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Analysis Of Job Satisfaction Factors Influencing Pilot Retention In The United States Coast Guard
Get PDFUnited States Coast Guard (USCG) aviation is facing increasing challenges in pilot retention. A survey was designed to explore job satisfaction constructs and pilots’ intention to separate from the USCG to determine how gender, airframe, and retirement plan influence retention. The survey was distributed to Active Duty USCG pilots with 183 valid responses. Statistical analysis for job satisfaction found that female pilots are less satisfied with work-life balance. Differences between gender were not significant for the other job satisfaction constructs or intention to separate from the USCG. The analysis found that fixed wing pilots have a higher intention to separate than rotary wing pilots, and pilots with the Blended Retirement System (BRS) have a higher intention to separate than pilots with legacy retirement. Differences between airframe and retirement groups were not significant for job satisfaction constructs. Open-ended responses revealed that pilots were dissatisfied with inflexible career paths, poor work-life balance, and lack of geographic stability
Why Can\u27t We Just Be: Native American College Student Sense Of Belonging At The University Of North Dakota
Get PDFSense of belonging is a primary indicator of retention and persistence to graduation forNative American college students. Though more than doubling in the past 30 years, Native American college student enrollment has decreased since 2010 (197,000 in 2010 to 107,000 in 2021) (PNPI, 2021; NCES, n.d.). In 2020, Native American students’ 2nd year retention rate was more than 20% lower than their white peers at the University of North Dakota (UND, 2020). When college students of color feel like they belong, they are more likely to retain, persist, and graduate (Mowreader, 2024; Hurtado & Carter, 1997; Hurtado et al., 1999). The purpose of this study was to find factors that contribute to Native college students’ sense of belonging or sense of not belonging. This research utilized talking circles, visiting, discussions, and self-reflection as part of the Indigenous methodological approach. This study found that Native students and alumni feel like they belong when professors and staff members know about Native people, are Native American, advocate for them, or simply tell them they belong in college. They feel like they do not belong when professors do not know about Native Americans, mention racist stereotypes in lectures, do not treat them equally to their peers, or are unwelcoming. The results of this study were used to create a professional development activity for university faculty and staff to promote an understanding of: Native college student demographics; their own biases towards Native students; Native students’ complex identities; and self- reflection and self-growth opportunities when working with Native students. Keywords: Native American college student, sense of belonging, retentio
When FOMO Meets The Keg: A Descriptive Case Study Of Binge Drinking In First-Year College Students At The University Of North Dakota
Get PDFBinge drinking among first-year college students is a persistent public health and academic issue, particularly during the transition to higher education. As students gain independence and navigate peer influence and campus norms, many perceive alcohol use as a central part of the college experience. This descriptive case study investigates the personal, environmental, and behavioral factors contributing to binge drinking among first-year students at the University of North Dakota (UND).The study, guided by Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), explored how students adopt and reinforce drinking behaviors through peer modeling, social expectations, and institutional culture. Qualitative data was collected through individual interviews with first-year students and university staff, demographic surveys, and institutional records. Thematic analysis revealed three dominant influences on binge drinking: Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), Pre-gaming Practices, and using Alcohol as a Coping Mechanism for stress and social adjustment. Students frequently associated drinking with social belonging and saw it as a normative and almost expected part of student life. Additionally, the study identified institutional challenges in alcohol policy enforcement and a lack of proactive, engaging prevention measures. Findings from this study offer UND administrators valuable insights and evidence-based recommendations to support the development of targeted intervention strategies. These insights will inform a grant proposal to secure funding for prevention programs designed to reduce binge drinking and promote safer, healthier behaviors among first-year students at UND
Optimizing Produced Water Management In The Oil And Gas Industry: Challenges And Solutions In The Bakken Formation, Williston Basin, ND
No full textProduced water management is one of the biggest challenges in the oil and gas industry due to its high volume, treatment cost, and environmental footprint—particularly in high-salinity regions such as North Dakota\u27s Bakken Formation. This research proposes an integrated, onsite treatment system to convert produced water into a reusable resource for irrigation, range land restoration, and aquifer recharge. Gravity separation and adsorption were implemented for dispersed oil removal, while membrane filtration and biological treatments for total dissolved solids reduction. Experimental tests validated through process modeling and performance simulations verified that the use of these technologies can significantly improve water quality to allow reuse to be economically viable. The study further analyzes the performance of high-viscosity friction reducers (HVFRs) in salt conditions. Tests showed that divalent cations, such as Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Sr²⁺, suppress polymer viscosity significantly, with Sr²⁺ showing maximum inhibition. Rheology tests showed that viscosity decreases as the shear rate and temperature are increased. Additional tests performed using different polymer blends showed that optimal polymer compositions could minimize salt-induced viscosity loss and fluid stability under harsh conditions to a certain extent. A comparative settling study of proppants showed that produced water, having higher salinity, inhibits particle sedimentation more than fresh water due to its viscosity. Addition of HVFR also enhanced proppant suspension in both fluids. These findings reinforce the promise that an adaptive treatment and fluid optimization approach, guided by experimental data and predictive modeling, will enable efficiently generated water reuse throughout hydraulic fracturing and beyond uses, which conserves freshwater requirements and offers cost and environmentally meaningful benefits
