Digital Commons Network^™

Vibration-Induced Atomization Of Liquids With Application To Ultrasonic Medical Nebulizers, Jesi Ehrhorn

Theses and Dissertations

Existing literature on the operation of ultrasonic vibrating mesh nebulizers does not entirely explain the principles by which these devices atomize liquid medication. Many of the studies on this topic assume a spray or extrusion mode of droplet generation, but it can be demonstrated that the high frequency vibration of these devices is sufficient to produce appropriately-sized aerosol droplets. A sufficiently small volume or "thin film" of liquid that is vibrated under correct conditions will produce a fountain of atomized liquid droplets which are appropriately sized for transport and deposition deep into the lungs, which is necessary for inhalation therapy. …

The Beliefs And Perceived Experiences Of Preservice And Early Service Teachers Who Use Facebook, Nathan Foss

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to identify commonly held beliefs and perceived experiences of preservice and early service teachers with regard to their use of the social networking site Facebook. This study included recorded and transcribed interviews of 14 participants as well as observations of their Facebook accounts. The participants in this study consisted of six males and eight females who were in various stages of their educational careers. All participants were either members, or recent graduates, of the same Midwestern university. Each was either pursuing a degree in education or had recently received their education degree. …

Rhetorical Agency And Survivance: American Indians In College Composition, Rebecca Lynn Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian writers in college have a distinct cultural background related to rhetorical agency and language. Particularly for Indian students who grew up on reservations, the effects of official federal policies regarding the use of English for assimilation remain significant. However, in writing classes, we have an opportunity to reverse course and to specifically teach toward what Scott Lyons calls rhetorical sovereignty.

In this project, four American Indian college students demonstrate agency with writing. All four students grew up on federal Indian reservations (Standing Rock and White Earth), and at the time of this study, were enrolled in their first …

Workplace Characteristics, Work-To-Life Conflict, And Psychological Distress Among Medical Workers, Marissa S. Gravelle

Theses and Dissertations

The medical industry is the fastest growing job sector and is projected to be the largest job sector by 2018. This group of workers tends to experience heightened stressors in the workplace. The key purpose of this study was to address whether work-to-life conflict mediates the relationship between workplace characteristics and psychological distress for workers in the medical industry. Drawing on data from the 2002 National Study of the Changing Workforce (N = 329), relationships were explored using stepwise OLS regression analysis. Findings from the first model (which excludes the mediating variable of work-to-life conflict) suggest that as both coworker …

Intimate Partner Violence: Implications For Northern Plains And Upper Midwest American Indian Mother-Daughter Dyads' Attachment Relationships, Julii Monette Green

Theses and Dissertations

An established body of research focused on family violence captures the experiences of women impacted by intimate partner violence (IPV), the implications for child witnesses of IPV, and the predictive risk factors of violence toward women. In an attempt to understand the unique experiences of American Indian women and children this study examined the intersection of American Indian identity, attachment relationships, and traumatic experiences to comprehend the short and long-term impact of IPV.

The current research study included 30 American Indian mother-daughter dyads who had a history of IPV. The findings suggested that participants' substance use during IPV episodes was …

The Process Of Writing "Wind", A Play Inspired By An Actual Event, Matthew J. Hegdahl

Theses and Dissertations

In August of 2007, the Klondike Wind Farm suffered a catastrophic failure of a wind turbine that killed one man and injured another. This accident was the first of its kind in the United States and is the inspiration for the original play "Wind". This thesis will describe the aspects of the Klondike Accident, as well as the personal experiences, that aided in the development of the original play.

Development Of An Accurate Benchmarking System For Microwave Breast Imaging, Camerin C. Hahn

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a discussion of the design and implementation of benchmarking system for microwave imaging systems. The current benchmarking tools for microwave imaging setups are not adaptable. A novel method for of the development of a dielectric phantom using regression analysis is presented. This is followed by a discussion of the design of a novel sensor for the purpose of in vivo dielectric properties measurements. The goal is to provide information for microwave tomography algorithms and phantom development based on in vivo dielectric properties of breast tissues

Through the progress of this research two major novel advances have been …

Identifying A Statistical Model For North Dakota K-12 Public School Transportation Funding By Comparing Fifteen State Transportation Funding Formulas, Steven Mark Holen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to review the history of North Dakota K-12 transportation funding system, identify how school districts are reimbursed for transportation expenses, and compare this information with fourteen other state transportation funding systems. North Dakota utilizes a block grant structure that has been in place since 1972 and has remained unchanged except for reimbursement factors used in the mileage and rider statistics collected at the state level. Despite the need for alternative structures that promote efficiency and actual costs, the system remains in its current block grant format.

