Digital Commons Network^™

Hotspot Analysis Of Nitrate And Arsenic Concentrations In Minnesota Well Water, Jadyn Keeler

Arts & Sciences Undergraduate Showcase

Water contamination is one of the biggest threats to water supply and can have long term human health consequences. It is key to identify vulnerable regions to develop better management strategies. This project utilizes hotspot and outlier geospatial analysis to locate areas across Minnesota with elevated levels of nitrate and arsenic in well water and better understand potential factors that might be influencing this. Statistically significant hotspots and cold spots were identified with up to 99% confidence. Hotspots of nitrate were located mainly in the south-central region while hotspots of arsenic were located primarily in the western and south-central portions …

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.

Pedagogical Strategies In Medical Laboratory Science Student Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study Of Learner-Centered And Lecture-Based Instruction, Kasey Kuker

Medical Laboratory Science Independent Study Projects

Learner centered teaching (LCT) has gained prominence across the health sciences, yet its specific impact on Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) education remains underexamined. This comparative literature review synthesizes findings from various empirical studies to evaluate how active, learner centered pedagogies - such as flipped classrooms, blended learning, team based learning, simulation, gamification, and structured feedback - perform relative to traditional lecture based instruction. Across diverse MLS and allied health contexts, LCT consistently improved cognitive outcomes including examination performance, laboratory skill proficiency, and long term retention. Equally significant were gains in affective outcomes: heightened self efficacy, motivation, engagement, teamwork, and professional …

Reactive-Fluid-Transport Controls On Co2-Eor Applications In The Upper Red River Carbonate Reservoir, Abdelmalek Abes

Theses and Dissertations

Reactive-transport phenomena during CO2 injection in carbonate reservoir were examined in detail. Three core samples from the primary producing units of North Dakota’s Upper Red River Formation (U2-H055, U4-H069, and U6-H009) were used to experimentally investigate geochemical reactions and petrophysical alterations, impacting carbon dioxide enhanced-oil-recovery (CO2-EOR) and geologic-carbon-storage (GCS) projects. During corefloods using a CO2/brine mixture, two samples demonstrated early permeability increases followed by declines, whereas the third sample demonstrated an early decrease; all samples gradually recovered at a later stage. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements revealed slight porosity increases due to dissolution-induced wormholes, while the pore-size distribution (PSD) shifted …

Towards Continuous Carbon Fibers From Corn Oil, Ismail Akanmu Adebayo

Theses and Dissertations

The global demand for carbon fibers has experienced exponential growth over the last decade, driven by the desire for materials with high strength and low density for applications in aerospace, automotive, wind energy, and specialty industrial markets. Currently, carbon fibers are almost exclusively produced from petroleum-based precursors, most commonly polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and petroleum-derived pitch. The high production costs associated with these fossil-based precursors limit the broader adoption of carbon fibers and represent a significant barrier to market expansion. The development of a bio-based carbon fiber precursor derived from renewable feedstocks would help transition this market away from fossil carbon sources …

Student Engagement As A Predictor Of Stem Student Success, Mosab Shaher Abu Al Foul

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study investigates factors influencing engagement, persistence, and degree completion among underrepresented minority (URM) students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Guided by Tinto’s Interactionist Model (1975) and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory(1977), it examines how institutional practices and socioeconomic conditions contribute to inequities in student outcomes. Using a non-experimental, correlational design, the study analyzes National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) data and institutional records from a Midwestern Research 2 university (N = 620; URM subsample n = 52). Binary logistic regression, MANOVA, and t-tests were used to assess relationships among High-Impact Educational Practices (HIEPs), engagement indicators, faculty interaction, pre-college …

Mechanistic Investigation Of Arsenic Removal From Drinking Water Using Metal–Organic Frameworks And Granular Activated Carbon, Mousa Almousa

Theses and Dissertations

Arsenic contamination in groundwater represents a critical environmental and public health challenge due to its high toxicity and widespread occurrence in natural aquifers. Chronic exposure to arsenic, even at trace levels, is associated with severe health effects, including skin lesions and increased cancer risk. Conventional treatment technologies, such as adsorption using activated carbon or metal oxides, often suffer from limited selectivity, regeneration difficulty, and reduced efficiency under varying pH conditions. Therefore, developing advanced sorbent materials with high capacity, selectivity, and structural stability is essential for addressing arsenic pollution in decentralized water systems.Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as promising materials …

Variable Selection Via Penalized Logistic Regression For Binary Classification, Gloria Antwi-Boasiako

Theses and Dissertations

In this study, we developed some hybrid estimators for variable selection in logistic regression by integrating the sparse local gradients (SLG) with some existing variable selection methods such as LASSO, Elastic net, SCAD, and MCP. The goal is to retain the flexibility of penalized likelihood estimation while improving the stability and interpretability of the selected model.

