Digital Commons Network^™

The Mayfly Newsletter, Peter M. Grant

The Mayfly Newsletter

The Mayfly Newsletter is the official newsletter of the Permanent Committee of the International Conferences on Ephemeroptera.

Smooth Muscle Myosin Heavy Chains Combine To Form Three Native Myosin Isoforms, Allen E. Tsao, Thomas J. Eddinger

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Two smooth muscle myosin heavy chains (MHC; SM1 and SM2) of approximately 204 and 200 kDa exist in smooth muscle cells and can be visualized on reducing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels. Chymotryptic digestion of the native myosin molecule results in two fragments: heavy meromyosin (HMM) and light meromyosin (LMM). LMM is the alpha-helical coiled-coil carboxy terminal half of the molecule containing the difference peptide between SM1 and SM2. Electrophoresis of the LMM fragments on a reducing SDS-polyacrylamide gel resolves two subunits from the two MHC [LM1 from SM1 (approximately 100 kDa) and LM2 from SM2 (approximately 95 kDa), where …

Fat Content Of American Kestrels (Falco Sparverius) And Sharp-Shinned Hawks (Accipiter Striatus) Estimated By Total Body Electrical Conductivity, Shari M. Harden

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Total body electrical conductivity (TOBEC) is a noninvasive method for the estimation of lean mass in live subjects. Lipid content can be calculated from the body mass measured and the lean mass estimated from TOBEC. I used live American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) to study the accuracy of this method. TOBEC measurements were compared to actual body content determined by Soxhlet fat extraction using petroleum ether as the solvent. TOBEC estimated 73.7% of the variation in lean mass in a sample of 21 kestrels. The use of restraining devices (Vetrap and cardboard cylinders) altered the TOBEC measurement but only …

Morphological And Histochemical Changes In Intercellular Junctional Complexes In Epithelial Cells Of Mouse Small Intestine Upon X-Irradiation: Changes Of Ruthenium Red Permeability And Calcium Content, Z. Somosy, J. Kovács, L. Siklós, G. J. Köteles

Scanning Microscopy

Changes of calcium-content and permeability of tight junction following X-irradiation were investigated in mouse intestinal epithelial cells by electron microscopy. In the control animals the lower parts of tight junctional area as well as the other junctional elements and the intercellular space are labeled by pyroantimonate precipitates, which contain calcium as revealed by electron spectroscopy and electron energy loss spectrometry. X-irradiation, parallel with morphological changes, lead to rapid decrease of pyroantimonate precipitable calcium content and increase of the permeability of tight junctions indicated by the penetration of ruthenium red into the intercellular space. These changes were readily reversible following 0,5 …

The West Coast Shark Fishery Draft Management Plan., D. A. Hall

Fisheries Management Papers

The main purpose of this report is to advance the development of a scheme of management for the commercial shark fishery off the west coast of Western Australia. There is considerable scientific concern over the biological status of commercially important shark stocks in this region, particularly dusky whaler (Carcharhinus obscura), thickskin (Carcharhinus plumbeus) and whiskery sharks (Furgaelus macki).

The South West Beach Seine Fishery Draft Management Plan., D. A. Hall

Fisheries Management Papers

This paper describes the issues in and outlines a proposal for management of the beach seine fishery between Tim's thicket and Cape Beaufort on the south coast. It also proposes management measures for the fishery utilising small mesh gill nets and hand hauled seine nets in the area inside of the 10 metre depth contour.

Analysis Of Heavy Metals In Mouse Uterine Secretion By X-Ray Microanalysis, Zhengzhu Jin, B. Ove Nilsson

Scanning Microscopy

A method for the detection of heavy metal ions in the uterine secretion of the mouse was tested. Mice received an intravenous injection of lead, and beads of an analytical grade resin, Chelex 100, were deposited in the uterine lumen to absorb heavy metals present in the secretion. X-ray microanalysis of the flushed beads showed that lead was present in a dose-related way in the uterine secretion of mice that had received 0.05, 0.1, or 0.15 mg lead per g body weight. Thus, the technique allows quantitative analysis of lead in the uterine secretion. The amount of lead present in …

Hyperplasia And Fluid Accumulation In Epithelial Cyst Formation And Growth, Andrew P. Evan, James A. Mcateer, Kenneth D. Gardner Jr.

