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John L Hulteng
No full textUndated photograph of John L. Hulteng, Grand Forks President of City Commissioners from 1926-1934.https://commons.und.edu/gf-city-photos/1250/thumbnail.jp
Buffalo Hide Drum
No full textFeatured in the exhibition, Plain of Stars: An exhibition to uplift, acknowledge, and celebrate Indigenous students.https://commons.und.edu/native-art/1099/thumbnail.jp
EMPOWERING CAREGIVERS THROUGH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION
Get PDFPurpose: This scholarly project aimed to create an evidence-based toolkit for caregivers of adolescents currently completing partial hospitalization programming (PHP). Adolescents enrolled in PHP have experienced severe disruption in their daily functions. Adolescent mental illness is a public health concern due to its prevalence, early onset, and the impact it can have on individuals, families, and communities (Ghandour et al., 2019). Mental health disorders during adolescence can affect development by interfering with the ability to function in daily settings and achieve social, emotional, cognitive, and academic milestones (Ghandour et al., 2019). Many adolescents are also exposed to risk factors, including abuse, violence, harsh parenting, bullying, trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and poverty. These risk factors can lead to adolescents becoming more vulnerable to mental health issues (Das et al., 2016 & World Health Organization, 2021).
Methodology: An extensive literature review was completed, and the main findings showcased that both the adolescent and caregiver experience a disruption in their roles, routines, and function when an individual in the family unit is struggling with mental illness, making proper education and resources beneficial for all. The author used the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and the Recovery Model as a framework to guide and develop this product. MOHO guided this toolkit based on the assumption that when changes in personal factors or the environment occur, these changes can elicit a shift in performance and behaviors (Kielhofner, 2002). The Recovery Model provides a guiding structure based on hope, self-determination, and the ability to manage mental illness (Petersen et al., 2023). Due to the vulnerability of this population, caregivers must be provided with evidence-based mental health resources and education to assist with transferring skills learned in programming back into the home and community.
Results: The Caregiver’s Compass: Navigating Adolescent Mental Health is a comprehensive toolkit developed to support caregivers of adolescents with mental health conditions, as well as healthcare professionals working with these caregivers. This resource aims to assist caregivers through the various transitional phases that occur when an adolescent is undergoing mental health treatment, while also equipping healthcare providers with the necessary tools to deliver thorough education, resources, and guidance to caregivers. These efforts are especially focused on aiding caregivers as adolescents reintegrate into the community and resume their daily activities. The toolkit covers a range of topics essential to promoting adolescent mental health and well-being. These include skills related to dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), strategies for coping with trauma, time management, and organizational techniques, an understanding of sensory processing, the use of The Zones of Regulation, advocacy skills for caregivers, tools for goal setting, available mental health resources, and guidance on implementing a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). The overarching objective of this toolkit is to empower caregivers to manage their own well-being while effectively supporting their adolescent’s mental health recovery journey
CREATING A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT EVIDENCE BASED EVALUATION PROTOCOL
Get PDFBackground: Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) in the United States admit approximately 300,000 infants annually (Valencia et al., 2023). Upon admission, neonatal occupational therapists assess a range of factors, including neurobehavioral, neuromotor, musculoskeletal, and sensory systems, as well as family/caregiver interactions and activities of daily living (Craig et al., 2018). This comprehensive evaluation underscores the need for effective assessment tools, efficient protocols, and adequate support for therapists. However, practitioners often face challenges that impact the quality of care, such as limited resources, lack of specialized training, and inconsistent organizational standards (Kaur et al., 2021). Occupational therapy has emerged as a crucial practice within the NICU, with a focus on evaluating both the personal and contextual factors affecting neonates.
Purpose: The project aimed to create an evidence-based, standardized, and efficient guideline for evaluation and documentation in the NICU context.
Methods: A literature review was completed to identify barriers within this population. A needs assessment was then completed to evaluate the context and population of the NICU. Extensive research was also completed on available NICU assessments based on the information gathered from the literature review. The student and site mentor utilized this information to select 4 assessments/screens. After choosing these assessments/screens an evaluation protocol was created with collaboration between the student, site mentor, and NICU staff. The product utilizes the foundations of the Ecological Model of Human Performance (EHP; Dunn, 2017) to guide assessments and interventions and Synactive Development Theory.
Product: The product created was a standardized evaluation protocol. The final product includes an outline for documenting each assessment within the electronic medical record system. A 7 protocol for use within the NICU therapy department. Informational handouts for caregivers that explain the purpose and application of each assessment. The protocol provides an efficient way to evaluate and document within the context of the NICU, eliminating previously faced barriers by neonatal occupational therapists. The protocol also considers the specific population of the site, a level III NICU.
