Digital Commons Network^™

Fuel Consumption Model Generation, Emission Estimation And Life Cycle Cost Analysis, Ehtesam Rabbi Rabbi

Theses and Dissertations

There are a variety of transit bus sizes and types that are suitable for different types of cities, services, and operations. The size of a bus has a direct effect on the operating costs due to fuel consumption. Also, selecting bus size properly is very important for correct functioning and the quality and service level of public transportation. A decision on selecting bus size, fuel type and model year can only be made after considering the demand for each of the service routes on the system, fuel cost, and emission level. It is necessary to provide engineering resources to the …

Polycyclobutanes Constructed From Biomass-Based Building Blocks, Zhihan Wang

Theses and Dissertations

A series of sustainable polycyclobutane (PCB) materials were prepared from biomass-based chemicals by [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction in sunlight/floodlight or conventional organic synthesis. At the beginning, a family of gemini monomers was synthesized from furfural, which can be obtained from corncobs. First, a photoreactive building block, 3-(2-furyl)acrylic acid also called (E)-3-(furan-2-yl)acrylic acid, was synthesized from furfural and malonic acid. Five photostable diols were used to connect two photoreactive building blocks to obtain the monomers. These synthesized monomers were characterized by NMR, UV-Vis and FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, P-XRD, TGA, and DSC. The photoreaction was monitored by FT-IR spectroscopy and the …

Training Convolutional Neural Networks Using An Automated Feedback Loop To Estimate The Population Of Avian Species, Connor Ryan Bowley

Theses and Dissertations

Using automated processes to detect wildlife in uncontrolled outdoor imagery in the field of wildlife ecology is challenging task. This is especially true in imagery provided by an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), where the relative size of wildlife is small and visually similar to its background. In the UAS imagery collected by the Wildlife@Home project, the data is also extremely unbalanced, with less than 1% of area in the imagery being of wildlife. To tackle these challenges, the Wildlife@Home project has employed citizen scientists and trained experts to go through collected UAS imagery and classify it. Classified data are used …

An Analysis Of Drop Outs And Unusual Behavior From Primary And Secondary Radar, Nicholas Allen

Theses and Dissertations

An evaluation of the radar systems in the Red River Valley of North Dakota (ND) and its surrounding areas for its ability to provide Detect and Avoid (DAA) capabilities for manned and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) was performed. Additionally, the data was analyzed for its feasibility to be used in autonomous Air Traffic Control (ATC) systems in the future. With the almost certain increase in airspace congestion over the coming years, the need for a robust and accurate radar system is crucial. This study focused on the Airport Surveillance Radar (ASR) at Fargo, ND and the Air Route Surveillance Radar …

Investigating Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity And Particle Growth Of Aging Diesel Exhaust Particles, Humphrey Chigozie Chukwuto

Theses and Dissertations

Soot particles are an essential atmospheric constituent because of their effects on human

health, regional and global climate. The impact of soot on climate and human health depends on

their ability to interact with water vapor. Freshly emitted soot particles are hydrophobic but the

chemical and physical transformations (aging) they undergo while airborne can make them hydrophilic

enough to retain water and act as nuclei for cloud formation. The aging of soot is a

complicated process and represents a significant uncertainty in quantifying the net radiative forcing

of soot particles. In this study, the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity and …

Concurrent Plyometric And Endurance Training Effects On Aerobic Fitness-Performance In Adult Endurance Athletes: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis, Lisa Annemarie Connelly

Theses and Dissertations

Numerous training modalities have been used to improve aerobic fitness and performance. Concurrent strength and endurance training is considered an effective modality to improve aerobic outcomes, although little is known about the effectiveness of concurrent plyometric (jump) training. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the effectiveness of plyometric training on aerobic fitness (operationalized as maximal oxygen uptake [V ̇O2max] and running economy [RE]) and performance (time trial performance). Five online databases were used to identify peer-reviewed studies published from 1980 onwards — the year the first concurrent training study was published. Studies were included if …

Multilevel Orthogonal Coded Modulation, Sunil Kumar Gaire

Theses and Dissertations

Multilevel orthogonal coded modulation technique is a combination of orthogonal channel coding and M-ary modulation, where two or more codes are used simultaneously to detect and correct multiple errors with bandwidth efficiency. The concept, principles, and simulations of the multilevel orthogonal coding combined with M-ary modulations is presented in this thesis. In multilevel orthogonal coding, both information and orthogonal code blocks are split into multiple levels. The information data in each level are mapped to the corresponding orthogonal codes. The outputs of the encoders are then grouped to form symbols suitable for input to spectrally efficient multilevel modulations. The modulated …

Toward A General Race Salience Effect: Alternative Manipulations And Group-Level Decision Making, Bradlee Wayne Gamblin

