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The Effects Of Climate Change On The Heart Rates & Growth Of Sea Slugs In The Gulf Of Maine, Jennifer Leigh Gibson

Master's Theses and Capstones

In the next 80 years, sea surface temperatures are expected to increase by 1.5o to 2oC and ocean pH is expected to drop by 0.06 to 0.32 units, with exacerbated effects seen in coastal waters. Temperature increase has already forced organisms to shift their range polewards and ocean acidification has negatively affected calcifying organisms. Interactive effects, only more recently studied, vary depending on phylum and life cycle stage. This study examined both the upper thermal tolerance and interactive effect of temperature and acidification on the heart rate of five cold-water species of nudibranchs (Aeolidia papillosa, Cuthona gymnota, Dendronotus frondosus, Flabellina …

Environmental Regulation Of Cyanobacteria Aerosols From Low Productivity Lakes, Katharine Lorena Langley

Master's Theses and Capstones

Cyanobacteria produce a range of toxins harmful to both humans and wildlife. Microcystins (MCs) are common and potent cyanotoxins that inhibit protein phosphatases in the liver. Chronic exposures can result in tumor promotion and cancer. Toxicity primarily follows ingestion of MCs, however inhalation may be an important secondary and compounding route of exposure to cyanotoxins. The LD50 of intratracheally applied MC-LR is 50x lower than the oral LD50. While MCs are well documented in water, little is known about cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins in aerosols and the factors that regulate the movement of cells and toxins into the air. To begin …

Water Quality Assessment Of A Novel Well Design: Event-Based Sampling And Geochemical Reactivity Experiments, Harrison Simbliaris

Master's Theses and Capstones

Arsenic contamination is a major human health issue both globally and within the United States with roughly 30% of privately sourced drilled wells in New Hampshire containing arsenic exceeding the MCL. A novel shallow well design has been developed by the US Geological Survey to remedy the issues of the traditional dug well design that resulted in it being phased out for drilled wells. By tapping into shallow glacial aquifers, the physiochemical parameters are favorable for the adsorption and removal of arsenic from drinking water. Event-based field time-series and laboratory batch dissolution experiments were carried out on crushed backfill media …

Food Safety For New Hampshire Oysters: A Multidisciplinary Perspective, Lia Tosiello

Master's Theses and Capstones

Oyster aquaculture in New Hampshire is a relatively new industry that has emerged in the last decade. Management of food safety is an integral part of the oyster growing process in this small community. In particular, Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal illness in people who eat raw or undercooked seafood. Recently, New Hampshire created a policy to manage importation of oyster seed for V. parahaemolyticus-related human health concerns. This highlighted a need for data on V. parahaemolyticus in oyster seed. Therefore, the objectives of this research are to examine both social and microbiological aspects of food …

Peak Vertical Floor Accelerations Of Tall Steel Structures, Georgian Tutuianu

Master's Theses and Capstones

To meet modern day challenges structural engineers must properly design not only the primary

structural elements of buildings but increasingly the secondary elements too. Damage or failure

of nonstructural components (NSCs) and their attachments can present large economic losses,

impaired building services and functionality, as well as life safety and emergency egress

concerns. To properly design these components, it is important to accurately estimate their

maximum acceleration demands including horizontal and vertical components of acceleration. In

an effort to better understand vertical acceleration demands of rigid NSCs in multistory buildings

and assess the building code provisions a 20-story office building, …

Dish It Up! The Influence Of Kind Diningtm& Green House Model Food And Food Service Innovations On The Resident Experience In Residential Care Facilities., Mary E. Jensen

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand how innovative practices affect the satisfaction elder-care facility residents have with their food-related life. The study looks through the lenses of food and food service activities, related medical care activities, and facility design.

