Digital Commons Network^™

Relationships Between The Second To Fourth Digit Ratio (2d:4d) And Game-Related Statistics In Semi-Professional Female Basketball Players, Makailah Janae Dyer

Theses and Dissertations

Digit ratio (2D:4D) is a negative correlate of sports performance, although this relationship may be weak in open-skill sports. This study aimed to quantify relationships between 2D:4D and game-related statistics in female basketball players, and to quantify differences in mean 2D:4Ds between starters and reserves. Sixty-four female basketball players were measured for height, mass, and 2D:4D, with game-related statistics collected end-season. Partial correlations (adjusted for age and BMI) quantified relationships between 2D:4Ds and game- related statistics. Unpaired t-tests quantified differences in mean 2D:4Ds between starters and reserves. This study found that 2D:4D was a substantial negative correlate of blocks, rebounds, …

A Comparison Study Of American Indian And Caucasian Sex Offenders On Trauma And Selected Trauma Effects, Regina Sioux Ertz

Theses and Dissertations

American Indian/Alaskan Natives (AI/AN) have a long history of documented trauma experiences. In addition, AI/AN individuals are likely to have fewer economic resources and are faced with increased traumatic experiences in comparison to the general population. Further, the American Indian population is also affected by overrepresentation with incarceration rates in federal and state government detention centers. These data support the need to address non-sexual recidivism issues in the American Indian population. Little research has examined trauma experiences, selected trauma effects, and unique differences for American Indian sex offenders. Treatment employed for American Indian sex offenders is conducted based on data …

Mapping Groundwater Discharge Along Lake Margins Using Satellite And Uav Thermal Imagery, Kelsey A. Forward

Theses and Dissertations

Effective watershed management decisions depend on understanding groundwater-surface water interactions. Traditional hydrogeological investigations are invasive, time-consuming, and expensive; therefore, regions that lack accessibility or agency funding need other ways of evaluating groundwater-lake interactions. Heat has long been known to be an effective groundwater tracer. Groundwater is insulated from most solar radiation, and its temperature does not fluctuate greatly from the annual average air temperature year-round in higher latitudes. In contrast, lakes are directly exposed to solar radiation, and water temperature fluctuates greatly both seasonally and diurnally. The winter and summer seasons produce the greatest contrast between groundwater and surface water …

An Investigation Of The Latent Structure Of Eating Disorder Behaviors And Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (Nssi), Erica Goodman Goodman

Theses and Dissertations

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI; deliberate harm to the self) and eating disorders frequently co-occur, and both place an individual at increased risk for suicide. Individuals who report NSSI are similar to those that report eating disorder behaviors on emotion regulation, impulsivity, and pain tolerance. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate how the relationship between NSSI and eating disorder behaviors is best understood, based on the intent of the behavior (e.g., “to hurt myself”) or the function (e.g., “I became less angry”). Participants were 493 undergraduate students (80% female; 90% white) who completed an online survey regarding lifetime NSSI and eating …

Impact Of Wetlands Loss On The Long-Term Flood Risks Of Devils Lake In A Changing Climate, Sergey Gulbin

Theses and Dissertations

Endorheic (terminal) lakes with no water outlets are sensitive indicators of changes in climate and land cover in the watershed. Since 1990 Devils Lake watershed in North Dakota experienced a dramatic change of local climate: wet phase. This change yielded in a 10-m water level rise in just two decades. The Lake’s water level increase caused flooding of adjacent areas, including towns, agriculture fields and houses of Native Americans, costing over $1 billion in mitigation.

While the climate change contribution to flooding has been established, the role of large scale land conversion to agriculture has not been researched. The purpose …

Assessment Of Wrf Simulated Precipitation By Meteorological Regimes, Brooke Anne Hagenhoff

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated warm-season precipitation events in a multi-year (2007-2014) database of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) simulations over the Northern Plains and Southern Great Plains. These WRF simulations were run daily in support of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Hazardous Weather Testbed (HWT) by the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) for operational forecasts.

