University of Idaho Library Digital Initiatives
Not a member yet
54971 research outputs found
Sort by
Isotopic Discrimination of Aquifer Recharge Sources, Subsystem Connectivity and Flow Patterns in the South Fork Palouse River Basin, Idaho and Washington, USA
No full textGroundwater studies in the South Fork Palouse River Basin have been unable to determine recharge sources, subsystem connectivity and flow patterns due to the discontinuity of pathways in the heterogeneous and anisotropic aquifers located in Columbia River flood basalts and interbedded sediments. Major ion, δ18O, δ2H, δ13C, δ34S and temperature for groundwater collected from 28 wells of varying depths indicate a primary recharge source dominated by snowmelt along the eastern basin margin. This recharge can be separated into two distinct sources—a deeper and relatively less altered snowmelt signal (−17.3‰ to −16.8‰ δ18O, −131‰ to −127‰ δ2H, −12.9‰ to −10‰ δ13C, 18–23˚C) and a more altered signal likely derived from a shallower mixture of snowmelt, precipitation and surface water (−16.1‰ to −15.5‰ δ18O, −121‰ to −117‰ δ2H, −15.9‰ to −12.9‰ δ13C, 12–19˚C). A mixing of the shallow and deep source waters is observed within the upper aquifer of the Grande Ronde Formation near Moscow, Idaho, which results in a homogenization of isotope ratios and geochemistry for groundwater at nearly any depth to the west of this mixing zone. This homogenized signal is prevalent in a likely primary productive zone of an intermediate depth in the overall aquifer system.masters, M.S., Geology -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0
Modulating glycemic response through the inhibition function of potato peels on starch digestive enzymes
No full textPotato peel waste is a burden to the potato processing industry due to its large quantity and lack of utilization. On the other hand, obesity and type II diabetes, which correlated with the high glycemic response after starch ingestion, have become major health concerns worldwide. Potato peels, as an industrial waste, contain functional molecules (i.e., calystegine), which have the potential to modulate glycemic response through their inhibitory effect on starch degrading enzymes. In this research, the objectives were to investigate the inhibition of industrial potato peel waste on α-amylase and mucosal α-glucosidase, quantify and characterize inhibitors as well as study the effects of potato cultivars and peeling methods on inhibition performances. Potato peels were extracted with water, and an in vitro inhibition mechanism study of potato peel extract was conducted on α-amylase and mucosal α-glucosidase. A rat feeding study was performed to verify the impact of consuming potato peel extract on glycemic response. The concentrations of the potential inhibitors, including pectin, phenolic acids, minerals, and calystegine were quantified and correlated with measured inhibition on α-amylase and mucosal α-glucosidase. To evaluate the potential of utilizing the potato peels generated by potato processors, we examined five potato cultivars from two consecutive years, which are common cultivars used in processing in the United States Pacific Northwest. We also investigated the inhibition power of hand, steam, and abrasion peeling methods. The potato peel waste from two processors was included in this study to examine the potential of using real waste to modulate glycemic response. Our data showed that potato peel extract had a dose-response inhibition on both α-amylase and mucosal α-glucosidase in an in vitro system. The inhibition mechanism on α-amylase was noncompetitive inhibition while mixed inhibition mechanism was observed on mucosal α-glucosidase inhibition. In animal study, the consumption of potato peel extract delayed the presence of the glucose spike from 30 min to 60 min in a rat model. For inhibitor characterization and quantification, we identified four major types of phenolic acids in potato peel extract, and phenolic acid content were strongly correlated with both α-amylase (r = 0.62) and mucosal α-glucosidase (r = 0.50) inhibition. Our data also demonstrate that pectin had an inhibition on α-amylase at a dose of 5.6 mg/mL, however, the content of pectin in potato peel extract used in this study was not sufficient to generate a significant impact on α-amylase activity. For minerals, the total amount of copper, zinc and nickel, which were reported to have inhibition on both α-amylase and mucosal α-glucosidase, was in the range of 1.8 ug/mL to 20.2 ug/mL in the potato extract. Our results showed low correlation between mineral content and measured inhibition, which could result from the limited availability of ions due to the their interaction with other molecules in the peel extract. We identified five isoforms of calystegine in our potato peel extracts with the combined concentration of 4.2 ug/mL to 20.2 ug/mL. Statistical analysis showed high correlation (r = 0.65) between calystegine content and mucosal α-glucosidase inhibition, indicating calystegine is the major mucosal α-glucosidase inhibitor in the peel extract. When comparing cultivar differences and peeling methods, all of five potato cultivars had an inhibition power on starch degrading enzymes, and all the peeling methods preserved inhibition power over both enzymes as well. The growing environment had a significant impact on the inhibition power, which the potatoes grown in 2016 and 2017 had significant differences in their inhibition power (p = 0.003). Variations among the cultivars were observed, and Ranger Russet had the highest inhibition power among the five cultivars. Regarding the impact of peeling method on the inhibition performance, steam peeling method preserved the highest inhibition power among the three methods (p masters, M.S., Food Science -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0
