<p> A set of scales was created, the "Modified Conibear Scales" which can be used as a basis of comparison to rate the performance of other traps in the areas of impact energy, closing time and clamping force. Further, a detailed set of secondary non quantitative characteristics was presented.</p> <p> Using the above information, several promising traps were rated in order to assess these scales, give some immediate results and indicate promising traps or trap features. Further work in the field was facilitated by providing a detailed experimental procedure, complete lists of data and a calibrated trap for animal research.</p> / Thesis / Master of Engineering (MEngr)

Demand for the skill of critical thinking is extensive in both higher education and in the workforce. The purpose of the current research is to examine the relationship between critical thinking educational efforts (e.g., programs incorporating high impact practices) and higher education student outcomes. For this study, student outcomes were defined as cumulative grade point average and student program retention. The study used existing data which were obtained from a large public research university in the southwest United States. The study found that higher critical thinking was significantly associated with higher overall GPA, and this relationship was stronger in males as compared to females. However, students' critical thinking was not significantly related to program retention. Findings from this study appear to confirm previous studies indicating a positive relationship between students' ability to think critically and GPA. The study also suggests that elements promoting critical thinking can be successfully embedded into undergraduate curricula through various means, including the use of high impact practices.

Las angiospermas marinas son organismos esenciales para los ecosistemas costeros de zonas templadas. Sostienen una amplia diversidad biológica, regulan la dinámica sedimentaria costera y capturan grandes cantidades de carbono atmosférico. Sin embargo, a pesar de los servicios ecosistémicos que proporcionan, se encuentran amenazadas por actividades humanas y, especialmente, por la contaminación marina. Para conservar las praderas de angiospermas marinas es necesario desarrollar herramientas de seguimiento a todos los niveles de organización biológica que permitan detectar el estrés fisiológico para prevenir la regresión de estos valiosos hábitats, o de determinar la magnitud de estos procesos a gran escala. Es por ello que se plantea esta tesis con el objetivo de determinar el grado de afección de los vertidos de salmuera procedente de plantas desaladoras, además de su interacción con otros estresores ambientales, desde la escala molecular (expresión de genes) hasta la poblacional (cobertura de las praderas). Estos análisis podrán permitir la selección de biomarcadores específicos que sirvan como indicadores de alerta temprana de estrés y puedan permitir la toma de medidas de gestión para conservar. Los capítulos 2 y 3 de la tesis mostraron, por un lado, una estabilidad general de las praderas someras de la angiosperma marina Posidonia oceanica en la provincia de Alicante y, por otro, una grave regresión de la pradera en la bahía de la ciudad de Alicante. Esto se debe a la coexistencia de diversos impactos ambientales en esa zona que son responsables de esta pérdida de cobertura (619 hectáreas desde 1984), a pesar de la estabilidad general de estas praderas a mayor escala. De esta forma se puede determinar que los procesos de declive de estos ecosistemas no se produce de forma global y generalizada sino a escala local y, por tanto, las herramientas de gestión deben enfocarse en una menor escala espacial y atendiendo a los estresores específicos de cada zona. En el capítulo 4 se sometió a la angiosperma marina Zostera chilensis (endémica del Pacífico sudamericano) a incrementos de salinidad (+3 y +6 practical salinity units, psu) con sales artificiales para determinar su respuesta y tolerancia a potencial vertido de salmuera. La planta mostró una reducción fotoquímica una producción de peróxido de hidrógeno y una sobreexpresón de genes relativos a la osmorregulación y el estrés oxidativo. La respuesta etabólica fue similar a ambos incrementos de salinidad, pero la mayor producción de peróxido y de enfriamiento no fotoquímico a +6 psu parecen indicar que esta salinidad está por encima del umbral de tolerancia de la planta, y por tanto que podría ser vulnerable a un in. En los capítulos 5, 6 y 7 se aplicaron distintos incrementos de salinidad a P. oceanica (desde +2 hasta +6 psu) con salmuera real de una planta desaladora, tanto en condiciones de laboratorio como de terreno (frente a vertido de una planta desaladora) y midiendo respuestas metabólicas tanto en hojas como en meristemos apicales. La salmuera mostró incrementar ciertos indicadores de estrés comparado con sales artificiales y la producción de peróxido de hidrógeno, la peroxidación de lípidos y la expresión de genes relacionados con el estrés osmótico y oxidativo fueron superiores en condiciones naturales (terreno). Además las respuestas fueron más claras en los meristemos apicales en comparación con las hojas. Todos estos resultados indican que los vertidos de salmuera en interacción con los factores naturales ambientales pueden genera un mayor estrés metabólico y fisiológico, que además se puede medir más claramente en los meritemos que en las hojas. El uso de biomarcadores moleculares y bioquímicos en praderas expuestas a vertidos de salmuera, puede permitir la detección temprana de estrés y la potencial interacción con otros factores ambientales (naturales o antrópicos) que puedan comprometer la fisiología y la supervivencia de la planta. Por tanto estos indicadores tienen el potencial de usarse, en combinación con indicadores fenológicos o poblacionales, en planes de seguimiento para medir el grado de afección de un estresor. En esta tesis se proponen una serie de biomarcadores específicos al estrés generado por la salmuera con el fin de desarrollar medidas de gestión costera específicas a escala local que puedan detectar el impacto ambiental y prevenir la degradación de estos ecosistemas marinos. / Tesis financiada por la convocatoria UAFPU98 del programa propio del Vicerrectorado de Investigación de la Universidad de Alicante.