Theses and Dissertations

The race salience effect of juror decision making states that White jurors will display bias favoring White defendants over Black defendants only when race is not a prominent aspect of the crime or trial. Although past research has established this effect under certain conditions, a broader investigation of the effect is currently lacking in the literature. Furthermore, the literature has largely ignored the role that jury deliberation may have in attenuating or exacerbating the race salience effect. In total, 357 White mock jurors participated in a simulated court case about an interracial bar fight in which race was made salient …

Generation Of An Accurate, Metric Spatial Database Of A Large Multi Storied Building, Ahmad Jarjis Hasan

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the development of a novel method to generate an accurate, metric spatial database of a large multi storied building during construction. The algorithm uses the 3D CAD model of the building and the video of the structure captured by an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The spatial database is then used to perform several inspection procedures such as, metric data analysis, spatial query for images, visualization through 3D textured model. The video is processed using a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system. SLAM generates a sparse 3D map of the environment. Our algorithm registers the 3D map with …

Study Of Two-Phase And Single-Phase Flow Behavior In Channels Of Sudden Area Change Using Experimental And Computational Approach, Ashish Pramod Kotwal

Theses and Dissertations

It is well recognized in continuum mechanics that the theoretical origination for single-phase flows fundamentally based on the beginning of field equations paraphrasing the conservation laws of mass, momentum, and energy. These equations are accompanied by the appropriate constitutive associations for thermodynamic state and energy transfer, which specify the thermodynamic and transport of a specific fundamental material. Nevertheless, the multi-phase flows equations derivation is, in general, considerably more convoluted than for single-phase flows. This is predominantly due to the presence of significant discontinuities of the fluid properties through the interfaces and complicated flow characteristics approximating the interfaces, separating the individual …

Rotational Study Of Ambiguous Taxonomic Type Asteroids, Tyler Linder

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have been categorizing asteroids by color for decades in an attempt to better understand asteroid composition and potential links to the meteorite population. However, only recently through large data collection surveys like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) has the asteroid population as a whole been studied. This research will look at a subset of asteroids with the highest reflectivity differences as reported by Carvano et al. (2010) in order to answer the question: Can visible wavelength ambiguous taxonomic asteroid types be an indicator of a non-homogeneous surface?

This research studied asteroid 2453 (Wabash) in great detailed with visible …

Validating Precipitation Phase Measurements From Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar On Gpm Core Observatory Satellite, Benjamin Lott

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to validate precipitation measurements from the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Core Observatory (GPM-CO) satellite. The GPM-CO satellite is being used to detect falling rain and snow. Being able to detect rain builds off the success of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), which provided reasonable rainfall estimates when compared to ground-based radars. Detecting falling snow was a key GPM-CO requirement that was to be met within three years the satellite’s launch date of 27 February 2014. In this project, ground observations from Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and Automated Weather Observing Station (AWOS) was …

Dual-Detachment: The Plight Of Young Black Males Alienated From Work And School, Tšooane Molapo

Theses and Dissertations

In looking at the plight of young Black males who drop out of school or leave school without adequate skills to compete in the local and global labor markets, scholarship has overemphasized the likelihood of this population’s entrance into the juvenile justice system. Hence, many studies of these males have concentrated on their schooling experiences in the school-to-prison pipeline. While of crucial importance, prison is not the only danger for these young men. In time, some young Black males do end up in the juvenile justice system, but some remain stuck between school and employment. I term this “dual-detachment”—youth neither …

Young Children's Articulations Of Their Metacognitive Processing During Play, Dawnita S. Nilles

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative research study was to hear young children’s descriptions of their metacognitive processes. Research has shown that play is the foundation of a child’s learning and numerous studies show that play affects all areas of a child’s development. Despite this, at the time of this study, there appeared to be a scarcity of published literature in which young children were interviewed about the metacognitive processes they use while playing. Children have been found to describe their thinking through non-verbal cues. They also have been able to articulate their knowledge and understanding, analyze, and evaluate the …

Oil Generation Rate Index Using Arrhenius Equation For Bakken Formation, Chioma Judith Onwumelu

Theses and Dissertations

Oil generation rate index is important in considering oil well performance. An oil generation rate index was estimated for ten wells in the Bakken Formation in the North Dakota portion of the Williston Basin. Activation energies consistent with a fixed frequency factor (1x10-14/sec) and estimates of the current temperature within the Bakken Formation were used to calculate a reaction rate. The reaction rate was converted into a generation rate index by multiplying the reaction rate by the mass of crackable kerogen derived from programmed pyrolysis (SRA) S2 analyses and bulk density logs. The programmed pyrolysis temperature of 435у, production index …