Each of the 50 states in the United …

Design And Testing Validation Of An Extendable Pressurized Tunnel For An Inflatable Lunar Habitat, Timothy Jani Holland

Theses and Dissertations

In the design of the UND inflatable lunar habitat (ILH), the need for an extendable pressurized tunnel to link the habitat to a wheeled terrestrial vehicle (rover), and secure the connection between both elements is one of the critical problems to be solved in order to test the validity of the ILH concept. The design of an extendable pressurized tunnel is required in order to allow access to and from the rover without the use of pressure suits. It is expected than using an extendable tunnel will allow simple docking procedures. An experimental process is required to determine the best …

The Role Of Endolysosomes In Models Of Neurodegenerative Disorders And In Regulating Levels Of Intracellular Calcium, Liang Hui

Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative disorders are affecting increasingly numbers of humans, especially in our ever increasingly aged population. Here, I attempt to better understand how endolysosomes contribute to pathological features in two neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and HIV associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and to the regulation of intracellular calcium levels in cultured neurons.

According to our previous in vivo studies that elevated circulating ApoB cholesterol per se contributed to the pathogenesis of sporadic AD by affecting endolysosomes, we tested the hypothesis that; ApoB containing cholesterol altered endolysosome structure & function and contributed to AD-like pathological development in primary cultured neurons. Besides, …

Voices Of The Prairie, Jeanette Kenner

Theses and Dissertations

Voices of the Prairie

An Examination Of Aggressive Responding To Visual Feedback And Physical Provocation, Virginia Elizabeth Klophaus

Theses and Dissertations

The present study used a modified version of the Taylor Aggression Paradigm to test whether a form of visual provocation might be more salient in producing a physically aggressive response than a physical stimulus (i.e., shock). Male and female university undergraduates were recruited to participate, and assigned to one of three conditions: accurate visual feedback (in which feedback reflected accurately the physical shock received), low visual feedback (in which feedback reflected a lower value than the physical shock received), or high visual feedback (in which feedback reflected a higher value than the physical shock received). Aggressive responses were defined by …

Phylogeography And Habitat Associations Of Franklin's Gulls In Their United States Breeding Range, Annmarie Krmpotich

Theses and Dissertations

The Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) is a long distance migrant which is listed as a species of concern by U.S. state wildlife management agencies and in the Northern Prairie and Parkland Waterbird Plan for the U.S. and Canada. The designation of this status is due to few, isolated breeding colonies and unknown population dynamics. Few attempts have been made to address the unknown population dynamics or to quantify habitat use at breeding sites of this species. Recognizing there is a need for this information; this thesis uses deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) evidence to show the relationships of Franklin's gull breeding colonies …

Literacy Coaching In The United States: Implications For Taiwan, Mei-Lan Lo

Theses and Dissertations

Literacy coaching has become a popular professional development approach in the United States over the last decade. To date, there has been little research on the different lived experiences and challenges of literacy coaches working in different contexts. Furthermore, research findings regarding the effectiveness of literacy coaching are inconclusive. To fill the gaps in the literature, this study was designed to explore the nature of literacy coaching in the United States and examine the relationship between literacy coaching and student literacy achievement, both from the perspective of literacy coaches and that of classroom teachers. An embedded mixed methods research design, …

Genetic Relationships Of Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa) In The United States: Geographic Origins And Genotypic Distribution Of The Species With Implications For Management, Blake Eugene Mccann

Theses and Dissertations

Wild pigs are a damaging invasive species with a long history in the United States. However, during the last 30 years wild pigs have drastically expanded their invasive range and are now present in 44 U.S. states. Though historic records provide insights regarding original introduction histories in areas where pigs are long-established, little is known regarding sources for new populations. To develop a better understanding of recent invasions, I utilized an array of molecular markers (mitochondrial DNA sequence, nuclear microsatellites, and nuclear single nucleotide polymorphisms) to evaluate both the evolutionary history of introduced pigs and gene flow between populations indicative …

Heat Transfer, Transition, And Aerodynamic Loss In A Linear Vane Cascade At Low Reynolds Numbers In High Speed Flows, Matthew Phillip Mihelish

