Digital Commons Network^™

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

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet about the State Energy Research Center (SERC). Highlights the Energy & Environmental Research Center’s technology development, skilled workforce, and funding sources. [This item is an outdated or superseded version and retained for historical purposes only. It may no longer reflect current information, policies, or practices.]

March 4, 2021: Agenda, University Of North Dakota

University Senate Meeting Minutes

Agenda for the March 4, 2021, meeting of the University Senate. 50 pages

Numerical Simulations Of Hydraulic Fracturing Through Perforated Wellbores, Omar Akash

Theses and Dissertations

Unconventional reservoirs such as tight formations and plays, are known by their ultra-low permeability. To economically produce hydrocarbon from these reservoirs, technology-based solutions need to be deployed. hydraulic fracturing is a widely accepted and applied technology for successful development of unconventional reservoirs.

The fractures initiated near wellbore can have different lengths, widths, and heights. As a result, a complex fracture network is expected to be formed near wellbore. The hydraulic fracturing design is related to several parameters. Some of these parameters cannot be altered such as the geological attributes and mechanical properties of the targeted formation and the field in-situ …

Role Of Gravin/Akap12 Variants In Regulating Endothelial Cell Behavior, Ashrifa Ali

Theses and Dissertations

A functional endothelium must maintain an equilibrium among processes such as endothelial cell (EC) migration, barrier function and angiogenesis. The endothelium is constantly exposed to external factors that that result in a complex network of signaling wired to several possible cellular outcomes. A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) have a critical role in regulating cell signaling by providing spatial and temporal control of signaling proteins to increase downstream target specificity. Several studies have linked gravin (also called SSeCKS or AKAP12), an AKAP, to migration, barrier function, and angiogenesis. However, the functional significance of each gravin variant in ECs has not been investigated …

Development Of Image Processing Techniques For Core-Scale Characterization And Synthetic 3d-Printed Core Replicas, Ahmed Galal Alqassaby Almetwally

Theses and Dissertations

Fluid-flow physics in porous media has been continually simplified by assuming isotropic homogeneous media with minimal rock-fluid interactions. Such simplification did not reflect reality and retained the ability to understand the flow behavior essence in unconventional reservoirs. The developed physics should be reevaluated on ideal porous media, indeed, which has minimal geometrical and interaction uncertainties. Therefore, image processing techniques were utilized to processs the CT scans of core samples to construct ideal 3D-printed replicas for coreflooding experiments and simulation models. The results from both were then compared for vcalidation and cross check. Methods, Procedures, Process: Grayscale CT-scan of a Berea …

Development Of A Dynamic Force Sensor, Olusola Andrew Bolaniran

Theses and Dissertations

Sensors are employed for various applications in different industries. Chief of these applications is in the process and equipment monitoring. Most sensors used in the equipment monitoring are mostly after-market devices. This research answered the question of how can we include the condition monitoring of equipment into the design phase of the equipment. This research developed a dynamic force sensor using a PolyVinyliDene Fluoride (PVDF) film. The piezoelectric film attached to a fixed-fixed substrate which serves to support film and the properties of which the sensor equations were based. The sensor was tested in the laboratory by subjecting it to …

Career Aspirations Of Collegiate Aviation Students, Shayne A. Daku

Theses and Dissertations

Three studies in this dissertation examined the career aspirations of collegiate aviation students: student motivation with respect to career aspirations, military aviation career aspirations, and student perceptions of career pathway programs. Findings from each of these studies are valuable to students pursuing careers in aviation and industry partners seeking to fill pilot positions. Each of these reports highlights the desire of current collegiate aviation students to have a career that supports their values of remaining close and connected to their family and friends. In the first research, aviation graduates report crew base and hourly pay as the most important factors …

The Production Of Bio-Based Chemicals And Materials From Renewable Sources, Ian Foerster

