Digital Commons Network^™

Ponazuril Inhibits The Development Of Eimeria Vermiformis In Experimentally Infected Outbred Swiss Mice, S. A. Billeter, J. A. Spencer, Bill Chobotar, B. L. Blagburn

Faculty Publications

We evaluated a 15% paste formulation of ponazuril in outbred Swiss mice that were experimentally infected with Eimeria vermiformis. Thirty, 8-week-old female mice (approximately 20 g) were placed in one group of 10 mice and one group of 20 mice. Mice in both groups were gavaged with approximately 5,000 sporulated oocysts of E. vermiformis on day 0. Mice in group 2 (n=10) were treated orally on days 3 and 4 with ponazuril (suspended in 30% propylene glycol) at the rate of 20 mg/kg. Mice in group 1 (n=20) were gavaged with a similar volume of 30% propylene glycol. Rates of …

A New Blind Method For Detecting Novel Steganography, Brent T. Mcbride, Gilbert L. Peterson, Steven C. Gustafson

Faculty Publications

Steganography is the art of hiding a message in plain sight. Modern steganographic tools that conceal data in innocuous-looking digital image files are widely available. The use of such tools by terrorists, hostile states, criminal organizations, etc., to camouflage the planning and coordination of their illicit activities poses a serious challenge. Most steganography detection tools rely on signatures that describe particular steganography programs. Signature-based classifiers offer strong detection capabilities against known threats, but they suffer from an inability to detect previously unseen forms of steganography. Novel steganography detection requires an anomaly-based classifier. This paper describes and demonstrates a blind classification …

Fabrication Of Hollow Waveguides With Sacrificial Aluminum Cores, John P. Barber, Donald B. Conkey, Jeffrey Ryan Lee, Neal B. Hubbard, Larry L. Howell, Aaron R. Hawkins, Gongliang Yin, Holger Schmidt

Faculty Publications

We have developed a process to fabricate dielectric waveguide structures with long hollow cores formed by etching a sacrificial core material. The process is compatible with other planar silicon fabrication techniques. Using aluminum as the sacrificial material, we have investigated fabrication limits and design parameters that determine mechanical integrity of the waveguides. Internal pressure due to the production of gaseous compounds during the core removal process was identified as the yield-limiting factor. A mechanical model based on finite element analysis and confirmed by experiment, predicts ultimate pressures sustainable by these structures. Waveguides less than 10 m wide with 2- m-thick …

Fast And Robust Incremental Action Prediction For Interactive Agents, Jonathan Dinerstein, Parris K. Egbert, Dan A. Ventura

Faculty Publications

The ability for a given agent to adapt on-line to better interact with another agent is a difficult and important problem. This problem becomes even more difficult when the agent to interact with is a human, since humans learn quickly and behave non-deterministically. In this paper we present a novel method whereby an agent can incrementally learn to predict the actions of another agent (even a human), and thereby can learn to better interact with that agent. We take a case-based approach, where the behavior of the other agent is learned in the form of state-action pairs. We generalize these …

Standardization Of Photometric Measurement Of Sperm Concentration From Diploid And Tetraploid Pacific Oysters, Crassostrea Gigas (Thunberg), Qiaoxiang Dong, Benoit Eudeline, Changjiang Huang, Terrence R. Tiersch

Faculty Publications

To provide necessary standardization of procedures for cryopreservation of sperm, a spectrophotomeric method was developed to determine the sperm concentration of diploid and tetraploid Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Wavelengths of 380, 550, 581 and 780 nm were compared, and 550 and 581 nm were found to be the most sensitive and reliable. A linear relationship between sperm concentration and photometric absorbance was observed for sperm concentrations between 2 × 107 and 2 × 109 cells mL -1. The regression equation for the standard curve at 550 nm for sperm of diploid oysters was Y = - 8.528+1.165 log X. The …

