were defined using this method: longing for loved ones, "listening" from the background, and changing relationships. Results of this study supported previous researchers' findings of correlations between loneliness and depression, social support and stress. There was no significant relationship between loneliness and degree of rurality; however, length of chronic illness was significant. Level of education was identified as an area of interest for further nursing research. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/marcille/MarcilleL0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/mcquinn/McQuinnD0509.pdf 2009-07-07T12:23:08Z

Infusion: urban and domestic transformation McQuinn, Dylan Thomas The turn of the Century in this country brought with it the introduction and ensuing growth of water-born trade markets, facilitating the establishment of a series of metropolitan hubs scattered along the coastline. The subsequent hundred years has seen a major increase in population within these areas accompanied by an economic shift away from maritime trade. Older ports have been abandoned, leaving behind antiquated urban infrastructure. The subsequent dismantling of these vast waterfront industrial areas has provided an opportunity for the reconfiguration of these spaces and the implementation of new urban and landscape strategies. Through a recycling of the existing fabric and introduction of new uses, many cities have revitalized their industrial wastelands and integrated these areas within the existing urban fabric. Other coastal cities have merely overlooked these neglected districts and focused development in their periphery, transforming these former economic focal point into physical and typological barriers. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/mcquinn/McQuinnD0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/murphy/MurphyR0509.pdf 2009-06-30T18:49:59Z

Advocating for advance directives: guidelines for health care professionals Murphy, Rebecca Cowell An advance directive, such as a Living Will or Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, allows a person to give their instructions about future medical care if he or she is unable to participate in decisions due to serious illness or incapacity. Despite the fact the Patient Self Determination Act requires health care facilities to provide patients with information about advance directives on admission, and the public and health care professionals support the use of advance directives, few people actually complete these documents. This project was developed in support of a local community hospital's commitment to promote the creation and use of advance directives. Part one of the project involved working with the hospital's Advance Directive Committee to update and revise the Advance Directive Policy and Procedure to meet Joint Commission Standards. Part two of the project was the creation of an Advance Directive Education Module for health care professionals designed to be used as part of the employees' annual education review. The new policy created a solid framework for health care professionals to follow when working with patients and their health care goals. The computer-based Advance Directive Education Module reviewed general information about advance directives, informed health care professionals of the new Advance Directive Policy and Procedure, and gave facility-specific actions to take when working with patients and their advance directives. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/murphy/MurphyR0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/nicklas/NicklasA0509.pdf 2009-07-07T12:44:33Z

Ah! Nicklas, Andrew Bliss Ah! This show is a physical explanation of discovery - an attempt to better understand the role of contemporary hand thrown pottery and what it means to make it. A hand thrown pot can contain nourishment as well as it can provide it. Pottery can infuse artful practice and a direct relationship to the producer into everyday objects. It is the potter's responsibility to continue to push form and surface to make the best pots possible. Well crafted handmade objects support the argument for locality and autonomy, which give them greater value in a contemporary context rooted in ambiguous commodity consumption. It is our responsibility to craft the things we consume. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/nicklas/NicklasA0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/pannier/PannierA0509.pdf 2009-07-07T12:49:06Z

Reductive transformation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by Yarrowia lipolytica AN-L15 under conditions of different initial pH of the culture medium or in the presence of ferrihydrite Pannier, Andy Joseph Batch and column studies were conducted to examine the difference in the transformation pathways of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) reduction by a hemiascomycetous yeast (Yarrowia lipolytica AN-L15) under conditions of different initial pH of the culture medium or in the presence or absence of ferrihydrite. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), it was observed that Y. lipolytica AN-L15 was able to transform TNT at three different initial proton concentrations of the culture medium: pH 7.0, pH 6.5, and pH 4.5. In the presence of TNT, Y. lipolytica AN-L15 showed preferential growth (OD₆₀₀) at the lower initial pH of 4.5. The increased growth (OD₆₀₀) resulted in increased reduction of TNT-metabolites in the culture medium with an initial pH of 4.5, as compared to, the culture medium with an initial pH of 6.5 or the culture medium with an initial pH of 7.0. TNT transformation via aromatic ring reduction was the major transformation pathway observed, with the major metabolite being 3-H̄ -TNT. 4-hydroxylaminodinitrotoluene (4-HADNT) was the major metabolite of the nitro-group reduction pathway. In the presence of ferrihydrite at a pH of 7.0, the transformation of TNT by Y. lipolytica AN-L15 showed a change in the transformation pathway. Nitro-group reduction was the major pathway of TNT transformation in the presence of ferrihydrite with 4-HADNT and 2-aminodinitrotoluene (4-ADNT) being the major metabolites formed. The time it took to reduce TNT was longer and the concentrations of TNT-metabolites were lower in the presence of ferrihydrite than in its absence. This may have been due to competition for available electrons between TNT and TNT-metabolites and Fe(III). It is also possible that some of the intermediate products of TNT transformation were oxidized back to TNT-metabolites by Fe(III) resulting in lower concentrations of TNT-metabolites and increased concentrations of Fe(II). This study demonstrates the complexity of the interactions of various environmental parameters, under controlled laboratory conditions, in the transformation of TNT by Y. lipolytica AN-L15. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/pannier/PannierA0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/patrek/PatrekV0509.pdf 2009-07-07T12:53:36Z

The effects of supplemental feeding on stress hormone concentrations in elk Patrek, Victoria Elizabeth On twenty-two feedgrounds in western Wyoming, elk (Cervus elaphus) are provided with supplemental feed throughout the winter. Brucellosis seroprevalence of feedground elk is 26% whereas other elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem have historically had a brucellosis seroprevalence of 2-3%. The aggregation of elk during peak transmission allows brucellosis to persist in the feedground populations. In addition to creating the opportunity for disease transmission, the aggregation of elk on feedgrounds may have detrimental physiological effects. Studies have shown that chronically high stress hormone concentrations can suppress the immune system and lead to increased disease susceptibility. Potential stressors on the feedgrounds include high densities, large group sizes and aggressive social interactions. In this study I investigated how factors associated with supplemental feeding affect stress hormone levels, as indexed by fecal glucocorticoid levels, in elk on feedgrounds and elk on native winter range. I also worked with managers to experimentally alter the feeding distribution on the feedgrounds to examine how feeding density affects stress hormone levels and aggression rates. Results show that elk on feedgrounds have stress hormone levels 31% higher than elk on native winter range (Welch's t₂₇.₂₃=2.39, p=0.024). Experimental reduction of feed density did not have an effect on stress hormone level or aggression rates. But note the relationship between fGCs and local densities here. Although the feeding treatments did appear to reduce local feeding densities,s this effect was not significant and was small relative to the large differences in density among sites. Regardless as to the cause of the high stress hormone levels seen in supplementally fed elk, the feedgrounds are creating an epidemiological setting for disease transmission and a physiological state that may increase susceptibility to disease. The impact of these stress hormone concentrations on disease susceptibility remains unknown, but may be an important driver of disease dynamics in these elk populations. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/patrek/PatrekV0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/peitzsch/PeitzschE0509.pdf 2009-07-07T13:53:16Z

Water movement in a stratified and inclined snowpack: implications for wet slab avalanches Peitzsch, Erich Hans Wet snow avalanches are dangerous and can be particularly difficult to predict. The rate of change from safe snow conditions to dangerous snow conditions occurs rapidly in a wet snowpack, often in response to water production and movement. This research focused on the relationship between snow stratigraphy and water movement in an inclined snowpack. Concentrating on transitions that impede water and flow finger formation within the snowpack, dye tracer was mixed with water and applied to a stratified snowpack to observe and measure the movement of water in various snow grain types, sizes, densities, and temperatures. There were two types of layer transitions that impeded water. Water was impeded at capillary boundaries caused by fine grains over coarse grains. It was also impeded at hydraulic conductivity boundaries, such as ice layers. In layer transitions that impeded water, the grain size of the layer above was significantly smaller than the layer below. The layer above a transition that impeded water was also significantly less dense than the layer below the transition. A qualitative analysis of grain type showed that there was no relationship between grain types in the layer above or below a transition and whether they will or will not impede water. A SnowMicroPen (SMP) was used to measure changes in structural element length to identify capillary boundaries. Results from SMP measurements indicate that microstructural analysis of the snowpack aids in characterizing capillary boundaries that impede water flow. The step change, rate of change, and percent increase were significantly larger in capillary boundaries than transitions that did not impede water for the entire dataset from all 8 sessions. When all transitions were ranked according to absolute change for each profile, capillary boundaries consistently ranked in the top two of all transitions evident within each SMP profile. The amount of water needed to produce flow fingers was highly variable. There was no significant relationship between the amount of water necessary to form flow fingers and snow density, snow grain size, snow temperature, or grain type. Layer transitions that impeded vertical water movement and flow finger formation may both play a large role in wet slab avalanche formation. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/peitzsch/PeitzschE0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/peterson/PetersonB0509.pdf 2009-07-08T18:25:19Z

Wireless sensor interrogator design for passive, resonant frequency sensors using frequency modulation spectroscopy Peterson, Brian James The lack of passive, wireless, chemical and biological sensor systems is a significant impediment to sensor system applications. While active sensors with a wireless communications link continue to decrease in power consumption, they still require a power source, such as a battery. This active power consumption limits the useful life of the sensor and its applications. A more attractive solution would be a passive, wireless, chemical and biological sensor integrated with a wireless interrogation platform to monitor the sensor. The focus of this thesis is the realization of a wireless sensor interrogator capable of monitoring multiple, passive, resonant-frequency sensors. It is demonstrated, using Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy techniques, that the resonant frequency of a passive sensor can be detected and tracked over time. Simulated results are presented that verify the functionality of the proposed wireless sensor interrogator. In addition, an experimental hardware setup and subsequent experimental results are presented that verify the simulation results. Considerations for the design of the wireless sensor interrogator and opportunities for future research are discussed. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/peterson/PetersonB0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/pinzon/PinzonM0509.pdf 2009-06-30T18:35:56Z

Beyond human and science documentaries: 'Molotov Alva' and 'Waltz with Bashir' as new study cases in the representation of reality Pinzon, Monica Although the use of animation to support science documentaries has been well studied, and is easily accepted by viewers, the public has little familiarity with animations or virtual realities as being appropriate tools for other kinds of documentary storytelling. This paper contrasts previous studies of the use of animation and CGI in documentary filmmaking with issues generated by some of the more recent evolutions in the field. I find that although the public may have more difficulty understanding the link between an animated image on the screen and its real world referent, when used effectively animations and virtual realities can offer a new, though potentially problematic, range of storytelling tools. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/pinzon/PinzonM0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/preszler/PreszlerB0509.pdf 2009-07-09T16:56:27Z

Off-Ramp: architectural opportunity in the mobile landscape Preszler, Blake Anthony The ubiquitous character of automobiles and mobile infrastructure has formed a series of un-exploited relationships with our built environment. The automobile and architecture continue to operate as unsynchronized functions. While the automobile is constantly evolving as a means of technology and space, architecture is trapped in a vacuous state, slow to adapt, un-evolved, submitting to the will of the car. Since its invention, the automobile and the infrastructures it travels, has remained a challenge to architecture. The relationship between automobile and architecture has reached a tipping point, and therefore needs to be re-questioned. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/preszler/PreszlerB0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/rand/RandK0509.pdf 2009-07-07T14:12:25Z

Aging and prospective memory: the role of cue familiarity Rand, Kristina Marie Older adults often show age-related declines in retrospective and prospective memory (PM). However, when memory is tested in a way that allows for reliance on familiarity, age-related declines are eliminated. Recent research has indicated that on a number of tests of PM, no age-related memory deficits were found. It is hypothesized that such tests allow older adults to rely on familiarity to detect the PM cue. The current study uses a PM task on which reliance on familiarity will lead to a measurable error that can be distinguished from a general PM deficit. It is hypothesized that older adults will make more familiarity-based errors than younger adults while performing worse overall. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/rand/RandK0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/roberts/RobertsJ0509.pdf 2009-06-30T18:24:08Z

Disturbance in the garden: toward a new portrayal of wildfire in science and natural history films Roberts, Jeremy Russell Science has proven that wildfire has a positive rejuvenating effect on many ecosystems, creating new habitat and bolstering global biodiversity. Despite growing scientific understanding of wildfire over the past 100 years, science and natural history films repeatedly position wildfire merely to achieve dramatic effect. These films typically ignore the available science and in many cases contradict scientific truth outright for the sake of the dramatic narrative. Formulaic conventions developed by Walt Disney and various societal convictions are responsible for the perpetuation of old narrative devices that condemn fire. Science and natural history films reach tens of millions of people each year and shape public opinion of forest fires. These films have perpetuated the myth of Eden, the damning of wildfire, and the valorization of total fire suppression, all of which have had social, political, and economic ramifications. To help align public perception of fire with the current scientific understanding of fire, producers of science and natural history films must redirect their narrative devices that traditionally demonize fire to create a new Eden, one borne of fire. Disturbance represents a new model for the portrayal of wildfire in science and natural history films by employing drama to advance an appreciation of burned forests while avoiding narrative pitfalls that traditionally condemn fire. By combining observational and expository filmmaking modes, Disturbance also offers a new model for conservation-based science and natural history films, a model that incorporates society into nature and conservation into society. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/roberts/RobertsJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/runnion/RunnionB0509.pdf 2009-07-07T14:23:17Z

Evidence for unconscious thought in complex decisions: the result of a methodological artifact or of an active thought process Runnion, Brett Matthew Previous research has suggested that a period of unconscious thought can result in judgments that are equal or superior to those of conscious thought (Dijksterhuis, 2004). The existence of unconscious thought as a decision-making process is controversial. In fact, it has been suggested that unconscious thought is not a process rather the evidence supporting it is the result of a methodological artifact (Lassiter et al., in press) that only occurs when participants can retrieve online judgments. This thesis attempts to resolve this controversy. Participants received information describing 4 cars (acquisition stage) that were described by twelve dichotomous attributes (e.g., good/poor mileage). The best car possessed mostly positive characteristics and the worst car had mostly negative characteristics. Participants were told before or after the information was presented, that they would be forming an impression of the four cars. They were then allowed to think about the cars consciously for 4 minutes, were distracted for 4 minutes (unconscious thought), or were asked to make an immediate decision without thinking. When the instructions to form an impression were received before acquiring the information, the participants could form online judgments during acquisition. These could later be retrieved when participants reported their attitudes. When the instructions to form an impression were received after participants acquired the information, they could not form online judgments, but could form only memory-based judgments after the information was presented. Without online judgments, participants are forced to rely on memory-based judgments. Thus, if participants in the unconscious-thought condition formed more favorable attitudes toward the best car relative to the attitudes formed by the participants in the other two conditions, a thought process must be occurring. Additionally, these attitudes should transfer to choosing the best car as well. However, the results of this thesis failed to replicate previous research (Lassiter et al., in press) as the dependent measures failed to reach significance. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/runnion/RunnionB0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/schumacher/SchumacherR0509.pdf 2009-07-07T14:27:44Z

Network dynamics and fluctuating architectural typology: Flux Schumacher, Ryan Donald Located in the northern United States, along the Rocky Mountains, lies the state of Montana. Traditionally rural, Montana is experiencing significant growth in its urban and destination areas. With growth comes obstacles and opportunities. The majority of the state is sufficiently connected to the global transportation network for the movement of goods, but lacks diverse people moving systems. While goods have the benefit of being transported at high speeds via road, rail, and air, the majority of people do not. Roadways near urban areas are frequent victims of congestion, the vitality of many airports is in question, and rail is minimized to a northern Amtrak route that neglects most population centers. The lack of passenger transit systems effectively cuts travel possibilities in half for hundreds of thousands people. Montanans deserve an option for the future that streamlines their transportation infrastructure, integrates them with the rest of the world, and provides an example of positive development. The intent of this thesis is to analyze the current network of people moving systems in Montana in order to determine how a better understanding of network dynamics and transportation architecture can help create connections to the global transportation network and foster positive growth. Information will be presented in graphic and literary form starting with the economic and transportation infrastructure in the region. Precedents are used to gain insight on existing and proposed architectural solutions to facilitate a proposal for an integrated transportation network in Montana, using architecture that utilizes continuous change, passage, and movement as active support. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/schumacher/SchumacherR0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/sciegienka/SciegienkaJ0509.pdf 2009-07-08T18:40:33Z

Vegetative reproduction and the integrated management of Canada thistle Sciegienka, Joanna Katarzyna Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.) is an aggressive, introduced creeping perennial weed that flourishes in a wide variety of environments. Its deep, creeping root system and colony forming tendencies make it one of the most difficult weeds to control. A strategy that incorporates a better understanding of the biology of Canada thistle into the development of an integrated management plan that includes herbicides and biological control could help reduce the dispersal and impact of this species. The objectives of this work were to: 1) determine how Canada thistle emergence and growth are affected by changes in root size, biomass, burial depth, and soil moisture and 2) compare single and joint impacts of herbicides and biological control agents on Canada thistle growth. Objective 1 was carried out in a greenhouse and in field conditions. To monitor Canada thistle emergence and growth responses, a completely randomized factorial design was used in the greenhouse, and a randomized complete block design was used in the field. Models were developed to predict emergence and growth patterns based on available water, burial depth, and various root metrics. For the exception of available water, the same predictors were used in field conditions to predict Canada thistle emergence and growth. The variables that were manipulated were able to significantly predict the responses measured, and we concluded that available water, root burial depth, and root weight, length, diameter, and volume are indicators of emergence likelihood, emergence time, shoot and root growth, and shoot number. Objective 2 was carried out in greenhouses and field settings. Three herbicides were evaluated with and without insects to determine reduction in Canada thistle root and shoot biomass in the greenhouse. One herbicide was also used at a low rate and evaluated singly and in combination with a stem-boring weevil (Hadroplontus litura (F.)) and a pathogen (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis) to determine effect on Canada thistle response in the greenhouse and field. We failed to reject our null hypothesis of additivity between control agents, and concluded that integrating individual control methods yields greater Canada thistle control than any singular method. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/sciegienka/SciegienkaJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/segal/SegalS0509.pdf 2009-07-06T17:09:18Z

Action research in mathematics education: a study of a master's program for teachers Segal, Sarah Ultan Action research is a methodology that has been found to be valuable as a problem-solving tool. It can provide opportunities for reflection, improvement, and transformation of teaching. The purpose of this study is to better understand these claims about the benefits of action research. Several research questions stand out: How is action research experienced by teachers? Is it beneficial and practical for teachers who use it? How are action research findings typically validated? What factors influence whether teachers are able to continue to practice action research? What kind of change has it initiated for teachers? And, how does action research focused on improving student achievement affect high need students? For the past five years, forty-five teachers completing master's degrees in mathematics education at a northern Rocky Mountain land-grant university have been required to conduct an action research project, referred to as their "capstone project." By studying this group of graduates, gathering both qualitative and quantitative data through surveys and interviews, I have examined the effectiveness of action research. This data, combined with graduates' capstone projects, has provided partial answers to the above questions, restricted to faculty-mediated action research within master's programs for mathematics teachers. The extent to which such action research projects impact teachers' practices has not been investigated before. While acknowledging that this research relied primarily upon self-reported data, the results strongly support what the research literature generally asserts about action research. (a) It is beneficial and often transformational for teachers as a professional development tool by allowing them to engage in a focused study of their own practice. (b) When done less formally it becomes more practical. (c) Communicating with others in the field builds confidence in teachers as professionals. (d) It makes teachers more actively reflective and more aware of their teaching and their students' learning. (e) It is effective in understanding and addressing the particular needs of high need students. Continued practice was highly dependent on time and support for action research within the school. Teachers often expressed the importance of having an action research community while conducting their capstones. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/segal/SegalS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/shvartsman/ShvartsmanR0509.pdf 2009-07-07T14:54:27Z

Intermission Shvartsman, Ron Felix We are no longer only influenced by social exchange that occurs in close proximity. Our character can now be defined by everything that occurs around us. The television, Internet and cell phone are only a few mediums that give people the ability to communicate and exchange information at the press of a button. Even the typical family circle is no match for the powerful interdependencies that unite all people yet in some moments keeps them divided. Methods of social exchange have changed dramatically over the last century allowing people to interact at any proximity they choose making them part of a larger system that relies heavily on being connected to various communication technologies (CT). How we communicate, now more than ever, is an integral part of the way in which we shape our world. With so many mediums of communication and the exponential growth of social exchange it is difficult to understand the implications of our actions in regards to CT. One such scenario entails the person who going about his or her day is in constant connection through an electronic device which supplies him or her the freedom to be at any given place at one moment and another the next second. It must be noted that even though this person has that freedom, he or she can only connect to someone who possesses a similar medium. What about the individual who has no medium with which to communicate at a similar rate? As we continue to "efficiently" interact within a digital world we create strong social ties to people that fit within our own unique demographic. We attach ourselves to what we know creating weak social ties to people that fit within a different user group. Weak social ties (links) form a network of information carrying connections between different demographics. These connections are better able to carry novel technology information that we don't have access to within strong social networks that tend to move in the same circles. By increasing the potential for weak social connections to form one can begin to close the social gap which has left people divided in a digital world. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/shvartsman/ShvartsmanR0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/stark/StarkJ0509.pdf 2009-07-08T18:45:12Z

The establishment, drought tolerance, and weed suppression potential of multispecies sod Stark, Jennifer Grace Re-seeding is a frequently used technique to revegetate disturbed areas, but often leaves bare ground prone to weed invasion. Mixtures of drought tolerant or native species in sod could be used as an alternative to seed to provide rapid establishment of desirable plant communities that may potentially reduce weed emergence, survival, and productivity. Additionally, the reinforcement material required to aid transport of multispecies sod could further contribute to weed suppression and sod establishment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the weed suppression and establishment potential of multispecies sod. Three experiments were each subject to a water regime ranging from 2.54 cm of water/week to natural precipitation, and repeated over two/three years. In the first two experiments (A and B) Brassica napus (canola) was used as a surrogate weed species and sown either below the multispecies sod to represent weed seed bank, or above the multispecies sod to represent weed seed rain. In experiment A, B. napus was sown at six densities; while in experiment B reinforcement materials (nylon netting control, coconut-straw, jute, excelsior) were added below the sod and B. napus was sown at one density. B. napus suppression by multispecies sod, with or without reinforcement material, was evaluated by recording seedling emergence, survival and above-ground biomass. Multispecies sod, especially combined with reinforcement material, suppressed a large proportion of seedling emergence. The seedlings that did establish produced less vegetative and seed biomass as water decreased. In the second season of both experiments no seedlings survived to maturity. The establishment success of the multispecies sod was evaluated through repeated measures of percent sod cover over two/three years. The results suggested that the multispecies sod was able to establish and persist under natural precipitation. The third experiment evaluated the ability of multispecies sod to suppress Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) vegetative propagules in two different habitat types, bare ground or multispecies sod, under high and low water treatments. More C. arvense shoots emerged in the bare ground, suggesting that multispecies sod could act as a buffer zone and reduce the vegetative spread of perennial weeds if used as a revegetation strategy. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/stark/StarkJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/steiner/SteinerB0509.pdf 2009-07-08T18:55:58Z

