Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of The Alpha1a Adrenergic Receptor In Modulating Psychiatric Symptoms, Jason Power

Theses and Dissertations

The adrenergic system plays a key role in the treatment and understanding of the etiology of mental illnesses. Despite antidepressants having the effect of reducing the reuptake of specific neurotransmitters, such as norepinephrine (NE), the mechanism of the antidepressant effect is poorly understood. It is apparent that antidepressants increase the rate of neurogenesis occurring within the hippocampal region of the brain with the hippocampus found to have an increased density around the time of symptom improvement (rate plateaus after 4-8 weeks after treatment). With an increased rate of neurogenesis taking ~1 month to occur, it was hypothesized that treatment with …

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 …

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 …

A Methodology Of Hacking Domestic Unmanned Aerial Systems, Ty Douglass Lofstrom

Theses and Dissertations

Small unmanned aerial systems stand the greatest chance of exploit from cybersecurity attacks more than any other UAS platform due to their low-cost, availability, and ease of use. A new scenario-based threat model specific to UAS was developed. This thesis has examined, identified, and characterized a sample of those specific cybersecurity vulnerabilities through that UAS threat model framework.Due to the large growth in small unmanned aerial systems, from military and academic applications to more personal recreational use-cases there has been an equally proportional rise in cybersecurity threats that prey on vulnerabilities of these UASs systems. Hackers often seek out these …

Exploration Of The Handling Qualities Of An Autonomous Unmanned Aircraft System Using A Grounded Theory Methodology Toward The Identification Of Characteristic Traits, Michael Mclean

Theses and Dissertations

This grounded theory study explores the handling qualities of an autonomous, large UAS based upon semi-structured interviews with eleven MQ-4C Triton air vehicle operators (AVO). Through inquiry into the tasks and difficulties experienced during operation of Triton, themes regarding the role of the AVO, the role of the automation, and the role of the interface were developed using the constant comparative method. Interconnections between the developed themes led to theory about the applicability of the handling quality framework to autonomous UAS, the tasks performed by the AVO, the human factors applied to AVO, and the relationship of the AVO to …

The Financial Health Of R2, Land-Grant Universities: The Relationship Of Government Appropriations And Other Major Revenue Streams On Overall Financial Health, Aaron Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations

College and university administrators must be able to process large amounts of financial information quickly and be able to communicate information about financial performance to governing boards. Financial ratio analysis provides a framework for administrators to identify financial and operational concerns as well as variances from institutional plans and policies. Modern financial ratio analysis in the higher education industry relies on a set of standard ratios that comprise the Composite Financial Index (CFI). With more frequent debilitating economic events such as the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic and the predicted enrollment cliff on the horizon, college and university administrators …

Geothermal Energy: Direct Use Application From Repurposed Oil And Gas Wells For Williston State College, Nnaemeka C. Ngobidi

Theses and Dissertations

This analysis of the logistics of repurposing plugged and abandoned oil wells for use in district heating indicates that it is economically feasible and provides a guide to inform the development of geothermal direct use in the Williston Basin. This study focused on Williston State College where data on campus infrastructure, heating and cooling loads, oil well status, and geothermal resource potential are available. I selected a PA well and an SWI well that lie within 2 km of the WSC campus for the production and injection wells for the analysis. The alternative to using PA wells, drilling a new …

Generating Binder Inputs In Pavement Me For North Dakota’S Conditions, Andebut Tilahun Yeneneh

Theses and Dissertations

There is a broad consensus that the current mechanistic-empirical pavement design guideline (MEPDG) is an improvement from the earlier empirical-based design approaches. The lack of comprehensive material input databases for bound and unbound layers remains challenging. This study developed a database for binders used in typical hot mix asphalt (HMA) mixes in North Dakota by measuring their complex shear modulus (|G*|) and associated phase angle (δ) at unaged, short-term aged, and long-term aged conditions. Binder viscosity was also measured in these three aged states. Additionally, this study used existing models to predict (|G*|) and δ and compared them to measured …

Investigation Of Transient Multiphase Flow Performance In Undulating Horizontal Unconventional Wells, Youcef Khetib

Theses and Dissertations

Unconventional resources development was made possible by the combination of long horizontal wells and a multistage hydraulic fracture technique; this configuration enabled operators to reach economical flowrates besides the low permeabilities. For liquid rich basins like the Williston basin, the wells tend to show a high flow rate peaks during the first 24 months followed by a rapid decline and a relatively stable low flow rate and long period. Due to pressure decline liberating the dissolved gas and due to low flow velocities caused by low flowrate the wells flow intermittently, and oil, water and gas phases flow rates become …

Rural Educators' Toolkit For College Readiness, Valerie Lefor

Open Educational Resources

This toolkit contains materials related to postsecondary accreditation and federal student aid. It is designed to help students, their families, and educators be able to learn more about preparing for college.

December 1, 2022: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the December 1, 2022, meeting of the University Senate. 26 pages

November 2, 2022, The Dakota Student

The Dakota Student

No abstract provided.

November 3, 2022: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the November 3, 2022, meeting of the University Senate. 18 pages

Agglomeration Tendency And Activated Carbon Concentration Effects On Ac-Psf Mixed Matrix Membrane Performance: A Design Of Experiment Formulation Study, Jeremy Lewis, Ali Alshami, Musabbir Talukder, Ademola Owoade, Kelsey Baker, Sagheer Onaizi

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) are effective materials for emerging separation applications. While MMMs show promise, various membrane formation schemes have produced particle agglomerations, surface ruptures, and varying separation performance as a result. In this work, a replicated 2 × 2³ full factorial design of experiment (DOE) and a mixture analysis was conducted to investigate the effects of activated carbon, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and solvent type, used during MMM formation. Aniline blue filtration was used as a model for performance. A thorough analysis was conducted on contact angle, agglomeration frequency, water flux, and dye rejection. Specifically, a novel and facile …

Und Strategic Planning Feedback: Mission, Vision, And Core Values Qualtrics Survey, University Of North Dakota

LEADS Development Documents

Qualtrics survey response report from the UND strategic planning feedback process on mission, vision, and core values. The report compiles campus and community input used to inform the development of UND LEADS.

Effectiveness Of Infrared Thermography For Delamination Detection In Reinforced Concrete Bridge Decks, Eberechi Ichi, Sattar Dorafshan

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents findings of delamination detection using infrared thermography (IRT) in five in-service bridges using an unmanned aerial vehicle system. The authors have used semantically segmented IRT images to evaluate IRT’s effectiveness in detection of deck delamination for the first time. Using an adaptive image processing-based model, sub-surface delaminations were detected by optimizing all user-defined parameters in the model, including threshold values to convert the enhanced IRT images to a binary image. The optimization process has been done selecting iterating the user-defined parameters and their effect on the interaction of a set of sigmoid curves representing the model’s performance …

Fuzzy Logic-Based Charging Strategy For Frequency Control Of An Electric Vehicles-Integrated Weak Grid, Majid Mehrasa, Khaled Hajar, Reza Razi, Antoine Labonne, Ahmad Hably, Seddik Bacha, Daisy Flora Selvaraj, Hossein Salehfar

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

In this paper, a fuzzy logic-based charging strategy is proposed for electric vehicles (EVs) to provide a stable frequency response for a weak grid (WG)-microgrid. Along with the frequency control, another fuzzy charging method is designed for EV to increase the revenue for the EV charging station owner.

October 6, 2022: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the October 6, 2022, meeting of the University Senate. 19 pages

Authenticity And Psychological Safety: Building And Encouraging Talent Among Underrepresented Students In Stem, Daphne E. Pedersen, Alena Kubatova, Rebecca Simmons

Biology Faculty Publications

The Undergraduate Scholarships with Mathematics and Science Training, Exploration, and Research Program (US MASTER) is a STEM scholarship program funded by the United States National Science Foundation. It was implemented at an upper-Midwest institution to target and provide structured support to low-income, academically talented undergraduates in biology, chemistry, geography and geographic information science (GISc), environmental sciences, and physics and astrophysics. In addition to providing financial support, the program features an integrated approach to mentorship and advising consisting of an ongoing seminar course in which students engage in collaborative projects, research experiences with a faculty mentor, and targeted academic advising. As …

September 1, 2022: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the September 1, 2022, meeting of the University Senate. 28 pages

Press Release Regarding Representative Burdick's Resolution Calling For An Investigation Of Garrison Dam Project, August 25, Usher L. Burdick

Usher Burdick Papers

This press release, dated for release on August 25 (no year indicated) tells of the introduction of United States (US) Representative Usher L. Burdick's resolution calling for an investigation of land requisitioning practices employed by the US Army Corps of Engineers for the Garrison Dam Project. The release states the Army Corp of Engineers are engaged in acquisitions “far in excess of that required for storage of the 17 million acre-feet and in excess of that 1,830 foot pool level operation agreed to,” which Burdick says violates Public Law 534 and Senate Document 247. The release also reports Burdick's claims …

Comments By Representative Burdick Regarding The Hoover Commission, June 15, 1949, Usher L. Burdick

Usher Burdick Papers

This document by United States (US) Representative Usher L. Burdick, dated June 15 (year not given, though likely 1949 based on the references to the Hoover Commission and similar statements made by Burdick during that year on Congress), titled “Congressman Usher L. Burdick Comments:- Report of the Hoover Commission Strikes a Snag,” expresses Burdick's views that "the Corps of Army Engineers is supported in Congress by a powerful lobby." Burdick writes that in the construction of the Garrison Dam in North Dakota “the Army Engineers paid no attention to the law creating the dam,” adding that they are “intrenched (sic) …

Magazine Article By J.S. Seybold Regarding The Construction Of The Garrison Dam, October, 1949, J.S. Seybold

Usher Burdick Papers

This reprint of an article in Civil Engineering, The Magazine of Engineered Construction, dated October, 1949, by Colonel of the United States Corps of Engineers J.S. Seybold is a publication of the North Dakota State Water Conservation Commission. The six page article provides pictures and diagrams outlining the progress of the Garrison Dam project and is divided by the following subtopics: Seepage Control and Drainage, Driving Cutoff Piling, Eight Tunnels in Right Abutment, Test Tunnel on Site of Penstock No. 4, Measurements Provide Design Data, Intake Structure Contract Let, Spillway in Left Abutment, Permanent Town Built, Progress to Date. The …

Press Statement From Representatives Burdick And Lemke Regarding Limitation On The Pool Level, October 5, Usher L. Burdick

Usher Burdick Papers

This press statement dated October 5 (no year indicated), by United States (US) Representatives Usher L. Burdick and William Lemke states that “it was no surprise” that the United States Army Engineers have tried to create a larger pool area for the Garrison Dam than 17 million acre feet. The press statement states that this matter should be immediately placed before the federal courts in the form of an injunction to prevent the Army Engineers from breaking the law. No year is marked in this document.

Summer Commencement: August 5, 2022, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Summer Commencement program from August 5, 2022.

Synthesis And Characterization Of Peek Based Functional Composites For Biomedical Applications, Sabah Javaid

Theses and Dissertations

We report the synthesis and characterization of PEEK-MAX (Ti3SiC2, Ti3AlC2,and Cr2AlC), and PEEK-MoAlB, (DDGS500 – pyrolyzed Distiller’s dried grains with soluble (DDGS)), metal (Mo) and PEEK-ceramic (Xonotlite) based PEEK composites, by hot-pressing. A systematic study was done to understand the effect of these additives on functional and mechanical properties. Initially, these composites were synthesized by hot pressing. Detailed microstructure analysis by scanning electron microscopy showed that at higher concentration (≥10 vol%), the Ti3SiC2, Ti3AlC2 and PEEK-MoAlB particles segregated at the phase boundaries and formed interpenetrating micro-networks. PEEK-Cr2AlC were well dispersed in the PEEK matrix. Microstructure study of the composites showed …

Und Strategic Planning Focus Group Notes: Greater Grand Forks Women’S Leadership, University Of North Dakota

LEADS Development Documents

Notes from an August 4, 2022 UND strategic planning focus group with Greater Grand Forks women leaders. The notes capture community perspectives on UND’s identity, relationship with the Grand Forks region, leadership, partnerships, belonging, communication, and opportunities for UND’s future.

Planetary Engineering Ethics: Mechanisms, Issues, And Consequences Of Terraforming, Haruka Kido

Electrical Engineering Student Publications

This research and analysis paper addresses the extension of environmental ethics in the area of planetary engineering, specifically using the following three ethical viewpoints that inevitably shape our perceptions of the terraforming endeavors proposed to build our cosmological future appropriately: [1] environmental ethics analysis, [2] moral theories analysis (including utilitarianism, Respect for Persons ethics or “RP ethics,” and virtue ethics), and [3] risk analysis. The three ethical viewpoints, explained in “Concepts and Cases: Engineering Ethics. 6th Edition,” are used to elaborate justifications for or against terraforming beyond the mere theoretical explanations. To develop …

Graduate Recital : Analysis Of Performed Works, Mary Morales

Theses and Dissertations

This independent study serves as an educational resource regarding the pieces which I performed for my graduate recital. It includes information about the works and their composers, as well as an analysis of each work that was performed, and overview of my experiences while learning the works. In my reflection of my experiences, I offer insight which may be used in the instruction of these works and advice for what students may find most difficult pertaining to them. This paper is organized in the program order of the recital. Each section will begin with information about the composers and historical …