Digital Commons Network^™

Internet Of Things In Sustainable Energy Systems, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

Our planet has abundant renewable and conventional energy resources but technological capability and capacity gaps coupled with water-energy needs limit the benefits of these resources to citizens. Through IoT technology solutions and state-of-the-art IoT sensing and communications approaches, the sustainable energy-related research and innovation can bring a revolution in this area. Moreover, by the leveraging current infrastructure, including renewable energy technologies, microgrids, and power-to-gas (P2G) hydrogen systems, the Internet of Things in sustainable energy systems can address challenges in energy security to the community, with a minimal trade-off to environment and culture. In this chapter, the IoT in sustainable energy …

Internet Of Things For Sustainable Mining, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

The sustainable mining Internet of Things deals with the applications of IoT technology to the coupled needs of sustainable recovery of metals and a healthy environment for a thriving planet. In this chapter, the IoT architecture and technology is presented to support development of a digital mining platform emphasizing the exploration of rock–fluid–environment interactions to develop extraction methods with maximum economic benefit, while maintaining and preserving both water quantity and quality, soil, and, ultimately, human health. New perspectives are provided for IoT applications in developing new mineral resources, improved management of tailings, monitoring and mitigating contamination from mining. Moreover, tools …

Internet Of Things In Water Management And Treatment, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

The goal of the water security IoT chapter is to present a comprehensive and integrated IoT based approach to environmental quality and monitoring by generating new knowledge and innovative approaches that focus on sustainable resource management. Mainly, this chapter focuses on IoT applications in wastewater and stormwater, and the human and environmental consequences of water contaminants and their treatment. The IoT applications using sensors for sewer and stormwater monitoring across networked landscapes, water quality assessment, treatment, and sustainable management are introduced. The studies of rate limitations in biophysical and geochemical processes that support the ecosystem services related to water quality …

Internet Of Things For Sustainability: Perspectives In Privacy, Cybersecurity, And Future Trends, Abdul Salam

Computer Information Technology Faculty Publications

In the sustainability IoT, the cybersecurity risks to things, sensors, and monitoring systems are distinct from the conventional networking systems in many aspects. The interaction of sustainability IoT with the physical world phenomena (e.g., weather, climate, water, and oceans) is mostly not found in the modern information technology systems. Accordingly, actuation, the ability of these devices to make changes in real world based on sensing and monitoring, requires special consideration in terms of privacy and security. Moreover, the energy efficiency, safety, power, performance requirements of these device distinguish them from conventional computers systems. In this chapter, the cybersecurity approaches towards …

Cosmic: Us-Based Conversion Master's Degree In Computing, Gary S. Krenz, Thomas Kaczmarek

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

COSMIC is an NSF S-STEM graduate curriculum initiative/conversion program that strives to provide an accelerated pathway to a Master of Science (MS) degree for individuals who do not have an undergraduate degree in computing, but who wish to cross over into the computing field. The structure of our conversion program, the context that motivated it, and insights from conversion students' instructors are presented. Program successes with students from under-represented populations and the limitations that are also experienced are discussed. Our conversion program is based on a highly focused summer bridge course, combined with a customized curriculum pathway that enables people …

A New Flexible Bathtub-Shaped Modification Of The Weibull Model: Properties And Applications, Qinghu Liao, Zubair Ahmad, Eisa Mahmoudi, Gholamhossein Hamedani

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

Many studies have suggested the modifications and generalizations of the Weibull distribution to model the nonmonotone hazards. In this paper, we combine the logarithms of two cumulative hazard rate functions and propose a new modified form of the Weibull distribution. The newly proposed distribution may be called a new flexible extended Weibull distribution. Corresponding hazard rate function of the proposed distribution shows flexible (monotone and nonmonotone) shapes. Three different characterizations along with some mathematical properties are provided. We also consider the maximum likelihood estimation procedure to estimate the model parameters. For the illustrative purposes, two real applications from reliability engineering …

A New Generalized-Upper Record Values-G Family Of Lifetime Distributions, Omid Kharizmi, Ali Saadatinik, Gholamhossein Hamedani

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

A new family of lifetime distributions is introduced via distribution of the upper record values, the well-known concept in survival analysis and reliability engineering. Some important properties of the proposed model including quantile function, hazard function, order statistics are obtained in a general setting. A special case of this new family is proposed by considering the exponential and Weibull distribution as the parent distributions. In addition estimating unknown parameters of specialized distribution is examined from the perspective of the traditional statistics. A simulation study is presented to investigate the bias and mean square error of the maximum likelihood estimators. Moreover, …

Marshall-Olkin Power Lomax Distribution: Properties And Estimation Based On Complete And Censored Samples, Muhammad Ahsan Ul Haq, Gholamhossein Hamedani, M. Elgarhy, Pedro Luiz Ramos

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

We study a new distribution called the Marshall-Olkin Power Lomax distribution. A comprehensive account of its mathematical properties including explicit expressions for the ordinary moments, moment generating function, order statistics, Renyi entropy, and probability weighted moments are derived. The model parameters are estimated by the method of maximum likelihood. Monte Carlo simulation study is carried out to estimate the parameters and the performance of the estimates is judged via the average biases and mean squared error values. The usefulness of the proposed model is illustrated via real-life data set.

