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Faculty Excellence, University Of New Hampshire

Faculty Excellence Awards

Each year, the University of New Hampshire selects a small number of its outstanding faculty for special recognition of their achievements in teaching, scholarship and service. Awards for Excellence in Teaching are given in each college and school, and university-wide awards recognize public service, research, teaching and engagement. This booklet details the year's award winners' accomplishments in short profiles with photographs and text.

Spawning Stock Identification Of Atlantic Cod (Gadus Morhua) In Us Waters Using Pan I And Microsatellite Genetic Markers, Timothy S. Breton

Master's Theses and Capstones

Most Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) stocks within U.S. waters are currently in decline as a result of overexploitation and fishing pressure from commercial fisheries. A better understanding of the genetic structure of cod populations is essential to identify stocks for successful fisheries management. In this study, the genetic structure of cod from major temporally and geographically distinct spawning grounds in U.S. waters was investigated. Adult and juvenile cod were sampled from aggregations within the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and southern New England waters in cooperation with commercial fishermen and state fishery biologists. Caudal fin clips were collected and analyzed …

Measuring Suspended Sediment Characteristics To Identify Accurate Monitoring Techniques In Stormwater Runoff, George Deforest Fowler

Master's Theses and Capstones

This research examined several methods for monitoring suspended sediment concentration and particle size in stormwater runoff.

Suspended sediment concentration was monitored using the following methods: automatic sampling reported as Suspended Sediment Concentration (SSC), automatic sampling reported as Total Suspended Solids (TSS), turbidity reported as SSC and turbidity reported as TSS. Particle size distribution (PSD) was measured in samples from automatic samplers using tri-laser diffraction. An entire volume of the discharge passing by the automatic samplers and turbidity meter was captured and presumably contained the actual values to which all other methodologies were compared.

Automatic sampling with SSC proved to be …

The Behavior Of Atlantic Cod, Gadus Morhua, In An Offshore Net Pen, Christopher B. Rillahan

Master's Theses and Capstones

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food producing sectors of the world, with an annual compounding growth rate of 8.8% (since 1970). In spite of the rapid growth, scientific and public concerns have arisen about the sustainability and environmental impacts of the industry, including aquaculture's dependence on wild fish products, eutrophication from animal waste and uneaten food, and escapement of genetically altered farming stock. The use of behavioral studies may help refine commercial aquaculture by obtaining information to design operations that optimize growth, and feed utilization, while increasing production and animal well being. The goal of this study was …

The Biogeochemical Influences Of Nitrate, Dissolved Oxygen, And Dissolved Organic Carbon On Stream Nitrate Uptake, Joseph A. Thouin

Master's Theses and Capstones

Streams are important hotspots for the retention and removal of nitrogen (N), an element that contributes to eutrophication and threatens the stability of coastal ecosystems. Nitrate (NO3-) is the most mobile form of N, and understanding the causal mechanisms that foster optimal NO3- retention and removal in stream systems is critical from both predictive and conservation standpoints. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is hypothesized to be a major control of instream NO 3- concentrations, but dissolved oxygen (DO) is also an important control of NO3- removal processes. Assessing the individual impacts of NO3-, DO, and DOC concentrations on stream NO3- removal …

Evaluation And Improvement Of Model Algorithms For Predicting Belowground Carbon Allocation In Forests, Kathryn A. Berger

Master's Theses and Capstones

Rapidly rising concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2) influence forest productivity by stimulating plant growth. It can also modify carbon partitioning patterns, altering the global carbon cycle. Nitrogen and carbon cycles are tightly linked; with changes in nitrogen availability affecting ecosystem carbon allocation by shifting carbon to roots for nitrogen uptake. This paper discusses a modification to the PnET-CN model (Aber et al. 1997) developed to shift plant carbon allocation belowground in response to nitrogen limitation. According to functional equilibrium models of plant carbon allocation, a nitrogen control mechanism alters belowground carbon estimates by increasing carbon allocation to fine …

The Effects Of Using Prescribed Fire Or Mowing To Maintain Early Successional Wildlife Habitat, Kathleen M. Barrett

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study involves a comparison and results between prescribed burns and mowing in order to maintain openings in early successional stages at Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Newington, NH. The prescribed fire was conducted by a US Fish and Wildlife fire crew on 19 September 2001. The mowing was completed during the third week of October 2001 by staff and volunteers.

