Digital Commons Network^™

Quantifying Cure In Industrial Composites Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (Ftir), Jason Robert Burns

Theses and Dissertations

A study has been taken to evaluate the utility of two Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic sampling methods in calculating the degree of cure in an industrial fiberglass-reinforced composite material. Methodologies examined include: attenuated total reflectance (ATR) and diffuse reflectance (DRIFTs), both which utilize the Agilent 4100 ExoScan FTIR platform. As the formulation of the unsaturated polyester resin used in the fabrication of the industrial composite is proprietary a cure model based on the plasticizer, styrene, is proposed. Results of the infrared tests show that neither the resolution of ATR FTIR or DRIFTs is sufficient to monitor cure of the …

Synthesis And Exploration Of Catalytic Activity Of Amidooxazolinate Zinc Complexes And A Manganese Salen Complex, Vamshi Krishna Chidara

Theses and Dissertations

A family of new chiral C2 symmetric amido-oxazolinate ligands with three different linkers has been synthesized and the respective bimetallic zinc complexes were generated with two equiv. of Zn[N(SiMe3)2]2, a while bischelating zinc complex was synthesized with one equiv. Zn[N(SiMe3)2]2. The bimetallic catalyst with m-phenylenediamine linker afforded poly(cyclohexene carbonate) (PCHC) formation with 78% carbonate linkages, while the catalyst with 1,8-diaminoanthracene linker generated isotactic PCHC with 86% m-centered tetrads.

A monometallic version of the amido-oxazolinate zinc complexes were also used to catalyze ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of styrene oxide (SO) or cyclohexene oxide (CHO) with different anhydrides. Type of substituents on the …

Measuring The Effect Of Vocabulary Instruction On Reading Comprehension: A Comparison Of Academic And Tier Ii Words, Eiley C. Berg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was (a) to determine if 4th grade students could learn academic vocabulary words or tier II general words using a vocabulary intervention program referred to as the lexicon enhancement program (LeEP), and b) to determine if the category of vocabulary words (tier II general vs. academic) impacts the number of vocabulary words learned, general vocabulary abilities, and reading comprehension. A total of 111 fourth graders participated in this study. Six classrooms were randomly assigned as either the academic group, tier II group, or control group. Pre- and posttest scores of the Zero-One-Two (ZOT; Robinson, 2013) …

Creation Of A Conditional Reasoning Task For Hostile Sexism, Travis Daryl Clark

Theses and Dissertations

The Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) is a widely used measure of sexism. The current project describes the creation and administration of an alternative measurement of sexism that utilizes a conditional reasoning task (CRT) while supporting the theoretical underpinnings in Ambivalent Sexism Theory. Arguments in favor of creating a new scale are presented along with arguments for the specific use of a CRT. By creating a conditional reasoning task for hostile sexism (CRT-HS), the current project takes the first step toward creating a new indirect alternative for measuring sexism.

The Evolution Of Institutional Mission In Social And Historical Contexts At The University Of North Dakota: 1883 – 2016, Stacey Leigh Borboa-Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

The University of North Dakota, a liberal arts institution founded in 1883, has a mission statement that speaks directly to present-day societal needs and norms. While staying true to its founding object, the mission has specific focus on science, technology, health and diversity. These areas speak directly to national and global economic and societal needs. In order for public institutions to secure funding, they have to respond to legislators and taxpayers; they must respond to current trends. This research looks at the University of North Dakota’s evolving mission, from founding in 1883, to present-day 2016. The research focuses on institutional …

Motivations In Exercise, Amanda Dufner

Theses and Dissertations

College students exercise for a variety of reasons, but specific differences in their motivations and perceptions have not been extensively studied. PURPOSE: The main purpose was to see if students whose primary reason for exercise is to lose fat (FATCON), gain muscle mass (MUSC), or maintain health (HLTH) had differences in their exercise motivations, social physique anxiety, and body image self-perceptions.

A secondary purpose was to explore if the participants’ supplement use reflected their exercise priorities.