Evaluation of iceberg calving models against observations from Greenland outlet glaciers
No full textThe retreat and advance of marine-terminating outlet glaciers in Greenland plays a critical role in modulating ice sheet mass balance. However, frontal ablation processes that regulate glacier terminus position are challenging to observe and thus difficult to represent in numerical ice flow models. Current models of the Greenland Ice Sheet rely upon simple iceberg calving and submarine melt criteria to parameterize the ice/ocean boundary as either a stable terminus position or ice ablation rate, yet the relative accuracies and uncertainties of these criteria remain largely unknown at the ice sheet scale. Using observations and model outputs from a representative sample of 50 marine-terminating outlet glaciers, we evaluate six iceberg calving models, including those considering height above buoyancy, crevasse penetration depth, von Mises stress, strain rate eigenvalues, and near-terminus ice damage. We optimize the free parameter value in each calving model and quantify associated model uncertainties in terms of the misfit between modelled and observed frontal ablation quantities. We find that five of six models tested can successfully reproduce terminus conditions across 50 sample glaciers with zero median model bias using a single, spatially-optimized parameter value. Evaluation of calving models against time series observations from individual glaciers suggests calving models that predict a terminus position can better account for seasonal terminus dynamics using a single, optimized parameter value than calving models that predict a frontal ablation rate. Overall, our results indicate that the crevasse depth calving model reproduces observed terminus dynamics with high fidelity and should be considered a leading candidate for use in predictive glacier and ice sheet models.masters, M.S., Geology -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0
How do Gender Issues Affect the Experience of Latina Business Owners?
No full textLatina entrepreneurs are contributing to the increase in entrepreneurship in the United States. Latinas’ engagement in entrepreneurship contributes economically to rural communities as well as their families. This study used a qualitative inductive approach to explore the influence and interaction of gender and culture on Latina entrepreneurs. This study draws on 21in-depth interviews conducted from 2017-2018 with Latina business owners based in southern, Idaho. Interviews explored participants’ motivations, opportunities, barriers, and experiences starting and sustaining businesses in Idaho. The study found positive client interaction is highly valued by participants, because they view them like family. Therefore, because positive client interaction is important to the participants their personal interactions with clients are an important aspect of their business experiences.masters, M.S., Family and Consumer Sciences -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0
Virtual Reality Interview Skills Training for Young Adults with a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder: Making Employment a Reality
No full textDespite recent advancements in the field of Autism, young adults with a diagnosis of ASD continue to struggle working and living independently (Thompson, 2013). Competitive employment is a quality of life indicator (García‐Villamisar & Hughes, 2007; García-Villamisar, Wehman, & Navarro, 2002; Hendricks, 2010; Hurlbutt & Chalmers, 2010; Morgan, Leatzow, Clark, & Siller, 2014; Roux et al., 2013). Strong interview skills including impression management behaviors, increase the likelihood of obtaining competitive employment (Bell & Weinstein, 2011; Smith et al., 2014; Smith et al., 2015; Strickland, Coles, & Southern, 2013). High self-efficacy and impression management behaviors influence successful interviewee performance (Huffcutt, Van Iddekinge, & Roth, 2011). This study explored the use of a Virtual Reality–Live Interview Coaching (VR-LIC) intervention package to increase gaze and conversational reciprocity across interviewers and settings with young adults diagnosed with ASD. The participants demonstrated improvement in impression management behavior with the introduction of VR intervention. The incorporation of live coaching with multiple interviewers and office settings enhanced performance and increased transfer of skills to future real-world interviews as concluded by high and consistence maintenance probe data. Statements of limitations for VR-LIC intervention package effectiveness include generalization of study results to a larger population, inability to control for practice effect, and general limitation of theoretical perspective and instructional strategies. The results of this study support the use of virtual reality and live-interview coaching to development and strengthen interview skills for young adults with a diagnosis of ASD. These promising results supports the need for more research exploring VR and interview skill interventions topics and limitations.doctoral, Ph.D., Curriculum & Instruction -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0
Reconnecting With the Sacrament: an Exploration of Legal, Economic, and Social Barriers to the Peyote Gardens Shoshone-Paiute Case Study