The finite-sample performance of the proposed methods is examined through a Monte Carlo simulation study covering low-, moderate-, and high-dimensional settings under different levels of predictor correlation. The simulation results show that incorporating SLG screening generally leads to more controlled model sizes and fewer …

Geochemical Modeling Of Co2 Sequestration In Saline Aquifer: Broom Creek Saline Aquifer, Lawrence Chima Asouzu

Theses and Dissertations

Geological carbon sequestration in deep saline aquifers is widely regarded as a critical technology for mitigating anthropogenic CO₂ emissions. This dissertation presents a formation-specific, kinetically constrained reactive transport modelling study of CO₂ storage performance in the Broom Creek Formation, a quartz- and feldspar-dominated saline aquifer in the Williston Basin, North Dakota.

A high-resolution geological model was constructed in Petrel using well logs, well tops, and Sorensen’s permeability correlation, then exported via RESCUE file into CMG GEM for dynamic reactive transport simulation. The base-case scenario involved injection of CO₂ at 15 MMScf/day for one year, followed by 199 years of post-injection …

Non-Terrestrial Colonial Security And Critical Contingency Operations, Augustine Gabriel Wesley Batten

Theses and Dissertations

Since the turn of the century, the dependence of state functionality and capability on cyber infrastructure has grown exponentially, resulting in an equally expanding list of means to exploit this dependency. Cyberattacks have demonstrated the ability to target the space industry and critical infrastructure beyond our atmosphere. The potential damage this growing threat can bring is what this research aims to prepare for and mitigate. The purpose of this research is to determine cyber-attack indicators and develop responses designed to mitigate the effects of worst-case scenarios. It is important to understand that this study included a theoretical scenario to address …

Wifi-Based Teleoperation System For A 3d-Printed Rc Car, Manvel Beaver

Theses and Dissertations

In the field of autonomous vehicle (AV) research, developers often face a significant gap between low-power hobbyist kits and cost-prohibitive industrial platforms. This thesis presents the design, integration, and validation of "Das Mueller," a high-performance, 1/10th-scale unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) designed to provide a transparent and cost-effective testbed for neural network development. By bridging the interoperability gap between the Donkey Car software framework and the 3D-printable Tarmo5 mechanical chassis, this project establishes a modular architecture centered on the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX single-board computer.

The research utilizes a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approach and rapid prototyping to address critical challenges …

A Comparative Study Of Dsmc Codes For Rarefied Atmospheric Re-Entry Applications, Laina Behrenbrinker

Theses and Dissertations

Hypersonic atmospheric re-entry involves complex rarefied flow phenomena, including thermochemical non-equilibrium and plasma formation, which must be accurately predicted to assess vehicle performance and communication blackout. The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method is applied to model these effects through code-to-code comparison and rarefied re-entry simulation. DSMC codes SPARTA and Comet are compared with a 2D cylinder test case to evaluate consistency in predicted flowfield quantities. This is followed by 2D and 3D axi-symmetric simulation of the Varda re-entry capsule at 78 km altitude to characterize plasma formation. 2D cylinder results show agreement in translational and rotational temperature and neutral …

Studying The Hidden Heat: A Theoretical Approach To Better Understanding The Thermal Conditions Of The Yellowstone Volcano In Wyoming, Usa, Daniel Burke Brunson

Theses and Dissertations

Using the spatiotemporal record of the 2.1–0 Ma ignimbrite flare-up of the Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field (YPVF) as a proxy for batholith formation at depth, this dissertation develops and applies the Finite Difference Heat Flow Simulation (FDHFS) program to model crustal thermal evolution beneath the supervolcano. FDHFS, a modular C++ numerical simulator, solves the transient heat equation incorporating variable thermal conductivity, radiogenic heat production, and directional advection in three-dimensional Cartesian grids. Validation against analytical benchmarks and seafloor-spreading analogs confirms its fidelity for combined conduction-advection processes in heterogeneous crustal settings.