The Structure Of Coral Allene Oxide Synthase Reveals A Catalase Adapted For Metabolism Of A Fatty Acid Hydroperoxide, Michael L. Oldham, Alan R. Brash, Marcia E. Newcomer

Faculty Publications

8R-Lipoxygenase and allene oxide synthase (AOS) are parts of a naturally occurring fusion protein from the coral Plexaura homomalla. AOS catalyses the production of an unstable epoxide (an allene oxide) from the fatty acid hydroperoxide generated by the lipoxygenase activity. Here, we report the structure of the AOS domain and its striking structural homology to catalase. Whereas nominal sequence identity between the enzymes had been previously described, the extent of structural homology observed was not anticipated, given that this enzyme activity had been exclusively associated with the P450 superfamily, and conservation of a catalase fold without catalase activity is unprecedented. …

Studying Multiprotein Complexes By Multisignal Sedimentation Velocity Analytical Ultracentrifugation, Andrea Balbo, Kenneth H. Minor, Carlos A. Velikovsky, Roy A. Mariuzza, Cynthia B. Peterson, Peter Schuck

Faculty Publications

Protein interactions can promote the reversible assembly of multiprotein complexes, which have been identified as critical elements in many regulatory processes in cells. The biophysical characterization of assembly products, their number and stoichiometry, and the dynamics of their interactions in solution can be very difficult. A classical first-principle approach for the study of purified proteins and their interactions is sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation. This approach allows one to distinguish different protein complexes based on their migration in the centrifugal field without isolating reversibly formed complexes from the individual components. An important existing limitation for systems with multiple components and assembly …

The Use Of Phenomenology For Family Therapy Research: The Search For Meaning, Carla M. Dahl, Pauline Boss

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Shorebird Habitat Use And Nest-Site Selection In The Playa Lakes Region, Warren C. Conway, Loren M. Smith, James D. Ray

Faculty Publications

Wetlands in the Playa Lakes Region (PLR) provide important habitats for wintering waterfowl, cranes, and both migrant and breeding shorebirds. Playa Lakes Region wetlands experience naturally fluctuating hydroperiods but are exposed to anthropogenic stresses, which are exacerbated during summer and may influence PLR wetland occupancy and selection by breeding shorebirds. We examined wetland-scale habitat use and nest-site selection of the 4 dominant shorebirds (American avocets [Recurvirostra americana], black-necked stilts [Himantopus mexicanus], killdeer [Charadrius vociferus], snowy plovers [C. alexandrinus]) nesting in playas, saline lakes, and in both created and riparian wetlands in the …

Abejas Altoandinas De Colombia: Guía De Campo, Victor H. Gonzalez, Monica Ospina, Daniel J. Bennett

Faculty Publications

This guide is a contribution to the knowledge and conservation of bees, a group of very interesting and unknown to Colombia insects. Alrededor de 70 especies, agrupadas en 25 géneros habitan los Andes colombianos por encima de los 2.500 msnm. About 70 species, grouped in 25 genera inhabit the Colombian Andes above 2,500 meters. De éstas, por lo menos 15, son especies nuevas para la ciencia o están en proceso de descripción. Of these, at least 15 are new to science or are in the process of describing species. Igualmente, la guía busca incrementar la conciencia sobre la importancia de …

Antifungal Activity Of Camptothecin, Trifolin, And Hyperoside Isolated From Camptotheca Acuminata, Shiyou Li, Zhizhen Zhang, Abigail Cain, Bo Wang, Melissa Long, Josephine Taylor

Faculty Publications

Leaf spots and root rots are major fungal diseases in Camptotheca acuminata that limit cultivation of the plant for camptothecin (CPT), a promising anticancer and antiviral alkaloid. Bioassays showed that pure CPT and flavonoids (trifolin and hyperoside) isolated from Camptotheca effectively control fungal pathogens in vitro, including Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum nigrum, Pestalotia guepinii, Drechslera sp., and Fusarium avenaceum, although antifungal activity of these compounds in the plant is limited. CPT inhibited mycelial growth by approximately 50% (EC₅₀) at 10−30 μg/mL and fully inhibited growth at 75−125 μg/mL. The flavonoids were less effective than CPT …