Theses and Dissertations

Widespread concern with the impacts of global emissions and climate change plays an active role in driving global renewable markets, developing scientific research communities, and setting environmental pollution regulations. Efforts to confront this rise in global emissions are primarily focused on the reduction and replacement of non-renewable fuels and materials. It has become increasingly apparent that reducing global greenhouse gas emissions will require more than just the replacement of fossil fuels, but the development of technologies to convert a diverse set of renewable feedstocks into fuels, chemicals, and materials.The goal of the work documented herein, was to expand the breadth …

Maximum Carbon Dioxide Capture, Sequestration And Maximum Carbon Dioxide Beneficial Reuse At The Optimal Cost Efficiency For The Power Generation Sector To Address Global Temperature Rise, Michael Dean Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

Global Climate Change is arguably one of the most important global crises of our times. Global Climate Change is the result of increasing global ambient temperatures around the world. These increased temperature changes have been impacting all aspects of human life and activity as wells as impacting all biological and physical systems of Earth. The primary cause of Global Climate Change are anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other Greenhouse Gases. Fossil fuel combustion is a primary source of these emissions. The initiation of anthropogenic Global Climate Change has been scientifically traced back to the Industrial Revolution. From the Industrial …

An Evaluation Of Ci Asteroid Regolith As A Plant Growth Medium For Space Crop Production, Steven Jon Russell

Theses and Dissertations

Asteroids are small, undifferentiated bodies that materialized during the formation epoch of the solar system. With a concerted effort to establish a long-term presence in space, crewed missions to asteroids should not be ignored. A critical aspect of human missions is self-sustainability, primarily growing crops via in-situ resource utilization. CI carbonaceous asteroids are a primitive type of asteroid that retain elements found during that early solar system formation. More importantly, the regolith on these asteroids contains soluble elemental nutrients, such as phosphorous and potassium, that crops can use for growth and development. This thesis focuses on the ability of CI …

Reducing Produced Water Disposal Via Effective Treatments Methods And Re-Use: Proposed Sustainable Application For Bakken, North Dakota, Olusegun Stanley Tomomewo

Theses and Dissertations

It is true that the advancements in both the hydraulic frack and directional drilling technologies led to less time and a bit easier ways to develop unconventional oil and gas assets worldwide. In the Bakken North Dakota, the result of these breakthroughs and advancements in technologies are that they drastically reduce the time it takes to drill and complete a well leading to more wells (347 in 2004 to 16,300 in 2020). In 2019, the United States became the largest global crude oil producer, and the unconventional Bakken Play in North Dakota is one of the major contributors to this …

Using Student-Generated Problems (Sgp) As An Instructional Strategy To Enhance Undergraduate Engineering Students’ Knowledge Application Ability And Problem-Solving Skills, Sameera Algarni

Theses and Dissertations

The Student-Generated Problems (SGP) instructional strategy represents an exclusive area of real-world practice used by some educators to give powerful support and responsibility to college students for their learning experience (Mestre, 2002; Zurcher, Coppola, & McNeil, 2016). Undergraduate Engineering students often have difficulty applying gained knowledge in real-world settings and are reportedly underprepared for workplace challenges (Luo et al., 2015; Negro et al. 2019). This study examined the effects of the SGP instructional strategy used in an undergraduate Electrical Engineering course to determine students’ abilities to apply conceptual knowledge and problem-solving skills in real problem lab activities. The need for …

System Modeling: An Exploratory Study Of Engineering Students’ Conceptual Knowledge And Problem-Solving Skills, Ademola Amida

Theses and Dissertations

System modeling (SM) instructional strategy, an application of system thinking (ST), canbe used as an instructional approach to help students develop SM skills and deepen their understanding of subject matter (Hung, 2009). Mechanical engineering students have difficulty applying gained knowledge in real-world contexts and are reportedly underprepared for workplace challenges (Kirkpatrick et al., 2011; Warsame, 2017). This study explored the efficacy of system modeling (SM) instructional strategy in a mechanical engineering course. Specifically, the study sought to understand students’ perceptions and experiences with the use of system modeling in enhancing their conceptual knowledge and problem-solving skills. This study employed a …

