Digital Commons Network^™

Effects Of An Intervention To Promote Stair Use In A University Building, Bethany Anne Marie Brandvold

Theses and Dissertations

Wellness programs have been implemented by companies and other organizations for various reasons since before the 1970s, and many have focused on the promotion of physical activity as a health-promoting behavior. Promoting physical activity via stairwell prompting at the workplace has become very popular in recent years. This study tested an intervention based upon motivational signage placed in the stairwells of a University administrative building, as well as daily emails sent to the employees in the building. Key concepts from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and a sub-theory of SDT, Organismic Integration Theory (OIT) were integrated into the messages of the posters …

Narratives Of Nigerian Educated Women Pursuing Higher Education Degrees In Western Universities, Vincent Hassan Bulus

Theses and Dissertations

The impetus for conducting this research is near and dear to my heart along with desiring to make a change for the better. In conducting interviews of Nigerian women's experiences, struggles and accessibility to secondary education, the research shows significant barriers to secondary education in their narrative experiences that their male counterparts do not experience. Specifically, the experiences of these selected Nigerian women who have shared their aspirations, goals and accomplishments through narrative form can be generalized to the women of Nigeria as a whole. The cultural background is an overwhelming obstacle which, although seems to be slowly eroding, the …

Second Grade Students' Cognitive Understanding Of Heart Rate Monitors And Pedometers, Carolyn Lee Tozer

Theses and Dissertations

Childhood obesity has become a significant health problem in the United States (Dietz, 1998, Blair et al., 2007, Robinson, Wadsworth, 2010). In children, obesity is defined as being at or above the 95th percentile for BMI according to age growth charts (Carroll, 2006). There are several approaches to combating the epidemic of obesity. In physical education classes, teachers are using are heart rate monitors and pedometers to assess the students' levels of physical activity (Blair et al., 2007). However, it is uncertain if elementary students better understand the results from the pedometer, or the heart rate monitor. A study of …

Cholesterol Dyshomeostasis And Age Related Macular Degeneration, Bhanu Chandar Dasari

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation work focused on retinal modifications that are relevant to Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in cholesterol-fed rabbit model of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as AD and AMD share common features. It is unknown whether cholesterol-fed rabbit model of AD displays any AMD features in retina. Previous research showed 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC) involvement in AD like pathology in organotypic hippocampal slices of rabbit brain and human SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells. The extent to which and the mechanisms by which 27-OHC may also cause pathological hallmarks related to AMD are not known. Various studies suggested estrogen's (E2) role in AMD development. 27-OHC is a …

Adult Enrichment Learners In St. Cloud, Minnesota: Motivational Reasons For Participation, Scott Wallner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to identify reasons and motivation of adult stakeholders that influence participation in adult community education enrichment classes in the St. Cloud Public School District, St. Cloud, Minnesota. The study also examined the perceptions about adult learners held by leaders, planners, and facilitators of these programs, and identified similarities and differences between perceptions by district staff and program participants.

Participants were 289 adult learners who had taken at least one adult enrichment course during the 2009 or 2010 calendar year. 284 participants completed the online Education Participation Scale-Form A, a 42-item survey developed by Boshier …

Genetic Relationships Of Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) In The United States: Geographic Origins And Genotypic Distribution Of The Species With Implications For Management, Blake Eugene Mccann

Theses and Dissertations

Wild pigs are a damaging invasive species with a long history in the United States. However, during the last 30 years wild pigs have drastically expanded their invasive range and are now present in 44 U.S. states. Though historic records provide insights regarding original introduction histories in areas where pigs are long-established, little is known regarding sources for new populations. To develop a better understanding of recent invasions, I utilized an array of molecular markers (mitochondrial DNA sequence, nuclear microsatellites, and nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms) to evaluate both the evolutionary history of introduced pigs and gene flow between populations indicative …

The Urotsa Bladder Cell Model For Heavy Metal Carcinogenesis: Characterization With Respect To The Role Of Beclin-1 And Sparc Expression, Jennifer Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The development of bladder cancer is known to have a strong association with environmental toxins. This laboratory employs the human Urotsa cell line model to explore the relationship between As+3 and Cd+2 exposure and the development of urothelial cancer.

The parental Urotsa cells and their As+3 and Cd+2 transformed counterparts have been used to define the mechanism of cell death (apoptosis and/or necrosis). A third mechanism of cell death, autophagy, has not yet been investigated. The hypothesis for the current study is that the autophagy pathway involving beclin-1plays a role in Urotsa cell death mechanisms. A combination of real time …

Mental Health And Social Engagement Among American Indian Elders, Twyla Beth Baker-Demaray

Theses and Dissertations

Elderly American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in the United States are increasing in number, and with their increase come a greater need for quality, culturally sensitive long term care. Mental health is one facet of overall health that is little explored for this particular population. Social engagement has been shown to be a protective factor for depressive symptoms amongst mainstream elder populations. This study looked at data from a nationwide AI/AN elder needs assessment. The purposes of this study were threefold. First, the data were analyzed to describe the characteristics of the study population. Second, a regression analysis was …

Positioning For Elementary School Success: Charting The Journey Of Adopting And Leading School Reform, Nancy Jo Burke

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this longitudinal case study was to develop a process and structure for adopting and leading critical school reform initiatives within a rural North Dakota pre-kindergarten through fourth grade elementary school. Elementary principals can use this process and structure to benefit staff, and ultimately, to improve student academic achievement. This longitudinal case study identified factors that facilitated or hindered a rural practicing elementary principal, staff, and school while implementing federal, state, and local school reform initiatives beginning in the 2005-2006 school year.

