Digital Commons Network^™

Optimization Of Great Plains Coal Gasification Using Aspen/Sp, Bradley C. Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations

The Dakota Gasification Company in Beulah, North Dakota operates the only commercial coal-to-synthetic natural gas (SNG) plant in the United States, and continued research on the plant's operations is of prime importance. An ASPEN/SP model of a Lurgi coal gasifier that will predict the impact of variable input parameters, such as coal composition and reactant feed flows, on production rates and efficiency is the first step in constructing a model of the entire plant to control its operation and optimize the economic performance of producing SNG.

A model, called RGAS, was developed with the combined effort of several researchers (Benjamin, …

A New Goodness-Of-Fit Test For The Weibull Distribution Based On Spacings, Mark C. Coppa

Theses and Dissertations

The critical values for a new goodness-of-fit test based on spacings are generated for the Weibull distribution when the shape parameter is known. The critical values are used for testing whether a set of observations follow a Weibull distribution when the scale and location parameters are unknown. A Monte Carlo simulation with 10,000 iterations is used to generate the critical values for sample sizes 5(5)35 at shape parameters k equal to 0.5(0.5)1.5 and for sample sizes 5(5)20 at shape parameters k = 2.0(1.0)4.0. A Monte Carlo power study of the Z* test statistic using 5000 iterations is accomplished using nine …

Spartan Ii: An Instructional High Resolution Land Combat Model, Edwin H. Harris Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This project improved SPARTAN, a high resolution land combat model demonstrator. SPARTAN was originally developed as a hands-on trainer for land combat modeling students because there were no models specifically designed to teach the analysts how the models function. SPARTAN is built to demonstrate the techniques used in the current generation of US Army high resolution models. Like the original, the model is primarily a small scale attrition (both direct and indirect fire) model. The model represents 12 soldiers involved in the following processes: target search, target selection, direct fire engagement, indirect fire engagement, movement, reaction to fire, obstacle breaching, …

Modified Anderson-Darling And Cramer-Von Mises Goodness-Of-Fit Tests For The Normal Distribution, David A. Gwinn Sr.

Theses and Dissertations

New techniques for calculating goodness-of-fit statistics for normal distributions with parameters estimated from the sample are investigated. Samples are generated for a Normal(0,1) distribution. Critical values are calculated for five modifications to the Anderson-Darling statistic and five modifications to the Cramer-Von Mises statistic. An extensive power study is done to test the power of the new statistics versus the power of the unmodified statistics. Powers of six of the new statistics show minimal to no improvement, two of the new statistics show a marked decrease in power, and two of the new statistics show an overall increase in power over …

Design And Performance Evaluation Of A Gas Chromatograph Micromachined In A Single Crystal Silicon Substrate, Rocky R. Reston

Theses and Dissertations

This investigation designed and developed a miniature gas chromatograph (GC) using silicon micromachining techniques. The GC is composed of a miniature sample injector (10 µl sample loop); a 0.9 m long, rectangular-shaped (300 µm width and 10 micrometers height) capillary column coated with a 0.2 µm thick copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) stationary phase; and a dual-detector scheme incorporating a CuPc-coated chemiresistor and a 125 µm diameter thermal conductivity detector bead. Micromachining was employed to fabricate the sample injector interface, the GC column, and the dual-detector cavity. A novel processing technique was developed to sublime the CuPc stationary phase coating on the …

The Effects Of Age And Sense Of Coherence On Bereavement Outcome., Michelle Marie Micsko

Theses and Dissertations

An important component of hospice programs is providing ongoing support to bereaved individuals. Bereaved, who receive organized support following the death of a loved one, have better bereavement outcomes than individuals who do not receive organized support. Many risk factors relating to characteristics of individuals might place them at risk for experiencing a pathological bereavement reaction following the death of their spouse such as the nature of the relationship they had with the deceased, nature of the death of the deceased, behaviors and attitudes appearing early in the grieving process, and specific characteristics of the bereaved individuals. Hence, in identifying …

Optimal Control And Estimation For Discrete-Time Periodic And Multirate Systems, Vikram Kapila

Theses and Dissertations

For linear time-invariant systems it has been shown that the solutions to the optimal reduced-order modeling, estimation, and control problems can be characterized using optimal projection equations, sets of Riccati and Lyapunov equations coupled by terms containing a projection matrix. These equations provide a strong theoretical connection between standard full-order results such as linear-quadratic Gaussian theory and have also proved useful in the comparison of suboptimal reduction methods with optimal reduced-order methods. In addition, the optimal projection equations have been used as the basis for novel homotopy algorithms for reduced-order design. This thesis considers linear periodic plants and develops necessary …

A Comparative Study Of Selected Women's Studies Programs In The Upper Mid-West., Sandra Jo Parsons

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study is to gain a more complex understanding of women's studies programs in the selected sample in terms of: the activities of the Director; selected departmental and program information; instructor information; program evaluation methods; and the major strengths and concerns as perceived by each of the responding programs.In addition to the review of the related literature, two methods were used in the compilation and analysis of the data used in this study--collecting information from the selected universities and colleges with a questionnaire designed by the researcher; plus statistical analysis of the data to allow the …

Pus, Pox, Propaganda And Progress: The Compulsory Smallpox Vaccination Controversy In Utah, 1899-1901, Eric L. Bluth

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the compulsory smallpox vaccination controversy in Utah, 1899-1901. It looks at the two smallpox epidemics during 1899-1901 and follows the boards of health attempts to eradicate smallpox primarily by compelling the vaccination of school children.