The Older Americans Act of 1965 defined the basic rights of elders in American society. The statement and objectives codified in that Act have provided the outline for eldercare in the community and in residential care facilities ever since. Legislative updates in 2017 more clearly identified “person-centered” care as the ideal in elderly care homes. Research using the diffusion …

Invariant Operator Ranges And Similarity Dominance In Banach And Von Neumann Algebras, Ali Zarringhalam

Doctoral Dissertations

\begin{Abstractpage}

\setlength{\baselineskip}{1.5\baselineskip} { Suppose $\mathcal{M}$ is a von Neumann algebra. An \textbf{operator range in

}$\mathcal{M}$ is the range of an operator in $\mathcal{M}$. When

$\mathcal{M}=B\left( H\right) $, the algebra of operators on a Hilbert space

$H$, R. Douglas and C. Foia\c{s} proved that if $S,T\in B\left( H\right) $,

and $T$ is not algebraic, and if $S$ leaves invariant every $T$-invariant

operator range, then $S=f\left( T\right) $ for some entire function $f$.

In the first part of this thesis, we prove versions of this result when $B\left( H\right) $ is replaced with a

factor von Neumann algebra $\mathcal{M}$ and $T$ is …

Advancing The Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory Within The White Mountain National Forest Using Lidar, Robert Andrew Colter

Doctoral Dissertations

Forest land managers need ecological classification to assess and describe resource conditions, vegetation conditions, outcomes resulting from various management prescription scenarios, and communicate environmental effects of land management planning alternatives. However, there is a need to incorporate more ecological classification into the land management plans. The U.S. Forest Service’s approach, the Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory (TEUI), relies heavily on field data collection and verification of map unit delineations that is time-consuming and costly. Traditional mapping methods far exceed the current financial capacity of the U.S. Forest Service. In order to justify new ecological classification mapping approaches, there needs to be …

Synthesis And Mechanical Properties Of Metallic Multilayers, Tyler Paul Bennett

Doctoral Dissertations

Compositionally modulated alloys and artificial superlattices are thin-layered structures where the layer thickness is on the order of a few 10s of lattice constants. These alloys have been shown to be unusually strong. Their overall thickness can be very large, in this study we have grown these to a thickness of 45 µm by 2.5 cm, in diameter, much greater than the average. We posit the reasons for this strength are that, during deformation, glissile dislocations are pinned at layer boundaries, the presence of image forces, and the formation of Lomer-Cottrell and Hirth dislocation locks. In this thesis we examine …

Study Of Post-Necking Hardening Identification And Deformation-Induced Surface Roughening Of Metals, Pavlo Knysh

Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis covers topics at two fundamental scales at which plastic deformation is occurring – macroscopic and microscopic.

The first topic is related to the localization of deformation and subsequent necking that happens in metals during deformation, e.g., sheet metal during forming. The open fundamental question is – what happens to the material properties inside of the localized region. The localization process is very challenging to analyze, even using a conventional tension test since several effects such as material hardening as well as effects of strain-rate and temperature are strongly coupled. In this thesis we propose a novel approach that …

Seismic Response Of Soil-Foundation Systems On Unsaturated Ground, Seyed Amin Borghei

Doctoral Dissertations

While soils below the groundwater table are fully saturated with water, soils above the groundwater table are partially saturated, as water can rise above the groundwater table through different mechanisms such as capillary rise. In the literature, these soils are commonly referred to as unsaturated soils. The groundwater table fluctuates seasonally; thus, soil moisture profiles may continuously change during a year. Foundations of a considerable portion of structures are placed on the surface or shallowly embedded in soils, which are unsaturated. Properties of soils below the foundations can significantly alter the seismic response of the structures. Since the soil moisture …

Striped Bass Strain Effects On Aquaculture Performance Traits, Stress Responsiveness And Hybrid Offspring Growth, Linas Kenter

Doctoral Dissertations

Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) and their hybrids have been well studied and are widely cultured as a food and gamefish. Recent increases in striped bass aquaculture have generated interest in domestication programs where growth performance and stress tolerance are among the traits of interest. Unique geographic stocks, or strains have previously been identified and these populations will presumably exhibit distinct culture traits across different environments. Before application of genetic principles, domestication programs should begin by evaluating available strains for superior performance in the environments intended to be utilized during culture. In this effort, a series of experiments were conducted to …

Long-Term Forest Growth And Decadal Soil Chemistry Change Across The White Mountain National Forest, Olivia L. Fraser

Doctoral Dissertations

Forest ecosystems are subject to a variety of stressors including human land use, air pollution and climate change. A challenge for detecting temporal change, however, is disentangling heterogeneity at multiple spatial scales. Therefore, we need a better understanding of the mechanisms influencing forest growth and soil formation, how to improve existing long-term sample designs, and quantify variability at multiple spatial scales. Identifying the areal extent of bedrock outcrops and shallow soils has important implications in understanding the spatial dynamics of surrounding vegetation, stream chemistry gradients, and soil properties. Manual methods of delineating bedrock outcrops and associated shallow soil are still …

Simulation And Balloon-Borne Observation Of Energetic Radiation And Electromagnetic Fields From Thunderstorms And Lightning, Mahdi Bagheri

Doctoral Dissertations

With more than 250 years after Benjamin Franklin’s experiments, we still do not know how lightning works at the most fundamental levels. Recently, observations of high energy radiations produced during lightning activities, such as TGFs, X-rays and Gamma-ray Glows, have opened a new path for the study of lightning-related phenomena known as High-Energy Atmospheric Physics. TGFs are short and bright bursts of gamma rays associated with the early stages of positive intra-cloud lightning, while gamma-ray glows are long lasting emissions of gamma rays which would be terminated by the occurrence of lightning flash. It has been suggested that these radiations …

Assessing The Agronomic And Ecological Relevance Of Mineral-Associated Organic Matter, Andrea Jilling

Doctoral Dissertations

As the largest terrestrial sink for carbon (C) and a critical source of nitrogen (N) for plants, soil organic matter (SOM) is a major driver of ecosystem function. It is critical to understand the mechanistic controls on SOM in order to improve models of global C cycling and to develop accurate measures of soil fertility. SOM consists of a wide spectrum of compounds, varying in chemical characteristics and function. The chemical and physical fractionation of SOM is a valuable tool for distilling this complexity into meaningful and distinct pools: detrital or particulate organic matter (POM), which contains mostly recent litter …

On Non-Commutative Continuous Functions And Asymptotic Symmetric Gauge Norms, Shayathorn Wanasawat

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation has two parts. The first part deals with Don Hadwin’s non-commutative continuous functions of countably many variables and shows that every separable C^∗-algebra can be described in terms of countably many generators x_1, x_2, ... and a single relation \varphi’(x_1, x_2, ...) = 0 where \varphi is a non-commutative continuous function. The second involves representation of operator algebras on spaces of Banach space valued measurable functions and groups of measure preserving transformations. The main emphasis concerns describing asymptotic norms based on symmetric gauge norms on L^\infty[0,1]

Molecular Diet Analyses Of North American Bats, Devon O'Rourke

Doctoral Dissertations

A food web is a model of the feeding relationships among organisms in an environment. The fidelity of this model is limited principally by the ability to detect these interactions. Researchers who study cryptic interactions such as nocturnal insectivory in bats typically rely on fecal samples to identify trophic connections. Historically these diet analyses were limited to morphological inspection of arthropod fragments, however modern metabarcoding techniques have improved the richness and specificity of consumed prey: rather than bats foraging for a few arthropod orders, we observe hundreds of species among guano samples. Animal metabarcoding is not without bias; nevertheless, a …

Mammals On Mountainsides Revisited: Analyzing Multiple Dimensions Of Diversity To Gain New Insight On Community Assembly And Biogeography, Brooks Kohli

Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding how biodiversity is distributed, maintained, and altered is a fundamental goal of ecology and is especially important for predicting the effects of ongoing rapid environmental change. Traditionally, diversity has been described in taxonomic terms using the number and abundance of species (e.g., species richness). However, biodiversity is multi-faceted and includes functional (ecological traits) and phylogenetic (evolutionary relationships) dimensions that emphasize the similarities and differences among species. Functional diversity is particularly appealing because it quantifies the range and prevalence of traits in an assemblage and helps link patterns of diversity to the ecological processes that generate them. I used a …

Essays On Behavioral And Cognitive Anomalies: Implications For Stated Preference Valuation And Economic Pedagogy, Scott Lemos

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation examines a set of behavioral and cognitive issues in the stated preference non-market valuation framework and economic pedagogy. Drawing from the fields of behavioral and environmental economics, this research examines two empirical deviations between theory and behavior, namely, anchoring effects and attribute non-attendance. This work contributes to the non-market valuation literature by attempting to correct for and explain these behavioral anomalies, both ex-ante and ex-post. In the presence of these anomalies, corrections are necessary if the tenets of welfare economics are to remain a viable analytical foundation for valuing environmental goods.

