Life Sciences Commons^™

Correlation Studies Between Human Seminal Plasma Trace Metal Concentrations And Semen Quality, De-Shen Mei

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Methodologies for the determination of cadmium, copper, selenium and zinc concentration in human seminal plasma have been developed using polarized Zeeman-effect atomic absorption spectroscopy. Within-run coefficients of variation (CY's) for cadmium, copper, selenium and zinc from pooled seminal plasma were found to be 8%, 5% , 4% and 0.5% at a mean (SD) concentration of 0.48 (0.04), 147 (7 .6), 53 (2. 1) and 122,900 (700) μg/ℓ, (n = 10), respectively.

Between-run CV's were determined to be 4% , 7%, 5% and 7% at a mean (SD) concentration of 2.4 (0.1), 147 (10. 1), 67.7 (3.4) and 115,800 (8300) …

Negative Cooperatively In The Binding Of 3-Aminopyridine Adenine Dinucleotide To L-Α-Glycero-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase, David Wheeler

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase catalyzes the reversible reaction:

NAD⁺ + G-3-P ⇌ NADH + DHAP + H⁺

The enzyme is found in organisms from E. coli to man. The primary function of the enzyme varies from organism to organism. Depending on the metabolism of the organism, the enzyme may function primarily to generate G-3-P for lipid (in organisms with a highly aerobic biosynthesis metabolism), or it may function primarily to produce NAD⁺ to support glycolysis. Complex multicellular organisms possess tissue specific isozymes of GPDH whose kinetic parameters reflect the relative importance of G-3-P and NAD⁺ production in various …

The Effects Of X-Irradiation On The Metamorphosis And Budding Of Aurelia Aurita, Michael John Prokopchak

OES Theses and Dissertations

With the aid of the Aurelia Metamorphosis Test System, the acute or subtle morphological and behavioral effects of irradiation on the Norfolk Aurelia aurita were described and the sensitivity to X-irradiation of those organisms receiving thyroxine and those not receiving thyroxine was compared. Levels of radiation were 0 (control), 5,000, 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 and 40,000 rads. Morphology of the ephyrae, statolith and rhopalia numbers were recorded using the light microscope, Developmental abnormalities of the scyphistomae and ephyrae were recorded with the scanning electron microscope and light microscope. Two major findings from this investigation were the absence of rhopalia and statoliths …

Demographic Analysis And Microhabitat Relationships Of A Small Mammal Community In Clearings Of The Great Dismal Swamp, Jean Ferguson Stankavich

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Small mammals were trapped for 14 months on two grids located within a powerline right-of-way in the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. During 12,354 trap nights, individuals of 10 different species were captured. They included, from highest to lowest density, Reithrodontomys humulis, Ochrotomys nuttalli, Peromyscus leucopus, Blarina brevicauda, Synaptomys cooperi, Microtus pennsylvanicus, Microtus pinetorum, Sigmodon hispidus, Mus musculus and Oryzomys palustris. The demography (densities, reproduction, home range and dispersal) of each species was analyzed when possible. Most of the species were present in relatively low densities, with a number being captured only during the latter months of the study. …

The Spatial And Temporal Distribution Of The Larvae Of Sympatric Pagurid Hermit Crabs (Decapoda, Anomura) In Virginian Estaurine And Coastal Waters, Philip Wesley Sadler

OES Theses and Dissertations

Thirteen stations were occupied at two - week intervals from May through September 1980 within the York River, lower Chesapeake Bay depths encompassing the entire water column.

Three species of pagurids were identified: Pagurus longicarpus, P. pollicaris, and P. annulipes. The larvae of P. annulipes had not been previously identified from Virginian waters. The shapes of the antennae of P. pollicaris and P. annulipes weredistinctive, allowing rapid identification of these larvae. The shapes of the uropods were found to be useful in distinguishingthe glaucothoe· of P. longicarpus from P. annulipes. The larvae of these species …

Two-Dimensional Electrophoretic Studies Of Normal Spematozoal Proteins, Ying Lin

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Protein profiles of human spermatozoa have been mapped by using high resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis which combines isoelectric focusing as the first dimension and polyacrylamide gradient gels electrophoresis in SDS as the second dimension. The profiles of normal spermatozoa! extraction, acrosomal extraction and seminal plasma showed high resolution in its separation capability. No qualitative or quantitative differences were observed by using Coomassie Brilliant Blue R-250 staining in a much higher concentration of proteins. However, coomassie blue lacks the sensitivity to detect many minor components. Therefore, a silver staining procedure was used, which resulted in greatly increased sensitivity.

