Digital Commons Network^™

Low-Temperature Dual Balance Electrodynamic Trap (Lt-Dbet) For Single Microparticle Aerosol Studies, Victor Oyebamiji Ojo

Theses and Dissertations

Atmospheric aerosol processes regulate our climate through light scattering and cloud formation, which are governed by their physicochemical properties. Despite their climate impacts, important individual particle properties are difficult to measure at controlled temperatures relevant to the troposphere. This study presents the Low-Temperature Dual Balance Electrodynamic Trap (LT-DBET), a commercial DBET from MicroLev LLC, modified with a copper tubing network and a recirculating chiller to achieve temperature control as low as -5 ⁰C, which is suitable for heterogenous freezing using AgI. Aerosol microdroplet growth via water uptake is indirectly measured using a feedback loop, which continuously applies balancing voltages proportional …

Evaluation Of Hydrogen Storage Potential In Depelted Hydrocarbon Formations: A Case Study Of The Middle Bakken Member In The Antelope Field, Williston Basin, North Dakota, Grace Oluwakemisola Taiwo

Theses and Dissertations

Hydrogen, as a low-emission fuel and energy carrier, plays a crucial role in stabilizing renewable energy variability amid global decarbonization efforts. Subsurface storage, uniquely secure against threats such as severe weather, military conflicts, fires, and acts of terrorism, is critical for large-scale hydrogen applications and addressing the intermittency of renewable resources. North Dakota, represents a classic example of a state where reliance on fossil fuels drives significant greenhouse gas emissions. The state also hosts the Bakken Formation, an important hydrocarbon formation where depleted or nearly depleted wells exacerbate environmental challenges through potential fugitive emissions. This study therefore investigates the feasibility …

Training-Informed Air Traffic Control Workforce Scheduling, Eli Winett

Theses and Dissertations

The Radar Control Facility (RCF) at Eglin Air Force Base creates monthly workforce schedules. Adherence to regulations must be verified manually and no evaluation criteria exist to compare schedules. A mixed-integer program model for air traffic controllers allocates workers across 19 positions for a user-defined number of weeks of 24-hour operations. Across eight consecutive months, this model produced schedules to nearly eliminate all shifts with critical shortages from the reference schedules. Without civilian overtime work, gains in positional coverage require a 35% increase in overtime work for military workers and 35% reduction in monthly training instances. We recommend users adopt …

Extracting Permittivity And Permeability Using The Position-Insensitive And Calibration-Independent Method On A Rectangular Waveguide, James Conrad Denemark

Theses and Dissertations

Classic methods for extracting material characteristics require known measurements to accurately calibrate the network analyzer. Previous work demonstrated a position-insensitive and calibration-independent (PiCi) transmission/reflection method to extract a material’s permittivity. This thesis proposes a method with the same function, manipulated to use one empty measurement and then two samples of different thicknesses. The PiCi method is first adopted for rectangular waveguide which resulted in inaccurate permittivity data when compared to the calibrated solution. Once detector mismatch corrections were applied, the PiCi method produced accurate results. Using a 2-D numerical root search, permittivity and permeability material characteristics are now successfully extracted …

The Impacts Of Using Geogebra On Students’ Perceptions And Achievement In Learning Trigonometric Ratios, Robert Carlos Trejo

Theses and Dissertations

GeoGebra, a dynamic mathematics software, was used to study high school students’ perceptions and achievements in learning trigonometric ratios. The study addresses a critical gap in the literature concerning the use of GeoGebra for understanding trigonometric concepts, particularly in fostering conceptual clarity and problem-solving skills. Rooted in a constructivist pedagogical framework, the research examines how GeoGebra facilitates interactive and exploratory learning environments that encourage active student engagement and deeper comprehension of trigonometric ratio principles.

The study employed a quantitative approach to evaluate the efficacy of GeoGebra. Quantitative data focused on student achievement in solving trigonometric ratio problems through pre- and …

How Many Tiny Snails? Circumscription Of Three Species Of Pyrgulopsis (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Hydrobiidae)In Nevada Mountain Springs, Trenton Meadows

Theses and Dissertations

The springsnail genus Pyrgulopsis is one of the most diverse groups of freshwater gastropods in North America (Hershler, 2014), with many species displaying high levels of endemism (Hurt, 2003). This study attempts to circumscribe three putative species of springsnails: Pyrgulopsis serrata, Pyrgulopsis marcida, and a newly identified clade, referred to as Lineage C, from the Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, USA and nearby springs. Using an integrative taxonomic approach, we combined morphological, anatomical, and molecular data to examine species boundaries and evolutionary relationships.

