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Volume 48, Number 52: August 17, 2011, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

2011 Fall Convocation Program, Office Of Communications & Marketing, Morehead State University.

Communications and Marketing Publications Archive

Fall convocation program held on August 17, 2011.

The Accuracy Of The Electrocardiogram During Exercise Stress Test Based On Heart Size, Jason C. Siegler, Shafiq Rehman, Geetha P. Bhumireddy, Raushan Abdula, Igor Klem, Sorin J. Brener, Leonard Lee, Christopher C. Dunbar, Barry Saul, Terrence J. Sacchi, John F. Heitner

Publications and Research

Background Multiple studies have shown that the exercise electrocardiogram (ECG) is less accurate for predicting ischemia, especially in women, and there is additional evidence to suggest that heart size may affect its diagnostic accuracy. Hypothesis The purpose of this investigation was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the exercise ECG based on heart size. Methods We evaluated 1,011 consecutive patients who were referred for an exercise nuclear stress test. Patients were divided into two groups: small heart size defined as left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) <65 mL (Group A) and normal heart size defined as LVEDV ≥65 mL (Group B) and associations between ECG outcome (false positive vs. no false positive) and heart size (small vs. normal) were analyzed using the Chi square test for independence, with a Yates continuity correction. LVEDV calculations were performed via a computer-processing algorithm. SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging was used as the gold standard for the presence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Results Small heart size was found in 142 patients, 123 female and 19 male patients. There was a significant association between ECG outcome and heart size (χ2 = 4.7, p = 0.03), where smaller hearts were associated with a significantly greater number of false positives. Conclusions This study suggests a possible explanation for the poor diagnostic accuracy of exercise stress testing, especially in women, as the overwhelming majority of patients with small heart size were women.

Extreme Variation In The Sagittal Crest Of Tapirus Polkensis (Mammalia Perissodactyla) At The Gray Fossil Site Northeastern Tn., Aaron Randall Abernethy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The preservation and quantity of fossil tapirs (Tapirus polkensis) from the Gray Fossil Site in northeastern Tennessee provides a unique opportunity for comparison and analysis of skeletal characters. Intraspecifically, modern tapirs show little to no variation in the morphology of the sagittal crest. However, several different morphologies exist within the sample at Gray. No osteological evidence of sexual dimorphism exists for tapirs, and no correlation between crest shape and sex was observed. Several juveniles display well defined crests, while some adults have only minor thickening of the temporal ridges; therefore, no distinct correlation between age and crest state …

Effect Of Combined Oral Contraceptives On Insulin Clearance In Lean And Obese Pre-Menopausal Women, Vidya Moorthy

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Obese women are predisposed to greater risks of insulin resistance and compensatory hyperinsulinemia. Likewise, African-Americans, appear to be inherently insulin resistant and hyperinsulinemic even after controlling for obesity. Hyperinsulinemia has been attributed to insulin resistance and a compensatory insulin hyper-secretion by the pancreas, as well as decreased insulin clearance, notably in obesity. Pharmacological agents that may worsen insulin resistance/hyperinsulinemia in obese women is of clinical relevance. Previous data from our group suggested that combined oral contraceptives (COCs) may worsen insulin sensitivity particularly in obese women, but limited information on insulin clearance is available in obese women or African-American women. …

Spatial And Temporal Trends In Vegetation Index In The Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest, Rebecca A. Baird

Forest Sciences

Climate has warmed substantially in boreal Alaska since the mid-1970s. The direct effects of rising temperatures on sub-Arctic ecosystems are already being observed in the form of drought stress, increased fire frequency and severity, and increased frequency and severity of herbivorous insect outbreaks. These effects of climate change are having a direct impact on the vegetation of the boreal forest and leading to a decreased remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which is an effective proxy for landscape-scale plant productivity and photosynthesis. Therefore, NDVI is a useful tool to examine landscape-scale changes in vegetation over time, especially in the …