Samples from normal fertile …

Life History Aspects Of Reithrodontomys Humulis In Southeastern Virginia, Michelle Cawthorn Chandler

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Reithrodontomys humulis, the eastern harvest mouse, is a small cricetid rodent which is common in old field communities in the eastern U.S. A live-trapping study was conducted in Suffolk, Virginia from March 1983 through February 1984 in order to learn the details of its life history and the vegetational characteristics which best describe its microhabitat. Specifically, population densities, trap-revealed survival times, home ranges, plant species composition of the study area, and vegetational structure were examined. In order to trap as many Reithrodontomys as possible, special traps which excluded animals weighing over 20 g were constructed. Densities of harvest mice …

Activity Levels Of Arboreal Rodents Peromysus And Ochrotomys Evaluated With Nest Cans In Seasonally Flooded Forests, John W. Walke

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The diversity and density of small mammals in the Dismal Swamp are believed to be small. To test this, four 1.96 ha grids were established and operated in the Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, from September 1981 to November 1982. Number 10 metal cans covered with plastic lids were placed as nest boxes at 0.5 to 1.5 m height on trees. A 2.5 cm hole allowed access by arboreal rodents, to each nest can. The activity level of the two arboreal rodents, Peromyscus leucopus and Ochrotomys nuttalli, was evaluated by observing types of activity ranging from presence of mice to …

The Effects Of Tri-O-Cresyl Phosphate On 2',3'-Cyclicnucleotide-3'-Phosphohydrolase Activity In Neural And Non-Neural Tissue Of The Rat, Mark K. Schlager

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

A total of 44 Long-Evans rats received 5.7 g/kg tri-O-cresyl phosphate (TOCP) orally every 3 days for 6 days. A second group of 13 rats received 4.6 g/kg orally every 3 days for 6 days. Animals were administered atropine sulfate (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally every 6 hours or as needed to alleviate cholinergic symptoms. Ten control animals were given corn oil orally. Eight rats (18%) survived the 5.7 g/kg dose regimen and 5 rats (38%) survived the 4.6 g/kg dose regimen. Surviving rats were killed at 30-33 days post-dose. Signs of delayed neuropathy included ataxia and motor impairment.

The CNP activity …

The Role Of Colonization Predation And Season In Determining Macroinvertebrate Community Structure In A Temperate Lake, Cheryl Lynn Frew

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Field experiments were conducted to examine the effects of distance from shore, vertebrate predation, and season on macroinvertebrate colonization dynamics in a temperate lake in Suffolk, VA. In a year-long colonization study, artificial plants, half of which were caged to exclude vertebrate predators, were deployed in patches at three distances from shore (2m, 15m, 50m). Artificial plant subsamples were removed at weekly intervals over 28 days during four seasons to monitor colonization by macroinvertebrates. Colonization of artificial plants occurred more quickly in the summer and spring than in fall and winter. The interactive effect of distance from shore and cage …

Determinants Of Variation In Avian Mobbing Behavior, Charles Ray Chandler Jr.

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Using three combinations of two experimental stimuli, I initiated mobbing behavior in various species of birds. The objectives of this research were to test the effects of stimuli on mobbing, the predictions of the hypothesis that mobbing functions to drive a predator away, and the effect of other species and individuals on the mobbing behavior of a bird. Mobbing experiments were conducted in a variety of habitats and locations from January 1983 through February 1984.

Only 6.5% of all trials with the mount-only stimulus were successful in attracting birds. Tape-only and mount-and-tape stimuli were equally effective in attracting birds, but …

Germination And Host Range Of Branched Broomrape (Orobanche Ramosa) From Texas, Robert D. Coffin

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The effect of temperature on the germination of Orobanche ramosa L., branched broomrape, was investigated by dividing the physiological stages leading to germination into discrete events: pretreatment, a period when the seed becomes receptive to stimulant, and posttreatment, when stimulant application (GR-24) induces germination. Seed was pretreated and posttreated at 16 different temperature combinations. Optimal pretreatment was at 15°C and 18°C, maximum posttreatment at 18°C. Highest germination was obtained by pretreating and posttreating seed at 18°C, lowest at 24°C. The effect of different pretreatment regimes was tested. Seeds were pretreated over moist filter paper and in soil for Oto …

A Method For The Comparison Of Hdl Containing Apoprotein E And Hdl Cholesterol, Steven A. Knizner

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Human serum high density lipoproteins (HDL) were isolated by preparative salt density gradient ultracentrifugation and analyzed further by heparin-sepharose affinity chromatography. Separation of the major classes of serum lipoproteins was achieved after a single ultracentrifugation on a salt density gradient at 272,000 x g for 36 hours in a swinging bucket rotor. After isolation, the total HDL was subdivided into HDL containing apoprotein E and HDL without this apoprotein by heparin-sepharose affinity chromatography. Relative amounts of these subclasses were then calculated.

