Digital Commons Network^™

Postoperative Pain After Dental Procedures: The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network Observational Study Using An Mobile Health Platform, Muhammad F Walji, Alfa-Ibrahim Yansane, Sayali Tungare, Rahma Mungia, David Holmes, Kim Funkhouser, Celeste Machen, Janelle Urata, Christoffer Redlund, Gautam Shirodkar, Hans Malmstrom, David H Yu, Oluwabunmi Tokede, D Brad Rindal, Gregg H Gilbert, Heiko Spallek, Joel White, Elsbeth Kalenderian

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Managing postoperative dental pain is essential, but patient-reported data on pain and medication practices are scarce. The authors examined patient-reported pain, functional interference, and medication use after common dental procedures.

Methods: In this prospective observational cohort study, 2,674 adults in a multicenter US practice-based network reported pain intensity and interference via a mobile application. Outcomes were collected on days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 to assess trajectories across endodontics, periodontal surgery, oral surgery, and implant dentistry as well as multiple procedures within these 4 categories.

Results: Among 2,674 participants (mean age, 49.8 years; 55.6% were female), mean (SD) …

The Effect Of Acute Hypoxia Exposure, With Exercise, On Bone Metabolic Biomarkers, Alyssa Bailly

Health, Exercise, and Sports Sciences ETDs

Hypoxic environments, resulting from decreased atmospheric partial pressure of oxygen, reduce oxygen availability in the blood and tissues, leading to a mismatch between supply and demand. This elicits several physiological adaptations and may influence bone metabolism. Although evidence suggests that hypoxia can modulate bone remodeling through hypoxia-inducible pathways, findings remain mixed, with most data derived from chronic hypoxic exposures in animal and cell culture models. Exercise, an essential stimulus for bone health, may exacerbate hypoxic stress; however, the skeletal response to acute hypoxic exposure combined with exercise remains unclear. We propose that intermittent exercise in hypoxia may increase negative markers …

Empowering Pedagogical Practice Through Autoethnography Within The Context Of Family Literacy Projects, Sarah M. Johnson

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

Family Literacy Projects being used in the high school setting to promote cultural and linguistic identities. The Family Literacy Project is used to bridge the gap between student identities at school and the identities at home. The purpose of this study was for the teacher to reflect in an autoethnographic study of herself in relation to the context of community, pedagogy, and the perceived needs and changes of the project for both students and the school’s culture. Through the autoethnographic study, the focus of the Family Literacy Project is in its importance to the school, community, students, and teachers was …

Benefits Of Advisory & Culturally Responsive Advisory Framework (Craf) Within A Southwestern, Urban, Dual Language Middle School, Mariana Anguelova Castañon

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

In this research report, I examine the benefits of a daily Advisory period at a southwestern, urban, dual-language middle school and explore the impact of the Culturally Responsive Advisory Framework (CRAF), a curriculum I developed as a researcher-practitioner. This work is situated within research on Advisory programs, urban schooling, and dual-language education, while addressing implementation challenges. Grounded in democratic learning theory, CRAF integrates social-emotional learning (SEL), social-cultural learning (SCL), and literacy. To evaluate its impact, I collected qualitative data through anonymous Google Surveys and semi-structured student interviews, supported by quantitative teacher and student surveys. Data were analyzed using open and …

Efficacy And Equity In Type 2 Diabetes Care: Comparing Glp-1 Therapy And Dietary Interventions Through Clinical, Social, And Ethical Lenses, Makayla Bogle

Honors Projects

Objective: Explores the clinical and sociocultural dimensions regarding type 2 diabetes (T2DM) care, comparing GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapy and dietary interventions for adults with T2DM. Part I consists of a narrative literature review examining clinical outcomes such as glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and weight management for the two compared treatment methods. Part II conducts a narrative literature review examining the structural and social determinants that influence access to diabetes treatments. The review evaluates how social determinants of health (SDOH) shape the real-world implementation of both GLP-1 RA therapies and dietary interventions. The discussion highlights differences in measurable clinical …

Novel Algorithmic Methods For Random Telegraph Noise Detection And Characterization In Electronic Devices, Victor Darie Pepel

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Random telegraph noise (RTN) produces discrete stochastic fluctuations in nanoscale semiconductor devices and increasingly limits performance and reliability as dimensions scale. This dissertation introduces three algorithmic contributions enabling automated and accurate RTN characterization across diverse devices and operating conditions. First, a computationally efficient histogram-based detection algorithm enables rapid identification of RTN in large focal plane array datasets for statistically robust defect analysis. Second, a frequency decomposition framework separates slow and fast RTN components, extending the range of extractable time constants and reducing estimation error in multi-trap signals obscured by background noise. Third, to address the lack of standardized RTN metrics, …

Applications And Comparisons Of Machine Learning Methods In Ultra-Fast Laser Control, Aasma Aslam

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This dissertation demonstrates the applications and comparative analyses of machine learning methods in ultrafast laser control. By learning the relationship between the system’s input parameters and output pulse characteristics, the performance of a laser can be significantly improved. In this work, the results are presented in two stages by utilizing data from the femtosecond laser system. The first stage concerns two neural networks, named NN1 (fitrnet) and NN2 (feedforwardnet). The second stage, which extended with five different models, namely the linear regression (fitlm), the support vector machine (SVM), the Gaussian process regression (GPR), the boosted tree (fitrensemble), and LASSO (fitrlinear), …

Undergraduate Commencement Exercises Program, May 16, 2026

Bryant University Commencements

No abstract provided.

