Digital Commons Network^™

Cow And Calf Performance On Pasture-Forage Types During The Fall, Mid October To Mid November, Llewellyn L. Manske

Rangelands - Grazing Systems

Report on research to evaluate fall grazing effects on cow and calf weight gains separately from animal performance during the other portions of the grazing season.

Evaluating Beef Cow Performance: Comparing Crested Wheatgrass/Legume, Big Bluestem, And Foxtail Millet In Swath Grazing, B. W. Neville, G. P. Lardy, K. K. Sedivec

Rangelands - Grazing Systems

Comparison study of cool-season perennial, warm-season perennial, and warm-season on beef cow performance and economics.

Cow And Calf Performance As Affected By Grazing Management, Llewellyn L. Manske

Rangelands - Grazing Systems

Different grazing treatments cause changes in the quantity of plant growth and the quality of herbage; this study compares cow and calf accumulated weight gain, rate of weight gain per acre, and rate of weight gain per day on various pasture-forage types of grazing management systems.

Plant Responses To Different Grazing Intensities In The Missouri Coteau Of North Dakota, Danjun Wang, Shiping Wang, Xubin Pan

Rangelands - Grazing Systems

Report assessing the effect that grazing intensity has on Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) in the Coteau region of North Dakota; examins seed banks in areas of light grazing intensity and extreme grazing intensity.

Effects Of Dormant Season Grazing On Herbage Production And Plant Growth, Mitch Faulkner, Kevin Sedivec, Jackie Olson

Rangelands - Grazing Systems

A study to determine the impacts of winter grazing on herbage production, growth rate of dominant grass species, and changes in plant species composition using various levels and combinations of winter and summer use.

Let's Learn About Sheep, Justin S. Luther

AS Series – Animal Science

No abstract provided.

Living Shorelines: A Regenerative Landscape Approach To Coastal Protection And Community Resilience In Bhasan Char, Bangladesh, Anamul Hoque Mojumder

Landscape Architecture Theses

Bhasan Char is a newly formed, unstable silt island in Bangladesh which is home for more than one million Rohingya refugees—an ethnic Muslim minority from Myanmar who have fled decades of systematic persecution and violence—suffering from an ecological and humanitarian crisis. This community faces extreme vulnerability from cyclones and sea-level rise on a landscape of profound precarity.

Traditional hard-engineered defenses are costly, ecologically damaging, and ineffective against the island’s dynamic geomorphology. This research proposes a regenerative "Living Shorelines" model, intersecting coastal resilience with refugee empowerment through Blue-Green Infrastructure. Drawing on successful global precedents in Vietnam and the USA, the study …

Beyond Home And Child Care Centers: Reimagining Affordable Child Care Through Pod Design In East Grand Forks, Minnesota, Kassidy Allard

Architecture Theses

Due to rising operational costs, increasing regulatory pressures, and a steady decline in home-based providers, Minnesota is facing a child care shortage. In turn, the state has adopted community-based family child care, or pod model. A majority of the existing facilities are retrofitted spaces that neglect essential design considerations affecting the daily experiences of children and the well-being of the child care provider. This project explores how architectural design can strengthen and reimagine the emerging pod model by creating an affordable facility designed to prioritize daylight, spatial flexibility, comfort, and safety. This research aims to create a shared environment where …

Farming The Future: Urbanizing The Naturhus For Small Scale Food Cultivation, Madysen Brooke Rath

Architecture Theses

Modern urban centers face the pressures of rapidly rising populations and food insecurity, leaving a landscape of “urban voids”-underutilized lots that remain dormant and unproductive. While the Naturhus typology offers a potential solution for symbiotic, glass-encased green living and food production in rural settings, it has yet to be adapted as a viable infill solution for the American urban grid. This thesis investigates the potential for urbanizing the Naturhus concept by reinterpreting a row-house typology as an infill strategy to create “greenhouse villages,” where residents actively participate in their own food production. It focuses on the cold-climate urban fabric of …

Re-Barn: Adaptive Barn Reuse As A Model For Aging In Place And Multigenerational Living On A Rural North Dakota Farmstead, Jared Eggermont

Architecture Theses

Across rural landscapes, agricultural buildings are increasingly left vacant as farming practices evolve, while a growing senior population remains in homes ill-equipped to support aging, often facing challenges with daily needs, health, and social connection as younger generations leave for urban areas. These underutilized farmsteads present an opportunity to support multigenerational living through the reuse of existing structures, allowing families to remain rooted while adapting to changing needs. This thesis explores how rethinking agricultural buildings can sustain social and physical continuity, drawing on research into adaptive reuse, aging in place, multigenerational households, and rural living. It proposes design strategies on …

Driven By Instinct: Mitigating Animal Vehicle Strikes On Highway 191 In Montana Through The Use Of Landscape Architecture, Zachary J. Blum

Landscape Architecture Theses

Animal vehicle strikes on highways pose a significant threat to wildlife and human safety, resulting in the degradation of ecological corridors, injuries, death, and economic loss. This thesis explores the use of landscape architecture, in mitigating animal vehicle Through literature review, wildlife migration and movement patterns, I ultimately developed a wildlife corridor design scenario to mitigate the conflict between humans and wildlife on, U.S. 191 in Montana and reduce the quantity of animal related strikes on this highway corridor from Bozeman to Big Sky.

