Digital Commons Network^™

Implementing A Long-Term Bridge Monitoring Strategy For A Composite Steel Girder Bridge, Shelley Plude

Master's Theses

The University of Connecticut and the Connecticut Department of Transportation have established a long-term bridge health monitoring system to monitor critical vulnerabilities in a group of bridges throughout the state. This research focuses on a three-span, simply supported composite steel girder bridge carrying three lanes of highway traffic. It has been a part of the University of Connecticut and Connecticut Department of Transportation monitoring network since 2004 and is fitted with 20 strain gauges located at midspan at the top and bottom of the web of each girder.

To monitor the critical vulnerabilities of the bridge, it is important to …

Automation Of Orthodontic Wire Tester For Performing Three Point Bending Tests, Adithya Venkatesan

Master's Theses

Abstract

Understanding the biomechanical factors in orthodontics is important in order to improve the overall effectiveness of actual clinical treatment. An accurate method to study the threedimensional (3D) force systems and the resulting movements of teeth during orthodontic treatment is needed along with the understanding of the material properties of any orthodontic wire. Until recently, most of the orthodontic biomechanics literature was limited to twodimensional experimental studies. Recent advances in threedimensional computer modeling have also been developed but have been limited to the manual control of tooth movement. Overall, there is very little published evidence in the literature on the …

Overweight And Obesity In Health Care Workers In Relation To Musculoskeletal Conditions And Weight Loss, Jessica Lynn Ehrentraut

Master's Theses

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are the most prevalent occupational injuries in nursing home employees. Most of the research and interventions in the past 30 years have focused on teaching and training nursing home staff proper lifting and body mechanics to reduce the risk of injury. The weight of the nursing home staff and patients have increased dramatically in recent years parallel to the significant growth of adiposity in the general population with two out of three adults overweight, and one of four obese (Body mass index (BMI) > 30). This puts the staff at even higher risk for MSD injuries due to …

Testing For A Descriptive And Injunctive Norm Interaction In Promoting Health Behavior, Robert E. Low

Master's Theses

Social norms-based interventions have demonstrated efficacy as tools for behavior change interventions. Nonetheless, there is some theoretical and empirical evidence that the efficacy of injunctive norms-based appeals can be undermined by their tendency to 1) arouse psychological reactance among participants, and 2) inadvertently imply that few others are completing the target behavior. The author hypothesizes that supplementing an injunctive appeal with evidence of a supporting descriptive norm will counteract these problematic tendencies. The present research describes a test of of this hypothesis in the context of an intervention to fight H1N1 on campus. Boxes of sanitizing keyboard wipes were placed …

A Field And Modeling Assessment Of Methyl Mercury Accumulation In An Engineered Retention Pond, Lauren C. Blazeck

Master's Theses

The accumulation of methyl mercury (MeHg) in lakes during summer stratification has been demonstrated to affect biotic mercury (Hg) accumulation. However, small, shallow polymictic lakes can experience short-term stratification and mixing events that are largely unstudied in their abilities to affect Hg cycling and MeHg accumulation. Short-term stratification events and changing lake characteristics impact lake biogeochemical cycles, and therefore, MeHg production and transport. A field and modeling analysis was performed on a small suburban lake located on the University of Connecticut campus to determine the impact of lake characteristics on the potential for MeHg accumulation. MeHg concentrations ranged from non-detect …

Aronia Mitschurinii: Solving A Horticultural Enigma, Peter J. Leonard

Master's Theses

Aronia (Medik.), commonly known as chokeberry, is a taxonomically misunderstood genus currently experiencing a renaissance in North America as both an ornamental and fruit crop. Three species of chokeberry are commonly accepted as native in North America: A. arbutifolia (L.) Pers. red chokeberry; A. melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot, black chokeberry; and A. prunifolia (Marshall) Rehder, or purple chokeberry. In Europe a fourth species of human origin is recognized as Aronia mitschurinii (A.K.Skvortsov & Maitul.), or cultivated, black-fruited Aronia. It is widely speculated that this genotype originated in the early 20^th century with Russian pomologist Ivan Michurin, as the product …

The Influence Of Resistance Training On Primary Hemostatic Responses, Brent C. Creighton

Master's Theses

Objective: The rise in casualties of acute cardio vascular disease has increased the investigation of potential ways to combat these problems. Long term resistance training has been viewed as one possible approach in helping to reduce the hyperaggragability of platelets following acute strenuous exercise. The present investigation was designed to explore the effects of an acute resistance exercise test (AERET) and recovery on the primary hemostatic system in both resistance trained and untrained individuals.Methods: Ten resistance trained (RT) (Age, 26.0 ± 1.42 yr; Height, 175.12 ± 2.7 cm; Weight, 79.56 ± 4.29 kg) and ten untrained individuals UT (Age, …

"Buy Local" Consumer Behavior And Wood Products: A Case Study, Charlotte C. Rand

Master's Theses

Consumers in the United States are increasingly interested in buying locally grown/produced (LG/P) agricultural products (Connor et al. 2009). In comparison, consumer interest in buying local wood products is not evident. In the same way that the LG/P agriculture phenomenon has helped preserve farmland and foster awareness of where food originates, expanding local production of forest products may also create similar benefits for forestland both locally and globally. However, studies examining the “Buy Local” phenomenon and its potential to inform the local production of wood products are not apparent in the literature.

