Life Sciences Commons^™

Operant Conditioning In The Psittacine, Amazona Amazonica, Gloria J. Nadolski

Masters Theses

Two Orange-winged Amazon Parrots, (Amazona amazonica) were subjected to operant conditioning involving three tests: two-choice spatial discrimination and reversal, three-choice color discrimination and reversal, and the oddity principle. Results of the habit reversal tests were compared to those of Gossett (1968) to determine the phylogenetic ranking of the learning capabilities of psittacines. In the first two habit reversal tests, the subjects completed twenty reversals using sunflower seeds as positive reinforcements. In the oddity principle test, the parrots completed the equivalent of 20 reversals, again using sunflower seeds. Criterion was met when they completed 8 consecutive correct choices with …

Juglans Cinerea: The American White Walnut, Dennis Robert Hattermann

Masters Theses

The American white walnut Juglans cinerea L. is a native North American tree in the Juglandaceae, or walnut family. It prefers rich, moist, rather neutral to slightly basic lowland soils. This is an in depth study of its taxonomy, morphology, anatomy, age, size, growth habit, distribution, ecology, propagation, economic importance, medicinal uses, toxicity, folklore, diseases and pests, and chemical constituents.

J. cinerea L. is monoecious and confined in its distribution to the eastern and central parts of North America. It can be easily identified by its large, pinnately compound leaves and ashy-gray bark with broad, flat plates and deep furrows. …

Vegetation Changes In Four Study Areas At Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Kathryn Ann Kerr

Masters Theses

The sampling transects at Indiana Dunes were established to show the pre-burn condition of the vetetation and to monitor the long term effects of burning. However, one year of monitoring showed changes in vetetation that further substantiate the need for the burning program.

Miller Woods (Transect A) has burned frequently in recent years. The one year without fire showed little change in the herbaceous layer. The few notable herbaceous changes might indicate a transition to a more mesic community, but should be viewed skeptically because of the wet season in 1982.

Nearly half of the small shrub species at Miller …

A Comparison Of The Temporal Spawning Distributions And Growth Rates Of Young-Of-The-Year Redear Sunfish (Lepomis Microlophus) And Bluegill (Lepomis Macrochirus) In Three Illinois Impoundments, Craig Douglas Schmittler

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to compare the temporal spawning distribution and growth rates of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) and redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) in Illinois impoundments. Otolith sagittae were used to age the fish and to determine the intervals of successful spawning for both species.

Readear sunfish initiated spawning slightly before or a the same time as bluegill; however, bluegill spawned for twice as long as redear sunfish in all study impoundments. The earliest spawned fish of both species showed the fastest growth and the earliest spawned redear sunfish grew faster than did the earliest …

Histopathology In Rat Temporal Bones Resulting From Excess Dietary Fluoride In Conjunction With Suspected Water Born Toxins, Donna Lee Healy

Masters Theses

The occurrence of perinatal deaths, bony extoses, and deafness in dog kennels in certain areas of Michigan led The Upjohn Company and Western Michigan University to suspect fluoride toxicity and/or water born toxins. The present project was designed to examine the ability of excess fluoride ingestion and/or the ability of suspected water born toxins to induce histopathology in Sprague-Dawley rats. An otopathological assessment of the rat temporal bones showed no otopathology nor any changes in cochlear dimensions, however, a quantitative assessment of osteoclastic density showed a large increase in the numbers of osteoclasts of spongy bone in the high fluoride …

The Effects Of Photoperiod On The Prolactin Cells Of Notropis Cornutus (Mitchell), Matthew Kevin Hettinger

Masters Theses

Three groups of the common shiner (Notropis cornutus, Mitchell) were adapted to three different photoperiods. These photoperiods were 16L:8D (summer), 12L:12D (controls), and 8L:16D (winter). The prolactin cells were studied histologically and morphologically with respect to staining characteristics, cell and nuclear morphology, nuclear size, and cellular density. The prolactin cells of those fish under the long photoperiod exhibited greater cellular activity than the controls as evidenced by an increase in nuclear size, cellular density, and by becoming more circular. The prolactin cells of those fish under the short photoperiod exhibited the same characteristics as those in the long photoperiod. The …

Seasonal Effects On Blood Pressure, David C. Dotson

Masters Theses

The relationship of seasons and blood pressure was investigated. The individuals in the sample groups were of two types: normal individuals and individuals who have been diagnosed as hypertensives and under medical supervision. This was a seasonal study? measurements were taken during midsummer and early fall, 1979. Factors constituting the variable for individual differences included: sex, age, genetic factors, diet, general body build and managerial vs, laborer workload.