Establishing A Comprehensive Cancer Center: Integrating Holistic Care To Enhance The Well-Being Of Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment, Morgan Rae Nelson

Architecture Theses

Cancer treatment is both physically and emotionally taxing, often intensified by care environments that prioritize clinical efficiency over holistic patient well-being. Thoughtful architectural design has the potential to transform these spaces into therapeutic environments that address the mental, emotional, and physical needs of patients. While holistic care models have gained traction, many facilities lack design elements that promote mental resilience, relaxation, and community connection.

Despite advancements in cancer care, a significant gap remains in how design addresses the mental and emotional well-being of patients. Many facilities continue to prioritize functionality over creating environments that foster holistic healing. This thesis investigates …

The Green-Er House: Aquaponics Integrated Into Residential Living, Hank E. Johnson

Architecture Theses

The proposed thesis project focuses on the integration of an aquaponic system into a residential house to sustainably feed a small family. This system combines aquaculture and hydroponics in a closed-loop design, where fish and plants are mutually beneficial, creating an efficient and environmentally-friendly method of food production. While aquaponics has been explored in various contexts, including urban farming and community-based food production systems, there remains a gap in the application of such systems within the domestic sphere, especially when it comes to designing an affordable, scalable model for a small family. The goal of this project is to address …

Beyond The Game: A Holistic Design Approach To High School Athletic Environments, Haddey Zastrow

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates the critical role of architectural design in supporting the well-being, mental health, and academic performance of high school student-athletes as they navigate the complex intersection of academic and athletic responsibilities. Recognizing the unique challenges faced during the transition between student and athlete roles, the research explores how thoughtfully designed sports recreation and rehabilitation centers can foster holistic development. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating mental health resources, sustainable practices, and user-centered design elements-such as natural lighting, open spaces, and calming colors-to create environments that enhance both physical and psychological well-being. Through a comprehensive analysis of existing …

The Next Stride: Improving Athletic Performance Within The Indoor Track In Temperate Climates, Koate Wisdom Deebom

Architecture Theses

This thesis investigates how indoor track and field facilities in temperate climates can be optimized to enhance athletic performance and well-being for student-athletes. While indoor tracks were originally developed to offer year-round training in colder regions, many current designs fail to address the dynamic needs of athletes affected by seasonal and climatic variations. Through analysis of climate’s physiological effects on performance—such as heat acclimation, cold-induced injury risks, and seasonal affective impacts—this research identifies key environmental conditions that influence success in track and field. Case studies, performance data, and interviews with colligate coaches inform a design framework that incorporates climate-responsive architecture, …

Beyond Birth: Designing A Retreat For Postnatal Recovery And Connection, Avena Mekala Fromayan

Architecture Theses

Childbirth is a transformative and powerful experience, but the postpartum period is the most vulnerable, yet it is the most overlooked phase. Many mothers and their partners are left to face isolation, lack of support, and emotional and physical challenges with limited guidance. This thesis aims to address this critical gap in maternal care through the design of a purpose-built and family centered facility that supports healing, connection, and wellbeing during the first six weeks after birth and beyond.

The Effects Of An Acute Session Of Blood Flow Restriction Exercise On Autonomic Modulation, Andrew Garner

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

PURPOSE: How an acute training session of blood flow restriction (BFR) exercise affects autonomic modulation during a unilateral knee extension exercise. METHODS: Fourteen physically active males completed three different sessions while performing a unilateral knee extension exercise. The dependent variables measured: Heart rate variability (HRV), muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze HRV and SmO2 data. A paired t-test was used to analyze RPE data. RESULTS: Significant time-effect differences were found in lnRMSSD, lnHF, and lnLF at baseline to 15 minutes post-exercise and 15 to 30 minutes post-exercise (P < 0.05). Time and group-effect differences were significant in SmO2%, oxygenated, and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the vastus lateralis (VL) muscle in BFR compared to control (P < 0.05). RPE increased when BFR was applied (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Exercise protocol may need to be altered to show autonomic modulation changes.

