Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Impact Of Electricity And Electron Movement On The Electric Grid From Distributed Generation, Cooper R. Wade

Theses and Dissertations

The United States’ electric grid is currently undergoing a monumental energy transition involving the incorporation of new fuel sources, generation types, and operational modifications. Since 1920, the U.S. energy collective has been overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), where during this tenure they have pursued the direct regulation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs). This reasoning has been utilized over 300 times in federal cases and proceedings as the adoption rate of DERs has increased, which is based upon the language allowing the federal regulation of electricity based upon the flow of electrons. This is based solely upon the …

Experimental Investigation Of Thermal Maturation Processes Of Bakken Formation And Their Impact On Organic Matter And Mechanical Properties, Chioma Judith Onwumelu

Theses and Dissertations

Early development of the Bakken Petroleum System recognized the significance of source rock maturation and the onset of oil generation in determining the geographic limits of production. This research project aims to confirm the role of thermal maturation as the dominant mechanism in controlling the oil generation of the Bakken Shale. Additionally, the purpose ofthis research is to test the influence of thermal maturation on the geochemical and mechanical properties of the Bakken Shale. To conduct these investigations, samples from 2-BRENDEN 9-33 1-M, a well in the North Dakota part of the Williston Basin that has experienced the least thermal …

A Study Of The Global Rare Earth Industry Transition, Al Thibeault

Theses and Dissertations

The global rare earth industry is in a period of transition. This transition, led by the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), aims to ensure supply security for the rare earths needed to meet clean energy transition demands. Supply security requires two goals: first, in the near-term, re-establishing rare earth production and processing in the MSP nations, and second, in the long-term, finding new sources of competitive advantage to create long-term industry stability. Stimulus funding is essential to achieving the short-term goal; however, long-term industry stability requires a strategy to replace stimulus funding with private investment in a profitable industry. Government/industry collaboration …

Characterization Of Water Quality In Anzalduas Dam Reservoir Using Patterns Of Salinity, Maria G. Castillo

Theses and Dissertations

A database containing salinity and climatology data collected at Anzalduas Dam’s Reservoir, Mier Monitoring Station (Upper water from Anzalduas Dam) and Retamal Monitoring Station (Lower water from Anzalduas Dam) in the lower Rio Grande River for the September through December 2016 time period was compiled. The information obtained on the water quality of Anzalduas Dam was used as a base to describe corrective measurements needed for its water recuperation, improvement and/or contamination’s prevention. The study aims to illustrate the relationship between water quality, specifically focusing on salinity concentrations and its relationship with temperature, evaporation, and the volumetric rate of water …

Risk Assessment And Geographic Impact Of Virtual Power Purchase Agreements And Unbundled Renewable Energy Certificates On Greenhouse Gas Abatement, Keyshon L. Bachus

Theses and Dissertations

Fossil fuel-generated energy consumption via electricity purchased by organizations makes up much of worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Commercial and industrial users consume more than two-thirds of electricity. Companies with warehouses, offices, data centers, and other facilities that engage in industrial processes consume significant amounts of purchased energy to power their operations. Most organizations do not generate electricity or have operational control of their energy generation; instead, they purchase it from public utilities and other providers. Many organizations are making climate commitments to support the Paris Agreement’s Net-Zero pledge by reducing or offsetting their indirect “Scope 2” greenhouse emissions and …

Deep Learning Models For Analysis Of Non-Destructive Evaluation Data To Evaluate Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks: A Survey, Dayakar Naik Lavadiya, Sattar Dorafshan

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Application of deep learning (DL) for automatic condition assessment of bridge decks has been on the raise in the last few years. From the published literature, it is evident that lot of research efforts has been done in identifying the surface defects such as cracks, potholes, spalling and so forth using supervised learning methods such as deep learning. However, the health of a reinforced concrete bridge deck is jeopardized substantially due to presence of subsurface defects. Subsurface defects in bridge decks are genearlly detected using non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods. Interpertation of NDE data for autonomous deck evaluation requires development of …

H. Keith Hunt On Consumer Behavior: Understanding His Contribution, Laura Egan, David Aron

Librarian Publications

This study uses an ego-centric bibliometric analysis of H. Keith Hunt to elucidate his connection to researchers in the consumer behavior field and his impact on the field. We identified publications written or edited by Hunt using Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the Journal of Consumer Satisfaction, Dissatisfaction and Complaining Behavior; analyzed Hunt’s co-authors and citations in those works; and tabulated Hunt’s co-cited authors for top consumer behavior journals in Web of Science. Based on the analysis and quotes from his works and others about Hunt, we also identify and discuss dimensions related to Hunt’s impact on the …

