Digital Commons Network^™

Communication Challenges Associated With Voyageurs National Park: A Discourse Analysis, Charlotte Lord Klesman

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation analyzed interviews conducted with three key people who described their personal connections to Voyageurs National Park and the adjoining communities. These ethnographic details add insights expressed in the voices of community members who have demonstrated interest in and commitment to the park through their association with the staff and their interactions with the park ecosystems. These insights are valuable because the park mandate requires public involvement in management decisions as part of the public land stewardship but engaging public involvement proved to be complex. After the park was established a rift developed between local community members and those …

Systematics, Diversity, And Origins Of Upper Cretaceous Continental Molluscan Fauna In The Infra- And Intertrappean Strata Of The Deccan Plateau, Central India, Marron J. Bingle-Davis

Theses and Dissertations

The Deccan Plateau in western and central India has been a major area of interest for researchers since the 1800s. In 1840, James Sowerby described the molluscan collection sent to him by John Malcolmson. In 1860, Stephen Hislop identified new molluscan species and redescribed based on better preserved material. Although this seminal work was comprehensive, interpretations have changed since the mid 1800s. Species need to be reassigned to current and/or accurate taxa, as well as revalidated statistically. Seventeen character traits were measured on over 600 specimens from five eastern Deccan Plateau localities representing a stratigraphic and temporal sequence. Cluster analysis …

Study On Underground Coal Gasification Combined Cycle Coupled With On-Site Carbon Capture And Storage, Peng Pei

Theses and Dissertations

The North Dakota portion of the Williston basin holds huge, but economically unmineable lignite resources in the Fort Union formation. A technology coupling the underground coal gasification with carbon capture and storage (UCG-CCS) is proposed in this study to recover these lignite resources in North Dakota. The UCG-CCS system provides a cost-effective and environment-friendly approach to convert the lignite to electricity and beneficially utilize the by-product of CO2 at the same time. The target coal seam is the Harmon lignite in the Fort Union formation in western North Dakota. The main objectives of this study are to set up the …

Opposing Roles Of The Μ-Opioid And Nociceptin/Orphanin Fq Receptors In Oligodendrocyte Development And Myelination, Allison Vestal-Laborde

Theses and Dissertations

While the classical function of myelin is to facilitate saltatory conduction, this membrane and the myelin-making oligodendrocytes (OLGs) are now recognized as regulators of plasticity and remodeling in the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, OLG maturation and myelination are highly vulnerable processes along CNS development. We previously showed that rat brain myelination is altered by perinatal exposure to buprenorphine, an opioid analogue in clinical trials for the treatment of pregnant opioid addicts. We now found that the in vivo effects on myelination could result from direct alteration in the balance between μ-opioid receptor (MOR) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ receptor (NOPR) activities …

Media Portrayals Of Political Spouse's Communication On The Campaign Trail: A Content Analysis, Anita Lynn Herold

Theses and Dissertations

A good public image is important to everyone, but it is vital to political

candidates. Media content has been the focus of much research, but most centers on the candidate as an individual. This research explores media portrayals of the communication that occurs between a candidate and their spouse.

A content analysis of newsmagazine articles from September 1, 2010 to November 1, 2010 was conducted exploring concepts relating to candidate status, spouse's sex, gender roles and stereotypes, acceptance, and media ideology.

Only 8.82% of the articles contained instances of spousal communication. All of these communication events portrayed in the article …

Dirhodium-Induced Intramolecular C-H Insertion On Diazosulfones/Sulfonates And Its Synthetic Applications, Christian Suhngwa Jungong

Theses and Dissertations

This works explores the use of rhodium-catalyzed intramolecular C-H insertion on diazosulfones and sulfonates as a tool to simplify the synthesis of organic molecules. Dirhodium-induced intramolecular C-H insertion on diazo carbonyl compounds is a relatively well-studied reaction. It occurs with an overwhelming bias for the formation of five-membered carbocycles or heterocycles, with the order of reactivity of C-H bonds being methine > methylene >> methyl. This intrinsic preference can be overridden by dissimilar factors such as substrate conformation, insertion site electronic effects and the reactivity of the dirhodium catalyst.