Electronic medical record implementation in nursing practice: a literature review of the factors of success Steiner, Bridget Anne This is a review of the current literature to discern what factors need to be present in an electronic medical record (EMR) implementation in order for it to be successful for nurses. An extensive literature search was performed by using databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Health Reference Center for primary sources of research that specifically addressed EMR implementation and nursing. A coding scheme was developed and applied to each article for analysis. It was found that fit of the EMR with nurse functions, education, and positive nurse attitude were the three most common factors associated with successful EMR implementation for nurses. Lack of computer system quality, lack of fit of the EMR with nurse functions, and time requirements of its use were most commonly associated with lack of success. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/steiner/SteinerB0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/summerford/SummerfordS0509.pdf 2009-07-07T15:03:20Z

Characterization of soil/vegetation on flood irrigated hayfields in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming: a predictive evaluation tool for agricultural wetlands Summerford, Sarah Elizabeth The Elk Ranch hayfield in Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) has been historically flood-irrigated since the early 20th Century. The park service is now considering closing irrigation to restore native plant communities and enhance Spread Creek fisheries and will need information on the extent of irrigation-created wetlands and how irrigation cessation would change the vegetative component of the ranch. The main objective of this study was to assess the relation between soil and vegetation characteristics of wetland community types at the ranch and to determine if any of the relationships could be used to differentiate between naturally occurring and irrigation created wetlands. Vegetation data were collected from transects centered on a soil pit at 28 randomly located sample points throughout the hayfield. Twenty-six of the 28 sample plots were classified as wetland based on criteria listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Bray-Curtis dissimilarity and nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling were used to analyze percent foliar cover, wetland index value (WIV), soil texture, percent organic matter, redox contrast and abundance, and depth to groundwater and soil saturation for each of the sampled points. The WIV and redox contrast had the greatest dissimilarity (D2), 0.90, and 0.71 respectively across the hayfield. The other measured characteristics had D2 values ranging from 0.23 to 0.49 and were strongly correlated with the WIV and redox contrast measures. However, inclusion of these measures contributed little to the differences already identified. Categorical organization of WIV and redox measures indicated that naturally occurring wetlands could be differentiated from wetlands created by flood irrigation in former upland vegetation communities. Combining wetland index value and soil redox contrast suggests park managers could identify wetland community types likely to remain or transition following cessation of flood irrigation at the Elk Ranch. Additional testing at other GTNP sites will be necessary to test the broad application of this approach and refine the assessment categories. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/summerford/SummerfordS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/taylor/TaylorR0509.pdf 2009-07-07T15:24:12Z

A multistate mark recapture analysis to estimate reproductive rate in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus), an endangered species Taylor, Rebecca Lynn The Steller sea lion is an endangered species whose reproductive rate estimates need to be updated. The species is divided into two populations: the endangered western population has declined over 80% from historical levels, while the threatened eastern population has been increasing at approximately 3% for the past three decades. The statistically most compelling reproductive rate estimates for this species are based on now out of date population dynamics, and hence are not applicable to current concerns. Extensive recent branding and resighting efforts by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Southeast Alaska make possible an updated estimation of eastern population Steller sea lion reproductive rates. However, the complexity of these data required a different statistical approach than is typically used to estimate reproduction in marked and resighted animals. I developed a novel statistical analysis, based upon a multistate mark recapture likelihood function, specifically to analyze the Southeast Alaska Steller sea lion data. The likelihood function estimates a reproductive rate when only adult females (not pups) are marked, female sightability is correlated with reproductive status, state classification uncertainty is present and the population is open to births during many of the resighting intervals. I apply this analysis to the Southeast Alaska Steller sea lion data and estimate a reproductive rate of 0.66 (0.55, 0.77). Not only does this provide a reproductive rate estimate for the eastern population, which is important for monitoring its health, but it also provides a basis for comparison to the endangered western population. Furthermore, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game continues to have an active branding and resighting program. The methods developed here can be applied to future data collected in either population. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/taylor/TaylorR0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/trusty/TrustyP0509.pdf 2009-07-09T12:16:00Z

Impact of severe fire on ectomycorrhizal fungi of whitebark pine seedlings Trusty, Paul Evan Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a threatened keystone species in subalpine zones of Western North America critical to watersheds and maintenance of high elevation biodiversity. Pine nuts are an important food for wildlife including grizzly bears. Whitebark pine stands have experienced losses up to 90% due to white pine blister rust, mountain pine beetles and replacement due to fire suppression. Active management strategies include letting natural fires burn or applying prescribed fires to clear understory fir, stimulate seedling regeneration and provide openings for nutcrackers to plant seeds. However, post-fire plantings of rust-resistant seedlings have low survival rates. This study evaluated the impact of fire on the mycorrhizal fungi which are obligate mutualists with whitebark pine and to address management concerns. The 2001 Fridley fire burned a portion of a mature whitebark pine forest and a year later 20,000 seedlings were planted. After four years, natural and planted seedlings, on the burn and controls in the adjacent unburned forest were well colonized by mycorrhizal fungi (>90%) although a portion may be nursery E-strain. The severe burn reduced mycorrhizal diversity 27% on natural and planted seedlings and caused a significant shift in mycorrhizal species (determined by ITS sequencing, principal component analysis and multidimensional scaling). Seedlings in the burn (natural and planted) were dominated by Pseudotomentella nigra, Wilcoxina species and Amphinema byssoides while natural seedlings in unburned forest hosted mainly Cenococcum geophilum and Piloderma byssinum. Differences were minimal between planted and natural seedlings in the burn, but roots of planted pines retained the container shape. The functional significance of a species shift to seedling survival is not yet known. Seedlings in all treatments hosted suilloid fungi (Rhizopogon, Suillus) important in pine establishment. A greenhouse bioassay of burned and unburned soils using nursery seedlings did not reflect the full diversity found in the field study, but did reveal suilloid fungi indicating that bioassays can be used as a pre-planting assessment tool for this group. Despite high mycorrhization and availability of suilloids, seedling survival was low (22-42%) suggesting the timing/type of mycorrhization and/or other biotic/abiotic factors are a concern. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/trusty/TrustyP0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/tarlykov/TarlykovP0509.pdf 2009-07-07T15:18:19Z

Chemical approaches to probe environmental stress in Archaea Tarlykov, Pavel Victorovich Little is known about strategies and mechanisms employed by thermophilic organisms to adapt to environmental stress. Sulfolobus solfataricus is a thermophile that belongs to Archaea, the third domain of life, and can be found in unusual habitats, such as the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. This archaeon can tolerate high temperature, extreme acidity and high concentrations of heavy metals and other toxic substances. Thus, S. solfataricus has been chosen by many researchers as a model system for biochemical, structural, and genetic studies. In this work S. solfataricus has been exposed to hydrogen peroxide as a natural mild oxidant and arsenic as a common toxic metalloid. One of the aims was to quantitatively define the regulation of proteins upon treatment with hydrogen peroxide or arsenic species in different time periods and concentrations. In this sense, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis approach in conjunction with novel chemical tagging probes has been applied to detect changes on the level of regulation and chemical modification of individual proteins within the whole proteome in response to the stressors. Proteins expression levels have been monitored, redox-sensitive and phosphoproteomic profiles of the S. solfataricus proteome have been identified. Synthesis of the results has allowed a general scheme for how S. solfataricus fights H2O2- and As-induced stress. Lists of mapped proteins have been created and potential biomarkers for oxidative stress have been identified, which can guide further research to better understand mechanisms of proteomic response to the environmental stress in Archaea on the example of thermophilic archaeon S. solfataricus. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/tarlykov/TarlykovP0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/taylor/TaylorC0509.pdf 2009-07-09T12:11:23Z

Selecting plant species to optimize wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands Taylor, Carrie Renee Constructed wetlands are used around the world for treating domestic, agricultural, and industrial wastewater, stormwater runoff, and acid mine drainage. Plants may affect efficacy of wastewater treatment through their influence on microbial activity by creating attachment sites and releasing carbon exudates and oxygen. My research investigated seasonal plant effects on wastewater treatment by monitoring water chemistry in model subsurface wetlands planted with monocultures of 19 plant species and unplanted controls. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, an indicator of water quality, declined during colder temperatures in the unplanted control, likely caused by a decrease in microbial activity. In contrast, wetlands with most plant species had constant COD removal across seasons. Redox potential and sulfate concentrations were measured as indirect measurements of the oxygenation of the wastewater. Wetlands that had a decline in COD removal during cold temperatures had constant low redox potential and sulfate concentrations throughout the seasons. Wetlands with high COD removal across seasons had elevated redox potentials and sulfate concentrations during the winter, indicating elevated oxygen availability, which may offset the negative temperature effect on microbial processes. I measured root oxygen loss (ROL) in the summer and the winter to determine whether oxygen release was sufficient to influence wastewater treatment and cause seasonal and species-specific effects on water chemistry. COD removal and ROL were positively correlated at 4°C but not at 24°C; however, the amount of root oxygen release only accounted for a portion of the required oxygen to facilitate plant's influence on COD removal. Flooding tolerance was quantified for each species by comparing plants' biomass between flooded and drained conditions. Plants' botanical grouping, Wetland Indicator Status, and flooding tolerance were compared to plants' influences on wastewater treatment to determine whether easily measured plant traits can be used to identify plants that will optimize wastewater treatment. All the sedges and rushes, obligate wetlands species, and 8 of 9 flood-tolerant plants had greater COD removal than the control at 4°C, the coldest temperature incubation. These results can be applied for wetland design by selecting plant species to optimize wastewater treatment, especially in cold climates. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/taylor/TaylorC0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/tully/TullyJ0509.pdf 2009-06-30T17:55:27Z

Structural interpretation of the Elk Range thrust system, Western Colorado, USA Tully, Justin Edward The Elk Mountains of western Colorado expose Pennsylvanian-Permian strata that were deposited along the western margin of the Ancestral Central Colorado Trough. These rocks were displaced southwestward in Late Cretaceous-Early Paleogene time along the northeast-dipping Elk Range thrust system. The thrust system trends southeast from Redstone, CO to the Fossil Ridge wilderness and includes the en echelon Elk Range and Brush Creek thrust faults. This thrust system represents the deeply eroded up-plunge core of a major Laramide basement-cored fold in western Colorado, the Grand Hogback monocline. The emergence of the thrust system from the fold's core is well documented at all scales of geologic mapping over the northwest end of the system. This surface relationship is undemonstrated in previous structural interpretations, which invoke a mechanism of gravity sliding within the sedimentary package, induced by vertical basement uplift. To the southeast a critical portion of the system had remained unmapped in any contiguous detail. This critical area exposes the basement roots of the thrust system, as it merges with the reverse-faulted southwestern margin of the Laramide Sawatch Range basement arch. This thesis presents a new structural architecture for the Elk Range thrust system through: 1) new 1:24,000 scale mapping of the emergent root zone, 2) regional balanced cross-section analysis 3) demonstration of a genetic relationship with the Grand Hogback monocline, and 4) consideration of contemporary basement-involved foreland contraction models. The fault system is a basement-rooted, right-stepping, en echelon thrust front. The Elk Range thrust sheet is truncated by high-angle reverse faults to the east and the Brush Creek thrust becomes steeper and merges with reverse faults to the southeast. The western Sawatch front shows evidence for late-stage, north-south directed contraction. Thus, the Elk Range thrust system represents an inverted segment of the western Ancestral Colorado Trough. Structurally, it represents a transitional deformation regime between fold-shortening (Grand Hogback monocline) and high-angle reverse-faulting (Sawatch arch). Together, this tectonic continuum marks Colorado's westernmost Laramide deformation front against the Colorado Plateau. Younger deformation is observed and discussed with respect to the region's dynamic transition from Laramide contraction to Rio Grande rifting. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/tully/TullyJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/versland/VerslandT0509.pdf 2009-07-10T10:26:38Z

Self-efficacy development of aspiring principals in education leadership preparation programs Versland, Tena Marie Much attention has been given to the importance of principal preparation programs in equipping principals with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively lead schools. However despite this attention, many critics from inside and outside the higher education community do not believe preparation programs have gone far enough or have made the necessary changes to insure that principal candidates gain the skills and knowledge necessary for the demands of leadership in contemporary schools. Bandura (1997) found that people's self-efficacy, the judgments of their personal capabilities, rather than their actual skills and knowledge, is what drives them to achieve goals they set for themselves. Since little research exists that examines principal self-efficacy, or how preparation programs contribute to self-efficacy, preparation program faculty have limited understanding about how program elements positively influence self-efficacy development. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to: examine principals' perceptions of the effectiveness of their preparation programs, determine the underlying factors that contributed to principal self-efficacy, understand how program elements contributed to self-efficacy, and suggest ways that preparation programs might more purposefully design experiences that promote self-efficacy development in aspiring principals. Quantitative questionnaires were sent to 538 practicing principals in Montana to rate the effectiveness of their preparation programs and their principal self-efficacy. Principals who rated their programs as effective and who also rated themselves as self-efficacious were chosen for qualitative interviews to determine how preparation program elements contributed to their self-efficacy development. The findings suggest that: (a) four factors - leadership experiences, motivation, authentic learning experiences, and self regulation contributed to self-efficacy development of aspiring principals; (b) self-efficacy was developed through experiences that caused relationship building and learning from others, authentic experiences working with others and persistence and perseverance; (c) preparation programs can more purposefully create efficacy building experiences through: designing experiences that cause students to master the art of working with other people, developing internship and field experiences of breadth and depth, encouraging principal candidates to obtain prior leadership experiences, and to monitor students in "grow your own" programs to insure that loss of self-efficacy does not occur as a result of broken relationships. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/versland/VerslandT0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wagaman/WagamanJ0509.pdf 2009-07-09T17:13:15Z

The experience of shifting standards for women athletes: consequences of stereotyped feedback Wagaman, Jill Maire Women athletes were recruited to investigate the experience of 'shifting standards.' Shifting standards occurs when people use stereotypes (e.g. gender and athleticism) to make a relative judgment about performance or behavior. Whereas past research has examined shifting standards from the perceiver's perspective, the current project investigates shifting standards from the target's perspective. To inform our hypotheses, we relied on stereotype threat literature (Stone et al., 1999) and the motivational model for stereotyped tasks (Smith, Sansone & White, 2007). Using athletics as the stereotyped domain, Study 1 demonstrated that the masculine nature of the domain was important in predicting reactions to shifting standards feedback. In addition, there was a positive relationship between stigma consciousness and domain identification. In Study 2, college students and community participants were recruited using a pre-screen questionnaire assessing domain identification and primary sport played. As a result, self-identified women athletes (n = 77, 15.6% community) were blocked on the masculine nature of the sport, resulting in a 2 (type of sport: masculine, non-masculine) x 3 (feedback: positive, shifting standards, no feedback) between-subjects design. After first engaging in an ambiguous athletic test, participants received the feedback manipulation. Participants were presented with a "word puzzle" and completed a measure of gender stereotype activation. Then, a second unambiguous test was administered to measure performance, and participants completed post-test measures assessing interest, future motivation, and self-esteem. The athletic tasks were ostensibly assessing the sport each woman most identified with, but all participants actually received the same two tests. The proposed relationship between feedback, performance, and motivation was unaffected by type of sport. Explanations are provided for why this relationship was not supported. Instead, stigma consciousness moderated the effect of feedback on performance and motivation. Women high in stigma consciousness receiving shifting standards feedback showed high gender stereotype activation, low performance, and low interest compared to women high in stigma consciousness receiving positive feedback. These results were not due to participants' self-esteem or level of commitment to the test. Theoretical and practical implications for the experience of shifting standards are discussed. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wagaman/WagamanJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wagemann/WagemannS0509.pdf 2009-07-09T18:01:43Z

Building a Raman laser pump source capable of generating flexible pulse durations while maintaining high spatial quality Wagemann, Stephen Scott A detailed characterization of a Raman pump laser throughout the construction process is reported. Due to specific requirements for the pulsed Raman experiment, there were no commercially available pump lasers capable of meeting our specifications. The pump source must produce high energy pulses of 50mJ to 100mJ with variable duration centered at 200ns. To create this pump source, the pulses are gated from a CW source and then amplified with a high gain Nd:YAG amplification system. High spatial quality is also a necessity as the laser needs to be coupled into a small diameter waveguide functioning as the Raman cell. The laser was found to operate well, producing the required energy with the desired pulse flexibility. However, the amplification process induced spatial distortion that effectively produced a super Gaussian intensity distribution. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wagemann/WagemannS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wiessinger/WiessingerS0509.pdf 2009-07-09T12:21:41Z

Film and Music: an overlooked synthesis Wiessinger, Scott Reinhard Music and image are intricately joined in almost all modern film and video. Despite this, scholars of both fields rarely address the two media as they act on each other. Cognitive studies give an interesting window on the way the brain processes music and image, but again, they do not address the intersection of the two. A few studies, most notably by Marilyn Boltz, do exist that deal with music/image joint processing, and the effect of one on the other. Boltz's work reveals the great potential of further work, both scientific and scholarly, into the synthesis of music and film. A theory of the interaction of the two is clearly needed. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wiessinger/WiessingerS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wingo/WingoR0509.pdf 2009-07-09T18:05:40Z

Indian Gaming: the Montana stalemate Wingo, Rebecca Shirley In 1988, a series of lawsuits between the tribes and the states culminated in the passage of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in Congress. The law divides gambling into three classes: Class I games consist of traditional Indian games. Class II consists of games such as bingo and card games not played against the house. Class III games are the typical Vegas-style games, including slots, roulette, craps, and blackjack. Only Class III gaming requires that the tribes to enter into a compact with the state. Indian gaming in Montana is currently at a stalemate. The state is unwilling to allow tribes to expand their casinos to include Class III, Vegas-style gaming which would provide funding for basic tribal programs as well as supplement existing programs. According IGRA, tribes must either make a compact with the state or be content with Class II games only. IGRA states that should the state fail to negotiate their Class III compacts in good faith, the tribes have the right to sue the state. The state, however, is able to assert their Eleventh Amendment right of sovereign immunity and stop the lawsuit. The controversy over Indian gaming and the law has played out in the court system, the media, and state courts. Through interviews with tribal councilmen and attorneys across the reservations in Montana, I have concluded that Montana has not negotiated in good faith and has ignored tribal sovereign rights. As sovereign nations, the tribes should not have to negotiate with the state. Montana Indian reservations should join forces to bring a case before the state and federal government and sue for fairer Class III gaming compacts for each reservation. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wingo/WingoR0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/winter/WinterH0509.pdf 2009-07-09T17:53:30Z

Combining hydrodynamic modeling with nonthermal test particle tracking to improve flare simulations Winter, Henry deGraffenried III Solar flares remain a subject of intense study in the solar physics community. These huge releases of energy on the Sun have direct consequences for humans on Earth and in space. The processes that impart tremendous amounts of energy are not well understood. In order to test theoretical models of flare formation and evolution, state of the art, numerical codes must be created that can accurately simulate the wide range of electromagnetic radiation emitted by flares. A direct comparison of simulated radiation to increasingly detailed observations will allow scientists to test the validity of theoretical models. To accomplish this task, numerical codes were developed that can simulate both the thermal and nonthermal components of a flaring plasma, their interactions, and their emissions. The HYLOOP code combines a hydrodynamic equation solver with a nonthermal particle tracking code in order to simulate the thermal and nonthermal aspects of a flare. A solar flare was simulated using this new code with a static atmosphere and with a dynamic atmosphere, to illustrate the importance of considering hydrodynamic effects on nonthermal beam evolution. The importance of density gradients in the evolution of nonthermal electron beams was investigated by studying their effects in isolation. The importance of the initial pitch-angle cosine distribution to flare dynamics was investigated. Emission in XRT filters were calculated and analyzed to see if there were soft X-ray signatures that could give clues to the nonthermal particle distributions. Finally the HXR source motions that appeared in the simulations were compared to real observations of this phenomena. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/winter/WinterH0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/zetterquist/ZetterquistA0509.pdf 2009-07-09T17:47:46Z

Healing Environments: elements of retreat Zetterquist, Adam Gregory Multiple sclerosis (or MS) is a chronic, often disabling disease that attacks the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Symptoms may be mild, such as numbness in the limbs, or severe, such as paralysis or loss of vision. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary from one person to another. Today, new treatments and advances in research are giving new hope to people affected by the disease. MS is a highly misunderstood disease and due to that it is very difficult to cope with this disease. In the field of architecture we may find opportunities to fight and alleviate those who are affected by MS. There are many elements of architecture that can offer haven and sanctuary for those affected. By implementing ideas and strategies of healing environments such as sun exposure, color, or materiality we can help those affected by MS. It is believed by some that MS is the result or is aided by the body becoming out of balance for one reason or another. These "stressors" can be physical, environmental and/or emotionally based. Healing can occur only when the body is returned to a state of homeostasis or perfect balance. The human body is designed to "heal itself" once we provide the 'necessary' tools and a healing environment. Our surroundings affect our physical and spiritual self. They can contribute to stress and general malaise or balance and strengthen us. Although personal preferences differ widely, there is a level of aesthetic response that we all share. If we look objectively at this, we can understand how different qualities of environment can nurture both body and soul. The intent of this thesis is to develop a system of architectural design using technologies, methods and products that may help to alleviate symptoms and provide an immediate and long lasting sanctuary of peace for those affected by MS and their families. Ultimately, this thesis will seek to enhance the lives of MS patients spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/zetterquist/ZetterquistA0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/beideman/BeidemanC0509.pdf 2009-07-08T16:24:19Z

The alienated human being and the possibility of home: a comparative analysis of Fyodor Dostoevsky's 'Crime and Punishment' and Jack Kerouac's 'Desolation Angels' Beideman, Carl Ross This thesis addresses the state of human alienation as a consciousness that pervades our destructive, perverse tendencies. This consciousness is readily viewable from the perspective of current environmental crisis. As such, it is proposed that an investigation into the alienated consciousness might reveal both why we dominate and destroy our environment and ourselves, as well as how we might resolve alienation and, by extension, begin to live harmoniously within our surroundings and neighbors on earth. Two texts, Crime and Punishment and Desolation Angels, by Fyodor Dostoevsky and Jack Kerouac, respectively, are exemplary of the type of human alienation discussed in this thesis: that is, the alienation that arises from our perceived existence as neither gods (stewardship) nor animals (beasts). This anomalous state is further revealed through the inclusion of Emmanuel Levinas' Totality and Infinity, which condemns our totalistic trajectory as reinforcing alienation by obstructing the trajectory of infinity, or the proper course of humanity marked by ethics of interconnectivity and diversity. Also included is Mikhail Bakhtin's Problems of Dostoevsky's Poetics, which helps reveal how ethics of interconnectivity and diversity are arranged in Dostoevsky's work. By reading these texts together, we reveal that alienation is a unique derivative of particular socio-cultural spaces, and that the modernizing human trajectory since the burgeoning of capitalism in 1860s Russia to postwar America has only served to reinforce alienation, thus linking perverse destruction to exploitative societies as marked by the pursuit of material gain. We therefore conclude that keen attention must be paid to the human ego as well as dedication to sustainability through the reduction of excess if we wish to resolve alienation and the domination and exhaustion of resources and diversity that ensues. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/beideman/BeidemanC0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/breest/BreestM0509.pdf 2009-06-23T17:33:56Z