Special attention was given to non-native invasive species, with some species tending to increase with a fall burn. The mowed study sites did not seem to have a significant increase in growth or spread of invasive species.

A New Perspective: Atlantic Herring (Clupea Harengus) As A Case Study For Time Series Analysis And Historical Data, Emily Klein

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis endeavors to develop methods for the historical analysis of a specific species and location to begin understanding fishery patterns and change over time. The main goal was to develop statistical methods to address historical data and provide long-term information on fishery trends and potential relationships between the fishery and outside influences. The Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) fishery was investigated for underlying patterns and the possible impact of outside variables and events from 1870 to 2007.

In the Gulf of Maine, Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) provide critical forage for many economically valuable species, while supporting a major New England …

High Voltage Bias Waveform Generator For An Rf Mems Microswitch, James A. Brandt

Master's Theses and Capstones

An integrated high voltage bias driver for a Radio Frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (RF MEMS) microswitch is proposed. The design and implementation in a 0.7mum integrated circuit process with high and low voltage transistors is shown along with tested results. High voltage Double-Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor (DMOS) transistors in combination with low voltage digital logic provide a non-linear solution that achieves rise and fall times of 1mus while keeping power use to a minimum. System design and tradeoffs are presented for alternate approaches and combinations as well as future integration with Direct Current--Direct Current (DC-DC) voltage conversion and an internally generated …

Eelgrass In The Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire And Maine: Monitoring Eelgrass Decline And Educating Local Students, Nora Thompson Beem

Master's Theses and Capstones

Eelgrass monitoring efforts in the Great Bay Estuary (GBE), New Hampshire and Maine, by the New Hampshire Port Authority Mitigation Project (Chp. II) and Nutrient Pollution Indicator (NPI) testing (Chp. III) both confirmed a recent trend of eelgrass decline within the GBE. The decline has been most noticeable in the mid-estuary, where four major tributaries drain into the GBE. Eelgrass beds in proximity to Portsmouth's wastewater treatment facility have also experienced decline, highlighting the effects of such point sources on the eelgrass population.

In an effort to introduce eelgrass, its recent decline and its role in the ecology of the …

Educating The General Public About Brain Injuries, Jesse Edwards Williams

Master's Theses and Capstones

The purpose of this investigation is to determine if exposure to educational materials regarding acquired brain injuries (ABI) can have a positive impact on the attitudes and beliefs of the general public. The findings of this research will help determine the values of educating the general public and help determine future methods for educating the public about ABI.

Misconceptions about ABI are still present today. The results of this investigation demonstrate that responses significantly differed depending on what methods of instruction respondents received.

Numerical Investigations Of Langmuir Circulation And Internal Waves, Jeremy Blanchard

Master's Theses and Capstones

The mixed layer is a region of enhanced mass, momentum and heat transport and as such is thought to significantly impact both the large and small scale processes in the ocean and atmosphere. Langmuir circulation (LC) and internal waves (IW) have been shown to be dominant contributors to upper ocean mixing and have, though separately, been studied extensively; however, little is known about how they interact. Langmuir circulation is a wind and surface-wave driven instability that manifests as counter-rotating vortices roughly aligned with the wind. Internal waves, whose surface signatures are often visible from ships and satellites, have the ability …

Rapid Identification Of New England Freshwater Copepods Using A Novel Genetic Barcode, Elisah B. Allan

Master's Theses and Capstones

Identification of freshwater calanoid and cyclopoid copepods is limited to adults of certain sexes because morphological keys are mostly based on mature reproductive structures, necessitating an alternate method. Genetic barcodes are an additional tool for distinguishing species using variation in short segments of DNA. I tested the utility of the 28S rDNA D3 expansion segment as a barcode for identifying five species of calanoids and five species of cyclopoids from multiple lakes from New England. Neighbor-joining trees grouped all conspecifics together with high bootstrap support, except for Leptodiaptomus minutus. Comparisons of intra- vs. interspecific variation revealed a barcode gap for …