Associations Of Antioxidant Consumption From Food And Supplement Sources On Cognitive Function In Older Adults, Kelly Knoll

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

Oxidative stress, the imbalance of prooxidants and antioxidants, has been recognized as a possible risk factor for cognitive impairment. We postulate that increased dietary antioxidant consumption could help preserve cognitive function during aging. Dietary intake and cognitive function of 50 adults aged ≥65-years (66% women; aged 71.5±5.1 years) was assessed using Cronometer, an electronic nutrition analysis application, and the Saint Louis University Mental Status examination. The fisher’s exact test (p < 0.01) identified a significantly lower percentage of cognitive dysfunction (31.6%; 6 of 19 participants) among participants that met the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for the antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and manganese, and a higher percentage of cognitive dysfunction among those that did not meet the antioxidant RDAs (74.2%; 23 of 31 participants). However, mean cognitive scores differed insignificantly between those meeting RDAs (26.2 ±4.2 points) and those that did not (24.9 ±2.9 points; p = 0.07).

Using Traditional Foods And Food Preservation Of The Great Plains American Indians To Address Food Insecurity And Chronic Disease In The Great Plains Tribal Regions, Eliza Johnson

Health Nutrition and Exercise Science

The American Indian (AI) population has a history that goes back at least 10,000 years on the land of the Great Plains. Their traditional foods helped them survive on a land that no other human had ever stepped foot on; however, traditional foods and food ways were erased during colonial occupation of tribal lands and the relocation of tribes to resource poor reservations. The purpose of this project is to evaluate how traditional AI foods and preservation of these foods can be used to address the high rates of food insecurity and chronic disease in the AI population. The project …

Enhancing Mechanical Properties And Water Interactions Of Arabinoxylan Films From Corn Bran Through Enzymatic-Chemical Modification, Abdulrahman Alahmed

Cereal Science

Due to the need to replace non-biodegradable plastics, arabinoxylan (AX) films were evaluated for potential use in food packaging. The mechanical properties, hydrophobicity, and biodegradability of AX films were evaluated after extracting AX from corn bran byproducts of dry-milling (DCB), wet-milling (WCB), and dried distiller’s grains with solubles (DDGS) using acid-alkali procedure. Packaging materials were created using the three AX extracts combined with laccase and sorbitol as the basis for each film. The three AX films were then modified by immersing their surfaces in a lipase-acetate solution. Thickness of modified DCB AX and modified DDGS AX films was significantly increased …

Evaluation Of Blackbird Damage To Sunflower And The Relationship To Producer Damage Estimates, Morgan Donaldson

Biological Sciences

Sunflower producers face profit losses due to crop depredation by migrating blackbirds (Icteridae). Blackbird damage to sunflower in North Dakota is highly localized, where economic loss to some sunflower fields is severe (loss >20%), others face negligible loss (<5%). To mitigate conflict between producers and blackbirds, an understanding of severity and distribution of bird damage is essential. We investigated blackbird damage to sunflower using estimates collected in the field and estimates gathered from producers through a written survey and direct contact. Damage estimates indicate a state-wide loss of US$10.3-33.5 million. Our comparison of estimates from 2020 indicate that blackbird damage is higher when reported by producers (i.e., survey and direct contact) when compared to infield estimates. The disparity of estimates and unpredictability of bird damage warrants investigation into estimation practices by both biologists (i.e., improved field and survey methods) and farmers (e.g., yield monitors) to achieve accurate estimates of damage.

Curriculum Design And Assessment: The Development Of A Nonmajor Biology Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences And Its Effects On Students And Instructors, William Falkner

Biological Sciences

The goals of nonmajor science education are to improve scientific literacy and produce pro-science attitudes. Together, these goals are expected to improve an individual’s ability to make evidence-based decisions based on newer understandings of the natural world as well as developing technologies. In a post-COVID-19 world, public understanding of science was brought to the forefront for public health but were also challenged by a deluge of misinformation to obfuscate these goals. General education science courses represent the last formal experience for our populace. Following a learning-science-by-doing-science approach, this dissertation describes the development, implementation, and assessment of a course-based undergraduate research …

Trade Disruption And Commodity-Program Payments: A Panel Garch Model, Bismark Asante

Agribusiness and Applied Economics

Trade disruption has reduced the economic gains countries enjoy from great trade relationships. This disruption stems from trade wars, exchange rate volatility, and rare events. However, the gravity model, mainly used to investigate this problem, is plagued with heteroscedasticity, omitted variables, and zero trade flow. This makes it difficult for farmers, policymakers, and investors to predict how the international market behaves. The study assesses how commodity-program payments help mitigate shocks from trade disruptions using a panel GARCH model. Hence, the study examines the source of trade disruption, the intensity of trade disruption on soybean and corn export, the risk associated …

