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University of Massachusetts Amherst

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2024 Disease Management At A Glance, Sai Sree Uppala, Martha Sylvia Apr 2024

2024 Disease Management At A Glance, Sai Sree Uppala, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.


2024 Nutrition Management At A Glance, Peter Jeranyama Apr 2024

2024 Nutrition Management At A Glance, Peter Jeranyama

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.


2024 Insect Management At A Glance, Anne Averill, Martha Sylvia Apr 2024

2024 Insect Management At A Glance, Anne Averill, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.


2024 Weed Management At A Glance, Hilary A. Sandler, Katherine Ghantous Apr 2024

2024 Weed Management At A Glance, Hilary A. Sandler, Katherine Ghantous

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.


Use Of Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (Drones) Based Remote Sensing To Model Platform Topography And Identify Human-Made Earthen Barriers In Salt Marshes, Joshua J. Ward Mar 2024

Use Of Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (Drones) Based Remote Sensing To Model Platform Topography And Identify Human-Made Earthen Barriers In Salt Marshes, Joshua J. Ward

Masters Theses

Elevation is a foundational driver of salt marsh morphology. Elevation governs inundation and hydrological patterns, vegetation distribution, and soil health. Anthropogenic impacts at grand scales (e.g., rising sea levels) and local scales (e.g., infrastructure) have altered the elevation of the salt marsh surface, changing the topography and morphology of these ecosystems. This study establishes and assesses means to document and analyze these impacts using Unoccupied Aerial Vehicle (UAV) based remote sensing to model platform topography. This thesis’s first and primary study presents and compares methods of producing high-resolution digital terrain models (DTMs) with UAV-based Digital Aerial Photogrammetry (DAP) and Light …


An Antiviral Response Unleashed: Deciphering The Relationship Between Shiftless And Rna Granules During Kshv Infection, David C. Hatfield Mar 2024

An Antiviral Response Unleashed: Deciphering The Relationship Between Shiftless And Rna Granules During Kshv Infection, David C. Hatfield

Masters Theses

Herpesviruses persist as a parasitic actor among many species. These viral agents can rapidly seize control over host cells by influencing global gene expression. Through a process known as host shutoff, herpesviruses cause a widespread degradation event of host transcripts within the cytoplasm. Specifically, Kaposi Sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes for an endoribonuclease, termed SOX, that orchestrates this manipulation of gene expression. We and others have discovered certain transcripts that escape this fate; we suggest that this is an active escape, where transcripts have 3’ UTR elements that disallow SOX cleavage. One of the escapees that has been found is …


Multi-Scale Simulations Of Dynamic Protein Structures And Interactions, Yumeng Zhang Mar 2024

Multi-Scale Simulations Of Dynamic Protein Structures And Interactions, Yumeng Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are functional proteins that lack stable tertiary structures in the unbound state. They frequently remain dynamic even within specific complexes and assemblies. IDPs are major components of cellular regulatory networks and have been associated with cancers, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and other human diseases. Computer simulations are essential for deriving a molecular description of the disordered protein ensembles and dynamic interactions for mechanistic understanding of IDPs in biology, diseases, and therapeutics. However, accurate simulation of the heterogeneous ensembles and dynamic interactions of IDPs is extremely challenging because of both the prohibitive computational cost and demanding force field …


The Evolution And Development Of Awns In The Grass Subfamily Pooideae, Erin L. Patterson Mar 2024

The Evolution And Development Of Awns In The Grass Subfamily Pooideae, Erin L. Patterson

Doctoral Dissertations

This research focuses on a specific example of replicated evolution: the grass awn. Awns are typically extensions of the lemma, but may also appear on glumes or paleas. The lemma is a leaf-like organ on the exterior of the grass flower, the glumes are a pair of bracts subtending the basic unit of grass inflorescences, the spikelet, and the palea is the floral organ opposite the lemma. Awns are often described as "hair-" or "bristle-" like, but appear in many different shapes. Many awns are “twisted & geniculate", in which the awn has two sections, a lower twisted column, and …


