Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of Individual Charged Au25(Sg)18 Clusters And Their Enhancement Of Single Molecule Mass Spectrometry, Christopher Angevine

Theses and Dissertations

Metallic quantum clusters are stable structures that can exhibit many useful magnetic, chemical, and optical properties. Developing clusters for specific applications requires accurate methods for characterizing their physical and chemical properties. Most cluster characterization methods are ensemble-based measurements that can only measure the average values of the cluster properties. Single cluster measurements improve upon this by yielding information about the distribution of cluster parameters. This investigation describes the initial results on a new approach to detecting and characterizing individual gold nanoclusters (Au25(SG)18) in an aqueous solution with nanopore-based resistive pulse sensing. We also present a new application where the clusters …

Developing C. Elegans As A Model To Study Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Jheesoo Ahn

Theses and Dissertations

Caenorhabditis elegans has been studied as a model organism in various areas of biomedical research because it shares many conserved functions at molecular and genetic levels with humans. Specifically, it is an ideal organism to study heterogeneous metabolic syndromes such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) as C. elegans can be used to delineate molecular pathways that are at the core of its problems. A growing number of populations worldwide are faced with chronic T2DM, which also manifests several complications, such as blindness, neuropathy and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, metformin is the first-line drug of choice administered to treat T2DM. While …

The Study Of Au(Iii) Compounds And Their Interaction With Zinc Finger Proteins, Sarah Spell

Theses and Dissertations

Gold compounds have been used in medicine dating back as early as 2500 BC. Over the years gold(I) and gold(III) compounds have been used and designed to target rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and viral diseases. New drug targets have been found for gold compounds that give insight into their mechanisms of action. Here we focus on the synthesis of Au(III) compounds designed to selectively target zinc finger (ZF) proteins. ZF proteins exhibit a variety of functions, including transcription, DNA repair, and apoptosis. Displacement of the central zinc ion, along with mutation of coordinated amino acids can result in a loss of …

Understanding Ligand Binding, Selectivity And Functions On The G Protein-Coupled Receptors: A Molecular Modeling Approach, Saheem Zaidi

Theses and Dissertations

The assessment of target protein molecular structure provides a distinct advantage in the rational drug design process. The increasing number of available G protein-coupled receptor crystal structures has enabled utilization of a varied number of computational approaches for understanding the ligand-receptor interactions, ligand selectivity and even receptor response upon ligand binding. The following dissertation examines the results from three different projects with varied objectives – i) structural modeling of human C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) and assessment of the ligand binding pocket of the receptor, ii) assessment of the selectivity profile of naltrexone derivatives on the three opioid receptors …

Removal Efficiency Of Water Quality Pollutants In A Wet Detention Basin In Grand Forks, Nd, Abbie Marie Beaudry

Theses and Dissertations

It is hypothesized that the applied sampling techniques, water quality analysis, and statistical analysis predict pollutant removal efficiencies of the project site. Current practices in urban stormwater runoff are the design of systems that limit the developed peak discharge to less than or equal to the peak discharge of the pre-developed conditions. This is many times accomplished with the installation of stormwater retention, detention, or attenuation facilities that store the generated runoff from the drainage area. These are commonly known as structural Best Management Practices (BMPs). The City of Grand Forks, ND (City) implements BMPs into the stormwater management plans …

Subsyndromal Delirium And Postoperative Pain In Older Adults, Dawn L. Denny

Theses and Dissertations

Study Purpose and Design: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between subsyndromal delirium and pain in older adults following major elective orthopedic surgery. The design of this correlational study was based on Inouye and Charpentier's (1996) multifactorial model of delirium.

Methods: Delirium assessments of 62 older adults were completed at 24, 48, and 72 hours following major elective orthopedic surgery. Study measures included: a) the Iowa Pain Thermometer (0-10) pain intensity scale; and b) the Confusion Assessment Method (short form). Data were analyzed for relationships among delirium symptoms and pain, and secondarily, 24-hour opioid intake controlling …

Population Analysis And Protein Stability Assays Illustrate Xenobiotic Metabolizing Enzymes Have No Detectable Effect On Breast Cancer Development And Progression, Thomas Daniel Crowder

Theses and Dissertations

Xenobiotic Metabolizing Pathway works to detoxify the cell from numerous carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic hydrophobic compounds. As a member of the phase I enzymes (the first phase in the Xenobiotic Metabolizing Pathway) the Cytochrome P-450 Family 1 Sub-family B Protein 1 (Cyp1B1) works to attach an oxygen molecule to its hydrophobic substrate. In performing this reaction, Cyp1B1 often increases the reactivity of the xenobiotic compound. If these reactive Cyp1B1 products migrate into the nucleus and they can cause damage by reacting with DNA. However, the Glutathione S-Transferase Theta 1 (GSTT1) and Glutathione S-Transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1), members of the phase …

