Digital Commons Network^™

Development, Characterization, And Application Of Nanomaterials For Target Detection And Therapeutic Study, Yingfen Wu

Theses and Dissertations

Nanomaterials have emerged as a pivotal area of research in chemistry, driven by their unique properties that make them suitable for both industrial and biomedical applications. Among nanomaterials, nanozyme is a series of nanomaterials with enzyme-mimetic activities that can proceed with the catalytic reactions of natural enzymes, conferring significant potential for their use in various biomedical applications. Herein, we describe three types of nanomaterials products with distinct properties and applications: 1) Fe³⁺-doped graphene quantum dots (GQDs) for sensitive H₂O₂ detection; 2) ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobes based on near-infrared (NIR) semiconducting polymer dots for label-free detection of dopamine; and 3) Multifunctional near …

Evaluating Uas As A Tool For Improving Elk Population Counts In A Suburban Forested Area Of North Central Colorado, Michael Wussow

Theses and Dissertations

For decades, wildlife researchers have taken advantage of an aerial perspective for performing population counts because of challenges associated with ground observations. Due to advances in aviation technology and regulations, unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) have become increasingly available for wildlife population monitoring in addition to manned aircraft, with success largely dependent on the species, their habitat, and UAS utilized. This study compares a currently accepted method of counting North American elk (ground/spotting scope counts) to a novel method (UAS) to evaluate if a commercial-off-the-shelf quadcopter (COTS) UAS equipped with zoom-capable RGB cameras would be an acceptable tool for counting elk …

The Catalytic Conversion Of Corn Stover Sugars Into Lactic Acid, Ahmed Essam

Theses and Dissertations

The rising global demand for addressing global warming necessitates the development of renewable-based alternatives to current fossil fuel-based chemicals and fuels. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant energy source following fossil fuels. As a result, agricultural residues such as corn stover have attracted substantial interest for utilization as a potential feedstock for renewable chemicals.Previous research work at the University of North Dakota showed promising results in converting corn stover sugars into chemical building blocks. The most crucial of these chemicals is lactic acid, which can be used in multiple applications including food, pharmaceuticals, and biodegradable plastics. Traditionally, lactic acid is …

Evaluation Of Hydrogen Storage Potential In Depelted Hydrocarbon Formations: A Case Study Of The Middle Bakken Member In The Antelope Field, Williston Basin, North Dakota, Grace Oluwakemisola Taiwo

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrogen, as a low-emission fuel and energy carrier, plays a crucial role in stabilizing renewable energy variability amid global decarbonization efforts. Subsurface storage, uniquely secure against threats such as severe weather, military conflicts, fires, and acts of terrorism, is critical for large-scale hydrogen applications and addressing the intermittency of renewable resources. North Dakota, represents a classic example of a state where reliance on fossil fuels drives significant greenhouse gas emissions. The state also hosts the Bakken Formation, an important hydrocarbon formation where depleted or nearly depleted wells exacerbate environmental challenges through potential fugitive emissions. This study therefore investigates the feasibility …

Cyclical Musicians: Collegiate Music Students’ Experiences Of Instrumental Musicking Processes Across The Menstrual Cycle, Anne Marques Catarin

Theses and Dissertations

Instrumental music researchers tend to focus on non-sex-specific health topics, such as posture (e.g., Garnett et al., 2022; Rousseau et al., 2023), musculoskeletal health (e.g., Mizrahi, 2020; Pratt et al., 2020), or neurological movement disorders (e.g., Altenmüller & Jabusch, 2010; Frucht, 2009). Despite the considerable extent of topics covered in musician health, the role of menstrual health in instrumentalists is currently underdeveloped. Using a case study design (Stake, 1995; Yin, 2014), I explored the unspoken experiences of collegiate instrumental music majors who menstruate, in an investigation to better understand the role of menstrual cycles in their musicking. For four months, …

Development Of Fluorescent-Based Nanoparticles For Bioimaging, Gene Regulation Expression, And Photo-Induced Synergistic Cancer Therapy, Di Sun