Dr. Theodore B. Beatty, secretary of the State Board of Health, championed the effort to vaccinate all Utahns; however, the opposition led by Charles W. Penrose, editor of the Deseret Evening News, produced anti-compulsion and vaccination information which influenced Utahns to generally oppose vaccination. Consequently, the legislature passed an anti-compulsory vaccination statute over the governor's veto to annul the courts decision …

A Survey Of Members Of The Society For Psychophysiological Research Regarding The Polygraph : Opinions And Implications, Susan L. Amato-Henderson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Childless Couples On The American Stage, Kathleen Coudle King

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Hemodynamic Changes During Anesthesia Induction With Etomidate Versus Propofol, Lynn M. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Distribution And Occurrence Of Eriogonum Visheri A. Nels. On The Medora And Mckenzie Districts, Little Missouri National Grasslands, In North Dakota, Staria S. Vanderpool

Theses and Dissertations

Eriogonum visheri A. Nels. (Polygonaceae) is a plant species whose distribution in North Dakota is incompletely known. The plant species is listed by North Dakota Heritage Program personnel as a G5/S2S3 [G5 = demonstrably secure globally, although it may be rare; S2 = imperiled in the state (6-20 occurrences) or vulnerable to extirpation; S3 = rare in the state (20+ occurrences)]. The species is Federally listed as C2 [current information indicates that listing as endangered or threatened may be warranted, but information about the species is presently inadequate to support immediate ruling] (Northern region, USDA Forest Service, 1991). The limited …

Effects Of Veratridine And Tetrodotoxin On Acetylcholine Receptor Expression In Cultured Mouse Muscle Cells, Abul Kalam Hasan

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Demography And Use Of Space By A Small Mammal Community In Itasca State Park, Minnesota, Neal T. Butt

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Pain Perception And Tolerance Levels As A Function Of Adherence To Traditional Sex-Role Stereotypes And Locus Of Control, Gayle M. Robbins

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder In Preschool Children, Susan M. Offutt

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Spider-Mite Populations Subjected To Multiple Founder-Flush Cycles (Acari: Tetranychidae), Ivan T. Savov

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of A Second Simian Virus 40 Enhancer Element, Gregory S. Hyland

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between Reading Comprehension And Vocabulary And Success In A Baccalaureate Nursing Program, Margaret Lees

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Family Hardiness And Health-Promotive Behaviors In A Rural Wic Population, Kaye M. Stennes

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Couvade Syndrome : An Investigation Of Stress And The Extent Of Symptoms In Expectant Fathers, Suzanne H. Villaggio

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

American Magazine Reporting On The Swedish Welfare State : From The Depression Through The Cold War, Joel C. Wright

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Prevalence Of Alcohol Use Among Assault Offenders And The Impact On Selected Situational Factors : A North Dakota Case Study, David C. Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Immunomodulatory Effects Of Transforming Growth Factor-Β On T Lymphocytes, Thomas Harris Inge

Theses and Dissertations

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ) is a peptide cytokine implicated in control of growth, adhesion, and differentiation of cells in numerous tissues. TGFβ has potent inhibitory effects on many lymphocyte responses; we also found that TGFβ could inhibit in vitro generation of tumor-specific CTL. Suppression was largely reversed with exogenous IL-2. Proliferation of memory-stage CTL clones was also inhibited by TGFβ, while the upregulation of cytotoxicity was not inhibited by TGFβ. These studies suggested that TGFβ limited anti-tumor CTL responses via both an indirect effect on IL-2 production, and by a direct effect on proliferation of memory CTL.

In CTLL-2 cells, …

The Mechanistic Basis And Adaptive Significance Of Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination In The Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydra Serpentina, Turk Rhen

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Nonenzymatic Glycation Of Cytoskeletal Proteins In Diabetes Mellitus., Michael Ray Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Prolonged hyperglycemia, as seen in diabetes, results in nonenzymatic glycation of proteins and DNA. Previous investigation by others has shown that many intracellular proteins are glycated, both, in vivo and in vitro. Nonetheless, only a few proteins have been analyzed for the effect of glycation on their function.Glucose and galactose were found to modify a large number of the lysyl residues in selected cytoskeletal proteins. These results led to the study of myosin and S-1 (subfragment-1 of myosin), first with FITC (fluorescein isothiocyanate; isomer #1) and later with comparatively less reactive sugars (sorbitol, glucose, fructose, and ribose).FITC caused a decrease …

Treatability Testing Of A Coal-Processing Wastewater Using An Anaerobic, Granular Activated Carbon Treatment System, Rose H. Fraley

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Sibling Preparation Classes On Parent's Perceptions Of Sibling Behaviors In Preschool Children, Patricia A. Becker

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Humoral Creatine Kinase, Calcium And Their Discriminant Analysis In Conjunction With Published Blood Parameters In Detecting Myofibrogranuloma (Mfg) In Walleye, Craig A. Shoemaker

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.