Digital Commons Network^™

Communication Optimization In Intelligent Reflecting Surface Aided Wireless Systems, Yifei Xu

Theses - ALL

With the growing demand for high-speed networks, 5G cellular systems provide advantages by utilizing higher frequency bands and wide bandwidth, and supporting high data transmission speeds. However, with the move to operate at high frequencies, obstacles such as buildings in urban areas and other blockages lead to challenges regarding received signal quality in wireless communications. More specifically, high-frequency signals emitted by antennas at the 5G base station (BS) can only propagate over relatively short distances toward users’ devices before being blocked by dense buildings in the area or scattered in different directions. In order to enhance the received signal strength …

Biodegradable, And Biocompatible Hybrid Double- Network Cryogel Scaffold For Cartilage Regeneration, Zining Yang

Theses - ALL

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds are utilized in tissue engineering to address various unmet medical needs. Cryogels, are macroporous, crosslinked gel networks that are formed by gelation of precursor monomers/polymers under sub-zero conditions. Several studies demonstrate the potential of cryogels, as 3D scaffolds for culturing cells and controlled delivery of potent growth factors while improving upon limited porosity and restricted nutrient exchange that is characteristic of conventional hydrogels. Many current studies utilize free radical polymerization for designing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and alginate based cryogels resulting in formation of non-biodegradable networks. Here, we designed a hybrid double- network cryogel made of alginate and …

Dielectric/Impedance Spectroscopy For In-Line Measurement Of Moisture Content, Sophie Zhou

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Pharmaceutical production requires strict moisture content control in order to ensure quality, stability, and efficacy of medicinal products. Moisture content can be manually tested but a rapid and reliable solution for real-time moisture content monitoring was necessary to improve overall efficiency in pharmaceutical manufacturing. This research delved into the practicality of using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) as a dependable technique to determine moisture content. By investigating the electrical properties of materials, we established a robust connection between shifts in electrical properties with variations in moisture levels. We employed an equivalent circuit model to unveil the underlying mechanism which provided valuable …

Biodegradable, And Biocompatible Hybrid Double- Network Cryogel Scaffold For Cartilage Regeneration, Zining Yang

Theses - ALL

Three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds are utilized in tissue engineering to address various unmet medical needs. Cryogels, are macroporous, crosslinked gel networks that are formed by gelation of precursor monomers/polymers under sub-zero conditions. Several studies demonstrate the potential of cryogels, as 3D scaffolds for culturing cells and controlled delivery of potent growth factors while improving upon limited porosity and restricted nutrient exchange that is characteristic of conventional hydrogels. Many current studies utilize free radical polymerization for designing poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and alginate based cryogels resulting in formation of non-biodegradable networks. Here, we designed a hybrid double- network cryogel made of alginate and …

Development Of Telodendrimer Nanocarriers For Daptomycin Delivery, Hao Yue

Theses - ALL

The immune system plays a crucial role in fighting pathogens, but infections can occur if the immune system is unable to overcome them, leading to severe damage and death. Antibiotics and drug delivery techniques have helped save countless lives and improve the quality of life for patients. Daptomycin (Dap) is a powerful antibiotic used to treat gram-positive bacterial infections. However, its hydrophobic nature limits its effectiveness, and it requires the presence of calcium ions (Ca2+) for activation. In this study, a series of telodendrimer (TD) nanoparticle delivery systems were synthesized to improve daptomycin delivery. The TD nanoparticle systems showed effective …

Development Of Telodendrimer Nanocarriers For Daptomycin Delivery, Hao Yue

Theses - ALL

The immune system plays a crucial role in fighting pathogens, but infections can occur if the immune system is unable to overcome them, leading to severe damage and death. Antibiotics and drug delivery techniques have helped save countless lives and improve the quality of life for patients. Daptomycin (Dap) is a powerful antibiotic used to treat gram-positive bacterial infections. However, its hydrophobic nature limits its effectiveness, and it requires the presence of calcium ions (Ca2+) for activation. In this study, a series of telodendrimer (TD) nanoparticle delivery systems were synthesized to improve daptomycin delivery. The TD nanoparticle systems showed effective …

Methodological Analysis On Settler Territoriality And The Rise Of The Yellowstone Wild Bison Advocacy Movement, Red G.R. Burkett

Theses - ALL

Bison bison, also known as the North American Buffalo, are a keystone species of endemic megafauna in the Great Plains prairie ecosystem. Bison were driven nearly to extinction in the late 19th century when millions of buffalo were massacred by settlers in order to starve Indigenous civilians and force them onto federally-managed Reservations as a step in the centuries-long ethnic-cleansing of Turtle Island. Such genocidal methods were a primary tool in erasing the land claims of Indigenous nations and colonizing the territories of Indigenous communities who depended on bison as a primary source of food and materiel for social reproduction. …

