Digital Commons Network^™

Separation And Use Of Oxygenated Byproducts From Non-Catalytically Cracked Triglycerides And Their Methyl Esters, Benjamin Travis Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The world is dependent on petroleum as its main source of fuels and chemicals. Supply limitations and global warming have generated a great deal of interest in research to reduce this dependence through renewal fuels and chemicals.

Non-catalytic cracking and subsequent distillation of triacylglyceride (TAG) oils and methyl esters derived from these oils (TMEs) produces an organic liquid product (OLP) that is rich in potential fuels and chemicals. A major fraction of the OLP is made up of oxygenated compounds, either short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) if TAG oil is cracked, or short chain methyl esters (SCMEs) if TMEs are …

Pilot-Scale Evaluation Of Advanced Solvents For Co2 Capture From Coal-Fired Utilities, Brandon Michael Pavlish

Theses and Dissertations

In 1992, international concern about climate change (a change to Earth's climate, especially those produced by global warming) led to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The ultimate objective of that convention was the "stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that mitigates anthropogenic interference with the climate system" (1). There has been a growing concern about global climate change which scientists believe is (arguably) caused mainly by anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. The overall goal of this work was to evaluate next generation solvents at a pilot scale …

Neuroglial Mechanisms Involved In The Anti-Inflammatory Effect Of Acetate Supplementation, Mahmoud Lotfy Soliman

Theses and Dissertations

Acetate supplementation increases brain acetyl-CoA and attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation in vivo. To explain the anti-inflammatory effect of acetate treatment, we proposed that acetate treatment disrupts inflammatory signaling in microglia and astrocytes, and induces histone hyperacetylation known to be correlated with anti-inflammatory properties. To test this hypothesis, we measured the effects that LPS and acetate treatment had on histone acetylation, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and eicosanoid signaling. A single oral dose of acetate treatment (6 g/kg) in normal animals induced a time- and site-specific pattern of histone hyperacetylation, associated with reduction of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity …

Separation And Purification Of Aromatics From Cracked Crop Oils Using Sulfolane, Nahid Khatibi

Theses and Dissertations

Aromatics, such as benzene and toluene, are important for the production of many materials such as polystyrene and other polymers. Benzene and toluene are, most commonly produced from crude oil. But due to the depletion of petroleum resources, the world is looking for renewable alternatives.

Studies of the catalytic cracking of triacylglycerol containing oils (TAG), such as soybean oil, have demonstrated that a high concentration of aromatics can be produced under certain conditions. This discovery provides an opportunity to develop a pathway for the production of aromatics from renewable resources. The main focus of this research was to develop the …

Analysis Of The Role Of Amphetamine In The Induction Of Changes In Histone Modifications Of Dopaminergic Pathway Genes, Amritendu Chakraborty

Theses and Dissertations

Amphetamine and cocaine has long been known as drug of abuse. These drugs impart their physiological manifestations by regulating the reward circuitry of the brain which is controlled primarily by the dopaminergic pathway where they control the release of dopamine. It has been found that repeated cocaine administration changes histone acetylation patterns at the promoter sequences of several important genes. Sirtuin proteins are histone deactylases that regulate important biological functions have also been found to be elevated in the nucleus accumbens after cocaine administration. Although there have been several studies that have tried to elucidate the mode of action of …

Cholesterol Dyshomeostasis And Age Related Macular Degeneration, Bhanu Chandar Dasari

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation work focused on retinal modifications that are relevant to Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in cholesterol-fed rabbit model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as AD and AMD share common features. It is unknown whether cholesterol-fed rabbit model of AD displays any AMD features in retina. Previous research showed 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) involvement in AD like pathology in organotypic hippocampal slices of rabbit brain and human SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells. The extent to which and the mechanisms by which 27-OHC may also cause pathological hallmarks related to AMD are not known. Various studies suggested estrogen's (E2) role in AMD development. 27-OHC is a …

Effects Of A Large-Scale Wind Farm In The Prairie Pothole Region Of North And South Dakota On Survival And Habitat Use Of Breeding Female Mallards (Anas Platyrhynchos) And Blue-Winged Teal (A. Discors), Charles Tanner Gue