Theses and Dissertations

Fluorescent-based nanoparticles have been applied to a broad range of biological applications, as discussed in this dissertation, including bioimaging, gene regulation expression, and photo-induced synergistic cancer therapy. Prior to applications, this dissertation first focused on the development and characterization of several fluorescent-based nanoparticles using different methods. These include 1) Streamlined synthesis of dual-emissive fluorescent-based silicon quantum dots (SiQDs). The SiQDs were generated as a promising, non-toxic labeling tool for bioimaging of a variety of cell types. both in visible and near-infrared (NIR) ranges. 2) Polymer-based nanoparticles - Polymer dots (Pdots) with a strong NIR fluorescence. The Pdots were functionalized as …

Personality Across Realities: Correlations Between Personality Profiles And Preferences Within Roleplaying Games, Brittany Lee Mancha

Theses and Dissertations

Clinically maladaptive behaviors and personality types have been studied within gamers, both those who play video games and those who roleplay in tabletop games. However, the connection between personality types and the preferences of the players themselves in what and how they roleplay is just barely being studied. Personality traits, such as extraversion/introversion and motivation by pain or pleasure, may be both influencing the gameplay decisions and preferences of players, and vice versa. A total of 500 respondents completed the Millon Index of Personality Styles, Revised (MIPS-R), followed by a demographics survey and finally a survey assessing Dungeons and Dragons', …

The Role Of Carbon Source And Redox Potential On Microbial C1 Gas Fermentation For Ethanol Production, Ademola Owoade

Theses and Dissertations

In the quest for sustainable and renewable energy sources, microbial gas fermentation has emerged as an alternative method for producing bioethanol and other valuable chemicals. Bioethanol is notable for its extensive application as a biofuel and its capacity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Conventional ethanol production predominantly depends on sugar and starch feedstocks, which compete for food resources. Microbial C1 gas fermentation presents a sustainable alternative by using industrial waste gases, or gases from gasification of municipal solid wastes, biomass, agricultural residues, animal wastes, and energy crops, which are all nonfood-based. Microbial gas fermentation is influenced by temperature, pH, gas …

Elementary Teacher Instructional Self-Efficacy In Leader In Me Lighthouse Schools, Lara Storm

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a secondary data comparative analysis using the Leader in Me Measurable Results Assessment (MRA) to examine whether teachers at Leader in Me Lighthouse certified schools have a greater degree of instructional self-efficacy than teachers at non-Lighthouse certified Leader in Me schools. Literature shows that students in classes with teachers that have a higher degree of instructional self-efficacy experience higher student achievement and a more supportive classroom climate. In addition, those teachers with higher efficacy experience lower levels of stress and burnout and are more engaged in professional development. The guiding notion of this investigation is that implementing …

Directivity Improvement Of A Broad-Beam Patch Antenna By Means Of A Flat Metamaterial Lens, Tyler Midas

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis demonstrates the development of a flat metamaterial lens intended to enhance antenna directivity in RF applications. Development and evaluation was performed with ANSYS HFSS, where a theoretical convex lens model was developed and used as a basis for unit cell refractive indices of the metamaterial lens. The unit cell demonstrated in this study leverages the properties of a nested split-ring resonator merged with a center column. Adjusting the rings allow for refractive index optimization and effective beam focusing. The work presented also provides a 2x2 antenna array with a feed network, which enables the future work of bench …

The Reservoir Geomechanics And Production Effects On Permafrost Stability During Polymer Eor, Shane S. Namie

Theses and Dissertations

The North Slope of Alaska (ANS) contains an estimated 40 billion barrels of heavy oil in relatively shallow formations (984 to 1,969 ft / 304 to 600 m) within the Prudhoe Bay Unit (PBU), Milne Point Unit (MPU) and Kuparuk River Unit (KRU). Extracting this resource presents unique challenges, especially when hydrocarbon-bearing zones are near the permafrost. Research on tertiary recovery processes in these shallow zones is limited, with prior studies indicating minor permafrost thawing and subsidence over 30 to 40 years but lacking a numerical simulation model supported by laboratory data.This study investigates the feasibility of an enhanced oil …

Investigation Of Gas Injection Eor In Conventional And Unconventional Reservoirs Based On Laboratory Experiments And Field Pilot Tests, Jin Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

Currently, fossil fuels (including oil, natural gas, and coal) are still the dominant energy sources in the United States. However, their extraction and utilization generate a significant volume of carbon dioxide (CO2) and associated gases, such as methane (CH4), ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), etc. Injecting these gases back into deep oil reservoirs offers a practical means to enhance oil recovery while reducing air pollution. The target formations are usually characterized by good porosity and permeability to ensure sufficient injectivity and storage capacity. However, recent unconventional reservoir development indicated that tight formations could also be potential targets for enhanced oil recovery …

