Digital Commons Network^™

Chris Pappas Re-Elected As New Hampshire’S Representative, Aidan Tompkins

Digital Edition

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

Tam Nguyen, Brian Rigling To Lead Ud Science And Engineering Catalyst Center, Dave Larsen

College of Arts and Sciences Newsroom

The SECC is designed to foster interdisciplinary research, scholarship, curriculum development and entrepreneurial activities.

Expanding Access To Justice Through Regulatory Reform And Innovation: Arizona Lessons From The Past, Present, And Future, Samuel A. Thumma

University of Cincinnati Law Review

No abstract provided.

A Threat Assessment Method In Uncertain Dynamic Environments, Mei Yang, Bingkun Wang, Zhongjie Zhang, Yan Zeng, Jian Huang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: A threat assessment method based on priori information and dynamic observation results is studied for the existence of dynamic uncertainty in complex war systems. The data mining is applied to obtain prior knowledge on the battlefield situation and construct an equipment-related confidence matrix. The sensor model is constructed to dynamically update the number of blue-side entities under the current situation by using the Bayesian method and considering both intelligence and observation results. The threat evaluation indicators and their weights are determined, and the TOPSIS method is used to finish the threat assessment. This method can well describe the complex …

Research On Adaptive Scheduling Of Single-Arm Cluster Tools For Throughput Ratio Of Multiple Wafer Types With Concurrent Processing, Chunrong Pan, Yu Cui, Wenqing Xiong, Hao Zhou, Jiliang Luo

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Concurrent processing makes the wafer fabrication process prone to deadlocks and completion node ambiguity. A Petri net model is established to describe the system operation process by taking for the single-arm cluster tools for fully parallel processing of two wafer types as the research object, and a control strategy is developed to avoid the system deadlock. Based on the Petri net model, the temporal properties of the system is analyzed based on earliest starting strategy, and the action cycle sequence of robot is determined during the monitoring cycle for different scenarios of lot switching in a single production monitoring …

Research On Latent Space-Based Anime Face Style Transfer And Editing Techniques, Haixin Deng, Fengquan Zhang, Nan Wang, Wancai Zhang, Jierui Lei

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To address issues such as image distortion and style uniformity in existing anime style transfer networks within the field of image simulation, we propose the TGFE-TrebleStyleGAN (textguided facial editing with TrebleStyleGAN) for anime facial style transfer and editing. This framework leverages vector guidance within the latent space to generate facial imagery and incorporates a detail control module and a feature control module to constrain the aesthetic attributes of the generated images. The images generated by the transfer network serve as style control signals and constraints for fine-grained segmentation. Text-to-image generation technology captures correlations between styletransferred images and semantic information. …

Research On Digital Twin Simulation Method Of Industrial Robot Integrated With Reinforcement Learning, Tianyue Miao, Lu Wang, Jiaxiao He, Nenggang Xie

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: In response to the lack of comprehensive functionality and limited application scenarios in the current field of industrial robot digital twin systems, which results in low versatility, a method for constructing a digital twin system for industrial robots with high versatility is proposed. A four-dimensional system architecture for the digital twin is designed, and the components and functions of the four-dimensional system are analyzed, based on the system level planning of the four-dimensional system, the concept of integrating reinforcement learning into the virtual replacement of real concept is defined. By constructing a multi-attribute virtual model and using TCP communication …

Research On Multi-Objective Gait Planning Of Biped Robot Based On Virtual Prototype, Yankai Zhang, Xuesong Wang, Yubin Jin, Dongsheng Zhang

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: A multi-objective gait optimization method based on virtual prototype is proposed to address the difficulty of balancing personalisation and performance in gait planning for bipedal robots. A scale prototype of a planar underactuated biped robot is created according to the body structure of Chinese people, and an identification approach is used to determine the robot's exact inertial parameters. A virtual prototype of the robot is created, and three optimization goals—speed, energy use, and stability are developed. Using the enhanced NSGA-II algorithm, the Pareto optimal solution set for the robot multi-objective gait planning issue is produced. Numerous gaits that conform …

Hitting The Brakes: State Policies Encouraging Car Use In Pennsylvania Violate The State's Environmental Rights Amendment, Nicole Karem

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

No abstract provided.

