Digital Commons Network^™

A Mass Spectrometry-Based Method For Quantification Of Human Metallothionein Isoforms And Usefulness In Biomarker Detection Of Cancers And Metal Toxicity, Aaron Andrew Mehus

Theses and Dissertations

Current methods for detecting metallothionein (MT) protein expression lack the specificity to distinguish between all twelve human isoforms. Each, however, can be distinguished by the masses of their acetylated, cysteine-rich, hydrophilic N-terminal tryptic peptides. These properties were exploited to develop a mass spectrometry-based method for their simultaneous quantification.

Human kidney HK-2 epithelial cells expressing recombinant MT-3 were grown in the presence or absence of cadmium. Cytosolic proteins were alkylated with 14N- or 15N-iodoacetamide and digested with trypsin. The N-terminal MT peptides were enriched by two-dimensional liquid chromatography and analyzed by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Relative expression was measured by combining 14N-labeled …

Education: Where It Pays, Nathan William Orwick

Theses and Dissertations

Post-secondary education is one of the most important decisions a student is faced with when leaving high school. There have been numerous studies as to whether the additional education is worthy of one's time and attention but what has not been addressed where is important. If one plans to live in a certain area it would be extremely beneficial to know whether your education is going to benefit one's financial situation or not. Utilizing incomes as the dependent variable and Ordinary Least Squares as the econometric method, this paper concludes having advanced degrees in the metropolitan areas are very beneficial …

Epileptic Seizure Detection And Prediction From Electroencephalogram Using Neuro-Fuzzy Algorithms, Ahmed Fazle Rabbi

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents innovative approaches based on fuzzy logic in epileptic seizure detection and prediction from Electroencephalogram (EEG). The fuzzy rule-based algorithms were developed with the aim to improve quality of life of epilepsy patients by utilizing intelligent methods. An adaptive fuzzy logic system was developed to detect seizure onset in a patient specific way. Fuzzy if-then rules were developed to mimic the human reasoning and taking advantage of the combination in spatial-temporal domain. Fuzzy c-means clustering technique was utilized for optimizing the membership functions for varying patterns in the feature domain. In addition, application of the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference …

A Multidimensional Leadership Model For Rural Community College Presidents, Michael John Raich

Theses and Dissertations

A qualitative study involving six rural community college presidents was conducted with the intended purpose of understanding what dimensions of leadership emerge from rural community college presidents during times of sustained financial distress. Unexpectedly, the presidents pointed the study's discussions to insights much broader than the issue of leading institutions with decreased budgets and instead presented qualitative data that redirected the researcher to explore what dimensions of rural community college leadership emerge because of the "new reality" of higher education. The new reality describes a higher education environment that--along with significantly decreased funding--includes rapidly changing technology, competition from for-profit institutions, …

Life History Strategy And The Role Of Self-Regulation In Cheating Behavior, Joshua Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

The current study examined cheating behavior, the role of self-regulation, and if the distal causal framework of life history theory could illuminate the relationships between self-regulation and cheating behavior. Participants in the experimental condition had their state self-regulation taxed (compared to the control condition); participants had an opportunity to cheat, which was recorded unbeknownst to participants. Additionally, participants completed questionnaires and tasks assessing individuals' life history strategy, trait self-regulation, and mood. It was hypothesized taxed state self-regulation, lower trait self-regulation, and a faster life history strategy would increase cheating behavior and a faster life history strategy would predict lower trait …

Spirituality And Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Kara Ann Richardson-Cline

Theses and Dissertations

Problem: The positive relationship between spirituality and physical, psychological, and social well-being has been well established. However, beyond quality of life measures, this construct has yet to be more deeply studied in a sample of individuals diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Furthermore, relational spirituality has yet to be studied in a chronically ill population. Meeting these gaps in the literature, this study compared the explicit domains and latent constructs measured by a relational spirituality instrument and examined their associations with a measure of biopsychosocial-spiritual well-being and quality of life measure.