Monolayer Sorption Isotherm Model For Surface Tension Of Aqueous Surfactant Solutions Containing Electrolytes And Organic Mixtures, Kaiser Ahmed Bhuiyan

Theses and Dissertations

The surface tensions and compositions of aqueous aerosols dictate surface-mediated processes, especially the growth of aerosol particles into cloud nuclei and interfacial chemical reactions. Surface tension is also an indirect proxy for the partitioning of organics to the surface due to enhanced organic activity, driven by a reduction in solubility. Model predictions are generally not available for most surfactant-laden multi-component aqueous solutions, despite the importance of surface tension. Our recent multi-component surface tension model uses competitive adsorption at the interface, but these results are not consistent with salting out.1 We have now applied these techniques to surfactants in pure water …

Remote Sensing Of Piping Plover (Charadrius Melodus) And Least Tern (Sternula Antillatum) Habitat: An Automated Methodology, Kane Hammond

Theses and Dissertations

Lake Sakakawea, located in central North Dakota, is a 286-kilometer-long reservoir with over 2,462 kilometers of shoreline (Garrison Power Plant, 2011). This reservoir is maintained by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Each summer, the USACE employs a crew of approximately 12 individuals to monitor the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus, hereafter; plover) and Least Tern (Sternula antillarum, hereafter; tern) at this location. Given that these species frequently return to the same breeding areas, monitoring efforts are largely focused on those areas. However, this is a dynamic system and amount of available habitat can change in response to precipitation. …

The Effect Of Child Sexual Exploitation Material Offender Age, Motivation For Use, And Treatment Interest On Public Perceptions Of Offense And Treatment, Beth Catherine Kliethermes

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to better understand factors that may influence public perceptions related to child sexual exploitation material offenders. Specifically, the current study aimed to examine the impact of offender age, motivation for use, and treatment seeking on public perceptions of the offense of child sexual exploitation material possession, as well as treatment implications. Furthermore, public perceptions regarding mandatory reporting of viewing and possessing child sexual exploitation material were explored. The study utilized a vignette in the style of a criminal case describing a situation in which a man is charged with possession of child sexual …

Numerical Investigation Of Aerodynamic Effects On Ash Impaction And Outside Ash Deposition Rates During Second Generation Atmospheric Pressure Oxy-Coal Combustion, Monika Kuznia

Theses and Dissertations

Oxy-combustion is one of the most competitive technologies for retrofitting existing pulverized coal-fired power plants to facilitate carbon capture and sequestration processes to reduce fossil fuel-derived carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. However, one of the obstacles hindering the widespread commercialization of this technology is the need to recirculate large volumes of flue gas to the boiler. Second generation atmospheric pressure oxy-combustion technologies have been developed to reduce the volume of recirculated flue gas by using high oxygen concentrations in the inlet oxidizer streams. However, recent experiments have shown that an increased ash deposition propensity is associated with these oxygen-enriched …

Girls In Stem, Carrie Leopold

Theses and Dissertations

The recruitment and retention of women in STEM have historically been a struggle. Several causes, such as social factors, stereotypes, and classroom environments, all play a role (Blackburn, 2017). Recruitment efforts are often focused on middle school students. Nevertheless, research shows that children as young as kindergarten already have a preconceived notion about math (Ceci et al., 2014), such as it is too difficult or girls are not 'smart enough' to be successful. By the time some of these girls enter middle school, it can be challenging to change their mindset. Therefore, we need to focus not only on the …

Investigation Of Factors That Affect Site Selection For Geothermal Energy Extraction In North Dakota, Ogonna Obinwa