High-resolution volume–time analysis of major ignimbrite pulses (Huckleberry Ridge, Mesa Falls, …

Safety Assurance In A Collegiate Flight Program With Safety Management Systems (Sms): A Mixed-Methods Approach To Evaluating Safety Risk Control Effectiveness, Erin Dunker

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined safety assurance and the effectiveness of safety risk controls within a collegiate flight training program operating under a Safety Management System (SMS). Using a mixed-methods approach, the research integrated quantitative survey data with organizational safety performance data to evaluate how safety risk controls function across operational domains. A survey instrument, the Collegiate Aviation Safety Risk Control Effectiveness Scale (CASRICES), was developed and validated to measure perceptions of safety risk control effectiveness among respondents using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Reliability, and Construct Validity Analyses.

The EFA supported a three-factor structure consisting of Pilot Training Risk Controls, Safety Reporting …

Strengthening Teacher Retention Through Strategic Onboarding, Stacey Eger-Converse

Theses and Dissertations

The United States education system is currently facing a critical staffing crisis characterized by dwindling enrollment in teacher preparation programs and alarming rates of voluntary attrition. Each school year, school districts report difficulties filling certified positions. This cycle of departure incurs staggering fiscal costs and creates a "recursive loop" where high turnover leads to lower student performance and community dissatisfaction, which further drives teacher exits. While most new teachers participate in induction programs, districts continue to lose approximately half of their new hires, suggesting that current support structures are insufficient. This research addresses a significant gap in the literature: the …

Numerical Verification Of A Gpu-Accelerated Particle-In-Cell Code For Low-Temperature Plasma Simulations, Wei Guo

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis presents the numerical verification of Comet, a GPU-accelerated Particle-in-Cell with Monte Carlo Collisions (PIC/MCC) code designed for low-temperature plasma simulations. To ensure efficient deployment across heterogeneous computing architectures, the framework leverages the Kokkos performance-portability layer for high-performance execution. Verification was conducted through a series of hierarchical stages with increasing physical complexity, benchmarking each component of the fundamental PIC/MCC simulation cycle. This structured approach establishes the numerical fidelity of the code's algorithmic building blocks prior to its application in predictive plasma research.

The first stage verifies field interpolation and particle pusher modules against canonical single-particle cases, focusing on ion …

Critical Minerals Recovery From Oil And Gas Fields Produced Water In The Bakken Formation, North Dakota, Md Jakaria

Theses and Dissertations

The growing demand for critical minerals essential to clean energy technologies presents an opportunity to transform oilfield produced water (PW) – traditionally treated as waste – into a valuable resource. This dissertation investigates the recovery potential of lithium, salts, and other critical elements from produced water in the Bakken Formation, North Dakota, and evaluates the economic feasibility of integrating such recovery processes into existing petroleum operations. Comprehensive geochemical analyses were conducted on samples collected throughout the Bakken, revealing total dissolved solids (TDS) ranging from 46,815 to 327,714 ppm and lithium concentrations exceeding 200 ppm in several wells, indicating economically recoverable …

Redox-Driven Wettability In Underground Hydrogen Storage: Linking Geochemical Speciation, Surface Charge, And Contact Angle, Ijaz Khan

Theses and Dissertations

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) depends on complex interactions among reservoir rocks, brine, and gas under redox conditions induced by H2 injection. Although wettability is often treated as a static parameter, redox reactions can shift pH, aqueous speciation, and mineral surface charge, thereby altering contact angles and, consequently, injectivity, trapping, and recovery. This work tests the hypothesis that dominant redox pathways in saline aquifers and depleted reservoirs, specifically Fe(III) and sulfate reduction, systematically modify mineral surface stability and charge, producing predictable shifts in wettability. To address this, we developed a physics-guided machine learning workflow that integrates mechanistic geochemical understanding with empirical …

Biomanufacturing Of Carbon-Based Fuel & Chemical Products And Beccus Solutions For De-Carbonization In Texas And The Gulf Coast, Darrell Mayon

