Digital Commons Network^™

Ixodes Scapularis In North Dakota: Phenology, Population Genetics, And Local Host Reservoir Competency In An Emerging Vector Population, Michael Dougherty

Theses and Dissertations

Tick surveillance in eastern North Dakota has revealed the presence of established I. scapularis populations in fragmented forest habitats previously regarded as unsuitable for this species. Understanding I. scapularis phenology, the reservoir competency of local vertebrate hosts, and population structure of blacklegged ticks in this region is essential to determining potential human risk of Lyme disease. Tick surveys were conducted throughout North Dakota by flagging and small mammal trapping. 1,701 ticks were collected, including 297 I. scapularis exhibiting a relatively low Borrelia burgdorferi infection rate (ca. 3-5%). Seasonal abundance varied greatly among life stages, with adult I. scapularis being most …

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; …

Designing Fiction-Based Close Reading Experiences For The High School English Language Arts Classroom, Aubrey Jean Mcnary

Theses and Dissertations

The Common Core State Standards are forcing educational professional to develop high-level literacy skills and habits in a student population that is indisputable diverse and generally ill prepared for the demands of the secondary classroom. The practice of close reading is a means of literacy instruction that continually pushes students back into the text to answer text-dependent questions of varying, yet higher, levels of thinking. A variety of lesson plans and text-dependent questions were generated for three pivotal novels to demonstrate close reading as a means of achieving CCSS-level reading and thinking in the general secondary ELA classroom.

Secondary Social Studies Teachers’ Perceptions Of Special Education, Kelli Ann Odden

Theses and Dissertations

Through educational reform and federal mandates, general and special education teachers’ responsibilities are designed to intersect. Focusing on secondary social studies teachers, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the teachers’ perceptions of special education and how this influences the implementation of special education services in the classroom. From data collected through interviews and analyzed through Moustakas’ phenomenological design, two textural themes emerged (expertise and communication) in addition to three structural themes (placement, Individual Education Plan (IEP)-Reader’s Digest Version, and time). Findings indicate that social studies teachers appreciated the role of special education, but their perception was focused …

Development Of Molecular Biosensors And Multifunctional Graphene-Based Nanomaterials, Xu Wu

Theses and Dissertations

In the first project, a simple, rapid, and reversible fluorescent DNA INHIBIT logic gate has been developed for sensing mercury (Hg2+) and iodide (I-) ions based on a molecular beacon (MB). In this logic gate, a mercury ion was introduced as the first input into the MB logic gate system to assist in the hybridization of the MB with an assistant DNA probe through the thymine–Hg2+–thymine interaction, which eventually restored the fluorescence of MB as the output. With this signal-on process, mercury ions can be detected with a limit of detection as low as 7.9 nM. Furthermore, when iodide ions …

The Role Of Atg7 In The Host Defense Against Bacterial Infection, Yan Ye

Theses and Dissertations

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a Gram-negative bacterium that can cause serious infections in humans. Autophagy-related gene 7 (Atg7) has been involved in certain bacterial infections; however, the role of Atg7 in macrophage-mediated immunity against Kp infection has not been elucidated. To gain a better understanding of Kp-host interaction which may provide insight into the design of novel and effective therapeutics for this infection, we set out to investigate the potential immune role for autophagy in Kp infection in vitro and in vivo. We found that Atg7 was significantly induced in murine alveolar macrophages (MH-S) upon Kp infection, indicating that Atg7 …

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 …

Prevalence, Statistical Trends And Phylogenetics Of Blood Parasites (Haemosporidia: Haemoproteus, Plasmodium And Leucocytozoon) In Songbird Passerines From Grasslands Of Northwest Minnesota, Danielle Kvasager

Theses and Dissertations

Passerine birds that primarily use grassland habitats are rarely the focus of a parasite study. With many rapidly declining bird populations that breed at even faster decreasing grassland habitat, it is important to know the potential risks to the birds posed by blood parasites. During the breeding seasons of 2009-2011, 150 samples from 148 individual birds (fourteen species) were collected from five grassland sites in northwest Minnesota, USA and surveyed for blood parasites using microscopy and molecular methods. Eighty-five (56.67%) of the 150 samples were infected with at least one of three haemosporidian genera: Haemoproteus, Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon. Seventy (46.67%) …