The Association Between The Social Context Of Mealtime, Children's Diet, Caregiver's Experiences With Discrimination And Household Food Insecurity, Michael Patrick Burke

Theses and Dissertations

The social context of mealtime---defined as the social interactions and practices during mealtime---plays an important role in children's diet. Household food insecurity disrupts or causes worry about the household food supply, and therefore may negate the positive effect of the social context of meals; however, little research has examined household food security and the social context of mealtime. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between various aspects of the social context of mealtime---dietary modeling, parenting style, eating together, mealtime screen time, and priority and atmosphere of mealtime---and dietary quality among children within food-insecure households. The results …

Cellular And Biochemical Effects Of Sparstolonin B On Endothelial Cells To Inhibit Angiogenesis, Marwa Belhaj

Theses and Dissertations

Angiogenesis is the process of new blood vessel development by endothelial cells from pre-existing vasculature; however, abnormal angiogenesis contributes to the pathogenesis of many disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and chronic inflammation. Angiogenesis in atherosclerotic plaques contributes to their instability and therefore increases the risk of plaque rupture and thrombus formation. Sparstolonin B (SsnB) is a novel bioactive compound isolated from Sparganium stoloniferum, an herb that has been used historically in the Chinese herbal medicine "SanLeng" as an herbal remedy for the treatment of several inflammatory diseases. In this study, we have explored the anti-angiogenic properties of SsnB in …

The Effects Of Snmp-2 Gene Expression On Mating Discrimination In Male Drosophila Melanogaster, Kristen Taylor Ashourian

Theses and Dissertations

In order to distinguish between relevant and extraneous stimuli, insects have adapted specialized processes to perceive cues that are beneficial for survival and proliferation. Volatile molecules in the environment can stimulate olfactory receptors (ORs) and gustatory receptors (GRs) in chemosensory organs called sensilla. Specialized proteins located within these sensilla guide and assist chemosensory molecules to the receptors, which then trigger a transduction pathway that elicits behavioral responses. Sensory Neuron Membrane Proteins (SNMPs) are transmembrane proteins found on both gustatory and olfactory sensory organs in insects. There are two forms of these proteins, SNMP-1 and SNMP-2. InDrosophila melanogaster, the function of …

Avian Blood Flukes (Digenea: Schistosomatidae) In North Dakota, Susana Rios

Theses and Dissertations

Avian blood flukes are digeneans belonging to the family Schistosomatidae and inhabit the blood circulatory system of birds. Their life cycle includes an intermediate snail host and a definitive bird host. They are found in representatives of several bird orders, but are most prevalent in waterfowl. North Dakota has a large number of wetlands, which provide important breeding sites for many aquatic birds and serve as stopover sites for migratory birds. The abundance and diversity of bird species that congregate in these wetlands ensures optimal conditions for parasite transmission within and among avian species. However, no study on avian blood …

Academic Achievement And Perceptions Of Nature Appreciation, Environmental Awareness, And Well-Being Of Participants In Sully's Hill Nature Education Program, Jared Duane Schlenker

Theses and Dissertations

Experiential and hands-on learning are important for any effective educational environment, and when combined with natural elements that can stimulate students' senses to enhance their learning, these educational methods may have a profound effect (Louv, 2008). The Sully's Hill Nature Education Program (SHNEP) allows fifth-grade students at Central Middle School in Devils Lake, North Dakota, to learn in an outdoor setting.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between Devils Lake fifth graders and sixth graders who participate(d) in the Sully's Hill Nature Education Program (SHNEP), and those students who have not participated in the …

A Remote Sensing Analysis Of The Effects Of Watershed Disturbance And Riparian Integrity On Stream Fish Communities In The Red River Of The North Basin, Nicholas Kludt

Theses and Dissertations

The relationships between fish species guilds, riparian cover, and vegetation disturbances in the surrounding landscape were examined across the 11 western tributaries of the Red River of the North. Archival stream sampling data, collected from 1993-2011 by North Dakota state agencies, were analyzed relative to temporally-appropriate land-cover predictors generated from National Land Cover Database and National Agricultural Imagery Program products.

The 0-30 m riparian cover width was the most influential landscape predictor influencing fish structure. The 0-30 m riparian cover displayed interactive effects with 30-50 m riparian cover width and watershed land-cover disturbance. These riparian scales were identified by a …

Identifying Landscape-Level Trends In Prairie Songbirds With Fragmented Habitats, Jessica Shahan

Theses and Dissertations

Grassland songbirds are experiencing significant population declines due to habitat loss and degradation. This study investigated the relationship between landscape-level patterns and prairie-level patterns in presence/absence, richness, and diversity for seven individual species, the total grassland songbird community, and three community subgroups. Overall, grassland songbirds did respond to landscape-level variables, although the strength of the relationship and the variables involved differed by species and functional group.

