Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Pesticides On The Common Leopard Frog, Rana Pipiens: A Hematological Study, Jennifer L. Loos

Honors Theses, 1963-2015

Deformed frogs are appearing frequently in the wild. Speculations of the cause of deformities are pesticides, chemicals, viruses, parasites, and ultra-violet light. I am examining the blood for chromosome fragments, micronuclei, which result in a loss of genetic material during replication and could produce deformities. Some studies on amphibians show that organisms exposed to various chemicals have a higher incidence of micronuclei than organisms without chemical exposure. By studying the blood of the common leopard frog tadpoles, Rana pipiens, exposed to the herbicide atrazine I attempted to discover if atrazine significantly alters the number of micronuclei in the red blood …

Body Condition And The Adrenal Stress Response In Captive American Kestrel Juveniles, Julie A. Heath, Alfred M. Dufty Jr.

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

We examined the adrenal response to handling stress of birds in different body conditions. In order to affect the birds’ body condition, young (73-d old) female American kestrels (Falco sparverius) were maintained for 6 wk on one of three diets: a control diet (fed ad lib.) and two calorically restricted diets. To invoke a stress response, we removed birds from their cages and took repeated blood samples over the course of an hour. All birds responded to handling stress with an increase in plasma corticosterone, but control birds (in good body condition) showed a more rapid increase to …

Phorbol Ester Activation Of An Nhe-Like Electroneutral Na+ /H+ Antiporter In Isolated E-Cells Of Lobster (Homarus Americanus) Hepatopancreas, Jeff Duerr, Gregory A. Ahearn

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

The basolateral membrane of Atlantic lobster (Homarus americanus) epithelium possesses an electroneutral Na+ /H+ antiporter that functionally resembles members of the vertebrate NHE family. Regulatory mechanisms of this antiporter in purified hepatopancreatic E-cell suspensions, produced with a centrifugal elutriation technique, were investigated. Suspensions routinely consisted of greater than 95% E-cells displaying greater than 90% viability. Intracellular pH (pHi) was monitored by loading cells with the fluorescent dye 2´,7´-bis(carboxyethyl)-5,6- carboxyfluorescein (BCECF), and placing suspensions in a spectrofluorometer. Recovery from induced acid-loading was mediated by a Na+ -dependent, dimethylamiloride-sensitive proton efflux. Antiport activation was a sigmoidal function of pHi at values below …

Radiomorphometry And Biomechanical Assessment Of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 And Polymer In Rabbit Radius Ostectomy Model, Donna L. Wheeler, David L. Chamberland, John M. Schmitt, David C. Buck, John H. Brekke, Jeffrey O. Hollinger, S.-P. Joh, K.-W. Suh

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

No abstract provided.

Charged Beads Enhance Cutaneous Wound Healing In Rhesus Non-Human Primates, Elisa Burgess, Jeffrey Hollinger, Steven Bennett, John M. Schmitt, Dave Buck, Robert Shannon, Seong-Pill Joh, Jaghu Choi, Thomas Mustoe, Xuanhan Lin, Walter Skalla, Dave Connors, Chris Chrisoforou, Elliott Gruskin

Faculty Publications - Department of Biological & Molecular Science

Enhanced cutaneous wound healing by positively charged cross-linked diethylaminoethyl dextran beads (CLOD) was studied in a standardized incisional wound model in 20 adult and 20 geriatric 111acaca mulatta (rhesus) partitioned equally over five time periods. Physiologic saline served as a control. Soft-tissue linear incisions were prepared between and l cm inferior to the scapulae. There were four incisions per rhesus; each incision was 1.5 cm long with 1 cm of undisturbed tissue between incisions, and both the experimental CLDD and physiologic saline treatments were administered to each rhesus. The incision treatments were either CLDD and soft-tissue closure with 4-0 BioSyn …

Intraspecific Heterochrony And Life History Evolution: Decoupling Somatic And Sexual Development In A Facultatively Paedomorphic Salamander, Travis J. Ryan, Raymond D. Semlitsch