HDL-cholesterol was measured after precipitation of LDL and VLDL by phosphotungstic acid and magnesium. The statistical relationship between HDL …

Investigation Of The Coenzyme Binding Site Of Lactate Dehydrogenase From Chicken Muscle, Jia-Hwei Lin

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses & Dissertations

Investigation of the coenzyme binding site of lactate dehydrogenase was approached by using coenzyme analogs. Inhibition studies of this enzyme using n-alkylphosphates as coenzyme analogs were performed with a fluorometric method. The results showed that all of the n-alkylphosphates were competitive inhibitors with respect to NAD⁺.

The n-alkyl-ADPs were synthesized from AMP and dicycloheaylammonium salts of n-alkylphosphates. The synthetic compounds were subjected to NMR spectroscopic studies, thin layer chromatography and determination of the ratio of adenosine moiety to phosphate groups. The results indicated that the synthetic compounds were n-alkyl-ADPs.

These synthetic compounds were used as coenzyme analogs in …

A Description And Analysis Of The Timing Of Virginia's Weakfish Fishery, Bruce William Hill

OES Theses and Dissertations

The seasonality of Virginia's weakfish fishery is quantitatively defined by providing a mean time of catch and variance of catch for the years 1960 - 1981. On the average. the central half of the population is available for harvest from mid-May through September in all of Virginia's waters and the mean date of harvest is July 20th • The 22 year average variance of catch for Virginia's waters is 3.97. In Virginia's Chesapeake Bay tributaries the mean date of harvest is July 17th and the 22 year average variance of catch is 2.50. There is evidence for an inverse relationship …

Timing Of The Blue Crab Fisheries Of Virginia And Its Application To Harvest Management, J. Dale Shively

OES Theses and Dissertations

The timing of a fishery is a quantitative expression of the composite behaviors of harvesters, markets, animals and climatic events. A quantitative description of the timing of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) fisheries of Virginia was established using the time density model of Mundy (1979). Blue crab catch statistics supplied by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Virginia Marine Resource Commission were divided into two fisheries based on gear type; the summer and winter fisheries. Average performance curves were then constructed using average cumulative proportions of catch. Annual yield estimates were also made and timing in five …

A Molecular Phylogeny Of The Grunts (Perciformes: Haemulidae) Inferred From Nuclear Rag1 Gene Sequences, Millicent D. Sanciangco

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Species and genera of Haemulidae have undergone various taxonomic revisions, however, there is no study that infers the phylogeny of the haemulid genera using morphological or molecular data. The purpose of this study was to use approximately 1386 base pairs of the nuclear Recombination Activation Gene-I (RAG1) from 35 haemulid species representing 13 genera, one species of the closely related Inermiidae, and two species of the outgroup Sparidae to infer an intrafamilial phylogeny of Haemulidae. This analysis is corroborated using approximately 650 base pairs of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene and RAG I-COI combined gene analyses of27 haemulids, …

An Intraseason Forecasting System For Commercial Marine Fisheries, Erik J. Barth

OES Theses and Dissertations

The reliability of an intraseason yield estimation technique which is commonly used by Pacific salmon harvest managers is evaluated for applicability to a variety of commercial finfish and crustacean fisheries. The estimation technique is known as the average timing or the average performance model. The method is not easily related to standard statistical models, but does show some similarity to both a single parameter linear regression model and the ratio estimator of sampling theory. A comparison of these models, a two parameter linear model, and a regression estimator is made to determine if the precision of forecasts of performance can …

An Examination Of The Variability Of Migratory Timing Statistics Estimated From Catch And Effort Observations, Arthur J. Butt

