Digital Commons Network^™

Instances Of Undecidability In The Semigroup Word Problem, Timothy C. Grosky

Honors Theses and Capstones

We will examine the decidability of the word problem in semigroups, which is a yes/no question. We will examine tools that have been developed to help answer it, and then look at some examples where the word problem is decidable or undecidable.

From It To Ai: Analysis Of Skill–Biased Technological Change In Europe, Stav Alkalay

Honors Theses and Capstones

The beginning of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution marks a significant shift in technological advancements, like the Information Technology (IT) revolution of the 20th century. This paper investigates the similarities between the two revolutions, examining evidence of skilled-biased vs. routine-biased technological change (SBTC vs. RBTC) in Europe. This paper examines the impact of information technology on labor markets, productivity, and income distribution by looking at past trends & data. It draws insights from a variety of economists to forecast trends in the age of artificial intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence And The Entertainment Industry, Caroline Rae Mccarthy

Honors Theses and Capstones

Artificial intelligence is a fast-growing technology that is quickly taking over many industries, such as the entertainment industry. Artificial intelligence has the capability to replicate voices, create fake videos and photos, called deepfakes, of just about anything, and can practically bring people back to life. This technology, as it stands now, is similar to the wild west because in the vast majority of places, it’s lawless. Artificial intelligence is growing so rapidly that lawmakers haven’t had a chance to keep up. This paper explains more of what AI does in everyday life, and how its abilities can impact the entertainment …

Does Hookup Culture Silence Women?, Kylee Rose Rock

Honors Theses and Capstones

The issue of hookup culture on college campuses is of concern to many feminist scholars, given the alarming rates of sexual assault and unsafe sexual experiences in the college setting. This essay argues that hookup culture has the ability to silence women by means of the social landscape which college-aged adults find themselves in today. Further, this essay examines the social experiences of young women on college campuses, and advocates for a change in social habits and scripts through reconsidering our approach to the anti-porn movement in today’s modern culture. Drawing upon literature from Rae Langton’s work, "Speech Acts and …

Prospective Associations Of Fish Consumption In Cognitive Function And Depressive Symptoms Among Puerto Rican Adults, Johanna Grace Koroma

Honors Theses and Capstones

Johanna Koroma, Anne Bodenrader, and Sherman Bigornia

Objectives

Fish intake has been linked to certain neural benefits, specifically in slowing cognitive decline and attenuating depressive symptoms. However, existing evidence is conflicting and insufficient. The present study aimed to investigate the association of fish consumption with depressive symptoms and cognitive function among Puerto Rican adults.

Methods

Data is acquired from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study, comprised of 1517 adults residing in the Boston Metro Area. Dietary patterns were evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with follow-up surveys conducted 2 years from baseline. Consumption was organized into quartiles based …

The Influence Of Drd2 Polymorphism Exon 8 C/T (Rs6276) On Manifestations Of Delirium Tremens & Alcohol Withdrawal Seizures, Naomi Schneider

Honors Theses and Capstones

This study explores the correlation between the DRD2 Polymorphism exon 8 C/T (rs6276) and manifestations of delirium tremens (DT). DT is a condition that is clinically diagnosed utilizing two characteristic symptom manifestations: the presence of delirium and severe alcohol withdrawal. It is not entirely understood why DT can occur in some patients, but evidence has suggested that genetic predisposition can play a role. Utilizing the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of Us Research database and performing a secondary analysis of existing genomic data, this candidate gene association study aims to determine the genotype frequencies within three cohorts: a healthy …

Implementation Of Stronger Community Resilience In The United States Before Natural Disasters Strike, Andrew J. Widdekind

Honors Theses and Capstones

Since 2000, the United States has not sustained viable mitigation and preparedness solutions to combat the frequent and intense onset of natural disasters; more must be done on how communities can adapt and withstand them. Instead, environmental and human-induced factors have exacerbated the likelihood of these threats, which has caused billion-dollar weather events to occur more often. This paper focuses on how congressional policymakers would have to incorporate new mitigation/preparedness approaches into current emergency management methodology by creating a new federal statute known as the National Resiliency Act (or similar). A policy like this would strengthen the overall resilience of …

Seasonality Of Red Oak (Quercus Rubra) Leaf Trait Changes Across A Canopy Height Gradient, Arielle Ann Kotulak

Honors Theses and Capstones

Leaf structural and functional traits are interrelated and can be strong predictors of leaf productivity, and it is important to understand how these traits change across both a temporal and a spatial gradient. The objective of this project is to identify and understand seasonal and height-related variations in red oak (Quercus rubra) leaf traits throughout a forest canopy, while assessing the utility of this knowledge for informing canopy models. Leaf samples were collected from red oak trees using the shotgun method and analyzed in the UNH Terrestrial Ecosystems Analysis Lab. Data were processed in Excel, JMP, and R. …