Neighbor noise has repeatedly been proven to have a detrimental effect on multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) residents’ physical and mental health. Impact noises have been shown to cause the most indoor noise annoyance amongst residents. Moreover, lightweight assemblies are known for their general poor sound insulation and are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to concrete and steel structures in North America and Europe. Floating toppings have been used to control impact noise, but the effect of the source-receiver interaction is often neglected when they are modelled by engineers in the industry. More research needs to be done to determine the actual influence of the source-receiver interaction on floor assemblies with floating toppings. Studying the source-receiver interaction is fundamental to tackling the issue of structure-borne noise in MURBs because it has been shown to influence the first of five factors of impact sound transmission: the power injected. The power injected into a floor due to an impact source has been shown to depend on the mechanical mobility match (or the source-receiver interaction) between the impact source and the impacted floor. However, many questions remain around the significance of the source-receiver interaction. This project investigates the significance of the source-receiver interaction for structure-borne sound sources on floor assemblies with floating toppings, and how much it varies from one source-floor combination to another.

The purpose of this study is to examine if a difference exists in the quantity and/or quality, in terms of effectiveness in the portrayal of teachers, and according to gender, in New York Times best selling picturebooks, 2008 to 2012. This study examines the depiction of a teacher in terms of their effectiveness, as defined by Robert Walker’s 12 Characteristics of an effective teacher. Examining each of the portrayed teachers for both the 12 effective characteristics, as well as their direct antithesis, presents a clear image of the teachers presented to young audiences through picturebooks. In addition to comparing the presentation of a male teacher as opposed to a female teacher, this study revealed the depiction of teachers to be one who is almost always female, generally prepared, creative, and positive. Educational implications for choosing picturebooks and highlighting positive qualities to children are also provided.

Within the last few decades, public opinion has greatly shaped the justice system to prevent "slippery slopes". This is most evident in the common law doctrine that restricts an alleged victim for recovering damages of emotional distress without notable physical manifestation in the eyes of a layperson—The Impact Doctrine. However, emotional distress is manifested in many psychological illnesses that do not require physical injury that are recognized as legitimate in psychology. This research explores the history of the rule and how it is inconsistent with not only areas of science; but also, other areas of the law. The purpose of this thesis is to explore alternatives to The Impact Doctrine. Through analysis of American common law, Florida common law, and British common law, it can be concluded that the British have found the best alternative to the rule that helps prevent "slippery slopes", while also bridging the gap between science and the law. By analyzing the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community and Civil Rights Actions, the LGBT community may bring a suit for emotional distress based upon a Civil Rights action.

The Mississippi River Bridge in Vicksburg, MS is a 7 span cantilever bridge that is 3,389 feet long by 68.5 feet wide and is part of the Interstate-20 corridor. On March 23, 2011 at 1:30pm, a barge moving downstream struck a pier of the bridge. Infrasound stations located at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) detected the impact. Coincidentally, ERDC had instrumented the bridge with strain gages and accelerometers as part of a structural health monitoring project. Finite Element (FE) models were developed to investigate the structural behavior of the bridge due to the impact. The measurements and the FE models were used to determine the source mechanism of the infrasound from the bridge. Measurements from the sensors that were installed on the bridge will be presented along with FE models and infrasound data.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are an important ecological, social, and economic resource in Mississippi. Studies have been conducted on expenditures by white-tailed deer hunters, but none have administered a research-based, economic impact assessment for white-tailed deer in Mississippi. The economic impacts and associated values of white-tailed deer in Mississippi through a selfministered mail questionnaire were examined to collect white-tailed deer hunter expenditure data during the 2003/2004 hunting season. Expenditures of white-tailed deer hunters were obtained from a mail survey (N = 1,257, 38.6% response rate) and were used in an input-output model to determine economic impacts for the State. Economic impacts generated from white-tailed deer hunting expenditures totaled $951.1 million for the 2003/2004 white-tailed deer hunting season. The value added component of the economic impact totaled $686.7 million and supported 43,964 full- and part-time jobs.

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