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Genomic Resource Development And Candidate Gene Evaluation In Fragaria Vesca (L.), Melanie Eileen Shields

Doctoral Dissertations

The wild strawberry Fragaria vesca (L. Rosaceae) is an important diploid model plant system for the study of processes associated with crop production, plant physiology, and cultivar development of the octoploid cultivated strawberry (F. ×ananassa), an economically important crop plant. A fosmid clone library developed from F. vesca ssp. americana ‘Pawtuckaway’, and a mapping population of 96 F2 progeny (YPF2) resulting from a cross of F. vesca ssp. semperflorens “Yellow Wonder’ with F. vesca ssp. americana ‘Pawtuckaway’, were employed to further develop genetic and genomic resources and advance the search for the molecular identity of the classically defined fruit color …

Hybrid Zone Dynamics Between Saltmarsh (Ammodramus Caudacutus) And Nelson's (Ammodramus Nelsoni) Sparrows, Jennifer Walsh

Doctoral Dissertations

Hybrid zones in nature have long been equated to “windows on the evolutionary process” providing unique environments to understand patterns of gene flow and introgression and the role of these mechanisms in maintaining biodiversity. Ongoing hybridization and introgression can lead to a number of conservation and evolutionary outcomes; as such, identifying the role of introgression in natural populations can provide new insights into species interactions while contributing to our understanding of evolutionary theory.

The research presented below characterizes hybrid zone dynamics between two tidal marsh endemics – the Saltmarsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) and Nelson’s (Ammodramus nelsoni) sparrow. Both species co-inhabit salt …

Formal Synthesis Of Cj-12,954 And Cj-13,014 Using Zinc-Mediated Tandem Chain Extension-Aldol Reaction And Synthesis And Investigation Of Diastereoselectivity Of Hydroxy-Cyclopropyl Peptide Isosteres, Yashoda Naga Deepthi Bhogadhi

Doctoral Dissertations

A formal synthesis of the natural products CJ-12,954 and CJ-13,014 was successfully accomplished using the zinc-mediated tandem chain extension-aldol reaction methodology. This chemistry was performed on a chiral β-keto imide synthesized using a DCC coupling reaction. The diastereoselectivity of the aldol reaction was controlled by an Evans chiral auxiliary. Comparison between the reported and experimental spectral data for the spiroketals confirmed the structural assignment.

The diastereoselectivity of the homologation-cyclization-rearrangement-lactonization reaction of β-keto imide derived from phenyl carbamate-protected proline was studied. Tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride-mediated rearrangement of trimethylsilyl cyclopropanol demonstrated the role of chiral auxiliary and the amino acid stereocenter in controlling the …

Development Of An Isotopic Approach For Detailing Heparin Sequences, Qing Guo

Doctoral Dissertations

Heparin/heparin sulfates are carbohydrate polyionic polymers that participate in a host of critically important biological processes such as blood anticoagulation, pathogen infection, cell differentiation, growth, migration and inflammation, to mention a few. A century has passed since heparin’s initial discovery with a fair understanding of its overall composition. Unfortunately, there has been no structural work at the detailed chemical level that might support a synthetic effort. In this study, I utilize a chemical derivatization strategy (dual permethylation) that imparts isotopic structural specificity, which can be followed by step-wise disassembly in an ion trap mass spectrometer, (MSn). A set of analytical …

The Application Of Analytical Ultracentrifugation With Fluorescence Detection System To The Study Of Macromolecular Complexes In Biological Systems, Wen Xi

Doctoral Dissertations

Using the novel technique of analytical ultracentrifugation with fluorescent detection (AU-FDS), I have conducted the analysis of the properties of two types of intracellular macromolecular complexes: the translational mRNP complex and the intermediate soluble aggregates present in Huntington’s disease. With AU-FDS it is possible to differentiate a broad size range of soluble molecules from complex mixtures and determine the size and abundance of each individual complex based on its sedimentation rate under a centrifugal field.

