Dry Bean Pest Scouting Report

A survey of dry bean pests was conducted on farms throughout Vermont during the 2016 season. Plant diseases and insect pests were scouted on five Vermont farm locations in the towns of Alburgh, Cambridge, Danby, Glover, and North Ferrisburg. Unknown disease and insect samples were taken and identified with assistance from the UVM Plant Diagnostic Laboratory (PDC)

Small Grain Disease and Insect Pest Scouting Report

A survey of small grain diseases and insect pests were conducted in Vermont, New York and Massachusetts during the 2017 growing season. Pests were scouted on seven Vermont farm locations in the towns of Alburgh, Berlin, Bridport, North Ferrisburgh, North Troy, Shelburne, and Shoreham, as well as in Essex, New York and Northfield, Massachusetts. Winter and spring wheat (heirloom and commercially available), as well as spring barley and spelt, were scouted between spike emergence and flowering, and again at the soft dough growth stage. Disease and insect samples were taken and identified with assistance from the University of Vermont (UVM) Plant Diagnostic Clinic

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationWhile much is known about parent-adolescent relationships, less attention has been given to the interactions of mothers and adolescent daughters, particularly within the relational communication perspective. Combining the relational communication approach with qualitative interaction analysis, this study examines the conversational interactions of forty mother and adolescent daughter (between the ages of 14 and 18) dyads. Using a condensed version of the Network of Relationships Inventory (NRI), participants reported on their relational satisfaction, closeness, and support (SCS). Mother and daughter interactions were videotaped in participants' homes as they discussed four topics relevant to mother-daughter relationships. Transcripts of the interaction were coded according to the Relational Communication Control Coding System (RCCCS) and analyzed using statistical procedures and lag sequential analysis. This study expands relational control applications by exploring patterns of relational control and support in mother-adolescent daughter relationships in general, and according to differences between higher and lower SCS groups. Following the case comparison method, predominant patterns and episodes were analyzed qualitatively to elaborate on dialogic behaviors and nuances. Results indicate mother-adolescent daughter interactions in this study are characterized by daughters' higher domineeringness and dominance and mothers' greater submissiveness. Overall, mothers were more supportive than daughters, while mothers

Investigating Proton Spin Structure: A Measurement of G_2^p at Low Q^2

The $g_2^p$ collaboration performed the first measurement of the reaction $\vec{p}(\vec{e},e\u27)X$ in the kinematic range 0.02 $\u3c$ Q$^2$ $\u3c$ 0.2 GeV$^2$ in the resonance region. Experiment E08-027 took place in Hall A at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility from March-May of 2012. Data was taken with a longitudinally polarized electron beam, using an NH$_3$ target polarized in both parallel and perpendicular configurations. Very preliminary results for $g_1^p$ and $g_2^p$ are shown in this thesis. to extract the spin structure functions, asymmetries are calculated from data taken with a 2.2 GeV electron beam and a 5 T target field, and combined with the Bosted model proton cross section. Preliminary dilution factors and preliminary radiative corrections are included in the asymmetry analysis. Sum rules and $\chi$PT allow us to test the Burkhardtt-Cottingham (BC) sum rule and obtain the spin polarizability quantities $\gamma_0$ and $\delta_{LT}$. The BC sum rule, valid for all values of $Q^2$, says that the integral of $g_2$ over all Bjorken $x$ vanishes. The very preliminary result presented here shows the contribution to the integral from the measured kinematic region. Although the contribution from the resonance region is not consistent with the expected result of zero, an extrapolation to high and low $x$ must be included to test whether the BC sum rule is satisfied. The difficulty in $\chi$PT calculations of $\gamma_0$ and $\delta_{LT}$ is how to include the resonance contributions, particularly the $\Delta$-resonance, which dominates. Recent developments have found better agreement with neutron experimental results, however this is little proton data to compare with the calculations, particularly at low $Q^2$. The very preliminary results shown here do not show agreement with any of the current $\chi$PT predictions. However, as this is only the contribution from the measured kinematic region, it is necessary to include the extrapolation outside the resonance region to draw a stronger conclusion. Further analysis is ongoing, and preliminary results, including a cross section extracted from data instead of a model prediction, are expected within the next year

Characterization of allantoinase from Eschericia coli

The purpose of this research was to characterize the Escherichia coli, E. coli, allantoinase enzyme. Allantoinase catalyses the conversion allantoin to allantoate via the hydrolysis of a cyclic amide bond and is coded for by the allB gene. The enzyme is a member of the amidohydrolase superfamily. Amidohydrolase superfamily enzymes have a common (αβ)8-barrel structure but catalyze the hydrolysis of many different substrates by a common mechanism. The structural characteristics and roles of divalent cations of enzymes in this superfamily will be discussed and related to previous work conducted on allantoinases. In this work, the metal dependence of allantoinase was initially studied by Mn, Co, Zn, Cd, and Ni-supplemented assays of enzyme of very low metal content. By changing the growth conditions under which the allB was overexpressed in E. coli, and the addition of Zn, Co or Mn to the culture, enzyme with bound Zn (ZnALN), Co (CoALN) or Mn (MnALN) was produced. The pH dependence of log (kcat/KM) for allantoinase in the presence of MnCl2, ZnALN and CoALN followed a bell-shaped curve, indicating that one ionizable group needed to be deprotonated and the deprotonation of a second group caused a decrease in catalytic activity. The pK1 for ionization at low pH was dependent upon which divalent cation was present and is concluded to be that of the deprotonation of water. A structural model of allantoinase with bound allantoin was constructed and used to determine which amino acid residues may be involved in catalysis. Allantoinase mutants R67K, C152A, C152S, C287A, C287S, S317A, D315N and W332F were purified. The kinetic parameters kcat, KM and kcat/KM of wild type and mutant allantoinases were compared. The possible roles of these amino acid residues in catalysis and substrate binding, and the results of the pH rate profiles are discussed. A catalytic mechanism for allantoinase is proposed

