A Journey of Pregnancy Loss: From Positivism to Autoethnography

When a dissertation research project exploring the impact of mind - body practices on symptoms of depression and anxiety in pregnant women with a history of miscarriage failed to yield statistically significant results, I struggled with how to demonstrate that I had gleaned knowledge from this project of nearly 3 years. When a series of parallel pregnancy losses occurred in my own life, I realized that I am heavily situated within the context of my research and need to consider my data in a different sense; one that acknowledges my own self within this process while attempting to capture the lived experiences of others. The shift to autoethnography afforded me the opportunity to demonstrate that knowledge can be generated through multiple methodologies, with one approach not being privileged over another. As this dissertation moved from an empirical study to a qualitative, autoethnographic piece, I was able to identify themes surfacing from the literature, my own experiences and participation in a pregnancy loss support group. The themes discussed include: making meaning from the experience, granting personhood status and grieving and other emotional expression

Single-Calf Heifer System Profitability Compared to Other North Dakota Beef Production Systems

Production Economics, Productivity Analysis,

Differing Effects of Glycerin on Anaerobic Co-digestion of Mixed Substrates in Bench-Scale Assays and Sub Pilot-Scale Reactors

Bench-scale methods such as Biochemical Methane Potential (BMP) assays and Anaerobic Toxicity Assays (ATAs) are useful tools in evaluating potential feedstocks for anaerobic digestion. The BMP method provides a preliminary indication of substrate biodegradability and methane production, while the ATAs provide an indication of substrate toxicity to anaerobic microbial consortia. Previous research using small (\u3c20 \u3eL) reactors indicated that co-digestion of manures with small amounts of glycerin (ca. 1 – 2 %) can double methane production, but toxicity can result if glycerin exceeds 2% (volumetric basis). This paper investigated the relationship between bench-scale methods (BMPs and ATAs) and sub pilot-scale digester results, using glycerin as a test substrate mixed with a baseline feedstock (beef manure, corn processing wastewater, lagoon liquid, and short-fiber cardboard). The batch-fed, stirred ATAs indicated that glycerin was toxic to methane production at all inclusion levels. The batch-fed, stirred BMPs indicated no significant difference between methane production in the 0.0%to 4.0% addition levels; however at 8.0% addition, methane production tripled. The continuously fed, non-stirred, plug-flow sub pilot-scale reactors indicated toxicity effects in the 2.0% and 4.0% glycerin mixtures and no difference from the control in the 1.0% glycerin mixture. These results demonstrate the variations in scale performance of glycerin as a co-substrate and identify some serious challenges in extrapolating bench-scale assays to large-scale performance of mixed-waste anaerobic digestion systems

Ion-lithium collision dynamics studied with an in-ring MOTReMi

We present a novel experimental tool allowing for kinematically complete studies of break-up processes of laser-cooled atoms. This apparatus, the 'MOTReMi', is a combination of a magneto-optical trap (MOT) and a Reaction Microscope (ReMi). Operated in an ion-storage ring, the new setup enables to study the dynamics in swift ion-atom collisions on an unprecedented level of precision and detail. In first experiments on collisions with 1.5 MeV/amu O$^{8+}$-Li the pure ionization of the valence electron as well as ionization-excitation of the lithium target has been investigated

Physical Performance Differences in Sea, Air and Land (SEAL) Operator Cohorts Separated by Demographics

Please refer to the pdf version of the abstract located adjacent to the title

Selected Characteristics of North Dakota Farm Families Engaged in Sustainable Agricultural Practices

Environmental Economics and Policy, Farm Management, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,