Heat-Treated Soybean Meal In Beef Cattle Diets, Grady Gullickson

Animal Sciences

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate replacing dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) with heat-treated soybean (TSBM) at increasing rates in forage-based diets on steer growth performance, nutrient flow, and digestibility. Experiment 1: 70 angus-based steers were utilized in a generalized randomized block design for an 85-d growing study at the NDSU Beef Cattle Research Complex. Experiment 2: five fistulated Jersey steers fitted with ruminal, duodenal, and ileal cannulas were utilized in a 4 × 5 row column design for 56 d to measure nutrient flow and digestibility. Diets were formulated to replace DDGS, included in the diet at 16% …

One-Carbon Metabolites, Fetal Growth, Maternal Oxidative Stress, And Fetal Programming During Early Gestation, Layla King

Animal Sciences

In ruminant production systems, maternal nutrient intake and supplementation practices vary widely throughout the industry. Adequate maternal nutrient supply is critical for fetal development and subsequent offspring performance and health. Therefore, determining strategic supplementation of specific nutrients during critical developmental windows is crucial to fetal growth during early gestation will positively impact beef cattle production systems. In this dissertation, two experiments using beef heifers were conducted to test the hypothesis that differing maternal rate of gain (achieved through differing intake) during the first 63 d of pregnancy would compromise indices of maternal and fetal development; and that strategic nutrient supplementation …

Decoding Tofu Quality: An Integrative Investigation Of Soybean Seed Characteristics And Innovative Evaluation Approaches, Amanda Malik

Cereal Science

This research unravels the intricate relationship between soybean seed characteristics, geographical origin, and the resultant quality parameters of tofu. The study analyzed 178 soybean varieties from diverse regions, categorizing them into distinct clusters based on protein, moisture, and other attributes. Significant variations emerged, with soybeans from the United States exhibiting higher protein, while Chinese sources displayed higher moisture content. Subsequently, the research delved into diverse tofu quality parameters using multivariate analysis. Distinct clusters were identified based on attributes including yield, texture, moisture content, and brix levels. These parameters exhibited complex interrelationships, providing insights into factors defining tofu sensory qualities. Furthermore, …

Benefiting Youth And The Natural Environment: Integration Of Biophilic Design In A Youth Center, Abbigail Ann Miner

Architecture Theses

This thesis will entertain the idea of integrating biophilic design principles into a youth center. First there is a discussion of biophilic design, community centers, and youth centers with the intent to understand what they are and the benefits of each. Seven case studies are examined next to provide examples of how biophilic design has been applied to community centers, youth centers, and preschools. The design of a youth center that uses biophilic design principles to foster a relationship with children and nature is presented as a solution. The created youth center is titled Elk River Community Center. There is …

A Multi-Omics Multi-Environment Prediction In Pulse Crop, Rica Saludares

Plant Sciences

Understanding the genetic bases underlying seed yield and protein, and eventually recombining them in desired genetic backgrounds, continues to be a challenge to pulse crop breeders. Phenotypic selection for seed yield and protein in preliminary yield trials is hindered by the need to phenotype a large number of early-generation lines (>10,000) with limited seeds, resulting to trials with few replications and limited environments. In this study, we evaluated and applied a multi-trait multi-environment (MTME) and a multi-omics prediction framework to address phenotyping bottleneck and the complexities underlying negatively correlated traits, and maximize connectivity among genotypes for predicting performance of …

Utilizing Low-Tech Portable Caterpillar Tunnels To Increase Productivity Of Warm-Season Vegetables And Small Fruits, Bijaya Ghimire

Plant Sciences

High tunnels and greenhouses effectively extend the growing season and protect crops from adverse environmental conditions. However, production in the less expensive and portable caterpillar tunnel has not been reported. The research aimed to evaluate the phenology, yield and quality of eight paste tomato, eight bell pepper, and two cold-hardy wine grapes grown in the caterpillar tunnel compared to the open field. In 2022, tomato and bell pepper cultivars were severely affected by tomato spotted wilt virus. Caterpillar tunnels extended the growing season and accelerated the key phenological stages of all three species. The tunnel increased the yield and quality …

Genetic Variation In Black Gram And Guar For Phenology, Physiology, Growth, And Yield Under Irrigated And Rainfed Conditions Of Northern Great Plains, Saurabha Koirala

Plant Sciences

Field trials were conducted in 2022 and 2023 to evaluate the feasibility of growing black gram (Vigna mungo) and guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) and to identify superior accessions for semiarid conditions of Northern Great Plains, U.S. Significant genetic variability was observed among 21 black gram and 18 guar accessions under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Black gram accession PI425187 yielded the highest grain per plant (8.6 g) under rainfed conditions, while PI377397 and PI377406 performed best under irrigated (6.5 g). Number of pod per plant and seeds per pod were highly correlated with yield per plant. The highest guar yield per plant …