Digital Commons Network^™

Prediction Of Aircraft Fuselage Vibration, Rohan Thomas

Theses and Dissertations

Modern unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are made of lightweight structures, owing to the demand for longer ranges and heavier payloads. These lightweight aircraft are more susceptible to vibrations caused by atmospheric turbulence transmitted to the fuselage from the wings. These vibrations, which can cause damage to the payload or on board avionics present a serious problem, since air turbulence is expected to increase over the next few decades, due to climate change.

The objective of this thesis is to predict the vibration of an aircraft fuselage by establishing a relationship between wing and fuselage vibration. A combination of ANSYS® and …

Disaggregating Tree And Grass Phenology In Tropical Savannas, Qiang Zhou

Theses and Dissertations

Savannas are mixed tree-grass systems and as one of the world’s largest biomes represent an important component of the Earth system affecting water and energy balances, carbon sequestration and biodiversity as well as supporting large human populations. Savanna vegetation structure and its distribution, however, may change because of major anthropogenic disturbances from climate change, wildfire, agriculture, and livestock production. The overstory and understory may have different water use strategies, different nutrient requirements and have different responses to fire and climate variation. The accurate measurement of the spatial distribution and structure of the overstory and understory are essential for understanding the …

Preventing Or Mitigating The Irreversible Ro Membrane Fouling Caused By Dissolved Organic Matter And Colloidal Materials During Surface Water Treatment, Raphael Ade Afonja

Theses and Dissertations

Reverse osmosis (RO) is increasingly being used for water treatment because of its small ecological footprint and improved membrane technology. However, a major challenge to the application of this technology in water treatment is the irreversible fouling observed in RO membranes. Fouling, mainly caused by dissolved organic matter (DOM) and colloidal materials (CM) in water, can increase the energy and maintenance costs and decrease the permeation flux and membrane life. Different pretreatments, such as coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and membrane-filtration, need to be applied upstream of the RO system to remove potential RO foulants. Membrane remediation by chemical cleaning also needs …

Impact Of Fault Current Limiters And Demand Response On Electric Utility Asset Management Programs, Shayan Behzadirafi

Theses and Dissertations

Over-currents are known to be the dominant cause of power system component failures or deterioration from full functionality. Some of these effects may remain unknown and could later result in catastrophic failures of the entire or large portions of the system. There are plenty of devices/methods available to limit the undesirable consequences of the over-current events. These devices/methods have great impact on system reliability by reducing stress on power system components and increasing their useful lifetime. Due to the importance of the subject, there is tremendous need to analyze and compare these devices/methods in terms of reliability. However, few researches …

Computationally Efficient Qrs Detection Analysis In Electrocardiogram Based On Dual-Slope Method, M. Riadh Riadh Arefin

Theses and Dissertations

A dramatic growth of interest for wearable technology has been fostered by recent technological advances in sensors, low-power integrated circuits and wireless communications. This interest originates from the need of monitoring a patient over extensive period of time. For cardiac patients, wearable heart monitoring sensors have already become a life-saving intervention ensuring continuous monitoring during daily life. Therefore, it is essential for an accurate monitoring and diagnosis of heart patients. Patients can be equipped with wireless, miniature and lightweight sensors. The sensors temporarily store physiological data and then periodically upload the data to a database server. These recorded data sets …

Geologic And Petrophysical Analysis Of The Three Forks Formation: Charlson Field, Williston Basin - North Dakota, Bailey Jo Bubach

Theses and Dissertations

With recent advancements in hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technologies, there has been an increase in the production of hydrocarbons from unconventional reservoirs in the Williston Basin. The basin underlies parts of North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota in the U.S. The Three Forks Formation in Williston Basin is an example of an unconventional reservoir that, according to the United States Geological Survey (Gaswirth, et al., 2013), has a potential of yield of 3.7 billion barrels of unrecovered oil. Charlson Field, located in McKenzie County, is a primary target for the Three Forks Formation, which has shown high potential for …

Refining Transformation Rules For Converting Uml Operations To Z Schema, Tamaike Brown

Theses and Dissertations

The UML (Unified Modeling Language) has its origin in mainstream software engineering and is often used informally by software designers. One of the limitations of UML is the lack of precision in its semantics, which makes its application to safety critical systems unsuitable. A safety critical system is one in which any loss or misinterpretation of data could lead to injury, loss of human lives and/or property. Safety Critical systems are usually specified by very precisely and frequently required formal verification. With the continuous use of UML in the software industry, there is a need to augment the informality of …

Alpha1a Adrenergic Receptor Influences On Adult Neurogenesis, Cell Fate, Mood, Learning, Memory, Lifespan, And Cancer Incidence, Katie Collette

Theses and Dissertations

Norepinephrine is a catecholamine neurotransmitter that signals through the adrenergic receptors (ARs), α1, α2, and β, each with three subtypes. There is little research on the function of α1AR subtypes, α1A- and α1BARs, in the brain. By using α1AR agonists, antagonists, and transgenic activation there appears to be a role for the subtypes in learning, memory, mood, adult neurogenesis, and cancer.