The Spark That Lit the Flame: The Creation, Deployment, and Deconstruction of the Story of Mohammed Bouazizi and the Arab Spring

The story of Mohammed Bouazizi is credited with being the spark that lit the flame, first of the Tunisian Revolution, then the Arab Spring as a whole, creating a domino effect that brought down the Tunisian, Egyptian, Libyan and Yemeni leaders, and threatened to topple still more. In this thesis I explore the narrative structure of the Tunisian revolution, how the story of Mohammed Bouazizi represented that structure and how the narrative sparked the Arab Spring. I also ask how narrative is created and what role social media played in allowing this particular story to become a part of the national narrative. Through an examination of the Tunisian narrative in history and from multiple angles, I endeavor to place Mohammed Bouazizi\u27s story in its proper context. Finally, I come to the conclusion that the story is more a product of collective narrative and consciousness than a triumph of truth in medi

Book Review: Taking Indian Lands: The Cherokee (Jerome) Commission, 1889-1893

William T. Hagan\u27s latest book examines the negotiations between the federal government and specific tribes in Indian Territory for the sale of tribal lands and the allotment of land to individual Indians. Encroachment by white settlers presented a major incentive for the federal government to complete these transactions expeditiously. Settlers as well as speculators applied significant pressure to organize Oklahoma into a territory and open the Cherokee Outlet. In response, on March 2, 1889, Congress passed an act creating the Cherokee Commission to negotiate the sale of lands by the Cherokees, Iowas, Pawnees, Poncas, T onakawas, Wichitas, Cheyennes, Arapahos, Sac and Fox, Potawatomis, Shawnees, and Kickapoos

Characterization of allantoinase from Eschericia coli

The purpose of this research was to characterize the Escherichia coli, E. coli, allantoinase enzyme. Allantoinase catalyses the conversion allantoin to allantoate via the hydrolysis of a cyclic amide bond and is coded for by the allB gene. The enzyme is a member of the amidohydrolase superfamily. Amidohydrolase superfamily enzymes have a common (αβ)8-barrel structure but catalyze the hydrolysis of many different substrates by a common mechanism. The structural characteristics and roles of divalent cations of enzymes in this superfamily will be discussed and related to previous work conducted on allantoinases. In this work, the metal dependence of allantoinase was initially studied by Mn, Co, Zn, Cd, and Ni-supplemented assays of enzyme of very low metal content. By changing the growth conditions under which the allB was overexpressed in E. coli, and the addition of Zn, Co or Mn to the culture, enzyme with bound Zn (ZnALN), Co (CoALN) or Mn (MnALN) was produced. The pH dependence of log (kcat/KM) for allantoinase in the presence of MnCl2, ZnALN and CoALN followed a bell-shaped curve, indicating that one ionizable group needed to be deprotonated and the deprotonation of a second group caused a decrease in catalytic activity. The pK1 for ionization at low pH was dependent upon which divalent cation was present and is concluded to be that of the deprotonation of water. A structural model of allantoinase with bound allantoin was constructed and used to determine which amino acid residues may be involved in catalysis. Allantoinase mutants R67K, C152A, C152S, C287A, C287S, S317A, D315N and W332F were purified. The kinetic parameters kcat, KM and kcat/KM of wild type and mutant allantoinases were compared. The possible roles of these amino acid residues in catalysis and substrate binding, and the results of the pH rate profiles are discussed. A catalytic mechanism for allantoinase is proposed

The development of user interface tools for the Computer Aided Prototyping System

The Computer Aided Prototyping System (CAPS) was created to rapidly prototype real-time systems in order to determine if the system requirements can be met early in the development cycle. CAPS consists of several software tools that automatically generate an executable Ada model of the proposed system from a given specification. This thesis describes the development of a user interface for CAPS. The user interface supports the design, modification and execution of the software prototype throughout the entire prototyping life cycle. It makes uses of X Windows and advanced windowing techniques and allows the user to run the tools concurrently. The user interface incorporates a separate tool interface which controls the interaction between CAPS tools and the user interface. The graphic editor uses advanced graphics capabilities to give the user more flexibility in editing a graphical representation of the prototype. It automatically produces a formal representation of the prototype to be used by the other tools in CAPS.http://archive.org/details/thedevelopmentof1094527568National Science FoundationNSWC (ID# CCR-8710737).Civilian, Naval Surface Warfare CenterApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited