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Virginal Apprehensions Within The Liminal Monastic Space Of The Nun Of Watton, Aimee Alicia Melicher

Theses and Dissertations

The Nun of Watton is a treatise by Ælred of Rievaulx focusing on the scandalous affair of a nun becoming pregnant by a lay brother, and through a series of events is miraculously transformed back into a virgin like state. In my thesis, I will be examining the properties of the space that the nuns of Watton inhabit and how the functions of the space affected the events that occurred by applying Henri Lefebvre’s spatial theory. Additionally, I will be arguing that the Nun received a miraculous abortive churching. Those actions protected the purity of the monastery and the people …

Snail As A Dual Dna/Rna Binding Transcription Factor, Smruthi Rudraraju

Theses and Dissertations

Transcription factors (TFs) are a class of proteins that recognize and bind to specific DNA sequences to regulate gene transcription. This process often involves the recruitment of other proteins, including chromatin remodelers and RNA polymerase. Because of their crucial role in gene expression, transcription factor activity is generally tightly controlled. Aberrant transcription factor activity has been implicated in the pathogenesis of most diseases. Techniques such as chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing have helped researchers determine which genomic sites are bound by TFs.Experimentally determined TF binding sites are much fewer than the total number of predicted DNA binding sites present in …

Negative And Positive Attention Bias In Anhedonia And Anxious Arousal: Can Depression And Anxiety Be Distinguished By Patterns Of Engagement And Disengagement Bias?, Helen Sawaya

Theses and Dissertations

Negative and positive attention bias (AB) is the preferential allocation of attentional resources to negative and positive stimuli in the environment, respectively. AB has been studied in various clinical and non-clinical populations and the process has been linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety. Findings so far suggest that negative AB is a trait-based factor that predisposes individuals to anxiety and depression. Positive AB appears specific to a depressed state, yet findings generally remain mixed. Measures of AB have been recently critiqued for their poor psychometric properties. This study addresses three gaps in the literature to further our understanding of …

Gender Differences In Social Presence In Gender-Segregated And Blended Learning Environments In Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Eid Alotaibi

Theses and Dissertations

The present study aimed to achieve one of the goals of the Saudi Arabia Vision 2030, which is the improvement of the quality of teaching approaches and learning outcomes. Additionally, the vision strives for equality among students in all educational institutions, including equality among men and women, who are mostly segregated in all aspects of life (e.g., education). One of the major issues in the online portion of blended learning environments is the lack of social presence. Therefore, the present study used a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design to investigate the influence of gender on the perception of social presence levels …

The Production Of Bio-Based Chemicals And Materials From Renewable Sources, Ian Foerster

Theses and Dissertations

Widespread concern with the impacts of global emissions and climate change plays an active role in driving global renewable markets, developing scientific research communities, and setting environmental pollution regulations. Efforts to confront this rise in global emissions are primarily focused on the reduction and replacement of non-renewable fuels and materials. It has become increasingly apparent that reducing global greenhouse gas emissions will require more than just the replacement of fossil fuels, but the development of technologies to convert a diverse set of renewable feedstocks into fuels, chemicals, and materials.The goal of the work documented herein, was to expand the breadth …

Impacts Of Vertical Grid Resolution On The Representation Of A Convective Environment, Caitlyn Mensch

Theses and Dissertations

In a pre-convective environment, modeled atmospheric conditions can be presented as discrete parameters, which serve as valuable resources both in forecasting potential severe weather events and also in assessing changes in convective potential over time. However, the value of these parameters may depend on the vertical resolution of the simulation that is used to do the calculation. Upper-air radiosonde sounding data from various research campaigns (e.g., PECAN, DC3, TRMM-LBA, etc.) in both midlatitude and tropical convective regimes are analyzed and later interpolated to the pressure levels in a range of atmospheric reanalysis and operational models. Indices such as CAPE, CIN, …

"The Last Major Front": Special Education's Transition To Adulthood And North Dakota, Matthew David Mccleary

Theses and Dissertations

The thesis examines the development and implementation of special education’s transition policy in the United States and North Dakota from the 1980s to the 1990s. Researchers have primarily sought to further evidence-based practices in preparing adolescents with disabilities for adulthood, but the history of this effort has rarely been discussed. In the late 20th century, policymakers, researchers, and educators attempted to turn around negative socio-economic outcomes for people with disabilities by helping youth with disabilities and their families plan for the future and get connected to post-school services and employment. Assumptions about people with disabilities influenced transition programming and the …

Using Machine Learning On Diverse Datasets To Predict Drug-Induced Liver Injury, Temidayo Adeluwa

