Digital Commons Network^™

Annual Cycle Phenology And Winter Habitat Selection Of White-Winged Scoters In Eastern North America, Dustin E. Meattey

Open Access Master's Theses

Concern over declining populations of several North American sea duck species has led to research addressing how environmental and anthropogenic factors in various stages of the annual cycle affect survival, habitat use, site fidelity, and migratory strategies. Southern New England provides key wintering habitat for White-winged Scoters (Melanitta fusca). This area has also pioneered the development of offshore wind energy in North America. I deployed implanted satellite transmitters in 52 adult female White-winged Scoters captured during the wintering period in southern New England, and on a molting area in the St. Lawrence River estuary in Quebec between 2015 …

Early Successional Forest Birds And The Effects Of Habitat Management In Different Landscapes, Stephen J. Brenner

Open Access Master's Theses

Early successional forests are a rare and declining forest type in the Northeastern U.S., and active management is required in order to maintain this habitat for the many declining bird populations that inhabit these areas. Studies on the movements, spatial ecology, and habitat selection of declining species of interest within newly created habitats offer opportunities to assess the success of management, and inform future management decisions and practices. Yet the impact of management may be limited by the placement of newly formed habitat within a larger landscape context. I investigated the impact of landscape and management context on the spatial …

In-Situ Treatment Of 1,4-Dioxane Under Column Scale Conditions, Michaela A. Cashman

Open Access Master's Theses

There is limited understanding of the underlying process that govern the peroxone activated persulfate (PAP) oxidation of 1,4-Dioxane, specifically at what rates this advanced oxidation process (AOP) proceeds, how long the system remains active once injected into a contaminant plume, and which radicals might be involved. The research presented herein investigates a peroxone activated persulfate oxidant, patented by EnChem Engineering (Newton, Massachusetts) under the name OxyZone., and its effect on 1,4-Dioxane contaminated water under column scale conditions in the presence of porous material. A secondary objective of this study was to identify radicals formed during the oxidation of 1,4-Dioxane using …

Examining Diet Quality And Sleep Duration In Overweight/Obese Adults In A Weight Loss Intervention, Megan Naquin

Open Access Master's Theses

Statement of the Problem: The rate of increased body mass index (BMI) in the adult US population has been alarming within recent decades. Decreased sleep duration has been associated with higher BMI and lower diet quality. BMI and diet quality have been found to be associated with one another as well. The average US adult diet quality score has been indicated as moderately low, which is often associated with higher BMI. In order to confront these alarming rates, weight loss interventions have been researched. A strategy often seen in weight loss success is self-monitoring. Wearable devices, such as the …

Are Feeding Practices Of Family Child Care Home Providers Related To Child Fruit & Vegetable Intake?, Tayla M. Carter

Open Access Master's Theses

Objectives: To explore the relationship between three feeding practice constructs (role modeling, encouragement, and pressure to eat) of family child care home (FCCH) providers, and fruit and vegetable intake of the preschool-aged children in their care.

Participants: Subjects were family child care home providers and the children in their care. Participants were recruited from Providence, Rhode Island and surrounding areas of Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

Methods: Baseline data, collected during a two-day home visit from an ongoing cluster-randomized trial, Healthy Start/Comienzos Sanos, were used (n=61 FCCH). Feeding practice data was collected using the Environment and Policy Assessment and …

Parent And Adolescent Reports Of Risky Behavior And Their Relationship With Parental Monitoring In Black Southern Families, Teressa Davis

Open Access Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived parental knowledge, perceived parental monitoring and risky behaviors among rural Black adolescents in the United States. The health-risk behaviors of concern were sexual behavior, drug and alcohol usage, and violence. Using a sample of 62 Black parent and adolescents from rural communities, parents' perceptions of adolescent risk behaviors were compared with adolescent reports of risky behaviors. Additionally, the relationship between parental monitoring and knowledge, relative to adolescent self-reported risk was examined. Results indicated that parents possessed a high accuracy regarding their adolescent’s engagement in sexual activity, violent behaviors …