Cubic Rank Transmuted Modified Burr Iii Distribution: Development, Properties, Characterizations And Applications, Fiaz Ahmad Bhatti, Gholamhossein Hamedani, Seyed Morteza Najibi, Munir Ahmad

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

We propose a lifetime distribution with flexible hazard rate called cubic rank transmuted modified Burr III (CRTMBIII) distribution. We develop the proposed distribution on the basis of the cubic ranking transmutation map. The density function of CRTMBIII is symmetrical, right-skewed, left-skewed, exponential, arc, J and bimodal shaped. The flexible hazard rate of the proposed model can accommodate almost all types of shapes such as unimodal, bimodal, arc, increasing, decreasing, decreasing-increasing-decreasing, inverted bathtub and modified bathtub. To show the importance of proposed model, we present mathematical properties such as moments, incomplete moments, inequality measures, residual life function and stress strength reliability …

Odd Generalized N-H Generated Family Of Distributions With Application To Exponential Model, Zubair Ahmad, M. Elgarhy, Gholamhossein Hamedani, Nadeem Shafique Butt

Mathematical and Statistical Science Faculty Research and Publications

A new family of distributions called the odd generalized N-H is introduced and studied. Four new special models are presented. Some mathematical properties of the odd generalized N-H family are studied. Explicit expressions for the moments, probability weighted, quantile function, mean deviation, order statistics and Rényi entropy are investigated. Characterizations based on the truncated moments, hazard function and conditional expectations are presented for the generated family. Parameter estimates of the family are obtained based on maximum likelihood procedure. Two real data sets are employed to show the usefulness of the new family.

English Language Learner Teachers’ Perceptions Of Digital Games On Student Learning, Khalifa Alshaya

Theses and Dissertations

This body of work contains three articles that examine the intersectionality between English Language Learner (ELL) teachers and digital games. The purpose of the study is to qualitatively explore the perception of ELL teachers’ use of digital games as educational tools and whether they realize the potential to promote language learning for ELLs. This study aims to understand the lived experiences of ELL teachers to identify their viewpoint of language learning through gaming. The work focuses particularly on the teacher in an effort to contribute empirical work that supports the need for a more holistic approach to digital games in …

Removal Of Blocking Artifacts From Jpeg-Compressed Images Using Neural Network, Md Nurul Amin

Theses and Dissertations

The goal of this research was to develop a neural network that will produce considerable improvement in the quality of JPEG compressed images, irrespective of compression level present in the images. In order to develop a computationally efficient algorithm for reducing blocky and Gibbs oscillation artifacts from JPEG compressed images, we integrated artificial intelligence to remove blocky and Gibbs oscillation artifacts. In this approach, alpha blend filter [7] was used to post process JPEG compressed images to reduce noise and artifacts without losing image details. Here alpha blending was controlled by a limit factor that considers the amount of compression …

Nurse Leader Influence And Nurse-Sensitive Outcomes In Critical Access Hospitals, Jennifer Diane Eccles

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Rural residents of the United States are sicker, are at higher risk of death, and have shorter lifespans than those in metropolitan areas (Singh & Siahpush, 2014). Nurse leaders may have the opportunity to influence improved patient outcomes in rural areas. No exploration of nurse leader influence as it relates to nurse-sensitive outcomes in rural healthcare settings was found in the literature. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences among nurse leader influence and nurse-sensitive outcome scores in critical access hospitals, which are rural in nature, in North Dakota as compared to other states in the …

Motor Competency's Relationship To Interpersonal Coordination In Stationary Basketball Dribbling, Daniel Bell

Theses and Dissertations

A gold standard for student pairing strategies in a physical education setting has still yet to be discovered and is a widely debated topic in the field. Inclusion and equitable learning environments are areas of emphasis for practitioners while trying to find new ways to elicit these things to benefit students. Interpersonal coordination (IC), a social phenomenon on which this study focused, has direct applications for pairing strategies in physical education. In essence, IC is a state in which two individuals non-consciously mimic each other’s motor patterns. IC was measured between 182 student pairings performing stationary basketball dribbling. Participants included …

Self-Efficacy Of Nacep Accredited Concurrent-Enrollment Program Instructors In Rural Community Colleges, Cecil B. Holland