Many lines of evidence were considered to determine species boundaries. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial …

Density Functional Theory And Machine Learning Analysis Of C—C Reductive Coupling From Terminal Cyanido And Cyaphido Complexes, Roberto Magdiel Escobar

Theses and Dissertations

Carbon–carbon (C–C) bond activation has gained increased attention as a direct method for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and industrial chemistry. Due to the thermodynamic stability and kinetic inaccessibility of the C–C bonds, however, activation of C–C bonds by homogeneous transition-metal catalysts under mild homogeneous conditions is still a challenge. Most of the systems in which the activation occurs either have aromatization or relief of ring strain as the primary driving force. The activation of unstrained C–C bonds of phosphaalkynes does not have this advantage. This study employs Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations using the Gaussian16 package to elucidate and compare …

Feasibility Study On Microwave Glucose Level Monitoring, Ricardo Cepeda

Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes management heavily relies on regular blood glucose monitoring, which traditionally involves invasive techniques. In recent years, significant research has been directed towards developing non-invasive glucose monitoring methods, particularly using electromagnetic waves. This study explores the feasibility of detecting blood glucose levels non-invasively by measuring the resonant frequency shifts of an antenna, influenced by the dielectric properties of blood. Microwave measurement techniques have garnered attention due to their ability to safely penetrate human tissue and detect biochemical markers like glucose. While previous studies have established a link between glucose concentration and dielectric properties, many techniques suffer from poor sensitivity or …

The Positivity Principle: Investigating A School Administrator Training Series Designed To Promote Systemic Positivity, Catherine Gillach

Theses and Dissertations

Education has historically been recognized as a stressful profession, yet the Covid-19 pandemic (2020) paired with intensified socio-political influences have exacerbated educator stress, anxiety, and negativity, prematurely pushing more career educators to leave the profession. Teacher and principal pre-service preparation programs largely neglect to train educators in strategies for personally managing negative stressors, and negativity mitigation strategies are often overlooked as a critical facet of school climate and culture. Therefore, the purpose of this dissertation in practice was to examine the degree to which a school administrator training series could stimulate personal and systemic positivity within participants’ schools in a …

Rational Design Of Engineered Soft Materials For Mineral Scale Control: Synthesis, Characterization, And Performance Evaluation, Nadhem Ismail

Theses and Dissertations

Inorganic crystallization, referred to as mineral scaling, have been posing tremendous operational challenges to water-based industries over the years. Multiple recent initiatives have focused on developing sustainable and highly effective antiscalants/scale inhibitors; however, most of the investigated antiscalants have demonstrated low scaling ion tolerance and unknown scale inhibitor-mineral crystal interaction. Engineered soft materials, particularly Quantum Dots (QDs) and biopolymer-based formulations, are among the most desirable solutions since they both solve critical environmental issues and offer insights into the inhibition mechanism. This dissertation reports on the development and performance evaluation of three distinct soft materials-based formulations; Carboxyl-Silicon Quantum Dots (CSiQDs), Carboxymethylcellulose …

Directivity Improvement Of A Broad-Beam Patch Antenna By Means Of A Flat Metamaterial Lens, Tyler Midas

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis demonstrates the development of a flat metamaterial lens intended to enhance antenna directivity in RF applications. Development and evaluation was performed with ANSYS HFSS, where a theoretical convex lens model was developed and used as a basis for unit cell refractive indices of the metamaterial lens. The unit cell demonstrated in this study leverages the properties of a nested split-ring resonator merged with a center column. Adjusting the rings allow for refractive index optimization and effective beam focusing. The work presented also provides a 2x2 antenna array with a feed network, which enables the future work of bench …

Petrophysical And Geomechanical Alterations During Supercritical Co2 Submerge: Laboratory Testing On Samples From The Middle Bakken, Ruichong Ni

