Biology Commons^™

Iron Acquisition In Rhodococcus Erythrolpolis: The Isolation Of Mutant(S) That Do Not Produce A Siderophore., Jaishree M. Vellore

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rhodococcus, a soil bacterium, displays a diverse range of metabolic capabilities with a number of potential practical applications. To exploit the metabolic potential of Rhodococcus, their basic physiology, genetics, and especially the acquisition of essential nutrients like iron, must be understood.

R. erythropolis strain IGTS8 releases a small compound called a siderophore, that scavenges ferric iron from the environment. To learn more about the genetic control of iron acquisition, mutant(s) defective in siderophore production were isolated. Mutants were generated, by inserting a mutagenic plasmid, pJCS506, into the bacterial cell using electroporation. The plasmid, which cannot replicate in these …

Antibiotic Resistance: Multi-Drug Profiles And Genetic Determinants., Lashan Denise Taylor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were assembled for isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis collected from the Mountain Home Veteran's Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) clinical laboratory in Johnson City, Tennessee. The goal of the study was to identify isolates for genetic characterization using comparisons of susceptibility profiles. Isolates of Moraxella catarrhalis collected from July 1984 through 1994 were analyzed for β-lactamase production using a Cefinase disk assay.

A multi-drug profile consisting of 11 β-lactam antibiotics was performed on the 41 M. catarrhalis isolates. Kirby Bauer disk assays were performed for 7 cephalosporin and 4 non-cephalosporin antibiotics.

In summary, 2 observations implicate more complex resistance …

The Detection Of Morphological Variation Across Time In Two Roan Mountain Endemics: Geum Radiatum And Houstonia Montana., Dalenia Medford

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Morphological variation between geographically distant populations has long been recognized. The primary objective of this study was to test whether nonrandom shifts in morphology have occurred across a 150-year time span in two rare, endangered plant species Geum radiatum and Houstonia montana. During the last century the vegetation on Roan Mountain has undergone numerous environmental pressures that may have produced morphological shifts.

A diverse suite of morphological characters was measured from both species. Characters included vegetative and reproductive structures. Herbarium specimens and direct field measurements were the sources of material used. Results indicated a significant increase in size across …

Survey And Comparison Of Amphibian Assemblages In Two Physiographic Regions Of Northeast Tennessee., Marquette Elaine Crockett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Declines in amphibian populations have prompted study of their ecology and distribution. The purpose of this study was to survey two sites located within different physiographic and one herpetofaunal region of Northeast Tennessee, comparing species composition and activity. The first, Henderson Wetland, is in the Appalachian Ridge and Valley physiographic region. The second, John's Bog, is in the Blue Ridge. Survey methods included random walks, aural surveys, and point source collections during a 16-month period (February 1999 to May 2000).

Nine caudate (Plethodontidae) and one anuran species (Ranidae) were found in John's Bog. Seven caudate (Ambystomatidae, Plethodontidae, Salamandridae) and five …

The Impact Of Logging On Aquatic Salamander Communities., Heather Noel Mcdonald

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

For this study, the abundance of the salamander fauna in two streams was compared to determine the impact of logging activities. After five months of study, the area around one stream was logged by the National Forest Service. Following logging, the abundance of salamanders in the stream was greatly reduced, while the population in the undisturbed stream remained relatively unchanged. Six abundant species were used as indicators; two of these species (Desmognathus quadramaculatus and Desmognathus ochrophaeus) were negatively affected by the logging, while four species (Demognathus fuscus, Desmognathus monticola, Eurycea wilderae, and Gyrinophilus porphyriticus …

The Effects Of Parental Age And Housing Type On The Reproductive Success Of The Purple Martin (Progne Subis Subis), Jessica A. Eads

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The reproductive success of the Purple Martin is dependent upon many factors. This study measured reproductive success of the Purple Martin (Progne subis subis) based on parental age and type of housing used. Reproductive parental ages consist of adults (experienced breeders) and subadults (first time breeders). Housing types included in this study were aluminum housing, wooden housing, plastic gourds, natural gourds, SuperGourds, and mailbox housing. The reproductive success was defined as the percentage of the original clutch that fledged. Study sites were located in Alabama, Indiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Virginia. Pairs mating nonassortatively by age group …

