Digital Commons Network^™

New Initiatives Aimed At Creating Experiential Opportunities For All Unh Students, Keith Testa

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Symposium Transcript: Clarett V. Nfl: 20 Years Later And The Future Of Age Limits In Pro Sports, Michael Dube, Alan Milstein, Michelle Clarett, Maurice Clarett, Benjamin Block, Michael Mccann, The Honorable Schira Scheindlin

UNH Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Sideline Interference: The Vulnerability Of College Athlete-Whistleblowers In The Impending "Student-Employment-Athlete" Era & Co-Worker Retaliation, Hunter Seidler

UNH Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Student Note: Hoops, Hurdles, And Legal Layups: How Public Universities Like Indiana May Be Able To Follow Dartmouth's Lead Towards Unionization, Riley Albert

UNH Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Michigan Football's Not-So-Secret Agent: How Agency Law Imposes The Ncaa's "Death Penalty" Following The Sign-Stealing Scandal, Ryan A. Buchanan

UNH Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Revisiting Workers' Compensation Protection In The National Football League Collective Bargaining Agreement, Brooke Chronister, Joshua Winneker

UNH Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Slr Table Of Contents, Editorial Board

UNH Sports Law Review

No abstract provided.

Carbon Cycling Driven By Disturbance In A Tropical Freshwater Ecosystem, Alicia Dixon

Master's Theses and Capstones

Streams are hotspots for biogeochemical cycling in freshwater ecosystems and act as transformers for elements moving throughout their watersheds. Small watersheds in particular are the ideal natural laboratory for exploring how freshwater systems react to inputs and outputs of carbon, nitrogen, and other trace elements. Carbon cycling occurs throughout watersheds at different scales and through different pathways. Organic matter enters a stream from surrounding terrestrial environments, and is subsequently consumed by microbes, macroinvertebrates, and other freshwater organisms. The fate of organic matter in a stream is diverse, but some common pathways include emission as carbon dioxide through metabolic processes, movement …

Land Conservation Planning For Flood Resilience In New Hampshire's Coastal Watershed, Michal Zahorik

Doctoral Dissertations

Land conservation plays an important role in managing flood risk. It enhances community resilience and supports multiple ecosystem functions. This qualitative study investigates how local and regional land conservation strategies advance flood resilience in New Hampshire’s coastal watershed. Focusing on the institutional context, this thesis analyzes the effectiveness of local land conservation planning efforts, explores cross-scale interactions between local and regional planning, and identifies barriers and opportunities for flood-focused conservation projects. The data for this research were collected through semi-structured interviews with representatives of municipalities, public and private conservation organizations, regional planning commissions, partnership organizations, and landowners. The secondary data …

Neural Retrieval Through Entities And Text Understanding, Pooja Himanshu Oza

Doctoral Dissertations

For various artificial intelligence systems, automatic text understanding algorithms that go beyond mere pattern recognition are helpful. For instance, understanding web pages is beneficial for Information Retrieval (IR) systems to retrieve relevant information. In the most common form, IR systems retrieve relevant information as entities or documents in response to keywords-based queries. Traditional IR models use lexical matching between the query terms and document terms to identify relevant documents. With the emergence of neural networks, Neural IR approaches utilize deep learning techniques to learn high-dimensional representations of documents and queries that go beyond term matching.

On the other hand, with …

Flexibility And Accountability: Lessons On Accessibility From Pandemic Learning, Ashley Barry

Doctoral Dissertations

While the COVID-19 pandemic, starting in 2020, disrupted the writing education of many students, students with disabilities were particularly impacted. During this same period, college writing instructors worked to adapt and make their pedagogies more accessible in new educational contexts. This IRB-approved qualitative study utilizes principles of Universal Design for Learning to cultivate a methodology that is flexible enough to meet a wide variety of participant needs. The datasets consist of a pilot survey and focus groups of college instructors along with classroom artifacts and a series of interviews with short journal entries from four undergraduate students with disabilities. In …

Three Essays On Disability Policy And Employment Of People With Disabilities, Xueting Sun