This study has disclosed that when diazo- sulfones and sulfonates are employed, dirhodium-induced …

Native American Secondary Female Students' Perspectives On School Success, Frances Ann Rodenburg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was twofold: (a) to gain an understanding of how students perceive their own academic successes, learning experiences, and factors that contribute to their success; and (b) to document oral stories students shared about their experiences through transcribed interviews. The information gathered was intended to support educators in understanding factors contributing to school success for Native American students. Students interviewed were eight female, Native American students in Grades 8 through 10, living in poverty, and scoring at proficient or advanced levels on their 2009-2010 state assessment in both reading and math.

Students attended various schools …

Vapor-Liquid Phase Equilibria Using Monte Carlo Wang-Landau Simulations, Tsvetan Aleksandrov

Theses and Dissertations

The experimental determination of the critical point of metals is inherently connected with difficulties of measuring large temperatures and pressures. On the other hand, that of straight alkane chains larger than ten carbon atoms and branched chains larger than eight atoms is burdensome due to decomposition of the molecules while in the vapor phase. Therefore molecular simulations stand as an appropriate alternative for determining the critical point and phase coexistence properties of these fluids. Most simulation methods that are apt for this task rely on particles insertion and deletion moves that can significantly complicate the simulation, since high density in …

Examining The Likelihood Of Readmission To Inpatient Pulmonary Rehabilitation Using A Variety Of Predictors, Allison Jean Neil

Theses and Dissertations

This study involved examining 5 years of existing medical records for patients previously in pulmonary rehabilitation, producing 333 subjects (180 female). The purpose of this study was to determine if any variables could significantly predict readmission, so a better pulmonary rehabilitation programs could be designed. Thus reducing the cost for the health care system as well as the patients themselves, and for in the patients future it would reduced illness, pain, and human suffering. A discriminant analysis was conducted in order to determine the likelihood of readmission into pulmonary rehabilitation using the independent variables of 6MWT difference, PEFR difference, BMI …

Introducing Astronomy Into High School Physics Curriculum Through The Use Of The University Of North Dakota Observatory, Caitlin Marie Nolby

Theses and Dissertations

Astronomy education is currently lacking in the secondary level classroom. Many programs have been created to remedy this, including research opportunities for students and training workshops for educators. These reach only a small fraction of the population however, while remaining students still lack the opportunity to learn astronomy at the secondary level. This research addresses the creation of a program that will make astronomy education a recurring option for students across North Dakota through implementation of a two-week astronomy course at Grand Forks Central High School (GFCHS) in a class of 19 physics students. During ten class periods from April …

Supervisory Alliance And Countertransference Disclosure In Peer Supervision, Sara Mack

Theses and Dissertations

Peer supervision is an evolving mode of training used in counselor/psychologist/therapist education and professional development. Little is known, however, about the format of peer supervision in clinical and counseling psychology doctoral programs, its effectiveness, or differences in the processes or outcomes of traditional supervision (supervisor of record and supervisee) and peer supervision (consultation between clinical trainees and/or graduate student classmates). This study aimed to examine one aspect of peer supervision and to provide a comparison between supervision of record and peer supervision. The study examined the role of alliance on countertransference disclosure. Fifty-two clinical and counseling psychology doctoral students from …

Aba In Native American Homes: A Culturally Responsive Training For Paraprofessionals, Belinda Naomi Najera

Theses and Dissertations

This project attempts to create a dialogue about respectful service delivery to Native American families with a child diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Improving interactions between professionals and Native American families can not only advance the ASD child's cognitive and behavioral gains, but also respectfully honors the beliefs of the caregivers. A systematic search of pertinent peer-reviewed empirical sources in the areas of Autism, paraprofessional training, and multicultural psychology was conducted to develop a training resource for paraprofessionals providing home based ABA tutoring. The completed resource is comprised of three training modules, which are intended to be presented …