Individual differences were controlled by use of a randomized complete block design with each individual constituting a block. Season was the treatment factor, and individual was the blocking factor. Measurements were taken …

The Effect Of Indoleacetic Acid And Related Chemicals On Growth Patterns Of Decapitated Bean Plants, Lewis V. Buchanan

Masters Theses

Bean plants were used to study effects of IAA and related chemicals on plant growth patterns. Plant apical growth tips were removed, eliminating apical donimance. Decapitated plants were treated in experimental groups with IAA, tryptophan, 5-hydroxy indoleacetic acid, serotonin, and melatonin. Two other groups served as controls, one cut, and one uncut.

Growth measurements were taken to determine if the treatments could effectively restore apical dominance. Cut control plants showed a loss of apical dominance, with decreased apical growth, and release of inhibition of axillary growth, when compared to the uncut group.

Tryptophan and meltonin treatments restored little or no …

The Relationship Between Whole Brain Catecholamine Depletion In Carassius Auratus And The Exposure To Inescapable Shock In A Learned Helplessness Paradigm, Roderick J. Misunis

Masters Theses

Learned helplessness is a psychological concept that describes the subsequent escape-avoidance behavior of experimental subjects who are exposed to uncontrollable stressors. Subjects after treatment are unable to respond in situations where escape is possible. Two major theorists, Seligman and Weiss, have proposed explanations concerning the phenomena. Seligman feels that the subject is unable to respond due to the fact that the exposure to an uncontrollable stressor has caused him to learn to be "helpless". Weiss feels that the inability to respond can best be described by alterations in the subject's brain neurochemistry, specifically the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. This paper is an …

The Effect Of Repeated Spermiation On Sperm Density In The American Toad (Bufo Americanus), Michael A. Kriz

Masters Theses

Bufo americanus (American toad) responds to LH-RF injections by releasing sperm into the cloaca. An ANOVA test (repeated measures) was used to determine that spermiation number and body size but not frequency of injection affected sperm density. The affects of body size on sperm density were that large toads produced the highest sperm densities, followed by the medium and then the small toads. Sperm density decreased with repeated spermiations which could correlate with the explosive breeding pattern of the American toad.

Factors Influencing Reforestation Of Surface Mined Lands In Southern Illinois, Jill R. Medland

Masters Theses

Studies of surface coal mined lands have focused primarily on older lands mined prior to the enactment of reclamation legislation. Current laws will require extensive grading, soil replacement and revegetation. In order to more effectively reforest these lands, I have evaluated sites planted to woody species during the past decade.

The vegetational characteristics, as well as both avaian and small mammal populations of several reclaimed surface mined areas, differing in age and reclamation procedures, were compared. Success of planted trees ranged from 50 to 91% and survival varied with the species planted. There was no relationship between tree survival and …

Some Effects Of Simulated Acid Rain On Cool Season Turfgrasses, Robert C. Morrow

Masters Theses

Six varieties of cool season turfgrasses were exposed to simulated acid rainfall with treatments consisting of a sulfuric acid solution, a nitric acid solution, and a 50-50 mixture of both. Each solution was used to make "acid rain" of pHs 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, and 1.5.

Height measurements showed decreases in growth throughout the experiment for all treatments except the nitric and 50-50 acid treatments at pHs of 2.0 and 1.5, which maintain fairly constant growth. Analysis of nitrate, phosphorous, and potassium levels in the soil indicated heavy leaching of the nitrates and potassium from most soil samples, which probably account …

Autumn Olive Reproduction In Three Illinois State Parks, James Daniel Nestleroad

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Vegetation Analysis Of Three Zones Of Belmont Prairie, Dupage County, Illinois, Susan Eckert Ruta

Masters Theses

Belmont Prairie is located in Downers Grove, DuPage County, Illinois, and is one of the few preserves of a native tall grass prairie. It is located in the Morainal section of the Northeastern Morainal Division, and harbors over 100 species of native prairie plants which are typical of the community type. Three vegetation zones were sampled for species composition and both frequency and relative frequency. These areas are as follows: Dry mesic upland area, sedge meadow, and transitional area.

The upland dry mesic zone had diverse vegetation including forb and grass species such as Parthenium integrifolium, Silphium laciniatum, …

Noncompetitive Effects Of Morning Glory On Growth Of Soybeans, D. R. La Bonte

Masters Theses

Competitive effects of weed infestations in soybean fields can severely reduce yields. Noncompetitive factors (allelopathy) may also be involved. Soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill, Asgrow A 3127 mid group 3) show a marked reduction in growth due to root exudation, leaf leachate and total plant extracts from white-flowered morning glory (Ipomoea lacunosa L.).

Analysis Of The Surface Polysaccharides Of R. Trifolii Su843 And Its Sym Plasmid Alterated Mutants, Jauh-Lin Duh

Masters Theses

The Rhizobium trifolii polysaccharides from SU843 and mutants--HC843(pBR1AN), HC843, 8002--in which the sym plasmid is replaced, absent, or mutated by transposon Tn5 were isolated. The surface polysaccharides of genetically altered mutants were compared quantitatively and qualitatively with one another and with the parent strain. The interpretation of these results is discussed in relation to the function of Rhizobium surface polysaccharides in the symbiotic process. The symbiotic ability of SU843 and mutant strains is as follows: (a) SU843, nod⁺, fix⁺; (b) mutant 8002, roa⁺ (still attaches to root hair), hac^-, nod^-; (c) …

Raw Water Quality In The New Charleston, Illinois Pump Storage Reservoir, Kevin G. Lookis

Masters Theses

Charleston, Illinois, a city located in east-central Illinois, recently implemented a new concept in a raw water system. Due to storage capacity-sedimentation problems in the old Lake Charleston-Embarras River raw water supply, the Charleston Pump Storage Reservoir was constructed. The new system involved building a dike separating the Lake Charleston impoundment from the Embarras River. Water to increase the storage capacity of the reservoir can now be selectively pumped into the impoundment from the river.

Raw water quality in the reservoir was monitored on a weekly basis for a full year from August, 1981 to August, 1982. The levels of …

Observed Changes In The Largemouth Bass Population Since Construction Of A New Pump Storage Reservoir At Charleston, Illinois, Lawrence B. Durham

Masters Theses

Lake Charleston, Illinois was electrofished to determine the status of the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides, Lacepede) population after its reconstruction into a pump storage reservoir. The changes observed were an increased rate of growth of the initial year class, increased average growth increment of older bass, and a more abundant bass population. Factors which may have influenced increased growth were decreased turbidity, alkalinity, and increased water level. There is a possibility the increase in water level led to an increase in terrestrial invertebrates as a food source, and increased spawning substrate and cover due to submerged terrestrial vegetation. …

Residual Phytotoxicity Of Mon-097 In Sludge Enriched Soils, Jennifer A. Woods

Masters Theses

Aerobically and anaerobically digested sludges were added to soil at concentrations of 0, 1, 5, and 10% (v/v). Dry weights of Avena sativa var. Noble plants, harvested 28 days after planting, were greater with increased sludge concentrations. Plant dry weights were consistently greater with aerobically than with anaerobically digested sludge. MON-097, an acetanilide herbicide, was applied to these soil/sludge mixtures at concentrations of 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 ppm. Residual phytotoxicity of MON-097 was not significantly affected by sludge concentration. These results suggest that increased concentrations of sludge in the soil do not contribute to detoxification …

Parental Foraging In Chipping Sparrows (Spizella Passerina), Dora Elisa Perez

Masters Theses

During the breeding season of 1982, the population of Chipping Sparrows ( Spizella passerina) that inhabits the Western Michigan University's campus was chosen to study the use of foliage and other foraging sites. Three pairs were selected to be observed intensively.

During the time the female is foraging and when the male is either foraging or in territorial advertisement activities both sexes choose needleleaf trees out of proportion to their availability.

It is also likely that in the later stages of caring for young, when food demands were highest, the birds become less selective and forage on needleleaf trees as …

A Histopathological Study Of The Effect Of Ethylnitrosourea On Ha(Icr) Mice Testes, Mildred Rodriguez

Masters Theses

Ethylnitrosourea (ENU) is very strongly mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic in mice. In the present study ENU was used to induce germ cell damage in the mouse testis. Mice were given single injections of vehicle, 50, 100, or 200 milligrams of ENU per kilogram of body weight and killed at various times over a fifteen week period. Microscopic examination of the testes showed that extensive killing of spermatogonial cells and therefore maturation depletion had occurred in the seminiferous tubules. The histopathology was dose dependent and the testicular weight decreased with an increasing ENU concentration.

Recipe Design And Management In A Nutritional Data Base System, Robert G. Trenary

Masters Theses

The Nutritional Data Base System (NDBS) is an interactive information system which provides the user the ability to create and process menus, recipes and food items. Three primary program modules are thus indicated along with modules to translate user requests and process file and directory information. A discussion of standard data base concepts and an application of these concepts to the processing of recipes in the NDBS system is presented. Future possible expansions are suggested and other similar information systems are discussed.

Glycosaminoglycans Of Normal And Diabetic Human Plasma, Gloria Badiner

Masters Theses

Diabetic complications in nnn-insulin dependent tissues have led < researchers to investigate causitive parameters at the biochemical level. The purpose of this project was to measure glycosaminoglycans in diabetic and normal human plasma and to investigate any changes in glycosaminoglycan content for possible roles in diabetic complications.

