Digital Commons Network^™

Elemental Mapping Of Cryosections From Cnidarian Nematocytes, Karl Zierold, Pierre Tardent, Sergey V. Buravkov

Scanning Microscopy

The distribution of elements in stinging capsules containing cells called nematocytes is shown by pseudocoloured maps representing the X-ray intensity collected from freeze-dried cryosections. This method provides a distinct overview in addition to the quantitative evaluation of single X-ray spectra. Selected examples illustrate the elemental compartmentation in various cnidarian animals. In particular the matrix of capsules in Hydra vulgaris contains high amounts of K in comparison to the tubule, the surrounding capsule wall and the cytoplasm, whereas in Actinia eguina capsules have either high concentration of Ca or Mg, the latter accompanied by S.

Backscattered Electron Imaging For High Resolution Surface Scanning Electron Microscopy With A New Type Yag-Detector, Paul Walther, Rudolf Autrata, Ya Chen, James B. Pawley

Scanning Microscopy

Double Layer Coating for backscattered electron imaging is a coating and imaging method especially suitable for high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of large biological samples. Since the backscattered electron (BSE) signal from thin metal coating layers is quite low, field emission SEM's and very sensitive BSE-detectors are required for this method. In this study an improved BSE-detector of the YAG type was used with an in-lens type field emission SEM. Two samples were investigated in order to demonstrate and to improve the potential of this new approach: (1) cryo-prepared cultured kidney cells were shadowed by electron beam evaporation with …

The Study Of The Surface Geometry Of Renal Stone Fragments After Shock Wave And Ultrasound Disintegration, Roch Thibert, Rashad Tawashi

Scanning Microscopy

Computerized image analysis was used for characterizing the irregular boundaries of calcium oxalate stone fragments resulting from shock wave and ultrasound disintegration. The complexity of the contour of the fragments was determined to evaluate the surface roughness of the rugged profile of the samples. Crack propagation on the crystal surface of the mineral phase was studied using fractal geometry. A significant difference was observed in the boundary variation of the calcium oxalate stone fragments treated by shock wave and ultrasound. Crack propagation in the mineral phase crystal was found to depend on the method of fragmentation used. There is also …

Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Imaging Of Synthetic Oligonucleotides And Oligonucleotide-Metal Complexes, Yun Kim, Charles M. Lieber

Scanning Microscopy

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been used to image 12-and 24-base pair (bp) synthetic oligonucleotide duplexes alone or with intercalatively-bound metal complexes with submolecular resolution. The sizes of the 12-and 24-bp oligonucleotides determined from STM images are close to expected values, and images of isolated duplexes resolve the two nucleotide strands of these molecules. The variation of duplex size in our images demonstrates that these features are not due to surface artifacts. In addition, images of the 12-bp duplex in the presence of bis(9, 10-phenanthrenequinone diimine)(2, 2'-bipyridyl) rhodium(III) exhibit a new structural feature at 14 ± 2 Å from the …

Primary Productivity And Species Composition Of A Reconstructed Wetland In Eastern Kentucky, Eric C. Webb

Morehead State Theses and Dissertations

A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at Morehead State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science by Eric C. Webb on May 19, 1991.

An Analysis Of The Anatomical Projection From The Mzi To The Dmcg Using Hrp Histochemistry: Comparison Between Male And Female Rats, Scott E. Preusen '91

Honors Projects

Anatomical and behavioral studies indicate that the dorsal Midbrain Central Grey (dMCG) and the Ventromedial Nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) are the principle brain structures that function in mediating sexual behavior in the female rat. Recently, the medial portion of the Zona Incerta (mZI) has been implicated as an additional brain structure that regulates sexual receptivity (lordosis) in the female rat. When the mZI of the female was destroyed via intracerebral injections with the neurotoxin, ibotenic acid, by Dornan et al. (1991), they reported that lordosis behavior was shown to be attenuated. Presently, little is known about the role of …