Scholarship and Professional Work - LAS

Morphological features such as size and shape are the most common focus in studies of heterochronic change. Frequently, these easily observed and measured features are treated as a major target of selection, potentially ignoring traits more closely related to fitness. We question the primacy of morphological data in studies of heterochrony, and instead suggest that principal sources of fitness, such as life history characteristics, are not only the chief targets of selection, but changes in them may necessitate changes in other (subordinate) elements of the organism. We use an experimental approach to investigate the timing of metamorphosis and maturation in …

Effect Of Transatlantic Transport On Reproduction Of Agouti And Nonagouti Deer Mice, Peromyscus Maniculatus, Virginia Hayssen

Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

In conjunction with establishing colonies of deer mice in the UK, effects of transportation on reproduction in agouti (A) and nonagouti (a) deer mice were assessed. Adults were shipped via ground courier and air freight from Northampton, Massachusetts, USA to Sutton Bonington, Leicestershire, England in February and June. Deer mice were paired upon arrival in Sutton Bonington, whereas matched controls were paired in the original colonies at shipping. To assess reproduction, the following variables were monitored for 110 days for all 96 pairs: number of pairs producing litters, time from pairing to birth, interlitter interval, litter size at birth, and …

Chondrocranial And Oral Morphology Of Pipoid Frogs, Charles Christopher Swart

Master's Theses

The Pipoidea are a diverse group of frogs. Their diversity is demonstrated in their morphology, ecology, and behavior. One pipoid species, Xenopus laevis, has been used as a model system of developmental, physiological, and molecular studies of vertebrates. My work has focused on the developmental morphology of the chondrocranium and oral morphology of four pipoid taxa: Hymenochirus boettgeri, Rhinophrynus dorsalis, Pipa carvalhoi, and Xenopus laevis. Previous studies have suggested that the Anura may be diphyletic based on the unique characteristics of the chondrocanial morphology of pipoids. The chondrocranial and internal oral morphology of the pipoids indicates that as a group …

Concentrations Of Creatine Kinase And Myocardial Creatine Kinase Inrabbits Constituted Experimental Hyperthyroidism, İsmail Çeli̇k, Mehmet Kara, Eşref Yeği̇n, Halis Köylü

Turkish Journal of Biology

In this study, 20 male (1500±50 g) white, New Zealand strain rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus huxley) jere used. Of these ten were used for experimental group, and the others were used controls. To get hyperthyroidism in the experiment animals, L-Thyroxin 50 µg/kg of body weight daily for two weeks, was injected to the animals by intravenous. The control group rabbits were injected only 0.9% isotonic salt water which L-Thyroxin dissolved in it. The levels of total ceratine kinase (CK) and cardirac creatine kinase (CK-MB) were recorded as 1079 ± 597 U/L and 879 ± 128 U/L in control group whereas …

The Changes Of The Localization Of Ascorbic In The Rat Adrenalgland On Microwave Applied, Yusuf Nergi̇z, M. Aydın Ketani, Zülküf Akdag, M. Salih Çeli̇k, Ö. Mukaddes Şahan

Turkish Journal of Biology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of microwave on the localization of ascorbic acid in the rat adrenal gland. We studies on 21 male Spraque-Dawley rast (220-250 g), aged 2.5 month. The animals were divided into three different groups. First group was taken on control (n:7). The second group (n:7) 9450 MHz, 2.65 mW/cm 2 was applied for one hour a day for 13 days, while in the third group (n:7) this application continued for 52 days. Rast were sacrified under ether anaesthesia and then their adrenal gland were removed enbloc and fixed in silver nitrate …

Wound Repair, Raymond E. Sicard, Jeffry D. Shearer, Michael D. Caldwell

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Following injury, a series of events is initiated that includes global and local reactions. Global reactions, such as inflammatory and immunological responses as well as adjustments in neural and endocrine status, are directed at marshaling the organism's resources for dealing with changes in its integrity and the potential threat of infection or other complications. Injury entails cell and tissue damage and often a physical breach in the barrier against the outside world (e.g., skin). Local reactions are exemplified by immediate hemostatic (e.g., blood clotting) events followed by changes in local cellular composition created by the inflammatory infiltrate and adjustments in …

Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor And Hepatocyte Growth Factor Content Of Wound, Repair, And Muscle Regeneration Fluids, Raymond E. Sicard, Wendy A. Mand

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

Injury produces marked changes to the local environment. Changes in both diversity and availability of bioactive substances at wound sites might discriminate between repair and regeneration microenvironments and selectively drive events leading to final resolution. Among factors with potential relevance to wound repair and regeneration are basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In this study, concentrations of these factors were determined in fluids derived from wound, repair, and regeneration-conditioned models using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. All fluids contained substantial concentrations of bFGF which rose 5- to I 5-fold as resolution to injury was achieved. Mean bFGF content …

Unifying Biology: The Evolutionary Synthesis And Evolutionary Biology, Michael Dietrich

Dartmouth Scholarship

A review of a book by Vassiliki Betty Smocovitis titled Unifying Biology: The Evolutionary Synthesis\r\nand Evolutionary Biology (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996).

Gregor Mendel: The First Geneticist, Michael Dietrich

Dartmouth Scholarship

A review of Gregor Mendel: The First Geneticist by Vitezslav Orel. Oxford University Press, 1998.

Evaluation Of Coverboards For Sampling Salamanders In South Georgia, Charles Michael Houze Jr.

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

Salamanders are important components of many forested communities. However, their fossorial habits and seasonality often make them difficult to sample. The use of artificial coverboards (coverboards) is a relatively new and little-studied technique for monitoring the terrestrial activity of salamanders Coverboards are designed to simulate fallen tree limbs and logs, and to provide a moist refuge for forest salamanders. Despite several studies, questions remain concerning the value of coverboards. Therefore, I conducted an experiment in 1996-1997 to determine whether coverboards are as effective for sampling salamanders as searching natural cover objects such as logs and branches. Using a paired design, …

Use Of Baculovirus As Expression Vector In Biotechnology, Zihni Demi̇rbağ, A. Osman Beldüz, İsmail Demi̇r

Turkish Journal of Biology

Variuos viral, bacterial, plant and animal proteins which are important for medicinal, industrial and agricultural aspects, have been synhesized via expression vector systems have great importance in biotechnology. Baculoviruses, used as a good model system in molecular biology studies, a biological control agent in agriculture and an expression vector for synthesis of important proteins, opened up a significant period for recombinant DNA technology and protein production. Desired foreign genes, code for various products such as drug, toxin and nutrient substances, can be replaced with viral genes which are not essasial for replication of baculovirus in cell culture. Priority and advantages …

A Comparision Of The Right And Left Hippocampus In Therabbit Brain In Terms Of Cell Density, Hayri Genç

Turkish Journal of Biology

The aim of this study was to investigate the structural asymmetry between the hemispheres by comparing the number of pyramidal cells in the right dorsal hippocampus with left dorsal hippocampus in the rabbit brain. Six adult domestic New Zeland rabbits were used in experiments. All animals were perfused intracardially with neutral formaline (10 %) under deep aneasthesia. The serial frontal sections were stained with thionin. The rostro-caudal level of these sections were determined by using a stereotaxic atlas of the rabbit brain. The number of pyramidal neurons was determined by counting identifiable neurons which had distict nucleus and nucleolus. The …

A Developmental Study Of The Nmda Receptor, Katherine M. Flynn

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The N-methyl-D-aspartate type of glutamate receptor (NMDAR) is involved in the regulation of many neural functions, including neuroendocrine modulation of the vertebrate brain-pituitary-gonad axis. We have used a freshwater teleost, the platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus), to document age- and gender-specific variations in NMDAR properties. We first localized immunoreactive (ir-) NMDAR in male and female platyfish brain at four stages of the lifespan. Distribution was limited to cells of the nucleus olfactoretinalis (NOR), a gonadotropin releasing hormone-containing nucleus. The number of ir-NMDAR cells was increased in pubescent and mature females when compared to immature and senescent animals. In …

