This study was initiated to secure quantitative data on growth characteristics of the major species in the mixed grass prairie of western North Dakota; to determine the extent and range in yearly variations in growth patterns of the species and of the type as a whole; to assess the general influence of climate as a cause for seasonal and yearly variations in growth patterns; and to interpret the data obtained in terms of their possible application to the practical grazing management of these grasslands. / This project was supported by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station as a part of project Hatch 9-5: "Native range plants -- their growth and development in relation to the establishment of standards for their proper utilization."

Utilizing annual forages to extend the grazing season can improve late-season forage production and quality, cow performance, and soil health; while providing a cost-effective alternative to drylot feeding. A four-year study tested three annual forage treatments using a single, dual, and dual crop with a herbicide burndown response variable (1 L/ha glyphosate, 250 mL/ha dicamba, 250 mL/ha 2,4-D) system. Treatments were foxtail millet (Setaria italica), turnip (Brassica rapa), a cocktail mix of six complementary species, and native range (control). Results found grazing foxtail millet in the single crop system and the dual crop with spray system, plus grazing turnip and cocktail mix in the dual crop with spray system, all provided on average cost-effective grazing options compared to grazing native range and feeding in a drylot system. The opportunity of increasing land-use efficiency was greatest with the dual crop with spray system, which was the most economical option in 2010.

The approach to the department's capstone design course has changed considerably since the 1960s. The general evolution of the course has proceeded from extended laboratory exercises to individuals working on self-defined projects to team-based projects. Interactions between the capstone course and other courses have been attempted with varying success. This paper presents the development of the NDSU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Department' s capstone course and thoughts on possible future modifications to the course. / Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering / College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1936. / Typescript. Includes abstract and vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 260-262).

North Dakota's transportation problem is centered on geography and volume. Being a land-locked state and not having an intermodal facility within the economic range of 150 miles from North Dakota production sites, transportation costs severely reduce shipper profit margins. Options available to containerized shippers are limited and expensive. The purpose of this research is to develop a model that evaluates tradeoffs regarding the development of intermodal shipping capabilities in North Dakota. The following are specific objectives to the research process: 1. Examine historical and current issues pertaining to intermodal transportation in North Dakota; 2. Develop an empirical model to evaluate intermodal pricing, revenues, and demand; 3. Conduct a sensitivity analysis on key random variables and interpret the results; 4. Analyze a variety of coalition cooperative efforts among key players and their effect on North Dakota' s transportation environment; 5. Describe a business model that could enable efficient intermodal transportation for North Dakota intermodal operators. Examining both the base case model and sensitivities applied to the base model allowed for examining today's transportation environment and its potential. The results are reported in chapter five and applied to game theory. Incorporating the results to game theory allows development of a business model focused on subsidizing network operators to cooperate and reposition containers to service North Dakota. A linear programming model was developed to analyze logistical costs and payoffs associated with varying game alternatives. Data collected was analyzed using GAMS software to determine the cost minimizing solutions for exporters across the eight regions of North Dakota. Base model results indicate hard IP producers in North Dakota realize minimized costs by draying containers to the intermodal terminals of Saskatoon, Winnipeg, or Minneapolis. Sensitivities were applied to answer "what if" questions related to North Dakota transportation. The first sensitivity test allows for cost of shipping by bulk to the point of export versus required loading of containers at the site of production. Results show that for the three regions encompassing the eastern border and southeast comer of North Dakota (ND4, ND7 and ND8), stuffing containers at the site of production remains the cost minimizing solution. Sensitivity accounts for hard IP shipments and includes the Minot intermodal terminal. Results show that North Dakota realizes the Minot terminal as an important shipping option. The expanded model and final sensitivity accounts for the 21 metric tons per TEU limitation placed on a containers load weight moving by rail. The addition of this parameter slightly changed model results to reflect a loss of market share to the Minot terminal. Sensitivities were then conducted on the expanded model. These sensitivities display a shift in shipping patterns due to the cost of repositioning empty containers, container stuffing fees, and Minot`s terminal handling fee.

This study examines the factors related to completion outcomes of the East Central Judicial District Drug Court (ECJDDC). The ECJDDC has a 71% graduation rate which far exceeds the national average of approximately 40-45%. The dataset included information on 250 participants who entered the drug court from 2003-2011. Factors included in the analysis include those related to living situation, family situation, socioeconomic status, veteran status, current offense, and prior criminal history in addition to sex, race, and age. Logistic regression determined that the strongest predictors of graduation relate to education, income, employment, and living situation. Policy implications, practice, and future research are discussed with respect to the current results.

Spatial shifts and structural changes continue to occur in the United States agricultural industry. Researchers have documented that the potato industry has changed in response to demands of consumers, expectations of producers and improvements in research and development. The aim of this study was to provide empirical evidence that both institutional and infrastructural factors are important to potato production in North Dakota. Using secondary county-level potato production data for North Dakota, an empirical model was designed to estimate the direction and impact of growers' expectations of prices, yields and costs on their decision to produce potatoes. The results confirmed that institutional relationships established between growers and processors, as well as the infrastructure that growers have in place from one growing season to the next, are statistically significant in determining the total number of potato acres planted.

