Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of The Authority Gradient Created By Rank Imbalance On The Role Effectiveness Of U.S. Coast Guard Safety Officers, James Bernard Mccormack

Theses and Dissertations

Coast Guard air station commands have three department heads referred to as the Tri-P, consisting of the safety officer, operations officer, and engineering officer. The safety officer is generally junior in rank to the other members of the Tri-P despite what is advertised as an equal position within the command structure. The purpose of this study was to explore rank imbalance for Coast Guard safety officers at air stations throughout the United States by examining their perceptions in a quantitative survey. All current Coast Guard safety officers were eligible for participation in the survey. The survey revealed that safety officers …

“Blue” Hydrogen & Helium From Flare Gas Of The Bakken Formation Of The Williston Basin, North Dakota: A Novel Process, Martin R. Leipzig

Theses and Dissertations

Is it possible to curtail flaring in the Williston basin while simultaneously sequestering carbon dioxide, harvesting economic quantities of natural gas liquids, helium and other valuable products? Utilizing a novel approach described here, diatomic hydrogen and elemental helium, as well as other products, can be profitably extracted from the gas streams produced from horizontal, hydraulically-fractured Middle Bakken Member wells, in the Devonian-Mississippian Bakken Formation of the Williston Basin, North Dakota, USA.However, there are two vastly different methods employed to extract these gasses. Hydrogen is harvested from the gas stream by physically reforming methane (CH4) through the application of one or …

Exploring Organizational Recidivism With A Focus On Federal Environmental Crime, Isaac M. Mvula

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the recidivism rates of organizational offenders convicted of federal environmental crimes. Individual recidivism has received considerable attention from re-searchers over the years. This is not so with organization recidivism. This dissertation aims at put-ting greater light on this subject. The study focuses on environmental crime because of the critical need to preserve the earth’s ability to sustain life. Federal environmental criminal prosecution da-ta maintained by the EPA was the study population. The population included prosecutions of organizational offenders from 1994 to 2013. The total number of organizational prosecutions was 73625 and the total number of organizational offenders …

A Data Driven Approach To Optimize Re-Fracturing Operations In The Williston Basin, Joshua Kroschel

Theses and Dissertations

Because of the recent paradigm shift focusing heavily on cost minimization, many operators are now re-developing existing assets at much lower costs instead of developing newly drilled wells. Although it may seem that the hydraulic fracturing process on a well would be easier after initial stimulation, this is not usually the case and is often more difficult. Being able to identify high margin effects of treatment parameters will help engineers design hydraulic fracturing treatments to minimize average STP (STP) and minimize costs. This research develops a feature engineered multivariate regression model that identifies several high margin areas for STP reduction. …

Determining The Optimum Ground Coal Bottom Ash Content For Sustainable Concrete Infrastructure, Sandip Poudel

Theses and Dissertations

Cement production requires a high amount of energy and natural resources which has a high impact on the environment due to harmful gas emissions. Coal bottom ash (CBA) or Coal Boiler Slag (CBS) is the byproduct of coal-fired power plants that has pozzolanic properties. CBA or CBS can be mechanically ground to obtain Ground Coal Bottom Ash (GCBA) or Ground Coal Bottom Slag (GCBS). GCBA has the potential to replace cement in concrete which will reduce the waste in landfills, make economic benefits, preserve natural resources, and reduce health hazards. This research was performed to determine the optimum GCBA or …

Effect Of Deicing Chemicals And Fly Ash On Durability And Mechanical Properties Of Concrete, Joseph M. Useldinger-Hoefs

Theses and Dissertations

Deicing chemicals, such as Sodium Chloride (NaCl), lowers the freezing point of water, resulting in less skidding, less hydroplaning, and more friction on roadways. NaCl has limitations regarding its deicing capabilities; therefore, a supplement should be used to decrease corrosion and aid in lowering the freezing point of water. Incorporating AMP in NaCl brine aids in bonding to the road’s surface and further lowers the water’s freezing point. This study was conducted to explore the optimum solution of AMP and Sodium Nitrite (NaNO2) and the impact 20% fly ash has on durability. Hardened properties were used to compare the impact …

