Digital Commons Network^™

Thomas Malkoski Named Unh Paul J. Holloway Entrepreneur Of The Year, Aaron Sanborn

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

E-Lit Choose Your Own Adventure, Sydney L. Vlach

The Hugemanities Project Big Contest

This Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-Type of Electronic Literature was made with the application Twine, and it throws the reader into a life/death zombie apocalypse after a couple of tamer choices in the beginning of the story. It includes about 30 "choices", which can lead the "player" down a different path-- only one of which results in a "win".

Unh Museum Of Art Reopened For Student-Run Exhibition, Cassandra Chabot

Digital Edition

An independent student produced newspaper from the University of New Hampshire.

Maine Mill Digital Curation, Catherine E. Kiburis, Amanda Ford, Pat Pasong, Isabelle Zoerb, Lindsay Fortin, Sophia Schlichtmann, Brady Rice, Averie M. Argir, Bella L. Demarco

The Hugemanities Project Big Contest

We worked with the Maine Mill Museum to help document the community response to the Lewiston shootings. We collected information and media for the museum workers to memorialize the victims, their families, and the events.

Beauregard Center's Vyas Honored By Acpa, Unh Communications And Public Affairs

UNH Today Archive

No abstract provided.

Microplastic Trends In Estuarine Surface Waters, Hanna Mogensen

Master's Theses and Capstones

With an estimated 8.75 million metric tons of plastic entering the world’s oceans each year, marine plastic litter has become a fast-growing concern. Plastics have been found to have severe impacts on aquatic environments and marine organisms in which both physical and chemical effects have been described. Once plastics enter the oceans, the qualities that make them so desirable- their persistent and durable nature- also make them a substantial and persistent threat. Through natural processes (solar degradation, mixing, and biofouling) larger plastic pieces break apart, but never fully degrade, existing as smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics.

Microplastics, defined as …

Unhsc Performance Curve And O&M Tracking Calculator, Daniel Macadam

UNH Stormwater Center

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Wind Direction Variability On The Dynamic Response Of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines In The Gulf Of Maine, Bhargavi Nimoji

Master's Theses and Capstones

In today's world, meeting the growing energy demand is crucial to sustaining the modern way of life. This has primarily been achieved through non-renewable sources, which are depleting and causing environmental harm. To tackle these challenges, a shift towards renewable energy sources is essential. The offshore wind sector, in particular, is rapidly expanding, exploring suitable sites for offshore wind farms and Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT). This study looks at the viability of the Gulf of Maine for FOWTs based on extreme environmental conditions associated with a 50-year storm return and wind directionality. The International Energy Agency (IEA) 15-MW Reference …

Yoga And Advaita Vedanta: A Study Comparing The Ontological And Epistemological Foundations Of Two Astika Schools Of Indian Philosophy, Devkamal Dutta

Master's Theses and Capstones

The central aim of this thesis was to examine the ontological and epistemological foundations of two schools of Indian philosophy – the Yoga School and the Advaita Vedanta School, in order to understand their points of convergence as well as divergence. I engaged in this inquiry by studying sutras from one foundational text of each school: Patanjali’s Yogasutras and Adi Shankaracharya’s Atmabodha, and by subjecting the sutras to scrutiny, to understand each school’s ontological and epistemological foundations. To do so, I chose the Triputi Framework, which is an ontological-epistemological framework from a third school of Indian philosophy, the Mimansa School. …

What “Doing The Work” Is Taken To Mean: Higher Education Faculty’S Conceptualizations Of Deij Work, Denise Susanne Desrosiers

Doctoral Dissertations

Many U.S. higher education institutions invest significantly in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ)-oriented professional development (PD) to help faculty develop knowledge and skills for serving diverse student populations. However, evidence is mixed regarding the effectiveness of DEIJ PD in helping institutions make progress on educational equity issues. Little is known about why DEIJ PD efforts may not have the desired effects. This study examines one potential answer to this question, interrogating the role of “Therapeutics” in DEIJ learning experiences, a Western cultural pattern that emphasizes self-reflection and attention to individual dispositions and emotions, as opposed to community orientations. Thirty-two …

Survival Strategies In Arid Environments: Exploring Desert Adaptations In Peromyscus Eremicus, Danielle Blumstein