The Excluded Middle Breest, Matthew Alan I have had the privilege to grow up in a place of rare beauty. As far back as I can remember I have made this observation, including the observation of its continual destruction in the name of capital gain. There are few if any places in the country so rich in every aspect yet so neglected. Alaska has been a golden goose to oil companies that in return have destroyed unique ecosystems and redistributed entire cultures. As these practices can only be expected to continue I do see an opportunity for the preparation of the future. Currently south central Alaska, specifically the Anchorage-Matanuska Borough is faced with a energy crisis. South central's known gas reserves, which residents rely upon to heat their homes and generate more than 90% of their electricity will be exhausted within a decade. Simultaneously this same region is being recognized as one the the most productive regions for diverse renewable energy in the world. 1 With a global demand for this research and a practical application to place I see an opportunity to create a model that addresses necessary exploration while additionally contributing to the communities observation and use of place. The excluded middle is found within the dichotomies and dualisms that define this area. Due to a depreciation of observations a narrowed perspective has resulted, thus producing a status quo that approves of system where mediocracy flourishes between competing opposites. Whether this middle is site specific or found within the discourse of broader conflicts it will be used as a generator to create a cohesive fabric between oppositions. An architectural solution will inform a dialogue between social, contextual and site specific dichotomies. This discussion will use the retrieval and distribution of information to enrich the observations and perceptions found between existing dualisms. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/breest/BreestM0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/fuller/FullerM0509.pdf 2009-07-06T15:10:47Z

Does scripting by nurses in the emergency department increase patient satisfaction scores? Fuller, Melissa Lynn Increased patient satisfaction has become has become a serious financial issue in hospitals for two reasons: (1) unfavorable patient satisfaction ratings may prompt high-cost decisions such as a new construction prompted by competition from other hospitals and (2) low satisfaction rating may affect a hospital's standing. Research indicates that the patient satisfaction scores in many emergency departments (EDs) around the world are low. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of scripting by nurses in the Emergency Department to increase patient satisfaction scores. Satisfaction scores have decreased tremendously in EDs all around the world. Improving emergency department patient satisfaction scores has been studied from several approaches, with a common theme being a lack of communication between emergency department staff and their patients. One method in particular that might help to foster better communication is the use of scripting by the nursing staff. The study design was a quantitative research study using overall patient satisfaction scores as well as well as scores from individual communication questions during the pre-scripting and post-scripting time frames to examine the use of scripting by emergency department nursing staff and its relationship to the increase in patient satisfaction scores. A retrospective, longitudinal analysis was conducted of patient satisfaction scores before and after the implementation of scripting by emergency department nursing staff. This was done to determine if there was an increase in the patient satisfaction scores. The primary focus of this study was patient satisfaction and its association with perception of care in the ED. This includes communication with patients regarding their perception of care as it relates to the process of informing patients about their specific tests and procedures. However, because no statistical analysis could be done, the null hypotheses were accepted. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/fuller/FullerM0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/glover/GloverJ0509.pdf 2009-06-25T15:59:52Z

Coronary Vasospasm: signs, symptoms, risk factors, and management Glover, Jessica Colleen Registered nurses in the acute care setting are presented with the opportunity to interact with patients suffering from chest pain. One etiology behind chest pain, difficult to differentiate from the more common atherosclerosis, is coronary vasospasm. This health problem can be successfully identified based upon the presenting signs, symptoms, and risk factors. Nurses can then participate in carrying out medical and nursing management for this condition. An opportunity for continuing education is needed to update nursing knowledge. A review of professional literature was conducted and consistent themes derived that led to the development of a teaching project consisting of a pre and post evaluation, teaching slides, and a participant evaluation. This teaching project was designed to equip registered nurses, employed within a regional hospital, to recognize the signs, symptoms, and risk factors of coronary vasospasm as well as general medical and nursing management strategies. The teaching project was then made available to participants for a period of fourteen days via a computerized learning system available within the facility. The pre and post tests were then evaluated for differences in median and mean scores. Improvements in overall scores, as well as on the individual questions presented on the tests, were documented. These results lead to the conclusion that knowledge of the signs, symptoms, risk factors, medical, and nursing management increased following completion of the teaching project. Implications for future nursing practice, education, and research include the development of a teaching and evaluation tool that could be made available for continuing education on a larger scale to reach additional registered nurses. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/glover/GloverJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jones/JonesRM0509.pdf 2009-07-16T15:34:52Z

Science teaching time and practice, and factors influencing elementary teachers' decisions about both in rural, reservation schools Jones, Richard Marshall An achievement gap exists between White and Native American students in Montana. Extensive research has shown that improving the quality of instruction for minority students is an effective way to narrow this gap. Science education reform movements emphasize that for science to be effective it must first be taught and that when taught, should use a variety of approaches, including inquiry. In Montana it is also essential that programs designed to improve science instruction include strategies recommended by the research that are effective for Native American students including contextualization within the culture, the use of modeling and demonstration, and collaborative engagement in learning. The ten teachers who participated in this study were engaged in such a program, the Big Sky Science Partnership (BSSP). This study investigates three questions. First, how much time are the teachers in the study teaching science? Second, what does this teaching look like in relation to the recommendations for best science practice found in the research? Third, what influences do the teachers feel drive their instructional decisions? The answers to these questions were based on both quantitative and qualitative measures including data from interviews, participant reflections, observations, and surveys. This study provides an in-depth description of the allocation of science teaching time for elementary teachers who work primarily with Native American students as well as providing valuable data regarding teaching practice. The study shows that both time and practice are influenced by many factors. The primary influence cited by the participants in this study was district focus on reading and mathematics instruction. Participants also indicated that their participation in the BSSP had a direct influence on the amount of time they devoted to science instruction as well as the content covered and the strategies used. Teachers' views about these influences provide insight into limitations that schools' physical structure, policy mandates, and culture can place on a teacher's ability to effectively teach science. In light of the results of the study, implications for educators and policy makers are addressed, and recommendations for future research are suggested. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jones/JonesRM0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/koessl/KoesslB0509.pdf 2009-06-25T15:38:54Z

Factors influencing rural nurses' attitudes and beliefs towards evidenced based practice Koessl, Brenda Dawn The purpose of the study was to explore factors that influence rural nurses' attitudes and beliefs towards evidence-based practice by answering the following questions: Do rural nurses find research easy to understand? Do rural nurses believe the results of the research that they read? Does number of years of experience as a nurse affect rural nurses' attitudes and beliefs about research? Does level of education influence rural nurses attitudes and beliefs toward research? Does the size of facility that a rural nurse works in affect attitudes and beliefs toward research? Does the role of a rural nurse within his or her facility affect attitudes and beliefs towards research? This study was a secondary analysis of survey data collected from rural nurses practicing in Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota. Demographic information and responses to survey questions related to attitudes and beliefs provided from 224 nurses were examined to achieve the aims of this study. Regardless of experience or role, most respondents indicated they were proficient in evaluating research, but over half of the respondents were unsure if they believed the results of the research that they read. Nurses with 1-5 years of experience, those with master's preparation, and nurse practitioners had the best attitudes towards research while nurses with greater than 20 years and charge nurses had the worst. There were no appreciated differences in attitudes between diploma, associate degree, and baccalaureate prepared. Given that nurses constitute the largest group of health care providers and their care influences patient outcomes, the pressure on the nursing profession to strengthen the importance of evidence-based practice for all registered nurses is crucial. Further research is needed to explore the role that education, and role have in determining a rural nurse's attitudes and beliefs towards EBP. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/koessl/KoesslB0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/knopp/KnoppA0509.pdf 2009-06-25T15:48:26Z

Nurses' knowledge of heart failure education guidelines in a Western Montana hospital Knopp, Anna Marie Heart failure (HF) is an epidemic. Five million people were diagnosed with the disease in 2006 and 550,000 new cases are being reported each year. HF is associated with a decreased quality of life and high mortality rate. It also accounts for 12-15 million office visits and 6.5 million hospital stays each year. Although there is no known cure for HF, understanding the disease and guidelines put forth by the American Heart Association as well as the Heart Failure Society of America, has been shown to decrease mortality, increase quality of life, and decrease hospital admissions. Healthcare workers play a vital role in educating HF patients about the disease, and as such, they themselves should be knowledgeable about what they teach. This study seeks to describe nurses' knowledge of the HF education guidelines in a western Montana hospital. A questionnaire was sent to 196 nurses working in a western Montana hospital testing their knowledge regarding the HF education guidelines. Only one nurse answered all questions correctly. The lowest score attained was 25% and the average score for the entire group was 72%. Demographic data explored was area worked (critical care versus non-critical care), years of experience, and educational preparation. The results of this study demonstrated that nurses working in a western Montana hospital may not be sufficiently knowledgeable regarding the HF education guidelines. Increased education may better prepare nurses to educate patients regarding the HF education guidelines. HF patients who are taught by educated nurses may receive a higher quality of education in which, perhaps, the patients will have a better understanding of their disease and the guidelines to increase quality of life and decrease mortality and hospital admissions rates. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/knopp/KnoppA0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jun/JunS0509.pdf 2009-06-25T12:05:10Z

Vaccine platform for infection or autoimmune diseases using an ETEC fimbrial scaffold Jun, SangMu The expression of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) fimbriae (colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I) or K99) on the surface of a Salmonella vaccine vector confers protection against ETEC challenge. Application of such fimbriae as a treatment for the proinflammatory disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), or as a molecular scaffold for heterologous antigen expression by cloning enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) LPS peptide mimetics into the K99 fimbriae to produce a dual vaccine for ETEC/EHEC was investigated. The expression of CFA/I fimbriae by a Salmonella vaccine vector stimulates a biphasic T helper (Th) cell response and suppresses proinflammatory responses suggesting that CFA/I fimbriae may be protective against proinflammatory diseases. To test this hypothesis, SJL/J mice were vaccinated with Salmonella-CFA/I vaccine 1 or 4 wks prior to induction of EAE induced with encephalitogenic proteolipid protein (PLP) peptide, PLP139-151. Mice receiving Salmonella-CFA/I vaccine recovered completely from the mild acute clinical disease and showed only mild inflammatory infiltrates in the spinal cord. This protective effect was accompanied by a loss of encephalitogenic IFN-gamma secreting Th1 cells and replaced with increases in IL-4-, IL-10-, and IL-13- producing Th2 cells. These data suggest that Salmonella-CFA/I is an anti-inflammatory vaccine capable of suppressing proinflammatory cells to protect against EAE via immune deviation. To obtain an effective nasal vaccine for ETEC, the fanC gene of ETEC K99 major structural gene was cloned onto the reovirus adhesin, protein sigma1, which has been shown as an M cell targeting molecule. Although FanC/protein sigma1 fusion protein was successfully expressed, this vaccine failed to elicit immune responses against native FanC protein, presumably because of improper protein folding. Using K99 fimbriae as a molecular scaffold, a LPS peptide mimetic for EHEC was cloned into the fanH gene of K99 fimbriae minor structural gene to enable multiple antigenic peptide expression, resulting in an ETEC/EHEC dual vaccine. Insertion of peptide mimetic into fanH gene had no adverse effect on the formation of polymerized K99 fimbriae. However, various oral immunization regimens failed to induce the protective secretory IgA responses against the LPS mimetic peptide, although serum IgG antibodies were induced. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jun/JunS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/mcleod/McLeodS0509.pdf 2009-07-10T15:43:58Z

Isostatically compensated extensional tectonics on Enceladus McLeod, Scott Stuart Saturn's moon Enceladus is the smallest body in the solar system known to be geologically active. Extensive, energetic resurfacing processes are ongoing and it possesses a system of geysers at the South Pole that supply material to the E-ring. The South Polar Terrain (SPT) is the youngest region on Enceladus and its contacts with the older cratered and grooved plains to the north are delineated by a variety of complex geologic features including mountain ranges and massive grabens. Many of the geologic features seen on Enceladus bear superficial resemblance to terrestrial structures associated with plate tectonics. A detailed structural geologic analysis, supported by crater counting studies, was used to determine whether the features seen on Enceladus are compatible with terrestrial-style plate tectonics. On Earth, new lithosphere is created at spreading centers and consumed at subduction zones, enabled by the compositional dichotomy between oceanic and continental crust. Enceladus's lithosphere appears to be made entirely of pure water ice, so any newly formed crust will have the same composition, but lower density due to higher temperature, making subduction and consequently spreading, as we understand it on Earth, impossible. Geometrically, the absence of fold-thrust belts and transform faults in the presence of normal faults and basin and range-style features implies extension without corresponding shortening elsewhere. This is not possible in a conventional (terrestrial) plate tectonic regime as surface area is not conserved; therefore, an alternate explanation is required. Topographic features associated with density contrasts between old and new terrain that are diagnostic of terrestrial spreading centers are also not observed on Enceladus. I conclude that features observed on Enceladus are inconsistent with terrestrial-style plate tectonic spreading, and represent a style of tectonism peculiar to bodies with icy lithospheres. I present an interpretation in which the cordillera surrounding the SPT is a broadly developed extensional regime, and describe a model for its formation that is consistent with the known physical properties of Enceladus, dependent on the presence of a water-ice phase transition below the south polar terrain. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/mcleod/McLeodS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/anderson/AndersonA0509.pdf 2009-07-21T16:56:43Z

Assumptions constructing a school superintendent's mental model for technology use Anderson, Allan Lawrence The continual innovation with technology in the world has caused many significant changes which have affected Montana superintendents' managerial, instruction, and political roles. The political environments of NCLB and community technology expectations created a unique context for the superintendent of the case study. Montana superintendents are learning to integrate technology into their roles to improve schools and increasing student growth. Approaches a Montana superintendent with a "high reputation" for technology implemented into his roles to improve schools and increase student achievement are documented in the study. Reasons for implementing the technological approaches answered research questions focusing on assumptions held in mental models. Case study research with a mental model theoretical framework was used to describe technological approaches the superintendent integrated into his roles. Interviews, observations, field notes, and artifacts provided data required to describe the technological approaches. Assumptions clustered together provided the insight to understand technology approaches from emerging themes. Assumptions were drawn from themes and checked with the superintendent. The superintendent managed his district resources in essentially a paperless office. Student records were managed with technology in his schools. Internet connections made communication instant. The assumptions of efficiency drove decisions to implement managerial technology approaches. The superintendent's belief that students preferred learning with technology indicated a student-centered instructional leadership style. The superintendent believed tapping into students' interest in technology was a way to motivate them. The superintendent believed that alignment of student learning preferences with instruction was important. To integrate technology into instruction required professional development in order to make teachers comfortable infusing technology into instruction to deliver content, technological assessment approaches, and continuous visibility to sustain political support. The assumptions held by the superintendent that affected the superintendent's approaches to integrate technology through his roles were 1) leadership's belief that student learning preferences with technology were important, 2) leadership belief that technological learning and instruction should be aligned, 3) leadership's belief that teachers needed professional development to become comfortable with technology, 4) leadership's belief that alternative technological assessment data were superior to yearly AYP results, and 5) leadership's skills in fostering supportive relationships created a political shared will. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/anderson/AndersonA0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/beck/BeckJ0509.pdf 2009-11-20T18:46:47Z

Secular spiritual nature films: their use, misuse, and potential promise as roving biospheres Beck, Jefferson Andrews The central purpose of poetic techniques in nature films remains under-analyzed and the realm of spiritual motivations in filmic techniques under-explored. In this paper I examine historical and recent attitudes toward nature and the spiritual, highlighting in particular the work of Existentialists, and use those contexts to critique several broad categories of nature films. I find that all types of nature films, to varying degrees, contain a poetic impulse and often a secular spiritual motivation. I conclude that nature films, when carefully crafted, can be highly imperfect, yet highly potent proxies for spiritual experiences in nature. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/beck/BeckJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/franklin/FranklinC0509.pdf 2009-07-22T15:15:26Z

Environmental Architecture Franklin, Charles Evan An unbalanced relationship currently exists between man and nature. However, humans are beginning to realize if this uneven relationship continues, it will mean the ultimate demise our world as we know it. This investigation seeks to produce architecture which is in balance with nature. To do this the architecture must act as a living system in diverse ecological environments. If architecture can organize as a living system it will no longer exist as an object on the landscape, rather the architecture will be experienced as an interrelated process essential to the functioning whole. When natural living processes and cultural and social processes combine, a truly environmental architecture may arise. To explore the idea of environmental architecture, a project is proposed as testing grounds. The Midway Thermal Laboratory and Interpretive Center is this project. The site is the Midway Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park, WY. The results have produced architecture which is both interactive and responsive to its unique local environment. The architecture provides not only a functional lab space, but also allows the user to experience dynamic space in a dynamic environment. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/franklin/FranklinC0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/heikes-knapton/Heikes-KnaptonS0509.pdf 2009-07-21T17:25:07Z

Subalpine Wetlands: characterization, environmental drivers, and response to human peturbation and restoration Heikes-Knapton, Sunni Marie The subalpine region throughout the western US is increasingly pressured by land use changes. Consequences of these changes often involve major alteration to the original function of the landscape, particularly concerning wetland and riparian areas. In southwest Montana, large developments have recently been created or expanded in the subalpine environment. Wetlands in these regions bear a particularly unique structure, and often are influenced by the effects of development. The alteration to structure can result in disturbance to the original hydrological, ecological, and biogeochemical functions of wetlands. Restoration efforts attempt to mitigate for development influences, but the monitoring and success criteria do not wholly address the functional attributes of these features. At the same time, little is known about the structure of undisturbed subalpine wetlands and how environmental drivers influence the undisturbed structure and hydrological, ecological, and biogeochemical functions. Knowledge of these natural processes is necessary to ensure appropriate management decisions and future restoration success. This study examines small subalpine wetlands in an elevation range of 2256-2316 m located in southwest Montana. Study sites include two wetland types, in undisturbed and restored conditions. This research examines physical, chemical, biological, and hydrological attributes of wetlands in varying conditions, to define and compare wetland characteristics, determine primary environmental drivers of wetland ecological and biogeochemical functions, and compare response to human perturbation. Comparisons of our data indicate significant differences in all categories of parameters, and include metrics of biodiversity, primary productivity, hydrologic regime, and physical and chemical properties of the soil. Several environmental drivers are identified, with the primary driver of vegetation and redox response variables being depth to water and persistence of saturated conditions. The depressional wetland type is characterized by a distinct hydrologic regime, with these conditions being significantly related to a greater number of ecological and biogeochemical functions than the linear wetland type. Restoration data indicate that the restoration methods employed are sufficient in establishing the primary wetland characteristics used in wetland definition. However, the trajectory of restored wetlands indicates that long term recovery may result in wetlands exhibiting different structural and functional attributes than intended. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/heikes-knapton/Heikes-KnaptonS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/holley/HolleyT0509.pdf 2009-07-22T14:15:47Z

Development of a test protocol for cyclic pullout of geosynthetics in roadway base reinforcement Holley, Timothy Michael Geosynthetics, or manmade materials used in soils engineering, have successfully been used as base reinforcement of pavements for over 40 years. Use of geosynthetics can result in cost savings by allowing the aggregate base layer to be reduced in thickness and/or the service life of the pavement to be extended. Design methods for this type of reinforcement have typically been developed by individual manufacturers for specific products. These methods are not widely used by state transportation agencies because 1) they are proprietary, 2) they are empirically based, and 3) they lack compatibility with the current national trend towards mechanistic-empirical pavement design procedures. This project was initiated to develop testing methods to determine one of the critical material properties needed for mechanistic-empirical base-reinforced pavement design, namely, the resilient interface shear stiffness. This property describes the interaction, in particular the shear stiffness, between the geosynthetic and the surrounding aggregate. This new test protocol closely mimics vehicular load patterns, resulting in design parameters pertinent to the use of the geosynthetics to reinforce the base course. A study was conducted to evaluate the repeatability of these tests and to develop a standardized test method. Specific parameters under investigation include load pulse and rest period duration, embedment length of the geosynthetic, and differences in results using different soils and types of geosynthetics. Some parameters seemed to have little effect on values of resilient interface shear stiffness, while others vastly impacted the results. Load pulse and rest period durations did not affect output results significantly. Maintaining a constant confinement or shear stress during the test duration produced higher repeatability and correlated well to the adapted resilient modulus equation. Three-aperture length tests on polyester geogrid also correlated well with this equation, however repeatability was moderately low. Polypropylene geogrid and a woven geotextile confined in Ottawa sand displayed low correlation to this equation. During testing, very small displacements occur, and therefore, every effort should be made to ensure that these measurements are accurate and not skewed by electrical noise and interference. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/holley/HolleyT0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jones/JonesRA0509.pdf 2009-07-21T17:51:45Z

'We on history channel!': the representation of history in documentary film Jones, Rex Allan The representation of history in documentary film is problematic. Documentary's creative treatment of actuality and assumed fidelity to perceived truth is at conflict with the historian's pursuit of veracity. Ever since the dawn of photography, artists have manipulated images and compromised facticity in service to aesthetics and drama. This trend continued into the early days of cinema, as newsreel producers adopted a more liberal than literal ethos that persists in documentary to this day. Reality can never be shown just as it is even in the most simplistic treatments of the most banal subjects. The representation of history is not always as absolute as it may seem. Instead of ignoring or denying the authorship inherent in the representation of history in documentary film, filmmakers should embrace it and reflexively provide glimpses of the cinematic process that forms their particular construction of reality. I will argue that the best way to accomplish this goal is to employ the performative mode of documentary representation, which gives the viewer a context to think about the film as a version of history, not necessarily the version of it. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/jones/JonesRA0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/larsen/LarsenJ0509.pdf 2009-07-22T14:36:14Z

Continuum structural representation of flexure and tension stiffened one-dimensional spacecraft architectures Larsen, Jeffrey James Spacecraft designs are a result of system properties and design variables that ensure the spacecraft will operate to mission objectives. The focus of this effort is a set of global system variables for frequency, length, total mass and the ratio between the payload mass and the support structure mass. These properties will be explored to observe the behavior of the system and develop relationships that govern the trade-offs between the variables and assist mission planners in future spacecraft design. These variables will be observed in one-dimensional structures where the dominating dimension is many times larger than the other two dimensions and the system is comprised of a support and a payload member. To observe the interaction between the payload and the support, the system was varied for different system variables and observed through ABAQUS finite element software. Attempts were made to predict the system frequency through mathematical approaches. The finite element work was able to generate several approximate relationships between the system variables and the fundamental natural frequency of the system. From these relationships an approximate equation was developed for the frequency for a fixed mass ratio and load ratio as a function of the length, bending stiffness, and total mass of the system. Additional work into the changes to the system as the number of connect points is increased shows the system converging towards a frequency solution which results in a minimized dependence on the connection points. These results were then compared to those of several derived analytical models to determine if a closed-form solution could be used to predict system behavior over the same range of structural characteristics. This closed form solution proved to correlate well to analytical predictions only for the case where the support structure dominates the total system mass, and thus the structural system performs like a beam under compression. Further work is necessary to accurately predict the system frequency through an analytical approach. These insights promise to aid mission designers in objectively evaluating new structural architectures based on structural performance rather than on an unbalanced adherence to heritage or in some cases personal preference. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/larsen/LarsenJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/milliren/MillirenE0509.pdf 2009-07-22T15:27:04Z