Evaluating The Size Distribution Of Submicron Particles In Seawater, Yuanheng Xiong

Theses and Dissertations

Particles of sizes < 1 µm or submicron particles in seawater can contribute up to 60% of optical backscattering that reflect sunlight measured by remote sensors. Better understanding of their optical effect in ocean color requires the knowledge of their particle size distributions (PSDs). However, data on PSDs of submicron particles is limited. We examined an instrument, ViewSizer 3000, for its capability of measuring PSDs of submicron particles. The working theory of the instrument is to track the Brownian motion of particles and relate the diffusivity of each particle to its size. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to prove that the instrument can be used to quantify PSDs of naturally occurring particles. Calibrations in the lab using NIST-traceable microbeads indicates two corrections are needed: (1) the sample volume varies with the size of particles and (2) particles of sizes <250 nm cannot be estimated reliably due to their low signal-to-noise ratio. With the corrections, the instrument can resolve submicron particles of sizes >250 nm with a mean absolute error of 3.9% in size and 38% in concentration. The ViewSizer 3000 was deployed in two NASA EXPORTS field campaigns in the North Pacific Ocean in August 2018 and the North Atlantic Ocean in May 2021. A total of 373 water samples were collected from 5 m to 500 m and measured in the ship’s lab for their PSDs. The PSDs of submicron particles at different depths and waters exhibit up to 3 orders of magnitude variations at each size bin, with the mean concentration in NA 30% greater than that …

The Design And Preparation Of High-Performance Silicon/Carbon Composite Anode For Lithium-Ion Batteries, Xin Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demand for high-performance energy storage devices has driven extensive research into developing advanced lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for various applications, including electric vehicles, portable electronics, and grid energy storage. Anode materials play a critical role in determining the overall performance of LIBs. In this dissertation, the investigation of silicon-based anode materials synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical performance was conducted for high-performance lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications. Four projects (Chapter 3 through 6) will be included in this dissertation. Chapter one includes the background and motivation of developing high-performance anode material for LIBs, followed by the hypothesis, scope of work, and significance …

The Impacts Of Airborne Cloud Microphysical Instrumentation Mounting Location On Measurements Made During The Observations Of Aerosols And Clouds And Their Interactions (Oracles) Project, Joseph Robert O'Brien

Theses and Dissertations

ORACLES (ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS) was a five-year NASA investigation into the climate impacts of Southern Africa’s biomass burning aerosols. The University of North Dakota, in coordination with the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations, the University of Oklahoma and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign integrated and operated a suite of in-situ cloud microphysical instrumentation into the NASA P-3 Orion aircraft to study aerosol-cloud interactions within this region. However, during the course of the individual ORACLES campaigns, the accuracy of the cloud microphysical observations were uncertain due to the mounting location of …

The Impact Of Training Disruption On Commercial Certificate Attainment In Collegiate Aviation Programs, Jonathan Pearson

Theses and Dissertations

The aviation industry is currently recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic and is forecast to continue to grow after returning to pre-pandemic levels of activity. As a result of retirements and growth, airlines are experiencing a large demand for qualified pilots. Collegiate aviation programs serve as a major source of training and recruitment, but it is unknown to what degree students in these programs were affected by the cessation of flight training during the pandemic. This study examined the impact of different variables, including training disruption, on commercial pilot certificate attainment and flight training hours in collegiate aviation flight training programs. …

Performance Evaluation Of Half-Bridge Inverter In 2-Level And Multilevel Topologies Using Bipolar Pwm And Low Frequency Switching, Yasha Pirani

Theses and Dissertations

Power Electronics switches incur power losses through conduction and transition states and impose harmonic losses on circuits due to their nonlinear properties. One way to optimize power efficiency is to reduce power loss by minimizing the number of circuit switches. This thesis proposes using a half-bridge inverter instead of the commonly used H-bridge in inverter-based topologies to lower the number of switches. To this end, two separate studies are conducted to evaluate the performance of half-bridge inverters in 2-level and multilevel topologies and compared against their respective H-bridge counterparts. For the first two comparative studies, simulation results for 2-level inverter …

