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Distribution Of R-Banded Chromosome Variants In A Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Truncatus) Population, Kristine Anne Gunter

Dissertations and Theses

When combined with observational and behavioral data, chromosome variant analysis provides a means of assessing population structure in bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. In this cytogenetic analysis of thirty-six bottlenose dolphins, a distribution of fluorescent R-band variants was catalogued and used as a way to characterize the genetic structure of a Tursiops population inhabiting the Matagorda Bay, Texas, area. Three different population genetic analytical techniques were evaluated for their usefulness in analyzing cytogenetic data. The chromosome variant data obtained from this study was then compared with cytogenetic data gathered from a resident dolphin population residing near Sarasota, Florida.

The purpose …

Evaluation Of The Success Of Constructed Wetlands In The Cave Run Lake Watershed, April Diane Haight

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by April Diane Haight on December 10, 1996.

Chemical Communication In House Mice (Mus Musculus): Can They Recognize Gender From The Anogenital, Harderian Gland Or Mouth/Nose Odor?, Dawn Michele Andrews

Dissertations and Theses

Identifying the sensory systems animals employ to communicate chemically and the function of the chemical signals facilitates further understanding of chemical communication. Increased knowledge of how animals use the olfactory and vomeronasal systems in order to interpret the meaning of body odors will aid in developing a more detailed organization of chemosensory pathways. The message that each body odor contains can change from species to species.

The purpose of this thesis was to study three previously untested body odors in house mice (M. musculus) for their role in gender recognition of conspecifics. These odors are the anogenital (feces, …

Mechanisms Of Carnitine-Mediated Modulation Of Aflatoxin B1-Dna Adduct Formation, Ayub Mohd Yatim

Doctoral Dissertations

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism(s) of L-carnitine-mediated modulation of AFB₁-DNA adducts formation. The first part of the study investigated the effect of increased doses of carnitine on AFB₁ binding to macromolecules, AFB₁ uptake, activity of glutathione S-transferase (GST), and total glutathione concentrations in freshly isolated hepatocytes. Carnitine dose was significantly correlated with the formation of AFB₁-DNA adduct ( r = -0.68;p = 0.0002 ), AFB₁-protein adduct (r = 0.58;p = 0.017), but not AFB₁-RNA adduct (r = 0.14;p = 0.604). …

The Factors Affecting The Transfer Of Training Based On The Opportunity To Perform Trained Tasks, David Arnold Blair

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify and define the factors that affect the transfer of newly learned skills to the job. One factor that has been shown to affect the transfer of training to the job is the extent to which the training participants are given the opportunity to perform trained tasks once they return to their jobs. The opportunity to perform was to consist of two dimensions: breadth and activity level.

Training participants from a government facility and their immediate supervisors (N = 74) responded to two different questionnaires which measured the three dimensions of the opportunity …

Expression Of Α4Β1 Integrin On Tissue Eosinophils In The August Rat, John C. Phipps

Masters Theses

The integrin α4β1 is expressed on a wide variety of peripheral leukocytes, and functions in recruitment of these cells to sites of inflammaiton. We infected august (AUG) rats with the helminth parasite Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and later used leukocytes from the peritoneum of the sensitized animals and antibodies against α4β1 integrin to localize that adhesion molecule on the cell surfaces after antigen challenge. We found that after antigen challenge, eosinophils, monocytes, and small lymphocytes, but not mast cells, expressed α4β1 integrin if the animals had been previously infected, but cells from uninfected animals did not show expression of this molecule. Our …

Liquid Agglomeration Of Ink Particles In Deinking, Timothy J. Bowen

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Liquid agglomeration is defined by references as a separation process (3). For the purpose of this thesis project, it is the process of using a hydrocarbon oil, dispersed in water, to a pulp slurry, to agglomerate the ink particles and then float them to the top. The idea behind this research is that the sludge produced will have a higher BTU value due to the hydrocarbon oil, which will make incineration a more feasible means of disposal. The preliminary work consisted of determining whether or not the ink particles would agglomerate with hexadecane. It was found that the ink particles …

Repulping Bottle Carriers, Mahsa Khosravani

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Wet strength resins are used to enhance the strength of the paper in the presence of water and high humidity. Paper makers have a difficult time breaking down the wet strength resins which are used to aid in this process. The ideal situation would be to have high wet strength and still be able to brake it down easily. Unfortunately wet strength paper keeps its integrity because of the chemistry involved in its preparation. The chemistry that protects the structure of the high wet strength paper will also defend it in the pulper. The problem that causes the main concern …

Repulping Bottle Carriers, Jennifer A. Giver

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

The primary object of this thesis project was to repulp post consumer bottle carriers with the addition of chemical reagents and mechanical shear. Recycling bottle carriers is difficult to achieve due to the chemical additives that are added to the pulp. Chemical additives introduced to the virgin pulp are wet strength resins.

