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Hazard Impact Assessment Of Brine Spills On Groundwater Pollution In Western North Dakota
Get PDFThe rapid expansion of oil and gas production in North Dakota’s Bakken Formation has heightened environmental concerns, particularly groundwater contamination from brine spills. Brine, a highly saline byproduct of oil extraction, poses a serious threat to water quality due to its chemical composition. This study examines brine spill impacts from 2013 to 2024 across Williams, Mountrail, McKenzie, and Dunn counties using GIS and the DRASTIC model, enhanced with Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Fuzzy Overlay techniques. Essential hydrogeological factors were analyzed to produce vulnerability index maps. Furthermore, spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I), Optimized Hot Spot Analysis, and Emerging Hot Spot Analysis were employed to identify spill patterns over time with the total of about 57,013.539 barrels / 2,394,568.64 gallons. Results show a strong spatial correlation between brine spill hotspots and high-vulnerability zones particularly near surface water and shallow aquifers. The findings highlight critical areas for targeted management and inform sustainable groundwater protection in oil-producing regions of North Dakota
Inorganic Arsenite [i-As (III)] Represses Human Renal Progenitor Cell Characteristics And Induces Neoplastic-Like Transformation
Get PDFStudies on populations exposed to inorganic arsenic (iAs) have shown an association between this particular exposure and the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, there are few studies addressing how acute exposure of the human kidney to iAs might lead to long-term alterations that might lead to CKD or RCC. This study’s hypothesis is that renal exposure to iAs might alter the renal cells responsible for the repair and regeneration of nephrons damaged by iAs exposure or other renal toxicants. The kidney possesses a minority epithelial cell population that co-express PROM1 and CD24 that are believed to be involved in renal epithelial cell repair. The cells, termed progenitor cells, may arise from an existing cell population within the kidney or arise from dedifferentiated damage tubule cells. The HRTPT cell line is an immortalized human renal cell line that co-expresses PROM1 and CD24 with properties expected of a cell capable of renal nephron repair and regeneration. Arsenic, in the form of inorganic arsenite, is toxic to the kidney and can cause acute kidney injury, manifesting as destruction of proximal tubule cells. Nephron repair is possible through the proliferation of resident tubular progenitor cells expressing CD133 and CD24 surface markers. This study simulated regenerative repair in the continued presence of i-As (III) using a cell culture model of a renal progenitor cell line expressing CD133 (PROM1) and CD24. Continued exposure and subculturing of progenitor cells to i-As (III) led to a reduction in the expression of PROM1 and CD24 as well as a decrease in the ability to differentiate into tubule-like structures. Cessation of i-As (III) and recovery up to 3 passages resulted in continued repression of PROM1 and reduced ability to differentiate. Chronically exposed cells exhibited an ability to form colonies in soft agar suggesting neoplastic transformation. Chronically exposed cells also exhibited an induction of CD44, a cell surface marker commonly found in renal cell carcinoma as well as in tubular repair in chronic renal injury such as in chronic kidney disease. These results demonstrate potential adverse outcomes of renal progenitor cells chronically exposed to a nephrotoxicant as well as in environmental exposure to arsenic
Belongingness And Science Identity Of Underrepresented Students In Aerospace Sciences
Get PDFDespite efforts to support underrepresented individuals—specifically those from racial, ethnic, and gender minority groups—they continue to face unique challenges that affect their belongingness in aerospace sciences, leading to issues with retention in educational programs and subsequent professional pathways. Such hindrances to personal achievement can also impede broader organizational goals. Addressing these challenges is critical, as supporting the success of underrepresented individuals fosters diverse perspectives, which are essential for driving innovation and maximizing organizational productivity. Just as importantly, ensuring that every individual, regardless of background, has access to opportunities and the support needed to succeed fulfills an ethical obligation. Upholding the values of fairness and justice benefits individuals and strengthens the collective good. This dissertation explores the intersection of belongingness and the development of science identity in enhancing the congruence of underrepresented students with their chosen field of aerospace sciences. Drawing from established theories of belongingness (Baumeister & Leary, 