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Annual Report. Town Of Center Harbor, New Hampshire For Year Ending December 31, 2005, Center Harbor Town Representatives

Center Harbor, NH Annual Reports

This is an annual report containing vital statistics for a town/city in the state of New Hampshire.

Aiding Foster Children In Their Construction Of Self: Clinical Intervention Strategies For Children In Care, Cheryl Regal

Master's Theses and Capstones

This thesis looks at the development of the self within foster children and examines clinical intervention strategies that focus on the internal world of the child. Using architectural metaphors, this thesis aims to change the perspective within which clinicians think about the experience of the foster child and their view of self. Within this framework, the counseling experience works to bring the foster child out from behind their protective walls and journeys with the child through their past and present histories. Throughout this journey, the clinician joins with the child and allows an attachment bond to develop in order for …

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 …

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 …

Transposable Elements: What Have You Done For Me Lately? A Genomics Based Investigation Into The Potential Functional Roles Of Transposable Elements Using The Model Organism Caenorhabditis Elegans, Sarah Prescott Kenick

Doctoral Dissertations

The genomes of all organisms contain discrete DNA sequences present as disperse repetitive elements called transposons. Transposons have the unique ability to move to new chromosomal locations. Problems of uncontrolled movement of transposons can result in mutations, rearrangement, and even broken chromosomes. Often termed "selfish parasites" that invade a host genome, there is a longstanding question of whether they have a functional role. As a first step in an effort to investigate this question, I identified and annotated 276 full length and partial elements in the C.elegans genome. I determined the genomic location of each and looked for patterns resulting …

Linking Multivariate Observations Of The Land Surface To Vegetation Properties And Ecosystem Processes, Stephen C. Hagen

Doctoral Dissertations

Remotely sensed images from satellites and aircrafts, as well as regional networks and monitoring stations such as eddy flux towers, are collecting large volumes of multivariate data that contain information about the land surface and ecosystem processes. To derive from these systems information and knowledge relevant to how the Earth system functions and how it is changing, we need tools that to filter and mine the large data streams currently being acquired at different spatial and temporal scales. A challenge for Earth System Science lies in accurately identifying and portraying the relationships between the measurements at the sensor and quantity …

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 …

The Expression Of Heat Shock Protein 70, Heat Shock Protein 90 And Heat Shock Factor 1 Within The Bovine Midcycle Corpus Luteum After Stimulation With Temperature In Vitro And Pgf2alpha In Vitro And In Vivo, Melissa N. Kopka

Master's Theses and Capstones

Environmental and biological stressors affect cellular function. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are molecular chaperones that safeguard cells against these stressors by protecting endogenous proteins from degradation. Heat shock factors (HSF) are their transcriptional regulators. In the present study, we evaluated whether heat (Experiment 1) or prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha; Experiments 2 and 3) induces the expression of HSP 70, HSP 90 and HSF1 in the bovine corpus luteum (CL). In summary, in vitro heat treatment elicited a later response in luteal cells by increasing HSP 70 expression at 24 hrs, while in vivo PGF2alpha treatment leads to an earlier response by …

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 …

Rural Low-Income Mothers' Experiences With Foster Care, Talia Jennie Glesner

Master's Theses and Capstones

This study explores the grief experiences, parental views, supports, and barriers of 22 rural low-income mothers with children in foster care. The family ecology perspective framed the research. T-tests were utilized in a quantitative analysis comparing depression and parental support and confidence between mothers with children in placement and children not in placement.

Results indicated that the differences in mean depression scores were statistically significant between the participants and the control group. Depressive symptoms were found to be much more prevalent in mothers with children in placement than mothers with children not in placement.

The differences in mean scores between …

Retinal Tracking System Design For Smart Flashblindness Non Lethal Weapon, Gregory T. Wolff

Master's Theses and Capstones

Development of a non lethal method of providing incapacitation of human subjects is of primary importance in both law enforcement and military fields. The proposed Smart White Light Dazzler is such a device that induces flashblindness in the subject using a flash of white light. It is intended to automatically track the retina of a human subject, and then make adjustments to the power of the flash based on factors that affect the susceptibility of the eye. Temporary blindness is induced in the subject without risking permanent tissue damage.

