Digital Commons Network^™

Reducing Produced Water Disposal Via Effective Treatments Methods And Re-Use: Proposed Sustainable Application For Bakken, North Dakota, Olusegun Stanley Tomomewo

Theses and Dissertations

It is true that the advancements in both the hydraulic frack and directional drilling technologies led to less time and a bit easier ways to develop unconventional oil and gas assets worldwide. In the Bakken North Dakota, the result of these breakthroughs and advancements in technologies are that they drastically reduce the time it takes to drill and complete a well leading to more wells (347 in 2004 to 16,300 in 2020). In 2019, the United States became the largest global crude oil producer, and the unconventional Bakken Play in North Dakota is one of the major contributors to this …

Using Machine Learning On Diverse Datasets To Predict Drug-Induced Liver Injury, Temidayo Adeluwa

Theses and Dissertations

A major challenge in drug development is safety and toxicity concerns due to drug sideeffects. One such side effect, drug-induced liver injury (DILI), is considered a primary factor in regulatory clearance. To develop prediction models of DILI, the Critical Assessment of Massive Data Analysis (CAMDA) 2020 CMap Drug Safety Challenge goal was established with an ultimate goal to develop prediction models based on gene perturbation of six preselected cell-lines (CMap L1000), extended structural information (MOLD2), toxicity data (TOX21), and FDA reporting of adverse events (FAERS). Four types of DILI classes were targeted, including two clinically relevant scores and two control …

Endolysosome Involvement In The Protective Effects Of 17Ơ-Estradiol Against Hiv-1 Protein-Induced Neuronal Injury, Nicole Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Although combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) effectively suppresses HIV-1 infection and increases the lifespan of people living with HIV, up to 50% of HIVinfected individuals are experiencing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), with clinical symptoms ranging from mild cognitive impairment to severe dementia, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Synaptodendritic impairments, such as decreased dendritic spines and synaptic loss, that occur in various brain regions including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are key pathological features of HAND that correlates closely with neurocognitive impairments. The development of synaptodendritic impairment in HAND in the post-cART era is complicated and not fully understood; …

Characerization, Depolymerization And Fractionation Of Alkali Lignin, Audrey Lynn Lavallie

Theses and Dissertations

Lignin may serve as a potential source of renewable chemicals and as a possible wealth of materials for replacement of petroleum-based fuel and petrochemicals. Lignin is a plant component that constitutes the second most common natural polymer on earth, behind only cellulose, and is the most common natural polymer with an aromatic network. Technical lignins (isolated from chemical processing of raw lignin) are produced as waste in the papermaking and biorefinery industries; an estimation of U.S. waste lignin is about 24 million tons yearly, more than the estimated 10.5 million tons of plastics discarded annually. The exact structures of natural …

Transcriptomic And Pharmacological Characterization Of A Murine Line Harboring An Antidepressant-Insensitive Serotonin Transporter, Meghan Alicia Rodriquez

Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal depression is a complex mood disorder often treated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, which block the serotonin transporter (SERT) and alter synaptic serotonin concentrations. The serotonergic system is highly plastic and serotonin regulates the growth and maturation of neurons and signaling systems from conception through end of life. Notably, interference with serotonin levels during an SSRI sensitive window (SSW) of development in humans and rodents has been linked to neurovegetative effects which increase susceptibility for the manifestation of anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and can be persistent throughout life. We hypothesize the persistent behavioral perturbations resulting from acute …

Role Of Schlafen 12 In Lung Adenocarcinoma And Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Sarmad Al-Marsoummi

Theses and Dissertations

Schlafens are a family of genes expressed in a wide range of mammals, including rodents and humans. Schlafens are grouped based on molecular structure and size into the short, intermediate, and long Schlafen families. Mice express all three families of Schlafens; in contrast, humans express only long and intermediate Schlafens. Schlafens have diverse functions, including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, immune cell growth and maturation, viral replication, cancer cell biology, and chemosensitivity. Our studies have focused on Schlafen 12 (SLFN12). SLFN12 is an intermediate Schlafen, it is expressed in humans but not in rodents, and is localized to the cytoplasm. SLFN12 …

