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Analytical and Experimental Study of Radiation-Recrystallized Near-Surface Facets in Snow: Author: Morstad, Blake Walden; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Mechanical Engineering; Abstract: A study on the formation of radiation recrystallized near-surface facets in snow was performed experimentally in an environmental chamber. This recrystallization occurs when surface snow metamorphoses into faceted crystals that result from absorbed solar radiation coupled with cooling effects from longwave and turbulent fluxes. The environmental chamber utilized a metal-halide lamp to mimic solar radiation, which penetrates the snow adding thermal energy at depth. In addition, the ceiling was cooled to simulate a cold sky, thus inducing a net longwave radiation loss at the snow surface. Turbul...; Download File | View full details

Application of Energy Methods to Modeling Failures in Composite Materials and Structures: Author: Ritter, William Joseph; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Mechanical Engineering; Abstract: Characterizing the mechanical properties of composite materials is difficult and expensive. There is a legacy for the scale up from basic materials testing to final structures in composites. Each material architecture and manufacturing technique potentially represents a different mechanical response in a structure. Hence, as new composite material forms and manufacturing techniques become available, a need exists to streamline the characterization process. In this study, a new methodology for characterization of composite materials and structures is presented. It has its roots in fracture mech...; Download File | View full details

Assessment of Reproductive Isolation Between Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout in the Yellowstone River, Montana: Author: De Rito, Jr., James Nicholas; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: The genomic extinction of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorynchus clarki bouvieri) has occurred throughout many parts of its historic range because of displacement and introgression with introduced rainbow trout (O. mykiss). However, fluvial cutthroat trout still retain their genetic integrity while co-existing with rainbow trout in the Yellowstone River drainage, Montana. I assessed whether spatial or temporal reproductive isolation, or both, occurs between these taxa. Time and place of spawning was determined by radio-telemetry of a total of 164 trout (98 cutthroat, 37 rainbow, and 29 cutth...; Download File | View full details

Effects of Barley Cultivar and Growing Environment on Feedlot Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Finishing Beef Cattle: Author: McDonnell, Michael F.; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Animal and Range Sciences; Abstract: Thirty-two crossbreed beef heifers (initial weight 349 kg ± 2.21 kg) were individually fed finishing diets for 84 d in a 2 X 2 factorial experiment examining the effects of barley cultivar (Harrington vs. Valier) and growing environment (irrigated vs. dryland) on animal performance, carcass characteristics, and nutrient digestibility. No differences in ADG (P = 0.46; average 1.78 kg/d) or final weight (P = 0.23; average 498 kg) were detected due to cultivar. Barley cultivar did not affect DMI (P = 0.80; average 9.8 kg/d), or feed efficiency (P = 0.63; average 18.3 kg gain/100 kg ...; Download File | View full details

Campus Climate and Diversity Issues: Listening to Students: Author: Skelly, Mary Elizabeth Anne; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Education; Abstract: Our colleges and universities do not exist in a vacuum and, thus, the responsibility of higher education professionals to assure an accepting, supportive environment for all students is paramount. The first step toward achieving true pluralism on any college campus is to discover what the current campus climate for diversity is. Through listening to individuals, qualitative methods can allow the researcher to hear diverse perspectives that quantitative methods might likely miss. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences and perceptions of students at Montana State U...; Download File | View full details

Consequences of Perceived Group Variability: Hostile Outgroup Behaviors: Author: Kirmis, Nathan Halvor; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Applied Psychology; Abstract: The present study investigated the link between perceptions of group variability and intergroup hostility. Three-hundred and twenty undergraduates delivered noise blasts to members of their ingroup and a competing outgroup after receiving bogus feedback about the variability of personality scores for each group. It was hypothesized that under conditions of outgroup homogeneity, participants would demonstrate the greatest levels of outgroup hostility. While the average levels of outgroup hostility were greatest under conditions of outgroup homogeneity, there were no significant differences in o...; Download File | View full details

