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Terrane Accretion In The Trollheimen And Dovrefjell Regions Of The Scandinavian Caledonides, Norway, Stephanie Georgevich

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Following closure of the Iapetus Ocean, the paleocontinents of Laurentia and Baltica collided to form the Caledonian Orogeny. During this closure and subsequent collision, island arc terranes and microcontinents were accreted and subducted underneath the Norwegian continental margin. These terranes are preserved in central Norway, specifically in the Dovrefjell and Trollheimen mountain ranges. The order in which these terranes accreted to the continent and when this occurred is not well understood. To determine this stacking order, I will be using P-T path modeling, U-Pb zircon dating, and structural position. Knowing the degree, progression, and geologic age of metamorphism, and tectonostratigraphic …

High-Frequency Seismic Noise In Desert Environments, Alexis Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the generation and modulation of ambient seismic noise in arid environments, with a focus on aeolian processes such as saltation, wind shear, and precipitation events. Using a dense array of three-component seismic nodes co-located with meteorological sensors and a novel particle transport instrument (SANTRI), high-frequency seismic signatures were examined within the Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico. Time-frequency analysis reveals that wind-driven saltation events produce measurable seismic energy enhancements, particularly within the 100-300 Hz band, with clear spectral distinctions between wind-only forcing and particle-laden transport. Additionally, rainfall events were identified by elevated seismic amplitudes in the …

Using Geomorphic Change And Sediment Modeling To Calculate Debris Flow Volumes From The 2020 El Dorado Wildfire In The Southern San Bernardino Mountains, California, Sevag Injean

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Four years after the occurrence of the 2020 El Dorado Fire, Yucaipa Ridge and the surrounding communities of Oak Glen and Forest Falls still experience the devastation caused by debris flows. Wildfires can instigate a series of events leading to hydrophobic soils, loss of vegetation, and increased sediment availability which amplify post-fire debris flow risks. This study tested the hypothesis that post-wildfire geomorphic changes can be accurately quantified and predicted using high-resolution LiDAR-derived digital elevation models. To investigate this hypothesis, multi-temporal LiDAR datasets were analyzed to quantify geomorphic changes, including erosion and deposition, within two severely burned basins in the …

Influence Of Experience And Risk With Natural Hazards On Geoscience Interest And Career Expectations, Shannon Conner

All Dissertations

Understanding student interest in geoscience is important, as it has the potential to inform departmental decisions such as the selection of classroom examples and marketing strategies to attract new geoscience majors. Recruitment to geoscience is critical to address future social and environmental challenges. Our work may also provide insight into how to approach persistent recruitment problems within departments, such as student enrollment and the lack of diversity within the geosciences. This work involves developing a geoscience interest scale, integrating geospatial and educational data sets related to hazard risk and interest, and an exploring career motivations as related to natural hazard …

Decoding Teleconnection Impacts On Hydrological Switches In The Conus Using Wavelet Analysis, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Shahryar Fazli, Hesham Morgan, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Hydrometeorological teleconnections are key drivers of hydrological processes, representing the influence of large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns on regional climates. Understanding these teleconnections provides crucial insights into the mechanisms underlying hydrometeorological phenomena, particularly hydrological switches—rapid transitions between extreme events such as droughts and floods. These switches have become increasingly prevalent across the contiguous United States (CONUS), fueled by climate variability and evolving atmospheric patterns. This study utilizes cross-wavelet transform analysis to examine the spatial and temporal dynamics of hydrological switches and their correlations with major teleconnection indices, including NAO, ONI, WP, PDO, PNA, and QBO. The findings indicate significant coherence between …

Insights From Swot Data On Transboundary Upstream-Downstream Impacts In The Nile Basin, Hesham Morgan, Wenzhao Li, Ali Elgendy, Surendra Maharjan, Rejoice Thomas, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

This study utilizes high-resolution data from NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) mission to investigate water dynamics and upstream-downstream impacts across key reservoirs in the Nile Basin. Focusing on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Rosaries Dam, Merowe Dam, and the Aswan High Dam, the analysis spans 15 months (August 2023 to October 2024). By systematically selecting 30 points across each reservoir, monthly boxplots of surface water elevation were generated, revealing significant temporal and spatial variability. The results show that GERD’s filling phase led to a steady increase in water levels (peaking at ~615 meters from June to October …

Development And Evaluation Of Supported Ionic Liquid Membrane And Porphyrin Frameworks For Carbon Capture Separation, Sarang Ismail

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

The global urgency to mitigate anthropogenic CO₂ emissions has intensified the pursuit of energy-efficient separation technologies. Supported Ionic Liquid Membranes (SILMs) have emerged as promising candidates for CO₂ capture due to their tunable solubility-selectivity and low energy requirements. However, challenges such as mechanical instability, limited scalability, and trade-offs in transport performance have impeded their widespread adoption.

This thesis explores a systematic approach to designing and optimizing SILMs for enhanced CO₂ separation by tailoring polymer–ionic liquid interactions, processing conditions, and material architectures. A comprehensive set of studies were conducted using poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with varying molecular weights, different grades of PEBAX®, …

Explainable Machine Learning Surrogate Modeling For Exit Gradient Prediction In Hydraulic Structures Using Numerical Simulations, Prayas Rath, Jianting Zhu, Kevin M. Befus

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Accurate prediction of exit gradients is essential for designing impounding hydraulic structures, such as dams and levees, to mitigate seepage-induced piping failures. Conventional analytical methods often neglect boundary effects and anisotropy, limiting their applicability in complex geological settings. This study develops an XGBoost-based machine learning surrogate model trained and tested on 8,000 MODFLOW numerical simulations to predict exit gradients under varying hydraulic and geological conditions. The data set covers numerous parameters, including anisotropy, head differences, structure width, cut-off wall depth, aquifer thickness, and uninterrupted riverbed length. The coefficient of determination for test data is 0.88, demonstrating reliable exit gradient prediction …

Role Of Quartz Grain Size And Saturation On Fault Strength And Frictional Healing, Sapana Regmi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Rocks near the Earth's surface (less than 5 kilometers deep) often break and grind against one another to create crushed rock materials known as fault gouge. These fault gouges are filled with fragmented particles and broken rocks, which vary in grain size over time and space due to repeated earthquakes. This variation in grain size distribution along fault gouge can affect the strength of the fault, how it slips during an earthquake and how it 'heals' or recovers strength between earthquakes. Further, fault gouges often contain water from underground sources, which can influence how they slip. Previous studies have examined …

Impacts Of 4r Nitrogen Management And Water Optimization On Soil Health, Kamaldeep Kamaldeep

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Farmers in Utah and Idaho are facing growing challenges due to high fertilizer costs, limited irrigation water, and pressure to improve long-term soil health. To better understand current practices and grower attitudes, a survey was conducted in 2020 targeting 5,000 producers of small grains, corn, and potatoes. Although the response rate was low, 146 growers representing over 25,000 hectares of cropland participated. Survey results showed that most growers are open to improving nitrogen and irrigation practices and care about their soil health, even if not all are fully using 4R or precision agriculture methods.

This thesis includes two field studies …

Soil Carbon Storage And Its Relation To Abiotic And Biotic Factors In The Boise Foothills, Richie William Holder

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Terrestrial soil sequesters a significant amount of carbon (C), and changes to this pool can impact atmospheric CO2 concentrations and climate change. Thus, it is crucial to understand the drivers of the size of this pool. Changes in plant community composition in semi-arid ecosystems can impact soil C storage. However, little is known about the impact of plant functional type on the quantity and distribution of soil C on a landscape scale relevant to ecosystem management. I conducted a study in the City of Boise’s Open Space Reserves located north of Boise, Idaho to evaluate how plant functional type affects …

Unraveling Snow And Rain Contributions To Streamflow Through A Methodological Investigation On Cold And Warm Season End-Members, Rachel Grena

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Water supply and demand are encountering unique challenges in the western United States as climate change impacts the availability of water resources. Much of the west relies on high mountain snowpack to maintain consistent streamflow throughout the dry, warm season months. Temperatures often rise above freezing in the cold season, diminishing the snowpack size, and altering the timing of snowmelt. As droughts become more frequent, water managers are increasingly concerned about the risk of reduced summer streamflow. To understand changing hydrologic patterns, this study utilizes phase changes in precipitation, specifically the distinction between cold and warm season precipitation, and their …

