Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Religiosity And Health-Promoting Behaviors Of Pregnant Women At Pregnancy Resource Centers, Natalie Ann Cyphers

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: While religiosity (e.g. prayer, attending church) has been reported to be related to health behaviors in pregnant women, whether religiosity was related to health-promoting behaviors in pregnant women at Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC) had not been previously studied. The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between religiosity and health-promoting behaviors of pregnant women at PRC. PRC are Christian community-based centers with a focus on meeting needs of pregnant women.

Methods: Pender’s Health Promotion Model guided this descriptive correlational study. A consecutive sample included pregnant women who knew they were pregnant at least two months, could …

Utilizing Novice Teachers' Perceptions And Voices To Make Recommendations For Improving Teacher Preparation For Inclusive Education: A Mixed Methods Study, Keri Lynne Desutter

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this explanatory sequential mixed methods study was to examine novice elementary teachers' perceptions of preparedness and competence for teaching in inclusive classrooms in relation to experiences during undergraduate teacher preparation. Factors that correlate with, identify differences between, or predict perceptions of preparation and competence for teaching in inclusive classrooms were examined. A pragmatic framework guided this study.

The responses from eighty-four novice teachers from the state of Minnesota were utilized during the quantitative phase of the study. During this phase participants completed an online survey containing items related to Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice, Inclusive Beliefs, Preparation …

Student Perceptions Of Online Education At Community Colleges: A Review Of The Literature, George Joseph Ellefson

Theses and Dissertations

There is a need to identify and discuss community college student perceptions of online education as a window to an array of challenges that these institutions face. Student perspectives can confirm, or disconfirm, the impressions and accounts of other community college stakeholders and decision makers.

The purpose of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of the literature from 1995-2015 that answered the primary research question, "What are the student perceptions of online education at community colleges in the United States?" Extensive strategies were used to locate information for review. Analysis of the literature yielded a framework for formulating …

Characterization Of Newly Synthesized Cobalt Polypyridine Complexes Using Nmr, X-Ray, Electrochemistry, And Uv-Vis, Blaise Frenzel

Theses and Dissertations

Coordination of the 2,6-bis(8′-quinolinyl)pyridine (bqp) ligand to a cobalt (Co) core and its influence to electron spin and configuration on the structures and properties of the resulting complexes has been investigated. The homoleptic complexes [Co(mer-bqp-κ3N,N′,N″)2][PF6]2 (1) and [Co(mer-bqp-κ3N,N′,N″)2][Br3]3 (2) were prepared and characterized. X-ray structure determinations of complexes 1 and 2 revealed twisted, near-octahedral arrangements relative to the cobalt center. The magnetic data for 1 is typical of those for distorted octahedral (i.e., D4h symmetry) high-spin d7 species despite the near-ideal octahedral coordination of the bqp ligand around the Co(II) core. Electronic spectra for 1 and 2 have been investigated …

Identifying "Bad" Asteroid Spectra: A Cross-Correlative Database Study, Iva Gerasimenko

Theses and Dissertations

The SMASS I, SMASS II and S3OS2 asteroid spectral survey data sets as well as those collected by Sawyer (1991) and Vilas (1992) were examined for compositionally significant inconsistencies between spectra taken for the same asteroids. Data was obtained from Small Bodies Node Planetary Data System. Thirty four asteroid spectra were determined to display drastic differences which would affect the mineralogical interpretation of the spectra. Including 354 Eleonora, which prompted the original question, these asteroids were further examined for possible causes of inconsistencies to determine if they were prompted by actual differences in the surface composition or were due to …

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Graduate Students' Experiences Of Plagiarism By Their Professors, Kimberly Dawn (Hanson) Becker

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study expands the inquiry on perceived academic misconduct by investigating the experiences of graduate students who have reported a professor’s misattribution of their work. The participants include five graduate students who formally reported a violation of academic integrity because they believed a faculty member had misattributed their work. During the incident, the faculty and students both participated in an academic setting in one or more of the following types of relationships: committee chair–advisee, committee member–student, classroom professor–graduate student, and research supervisor–graduate assistant. Two central research questions frame this study: How do graduate students who have reported that their …

Investigation Of Laminar Convective Heat Transfer And Pressure Drop Of Sio2 Nanofluid In Ducts Of Different Geometries, Sunday Oluwafemi Hassan

Theses and Dissertations

Engineers are seeking alternatives to conventional heat transfer fluids and in an attempt to improve their thermal transport properties, they added thermally conductive solids into the conventional fluids resulting in a fluid called nanofluid. Nanofluid was suggested as an alternative solution to the problem and many publications reported its potential for heat transfer enhancement. This thesis describes the experimental study of 9.58% by vol. silica/water nanofluid flow through different flow geometries which are circular, hexagonal and rectangular ducts of close hydraulic diameter. The experiments are performed at uniform heat flux condition. The aim of this thesis is to determine experimentally …

An Observational Study Of Parent Practices And Children's Physical Activity, Analee Hokkala

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Childhood obesity affects approximately 17% of U.S. children and teens. Children who are overweight or obese are at risk of developing psychosocial problems and cardiovascular risk factors. It is recommended that children engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days per week, however, children are not meeting these recommendations.