Evaluating model skill by synoptic pattern allows for an understanding of how model performance varies with particular atmospheric states and will aid forecasters with pattern recognition. To conduct this analysis, a competitive neural network known as the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) was used. SOMs allow …

Calibration Uncertainties In The Droplet Measurement Technologies Cloud Condensation Nuclei Counter, Kurt James Hibert

Theses and Dissertations

Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) serve as the nucleation sites for the condensation of water vapor in Earth's atmosphere and are important for their effect on climate and weather. The influence of CCN on cloud radiative properties (aerosol indirect effect) is the most uncertain of quantified radiative forcing changes that have occurred since pre-industrial times. CCN influence the weather because intrinsic and extrinsic aerosol properties affect cloud formation and precipitation development. To quantify these effects, it is necessary to accurately measure CCN, which requires accurate calibrations using a consistent methodology. Furthermore, the calibration uncertainties are required to compare measurements from different …

A Longitudinal Study Of The Negative Impact Of Falls On Health, Well-Being, And Survival Among Older Adults: An Examination Of Protective Psychosocial Mediators, Harpa Lind Jonsdottir

Theses and Dissertations

Falls can have detrimental effects on older adults’ physical and psychological health, and survival rates. However, there appears to be a protective psychosocial mediator that may lessen the negative impact of experiencing a fall on health and well-being. The psychosocial factors examined as mediators of the falls - health and well-being relationship in this study were dispositional optimism and perceived control. Participants were 232 community-dwelling older adults, age 68 or older. This study was linked to a longitudinal study including data collected in 2008 and 2010 (Grand Cities Healthy Aging Study (GCHAS). Measurements of dispositional optimism, perceived control, self-rated physical …

"A Degree Is A Part Of The Puzzle, But Only A Piece.” Understanding How Employers Determine The Value Of Academic Credentials, Brenda Kaspari

Theses and Dissertations

With the skyrocketing costs of higher education and the increased scrutiny of how educational institutions prepare graduates for the workplace, this dissertation explored how the “outsiders,” or employers, view and determine the value of academic credentials. Using the premise of credentialism, this grounded theory, qualitative study addressed two major questions; first, how do employees evaluate academic credentials, and second, what factors are important to employers?

Through the interviews, it was discovered that there were gray areas when determining the value of a college credential. There were three critical findings. First, college degrees are a valuable credential, yet there are issues …

Perceptions Of Dress Code Compliance, Kristen Nicole Leighton

Theses and Dissertations

Recent media coverage of middle and high school dress code controversies has called into question the fairness of such regulations on students’ clothing. The current study investigated gender differences in reactions to dress code violations and how reactions varied based on the race of the student who violated the dress code. The current study also explored how individual differences in hostile sexism, benevolent sexism, and social dominance orientation influenced judgments about dress code violations. Judgments about dress code violations were not found to vary based on the gender of the participant or race of the target. Social dominance orientation, however, …

Working And Providing Care: Increasing Student Engagement For Part-Time Community College Students, Daniel Leingang

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among external time obligations of work and care giving by part-time students, their participation within structured group learning experiences, and student engagement. The Structured Group Learning Experiences (SGLEs) explored within this study include community college programming activities of orientation, accelerated developmental education, first-year experience courses, student success courses, and learning communities. Student engagement was measured by the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) Benchmark values. The focus of this research was to explore how differing levels of time spent working for pay and in providing care for dependents impacted …

Theory And Application Development Of Electronic Structure Methods Involving Heavy Computation, Run Li

Theses and Dissertations

The propargyl radical, the most stable isomer of C3H3, is very important in combustion reactions. However, theoretical calculations have never been able to find a strong absorption around 242 nm as seen in experiments. In this study, we calculated the electronic energy levels of the propargyl radical using highly accurate multireference methods, including multireference configuration interaction singles and doubles method with triples and quadruples treated perturbatively [denoted as MRCISD(TQ)], as well as second and third order generalized Van Vleck perturbation theories (GVVPT2 and GVVPT3). Calculations indicate that this absorption can be solely attributed to a Franck-Condon-allowed transition from the ground …

Sensitivity Of Cross-Tropopause Convective Transport To Tropopause Definition, Emily Maddox