Stigma And Restoration Of Civil Rights To Felons, Kimberly Paige Pithey

Theses and Dissertations

Millions of people in the United States are banned from basic civil rights including participation in voting, jury duty, applying for government assistance, and owning a firearm because they have had a felony conviction. There is limited research on attitudes regarding the restoration of civil rights to felons. This thesis uses Goffman’s theory of stigma to examine whether public support for the restoration of rights to felons is associated with knowledge of felony convictions and whether an individual knows someone with a felony conviction. This study used an online survey of college undergraduates (N = 362) to explore two hypotheses …

Developmental Factors And Maladjustment Indicators Of Specific Sexual Interests, Victoria Charlotte Mary-Rose Pocknell

Theses and Dissertations

Human sexual expression appears to be freer to vary past the need to procreate. This study explores the variability in the cues that elicit sexual arousal in the general population. It aims to better understand the developmental factors and negative outcomes of having a specific sexual interest. A sample (N = 1069) was gathered using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk in which participants indicated sexual interests based on themes: Age, Physical Appearance, Clothing, Power, Risk, and Extrapersonal. The results suggest significant effects of sex, age, and hypersexuality on sexual interests. Therefore, analyses were run separately for men and women and age and …

Effect Of Bio-Binders On Binder And Mix Properties With High Rap Content, Rajib Chandra Saha

Theses and Dissertations

The use of Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP) has significantly increased in construction and rehabilitation of flexible pavements to ensure proper utilization of limited natural resources. Recycling also provides a greater environmental benefits and energy conservations. It saves the lands from being the dumping site, conserves energy, and reduces the emission of greenhouse gases. But high RAP in the HMA mix increases the stiffness and may result in cracking. Bio-binders could reduce the stiffness of binder and mixes with high RAP content. Two oils, namely Waste Cooking Oil (WCO), and Soy Oil are potential sources of bio-binder that are abundant and …

The Impact Of Social Norms On Young Women's Health-Related Risk Perceptions, Intentions, And Behaviors, Karen Elizabeth Vanderzanden

Theses and Dissertations

Research has shown that social norms may influence individuals’ engagement in potentially dangerous behaviors. The current study examined the influence of descriptive norms and injunctive norms on risk perceptions, intentions, and behavioral outcomes for tanning and binge drinking. Participants were 359 Caucasian women between the ages of 21 and 25 years old residing in the United States who completed online surveys via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The study employed a 3 (Descriptive norm information: high risk estimate vs. low risk estimate vs. none) x 3 (Injunctive norm information: approval vs. disapproval vs. none) x 2 (Target risk behavior: tanning vs. …

Investigating Evaporation Of Melting Ice Particles Within A Bin Melting Layer Model, Andrea Neumann

Theses and Dissertations

Single column models have been used to help develop algorithms for remote sensing retrievals. Assumptions in the single-column models may affect the assumptions of the remote sensing retrievals. Studies of the melting layer that use single column models often assume environments that are near or at water saturation. This study investigates the effects of evaporation upon melting particles to determine whether the assumption of negligible mass loss still holds within subsaturated melting layers. A single column, melting layer model is modified to include the effects of sublimation and evaporation upon the particles. Other changes to the model include switching the …

Ring Opening Polymerization Of Lactide And Synthesis Of Polycarbonates Directly From Carbon Dioxide And Diols, Shi Bian

Theses and Dissertations

A series of dimethylaluminum complexes (L)AlMe2 (where HL= 2-(2’-ArNH)phenyl-4-R1-oxazoline) bearing chiral, bidentate anilido-oxazolinate ligands have been prepared and characterized. Six of the complexes, in the presence of an alcohol cocatalyst, are shown to be active initiators for the stereoselective ring opening polymerization of rac-lactide in toluene solution and under bulk conditions, yielding polylactides with a range of tacticity from slightly isotactic to moderately heterotactic. The reactivity and selectivity of these catalysts are discussed based on their substituents.

Polycarbonates have attracted considerable recent interest because of their potential biodegradability and sustainability. Two direct routes were developed for the synthesis of polycarbonates …

Determining Glacier Drift Ages Using Multispectral Remote Sensing Data, Paula Crock

Theses and Dissertations

Determining the ages of glacier drifts in Antarctica can help paleoclimatologists determine

the changes Earth’s climate has gone through and thereby inform models for future climate

change prediction. However, many of these drifts are difficult to reach for sample collection

necessary to determine their ages. This research attempts to use multispectral remote sensing

data to expand the mapping of drift ages from known point measurements regionally. This

research is based on existing drift ages from Ong Valley, Transantarctic Mountains. Two

methods were used to determine a combination of the image band data that would sufficiently

distinguish the three age-distinct drift …

Semi-Empirical Methods For Electronic Properties Of Surface Adsorbed Molecules., Rajesh Dhakal