A Survey Of Anuran Breeding Activity In Illinois, 1986-1989, Justin Florey, Stephen J. Mullin

Faculty Publications

tAmphibian populations have been declining worldwide, with several documented specie extinctions in the past two decades. Although monitoring population health can presen challenges, surveys of breeding choruses are relatively effective methods for assessing populations and population trends of many frog and toad species. We analyzed data from breeding chorus surveys conducted throughout Illinois from 1986 to 1989. Of the 20 species native to Illinois, 9 were stable or increasing during the survey period whereas the trends for other species were either inconsistent or indicated a decline in population size. To better assess population trends for Illinois frogs, we advocate re …

Evaluation Of A New Method For Measuring Salamanders, Leroy J. Walston, Stephen J. Mullin

Faculty Publications

Collection of morphometric data is essential to many field studies of amphibian populations. One of the most common measurements obtained from salamanders is snout-to-vent length (SVL), a parameter useful in studies of sexual dimorphism (Bovero et al. 2003), demography (Semlitsch 1985), and systematics (Carlin 1997). Measuring salamander lengths in the field is challenging because of their small size, slimy texture, and propensity to maintain a nonlinear body position. Time expenditure is another concern, especially when researchers process large numbers of salamanders. Different measurement techniques vary in accuracy and precision, limiting the reliability of the data so that comparisons cannot be …

Allometry, Sexual Size Dimorphism, And Niche Partitioning In The Mediterranean Gecko (Hemidactylus Turcicus), James B. Johnson, Lance D. Mcbrayer, Daniel Saenz

Faculty Publications

Hemidactylus tucrius is a small gekkonid lizard native to the Middle East and Asia that is known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in head size. Several potential explanations exist for the evolution and maintenance of sexual dimorphism in lizards. We tested 2 of these competing hypotheses concerning diet partitioning and differential growth. We found no differences in Average meal size (volume) or in any single dimension of prey size for similarly sized males and females. allometric patterns of increases in head size also were measured in males and females. We found that males exhibited a mixture of isometric and positively allometric …

The Malagasy Endemic Dendroportulaca (Portulacaceae) Is Referable To Deeringia (Amaranthaceae): Molecular And Morphological Evidence [Abstract], Wendy L. Applequist, Donald B. Pratt

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Differential Tethering Of Log Phase Trypanosoma Brucei Onto Chemically Distinct Surfaces, Darrell R. Fry, Lydia Archuleta, Ashley Dunham, Justin Rains

Faculty Publications

Our long-term objective is to understand and model the motility of T. brucei. Obtaining high quality images of T. brucei that allow one to differentiate between cell body movement and flagallar movement is difficult with T. brucei because the flagellum is attached along the cell body. Currently, our approach his to tether T. brucei onto a microscope friendly surface. The contributions to the ISIS our progress to date. Specifically, we look at the adhesion density of T. brucei to numerous microscope friendly surfaces and at the optimum adhesion conditions for T. brucei.

Racial And Ethnic Attitudes And Individual Relatedness Among Greek-Americans, Constantine P. Danopoulos, Anna Karpathakis

Faculty Publications

The article looks at the self-identity of Greek immigrants in the U.S. and incorporation of American racial ideologies into their racial repertoires. It recognizes Greek Americans for creating a national and racial framework that blends elements of both home and host society institutions and ideologies. It recalls the arrival of thousands of Greek immigrants in the U.S. in the 20th century. The increasing inter-marriage rates between Greek immigrants and Greek Americans are also noted.