This study examined consumer attitudes and beliefs that …

Glucose Biosensor Using Electrospun Mn2o3-Ag Nanofibers, Shan Huang

Master's Theses

The highly porous Mn₂O₃-Ag nanofibers were fabricated by a facile two-step procedure (electrospinning and calcination) and then employed as the immobilization matrix for glucose oxidase (GOD) to construct an amperometric glucose biosensor. A notable enhancement of direct electron transfer between GOD and the electrode is observed at the Mn₂O₃-Ag-GOD modified electrode with a fast electron transfer rate constant. The biosensor also shows fast response to glucose, high sensitivity (40.60 μA×mM^-1×cm^-2), low detection limit (1.73 µM at S/N=3), low K_m,app value and excellent selectivity. These results indicate that …

The Expression Of T-Box (Tbx3) In The Bovine Mammary Gland, Maria L. Procopio Ms.

Master's Theses

Development of the bovine mammary gland is a complex process that is regulated by several hormones, growth factors and transcription factors including but not limited to growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and T-box (Tbx)2 and 3. Tbx2 and Tbx3 are transcription factors required for mammary gland development in humans and known to regulate cell cycle. In addition, there is recent evidence that GH increases expression of Tbx3 in osteoblasts independent of IGF-I. Based on these findings, we hypothesized GH and IGF-I will increase Tbx2 and Tbx3 expression in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MEC), the cell responsible for milk …

In Vivo Measurement Of Color Relationships Between The Maxillary Central Incisor And Canine As A Function Of Age, Marie E. Falcone

Master's Theses

Abstract

Introduction

It has long been taught that the basic shade (hue) of the patient can be taken from the canine (i.e. that tooth thought to have the highest chroma of a particular hue) and then that hue can be applied to other anterior teeth but at a lower chroma. However, this concept does not appear to derive from published measurements or observations. This study documented the color relationship between in vivo maxillary central incisors and canines to examine: (1) whether they share the same hue, but have different chromas (as commonly taught); and, (2) whether color differences (∆E values) …

Academic Abilities In Children And Adolescents With A History Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Who Have Achieved Optimal Outcomes, Eva Troyb

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Feasibility And Results Of A Computer-Based Driver Safety Assessment, Thomas J. Mahoney

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Hedonic Price Analysis Of Cool Climate Wines In Selected Regions, Jennifer Leigh Ritchie

Master's Theses

Many economists have estimated hedonic price models for wine. The price of wine is thought to represent the various characteristics that differentiate each bottle, assuming that the majority of consumers use price as a signal of quality. The objective of this paper is to identify and examine what factors impact cool climate wine varietals by region based on various attributes. It uses two datasets, one from the Wine Spectator and the other from Beverages and More, an outlet of a liquor store chain in San Luis Obispo, California. The analysis aims to determine which variables impact the price of …

Effect Of Au Content On Microstructural Evolution Of Snagcu Solder Joints That Undergo Isothermal Aging And Reliability Testing, Patrick J. Hyland

Master's Theses

Electronics, especially, printed circuit boards (PCBs) are a widespread technology. Metal coatings or “surface finishes” are often added to PCB board pads and component leads during manufacturing to improve their performance. Electroplated nickel/gold over copper is a popular surface finish for printed circuit boards and component leads. The presence of gold in solder joints, however, is known to have detrimental effects referred to as gold embrittlement. It is generally understood that tin-lead solder joints with less than 3 weight percent (wt%) of gold will not experience reliability issues. The acceptable level of gold in lead-free solder joints, however, is less …

Evaluating The Potential Of Using Passive Rfid Technology As A Real Time Location Tracking System To Assist An Individual With A Visual Impairment, Zachary Lim Tiulentino

Master's Theses

This study evaluated the potential of using Passive Radiofrequency Identification [RFID] Technology as basis for a Real Time Location Tracking System [RTLTS] to assist an individual with a visual impairment participating in physical activities, such as basketball. While RTLTSs exist based upon other technologies, Passive RFID Technology had yet to be examined for its potential in such an application. In this study, a system was designed and modified, for Passive RFID Technology, in order to enhance the performance of the RTLTS. More specifically, the first iteration of the software code employed the use of multiple RFID antennas to cooperatively designate …

