Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Atmospheric Circulation Patterns And Water Surface Elevation In Devils Lake, North Dakota: 1965-2010, Emily Ann Knish

Theses and Dissertations

The Devils Lake Basin is a sub-basin of the larger Red River Basin located in east-central North Dakota. It is a terminal saline lake, which lacks an outlet until the lake level reaches a water surface elevation (WSE) of 1,458 ft asl (444.4 m). Lake levels have fluctuated continuously since the last glaciation, in response to natural climatic variations. The lake has risen steadily since 1993, severely affecting the infrastructure and residents living within the area. There has been much debate over whether the rising waters are caused by natural climatic variations or by the drainage of wetlands and agricultural …

Workshop Training And Instructional Coaching: A Model For Professional Development That Results In Academic Student Growth, Amy Jo Leonard

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined two forms of Professional Development, workshop training and instructional coaching together and workshop training alone. All participating teachers attended the same workshop training on vocabulary instruction and were trained in using procedural cards for teaching science vocabulary. Two teachers were randomly selected to be in the experimental group (workshop training and instructional coaching together) and two teachers were randomly selected to be in the control group (workshop training alone). The experimental group received six weeks of instructional coaching including pre-conferencing, post-conferencing, and classroom observations with feedback. Using posttest t-test, the researcher determined the effects of both the …

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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The Urotsa Bladder Cell Model For Heavy Metal Carcinogenesis: Characterization With Respect To The Role Of Beclin-1 And Sparc Expression, Jennifer Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The development of bladder cancer is known to have a strong association with environmental toxins. This laboratory employs the human Urotsa cell line model to explore the relationship between As+3 and Cd+2 exposure and the development of urothelial cancer.

The parental Urotsa cells and their As+3 and Cd+2 transformed counterparts have been used to define the mechanism of cell death (apoptosis and/or necrosis). A third mechanism of cell death, autophagy, has not yet been investigated. The hypothesis for the current study is that the autophagy pathway involving beclin-1plays a role in Urotsa cell death mechanisms. A combination of real time …

H-Alpha Narrow Band Filter Commissioning And Imaging At The Und Observatory, Rakesh R. Nath

Theses and Dissertations

The University of North Dakota (UND) Observatory will commence solar observations with the commissioning of a DayStar 0.4-Angstrom Hα filter attached to a Meade LX200 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Imaging will occur using a Finger Lakes Instrumentation PL16803 front illuminated, monochrome CCD/filter wheel with a neutral density filter. An interference eliminator is also present in the optical train. This effort is part of a larger effort to develop an independent, externally-funded solar physics group at UND. This work is the first effort at gaining direct experience with solar instrumentation, observations, calibrations, and post-image processing. The primary goals of this Master's thesis project …

Water Level Quantiles Of Devils Lake Under Down-Scaled Gcm Predictions Using A Coupled Hydro-Climatic Model, Hasin Shahad Munna

Theses and Dissertations

The research focuses in calibrating a coupled rainfall-runoff model and a reservoir model for the Devils Lake using data from both ground gage stations and NASA satellite observations. The purpose is to determine the feasibility of using spatially distributed GCM data with a well calibrated hydro-climatic model to predict the probable flood severities. A temperature-based evaporation prediction model is also developed to simulate the outflow from the terminal lake. Future hydrology of the basin and lake levels of Devils Lake are simulated using the weather samples obtained from several downscaled GCM runs under varying scenarios due to anthropogenic modifications and …

Development Of A Spreadsheet For Bar Graph Softening, James Norberg

Theses and Dissertations

Lime softening has been commonly used for decades for hardness removal in water treatment. Many methods are used for controlling lime feed to a water treatment system. Concentrations in influent to or effluent from a water softener are most often determined manually by physical measurements, though they can also be automatically measured by various devices. Based on influent concentrations, hand calculations can be made for determination of the required chemical feed. Alternatively, required lime dosage can be estimated and then adjusted until the desired effluent quality is attained. This type of iterative method requires special attention and multiple adjustments under …

An Epidemiological Study Of Collegiate Women's Basketball Injuries, Alexandria Fern Pulvermacher

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To study injuries that affect a women's collegiate basketball team and to examine the relationship between injury rates and specific risk factors. Method: Baseline data were collected on the basketball team through pre-participation physical, medical history questionnaires, and a balance measurement. The players were followed throughout their regular season and all injuries and exposure times were recorded. Results: Injury rates were 11.25/1000 hours (2011-12 season), and 14.34/1000 hours (2010-11 season). In the unadjusted Poisson regression analysis of injuries per 1000 hours exposure the following risk factors resulted in a significant effect: previous injury, weight lifting, center, and forward. Conclusion: …