Doctoral Dissertations

Desert environments pose extreme challenges for organisms, necessitating the evolution of specialized physiological, biochemical, and genomic mechanisms for survival. My research focuses on the cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus), exploring real time long term physiological changes and multi-tissue transcriptomics. The advent of both modern metabolic and sequencing technologies has revolutionized our approach to studying whole organismal responses on a fine scale, offering the ability to analyze changes during environmental fluctuations. However, these methods bring a new viewpoint that has highlighted our lack of understanding of the associated biology. My Ph.D. research takes an interdisciplinary approach, summarizing the interaction between metabolism and …

Discovery And Characterization Of Low Current Electrospray Modes For Mass Spectrometry: Applications For Femtoesi And The Enhancement Of Relative Ionization Efficiency, Nicholas Allen

Doctoral Dissertations

The analysis of analytes using electrospray ionization (ESI) and mass spectrometry (MS) has become a widely used tool for the detection and characterization of a wide class of chemical species. Because of its utilization for liquid phase sample and its application to a wide range of flow rates, ESI-MS can be coupled with liquid chromatography (LC) to offer additional separation, desalting, and sample pre-concentration prior to detection. Recent improvements in ESI performance have come from investigating ways to improve the ionization behavior of wide classes of analytes by reducing the liquid flow rate, initially generated droplet size, and ionization current. …

A Pathway To Light-Induced Assembly Of Polymer Nanoparticles, Anna Huebner

Doctoral Dissertations

Since the late 1980’s tissue engineering has become an important field in regenerative medicine. Tissue engineering aims to create scaffolds designed to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of human tissue, which is a complex, heterogeneous system. While there are a variety of approaches for scaffold fabrication, it is difficult to mimic the heterogeneity of the natural ECM. NH BioMade proposed a tissue engineering scaffold design to address these limitations, where multi-lobed particles can be 3D-printed to form a scaffold, providing heterogeneity in pore size by the incorporation of different-sized multi-lobed particles. In order for particles to be 3D printed into …

Voiculescu's Theorem In Properly Infinite Factors, Minghui Ma

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation investigates Voiculescu’s theorem on approximate equivalence in separable properly infinite factors. We establish the norm-denseness of the set of all reducible operators and prove Voiculescu’s bicommutant theorem. Additionally, we extend these results to the multiplier algebras within separable type III factors.

Binary Neutron Star Mergers: Magnetohydrodynamics And Neutrino Physics Of General Relativistic Simulations Of Binary Neutron Star Mergers, Alexander Lee Knight

Doctoral Dissertations

Binary neutron star mergers are some of the most extreme events to happen in our universe. From observations of these mergers, we can obtain information about the properties of matter at densities much larger than those accessible within the solar system, as well on the origin of heavy elements. Studying these events poses challenges, so we use simulations to model the merger. State-of-the-art methods and models still have to make assumptions or simplifications, so new methods improving either the accuracy of the simulations, or reducing the computational cost are desired. My research contains three projects, aiming to improve simulations by …

Aspects Of Mirror Symmetry For Non-Fano Toric Varieties, Michael John Samuel Lathwood

Doctoral Dissertations

Correlation functions in the topological A-model can be computed with open Gromov-Witten invariants whereas the mirror topological B-model admits a simpler description in terms of period integrals. We first review preliminary material in Chapter 1. Then in Chapter 2 we use tropical geometry to construct the Duistermaat-Heckman measure for non-Fano toric varieties. This allows one to compute the asymptotic terms of period integrals. In Chapter 3 we solve the generalized Picard-Fuchs system for the Hirzebruch surfaces, and hence compute periods to all orders of the mirror complex structure moduli. Near the large complex structure limit point, we use toric degenerations, …

Essays On Macroeconomics And Market Failures, Bayarmaa Dalkhjav

Doctoral Dissertations

What are the macroeconomic consequences of market failure in the long and short runs? How do asymmetric information, externality, and lack of the rule of law contribute to resource misallocation, output, and the business cycle in an economy at the aggregate level? My research focuses on these research questions. Specifically, I explore the macroeconomic effects of asymmetric information, the external impacts of innovation decisions as a part of firm’s dynamic decisions, and the implications of corruption on the fluctuation of the business cycle.