Nanocomposites: a study of theoretical micromechanical behavior using finite element analysis Milliren, Eric Carlton Current research in nanotechnology has produced an increasing number of possibilities for advanced materials. Among those materials with potential advanced mechanical properties are fiber-reinforced composite laminates that utilize nanoscale fiber diameters. Through a combination of studying classic micromechanical models and modern computer-aided finite element analysis (FEA), the advantages for utilizing these nanofibers in advanced structural applications, such as space mirror backings, was investigated. The approach for modeling these composite structures was that of a Representative Volume Element (RVE). Using the program ABAQUS/CAE, a RVE was created with the goals of accurately comparing to the shear lag theory, effectively incorporating "interphase" zones that bond the constituents, and demonstrating effects of down-scaling fiber diameter. In this thesis, the progression of the ABAQUS model is thoroughly covered as it developed into a verified model correlating with the shear lag theory. The model produced was capable of utilizing interphase if desired, and was capable of off-axis loading scenarios. A MathCAD program was written in order to employ the published theoretical techniques, which were then compared to the FEA results for verification. The FEA model was found to work well in conjunction with the theory explored using MathCAD, after which the nanofiber FEA model showed some clear advantages over a conventional-sized model, specifically an increase in strength of the composite RVE. Finally, it was determined that the interfacial bonding strength plays a large role in the structure of the interphase zone, and thus the overall strength of the composite. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/milliren/MillirenE0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/ostrander/OstranderC0509.pdf 2009-07-22T15:21:07Z

Phase alignment of asynchronous external clock controllable devices to periodic master control signal using the Periodic Event Synchronization Unit Ostrander, Charles Nicholas The Periodic Event Synchronization Unit aligns devices without the ability to be triggered by an external source. The primary function of the unit is to align the pattern trigger pulses of two pulse pattern generators which supply four inputs of a multiplexer. The pulse pattern generators lack the ability to start their code according to an external signal. When operating, the designed unit maintains a specific pattern alignment of two binary data streams of 5 gigabits per second as a multiplexer combines them into a data stream of four times the bit rate. In addition to alignment, the unit can introduce offsets of up to 50 nanoseconds to the pattern alignment which corresponds to 250 bits. The unit is designed to allow the alignment of other devices as well, requiring as input the two event signals of the same frequency which need to be aligned. In order to align the devices providing the event pulses, one of the devices must either accept an external clocking source or have the ability to frequency modulate the internal clock. In practice, the test system was able to achieve and maintain the desired signal characteristics from the output of the multiplexer. The unit's robust design is shown by providing alignment of patterns for the full operating range of the pulse pattern generators and allowing a generator pattern to be aligned to a generic event pulse. Use of multiple units allows alignment of additional devices. The development of the Periodic Event Synchronization Unit provided an inexpensive solution to creating very high bit rate signals using preexisting equipment, as no commercial products were found to accomplish the same function. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/ostrander/OstranderC0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/sarrazin/SarrazinJ0509.pdf 2009-07-22T14:52:21Z

Ultrasonic repair of polymers: fundamentals and modeling for self-healing Sarrazin, John Cody Although current research focuses within self-healing materials are advancing, most pursuits are passive systems, unlike the active biological systems they aim to mimic. In this paper an active method utilizing ultrasonic energy is explored. Ultrasonic inspection has served as an effective means toward nondestructive damage detection for decades. Also, a recent method called time-reversed acoustics allows for the redirection of acoustic waves back towards the source. The active healing method utilizes ultrasonic nondestructive damage detection to locate and categorize damage, and then provide coordinates for the redirection of an amplified ultrasonic energy to heal the material. First, the temperature change as a result of ultrasonic treatment was measured, and then a variety of dogbone samples were tensile tested, including virgin samples, damaged samples, and damaged but ultrasonically treated dogbone samples. The ultrasonic treatment increased the ultimate stress of the ultrasonically treated dogbone samples, which was a result of increased crystallinity. The crystallinity was confirmed with differential thermal analyses. The ultrasonic influence of material temperature and effect of ultrasonically treated damaged samples versus just untreated damaged samples were replicated with finite element models as a means to predict future application and use. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/sarrazin/SarrazinJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/townsend/TownsendZ0509.pdf 2009-07-22T14:11:58Z

Enchanced sintering of YSZ ceramics with low level nickel oxide dopants Townsend, Zane Douglas Tape casting is an effective method for obtaining thin YSZ electrolytes used in solid oxide fuel cells. While the costs of YSZ have decreased from demand and improved manufacturing, large amounts of energy are required to properly densify the ceramic material inflating of the overall cost of this material. YSZ must be completely dense to ensure that the fuels used for power generation do not combine resulting in failure of the cell. The purpose of this research is to determine the effectiveness of low level nickel oxide dopants as a sintering aid to reduce the high sintering temperature process while also evaluating the mechanical and ionic conduction behavior. Baseline samples, of both 8YSZ and 3YSZ, were tested and compared to samples doped with concentrations of nickel oxide up to 1 mole %. Transition metal additives may have the potential to increase the electrical conductivity and/or decrease the ionic conductivity of the YSZ, therefore only a maximum of 1 mole % nickel was added to the ceramic powder. It was determined that one mole percent of nickel oxide added to the traditional tape casting slurry achieved the greatest improvement in theoretical density, sintering rate, and onset of densification at 1300°C using standard micron sized powders. Utilizing impedance spectroscopy, it was shown that overall the nickel dopant yielded a negligible change in total conductivity, however, it is noted that a slight increase in the grain boundary contribution was observed for the doped specimens. Mechanical strength testing was conducted with a concentric ring on ring compressive flexural strength standard according to ASTM guidelines indicating an average 40% increase in strength over the undoped specimens for all sintering temperatures. Evaluation of grain size and fracture patterns for doped and undoped specimens indicates significant grain growth and a transition to transgranular fracture with the doped specimens. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/townsend/TownsendZ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wolf/WolfJ0509.pdf 2009-07-21T18:15:06Z

An investigation into the effects of completion problems on introductory physics students Wolf, Jeremy Tyler In this study the completion problems were voluntary. I believe it has been reasonably shown that the completion problems do not have a negative effect on test performance. If the act of completing a completion problem is useful making the completion problems mandatory would seem to be a simple improvement that may result in further or more widespread gains. Further, I believe that completion problems are realistic to implement for an entire semester or year-long course, in terms of time invested in creation of the problems compared to the possible gains made by students. The study has also shown that completion problems can be implemented without significantly altering the rest of the course (i.e. lectures, exams and tutorials). 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/wolf/WolfJ0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/underwood/UnderwoodS0509.pdf 2009-10-19T15:28:52Z

Stable isotope (18 O/16 O and D/H) studies of cascade volcanic arc magmatism Underwood, Sandra Jean Stable isotope ratios (18 O/16 O and D/H) potentially constrain origins of magma and volatile sources in igneous rocks. Modification of magmas by closed system processes (fractional crystallization and closed system devolatilization) or open-system processes (assimilation and fractional crystallization, magma mixing, degassing) affect 18 O/16 O and D/H ratios in known ways. Magma degassing during volcanic eruptions and subsequent rehydration or alteration of groundmass glass reduces accuracy of whole rock stable isotope measurements, the traditional method of measuring glassy volcanic rocks. However, phenocrysts separated from fresh volcanic rocks may retain magmatic 18 O/16 O and D/H values. Accordingly, oxygen isotopes in olivine, clinopyroxene, and plagioclase crystals were measured to determine whether Quaternary little-evolved mafic lavas of the Southernmost Cascades (SMC) represent only melts of heterogeneously contaminated mantle sources. In variably degassed silicic volcanic rocks from the 1980-1986 eruptions at Mount St. Helens (MSH) and the 1915 eruptions at Lassen Volcanic Center (LVC), hydrogen isotopes in amphibole and biotite phenocrysts were measured to evaluate shallow subvolcano magmatic processes. Magmas in each study are strongly influenced by crustal stress fields associated with each tectonic setting. The mantle source of the SMC little-evolved mafic lavas is heterogeneous, but these continental arc magmas acquire crustal contamination that reflects vent location across a region of extended heterogeneous crust. Hydrous phenocrysts in comparatively shallow, sill-like LVC silicic magma bodies recorded heating and devolatilization associated with the periodic injections of mafic magma. The broadly distributed crustal extension enables crystallizing silicic magmas to devolatilize as they are variably remobilized by heat and volatiles of recharging mafic magmas. At MSH, numerous small dacite magma pulses crowded into the narrow extensional volume below the vent. This focusing of all magmas and exsolved volatiles from a deeper main magma body produced the explosive May 18, 1980, eruption that also extensively damaged at least the upper 5 km of subvolcano plumbing. Through 1986, pulses of volatile-rich dacite magma degassed in a structurally and thermally evolving plumbing system. [Mineral data are located in separate Supplemental Data Files.] 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/underwood/UnderwoodS0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/hutcheson/HutchesonR0509.pdf 2009-10-26T16:55:47Z

Quantitative prediction of dye fluorescence quantum yields in proteins Hutcheson, Ryan Mitchell The application of a method previously developed by Callis et al. to predict the quantum yields of Trp fluorescence has been successfully applied to the fluorescence of fluorescein and flavins in proteins. The calculated lifetime range of 2 ps - 4 ns is in agreement with experiment. The fluctuations in the electron transfer rate are shown to be dictated by the fluctuations in the density of states. This is evident by the comparison of the fractional deviation of the interaction, density of states and the rate. Here the fluctuations in the density of states is an order of magnitude larger than the fluctuations in the interactions and is nearly the same as that of the kET fluctuations. This demonstrates that the fluorescence lifetime variability is controlled by the electrostatic environment and not the distance dependence of the interaction. 2009-05-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2009/hutcheson/HutchesonR0509.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/arrasmith/ArrasmithC1208.pdf 2009-01-26T14:29:54Z

A combined confocal imaging and raman spectroscopy microscope for in vivo skin cancer diagnosis Arrasmith, Christopher Lyman Confocal microscopy has provided a useful tool for imaging biopsied tissue samples. The cross sectioning ability inherent in confocal microscopes provides a method for viewing of cellular structure at different layers of a histology sample, allowing for optical cross sectioning and viewing structures below the surface of the sample. As a cancer diagnosis technique, confocal microscopy has been shown to provide valuable information showing differences in cell morphology of malignant and benign regions. Raman spectroscopy has also been shown to be a useful tool for cancer diagnosis in skin tissues due to its ability to distinguish different types of chemical bonds. While both of these methods may be used for cancer detection, current devices are limited to ex vivo samples. The goal of this project was to design and build a hand held microscope which could be used for in vivo confocal imaging and Raman spectroscopy of suspected malignant lesions in skin. This thesis describes the optical, mechanical and electrical design and fabrication of the microscope, as well as performance testing and initial in vivo skin data collected with the microscope. It is our hope that this instrument will be used to gather important in vivo skin cancer data and spur future developments in small diagnosis tools that can be used in a clinical setting. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/arrasmith/ArrasmithC1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/behringer/BehringerD1208.pdf 2009-01-26T14:18:06Z

The geometry, genisis and stratigraphic framework of the Colgate Sandstone Member of the Fox Hills Formation, Northeastern Montana Behringer, Daniel Nelson The Upper Cretaceous Colgate Sandstone Member of the Fox Hills Formation near the Fort Peck Reservoir, eastern Montana is of particular scientific interest. These rocks record the last major regression of the Western Cretaceous Seaway. The detailed interpretation of these stratigraphic units yields greater insight into the causes and dynamics of this important geologic event. The purposes of this research were to: (1) map the extent of the Colgate Sandstone Member in the study area, (2) describe and interpret the facies comprising the Colgate Sandstone Member, (3) determine the facies architecture, and sequence stratigraphic framework of the Colgate Sandstone Member, and (4) to interpret the depositional system active to deposit the Colgate Sandstone Member and those factors that influenced its distribution. Twenty-four stratigraphic sections were measured near Devil\'s Creek area, approximately 65 km (40 miles) NNW of Jordan, MT. Additionally, a series of isopach and structure maps were generated using data from geophysical wireline well logs from nearby boreholes to determine tectonic influences on Colgate Sandstone deposition. The Colgate Sandstone Member of the Fox Hills Formation is part of an incised valley system that formed in response to a relative sea level drop of the Western Interior Seaway during the Maastrichtian stage in northeastern Montana and western North Dakota. The valley fulfills the criterion set forth by Zaitlin (1994, 1995) to characterize a depositional system as an incised valley-fill. The valley-fill strata onlaps the unconformity forming the valley floor and sides and demonstrates an abrupt basinward shift of facies relative to those of the eroded substrate (Van Wagoner et al., 1988). Further, these lowstand and transgressive system tract valley fill strata are deposited during a 3rd order relative sea level cycle that correlate to Haq et. al.\'s (1987) UZA-4.5 depositional sequence. This sequence lasted approximately 1 Ma, and is considered the last sequence of the Zuni transgression. There is also sub-surface and field evidence that regional subsidence (the Blood Creek Syncline) and local subsidence along the Plum Creek lineament were significant in determining the location of the valley system and potentially increasing accommodation beyond that created by fluvial incision alone. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/behringer/BehringerD1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/beyer/BeyerA1208.pdf 2009-01-26T14:13:13Z

Habitat comparisons of historically stable and less stable bighorn sheep populations Beyer, Ashley Chantel Limited research has examined how habitat differences between stable and less stable bighorn populations may influence their success. Understanding these habitat differences may help explain how habitat contributes to bighorn sheep population stability. The objective of the study was to identify potential limiting habitat factors for the Tendoy Mountains bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) population in western Montana. Habitat variables that were evaluated are unlikely to be influenced by fine-scale weather or disturbance patterns. Land cover, slope, aspect, elevation, landscape ruggedness, solar radiation index (SRI), and distance to escape terrain were measured using GIS. Shrub canopy cover, graminoid and forb frequency, and horizontal visibility were measured in the field. Logistic regression was used to identify habitat differences between the stable and less stable sheep populations in summer and winter. Odds ratios from the logistic regressions were used to identify potential limiting habitat variables for the less stable population. Results from this study indicate that landscape ruggedness (P <0.01) and aspect (P <0.01) in summer ranges, and landscape ruggedness (P =0.01), aspect (P <0.01), and SRI (P <0.01) in winter ranges were the habitat characteristics most likely influencing population stability. Landscape ruggedness and SRI are relatively new habitat metrics that require more research to determine threshold values for bighorn sheep habitat. Results from this study provide initial insights into potential threshold values for landscape ruggedness and SRI for Rocky Mountain bighorns. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/beyer/BeyerA1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/bilbao/BilbaoJ1208.pdf 2009-01-26T14:08:37Z

Predicting feeding site selection of mule deer on foothill and mountain rangelands Bilbao, Joshua Vicente Determining areas on the landscape selected by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) for foraging and the characteristics of selected feeding sites is a crucial step in managing mule deer and its habitat. Mule deer populations in much of western North America have been declining since the early 1990\'s, making management of mule deer increasingly difficult. Limited research has examined the characteristics of mule deer habitat that influence feeding site selection in foothill and mountain rangeland habitats during the winter and spring. The purpose of the study was to develop and validate models that incorporate the effects of important habitat variables that influence feeding sites chosen by mule deer in the winter and spring, including aspect, distance to forested cover, distance to hiding cover, distance to agricultural fields, distance to improved roads, distance to ranch roads, elevation, previous cattle grazing, and slope. Data collected in northwestern Wyoming between the summer of 1999 and spring of 2001 were used for model development, and data collected between summer 2001 and spring 2003 were used for temporal validation. Additionally, data collected in west-central Montana between summer 2001 and spring 2003 were used for temporospatial validation. Logistic regression was used to develop models for the winter, spring, and winter-spring seasons. Akaike\'s Information Criterion was used to determine the best models for each season. Models were validated on both a temporal and temporospatial scale. Six habitat variables (distance to improved roads, distance to ranch roads, distance to security cover, aspect, slope, and previous summer\'s cattle grazing) were included in model development after collinearity tests. Four models had a model sensitivity > or equal to 75% in both temporal and temporospatial validation. These models can be used to identify preferred mule deer feeding sites and assess potential impacts of land management practices on mule deer foraging habitat. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/bilbao/BilbaoJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/bizier/BizierN1208.pdf 2009-01-26T14:05:30Z

The use of In(OTf)3 as a Lewis Acid in carbohydrate chemistry, and exploration in silicon tethered reactions Bizier, Nicholas Paul The feasibility of using Indium (III) triflate as a Lewis Acid for a number of different carbohydrate reactions was explored. First, the use of In(OTf)3 as a catalyst in the acylation of a number of carbohydrates was explored. The utility and compatibility of the In(OTf)3 reaction conditions with a number of protecting groups on the sugars were examined by 1H NMR analysis. In the second part of the carbohydrate methodology, the feasibility of using In(OTf)3 to promote glycosylation reactions using a number of glycosyl donors was evaluated. These studies were conducted using 1H NMR, 13CNMR, and Micro-ToF mass spectrometry. In both cases, In(OTf)3 was found to be a viable if highly acidic Lewis acid for these reactions. Silicon tether methodology was explored with the goal of obtaining 1,3 and 1,2-amino alcohols. The parameters for this reaction were explored after precursors and 1,3-amino alcohols were synthesized. These studies were conducted using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR spectroscopy, and Micro-ToF mass spectrometry. While some success was achieved, this route is unlikely to be widely adopted due to the multi-step syntheses that are required to obtain viable reaction precursors. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/bizier/BizierN1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/bonde/BondeJ1208.pdf 2009-02-09T11:36:51Z

Paleoecology and taphonomy of the Willow Tank Formation (Albian), Southern Nevada Bonde, Joshua William This study documents fossil remains from the Willow Tank Formation and places those remains into a taphonomic and sedimentological context in order to determine the paleoecology of southern Nevada during the Early Cretaceous (Albian). Recovered taxa include Lepisosteidae, Ceratodus, Holostean A, Naomichelys, Baenidae, c.f. Adocus, possible Trionychidae, Crocodyliformes, Thyreophora, Iguanodontia, Titanosauriformes, Tyrannosauroidea, Dromaeosauridae, indet. Theropoda, and two fern morphotypes. Sedimentology of the fossiliferous unit of the Willow Tank Formation suggests these taxa were deposited in an anastomosed fluvial system. Interpretation of an anastomosed fluvial system is based in part upon an overwhelming abundance of overbank fines, single storied channel fills, lack of lateral accretion structures, and common crevasse splay sandstones. Observed paleosols commonly contain carbonate nodules associated with mottled red-green mudrocks. The carbonate nodules are consistent with as seasonally arid environment and reddening of beds may suggest a well drained floodplain. Taphonomic modes include microsite, subaqueous bonebed, subaerial bonebed, and channel fill assemblages. Vertebrate fossils are found predominantly in overbank settings. The fauna of the Willow Tank Formation most resembles that of the Cedar Mountain Formation. Unlike the discrete, temporal, fauna assemblages of the various members of the Cedar Mountain Formation, the Willow Tank Formation fauna contains a mix of these different stratigraphic faunas. One example is the co-occurrence of Early Cretaceous iguanodon-grade and Late Cretaceous hadrosaur-grade teeth. Another example being the presence of a tyrannosauroid tooth in Albian beds of the Willow Tank Formation, where tyrannosauroids are not found in the Cedar Mountain Formation until the Cenomanian. Therefore, Willow Tank Formation strata may shed light on biogeographic and evolutionary relationships at the Early-Late Cretaceous boundary. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/bonde/BondeJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/kitchens/KitchensJ1208.pdf 2009-05-07T18:29:52Z

Learning from the landfill Kitchens, Jonathan Ashley We are a culture of material consumption. We have created a cycle of extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal that perpetuates our consumptive behavior. Our culture, way of life and economy is also hinged upon this process. We have created and enacted myths that provide reasoning, support and even a need for the continuation of this lifestyle. The byproduct, as well as the foundation for this culture, is the landfill. This thesis will explore the space created by the centralized concentration of garbage and the associated myths. This thesis will also show the necessity for a new myth and outline a new vision for the landfill encompassing the man-made landscape of this culture's discarded belongings. This project will shed light upon both the beautiful potential and decay that constitutes our landfill. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/kitchens/KitchensJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/brown/BrownP1208.pdf 2009-02-19T11:35:57Z

Finding new representations in science and natural history film through a deconstruction of televised weather forcasting Brown, Parker Brandt Broadcast television networks limit their representation of the weather by embedding weather forecasting with ideologies of science, capitalism, and patriarchy, thereby creating a dispassionate monolithic regime as the totalizing representation of weather in popular media. This is not to say that TV weather forecasting is not useful, but that it is a narrowly focused scientific representation of nature, and as such denies experiences of the weather beyond utilitarian prediction. Non-fiction film employs a set of representational tools that, when applied to the weather, can deconstruct the mainstream representation of the weather and create alternative representations that reconnect viewers with their personal experiences of the weather. Non-fiction film allows filmmakers the freedom to directly author messages and choose systems of signs that deconstruct the mainstream broadcast of the weather. It can restore an assumption of afilmic representation and allow viewers the ability to interpret the weather in their own contexts. These ideas led to the production of my own film, Weatherscape, which simultaneously re-contextualizes the weather to encourage the viewer to create his or her own weather experience and critiques the TV weather representation. Deconstruction through non-fiction film proves to be a robust tool for creating representations that rethink our portrayal of nature. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/brown/BrownP1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/meeuwig/MeeuwigM1208.pdf 2009-02-03T12:28:04Z

Ecology of lacustrine-adfluvial bull trout populations in an interconnected system of natural lakes Meeuwig, Michael Hendrik Loss of connectivity among populations and interactions with nonnative species can negatively influence abundance of bull trout Salvelinus confluentus. Connectivity among bull trout populations and trophic relationships among native and nonnative fishes in Glacier National Park (GNP), Montana, were examined. Competition between juvenile (< or equal to 80 mm) bull trout and lake trout S. namaycush for cover habitat was examined in a laboratory environment. Connectivity among bull trout populations was inferred from genetic data. Barriers (i.e., waterfalls > or equal to 1.8 m) reduced genetic diversity and increased genetic differentiation among populations. Genetic differentiation was positively related to the length of tributary stream sections between populations and populations within the same drainage were more similar than populations in different drainages. Competition between bull trout and nonnative lake trout for prey is a potential mechanism for declines in bull trout abundance. Stable isotopes analyses were used to examine trophic relationships among fishes in GNP lakes. Bull trout and lake trout were top-level predators among lakes (Delta15N analysis), lake trout occupied a higher trophic position than bull trout (Delta15N analysis), and bull trout and lake trout likely used different foraging habitats (Delta13C analysis). These data do not support the prediction that these species are complete competitors for prey resources in GNP. Cover habitat protects fish from predators and is competed for if limiting. Habitat use by juvenile bull trout and lake trout was experimentally evaluated. Bull trout and lake trout differed in habitat use. Lake trout avoided bottom habitat, bull trout avoided water column habitat when lake trout were present, and neither species selected cover habitat. The hypothesis that bull trout and lake trout compete for cover habitat was not supported. The landscape in GNP allows connectivity among bull trout populations that are not isolated by barriers and one-way dispersal past waterfalls is likely. This connectivity allows dispersal and colonization by nonnative fishes into GNP lakes. Bull trout and nonnative lake trout are not complete competitors for prey resources in GNP or cover habitat; however, future studies should examine trophic shifts by these species associated with prey limitation and diel variability in habitat use by these species. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/meeuwig/MeeuwigM1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/callaway/CallawayP1208.pdf 2009-05-07T18:27:21Z