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 …

Analysis Of Yscf And Associated Homologs And The Presence Of An Inflammatory Molecular Pattern, William Andrew Roughead

Theses and Dissertations

Gram-negative pathogen, Yersinia pestis, expresses a type three secretion system to accomplish its virulence. The YscF needle protein provides a conduit of effectors from bacterium to eukaryote and is exposed to the host immune system. This thesis explores YscF and its associated needle homologs and the possibility of recognition as pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) by macrophage tissue culture. Interestingly, Salmonella homologs PrgI and SsaG are inflammatory suggesting conservation of the inflammatory pattern in the T3SS needle protein.

Professional Behaviors, Sense Of Belonging, And Professional Socialization Of Early Career Clinical Laboratory Scientists, Janna Marie Schill

Theses and Dissertations

Professional socialization is a process that individuals experience as members of a profession and consists of the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences that influence and shape their professional identity. The process of professional socialization has not been studied in the clinical laboratory science profession. Clinical laboratory science is an allied health profession that is faced by a workforce shortage that has been caused by a decrease in new graduates, decreased retention of qualified professionals, and increased retirements. Other allied health professions such as nursing, athletic training, and pharmacy have studied professional socialization as a way to identify factors that may influence …

Synthesis, Characterization, And Self-Assembly Of Bi-Carbamates And Tri-Carbamates, Rajiv Kumar Singh

Theses and Dissertations

Recent decades have witnessed the discovery of a wide variety of nanomaterials. These nanomaterials vary from zero-dimensional nanodots to three-dimensional nanoflowers. However the properties of these nanomaterials have not been fully explored. A majority of the nonmaterials discovered so far are inorganic. There is little information about nanomaterials which are entirely based on organic compounds. Therefore this thesis focuses on the synthesis of two-dimensional nanosheets based on organic frameworks.

In this study, a number of two-armed and three-armed carboxamides and carbamates have been synthesized, characterized and self-assembly process was studied. The self-assembly of these amides and carbamates were studied in …

Atmospheric Mass Loss And Orbital Evolution Of Exoplanets, Nicole Thom

Theses and Dissertations

The distributions of the semi-major axes and masses of close-in planets (planets within 0.1 AU of their host stars) provide clues to their origin. Over billions of years, the mass and orbital distance are constantly evolving. Tidal forces and atmospheric mass loss, driven by stellar ultraviolet flux, can influence the observed planetary distribution. Coupling these effects can lead to a greater understanding of how the observed distribution was shaped and may help to explain the gaps in the distribution of mass and semi-major axes for these close-in planets.

To study the effects of mass loss and tides, we applied a …

Parenting To Posthumous: A Grounded Theory Of Aging And Parenting An Adult Who Is Mentally Ill, Roxanne Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to generate a grounded theory that explains the main concerns of aging parents of adult mentally ill children and how they cope with those concerns. The methodology used was Classic Grounded Theory. Findings included the development of a substantive grounded theory titled, Parenting to Posthumous. Strategies to address this basic social process include complicated caring, shifting, examining, transitioning and messaging. Nursing implications include increased understanding of the dimensions of parenting as a process within aging.

Emerging Adults In College: Assessing Expectations And Perceptions, Diane J. Wolter

Theses and Dissertations

This study uses qualitative methods to investigate the expectations and perceptions of freshmen at a regional university. Research suggests that stratification in American higher education has resulted in differing student populations at different types of institutions, and that regional universities and their students are underrepresented in the literature. The study examines the utility of Arnett's emerging adults model to describe how freshmen at a regional university perceive the role of college in their lives. Application of metaphor theory reveals that students view college as either a commodity to be exchanged for a desired future outcome, or as one of a …

Mental Health And Social Engagement Among American Indian Elders, Twyla Beth Baker-Demaray

Theses and Dissertations

Elderly American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) in the United States are increasing in number, and with their increase come a greater need for quality, culturally sensitive long term care. Mental health is one facet of overall health that is little explored for this particular population. Social engagement has been shown to be a protective factor for depressive symptoms amongst mainstream elder populations. This study looked at data from a nationwide AI/AN elder needs assessment. The purposes of this study were threefold. First, the data were analyzed to describe the characteristics of the study population. Second, a regression analysis was …

Effects Of An Intervention To Promote Stair Use In A University Building, Bethany Anne Marie Brandvold

