Digital Commons Network^™

In Vitro Genotoxic Effects Of Benzoyl Peroxide In Human Peripheral Lymphocytes, Arzu Yavuz, Mehmet Topaktaş, Erman Sali̇h İsti̇fli̇

Turkish Journal of Biology

The aim of the present research was to investigate the genotoxic potency of benzoyl peroxide (BPO), a whitener of flour and cheese, using in vitro sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosome aberration (CA), and micronucleus (MN) tests in human peripheral lymphocytes. Cells were exposed to 25, 50, 75, and 100 µg/mL concentrations of BPO for 24 and 48 h. BPO induced SCEs only at the highest concentration (100 µg/mL) for 48 h treatment. Furthermore, BPO induced CAs at 75 and 100 µg/mL concentrations for 24 h treatment, and at all concentrations for 48 h treatment. BPO induced CAs in a dose-dependent …

Stimulatory Effects Of Ghrelin On Spontaneous Contractions In The Rat Myometrium, Alpaslan Dayangaç, Seli̇m Kutlu, Vahi̇t Konar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Ghrelin, a recently isolated hormone, has been reported to have modulatory effects on smooth muscle contractility. In this study, we investigated the effects of ghrelin on spontaneous contractions in the rat uterus in vitro. Myometrium strips were removed from Wistar rats following decapitation and placed in a jacketed tissue bath. After initiation of spontaneous contractions, control contractions were recorded for 10 min and various concentrations of ghrelin were added to the tissue bath cumulatively. The Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used for statistical analysis. Application of ghrelin augmented the spontaneous contractions in myometrial strips. The mean peak amplitudes of contractions …

Genetic Relationships Of The Genera Onobrychis, Hedysarum, And Sartoria Using Seed Storage Proteins, Emi̇ne Arslan, Kuddi̇si̇ Ertuğrul

Turkish Journal of Biology

Fifteen species belonging to 3 genera (Onobrychis, Hedysarum and Sartoria), collected from different geographical regions of Turkey were studied for the polypeptide patterns of their seed storage proteins. The variability of seed storage proteins was analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). As many as 72 bands were scored and a dendrogram was constructed using UPGMA (unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean). The dendrogram of the electrophoretic protein profiles of seeds showed 2 main clusters. While the first cluster with further subclusters included Onobrychis species, the second cluster included Sartoria and Hedysarum species present in 2 separate subclusters. …

Nutritive Value Of Edible Wild And Cultured Mushrooms, Sevda Kirbağ, Mehmet Akyüz

Turkish Journal of Biology

The nutritive value of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq. ex Fr.) Kumm., Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer, and Agaricus bisporus (Large) Sign. was determined. Dry matter, moisture, crude ash, protein, fat, cellulose, organic matter, and nitrogen-free extract were 89.7%-90.3%, 9.7%-10.3%, 6.0%-13.7%, 27.8%-41.6%, 0.5%-1.3%, 10.0%-16.2%, 76.0%-84.0%, and 26.7%-36.8% of dry weight, respectively. Mineral element contents were 14.1-45.6 g K kg^{-1}, 0.2-1.2 g Ca kg^{-1} , 0.4-1.9 g Mg kg^{-1}, and 0.2-0.9 g Na kg^{-1} as macronutrients, and 176.5-838.0 mg Fe kg^{-1}, 35.0-46.0 mg Zn kg^{-1}, 4.8-65.4 mg Mn kg^{-1}, 6.5-21.5 mg Cu kg^{-1}, 0.0-11.5 mg Cr kg^{-1}, and 0.0-1.65 mg Cd kg^{-1} as micronutrients …

Aphrodisiac Activity And Curative Effects Of Pedalium Murex (L) Against Ethanol Induced Infertility In Male Rats, Gunasekaran Balamurugan, P. Muralidharan, Satyanarayana Polapala