Theses and Dissertations

In the work described here, semi-empirical, theoretical tools have been developed to address one-electron properties of substrate/adsorbate systems. The tools are adaptations of the simple, Hückel π-electron theory and of the fast accurate-kinetic

energy theory of F. Harris et al. (FAKE) to systems involving an infinite, mostly periodic substrate via a Green-function formalism. These tools are applied here to study graphene with vacancies and adsorbates, but can be generalized. In π theory, only a small subset of substrate basis states having odd reflection symmetry through the graphene layer are used to treat electrons near the Fermi level, to a very …

Collaboration In English Language Learner Teacher Education: Implications For Moving Theory Into Practice, Katie Erin Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative phenomenological study was developed to fill the gap in current research on what extent five teacher educators, from three Midwest and one Southwest teacher education program, are preparing English Language Learner (ELL) preservice teachers to collaborate in ELL teacher education. The results indicate that ELL teacher educators are not preparing ELL preservice teachers to collaborate for K-12 ELLs. The interview data supports the implication that teacher educators perceive some degree of programmatic reform in teacher education programs is necessary for the integration of collaboration for ELL education.

There are several recommendations resulting from this study. Teacher education programs …

Evaluating Wetland Expansion In A Tallgrass Prairie-Wetland Restoration, Katie Mae Engelmann

Theses and Dissertations

Remote sensing is an effective tool to inventory and monitor wetlands at large spatial scales. This study examined the effect of wetland restoration practices at Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (GRNWR) in northwest Minnesota on the distribution, location, size and temporal changes of wetlands. A Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) land cover classification method was applied that integrated spectral data, LiDAR elevation, and LiDAR derived ancillary data of slope, aspect, and TWI. Accuracy of remote wetland mapping was compared with onsite wetland delineation.

The GEOBIA method produced land cover classifications with high overall accuracy (88 – 91 percent). Wetland area …

Attitudes And Beliefs Of North Dakota Early Childhood Educators Toward Gender Constructs, Janelle Jean Ferderer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the attitudes and beliefs about gender and gender diversity held by certified practicing early childhood teachers in North Dakota Department of Public Instruction approved preschool programs. Selected children’s books were used to elicit qualitative responses that provided insight into teachers’ beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding gender.

The theoretical framework for the study was based on Vygotsky’s theories on the Zones of Proximal Development (ZPD) and the More Knowledgeable Other (MKO), which focus on the importance of the role of educators’ influence in the social development of young children. The methodology for …

The Impact Of Agroclimatic Variables On Crop Insurance Claims In Saskatchewan, Patrick Frimpong Manso

Theses and Dissertations

The study investigated the impact of agroclimatic variables on the loss cost of hard red spring wheat (HRSW), durum, barely and canola in Saskatchewan. Using daily data on temperature and precipitation, we estimated the water balance or soil moisture using American Society of Civil Engineers standard reference evapotranspiration formula. Accounting for model uncertainty by using Bayesian modeling averaging (BMA), we find that loss cost is influence by monthly temperature and water balance. We find that water balance in June and August impact loss cost of the HRSW, durum, barley and canola. Depending on the crop, one percent increase June water …

Parkinson's Symptoms Quantification Using Wearable Sensors, Md Nafiul Alam

Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder affecting more than one million people in the United States and seven million people worldwide. Motor symptoms such as tremor, slowness of movements, rigidity, postural instability, and gait impairment are commonly observed in PD patients. Currently, Parkinsonian symptoms are usually assessed in clinical settings, where a patient has to complete some predefined motor tasks. Then a physician assigns a score based on the United Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) after observing the motor task. However, this procedure suffers from inter subject variability. Also, patients tend to show fewer symptoms during clinical visit, …

Demographic Differences In The Causal Effects Of Obesity Status On Child Academic Achievement, Yoshie Hayasaka Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Many studies have found a negative correlation between obesity and academic achievement; however, determining and reaching a consensus about the nature of causality between these two variables have posed a challenge for scholars and researchers. If obesity does indeed have a negative causal effect on academic achievement, it has significant policy implications as it affects human capital investment. In this paper, I use the National Longitudinal Study of Youth-1979, Child and Young Adult data and estimate OLS, FE, traditional IV, and Lewbel IV models for children ages 5-12, stratified by race and gender. Under an individual fixed-effects model, I find …

Presentation Effects On Matrix Reasoning Scores, Katharine Elizabeth Lindberg

Theses and Dissertations

Matrix reasoning tasks are popular measures of fluid and inductive reasoning ability. The impact of rule type, number of rules, grouping, overlapping elements, and unfamiliar shapes on matrix reasoning performance has been shown to make matrix tasks more difficult to solve. Alternatively, the relationship of features (the physical and visual dimensions of individual elements within a matrix) to matrix reasoning performance in an adult population has not been established. The current study aimed to test the impact of features (i.e., height, shape, width) on matrix reasoning performance in an undergraduate sample (N = 196) by systematically varying rules and features …