Developing Computer Aided Algorithms For Automatic Assessment Of Psoriasis Disease Severity Using Digital Images, Intisar Rizwan I Haque

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the research work was to develop image processing algorithms for automatic and objective assessment of psoriasis to aid in more effective management and treatment of patient symptoms. For this purpose, multiple classical machine learning-based unsupervised approaches are proposed which achieve a maximum average accuracy of ~94% on a dataset of 45 images of various resolutions. This accuracy improves performance by 14% in comparison to existing approaches reported in the literature on the same dataset of images. An alternative deep learning neural network-based approach was proposed that achieves an average accuracy of ~87% for the same set of …

Dimensions Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Sluggish Cognitive Tempo As Predictors Of Executive Functioning, Depression, Anxiety, Substance Use, And Convergence Insufficiency, Danielle Beyer

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In addition to the well-known ADHD symptom clusters, a fourth dimension has been identified as sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and describes symptoms of sluggishness, drowsiness, and daydreaming. SCT represents a unique symptom domain than cannot be accounted for by the other ADHD dimensions. The current study sought to replicate and expand upon the extant literature, hypothesizing that ADHD/SCT symptoms would significantly predict: 1a) impairment in executive functioning on a self-report measure; 1b) impairment on laboratory measures of executive functioning; 2) symptoms of depression and anxiety; …

Draft Genome Of The Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra Serpentina, A Model For Phenotypic Plasticity In Reptiles, Debojyoti Das, Sunil Kumar Singh, Jacob Bierstedt, Alyssa Erickson, Gina L. J. Galli, Dane A. Crossley Ii, Turk Rhen

Biology Faculty Publications

Turtles are iconic reptiles that inhabit a range of ecosystems from oceans to deserts and climates from the tropics to northern temperate regions. Yet, we have little understanding of the genetic adaptations that allow turtles to survive and reproduce in such diverse environments. Common snapping turtles, Chelydra serpentina, are an ideal model species for studying adaptation to climate because they are widely distributed from tropical to northern temperate zones in North America. They are also easy to maintain and breed in captivity and produce large clutch sizes, which makes them amenable to quantitative genetic and molecular genetic studies of …

The Phonology Of Mbati, Sarah Gloria Lepage

Theses and Dissertations

This description of the phonology of Mbati/Isongo (C13) (mdn) of CAR is based on a word-list recorded by native Mbati speakers. A description of nominal and verbal morphology is included as a foundation for discussing morphophonemic processes. Only open syllables and consonant-glide clusters are allowed. Alveolar and velar plosives are affricated or palatalized before the high front vowel. Prenasalized consonants act as phonological units, rather than clusters. Mid-vowels within noun roots harmonize according to the feature [ATR]. [−ATR]-dominated vowel assimilation occurs within verb stems. Vowel hiatus is resolved by glide formation, diphthong formation, elision, and epenthesis, depending on the vowels …

Information Structure In Soumraye (Somrai), An Eastern Chadic Language, Emily Ruthann Miller

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the information structure of Soumraye, also known as Somrai (common alternative spelling: Soumray; ISO: SOR; autonym: Chibne, Chibné or Shibne), a largely unstudied Eastern Chadic (Afro-Asiatic) language of Central Chad (Eberhard et al. 2020). Analysis is based on four fiction and two non-fiction narratives as well as part of an expository text and some previously published proverbs. I primarily use a framework from Lambrecht (1994). The default information structure of Soumraye is topic-comment or presupposition-focus. The construction for marked topic, or topicalization, consists of a preposed noun phrase ending with the topicalization particle da. Da's …

Belief In Pure Evil As A Trait Predictor Of Harsh Judgments Of Perpetrator Attributes, Victoria Charlotte Mary-Rose Pocknell

