Persistence of Jack Pine Budworm \u3ci\u3eChoristoneura Pinus Pinus,\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) Egg Mass Chorions on Jack Pine Foliage

More than one-fifth of old and nearly one-half of new jack pine budworm egg mass chorions remained on the foliage after one year, and an experienced observer could not determine accurately the age of one-fourth of them. Counts of new egg masses are used to estimate current populations, and large errors could result

Interview with Meg Batzer

Meg Batzer, a lifelong Michigan resident, practices complementary medicine in her self-owned clinic while also serving as a member on the County Board of Commissioners. Having a background of serving her community, Batzer jumped at the opportunity to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. She became a member of the Auntie Sewing Squad, making more than five hundred masks for those in need.https://digitalcommons.csumb.edu/auntiesewing_interviews/1058/thumbnail.jp

Optimization of single crystalline all diamond scanning probes for quantum sensing applications

Moore's Law demands for innovation not only to solve the question of how to store even more information on even smaller areas but also in how to access this information. Both problems make point defects in solid-state systems very interesting. Color centers in diamond are one of these atom-like systems. Their electronic spins can be used as a versatile sensor or quantum storage. These sensors live up to their full potential when combined with a scanning technique as atomic force microscopy (AFM). The precise control of the position combined with an atom-sized light source or sensor opens up various possibilities. The main struggles encountered by the field so far are the difficulty of retaining the crystal quality of bulk diamond and simultaneously have a sharp tip to get the best topological feedback possible. In our work, we present three different avenues to tackle this. We conduct a study of the cause of decoherence in plasma etched nanostructures and test different treatments to reduce the effect. We test a novel method to stabilize an alternative color center believed to be less sensitive to electric field noise. Furthermore, we explore a new approach combining top-down fabrication and bottom-up overgrowth to get sharp tips with good crystal quality. The combination of the individual avenues has the potential to bring the sensing and imaging capabilities of color center-based sensing to the next level

GnRH agonist and antagonist: Options for endometriosis pain treatment

Basic science research into the mechanism of the development of endometriosis, its persistence and resulting pain has begun to improve our understanding of how various therapeutic options work. While none of the available treatments resolves the underlying disease process, there are a growing number of alternatives. One of the more recent classes of medical options includes the GnRH agonist and antagonists. While at present this class of medical options is the most expensive and involved in implementation, they prove invaluable in terms of offering an aggressive, successful alternative for many patients. Furthermore, they may act directly on endometrial lesions in a therapeutic manner. This discussion will be oriented toward endometriosis pain management, but many of the medical manipulations may be therapeutic for infertility treatment as well if only by preventing the need for aggressive or emergency surgical management of endometriosis, especially in young women

Effects of the tall fescue endophyte on seed germination and resistance to preemergence damping-off

