Digital Commons Network^™

Navigating The Shift: Supporting Health Sciences Faculty Transitioning From Industry To Asynchronous Online Education, Joshua D. Snyder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative exploratory study examined how new online instructors in the health sciences division of a North Texas community college experienced institutional onboarding and professional development as they transitioned from industry roles into asynchronous online teaching. As community colleges expand online instruction to meet the needs of nontraditional learners, many health sciences faculty enter academic roles with strong clinical expertise but limited preparation in online pedagogy. Guided by the community of inquiry framework and self-efficacy theory, this study explored instructors’ perceptions of their preparedness for asynchronous teaching; the instructional challenges they encountered, particularly related to student engagement; and the types …

The Speech, Language, And Feeding Development Of One Child With Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome, Alyssa Ann Erickson

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the longitudinal speech, language, and feeding development of a child with Wiedemann–Steiner syndrome (WSS) from birth to age 10. The study aimed to characterize developmental patterns, identify strengths and challenges, and evaluate changes over time within the context of ongoing speech-language intervention. A qualitative longitudinal case study design was used, combining retrospective review of medical, therapeutic, and educational records with direct clinical assessment at age 10. Measures included the Oral and Written Language Scales–Second Edition (OWLS-II)), a spontaneous language sample, a phonemic inventory, a Childhood Apraxia of Speech screening, a caregiver feeding questionnaire, and a clinical feeding …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

A Structured Mentorship Program And Its Relationship To Motivation And Confidence Of New Language Instructors, Alena Makarava

Theses and Dissertations

At the Russian School of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC), new instructors enter a demanding military academic environment that requires rapid adjustment, strong teaching skills, and sustained motivation. This study examined participants’ perceptions of a structured mentorship program and its perceived influence on motivation, teaching confidence, adjustment to the work environment, and professional growth.

Guided by Kram’s Mentorship Theory, the study used a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Mentors and mentees from the past five years completed an anonymous online survey. A total of 113 of 260 eligible participants completed the quantitative section, and 22 also provided written …

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 …

Student Affairs Staff Retention In Illinois Community Colleges: A Descriptive Case Study, Autumn Scott

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study explored the experiences of student affairs professionals at community colleges to gain insight into the problem of staff retention, especially as it exists at community colleges, a sector that is under-researched in the literature on student affairs staff turnover. As open access institutions, community colleges must engage diverse student populations in a dynamic environment. Retaining quality student affairs staff is an important strategy to support student success and meet community college missions. As part of a bounded case study approach, two Illinois community colleges served as research sites. Data collection consisted of participant interviews, participant demographic …

Reducing Structural Barriers In Teacher Preparation: An Improvement Science Study Of A Year-Long Residency Model In Rural Nevada, Brian Zeiszler

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages in Nevada, particularly in rural school districts, have been exacerbated by structural barriers within teacher preparation programs that limit candidate progression to graduation and licensure. This study examines the Teacher Education Program (TEP) at Great Basin College (GBC) as a case to identify these barriers and evaluate the implementation of a year-long teacher residency model as a strategy for improvement. Guided by institutional theory, situated learning theory, and constructivism, this study conceptualizes candidate challenges as systemic rather than individual, focusing on how program structures influence access, persistence, and readiness for licensure.Using a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods case study design, Artifact …

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 …

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 …

Modeling Type 2 Diabetes Progression, Hereditary Risk, And Treatment Outcomes: Integrating Prevention, Lifestyle Modifications, And Pharmacological Interventions, Grace Ebunoluwa Fatoyinbo

Theses and Dissertations

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) remains one of the most significant chronic health conditionsworldwide and continues to place pressure on healthcare systems through its long-term complications, treatment costs, and growing prevalence. The progression of T2D is influenced by multiple interacting factors, including hereditary predisposition, lifestyle behavior, treatment access, remission, relapse, and the development of complications. Because of this complexity, mathematical models can provide useful insight into disease dynamics and the possible effects of intervention strategies over time. This study develops a compartmental model for T2D progression using a system of ordinary differential equations. The population is divided into epidemiologically meaningful classes …

