Digital Commons Network^™

Spring Commencement: May 15, 2021, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Spring Commencement program from May 15, 2021.

Commodifying The Commons: American Individualism And Corporate Agriculture, Sarah A. Cryer

Student Theses 2015-Present

An individualistic ideology strongly defines the American value system, shaping the economic and political landscape of the country. It encourages a competitive, free-market economy with little government restriction, prioritizing short term economic growth over environmental and social sustainability. This paper addresses how American individualism fuels the commodification of food and corporately controlled agriculture. The egocentric ideology opens the door for unfettered corporate control of farming, meant to maximize profit and control resources, despite its effects on food insecurity and small farms. Consolidated agriculture, corporate contracts, and farm subsidies are meant to expand the pockets of corporations, though leaving low income …

Conserving Chelonia Mydas Populations In Oahu: The Impact Of Plastic On The Hawaiian Archipelago, Hailey Arango

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the anthropogenic factors that hinder the survival of the once-endangered Hawaiian Chelonia mydas population and the associated environmental degradation faced by the Hawaiian Islands. Chapter 1 introduces quantitative data on the decline and gradual recovery of the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). By understanding the origin of the inhibition of the Hawaiian Chelonia mydas population growth and its correlation to the demise of coral reef health, the future viability of recreational fishing and ecotourism can be determined. This chapter studies the cultural significance of this species and evaluates the current stance on government support …

Lipoates As Building Blocks Of Macromolecules, Mojdeh Raeisi

Chemistry Theses and Dissertations

Since the discovery of Lipoic acid in the early 1950s, there have been several studies to further investigate properties and applications of this interesting, naturally occurring compound. In 1956, the dynamic nature of disulfide bonds in Lipoic acid was reported, which can exist through conversions of monomeric disulfide, polymeric disulfide, and reduced form (dithiol) from one to another under proper conditions. This dynamic nature and reducibility of disulfide bonds via thiol-disulfide exchange, opened doors to the use of Lipoic acid in drug delivery systems, especially for delivery to cancer cells that suffer from overexpression of glutathione – a thiol-bearing tripeptide …

A Meadow From Above: Expanding Green Roof Implementation In Nyc, Lydia Hallett

Student Theses 2015-Present

Urban green roofs are among the encouraging climate solutions that can transform the future of cities. The reincorporation of vegetation into the built environment enhances invaluable natural services, like clean air and water, for all New Yorkers to enjoy. Although the natural services aren’t economically valued, the benefits that stem from them are. Benefits range from stormwater management, increased property value and increased lifespan of roofs, and lower energy bills. Many buildings can be retrofitted for green roofs that work with natural systems to maximize the environmental, economic, and social benefits unique to the needs or wants of the installer. …

The Humanity Of Christ As Instrument Of Salvation In The Theology Of Thomas Aquinas, J. David Moser

Religious Studies Theses and Dissertations

Interpreters of Thomas Aquinas’s Christology have long observed the uniqueness of his claim that Christ’s human nature is “an instrument of the divinity.” For Aquinas, the mysteries of Christ’s life, the actions and sufferings he underwent in the flesh (acta et passa Christi in carne), cause our salvation in the present. And they have this effect because Christ’s humanity is a “conjoined instrument” of the divinity, united to the Logos, the second person of the Trinity, in person. By contrast, nearly all of Aquinas’s medieval contemporaries, like Bonaventure (1224-1274) as well as Aquinas himself, argued that the humanity …

Differences In ​The Proportion Of Children Meeting Behavior Guidelines ​Between Summer ​And School By Socioeconomic Status And Race, Ethan T. Hunt, Lauren Von Klinggraeff, Alexis Jones, Sarah Burkart, Roddrick Dugger, Bridget Armstrong Ph.D., Michael Beets Ph.D., Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy Ph.D., Rd, Marco Geraci, Robert Glenn Weaver Med, Phd

Faculty Publications

Objective

Children who fail to meet activity, sleep, and screen-time guidelines are at increased risk for obesity. Further, children who are Black are more likely to have obesity when compared to children who are White, and children from low-income households are at increased risk for obesity when compared to children from higher-income households. The objective of this study was to evaluate the proportion of days meeting obesogenic behavior guidelines during the school year compared to summer vacation by race and free/reduced priced lunch (FRPL) eligibility.