Theses and Dissertations

Wellness programs have been implemented by companies and other organizations for various reasons since before the 1970s, and many have focused on the promotion of physical activity as a health-promoting behavior. Promoting physical activity via stairwell prompting at the workplace has become very popular in recent years. This study tested an intervention based upon motivational signage placed in the stairwells of a University administrative building, as well as daily emails sent to the employees in the building. Key concepts from Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and a sub-theory of SDT, Organismic Integration Theory (OIT) were integrated into the messages of the posters …

High Grade Carbon From Crop Oil Tars, Nathan Bosquez

Theses and Dissertations

Current research at the University of North Dakota studies the conversion of crop oils into fuels such as diesel and jet fuel. A by-product of this conversion process is a high molecular weight tar, which can be further processed into carbon products such as carbon black, coke, activated carbon, and carbon fibers. This research focuses on converting the tar into high purity carbon. Currently coal and petroleum tars are used to make carbon products and are important nonrenewable sources to replace by the use of crop oil tars.

Lab-scale experiments have shown that the tars produced during crop oil cracking …

Narratives Of Nigerian Educated Women Pursuing Higher Education Degrees In Western Universities, Vincent Hassan Bulus

Theses and Dissertations

The impetus for conducting this research is near and dear to my heart along with desiring to make a change for the better. In conducting interviews of Nigerian women's experiences, struggles and accessibility to secondary education, the research shows significant barriers to secondary education in their narrative experiences that their male counterparts do not experience. Specifically, the experiences of these selected Nigerian women who have shared their aspirations, goals and accomplishments through narrative form can be generalized to the women of Nigeria as a whole. The cultural background is an overwhelming obstacle which, although seems to be slowly eroding, the …

Video Game Engagement And Pathology: Relationships Between Gaming Habits And Gaming Experience, Psychopathology, And Personality Variables, John Adam Campbell

Theses and Dissertations

With the rise in video game play, many experts have become concerned about negative consequences from game play, such as aggression, decreased academic performance, and even addiction. It has been very difficult to establish criteria for video game addiction or even to distinguish addicted gamers from recreational gamers. This relates to considerable conceptual overlap between the concepts of addiction and that of engagement or flow. Using multiple online questionnaires, this thesis examines the relationships between video game play habits over the life span, acute psychopathology, personality factors, and positive outcomes. Results indicate that the experience of flow during game play …

Measurement And Analysis Of Turbulence Response Near The Stagnation Region Of Large Diameter Cylindrical Leading Edges With Aftbody, Md. Nafiz H. K. Chowdhury

Theses and Dissertations

The stagnation region of a turbine vane is a critical area for assessing heat transfer. The heat loads at that region are influenced by many factors such as the turbulence intensity, length scales, interaction of the turbulent eddies, vortex stretching and rapid straining of the fluid streamlines. In such a situation, it becomes difficult for gas turbine designers to accurately predict the heat transfer rate at leading edge stagnation region.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the response of high intensity free stream turbulence (FST) near the stagnation region of two different diameter leading edge cylinders in order …

Native American Women Perceptions In Pk-12 Administrative Positions In North Dakota Public Schools, Lanelia I. Decoteau

Theses and Dissertations

Historically Native American women have experienced barriers in their rise to Pk-12 educational leadership positions. There is limited research available on Native American women in educational leadership. Therefore, the purpose for this survey study was to discover what inspired current Pk-12 Native American women educational leaders to choose and accept these positions, common leadership attributes they share, and any barriers they may have encountered.

Currently in North Dakota, there are 42 licensed Native American administrators, 22 male and 20 female. Ten of the 20 females are employed as Native American superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, and assistant principals in North Dakota …

Identifying Locations Of Highly Eroded Agricultural Land In The Devils Lake Basin, Nd Using Gis Terrain Analysis Modeling, Matthew J. Dinger

Theses and Dissertations

Soil erosion modeling using terrain analysis holds great potential due to the simplicity of the models, and the ease in running the analysis in a GIS. Terrain analysis of the upper Devils Lake basin was conducted using a 3-meter Light Detection and Ranging-derived digital elevation model. Portions of the Mauvais Coulee and Calio Coulee watersheds in the basin were analyzed to evaluate soil erosion potential and determine if terrain analysis was an accurate tool for modeling erosion in this fairly flat landscape. The analysis used slope, flow accumulation, and stream power index (SPI) within a GIS to identify highly eroded …

Examining Perceptions Of Servant Leadership In Administration Of Selected Public Schools, Peggy Jane Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the impact of Servant Leadership in an organization using the following variables: valuing people, developing people, building community, displaying authenticity, providing leadership and sharing leadership. The study also examined whether or not a correlation existed between years of faculty service, education level, and faculty gender. The researcher administered the Organizational Leadership Assessment (OLA) designed by Dr. James Laub to three public schools; interviews were also conducted with three school leaders. This study suggests that a Servant Leader positively impacts an organization's overall success.