The Financially Optimal Loblolly Pine Planting Density And Management Regime For Nonindustrial Private Forestland In East Texas, Ching Hsun Huang, Gary D. Kronrad

Faculty Publications

Economic analyses were conducted to investigate the effects of initial planting density on the profitability of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) on nonindustrial private forestland (NIPF) in East Texas. Five planting densities of 870, 725, 620, 540, and 484 trees per acre (tpa) representing spacings of 510, 610, 710, 810, and 910 ft, respectively, were investigated. Land expectation values were used to determine the financially optimal thinning and final harvesting schedules (including rotation length and the timing, frequency, and intensity of thinning). Five site indices (50 –90), six real alternative rates of return (ARR) (2.5–15.0%), and three thinning options (0, …

Fine-Scale Genetic Structure And Social Organization In Female White-Tailed Deer, Christopher E. Comer, John Kilgo, Gino D'Angelo, Travis Glenn, Karl Miller

Faculty Publications

Social behavior of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can have important management implications.

The formation of matrilineal social groups among female deer has been documented and management strategies have been proposed based on this well-developed social structure. Using radiocollared (n = 17) and hunter or vehicle- killed (n = 21) does, we examined spatial and genetic structure in white-tailed deer on a 7,000-ha portion of the

Savannah River Site in the upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina, USA. We used 14 microsatellite DNA loci to calculate pairwise relatedness among individual deer and to assign doe pairs to …

Shorebird Breeding Biology In Wetlands Of The Playa Lakes, Texas, Usa, Warren C. Conway, Loren M. Smith

Faculty Publications

Wetlands in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas are important habitats for North American wintering waterfowl and migrant shorebirds. However, shorebird breeding biology has been overlooked in characterizing the region’s ecological importance. In 1998 and 1999, American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), Black-necked Stilt ( Himantopus mexicanus ), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferous), and Snowy Plover (C. alexandrinus) breeding ecology were studied in playas, saline lakes, and riparian wetlands in the Playa Lakes Region of Texas. Chronology of nest initiation, clutch sizes, and hatching success for 298 Snowy Plover, 111 American Avocet, 43 Killdeer, and 26 Blacknecked Stilt …

Silvicultural Best Management Practice Compliance Monitoring Programs In The Southern United States, Amanda L. Husak, Stephen C. Grado, Steven H. Bullard, Steverson O. Moffat

Faculty Publications

Passage of the Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 prompted states to invest significant resources to develop programs to control nonpoint source (NPS) pollution from forestry and other activities. Forestry-related agencies and organizations have since developed silvicultural best management practice (BMP) guidelines to reduce NPS pollution, maintain stream integrity, and meet state water quality standards. To determine the effectiveness and implementation level of best management practices (BMP) on public and private forestland, states further developed and implemented their BMP compliance monitoring programs. This study documents the similarities and differences in efforts, methods, resources, and expenditures among BMP compliance monitoring programs …

A Dynamin-3 Spliced Variant Modulates The Actin/Cortactin-Dependent Morphogenesis Of Dendritic Spines, Noah W. Gray, Anne E. Kruchten, Jing Chen, Mark A. Mcniven

Faculty Publications

Immature dendrites extend many actin-rich filopodial structures that can be replaced by synapse-containing dendritic spines as the neuron matures. The large GTPase dynamin-3 (Dyn3) is a component of the postsynapse in hippocampal neurons but its function is undefined. Here, we demonstrate that a specific Dyn3 variant (Dyn3baa) promotes the formation of immature dendritic filopodia in cultured neurons. This effect is dependent upon Dyn3 GTPase activity and a direct interaction with the F-actin-binding protein cortactin. Consistent with these findings, Dyn3baa binds to cortactin with a 200% higher affinity than Dyn3aaa, a near identical isoform that does not induce dendritic filopodia when …

Microarray Databases For Biotechnology, Richard S. Segall

Faculty Publications

Microarray informatics is a rapidly expanding discipline in which large amounts of multi-dimensional data are compressed into small storage units. Data mining of microarrays can be performed using techniques such as drill-down analysis rather than classical data analysis on a record-by-record basis. Both data and metadata can be captured in microarray experiments. The latter may be constructed by obtaining data samples from an experiment. Extractions can be made from these samples and formed into homogeneous arrays that are needed for higher level analysis and mining.