Regulation Of Vectorial Active Transport In Human Proximal Tubule Cells By Mt-3: The Role Of The C-Terminal Domain On E-And N-Cadherin Expression And The Confirmation Of Protein-Protein Interactions, Andrea Marie Nore

Theses and Dissertations

The proximal tubule of the kidney is particularly susceptible to toxicant-induced damage and cell cultures of human proximal tubule cells are widely utilized to study the role of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal disease. Cadmium is a toxic metal ion that is known to produce renal tubular necrosis and accumulate in the proximal tubule. This metal binds to a family of cysteine rich metal binding proteins known as metallothioneins (MT) that are found in abundance in the kidney. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that the third isoform of metallothionein (MT-3) is expressed in the epithelial cells of the …

Survey Of Southern Amazonian Bird Helminths, Kaylyn Patitucci

Theses and Dissertations

Very little is known about the diversity, distribution, and host associations of avian helminths in southern Amazonia. The majority of avian species, families and even orders in the region have not been examined for parasitic worms so far. At the same time, the expected helminth diversity is high, given that Amazonian birds are extremely diverse and their fauna is characterized by a high level of endemism. In this work, we studied helminth fauna of birds from the westernmost region of endemism, Inambari and from the easternmost region, Belém. Two hundred and thirty-four birds belonging to 9 orders were examined for …

The Relationship Between A Series Of Vitamin D Levels And A Blood Glucose Level In Pregnant Women In The Upper Midwest, Jeanine Louise Senti

Theses and Dissertations

Hyperglycemia during pregnancy is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and offspring. In order to facilitate glucose delivery to the fetus, insulin resistance increases as gestation progresses which results in hyperglycemia if the mother’s body is unable to compensate by producing adequate insulin in response to these changes in glucose metabolism. Evidence suggests that calcidiol (vitamin D) influences insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in the non-pregnant population yet there are inconsistent findings on the effects of calcidiol on maternal glucose levels during pregnancy. A secondary analysis was completed on a de-identified data set. The original prospective study included a …

Critical Evaluations Of Modis And Misr Satellite Aerosol Products For Aerosol Modeling Applications, Yingxi Shi

Theses and Dissertations

The study of uncertainties in satellite aerosol products is essential to aerosol

data assimilation and modeling efforts. In this study, with the assistance of ground- based observations, uncertainties in Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) collection 5 Deep Blue (DB), Multi-Angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) version 22 aerosol products, and the newly released collection 6 Dark Target over-ocean and DB products were evaluated. For each product, systematic biases were analyzed against observing conditions. Empirical correction procedures and data filtering steps were generated to develop noise and bias reduced DA-quality aerosol products for modeling related applications.

Special attention was also directed at the …

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 …

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 …

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

North Dakota Medicine Archive

No abstract provided.

Social Participation: An Occupational Therapy Guide To Intervention For Youth With Depressive Disorders, Alexandra L. Marvel

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project is to present an intervention guide for occupational therapists working with children and adolescents diagnosed with or experiencing depressive disorders. This guide will focus on the occupation of social participation.

Methods: An extensive literature review of evidence-based journal articles addressed the definition of depressive disorders in both adults and children and adolescents, the impact symptoms have on occupations and daily functioning, current treatment approaches, and the role of occupational therapy.

Results: The product of this scholarly project is an occupational therapy intervention guide to promote social participation for children and adolescents diagnosed with …

Understanding The Structure-Function Relationships Between Monoamine Neurotransmitter Transporters And Their Cognate Ions And Ligands, Bruce Felts

Theses and Dissertations

The SLC6 family of secondary active transporters is made up of integral membrane solute carrier proteins characterized by the Na+-dependent translocation of small amino acid or amino acid-like substrates. SLC6 transporters, particularly the monoamine transporters (MATs) of serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, are some of the most heavily studied proteins today due to their association with a number of human diseases and disorders, making MATs a critical target for therapeutic development. In addition, MATs are directly involved in the action of drugs of abuse such as cocaine, amphetamines, and ecstasy.

