Sustainability Commons^™

State Of Utah Et Al. V Walsh Et Al., Ethan Halman Gonzalez

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

To expand upon that, the State of Utah et al. wants to show the Department of Labor’s “Prudence and Loyalty in Selecting Plan Investments and Exercising Shareholder Rights” Rule proposed in December 2022, is arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The suit argues that the Department of Labor (DOL) oversteps the APA—as under the APA, the Court “shall… hold unlawful and set aside agency action, findings, and conclusions” that are “in excess of statutory jurisdiction, authority, or limitations,” or “arbitrary capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not …

Analyzing Sea Level Rise Adaptation And Mitigation Strategies In Louisiana And The Netherlands, Jonah Mcdowell

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

Sea level rise is an increasingly dangerous threat. As a byproduct of climate change, this is an issue that has the potential to impact countless people, animals, and ecosystems across the globe. As sea level rise continues to worsen, it is imperative that coastal communities develop their own strategies and plans to combat this problem. This study focuses on two areas, the state of Louisiana and the country of the Netherlands, and studies how they have responded to this problem. These locations were chosen because sea level rise is proportionally more severe at these two locations compared to other areas …

Regenerative Agriculture: A Pathway For Addressing Nebraska’S Water Quality And Soil Degradation Challenges, Kjersten Hyberger

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

It is important to begin this thesis by acknowledging that the State of Nebraska is on stolen Native land. Furthermore, the University of Nebraska is a land-grant university that was ultimately given 89,920 acres of Native lands for the paltry sum of $11,194. To date, the University of Nebraska has benefited from a 51:1 profit ratio on the funds raised from its 1873 land grant, raising over $500,000 in endowment principle. I humbly acknowledge that the privilege of earning my degree at UNL came through the often violent and bloody displacement of multiple tribal nations (High Country News, 2020).

Place-Based Pedagogies In Post-Secondary Science Education: A Scoping Literature Review, Megan Swain

Department of Environmental Studies: Undergraduate Student Theses

How do we connect students to a class and how do educational professionals create those connections? What makes an educational experience memorable? How do we cultivate students who are passionate and engaged? These are all important questions in educational fields and ones that have increasing importance in a world of growing virtual education. This thesis aims to look deeper into one method, place-based education that attempts to answer some of these questions.

Place-based education (PBE) is a pedagogy that utilizes the local physical environment and community as an educational tool. Educators focus lessons on places, people, and things surrounding their …

The Solidarity Manifesto: A New Network For Future Change, Sofia Calicchio

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Colonialism is a scheme of standpoint; colonizer versus colonized, West versus East, good versus bad. When put in the foreground, the value of what we see heavily relies on our perspective and knowledge. When learning to dissect, deconstruct, and decolonize spaces, we need to start utilizing decolonial thought as an historical tool rather than a true depiction of reality. Decolonizing spaces and recognizing Western colonization practices means challenging the normative structures in colonial history, thus breaking the cycle of oppression through building community and fostering solidarity. Drawing on theories exploring access to public spheres, representation, protection, permanence, cultural displacement and …

Shop Less, Shop Better: Ethical And Sustainability Concerns Throughout The Fast Fashion Supply Chain, Natali Ann Hoeg

Pacific Undergraduate Research and Creativity Conference (PURCC)

My capstone project is a series of short essays that describe how fast fashion is having negative impacts on local environments, communities, and supply chains. This research is a review of technical sources describing manufacturing of clothing and certification processes for alternative, sustainable textile production. Additionally, this review incorporates perspectives from journalists and documentarians, visiting and describing farms and factories that are involved with fast fashion production. This project was carried out over the course of a semester, as an independent study. The essays focus on the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion. Each of the six essays approaches …

Numerical Simulation On Development Effect Of Tar-Rich Coal Through In-Situ Conversion By Convective Heating In Huangling Mining Area, Dong Guangshun, Zhu Chaofan, Li Jiazong, Xu Shaotao, Guo Wei