α1AAR activation enhances learning and memory in the adult mouse. In the current study, we used α1A- or α1BAR knockout mice (α1AAR or α1BAR-KO mice) and behavioral testing to examine learning, memory, depression, and anxiety. We found that KO …

Parasites Within Parasites: Transmission And Evolution Of Neorickettsia In Digeneans, Stephen Edward Greiman

Theses and Dissertations

Digeneans are endoparasitic flatworms with complex life cycles that involve two or more different animals as definitive and intermediate hosts. Some digenean species harbor bacterial endosymbionts belonging to the genus Neorickettsia (Order: Rickettsiales, Family: Anaplasmataceae). Neorickettsia occur in all life cycle stages of digeneans and are maintained by vertical transmission. Far from benign however, Neorickettsia may also be transmitted horizontally by digenean parasites to their vertebrate definitive hosts. Once inside, Neorickettsia can infect macrophages and other cell types. For some vertebrate species (e.g. dogs, horses and humans), neorickettsial infections cause severe disease. With a few exceptions, studies of Neorickettsia have …

Gender Differences In The Perception Of Expressive And Instrumental Partner Aggression, Virginia Elizabeth Klophaus

Theses and Dissertations

Men and women (N = 238) in the present study viewed vignettes illustrating either expressive or instrumental forms of aggression between two heterosexual partners that varied by perpetrator gender. Analyses of covariance were conducted using a 2 (respondent gender) by 2 (perpetrator gender) by 2 (expressive versus instrumental vignette) between groups design. Ratings of expressive and instrumental aggression were provided using a revised version of the Expagg questionnaire. No main or interactive effects were found for expressive Expagg ratings. A number of significant findings emerged from analyses of instrumental Expagg ratings. A significant main effect was found for aggressor gender, …

Performing The Role Of Sylvestro In Scapino!, Zachary Cal Lee

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to successfully portray the character of Sylvestro in Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale's Scapino!, an adaptation of Moliere's Les Fourberies de Scapin. In order to fully grasp the comedy of the script, an analysis of the comedy of Scapino! was conducted using French philosopher Henri Bergson's essay Laughter. This helped to find what made situations and characters funny in the script. It also influenced an analysis of the character of Sylvestro. By using Bergson's philosophies and applying them to the research, the third chapter illustrates that the rehearsal process of Scapino! has been successful …

Regional Education Associations In North Dakota: Perceptions Of Rea Directors And School Superintendents, Jeffery E. Lind

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the perceptions of North Dakota Regional Education Association (REA) directors and a sample of public school district superintendents regarding their REAs’ delivery of educational services to North Dakota school districts. Qualitative research methods were used, relying primarily on interview data to review, analyze, and compare perceptions of REA directors and school superintendents. The research questions of this study were:

1. How do REA directors perceive the effectiveness and efficiency of REAs?

2. How do school superintendents perceive the effectiveness and efficiency of REAs?

3. What are the commonalities, similarities, and differences of REA director and superintendent perceptions …

Bank Efficiency Ratios - Can They Be Used To Reliably Predict Future Bank Performance?, Michael James Loebach

Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this study is to assess the predictive ability of the bank efficiency ratio. The popular press, analysts and investors (individuals, institutions and other bank‘s looking for M&A targets) often use the bank efficiency ratio as a current measure of how efficiently a bank earns a dollar of profit for each dollar of expenditure. Implied in the usage of the ratio is that a bank that is performing well today will continue to perform better than peers in the future. To assess the predictive ability of the ratio, I grouped banks into quintiles of profit performance and used …

The Efficacy Of Teaching Academic Vocabulary To Kindergarteners In An Explicit, Literacy Based Method, Hannah Mae Loesch

Theses and Dissertations

Vocabulary test scores from the ZOT, a researcher designed assessment, were obtained from kindergarten students (n=36) involved in a vocabulary intervention pilot study. The purpose of the current study was to (a) investigate if kindergarten students can learn academic vocabulary through a whole classroom approach to intervention during a brief story book reading session, (b) compare academic vocabulary learning between two methodological approaches and (c) compare the differences in learning of specific academic words. Comparison of mean ZOT results suggested (a) participants who did not receive special services through an Individual Education Plan (IEP) learned academic vocabulary (d = 1.76; …