In the first part of my thesis, the characteristics of the translational repressor SBP1 was determined by analyzing the mRNP complexes it was associated with. …

Unraveling Depositional And Diagenetic Signals In Magnetic Susceptibility In Methane-Bearing Sediments Along The Indian, Cascadia, And Japanese Margins, Stephen C. Phillips

Doctoral Dissertations

Magnetic susceptibility is a bulk measure that reveals variation in ferromagnetic mineral content. High-resolution measurement of magnetic susceptibility in ocean drilling records reveals variability that can be attributed to primary depositional processes and/or secondary diagenetic processes that occur after deposition. Each chapter of my dissertation investigates magnetic susceptibility records along with geochemical, mineralogical, and rock magnetic techniques in methane-bearing marine sediments along the Indian, Cascadia, and Japanese margins. The overall goal of this work is to improve the understanding of the effects of detrital and biogeochemical processes on magnetic mineralogy, and thus magnetic susceptibility, in these continental margin marine environments. …

Single Chain Technology: Toward The Controlled Synthesis Of Polymer Nanostructures, Christopher Kenneth Lyon

Doctoral Dissertations

A technique for fabricating advanced polymer nanostructures enjoying recent popularity is the collapse or folding of single polymer chains in highly dilute solution mediated by intramolecular cross-linking. We term the resultant structures single-chain nanoparticles (SCNP). This technique has proven particularly valuable in the synthesis of nanomaterials on the order of 5 – 20 nm. Many different types of covalent and non-covalent chemistries have been used to this end.

This dissertation investigates the use of so-called single-chain technology to synthesize nanoparticles using modular techniques that allow for easy incorporation of functionality or special structural or characteristic features. Specifically, the synthesis of …

Catch Share Management In The Northeast Multispecies Fishery: Implications For The Commercial Groundfish Fishery In New Hampshire, Rachel G. Feeney

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation tests theories about catch share approaches to fishery management, examining their validity and limits relative to the Northeast groundfish sector program, and potentially modifies them in light of research outcomes. Participants of the groundfish fishery based in New Hampshire are the particular focus of research, but broader impacts are considered. Studies of this catch share program have been limited to date, and studies of catch share programs generally have focused on a particular dimension (e.g., biological, social, economic) rather than integrate across dimensions, despite increasing needs to do so for management. Here, six key aspects of fishing are …

Effects Of Substrate Material On Marine Fouling Community Composition And Ascidian Larval Settlement, Anna Lindsey Chase

Master's Theses and Capstones

Driven by the rising global population and shoreline development, man-made marine structures are becoming ubiquitous in coastal areas. These alterations may have enormous ecological consequences, as anthropogenic structures provide novel habitat for marine organisms and often host communities that differ from those on natural substrates. These community differences are frequently driven by non-native species, which can be more prevalent on man-made marine structures than on adjacent natural surfaces. Although multiple factors, including light intensity, surface orientation, predation exposure, and habitat type, are known to contribute to these patterns, relatively few studies have directly examined the influence of substrate material on …

The Effects Of Temperature On Cyp19a1a, Foxl2, Dmrt1 And Amh Expression During Sex Differentiation In Summer Flounder (Paralichthys Dentatus), Catherine Curro Caruso

Master's Theses and Capstones

Female summer flounder grow considerably faster and larger than males, and a tremendous increase in performance can therefore be realized through production of monosex female populations. Rearing temperature has been shown to affect sex differentiation in other teleost species by influencing expression of genes encoding transcription factors, hormones or enzymes involved in endocrine function such as cyp19a1a, foxl2, dmrt1 and amh. These genes have been linked to female (cyp19a1a, foxl2) or male (dmrt1, amh) development, and exhibit sexually dimorphic expression in some species. In the present study, summer flounder (37 days post hatch; DPH) were raised at 13°C, 16°C or …

The Use Of Tricaine Methanesulfonate, Clove Oil, Metomidate, And 2-Phenoxyethanol For Anesthesia Induction In Alewives (Alosa Pseudoharengus), Mark Thomas Watson

Master's Theses and Capstones

Anesthetics are widely used in routine aquaculture operations to immobilize animals for tagging, spawning, handling, and vaccination. A number of anesthetics are currently available for finfish, but their efficacy and optimal dosage is highly species-specific. The efficacy of the anesthetic agents (tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), clove oil, metomidate, and 2-phenoxyethanol (2-PE)) was studied in adult, juvenile (133.3 ± 1.5 mm, 27.5 ± 8.9 g), and larval Alewives (Alosa pseudoharengus Wilson). In an initial trial, wild-caught adults were anesthetized with doses of 87.5-112.5 mg/L MS-222, 25-40 mg/L clove oil 0.5-5.0 mg/L metomidate and 0.125-0.550 mg/L 2-PE. Optimal doses for anesthesia were similar …

Maturity And Growth Of The Acadian Redfish (Sebastes Fasciatus) In The Gulf Of Maine, Kristin Lynn Duclos

