Digital Commons Network^™

Standardized Training Methodologies For Medical Laboratory Science Students And Their Importance For Student Success, Maria Simpson

Medical Laboratory Science Independent Study Projects

Clinical education is a critical component of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) programs, serving as the primary bridge between academic instruction and professional practice. However, traditional clinical rotation training models often struggle to keep pace with rapid advancements in laboratory technology, expanding professional responsibilities, workforce shortages, and heightened patient safety expectations. The purpose of this capstone project is to examine the key factors driving the need to update training methodologies in MLS clinical rotations and to evaluate contemporary educational approaches that better prepare students for entry-level practice. This project addresses systemic challenges faced by clinical laboratories, such as staffing constraints, heavy …

Poetry As Performance: The Case For "Camp" In Catullus, Jasmine Patera

Floodwall Magazine

No abstract provided.

From Awareness To Action: Developing Protocols For Tardive Dyskinesia Aims Screening Among Mental Health Clinicians, Annette Pratt

Nursing Capstones

Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is an often-irreversible movement disorder linked to prolonged antipsychotic treatment. It is under-recognized in mental health settings due to inconsistent or absent screening. Early identification with validated tools such as the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) is advised but not routinely performed, resulting in delayed diagnosis and poor management. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project aims to improve TD detection by implementing a standardized AIMS screening protocol using a quasi-experimental, pre- and post-test design. Project components include prescriber education and demonstration using the AIMS tool. Participants are mental health prescribers managing antipsychotic medications. Expected outcomes include …

Jacksonian Democracy: Triumph Or Tragedy?, Gabe Blumer

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

This capstone paper analyzes Andrew Jackson's presidential impact on democracy and discusses its strengths and weaknesses as a whole. It goes over the impact on white men, black Americans, and Native Americans in particular.

Doctor Of Medicine Commencement: May 2, 2026, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Doctor of Medicine Commencement program from May 2, 2026.

Establishing The Inter-Rater Reliability Of The Titleist Performance Institute (Tpi) Movement Screen, Ian Henry Dahners, Matthew Fetner, Carlan Haugrud, Hunter Johnson, Braeden Lee Knutson, Erica Jo Peters, Dana Jayde Zarn

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Movement Screen is a golf-specific physical assessment widely used by professionals to identify physical limitations that may influence swing mechanics and injury risk. Despite its popularity, there is limited peer-reviewed evidence regarding the screen’s inter-rater reliability. Without established reliability, clinical and performance decisions based on TPI scores may be questionable. Prior research on similar tools, such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), shows that reliability varies based on evaluator experience, scoring objectivity, and standardization—all relevant concerns for the TPI Movement Screen.

Purpose: To determine the inter-rater reliability of …

Utilizing The Indian Self Determination Act To Enhance And Improve Health Outcomes In A Tribal Communities, Adriann Ricker, Shawnda Schroeder

Indigenous Health Faculty Publications

The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (PL 93-638) serves as a critical policy mechanism enabling Tribes to exercise sovereignty and self-determination in health care delivery. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities face significant disparities in oral health outcomes, driven by systemic and structural racism, geographic isolation, and inadequate access to health care professionals. This policy paper examines the historical context and implementation of PL 93-638 and explores how the law empowers Tribes to address health inequities on their own terms. Drawing on case studies and insights from the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, this paper highlights how …

Roundtable: Issue 5, Brody Rohrich, Jonathan Blessing, Kysten Keever, Mona Kuylee, Makenna Maples-Janisch, Gavin Mitzel, Victoria Voss

Roundtable: Journal of the UND Honors Program

No abstract provided.

Trends In Health-Based Drinking Water Violations For Coliform Bacteria In The United States, Amber Lyon-Colbert, Kshipra Sharma

Public Health Faculty Publications

This research seeks to determine whether health-based drinking water violations for total coliforms have increased since the Revised Total Coliform Bacteria Rule established in 2013 and fully implemented in 2016 by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Safe Drinking Water Act; as well as determine the geographic regions, states and territories in the United States with the highest number of health-based Total Coliform Rule and Revised Total Coliform Rule violations. We obtained data for drinking water violations involving total coliform bacteria from the Safe Drinking Water Information System for 2000-2019 and trend analysis was completed by state, region, water source, …