Investigating The Escape Mechanism Of Sre Bearing Mrna Transcripts During Viral Host Shutoff, Daniel Macveigh-Fierro Mar 2024

Investigating The Escape Mechanism Of Sre Bearing Mrna Transcripts During Viral Host Shutoff, Daniel Macveigh-Fierro

Doctoral Dissertations

During viral infection, the virus and host clash for control over gene expression in an evolutionarily arms race that has raged for thousands of years. During lytic replication, Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) triggers a massive RNA decay event known as host shut off. This causes over 70% of all RNA to be degraded suppressing the host antiviral response while freeing resources for viral replication. Our lab focuses on a subset of transcripts that escape from this viral degradation event using a cis acting 3’ UTR element known as a “SOX resistant element” or SRE. Although we have identified a …


Associations Between Early Childhood Sleep, Memory Function, And Brain Development Across The Nap Transition, Sanna Lokhandwala Mar 2024

Associations Between Early Childhood Sleep, Memory Function, And Brain Development Across The Nap Transition, Sanna Lokhandwala

Doctoral Dissertations

Preschool-age children often distribute their sleep across a midday nap and overnight sleep. Skipping the nap is suggested to increase the duration and depth of deep sleep (i.e., slow wave activity; SWA). Moreover, missing the midday nap has been shown to impair learning processes. This may be because children’s brains at this point in development are immature, necessitating the intervening nap period to strengthen memories before they are forgotten. Nonetheless, at some point during the preschool years, many children begin transitioning naturally out of napping. It is unclear whether the memory benefits of overnight SWA after a skipped nap depend …


Analysis Of Micro(Nano)Plastics In Food Using Raman Microscopy, Xin Guo Mar 2024

Analysis Of Micro(Nano)Plastics In Food Using Raman Microscopy, Xin Guo

Doctoral Dissertations

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a global concern in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. The presence of microplastics in the food chain poses a potential threat to human health. To accurately assess the risks associated with microplastics, it is crucial to have a reliable analytical technique capable of detecting, quantifying, and identifying microplastics of varying materials, sizes, and shapes in environmental, agricultural, and food samples. Spectroscopic techniques, specifically vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and Infrared), are extensively utilized in microplastic analysis. These techniques enable rapid and high-throughput identification, while also providing size and shape information. However, there are certain gaps in the …


High Resolution Mass Spectrometry As A Platform For The Analysis Of Polyoxometalates, Their Solution Phase Dynamics, And Their Biological Interactions., Daniel T. Favre Mar 2024

High Resolution Mass Spectrometry As A Platform For The Analysis Of Polyoxometalates, Their Solution Phase Dynamics, And Their Biological Interactions., Daniel T. Favre

Doctoral Dissertations

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a class of inorganic molecule of increasing interest to the inorganic, bioinorganic and catalytic communities among many others. While their prevalence in research has increased, tools and methodologies for the analysis of their fundamental characteristics still need further development. Decavanadate (V10) specifically has been postulated to have several unique properties that have not been confirmed independently. Mass spectrometry (MS) and its ability to determine the composition of solution phase species by both mass and charge is uniquely well suited to the analysis of POMs. In this work we utilized high-resolution mass spectrometry to characterize V10 in aqueous …


A Ground-Based L-Band Radar System For Monitoring Forest Temporal Dynamics, Xingjian Chen Mar 2024

A Ground-Based L-Band Radar System For Monitoring Forest Temporal Dynamics, Xingjian Chen

Doctoral Dissertations

L-band FMCW radar is implemented for monitoring forest dynamics. It took short-term and long-term measurements with an internal calibration system that guarantees stability and precision. The radar data is compared to in-situ measurement, which infers causal relationships between radar backscatter signal and forest physiology index such as tree dielectric. This paper explains the relationship between radar signals and environmental components such as precipitation based on the measurement. The radar demonstrates some interesting observations, for example, trees' daily activity and freeze-thaw process.