1995) and science identity (Carlone & Johnson, 2007), this dissertation employs thematic analysis to examine student experiences in aerospace sciences. The study uncovers the relationship between sense of belonging, science identity, and academic and career congruence. Findings reveal that formal and informal support systems, mentorship relationships with peers and aerospace sciences professionals, digital spaces, and institutional support—particularly through culturally and linguistically appropriate mental healthcare—play a critical role in fostering students’ persistence and congruence to their chosen field. This research contributes to the body of work informing efforts to enhance belongingness in STEM among underrepresented individuals, strengthening inclusive pathways in aerospace sciences
The Wicked Problem Of Moral Distress: Exploring The Experiences Of Rural Clinic Nurses
Get PDFBackground: Moral distress is an occupational hazard for nurses that can negatively impact nurses, patients, and the healthcare system. Moral distress has been well documented in high-risk care environments. Each nursing care environment has its own unique triggers for moral distress, but these triggers are unknown in rural clinic nurses. Design and Purpose: This convergent mixed methods study sought to gain a broader understanding of moral distress in nurses working in rural clinic settings.
Methods: Convergent mixed methodology was used to gain a broader understanding of moral distress in nurses working in rural clinic settings. Following ethical approvals, informed by Rural Nursing Theory, this study consecutively sampled nurses employed in rural clinics (RUCA 4.0-10.0) across 4 states in the midwestern United States. Moral distress was assessed with the Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) and written narrative questions from a sample of 52 nurses. Data were analyzed through thematic and correlation analyses, respectively, then merged.
Results: Mean moral distress was 74.7 (SD = 76.8), range was 0 to 246, and no significant relationships were found between moral distress, demographic characteristics or work experience variables. Four main themes were identified: 1) Lack [of something] leads to Moral Distress 2) Barriers to Patient Care and Adherence 3) Inappropriate Healthcare Utilization 4) Care and Practice Factors that Lead to Moral Distress.
Discussion and Implications: Rural clinic nurses experience moral distress for reasons unique to rural practice, while other triggers are shared with urban nurses. Convergent data that triggered moral distress for rural clinic nurses overlapped existing literature and supported items in the MMD-HP. Divergent data that triggered moral distress supported Rural Nursing Theory. Further research is warranted on sources of moral distress for rural clinic nurses, especially inappropriate healthcare utilization. Results may inform interventions specific to mitigating moral distress in rural clinic nurses
Quantifying Plant Effects On Ecosystem Functions Across Great Plains Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands
No full textThe United States Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enables producers to voluntarily convert cropland to long-term vegetative cover and is the largest grassland restoration program in the country. The CRP supports several conservation practices that range in the number and types of plant species seeded. Results from small-scale biodiversity experiments suggest that increasing plant diversity should increase aboveground plant biomass and soil function in these sites. However, these plant effects have yet to be quantified at large geographical scales across wide environmental gradients. We used Diversity-Interactions models to determine if the composition of the seeded and observed species pools affected plant biomass and soil functions (soil active carbon, soil aggregate stability, soil bulk density, and water infiltration) in a set of 188 CRP grasslands distributed across nine Great Plains states. Sites were visited once per year from 2021 to 2023. Plant percent cover surveys were conducted at each site in 2021, and plant biomass and soil samples were collected once per summer. I fitted a combination of environmental and plant covariates to each response. Best fit models varied among responses. Unsurprisingly, environmental covariates were consistent predictors of all responses. Seeded plant species richness and functional composition affected soil aggregate stability. Observed plant functional composition and the proportions of key species affected plant biomass, soil bulk density, and water infiltration. These results suggest that seeded and observed plant species richness, functional composition, and key species proportions affect ecosystem functions. Furthermore, these results suggest that broadscale plant effects can be quantified in observational contexts like the CRP across wide environmental gradients. The models used in this study can be used to optimize seed mixes to maximize ecosystem functions and can help us better understand the relationships between plants and ecosystem functions in restored grasslands
