Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring [2+2] Photoreaction To Synthesize Cyclobutane Di- And Tetracarboxylic Acid Building Blocks From Biomass-Derived Precursors, Dominic Nkafu Nkemngong

Theses and Dissertations

Materials are a vital part of human life, as such, it is important that the precursors to these materials are sustainable. Currently, these precursors are synthesized by the oxidation of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons. Petroleum is not sustainable and is feared to deplete soon. Derivatizing the currently available biomass-based building blocks will diversify and increase the number of precursors for materials and gradually reduce our reliance on petrochemicals.The carboxylic dianhydride, CBDAN-1, a potential biomass-derived precursor for material synthesis, was synthesized from the photodimerization of maleic anhydride or the dehydration of CBTA-1. CBTA-1 was synthesized from the photodimerization of maleic and fumaric acids …

Characterization Of Vertical Growth Of Fractures In Layered Formations, Vibhas Jagdish Pandey

Theses and Dissertations

Hydraulic fracturing treatments are routinely pumped in oil and gas wells worldwide to enhance production and manage the economic recovery of hydrocarbon reserves. The uplift in the production after a fracture stimulation job depends on several parameters, of which optimal coverage of the payzone by the treatment is one of the more important ones. The vertical growth of hydraulic fractures thus is a topic of great interest amongst researchers because of its ability to influence the outcome of a stimulation treatment.

The modeling and prediction of fracture height, especially in layered formations, is a challenging task given the associated complexities …

Design Of Novel High-Performance Materials For Sliding Applications, Caleb Michael Matzke

Theses and Dissertations

Break down of a material due to mechanical usage, otherwise known as wear, is a common issue that affects almost every industry as well as many commonly used goods. Components, such as bearings, can have major damage over time, especially if they are not protected by a lubricant. This thesis investigates the friction and wear behavior of high-performance materials lubricated by fuel-based lubricants. This work is divided into two parts; The first focuses on polymer matrix composites, and the second focuses on advanced ceramics. Polymers are of interest due to the ease of production and the polymer of choice for …

A Survey Of Research Administrators To Identify Areas Of Administrative Burden In Federal Research Grant Management, Jessica Lynn Schiller

Theses and Dissertations

Many processes in higher education are complicated by administrative burden and proceduralinefficiencies. The federal government and research universities partner to advance science and technology, but the federal research grant process is criticized for its lack of efficient and streamlined procedures. Staff and faculty alike lament losing valuable time to bureaucratic regulations, cumbersome processes, and burgeoning reporting standards. As the cost of higher education is increasingly scrutinized, current procedures must be analyzed to identify areas of excessive administrative burden and redesigned to maximize efficiency. To address this issue, a Qualtrics survey was deployed to research administrators to identify areas of administrative …

Investigating Gender Diversity, Equity, And Inclusivity And Students’ Experiences Within Collegiate Team-Based Learning Environments, Marissa Elizabeth Saad

Theses and Dissertations

As the United States works towards strengthening and diversifying the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) workforce, many national charges aim to increase the quantity of female participants, while overlooking how systematic barriers affect the quality of female students’ education. Many STEM workforce development programs, such as the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, are committed to improving the nation’s diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) efforts, enabling technical education through hands-on team-based learning (TBL) environments.

The purpose of this study was to take a holistic approach to assess how gender DEI in STEM team environments influence the quality of …

Data Driven Approach To Saltwater Disposal (Swd) Well Location Optimization In North Dakota, Kalyanaraman Venugopal

Theses and Dissertations

The sharp increase in oil and gas production in the Williston Basin of North Dakota since 2006 has resulted in a significant increase in produced water volumes. Primary mechanism for disposal of produced water is by injection into underground Inyan Kara formation through Class-II Saltwater Disposal (SWD) wells. With number of SWD wells anticipated to increase from 900 to over 1400 by 2035, localized pressurization and other potential issues that could affect performance of future oil and SWD wells, there was a need for a reliable model to select locations of future SWD wells for optimum performance. Since it is …

Retired Indigenous And Non-Indigenous College Student Athletes' Mental Health Relating To Athletic Identity, Cultural Identity, And Career Transition, Victoria Williams

Theses and Dissertations

To date, empirical studies have investigated the transition or retirement phase, following the conclusion of a student-athletes’ four-year career as a comparison between student-athletes and non-athletes. Specifically, when investigating these constructs, researchers have failed to thoroughly investigate the role cultural identity may play in mitigating psychological symptoms during the transition phase. As such, this study will seek to investigate both Indigenous and non-Indigenous retired college student- athletes, during the transition phase, in terms of the degree to which they identified with their athletic identity, cultural identity and career transition. It is expected those retired Indigenous and non-Indigenous student- athletes who …

Development Of Silicon-Based Anodes With Coal-Derived Materials For High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries, Shuai Xu