Religion and public order in the 1790's Callaway, Patrick Michael The connection between the founders and relationship between church and state has become increasingly important in the late twentieth and early twenty-first century. Entire books are regularly published on the private religious thoughts and practices of many of the founding fathers; often times these works exist in order to support a closer relationship between Christian practice and piety and the government. Just as often, published works also draw on the ideas of the same founders in order to support a more concrete separation between religious thought and practice and governance. These "culture wars" are an emotive part of the present day political discourse; however, this thesis argues that attempts to fight the culture wars though the thought of the founders is factually erroneous and misguided because the context of the founders and their debates have been overly simplified or just plain lost. The link between religion and the political culture of the 1790s was a practical matter of governance and support for a larger ideal of consensus, not an expression of cultural preference as is common in present-day political discourse. The connection between the governing structure under the Constitution, a blessing upon that government from God, and the inculcation of Christian ideals into the public that support both religion and the government became increasingly important as the range of political and social opinions expanded in the 1790s. Contemporary political thought that places the intent of the founders at the center of political debate ignore the significant divisions among the founders' political, philosophical, and religious ideals. There is little unity in thought among the founders; they virulently disagreed about religion, politics, and the connection between them. Arguing the present day culture wars through the lens of the founders is emotive and politically effective, but without a full appreciation for the larger historical and intellectual contexts of the early republic and the concerns particular to that time an appeal to the wisdom of the founders on religion and its connection to American politics, this claim to political legitimacy is of dubious intellectual validity. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/callaway/CallawayP1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/castle/CastleC1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:58:43Z

Protein-Protein interactions involved in the biogenesis of eukaryotic small ribosomal subunits Castle, Cathy Lynn Ribosome biogenesis is a complicated process involving numerous proteins and modification factors. The process has been well-documented in prokaryotic cells where it is much less complex than the process involved in eukaryotic cells. In eukaryotes, much of what is known about ribosome biogenesis has been learned from studies in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Far less has been learned about higher eukaryotes such as humans. However, among organisms in all three domains of life, ribosome structure and function is well conserved. The biogenesis of ribosomal subunits is dynamic, complicated, and, in S. cerevisiae, requires over 200 trans-acting factors for synthesis to occur. The focus of this study is synthesis of the small ribosome subunit in eukaryotes. In order to study this process in higher eukaryotes, a mammalian cell culture method was used. This method involves cloning human ribosomal accessory genes using the Gateway system, a rapid and efficient cloning method that permits parallel construction of numerous plasmids in a modular type of system, each containing the desired gene of interest in a variety of vectors. Proteins were selected based on their activity in yeast with emphasis on the final processing step of the small subunit and the proteins that are involved at that step. These proteins are Nob1p, Enp1p, Tsr1p, Rio2p, Rrp20p, Dim1p, and Hrr25p. The corresponding genes were cloned into vectors containing either the coding region for a full-length fluorescent protein or the C-terminus or N-terminus half of the fluorescent protein. The bimolecular fluorescent complementation assay (BiFC) was then utilized to detect protein-protein interactions. Results of this assay demonstrate binary interactions among pairs of this group of proteins and the location within the cell where these interactions take place. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/castle/CastleC1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/debruycker/DebruyckerK1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:54:59Z

Novice teachers\' perspectives on principal mentoring in a K-8 rural school setting DeBruycker, Kimberly Michele Teacher turnover is a common theme in the literature for schools in our nation. Several rural Montana districts have a difficult time recruiting and retaining teachers. Many statistical studies indicate teachers move to other professions after teaching between three and five years. What remained unheard in Montana were the voices of the teachers who might stay in education if support and encouragement were made available directly from the principal or in a minority of cases, if the support available from the principal could be improved. Principals working with novice teachers in rural K-8 schools must understand the needs of their new hires in order to implement and deliver effective mentoring strategies. The purpose of the study was to probe specifically what principals can do in their mentorship of K-8 teachers in a rural setting by eliciting the thoughts of novice teachers. With this knowledge, the principal could then take steps to ensure that these practitioners remain pleased in their profession and that they experience job satisfaction. An additional benefit of the study was a resource for principal mentoring in Montana rural schools. This qualitative study captured the voices of novice teachers through semi-structured interviews. These interviews provided a description of the needs and wishes of rural teachers. The investigation focused on the actions that might be provided to novice teachers by their principal to increase educators\' job satisfaction and longevity. The findings indicated Montana rural K-8 teachers would prefer increased principal interactions in the areas (in random order) of 1) introduction and orientation, 2) honesty and expectations, 3) professional growth, learning, and forgiveness, and 4) availability. These four themes of teacher expectations, gleaned directly from the voices of rural teachers, provided the basis for a 76-page resource for Montana rural principals to create and implement their own district procedures for principal mentoring. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/debruycker/DebruyckerK1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/durham/DurhamD1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:50:50Z

Aspen response to prescribed fire in Southwest Montana Durham, Daniel Avery A collaborative effort by the BLM, MAES and MFWP, the Whitetail Watershed Restoration Project used prescribed fire in 2005 and 2006 to address aspen decline, conifer encroachment and altered hydrologic function in a forested watershed within Jefferson County, MT. As part of this effort quaking aspen response to fire was evaluated in two sub-drainages of the Whitetail Basin three years after treatment. Unburned stands were first surveyed to determine whether regeneration was occurring and to measure the distribution of aspen stems by size class. This information was then compared to stem response in burned stands. Big game and cattle impacts on aspen sucker height and density were measured using a series of 3-part ungulate exclosures in a sub-sample of burned stands. Regeneration was occurring in only1 of 40 unburned stands suggesting aspen was declining in this area. Sucker density increased dramatically in the burned stands after three years increasing the likelihood for regeneration. Within the first three years post-fire big game and the combination of big game and cattle did not affect sucker density in the burned stands. Although sucker height was significantly less in plots used by ungulates we did not feel it was enough to prevent regeneration. This assertion was supported by sufficient annual growth rates and the recruitment of individual regeneration stems into stands outside of protected plots. While it appears fire has increased the potential for aspen regeneration in the Whitetail Basin, early growth rates have allowed for some individual stem to surpass browse height to date, suggesting future monitoring will be necessary to learn if the current recruitment levels are sufficient to regenerate the majority of stands. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/durham/DurhamD1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/muhlfeld/MuhlfeldC1208.pdf 2009-02-03T12:50:39Z

Behavioral, ecological, and fitness consequences of hybridization between native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewis) and nonnative rainbow trout (O. mykiss) Muhlfeld, Clint Cain Anthropogenic hybridization is one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Hybridization and introgression may lead to a loss of locally adapted gene complexes and ecological adaptations in native populations, yet these potential consequences have not been fully evaluated in nature. I investigated factors influencing the spread of hybridization between native westslope cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) and nonnative rainbow trout (O. mykiss) in the upper Flathead River system, Montana (USA) and British Columbia (Canada). The fundamental questions of my dissertation were: what are the behavioral, ecological, and fitness consequences of hybridization and what factors influence successful invasion of hybrids? First, I assessed the patterns of spawning between parental species and their hybrids and found that hybridization alters the spawning behavior of migratory westslope cutthroat trout, and is spreading via long distance dispersal of hybrids from downstream sources and some temporal overlap during spawning. Second, I describe for the first time how a wide range of levels of nonnative admixture affect fitness of cutthroat trout in the wild by estimating reproductive success in a recently invaded stream using parentage analysis with multilocus microsatellite markers. Small amounts of hybridization markedly reduced reproductive success, with fitness exponentially declining by ~50% with 20% nonnative genetic admixture. Finally, I evaluated the association of local-habitat features, landscape characteristics, and biotic factors with the spread of hybridization in the system, and found that hybridization increases in streams with warmer water temperatures, high land use disturbance and close proximity to the source of hybridization; however, none of these factors appeared sufficient to prevent further spread. These combined results suggest that hybrids are not only genetically different than westslope cutthroat trout but also have reduced fitness and are ecologically different, and that hybridization is likely to continue to spread if hybrid populations with high amounts of rainbow trout admixture are not reduced or eliminated. I conclude that extant aboriginal cutthroat trout are at greater conservation risk due to hybridization than previously thought and policies that protect hybridized populations need reconsideration. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/muhlfeld/MuhlfeldC1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/dye/DyeC1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:47:08Z

Now and all are important: a post-structural critique of humanism, Aldo Leopold\'s The Land Ethic and Disney/Pixar\'s Wall-E Dye, Charles Eugene Feelings of hopelessness and meaninglessness have become hallmarks of American society. As a filmmaker and film educator it is clear I share a responsibility to address these defining issues. Using some of the ideas of Zygmunt Bauman, Jacques Derrida, Neil Evernden, Claude Levi-Strauss, Bill Nichols, Nell Noddings, José Ortega y Gasset, Edward Said, and Erwin Straus, I observe this problem to be a result of dispassionate humanism -a machineworld story considered appropriate in the current social construction. From this critical perspective, I then analyze Aldo Leopold\'s \"The Land Ethic\" and the Disney/Pixar film \"WALL-E\". The former I show to be written in such a way as to leave its audience confused. The latter I demonstrate fosters unnecessary and immoral assumptions about the \"imminent\" collapse of our civilization. In conclusion, I make clear that it is how we relate to our current existance that is important. While the power of our ideas is truly humankind\'s greatest creation, that power comes to naught outside of time and our Earth-bound existance. What we must learn to value in America is not simply the power of ideas, but the responsibilities inherent in every moment of our existance. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/dye/DyeC1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/erickson/EricksonG1208.pdf 2009-05-07T18:25:04Z

A History of Sand Coulee, Montana 1880-1900 Erickson, George Irvin Sand Coulee is now a bedroom community for Great Falls, laying twelve miles east and south of the larger city. Both town and city had their start at almost exactly the same time during the early 1880s. Sand Coulee was well known throughout the territory because of the tremendous coal field that J. J. Hill exploited to fuel his Great Northern Railway that connected the Twin Cities of Minnesota with the Pacific Northwest. The biggest repository of Sand Coulee history is a small history written by Ruby Giannini titled "A History of Sand Coulee" and a book titled "The Gulch Area History" written by a committee of area residents. "The Gulch Area History" is a genealogy of the area. These two books are the only ones specifically written about Sand Coulee and neither includes documentation. This thesis is heavily documented so that those who disagree with this history or its conclusions will be able to compare sources. Because of Sand Coulee's coal mining importance, its history resides in many newspapers, magazines, official state reports and history books. The footnotes and bibliography of this thesis give the historian a sense for the wide range of material available in bits and scraps about Sand Coulee. This thesis covers areas that are relatively unexplored in Sand Coulee's history, but there is still a lot of history to be written about Sand Coulee. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/erickson/EricksonG1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/flynn/FlynnA1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:37:48Z

Factors influencing the leadership life skills of Montana 4-H youth Flynn, Allison Maurine Since its inception, the 4-H program has been through many transitions, and has been constantly challenged to show its benefits to youth. Additionally, funding from 4-H came from multiple supporters resulting in the need for 4-H to show reasons for support. The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of Montana 4-H youth related to their leadership life skills and to determine the significant factors that influenced the development of those life skills. The population consisted of 2008 Montana 4-H Congress participants and 2007-2008 Montana 4-H Ambassadors. The survey instrument consisted of three sections: selected demographic information and 4-H participation, involvement in 4-H activities and leadership roles, and the Youth Leadership Life Skills Development Scale (YLLSDS). YLLSDS was a valid and reliable instrument developed by Seevers, Dormody and Clason (1995). Data were collected during the Montana 4-H Congress and survey was mailed to Montana 4-H Ambassadors. The data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using SPSS. The responses to the YLLSDS with the highest means were \"have good manners,\" \"get along with others\", and \"show a responsible attitude.\" Analysis revealed that Montana 4-H Ambassadors had statistically significant higher YLLSDS scores than those who had never been an Ambassador. The factors with the greatest influence on leadership life skills development were gender, 4-H Districts, and participation in the Ambassador program. Involvement in 4-H activities predicted 6.9% of the variation in YLLSDS scores and involvement in leadership roles accounted for 7.3% of the variation in YLLSDS scores. Leadership life skills were gained through the Ambassador program, partaking in leadership roles and involvement in leadership activities. The research attested to the effectiveness of the Ambassador program. Further research was recommended to determine which activities, leadership roles and aspects of the Ambassador program were most successful at building life skills. Further research to determine the significant variation between 4-H Districts would be useful. The study supported 4-H as a successful youth organization that responsibly teaches youth leadership life skills. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/flynn/FlynnA1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/nehrir/NehrirA1208.pdf 2009-02-03T12:54:43Z

Water vapor profiling using a compact widely tunable diode laser differential absorption lidar (DIAL) Nehrir, Amin Reza Atmospheric water vapor is an important driver of cloud formation, precipitation, and cloud microphysical structure. Changes in the cloud microphysical structure due to the interaction of aerosols and water vapor can produce more reflective clouds, resulting in more incoming solar radiation being reflected back into space, leading to an overall negative radiative forcing. Water vapor also plays an important role in the atmospheric feedback process that acts to amplify the positive radiative forcing resulting from increasing levels of atmospheric CO2. In the troposphere, where the water vapor greenhouse effect is most important, the situation is harder to quantify. A need exists for tools that allow for high spatial resolution range resolved measurements of water vapor number density up to about 4 km. One approach to obtaining this data within the boundary layer is with the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) that is being developed at Montana State University. A differential absorption lidar (DIAL) instrument for automated profiling of water vapor in the lower troposphere has been designed, tested, and is in routine operation. The laser transmitter for the DIAL instrument uses a widely tunable external cavity diode laser (ECDL) to injection seed two cascaded semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA) to produce a laser transmitter that accesses the 824-841 nm spectral range. The DIAL receiver utilizes a 28-cm-diameter Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, an avalanche photodiode (APD) detector, and a narrow band optical filter to collect, discriminate, and measure the scattered light. A technique of correcting for the wavelength-dependent incident angle upon the narrow band optical filter as a function of range has been developed to allow accurate water vapor profiles to be measured down to 225 m above the surface. Data comparisons using the DIAL instrument and co-located radiosonde measurements are presented demonstrating the capabilities of the DIAL instrument. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/nehrir/NehrirA1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/foy/FoyE1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:33:52Z

Riparian vegetation and forest structure of two unregulated tributaries, compared to the regulated Snake River, Grand Teton NP, WY Foy, Elizabeth Christina The dynamic nature of rivers shapes riparian plant communities, and changes to the flow regime can have profound effects on these diverse ecosystems. To examine how riparian plant communities of the dam-regulated Snake River in Grand Teton National Park, WY respond to hydro-geomorphological factors, I studied the vegetation of two unregulated tributaries, Pacific Creek and Buffalo Fork, in relation to the main river. I considered three perspectives in this analysis. In chapter 2, I examined hydro-geomorphological processes shaping riparian vegetation in naturally flowing systems, by evaluating 15 environmental variables, and determining which were most related to vegetation. Using cluster analysis, I identified six distinct communities. I described environmental conditions associated with each community, using the unconstrained ordination technique NMDS, coupled with generalized additive models (GAMs). Community types occur on characteristic geomorphologic landforms. Depth to gravel, soil texture, pH, distance to bankfull channel, and elevation above water are all related to vegetation, and interact to determine where community types occur. In my third chapter, I compared the vegetation of the unregulated tributaries to the Snake River, as a means of assessing dam effects. Species richness per plot is higher on the tributaries, despite higher overall richness on the Snake River. Through the use of NMDS ordination and clustering techniques, I found the composition of the upper section of the Snake River, immediately below the dam, to be distinct. However, this section is naturally more incised, and the lower sections of the river do not seem to be influenced, suggesting dam impacts on vegetation are minimal. Environmental variables related to vegetation composition include elevation above water, depth to gravel, and geomorphological landform. In chapter 4, I compared age class distributions of spruce and cottonwoods across river sections, and found no evidence for a late-successional trend on the regulated river, versus unregulated tributaries. Age distribution is related to geomorphological landform, and browing also influences forest structure through root coppicing. Forest understory communities are structured by cottonwood age. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/foy/FoyE1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/freeberg/FreebergA1208.pdf 2009-02-09T11:13:03Z

Spectacular Nature: applying the \'cinema of attactions\' to the natural history film genre Freeberg, Andrew Harding The natural history film genre has long been reliant on the commoditizing of nature\'s beauty as visual spectacle. Associating Tom Gunning\'s \"cinema of attractions\" to the nature film genre therefore is an appropriate way to dissect the techniques that maintain its popularity. After understanding the basic rhetorical traditions that nature films employ, it is revealed how the same outdated and over-idealized portrayals of nature continue to be recycled as new technology in methods of production and exhibition continually reinvent the nature film experience. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/freeberg/FreebergA1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/gage/GageJ1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:27:15Z

Forest disturbance history in the Sawtooth Mountains of Central Idaho and the Beaverhead Range of Western Montana Gage, Joshua Albert Studies of disturbance history are important because they provide a framework for understanding the ecological response to past, present, and future climate change, and this information is useful for paleoecological researchers and land-use managers. Fire and insect outbreaks are common occurrences in western forests, and three studies were undertaken to increase our knowledge of their history in the northern Rocky Mountains. In the first study, sediment cores were sampled from 21 lakes located in forests experiencing mountain pine beetle infestation in the Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho. Cores were analyzed to determine whether or not mountain pine beetle remains were accumulating in the lake sediments in association with recent outbreaks. The study found that insect remains were sparse in the lake sediments, even in sites surrounded by heavily infested forests. These results cast doubt on whether paleo-beetle records can be reconstructed from lake-sediment cores. In the second study, one-meter-long sediment cores were taken from three lakes in Pinus contorta forests in the Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho, to reconstruct a historical record of fire spanning the last 2000 years. High-resolution charcoal analysis of the cores indicated changes in fire activity, but there was not a significant difference in fire occurrence during the relatively dry Medieval Climate Anomaly (1050 - 650 cal yr BP), the cooler Little Ice Age (750 - -50 cal yr BP), and the present day. Results suggest that the current fire regime has persisted for at least 2000 years, with little modification by humans or climate. In the third study, a high-resolution charcoal record was analyzed from Reservoir Lake in the Beaverhead Mountains, Montana to reconstruct the fire history of the last 15,000 years at the lower forest-steppe boundary. The charcoal record indicates relatively low fire frequency between 13,500 cal yr BP and 6000 cal yr BP and increased fire activity from 6000 to 1500 cal yr BP, suggesting increasing aridity in the middle and late Holocene. The fire-climate linkages observed in the paleoecological record provide insights that are useful in understanding future fire regimes with projected climate changes. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/gage/GageJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/geary/GearyJ1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:22:24Z

DNA binding proteins of archaeal viruses Geary, Joella Suzanne Archaea are single-celled organisms comprising the third domain of life. The Achaeal species Sulfolobus are infected by the Fuselloviridae virus family: SSV1, SSV2, SSV-RH, and SSV-K. The genomes of these viruses have been annotated and contain putative DNA-binding proteins. The purpose of this work is to identify DNA sequences bound by the SSV1 putative DNA-binding protein C43. C43 protein was cloned, expressed, purified, and assayed at various temperatures for interaction with three SSV1 DNA sequences. C43 binds the T5-promoter, T6-promoter, and C43-promoter sequentially and consistently. Additionally, C43 protein is functional at temperatures of 50°C and 65°C. Thus, C43 appears to be an important regulator of the Fuselloviridae SSV1 viral genome. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/geary/GearyJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/ostlind/OstlindJ1208.pdf 2009-02-03T12:58:33Z

The morphology of space: a wind technology center for Montana Ostlind, Jacob Kenneth There is often a logical relationship between what something does and how it is shaped. In biology this is known as morphology-the study of structure or form. The morphology of an organism is a product of environmental conditions and its interaction with that environment. The morphology of space, then, is the study of the relationship between the measurable forces acting on a space and its shape. It is an exploration of the poetic and pragmatic link between environment and design-a search for how a building can be cast by its shadow. The research, observations and images contained in these pages form the foundation for the design of a Wind Technology Center for Montana. Inspired in part by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory\'s Wind Technology Center near Boulder, Colorado, this facility will provide research services to private companies involved in Montana\'s current wind energy boom. Additionally, it will conduct grant-funded research into alternative uses of energy generated by wind-an especially relevant topic in Montana, considering our significant wind resources and our limited transmission infrastructure. The site for this project is in the Yellowstone River Valley northeast of Livingston, Montana, one of the windiest places in the state and possibly the nation. The project\'s program and design will express the forces present on the site (considered to include both the immediate site and Montana as a whole) through the development of system of analysis inspired by studies of morphology and facilitated by digital design techniques. Importantly, the building will also be an icon for wind energy in Montana and a flagship building for sustainability as our culture transitions to a more carbon neutral fuel economy. Located on a highly visible site along Interstate 90, it is positioned to become an architectural icon as well, a facility for exporting both technology and awareness. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/ostlind/OstlindJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/pascucci/PascucciE1208.pdf 2009-02-03T13:29:04Z

Vascular shutdown as an effect of using photodynamic therpay to treat cancer Pascucci, Elizabeth Mary Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment that uses the combination of a photosensitizing drug and light to selectively kill cancer cells. PDT has many potential advantages such as minimal side effects, excellent cosmetic results, and no cellular resistance burdening traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Currently used in the clinic, a limitation is depth of light penetration; therefore, PDT can only be used to treat superficial disease. Our novel PDT agent utilizes two-photon laser technology, which increases the depth of light penetration, greatly increasing the potential uses. Our PDT is able to kill selective cells because the PDT drug has a targeting agent so the drug only goes to cancer cells that overexpress the Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTr2) on their cell surface. Laser light irradiates the cancer cells causing cytotoxic singlet oxygen to be produced damaging the cells. It was observed, through in vivo imaging of the tumors before and after treatment, that vascular flow was diminished as a result of PDT. It is well established that angiogenesis must occur when a tumor reaches a certain size in order for the cells to remain viable and the tumor to continue to grow; therefore, vascular shutdown could be an important mechanism of how PDT works. A series of experiments on the tumor vasculature using in vivo imaging, immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy has taken place since this observation to determine what may be happening. Results of these studies have shown that tumor vessels do express the SSTr2 and therefore effected by treatment. Experiments using a somatostatin analog, octreoate, detected by a fluor has shown that the endothelial cells do take the drug up. To ensure that it is blood vessels that were being studied, tumor tissue was stained for both SSTr2 and vonWillebrand Factor (vWF), a recognized endothelial cell marker. Staining patterns for both antibodies were similar. To strengthen the argument, SSTr2- negative tumor cells also showed a positive staining pattern of their vessels, demonstrating that even though the tumor cells are SSTr2- negative, the tumor vessels can be SSTr2-positive and thus responsive to PDT. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/pascucci/PascucciE1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/hafla/HaflaA1208.pdf 2009-01-26T13:19:28Z