Significance: The product provides the level III NICU context with an efficient and evidencebased protocol for evaluation ensuring comprehensive, occupational based, client centered care. The protocol also includes a process for efficient and consistent documentation that allows information to be shared within the care team in an easily understood way
ACCESSIBILITY OF HIGHER EDUCATION: SUPPORTING STUDENT SELF-ADVOCACY
Get PDFAs of the 2020-2021 academic year, 1 in 5 undergraduate students reported having a disability (National Center for Education Statistics, n.d.). College students with disabilities (CSWD) face social and physical environmental barriers to higher education due to exclusive policies, procedures, and designs. In turn, occupational engagement is decreased, inhibiting participation in education. A college education can support career opportunities, financial stability, and personal development (Plotner & May, 2019). Therefore, it is essential that CSWD have equitable access. Despite efforts from college campuses to become more accessible, gaps remain that require CSWD to be self-advocates. The purpose of this project was to develop resources in the occupational therapy scope of practice that promote self-advocacy in CSWD, for faculty to embrace universal design features, and to enhance sense of belonging on college campuses for CSWD. In collaboration with the University of North Dakota’s Student Disability Resources Office, a program development project was undertaken. First, a literature review was completed to identify best practice occupational therapy interventions for CSWD skill development in the essential self-advocacy skills of assertive communication, problem solving, self-awareness, viii and knowledge of resources. Next, an on-site needs assessment was conducted to understand supports and barriers for CSWD and faculty at UND. Next, the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) was applied to best-practice interventions to develop tools to support CSWD in accessing higher education. These were piloted with students and formative feedback was obtained to make modifications to the product. Preliminary results of the project include a series of group interventions to promote self-advocacy skills, one-to-one interventions, a universal design resource guide for faculty, online education for student success skill-development, and campus belonging resources. It is anticipated that implementation of these resources will facilitate self-advocacy behaviors that in turn promote academic and personal success, emotional well-being, and equity in academic settings for CSWD
Unlock Upper Extremity Rehabilitation: Interprofessional Collaboration Between OT Hand Therapy and Surgical Teams
No full textBackground: In the journey to recovery from upper extremity injuries, outpatient hand therapists who are certified as occupational therapists (OT) play a crucial role in restoring patients\u27 independence and functionality, both before and after surgical intervention. Researchers identified main themes experienced by participants who had acquired an upper extremity injury and were post-operation, such as functional challenges in managing conditions, difficulties in everyday life, coping strategies, differing expectations, and the impact of information on daily life (Hansen et al, 2024). In all of these areas identified, an OT hand therapist is able to identify and facilitate improvements pre- and post-surgery with a holistic view, including both biomechanical and functional (occupational) expertise. It is crucial for a population that has received an upper extremity injury to receive appropriate care due to the complexity and delicacy of each individual diagnosis. O’Brien et al (2013) assessed the impact of initial treatment by an OT hand therapist for individuals referred to a hand surgeon for common hand conditions and how pre-surgical care is a critical area of focus in optimizing patient care pathways. This approach, emphasizes early intervention by OT hand therapists which could significantly alter the conventional course of treatment, typically involving surgical consultation as a first step. By incorporating OT hand therapists into pre-surgical care, the management of common hand conditions may be revolutionized, focusing on non-invasive treatment modalities that aim to reduce symptoms, improve function, and potentially avoid surgery (O’Brien et al, 2013). The problem is that there are limited referrals to OT hand therapists throughout varied stages of recovery from vii injuries or surgeries due to the lack of awareness about the role of OT in hand therapy. Therefore, this scholarly project includes a product that aims to improve the referral process by educating surgical team members about the role of OT hand therapy in treating both biomechanical and functional (occupational) challenges associated with upper extremity injuries during pre- and post-surgical care in outpatient settings.
Methodology: A literature review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of hand therapy in pre- and post-surgical care for upper extremity injury patients, analyzing relevant studies to identify best practices and outcomes. The model of person, environment, and occupation (PEO) was the model used to guide finding of the literature with emphasis on the transactions between person, environment, and occupation (Law et al, 1996). The PEO model allows the therapist to evaluate the person holistically first and then develop specific biomechanical and function-based interventions that support overall occupational performance.
Results: The product of this scholarly project is an educational guide for OTCHT’s to increase referrals from medical providers. The resource includes educational information about the role of OT hand therapy in the provision of interventions during pre- and post-surgical stages of recovery for those with upper extremity injuries. The outcome of this product is to enhance medical providers\u27 understanding of OT in hand therapy services, thereby increasing referrals for upper extremity injuries to hand therapists who are OT practitioners. This, in turn, aims to enhance interprofessional collaboration, which has potential to improve patient outcomes and promote greater participation in daily activities and occupations
Using Machine Learning To Investigate Weather Impacts On Crop Yield For Probabilistic, Climate-Informed Predictive Crop Breeding
Get PDFAs the world’s population continues to grow, the importance of food security willonly continue to increase, with some estimates requiring a global increase in food production between 59 and 98% by 2050. The agriculture industry is also a crucial economic driver, with the industry supporting 20% of the state of North Dakota’s workforce, and with a total valuation of $41.3 billion. The economic importance of this industry and the challenges of future growth prompt a need for data driven decision making into the future, particularly with predictive crop breeding. This is the method by which crops are developed that are more resilient to biotic and abiotic stresses. If we can identify the key variables that are affecting the health of crops, we can use crop breeding as a tool to mitigate negative impacts on our crops due to climate change.