Post consumer bottle carriers used in this experiment contained Kymene 557, which is a wet strength product produced by Hercules incorporated and is difficult to repulp due to the cross-linking employed by this chemical additive. This experiment utilized both oxidizing and reducing chemical reagents such as hypochlorite and …

Electrokinetic Dewatering Of Softwood Furnishes, Aaron R. Redman

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Enormous quantities of water are required in the preparation and formation of paper products. One of the most costly operations in paper manufacture is removal of excess water from the sheet and disposal of by-products from paper production. Currently, high steam energy is necessary in the drying process of paper manufacture. Disposal of a paper by-product, sludge, is also a rising concern due to environmental risks, shrinking landfill space, and rising disposal costs. Both production costs and disposal costs could be reduced with a more effective and efficient process to enhance water removal in paper production and sludge disposal.

One …

A Study Of The Effect Of Recycling On The Bonding Ability And Characteristics Of Fines, Lon E. Pschigoda Ii

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

The recycled paper industry has seemingly grown faster than the technology to go along with it. It has become accepted that along with paper recycles comes a certain amount of strength loss, limiting the uses of secondary fiber. If the recycling industry is continued to grow an effective counter to this strength loss needs to be found. In order to counteract this strength loss the mechanism must first be better understood. The three mechanisms that will be focused on for this paper will be 1) The loss of fiber length, 2) Hornification, and 3) The decrease in surface bonding activity. …

Treating Recycled Papers With Naoh For Strength Improvement, Satoshi Suga

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Loss of strength is one of the worst aspects of recycled papers. Even though several factors are responsible for this phenomenon, loss of fiber swelling and inter fiber bonding are believed to be the main contributors. Therefore, prevention of loss in swelling and inter fiber bonding of recycled pup should result in the minimum strength loss of recycled papers.

Chemicals with hydroxyl group such as NaOH are known to provide superior swelling power to.pulp, and their swelling power might be utilized to minimize the strength loss of recycled paper.

In this study, batches of bleached kraft paper were repulped at …

The Effects Of Recycling On A Never-Dried Softwood Kraft Pulp Beaten To Different Initial Freeness Levels, Heath A. Smith

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

The objective of this study is to compare two different pulps, a softwood kraft pulp with a groundwood pulp, to see if there is any difference in the behavior of their sheet properties as they are recycled. Neither pulp was dried before the experiment began. The pulps were each refined to three different freeness levels to determine the effect of initial freeness on recycled sheet properties. Tests for tear, tensile, zero-span tensile, opacity, brightness, scattering coefficient, absorption coefficient, and porosity were performed on the sheets in order to determine the effects of recycling on those sheet properties. A Kajaani fiber …

Improving Print Quality In Wallpaper By Pigment And Latex Substitution, Christopher L. Stratton

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

The coated paper industry is rapidly changing and improving. Because of increasing demands by consumers, high quality paper at the lowest possible price is at a premium. Because of this paper makers and coaters are continually looking for ways to improve their sheet without increasing cost.

This experiment was designed to test the role which pigment and latex has in influencing the final sheet quality. This was tested in two stages. The first stage examined pigment variations and the second latex variations. In the pigment variation trial, a number 1 high brightness clay was replaced by a structured clay pigment. …

The Evaluation Of Two Types Of Multivariate Analyses Applied To Grassland Vegetation Data From A Reclaimed Coal Mine Area In Southeast Kansas, Usa, Karen Frances Yates

Electronic Theses & Dissertations

This study presents an analysis of the use of classification and ordination techniques for the detection of sub-communities at a reclaimed coal refuse dump and strip minded area in southeast Kansas. Cover values for 58 grass, forb, and woody species were estimated in 103 systematically positioned plots across the reclamation grassland using the modified Daubenmeyer cover scale. The data were submitted to an array of default and variant classification and ordination analysis programs in order to assess their ability to detect sub-communities. The classifications obtained from the analyses were mapped and analyzed for differences in species composition, diversity, and spatial …

Comparison Of Forest Stand Edges In Riparian And Mesic Habitats Along Watts Bar Reservoir Shoreline, Ruth Anne Hanahan

Masters Theses

Approximately fifty years ago, the landscape upslope from the natural, riverine position banks of the Tennessee River was inundated by the closing of Watts Bar Dam. On the currently forested shoreline, habitats within the direct influence of the reservoir pool are riparian. Those above that influence are mesic. The purpose of this research was to determine compositional and structural differences between edges of mature forest stands established in a riparian habitat and those established in a mesic habitat along Watts Bar Reservoir shoreline.

