Digital Commons Network^™

Downtown Fargo: Stakeholder Struggles And The Crisis Ofldentity, Lindsay Alair Bergenheier

Sociology and Anthropology

This research sought to discover the social impact of demographic, aesthetic, and economic neighborhood restructuring in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 cultural, economic, and practical community stakeholders, comprised of downtown Fargo residents, business owners, and community service providers. Their narratives are used to explore how spatial and economic change has been perceived, as well as how similarities and differences between economic, cultural, and practical stakeholders have shaped their perceptions of the neighborhood. This research discovers that downtown stakeholders actively manage the social identity of their community by accentuating speci fie aspects of the neighborhood, creating …

Land Use And The Human-Environment Interaction On Olosega Island, Manu'a, American Samoa, Seth James Quintus

Sociology and Anthropology

The human-environment relationship has often been characterized as one of human adaptation. This particular view has now come into questions as critiques have shown that the relationship is complex and dynamic. In archaeology, one way of examining this relationship is to study the settlement, subsistence, and land use of a given area. This thesis serves that purpose by providing a case study of a small island in the Samoan archipelago in the central Pacific. The survey of Olosega Island identified over 200 different features distributed across the interior. Although no test excavation was conducted, it is interpreted that these features …

Rights Beyond Borders, Chimene Keitner

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Identifying Potential Geothermal Resources From Co-Produced Fluids Using Existing Data From Drilling Logs : Williston, North Dakota, Anna M. Crowell

Theses and Dissertations

With the current need for technology that will allow for environmentally-friendly power generation, geothermal power has become an attractive resource given its low environmental impact and potential cost savings. One specific resource is co-produced water from oil wells that are not currently producing, but can yield formation waters that are both high enough in temperature and fluid volume to operate the turbines of binary geothermal power systems. The data required to identify sites, i.e. bottom-hole temperatures (BHT), latitude, longitude, total depth of hole (TD) in meters, the identification number, and the amount of water produced in gallons, can be mined …

Hawk And Dove Stress Response Profiles In Humans, Colleen Ann Mcdonald-Morken

Psychology

A recent evolutionary theory hypothesizes that there are two primary biobehavioral profiles of stress responding. Labeled "hawk" and "dove," each is characterized by divergent patterns of autonomic nervous system and neuroendocrine system activations in response to stress as well as distinct affective and behavioral tendencies. These profiles are prominent in a number of species, and it has been hypothesized that hawk-like and dovelike responses to stress may, in part, explain variability in stress-related health outcomes. This study is a preliminary investigation of hawk and dove biobehavioral profiles in humans. Participants included 73 Midwestern university students recruited from undergraduate-level psychology classes. …

Studies On The Biology Of Soybean Cyst Nematode, Susilo Hambeg Poromarto

Plant Pathology

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines, is a threat to soybean production in North Dakota. Studies on the biology of SCN were conducted to improve my understanding and management of this plant parasitic nematode. The objectives of the research were to; (1) determine if SCN reproduces on crops commercially grown or being tested for production in North Dakota, (2) evaluate the effects of SCN on growth of dry bean, (3) determine if there could be a shift in the SCN population toward greater ability to reproduce on dry bean, and (4) characterize the spatial distribution of SCN in research size …

Detection Of Qol Fungicide Resistance And Genomic Analysis For Identification Of Polyketide Synthases And Methyltransferases In Ascochyta Rabiei, Javier Andres Delgado

Plant Pathology

Ascochyta blight is the most important disease of chickpeas in North America since the fungal pathogen Ascochyta rabiei was introduced to this region in 1986. Ascochyta blight epidemics can cause yield and economic losses of up to 100%. Currently available chickpea cultivars are partially resistant to A. rabiei, and the disease is primarily managed with the aid of seed and foliar fungicide treatment throughout the growing season. Development of resistance to highly effective fungicides such as the quinone outside inhibitor (Qol) fungicides has therefore significantly threatened chickpea production in the US and Canada. In this dissertation, the mutation associated with …

Prevalence Of Pathogenicity Groups Of The Blackleg Species Complex On Canola In North Dakota, Shanna Andrea Mazurek

Plant Pathology

North Dakota is the leading producer of canola (Brassica napus) in the United States. Blackleg, caused by two species of Leptosphaeria, L. maculans (Desm.) Ces & De Not and L. biglobosa, is an economically important disease wherever canola is grown. The virulence profile of these species has been classified in six pathogenicity groups (PG) based on inoculations on three differential cultivars, 'Westar', 'Glacier', and 'Quinta'. A PG-1 reaction is caused only by L. biglobosa isolates. By 2001, PG-2 was the predominant profile in North Dakota, although PG-1 isolates were also present. Between 2007 and 2008 canola leaves with characteristic blackleg …