Communication Optimization In Intelligent Reflecting Surface Aided Wireless Systems, Yifei Xu

Theses - ALL

With the growing demand for high-speed networks, 5G cellular systems provide advantages by utilizing higher frequency bands and wide bandwidth, and supporting high data transmission speeds. However, with the move to operate at high frequencies, obstacles such as buildings in urban areas and other blockages lead to challenges regarding received signal quality in wireless communications. More specifically, high-frequency signals emitted by antennas at the 5G base station (BS) can only propagate over relatively short distances toward users’ devices before being blocked by dense buildings in the area or scattered in different directions. In order to enhance the received signal strength …

Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis Of Murine Renal, Aortic, And Cardiac Tissue, Sarah E. Grev, Luke E. Schepers, Jennifer Anderson, Craig J. Goergen

Discovery Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Research Internship

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a tool that provides detailed insight into objects invisible to the human eye. As the name suggests, an electron beam is used to create an image down to the nanometer scale. The beam focuses on the surface of a sample using lenses in the electron column. In this project, we use SEM to study three types of murine tissue. First, we examine the glomerulus, found in the kidney, that is primarily responsible for filtering blood. Following a left renal vein (LRV) stenosis, SEM is used to observe changes to the glomeruli. Differences in the left …

Investigations Of Dual-Electrolyte Layer Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells For Enhanced Electrochemical Performance And Longevity, Abdul-Sommed Hadi

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

A cermet anode comprising of yttria-doped barium zirconate, BZY and nickel, Ni is now the preferred choice of materials for use in proton conducting fuel cell (PCFC) anodes because of their influence on anode oxidation kinetics. The Ni grains, being in a solid solution with the BZY support, helps improve on the catalytic activity and conductivity, in addition to the relative stability of BZY in steam and hydrocarbon reforming environments, as well as BZY’s excellent protonic conductivity.

Ni-BZY based anodes, sintered onto a ~600-micron electrolyte-supported substrates of BZY, BCZY (yttria- and ceria-doped barium zirconate), and a BZY/BCZY dual electrolyte-layer substrate, …

Initial Examination Of The Mental Health Disorders: Screening Instrument For Athletes, Brad C. Donohue, Jesse Scott, Grace Goodwin, Kimberly Barchard, Greg Bohall, Daniel N. Allen

Psychology Faculty Research

Introduction: There is a need to psychometrically develop assessment instruments capable of screening mental health disorders in athlete populations. The current study was conducted to determine reliability, validity and clinical utility of the Mental Health Disorders Screening Instrument for Athletes (MHDSIA).

Methods and results:: 259 collegiate athletes completed the MHDSIA. Factor analysis determined a single factor with good internal consistency, and this factor was positively correlated with an established measure of psychiatric symptomology (Symptom Checklist 90-R), demonstrating its concurrent validity. An optimum clinical cutoff score (i.e., 32) was determined using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analyses to assist appropriate mental health …

Development Of Air-Jetting System For Bioprinting Of Alginate Micro-Droplets, Nathan Lingenfelter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Transplantation of organoids has been demonstrated to be a promising cure to many diseases including Type-1 diabetes. However, achieving consistent and robust derivations of mature organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) is challenging. Cellular mechano-transduction, where mechanical stimuli is sensed and converted to biochemical signaling, has been proposed to overcome this challenge. This pathway relies on encapsulating hPSCs in a small volume of a biomaterial such as alginate, which has been widely used as cell encapsulation materials due to its biocompatibility and selective permeability. In this project, we focused on developing an air-jetting based technique to generate small and …

Age And Sex Of Wild Asian Elephants Observed In And Around Protected Areas In Kanchanaburi, Thailand, Leah D. Wersebe

Theses and Dissertations

This study observed the wild Asian elephant population in and around Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary and found a greater proportional presence of adults and subadults than calves and infants per observation, and a greater proportion of males than females outside of the protected area compared to inside the protected area.

Remedios Varo: Inspirations And Creative Strategies, Margaret Colbert

Theses and Dissertations

Remedios Varo is best known for the narrative, if enigmatic and symbol-laden, paintings she produced while living in Mexico from 1941 to 1963. This thesis argues that Varo’s key creative strategy was to mine and mimic the subject matter and motifs of other artists—Hieronymus Bosch and Leonora Carrington – as well as the visual culture related to the occult and other esoteric practices that she found in published sources, specifically by Carl Jung and Kurt Seligmann.