Theses and Dissertations

The promising strategy of CO2 capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) aims to reduce CO2 emissions and tackle the pressing problem of global warming. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of changes in petrophysical and geomechanical characteristics in assessing target formations' capacity to sequester CO2. Permeability is one of these characteristics that is essential to the movement of CO2 inside rock formations and has a direct effect on how well CO2 is sequestered. Existing methods calculate permeability by using effective stress, but they have made unpractical assumptions that the effective stress coefficient could be stable or gradually increase after CO2 exposure. …

Experimental Investigation Of Freezing Microdroplets For Understanding Chain Crystal Aggregates Observed In Atmospheric Clouds, Imteaz Osmani

Theses and Dissertations

Ice crystal aggregates are observed in upper stratospheric clouds. The crystal aggregates can form in different orientations, geometry, and shapes which are not well studied. These crystal aggregations are found in the clouds as crystal chains of various lengths and cause damage to hypersonic vehicles which include missiles, re-entry vehicles, and jet aircraft. The reasons behind such damage by atmospheric crystal chains to hypersonic bodies are unknown. That is why studying these ice crystals and their behavior in the hypersonic environment is necessary. Ice crystals form in the atmosphere in two different ways which are homogenous and heterogenous. Heterogenous freezing …

Behavioral Health Workforce Modeling To Assist In Prioritizing Educational Pathways Programs In North Dakota, Mandi-Leigh Peterson

Theses and Dissertations

Background. The need for behavioral health services in North Dakota has grown in recent years. As part of the response to the need for services, a state definition of behavioral health workforce was enacted in state statute to assist in addressing this need. Thus far, no empirical evaluations of the status of that workforce have been conducted.Purpose. The primary purpose of this work was to quantify the supply and demand for the behavioral health workforce in North Dakota to assist in identifying and prioritizing those educational pathways that can assist in growing the identified needed workforce. Sample. This study examined …

An Investigation Into The Corrosivity Of Hydrocarbon Well Produced Water, Lucas James Jerylo

Theses and Dissertations

Produced water has been the largest byproduct of oil and gas production since the inception of the industry. Historically, very little concern was exhibited over what was done with this water. In recent decades, environmental concern has increased oversight on what happens to this produced water. Produced water is injected into deep formations, but this volume is limited due to concerns over seismic activity spawned from this practice. Produced water can be recycled in agricultural and municipal industries but it must first undergo a time-consuming and expensive cleaning process. This has turned oil and gas operators to utilizing this water …

The Fcc 5-Year Deorbit Rule’S Impact On The Space Industry Including Non-Traditional Scientific And Environmental Stakeholders, Kristin Shahady

Theses and Dissertations

In pursuit of a safer and more sustainable space environment, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) introduced the 5-year deorbit rule, a regulatory mandate aimed at mitigating space debris by requiring satellite operators to remove their spacecraft from LEO within 5 years after their mission is complete. While the intent behind this rule is admirable in the desire to remediate and limit the generation of orbital debris, it raises questions whether it was crafted with consideration of all stakeholders, whether it will truly mitigate the creation of orbital debris, and whether it exhibits characteristics of arbitrariness and capriciousness. Agencies’ actions be …

Targeting World Language Learning In The Target Language: A Qualitative Inquiry Of The K–12 Foreign Language Teacher Experience, Igor Ljevaja

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the current practices of K–12 foreign language teachers (FLTs) in using the target language (TL) within an urban school district in the Midwest United States. Focusing on how FLTs engage in professional development (PD) to optimize their TL use in the classroom, the study investigates the strategies and knowledge FLTs employ to foster TL proficiency among students. Purposeful sampling was employed to recruit participants (n = 5) who represented full-time FLTs, taught between sixth and 12th grade, and had at least four years of teaching experience and valid state licenses. Semi-structured interviews with current FLTs provide …

Barriers To Faculty Adoption Of Assessment: A Case Study In Engineering, Melodie A. R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations

This case study at an undergraduate teaching-focused engineering program in a small faith-based liberal arts university is designed to evaluate tools for assessing the engineering accreditor ABET’s Student Outcome Five – teamwork skills of engineering students. This evaluation would set the foundation for developing an assessment program that meets the needs of faculty, administrators, and accreditors. Activity theory is used as the theoretical framework for the study. A literature review lays the foundation for a novel conceptual framework asserting “faculty resistance” is actually “systemic friction.” The methodology is described, including data collection procedures, data analysis methods, and the approaches to …

