Digital Commons Network^™

Microbial Interactions With Oysters From The Great Bay Estuary: Characterization Of Endemic Vibrio Choleraeand Oyster Metagenetics, Brian Michael Schuster

Master's Theses and Capstones

Within the last two decades the number of gastroenteritis seafood-borne outbreaks due to Vibrio species has increased. These infections are usually caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked shellfish. I took two approaches to describe the ecology of Vibrios in the Great Bay Estuary, Durham, New Hampshire. First, I performed a phenotypic and multi-locus sequence analysis of 31 V. cholerae strains isolated from oysters, water and sediment in 2008 and 2009. I concluded that the V. cholerae population is endemic, diverse and highly recombinatory, but none of the isolates contain the virulence markers indicative of clinical strains. Next, I …

Asset Forfeiture: State Restrictions And Equitable Sharing, Charles Kucher

Master's Theses and Capstones

Civil asset forfeiture is criticized for its lack of procedural protections for property owners and for skewing the priorities of law enforcement. Federal civil forfeiture law allows federal agencies to prosecute civil forfeiture cases for state and local law enforcement agencies, a practice that is criticized for allowing the circumvention of state laws. This thesis looks at three factors governing forfeiture at the state level (standard of proof, conviction requirement and financial incentive) and examines their effect on federal equitable sharing payments. The results indicate that both conviction requirement and standard of proof affect equitable sharing payments and suggests that …

Magnetostratigraphy Of The Hell Creek And Lower Fort Union Formations In Northeast Montana, Rebecca Lecain

Master's Theses and Capstones

Magnetostratigraphic evaluation of a well-exposed stratigraphic section in northeast Montana has been undertaken to expand upon and better understand the timing of the deposition of Hell Creek and Fort Union Formations. Characteristic remnant magnetizations show clear magnetostratigraphic patterning of chrons C28n, C28r, C29n, C29r, C30n, and possibly C30r. Differentially corrected GPS coordinates, including elevation, were recorded at each sample site allowing the magnetostratigraphic framework to be precisely relocated in the field and traced laterally across the landscape. Localities in Montana that have been sampled for fossil studies have been mapped and correlated to the same stratigraphic sections as the magnetostratigraphy, …

Addition Of Varying Amounts Of Sodium Bicarbonate To Colostrum Replacer: Effects On Igg Absorption, Serum Bicarbonate, And Hematocrit In Neonatal Calves, Rosemarie G. Cabral

Master's Theses and Capstones

Fifty-two calves were assigned to a randomized complete block design and were randomly assigned by block to one of four treatments: colostrum replacer with no sodium bicarbonate, colostrum replacer with 15g of sodium bicarbonate, colostrum replacer with 30g of sodium bicarbonate, and colostrum replacer with 45g of sodium bicarbonate to test for linear and quadratic effects. Calves were fed colostrum replacer (≥200g of IgG) in one feeding at 0 h and 2L milk replacer at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. Only calves from multiparous cows, without dystocia, and born in calving pens were used. Sodium bicarbonate had a negative …

Evaluation Of Post Harvest Conditions Contributing To Attacks By The Red Turpentine Beetle, Dendroctonus Valens Leconte At The Massabesic Experimental Forest In Southern Maine, Garret D. Dubois

Master's Theses and Capstones

Silvicultural management of Pinus strobus L. runs the risk of damaging residual trees and can increase the probability of attack from damaging insects, including the common bark beetle Dendroctonus valens Le Conte. Considered a secondary pest, it is possible that D. valens is capable of economic impacts such as the downgrading of logs and lumber due to defect and blue-stain. To assess post harvest conditions that contribute to the probability and severity of D. valens attacks in Pinus strobus, stand and tree characteristics were sampled in four silvicultural treatments and one control site in southern Maine. Results showed that clearcuts …

Age And Age Structure Of An Invasive Plant, Lythrum Salicaria, Kimberly L. Therrien

Master's Theses and Capstones

My objective was to determine whether purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.) individuals could be aged using the pattern of ramet production. Assuming current year loosestrife ramets produce new basal ramets only in the following year, plant age could be estimated by counting ranks of sequentially produced ramets. I found that in four New Hampshire wetlands the assumptions of the method were generally met, although some ramets were not produced sequentially. Using ramet counts I was able to estimate minimum age for individuals in each of the four populations. All populations were dominated by individuals > 1 year old. I tested whether …

Modeling Permafrost Stability In Peatlands With Climate Change And Disturbance, Claire Treat

Master's Theses and Capstones

Boreal and arctic regions are predicted to warm faster and more severely than temperate latitudes. They contain large stocks of below- ground soil carbon in peatlands and frozen soil, and the flux of the soil C to the atmosphere may be a strong feedback to climate change.

