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An Experimental Study On The Buoyancy-Driven Motion Of Air Bubbles In Square Channels, Vinod Bulusu

Master's Theses and Capstones

The motion of drops and bubbles in confined domains is encountered in several applications such as oil recovery, solvent extraction, paper-making, and microfluidics, among others. In this thesis, the motion of air bubbles in square capillaries moving under the influence of gravity is studied at finite Reynolds numbers. The steady shapes, deformations, film thickness, and velocities of the bubbles as a function of the bubble size are determined experimentally. The bulk fluid phase is either Newtonian, viscoelastic, or a surfactant solution. Bubbles rising in a Newtonian fluid are nearly spherical at lower bubble volumes and become prolate losing their fore …

Early Identification Of Children With Asperger Syndrome: Communication Characteristics, Lynda D. Chouinard

Master's Theses and Capstones

Diagnosis of children within the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) category varies significantly but children with Asperger Syndrome (AS) are typically diagnosed at a much older age than those with Autism (AD). The late childhood diagnosis of AS means a possible lapse in years that the child receives appropriate intervention and support. The purpose of this retrospective study was to gain further insight into what early communication and behavior characteristics can be identified in children from birth to three years who are later diagnosed with AS.

Parents of ten children with AS and under nineteen-years old were identified to participate in …

Expression Profiling Of The Spermidine Synthase3 (Spds3) And Spermine Synthase ( Spms) Genes During The Life Of Arabidopsis, Charles F. Rice

Master's Theses and Capstones

Polyamines are low molecular weight nitrogenous compounds found in all living organisms. These omnipresent molecules have been extensively studied in plant systems and have been implicated in a number of physiological responses including growth, development, and stress response. The proposed role of polyamines in vital processes such as cell division and differentiation has sparked enthusiasm in further investigation of this relatively small biosynthetic pathway. Very little is known about the regulation of polyamine biosynthetic genes, an aspect that can elucidate further functions of these ubiquitous compounds. In the following study, the expression profiles of two of these genes, spermidine synthase3 …

Analyte Rebinding Of Optimized Molecularly Imprinted Polymers In Water, Sayantan Roy

Master's Theses and Capstones

A series of non-covalent Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) were prepared using caffeine and guanosine separately as template molecules. A wide variety of MIPs were prepared by varying a number of formulation parameters, including the template, recognition monomer, crosslinking agent and porogen types and concentrations. The specificity and selectivity of the MIPs were determined by rebinding studies in an aqueous medium using HPLC detection and the results were supported by gas adsorption experiments. Rebinding conditions, such as the pH and MIP concentration were also varied to determine the best conditions for analyte recognition. By using variety of polymerization conditions the particle …

The Effects Of Photoperiod And Water Temperature On The Reproductive Development Of Black Sea Bass, Centropristis Striata, Katie Strait

Master's Theses and Capstones

Black sea bass are a potential candidate for marine aquaculture due to their high market value, high demand, and limited seasonal supply. One of the most significant impediments to commercial production of black sea bass is the lack of a year-round supply of eggs and larvae. Further, control of reproductive development is poorly understood in this species. Black sea bass are protogynous hermaphrodites that change sex between 2-5 years of age. It is unclear why adult black sea bass undergo sex change in the wild. Therefore, the first part of study sought to determine if density is involved in sex …

Examining The Relationship Between Psychological Skills And Confidence In Goalkeepers, Amanda E. Laws

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study examined the relationships that exist between psychological skills and confidence. Analysis of the relationship took place with ice hockey, lacrosse and soccer goalkeepers. Participants (N = 1927) completed measures of psychological skills (ACSI-28) and confidence (CSCI) online. Participants deemed psychological skills as important, but rarely used them to enhance performance. Goalkeepers (N = 412) scored higher on both the personal coping resource score (M = 50.82, SD = 9.24) and confidence (M = 41.88, SD = 5.66) than non-goalkeepers on the personal coping resource score (M = 47.48, SD = 9.60) and confidence (M = 41.84, SD = …