Theses and Dissertations

Humans look for a quick and comforting explanation for why bad things happen. One popular explanation is to believe good and evil are active forces affecting people and events. Past research suggests belief in evil is associated with harsher judgments and less prosocial behavior. However, little research has explored what factors influence the development of a belief in evil or its effects in an experimental setting. Using a national sample of Amazon MTurk respondents (N = 511), participants completed a series of potential developmental antecedent measures (e.g. personality domains, religiosity, etc.) and viewed a video vignette of a crime with …

Plasticity Of Least Tern And Piping Plover Nesting Behaviors In Response To Sand Temperature, Alicia K. Andes, Mark H. Sherfy, Terry L. Shaffer, Susan N. Ellis-Felege

Biology Faculty Publications

Birds that nest on the ground in open areas, such as Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) and Interior Least Terns (Sternula antillarum athalassos), are exposed to high temperatures in thermally stressful environments. As a result, some ground-nesting avian species have adapted behavioral strategies to maintain thermal regulation of eggs and themselves. We assessed the impact of sand temperature on shorebird nesting behaviors by installing video cameras and thermocouples at 52 Least Tern and 55 Piping Plover nests on the Missouri River in North Dakota during the 2014–2015 breeding seasons. Daily duration and frequency of shading behaviors exhibited …

Summer 2020, University Of North Dakota Alumni Association

ALL: UND Alumni Review Master List

Summer 2020 issue of "The University of North Dakota Alumni Review." 52 pages

Volume 103, Number 3

Book Review: Becoming Creole: Nature And Race In Belize By Melissa A. Johnson, Marcia Mikulak

Anthropology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Students’ Performance In Reading With Understanding In English At Grade Four: A Scenario Of Primary Schools In Bangladesh, Yousof Ali, Nazrul Islam, Mohammad Abu Bakr Siddik, Muhammad Salahuddin

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Student Publications

Reading skill is essential for children’s development, and consecutive studies have shown a link between competency in reading and overall attainment. This study explored the students’ reading performances in English at grade four in government primary schools in Bangladesh. Mainly this study follows the quantitative research design as nature. Individual achievement tests have been used to assess the students’ performance in achieving comprehension skills in English. The data were collected from students who are studying at government primary schools in class four. Following the achievement test, it was found that few students could match all the words and sentences correctly …

The Use Of Sglt2 Inhibitors Compared To Glp-1 Receptor Agonists In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes And Hypertension, Koree Vivatson

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Subclinical Hypothyroidism And Its Relation To Cardiac Dysfunction, Brandon Anderson

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Diet On Gallbladder Disease In Adult Women, Raina Weyrauch

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Law Enforcement Mental Health Ptsd, Lisa Knudtson

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Levothryoxine Versus Dessicated Bovine Thyroid (Armour Thyroid) Treatment In Hypothyroidism, Christine Zaki

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Gut-Brain Axis: Treating Depression Through Microbiome Alterations, Alexandra Bachman-Williams

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this research and literature review is to explore the possible role that gut microbiome alterations have in the treatment of neurobehavioral diseases; specifically, anxiety and depression. This literature review searched PubMed, CINAHL, and Clinical Key. A variety of key terms were used during the search. Due to the field of research being relatively new and limited, studies from the last ten years and animal models were included in the study. Studies were excluded due to poor design or if the studies did not include anxiety or depression in the research. The research shows that there are the …

Evaluation Of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy In The Treatment Of Traumatic Brain Injuries, Jordan Wiedmann

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) affect approximately 2.5 million people each year (Brain, 2014). The most current treatment options for TBIs include extensive long-term rehabilitation and therapy services, in which many only gain little improvement of their overall health (Traumatic, 2019). New trends in treating TBIs with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) are emerging due to increased accessibility to hyperbaric oxygen chambers. The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of using HBOT to improve the treatment outcomes of TBIs. This review included the search of four databases including PubMed, Cochrane Review, Clinical Key, …

