Digital Commons Network^™

Generating Concentrated Ring Polymers Through Supercoiled And Open Circle Pdna Isoform Separation, Kelsey E. Hodsdon

Honors Theses and Capstones

DNA can serve as a model polymer due to its high uniformity compared to synthetic polymers. Plasmid DNA (pDNA) in particular offers a well-defined, low-dispersity model for studying topologically uniform systems of a cyclic nature. pDNA has unique isoforms known as open circle (OC) and supercoiled (SC). Using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC), specifically anion exchange chromatography (AEX), these OC and SC isoforms can be separated in order to access their unique material properties. Our lab was able to yield the pure SC isoform. However, OC isoform separation has been more challenging. Various difficulties arose during this process, including imaging …

Concord Public Transportation Improvement Project, Jacob Holt

Honors Theses and Capstones

The capital city of Concord, New Hampshire, has been served by Concord Area Transit (CAT) since 1989. Despite continued population growth and economic development within the city, CAT’s fixed route bus system has remained unaltered since 2011. The purpose of this project is to rework the CAT system to provide service that better aligns with Concord resident’s current needs. A public survey was conducted to gather data regarding Concord resident’s needs, habits, and perception of the existing system, which was used in the development of the revised system. The project includes suggestions for both system-wide and route-specific modifications. Key changes …

Restoring Tidal Function: Hydrologic And Erosion Controls, On Rare Plant Distribution In New Hampshire Salt Marshes, Nikhila B. Lampman

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Detection And Management Of Attacks On Synchronized Networks, Michael T. Spearman

Honors Theses and Capstones

The Precision Time Protocol (IEEE 1588) provides sub-microsecond clock synchronization across packet-switched networks and has become foundational infrastructure in 5G fronthaul, industrial control systems, and financial exchanges. Despite its criticality, most deployed PTP networks operate without active security monitoring, and no standardized detection mechanism exists for the class of attacks that deliberately stay below conventional jitter thresholds. This thesis investigates whether hardware-level ptp4l offset logs alone are sufficient to reliably detect two such attacks, slowly wandering packet delay injection and rogue master spoofing, and whether detection can occur before severe synchronization failure.

A hardware-in-the-loop testbed was constructed using two hosts …

Investigating A Nanoparticle-Assisted Approach For Localized Strain Engineering In Two-Dimensional Materials, Skye Martichuski

Honors Theses and Capstones

This work investigated a fabrication strategy for inducing localized nanoscale deformation and strain in transferred MoS2 flakes using gold nanoparticle-coated substrates as a potential platform for strain engineering in two-dimensional materials. Substrate type, nanoparticle concentration, drying conditions, cleaning procedures, and flake transfer methods were investigated using optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Au-coated SiO2 substrates produced improved nanoparticle coverage compared to bare SiO2, while passive air drying yielded the most favorable nanoparticle distributions. Salt crystals introduced during passive drying were successfully removed with a gentle deionized water rinse, and a 50% diluted gold nanoparticle suspension provided improved particle spacing …

Driving Monitoring Of People With Alzheimer’S Disease And Related Dementia Using Global Positioning System Technology, Julia A. Ferris

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Integrating Generative Ai Into Ds 774/874 & Graduate Is/Analytics Education, Andrew Bushnell

Business Analytics Student Projects and Publications

The widespread availability of generative artificial intelligence has weakened traditional assessment methods in Information Systems and Business Analytics education. In DS 774/874, AI and Emerging Technologies in Business (formerly E-Business) at the University of New Hampshire, auto-graded assignments and presentation-based deliverables no longer reliably indicate student understanding, as AI can generate correct or polished outputs with minimal engagement. Using DS 774/874 as a case study, this paper combines course analysis, evidence from business analytics education research, and a targeted review of peer and aspirational programs to examine how AI is being incorporated into IS and analytics curricula. The paper …

Global Carbon Mitigation From Bacnet Adoption In Commercial Building Automation Systems 1995-2030, Fei Han, Weiwei Mo

Faculty Publications

Building Automation Systems (BAS) play a critical role in improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings, yet their long-term carbon mitigation potential has not been comprehensively quantified at a global scale. As the dominant open communication standard enabling interoperability in modern BAS, BACnet has played a central role in expanding automation adoption worldwide. This study develops a cohort-based modeling framework to estimate historical (1995–2025) and projected (2026–2030) CO₂e mitigation from BACnet-based BAS adoption across four regions: the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Rest of World (ROW). The model combines regional commercial floor area, baseline electricity and natural-gas energy intensity, BAS …

Strengthening Marketing Attribution Across The Funnel At Bluesnap Powered By Payroc, Lily Abigial Sturdevant

