Digital Commons Network^™

Plant And Arthropod Associations With Environmental Gradients In A Northern Tallgrass Prairie, Bryon Wayne Deal

Theses and Dissertations

Plants and arthropods are the base of grassland communities, and their interactions with environmental gradients and each other can determine their composition and spatial structure within a site. The composition and spatial structure of these communities can determine how they contribute to grassland function, yet grassland conservation and restoration efforts typically do not consider both plants and arthropods. As a result, our understanding of how plant and arthropod communities assemble in response to environmental gradients, and each other, in the same space is incomplete. Furthermore, most studies of grassland community assembly do not address assembly across multiple taxonomic levels, and …

Understanding Addiction, Depression, And Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Structure-Function Analyses Of The Dopamine And Serotonin Transporters, Danielle Krout

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine (DAT) and serotonin (SERT) transporters are monoamine neurotransmitter transporters (MATs) responsible for the reuptake of dopamine (DA) or serotonin (5-HT) from the synapse following vesicular release, effectively regulating synaptic neurotransmission. Blockade of these transporters by antagonists such as psychostimulant drugs or transporter mutations that affect function can compromise DA or 5-HT homeostasis and impact fundamental brain processes including movement, emotion, behavior, motivation, and memory. To address these issues, my dissertation research focused on: (1) identifying and characterizing the cocaine binding site in DAT, (2) determining the influence of membrane depolarization on DAT trafficking, (3) investigating antidepressant metabolite action …

Hypothalamus And Pituitary Gland Development In The Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra Serpentina, And Disruption With Atrazine Exposure, Kathryn Lee Gruchalla Russart

Theses and Dissertations

Neural control of the endocrine system originates in the hypothalamus in all vertebrates. The hypothalamus signals directly to the pituitary gland to maintain homeostasis by releasing hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones travel to peripheral endocrine organs, and regulate widespread activities including growth, metabolism, stress response, circadian rhythms, water balance, and reproduction. Many of these functions have sex-specific aspects, and therefore sexual dimorphism in morphology and function of the hypothalamus is present. Sex-specific genetic background and morphology is established during pre- and peri-natal development, during which sexually dimorphic cellular differentiation occurs and hormonal profiles are set. Disruption of development can …

Instructors’ Perspectives Of Giving Audio And Video Feedback: Can You Hear Me Now?, Jane Marie Sims

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated university instructors’ perspectives, values and processes of giving assignment feedback to students using written, audio and video formats and examined samples of feedback in these formats for differences in amount of content, language complexity and tone of feedback. The instructors represented different campus disciplines and a variety of campus, online and hybrid environments, and their classes included undergraduate and graduate students and ranged from small to large class sizes. This qualitative study applied Media Naturalness Theory to a phenomenological and discourse analysis of instructor interviews and feedback samples. The interview data revealed intentionality in selecting different feedback …

The Impact Of Power Status On Gender Stereotypes, Sexism, And Gender Discrimination Toward Women In The Workplace And The Career Identity Development Of Women, Juemei Yang

Theses and Dissertations

Women often experience unique barriers at workplace that hinder their career development (Whitley & Kite, 2010). In this study I focused on several of the barriers: gender stereotypes, sexism, and gender discrimination. Specifically, I examined the impact of career-related power, the gender of the perceiver, and the gender of the perceived on the endorsement of gender stereotypes, of sexist attitudes, and of gender discrimination. Significant results indicated that gender stereotypes and sexist attitude are most strongly endorsed by men with high power and women with low power. The largely insignificant results of discrimination also suggested that a climate change might …

Gata4 Interacts With Hedgehog Signaling Pathway In Regulating Outflow Tract Development, Jielin Liu