Rf Coverage Planning And Analysis With Adaptive Cell Sectorization In Millimeter Wave 5g Networks, Md Maruf Ahamed

Theses and Dissertations

The advancement of Fifth Generation Network (5G) technology is well underway, with Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) globally commencing the deployment of 5G networks within the mid-frequency spectrum range (3GHz–6GHz). Nevertheless, the escalating demands for data traffic are compelling MNOs to explore the high-frequency spectrum (24GHz–100GHz), which offers significantly larger bandwidth (400MHz-800 MHz) compared to the mid-frequency spectrum (3GHz–6GHz), which typically provides 50MHz-100MHz of bandwidth. However, it is crucial to note that the higher-frequency spectrum imposes substantial challenges due to exceptionally high free space propagation loss, resulting in 5G cell site coverage being limited to several hundred meters, in contrast to …

Unlocking The Potential Of Sustainable Low-Cobalt Cathodes For Lithium-Ion Battery Applications, Temitayo Ojuetimi Ikuerowo

Theses and Dissertations

The pursuit of effective energy storage solutions, essential for the progress of renewable integration, electric cars, and grid-scale applications, has resulted in the popularity of lithium-ionbatteries. However, the high cost and environmental concerns associated with cobalt, a key component in the cathode, limits widespread adoption. Therefore, to address these issues whilst also increasing the capacity of current technologies, research has gone into the development of Nickel (Ni)-rich and Co-poor or Co-free materials for lithium-ion battery applications; however, the impacts of lower cobalt levels in these materials are not fully understood. This study investigates the impact of low cobalt doping levels …

Examining The Unique Experiences Of Underrepresented Minority Stem Faculty: How Discrimination, Microaggression, And Allyship Relate To Sense Of Relatedness, Motivation, And Perceived Success, Mojdeh J. Mardani

Theses and Dissertations

Results from empirical studies reveal underrepresented minority, URM, university faculty experience biases, discrimination, and affiliated stress that can impact multiple aspects of their work such as research performance (Fisher et al., 2019; O’Meara et al., 2020; Stolzenberg et al., 2019; Stupnisky et al., 2015), isolation, and lessened relatedness to colleagues (Zambrana et al., 2017; 2021), which may affect their motivation to conduct research. This dissertation is a collection of three separate but complementary research studies examining the effects of various forms of discrimination and the role of allyship in shaping the motivation of URM faculty members to engage in research, …

Evaluation Of Water Content Measurement Model 3000 Probe (Wcm-3000) Using The Nasa Impacts Dataset, Jennifer Rose Moore

Theses and Dissertations

The introduction of the Water Content Measurement probe (WCM-3000) onto the NASA P-3 aircraft during the NASA Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) 2022 and 2023 field campaign raises opportunity for measurement comparisons between liquid water content instruments. Instrument comparisons are done between the King hot-wire probe, the WCM-3000, and the Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP) using the IMPACTS 2023 field campaign data. Case studies are analyzed in three cloud conditions; liquid water clouds with droplets less than 50 µm, supercooled liquid water clouds with droplets less than 50 µm, and ice phase clouds. The WCM-3000 and …

Obtaining The Transfer Function Of A Camera Mount Using Ansys And Matlab, Ikechukwu Stanley Nwade

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, the transfer function of a camera mount is obtained using ANSYS and MATLAB. In a heads-up display (HUD) application, achieving precise image registration requires careful consideration of the camera's position relative to the vehicle. Vibrations can alter the camera's position, with tilt being the most impactful due to its increased displacement effect as objects are further away. This research tackles vibration by predicting the position of the camera using transfer function. To determine the transfer function for complex structures, such as camera mounts, this study aims to first establish a transfer function for a simpler model, like …

Estimation Of Idle Time Using Machine Learning Models For Vehicle-To-Grid (V2g) Integration And Services, Prashanth Rajagopalan

