Digital Commons Network^™

Miniaturized Antenna Design For Wireless Biomedical Sensors, Mohannad M. Alharbi

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is focused on the design and simulation of miniaturized antennas for wireless biomedical sensors. The motivation of the work was to provide a solution for wireless systems that are embedded or placed on the body. Currently, small antennas are on demand to be implanted inside the body or placed closely to the body. The performance of such antennas, gain and efficiency, is affected by the lossy tissues that surround them. The goal of this work was to design antennas that are placed on a living body and integrated with a sensor system implanted in living tissue, to measure …

Characterization, Diagenesis, And Geocellular Modeling Of Winnipegosis Formation Pinnacle Reefs In The Williston Basin, North Dakota, Nicholas W. Bosshart

Theses and Dissertations

The Middle Devonian Winnipegosis Formation of the North Dakota Williston Basin contains pinnacle reef structures which have been targeted in the past for hydrocarbon production. These reefs have not been proven to hold economically important primary recoverable reserves, and are now being analyzed for potential CO₂ EOR and storage applications.

During this study multiple sizes of Winnipegosis Formation pinnacle reef geocellular models were constructed utilizing data from North Dakota Winnipegosis pinnacle reefs wells, cores, and thin sections. These models were then simulated for CO₂ injectivity.

Initial results show that Winnipegosis pinnacle reefs smaller than 1.5 miles in diameter are likely …

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy And Spectroscopy Studies Of Zinc-Phthalocyanine Adsorption On Sic(0001) And Iridium-Modified Silicon Surfaces, Dylan Nicholls

Theses and Dissertations

Studies were performed on two seemingly different topics, molecular thin films on graphite/graphene and metal induced changes in various cuts of silicon (Si) surfaces. However, both projects share the underlying theme of self-assembly. Since nature can rely upon self-assembly at the nano-scale, all that is needed is to discover functional means to create components for integrated circuits as well as electronic and photonic devices.

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy and Spectroscopy (STM/STS) studies were carried out to characterize the morphology of thin porphyrin films on graphite and the effects of Zn-Phthalocyanine (Zn-Pc) adsorption on the electronic properties of graphene. It was found …

Satellite Derived Volumetric Soil Moisture In A Hec-Hms Model, Damon Grabow

Theses and Dissertations

This research is intended to enhance recent hydrologic research that focused on a rainfall-runoff model of the Devils Lake basin in central North Dakota. This research employs the spatial volumetric soil moisture data collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer - Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) instrument. The AMSR-E data, collected from 2002-2011 from the NASA EOS Aqua satellite, was used in the Land Parameter Retrieval Model (LPRM) to estimate the surface soil moisture at a scale of 25-km. AMSR-E data is used in collaboration with the current rainfall-runoff model to better understand the influences …

Automated Usability Testing Of Websites Using Link Structure, Christoffer Odegaard Korvald

Theses and Dissertations

Websites keeps getting more important in business and other aspects of society. Making the websites as usable as possible is crucial as difficult to use systems tend to frustrate users, which might lead to users leaving or lost revenue for a business. Usability testing is needed to identify and fix those issues. Manual tests in usability labs can be very time consuming and costly. An automated system could reduce time and cost of testing, but are often too focused on one aspect to give a clear view of what needs to be fixed. A system to improve this is needed. …

Metal Enhanced Fluorescence With Gold Nanoparticles, Shaina Larissa Strating Mattingly

Theses and Dissertations

A novel hybrid nanocomposite of Au nanoparticle-modified silicon nanowire was developed for surface enhanced fluorescence applications. The designed nanocomposite contained a silicon nanowire, gold nanoparticles and a silica layer doped with dye molecules. The hybrid nanomaterial was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), fluorescence measurements, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The results showed that the gold nanoparticles were uniformly adhered on the silicon nanowires and covered by a thin silica layer. The nanostructure exhibited strong capacity for surface enhanced fluorescence. Different enhancement factors were obtained by changing synthetic conditions.

