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Year-Round Management Of High Tunnel Production Systems: Spinach And Tomato, Connor Eaton

Master's Theses and Capstones

As high tunnel production is relatively new to the Northeast, this research has helped understand knowledge-gaps in common warm and cold-season crop systems in the region. High tunnels increase crop yield and quality and extend the growing season, and are most commonly used for tomato in the warm-season and spinach in the cold-season.

Spinach was grown in unheated high tunnels throughout the cold-season to evaluate the effects of cultivar and planting date on yield and sweetness (Brix° levels). Cultivar and planting date had a significant effect on yield, where earlier planting dates resulted in higher yields. Cultivar had a significant …

A Comparison Of Macrofaunal And Algal Communities In Oyster Aquaculture Gear, An Eelgrass Bed, Oyster Reef, And A Mudflat In Great Bay, New Hampshire, Megan Elizabeth Glenn

Master's Theses and Capstones

Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and eelgrass (Zostera marina) are important ecosystem engineers in Great Bay, NH, however despite restoration efforts they have been in decline. In addition to loss of the resource, this degradation results in loss of associated ecosystem services such as habitat provision. It is possible that the recent increase in oyster farming in Great Bay could help mitigate habitat loss. My research objective was to quantify the biotic communities present in three natural habitats (eelgrass beds, oyster reefs and mudflats) in Great Bay NH and compare those to communities living on the type of gear (“racks and bags”) …

Electrochemical Detection Of Antioxidants, Garrett Thompson

Honors Theses and Capstones

No abstract provided.

Reproduction And Recruitment Of American Lobster (Homarus Americanus) In The Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, Elizabeth M. Morrissey

Master's Theses and Capstones

The overall goal of this research project was to determine if lobsters reproduce and settle in the Great Bay estuary (GBE), NH. First, I mapped the distribution and abundance of ovigerous lobsters carrying late-stage eggs in the estuary, during May and June of 2015. Ovigerous lobsters were concentrated in Little Bay and adjacent sections of the Piscataqua River, with CPUE in these areas of 0.12 ± 0.02 lobsters/trap haul. Very few were found in the regions furthest from the coast. Next, egg samples were collected from these lobsters, as well as from ovigerous lobsters captured along the NH coast and …

Evaluating The Usage Of Multi-Frequency Backscatter Data As An Additional Tool For Seafloor Characterization, Anderson Barbosa Da Cruz Pecanha

Master's Theses and Capstones

A reliable understanding of seafloor characteristics can have innumerous application in a variety of fields of knowledge, such as ocean mapping and defense. In the last decades, studies associating backscatter intensity to seafloor characterization has increased based on the principle that different types of seabed may provide, a priori, different reflectivity responses patterns. Those differences in intensity can be used to attempt seafloor classification.

This thesis proposes to evaluate the potential usage of multi-frequency backscatter as an additional tool for seafloor characterization. Modern multibeam systems are able to provide high resolution bathymetry and backscatter data. The echosounder used to collect …

Oxytetracycline And Thermal Marking Of Alewife (Alosa Pseudoharengus) Otoliths, Steven M. Luell

Master's Theses and Capstones

Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus) are anadromous clupeids native to the east coast of North America. With their population in decline, there is increasing interest in releasing hatchery-reared alewives for stock enhancement. As a result, techniques are needed to produce long-lasting marks to identify stocked fish. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of marking alewives using oxytetracycline immersion and thermal marking techniques. Oxytetracycline marking trials consisted of immersing alewife larvae in three concentrations of oxytetracycline (200, 400, and 600 mg/L) for two durations (4 and 6 hours). Sagittal otoliths were removed and examined for marks with an epifluorescence …

Modeling Nosocomial Disease Outbreaks Using A Combined Differential Equations And Agent Based-Modeling Approach, Cody Eion Fitzgerald