Early Instar Growth And Survivorship In The Common Baskettail Dragonfly Epitheca Cynosura (Anisoptera: Corduliidae)., Bryan Arthur Reece

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Egg masses of Epitheca cynosura were collected from Bays Mountain Park, Tennessee, USA, in June, 1999. Newly hatched individuals were placed into enclosures and sampled at scheduled time intervals throughout the summer. Enclosures were exposed to combinations of high and low densities and presence/absence of a second-year class E. cynosura predator. Survivorship, mean head widths, and mean dry masses were compared across treatments. Due to poor recovery of early-instar larvae, survivorship showed no significant differences in mortality among treatments. The predator present treatment caused significantly smaller head widths and dry masses only on days 42 and 55. The density treatment …

Fertility Effects Of Genes Causing Reproductive Isolation Inferred From Three-Way Hybrids In Phacelia, Helen Zhujun Hou

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Prior studies of reproductive isolation among three varieties of Phacelia dubia have found that gene loci encoding isozymes of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) were associated with hybrid sterility. In the first part of this study, I generated three-way hybrids to determine if the genetic or chromosomal region linked to GOT encoding loci has major effects on hybrid sterility and if any observed effects were similar in different genetic backgrounds. In three-way crosses, F1 hybrids of two varieties were crossed to a third variety. Fertilities of three-way hybrids were estimated and their GOT genotypes were ascertained by starch gel electrophoresis. A …

Electrophysiology, Cell Calcium, And Mechanisms Of Hepatocyte Volume Regulation, Walid E. Khalbuss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The electrophysiologic technique (Reuss, L., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 82:6014, 1985) was modified to measure changes in steady-state hepatocyte volume during osmotic stress. Hepatocytes in mouse liver slices were loaded with tetramethylammonium ion (TMA$\sp{+}$) during transient exposure of cells to nystatin. Intracellular TMA$\sp{+}$ activity (a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm TMA}$) was measured with TMA$\sp{+}$-sensitive, double-barreled microelectrodes. Loading hepatocytes with TMA$\sp{+}$ did not change their membrane potential (V$\sb{\rm m}$), and under steady-state conditions a$\sp{\rm i}\sb{\rm TMA}$ remained constant over 4 min in single impalements. Hyperosmotic solutions (50, 100, & 150 mM sucrose added to media) and hyposmotic solutions (sucrose in media reduced by …

Energy-Dependent, High-Affinity Transport Of Nickel By Thermophilic Acetogenic Bacteria, Hsiuchin Yang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Nickel plays an essential role in acetogenesis at the level of acetyl-CoA synthetase, and the mechanism of nickel transport is therefore central to the metabolic capacities of acetogens. The mechanism of nickel transport by the thermophilic acetogenic bacteria Clostridium thermoaceticum ATCC 39073 and Acetogenium kivui ATCC 33488 was investigated using ⁶³NiCl₂ and an anaerobic microfiltration transport assay. Nickel transport by C. thermoaceticum was optimal at pH 7-7.5 and 65°C; nickel transport by A. kivui was optimal at pH 6.4 and 65°C. Cells during the early stages of growth displayed the highest propensity for nickel transport. Nickel transport was …

Adaptation Of Striped Bass To Sea Water Following Direct Transfer From Freshwater: Morphological, Biochemical, And Physiological Parameters, Judy A. King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

There has been heightened interest in the biology of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) because of increased pollution in their native spawning grounds and because of their extensive use in landlocked sport fisheries. Their euryhalinity makes them an excellent species for osmoregulation studies. The objective of this research was to study the rate of adaptation of striped bass gills to sea water (3% salt) after direct transfer from freshwater using biochemical (ion transport enzyme levels), physiological (chloride efflux), and ultrastructural methods. Striped bass have specialized osmoregulatory cells located on the interlamellar and afferent surfaces of their gill filaments as shown by …