In the first chapter, titled “Hidden Information as a Source of Misallocation: An Application to the Opioid …

Mathematical Explorations Into The Inner Workings Of Neural Networks, Xiang Li

Doctoral Dissertations

Neural network applications are everywhere in our lives today. We can now design and train large neural networks with billions of parameters for a multitude of complex tasks. However, it is still extremely challenging for us to explain the theoretical underpinnings that have led to the successful use of neural networks for a wide range of applications. This dissertation focuses on the mathematical foundations of neural networks.

In Chapter 2, we investigate the error function of fully connected neural networks with the rectifier linear unit (ReLU) activation functions. We prove that for any linear neural network with a single hidden …

Essays On Labor, Immigrants, And Inputs, Andrew Clina

Doctoral Dissertations

In my dissertation, I concentrate on the broad topic of trade and its effects on domestic markets, employing both empirical analysis and theoretical frameworks. This study delves into two primary facets of trade's influence: labor and production. While the impact of trade with China on labor markets on manufacturing employment is well studied, I contribute to existing literature by investigating its effects on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) occupations. Despite considerable attention to STEM education, there is little research on these specific occupations. I extend this analysis in my second chapter by examining how immigrants are affected differently from …

A Simultaneous Test Of Explanatory Accounts Of The Reminiscence Bump Using Emotional Cueing And The Life History Timeline Method, Caglayan Ozdemir

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the reminiscence bump phenomenon through an investigation of four theoretical accounts—cognitive, identity formation, cultural life scripts, and life stories. Through a novel combination of the life history timeline method and emotional cueing technique, factors proposed to explain the reminiscence bump—such as novelty, identity-relevance, commonality, and perceived-control of personal event memories—were directly measured across three life periods (Pre-Reminiscence Bump, Reminiscence Bump, Post-Reminiscence Bump). Findings indicate partial support for each account to varying degrees, with the life stories account demonstrating the strongest empirical evidence relative to the other accounts. Most factors were able to differentiate the reminiscence bump from …

Eco-Resonance At The Arctic's Edge: Unraveling Microbial Methane Mysteries And Quantifying Collaborative Research Challenges, Tamara Sade Marcus

Doctoral Dissertations

Lakes in northern latitudes, especially those formed in peatlands, play a critical role in global carbon cycling. They store a substantial amount of organic carbon (OC) in their sediments but remain a poorly understood component of the carbon cycle. Despite their significance, CH₄ emissions from lakes were once considered negligible in climate models. However, recent studies highlight their substantial contribution, prompting the need for their inclusion in climate models, yet uncertainties persist around the CH₄ contributions from these systems.

This dissertation delves into the microbial controls on CH₄ emissions from arctic lake sediments, focusing on Stordalen Mire in northern Sweden, …

Differential Roles Of Replication Protein A Large Subunit Paralogs In Dna Damage Repair, Ian Mills

Doctoral Dissertations

DNA damage is a constant threat for all organisms. The most severe form of DNA damage is a double-strand break (DSB) that can have disastrous consequences to the cell including genome truncation and programmed cell death. As such, organisms have multiple complex pathways dedicated to repairing DSBs. These repair pathways begin with a signaling cascade that results in the resecting of the ends of the break to create 3’ OH overhangs which are immediately bound by a single-stranded binding protein called Replication Protein A (RPA). This is followed by the cell either undergoing programmed cell death or utilizing non-homologous end …

On Entropic Van Der Corput’S Difference Theorem, Weichen Gu

Doctoral Dissertations

We prove an entropic version of van der Corput’s difference theorem: the entropy of a sequence is equal to the entropy of its differences. This reveals a correspondence between the theory of uniform distribution mod 1 and entropy. As applications, we establish several entropic versions of other uniform distribution theorems.