In the first chapter, I examine the …

The Bioaccumulation Of Cyanotoxins In Aquatic Food Webs, Amanda Lee Murby Mcquaid

Doctoral Dissertations

Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring photosynthetic bacteria, ubiquitous in nature. Increases in temperature and nutrients have supported the proliferation of cyanobacterial growth globally, especially in freshwater systems. Many taxa can produce biotoxins referred to as “cyanotoxins”. While toxic cyanobacteria are a growing public health concern, little is known about the accumulation of cyanotoxins in lake food webs. This research investigates the seasonal occurrence and the potential role of toxic cyanobacteria in two lakes of contrasting water qualities and food web structures. Objectives of this study were to test the bioaccumulation of microcystins (MCs) and beta-methyl-alanine-amino acid (BMAA) in zooplankton. I further …

Physics And Modeling Of Turbulent Advective Transport In Turbulent Boundary Layers, Juan Carlos Cuevas Bautista

Doctoral Dissertations

\setlength{\baselineskip}{1.5\baselineskip} {Recent studies reveal that at large friction Reynolds number $\delta^+ = u_{\tau}\delta/\nu$ the inertially dominated region of the turbulent boundary layer is composed of large-scale zones of nearly uniform momentum segregated by narrow fissures of concentrated vorticity. Here $u_{\tau} = \sqrt{\tau_{\omega}/\rho}$, where $\tau_{\omega}$ is the shear stress at the wall and $\rho$ the fluid density, $\delta$ is the boundary layer thickness and $\nu$ is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid. The aim of this thesis is better understand the role of this binary structure with respect to the wall-normal transport of momentum and heat in turbulent boundary layers at …

Effects Of The Solar Cycles And Longer-Term Solar Variations: Modulation Of Galactic Cosmic Radiation And Filtration Of Neutral Atoms From The Local Interstellar Medium, Fatemeh Rahmanifard

Doctoral Dissertations

Recent solar conditions include a prolonged solar minimum (2005-2009) and a weak solar maximum. The Heliospheric Magnetic Field (HMF) strength was consistently weaker in solar cycle 24 compared to the previous maxima during the space age. These anomalies may indicate that we are entering an era of persistent decline in solar activity. In my first study, I investigated past solar secular (grand) minima, especially the Maunder period (1645-1715) to gain further insight into grand minima. I found the timescale parameters associated with the magnetic flux balance in the heliosphere. I also investigated the existence of a floor in the heliospheric …

Integrated Organic Management Of Cabbage Aphid On Brussels Sprouts, Alina Sophia Harris

Master's Theses and Capstones

Growers across the globe and in Northeastern United States have reported economically damaging populations of cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) in Brussels sprouts (Brassicacea). The pest affects the Brassicacea family, which includes economically important agronomic, forage, horticultural, and forage crops. However, cabbage aphid management in certified organic systems is very challenging because tools are limited and reports evaluating efficacy of insecticides used in organic systems are sparse. There are natural insect predators and parasitoids of aphids that may serve as biological control agents whose populations can be augmented using insectary plants. Use of alyssum insectary intercropping has been successful for control …

Exploring The Perceived Relationship Between Parent-Child Socialization And Adult Children's Romantic Experiences, Hung Yuan Lo

Master's Theses and Capstones

Romantic relationship experiences are related to experiences in the family of origin such as parenting, parents’ romantic history, and patterns of interaction within families. However, there is a lack of research about how adult children perceive their socialization about romantic relationships. This study used qualitative data from relationship history interviews (N= 35) to explore how adults discuss their parents’ influence on their romantic relationship development. The findings suggest that the level of support, love, and affirmation they perceived from their parents in childhood was reflected in their adulthood intimate relationships. Moreover, participants viewed their parents as either good or bad …

Public Perceptions Of Adverse Childhood Experiences: Sentencing, Harm, And The Abuse Excuse, Crystal Marie Napoli