Geochemical And Stratigraphic Characterization Of The Morrison Formation And Cedar Mountain Formation Contact In The Island Park Quadrangle, Uintah County, Utah, Emily Mcdermott

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation and Lower Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation are among the richest sources of dinosaur fossils. Despite a 24-million-year gap in time (the Jurassic–Cretaceous unconformity), these formations are difficult to distinguish due to their similar rock types and colors. In Utah's Island Park quadrangle (IPQ), these formations are not separated on existing geological maps. This study focuses on identifying and understanding the formational boundary between them using field observations, stable isotope analysis, clay mineralogy, and chemical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF).

Unlike other areas where a conglomerate layer marks the boundary, the …

Evaluating Uplift At The Leading Edge Of The Yellowstone Hotspot - A Study Of The Shoshone River Drainage, Emma Tombaugh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The stationary mantle plume (or hotspot) underlying the Yellowstone region has caused parts of the surrounding landscape to rise as the continental plate migrates over it. However, scientists do not fully agree on the spatial pattern of this uplift and few measurements of the landscape have been made to provide estimates of uplift rates. To better understand uplift patterns and rates, this study examines the Shoshone River, which flows across the predicted zone of highest uplift at the northeastern, leading edge of the hotspot. Digital-terrain analysis is used to measure channel steepness and field and imagery approaches are used to …

Cotton Yield And Tissue-Potassium Response To Potassium Fertilization, Maria Paula Ramos Do Prado

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Potassium (K) deficiency is a common yield-limiting factor in cotton (Gossypium hirsu tum L.) production across the U.S. Cotton Belt. Adequate fertilizer-K management is paramount to ensure optimum plant growth and development, minimizing yield losses. Currently, fertilizer K recommendations for cotton in Arkansas are derived from expected yield responses of other crops, with no calibrated fertilizer-K rates or critical tissue-K concentrations defined to maxim ize crop yield. Our research objectives were i) to investigate cotton yield response and fiber qual ity to K fertilization on soils with different K availability; ii) to correlate relative yield with tis sue-K concentrations at …

Highly Contaminated Sediments From The Gowanus Canal (New York) Superfund Site: An Environmental Forensic Approach, Michael A. Kruge, Kevin K. Olsen, Eric A Stern, Maria Mastalerz, Albert Permanyer

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The 2.5 km long Gowanus Canal (Brooklyn, NY, USA) is a severely contaminated urban waterway dating from the mid-19th century, listed as a US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Superfund site since 2010. Applying an environmental forensics approach to the extensive USEPA data set, we detect systematic variations in parent PAH ring number distributions in the canal sediments, as well as an extraordinary enrichment in organic carbon. We subjected a supplemental sample set to a more detailed analysis by quantitative pyrolysis-GC-MS, Rock-Eval pyrolysis, and organic petrology. With these sensitive methods, we can confirm the alkyl-PAH fingerprint of coal tar (a legacy …

The Effect Of Cellulolytic Enzyme Preparations As In Vitro Improvement For Forage Digestibility, G Bertin, Ph Hellings

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The systematic study of commercial preparations of fungal cellulases has been undertaken with the aim of determining the principal components and the contribution of each to the digestion of the plant cell wall. These enzymes, normally have three fold role-silage preservative by hydrolysing the cellulosic wall of plant material, cellulases make available fermentable sugars to the lactic bacteria. -Improvement of digestibility we can increase gain by 1 % of the dry matter in forage. - Improvement of intake if the animal digests more quickly his gut will empty more rapidly thus making it available sooner for a new intake of …

Effect Of Cellulase Preparation On Fermentation Of Silage, E No, Y Harasawa, A Ataku, N Narasaki, T Sueyoshi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effects of cellulase preparation (Meicelase) on silage fermentation were studied using the first cutting alfalfa and timothy. In one-liter laboratory silos with Meicelase of 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0:8% of the fresh grasses, the fermentative quality was examined throughout a 30 day ensilage period. The amount of the lactic acid in the silage with the Meicelase was considerably greater than the control silage with no additive. In addition, the pH of that silage was low and the content of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) was high. However, the differences in the amount of Meicelase applied had no effects in the …