Comparison Between Supervised And Unsupervised Learning For Autonomous Delamination Detection Using Impact Echo, Faezeh Jafari, Sattar Dorafshan

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Impact echo (IE) is a non-destructive evaluation method commonly used to detect subsurface delamination in reinforced concrete bridge decks. Existing analysis methods are based on frequency domain which can lead to inaccurate assessments of reinforced concrete bridge decks since they do not consider features of the IE signals in the time domain. The authors propose a new method for IE classification by combining features in the time and the frequency domains. The features used in this study included normalized peak values, energy, power, time of peaks, and signal lengths that were extracted from IE signals after they are preprocessed. We …

Autonomous Gyroscopic 2-Wheel Differential Robot, Haruka Kido, James Vrtis, Luke Anderson, Tarek Elderini

Electrical Engineering Student Publications

This paper demonstrates the implementation of an autonomous gyroscopic 2-wheel differential robot, including a forward and inverse kinematics simulation in MatLAB, a test hardware robot and programmed demonstration of a simple move forward and spin left motion, and a final configuration of a complete square path based on programming kinematics, gyroscopic speed responses, and remote-control functionality.

December 6, 2022, The Dakota Student

The Dakota Student

No abstract provided.

Assessment Of Blood Pressure And Postural Control Mechanisms In Parkinson’S Disease During An Orthostatic Challenge, Rabie Fadil

Theses and Dissertations

Upon standing, 500–1000 mL of blood shifts from the central body compartments to the lower extremities and splanchnic circulation, leading to a decreased venous return to the heart, reduced cardiac output, and a consequent decline in blood pressure. In healthy individuals, the drop in blood pressure is quickly compensated via regulatory mechanisms. On the other hand, people with Parkinson’s disease may experience impaired reflex responses and a persistent drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension, OH), leading to visual disturbances, loss of consciousness, postural instability, and fainting. Parkinson’s disease patients have impaired balance and gait control as a symptom of the …

Indigeneity In Space Governance Discussions: Centering Indigenous Knowledges Beyond Earth, Erin Edwards

Theses and Dissertations

Space policy and space law are expanding fields given the recent boom of commercial space flight, yet we hear less about space governance. These conversations are happening, but the discussions generally replicate western democratic practice with little input from other knowledge traditions, despite recent socio-political strain seen in senior democracies.This work focusses the discussion on missing voices. Those of the many Indigenous cultures that have routinely been silenced from terrestrial governance discussions. These voices, however, reflect thousands of years of collective knowledge of managing societies in a holistic manner. Some of these societies have developed in areas considered extreme environments …

The Domestic Energy Transition In The United Kingdom, Nicholas Peter Doe

Theses and Dissertations

This paper addresses a pressing need to accelerate domestic energy policy that will lower the carbon footprint of Britain’s domestic sector. A systems approach was taken to seek empirical evidence for an inherent problem of a low adoption of government programs created to incentivize low-carbon domestic retrofit. The purpose of research is to explore this low uptake with the aim of fashioning effective programs. This paper is intended for policymakers and researchers with an interest in meeting the UK’s 2050 emissions targets.

Geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures on government may have hindered effective climate policy. Other financial interests may have influenced …

Determining Optimum Coal Bottom Ash Content For Sustainable Concrete Infrastructure, Samrawit Menda

Theses and Dissertations

Concrete usage is increasing rapidly; subsequently, the industry's carbon footprint is increasing. Coal Bottom Ash (CBA)/Boiler Slag Bottom Ash (BS) is a byproduct of coal-burning power plants. This material can replace fine aggregate in concrete to reduce global natural material depletion. Using CBA/BS in the construction industry will reduce the technical and economic problems associated with power plants by reducing solid waste. This project's objective was to determine whether using new sustainable materials, such as CBA/BS, in concrete will reduce natural raw material usage and energy consumption. This study included three projects: comparing increased CBA/BS content to the three-control projects …

Improved Pressure Loss And Multiphase Flow Behavior Predictions For In-Line Gas-Liquid Contactors Using Experimental Measurements And Cfd Simulations, Evan Lowry