The Impact Of Fisheries Management On Coral Reef Fish Communities And Life-History Characteristics, Diky Suganda

Open Access Master's Theses

Indonesia’s coral reefs support over half of all small-scale fishers globally and are thus an important economic and sociocultural resource. These coral reef fisheries, however, are threatened from a variety of stressors including overexploitation. No-take fisheries closures are thought to be a suitable management strategy in Indonesia that provide a refuge for fish species with different ecological and life-history characteristics. While examining such indicators is increasingly important to determine management efficacy, few have done so in Indonesia. I investigate community ecological and life-history responses to no-take fisheries closures using abundance data from 2009-2015 in three regions across Indonesia’s Sunda Banda …

Design Of A Tendon Driven Soft Continuum Robotic Arm Using Proprioceptive Sensors, Richard Sperling

Open Access Master's Theses

In this thesis the use of proprioceptive sensors in elephant trunk inspired soft continuum robots was explored. After presenting the basics for this project, a review of existing soft continuum robots is given. The sensors used are o_-the-shelf stretch senors. Those sensors are carbon black impregnated rubber cords. The design and the fabrication of the robot are described. Using material characteristics a calibration process was developed to improve the sensor's consistency. The robot is then tested in open-loop as well as a closed-loop experiment. Results of those experiments are presented and discussed.

City Of Providence Community Readiness For An Obesity Prevention Intervention, Jessie Boukarim

Open Access Master's Theses

In order to prevent early childhood obesity, community-wide interventions are needed. However, few studies have assessed a community’s readiness to prevent childhood obesity among 0-5 year old children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the level of readiness to prevent obesity among 0-5 year olds in Providence, RI.

Key informant interviews with local leaders of organizations that work with 0- 5 year old children in Providence (n=12) were completed using the community readiness model (CRM). The CRM’s level of readiness ranges from 1 (no awareness) to 9 (high level of community ownership). Furthermore, the CRM is comprised …

Geochemistry Of Highly Alkaline Waters Of The Coast Range Ophiolite In California, Usa, Mahrukh Shaikh

Open Access Master's Theses

Altered waters impacted by serpentinization of Coast Range Ophiolite (CRO) ultramafic units have been reacting with trapped Cretaceous seawaters, meteoric waters, and other surface derived waters since tectonic emplacement of this ophiolite. In 2011, groundwater monitoring wells of various depths were established near Lower Lake, CA, USA in the McLaughlin Natural Reserve, administered by the University of California-Davis, in order to understand ongoing low temperature alterations and biogeochemical interactions taking place. Wells were installed at two sites in the Reserve. There are three Quarry Valley area wells (QV1-1 [23m depth], QV1-2 [14.9m], QV1-3 [34.6m]) and five Core Shed area wells …

Attitudes And Behavior For Sustainable Team Performance, Md. Hasan Shahriar Simanto

Open Access Master's Theses

As climate change in conjunction with the fourth wave of industrialization necessitates the world to move toward a sustainable future, research needs to focus on the intertwined connection between team work and sustainability. Currently, it is unknown whether teams that are successful at accomplishing sustainability-related tasks have different team composition than the teams who are not. This research explored the composition of teams performing sustainability-related tasks in regard to the individuals’ pro-environmental attitude, individuals’ self-reported pro-environmental behavior, individuals’ pro-environmental identity and team cohesion. Data was collected on real-world teams at the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon, which is a …

Terrestrial Planet Serpentinization In Melange Settings, Roger Hart

Open Access Master's Theses

Mars and Earth have planetary crusts with exposures of mantle-derived ultramafic rocks dominated by pyroxene and olivine. These initial minerals transform to serpentine, brucite, magnetite, and other secondary phases via metamorphic hydration and other reactions. In this work, altered peridotites of the regionally extensive Coast Range Ophiolite (CRO), from localities in the UC-Davis McLaughlin Natural Reserve, Lower Lake, CA are compared and contrasted with serpentinites of the Nili Fossae, a mélange terrain located in the Syrtis Major quadrangle at approximately 22°N, 75°E, Mars. The habitability of serpentinizing systems is conveyed as a function of changing system parameters (such as temperature, …