Effects Of Sample Drying Method On Estimates Of Nutritive Value Value, S Uchida, H Hayashi, T Horigome

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The influence of different drying methods for the sample used for analysis on the estimates of the nutritive value of silage was investigated. The silages and hay were made from the same grass and fed to three wethers to determine digestibilities. The samples for analytical use of silages and hay fed, and feces excreted, were prepared by three drying techniques of freeze drying (F), oven drying at 60 C (L) and oven drying at 100 C (H) and then each dried sample was ground in a Wiley mill to pass a 0.5 mm screen. The residual moisture in prepared samples …

Effect Of Lactic Acid Bacteria On Silage Fermentation, Ph Hellings, G Bertin, M Vanbelle

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Inoculants were tested to determine their suitability for use as silage aids. Studies carried out in laboratory indicated (1) that the minimum inoculum should be at least 105 viable organisms per gram of fresh fodder and (2) of all bacterial strains tested, only the Lactobacillus and, specifically, L. casei improved storage characteristics. But the efficiency of an inoculant was subordinated to the fermentable sugars content of the crops. In this respect, alfalfa and second cut grass had the lowest potential for ensilage. Energy was supplied as a mixture of milled barley and amylolytic complex. The influence of a 1: 1: …

Ensilage Of Alfalfa Press-Cake. A Kinetic Model For Ph, Acidity And Nitrogen Evolution, G Amdrich, L Lencioni, R Florentini, G Anelli

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A kinetic model to describe the time evolution of pH, acidity, metabolizable nitrogen and k1 • B, ( a function related to the bacteria concentration) during ensilage of alfalfa press-cake is suggested. The basic hypotheses of the model are given together with the related differential and integral equations. The kinetic model has been tested using experimental data obtained from two samples of alfalfa press-cake respectively ensiled with and without acid addition. The correlation coefficients obtained indicate the reliability of the suggested model.

Ensilage Of Alfalfa Press-Cake, G Anelli, G Andrich, M Contini, L Lencioni

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Istituto Industrie Agrarie of the University of Pisa has developed a wet green crop fractionation process which involves the ensilage of the press-cake. This note reports some experimental results on the alfalfa press-cake ensiled with or without addition of acid. The evolution of silages was evaluated through organoleptic and chemical parameters. The good behaviour· during the ensilage shows that alfalfa press-cake is suitable to be ensiled even without previous acidification.

Coagulation Of Sheep Milk Added With Alfalfa Juice And Protein Concentrate, L Lencioni, R Florentini, A M. Pisanelli, C Galoppini

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This note reports some experimental results on the preparation of food-grade products obtained by enzyme coagulation of sheep milk added with alfalfa juice, decolourized whole protein concentrate and cytoplasmic protein concentrate. Working conditions are reported together with the yields, chemical composition and organoleptic properties of the coagula. Products obtained from milk supplemented with low alfalfa juice (��5% dry basis) or protein concentrates (;;;;:10% dry basis) show a good acceptability. The ripening greatly reduces grass flavour and taste.

Effect Of Remaining Brown Juice In Wet Protein Curd On The Quality Of Leaf Protein After Drying, Y S. Cho, J K. Kim, T Horigome, S Uchifa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The influence of remaining brown juice ( deproteinised juice) in wet protein curd on the quality of resulting leaf protein was examined. Freshly cut Italian ryegrass and red clover were fractionated into protein curd, brown juice and pressed cake. Various leaf proteins were prepared by drying the protein curds retaining different amounts of brown juice at 65°C followed by acetone-washing, and by immediate acetone-washing of the protein curd. Casein-brown juice mixtures at the ratio of 1 :3 and 1: 6 were also prepared. The crude protein content of the dry matter in brown juice was very low, 9. 9% for …