Theses and Dissertations

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are among the most common type of developmental anomaly affecting 8 in 1000 live births. Approximately 30% of CHDs involve cardiac outflow tract (OFT) malformation which leads to significant morbidity and mortality in both children and adults. Development of OFT is regulated by a complex genetic network including Sonic-Hedgehog signaling pathway, TGF-β and BMP signaling pathway. Mutation of a transcription factor, Gata4, has been known to cause OFT defects including double outlet right ventricle (DORV) in both human and mice for decades. Several transcription targets of Gata4 have been identified such as Mef2c, Ccnd2 and Cdk4, …

The Post-Secondary School-To-Work Transitional Program: An Occupational Therapist's Guide To Service Delivery, Annemarie Assel, Erin Haugen

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are one of the most prevalent childhood diagnoses, occurring in every 1 in 68 children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015). Although ASDs are considered childhood disorders, they persist throughout one’s life and are often more pronounced during common life transitions. For adults with ASDs, this is a time marked by fragmented services, as well as disengagement from services (Baldwin, Costley, & Warren, 2014; Friedman, Warfield, & Parish, 2013; Shattuck, Wagner, Narendorg, Sterzing, & Hensley, 2011; Strickland, Coles, & Southern, 2013). Those with ASDs have skills deemed valuable by employers that include being: reliable, …

Intentional Integration Of Service And Therapy Dogs In An Occupational Therapy Program Curriculum, Stephanie Rehovsky, Brittni Danner

Occupational Therapy Capstones

This scholarly project involves the intentional integration of Buddy, the service/therapy dog of the University of North Dakota’s Occupational Therapy graduate program. This project contains researched evidence regarding the variety of benefits involved with the implementation of animal assisted therapy (AAT) into the curriculum. The final product contains instructor materials for six existing courses in the graduate and undergraduate program. We have also included future implications for this product including adaptation to other similar graduate occupational therapy programs and future use at the University of North Dakota.

Aerocom: Winter 2016, John D. Odegard School Of Aerospace Sciences

Aerocom: John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Alumni Magazine

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Bb0447, A Fibronectin-Binding Protein, In The Invasion Of Fibroblasts By Borrelia Burgdorferi, Ellen Taylor Kiser

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Integrin Alpha 5 Expression In Arsenic And Cadmium Transformed Cell Lines And The Potential Link To Bladder Cancer, Desire'e Marie Enzminger

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Characterizing The Response Of Primary Human Microglia To The Lyme Disease Causing Bacteria, Borrelia Burgdorferi, Jacob Greenmyer

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of Nepalese Immigrants And Dental Providers : Perceptions, Ideas, And Education Regarding Mastication Of The Areca Nut, Cameron Dutt

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Nest Attendance Patterns Of Common Eiders At Wapusk National Park In Northern Manitoba, Tanner Stechmann

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Palmitoylation And Raft Distribution Of The Dopamine Transporter After Neurotoxin Exposure, Brett Johnson

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Anterior Gradient 2 (Agr2) Expression In Models Of Arsenite And Cadmium Induced Breast And Bladder Cancers, Jamie Lynn Van Gieson

Theses and Dissertations

Bladder cancer constitutes one of the most prevalent cancers and is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. This work sought to better characterize and understand the role of the proto-oncogene anterior gradient 2 (AGR2) in bladder cancers. Immunohistochemical analysis of AGR2 expression in a range of bladder cancer specimens indicated that the expression of AGR2 decreases with an increase in the stage and grade of bladder cancers. The environmental carcinogens arsenic and cadmium (Cd2+) have been implicated in various cancers. This laboratory has demonstrated that arsenite (As3+) and Cd2+ can malignantly transform the bladder epithelium …

Avian Haemosporidian Parasites From The Brazilian Amazon, Jeffrey Andrew Bell

Theses and Dissertations

Birds possess the most diverse assemblage of haemosporidian parasites, including three genera, Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon. Currently there are over 200 morphologically identified avian haemosporidian species, although the true diversity is unknown, due to high genetic diversity and insufficient sampling in highly diverse regions, such as the Neotropics. Brazil, specifically the Brazilian Amazon supports the world’s highest avian diversity and expected equally diverse yet undescribed community of avian haemosporidians. This study includes the largest sampling of avian haemosporidians in Brazil, and the first large scale survey of the Brazilian Amazon. A total of 4521 blood samples were collected from 447 …

