Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Diel Periodicity In Export Flux In The Gulf Of Mexico Using A Particulate Imaging System, Justin Edward Blancher

Master's Theses

To estimate the diurnal periodicity in the biological pump, a floating array with a marine snow camera system at 150 m depth was used, and particles were imaged at a 40 second interval for a 24 to 30 hour period at five sites in the Gulf of Mexico in June 2017. Each image was processed to identify and size all the particles within the frame, which was then processed to determine diameter, an estimated volume, and settling speed for each particle. Using these parameters, particle mass was estimated using algebraically rearranged calculations for settling speed. Each hour during the deployment …

Dna Methylation Methods For Donor Age Prediction Using Touch Dna, Emily Neverett

Master's Theses

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated over 30 million individuals fall victim to human trafficking each year, of which, 50% are children below the age of 16. In 2012, the ILO reported there to be 168 million child laborers worldwide, with many trafficked into hazardous conditions to manufacture consumer products that are sold in developed countries. This is a modern form of slavery with poor working conditions, no access to education, and low wages. The hidden nature of this crime, however, makes it extremely difficult to identify and locate victims of forced child labor, and thus making it challenging to …

Effects Of Exercise Training On The Blood Lactate Response To Acute Exercise In Cancer Survivors, Arjun Ramani

Master's Theses

Otto Warburg, a German physiologist, deduced that cancer cells exhibit a remarkably different metabolic profile in comparison to normal healthy cells characterized by increased rates of glycolysis and lactate fermentation, even in the presence of adequate oxygen content. Through the respective gain of function/loss of function of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, three major genes emerge as hallmarks of carcinogenic metabolic reconfiguration; HIF-1a, c-Myc oncogenes, and p53 tumor-suppressor genes. A result of their respective gain/loss of function are the upregulation of several glycolytic proteins and subsequent high rates of glucose influx into the tumor microenvironment, as well as lactate production, …

Exploring The Influence Of School-Based Sexuality Education Settings On Lgbtq+ Sexual Identity Development, Lauren Marie Guyer

Master's Theses

Previous research on sexual identity development demonstrates that there are five discernible, non-linear statuses in which individuals may pass through as they develop their sexual identity: compulsory heterosexuality, active exploration, diffusion, deepening and commitment, and synthesis (Dillon, Worthington, and Moradi 2011). Moreover, prior research on school-based sexuality education (SBSE) demonstrates that no matter its formal designation or political perspective, SBSE is exclusionary, inadequate, and habitually reproduces social inequalities (Bay-Cheng 2003; Elia and Eliason 2010b). SBSE programs within the United States are insufficient because they unvaryingly promote a heteronormative discourse and do not address the sexual health needs or experiences of …

Pond Occupancy By Western Pond Turtles In The Diablo Range Of Santa Clara County, California, Billy Tu

Master's Theses

The loss of natural habitat is one the primary drivers for species decline worldwide. Artificially, created habitat in human-altered landscapes can help supplement or enhance habitat for threatened wildlife populations. The western pond turtle (Emys pallida), a species declining in California, depends on aquatic habitats for its survival, but can use human-created livestock ponds in lieu of natural aquatic habits. This study examined the extent to which western pond turtle used livestock ponds in Santa Clara County, CA, and the importance of key habitat features in the turtle occupancy of livestock ponds. From March 2017 to September 2017, I conducted …

Macrobenthos Responses To Dam Removal And Habitat Restoration In The West River, Connecticut, Robert W. Sheridan

Master's Theses

Dam removal is being increasingly used nationwide to restore impaired rivers and streams. While dam removals are becoming more prevalent, little is known about whether these efforts create conditions for the enhancement and or establishment of desired biota.

Ongoing monitoring of these projects is an important step in the restoration process to ensure project goals are being met and the restoration has been successful.

This thesis focuses on the Pond Lily Dam removal and restoration which took place in October 2015 along the West River in New Haven Connecticut that removed an aging mill dam with the objective of restoring …

The Effect Of Precipitation On Copy Number Of Nitrogenase Gene Nifh In Soil Bacteria In The Mojave Desert, Christy Armstrong

Master's Theses

Animals, plants, and microbes all rely on nitrogen to be readily available to build amino acids. The earth’s atmosphere is made of 78% nitrogen gas, but this molecule has a strong triple bond that prevents many species from utilizing it directly. Nitrogen fixation must occur in order for individuals to incorporate this nitrogen into their genome. The Mojave Desert is the most arid region in North America, averaging 3.5 inches of rain annually at its lowest elevation. Despite the extreme arid conditions, many species are supported in the region, all of which must rely on some form of nitrogen. This …

Green Stormwater Infrastructure Assessments In Santa Clara County, Ca: An In-Situ Analysis Of Select Bioretention Projects, Laura Bates

Master's Theses

Stormwater runoff, defined as rainwater that flows over impervious surfaces, is both an under-harnessed groundwater resource and the leading contributor to water body impairments due to the number of pollutants it can transport. One widely successful strategy to capture and treat stormwater runoff is to implement Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI): engineered green spaces to enhance the overall environmental quality of an urban landscape. GSI projects, particularly bioretention systems, capture and treat stormwater runoff through infiltration and plant absorption before it reaches receiving bodies of water. In order to operate efficiently, GSI systems require specific maintenance procedures. The purpose of this …

Avocado Root Rot: Steep, Rocky Terrain And Biodiversity Help Protect Small Farmers In Post-Conflict Colombia, Morgan Frankel

Master's Theses

In recent years, small avocado producers in coastal Colombia returned to their farms after decades of war to discover they must battle the pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi devastating their trees. While this disease is well-described in the U.S., Australia, and Europe, no previous research has examined environmental correlates of P. cinnamomi in avocado in the diverse tropical agroecosystem of the Colombian Montes de Maria. I used agroecosystem inventory, in-field diagnostics, and disease observations to describe avocado agroecosystem diversity and identify relationships among P. cinnamomi presence, root rot disease, slope, pH, soil compaction, elevation, and distance to the household in remote smallholder …

The Silicon Valley Approach To Poverty: Humanitarian Designers At Work In Financial Inclusion, Jeffrey Stephen Greger

Master's Theses

This thesis explores the application of ethnographic research and commercially-derived design approaches in support of financial inclusion, a global movement to bring affordable financial services to low-income and rural communities that have traditionally lacked access to these services. I collaborated with and interviewed designers and anthropologists working on financial inclusion projects that range from small, grassroots efforts to create payday loan alternatives in Silicon Valley and London, to more formal international development projects funded by large corporations and philanthropic organizations. Participants in this study shared a strong belief: ethnographic perspectives and design practices that incorporate marginalized voices into the decision-making …

Photovoltaic Waste Management And Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility In The Solar Industry In California, Lee-Tan Lu

Master's Theses

Electronic waste issues impact humans and the environment, primarily because most industrial designs have not considered the impact of products when they reach their end-of-life (EOL) stage. This study focuses on photovoltaic (PV) modules that are widely installed in California residential properties. While PV modules do not generate waste while operating, they will become waste at the end of their expected lifespan of 25 to 40 years. Thus, it is important to identify PV waste management strategies before the materials in the modules become a discard problem. In California, despite hazardous materials that are used in the production of PV …

The Life History Of The Southern Lanternshark, Etmopterus Granulosus, From The Southwestern Indian Ocean, Melissa Nehmens

Master's Theses

The Southern Lanternshark, Etmopterus granulosus, is a deep-sea shark that associates with seamounts and ridges between 220-1500 m throughout the southern oceans. Though not a targeted species, it is frequently incidentally caught in several fisheries, and comprises the highest amount of bycatch by number in the Orange Roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) fishery in the Southwestern Indian Ocean. Despite how frequently this species is encountered, surprisingly little is known about it beyond basic biology. The lack of life history information is partially attributed to the difficulty in obtaining samples and is compounded by a lack of methods to appropriately assess traditional life …

Genetic Diversity In The Leucoagaricus Cultivar Fungus Of Trachymyrmex Septentrionalis Fungus-Growing Ants, Lee Deininger