Expanding Access To Hand Therapy In Rural Wyoming Through Telehealth, Cheyenne Rose Thompson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Individuals living in rural Wyoming experience significant barriers to accessing specialized hand therapy services, including geographic isolation, limited availability of certified hand therapists, and inconsistent healthcare infrastructure, resulting in delayed rehabilitation and reduced functional outcomes (Hirth et al., 2022; Rural Health Information Hub, 2025). Although telehealth has emerged as a potential solution to improve access, challenges related to clinician training, safety, and adaptation of interventions to virtual environments persist (Feldhacker et al., 2022; Morris, 2024). The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop an evidence-based telehealth hand therapy program to improve access to upper extremity rehabilitation services in rural …

Baby-Life Balance: Occupational Therapy Strategies To Support The Transition To Motherhood, Morgan Muriel Harshman

Occupational Therapy Capstones

The postpartum period is characterized by significant physical, emotional, and occupational changes that can disrupt daily functioning, routines, and role transition into motherhood (Albanese et al., 2020; Baker et al., 2024). These changes impact a mother’s ability to engage in meaningful daily activities, including self-care, infant care, and participation in family and community roles. Despite these challenges, postpartum care often emphasizes infant health, leaving gaps in support for maternal occupational performance, routine development, and environmental adaptation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2023; World Health Organization [WHO], 2022). Occupational therapy is uniquely positioned to address these needs through its …

Regulation Creations: A Trauma-Informed Resource Addressing Sensory And Socio-Emotional Childhood Challenges, Meagan Noel Barnes Pearson

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Trauma is ubiquitous and can negatively impact many life outcomes. Though trauma can occur across the lifespan, particular emphasis has been placed on the outcomes of experiences that occur in childhood. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), as coined by Felitti et al. (1998), pertain to traumatic events that occur before the age of 18, and the correlation between the number of ACEs and poor health outcomes is significant. Children can begin demonstrating unfavorable symptoms upon becoming exposed to trauma. Current literature has illustrated particular differences in sensory systems and social skills for young children. These challenges can lead to hardship …

Resistance Through Policy: Documenting Lgbtq+ Advocacy In Public Education, Rhys Mitchell Fryar

Theses and Dissertations

This research examines how educational policies related to LGBTQ+ students are constructed, interpreted, and implemented across federal, state, and district-levels. It asks whether institutional intent reflects authentic commitment to equity or functions as symbolic compliance in politically contested environments. Using Portland Public Schools (PPS) as a case study, the analysis situates the district within Oregon’s affirming policy landscape and the Trump administration’s restrictive federal mandates. PPS has adopted policies, such as Administrative Directive 4.30.061 AD (2023b) and the Gender Identity Support Guide (2023a), to support queer and gender-expansive students; however, it faces a federal investigation (U.S. Department of Education, 2025b, …

Toward An Anthropological Ecocriticism, Grant Mcmillan

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental storytelling has increasingly reckoned with concepts and assumptions about (N/a)ture inherited from the Western intellectual tradition. The late 2010s and early 2020s in particular have seen an explosion of fiction that interrogates the limits of these past ideas. Relatedly, ecocriticism of this period has entered a self-reflexive mode that has sought to deal with its own limitations while offering insights that may prove generative for a more general audience of environmentally minded readers. This project adds to ongoing ecocritical discourse by tracing a series of implicit affinities between the broad traditions of anthropology and environmental fiction through their shared …

A Space Propulsion Concept Based On Inertial Confinement: Exploring Nuclear Fusion Utilizing Polywell Geometry, Preeti Nair

Theses and Dissertations

Nuclear fusion propulsion represents a promising solution for future interplanetarymissions due to its high energy density and potential for continuous power generation. However, existing fusion propulsion systems face significant limitations, particularly in achieving stable plasma confinement. The Polywell concept, introduced by physicist Robert Bussard in 1985, offers advantages through its compact, polyhedral geometry that is wellsuited for spacecraft applications where mass and volume constraints are critical. Despite these advantages, Polywell designs have encountered stability challenges in maintaining the electric potential well over time. Plasma instabilities induced by magnetic fields disrupt containment and reduce fusion efficiency, limiting overall performance and scalability …

Impacts Of Intensifying Wildfires On Boreal Forest Ecosystems: Exploring Forest Regeneration, Wildlife Habitats, Carbon Storage, And Engineering Solutions, Mckenzie Belle Schewe

Theses and Dissertations

Wildfire activity across Alaska’s boreal forests has intensified in severity and frequency in recent decades, altering one of Earth’s most significant sources of carbon sequestration (Pan et al, 2011). This thesis examines how wildland burns influence post-fire carbon sink capacities and vegetation recovery near Fairbanks, Alaska. Three fire sites were selected to represent distinct successional stages: the 2006 Parks Highway Fire, the 2013 Stuart Creek 2 Fire, and the 2022 Clear Fire. Each site was evaluated through a combination of remote sensing analysis, LiDAR-derived canopy height data, and field measurements collected within each burn perimeter, developing a replicable framework for …

