Dennis L. Eggett

The Acquisition of Family Financial Roles and Responsibilities

This study was designed to assess the modeling and teaching of adult financial roles to children and adolescents and the implementation of those roles in early adulthood. The study also assessed the impact of various demographic variables on financial role transfer. Young adults felt only adequately taught and moderately prepared to perform financial tasks. Financial role transfer is taking place most often from parents in the home, rather than sources outside the home. Financial tasks needed in teen years are modeled and taught more frequently and thoroughly in the home than the financial tasks needed in emerging adulthood. Fathers modeled financial tasks more frequently than mothers. When mothers modeled financial tasks and adolescents practiced those tasks, frequency of performance as young adults increased and they felt more financially prepared. Frequency of performance is also enhanced when financial tasks are considered the responsibility of the entire family while growing up.

Using Accountability to Reduce Access Policy Violations in Information Systems

Access policy violations by organizational insiders are a major security concern for organizations because these violations commonly result in fraud, unauthorized disclosure, theft of intellectual property, and other abuses. Given the operational demands of dynamic organizations, current approaches to curbing access policy violations are insufficient. This study presents a new approach for reducing access policy violations, introducing both the theory of accountability and the factorial survey to the information systems field. We identify four system mechanisms that heighten an individuals perception of accountability: identifiability, awareness of logging, awareness of audit, and electronic presence. These accountability mechanisms substantially reduce intentions to commit access policy violations. These results not only point to several avenues for future research on access policy violations but also suggest highly practical design-artifact solutions that can be easily implemented with minimal impact on organizational insiders.

Effects of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement on Mechanical Properties of Base Materials

The purpose of this research was to investigate the influence of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) on the mechanical properties of recycled base materials typical of northern Utah. Two sources of RAP, two sources of base, and five RAP contents were evaluated in a full-factorial experimental design in which the California bearing ratio (CBR) test, free–free resonant column test, and tube suction test were used to measure strength, stiffness, and moisture susceptibility, respectively. A fixed-effects analysis of variance was performed on the collected data. The results indicate that, on average, CBR values decrease between 13% and 29% with each 25% increase in RAP. For stiffness testing at the optimum moisture content determined for each blend, the general trend was a decrease in stiffness from 0 to 25% RAP, followed by a steady increase in stiffness as the RAP content was increased from 25% to 100%. Following a 72-h oven-drying period, however, the general trend reversed; an increase in stiffness occurred as the RAP content was increased from 0 to 25%, and a decrease in stiffness was observed for RAP contents above 25%. For the moisture-susceptible base material tested in this study, additions of 25% and 50% RAP actually increased the moisture susceptibility of the recycled material compared with the neat base, although the blended material was classified as non-moisture-susceptible when the RAP content was 75% or higher. Base stabilization may be required in many instances to ensure adequate strength and durability of recycled materials.

Understory Cover Responses to Piñon–Juniper Treatments Across Tree Dominance Gradients in the Great Basin

Abstract Piñon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) trees are reduced to restore native vegetation and avoid severe fires where they have expanded into sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) communities. However, what phase of tree infilling should treatments target to retain desirable understory cover and avoid weed dominance? Prescribed fire and tree felling were applied to 8–20-ha treatment plots at 11 sites across the Great Basin with a tree-shredding treatment also applied to four Utah sites. Treatments were applied across a tree infilling gradient as quantified by a covariate tree dominance index (TDI = tree cover/[tree + shrub + tall perennial grass cover]). Mixed model analysis of covariance indicated that treatment × covariate interactions were significant (P < 0.05) for most vegetation functional groups 3 yr after treatment. Shrub cover was most reduced with fire at any TDI or by mechanical treatment after infilling resulted in over 50% shrub cover loss (TDI > 0.4). Fire increased cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) cover by an average of 4.2% for all values of TDI. Cutting or shredding trees generally produced similar responses and increased total perennial herbaceous and cheatgrass cover by an average of 10.2% and 3.8%, at TDIs ≥ 0.35 and ≥ 0.45. Cheatgrass cover estimated across the region was < 6% after treatment, but two warmer sites had high cheatgrass cover before (19.2% and 27.2%) and after tree reduction (26.6% and 50.4%). Fuel control treatments are viable management options for increasing understory cover across a range of sites and tree cover gradients, but should be accompanied by revegetation on warmer sites with depleted understories where cheatgrass is highly adapted. Shrub and perennial herbaceous cover can be maintained by mechanically treating at lower TDI. Perennial herbaceous cover is key for avoiding biotic and abiotic thresholds in this system through resisting weed dominance and erosion.

Family acculturation, family leisure involvement, and family functioning among Mexican-Americans.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between acculturation and family leisure involvement and aspects of family functioning (cohesion and adaptability) from Mexican-American parent, youth, and family perspectives. Acculturation was measured using the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale for Hispanics (BAS), family leisure involvement was measured using the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP), and family functioning was measured using the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES II). The sample was obtained from communities in Texas and Utah and consisted of 74 Mexican-American families, including a parent and child from each family. After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, the independent variables were found to help discriminate levels of acculturation for parents, youth, and families. Recommendations are given for commercial and community recreation programs targeting Mexican-American families, in addition to implications for further research.