Fort Amity: An Experiment In Domiculture, Tommy Schemp

Master's Theses

In 1898, the Salvation Army ventured into a colonization project to take urban working poor people, relocate them to rural areas, and allow them to become productive agriculturalists. The impetus for the project was the book, In Darkest England and the Way Out (1890), by General William Booth, the founder of The Salvation Army. General Booth's daughter, Emma, and son-in-law, Fredrick St. George de Lautour Booth-Tucker, took charge of the Salvation Army in the United States in 1896, and took it upon themselves to carry out General Booth's plan in the United States. The plan was characterized by Frederick Booth-Tucker …

The Role Of Landscape In The Distribution Of Deer-Vehicle Collisions In Two Counties In South-Central Mississippi, Jacob Jeremiah Mckee

Master's Theses

The number of deer killed by vehicle collisions each year in the United States exceeds the number of deer killed annually through hunting. Deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) have a vast negative impact on the economy, traffic safety, and general wellbeing of otherwise healthy deer populations. To mitigate DVCs, it is imperative to gain a better understanding of the factors that play a role in their spatial distribution. Much of the existing research has been inconclusive, pointing to a variety of factors that cause DVCs that are specific to study site and region. Very little DVC research has been undertaken in the …

The Dependency Of The International Community On U.S. Foreign Aid And Intervention, Dedrian Jerrell Mcnulty

Master's Theses

Following the end of the Cold War, the United States found itself in an unprecedented situation. The United States emerged victor of the Cold War and the international community's preeminent superpower. As such, the United States has spread its values and policy initiatives throughout the international community. In the years following the end to Cold War, multiple scholars have predicted different paths which the United States should take. Some scholars have predicted that the United States is "bound to lead," while others have predicted that there is a "Coming Anarchy." However, no reasonable scholar can deny the influence the United …

Effects Of High-Density, Short-Duration Planned Livestock Grazing On Soil Carbon Sequestration Potentials In A Coastal California Mixed Grassland, Kristina Michelle Wolf, Marc Horney, Brent Hallock, Robert T. Rutherford, Anthony T. O'Geen, Royce Larsen, William Plummer

Master's Theses

Planned grazing management in rangelands may improve carbon sequestration potential of soils by increasing plant biomass and the rate of nutrient cycling, which might mitigate global warming. The effects of high-intensity, short-duration planned grazing of sheep on several soil and ecosystem properties were investigated on a mixed grassland in San Luis Obispo, CA. The objectives of this study were to (a) identify soil properties related to soil C sequestration in rangelands; (b) determine if planned grazing improved soil carbon sequestration; (c) quantify changes in identified variables in grazed and rested plots; and (d) analyze any changes in plant species composition …

A Formative Evaluation For A Food Choices Intervention In A Mississippi Delta Community: A Focus Group Of Rural African American Adolescents, Jovan Chantrell Eugene Williams

Master's Theses

A needs assessment should be conducted to plan effective interventions. This study used a qualitative research approach to examine the eating patterns, food purchasing and preparation skills and practices, barriers and facilitators of dietary change, social and contextual influences on food choices, and preferences for communication and presentation channels and styles of low-income rural African American adolescents. Seven focus groups were conducted with a total of 33 participants, 21 girls and 12 boys, aged 13-18. Adolescents were grouped by age and gender. A moderator, who was trained in focus group methodology, conducted the session using a focus group discussion guide …

The Viral Fingerprint: A Content Analysis Of Popular Viral Advertisements, Thomas Grant Broadus Ii

Master's Theses

This paper presents an analysis of 280 online videos that appeared on the Advertising Age weekly chart of the top ten viral videos of the week; the videos appeared on the chart from March 23rd 2009 to March 9th 2011. The videos were analyzed along four areas of observation including the advertiser characteristics, the formatting characteristics of the video, the messaging strategies of each video, and the level of involvement the product would require for a consumer to make a purchase. Through examining the components of each video, a thread of commonality was revealed. Cumulatively, the dominant themes and characteristics …

Temporal And Spatial Variability Of Phytoplankton Biomass In Coastal Mississippi Waters, Lorin Matthew Dornback

Master's Theses

Chlorophyll concentrations were measured in western Mississippi coastal waters to determine the spatial and temporal variability of phytoplankton. Nutrients (nitrate, silicate, phosphate), river discharge, temperature, salinity, stratification, tides, currents and winds were measured in concert with the phytoplankton concentrations. The purpose of this study was to determine the seasonal variability in phytoplankton and what was driving the variability. This study was comprised of a three year (September 2007-November 2010) time series where samples were taken once a month for eight stations. Profiles of each station were taken using a Conductivity, Temperature and Depth (CTD) sensor and a WET Labs FL-3 …