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 …

Ileadership: The Leadership Style Of Steve Jobs, Christopher J. Valentine

Theses and Dissertations

In a technology-driven society, the global hunger for innovative products has put increased pressure on organizations to think differently. The pressure from shareholders on management to drive innovation and deliver financial results has forced leaders to adapt and look for new solutions to meet this demand. The solutions for which organizations are searching may reside in a new form of leadership required to achieve this expectation of performance. The purpose of this dissertation was to discover what leadership characteristics are required to achieve a high-performance technology organization. The primary goal was to review and decode archival scholarly and contemporary literature …

The Relationship Between Attachment Theory And Transformational Leadership In California Community College Chief Executive Officers, Joe Wyse

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines a relatively new area of investigation: the relationship between attachment theory (Bowlby, 1973, 1980, 1982) and transformational leadership theory. Using self-report surveys and controlling for demographic variables, California community college chief executive officers' (CEOs) attachment styles and transformational leadership characteristics are measured and the potential relationship between them examined (N=74). The two measures used are Kouzes and Posner's (2002a) Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI) and Brennan, Clark, and Shaver's (1998) Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR). No significant correlation between attachment scores and the demographic variables was found in the study. Three moderate strength positive correlations were found …

Experiences With Formal And Informal Support: A Case Study Of A Female-To-Male Transgender Individual, Jessica Magallanes

Theses and Dissertations

A case study of a 22 year old female-to-male transgender individual was conducted for the purpose of gaining an in-depth understanding of experiences of formal and informal support in relationship to gender identity. The study included background information, three individual interviews, and content of a blog written by the participant. The interviews explored the topics of gender identity, interpersonal/personal conflicts and resolutions, formal and informal support, community, psychological and medical treatment, therapeutic relationships, significant familial and social relationships, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation. Data analysis indicated four prominent themes of the participant's experience of formal and informal support. These included: …

Examination Of Food Choice Motives: The Influence Of An Innovative, Interdisciplinary Learning Community Related To Environmental Sustainability, Kelly J. Billingsley

Theses and Dissertations

What and how much an individual eats largely defines his/her health. The most used dietary intervention models target individuals' concern for personal health, thereby undermining the interdisciplinary trajectory of the nutrition field. The purpose of this study was to compare the food choice motives of students enrolled in an interdisciplinary learning community (LCOM) to students enrolled in a non-integrated nutrition course and gain insight into student experiences with interdisciplinary nutrition education. A two-phase sequential mixed methods design was used. The first phase compared the personal health and ethical concern motives of the LCOM (n = 13) and non-integrated students (n …

Psychological Care For Type 1 Diabetic Adolescents: Designing A New Model Of Integrated Care, Stephanie R. Young

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes mellitus is among the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents, affecting approximately 1 in 400 children. Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) requires a complex and arduous daily management regimen. The disease can present dramatic changes in daily life, placing a significant psychological burden on the child. Behavioral and psychological factors can significantly influence the course and progression of T1DM. These interactions are bidirectional--metabolic and biological fluctuations produce alterations in emotions and behaviors, and psychological functioning predicts glycemic control and other medical outcomes. A particularly high-risk group within the T1DM patient population is adolescents. Given the critical biological, …

Attachment Style And Perceived Stress In College Students, Jason Dorin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that attachment (as measured by an adult attachment measure) has on a college student's perceived stress levels. A sample of seven hundred and twenty-seven college students ranging from 18 to 30 years (N=727; 73.2% female, 26.8% male; 46.8% Hispanic/Latino, 18.2% Asian/Pacific Islander, 13.3% Caucasian, 7.4% other/mixed, 5.0% Middle Eastern, 4.5% African American/Black, 4.5% Armenian, and 0.3% Native American) completed two self-report questionnaires assessing attachment styles (ECR-S) and perceived stress levels (PSS). Analyses revealed a statistically significant relationship between an adult's level of secure attachment and level of perceived stress. The …

Exploring Leadership Styles From A Mediator's Perspective: A Phenomenological Study Examining Four Specific Organizational Leadership Styles And Their Relationship To Four Mediation Styles As Summarized By Leonard L. Riskin, Thomas J. Gajewski

Theses and Dissertations

If a successful organization is one where internal strife is minimized, then it stands to reason that a successful leader is an individual who knows how to handle conflict. Handling conflict, though, should not be approached intuitively, as the field of mediation has developed numerous techniques to understand and address conflict. To date, though, these techniques have not been categorized by leadership styles. The purpose of this study was to develop such a framework to understand how conflict resolution relates to the disciplines of mediation, organizational behavior, and organizational leadership. To further this endeavor, four themes were developed. These themes …