A Real Time Radio Spectrum Scanning Technique Based On The Bayesian Model And Its Comparison With The Frequentist Technique, Sriram Subramaniam

Theses and Dissertations

The proliferation of mobile devices led to an exponential demand for wireless radio spectrum resources. The current fixed spectrum assignment has caused some portions of the radio spectrum to be heavily used whereas others to be scarcely used. This has resulted in underutilization of spectrum resources, and, hence has demanded the need for solutions to address the spectrum scarcity problem. Cognitive radio was proposed as one of the solutions. One of the techniques involved in cognitive radio is the dynamic spectrum access technique. This technique requires the identification of free channels in order to allow secondary users to exploit the …

Gaming: Occupation-Based Nbcot Exam Preparation, Ilse Coleman, Jamie Kauffman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to create a novel, unique, and effective preparation tool for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification examination.

A literature review of 40 evidence-based journal articles addressed adult learning principles; guidelines for facilitating learning; types of, advantages, and disadvantages of using gaming in higher education; and preparation methods for high-stakes examinations. Information reviewed also included current preparation tools; exam blueprint; and domain, task, and knowledge statements ofthe NBCOT certification examination.

An Open Book: NBCOT Exam Prep Game is a board game that can be used as a supplementary preparation tool …

The Privacy Issues Presented By The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, John Heidenreich

North Dakota Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Multicultural Education Course On Therapist Cultural Competence, Gemma Cosky Saxon

Occupational Therapy Capstones

"The need for culturally skilled occupational therapists (OTs) has been documented for years" (Wittman & Velde, 2002). In 2009, Cherry, Kitchens, Nicholson, Soden, Tomkiewicz, Kedia & Shah found that 32.8% of their respondents did not know about the demand for culturally competent occupational therapy (OT) services and cultural factors that could influence a client's occupational performance. Of this group 55-85% rated themselves as having limited awareness.

The purpose of this proposed study was to assess the effectiveness of the University of North Dakota (UND) OT multicultural course in preparing graduates toward cultural competence. The assessment was then compared to the …

Occupation-Based Leisure Interventions For Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury, Jaclyn Swangstue, Whitney Josephson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The purpose of this scholarly project was to provide occupational therapists with a practical guide for implementing occupation-based leisure interventions for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). In recent years, the occupational therapy (OT) profession has seen a shift from a biomechanically driven paradigm back to the occupation-centered practice from which OT is rooted. Though the definition and mission of OT involves the use of occupation-centered interventions, this vision is not always evident within current treatment plans for people with a SCI diagnosis. Research has indicated that leisure participation is essential for this population due to the physical benefits and …

Implications Of Huntington's Disease On Daily Living: An Educational Tool And Guide For Occupational Therapists Treating Individuals With Huntington's Disease, Jacquelin Jones, Megan Thompson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disease that can cause stress on the individual as well as their family members and caregivers. Due to the rareness of Huntington’s disease (HD), it is common that professionals are often at a loss when treating patients who have it. Dawson et al. (2004) discussed the need for individualized and client-centered care for those individuals diagnosed with HD, as well as providing practical supports for those diagnosed and their families. Furthermore, a major challenge to assessment and intervention is the complexity of the symptoms present with HD. Etchgary (2011) found in her study that …

Addressing Vehicle Safety For Children With Additional Emotional And Behavioral Needs, Madeline Aandal, Bailey Stotts

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: More than 148,000 children were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2011 (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). Currently, while it is understood that transporting children with special needs likely to affect behaviors (SNLAB) provide safety challenges (Yonkman, Lawler, Talty, O’Neil, & Bull, 2013), there is little information regarding how to evaluate and intervene for this significant aspect of daily life. The purpose of this project was to develop an occupational therapy protocol for evaluation and intervention for car safety to be used by occupational therapists working with children who have emotional and behavioral needs.

Methodology: An extensive …

Vol. 40, No. 4: Holiday 2015, School Of Medicine & Health Sciences

North Dakota Medicine Archive

No abstract provided.

Visions Of Substance: 3d Imaging In Mediterranean Archaeology, Brandon R. Olson, William R. Caraher

Digital Press Books

With the advent of low-cost and easy to use 3D imaging tools, the discipline of archaeology is on the cusp of a major change in how we document, study, and publish archaeological contexts. While there are a growing number of volumes dedicated to this subject, Visions of Substance: 3D Imaging in Mediterranean Archaeology represents an accessible and conversational introduction to the theory and practice of 3D imaging techniques in a Mediterranean and European context.