Theses and Dissertations

This research investigates the integration of advanced biomanufacturing technologies and Bioenergy with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (BECCUS) systems to decarbonize fuel and chemical production in Texas and the Gulf Coast. The region, which leads the United States in petroleum refining, petrochemical manufacturing, and CO₂ transportation infrastructure, represents both a major source of greenhouse gas emissions and a strategic opportunity for large scale carbon mitigation. While bio-based chemicals such as bioisoprene are technically feasible and demonstrate significantly lower life cycle greenhouse gas intensities compared to fossil based counterparts, their commercial deployment remains constrained by economic and systemic barriers. The central …

Flipping The Odds: At-Risk Students’ Perceptions Of The Benefits Of The Flipped Classroom Model In High School Mathematics, Roberto Alonzo Moedano

Theses and Dissertations

High school educators tasked with teaching and learning are often challenged to find ways to keep students engaged and ensure they are learning content. However, the COVID-19 pandemic that the United States experienced from 2020 to 2023 (Northwestern Medicine Staff & Northwestern Medicine, 2025) made educators’ efforts more difficult. This unprecedented time of remote teaching and learning transformed the educational landscape overnight. It removed face-to-face learning and replaced it with virtual classes—neither teachers nor students were prepared for the challenges. This research study examines how a flipped classroom approach has the potential to yield positive results at the high school …

Evaluation Of Geothermal Viability In Partially Abandoned And Dry Oil Wells Within The Red River Formation In Williston Basin For Repurposing Into Enhanced Geothermal Systems, Ajan Meenakshisundaram

Theses and Dissertations

Transitioning toward global decarbonization of energy resources necessitates the development of dispatchable baseload resources that leverage existing infrastructure to minimize environmental footprints and capital expenditures. This research investigates the technical and economic feasibility of repurposing unplugged and dry oil and gas wells within the Red River Formation of the Williston Basin in North Dakota for conversion into Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). While immense geothermal resources exist, they are often rendered uneconomical by high drilling costs and a lack of holistic subsurface understanding at target depths. To bridge these gaps, this interdisciplinary study employs a workflow ranging from experimental physics and …

Thriving Within Digital Learning Courses: Examining The Influence Of Interactions In Kinesiology Undergraduate Students, Jimmy J. Morin

Theses and Dissertations

The expansion of online and hybrid education has reshaped higher education, particularly in applied fields such as kinesiology that emphasize hands-on learning. Despite this growth, limited research has examined how specific interaction types (academic, social, and deeper life) contribute to student thriving in digital environments. This dissertation explored how interactions with faculty, staff, and peers influence holistic student success in online and hybrid kinesiology programs utilizing a three-paper dissertation approach to address this gap through complementary methods. Paper 1 synthesizes existing literature on student interactions and thriving in digital learning contexts. Paper 2 uses one-way ANOVA and ANCOVA to examine …

Comprehensive Analytical Approaches To Biophysical And Hard Matter Systems, Carlos Munoz

Theses and Dissertations

In this work we define the methods and experimental techniques that are used in the synthesis, characterization, and development of biophysical and hard matter systems. These efforts encompass six principal areas: Comprehensive characterization of pathogenic bacteria, development of novel chemical methods for probing binding affinities in cellular systems, understanding the electronic properties of silicon/silicon dioxide interfaces, characterization of catalytic perovskite oxide materials, and lastly, heteroepitaxial growth of vanadium nitride thin films on the silicon nitride surface.The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi) causes an infection with diverse clinical outcomes, which can include arthritis as well as cardiac and neurological …

A Privacy-Preserving, Ai-Driven Framework For Bathroom Activity Monitoring And Health Recommendation In Elderly Care, Collins Poku Obeng

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid aging of the global population necessitates scalable, non-invasive solutions, for monitoring Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) to detect early signs of health decline. This thesis presents a novel, end-to-end framework for monitoring bathroom activities—specifically bathing, toileting, and oral hygiene—using wearable sensors, machine learning and Agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI). The research addresses three critical gaps: the lack of granular activity recognition in privacy-sensitive spaces, the need for personalized health insights without manual logging, and the cybersecurity risks inherent in deploying AI in healthcare. First, algorithms utilizing wearable humidity and accelerometer sensor data were developed to classify hygiene behaviors with …