Increases in air temperature due to climate change will increase surface soil temperatures, soil temperatures at depth, active layer depths, and growing season length, but not degrade permafrost by 2100 at this site. Both wildfire and climate change increase active layer depths by 25 cm, but effects of wildfire diminish following vegetation recovery.

A Micro-Transponder For Precision Tracking Of Underwater Targets, Albert Whitaker Franzheim Iii.

Master's Theses and Capstones

A prototype micro-transponder has been designed and built to track, in real-time, the positions of objects or animals within the water column. Commercially available data storage tags, which help monitor the behavior of underwater animals, do not provide real-time interrogation and data dissemination capabilities in a form factor and acoustic frequency band acceptable for active tracking applications.

This prototype is 18.5 cm3 and weighs 43.7 g in air. It operates at an acoustic frequency of 160 kHz and uses a mixed-signal topology with low-power components and a microcontroller, which allows for firmware updates and addition of external sensors. It is …

Potential For Conflict Index Of Management Options At Two New Hampshire Beaches, Rochelle Pernak

Master's Theses and Capstones

The 18 miles of New Hampshire coastline is a popular destination among recreationists, attracting millions of visitors each year. Swimming, surfing and spending time on the beach are just a few of the many activities that take place on the coast. While swimming has been utilized as a recreational activity for thousands of years, surfing has just recently become an established activity in the last few centuries. Surfing's popularity continues to grow around the world and particularly in New Hampshire and on the east coast. With increasing interest in these recreational activities at the beaches and the amount of resources …

The Instrumentation, Testing, And Structural Modeling Of A Steel Girder Bridge For Long-Term Structural Health Monitoring, Paul J. Lefebvre

Master's Theses and Capstones

The currently accepted bridge design practice is individual element design through approximate "worst-case" loading scenarios and distribution with appropriate safety factors. The resulting design is not necessarily representative of the true behavior of a bridge. Computer structural modeling advancements have made it practical to improve the design process by capturing the design intelligence in the bridge model for use in bridge management and condition assessment. Nearly 1/3 of U.S. bridges are nearing the end of their design life and the design of the next generation of highway bridges has begun. The time is optimum to consider advancements in bridge design …

Measuring Paralytic Shellfish Toxins In Mussels From New Hampshire Coastal Waters Using Zwitterionic Hydrophilic Liquid Chromatography/Electrospray Mass Spectrometry, Lee Lee Chung

Master's Theses and Capstones

A liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method (LC/MS) has been adapted from the literature to provide a rapid, direct and highly sensitive routine assays for several Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins, with detection limits in the ppb range for STX and its analog neosaxitoxin (NEO) and decarbamoyl saxitoxin (dcSTX). A high throughput sample clean-up aided in reducing the effects of the matrix. Method validation and stability studies have been performed to show that reliable results are produced by this LC/MS method. The LC/MS method was found to supplement the mouse bioassay with the ability to determine the levels and specific types of …

Bio-Inspired Log-Polar Based Color Image Pattern Analysis In Multiple Frequency Channels, Xiaolu Li

Master's Theses and Capstones

The main topic addressed in this thesis is to implement color image pattern recognition based on the lateral inhibition subtraction phenomenon combined with a complex log-polar mapping in multiple spatial frequency channels. It is shown that the individual red, green and blue channels have different recognition performances when put in the context of former work done by Dragan Vidacic. It is observed that the green channel performs better than the other two channels, with the blue channel having the poorest performance. Following the application of a contrast stretching function the object recognition performance is improved in all channels. Multiple spatial …

Improving Efficiencies And Modeling A Cyclic Suspended Ion Exchange (Six(C)) Drinking Water Pre-Treatment Systems, Owen P. Friend-Gray