Streamer Dynamics In Thunderstorm And Near-Ionospheric Environments, Jacob Koile

Doctoral Dissertations

Streamers are self-consistent ionization waves that are generated within an electric field. Since they were first proposed in the theory of spark breakdown developed in the 1930s by Raether, Loeb, and Meek [Raether, 1939; Loeb and Meek, 1940], they have demanded the attention of scientists across many different fields. They are crucial to the Earth environment because of their natural occurrence in the form of sprites, at near-ionosphere altitudes above a thunderstorm, and their proposed roles in the formation and propagation of lightning. % that can occur above a thunderstorm, or However, they also play a role in the human …

Asymptotic Spectral Analysis Of A Coupled Bending-Torsion Beam Energy Harvester, Chris Vales

Doctoral Dissertations

A piezoelectric energy harvester is a device that utilizes the properties of piezoelectric materials to convert mechanical strain energy into electric energy. The present work is concerned with the asymptotic spectral analysis of a piezoelectric harvester extracting energy from the mechanical vibration of a coupled bending-torsion beam. After placing the model in the appropriate operator setting, we prove that the addition of piezoelectric energy harvesting constitutes a weak perturbation of the underlying beam dynamics, in the sense that the model’s piezoelectric parameters do not appear in the first two orders of magnitude of the asymptotic approximation of the governing operator’s …

A Qualitative Study Of East Asian College Students' Perspectives On Family Messages About Education And Relations With Culture, Ethnic Identity, And Generational Status, Minori Haga Stefon

Doctoral Dissertations

As ethnic Asians become a more prominent group in American life, some scholars have focused on exploring both the roles of ethnic Asians in American society and culture, and of how American society and culture impact and transform their lives. This study seeks to understand the types of messages that ethnic East Asian college students studying in the United States report receiving from their parents and other family members about academic success and their college education. It also seeks to understand if and how messages about ethnic identity (being Asian) and immigration timing get integrated into the students’ perceptions of …

On The Kernel Elements Of Unimodular Vectors, Thomas Nocera

Doctoral Dissertations

For a commutative ring $R$ with identity, the set of unimodular vectors $Um_n(R)$ contains all column vectors $\alpha\in R^n$ so that $\alpha^T\beta=1$ for some $\beta\in R^n$. The set of completable vectors $Umc_n(R)$ is the set of unimodular vectors in $R^n$ that appear as the first column of an invertible matrix in $GL_n(R)$. Determining the conditions in which unimodular vectors are completable is fundamental to problems in algebraic geometry and module theory. In this work, we generalize the usual dimension $3$, real vector cross product to commutative rings and characterize all completable vectors in $Umc_3(R)$ in terms of the cross product. …

Can Gel Content In Emulsion Polymerization Be Optimized? Contributions Of Both Chemistry And Process On The Crosslinking Of Polymer Colloids., Zachary Hollins

Doctoral Dissertations

Environmental regulations on volatile organic compounds implemented in the European Union have highlighted the strengths of waterborne coatings and adhesives. Emulsion polymerization is a heterophase reaction in which an aqueous medium suspends polymer particles. Polymer colloids have diverse applications ranging from paper coatings, cosmetics, food additives, and pressure-sensitive adhesives, just to name a few. With such a wide range of applications, each latex requires a unique set of mechanical and chemical properties. One method used to control various mechanical properties is crosslinking, in which an insoluble “gel” is produced. Previous research by the Tsavalas group has revealed that alterations to …

Plasma Membrane Remodeling And Biochemical Mechanisms Underpinning Bacterial Persistence In Fractured Subsurface Shale, Chika Jude Ugwuodo

Doctoral Dissertations

During hydraulic fracturing, a water-based fluid containing proppants and several chemical additives is injected under high pressure into a ~2 km deep wellbore, to extend fractures in the underlying rock. This process introduces a host of microorganisms into the reservoir, some of which survive, persist for long periods of time and cause several problems including production of H2S, a corrosive toxicant and biofilm formation which clogs rock fractures. Over time, the bacterial genus Halanaerobium dominates the microbial community composition in many geologically distinct fractured formations. Our understanding of shale reservoir microbial dynamics remains limited despite extensive studies in the past …

The Splintered Man: Masculine Responses To Feminism In 20th Century Fiction, Jess Flarity

Doctoral Dissertations

Splintered masculinity is a pattern of behaviors where men engage with the rhetoric of feminism and gender equality for their own benefit rather than as an authentic commitment to advancing women’s rights. This dissertation tracks the emergence of the “splintered man,” or s-man, from 1915 to 1982 in mainstream literary fiction along with science fiction to demonstrate how this identity crosses cultural and socioeconomic barriers to uphold principles related to hegemonic masculinity. Three kinds of s-men emerged within Modernism: the anti-human s-man, the self-aggrandizing s-man, and the confused/conflicted s-man, each with different traits regarding their goals in engaging with feminism. …