Armstrong Atlantic State University 2011 Fact Book, Armstrong State University

Armstrong Office of Institutional Research: Armstrong Fact Books (Archived)

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Rogun Dam On Downstream Uzbekistan Agriculture, Shokhrukh-Mirzo Jalilov

Natural Resources Management

Strains among the states of Central Asia caused by overuse of the region’s scarce water resources have been increasing in recent years. This is especially true for the relations between Tajikistan, upstream, and Uzbekistan, downstream, on the Amudarya River. Major controversy exists over constructing Rogun Dam on the Vakhsh River, a tributary of the Amudarya River. Construction of Rogun Dam, with a planned height of 335 m (1099 ft), began in 1976 but was stopped in 1991 with the breakup of the former Soviet Union. The intent of this dam is to supply Tajikistan with energy, but a side effect …

Weed Control Effects On Native Species, Soil Seedbank Change, And Biofuel Production, Cassandra Marie Setter

Natural Resources Management

Aphthona spp. flea beetles were released in the Little Missouri National Grasslands (LMNG) in western North Dakota in 1999 to control leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). The changes in soil seed bank composition and leafy spurge density were evaluated on two ecological sites five (2004) and ten years (2009) after Aphthona spp. release to monitor the effectiveness of the insects on weed control and associated change in plant communities. In 2009, leafy spurge stem density averaged 2 and 9 stems m-2 in the loamy overflow and loamy sites, respectively, compared to 110 and 78 stems m-2, respectively, in 1999 and …

Evaluation Of Habitat Selection By Nesting Sharp-Tailed Grouse And Survivorship Of Hens, Males, And Nests On The Grand River National Grasslands In Northwest South Dakota, Usa, Dean Joseph Houchen

Natural Resources Management

Plains sharp-tailed grouse nesting habitat was evaluated on the Grand River National Grasslands (GRNG) in northwest South Dakota, in the spring and summer of 2009 and 2010. Experiment #1 was conducted across the GRNG with hens and males trapped at 11 different lekking sites in 2009 and 2010. Study objectives were to 1) evaluate sharp-tailed grouse nest site selection based on habitat and describe vegetation composition and visual obstruction readings (VOR), 2) compare the use of semi-variance statistics to the commonly used co-efficient of variation to determine patch selection by sharp-tailed grouse, and 3) provide an example of how semi-variance …

Beyond Meaningful Use: A Model For Evaluating Electronic Health Record Success, Matthew J. Wills, Omar F. El-Gayar, Surendra Sarnikar

CAHIT

No abstract provided.

Numerical Simulation Of A Direct Expansion Geothermal Heat Pump Using Carbon Dioxide In A Transcritical Cycle, Brian Thomas Austin

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Many of the synthetic refrigerants used in heat pump and air conditioning systems are potent greenhouse gases. In light of the increasing concern regarding climate change, there has been an increased interest in natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide which have a comparatively negligible impact on climate change. Direct expansion geothermal heat pumps require a very large volume of refrigerant, making the use of a natural refrigerant particularly beneficial from an environmental perspective. In this study a numerical model has been developed to analyze the steady state performance of a direct expansion geothermal heat pump water heater using carbon dioxide …

Numerical Methods For Fractional Optimal Control And Parametric Problems, Md. Mehedi Hasan

Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Fractional derivatives (FDs) or derivatives of arbitrary order have attracted considerable interest in the past few decades, and almost every field of science and engineering has applications of fractional derivatives. Since fractional derivatives have such property as being non-local, it can be extremely challenging to find analytical solutions for fractional optimization problems, and in many cases, analytical solutions may not exist. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop approximate or numerical solutions for such problems. The primary focus of this thesis is to develop numerical schemes to solve optimization problems in fractional orders. Numerical methods for integer order problems …

Introduction To Information Systems And Decision Technologies For Sustainable Development Minitrack, Omar F. El-Gayar, Pingsun Leung, Arno Scharl

Research & Publications

No abstract provided.