Theses and Dissertations

Geothermal energy is independent renewable energy extracted from deep and shallow subsurface to provide electricity and heat for many applications. At shallow depths of about 3000 feet (914 meters), temperatures as high as 70 degrees Celcius could be extracted and used for domestic and commercial heating systems. Deeper and hotter resources are usually available at depths greater than 10000 feet (3048 meters). The hotter the extracted fluid temperature, the better it is suited for electricity generation. New technologies such as binary cycle systems have made it possible to use moderately hot liquids for electricity generation. However, specific conditions must be …

Visible Light Communication Cyber Security Vulnerabilities For Indoor And Outdoor Vehicle-To-Vehicle Communication, Rana Shaaban

Theses and Dissertations

Light fidelity (Li-Fi), developed from the approach of Visible Light Communication (VLC), is a great replacement or complement to existing radio frequency-based (RF) networks. Li-Fi is expected to be deployed in various environments were, due to Wi-Fi congestion and health limitations, RF should not be used. Moreover, VLC can provide the future fifth generation (5G) wireless technology with higher data rates for device connectivity which will alleviate the traffic demand. 5G is playing a vital role in encouraging the modern applications. In 2023, the deployment of all the cellular networks will reach more than 5 billion users globally. As a …

Synthesis Of A Gemini Monomer And Cyclobutane-Containing Bifunctional Building Blocks For Novel Materials, Rahul Kumar Shahni

Theses and Dissertations

Gemini monomer, a new monomeric class that consists of two monomeric units connected by a covalent linker, can offer a highly dense polymeric framework. Moreover, their ability to form twice the number of covalent bonds than the conventional monomer can afford polymers with high thermal and mechanical strength. The desired Gemini monomer, ethylene 1,2-bis (2,4-pentadienoate) (EBP), was synthesized in two steps. First, an acid precursor 2,4-pentadienoic acid was synthesized by the condensation of malonic acid and acrolein. Second, ethylene glycol was used to connect two 2,4-pentadienoic acid units to obtain the monomer. Later, EBP was polymerized in ambient and solvent-free …

Traffic Mitigation And Congestion In Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria: Causes And Solutions, Adetoye Olusanmi Adeniyi

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on how technology has transformed road traffic congestion between road users by examining the relationship between government, businesses, and road users through the application of traffic management in many cities in four regions of the world. It analyzes the connections between political decisions of traffic management, how users are made knowledgeable and the new modes of transportation as they relate to the roles of public and private users. The dissertation examines current literatures of twenty two (23) different countries: North America (United States of America and Canada), Europe (Poland, United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden), Asia (Russia, …

The Transformation Of Teacher Education Using Three-Dimensional Science Instruction, Patricia Ann Arnold

Theses and Dissertations

The impact of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) on K-12 science education has gained significant momentum over the last several years. Evidence of the NGSS can be seen in revised state science content standards and amended teacher preparation standards. Due to this growing impetus, a holistic redesign of teacher preparation to systemically implement three-dimensional science teaching and learning needs to be prioritized. Based on this premise, this study investigated the change in pre-service teachers’ perceived self-efficacy in teaching science using three-dimensional instruction upon completion of an NGSS-designed intervention incorporated into an introductory science methods course. Designed as a “working …

Understanding Decision-Making Styles Of Part 135 Pilots In Remote Settings And Their Impact On Aviation Safety: A Qualitative Enquiry Of Alaskan Operational Environments, Dana Atkins

Theses and Dissertations

Aviation is a vital component of the State of Alaska’s transportation system. Air transportation is frequently the only means to move goods, services, and people across the state. Historically, air taxi and non-scheduled/charter air operators (14 C.F.R. Part 135) form the bulk of service providers in Alaska and have poor operational safety records through high rates of accidents. The problem is still prevalent despite numerous initiatives by the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce adverse safety events. Accident investigation reports have nominally attributed causal factors of these accidents to pilot error and at-risk behaviors such as violations. Extant research in aviation …