Impact Of Hdac Inhibitors On The Efficiency Of Cardiomyocyte Differentiation, Lauren Mary Sargent

Honors Theses and Capstones

Heart disease and injury is the leading cause of death worldwide, with much of its severity caused by the low regenerative capacity of cardiomyocytes (CMs). One of the strategies to counteract the poor regeneration of CMs is the production of CMs via differentiating stem cells. However, the low efficiency of obtaining CMs from stem cells is an issue because there are numerous inconsistencies in the process. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors have been researched as ways to increase efficiency of CM differentiation by increasing histone acetylation, and thereby allowing differentiation to occur more efficiently. In this study, the HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin …

Effects Of 0, 8, Or 16g/D Of Nicotinic Acid To Prepartum Jersey Cows: Effects On Glucose Concentration In Their Calves, Kaitlyn M. Zarrella

Honors Theses and Capstones

The primary objective of this research project is to further investigate the optimization of colostrum production in multiparous Jersey cows, focusing on the influence of diet and seasonal factors. Previous findings by Dr. Stahl in 2023 at the University of New Hampshire Burley-Demeritt Organic Dairy Research Farm indicated that an intake of 23 g/d of nicotinic acid (Niacin; NA) might have been excessive for prepartum Jersey cows, potentially affecting colostrum yield and quality. While an enhancement in intestinal development was noted in calves receiving colostrum from cows supplemented with nicotinic acid, the dosage may have been too high to positively …

Jury Decision-Making: Do Racial Attitudes And Victim And Offender Race Make A Difference?, Charlotte A. Kettyle, Ellen S. Cohn

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Creating A Positive Learning Environment: Preliminary Results, Kien H. Lim, Hilda Y. Sotelo

Departmental Papers (Math)

No abstract provided.

Presidential Adjudication, Emily S. Bremer

Journal Articles

Over the last several decades, administrative law has recognized an expanding role for the President in controlling agency decision making. Agency adjudication—and especially formal hearings conducted under the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”)—have been viewed as properly insulated from this development. To protect due process, the APA established a regime for ensuring that competent, impartial Administrative Law Judges (“ALJs”) preside over formal hearings. The regime includes two apparent levels of for-cause removal protection for ALJs combined with robust agency head control over the policymaking aspects of formal adjudication. Today, the regime is in peril because it appears to be inconsistent with …

Integration Of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment For Patients With Chronic Pain, Sharon Gustowski, Turner Slicho, D'Angeleau Newsome

Faculty and Staff Publications

The Five Models of Osteopathic Medicine offers guidance on creating a treatment plan that includes OMT for patients with chronic pain. Using OMT on one body region or system has numerous downstream effects and can influence multiple models. This paper describes this therapeutic modality.

Kcu Sharpens Focus On Population Health And Equity Through New Center Of Excellence, Marc Hahn

Faculty and Staff Publications

No abstract provided.

Opioid Use Disorder In Missouri: An Evidence-Based, Public Health-Oriented Approach, Benjamin Grin

Faculty and Staff Publications

Opioid use disorder (OUD) represents a growing public health crisis in Missouri and nationwide. Reversing the trend of rising OUD-associated morbidity and mortality will require implementing evidence-based approaches grounded in public health principles. Key evidence-based interventions include medications for opioid use disorder, naloxone distribution, overdose education, and syringe services programs. The increasing presence of fentanyl and xylazine in the drug supply represent new challenges to the OUD crisis in Missouri. Optimal implementation of evidence-based interventions will require action at the individual physician, community, and state policy level.

Human Platelet Derived Mitochondrial Opa-1 Isoforms And Interaction With Tdp-43 In Neurodegenerative Diseases, Su Han Lee, Duyen Pham, Edina Kosa, Abdulbaki Agbas

Faculty and Staff Publications

Optic atrophy 1 (OPA-1) is a GTPase protein that controls mitochondrial fusion, cristae integrity, and mtDNA maintenance. In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease (PD), the mitochondrial network morphology is compromised. Studies on TAR-DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) has been the focus in our lab. OPA-1 and TDP-43 interaction may shed a light on how aberrant TDP-43 interacts with OPA-1, which will lead to mitochondrial dysfunction. The preliminary study tested the idea of whether OPA-1 and TDP-43 are physically interacting in human platelet derived mitochondria obtained from healthy human subjects.

Assessing The Completeness Of Patient-Reported Outcomes Reporting In Congestive Heart Failure Clinical Trials, Drayton Rorah, Jonathan Pollard, Corbin Walters, Will Roberts, Micah Hartwell, Christian Hemmerich, Matt Vassar

Student Publications

Objective: We aim to evaluate the quality of patient-reported outcomes included in randomized control trials for the treatment of congestive heart failure using the International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL) checklist, a validated tool for critically appraising the quality of patient-reported outcomes.

Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 65 randomized control trials with patient-reported outcomes for drug intervention trials for treating congestive heart failure.

Setting: N/A.

Participants: N/A.

Main outcome measures: The primary outcome of this study was to evaluate the reporting completeness of patient-reported outcomes in congestive heart failure clinical trials with drug interventions according to …

Examining The Influence Of Secondary Math And Science Teacher Preparation Programs On Graduates' Instructional Quality And Persistence In Teaching, Danielle M. Rhemer, Will Rogers, Sherry Ann Southerland

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This quantitative, non-experimental study explored the relationship between the features of math and science teachers’ preparation programs and their graduates’ instructional rigor and persistence in teaching. Five math and science teacher preparation programs from across the United States were examined. Six sets of instructional tasks were collected from forty-six recent graduates of these programs to provide insights into novices’ instructional rigor, and employment data were collected for thirty-seven of these graduates three to eight years after graduation. Regardless of the program’s features, all teachers could design and implement instruction with moderate to high rigor. However, this ability was not the …

On The Whitewashing Of Third Space In Teacher Education, Or Don’T Cite This Manuscript, Jori S. Beck

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Since the 1980s, there has been a push in teacher education to increase clinical experiences and build closer relationships between school districts and colleges of education. In 2010, Zeichner introduced the theory of Third Space to school-university partnership research. This was followed by a number of other articles in which the researchers applied the same theory—including in much of the work on teacher residencies. In this theoretical critique and brief systematic literature review, I connect Third Space theory back to its postcolonial roots and attribute the scholars of color who created the theory. I unpack the theory’s original intent and …

"Ai's Pompous Vocabulary Sounds Like It's Trying To Impress Someone": Preservice Teachers' Respond To Ai Reviews Of Their Writing, Jennifer Kidd, Keri Parker, Samantha Myers

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This study examines pre-service teachers’ (PSTs’) responses to using AI to review their writing. As part of a class activity, PSTs prompted an AI-chatbot for feedback and revisions on a short essay based on a provided assignment rubric. Afterward, they reflected on the pros and cons of using AI in this way. While some PSTs initially encountered functionality issues, all were able to obtain feedback and the majority reported finding it useful. In general, the PSTs appreciated AI’s speed and expertise and the potential to customize feedback based on their needs. However, many were skeptical of AI’s evaluation of their …

Children's Moments Of "Becoming" In Classrooms: Spatial Production And Multiliteracy Practices, Seongryeong Yu

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

While immigrant children’s identity negotiation and their sense of belonging are increasingly highlighted, existing literature remains largely focused on language abilities and identity struggles, often emphasizing rigid definitions of “identity” grounded in blood, language, and culture. Drawing on findings from my dissertation, this comparative ethnographic case study examines the fluidity of identity through literacy practices that help children construct meaning and foster belonging. By analyzing how 10-year-old students’ literacy practices interact with physical and social environments at school, I discuss shared expressions of emotions, power dynamics, the role of language, and variations in the use of cultural materials. These moments …

A Secure And Privacy-Preserving Signature Protocol Using Quantum Teleportation In Metaverse Environment, Pankaj Kumar, Vivek Bharmaik, Sunil Prajapat, Garima Thakur, Ashok Kumar Das, Sachin Shetty, Joel J. P. C. Rodrigues

VMASC Publications

The burgeoning concept of the metaverse as an interconnected virtual space represents the forefront of the next-generation internet. Quantum teleportation, known for its prowess in ensuring secure and reliable communications, stands poised to revolutionize interactions within this immersive digital realm. In this context, we propose a comprehensive interaction protocol tailored for the metaverse environment. The designed protocol entails two fundamental components: first, the interaction between a user and their avatar, facilitated by a secure seven-qubit entangled state; and second, the interaction between two avatars, enabled through an efficient two-qubit entangled state. To fortify the protocol’s resilience, quantum key distribution (QKD) …

Embedding Software Engineering In Mixed Methods: Computationally Enhanced Risk Communication, Ann Marie Reinhold, Madison H. Munro, Elizabeth A. Shanahan, Ross J. Gore, Barry C. Ezell, Clemente I. Izurieta

VMASC Publications

Mixed methods research ameliorates many convergent research challenges within the contemporary sociotechnical landscape. We suggest the integration of software engineering in mixed methods studies is a critical step to address some of the remaining and persistent challenges. One such research challenge where software engineering is particularly well suited is in hazard preparedness—in particular, the creation of risk communication messages to mitigate or prevent harm. Computationally enhanced risk communication is convergent research that integrates software engineering and social science research for the benefit of protecting humans and infrastructure. To this end, we developed a mixed methods framework for the efficient construction …