Stellar Spectral Classification Of Previously Unclassified Stars Gsc 4461-698 And Gsc 4466-870, Darren Moser Grau

Theses and Dissertations

Stellar spectral classification is one of the first efforts undertaken to begin defining the physical characteristics of stars. However, many stars lack even this basic information, which is the foundation for later research to constrain stellar effective temperatures, masses, radial velocities, the number of stars in the system, and age. This research obtained visible-λ stellar spectra via the testing and commissioning of a Santa Barbara Instruments Group (SBIG) Self-Guiding Spectrograph (SGS) at the UND Observatory. Utilizing a 16-inch-aperture telescope on Internet Observatory #3, the SGS obtained spectra of GSC 4461-698 and GSC 4466-870 in the low-resolution mode using an 18-μm …

The Secondary Shuffle: Special Educators As Tutors, Teachers, Or Both, Amy L. Jacobson

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the perspectives and practices of six secondary special education teachers regarding role conflicts within their profession. Ideally, special education teachers are expected to work with students with disabilities in ways that promote the students' progress on individual learning goals as stated in their IEPs. In reality, special education teachers often spend the time set aside for working on IEP goals assisting the students with homework and tests that will allow the students to "pass" their required classes. Thus, students' IEP goals are often neglected. Three overarching assertions emerged from the data. The first assertion was providing support …

Separation And Use Of Oxygenated Byproducts From Non-Catalytically Cracked Triglycerides And Their Methyl Esters, Benjamin Travis Jones

Theses and Dissertations

The world is dependent on petroleum as its main source of fuels and chemicals. Supply limitations and global warming have generated a great deal of interest in research to reduce this dependence through renewal fuels and chemicals.

Non-catalytic cracking and subsequent distillation of triacylglyceride (TAG) oils and methyl esters derived from these oils (TMEs) produces an organic liquid product (OLP) that is rich in potential fuels and chemicals. A major fraction of the OLP is made up of oxygenated compounds, either short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) if TAG oil is cracked, or short chain methyl esters (SCMEs) if TMEs are …

Multisexual Identities And Mental Health: Mitigating Factors Of Minority Stress, Kimberly Marie Jorgensen

Theses and Dissertations

Much of the current literature about sexual minorities examines the experiences of lesbian- and gay-identified individuals. The current study was designed to facilitate increased understanding of sexuality for people who have multi-gendered attractions and sexual identities (e.g., bisexual, queer). This work extends beyond discrete binary categories and labels for sexual orientation, such as straight, gay, and lesbian. In the current examination of this expanded category, labeled as multisexual, it becomes important to shift not only the conceptualization of sexual orientation but also the nature of minority stress, from examining homophobia and heterosexism, to biphobia and monosexism. Under circumstances when an …

Desire And Influence: Male Self-Realization And Film Progression Due To The Influential Women In The Films Of Wes Anderson, Erin Ann Meiers

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis is an analysis arguing that the roles of women in three of Wes Anderson's films, Rushmore (1996), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), and The Life Aquatic(2004), are vital in influencing the men that surround them to come to a self-realization and in the progression of the film as each character finds closure, despite critic's claims. Critics Jesse Mayshark and Greg Carlson examine Anderson's films to be basically about men stuck in arrested development that as they rival each other they grow and mature, and discount the roles of women as simply a side note. I build upon their analysis …

The Effects Of Static Stretching Warm-Up Versus Dynamic Warm-Up On Sprint Swim Performance, Michael Patrick Moran

Theses and Dissertations

Recent research has revealed that static stretching (SS) warm-ups may attenuate power performance compared to other warm-up protocols, but most studies have focused on dry land modalities. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of an SS warm-up versus a dynamic warm-up (DW) on sprint performance in competitive swimmers. Specifically, it was hypothesized that SS prior to a 50-meter sprint would attenuate results compared to DW. METHOD: Sixteen NCAA Division 1 swimmers (5 female, 11 male) participated. These swimmers had recently completed their collegiate season. In a randomized order crossover design, the participants swam a 50-meter freestyle sprint after two different warm-up …