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Embryonic Chicken Fibroblast Collagen Binding Proteins: Distribution, Role In Substratum Adhesion, And Relationship To Integrins, Roy C. Ogle, A. Jeannette Potts, Marchall Yacoe, Charles D. Little

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

Collagen binding proteins (CBP) are hydrophobic, cell surface polypeptides, isolated by collagen affinity chromatography. Antibodies to CBPs inhibit the attachment of embryonic chicken heart fibroblasts to native type I collagen fibrils in a dose-dependent manner. The CBP antibodies also induce rounding and detachment of cells adherent to a planar substratum. This process of antibody-mediated substratum detachment resulted in a clustering of CBP and cell-associated extracellular matrix at the cell surface, and the rearrangement of filamentous actin. Other functional studies showed that cells grown within a three-dimensional gel of type I collagen cannot be immunostained at the cell surface with CBP …

Nonlinear Solutions To A Two-Layer Quasi-Geostrophic Model Of The Gulf Stream, Eiichi Oka

OES Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf Stream shows a large meander off Cape Hatteras. This is driven by an energy conversion process known as baroclinic instability and observations suggest that nonlinearity is an important part in this process. In order to understand the fundamental role of nonlinearity in baroclinic instability, an inviscid 2-layer quasi-geostrophic model is studied.

The linear solution is obtained by methods of normal mode and Fourier-Laplace transforms. It is found that the set corresponding to the continuous spectrum is null and the set corresponding to the discrete spectrum is complete.

The nonlinear solution is expanded in terms of the complete set …

Changes In Caloric Content As A Result Of Sub-Lethal Stress In Neanthes Virens (Sars), Phyllis J. Friello

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Neanthes virens were subjected to a toxicity test with 1.8, 3.4, 6.7 and 11.0 mg/1 Cd²⁺. Worms were withdrawn on Days 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14 from each of five replicate tanks and their caloric content determined by bomb calorimetry. Analyses of variance and covariance showed no significant differences in worm caloric content with withdrawal day or cadmium concentration.

In a second experimental series, a sediment toxicity test with Neanthes virens was conducted in contaminated sediments from two sites, as well as reference sediments from a control site. Caloric content of the worms was measured by bomb …

The Role Of Values In Personality Development, Joanne Peterson

Institute for the Humanities Theses

As an important element of human life, values play a distinctive role in structuring the developing personality. Considerations of this role are discussed from an objective, subjective, and situational perspective, recognized as three known value orientations incorporated into differing personality theories. Initial inquiries suggest that values are not as important as the degree to which an individual commits to a moral life and then employs this viewpoint in sorting through various alternatives to select those beliefs, attitudes and behaviors best reflecting this commitment.

An Analysis Of Selected Family Life Education Curricula, Phoebe Terry Butler

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the content of family life education curricula in Virginia's public schools and determine its appropriateness for the mentally handicapped students. It was the intent of this study to determine if existing curricula were designed to address the needs of mentally handicapped students according to a standard curricula designed by the American Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the Sex Information and Education Council of the United States. The 15 participants of this study were selected from a random sample of 69. The response rate was 20.2%.

A letter soliciting family …

Articulation Of Practical Nursing Programs To Institutes Of Higher Learning, Gwendolyn T. Sweat

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

This study investigated the size of the Practical Nursing schools, the student/faculty ratio, the admission process, the number of program hours as well as individual course hours of each program, specific aspects of articulation agreements in place, and the need for a bridge course and its contents. Also collected was demographic information regarding the students. The study involved the aggregate population of 43 Practical Nursing Programs in Virginia. Study findings, based on responses from 28 schools, included the following: the practical nursing schools are or the most part 18 months long, have three faculty members, admit students in late summer …

An Assessment Of The Characteristics And Attrition Rates Of Physical Therapist Assistant Educational Programs, Pamela Ann Bayliss

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the student attrition rate in physical therapist assistant programs accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) at the time of the study and to identify factors which may affect student attrition. The survey instrument was designed to gather data on student attrition rates for the classes which graduated in 1984, 1985, and 1986 and on program characteristics such as admission policies and curricular requirements. The mean student attrition rates were 32%, 28.6%, and 26.4% in 1984, 1985 and 1986, respectively. There were no significant differences identified via Chi Square (p