Exploration Of Deep Learning Models For Maximum Throughput To Hybrid Beamforming And Compressive Channel Estimation, Youness Arjoune

Theses and Dissertations

The overall objective of this dissertation is to improve the capacity of 5G and Beyond systems by improving spectral efficiency, efficiently managing interference, and addressing the radio spectrum’s poor management while enhancing cost, energy, and computation efficiencies. The first contribution of this dissertation consists of designing effective hybrid beamforming solutions using the theory of deep reinforcement learning. The results demonstrate that deep reinforcement learning achieves near-optimal spectral efficiency and provides autonomous decision-making that can learn from interacting with the wireless environment. This method enhances hybrid beamforming computational efficiency, hardware efficiency, and energy efficiency. These methods are also desirable in scenarios …

Methods For Evaluation Of The Alberta Hail Suppression Project Using Radar Observations, Sankha Subhra Maitra

Theses and Dissertations

The Alberta Hail Suppression Project is an operational weather modification program designed to reduce hailstone induced property damage that has been conducted in the area around Calgary and Red Deer since 1996. Evaluation of the project is done using the project’s C-band radar located at Olds and an Environment Canada operated C-band radar at Strathmore. An in-depth, manual review of radar data from the 2017 seeding operations has identified 21 seed cases and 15 non-seed cases. The effectiveness of seeding is determined using hail indicators of Maximum Vertically Integrated Liquid (MaxVIL) and storm area greater than or equal to 60 …

An Exploratory Factor Analysis Of The Collectivist Coping Styles Inventory Using An Adult American Indian Sample, Micah Louis Prairie Chicken

Theses and Dissertations

The present study examined the factors that emerged from the Collectivist Coping Styles (CCS) inventory using an exploratory factor analysis with an adult American Indian sample. The CCS inventory was originally developed using a sample of Taiwanese college students by an American-led research team and published in 2006. The CCS consists of 30 collectivist culture-specific coping items, among other indices (e.g., trauma resolution index). Coping has largely been theorized, and subsequently measured, from a White American individualist perspective. In response, a number of researchers with interests in non-White ways of being have begun broadening this area by examining coping from …

Mapping Of Debris Covered Ice Masses; Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica, Miranda Noel Shanks

Theses and Dissertations

Global climate change threatens glacial ice, which contains vital information on paleoclimate, paleo-atmosphere, and ancient organisms due to rising temperatures and CO2 levels (IPCC, 2014). Throughout the Transantarctic Mountain Range, a minimal number of buried ice masses have been previously discovered which have the potential to contain ice that exceed the ages of most glaciers on Earth. These ice masses are buried under < 1 meter of till, which thermally shields them and limits sublimation, thus preserving the ice. An example of such buried ice mass is found in Ong Valley, Antarctica where a sublimation till completely covers the ice and is dated at > 1.1 Ma years old, consequently making it one of the oldest known ice masses on Earth.In addition to two published locations, no systematic effort has been made to map such ice masses in Antarctica. This research is …

Evaluation Of The Performance Of A Rosemount Icing Detector During Impacts 2020, Greg Lee Sova

Theses and Dissertations

The Rosemount Icing Detector (RICE Probe) is a vibrating cylinder icing probe that measures the supercooled liquid water in the atmosphere that contributes to aircraft icing conditions. The frequency of the RICE Probe vibration decreases with increasing ice accretion. The RICE Probe was mounted on the fuselage of the NASA P-3 Orion aircraft for the IMPACTS 2020 field campaign. During the project, flight scientists had real-time frequency data for qualitative assessment of the presence of supercooled liquid water. For quantitative measurements of the liquid water, flight scientists used the King Liquid Water Sensor (King Probe) and the Cloud Droplet Probe …

Winter 2021, University Of North Dakota Alumni Association

ALL: UND Alumni Review Master List

Winter 2021 issue of "The University of North Dakota Alumni Magazine." 52 pages

Volume 104, Number 4