Turkish Journal of Biology

It has been suggested that chronic ethanol exposure may result in testicular damage and infertility in males. Petroleum ether extract of Pedalium murex, family Pedaliaceae (PEPM), is evaluated in this study for its ability to increase aphrodisiac activity and to cure ethanol induced germ cell damage and infertility in male rat models. Doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of PEPM showed a significant increase (P < 0.01, P < 0.001) in mating and mounting behaviour. The effect on fertility factors such as total body weight, percentage of pregnancy, litter size were also significantly increased (P < 0.01) in comparison with the ethanol-treated group. Significant increases in sperm motility and count were observed in PEPM-treated groups in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01; P < 0.001) as compared with the ethanol-treated group. Similarly, reductions in the percentage of abnormal sperm were noted in animals treated with PEPM 400 mg/kg. The effects of PEPM on total protein, total cholesterol and testosterone were satisfactory, the levels being increased significantly for protein (P < 0.05), cholesterol (P < 0.01) and testosterone (P < 0.05) by 400 mg/kg PEPM. Microtome sections of the testes of animals treated with 400 mg/kg PEPM exhibited restoration and recovery of germinal cells and the luminal spermatozoa and were comparable with the control group animals. These effects of PEPM make this natural herb ideal as an aphrodisiac and a potent fertility enhancing drug.

Antioxidant And Antimicrobial Activities Of An Aquatic Plant: Duckweed (Lemna Minor L.), İlhami̇ Gülçi̇n, Ekrem Ki̇reçci̇, Ebru Akkemi̇k, Fevzi̇ Topal, Olcay Hi̇sar

Turkish Journal of Biology

Duckweed (Lemna minor L. Lemnaceae) is a widespread, free-floating aquatic macrophyte, a source of food for waterfowl and a shelter for small aquatic invertebrates. It grows quickly and reproduces faster than other vascular plants. The objective of this study was to determine the antioxidant, antiradical, antimicrobial, and anticandidal activities of duckweed using different in vitro methodologies. For evaluation of antioxidant and antiradical activities, 2,2´-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS.+) radical scavenging, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH.) free radical scavenging, total antioxidant activity by ferric thiocyanate, total reducing power by potassium ferricyanide reduction method, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, and ferrous ions chelating activities were …

Evaluation Of Hypoglycemic And Hypolipidemic Activity Of Buteamonosperma Fruit In Diabetic Human Subjects, Fizza Naeem, Sohail Hassan Khan

Turkish Journal of Biology

Evaluation of the hypoglycemic activity of local Butea monosperma (Palas papra) fruit in normal and diabetic human volunteers was conducted. Sampling was accomplished in and around the city of Faisalabad, especially at the Khadija Mahmood Trust Hospital and at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Volunteers were categorized into normal and diabetic subjects on the basis of their blood glucose levels. Male and female diabetic volunteers aged between 30 and 60 years participated in the study. All the diabetic volunteers suffered from diabetes type II, i.e. non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). The subjects were divided into 5 groups as follows: Group …

Transepithelial D-Glucose And D-Fructose Transport Across Lobster Intestine, Ijeoma Ebelechukwu Obi

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The mechanisms of transepithelial absorption of dietary D-glucose and D-fructose in the American lobster, Homarus americanus, were investigated in this study in order to determine whether sugar transport proteins have been conserved throughout evolution. Whole lobster intestine was isolated and mounted in a perfusion chamber to determine transepithelial mucosal to serosal (MS) and serosal to mucosal (SM) mechanisms of ³H-D-glucose and ³H-D-fructose transport across the intestine. Unidirectional MS and SM fluxes were measured by adding variable concentrations of ³H-D-glucose and ³H-D-fructose (2.5 to 50uM) to either the perfusate or the bath respectively and sampling the …

Arthropod Biodiversity In Response To The Restoration Of Former Pine Plantations, John Curtis Burkhalter