The Temporal And Spatial Distribution Of Blue Crab Larvae On The Mid-Atlantic Bight Adjacent To The Chesapeake Bay, 1982-1983, Lyle Michael Varnell

OES Theses and Dissertations

Recruitment processes are important information for the management of commercially and recreationally exploited marine species. Recruitment processes of the Chesapeake Bay's most important commercial and recreational species, the blue crab, are unknown, due in part to the lack of knowledge of the processes directly preceeding recruitment.

The present study was undertaken to investigate and explain the movement and developmental patterns of blue crab larvae while offshore. Interannual and intraseasonal variations of these patterns were also examined.

Sampling occurred from May to November during 1982 and 1983. Larvae were collected at three depths (neuston layer (upper 10 cm), one meter and …

Spectroscopic Study Of Decomposition Products Of Gossypol, David Bernard Hankins

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Basic research into reproductive physiology has begun to identify possible new approaches to controlling fertility. Gossypol, a natural polyphenol compound isolated from cottonseed oil, has been shown to be an effective male antifertility agent. The decomposition products of gossypol which are thought to possess more potent antifertility effects than the parent compound gossypol have been studied extensively in more recent research. The purpose of this research is to develop techniques and methods which could be used to identify decomposition products of gossypol. A model decomposition reaction by which a smaller molecule can be isolated in a pure state has been …

Mounting Sex Pheromone: A Novel Pheromone Responsible For Mate Recognition In The Ixodidae, Jgc Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Cholesterol oleate was demonstrated to be the cuticular contact sex pheromone of Dermacentor variabilis. This pheromone which has been termed the Mounting Sex Pheromone (MSP) was also demonstrated to be present on the surface of D. andersoni, Amblyomma maculatum and A. americanum. This contact sex pheromone enables males excited and attracted by 2,6-dichlorophenol to identify the female as a potential mating partner. The MSP is the second in the series of three sex pheromones guiding the hierarchy of behavioral responses which constitute tick courtship behavior. Tests with D. variabilis and D. andersoni showed that this pheromone …

Picoplankton/Phytoplankton Dynamics In Hampton Roads, Virginia, Leslie E. Dorworth

OES Theses and Dissertations

The biomass distribution of the three main size components of the phytoplankton (net, nano, and picoplankton) was examined in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Work was done at two stations during the spring and neap tidal cycles when freshwater flow into the bay was at its seasonal minimum and maximum. Emphasis was placed on how the picoplankton ( < 2.0 μm, > 0.2 μm) reacted during the sampling period.

Picoplankton made up approximately 13% of the total biomass, during the observed time period, at the more oceanic station. The picoplankton fraction contributed up to 16% of the total biomass at the estuarine station. From this …

The Effects Of Life Stress And Risk-Taking Style On Risk Perception And Driver Performance, Christine B. Philput

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This study examined the effects of risk-taking style, stress level, and highway environment on driver performance. In Phase I, 50 subjects were assessed for risk-taking style and stress level. In Phase II, the same subjects were presented with slides of traffic situations that varied in terms of risk of accident. This was a paired comparison task in which they rank-ordered ten highway sites, producing a measure of subjective risk. No significant relationships were identified between these subjective risk judgments and objective data regarding those sites (accidents and fatalities), though this is most likely due to problems with the slide presentation. …

The Remipedia (Crustacea): A Study Of Their Reproduction And Ecology, Jill Yager

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Remipedes are an unusual group of troglobitic crustaceans that live exclusively in anchialine caves. Since their discovery in 1979, nine species have been described, seven of which are found in caves in the West Indies, one from the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico and one from the Canary Islands. Most of what is known about these animals has come mainly from taxonomic descriptions. Little has been published about their reproductive biology or ecology. The objectives of this dissertation were to investigate the reproductive biology and ecology of the remipedes inhabiting Sagittarius Cave on Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas.