METHODS: Data were collected at a university Wellness Center, or from exercise classes. Participants (N = 216) completed a packet of four questionnaires: Multidimensional …

Comparison And Evaluation Of Precipitation Products From Radar, Satellite, And Reanalyses Over The Continental United States, Wenjun Cui

Theses and Dissertations

To better understand the precipitation variability over the continental United States (CONUS), an accurate temporally and spatially homogenous precipitation dataset should be used. Recently developed precipitation products, including satellite-based, radar-based, and atmospheric reanalysis products appear to fit these criteria, however, their uncertainties must first be addressed. This study is divided into two parts. Part I focuses on a comparison between satellite-based GPCP IDD estimates and radar-based NMQ Q2 estimates, offering physical insight into the differences between the two datasets. Part II evaluates the precipitation estimates from five reanalysis products, and studies the precipitation trend over the CONUS over the last …

Experimental Super High Frequency Rectifier And Dc To Dc Converter For Application In Space Solar Power, Robert Bernaciak

Theses and Dissertations

Due to the continuous rise in the global energy demands, new sources of fuel and energy need to be explored. One area of research that is currently underdeveloped is the study and application of space solar power. Space solar power (SSP) is a broad topic that covers the idea of capturing and transmitting renewable solar energy from space to earth. There has been lots of research in the area of SSP, but there are yet any test platforms operating in space continuously to gather data for supporting the commercialization of SSP. This research document looks at the design of the …

Novelty Detection And Cluster Analysis In Time Series Data Using Variational Autoencoder Feature Maps, Sophine Clachar

Theses and Dissertations

The identification of atypical events and anomalies in complex data systems is

an essential yet challenging task. The dynamic nature of these systems produces huge volumes of data that is often heterogeneous, and the failure to account for this will impede the detection of anomalies. Time series data encompass these issues and its high dimensional nature intensifies these challenges.

This research presents a framework for the identification of anomalies in temporal data. A comparative analysis of Centroid, Density and Neural Network-based clustering techniques was performed and their scalability was assessed. This facilitated the development of a new algorithm called the …

The Effects Of Flipped Learning On Critical Thinking Disposition Among Undergraduate College Students, Mark J. Dusenbury

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine if flipped learning has an effect on students critical thinking disposition, how students’ perceptions of flipped learning changed during the semester, and if students in the flipped classroom performed better academically. Participants for this longitudinal, quasi-experimental classroom study included 81 participants, the majority freshman and sophomores at a large Midwestern university, whom registered for an aviation Human Factors course. Two measures in this study examined critical thinking disposition and students’ perceptions longitudinally (pretest and posttest) during the 16 week semester. Paired samples t-tests, independent samples t-tests, and a MANCOVA were used to …

How Media Ownership Affects Community Journalism: A Case Study Of The Grand Forks Herald, Angela Sue Cary

Theses and Dissertations

Local print newspapers have experienced many fiscal challenges over the past decade resulting in the downsizing of personnel and the consolidation of other resources. This restructuring ultimately affects its readers who may not receive the level of local information they need to further the ideals of civic engagement and democracy within their community. This study examines the relationship between media ownership and the amount of local news found within one newspaper serving a mid-size Midwestern city. This research was conducted through comparisons of the number of articles, column inches, and local reporter data in the newspaper’s two primary news sections …

Plant And Arthropod Associations With Environmental Gradients In A Northern Tallgrass Prairie, Bryon Wayne Deal

Theses and Dissertations

Plants and arthropods are the base of grassland communities, and their interactions with environmental gradients and each other can determine their composition and spatial structure within a site. The composition and spatial structure of these communities can determine how they contribute to grassland function, yet grassland conservation and restoration efforts typically do not consider both plants and arthropods. As a result, our understanding of how plant and arthropod communities assemble in response to environmental gradients, and each other, in the same space is incomplete. Furthermore, most studies of grassland community assembly do not address assembly across multiple taxonomic levels, and …

Using Long-Short-Term-Memory Recurrent Neural Networks To Predict Aviation Engine Vibrations, Abdelrahman Elsaid