Following the first cloning of a MAT gene in the early …

Challenges Of Dementia Management Within Primary Care, Kathyrn Nelson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Developing A Heterotypic Cell Culture Model To Determine Vegf Action Of Neural Stem Cell Fate Choice, Stephanie Snyder

Theses and Dissertations

Brain development requires tight cell and molecular regulation for proper neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and differentiation. Increasing interest in NSCs has arisen due to the flexibility inherent within their proliferative capacity and their ability to generate multiple neuronal cell types. Our main focus is on the cortex, the primary integrator for higher order brain function. Cortical NSC proliferation and differentiation occur in concert with blood vessel ingression into the primitive cortex to vascularize the neuroepithelium. One potential influence derived from vascular cells is Vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegf). Vegf has the ability to regulate both neurogenesis and angiogenesis …

Syntheses And Characterization Of Bis(Amino)Cyclodiphosphazane Complexes Of Group 4- And -15 Elements, Mathew Etang Otang

Theses and Dissertations

In the first part of this work, the interaction of sodium tert-butoxide and sulfur with Group 4 metal bis(tert-butylamido)cyclodiphosph(III)azanes dichlorides, {[tBuNP)2tBuN)2]MCl2}, where M is Zr or Hf, is reported. The reaction of two equivalents of NaOtBu with {[tBuNP)2tBuN)2]MCl2}, M = Zr, Hf, resulted in the isolation of the first metal alkoxide complexes {[tBuNP)2tBuN)2]M(OtBu)2}, 35 (M =Zr) and 36 (M = Hf) of cyclodiphosphazanes. The oxidation of compounds 35 and 36 with elemental sulfur yielded {[tBuNP=S)2tBuN)2]M(OtBu)2}, 37 (M = Zr) and 38 (M = Hf), respectively. Similarly, the oxidation of {[tBuNP)2tBuN)2]MCl2}, M = Zr, Hf, with elemental sulfur led to the …

Characterization Of Kraft Alkali Lignin And Products Of Its Thermal Degradation By Fractional Pyrolysis Methods, Keith Michael Voeller

Theses and Dissertations

At present, methods addressing the characterization of lignin and its decomposition products are limited. Typical approaches reported various spectroscopic, chromatographic and thermal methods. None of the methods is ideal for different reasons. In this study, a novel thermal carbon analysis (TCA) was developed providing essential mass balance data complementary to liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) prior to separation and identification by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as well as thermal desorption-pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-Py-GC-MS) to fully characterize lignin and its degradation products from hydrothermal treatment in subcritical water conditions.

The TCA method enabled a quantitative thermal evolution profile through TD and …

Hybrid Enhanced Epidermal Spacesuit Design Approaches, Joseph M. Jessup

Theses and Dissertations

A Space suit that does not rely on gas pressurization is a multi-faceted problem

that requires major stability controls to be incorporated during design and construction.The concept of Hybrid Epidermal Enhancement space suit

integrates evolved human anthropomorphic and physiological adaptations into its functionality, using commercially available bio-medical technologies to address shortcomings of conventional gas pressure suits, and the impracticalities of MCP suits. The prototype HEE Space Suit explored

integumentary homeostasis, thermal control and mobility using advanced bio-medical materials technology and construction concepts. The goal was a space suit that functions as an enhanced, multi-functional bio-mimic of the human epidermal layer …

Utilizing Novice Teachers' Perceptions And Voices To Make Recommendations For Improving Teacher Preparation For Inclusive Education: A Mixed Methods Study, Keri Lynne Desutter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to examine novice elementary teachers' perceptions of preparedness and competence for teaching in inclusive classrooms in relation to experiences during undergraduate teacher preparation. Factors that correlate with, identify differences between, or predict perceptions of preparation and competence for teaching in inclusive classrooms were examined. A pragmatic framework guided this study.

The responses from eighty-four novice teachers from the state of Minnesota were utilized during the quantitative phase of the study. During this phase participants completed an online survey containing items related to Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice, Inclusive Beliefs, Preparation …

Gender Differences In College Students’ Perceptions Of Technology-Related Jobs In Computer Science, Joseph Appianing, Richard Van Eck

Teaching, Leadership & Professional Practice Faculty Publications

Demand for computer technology (CT) professionals continues to rise, yet the supply of related majors is insufficient to meet demand. As with science, engineering, and mathematics (technology’s STEM field siblings), women’s participation in CT fields is abysmally low. While there are many junctures in the “leaky pipeline” for women and STEM careers, college is one of the important pathways to recruit women into CT fields. Wigfield and Eccles’ (2000) expectancy-value theory of achievement motivation provides a valuable framework for examining factors that impact women’s decisions to pursue CT majors, but no validated survey instruments exist for doing so. A questionnaire …

