Life Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Xanthine Analogs On Neonatal Rat And Adult Mouse Respiration, Susan M. Reynolds

Masters Theses

Apnea, a prolonged cessation of breathing, is commonly seen in premature infants. This condition, in its severest form, can be lethal and is a suspected cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sometimes referred to as apnea of prematurity, recurrent apnea is presently being treated with respiratory stimulants known as methylxanthines (MX) such as theophylline and caffeine. The benefits of MXs are accompanied by central nervous system stimulation and cardiostimulation which may be detrimental to a premature infant. Theophylline (1,3-diMX) has been shown to produce some of its effects by antagonizing endogenous adenosine. Another xanthine, enprofylline (3-propylxanthine), is presently being …

Diet And Activity Patterns Of The Common Snapping Turtle, Chelydraserpentina, (Lineaus), At Chain O' Lakes State Park, Lake County, Illinois, Jennifer Budhabhatti

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Seasonal And Daily Activity In A Population Of Blanding's Turtle (Emydoidea Blandingi) In Northern Illinois, John W. Rowe

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Taxonomic Re-Evaluation Of Specimens Of The Genus Caloplaca In The E.L. Stover Herbarium Of Eastern Illinois University, Eric J. Cameron

Masters Theses

The genus Caloplaca is the largest genus in the family Teloschistaceae. The 103 species in the genus greatly outnumber any other in the family. Lichens of the genus Caloplaca are usually orange to orange-yellow in color, and range from crustose to subfoliose in form. The orange color is due to an anthraquinone, parietin, the location of which is taxonomically important in this genus of lichens. In some species it occurs only in the apothecia, while in others it is found in both the apothecia and thallus. The spores of this genus are polarilocular, and the width of the isthmus is …

Cyanogenic Plants Of Illinois, Kevin E. Aikman

Masters Theses

Cyanogenesis in 50 species of vascular plants collected from east central Illinois was studied by examining 10 populations of each species. Each population consisted of 30 individuals, which gave an over all sample size of 300 plants per species. Herbarium specimens from the Stover Herbarium of Eastern Illinois University (EIU) were also tested for the presence of cyanide. More than 20,000 specimens were tested for this study which included cultivated plants, introduced weeds, and native plant species. The speed and degree of the HCN reaction as well as the specific plant part tested were included to give a more specific …

The Effects Of Frozen Storage And Repeated Freeze-Thawing On Salmonella In Varied Concentrations Of Waste Activated Sludge, Joseph Toman Jr.

Masters Theses

Commonly, waste activated sludge is applied to farmland as a fertilizer supplement and soil conditioner. The use of waste activated sludge is not only an efficient way of sludge disposal, but also an economical one. Much concern has been raised about the safety of such a practice. Harmful pathogens, like Salmonella, are commonly present in waste material. Treatment at wastewater plants is successful in eliminating these organisms from final effluent, but the solids generated are full of indigenous microorganisms, including Salmonella.

Work of this paper attempts to determine the safety of the sludge product after simulated winter conditions …

A Woody Understory Survey Of Baber Woods, Edgar County, Illinois, Jacqueline M. Spencer

Masters Theses

The understory of Baber Woods, located in Edgar County, Illinois, was surveyed to see if sugar maple had increased enough in importance to consider implementing some type of forest management technique. Five 100 meter transects were randomly located in closed canopy areas throughout the woods. Specimens were removed from continuous 1 meter quadrats located along each line. Specimens were also removed from twenty 25 meter transects located in the open canopy areas. Species, age, height, diameter, and quadrat number were recorded for each specimen. The data was analyzed for age-height and age-diameter relationships, plus individuals per hectare, density, frequency, relative …

Antibiotic Effects On Coliform Enumeration, Keith Leonard Wozniak

Masters Theses

The inhibitory effects of Bacillus polymyxa on Escherichia coli were studied. Significant coliform inhibition was observed. The inhibitory agent (presumably polymyxin) was active against coliforms after a one hour holding time. Different suspending menstrua were analyzed for their effects on coliform inhibition. It was observed that Peptone water provided the highest recovery of coliforms while phosphate buffer provided less protection. Two methods of enumeration were also studied as to their ability to quantify coliforms inhibited by B. polymyxa. Comparable inhibition was shown using both methods. No significant differences exist between the Standard Plate Count and Membrane Filter techniques. Overall, …

The Effects Of Xanthine And Adenosine Analogs On Rat Pup Diaphragmatic Contractility, Liam C. Farrell

Masters Theses

Methylxanthines are commonly used in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma, apnea of prematurity and Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Recently, certain methylxanthines have been found to potentiate the contraction of the diaphragm and increase contraction strength of the fatigued diaphragm. The mechanism of action of the methylxanthines is unknown. Three theories have been proposed but each has its supportive and negative points. One theory is that methylxanthines inhibit cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) which facilitates contraction by increasing cyclic AMP levels in the cell. Another theory is that methylxanthines antagonize adenosine, thus blocking the adenosine-induced inhibition of contraction. The third theory …

Some Potential Evolutionary Costs Associated With Paternal Care In The Water Bug Belostoma Flumineum Say, Larry Johnson

Masters Theses

Female water bugs (Belostoma flumineum) deposit eggs in a mucilaginous cement on the back of conspecific males, who then brood these eggs until hatching. Sex role reversal, in which females compete for males and males are discriminating, is predicted in this species because males provide parental care exclusively, and represent a limited resource. Presumably the advantage of this paternal behavior is increased survival of young. However, the potential exists for this egg-brooding behavior to incur evolutionary costs, and quantifying some of these costs was the thrust of this study.

One cost, a loss of polygynous opportunity, was investigated …

Medicinal Herbs Of Central Illinois, James E. Hefley

Masters Theses

A survey of the medicinal plants of central Illinois was conducted from fall of 1985 to the summer of 1987. This study concentrated on those herbaceous plants which have a scientific basis for their medicinal value. The study range included the following counties: Coles, Moultrie, Shelby, Fayette, Christian, and Montgomery.

In this paper, 58 species were considered, representing 33 families. A description of external morphology is included for each specimen, as well as folknames and habitat preferences. In addition, the medicinal qualities and active constituents are included for each specimen, as well as comments about their scientific and folknames.

In …