Integration Of Multispectral Camera Systems For Enhanced Visualization Biological Studies Using Uas, Subin Shahukhal

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to enhance visualization of warm-blooded animals and analyze the vegetation in which they are located using a camera system mounted on Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The results are coherently displayed in a single image at the same spatial location so that biologists will have accurate animal counts along with vegetation conditions. Application of aerial imagery has been used to analyze the vegetation health and determining the number of the animals by the wildlife service. However, a major obstacle of the research is to combine the two imaging systems to obtain the same spatial image …

The Evolution Of Institutional Mission In Social And Historical Contexts At The University Of North Dakota: 1883 – 2016, Stacey Leigh Borboa-Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

The University of North Dakota, a liberal arts institution founded in 1883, has a mission statement that speaks directly to present-day societal needs and norms. While staying true to its founding object, the mission has specific focus on science, technology, health and diversity. These areas speak directly to national and global economic and societal needs. In order for public institutions to secure funding, they have to respond to legislators and taxpayers; they must respond to current trends. This research looks at the University of North Dakota’s evolving mission, from founding in 1883, to present-day 2016. The research focuses on institutional …

Political Ideology, Beliefs And Values As A Framework For Analysis Of School Nutrition Preferences, Jacquelyn R. Nyenhuis

Theses and Dissertations

Multiple studies have documented the growing controversies in school nutrition public policy. Less is known about the political ideologies, beliefs and diverse perspectives coming from conflicting values and their influence on policy acceptance. Key issues examined are: Does the average US citizen filter their impressions of policies through their core beliefs, values and politics? And, in general, what policies, interventions, and regulations do conservatives and liberals favor?

Utilizing a sequential mixed methods design, Phase I included a survey given to 201 people with both a multi-item closed ended section and an open-ended section. Statistical analysis was performed on the quantitative …

Environmental Education In The Study Of Power And Transportation Technology, Allen Eugene Lawrence

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Nesting Behaviors Of Sharp-Tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus Phasianellus) Using Camera Technology, Rebecca Ann Kludt

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing energy development and grassland conversion pose several issues for Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) in western North Dakota. Nest attendance patterns can serve as one of the first indicators of stress induced by landscape changes. Nest camera monitoring allows researchers to observe nest attendance patterns; however, little is known about how behavioral responses to cameras influence nest survival. Our study objectives were to determine (1) how characteristics of the hen, nest and landscape influence nest attendance patterns of Sharp-tailed Grouse, and (2) if behaviors resulting from camera monitoring influence daily nest survival rates. Nest attendance was lower at sites with …

Going Public: How The Government Assumed The Authority To Prosecute In The Southern United States, Jason Twede

Theses and Dissertations

This research explores factors that may have influenced the transition from private prosecution to public prosecution in Georgia during the late-eighteenth century—a transition that eventually happened in every jurisdiction in the United States. There are numerous people, both inside and outside academia, who are calling for a change to the current system of prosecution in the United States. One possible change that is being advocated is a return to a system of private prosecution. Understanding the reasons the system changed from a system of private prosecution in the first instance is important when determining whether such a return is appropriate. …

Fasd, Verbal Comprehension And Maladaptive Behavior, Anthony Brian Athmann

Theses and Dissertations

A Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Diagnosis is comprised of various levels of physical

dysmorphia and behavioral and cognitive dysfunctions. Early identification and diagnosis is difficult, requires specially trained practitioners and often results in the delay of receiving necessary services. This is particularly true for those individuals living in

underserved rural areas. However, screening children with commonly used assessment

tools may help to more quickly identify children who have been prenatally exposed to

alcohol. The purpose of the present study was to contribute to the development of a

neurobehavioral profile of alcohol-exposed children through examining if relationship

exists between verbal comprehension deficits …

Trash Matters: An Investigation Into The Current Waste Management And Recycling Strategies In Rural North Dakota And Foreseeable Solutions, Amy Densborn