Endolysosomal Mechanisms Of Sars-Cov-2 Spike-Induced Inflammatory Response And Senescence In Human Astrocytes, Wendie Ann Hasler

Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to widespread reports of prolonged neurological symptoms in individuals who have recovered from the acute phase of the infection. These persistent symptoms, collectively termed Neuro-PASC (Neurological Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection), range from cognitive impairments to mood disturbances and other neuroinflammatory issues. Pathological features of Neuro-PASC include vascular impairment, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration. One leading hypothesis for the development of Neuro-PASC is the persistent of SARS-CoV-2 viral factors. Post-mortem evidence indicates that the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is consistently found in the brains of individuals who died with COVID-19, indicating that viral components can interact with …

Targeting World Language Learning In The Target Language: A Qualitative Inquiry Of The K–12 Foreign Language Teacher Experience, Igor Ljevaja

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the current practices of K–12 foreign language teachers (FLTs) in using the target language (TL) within an urban school district in the Midwest United States. Focusing on how FLTs engage in professional development (PD) to optimize their TL use in the classroom, the study investigates the strategies and knowledge FLTs employ to foster TL proficiency among students. Purposeful sampling was employed to recruit participants (n = 5) who represented full-time FLTs, taught between sixth and 12th grade, and had at least four years of teaching experience and valid state licenses. Semi-structured interviews with current FLTs provide …

Fluorescence Imaging Systems To Detect Contamination On Surfaces Common In Food Processing And Medical Facilities, Benjamin Hu

Theses and Dissertations

Biofilm are aggregates of microbial cells encased under an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and resist sanitizers or antibiotics. Because of their persistence on various surfaces such as medical devices or industrial piping, biofilm formation is associated with approximately 65% of all microbial infections. Thus, their detection and deactivation are of great importance to public health. Many detection methods such as swabbing require sampling by rubbing , which can be inefficient and challenging. This study proposes the use of handheld multispectral fluorescence imaging systems to detect and deactivate biofilm in situ. We utilized the Contamination and Sanitization Inspection (CSI) and -Disinfection …

Using Problematic Sexual Behaviors And The Developmental Life Course Model To Predict Criminal Justice Involvement And Psychopathology By Early Adulthood, Amanda Schwartz

Theses and Dissertations

The developmental life course (DLC) model explains risk factors and developmental patterns among juveniles who have committed more than one sexual offense by considering the impact of major life events, experiences, and risk and protective factors throughout various developmental stages. Using an archival longitudinal dataset, the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), this study applied the DLC model to explore the relationship between gender and onset and persistence of problematic sexual behaviors (PSBs) in childhood and adolescence with criminal justice involvement and psychopathology by early adulthood (N = 330, 46% male, M = 18.26 years) after controlling for …

Hydraulic Fracturing And Reservoir Simulation Modeling Of Enhanced Geothermal System Optimization For Economical Energy Production, Jerjes W Porlles Hurtado

Theses and Dissertations

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) have the potential for sustainable energy production but require large upfront expenditures and strategic development to be profitable. To reduce costs and increase energy output, this work integrates hydraulic fracturing (HF) modeling with reservoir simulation optimization to improve EGS design and operating efficiency. EGS uses hot, dry rock geothermal resources, mostly crystalline and sedimentary rocks with poor permeability. Shear stimulation is preferred over hydraulic fracturing in EGS reservoirs, but a comprehensive HF strategy is still lacking. This study fills this gap by evaluating hydraulic fracturing and proppant use for optimal EGS development. Hydraulic fracturing in EGS …

Numerical Simulation And Assessment Of Underground Blue Hydrogen Storage In Depleted Gas Reservoir, Abraham Kazala

Theses and Dissertations

Nowadays, the world needs more energy than ever before. This need emphasizes that the world also requires a sustainable system that can meet these growing demands while addressing the overall impact on the environment. For this reason, the international community, including all levels of environmental policymakers, have shown a great deal of concern about the tremendous negative effects of fossil fuels on the globe. The impact of carbon dioxide as a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) from burning fossil fuels on the ozone layer and what it entails in global warming and, therefore, climate change has motivated research on finding either alternatives …