Honors Theses and Capstones

A nosocomial infection is an infection that a patient develops while in a hospital or healthcare related setting, also known as a hospital acquired infection (HAI).This project has two foci: firstly to model a HAI within an individual, then secondly to understand community-level propagation effects of a nosocomial infection within a hospital ward. An analysis of a novel system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations (representing the HAI attack and immune response within an individual) was first completed. More specifically the model includes an s parameter that allows frailty to be patient specific. After the dynamic behaviors of the model …

Players, Consumers And Creators: Literacy Orientations Among Adolescents Attending A Small, Rural School, Christina Marie Robison

Doctoral Dissertations

This phenomenological study identifies three distinct literacy orientations among ten eighth and ninth grade students who attend a small, rural school in Northern New England: Game Players, Critical Consumers, and Aspirational Creators. In order to understand ongoing challenges for rural students in post-secondary life, students’ literacy practices, values and beliefs are examined within the context of students’ lived experiences and analyzed through the lens of literacy sponsorship. Their literacy practices, which are superficially uniform, are shown to have varying significance depending upon their literacy orientations. These underlying philosophies represent the purpose students perceive their literacy practices serve: to further their …

A Mixed Methods Study Of The Effects Of Family-­‐Centered Transition Planning On The Quality Of Transition Individualized Education Plans Of Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Alan James Kurtz

Doctoral Dissertations

Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have typically experienced poor outcomes as they have transitioned from school to adult life. Quality school-­‐based transition planning has been found to improve outcomes for youth with disabilities in general. This mixed-­‐methods study was designed to examine the effects of a family-­‐ centered transition planning project on the transition Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) of youth with ASD. Thirty-­‐nine youth with ASD and their families were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or control group. Pre-­‐ and post-­‐intervention IEPs were collected for each youth. The IEPs were analyzed to determine differences in changes to …

Modular And Dynamic Approaches To The Formation Of Single-Chain Polymer Nanoparticles, Bryan Tyler Tuten

Doctoral Dissertations

The methodology towards the creation of nanoscale polymeric objects by way of the folding of single polymer chains has been enjoying success in the field of polymer chemistry and materials science. By synthesizing polymer chains with built in functionality either through functional side groups, or direct incorporation into the polymer backbone, polymer chemists are able to fold single polymer chains onto themselves through a broad range of covalent and non-covalent interactions in dilute solution. These compact, nano-sized objects can now be used in a wide arrange of functions and applications.

The aim of this dissertation is to provide first, a …

Using Your Mind To Train Your Body: An Experimental Autobiographical Memory Intervention For Adolescent Physical Activity, Mathew Biondolillo

Doctoral Dissertations

Developmentally, physical activity levels tend to decline from adolescence to early adulthood. Adolescent physical activity programs have been largely ineffective, leading to a call for new low-cost interventions. This study examined the effects of an autobiographical memory intervention on adolescent physical activity. Over six weeks, students (N = 558) in a New England middle school completed questionnaires and were timed weekly in physical education classes while training for a school-wide race. During Week Three, some students were asked to provide a positive motivational physical activity memory and others a control memory. Students indicated their intentions to be physical active, completed …

Characterization Of The Radiation Environment Of The Inner Heliosphere Using Lro/Crater And Emmrem, Colin Joyce

Doctoral Dissertations

I provide a characterization of the radiation environment of the inner heliosphere from mid-2009 to present using measurements made by the Cosmic Ray Telescope for the Effects of Radiation (CRaTER) aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) and modelling provided by the Earth-Moon-Mars Radiation Environment Module (EMMREM). In the course of this study, I analyze solar energetic particle (SEP) radiation in the form of four major solar events that occurred during this time range as well as the evolution of galactic cosmic ray (GCR) modulation over a period in which relatively calm solar conditions have resulted in the highest GCR fluxes …

Environmental Variables Associated With Invasive Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula Alnus Mill.) And Indirect Control Strategies For Forest Managers, Joshua Glidden Kozikowski

Master's Theses and Capstones

Glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus Mill.) is one of the most prominent non-native invasive plant species affecting New England forests. It quickly invades a forest and can create a dense understory effectively altering the species composition and dynamics of that forest. To gain a better understanding of the environmental variables associated with glossy buckthorn density we sampled forests across New Hampshire with varying degrees of buckthorn invasion. The effect on tree regeneration was analyzed with measurements of height and abundance of glossy buckthorn and native regeneration. Glossy buckthorn was found to be at its highest densities in disturbed softwood forests that …

Evaluation Of Mercury Standard Stability For Analyzing Human Urine Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometry, Shing Lau

Master's Theses and Capstones

Quantitation of total mercury has been of great interest not only in environmental fields, but also in medical research. This is because mercury (Hg) is one of the most toxic elements, and is also a well–known global pollutant. Researchers strive to understand how toxic elements bioaccumulate in both aquatic ecosystems and terrestrial systems, along with these effect on human health. Numerous studies and analytical methods have been published for the assessment of mercury in many different sample matrices. Accurate analysis of these complex matrices is dependent on accurate and reliable analytical standards. However, the standards preparation step is time consuming. …

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of A Pentacene Derivative On Gold Surfaces In The Quantum Mechanical And Classical Mechanics Frameworks, Ryan Allen Miller

Master's Theses and Capstones

With increasing potential to serve as a basis for constructing organic photovoltaic de- vices, the directed self-assembly of small organic molecules on metal substrates provides an interesting new method of bottom-up device building. By utilizing the qualities inherent in the substrate and molecules, one can manipulate surface topology to create functional layers of molecules in a desired configuration. However, tailoring these organic layers in a useful way requires detailed analysis of the substructure characteristics. With top-down visualization approaches like Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) pro- viding a limited view of assembled layer structural characteristics, molecular dynamics sim- ulations must be employed …

Effects Of Salinity On Juvenile Cyclopterus Lumpus (Lumpfish) And Their Temproal And Spatial Distribution In The Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, Jenna Leigh Rackovan

Master's Theses and Capstones

Lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) is a semi-pelagic species that is broadly distributed in the temperate portions of the North Atlantic. The lumpfish is also a commercially important species in Iceland and the Netherlands, where it is fished for roe that is used for caviar. Moreover, several recent studies have shown that lumpfish juveniles are useful ‘cleaner fish’ in the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry. Despite the importance of the species, little is known about its physiology and ecology. The overall goal of this research was to investigate if, and how, salinity affects the physiology and ecology of juvenile lumpfish.

To determine the …

Iron Uptake In Symbiosis: The Role Of Siderophore In The Association Between Vibrio Fischeri And Euprymna Scolopes, Evan Dasilva

Master's Theses and Capstones

Iron acquisition is well studied in pathogens, and successful virulence is often attributed to iron acquisition by siderophore and heme uptake; however, the role of iron uptake in mutual symbiotic interactions is not as well understood. The mutual symbiosis between Vibrio fischeri and the Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, is a well-characterized system in which iron uptake has been implicated as a symbiotic factor. Four studies have implicated iron uptake in the symbiosis: 1) A TnLux reporter assay revealed that siderophore is more highly expressed by V. fischeri in the light organs of juvenile squid compared to V. fischeri in …

Nesting Adaptations And Conservation Of A Threatened Tidal Marsh-Nesting Bird The Saltmarsh Sparrow, Bri Benvenuti

Master's Theses and Capstones

Tidal-marsh birds that nest on the marsh surface are faced with numerous reproductive challenges. Most recently, the impact of rising sea-levels threatens to reduce or eliminate reproduction in tidal-marsh nesting birds. One species most vulnerable to sea-level rise is the saltmarsh sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus), an obligate tidal-marsh breeding bird with reproduction that is strongly linked to the tidal cycle. The saltmarsh sparrow is a species of high conservation priority in the northeast United States (USDI 2008) and is globally vulnerable to extinction within the next 50 years (Bayard and Elphick 2011, Wiest et al. 2016). I combined molecular, behavioral, and …

Marker Assisted Selection Of Sex Determination In Kiwiberry (Actinidia Arguta And Actinidia Kolomikta), Haley Gustafson

Master's Theses and Capstones

The selection of phenotypic traits in plant breeding has recently become augmented by the implementation of molecular markers. Marker-assisted breeding strategies are used to develop new cultivars of many important crop plants but have yet to be assimilated into breeding programs for many minor crops with untapped economic potential. In the following chapters, I discuss methods of marker development in crop plants, sex determination as a trait of economic interest in plant breeding, and the identification of two male-dominant, PCR-based markers in the commercially viable Kiwiberry species Actinidia arguta and A. kolomikta.

A Biological Based Model Of The Human Visual System Incorporating Lateral Subtractive Inhibition With Non-Uniform Sampling And Multiple Spatial Frequency Filters, Nisreen Hanoon Radhi

Master's Theses and Capstones

The human visual system has been an interesting topic of scientific research for decades. It is known that the cone photo-receptors are arrayed in a non-linear fashion and that a lateral subtractive inhibitory process is occurring in the visual pathway. This thesis outlines for the first time how lateral subtractive inhibition manifests itself in the context of a non-uniform sensor distribution where the distance between cone photo-receptors, and size of the receptors, are varying in a log manner when moving radially away from the foveal area. Range limits on the parameters that control the non-uniform sampling and coupling coefficients are …

Bacterial And Phage Interactions Influencing Vibrio Parahaemolyticus Ecology, Ashley L. Marcinkiewicz

Master's Theses and Capstones

Vibrio parahaemolyticus, a human pathogenic bacterium, is a naturally occurring member of the microbiome of the Eastern oyster. As the nature of this symbiosis in unknown, the oyster presents the opportunity to investigate how microbial communities interact with a host as part of the ecology of an emergent pathogen of importance. To define how members of the oyster bacterial microbiome correlate with V. parahaemolyticus, I performed marker-based metagenetic sequencing analyses to identify and quantify the bacterial community in individual oysters after culturally-quantifying V. parahaemolyticus abundance. I concluded that despite shared environmental exposures, individual oysters from the same collection site varied …

The Impact Of Direct-Fed Microbials And Enzymes On The Health And Performance Of Holstein Cattle With Emphasis On Colostrum Quality And Serum Immunoglobulins In The Calf, Shona Brittany Ort

Master's Theses and Capstones

Research has shown that direct-fed microbials (DFM) and enzyme supplementation can impact the dry matter intake (DMI), milk production, and milk composition. However, limited research has evaluated the impact of DFM and enzyme supplementation on colostrum quality and the uptake of the Immunoglobulins A and G (IgA and IgG) by calves. In this study, 36 multiparous Holstein cows were blocked by expected calving date and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments 3 weeks prior to calving and remained on these treatments until week 8 postpartum. These treatments were: 1) 0 g of DFM and enzyme (control), 2) 45.40 g/d …

Oyster (Crassostrea Virginica) Recruitment Studies In The Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, Robert Lee Eckert

Master's Theses and Capstones

Oyster populations in New Hampshire’s Great Bay Estuary have experienced dramatic declines similar to populations along the east coast. These declines have caused ecosystem degradation in estuaries and prompted a focus on oyster reef restoration. Despite the large use of procured funds dedicated for oyster reef restoration, few quantifiable successes have occurred. Currently, there is no rigorous method for determining where a restored reef would have the highest probability for long-term success. However, consistent and substantial natural recruitment is a major factor to consider.