Business Analytics Student Projects and Publications

This case study examines how BlueSnap powered by Payroc can strengthen marketing attribution across a complex B2B funnel using its existing information systems. BlueSnap runs multichannel campaigns across paid search, paid social, display/CTV, email, SEO/PR, content syndication, and partner programs, but fragmented tracking across HubSpot, Salesforce, and media platforms prevents a unified, causal view of performance. The analysis combines a process and data-flow map of the TOFU-MOFU-BOFU customer journey, KPI and dashboard review, and a SWOT lens to diagnose issues in data integration, attribution modeling, and KPI interpretation. Findings show that attribution challenges stem less from lack of conceptual understanding …

Spec Ops Tools Point Of Sale (Pos) Data Insights, Liam Mcgovern

Business Analytics Student Projects and Publications

No abstract provided.

Underwater Remote Sensing Of Oil: Validation Testing Of A Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Acoustic Sensor For Emergency Response, Sara Jessica Berg

Master's Theses and Capstones

During an oil spill, emergency responders need to be able to estimate the thickness of oil to determine the type of recovery equipment to use and the environmental impact for natural resource damage assessment, perform a risk assessment, and generate response plans. There is an abundance of remote sensing techniques and devices that have been evaluated for use in oil spill emergency response. One that has repeatedly shown promise is active sound navigation and ranging (SONAR) system that transmits and receives acoustic signals. However, the systems that have been tested are often prototypes, not readily available during an oil spill …

An Inter-Model Comparison Of Snow Water Equivalent In Watershed 3, Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, For Winter 2023-2024, Ryan Reed

Master's Theses and Capstones

Estimates of snow water equivalent (SWE) are crucial for water availability and flood risk assessment due to the contribution of snow melt to increased surface runoff. However, many regions do not have observations of SWE, thus necessitating a robust method to estimate SWE for streamflow forecasting. Numerical snowpack models provide a potential way to estimate SWE in areas without observations. However, there are a multitude of snowpack models available, and they range greatly in their complexity. Even so, there have been few snowpack model intercomparisons to assess the trade-offs in model performance and complexity, and those that do exist did …

Mechanistic Modeling Of Deformation Micromechanics In Commercially Pure Titanium Under Cyclic Bending To Post-Necking Regimes, Talukder Musfika Tasnim Oishi

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis investigates the deformation behavior of commercially pure titanium (CP–Ti) undercyclic bending under tension (CBT) through integrated experiments and multiscale modeling. Cyclic bending produces alternating tension and compression through the sheet thickness, delaying localization and enhancing ductility. Digital image correlation (DIC) measurements were used to quantify strain-path evolution and elongation-to-fracture (ETF). Finite-element simulations employing a continuum J2 plasticity model captured the macroscopic load–displacement response and width-dependent transition from uniaxial to plane-strain deformation. To incorporate micromechanical mechanisms, a dislocation-density-based crystal plasticity finite-element (CPFE) model with kinematic backstress was developed and calibrated using experimental data, accurately reproducing cyclic hardening and slip-system …

A Comprehensive Study Of Uncertainties In The Modeling Of Binary Neutron Star Outflows, Amelia Michele Henkel

Doctoral Dissertations

Binary neutron star (BNS) mergers have recently become a tool to study extreme gravity, nucleosynthesis, and the chemical composition of the Universe in a new way. In order to accurately identify electromagnetic signals of neutron star mergers, both in the future and retroactively, better constraints on their merger signatures are required. Specifically, BNS outflow properties (such as the mass and composition) are particularly insightful, as they provide a link between the intrinsic properties (such as the stellar masses and radii) and observables. In this thesis, I put forth multiple ways of classifying uncertainties associated with BNS mass outflow models. First, …

An Integrated Study Of Instrument Performance And Scientific Yield: Evaluation Of The Grape Design, Karla Georgina Onate Melecio

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents the end-to-end development, characterization, and in-flight validation of the 3-dimensional Gamma-Ray Polarimeter Experiment (GRAPE), a wide-field-of-view (FoV) Compton polarimeter designed for high-energy astrophysics. The primary scientific motivation is to address unresolved questions in the physics of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) jets, for which gamma-ray polarimetry is a critical diagnostic. GRAPE is designed to measure the degree and angle of $\gamma$-ray polarization within a targeted energy band of \SIrange{50}{500}{keV} to cover the peak energy output (E$_{pk}$) of observed GRB spectra. This work establishes the instrument's scientific readiness through two principal contributions. First, the instrument's fundamental low-energy response was characterized …

Sensitivity Analysis Of The Faraday Rotation Ammeter, Jason Sisk

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis describes the operation and error analysis for an instrument that is intended to measure current density in space, although there are other potential applications for the instrument. The device, named the Faraday Rotation Ammeter (FRA), utilizes the Faraday Rotation Effect to calculate current density, where the magnetic field created by a current density causes a shift in the polarization angle of light traveling in a fiber optic cable within the device. The fiber optic cable is wrapped into a ring structure oriented in a way so that the polarized source travels parallel to the magnetic field of interest, …

