Digital Commons Network^™

Behind The Badge: Rethinking The Police Department As A Functional Workplace, Benjamin Michael

Architecture Theses

While traditional design approaches often emphasize public engagement and community visibility, this project centers on the needs of law enforcement personnel, recognizing the high-stress, high-stakes nature of their work. By integrating architectural strategies that reduce stress, foster relaxation, and support daily workflows, the design aims to improve officer morale, enhance focus, and increase job retention. Key features include dedicated decompression zones, wellness and fitness facilities, natural lighting and biophilic elements, and spatial layouts that support efficient operations while promoting a sense of safety and comfort.

Transformall: Redeveloping The Suburban Retail Space To Save It From Decay, Tate Trushenski

Architecture Theses

The decline of traditional retail has left behind expansive "Greyfield" sites underutilized shopping malls that disrupt the suburban fabric. This thesis presents Transformall, a comprehensive master plan for the Albertville Mall site in Minnesota, reimagining the 430,000 square foot footprint as a resilient, mixed-use town center. By employing adaptive reuse and strategic densification, the project transitions the site from a car-centric retail island into a walkable, community-oriented district.

Key interventions include the preservation of existing structural grids, the introduction of diverse housing typologies, and the implementation of green infrastructure. The resulting master plan demonstrates that suburban redevelopment can move beyond …

Renewal: Connecting The University Campus To Improve Student Success, Micah L. Wood

Architecture Theses

The modern university increasingly faces many challenges such as competition to get and maintain students, relevance in a digital world and beyond. But what if we take a deeper look into how the built environment influences and has potential to improve student success. To do this, we must understand one of the main reasons campuses still exist beyond education, which is community. Most things that can be achieved from a university could be received in a digital format, but human connection is increasingly important. It is important to realize that, through the built environment, we can help empower campus communities. …

Architecture Of Healing Beyond The Institution: A New Model For Veteran Care, Megan Lyn Welk

Architecture Theses

The transition from military to civilian life presents unique challenges for veterans navigating trauma, yet traditional clinical settings often aggravate anxiety and disconnection through sterile, institutional design. This thesis addresses the critical “mismatch” between current healthcare environments and the neurological needs of veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Arguing that architecture must evolve from a passive vessel to an active therapeutic partner, this research proposes a comprehensive rehabilitation center located on O’ahu, Hawai’i, which integrates the island’s profound cultural connection to the ‘aina (land) with evidence-based design strategies.

The design methodology synthesizes three core …

Reviving The Mill District: Post-Industrial Revitalization Through Recreational Development, Kylee Frisbie

Architecture Theses

Transforming post-industrial cities through recreational development examines how medium-sized communities can transition from declining industries to new economic identities by expanding sports and recreation infrastructure. Centered on Sartell, Minnesota, this study addresses the civic and economic void left behind from the destruction of the Verso Paper Mill in 2012. Using the “research by design” method utilizes qualitative analysis, a community-focused survey, and case studies showing how a hybrid sports complex can function as an economic engine and replace a community’s lost identity. The findings show that these facilities activate “sports-led regeneration” by attracting regional engagement, generating annual economic impact while …

Weaving The Intangible: Architecture For Cultural Continuity, Eden Tesfaye

Architecture Theses

Weaving the Intangible begins with the understanding that culture is both carried and transformed when people move. It can create a sense of grounding in new places, yet it may also fade into memory when shared spaces to sustain it are absent. In diaspora, the difference between traditions that are still practiced and those that exist mainly in memory influences how younger generations understand and carry their cultural identity. This project explores how architecture can act as a medium for cultural continuity by giving spatial form to intangible heritage. Using the Ethiopian community in Alexandria, VA as the primary focus, …

Orpheum Resonance: A Mass Timber Theatre In Burlington, Vermont, Madalyn Diprima

Architecture Theses

This thesis proposes Orpheum Resonance, a mass timber theatre in Burlington, Vermont, that explores the relationship between music, architecture, and storytelling. Grounded in the myth of Orpheus, Robert Fludd’s “music of the spheres,” and theories of atmosphere and layered narrative, the project asks how a theatre can do more than house performance—it can perform itself. Located along North Avenue near Lake Champlain, the design connects the city, waterfront, and community through a civic cultural space. The building uses light and dark, sound and silence, and isolation and community as conceptual layers that shape the visitor experience. Mass timber, carved wood, …

How Can Architects Design Spaces That Foster Active Participation And Connection Within Communities, Tyler Michael Gillen

Architecture Theses

This thesis explores how architecture can strengthen community engagement through the design of civic infrastructure. Focusing on a proposed Fire Station Three in Moorhead, Minnesota, the project investigates how a fire station can function as both an emergency response facility and a community gathering space. As Moorhead continues to expand southward, increasing demands on emergency services reveal the need for additional infrastructure while also presenting an opportunity to rethink the civic role of fire stations within growing suburban communities. Through site analysis, precedent studies, fire station tours, and architectural research, the project develops a design proposal that integrates operational efficiency …

Exploring Bidirectionality In Global Health Partnerships: Perspectives From U.S. Pediatric Residency Programs, Anik Patel, Pauline Kamau, Justus Simba, Ashley Combs, Adelaide Barnes, Kathy Ferrer, Heather Haq, Duncan K Hau, Lee Morris, Brittany Murray, Amy Rule, Reena P Tam, Lisa Umphrey, Megan S Mchenry

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction Despite growing interest, little guidance exists to re-evaluate global health partnerships (GHPs) through promoting bidirectionality. This study aims to understand the perspectives of United States (U.S.) pediatric global health (GH) faculty on institutional bidirectional practices to inform future discussions with international collaborators. Methods An internally, iteratively developed REDCap-based online survey (REDCap, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN), by our diverse author group, collected qualitative data from January 18 to February 20, 2023. Free-text responses were reviewed and coded inductively, with findings framed to generate themes for subsequent engagement with international partners. Results Of the 88 U.S. programs that identify as having …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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. …

Nevis Digital Twin: Photogrammetry And Immersive Visualization Of Historical Sites, Alex Apffel, Huy Tran, Vuthea Chheang

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In this work, we present a multimodal data acquisition workflow for the digital preservation and virtual reconstruction of at-risk historical sites in the island of Nevis. Facing threats from coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and aggressive vegetation, the archaeological heritage of Nevis requires documentation strategies that bridge the gap between high-cost professional surveying and consumer accessibility. Experimental test compared acquisition variables, specifically camera height (1 m vs. 3 m) and operator trajectory against highresolution control data. Moreover, we explore the virtual reconstruction between mesh reconstruction and 3D gaussian splatting to serve as different modalities for documentation. The resulting data is …

The Relationship Between Sports Related Head Injuries, Mental Health And Academic Performance In University Student-Athletes, Odyssey Keller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Student athletes face many challenges when it comes to participating in team sports, one of the most notable being sport-related head injuries. Concussions are a growing concern since they have the potential to impact mental health and academic performance long-term. While many athletes report recovery within weeks, some continue to struggle with impairments in their psychological functioning and overall mental well-being that interferes with academic performance over time. Many of the standardized protocols in place for concussion management vary across institutions. This study aimed to address gaps in the existing literature by assessing concussion history, mental health and academic challenges …

The Impact Of Traditional Machismo On Mental Health Outcomes: Depression And Suicide Risk Among Latino Immigrant And Non-Immigrant Men, Yesenia A, Romero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traditional masculine norms have long been recognized as influential factors in men’s psychological well-being. Within Latino cultures, the construct of machismo represents a culturally specific form of masculinity characterized by ideals of masculinity and characterized by ideals of strength, dominance, and emotional restraint. While these norms may promote resilience and family responsibilities, rigid adherence to traditional machismo has also been associated with emotional suppression, reduced help-seeking behaviors, and increased psychological distress. The present study conducted a meta-analysis to examine the relationship between traditional machismo and mental health outcomes among Latino men, with particular attention to depressive symptoms as well as …

"Am I A Man Or A Muppet": A Rhetorical Analysis Of Generative Ai’S Representation Of Gender, Jessica Boaz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how generative artificial intelligence constructs and performs gender roles through a rhetorical analysis of the fully AI-generated podcast Fairytale Forensics. Drawing on theories of constitutive rhetoric, stereotyping, and McLuhan’s approach to the medium, this thesis investigates how AI-generated hosts interpret classic fairy tales while simultaneously reproducing and negotiating gender norms through the lens of prosopopoeia, metonymy and synecdoche. These performances rely on normative gender stereotypes that align with broader societal expectations, thereby potentially reinforcing existing cultural assumptions about masculinity and femininity. Ultimately, it demonstrates that AI-generated discourse does not merely reflect human biases but actively participates in …

Reading The Wisdom Of Psalm 37 Through The Lens Of Metaphor And Lament, Hannah N. Johanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis proposes that reading Ps 37 through the lens of both metaphor and lament can reshape the way the reader understands the reality of evil, fostering hope and agency. While Ps 37 is often classified as a wisdom psalm, this thesis diverges from the interpretation that this psalm is a list of proverbs. Instead, this thesis attempts to show that Ps 37 forms a metaphorical landscape where evil withers, vanishes, and is cut off while goodness thrives and is secured forever. This thesis also places this psalm in dialogue with two poems that engage Ps 37 from a post-Shoah …

The New Wild West: A Case Study Analysis Of The Communication Methods Surrounding Ai Infrastructure In West Texas, Thomas Sorensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past several years, artificial intelligence has taken the world by storm. It has enabled numerous innovations across all sectors, and its usage continues to grow daily. This increase in demand for AI products has led to the development of AI data centers nationwide. Fueled by competition between the public and private sectors, many projects are underway. This study focuses on one such project in West Texas: the Stargate Data Center. This project is being constructed near Abilene, Texas, and has had an instrumental impact on the daily lives of its citizens. This research project seeks to answer the …