Cystic Fibrosis: Cluster Analysis Of Microbiology And Pulmonary Function, Lori Lee M. Larson '91

Honors Projects

In an attempt to find a relationship between pulmonary infection and pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, microbiology data and pulmonary function test (PFT) data for clinic patients' visits were obtained from the University of Minnesota Relational Database. The two files were merged, totaling 12,193 cases, and then analyzed using a quick cluster subroutine of SPSSX on the University of Illinois IBM Mainframe System. QUICK CLUSTER analysis showed a relationship between the virulence of the microorganisms, the amount of growth of the microorganisms, and the pulmonary function test scores of CF patients

Specimen Catalog, Forrest W. Davis

Division of Mammals - Field Notes and Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Bilateral Injections Of Neuropeptide K Into The Medial Preoptic Area On Male Rat Copulatory Behavior, Peter Malen '91

Honors Projects

The first mammalian neuropeptide to be characterized was substance P (sP) , and it is now recognized that sP is a member of a structurally related family of peptides, the tachykinins. Extensive studies have demonstrated. that sP and some related tachykinin peptides play key roles as neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. The synthesis of different members of the tachykinin family is in part due to the modifications' of three sP-encoding preprotachykinin (PPT) mRNA's that are derived from a single sP gene. At least four tachykinin peptides can be synthesized as a result of these differential modifications including sP, neurokinin A, neuropeptide and …

Error Voltage Components In Quantitative Voltage Contrast Measurement Systems, D. S. H. Chan, T. S. Low, J. C. H. Phang

Scanning Microscopy

This paper presents the results of computer simulation studies into the respective contributions of the potential barrier, the off-normal incidence injection of secondary electrons (SEs) into the retarding field and analyser geometry on Types I and II local field error voltages for a practical 20 mm wide planar retarding field energy analyser. Results show that the error voltage component due to the off-normal incidence injection effect of SEs into the retarding field dominates the Type I local field error. For type II LFE, the error voltage component due to analyser geometry effect is the higher contributing factor. The presence of …

A Morphological And Chemical Study Of The Lichen Genus Hypogymnia In North America North Of Mexico, Melinda Mcfarlin '91

Honors Projects

The lichen genus Hypogymnia is widely distributed throughout the world, in such places as Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and North America. Currently, there are twenty-one recognized species of Hypogymnia in North America, but no comprehensive study of the genus in North America has been published. My study of the genus Hypogymnia was performed on a sample of 784 North American specimens collected from the western United States, southern Canada, the Great Lakes region, and the eastern United States. The morphological characteristics of each lichen specimen were examined. Chemical studies included preliminary spot test screening of the cortex …

The Anatomy Of The Hyoid Region Of Molossus Molossus And Its Implication In Systematics, Natawadee Prasertphon '91

Honors Projects

The hyoid musculature and hyoid apparatus of a bat, Molossus molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae) are dissected and described. A comparison is made with the hyoid structures of bats of the genera Rhinopoma, Emballonura, Nycteris, Megaderma, Rhinolophus, Pteronotus, Phyllostomus, and Eptesicus, which were previously described by my sponsor Gri'tfiths and associates. In Molossus, the geniohyoid and sternohyoid insertions, as well as the hyoglossus origin, have lifted off the basihyal bone and jointly retain a direct attachment to the basihyal via a small tendon. The hyoglossus is split into three distinct bellies: the most superficial originates from the basihyal raphe, the second originates …

An Analysis Of The Ph Tolerance And Substrate Preference Of Isolated Skeletal Muscle Mitochondria From Bufo Marinus And Rana Catesbeiana, Jeffrey Mark Duerr

Dissertations and Theses

The concept of maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max) implies that there is a limit to the amount of oxygen that can be consumed by an organism in a given time. Many attempts have been made to delineate exactly what factor or factors are limiting to VO₂ max. Current models focus on the steps over which oxygen must traverse in order to get from the ambient air to the mitochondria. However, no model has addressed the issue of whether or not carbon dioxide flux may impose a limit to VO₂ max. Impedance of carbon dioxide flux may have …

