Life Sciences Commons^™

Site-Directed Mutagenesis Of The Putative Processing Site Of Recombinant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Reverse Transcriptase, Susan M. Poppe

Masters Theses

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the etiological agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). This retrovirus, encodes a RNA dependent DNA polymerase, reverse transcriptase (RT), which is essential to virus replication. Biochemical analysis indicated that RT is composed of 2 polypeptides of 66,000 and 51,000 daltons (p66 and p51) which combine to form a heterodimer. This heterodimer is thought to arise from the post-translational processing where p66 is made and either autocatalytic or proteolytic cleavage events result in a heterogeneous p66/p51. Site-directed mutagenesis was used at the proposed processing site to probe HIV-RT processing.

Three prokaryotic expression vectors …

Cloning And Sequencing Of The Eco Rii Monomer Fragment Of Satellite Dna From The Mouse Mus Musculus, Timothy Patrick Boyle

Masters Theses

Total mouse satellite DNA was isolated in cesium chloride gradients in the presence of the dye Hoechst 33258. This satellite fraction was digested with Bst Nl, an isoschizomer of the restriction enzyme Eco RII, and the 234 base pair monomer fragment was cloned into the plasmid vector pBS. Dideoxynucleotide sequencing of the cloned DNA yielded significant homology with the published consensus sequence of mouse satellite DNA (92%).

A Comparison Of Maximal And Submaximal Heart Rate And Oxygen Uptake In Combined Arm And Leg Bicycling And Rowing, Victoria L. Asaro

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Life History And Ecology Of The Barrens Topminnow, Fundulus Julisia Williams And Etnier (Pisces, Fundulidae), Patrick L. Rakes

Masters Theses

The life history of the Barrens topminnow, Fundulus julisia, was investigated in a two-year study from 1983 to 1985. The species is restricted to a few isolated springs and groundwater-influenced upland streams on the Barrens Plateau in the vicinity of Manchester in middle Tennessee. In most aspects of its behavior, including feeding and reproduction, this topminnow differs little from other members of the same genus. The fish is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding upon aquatic insects, crustaceans, and gastropods, as well as terrestrial insects that fall in water. Like other killifish, F. julisia has an extended breeding season that is …

Does Rubus Canadensis Interfere With The Growth Of Fraser Fir Seedlings?, Eric Frank Pauley

Masters Theses

Vegetation change in the Great Smoky Mountains following balsam woolly adelgid-caused mortality of Fraser fir has included development of a dense Rubus canadensis shrub layer. Many fir seedlings have persisted in the forest understory, but the possible effects of Rubus on their annul growth have not been intensively studied.

This study had two objectives: (1) to determine if significant associations exist among density and shoot growth of Fraser fir seedling, density/biomass of Rubus canadensis, canopy closure, and soil chemical parameters, and (2) to determine the effects of removal of aboveground Rubus stems on fir seedling shoot growth.

Eighty 1 x …

The Use Of Modified Atmoshere Packaging And Phosphate-Citric Acid Dip To Extend The Shelf Life Of Fresh Catfish, Ictalurus Punctatus, Brian Preston Moore

Masters Theses

Ninety market size catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) 1 - 2 pounds live weight were slaughtered, dipped in one of three solutions (phosphate, phosphate + citric acid, no dip) then packaged in one of three atmospheres (100% CO₂, 70% CO₂ + 5% O₂ + 25% N, Air) and were stored at 1^oC or 5^oC. The catfish were evaluated for aerobic plate count, anaerobic plate count, lactic acid count, coliform count, pH, oxidation, drip loss, color and odor at 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 days. The 100% CO₂ and 70% CO₂ atmospheres …

The Effect Of Heat Treatments On Dietary Fiber As Assessed By Chemical Analysis And Scanning Electron Microscopy, Ming-Cheng Chang

Masters Theses

Today it is generally accepted by many nutritionists that dietary fiber plays an important role in human health. Increased consumption of dietary fiber is advocated for beneficial effects on human health; thus food technologists and the food industry are interested in the use of fiber as an ingredient in food products and in the manufacture of high fiber foods. Numerous researchers have concentrated on the physiological effects of dietary fiber, while few have investigated the effect different processing parameters have on dietary fiber.

Apple fiber, corn fiber, oat bran and soy fiber were prepared and analyzed after further processing (autoclaving …

Physical And Sensory Properties Of High-Fiber, Reduced-Fat Biscuits, Pamela J. Stanyon

Masters Theses

Rolled biscuits were prepared with 0, 14, 28, and 42% wheat bran substituted for flour and 0, 20, 40, and 60% polydextrose substituted for hydrogenated shortening. Effects on physical and sensory characteristics of biscuits containing 16 combinations were determined with response surface methodology. Wheat bran decreased volume and produced harder, gummier, and chewier biscuits. Panelists indicated crumblier, drier, and chewier biscuits as bran level increased. Unlike wheat bran, polydextrose increased volume and decreased hardness. Panelists scored biscuits made with polydextrose as more moist, but no more chewy than biscuits made without polydextrose. Polydextrose appeared to impede some of the negative …

Understory Changes Following A Prescribed Burn In A Central Illinois Oak-Hickory Forest, Charity Rae Hilchen

Masters Theses

The understory of Baber Woods, Edgar County, Illinois, was surveyed from April to September, 1988, following a low intensity fall burn in November, 1987. From plots sampled in the spring, summer and fall, differences in the composition of the herbaceous and woody components between the burn and control areas were determined. The herbaceous component of the burn area was found to compose a significantly higher percentage (X² . _{05 , 2} =12.49) of the importance values (IV) over all the sampling periods. Acer saccharum was found in significantly lower frequency (X² . _{05 , 2} =24.8) in the …

Nesting Dynamics Of The Eastern Bluebird (Sialia Sialis) In Southeastern Illinois, Susan E. Nelle

Masters Theses

Data collected from 1981 through 1988 from an Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) nesting box trail, involving 512 nests and 2176 eggs, in Crawford County, Illinois, were analyzed and compared to similar published works. The average nesting season lasted 167.4 days, ran from 17 March through 31 August, and was divided into three breeding peaks (or phases). Most breeding pairs were observed with either one or two clutches per season; however, triple-brooded pairs were also present, the clutches of which coincided well with the three peaks. Most data showed a decrease as the season progressed. For example, mean clutch …

The Ethnobotany Of Sweet Flag, Acorus Calamus L., Timothy J. Motley

Masters Theses

One of the more interesting and attractive components of aquatic ecosystems is sweet flag, Acorus calamus L., a herbaceous perennial belonging to the Araceae, a primarily tropical family. Sweet flag is one of the few extratropical members.

The primary purpose of this work is to present a compilation of the various traditional and contemporary uses of sweet flag by various cultures.

Information regarding the known ethnobotanical and economic uses of the rhizome and aromatic essential oil as a flavoring agent is given, as well as its medicinal uses and value as an insecticide. In addition, a discussion of the …

A Comparison Of Three Populations Of The Plains Pocket Gophers, Geomys Bursarius Illinoensis, In Illinois, Frank P. Wray

Masters Theses

Morphometric and karyotypic analyses were performed on three Illinois populations of the Plains Pocket Gopher, Geomys bursarius illinoensis, to determine if any differences were present among the populations. Gophers were collected in three localities: 1) Iroquois and Kankakee Counties (IKC); McLean County (MC); and St. Clair and Madison counties (SMC). All three populations had the same kind and number of chromosomes (2n=72, FN=70). External measurements did not differ significantly among the three populations. Multivariate analysis of variance of the cranial characters showed that a significant (P<.05) difference existed in both males, F(78,1825)=1.65, and females, F(78,1961)=1.63, between the three regions. Duncan's multiple range tests of some cranial measurements showed a clinal increase going from east to west.

Cyanogenesis In The Euphorbiaceae, Lucinda L. Horton

Masters Theses

Fresh samples of nine species included in the family Euphorbiaceae, Acalypha qracilens, Acalypha ostryaefolia, Acalypha rhomboidea, Acalypha virginica, Chamaesyce maculata, Chamaesyce supina, Cnidoscolus stimulosus, Euphorbia corollata, and Poinsettia dentata, were tested for the production of cyanide using the Feigl-Anger technique. Two of these taxa were tested for polymorphism of cyanogenesis by repeated testing of the same individuals within a population. Two of these nine species, Acalypha ostryaefolia and Cnidoscolus stimulosis, gave positive results, although not every individual tested was positive. One of the species tested for polymorphism, Acalypha ostryaefolia, …

River Birch (Betula Nigra L.) Forest Communities In Cass And Mason Counties, Illinois, Charles Anthony Uhlarik