Locating A Mate In 3d: The Case Of Temora Longicornis, Michael H. Doall, Sean Colin, J. Rudi Strickler, Jeannette Yen

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Using laser optics to illuminate high–resolution video–recordings, we revealed behavioural mechanisms through which males of the calanoid copepod species Temora longicornis locate females. Males of T. longicornis swam at significantly faster speeds than females along more sinuous routes, possibly reflecting adaptations to increase encounter with females. Upon approaching within 2 mm (i.e. two bodylengths) of a female's swimming path, males accelerated to significantly higher pursuit speeds. Pursuit trajectories closely traced the trajectories of females, suggesting that males were following detectable trails created by swimming females. Males of T. longicornis detected female trails up to at least 10 s old, and …

Molecular Characterization Of The Α-Glucosidase Gene (Mala) From The Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Sulfolobus Solfataricus, Michael Rolfsmeier, Cynthia Haseltine, Elisabetta Bini, Amy Clark, Paul H. Blum

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Acidic hot springs are colonized by a diversity of hyperthermophilic organisms requiring extremes of temperature and pH for growth. To clarify how carbohydrates are consumed in such locations, the structural gene (malA) encoding the major soluble α-glucosidase (maltase) and flanking sequences from Sulfolobus solfataricus were cloned and characterized. This is the first report of an α-glucosidase gene from the archaeal domain. malA is 2,083 bp and encodes a protein of 693 amino acids with a calculated mass of 80.5 kDa. It is flanked on the 5’ side by an unusual 1-kb intergenic region. Northern blot analysis of the …

Chondrocranial Anatomy And Skeletogenesis In Dendrobates Auratus, Rafael O. De Sá, Shannon Hill

Biology Faculty Publications

The larval chondrocranium and visceral skeleton of Dendrobates auratus ls described and compared with those of other dendrobatids. Four characters, i.e. lack of fusion between orbital cartilages and otic capsules, wide processus muscularis palatoquadrati, lack of processus pseudopterygoideus, and lack of processus anterolateralis hyalis, represent derived conditions for Dendrobates within Dendrobatidae. Cranial and postcranial ossification sequences are reported for D. auratus and Epipedobates tricolor. Skeletogenesis is earlier in E. tricolor, but the overall pattern of ossification is similar in the two species.

Isolation And Characterization Of A Genomic Clone For A Nitrate Reductasae Isoform From Soybean, Glycine Max, Brent Chyna

Master's Theses

No abstract provided.

Determination Of Rates And Patterns Of Recombination At The Maize Red Color (R1) Locus, William R. Dietrich

Theses and Dissertations

Homologous recombination has been studied in many plant and animal systems. In maize, most recombination occurs intragenically. The current study assessed the frequency and location of meiotic recombination at the maize red color (r1) gene. Three independent mutant (colorless seed) alleles derived from the colored seed allele, R-sc:124, were made heterozygous with the colored plant allele, r-r:n142. Each mutant resulted from the insertion of a Dissociation (Ds) transposable element into the 3' end of R-sc:124. In the presence of Activator (Ac), each Ds insertion allele (r-sc:mutables) produced spotted seeds and germinal reversion to fully colored seeds due to the vi …

Partial Sequencing Of A Balbiani Ring Gene And Development Of A Molecular Probe, Kerri Ann Kurzeja

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The Environmental Protection Agency is currently developing sediment quality criteria in order to protect the nation's water sources. In order to assist in the development of standards for the disposal of heavy metals, our laboratory is undergoing sediment toxicity studies on Chironomus riparius. It is an EPA approved test organism that spends most of its life in the sediment. Following a previous study (Cochrane et al., 1994), the organism's response to heavy metals will be monitored on the genetic level. Several genes, including a Balbiani ring (BR) gene, which was the focus of this thesis, will be studied to determine …

Spiroplasma Diversity In Two Tabanid Flies And In Vivo Interactions Of Spiroplasma And Entomoplasma, Latonya T. Brown-Derrick

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

Chrysops vittatus, a small deer fly, and Tabanus atratus, a horse fly, were captured concurrently in Bulloch County, Georgia during June through September of 1989-1997 Cultures were made from adult females, and the frequency and diversity of spiroplasma carriage were determined by deformation and endpoint testing.