The Multidimensional Wellbeing Assessment: Preliminary Validation In An Iranian Sample, Nicole Moshfegh

Theses and Dissertations

Although nations with a dominant worldview of individualism are a minority in the world as a whole, most psychological models are generated based on research conducted in these countries. Existing models and measures of well-being tend to have an individualistic, Western cultural bias, making it difficult to assess the well-being of those whose dominant worldview is more consistent with collectivism. Due to the absence of an existing cross-culturally relevant measure of well-being, the Multidimensional Well-Being Assessment (MWA) was developed. As attention to Middle Eastern populations has not typically received much consideration in psychological literature, this study aimed to inform researchers …

Student Engagement In An Online Course And Its Impact On Student Success, Angelique C. Hamane

Theses and Dissertations

While much has been written about student engagement and its linkage to positive student outcomes -- such as higher-order thinking, improved grades, and increased retention and graduation rates in traditional settings -- little, if any, research has been done to connect student engagement and online student success. Learning Management Systems (LMSs) have the ability to measure student engagement by tracking frequency of logins, frequency of page visits, and frequency of discussion forum views, posts, and replies. Equally important, students who are aware of their levels of engagement compared to those levels measured by an LMS can self-monitor their progress and …

Ethnic Differences In Delusional Content In Schizophrenia: A Comparative Analysis Of Delusional Symptoms In Individuals Of White European Descent And Latino Descent, Jessica A. Valluzzi

Theses and Dissertations

Although the phenomenon of psychosis in schizophrenia has been extensively studied, limited attention has been paid to the relationship of ethnicity/culture and the form and quality of psychotic symptoms. It is widely assumed that culture significantly influences the phenomenology of mental illness. Psychotic experiences, such as delusions and hallucinations, are likely no exception. There is a relatively small body of literature on cross-cultural differences in delusional symptoms that has yielded mixed findings. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the literature by examining potential differences in delusional symptoms among 2 cultural groups of schizophrenia patients: individuals of Latino …

Designing An Instructional Intervention Using Karaoke To Develop Key Reading Skills, Travis James Ross

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to design, pilot, and evaluate the effectiveness of a teacher-led intervention using karaoke to improve the reading skills. Elements from previous research (Biggs, Homan, Dedrick, Rasinksi & Minick, 2008; Gupta, 2006) were adapted and integrated with the structure of Writer's Workshop (Calkins, 1991; Graves, 1983) to create an intervention referred to as Karaoke Workshop. The researcher, who also participated in the role of the after-school intervention teacher, adapted existing instructional and design methods and the efficacy of the adaptation of these methods in this context was part of the pilot nature of this study. …

An Examination Of Corporate Capabilities To Recognize Pathic Subtleties In Leadership Candidates During The Pre-Employment Screening Process, Robert Allen

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines a large corporation's capability to recognize pathic subtleties (i.e., abeyant personality traits) in leadership candidates through the application of conventional pre-employment screening methods. This study's protologism for executive applicants harboring near-pathic or sub-clinical behavioral tendencies is the Pseudopath. The ill-fated significance of pathics (i.e., narcipaths, sociopaths, and psychopaths) to corporate America is well-documented and studied. The characterization and significance of the pseudopath to corporate America is nascent, and as such, is largely undocumented and minimally studied. Recent literature suggests a high incidence of pseudopaths in corporate America's executive job-seeking marketplace. Related research and real-world observations further suggest …

Father Involvement In An Elementary School: A Case Study, Elena Levine-Melendez

Theses and Dissertations

This year-long research investigated fathers' involvement in 1 public elementary school in southern California that served an ethnic diverse and lower socioeconomic population. This case applied Epstein's 6 typologies to analyze the perceptions of 112 fathers and 132 mothers utilizing a 35-item validated questionnaire, followed by long interviews of fathers, school administrators, and teachers in addition to researcher's field notes. Compared to prior studies, findings revealed that fathers and mothers reported that fathers' involvement in parenting and home learning was high. Responding to "all the time" and "sometimes," 91% of the fathers indicated they attended extracurricular activities; 87% participated in …

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 …

Investigating The Effects Of Applied Electric Fields On Microglial Cell Behaviour, Eman Bani

Theses and Dissertations

As surveyors of the central nervous system (CNS), microglial cells play an integral part in the inflammatory response following traumatic injuries. Thus, they have been implicated in the limited capability of neurons to regenerate in the CNS. Additionally, the roles of endogenous electric fields in the regenerative process of neurons in the mammalian peripheral nervous system (PNS) or amphibian CNS have long been studied. Further, previous studies in our lab have shown that physiological electric fields are capable of directing behaviours in astrocytes and schwann cells. Therefore in this study, a BV-2 microglia cell line was utilized to investigate whether …