This longitudinal case study utilized a qualitative, grounded theory and case study approach to identify: (a) …

Sex Determination And Differentiation In The Common Snapping Turtle - A Reptile With Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination, Anthony Loren Schroeder

Theses and Dissertations

Temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) was first discovered in an African lizard over 40 years ago. TSD has since been shown to be exhibited by many vertebrates including some fish and amphibians, numerous lizards, turtles, and all crocodilians studied to date. Although numerous questions surround TSD, a major question focuses on understanding the genetic, physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying this process. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying TSD are not well known and the gene(s) that transduces a signal for ovary or testis development is not known in any species. Furthermore, it is well established that sex steroid hormones, androgens and estrogens, …

The Impact Of Time Of Day, Sleep, And Nutrition On Age-Related Changes In Cognitive Performance, Jaclyn Reckow

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined how sleep, nutritional intake, and time of day moderate age-related cognitive changes. Research indicates there are cognitive changes associated with healthy aging. Many studies comparing young and older adults have tested participants at the same time of day. More recently, research has revealed certain cognitive tasks produce a synchrony effect, in which participants perform better during their preferred time of day. Older adults tend to prefer morning activities while younger adults prefer afternoon or evening. Forty-eight young adults, ages 18-35 (M = 20.7) and 25 older adults, ages 60-84 (M= 71.4) completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality …

Winter Commencement: December 16, 2011, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 16, 2011.

Volume 49, Number 17: December 14, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Education And Partnering With Coaching Staff And Medical Providers Regarding The Use Of Performance Enhancing Substances In The Adolescent Athletes, Tamala M. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Treatment Of Opiate Abuse: Increasing Patient Self-Efficacy And Engagement In Treatment Through Education Of Providers, Kimberly Wight

Theses and Dissertations

Opiate abuse is one of the fastest growing public health concerns in the United States and has far reaching ramifications that effect individual patients and their families, communities, and the healthcare system (U.S. Department of Justice National Drug Intelligence Center, 2010). It has been shown that there is significant gap in knowledge among healthcare providers surrounding the topic of opiate abuse and dependence as well as the available pharmacologic treatments that are available to help relieve withdrawal as well as help maintain heal truer lifestyles. In addition to this lack in knowledge there appears to be a gap in recognizing …

Lipid Emulsion Therapy As Treatment For Local Anesthetic Systemic Toxicity, Nina R. Wentz

Theses and Dissertations

Local anesthetic systemic toxicity, due to misapplication of local anesthetic in an otherwise routine procedure, can result in deleterious effects. Although improved regional anesthesia techniques, effective test-dosing, and availability of less toxic local anesthetics have resulted in a decline in local anesthetic toxicity rates, adverse events do occur. A comprehensive review of literature was conducted and current research findings and documented case studies were systematically reviewed. The "lipid sink" phenomenon is the most widely accepted theoretical framework surrounding intravenous lipid emulsion treatment for local anesthetic induced cardiovascular collapse (Rothschild, Bern, Oswald, & Weinberg, 2010). Current evidence suggests that immediate infusion …

Perceptions Of Five Low-Income Parents On School Readiness, Roanne E. Malm

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Volume 49, Number 14: November 23, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 49, Number 13: November 16, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

November 3, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Minutes from the November 3, 2011, meeting of the University Senate. 10 pages

Volume 49, Number 10: October 26, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 49, Number 9: October 19, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

What's The Story With Ocean Fish?, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about the nutritional benefits of ocean fish. Also addresses concerns about ocean fish and mercury. [This item is an outdated or superseded version and retained for historical purposes only. It may no longer reflect current information, policies, or practices.]

Vol. 36, No. 3: Fall 2011, School Of Medicine & Health Sciences

North Dakota Medicine Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 49, Number 6: September 28, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 49, Number 4: September 14, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fish For Your Health, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet on omega fatty acids, their health benefits, and dietary sources. Focuses on benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. [This item is an outdated or superseded version and retained for historical purposes only. It may no longer reflect current information, policies, or practices.]

Ocean Fish, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet on ocean fish as a source of beneficial nutrients. [This item is an outdated or superseded version and retained for historical purposes only. It may no longer reflect current information, policies, or practices.]

Selenium And Mercury, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet on selenium. Includes information on nutritional benefits, dietary sources, and mitigating the risks of mercury consumption. [This item is an outdated or superseded version and retained for historical purposes only. It may no longer reflect current information, policies, or practices.]

Volume 48, Number 52: August 17, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.