Digital Commons Network^™

Sorghum Grain To Products : An Exploration Of A New Process Plant Opportunity, Trevor Seidel

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Regulation Of Grem1 And Lrp4 In Cd2+ Treated Kidney Cells, Eleanor Swenson

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

The Craft Of Oral Biography With The Stories Of Art Grabowski, Talon John Stammen

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Antigen Challenge Alters Innate Behavior And Expression Of Brain Histaminergic Autoreceptor In Mouse Model Of Milk Allergy, Lane Vendsel

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Pharmacological Charctherization Of A1a-Adrenergic Receptor Attenuation Of Epileptiform Activity In The Zero-Magnesium Mode Of Epilepsy, Zachary O. Dent

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Subpopulations Of Dopamine Transporters Show Enrichment In Phosphorylation Or Palmitoylation, Michael Storandt

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

A Comprehensive Study Of Female Hockey Players Use Of Social Media To Attract Fans And Endorsements, Halli Krzyzaniak

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Examining Primary Prevention Methods And Pharmacological Interventions In Identifying Lower Risk Of Coronary Heart Diease, Melissa Stewart

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Indigenous Knowledge System And Decolonizing Methodology Interwoven Into Higher Education Experiences: Autoethnography, Franklin Sage

Theses and Dissertations

What ways can Indigenous Knowledge and Diné Knowledge Systems be useful in autoethnography doctoral research? This dissertation uses Indigenous Research Methodology and autoethnography to make use of storytelling from the Navajo Creation Story and Navajo Circular Model to examine the educational experiences of Native Americans in higher education. A Navajo Circular Model was developed to provide a visual guide of the Indigenous Research process utilizing various Navajo traditional elements. This dissertation highlights federal policies that changed the course of Native American education. The results are in autoethnography that reveals how cultural identity, names, dislocation from home, financial barriers and racism …

An Evaluation Of Elk Home Range Variation In North Dakota, Jacqueline Marie Amor

Theses and Dissertations

In North Dakota, dispersing elk (Cervus elaphus) were colonizing areas of suitable habitat in Turtle Mountain, Pembina Hills, and Porcupine Hills, ND, USA. Although these 3 elk herds were small (~100–250 individuals each), they had been responsible for crop depredation in these areas. The North Dakota Game and Fish Department (NDGF) had little information on these elk herds. In cooperation with Standing Rock Sioux Reservation and Manitoba Department of Sustainable Development, NDGF contracted with the University of North Dakota (UND) to collect and analyze critical baseline information to better manage these elk herds. The objectives of this study were to …

Training Convolutional Neural Networks Using An Automated Feedback Loop To Estimate The Population Of Avian Species, Connor Ryan Bowley

Theses and Dissertations

Using automated processes to detect wildlife in uncontrolled outdoor imagery in the field of wildlife ecology is challenging task. This is especially true in imagery provided by an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), where the relative size of wildlife is small and visually similar to its background. In the UAS imagery collected by the Wildlife@Home project, the data is also extremely unbalanced, with less than 1% of area in the imagery being of wildlife. To tackle these challenges, the Wildlife@Home project has employed citizen scientists and trained experts to go through collected UAS imagery and classify it. Classified data are used …

Preliminary Design And Economics Of Biorefinery Schemes Based On The Noncatalytic Cracking Of Triglyceride Oils, Shelby Amsley-Benzie

Theses and Dissertations

Recent years have seen an increased demand for renewable transportation fuels. First generation biofuels were the first response to this increased demand, but they are physically and chemically different from their petroleum counterparts. These major differences have motivated the development of processes that are capable of producing drop-in compatible biofuels. These drop-in fuels are engine ready, and have essentially the same properties as their petroleum equivalents. The development of second generation fuels include cellulose-derived fuels, lignin-derived fuels, direct photosynthetic derivatives, lipid-derived fuels, and feedstock-flexible bioconversion processes. The focus of this thesis is lipid-derived drop-in ready fuels.

One of the new …

Mechanisms Of Dopaminergic, Histaminergic, And Glutamatergic Neuromodulation Within The Medial Entorhinal Cortex, Nicholas Ian Cilz

Theses and Dissertations

The medial entorhinal cortex (MEC) is a critical region for both limbic functions as well as learning and memory. In addition to these normal processes, the MEC is also implicated in several disorders including epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and several neuropsychiatric disorders. The MEC’s function and role in various disorders is intimately related to its underlying cellular activity. The primary neuronal cell types in this region consist of glutamatergic principle cells and GABAergic local inhibitory interneurons. This dissertation consists of three aims related to the neuromodulation of these cells located in the superficial layers of the MEC—the primary input source to …