Molecular Genetic Analysis Of The Interaction Between The Bacterial Pathogen Xanthomonas Campestris Pv. Vesicatoria And The Tomato Plant, Peter M. Antall

Senior Scholar Papers

X. campestris pv. vesieatoria (Xcv) Is a bacterial pathogen of tomato and pepper. Xcv is able to infect most tomato lines. causing bacterial spot disease. which can lead to death. A strain of Xcv exists. however. which elicits a resistance response In a particular tomato line. ThIs avirulent strain carries a single locus. the aviru1ence gene avrRxv, whIch specifies the resistance inducing activity. Accordlng to Flor's gene for gene model, a corresponding gene must exist in the resistant plant. Evidence exists for this gene but it has not yet been cloned. In this study, the role ofthe avrRxv gene product …

Intracerebral Injections Of Substance P Fragments (5-11) And (1-7) Into The Dorsal Midbrain Central Gray Have No Effects On Lordosis Behavior In The Female Rat, Jodi K. Block '91

Honors Projects

Substance P (sP), a neuroactive peptide, has now been implicated in a wide range of behaviors. One in particular is female rat sexual behavior. Recently, it has been shown that bilateral injections of sP into the dorsal midbrain central gray (dMCG) of estrogen-primed female rats facilitate sexual behavior (lordosis). Uncertainty remains, however, concerning the mode of action of synaptically released sP. Indeed, most of our understanding of sP activity has revealed that its full structural sequence is not needed for biological activity. This has led to speculation that sP may be processed into one or more types of fragments before …

The Future For Recreational Fishing Final Report Of The Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee, Recreational Fishing Advisory Committee

Fisheries Management Papers

This report discusses: What Recreational fishing means to Western Australia's estimated 300,000 fishers. Conservation and equality in catch sharing was at the heart of the Committee's investigations into developing strategies for the future management of important recreational fish stocks.

Evidence For Preadaption To Sociality In The Solitary Spider, Steatoda Triangulosa (Araneae, Theridiidae), Steven Germishuizen

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Steatoda triangulosa is a solitary domestic spider. In the laboratory, newly hatched Steatoda triangulosa spiderlings attacked and fed on prey organisms as a group. Kullman (1972) recognized three characteristics necessary to classify a spider as social: tolerance. interattraction and cooperation. Laboratory studies were conducted to test the hypothesis that Steatoda triangulosa may be preadapted to sociality according to these criteria. The group response was demonstrated by plotting the position of caged spiderlings in relation to a prey item before and after feeding. The intensity of the response was inversely proportional to the distance of the spiderlings from the prey. In …

Bird Populations In Logged And Unlogged Western Larch/Douglas-Fir Forest In Northwestern Montana, Bret W. Tobalske, Richard L. Hutto, Raymond C. Shearer

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Of 32 species of abundant breeding birds, populations of 10 species differed significantly between small cutting units and adjacent uncut forest. Foliage foragers and tree gleaners were less abundant in cutting units, while flycatching species and ground foragers were more common there. Of nesting guilds, conifer tree nesters were least abundant in cutting units, and ground nesters were more common there. Results suggest that bird management should consider diverse community-level habitat needs and that if maintenance of tree-dependent species is important, broadleaf trees and snags of all species should be retained.

Investigating The Viability Of Yeast Expressing Histone From Extrachromosomal Dna : Progress In Construction Of A Plasmid Bearing One Copy Of Each Yeast Histone Gene, Ralph Donaldson Hellams Jr.

