Digital Commons Network^™

A Brief Review Of Mueller Matrix Calculations Associated With Oceanic Particles, Bingqiang Sun, George W. Kattawar, Ping Yang, Xiaodong Zhang

Earth System Science and Policy Faculty Publications

The complete Stokes vector contains much more information than the radiance of light for the remote sensing of the ocean. Unlike the conventional radiance-only radiative transfer simulations, a full Mueller matrix-Stokes vector treatment provides a rigorous and correct approach for solving the transfer of radiation in a scattering medium, such as the atmosphere-ocean system. In fact, radiative transfer simulation without considering the polarization state always gives incorrect results and the extent of the errors induced depends on a particular application being considered. However, the rigorous approach that fully takes the polarization state into account requires the knowledge of the complete …

Und Today: December 2018, University Of North Dakota

UND Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Graphene Oxide Membranes For Enhancing Water Purification In Terrestrial And Space-Born Applications: State Of The Art, Chris Beulke, Ali Alshami, James Casler, Jeremy Lewis, Maram Al-Sayaghi, Michael A. Hickner

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

We present a compendious review of the literature and state-of-art of the research into graphene oxide (GO) membranes for both terrestrial and space-born water purification applications. The performance of GO membrane is compared to polyamide composite properties broadly used in today's desalination plants as well as to other membranes composed of various polymeric materials. An in-depth comparison is also conducted between GO membranes and the water reclamation system onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Based on empirical data from the literature, GO membranes have the potential to reduce the specific energy consumption in both RO facilities and the ISS by …

Habitat Suitability Analysis For Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) Recolonization/ Reintroduction In Minnesota, Mbongowo J. Mbuh, Neil Vruno

Geography & Geographic Information Science Faculty Publications

The mountain lion range once extended throughout the state of Minnesota. The breeding population has been greatly reduced with time, new roads, and timber harvesting, which have broken large tracts of contiguous forest into isolated patches that are too small and no longer suitable for the breeding mountain lion population. The objective of this study is to use suitability analysis to determine the most suitable habitat to conserve mountain lion populations threatened by habitat fragmentation. To attain our objective, we created three sub models that contribute to the overarching goal of the suitability model. A habitat sub model was developed …

Foam Materials With Controllable Pore Structure Prepared From Nanofibrillated Cellulose With Addition Of Alcohols, Jinbao Li, Te Song, Huijuan Xiu, Meiyun Zhang, Rui Cheng, Qiang Liu, Xuefei Zhang, Evguenii Kozliak, Yun Ji

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Low-density foams based on nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) made from Pinus massonianesoftwood pulp were prepared from NFC aqueous suspensions containing one of four C2–C4alcohols followed by freeze-drying, with the goal of controlling their pore structure and reducing the shrink rate. The foams prepared from NFC suspensions containing ethanol, isopropanol and n-butanol exhibited highly porous structures with a honeycomb-like cellular texture featuring well-defined “cell walls” between the layers. By contrast, the tert-butanol/NFC foam featured a higher number of smaller size pores with irregular shape. The foams prepared by freezing at −196 °C with ethanol also revealed small size pores, with no layered …

Separation Of Fuel-Based Contaminents From Oxygen Carriers In Chemical Looping Combustion, Benjamin Robert Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

This project involved the development of a technology for segregating fuel-based contaminants (char) from oxygen carrier material in the context of chemical looping combustion (CLC) application. In chemical looping, the well-mixed solids that flow from the fuel reactor consisting of char and oxygen carrier particles cannot be completely separated into their constituents before they enter the air reactor. The slip of carbon leads to char oxidation in the wrong reactor and poor carbon dioxide separation efficiency. An efficient method to separate char from oxygen carrier material is critical for the deployment of chemical looping technology. This segregation system consists of …

December 6, 2018: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the December 6, 2018, meeting of the University Senate. 35 pages