Association Of Generalized Joint Hypermobility And Occurrence Of Musculoskeletal Injury In Physical And Occupational Therapy Students, Patricia Bisek, Hannah Owen, Maleeka Rozeboom, Leah Tunseth

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: A prior research study showed that the prevalence of hypermobility was higher among Physical and Occupational Therapy students as compared to the general population. The literature shows that certain injury rates are higher among those who are hypermobile. This has led to the question of whether or not hypermobility is directly related to injury and recurrence of injury.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT) students for hypermobility as well as survey previous injury history. This study analyzed the prevalence of hypermobility with types of injuries in order …

Outpatient Physical Therapy Interventions For The Cervical Spine: A Case Report, Brandon Szklarski

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

There is currently little evidence available to determine which conservative treatment options are best for management of patients with cervical pain and radiculopathy. The purpose of this case report is to describe a cost-effective, non-operative approach for symptom management-with physical therapy interventions in individuals with cervical neck pain and radiculopathy. The patient's diagnosis was determined by the physical signs and symptoms that were presented, as well as classification of the patient's symptoms with the clinical prediction rules used to identify patients with cervical radiculopathy. The results of the examination were consistent with her primary care physician's referral and diagnostic imaging …

Rehabilitation Following A Distal Fibular Fracture In A 16 Year Old Female Athlete: A Case Report., Brett Morlock

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Distal fibular fractures are an uncommon injury in athletes, they are produced by repetitive stress to the fibula often due to overuse. The purpose of this case report is to discuss the rehabilitation following a distal fibular fracture of a young, female athlete and how the rehabilitation prepared the patient to return to her sports.

Case Description: The patient is 16 year old Caucasian female who participated in both cheerleading and gymnastics. She sustained a left distal fibular fracture while performing a stunt in cheerleading. The patient was referred to physical therapy following six weeks …

Treatment Of Resistant Depression, Brittany Michels

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Posters

• Depression is a common and debilitating disease complicated by comorbidities, medication side effects, limited alternative treatment options, and poor patient adherence.

• Currently, clinical practice guidelines are available outlining the indications and treatment options for depression.

• Discussion will involve pathophysiology of the disease process and possible treatments, such as pharmacotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and somatic therapy, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

• ECT is widely accepted as an effective treatment for severe refractory depression, but has a negative social stigma despite its effectiveness.

• This paper has shown ECT remains the most effective treatment of severe refractory depression in …

Rehabilitation Pre And Post Mpfl Reconstruction Secondary To Mpfl Tear, Kayla Skersick

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: The medial patello-femoral ligament (MPFL) is the primary soft tissue structure that withstands forces throughout range of motion (ROM) to prevent the patella from sliding over the lateral femoral condyle and dislocating from the patellar groove. Impaired stabilization and line of pull of the patella can directly affect the patella and the entire kinematic chain during movement. MPFL reconstruction has become the most popular surgical treatment to correct this anomaly when conservative strengthening and biomechanical correcting treatments have failed. This case study evaluates the effectiveness of physical therapy treatment pre-operative and postoperative MPFL reconstruction, and discusses the …

The Effectiveness Of The "Stepping On" Program For Reducing The Incidence Of Falls In The Elderly, Lisa Yonker, Jacqueline Maddock, Kathleen Breuer

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: One in three adults greater than 65 years of age have had an accidental fall in their lifetime. In 2012, accidental falls cost the U.S. healthcare system $30.1 billion dollars. Strength, balance, and coordination deficits contribute to an individual experiencing a fall. Studies have shown that community based-exercise programs for older adults can improve strength, balance, and coordination and reduce the risk of falls.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to discover whether participant balance and confidence improved following the completion of the Stepping On program. Also, the study evaluated the effectiveness of Stepping On in …

Multiple Fracture Following Non-Occupational Fall: A Case Report, Brittany Olson

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Falls are prevalent in adults over the age of sixty-five due to lack of balance and decreased lower extremity strength. Non-occupational falls are reported to have an increasing prevalence with age and one-fifth of these types of falls results in hospitalization. The hospitalization of patients who sustain injuries following falls most often results in skeletal fractures. The cost to treat these patients is projected to reach $54.9 billion by the year 2020. The objective of this case report is to demonstrate the outcomes of a patient who sustained multiple fractures following a nonoccupational fall.

Case Description …