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines building viable Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) using Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) neurons to predict aircraft engine vibrations. The different networks are trained on a large database of flight data records obtained from an airline containing flights that suffered from excessive vibration. RNNs can provide a more generalizable and robust method for prediction over analytical calculations of engine vibration, as analytical calculations must be solved iteratively based on specific empirical engine parameters, and this database contains multiple types of engines. Further, LSTM RNNs provide a “memory” of the contribution of previous time series data which can further …

Chronic Amphetamine Exposure Causes Long Term Effects On Dopamine Uptake In Cultured Cells, Nafisa Ferdous

Theses and Dissertations

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which belongs to the catecholamine and phenethylamine families of organic compounds, and plays an important role in the regulation of reward, movement, attention, behavior and cognition. Dopamine neurotransmission is marked by the initiation of its release from the pre-synaptic neurons and the signal is terminated by re-uptake of dopamine from the synapse. The synaptic concentration of dopamine and therefore, the level dopamine receptor stimulation is regulated to an extent by the activity of the dopamine transporter (DAT). DAT is responsible for the uptake of dopamine back into the presynaptic neuron from the synapse. DAT is known …

Accounting For Students' Course Achievement And Decision To Major In Accounting: A Longitudinal Examination Of Motivation And Emotion Predictors, Tammy Louise Gerszewski

Theses and Dissertations

Accounting programs face the challenge of attracting and retaining the best students in accounting degree programs in order to meet the current and future demands of the accounting profession. Most of the past research into this issue has lacked theoretical foundations and rigor found in other disciplines. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between business students’ motivations and achievement emotions, and to test how these constructs predict accounting major selection and academic achievement. To achieve this purpose, two complimentary theoretical frameworks not previously applied within the accounting domain, were used: the control-value theory (CVT) of achievement …

Concealing Stigmatized Sexual Orientation, Accepting Versus Non-Accepting Attitudes, And Ego Depletion, Nicole Gigi Giordano

Theses and Dissertations

The current study was designed with the aim of increasing the understanding of

how concealing or disclosing a stigmatized sexual identity to a perceived accepting/non- accepting person affects ego depletion. Ego Depletion, (Baumeister, 1998) refers to the idea that certain tasks exhaust a limited pool of cognitive resources. Previous literature has explored how concealing a stigmatized identity is ego depleting; however, an examination of the relationship between ego depletion and the concealment of the specific identity as a sexual minority has not yet been explored. LGBQ individuals are often faced with the challenge of navigating social situations to determine if …

On The Development Of Novel Multifunctional Max Reinforced Polymers (Mrps) Matrix Composites, Sujan Kumar Ghosh

Theses and Dissertations

During this thesis, the design and development of novel multifunctional MAX reinforced polymer (MRPs) matrix composites was studied. MRPs were fabricated with a certain volumetric ratio of polymers and MAX phases. In Chapter II, synthesis and tribological behavior of PEEK-Ti3SiC2 composites have been reported. A decrease in friction coefficient is observed when 10 volumetric % of Ti3SiC2 was added in the PEEK matrix. Also, the wear rate of the composites decreases by 27 times when 5 volumetric % of Ti3SiC2 was added. In Chapter III, novel self-lubricating Teflon-Ti3SiC2 and Nylon-Ti3SiC2 composites are reported. During self-mating, Ti3SiC2-Teflon composites showed better performance …

The Protective Roles Of Primary And Secondary Control Strategies Among Familial Caregivers Of Older Adults With Dementia, Nicole Haverstock

Theses and Dissertations

Caring for an older family member with dementia can be extremely stressful, often resulting in diminished psychological health. Prior research has shown that a strong sense of control protects well-being during stressful times. Therefore, greater perceived control may serve to buffer the effects of stress on familial caregivers’ psychological health. According to control theorists (Heckhausen & Schulz, 1995; Rothbaum, Weisz, & Snyder, 1982), a general sense of control is maintained through a dual process involving direct attempts to change the environment (i.e., primary control strategies) and attempts to inwardly adjust cognitions to align with the environment (i.e., secondary control strategies). …