The …

The Combined Effects Of Copper Sulfate And Hypoxia Stress On The Swim Performance Of Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis Macrochirus), Dustin D. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Copper (Cu) is a component of several aquatic pesticides often used to target noxious algae, but at high concentrations may elicit toxic effects on non-target organisms such as fish. The severity of Cu toxicity varies widely by fish species, Cu concentration, duration of exposure, and water quality. Hypoxia is a widely occurring aquatic stressor that is also a potential side effect of Cu application due to increased oxygen demand from algae decay. Because Cu and hypoxia stress may occur in concert, it is important to understand and quantify their combined effects. Critical swimming speed (Ucrit) tests are an efficient and …

Impacts Of Gas And Oil Development On Sharp-Tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus Phasianellus) Nest Success And Predator Dynamics In Western North Dakota, Paul Curtis Burr

Theses and Dissertations

Recent advancements in extraction technologies are resulting in rapid increases of gas and oil development in western North Dakota. This expansion of energy development may have unknown effects on local wildlife populations and the ecological interactions within and among species. Sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) are a popular upland game bird species that rely on grassland habitat found throughout the state. Potential impacts of gas and oil development on the nest success of sharp-tailed grouse is an area of particular interest as it is an important factor in avian reproduction. Similarly, it is equally important to understand the impacts …

Effect Of Bronsted And Lewis Acids On Biochemical Conversion Of Various Lignocellulosic Feedstocks Into Biofuels And Chemicals, Srinivas Reddy Kamireddy

Theses and Dissertations

A biochemical process was investigated in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels and value added chemicals. Kenaf, two species of sorghum (brown mid rib (BMR) & non brown mid rib (NBMR)), sunn hemp, sunflower hulls, and cornstover were used as feedstocks in this study.

Lignocellulosic biomass primarily consists of three different components, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. In order to separate different fractions, and acid pretreatment is generally employed. This was achieved by using a 300 ml internal volume batch reactor. The heating source used was steam. During acid pretreatment most of the hemicellulose is hydrolyzed into the liquid fraction. …

What Stages In The Phenology Of Corn Are The Most Correlated With Rainfed Corn Yields In The Corn Belt Using Remote Sensing?, Zachary Lee Braun

Theses and Dissertations

Two weekly and freely available remotely sensed vegetation indices, Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Temperature Condition Index (TCI), were assessed for state level corn yield correlation in the Corn Belt region of the United States for the years of 2007-2013. VCI and TCI were 16-km pixels which are derived from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). Corn pixels were identified by downloading yearly USDA Cropscape pixels for corn in each state. Irrigated corn pixels were removed by using the 2007 Irrigated Agriculture Dataset developed by Pervez and Brown (2010) as a mask. Corn pixels were then resampled to 16-km …

Role Of Bipa As A Modulator Of Gene Expression And Ribosome Assembly In Escherichia Coli, Promisree Choudhury

Theses and Dissertations

In Escherichia coli, ribosomes are the basic protein-synthesizing cellular machines. Hence, regulation of ribosome synthesis and assembly as well as regulation of protein translation are very important for bacterial cells. However, the cellular mechanisms of both these processes are not yet completely understood and thus both are active fields of research. It has been suggested that the BipA protein is involved in the regulation of both these processes. The research described here focused on understanding the cellular function(s) of BipA in regulating protein synthesis and ribosome assembly.

BipA is a member of the elongation factor family of translational GTPases …

Gravin Regulates Crosstalk Between Calcium And Pka Dependent Signaling Pathways In Cultured Cells, Micah Schott

Theses and Dissertations

A-Kinase Anchoring Proteins (AKAPs) comprise a family of roughly 70 scaffolds that anchor PKA and other enzymes to a variety of subcellular compartments. Although characterized as "anchoring proteins", some AKAPs are not spatially and temporally static but can undergo dynamic subcellular trafficking, thus repositioning anchored enzyme complexes within the cell. Gravin (also called SSeCKS or AKAP12) anchors PKA and other enzymes to the plasma membrane but redistributes to the cytosol upon intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) elevation. However, the impact of gravin redistribution on PKA-dependent signaling pathways is poorly understood. We hypothesize that through Ca2+-mediated redistribution, gravin facilitates cross-talk between Ca2+-dependent and …