Purpose: To our knowledge, there has not been an observed controlled study examining parent practices and children’s physical activity. Thus, the primary purpose of this study was to observe parenting practices and to examine the relationship with children’s physical activity. The secondary purpose of this …

Ceres – Vis-Ir Surface Composition Analysis: A Review In Advance Of The Dawn Mission, Daniela Henckel

Theses and Dissertations

Ceres has been heavily investigated during the last years prior to the DAWN mission. Although it is the largest object in the Main Asteroid Belt, its properties, especially the surface composition, are not well understood. Studies of Ceres surface composition and texture are of particular importance to generally analyze the interior and evolution of Solar System objects as well as the surface processes that are/were active on those bodies. VIS-IR spectroscopy is an effective method to detect characteristic absorption bands in the spectra of surface materials which can be related to the surface composition of planets and asteroids.

The primary …

Iridium Modified Silicon (001) Surface, Sehtab Hossain

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to fabricate Iridium modified Silicon (001) surface and investigate electronic and atomic configuration of the surface, and examine the characteristic of the surface.

In the first part, the modification done by fabrication on Si (001) surface is presented. This shows that after the modification significant pattern on the surface is visible which need to be examined for atomic and electronic structure.

The thesis then identifies the statistical analysis of the fabricated islands and examines correlation among them. Examination of surface including spectroscopy provides several important outcomes about the surface structure. Here the thesis draws …

Digital Games For 21st Century Learning: Teacher Librarians' Beliefs And Practices, Amanda Hovious

Theses and Dissertations

Digital games as tools for learning in K–12 have been a topic of intense discussion over the last 15 years. One area of focus has been on the integration of commercial off-the-shelf games in lesson plans. A predictive factor for the adoption and integration of digital games is the attitudes or readiness of teachers. Yet, while many studies have examined this with teachers themselves, teacher librarians (TLs) have largely been ignored, despite the key role they play in education and technology adoption in schools. This study attempted to determine TLs’ beliefs and practices about digital games as 21st century learning …

The Impacts Of Climate, Land Use, Economics, And Conservation Policies On The Hydrology Of The Devils Lake Basin, Gehendra Kharel

Theses and Dissertations

Devils Lake (DL), a closed-basin lake in northeastern North Dakota of the USA, has risen 10 m since 1991 exhibiting a costly, lengthy and litigious water management wicked problem in the region. With nearly US $1.5 billion already spent in flood mitigation, DL is less than 2 m from its uncontrolled overspill to the nearby Sheyenne River, a tributary of the Red River of the North that connects to Lake Winnipeg in Canada. In this study, three important concerns related to DL water management are being addressed: (1) Are currently implemented outlets capable of mitigating potential risks posed by climate …

Hydrogen Adsorption Into Covalent Organic Frameworks, Aaron Koenig

Theses and Dissertations

The practicality of hydrogen power vehicles relies on the existence of an effective onboard storage method. Using expanded Wang-Landau simulations, we study the adsorption of hydrogen in a series of covalent organic frameworks (COF-102, COF-105 and COF-108). From which adsorption isotherms of H2 are generated at temperatures of 77 K and 298 K. At 77 K the COFs are on par with the Department of Energy's 2015 targets, but fall short at 298 K.

Molecular dynamic simulations of hydrogen in the COFs were also performed. From which the mean square displacement of the H2 molecules was measured to obtain the …

The Differential Relationship Between Work-Family Conflict, Work Characteristics, And Psychological Distress Among Partnered And Single Mothers, Brooke Janae Kranzler

Theses and Dissertations

Women’s increasing participation in the workforce and the growing number of single mothers in the U.S. have prompted work-family scholars to explore the unique struggles these mothers face. Most research indicates that single mothers experience both more work-family conflict, and worse mental health compared to their partnered counterparts. Limited research, however, has considered how work-family conflict and work characteristics differentially relate to the psychological distress of partnered and single mothers. Using the Job Demands-Resources model, this research explored partnered and single mothers’ experiences of work-family conflict, work characteristics, and psychological distress using data from the 2008 National Study of the …

Perspectives On The Qualities, Knowledge, And Skills Of Effective Emotional/Behavioral Disorders Teachers, Joseph Leggio

Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the perceptions of six teachers of students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in one school district. In individual interviews, the teachers shared their perceptions of the qualities, knowledge, and skills necessary for EBD teachers to be effective. Five of the teachers gathered for a focus group to discuss the findings from the analysis of the interview data.