Beyond Artemis: A Framework For Strategic International Cooperation In Space Exploration And Security, Lang Eric Sundby

Theses and Dissertations

The need for a more robust and formalized international cooperation framework has grown from the technological and political developments of both State and commercial actors in the space domain. Existing treaties, such as the Outer Space Treaty, have established norms for space activities, and recent agreements, like the Artemis Accords, have advanced additional innovative principles. Despite this progress, these agreements fall short of offering organizational structures for cooperation and methods for legal enforcement. Growing geopolitical competition has led to the formation of new models for China’s and Russia’s cooperation with other States in space, which include the International Lunar Research …

Of Birds And Beef: Expanding The Knowledge Of Rotational Grazing Systems On Grassland Bird Productivity In North Dakota, Taylor James Linder

Theses and Dissertations

Cattle grazing is one of the main economic contributors driving grassland ecosystem existence across the landscape. Cattle grazing can impact a variety of aspects of grassland ecosystems functions, including which wildlife species use them and in what ways. Given the drastic declines in grassland passerines, it is especially important to understand how different grazing practices affect critical population metrics such as reproductive success, clutch size, and number of fledglings. There is a wealth of research on grassland passerine reproductive in response to grazing systems throughout North America; however, most of the existing literature studies more traditional, longer rotational (LR) grazing …

Thermodynamic Evaluation Of The Thermal Methane Pyrolysis Process, Chinaecherem S. Okwuonu

Theses and Dissertations

Natural gas flaring is a persistent challenge which undermines global sustainability and decarbonization efforts as it leads to the waste of valuable energy resources alongside the release of harmful greenhouse gases into the environment. Even when natural gas is utilized through commonly adopted pathways, significant emission of carbon dioxide tends to be realized. Methane pyrolysis offers a promising route in which methane can be decomposed into solid carbon and hydrogen gas with no direct CO2 emissions. However, despite extensive studies of the methane pyrolysis process, a fundamental thermodynamic rationale of the process behavior remains insufficiently explored. This study 1) develops …

Und Connect: A Preliminary Overview Of Courtroom Observations And Interviews With Gfdvc Professionals And Representatives, Adam K. Matz, Ashley Fansher, Roni Mayzer, Jackson Archbold, Kambrya Stephenson, Sierra Schartz

Criminal Justice Faculty Publications

This research brief summarizes about half a dozen courtroom observations and a dozen interviews conducted with practitioners and court representatives affiliated with the Grand Forks Domestic Violence Court (GFDVC). About 43% of women and 31% of men in the state of North Dakota have experienced some form of sexual, physical, or stalking violence in their lifetime (Smith et al., 2023). Rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women in the state generally matches that of the broader nation, though the state ranks as one of the lowest in terms of violence against men.

Doctor Of Medicine Commencement: May 3, 2025, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Doctor of Medicine Commencement program from May 3, 2025.

Efficacy Of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy For The Treatment Of Children With Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Sarah Herman

Physician Assistant Scholarly Project Papers

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition in children, characterized by persistent and excessive worry that interferes with daily functioning and overall quality of life. Anxiety disorders are considered the most common psychiatric disorders among children. The trajectory of untreated anxiety in early life can result in more resistant and chronic presentations in the future, complicating both therapeutic engagement and outcomes. Parent- Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) has emerged as a potential alternative treatment for children displaying anxiety symptoms, particularly those diagnosed with GAD. This literature review endeavors to assess the effectiveness of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy as an …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Telehealth Interventions In Managing Type 2 Diabetes Among Adults In Underserved Rural Areas, Taylor Lemke

Nursing Capstones

Managing Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in underserved rural areas presents ongoing challenges due to limited healthcare access and provider shortages. Telehealth interventions, such as remote monitoring, mobile health applications, and virtual consultations, have emerged as promising strategies to enhance care delivery. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of telehealth in improving glycemic control and patient satisfaction among adults with T2D in rural settings. Recent studies, including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and systematic reviews published between 2019 and 2025, were analyzed. Overall, telehealth was associated with reductions in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), improved medication adherence, and increased patient engagement. High levels …

Air Traffic Trends And Uav Safety: Leveraging Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast Data For Predictive Risk Mitigation, Prasad Pothana, Paul Snyder, Sreejith Vidhyadharan, Michael Ullrich, Jack Thornby