Master's Theses and Capstones

The ten Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have been shown to have an association with future health outcomes and criminal conduct (Felitti et al., 1998; Cannon, Davis, Hsi, & Bochte, 2016). While some scholars and practitioners seek to use these findings to formulate a more “trauma-informed” orientation towards criminal behavior, others are skeptical towards this perceived expansion of the “abuse excuse” into the criminal justice domain. This study used a multi-methodological design to explore attitudes towards offenders who have experienced the ACEs. The researcher distributed a survey containing fictional vignettes to 302 participants. The results revealed that participants gave more lenient …

The Use Of Michaelis-Arbuzov Type Chemistry To Synthesize A Library Of Novel Phosphonamide Inhibitors Of Metallo-Β-Lactamases, Stacie Stuut

Master's Theses and Capstones

As a result of the constant overuse and misuse of antibiotics, bacteria have developed a variety of resistance mechanisms against them. One of the most effective forms of resistance are β-lactamase enzymes that work by hydrolyzing β-lactam antibiotics. There are four classes of β-lactamase enzymes: A, B, C and D. Class B enzymes, also known as metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), are unique because they contain one or two Zn(II) ions in their active site. In order to combat these enzymes, scientists have developed inhibitors to be co-prescribed with already known antibiotics. The inhibitors preferentially bind to the β-lactamases while the antibiotics are …

Mechanism Of By Product Formation From Different Water Matrices By Chlorination And Chloramination, Victoria Jane Hawkes

Master's Theses and Capstones

Application of chlorine-based disinfection to drinking water and wastewater leads to the formation of disinfection by-products that are harmful to human health. This paper presents research performed on the formation mechanisms of trihalomethanes (THMs) and nitrosamines (specifically NDMA) from chlorine-based disinfection practices. The formation of THMs and nitrosamines was investigated under a range of water matrices and disinfection conditions by developing a set of laboratory prepared water matrices containing natural organic matter (NOM), bromide and ammonium. In addition, two pretreated surface waters and one secondary treated wastewater effluent were selected to link experimental results to practice. THMs and nitrosamines were …

The Impacts Of Terrestrial Invasive Plants On Streams And Natural And Restored Riparian Forests In Northern New England, Chad Frederick Hammer

Master's Theses and Capstones

Non-native invasive species are a major cause of ecosystem degradation and impairment of ecosystem service benefits in the United States. Riparian areas are at high risk for invasion because they are among the most human-disturbed ecosystems in the world. Forested riparian areas provide us with many ecosystem services and are vital to streams and rivers as they increase habitat complexity and available resources for organisms of many trophic levels. In this study, I quantified the impacts of terrestrial invasive plant invasions by Japanese knotweed and woody invasive plant species on riparian forest structure, stream physical habitat, soil structure, and soil …

Divergent Controls On Stream Greenhouse Gas Concentrations Across A Land Use Gradient, Allison Herreid

Master's Theses and Capstones

Inland waters can be significant sources of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) to the atmosphere. However, considerable uncertainty remains in regional and global estimates of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from freshwater ecosystems, particularly streams. Controls on GHG production in fluvial ecosystems, such as water chemistry and sediment characteristics, are also poorly understood. The main objective of this study was to quantify spatial and temporal variability in GHG concentrations in 20 streams across a landscape with considerable variation in land use and land cover. Stream water was consistently supersaturated in CO2, CH4, and N2O, suggesting that small …

Going Beneath The Surface: The Ecology Of Metalimnetic Cyanobacteria Layers In Three New Hampshire Lakes, Sabina Perkins

Master's Theses and Capstones

Cyanobacteria blooms take different forms: surface scums, subsurface epilimnetic blooms, benthic mats, and in some lakes, metalimnetic layers. There is limited field research on the seasonal behavior of metalimnetic layers and the contribution of layer-produced cyanotoxins to the overall toxin profile of New Hampshire lakes. Three lakes in New Hampshire were monitored monthly pre-summer stratification through post-fall mixis in 2018, tracking the formation and persistence of deep-water cyanobacteria layers and the physical/chemical/light environments where they were found. Cyanobacteria abundance and dominance were quantified through cell counts using an Imaging Flow Cytobot (IFCB) and with phycocyanin fluorescence estimates. Persistent, nearly monospecific …