Characterization Of Two Surface Proteins From The Lyme Spirochete And Their Roles During Mammalian Infection, Robert Anthony Gaultney

Theses and Dissertations

Borrelia burgdorferi is an enigmatic bacterial pathogen that afflicts a large proportion of the world population as the causative agent of Lyme disease. The bacterium has a number of factors that promote virulence including a complex and dynamic array of extracellular proteins that can interact with various molecules of an infected host. One such molecule, fibronectin, is a key glycoprotein in the ECM of mammalian hosts with multiple characterized functions. B. burgdorferi encodes multiple known Fn-binding proteins, and has an additional putative protein BB0347 that may also bind Fn. Another protein, MlpJ, is homologous to a known hemin-binding protein, which …

Old Tales, New Renditions: The Foundations And Development Of Anti-Semitic Ritual Murder Libels With Emphasis On A Shift In Centrality From Crucifixion To Blood Motifs In Late Medieval And Early Modern German Contexts, Evan John Halbach

Theses and Dissertations

The terms “ritual murder libel” and “blood libel” both refer primarily to medieval and early modern anti-Semitic allegations that Jews murdered Christian children on religious holidays, either to abuse or profane Christ and Christians, or to acquire Christian blood for use in Jewish ritual, sorcery, or as a medicine to treat stereotypical racial infirmities. Scholars to this point have generally treated the two libels as either synonymous, or have considered distinctions to be relatively insignificant. Insufficient treatment has been given to an inversion of primary and secondary motivations attributed to the libels’ constructed villains. In “ritual murder libels,” contempt for …

Using Simian Virus 40 As A Model To Determine The Effects Of Replication And Transcription On Histone Methylation, Les Kallestad

Theses and Dissertations

Simian Virus 40 (SV40) is a well-characterized virus whose small circular DNA genome is organized into chromatin and, as a consequence, undergoes many of the same biological processes observed in cellular chromatin. SV40 early transcription is repressed when the product of early transcription, T-antigen, binds to its cognate regulatory sequence, Site I, in the promoter of the SV40 minichromosome. We have subsequently shown that T-antigen binding to Site I results in the replication-dependent introduction of H3K9me1 into SV40 chromatin late in infection. Since H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 are also present late in infection, we determined whether their presence was also related …

Exploring Pedagogical Decision Making And Metacognition Of Faculty Teaching Abroad, Yuliya Kartoshkina

Theses and Dissertations

The number of faculty-led short-term study abroad programs is growing rapidly. However, the literature on pedagogical design of such programs is very limited. This qualitative research study was conducted to explore how faculty members make pedagogical decisions about teaching abroad as well as cognitive processes they engage in when making these decisions. Six faculty members from different institutions and academic departments were interviewed. Their colleagues recognized them as experts in the field based on years of teaching abroad and effectiveness of their practice.

Two important findings came out of this study. First, when making pedagogical decisions about teaching abroad, all …

Trauma History And Its Differential Relationship To Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder And Body Dysmorphic Disorder Symptomatology, Linda Renee Keenan

Theses and Dissertations

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are often severe and disabling psychiatric conditions. Many similarities have been noted between the two disorders, and it has been suggested that BDD may best be understood as existing along the OCD spectrum. Limited empirical evidence exists to suggest that childhood trauma history may be associated with both OCD and BDD symptomatology, but few studies have compared the two disorders directly in this regard. In addition, some research has indicated that OCD symptom dimensions are differentially related to specific types of trauma exposure. The goal of this study was to examine trauma …

Gata4 Interacts With Hedgehog Signaling Pathway In Regulating Outflow Tract Development, Jielin Liu

