Life Sciences Commons^™

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 …

Additions To The Flora Of Connecticut, Gordon Tucker

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Three species of vascular plant are newly recorded for the flora of Connecticut. These are: Linaria dalmatica 1L. (Scrophulariaceae ): Eupatorium album L., and Aster blakei (Porter) House (Compositae).

The Genera Of Cyperaceae In The Southeastern United States, Gordon Tucker

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

No abstract provided.