Thirty quadrats were placed on shoreline sites with mature, minimally-disturbed forest stands: 15 in a riparian habitat …

Expression And Regulation Properties Of Pseudomonas L-Arabinose Utilization Plasmids, Mary E. Barecki

Masters Theses

The L-arabinose utilization pathway in Pseudomonas fluorescens is a unique metabolic pathway. In Pseudomonas, L-arabinose is converted to the end product α-ketogluterate and does not involve phosphorylated intermediates. This differs from the well studied L-arabinose pathway found in Escherichia coli which contains phosphorylated intermediates.

The enzymes of the L-arabinose pathway have been shown to be induced in the presence of L-arabinose in P. saccharophila. The current study determined regulatory properties of previously cloned chromosomal fragments of P. fluorescens which confer an L-arabinose positive phenotype to the surrogate host, Pseudomonas putida. Cells of P. putida containing plasmids pPZ221, …

The Effects Of Benzo(A)Pyrene And Dimethylbenzanthracene On Cultured Porcine Aortic Endothelial Function, Michelle Lynn Kagey

Masters Theses

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are environmental contaminants which have been shown to initiate and promote atherosclerosis and carcinogenesis in various animal species. These findings have been based primarily on the increase in incidence and size of smooth muscle cell tumors in these animals were exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) or dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA). The endothelium has also been identified as an important mediator in vascular disease and atherogenesis, although the endothelial response to these PAHs has not been investigated. Thus, the focus of this study was on characterization of the endothelial response to BaP and DMBA. Concentration/response relationships for these chemicals were examined, …

Strength Properties Of Steam Exploded Laser Printed Papers, Dhamodharan Srinivasan

Masters Theses

The mam objective of this study was to investigate the effect of steam explosion pulping on the strength properties of recycled fibers. The properties considered were zerospan tensile strength, tensile breaking length, tensile stretch, tensile energy absorption, scott bond and pentosan content. This study also examined the important operating parameters that affect the properties. Laser printed waste paper was pulped by the steam explosion process. The experiments were statistically modeled to cover the various process variables. Chemical addition, residence time, pressure, and dispersant level were varied during the steam explosion experiments. Chemical addition was kept at four levels and other …

Structural And Functional Analysis Of Secondary Structure Block To Mrna Utilization, Juan Lin

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Experimentally introduced secondary structure, formed by a cis-targeted hammerhead ribozyme in exon 2 two nucleotides dowstream of the 3' splice site of a yeast ACT-E. coli lacZ fusion gene, virtually abolishes splicing in vivo and inhibits B-galactosidase production. This is the first demonstration of the splicing inhibitory effect of secondary structures occurring in exons in the absence of splice site sequestration. Our goal is to understand the mechanism by which utilization of this splice site is impeded. Two cis - and one trans-acting mutations that alleviate the splicing blockage were obtained by screening for restoration of B-galactosidase activity. Both cis …

Diseased Thyrocytes Have Aberrant Communication And Tnf Receptor Secretion, Mary Labue

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Autoimmune diseases are a world-wide health concern and are an intense area of investigation. However, one area of research has been largely ignored. This involves the contribution of the target tissue to the disease process. We hypothesized that cell-cell communication is disrupted by lymphocytic infiltration and advancing fibrosis and this disruption results in altered target cell responses to immune components produced at the site of inflammation, including Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF- α).

We have used thyroiditis as our model of autoimmunity and have documented the development of spontaneous thyroiditis in MRL-lpr/lpr mice. We have found aberrant connexin expression in …

Aberrant Communication And Protein Kinase C In Experimental Autoimmune Thyroiditis, Joyce P. Lazarus

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Autoimmune diseases are a worldwide healthcare concern. Research has focused mainly on the role of the immune system and genetic susceptibility to autoimmune disease. However, this study investigates altered target tissue properties and their contributions to the pathogenesis of induced autoimmune thyroiditis in Lewis rats. Our hypothesis was; inflammation-induced lymphocytic infiltration and subsequent fibrosis results in physical disruption of gap junctional communication in the target tissue contributing to the disease process. Our study of intercellular communication in experimentally-induced autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) in Lewis rats revealed a deficiency in connexin expression, connexin assembly and dye transfer [(results corroborated in murine model …

Gross And Histological Features Of A Myofascial Trigger Point In The Upper Trapezius, Kathryn E. Levee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to precisely locate, in living humans, a myofascial trigger point associated with the upper portion of the trapezius muscle (TrP1) that refers pain to the head and neck and to determine if this point is associated with anatomical structures. This study is descriptive and utilizes data from measurements of the location of TrP1 in relation to anatomical landmarks, of pressure sensitivity overlying the trigger point and electromyography recordings in localizing the trigger point. Information obtained from living humans was used to determine anatomical correlation to structures in cadavers. Results indicated there is little variability …

Effect Of Nesting Structure Density On Clutch Success Of Canada Geese, Branta Canadensis, Nesting In Constructed Wetlands In The Cave Run Lake, Kentucky, Area, Teresa L. Caudill

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Science and Technology at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology by Teresa L. Caudill on November 26, 1996.