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The goal of ecological restoration is to return degraded or altered ecosystems to their pre-disturbed state with respect to ecosystem structure, function, and composition. In the current study the research objective was to reestablish high levels of biodiversity on two restored pine plantations as well as restore a native pine flatwoods ecosystem. Managed, even-aged pine flatwoods are now the most extensive ecosystem in North Florida, comprising approximately 70% of the forested landscape. Slash pine trees were thinned in the experimental plots to restore the natural slash pine density of native ecosystems. In addition to the thinning treatments, experimental plots have …

Seeking Generalities In Salt Stress Effects On Herbivores: A Multi-Species Approach, Christy Marie Foust

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Stress has been identified as one of the primary factors influencing the structure of food webs, but few conclusions about the effects of stress on community dynamics have emerged. This study examined generalities that exist between salt stress and insect herbivore responses. Ambient salinity was artificially increased by adding 1.3 kg/m2 of salt to six different plant species: Avicennia germinans, Baccharis halimifolia, Batis maritima, Borrichia frutescens, Iva frutescens, and Spartina alterniflora. By performing a multiple species examination, stress responses were examined to determine if consistencies within and between plant type, ambient salinity conditions, and host plant species (among other criteria) …

Laryngeal Apparatus And Call Structure In North American Hylids, Barbara Ann Catherine Fears

Masters Theses

"Although the ecological implications and structure of frog calls have been the subject of much study, little is known about the association between the laryngeal apparatus morphology and call structure in North American hylids. In this study linear measurements of the laryngeal apparatus were captured and compared to the call structures of thirteen species of North American hylids. Species examined included: Pseudacris crucifer, P. triseriata, P. ocularis, Acris crepitans blanchardi, Hyla avivoca, H. cinerea, H. gratiosa, H. chrysoscelis, H. versicolor, H. squirella, H. femoralis, H. arenicolor, and H. eximia. Six homologous landmark points were identified, and the lengths between them …

Xenopus Development From Late Gastrulation To Feeding Tadpole In Simulated Microgravity, Wendy M. Olson, Darrell Wiens, Theresa L. Gaul, Manuela Rodriguez, Cherie L. Hauptmeier

Faculty Work

Microgravity (microG) is known to influence cytoskeletal structure, but its effects on cell migration are not well understood. To examine the effects of altered gravity on neural crest cell (NCC) migration, we inserted Xenopus laevis embryos into two separate microG-simulating slow turning lateral vessels (STLVs) just before neurulation (stage 11-12), and exposed them until feeding stage (stage 45), when the jaws and branchial apparatus are fully functional. To evaluate apparatus-related artifacts, we used two different STLVs and a vibration control as well as a stationary control vessel. Larval growth, pattern of NCC-derived cartilage formation, and incidence of malformations were analyzed …

Attenuated Response Of Aged Mice To Respiratory Francisella Novicida Is Characterized By Reduced Cell Death And Absence Of Subsequent Hypercytokinemia, Chris A. Mares, J. Sharma, S. S. Ojeda, Q. Li, J. A. Campos, E. G. Morris, J. J. Coalson, J. M. Teale

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Background: Pneumonia and pulmonary infections are major causes of mortality among the growing elderly population. Age associated attenuations of various immune parameters, involved with both innate and adaptive responses are collectively known as immune senescence. These changes are likely to be involved with differences in host susceptibility to disease between young and aged individuals. Methodology/Principal Findings: The objective of this study was to assess potential age related differences in the pulmonary host response in mice to the Gram-negative respiratory pathogen, Francisella novicida. We intranasally infected mice with F. novicida and compared various immune and pathological parameters of the pulmonary host …

Microarray Analysis Of A Salamander Hopeful Monster Reveals Transcriptional Signatures Of Paedomorphic Brain Development, Robert B. Page, M. A. Borley, J. J. Smith, S. Putta, S. R. Voss