Results: Utilizing nonrandom online surveys, this study included 305 …

A Case Study Of Elementary Teachers' Conceptions Of Environmental Literacy In Relationship To A Tall Grass Prairie Restoration Project, Teresa Jayne Shume

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to describe seven elementary teachers' conceptions of environmental literacy in relationship to a tall grass prairie restoration project and to explore ways in which the tall grass prairie restoration project for third grade contributed to enhancing educational learning experiences. The research questions were: 1. What are teachers' conceptions of environmental literacy for third grade students? 2. How does the prairie restoration trip contribute to teachers' capacity to teach for environmental literacy of third grade students? 3. What is the pedagogical value of the prairie restoration project? The theoretical frameworks underpinning this study …

Wendell Berry's Philosophy Of Education: Lessons From Port William, Jane Margaret Schreck

Theses and Dissertations

In the midst of a proclaimed crisis in higher education, in the clamor and clamber to leverage technology for such innovations as mass open online courses and differentiated learning modules, in the speculative frenzy of preparing students for the careers of a fantasy future, and in the swirl of angst about funding accountability and economic relevance, Wendell Berry's philosophy of education declares that the essential element missing from most current discussions and considerations of education is love. As explained in his essays and revealed in his fiction and poetry, Berry's philosophy centers on love as the best animator of learning: …

The Expectancy Theory: Teachers' Perspectives Of Motivation And Compensation, Jennifer Susan Soupir-Fremstad

Theses and Dissertations

Human resources are the most important part of any organization. If the organization is to perform at its best, development and motivation of the employees are essential.

The research in this study examined the application of the Expectancy Theory and how it can be used to obtain a better understanding of teachers' perceptions about motivation and compensation. There were 198 teachers invited to complete the survey, representing the elementary, middle-school, and high-school levels. Of the 198 teachers invited, 131 teachers began the survey, and frequency numbers varied by question. In the end, 118 teachers completed the entire survey and categorical …

Research About Low Permeability Measurement, Jun He

Theses and Dissertations

Petroleum exploration and production from shale formations have gained great attention throughout the world in the last decade. Producing the hydrocarbons from shale is challenging because of the low porosity and permeability. It is imperative to investigate permeability of the shale formations in order to better understand the performance of wells that are producing hydrocarbons from shale. Permeability is also one of key parameters in modeling fluids flow in matrix in reservoir simulation. Due to the low or very low permeability, the measurement of permeability is time consuming and expensive. These factors often limited the ability to perform permeability measurement …

Polypharmacy And The Elderly: A Case Study And Literature Review, Kristin M. Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

Polypharmacy is a common issue among the elderly population due to multiple comorbidities that develop as a person ages. With this increase, there is also the increased risk for negative health outcomes such as higher healthcare costs, adverse drug events, drug interactions, and increased mortality rate (Maher, Hanlon, & Hajjar, 2014). The elderly population is increasing worldwide, and it is estimated that 20% of the population will be older than 65 by 2025 (Milos et al., 2013). Patients 65 years old and older are the largest consumer of prescription and nonprescription medications in the United States, which has more than …

A Systematic Approach For Human Communication, James Wilmot Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Echerichia Coli Lpp As A Plasminogen Binding Protein, Tammy Gonzalez

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

A Convenient Religion : Understanding Mississauga Acceptance Of Methodism As A Means Of Survival, Evan J. Halbach

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Voting For Women : How Views Toward Women Influence Voting Behavior, Colleen Lofton

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Reverse Engineering Of Legacy Agricultural Phenology Modeling System, Ian Yocum

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

The Correlation Between Autism Spectrum Disorder And Food Allergy, Megan A. Strube

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

What's Up Allergies : Resources On Living With Multiple Food Allergies, Laura Slaathaug

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Integrating Select Industry Into New Urbanism, Marcus Wax

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

Geophysical Investigation And Assessment Of The Rye Patch Known Geothermal Resource Area, Rye Patch, Nevada, Mark Richmond Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

A gravity and ground-based magnetic survey was conducted at the Rye Patch Known Geothermal Resource Area located at Rye Patch, Nevada. The purpose of the study was to attempt to further delineate the geothermal reservoir and/or to identify potential drilling targets. The survey consisted of collecting data at 264 new stations to augment data from 203 stations collected in 2008. Information from previous seismic, aeromagnetic and geochemical investigations was also examined and incorporated. Filtering methods including removal of a polynomial trend surface and wavelength filtering were utilized on the gravity data to remove the strong regional overprint caused by the …

Correcting Heat Flow Data In The United States To Account For Climate Change, Godswill Njoku

Theses and Dissertations

Heat flow measurements may require correction for both recent warming and post-glacial warming signals. Warming during the last century can be detected in borehole temperature profiles. Both climate warming signals during the past century and post-glacial warming signals during the past 10 millennia are greatest near the surface and diminish with depth.