Sagittarius Cave was chosen …

Person Perception As A Function Of Sex And Age, Leslie Borland

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

This experiment was designed to explore the effects of sex and age on impressions. The 228 volunteers ranged in age from 18 to 87 years. Subjects were asked to report impressions, using the PPQ, about fictitious targets who were systematically varied according to sex and age. A 2 (Sex of Subject) x 3 (Age of Subject) x 2 (set of Target) x 2 (Age of Target) ANOVA was performed on ratings of likability, adjustment, femininity, masculinity, and androgyny. Older subjects received and gave the highest ratings. Middle-aged subjects gave lower ratings to all targets, but discriminated least. Young subjects were …

Self-Concept And Its Relationship To Achievement In Minority Preschool Children, Larry Lennard Lindsey

Psychology Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between self-concept, self-esteem, demographic information, and racial preference to achievement in minority preschool children. The subjects were 56 minority preschool students from a Head Start program in Newport News, Virginia. The subjects were assessed using four different instruments. The instruments were the Joseph Preschool & Primary Self- Concept Screening Test (JPPSST), the Behavioral Academic Self-Esteem Test (BASE), the Preschool Racial Attitudes Measure (PRAM), and the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery. The JPPSST, PRAM, and Woodcock-Johnson were administered to the subjects by an examiner. The Woodcock-Johnson assessed achievement in two separate areas: …

Simultaneous Determination Of 3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenyl-Glycol, Homovanillic Acid, And 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid In Plasma By High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Yung-Te Tseng

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

A rapid, reliable, and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), Homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5- HIAA) in plasma is described. The method is based on high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Samples were filtered with Amicon Centrifree micropartition systems and extracted with organic solvent before chromatography. Chromatographic separation of sample components was achieved isocratically in a C18 reverse-phase column. Quantitation was performed by measuring the peak height ratios of the sample components to an internal standard. Analytical recoveries ranged from 50.78 (SD 4.2%) to 67.94 (SD 3.28). Within-run coefficient of variations (CVs) ranged from 3.78 …

Microwell Based Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay For Quantifying Serum Triiodothyronine And Thyroxine Levels, Yiwen Yang

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

A microwell based competitive enzyme immunoassay for determination of total thyroxine and triiodothyronine in human serum was developed with use of horseradish peroxidase conjugate. The assay, which can be performed in only 1.5 hours at room temperature, involves simultaneous incubation of T₃- or T₄- HRPO conjugate and serum sample in anti-T₃ or anti-T₄ gamma globulin fraction coated polystyrene microwells.

Isolation of anti-T₃ and anti-T₄ gamma globulin fractions were accomplished from whole antiserum by using DEAE-cellulose chromatograph. A carbodiimide coupling method was described to prepare the T₄- and T₃-HRPO …

The Composition And Concentrations Of Cyanobacteria In The North Landing River, Virginia And Upper Currituck Sound, North Carolina, Sonja E. Midgette

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

A 12 month study of cyanobacteria composition and concentrations in the North Landing River and upper Currituck Sound was conducted from March 1986 to February 1987. Epifluorescence microscopy and the fluorochrome proflavin were used to determine cell concentrations and vertical, station to station and seasonal distribution of these cells. Cyanobacterial assemblage patterns were coupled with pH, temperature, salinity and water transparency readings.

Cyanobacteria were found to be a persistent and prolific phytoplankton component of both the river and upper sound. For a comparison of vertical distribution for each station, an analysis of variance for. two groups of equal size was …

Mathematical Models Of Prevascular Tumor Growth By Diffusion, Sophia A. Maggelakis

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

A study of several complementary mathematical models that describe the early, prevascular stages of solid tumor growth by diffusion under various simplifying assumptions is presented. The advantage of these models is that their degree of complexity is relatively low, which ensures fairly straightforward comparisons with experimental or clinical data (as it becomes available), yet they are mathematically sophisticated enough to capture the main biological phenomena of interest.