Information Security Policy Compliance: A User Acceptance Perspective, Ahmad Al-Omari, Omar F. El-Gayar, Amit Deokar

Research & Publications

Compliance with information security policies (ISPs) is a key factor in reducing an organization’s information security risks. As such, understanding employees’ compliance behavior with ISPs is an important first step to leverage knowledge worker assets in efforts targeted toward reducing information security risks. This study adapts the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to examine users’ behavioral intention to comply with ISPs. The impact of information security awareness on behavioral intentions to comply is also considered in the research model. This is a research in progress, and an instrument is being developed to conduct a survey study to gather data from employees …

The Development Of An Edss: Lessons Learned And Implications For Dss Research, Omar F. El-Gayar, Lucas Michels, Gene Fosnight, Amit Deokar

Research & Publications

The Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment (SWERA) project is focused on providing renewable energy (RE) planning resources to the public. Examples include wind, solar, and hydro assessments. SWERA DSS consists of three major components. First, SWERA Product Archive provides for a discovery DSS upon which users can find and access renewable energy data and supporting models. Second, the Renewable Resource EXplorer (RREX) component serves as a web-based, GIS analysis tool for viewing RE resource data available through the SWERA Product Archive. Third, the SWERA web service provides computational access to the data available in the SWERA spatial database through …

Students' Acceptance Of Tablet Pcs And Implications For Educational Institutions, Omar F. El-Gayar, Mark Moran, Mark Hawkes

Research & Publications

This research develops and empirically tests a factor model for understanding college students’ acceptance of Tablet PC (TPC) as a means to forecast, explain, and improve their usage pattern in education. The analysis involved more than 230 students from a regional Midwestern institution. Overall, our model exhibited a good fit with the data and provided satisfactory explanatory power for students’ acceptance of TPC in an educational setting. Analysis of the results suggests a number of implications to educational institutions. Most notably are the need for programs aimed at influencing students’ attitudes and perceptions towards TPC, creating an environment of a …

Selected Larger Choral Works Of F. Melius Christiansen (1871-1955), Nicki Lynn Toliver

Music

F. Melius Christiansen (1871-1955) composed four larger choral works between 1917 and 1925. The Reformation Cantata, composed in 1917, commemorates the 400th anniversary of Martin Luther’s Protestant Reformation and the merger of three church synods into the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America. The cantata is scored for baritone, tenor, and soprano soli, chorus, and orchestra. Christiansen’s oratorio, The Prodigal Son, was composed in 1918. The performing forces include SATB soli and SATB chorus with orchestra or keyboard accompaniment. In 1922, Christiansen composed a multi-movement a cappella work for the St. Olaf Choir entitled Psalm 50. The Norwegian-American Centennial Cantata was …

The Fire Ecology Of Kentucky Bluegrass. (Poa Pratensis), Jeffrey Roy Schulte

Natural Resources Management

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is a serious invader found throughout the Central and Northern Great Plains. This paper is a review of prescribed fire effects on Kentucky bluegrass (Paa pratensis). The general approach of the paper is to look for a mechanistic understanding of its response to fire. The first portion of the paper describes the biology of Kentucky bluegrass. The next section of the paper provides an overview of fire ecology in the Great Plains. The changes to the abiotic environment during and post-fire are discussed which identifies several processes that may be responsible for the plant response to …

Phenotypic And Genotypic Effects Of Flhc Mediated Gene Regulation In Escherichia Coli O157:H7, Preeti Sule

Microbiological Sciences

Escherichia coli (E.coli) 0157:H7, a pathogen belonging to the enterohemorrhagic group of E.coli, has long been a concern to human health. The pathogen causes a myriad of symptoms in humans, ranging from diarrhea and malaise to renal failure. Human infection with the spread of the pathogen is mainly attributed to consumption of contaminated food material such as meat. Decontamination of meat via sprays have to date been the most commonly practiced method to reduce contamination, which now has little relevance in the face of developing resistance by the pathogen. In the following study we investigated FlhC mediated gene regulation in …

Gene Regulation In Biofilms, Priyankar Samanta

Microbiological Sciences

Sessile bacterial communities which form on the solid surface or solid-liquid interface are known as biofilms. Both single species and multispecies biofilms are characterized by an extracellular matrix of polymeric substances which gives them several hundred times more antibiotic resistances than a planktonic bacterial culture. Though bacteria are the most common causative agent of various diseases, because of the high antibiotic resistance, biofilms cause complications of various diseases like cystic fibrosis, prosthetic valve endocarditis, chronic pulmonary diseases, catheter-associated urinary tract infections and several other diseases. From past studies, quorum sensing has been established as a novel target mechanism against biofilms; …