No full textThe Peyote cactus is the sacred Sacrament of the Native American Church (NAC) and peyotists and they use it in their ceremonies to commune with God. The intricacies of the procurement of Peyote by tribes is not without issue and includes a complex of state and federal regulation, economic factors based on supply and demand of Peyote, and the most important issue of the ability to access the cactus for commercial harvest by a select few DEA licensed Peyote distributors (peyoteros) whom obtain it from private land in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas known as the Peyote Gardens. Nearly the entire commercially available supply of Peyote for the NAC and peyotists exists on private property in Star, Webb, Jim Hogg, and Zapata counties. The Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation have practiced Peyote ceremonies since at least 1934 along with other forms of spirituality including the Sundance and traditional Paiute spirituality. This thesis research will address how these economic, regulatory, and relationship-based access obstacles are experienced by Paiute Peyote roadmen, brothers Reggie and Murray Sope, using excerpts from semi-structured ethnographic interviews with them and critical analysis of federal and state regulations governing the Peyote economy.masters, M.A., Anthropology -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0
CYbersecurity Oriented Training Environment and Exercises
No full textCyber defense competitions provide students with a hands-on, real world opportunity to learn, practice, and perform the tasks which they will be expected to complete in the workplace. Cyber defense competitions include red-blue exercises (attack-defend), capture the flag competitions, level based challenges, and environment configuration type activities. The availability of current training material for cyber defense competitions is limited, especially when considering the subset of materials which are targeted for cyber defense competitions, freely available, and modifiable for extended use. CYbersecurity Oriented Training Environment and Exercises (CYOTEE) is a project intended to fill the need for preparatory material targeted for traditional cyber defense competitions. The project is freely available with all content downloadable from the project GitHub repository: https://github.com/CenterForSecureAndDependableSystems/CYOTEE. The specific contributions described in this thesis are nine laboratory exercises: six handson and three discussion-based. These exercises task the participants with completing various competition relevant challenges. Each laboratory exercise includes the following sections: (1) a specification for any prerequisite technology needed, (2) learning objectives, (3) a mapping to relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities from the NIST NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, (4) background necessary to complete the exercise, (5) the expected completion time, (6) configuration and setup steps needed which includes an initialization script where needed, (7) the challenges for the exercise, and (8) solutions to the challenges. The topics for the laboratory exercises in CYOTEE are directly motivated by common topics at cyber defense competitions. While the project is specifically targeted for competition preparation, it addresses core cybersecurity concepts which can be utilized outside of competition preparation or the academic environment.masters, M.S., Computer Science -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-1
Electrochemical Study of the Corrosion of Stainless steel 304, Nickel, and Inconel 600 in Molten Eutectic and Composite Salts
No full textStainless steel 304, Nickel, and Inconel 600 were tested for corrosion as working electrodes electrochemically in 0.67Li2CO3-0.33K¬2CO3 eutectic salt, and 0.3 GDC – 0.7 (0.67Li2CO3-0.33K¬2CO3) composite salt from 500 to 600 °C in the air. The aim of this study was to understand the corrosion mechanism that take place on the electrode surface, and for materials screening in terms of corrosion resistance in both salts. The electrochemical methods employed were Linear polarization resistance (LPR), Tafel analysis, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The best scan rate of 1mV/s was determined for the LPR and Tafel measurements after conducting a parametric study with different step heights and step times. According to both the LPR and EIS measurements, Stainless steel 304 demonstrated the highest resistance to corrosion in the eutectic salt with high resistance polarization (Rp) and Rct values; which measure charge transfer, and consistent and high P values which measure permeability of the salt through the oxide layer, owing to stainless steel 304 rich Cr content. Inconel 600 performed the second best, possibly due to its chromium content as well. Nickel came in third with low resistance to eutectic salt. In the composite salt, according to the Rp, the icorr and the P values, Nickel ranked exceptionally high possibly due to the formation of a composite nickel oxide cerium gadolinium oxide (NiO-CGO) film on the surface if the nickel electrode. Inconel 600 ranked second, followed by stainless steel. Temperature also played a significant role in contributing to the acceleration of corrosion. As temperature decreased, the resistance of stainless steel 304 to corrosion increase in the eutectic salt. However, for Inconel 600, at higher temperatures resistance to corrosion was high. The corrosion mechanisms based on EIS results using equivalent circuits revealed that the corrosion for the metal structural materials in the salts includes oxide layer formation, and various oxide layers formation with diffusion control and electron transfer.masters, M.S., Nuclear Engineering -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2019-0