Cyclegan-Gradient Penalty For Enhancing Android Adversarial Malware Detection In Gray Box Setting, Fabrice Setephin Atedjio, Jean-Pierre Lienou, Frederica F. Nelson, Sachin S. Shetty, Charles A. Kamhoua

VMASC Publications

Adversarial attacks pose significant threats to Android malware detection by undermining the effectiveness of machine learning-based systems. The rapid increase in Android apps complicates the management of malicious software that can compromise user defense solutions. Many current Android defense techniques rely on deep learning methods. Malicious users exploit GAN-based attacks to achieve adversarial attack transferability and deceive target models by crafting adversarial examples based on known models. We propose a new model based on a Cycle Generative Adversarial Network (CycleGAN) to detect GAN-based attacks. This model incorporates a gradient penalty to enhance the detection rate of the target model. Our …

A Defensive Strategy Against Android Adversarial Malware Attacks, Fabrice Setephin Atedjio, Jean-Pierre Lienou, Frederica F. Nelson, Sachin S. Shetty, Charles A. Kamhoua

VMASC Publications

Due to the popularity of Android mobile devices over the past ten years, malicious Android applications have significantly increased. Systems utilizing machine learning techniques have been successfully applied for Android malware detection to counter the constantly changing Android malware threats. However, attackers have developed new strategies to circumvent these systems by using adversarial attacks. An attacker can carefully craft a malicious sample to deceive a classifier. Among the evasion attacks, there is the more potent one, which is based on solid optimization constraints: the Carlini-Wagner attack. Carlini-Wagner is an attack that uses margin loss, which is more efficient than cross-entropy …

Classification Of Instructional Activities In Classroom Videos Using Neural Networks, Jonathan K. Foster, Matthew Korban, Peter Youngs, Ginger S. Watson, Scott T. Acton

VMASC Publications

Classroom videos have become an integral part of classroom observation and instructional quality studies. Researchers encounter substantial financial and time-consuming costs gathering trained personnel to catalogue and analyze a large quantity (i.e., hundreds of hours) of classroom videos. In this chapter, we argue that deep-learning neural networks have potential to help with these tasks by detecting features of instruction in videos. We evaluated the performance of three neural networks in detecting instructional activities in classroom videos. The video dataset included a total of forty-six hours, which was evenly split between elementary mathematics and English language arts lesson recordings. Results showed …

Predicting The Need For Cardiovascular Surgery: A Comparative Study Of Machine Learning Models, Arman Ghavidel, Pilar Pazos, Rolando Del Aguila Suarez, Alireza Atashi

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

This research examines the efficacy of ensemble Machine Learning (ML) models, mainly focusing on Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), in predicting the need for cardiovascular surgery, a critical aspect of clinical decision-making. It addresses key challenges such as class imbalance, which is pivotal in healthcare settings. The research involved a comprehensive comparison and evaluation of the performance of previously published ML methods against a new Deep Learning (DL) model. This comparison utilized a dataset encompassing 50,000 patient records from a large hospital between 2015-2022. The study proposes enhancing the efficacy of these models through feature selection and hyperparameter optimization, employing techniques …

Integrative Machine Learning Approaches For Enhanced Classification Of Genomic Sequences: A Next-Generation Sequencing Perspective, Sujatha Alla, Nagesh Bheesetty, Sai Gireesh Komaragiri, Prasanthi Chidipudi, Joshit Mohanty, Sathish Kumar Chintala, Jubin Thomas, Jayapal Vummadi, Hemanth Volikatla, Navin Kamuni

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

The advent of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques has revolutionized genomic research by enabling the rapid sequencing of DNA and RNA. This data can be used for various applications, including genome sequencing, transcriptome profiling, metagenomics, and epigenetics studies. For this study, DNA classifier dataset was extracted from UCI repository of machine learning databases. This vast amount of genomic data necessitates the development of sophisticated machine learning (ML) models for effective classification and analysis. This study presents a comprehensive comparison of various ML models, including Support Vector Machines (SVM), Random Forests (RF), and Neural Networks (NNs), approaches, in classifying genomic data. We …

Integrating Generative Artificial Intelligence With Systems Architecting Diagram Creation: Advancement, Challenges, Opportunities And Future Perspectives, Cansu Yalim, Holly H. Handley

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Faculty Publications

Generative AI (GenAI) serves as a powerful tool that can create a wide range of content, including but not limited to text, speech, images, code, videos, and 3D models. ChatGPT stands out as a particularly appealing Generative Pretrained Transformer (GPT) model that offers supplementary capabilities through GPTs and plugins. These extensions enable users to engage with the chatbot and improve its functionality, surpassing mere content generation. Our study delves into the potential of ChatGPT, specifically GPT-4, to expedite the creation of diagrams to support the system architecting process. To this end, we explored the use of ChatGPT's Diagrams Show Me …