Volume 56, Number 15: November 21, 2018, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Sdnet2018: An Annotated Image Dataset For Non-Contact Concrete Crack Detection Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, Sattar Dorafshan, Robert J. Thomas, Marc Maguire

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

SDNET2018 is an annotated image dataset for training, validation, and benchmarking of artificial intelligence based crack detection algorithms for concrete. SDNET2018 contains over 56,000 images of cracked and non-cracked concrete bridge decks, walls, and pavements. The dataset includes cracks as narrow as 0.06 mm and as wide as 25 mm. The dataset also includes images with a variety of obstructions, including shadows, surface roughness, scaling, edges, holes, and background debris. SDNET2018 will be useful for the continued development of concrete crack detection algorithms based on deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs), which are a subject of continued research in the field …

Romance Of Indian History; Or Thrilling Incidents Of The Early Settlement Of America, J. (John) G. (Gadsby) Chapman

Settler Literature Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 56, Number 14: November 14, 2018, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Volume 56, Number 13: November 07, 2018, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Study On The Mechanisms Of Refracturing Technology Featuring Temporary Plug For Fracturing Fluid Diversion In Tight Sandstone Reservoirs, Wei Li, Huan Zhao, Hui Pu, Yuguang Zhang, Lei Wang, Ligang Zhang, Xiaofeng Sun

Petroleum Engineering Faculty Publications

Well production rates in unconventional plays usually decline dramatically in the first year. Refracturing, which is a remedial production operation, is often done because original hydraulic fracturing failed to contribute any significant amount of flow or significant unfractured pay exists in the well. In order to maximize the fracturing fluid contact with the intact rock and to stimulate more reservoir volume in previously stimulated wells, a refracturing technology featuring a novel temporary plugging for fluid diversion is developed to enable the fracturing fluid to reach the untouched areas and to create reoriented fractures. In this paper, laboratory physical simulation tests …

State Energy Research Center, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about the Energy & Environmental Research Center being designated North Dakota’s State Energy Research Center (SERC). Includes information on how environmentally responsible precommercial research helps North Dakota economically. [This item is an outdated or superseded version and retained for historical purposes only. It may no longer reflect current information, policies, or practices.]

Und Today: November 2018, University Of North Dakota

UND Today Archive

No abstract provided.

October 23, 2018, The Dakota Student

The Dakota Student

No abstract provided.

Containers And Reproducibility In Scientific Research, Sara Faraji Jalal Apostal, David Apostal, Ronald Marsh

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Numerical reproducibility has received increased emphasis in the scientific community. One reason that makes scientific research difficult to repeat is that different computing platforms calculate mathematical operations differently. Software containers have been shown to improve reproducibility in some instances and provide a convenient way to deploy applications in a variety of computing environments. However, there are software patterns or idioms that produce inconsistent results because mathematical operations are performed in different orders in different environments resulting in reproducibility errors. The performance of software in containers and the performance of software that improves numeric reproducibility may be of concern for some …

Image Zooming Using Corner Matching, Ronald Marsh, Md Nurul Amin, Charles Crandall, Raymond Davis

Computer Science Faculty Publications

This work was intended to direct the choice of an image interpolation/zoom algorithm for use in UND’s Open Prototype for Educational Nanosats (OPEN) satellite program. Whether intended for a space-borne platform or a balloon-borne platform, we expect to use a low cost camera (Raspberry Pi) and expect to have very limited bandwidth for image transmission. However, the technique developed could be used for any imaging application. The approach developed analyzes overlapping 3x3 blocks of pixels looking for “L” patterns that suggest the center pixel should be changed such that a triangle pattern results. We compare this approach against different types …

Volume 56, Number 10: October 17, 2018, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

October 12, 2018, The Dakota Student

The Dakota Student

No abstract provided.

Volume 56, Number 9: October 10, 2018, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

Infrared Thermography For Weld Inspection: Feasibility And Application, Sattar Dorafshan, Marc Maguire, William Collins

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Traditional ultrasonic testing (UT) techniques have been widely used to detect surface and sub-surface defects of welds. UT inspection is a contact method which burdens the manufacturer by storing hot specimens for inspection when the material is cool. Additionally, UT is only valid for 5 mm specimens or thicker and requires a highly skilled operator to perform the inspections and interpret the signals. Infrared thermography (IRT) has the potential to be implemented for weld inspections due to its non-contact nature. In this study, the feasibility of using IRT to overcome the limitations of UT inspection is investigated to detect inclusion, …

Volume 56, Number 8: October 03, 2018, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.

October 2, 2018, The Dakota Student

The Dakota Student

No abstract provided.

Characterization And Consecutive Prediction Of Pore Structures In Tight Oil Reservoirs, Zhaohui Xu, Peiqiang Zhao, Zhenlin Wang, Mehdi Ostadhassan, Zhonghua Pan

Petroleum Engineering Faculty Publications

The Lucaogou Formation in Jimuaser Sag of Junggar Basin, China is a typical tight oil reservoir with upper and lower sweet spots. However, the pore structure of this formation has not been studied thoroughly due to limited core analysis data. In this paper, the pore structures of the Lucaogou Formation were characterized, and a new method applicable to oil-wet rocks was verified and used to consecutively predict pore structures by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) logs. To do so, a set of experiments including X-ray diffraction (XRD), mercury intrusion capillary pressure (MICP), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and NMR measurements were conducted. …

Harald Von Beckh, Pioneer Of Microgravity Medical Research, Pablo De Leon

Space Studies Faculty Publications

Harald Von Beckh was born in Vienna, Austria, on November 17, 1917. He graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the Vienna University Faculty of Medicine in 1940. He began working at the Academy of Aviation Medicine in Berlin where he helped in the development of the concept of the Keplerian trajectory to obtain periods of microgravity while collaborating with Dr. Heinz von Diringshofen. In 1941 he was appointed as a faculty member at the Academy of Medicine of the Luftwaffe.

At the end of the war, without any possibility to continue his research in Germany, Von Beckh made contacts …

Comparison Of Deep Convolutional Neural Networks And Edge Detectors For Image-Based Crack Detection In Concrete, Sattar Dorafshan, Robert J. Thomas, Marc Maguire

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper compares the performance of common edge detectors and deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) for image-based crack detection in concrete structures. A dataset of 19 high definition images (3420 sub-images, 319 with cracks and 3101 without) of concrete is analyzed using six common edge detection schemes (Roberts, Prewitt, Sobel, Laplacian of Gaussian, Butterworth, and Gaussian) and using the AlexNet DCNN architecture in fully trained, transfer learning, and classifier modes. The relative performance of each crack detection method is compared here for the first time on a single dataset. Edge detection methods accurately detected 53–79% of cracked pixels, but they …

Und Today: October 2018, University Of North Dakota

UND Today Archive

No abstract provided.

The Aromatization Of Propene Via Nano-Size Hzsm-5, Wayne Seames, Swapnil Fegade, Inna Sakodynskaya, Darrin Muggli, Brian Tande, Alena Kubatova, Evguenii Kozliak

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Zeolite (ZSM) catalysts are known to convert small-size alkenes, e.g., propene, into aromatic hydrocarbons, specifically benzene, toluene and xylenes (BTX), with both high efficiency and specificity. The efficiency of conventional and hierarchical nano-size ZSM-5 for propene aromatization was compared in this study using a Design of Experiments (DOE) approach combined with detailed product analysis. Contrary to our expectations, the former showed a significantly greater BTX yield than the latter. Analysis of the obtained data by DOE and additional experiments with soybean oil cracking using both catalyst types indicated that a reason for the observed reduced activity of nano-scale zeolites may …

Volume 56, Number 6: September 19, 2018, University Of North Dakota

University Letter Archive

No abstract provided.