Theses and Dissertations

Treatment of gas by liquid absorption is a common unit operation in industry. Traditionally, contact between the gas and liquid is accomplished in co-current flow utilizing a tower or column. With the increased demand for natural gas and renewable gas, higher treating capacities for new installations and methods for de-bottlenecking existing plants are needed. Co-current gas treating with static mixers is an increasingly attractive alternative for process intensification. The corrugated plate (SMV-style) mixer is currently the most widely used mixing element for gas-continuous mixing with a liquid phase and has been recommended as the best standard option for this service. …

Will Communication Delays Impact Mission Controllers? An Investigation Of Mood, Performance, And Workload During Analog Missions, Madison Diamond

Theses and Dissertations

Mission Controllers (MCs) are responsible for ensuring astronauts remain safe and healthy, making them vital for successful human spaceflight missions. They are the main point of contact for crews in space and communicate frequently over the course of the day. On a mission to Mars, there will be as long as 22-minute one way communication delays between the ground and the crew, causing major changes to current communication infrastructures. Research has commenced on investigating how these communication delays will impact missions. However, thus far, this research has focused on the crew as their subjects, despite alluding to the potential consequences …

Multiple Surface Pipeline Leak Detection Using Real-Time Sensor Data Analysis, Francis Enejo Idachaba

Theses and Dissertations

Pipelines enable the largest volume of both intra and international transportation of oil and gas and play critical roles in the energy sufficiency of countries. The biggest drawback with the use of pipelines for oil and gas transportation is the problem of oil spills whenever the pipelines lose containment. The severity of the oil spill on the environment is a function of the volume of the spill and this is a function of the time taken to detect the leak and contain the spill from the pipeline. A single leak on the Enbridge pipeline spilled 3.3 million liters into the …

High Resolution Compositional Characterization Of Degraded Crude Oils Using Petroleomics, Miguel Fernando Jimenez Jacome

Theses and Dissertations

The compositional evaluation and geochemical characterization of twenty wellhead samples from six fields of the heavy oil belt on the western flank of the Middle Magdalena Valley basin in Colombia (MMVB) were completed by analyzing its polar fraction, that is, compounds of Nitrogen, Sulfur and Oxygen (NSO) using 15 Tesla and 21 Tesla Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS), combined with negative electrospray ionization (-)ESI and positive atmospheric pressure photoionization (+) APPI. To highlight the sulfur compounds and organic acids, the Propyl Sulfonic Acid (PRS) and Amino-Propyl Silica (APS) fractionations were used respectively.

The results validate the use …

Non-Mendelian Segregation Of The Maize Embryo-Specific Mutation Und-9, Christopher D. Larson

Theses and Dissertations

The maize mutant UND-9 is being studied in our lab as part of a larger study into the genes responsible for embryo development in maize. It is known as an embryo-specific mutant, which causes the embryo of the maize kernel to fail to develop fully while not hindering the development of the endosperm. During this study, it was discovered that the inheritance of this mutation appeared to behave in a manner contrary to the normal laws of Mendelian inheritance. This paper represents a deeper study into the mechanisms of this behavior, analyzing the data collected so far and in particular …

Stimulus Discrimination Training And Its Effects On Generalization Gradients, Christopher Veenstra

Theses and Dissertations

Adaptation-level theory has been used to explain how the size and shape of generalization gradients depend on the procedure used to study generalization. However, most of the empirical support for this theory has come from studies using a relatively simple stimulus dimension (e.g., lights that vary in brightness). In addition, much of the research has focused on one specific prediction of adaptation-level theory: that responding during a generalization test should shift towards intermediate values within the tested portion of the stimulus dimension. The present research used a more complex set of stimuli. Specifically, the stimulus dimension was based on bar …

Possible Role Of The Storm-Generated Streamwise Vorticity In Tornado Intensification And Evolution, Lance Reed Wilson

Theses and Dissertations

Streamwise vorticity developing within the forward flank (FF) of supercell thunderstorms has been found to modulate the intensity of the low-level mesocyclone. However, few studies have quantitatively investigated FF vorticity contributions to low-level mesocyclone intensity. This study investigates the relative contribution of streamwise vorticity within the FF to the low-level mesocyclone strength using two Cloud Model 1 simulations with 75 m horizontal grid spacing initialized with the 18Z Jackson, MS, special sounding from the environment that produced the 27 April 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado. Vorticity budgets were calculated along forward trajectories that enter the low-level mesocyclone. Trajectories traversing through the FF …