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demands on high energy density and long cycling life in electronics and energy storage systems require lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with higher capacity anodes to replace the present commercial anode, graphite, which has a limited capacity of only 372 mAh g-1. Silicon-based materials (silicon and silicon suboxides) are among the most attractive alternative because of their high theoretical capacity but can hardly reach commercialization due to numerous technical and engineering barriers. The effort in this dissertation focuses on improving the electrochemical performance of SiO and Si anode materials, trying to pave a way to a greener and cleaner energy …

Impact Of Co2 Storage On The Geomechanical And Geophysical Properties Of Bakken Formation, Ogochukwu Ozotta

Theses and Dissertations

The world is currently experiencing a higher demand for low-carbon technologies, and carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) is an important CO₂ emissions reduction technology. Studies have shown the potential for CCUS in shale formations either as a caprock or as a reservoir storage unit. However, there is limited knowledge of the changes in shale reservoirs after long-term exposure to CO₂, and the resulting impacts on storage permanence. This study coupled experimental and numerical modeling methods to investigate how long-term CO₂ storage in shale formations might alter pore structure and minerals, which might cause a resultant …

Development Of A Piezo-Mechanical Battery, Caleb Aba-Onukaogu Aba-Onukaogu

Theses and Dissertations

The piezo-mechanical battery is designed to store energy in a flat spiral spring and harvest the kinetic energy of the unwinding spring using piezoelectric unimorph cantilever beams. The system, initially proposed on a micro scale, was designed to function on a macro scale. The power spring of the system was designed to deliver enough torque to run the system and provide enough force to the escapement mechanism to excite the cantilever beams. The gear system is designed as a compound epicyclic gear system with a gear ratio of 55:1. The cantilever beams were designed to act as springs as well …

The Experience Of Saudi Students Writing Academic English In Sex-Separated Classrooms, Rana Alsaadi

Theses and Dissertations

This is a qualitative research that investigates the experiences of undergraduate Saudi female and male students majoring in English at Taif University, Saudi Arabia. These students were part of different sections of a course that teaches academic English writing and research in an English as a Foreign Language context. These Saudi female and male students draw on their perceptions of three main points; First, how they experienced the academic English writing course in sex-separated classrooms. Second, how the current sex-separated classrooms influence their learning of English and how if this hypothetically change to mixed-sex classrooms their experiences in learning English …

The Benefits Of And Need For A Low-Barrier, Housing First Homeless Shelter In Grand Forks, North Dakota, Jenna Richardson

Social Work Independent Study Projects (ISP)

The prevalence of substance use and mental illness are significant factors to consider when attempting to effectively resolve homelessness in the United States. By providing stable shelter or housing, individuals experiencing homelessness have a better capacity to address these obstacles that have historically caused them to lose, or prevented them from maintaining, their housing or shelter situation. Many homeless shelters in the United States have taken an abstinence-based approach that has left many homeless individuals unsheltered, and this can reduce the capacity of these individuals who may be trying to engage in services to address their other concerns. Low-barrier homeless …

Winter Commencement: December 16-17, 2021, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Winter Commencement program from December 16 and 17, 2021.

Nodak 97, James North

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Assessing Motivation As Predictors Of Academic Success In Collegiate Aviation Classrooms, Nicholas Wilson, Robert H. Stupnisky

Education, Health & Behavior Studies Faculty Publications

The aviation industry changes rapidly. As such, it is important to continually re-assess our understanding of future aviation professionals and how their motivation translates into career-related performance. The present study applies Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura, 1986) to understand 229 students’ motivation in a fourth-year technical aircraft systems course. To further our understanding of motivation and performance, the Science Motivation Questionnaire II (SMQ-II; Glynn, Brickman, Armstrong, & Taasoobshirazi, 2011), which measures intrinsic motivation, career motivation, grade motivation, self-determination, and self-efficacy, was adapted to the collegiate aviation domain. Using structural equation modeling techniques (Arbuckle, 2017), the study found strong predictive relationships between …

Pcor Partnership Atlas, Wesley D. Peck, Earl P. Battle, Kari Suedel, Kyle A. Glazewski, Kevin C. Connors, James A. Sorensen, John A. Hamling, Charles D. Gorecki, Edward N. Steadman, John A. Harju

EERC Maps and Infographics

The Plains CO₂ Reduction (PCOR) Partnership Atlas provides a regional profile of CO₂ sources and potential storage locations across the PCOR Partnership region. The sixth edition provides an up-to-date look at PCOR Partnership initiative activities, including additional regional characterization and updates on commercial projects. Additional background information on carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is included to give a better understanding of how CCUS addresses concerns about climate change while allowing future energy needs to be met.

Extending The Argument: A Case Study Exploring How To Decay Consumer Grudges In A Social Media World, Onnolee Nordstrom, Laura Egan

Librarian Publications

We study the process involved in diminishing consumer grudges against an industry. Through a qualitative case study of an organization tasked with changing consumer’s negative perceptions and beliefs about the Canadian agriculture industry, we uncover how the process of decaying grudges involves presenting information, creating credibile sources, and building positive affect. Our findings extend Thota and Wright’s (2006) grudgeholding decay framework.