Methamphetamine: A Potential Risk Factor For Neurodegenerative Conditions, Katelyn Sarlette

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Methamphetamine (METH) is a highly addictive substance that persists to be a major drug of abuse within the United States, particularly the Midwest regions. While some of the major health ramifications are well documented, its neurological impact is not fully understood. Neurodegenerative conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) continue to increase in frequency, particularly in the Midwest, yet there is no identifiable cause. The purpose of the study was to determine if METH use can contribute to the development of neurological conditions such as MS, PD, and ALS. A literature review was conducted …

Hpv Vaccine In Adolescents: How To Increase Uptake, Natasha Richesin

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted virus that affects both males and females of all ages. An HPV vaccine was developed to help protect against harmful infections caused by the virus. This literature review focuses on the relationship between the HPV vaccine and its low uptake from untoward events, misinformation surrounding the vaccine, and different education methods. PubMed, Clinical Key, and Cochrane electronic databases are used for the literature review. A comprehensive literature review was conducted, and articles utilized were based on the age of the population being 11 to 29 years old, the HPV vaccine’s involvement in …

Treatment Of Clostridioides Difficile With Fecal Microbiota Transplantation, Brenton Green

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Research was performed to discuss the epidemiology and current guidelines of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), recurrent C. difficile infection (rCDI), the different modalities of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), the donor screening process, as well as the safety and efficacy of treatment. Utilizing Clinical Key, NCBI database, Dynamed Plus, Cochrane Review, and the websites for the CDC and FDA, a literature review was produced, encompassing recent research and human studies related to CDI. Recent studies were preferred, however since C. difficile has sparsely changed, older data was utilized with updates applied accordingly. Articles excluded were due to not meeting the themes …

An Analysis Of The Incidence And Severity Of Drug-Drug Interactions Between Prescribed Pharmaceuticals And Cannabinoids, Jennifer Lee Mcrae

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The purpose of this research and systematic literature review is to identify the incidence and severity of drug-drug interactions between commonly prescribed medications and cannabinoids. In this review, four databases were searched including PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase from October 1 to January 5, 2019. A variety of key terms were used when searching. Works chosen for review were published after the year 2014, were peer reviewed, and included randomized control trials (RCTs), systematic literature reviews, and meta-analyses. For this review, 9 resources were selected. Much of the research presented shows evidence that medications that are substrates for CYP2C19, CYP2C9 and …

Low-Dose Naltrexone For Treatment In Crohn’S Disease And Fibromyalgia, Hannah Rachel Tkach

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The United States has experienced a dramatic increase in opioid abuse and overdoses, leading to a national epidemic. Contributing to this epidemic is the use of opioid therapy for complex chronic inflammatory and neuropathic conditions that remain difficult to treat. Many traditional treatments are ineffective or have intolerable side effects, forcing providers to utilize opioid therapy as a last resort. Recently, there is increased interest in the use of partial opioid antagonist naltrexone to treat Crohn’s disease and fibromyalgia. Previous research suggests the potential for naltrexone to provide analgesic effects when administered in low doses via its unique interaction with …

Comparison Of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Graft Materials And Risk Of Rupture/Reinjury In Young Athletes, Matthew Hockert

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

The anterior cruciate ligament tear is a standard surgical injury seen with young athletes competing at elite, amateur, and recreational capacities. The purpose of this literature review is to determine the rehabilitation guidelines and risks associated with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, as well as determining the role of rehabilitation in graft rupture. This literature review also serves to determine if graft choice for surgical repair plays a role in an increased risk of rupture or reinjury. This literature review used various online databases, including Dynamed, Cochran, and Pubmed, with the utilization of MeSH terms listed below in “keywords” in order …

An Examination Of The Use Of Corticosteroids For Adverse Effects Related To Immunotherapy Treatment In Cancer Patients, Leanne Kilzer

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.