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Abstract. Background. The Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is considered a hopeful monster because it exhibits an adaptive and derived mode of development - paedomorphosis - that has evolved rapidly and independently among tiger salamanders. Unlike related tiger salamanders that undergo metamorphosis, axolotls retain larval morphological traits into adulthood and thus present an adult body plan that differs dramatically from the ancestral (metamorphic) form. The basis of paedomorphic development was investigated by comparing temporal patterns of gene transcription between axolotl and tiger salamander larvae (Ambystoma tigrinum tigrinum) that typically undergo a metamorphosis. Results. Transcript abundances from whole brain and pituitary were …

Impacts Of The Spotted Spiny Lobster (Panulirus Guttatus) On The Long-Spined Sea Urchin (Diadema Antillarum) And Patch Reef Communities In The Florida Keys, Meredith D. Kintzing

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Caribbean coral reefs have undergone a phase shift from a system dominated by corals to one where algae are pervasive. This shift was precipitated by the loss of herbivores, including the mass mortality of the long spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum), coupled with disease and the recruitment failure of hermatypic corals. Diadema populations have recovered in some areas of the Caribbean, but are still below historical levels in the Florida Keys, likely due to low larval supply coupled with predation on juveniles. Lobsters are sea urchin predators in other systems and the spotted spiny lobster (Panulirus guttatus …

New Species In The Genus Monoecocesuts (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) From Neotropical Rodents (Caviidae And Sigmodontidae), Terry R. Haverkost, Scott Lyell Gardner

Scott L. Gardner Publications

Anoplocephalid cestodes have a worldwide distribution, but relatively few species are known from South American rodents. By examining the collections of the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology and the United States National Parasite Collection, 6 new species of Monoecocestus Beddard, 1914, are described, along with a redescription of Monoecocestus mackiewiczi Schmidt and Martin, 1978, based on the type specimens. The discussion includes commentary about uterine development, an important taxonomic character of the family, the vaginal dilation in immature segments (a character of potential taxonomic importance), and the implication of host usage to the evolutionary history and biogeography of species …

Plasticity Of Acquired Secondary Metabolites In Clathria Prolifera (Demospongia: Poecilosclerida): Putative Photoprotective Role Of Carotenoids In A Temperate Intertidal Sponge, Jonathan D. Dattelbaum, Drew Sieg, Malcolm Hill, Chris M. Manieri, Giles Thomson

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Several marine sponges sequester high concentrations of carotenoids in their tissues. The diversity of carotenoid compounds has been described in detail for a handful of species, but to date, little attention has been paid to natural variability in the concentration and constituency of carotenoid pools. Also lacking are experimental tests of some of the proposed adaptive benefits of carotenoids to the sponge. To address some of these deficits in our understanding of sponge ecology, we used a combination of analytic chemistry, field surveys, and manipulative experiments to determine what function these compounds might play. Attention was focused on the common, …

Inhibitors Of Pyruvate Carboxylase, Tonya N. Zeczycki, Martin St. Maurice, Paul V. Attwood

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

This review aims to discuss the varied types of inhibitors of biotin-dependent carboxylases, with an emphasis on the inhibitors of pyruvate carboxylase. Some of these inhibitors are physiologically relevant, in that they provide ways of regulating the cellular activities of the enzymes e.g. aspartate and prohibitin inhibition of pyruvate carboxylase. Most of the inhibitors that will be discussed have been used to probe various aspects of the structure and function of these enzymes. They target particular parts of the structure e.g. avidin – biotin, FTP – ATP binding site, oxamate – pyruvate binding site, phosphonoacetate – binding site of the …

A Review Of Sex Determining Mechanisms In Geckos (Gekkota: Squamata), Tony Gamble

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Geckos are a species-rich clade of reptiles possessing diverse sex determining mechanisms. Some species possess genetic sex determination, with both male and female heterogamety, while other species have temperature-dependent sex determination. I compiled information from the literature on the taxonomic distribution of these sex determining mechanisms in geckos. Using phylogenetic data from the literature, I reconstructed the minimum number of transitions among these sex determining mechanisms with parsimony-based ancestral state reconstruction. While only a small number of gecko species have been characterized, numerous changes among sex determining mechanisms were inferred. This diversity, coupled with the high frequency of transitions, makes …