Theses and Dissertations

Low pressure turbine research is essential for improving the efficiency of the modern gas turbine engine. At high altitude cruise conditions, the low pressure turbine experiences low Reynolds number flow, which produces a laminar boundary layer on airfoil surfaces. The integrity of the laminar boundary layer is highly susceptible to flow disturbances resulting from blade wakes and freestream turbulence. This susceptibility often leads to enhanced profile and secondary losses, which reduces turbine efficiency. Previous research conducted on low pressure turbine flow conditions, has investigated heat transfer, boundary layer separation bubbles, and secondary flows subjected to varying levels of freestream turbulence. …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Proprietary Additives In Improving Capture And Sequestration Of Oxidized Mercury In Scrubber Systems, Junior Neguieh Domkam Nasah

Theses and Dissertations

Mercury released during thermal processing (induration) of beneficiated taconite ore (referred to as green balls) can be captured by scrubber waters if it is in an oxidized form. Consequently, mercury emissions from Taconite facilities can be reduced by oxidation of the mercury released from the green balls, followed by capture in their scrubbers. Moreover, sequestration of the captured mercury from the scrubber slurry could prevent possible (re-)emission by ensuring that the driving force for oxidized mercury capture by scrubber liquids is at an optimum; and prevent recycling of captured mercury back to previous process steps.

This research investigates the ability …

An Epidemiological Study Of Injury Affecting Ncaa Division I Women's Intercollegiate Soccer Players, Elizabeth Ostrowski

Theses and Dissertations

Objective: To study the nature and incidence rate of injuries that affect an NCAA division I Midwestern women's collegiate soccer team and to examine the relationship between injury rates and specific risk factors.

Background: Minimal research has been conducted on women's collegiate soccer injuries and specifically on the relationship of injury to the hamstring to quadriceps ratio (HQR). Past research reports that the HQR may be a risk factor for injury but it has not been tested at speeds considered more functional for soccer. Lower body agility and skin folds have not been examined as risk factors for women's soccer …

Reflected Appraisals And Racial And Sexual Identity Development In The Lives Of Black Lesbian And Bisexual Women, Konjit Vonetta Page

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a grounded theory about the relationship between racial identity statuses and the experience of reflected appraisals in the lives of Black lesbian and bisexual women. Black lesbian and bisexual women were specifically selected in this study due to the unique and multiple issues Black lesbian and bisexual women face as members of multiple marginalized and oppressed groups.

Participants in this study included 13 self-identified Black lesbian and bisexual women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant. In accordance with grounded theory approaches, follow-up interviews were conducted and enabled participants to provide …

Portraying The Role Of Giuseppe Zangara In Sondheim's Assassins, Casey Paradies

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a look at the process an actor goes through in creating a fictional character based on a historical person. It is not intended to be a guide for other actors but instead a look at the work of one particular actor in portraying Giuseppe Zangara in Sondheim and Weidman's Assassins. This thesis consists of historical research, character and script analysis, as well as a personal reflection of the performance.

Social Distance In The College Classroom, Chassity Paige Sanner

Theses and Dissertations

The importance of student learning outcomes is apparent. Past research has examined the relationship that students have with their instructors and the impact this has on student learning, yet the concept of social distance in student-instructor relationships has yet to be incorporated. This thesis was conducted to explore student perceptions of social distance. A scale based on the work of Emory Bogardus (1926) was developed and then administered to a sample of introductory level sociology students and upper level sociology students at the University of North Dakota during the Fall Semester of 2007. Based on the findings of this study, …

The Golden Country, Jennifer Robinette

Theses and Dissertations

This novel, The Golden Country, owes its structure primarily to the tradition of female quest narrative. Set in April of 2003, an outward journey provides the framework for an exploration of a young woman's evolving consciousness and developing identity. Ava, the twenty-four-year-old protagonist who narrates the action, joins her mother and another character on a journey across Pennsylvania to locate her missing brother. While the main action of the novel is presented chronologically and occurs over a brief span of time (several days), the characters' motivations and family dynamic are heavily informed by back story. Absolutely crucial to both plot …

Integration Of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Into Precision Agriculture: Putting The Power Of Remote Sensing Into The Hands Of Farmers, Jeremy Richard Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid emergence and advancement of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) has made it possible for their incorporation into modern agriculture. Satellite imagery has been used in the past to increase yields and profits while simultaneously decreasing chemical use and environmental damage. However, satellite imagery has some limitations in regards to agriculture that sUAS has the potential to supplement and correct. This study will present the technical and legal integration of sUAS into private agriculture in the United States. Multiple flights were conducted at various altitudes to understand the lowest possible altitude for safe and useful image recovery. A comparison …

Resistance On The Great Plains: The Bismarck Indian School, 1916-1921, Amber A. Annis