Both atmospheric data and borehole temperature data show that recent warming varies systematically with latitude along a north-south transect in the United States. The systematic increase with latitude from +0.7 oC at 41.6oN to +2.3 oC at 49oN during the last century is consistent with the prediction that …

Participatory Methods In Sociolinguistic Sign Language Survey: A Case Study In El Salvador, Julia Ciupek-Reed

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis describes a three-week sociolinguistic survey of El Salvador's Deaf community that was carried out in June and July 2009. The survey utilized various traditional tools that have been used in previous sign language surveys, as well as some new tools derived from participatory research methodology. Results from the various tools were analyzed to form conclusions about the language community and its goals for language development. El Salvador's Deaf community uses Salvadoran Sign Language (LESSA) most commonly, but various subgroups also use American Sign Language (ASL), and Costa Rican Sign Language (LESCO), as well as switching between language varieties …

The Acoustic Qualities Of Embera Katío Stops, Gisella Teresa Greenfield Vélez

Theses and Dissertations

Embera Katío is a Chocó language of Colombia. This thesis presents the results of an acoustic analysis of the stops as produced by speakers from the departments of Córdoba and Antioquia. The analysis of the stops allows me to establish more conclusively their actual physical correlates and corresponding phonological categories.

Five male adult native speakers of Embera Katío were recorded on location. Each one pronounced sixty-one words in a constant sentential frame, five times each. The utterances were analyzed acoustically, measuring duration, formant onset time, pre-voicing, and burst.

Analysis of the data verifies that Embera Katío has three series of …

Assessment Of The Impact Of Integrated Simulation On Critical Thinking And Clinical Judgment In Nursing Instruction, Rita Allen Meyer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of using simulation and didactic instruction on critical thinking and clinical judgment with student nurses enrolled in a fall semester medical-surgical class. Specifically, it was of interest to compare the performance of these fall semester nursing students with the performance of nursing students enrolled in a spring semester class who received only didactic instruction.

The study consisted of 18 participants who were nursing students enrolled in the senior level Adult Medical-Surgical 111, the third medical-surgical class in the curriculum. There were two non-randomized groups. The experimental group received the intervention, …

Spatial Dimensions Of Conflict-Induced Internally Displaced Population In The Puttalam District Of Sri Lanka From 1980 To 2012, Deepthi Lekani Waidyasekera

Theses and Dissertations

During and after the Sri Lankan civil conflict of 1983-2009, the island’s Internally Displaced Population (IDP) became a key constituency requiring the central government4s attention. Thus, it is important to ask: What are the spatial dimensions and socio-economic implications of Sri Lanka’s Puttalam District IDPs? Archival and contemporary sources from various disciplines were utilized when reviewing the literature and revealed widely divergent opinions about the historical geography and the current initiatives regarding IDPs. The research study’s mixed method approach combined qualitative and quantitative techniques. Data collection extensively relied upon secondary sources from the Sri Lankan government and the United Nations. …

Six Discourse Markers In Tunisian Arabic: A Syntactic And Pragmatic Analysis, Chris Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The following study is a description and analysis of six discourse markers in Tunisian Arabic. In it I will attempt to determine the syntactic and pragmatic roles of each marker, describing its function in discourse. The final analysis will be based on the pragmatic model of relevance theory.

I have based my study on thirty-two (32) texts in Tunisian Arabic, looking at frequently-occurring discourse markers in these texts and analyzing them based on their discourse roles in terms of local cohesion and pragmatic inference.

The conclusions of this study focus on the conceptual and procedural content of each discourse marker. …

Dexmedetomidine As An Adjunct To General Anesthesia In The Adult Obese Surgical Population, Bryan J. Phelps

Theses and Dissertations

Current estimates place over one-third of the adult population in the obese category. Obesity is associated with a number of pathophysiologic disturbances that complicate the anesthetic course for these patients. The increasing prevalence of obesity and the established positive outcomes for surgical weight loss therapies have led to obese patients presenting for surgery at a rapidly increasing rate. Obesity places the surgical patient at an increased risk for cardiovascular events, respiratory dysfunction, airway management difficulties and increased postoperative pain. It is imperative for the anesthesia provider to be aware of these risks, unique anesthesia considerations, along with alternative therapies, which …

Employee Work Attitudes Post Merger And Acquisition, Adam Sorenson

Theses and Dissertations

The airline industry has faced a devastating past decade with a loss of $60 billion, and 150,000 jobs, the worst financial performance among any major industry, along with 186 bankruptcies over the last 30 years (The proposed United-Continental merger, 2010). Mergers and acquisitions have been the most recent remedy to the financial turmoil and instability. However, 70-80% of mergers fail to produce the benefits originally anticipated, often due to employee concerns (Selden & Colvin, 2003). The purpose of this research is to conduct a quantitative study on job satisfaction and organizational commitment with employees from a major airline after recently …

The Superego State: A Lover’S Reply, Brian Schill

Alumni & Community Relations Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Volume 50, Number 5: September 19, 2012, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.