Doctoral Dissertations

The employment of people with disabilities is substantially and persistently lower than the employment of people without disabilities (Burkhauser et al., 2002; Houtenville & Bach, 2024; Livermore & Honeycutt, 2015). In 2022, using American Community Survey data, the employment-to-population ratio of people with disabilities ages 18-64 was 44.5 percent, compared to 78.9 percent for their counterparts without disabilities (Houtenville & Bach, 2024). This dissertation consists of three essays on disability policy and employment of people with disabilities. The first essay (Chapter 2) explores the effect of the Medicaid expansion, authorized by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, on employment …

Evaluation Of Rockfall Trajectories Using Smart Rocks And Measurement While Drilling, Bruma Morganna Mendonca De Souza

Doctoral Dissertations

This doctoral research investigates rockfall movement under laboratory and field-controlled conditions as well as in situ natural field environments in an effort to better understand the movement described by falling blocks. Although previously published research identified several factors that affect rockfall movement (block characteristics, ground characteristics, and impact kinematics), the lack of a standardized methodology to evaluate rockfall behavior upon impact on different ground materials increases the difficulty of establishing realistic parameters in modeling approaches and ultimately in selecting representative model input parameters. In order to measure rockfall movement under different test conditions, concrete fabricated test blocks ranging in mass …

Sustainable Energy Transition In Grid Connected And Off-Grid Communities, Roozbeh Ghasemi

Doctoral Dissertations

Decentralized energy systems, such as solar PV and wind, are often seen as key to improving the sustainability and resilience of energy systems in both urban and remote communities. This research aims to enhance the sustainability of adopting these systems in both grid-connected and off-grid contexts. In urban communities, a choice experiment model was developed for Boston, MA, and Atlanta, GA, and the results were analyzed using latent class analysis to understand household preferences for two decentralized renewable energy systems. For islanded communities, a process-based dynamic model was developed to simulate the operation of the decentralized energy system on Appledore …

Innovative Approaches To Dna-Based Materials: Development Of Bottlebrush Polymers, Supramolecular Hydrogels, And Psoralen-Enhanced 3d Printing Of Dna Bioinks, Nicholas Pierini

Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis explores innovative approaches to enhancing the functionality and applications of DNA-based materials through the development of DNA bottlebrush polymers (BBPs), DNA-intercalating supramolecular hydrogels (DISHs), and psoralen-based 3D printing techniques. The first chapter presents the synthesis and characterization of linear and cyclic DNA BBPs using a grafting-to approach. Plasmid DNA (pDNA) is used as the polymeric backbone, grafted with polyethylene glycol (PEG) side chains of varying molecular weights (750 Da, 2000 Da, and 5000 Da) to improve stability and functionality. Achieving high graft densities, up to 24% for mPEG750-CEA, and purifying the PEG-DNA conjugates were significant challenges addressed through …

Trusted Yet Vulnerable: A Quantitative Analysis Of Trusted Execution Environments (Tee) Security., Lakshmi Sravani Nissankararao

Master's Theses and Capstones

Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) are essential for secure computing across mobile devices, cloud platforms, and IoT, yet they remain vulnerable to exploits. This thesis presents a novel approach to enhancing TEE security through automated vulnerability classification and advanced fuzzing techniques. The research first introduces an innovative methodology for classifying vulnerabilities into Trusted Applications (TA), TrustZone Operating Systems (TZOS), and general categories using machine learning algorithms such as Random Forest, J48, Naive Bayes, Multilayer Perceptron, and Support Vector Machines. Evaluating these on a dataset of 750 vulnerabilities from the NIST database demonstrates accurate characterization and improved efficiency over manual methods. The …

Assessment Of Synthetic Aperture Radar For Classification Of Exposed Coastal Soils In The Great Bay Estuary, Tess Priest

Master's Theses and Capstones

Coastlines around the world are composed of a wide range of sediments. The classification of coastal soil ranges from coarse-grained sediments (gravels and sands, 75 mm to 0.075 mm), to fine-grained sediments (silts and clays, 0.075 mm and smaller). In geotechnical engineering applications, the shear strength of soil is a key characteristic and is commonly influenced by the classification, grain size, and water content of the soil. While site-specific investigation is the best method for obtaining these parameters, information regarding soil type can often be readily accessed from existing literature as a general classification. However, soil type can vary at …