Rsv-Induced Actin Modulation: Contributes To Bronchial Wall Thickening; Does Not Induce Emt, And Is Cdc42-Assisted, Sattya Narayan Talukdar

Theses and Dissertations

RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that infects our respiratory tract and can cause severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia worldwide. RSV bronchiolitis causes more fatalities in infants and newborns and leads to severe hospitalization and even death of children. The host-RSV interaction has yet to be explored properly to explain RSV bronchiolitis. This study aimed to elucidate the connection between the modulation of host actin cytoskeletal with viral pathogenesis, including bronchiolitis. As bronchial wall thickening is a common feature of bronchiolitis, the contribution of RSV-infected airway epithelium to bronchial wall thickening was evaluated. RSV infection in the healthy adult bronchial …

Performance Comparison Of Weak And Strong Learners In Detecting Gps Spoofing Attacks On Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (Uavs), Aydan Gasimova

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems (UAVs) are widely used in civil and military applications. These systems rely on trustworthy connections with various nodes in their network to conduct their safe operations and return-to-home. These entities consist of other aircrafts, ground control facilities, air traffic control facilities, and satellite navigation systems. Global positioning systems (GPS) play a significant role in UAV's communication with different nodes, navigation, and positioning tasks. However, due to the unencrypted nature of the GPS signals, these vehicles are prone to several cyberattacks, including GPS meaconing, GPS spoofing, and jamming. Therefore, this thesis aims at conducting a detailed comparison …

An Indepth Look On Earth-Anchoring Through Architectural Treatments To Mitigate Psychological And Psychosocial Issues During Long-Duration Spaceflight, Skye Elizabeth Schwartz

Theses and Dissertations

Astronauts' mental health is of significant concern for any spaceflight mission. For low-Earth orbit (LEO) spaceflights, crews are four to six hours away from home. They can still see planet Earth, and if there is an emergency, there are escape routes; however, when it comes to long-duration spaceflights millions of miles away from home, crews cannot see planet Earth, cannot turn around in an emergency and are on their own in a monotone and sterile environment. These desensitizing conditions directly impact astronauts’ psychological and psychosocial well-being. Crews must learn how to interact with each other for an extended period, considering …

A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study On Voluntary Reporting Of Professional Groups In U.S. Commercial Aviation, James Norman

Theses and Dissertations

Aviation safety culture research does not exist regarding the specific factors that either promote or discourage voluntary safety reporting among different frontline groups in U.S. Part 121 operations. Moreover, while safety culture has been shown to vary across workgroups, cross-sectional research across multiple aviation organizations regarding voluntary reporting is lacking. To address this gap in the literature, an exploratory study was conducted utilizing a sequential, confirmatory mixed methods approach. A 28-item survey was distributed to air traffic controllers, dispatchers, maintenance technicians, and pilots. The instrument quantitatively assessed organizational safety values, reporting friction, previous reporting experience, just culture, and voluntary reporting …

November 16, 2022, The Dakota Student

The Dakota Student

No abstract provided.

November 2, 2022, The Dakota Student

The Dakota Student

No abstract provided.

Attitudes Of Graduating Health Practitioners Toward Older Persons In Ghana, Grace Karikari, David K. Lohrmann, Lesa Huber, Margaret Adamek, Oghenekaro Omodior

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study examined attitudes of graduating medical and nursing students toward older persons in Ghana. The association between the overall quality of students’ experiences with older persons and their attitudes was also examined to identify educational interventions to increase interest in geriatrics.

Materials and Methods: A sample of 135 final year medical and nursing students from a public institution in Ghana participated in a cross-sectional study by completing a web-based self-administered questionnaire consisting of the 14-item University of California at

Los Angeles Geriatric Attitudes (UCLA-GA) scale and demographic questions. Data analysis involved a two-sample t-test and a one-way ANOVA. …

October 19, 2022, The Dakota Student

The Dakota Student

No abstract provided.

Letter From O. K. Chandler To U.S. Representative Burdick Regarding Harold Ickes And The Us Bureau Of Indian Affairs, Undated, O. K. Chandler

Usher Burdick Papers

This letter, undated, from O. K. Chandler, National Chairman on Organization for the American Indian Federation to United States (US) Representative Usher L. Burdick, appears to consist of a partial report on a recent conference of the American Indian Federation, with personal note from Chandler to Burdick regarding US Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes and the US Bureau of Indian Affairs.