Multi-Axial Anisotropic Material Behavior Using A Collection Of Yield Surfaces To Model The Stress-Space Coupling Phenomena, Mirjana Marusic

Master's Theses and Capstones

In the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in the San Francisco-Bay area and also the 1994 Northridge earthquake in Southern California, several buildings experienced significant damage because of inadequate member design. The existing codes of practice used for the structural design approximate the effects of nonlinear material behavior. This work formulates a nonlinear anisotropic material model for systems subjected to biaxial loading conditions such that the true nature of material degradation can be identified. This would aide structural designers in being able to predict accurate cyclic deformations under large earthquake events. The proposed model investigates anisotropic material behavior under bi-axial loading …

Correlating Sea Otter Density And Behavior To Habitat Attributes In Prince William Sound, Alaska: A Model For Prediction, Heather A. Coletti

Master's Theses and Capstones

As a benthic foraging marine mammal, sea otters ( Enhydra lutris) present a unique opportunity for conducting a quantitative assessment of behavior based on habitat use as well as developing a habitat based density model using GIS because of the sea otter's well defined habitat requirements. Several studies have documented sea otter behavior but none have calculated the probability of occurrence of a particular behavior based on habitat attributes. Previous predictive models of sea otter density have been constructed, however these models have excluded offshore habitat. Seven aerial surveys, that included offshore habitats, were conducted between 1995 and 2005 in …

Quantitative Assessment Of In-Vehicle-Generated Emi In A Real-World Environment, Maxim Khankin

Master's Theses and Capstones

Interference generated by electronic equipment inside a vehicle can interfere with radio reception even though that equipment is in compliance with FCC standards. The result of that interference is an undesired reduction in radio coverage at frequencies where the interference exists.

The contribution of this work is a method for measuring electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by in-vehicle electronic equipment when external radiation is present. The approach is to identify regions in the spectrum where externally generated signals exist and then to bypass those regions when measuring interference from in-vehicle-equipment. Using the FCC database of licensed radiation sources to identify those …

The Nonprofit Human Service Sector: Understanding An Organization's Capacity To Innovate, Rebecca Foss

Master's Theses and Capstones

This qualitative study was designed to understand how a nonprofit human service organization (NHSO) understands, perceives, and engages in innovation strategies in a turbulent environment. This study also examined how environmental factors influence an organization's capacity to innovate. These concepts are relevant for further exploration because the NHSO sector typically operates in a turbulent environment and has multiple stakeholders that mandate change and innovation.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine staff and board members from three NHSOs located in a New England city. Political economy and resource dependency theories provided a framework to the research questions and analysis. These interviews …

Treatment Of Dioxin/Furan And Pcn Contaminated Sediments With Palladized Magnesium, Linda M. Rauch

Master's Theses and Capstones

Sediments contaminated with dioxins/furans and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) have been the subject of little study although they are equal, if not more significant, contributors than PCBs to toxicity at selected sites. The reaction of a bimetal catalyst, palladized magnesium (Mg/Pd, 0.01% by weight Pd) with these contaminants was studied in solvents and sediments.

The reaction for single congeners in solvent resulted in 69-95% removal in 30 minutes. The detection of dibenzo-p-dioxin for the dioxin reaction and naphthalene/tetralin for the PCN reaction demonstrated dechlorination. A 24 hour sediment reaction with Mg/Pd resulted in 48% and 71% reduction for spiked sediments (500 …

Non-Reactive Gas Dynamics In The Piscataqua Estuary Inlet, Takashi Kalani Brown

Master's Theses and Capstones

For 135 days, from late autumn 2005 to the mid---spring 2006, continuous measurements of dissolved nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in near surface seawater were recorded at the interface between the Great Bay-Piscataqua Estuary and the western Gulf of Maine. These surface measurements were made to investigate air-sea gas fluxes and identify the primary controls over gas dynamics in a macrotidal estuary entryway, the estuary inlet. Wind-parameterized air-sea flux estimations were calculated using published flux models and were evaluated to determine their appropriateness in the estuary inlet. Also, using supporting sea-state measurements from buoys (wind speed and wave height), the …

