Digital Commons Network^™

Revoking Rights, Craig J. Konnoth

Publications

In important areas of law, such as the vested rights doctrine, and in several important cases--including those involving the continued validity of same-sex marriages and the Affordable Care Act--courts have scrutinized the revocation of rights once granted more closely than the failure to provide the rights in the first place. This project claims that in so doing, courts seek to preserve important constitutional interests. On the one hand, based on our understanding of rights possession, rights revocation implicates autonomy interests of the rights holder to a greater degree than a failure to afford rights at the outset. On the other …

Quarterback By Committee: A Response In Memory Of Dan Markel, Andrew A. Schwartz

Publications

In Catalyzing Fans, Dan Markel, Michael McCann and Howard Wasserman propose so-called “Fan Action Committees” (“FACs”), whereby fans would crowdfund a sum of money and then spend it to influence the personnel decisions of their favorite teams. This Response — dedicated to the memory of Dan Markel — suggests that an effective FAC could upset a team’s overall hiring and compensation system, thereby risking a downturn in team performance to the detriment of all concerned.

Regulating Real-World Surveillance, Margot E. Kaminski

Publications

A number of laws govern information gathering, or surveillance, by private parties in the physical world. But we lack a compelling theory of privacy harm that accounts for the state's interest in enacting these laws. Without a theory of privacy harm, these laws will be enacted piecemeal. Legislators will have a difficult time justifying the laws to constituents; the laws will not be adequately tailored to legislative interest; and courts will find it challenging to weigh privacy harms against other strong values, such as freedom of expression.

This Article identifies the government interest in enacting laws governing surveillance by private …

Outing Privacy, Scott Skinner-Thompson

Publications

The government regularly outs information concerning people's sexuality, gender identity, and HIV status. Notwithstanding the implications of such outings, the Supreme Court has yet to resolve whether the Constitution contains a right to informational privacy - a right to limit the government's ability to collect and disseminate personal information.

This Article probes informational privacy theory and jurisprudence to better understand the judiciary's reluctance to fully embrace a constitutional right to informational privacy. The Article argues that while existing scholarly theories of informational privacy encourage us to broadly imagine the right and its possibilities, often focusing on informational privacy's ability to …

Offshore Turbine Arrays: Numerical Modeling And Experimental Validation, Thomas Kroll, William Hall, Ian Gagnon

Honors Theses and Capstones

The interaction between wind turbines in a large wind farm needs to be better understood to reduce array losses and improve energy production. A numerical test bed for an array of offshore wind turbines was developed in the open-source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) framework OpenFOAM. It provides a computational tool which can be used in combination with physical model turbine array studies in the Flow Physics Facility (FPF) at UNH as well as other test facilities.

Turbines were modeled as actuator disks with turbulence sources to reduce computational cost. Both k-ϵ and k-ω SST turbulence models were utilized to capture …

Current Practices For Product Usability Testing In Web And Mobile Applications, Spencer W. Black

Honors Theses and Capstones

Software usability testing is a key methodology that ensures applications are intuitive and easy to use for the target audience. Usability testing has direct benefits for companies as usability improvements often are fundamental to the success of a product. A standard usability test study includes the following five steps: obtain suitable participants, design test scripts, conduct usability sessions, interpret test outcomes, and produce recommendations. Due to the increasing importance for more usable applications, effective techniques to develop usable products, as well as technologies to improve usability testing, have been widely utilized. However, as companies are developing more cross-platform web and …

Comparing And Contrasting Social, Political, And Medical Reactions To 19th Century Cholera Epidemics In London And New York City, Lisa N. Harning

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Use And Perception Of Taboo Language In College-Age Females, Kathleen M. Uhlman

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Magic Of The Mouse: An Exploration Of Brand Personality In The Walt Disney Company, Rachel Mary Winsor Ms.