Coal Geology & Exploration

The effective development of tar-rich coal to extract oil is of great practical significance to alleviate the oil and gas tension in China, and the convective heating technology of underground in-situ mining is one of the main technologies for the effective development of tar-rich coal. Herein, the mining effect and energy return rate of the two heating media (high-temperature steam and nitrogen) under different injection pressures were studied by convective heating technology for underground in-situ conversion mining based on the tar-rich coal seam of Yan'an Formation in Huangling Mining Area. The results show that: the heating efficiency of steam injection …

Table Of Contents, The Editors

Coal Geology & Exploration

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Amf-Maize Combination On Water And Salt Distribution In Soil Under The Dump Reconstruction Mode Of “Topsoil-Aquifer-Aquitard”, Bi Yinli, Yang Wei, Ke Zengming, Wu Chao, Li Mingchao, Xue Chao

Coal Geology & Exploration

The distribution of soil water and salt severely affects the ecological reconstruction and plant configuration modes at coal mine dumps. To investigate the characteristics of soil water and salt distribution under the three-layer reconstruction mode of “topsoil-aquifer-aquitard” in coal mine dump under the influence of mycorrhizal plants, laboratory soil column test was conducted, in which the soil was treated in three ways: planting maize and inoculating with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (YM+AMF), planting maize (YM) only, and no planting of maize + no inoculation with bacteria (CK). The results showed that: (1) The different treatments have no significant effect on the …

Effects Of Actinomycetes On Root Growth Of Onobrychis Viciaefolia And Rhizosphere Soil Fertility In Dumping Site Of Open-Pit Mine In Arid Area, Cao Shumiao, Wang Qiangmin, Yang Fan, Yang Jian, Zhang Haihan, Xu Ganggang, Zhu Shibin

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to resolve the issue of soil degradation in the dumping site of open-pit coal mine in arid area, the effects of actinomycetes on the root growth and rhizosphere soil fertility of onobrychis viciaefolia in the dumping site of Xinjiang Heishan Open-pit Coal Mine were investigated by highly efficient actinomycete inoculation and in-situ pot experiment. The results show that: (1) Under the drought conditions, actinomycetes inoculation could significantly promote the development of root morphology and the growth of onobrychis viciaefolia. Compared with the control without actinomycetes inoculation, the total root length, average root diameter, root surface area and …

Mechanical Property Evaluation Of Coal Bed And Favorable Area Prediction Of Coalbed Methane (Cbm) Development Based On Well Logging: A Case Study Of No. 3 Coal Bed In Zhengzhuang Block, Southern Qinshui Basin, Qiu Feng, Liu Jinhua, Cai Yidong, Liu Dameng, Sun Fengrui

Coal Geology & Exploration

Accurately grasping the mechanical properties of coal is of great significance to reservoir reconstruction and CBM development. Herein, the prediction model of shear wave time difference in coal reservoir based on multiple logging parameters and the brittleness index evaluation model based on dynamic and static mechanical parameter conversion were established for the research horizon of No.3 coal bed in Zhengzhuang Block. The brittleness index of coal reservoir in the study area was comprehensively evaluated by elastic parameter method. By this way, it is found that the brittleness index of coal bed in single well is obviously affected by “boundary effect” …

Threshold Segmentation Method Of Ct Scanning Data Of Coal And Rock Samples Considering Beam Hardening Effect And Its Application, Wang Kai, Fu Qiang, Xu Chao, Ai Zibo, Wang Lei, Shu Longyong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Beam hardening is a common phenomenon in the application of industrial computerized tomography (ICT). It can cause different grayscale values in components with the same density, which affects the threshold segmentation and later reconstruction of components seriously. Herein, study was conducted on the distribution law of grayscale values under the effect of beam hardening, so as to segment the CT scanning data of coal and rock samples under the beam hardening effect accurately. Through the study, it is found that the change in grayscale value on the grayscale beam could truly reflect the change in component density, which is proved …

Sedimentary Coal-Controlling Effect And Coal-Forming Model Of Paleogene Coal Measures In Paralic Faulted Basin：A Case Study Of Huangxian Basin, Shandong Province, Wu Yue, Wang Dongdong, Wang Hailiang, Liu Haiyan, Li Zengxue, Zheng Xue