Modeled Decrease In Wildfire Occurrence In Alaska By 2100, Hayden Patterson

Theses and Dissertations

Wildfire occurrence in Alaska has increased since 1979 due to global climate change. The rising temperatures affect relative humidity, vapor pressure deficit, precipitation, and other factors that lead to the increased ignition of wildfires. Therefore, there is a distinct need for a statewide prediction-model for wildfire occurrence in Alaska. This research modeled the effects of changing humidity on spatial evolution of the predict wildfires out to 2100. We found that the wildfire occurrence area would grow by 65% until 2052 and then would shrink until 2100 by 94%. This suggests that the increasing moisture in the warming air is outcompeting …

Ground Penetrating Radar Spiral Antenna Transient Response Based On Target Radar Cross Section, David Rohde

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a significant advancement in Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) detection technology through the development of a novel method for the detection and classification of buried conductive objects using custom-designed Archimedean spiral antennas. The research demonstrates that the transient electromagnetic response of an Archimedean spiral antenna is strongly correlated with the Radar Cross Section (RCS) characteristics of buried objects operating within the radar resonance scattering, or Mie, region. By leveraging this relationship, the proposed approach enables not only the detection of buried objects, but also generalized classification based on object geometry and size.A primary contribution of this work is …

An Environmental Systems Engineering Framework For The United States Space Force: Multi-Objective Optimization Of Co2 Emissions And Biodiversity Trade-Offs, Julio Roberto Pinto Covelli

Theses and Dissertations

The increasing demand for sustainable defense operations has prompted the US Space Force to explore advanced strategies that reduce carbon emissions and preserve biodiversity across its installations. This dissertation proposes a scalable systems-engineering framework that quantitatively integrates CO₂ emissions modeling and ecological simulation at RAF Feltwell and RAF Lakenheath, two strategically signi?cant installations with notable ecological value. Using toolsincluding Python, MATLAB, ArcGIS, and InVEST, this research models emissions and habitat quality under various operational scenarios. The study incorporates engineering performance metrics, including emissions intensity, resilience indicators, and energy efficiency rates, to inform trade-off modeling for real-time mission and environmental decision-making. …

Teachers’ Perceptions Of Their Culturally Relevant Practices Within Stem Education, Focusing On Native American Students, Cortney Ellen Shuley

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines how culturally relevant practices are perceived and enacted by K-12 STEM educators working with Native American and non-Native American students. Situated within the context of North Dakota’s educational landscape, the research explores both teacher perspectives and curriculum design, with particular attention to the role and integration of the North Dakota Native American Essential Understandings (NDNAEU) within STEM instruction and curriculum design. Using thematic analysis of interviews and photo elicitation with three K-12 teachers who have participated in culturally relevant engineering education, as well as document analysis of NDNAEU and state-standards-aligned STEM lesson plans, the study examines …

Numerical Investigation Of Plume–Surface Interactions Using Automated Adaptive Mesh Refinement, Fahim Shahriyar

Theses and Dissertations

This work presents a numerical investigation of plume–surface interactionsusing the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, coupled with the devel opment of an automated adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) framework for rarefied flow simulations. A two-dimensional axisymmetric configuration is used to simulate the impingement of a rarefied exhaust plume on a flat surface under vacuum condi tions representative of experimental test facilities. Surface pressure, shear stress, and heat flux induced by plume impingement are computed and compared with published experimental and numerical results to validate the DSMC approach. To address the strong mesh sensitivity and computational inefficiency associ ated with uniform …

Enhancing Geothermal Productivity In The Red River Formation, Williston Basin: Utilization Of Unconventional Stimulation Technology And Sco2 Injection To Improve Geothermal Inlet Temperature, Fluid Flow Rate, And Project Economics, Etochukwu Jude Uzuegbu

Theses and Dissertations

Geothermal energy is a reliable renewable energy source capable of delivering consistent baseload electricity while emitting very low concentrations of greenhouse gases. In very low permeable geothermal reservoir, the geothermal system’s efficiency and economic feasibility are heavily dependent on reservoir productivity, which includes the fluid circulation and heat extraction efficiency. This research assesses the geothermal inlet temperature dynamics, fluid production and techno-economic viability of two reservoir productivity enhancement approaches: Hydraulic Fracturing (Base Case model) and Fishbones stimulation (Proposed Case model) under various operational conditions. The research aims to evaluate the influence of these two approaches on the geothermal inlet temperature, …