Digital Commons Network^™

Sports Celebrity Influence On The Behavioral Intentions Of Generation Z, Kayla M. Farren

Honors Theses and Capstones

The research is to determine what the effects, if any, professional athlete endorsers or spokespersons have on the generation Z cohort. There is a relative lack of published research that investigated the influence sport celebrity endorsers had on generation Z. This study primarily focused on the exploration of the role sports celebrities play as vicarious role models for members of generation, as well as touched upon whether sports celebrity endorsers affected generation Z’s behavioral intentions. In addition, the influence sports celebrity endorsers had on females in comparison to males was also studied. It was found that sports celebrity spokespersons or …

Modeling Momentum-Diffusion In The Solar Wind, Evin C. O'Shea

Honors Theses and Capstones

The Sun is both a resource and a danger. We must be able to predict or have forewarning of large solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their potential threats to astronauts, GPS, radio communications, and power grids. I have used the Energetic Particle Radiation Environment Module (EPREM) code, which is used by PREDICCS, UNH's radiation dosage predictions website, to model interstellar-pickup ions (PUIs). I add to the model by including a momentum-diffusion term which contributes to the change in the distribution as it evolves in time. Here, I investigate how the given model of momentum-diffusion affects the energetic …

Algorithms And Automation: Fostering Trustworthiness In Artificial Intelligence, Andrew B. Ware

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Effects Of The Mortalin Inhibitor Mkt-077 On The Tumor Suppressor P53 In Neuroblastoma Imr-32 Cells, Yusuf Ebrahim

Honors Theses and Capstones

The tumor suppressor protein, p53, is an important cell cycle regulator in humans. Over half of all human cancers involve disruption of p53 function. One way this is achieved is by tethering p53 to the mitochondrial 70 kilodalton heat shock protein (Hsp70), mortalin, in the cytoplasm, and preventing p53 from entering the nucleus. The mortalin inhibitor, MKT-077, binds competitively to the p53 binding site in mortalin, and disrupts the p53-mortalin complex in cancer cell lines, allowing p53 to enter the nucleus and promote apoptotic cell death. Previous research reported that cytoplasmic tethering of p53 occurs in certain human neuroblastomas. Thus, …

Friend From France: The Popular Image Of The Marquis De Lafayette In Early America, Elisabeth Iacono

Honors Theses and Capstones

This paper addresses the impressions the Marquis de Lafayette made upon the American people during the American Revolution and his return tour in 1824. As someone who has admired Lafayette since I was young, I was aware of the fact that many locations are named after the general and that he plays a prominent role in shows such as the Broadway musical Hamilton. I wanted to study why Lafayette had such an impact on the American people, and why he has been memorialized in a positive manner. As a promoter of liberty, Lafayette was embraced by the colonists for his …

Alternative Energy: An Examination Of Costs, Safety, And Potential, Evan Searles

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Academic Self-Efficacy On The Occupation Of Education In College Athletes Who Experience Concussion, Samantha Colaw

Honors Theses and Capstones

An emerging area of inquiry for occupational therapists (OT) is consideration of the impact of concussion on a person’s ability to engage in and perform meaningful everyday activity. The perspective of student-athletes (SA) living with post-concussion symptoms has received limited attention in research and there is a lack of focused attention regarding the role of being a student. This research adds to the growing body of literature regarding the implications of concussion on academics, specifically academic self-efficacy (ASE) and their self-perceived roles. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differences in ASE between college athletes with and without …

Sensitivity Of Black Phosphorus To O2 And Atmosphere Measured By Macroscopic Four-Point Probe, Cameron Flynn

Honors Theses and Capstones

Scientific interest in black phosphorus, a two-dimensional semiconducting allotrope of phosphorus, has increased in the last few years, since it was shown in 2014 to have very good properties for fieldeffect transistors. Unfortunately, practical use of the material is delayed because of its tendency to degrade into a phosphoric oxide when left in air. In this thesis I present the effects of atmospheric air and pure oxygen on the transport properties of bulk black phosphorus with and without light exposure. For continuous measurements carried out by millimeter-scale four-point probe, we see no change in the resistance of bulk samples exposed …

Preferences For Local And Organic Food: A Comparison Of New Hampshire And Vermont, Victoria Smith Lorvig

Honors Theses and Capstones

Annies bunnies or Kraft elbows? Supermarket or farmers market? Organic and local foods have been on the rise in the global market since the new millennium began (Darnhofer, 2010: 68, Schupp, 2016: 319). The growth in organic is attributed to consumers wanting their food to be healthier and more environmentally friendly (Aschemann-Witzel et. Al, 2017: 211, Van Doorn et. A, 2011: 167). The appeals of local foods are similar, plus the added component of boosting the local economy and building community (Hempel & Hamm, 2016: 732). Income is not the only factor affecting preferences and willingness to pay (WTP). Actors …

Brand & Celebrity Associations: An Investigation Into Brand & Celebrity Trait Congruence And The Potential For Trait Transference, Pamela S. Merriman

Honors Theses and Capstones

In today’s marketplace, a significant amount of brands are utilizing celebrity endorsers as a marketing tool. Traits of the brand and the endorser are typically not congruent. As a result, trait transference between a brand and a celebrity can occur once the brand and celebrity endorser are linked in the consumer’s mind. Further, celebrity endorsers often endorse multiple brands at one time. Therefore, it may be possible for traits to transfer from one brand to another via a common celebrity endorser. Although research has shown that the traits of celebrity endorsers can influence br and perceptions and vice versa, no …

Current Trends In Same-Sex Couples In The United States: How Race And Gender Affect Education, Income Levels, And Urban Living, Emily Lane Haley

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Masterpieces Or Simply Wedding Cakes? Exploring The Boundaries Of Freedom Of Speech Through United States Supreme Court Case Masterpiece Cakeshop V. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Margaret Mclean Quick

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Department Of Labor Fiduciary Rule: How Will It Affect Financial Advisors And Their Clients?, Claire Hawkes

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Characterization Of Palmitoyltransferase Proteins In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Danielle Mcginty

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Exclusive Production Of Phi Vector Meson During Hera-Ii, Brent Lawson

Honors Theses and Capstones

The Hadron Electron Ring Accelerator (HERA) in Germany, which ran from 1992 to 2007, is to date the only high energy electron and proton collider. The ZEUS detector at HERA measured the collisions of 27.5 GeV electrons with 920 GeV protons. Elastic vector meson production was measured during the first phase of HERA (HERA-I) from 1992 to 2000 before HERA was upgraded in 2003 (HERA-II) with increased luminosity. The goal of this project was to analyze data collected during the HERA-II run to identify and quantify the exclusive production of the  vector meson. Runs from the ZEUS experiment were …

Why Do Makers Make? Examining Designer Motivations On Thingiverse.Com, Courtney H. Shaw

Honors Theses and Capstones

Technological advancements have made a once fictitious dream into a reality. 3D printing has become a popular manufacturing and design technique used all over the world. As this industry becomes more popular, users of these 3D printers are reaching out across the web to share designs, seek help, and build communities of users with similar interests. This study is meant to look at what motivates 3D printing users to participate in online user innovation communities such as Thingiverse.com. This study will explore motivations such as personal needs, financial gains, approval of peers, skill development, and enjoyment. Moreover, it will assess …

Modeling Momentum-Diffusion In The Solar Wind, Evin C. O'Shea

Honors Theses and Capstones

Energetic particles accelerated by large solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are a threat to astronauts, global positioning systems (GPS), radio communications, and power grids. It is therefore vital that scientists be able to predict how such particles move and gain energy within the interplanetary medium in order to forewarn society impending hazards so that mitigating actions can be taken. In this work, I take a step towards this goal, using the Energetic Particle Radiation Environment Module (EPREM) code, which is used by UNH's radiation-dosage predictions website, I model interstellar-pickup ions (PUIs). I add to the model by including …

An American Hugo Chávez? Investigating The Comparisons Between Donald Trump And Latin American Populists, Charlotte Blair Harris

Honors Theses and Capstones

Following the 2016 presidential election of populist outsider Donald Trump, several think pieces throughout the popular press conjectured a comparison between Trump and former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez. Citing their populist rhetoric, brash and coarse sense of humor, and shared propensity for fiery tirades against the press, these articles made foreboding predictions about the status of American democracy. However, these short and sometimes anecdotally-based opinion pieces failed to acknowledge several important differences between Trump and Latin American populists like Chávez. This paper will address this gap in understanding by evaluating the comparison from an academic perspective. Through in-depth case studies …

The Molecular Analysis Of Hawaiian Bird Diets, Alissa C. Scinto

Honors Theses and Capstones

The aim of this project is to utilize high-throughput molecular methods to investigate the diets of three non-native and one native Hawaiian bird species. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has made it possible to produce thousands of sequencing reads of DNA in a relatively short amount of time. This metabarcoding technology has been used to identify a range of different taxa, from bacteria in the human gut to fungi in the soil. More recently, this approach has been used to identify insects in the diets of birds and other species, including bees and bats. Samples underwent genomic sequencing using a targeted approach …

Labor Migration And Wage Effect On English Players, Matthew D. French

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

On Numerical Stochastic Optimal Control Via Bellman's Dynamic Programming Principle, Prince Osei Aboagye

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In this work, we present an application of Stochastic Control Theory to the Merton's portfolio optimization problem. Then, the dynamic programming methodology is applied to reduce the whole problem to solving the well-known HJB (Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman) equation that arises from the Merton's portfolio optimization problem subject to the power utility function. Finally, a numerical method is proposed to solve the HJB equation and the optimal strategy. The numerical solutions are compared with the explicit solutions for optimal consumption and investment control policies.

Impact Of Patient Demographics And Health Insurance On Hospital Discharge, Ana Acosta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Based on discharge data collected with 241 patients who received medical care from a fall injury between 2014 and 2015 at the emergency room in a general hospital in El Paso, Texas, I will examine whether individuals over age 55 have health insurance and the type of care that is recommended to patients after being discharged. In particular, I will examine demographics, including ethnicity, age, and language on whether the patient paid with insurance and the disposition of discharge from the emergency department after a fall. Additionally, I will examine which demographic factors are associated with disposition of discharge- facility, …

An Examination Of Student Self-Regulation Learning Strategies In Online Courses At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Ricardo Acevedo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The study examined student utilization and application of learning strategies in college level online courses and the context was a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in the Southwest. Even though online courses continue to grow at a steady pace, few research studies have taken the task to analyze the utilization of learning strategies and their utility in online learning programs and under the fold of student success. The overarching purpose of the present study was to delve into important student factors across learning strategies under this instructional format. For the present study a multivariate analysis of covariance with five outcome variables …

Association Of Opioid Metabolism With Aberrant Drug-Related Behaviors Among Non-Malignant Chronic Pain Patients, Eduardo Aguila

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

An estimated 100 million Americans suffer from some form of chronic pain. Chronic opioid therapy (COT) use in non-malignant chronic pain patients (NMCPP) has markedly increased over the past two decades due to growing consensus that COT is suitable for the treatment of moderate-to-severe non-malignant chronic pain. Yet, COT for NMCPP has been widely associated with multiple aberrant drug-related behaviors (ADRB) such as misuse, abuse, diversion, addiction, and pseudoaddiction. One reason for the relative high incidence of ADRB among NMCPP on COT may be genetics-induced medication response variability, which, can result in pharmacotherapy failure and/or toxicity

The present study evaluated …

Computational Modeling Of Ring Dna-Carbon Nanotube Sensors, Aliasghar Alizadehmojarad

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Non-covalent interactions between single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) oligonucleotides and carbon nanotubes have provided a unique class of tunable chemistries for applications in nanotube chirality purification, gene delivery, electrochemistry, and nanosensor development. However, mechanistic insight into both the photophysical and intermolecular phenomena underlying their utility in such applications is lacking, resulting in non-systematic approaches to producing DNAnanotube based technologies. In this work, we explore the molecular interactions between ssDNA polymers, in particular (GT)6, and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) in an ultrasensitive nanosensor for a modulatory neurotransmitters dopamine. Classical molecular dynamics simulations show that (GT)6 oligonucleotides adopt ordered, ring-like conformations around SWNT in …

Superpixel-Based Hyperspectral Unmixing With Regional Segmentation, Mohammed Qassim Alkhatib

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Unsupervised unmixing analysis aims to extract the basic materials, also known as, endmembers, and their fractions (or abundances) from a hyperspectral image. In this work, a new unsupervised unmixing approach based on Low Dimensional representation with regional analysis is developed. A low dimensional image representation is obtained using superpixel segmentation where each superpixel is represented by its mean spectra. Regional analysis is then performed using the quadtree segmentation based on the Shannon entropy. Endmembers are extracted from each region and combined using clustering into endmember classes. The proposed approach is tested and validated using the HyDICE Urban, ROSIS Pavia, and …

The Process Of Adoption Of Disruptive Innovations In Local Health Care Agencies Delivering Primary Care, Aurora Aguirre Polanco

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The current state of the U.S. health care system is complex and limit access to care to many consumers, thus compromising their health outcomes. The problems of limited access and questionable quality can be addressed by focusing on enhancing the primary health care field. Improvements in both the access and performance of primary health care agencies, derive in better health outcomes and cost savings to the system in the long-term. Disruptive innovations, that make products and services simpler and more affordable, are adopted in agencies and potentially improve access and performance measures. However, the adoption of disruptive innovations in local …

Effects Of Gradation And Moisture Content On Resistivity Of Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall Backfill Materials, Jose Luis Arciniega

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The service life of mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls depends on the corrosion rate of the metallic reinforcement used in their construction. The resistivity of the backfill aggregates needs to be measured accurately in order to estimate realistically the corrosion rate of the reinforcement. Resistivity testing is usually performed using the traditional soil box on the portion of the aggregates that passes a No. 10 or No. 8 sieve to either select or reject the backfill. For a more reasonable characterization of the corrosivity of coarse backfills, it is desirable to use their actual gradations. To that end, several resistivity …

Influence Of Mix Design Parameters On Performance Of Balanced Asphalt Mixtures, Luiza Helena Barros

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

With the popularity of the Balanced Mix Design (BMD) concept, the need for performance tests that can reliably evaluate the cracking and rutting potentials of asphalt concrete (AC) mixes has become more critical. A great deal of effort has been focused on incorporating test methods that can potentially improve the current AC mix-design processes and consequently screen underperforming AC mixes. However, the influence of mix design parameters on the performanceof BMD mixes that provide pavement engineers and designers with thorough guidelines and a reliable and consistent test protocol has not been extensively documented.

This Thesis presents an experimental evaluation of …

Differentiating Darkness: Decision-Making Differences Between Psychopathy And Machiavellianism, Jessica R. Carre

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Machiavellianism and psychopathy are correlated but distinct personality traits that are associated with interpersonal manipulation and selfish behaviors (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). Based on a recent meta-analytic review, researchers have questioned whether these traits are distinct (Miller, Hyatt, Maples-Keller, Carter & Lynam, 2016). These meta-analytic reviews, however, have largely been based on atheoretical studies examining the relationship of these traits with self-reported outcomes. The purpose of the present research was to directly test the differences between Machiavellianism and psychopathy with respect to fundamental decision-making processes. In study one, the difference between psychopathy and Machiavellianism was assessed in terms of passive …