Theses and Dissertations

A major challenge in drug development is safety and toxicity concerns due to drug sideeffects. One such side effect, drug-induced liver injury (DILI), is considered a primary factor in regulatory clearance. To develop prediction models of DILI, the Critical Assessment of Massive Data Analysis (CAMDA) 2020 CMap Drug Safety Challenge goal was established with an ultimate goal to develop prediction models based on gene perturbation of six preselected cell-lines (CMap L1000), extended structural information (MOLD2), toxicity data (TOX21), and FDA reporting of adverse events (FAERS). Four types of DILI classes were targeted, including two clinically relevant scores and two control …

Teacher Demoralization, Mental Health, And The Moderating Effect Of Shame Resilience, Chelsie Terez Hultz

Theses and Dissertations

The first purpose of this study was to extend the literature on teacher demoralization (Santoro, 2011) by providing the second attempt to measure the phenomenon done by Carlson-Jaquez (2016). Exploratory factor analysis was used to analyze construct validity of an original self-report instrument for the assessment of teacher demoralization analyzed as three sub-scale constructs: shame, lack of autonomy, and uncertainty. Data was collected from a population of K-12 educators in one mid-western public-school district. Participants completed a self-assessment survey shared via email and rated their level of agreement on twenty-one questions. Five demographic questions began the survey’s 26 questions. Data …

Endolysosome Involvement In The Protective Effects Of 17Ơ-Estradiol Against Hiv-1 Protein-Induced Neuronal Injury, Nicole Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Although combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) effectively suppresses HIV-1 infection and increases the lifespan of people living with HIV, up to 50% of HIVinfected individuals are experiencing HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND), with clinical symptoms ranging from mild cognitive impairment to severe dementia, for which no effective treatment is currently available. Synaptodendritic impairments, such as decreased dendritic spines and synaptic loss, that occur in various brain regions including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are key pathological features of HAND that correlates closely with neurocognitive impairments. The development of synaptodendritic impairment in HAND in the post-cART era is complicated and not fully understood; …

North Dakota's New Frontier: Unmanned Aircraft, Matthew D. Dunlevy

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned Aircraft, or drones, represent a modern-day frontier, one that is, as yet, neither fully explored nor fully developed. The state of North Dakota has moved into the frontier and is deeply involved in its exploration and development. The state has invested tens of millions of dollars in the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) industry, an investment that has helped to attract tens of millions of additional dollars from military sources and from private business firms. The University of North Dakota’s John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences, long-recognized as among the leading aviation schools in the nation, is at the …

Development Of Metal-Containing Nanoparticles For Chemical Analysis And Bioanalysis, Juan Han

Theses and Dissertations

Metal-containing nanoparticles (MCPs) have been applied in fields ranging from environmental monitoring to biomedicine. This breadth is due to the outstanding behavior of MCPs as catalysts and imaging agents, and the ease with which nanoparticle morphology, composition, and reactivity (such as agglomeration) can be controlled. The work described in this dissertation will have two fundamentally different foci that are both essential for further development of MCPs as tools for chemical and bioanalysis. The first focus is on particle-by-particle characterization MCPs and the second focus is on creation of new composite MCPs. A total of four projects are included in this …

Eating Disorder Symptoms On Female Collegiate-Level Athletes And Non-Athletes, Kennedy Victoria Kidd

Theses and Dissertations

In previous research, it found that the risk of developing an eating disorder (ED) is much higher in females compared to males (Dunca, Ziobrowski & Nicol, 2017; Raevuori, Keski-Rahkonen, & Hoek, 2014; Lewinsohn, Seeley, Moerk, & Striegel-Moore, 2002). Similarly, research has shown that the prevalence of EDs is much higher in female athletes compared to male athletes (Johnson, Powers, & Dick, 1999). Despite the risk of developing an ED being higher in females, research has not provided a strong understanding of the prevalence of EDs comparing female student-athletes and female student non-athletes. There is research that shows that athletes may …

Concentration-Streamflow Relationship In The Red River To North Near Grand Forks, North Dakota, Kabamba Nancy Ngoyi

Theses and Dissertations

For the last 15 years, the nutrient concentrations have fluctuated in both particulate and dis-solved forms. The increasing concentration of sulfate and chloride in the North Great Plain Basin impose threats to water quality in the Basin. During this spring snowmelt season of 2021, water samples were collected three times daily in the Red River at Grand Forks, North Dakota to de-velop a concentration streamflow relationship for sulfate, nitrate, chloride, and fluoride. The 2020-2021 winter was very dry as a result the snowmelt streamflow was very low, the rising limb period was short, but the streamflow increased rapidly from 75 …

Transcriptomic And Pharmacological Characterization Of A Murine Line Harboring An Antidepressant-Insensitive Serotonin Transporter, Meghan Alicia Rodriquez

Theses and Dissertations

Perinatal depression is a complex mood disorder often treated with Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants, which block the serotonin transporter (SERT) and alter synaptic serotonin concentrations. The serotonergic system is highly plastic and serotonin regulates the growth and maturation of neurons and signaling systems from conception through end of life. Notably, interference with serotonin levels during an SSRI sensitive window (SSW) of development in humans and rodents has been linked to neurovegetative effects which increase susceptibility for the manifestation of anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors and can be persistent throughout life. We hypothesize the persistent behavioral perturbations resulting from acute …

Student-Athlete Motivation And Gender, Jessica Schanilec-Gowan

Theses and Dissertations

Billions of dollars are spent each year on athletic teams and the education of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) student-athletes. Successful athletic programs require teams that are excelling in the classroom and also within their sports. Stakeholders are continually searching for factors that impact the academic success of the student-athlete population. This study explored one of those factors: motivation. In this research, an ex post facto quantitative research format was utilized to determine if there were relationships among three subscales of Gaston’s (2002) Sports and Academics Questionnaire (SAMSAQ) and gender identity. More specifically, the three SAMSAQ subscales that were examined …

Role Of Schlafen 12 In Lung Adenocarcinoma And Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Sarmad Al-Marsoummi

Theses and Dissertations

Schlafens are a family of genes expressed in a wide range of mammals, including rodents and humans. Schlafens are grouped based on molecular structure and size into the short, intermediate, and long Schlafen families. Mice express all three families of Schlafens; in contrast, humans express only long and intermediate Schlafens. Schlafens have diverse functions, including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, immune cell growth and maturation, viral replication, cancer cell biology, and chemosensitivity. Our studies have focused on Schlafen 12 (SLFN12). SLFN12 is an intermediate Schlafen, it is expressed in humans but not in rodents, and is localized to the cytoplasm. SLFN12 …

Giving Birth On Foreign Soil: A Phenomenological Study Of Somali Women Giving Birth In North Dakota And Minnesota, Tracy Jo Enger

Theses and Dissertations

Health disparities continue to exist in minority populations in the United States. People ofcolor have a higher incidence of negative birth outcomes; and view their experiences with less satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to explore what Somali Muslim have women have experienced during their labor and delivery in Minnesota and North Dakota. This research was conducted to improve our understanding of the needs of Somali women during labor and delivery in order to provide nursing care that is culturally sensitive. Phenomenological data was collected from personal interviews with Somali women who had given birth in North Dakota and …

Developing Computer Aided Algorithms For Automatic Assessment Of Psoriasis Disease Severity Using Digital Images, Intisar Rizwan I Haque

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the research work was to develop image processing algorithms for automatic and objective assessment of psoriasis to aid in more effective management and treatment of patient symptoms. For this purpose, multiple classical machine learning-based unsupervised approaches are proposed which achieve a maximum average accuracy of ~94% on a dataset of 45 images of various resolutions. This accuracy improves performance by 14% in comparison to existing approaches reported in the literature on the same dataset of images. An alternative deep learning neural network-based approach was proposed that achieves an average accuracy of ~87% for the same set of …

Dimensions Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And Sluggish Cognitive Tempo As Predictors Of Executive Functioning, Depression, Anxiety, Substance Use, And Convergence Insufficiency, Danielle Beyer

Theses and Dissertations

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In addition to the well-known ADHD symptom clusters, a fourth dimension has been identified as sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and describes symptoms of sluggishness, drowsiness, and daydreaming. SCT represents a unique symptom domain than cannot be accounted for by the other ADHD dimensions. The current study sought to replicate and expand upon the extant literature, hypothesizing that ADHD/SCT symptoms would significantly predict: 1a) impairment in executive functioning on a self-report measure; 1b) impairment on laboratory measures of executive functioning; 2) symptoms of depression and anxiety; …

System Modeling: An Exploratory Study Of Engineering Students’ Conceptual Knowledge And Problem-Solving Skills, Ademola Amida

Theses and Dissertations

System modeling (SM) instructional strategy, an application of system thinking (ST), canbe used as an instructional approach to help students develop SM skills and deepen their understanding of subject matter (Hung, 2009). Mechanical engineering students have difficulty applying gained knowledge in real-world contexts and are reportedly underprepared for workplace challenges (Kirkpatrick et al., 2011; Warsame, 2017). This study explored the efficacy of system modeling (SM) instructional strategy in a mechanical engineering course. Specifically, the study sought to understand students’ perceptions and experiences with the use of system modeling in enhancing their conceptual knowledge and problem-solving skills. This study employed a …

The Transformation Of Teacher Education Using Three-Dimensional Science Instruction, Patricia Ann Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

The impact of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) on K-12 science education has gained significant momentum over the last several years. Evidence of the NGSS can be seen in revised state science content standards and amended teacher preparation standards. Due to this growing impetus, a holistic redesign of teacher preparation to systemically implement three-dimensional science teaching and learning needs to be prioritized. Based on this premise, this study investigated the change in pre-service teachers’ perceived self-efficacy in teaching science using three-dimensional instruction upon completion of an NGSS-designed intervention incorporated into an introductory science methods course. Designed as a “working …

Fulfilling The Purpose Of Education: Voices Of North Dakota Graduates Pertaining To Curriculum And Graduation Requirements, Sarah Jean Ricks

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was twofold: to determine how graduates of North Dakota high schools perceived their educational experiences in relation to preparing them for their adult lives, and to determine how curriculum and graduation requirements at the time of this study in North Dakota Century Code (NDCC) 15.1-21, titled “Curriculum and Testing,” fulfilled the purpose of education in North Dakota. This study used a mixed-methods research design and includes a literature review and an online survey of 81 North Dakota high school graduates in the Dickinson area regarding the readiness of students who have graduated from North Dakota …

Community Needs Assessment Of Somali Refugees’ Mental Health Needs, Sheila Stadstad

Social Work Independent Study Projects (ISP)

Within the Somali immigrant and refugee community there are severe stigma and negative associations regarding both experiencing mental health problems and pursuing services for those problems. According to research, both process and content adaptation must be made in providing mental health supports to Somali immigrants and refugees. Understanding the experiences and prominent needs of Somali refugees will assist social workers in offering mental health services that are culturally responsive and help social workers promote social justice through examining and addressing health disparity issues. This independent study project reviews the literature on the mental health needs of immigrants and refugees and …

Winter Commencement: December 18, 2020, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 18, 2020.

Draft Genome Of The Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra Serpentina, A Model For Phenotypic Plasticity In Reptiles, Debojyoti Das, Sunil Kumar Singh, Jacob Bierstedt, Alyssa Erickson, Gina L. J. Galli, Dane A. Crossley Ii, Turk Rhen

Biology Faculty Publications

Turtles are iconic reptiles that inhabit a range of ecosystems from oceans to deserts and climates from the tropics to northern temperate regions. Yet, we have little understanding of the genetic adaptations that allow turtles to survive and reproduce in such diverse environments. Common snapping turtles, Chelydra serpentina, are an ideal model species for studying adaptation to climate because they are widely distributed from tropical to northern temperate zones in North America. They are also easy to maintain and breed in captivity and produce large clutch sizes, which makes them amenable to quantitative genetic and molecular genetic studies of …

Deep Learning Models For Bridge Deck Evaluation Using Impact Echo, Sattar Dorafshan, Hoda Azari

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Impact echo (IE) is a common nondestructive evaluation (NDE) method to detect subsurface defects in concrete bridge decks. The conventional approach for analyzing the IE data requires user expertise to define analysis parameters that could hinder broad field implementation. In this paper, the feasibility of using deep learning models for autonomous subsurface defect detection in bridge decks using IE has been investigated. A set of eight laboratory-made reinforced concrete bridge specimens with artificial defects were constructed at the Federal Highway Administration Advanced Sensing Technology NDE laboratory. A total number of 2016 of IE data was collected from these specimens. A …

December 3, 2020: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the December 3, 2020, meeting of the University Senate. 49 pages

Temporal Trends In The Handgrip Strength Of 2,592,714 Adults From 14 Countries Between 1960 And 2017: A Systematic Analysis, Trevor J. Dufner, John S. Fitzgerald, Justin J. Lang, Grant R. Tomkinson

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Handgrip strength (HGS) is an excellent marker of functional capability and health in adults, although little is known about temporal trends in adult HGS.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to systematically analyze national (country-level) temporal trends in adult HGS, and to examine relationships between national trends in adult HGS and national trends in health-related and socioeconomic/demographic indicators.

Methods: Data were obtained from a systematic search of studies reporting temporal trends in HGS for adults (aged ≥20 years) and by examining national fitness datasets. Trends in mean HGS were estimated at the country-sex-age group level by best-fitting …

Summer Commencement: August 7, 2020, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Summer Commencement program from August 7, 2020.