Of the 90 Chrysops vittatus processed, 23 (25 .6%) carried spiroplasmas. The most prevalent spiroplasmas were representatives of group Vlll (20/23): strain B1357 (7/23); Spiroplasma syrphidicola (5/23); S. chrysopicola (4/23); strain TAAS-1 (4/23). Groups XVIII and XXXV were represented by S. Htorale (2/23) and strain B2649 (1/23), respectively.

Of the …

Genetic Variation Within And Among Populations Of Florida Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia Floridana), Wendy T. Denton

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

This study employed DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PGR) and Single-Stranded Conformation Polymorphisms (SSCP) on a mitochondrial control region target to assess population structure and possible gene flow in the Florida Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana), a Florida Species of Special Concern. Although widespread in Florida, Burrowing Owls occur at low densities in semi-isolated populations that are susceptible to extirpation from human development and the demographic consequences of small population size. To better manage these populations, there is a need for data on the population genetic structure of the Florida Burrowing Owl. Therefore, I acquired DNA from Burrowing Owls …

The Role Of The Comstock-Kellogg Glands In Egg Tanning In Romalea Guttata, Elizabeth A. Elasser '98

Honors Projects

FreshIy laid eggs of the Eastern Lubber grasshopper, Romalea guttata, are yellow and soft-shelled, but within several hours the eggs become hardened and dark brown. In a similar process, calyx and oviduct secretions, which from the egg pod, become frothy, darkened, hardened, and water insoluble during oviposition. It has been suggested that secretions from the paired Comstock-Kellogg glands accelerate tanning of both the eggs and egg pod foam. I investigated the effects of Comstock-Kellogg gland secretions on the rate of egg and egg pod tanning during egg pod production in the female Eastern Lubber grasshopper, R. guttata. Eggs streaked with …

Toxicity Of Tnt, Hmx, And Rdx Degradation Products To Mammalian Cells Before And After Bioremediation Of Contaminated Soils, Irina Yurievna Blinova

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The production and disposal of hazardous substances has resulted in environment pollution and has become one of the most important issues in the United States. New technologies such as site bioremediation using microorganisms or microbial processes that enhance contaminant detoxification and destruction are being developed. This project assessed the success of bioremediation by a white rot fungus. The material tested was soil from Virginia site contaminated with a mixture of explosives (TNT, RDX, and HMX). The assays examined toxicity of soil eluates to several mammalian cell lines (Ll210, Jurkat, and U-937). Two separate assays were used and compared in the …

A Case Study Of Four Fifth Grade Teachers And Their Perceptions Of How And Why They Teach Science, Ana K. Houseal

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of four 5th grade teachers and their perceptions of the influences on how and why they taught science in their classrooms. The four participating teachers who were from three school districts in Iowa were observed teaching science lessons and interviewed following the observations. The results of the study showed that the data obtained during the observations and interviews focused on three major themes. The first theme centered on the teachers' perceptions of changes in teaching elementary science. These included a move away from text-based learning with a subsequent move …

Use Of Rapds To Develop Specific Primers For The Identification Of Mycorrhizal Fungi, Cynthia A. Boyd

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The restoration of damaged ecosystems, particularly at superfund sites is a complex issue. These sites present problems with revegetation attempts due to their unique chemical, physical, and biological properties. Revegetation of damaged ecosystems may be enhanced by mycorrhizal associations. The establishment of a facultative mycotroph, Festuca arundinacea Screb. (tall fescue) treated with a commercial fungal inoculum, was studied at a Galena, Kansas mining site. The evaluation of this revegetation project required the identification of endomycorrhizal fungi, Glomus c/arum and G/omus etunicatum in the inoculum. Traditional identification of these fungi based on spore morphology and other physical characteristics is not suitable …