Master's Theses

Much of the current information on histones has been based on in vitro studies. The original goal of this research was to construct a mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae containing all chromosomal copies of the yeast histone genes made nonfunctional. This project would demonstrate whether such a strain could be rescued by a plasmid carrying the wild-type copies of the four core histone genes. Furthermore, this yeast strain construct would allow future investigations to take advantage of histone mutant analysis in vivo. The critical step in beginning this work was the construction of a plasmid which contained the genes …

Factors Affecting Seeds In A Sagebrush-Steppe Ecosystem And Implications For The Dispersion Of An Annual Plant Species, Cheatgrass (Bromus Tectorum L.), Michael Ira Kelrick

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I investigated how shrub-induced spatial heterogeneity influenced and was manifested by a representative ground-story plant species at a sagebrush-steppe site in southwestern Wyoming. The dispersion of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) reflected differences between undershrub (higher plant densities) and interspace (between shrubs, supporting lower densities) microenvironments, hence the population ecology of this annual species served as a biological probe of shrub-associated patch structure in this community. Since cheatgrass is an annual, factors affecting the seed portion of its life cycle were of special interest. First, attributes of the above- and below-ground seed pool were characterized. The environment-wide seed depositional pattern …

Reproductive Strategies Of Northern Goshawks And Cooper's Hawks In North-Central New Mexico, Patricia L. Kennedy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I assumed that the reproductive strategies of the two Accipiter species investigated in this study, the northern Goshawk (A. gentilis) and the Cooper's hawk (A. cooperii), would be similar to the strategies of other monogamous raptors with sex role partitioning. Any differences in the species' reproductive strategies, particularly hunting strategies, were expected to be a function of their size differences. Contrary to predictions, results indicated that, in north-central New Mexico during brood rearing, both species had similar hunting strategies and utilized similar prey species. These results also indicated that the reproductive strategies of the Cooper's hawk …

Study Of Ferredoxin And Flavodoxin From Tobacco Leaves And Roots Under Normal And Iron-Stressed Conditions, I-Jen Huang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I purified tobacco leaf ferredoxin from normal and iron-stressed leaves. The oxidized form of ferredoxin from normal leaves had absorption maxima at 268, 327, and 422 nm and a shoulder at 463 nm. The oxidized form of ferredoxin from iron-stressed leaves had absorption maxima at 268 and 329 nm but no absorption maxima in the 400-nm range. Higher ferredoxin content was found with higher chlorophyll content in leaves of the same age.

A protein in tobacco root extract was isolated and found to serve as an electron carrier for ferredoxin-requiring nitrite reduction. This protein had a molecular weight and antigenic …

The Hepatic Microcirculation In Experimental Cirrhosis A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study Of Microcorrosion Casts, E. Gaudio, L. Pannarale, M. Ripani, P. Onori, O. Riggio

Scanning Microscopy

The experimental model of liver cirrhosis induced by intragastric administration of CCl₄ reproduces not only the histological picture of the postnecrotic cirrhosis but also its pathophysiological features.

Corrosion casts of livers affected by CCl₄-induced cirrhosis show the loss of the lobular pattern. Once the cirrhosis has completely developed, the whole microvascular bed appears to be composed of groups of sinusoid nodules of diameters varying between 0.3 and 1.5 mm.. Pre- and post-sinusoidal vessels and anastomoses between the former and the latter are mainly located at the perinodular spaces.

This microvascular situation modifies the normal perfusion gradient within …

Restricted Energy Transfer In Laser Desorption Of High Molecular Weight Biomolecules, Akos Vertes, Renaat Gijbels

Scanning Microscopy

Producing ions from large molecules is of distinguished importance in mass spectrometry. In our present study we survey different laser desorption methods in view of their virtues and drawbacks in volatilization and ion generation. Laser induced thermal desorption and matrix assisted laser desorption are assessed with special emphasis to the recent breakthrough in the field (m/z > 100,000 ions produced by matrix assisted laser desorption). Efforts to understand and describe laser desorption and ionization are also reported. We emphasize the role of restricted energy transfer pathways as a possible explanation to the volatilization of non-degraded large molecules.