The Nutritive Value Of Mixtures Of White Leaf Protein And Other Food Proteins, R Carlsson, P Hanczakowski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The nutritive value of white leaf proteins were studied, as food supplements. The protein was obtained by heat­fractionation ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) or by de-pigmentation (Medicago sativa L. ). The leaf protein was substituting 50% of the protein in a diet, where the remaining 50% came from wheat gluten, soya bean meal, bone-meat meal, fish meal, skim milk or whey. The nutritive value was estimated by the Thomas-Mitchell nitrogen balance method. The proximate chemical composition of the food protein products, and their amino acid composition were analysed. In every mixture but the one with gluten the biological value was higher …

Effect Of Contamination By Aspergillus Flavus On The Nutritive Value Of Leaf Protein Concentrate Of Leucaena Leucocphala During Storage, H T. Ostrowski-Meissner, I Komang, W Supratman, I Barchia, S Cacang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Leaf protein concentrate extracted from tree legume Leucaena leucocephala cultivar Cunningham (LLP) was stored under humid tropical conditions (24-28°C and 84-92% rh) in the form of wet cake during a 10 day period. Samples of LLP were taken every second day for chemical analyses and protein quality assays. The effect of storage on dried LLP was also assessed against two control proteins: peanut meal (PNM) and fish meal (FM), either free of aflatoxins or infected by the aflatoxigenic fungus Aspergi_llus flavus to the level 280 mcg aflatoxin B1 equivalent/kg. Storage of wet LLP under such conditions resulted in infestation by …

Physiological Activity Of Alfalfa Lpc And Brown Juice, A Sagasaki, T Kawakami, M Naito, H Yamada, Y Kuroyanagi, K Suzumura, R Kayama

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

With the purpose of searching physiological active component(s) contained in alfalfa leaf, green leaf protein concentrate (LPC) and brown juice were tested against the effects on the inutagenicity of mutagen and hyperlipemia. LPC and brown juice were found to inactivate the mutagenicity of 2•aminoanthracene by the Ames test, and the capacity was more powerful in LPC than in brown juice. Further feeding of alfalfa LPC or its brown juice added diet to hamster reduced the total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in serum.

Influence Of The Age Of Chicken On The Metabolizable Energy Value Of Alfalfa Leaf Protein Concentrate, S Terapuntuwat, I Tasaki

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Influence of the age of chicken on the nitrogen corrected metabolizable energy (MEn) value of alfalfa leaf protein concentrate (LPC) was investigated. Chickens of various ages were fed diets containing certain amounts of the LPC, and droppings were collected quantitatively. The MEn of the diets was determined as the difference between consumed energy and excreted energy which was corrected with retained energy as body protein. Then the MEn value of the LPC was calculated using the values of the LPC containing diets and that of cornstarch which was obtained from data for a LPC-free diet. As a result, the MEn …

High Value Productions From Lucerne: A New Zealand Perspective, R M. Mcdonald, P E. Donnelly, R A. Mills, S R. Vaughan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Research at Ruakura has aimed at improving the economics of lucerne protein extraction, by extracting more of the protein (up to 85%) and by searching for ways to get maximum value for each of the components in the lucerne. Presently most lucerne protein concentrate is sold on the basis of its protein and xanthophyll contents, which are valued by poultry growers. Other components, including carotene, chlorophyll and vitamin E, are not valued in poultry feed and consequently could be extracted and sold separately. Carotene and vitamin E have recently been associated with cancer prevention. The paper also discusses the value …

Effect Of Drying Methods On The Nutritive Value Of Leaf Protein Concentrates Coagulated By Acidification, Heat Or Anaerobic Fermentation, M Ohshima

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

SUMMARY To determine the effect of heat-treatments on the nutritive value of leaf protein concentrate(LPC), several LPCs prepared by different procedures were fed to rats. The nutritive value of ladino clover LPC separated centrifugally from acidified juice and freeze-dried was compared with that of LPC prepared from the same acidified juice by heating to 70°C with an electric heater before the centrifugation and oven-dried at 70°C. The heat-treatments reduced not only the apparent digestibility of crude protein by 5%, but also the nutritionally available lysine content of LPC. Response of rats to lysine supplementation in addition to methionine was observed …