Theses and Dissertations

As the Electric Vehicles (EVs) market continues to expand, ensuring the access to charging stations remains a significant concern. This work focuses on addressing multiple challenges related to EV charging behavior and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) services. Firstly, it focuses on accurate minute-ahead (20 minute \& 30 minute intervals) load forecasts for an EV charging station by using four years of historical data, from 2018-2021. This data is recorded from a university campus garage charging station. Machine Learning (ML) models such as Seasonal Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA), Random Forest (RF), and Neural Networks (NN) are employed for load forecasts in terms …

Anomaly Detection And Trajectory Prediction Models For Ads-B Datasets, Akshay Ram Ramchandra

Theses and Dissertations

Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are critical for accurate navigation in aviation networks.GPS information could be subjected to several interferences due to challenging terrain, rural areas, high-rise buildings, and intentional or unintentional jamming, spoofing, or unknown causes. Recently, the frequency of GPS/Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)-related interferences in commercial airlines has increased. This thesis focuses on enhancing civil aviation safety using machine learning (ML) algorithms, particularly focusing on vulnerabilities in the ADS-B and its role in improving the National Air Space (NAS) surveillance and safety. Through scholarly article surveys, foundational issues in the ADS-B are identified. A study centered around a GPS …

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 …

Quantification Of Rigidity And Synthesis Of Cyclobutane Bisimide Building Blocks, Joseph Earl Mcgilligan Robertson

Theses and Dissertations

The quantification of a molecule’s conformational rigidity was achieved via development of a new measure called the Rigidity Factor, Rg_f. This value is a unit interval wherein molecules with corresponding Rg_f values closer to 1 are rigid and values closer to 0 are more flexible. The value is determined as a ratio between the molecule’s Van der Waals volume, V_W, and it’s Van der Waals potential volume, VWpot. The V_Wpot was defined as the minimum total volume occupied by a rotamer ensemble of the molecule which has been aligned according to the RMSD for …

Federated Vs Central Machine Learning On Diabetic Foot Ulcer Images: Comparative Simulations, Mahdi Saeedi

Theses and Dissertations

In the forefront of biomedical engineering, timely detection and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are pivotal for enhancing patient outcomes. This study explores the advancements of machine learning, adopting a federated learning framework to augment the precision and privacy of medical image analysis for DFU identification. Federated learning, a decentralized machine learning approach, proves essential, enabling the collaborative training of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) across a network of healthcare providers while upholding the sanctity of patient data confidentiality. The study employs the U-Net architecture, acclaimed for its adeptness in biomedical image segmentation. It showcases that through federated learning, the …

Developing A Multiomic Association Between Ionizing Radiation Exposure And Biological Aging Processes For Space Exploration Purpose, Nathan Alexander Ruprecht

Theses and Dissertations

If humans continue to push to be a space exploring species, time and radiation pose the most significant barriers. While not a new idea, approaching a rad-age association with today’s technology offers a fresh look at treating and monitoring both as a similar challenge. To get to that point, starting from square one helps shape the project and avoid common pitfalls. Each chapter is an incremental step to developing this association using multi-omics by building theoretical knowledge of the relationship between radioactive damage and aging processes, building technical knowledge by developing bioinformatic pipelines to integrate different -omes, using genetics data …

Use Of Lidar And Synthetic Bathymetry To Develop Stream Cross Sections For Alternative Modeling Of Streamflow In North Dakota Using Hec-Ras: A Case Study On The Tongue River In North Dakota, James Brennan Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations

Analysis of streamflow levels is critical to flood protection and management. Computer modeling software such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hydraulic Engineering Center River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) is used to calculate water surface elevations for statistical or historical flows. A key element of modeling river hydraulics is the development of one-dimensional (1-D) cross sections or two-dimensional (2-D) terrain from elevation data. Airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) is now commonly used to collect high-density digital elevation model (DEM) data. Models developed from near-infrared LiDAR DEMs alone however, do not have bathymetry since the LiDAR pulses are adversely affected …

Performance Analysis Of Data-Driven Algorithms In Detecting Intrusions On Smart Grid, Tala Talaei Khoei