Is It Too Late For Title Vi Enforcement?: Seeking Redemption Of The Unequal United States‟ Long Term Care System Through International Means, Ruqaiijah Yearby

Faculty Publications

Legal and medical experts have noted continued racism in the health care system that prevents the equal distribution of quality care. Initially most racism was intentional and expressed through de jure segregation, as evidenced by federal funding of the construction of racial segregated health care facilities. Now most racism, expressed through de facto segregation, is subtly incorporated into the daily practices of institutions causing an adverse disparate impact on African-Americans. This institutional racism establishes separate and independent barriers through the neutral denial of opportunities and equal rights to individuals and groups that results from the normal operations of the institutions …

Owning Persons: The Application Of Property Theory To Embryos And Fetuses, Jessica Wilen Berg

Faculty Publications

Embryos are all over the news. According to the New York Times there are currently 400,000 frozen embryos in storage. Headlines proclaim amazing advances in our understanding of embryonic stem cells. And legislation involving cloning and embryos continues to be hotly debated. Despite the media attention, theoretical analysis of embryos' legal status is lacking.

This article advances a number of novel arguments. First, recognition of property interests does not preclude the recognition of personhood interests. Embryos, fetuses and children may be both persons and property. Second, property law is conceptually more suited to resolving debates about embryos than procreative liberty, …

Judicial Federalism And The Future Of Federal Environmental Regulation, Jonathan H. Adler

Faculty Publications

This article assesses the current and likely impact of the Supreme Court's federalism cases on federal environmental regulation. As a result of this assessment, the article seeks to make four points: (1) Thus far, the Supreme Court's federalism cases have had a limited impact on federal regulation, as federal courts have not used these cases as a basis for limiting the reach of federal regulatory authority. (2) Notwithstanding this limited impact, the underlying logic of the Supreme Court's cases does pose a challenge for federal regulation, particularly in the Commerce Clause context. (3) The thrust of the federalism cases makes …

Race, Trust, Altruism, And Reciprocity, George W. Dent

Faculty Publications

Trust, altruism and reciprocity are attracting growing attention from scholars. Interest began with psychological experiments showing that people often are altruistic, trust others, and reciprocate the benevolence of others far more than economic models of "rational" human selfishness predict. These findings inspired social scientists to discover what factors promote or hinder cooperation. Legal scholars have employed this learning to determine how the law does or could facilitate or discourage cooperation in many contexts, including business transactions and the workplace. The influence of race on cooperation has been studied in specific areas, but so far no one has considered how the …

Ernst Mayr And The Complexity Of Life, Dominique G. Homberger

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Response To Reimportation, Marcia Newcomer

Faculty Publications

In this issue of Structure, Holmes et al. (2005) describe elements of an innate defense mechanism that provides mammals a means to restrict bacterial growth. The host protein siderocalin scavenges struc turally dissimilar bacterial siderophores and prevents the uptake of Fe 3+ already earmarked for bacterial import.

Membrane On A Chip: A Functional Tethered Lipid Bilayer Membrane On Silicon Oxide Surfaces, Vladimir Atanasov, Nikolaus Knorr, Randolph S. Duran, Sven Ingebrandt, Andreas Offenhäusser, Wolfgang Knoll, Ingo Köper

Faculty Publications

Tethered membranes have been proven during recent years to be a powerful and flexible biomimetic platform. We reported in a previous article on the design of a new architecture based on the self-assembly of a thiolipid on ultrasmooth gold substrates, which shows extremely good electrical sealing properties as well as functionality of a bilayer membrane. Here, we describe the synthesis of lipids for a more modular design and the adaptation of the linker part to silane chemistry. We were able to form a functional tethered bilayer lipid membrane with good electrical sealing properties covering a silicon oxide surface. We demonstrate …