Musical Expression: How Do We As Composers And Performers Use The Tools Of Music In Such A Way To Realize Our Creative Endeavors And Communicate Them To Others?, Max Vance

Honors Projects

Why do we create things? This project delves into the deep, intentional processes of composition and cello performance. This paper discusses how the process is vital to the final outcome, outlines the necessary steps for composition and performance, and provides examples of work that has emerged from these processes.

Improving Health Literacy And Self-Management In Adults With Heart Failure: A Nurse-Led Virtual Intervention In Outpatient Support Groups, Vivian Efosa Osunde

Doctoral Projects

Heart failure is a leading cause of morbidity and hospital readmissions, with limited health literacy contributing to poor self‑management and adherence challenges. The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice project was to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary outcomes of a nurse‑led, virtual education-intervention designed to improve health literacy, self‑care behaviors, and medication adherence among adults with chronic heart failure who participate in an outpatient support group. A quality improvement design was used. Convenience sampling yielded nine adult participants with a documented diagnosis of chronic heart failure who attended at least one virtual support group session. The intervention consisted of …

Whiny Women: How Medical Gaslighting Becomes Medical Trauma, Neena Marcus

Honors Projects

Background: The idea of “medical gaslighting” has been present since 1969, but it has increased in popularity in the recent century. Women in particular are at increased risk of being dismissed by their healthcare providers, as throughout history they have been deemed “hysterical” or untrustworthy when recounting their symptoms.

Methods: Articles were compiled from CINAHL Complete, Google Scholar, and the University of Washington library. A total of 33 articles were chosen and reviewed.

Results: Medical gaslighting results in lasting medical trauma, a decreased quality of life and detachment from standard healthcare. Six themes were recurrent in the papers utilized: sexism, …

Musical Methods For Nonverbal Emotional Expression, Carrie Uddenberg

Music: Student Scholarship & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Shelter From The Storm: Public Library Value And Community Adaptive Capacities, Margo Gustina

Economics ETDs

This dissertation contributes to theoretical framing within the discipline of library science, while building out empirical methods for quantitatively valuing broadly loved public libraries. Chapter 1 lays the foundation for understanding how analysis public libraries must always be set within regional contexts. Chapter 2 demonstrates that positive voter valuation of public libraries is driven by proximity to a library building by using data from public funding referendum events. Chapter 3 estimates a reduction of 0.75 percentage point (p=0.002) in graduation rates where public libraries were closed (but school instruction was in-person) from COVID closures. Chapter 4 builds on the previous …

Marine Geophysical Studies Of Coupled Tectonic And Sedimentary Processes At Active Plate Boundaries, Sarah R. Rysanek

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Deep-sea and convergent margin sedimentary systems preserve critical records of tectonic and climatic processes that shape Earth’s surface. This dissertation investigates source-to-sink sediment routing and forearc deformation to better constrain the interplay between sedimentary and tectonic processes, through investigations of a deep-sea fan system, and the forearc geomorphology offshore Nicaragua. In the Gulf of Alaska, we integrate ultra-long-offset and regional multi-channel seismic reflection data, multi-resolution bathymetry, and plate reconstructions to remap the Baranof Fan system. Results show that the fan is larger than previously recognized and constructed by two primary depocenters linked to distinct glacial sediment pathways, with accommodation space …

Self-Supervised Spoofing Detection, David S. Choi

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are vulnerable to spoofing attacks that can mislead receivers with counterfeit signals. Traditional detection techniques, such as antenna-based, encryption based, and signal processing approaches, often face limitations in adaptability, computational cost, or reliance on predefined thresholds. Supervised machine learning models, while powerful, require large labeled datasets and struggle to generalize to unseen spoofing scenarios. In this work, we propose a self-supervised spoofing detection framework based on Adaptive Sparse Gaussian Processes (ASGP). The method predicts incoming GNSS features using past observations and identifies spoofing as anomalous deviations in the prediction residuals. Unlike supervised approaches, ASGP adapts …

Quantum Control Protocols For Robust Quantum Computing, Leeseok Kim

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

The fundamental goal of quantum computing is to precisely control quantum systems to perform meaningful tasks, including implementing high-fidelity quantum gates for reliable quantum computation and accurately simulating complex quantum many- body dynamics. In this dissertation, we develop improved quantum control protocols for three distinct objectives, quantum error suppression, quantum optimal control, and analog quantum algorithms, achieving performance beyond standard approaches. First, we introduce new dynamical decoupling protocols, including both determin- istic and randomized constructions, that can substantially outperform conventional deterministic sequences. We then extend the randomized approach to dynamically corrected gates. Second, we propose a randomized quantum optimal control …

Fault Tolerant Quantum Computing With Lower Overhead, Benjamin E. Anker

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Quantum computation promises asymptotic speedups over classical algorithms, but realizing these advantages requires overcoming the noisiness of quantum hardware. Although fault-tolerant error correction can allow for reliable quantum computation even using unreliable components, the resource overheads required can substantially erode the asymptotic performance gains. This dissertation focuses on constructing and optimizing fault-tolerant procedures with lower overhead than previous methods were capable of. We present new frameworks for fault-tolerant syndrome extraction using flag gadgets with exponentially reduced ancilla requirements, explicit measurement schedules that achieve asymptotically fewer measurements than stabilizer generators, and a general method for making arbitrary Clifford circuits fault tolerant. …

Alternative Positioning, Navigation, And Timing In Global Navigation Satellite System Denied Environments, Joshua R. Atencio

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) provide the majority of critical positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) services for civilian, commercial, and military applications. However, GNSS is vulnerable to service denial from spoofing and jamming from adversaries and environmental obstruction. These vulnerabilities highlight the need for resilient Alternative PNT (APNT) methods. This dissertation investigates APNT frameworks operating in GNSS denied environments. We develop coalition formation and matching theoretic models that allow users APNT services from anchor nodes under resource constraints and in adversarial or emergency conditions. The proposed frameworks optimize positioning accuracy, network utility, and system stability while accounting for geometric dilution …

Impact Of Third Trimester Alcohol Exposure (Ttae) On Oligodendrocyte Development And Behavior In Mice, Estrella Villicana

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) during late gestation can cause cognitive, behavioral, and motor impairments associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). The third trimester corresponds to a critical period of brain growth and maturation. This study examined the effects of Third Trimester-equivalent Alcohol Exposure (TTAE) on oligodendrocyte development and adult behavior. Neonatal mice were exposed to ethanol or air vapor from postnatal day (P) 4–8. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed at P8 and P30 to assess myelination, apoptosis, and oligodendrocyte lineage progression. TTAE significantly reduced myelin basic protein (MBP) expression at P8, which was recovered by P30, indicating delayed developmental myelination. …

Spring Undergraduate Commencement: May 16, 2026, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Spring Undergraduate Commencement program from May 16, 2026.

Spring Graduate School Commencement: May 16, 2026, University Of North Dakota

UND Commencement Programs

UND Spring Graduate School Commencement program from May 16, 2026.

Moving As Mycelium: Dance/Movement Therapy With Nature And Its Potential For Sustainability Transformations: A Literature Review, Abby Polk

Expressive Therapies Theses

Environmental degradation and destruction impact the long-term health and wellbeing of humans and ecosystems alike. Humans require new ways of relating to nature that support sustainable futures for all. This thesis argues that dance/movement therapy (DMT) with nature has the potential to facilitate sustainability transformations and that the embodiment of relationality can support the development of reciprocal human-nature relationships. This literature review is grounded in theories of relationality and reciprocity as conceptualized in various Indigenous knowledge systems and the fields of both sustainability and DMT. Existing research suggests that culturally-responsive, embodied, arts-based practices may increase human-nature connectedness and strengthen reciprocity …

Computing Certificates Of Members In Archimedean Quadratic Modules In A[X] And Certifying The Emptiness In Inconsistent Monogenic Archimedean Quadratic Modules In A[X_1, ..., X_N], Jose A. Castellanos Joo

Computer Science ETDs

Polynomials have been found to be a powerful tool over hundreds of years for modeling problems in numerous applications in science, engineering, medicine, and other domains. In the context of formal methods, polynomials arise in modeling in aerospace software and robotics, cyber-physical and hybrid systems, autonomous vehicles and controllers based on neural networks.

A quadratic module is a linear combination of polynomials in a set of generators (including the constant 1) with sum of squares polynomials as multipliers. The membership problem for a finitely generated quadratic module can be decided; however, computing a certificate exhibiting why it is nonnegative under …

Design, Fabrication, And Characterization Of Silicon Nitride Microresonator Optical Frequency Combs, Lala Rukh

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Optical frequency combs consist of equidistant optical frequencies and have numerous applications ranging from optical metrology to medical diagnostics. Initially, frequency combs were based on bulky mode-locked lasers, but advancements in integrated photonics enabled the generation of frequency combs in chip-scale resonators (microcombs) using Kerr nonlinearity. These miniaturized systems present various challenges, including increased propagation losses, enhanced thermal effects, and the extension of microcombs to visible wavelengths. In this dissertation, I will focus on addressing these challenges in silicon nitride (SiN) resonators. First, this thesis focuses on the fabrication of high-Q SiN resonators and the impact of fabrication parameters on …

Assessing The Impact Of Multi-Physics Effects On Photovoltaic Module Degradation Using Computational Modeling, James Yuan Hartley

Mechanical Engineering ETDs

This dissertation describes research to develop and apply multi-physics simulation capabilities using finite element methods to analyze photovoltaic module damage mechanisms. Analyses of full-scale solar modules under mechanical load are presented, including experimental validation against measurements of external deflection and internal strain. Module damage by solar cell breakage and interconnection fatigue are discussed, and the applicability of simplifying analyses using mathematical plate theory is assessed. Detailed sub-module component models undergoing thermal-mechanical stressors are also presented, to identify the design features and materials most influential to stress generation and to assess the representativeness of using sub-module assemblies in accelerated testing. Finally, …

Brain-Based Mechanisms Of Behavioral Impairment In Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Fasd): The Neuroimaging Biomarkers Of Inhibitory Control, Zinia Pervin

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

The developing brain is highly susceptible to alcohol-induced toxicity, often resulting in long-term deficits in executive function and behavioral regulation. Inhibitory control impairments are among the most prominent deficits observed in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This study investigated the neural mechanisms of inhibitory dysfunction using a multimodal MEG–DTI approach in 67 children aged 6–8 years (34 with FASD, 33 controls) who performed a Go/No-Go task. Source-level MEG analyses revealed reduced stimulus-locked cortical activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and significant group-by-hemisphere interactions in the superior parietal cortex and cuneus. Time–frequency analyses showed diminished response-locked beta power in the sensory-motor …

Advertising Influence On Climate Change News Coverage: A Comparison Of The New York Times And The Guardian, Natalie L. Hamren

Communication ETDs

This study examines how fossil fuel advertising may influence climate change coverage by comparing The New York Times, which publishes fossil fuel advertisements, and The Guardian, which has banned them. Drawing on the Hierarchy of Influences and Social Responsibility Theory, the study uses ethnographic content analysis by analyzing (n=104) articles between 2022 and 2025 to examine framing, source usage, tone, and emphasis. Findings indicate that The New York Times more frequently framed climate change through political and economic lenses and relied heavily on government and business sources. In contrast, The Guardian more often employed scientific framing, cited researchers, …

Blockade Logic: Settler Consciousness And The Petro-Security Apparatus, Sarah Seroy

Communication ETDs

This study examines contemporary CID legislation and surrounding political rhetoric in Canada and its implications for Indigenous communities. It reveals how settler consciousness is affirmed through such legislation and how discourse rooted in colonial logics serves to strengthen Canada’s petro-security apparatus. Drawing from Teun van Dijk’s (1995) method of Ideological Discourse Analysis and integrating Indigenous epistemologies, it offers a research approach of anticolonial discourse analysis. This analysis reveals CID legislation as a racialized, colonial tool and a form of biopower the settler-state exerts over Indigenous communities. It normalizes settler-state hegemony and justifies the ongoing dispossession of Indigenous communities. This study …

Mapping Homogeneous Configuration States For Learning Based Motion Planners, Yazied Hasan

Computer Science ETDs

Reinforcement learning (RL) excels at solving complex tasks, but training times can become prohibitively large for challenging motion-planning problems. Methods that address this cost often require additional training or tuning, counteracting the goal of reducing training time. A more effective approach is to exploit inherent task equivalences: many elements of the state space, dynamics, or structure are functionally interchangeable, enabling simplification or knowledge reuse. We present learning solutions that leverage these equivalences to enhance the RL process. First, we leverage the symmetry of homogeneous multi-agent teams to simplify the task to a single strategy. Second, we map correspondences between distinct …

Post-Fire Flood Modeling In Ruidoso, New Mexico: Improving Burn Scar Runoff Predictions, Pramesh Bhaila

Civil Engineering ETDs

Recent large wildfires in New Mexico have demonstrated severe hydrological driven by vegetation loss and the development of hydrophobic soil surfaces. This thesis evaluates the performance of three infiltration models—Curve Number (CN), Linear Constant (LC), and Green–Ampt (GA)— for the watershed impacted by the 2024 South Fork and Salt Fires near Ruidoso, New Mexico. All three models performed comparably during post‑fire simulations, with strong performance in 2024 and notable degradation in 2025, particularly for the CN. Post-fire analyses indicate substantial reductions in infiltration capacity, with CN increasing by 18–24%, LC initial deficit decreasing by 65–77%, effective hydraulic conductivity reduced by …