Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

A Life Cycle Assessment Of Cotton And Hemp As Textile Fibers, Emalie Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

Garment consumption is on the rise. With an increase in resource use, there will beobservable impacts. This study focused on the environmental impacts from garment production, specifically from natural fibers – cotton and hemp. Using the program SimaPro, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted from cradle to consumer. The LCA included fiber cultivation, textile production, and consumer use phase for a t-shirt, one made from cotton and one made from hemp. A survey was distributed among the University of North Dakota’s student and faculty population to gather data on consumer use behaviors, including shopping, laundry, and discard habits. The …

Integrating Emotional Intelligence Into Interpreter Training: A Syllabi Analysis And Curriculum Review Framework, Caroline Lynn Becker

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study examines how Interpreter Training Programs (ITPs) incorporate emotionalintelligence (EI) into their curricula. To examine how these competencies are addressed, this study analyzed course syllabi from accredited four-year interpreter education programs using a structured review protocol. Syllabi from Collegiate Commission on Interpreter Education- accredited programs at both public and private institutions were included. Findings indicate that EI is rarely named, explicitly taught, or formally assessed within course descriptions or assignments. While many programs include components aligned with EI domains, such as ethics instruction, supervision, cultural engagement, and reflective practice, these elements are embedded implicitly rather than framed as …

Bridging Culture And Education To Enhance Cherokee Student Health And Wellness, Lindsey Hammer

Theses and Dissertations

Indigenous populations face ongoing health disparities, often worsened by a lack of culturally relevant and Indigenous-led programs and interventions. This dissertation in practice was inspired by the need for community-driven, culturally grounded approaches that address these disparities for Cherokee Nation in Northeastern Oklahoma. Each of the three products are inspired by and aligned with the principles of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), the Cherokee value of gadugi, and the concept of relationality, offering a holistic approach to community health and well-being. Not every product represents a fully implemented CBPR process but rather a CBPR-informed approach. Future stages will emphasize more meaningful …

Analyzing Uav Propeller Performance At Various Advance Ratios Using Wind Tunnel Testing And Cfd, Nicholas Holte

Theses and Dissertations

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) procedure is developed in this thesis to predict the performance parameters of small-scale unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) propellers and to validate the results against experimental data over various advance ratios. The commercially available Ansys Fluent® software (version 24.2) was used to simulate 19-inch and 14-inch Advanced Precision Composites (APC) Thin Electric propellers each with pitches of 12 inches per revolution. The simulation results were compared to data collected in open-atmosphere wind generator experiments at the University of North Dakota (UND) and also to experimental wind tunnel data from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). …

Beyond The Manual: Training Troubleshooting Skills Through Augmented Reality, Lawrence Allen Smith Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Many industrial maintenance departments implement and utilize Augmented Reality Technology (ART) and Augmented Reality Technical Training (ARTT) in their day-to-day operations. This study aims to examine technicians' troubleshooting skills by exploring two main questions: (1) how these skills are impacted by Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), and (2) how they are influenced by using either paper manuals or ARTT manuals. The research will compare the effects of traditional paper manuals and ARTT manuals on the learning outcomes of troubleshooters. The measurements of learning outcomes will include cognitive ability, professional specific knowledge, and skill retention. Keywords: augmented reality (AR), industrial maintenance, augmented …

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 …

Machine Learning Applications For Numerical Simulation Of Co2 Sequestration, Adeboye Kayode Adeyinka

Theses and Dissertations

Global CO2 emissions significantly exceed the capacity of planned sequestration projects. Among subsurface storage sites, deep saline aquifers offer the largest theoretical capacity because they occur naturally across most sedimentary basins. However, major geological uncertainties, such as permeability variations and sand continuity, complicate these projects due to sparse well data. Consequently, analyzing CO2 sequestration projects in saline aquifers require robust reservoir simulation which are unfortunately, computationally complex with long runtimes, presenting severe bottlenecks for extensive risk assessment.