Evaluating The Engineering Properties Of Waste-Modified Asphalt Binders And Mixtures As Inputs For The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design
No full textPavements are essential for economic development and mobility, with asphalt dominating the US road network due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, and recyclability. However, the environmental impacts of asphalt production and the depletion of virgin materials have driven the integration of waste products into asphalt mixtures to improve sustainability. This study evaluated the engineering properties of waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures as performance-based inputs for the Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG). The rutting performance of ten asphalt mixtures commonly used in North Dakota was assessed using mechanistic and empirical tests. Mechanistic tests included the dynamic modulus (|E*|), Flow Number (FN), and incremental Repeated Load Permanent Deformation (iRLPD). Empirical results from the Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test (HWTT) performed by the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) served as a comparative benchmark for rutting performance. Comparing FN and iRLPD parameters with HWTT rut depths yielded R2 values of 0.7498 and 0.6023, respectively, indicating their suitability as surrogate rutting performance tests. However, comparing |E*| values at 54.4°C and 5 Hz and at 37.8°C and 0.1 Hz with HWTT rut depths yielded R2 values of 0.5006 and 0.477, respectively, suggesting that additional research is needed to validate |E*| as a predictor for rutting under varying field conditions. Fatigue cracking performance was assessed on eight North Dakota mixtures using the Simplified Viscoelastic Continuum Damage (S-VECD) model. The values of damage characteristics, DR failure criteria, and apparent damage capacity index (Sapp-index) were derived from |E*| and cyclic fatigue test data using FlexMAT™ software. Comparison with the Cracking Tolerance index (CT-index) provided by the NDDOT yielded an R2 value of 0.3859, which was attributed to the different mechanisms between the two tests. Among the evaluated mixtures, HWY 52, which did not contain any RAP, exhibited the highest fatigue resistance. Conversely, the HWY 6 mixture, with 25% RAP, showed the lowest resistance, confirming the stiffening effect of high RAP content. The HWY 1 mixture, which incorporated 15% RAP and a softer PG 58S-34 binder, showed high fatigue resistance, highlighting the critical role of binder grade in counteracting RAP-induced stiffness. To improve the performance of high-RAP mixtures, this study also investigated the use of two waste-derived rejuvenators: waste engine oil (WEO) and wastewater bio-oil (WWB). A 50% RAP binder was blended with 10% and 40% WWB and 3% and 6% WEO, and evaluated using rheological (viscosity, Superpave grading, Multiple Stress Creep Recovery [MSCR], Linear Amplitude Sweep [LAS], Glover-Rowe Parameter [GRP]) and chemical (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FT-IR]) tests. WEO-modified blends demonstrated a significant restoration of rheological properties, and an optimal dosage of 4.3% was determined, whereas WWB showed limited rejuvenating capability. FT-IR spectra confirmed the presence of functional groups similar to conventional asphalt, supporting the compatibility of WEO and WWB as modifiers. Three asphalt mixtures were prepared: a control mixture containing virgin aggregates and PG 58S-28 binder, a 50% RAP mixture, and a 50% RAP mixture modified with 4.3% WEO. |E*| and uniaxial fatigue tests on these mixtures revealed that the WEO-modified RAP mixture displayed enhanced fatigue life and ductility compared to the 50% RAP mixture, while maintaining rutting resistance. Overall, the findings of this research support the use of FN and iRLPD tests as complementary to the HWTT, reinforcing their applicability within MEPDG frameworks. Although the CT and Sapp indices exhibited an R2 of 0.3859, their ability to characterize fatigue cracking resistance was validated, reflecting the differing mechanisms they capture. The study also confirmed the potential of WEO as an effective rejuvenator for high-RAP asphalt mixtures, restoring binder performance and improving fatigue resistance without compromising rutting resistance. These outcomes support the use of waste-derived materials in high-RAP mixtures and highlight the importance of integrating binder and mixture mechanistic tests for performance evaluation. The study also reinforces the need for localized calibration and test harmonization to implement these findings within the MEPDG framework, thus promoting sustainability
Eco-Friendly Synthesis Of Anemonin From 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural, A Biomass-Derived Starting Material