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Lisdexamfetamine On Effort-Related And Consummatory Behaviors Supported By Foods With Varying Degrees Of Palatability: Exploration Of A Binge-Like Eating Model, Rose Presby

Master's Theses

Diets high in sugar or fat are associated with multiple health conditions, including binge eating disorder (BED). BED affects approximately 2% of the US adult population, and occurs more frequently in females. It is important to develop animal models of palatable food consumption, food seeking, and voluntary physical activity that may have relevance for BED. The d-amphetamine prodrug lisdexamfetamine (LDX) is used to treat BED. The present experiments studied the effect of LDX on food intake and effort-based choice tasks in female Wistar rats. In experiment one, three groups of rats received different food exposure conditions randomly spread over several …

Effect Of Family Structure On Mental Health Problems In Adolescents In The United States, Adekemi Olaide Suleiman

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

The Marital Relationship, And Its Association With The Physical And Emotional Health Of Women In A Low-Income Community Of Mumbai, India, Nita Thapa-Chhetri

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Understanding Trade-Offs Between Built And Natural Assets In Coastal Management Projects For Inland, Coastal Residents Using Latent Class Modeling Techniques: An Application To The Connecticut Coastline, Julia Dumaine

Master's Theses

Climate change threatens our established communities worldwide through consistently increased average surface temperatures, rising sea levels, and precipitation extremes, and Connecticut is no exception (U.S. Global Change Research Program 2017). As coastal communities in Connecticut increase their focus on mitigating the effects of climate change, they are not always able to incorporate town residents’ preferences and values into their planning; particularly those residents who may not receive a direct benefit from the plan of which they contribute tax dollars towards. Our study attempts to estimate these preferences and values by using a choice experiment survey distributed across the Connecticut coastline …

Onshore Habitat Use As A Driver Of Diet, Contaminant Exposure, And Immune Function Of Southern Beaufort Sea Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus), Jennifer Bourque

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of New England Sheep Producers, Arielle L. Halpern

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Reanalysis Of The Usher Syndrome Type 2 Carrier As “Phenotype-Free”, Peter Perrino

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Thermophysical Properties And Characterization Of Diamond Silicon Carbide, Alexandra Merkouriou

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Small Rna Sequencing And Rt-Qpcr Validation Of Forensically Relevant Body Fluids, Karly Johannsen

Master's Theses

Body fluid identification is an important aspect of forensic investigations because it assists with the reconstruction of crime scenes and can refute and/or support witness statements. Currently, there is no universal method for body fluid identification. Each body fluid has several tests for its identification, both presumptive and confirmatory. A universal method for body fluid identification that is sensitive, specific, efficient, and minimally destructive is necessary.

In recent years miRNAs have been heralded as novel biomarkers for the identification of body fluids. Several research groups across the US and internationally have been formed to determine which miRNAs are suitable for …

Naatm1: Examining The Mechanism Of A Heavy-Metal Abc Exporter, Dennis Hicks

Master's Theses

ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) Transporters are a superfamily of integral membrane proteins that have been found embedded in both the cellular membranes and internal organelles of all species yet analyzed (1). This extreme conservation throughout the tree of life is due to their vitally critical and broad task of transporting all manner of things into and out of the cell and related organelles. This broadness of responsibility has led to an abundant diversity of this family, which in turn, has allowed life to adapt to the many environments found on Earth. While the importance and variability of this family is abundantly …

Effect Of Bio-Augmentation Product Biowish® Septic Rescue On The Wastewater Treatment Performance Of Residential Septic Tanks, Kimberly Michelle Lamar Merilles

Master's Theses

Residential septic systems provide reliable wastewater treatment for over 26 million homes and facilities in the United States, and many more worldwide. When properly maintained, these systems are reliable, low-cost, and long-term treatments for residential wastewater. When neglected, septic systems can fail and lead to health concerns and ecological harm to soil and groundwater contamination through the improperly treated wastewater effluent.