Exploring Decision Making By Occupational Therapists In A School Setting, Jason J. Backes

Master's Theses and Capstones

Occupational therapists working in schools make many decisions regarding evaluation and services to support a student's special education. Six school-based occupational therapists from the Midwest shared, through interviews, how they chose assessment methods and tools for a particular student and how their evaluation findings were used to make service delivery decisions for that student. This group of therapists addressed team members' concerns, focusing on how sensory processing, handwriting, and functional skills influence a student's schoolwork performance. Their decisions regarding assessments were determined by the needs of the student and the questions raised by the educational team. Their evaluation information contributed …

Use Of Genetic Tagging To Estimate Abundance And Detect Spatial Patterns Of Black Bears In New Hampshire, Stephanie Coster

Master's Theses and Capstones

Abundance estimates for black bears (Ursus americanus) are an important tool for effective management. Recent advancements in DNA technology have enabled genetic tagging mark-recapture population estimates using DNA from hair samples. I conducted a population estimate using genetic tagging in 2 study sites presumed to have different bear densities in northern New Hampshire (Pittsburg and Milan). To test repeatability, I conducted the genetic tagging estimates in 2 consecutive years. I also compared these estimates to those derived from traditional methods used by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department (NHFG) using hunter harvest and mortality data. I found that the …

Effects Of Vegetated Buffers On Salt Marsh Plant Composition And Groundwater Nitrogen Uptake, Joanne Singfield Glode

Master's Theses and Capstones

Vegetated shoreline buffers are a best management practice to reduce anthropogenic nitrogen influences on estuarine ecology. This study examined the effects of buffers on (1) groundwater chemistry; (2) the salt marsh border plant community (fertilized and control); and (3) Agropyron pungens response to fertilization. All buffer widths (5 to 15 meters) were somewhat effective at removing groundwater nutrients, with greater concentrations of TDN, NO3--N, NH4 +-N, and DOC found in groundwater wells upslope of the buffer. Although on-site manure storage resulted in 30-fold greater groundwater nitrate concentrations (mean 23 mg/L) at the widest buffer, no differences were found in nitrate …

Evaluating Scale To Achieve Optimal Image Classification Accuracy In New Hampshire Forests, Brianna L. Heath

Master's Theses and Capstones

New England forest complexity creates obstacles for land cover classification using satellite imagery. New methodologies such as object-oriented image analysis exhibit potential to improve classification. Although these methods have proven more accurate than traditional methods, it has been unclear what resolution yields the most accurate classification. As high resolution imagery increases classification difficulty and lower resolutions may not provide sufficiently detailed maps, this study explored the use of object-oriented classification to classify several resolutions of satellite imagery (Landsat TM, SPOT, IKONOS) at various spatial scales.

Although Landsat TM imagery yielded the highest accuracy, all classification results were unacceptable for practical …

Evaluating Accuracy Issues In Mapping Benthic Habitats: An Investigation In The Causes Of Misclassification And The Importance Of Segmentation Parameters, Meghan E. Graham

Master's Theses and Capstones

Benthic habitats are some of the most difficult habitats to map using remote sensing. In a study of six bays in the Texas Gulf Coast, maps were created from digital aerial imagery. Using an object-based image analysis (OBIA) approach, the image was classified with the Classification and Regression Tree (CART) technique to produce a draft map. The draft map was then extensively manually edited to produce a contractor map. Accuracy assessments of both maps revealed that the two were not significantly different. The objective of this study was to determine why the editing did not improve the draft map. Our …

Spectral Effects Of A Calcium Amendment On Red Spruce Foliage At Laboratory And Stand Scale, Will Robinson Kessler

Master's Theses and Capstones

Three sets of measurements were made to determine the effects of an October 1999 whole-watershed Ca-application on the chemical and spectral properties of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) foliage at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Results of our measurements showed significant differences between the Ca-treated watershed (WS1) and a nearby reference watershed (WS6). Foliar chemistry data collected in 2007 showed that concentrations of Ca, Sr, and oxalate remain higher in WS1, and the increase in oxalate is strongly linked to the level of total Ca, possibly by a Ca-oxalate crystal precipitation response. High-resolution laboratory spectral data measured from 400-2500 nm …

C2-Symmetric Dibenzo-Annelated Cross-Bridged Cyclam: Synthesis, Functionalization, And Copper Complexation, David J. Martin

Master's Theses and Capstones

A novel synthetic methodology towards a C2-symmetric- N,N'-bis-carboxymethyl-dibenzo-annelated cross-bridged cyclam is here presented. This methodology required a disparate approach from that traditionally used to prepare N-pendant-armed derivatives of the cross-bridged cyclam and cyclen macrocycles. Essential to the success of the synthesis are new conditions for the protective alkylation, reductive ring expansion, and chemoselective deprotection of the dibenzo-annelated cross-bridged cyclam macrocycle.*.

Early Performance Of Constructed Oyster Reefs In Great Bay, New Hampshire, Mark K. Capone

Master's Theses and Capstones

Several oyster reefs were constructed in Great Bay, New Hampshire using remotely-set oysters. A single large reef treatment and a cluster of several small reefs treatment were utilized to test hypotheses relevant to oyster restoration design, and to monitor early restoration reef performance. There was no significant difference in oyster size, density, and recruitment between two experimental reef structures, with both reef types having high survival and fast growth rates for the 2-year study. Both experimental reef structures had significantly higher recruitment rates than natural reefs in 2006, a year of relatively high recruitment (p < 0.05), and elevated yet not significantly higher recruitment rates in 2005, a weak recruitment year (p = 0.078). In situ fluorometry data showed that a restored reef can significantly impact chlorophyll-a levels in overlying water within two years of reef construction. Individual oyster clearance rates ranged from 1.87 L/hr--2.41L/hr.

The Effect Of An Experiential, Adventure Based "Anti-Bullying Initiative" On Levels Of Resilience: A Mixed Methods Study, Jesse Beightol

Master's Theses and Capstones

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an experiential, adventure based program on levels of resilience. Specifically, a mixed methods, quasi-experimental design was implemented to measure the impact of an Anti-Bullying Initiative on students self reported Goals and Aspirations, Problem Solving, Empathy, and Self Efficacy traits. Quantitative data was gathered using the Anti-Bullying Initiative Survey and converged with results from focus groups, interviews, and program observations to assess both program outcomes and processes. Results indicated that this adventure education program did affect levels of resilience in the individual students as well as their school and home …

Geochemical Weathering Of Granular Byproduct Materials, Robert K. Carter

Master's Theses and Capstones

Granular byproducts of artificial systems, such as municipal solid waste incinerator ash (MSWI) and coal combustion, are limited in re-use applications because of concern for their long-term environmental behavior with particular focus on the release of heavy metals. Understanding the solid phases within these materials and their influence on heavy metal leaching is necessary for development of an approach to potential re-use applications. Application of traditional geomorphologic principles may describe the solid phases of man-made systems and their development over time. This research addresses identification of the solid phases by use of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy …

Development, Production, Purification, And Activity Of Recombinant Lamprey Gonadotropin In S2 Drosophila And Chinese Hamster Ovary Cell Lines, Geoffrey Bushold

Master's Theses and Capstones

The objective of this research was to develop methods for the production and purification of recombinant lamprey GTH beta. The overall goal was to produce an active purified recombinant lamprey GTH that could be used for immunological, physiological, and histological studies to further understand the role of the gonadotropin in the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus. Constructs with different combinations of tethered lamprey gonadotropin beta to human CG alpha and channel catfish gonadotropin alpha were transfected and expressed in stable cell lines of Drosophila (S2) cells and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Cell lines were grown at a large scale and …

I Complexation Of Iron(Ii), Nickel(Ii), Copper(Ii) And Zinc(Ii) By Hexadentate Tripodal Aminopyridyl Chelators Ii The Potential Of Curcumin In Medicine: Synthesis And Iron Coordination Chemistry Of Curcuminoids, Joon Hyung Cho