Don't Forget To Water The Plants: Crafting A Sustainable Framework For Space Launches Under The Inflation Reduction Act, Wyatt Modracek

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) makes great strides toward limiting the consumption of fossil fuels through the incentivization of research and development of sustainable aviation fuel. However, the IRA serves as a reactive measure to the problem of air pollution while missing an opportunity to curtail another coming issue of pollution: space launches. While not as pervasive as commercial air travel, space launches and outer space as a whole are becoming a billion-dollar market with space mining, astro-tourism, and interplanetary travel. The rate of launches has no sign of slowing down, and rather than wait to pass a reactive measure …

Section 230'S Immunity For Generative Artificial Intelligence, Louis Shaheen

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

Congress passed Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 in response to two civil cases from New York that split on the issue of immunity for online platforms from civil liability for content posted on their websites by third parties. Congress was concerned that, without immunity, online platforms would not survive, thereby hampering the internet’s development. Congress was right; commentators have hailed Section 230 as the backbone of the internet. But as time has passed, dissidents have argued that Section 230 provides broad immunity outside the bounds of what its drafters anticipated. With the emergence of generative artificial …

The Illegal Trade Of Marine Wildlife: A Review Of Consequences And Strategies To Combat The Trade, Kaitlyn Shaw

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

An enduring challenge in assessing the risk of extinction for marine animals lies in our need to consume them. Many nations, including the United States, invest substantial resources in supporting fishery businesses to locate, harvest, and market ocean wildlife, with comparatively small allocations for their protection. Despite the existence of numerous state, national, and international laws dictating how and when animals can be harvested, achieving sustainable catch levels remains elusive. Especially when adding in the constant battle against organized crime groups, combatting the marine wildlife trade almost seems impractical. This comment analyzes and argues for a more comprehensive approach to …

Table Of Contents - Vol. 55, No. 2 2024

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

The Lived Experiences Of Female Undergraduates At A Private University Regarding Foodways And Wellness: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, Kelly Green Kearns

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation study outlines the topic of food and wellness for female undergraduate college students at a private university in the northeastern US. An extensive literature review on the topic of human interactions with food and wellness as well as the potential impact on female undergraduate students is provided, followed by a proposed qualitative study. This dissertation describes the qualitative method of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) using semi-structured interviews and member-checking meetings to learn about the experiences of eight female undergraduate students at a private university’s experiences with food, eating, sourcing, cooking, and sharing and how these behaviors impact and …

Gardner-Webb Professor Emeritus Of Music, Dr. George R. Cribb, Passes Away At Age 97, Office Of University Communications

Gardner-Webb NewsCenter Archive

A man who played an integral role in building Gardner-Webb University’s music program is being remembered by former colleagues and students for his extraordinary talent, leadership, and friendship. Dr. George R. Cribb, professor emeritus of music, passed away on Dec. 17 in Greenville, S.C.

Yellowstone National Park's Record Of Decision On Bison Management, Lila Bennett

Public Land & Resources Law Review

Bison herds once roamed the American Plains by the millions and were a staple in the lives of Native Americans. By the late 1800’s, bison were nearly extinct due to the westward expansion of European settlers and over hunting. Now, there is a population of merely 30,000 wild bison in North America. Although bison no longer face threats of immediate extinction, wild herds face stark realities of disease, habitat loss, and genetic degradation.

Schutter V. State Board Of Land Commissioners, Gillian P. Ellison

Public Land & Resources Law Review

In Schutter v. State Board of Land Commissioners, the Montana Supreme Court addressed the State’s fiduciary obligation in the context of water rights appurtenant to school trust lands. Central to the Court’s holding was the State’s fiduciary duty in managing lands held in trust for the benefit of the State. By upholding the State’s claim to partial ownership of a water right originating on private land, the Schutter Court underscored the tension between private property rights and the State's trust fiduciary duties.

Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Citizen Task Force V. Montana, Sarah J. Leopard

Public Land & Resources Law Review

Flathead-Lolo-Bitterroot Citizen Task Force v. Montana evaluates the efficacy of the proposed 2024 gray wolf floating season in preventing harm to grizzly bears, a protected species in Montana. The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the implementation of a “serious questions” test for preliminary injunctions that is specific to Endangered Species Act cases. The Court agreed with the district court’s grant of a preliminary injunction that limited the 2024 floating season temporally, but modified the injunction in two respects, thereby narrowing its application. The Court’s holding signifies the continuation of a preliminary injunction standard that values protections for …

Sdilj V. 26-1 Masthead

San Diego International Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Investigating Catalytic Conversion Of Lignin To Valuable Products, Jialiang Zhang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Lignin is a complex, random, and heterogeneous biopolymer in lignocellulosic biomass. It has significant potential for conversion into valuable chemicals and fuels. However, its natural recalcitrant structure has made selective depolymerization challenging. This dissertation presents a detailed investigation into the mechanisms of lignin disassembly and structural evolution under various catalytic and solvent conditions. The research spans three key studies. In Chapter 2, operando magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to study reaction pathways and kinetics of lignin model polymers during catalytic hydrogenolysis. We used a Ni-Al2O3 catalyst in methanol under high temperature and pressure, and …

Bone-Ivd Crosstalk And The Role Of Rage Signaling In An Ivd Injury Model, Remy Walk

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Low back pain (LBP) is the number one musculoskeletal cause of disability with a lifetime prevalence of up to 85%. The causes of LBP are multifactorial with potential contributions from factors such as tissue injury and degeneration as well as social economic and psychological factors. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is associated with 26-40% of LBP cases and in a 2015 meta-analysis, it was estimated that a total 403 million people suffer from symptomatic IVD degeneration. IVD degeneration is characterized by loss of hydration in the nucleus pulposus (NP), damage accumulation in the annulus fibrosus (AF) and calcification of the cartilaginous …

Integrating Physics And Deep Learning For Transmission-Less Attenuation Compensation In Clinical Spect, Zitong Yu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Attenuation compensation (AC) is beneficial for visual interpretation and serves as a prerequisite for quantification tasks in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. However, conventional AC methods typically rely on a separate X-ray CT component, leading to multiple challenges. In this context, studies have shown that scatter-window projection data contains information to estimate the attenuation distribution. Furthermore, large amounts of SPECT emission data in both photopeak and scatter-energy windows and corresponding CT scans are available. The ability of deep learning (DL) to model complex relationships by leveraging large datasets motivates its use for transmission-less AC in SPECT. Building upon the …

Terpene Bioproduction From Non-Model Yeast: Omics Analysis And Metabolic Modeling For Guiding Scaleup Optimization, Alyssa Worland

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Sustainability efforts have driven significant advancements in synthetic biology, particularly through the development of microbial cell factories designed for waste reduction and resource conservation. This dissertation seeks to characterize a microbial biorefinery platform for the biosynthesis of terpene compounds from yeast, with an emphasis on the industrial bioconversion of waste lipids. Terpene compounds play crucial roles in various industrial applications; however, traditional methods of terpene production have sustainability and productivity challenges that could be overcome by using microbial biosynthesis. The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is a microbial host well suited for converting waste oils into value-added terpenes due to its native …

Developing Naturalistic Precision Functional Mapping For High-Density Diffuse Optical Tomography, Aahana Bajracharya

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Advancements in non-invasive imaging have enabled extensive research into higher-order cognitive functions of the brain. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) has provided valuable insights into brain networks underlying various cognitive processes. However, limitations such as confined environments and scanner noise pose challenges for fMRI to be broadly applicable across all demographics and experimental conditions, especially in speech and language studies. Because of this, there is a need for complementary techniques that can help understand the brain as it functions during everyday scenarios. High Density Diffuse Optical Tomography (HD-DOT) is an emerging functional near-infrared spectroscopy-based technique with comparative advantages over fMRI, …

