A scarcity of comparable research on the transport of bacteria has forced hydrologic models to assume that bacteria travel as dissolved chemicals. In reality, most bacteria preferentially attach to soil aggregates, and behave very differently from planktonic bacteria. The goal of this research project was to identify and evaluate a laboratory method for partitioning between attached and planktonic bacteria that could be used to improve hydrologic modeling. Attachment was measured indirectly as the difference between total and planktonic bacterial concentration. Planktonic concentration was defined as the concentration of bacteria that could pass through an 8 μm screen. Total concentration was determined by disaggregating attached bacteria through a dispersion treatment. A randomized complete block design was structured to test for the effects of filtering, two dispersion treatment options, and the presence of soil on concentration. Tween-85 surfactant was selected as the best dispersant for use in further studies. About 78% of bovine <I>E. coli</I> in the laboratory samples were adsorbed/associated with sterile soil particles. Twenty samples of different bacteria-soil ratios were analyzed using this method to develop an isotherm equation describing <I>E. coli</I> partitioning. The <I>E. coli</I> used to inoculate these samples was cultured using a chemostat reactor to control cell growth stage and control variability. A linear isotherm (R²=0.88) was selected to describe this experimental data; however, future studies characterizing the partitioning behavior of <I>E. coli</I> under different environmental conditions are recommended in order to better understand attachment prior to modeling attached and planktonic <I>E. coli</I> separately. / Master of Science

Certain urban public spaces seem to embody the cities in which they are found, helping to make those cities the vibrant places they are. This project explores how urban public spaces can be created to reflect the vitality of the city by embracing the culture and the people who reside in it. Through literature review and case studies, a framework is developed focusing on the areas of identity and use in the design of public spaces. Identity is looked at in terms of place attachment, spatial identity, and how surrounding uses affect the identity of a space. Use is explored in terms of designing a public space to encourage a diversity of uses at different times. Identity and use are inevitably linked: much of a space's identity depends on the uses that take place there and whether or not the space meets the needs of its users. In the same way, a space will not be used unless potential users can identify with it and feel a connection to it. A design project is carried out in an urban neighborhood based on this framework to create a space that is connected to its users and its city. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Yes / Developing medical devices that resist bacterial attachment and subsequent biofilm formation is highly desirable. In this paper, we report the optimization of the molecular structure and thus material properties of a range of (meth)acrylate copolymers which contain monomers reported to deliver bacterial resistance to surfaces. This optimization allows such monomers to be employed within novel coatings to reduce bacterial attachment to silicone urinary catheters. We show that the flexibility of copolymers can be tuned to match that of the silicone catheter substrate, by copolymerizing these polymers with a lower Tg monomer such that it passes the flexing fatigue tests as coatings upon catheters, that the homopolymers failed. Furthermore, the Tg values of the copolymers are shown to be readily estimated by the Fox equation. The bacterial resistance performance of these copolymers were typically found to be better than the neat silicone or a commercial silver containing hydrogel surface, when the monomer feed contained only 25 v% of the “hit” monomer. The method of initiation (either photo or thermal) was shown not to affect the bacterial resistance of the copolymers. Optimized synthesis conditions to ensure that the correct copolymer composition and to prevent the onset of gelation are detailed. / Impact Accelerators Account at the University of Nottingham; Camstent Ltd; The Wellcome Trust (ref 085245 and 103882)

This study mainly evaluated the thermo-mechanical reliability of lead-free packaging techniques for attaching large-area chip. With 3 MPa pressure, a low-temperature (<300oC) sintering technique enabled by a nano-scale silver paste was developed for attaching 100 mm2 silicon die. This new lead-free packaging technique for die-attachment was compared with soldering by vacuum reflow. Lead-free solder SAC305 and SN100C were selected and used in this work since they were widely used in electronic packaging industry. Inspection of as-prepared die-attachments by X-ray and optical microscopy (observation of cross-section) showed that the voids percentage in solder joint was less than 5% and no voids was observed at the scale of hundreds of micron in sintered silver joint. Then these die-attachment were thermal cycled with the temperature range from -40oC to 125oC. Deduction of curvature and residual stresses were found for both soldered and sintered die-attachment. After 800 cycles, the residual stresses in silicon-solder-copper sample already decreased to around 0. The SEM images of solder and silver joint after 800 thermal cycles showed that cracks longer than 2.5 mm already grew in both kinds of solder joint (die-attachment of Si-Solder-Copper). In contrast, no cracks or voids at the scale of hundreds of micron were defected in silver joint. Based on these observation, different mode of stress-relaxation were proposed for sintered silver and solder, respectively. While solder joint released stresses by crack growth, the silver joint relied on the deformation of porous structure, and plastic deformation may occur. The pressure-sintering process with double printing and drying was proved to be a reliable process to produce sintered - silver bonding with high strength. The reliability of silver joint was better than that of SAC305 or SN100C. Besides, the technique of measuring the curvature by laser scanning, introduced in this work, showed its significance by directly reflecting the bonding integrity of die-attachment. As a nondestructive testing technique, It was a cheaper and faster way to examine the die-attachment. Additionally, it overcame the disadvantage of X-ray Inspection: it was of the ability to differentiate between layers of die-attachment. / Master of Science