The tumor growth and cell proliferation rate are assumed to depend on the local concentrations of nutrients and inhibitory factors. The effects of geometry and spatially non-uniform inhibitor production and non-uniform nutrient consumption …

Collagen Binding Proteins Derived From The Embryonic Fibroblast Cell Surface Recognize Arginine-Glycine-Aspartic Acid, Roy C. Ogle, Charles D. Little

School of Medical Diagnostics & Translational Sciences Publications

Several cell surface proteins (Mr = 120,000, 90,000, 63,000 and 47,000) apparently integral to embryonic fibroblast plasma membranes were extracted with detergent and isolated by collagen affinity chromatography. Certain of these proteins (Mr = 120,000, 90,000, and 47,000) were specifically eluted from collagen affinity columns by synthetic peptides containing the amino acid sequence arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD). These data show that a number of collagen binding proteins exist on the embryonic fibroblast cell surface. Some of the proteins may be collagen receptors binding to RGD sequences in the collagen molecule while at least one of the proteins (Mr = 63,000) recognizes …

Self-Esteem And Perceived Barriers To And Benefits Of Exercise Among Physically Active And Non-Physically Active College Students, Barbara Brown Bonheur

Ellmer School of Nursing Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine differences in self-esteem, perceived benefits of and perceived barriers to exercise between exercisers and non-exercisers and to determine if relationships existed between self-esteem, perceived benefits of exercise and perceived barriers to exercise, that could explain participation in regular aerobic exercise. A sample of 105 university students completed four questionnaires. The level of social desirability present in participant responses was also measured. Five hypotheses were tested. Utilizing t-tests, a significant difference was found between exercisers and non-exercisers on self-esteem, perceived benefits of exercise, and perceived barriers to exercise. The three variables (self-esteem, …

An Analysis And Evaluation On Printed Materials Used In Genetic Counseling, Janet L. Macarthur

Community & Environmental Health Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine printed educational materials on five specific genetic disabilities and evaluate them for appropriateness of reading level and for inclusion of several specific issues related to the adequacy of the literature. Publicly available literature was analyzed using the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Formula and content analysis to estimate readability and to test for the presence of a definition of the disorder, a description of the basic genetics of the disorder and its symptomology, references to support groups and references for further information.

The data indicate that a definition of the disorder was included in 85% …

Hypoxanthine-Induced Differentiation Of Cultured Human Leukemia Cells, Gayle Jennette Singleton

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Human cultured leukemia cells appear to have a decreased amount of inosine in their tRNA. When cells with inosine deficient tRNA are placed in a hypoxanthine fortified media, they incorporate hypoxanthine into their tRNA by the action of the enzyme tRNA-hypoxanthine ribosyl transferase. This generates the nucleoside inosine in the tRNA. The cultured human leukemia cell lines, CCRF-CEM, HL-60, and HGPRT(-) HL- 60, incorporate hypoxanthine into their tRNA, as determined by tRNA isolation, hydrolysis, and HPLC analysis. Hypoxanthine treatment dramatically inhibited cell growth in conjunction with partial induction of differentiation in the CCRF-CEM, HL-60, and HGPRT ( - ) HL-60 …

An Experimental Study Of Dewatering Of Alum Sludge, Uday G. Kelkar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The use of aluminum sulfate (Alum) as a coagulant for treating surface water was introduced in 1884. When this salt is added to water, the aluminum Ion hydrolyzes by reaction that consumes alkalinity in water. The gelatinous hydroxide thus formed in the reaction, carries suspended material with it as it settles. In addition, however, it is likely that positively charged hydroxyl-bridge dimmers and higher polymers are formed which interact specifically with the colloidal particles, bringing about coagulation. These gelatinous floes settle by gravity, called sludge, consists of relatively large quantities of suspended and colloidal inorganic and organic materials.

The disposal …

The Impostor Phenomenon In The Classroom: Personality And Cognitive Correlates, Barbara H. Cromwell

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

This study was designed as an ex post facto investigation of the Impostor Phenomenon (IP) in high-achieving students on the secondary educational level. The purpose of the study was to ascertain if impostors could be differentiated from non-impostors on the basis of gender, grade level, grade point average (GPA), personality characteristics and irrational beliefs. A cutoff score of 40 on the Harvey IP Scale was selected a priori to divide subjects into impostor and non-impostor groups.