A Stratigraphic And Microfossil Record Of Coseismic Land-Level Changes And Tsunami Deposits From Old Harbor, Central Kodiak Island, Alaska, Greta Janigian

Open Access Master's Theses

To reconstruct the paleoseismic history of Old Harbor on Kodiak Island, Alaska, we undertook exploratory coring at two coastal sites, Big Creek and Bear Terrace, 4 km and 2 km northeast of Old Harbor, respectively. We chose the longest core from Big Creek for analysis (90 cm, BC.15.02). Six sand to sandy-silt layers deposited within organic silts and peats occur in this core. Radiocarbon dating, a tephra deposit, and radiometric marker (¹³⁷Cs) analyses were used to estimate ages of sand and silt deposition. ¹³⁷Cs results confirmed that the uppermost clastic deposit records the AD 1964 Great Alaskan …

Design, Modeling, And Implementation Of An Environmental Control Chamber, Aaron Matarese

Open Access Master's Theses

This thesis goes over the details of humidification and temperature modeling for an enclosed, non-hermetically sealed space. Review of common methods of thermal and humidication design was performed to detail which method is suitable for any given application. For the application of designing an enclosure for the preparation of Cryo-TEM sample grids, it was determined that system design via lumped capacitance methods was the best option. A detailed and practical analysis of the application of the lumped capacitance method is described.

A detailed overview of how to apply control of relative humidity and temperature in an enclosed space is also …

Nitrogen Loading, Climate Change, Pathogens: Impacts Of Multiple Stressors On Rhode Island Shellfish, Ashley Paige Hamilton

Open Access Master's Theses

Filter feeding bivalves, such as the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica and the blue mussel, Mytilus edulis are valued for their role in the marine nitrogen cycle; specifically, their ability to facilitate the process of denitrification (reduction of nitrate to an inert N₂ gas), and thereby the removal of reactive nitrogen from the system. Historically, these organisms have been victim of overharvesting along much of the east coast, however Rhode Island has undergone a vast expansion of oyster production through the development of a prosperous aquaculture industry within the state, potentially contributing to the restoration of this valuable ecosystem service. …

The Sms Ostfriesland: A Warship At The Crossroads Of Military Technology, Wesley R. Hale

Open Access Master's Theses

In the 21^st century, the applicability of aeronautics in civilian and military life is common place. The use of planes allows loved ones to visit each other across countries and continents, reducing what was once an almost insurmountable distance to a few hours of discomfort. Military strategists accept as a matter of course that the nation that controls the skies will often control the field below. The 21^st century features human control of the skies as a fact of life. The use of planes as a form of transportation is thought of little more than the use of …

Thalassiosiroid Diatom Responses To Silicon Stress And Ocean Acidification, Joselynn Wallace

Open Access Dissertations

Atmospheric CO₂ has risen dramatically since the industrial revolution. This rise in atmospheric and oceanic pCO₂ has perturbed ocean carbonate chemistry and led to ocean acidification. Diatoms are phytoplankton that account for 40% of oceanic primary production through photosynthetic carbon fixation, which is aided by their carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM). The CCM uses the bicarbonate transporters (BCTs) and carbonic anhydrases (CAs). Our current understanding of how diatoms might respond to ocean acidification is based on experiments using model diatoms or assessing the response of the bulk diatom community, rather than assessing a diversity of diatoms in a complex …

A Genomic Approach To The Complex Relationship Between An Apicomplexan Endosymbiont And Its Host, Christopher Paight

Open Access Dissertations

Nephromyces, a genus in the phylum Apicomplexa, has recently been described as having a mutualistic relationship with its host: tunicates in the Molgulidae family (Saffo et al. 2010). If true, Nephromyces would be the only known example of a mutualistic apicomplexan genus. In addition to the possible switch to mutualism, Nephromyces is one of a few apicomplexan groups containing bacterial endosymbionts. To test the hypothesis that endosymbiotic bacteria facilitated the transition of Nephromyces from parasitism, the metabolic capabilities of Nephromyces and its bacterial endosymbionts need to be determined. The transition from obligate parasite to endosymbiont is predicted to involve …