Design of Experiment on Electrical Engineering Design Representations: Author: Patel, Dipali Dhanji; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Industrial and Management Engineering; Abstract: Over the decades humans' need and desire for artifacts has increased in quantity, variety, and complexity. Consequently, quality and first to market have become the goals of many engineering firms. This in turn has put pressure on engineering education programs to produce professionals proficient and able to design quality products fast. Researchers have studied design from many different perspectives. One of the perspectives is the role of representations in design. Internal representations belong in our mental world while external representations are in our physical world. This thesis provi...; Download File | View full details

Dynamics of the Waterborne Stage of Myxobolus Cerebralis Estimated Directly by Packed-Bed Filtration: Author: Lukins, Halcyon Josephine; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Biological Sciences; Abstract: Past assessments of whirling disease infection risk on wild trout populations have relied on disease severity experienced by cultured fish exposed in sentinel cages or flatscreen filtration of Myxobolus cerebralis triactinomyxons. The former technique is indirect and inexpedient whereas the latter is imprecise and inaccurate. I examined spatial and temporal dynamics of Myxobolus cerebralis triactinomyxon concentrations directly using packed-bed filtration at five mainstem sites on the upper Madison River and at Willow Creek, a tributary to the Jefferson River. Packed-bed filtration provides ac...; Download File | View full details

Effects of Cattle Grazing on Upland Nesting Duck Production in the Aspen Parkland: Author: Warren, Jeffrey Michael; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: The beef industry is growing rapidly throughout the Aspen Parkland of Canada, leading to higher stocking rates on pastures and use of previously idled areas. Conversely, increased demand for pastureland has led to conversion of cropland that may have benefited upland nesting ducks by increasing the amount of perennial cover. We undertook the current study to evaluate the relationships of nest-site selection and nesting success of upland-nesting ducks to cattle grazing in the Aspen Parkland. Nearly 4,000 ha of upland cover were searched during the study. Vegetation physiognomy was quantified at...; Download File | View full details

Effects of Mycofumigation Using Muscodor albus and Muscodor roseus on Diseases of Sugar Beet and Chrysanthemum: Author: Grimme, Eva; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Plant Pathology; Abstract: Methyl bromide-chloropicrin mixtures are the major chemicals used for soil disinfestation in the U.S. These chemicals are highly efficacious fumigants used for preplant soil fumigation in field and greenhouse production. They control soil-borne diseases, insects, nematodes and weeds. The 1996 International agreement to phase-out methyl bromide for soil fumigation will seriously reduce options for controlling soilborne pathogens. Mycofumigation is the use of antimicrobial volatiles produced by fungi such as Muscodor albus and Muscodor roseus for the control of other microorganisms. A synthetic ...; Download File | View full details

Electro-Optic Pockels Cell Voltage Sensors for Accelerator Diagnostics: Author: Iverson, Adam Joseph; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: Three prototype electro-optic Pockels cell voltage sensors were fabricated, each using a different electro-optic crystal. These sensors were to be used in an electron particle accelerator with a pulse length outside of the working range of operation for current electrical B-dot probes. The three crystals of interest were bismuth germanium oxide (BGO), bismuth silicon oxide (BSO) and zinc selenide (ZnSe). Each crystal was bench tested at two different wavelengths to determine sensitivity. BSO was shown to be the most sensitive to voltage, followed by ZnSe. BGO was shown to be the least sensitiv...; Download File | View full details

Estimation of Genetic Parameters of Yearling Scrotal Circumference and Semen Characteristics in Line 1 Hereford Bulls: Author: Kealey, Courtney Gail; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Animal and Range Sciences; Abstract: Objectives of this research were to estimate heritabilities of scrotal circumference and semen traits, and genetic correlations among these traits and birth weight. Line 1 Hereford bulls (n = 841), born in 1963 or from 1967 to 2000, were selected for use by USDA-ARS at Miles City, Montana or for sale. Semen was collected by electro-ejaculation when the bulls were approximately one year of age (mean = 446d) and all samples were evaluated by one person. Traits analyzed were scrotal circumference, color, volume, concentration, swirl, motility, and percents normal, live, abnormal heads, abnormal m...; Download File | View full details