Methods

Mixed-effects linear and logistic regressions estimated the proportion of days participants met activity, sleep, …

The Current State Of Nursing Education In The Context Of Covid-19, Kaitlyn Kelly

Nursing Capstones

The field of nursing education has undergone massive changes in the context of COVID-19. Healthcare systems shifted to take care of an influx of patients, personal protective equipment shortages arose, and fear of transmission of the virus contributed to many nursing programs quickly transitioning to online instruction. These quick shifts leave many questions about the quality of education nursing students are currently experiencing. Although data may not yet be available to examine the effects of COVID-19 on nursing education, much can be learned by reviewing relevant literature published since the pandemic’s onset. This literature review describes changes to nursing education …

Treatment Of Trichotillomania, Kelsey Schwehr

Nursing Capstones

No abstract provided.

Repurposing Pillar One Into An Incremental Global Tax For Sustainability: Some Blue Sky Thinking In The Midst Of Global Crisis, Jinyan Li, Sophie Chatel

Articles & Book Chapters

In this article, the authors make a case for repurposing the OECD Pillar One from a mechanism for reallocating taxing rights to a global tax on the largest and most profitable MNEs’ market-based profits. Such global tax would have the hybrid features of a net-basis corporate income tax and a turnover-basis digital services tax through a conversion formula that ensures a low-rate DST on sales can replicate a higher rate CIT on a country’s share of the profit determined using under the formulary allocation method. More importantly, the authors instill a common purpose of the international tax consensus – to …

Repurposing Pillar One Into An Incremental Global Tax For Sustainability: A Collective Response To A Global Crisis, Jinyan Li, Sophie Chatel

Articles & Book Chapters

This article proposes to repurpose the OECD/IF Pillar One Blueprint from a taxing rights reallocation mechanism into an incremental global tax for sustainability. With a common goal and DST-like feature for simplification, the proposal aims to ease the negotiation of essential and drastic simplifications required to deliver a workable solution.

Vegetarian Diets, Maybe Not As Healthy As You Think, Darryl Goh, Debbie Chan, Merson Hoo, Ian Wong

Introduction to Research Methods RSCH 202

Many are approaching vegetarianism as a viable diet option in recent years, presuming that adopting a vegetarian diet would provide health benefits. This paper explores the possibilities of physical and mental effects that vegetarianism may have on humans and its extent by the use of regression analysis. To measure the possible impacts vegetarian diets may hold on both the physiology and physical aspects of humans, we have utilized the measures of life expectancy and prevalence of depression respectively. Cross-sectional data were examined from sources such as the World Health Organization, Our World In Data and the World Bank, with figures …

The Canine-Campus Connection, Mary Renck Jalongo

New Directions in the Human-Animal Bond

A primary mission of universities is promoting student success and well-being. Many college and university personnel have implemented initiatives that offer students the documented benefits of positive human-animal interaction (HAI). Accumulating evidence suggests that assistance dogs, therapy dogs, and shelter dogs can support student wellness and learning. The best programs balance the welfare of humans and canines while assessing students’ needs and complying with all laws and regulations. Contributors to this edited volume have drawn upon research across many disciplines as well as their extensive practical experiences to produce a timely and valuable resource—for administrators and students. Whether readers are …

Agricultural Urbanism: Sustainable Food Security In Urban Development, Diego Soto

Hospitality Design Graduate Student Capstones

Food insecurity is an unfortunate reality for far too many people. In this noble venture, a Master of Architecture candidate takes principles of hospitality design and applies them to residential and civic design such that the communal spaces of our neighborhoods and the homes of families become more hospitable. Diego Soto entered the HD Studio with a passion for helping people and a goal to address hunger. Conversations chronicled through his book take the reader on a journey that helps the wider audience appreciate the oath architects take... to uphold the life, safety, and welfare of the general public. Diego's …

Engineering Nucleus Pulposus Cell-Matrix Interactions With Laminin Ligands For Tissue Regeneration, Julie Elizabeth Speer

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Low back pain and degenerative conditions of the intervertebral disc (IVD) represent major global socioeconomic and medical burdens. The structures that comprise the IVD including the anulus fibrosis and the nucleus pulposus (NP) work together to stabilize the axial skeleton and distribute mechanical forces. However, the degenerative cascade, which is thought to begin with changes to the NP, results in alterations to the disc that can be seen across length scales including elongated cell shapes, tissue dehydration, and loss of disc height. Patients who present clinically with these changes may also experience altered biomechanics, pain upon motion, impairments to their …

Parental Psychological Distress After Prenatal Diagnosis Of Congenital Heart Disease: Patterns, Predictors, And Impact On Early Outcomes., Kathryn Mangin-Heimos