Say Bananas: A Pilot Study On An App-Based Intervention As A Modality Of Home Practice, Kate Margaret Sjostedt

Master's Theses and Capstones

This single subject design study provides an initial exploration of using Say Bananas toprovide motor learning-based intervention for children with childhood apraxia of speech. By implementing an app-based home practice intervention tool to support traditional speech sound disorder treatment, specifically the Treatment for Establishing Motor Program Organization (TEMPO), it was designed to treat speech sound disorders by implementing exercises using a more engaging platform. We tested the performance of three different children diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech. Each child used the app as a modality of home practice five days a week for four weeks in addition to their …

Mindfulness And Meditation: Activation Likelihood Estimates (Ale) And Meta-Analytic Connectivity Modelling (Macm), Ariana Christine White

Master's Theses and Capstones

Introduction: Mindfulness, a popular practice that originated as a Buddhist custom, encompasses a myriad of techniques such as meditation, yoga, and journaling. Such practice is often suggested for individuals with mental health disorders (MHD). Recently, mindfulness-based interventions, including forms of psychotherapy like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, have gained prominence. Investigations into brain activity associated with mindfulness-based interventions have identified positive modulation of a Triple Network Model (TNM), a confluence of three brain networks that are commonly associated with MHD. Targeting these networks and understanding mindfulness-specific connectivity may provide evidence for regions to target during intervention in order to induce neural …

Automatic-Adjusting Drip Chlorination System Without Electricity, Brian Genet

Master's Theses and Capstones

Developing countries often use open-source water including groundwater, snowmelt, and springsas the primary source of their drinking water. These water sources increase the risk of contamination from bacteria and pathogens from nearby humans and animals. Ingestion of contaminated water can cause illnesses, and in extreme cases, death. While the technology to decrease or even eliminate the risk of contamination in drinking water exists, most of these methods require electricity, which is not necessarily readily available or sustainable in developing countries. The objective of this study is disinfection without electricity as a means to provide disinfected drinking water to developing countries. …

Design Of An Axial-Flow Tidal Turbine Test Bed And Initial Validation And Performance Testing With 1:5 Scale Mhkf1 Rotor, Megan Nicole Andersen

Master's Theses and Capstones

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) and XFlow Energy jointly designed and built a scale axial-flow turbine (AFT) test bed under the Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC) work scope. The test bed was fabricated to fill an infrastructure gap in tidal energy testing equipment at UNH. The combination of rotor size and achievable towing speeds allowed for testing in a regime where turbine performance became independent of Reynolds number effects, while also maintaining reasonable blockage. As a result, data collected from the test bed can be used to predict the performance of full-scale tidal turbines. Results and uncertainty analysis were …

Just Maps? Exploring The Development And Use Of Environmental Justice Mapping Tools In The United States, Claire Emrick

Master's Theses and Capstones

The disparate distribution of environmental risks and benefits is well documented in the United States. In response, interactive mapping tools that attempt to represent and address environmental justice (EJ) issues have proliferated in recent years. By synthesizing socioeconomic and environmental data into a user-friendly interface, EJ mapping tools can inform advocacy and policy decisions that benefit disadvantaged communities. Numerous studies have contributed to the development and assessment of the indices and datasets found in these mapping tools, while other articles have highlighted approaches to and lessons learned from single cases of EJ mapping tool development. However, only a few studies …

Judicial Integrity Under Scrutiny: Analyzing Misconduct Allegations During Times Of Turmoil, Nicholas Gigliotti

Master's Theses and Capstones

Judicial ethics, grounded in principles of impartiality and integrity, face threats when public perceptions are compromised by instances of misconduct and the actions of those who fail to adhere to these core standards. Since 1980, the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act has provided a mechanism for reporting and addressing allegations of misconduct that do not reach the level of impeachment. This process offers complainants a means to hold judges accountable for their actions and often serves as a forum for addressing grievances that might otherwise go unheard. While the federal judiciary is typically insulated from external pressures due to lifetime …

From Seed To Sourdough And Barley To Beer: Values-Based Grain Supply Chain Models To Support Mid-Scale Farm Viability In The Upper Northeast, Elise Neidecker

Master's Theses and Capstones

The industrialization and commodification of grains has had major environmental, health, and economic implications. Pushing back against this commodity system, alternative grain networks are emerging in the form of collaborations between farmers, millers, bakers, maltsters, and brewers creating localized grain supply chains. These grain chains are part of a broader movement toward the development of values-based supply chains in the food system, in which business partners form long-term, strategic partnerships based on shared extra-economic values like sustainability and equity and deliver value-added and differentiated products that allow farmers to capture a price premium. Despite the presence of localized grain chains …

Hardware And Software Optimization For Of Smart Insole Systems For Gait Analysis, Femi John Olugbon

Master's Theses and Capstones

Gait analysis is vital in human biomechanicals, clinical diagnostics, and rehabilitation, providing essential insights into human locomotion. Ground reaction forces play a significant role in understanding gait dynamics, detecting abnormalities, and assessing treatment outcomes. Accurate measurement and analysis of ground reaction forces and other gait parameters are crucial for developing effective interventions and improving patient outcomes.

The first part of this thesis explores methods to optimize and standardize the number of pressure sensors and their optimum placements within the insole for accurate and reliable estimation of temporal gait parameters. Standardization of sensor position for temporal gait analysis is crucial for …

Characterizing The Diets Of Tidal Marsh Sparrows Using Fecal Dna Metabarcoding, William Thomas Rumfelt

Master's Theses and Capstones

Animal diet studies provide valuable insights into evolution and ecology, including about niches filled by species and how they are shaped by interspecific competition. Fecal DNA metabarcoding is an efficient, non-invasive approach to assess animal diets by sequencing DNA recovered from fecal samples. This study used fecal DNA metabarcoding to characterize the breeding season diets of six Atlantic coast tidal marsh sparrow species with varying levels of adaptation to tidal salt marsh habitat. We identified the major prey taxa present in each species’ diet, compared dietary diversity as a measure of niche width across species of varying salt marsh specialization, …

Evaluating The Long-Term Performance Of Recycling Agents In High-Rap Content Asphalt Mixtures, Zheng Wang

Master's Theses and Capstones

The Utilization of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) has become a pivotal strategy for improving infrastructure sustainability. However, with a high RAP content included in the pavement material, the aged asphalt will decline the mechanical properties of the flexible pavement and thus decrease the durability. Recycling agents (RAs) are products with chemical and physical characteristics designed to restore the rheological properties of reclaimed asphalt material and improve the performance of recycled asphalt mixtures with high RAP content that promote economic and environmental benefits. Plenty of the RA products are proven effective once blended with asphalt; however, the long-term effect of the …

Mitigation Of Road Mortality Of Freshwater Turtles In New Hampshire With An Emphasis On Blanding's Turtles (Emydoidea Blandingii), Lauren White

Master's Theses and Capstones

The Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii) is a state-endangered species in New Hampshire that is particularly vulnerable to road mortality due to reproductive life history traits, habitat use, and migration patterns. Successful conservation techniques to mitigate wildlife road mortality include building fences and wildlife crossing structures (eco-passages) at roadkill hot spots. A collaborative research group designed a road mortality risk model to understand turtles' relative road mortality risk at existing wetland crossing sites in New Hampshire and to assess whether culverts at these sites may function as eco-passages. To ground-truth this model, roadkill surveys and wildlife camera monitoring techniques were used …

Understanding Public Trust At The Local Level, Nate Bernitz

UNH Cooperative Extension

No abstract provided.

Pessimism About Future Personal Finances Ebbing In Nh But Majority Expect A Recession Within A Year 8/27/2024, Unh Survey Center

All UNH Survey Center Polls

New Hampshire residents remain downbeat about their personal finances and nearly half of state residents report at least some difficulty affording basic necessities within the last year. However, Granite Staters are less pessimistic about their economic future. Compared to May, fewer people expect to be worse off financially next year or expect bad times for the state or national economies. Despite this, six in ten think the country is in a recession or is likely to enter one within the next year.