The primary contribution of this research is the design of a …

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 …

Native Gastropods And Introduced Crabs: Shell Morphology And Resistance To Predation In The New England Rocky Intertidal Zone, Sarah Joanne Teck

Master's Theses and Capstones

The impact of non-native species is one of the most critical issues facing management and conservation today. When these invaders are generalist predators, their impacts on native communities can be a major restructuring force for ecosystems. A new voracious predator the Asian crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus , joins another non-native established species, Carcinus maenas, along the majority of the New England coastline. What remains poorly understood is how the two introduced predators may modify local communities, especially considering their impact on native prey, such as the rough periwinkle snail, Littorina saxatilis. The goal of this research is to investigate the vulnerability …

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 …

Analysis Of Adc2 And Samdc1 Expression And The Effects Of Transgenic Manipulation Of Polyamine Biosynthesis On Flower Development In Arabidopsis, Vasavi Rani Challa

Master's Theses and Capstones

Polyamines are low molecular weight, aliphatic cationic molecules playing a vital role in all cellular and physiological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, abiotic stress, and somatic embryogenesis. The present study is aimed at unraveling their role during floral development in Arabidopsis thaliana by studying the temporal and spatial expression of ADC2 and SAMDC1 genes by promoter-reporter fusion analysis, and by the transgenic expression of mouse ODC and carrot SAMDC under tissue specific promoters AP1 and AP3, respectively. The expression of SAMDC1 was found to be prominent during different stages of development and in different whorls of flowers whereas ADC2 …

The Role Of The Schmutzdecke In Escherichia Coli Removal In Slow Sand And Riverbank Filtration, Michael C. Unger

Master's Theses and Capstones

A series of studies was conducted on laboratory scale sand columns under varying operational and design conditions with spiked concentrations of E. coli to investigate the role of the schmutzdecke, a biologically active layer that develops at the interface of the water and filter in slow sand filtration (SSF) and riverbank filtration (RBF). Results confirmed that E. coli removals in slow-rate biological filters occur primarily at the interface and are related to schmutzdecke ripening state, empty bed contact time, biological activity, temperature, and protistan abundance. Using a suite of analyses characterizing the biofilm growing on the schmutzdecke, no connection was …

The Development And Utilization Of Est (Expressed Sequence Tag) Resources In The Diploid Strawberry Model System, Robin Leigh Brese

Master's Theses and Capstones

Enhancement of genomic resources is needed for the cultivated octoploid strawberry Fragaria x ananassa (2n=8x=56). A diploid (2n=2x=14) relative, Fragaria vesca, has been used as a model system for strawberry genomics because of its small (~200 Mb) basic genome size, ancestry to the octoploid strawberries and availability of inbred lines, among other favorable features.

In this study, a cDNA library was constructed from developing flower buds of Fragaria vesca ssp. vesca cv. 'Yellow Wonder'. A cDNA library of 7680 clones was created using the CLONTECH SMART cDNA Library Construction kit. Sequencing and bioinformatic analyses of 3298 clones resulted in 2717 …

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 …

Optimization Of Pcb Dechlorination With Palladized Magnesium In Marine And Freshwater Sediments, Irina Calante

Master's Theses and Capstones

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are one of the most persistent and toxic pollutants in our environment today. Many rivers and lakes were heavily polluted with PCBs during the 1970s when their use and production was at their highest demand. Today, more than 30 years after they have been banned from production they continue to be one of the top priority contaminants. Their characteristic stability has made them very recalcitrant to physical, chemical and biological degradation. Remediation in soils and sediments are particularly more difficult due to the variability in the soil and sediment characteristics that affect how strongly PCBs are sorbed. …

Microvascular Endothelial Cells Of The Bovine Corpus Luteum: A Comparative Study Of The Estrous Cycle And Pregnancy, Jessica A. Cherry

Master's Theses and Capstones

Endothelial cells derived from the corpus luteum (CLENDOs) exhibit a diverse array of characteristics that seemingly complement their wide-ranging properties in luteal function and fate. Reproductive status of the animal (i.e., non-pregnant vs. pregnant) may contribute to the phenotypic/physiologic diversity of microvascular endothelial cells, but information in this regard is limited. Here, structural and functional attributes of CLENDOs derived from the estrous cycle (Days 9-12) were compared with those of pregnancy (Day 60). Initially, lectin binding properties were examined in the cells. Using fluorescent-tagged lectins for Bandeiraea simplicifolia I or concanavalin A, flow cytometric analysis indicated that lectin-binding on CLENDOs …

Effects Of Stz Induced Hyperglycemia And Hyperlipemia On Ppargamma And Abca1 In A Hamster Model Of Atherogenesis, Craig Lamarca

Master's Theses and Capstones

Diabetes mellitus accelerates atherogenesis, but the exact mechanisms involved are unknown. This study examined the effects of hyperglycemia on the inflammatory transcription factor peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), known to be involved in atherogenesis, and the ATP binding cassette A1 (ABCA1) protein that is a downstream product of PPARgamma. ABCA1 is a membrane bound transporter that is involved in reverse cholesterol transport via high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Hamsters were divided into two groups; hyperlipemic animals fed a high fat/high cholesterol control diet (C) and hyperlipemic/hyperglycemic animals that received the high fat diet and were administered streptozotocin. Half of …

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 …

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. …

Temporal Expression Of Protein Mediators During Pgf2alpha-Induced Luteolysis In Sheep, Bryon F. Ricketts

Master's Theses and Capstones

To study dynamic in vivo biochemical changes within the corpus luteum (CL) during luteolysis, a physiological model mimicking the onset of natural luteolysis was established, in which sheep received sequential systemic pulses of PGF2alpha (20ug/min/lhr) at mid-luteal phase of the estrous cycle. We previously demonstrated that after one pulse of PGF2alpha, the protein levels of extracellular matrix (ECM) regulators, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) -1 and -2 decreased dramatically within one hour of PGF2alpha infusion, while matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 activity increased 4 hrs post infusion. In summary, the early and dramatic decrease in TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 proteins, accompanied by an …

Patterns And Processes Of Soil Carbon Dynamics In A Northeastern United States Forest, Sarah K. Silverberg

Master's Theses and Capstones

Forest soils represent a substantial component of the terrestrial carbon cycle and are an important research area for a number of carbon cycle science initiatives. Whereas patterns of aboveground productivity have been relatively well measured and are increasingly included in regional-scale model analyses, belowground estimates are still highly uncertain and progress has been hampered by methodological difficulties. The lack of data poses a problem because belowground measurements are needed to create complete carbon budgets for terrestrial ecosystems at local, regional and global scales. Ecosystem carbon balances will help identify how and where carbon is being stored, as well as how …

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 …

A Test Of The Nutrient-Productivity Model In The Gulf Of Maine Using The Intertidal Mussel Mytilus Edulis, Meredith A. Bailey

Master's Theses and Capstones

Historical concepts of top-down control (predator-prey interactions) on rocky intertidal community structure have transitioned to studies on bottom-up effects (nutrient supply and larval transport) as significant factors affecting rocky intertidal community structure. Studies performed on rocky intertidal locations along the Gulf of Maine (GOM) at multiple sites and seasons in 2004 and 2006 examined the ecology of Mytilus edulis populations by measuring size frequency distributions, diet quality (stable isotope composition) and physiological performance of individuals using condition indices and RNA/DNA ratios. Data were correlated to satellite imagery for sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a concentration and individuals were genetically tested …

Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases In Physcomitrella Patens, Kathryn Chervincky

Master's Theses and Capstones

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) are a group of plant serine-threonine kinases that are stimulated in response to increases in intracellular calcium concentrations. Physcomitrella patens is a moss and a member of the bryophyte family. Physcomitrella has gained popularity as a model research organism due to the simple morphology of the plant as well as many other desirable characteristics. My research utilized Physcomitrella to accomplish four goals. The first goal was to identify and obtain sequence for as many CDPKs as possible in Physcomitrella. The second goal was to confirm the calcium-activated protein kinase activity of the identified CDPKs. The third …

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 …

Environmental Effects On Early Life Stages Of American Shad (Alosa Sapidissima) And Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus Mordax ), Kristen Fuda

Master's Theses and Capstones

Recruitment of American shad (Alosa sapidissima) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) has steadily declined over the last few decades, possibly due to the construction of physical impediments to migration and increases in anthropogenic pollution. In order to elucidate environmental parameters influencing early life stages of anadromous fish, both laboratory and field studies were conducted. The effects of abiotic factors, including dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity, nitrate, and phosphate, on hatch and survival of larval and juvenile American shad and rainbow smelt were examined in laboratory studies. Field studies on shad emigration were conducted in the Exeter River, and studies on …