Winter cereals as a pasture-hay system in Montana Hafla, Aimee Nicole In 2006 - 2008 \'Willow Creek\' winter wheat and \'Trical 102\' triticale were evaluated for biomass production and forage quality under grazing and hay systems in Montana. Forage cultivars of winter wheat and triticale were subjected to a single grazing event at three growth stages (vegetative, boot, or heading) in the late spring. Subsequent regrowth from each grazing event was harvested as hay. Growth of winter cereals was modeled with environmental conditions. Both cultivars reached 100% headed between accumulated growing degree day (base 5 C°) 1090 and 1245 (between July 7 and 13) during the three year trial. During this period, winter cereals experienced rapid forage growth, and grew 1.4 to 2.6 cm daily and produced 87 to 248 kg ha-1 daily. In two years, triticale had superior forage biomass compared to winter wheat. Forage quality of winter cereals was excellent at the vegetative stage of growth and declined until the final forage harvest dates. At all growth stages winter wheat and triticale had similar levels of forage quality. However, the rates of digestibility of winter wheat pasture and hay were greater than those of triticale. When grazed at increasing stages of maturity, winter cereals demonstrated variable forage regrowth yield and quality. Delaying grazing until later dates coincided with hot and dry growing season conditions and limited forage regrowth potential. Regrowth of grazed cereals declined in forage quality with advancing maturity. Nitrate concentrations were high enough to concern producers with pregnant livestock grazing in spring or when grazing regrowth. Grass tetany was found to be a potential risk to lactating livestock grazing early vegetative winter cereal forage. In a whole animal digestion trial, winter wheat hay was had similar digestibility when compared to traditional grass alfalfa hay, in a sheep maintenance diet. Winter cereals can offer producers a viable option for a pasture-hay system in Montana. Maximum total biomass was a single cutting of hay at anthesis and early grain development. Therefore, it will be necessary for livestock producers to consider total biomass, availability and cost of pasture and hay, and forage quality, when using a pasture-hay system in Montana. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/hafla/HaflaA1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/robinson/RobinsonB1208.pdf 2009-02-20T11:16:13Z

Influence of colostrum from safflower supplemented ewes on lamb cold tolerance and lamb growth Robinson, Brenda Lee Five hundred, ninety-seven and 643 white face range ewes were used in a 2 year study, respectively, in a 3-way factorial arrangement to determine effect of supplemental linoleic oil on lamb serum metabolites, thermogenesis and lamb growth. During the last 45 ± 4 days of gestation ewes were group fed a daily supplement of either 0.23 kg•ewe-1•d-1 whole safflower seed (SS) or 0.34 kg•ewe-1•d-1 whole barley (C). Colostrum was collected from each supplement treatment and pooled according to treatment. At parturition, twin born lambs received either SS or C pooled colostrum. One h postpartum, lambs were placed in a 0°C dry cold chamber for 30 min. and lamb rectal temperature was recorded at one min intervals. Blood samples were taken prior to and after cold exposure. Lamb weights were taken at birth, turnout and weaning for growth. There was no difference (P > 0.10) in body temperatures between lambs born to ewes supplemented with SS vs. C or between lambs given pooled colostrum form SS or C supplemented ewes. At 0 minutes lambs born to SS supplemented ewes had lower glucose (P = 0.05), total protein (P = 0.05) and NEFA (P = 0.003) and higher BUN (P = 0.03) than lambs from C supplemented ewes. Lambs from SS supplemented ewes had lower NEFA (P = 0.01) after cold exposure (30 minutes). Total protein concentration was similar in year 1 but lower (P < 0.01) in year 2. Concentrations of aGP were higher in lambs from SS supplemented ewes at both 0 and 30 min in year 1. Lambs from SS ewes had higher (P < 0.01) blood aGP levels at both 0 and 30 min in year 1 than in year 2. No differences (P > 0.30) were detected between lambs from SS ewes vs. C for changes in any blood metabolites measured during cold stress period. No differences (P > 0.12) were detected for average date of birth, number of lambs born, number of lambs present at turnout and weaning or for weight of lambs at turnout or weaning for ewes receiving either SS or C supplements. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/robinson/RobinsonB1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/helmke/HelmkeE1208.pdf 2009-01-26T12:36:18Z

Structural analysis of cleavage at Sandy Hollow, McCartney Mountain fold-and-thrust salient, Southwest Montana Helmke, Elizabeth Ashley The McCartney Mountain salient is a distinct convex-east segment of the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt in southwest Montana, lying east of the Pioneer batholith and west of basement-cored Laramide uplifts. Prominent features of the central part of the salient include the in-sequence Sandy Hollow thrust fault (displacing Permian over Lower Cretaceous strata), and hanging wall and footwall syncline-anticline pairs that display complex intra-formational duplexes and parasitic detachment folds at all scales. Cleavage occurs in the argillaceous carbonate members of the Cretaceous Kootenai and Triassic Dinwoody formations throughout the area. Cleavage has been systematically mapped and characterized according to morphology, domainal spacing and orientation for all exposed outcrops of a distinctive yellowish dolomitic unit in the lower limestone member of the Kootenai. Cleavage within this unit exhibits planar morphology with domainal spacing at the mm-cm scale, classified as moderate to very strong spaced cleavage. Structural orientation data divides the cleavage into two populations. S1 is defined by cleavage that trends N-S, dips east, and is inferred to be reoriented axial planar cleavage that may have been modified during late-stage shortening as the frontal fold-and-thrust system impinged against basement uplifts in the foreland. S2 is recognized by E-W striking cleavage that dips within 10° of vertical, cross cutting hanging wall, and footwall folds in the area. S2 is inferred to have formed during the final stages of deformation in the Sandy Hollow fold-and-thrust system. S2 may reflect N-S shortening caused by lateral forces along the salient boundary as the fold-and-thrust system propagated eastward into the salient nose. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/helmke/HelmkeE1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/rouse/RouseJ1208.pdf 2009-02-03T13:37:45Z

Measurements of plant stress in response to CO2 using a three-CCD imager Rouse, Joshua Hatley In response to the increasing atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gasses, such as CO2 produced by burning fossil fuels, which is very likely linked to climate change, the Zero Emissions Research Technology (ZERT) program has been researching the viability of underground sequestration of CO2. This group\'s research ranges from modeling underground sequestration wells to detection of leaks at test sites. One of these test sites is located just west of Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, at 45.66°N 111.08°W. At this site experiments were conducted to assess the viability of using multispectral imaging to detect plant stress as a surrogate for detecting a CO2 leak. A Geospatial Systems MS3100 multispectral imager, implemented in color-infrared mode, was used to image the plants in three spectral bands. Radiometric calibration of the output of the imager, a digital number (DN), to a reflectance was achieved using a grey card and spectralon reflectance panels. To analyze plant stress we used time series comparisons of the bands and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), computed from the red and near-infrared band reflectances. Results were compared with rainfall, soil moisture, and CO2 flux data. The experiment was repeated two years in a row; the first from June 21, 2007 to August 1, 2007 and the second from June 16, 2008 to August 22, 2008. Data from the first experiment showed that plants directly over the leak were negatively affected quickly, while plants far from the pipe were affected positively. Data from the second experiment showed that the net effect of leaking CO2 depends on the relationship between CO2 sink-source balance and vegetation density. Also, due to the strong calibration techniques employed in 2008, the imaging system was able to see the effects of water and hail on the vegetation. We have also found a way to image continuously through the day, not having to worry about clouds or sun-to-scene/scene-to-imager angle effects. This system\'s easy setup, automation, all-day imaging capability, and possibility for low cost makes it a very practical tool for plant stress measurements for the purpose of detecting leaking CO2. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/rouse/RouseJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/henderson/HendersonS1208.pdf 2009-01-26T12:31:43Z

Sequential cattle and sheep grazing for Spotted Knapweed control Henderson, Stacee Lyn Spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe L.) infests millions of hectares of native rangeland in North America. Spotted knapweed creates large monocultures, which decreases biodiversity, reduces livestock and wildlife forage, and increases surface water runoff and soil erosion. Sheep are an effective tool for controlling spotted knapweed and have been widely used on cattle ranches for weed control. However, cattle producers are concerned that sheep will over-utilize desirable graminoids. Therefore, research is needed to determine an effective grazing strategy using cattle and sheep that will adversely affect spotted knapweed, while minimizing over-use of desirable graminoids across the landscape. This 2-year study quantified graminoid and spotted knapweed utilization and diet composition and foraging behavior of cattle and sheep sequentially grazing spotted knapweed-infested rangeland in western Montana. Twenty-one Targhee yearling wethers and 9 Black Angus yearling cattle were used. Animals were randomly assigned to one of 3, 0.81-ha pastures that were grazed in either mid-June or mid-July (n=6 pastures). Cattle grazed each pasture for 7 days, immediately followed by sheep grazing for 7 days in each month. Analysis of covariance was used to determine differences in diets, relative preference indices, foraging behavior, and utilization between June and July for cattle and sheep to determine the optimal month for implementing prescribed sheep grazing. Relative utilization of spotted knapweed did not differ between June and July and averaged 61.5%. Graminoid utilization was moderate (<45%). Cattle preferred forbs in June, spotted knapweed and forbs in July, and avoided graminoids in July. Sheep avoided graminoids in June and July, preferred forbs in June, and showed no preference or avoidance of spotted knapweed. Cattle ranches with large spotted knapweed infestations can effectively use prescribed sheep grazing immediately following cattle grazing in June or July to achieve high levels of use on spotted knapweed, thus reducing viable seeds incorporated into the soil, while maintaining optimal utilization levels on desirable graminoids. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/henderson/HendersonS1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/hogenson/HogensonE1208.pdf 2009-02-03T12:04:34Z

The impact of family leave laws on Cesarean delivery Hogenson, Elise Catherine Cesarean rates have increased dramatically since 1965, with nearly a third of all births being delivered by cesarean section in 2006. Although numerous factors have contributed to this increase, this paper estimates the impact of family leave laws on cesarean rates. Leave laws led to increased health insurance coverage, thus altering the financial incentives facing both parents and physicians in the choice of delivery method. The laws also changed leave taking by parents, which may have impacted cesarean rates. The impact of leave laws on cesarean rates is estimated using a difference-in-differences approach coupled with the variation in state leave laws that existed prior to the passage of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in 1993. The empirical results suggest that state leave laws are associated with an 8 to 13 percentage point reduction in the probability of cesarean delivery, but that the FMLA had little impact on cesarean rates. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/hogenson/HogensonE1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/schat/SchatM1208.pdf 2009-02-03T13:42:14Z

The impacts of a stem boring weevil, Mecinus janthinus, on dalmation toadflax, Linaria dalmatica Schat, Marjolein Classical biological control of weeds is generally considered an effective, safe, and cost effective tool for controlling widespread weeds in natural areas. However, only 60% of releases have become established and, of those, only 50% have led to control. Therefore, understanding the impacts of agents on target weeds across spatial scales, at different insect densities, and over time can give biological control practitioners the knowledge necessary to improve establishment and success rates. My studies characterized the impacts the biological control agent, Mecinus janthinus, on the rangeland weed Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) at individual plant and plant population scales. Individual plant studies were conducted in a garden and replicated on plants growing in the field, to measure the impact of agents on plant growth and primary physiology. The population study followed operational scale releases of M. janthinus for three to four years using intensive monitoring to characterize L. dalmatica cover, density, and population structure, and weevil establishment and population increase. I also evaluated which parameters were most important to measure to determine establishment and success. In the common garden experiment, M. janthinus injury was found to reduce relative plant growth, as well as root, stem, and reproductive biomass at medium and high adult densities. Trends of reduced photosynthetic, conductance, or transpiration rates with increasing M. janthinus density were observed. In the field experiment, M. janthinus injury led to reduced growth. Gas exchange rates decreased over the season and were lower in plants exposed to high larval and adult herbivore pressure. Field monitoring indicated successful M. janthinus establishment at releases across a range of elevations, slopes, and geographic locations, though high rates of overwintering mortality were observed at all sites. Linaria dalmatica cover was variable within watersheds and patches, and also differed between watersheds. Abundance of L. dalmatica decreased over time based on cover measurements, but did not change over time with respect to density. The proportion of mature L. dalmatica stems decreased over time. The majority of changes in L. dalmatica over time were the same in release and control transects and could not be attributed to M. janthinus. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/schat/SchatM1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/humphries/HumphriesS1208.pdf 2009-02-03T11:10:26Z

Carbon dioxide sequestration monitoring and verification via laser based detection system in the 2 micron band Humphries, Seth David Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a known contributor to the green house gas effect. Emissions of CO2 are rising as the global demand for inexpensive energy is placated through the consumption and combustion of fossil fuels. Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) may provide a method to prevent CO2 from being exhausted to the atmosphere. The carbon may be captured after fossil fuel combustion in a power plant and then stored in a long term facility such as a deep geologic feature. The ability to verify the integrity of carbon storage at a location is key to the success of all CCS projects. A laser-based instrument has been built and tested at Montana State University (MSU) to measure CO2 concentrations above a carbon storage location. The CO2 Detection by Differential Absorption (CODDA) Instrument uses a temperature-tunable distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode that is capable of accessing a spectral region, 2.0027 to 2.0042 microns, that contains three CO2 absorption lines and a water vapor absorption line. This instrument laser is aimed over an open-air, two-way path of about 100 m, allowing measurements of CO2 concentrations to be made directly above a carbon dioxide release test site. The performance of the instrument for carbon sequestration site monitoring is studied using a newly developed CO2 controlled release facility. The field and CO2 releases are managed by the Zero Emissions Research Technology (ZERT) group at MSU. Two test injections were carried out through vertical wells simulating seepage up well paths. Three test injections were done as CO2 escaped up through a slotted horizontal pipe simulating seepage up through geologic fault zones. The results from these 5 separate controlled release experiments over the course of three summers show that the CODDA Instrument is clearly capable of verifying the integrity of full-scale CO2 storage operations. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/humphries/HumphriesS1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/johnson/JohnsonF1208.pdf 2009-02-03T11:06:31Z

Lines of copper, tears of glass: the birth, growth and death of the Montana Power Company Johnson, Francis Joseph Montana Power collapsed amid images of TV reporters for Sixty Minutes chasing flustered Robert Gannon in Butte. The loss of two and a half billion dollars as well as the complete liquidation of thousands of shareholders created this Warhol moment for the firm\'s last president and Montana Power. Other dire consequences followed for the state: loss of Montana\'s only Fortune 500 firm, a doubling of utility bills and the loss of hundreds of jobs for the already depressed Butte area. Montana Power\'s importance transcends this slapstick \"fifteen minutes\" of fame moment at its demise. Montana Power became one of the few utilities to break from state price regulation during the deregulation mania of the 1990\'s. In a jarring development, the firm dissipated all its assets and dissolved shortly thereafter amidst a great deal of controversy. However, besides the failure of the firm after the heated deregulation battle, three other areas of the history of this utility proved pivotal in political, economic and environmental terms for not only the state, but also the rest of the West and the United States, as the events surrounding the Butte firm were often regional or national in scope and importance. First, the creation of the predecessors of the firm occurred at the very dawn of the electrical revolution at the turn of the nineteenth century. Powerful men and institutions from the Eastern United States set up the firm in a colonial-style environment and guided the development of the state. With the electricity revolution, dams, power lines, reservoirs, mills and logging operations appeared throughout the landscape. Second, the Great Depression produced an epic battle between public power advocates and trustbusters versus the Butte firm. The New Deal commenced building the Ft. Peck Dam and power stations, while working diligently to break up the utility trusts that included Montana Power. Third, lengthy car lines at gas pumps in the 1970\'s signaled the onset of the first energy crisis. The power company\'s attempt to generate energy using steam from coal mined in Eastern Montana set off a literal war with newly emergent environmental movement. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/johnson/JohnsonF1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/kennerson/KennersonE1208.pdf 2009-02-03T12:36:01Z

Ocean Pictures: the construction of the ocean on film Kennerson, Elliott Doran Common filmic tropes of the ocean draw upon ideas that go back to the novels of Herman Melville and Jules Verne, who constructed the ocean respectively as a hostile wilderness and a watery Eden. Two of the earliest and most influential underwater filmmakers, Jacques Cousteau and Jean Painlevé, employed these tropes, as have subsequent filmmakers, especially in their depictions of charismatic ocean fauna. The power of the Eden/wilderness dichotomy of the ocean has spilled over not only from novel to film and from fiction to non-fiction, but into the socio-political sphere of ocean-related controversies like the one that is the subject of my film, Sealed Off!!! 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/kennerson/KennersonE1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/schleier/SchleierJ1208.pdf 2009-02-19T17:52:47Z

Environmental concentrations, fate, and risk assessment of insecticides used for adult mosquito management Schleier, Jerome Joseph III One of the most effective ways of managing adult mosquitoes that vector human and animal pathogens is the use of ultra-low-volume (ULV) insecticides. Due to a lack of studies examining the environmental fate of ULV insecticides and because previous risk assessments have shown that environmental concentrations of insecticides contributed the largest amount of variance to the estimated total exposure, I measured deposition onto surfaces and air concentrations of permethrin and naled. I also conducted risk assessments for human and other non-target organisms using the values I measured. Deposition concentrations of permethrin and naled generally decreased as distance from the spray source increased. Overall, approximately 3.2% of the permethrin and 15% of the naled applied deposited on the ground within 75 m from the spray source 1 h after application. Concentrations of permethrin and naled 12 h after application were not significantly different than concentrations 1 h after application. The results of my probabilistic human-health risk assessment using actual environmental concentrations showed that previous risk assessments overestimated risks. Thus they were conservative in protecting human health. The non-target risk assessment and field bioassay using the house cricket, Acheta domesticus (L.), as a surrogate for medium- to large-bodied ground dwelling insects showed that ULV applications most likely would not result in impacts on populations. I also measured actual environmental concentrations of pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) after aerial ULV applications. Pyrethrins were not detected in the water or on deposition pads. However PBO was detected in the water and on deposition samples, but concentrations rapidly decreased to background levels by 36 h after application. The estimated risks of pyrethrins and PBO to aquatic surrogates were lower than those estimated by previous ecological risk assessments. My study is the first to relate actual environmental concentrations of ULV insecticides to estimates of human-health risks. Results of my environmental fate studies, human-health and non-target risk assessments, and the current weight of scientific evidence, demonstrate that the risks to humans and the environment after ULV applications of insecticides most likely are below regulatory levels of concern. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/schleier/SchleierJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/schmitt/SchmittJ1208.pdf 2009-02-03T14:29:14Z

Damage initiation and post-damage response of composite laminates by multiaxial testing and nonlinear optimization Schmitt, James Tyler Fiber reinforced plastics are increasingly being used in the construction of primary structures in the aerospace and energy industries. While their elastic behavior and fatigue response have been the subject of considerable research, less is known about the performance of continuous fiber composites following initial damage. Several competing models for the post-damage response of orthotropic composite materials are explored in this thesis. Each of these models includes only the in-plane loads experienced by the material and characterizes damage based on the local state of strain. Starting with previous work performed at the Naval Research Laboratory and at MSU, the energy dissipated in multiaxially loaded coupons was used to optimize an empirical function that relates the three in-plane strains to the local dissipated energy density. This function was used to approximate a three dimensional damage initiation envelope as well as to quantify the severity of damage following first ply failure in a fiberglass laminate. Carbon fiber reinforced epoxy was characterized using an assumed bilinear constitutive response. The elastic properties of the material were first optimized to minimize deviation from experimental data and then the necessary coefficients for a per-axis strain softening response were found using a similar optimization. This model provides detailed insight into the residual strength of significantly damaged material, as well as dissipated energy as a direct consequence. To facilitate the need of these models for diverse local in-plane loading configurations, the MSU In-Plane Loader (IPL) was utilized. The tests performed in the IPL for this thesis were instrumental in validating a new image-correlation-based displacement monitoring system. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/schmitt/SchmittJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/simpson/SimpsonK1208.pdf 2009-02-03T14:32:36Z

An embedded system for the infrared cloud imager Simpson, Kristie Danielle The Infrared Cloud Imager (ICI) is a ground-based thermal infrared imaging instrument, with a new version currently in development at Montana State University, to measure cloud cover statistics. The next-generation ICI design incorporates an embedded system for consolidating the controls and sensors for the system. Instead of having dedicated lines to each component of the system, only one connection is needed to the internal microcontroller, and then the microcontroller connects to all other components. The embedded system is capable of supporting digital sensors and controls, analog sensors, and peripherals that communicate serially. In addition, an Ethernet connection is used to communicate with the embedded system inside the ICI system enclosure. The MC9S12NE64 is a 16-bit microcontroller from the Freescale Microcontroller HCS12 family that is capable of supporting the ICI system peripheral devices and was selected for the embedded system. Firmware was developed for the embedded ICI control system that supports TCP/IP Ethernet communications, analog channels, digital channels, and serial communications, and a command set was developed for interfacing with the system peripheral devices. A software application was created to establish an Ethernet connection with the embedded system and test the system commands. A second software application was implemented to act as a serial device connected to the embedded system. The development board for the microcontroller was used to test the analog and digital channels. The software and development board were used together to demonstrate that the ICI embedded system is capable of providing access to all of the ICI system peripheral devices through a single Ethernet connection. The test results verify that the next-generation ICI design is able to successfully incorporate an embedded system for consolidating the controls and sensors for the system. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/simpson/SimpsonK1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/smith/SmithT1208.pdf 2009-02-03T15:45:49Z

A conceptual precipitation-runoff modeling suite: model selection, calibration and predictive uncertainty assessment Smith, Tyler Jon In Montana and much of the Rocky Mountain West, the single most important parameter in forecasting the controls on regional water resources is snowpack. Despite the heightened importance of snowpack, few studies have considered the representation of uncertainty in coupled snowmelt/hydrologic conceptual models. Uncertainty estimation provides a direct interpretation of the risk associated with predictive modeling results. Bayesian inference, through the application of Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, provides a statistical means of approximating uncertainty associated with both the parameters and the model structure. This thesis addresses the complexities of predictive modeling in hydrology through the development, implementation and analysis of a suite of conceptual hydrologic models under a Bayesian inference framework. The research is presented in four main sections. First, a comparative assessment of three recently developed Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms, based on their performance across two case studies, is performed. This study has revealed that the extreme complexity of the parameter space associated with simple, conceptual models is best explored by the Delayed Rejection Adaptive Metropolis algorithm. Second, a complete description of the models and study site incorporated in the study are presented, building on established theories of model development. Third, an investigation of the value of each model structure, considering predictive performance, uncertainty and physical realism is presented. This section builds on results of the first section, through the application of the Delayed Rejection Adaptive Metropolis algorithm for model calibration and uncertainty quantification under Bayesian principles. Finally, a discussion of the Simulation and Prediction Lab for Analysis of Snowmelt Hydrology, developed to incorporate the tasks of model selection, calibration and uncertainty analysis into a simple graphical user interface is explained. The application of a complete modeling framework from model selection to calibration and assessment presented in this thesis represents a holistic approach to the development of improved understanding of snow-dominated watersheds through prediction by coupled snowmelt/hydrologic modeling strategies. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/smith/SmithT1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/staples/StaplesJ1208.pdf 2009-02-03T15:42:39Z