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect and is often diagnosed during pregnancy. The transition to parenthood after prenatal diagnosis can be particularly challenging. Both mothers and fathers are at elevated risk for psychological distress, yet early distress frequencies and patterns have not been well characterized. The impact of psychological distress on parents’ perceptions of their readiness to care for their infant after hospital discharge is currently unknown. The association of psychological distress with early infant neurodevelopment has also been under investigated. To examine these gaps in knowledge, we conducted a single center, prospective cohort study of …

Gut Reactions: Quantitative Predictions Of The Responses Of Human Gut Microbiota To Medical Interventions, Amy Elizabeth Langdon

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

The collection of microbes known as the human microbiome perform vital functions for their host, and when this community becomes unhealthy, its dysbiosis is implicated in a myriad of diseases. The gut microbiota in particular are known to suppress colonization of opportunistic pathogens, regulate the immune system, aid in nutrient breakdown, produce vitamins, and a growing number of other functions. In order to intervene in a dysbiotic microbial ecology, we can try to remove unwanted microbes or try to recolonize the gut with microbes expected to be beneficial. This dissertation provides an overview of the state of medical interventions for …

Men And Oral Health: A Review Of Sex And Gender Differences, Martin S. Lipsky, Sharon Su, Carlos J. Crespo, Man Hung

OHSU-PSU School of Public Health Faculty Publications and Presentations

Sex and gender related health disparities in oral health remain an underappreciated and often over looked aspect of well-being. The goal of this narrative review is to identify sex and gender related oral health disparities by summarizing the current literature related to differences in oral health between men and women. The review identified that men are more likely to: ignore their oral health, have poorer oral hygiene habits, and experience higher rates of periodontal disease, oral cancer, and dental trauma. Men also visit dentists less frequently and compared to women seek oral treatment more often for an acute problem and …

The Role Of Enampt-Mediated Systemic Nad+ Biosynthesis In Aging And Lifespan, Mitsukuni Yoshida

Arts & Sciences Graduate Student Theses and Dissertations

Aging is a systemic decline in tissue functions that occurs during the course of our life leading to the development of age-associated health deteriorations and ultimately to the expiration of life. Over the past few decades, population aging has become increasingly evident in many parts of the world, leading to increased prevalence of age-related disabilities and diseases. Because age is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases, extensive research effort has been spent to identify common age-associated molecular changes contributing to the pathogenesis and progression of these health issues. One such molecule identified to play a central role in …

Information Needs And Seeking Behaviors Of Communal Frontline Health Workers In Anambra State., Atkinson Ike Madukwe, Justina Ogochukwu Osonwa

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

ABSTRACT

Background: Libraries all over the world has being under lockdown as a result of the problems presented by this novel coronavirus. While still grappling through this pandemic is the challenges of libraries to provide timely access to information to frontline health workers who are in dire need of information to better understand this virus. It is in view of the above ugly scenario that necessitated the researchers to undertake this study.

Objective: This paper suggest that information needs of health workers in Anambra State are diverse and vary from communities to communities depending on the prevalent health conditions available …

Infliximab As Rescue Therapy In Pediatric Severe Colitis, Kayla B. Briggs

Research Days

Background: Infliximab has been shown to be effective in achieving clinical remission in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) refractory to conventional therapy. However, there is conflicting data in the literature regarding its effectiveness as rescue therapy in acute severe colitis. Furthermore, most studies were conducted in adults, and pediatric onset of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with more severe disease that may be less amenable to rescue therapy.

Objectives/Goal: We reviewed our experience with pediatric severe colitis and report outcomes following attempted rescue therapy with infliximab.

Methods/Design: A retrospective review was conducted of patients with UC or indeterminate colitis …

Communicating Healthy Behavior Choices In Your Community, Bonnie Faitak

Diet, Food, Exercise, and Nutrition (D-FEND)

How a team at UAMS has been helping communicate about healthy food choices across the region, state, and world.