Quantifying The Effects Of Motor Tasks On Corticokinematic Coherence In Parkinson's Disease, Debanjan Borthakur

Open Access Master's Theses

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder. Researchers are investigating ways to identify neural and behavioral markers for PD that can lead to earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments. The goal of this research is to quantify the effects of motor tasks on corticokinematic coherence(CKC) in PD. We can consider this research as a proof of concept study. This research can eventually help us quantify the motor symptoms related to PD using the measurement process called CKC. Brain muscle synchrony can be quantified as corticomuscular coherence (CMC) and corticokinematic coherence (CKC). Surgical and Pharmacological treatments have not been shown to …

Detection And Discrimination Of Natural And Synthetic Polysaccharides In A Solid-State Nanopore, Jonathan Nichols

Open Access Master's Theses

In 2007-08 over 100 people died as a result of a contaminated batch of the polysaccharide heparin, an otherwise life-saving anticoagulant drug. After the contaminant was discovered, the development of assays that detect the contaminant, a structurally similar molecule, oversulfated chondroitin sulfate, became a necessity. Solid-state nanopores, which can, with appropriate experimental design, readily detect single molecules of analyte, may be able to help distinguish the two with greater ease than conventional assays, and with greater throughput even at concentrations well below that of USP assays. Polysaccharides, especially naturally occurring polysaccharides, have a vast range of structures characterized by widely …

The Effects Of Child Literacy And Self-Control On School Readiness Based On Teacher Report, Alyssa Ribeiro

Open Access Master's Theses

School readiness has been identified as one of the major determinants of an individual’s later academic success (Cappelloni, 2011; Kim, 2008; Lunenburg, 2011). School readiness encapsulates academic readiness and socio-emotional development, and is impacted not only by the child, but also by the child’s family, the early environment, the school, and the community (Cavanaugh, Lippitt, & Moyo, 2000; Huffman, Mehlinger, & Kerivan, 2000; Maxwell & Clifford, 2004; National Research Council and Institute of Medicine, 2000; Peth-Pierce, 2000; Raver, 2002).

Despite a plethora of studies in school readiness, there has been a lack of examination of school readiness through the lens …

Triggering A Diverse Seafood Diet: Exploring Perceptions Of Sustainable Seafood Systems In New England, Taylor Macdonald Witkin

Open Access Master's Theses

New England’s seafood production systems involve social relationships with food that are at odds with ecosystem health and longevity. Customers continue to demand, fishers continue to catch, and suppliers continue to sell species from increasingly threatened populations instead of abundant species that can be harvested sustainably. Harvesters and markets have been trapped, forced to depend on a narrow range of species despite opportunities to diversify marine food system markets and tastes. The aim of this study is to build a better understanding of how New England’s local seafood movement and market can foster a sustainable socio-ecological seafood system. The argument …

Fishery And Biological Characteristics Of Jonah Crab (Cancer Borealis) In Rhode Island Sound, Corinne L. Truesdale

Open Access Master's Theses

Jonah crab (Cancer borealis) is a demersal crustacean distributed throughout continental shelf waters from Newfoundland to Florida. The species supports a rapidly growing commercial fishery in southern New England, where landings of Jonah crab have increased more than six-fold since the early 1990s. However, management of the fishery has lagged its expansion; the first Fishery Management Plan for the species was published in 2015 and a stock assessment has not yet been created due to a lack of available data concerning the species’ life history and fishery. Fishing effort in the crab fishery is necessarily tied to fishing …

Efficacy Measures Of Tolfenamic Acid In A Tau Knock Out Model: Relevance To Alzheimer’S Disease, Allison Leso