Life History And Production Of Three Species Of Isopods In Beargrass Creek Louisville, Ky, James A. Eckstein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The life history and annual production of the aquatic isopods L. fontinalis, C. intermedia and C. brevicaudus in a spring stream, Beargrass Creek, Louisville, Kentucky was studied. Reproductive activity was observed with the greatest intensity in the spring months from March to May. Smaller secondary peaks for recruitment of young were seen in the fall months for L. fontinalis and C. intermedia. Brood size for the three isopods was compared by linear regression. The mean annual biomass for the three isopods ranged from 0.67 g/m2 for C. intermedia, 0.83 g/m2 for C. brevicaudus to 2.1 g/m2 for L. fontinalis. Annual …

The Columnar Junipers Of Western North Dakota (An Investigation Into The Cause Of Their Columnarity), James M. Murphy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this report is to focus on the evaluation of the presence and amount of ethylene in the burning lignite fumes and to search for morphogenetic factors in the lignite at the Slope County site. The former was considered to be more important and was investigated more thoroughly.

Anatomical Studies During Floral Induction, Evocation And Initiation In Eucharis Grandiflora, Planch., The Amazon Lily, Raphael T. Deba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Several questions were posed at this point which led to the hypotheses to be tested in this investigation. The experimental design was divided into 3 phases. For a detailed description of the design, see Appendix A. Phase I of this study involved a comparative study of the anatomy of the apices of plants of Eucharis grandflora, the Amazon lily, exposed to heat (27-29° C) for one, two, three, four or five weeks, in an effort to see if manifestations of floral evocation and/or initiation are in evidence when compared to the control. Since the time from the end of heat …

The Vegetational Composition Of The Samuel H. Ordway Memorial Prairie, Fred K. Carl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis represents the first half of a two year study of the vegetational composition of the Samuel H. Ordway, Jr. Memorial Prairie. Quadrat and point frame sampling was completed along 100 transects distributed over the 10 pastures. Biomass for the study area was determined to be 133. 3 g•m^-2 for live weight and 104.0 g•m^-2 for mulch. Basal cover for Ordway Prairie was found to be 12.5%. The study area was found to be predominantly occupied by warm season species. Andropogon scoparius was found to be highest in relative density while Carex was highest in relative frequency. …

Primary Productivity In Lake Cochrane, South Dakota, During And After Sediment-Control Dam Construction, Randall Francis Brich

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Lake Cochrane was selected for this study because of its history of superior water transparency (Haertel 1972, 1976b). Significant amounts of silt and chemicals enter the lake with runoff at 3 locations (Haertel unpublished data). Restriction or impediment of runoff at these locations should result in improved water transparency (Haertel 1976b, Siegel 1975). Therefore, East Dakota Conservancy Sub-District and the South Dakota Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Forestry decided to impede runoff waters by means of 3 sediment-control dams incorporated into the perimeter road system of the lake and financed through a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (Siegel 1975) …

Effects Of Ay On Preimplantation Embryo Lethalities (Ay/Ay) And On Abnormal Mating Behavior (Ay/A) In Strain C57bl/6j Mice, Kevin Thomas Brock

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The immediate objectives of the studies to be presented were (1) to establish the presence and characterize the morphology of the A^y/A^y homozygotes before and after implantation, (2) describe the relationship between embryo and uterus, (3) characterize prenatal and neonatal losses occurring to the A^y/a mouse, and (4) test the randomness of mating selection of the A^y/a mouse. To meet the objectives, data collected from the complete serial section of embryos in utero at 90 and 132 hours post coitum (hpc) from matings of yellow females (A^y/a) by yellow males (A …

Cell Surface Changes During Early Mouse Development, James Thomas Rector

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives of this thesis were to further characterize cell surface properties of preimplantation mouse embryos. A study was conducted to determine latent effects of varying pulses of CB on early postimplantation mouse embryos by comparing their abilities to hatch, to attach and to sustain growth and differentiation of ICM and trophoblast tissue. CB treatment was begun at the 8-cell stage. Objectives of the studies involving Con A were to determine (1 ) whether agglutinability with Con A changes during compaction of 8-cell embryos, (2) if changes in numbers of binding sites parallel changes in agglutinability during preimplantation development, (3) whether …