Scanning Microscopy

Epithelial cysts may develop in virtually any epithelium. All cysts, regardless of their origins, are characterized by epithelial hyperplasia and fluid accumulation. Additional features may include tubular atrophy, basement membrane alterations and association with inflammatory cells. In spite of the intense research effort in recent years directed at uncovering the cellular mechanisms of cyst development and growth, we still do not know the primary events that lead to cyst formation. However, there are at least three candidate mechanisms. These include: 1) increased cell proliferation (epithelial hyperplasia) in the cyst wall, 2) net fluid accumulation in the cyst cavity and 3) …

Evaluation Of The Use Of Tannic Acid In Preparation Of The Rabbit Knee Meniscus For Scanning Electron Microscopy, Daniel Levanon, Haim Stein

Scanning Microscopy

The femoral faces of medial and lateral menisci of the rabbit knee were structurally reinforced with tannic acid and studied using the scanning electron microscope. Significant improvement in preservation of the meniscal surfaces, as compared to previous studies, was brought about by the structural reinforcement technique. Menisci, although detached from tibial plateaux, retained well their shape, dimensions, and microarchitecture. Differences in surface morphology between medial and lateral menisci and between longitudinal sectors on menisci were recorded. Appearances of surface irregularities were reduced to a very low level, and the possibility that this minimum exists in situ is forwarded.

Degeneration And Reorganization Of Vestibular Epithelia After Local Aminoglycoside Application In The Mammalian Inner Ear, J. Dupont, A. Guilhaume, J. -M. Aran

Scanning Microscopy

The development of degeneration of vestibular end organs and their possible reorganization have been observed over a 2 year period after local application of sisomicin in the inner ear using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Degeneration of stereocilia took place as early as 5 days after the treatment in the utricule, the saccule and the cristae. At 10 days, almost the entire surface of these sensory epithelia presented a smooth aspect without specific structure. However, after 15 days, an epithelial reorganization developed with clear limits between cells. At 25 days, systematic kinociliary structures were observed at the apical surface of the …

Improved Tissue Corrosion Of Vascular Casts: A Quantitative Filtration Method Used To Compare Tissue Corrosion In Various Concentrations Of Sodium And Potassium Hydroxide, Paul A. Sims, Ralph M. Albrecht

Scanning Microscopy

In this study, we compare weights of filter retained material (11 μm particle retention) after solubilization and filtration of unfixed, un-perfused tissue (fat, liver and trachea) in sodium and potassium hydroxide (1% , 5%, 10% and 20% weight/volume, w/v) at 8, 24 and 48 hour time points at 45°C. Three detergents [1% Triton-X-100 (volume/volume, v/v), 1% 7X (v/v), 1% Terg-A-Zyme (w/v)] used in combination with hydroxide were evaluated for use in solubilizing fat. Additionally, vascular casts from mouse kidneys were corroded to test the practical effectiveness of corroding solutions on resin infused tissue.

Five percent KOH for eight hours proved …

Ribosomal Dna And The Phylogeny Of Frogs, David M. Hills, Loren K. Ammerman, Michael T. Dixon, Rafael O. De Sá

Biology Faculty Publications

Phylogenetic analysis of 1656 aligned sites in the 28S ribosomal RNA gene of frogs supports some of the recently recognized higher groups of anurans but provides counter-support for others. The 28S rDNA data support the monophyly of the recently recognized Pipanura (me- sobatrachians plus neobatrachians), which in turn indicates paraphyly of archaeobatrachians. Me- sobatrachians (pelobatoids plus pipoids), which are either considered paraphyletic or weakly sup- ported as monophyletic in morphological analyses, also receive support as a monophyletic group from the 28S rDNA data. Hyloidea (=Bufonoidea), which is widely recognized but lacks morphological support, receives some molecular support as being monophyletic. …

Breeding Ground Fidelity And Mate Retention In The Pacific Golden-Plover, Oscar W. Johnson, Peter G. Connors, Phillip L. Bruner, John L. Maron