Investigating Catalytic Conversion Of Lignin To Valuable Products, Jialiang Zhang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Lignin is a complex, random, and heterogeneous biopolymer in lignocellulosic biomass. It has significant potential for conversion into valuable chemicals and fuels. However, its natural recalcitrant structure has made selective depolymerization challenging. This dissertation presents a detailed investigation into the mechanisms of lignin disassembly and structural evolution under various catalytic and solvent conditions. The research spans three key studies. In Chapter 2, operando magic-angle spinning (MAS) solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed to study reaction pathways and kinetics of lignin model polymers during catalytic hydrogenolysis. We used a Ni-Al2O3 catalyst in methanol under high temperature and pressure, and …

Terpene Bioproduction From Non-Model Yeast: Omics Analysis And Metabolic Modeling For Guiding Scaleup Optimization, Alyssa Worland

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Sustainability efforts have driven significant advancements in synthetic biology, particularly through the development of microbial cell factories designed for waste reduction and resource conservation. This dissertation seeks to characterize a microbial biorefinery platform for the biosynthesis of terpene compounds from yeast, with an emphasis on the industrial bioconversion of waste lipids. Terpene compounds play crucial roles in various industrial applications; however, traditional methods of terpene production have sustainability and productivity challenges that could be overcome by using microbial biosynthesis. The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica is a microbial host well suited for converting waste oils into value-added terpenes due to its native …

Perceptions Of Communication And Collaboration Between Special Education And Career And Technical Education Teachers, Alexander Novickoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the communication and collaboration between Local Education Agency’s (LEA) special education staff and Career and Technical Center (CTC) staff in supporting students with disabilities (SWD). Given the critical role of effective interagency communication in providing comprehensive support to SWD, this study seeks to identify the perceptions, methods, and frequencies of communication between these entities. The research is set within the context of non-comprehensive CTCs in Pennsylvania, where students split their time between their home schools and regional CTCs. Through a quantitative approach, consisting of a detailed survey distributed to both LEA and CTC staff, this study examines …

Interactions Of The Sars-Cov-2 Viral Genome 3’-Untranslated Region With Viral And Host Rnas, Caleb Frye, Mihaela Rita Mihailescu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on the characterization of RNA-RNA interactions within the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome and with host microRNAs. As the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), SARS-CoV-2 has evolved rapidly since its appearance. This has warranted prompt characterization of the virus particularly of its single stranded RNA (ssRNA) genome. By using a combination of bioinformatics, biophysics, and/or biological assays, we analyzed the SARS-CoV-2 viral genomic RNA and uncovered interactions of genomic RNA with host RNAs, highlighting an underutilized method of targeting RNA viruses. We showed here that the conserved elements in the viral genomic …

Gatekeeper, Keep Thyself: How Impairment Impacts The Integration Of Counselor Wellness Competencies, Curtis Lee Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined counselor educators’ beliefs regarding the importance of Counselor Wellness Competencies (CWCs) and how effectively they teach them to their counselors-in-training (CIT). This study focused on significant relationships between the importance and effective teaching, self-care, and burnout. Counselor educators who place higher importance on the CWCs reported having higher self-efficacy in teaching them. The findings suggest that counselor educators with more self-care behaviors experienced less burnout and were better able to show congruence between the importance and effective teaching of the CWCs. The conclusion of this report explores limitations and directions for future research.

Evaluating The Implementation Of Community Schools’ Strategies To Address Post-Pandemic Student Mental Health, Dawn Gordon

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This research explores the systemic and structural barriers affecting the effectiveness of community schools, particularly in providing mental health services and support, with a specific focus on how principals have responded to these needs in the post-COVID-19 era. Employing qualitative methods, including focus groups with principals from schools implementing the community schools’ model, the study identifies three major themes: difficulties with lead agency collaboration and coordination with host schools, systemic and structural barriers to effective functioning, and holistic approaches to enhancing student support and well-being with mental health.

Difficulties with lead agency collaboration and coordination reveal how inadequate communication and …