Theses and Dissertations

The Bismarck Indian School was one of twenty-eight off-reservation boarding schools erected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to assimilate Native children into the dominant White society. The school, located in Bismarck, North Dakota, opened in 1908 and briefly closed in 1918. The school started back up in the same year and became an all-female boarding school in 1922 until finally closing down in 1937. When beginning the research I was confronted with a problem; no one had previously written about the school. No other scholars had offered their analysis, or interpretations, on the institution or its pupils. The work …

Job Satisfaction And Professional Employees' Perceptions Of Ict Use, Cody Ryle Asperheim

Theses and Dissertations

Using data from the Pew Internet & American Life Project's 2008 Networked Workers Survey (N = 306), this study evaluates the relationship between professional employees' perceptions of information and communications technology (ICT) use and job satisfaction. The differential salience approach guides this research by highlighting the importance of resources and demands to employees' experiences at work. Descriptive statistics reveal that professional employees perceive ICT as both a resource and demand. Bivariate correlations and OLS regression demonstrate a statistically significantly association between job satisfaction and ICT as a resource and demand. ICT as a resource is positively associated with job satisfaction …

The Cost-Effectiveness Of Devils Lake Flood Decision-Making: An Economic Case Study Of A Climate Driven Wicked Problem, David Andrew Barta

Theses and Dissertations

The Devils Lake flood is the longest, most expensive terminal lake flood in the history of the United States. In 1993, the Lake had a surface elevation of 433.9 m (1423.7 ft.) above mean sea level. Since that time it has risen 9.3 m (30.6 ft.), inundated 58,275 ha (144,000 acres) of land, and caused an estimated $1.6 billion (2011 USD) in total cumulative economic losses to the region. As a terminal lake in the Devils Lake sub-basin of the Red River Valley Basin, it has no natural outlet below 444.4 m (1458 ft.) and significantly poorer water quality than …

Effects Of Gender Role Violations On Hypermasculine Men's Aggression In A Laboratory Paradigm, Hannah Borhart

Theses and Dissertations

Research on gender roles has indicated that men who adhere strongly to their masculine identity are more aggressive than their less traditional counterparts and that their aggressive tendencies tend to be amplified when they encounter others who violate traditional gender roles. There have been few studies that examined the relationship between hypermasculinity and gender role violations without the use of sexual orientations as the violations and no laboratory studies directly comparing a hypermasculine man's aggression towards a gender role violating man and a gender role violating woman. In this study, forty-five men competed in a laboratory aggression paradigm against a …

Development Of Ionic Liquid Swelled Poly-Electrolyte Membranes For Use In Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Eric D. Schmid

Theses and Dissertations

Poly(diallyldimethylammonium iodide) (poly(DADMAI)) was obtained from poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (poly(DADMAC)), via a simple ion exchange. This novel polyelectrolyte was then swelled with 1-alkyl-3-methyl imidazolium iodide and used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). It was hypothesized that the swelled polyelectrolyte would combine the excellent performance of low viscosity electrolyte solvents with the high stability of low vapor pressure solid-state electrolytes, leading to a high performance and an improved longevity in DSSC electrolytes. A factorial design was implemented to determine the effects of polymer type, polymer molecular weight, ionic liquid loading and ionic liquid alkyl chain length. High power conversion efficiencies achieved 1.60% …

Computation Of The Response Of Thin Piezoelectric Films, Marc Cierzan

Theses and Dissertations

This work shows that a mix of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and numerical differentiation and integration methods can be used in order to calculate the output charge of a thin piezoelectric film bonded to a shell structure. The method is applied to cases of a cylindrical shell structure, as well as a beam and plate for both generic and shaped piezoelectric films. An overview of the fundamentals of shell vibration theory is presented where the development of the piezoelectric film equation is reviewed and applied to the three different structure cases. The FEA process used is discussed in terms of …

"There I, Paul Dolnstein, Saw Action." The Sketchbook Of A Warrior Artisan In The German Renaissance, Danielle Mead Skjelver

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides analysis, transcription, and translation of Paul Dolnstein's early sixteenth century annotated sketchbook. The study offers insight into one `type' of German Renaissance mercenary, the sedentary type. Known as Landsknechts, German Renaissance mercenaries were prized for their discipline on the field and for their commanders' ability to provide well equipped and well trained armies for the battlefields of Europe. As opposed to roving Landsknechts who followed the drums of war year in and year out, the sedentary Landsknecht retained his roots and returned to civilian work in his town of origin between campaigns. He might serve in only …