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

We found male-biased site fidelity in Pacific Golden-Plovers (Phviah fulva)
on breeding grounds in western Alaska. Males (8 of 8) returned to the same territories annually, while few females (1 of 4) were seen in subsequent seasons. Nest sites in successive years were usually within 100 m, and the same nest cup may be used in more than one year. First-year birds of both sexes mated with older birds and also with each other, but first-year females may breed less commonly than first-year males. The numbers of nesting birds on our study sites varied sharply both within and …

The Vascularization Of The Kidney Of The Eel (Anguilla Anguilla - Osteichthyes) In The Freshwater Habitat, Hans Ditrich, Heinz Splechtna

Scanning Microscopy

The renal vascular system of eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) in freshwater has been investigated using light-, transmission electron-, and scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts and critical-point dried specimens. The morphology of the kidney exhibits a highly evolved, unpaired, spindle-shaped form. The renal tissue extends partially into a recessus dorso-caudal to the anus. Renal glomeruli are comparatively large (100.8 μm +/-17 standard deviation) and well vascularized. They are arranged in grape-like clusters around the intrarenal arteries. Closely neighbouring glomeruli can be surrounded by incompletely separated Bowman's capsules sharing the same renal tubule. The peritubular capillary plexus is …

Identification Of Ion Transport Compartments In Turtle Urinary Bladder, P. Fraunberger, A. Dörge, P. Buchinger, F. X. Beck, K. Thurau

Scanning Microscopy

To identify the turtle urinary bladder cells involved in Na and Cl absorption and Hand HCO₃ secretion cellular electrolyte concentrations and uptake of Br and Solutrast were determined using electron microprobe analysis. Whereas inhibition of transepithelial Na transport by ouabain (reversion of short circuit current) led to a pronounced K-Na exchange in granular, and most of the basal cells, surface CA-cells and some basal cells were ouabain insensitive. Surface CA-cells could be divided into a large Cl-rich and a small Cl-poor population. Since the ouabain-induced K-Na exchange could be completely prevented by blocking passive luminal Na entry by amiloride, …

Preparation Of Dinosaur Fossils For Scanning Electron Microscopic Evaluation Of Bone Histology, C. Barreto, R. M. Albrecht

Scanning Microscopy

The quality of preservation is a major determinant of the amount and kind of information to be derived from a paleontological specimen. Various fossilization regimes may produce specimens that contain biological information on a microscopic level. Light microscopic inspection of adolescent fossil dinosaur bones from the Two Medicine Formation (northwestern Montana) revealed that precise preservation of tissue may occur at a cellular level. In the following report, we test and compare techniques of specimen preparation for examination by scanning electron microscopy and illustrate an example of faithful preservation of dinosaur bone histology.

Scanning Electron Microscopy Of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells From Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats, William J. Krizmanich, Robert M. K. W. Lee

Scanning Microscopy

The fine structure of vascular smooth muscle cells from large mesenteric arteries of adult (28 weeks) spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar-Kyoto rats was studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The effect of the digestion method for SEM on tissue size and smooth muscle cell size was also studied using morphometric analysis. A significant reduction in cell size (42-43%) was present after critical point drying, based on the reduction in volume to surface ratio of smooth muscle cells. However, percent change of volume density and volume to surface ratio of smooth muscle cells after digestion and after critical point drying, was …

Geological Field Guide To The Cedar Point Biological Station, Keith County, Nebraska, Robert F. Diffendal Jr., Roger K. Pabian

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

This field guide was produced by staff members of the Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska originally in 1979 at the request of Dr. Brent Nickol, former Director of the Cedar Point Biological Station. It is an introduction to the geologic history and paleoecology of the Cedar Point area intended for students, staff, and other persons using the camp. This revision has been made some 15 years after the first version to reflect changes in ideas resulting from new data collected during that time.