Prototype Remote Vehicle Diagnostics For Police Cruisers, Sung Yun Kim

Master's Theses and Capstones

The goal of this thesis was to suggest ways of evaluating the health of police cruisers without bringing these cruisers into a repair facility. The prototype in-car application was developed. The hardware connection was made between the in-car network and the Project54 network. The software was built to collect, process, and send the vehicle information to the server via a telecommunication tool. The prototype in-car application was tested in simulation and on the road. After the development of the prototype in-car application, the radio traffic research gives a few recommended methods for sending the car health information in the New …

Studies Of Flower Color In Anagallis Monelli L, Andrea Quintana Pinilla

Master's Theses and Capstones

One of the main goals for plant breeders in the floriculture industry is to develop plants with new attributes. Characteristics such as flower size, growth habit, resistance to pests and diseases, flower size, and particularly flower color are among the most important traits to breed and improve. One of the best ways to make a plant popular in the market is to offer a wide variety of flower colors. A. monelli is an ornamental plant used for hanging baskets and as a bedding plant, and until recently, cultivars available were only blue- or orange-flowered. Recent breeding research on this species …

Abiotic Retention Of Nitrogen And Dissolved Organic Matter By Forest Mineral Soils, Naoko Watanabe

Master's Theses and Capstones

The effect of NO3- deposition on NH4 +, DON, and DOC retention as well as abiotic NO3 - retention via the hypothesized "ferrous wheel" mechanism was examined in oxic and anoxic tropical and oxic temperate soils using sorption isotherm experiments. Adsorption of NH4+, DON, and DOC by mineral soils was examined in forest floor extracts with DOC levels of 0-50 mg/L. Experimental treatments included no added NO3-, 4mg/L of added NO3-, or 4 mg/L of NO3 - and 2 mg/L of Fe3+. Ferric iron was added since it would likely increase DOC retention in the context of podzolization, and it …

Teacher Concerns About Service-Learning, Michael Kern

Master's Theses and Capstones

Service-learning is a rapidly growing teaching innovation. Despite the proliferation of service-learning research, little has focused on the teacher, particularly the personal dimension involved in implementing such an innovation. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' concerns regarding service-learning using the seven developmental Stages of Concern proposed by Hall, George, and Rutherford (1977) as a framework. Eleven teachers who were engaged in service-learning were interviewed and completed the Stages of Concern Questionnaire (SoCQ). Together, the profiles generated by the SoCQ and the interview analyses, provide a rich description of teachers' concerns. Since at the outset of this study, …

What Really Is The Difference Between Occupational Therapy And Physical Therapy In A Skilled Nursing Facility, Lauryn Morell

Master's Theses and Capstones

Insurance reimbursement guidelines have changed the way allied health services are delivered. The onset of the Prospective Payment System (PPS) reorganized financing for therapy services. Instead of basing reimbursement on each individual case, finances are based on diagnostic and case mix groupings and regulate expected service needs. This has forced both occupational and physical therapy to vie for the same reimbursement monies.

Cross training occupational and physical therapists was suggested as a means of cost containment. Downsizing rehabilitation departments was actually performed to minimize costs. These drastic responses to reimbursement changes in the health care field were also coupled with …

Assessing The Suitability Of The Eelgrass (Zostera Marina L) Deep Edge As An Indicator Of Water Clarity In Estuarine Systems, David Omer Rivers

Master's Theses and Capstones

The suitability of the seagrass deep edge as an indicator of water clarity was assessed by examining the sensitivity and specificity of this indicator to changes in light. Indicator specificity was assessed by examining the extent to which seasonal variation in environmental parameters affected the location of the deep edge at five eelgrass meadows in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire. The mean location of the eelgrass deep edge was seasonally stable at three sites, confirming its suitability as an indicator. At two sites, the deep edge responded to long-term light reduction and changes in deep edge location of 1.3 …

Conformance Testing Of Epon Devices, Eric Lynskey

Master's Theses and Capstones

In June of 2004, the IEEE Standards Association approved IEEE 802.3ah-2004, which defined Ethernet for subscriber access networks, or Ethernet in the First Mile (EFM). Part of this standard contained a new type of Ethernet technology, that of Ethernet Passive Optical Networks (EPON). EPON devices have introduced new and challenging requirements for both conformance and interoperability testing. This thesis lays the foundation, to be used by the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), for comprehensive conformance testing of EPON devices. A series of recommendations are put forth that allow for the creation and implementation of EPON test suites and …

Augmented Reality Device For First Response Scenarios, Robert Andrzej Bogucki

Master's Theses and Capstones

A prototype of a wearable computer system is proposed and implemented using commercial off-shelf components. The system is designed to allow the user to access location-specific information about an environment, and to provide capability for user tracking. Areas of applicability include primarily first response scenarios, with possible applications in maintenance or construction of buildings and other structures. Necessary preparation of the target environment prior to system's deployment is limited to noninvasive labeling using optical fiducial markers. The system relies on computational vision methods for registration of labels and user position. With the system the user has access to on-demand information …

Talking About Abortion: A Qualitative Examination Of Women's Abortion Experiences, Diana L. Dumais

Master's Theses and Capstones

The sociological literature on women's responses to the experience of abortion is remarkably sparse. This thesis seeks to contribute to redressing that research gap. I use semi-structured, in-depth interviews with twenty women from relatively diverse social backgrounds who have had abortions to explore the range of factors that they saw as being influential in their abortion decision and experience. Although the ages and the family circumstances of the women interviewed varied, and although some had more than one abortion, nevertheless, common themes emerged in their accounts of their abortion experiences. Among the most salient influences on my interviewees' experiences was …

Effects Of Essential Oil Supplementation Of A Corn Silage Based Diet Fed To Lactating Holstein Dairy Cows, Carly Ann Crawford

Master's Theses and Capstones

Thirty multiparous early lactation Holstein cows were used in a randomized complete block design to determine whether the addition of VERTAN (a specific blend of essential oils, major components: thymol, eugenol, vanillin and limonene) to corn silage based diet would increase alter protein metabolism in the rumen and increase milk yield and alter milk composition. Dietary treatments were 0 (control) and 0.08% VERTAN in diet DM. The pretreatment diet (fed 0 to 20 DIM) contained (DM basis) 32.1% corn silage, 14% grass silage, 7.7% alfalfa hay, 0.53% grass hay, 19.4% finely-ground corn, 1.8% beet pulp, 1.8% citrus pulp, 3.6% soybean …

Understanding Changes In Aboveground Biomass And Height With Elevation At Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, Mariya Schilz

Master's Theses and Capstones

A better understanding of carbon stocks and fluxes is a priority of many national and international agencies, including NASA, NACP, IPCC, and IGBP. (Asrar et al. 2001, IGBP Annual Report, 2003, IPCC Third Assessment Report: Climate Change 2001). Patterns of carbon stocks and fluxes on the land surface are important for studies of the carbon cycle, climate change, and terrestrial ecology. One source of heterogeneity is associated with elevation. In systems around the world, patterns in carbon stocks, fluxes, and the factors that underlie them have well documented relationships with elevation (Korner 1999, Schwarz et al. 2003, Waide et al. …

Effects Of Forest Clear Cutting On Spotted Salamander ( Ambystoma Maculatum) Migration, Jessica Susannah Veysey

Master's Theses and Capstones

Upland buffer zones are a proposed management tool for vernal-pool-breeding amphibians. Substantial validation of buffers, via experimental upland habitat disturbance, is lacking. Specifically, no studies have examined immediate effects of clear cutting on spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum ) migration. I used clear cutting to experimentally manipulate upland buffer widths at 11 vernal pools. I then radiotracked 40 adult spotted salamanders at these pools, and modeled their migration with mixed-effects regression. Mean maximum distance from the pool was 106.0 +/- 15.4 m (range = 1.6 to 427.6 m). At clear cut-treatment pools, mean percent of time in the cut was 27.2 …

