Digital Commons Network^™

Decision Based Learning Course Design & Implementation For Introductory Statistics, Austin Heath

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Researchers in multiple industries (biomedicine, engineering, etc.) cite the selection of an appropriate statistical test as a common problem. Experts draw on a framework of conceptual and procedural knowledge to navigate when to use statistical methods. Students also struggle determining the correct statistical method to use for a given research question. This is because they lack the opportunity to practice recognizing a host of features in each research question that provide clues for experts as to which method is most appropriate. “Decision Based Learning” (DBL) is a teaching method designed to help teachers and students address this struggle. In this …

Summer Commencement: August 6, 2021, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Summer Commencement program from August 6, 2021.

Robust Nonlinear Tracking Control For Unmanned Aircraft In The Presence Of Wake Vortex, Petr Kazarin, Vladimir Golubev, William Mackunis, Claudia Moreno

Publications

The flight trajectory of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can be significantly affected by external disturbances such as turbulence, upstream wake vortices, or wind gusts. These effects present challenges for UAV flight safety. Hence, addressing these challenges is of critical importance for the integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS), especially in terminal zones. This work presents a robust nonlinear control method that has been designed to achieve roll/yaw regulation in the presence of unmodeled external disturbances and system nonlinearities. The data from NASA-conducted airport experimental measurements as well as high-fidelity Large Eddy Simulations of the …

Comparative Efficacy, Safety, Tolerability, And Effectiveness Of Antipsychotics In The Treatment Of Dementia-Related Psychosis (Drp): A Systematic Literature Review, Ismaeel Yunusa, N. Rashid, V. Abler, Krithika Rajagopalan

Faculty Publications

Objectives

To evaluate the comparative efficacy, safety, tolerability, and effectiveness of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) for the treatment of dementia related psychosis (DRP) in older adults.

Methods

In this systematic literature review (SLR), we qualitatively synthesized evidence on the comparative efficacy (based on neuropsychiatric inventory), tolerability (weight gain), and safety (cerebrovascular adverse events [CVAE], cardiovascular events, mortality, somnolence, extrapyramidal symptoms [EPS]) of AAPs used to treat DRP. We also assessed effectiveness based on all-cause discontinuations and discontinuations due to lack of efficacy or adverse events (AE). Published articles from through March 2021 from PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Cochrane databases evaluated. We …

Interactions Between Humans, Crocodiles, And Hippos At Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, Ivan Marowa, Joshua Matanzima, Tamuka Nhiwatiwa

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Human–wildlife conflicts (HWCs) are on the increase due to shrinking space that results in increased competition for land, water, and other natural resources between humans and wildlife. Investigating the occurrence of HWCs is important in that the results can be used to formulate better management policies and strategies. In this paper, we describe the nature of HWCs emerging between humans and the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and between humans and the African hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius; hippo) on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba is the second largest manmade lake by volume in the world. Conflicts involving humans …

The_Instaprep_Project: A Social Marketing Intervention On Instagram To Increase Oral Hiv Prophylaxis In Black Men Who Have Sex With Men, James Q. Simmons

Dissertations

Incidence of HIV diagnoses is higher in Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) than any other socio-demographic population in the United States. BMSM account for 26% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. yet make up an estimated 1% of the U.S population. In 2017, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted 50% of BMSM would be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime. Oral HIV pre-exposure prophylactic (PrEP) medications developed to prevent sexual transmission of HIV are 95-99% effective. However, Blacks represent only 10% of PrEP prescriptions. Targeted Social Marketing initiatives on Instagram need to be …

Confronting Space Debris Through The Regime Evolution Approach, Gershon Hasin

International Law Studies

This article examines the complex policy problem of space debris and elaborates a proposal for a bottom-up cooperative regime for its mitigation. While debris proliferation generates costs and threatens the safety of personnel and equipment, this policy problem is compounded by the realization that debris constitutes a by-product of desirable space activities which facilitate national progress and domestic increases in values. It is further complicated by increased private participation, conflicting interests of participants, and a global order susceptible to outlier behavior.