Machine learning algorithms can overcome these limitations by drastically reducing computational runtimes, enabling rapid scenario testing and optimization. Despite this potential, existing literature …

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, …

Techno-Economic Analysis And Density Functional Theory Modeling Of Hydrogen Fuel Cells With Platinum-Based Catalysts For Effective Deployment In Long-Range Electric Vehicles, Thomas Cheekwang Yap

Theses and Dissertations

The transition to sustainable transportation is constrained by carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependence. Hydrogen fuel cells (HFCs), particularly those utilizing platinum-based catalysts, offer high efficiency and suitability for long-range electric vehicles (EVs). However, the high cost and durability limitations of platinum catalysts remain major barriers to large-scale deployment.

This study integrates techno-economic analysis (TEA) with density functional theory (DFT) modeling to evaluate cost–performance trade-offs of platinum-based catalysts for long-range hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. DFT simulations were conducted to assess platinum alloy compositions and oxygen reduction reaction activity. These performance metrics were incorporated into a MATLAB-based TEA framework to quantify …

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 …

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 …

Open Chromatin-Guided Analysis Of Cell-Free Dna For Inferring Regulatory Landscapes In Cancer Detection, Monitoring, And Therapeutic Response, Sakuntha Devaka Gunarathna

Theses and Dissertations

Conventional cancer diagnosis and monitoring rely on imaging and tissue biopsies. Imaging is constrained by resolution, while biopsies are invasive, limited in capturing tumor heterogeneity, and challenging to perform repeatedly over time. Liquid biopsy has emerged as a minimally invasive alternative that enables real-time assessment of tumor-derived material in circulation. Among its components, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has gained significant attention as a promising biomarker for cancer detection and disease monitoring. However, most current cfDNA approaches rely on mutation- and methylation-based signals, which, while informative, can be limited by low tumor fraction, biological heterogeneity, and reduced sensitivity in early-stage disease. In …

The Effects Of Geography, Forage Sources And Seasonality On Microbial Communities In Honey Bees, Adam Pachl

Theses and Dissertations

There has been growing research examining the effects on honey bee nutrition through their gut microbial communities. While there is some consensus about the core composition of the honey bee gut, there has been very little work to examine if regional or seasonal differences affect the microbiome. To examine if seasonal or regional differences have any impact on the composition of the gut microbiomes on North Dakota honey bees, worker bees were sampled from commercial honey bee colonies both pre and post honey flow in 2022 in six different regions of North Dakota. The gut bacteria from the bees were …

Exploring Student Emotions And Needs In Pre-Medical Laboratory Science Education: A Control-Value Theory Approach, Allison Jean Waswick

Theses and Dissertations

There is a current workforce shortage of qualified medical laboratory scientists (MLS) in the healthcare field. Without these individuals completing their analysis of patient samples, patients may experience detrimental effects to their health. To help narrow the gap between the number of open positions and the number of MLS graduates per year, MLS programs could better understand pre-MLS students’ needs to better support and retain them. Using Control-Value Theory as the framework for this qualitative study, this study explored pre-MLS students’ needs by examining the emotions they experienced in their programmatic contexts to better understand this population’s needs. Five themes …

State-Level Policy And Nursing Workforce Development: A Cross-State Study Of Nurse Faculty Capacity, Jamie Ann Elizabeth Kerestes

Theses and Dissertations

The persistent shortage of nurses in the United States continues to challenge healthcare systems, workforce stability, and access to care. While many states have invested in strengthening clinical workforce pipelines, the nurse faculty shortage remains a primary constraint on nursing programs’ ability to expand enrollment and graduate enough nurses. State-level approaches to addressing nurse faculty recruitment, preparation, and retention vary widely and are shaped by distinct regulatory, educational, and workforce contexts. This research study examines how state-level policies, regulations, and workforce initiatives address nurse faculty capacity within broader nursing workforce development efforts. Using qualitative document analysis, policy documents regarding nursing …

Climate Messages In An Ai-Integrated Experiment: Interpretive Divergence, Policy Support, And A New Resonance Consistency Framework, Jayme Colosimo

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined how environmental frames—particularly “Mother Earth” and “Mother Nature”—influence public support for climate policy and how these effects differ across demographic groups. Using a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design, the study executed a media survey experiment (N = 470) followed by semi-structured expert interviews to assess responses to two primes using a conventional corporate media message, and a message with similar content that was generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Quantitative findings showed that these metaphors generated uneven and sometimes divergent priming effects. Some groups—most notably White male Republicans—reported higher support for environmental policy under the conventional media prime. Under …

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 …

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 …

The Motivations Of Adult Piano Students In The Republic Of Korea, Eunsong Kim

Theses and Dissertations

Adult participation in piano study has increased in recent years; however, relatively little research has examined how adult learners initiate and sustain long-term engagement. This qualitative study explored the process through which adult piano students develop and maintain motivation over time and how sustained piano study becomes integrated into their everyday lives. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with five adult piano students in the Republic of Korea and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns in their experiences. The findings revealed that initial motivation was shaped by childhood musical memories, the search for a personal sanctuary, and the …

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. …

Predicting Diversity Gaps In Clinical Trials Using Digital Twin Modeling, Abigail Tubbs

Theses and Dissertations

Demographic underrepresentation in clinical trials continues to limit the external validity, equity, and generalizability of biomedical evidence. While regulatory reforms have increased the availability of aggregate demographic reporting, most existing approaches assess representation retrospectively, after recruitment has begun, offering limited support for design-stage decision-making. This dissertation presents a digital twin–based framework for prospective assessment of demographic diversity in clinical trials using trial-level metadata. The work integrates three core contributions. First, an open, reproducible, no-code extraction tool was developed to enable bulk retrieval and harmonization of baseline demographic data (race, ethnicity, sex/gender, and age) from ClinicalTrials.gov using National Clinical Trial identifiers. …

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 …

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, …

Technology-Supported Literacy Instruction In Elementary Classrooms (K-5): Perspectives Of Student Teachers In Western Kentucky, Ila B. Shirrell

Honors College Theses

The use of technology in elementary classrooms (kindergarten–fifth grade) has increased significantly with the goal of enhancing instruction. Additionally, educational technology is being used to improve literacy skills, reading recovery, and comprehension. This study examined how technology supports literacy development and instruction in elementary classrooms by drawing upon the perspectives of current student teachers. Student teachers from Murray State University, placed in third through fifth grade classrooms in Western Kentucky, were interviewed. The interviews assessed how technology was used for literacy instruction, including the extent of its effectiveness and potential challenges. Responses were transcribed and analyzed. The themes of evidence-based …

Subzero: Original Music For Piano And Live Electronics, Frank Newton

Honors College Theses

Subzero is a set of three compositions for piano and live electronics inspired by themes of nature and human perception. The term “live electronics” in a musical context refers to the use of technology to generate or trigger sounds in real time during a performance. These pieces were written specifically for use with a computer music program I designed using Max/MSP to respond to and accompany the performer. Subzero combines acoustic and synthesized sounds to examine three subjects of the natural world and how we, as humans, react to them. The compositional process of the set was informed in part …

Evaluation Of Hrrr Smoke Products For Idss And Policy Making In The Northern Great Plains, Emily Gale Gosney

Theses and Dissertations

Wildfire smoke impacts air quality and has occurred more frequently in recent years in the Northern Great Plains (NGP). To effectively communicate the density of pollutants like wildfire smoke, the EPA established the Air Quality Index (AQI), but measurements in the NGP are sparse. Recently, the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model was upgraded to include near-surface and vertically integrated smoke products to help forecast the impacts of any smoke event. Few studies exist that explore the verification of smoke forecasts. Forecasts for any weather event are essential to Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS); thus, the quality of smoke forecasts is …

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 …

Modeling Melt Season Snow And Ice Albedo Based On Calibration With Climatological And Physiographic Data In The Wind River Range, Wyoming, Logan Dietrich

Theses and Dissertations

Glaciers in high mountain regions are the source of critical water supply for a large portion of the global population, providing freshwater for several uses such as agriculture, irrigation, drinking water, energy production, and the economy. Climate change is causing the increased melting of mountain glaciers, and in turn putting constraints on several of the aforementioned uses of freshwater that is sourced from high mountain regions as well as increasing the risk of natural disasters such as mudslides and glacial lake outburst floods. Understanding the factors that influence glacial melt is important when assessing the mass balance of glaciers and …

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 …