Theses and Dissertations

Rural North Dakota is behind the times for establishing an economically and socially beneficial method for collecting recyclables from residents, and in some areas providing sustainable trash removal. As the waste stream continues to grow, so will the burdens on our landfills, our resources and our environment for generations to come. An even worse alternative to landfilling garbage is the use of burn barrels, which release dioxins into the local environment, settling on vegetation and waterways and further bio-accumulate in the food chain. Rural residents currently do not have conveniently located or affordable disposal options for household generated waste and …

Strengthened Knights: Masculinity In Sir Isumbras And El Libro Del Caballero Zifar, Ruth Mary Gripentrog

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, I examine the masculinities of the titular characters in Sir Isumbras and El Libro del Caballero Zifar [The Book of the Knight Zifar] through a lens of power in which masculinity is proven through the dominance over other men. Zifar and Isumbras must construct and prove their masculinities in a variety of circumstances; however, they differ significantly in their treatment of masculinity: Sir Isumbras extolls a compound masculinity, which the Zifar aims for one of consistency. I have chosen to focus on two of medieval Europe’s main Christian powers, and through a comparative analysis, their distinct masculinities …

Vulnerability Indices For Waterbodies Impacted By Theoretical Hydraulic Fracturing Spills Modeled Utilizing Gis, Isaac Simon

Theses and Dissertations

Hydraulic fracturing is a method used to extract oil or natural gas from unconventional sources. Within western North Dakota it is largely used to extract oil from the Bakken Formation since the low permeability of the Bakken shale makes conventional methods of oil extraction difficult. Hydraulic fracturing utilizes large volumes of frack fluid and this frack fluid is toxic to humans, animals including livestock, and vegetation including crops. Research is needed to provide a greater understanding of where frack fluid would travel if spilled, how much frack fluid could infiltrate into the soil, and how much frack fluid could impact …

Demand And Supply: College Faculty’S Perceptions Of Computer Aided Design (Cad) And Computer Aided Manufacture (Cam) In Jewelry Design And Production, Patrick Awotwe

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research study was to explore perceptions of university faculty and jewelry industry professionals regarding the teaching of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) in a visual arts classroom. At the time of this study, there were mixed opinions about the teaching of CAD/CAM in the production of jewelry products, and there was limited literature available on this topic. With the use of CAD/CAM technologies, a jeweler emerges as potentially an artist and a design engineer who can apply creative and innovative principles to industrial design and manufacturing processes. Considering the impact of CAD/CAM …

Graphic Design Students’ Perceptions Of Using Apple Ipads To Create Sketches And Promote Idea Generation, Elizabeth Becker

Theses and Dissertations

Artists and designers typically utilize sketching during the early stages of the design process because it provides them with an opportunity to transfer ideas from their head onto paper, computer, or mobile device. Sketching is regarded by researchers in the field of design to be an essential part of the design process.

The existing research in this field is focused on comparing paper and pencil sketches with sketches completed on computers. There is a void in the literature examining sketching completed on mobile devices like the Apple iPad. Therefore, this study aimed to fill that void.

The purpose of this …

An Assessment Of The Influence Of Economic Drivers Of Land Use Change On Nitrate Concentrations In The Red River Of The North Basin, Brent Silvis Silvis

Theses and Dissertations

In recent years there have been dramatic increases in crop prices, which would be expected to have resulted in greater production of crops and increased nitrates in surface water from increased use of fertilizer. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that changing crop prices influence crop production and, consequently, water quality. To do this, the study intended to identify changes in crop cultivation within the Red River of the North Basin, assess whether these crops have contributed to nitrate concentrations and identify how nitrate concentrations would be influenced by alternative economic scenarios. Requisite data were obtained …