Synergistic and Antagonistic Interactions of Phenolic Compounds Found in Navel Oranges

Phenolic compounds are known to have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. These properties may be useful in the preservation of foods or beverages. The interactive antioxidant capacity of phenolic compounds within foods has not been well explored. Interactions of individual phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acid, hesperidin, luteolin, myricetin, naringenin, p-coumaric acid, and quercetin) at the concentrations found in navel oranges (Citrus sinensis) were analyzed for their antioxidant capacity to observe potential antagonistic, additive, or synergistic interactions. Mixtures of 2, 3, and 4 phenolic compounds were prepared. The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay was used to quantify the antioxidant capacities of these combinations. Three different combinations of 2 compounds and 5 combinations of 3 compounds were found to be synergistic. One antagonistic combination of 2 was also found. No additional synergism occurred with the addition of a 4th compound. A model was developed to explain our results. Reduction potentials, relative concentration, and the presence or absence of catechol (o-dihydroxy benzene) groups were factors in the model. Practical Application: Understanding how combinations of fruit antioxidants work together will support their future use in preservation of foods and/or beverages.

Contributions of Family Leisure to Family Functioning Among Families That Include Children With Developmental Disabilities

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between family leisure involvement and family functioning among families that include children with developmental disabilities. The sample consisted of 144 families (144 parents and 60 youth). Data were analyzed from the parent, youth, and family perspective. The Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP) was used to measure family leisure involvement. FACES II was used to measure family functioning. A scale based upon the definition, classification, and systems of support manual of the American Association on Mental Retardation adapted by Dyches was used to measure the level of support needed by the child with a developmental disability. Blocked multiple regression analyses indicated a positive relationship between core family leisure and family cohesion, adaptability, and overall family functioning, but the analyses indicated no relationship between balance family leisure and family cohesion, adaptability, and overall family functioning from all three perspectives. Results also indicated that family functioning and family leisure involvement were very similar between traditional families and families including children with developmental disabilities. Implications for practitioners and recommendations for further research are discussed.

Cement Stabilization of Aggregate Base Material Blended with Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement

The effects of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) content and cement content on the strength and durability of recycled aggregate base materials typical of the I-84 pavement reconstruction project performed in Weber Canyon near Morgan, Utah, were investigated. The laboratory work was based on a full-factorial experimental design, including five RAP contents, five cement contents, and three replicate specimens of each possible treatment. Measurements of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and final dielectric value in the tube suction test (TST) were used to assess material strength and durability, respectively. These data, together with dry density measurements, were evaluated through an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the ANOVA performed on the UCS data indicate that UCS decreases from 425 to 208 psi as RAP content increases from 0% to 100% and increases from 63 to 564 psi as cement content increases from 0.0% to 2.0%. Similarly, the final dielectric value decreases from 14.9 to 6.1 as RAP content increases from 0% to 100% and decreases from 14.0 to 5.8 as cement content increases from 0.0% to 2.0%. Increasing RAP contents generally correspond to decreasing dry densities. With design criteria requiring 7-day UCS values between 300 and 400 psi and final dielectric values less than 10 in the TST, the results of this research suggest the use of RAP contents in the range of 50% to 75% and a cement content of 1.0% for this material.

Psychometrically equivalent mandarin bisyllabic speech discrimination materials spoken by male and female talkers

The purpose of this study was to develop, digitally record, evaluate, and psychometrically equate a set of Mandarin bisyllabic word lists for use in measurement of speech discrimination. Familiar bisyllabic words were digitally recorded by male and female talkers of Standard Mandarin. Percentage of correct word recognition was measured for each word at ten intensity levels (−5 to 40 dB HL) in 5 dB increments using 20 normally hearing subjects. Using logistic regression, 200 words with the steepest logistic regression slopes were included in four psychometrically equivalent word lists of 50 words each, and eight half-lists of 25 words each. To increase auditory homogeneity of the lists, the intensity of words in each list was digitally adjusted so that the threshold of each list was equal to the midpoint between the mean thresholds of the male and female half-lists. Digital recordings of the psychometrically equivalent word recognition lists are available on compact disc.

Thermal ultrasound decreases tissue stiffness of trigger points in upper trapezius muscles

ABSTRACT Many trigger point therapies, such as deep pressure massage and injection, are painful. Thermal ultrasound might be a comfortable procedure used to soften trigger points. Our objective was to compare thermal ultrasound with sham ultrasound in the ability to soften trigger points with pretest/posttest repeated-measures design for depth of tissue in a massage therapy clinic. Twenty-six patients with latent trigger points in their upper trapezius muscles were studied. Independent variables were treatments; dependent variables were tissue depth. Subjects were randomly assigned to either the treatment or sham group. The study was single-blinded; the investigator taking the measurements was blinded to which group the subjects were in, and the clinician treating with ultrasound was blinded to the measurements. Each trigger point in the treatment group received 3 MHz ultrasound at the following parameters: 1.4 W/cm2, 5 min, circular motion, 2× the size of the 7 cm2 soundhead. The ultrasound was not turned on for the sham group. This procedure was repeated one week later. Trigger point depth was measured with a pressure algometer before and immediately after each treatment. A 2×2×2 repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze depth (mm). The immediate effects were as follows: The mean depth value for the sham group was an increase of 0.64±0.33 mm; the treatment groups mean increase was 2.65±0.33 mm (F1,24=19.01; p=0.01). The residual effects were as follows: The two treatments over the course of the 2 weeks also showed that the trigger points of the ultrasound groups got softer with an increase in depth of 2.09±0.82 mm compared to −0.93±0.82 mm of the sham group (F1,24=6.81; p<0.01). Thermal ultrasound over latent trigger points is comfortable and can decrease stiffness of a trigger point.