Theses and Dissertations

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are among the most common type of developmental anomaly affecting 8 in 1000 live births. Approximately 30% of CHDs involve cardiac outflow tract (OFT) malformation which leads to significant morbidity and mortality in both children and adults. Development of OFT is regulated by a complex genetic network including Sonic-Hedgehog signaling pathway, TGF-β and BMP signaling pathway. Mutation of a transcription factor, Gata4, has been known to cause OFT defects including double outlet right ventricle (DORV) in both human and mice for decades. Several transcription targets of Gata4 have been identified such as Mef2c, Ccnd2 and Cdk4, …

Improving Far-Uv Cd Prediction With The Dipole Interaction Model, Akongnwi Cheo Jungong

Theses and Dissertations

Among the physical methods available for studying protein structures, CD stands out as a property that is easy to measure yet remarkably difficult to predict theoretically. The basic principle underlying the CD of polypeptides and proteins is reasonably understood: the mixing of electronic transitions of monomer groups in the context of a chiral environment of helices gives rise to transitions that are both electronically and magnetically allowed. Despite knowledge on the fundamentals of CD, accurate theoretical prediction is still a major challenge. A better theoretical understanding of protein CD would facilitate a fuller interpretation of protein CD experiments.

Extensive theoretical …

Design And Implementation Of Co-Operative Control Strategy For Hybrid Ac/Dc Microgrids, Rasel Mahmud

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is mainly divided in two major sections: 1) Modelling and control of AC microgrid, DC microgrid, Hybrid AC/DC microgrid using distributed co-operative control, and 2) Development of a four bus laboratory prototype of an AC microgrid system. At first, a distributed cooperative control (DCC) for a DC microgrid considering the state-of-charge (SoC) of the batteries in a typical plug-in-electric-vehicle (PEV) is developed. In DC microgrids, this methodology is developed to assist the load sharing amongst the distributed generation units (DGs), according to their ratings with improved voltage regulation. Subsequently, a DCC based control algorithm for AC microgrid is …

Understanding Addiction, Depression, And Autism Spectrum Disorder Through Structure-Function Analyses Of The Dopamine And Serotonin Transporters, Danielle Krout

Theses and Dissertations

The dopamine (DAT) and serotonin (SERT) transporters are monoamine neurotransmitter transporters (MATs) responsible for the reuptake of dopamine (DA) or serotonin (5-HT) from the synapse following vesicular release, effectively regulating synaptic neurotransmission. Blockade of these transporters by antagonists such as psychostimulant drugs or transporter mutations that affect function can compromise DA or 5-HT homeostasis and impact fundamental brain processes including movement, emotion, behavior, motivation, and memory. To address these issues, my dissertation research focused on: (1) identifying and characterizing the cocaine binding site in DAT, (2) determining the influence of membrane depolarization on DAT trafficking, (3) investigating antidepressant metabolite action …

3d And 4d Modeling Of Ignimbrite Eruptions, John Eric Sandven

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

The need to model the Yellowstone magma chamber and other possible sites for ignimbrite eruption has been accelerated by the development of the areas surrounding the volcanoes. Early detection of eruptions is the most important aspect when trying to reduce casualties from an eruption. The magma chamber at Yellowstone has been mapped previously using Seismic data and other methods, but more information is needed to predict the next eruptive event.

Through the use of previous research by Dr. de Silva and Dr. Gosnold, it is possible to create a representative model for the magma chamber. The model is created using …

An Empirical Investigation Of Privacy And Security Concerns On Doctors’ And Nurses’ Behavioral Intentions To Use Rfid In Hospitals, Thomas George Winston

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is a useful technology that has myriad applications in technology, retail, manufacturing, and healthcare settings. Not dependent upon line-of-sight, RFID can scan devices in their proximity and report the information to connected (wired or other wireless) information systems. Once touted as the panacea for home healthcare, RFID devices can add benefit to patients in remote settings. RFID devices have been used to optimize systems in areas such as manufacturing and healthcare to expose inefficiencies in a system or process. Unlike manufacturing, however, RFID in healthcare settings presents security and privacy concerns to the people being …

Variation Of Occludin Expression In As3+ And Cd 2+-Transformed Urotsa Cells And Corresponding Putative Cancer Stem Cells, Kaylee Scott

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.