The objective of this research is to determine the effect the North Dakota Ethanol Production Incentive has on ethanol plant survivability. This thesis uses a stochastic simulation to show the financial performance of an ethanol plant with and without subsidy support. Historical corn and ethanol prices are used to simulate market conditions a typical ethanol might face. Using the forecast prices, an ethanol plant balance sheet was created to show how a plant would perform in normal market conditions, as well as how the plant would perform with the Ethanol Production Incentive and also with alternative subsidy structures that were developed. The results showed the Ethanol Production Incentive was the most effective subsidy tested and it does appear to improve plant balance sheets to a certain extent during a downturn.

Assessment is necessary in many programs to be certain that expected outcomes are being met. Without curriculum evaluation, higher education faculty would be unaware if students are competent in the skills and knowledge that the faculty thought they were teaching. New curriculum competencies related to dietetics are introduced every five to seven years from the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE). CADE establishes the minimum requirements of foundation knowledge, skills, and competencies for institutions to train entry level dietitians. Even though a variety of criteria have been proposed to evaluate curricula, no common model or format is used because of the differences in each program, college, or university. The purpose of this study is to evaluate North Dakota State University's (NDSU) dietetics program through students' understanding and knowledge as demonstrated by the change in pretest and post-test scores to ensure they are meeting competencies. The Dietetics Program Assessment Test is made up of questions contributed by each instructor in the dietetics program at NDSU regarding their particular area of expertise. The effectiveness was assessed by comparing students' Dietetics Program Assessment pretest scores, taken during sophomore year, with their post-test scores, taken during senior year. This evaluation was used to determine if pretest scores predict program course grades or if high pretest results indicate a more successful student. Therefore, the scores could be used as a selection criterion for acceptance into the dietetics program if there is a strong correlation. Results from students in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) were compared to those in the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and those not accepted into either program to see if there is a difference between the groups. The test was also divided into dietetics core content areas (community nutrition, medical nutrition therapy/clinical, food service, basic nutrition/lifespan, and management) to see if there was an area in which students were scoring poorly. Pretests were taken by 122 pre-dietetics students; of these, 46 were admitted into the CPD, 29 were admitted into the DPD, and 47 were not admitted into either program. A paired t-test found there to be a significant difference (p<0.0001) between individual mean pretest scores and post-test scores, which means students' knowledge about the area of dietetics had greatly improved through courses throughout each program. A t-test found there was not a significant difference between either the pretest scores (p=0.9847) or the post-test scores (p=0.4263) of those in the CPD and DPD programs. In all of the core dietetics content areas the average percentage of correct questions improved from the pretest to the post-test, and each content area had a similar improvement, roughly a 25 percentage point increase. Using an exact Kendall's Tau Test to examine the association between pretest score and final course grades, no significant difference was found in all of the core dietetics courses expect for Food Selection and Preparation Principles (HNES 261) (p=0.0324). In conclusion, since no one content area on the post-test appears to be lacking more than any other, it would appear that the students are learning from all courses. Due to the lack of association between all core dietetics course grades and pretest scores along with the small sample size, pretest scores should not currently be used alone or as one of the selection criterion for admittance into either dietetics programs.

This study was carried out in the Souris and Turtle Rivers in North Dakota. The aim of this study was to develop multi-element fingerprints of the Souris River and Turtle River sediments and to evaluate the suitability of these fingerprints to assess the geographic origin of potential pollutants of the two rivers. Preliminary analysis of Souris River sediment samples confirmed that the multi-element fingerprinting can be used to assess the sediment and contaminant loading patterns. Laboratory experiments were performed to assess the validity of linear mixing assumption in multi-element fingerprinting studies. The results of these experiments verified the assumptions and showed that there is a statistically significant spatial and temporal variation in the element concentrations depending on their mobility and re-deposition. Field studies were conducted in the Souris River and Turtle River to assess the variation of element concentrations in the top riverbed samples along the main rivers and their tributaries. The sediment contribution from the tributaries and the phosphorus concentrations in the main channel were used to calculate the phosphorus contributions from the tributary sediments to the Souris River. The differences in phosphorus contributions from tributaries were related to land use, underlying geology, and the size of the watersheds of the tributaries in the Souris River watershed. Similar analysis was used in the Turtle River to calculate Arsenic, Cadmium and Selenium contribution from the tributaries to the Turtle River. The differences in the contribution of these elements were related to the underlying geology and the size of the watersheds. This study provides a detailed analysis of element concentrations and relative sediments and element loading rates from the tributaries to the main rivers along the Souris and Turtle Rivers in North Dakota. The multi-element fingerprinting technique can be successfully used as a tool to identify the relative contribution of sediments and assessing and tracing pollution sources in rivers. Multi-element fingerprinting provides a relatively low cost, rapid tool for sediment tracking, without the need for addition of exotic chemicals such radio-tracers or dyes to natural ecosystems. / North Dakota State University. College of Science and Mathematics / North Dakota State University. Department of Biological Sciences. Environmental Conservation Sciences Program / North Dakota Department of Health / ND INBRE / North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute / North Dakota State Water Commission

This thesis attempts to render architectural agency and aesthetics within the typological discussion of the data center in the rural American landscape. The disciplinary question of the role of architecture and aesthetics in data center design is related to earlier examples of factories and warehouses during modernity. The data center alters the traditional representative role of architecture; they are massive, horizontal buildings that are only conceivable from an aerial perspective, driven by logistics and efficiency. This thesis engages these issues by focusing on the point at which the architectural and programmatic problems of the data center converge, the building form and envelope. This thesis engages the building envelope as an expanded surface that considers not only logistical and environmental issues, but also engages the social and political architectural questions related to the identity of the data center in the rural landscape.