Master's Theses and Capstones

This research focused on three primary components of the Suspended Ion eXchange (SIX(c)) process developed by PWN Water Supply Company North Holland. The first step focused on the resin regeneration procedure. It was shown that the current system could be improved and that reducing the complexity of the system simplified the process and increased the regeneration efficiency. The second step focused on the resin tank contactor hydraulics. It was determined that for the sequential completely mixed reactor design at PWN, high flows with low mixing speed of the overhead paddle mixers led to the most efficient hydraulic regime. The third …

Exploration Of A Free Space Optical Telemetry System For Formation Flying Sounding Rocket Sub-Payloads, James Gealy

Master's Theses and Capstones

The results of an exploration regarding the novel use of free-space optics (FSO) between sounding rockets and their sub-payloads are presented. This includes an evaluation of optoelectronic and optical devices against environmental and system level criteria. A preliminary test using available in-house components and bench-top equipment was also performed to determine potential distances and data rates of FSO in this environment. Using a light emitting diode with an optical power output of approximately six milliwatts, and a photomultiplier tube originally purposed for use on the Compton GRO, a pulse rate of ten kilohertz was transmitted over a distance of four-hundred …

Langmuir Circulation In The Presence Of Lateral Density Gradients, Ke Li

Master's Theses and Capstones

Comparably little is known about the impact of lateral density gradients associated with, e.g., submesoscale fronts on Langmuir circulation in the ocean surface mixed layer. In this investigation, two-dimensional pseudospectral numerical simulations of the laterally stratified Craik--Leibovich (CL) equations are performed to elucidate the effect of an imposed horizontal density gradient on Langmuir cells. The dominant instability mode is found to consist of counter-rotating cells with up- and downwelling jets inclined to the vertical. Linear stability analysis confirms that, although no instability occurs in the absence of the CL vortex torque, the dominant instability mode exhibits growth rates exceeding those …

Mobile Undersea Routing Protocol, Michael J. Karell

Master's Theses and Capstones

The myriad barriers to underwater communication provide a new set of challenges for network protocols. Routing protocols which operate in underwater ad hoc networks must react quickly to changing conditions without significant increase in packet overhead or congestion. Dynamic Source Routing Protocol provides a framework for accomplishing these goals. In this paper we present the Mobile Undersea Routing Protocol, which implements this framework and enhances upon it. It uses a limited propagating route request which we call a Route Recovery to quickly and inexpensively recover from routing errors. A Java based network simulator was constructed in order to test and …

Aerosol Extinction Measurements With A New Multipass Aerosol Differential Optical Absorption Spectrometer (A-Doas): Laboratory Validation And Initial Ambient Measurements, Ryan T. Chartier

Master's Theses and Capstones

Atmospheric aerosols directly affect climate by scattering and absorbing incident solar radiation. The magnitude of the impact is dependent upon the wavelength of incoming light, but is typically approximated near 550 nm. As a result, climate models can have large uncertainties for aerosol contributions when considering the solar spectrum. An aerosol differential optical absorption spectrometer (A-DOAS) has been developed to address to measure aerosol extinction from mid-ultraviolet to near infrared. The instrument consists of a closed UV-Vis spectrometer coupled to a White-type multi-pass gas cell with an adjustable path length of up to 20 meters. Laboratory extinction measurements of polystyrene …

The Influence Of The Coach-Athlete Relationship On Coaching Efficacy, Anna Magle

Master's Theses and Capstones

Bandura's (1997) theory of self-efficacy which was extended by Feltz et al. (1999) models of coaching efficacy provided framework for examining the relationship between coaching-efficacy and the coach athlete relationship. This study examined the relationship between NCAA head coaches' coaching efficacy and their coach-athlete relationship. NCAA coaches (N=632) completed the Coaching Efficacy Scale (CES), and the Coach Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q). A canonical correlation between the subscales of the CES and the subscales of the CART-Q revealed that the subscales of coach-athlete relationship contributed significantly to the explanation of coaching efficacy. MANOVAs revealed significant differences in both CES as well …

Elucidating The Microbial Community Within A Trichloroethene Contaminated Competent Bedrock Aquifer Located At Pease International Tradeport, Portsmouth, Nh, Michelle M. Majko