Theses and Dissertations

An idealized three-dimensional cloud-resolving model is used to investigate the sensitivity of cross-tropopause convective mass transport to tropopause definition. A ten-hour simulation is conducted to encompass the growth and decay cycle, with focus on irreversible transport above the tropopause. Six previously published tropopause definitions are evaluated. These definitions include specific values of altitude, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) temperature lapse rate, potential vorticity, stratospheric tracer concentration, static stability, and curvature of the Brunt-Vaisala Frequency. This investigation highlights the challenge of defining a tropopause during active deep convection, and demonstrates the need of clearly communicating calculation methods and threshold choices in the …

Detailed Analysis Of Convective Simulations From A Wrf Microphysics Ensemble, Joshua Markel

Theses and Dissertations

This study performed a detailed analysis of convective storms across the Contiguous United States from 77 case dates using a 4-member microphysics Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) ensemble and Stage IV gauge-adjusted radar derived precipitation. Dates included the 2016 NOAA Spring Forecast Experiment (SFE) with the remainder from 2010-2012. Quantitative attributes of precipitation objects in both simulations and observations were diagnosed using the Method of Object-Based Diagnostic Evaluation Time-Domain (MODE-TD). The microphysics schemes tested were WSM6, Thompson, Morrison, and Milbrandt.

Among all simulation case dates, compared to observations, the number of precipitation objects less than 90 km in length are …

Spacesuit Integrated Carbon Nanotube Dust Mitigation System For Lunar Exploration, Kavya Kamal Manyapu

Theses and Dissertations

Lunar dust proved to be troublesome during the Apollo missions. The lunar dust comprises of fine particles, with electric charges imparted by solar winds and ultraviolet radiation. As such, it adheres readily, and easily penetrates through smallest crevices into mechanisms. During Apollo missions, the powdery dust substantially degraded the performance of spacesuits by abrading suit fabric and clogging seals. Dust also degraded other critical equipment such as rovers, thermal control and optical surfaces, solar arrays, and was thus shown to be a major issue for surface operations. Even inside the lunar module, Apollo astronauts were exposed to this dust when …

Lightcurve Study Of V-Type Asteroids, Matt Nowinski

Theses and Dissertations

A massive impact event on (4) Vesta is believed to have created the Vesta family of asteroids (Asphaug, 1997). The rotational characteristics of the Vesta family provide important clues about this event, including its timing, the make-up of the resulting debris, the subsequent migration of members of the family into Earth-crossing orbits, and the deposition of the Howardite-Eucrite-Diogenite meteorites on the Earth’s surface. This study conducted lightcurve measurements of ten Vp-type asteroids, drawn from an asteroid taxonomy defined by Carvano et al. (2010) and based on the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Moving Object Catalogue (MOC4). These measurements identified a …

Optimal Control Of Induction Machines To Minimize Transient Energy Losses, Siby Jose Plathottam

Theses and Dissertations

Induction machines are electromechanical energy conversion devices comprised of a stator and a rotor. Torque is generated due to the interaction between the rotating magnetic field from the stator, and the current induced in the rotor conductors. Their speed and torque output can be precisely controlled by manipulating the magnitude, frequency, and phase of the three input sinusoidal voltage waveforms. Their ruggedness, low cost, and high efficiency have made them ubiquitous component of nearly every industrial application. Thus, even a small improvement in their energy efficient tend to give a large amount of electrical energy savings over the lifetime of …

An Investigation Of The Thermal Degradation Of Lignin, Sara Pourjafar

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to explore selected non-biological lignin decomposition reactions to determine if these reactions have the potential to generate fuel and chemical intermediates in a commercially feasible manner. Two different strategies were employed: 1) metal doped silica-alumina and γ-alumina catalytic decomposition reactions, and 2) base catalyzed sub- and supercritical water liquefaction.