The Right To Food In Puerto Rico: Where Colonialism And Disaster Meet, Gabriela Valentín Díaz

University of Miami Inter-American Law Review

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Nitrogen Addition On Selection Of Germination Trait In An Alpine Meadow On The Tibet Plateau, Kun Liu, Yang Liu, Zhilong Zhang, Shiting Zhang, Carol C. Baskin, Jerry M. Baskin, Ting Liang, Haiyan Bu, Shuxia Li, Tingting Zhang, Xianliang Cui, Sa Xiao

Biology Faculty Publications

Seed germination requirements may determine the kinds of habitat in which plants can survive. We tested the hypothesis that nitrogen (N) addition can change seed germination trait-environmental filter interactions and ultimately redistribute seed germination traits in alpine meadows. We determined the role of N addition on germination trait selection in an alpine meadow after N addition by combining a 3-year N addition experiment in an alpine meadow and laboratory germination experiments. At the species level, germination percentage, germination rate (speed) and breadth of temperature niche for germination (BTN) were positively related to survival of a species in the fertilized community. …

Plant Based Compounds Inhibit Proliferation, Alter Cytomorphology And Decrease Migration Of Human Adenocarcinoma Cells, Devapriya Segaran

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

Adenocarcinoma is an aggressive form of lung cancer that has a high risk of recurrence with a survival rate of 33%. In recent years, there has been much interest in the ability of naturally occurring plant derived phenols to inhibit specific type of cancers. Compounds like curcumin derived from turmeric, rutin derived from citrus fruits and resveratrol derived from blueberries have been of particular interest. In this thesis I studied the anti-cancer effects of the above-mentioned compounds on a human a549 adenocarcinoma cell line. Inverted phase contrast microscopy was used to observe alterations to the cytomorphology of cells. An MTT …

Quality Assurance Of Service Learning Back School, Eric Bashaw, Vu Pham, Tyler Parvin, Ryan Pauly

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Project Execution: Back School: During the 2019-20 academic year, two University of Nevada, Las Vegas Physical Therapy (UNLVPT) core faculty members, along with eight doctor of physical therapy students, provided three student-led, pro-bono back school classes at Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada (VMSN). Each back school class consisted of two, 2-hour sessions where participants were screened for red flags, educated on pain management strategies and common causes of back pain, and given an individual home exercise program. Quality Assurance Surveys: Patient’s and VMSN staff were all given questions in the form of Likert-scale and open-ended questions via printed handouts …

Effects Of Environmental Change On Ancestral Pueblo Fishing In The Middle Rio Grande, Jonathan William Dombrosky

Anthropology ETDs

It has long been assumed that fishes were unimportant in the diet of past Pueblo people in the U.S. Southwest. Yet, small numbers of fish remains are consistently recovered from Late pre-Hispanic/Early Historic archaeological sites in the Middle Rio Grande of New Mexico. The end of drought conditions may have impacted food choice and fishing decisions during this time. I use behavioral ecology to understand how fishing could have been an optimal food-getting strategy for Ancestral Pueblo farmers. Stable isotope analysis offers a way to account for environmental change. I provide a refined ¹³C Suess correction model to support …

Appropriate Medical Care: A Mixed Method Study Of Perceptions Of Athletics Directors In National Collegiate Athletic Association Division Ii Colleges And Universities, Laura Crowell

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) Colleges and Universities face expanding athletic seasons, more teams, more athletes, increasingly complex medical protocols, and an increasingly litigious society. Athletic Trainers (ATs) are responsible for development and implementation of appropriate athletic health care for Student-Athletes (SAs). Athletics Directors (ADs) are the administrative decision-makers and the agents of change when dealing with these competing interests. Athletics Directors allocate the budget and control hiring processes. Athletic Trainer workload poses a moral and legal threat to SAs, ATs, and universities. The problem continues to persist in NCAA DII Universities despite ample research. The …

Increasing Engagement In Youth In A Juvenile Detention Facility: Teaching Science For Social Justice, Kelley Larson

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

Science is a subject that lends itself well to an inquiry-based approach to teaching instead of memorizing facts and ideas. However, there are still teachers who are not utilizing student-centered methods that allow students to practice science as they learn the concepts. While many students can still pass their courses, unique populations of underrepresented students struggle to engage with the material as it is presented. In this study, the researcher utilized a social justice approach to teaching science to her classes in a juvenile detention facility to measure their engagement levels. She did this by allowing the students to engage …

Do Community Schools Make A Difference? Comparing Community Schools And Noncommunity Schools In Baltimore City, Tiffany Bonds Mason

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Schools are frequently seen as the hubs of the community, providing resources and a gathering place for members of the community. The process of surveying the community in order to identify unique needs within the community, and then intentionally forging partnerships capable of ameliorating the specific needs, are strategies used by community schools to support their students and the communities from which they are drawn. Baltimore City Public Schools has created a community school management system in of their elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of community school management on the success of students …