Scholars attempting to tackle this policy problem have failed to appreciate the complex legislative process through which international rules …

Residential Water Meters As Edge Computing Nodes: Disaggregating End Uses And Creating Actionable Information At The Edge, Nour A. Attallah, Jeffery S. Horsburgh, Arle S. Beckwith Jr., Robb J. Tracey

Publications

We present a new, open source, computationally capable datalogger for collecting and analyzing high temporal resolution residential water use data. Using this device, execution of water end use disaggregation algorithms or other data analytics can be performed directly on existing, analog residential water meters without disrupting their operation, effectively transforming existing water meters into smart, edge computing devices. Computation of water use summaries and classified water end use events directly on the meter minimizes data transmission requirements, reduces requirements for centralized data storage and processing, and reduces latency between data collection and generation of decision-relevant information. The datalogger couples an …

Is Immediate Flexibility Present In A Vocal Mimic, The Gray Catbird (Dumetella Carolinensis), Across An Urban Gradient?, Shannon K. Eppert

Masters Theses, 2020-current

Increasing urbanization has increased anthropogenic noise levels near developed areas. Urban noise is high amplitude and low-frequency, and these frequencies can overlap with the signals animals use to communicate, including bird songs. Many urban birds sing higher minimum frequencies in urban areas, which avoids some masking by noise, but the mechanism behind this difference is not well understood. Immediate flexibility is the ability to alter song in real-time in the presence of sudden noise, allowing for avoidance of masking and better signal transmission. I investigated if male catbirds increased signal transmission in the presence of anthropogenic versus high-frequency noise playback …

Transparent Capacitive And Piezoelectric Micromachined Ultrasonic Transducers For Tactile Feedback With 3d Displays, Emily Anne Laughlin

Theses and Dissertations

3D display technology is limited by the user's ability to interact with displays without being connected to external equipment. In order to feel tactile feedback in conjunction with displays, ultrasonic sound pressure fields have been created; however, ceramic transducers interfere with the user's immersive experience. We have created transparent ultrasonic transducers using capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT) and piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (PMUT) technology that allow the user to remain immersed in the experience while interacting with the display. Individual transparent piezoelectric transducers made with indium tin oxide (ITO) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) generate 66.9dB with 91.6% transparency. Samples were …

Rapid Computation Of Effective Conductivity Of 2d Composites By Equivalent Circuit And Spectral Methods., Ben J. Ransom, Dean R. Wheeler

Faculty Publications

This work presents models for homogenizing or finding the effective transport or mechanical properties of microscale composites formed from highly contrasting phases described on a grid. The methods developed here are intended for engineering applications where speed and geometrical flexibility are a premium. A canonical case that is mathematically challenging and yet can be applied to many realistic materials is a 4-phase 2-dimensional periodic checkerboard or tiling. While analytic solutions for calculating effective properties exist for some cases, versatile methods are needed to handle anisotropic and non-square grids. A reinterpretation and extension of an existing analytic solution that utilizes equivalent …

A Noncoding Rna Modulator Potentiates Phenylalanine Metabolism In Mice, Zhao Zhang, Qingsong Hu, Ke Liang, Yao Jun, Youqiong Ye, Yi-Chuan Li, Chunlai Li, Lan Liao, Jianming Xu, Zhen Xing, Yinghong Pan, Sujash S Chatterjee, Tina K Nguyen, Heidi Hsiao, Sergey D Egranov, Nagireddy Putluri, Cristian Coarfa, David H Hawke, Preethi H Gunaratne, Kuang-Lei Tsai, Leng Han, Mien-Chie Hung, George A Calin, Fares Namour, Jean-Louis Guéant, Ania C Muntau, Nenad Blau, V Reid Sutton, Manuel Schiff, François Feillet, Shuxing Zhang, Chunru Lin, Liuqing Yang

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

The functional role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in inherited metabolic disorders, including phenylketonuria (PKU), is unknown. We demonstrated that the mouse lncRNA Pair and human HULC associate with phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). Pair-knockout mice exhibited excessive blood phenylalanine, musty odor, hypopigmentation, growth retardation, and progressive neurological symptoms including seizures, which faithfully models human PKU. HULC depletion led to reduced PAH enzymatic activities in human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-differentiated hepatocytes. Mechanistically, HULC modulated the enzymatic activities of PAH by facilitating PAH-substrate and PAH-cofactor interactions. To develop a therapeutic strategy for restoring liver lncRNAs, we designed GalNAc-tagged lncRNA mimics that …

Development Of Standard Operating Procedure With Modified Method To Quantify Benzene And Other Volatile Organic Compounds In Air Samples Using Gas Chromatography, Heather Hall

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) Department of Environmental Science has recently invested in a gas chromatograph which can be used to analyze air samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). The goal of this project was to develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) and modify the current method for the detection of VOCs associated with oil and gas drilling activity to accommodate the equipment and capabilities of SFASU Environmental Assessment Lab. This study aims to provide the framework for future research in air quality monitoring in the Eagle Ford Shale area. An …

An Investigation Of The Feasibility Of Markov Chain-Based Predictive Maintenance Models In Integrated Vehicle Health Management Of Military Ground Fleets, Bouteina Driouche

Theses and Dissertations

Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) systems use models and algorithmic techniques to process Condition-based Data (CBD) to offer prognostic information and actionable imperatives in support of Condition-based Maintenance (CBM) for the system. IVHM technology was first introduced by NASA to gather data, diagnose, detect, and predict faults, and support operational and post-maintenance activities in space vehicles. Eventually, it expanded to other vehicle types such as aircraft, ships, and land vehicles [1]. In recent years, the United States Army has been implementing a policy of CBM to transition from preventive to predictive maintenance [2]. One of the many challenges faced by …

Tunable Electronic And Magnetic Properties In 2d-Wse2 Monolayer Via Vanadium (V) Doping And Chalcogenide (Se) Vacancies: A First-Principle Investigations, Dinesh Thapa

Theses and Dissertations

The first-principles density functional theory (DFT) was implemented to investigate the structural, electronic and magnetic properties of vanadium (V) substituted and chalcogen (Se) vacancies in tungsten diselenide (WSe 2 ) monolayer, novel two dimensional (2D) monolayer (ML) structures in binary compounds ZnX (X= As, Sb, and Bi), and novel 2D electrides on transition metal-rich mono-oxide or chalcogenides, based on Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) exchange functional employed in Vienna Ab-Initio Simulation Packages (VASP). The inherent defect in 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) contains unavoidable substitutional defects and a certain amount of chalcogen vacancies. This type of defect affects the electronic and magnetic properties …

Pain And Inflammation Due To Whole-Body Vibration In A Rat Model, Folly Martha Dzan Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability and is associated with whole-body vibration exposure in industrial workers and military personnel. The pathophysiological mechanisms by which whole-body vibration causes low back pain have been studied in vivo, but there is little data that improve diagnosis of low back pain. The overall objective of this research was to elucidate diagnostic biomarkers associated with whole-body vibration. Hence, a rat model for vibration-induced inflammatory responses was developed. Von Frey filaments were used to determine the withdrawal threshold of the hind paw as a surrogate behavioral marker for pain. The concentration of nerve …

Mississippi Teachers' Perceptions Of Environmental Education And Outdoor Instruction During A Covid-19 Pandemic, Kelisha Stamps

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental education (EE) and outdoor instruction are essential to understanding and addressing different environmental issues in school communities. This study investigated Mississippi teachers' perceptions on environmental education and outdoor instruction during 2020-2021. A state-wide survey and follow-up interview were conducted to examine their thoughts about environmental education and outdoor instruction and COVID-19 limitations in their classrooms and how that may affect their perceptions. Analysis was conducted using SPSS contingency and frequency tables, Chi-square Test of Independence, and content analysis of qualitative data. The results showed that Mississippi teacher participants believe that environmental education in Mississippi K-12 schools is very important …

Thermomechanical Modeling Predictions Of The Directed Energy Deposition Process Using A Dislocation Mechanics Based Internal State Variable Model, Matthew Joseph Dantin

Theses and Dissertations

The overall goal of this work is to predict the mechanical response of an as-built Ti-6Al-4V directed energy deposition component by a dislocation mechanics-based internal state variable model based on the component's geometry and processing parameters. Previous research has been performed to connect additive manufacturing (AM) process parameters including laser power and scanning strategy to different aspects of part quality, such as porosity, mechanical properties, fatigue life, microstructure, residual stresses, and distortion. The lack of predictive capabilities to fully estimate residual stresses and distortion within parts produced via AM have hindered part qualification; however, modeling the AM process can aide …

Optical Probing Of Spatial Structural Abnormalities In Cells/Tissues Due To Cancer, Drug-Effect, And Brain Abnormalities Using Mesoscopic Physics-Based Spectroscopic Techniques, Prakash Adhikari

Theses and Dissertations

The quantitative measurement of structural alterations at the nanoscale level is important for understanding the physical states of weakly disordered optical mediums such as cells/tissues. Progress in certain diseases, such as cancer or abnormalities in the brain, is associated with the nanoscale structural alterations at basic building blocks of the cells/tissues. Elastic light scattering, especially at visible wavelengths range provides non-invasive ways to probe the cells/tissues up to nanoscale level. Therefore, a mesoscopic physics-based open light scattering technique with added finer focusing, partial wave spectroscopy (PWS), is developed to probe nanoscale changes. Then, molecular-specific light localization technique, a close scattering …

A Remote Sensing Driven Geospatial Approach To Regional Crop Growth And Yield Modeling, Sadia Alam Shammi

Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture and food security are interlinked. New technologies and instruments are making the agricultural system easy to operate and increasing the food production. Remote sensing technology is widely used as a non-destructive method for crop growth monitoring, climate analysis, and forecasting crop yield. The objectives of this study are to (1) monitor crop growth remotely, (2) identify climate impacts on crop yield, and (3) forecasting crop yield. This study proposed methods to improve crop growth monitoring and yield predictions by using remote sensing technology. In this study, we developed crop vegetative growth metrics (VGM) from the MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging …

Thermal Experimentation Of Pa6 And Pa66 Thermoplastic Through Transmission Laser Welding, Sarajane Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Thermoplastic welding utilizes a fiber laser to join samples that are clamped together. Laser energy is transferred through the natural sample to the interface with the opaque sample where heat energy creates a weld through conduction and radiation heat transfer modes. The overall goal of this research is to understand the effect of heat source loading on PA6 and PA66 thermoplastic materials from laser through transmission welding that is used to join natural and opaque materials. The welding process is studied through a combination of finite element simulation, experimentation, and design of experiment modeling. The results of temperature profile and …

What Makes A Hurricane Fall Apart? A Multi-Platform Assessment Of Tropical Cyclone Weakening By, Sofia M. De Solo

Theses and Dissertations

Tropical cyclone (TC) rapid intensity change negatively impacts forecast error. Many studies have investigated rapid intensification, but fewer explore rapid weakening, particularly with aircraft observations due to fewer weakening TCs being flown. This study assesses factors contributing to the rapid weakening of Hurricane Lorenzo (2019) and the comparatively slower weakening of Hurricane Florence (2018) using aircraft observations and satellite-based products to enhance understanding of processes related to TC weakening. Intrusion of environmental dry air into Lorenzo's core under persistent moderate vertical wind shear, in conjunction with quickly decreasing SSTs, largely contributed to the TC's rapid weakening. Conversely, SSTs were higher …

Using Sentiment Analysis To Craft A Narrative Of The Covid-19 Pandemic From The Perspective Of Social Media, Taylor Breanna Ray

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, people have turned to social media to share their experiences with the coronavirus and their feelings regarding subjects like social distancing, mask-wearing, COVID-19 vaccines, and other related topics. The publicly available nature of these social media posts provides researchers the chance to obtain a consensus on an array of issues, topics, people, and entities. For the COVID-19 pandemic, this is valuable information that can prepare communities and governing bodies for future epidemics or events of a similar magnitude. However, clearly defining such a consensus can be difficult, especially if researchers want to limit the amount of …

Computational Simulation Of Southern Pine Lumber Using Finite Element Analysis, Yali Li

Theses and Dissertations

Finite element analysis modeling is a powerful technology to predict the response of materials and structures under certain loaded situations including the applied force, the changing temperature and humanity, the alterative boundary condition, etc. In this paper, the mechanical properties of wood material were analyzed with an emphasis on bending behavior under lateral applied force with the finite element simulation in ABAQUS (Dassault Systèmes, 2020 version). Two methods were conducted in ABAQUS commercial software and the modulus of elastic (MOE) attained from the computational results were compared with the data obtained from the experimental records. The simulation model with grain …

Finding Bert’S Idiomatic Key, Vasudevan Nedumpozhimana, John Kelleher

Conference papers

Sentence embeddings encode information relating to the usage of idioms in a sentence. This paper reports a set of experiments that combine a probing methodology with input masking to analyse where in a sentence this idiomatic information is taken from, and what form it takes. Our results indicate that BERT’s idiomatic key is primarily found within an idiomatic expression, but also draws on information from the surrounding context. Also, BERT can distinguish between the disruption in a sentence caused by words missing and the incongruity caused by idiomatic usage.