Subjects for this investigation consisted of 104 honors English students in grades nine through twelve from a large suburban high school in Southeastern Virginia. …

Isolation And Partial Characterization Of Basic, Sperm-Specific, Nuclear Proteins In The Dog And Hampster, Richard William Hall

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The purpose was to determine whether dogs and hamsters contain the same sperm-specific protamine and testis specific proteins (TP) as other eutherian mammals previously studied. The proteins (protamine and TPs) were isolated from spermatids and mature spermatozoa, and were subjected to electrophoresis in an acid-urea, polyacrylamide gel system according to the procedure of Panyim and Chalkley (1962). The results indicated that, regardless of the anatomical location of sperm acquisition, acid precipitation technique, or denaturing agents used, epididymal and testicular samples from both the dog and hamster contained protamine in elongated spermatids and mature spermatozoa. The protamines from dogs and hamsters …

Platelet Function And Energy Metabolism During Storage In A Well-Defined Experimental Medium, Thais Edwina Ahrendt Keegan

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

The most significant problem in maintaining platelet viability during storage is the decrease in pH resulting from accumulation of lactic acid formed by platelet anaerobic glycolysis. This study investigates nutrient alternatives to glucose for maintenance of morphology and functional integrity during platelet storage in a well-defined synthetic medium and correlates this data with purine nucleotide levels determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and other in vitro measures of platelet quality. Platelets prepared from pooled ABO- and Rh- identical platelet-rich plasma were stored as concentrates in the synthetic medium without added nutrients (control) and with added substrates.

The HPLC procedure developed …

Evidence For The Role Of Ecdysteroids In The Genital Sex Pheromone Of Two Species Of Hard Ticks, Dermacentor Variabilis (Say) And Dermacentor Andersoni Stiles, Demar Taylor

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Neutering of part-fed females virtually eliminated copulatory behavior in Dermacentor variabilis and D. andersoni males. Extracts from the anterior reproductive tracts (ART) of part-fed (7 days) females restored the male copulatory behavior in conspecific neutered females, suggesting the presence of a genital sex pheromone (GSP). Similar extracts from unfed females did not restore the behavior, suggesting that the pheromone was produced during feeding. Perception of the GSP by sensillae on the male cheliceral digits was confirmed by electrophysiological techniques.

Ecdysteroids, specifically ecdysone and 20-OH-ecdysone were shown to be present in the anterior reproductive tracts in excess of amounts that could …

Population Variation In The Mitochondrial-Dna Of Two Marine Organisms: The Hard Shell Clam Mercenaria Spp. And The Killifish, Fundulus Heteroclitus, Bonnie Lynn Brown

OES Theses and Dissertations

The two major topics are covered in this dissertation: the integration of molecular genetic tools with applied aquacultural research and short-term evolutionary dynamics. The first study investigated the extent of geographic differentiation of native clam stocks along the U.S. east and Gulf coasts. Clam mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) demonstrated size polymorphism (16.5-19.0 kb) and restriction site heteroplasmy. Size heteroplasmic individuals occurred at a frequencies of 0-89% in clam populations. Restriction site heteroplasmy occurred in 12% of the 317 individuals assayed. Results of the study indicated that although harbouring a wealth of genetic variation, clams from northern regions were similar and lacked …

Andrological Methods Of Predicting The Pregnancy Outcome Of An In Vitro Fertilization Program, Mahmood S. Morshedi

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

Current advances in fertility treatment emphasize extracorporeal procedures, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF)/embryo transfer. IVF is now used to treat several types of infertility, including male factor and idiopathic infertility. However, IVF is time consuming, costly, unpredictable, and often yields a low pregnancy rate. Thus, it would be valuable to devise laboratory procedures for better prediction of IVF outcome.

The male infertility rate can be as high as 50%. Since sperm count and percent of motility alone do not appear to be strong predictors of IVF outcome especially when these parameters are not severely abnormal, a multivariable analysis of …