Coal Geology & Exploration

There are abundant coal-type oil and gas resources in Chinese sea area, but few researches have been conducted on the coal-type source rock, which seriously restricts the exploration of coal-type oil and gas resources in the sea area. Herein, this study on sedimentary coal-controlling effect and coal-forming model was carried out based on Huangxian Basin that is a paralic faulted basin with same coal-forming period, similar geological conditions and high degree of research for the coal basins in the sea area. Specifically, the pattern, evolution and sedimentary coal-controlling effect of paleogeography during the coal-forming period were reconstructed with full consideration …

Deterioration Characteristics Of Water-Rock Interaction On Combustion Metamorphic Rocks In Northern Shaanxi, Hu Xin, Sun Qiang, Yan Changgen, Zhao Chunhu, Wang Shaofei

Coal Geology & Exploration

There are a lot of combustion metamorphic (CM) rocks formed by high temperature baking of coal fires in the border area of Shaanxi, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia in the northeastern margin of Ordos Basin. Compared with the virgin rock, the rock mass subjected to combustion metamorphism is broken in structure, with pores developed, and a large number of dangerous rock masses are formed under the long-term water-rock interaction. Herein, 50 dry-wet cycle experiments were carried out with the CM rocks in Daliuta Area of Shenmu in Shaanxi Province. Meanwhile, the changes in the physical and mechanical properties of CM rocks …

Ecological Natural Restoration And Its Artificial Promotion Mode In Coal Mining Area, Liu Wei, Yin Qinrui, Liu Xianghong

Coal Geology & Exploration

The natural ecological restoration is an important direction of the national ecological restoration policy. Taking limited artificial measures to promote the natural ecological restoration in coal mining areas is in line with the actual engineering requirements under the context of "double carbon" goal and thus has a better prospect in market application. Herein, the research results in terms of natural ecological restoration were sorted out systematically for the three main types of damaged land in the coal mining areas. Meanwhile, the concept connotation of artificial promotion of natural restoration was studied and analyzed. Besides, the governance mode by zone and …

Hydrochemical Characteristics And Source Analysis Of Mine Water In Shallow Coal Seams In Shaanxi And Inner Mongolia Contiguous Area, Wang Yutong, Wang Hao, Wang Tiantian, Xue Jiankun, Shang Hongbo, Zhou Zhenfang

Coal Geology & Exploration

In order to study the hydrochemical characteristics and sources of mine water under the mining of shallow coal seams in the contiguous area of Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi, the hydrochemical characteristics and the formation action of mine water in this area were investigated through the study of hydrochemical characteristics, mathematical statistics, ion ratio coefficient method and the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in combination, by collecting samples of the mine water, groundwater in different aquifers and surface water in the study area. Based on this, the main sources of mine water in the study area were identified. The results show that …

Visco-Elastic Full-Waveform Inversion Based On Multi-Objective Function, Liang Xu, Ma Yue, Liu Chao, Chen Zhen, Jia Dongdong, Li Zhiyong, Pan Wenyong

Coal Geology & Exploration

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) is one of the core technologies developed in exploration geophysics. Through FWI, the subsurface velocity structures can be constructed and the attenuation parameter (the quality factor Q) model can be inverted, which is helpful to characterize the types and structures of subsurface media (such as the fluid and collapse column in collapse column). This is significant for the exploration and development of natural resources such as coal, oil and gas. Parameter crosstalk is the key difficulty of visco-elastic FWI. Due to the influences of velocity errors, the inverted Q models contain very strong crosstalk noise. To …

Design Of Multi-Channel Continuous Cable Duct For Double-Bit Self-Balancing Drilling System, Zhao Yan, Ai Hongxin, Gao Ke, Zhang Congshan, Lyu Xiaoshu, Xie Xiaobo

Coal Geology & Exploration

The problems, such as low drilling efficiency, large disturbance to the hole wall and long assistance time of tripping caused by the “long arm jurisdiction” drive of the ground drilling rig to the underground drill bit, are faced during the drilling rescue of mine disaster. In order to solve these problems, the bionic self-balancing continuous cable duct drilling technology of double drill bit without drilling rig was proposed, the design of the multi-function continues cable duct is one of the key and challenging aspects of this technology. In terms of the technology, a multi-functional continuous cable duct with built-in channels …

Development Of A Biobased Carbon Adsorbent For Treating Emerging Contaminants In Recycled Water On The International Space Station, Savanna Vacek, Madeline Carroll, Gabson Baguma

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

The International Space Station (ISS) operates as a closed system. Water is recycled from humidity and urine and held in a wastewater tank; part of the Water Processing Assembly (WPA). Potable treated water is used indirectly in the Sabatier Reactor.The Sabatier Reactor is a key component in the Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS). Three main functions of ECLSS: water recovery, air revitalization, and oxygen generation Sabatier Reactor recently failed due to contamination of DMSO2, dimethyl sulfone, and DMSD, dimethylsilanediol. DMSO2 and DMSD are emerging contaminants that are not removed by the media used in the WPA due to …

A Preliminary Evaluation Method For Coal-Based Graphite, Liu Kang, Ning Shuzheng, Cao Daiyong, Wu Guoqiang, Wang Lu, Lin Zhongyue, Wang Anmin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Coal-based graphite is a type of strategic mineral resource and has unique advantages in the fields such as nuclear graphite and military aircraft tires. The evaluation of coal-based graphite is crucial to its exploration and development, upgrading and storage increase, and strategic resource security. Owing to the continuous transition between coal-based graphite and highly metamorphosed coals, some coal-based graphite tends to be wrongly treated as blind coal, and, accordingly, the identified resources of existing coal-based graphite may have been greatly underestimated. In fact, the resources of coal-based graphite are directly related to those of high-rank coals. Therefore, it is significant …

Study On Methane Adsorption/Desorption And Flow Law In The Nanopores Of Coal Based On Lammps, Shi Yu, Liu Yang, Xue Junhua, Li Shugang, Zhang Chao

Coal Geology & Exploration

In this work, the influence rules of driving force, pore size, temperature and pressure on methane adsorption/desorption and flow in coal nanopores were investigated by the molecular dynamic method based on Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS). The investigation results show that the viscosity of methane gradually decreases with the increasing driving force, while its fluidity and flow velocity increase. Meanwhile, the absolute slip length decreases and the flow tends to the non-slip state. Generally, the adsorption density of methane is independent of the driving force, but greatly affected by the gas-solid action. Methane can be adsorbed on the pore …

Application Of Ecological Geological Layer Theory In Coal Seam Protection And Ecological Restoration—An Example Of Ecological Management Practice In Plateau Alpine Mining Areas, Wang Qingwei, Xing Xiafan, Zou Mingjun, Guo Biao, Zhao Xin, Wang Tong

Coal Geology & Exploration

The ecological management of alpine permafrost area in plateau is a global problem, with few precedents for coal resource protection while ecological management. In this paper, the following results achieved in the ecological management in Muli area of Qinghai Province were understood in accordance with the idea of systematic engineering for the purpose of ecological environmental protection, with consideration to the protection of residual coal resources. Specifically, study was conducted on the ecological vulnerability of Muli mining area to damage and the difficulty of restoration under the control of natural climatic characteristics. Meanwhile, the characteristics of soil erosion and vegetation …

Processing Of Coal Mine Csamt Data With Wide Field Electromagnetic Method, Zhu Yunqi, Li Diquan, Liu Zuiliang, Zhang Xin

Coal Geology & Exploration

A CSAMT detection test was carried out for a coal mine with V8 multi-functional electrical instrument. Due to the serious electromagnetic interference within the area, the Cagniard apparent resistivity was low in quality. In order to improve the quality and utilization rate of data, authors attempted to process the CSAMT data collected by V8 with the wide field electromagnetic method, which used single-component method and ratio method (Electric field divided by magnetic field) to calculate apparent resistivity. The results showed that there was some deviation between the single-component wide field apparent resistivity and the actual terrestrial electricity because the emission …

Experimental Study On Heat Transfer Performance Of Double U-Shaped Buried Tube Heat Exchanger, Li Lei, Zhang Weidong, Xu Shuanhai, Zhao Yongzhe, Dang Dongsheng, Wang Qilong, Gou Li, Lei Yanzi