Slope scale modeling of snow surface temperature in topographically complex terrain Staples, James Mark In mountainous terrain, landscape can influences the thermal state of snow. Snow temperature and mass flux have been calculated using an energy balance model, Radtherm/RT, to account for the effects of topography and meteorological conditions. For a specific location, a terrain model is defined and contains a connected assemblage of elements or facets. Each element has a specified terrain type with assigned thermal properties. Meteorological data are applied, and a one dimensional energy balance is calculated for each element. This energy balance includes conduction, convection, radiation, and latent heat; however, the calculation of radiation is unique. Taking into account topography, global position, and time, the model is used to calculate incoming solar radiation for each element as well as reflected short wave radiation and the exchange of long wave radiation between terrain surfaces. Light detection and ranging topographic data with a one meter resolution were used to create separate models (on the order of 10 4 m2) for two slopes in southwest Montana. Meteorological data were collected at these two slopes as well as a third location having a relatively unobstructed view of the sky. The results for elements in different locations and under different meteorological conditions were compared. Readily available USGS topographic data with a 30 meter resolution were used to create a model (on the order of 10 6 m2) containing both slopes. For this model of a much larger scale, surface temperatures and mass flux were again calculated and compared with results for the slope scale models. Incoming long wave radiation from the atmosphere only was found to be critical input data for accurate temperature calculations. The set value for albedo also had a major effect. When suitable long wave data and good estimations of albedo were used, snow surface temperature was calculated with accuracies on the order of several degrees. Additionally, when surface hoar deposition and growth was observed and reasonable temperature results were achieved, calculated values of mass flux were consistently positive. In one instance, observed variations in surface hoar growth across a slope matched calculated variations in mass flux across the same slope. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/staples/StaplesJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/tauckTauckS1208.pdf 2009-02-03T15:39:40Z

The biostimulatory effect of bulls on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and ovarian axes and on temporal aspects of resumption of ovarian cycling activity in primiparous, postpartum, anestrous, suckled, beef cows Tauck, Shaun Austin Exposing cows to bulls or excretory products of bulls stimulates resumption of ovarian cycling activity in postpartum, suckled, anestrous cows. This biostimulatory effect may be mediated by pheromones produced by bulls that stimulate physiological changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) and/or -adrenal (HPA) axes of cows. In Experiment 1, the hypothesis tested was that the biostimulatory effect of bulls is associated with adrenal regulation and/or function in anestrous cows. The biostimulatory effect of bulls was associated with mean concentrations of cortisol in postpartum cows. Experiment 2 was designed to determine if acute (5-h daily) bull exposure alters characteristics of patterns of cortisol and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations in postpartum, anestrous cows. Cows exposed acutely to bulls exhibited fewer pulses of cortisol and more frequent pulses of LH than cows exposed to steers. However, it was not known if these changes were related to resumption of ovarian cycling activity in postpartum, anestrous cows. Experiment 3 was designed to test the hypothesis that patterns of cortisol concentrations are altered by continuous, 24-h daily, bull exposure, before and after resumption of ovarian cycling activity in postpartum, anestrous cows. Continuous bull exposure decreased cortisol pulse frequency before cows resumed ovarian cycling activity. Experiment 4 tested the hypothesis that the overall shape of patterns of cortisol and/or LH concentrations may differ between cows exposed acutely to bulls or steers in Experiment 2. Cows exposed acutely to bulls had more uneven patterns of LH concentrations than cows exposed to steers and as patterns of cortisol concentrations became smoother, patterns of LH become more uneven in cows exposed acutely to bulls. In Experiment 5, the hypothesis tested was that interval to resumption of ovarian cycling activity may depend upon duration of daily bull exposure. Cows resumed ovarian cycling activity sooner as duration of daily bull exposure increased. In conclusion, as duration of daily bull exposure increases, the biostimulatory effect of bulls alters activity of the HPA axis and this change may facilitate or support the function of the HPO axis and accelerate resumption of ovarian cycling activity in primiparous, postpartum, suckled, anestrous cows. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/tauckTauckS1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/vandergrift/VandergriftR1208.pdf 2009-02-18T16:02:25Z

Rebirth of Identity Vandergrift, Raluca M. The reality of communism was not and is not the efficient equality for all described by Karl Marx. Communism was distorted by human nature to create a powerful and oppressive tyranny by which many suffered in Eastern Europe. Architecture was and remains one of the primary ways to display power. It can oppress the masses by raising fear and suspicion from the governing as well as from the governed. In the mid 60\'s Romania gained autonomy from Russia and began to practice its own form of communism. The power of propaganda remained, creative individualism perished, and the commune prevailed. The private domicile was assigned to the individual based on the number of family members. But in reality the quality of one\'s home was purely based on ties to the communist party. Most people had to give up old family homes and move in \"bloc\" system apartment buildings. These structures were built on a grid with the efficiency of a machine. Expanded within the grid were the cells of private life. Effort was not given to comfort or individuality. Although these structures have a resemblance to the projects of New York there is a certain nostalgia for these concrete neighborhoods. They represent a time when people were drawn together against the greater evil and a time when children took first steps. It was also a time of invisible resources such as food and heat, yet Bucharest would be a different city without these neighborhoods. The banishment of individuality in public and private life created a social change in Romanian culture. Whether it became an underground affair to express individuality, spirituality, homosexuality or whether its suppression abolished certain traits in the Romanian people is of great interest to me. I would like to focus on one neighborhood in Bucharest, Romania which is comprised of the communist style apartment buildings in order to figure out what course of action would be most suitable for bringing back the sense of pride and identity in peoples\' living spaces. Should the buildings be renovated, destroyed or would a community center be more effective? 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/vandergrift/VandergriftR1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/watkins/WatkinsE1208.pdf 2009-02-03T15:17:10Z

The truth in selling science, and the drama of adapting it for television Watkins, Edward Matthew The path from science text to science television show is a rocky one. The fragmentation of the television market place with the growth of cable television has pushed science documentaries into a headlong pursuit for higher viewer ratings in a medium dominated by works of fiction. In response to this, science documentary has steadily been pushed to alter the techniques it uses, and adapt its content to become more dramatic. Varying market pressures have led to the rise of two dominant methods of dramatization; narrative imposition and visual spectacle (typically CGI). However, in addition to making science shows more dramatic these two techniques have acted to create a hybridized format, blending subjective speculation with traditional expositional documentary techniques. The result of such hybridization has been to blur the lines between fact and fiction and to allow for the creation of dubious subjunctive documentaries, and almost entirely fictive narrative documentaries. This has acted to uphold the cultural practice of misinterpreting science in order to support fantasy and fiction, and has led to a rise in pseudoscience, which could be potentially very damaging to society. The growth in the public misinterpretation of science could leave our societies woefully unprepared to make informed decisions about the future. To avoid this, I suggest that we find ways to adapt science for television that are more accurate in showing the true nature of science. Instead of bending science to conform to preconceived, linear dramatic narratives, I suggest we look at alternative narratives such as those seen in discursive \'essay\' films. And, instead of stretching spectacle and visualization so far as to create fantastical dramatic fictional worlds, I believe we should focus on creating shows that use metaphor and analogy to help us visualize the real, hidden nature of science. By utilizing scientists as guides and peers rather than as heroes and elitists, by choosing discourse over teleology, and by incorporating visually rich metaphors and analogies into science shows, we can render the strange and unfamiliar understandable and engaging. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/watkins/WatkinsE1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/watts/WattsJ1208.pdf 2009-02-03T15:12:55Z

Satellite monitoring of cropland-related carbon sequestration practices in North Central Montana Watts, Jennifer Dawn This study used an object-oriented approach in conjunction with the Random Forest algorithm to classify agricultural practices set forth in carbon contract agreements associated with the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), including tillage (till or no-till (NT)), conservation reserve (CR), and crop intensity. The object-oriented approach allowed for per-field classifications and the incorporation of contextual elements in addition to spectral features. Random Forest is an advanced classification method that avoids data over-fitting and incorporates an internal classification accuracy assessment. Landsat satellite imagery was chosen for its continuous coverage, cost effectiveness, and image accessibility. Classification (2007) results included producer\'s accuracies of 91% for NT and 31% for tillage when applying Random Forest to image-objects generated from a May Landsat image. Low classification accuracies likely were attributed to the misclassification of conservation-based tillage practices as NT. Crop and CR lands resulted in producer\'s accuracies of 100% and 90%, respectively. Crop and fallow producer\'s accuracies were 95% and 82% in the 2007 classification; misclassification within the fallow class was attributed to pixel-mixing problems in areas of narrow (>100 m) strip management. A between-date normalized difference vegetation index approach was successfully used to detect areas \"changed\" in vegetation status between the 2007 and prior image dates; classified \"changed\" objects were then merged with \"unchanged\" objects to produce final classification maps of crop versus fallow. Resulting statistics showed that 22% of lands classified as CR had occurred outside of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Field survey results were applied for tillage analysis because of low image classification rates and indicated that 56% of the evaluated region was under NT in 2007, with 44% practicing some form of tillage. Crop intensity estimates indicated that only 5% was under continuous cropping. These observations show the potential for the increased NT and continuous cropping. The application of carbon sequestration estimates to the land use data predict that approximately 59,497 t C yr⁻¹ might be sequestered through the universal adoption of NT and a 1.0 rotation (continuous cropping). Financial incentives through carbon credit programs might motivate land managers to make these management changes and to maintain CR lands. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/watts/WattsJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/zentgraf/ZentgrafM1208.pdf 2009-02-03T15:08:12Z

Cultural Healing Zentgraf, Megan Nicole \"Since the stone age man has searched for a comfortable house in a safe place.\" Alfred Caldwell A residence should be a place where one feels safe, and should want to go at the end of the day. People living in low-income situations have a more difficult time than most at achieving peace of mind in a home due to a constant concern of bills and the stresses of an unstable socio-cultural environment. Low income housing projects frequently create high crime, violence, and a feeling of social, cultural and economic entrapment. This project searches for a solution to these problems through the use of pragmatism. The project will combine a mix of rent supplemented and market rate housing. This approach can create a safe socio-cultural environment. The project will be a place where underprivileged people can live without the inherent qualities of isolation and neglect. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/zentgraf/ZentgrafM1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/zhorayev/ZhorayevO1208.pdf 2009-02-19T18:03:51Z

The influence of political factors on the allocation of disaster relief payments Zhorayev, Olzhas Zhumadillayevich There are different models predicting a connection between political variables and the allocation of federal spending. A major focus of this study is the effect of political factors on the distribution of disaster aid payments. Using U.S. state-level data on disaster assistance programs, this research analyzed whether a difference in federal funds flowing to states can be explained by political incentives. Empirical results showed that political factors do matter in explaining that difference. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/zhorayev/ZhorayevO1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/becker/BeckerM1208.pdf 2009-01-26T14:24:34Z

Applying predator-prey theory to evaluate large mammal dynamics: wolf predation in a newly-established multiple-prey system Becker, Matthew Smith I studied wolf prey selection and kill rates during 1996-97 through 2006-07 winters in a newly established two-prey system in central Yellowstone National Park. Prey differed substantially in their vulnerability to wolf (Canis lupus) predation and wolves preyed primarily on elk (Cervus elaphus) but also used bison (Bison bison) to varying degrees within and among winters and packs. Winter severity, wolf abundance, distribution, and prey selection varied during the study, concurrent with variations in the demography, distribution, and behavior of elk and bison. A total of 759 wolf-killed ungulates were detected and prey selection by wolves was influenced by the absolute and relative abundance of prey types, the abundance of predators, and the duration of snow pack. Wolves strongly preferred elk calves relative to all other prey types, and elk calf abundance was inversely related to the occurrence of bison in wolf diets. Increasing wolf numbers also broadened prey selection from elk calves, and predation on bison and adult elk increased with increasing snow pack accumulation and duration, likely due to its long-term debilitating influence. Elk abundance and wolf pack size best explained variation in kill rates for elk while bison calf abundance and snow pack duration best explained kill rates of bison. The functional response of wolves for elk was best described by a Type II ratio-dependent model, indicating significant predator dependence. Prey-switching evaluations indicated increasing selection of bison with increasing bison:elk ratios, however no concurrent decrease in elk predation occurred. Increased bison predation is not solely dependent on relative abundance of the two prey species; therefore it is unlikely at this time that wolf prey-switching will stabilize the system. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/becker/BeckerM1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/berwald/BerwaldS1208.pdf 2009-02-27T17:39:22Z

The architecture of well-being: creating effective design for the care and treatment of the mentally ill Berwald, Sarah Moch This thesis synthesizes research performed by environmental psychologists, architects and medical researchers on the human experience of a specific architectural typology: the inpatient psychiatric hospital. These studies, as well as non-fictional narratives of life in a psychiatric institution, are used to demonstrate that the treatment of psychiatric patients is intertwined with the architecture of the facility, and that this patient group is therefore highly sensitive to architectural design. The conclusions drawn from the research described above imply that statewide agencies which fund architectural investments of this type can see, relatively clearly, how greater funding can result in better patient outcomes and shorter patient stays. The conclusions also imply that architects can use evidence-based design to clearly demonstrate that design is correlated with human health. Finally, the thesis implies that while architecture remains an artistic practice in many respects, certain typologies, such as the inpatient psychiatric facility, need to draw heavily from scientifically based sources. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/berwald/BerwaldS1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/biehl/BiehlM1208.pdf 2009-02-27T17:46:14Z

Epistolary archaeology: piecing together \'the self\' in Victorian-American love letters Biehl, Mary Ann Epistolary Archaeology: Piecing Together \"The Self\" in Victorian-American Love Letters is a thesis resulting from four years of extensive research, transcription, editing, and writing about the question of authorial identity in post-Civil War life writings, particularly love letters. Epistolary Studies first became interesting to me in July of 2005 while I was researching a family-related collection of documents being housed at Dartmouth College\'s Rauner Special Collections Library. During this week of sifting through 30 boxes of my family\'s military, publishing, and teaching careers going back to pre-Civil War American times, I uncovered a collection of 142 love letters written from my great-great grandfather, Montgomery Meigs, to my great-great grandmother, Grace Cornelia Lynde, during their trans-Atlantic epistolary courtship of 1875-1876. From this project, I have gained a better understanding of how men and women communicated with one another romantically through letter writing in the Victorian American time period, post-Civil War. A conclusion that I came to through my research methods and applied theories is that the question of authorial authenticity becomes even more complicated when attempting to analyze life writings such as love letters because of the public practices and constraints placed upon writers who attempt to create a private intimate space through letters to one another. However, one can gain a better understanding of life writing authorial identity and can make a more educated assumption of what a writer\'s personality may have been like by piecing together contextual clues through extensive research. The process of what I call Epistolary Archaeology is shown in practice throughout the following thesis. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/biehl/BiehlM1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/dostal/DostalJ1208.pdf 2009-02-27T17:53:47Z

An investigation into student understanding of longitudinal standing waves Dostal, Jack Alan This study investigates the difficulties that introductory university physics students have with the concept of longitudinal standing waves in the context of standing waves in pipes. My goal is to identify difficulties that persist even after standard instruction on longitudinal standing waves and attempt to improve upon that method of instruction. The study follows a four-step design. I first use exploratory surveys and interviews with students to elicit the difficulties present in students\' understanding of longitudinal standing waves in pipes. I then use the information gained to create and assessment instrument, the Standing Waves Diagnostic Test, and a curricular intervention, the Longitudinal Standing Waves Tutorial. I then undertake a three-step process of pre-testing students with the Standing Wave Diagnostic Test, intervention with the Longitudinal Standing Waves Tutorial, and post-testing again with the Standing Wave Diagnostic Test to determine the impact of the intervention. This is then compared to data from students in classes where the intervention is not used. Students using the intervention significantly outperform their non-intervention counterparts on the Standing Wave Diagnostic Test. The results of the students pre- and post-tests indicate that significant improvement in students\' understandings of longitudinal standing waves can be achieved by the use of the tutorial. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/dostal/DostalJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/godwin/GodwinI1208.pdf 2009-02-27T17:22:41Z

Distance delivered education at Montana State University - supplementing or supplanting campus registrations: an exploration of changing patterns over time Godwin, Ian Chandler Paterson The problem addressed in this study was that university system and institutional administrators need to know who (geographically and demographically) the consumers of online courses and programs are. The purpose of this comparative study was to identify student populations and registration patterns over an eight year period in on-campus and online courses offered by Montana State University. Whether or not distinct student populations could be identified based on the mode of course delivery (on-campus vs. online) was established through analysis of spatial and demographic data. The design of this project used a comparative approach to identify differences in population demographics and a spatially sensitive correlational approach to identify associations between the spatial nature of on-campus and online registrations over time. The population included all on-campus and online course registrations offered through MSU from academic year 2000-2001 through 2007-2008. A Chi Square test was used to provide a spatially unweighted assessment of \"spatial\" proportionality. The exploratory spatial data analysis tool GeoDa was used to assess the global and local spatial dimension of the research while ANOVAs, factorial ANOVAs, and logistic regression were used to assess the demographic research questions. The Chi Square tests indicated that there are significant differences in the proportion of registrations over time at the local, state and national level. Global spatial autocorrelation tests provide statistically significant, but moderately weak results. The Local Indicator of Spatial Autocorrelation (LISA) analyses point to considerable overlap in registration \"footprints\" between on-campus and online registrations. Those tests also indicated that changes in spatial patterns have been more evolutionary for online registrations than for on-campus registrations which showed less variation over time. The demographic tests indicated that on-campus and online populations differ both in age and gender composition. The conclusion based on the results is that online courses are likely supplementing, not supplanting campus registrations at MSU. While the geographic analysis points to significant, fairly extensive, and growing geographic overlap between the home-of-origin locations of online and on-campus populations, the age and gender differences clearly indicate that the online population is older and more female than the on-campus population. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/godwin/GodwinI1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/meyer/MeyerN1208.pdf 2009-02-27T18:58:31Z

Soil and plant response to slash pile burning in a ponderosa pine forest Meyer, Natalie Jo Slash pile burning is the most common method of forest residue disposal following ponderosa pine restoration harvests, which are intended to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and restore the historical structure and function of forests in western Montana. The impact of high-intensity, long-duration fire (pile burning) on soil processes and plant community dynamics is not well understood. The objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize the influence of slash pile burning on soil nutrient availability, soil microbial activity, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) infection; (2) to compare seeding and soil amendment effects on burn scars. In May 2006, slash piles were burned in a ponderosa pine stand near Florence, Montana and 45 scars were sampled. Soil samples were collected from three locations in each slash pile to a depth of 10 cm and characterized for available soil NH4 +-N, NO3 - -N, potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN), and total C and N, water-soluble PO4 3- -P, microbial biomass, and mycorrhizal inoculum potential (MIP). In the burned center, soil NH4 +-N was greatest one month post-burn and remained elevated one year later. There was no observable increase in NO3 - -N until one year post-burn. Soluble PO4 3- -P was not impacted by burning. Microbial biomass was reduced by burning and did not recover one year later. Pile burning greatly reduced MIP. In October 2006, fire scars were either seeded with native graminoids or left non-seeded, divided into subplots, and assigned to one of five treatments: control, addition of local organic matter, scarification, scarification and organic matter addition, or scarification and commercial compost addition. Soils were monitored for the previously measured soil parameters and resin-sorbed inorganic N. Scarification with organic matter amendment and scarification with compost amendment both ameliorated soil properties. Seeding most effectively increased plant cover and suppressed non-native invasive species, while scarification or scarification with organic matter amendment further improved early plant establishment. Collectively, these data help characterize the impacts of slash pile burning as a management technique in ponderosa pine forests and illustrate potential treatments for restoring burn pile scars. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/meyer/MeyerN1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/mckeon/McKeonR1208.pdf 2009-05-07T14:29:12Z

The interaction between tectonics, topography, and climate in the San Juan Mountains, Southwestern Colorado McKeon, Ryan Edward Alpine glaciers have been referred to as "buzzsaws" on the grounds that they control the topographic development of actively deforming mountain ranges; however, the nature of the linkage between glacial erosion and topography in different tectonic and climatic settings remains unclear. In the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado, an intracontinental mountain range with dramatically lower annual precipitation than previously studied ranges, distinct spatial variations in morphology resulting from Quaternary glaciation coincide with different exhumation histories that were derived using apatite (U-Th)/He thermochronology. The northwestern region had cooling ages of 3-10 Ma over an elevation range of 1300 m, moderate correlation between mean elevation and glacial thresholds, and regionally high values for relief and slope above cirque floors. The southern region, by contrast, had cooling ages of 19-32 Ma over an elevation range of 800 m, no correlation between mean elevation and glacial thresholds, and low values for relief and slope above cirque floors. The average magnitude of incision into a reconstructed maximum topography surface is nearly equal for the two study regions suggesting that the effects of glacial erosion are localized to high topography. The northwestern and southern regions show little variation in climate and fluvial and hillslope erosive potential, which implies that erosionally induced isostatic rebound is an unlikely source for the difference in cooling ages. Instead, I infer that active tectonism (possibly related to the Aspen anomaly) is responsible for different cooling ages and drove the greater degree of glacial modification of the northwestern region. As a result of the spatial variability in epeirogenic uplift, the San Juan Mountains appear to be both a mountain range that was just high enough to be glaciated, the southern region, and a mountain range where glacial erosion controls the elevation of high topography, the northwestern region; and thus are a microcosm for the diverse mountain ranges of the western United States. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/mckeon/McKeonR1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/mcintosh/McIntoshC1208.pdf 2009-02-27T18:39:38Z

Novel die-to-die coaxial interconnect system for use in System-in-Package applications McIntosh, Christopher Michael The electrical parasitics of traditional integrated circuit (IC) packaging methods are a known bottleneck to overall system performance. The parasitic inductance and capacitance of traditional package interconnect such as wire bonds, create noise sources which ultimately limit the speed at which a digital system can run. Recent advances in package interconnect have reduced these parasitics by moving to a System-in-Package (SiP) approach. In SiP, multiple IC dies are connect directly to each other and encapsulated within the same package. This improves performance by eliminating the need for board-level interconnect. While SiP has made significant progress in reducing the interconnect parasitics, IC dies are still connected using traditional methods such as wire bonds. The unshielded nature of the wire bond leads to noise sources such as coupling, simultaneous switching noise, and reflections. This thesis presents a new interconnect methodology which aims at improving the signaling speeds between dies within SiP. This new system uses a miniature coaxial cable that connects to on-chip coplanar waveguides on a silicon substrate. The coaxial-to-coplanar transition is accomplished using an anisotropic etch along the perimeter of the silicon substrate. This approach provides the electrical and mechanical mating of the on and off chip conductors. This system yields a fully shielded, matched impedance signal path in addition to a low impedance return path. This approach shows reduction of the three main sources of electrical noise in SiP and leads to a significant improvement in system performance. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/mcintosh/McIntoshC1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/nygaard/NygaardK1208.pdf 2009-03-03T13:36:27Z

From the Old to New West: changes in landownership and land use in the Crazy Mountains, Montana from 1900 to 2000 Nygaard, Kimiko Jean-Lena Land and life across the Mountainous West are changing rapidly. Traditionally, mountain localities of the western United States have been centers of natural resource extraction and production. Many of these settings however, are being redefined as part of an amenity-oriented, economy and lifestyle. Whereas Old West landscapes reflect industries of mining, farming, ranching, and logging, the New West has become a spatial arena for recreation, tourism, and second-home development. Consequently, different land use ethos and land management practices between residents have led to conflict over resources. This study reconstructs settlement patterns and land use histories for southwest Montana\'s Crazy Mountains between 1900 and 2000 to illustrate some of the ways in which the dichotomous interplay of Old and New West economies has quietly reshaped the region\'s human geography and cultural landscape. In addition, interview data with local residents allowed an examination of the complex mosaic of changing cultural values that accompany the transformation between the Old and New West. Changes in the landscape evolution of the Crazy Mountains are reflective of broader transformations that have taken place at the regional and national level. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/nygaard/NygaardK1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/rick/RickT1208.pdf 2009-03-02T13:02:07Z