OES Theses and Dissertations

The estimate of the mean arrival time based on catch or CPUE of fishes migrating into a fixed harvest area is a function of the number of days fished. Simulation studies using chinook salmon catch and effort data from the Yukon River delta, Alaska indicate that fishing effort concentrated at the tails of the migratory distribution which would tend to erroneously weigh the estimated mean arrival time in the direction of the sample, away from the true mean, is only a significant problem when the number of days open to fishing is small, covering less than 12% of the total …

Determinants For The Timing Of Escapement From The Sockeye Salmon Fishery Of The Copper River, Alaska: A Simulation Model, Howard A. Schaller

OES Theses and Dissertations

A model to estimate determinants for migratory timing of catch and escapement in a terminal salmon fishery is presented. A method was developed to estimate average seasonal migration rates of salmon through a harvest area from catch and escapement data. The time series for the total population of Copper River sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) was reconstructed in the reference frame of the commercial harvest area from catch and escapement data.

The catchability coefficients (q), derived from the reconstructed populations were found to vary within season and between seasons. The relation between q and effort was attributed to a …

Phytoplankton Ecology And Dynamics In The James River Estuary Virginia, U. S. A., Margaret J. Filardo

OES Theses and Dissertations

Autotrophic biomass and productivity as well as nutrient distributions and phytoplankton cell populations in the James River estuary, Virginia, from Newport News Shipyard to the 0 o/oo isohaline, were sampled on a monthly basis from August of 1981 to December of 1982. Particular emphasis was placed on the very low salinity region (defined as the location where surface salinity measured between 0.0 and 0.75 o/oo based on conductivity) in order to determine the fate of fresh water phytoplankters upon being advected into the estuary because of their suspected role in the biogeochemical cycling that occurs there.

Both chlorophyll a and …

Purification And Characterization Of A Camp- And Ca2+-Calmodulin-Independent Glycogen Synthase Kinase From Porcine Renal Cortex, Stephen J. Beebe, Erwin M. Reimann, Keith K. Schlender

Bioelectrics Publications

We recently reported the partial purification of a cAMP-independent and Ca²⁺-calmodulin-independent glycogen synthase kinase from porcine renal cortex (Schlender, K. K., Beebe, S. J., and Reimann, E. M. (1981) Cold Spring Harbor Conf. Cell Proliferation, 389-400). Subsequent purification indicated that the enzyme preparation consisted of at least three forms of glycogen synthase kinase which could be resolved by ATP gradient elution from aminoethylphosphate-agarose (AEP-agarose). The predominant form of glycogen synthase kinase, which eluted from AEP-agarose between 2 and 6 mM ATP, was purified approximately 800-fold and is designated GSK-A1. It had a molecular weight of 45,000-50,000 as determined …

Review Of Upwelling Off The Southeastern United States And Its Effect On Continental-Shelf Nutrient Concentrations And Primary Productivity, Larry P. Atkinson, James A. Yonder, Thomas N. Lee

CCPO Publications

Gulf Stream induced upwelling occurs along the length of the southeastern United States continental shelf break. Upwelling events are produced by northward propagating Gulf Streams frontal meanders and eddies and travel northwards with these features. Meanders and eddies occur throughout the year in a period band of 2-14 days; however, resultant upwellings can affect the shelf quite differently. During fall, winter, and spring, upwelling is restricted to the outer shelf by cross-shelf density distributions, but in the summer upwelled water may penetrate across as a subsurface intrusion if aided by upwelling-favorable winds. If water does penetrate across the shelf, it …

Breeding Birds In Cedar Stands In The Great Dismal Swamp, Karen A. Terwilliger, Robert K. Rose

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The Great Dismal Swamp located in the coastal plain on the Virginia- North Carolina border, has long been recognized as a vegetationally distinctive region with many unusual geological and biological features. Formerly at least twice the currently estimated size of 85,000 hectares (Carter 1979), the Great Dismal Swamp is still shrinking because of a dropping water table caused by more than 200 years of logging, ditching, and other human activities. In 1973, the Union Camp Corporation donated a 19,871-hectare tract located near Suffolk, Virginia. to The Nature Conservancy, which transferred the land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This …

Episodic Nutrient Supply To A Kelp Forest Ecosystem In Southern California, Richard C. Zimmerman, James N. Kremer

OES Faculty Publications

Temporal patterns of nutrient input into a Southern California kelp forest were measured using traditional hydrocast sampling coupled with high frequency temperature profiling. Patterns of nutrient input were related to growth rates of Macrocystis pyrifera located in an adjacent kelp forest. There were 2 distinct components to the pattern of nutrient availability. The long term, or seasonal, component was consistent with large-scale storm-induced mixing and horizontal advection during winter months. In addition, vertical motions of the thermocline, bringing nutrients into the kelp forest, occurred throughout the year with a frequency of about 2 per day and were strongest during the …

Changes In The Lower Chesapeake Bay Food-Chain In Presence Of The Sea Nettle Chrysaora-Quinquecirrha (Scyphomedusa), David Feigenbaum, Michael Kelly

OES Faculty Publications

The abundance of 4 levels of the lower Chesapeake Bay food chain (Chlorophyll a, herbivores, ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi, and Scyphomedusa Chrysaora quinquecirrha) were moni­tored twice weekly at 4 stations from May 10 through Sep 30, 1982 in the Lafayette and Elizabeth Rivers (Virginia). The herbivore standing stock, largely copepods, declined sharply in late May when M. Jeidyi appeared, but rebounded a month later when C. quinquecirrha medusae reduced the ctenophore population. Despite the additional presence of Aurelia aurita (Scyphomedusa) from Jul onward, herbivore abundance remained at moderate levels until the end of the study period. Phytoplankton abundance fluctuated …

Microheterogeneity Of Type Ii Camp-Dependent Protein Kinase In Various Mammalian Species And Tissues, Alison M. Robinson-Steiner, Stephen J. Beebe, Stephen R. Rannels, Jackie D. Corbin

Bioelectrics Publications

Excluding autophosphorylated species, at least six forms of the regulatory subunit of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase (R(II)) from various mammalian tissues were identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) gel electrophoresis of purified samples and of crude preparations photoaffinity labeled with 8-azido[32P] cAMP and by gel filtration. After autophosphorylation some heart R(II) forms termed type IIA (bovine, porcine, equine, and dog) shifted to a more slowly migrating band on SDS gels while others termed type IIB (rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and monkey) did not detectably shift. Both subclasses of R(II) exhibited variation in apparent M(r) on SDS gels. Bovine and …

Two Classes Of Camp Analogs Which Are Selective For The Two Different Camp-Binding Sites Of Type Ii Protein Kinase Demonstrate Synergism When Added Together To Intact Adipocytes, Stephen J. Beebe, Rob Holloway, Stephen R. Rannels, Jackie D. Corbin

Bioelectrics Publications

Twenty-five cyclic nucleotide analogs were tested individually to act as lipolytic agents and to activate adipocyte protein kinase. The lipolytic potency of individual analogs correlated better with their K(a) for protein kinase and their lipophilicity rather than with either parameters alone. Some of the most potent lipolytic analogs had high I50 values for the particulate low K(m) cAMP phosphodiesterase suggesting that their effect was not due to raising endogenous cAMP levels through inhibition of phosphodiesterase. The most potent lipolytic analogs contained a thio moiety at the C-8 or C-6 position. These analogs exhibited concave upward dose-response curves. At high concentrations …

The Marine Biogeochemistry Of Selenium: A Re-Evaluation, Gregory A. Cutter, Kenneth W. Bruland

OES Faculty Publications

Vertical and horizontal profiles from the North and South Pacific Oceans demonstrate the existence of three species of dissolved selenium: selenite, selenate, and organic selenide (operationally defined). In surface waters, organic selenide makes up about 80% of the total dissolved selenium, selenite concentrations are uniformly low, and selenate concentrations rise with increased vertical mixing. The organic selenide maximum (thought to consist of seleno-amino acids in peptides) coincides with the maxima of primary productivity, pigments, bioluminescence, and dissolved free amino acids. Deep ocean waters are enriched in selenite and selenate, while organic selenide is nondetectable. In suboxic waters of the tropical …

Evaluation Of Peptide Assimilation In Ehrlich Ascites Tumor Cells, John M. Castellano

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

The dipeptides glycyl-L-(³H)-leucine and L-phenylalanyl-L-(³H)-leucine were synthesized in radioactive form and utilized in the analysis of peptide transport and hydrolysis by Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The tumor cells were cultured in the abdominal cavity of CF-1 albino mice and harvested into sterile isotonic buffer for all experimental analyses.

The results of this study reveal that the tumor cells rapidly accumulate radiolabel when incubated with the above mentioned peptides, but that the peptide is most probably hydrolyzed extracellularly and free L-(³)-leucine transported. This hypothesis is based on the observations of reduction in accumulation of radiolabel …