Digital Commons Network^™

Introducing Coding Into Teacher Education: An Interdisciplinary Robotics Experience For Education And Engineering Students, Jennifer Kidd, Krishna Kaipa, Sam Sacks, Lilian Almeida

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Despite nationwide mandates to integrate computer science into P-6 curriculum, most P-6 preservice teachers (PSTs) are not exposed to coding or computational thinking during their professional preparation, and are unprepared to teach these topics. This study, conducted as a part of an NSF-funded project, explores a teacher preparation model designed to increase PSTs’ coding knowledge and coding self-efficacy. PSTs in an educational technology course partnered with engineering undergraduates (EUs) in a computational methods course and worked side-by-side on robotics activities to develop skill and confidence with basic programming concepts and block coding. Students utilized experience gained from these interdisciplinary partnerships …

Using Mobile Devices To Facilitate Student Questioning In A Large Undergraduate Science Class, Helen Crompton, Stephen R. Burgin, Declan G. De Paor, Kristen Gregory

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Asking scientific questions is the first practice of science and engineering listed in the Next Generation Science Standards. However, getting students to ask unsolicited questions in a large class can be difficult. In this qualitative study, undergraduate students sent SMS text messages to the instructor who received them on his mobile phone and via Google Glass. Using observations, coding of texts, and interviews, the researchers investigated the types and level of questions students asked and the perceptions of the instructor and TAs on how the messages were received. From the findings of this study, it is evident that students asked …

Writing The Rainbow: Facilitating Undergraduate Teacher Candidates’ Lgbtqia+ Allyship Through Multimodal Writing, Judith Dunkerly-Bean, Julia Morris, Valerie Taylor

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This yearlong qualitative descriptive case study conducted by an interdisciplinary team of education faculty with pre-service elementary teacher candidates sought to disrupt heteronormativity and to increase candidates’ awareness and preparedness for inclusivity with future LGBTQIA+ elementary students. Central to our findings was that in researching and authoring multimodal texts addressing topics and concerns faced by the LGBTQIA+ community for their future classrooms, there was a shift in the perceptions and preparedness of the candidates toward working with children identifying as LGBTQIA+. However, we also encountered resistance and/or apathy that led us to develop an analytical framework for disrupting teacher candidate …

The Use Of Technology To Continue Learning In Palestine Disrupted With Covid-19, Khitam Shraim, Helen Crompton

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This qualitative study examined how decision-makers and teachers have responded to offer education for all Palestinian students at the immediate onset of the COVID-19 outbreak and how technology is being used to continue education online. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 participants from parents, teachers and decision-makers in Palestine. Interview transcripts were coded using a grounded theory design with a constant comparative method. The findings show that participants identified that technologies such as mobile devices, social media and cloud computing would be useful for design and delivery of educational materials as well as raising safety awareness, and communication during the …

The Efficacy Of The Healthy Families Flourish Program For Families Raising Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Carli Madalena Rita

Honors Theses and Capstones

The family unit is the driving force that creates a foundation for life satisfaction and wellbeing of a child that extends across the lifespan. Understanding family health and family participation in meaningful daily activities are critical components of family life lacking in current research, especially for families raising children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of an occupational therapy intervention program designed to support families raising children with ASD to identify and overcome barriers to everyday family activities. The Healthy Families Flourish Program is a 10-session occupational therapy intervention program developed for this study …

Hybrid Rocket Engine Ignition And Control, Benjamin Letourneau, Trevor Blampied, Megan Johnson, Thomas Pham

Honors Theses and Capstones

Control of a hybrid rocket engine is dependent upon a robust system capable of executing commands at precise times. In order to accomplish this, hardware systems must be in place to control the flow of a pressurized gas and provide feedback to launch site personnel. Through the use of solenoid valves and wireless transceivers, control over the thrust of a rocket can be accomplished. In order to understand this information and provide a user-friendly interface to complete this, a launch control module is used. Through the combined capabilities of the two system it becomes possible to test and launch a …

Understanding The Importance And Impact Of Technology In An Accounting Setting: Work Outcomes And Relationships With Clients, Megan Elwell

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study explores how technology positively or negatively impacts the accounting profession, and specifically, the impact on work outcomes (i.e. the effectiveness and efficiency of work) and relationships with clients. Three types of technology tools were featured in this study: Accounting and Analytics, Robotic Process Automation, and Communication Technology Tools and Platforms. Our research questions were (1) How much do technology tools improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the accountant? and (2) How much do technology tools affect the relationship with clients? After surveying professionals in the accounting field, we concluded that accountants believe that Communication softwares improve their efficiency …

Peru's "Shameful Secret": The Consequences Of The Squatter Settlements Of Lima, Christian Silva

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

It Security Policy Compliance: A University Perspective, Jack D. Barnes

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

A Rush Of Refugees: How The United States And Canada Have Responded, Tayla A. George

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Changes In Bone Health Of Female College Students, Sarah E. Pogany, Jesse Morrell, Maggie Dylewski Begis, Gretchen Arnold

Honors Theses and Capstones

Objective: Identifying individuals with low bone ultrasound attenuation (BUA) z-scores under the age of 30 can allow for improvements of bone health through increased intake of calcium and vitamin D, physical activity, and avoidance of excessive alcohol or caffeine intake. The goal of this study was to assess changes in bone health and observe related risk factors among female college students.

Participants and Methods: Female students (n=38) enrolled in the Nutrition Program at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) who participated in the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey (CHANAS) were recruited to participate in a follow-up study …

Examining The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) And Health-Risk Behaviors Among Adolescents In New Hampshire, Riana S. Malik

Honors Theses and Capstones

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic instances in the first 18 years of life including abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has outlined priority health-risk behaviors among adolescents as substance use, violent behaviors, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and unsafe sexual behaviors. Previous research has linked both ACEs and health-risk behaviors to negative health outcomes including disability, chronic disease, and substance use. That said, understanding and preventing risky behaviors among adolescents and working to reduce the lasting harm caused by ACEs can lead to healthier adults and communities going forward.

This research defines ACEs …

The Relationship Between Social Media Engagement And Psychological Well-Being In College Students At The University Of New Hampshire, Emily G. D'Antonio

Honors Theses and Capstones

Social media use has increased substantially in recent years, and for the college-aged population, social media is often the leading method of communication. Research indicates this reliance on digital connection could have a negative impact on the health of young adults (Bagroy et al., 2017). The college years are a time of personal growth and defining actions, yet can also be burdened by mental health issues related to stress, anxiety, and depression (Hunt & Eisenberg, 2010). Acknowledging these trends, the current study explores how college students’ specific frequency and intentionality while interacting on social media relates to their psychological well-being. …

Investigating The Time Scales Of Electromechanical Motion In Graphene Drumheads Using Pump-Probe Spectroscopy With Stm, Alana P. Gudinas

Honors Theses and Capstones

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has transformed the field of condensed matter physics over the past few decades, allowing scientists to image materials at the atmomic scale, manipulate individual atoms, and probe electronic states on the surface of materials. In recent years, there have been numerous developments to introduce time-resolved measurements to STM in order to probe atomic-scale dynamic processes and combine spatial and temporal resolution. Advances like THz-STM setups achieve femtosecond resolution, but require complex external setups. All-electronic pump-probe spectroscopy for STM (directly analogous to optical pump-probe spectroscopy) has been pioneered by Loth et al., and newer applications (Natterer et …

Impacts Of Inappropriate Human Possession Of Wildlife On The Animal’S Well-Being, Anika Frink

Honors Theses and Capstones

Wildlife rehabilitation is the temporary intervention by humans on sick or injured wild animals, who would not otherwise survive, with the goal of release. Individual states have their own guidelines for how to become a licensed rehabilitator with extensive standards in place for how to keep such wildlife. The standards help to keep the animals wild for their eventual release and to avoid side effects of Inappropriate Human Possession or IHP. IHP is when an unlicensed person attempts to rehabilitate a wild animal or to keep it as a pet. This study examines the effects of IHP on wildlife patients …

Decreasing Uncertainty In Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurements Through The Application Of Pappus Chains, Ryan Williams

Honors Theses and Capstones

To make further advancements in nuclear polarization, the Dynamic Nuclear Polarization Group at the University of New Hampshire requires an accurate measurement of the polarization of their materials. Through a non-traditional method of data analysis, the uncertainty in this polarization measurement via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) was reduced. To extract the polarization, we measure an NMR signal through the real impedance of our circuitry, whose area is proportional to the polarization. However, our signal size depends on how in-tune our circuitry is with a specific frequency, with the signal growing smaller the less in-tune it becomes. A new method of …

Buddhist Approaches To Environmentalism And Food Insecurity, Grace N. Stott

Honors Theses and Capstones

Buddhism is a religion deep-rooted in history, most prevalent in Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. ³ These countries are “developing countries” and may not have the necessary infrastructure to succeed economically and have increased health risks, one of which is food insecurity.⁴ With climate change an increased threat, these areas of the world are more susceptible to environmental problems. The Buddhism religion strongly values sustainability, in both the environment and food insecurity. It values helping others, both humans and nature. Despite the adversity they face, Buddhists have dealt better than communities in similar situations of poverty and …

Identifying Rpa-Dependent Epigenetic Modifications Influencing Arabidopsis Thaliana Flowering Time, Emily S. Berry

Honors Theses and Capstones

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes that do not directly alter the DNA sequence. Many of these inheritance mechanisms are caused by the addition of a methyl group to cytosine nucleotides in DNA that prevent gene expression. The model organism Arabidopsis thaliana (abbreviated A. thaliana) is commonly used in genetic experiments, and its usefulness is extended to research in epigenetics. Our current research (Culligan lab), in part, focuses on genes involved in DNA damage and repair, such as brca2 and the rpa1a/b/c/d/e genes. Previous genetic analyses suggests that the rpa1c/e double-mutant typically expresses an early flowering phenotype despite …

Just Post It: A Critical Discourse Analysis On Nike’S Instagram, Jillian Cataldo

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Evolution And Development Of Chiropteran Flight, Emmaline Willis

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Tax Breaks & Incentives For Corporations On Local Economies, Chad Supranowicz

Honors Theses and Capstones

One of perhaps the most pressing political debates since the 2016 Presidential election has been centered around the impacts of the many tax breaks and incentives given to large corporations. These breaks, used most often to draw a company to a certain geographic area, are typically granted with good intention. For example, a local or state government will pursue a company by enticing them to relocate to their area in order to help boost their economy because people, jobs, and money will come with them. This can also lead to spin-off development, meaning even more people could flock to the …

Quantifying Electron Precipitation In The Van Allen Radiation Belts, Timothy Raeder

Honors Theses and Capstones

The spatial and temporal distribution of high energy electron precipitation from the Van Allen radiation belts is not currently well-understood. The FIREBIRD-II mission (2015-present) and the Van Allen Probes (2012-2019) provide a unique opportunity to examine the behaviors and drivers of high energy electron precipitation. This study quantifies electron precipitation observed by FIREBIRD-II as a function of radial distance (L-shell), magnetic local time (MLT), hemisphere, and geomagnetic indices (Kp). Electron precipitation was observed to peak at L-shell 4.5-5. Regions of elevated electron precipitation were identified at L-shell 4-6 at dawn (MLT 6-9) and dusk (MLT 15-21). Hemisphere filtering indicated very …

Communicating Punishment, Marah Stith Mcleod

Journal Articles

Does it matter whether convicted offenders understand why they are being punished? In the death penalty context, the Supreme Court has said yes; a prisoner who cannot understand the state's reasons for imposing a death sentence may not be executed. Outside of capital punishment, the answer is still open. This Article begins to fill that gap, focusing on why and how states should help all offenders make sense of their sanctions, whether imposed for retribution, for deterrence, for incapacitation, or for rehabilitation.

Judges today sometimes try to explain sentences to criminal offenders so that they know the purposes of their …

A Content Analysis-Based Approach To Explore Simulation Verification And Identify Its Current Challenges, Christopher J. Lynch, Saikou Y. Diallo, Hamdi Kavak, Jose J. Padilla

VMASC Publications

Verification is a crucial process to facilitate the identification and removal of errors within simulations. This study explores semantic changes to the concept of simulation verification over the past six decades using a data-supported, automated content analysis approach. We collect and utilize a corpus of 4,047 peer-reviewed Modeling and Simulation (M&S) publications dealing with a wide range of studies of simulation verification from 1963 to 2015. We group the selected papers by decade of publication to provide insights and explore the corpus from four perspectives: (i) the positioning of prominent concepts across the corpus as a whole; (ii) a comparison …

Systemic Risk Management Plan For Electronic Medical Records (Emr): Why And How?, Ziniya Zahedi, Faisal Mahmud, Cesar Pinto

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Electronic patient data use and handling are critical issues in terms of privacy, confidentiality, security, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. The risks associated with electronic patient data are not limited to identity theft but rather include a person’s social, economic, and psychological well-being. However, there have not been many studies that have focused on the associated risk factors that could lead to these situations. This paper identifies those risks related to electronic patient data breaches by means of a grounded theory approach and develops a systemic risk management plan that enables engineering managers and risk …

A Review Of Problem Structuring Methods For Consideration In Prognostics And Smart Manufacturing, Patrick T. Hester, Andrew J. Collins, Barry Ezell, John Horst

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Successful use of prognostics involves the prediction of future system behaviors in an effort to maintain system availability and reduce the cost of maintenance and repairs. Recent work by the National Institute of Standards and Technology indicates that the field of prognostics and health management is vital for remaining competitive in today’s manufacturing environment. While prognostics-based maintenance involves many traditional operations research-centric challenges for successful deployment such as limited availability of information and concerns regarding computational efficiency, the authors argue in this paper that the field of prognostics and health management, still in its embryonic development stage, could benefit greatly …

Book Review, Justin Murray

Publications

No abstract provided.

Juror Perceptions Of Interview Quality From Child Victims With Autism, Megan Blackburn

Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can affect multiple memory abilities, including episodic memory, source monitoring, and relational processing. The possibility of these memory deficits can affect how a child with ASD testifies in court if they are the victim or witness to a crime. These testimonies are especially crucial for Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) cases where one of the biggest challenges is the lack of physical evidence in most cases, which leads to an abundance of trials relying on the initial forensic interview with the victim and victim testimony. Due to this, and the increased chance of affected memory abilities, it …

Second Amendment Background Principles And Heller's Sensitive Places, Adam B. Sopko

Publications

Judges and commentators have widely acknowledged that history enjoys a privileged status in Second Amendment cases, but its precise role is undertheorized and rarely controls case outcomes. In particular, courts have been unable to decide "sensitive places" cases—challenges to location-based gun laws—in a manner that adheres to Supreme Court precedent because existing Second Amendment doctrine lacks a test for sensitive places cases that uses history and tradition in a principled way. This Article proposes a solution to address that problem.

An untapped source of guidance is the Court’s takings jurisprudence. Interpreting their respective constitutional provisions, Justice Scalia observed that both …

Inflection Points In Technology Law: An Introduction To Volume 16, Issue 1, Bryan H. Choi, Guy Rub

Publications

No abstract provided.