Using The Spot-Mapping Censusing Technique To Assess Changes In Breeding Bird Communities At Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, Texas, 1940-1996, Alberto Cantu

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Results of breeding-bird censuses done by Davis in 1940 and by Gehlbach between 1973-1978 at Santa Ana National Wildlife, Alamo Texas, were compared to a 1995-1996 bird survey done in Gehlbach's study area. According to the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, bird densities in 1940 and 1995-1996 were similar, while 1973-1978 densities were lower. The 1995-1996 bird community was 76% similar to both the earlier studies. However, the communities studied in 1940 and 1973-1978 had only a 60% similarity. Negligible differences in bird densities and species composition were found between the 1995 and 1996 communities. Differences are attributed to changes in vegetation …

The Diet Of Oryzomys Palustris Based On Stomach Content Analysis, Shannon L. Wright

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Oryzomys palustris (Harlan) is unusual in that it is one of two carnivorous mammals in the Family Muridae in North America. A diet analysis of Oryzomys palustris. the marsh rice rat, was done based on stomach contents. This was accomplished by taking the animals from two study areas located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The animals were taken monthly for one year. Once caught, the animals were sacrificed and their stomach contents were identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible. This study showed that rice rats were omnivorous mammals, eating a variety of foods, including dicots, monocots, crabs, …

Characterization Of P39, A Borrelia Burgdorferi Specific Protein, Jill M. Troyer

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease, expresses a species specific, 39 kiloDalton protein of unknown function called P39. This protein is highly immunogenic and the presence of anti-P39 antibodies in patient sera is used as an indicator of B. burgdorferi infection. P39 is also a candidate for vaccine developement due to conserved expression of P39 among B. burgdorferi isolates. Since little is presently known about this important molecule, the present study was designed to characterize P39 and was carried out in six separate investigations. First, infectious and noninfectious isolates of B. burgdorferi were established in vitro, and …

Spirit Resting Places: A Nature Reader, Martin T. Thompson

MALS Final Projects, 1995-2019

When not involved in the matters of earning a living by teaching, I tramp the woods and fields to hunt or fish, or just to saunter through nature's mysterious beauty, and I read and write. That my writings embody reflections on my observations of the natural world is an extension of the self-discovery quest I have taken up. The pieces in this collection are mottled leafy pattern pieces that attempt to help me make sense of a life that began in rural Upstate New York. I was born and raised in the snow-belt region of Tug Hill, 15 miles east …

The Influence Of Fluorescent Light On The Development Of In Vitro Fertilized Bovine Oocytes, Jared Bunch

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Advances in in vitro fertilization and in vitro culture techniques have allowed considerable progress in identifying physiological requirements of mammalian embryos. Parrish et al. (11) reported a major breakthrough on in vitro fertilization when his group identified heparin as an important factor for the capacitation of spermatozoa. Capacitation is necessary for fertilization of matured oocytes. During the precoculture era of embryos (prior to 1980), the development of early preirnplantation embryos was vary limited regardless of medium, medium supplement, gas atmosphere, osmolarity or pH used (7). Coculture techniques of fertilized oocytes using somatic cells during in vitro production, particularly of bovine …

Evaluation Of A Rapid-Screening Toxicity Test Using The Ciliate, Colpoda Inflata (Stokes): Sensitivity And Bioavailability To Model Compounds, Daria Galina Mochan

Dissertations and Theses

Standard toxicity tests often require high costs for maintaining healthy cultures, so few test species are employed in routine ecotoxicological analysis. An alternative is the "battery of tests" approach involving using rapid toxicity tests for screening. Rapid-screening toxicity tests must display organism sensitivity, similarity in responses to other test organisms, relevancy to many circumstances, and repeatability. Protozoa are ideal candidates for rapid-screening bioassays. They are cosmopolitan, play important roles in ecosystems, and have high reproductive rates. Many protozoa can form a resting stage (cyst) that remains viable during adverse conditions, eliminating the need for maintaining continuous cultures for testing.

The …