Developmental Factors And Maladjustment Indicators Of Specific Sexual Interests, Victoria Charlotte Mary-Rose Pocknell

Theses and Dissertations

Human sexual expression appears to be freer to vary past the need to procreate. This study explores the variability in the cues that elicit sexual arousal in the general population. It aims to better understand the developmental factors and negative outcomes of having a specific sexual interest. A sample (N = 1069) was gathered using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk in which participants indicated sexual interests based on themes: Age, Physical Appearance, Clothing, Power, Risk, and Extrapersonal. The results suggest significant effects of sex, age, and hypersexuality on sexual interests. Therefore, analyses were run separately for men and women and age and …

Inner Strength In Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Oral Histories, Jennifer Weathersbee Steinberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this oral history study was to describe the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to further inform the Theory of Inner Strength in Women (TIS) (Dingley & Roux, 2014). Postmodern feminist oral history methods were used to answer the research questions which included: 1) What are the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? and 2) How do these experiences further inform TIS?

Interviews were manually coded directly onto the digital audio files using NVivo11Plus qualitative data management software. Three chronologic phases were identified among …

Brief Exposure To Images Of Friends Via Social Media Leads To Higher Momentary Risk For Eating Psychopathology Among College Women Who Internalize The Thin Ideal, Erin Elizabeth Murtha-Berg

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the causal effects of brief exposure to images of friends via social media on state body image satisfaction and momentary desires to engage in weight-loss behaviors among college women and the moderating influence of trait thin-ideal internalization, appearance comparison, body satisfaction, and eating psychopathology on these effects. This was a 2-phase study. Participants (N=183) completed baseline measures online before attending a laboratory appointment. During the laboratory appointment, participants completed an exercise to identify the one similar-aged, female Facebook friend with whom they engaged in the most photo-related activity recently. Participants completed measures of state body image satisfaction …

Impacts Of Cattail Management Techniques On Plant, Bird, Amphibian, And Invertebrate Communities In Shallow Wetlands Of Northwestern Minnesota, Joshua John Bruggman

Theses and Dissertations

Wetlands in the United States have been considered both an impediment to progress and a valuable asset for ecosystem services. As a result, rapid loss and degradation of wetlands has occurred and many attempts to protect and restore wetlands are now occurring. However, invasive species continue to challenge wetland management efforts. Cattails (Typha spp.) are invasive plants that can dominate a wetland once they become established. There are two species of cattails in the Northern Great Plains, broad-leaf (Typha latifolia) and narrow-leaf (Typha angustifolia) cattail. These two species can cross to produce a robust, hybrid cattail (Typha x glauca) that …

Variations In Video Game Play Habits And Beliefs Over Time, John Adam Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

Psychological research about the consequences of playing video games has grown exponentially, correlating to the exponential growth of the video game industry. In the past decade, a major impetus has related to the concept of video game addiction, pathological gaming, or Internet Gaming Disorder. While the presence of this problem is widely accepted and there is growing knowledge about the factors contributing to its development and perpetuation, there is minimal research speaking to intervention. The primary purpose of the present study was to identify a potential pathway to educate members of the gaming community about pathological gaming, with the hope …

Amphetamine Exposure During Embryogenesis Leads To Long-Term And Transgenerational Increase In Behavioral Response And Decrease In Dopamine Uptake, Talus J. Mccowan

Theses and Dissertations

Amphetamine (AMPH) is widely prescribed for the treatment of ADHD and a highly abused substance in society, yet little is known about the long-term effects of the drug. Here, we used Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to establish a model for the long-term and transgenerational effects of AMPH exposure on behavior. Furthermore, experiments were conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms of AMPH that were altered by embryonic AMPH exposure.

C. elegans have a well characterized behavioral response to AMPH known as Swimming Induced Paralysis (SWIP). For the SWIP test, animals are placed in fluid, which normally induces a thrashing behavior. However, …

Intergenerational Effects Of Embryonic Cocaine Exposure In Zebrafish, Cody Adam Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

Cocaine addiction has both genetic and environmentally driven components. Relatively recently several groups have suggested that epigenetic regulation of gene expression might be the mechanism linking environmental influence and inheritance in drug addiction. We have shown previously that embryonic cocaine exposure increases physiological and behavioral sensitivity to the drug in longitudinal adults. In this study, we provide evidence that the effects of embryonic pre-exposure to cocaine are intergenerational in zebrafish. In addition, we show how gene expression in the zebrafish telencephalon, which includes the teleost equivalent of the nucleus accumbens, changes during acute cocaine treatment during behavioral testing. These experiments …

Mechanistic Insights Into Neutrophil Turnover During Gram-Negative Pneumonic Sepsis, Christopher Jondle