Master's Theses and Capstones

Acadian redfish (Sebastes fasciatus) are a long-lived, slow growing, live-bearing fish species found in the Gulf of Maine region. Historically, this species once supported a substantial commercial fishery, however, overexploitation coupled with low reproductive output decimated natural populations. Strict regulatory measures were implemented and the population eventually recovered, however, knowledge of the current population status is essential to ensure that the population continues to be harvested at a sustainable rate. This study utilized otolith age readings and histological analysis of gonad tissue to determine current growth and maturity patterns in the Gulf of Maine S. fasciatus population. Growth functions obtained …

Invasive Plant (Alliaria Petiolata; Garlic Mustard) Homogenizes Fungal Communtiy Composition And Increases Fungal Richness, Mark Anthony

Master's Theses and Capstones

Non-native invasive plants can disrupt native plant communities and soil function (e.g., C and N cycling), but few studies have examined how soil microbial community structure differs in association with invasion. This work focused on Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard), a non-mycorrhizal Brassicaceae that can displace native plants and reduce aboveground diversity. Garlic mustard produces toxic phytochemicals that can suppress mycorrhizal fungi, but we currently do not know if garlic mustard invasion affects the general fungal community, including specific mycorrhizal fungi, saprotrophic fungi, and plant pathogens and parasites. The objective of this work was to compare uninvaded and invaded soils from …

Molecular Dynamics Studies Of Nucleic Acids And Ribonucleoprotein Complexes, Tyler James Mulligan

Master's Theses and Capstones

Molecular simulations of protein-nucleic acid complexes, as well as the HIV-1 Trans Activation Response Element (TAR) RNA molecule, were conducted. First, three different molecular dynamics techniques were studied on the molecule HIV-1 TAR RNA. The three techniques studied were classical molecular dynamics, steered molecular dynamics (SMD), and metadynamics. The classic molecular dynamics simulations were used to equilibrate the HIV-1 TAR RNA system, as well as every other system studied in this thesis. The SMD technique was used in order to observe the breaking force of the nucleotide interactions within TAR. This breaking force averaged to about 100pN. The metadynamics technique …

Physiological Changes In White-Rot Fungi In Response To Simulated Nitrogen Deposition Are Not Readily Reversed Through Experimental Evolution, Elizabeth Amy Landis

Master's Theses and Capstones

Increases in nitrogen (N) deposition have been shown to slow decomposition of organic material including lignin, particularly in forests with high lignin content. Since basidiomycete fungi are the primary decomposers of lignin, their response to increases in available N are of interest. The Chronic Nitrogen Amendment Study at the Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research (CNAS HF-LTER) site is an experimental N gradient in Petersham, MA. Since 1988, three megaplots have received varying levels of NH4NO3: ambient-only deposition (control), 50 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (N50), or 150 kg N ha-1 yr-1 (N150). In order to examine how species of lignin-degrading basidiomycetes …

Law, Justice, And All That Jazz: An Analysis Of Law's Reach Into Musical Theater, Amy Oldenquist

Master's Theses and Capstones

Narratives or stories are present in many facets of life. Narratives especially are seen in the media, fiction and nonfiction alike. These stories, seen in media, fiction, and nonfiction alike, have an immense impact on their audience. This influence displays the importance of continued research into media’s narratives, especially legal narratives. Much of past research looked at the social construction of these stories and its framing. Framing refers to how a subject is discussed in the media. While there is much research on media, framing, and legal narratives, very few researchers have examined live entertainment, including musical theater. My study …

Estimating Surficial Seafloor Sediment Properties Using An Empirical Orthogonal Decomposition On Acoustic Backscatter Waveform Properties, Joshua Lincoln Humberston

Master's Theses and Capstones

Seafloor classification and environmental assessment in shallow marine waters are crucial to habitat mapping, coastal management policies and maintaining navigational waterways. There are existing methods for remotely estimating some bottom properties, but the large variety of desired measured sediment properties frequently leads to insufficient quantifiable data to support marine policy decisions. This problem is exacerbated by the highly variable bottom composition of typical coastal and estuarine environments. In this work, field observations from an Odom Echotrac vertical-incidence echosounder with a 200 khz transducer were used to estimate seafloor sediment characteristics in regions with variable bottom types. Observations were obtained in …

Nitrate Uptake Kinetics In Streams: Is Carbon The Driver?, Bianca Rodriguez-Cardona