Defining Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera Praeclara) Habitat, Michael David Knudson

Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial orchids are at the forefront of the discussion about anthropogenically-driven extinction with more species threatened globally than any other plant family, mostly because of loss of habitat. The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera praeclara) is a threatened species found on the Sheyenne National Grassland in southeast North Dakota, USA. This conservation area that is a vital refuge for this species is subject to management for multiple uses including livestock grazing and recreation. Orchids are subject to continuous monitoring, but knowledge of the relationship between landscape indicators and orchid locations is limited. Research is needed to provide a greater understanding …

Panic Development Mechanisms And Preventive Methods Analysis, Inga Wuerges

Theses and Dissertations

Panic Development (PD) is one of the most important areas of Human Factors research due to its debilitating effects during high stress operating conditions in extreme environments. High levels of anxiety and panic evoke incidents that are a real threat to mission success and may result in fatalities. A delicate balance of crew selection, training, and systems' design is critical for mission success and human survival.

This research investigates possible panic development profiles and methods for preventing panic through realistic training. This research focuses on realistic training scenarios during the intense military flying exercise Red-Flag Alaska at Eielson AFB, AK. …

Attachment Sites Of Irreversible Cocaine Analogs On The Dopamine Transporter, Rejwi Acharya Dahal

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine transporter (DAT) is an integral membrane protein that reuptakes dopamine (DA) from the extracellular space into the presynaptic neuron. DAT regulates dopaminergic neurotransmission as it maintains homeostatic synaptic DA levels in the brain. Psychostimulants such as cocaine disrupt DA homeostasis as it binds to DAT and prevents reuptake of DA. Excess DA in the synapse leads to prolonged dopaminergic neurotransmission, which is associated with cocaine related euphoria often leading to addiction.

The DAT consists of 12 transmembrane domains (TMs) with N- and C-termini facing the cytoplasm. TMs 1, 3, 6, and 8 make up the core of the …

Affect Dysregulation As A Mediator Of The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma And Comorbid Substance Use Disorder And Bulimia Nervosa, Brianna Joelle Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening psychiatric disorders associated with a variety of negative medical, social, and psychological consequences. Comorbid mental disorders, such as substance use disorders, present an increasingly complex clinical picture. A significant body of research has been devoted to investigating the etiology of eating disorders and their comorbid conditions. One factor that has received research attention is that of childhood trauma experiences. Childhood trauma has been related to the development of both bulimia nervosa and substance use disorders, and more broadly, an impulsive, behaviorally dysregulated trajectory. Affect dysregulation is one factor proposed to play a role in …

Development And Applications Of Gold-Silica Nanohybrids For Bioanalysis, Jiao Chen

Theses and Dissertations

In the first project, both non-spherical and spherical silica nanomateirals with hollow interiors were synthesized by a one-step soft-templating method. By simply changing the applied solvent from ethanol to 1-propanol, or 1-pentanol, three different shapes of nanomaterials, including nanosphere, nanowire, and nanotadpole, could be obtained, respectively. The effects of other factors on morphology were also systematically studied to propose a growth mechanism. It was found that the PVP-water droplet was the crucial factor on the formation of hollow interiors. Without the addition of PVP, only solid silica nanomaterials, such as solid nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanowires, were synthesized. This developed method …

Goose-Derived Igy: A Potential Therapeutic Antibody For The Treatment Of Infectious Disease, Ashley Louisa Fink

Theses and Dissertations

IgY, the predominate avian antibody isotype, has biochemical properties that make it attractive for a human immunotherapy: IgY does not bind to mammalian Fc receptor (FcR) or rheumatoid factor; IgY does not activate the mammalian complement; and IgY has no heteroagglutinins. Anseriformes (waterfowl, e.g. ducks and geese) produce 2 isoforms of IgY, full length IgY and alternatively spliced IgY lacking the Fc region and a stable equivalent to mammalian F(ab')2 fragment, and the predominate isoform following hyperimmunization. We, and others, have demonstrated that egg-derived avian polyclonal antibodies are prophylactic or therapeutic for a variety of different infectious agents including bacteria, …