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae) infected with the endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum is correlated with increased resistance to damping-off. The objective of this research was to determine the mechanism for endophyte-mediated resistance (EMR) to Pythium aphanidermatum. In experiments using Kentucky 31 seed differing only in endophyte infestation levels (endophyte-infected (95%) was defined as 95E+ and endophyte-free was defined as 95E-), 95E+ seed were more resistant to damping-off than 95E- seed. However, when seed were presoaked in sterile deionized water (SDW) for 24 h before planting, no resistance was observed. Embryo infection and seed colonization of 95E-t- and 95E- seed were compared in P. aphanidermatum-infested soilless medium. Seed were incubated in infested medium for 20 h, rinsed, placed on selective medium, and observed at 20 and 30 h. Embryos of 95E- seed developed necrosis at twice the rate of 95E-I- seed. However seed coat colonization was not different and did not affect embryo viability. Radicle emergence was assessed fi-om seed incubated in rotating flasks of SDW for 24, 48, 72, or 96 h. At 24 h the germination rate of 95E-^ seed was 13% and 95E- seed was 34%; at 96 h germination rates of 95E+ and 95E- seed were equivalent (ca. 80%). To determine the effect of presoaking on germination three seed treatments were compared: 1) nonscarified, 2) scarified, presoaked for 3 h, 3) scarified, presoaked for 24 h. Seeds were planted in soilless mix and incubated for 7 d. No differences in germination were observed between 95E-I- and 95E- seed when presoaked for 24 h, but 95E-I- shoot lengths were 15% less than those of 95E-. Germination of 95E-I- seed was reduced by 30% and 40% when nonscarified or presoaked for 3 h, respectively, but 95E seed was not affected by seed treatment. Similar germination rates for all seed treatments were observed when incubated for 3 weeks. Antifungal activity of 95E+ seed against P. aphanidermatum mycelium was not observed. The influence of endophyte on the spermosphere was measured using pH, conductivity, carbohydrate content, and a Pythium bioassay. Seeds were placed in 24-well plates with 1 ml SDW. Using iodine tests of 24 h steep water, it was determined that wells with 95E- seed contained more carbohydrate. Conductivity and pH were measured at 3 and 24 h. Rates of pH decline and conductivity increase were greater in 95E- wells than 95E+ wells. In wells containing 2 seeds/ ml SDW the pH decreased to 4.0 at 3 h. The effects of pH, molarity, and endophyte status on sporangia of P. aphanidermatum were tested in sterile sodium citrate buffer with 95E+ and 95E- seed. Buffers tested ranged from pH 4.0 to pH 6.5, and concentrations ranged from 0.05 to 0.00IM. Seeds were placed in tissue culture dishes with buffer then a Py/Zz/M/n-infested grass piece was placed in each well. Controls with no seeds were included. Cultures were incubated at 28 C with continuous fluorescent light for 24 h and observed for presence of zoospores. Zoospore production was evident in wells with high pH and low molarity. No zoospores were observed in wells with 0.05M buffers; no zoospores were observed in wells with pH of 4.0. At low buffer concentration (0.00IM and 0.005 M) and medium pH levels (5.5 and 6.0) zoospore production was less in wells with 95E+ seed than 95E- seed or controls. Thus differences in pH and conductivity in the spermosphere as a result of delayed germination may partially explain EMR. These results were inconsistent with the response of P. aphanidermatum propagules to 95E+ and 95E- seed in SDW, where 95F+ seed differentially inhibited zoospore production. Based on these data, factors other than a reduction in 95E+ seed exudation may be involved in EMR. However, it was concluded that a primary factor of reduced infection of 95E+ seed by P. aphanidermtum is believed to be escape through germination delay

Design and construction of a dynamometer

Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2011."June 2011." Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 20).Access to a dynamometer is a useful tool for any electrical system where the motors must be selected from various suppliers and fully characterized. Motor suppliers usually provide a torque, speed, efficiency curve, but it frequently lacks complete motor characterization and includes motor controller losses in the total system loss. The dynamometer presented in this thesis is primarily designed for testing of high efficiency motors and motor controllers in the power and speed range requires for competition in the World Solar Challenge, a transcontinental race for solar electric vehicles. The testing specifications of a solar electric vehicles are uncommon among motor testing needs because it requires high torque, low power, high efficiency, and the only a small operating range. This thesis covers the design and construction of the dynamometer.by Rachel E. Batzer.S.B

Breakdown and invertebrate colonization of dead wood in wetland, upland, and river habitats

Breakdown of woody debris in river and upland habitats as well as the interactions between wood and invertebrates have been well described. Studies of wood in wetlands are rare, and far less is known about breakdown and invertebrate use of wood in these transitional habitats. This study experimentally assessed breakdown and invertebrate colonization of wood in a floodplain wetland and directly related patterns in the wetland to adjacent river and upland habitats. Over a 2.7 year period, we monitored breakdown and invertebrate presence in 10 cm diameter × 150 cm long sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) logs in a floodplain wetland (n = 8), river (n = 5), and upland (n = 4) habitat. Mass loss, decay condition change, and C/N ratios of wetland wood more closely resembled upland than river wood. The overall invertebrate assemblage associated with wetland wood was also more similar to that associated with upland than river wood. Breakdown and invertebrate colonization of wood in the floodplain wetland shared more characteristics with upland than river wood, perhaps because of the seasonal nature of flooding in the wetland. However, the ecology of wood in wetlands also had unique characteristics compared with either the uplands or the river