Role Of Arctic Sea Ice Variability In Climate Models, Dyre O. Dammann

Atmospheric Sciences

Arctic sea ice plays an important role in climate by influencing surface heat fluxes and albedo, so must be accurately represented in climate models. This study finds that the fully coupled ice-ocean-atmosphere-land Community Climate System Model (CCSM3.0) underestimates day-to-day ice variability compared to observations and employs the Community Atmosphere Model (CAM3.0) to investigate the atmospheric sensitivity to sea ice variability. Three 100-ensemble experiments are forced with climatological, daily-varying, and smoothly-varying sea ice conditions from an anomalously low ice period (September 2006-February 2007). Daily ice variability has a large local impact on the atmosphere when ice undergoes rapid changes, leading to …

Separation, Identification, And Quantification Of Low Molecular Weight Nitrogen Containing Compounds In Fish Byproducts, Jonathan Nigg

Chemistry and Biochemistry

There is interest by the fish processing industry in the identification and eventual extraction of higher valued low molecular weight nitrogen compounds from fish byproducts such as stickwater, hydrolysates, fish tissues, and other byproducts. A hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) method was developed for the separation and quantification of amino acids, small nitrogenous acids and bases, as well as, other nitrogen containing metabolites. The HILIC method developed is a robust and non-derivatizing method for the analyses of aqueous compounds found in freeze dried red salmon whole fish and red salmon byproducts (pretreated stickwater, post-treated stickwater, and fishmeal). Triplicate samples of …

Potential Recharge Estimates Of Arctic Lakes To Aid Water Management On The North Slope Of Alaska, Chad Michael Cormack

Engineering

Water is a valuable asset to the petroleum industry on the North Slope of Alaska. Current water-permitting processes do not take into account watershed principles in the allocation of water resources. This has primarily been due to lack of information related to tundra lake watersheds and associated water use. This thesis evaluated several study lakes located within the eastern portion of the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA) to demonstrate how watershed and meteorological parameters could be incorporated into water-use management practices. Watershed areas were delineated for the study lakes digitally with geographic information systems (GIS) and Rivertools software. Estimates for …

Quality Assessment Of Weathervane Scallop (Patinopecten Caurinus) And Purple-Hinge Rock Scallop (Crassadoma Gigantea) From Alaska, Kathryn A. Brenner

Fisheries

In Alaska, the Pacific weathervane scallop (Patinopecten caurinus) is the only species commercially harvested. In the Eastern Gulf of Alaska, harvesters report occurrences of poor quality and difficult to market scallops from some fishing areas, designating the product 'weak meat' scallops. The purple-hinge rock scallop (PHRS, Crassadoma gigantea), has aquaculture potential. A recent grow-out study in Alaska was promising, verifying this potential. Our goal was to assess the quality of Alaskan scallops using physical and chemical analyses to understand the perceived differences in meat quality. 'Weak meat' (WS) and standard quality (SS) whole weathervane scallops from Yakutat, two batches of …

Fishing For Pollock In A Sea Of Change: A History And Analysis Of The Bering Sea Pollock Fishery, James Strong

Fisheries

The development and evolution of the eastern Bering Sea fishery for walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) is retraced, its current economic and institutional structure is modeled, and the resiliency of that structure to substantive changes in pollock biomass and fuel costs is explored. Small variations in exvessel prices, total allowable catches, or allocation of catches between seasons and among industry sectors can lead to large changes to first wholesale revenues. Similarly, changes in fuel prices, changes in technology, changes in regulation, and changes in the spatial distribution of catches can lead to changes in harvesting or processing costs. Together, these changes …

Growth Physiology Of Juvenile Red King Crab, Paralithodes Camtschaticus, In Alaska, Miranda J. Westphal