Nanoparticles: Applications For Energy Innovation, Wen Sun

Theses and Dissertations

The work described in this dissertation will have three primary goals that are all essential for improving the energy demand using nanotechnology. The first goal is to comprehensively understand the application of SiO2-based nanoparticles (SiO2-based-NPs) in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and the challenges associated with their use. The second goal is to investigate the application of ruthenium-based nanoparticles using reduced graphene oxide as the matrix (Runano-based/rGO) for the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia under ambient conditions. The third goal is to develop binder-free 3D nanomaterials and assess their electrochemical properties for supercapacitor applications. To fulfill this goal, two different nanomaterials have …

Kinetics And Mechanism Of Multiscale Formation And Inhibition In A Mixture Of Calcium Carbonate And Calcium Sulphate Salts, Glavic Tikeri

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the ongoing research, there remains a significant gap in the understanding of the formation dynamics of mineral scale, particularly calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate. This study primarily aims to elucidate the behaviors of these scales' interactions and deposition. The experimental work was conducted mostly using an in-house-made continuous stirred tank reactor laser setup. By continuously monitoring changes in laser intensity within supersaturated solutions of calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate, their formation kinetics was captured, and variations in induction time under varying physicochemical conditions of temperature and pH was quantified. The laser setup was also used to assess the effectiveness …

Evaluating Uas As A Tool For Improving Elk Population Counts In A Suburban Forested Area Of North Central Colorado, Michael Wussow

Theses and Dissertations

For decades, wildlife researchers have taken advantage of an aerial perspective for performing population counts because of challenges associated with ground observations. Due to advances in aviation technology and regulations, unoccupied aerial systems (UAS) have become increasingly available for wildlife population monitoring in addition to manned aircraft, with success largely dependent on the species, their habitat, and UAS utilized. This study compares a currently accepted method of counting North American elk (ground/spotting scope counts) to a novel method (UAS) to evaluate if a commercial-off-the-shelf quadcopter (COTS) UAS equipped with zoom-capable RGB cameras would be an acceptable tool for counting elk …

Elementary Teacher Instructional Self-Efficacy In Leader In Me Lighthouse Schools, Lara Storm

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a secondary data comparative analysis using the Leader in Me Measurable Results Assessment (MRA) to examine whether teachers at Leader in Me Lighthouse certified schools have a greater degree of instructional self-efficacy than teachers at non-Lighthouse certified Leader in Me schools. Literature shows that students in classes with teachers that have a higher degree of instructional self-efficacy experience higher student achievement and a more supportive classroom climate. In addition, those teachers with higher efficacy experience lower levels of stress and burnout and are more engaged in professional development. The guiding notion of this investigation is that implementing …

Researching Chlorophyll-Α Levels In Freshwater Lakes To Understand The Environmental State Of The Turtle Mountains Using Ndci Through Remote Sensing Techniques, Elliot Quinn Peltier

Theses and Dissertations

Chlorophyll α is one of the main indicators of water quality. Increasing levels have various triggers such as agricultural runoff, wastewater from treatment plants, sewage, and humus. Addressing chlorophyll α is crucial since high concentrations are precursors to eutrophication and are hazardous to human health. The Turtle Mountains in North Dakota and Manitoba is an island forest laden with lakes and trees. However, the noticeable extent of agricultural surface on the United States side of the border has made obvious the disintegration of forested area. Also, a lack of information and studies do not allow anyone to comprehend the level …

Using Problematic Sexual Behaviors And The Developmental Life Course Model To Predict Criminal Justice Involvement And Psychopathology By Early Adulthood, Amanda Schwartz

Theses and Dissertations

The developmental life course (DLC) model explains risk factors and developmental patterns among juveniles who have committed more than one sexual offense by considering the impact of major life events, experiences, and risk and protective factors throughout various developmental stages. Using an archival longitudinal dataset, the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), this study applied the DLC model to explore the relationship between gender and onset and persistence of problematic sexual behaviors (PSBs) in childhood and adolescence with criminal justice involvement and psychopathology by early adulthood (N = 330, 46% male, M = 18.26 years) after controlling for …