The Impacts Of Environment And Host Evolutionary Relationships On Lemur Microbiota, Rachel B. Burten Mar 2024

The Impacts Of Environment And Host Evolutionary Relationships On Lemur Microbiota, Rachel B. Burten

Doctoral Dissertations

Recent studies have shown that the mammal microbiome is modified by environmental conditions, and that reduced microbiome functionality is associated with host health issues. Microbiome data in wild and captive primate populations can therefore be used to assess their health as they encounter a variety of environments. Comparative studies of the microbiome can also inform disease ecology, conservation, and captive management strategies tailored to different primate species. Therefore, this study examines how the hair, oral, and gut microbiota of nine wild and captive lemur species are determined by host phylogenetic relationships and host environment. I found that host species identity …


The Wild Tomato Clade Offers Insights Into Fleshy Fruit Trait Evolution At The Phenotypic And Molecular Levels, Jacob R. Barnett Mar 2024

The Wild Tomato Clade Offers Insights Into Fleshy Fruit Trait Evolution At The Phenotypic And Molecular Levels, Jacob R. Barnett

Doctoral Dissertations

Biologists have long been fascinated by the diversity of fleshy fruits, yet questions remain as to how this variety has evolved. According to the dispersal syndrome hypothesis, flowering plants improved their reproductive success by producing fleshy fruits with appealing combinations of traits that attract animal dispersers. However, animal preferences may not be the only selective pressure driving fruit trait diversity—conflicting forces include damage-inflicting seed predators and pathogens, abiotic habitat conditions, or constraints stemming from non-adaptive mechanical, developmental, or phylogenetic limitations. Few studies have examined the early stages of fleshy fruit evolution across an entire clade of recently diverged plant species. …


The Impact Of A Non-Ionic Adjuvant To The Persistence Of Pesticides On Produce Surfaces, Daniel Barnes Mar 2024

The Impact Of A Non-Ionic Adjuvant To The Persistence Of Pesticides On Produce Surfaces, Daniel Barnes

Masters Theses

Adjuvants can enhance the performance of the pesticide active ingredients in many ways including decreasing surface tension and reducing evaporation. Understanding how adjuvants effect pesticide behavior (e.g., surface persistence) is crucial for developing effective pesticide formulations, as well as facilitating the development of effective approaches to reduce pesticide residues from the surface of fresh produce post-harvest. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of a non-ionic surfactant, Surf-Ac 910, on the persistence of two model pesticides, thiabendazole and phosmet on apple surfaces. The result shows that the addition of Surf-Ac 910 increased both the maximum wetted area …


2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Pesticide And Mdar Updates, Martha Sylvia Jan 2024

2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Pesticide And Mdar Updates, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.


2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Addressing Cranberry Fruit Rot: Research Updates And Effective Solutions, Sai Sree Uppala, Salisu Sulley Jan 2024

2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Addressing Cranberry Fruit Rot: Research Updates And Effective Solutions, Sai Sree Uppala, Salisu Sulley

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.


2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Irrigation, Frost And Fertilizer Nitrogen In Cranberry Production, Peter Jeranyama, Sandeep Bhatti, Brian Makeredza Jan 2024

2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Irrigation, Frost And Fertilizer Nitrogen In Cranberry Production, Peter Jeranyama, Sandeep Bhatti, Brian Makeredza

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.


2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Changes In Cranberry Phenology From 1958 To 2022 Implications For Spring Frost, Sandeep Bhatti, Peter Jeranyama Jan 2024

2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Changes In Cranberry Phenology From 1958 To 2022 Implications For Spring Frost, Sandeep Bhatti, Peter Jeranyama

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.


2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Phytophthora Root Rot Study Updates, Sai Sree Uppala, Salisu Sulley Jan 2024

2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Phytophthora Root Rot Study Updates, Sai Sree Uppala, Salisu Sulley

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.


2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Weevil Management In 2024, Martha Sylvia Jan 2024

2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Weevil Management In 2024, Martha Sylvia

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.