Open Access Master's Theses

In the healthy human brain, the protein tau serves the essential function of stabilizing microtubules. However, in a diseased state, tau becomes destabilized and aggregates into a pathogenic form that ultimately creates one of the two major hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and tau tangles. Multiple neurodegenerative diseases, termed tauopathies, such as Pick’s disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), are also linked to mutations in tau. While AD does include a second hallmark in the form of Aβ plaques, to date all therapeutics aimed at this hallmark have failed. However, the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) tolfenamic acid …

Evolving Encoded Marking For Glove-Based Pose And Posture Recognition, Joshua V. Gyllinsky

Open Access Master's Theses

The feasibility of encoding pose and posture information within surface textures for digital reconstruction of the inverse-mapping problem of computer vision was explored. This was done using a combination of three biology-inspired artificial intelligence techniques. Initial steps were conducted in this pursuit and the path to further research is laid out. It was found that textures can be used to encode information on a 3D surface to supplement computer vision systems.

Environmental Factors Affecting Methane Cycling In Narragansett Bay, Christopher James Mcaleer

Open Access Master's Theses

Wetlands and estuaries are strong sources of methane to the atmosphere due to high rates of methanogenesis. These environments contain diverse and extensive microbial communities that are responsible for processing organic matter, with tidal flow responsible for exchange between marine, freshwater, and estuarine sources. While most methane is produced in sediment, as methanogenic Archaea generally require anoxic conditions, methane oxidizing bacteria (methanotrophs) regulate emissions in oxygenated waters through the consumption of methane. Therefore, flood tide has the potential to provide wetlands – salt marshes, in particular – with organic matter and methanotrophic communities, creating a unique environment which features the …

Influence Of Environmental Factors And Fishing Effort On Demersal Fish Species In Ghana, Vida Samantha Osei

Open Access Master's Theses

Separating effects of fishing from responses of environmental factors is a key problem for fisheries scientists. I used data from fishery-independent trawl surveys (6 years data from 1999 – 2016) to test influences of fishing effort and environmental factors (temperature, oxygen salinity) on the abundance and spatial distribution of two species groups: 5 economically important species and 3 non-commercial species on the continental shelf of Ghana. Fishing effort, measured for the entire study area, affected year-to-year changes in the abundance of all but one species (5 species negatively, 2 positively, and 1 species unaffected). All species also showed significant spatio-temporal …

Isopycnal Mixing In The North Atlantic Oxygen Minimum Zone Revealed By Rafos Floats, Donald William Rudnickas Jr.

Open Access Master's Theses

The Eastern Tropical North Atlantic Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) is a biogeochemically important area in the vicinity of the Cape Verde Islands formed by a combination of biological and physical processes. We use data collected from isopycnal RAFOS oats that were precisely ballasted into two groups and deployed at five locations near the edge of the OMZ. One group was ballasted to drift on the isopycnal where oxygen is at its minimum, and the other group about 300 m deeper. Nearly every six hours for 600 days the oats recorded their positions, temperature, pressure, and (at the isopycnal aligned with …

Positioning By Road Feature Correspondence, Tyson Demarest

Open Access Master's Theses

This research analyzes a new method to localize a moving vehicle within a known road network using differential odometry and a digital road map. The technique proposes geometrically hashing road features whose curvature is great enough to represent a distinct, measurable, real-world phenomenon. Several other strategies using road map data to constrain a localization search are discussed. In the recognition phase, this research proposes using a modified particle filter provides a way to maintain, test, and resample multiple hypotheses of the vehicle’s dead-reckoned location.

Sentiment Features For Yelp Not-Recommended Online Reviews Study, Na Li

Open Access Master's Theses

Nowadays, online reviews have become an important source of opinions that people refer to while making decisions. For instance, there are more and more people who refer to Yelp reviews to judge the quality of services that are provided by local businesses. Due to the popularity and guidance of online reviews, many reviews have been imposed for the purpose of either promoting or downgrading target services. Yelp develops its own automatic review recommendation algorithm, which has marked many suspicious reviews as Not-recommended Reviews. Yelp has automatically grouped its online reviews in two different categories, and it is a common …