Master's Theses and Capstones

A trichloroethene (TCE)-contaminated competent bedrock aquifer exists at Pease International Tradeport in Portsmouth, NH. Characterization by the Bedrock Bioremediation Center (BBC) at the University of New Hampshire showed active in situ anaerobic degradation of TCE. Formation water from discrete, hydraulically connected fractures was extracted to characterize and enumerate the prevalent TCE biodegradation processes using Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Eubacteria (90%), Archaea (5%), and sulfate reducing bacteria within Desulfobacteriaceae (1--26%) were present at all depths (13--30 meters). Two probes targeting the anaerobic TCE-dechlorinating genus, Dehalococcoides (4--10%) were developed. FISH in combination with Flow Cytometry was employed to automate the analysis; …

Job Satisfaction Of New Hampshire Nursing Faculty, Patricia Marie Puglisi

Master's Theses and Capstones

The nursing shortage is a growing concern with the shortage of nurse faculty restricting entry of qualified students. A descriptive study of faculty from 11 New Hampshire nursing schools was conducted to determine nurse faculty satisfaction and factors contributing to satisfaction. A modified version, sent electronically of the Nurse Faculty Satisfaction Questionnaire measured faculty satisfaction. Of 159 faculty invited 74 (47%) participated. Overall, NH nurse faculty were highly satisfied as nurse educators with 78.4% rating overall satisfaction of 8 or higher on a 0 - 10 scale. The top three satisfiers were opportunity to work independently, sense of accomplishment from …

Abiotic Immobilization Of Nitrate In Forest Soil: A Double Level Approach, Richard Graham Maclean

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abiotic immobilization of nitrogen may help explain nitrogen retention in soils under chronic nitrogen addition. Methodological limitations have made differentiating between abiotic and biotic immobilization in live soils difficult. This study attempted to make this differentiation with isotopically labeled nitrate, 15N18O3- . My hypothesis was that during biological reduction and assimilation of 15N, 18O would be lost as labeled water, but some 18O would be retained in abiotic reactions with soil chemicals. Lab incubations of soils from a Pinus resinosa stand were treated with 0.140 mg 15N g-1 dry soil of K15N18O3, for 0.25, 1 and 4 hours. Mean mass …

Impacts Of Suburbanization On Food Web Stoichiometry Of Detritus-Based Streams, Nathaniel Burr Morse

Master's Theses and Capstones

Higher non-point source nutrient inputs are one of many impacts associated with the "urban stream syndrome". Research on how non-point source pollution affects the stoichiometry of urban stream food webs has received little attention, however. This study quantified food web stoichiometry in nine headwater, detritus-based streams draining forested or suburban watersheds in northeastern, coastal Massachusetts.

While this study suggests that suburbanization can affect in-stream nutrient recycling by consumers, research that quantifies changes to biomass of different in-stream compartments is needed to calculate the extent of such impacts on suburban stream ecosystems.

Synthesis Of 1,4,7-Triazacyclononane Pendant-Armed Chelators And Their Metal Complexes, Elizabeth Garcia Cardona

Master's Theses and Capstones

Pendant-armed cyclic polyamines have been demonstrated to be promising ligands for the development of new metal-based radiopharmaceuticals for positron-emission tomography (PET). Macrocyclic polyamines bearing pendant arms can effectively bind specific metals with suitable complexation kinetics and stability while attached to a tumor-targeting vector or peptide. 64Cu-radiolabeled peptides containing the chelator 1,4,7-triazacyclononane 1,4,7-triacetate have been shown to possess superior properties which overcome commonly observed problems such as demetallation and accumulation of the radio-metal in non-targeted tissues. To model these radiolabeled bioconjugates and to gain insight into this observed bio-stability, the synthesis of a copper (II) complex of a new triazacyclononane derivative …

The Association Between Parenting Style And Life Satisfaction In Adulthood, Stephanie Caras

Master's Theses and Capstones

This research examined the association between parenting style and life satisfaction in adulthood (N=112). Participants responded to an online survey, called the Parenting Style and Life Satisfaction Survey, which included questions pertaining to parenting style experienced in childhood, parenting style used in adulthood, and levels of life satisfaction. A chi-square test was conducted to determine if there was a relationship between parenting style experienced in childhood and the adult's own parenting style. Analysis of variance tests were conducted to determine how parenting style experienced in childhood was connected to life satisfaction in adulthood and how the adult's parenting style was …