Using the North American Regional Reanalysis as well as data from the National Agricultural Statistics Survey, we determine what atmospheric variables are important for predicting yields for a variety of crops across the state of North Dakota. Non-linear relationships between atmospheric variables and crop yield encourage the use of machine learning to diagnose the importance of each variable. We utilize a random forest ensemble learning algorithm to determine the importance of each atmospheric variable, then determine the ideal range for that variable to produce the highest yield. Finally, we quantify how these important features are changing in the future decades by utilizing the Community Earth System Model Large Ensemble Project. This allows us to deliver a probabilistic forecast to crop breeders on the likelihood of the climate changing from ideal growing conditions. Results indicate that summer temperatures across most of North Dakota have already exceeded the optimal range for both barley and durum wheat, and projections suggest this trend will continue in the coming decades
Synthesis And Characterization Of Silicon-Containing Ternary Transition Metal Borides For High Performance Applications
Get PDFBinary borides are well known for their exceptional mechanical and thermal properties, including high strength, high melting points, outstanding hardness, and excellent chemical stability, making them suitable for high-temperature structural applications such as components in hypersonic vehicles, jet engines, nose cones, and the leading edges of aircraft. Despite these advantages, they are inherently brittle and suffer from low fracture toughness, limiting their ability to absorb impact or resist crack propagation.
To this end, attention shifted to ternary transition metal borides which are materials composed of a transition metal, boron, and a third element. These ternary compounds exhibit a broader range of crystal structures, allowing for greater tunability of mechanical and functional properties. Several studies have reported that ternary borides demonstrate improved fracture toughness compared to their binary counterparts. Among these, MoAlB has gained much attention for its unique combination of oxidation resistance at elevated temperatures, crack healing capabilities, and abrasion resistance.
In today’s technology-driven world, silicon remains a foundational material across numerous industries due to its abundance, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. Its integration into ternary boride systems presents a compelling route to engineer new materials with enhanced high-temperature performance. Motivated by this potential, this dissertation focuses on the synthesis and characterization of a silicon-containing ternary transition metal boride—Ni₆Si₂B.
In this study, bulk polycrystalline Ni₆Si₂B was successfully synthesized and characterized. High-temperature tribological testing revealed a decreasing coefficient of friction with increasing temperature, vital for energy saving in applications where friction reduction is a major concern. Additionally, oxidation studies showed that Ni₆Si₂B remains stable up to 800 °C, with its oxidation behavior following a parabolic kinetic model. This performance is attributed to the formation of a protective silicon oxide layer on the surface, which effectively reduces atomic diffusion and inhibits further oxidation. The oxide layer was also responsible for improved compressive strength after long term oxidation at 800 °C and 900 °C.
In summary, this work contributes to the expanding body of knowledge on ternary transition metal borides by exploring the structural, mechanical, and environmental stability of a silicon-based composition. The findings present the promise of Ni₆Si₂B as a multifunctional material for extreme service environments
The Effect Of Salaciousness, Consistency, And Timing Of Disclosure On Alibi Believability In The Eyes Of A Jury
Get PDFPast research indicates a prevalent distrust of alibi evidence, coined by Olson and Wells (2004) as the alibi skepticism hypothesis. This inherent distrust prompts inquiries into the factors that enhance or undermine the credibility of alibi evidence in a trial. Utilizing attribution theory (Allison et al., 2012; Weiner, 2010), this study investigates the elements contributing to the believability of alibi statements, specifically the impact of alibi consistency, timing of disclosure, and the salaciousness of the alibi statement on jurors\u27 perceptions of the defendant\u27s character. Participants were randomly assigned to one of twelve conditions and read a mock trial summary that included details of the crime, investigation, and attorney statements. Participants then rated the perceived believability of the alibi statement, the defendant’s character traits, and rendered a verdict decision. Results indicated that alibi consistency significantly influenced alibi believability, character assessments, and verdict decisions. Neither alibi salaciousness nor timing of disclosure showed significant independent effects, though multiple interactions between salaciousness, consistency, and timing of disclosure were observed. Implications and future directions are discussed
Zaasijiwan: An Indigenized Health Communication Framework For American Indian And Alaska Native Communities
Get PDFThe Zaasijiwan Framework represents an Indigenized health communication model developed to enhance the cultural relevance, trust, and effectiveness of public health messaging for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. This qualitative study integrated Indigenous and Western public health knowledge to inform the development of the framework. A comprehensive literature review and two rounds of key informant interviews with health communication professionals informed the design of the framework. Findings emphasized the importance of community co-creation and strengths-based narratives, along with other framework elements, in overcoming medical mistrust and improving health outcomes. The final framework offers public health professionals, Tribal, and Urban Native organizations a culturally grounded model to guide the development of health communication strategies that honor the sovereignty of Native people, amplify Indigenous ways of knowing, and promote the resilience of communities. This work addresses a critical gap in existing health communication theory and practice, providing a pathway for decolonizing health messaging efforts across Indian Country