Get PDFAnemonin, a valuable cyclobutane containing dilactone is a bioactive natural product from Ranunculaceae plants. It holds great potential for applications in pharmaceuticals and materials science. However, traditional synthesis methods are hampered by low yields, toxic reagents, and environmental concerns, limiting its practical use. This study highlights the development of green and scalable synthetic strategies designed to achieve high yields while minimizing environmental impact. Our approach focuses on sustainable methodologies, including optimized steam and fractional distillation performed under mild conditions to reduce waste and energy demands. Protoanemonin’s natural ability to dimerize under mild heating offers a green approach to anemonin synthesis, eliminating the need for hazardous reagents and improving yield. Furthermore, we explore the use of renewable plant-derived feedstocks, adhering to sustainable chemistry principles and reducing dependence on fossil resources. We address cost-effectiveness and process optimization for industrial scale production. These modified, green synthetic strategies have achieved high yields of anemonin, unlocking its potential for diverse applications in an environmentally friendly and economically viable manner
Nutrition Implications In Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS)/Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD)
Get PDFHypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) are a poorly recognized and under researched group of genetic connective tissue disorders that have widespread impacts on the human body, including gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. The role of dietary and supplemental interventions in GI symptom control in this patient population has not been researched. This study used an exploratory survey to collect data on diets and supplements that the patient population has used to combat GI symptoms. The low histamine, gluten free, dairy free, anti-inflammatory, and intermittent fasting diets, as well as magnesium, probiotic, coenzyme Q10, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and CBD oil supplements were significant at reducing GI symptoms. This data might be able to direct future research and recommendations from physicians and allied health providers to reduce the amount of time that people with hEDS/HSD experience life altering GI symptoms
Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning Models To Increase Colorectal Cancer Detection For American Samoa Adults
Get PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among Indigenous and Pacific Islander populations, particularly in American Samoa, where screening rates are critically low due to cultural barriers, limited healthcare infrastructure, and geographical isolation. This dissertation explores the potential of an Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) predictive model to enhance CRC screening and early detection among American Samoan adults. By leveraging widely available clinical data, such as complete blood count (CBC) results, age, and gender, the AI/ML model aims to identify high-risk individuals for targeted interventions, thereby improving early detection and treatment outcomes.The dissertation comprises three interrelated products: a manuscript, an evaluation plan, and a grant application. The manuscript presents findings from a pilot study that tested the AI/ML model’s ability to predict CRC risk, assess its validity, and explore its feasibility in a resource-limited setting. The evaluation plan systematically examines the implementation process, integrating both Indigenous and Westernized frameworks to ensure methodological rigor, cultural appropriateness, and community engagement. The grant application seeks funding to expand this research, allowing for the integration of additional biomarkers, validation with larger cohorts, and potential deployment in other Pacific Islander communities facing similar healthcare disparities. This research is significant as it introduces a non-invasive, data-driven approach to CRC screening that aligns with cultural sensitivities while addressing systemic barriers to healthcare access. The AI/ML model offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional screening methods, potentially transforming CRC prevention strategies in American Samoa and beyond. The integration of Indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge technology underscores the importance of culturally grounded innovation in health equity research. Ultimately, this dissertation contributes to the advancement of precision medicine for underrepresented populations, providing a scalable solution to mitigate health disparities in CRC screening and early detection
Crocodile
No full textA man holds open the mouth of a saltwater crocodile they had found in the jungle. Title taken from photographer\u27s original album.https://commons.und.edu/infantry-photos/1138/thumbnail.jp