Diabetter Together: Clinical Trial Protocol For A Strengths-Based Peer Mentor Intervention For Young Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Transitioning To Adult Care, Samantha A Carreon, Charles G Minard, Sarah K Lyons, Wendy Levy, Stephanie Camey, Kishan Desai, Brenda Duran, Randi Streisand, Barbara J Anderson, Siripoom V Mckay, Tricia S Tang, Sridevi Devaraj, Ryan Ramphul, Marisa E Hilliard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) management is challenging for young adults, who are expected to transfer from the pediatric to adult T1D healthcare system while also managing typical developmental demands (e.g., social, financial, work/school, residential). Many young adults have extended gaps in care before following up in adult care, increasing risk for poor health outcomes. There are few evidence-based programs to support young adults with T1D to promote a timelier transition during this period. This paper reports on the design of DiaBetter Together, a randomized controlled trial to evaluate a 12-month Peer Mentor-delivered intervention compared to usual care among young …

Implementation Of Delirium Screening In The Emergency Department: A Qualitative Study With Early Adopters, Anita N Chary, Annika R Bhananker, Elise Brickhouse, Beatrice Torres, Ilianna Santangelo, Kyler M Godwin, Aanand D Naik, Christopher R Carpenter, Shan W Liu, Maura Kennedy

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Delirium affects 15% of older adults presenting to emergency departments (EDs) but is detected in only one-third of cases. Evidence-based guidelines for ED delirium screening exist, but are underutilized. Frontline staff perceptions about delirium and time and resource constraints are known barriers to ED delirium screening uptake. Early adopters of ED delirium screening can offer valuable lessons about successful implementation.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with clinician-administrators leading ED delirium screening initiatives from 20 EDs in the United States and Canada. Interviews focused on experiences of planning and implementing ED delirium screening. Interviews lasted 15 to 50 minutes and …

Testosterone Acts Through The Membrane Protein Gprc6a To Cause Cardiac Edema In Zebrafish Embryos, Vahid Zadmajid, Shayan Shahriar, Daniel A Gorelick

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Androgens are classically thought to act through intracellular androgen receptors (AR/NR3C4), but they can also trigger non-genomic effects via membrane proteins. Although several membrane androgen receptors have been characterized in vitro, their functions in vivo remain unclear. Using a chemical-genetic screen in zebrafish, we found that GPRC6A, a G-protein-coupled receptor, mediates non-genomic androgen actions during embryonic development. Exposure to androgens (androstanedione, DHT and testosterone) caused cardiac edema or tail curvature in wild-type embryos, as well as in ar mutants, suggesting AR-independent pathways. We then mutated putative membrane androgen receptors [gprc6a, hcar1-4 and zip9 (slc39a9)] and found that only gprc6a mutants …

Cadasil: A Notch3-Associated Cerebral Small Vessel Disease, Lamei Yuan, Xiangyu Chen, Joseph Jankovic, Hao Deng

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is the most common hereditary cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), pathologically characterized by a non-atherosclerotic and non-amyloid diffuse angiopathy primarily involving small to medium-sized penetrating arteries and leptomeningeal arteries. In 1996, mutation in the notch receptor 3 gene (NOTCH3) was identified as the cause of CADASIL. However, since that time other genetic CSVDs have been described, including the HtrA serine peptidase 1 gene-associated CSVD and the cathepsin A gene-associated CSVD, that clinically mimic the original phenotype. Though NOTCH3-associated CSVD is now a well-recognized hereditary disorder and the number of …

Water, Rosario Sanchez, Gabriel E. Eckstein

Faculty Scholarship

As the new US administration begins its term in January 2025, its ability to address complex, interconnected challenges will shape the future of US-Mexico relations. From economic cooperation and migration to shared security concerns, the new president’s leadership will be pivotal in navigating these critical issues and strengthening bilateral ties between Mexico and the United States. Effective collaboration will be vital to building a more prosperous and stable North America.