Petroleum Engineering Student Publications

With the significant potential of Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles (UAVs) extending throughout various fields and industries, their proliferation raises concerns regarding potential risks within the national airspace system (NAS). To enhance the safe and efficient integration of UAVs into airport environments, this paper presents an analysis of temporal statistical patterns in flight traffic, the predictive modeling of future traffic trends using machine learning, and the identification of optimal time windows for UAV operations within airports. The framework was developed using historical Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) data obtained from the OpenSky Network. Historical flight data from Class B, C, and D airports …

Picking The President: Understanding The Electoral College. Revised And Expanded Edition, Eric Burin

Digital Press Books

During the latter half of 2024, with the United States amid unchartered waters, the Revised and Expanded Edition of Picking the President was assembled (like the first edition had been in 2017) to promote understanding of the Electoral College. To this end, Part I (“The First Edition of Picking the President”) consists of the first edition’s Preface, Introduction, and fourteen essays. Part II (“New Perspectives on the Electoral College”) unveils a new Prelude, a new Introduction, and fifteen new essays. Part III (“Resources”) features fifty items, including the complete debate on the subject at the Constitutional Convention, which illuminate …

Next-Gen Device For Uniform Cellular Migration Assay Execution, Nicholas M. Bittner

Theses and Dissertations

Cellular migration assays, particularly scratch assays, are pivotal in biomedical research for cell motility, wound healing, and metastasis. However, conventional scratch assays suffer from variability due to operator dependence, non-uniform scratch geometry, and a modified microenvironment that impacts reproducibility. This thesis presents the development and validation of a low-cost, 3D-printed device designed to standardize cellular migration assays. The device utilizes a spring mechanism and a biocompatible elastomer to create a uniform cellular exclusion zone without harming the surrounding cells. Through iterative prototyping and testing with MCF10A cell lines, the device demonstrated a significantly lower average standard deviation of length compared …

A Holistic Program Manual For Permanent Supportive Housing: Integrating Housing First And Occupational Therapy Approaches, Melody Mackenzie

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Background: Individuals experiencing chronic homelessness often face complex challenges including trauma, mental health conditions, and barriers to daily living. While permanent supportive housing provides long-term housing with supportive services, gaps exist in resources tailored for both residents and residential support staff. Many existing permanent supportive housing programs emphasize behavioral or mental health approaches, with fewer addressing the full range of occupational participation needs. Occupational therapy, with its holistic and client-centered perspective, offers a valuable lens to enhance service delivery in permanent supportive housing.

Purpose: The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop two compatible tools–a Permanent Supportive Housing Residential …

The Weapon Focus Effect On Memory For Male And Female Perpetrators, Faith Christel Aasen

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research on the weapon focus effect suggests that weapon presence causes reduced memory accuracy for perpetrator details due to weapons being surprising and unexpected. The unusualness hypothesis suggests that a stronger weapon focus effect should occur when the perpetrator defies typical gender stereotypes, such as a woman holding a gun. The current study sought to examine how the weapon focus effect impacts eyewitness memory for male and female perpetrators, specifically exploring the magnitude of the effect on female perpetrators. The current study further investigated whether the own gender bias attenuates the weapon focus effect on memory for female perpetrators. …

The Influence Of Active Galactic Nuclei (Agn) Feedback On Star Formation In Spiral Galaxies, Moreom Akter

Theses and Dissertations

We investigate the influence of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) feedback on star formation in spiral galaxies by analyzing a sample of 324 red and 273 blue spiral galaxies from 115 low-redshift galaxy clusters. The multi-wavelength dataset combines optical emission line data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), X-ray luminosity from the Chandra X-ray & XMM-Newton observatories, and ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) measurements from GALEX and WISE. Using diagnostic emission line ratios, we constructed Baldwin, Phillips, and Terlevich (BPT) diagrams to classify galaxies based on nuclear activity. Our analysis reveals that most of the red spirals have AGNs and …

Ai-Bms: Ai Battery Management System For Safe Uas Operations In High Electric And Magnetic Fields And Uncertain Conditions: Wind, Battery Drain, Temperature, And Payload, Tanzim Jim Hassan

Theses and Dissertations

Unmanned aerial systems/vehicles (UAS/UAVs) are increasingly utilized for inspecting high-voltage (HV) transmission (Tx) lines. However, operating in the vicinity of electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields can affect UAV control and battery performance. Pilots unfamiliar with high E/H field environments often struggle to accurately estimate remaining flight time, resulting in either premature mission terminations or crashes due to depleted batteries. To address these challenges, this thesis focuses on developing an intelligent Battery Management System (BMS) for UAVs to ensure safe and reliable surveillance operations under various uncertain conditions, such as wind gusts, temperature variations, E/H fields, battery drain, and payload …