This study tested the effect of the bio-augmentation product BiOWiSH® Septic Rescue of BiOWiSH® Technologies International, Inc. (hereafter referred to as BiOWiSH) on the biological treatment of residential septic tanks. BiOWiSH is meant to act as a bio-augmentation product …

Indoor Air Monitoring Of Ethanol And Benzene In A Pilot Winery Using Active Sampling, Andrew I. Kaneda

Master's Theses

Acute indoor concentrations of benzene and ethanol were evaluated in the California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo’s pilot winery workroom. Air samples were collected during four different wine-making activities: fermentation, fermentation with Brix content testing, post-alcoholic fermentation pressing, and storage/finishing. Average workroom benzene concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 0.12 mg/m³. Ethanol concentrations in the winery workroom varied with the activity, ranging from 0.9 to 12 mg/m³. Pressing and fermentation with Brix content testing both led to higher indoor ethanol concentrations than fermentation without Brix content testing and storage/finishing.

Tracer gas decay air exchange tests were …

Perturbation Based Decomposition Of Semg Signals, Rachel Huettinger

Master's Theses

Surface electromyography records the motor unit action potential signals in the vicinity of the electrode to reveal information on muscle activation. Decomposition of sEMG signals for characterization of constituent motor unit action potentials in terms of amplitude and firing times is useful for clinical research as well as diagnosis of neurological disorders. Successful decomposition of sEMG signals would allow for pertinent motor unit action potential information to be acquired without discomfort to the subject or the need for a well-trained operator (compared with intramuscular EMG). To determine amplitudes and firing times for motor unit action potentials in an sEMG recording, …

Avian Use Of A Bottomland Hardwood Afforestation Site In The Red River Alluvial Valley, Colby W. Sharp

Master's Theses

Bottomland hardwood forests (BHF) cover about 2.8 million hectares of the original 10 million hectares that once existed in the southeastern United States. These losses have led to an emphasis on afforestation of retired agricultural land. Research was needed to evaluate changes in wildlife communities as these afforested stands progress through succession. To assess the avian community at this 25-year-old afforested BHF, I conducted point count surveys at 28 point locations across seven forest types, six times during the 2016–2018 avian breeding seasons. My research objectives were to determine: (1) if avian density and diversity varied among the dominant forest …

Effectiveness Of Windrow Composting Methodology In Killing A Thermo-Tolerant Species Of Salmonella During Mortality Composting, Spencer Gabriel Myers

Master's Theses

In a large agricultural operation, such as the one at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, disposal of deceased animals is an immense issue. The cost of transporting and rendering every dead animal is inhibitory to the general function of the agricultural operations and their thin budget. Therefore, we propose that composting mortalities could be an economical alternative. Composting is a recognized method for taking animal waste products along with carbon waste and turning it into a pathogen-free, nutrient-rich topsoil. Carcass composting is in fact performed in other countries and states to varying degrees of success. However, the California EPA limits …

Suitability Of Cultivated Forms Of Native Shrubs To Support Pollinators, Jacob Gordon Ricker

Master's Theses

There is increased interest in native plants for landscaping to support pollinators. The majority of native plants sold by nurseries are cultivars. Some consumer and conservation groups question the suitability of native cultivars to support pollinators. This work evaluated insect pollinator visitation for six native shrub species, and one or more cultivars of each species. The following species were installed in a full sun field behind the University of Connecticut Floriculture Greenhouse Facility in a randomized complete block design with three replicates: Aronia melanocarpa, A. melanocarpa ‘UCONNAM012’ Ground Hog®, A. melanocarpa ‘UCONNAM165’ Low Scape Mound®, Clethra alnifolia, C. …

Desertification Assessment Using Medalus Method And Gis Techniques In North America Arid Environments, Essdik Bashir Habashi

Master's Theses

Desertification is a massive issue that affects many countries that have dry climates. The impacts of this phenomenon threaten the sustainability of natural resources, as well as agricultural, water, and food resources. Several factors that affect directly or indirectly desertification and making it worse are population growth, climate change, deforestation, overgrazing, natural disaster, and urbanization and other types of land development. This thesis research evaluated the desertification index in three counties in California State and three counties in New Mexico State by using the MEDALUS model (Mediterranean Desertification and Land Use) within a geographic information system (GIS). The model includes …