Life Sciences Commons^™

Gold In The Gulf: A History Of The Rio Grande Valley Shrimp Industry, Thomas M. Blackwell

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Competition over dwindling fishery stocks has become acute. Shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico is part of that competition. Trawling operations shifted to Brownsville. A dispute between the newly arrived louisiana shrimpers and Texas operators drove many of the newcomers south to the Mexican coastline. This led almost inevitably to a conflict with Mexico. That it was almost inevitable was also due to the fact that the two nations had differing interpretations of territorial limits.

The confrontations themselves were often full of adventure with charges, counter-charges, and sometimes bullets hurled through the air. Because of this nation's own past actions, …

Comparison Of Forest Cover Prior To And Following Disturbance In Two Areas Of The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Weaver H. Mccracken Iii

Masters Theses

Prelogging forest cover and the nature and intensity of logging disturbance for two areas in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were characterized using written records, photographs, interviews and, where available, virgin stands on similar sites. Present seral position and stand character were determined from fixed-area plots established on sties for which previous forest cover and intensity of disturbance had been determined.

A low- to mid-elevation hardwood forest occupying a north-facing drainage on the Tennessee side of the Park was determined to have been mixed mesophytic in character prior to logging and was most intensively disturbed by skidder logging near …

Movement Ecology And Activity Behavior Of Black Bears In The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, David L. Garshelis

Masters Theses

Movements and activity behavior of 29 radio-collared black bears (Ursus americanus) were monitored between July 1976 and December 1977 in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many bears exhibited home ranges with abrupt seasonal changes, especially between summer and fall. The timing and extent of these range shifts were influenced by sex, age and food availability. During good mast years, the fall ranges of many males overlapped considerably in an area of abundant oaks, while during poor mast years, social intolerance may force many subordinate males outside the Park boundaries in search of food. Fall movements increased the …

Distribution And Characteristics Of Balsam Woolly Aphid Infestations In The Great Smoky Mountains, C. Christopher Eagar

Masters Theses

The balsam woolly aphid was inadvertently introduced into North America in Maine around 1900 and has subsequently spread throughout the eastern spruce-fir forests. Within the past 20 years the aphid has become a serious pest of Fraser fir in the Southern Appalachians, causing concern for the scenic and scientific resources of the spruce-fir forests. Fraser fir is highly susceptible to attack by the aphid with mortality occurring within 2 to 5 years following colonization. This rapid mortality in combination with the phenomenal reproductive potential of the aphid threatens the existence of Fraser fir. Investigations were conducted within the Great Smoky …

A Procedure For Determination Of Total Sulfur And Inorganic Sulfate Content Of Food Stuffs, Margaret Steele Rumbley

Masters Theses

A procedure for determination of total sulfur and a procedure for determination of inorganic sulfate content of the edible portions of foodstuffs common to the American diet were investigated. The test food was New York State variety green cabbage. Total sulfur (as sulfate) was determined by the Parr sulfur bomb atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The determination was made with and without added sodium sulfate standard. Good recovery and precision, 101.4 ±2.3%, were obtained by this method. An attempt was made to determine total sulfur (as sulfate) as the sum of the four sulfur components: inorganic sulfate, organic sulfate, ethereal sulfur …

Identification And Economic Analysis Of Alternative Soybean Production Systems, William Alan Miller

Masters Theses

The objectives of this study were to identify alternative soybean production systems used by Tennessee farmers in 1976 based on alternative combinations of cropping practices and planting methods and to develop estimates of the resource requirements and the costs and returns of each identified cropping-planting system.

A mail survey of randomly selected West Tennessee farm operators was used to identify the following six soybean cropping-planting systems: (1) single crop-row crop, (2) single crop-grain drill, (3) single crop-broadcast, (4) double crop-row crop, (5) double crop-grain drill, and (6) double crop-no till. Comparison of the six systems involved tabulation of survey data …

Zinc Uptake In Loblolly Pine Seedlings, Victor Zillmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Zinc concentrations in the root, terminal growth, stem, and needles of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were measured in 72 seedlings grown in washed sand, fertilized with Zn(N03)2. Zinc treatment periods were early spring, late spring, and summer. Zinc uptake was the greatest in early spring. Zinc nitrate fertilizer and remaining soil zinc at treatments end had no effect on mycorrhizae, height, or diameter growth. Linear and multiple regressions were derived using residual soil zinc and treatment zinc that can predict zinc concentrations in different plant parts that have r values from .7440 to .8170. Linear regressions for the prediction …

Clustering Of Phenotypic Variables And Construction Of An Identification Scheme For Human Isolates Of Haemophilus, Lynne Alice Johnson

Biology ETDs

The taxonomy of the genus Haemophilus has been in a state of confusion for many years. As a result, laboratory identification of haemophili has been difficult, if not impossible. Due to the considerable pathogenicity of some members of the genus, it was felt that an accurate method of identification of those organisms was needed. This study has attempted to create a practical identification scheme for haemophili isolated in the clinical laboratory. A collection of 220 isolates from clinical laboratories was subjected to 35 biochemical and physiological tests and the data posted to a random matrix. The 7700 bits (220 X …

Effects Of Inorganic Ions On The Catalytic Activity Of Pig Liver Phosphofructokinase, Lawrence Gregory Foe

Biology ETDs

The effects of inorganic ions on the catalytic activity of pig liver phosphofructokinase were investigated. High concentrations of monovalent anions inhibit the enzyme by decreasing max with little change in the Hill coefficient. The efficiency of inhibition follows the

series NO3- < Cl- < ClO3- = Br- < I- < SCN-, which is similar to the classical Hofmeister series. Low concentrations (<2 mM) of the divalent anions Pi, sO4 2-, s2O3 2- SO32- , and MoO42- all activate the enzyme by changing the kinetics from sigmoidal to hyperbolic, with no change in V max . However, B4o72- has no effect. The apparent dissociation constants of the activating anions for the enzyme were calculated from activation curves for the anions at 0.5mM ATP and 1.0m MF6p.The activation curve for so4-2 is sigmoidal; the activation curves for the other activating anions are hyperbolic. The monovalent cations K+, NH4+ , and Rb+ activate the enzyme by increasing V max without greatly affecting the Hill coefficient.

However, the [S}0.5 for F6P is decreased by these cations to an extent directly proportional to their ionic volumes.

The monovalent cations Li + , Na+ , and C s + have no activating effect; instead, high concentrations of these cations inhibit the enzyme in a manner similar to the monovalent anions. The efficiency of inhibition follows the series …

An Analysis Of Staggered Spondaic Word Test Performances Of Dyslexic Children And Their Parents, Nancy Jane Maxwell

Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of a familial lineage for dyslexia by analyzing certain auditory processing characteristics of dyslexic children and their parents. The Staggered Spondaic Word test was administered to twenty-one dyslexic children, eight to thirteen years of age, their natural parents and normal reading siblings.

The experimental test data were tabulated and analyzed according to listening condition for each of the four groups: dyslexic children, normal reading siblings, affected parents and non-affected parents. A statistical analysis of the experimental data revealed significantly poorer Staggered Spondaic Word test performances for dyslexic children and their …

Mercury, Copper, And Zinc In Selected Ichthyofauna Of Lower Chesapeake Bay And Hampton Roads, Virginia, W. Bruce Aitenhead

OES Theses and Dissertations

Anchovys, croaker, spat, summer flounder and hogchokers were collected monthly to seasonally from November 1972 to October 1973 at three locations in the southern Chesapeake Bay region of Virginia.

The concentrations of mercury, copper and zinc were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in whole fishes. Metal concentration varied with species and location. Anchovys had the highest mean concentrations of mercury and zinc while hog- chokers had the highest mean copper concentration. Mercury levels exceeding O.5 ppm were observed in species from all three loca- tions, but maximum heavy metal concentrations per species were highest in Craney Island fishes.

Temporal variations …

Alpine Vegetation Of Steens Mountain, Paul Collins

Dissertations and Theses

A determination was made that the summit of Steens Mountain is an alpine tundra. The assessment was based on floristics, vegetation and community structure, environmental parameters, and geomorphological criteria. Microhabitats of Oxyria digyna at low elevations were found to approximate alpine conditions.

Influence Of Denervation And Hemithyroidectomy On The Age Related Increase In The Number Of Calcitonin-Containing Cells In Mouse Thyroid, Nualnoi Wechbanjong

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

It has been concluded from this study that nerve fibers in the superior laryngeal nerves have an influence on the development of C-cells in the mouse thyroid. This conclusion is based on the results of two types of investigation. The first is an analysis of the effect of age on the number of C-cells and the second is an investigation of the influence of denervation and hemithyroid-parathyroidectomy on the age related changes in C-cells numbers.

I. The distribution and c011centraticn of C-cells in mouse thyroid at various ages.

Serial 6 µm sections of thyroid glands from Swjss Webster mice at …

The Role Of Allelopathic Interference In The Maintenance Of Southern Appalachian Heath Balds, Robert Edward Gant

Doctoral Dissertations

Allelopathic interference seems to be an important mechanism in the maintenance and persistence of southern Appalachian heath bald communities. Comparative analyses were conducted on two heath balds located in the Balsam Mountains of western North Carolina to distinguish phytotoxic characteristics that enhance persistence. Field studies revealed that one community was a mixed heath bald dominated by Rhododendron catawbiense and the second resembled an immature spruce-rhododendron forest heath dominated by Rhododendron maximum and Picea rubens.

Caffeic acid, gallic acid, gentisic acid, hydroquinone, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-pinene, phloroglucinol, rhododendrol, and vanillic acid were isolated and identified from canopy drip, leaves, litter, roots, …

The Ecology Of Rabies In Northeastern Tennessee, Howard Fleming Hall Iii

Doctoral Dissertations

The study sought to determine the ecological factors which influenced the time and place at which rabid animals occurred in northeastern Tennessee. The study region consisted of 30 counties in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Within this region three Tennessee counties, the study area, were selected for detailed field study.

The objectives of the study were pursued by means of (1) a detailed retrospective analysis of reported rabies cases in the study region over several decades, (2) the collection of data on recent (1972-1976) reported rabies cases in the study area, (3) a serum survey to detect rabies antibodies among …

Effects Of Strip Mining Related Disturbance On The Benthic Insect Communities Of Selected Streams In The New River Basin Of East Tennessee, Virginia Rose Tolbert

Doctoral Dissertations

Four streams in the New River Basin in East Tennessee (one undisturbed and three disturbed) were sampled monthly to determine the effects of contour strip mining for coal on benthic insect communities. In addition to sampling for benthic insects, various physical parameters were measured at the time of sampling to help determine factors that cause changes in benthic community composition in streams disturbed by strip mining. Samples from each stream were analyzed monthly, seasonally, and for the total sampling period to determine effect on the number of species and individuals and on species diversity. For these three factors data were …

The Effect Of Auxiliary Dispersants On The Dispersion And Properties Of Coating Made With Domestic Clays, Carroll A. Brandt

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Polymeric organic dispersants are now being used to replace all or part of the inorganic dispersants currently is use for pigmented coatings. They are generally recommended for hard-to-disperse or for special applications where unusual coating requirements must be obtained.

This study showed the effect of some of these auxiliary dispersants when used with tetrasodium pyrephosphate (TSPP) to disperse domestic clay.

The results of this study showed that the most effective type of dispersants for this application are the acrylic-based polymers. The lignosulfate derivative and styrene maleic anhydride did not look as good as the acrylic-based polymers. When used in coatings …

Environmental Cues In The Seasonal Development Of The Southern California Annual Grassland, George E. Johnson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Annual grasslands characteristically experience a succession of seasonal phases which provide for the coexistence of various species by allowing them to make their major demands upon environmental resources at different times. Thus, an ecosystem furnishing certain resources at a limited rate is enabled to support a larger total biomass.

The grasslands of southern California consist principally of annual grasses coexisting with the few remaining native perennial grasses. Characteristic also is the inclusion of forbs which are distinctly either early spring or late summer plants. Many spring forbs, annual grasses, and summer forbs are observed to germinate in approximAte unison shortly …

Comparison Of Root Surfaces In Endodontic Lesions, Periodontic Lesions And Normal Human Teeth, Robert W. Hanson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The healing potential of an endodontic lesion is usually greater than a periodontic lesion (Simon et al. 1972; Hiatt 1977). Periodontal regeneration places particular emphasis on the soft tissue-tooth interface (Stahl 1977). This interface was examined in fifteen extracted human teeth.

The teeth were divided into three groups: (1) periapical lesions, (2) periodontal lesions, and (3) healthy periodontal tissue. Criteria were established for each group. Freshly extracted human teeth meeting the criteria were fixed in gluteraldehyde or paraformaldehyde. The teeth were then selected for surface observation or cracked for cross sectional examination. The teeth were post fixed, dehydrated, and coated …

A Test Of Cultural Treatments Selected To Improve The Chemical And Physical Characteristics Of Reclaimed Surface Mine Spoil For The Growth Of Loblolly Pine In East Tennessee, Thomas L. Simpson

Masters Theses

Three surface mine spoil areas in East Tennessee were selected for testing the influence of the State reclamation requirements and selected supplementary treatments on the survival and growth of pines recommended for planting on various sites. A high elevation (2,800 feet) test near Caryville, Tennessee, was discarded because of poor survival of white pine and site modification by contractors working in the area.

Fertilizer tests on two established loblolly pine plantations, one on new and the other on old spoil from mining the Sewanee coal seam near Cagle, Tennessee (1,850 feet), indicated that N additions of both 50 and 100 …

Are Pollinators Exerting Selection Pressure On The Azalea Hybrids On Gregory Bald?, Clinton Victor Kellner

Masters Theses

Gregory Bald is renowned for an azalea hybrid swarm which contains a very diverse array of flower colors and forms. This report involves the study of the flower constancy of the pollinators to the different azalea flower types. The flower type classification is based on the floral morphology, color and presence of odor. The azalea species involved in the hybrid swarm are Rhododendron bakeri (Lemon and McKay) Hume, R. aborescens (Pursh) Torrey and R. viscosum (L.) Torrey. Pollinators' constancy to flower type and pollinators' preference for flower type were observed on square plots that contained two or more flower types. …

Effects Of Trypanosoma Musculi Kendall, 1906 Immune Serum On The Reproduction Of Trichinella Spiralis (Owen, 1835) Railliet, 1896 In Mice, Samuel L. Chafin

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The possible effects of ablastin, a reproduction-inhibiting antibody which is produced during the infection of the blood parasite, Trypanosoma musculi in the mouse, were investigated by fractionating the parasite into a supernatant fraction (designated as Group A test mice) and a pellet fraction (Group B test mice). These groups A and B mice were injected with the respective fractions, plus Freund’s Complete Adjuvant (FCA). Control mice were injected with FCA only. Sera from these three groups of mice were removed after the Group A and Group B mice were shown to be negative to T. musculi challenge, and Group A …

The Use Of Rat Liver Cell Cultures For The Isolation Of Histoplasma Capsulatum Darling, Allen Robert Riebau

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Sciences and Mathematics at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Allen Robert Riebau on May 12, 1978.

Requirement For Protein Synthesis In Adrenocorticotropin Stimulated Steroidogenesis Of Isolated Rat Adrenal Cells, John G. Menke

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the School of Sciences and Mathematics at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Biology by John G. Menke on May 6, 1978.

PiñOn Pine Cone Assessment By The Clark's Nutcracker, Nicifraga Columbiana, Donna Christine Cole

Biology ETDs

Clark's Nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana) rely heavily on seeds of pinon pine (Pinus edulis) as a winter food supply in years of good seed production. During late summer and autumn these birds spend considerable time and energy harvesting seeds from green, unopened cones. I tested abilities of three groups of wild-caught birds to discriminate cone quality: (1) adults, (2) experiences juveniles, and (3) naive juveniles. The birds were given choice tests with two cones, three cones, and cones that had been painted. Under controlled conditions nutcrackers discriminated between cones of differing quality. Adults assessed cones more accurately than did juveniles in …

Antipredative Function Of The Gelatinous Coating Of The Eggs Of The Frog, Rana Pipiens, Walter Stanley Jennings

Master's Theses

The eggs of Rana pipiens, the southern leopard frog, were offered in several forms to Lepomis macro­ chirus, the bluegill. The fish were offered random trial discrimination tests while in groups of one or five in 40 1 aquaria. L. macrochirus learned to make distinct discriminations and rejected fertilized and unfertilized egg masses, boiled egg masses, dried frog eggs and gelatin made with homogenated frog eggs. In contrast, Shrimp-el-etts, Shrimp-el-etts dyed black, gelatin made with peptone, and ovarian eggs were accept­ ed readily. The results suggest a protective function for the gelatinous coat: both physical and chemical . The chemical …

Distribution Of Etheostoma Nigrum Rafinesque, Etheostoma Olmstedi Storer, And Their Introgressive Hybrid Populations In The James River Drainage, John Edward Clark

Master's Theses

An analysis of proportional measurements and meristic characters of Etheostoma nigrum and E. olmstedi identified five populations within the James River drainage. Etheostoma nigrum inhabited the montane and piedmont areas through the Fall Line; E. o. atromaculatum was distributed throughout the tidal river and its lower tributaries; and E. o. olmstedi was restricted to creeks on the upper coastal plain. Appomattox River and Falling Creek contained introgressive hybrid populations with character frequency distributions intermediate to those of E. nigrum and E. o. olmstedi. It is proposed that E. nigrum probably entered these drainages through stream piracy on piedmont tributaries of …

Possible Innovations For Teaching Farm Management In Iran, Mehdi- Khosroshahin

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Throughout the history of mankind, agriculture has always been the main element of interest. The early Romans recorded a number of facts in relation to farming and cultivation. Arthur Young, a famous writer about the 19th Century British farming states, "The magic of ownership turns sand to gold." [l, p. 1]

A Survey Of Plants And Animals Of Hill And Wendover Bombing Ranges, Western Utah, Mary Sue Fisher

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The United States Air Force was required by the Sikes Act (16 USC 670 et seq.) to operate Hill and Wendover Bombing Ranges under a Land and Wildlife Management Plan consistent with military objectives. A preliminary biological inventory was conducted to provide basic information necessary for preparation of an appropriate management plan. The inventory was conducted over a one year period utilizing 60 field days on the ground and 30 hours of flying time. A list of vertebrates present on the bombing ranges was formed by general observation of large mammals, birds and reptiles, and trapping of small mammals. …

Toxicity, Selectivity, And Efficacy Of Squoxin (1,1'-Methylendi-2-Napthol) To Fishes In Utah Waters, Dexter R. Pitman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Squoxin (1,1'-Methylendi-2-napthol) was tested in laboratory and field bioassays to evaluate its biological activity to rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki), Utah chub (Gila atraria), carp (Cyprinus carpio), reside shiner (Richardsonius balteatus), and mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus) under various conditions of water quality and temperature. The compound was toxic to all species and most effective from greatest to least to mountain sucker, reside shiner, Utah chub, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout and carp. Selectively and safety indices for Utah chub compared with the two species of …