An analysis of the data yielded three themes. First, effective EBD teachers develop unconditional teacher-student relationships. No matter how many setbacks a student with EBD may experience, the effective EBD teacher relentlessly affirms his or her belief in the …

Understanding And Predicting Bagging Performance Through The Use Of Cfd And Dem Simulations, Matthew Perry Leone

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will focus on rear discharge bagging performance for Rear Discharge Rear Collect (RDRC), Select Series Lawn & Garden tractors. The problem under investigation pertains to adequately transporting cut grass from the mower deck to the dedicated hopper, without the plugging of the rear discharge chute or the deck mounted chute. The most problematic weather related factors are dew and rain, with the former being the most severe. Conditions creating this problem typically occur during the spring months and when the grass is at its healthiest state.

Field research and data have been collected to gain a better understanding …

Regional Education Associations In North Dakota: Perceptions Of Rea Directors And School Superintendents, Jeffery E. Lind

Theses and Dissertations

This study analyzed the perceptions of North Dakota Regional Education Association (REA) directors and a sample of public school district superintendents regarding their REAs’ delivery of educational services to North Dakota school districts. Qualitative research methods were used, relying primarily on interview data to review, analyze, and compare perceptions of REA directors and school superintendents. The research questions of this study were:

1. How do REA directors perceive the effectiveness and efficiency of REAs?

2. How do school superintendents perceive the effectiveness and efficiency of REAs?

3. What are the commonalities, similarities, and differences of REA director and superintendent perceptions …

Influence Of A Physical Activity Intervention On Perceived Barriers And Benefits In Women, Kathryn Elizabeth Lundberg

Theses and Dissertations

Young adults face the opportunity to make an abundance of behavior choices when entering college. One important decision is to regularly participate in physical activity. Common barriers to physical activity may hinder an individual’s decision to make healthy behavior choices, such as physical activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a women’s physical activity intervention on perceived benefits and barriers, body composition, and energy expenditure. This study took place at the University of North Dakota in the fall of 2014 using a non-randomized experimental design between two groups (n=50) of college-aged women. The first group …

Designing Fiction-Based Close Reading Experiences For The High School English Language Arts Classroom, Aubrey Jean Mcnary

Theses and Dissertations

The Common Core State Standards are forcing educational professional to develop high-level literacy skills and habits in a student population that is indisputable diverse and generally ill prepared for the demands of the secondary classroom. The practice of close reading is a means of literacy instruction that continually pushes students back into the text to answer text-dependent questions of varying, yet higher, levels of thinking. A variety of lesson plans and text-dependent questions were generated for three pivotal novels to demonstrate close reading as a means of achieving CCSS-level reading and thinking in the general secondary ELA classroom.

Developing Novel 3d Antennas Using Advanced Additive Manufacturing Technology, Milad Mirzaee

Theses and Dissertations

In today’s world of wireless communication systems, antenna engineering is rapidly advancing as the wireless services continue to expand in support of emerging commercial applications. Antennas play a key role in the performance of advanced transceiver systems where they serve to convert electric power to electromagnetic waves and vice versa. Researchers have held significant interest in developing this crucial component for wireless communication systems by employing a variety of design techniques. In the past few years, demands for electrically small antennas continues to increase, particularly among portable and mobile wireless devices, medical electronics and aerospace systems.

This trend toward smaller …

Observing Range Of Motion (Rom) In Baseball Athletes During An Off-Season Resistance Training Program And Practice, Jimmy Justin Morin

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to observe possible changes in ROM of the shoulder and the hip after an off-season resistance training program and practice. The participants engaged in their normal off-season fall ball practice and off-season training regimen. Participants (N=20) were recruited from The University of North Dakota Baseball team. Before the athletes began their off-season training, a pre-test measurement was taken on shoulder Internal Rotation (IR), External Rotation (ER), Horizontal Adduction (HAdd), and hip and knee flexion. Resistance training took place three days a week for twelve weeks, and fall ball practice was four days a week …

Secondary Social Studies Teachers’ Perceptions Of Special Education, Kelli Ann Odden