2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Cranberry False Blossom, Leslie Holland Jan 2024

2024 Update Mtg Jan 30: Cranberry False Blossom, Leslie Holland

Cranberry Station Extension meetings

No abstract provided.


Source Data For "Flowering Of Developable 2d Crystal Shapes In Closed, Fluid Membranes", Hao Wan, Geunwoong Jeon, Weiyue Xin, Gregory M. Grason, Maria M. Santore Jan 2024

Source Data For "Flowering Of Developable 2d Crystal Shapes In Closed, Fluid Membranes", Hao Wan, Geunwoong Jeon, Weiyue Xin, Gregory M. Grason, Maria M. Santore

Data and Datasets

Source data for "Flowering of Developable 2D Crystal Shapes in Closed, Fluid Membranes".


2024-2026 Chart Book, Hilary A. Sandler, Anne Averill, Martha Sylvia, Katherine Ghantous, Peter Jeranyama, Sai Sree Uppala, Giverson Mupambi Jan 2024

2024-2026 Chart Book, Hilary A. Sandler, Anne Averill, Martha Sylvia, Katherine Ghantous, Peter Jeranyama, Sai Sree Uppala, Giverson Mupambi

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.


Measures And Conversion 108-109, Katherine Ghantous Jan 2024

Measures And Conversion 108-109, Katherine Ghantous

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.


Adjuvants Page 107, Katherine Ghantous Jan 2024

Adjuvants Page 107, Katherine Ghantous

Cranberry Chart Book - Management Guide

No abstract provided.


Influences Of High-Fat Diet And Antrodia Camphorata In Early Life On Intestinal Tumorigensis Later In Life, Ting-Chun Lin Nov 2023

Influences Of High-Fat Diet And Antrodia Camphorata In Early Life On Intestinal Tumorigensis Later In Life, Ting-Chun Lin

Doctoral Dissertations

Young-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing public health concern globally due to the increasing prevalence of westernized lifestyles during childhood and adolescence. Meanwhile, there have been reports of health-promoting effects, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, associated with Antrodia camphorata (AC), a unique fungus native to Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate the impact of early-life high-fat diet (HF) and AC supplementation on intestinal tumorigenesis in young adulthood, using APC1638N mice. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the role of Turicibacter, a probiotic negatively associated with diet-induced obesity, in colorectal tumorigenesis, and to explore the anti-cancer mechanism …


Detection And Control Of Environmentally Transmissible Viruses, Anand R. Soorneedi Nov 2023

Detection And Control Of Environmentally Transmissible Viruses, Anand R. Soorneedi

Doctoral Dissertations

Viruses, owing to their ubiquitous nature and ability to infect almost every other species, have long been a subject of interest for scientists. Some of the virus species can be very deadly to humans and animals alike and can impose a huge economic and health burden across the world. The recent CoVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of timely detection for developing effective intervention strategies. Unfortunately, some of the virus species that cause significant health and economic impacts do not have robust and reliable detection methods due to several reasons. In some cases, despite having gold standard methods for detection of …


Reactive Chemistries For Protein Labeling, Degradation, And Stimuli Responsive Delivery, Myrat Kurbanov Nov 2023

Reactive Chemistries For Protein Labeling, Degradation, And Stimuli Responsive Delivery, Myrat Kurbanov

Doctoral Dissertations

Reactive chemistries for protein chemical modification play an instrumental role in chemical biology, proteomics, and therapeutics. Depending on the application, the selectivity of these modifications can range from precise modification of an amino acid sequence by genetic manipulation of protein expression machinery to a stochastic modification of lysine residues on the protein surface. Ligand-Directed (LD) chemistry is one of the few methods for targeted modification of endogenous proteins without genetic engineering. However, current LD strategies are limited by stringent amino acid selectivity. To bridge this gap, this thesis focuses on the development of highly reactive LD Triggerable Michael Acceptors (LD-TMAcs) …