Ambassador Without Portfolio' Alistair Cooke's America On The British Airwaves, Tessa Catherine Croker

Master's Theses and Capstones

Raised in Britain, journalist Alistair Cooke received American citizenship in 1941. From his adopted home in New York, Cooke dedicated his career to protecting the Anglo-American alliance. Through his BBC radio broadcast, Letter from America, Cooke tried to combat British anti-Americanism with honest discussion of America. Utilizing his knowledge of Britain, Cooke tailored the tone and content of his discussions to a British audience. In the Cold War period he transferred discussion of Anglo-American relations from Washington and London to the sitting room, in an effort to encourage real friendship between the two nations. Unaffiliated with the American government, Cooke …

The Political Assassination Of Edmund Randolph: George Washington's Presidential Affair Of Honor, John C. Kotruch

Master's Theses and Capstones

On 19 August 1795 George Washington ambushed Secretary of State Edmund Randolph in an impromptu tribunal to face the allegation of treasonous corruption in the service of France with evidence covertly provided by Great Britain.

A synthesis of the biographies of Washington and Randolph, histories of Jay's Treaty, the Whiskey Rebellion, the Battle of Fallen Timbers, and the diplomatic correspondence between Great Britain and the United States during the early republic reveals the motivations behind a British plot to manipulate the composition of the United States' government by implicating Randolph. The study dispels the myth that the intercepted French diplomatic …

Gender Bias In The Legal Field: Experiences Of Female Attorneys And Law Students, Jessie L. French

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study examines the experiences of female attorneys and law students with respect to gender bias. Contemporary evaluations indicate that while women comprise approximately 50% of the job force, they are significantly underrepresented in management positions and continue to be paid less than men; this is especially true in the legal field. Thirty-five in-depth interviews were conducted, 25 with women who had obtained a juris doctorate and 10 with female law students. Women discussed their experiences in the legal field relative to law school, expectations for their careers, media influences, gender discrimination and harassment. Qualitative analysis revealed that pregnancy was …

Examination Of Thermal Impacts From Stormwater Bmps, Nicholas P. Digennaro

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study presents the examination of 4 years of monitoring of runoff temperature for a range of stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in relation to established environmental indicators for a study in Durham, NH. Stormwater BMPs examined include conventional, Low Impact Development, and manufactured treatment designs. Surface systems that are exposed to direct sunlight have been shown to increase already elevated summer runoff temperatures, while other systems that provide treatment by infiltration and filtration can moderate runoff temperatures by thermal exchange with cool subsurface materials. The storm sewer system saw an annual average event mean temperature (EMT) greater than the …

What Is The Glue That Holds Work And Family Life Together? Perceptions Of Work And Family Balance Among Working New Hampshire Parents, Sabrina C. Harris

Master's Theses and Capstones

Using a mixed methods research approach, the current study used data gathered from the Survey of New Hampshire Working Families to assess participants' perceptions of work and family balance. As part of the survey, parents were asked to report the one thing, the glue, that holds work and family life together. Participant responses were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis. As a result, seven glue themes emerged: 1) partner support, 2) work flexibility, 3) support of family, 4) personal strengths, 5) children, 6) income, and 7) religion. Additional research questions were created with the hope of revealing demographic trends among specific …

The Genetics Of Sex Determination In Fragaria Virginiana: A Candidate Gene Approach, Benjamin Bryant Orcheski

Master's Theses and Capstones

The evolutionary genetics of plant reproduction is a fascinating aspect of plant biology, involving an astounding diversity of reproductive strategies. While the majority of flowering plants are hermaphroditic (monoecy), many species have opted for an alternate mode, whereby male and female gametes originate on different plants (dioecy).

Wild strawberry, Fragaria virginiana, is a particularly interesting species, as its members can be female, male, or hermaphroditic. Its female flowers display arrested development of male reproductive organs (stamens), evidently conditioned by a single dominant allele of an unknown genetic locus. My aim was to isolate and characterize the gene(s) responsible for male …