Comparative Study Of Robotic And Manual Welding For Energy Consumption And Efficiency In A High Mix, Low Volume Manufacturing Environment
Get PDFThis study examines the comparative efficiency and energy consumption of manual versus robotic welding in high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) manufacturing environments. Traditional robotic welding systems have been predominantly used in low-mix, high-volume production due to their efficiency in repetitive tasks. However, the advent of collaborative robots (cobots) has democratized robotic automation for diverse manufacturing needs. Cobots allow flexibility in programming, enabling their deployment in HMLV environments characterized by hard product variety and smaller batch sizes. This research evaluates energy consumption, welding speed, and quality metrics across manual and cobotic welding systems. Data were gathered using energy meters and video analysis, focusing on weld geometries, part complexities, and production contexts. The cobotic weldments proved to be 13.5% - 37% stronger for all parts and configurations, and energy consumptions was reduced by 41% – 71% in single-sided applications. This allowed for the development of equations to predict the cycle time and energy consumption of complex weldments. The use of cobots reduced the cycle time by 39% for these parts. The findings establish guidelines for optimizing robotic welding implementation, ensuring energy efficiency without compromising productivity or weld quality. The study contributes a decision-making framework to assess the viability of robotic welding adoption, balancing economic and environmental considerations in modern manufacturing
Adaptblur: Adaptive Linear Filter For Enhanced Deep Learning Classification Performance
Get PDFImage preprocessing is crucial in deep learning models for high performance and accuracy. This study implements AdaptBlur, a dynamic linear filter developed from a second-order partial differential equation using finite difference approximations, which enhances image quality while preserving the image structure with dynamic parameters that are optimized through the Nelder-Mead optimization, minimizing mean square error to improve the effectiveness of the filter. Moreover, the study evaluates the impact of the results on model performance on deep learning classification using publicly available datasets. Experimentally, image classifiers trained on preprocessed data with the AdaptBlur filter perform much better than those trained without filtering or with filtering using the conventional Gaussian filter, as this filter gives nearly a 10% increase in classification accuracy
Rest Area, Guadalcanal
No full textAn American troop establishment where the 164th regiment would rest and relax in the tents under the palm trees. Title taken from photographer\u27s original album.https://commons.und.edu/infantry-photos/1088/thumbnail.jp
Ignition Interlock Devices: Do they really help?
Get PDFThe United States has implemented a wide range of technologies and policies to reduce the amount of alcohol-impaired driving. Some of these include alcohol detection sensors in newer vehicles, ridesharing, DUI checkpoints, Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) bracelets, and more. One widely used technology used to reduce alcohol-impaired driving is the Ignition Interlock Device (IID). The IID is used in lieu of suspending one’s driver’s license after a DUI offense. IIDs are a widely implemented technology that we use today as a method of preventing driving under the influence of alcohol. Although they intend to ensure sober driving and to reduce DUI recidivism, IID’s also come with their own downsides...https://commons.und.edu/as-showcase/1022/thumbnail.jp
Juvenile Treatment: A Systematic Review of Methadone on Juveniles After Incarceration
Get PDFMethadone Maintenance Treatment (MMT) has emerged as a harm-reduction strategy for addressing opioid use disorder (OUD) among justice-involved juveniles. Despite its growing implementation, there remains limited consensus regarding its effectiveness in reducing recidivism, its ethical and legal implications, and the systemic barriers surrounding its administration. This study employed a systematic literature review (SLR) to examine the therapeutic, ethical, and criminological dimensions of MMT in juvenile justice populations. The review followed PRISMA 2020 guidelines and synthesized 15 peer-reviewed empirical studies published between 2010 and 2023. Data were sourced from four major electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science using targeted search terms related to methadone, juvenile justice, opioid use, recidivism, and youth treatment outcomes.
Thematic analysis of the included studies revealed that 40% (6 studies) reported a statistically significant reduction in recidivism among juveniles who received MMT post-release. These studies measured outcomes such as Adherence, Relapse and Recidivism. However, 60% of the studies either showed no significant impact on recidivism or attributed inconsistent outcomes to the lack of integrated support services. This suggests that MMT alone may not be sufficient to deter reoffending unless embedded within a comprehensive rehabilitative framework that includes trauma-informed care and wraparound services.
Implementation challenges were recurrent across the studies. Approximately 53% (8 studies) identified discontinuity of care during the transition from incarceration to community-based treatment as a critical obstacle. Furthermore, 47% (7 studies) reported ethical and legal challenges, particularly those related to informed consent, minor autonomy, and the role of guardianship in treatment initiation. Additionally, stigma both institutional and familial was cited in 60% (9 studies) as a deterrent to sustained engagement with MMT among adolescents.
The findings underscore that while MMT can stabilize opioid use and support treatment adherence, its effectiveness in reducing criminal recidivism is conditional upon systemic factors. The review highlights the need for policy frameworks that ensure ethical safeguards, improve treatment continuity, and mitigate stigma. Future research should explore integrated models that combine MMT with psychosocial support and youth-centered rehabilitative services. Doing so may enhance not only treatment outcomes but also long-term legal and social reintegration prospects for justice-involved youth with OUD
The Sound of Music
No full textCast of The Sound of Musichttps://commons.und.edu/performing-arts-photos/1195/thumbnail.jp