Theses and Dissertations

The traditional power grid is no longer a practical solution for power delivery due to several shortcomings, including chronic blackouts, energy storage issues, high cost of assets, and high carbon emissions. Therefore, there is a serious need for better, cheaper, and cleaner power grid technology that addresses the limitations of traditional power grids. A smart grid is a holistic solution to these issues that consists of a variety of operations and energy measures. This technology can deliver energy to end-users through a two-way flow of communication. It is expected to generate reliable, efficient, and clean power by integrating multiple technologies. …

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 …

Staphylococcal Enterotoxin I Immunotherapy Combined With Hla-Dq8 Induces Tumoricidal Activity, With Low Superantigen Toxicity, Leading To Long-Term Survival And Tumor-Specific Memory Against Established B16-F10 Melanoma In Humanized Hla-Dq8 Transgenic Mice, Nathan Velaris

Theses and Dissertations

Immunotherapies now stand at the forefront of cancer treatment as a versatile arsenal of cutting-edge tools wielded by medical professionals to combat and conquer a spectrum of formidable diseases. Most notably, immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have revolutionized the field of oncology offering a promising alternative to conventional treatments like chemo and radiation therapy with significant improvements for patients in terms of quality of life and survival. Immunotherapies can be uniquely personalized to a patient's genetic and immune system profile leading to more effective treatments and durable long-lasting responses. Our research group has identified Staphylococcal enterotoxin I as a …

Land Acquistion For Flood Adaptation Under Changing Climate, Jiyang Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Flood has caused tremendous life and economic losses over the past few decades and is expected to cause more in the future under the effects of climate change and socioeconomic development. With limited resources, cost-effective adaptation policies are urgently needed to minimize the economic and social impacts of future floods. The increasing flood losses and recent catastrophic flood events around the world expose two major issues of current flood adaptation schemes: 1) Flood risks are not well captured and predicted under climate change, leaving many communities unprepared for potential extreme flood events; 2) Current flood adaptation measures focus on the …

Enhancement Of The Performance Of Lignin-Derived Hard Carbons For Battery Applications By Chemical Pretreatment, Ruiqing Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Because of lignin's renewable and low-cost characteristics, lignin-derived hard carbons have been extensively studied as electrode materials for energy storage applications. However, the formation of solid electrolyte interface (SEI) during the first cycle in electrode materials and the loss of lithium/sodium ions during long-term cycling has a fatal impact on the performance of batteries. Recent technology is needed to improve lignin-based electrode materials' initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE).

In this study, pre-lithiation/pre-sodiation through the spontaneous chemical reaction between the aryl etherification reagent was used to improve the low ICE of the lignin-based anode material. Our results show that the ICE of …

The Effect Of Metacognition On Medical Laboratory Science Students' Perceived Feelings Of Self-Efficacy, Rebecca Simone Bakke

Theses and Dissertations

Medical laboratories across the United States have been experiencing a workforce shortage for the past several decades. While the causes of this shortage are numerous, one of the contributing factors is high turnover and attrition rates due to low workplace satisfaction. Research has shown that higher levels of self-efficacy lead to increased job satisfaction and performance outcomes. Therefore, increasing the self-efficacy of medical laboratory science (MLS) students as they prepare to transition into the workforce may help address the labor shortage.To explore a potential exercise to increase self-efficacy among MLS students, a metacognitive learning strategy—reflective journaling—was implemented during the final …

Meteorological Drivers Of Blowing Snow Events At Arm North Slope Alaska Site, Talia Dawn Kurtz

Theses and Dissertations

Blowing snow is common in polar regions. Blowing snow and associated sublimation influence the surface energy budget and surface mass balance. For example, it is believed to play a critical role in the evolution of Arctic sea-thickness by reducing the amount of snow accumulated on the sea-ice surface, which is a pressing issue with the Arctic Amplification. Currently, most models do not include blowing snow as there has not been widespread validation of blowing snow parameterizations. Fortunately, the Atmospheric Radiation Measurements (ARM) North Slope Alaska (NSA) site located in Utqiaġvik, Alaska contains instrumentation that allows for the detection of this …