The Spread Of The Parthenogenetic Marbled Crayfish, Marmorkrebs (Procambarus Sp.), In The North American Pet Trade, Zen Faulkes

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

The parthenogenetic marbled crayfish Marmorkrebs was discovered in the pet trade in Europe in the 1990s. Since then, its distribution through the pet trade has spread from Europe to other continents, including North America. North American pet owners were surveyed online with the aims of trying to track when Marmorkrebs entered the North American pet trade, the ways in which it spread through the pet trade, and how widely distributed Marmorkrebs are throughout the continent. Marmorkrebs have been in the North American pet trade since at least 2004, with the number of people increasing every year. While many Marmorkrebs are …

Environmental Effects On Behavior And Physiology In Crayfish, Sonya M. Bierbower

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Despite dramatic morphological differences between animals from different taxa, several important features in organization and sensory system processing are similar across animals. Because of this similarity, a number of different organisms including mammals, insects, and decapod crustaceans serve as valuable model systems for understanding general principles of environmental effects. This research examines intrinsic and extrinsic factors by behaviorally and physiologically means to identify the impact of environmental conditions on two distinct crayfish species- Procambarus clarkii (surface) and Orconectes australis packardi (cave).

The research identified behavioral and physiological responses in these two morphological and genetically distinct species. The studies also examined …

Evaluation And Enhancement Of Seed Lot Quality In Eastern Gamagrass [Tripsacum Dactyloides (L.) L.], Cynthia Hensley Finneseth

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.] is a warm-season, perennial grass which is native to large areas across North America. Cultivars, selections and ecotypes suitable for erosion control, wildlife planting, ornamental, forage and biofuel applications are commercially available. Plantings are commonly established from seed; however, seed quality and dormancy are barriers to establishment. The objective here was to investigate parameters that contribute to inconsistent performance of this seed kind to subsequently improve seed lot quality.

Forty-two seed lots were used, with seed fill and germination potential ranging from 78- 100% and 11-91%, respectively. Actual germination and dormant seed ranged …

Shelter Availability, Occupancy, And Residency In Size-Asymmetric Contests Between Rusty Crayfish, Orconectes Rusticus, Nathan M. Klar

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Contest outcomes are usually determined by differences in resource holding potential, the social histories of the combatants, and perceptions of resource value. One understudied aspect of gaining an advantage is the residency effect. Prior occupancy of a particular place can affect the knowledge and motivation of the resident. There could be a tactical advantage in knowing the terrain or an increased willingness to fight to maintain control of a familiar area. In this study we evaluated the importance of shelter residency effects relative to size differences between rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) as potential competitors for access to shelter. …

Mitochondrial Physiology Of Diapausing And Developing Embryos Of The Annual Killifish Austrofundulus Limnaeus: Implications For Extreme Anoxia Tolerance, Jeffrey M. Duerr, Jason E. Podrabsky

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Diapausing embryos of the annual killifish Austrofundulus limnaeus have the highest reported anoxia tolerance of any vertebrate and previous studies indicate modified mitochondrial physiology likely supports anoxic metabolism. Functional mitochondria isolated from diapausing and developing embryos of the annual killifish exhibited VO2, respiratory control ratios (RCR), and P:O ratios consistent with those obtained from other ectothermic vertebrate species. Reduced oxygen consumption associated with dormancy in whole animal respiration rates are correlated with maximal respiration rates of mitochondria isolated from diapausing versus developing embryos. P:O ratios for developing embryos were similar to those obtained from adult liver, but were diminished in …

Inferring Dispersal Of Aquatic Invertebrates From Genetic Variation: A Comparative Study Of An Amphipod (Talitridae Hyalella Azteca) And Mayfly (Baetidae Callibaetis Americanus) In Great Basin Springs, Heather Lynn Stutz

Theses and Dissertations

Whether active or passive, dispersal accompanied by gene flow shapes the population genetics and evolutionary divergence of species. Indirect methods which use genetic markers have the ability to assess effective dispersal—that which resulted in gene flow. My objective was to see if an aquatic insect and an obligate aquatic invertebrate show similar phylogeographic patterns and genetic uniqueness. Hyalella azteca and Callibaetis americanus were collected from 4-5 springs in each of six basins in the Great Basin of western North America. No dispersal or genetic studies of C. americanus have been conducted to date. However, several studies focusing on mtDNA diversity …

Environmental Dna Sequencing Primers For Eutardigrades And Bdelloid Rotifers, Byron J. Adams, Jeremy Whiting, Elizabeth K. Costello, Kristen R. Freeman, Andrew P. Martin, Michael S. Robeson, Steve K. Schmidt

Faculty Publications

Background: The time it takes to isolate individuals from environmental samples and then extract DNA from each individual is one of the problems with generating molecular data from meiofauna such as eutardigrades and bdelloid rotifers. The lack of consistent morphological information and the extreme abundance of these classes makes morphological identification of rare, or even common cryptic taxa a large and unwieldy task. This limits the ability to perform large-scale surveys of the diversity of these organisms. Here we demonstrate a culture-independent molecular survey approach that enables the generation of large amounts of eutardigrade and bdelloid rotifer sequence data directly …

The Ecological Importance Of Extrinsic And Intrinsic Drivers Of Animal Movement, Josh Earl Rasmussen

Theses and Dissertations

The movement of individuals is foundational to many ecological processes. For example, the movement of an organism from one place to another alters population density at both sites and has potential for affecting the genetic dynamics within the new population. Individual movement events may be in synchrony with overall trends in populations, e.g. spawning migrations, or may be atypical (asynchronous). This latter movement type can affect population and metapopulation dynamics, depending on its prevalence within a population. Nevertheless, given the complexity of interactions, the causative factors of movement are understood vaguely, much less for aquatic organisms. Drivers of movement are …

Zooplankton Abundance, Community Composition And Grazing In The James River Estuary (Virginia, Usa), Laura E. Barry

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the extent to which zooplankton in the James River Estuary (Virginia, USA) exploit the available algal-food resources. Zooplankton abundance, community composition and grazing rates were assessed at three locations which included a site with high algal production (near the VCU Rice Center) and two sites where algal production was lower. Grazing rates were measured by determining the rate of phytoplankton decline (as chlorophyll a) during 48-hour incubation experiments in the presence and absence of zooplankton. Significant differences in zooplankton abundance were observed among the three sites, with the greatest average zooplankton density (434 ± 69 ind/L) occurring …

Examining The Effects Of Penning On Juvenile Eastern Box Turtles (Terrapene Carolina Carolina), Nicolas Frederick

Theses and Dissertations

Box turtle (Terrapene carolina) populations have been declining over the last several decades, and one major cause is increasing urbanization. As a result of habitat fragmentation, wildlife managers are frequently turning to new and alternative management strategies. Traditional box turtle management has included relocation, which has been met with limited success. This study aims to combine these strategies with another less-studied one: forcing turtles to overwinter on site by penning them in an outdoor enclosure. Two sets of juvenile box turtles were released at the Virginia Commonwealth University Rice Center: one penned on site in a pen for one year, …

Phylogeography And Postglacial Dispersal Of Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus Dolomieu) Into The Great Lakes, W. Calvin Borden, Robert A. Krebs

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Refugia and dispersal routes of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) into the Great Lakes were identified using 427 mitochondrial sequences from across their native range. Overall, smallmouth bass accessed the Great Lakes via long-distance dispersal from multiple refugia, and the distribution of genetic variation reflected the consequences of vicariant, dispersal, and paleogeological events. Proximity of lakes to glacial outlets had a greater predictive power on the resulting distribution of mitochondrial diversity relative to interbasin migration. Populations in the Eastern and Interior Highlands contained the most divergent and oldest haplotypes, reflecting their role as glacial refugia and subsequent high incidence of endemicity. …