Seasonal Crop Foraging Habits Of Asian Elephants And The Response Of Farmers Near The Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanchanaburi, Thailand, Scott J. Gulizio

Theses and Dissertations

The consequences of human-elephant-conflict are of concern to a range of interests, including conservation, animal welfare, and socio-economic initiatives. Loss of crops due to elephants is a particularly contentious issue and a multitude of elephant deterrents have been tried to help prevent or diminish crop-foraging. This study examines the seasonal crop-foraging habits of Asian elephants just outside of Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand. Specifically, we sought to analyze when the elephants would forage crops, for how long, and how farmer presence affected this behavior. Additionally, to better understand patterns of deterrent use, we cataloged which deterrents were deployed by the farmers …

The Sunbeam Study: Resilience And Well-Being In Healthcare, Can We Make An Impact?, Sarah Dreiling, Karen L. Gorton, Sandy Gottschalk, Terry Siek

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Over 400 employees of a healthcare agency were surveyed to understand current levels of resilience and well-being. Based upon the findings, a multifaceted approach was undertaken to address and develop resilience and well-being. Current interventions will be assessed, modified as needed and reassessment of resilience and well-being will be undertaken.

Ud In The News July 29-Aug. 4, University Of Dayton

News Releases

Inside Higher Ed introduced UD's scholarship success coaches. Local media introduced new trustees and featured UD research to help prevent food contamination. Newsweek is among the national news outlets tapping UD faculty expertise.

Summer Bridge Programs And The Impact On African American Students, Astin Martin

Masters Projects

Summer bridge programs have been an effective strategy for increasing African American students' success in higher education according to Detgen, Fernandez, McMahon, Johnson, and Dailey study (2021). This project explores summer bridge programs and highlights how these programs provide academic, social, and cultural support to help students overcome the challenges they may face during their transition to college (Ghazzawi, Pattison, Horn, Hardy & Brown, 2021). The success of summer bridge programs can be attributed to their ability to provide early academic preparation, build a sense of community, and increase the confidence and self-efficacy of disadvantaged students in Science, Technology, Engineering, …

Design Of Stormwater Bmps For Surface And Groundwater Protection Based On Site-Scale Soil Properties: Phase I, Kelly Kibler, Lisa Chambers, Melanie Beazley

Florida DOT

Much of Earth’s nutrient cycling takes place in soils. Characteristics of soils control physical, chemical, and biological processes that determine rates of nutrient fluxes, storage, or transformation. As remediation of excess nutrients in stormwater runoff is one function of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), the soil profile constitutes one of the most important factors of BMP design. Variation observed in BMP effectiveness (e.g., why one BMP design works effectively in one place and not another) can often be explained by variations in the soil profile, either through direct means or by a soil’s influence on hydraulics of stormwater flow through …

Can Gulf Ribbed Mussels Enhance Coastal Restoration Projects In A Future With Climate Change?, Skylar Liner

LSU Master's Theses

Living shorelines present one restoration approach using biotic elements (via ecosystem engineers) to stabilize shorelines and increase valuable habitat. Gulf ribbed mussels (Geukensia granosissima) are important ecosystem engineers within brackish and salt marshes in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and can increase nutrient availability, enhance marsh vegetation production, and potentially improve shoreline stability. It is unknown whether mussels will maintain these functions as future climate change predicts increases in temperature and water level, which may exceed the mussel’s tolerance. A field survey conducted during the summer of 2022 identified the daily maximum temperature at the marsh surface, where mussels naturally …

Characterizing Feedlot Feed Using Depth Cameras And Imaging Technology, Jean Niwenshuti

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Imaging technology is a growing field that provides solutions in many areas from manufacturing to agriculture. Through previous research, imaging technologies have been studied in livestock farming to monitor the animal’s health and welfare in the production process. However, the feedlot industry is still behind in validating the feasibility to use some of these technologies nor to adopt such technologies to address challenges the industry is facing, such as lack of skilled labor.This work proposes using novel imaging methods to identify feed types and estimate the amount of feed remaining in a typical Midwestern feedlot feed bunk. These methods have …

Modeling Of Signals And Spectra: 5g And Beyond, Xianzhen Yang

Dissertations and Theses

The collection of papers addresses various aspects of spectra and signals in RF wireless systems for 5G and beyond. The first paper focuses on the nonlinear effects of amplified dual-band OFDM signals, providing a spectrum model for intermodulation and cross-modulation. The second paper extends this analysis beyond bandwidth restrictions, enabling accurate prediction of amplified dual-band spectrum. The third paper emphasizes the significance of out-of-band intermodulation products and derives an analytical expression using third-order intercept points. The fourth paper presents a unified spectrum expression for OFDM, FBMC, and F-OFDM, facilitating comparative insights into these signals. The fifth paper explores second-order intermodulation …

On The Evaluation Of Entropy Threshold For Debonding During Crack Prorogation Using Dic Technique, A. Mahmoudi, M. R. Khosravani, M. M. Khonsari, Tamara Reinicke

Faculty Publications

The accumulated entropy at the crack tip of a semi-circular bending (SCB) specimen is investigated to obtain a threshold for material fracture and interatomic debonding. The presented approach uses the experimental data obtained from the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique and strain maps superposed to SCB specimens to measure the plastic flow at the crack tip. The Swift strain hardening model is utilized to calculate the stress domain at the crack tip and, consequently, the plastic strain energy and entropy accumulation. Results show that the crack surface propagates when the generated entropy at the crack tip reaches a critical limit. …

The Nurosleeve, A User-Centered 3d Printed Hybrid Orthosis For Individuals With Upper Extremity Impairment, Mehdi Khantan, Mikael Avery, Phyo Thuta Aung, Rachel M. Zarin, Emma Hammelef, Nabila Shawki, Mijail Demian Serruya, Alessandro Naopli

Farber Institute for Neuroscience Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Active upper extremity (UE) assistive devices have the potential to restore independent functional movement in individuals with UE impairment due to neuromuscular diseases or injury-induced chronic weakness. Academically fabricated UE assistive devices are not usually optimized for activities of daily living (ADLs), whereas commercially available alternatives tend to lack flexibility in control and activation methods. Both options are typically difficult to don and doff and may be uncomfortable for extensive daily use due to their lack of personalization. To overcome these limitations, we have designed, developed, and clinically evaluated the NuroSleeve, an innovative user-centered UE hybrid orthosis.

METHODS: This …

Nurses' Experiences Of Resilience In The Workplace: A Scoping Review Of The Literature, Rachel G. Baskin, Heather Brom

Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE)

Resilience has been identified as a mediating factor in the development of nursing burnout. Healthcare organizations and leaders should consider implementing workplace programs that will foster resilience to mitigate burnout. This presentation reviews current literature on nurses' experiences with resilience in the workplace.

Summer Commencement: August 4, 2023, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Summer Commencement program from August 4, 2023.

There's Beauty In The Struggle: From Bantu Education Toward Decoloniality In Indigenous South African Education, Gayle Bartilow

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones

Apartheid-era Bantu Education was engineered to underdevelop Indigenous Black South Africans and keep them at the periphery of society. Nevertheless, demands to decolonize South African education existed during apartheid and are being made today. This research is a study into how Indigenous South Africans who received an apartheid-era education came to acquire a decolonized education. The research further explores how these Indigenous South Africans promote and practice a decolonized education. The most significant findings of this research are the resistance to Bantu Education in its many various forms, Indigenous South African student commitment to education, relocation and migration trends of …

Biophysical Properties Of Trophoblast Placental Plasma Membrane, Nelly-Raissa Setchie-Tchato

Theses - ALL

The lack of experimental research on a woman’s placenta due to ethical restrictions has led to little to no research on the biophysical changes at the molecular level that a woman undergoes during pregnancy. This research aims to understand biophysical changes in placental trophoblast cells that facilitate diffusion between maternal and fetal blood during the first and third trimesters. It is challenging to comprehend the function of the placental trophoblast lipid membrane in regulating molecular transport between the mother and placental trophoblast cells due to inadequate in vitro models. For this reason, we utilized recent findings on the lipid compositions …

Discovering The Kinetic Behaviors Of Zeolites Of Mordenite, Ferrierite, Faujasite, Beta, Weixuan Huang

Theses - ALL

Fossil fuels have played a significant role in the development of nations. However, they have also given rise to various societal problems. In this context, Gamma-Valerolactone (GVL) emerges as a potential solution as a fuel additive and feedstock for the production of gasoline, jet fuel, and other products. GVL can undergo decarboxylation reactions facilitated by zeolite catalysts. Surprisingly, it has been observed that reactions taking place on different zeolites, despite having similar Brønsted acid site densities, exhibit distinct simulated initial rates. This research aims to compare the initial rate trends of mordenite and its poisoned derivatives with those of the …

Biophysical Properties Of Trophoblast Placental Plasma Membrane, Nelly-Raissa Setchie-Tchato

Theses - ALL

The lack of experimental research on a woman’s placenta due to ethical restrictions has led to little to no research on the biophysical changes at the molecular level that a woman undergoes during pregnancy. This research aims to understand biophysical changes in placental trophoblast cells that facilitate diffusion between maternal and fetal blood during the first and third trimesters. It is challenging to comprehend the function of the placental trophoblast lipid membrane in regulating molecular transport between the mother and placental trophoblast cells due to inadequate in vitro models. For this reason, we utilized recent findings on the lipid compositions …