Users of this guide should take care when studying the rock exposures described …

Fungiform Papillae Of The Pig And The Wild Boar Analyzed By Scanning Electron Microscopy, C. A. Chamorro, P. De Paz, J. G. Fernández, L. Anel

Scanning Microscopy

Fungiform papillae of wild boar and pig were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Four regions were defined on the tongue: rostral, medial and caudal thirds and lateral sides. Morphologically the fungiform papillae correspond with their denomination. Rostral and lateral tongue regions presented the largest average number of fungiform papillae. Taste pores opened onto the upper surface of the papillae and were easily identifiable by SEM. The total number of fungiform taste pores from both animals was the highest reported in the literature. The lateral papillae of wild boar and pig contained the largest average number of pores per papilla. …

Relationships Of Epidermal Morphology And Breeding Behaviors In Pebble Nest-Building Minnows (Pisces: Cyprinidae), William R. Mcguire

Master's Theses

Abstrad The objective of this study was to determine if epidermal morphology corresponds with reproductive behavior in cyprinid fishes. Representative species of nest-building fishes (Nocomds leptocephalus, Semotilus atromeculatus, exoglossum maxillingua) and non nest-building fishes (Campostoma anomaulm and Clinostomus funduloides) were studied. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine epidermal morphology and keratin distribution of skins from the snout, cheek, mandible, anterior dorso-lateral trunk, and caudal peduncle of breeding males of nest-building species and were compared to those in non nest-building cyprinid species. Previous frame-by-frame analysis of video tapes of reproductive activities of each species and literature accounts were …

Molecular Cloning Of A Human Homologue Of Drosophila Heterochromatin Protein Hp1 Using Anti-Centromere Autoantibodies With Anti-Chromo Specificity, W Saunders, C Chue, M Goebl, Carolyn Craig, Robert F. Clark, J Powers, J Eissenberg, Sarah C.R. Elgin, N Rothfield, W Earnshaw

Biology Faculty Research

We have identified a novel autoantibody specificity in scleroderma that we term anti-chromo. These antibodies recognize several chromosomal antigens with apparent molecular mass of between 23 and 25 kDa, as determined by immunoblots. Anti-chromo autoantibodies occur in 10-15% of sera from patients with anti-centromere antibodies (ACA). We used anti-chromo antibodies to screen a human expression library and obtained cDNA clones encoding a 25 kDa chromosomal autoantigen. DNA sequence analysis reveals this protein to be a human homologue of HP1, a heterochromatin protein of Drosophila melanogaster. We designate our cloned protein HP1Hs alpha. Epitope mapping experiments using both human and Drosophila …

Application Of Scanning Electron Microscopy And X-Ray Analysis To Urinary Tract Cancer In Animals And Humans, Martin Cano, Toru Suzuki, Samuel M. Cohen

Scanning Microscopy

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has proven useful in various aspects of urinary bladder carcinogenesis research and these are reviewed as they pertain to our research involving sodium saccharin in the rat. Sodium saccharin-carcinogenesis in rats requires administration at high doses beginning at birth or earlier. Administration beginning at ages of 5 weeks or later results in much lower incidences of bladder tumors. Methods were developed for examining the rat fetal and neonatal bladder to further evaluate effects at these critical ages. Several significant differences were found by SEM between the fetal bladder compared to the-adult. The typical polygonal superficial cells …

Scanning Electron Microscopy Of Styrene-Methylethylketone Casts Of The Airway And The Arterial System Of The Lung, Teruyuki Hojo

Scanning Microscopy

The method of making casts of airways and the pulmonary arterial system using a styrene polymer resin is described. A human and a dog were used as models. The viscosity of this resin ranges between 40 and 60 dPa/s at 24°C. The elastic rubber tube used for resin injection allows a constant perfusion pressure, i.e., 44 mm Hg and 110 mm Hg for airway and vascular filling, respectively. The casts obtained using this method are suitable both for macro- and microscopic analysis. Shrinkage during polymerization is minimal. Moreover, a preceding lavage is not necessary. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of cast …

Radiation-Induced Neoplastic Transformation Of Human Cells, J. S. Rhim, P. Thraves, A. Dritschilo, M. R. Kuettel, M. -S. Lee

Scanning Microscopy

Ionizing radiation can induce cancers in humans and animals and can cause in vitro neoplastic transformation of various rodent cell systems. However, numerous attempts to achieve neoplastic transformation of human cells by radiation have generally proven unsuccessful. Neoplastic transformation of immortalized human epidermal keratinocytes by X-ray irradiation has recently been reported. The carcinogenic effect of radiation on cultured human cells will be briefly reviewed. The current state-of-the-art in radiation-induced transformation of human cells in culture is presented. This will provide insight into the molecular and cellular mechanisms in the conversion of normal cells to a neoplastic state of growth.