Investigation Of Laminar Convective Heat Transfer And Pressure Drop Of Sio2 Nanofluid In Ducts Of Different Geometries, Sunday Oluwafemi Hassan

Theses and Dissertations

Engineers are seeking alternatives to conventional heat transfer fluids and in an attempt to improve their thermal transport properties, they added thermally conductive solids into the conventional fluids resulting in a fluid called nanofluid. Nanofluid was suggested as an alternative solution to the problem and many publications reported its potential for heat transfer enhancement. This thesis describes the experimental study of 9.58% by vol. silica/water nanofluid flow through different flow geometries which are circular, hexagonal and rectangular ducts of close hydraulic diameter. The experiments are performed at uniform heat flux condition. The aim of this thesis is to determine experimentally …

Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Facilitates Epileptiform–Activity In The Entorhinal Cortex Via Crf2 Signaling Mechanisms, Lalitha Kurada

Theses and Dissertations

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is characterized by hyperexcitability of limbic structures. The entorhinal cortex (EC) is involved in the initiation and maintenance of TLE. Layers II and III of the EC in particular are hyperexcitable and are more susceptible to epileptogenesis. TLE is influenced in a complex manner by the stress-released epileptogenic neuropeptide, corticotropin-releasing factor or hormone (CRF/CRH). Nevertheless, the action site and underlying mechanisms of CRF in epilepsy are not fully understood. Here we found that the EC expresses high levels of CRF and CRF2 receptors without the expression of CRF1 receptors. CRF increased the frequency of picrotoxin (PTX)-induced …

Reconceptualizing Privacy: An Examination Of The Developing Regulatory Regime For Facial Recognition Technology, David James Potter

Theses and Dissertations

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration have convened a series of meetings to create a voluntary code of conduct for the commercial use of facial recognition technology. This research asks and answers three questions related to the creation of the voluntary code of conduct: 1) How is the regulatory regime of FRT emerging in the U.S.? 2) What are the roles of the various stakeholders in shaping the commercial regulation of FRT? 3) How does FRT challenge our current conceptions of privacy? Data has been gathered to answer these questions using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed …

N-Cadherin Expression And Emt Progression In Arsenic- And Cadmium-Transformed Urotsa, Elizabeth Sandquist

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental agents are common causes of bladder cancer. Specifically, arsenic (As3+) and cadmium (Cd2+) are known carcinogens implicated in the development of bladder cancer. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that As3+ and Cd2+ can cause malignant transformation of normal immortalized bladder urothelial cells, which can form tumors when injected subcutaneous or intraperitoneal into nude mice. Microarray analysis of repeated metal transformation in parallel revealed that N-cadherin was the most upregulated gene in As3+ transformants, and a top induced gene in Cd2+-transformed cells. The switch from E-cadherin to N-cadherin is a well-known indicator of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition occurring in …

Prevalence And Distribution Of Ranavirus, Chytrid Fungus, And Helminths In North Dakota Amphibians, Melanie Paige Firkins

Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide reports of population declines and extinctions of amphibians have continued for at least two decades. Factors frequently reported in association with these declines include habitat loss, infectious diseases, and environmental degradation. Three sources of disease have been a concern for amphibians: chytrid fungus, Ranavirus, and some helminth parasites. Much of the existing reporting on disease results from anecdotal accounts associated with localized outbreaks, but understanding the scope and dynamics of infectious agents in host populations requires a regional perspective. My objectives were to estimate geographic distribution and prevalence of Ranavirus, chytrid fungus, and helminths in amphibians across the state …

Characterization Of Dopamine Transporter Palmitoylation, Danielle Elizabeth Rastedt

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is an integral membrane protein that mediates the reuptake of synaptic dopamine and thus regulates the spatio-temporal dynamics of dopaminergic neurotransmission. DAT is also the target of powerful addictive psychostimulants, including cocaine and methamphetamine that resulted in dysregulation of dopaminergic signaling. Complex control of DAT is exerted by various regulatory processes, including posttranslational modifications. We previously found that DAT is palmitoylated via the addition of a 16-carbon palmitic acid moiety to Cys 580. Pharmacological and mutagenic studies determined that depalmitoylation conditions led to reductions in Vmax and transporter levels, suggesting palmitoylation controls one or more functions …