"My Sister Sarah" is a 25-minute long documentary film about my sister, Sarah Chatelain, a recovering methamphetamine addict from Fargo, North Dakota. Utilizing a combination of family home videos, Super 8 film and verité footage of Sarah's contemporary life, "My Sister Sarah" relates Sarah's journey with drug addiction from childhood through recovery. This report contains the process of creating the film: its inception, production and completion. / text

The molecular characterization of Pratylenchus species determined from D2-D3 of 28S rDNA, ITS of rDNA, and COI of mtDNA regions revealed four Pratylenchus species from North Dakota, P. scribneri, P. neglectus, Pratylenchus sp. (ND-2016 isolate HG51), and Pratylenchus sp. (ND-2017). They were clustered in four separate clades in the phylogenetic trees indicating the divergence among species. P. scribneri and Pratylenchus sp. (ND-2016 isolate HG51) were closely associated and Pratylenchus sp. (DH-2017) was closely related to Pratylenchus sp. (ND-2016 isolate HG51). However, P. neglectus was not closely associated with the other three species. Moreover, resistance evaluation of ten corn hybrids to Pratylenchus scribneri, P. neglectus, and Pratylenchus sp. (ND-2017) revealed that 1392 VT2P was moderately resistant to three Pratylenchus species. PFS74K89 and 4913 VT2RIB were moderately resistant to two of the three Pratylenchus species. X5B-8801, DK 43-46, and DKC 44-13 were susceptible to two of the three Pratylenchus species.

Two sets of durum samples were used to determine kernel characteristics and milling properties of durum genotypes grown in North Dakota, USA. Kernels were characterized for kernel size (length, width, and thickness), germ size (length and width), and shape (kernel width/kernel length, volume, sphericity, germ width/germ length, germ length/kernel length, and germ width/kernel width). Kernels were also characterized for their test weight, kernel weight, vitreousness and hardness. Milling properties evaluated were break release, milling rate, total extraction, semolina extraction, and semolina quality. All kernel characteristics and milling properties varied with genotype and growing location. First break release and milling rate were influenced by kernel shape and size. Larger, wider, and rounder kernels tended to result in better milling performance in the first break. Kernel hardness and vitreousness were strongly correlated and both were positively correlated to semolina extraction but not total extraction.

Excessive soil moisture can impact planting date, plant establishment, and N availability, resulting in reduced yields and N use efficiency. Nitrogen management practices such as use of urease and nitrification inhibitors, and split applications may be used to reduce N lost during the growing season, improving N use efficiency and crop productivity. The objective of this study was to determine whether N management practices could improve corn (Zea mays L.) productivity with or without subsurface drainage on a fine-textured clay soil in eastern North Dakota. Five field trials were conducted in 2009 and 2010 in eastern North Dakota. Treatments consisted of a factorial combination of N management practices [urease inhibitor n-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), starter fertilizer, nitrification inhibitor 2-Chloro-6-(trichloromethyl) pyridine (nitrapyrin), and split applications], N rates (56, 112, 168, and 224 kg N ha-1), and the presence of subsurface drainage (two environments). In both 2009 and 2010 there was no grain yield differences among drainage treatments. Differences in grain yield were observed with different N rates. Nitrogen management practices also affected grain yield. The interactions between N management practices and drainage were not significant. End of season stalk nitrate content showed differences in N availability with different N rates, but not N management practices. Neither NBPT nor the starter fertilizer significantly increased yield over the untreated check in any environment. Nitrapyrin significantly increased yield over the untreated check at Fargo in 2010. Increased N rates resulted in greater corn grain protein.

The goal of this study was to assess effects of sediment removal on vegetation communities in Prairie Pothole wetlands in North Dakota to determine if this management technique is providing desired results to create conditions for ideal vegetation communities in wetlands that will benefit wildlife. This project consists of vegetation surveys from seasonal wetlands located in Benson, Eddy. Towner. and Wells counties in North Dakota. Three types of wetlands were surveyed: natural (reference), excavated (treatment), and converted cropland. Vegetation surveys were completed in the shallow marsh and wet meadow zones of seasonal wetlands. Sites were sampled using a modified Daubenmire method. Aerial photos were assessed to determine the occurrence of drawdown cycles in wetland sites. Plant communities were analyzed using non-metric multidimensional scaling and multi-response permutation procedure was used to make comparisons between sites. The wet meadow zones and shallow marsh zones of the three types of wetlands were all significantly different (p<0.016) from one another. In general, restored wetlands show vegetation trends that liken natural wetlands while those that have been allowed to recover without restoration tend to be cattail choked. When examining hybrid cattail specifically visual obstruction scores were approximately four times greater in converted cropland sites versus treatment or reference sites. Vegetation composition indicates hydrologic conditions (fresh to brackish conditions) of specific sites and regional distribution are likely influential factors in wetland plant establishment. / North Dakota State University / U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service / Ducks Unlimited

Grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] varieties fail to reach maturity in North Dakota’s short and cool growing season. The study objective was to evaluate seeding date and white grain sorghum genotypes. A randomized complete block design study was conducted at Carrington, Oakes, and Prosper, ND, in 2018 and 2019. Genotypes included two commercial hybrids and four open-pollinated genotypes. Reaching heading and anthesis, hybrids required more heat units (GDDs), compared with the open-pollinated genotypes. Highest grain yield was obtained from the first and second seeding dates. Earlier-maturing open-pollinated genotypes maintained yield across seeding dates, whereas yield was reduced at later dates for the longer maturity hybrids. Hybrids produced the highest number of kernels per panicle at the first seeding date with fewer seeds at each successive seeding date. Although the open-pollinated genotypes out-yielded the hybrids at later seeding dates, the risk of lodging is too great to recommend their commercialization.