Biological Sciences Masters Theses
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Emotion regulation moderates the prospective association between ERN and anxiety in early adolescence: An age-specific moderation of cognitive reappraisal but not expressive suppression
(North Dakota State University, 2024)The increasing prevalence of anxiety problems during adolescence underscores the importance of a better understanding of the development of anxiety. While past research has highlighted a link between error responsivity, ... -
Evaluation of Blackbird Damage to Sunflower and the Relationship to Producer Damage Estimates
(North Dakota State University, 2024)Sunflower producers face profit losses due to crop depredation by migrating blackbirds (Icteridae). Blackbird damage to sunflower in North Dakota is highly localized, where economic loss to some sunflower fields is severe ... -
Influence of Adjacent Uplands and Groundwater on the Hydrology and Invertebrate Community Composition of Seasonal Forest Ponds in North Central Minnesota
(North Dakota State University, 2010)Seasonal ponds are common throughout northern Minnesota's forested areas. Seasonal ponds typically flood due to snow-melt and high precipitation rates in early spring, then dry by mid-late summer. The dynamic hydroperiods ... -
Plant Phenological Responses to Climate Change in the Northern Great Plains
(North Dakota State University, 2010)Climate change has been associated with shifts in phenological events which could be disrupting evolved species relationships. The current first flowering times of plants were compared to historical data in the Red River ... -
Investigation of the Nature of Science Views of Undergraduate Natural Science and Nonscience Majors in Biology Courses
(North Dakota State University, 2010)Science educators have the common goal of helping students develop scientific literacy, including understanding of the nature of science (NOS). University faculties are challenged with the need to develop informed NOS ... -
Environmental Factors Influencing Tumor Associated Pericyte Phenotype in Pancreatic Cancer
(North Dakota State University, 2021)Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. with a 5-year survival rate of 11%. PDAC patients suffer from the lack of effective treatment options largely due to the limited ... -
Effects of Processing on Health-Promoting Attributes of Soymilk Phenolics
(North Dakota State University, 2010)This study was designed to investigate the effects of different processing methods on the antioxidant and anti-cancer properties of soymilk crude phenolic extract (CPE) using the human prostate cancer cell line DU 145 ... -
Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression Varies Throughout Development and During the Innate Immune Response of Tobacco Hornworm. Manduca sexta
(North Dakota State University, 2010)Matrix metalloproteinases (MI'v1Ps) are a family of conserved, proteolytic enzymes. MMPs can degrade most extracellular matrix proteins. As such, they are key enzymes in tissue remodeling processes. such as molting and ... -
Long-Term Monitoring of Bat Populations in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2022)Throughout the past few decades, North American bat species have experienced population declines due to White-Nose Syndrome, wind energy, climate change, and other factors. In North Dakota, the presence of wind energy, and ... -
Energetics of Interrupted Development in Megachile rotundata
(North Dakota State University, 2022)Insects in temperate regions may experience temperature fluctuations during springtime development which can lead to low temperature stress. Previous research has shown that short artificial fluctuations in temperature ... -
The Effects of Variation in Temperature and Parental Behavior on Offspring Body Mass, Telomeres and Survival Are Context-Dependent in Free Living House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)
(North Dakota State University, 2022)Although developing birds are vulnerable to extreme and erratic temperature conditions associated with climate change, parents have some ability to buffer these effects via incubation and postnatal behavior. However, parents ... -
Establishing and Characterizing Patient-Derived Breast Cancer Cell Lines
(North Dakota State University, 2022)Commercial cancer cell lines have long been extensively used as an important platform to study cancer. They have contributed to a plethora of discoveries in the field of cancer research. However, there are limitations with ... -
Assessment of Blackbird Damage to Sunflower and Corn Fields in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2011)North Dakota is the top sunflower producing state in the United States, annually harvesting about 405,000 ha (1 million acres). Up to 63% of this crop is grown in central North Dakota in an area known as the Prairie Pothole ... -
Rural Youth's Enrollment in a Stem Summer Camp: A Comparison Between In-Person and Take-Home Experiences
(North Dakota State University, 2021)The utilization of informal STEM education opportunities has been well established as a way to supplement and support formal STEM education learning. Many of the studies confirming this were completed in urban settings. ... -
Foraging Strategies and Morphometric Characteristics of Bats in North and South Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2021)Insectivorous bats are an important group for studying links between dietary flexibility and associated impacts on foraging and morphology of individuals from different populations. Since different habitats generally have ... -
Influence of Habitat Characteristics on Amphibian Stress and Reproductive Success in North Dakota
(North Dakota State University, 2021)As amphibians continue to decline, conservation efforts are a necessity in management plans. It is essential to determine the correlation between water characteristics, stress, and habitat alteration with anuran losses. ... -
Faculty Intention and Faculty Implementation - Do They Align?
(North Dakota State University, 2021)There have been a multitude of calls to reform teaching in undergraduate education. The implementation of active learning in the classroom increases student learning, relative to traditional lecturing. I worked with ... -
An Evaluation of the Social Perceptions and Biological Efficacy of Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Avian-Agriculture Conflict
(North Dakota State University, 2021)North Dakota sunflower producers face a dilemma when it comes to blackbirds (Icteridae). Migrating flocks produce localized damage to production, which results in some farmers with no bird issues, while others face total ... -
Effects of nest site environment and timing of breeding on reproductive success in Franklin's gulls (Larus pipixcan)
(North Dakota State University, 2009)Offspring performance and phenotype are affected by genotype and environment, which in birds includes yolk resources (part of the embryonic environment). Female colony nesting birds may influence offspring competitive ... -
Aging and Early Life Stress: Telomerase Dynamics and The Consequences for Telomeres in a Wild Bird
(North Dakota State University, 2020)Aging is an underlying risk factor for many major diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration. Yet we still do not know the full extent of how our bodies age and what determines our lifespan. ...