How Kant Would Choose To Die: A Kantian Defense Of Euthanasia, Jennifer A. Bulcock

Master's Theses and Capstones

Legalizing euthanasia could have a serious impact on society and therefore requires careful attention be paid to the ethical issues involved. The two arguments advanced in this essay are: (1) that a consensus needs to be reached as to how to define the concept of autonomy in the euthanasia debate and (2) the application of Kantian autonomy to the euthanasia debate is only appropriate in making an argument that advanced directives, made by a present rational self for a future arational self, can legitimately specify conditions under which euthanasia should occur. To effectively make these arguments, an examination of Immanuel …

Can Less Mean More In International Aid: Public Opinion Of International Assistance In Ghana, Michael Bena

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study examines public opinion of international aid in Ghana with a focus on a multivariate ordinary least squares regression model. It first examines the country of Ghana and the events that led to involvement with the International Monetary Fund under the Economic Recovery Program. After analyzing existing literature on satisfaction with government and economic programs, the study goes on to suggest what might drive citizen satisfaction with these programs. Using information from the Afrobarometer survey, this thesis proposes that public opinion of international aid programs is related to the tangible benefits they provide and the publics' perceptions of inequality …

An Evaluation Of The Effect Of Terrain Normalization On Classification Accuracy Of Landsat Etm+ Imagery, Jesse B. Bishop

Master's Theses and Capstones

More than 60% of land in New Zealand has been converted from native forests to residential areas, agriculture, or forest plantations. Settlers brought many species of plants and animals to New Zealand. Many native species were unable to protect themselves from these new predators, causing numerous extinctions. In light of this rapid decline in biodiversity, the New Zealand government has attempted to mitigate the destruction of endemic flora and fauna through both new environmental policies and intensive land management. Land management techniques include the restoration of developed land and the protection of remaining areas of native forest. Monitoring of restoration …

Current Intrapartum Care Practices In India, Rizwana Rizwana

Master's Theses and Capstones

According to the annual report of the Government of India, 100,000 women annually continue to die because of childbirth related complications (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (Government of India), 2000-2001). In India, over 90% of women become mothers and a majority of them deliver without skilled assistance during delivery. This translates to approximately 30 million women in India experiencing pregnancy every year, and 27 million having live births (Bakshi, 2006). Of these, 136,000 maternal deaths occur every year due to childbirth complications, most of which can be prevented. Literature reveals that lack of appropriate care during pregnancy and childbirth, …

Performance Assessment Of Porous Asphalt For Stormwater Treatment, Joshua F. Briggs

Master's Theses and Capstones

The objective of this study is to assess the stormwater management capability of porous asphalt (PA) as a parking lot in Durham, New Hampshire. The site was constructed in 2004 and consists of a 4-inch PA pavement course overlying a porous media reservoir, including a fine-grained filter course. Cost per PA parking space ($2,200) was comparable to that for dense mix asphalt ($2,000). Pavement durability has been adequate. The lot retained or infiltrated 25% of precipitation (18 months) and 0.03 lb/sf of chloride (1 year). There was high initial surface infiltration capacity (IC) at two locations (1,000--1,300 in/hr), and moderate …

Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium Promotes Apoptosis In Activated Neutrophils, Christopher C. Wrocklage

Master's Theses and Capstones

Apoptosis is an extremely important and highly regulated function in neutrophils. As the most abundant, but shortest-lived white blood cells, they must initiate this process in the absence of pathogens and selectively release their potent cytotoxic components when pathogens are present. Many pathogens are able to modulate this process in neutrophils, either for the host's benefit or for their own. Previous work has shown that transmigration across a T84 intestinal epithelial crypt cell monolayer increases the ability of neutrophils to bind and kill Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium).

The goal of this work was to see how S. Typhimurium …