Investigating The Impact Of Urban Areas On Quasi-Linear Convective Systems, Claiborne Wooton

Theses and Dissertations

Urban areas absorb and radiate energy at a higher rate compared to surrounding rural areas due to several factors, including an urban area’s tendency to have sparse vegetation and tree canopies along with high incidences of pavement. Urban areas have been shown to impact both the environment in which thunderstorms form (by altering thermodynamic, microphysical, and wind flow patterns) and the thunderstorms themselves; however, most of this previous work focused on isolated thunderstorms amid weak environmental vertical wind shear. This thesis analyzes how the structure of observed quasi-linear convective systems (QLCSs)—i.e., lines of thunderstorms—are altered as they pass over urban …

Hydraulic Fracturing And Reservoir Simulation Modeling Of Enhanced Geothermal System Optimization For Economical Energy Production, Jerjes W Porlles Hurtado

Theses and Dissertations

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) have the potential for sustainable energy production but require large upfront expenditures and strategic development to be profitable. To reduce costs and increase energy output, this work integrates hydraulic fracturing (HF) modeling with reservoir simulation optimization to improve EGS design and operating efficiency. EGS uses hot, dry rock geothermal resources, mostly crystalline and sedimentary rocks with poor permeability. Shear stimulation is preferred over hydraulic fracturing in EGS reservoirs, but a comprehensive HF strategy is still lacking. This study fills this gap by evaluating hydraulic fracturing and proppant use for optimal EGS development. Hydraulic fracturing in EGS …

Exploring Green Photochemical Reactions Of Bio-Based Heterocyclic Compounds: 4-Hydroxy-2(5h) Furanone And 2-Pyridone, Solmaz Asadi

Theses and Dissertations

The present work examines the photoreactivity of 4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone and 2-pyridone un-der varying conditions, with the aim of investigating how solvent and wavelength can influence their photochemical reactivity. In the first chapter, the photoreactivity of 4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone in its crystalline state was observed to undergo a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction when exposed to UV-C light and led to a new cyclobutane containing dimer (CB-SA-1). More impressively, CB-SA-1 was determined to be stable at room temperature for two years. This method was solvent-free and catalyst-free offering an environmentally friendly method for synthesizing furanone deriva-tives. Further, in order to study the photoreactivity of 4-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone in …

Division I Female Business Student-Athletes And Career Readiness During Their Academic Careers At A 4-Year Institution, Brianna Black

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project is to explore female student-athletes within a business major and the transition from student-athlete into a professional career in a nonplaying sport capacity. This qualitative study examines eight female student-athletes who have selected a business major and their experiences with career readiness. Literature shows that student-athletes are behind in aspects of career readiness due to their focus on academic coursework and aspects of athletics with potential hopes of still becoming professional athletes. In addition, female student-athletes specifically business students are behind their counterparts due to the competitive nature of being a business student let alone …

An Indigenous Approach To Professional Development Program Evaluation For Pk–12 Educators, Erica Marie Denault

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, I address the critical need for Indigenous approaches to program evaluation with an emphasis on cultural professional development (PD) programming.

I choose an Indigenous approach to program evaluation via the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) Indigenous Evaluation (IE) Framework that I modified to include educational and academic terminology to develop a cultural evaluation tool: the Cultural Competency Checklist. The Cultural Competency Checklist was embedded within cultural PD program design to illustrate a cultural learning process to produce IE. The Cultural Competency Checklist, utilized as a cultural evaluation tool shifts and reframes the westernized program evaluation process …

Investigating The Relationship Between Teachers’ State Evaluation Rating And Their Classroom-Based Assessment Practices And Systems, Christopher Jones

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative research study investigates the relationship between teachers’ evaluation rating and their classroom-based assessment practices using a survey approach. Four middle schools consisting of 39 (grades six through eight) teachers in the Southwestern U.S. participated in the study. Research has shown that when teachers regularly use a system of evidence-based classroom assessment practices, student achievement increases. The problem addressed within this investigation is that students nationwide are performing at lower proficiency rates in math and English Language Arts than previously seen. Results from this study indicate that even teachers rated “highly effective” on evaluations are not employing evidence-based assessment …