Recent Developments In Multichannel Raman Microprobing, J. Barbillat, M. Delhaye, E. Da Silva

Scanning Microscopy

This paper reviews the capabilities of multichannel Raman microprobing instruments with emphasis on some major innovative progress recently proposed which looks promising for the development of new fields of application. This new progress includes: confocal Raman microanalysis that provides better spatial resolution and background rejection, confocal Raman mapping that revitalizes the field of Raman imaging pioneered by us 20 years ago, the coupling of molecular Raman microanalysis to elemental electron microprobe, and finally, Raman spectroscopy with near-infrared excitation which permits avoiding the fluorescence limitation of visible Raman spectroscopy.

Morphological Asymmetry In Mammals: Genetics And Homeostasis Reconsidered, James M. Novak, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., Michael H. Smith, Ronald K. Chesser

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

It has been hypothesized that developmental stability is increased at higher levels of genetic variability (heterozygosity) in animals. However, the existence of this relationship is questionable for homeotherms in general and mammals in particular. The difference between the sides of a bilateral character in an individual is a measure of fluctuating asymmetry that can be used as a measure of the developmental stability of mammals. Increased developmental stability should result in a greater degree of similarity between the right and left side of the body even though environmental variability would tend to increase the differences between right and left sides …

Amblyrhiza And The Vertebrate Paleontology Of Anguillean Caves, Donald A. Mcfarlane, Ross D. E. Macphee

WM Keck Science Faculty Papers

Recorded interest in the caves of Anguilla dates back to the second half of the nineteenth century. The earliest explorations were concerned with the locating phosphatic cave earths, and resulted in the mining of several sites. Incidental to this work, the bones of the largest island rodent ever discovered were collected from Aguillan caves. Whereas the phosphate mining operations were short-lived, the remains of the giant rodent Amblyrhiza have catalyzed a continued interest in the caves of Anguilla. The most recent series of explorations have provided the first adequate documentation of Amhlyrhiza fossil sites, and have started to yield radiometric …

Evolution Of Mammalian Social Structure, Ronald K. Chesser, Derrick W. Sugg, O. Eugene Rhodes Jr., James M. Novak, Michael H. Smith

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Social groups may be viewed as collections of individuals exhibiting nonindependent behavior and organized in a cooperative manner. The evolutionary advantage of social behavior to individuals must be measured in its relativity to other potential behaviors, the scale of competitive interactions, and under a variety of environmental and genetic constraints. A primary tenet of social evolution is that coancestry will promote the genes of related individuals. High values of coancestry, however, do not necessarily translate into evolutionary advantage unless the primary competitive interactions occur among the groups. Coancestry is affected by the breeding tactics within and rates of genetic exchange …

Bioremediation: A New Technology Using Inhabitants Of The Soil, Matthew Fields

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms to clean the environment contaminated with various pollutants such as chemical wastes and petroleum -based products. The microbes use the pollutants as their carbon source and by doing so the contaminants are broken down. This paper examined the numbers of indigenous microorganisms in soil contaminated with diesel fuel and oil. Contaminant-degrading microbes were isolated and enumerated using phenanthrene in mineral media. The breakdown of phenanthrene was used as an indicator for contaminant degradation. The effects of aeration and the addition of nutrients on bioremediation processes was also studied. Soil samples used in the performed …

Intragenic Dominant Suppressors Of Glp-1, A Gene Essential For Cell-Signaling In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Support A Role For Cdcl O/Swz6/Ankyrin Motifs In Glp-1 Function, James L. Lissemore, Peter D. Currie, Christine M. Turk, Eleanor M. Maine

Biology - All Scholarship

The glp-1 gene product mediates cell-cell interactions required for cell fate specification during development in Caenorhabditis elegans. To identify genes that interact with glp-1, we screened for dominant suppressors of two temperature-sensitive glp-1 alleles and recovered 18 mutations that suppress both germline and embryonic glp-1 phenotypes. These dominant suppressors are tightly linked to glp-1 and do not bypass the requirement for a distal tip cell, which is thought to be the source of a signal that is received and transduced by the GLP-1 protein. Using single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing, we found that at least 17 suppressors …