The first strategy was built upon previous research to explore metal doped silica-alumina and γ-alumina catalytic lignin decomposition reactions in a batch reactor system. Commercially available silica-alumina and γ-alumina catalysts were individually doped with 5 and 10 wt % of molybdenum or copper via a …

The Effects Of Subject Presentation Types In Problem Based Learning (Pbl) Problems On Student Motivation: A Pbl Implementation In Speech Language Pathology, Elaine Kim Pyle

Theses and Dissertations

Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is an evidence-based instructional approach designed to maximize one’s ability to use static knowledge as evidence for solving authentic problems (Barrows, 1986). Students have been observed as underprepared or skipping steps during the PBL process due to fatigue or low motivation (Czabanowska, Moust, Meijer, Schr��-B夫, & Robertson, 2012). This study considered the impact of the presentation of the PBL subject (i.e., the key character involved in the problem) on student motivation within the context of Speech and Voice Science curricula. The results of this mixed-methods study showed the frequency of engagement behaviors declined overall. Although engagement levels …

Design And Manufacture Of A Negative Index Metamaterial Using A Magnetized Photonic Crystal, Mohamed Zein Radwan

Theses and Dissertations

Negative index materials (NIM) are artificial structures in which the refractive index for light has a negative value over some frequency range. This does not occur in any known natural materials, and thus is only achievable with engineered structures known as metamaterials. Metamaterials demonstrating a negative refractive index for light usually consist of arrays of wires and cut-ring structures: such media are characterized by both the electrical permittivity and magnetic permeability being negative. My method for obtaining a NIM is different from previous attempts. I get the negative magnetic permeability from a ferrite material which is the host medium for …

Modeling The Interactions Between Turbulence And Radiation In Oxy-Combustion Flames, Md Ashiqur Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

In order to accurately estimate radiative heat transfer in turbulent combustion systems, one needs to take into account the non-linear interactions between the temporally fluctuating species and temperature variables and the radiation field. Simply employing time-averaged values of these variables in the radiation calculations to estimate absorption and emission (as is commonly done in the modeling community) can result in gross errors in the estimation of the radiative fluxes. Therefore, models that account for these Turbulence-Radiation Interactions (TRI) have been proposed in the literature to improve the fidelity of the radiative transfer calculations. TRI models accomplish this by computing appropriate …

Effects Of Non-Conventional Gas And Oil Production Activities On Local And Regional Fine Particles And Ground-Level Ozone, Swetha Mallula

Theses and Dissertations

Unconventional oil and gas production in North Dakota and Texas has been rising significantly since 2007 with the advances in hydraulic fracturing technology. The effects of unconventional oil and gas production on the environmental quality and public health, however, are not well understood. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of unconventional energy production on two types of air pollutants (fine particles and ground-level ozone). We analyzed the air quality data from publicly accessible sources, focusing on two major oil producing states (North Dakota, Texas) and two control states (Minnesota and Connecticut). The specific objectives of this …

Simulating Boundary Crossing Supercells Using A Non-Hydrostatic Cloud Model, Aaron Keith Scott

Theses and Dissertations

Supercell thunderstorms are among nature’s most powerful phenomena. Particular environmental conditions are strongly correlated with peak supercell and tornado strength. However, supercells may experience changes within the near-storm environment during their lifecycle. For example, a storm may cross a preexisting outflow boundary from previous convection; thus, the storm will experience changes in the environmental thermodynamic and wind profiles. The purpose of this study is to determine what happens to the low-level mesocyclone immediately after crossing a boundary, analyze storm sensitivity to differing boundary crossing times, and show how the vorticity processes change as a storm moves from one environment to …

Enhanced Optical Wireless Channel For Indoor And Intravehicle Communications: Power Distribution And Signal To Noise Ratio Analysis, Rana Rageh Shaaban

Theses and Dissertations

Visible light communication—(VLC) provides wide bandwidth and high security

capabilities for free space optical communication. This thesis presents the key concepts,

underlying principles and practical applications of visible light communications. In

particular, this thesis focuses on the received power distribution pattern and signal to noise

ratio for line-of-sight indoor and vehicular applications. Several methods are used to

modify the SNR and power distribution levels. It is shown that in the absence of

obstruction, the optical footprint is nearly circular and offers a platform for large- scale

deployment in commercial environments, which is similar to micro and Pico cells.