Reaching Arcadia: Rural And Agricultural Themes In Vocal Art Music Including Plans To Introduce This Music To A Rural Audience, Erin Marissa Oberlander

Music

Throughout the history of Western Music, composers have written works on rural and agricultural subjects. The first half of this dissertation examines a number of important works from the Baroque era through the present day and the composers who have chosen this specialized subject matter. Rural communities are underserved where the arts are concerned. Yet, rural audiences have perhaps the best chance at identifying with the subjects of this particular subset of vocal art music. The second half of this dissertation examines reasons why it is important to reach rural communities with vocal art music. Four sample recital programs appropriate …

Reclaimed Surface Mine Terrestrial Pools: Integrating Remote Sensing, Spatial Data And Field Work., Sheila A. Kazar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study investigated the remote sensing of aboveground biomass in reclaimed surface mine reclamation sites and the carbon (C) storage potential of these sites. The research is structured in three sections. In the first study, the potential for utilizing the tasseled cap (TC) spectral transformation to characterize multi-temporal changes of vegetation growth was investigated within nine reclaimed coal surface mines in Monongalia and Preston Counties, West Virginia. The spectral patterns of TC greenness, brightness and wetness values associated with the minesites were investigated for a multi-temporal series of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images, from 1992 to 2007. In general, most …

Modeling Pavement Performance And Preservation, Pan Lu

Transportation Logistics and Finance

The number of highway lane-miles in the United States increased by 7% from 1980 to 2007, while vehicle-miles of travel almost doubled. During the same period, the Federal Highway Trust Fund (the major source of funding for highways) grew by only 40% in constant 1980 dollars. With growth in trade and commerce, truck traffic levels are expected to increase significantly in the future. Highway agencies throughout the United States are facing complex decisions about maintaining, repairing, and renewing existing pavements in the most cost-effective ways. Decision makers need to learn: to what degrees different pavement preservation treatments will improve a …

Developing Input To “Best-Value” Vehicle Procurement Practice: An Analysis Of Supplier Evaluation And Selection In The U.S. Public Transportation Industry, Marc Angus Scott

Transportation Logistics and Finance

Collectively, US public transportation systems operated 137,047 vehicles per peak period in 2008 (American Public Transportation Association 2010). Buses accounted for the largest segment among these vehicles, and the passenger van segment was second. Together, they accounted for 78% of the vehicles operated per peak period (American Public Transportation Association 2010). Due to their pervasive use in the public transportation industry, buses and vans have been the focus in various academic research studies. However, very few studies have focused on vehicle procurement. Further, none have focused on the specific vehicle procurement function of supplier evaluation and selection. The over-arching objective …

A Strategic Approach For Managing Conflict In Hospitals: Responding To The Joint Commission Leadership Standard, Part 2, Debra Gerardi, Charity Scott

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Minimal Vs Extensive Esophageal Mobilization During Laparoscopic Fundoplication: A Prospective Randomized Trial., Shawn D. St Peter, Douglas C. Barnhart, Daniel J. Ostlie, Kuojen Tsao, Charles M. Leys, Susan W. Sharp, Donna Bartle, Tracey Morgan, Carroll M. Harmon, Keith E. Georgeson, G W. Holcomb Iii

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication has been traditionally performed with extensive esophageal dissection to create 2 to 3 cm of intraabdominal esophagus. Retrospective data have suggested that minimal esophageal mobilization may reduce the risk of postoperative herniation of the wrap into the lower mediastinum. To compare complete esophageal dissection to leaving the phrenoesophageal attachment intact, we conducted a 2-center, prospective, randomized trial.

METHODS: After obtaining permission/assent, patients were randomized to circumferential division of the phrenoesophageal attachments (MAX) or minimal mobilization with no violation of the phrenoesophageal membrane (MIN). A contrast study was performed at 1 year. The primary outcome variable was …

Real-Time Behavior-Based Robot Control, Brian G. Woolley, Gilbert L. Peterson, Jared T. Kresge

Faculty Publications

Behavior-based systems form the basis of autonomous control for many robots, but there is a need to ensure these systems respond in a timely manner. Unexpected latency can adversely affect the quality of an autonomous system’s operations, which in turn can affect lives and property in the real-world. A robots ability to detect and handle external events is paramount to providing safe and dependable operation. This paper presents a concurrent version of a behavior-based system called the Real-Time Unified Behavior Framework, which establishes a responsive basis of behavior-based control that does not bind the system developer to any single behavior …