Theses and Dissertations

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is the most important breeding habitat for North American ducks. However, much of the PPR is suitable for large-scale wind energy development and conflicts for waterfowl populations may occur if wind energy alters habitat in a way that reduces survival or productivity. Adult survival of breeding female ducks has a disproportionately large effect on population growth. Thus, populations might be particularly sensitive to increased mortality in this cohort because of direct collisions with wind turbines. Additionally, large home ranges are energetically taxing. If females avoid resources near wind turbines during breeding season activities, females may …

Genetic Relationships Of Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) In The United States: Geographic Origins And Genotypic Distribution Of The Species With Implications For Management, Blake Eugene Mccann

Theses and Dissertations

Wild pigs are a damaging invasive species with a long history in the United States. However, during the last 30 years wild pigs have drastically expanded their invasive range and are now present in 44 U.S. states. Though historic records provide insights regarding original introduction histories in areas where pigs are long-established, little is known regarding sources for new populations. To develop a better understanding of recent invasions, I utilized an array of molecular markers (mitochondrial DNA sequence, nuclear microsatellites, and nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms) to evaluate both the evolutionary history of introduced pigs and gene flow between populations indicative …

Perceived Deployment Stressors And Well-Being Among Veterans Of Iraq And Afghanistan, Abigail Fuller

Theses and Dissertations

The current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are unlike previous wars and present new challenges for service members post deployment. Currently, service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan are experiencing a number of stressors that may have implications during their post deployment adjustment (Kline et al., 2010; La Bash et al., 2009; McNulty, 2005). Few studies were found that examined the stressors of deployment and their relationship to the health and well-being of veterans upon return home. Therefore, a more complete understanding of the deployment experiences of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is needed in order to have an adequate understanding …

Auditory Recall In Normal Children And Children With A Diagnosis Of Central Auditory Processing Disorder, Kara J. Nunziato

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in level of performance on auditory memory tasks between individuals with and without a diagnosis of Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). The study was also designed to examine the differences in performance among different auditory memory tasks. A total of ten participants were recruited for the study. Five typically developing individuals served in the control group and five individuals with a clinical diagnosis of CAPD served in the experimental group. Results from the study indicated that individuals with a diagnosis of CAPD performed significantly lower than the control group on …

Non-Traditional Distance Learners: Student Persistence In A Rural Remote Community, Paula Ann Sundet Wolf

Theses and Dissertations

Cook County Higher Education (CCHE), a non-profit distance education resource center located in rural northeastern Minnesota, has student completion rates of 90% and higher. CCHE has attributed the student persistence to its external support services, such as mentoring, technology support, study skills, attitude, and financial resources. With the national call for increased degrees per capita, there is also increased incentive for higher education institutions to become more creative in offering external support services to their non-traditional distance learning students. This grounded theory method research project explored rural students' perceptions of what motivates them to persist in distance learning programs. Thick, …

The Five-Factor Model As Predictor Of Performance On Decision-Making Tasks, Darci Van Dyke

Theses and Dissertations

Prior research on personality and decision-making has failed to use adequate measurement of both constructs. The current research extended the previous literature by incorporating multiple measures of decision-making as well as the NEO-PI-3, a psychometrically sound measure of the five-factor model of personality. Five measures of decision-making were used which addressed various aspects of adequate decision-making. The current research also included a measure of cognitive ability (WAIS-IV Vocabulary) as previous research has noted a strong correlation between cognitive ability and decision-making. Results indicated that cognitive ability significantly predicted performance on three decision-making tasks. In regard to personality, Agreeableness was the …

The Urotsa Bladder Cell Model For Heavy Metal Carcinogenesis: Characterization With Respect To The Role Of Beclin-1 And Sparc Expression, Jennifer Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The development of bladder cancer is known to have a strong association with environmental toxins. This laboratory employs the human Urotsa cell line model to explore the relationship between As+3 and Cd+2 exposure and the development of urothelial cancer.