This study was a partial test of the theoretical model of the ability to parent proposed by Ricks (1985). The purpose of the study was to examine the variables of marital quality, model of self, the recalled quality of attachment to ones' parents and sex of subject as related to current parenting attitudes. The Mother-Father-Peer Scale (MFP) was used to measure recalled attachment to parent (Epstein, 1983). Parenting attitudes were measured on two scales designed by Itkin (1952), an Acceptance-Rejection scale and a Strict-Permissive scale. One question from Spanier's (1976) Dyadic Adjustment Scale was used to assess marital harmony. Model of self was measured using the Self-Rating scale from the Family Assessment Measure (Skinner, Steinhauer, & Santa-Barbara, 1984). There were 126 subjects in the study, 60 males and 66 females. Pearson ṟ correlations were calculated between all the variables. A parenting attitude favoring acceptant, positive treatment of children was related to a more permissive attitude toward control of children. Memories of maternal independence-encouraging behavior were related to a parenting attitude favoring strict control of children. Multiple regression analysis suggested that self-rating of family functioning and sex were the best predictors of a parental attitude of acceptance versus rejection. However, these variables explained only 26% of the variance in acceptance-rejection scores. The results of the analyses offered only limited support for the model under study. Based on a median split of the theoretical ranges on the parenting scales, subjects were classified using Maccoby and Martin's (1983) model of parenting styles. All the parents in this study were classified as having parenting attitudes falling into the authoritarian-reciprocal quadrant of this model. Such parents would be considered as being accepting yet controlling in their behavior toward their children. This finding was interpreted as indicating that all the subjects in this study had the ability to parent. This lack of dispersion on the parenting classification could have contributed to the lack of statistical significance to completely support the portion of the model being tested. / Ph. D.

Attachment is a psychological connection between two or more individuals. Paternal -infant attachment is significant to the social and physical health of the infant and father. There is a gap in the literature regarding the importance of attachment between father and infant. The purpose of this thesis was to review the available literature about paternal-infant attachment and to determine promising nursing interventions to promote successful paternal-infant attachment. An integrative review of research was performed using the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). MEDLINE, PsychINFO, PsychArticles and Academic Search Premier. The key terms that were used to search the databases were: paternal, father, infant, newborn, bonding, attachment, feelings and relationship. Ten studies were examined in detail. Nursing interventions found to improve paternal-infant attachment are based on education, improving the psychological well-being of both the father and infant and decreasing anxiety or stress the father may feel before and after the birth process. Multiple methods to improve overall paternal-infant attachment are recommended.

The study investigated whether a relationship existed between using technology for recreation, and attachment style with important individuals in the lives of respondents. The main results showed that (4) a decrease in friend anxiety contributes towards an increase in the positive attitude towards using the HES for explicit content; (5) An increase in romantic partner anxiety contributed towards an increase in the positive attitude towards using the HES for social replacement. (6) Decreased father avoidance and increased father anxiety lead to an increasingly positive attitude towards using the PC for social, romantic and sexual improvement; (7) an increase in mother avoidance and anxiety, partner anxiety and friend anxiety contributed towards an increase in the positive attitude towards using the cell phone for explicit content and relationship related activities. / Psychology / (M.A. (Psychology))

Grandparent-Grandchild Attachment as a Predictor of Psychological Adjustment among Youth from Divorced Families

Traditional and cyber bullying have been identified as universal problematic issues facing adolescents, and research is needed to understand correlates associated with these phenomena. Structural equation modeling analyses examined associations between attachment to parents, traditional and cyber bullying or victimization, and mental health outcomes among 257 high school students (Average age 15.9 years). Key patterns emerged, including associations between maternal attachment and mental health outcomes; victimization and mental health concerns; and bullying and victimization in both traditional and cyber contexts. The role of attachment to mothers and fathers varied by context. Findings extend the literature by identifying risk factors in adolescence associated with bullying and victimization, as well as suggesting appropriate prevention and intervention strategies to increase adolescent well-being.

The purpose of the study is to examine adult attachment relationships among a group of college students and their parents. Two attachment hypotheses were tested: The mental model hypothesis for attachments with parents and romantic partners and the compensation hypothesis for attachment with God. Hypothesis 1 attempted to determine if there was agreement between parents and children about a self-reported attachment style. Support was found as students and parents had a significantly higher level of agreement when reporting a secure style of attachment between them, with sons being significantly highest. Hypothesis 2 examined agreement on attachment style between generations: Children's report of attachments to parents and parents' report of attachment to their parents. Results indicated that parents' reporting a secure style of attachment to their parents was significantly higher with their same gender parents. Hypothesis 3 produced two 15 x 15 correlation matrices including measures of romantic attachment and religiousness for children and parents. In general, further validity for measures used is provided in numerous expected correlations. Anxious and avoidant romantic attachment styles and desperate love were significantly positively related and were often negatively related to a secure style of attachment. Results indicate significant relationships between fathers' and children's (particularly daughters') romantic styles. The only significant correlation for mothers and sons was on religiousness; however, mothers and daughters, fathers and daughters, as well as mothers and fathers were all significantly positively correlated on religiousness. Hypothesis 4 results indicated that when there was disagreement with fathers on attachment style, children scored higher on a measure of religiousness, supporting the compensation hypothesis. Hypothesis 5 found that children with secure attachments to both parents and mothers with high importance of religion also scored significantly higher on importance of religion, supporting the mental model hypothesis. Overall, this study suggests that the mental model and compensation hypotheses do not compete, but rather, coexist in different contexts, perhaps with mediating events that discriminate between the two processes.