Master's Theses and Capstones

The underlying mechanisms driving the coupled interaction of organic matter quantity and uptake of inorganic nitrogen are not well understood, particularly in surface waters. To determine the relationship between background dissolved organic carbon (DOC) quantity and nitrate (NO3-) uptake kinetics in streams, a series of NO3- TASCC additions were performed in four sites within the Lamprey River Watershed, New Hampshire, with a wide range in background DOC concentrations (1 mg C/L - 8 mg C/L). Experiments were performed between the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Across all sites and experimental dates, ambient and dynamic uptake velocity (Vf) correlated negatively with …

Remote Sensing Of Foliar Nitrogen In Cultivated Grasslands Of Human Dominated Landscapes, Paul Adam Pellissier

Master's Theses and Capstones

Foliar nitrogen (N) concentration of plant canopies plays a central role in a number of important ecosystem processes and continues to be an active subject in the field of remote sensing. Previous efforts to estimate foliar N at the landscape scale have primarily focused on intact forests and grasslands using aircraft imaging spectrometry and various techniques of statistical calibration and modeling. The present study was designed to extend this work by examining the potential to estimate the foliar N concentration of residential, agricultural and other cultivated grassland areas within a suburbanizing watershed. In conjunction with ground-based vegetation sampling, we developed …

A Landscape Genetics Approach For Comparing Connectivity Across The Range Of The New England Cottontail, Katrina Papanastassiou

Master's Theses and Capstones

Habitat connectivity is vital for dispersal and metapopulation persistence. Land use change and landscape modification alter the distribution and availability of habitat, thereby altering connectivity and impeding organisms’ dispersal abilities. Reduction of connectivity is a concern for the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), a species of high conservation priority that has experienced a dramatic decline of its required shrubland habitat. To better understand New England cottontail connectivity, I used a landscape genetics approach to assess the impact of landscape features on cottontail dispersal in two geographically isolated study areas, one in southern Maine-seacoast New Hampshire and the other in eastern …

Unique Features Of Identity Development In Transnational Adoptions, Minori Haga Stefon

Master's Theses and Capstones

Identity formation has been defined as the process by which an individual develops a coherent self-definition of one’s uniqueness (Erikson, 1968). Arnett (2000; 2014) proposed the concept of emerging adulthood (between ages 18 and 29) as the developmental stage of later adolescence at which an individual is both cognitively and psychologically best suited for identity formation. Emerging adults who had been adopted transnationally as children often struggle to articulate their ethnic identity as a dimension of their broader individual identity (Schwartz et al., 2013) because they have characteristics that do not fit into those of the majority (Adams & Marshall, …

The Dynamic Host-Pathogen Interactions Of Verticillium Dahliae: Comparative Genomics Of V. Dahliae And Its Interactions In Cover Crop Species And Wild Strawberry (Fragaria Vesca), Garrett Gleeson

Master's Theses and Capstones

The evolutionary arms race between plants and their associated pathogens has created highly dynamic interactions. Understanding the mechanisms that drive these interactions and the phylogenetic history of the pathogens is key to developing effective disease management practices. Although there have been great advances in understanding the evolution of plant pathogens, they only scratch the surface of the true complexity of pathogens’ interactions with their hosts and their environment. In this study, the interactions between the fungal vascular wilt pathogen, Verticillum dahliae, and a variety of hosts including accessions of wild strawberry, Fragaria vesca, and several cover crop species are investigated. …

The Influence Of Extracellular-Regulated Kinases (Erks) On Granulosa Cell Fate In The Bovine Follicle, Nicolette M. Schwab

Honors Theses and Capstones

Each year, infertility in cows costs the dairy industry over $400 million. This project is focused on the onset of follicular atresia in cows; the process by which the egg-bearing follicles die prematurely and can lead to infertility. The cellular mechanisms that influence programmed cell death, or apoptosis, of bovine granulosa cells (bGCs) within follicles are being investigated. In general, the extra-cellular regulated kinases (ERKs) are intracellular signaling proteins believed to influence the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of cells. In the context of follicular atresia, however, the relationship between the onset of apoptosis of bGCs and the effects of ERKs …

Millennial-Scale Variability In The Indian Monsoon And Links To Ocean Circulation, Kimberly Anne Delong

Master's Theses and Capstones

Millennial-scale variability in the Indian monsoon was temporally linked to changes in global ocean circulation during the last glacial period, as evidenced by planktic-benthic foraminiferal stable isotope and trace element results from an intermediate depth sediment core from the northwestern Bay of Bengal (Core NGHP-01-19B; 18°58'N, 85°39'E; 1,422 m). Paired planktic foraminiferal Mg/Ca and d18Oc of G. ruber constrain sea surface temperatures and isolate millennial-scale variations in the d18O of surface waters (d18Osw) which resulted from changes in river runoff in the northwestern Bay. Concurrently with low d18Osw events, benthic foraminiferal d13C of Cibicidoides spp. decreased, suggesting an increased influence …