The Relationship Of Apathy To Executive Functioning Among Hiv-Positive Adults, Sloane Kimberly Miller

Theses and Dissertations

As the HIV population ages and HAART extends the life span of older HIV+ individuals, it is important to address the neuropsychological, cognitive, and emotional manifestations of HIV in this sub-population. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether apathy and depressive symptoms were associated with executive functioning in older HIV+ individuals. This archival study explored whether four items from the Beck Depression Inventory, Second Edition (BDI-II) could serve as an index of apathy and whether higher scores on these items would be related to greater impairment on measures of executive functioning. The sample consisted of 95 older …

Romancing Organizational Leadership: A Study Of The Relationship Between Personality, Maturity, National Culture, And Romance Of Leadership In A Multinational Organization, Vu Nguyen Tran

Theses and Dissertations

Romance of Leadership is a disposition to over-attribute organizational and societal outcomes to the actions of senior level leaders. The greater the magnitude of the outcome, the stronger the belief that leadership is the most significant driving force behind that outcome. Strong believers are found to be more susceptible to the emergence of transformational and despotic leadership. The tendency to romanticize leadership cannot be eliminated but needs to be understood, accounted for, and hopefully managed, by aspiring leaders. This study found that romance of leadership is a pervasive and durable phenomenon that is rooted in human personality, and shaped by …

Themes Of Trauma And Morally Injurious Events Among Vietnam Non-Combat Veterans: A Qualitative Examination Of The Nvvrs, Thomas M. Hanson

Theses and Dissertations

To broaden our understanding of traumatic events, Litz et al. (2009) introduced moral injury (MI), defined as "perpetrating, failing to prevent, or bearing witness to acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations" (pg. 6). While Drescher et al. (2011) interviewed trauma experts to identify types of events that maybe associated with MI, it is unknown if these themes of events are experienced by non-combat veterans (i.e., Vietnam Era Veterans; N=200). Therefore, this qualitative study identifies the themes of traumatic events reported by a random selection of the non-combat subsample within the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS), and …

African/Black Psychology: A Qualitative Investigation Of Distinguished Black Psychologists, Nichole J. Mckenzie

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past 40 years, researchers have made numerous attempts to document and expand upon the literature surrounding the development of African/Black psychology. Yet little is known about the contextual factors that might have influenced individual decisions to become involved in the movement. This study examined the early life experience of 13 Black psychologists whose autobiographies were published in Robert Williams (2008) book, History of the Association of Black Psychologists: Profiles of Outstanding Black Psychologists. Data for this study were analyzed utilizing a qualitative research approach. Themes that arose from the analysis included: (a) direct exposure/awareness of oppressive social, political, …

A Good Story Changes Everything, Daraunda Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

Although applied in organizational settings, storytelling is not commonly used or understood in change efforts. Furthermore, storytelling's impact on changing organizational culture has not been widely examined. This study therefore sought to answer the question: What is the effect of stories on culture change? Twenty-five participants (4 managers and 21 associates) completed one-on-one, in-person interviews prior to a storytelling workshop. All associates attended the storytelling workshop, followed by interviews of all four managers and four randomly selected associates regarding culture change. This study found that storytelling, in particular the storytelling workshop, influenced the behaviors and attitudes of organizational members and, …

An Exploratory Study Of Work-Related Imagined Interactions With Real-Life Coworkers, Paula Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Communication between individuals in social systems includes not only interpersonal, external acts of discourse, but also intrapersonal communications within each person's interior cognitive space. One type of intrapersonal communication, imagined interactions, involves mentally imagining communication encounters with others in an internal dialogue symbolic of real-life conversations. This research project explored the phenomenon of imagined interactions with real-life coworkers as a component of the interior work lives of working adults. The research question was: How do supervisors utilize imagined interactions to make sense of and manage workplace relationships? An existing survey instrument, the Survey of Imagined Interactions, was modified to limit …

A Correlation Study Of Emotional Intelligence And Behavioral Style Of Bio-Pharmaceutical Industry District Sales Managers, Greg Megowan

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored to what extent, if at all, there was a relationship between District Sales Managers' (DMs) emotional intelligence (EQ) and their behavioral style, at Phyogen, Inc. Research demonstrated that leaders with higher levels of emotional intelligence are rated as more effective leaders (Kerr, Garvin, Heaton, & Boyle, 2005; Rosete & Ciarrochi, 2005). The literature also shows that EQ can in fact be learned and developed (Bradberry & Greaves, 2003; Cooper, 1997; Dulewicz & Higgs, 2000; Dulewicz & Higgs, 2004; Goleman, 1998; Groves, McEnrue, & Shen, 2006). In addition, emotional intelligence has been found to have a direct association …

Artemis And Metnase Mediated Processing Of 3΄-Blocked Dna Lesions: Role In Radio/Chemoresistance And Dna Repair, Susovan Mohapatra

Theses and Dissertations

DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) with chemically modified end-termini are the most significant lesions resulting from radio/chemotherapeutic intervention of cancer and non homologous end-joining (NHEJ) factor Artemis nuclease has been implicated in the repair of such breaks. To examine whether the resolution of terminally blocked DNA DSBs is the biologically relevant function of Artemis, Artemis deficient fibroblasts were stably complemented with wild type or an endonuclease deficient D165N mutant Artemis. Physiological levels of wild type (WT) Artemis completely restored DSB repair proficiency and resistance to γ-radiation, bleomycin, and neocarzinostatin. Cells expressing the D165N mutants remained as chemo/radiosensitive and as repair deficient …

Biobehavioral Correlates In Fibromyalgia, Ann Trivigno Mcnallen

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by non-restorative sleep, and fatigue. Over 75% of individuals with FMS complain of poor sleep quality and fatigue. These have been ranked by patients with FMS as having great impact on quality of life. A literature review suggested that poor sleep quality may be a predictor of increased stress and FMS symptom onset in those affected. However, no experimental studies have demonstrated a causal relationship between poor sleep and stress in people with FMS. Methods: Using a single stage cross-sectional design, the primary study aim was to compare 25 women with …

The Role Of Fyn And B-Cell Expressed Adam10 In Early B Cell Development, Germinal Center Formation And Terminal B Cell Differentiation, Natalia Chaimowitz

Theses and Dissertations

In these studies we sought to determine the role of Fyn kinase and ADAM10 in B cell biology. A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) is a zinc dependent proteinase related to matrix metalloproteinases. ADAM10 has emerged as a key regulator of cellular processes by cleaving and shedding extracellular domains of multiple transmembrane receptors and ligands. In particular, ADAM10 has been identified as a key regulator of lymphocyte development. Here we report that ADAM10 is dispensable for early B cell development within the bone marrow. However, deletion of ADAM10 from all peripheral B cells or in post-switch cells leads to severe …

The Role Of High Affinity Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors On Anxiety-Like Behavior: A Study In Female Mice, Jessicka Hall

Theses and Dissertations

Tobacco dependence is high in women who suffer from anxiety disorders yet little is known about the contributions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on anxiety-like behavior. β2*nAChRs (*denotes assembly with other subunits) are the most abundantly expressed nAChRs in the brain yet little is known about the contributions of β2*nAChRs on anxiety-like behavior in female mice. In this study, antagonism and nicotine effects on anxiety-like behavior was investigated across the life span in 6, 12 and 24-month-old drug-naïve knockout (KO), heterozygous (HET) and a gain of function α6L9S mice and wild type (WT). HET mice showed increased sensitivity to di-hydrobeta-erythroidine …

Non-Canonical Roles For Stat1 And Stat2 In Mitochondrial Biogenesis And Fasting Homeostasis., Jennifer Sisler

Theses and Dissertations

The signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and 2 (STAT2) are primarily activated by interferons and play a central role in orchestrating responses to a variety of pathogens by activating the transcription of nuclear encoded genes that mediate antiviral, antigrowth and immune surveillance responses. In addition to their nuclear effects, we report that STAT1 and STAT2 inhibit the expression of mitochondrial encoded mRNAs by activating type I interferons (IFNβ) under basal conditions. STAT1-/- livers also exhibit elevated levels of nuclear encoded components of the electron transport chain (ETC). Treatment of wild-type mice with IFNβ inhibits both mitochondrial and …

Transient Camk-Ii Activation Is Necessary For Left-Right Asymmetry In The Zebrafish Embryo, Ludmila Francescatto

Theses and Dissertations

Despite external bilateral symmetry, the internal organs of vertebrates are asymmetrically arranged. The development of Left-Right (LR) asymmetry is dependent on the activity of a ciliated organ known as the Kupffer’s vesicle (KV) or the embryonic node, in zebrafish and mouse, respectively. Cilia beating within the KV are essential to generate a counterclockwise flow of fluid, which leads to left-sided Ca2+ elevation. Ca2+ is a crucial morphogenic second messenger during vertebrate development. Ca2+ elevation activates targets, such as CaMK-II, which is also known as the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. Studies have linked CaMK-II to secretion (mediated through synapsin I) and …

Theoretical Studies Of The Ground And Low-Lying Excited States Of [3,3']Bidiazirinylidene(C2n4), Tetramethyleneethane Diradical, And Arsenic And Selenium Oxides, Rashel Makane Mokambe Sumpter

Theses and Dissertations

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_n and _m

Assessing The Biophysical Naturalness Of Grassland In Eastern North Dakota With Hyperspectral Imagery, Qiang Zhou

Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two decades, non-native species within grassland communities have quickly developed due to human migration and commerce. Invasive species like Smooth Brome grass (Bromus inermis) and Kentucky Blue Grass (Poa pratensis), seriously threaten conservation of native grasslands. This study aims to discriminate between native grasslands and planted hayfields and conservation areas dominated by introduced grasses using hyperspectral imagery.

Hyperspectral imageries from the Hyperion sensor on EO-1 were acquired in late spring and late summer on 2009 and 2010. Field spectra for widely distributed species as well as smooth brome grass and Kentucky blue grass were collected from the …

No Halos For Sex Offenders: An Examination Of The Effects Of Appearance And Gender On The Perception Of Sex Offenders, Adam Charles Austin

Theses and Dissertations

For the last couple of decades, sex offenders have been stereotyped into being strangers to the victim and "dirty old men." However, recent research has shown that the public is no longer endorsing those stereotypes (Fuselier, Durham, & Wurtele, 2002; Levenson, Brannon, Fortney, & Baker, 2007). Instead the public is realizing that there is no stereotypical sex offender and most victims of sex offenses know their assailant to some degree. The purpose of the current study is to look at the judgments made about a teacher being accused of criminal sexual contact with a student, where gender and attractiveness of …

The Picture Memory Interference Test With Iranian Americans: Does First Language Impact Performance?, Shereen Kianmahd

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of first language on one's performance on the Picture Memory Interference Test (PMIT). This casual-comparative study examined if Iranian American students whose 1st language is Farsi performed differently from 1st language English-speaking Iranian American and monolingual English-speaking Caucasian students, after controlling for age and gender. To conduct this investigation, 103 Iranian American students who endorsed Farsi as their 1st language and English as their 2nd language were compared to a matched group of 103 monolingual English-speaking Caucasian students. Forty-four Iranian American students who endorsed 1st and 2nd language as English …

Perceptions Of Elementary Teachers From An Urban School District In Southern California Regarding Their Inquiry-Based Science Instructional Practices, Assessment Methods, And Professional Development, Romanus Iroabuchi Ugwu

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to describe the perceptions of elementary teachers from an urban school district in Southern California regarding their inquiry-based science instructional practices, assessment methods and professional development. The district's inquiry professional development called the California Mathematics and Science Projected, CaMSP lasted for two years. The CaMSP is a competitive grant awarded by the California Department of Education for the National Science Foundation (NSF) to schools and districts that meet the grant criteria for inquiry-based professional development. This district's professional development model was the five essential features of science inquiry recommended by the National Science …