Glycosaminoglycan content was measured by three methods; the alcian blue assay, protein-bound hexosamine, and total glycosaminoglycan isolate methods. Results show IDDM plasma to have significantly increased levels of glycosaminoglycans as assayed by the alcian blue test and protein-bound hexosamine. The total glycosaminoglycan isolate method did not correlate with either of the two other methods. No difference was demonstrated between normal and NIDDM plasma glycosamino glycan content.

The protein-bound hexosamine and the alcian blue assays correlate with age and type of diabetes. No differences between the sexes were demonstrated. Of particular interest are …

Analogues Of Steffimycinone, David Wayne Elrod

Masters Theses

Several analogues of Steffimycinone - an anthracycline antitumor antibiotic - have been prepared. Modifications were made at C-7 and C-10 of the non-aromatic A ring portion of the anthracycline nucleus. Compounds with nitrogen substituents were prepared. The synthesis of these compounds is discussed as well as their antitumor activity. The unsuccessful approaches to several other analogues are also discussed.

A Comparative Study Of The Chemical Variants Of The Cladonia Pyxidata-Chlorophaea Complex In East-Central Illinois And Northern Michigan, Cheryl A. Cunningham

Masters Theses

This study was one of comparison of chemical variant of the Cladonia pyxidata-chlorophaea complex of east-central Illinois and northern Michigan. A total of 150 collections were made from Coles, Clark, and Lawrence counties in Illinois, and a separate collection of 58 samples was taken from Cheboygan and Emmet counties in Michigan.

Collection sites in Clark county were, Rocky Branch Nature Preserve, near Clarksville, and privately owned land near Martinsville. From Coles county, collections were made at the Stone Quarry Prairie, Lakeview Park, Lincoln Log Cabin State Park, Walker’s Ford, Lakeview Park hill prairie, and a hill prairie north of the …

Diospyros Virginiana: The American Persimmon, Michael P. Quinnett

Masters Theses

The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana L.) is a deciduous tree native to the Southeastern United States, and is the only genus of the Ebenaceae that is indigenous. This study is a complete reveiw of what is known about this species concerning taxonomy, ecology, morphology, history, distribution, anatomy, cytology, propagation, diseases, and pests, toxicity, chemical composition, and economic values.

The sexuality and fruit production of the persimmon is variable and not well understood. The small bell shaped flowers are usually dioecious, but they may also be monoecious, or monoecious in one year and dioecious in another. In rarer instances they …

Foods And Feeding Of The Redfin Shiner (Notropis Umbratilis) In Coles County, Illinois, Karen Denise High

Masters Theses

Foods and diel feeding activities of the redfin shiner, Notropis umbratilis, were studied in Coles County, Illinois in September, 1981, and monthly from April through September, 1982. A total of 200 stomachs with food were examined. Diptera adults and larvae were the most frequently occurring food item (83%), and also occurred in the highest volume (49%). Coleoptera were the second most frequently occurring item (23%), and accounted for the second largest volume (11%). Larger fish consumed a wider variety of food items. Changes in foods with season were also noted.

Feeding activity on the 24-25 July was greatest in …

Validation Of The Tactual Performance Test As An Organicity Screening Device, Stephen C. Lippold

Masters Theses

Organicity screening devices are those psychometric tests used to detect brain dysfunction during the initial assessment. The characteristics of such tests were listed and ones currently being used were reviewed. The review concentrated on the validity and clinical utility of these organicity tests. From the review it was concluded that the validity has not been thoroughly established, partially because weak criteria have been used. It was also concluded that current screening tests have questionable clinical utility, since an inordinant number of organically impaired people are not detected by the tests. The concept of organicity was discussed, and the Tactual Performance …

Menstrual Cycle Effects On Blood Pressure, Body Weight And Heart Rates During Rest, Exercise And Recovery On College Athletes, Dawn J. Shutter

Masters Theses

Ten members of the Eastern Illinois University women's track team were used as subjects to determine the relationship of body weight, blood pressure and heart rate during rest, exercise and recovery to menstruation.

The subjects were tested on two different occasions. The first test was administered within twenty-four hours of the onset of menstruation. The second test was conducted seven days later. During both testing periods blood pressure, body weight and resting heart rate measurements were taken before beginning the treadmill protocol (progressive grade and speed increases up to 4% and 8 mph, respectively). The subjects ran on a motor …

Seasonal Movements Of White-Tailed Deer In East-Central Illinois, James E. Chelsvig

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.