Aphthona spp. flea beetles were released in the Little Missouri National Grasslands (LMNG) in western North Dakota in 1999 to control leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). The changes in soil seed bank composition and leafy spurge density were evaluated on two ecological sites five (2004) and ten years (2009) after Aphthona spp. release to monitor the effectiveness of the insects on weed control and associated change in plant communities. In 2009, leafy spurge stem density averaged 2 and 9 stems m-2 in the loamy overflow and loamy sites, respectively, compared to 110 and 78 stems m-2, respectively, in 1999 and 7 and 10 stems m-2, respectively, in 2004. Leafy spurge constituted nearly 67% of the loamy overflow seed bank in 1999 compared to 17% in 2004 and 2% in 2009. In the loamy seedbank, the weed represented nearly 70% in 1999 compared to approximately 11% in 2004 and 15% in 2009. As leafy spurge was reduced, native species diversity and seed count increased ten years following Aphthona spp. release. High-seral species represented 17% of the loamy overflow seedbank in 2009, an increase from 5% in 1999. However, Kentucky bluegrass, a non-target weedy species, increased over 250% in the loamy overflow seedbank from 2004 to 2009. The reestablishment of native plant species has often been slow in areas where leafy spurge was controlled using Aphthona spp. A bioassay was completed to evaluate native grass establishment when grown in soil from Aphthona spp. release and non-release sites throughout North Dakota. Native grass production was not affected when grown in soil collected from established Aphthona spp. sites (1.5 g per pot) compared to soil without insects (1.6 g per pot). The cause of reduced native grass production in sites with Aphthono spp. previously observed is unknown but may have been due to a chemical inhibition caused by the insects within the soil that no longer exists. The native warm-season switchgrass (Ponicum virgotum L.) may be an alternative to corn for efficient biofuel production; however, control of cool-season grassy weeds has been a problem in switchgrass production. Various herbicides were evaluated for smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) and quackgrass [Elymus repens (L.) Gould] control in an established switchgrass stand near Streeter, ND and a weed-infested field in Fargo, ND. Switchgrass yield was higher than the control 14 mo after treatment (MAT) when aminocyclopyrachlor or sulfometuron were applied early in the growing season, but no treatment provided satisfactory long-term grassy weed control. Herbicides were reevaluated at increased rates for smooth bromegrass or quackgrass control in Fargo. Sulfometuron provided 99% smooth bromegrass control when applied at 280 g ha-1 in the fall but injured other grass and forb species as well. Sulfometuron would likely be injurious to switchgrass and could not be used for biofuel production. Aminocyclopyrachlor did not injure other grass species but only reduced smooth bromegrass control by 76% when applied at 280 g ha-1 in the fall. No treatment provided satisfactory long-term quackgrass control.

Wind energy is quickly becoming a critical technology for providing Americans with renewable energy, and rapid construction of wind facilities may have impacts on both wildlife and human communities. Understanding both the social and ecological issues related to wind energy development could provide a framework for effectively meeting human energy needs while conserving species biodiversity. In this research I looked at two aspects of wind energy development: public attitudes toward wind energy development and wind facility impacts on local bat populations. These papers present aspects of wind energy development that have been the subject of increasing study. This preliminary research is intended to demonstrate the responsibility we have to making well-informed decisions as we continue to expand wind energy development. Additionally, I hope to generate interest in interdisciplinary study as a means to broaden the scope of research by making use of the diverse tools available within different disciplines.

Background: Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine in humans, with no known cause. Johne's disease is a chronic intestinal disease of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium suhspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), and has some features similar to Crohn's disease. Although MAP has been purported to play an etiologic role in Crohn's disease, this causal link is still under debate. Objective: The overall aim of this project is to analyze MAP strains from different hosts (cattle, sheep and humans) and regions in North Dakota by biochemical and epidemiological methods, in order to better understand the pathogenesis and epidemiology of MAP strains and the relationship between MAP and Crohn's disease. The specific aims of this research are the following: Aim 1. Investigate the epidemiological evidence for MAP as a cause of Crohn's disease. Aim 2. Conduct a comparative causality study to investigate whether MAP or other enteric pathogens cause Crohn's disease. Aim 3. Evaluate the occurrence of MAP infections in cattle in North Dakota, 1995-2005. Aim 4. Analyze MAP strains from symptomatic and asymptomatic cattle. Aim 5. Investigate the biochemical variations of rapid and slow growing MAP strains. Aim 6. Evaluate MAP strains from low shedders and high shedders. Methods: MAP isolates were analyzed by biochemical methods of gas chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. In addition, extensive literature review was performed to (1) determine the epidemiologic causal link between MAP and Crohn' s disease and (2) determine whether MAP or other enteric pathogens cause Crohn's disease. Results: Results from our study indicated the availablity of epidemiologic evidence supporting the causal role of MAP in Crohn's disease. It was also demonstrated that MAP is the most implicated organism in the etiology of Crohn's disease when compared to other infectious agents. Investigation of the occurrence of MAP infection in North Dakota showed an increase in number of MAP cases reported, with seasonal trends. Biochemical typing of MAP strains from symptomatic and asymptomatic cattle indicated that the symptoms status of isolates was significantly associated with mass spectra patterns and shedder status (p < 0.05). However, the association between symptoms status and HPLC and GC patterns was not significant (p > 0.05). Investigation of biochemical variations of rapid and slow growing MAP strains showed associations between the biochemical variability of MAP strains and their growth rate and presence of symptoms in the source cattle. Evaluation of MAP strains of different shedding characteristics by univariate logistic regression revealed that the shedder status of isolates was significantly associated with growth rate of isolates, symptom status, and source regions, but not with mass spectra patterns of isolates. Conclusion: Overall, this study strengthens the theories of strain sharing, intraspecies and interspecies transmission, and supports an association between MAP and Crohn's disease. In addition, the understanding of the biochemical variation among MAP isolates will help in the future design of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for Johne's and Crohn's diseases. / North Dakota State University. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry