The Upper Devonian–Lower Mississippian Bakken Formation in the Williston Basin is estimated to have significant amount of technically recoverable oil and gas. The objective of this study is to identify differences in the character of the seismic response to Bakken interval between locations with high and poor production rates. The predicted seismic responses of the Bakken Formation will hopefully help achieve such discrimination from surface seismic recordings. In this study, borehole data of Bakken wells from both the Cottonwood and the Sanish Field were analyzed, including density information and seismic P and S wave velocities from Sonic Scanner logs. The Bakken Formation is deeper and thicker (and somewhat more productive) in the Sanish Field and is shallower and thinner in the Cottonwood Field. The Upper and Lower Bakken shale units are similar and can be characterized by low density, low P and S wave velocities and low Vp/Vs ratios. The Sonic Scanner data suggest that the Upper and Lower Bakken shales can be treated as VTI media while the Middle Bakken may be considered as seismically isotropic. Models of seismic response for both fields were constructed, including isotropic models and models with variations in VTI, HTI, and the combination of VTI and HTI in the Bakken intervals. Full offset elastic synthetic seismograms with a vertical point source were generated to simulate the seismic responses of the various models of Bakken Formation. This sensitivity study shows pronounced differences in the seismic reflection response between isotropic and anisotropic models. P-P, P-SV and SV-SV respond differently to anisotropy. VTI anisotropy and HTI anisotropy of the Bakken have different character. In particular, types of seismic data (P-P, P-SV, and SV-SV) and the range of source-receiver offsets that are most sensitive to variations in anisotropic parameters and fluid saturation were identified. Results suggest that bed thickness, anisotropy of the Upper and Lower Bakken shales, fractures/cracks and fluid fill in the fracture/cracks all influence the seismic responses of the Bakken Formation. The paucity of data available for “poorly” producing wells limited the evaluation of the direct seismic response to productivity, but sensitivity to potentially useful parameters was established. / text

Thesis. 1977. M.C.P.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ROTCH. / Includes bibliographical references. / by Catherine Lu. / M.C.P.

Fallow is a creative non-fiction book of memory and place. It chronicles the lives of William and Vera Lutz and their lives of struggle on the Northern Plains of North Dakota. It follows a narrator and his attempts to make sense of, and connect to their, lives following both of their deaths. It examines the life of William as the life left behind, and the life of Vera as the life continually felt, but never known. The chapters are held together by the quest of the narrator and a rumination on the idea that the sometimes brutal nature of prairie life shapes the lives of those who live there. That is, this story could not happen in any other place. / Graduation date: 2003

Common barley diseases observed in North Dakota include net blotch, spot blotch, leaf and stripe rust, bacterial leaf streak, and Fusarium head blight. The first objective of this research was to determine the effect of variety and fungicide timing on disease development of barley under conventionally tilled systems. Five field trials were performed in 2016-2017 to test the effect of common varieties and fungicide applications on foliar disease of barley. Overall, varietal selection had a greater effect on the level of foliar disease observed than fungicide application. The second objective focused on the efficacy and timing of adepidyn and prothioconazole + tebuconazole on Fusarium head blight. An inoculated greenhouse experiment was performed the fall of 2017 to determine the effectiveness of fungicide timing at half-spike, full-spike, and five days after full-spike. The protectant capabilities of the fungicides were greater than their curative properties.

Best management practices are methods that have been determined to be the most effective and practical means of preventing or reducing pollution. Best Management Practices (BMPs) relating to surface water pollution abatement for North Dakota beef cow operations are of particular importance due to the importance of the agriculture industry in North Dakota. North Dakota has yet to address the use of voluntary BMPs to address potential surface water pollution regulations. Probit models were used to estimate the likelihood of North Dakota beef cow operators adopting specific production practices to reduce potential surface water pollution through the use of BMPs. The six BMPs discussed in this research include nutrient management, rotational grazing, filterstrjps, riparian buffers, streambank fencing, and streambank bridging/crossing. Number of beef cows on operation, education, awareness of cost share programs, contact with extension service, ownership structure, debt level, record keeping method, and pasture season usage were found to be significant in the likelihood of adopting a BMP.

Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) is an ornamental Rosaceous shrub producing delicate white flowers that yield fruit similar in appearance and nutrition to blueberry (Vaccinium spp.). Most serviceberry are propagated in Canada and, as imported stocks are often expensive, clones were accessed from 70 locations in North Dakota. Following establishment, a replicated field trial of wild biotypes of serviceberry was initiated at the North Dakota State University Horticulture Research Farm (NDSU HRF) near Absaraka, ND and at the Williston Research and Extension Center (WREC) in Williston, ND. Yield data was taken upon harvest in summers 2014-2017 at NDSU HRF and 2016 at WREC. ND 1-2, ND 1-4, ND 1-6, ND 1-7, ND 48-2 often out-yielded market genotypes. ND 15-2 was high in sugar content and gelling ability, ideal for processing. Through continued selection, North Dakota growers may have quality serviceberry from a local source.

This thesis estimates the production, cost, and profit functions for North Dakota agriculture using state-level input-output quantity and price data for the period 1960-2004. A Cobb-Douglas functional form with Hick-neutral technology change is used to measure the contribution of capital, land, labor, materials, energy, and chemical inputs quantities and output quantity using the primal production function; contribution of capital quantity, land quantity, output quantity, labor price, materials price, energy price, and chemical price to cost using the dual restricted cost function; and the contribution of capital quantity, land quantity, labor price, materials price, energy price, chemical price, output price to profit using the dual restricted profit function. In contrast to previous studies, quantile regression is used to explore the linear or nonlinear relationship between the independent and dependent variable by estimating parameter coefficients at each quantile using time-series data. Empirical findings suggest the cost function is the best model to examine the relationship between input prices, output quantity and cost using quantile regression for North Dakota agriculture, Further, the quantile regression suggests a linear and non-linear relationship between cost and certain independent variables.

Campus safety and security are important concerns for colleges and universities. One way security is addressed is through utilization of self-report questions about criminal backgrounds during the admissions process. The current study evaluates this admissions policy by using a systematic random sample of 1,400 students to compare self-reported criminal backgrounds with criminal records listed in four online databases. Results indicate that two individuals within the sample failed to report their criminal backgrounds which included simple assault, burglary, theft, possession of controlled substance, and drug paraphernalia. While the failed reporting rate appears low, caution should be taken interpreting the results. A number of policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.

"An Analysis of the Arguments Used in the Home School Issue," by Jaime P. Meyer is a study employing a twelve point method of analysis taken from the work of Ch. Perselman and L. Olbrechts-Tyteca. This study sought to answer the question: Are the values in the arguments of those for or against conditional home schooling in North Dakota consistent with the values underlying the laws of the state? Chapter I established the nature of the study. Chapter II provided a review of the literature concerning home schooling in North Dakota. Chapter III identified the similarities of the values in the arguments stated by those for conditional home schooling and the laws of the state. Chapter IV noted the dissimilarities of the values in the arguments stated by those against conditional home schooling and the laws of the state. Chapter V concluded that the values in the arguments of those for conditional home schooling are more consistent with the values underlying the laws of North Dakota than the values in the arguments of those against conditional home schooling.

This study looks at how gay adults experienced their youth in rural North Dakota or Minnesota. The purpose of the study was to discover if gay youth experienced their environment differently from their urban peers and if the internet or television affected their experiences. The study recruited ten participants ages 22-30 for a qualitative study that used thematic analysis as its method. The study found that among the participants the use of gay slurs evolved over time, television and internet did not appear to influence how the participants experienced their environment, and lastly, many of the participants displayed behavior that they believed was not normative behavior for their gender.