Long Haulers: The Us Airline Industry And Moving Forward From The Covid-19 Pandemic, James Norman

Aviation Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Wrong Side Of The Wall, Grant Mcmillan

Greenway Press Chapbooks

No abstract provided.

Complex Predicates In Southern Turkmen: A Role And Reference Grammar Analysis, Nathaniel Andrew Shaver

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis uses the concepts of nexus and juncture, as articulated by Role and Reference Grammar, to examine complex verbal constructions found in four collected texts. These texts were collected from four Southern Turkmen (or Turkmen of Afghanistan) speakers. Through transcribing, glossing, and analyzing these texts, a number of complex predicates were identified. These were then described according to their various nexus juncture types. Three nexus juncture varieties were represented in the collected texts. These include clausal coordination, clausal subordination, and core cosubordination. Although not represented in the texts, it was possible to elicit three other provisional nexus juncture varieties. …

December 2, 2021: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the December 2, 2021, meeting of the University Senate. 41 pages

Author's Rights: What To Know Before Publishing Your Work, Brittany Fischer, Zeineb Yousif

Librarian Posters and Presentations

When you publish a journal article, you sign a copyright agreement. Do you know what you’re agreeing to when you sign it?

In the US copyright covers a bundle of intellectual property rights. In this workshop we will discuss what copyright is, what it allows you to do, and how to maintain your rights as an author.

By the end of this workshop you will be able to answer:

• What is a copyright transfer agreement?
• How can you find out a journal's rights policies?
• How can you negotiate contracts to make the most of your rights as a scholar, researcher, …

Matrix Multiplier: Cramer’S Method Calculation, Haruka Kido

Electrical Engineering Student Publications

This paper is a technical report of the C++ and LabVIEW algorithms for and the underlying mathematics of The Cramer’s Method. The systemic process of the Cramer’s Method enhances the efficiency of solving matrix multiplication problems involving systems of linear equations with sets of 3 or more added or subtracted unknown variables associated with numerical coefficients. The coefficients of the system of equations generate the numbers in the matrix to be used in the replicable and formulaic computation process.

Pv Hosting Capacity Assessment For Improved Planning Of Low-Voltage Distribution Networks, Sina Ibne Ahmed, Hossein Salehfar, Daisy Flora Selvaraj

EERC Publications, Papers, & Presentations

This study has developed a rural substation feeder model and conducted an iterative photovoltaics (PV) hosting capacity analysis for various load conditions. Multiple hosting capacity constraints have been considered, and their impacts have been evaluated. In addition, PV capacity improvement techniques are discussed. The study’s outcome demonstrates the application of dynamic inverter control settings to mitigate capacity restrictions.

November 4, 2021: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the November 4, 2021, meeting of the University Senate. 15 pages

Open Access Explained, Zeineb Yousif, Brittany Fischer

Librarian Posters and Presentations

This workshop gives a basic overview of the open access movement. By the end of this workshop you should be able to:

• Identify what open access is
• Understand why Open Access is important
• Learn how it can benefit you as a researcher, student, or professional
• Know where to find additional resources for help

This workshop can be modified to match the particulars of the campus where it is being presented.

Development Of Alveolar-Capillary-Exchange (Ace) Chip And Its Application For Assessment Of Pm2.5-Induced Toxicity, Mingyang Gang, Song Tang, Haiyun Chang, Yuanyuan Chen, Fengge Chen, Ying Mu, Dong Zhao, Weiwei Fan, Huifang Tian, Diane Darland, Ying Zhang

Biology Faculty Publications

Although standard two-dimensional (2D) cell culture is an effective tool for cell studies, monolayer cultivation can yield imperfect or misleading information about numerous biological functions. In this study, we developed an alveolar-capillary exchange (ACE) chip aiming to simulate the cellular microenvironment at the alveolar-capillary interface. The ACE chip was designed with two chambers for culturing alveolar epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cells separately, which are separated by a microporous polycarbonate film that allows for the exchange of soluble biomolecules. Using this model, we further tested the toxic effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a form of airborne pollutant known to …

Facile Modification Of Nf Membrane By Multi-Layer Deposition Of Polyelectrolytes For Enhanced Fouling Resistance, Umair Baig, Abdul Waheed, Hassan A. Salih, Asif Matin, Ali Alshami, Isam H. Aljundi

Chemical Engineering Faculty Publications

Fouling not only deteriorates the membrane structure but also compromises the quality of the permeate and has deleterious consequences on the membrane operation. In the current study, a commercial thin film composite nanofiltration membrane (NF90) was modified by sequentially depositing oppositely charged polycation (poly(allylamine hydrochloride)) and polyanion (poly(acrylic acid)) polyelectrolytes using the layer-by-layer assembly method. The water contact angle was decreased by ~10° after the coating process, indicating increased hydrophilicity. The surface roughness of the prepared membranes decreased from 380 nm (M-0) to 306 nm (M-10) and 366 nm (M-20). M-10 membrane showed the highest permeate flux of 120 L …

The Preterite, Steven Gillies

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

Thick Poetry, Steven Plawnarz

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.