Stigma Is Committing: Public Perceptions Of Race, Substance Use, And Civil Commitment, Meliyah Anderson-Tryon

Theses and Dissertations

Civil commitment in the United States is a legal process through which individuals experiencing severe mental illness may be involuntarily admitted for psychological treatment. Despite its far-reaching consequences, public knowledge and perceptions of civil commitment remain largely underexamined. These gaps may contribute to increased stigma toward individuals with severe mental illness or those who engage in substance use. This study used a vignette-based experimental design manipulating a hypothetical individual’s race and presence or absence of past substance use. The hypothetical individual was portraying symptoms related to schizophrenia, subsequently leading to being civilly committed. Participants (N = 208) evaluated perceived dangerousness …

The Primary Care Experiences Of American Indian Patients Diagnosed With Opioid Use Disorder (Oud), Frank Johnson Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study utilized descriptive phenomenology to describe the lived experiences of AmericanIndian patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD), when they visit their primary care provider. The specific aims were to: 1) describe what was beneficial when visiting their provider; 2) describe what was detrimental when visiting their provider; and 3) provide recommendations for improving primary care services. Twelve participants were interviewed and the essence of the phenomenon emerged as “the interaction between the provider and patient”. A model was created. The constituents of the essence were beneficial interactions and detrimental interactions. The major themes that emerged from beneficial interactions …

Identifying Diet Quality Of Ultra-Processed Foods Among Student Health Professionals, Claudia Julianne Promschmidt

Theses and Dissertations

Disagreement exists in literature and media on definitions and classification ofultra-processed food (UPF) making interpretation for policy makers, consumers, and health professionals confusing. As health professionals have a large role in nutrition education, this study looked at how students enrolled in a health professional program at the University of North Dakota determine nutrient density of UPFs and non-UPFs. Researchers calculated nutrient density to classify foods into a survey. Students completing the survey had access to both the ingredient list and Nutrition Facts Panel before selecting the food as choose often, sometimes, or rarely, and then indicated which tool was used …

Exploring Obstacles To Food Security Across The University Of North Dakota Student Body, Emma Patzer

Theses and Dissertations

Food insecurity (FI) is a public health concern, and college students are especially vulnerable to FI. FI has been correlated with poor academic performance, poor health behaviors, and negative physical/mental health outcomes in college students. This thesis investigates which students are most affected by FI at a major mid-western university, identifies major barriers to food security (FS) among students at the university, and describes how these barriers differ by living location. A cross-sectional survey of students (n=905) enrolled in ≥1 credits in Spring of 2025 was conducted. Unadjusted ORs and multinomial binary logistic regression were used to determine the groups …

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 …

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 …

Spirituality And Well-Being Among Native College Students, Emma Reese Smith

Theses and Dissertations

In the current literature surrounding spirituality, definitions and conceptualizations of the construct differ. Researchers have proposed common themes of spirituality–self-awareness, interconnectedness to the world, and a relationship to a higher power or greater purpose (Hamilton & Jackson, 1998). While definitions of spirituality and how it is operationalized vary across studies, the current view in the field is that spirituality has positive outcomes on those who practice it, including their overall degree of well-being. While these positive effects have been showcased in the literature, due to the influence of western Christian perspectives on many measures of spirituality, there are methodological issues …

Self-Talk In Esports: Extending Sport Psychology Frameworks To Digital Competition, Brett Anne Thompson Machamer

Theses and Dissertations

Self-talk is a key mechanism underlying performance, confidence, and emotional regulation, yet its use in esports remains underexplored. This study examined self-talk patterns among esports players, focusing on associations with hours played, self-talk type and valence, and contextual and motivational factors influencing its use. Esports players (N = 102; M = 18.53 hours/week, SD = 13.74) across a range of competitive levels completed an online questionnaire assessing self-talk type, valence, and contextual use. Greater hours played were associated with increased use of strategic self-talk, while self-talk valence was not significantly related to time spent playing. Participants most frequently reported using …