Extent and Timing of Laurentide Glacial Lake Musselshell, Central Montana: Author: Davis, Nicole Kristina; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Glacial Lake Musselshell is the middle link in a chain of lakes that formed along the Pleistocene Laurentide ice margin in central Montana. It was first recognized because scores of glacially-transported boulders from the Canadian Shield are found in the Musselshell River basin, yet there is no evidence that the Laurentide ice sheet advanced that far south. For a century, the ice-rafted boulders remained the only physical evidence associated with the lake. No other features typical of other large, ephemeral lakes - varved lacustrine sediment, inflow deltas, or lake shorelines - had been identi...; Download File | View full details

Field Instrumentation and Live Load Testing to Evaluate Behaviors of Three Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks: Author: Smolenski, Peter James; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Mechanical Engineering; Abstract: The deterioration of reinforced concrete bridges in Montana has prompted the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) to investigate alternative bridge deck designs which minimize concrete cracking and subsequent steel corrosion. Construction was completed during the summer of 2003 on three new bridges near Saco, Montana that afford an unusually good opportunity to investigate the performance of different bridge decks. Notably, the bridges are in close proximity, and are of the same geometric design. The only differences between the bridges is the deck construction: one deck has a convention...; Download File | View full details

Geographic Knowledge Discovery Techniques for Exploring Historical Weather and Avalanche Data: Author: McCollister, Christopher Michael; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Many ski areas, backcountry avalanche centers, highway departments, and helicopter ski operations record and archive daily weather and avalanche data. The objective of this thesis is to present probabilistic techniques that allow avalanche forecasters to better utilize weather and avalanche data by incorporating a Geographic Information System with a modified meteorological nearest neighbors approach. This nearest neighbor approach utilizes evolving concepts related to visualizing geographic information stored in large databases. The resulting interactive database tool, Geographic Weather and ...; Download File | View full details

Gravitational Wave Astronomy using Spaceborne Detectors: Author: Rubbo, Louis Joseph; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Physics; Abstract: This dissertation explores the use of spaceborne gravitational wave detectors as observatories for studying sources of gravitational radiation. The next decade will see the launch of the first space-based gravitational wave detector. Planning for several follow on missions is already underway. Before these observatories are constructed, extensive studies into their responses, expected output, and data analysis techniques must be completed. In this dissertation these issues are addressed using the proposed Laser Interferometer Space Antenna as an exemplary model. The first original work present...; Download File | View full details

JavaCAVE: A 3D Immersive Environment in Java: Author: Milvich, Michael Lazar; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Computer Science; Abstract: Three-dimensional immersive environments have traditionally been developed using the C and C++ programing language. Do to the increasing performance of the Java platform, the Java language is becoming more accepted for scientific and graphical applications. Currently developers who choose to use Java are being excluded from visualizing the results of their programs in a rich three-dimensional immersive environment. This thesis will work towards correcting this problem by implementing a Java library called JavaCAVE to control a CAVE™ immersive environment. In addition to being a Ja...; Download File | View full details

Interactions Among Hybrid Striped Bass, White Bass, and Walleye in Harlan County Reservoir: Author: Olson, Nathan William; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: Walleye Sander vitreus, white bass Morone chrysops, and hybrid striped bass M. chrysops x M. saxatilis are common top-level predators in Midwestern reservoirs. However, the ecology and interactions among these species are not well understood. Therefore, I compared the food habits, diet breadth, diet overlap, isotopic composition, vertical distribution, and vertical overlap of these species in Harlan County Reservoir, Nebraska, during the months of June through September 2002 and 2003. In addition, prey selection of hybrid striped bass for walleye and golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas was e...; Download File | View full details