Theses and Dissertations

Sepsis is one of the oldest and most elusive syndromes in medicine. It is characterized by a systemic inflammatory response leading to acute organ dysfunction. In the United States alone there are over 750,000 cases of sepsis each year, with a mortality rate between 20-50%. Sepsis is the second leading cause of death in the ICU and the tenth leading cause of death overall in the United States. Over half of all ICU resources are consumed in the treatment of sepsis. There are currently no effective therapies available against sepsis, all attempts to develop an effective therapy have failed. Respiratory …

Young Children's Articulations Of Their Metacognitive Processing During Play, Dawnita S. Nilles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to hear young children’s descriptions of their metacognitive processes. Research has shown that play is the foundation of a child’s learning and numerous studies show that play affects all areas of a child’s development. Despite this, at the time of this study, there appeared to be a scarcity of published literature in which young children were interviewed about the metacognitive processes they use while playing. Children have been found to describe their thinking through non-verbal cues. They also have been able to articulate their knowledge and understanding, analyze, and evaluate the …

Optimal Control Of Induction Machines To Minimize Transient Energy Losses, Siby Jose Plathottam

Theses and Dissertations

Induction machines are electromechanical energy conversion devices comprised of a stator and a rotor. Torque is generated due to the interaction between the rotating magnetic field from the stator, and the current induced in the rotor conductors. Their speed and torque output can be precisely controlled by manipulating the magnitude, frequency, and phase of the three input sinusoidal voltage waveforms. Their ruggedness, low cost, and high efficiency have made them ubiquitous component of nearly every industrial application. Thus, even a small improvement in their energy efficient tend to give a large amount of electrical energy savings over the lifetime of …

The Role Of Α-Synuclein In Brain Lipid Metabolism And Inflammation, Drew R. Seeger

Theses and Dissertations

Alpha-synuclein (Snca) is a small cytosolic protein that is ubiquitously expressed in the nervous system and comprises 0.5-1% of all cytosolic protein, but its biological function is poorly understood. Although Snca function has been studied in lipid metabolism, the function of Snca in brain lipid metabolism under inflammatory conditions is yet to be elucidated. We utilized several model systems including primary cultured astrocytes and microglia, Snca deficient and mutant knock-in mice, and a radiolabeled free fatty acid steady state-kinetic mouse model to determine Snca role in neuroinflammation. Herein, we have determined several major roles of Snca during inflammation: (i) dBcAMP …

Modification Methods For Soil And Water Assessment Tool (Swat) Performance In Simulating Runoff And Sediment Of Watersheds In Cold Regions, Bahareh Shoghli

Theses and Dissertations

Streamflow predication is an important task in water management studies. It is needed in the operation and optimization of water resources and flood control projects. The accuracy of these predictions has a great influence on the water resources management and decision making processes. Various models and tool packages have been developed for simulation and prediction of streamflow. Among them, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is one of the most widely used models, which was originally developed to predict the impacts of land management on water, sediment and agricultural chemical yield in large watershed simulations. Results of the SWAT …

Quantification Of Lignin Hydroxyl Containing Functional Groups Via 31p{1h} Nmr Spectroscopy And Synthesis Of Lignin Degradation Standards, Joshua E. Schumaker

Theses and Dissertations

The focus of this thesis is on the structural characterization of lignin, a complex phenol-based heteropolymer. In the first part of the study, functionalization of lignin and its known degradation products by 2-chloro-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane (TMDP) and analysis by 31P NMR spectroscopy was investigated. Chemical shifts of derivatized alcohols, phenols, and carboxylic acids were determined that allowed for qualitative characterization of lignin. This approach was further applied for the quantitative analysis of OH-containing groups present in lignin employing the internal standard. Lignin samples, fractionated by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) based on molecular weights, were derivatized by TMDP and characterized by 31P NMR …

Epigenetic Remodeling As A Mediator Of Environmental Toxicant Exposure In The Brain, Christopher David Walden

Theses and Dissertations

Natural toxins and artificial toxicants are abundant throughout our environment and may play an integral role in remodeling our epigenome and in the development of neural diseases. Exposure to heavy metals and organic pollutants, such as DDT and its derivatives, have been linked to neural disease. Additionally, there are links between direct exposure, in both adults and children, to short-lived pesticides and neural diseases. While the link has been established, understanding the root cause has yet to be elucidated. One increasingly relevant field offering promise in achieving this goal is epigenetics. Epigenetic remodeling is one potential mechanism by which environmental …

The Legacy Of Theodore Roosevelt’S Approach To Governmental Powers, Julia L. Ernst

North Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

Wind Facility Siting In North Dakota, Casey A. Furey

North Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

Volume 54, Number 17: December 07, 2016, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.