Coal Geology & Exploration

Double U-shaped buried tube heat exchanger (DUBTHE) are prone to pipe crossing and thermal short-circuiting in the practical applications, resulting in the reduced heat transfer performance and directly affecting the operational efficiency of shallow geothermal heat pump system. Based on the initial line thermal average temperature, thermal conductivity theory and slope method, and taking a shallow geothermal heat pump project in Xi'an as the engineering background. Then, this study investigate the effects of initial average temperature, thermal conductivity and volumetric heat capacity of rock-soil, and tube clamp spacing on the heat transfer performance of DUBTHE through field geotechnical thermal response …

Quality Assessment Of Resistivity Monitoring Data Of Coal Mines, Cui Weixiong, Yuan Bo

Coal Geology & Exploration

Resistivity monitoring of coal mines is an important technical means of preventing water hazards on the roof and floor of a mining face. However, it is difficult to guarantee high-quality resistivity data monitored and collected due to the complex and extremely strong electromagnetic interference in the monitoring environment, as well as the limitations of the maximum emission current for the purpose of safe coal mining. To select and utilize highly reliable data from the massive data monitored daily, this study compared and analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used methods for quality assessment of data obtained using the DC …

Key Technology Of Automatic Loading And Unloading System For Dual-Pipe Directional Drilling Rig And Its Application In Soft–Fragmentized Coal Seam, Li Kun, Ting Ren, Yao Yafeng

Coal Geology & Exploration

To improve the automatic level and efficiency of loading and unloading of drilling rigs during the construction of dual-pipe directional drilling, an automatic loading and unloading device of dual pipe was developed to realize the fully automatic loading and unloading of drilling rigs under different working conditions and to solve the technical problems of loading and unloading the drill pipes and casing simultaneously during the dual-pipe directional drilling. Meanwhile, the device structure and control system was designed to restrict the load applied to the device during construction with the end-compliant technique. Besides, the key boundary conditions of the control program …

Effects Of Mos2 On The Matrix Performance Of Hot-Pressed Fe-Based Diamond Drill Bit, Zhang Wenjiao, Tan Songcheng, Pan Bingsuo, Jin Xin, Kong Xiangqing, Long Shanglin

Coal Geology & Exploration

Diamond drill bit is a common rock breaking tool in various exploration works, but the diamond in drill bit has poor thermal stability. As heat is constantly generated during the drilling process, the self-cooling of diamond drill bit under the condition of drought and water shortage is very important to improve the drilling efficiency. In order to decrease the friction coefficient between bit matrix and rock interface under dry drilling condition and reduce the thermal damage of diamond during drilling, molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) was added into the Fe-based diamond bit matrix, and research was performed for the effects …

Study On Construction Of Microbial Solid-Free Drilling Fluid System And Its Borehole Wall Enhancement Mechanism, Li Zhijun, Zhu Mao, Zhi Jingzi, Han Yi, Chen Junxiu, Zhao Gan

Coal Geology & Exploration

Broken formations are often encountered during drilling, which is prone to the instability of wellbore wall and induces serious downhole accidents. Enhancing the cementing force between the broken blocks and improving the mechanical strength of the surrounding rocks of a wellbore is one of the effective ways to solve the instability of wellbore in this type of formation, for which the microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) technology provides a good reference. To this end, the growth of Bacillus pasteurii in the solid-free drilling fluid system was analyzed through experimental study, and thus a solid-free drilling fluid suitable for its growth …

The State Of Sustainability At Wcu: Key Insights From Wcu’S First Sustainability Census, Aliza Richman

Sustainability Research & Practice Seminar Presentations

Professor Aliza Richman, Sociology - The State of Sustainability at WCU: Key Insights from WCU’s First Sustainability Census

221 - Angkorian Temples In Mainland Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand & Vietnam 9th - 15th Century, Sophuth Phon

GREAT Day Posters

The Angkorian Era of the Khmer Empire (9th - 15th AD) is notable for its construction of numerous temples of high architectural heritage value, yet those temples have not been studied in depth. The spatial distribution of those temples, and their various historical characteristics, are also yet to be analyzed or mapped out. The purpose of this project is to spatially map the temple and discern if locations correlate to the region’s geography. This project compiled primary data on 70 major Angkorian temples in mainland Southeast Asia using various sources but primarily Google Earth Pro and Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX). …