Determining The Optimal Dile:Dlys Ratio For Ross 708 X Ross Yp Male Broilers Throughout Multiple Grow Out Phases (Starter, Grower, And Finisher), Andrew Taylor Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Within commercial broiler production, feed and feed manufacturing costs account for 60 to 70% of production costs. Of these feed costs specifically, ingredients that supply energy and protein represent the highest expenditure, verifying the importance of knowing the nutrient requirements of current broiler strains to ensure accurate least-cost formulation. To reduce these production costs and optimize performance, primary breeder companies and nutritionists continuously strive to improve nutrient utilization of commercial broiler strains. As a result of this, a great magnitude of work is conducted to determine the nutrient requirements for broilers, especially amino acids. Therefore, the overall objective of this …

Application Of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (Libs) To The Expansion Of Strontium (Sr) Analysis Options And To Used Engine Oil, Ayed M. Binzowaimil

Theses and Dissertations

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a technique that allows quantitative and qualitative analysis of many materials. In this study, the LIBS analysis options for strontium mixture powders is expanded by increasing the number of usable strontium atomic transitions to avoid incorrect results due to spectral congestion or high strontium concentrations. The research employs double-sided tape affixed to a glass slide to hold the sample where the powder is poured onto one surface of the tape and excess dust that has not adhered is removed. This method minimizes the sample quantity needed and keeps the sample on the slide during experimentation, …

Commercial Douglas Fir Biochar Based Multifunctional Exotic Adsorbents For Water Remediation, Chanaka Navarathna

Theses and Dissertations

Providing safe drinking water and wastewater remediation are constant worldwide challenges. Adsorption is an attractive alternative to conventional techniques such as coagulation, precipitation (chemically or electrochemically), hybrid membranes, and ion-exchange for the purification of water. Biochar-based composite sorbents are increasingly popular because a range of surface chemical and physical treatments can impart performance and environmental benefits to the material. This is ideal for rural areas where more costly conventional methods may not be readily available or affordable. This dissertation focused on three different projects involving high surface area (~700 m2/g) Douglas fir biochar based multifunctional engineered adsorbents. Chapter II focuses …

Enhancement Of Wood Properties With Epsilon-Caprolactam, And Development Of An Apparatus For Continuous Monitoring Water Vapor Sorption And Desorption And Its Resultant Wood Dimensional Changes, David Milsted

Theses and Dissertations

Lack of dimensional stability and susceptibility to the action of xylophagous organisms make wood a challenging material to work with. E-Caprolactam is a water-soluble cyclic amide chemical with low mammalian toxicity, that can be used as a bulking agent to improve the dimensional stability of wood and offers protection against subterranean termites and several wood degradant fungi. E-Caprolactam delivers a similar level of dimensional stability as that provided by PEG-1000, a chemical extensively studied in the past decades and a standard dimensional stabilizer agent for wood. Regarding wood protection, E-Caprolactam exhibits efficacy against wood decay fungi and termites at very …

Superconductivity In Two-Dimensions From The Hubbard Model To The Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Model, Dipayan Roy

Theses and Dissertations

We study unconventional superconductivity in two-dimensional systems. Unbiased numerical calculations within two-dimensional Hubbard models have found no evidence for long-range superconducting order. Most of the two-dimensional theories suggest that the superconducting state can be obtained by destabilizing an antiferromagnetic or spin-liquid insulating state. An antiferromagnet is a half-filled system because each site has one electron or hole. However, in anisotropic triangular lattices, numerical calculation finds pairing enhancement at quarter-filling but no long-range superconducting order. Many organic superconductors are dimerized in nature. Such a dimer lattice is effectively half-filled because each dimer has one electron or hole. Some theories suggest that …