Honors Theses and Capstones

Considered a modern-day marketing marvel, The Walt Disney Company has a long established and loyal consumer base. Beginning as Disney Brothers Studio in 1923, the Walt Disney Company has diversified into 5 business components - Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, Consumer Products, and Interactive. With a constant emphasis on creating timeless family entertainment, founder Walt Disney passed on to the company the commitment to maintaining the fantasy in which Disney and its theme parks have come to be known. To further expand on these ideals of brand management this paper first reviews the history and current status of …

Friendships For High School Students: With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Without, Alanna Young

Honors Theses and Capstones

People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience deficits in social communication, having difficulty with carrying on conversations, abiding by social norms, and feeling empathy towards others. As social skills are important for successful interactions, these deficiencies can decrease the number of friendships experienced by teenagers with ASD. However, it is also possible that other social barriers are involved, such as stigma, assumed by peers of teenagers with ASD. The influence of deficits in social interaction and stigma was examined through semi-structured interviews and focus groups, comprised of groups with teenagers with ASD and groups with typically developing teenagers. It was …

Monstrous Muslims? Depicting Muslims In French Illuminated Manuscripts From 1200-1420, Benjamin Anthony Bertrand

Honors Theses and Capstones

This paper examines depictions of Muslims in illuminated manuscripts produced in France between 1200-1420 that feature images of Christian-Muslim interactions. The study specifically looks at three popular manuscripts from the time: the Histoire d'Outremer, the Grandes Chroniques de France, and the Roman d'Alexandre en Prose. By examining the depictions of Saracens in these three manuscripts I attempt to gain an understanding of the artists' perceptions of Muslims. I argue that through analyzing the topoi employed by these artists we can understand how they and their audiences viewed Muslims. These images demonstrate that these artists understood Saracens to …

Post-Conflict Peacebuilding In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hannah Marie Waller

Honors Theses and Capstones

During the summer of 2014, I lived in Sanski Most, Bosnia-Herzegovina, with funding from an International Research and Opportunities Program (IROP) grant from the Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). Through a series of semi-structured interviews and participant observation, my research highlighted the roles of truth, memory, and justice in rebuilding a post-conflict society in Bosnia-Herzegovina―essentially, on peacebuilding since the war ended in 1995. The Bosnian War stands as the worst genocide since the Holocaust, with 350,000 casualties and over 100,000 dead―80% of whom were Muslim Bosniaks, targets of an ethnic cleansing campaign by …

Criterion-Related Validity Of The Children's Occupational Performance Questionnaire, Kelsey Zukowski

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study examined concurrent, criterion-related validity of a new measure of occupational performance for children, the Children’s Occupational Performance Questionnaire (COP-Q). The COP-Q is completed by caregivers of children to measure performance in five areas of occupation: Activities of Daily Living, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living, Social Participation, Play/Leisure, and Education/Work. Scores from a sample of children ranging in age from birth to 18 years were correlated with scores from the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II (VABS), a well-established assessment tool of adaptive behavior that measures similar functional areas as the COP-Q. The results indicated that the COP-Q correlates highly and …

Patient Perceptions Of Bedpan Usage And Comfort Levels, Emily Kay Schlachter

Honors Theses and Capstones

While it may be seemingly obvious, there is very little data on patient perceptions of bedpan use. In order to create a better bedpan, there needs to be evidence as to why it is necessary. The objective of this study is to explore patient experiences of bedpan use in order to define their perceptions of comfort levels. The literature shows that patients are physically and emotionally uncomfortable when using the bedpan, find the device unpleasant, and are not receiving the necessary levels of education and compassion from their care staff. A mixed methods study using a descriptive quantitative design was …

Toxic Cyanobacteria Aerosols: Tests Of Filters For Cells, Sean R. Perry, Alexis Mack, James F. Haney, Amanda Murby

Honors Theses and Capstones

Aerosolization of toxic cyanobacteria released from the surface of lakes is a new area of study that could uncover a previously unknown route of exposure to toxic cyanobacteria. Since toxic cyanobacteria may be responsible for adverse human health effects, methods and equipment need to be tested and established for monitoring these airborne bacteria. The primary focus of this study was to create controlled laboratory experiments that simulate natural lake aerosol production. I set out to test for the best type of filter to collect and analyze the aerosolized cells as small as 0.2-2.0 µm, known as picoplankton. To collect these …

Social Support Networks Among Children With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities, Laura Hapke