Machine Learning For Laminar Heat Transfer In Supercritical Fluids, Luke Holtshouser

Theses and Dissertations

In the last 10 years machine learning has become increasingly more used in the field of fluid dynamics and heat transfer. However, with this increase in activity, gaps still exist with respect to supercritical fluids and laminar flows, where laminar flow in general seems understudied. For supercritical fluids, there are many peculiar studies that are isolated to unique systems or they are obscure enough to include everything but the kitchen sink. This strategy provides no real insights into how the field can make further progress in the utilization of the technology available, or rather build-upon previous knowledge. For this reason, …

Filling The Gaps: Rural-Remote High School Teachers’ Perceptions Of Professional Training In Student Mental Health Preparedness, Angela N. Muhs

Theses and Dissertations

Rural-remote high school teachers are frequently the first to notice and respond to student mental health concerns, yet they operate within communities characterized by significant shortages in mental health providers. Access to professional mental health services in these settings remains persistently limited, placing considerable responsibility on teachers who may lack adequate preparation. This study employed an interpretive case study design to qualitatively examine how rural-remote high school teachers in North Dakota perceive their professional training and overall preparedness in addressing student mental health concerns. Twelve licensed teachers, whose experience ranged from six months to 33 years, participated in in-depth interviews. …

Additively Constructed Concrete Culverts (Acc), Eugene Kwabena Assuah-Damoah

Theses and Dissertations

Rural culvert systems in cold regions like North Dakota face rising replacement needs due to aging infrastructure, harsh deterioration, and limited precast supply. Additive construction with concrete (ACC) offers promise but is constrained by proprietary mix designs, limited validation for non-linear geometries such as ring-type pipes, and challenges in reinforcement integration. This study addresses these gaps through three efforts. First, a non-proprietary mix (MIX7, w/c = 0.37) using local materials achieved optimal printability (190–200 mm flow) and 28‑day strengths of 55–60 MPa; full-scale 18‑inch pipes met ASTM C76 Class II/III requirements. Second, literature shows ACC permanent formwork performance depends on …

Engineering Translational Biosensing Tools Forparkinson’S Disease, Mercedes Terry

Theses and Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction and early cognitive decline. Diagnosis and monitoring remain largely symptom-driven, relying on clinical scales that capture disease only after significant neurodegeneration has occurred. These assessments are inherently subjective, episodic, and insensitive to early-stage pathology, limiting both timely diagnosis and the ability to track disease progression or therapeutic response. The lack of objective, quantitative biomarkers for both molecular pathology and cognitive impairment remains a major barrier to advancing precision medicine approaches in Parkinson’s disease. This dissertation approaches Parkinson’s disease from two complementary fronts: molecular detection of alpha-synuclein pathology and quantitative …

Mechanistic Insights Into Hla-Dependent Tumor Microenvironment Modulation And Tcr Vβ Activation Induced By Staphylococcal Enterotoxin I And Staphylococcal Enterotoxin G In Melanoma, Abiola Michael Sholarin

Theses and Dissertations

Immunotherapies have transformed cancer treatment by enabling durable antitumor responses through targeted activation of the immune system. Among the most potent immune-stimulatory molecules are bacterial superantigens, which activate large fractions of the T-cell repertoire through simultaneous binding of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules and conserved regions of the T-cell receptor (TCR) β-chain. Because these interactions are strongly human MHC–restricted, HLA-transgenic mouse models are essential for evaluating the therapeutic potential and safety of superantigen-based immunotherapies.This dissertation investigates the antitumor activity and mechanisms of action of two superantigens encoded within the Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin gene cluster—Staphylococcal enterotoxin I (SEI) and …