The parental Urotsa cells and their As+3 and Cd+2 transformed counterparts have been used to define the mechanism of cell death (apoptosis and/or necrosis). A third mechanism of cell death, autophagy, has not yet been investigated. The hypothesis for the current study is that the autophagy pathway involving beclin-1plays a role in Urotsa cell death mechanisms. A combination of real time …

'Reel' Gangs Or 'Real' Gangs: A Qualitative Media Analysis Of Street Gangs Portrayed In Hollywood Films, 1960-2009, Christopher J. Przemieniecki

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the portrayals of street gangs as presented by a select sample of Hollywood films from 1960 to 2009. Using the theoretical framework of social constructionism and cinematic realism, a content analysis of 25 `street gang' films was conducted to (a) determine the comparability of depictions of street gangs in Hollywood films with those characteristics of defining a street gang in the law enforcement and academic literature, (b) identify emergent themes and patterns, including changes over time, and (c) address the representations of realism in the portrayal of street gangs as depicted …

Modal Testing And Analysis Techniques And Their Application On A Small Uas, Kaci Jo Lemler

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis focuses on experimental structural analysis using contemporary testing techniques. This includes modal testing topics such as data acquisition, data processing, sensor placement, and multiple excitation methods. It also presents a novel sensor placing procedure that uses a laser vibrometer to identify key sensor locations. These techniques are applied in a case study on a small unmanned aerial system, (UAS). The airframe, the BTE Super Hauler, is a small UAS used by the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Engineering (UASE) Laboratory at the University of North Dakota as a test platform for flight testing multiple payloads. An antenna system, designed for …

Roles Of Ccaat/Enhancer-Binding Protein [Beta] And [-Delta] In Immunoglobulin G Immune Complex-Induced Inflammation, Chunguang Yan

Theses and Dissertations

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) &beta and C/EBP&delta are known to participate in the regulation of many genes associated with inflammation. However, little is known about the activation and function of C/EBP&beta and -&delta in inflammatory responses elicited by Fc&gamma receptor (Fc&gammaR) activation. Here I showed that C/EBP&beta and -&delta activation were induced in immunoglobulin G immune complex (IgG IC)-treated macrophages by using gel shift assays. The increased expression of C/EBP&beta and -&delta occurred at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, induction of C/EBP&beta and -&delta was mediated, to a large extent, by activating Fc&gammaRs. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown as …

Evaluation Of A Low Corrosion Method To Increase Mercury Oxidation And Scrubber Capture, Shuchita Sanjay Patwardhan

Theses and Dissertations

The taconite industry located in the Mesabi iron range has been identified as one of the major contributors of the atmospheric mercury in the Lake Superior basin by the Lake Superior Lakewide Management Plan (LaMP). Mercury is a leading concern among air toxic metals due to its volatility, persistence and bioaccumulation as methylmercury in the environment, and its neurological health impacts.

Previous research work performed at taconite processing plants by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) identified the taconite ore as the main source of mercury during the taconite processing. Magentite iron ore pellets are produced by balling moist concentrates …

The Contradictory Stance On Jury Nullification, Kenneth Duvall

North Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

Law As Science: Revisiting Langdell's Paradigm In The 21st Century, Nancy Cook

North Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

Adrenergic Receptor Modulation Of Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Inflammatory Responses, Laurel A. Grisanti

Theses and Dissertations

The adrenergic receptor (AR) family is a group of G protein-coupled receptors activated by the endogenous catcholamines epinephrine (Epi) and norepinephrine (NE). There are nine different AR subtypes that are differentially expressed throughout the body including on immune cells. Levels of Epi and NE are known to influence immune responses however, the AR subtype expression and function are not well characterized. The purpose of this study was to: 1) characterize the AR subtype expression profile on monocytes and macrophages; 2) elucidate how AR activation regulates cytokine/chemokine production; and 3) determine the mechanism(s) by which individual AR subtypes modulate cytokine production. …

Amyloid-Β Dependent Microgliosis Occurs Through Src Kinase Activation In Alzheimer's Disease, Gunjan Dhawan

Theses and Dissertations

The major histopathologic hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the presence of (3-amyloid plaques that are often associated with reactive microglia in the brain. It has been suggested modulating the microglial phenotype to attenuate an inflammatory response may prove to be useful in determining therapies for prevention or delay of the disease. My dissertation supports he hypothesis that Ap stimulates microglial activation through a specific tyrosine kinase-dependent response involving the Src kinase family. Using primary mouse microglia we observed that both fibrillar and oligomeric Ap stimulated increased microglial protein phosphotyrosine levels including active levels of the kinase Src and a …

General Anesthetics And The Developing Brain, Tracy A. Stanz

Theses and Dissertations

Millions of children undergo seemingly safe general anesthesia and sedation to facilitate procedures located in surgery, imaging suites, radiology suites, emergency departments, and intensive care units. With appropriate doses and administration, anesthetics are thought to be fully reversible and free from lasting harm. However, those assumptions are being challenged with recent research documenting anesthesia-induced neurotoxicity with subsequent neurological sequelae. A comprehensive literature review will be performed using medical databases including CINAI-IL, Google Scholar, Medline, and PubMed. The information gathered will be presented at the North Dakota Association of Nurse Anesthetists bi-annual meeting in Bismarck, North Dakota and to the anesthesia …

Intraoperative Pain Management: Attenuating Postoperative Pain In Pediatric Patients, Alicia M. Wolfgram

Theses and Dissertations

More than 5 million children undergo surgery in the United States each year, and it is estimated that up to 75% (3.75 million) of them experience significant postoperative pain (Fortier, MacLaren, Martink, Perret-Karimi, & Kain, 2009). While we have come a long way in our knowledge of pain in children, it is often found that pain is inadequately assessed and treated. Aside from the cost associated with increased utilization of medical visits, psychological implications (anxiety, avoidance, sleep disturbances), and increased parental distress related to pediatric pain, there are many physiologic changes associated with pain that may delay or prevent wound …

"The Course Fit Us": Differentiated Instruction In The College Classroom, Mary Volesky Dosch

Theses and Dissertations

Differentiated instruction is a learner-centered philosophy of teaching based on Tomlinson’s research, but stems from a constructivist belief espoused by Dewey, Piaget, and Vygotsky. Through consideration of three diagnostic areas: readiness, interests, and learning profiles, a teacher differentiates how diverse students access the material (content), how students make sense of the material (process), and how students demonstrate their learning (product).

Differentiated instruction has been used successfully at the elementary, middle, and high school levels showing quantitative improvements for diverse students. A limited number of qualitative studies on differentiated instruction exist at the college level, with even fewer quantitative studies.

The …

Sign Language Word List Comparisons: Toward A Replicable Coding And Scoring Methodology, Jason Parks

Theses and Dissertations

This study describes and evaluates a methodology for sign language word list comparisons. The purpose of this sociolinguistic research tool is to identify similarity relationships among sign language varieties by assessing similarities of lexical items. Similarities are calculated using the Levenshtein distance metric which measures the number of differences between signs.

In this study, the methodology was refined for optimal efficiency through an analysis of: which parameters of a sign should be compared, which values should be included in each parameter value inventory, and which items should be used in the word list. As a result of the study, I …

Lipid Emulsion Therapy As Treatment For Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity, Nina R. Wentz

Theses and Dissertations

Local anesthetic systemic toxicity, due to misapplication of local anesthetic in an otherwise routine procedure, can result in deleterious effects. Although improved regional anesthesia techniques, effective test-dosing, and availability of less toxic local anesthetics have resulted in a decline in local anesthetic toxicity rates, adverse events do occur. A comprehensive review of literature was conducted and current research findings and documented case studies were systematically reviewed. The "lipid sink" phenomenon is the most widely accepted theoretical framework surrounding intravenous lipid emulsion treatment for local anesthetic induced cardiovascular collapse (Rothschild, Bern, Oswald, & Weinberg, 2010). Current evidence suggests that immediate infusion …

Volume 49, Number 15: November 30, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 49, Number 9: October 19, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

164th Infantry News: October 2011, 164th Infantry Association

164th Infantry Regiment Publications

October 2011 edition of the 164th Infantry News. A total of 56 pages, containing news articles, event notices, photographs, and personal memories from the veterans of the 164th Infantry Regiment.

Vol. 36, No. 3: Fall 2011, School Of Medicine & Health Sciences

North Dakota Medicine Archive

No abstract provided.