Theses and Dissertations

Across the United States, high schools and community colleges are collaborating to offer students non-traditional educational programs that allow them to gain college credit including those accredited by the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP). Those teaching these classes must have high self-efficacy and enjoy their work if they are going to make a positive impact on the students they are educating. The theoretical framework for this research is based on Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory. The methodology for this qualitative research study utilized an integrated approach. Data collection consisted of one-on-one interviews with instructors who teach NACEP courses, administrators who …

The Impact Of Cultural Values In Advertising On Saudi Consumers’ Loyalty, Abdullah Mohammed Bajaber

Theses and Dissertations

Advertising has been one of the most effective elements of marketing communication used to persuade audiences to behave in a certain way. Many studies have examined factors that affect ads positively. Increasing loyalty was classified as the primary goal of companies. Thus, advertisements were commonly used to achieve this goal. On the other hand, even though many studies discussed advertising elements that might generate negative impacts, the possible results of these ads were not sufficiently addressed. Through the theory of planned behavior, this study aimed to explore the role of the cultural value as an element impacting loyalty negatively by …

Geothermal Energy From Repurposed Oil And Gas Wells In Western North Dakota, Sidike Abudureyimu

Theses and Dissertations

Repurposing directional drilled Bakken oil wells to utilize ORC technology for electrical power generation is uneconomical for co-produced fluid in current active oil and gas fields in the Williston Basin. Geothermal power generation requires three crucial factors: heat source, sufficient and sustainable flow rate, and efficient binary technology. This feasibility study focuses on evaluating geothermal co-production fluid for current Sanish, Parshall, and Banks Bakken multi-wells pads. The wells lie within a 2.5-mile (4 km) radius within each field and extend to depths of 9,900 to 11,000 ft. (3 - 3.5 km). Within a 2.5-mile radius area, there are several multi-well …

Parental Practices And Home Environmental Influences On Children’S Physical Activity In A Controlled Lab Setting: An Observational Study, Tia Klein

Theses and Dissertations

There has been a rise of obesity in children, adolescents, and adults over the past decades. This rise in obesity has led to many health concerns such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, some cancers and depression. Physical activity [PA] has been shown to decrease these risks and aid in positive growth and development for children and adolescents. The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationship between parental and child PA in a controlled lab experiment. The secondary aim was to examine parental practices (physical and social home environment) and their influences on children’s PA in a controlled …

Improving Numerical Reproducibility Of Scientific Software In Parallel Systems, Sara Faraji Jalal Apostal

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, numerical reproducibility has received increased emphasis from the scientific community. Software results that are not reproducible make it difficult to examine the science the software supports. A common source of numerical reproducibility errors in computational science occurs during floating-point arithmetic. Finite precisions and limited storage for floating-point numbers require computers to truncate and round results of some math operations. As a consequence, an approximate value is stored instead of the exact result. One programming idiom that is not always reproducible is the global sum reduction of a distributed array. Changing the number of compute units changes the order array …

Pilot Perception Of Automation Use: A Generational Assessment, Ryan Leadens

Theses and Dissertations

As flight deck technology has become more advanced, the pilot–machine interaction has become a larger point of emphasis in pilot training programs. Increasing demand for air travel in future decades will create greater need for highly accurate and reliable navigation systems. These systems reduce a pilots’ exposure to “stick and rudder” skills while increasing the knowledge and situational awareness required to operate safely.

It is imperative that pilots are properly trained on these systems prior to conducting line operations. In order to create an efficient and effective training program, it is important to understand how pilots perceive their role on …

Parental Leave Policies: Implications For Higher Education Policy, Muneka Nwoko

Theses and Dissertations

A persistent disadvantage of individuals and couples navigating and negotiating parental leave policies is often embedded in biased assumptions. Oftentimes, as a result, individuals and couples inherently encounter vastly different parental leave experiences. However, recommendations from the literature and federal policy support the need for gender equity, family-focused initiatives, and workplace interventions related to individuals and couples navigating and negotiating parental leave processes. Yet because of a lack of policy standardization, policy protocols related to these recommendations have proved unsuccessful in addressing the complexities individuals and couples experience when navigating and negotiating parental leave processes. Thus, this study applies a …

A Preliminary Study Of Leo To Geo Transfers For Inclination Changes Using Libration Point Orbits, John Shepard

Theses and Dissertations

The required change in velocity for a satellite to change inclination has prompted studies of efficient orbital transfers. Modeling the motion of a spacecraft by including the gravitational forces associated with the Sun, Earth, and Moon has historically proven effective in obtaining new scientific knowledge. In modeling the motion of satellites, the circular restricted three body problem (CR3BP) demonstrates the interactions from two primary bodies and a satellite. The dynamics created about the equilibrium points within the CR3BP can be used to construct low-energy transfers. The invariant manifolds of the libration point orbits (LPO) can be used to create an …