Laser-Assisted Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy and its Applications in Practical Surface Analysis: Author: Karahan, Mehmet Cem; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Electrical Engineering; Abstract: This thesis presents the development and the implementation of a combined practical surface analysis platform. The combined system incorporates a Laser Desorption (and Ablation) Mass Spectroscopy (LDMS) system into a Time-of- Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) instrument under a single virtual control platform. This is accomplished via customized instrumentation control as well as data acquisition and analysis routines all implemented on the LabVIEW programming environment. The system is named Laser-Assisted Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (LASIMS). The system has the flexibilit...; Download File | View full details

Missing Text Reconstruction: Author: Glassy, Louis Zoe; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Computer Science; Abstract: Missing-text reconstruction (MTR) is a new application of text-oriented pattern recognition. The goal of MTR is to reconstruct documents in which fragments of original text are missing. Using n-gram models of the document's source language, the MTR algorithm makes sets of hypotheses of the missing text, and combines these sets with a probability combining rule to form the best supported reconstruction of the missing text. A prototype software system (mitre) was developed as a proof-of-concept for the MTR techniques discussed....; Download File | View full details

Molecular Gut Analysis of Carabids (Coleoptera: carabidae) using Aphid Primers: Author: Wallace, Sarah Kate; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Entomology; Abstract: Carabid beetles are found in a variety of Montana crops, although their impact on the food web is poorly known. To detect aphidophagy using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), carabids were fed a single aphid and allowed to digest for increasing time intervals. Aphidspecific PCR primers were used to amplify aphid DNA from carabid beetles. For the laboratory-fed beetles, PCR detection of aphidophagy decreased with longer digestion periods. Further, there were differences among genera in the proportion of fed beetles positive for aphid DNA at the tested digestion intervals. Field surveys of 273...; Download File | View full details

The Native Education Equity Project: Educating for the Future: Author: Mulvaugh, Lucas Wyman; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Native American Studies; Abstract: From the boarding school era to the current high drop-out rates, western-based education systems have a 50% failure rate in its service to the American Indian students of Montana. This thesis takes a critical look at the historical ramifications of Western based education on the Native Peoples of Montana, and the contemporary response from the state to improve Indian Education. The purpose of this thesis is to research current pedagogies being used within public schools with high Indian student populations, to provide recommendations to improve those pedagogies, and to create professional deve...; Download File | View full details

Perceived Social Support in Young Adults with Cancer and the Camp Experience: Author: Handley, Stacy Marie; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Nursing; Abstract: During the years when a peer social support network should be formed, children and adolescents with cancer are in hospitals and are surrounded by protective parents and family. Literature suggests there are many benefits associated with formation of a social support network including improvement of health status but few childhood cancer survivors have had the opportunity to form these networks. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is an increase in reports of social support after attending an oncology camp. A non-random convenience sample of 18 to 25 year olds with a diagnosis of...; Download File | View full details

Productive Iteration in Student Engineering Design Projects: Author: Costa, Ramon; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Industrial and Management Engineering; Abstract: Iteration in design has different meanings, ranging from simple task repetition to heuristic reasoning processes. Determining productive iterations is important to improve the design process on cost, time, and quality, but currently there is no categorization of iterations conducive to this goal. After exploring the possible causes and attempts to address them, I propose to classify iterations as rework, design, or behavioral. The framework suggests that design teams, to improve productivity, should try to eliminate rework by increasing the resolution of design information (design iterations) ...; Download File | View full details

Robust Methods for Multivariate Linear Models with Spectral Models for Scatter Matrices: Author: Hyde, Scott Kohler; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Statistics; Abstract: The main goal of this dissertation is to present extensions to the robust estimation of multivariate location and scatter. These extensions include the estimation of structured scatter matrices embedded in a multivariate fixed effects model. Two different kinds of robust estimators are investigated. The first is based on Maronna's M-estimators of multivariate location and scatter (Maronna 1976). The second is a multivariate extension of the S-estimators introduced by Rousseeuw and Yohai (1984). In addition, asymptotic distributions of the estimators are derived from an estimating function appr...; Download File | View full details

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