Masters Theses

During the fall of 1988 and the spring of 1989, four stands of river birch (Betula nigra L.) were surveyed in Cass and Mason Counties, Illinois. All study areas were divided into quadrats 25 m on a side (0.154 acres) and the maximum number of quadrats were placed to completely survey each forest. The relative density, relative dominance, and importance value was calculated for each species (dbh greater than 10 cm) in each forest area. Also, seedlings (less than 2.5 cm dbh) and saplings (2.5-10.0 cm dbh) were recorded in each area. River birch is the dominant overstory …

Growth Increments And Condition Factors Of Pomoxis Annularis (White Crappie) In The Years Following Completion Of The Pump Storage Reservoir At Lake Charleston, Charleston, Il, 1982-1988, Herbert Clinton Fairow

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to attempt to document any changes that may have occured due to the construction of a pump storage reservoir at Lake Charleston. The age I white crappie present in the new reservoir were observed to exhibit an increase in first year growth in 1982. This increase was observed in subsequent years but not to the same degree as was observed initially. The age II fish present in the new reservoir in 1982 exhibited a very large increase in growth for the first year of the new impoundment. In the years after 1982 the annual …

Effects Of Methylxanthines On Newborn Rat Respiration, Craig Gatto

Masters Theses

Methylxanthines (MX), such as theophylline, are commonly used in the treatment of recurrent apnea due to their stimulant effects on the respiratory center. Structure-activity studies have demonstrated that substitution of alkyl groups on the 3-position of the xanthine nucleus results in increased bronchodilator potency, while substitution on the 1-position is important for adenosine antagonism and CNS stimulation. Three different alkylxanthines were studied to determine the structural requirements for respiratory stimulation. Respiratory rates and volumes were determined in 4- to 7-day-old rats using a volume displacement body plethysmograph. Measurements were made before and at 5 minute intervals after subcutaneous (s.c.) injection …

Cranial Variations And Skull Suture Obliterations As Related To Age In The Coyote (Canis Latrans), Kurt Daine

Masters Theses

Three criteria, skull size, development of the postorbital process, and cranial suture obliteration were examined to evaluate their effectiveness as possible age indicators in the coyote (Canis latrans). Two collections of coyote skulls were evaluated. The first was 130 skulls of known age, from Utah, which were used to compare the above characteristics to the age of the animal. The second was 151 Illinois Department of Conservation (DOC) skulls of unknown age, which were used in conjunction with the known age skulls to evaluate differences in skull size and observer and inter-observer subjectivity in the classification of suture …

Woody Vegetation Of A Mesic Sand-Forest In Mason County, Illinois, Sean E. Jenkins

Masters Theses

An inventory was completed of the woody vegetation of a 6.5 hectare section of a mesic sand-forest near Forest City, Mason County, Illinois. This forest, which is located on stabilized sand dunes in the Illinois River Section of the Illinois River and Mississippi River Sand Areas Division, has a stand composition of 247.5 stems/ha (above 10 cm dbh.), and a basal area of 16.1 sq. m/ha. A total of 21 woody species are present on the site with Black oak comprising 84% of the Basal area and 61% of the total individuals, and having an importance value of 144.9. Black …

Tissue Culture In Rice (Oryza Sativa L. Subsp. Japonica Var. Lemont), Young M. Woo

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to obtain callus induction and subsequent plantlet regeneration from various explants of rice (Oryza sativa L. subsp. japonica var. Lemont). Callus induction occurred from the somatic cells of ovary wall, immature and mature embryos, immature endosperm, stem nodes, and seedlings. Plantlets were regenerated from embryo-, endosperm-, and stem node-derived calli on differentiation media. Stem nodes were the most responsive to callus induction. Requirements for optimal callus formation and plantlet regeneration differed from each culture. The study investigated the effects of cold treatment of explants, initial culture in darkness, media, and subculture for individual explant …

Some Factors Affecting Male Mating Success In The Giant Waterbug (Belostoma Flumineum Say), Karyn S. Crisman

Masters Theses

Giant waterbugs (Subfamily Belostomatinae) are interesting in that males provide exclusive post-copulatory care of young. This unusual behavior makes this species an excellent study system for investigations of sexual selection theory because in such systems, sex role reversals are predicted. Previous studies indicate that role reversal in giant waterbugs is not complete because males still court females. It is assumed that from this courtship display females can assess male quality and "choose" a superior male. If some males are chosen over others then differential mating success results. This study was undertaken to ascertain some of the factors that affect male …