Do Men Matter? A Current Population Survey Study Of Characteristics Affecting Delayed Fertility, Patrick Mobley

Theses and Dissertations

Fertility research has traditionally assumed male fertility behavior was constant, overlooking the role of male economic factors, due largely to data restrictions. I use three models to analyze separate perspectives of data from the 2011 - 2013 Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey (CPS) to determine whether male circumstances have a statistically significant effect on fertility behavior. This paper shows that the assumption that male fertility behavior is constant is invalid. Just like women, men prefer childbearing at certain life stages and will delay to maximize their own utility. Student enrollment has a particularly strong …

Relational Aggression Among Caucasian And Northern Plains American Indian School Children, Stephanie Parisien

Theses and Dissertations

Relational aggression is a form of aggression that has received increasing attention within the psychological literature. Among the American Indian population, however, research on relational aggression is currently non-existent. To date, research is continuing to grow with regard to the base rates of relational aggression. The current study has examined both peer-nominated and self-report relational aggression among Caucasian and Northern Plains American Indian school children in order to explore cultural, gender, grade level, and age differences. Other forms of aggression and social status were also explored in order to understand how these constructs may play a role in peer relations. …

Effect Of A Nutrition Program On Eating Habits In Female Collegiate Athletes, Jorid Dagfinrud Oiestad

Theses and Dissertations

In the present study, an intervention took place using two female collegiate NCAA Division 1 (D1) teams. One team was randomized to be the experimental group, receiving the intervention of the 6-week nutrition education class Fueling for Performance (FFP). And the other team served as the control group, receiving no treatment. The purpose was to examine the effect of the FFP intervention on energy balance, body composition and self-efficacy compared to the control group, pre- and post- intervention.

The participants provided pre- and post intervention data through 3-day food records entered in MyPlate Super Tracker, wearing of a BodyMedia Senswear …

Winter Commencement: December 20, 2013, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 20, 2013.

Volume 51, Number 18: December 18, 2013, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 51, Number 17: December 11, 2013, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 51, Number 16: December 04, 2013, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Mitochondrial Dna Variation In North Dakota Residents Of European Ancestry, Katelyn Kjelland

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

Globally, many groups have been subject to studies of genetic variation and structure. However, studies of this sort rarely engage populations in the United States and are often limited to analysis of continental supergroups (European, African American, Hispanic, Native American) that cluster several ancestral origins of diverse genetic and cultural pasts. The aim of this study is to examine the degree of mtDNA variation in the residents of European ancestry living in North Dakota. This state, located in north-central United States, has been relatively recently settled by European migrants of distinct origins who originally formed isolated ethnic enclaves.

Analysis of …

Responding To A Community Tuberculosis Outbreak: Public Health Nursing Interventions, Deborah J. Swanson

Theses and Dissertations

The role of the public health nurse in responding to a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak is instrumental in controlling the disease and preventing further spread in a community. This paper focuses on the interventions carried out by public health nurses in Grand Forks, ND where a TB outbreak occurred from 20 IO until 2013 with a peak in cases identified in late 2012. The population affected had unstable housing, low socioeconomic status, and other risk factors for TB. A total of 26 adult and pediatric cases of TB were identified among a closely connected social network with multiple and prolonged exposures …

Anesthetic Considerations For Phantom Limb Pain, Robert B. Kari

Theses and Dissertations

Title: Anesthetic Considerations for Phantom Limb Pain

Background: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a phenomenon where pain develops or is perceived in a body part that has been removed. With the prevalence of peripheral vascular disease secondary to diabetes, amputation rates are expected to increase in the next decade. Chronic pain syndromes such as phantom limb pain are difficult to manage and treat

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to detennine if preemptive analgesia for limb amputation is effective in the prevention of PLP

Process: A comprehensive review of the literature was perfonned using multiple …

Parental Role In Educating Adolescents About Alcohol And Chemical Substances: What Is The Best Evidence?, Patricia L. Dumonceaux

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

November 29-30, 2013, Vs. St. Lawrence, University Of North Dakota

UND Athletics Publications: Men's Hockey

Program for the November 29-30, 2013, 12th Annual Subway Holiday Classic against the St. Lawrence Saints.