By studying …

Testing An Integrative Model Of Depressive Symptoms With A Sample Of Latina/O Youth, Diana Slivensky

Theses and Dissertations

Latina/o youth represent a significant portion of the United States population and experience depressive symptoms at greater rates than other racial and ethnic groups. Prior research has found relationships between the cultural adaptation process and negative

mental health outcomes. The purpose of the present study was to test a model of depressive symptoms with a sample of Latina/o youth that aimed to explore the relations among acculturation, enculturation, bicultural stress, adherence to cultural values (i.e., familismo and respeto), family cohesion, and perceived peer support. Additionally, the present study examined gender differences among all the aforesaid variables. Participants included 156 Latina/o …

Inner Strength In Men-A Descriptive Phenomenology, Charles S. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenologic study was to explicate the eidetic structure and essence of inner strength in men. Based in the philosophy of Husserl (2012) and developed from the methodology of Giorgi (2009), inner strength in men emerged as a unique phenomenon comprised of five structural themes: 1) mentally managing; 2) purposefully moving; 3) intentional normalizing; 4) intentional connecting; and, 5) mobilizing self to get through. The essence of inner strength in men was “purposefully moving ‘through a glass darkly’ to get to the other side.”

Twelve men aged 50 years or older (m = 60.25 years) shared …

Inner Strength In Mothers Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Oral Histories, Jennifer Weathersbee Steinberg

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this oral history study was to describe the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and to further inform the Theory of Inner Strength in Women (TIS) (Dingley & Roux, 2014). Postmodern feminist oral history methods were used to answer the research questions which included: 1) What are the lived experiences of mothers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? and 2) How do these experiences further inform TIS?

Interviews were manually coded directly onto the digital audio files using NVivo11Plus qualitative data management software. Three chronologic phases were identified among …

A Comprehensive Analysis Of Clouds, Radiation, And Precipitation In The North Pacific Itcz In The Nasa Giss Modele Gcm And Satellite Observations, Ryan Evan Stanfield

Theses and Dissertations

Global circulation/climate models (GCMs) remain as an invaluable tool to predict future potential climate change. To best advise policy makers, assessing and increasing the accuracy of climate models is paramount. The treatment of clouds, radiation and precipitation in climate models and their associated feedbacks have long been one of the largest sources of uncertainty in predicting any potential future climate changes.

Three versions of the NASA GISS ModelE GCM (the frozen CMIP5 version [C5], a post-CMIP5 version with modifications to cumulus and boundary layer turbulence parameterizations [P5], and the most recent version of the GCM which builds on the post-CMIP5 …

Outcrop Mapping Using Unmanned Aerial Systems And Modeling Of The Shannon Sandstone In The Powder River Basin, Emily Grace Sundell

Theses and Dissertations

Mapping steep outcrops by hand is dangerous, time consuming and gathering images parallel to a cliff face is difficult to nearly impossible. Wyoming has many extensive, steep, surface outcrops that in the subsurface are petroleum-producing formations. The Powder River Basin (PRB) of Wyoming has been a prolific producer of petroleum since the late 1800s, and with continual advances in technology production continues to increase. During the Cretaceous, the PRB was inundated by the Western Interior Seaway. Sand-clay sequences corresponding to transgressions and regressions were deposited and resulted in the Campanian Shannon Member of the Cody Formation. The Shannon Member thickens …

Epigenetic Remodeling As A Mediator Of Environmental Toxicant Exposure In The Brain, Christopher David Walden

Theses and Dissertations

Natural toxins and artificial toxicants are abundant throughout our environment and may play an integral role in remodeling our epigenome and in the development of neural diseases. Exposure to heavy metals and organic pollutants, such as DDT and its derivatives, have been linked to neural disease. Additionally, there are links between direct exposure, in both adults and children, to short-lived pesticides and neural diseases. While the link has been established, understanding the root cause has yet to be elucidated. One increasingly relevant field offering promise in achieving this goal is epigenetics. Epigenetic remodeling is one potential mechanism by which environmental …