Retinal Changes In A Mutant Form Of Goldfish With Megalophthalmia, David T. Yew, Winnie W. Y. Li, C. Au, H. L. Choi, Q. D. Yang, Patrick K. H. Chan

Scanning Microscopy

The retinal changes of a mutant strain of goldfish with megalophthalmia were studied by histology, electron microscopy and biochemistry. Changes in the morphology of the pigment epithelium, decrease in number of photoreceptors, thinning out of retinal layers and the existence of spaces in the retina were all features as the eyes grew in size. Invasion of macrophages was also evident in the retina. A decrease in leucine uptake per milligram of retina was also detected as the eye grew beyond 0.8 millilitre in volume. These changes, although related to volume changes (i.e., growth) of the eyes, were found to have …

The Primary Energy Dependence Of Backscattered Electron Images Up To 100 Kev, I. Geuens, B. Nys, J. Naudts, R. Gijbels, W. Jacob, P. Van Espen

Scanning Microscopy

The backscattered electron coefficient is known to be primarily dependent on the atomic number of the sample. If the atomic number increases, the backscattered electron coefficient increases, which results in a higher intensity in the backscattered electron image. The dependence of the primary electron energy is somewhat more complicated. Using photographic material (with composition AgBr-AgI), it is seen that the contrast in the backscattered electron image increases with the primary electron energy. Using three independent methods, based on image analysis techniques, it is shown that the difference between the backscattered electron coefficient of AgBr and AgI increases with the primary …

Three-Dimensional Structure Of Human Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor, A Structural Homolog Of Interleukin 1Β, Jiandong Zhang, Lawrence S. Cousens, Phillip J. Barr, Stephen R. Sprang

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The three-dimensional structure of the 146-residue form of human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), expressed as a recombinant protein in yeast, has been determined by x-ray crystallography to a resolution of 1.8 Å. bFGF is composed entirely of β-sheet structure, comprising a three-fold repeat of a four-stranded antiparallel β-meander. The topology of bFGF is identical to that of interleukin 1β, showing that although the two proteins share only 10% sequence identity, bFGF, interleukin 1, and their homologs comprise a family of structurally related mitogenic factors. Analysis of the three-dimensional structure in light of functional studies of bFGF suggests that the …

Life-History Correlates Of Taxonomic Diversity, John M. Marzluff, Kenneth P. Dial

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

One of the most pervasive, nonrandom evolutionary patterns is extreme domination of a taxon by one subtaxon or only a few subtaxa. Domination refers to taxonomic diversity and the fraction of the taxon that is classified in the most diverse subtaxon. We attempt to explain how subtaxa come to dominate their phyletic counterparts by examining correlations between taxonomic diversity and life history traits such as age of first reproduction, longevity, fecundity and partitioning of reproduction, and resource availability in a variety of vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant groups. Regardless of taxonomic group or rank, the number of taxa within an assemblage, …

Theodore Alvin Hall: A Biographical Sketch And Personal Appreciation, Brij L. Gupta

Scanning Microscopy

As the first in a series of two papers contributed on the occasion of a special program held at the Scanning Microscopy/1989 meeting in Salt Lake City in honour of Dr. T.A. Hall, and in recognition of his achievements for biological electron probe X-ray microanalysis, this paper provides a biographical sketch of Dr. Hall, as well as a bibliography.

Ecdysterone Regulatory Elements Function As Both Transcriptional Activators And Repressors., Leonard Dobens, Karen Rudolph, Edward M. Berger

Dartmouth Scholarship

A synthetic, 23-bp ecdysterone regulatory element (EcRE), derived from the upstream region of the Drosophila melanogaster hsp27 gene, was inserted adjacent to the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter fused to a bacterial gene for chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). Hybrid constructs were transfected into Drosophila S3 cells and assayed for ecdysterone-inducible CAT expression. In the absence of ecdysterone a tandem pair of EcREs repressed the high constitutive level of CAT activity found after transfection with the parent reporter plasmid alone. After hormone addition very high levels of CAT activity were observed. Insertion of the EcRE pair 3' of the CAT gene …