The Synthesis And Characterization Of Iron Nanoparticles, Tyler Paul Bennett

Master's Theses and Capstones

Nanoparticle synthesis has garnered attention for technological applications for catalysts, industrial processing, and medical applications. The size ranges for these is in the particles nanostructural domain. Pure iron nanoparticles have been of particular interest for their reactivity and relative biological inertness. Applications include cancer treatment and carrying medicine to a relevant site. Unfortunately, because of their reactivity, pure iron nanoparticles have been difficult to study. This is because of their accelerated tendency to form oxides in air, due to the increased surface area to volume ratio. Using synthesis processes with polyphenols or long chain amines, air stable iron nanoparticles have …

Characterizing And Quantifying Marine Methane Gas Seeps Using Acoustic Observations And Bubble Dissolution Models, Liam Pillsbury

Master's Theses and Capstones

A method for characterizing and quantifying marine methane gas seeps along the U.S. Western Atlantic Margin was developed and applied to 70 free-gas seeps observed by the R/V Okeanos Explorer in 2012 and 2013, in water depths ranging from 300-2000 meters. Acoustic backscatter from an 18 kHz split-beam echo sounder and a 30 kHz multi-beam echo sounder provided information on the height to which the gas seeps rose from the seafloor. Profiles of the depth-dependent target strength and scattering strength were compared to models of the evolution of rising bubbles to help constrain the ultimate fate of the methane gas. …

Characterization And Distribution Of Fungi Associated With Needle Defoliation Of Eastern White Pine (Pinus Strobus), Stephen Andrew Wyka

Master's Theses and Capstones

Over the past seven years eastern white pines (Pinus strobus) across the northeastern United States have been prematurely defoliating due to a disease complex known as White Pine Needle Damage (WPND). Previous research on WPND indicates that this outbreak, which started in 2010, is primarily attributed to the causal agent of brown spot needle blight, Lecanosticta acicola along with two other known P. strobus needle cast pathogens, Bifusella linearis and Lophophacidium dooksii. The current outbreak is thought to have arisen from several consecutive years of increased temperature and precipitation in the region. Current research, however, is lacking in both sampling …

Effect Of In Vivo Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (Pbde) Treatment On Hepatic Glyceroneogenesis And Lipid Metabolism, Kylie Rose Cowens

Master's Theses and Capstones

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame-retardant chemicals that contaminate the environment. Through ingestion and inhalation, these chemicals get into the human body, where they affect the liver by suppressing the metabolic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), which is partially responsible for glyceride-glycerol production via glyceroneogenesis. This study investigated the effects of PBDE-induced hepatic PEPCK suppression on glyceroneogenesis, and the associated perturbations in liver lipid metabolism. Twenty-eight male, weanling Wistar rats were treated daily with 14 mg/kg body weight PBDE mixture, DE-71 (TRT, n=14) or corn oil vehicle (CON, n=14) for 28 days. After a 48-hour fast, rats were sacrificed and blood …

The Benefits Of Recreational Fishing In Adolescence, Sarah Elaine Leonard

Master's Theses and Capstones

Little attention has been given to how different leisure activities affect adolescents. The purpose of this study therefore was to investigate how one specific leisure activity, recreational fishing, can provide potential benefits to adolescents. Youth attending a one week fishing camp at the 4-H Barry Conservation Camp in July of 2014 were surveyed on multiple dimensions of well-being. Results indicate significant improvements in resilience, optimism, and self-esteem following the fishing camp experience. Youth reported that while fishing they engaged in a number of skillful activities (patience, self-discipline, etc.), many of which are beneficial to the positive development of youth. The …

Be Seen And Heard Being Clean: A Patient-Centered Approach To Hand Hygiene At Concord Hospital, Ashley Pinkham

Master's Theses and Capstones

Background: Regular hand washing is recognized as the most effective means to combat the spread of infectious illness; however hand washing behavior amongst health care workers (HCW’s) is inconsistent. Furthermore, measurement of hand washing behavior is subject to bias.

Aim: This quality improvement project aimed to remove the Hawthorne effect and improve the behavior of HH at Concord Hospital.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre-posttest design was used to evaluate HH rates on a 32 bed med-surge unit at Concord Hospital. Baseline data was collected for 30 days by asking patients if they had seen or heard staff cleaning their hands. Using …