Honors Theses and Capstones

Previous research using predominantly adult populations has found that social support is positively correlated with an individual’s quality of overall health and wellbeing. Given the limited research investigating social support among children, especially children with special needs, the present study explored the social support networks of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Nine children enrolled in an after-school program were observed interacting with others and were interviewed in group discussions about the sources of support they tend to rely on in their daily activities. Preliminary findings suggest that children relied on each other’s for help during the regular after-school …

The Toric Approach To F-Theory Model Building, Herbie L. Smith

Honors Theses and Capstones

We describe the theoretical motivation for F-theory as a non-perturbative generalization of string theory. The four complex-dimensional compactification spaces of F-theory, called elliptically-fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds, consist of the six compact dimensions of string theory, plus a two-dimensional fiber that describes the string coupling field as a function of position on the string theory manifold. The methods of toric geometry are developed and applied to construct examples of elliptically-fibered Calabi-Yau manifolds. We analyze in detail models in which the fiber is free of singularities as a test bed for a more general analysis.

Edna The Oblivious Oppressor: An Intersectional Analysis Of Privilege And Its Lack Thereof In The Awakening, Jessica L. Rosenthal

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Processing And Property Evaluation Of Tungsten-Based Mixed Oxides For Photovoltaics And Optoelectronics, Mirella Vargas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tungsten Oxide (WO3) films and low-dimensional structures have proven to be promising candidates in the fields of photonics and electronics. WO3 is a well-established n-type semiconductor characterized by unique electrochromic behavior, an ideal optical band gap that permits transparency over a wide spectral range, and high chemical integrity. The plethora of diverse properties endow WO3 to be highly effective in applications related to electrochromism, gas sensing, and deriving economical energy. Compared to the bulk films, a materials system involving WO3 and a related species (elements or metal oxides) offer the opportunity to tailor the electrochromic response, and an overall enhancement …

Design Optimization And Optical Characterization Of A High Temperature Solar Receiver, Samia Afrin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Concentrated solar power (CSP) is a fast forwarding technology in power generation sector because of its' competitive price, abundance in nature and the most important fact is its' energy storage capability. Among the four types of available CSP technology, central receiver has more potential concerning with high temperature, power block efficiency and levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Other than conventional type of receiver design, the concept of this work is very particular in a sense of its design novelty.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) come up with a new concept of high temperature solar receiver called near black body (NBB) …

A Comparative Assessment Of Electrophysiological And Behavioral Performance In Individuals With Aphasia Responding To Spoken And Written Sentence Length Commands, Sha-Renae Alexander

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The aim of this study is to investigate whether deficits in processing affect auditory and reading comprehension in the same manner. This study compared the behavioral and electrophysiologic performance of four individuals with aphasia and four participants with no brain damage responding to spoken and written sentence length commands using a modified version of the Revised Token Test (McNeil & Prescott, 1978). Electrophysiological responses were recorded from the scalp using event related potentials (ERP). The latency and amplitude of the N400 ERP component were measured and analyzed. Behavioral reaction times and correct responses were collected and examined. Performance differences between …

Comparison Of Blood Lead Levels Between Children In An Urban Setting And Children In A Rural Setting, Juan Manuel Alvarez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Environmental heavy metal exposure is a public health problem that is of great concern because it is highly toxic for children. The urban setting in downtown El Paso is historically known to be contaminated through various sources of contamination of heavy metals. The goal of this study was to compare whether children in a historically contaminated urban downtown area had significantly increased levels of lead exposure as compared to children in a demographically similar rural area approximately 20 miles north of the urban center, while controlling for gender and age. Cadmium and mercury were also measured for comparison purposes. It …

Associativity Forcing Commutativity In Left Nil Rings, Md Al Masum Bhuiyan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Our study in this thesis is concentrated on the AFC groups (Associativity Forces Commutativity) and observing the ring structure there. We are looking for abelian groups yielding ring structures (K) where associativity forces commutativity. We call them K-AFC groups.

We consider that the only conditions put on a ring multiplication are the distributive laws over the additive group addition. After [1], We say that an abelian group (G, +) is an AFC-group if (i) there exists a nonassociative and noncommutative ring (G, +, ˙) and (ii) all associative rings (G, +, ˙) are commutative.