Theses and Dissertations

Through educational reform and federal mandates, general and special education teachers’ responsibilities are designed to intersect. Focusing on secondary social studies teachers, the purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the teachers’ perceptions of special education and how this influences the implementation of special education services in the classroom. From data collected through interviews and analyzed through Moustakas’ phenomenological design, two textural themes emerged (expertise and communication) in addition to three structural themes (placement, Individual Education Plan (IEP)-Reader’s Digest Version, and time). Findings indicate that social studies teachers appreciated the role of special education, but their perception was focused …

Radiation Shielding Approaches For Planetary Surface Exploration: A Mars Case Study For Und Concepts, Arturo Ortiz

Theses and Dissertations

Surface stays on Mars may expose astronauts to high radiation doses from solar flares and galactic cosmic radiation (GCR). We estimated shielding required for a surface habitat, and assessed environments inside a planetary rover and space suit, under historically severe solar flare and GCR conditions, using the HZETRN radiation computer code. A 1m layer of Mars regolith can protect the habitat up to 30 km surface elevation. Polyethylene at 5, 10, and 15 g/cm2 can protect up to 0, 10, and 20 km, respectively. The rover protects from acute exposure up to -0.7 km while a space suit protects up …

The N-Terminus Of Type Iii Secretion Needle Protein Yscf From Yersinia Pestis Functions To Modulate Innate Immune Responses, Patrick Osei-Owusu

Theses and Dissertations

The type III secretion system is employed by many pathogens, including the genera Yersinia, Shigella, Pseudomonas, and Salmonella, to deliver effector proteins into eukaryotic cells. The injectisome needle is formed by the polymerization of a single protein, e.g., YscF (Yersinia pestis), PscF (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), PrgI (Salmonella enterica SPI-1), SsaG (Salmonella enterica SPI-2), or MxiH (Shigella flexneri). In this study, we demonstrated that the N termini of some needle proteins, particularly the N terminus of YscF from Yersinia pestis, influences host immune responses. The N termini of several needle proteins were truncated and tested for the ability to induce inflammatory responses …

Influence Of High-Intensity Turbulence On Laminar Boundary Layer Development On A Cylindrical Leading Edge: Enhancement To Eddy Diffusivity, Juli Pearson

Theses and Dissertations

The growing demand for increased efficiency in turbine engine designs has sparked a growing interest for research of air flow around curved surfaces. The turbine’s operating conditions result in material property constraints, especially in the first stage turbine vanes and blades. These turbine vane components experience extreme loading conditions of both high temperature and high turbulence intensities exiting the combustor. The surface of the turbine blades has cylindrical leading edges that promote stabilizing flow accelerations. These convex surfaces can cause a reduced eddy diffusivity across the boundary layer.

This thesis reviews measurements of velocity and turbulence intensities taken just shy …

Reconceptualizing Privacy: An Examination Of The Developing Regulatory Regime For Facial Recognition Technology, David James Potter

Theses and Dissertations

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration have convened a series of meetings to create a voluntary code of conduct for the commercial use of facial recognition technology. This research asks and answers three questions related to the creation of the voluntary code of conduct: 1) How is the regulatory regime of FRT emerging in the U.S.? 2) What are the roles of the various stakeholders in shaping the commercial regulation of FRT? 3) How does FRT challenge our current conceptions of privacy? Data has been gathered to answer these questions using participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed …

Recall Of Novel Words In Adolescents Following A Brief Mindfulness Exercise, Anna Lauren Schimmelpfennig

Theses and Dissertations

Mindfulness has been associated with various benefits, including enhanced attention, improved recall, and increased emotional well-being. Previous research has suggested that a brief mindfulness exercise can enhance recall of novel words in female college students. Participants in the current study were 82 students (41 female, M = 14.6, SD = 1.2) from a rural, Midwestern secondary school. Participants were randomly assigned to listen to a 20-minute body scan exercise or a control lecture before learning English-Swahili word pairs. Results revealed no significant effect of group on immediate or delayed recall of word pairs. Additionally, there was no significant effect of …

Medical Terminology, Steelman Library, Todd Schraw Dr.

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Factors Affecting Unsatisfactory Performance During Air-To-Air Refueling In The C-17 Pilot Checkout Course, Richard Smith

Theses and Dissertations

In 2014, the USAF reduced its personnel by approximately 20,000. One of the areas hit hardest by the cuts were the faculty at the USAF C-17 formal training unit, where students are trained to fly the C-17 transport plane. Due to the reduction in forces, faculty staffing dropped by 30% though the number of students remained the same. Air-to-air refueling during the Pilot Checkout Course is the most commonly failed syllabus event. When a student fails to progress on a syllabus event, it requires additional instructor, simulator, and aircraft resources. In an effort to reduce the amount of failures and …

Medical Terminology, Steelman Library, Todd Schraw Dr.

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.