The Use Of Remote Sensing For Mapping Possible Vectors Of West Nile Virus In Mississippi, Brian Matthew Moore

Master's Theses

There is renewed interest in disease surveillance due to the persistence of numerous vector-borne diseases. Though the life-history processes of disease vectors are known to dictate their distribution patterns, it has been hypothesized that vectors, such as local mosquito abundance, could be predicted from factors such as climate and land use/land cover. Remote sensing has been used as a supplement to traditional methods of mosquito surveillance and to map the spatial distribution of mosquito habitats. This, in turn, affords optimism for improved vector/disease management to identify the best use of remote sensing data and geo-statistical techniques to predict and map …

Ornamentation, Behavior, And Maternal Effects In The Female Northern Cardinal, Caitlin Winters

Master's Theses

This study seeks to understand the relationship between ornamentation, maternal effects, and behavior in the female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis). Female birds possess ornaments that indicate a number of important known aspects of quality and are usually costly to maintain. However, the extent to which female specific traits, such as maternal effects, are indicated is less clear. It is predicted by the Good Parent Hypothesis that this information should be displayed through intraspecific signal communication. Specifically, androgens and carotenoids are of interest in this study because both are linked to ornamentation, and are also important egg components that …

The Relationship Of Testosterone And 5-Ht To Aggressive, Self-Aggressive, And Antisocial Behavior In Men, Anne Winston Mcintyre

Master's Theses

Studies of humans show an inconsistent relationship between aggression and T, as well as between T and antisocial and self-aggressive behavior. Other biological variables, including cortisol and brain serotonin, have been implicated as having an effect on the regulation of antisocial and self-aggressive behavior. Researchers have suggested that inconsistencies in the T-aggression relation may be due to the presence of moderating variables. One theory posits that serotonin moderates the relation between T and aggression. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between T (as well as cortisol and 5-HT) and aggression-related constructs. A second purpose was to …

Parenting A Chronically Ill Child: Social Support, Coping, Family Hardiness, And Maternal Stress, Kathryn Lynch Bigalke

Master's Theses

Parents of children with cancer experience higher stress than parents of children with other medical conditions or with no developmental concerns (Canam, 1993; Cohen, 1999). Researchers are beginning to explore a number of protective factors that may influence parental stress in parents of children with cancer. Social support (Abidin, 1992), problem-focused coping (Judge, 1998), and family hardiness (Maddi et al., 2006) have been related to lower levels of stress and more positive outcomes in parents of healthy children, but have not been fully explored in the pediatric cancer population. The current study was designed to assess the relationship between parental …

Influence Of Vineyard Floor Management Practices On Soil Aggregate Stability, Total Soil Carbon And Grapevine Yield, Kimberly Ellen Adams

Master's Theses

Soil aggregates provide pore spaces of various sizes supplying water, gases and nutrients to plant roots and microorganisms, and facilitate moisture retention and availability. Soil aggregate stability is indicative of soil biological and structural health, and is increased by soil carbon derived from plant roots and the soil microbial biomass. Aggregate stability and soil carbon can be enhanced by increasing organic matter through compost additions or by planting cover crops. Additionally, aggregate stability is enhanced by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) that form a symbiotic association with plant roots, and consolidate soil particles into aggregates through hyphal networks and through the …

Effects Of Chainring Design On Performance In Competitive Cyclists, Christiane Rose O'Hara

Master's Theses

The development of noncircular chainrings to improve cycling performance has been in progress since the 1980’s and continues apace. The aim of this study was to compare performance time and physiological responses in cycling using a standard circular chainring versus a noncircular chainring developed in 2005: the Rotor Q-Ring. Eight competitive male cyclists were pre-tested using the original circular chainrings and also on the initial week of testing. The intervention consisted of cycling with Rotor Q-Rings for four weeks. Post-testing occurred with the original chainrings for the final week of testing. Testing consisted of a maximal or submaximal graded exercise …

An Exploratory Investigation Of The Effects Of Dragon Boating On The Psychosocial Well-Being Of Female Cancer Survivors, Clara Therese Louise Vanherweg

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to prospectively examine the effects of dragon boat participation on the psychosocial well-being of female cancer survivors over time and compared with the population-based norms. Nine female cancer survivors belonging to the dragon boat team, SurvivOars, participated in the initial measurement process. The measurement packet was 21 page compilation of psychosocial questionnaires capturing demographics, quality of life, moods, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, self-esteem, self-efficacy, social support, physical activity levels, body image, and sedentary behaviors. After 8 weeks, 8 subjects completed the same follow-up questionnaire to assess changes in psychosocial variables over time. Scores were …