Fisheries

Lack of recovery, following collapse of the Alaskan red king crab, Paralithodes camtschaticus, fishery, has prompted research directed towards rehabilitating the species. To better inform rehabilitation efforts aimed at increasing survival and growth of P. camtschaticus in their first year of life, I compared individual growth of hatchery-raised and wild-caught juvenile crabs in the laboratory and then compared both sets of laboratory individuals with cohorts from the field. To understand molt cycles, hemolymph was collected from age-0 and age-3 crabs to quantify circulating molting hormones (ecdysteroids) and the duration of premolt. Size, growth increment, molt interval, and cumulative molt interval …

Water-In-Air Droplet Formation In Plasma Bonded Microchannels Fabricated By Shrinky-Dink® Lithography, Christopher J. Bender

Engineering

This thesis presents the first work on water-in-air droplet microfluidics. Polymeric microchannels were prototyped to illustrate water droplet formation in air by the T-junction meditated design. The first part of the thesis is on the proof of using unfiltered air as the process gas for plasma-assisted bonding of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels. A series of bilayered PDMS prototypes were plasma bonded under various plasma treatment parameters to determine the optimal settings for high-strength bonding. Pressure rupture tests were conducted to measure the bonding interface strength, which were shown to be as high as 135 psi. The second part of the thesis …

Defining Genetic Population Structure And Historical Connectivity Of Snow Crab (Chionoecetes Opilio), Gregory T. Albrecht

Marine Biology

The snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) is a valuable commercial resource within the Bering Sea, as well as other areas in the North Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Large populations are known to exist within the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, including recently discovered commercial sized individuals (Beaufort). However, genetic connectivity throughout these regions has not been examined until now. Based on seven polymorphic microsatellite loci, relatively low population genetic structuring occurs throughout the Alaskan region (Gst = 0.001). This homogeneity is likely due to long-distance larval dispersal, adult migrations, and a possible recent population expansion following the last glacial maximum. Furthermore, meta-population …

In Vivo Measurement Of Color Relationships Between The Maxillary Central Incisor And Canine As A Function Of Age, Marie E. Falcone

Master's Theses

Abstract

Introduction

It has long been taught that the basic shade (hue) of the patient can be taken from the canine (i.e. that tooth thought to have the highest chroma of a particular hue) and then that hue can be applied to other anterior teeth but at a lower chroma. However, this concept does not appear to derive from published measurements or observations. This study documented the color relationship between in vivo maxillary central incisors and canines to examine: (1) whether they share the same hue, but have different chromas (as commonly taught); and, (2) whether color differences (∆E values) …

Mechanistic Studies On Xanthine Oxidoreductase Enzymes, Abebe Berhane

Chemistry and Chemical Biology ETDs

In humans, the xanthine oxidoreductase enzymes are known to catalyze the final two steps of purine metabolism by converting hypoxanthine successively to xanthine and uric acid. Xanthine oxidoreductase also metabolizes a wide variety of drugs in vivo, and activates a number of antiviral prodrugs of clinical importance. Therefore, understanding the reaction mechanism of this enzyme is of prime importance in furthering our understanding of enzyme-drug interactions. In order to provide a greater understanding on the reaction mechanism, theoretical and enzymatic spectroscopic experimental approaches have been utilized. The theoretical approaches were used to elucidate the electronic structure and geometry of the …

Dr. William L. Donley Ii

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

An Exploration And Reconsideration Of Normal Body Temperature In Healthy Adults, Rebecca Mayo

Nursing ETDs

The human body temperature generally considered normal by medical professionals and the lay public and believed to be an important referent in diagnosing illness and determining its severity is 98.60 Fahrenheit (F). The initial work establishing 98.60 F published over 140 years ago may be flawed; and, even if correct, may not reflect the present normal body temperature. To investigate mean body temperature in adults ages 21-100 who regarded themselves as 'well,' an observational descriptive study was undertaken to measure body temperature using two commonly used measurement methods, oral and tympanic. 1000 adults comprised the non probability non randomized sample …

Substance Abuse And Mental Disorders Among State And Federal Prison Inmates., John Richard Haggerty