Phosphorus fertility in Northern Great Plains dryland organic cropping systems Rick, Terry Lynn Maintaining phosphorus (P) fertility in northern Great Plains (NGP) dryland organic cropping systems is a challenge due to high pH, calcareous soils that limit P bioavailability. Organic P fertilizers, including rock phosphate (RP) and bone meal (BM) are sparingly soluble in higher pH soils. Certain crops species have demonstrated an ability to mobilize sparingly soluble P sources. Objectives of this project were to 1) evaluate the effect of green manure (GM) crops and organic P fertilizers on the P nutrition of subsequent crops, and 2) investigate P fertility differences between organic and non-organic cropping systems. A two-year cropping sequence was conducted on an organic farm in north-central Montana (mean pH=6.6; Olsen P=16 mg kg⁻¹). Spring pea (Pisum sativum L), buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum L.), yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and tilled fallow were fertilized with 0, 3.1 and 7.7 kg P ha⁻¹ as RP, grown to flat pod stage and terminated with tillage. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was grown on these plots in year two. Phosphorus uptake of winter wheat was enhanced (P>0.05) by RP following buckwheat only (P=0.02) at 7.7 kg P ha⁻¹ compared to 0 P. Results indicate buckwheat can enhance P in a subsequent crop. A greenhouse pot experiment in a low P soil (Olsen P=4 mg kg⁻¹) consisted of four green manures; buckwheat, spring pea, wheat, and a non-crop control fertilized with 7.0 and 17.5 kg available P ha⁻¹ as RP, 13.0 and 32.5 kg available P ha⁻¹ as BM and 10 and 25 kg available P ha⁻¹ as monocalcium phosphate (MCP). Green manures were harvested, dried, analyzed for nutrient content, and returned to pots. Pots were seeded with wheat. Phosphorus uptake in wheat following all crops was enhanced by MCP (P<0.05). Phosphorus uptake of wheat following buckwheat was enhanced by all P sources over the control. Buckwheat demonstrates the capacity to increase the availability of organic P fertilizers. Soil sampling of organic and non-organic no-tillage (NT) cropping systems was conducted in two separate studies to determine differences in P availability between management systems. Soil analysis determined available P tends to be lower in non-fertilized systems. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/rick/RickT1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/gsetd/2008/kota_pavan/Kota_PavanS1208.pdf 2009-02-27T18:05:05Z

Mathematical modeling and performance evaluation of soliton-based and non-soliton all-optical WDM systems Kota Pavan, Sriharsha This thesis presents a performance evaluation of soliton and non-soliton based all-optical Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) networks assuming the existing infrastructure (e.g., fiber and other physical layer components). The performance evaluation is carried out by a conveniently defined Quality (Q) factor, which is a measure of the signal to noise ratio, and indirectly, the bit error rate (BER) of the system. A solution to the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation (NLSE), describing the propagation of light inside a fiber with linear and nonlinear impairments is found mathematically from which the Q factor is calculated for both solitons and non-solitons. We also compare the accuracy of the Regular Perturbation (RP) based method for analytically calculating the Q factor, with that of the standard Split Step Fourier (SSF) method. Results show that the RP based method gives more accurate results than the widely used SSF method for reasonably low power levels. Results also show that the soliton based systems perform much better than the non-soliton systems for typical system parameters in the existing infrastructure for bit rates of up to 10Gbps per channel. In this thesis, we present a sample WDM based optical network with mesh topology and show that the end-to-end Q factor of a soliton system is higher than that of non-soliton systems. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/gsetd/2008/kota_pavan/Kota_PavanS1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/walker/WalkerH1208.pdf 2009-03-02T13:11:25Z

Moving beyond broadcast and traditional pedagogy: making a children\'s documentary for the new media landscape Walker, Hannah Smith This thesis is a synthesis between the use of new media in the children\'s documentary, Why don\'t we ride zebras?, the use of technology in both formal and informal education, and the convergence of user-malleable media ideal for education-based documentaries. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/walker/WalkerH1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/zemel/ZemelD1208.pdf 2009-03-02T15:29:18Z

Less like science, more like film: the use of non-redundant images to facilitate critical thinking in science film Zemel, Dustin Reed It is the tendency of films and television programs promoting scientific subject matter to use semantically redundant images in juxtaposition with expository narration. Producers and filmmakers alike recognize that this powerful combination bolsters the appearance of objectivity in the piece, and thusly the scientific credibility of the presentation. Critics Carl Gardner and Robert Young argue that this type of stylistic self-containment hurts the advancement of science, and call for a new method of presentation that would encourage discourse and openness instead of closure. This essay highlights the atypical science films of Charles and Ray Eames, Errol Morris, and Jean Painlevé to show how the incorporation non-redundant visuals can facilitate a personal, critical reading amongst their viewing audience. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/zemel/ZemelD1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/wheeler/WheelerL1208.pdf 2009-03-02T14:14:13Z

Establishment of ureolytic biofilms and their influence on the permeability of pulse-flow porous media column systems Wheeler, Laura Allison As the population of the world has increased, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions have increased as well. One possible way to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere is through the geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide. During geologic sequestration, supercritical carbon dioxide is injected into different types of underground formations. Inherent cracks in these formations may lead to the upward leakage of CO2, and a controllable engineered strategy is needed to reduce this potential leakage. Currently, biomineralization has been used in many different environmental applications but not for the sequestration of carbon dioxide. The goal of this research is to establish biofilm communities of ureolytic bacteria that promote CaCO3 precipitation in a pulse-flow porous media column system with the intent of reducing the porosity and permeability of the porous media. Pulse-flow column systems were inoculated with different species of ureolytic bacteria: S. pasteurii, B. sphaericus #21776, or B. sphaericus #21787. The bacteria were allowed to grow in the column for five days before a calcium-containing medium was introduced. Flow rate, pH, ammonium concentration, calcium concentration, culturable bacteria, and protein concentration were monitored over the course of the entire experiments. It was shown that all ureolytic species were capable of growing, utilizing urea, and creating an environment that facilitated calcium carbonate precipitation in 1mm diameter glass bead packed columns at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. To better understand the effect of pore space on biomineralization columns packed with 0.1 mm diameter glass beads were constructed and inoculated with S. pasteurii. Within days of calcium introduction, the permeability of the columns was reduced to the point where no more fluid would drain from the column. These results indicate that the ureolytic bacteria are capable of surviving, facilitating calcium carbonate precipitation, and reducing the permeability of the pulse-flow porous media column system. While further study is needed, the precipitation of calcium carbonate through ureolysis may offer a controllable engineered strategy to reduce the permeability of underground formations used for geologic sequestration. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/wheeler/WheelerL1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/lueth/LuethM1208.pdf 2009-05-07T18:21:11Z

The natural circumstances of place: design to awaken sensibilities Lueth, Marit Lee This thesis suggests redirecting our attention to our immediate, palpable natural environment in an effort to re-establish an attachment to place through a better understanding of the unique qualities of our natural surroundings. It acknowledges that a better understanding of the natural environment, the one outside one's backdoor, is gained through first-hand experience and discovery and when provided with the opportunity to engage in primary experience of our natural places there exists the potential for improved understanding and emotional involvement in place. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/lueth/LuethM1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/ochoa_rodriguez/Ochoa_RodriguezJ1208.pdf 2009-10-19T11:34:22Z

Evaluation of the multiple origins of thin-bedded deep-water slope sandstones: El Rosario Formation (upper Cretaceous - Paleocene) Baja California, Mexico Ochoa Rodriguez, Jesus Armando One dilemma in sedimentology is that multiple depositional processes can produce similar features while one formative process can generate multiple patterns. A comparison of (1) depositional energy trends from grain size and primary structures, (2) placement within a stratigraphic hierarchy, (3) ichnofacies type, diversity and distribution, and (4) sedimentary body type and associated architectural changes are used to assess the causal mechanism. Variations of these attributes reflect flow initiation processes (flood vs. failure), depositional processes (flow stripping, overspilling or bottom current reworking), and preservation (thin-beds bounded by erosional channels). Cretaceous and Tertiary outcrops in the Mesa San Carlos area expose four different thin-bedded sandstone types (TBS). This document presents a matrix of the most important attributes used to recognize them: (1) hyperpycnite successions (4-15m thick) are interbedded with slope mudstone deposits that together form tabular (85m thick; >1km wide) successions, with sandstone channels and scours common at the base and mass transport deposits present at the top, (2) Wedge-shaped TBS turbidites that flank and confine multistory channelbelts up to 90m thick that thin and pinch out within 500m of interdigitated but stacked conglomerate channels, (3) TBS turbidites separating channel bodies form 25m-thick and 230m-wide preserved remnants, and (4) TBS contourites comprising <3m wide sandstone lenses amalgamated laterally to form tabular bedsets. Paleocurrent indicators change from unidirectional offshore during hyperpycnal flow to slope parallel flow during waning energy conditions of this mudstone-rich cycle. The matrix allows for a sedimentological hierarchy that describes the spatial and temporal organization of hydrodynamic facies that link together to form sedimentation units recording changes in the longitudinal structure of the flow. Other results include the field- and lab-based mudstone analysis that allows recognition between hemipelagic and pelagic mudstones; the revision of the regional stratigraphy for the El Rosario Formation, and an energy matrix for hyperpycnite channels and scour deposits recording the downstream and vertical changes in sedimentary bodies, grain size and primary structures. 2008-12-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/ochoa_rodriguez/Ochoa_RodriguezJ1208.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/ator/AtorD0808.pdf 2009-01-06T14:23:57Z

Robust copper braze for hermetic sealing of solid oxide fuel cells Ator, Danielle Elizabeth Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are becoming of increasing interest as a primary power source in today\'s industrial market. The voltage of a single cell under load is approximately 0.7 volts necessitating the use of many cells in series to generate useful electrical potentials, which gives rise to the SOFC stack. One of the key technical challenges in improving the long term performance and reliability of stacks is in the effective sealing of stack interfaces, particularly in planar stacks for which a hot seal (700-900°C) is required. SOFC stack seals must be: resistant to oxidation/volatilization in oxidizing and reducing atmospheres, must wet and bond to the joining members (both ceramic and metal), form a hermetic seal to prevent hydrogen leakage, and have a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) close to that of the adjoining components to limit thermally induced stresses. Active metal copper-based brazes present a novel approach to sealing SOFCs by means of robust mechanical/thermal properties providing strong, hermetic braze-interconnect and braze-YSZ interfaces. A commercially available active braze alloy utilizing no precious metal additives was tested and compared to custom synthesized braze compositions fabricated and tested at MSU. Two testing configurations were evaluated for this sealing study, utilizing dense YSZ substrates joined to 25.24mm, 430SS coupons as well as 25mm 440SS pressure test fixtures. Active braze alloys require a protective atmosphere to facilitate chemical bonding with YSZ and results show excellent performance in moderate vacuum (10-4 to 10-5 mbar) and argon atmosphere. Sample characterization was performed by electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, pressurized rupture and leak tests, differential thermal analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis and thermodynamic evaluation. Robust copper-based brazes show potential for the use of sealing in SOFC applications. The brazes display desirable characteristics for sealing applications including the formation of chemically bonded braze joints, formation of a protective oxide barrier and high strength properties. Evidence of silicon diffusion into the YSZ may be problematic for long-term SOFC operation, however, development of a siliconfree braze has yielded excellent performance near that of the commercially available brazing powder. 2008-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/ator/AtorD0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/blockey/BlockeyJ0808.pdf 2009-01-22T12:35:33Z

Feasibility in developing smart structures for use in wind turbine blades Blockey, James Craig Recently the use of wind as an alternative energy source has developed quickly. The length of the blades is a leading factor in the power output of a wind turbine and as a result, blade length has grown at a similar pace to the growth of the industry. The rapid expansion in use and size of wind turbines is not without its problems, though. As the industry has changed and grown, the overall design of the blades has remained relatively stagnant. This is evident in two primary areas, power control and health monitoring. Power control mechanisms are generally unchanged, utilizing either pitch control or active stall designs. While effective, these systems are neither efficient nor fast acting and can contribute to higher maintenance requirements. Current wind turbine blades also have no sensors built into them. The nacelle and tower utilize many sensors, but the blades themselves have none, leading to blades which are incapable of any real time health monitoring. The application of smart structures will enable the in situ monitoring of the blade and allow the blade to adapt to changing wind loadings Smart structures are those which apply an array of sensors to continuously monitor the state of the structure and are capable of using those sensors to appropriately react to achieve a desired state. This paper will examine the application of smart structures to the wind energy industry. It will be shown that a fiber optic, Fiber Bragg Grating sensor is the best type of sensor for wind energy. One of the main contributing factors is the capability of the sensors to multiplex, which means many sensors can be located along a single optical fiber and different types of sensors can be run on the same optical fiber. The blades will \'react\' to changing conditions through the use of an actuated Gurney style flap. The flap will be used to shed the wind loads from the blade in high wind scenarios. These systems working together will provide an effective and efficient method of advancing the design of the wind turbine blade to a level appropriate for the systems expected today and in the future. 2008-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/blockey/BlockeyJ0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/boyd/BoydJ0808.pdf 2009-05-07T14:51:31Z

Effects of water temperature and angling on mortality of salmonids in Montana streams Boyd, James W. In Montana, angling closures are used to protect salmonids from the deleterious impacts of angling at elevated water temperatures (23°C). Catch-and-release angling (CR) studies have reported high levels (30-40%) of salmonid mortality at water temperatures >20°C, but few studies assess CR mortality of salmonids at water temperatures observed in Montana streams during mid-summer (23°C). The primary objective of this study was to measure CR mortality of rainbow trout, brown trout, and mountain whitefish in three water temperature treatments; when daily maximum water temperatures were cool (<20°C), warm (20 to 22.9°C), and hot (23°C). A secondary objective was to assess CR mortality of salmonids angled in morning and evening within water temperature treatments. Based on the literature, mortality of salmonids was predicted to be >30% within the hot treatment and higher in evening than morning. Angling (fly-fishing only) occurred in the Gallatin and Smith rivers. All angled fish were confined to in-stream holding cages and monitored for mortality for 72 h. Mortality of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss increased to 9% and 16% in warm and hot treatments, respectively. Mortality of brown trout Salmo trutta was (4%) in the hot treatment in the Smith River. Mountain whitefish Prosopium williamsoni had increased mortality in the warm (20%) and hot (28%) treatments in the Smith River. No mortality for any species occurred in either river when water temperatures were <20°C. Mortality of rainbow trout angled in evening was higher than morning in the warm (14%) and hot (16%) treatments in the Smith River. Laboratory results indicated rainbow trout stressed in evening had higher mortality (7%) than those stressed in morning (0%). Angler catch rates were lower for most species in evening than morning angling events; however, catch rates remained high (0.7 fish/h) in several evening angling events. Study results indicate that salmonid mortality rates associated with catch-and-release fly-fishing are higher at elevated (>or equal to 23°C) water temperatures. Although there was a relationship between elevated water temperature and salmonid mortality, most of the mortality estimates were well below the 30% mortality that was predicted. 2008-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/boyd/BoydJ0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/brooks/BrooksH0808.pdf 2009-01-06T14:48:21Z

Axial capacity of piles supported on intermediate geomaterials Brooks, Heather Margaret Pile foundations used to support bridges and other structures are designed and installed to sustain axial and lateral loads without failing in bearing capacity and without undergoing excessive movements. The axial load-carrying capacity of a driven pile is derived from friction or adhesion along the pile shaft and by compressive resistance at the pile tip. There are well established analytical methods for evaluating pile capacity and for predicting pile driving characteristics for cohesive soil, cohesionless soil, and rock. However, past experience indicates these methods may not be reliable for piles driven into intermediate geomaterials (IGMs), which often exhibit a wide array of properties with characteristics ranging from stiff or hard soil to soft weathered rock. Methods to determine the axial capacity, driving resistance, and long-term resistance of piles driven into intermediate geomaterials are not well established. Nine projects, in which piles were driven into IGMs, from the Montana Department of Transportation were analyzed. Each project contained information from CAPWAP dynamic analyses, construction records, and design reports. The purpose of any analyses, of the nine projects, was to better predict the behavior of piles in IGMs. IGMs were divided into two broad types, cohesive and cohesionless. The computer program DRIVEN is often used to predict the axial capacities of piles; however, in IGMs the design method is unreliable. Attempts were made to determine trends within the available data. Normalized resistances for shaft and toe capacities did yield slight correlations of shaft resistance to pile length in IGMs. Iterative solutions using DRIVEN to match the CAPWAP ultimate capacity did not provide meaningful trends or correlations. Slight modification of MDT\'s original DRIVEN inputs was required in most cases to match the CAPWAP ultimate capacity. Because no meaningful trends were found from analysis, other capacity calculation methods were used to determine other methods that accurately predict pile capacity within IGMs. The Washington Department of Transportation Gates formula is the most accurate method of those attempted. More research is required for further analysis of piles in IGMs. 2008-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/brooks/BrooksH0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/costello/CostelloC0808.pdf 2009-01-06T15:18:12Z

The spatial ecology and mating system of black bears (Urus americanus) in New Mexico Costello, Cecily Marie In summary, our results show that high rates of male dispersal and female philopatry combine to create a spatial genetic structure that generates low rates of inbreeding and little need for kin discrimination among potential mates. Thus, evidence supports the hypothesis that inbreeding avoidance is achieved by means of male-biased dispersal in black bears. Our results also suggest the general pattern of male-biased dispersal is modified by competition for mates or resources. 2008-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/costello/CostelloC0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/depner/DepnerC0808.pdf 2009-02-20T18:04:07Z

Do carbohydrates increase the magnitude of the inflammatory response? Depner, Chris Michael Inflammation is the body\'s response to tissue damage and infection and is correlated with several chronic diseases like type II diabetes. Cytokines are cell signaling proteins with multiple functions including control of inflammation. Cytokines are influenced by several factors such as carbohydrate intake and exercise. Thus, carbohydrate intake and exercise can influence inflammation. Purpose: To determine the influence of high carbohydrate intake on the inflammatory response to exercise that induces muscle damage and inflammation. Methods: The study was a cross-over design. Each subject completed a high carbohydrate condition and a high fat and protein condition. Each condition consisted of 6 sets of 10 maximal high-force eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors and extensors. The exercise was followed by a controlled diet for the first 8 hours post-exercise based on the condition. The cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-β) were measured as indicators of local inflammation. C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured as an indicator of systemic inflammation. Creatine-kinase (CK), muscle soreness, upper arm circumference, and strength loss were measured as indicators of muscle damage. Blood glucose and insulin were measured to identify differences between diets in the conditions. Results: Insulin was significantly increased in the high carbohydrate condition compared to the high fat and protein condition at 1.5, 4, and 8 hours post-exercise. Perceived soreness was elevated at all time points post-exercise in both conditions and was significantly elevated in the high carbohydrate condition compared to the high fat and protein condition. There was a main effect trend for IL-6 to be greater in the high carbohydrate condition compared to the high fat and protein condition. Il-1β was significantly increased 24 hours post-exercise in the high carbohydrate condition compared to the high fat and protein condition. Conclusion: Elevated carbohydrate intake post-exercise augmented the local inflammatory response to the exercise observed by elevated IL-1β and IL-6. The augmented inflammatory response contributed to greater perceived muscle soreness post-exercise. Further research is required to investigate this mechanism further to provide better prevention and treatment methods for chronic diseases related to inflammation. 2008-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/depner/DepnerC0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/graff/GraffJ0808.pdf 2009-09-11T11:08:44Z

Rotavirus NSP1 is an interferon system antagonist Graff, Joel Wallace Rotaviruses cause severe gastroenteritis in mammals, including humans and livestock. Most rotavirus proteins have known functions, either as a mediator of virus replication or as a component of the infectious virus particle. The function of nonstructural protein 1 (NSP1) was unknown. However, it has been suggested that the function of NSP1 involved interactions with cellular proteins. Using the NSP1 encoded by a bovine rotavirus as the bait protein of a yeast-two hybrid interaction trap, interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) was identified as an NSP1-interacting protein. Due to the importance of IRF3 in initiating an interferon response, we hypothesized that NSP1 acts to antagonize the interferon system. A comprehensive set of experiments yielded the following observations. Interferon-beta (IFNbeta) induction was blocked in wild-type, but not NSP1 null, infected cells. Expression of NSP1 in the absence of infection resulted in proteasome-mediated degradation of IRF3. A cysteine-rich zinc-binding region near the amino-terminus of all known NSP1 sequences resembles a domain found in hundreds of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Mutational analysis of the zinc-binding domain was consistent with NSP1 acting as an E3 enzyme. The NSP1 of a murine strain of rotavirus also interacted with IRF3. The NSP1 proteins encoded by the bovine and murine rotavirus strains showed low sequence homology (37% identity), which indicated that directing degradation of IRF3 may be a common property of NSP1 proteins from many different rotavirus strains. Screening of simian, bovine, and porcine rotavirus strains indicated that the porcine strain OSU was the only wild-type strain that was unable to direct IRF3 degradation. Characterization of OSU showed that this strain was able to block IFNbeta induction by antagonizing NFKB signaling, rather than IRF3 signaling. While analyzing NFKB signaling in rotavirus infected cells, we found that the F box protein, betaTrCP, of the Skp1/Cul1/F box multi-subunit E3 enzyme was targeted for degradation by OSU NSP1 and the NSP1 of a bovine rotavirus strain. Together, the results presented in this dissertation have determined that rotavirus NSP1 functions as an interferon antagonist by directing the proteasome-mediated degradation of IFNbeta induction signaling components, most likely by acting as an E3 ubiquitin ligase. 2008-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/graff/GraffJ0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/hartford/HartfordL0808.pdf 2009-09-11T11:13:46Z

Cultural perceptions of American Indian women in Southcentral Montana regarding pre-diabetic education Hartford, Lori Ann Treatment of prediabetes includes education which provides the prediabetic person with information to help them make lifestyle modification choices regarding their nutrition, exercise and weight control; in order that they control their illness and delay or prevent the development of diabetes. American Indians have a high incidence of both prediabetes and diabetes as a group compared to other ethnic groups in the U.S. There is a lack of data in the literature about what American Indians from the Crow Tribe in Montana consider to be cultural information that they feel should be included in education for pre-diabetics. This qualitative ethno-nursing study was conducted through one-on-one interviews with six American Indian women of the Crow Tribe over a period of months to determine what they defined as culturally important for the health care provider to know when teaching about prediabetes. The data from these interviews were then analyzed using qualitative software by Ethnograph ®, and four primary themes were found. These themes were: extended family and elders, spirituality and traditions, culturally specific foods and activities and a feeling of inevitability of developing diabetes. As cultural competency is an area that is included in all schools of nursing and some schools of medicine, it is important that health care providers have an awareness of cultural specific health information. All the informants in this study reported that they felt more respected when their health care provider brought up the topic of how their culture affects their health habits, as well as how important to them it is that the health care provider be open to learning about the specifics of their culture. 2008-08-15 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation Montana State University en http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/hartford/HartfordL0808.pdf

http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2008/karjala/KarjalaS0808.pdf 2009-01-14T10