Master's Theses and Capstones

Chapter 1. Binding properties of tach-3-MeOpyr with Zn(II), Cu(II), Fe(II) and Ni(II) have been studied and compared to other tachpyr family metal complexes. The hypothesis was that weak binding between metals and the tachpyr ligand family might be responsible for its lower cytotoxicity towards cells. However, the electronic and structural data in solution do not demonstrate any signs of weaker binding for Cu(II), Fe(II) and Ni(II) between tach-3-MeOpyr and tach-3-Mepyr. While tachpyr, tach-3-Mepyr and tach-3-MeOpyr all have similar binding properties toward Fe(II) in an oxygen free environment, the rates of oxidative dehydrogenation of their Fe(II) complexes in air are substantially …

Factors Affecting Insulin-Stimulated In Vitro Glucose Oxidation In Rat Epididymal Adipocytes, Lisa C. Merrill

Master's Theses and Capstones

Since Martin Rodbell published his collagenase method for isolating rat adipocytes from their stromal-vascular matrix in 1964, researchers have modified the procedure in an attempt to maximize results. These modifications are also purported to decrease the interlaboratory variability observed by researchers who utilize this procedure. Strict adherence to these modifications does not, however, necessarily result in robust, repeatable in vitro insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation. The purpose of this study was to optimize Rodbell's procedure for measuring in vitro glucose oxidation in rat adipocytes, and to measure the effect of meal feeding on this process.

Adipocytes from rats in 26 optimization experiments …

Synthesis, Characterization And Inertness Studies Of Gallium(Iii) And Indium(Iii) Complexes Of Dicarboxymethyl Pendant-Armed Cross-Bridged Cyclam, Orjana Terova

Master's Theses and Capstones

Radiopharmaceuticals are drugs based on radioisotopes designed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Radiometal complexes as radiopharmaceuticals for medical imaging have received increased attention in the past decades. Coordination chemistry plays an important role in the design of these target-specific radiopharmaceuticals. It is very important to correlate all aspects of a radiometal's coordination chemistry with its in vivo behavior. Macrocyclic chelators are ligands that form stable metal complexes. In the 1990s Weisman, Wong et al. developed a new class of tetraazamacrocycles featuring ethylene cross-bridges linking nonadjacent nitrogens. These cross-bridged chelators form very inert complexes with a variety of metal cations. While …

The Role Of Ompd In Adherence Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Typhimurium To Macrophages And The Effects Of Mannan-Binding Lectin In Initial Attachment, Donna Louise Terrio

Master's Theses and Capstones

The binding of macrophages to the outer membrane porin proteins, OmpC and OmpD, and the effects of mannan-binding lectin (MBL) were investigated. MBL was isolated from pig serum in a multi-step affinity chromatography process and the purity of the samples was determined via sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under reducing conditions. An Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to detect MBL. Porcine MBL was present in serum in approximately 30, 32 and 34 kDa monomeric forms. Bacterial binding assays were performed using Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium wild-type, ompC-deficient and ompD-deficient bacterial strains. These experiments were …

"I Remember When I Learned That": Gender Differences In The Use Of Episodic Memory, Rhyannon H. Bemis

Master's Theses and Capstones

The experiments in this thesis were designed to investigate age and gender differences in the use of episodic memory. In experiment 1, children, ages 4 to 9 years, answered general knowledge questions and were asked how they knew the answer to these questions. Results indicated that there were some difference in the proportion of episodes girls reported. Girls' episodes also contained more details. Experiment 2 investigated source monitoring as a potential mechanism for children's use of an episodic recall style using a "drawer-task" with narratives as one of the source types. There were no gender differences, but there were age …

"The Invisible Lines Between Us": Border-Making In Anglo-America, 1750--1800, Cameron B. Strang

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis explores how the boundary-making practices of white officials came to be the dominant way of dividing and claiming the American landscape. It argues that, in the late colonial era, neither Indians nor officials could actualize their desired boundaries. Indians' map-based boundaries were annulled by white officials while officials' land surveys were subject to onsite termination and manipulation by Indian groups. White frontier settlers, however, developed powerful ways to establish their land claims---namely informal delineations backed by actual settlement---that could not be prevented by officials or Indians. In the final years of the colonial era and the first decades …