In this research, I identify historic trends in oyster populations, quantify the success and failures of …

Development Of Equipment And Methodology For The Measurement Of Underwater Sound Produced By Deep Foundation Construction, James Michael Browne

Master's Theses and Capstones

Until the last decade, the underwater sound produced during marine pile driving and underwater drilling work was not considered a hazard to marine life. However, beginning with state environmental agencies on the West Coast, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service has taken a national interest in this possible source of environmental disturbance to endangered species and marine mammals. Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act and the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act, “taking” of endangered species or marine mammals includes activities that could cause physical harm, harassment, or behavioral modification of a protected species. High intensity sound produced by construction …

Kelp Meal (Ascophyllum Nodosum) Supplementation To Organic Lactating Dairy Cows: Effects On Milk Production, Milk Composition, Animal Health And Nutrient Utilization During The Non-Grazing And Grazing Seasons In New Hampshire, Nicole Theresa Antaya

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis examines the feeding of kelp meal (KM), most commonly produced from the species Ascophyllum nodosum to lactating dairy cattle. In the first experiment KM was fed at incremental levels to lactating jersey cattle over the winter season in Lee, New Hampshire. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of incremental amounts (0, 57, 113, and 170 g/d) of KM on animal performance and milk iodine concentration in dairy cows fed high-forage diets. While animal performance was not improved, milk iodine output increased linearly in cows fed KM. Trends and quadratic effects were observed for nutrient …

Methods In Culturing Algae And The Addition Of Algae To Enhance The Performance Of Gravel Roughing Filtration Pretreatment, Kyle Daniel Hay

Master's Theses and Capstones

Gravel roughing filtration (GRF) is often used to pretreat marginal source waters prior to the main filtration process. GRF is a proven way to consistently improve water quality and reduce the effects of low water quality spikes such as during a precipitation event. This research is aimed at improving GRF performance through the application of various forms of algae. Research was broken down into four components: culturing and transferring algae, growing filamentous algae on the filter bed of a downflow GRF, applying an algae coating to the surface of gravel media, and testing a field-scale horizontal roughing filter (HRF) to …

Strawberry Production In New Hampshire Strawberry Root-Lesion Nematode, Matted-Row Production, And Annual Plasticulture Compared To Matted-Row Production In New Hampshire, Matthew Kochka

Master's Theses and Capstones

The dominant strawberry production system in New Hampshire (NH) is the semi-perennial matted-row system. In this system, dormant crowns are planted in the spring and require a full year of maintenance before the first harvest. While as many two additional years of harvests can be realized in this system, strawberry root rot disease effectively limits the productive longevity of matted-row plantings in the state. Root-lesion nematode (Pratylenchus spp.) damage is often cited as a possible factor in facilitating the infection process of the causative pathogen complex of strawberry root rot; but no systematic survey for the presence of Pratylenchus spp. …

Metagenomic Analysis Of The Microbial Community Assosciated With The Root Nodules Of The Actinorhizal Plant Casuarina Glauca, Timothy Stephen D'Angelo

Master's Theses and Capstones

The symbiosis between Frankia and actinorhizal plants in the genus Casuarina are intentionally exploited in efforts to reclaim degraded lands and improve agricultural production through the practice of agroforestry, particularly in countries on the continent of Africa. Laboratory investigations have shown that some non-Frankia bacteria isolated from the root nodules of Casuarina plants can play active and positive roles in this symbiosis, but a culture-independent survey of the microbial community in system had not yet been conducted. To fill this knowledge-gap, a metagenomic survey of the endophytic microbial community of Casuarina glauca root nodules was performed at three sites in …

Global And Regional Assessments Of Unsustainable Groundwater Use In Irrigated Agriculture, Danielle S. Grogan

Doctoral Dissertations

Groundwater is an essential input to agriculture world-wide, but it is clear that current rates of groundwater use are unsustainable in the long term. This dissertation assesses both current use of groundwater for country- to global-scale agriculture, and looks at the future of groundwater. The focus is on 1) quantifying food directly produced as a result of groundwater use across spatially-varying agricultural systems, 2) projecting future groundwater demands with consideration of climate change and human decision-making, and 3) understanding the system dynamics of groundwater re-use through surface water systems. All three are addressed using a process-based model designed to simulate …

Breaking Through: University Of New Hampshire Stormwater Center 2016 Report, Thomas P. Ballestero, James J. Houle, Timothy A. Puls

UNH Stormwater Center

No abstract provided.