We call a ring left-nil if …

Anything You Might Do, Elena Christine Bitner

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Three girls at seventeen, teetering on the cusp of adulthood, set out on a journey to escape grief, abuse, and neglect in their homes. With nothing but a few hundred dollars and what they can throw on their backs, they pile into a tiny Toyota pick-up and set out to cross the country to make a new life on the east coast. As they crawl across the desert, secrets surface that threaten their relationships and their lives. The girls stumble into a world of drugs and violence and they find themselves faced with an irrevocable choice. Will they be able …

Salt And Mineral Recovery From High Salinity Waters, Osvaldo Alejandro Broesicke

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Natural salt springs in the Salt Fork Basin in Crosby County, Texas, result in the natural salt pollution of the Brazos River, rendering it unusable for most potable purposes. Previous research indicates that by intercepting the source of the pollution, water quality of the Brazos River can be greatly improved. This paper investigates and assesses two strategies for salt and mineral recovery using natural brine collected from the Salt Fork Basin, the first of which is presented in a separate work.

The research described in this paper evaluates the potential of a desulfation, soda-caustic softening, acidification/decarbonation, and evaporation process to …

The Sweet Taste Of Health: A Positive Deviance Inquiry Into Communicative Acts That Lead To Effective Management Of Diabetes Among Hispanics, Claudia Martinez Boyd

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is among the fastest growing diseases in the world. In the U.S., Hispanics are the third most affected population. Nonetheless, there are Hispanics diagnosed with diabetes who have, against all odds, found solutions to manage their disease. This study focused on the intrapersonal and interpersonal acts and behaviors of "positive deviant" Hispanics living on the U.S. - Mexico border that effectively managed their diabetes. They are referred to as "positive deviants" because they accrue "positive" outcomes and "deviants" because they are not the norm.

A PD inquiry was conducted and twelve PD respondents between the ages of 20 …

Investigation Of The Natural Degradation Of Selected Endocrine Disrupting Compounds In Wastewater, Toni Carrick

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are a class of compounds that are of concern for their potentially adverse effects on fish, wildlife, and humans. They can cause developmental and reproductive anomalies at concentrations in the low ppb to ppt levels. Studies have shown the primary route of exposure of EDCs within the environment is through the discharge of effluent wastewater. Removal efficiencies of wastewater treatment plants have been studied extensively, however, in rural or developing areas, which often lack secondary or tertiary wastewater treatment, little is known about the stability of these compounds and the rate at which they degrade in …

At The Intersection Of Deferred Action For Childhood Arrivals, The Migration Trust Network And Labor, Mario Javier Chavez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study unpacks the intersection of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Migration Trust Network and Labor. I use 9 in-depth qualitative interviews to address how such policies are affecting the labor acquisition and labor outcomes of DACA recipients. The Migrant trust network remained important for DACA recipients, although in a more indirect and macro-level way than described in Flores-Yeffal (2013). In particular, DACA recipients relied on the collective efficacy embedded within the community to facilitate their job search. Additional, migrant trust networks function differently according to the DACA recipients' level of education, but to fully benefit from the advantages …

Study Of A Directly Heated Oxy-Fuel Supercritical Power Generation System, A S M Arifur Rahim Chowdhury

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Directly heated supercritical oxy-fuel gas turbines have the potential to become an important addition to current power generation systems. They provide a higher thermal efficiency and more effective carbon capture techniques than existing gas turbines. Due to the higher density of the working fluids, the turbomachinery size in these systems can be reduced significantly; this will facilitate to minimize the operational cost. To achieve supercritical working fluid at the turbine inlet combustion needs to be conducted under enormous amounts of pressure; these values are is about 10 times those found in the present gas turbines. Additionally, existing material operational …

Characterization Of Kendex® 0834 (Heavy Resins) & Kendex® 0897 (Light Resins), Victor Correa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Characterization of crude oil and some of its refined products has always been a challenge in the refining industry. This is mainly due to the high molecular complexity of crude oil. In this research, Heavy and Light Resins extracted from Penn Grade crude oil were analyzed with a wide variety of techniques, ranging from X-Ray Diffraction, Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transformed Infrared, C-13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and chromatographic methods. An asphaltene extraction protocol was performed on both products. Only the Heavy Resin sample yielded a low amount of asphaltene. Results show that both Resins have a high degree of carbon branching, …