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Research consistently demonstrates that prison inmates are more likely than the general population to suffer from both mental disorders and substance abuse. The current study explored the relationship between diagnoses of mental disorders and maladaptive substance use among state and federal prison inmates. Linear regression analysis was used to ascertain the prevalence of comorbidity of substance abuse and mental disorder, and multiple models were constructed to determine the direction of relationship between the two disorders. Overall, mental disorders and substance use were positively related within the sample, though mixed conclusions were drawn regarding the exact nature of their relationship. Recommendations …

The Reality Of The Greene County School System Preschool Program., Kathryn E. Crumm

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

State funded preschool programs are recent phenomena in the United States and the state of Tennessee. The intent of the researcher was to explore the implementation of the preschool program in the Greene County Schools system and to develop a better understanding of the effects of this process at the classroom level. This study may provide significant information for other pre-k programs in the state of Tennessee or nationwide programs in partnership with Head Start.

The preschool program in the Greene County Schools system consisted of 16 classes with nine of the classes in partnership with Head Start and one …

Psychopathy And Gender Of Serial Killers: A Comparison Using The Pcl-R., Chasity Shalon Norris

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Psychopathy and serial murder are 2 of society's most devastating and least understood tribulations. Even less is comprehended with regards to the differences in the way these ills are expressed between the genders. In this study, psychopathic personality traits are considered in a sample comparison of male and female serial murderers. Traits are measured using questions derived from Hare's Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R, 1991). A content analysis was performed to score the components for each subject, using known and accepted biographical and personal interview materials. Findings showed a distinct difference between the sexes, with females scoring lower than their male …

Identifying Interventions That Work In Juvenile Justice: An Analysis Of The Moral Kombat Program., Thelma Deneen Mcgowan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective intervention programs play a fundamental role in reducing rates of juvenile delinquency. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based psychotherapy that is strongly supported by research (ACT, 2010). Moral Kombat (MK) is an intervention that combines character-building and CBT concepts in programs for at-risk and delinquent juveniles with the goal to change their belief systems, thus improving their behaviors (Marchant, 2009). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the extent to which MK incorporates the principles identified in the literature as necessary for a CBT program to be successful. The occurrences of the 11 CBT principles identified in …

Biopharmaceutic And Pharmacokinetic Studies Of Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate As An Excipient For Oral Drug Delivery., Martin Ray Tant

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sucrose acetate isobutyrate (SAIB), a randomly substituted sucrose approximating sucrose diacetate hexaisobutyrate, is produced by Eastman Chemical Company for a variety of applications. SAIB is widely used in the food industry as a weighting agent to disperse flavoring oils in primarily citrus-based soft drink beverages. Additionally, SAIB is currently being marketed by another company as a parenteral drug delivery system. The studies reported here focused on investigating SAIB as an excipient, or delivery vehicle, for use in oral delivery of several drugs, including ibuprofen, saquinavir, and clarithromycin. Dissolution experiments were conducted using both ibuprofen and caffeine, and results suggest that …

Does Decertification Work? Outcome Analysis Of The National Football Leagues Negotiated Order (1986-2008)., Matthew Bowers

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For decades, union membership and activity has been declining in North America; employers have demanded greater flexibility and have successfully weakened workplace and worker protections. Modern workers increasingly use alternative strategies to negotiate conditions of employment with managers who have limited their discretionary power. Negotiated order theory provides a useful tool for analyzing the mesostructural arrangements of bargaining parties during labor disputes. This thesis applies negotiated order theory to explore how and why the National Football League (NFL) players have twice decertified their union and sought court intervention to challenge the legitimacy of the League's highly restrictive reserve system. An …