To support this effort, the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute has prepared a comprehensive booklet as a practical roadmap for the incoming administration. This publication offers actionable recommendations across six priority …

Impact Of Delphi-Developed Rubrics On Rater Consistency In 14 Cfr 141 Flight Training Assessment Environments, Lewis Robert James Archer

Theses and Dissertations

Pilot schools operating in accordance with 14 CFR 141 provide a substantial supply of pilots to the aviation industry. Recent high industry demand for pilots has created turnover among the flight instructor workforce, often considered an entry-level position used by aspiring aviators to build flight experience. This in turn means that check instructors, evaluators who are often selected from the more senior flight instructor population at a pilot school, are generally less experienced than in the past. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there is low consistency among these check instructors when conducting performance-based assessments. This study sought to determine the existing …

Make America Healthy: Reducing High Pharmaceutical Prices Without Reducing Innovation, Srividhya Ragavan

Faculty Scholarship

Cost of medication in the United States has historically remained one of the highest in the world. The conundrum that the United States has faced in balancing innovation with affordability of life-saving medications is palpable, especially when faced with the reality of patent monopolies conflicting with healthcare obligations. The result is an overflow of issues, which emphasize the need to delineate limits on innovation to balance pharmaceutical novelty with robust public health within the United States. This has increasingly shifted the focus of patent law into the realm of healthcare issues. Naturally, it leads to an inquiry about how best …

Intellectual Property, Innovation And Economic Inequality, Daniel Benoliel, Peter K. Yu, Francis Gurry, Keun Lee

Faculty Scholarship

While growing disparities in wealth and income are well-documented across the globe, the role of intellectual property rights is often overlooked. This volume brings together leading commentators from around the world to interrogate the interrelationship between intellectual property and economic inequality. Interdisciplinary and globally oriented by design, the book features economists, legal scholars, policy analysts, and other experts. Chapters address the impact of intellectual property rights on economic inequality, the effect of economic inequality on the protection and enforcement of these rights, and the potential use of innovation law and policy to help reduce economic inequality. The volume also tackles …

An Exploration Of Refugee Policy Using Social Construction Theory & The Narrative Policy Framework, Daniel S. Amoruso

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Social Construction Theory and Narrative Policy Framework are cohesive products to assess policymaking by examining social construction variables and the formation of narratives. Although I use each independently and together, using them in conjunction helps to ascertain the difference between what someone does and says. Often, there is a substantive disconnect between the two. As with many policy arenas, interest in refugee policy has ebbed and flowed over the past ten years as the United States fluctuates from Democrat to Republican and back to Democrat administrations. Various administrations, media outlets, and separate communities often portray refugees differently; some favorably toward …

Faculty Innovativeness In Higher Education: Exploring The Influence Of Demographic And Psychological Factors, Jared M. Pyles

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This study explored the relationship between innovativeness and various demographic and psychological factors among full-time faculty at a private higher education institution in the Midwest United States. The study focused on understanding how risk aversion, gender, age, years of experience, and leadership roles influence a faculty member's level of innovativeness and examined the interrelated effects of these variables. Employing a quantitative research design, data were collected through a self-administered online survey with 129 full-time faculty members, achieving a response rate of 49%.

The findings revealed no significant direct relationship between innovativeness and risk aversion. However, categorical age emerged as a …

Procedural Justice And Therapeutic Jurisprudence In Idaho Drug Treatment Courts, Norma Dianne Jaeger

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative multi-case study of the operations of Idaho drug treatment courts explores the application of two theoretical frameworks: therapeutic jurisprudence and procedural justice. Semi-structured interviews, based on a phronetic iterative approach and analysis, were conducted with 20 enrolled participants and 10 judges from courts and communities of varying sizes, located in four geographic areas of Idaho. Responses suggest that these courts operate from a foundation of therapeutic jurisprudence and effectively apply procedural justice practices: respectful treatment, trust, and participant voice. The study identifies participants’ multiple life changes, including addiction recovery, as important elements of the courts’ outcomes and validates …

Understanding The Present And Preparing For The Future In Collegiate Esports, Marc C. Dearmond

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

While esports continues to grow as a varsity sport across higher education campuses, new programs are being built focusing on esports as a field of study. However, more research is needed about how esports programs are being administered on college campuses and how these programs are being measured for success. This three-article dissertation focuses on esports at the collegiate and undergraduate levels. The first study is a literature review focused on topics of research available for reading assignments in an online program based on the esports ecosystem as defined by Anderson et al. (2018). It contains an examination of current …