Contribution Of Intestinal Dysfunction To Alzheimer’S Disease Progression, Mona Sohrabi Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Longer life expectancies, due to advanced medical care, social, and environmental conditions, helped increase the number and percentage of Americans aging to ≥85. The number of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) age 65 or older is projected to be 7.1 and 13.8 million by 2025 and 2050, respectively. The total annual health care expense for AD patients is estimated to increase from $290 billion in 2019 to more than $1.1 trillion in 2050 (Association, 2019). Conclusively, AD is expected to become a more common cause of death and a major public health predicament due to aging of the baby boom …

Effects Of Intrapartum Nitrous Oxide Use On Comfort And Satisfaction With The Birth Experience, Tami Such

Theses and Dissertations

Background/Purpose: Increased availability of intrapartum nitrous oxide in the United States given recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of associated delivery devices has provided women an alternative intrapartum pain management strategy currently underutilized in the United States despite long standing history of effectiveness in other countries (Richardson et al., 2017b). However, the effect of pain on the experience of birth and present emphasis on patient-centered care and shared decision-making, potential improvement of women’s satisfaction with the birth experience when nitrous oxide is used was an understudied concept in extant literature. Also, given the possibility of pain and comfort as …

Elementary And Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions Of Native American Students’ Academic Performances In North Dakota, Andrew Younkam Mangwa

Theses and Dissertations

Low academic performance among Native American students has been a problem for several decades. Some researchers like Bradbury et al. (2012) have studied issues related to education, but have not targeted elementary and secondary school students’ academic performances. More needs to be done, specifically on Native American students’ academic achievements, to understand the problem and provide data that could potentially ameliorate the situation. Data on state assessments from North Dakota’s Department of Public Instruction has shown low academic performances for students from kindergarten through 12th grades in school districts with high Native American student enrollments (Insights.nd.gov, 2018). This quantitative study …

How Athletic Trainers Use Goal Setting With Injured Athletes, Jenna Wing

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to identify if current Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) understand the importance of consistent use of sport psychology, specifically goal setting, in the athletic training room with injured athletes. Participants (n = 77) were current ATCs who have been certified by the Board of Certification (BOC), who had proper licensure in their designated districts, and were members of the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). A questionnaire was created to assess the frequency with which they used goal setting, how important and effective they feel goal setting is, and how prepared they feel to use …

Cellphones, Sexting And Crime: An Examination Of College Student Practices, Melissa Spelchen

Theses and Dissertations

This exploratory dissertation research involves assessing the prevalence of sexting (sending, receiving and/or forwarding of sexually explicit images with your smart phone) that is taking place among young adults on a Midwest college campus. Other key findings include: a profile of those who sext whether in a conformist or non-conformist manner, and those who do not sext, profiles of and the toll on self-reported victims of the behavior, sexting motivations, and the possible connection to prevalent smart phone ownership. In addition, North Dakota is one of a few states that has a law prohibiting some forms of sexting; therefore, this …

Narrative Transportation Effects In Relationship With Empathy, Compassion For Students, And Self-Compassion In Student Affairs Professionals, Miriam Margarita Wood Alameda

Theses and Dissertations

Prior studies found that audiences can become more empathic and form a positive view of a character as a result of Narrative Transportation (NT). Thus, the purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate the effects of NT on Student Affairs (SA) professionals. 78 SA professionals were randomly assigned to one of two narrative groups (text or video). The results of this study indicated that participants in the video group show greater transportation than those in the text group. Furthermore, SA professionals showed that being familiar with the student experience was more important than sharing an identity with the student …

Mapping Land Use And Land Cover Change And Its Impact On Landscape Structure And Amphibian Functional Connectivity In The Prairie Pothole Region, Taylor Holm

Theses and Dissertations

Monitoring land use and land cover (LULC) change and its effect on habitat availability and connectivity is crucial for species conservation and management. This is most efficiently accomplished at a sufficiently broad scale using remote sensing technology. Current approaches benefit from freely available data sources such as National Land Cover Database (NLCD), derived from 30 m Landsat imagery. However, temporal frequency and spatial resolution of NLCD may be insufficient for some applications. Specifically, 30 m resolution data may not detect small or narrow landscape features that may be important habitat for small animals such as amphibians. Other available data sources, …

The Relationship Between Saudi Citizen Perceptions Of Vision 2030 And Saudi Government Social Media Use To Promote Vision 2030, Essa Saleh Alkathiri

Theses and Dissertations

Public relations (PR) tools have enabled more communication between governments and citizens in the whole world. However, a single communication channel could be widespread among many governments. These PR tools help governments to share national goals, projects, and programs with their citizens. Grunig and Hunt (1984) highlighted that the value of two-way communication channels is better suited to develop an understanding between public organizations (i.e. governments) and citizens to establish both internal and external mutual public-organization or citizen-government understanding. However, the practical implementation of two-way communication channels for the government-citizen relationships and dialog remains is unclear. As a result, the …