Efficient Algorithms For Mitigating Uncertainty And Risk In Reinforcement Learning, Xihong Su

Doctoral Dissertations

Reinforcement learning~(RL) studies the methodologies of improving the performance of sequential decision-making for autonomous agents and has achieved remarkable success in domains such as games, robotics, autonomous systems, finance, and healthcare. The Markov Decision Process~(MDP) is a mathematical framework for modeling agent-environment interactions in sequential decision-making problems. There are two primary sources of uncertainty in RL: epistemic uncertainty and aleatoric uncertainty. In RL, risk refers to the potential for an agent's policy to lead to undesirable outcomes, especially when the environment is uncertain. In many domains, researchers seek policies that maximize the objectives while mitigating the uncertainty and risk in …

Teachers' Evaluation And Reporting Orientations And Their Impact On Elementary Students' Motivation: A Secondary Analysis Of Ecls-K: 2011 Data, Melissa L. Lefebvre

Doctoral Dissertations

Few studies examine the specific component of teacher evaluation and reporting and its relationship with student motivation. Student motivation to learn and achieve is a fundamental element of academic success in school. Motivation has been linked to educational outcomes like curiosity, persistence, learning, conceptual understanding, and long-term achievement (Vallerand et al., 1992). Diminished motivation can lead to consequences such as higher dropout rates and increased anxiety. Research indicates that classroom climate and student-teacher relationships have the most significant impact on student motivation (Jansen et al., 2022). This dissertation explores the association of teachers’ evaluation and reporting practices with student motivation. …

Development And Characterization Of Bulk Dsdna-Based Materials Using Biologically Derived Plasmid Dna, Wynter Amythyst Paiva

Doctoral Dissertations

Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) exhibits many unique sequence-independent properties that remain underutilized in materials science. The exceptional length, solubility, biocompatibility, imageability, molecular recognition capabilities, and topological control of DNA makes it an ideal candidate for the creation of bespoke biomaterials and investigation of fundamental relationships in polymer physics. Unfortunately, translation of DNA-based materials from the microscale to macroscale has been hindered by source constraints and limitations in chemical modification of biologically derived DNA. This work seeks to expand the utility of dsDNA from the benchtop to real world applications. Establishing dsDNA as a commodity polymer will aid in the development of …

The Baroclinic Route To Acoustic Streaming: Mechanisms Of Mean-Flow Generation And Heat Transport In Acoustically-Forced Stratified Fluids, Remil Mushthaq

Doctoral Dissertations

Standing acoustic waves in density-stratified fluids confined within horizontal channels generate fluctuating vorticity baroclinically, driving mean streaming flows that are much stronger and qualitatively distinct from classical Rayleigh streaming. Theoretical and numerical studies have shown that these baroclinic acoustic streaming flows can reach speeds comparable to the maximum speed of the oscillatory sound-wave field, enabling fully two-way wave/mean-flow coupling: the streaming flow modifies the background density field, which then alters the structure of the acoustic waves. Extending this framework, Massih (2022) quantified the heat-transfer enhancement arising from baroclinic streaming as a function of the channel aspect ratio (δ). The present …

Investigation Of Cross-Flow Turbines With Varying Structural And Surface Properties, Nicole Marone

Doctoral Dissertations

The oceans are a largely untapped resource with regard to their tidal, wave, and ocean current energy potential and could significantly contribute to clean energy objectives. Cross-flow turbines (CFTs) can be used to extract energy from tidal currents and provide electrical energy to the power grid. However, one of their main barriers to market entry is their levelized cost of energy (LCOE), which at present is still quite high. Three parameters that have not previously been studied together, and that could make CFTs more cost-competitive, include the use of less rigid and less expensive materials, a reduction in the number …

Adrift: The Influence Of Shelf Circulation And Larval Dispersal On Coastal Biogeography At Basin And Global Scales, Will Lush

Doctoral Dissertations

The dispersal of larvae plays an important role in determining the distribution of benthic meroplanktonic organisms in the coastal ocean. The work presented in this defense uses biophysical modeling approaches to examine the interaction of larval dispersal with coastal circulation and the impact of these interactions on contemporary coastal biogeography at global scales.I begin by presenting a novel method for validating numerical dispersal estimates against drifter observations from the Global Drifter Program. We find that median dispersal estimates match observations to within 5 percent, while model estimates underpredict the spread of drifters around this median by between 30 and 50 …

Regional Analysis Changes In The Salt Marsh: How The Past Is Influencing The Present, Elizabeth May Gorrill

Master's Theses and Capstones

Salt marshes are critical coastal wetlands that provide valuable ecosystem services including coastal erosion control, carbon sequestration, water quality improvement, fisheries habitats, and recreational and economic opportunities for coastal communities. To better understand salt marshes and the changes occurring within the systems due to environmental and human factors, monitoring of established sites is conducted to look at variables such as vegetation cover, elevation, fauna, and vertical accretion. Methodological differences amongst monitoring efforts can result in data that has differing implications when analyzed and interpreted, so documentation of protocols (and any deviance from them) is imperative when bringing together datasets. The …

Modular And Combined Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithms For Extraterrestrial Resource Prospecting, Gregory Hatfield

Master's Theses and Capstones

The success of future crewed and autonomous space missions hinges on effectively utilizing in-situ resources available in the extraterrestrial environment to sustain missions and habitation. Prior to extraction of resources, such missions will require robust and efficient methods for extraterrestrial resource prospecting. However, traditional global optimization techniques struggle with the complex and non-convex search spaces inherent to mapping and identifying resource deposits on extraterrestrial surfaces.

This research addresses the resource prospecting problem by developing and evaluating novel variants of the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). Here, four novel algorithms, their variants, and four combined algorithms are rigorously tested and confirmed. The …

Preliminary Analysis Of A Wave Energy Converter For Remote Power Generation, William Frank Pelger Ii

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis presents the design, development, and characterization of a free-floating Oscillating Water Column (OWC) Wave Energy Converter (WEC) created by the University of New Hampshire (UNH) Center for Sustainable Seafood Systems (CSSS) in collaboration with the United States Naval Academy (USNA) Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering Department. The project aims to advance small-scale WEC technologies for integration into aquaculture systems along with remote military applications.The initial design and construction of the OWC was completed as a USNA senior capstone project, providing the foundation for subsequent development and testing. The OWC was tested in the UNH Jere A. Chase Ocean …

Focal Engine: Filling A Gap Between Game Engines And Big-Data Scientific Visualization Packages, Kindrat Beregovyi

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents Focal Engine, a novel 3D visualization engine designed to bridge the gap between game engines and scientific visualization tools. Game engines offer accessible interfaces and high-performance rendering but struggle with large-scale scientific datasets, while tools like ParaView and VTK handle complex data structures effectively but lack intuitive editing capabilities and modern rendering features. Focal Engine combines the accessibility and rendering performance of game engines with the data handling capabilities and analytical tools of scientific visualization platforms. The engine's capabilities are validated through multiple applications and projects, for example: HabiCAT 3D performs 3D complexity measurements on ocean floor …

Floodings, Emilio R. Longoria

The University of New Hampshire Law Review

No abstract provided.

Pitch Modeling And Control Of Subcarangiform Robotic Fish, Margaret Grace Enderle

Master's Theses and Capstones

The development of biomimetic robotic fish has been an ongoing research topic for the last 30 years. Here, researchers have explored biomimetic propulsion and maneuverability mechanisms, studied energy efficiency in comparison to live fish, and developed autonomous control algorithms for these extremely nonlinear systems. This work studies a multi-linkage, single-actuator propelled biomimetic robotic fish, the Ghost Uncrewed Performance Platform Submersible (GUPPS), developed at the University of New Hampshire. A set of symmetrically driven, static pectoral fins are added to the original platform to enable diving and surfacing capabilities by controlling the vehicle Angle of Attack (AoA) through pitch and yaw …

Weaponized Deepfakes: A Low-Resourced Attacker Threat Assessment, Joshua David Labelle

Master's Theses and Capstones

The democratization of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) tools, combined with the short-form nature of modern media consumption, has created a ripe landscape for generating and weaponizing synthetic media. The availability of pre-trained, open-source generative models enables would-be attackers, who lack funding and enterprise-grade hardware, to conduct convincing information-based attacks that harm, manipulate, and deceive. This thesis aims to model this threat actor using an open-source deepfake generation pipeline that requires minimal computational resources and is capable of producing deepfakes in the audio, image, and video domains. This model is then used to identify, measure, and evaluate the capabilities …

Now You See It: Evaluating A Small Object Detection Model For Uncrewed Surface Vehicle Operations, Jenna Ehnot

Master's Theses and Capstones

As Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) operations scale in size, distance, and complexity, they increasingly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to maintain situational awareness, and operators must understand how algorithm performance may change as camera configuration is adjusted to meet operational needs. This thesis proposes distance-based evaluation strategies that characterize object detection performance in terms directly applicable to USV operations. In this research, a YOLOv5s model was trained to detect small maritime obstacles, focusing on aids to navigation, and the lobster pot floats common in the Gulf of Maine. Three test videos were collected, each capturing a buoy approaching the …