Electrochemical Studies Of The Interaction Between Dna And A Compound Having Anticancer Properties., Antibe Pouliwe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Electrochemical method has been used to study the interaction between DNA and the compound N-(3',6'-dihydroxy-3-oxospiro[isobenzofuran-1(3H),9'-[9H]xanthen]-5-yl)-N'-(2-imidazoyl)urea having anticancer properties. A DNA modified nanometer-sized gold electrode was prepared by surface modification of a bare gold electrode using cysteamine. These electrodes have been characterized using electrochemical techniques and were used to study the interaction between DNA and the compound. Our results showed an increase in the adsorption peak current and a negative shift of E_1/2 in the oxidation of ferrocyanide on cysteamine and DNA modified electrodes. For the interaction between the DNA and the compound having anticancer properties, a decrease in peak …

Satisfaction And Contributing Factors In Satisfying Long-Term Marriage: A Phenomenological Study, Mark A. Nimtz

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This phenomenological study investigated the subjective marital experiences of five couples married for more than forty years. Select participants responded to interview questions pertaining to the phenomena of marriage satisfaction and marriage longevity. Participants completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assure the phenomenon of satisfaction was experienced in the marriage.

The data was collected using semi-structured, conversational, recorded, transcribed interviews in which the participants were interviewed separately by same-sex interviewers within the participant couples’ homes. The marriage experiences and answers were compared and contrasted.

Two major themes emerged from the participants’ descriptions of satisfaction: “Togetherness” and “Children/Grandchildren.” Additionally, two …

Enumerating Alternate Optimal Flux Distributions For Metabolic Reconstructions, Umaporn Siangphoe

Theses and Dissertations

Metabolites consumed and produced by microorganisms for mass and energy conservation may cause changes in a microorganism’s environment. The microorganisms are unable to tolerate a particular environment for a long period. They may leave their old existence to find a new environment to sustain life. Essentially, organisms need to maintain their metabolic processes to survive in the new environment. Limitations of experimental studies to explore cell functions and regulations in detail result in insufficient information to explain processes of metabolic expressions under environments of organisms. Consequently, mathematical modeling and computer simulations have been conducted to combine all possible cellular metabolic …

A Comparative Analysis Of Fish And Wildlife Enforcement In Alaska From The Passage Of The 1902 Alaska Game Law To 2011, Kenneth J. Woldstad

Arctic and Northern Studies

This study examines the institutional evolution of wildlife enforcement in the context of Alaskan history and politics from 1902 to the present. Balancing competing demands for expertise in fish and wildlife matters on one hand, with a technical knowledge of law enforcement on the other, has long been the central institutional challenge facing those protecting Alaska's living resources. Following enactment of the first Alaska Game Law in 1902, responsibility for enforcement was initially left to already over-burdened law enforcement officials, with ultimate authority remaining under the U.S. Agriculture Department. Passage of the 1925 "Alaska Game Law" and establishment of the …

Implementation Of A New Sigmoid Function In Backpropagation Neural Networks., Jeffrey A. Bonnell

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the use of a new sigmoid activation function in backpropagation artificial neural networks (ANNs). ANNs using conventional activation functions may generalize poorly when trained on a set which includes quirky, mislabeled, unbalanced, or otherwise complicated data. This new activation function is an attempt to improve generalization and reduce overtraining on mislabeled or irrelevant data by restricting training when inputs to the hidden neurons are sufficiently small. This activation function includes a flattened, low-training region which grows or shrinks during back-propagation to ensure a desired proportion of inputs inside the low-training region. With a desired low-training proportion of …

Phylogeography And Population Genetics Of A Beringian Endemic: Dallia (Esociformes: Teleostei), Matthew A. Campbell

Biological Sciences

In this thesis I examine the population genetics of an endemic Beringian freshwater fish genus, Dallia (blackfish). The current distribution of blackfish was heavily influenced by paleoclimatic instability during the Pleistocene. Beringian paleoclimatic changes during the Pleistocene included the fluctuating growth and decline of glaciers and an overall decrease in temperature and increased aridity in areas not adjacent to the Bering Sea. Pleistocene glacial advances resulted in the cyclical emergence of the Bering land bridge. The effects of paleoclimatic instability on blackfish distribution and abundance can be inferred through the distribution of genetic variation across the Beringian landscape. I address …