Observations On Attachment And Spreading Of Zonaless Tw32/Tw32 (Brachyury Locus) And Control Icr Preimplantation Mouse Embryos, Ker Hwa Tung

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of the first part of this thesis is to test, in vitro, the adhesiveness of different stages of denuded preimplantation ICR mouse embryos for the substratum. In the second part, experiments are conducted to determine if there are differences in the attachment and spreading potential between t^w32 homozygotes and normal embryos. Studies by Spiegelman (1976), Calarco and Brown (1968), Granholm and Johnson (1978), and others indicate that t¹², t^w32 and other lethal t alleles of the Brachyury or T-complex may affect cell surface properties. Thus, the objectives of this thesis include the acquisition of …

Effects Of Gamma Radiation On The Southern Corn Rootworm, Denise Gayle Hanson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Insects continue to be one of the major problems of man. It is, however, becoming more and more difficult to find substances that are effective in controlling insects and that are environmentally safe. It has become apparent that to control or eliminate harmful insects, alternate methods of control must be developed to replace or reduce the use of insecticides. One possible alternate method of control is to use insects against themselves in a process called the sterile male technique. This technique generally uses gamma radiation to induce sterility in males. When they are released into the native population and mate …

A Study Of The Macrobenthic Community In Lake Cochrane, South Dakota, David R. German

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As part of a continuing study of the biological community of Lake Cochrane, South Dakota, a quantitative survey of the macroscopic bottom fauna was made between the early part of April, 1976 and December, 1976. It was hoped that such a study could provide baseline data for an understanding of the interactions that occur between benthic organisms and other biological components of the lake system. The lake's primary productivity and phytoplankton and zooplankton standing crops have previously been studied by Haertel (1972, 1976) and Steinberg (1972). When this study was being conducted, sediment control dams were being built on three …

Characterization Of Cell-Cell Interactions In Normal And Tw32 Homozygous Preimplantation Mouse Embryos, Phyllis M. Johnson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Immediate objectives of the following studies were to characterize and compare normal versus lethal mutant (t^W32/t^W32) cellular interactions during preimplantation mouse development. Principal experimental methods used included embryo culture and microscopy. Control and mutant embryos were analyzed in vitro to identify chronological events and phenotypic characteristics of t^W32 homozygotes. Cell-cell associations of uncompacted and compacted 8-cell control (ICR) embryos were analyzed by quantitative electron microscopy. Lastly, light microscopic analyses were performed on control and mutant (t^W32/t^W32) morulae.

A Study Of The Endogenous Electron Donors For Nitrogen Fixation By Cell-Free Extracts Of Klebsiella Pneumoniae M5al (Aerobacter Aerogenes M5al), Elisabeth Yi-Jan Wu

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biological nitrogen fixation, the mechanism of the enzymatic conversion of the inert nitrogen gas into amino acids in the cytoplasm of the microorganism has puzzled many scientists for decades. The recent discovery of some free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria has encouraged the investigation of this mechanism. A big step taken in the rapid elucidation of this mechanism was the first reproducible cell-free nitrogen-fixing system from Clostridium pasteurianum successfully obtained by Carnahan et al. (9) in 1960. In the following decade, reproducible cell-free systems were demonstrated with the strict aerobe, Azotobacter vinelandii (4), facultative anaerobic Bacillus polymyxa (16) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (31) and …

Agarics Of The Louisville Area : A Taxonomical Problem., Eugene H. P. Mondeau

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Distribution Of The Herpetofauna Of Kentucky., Symoine Kamin Laufe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Although the herpetofauna of Kentucky is extensive and varied. it has received much less attention than that of most other states. Many herpetologists have reported on various phases of the state's amphibians and reptiles, but for the most part these reports are discrete, either pertaining to a collection, or a generic or specific study. Hence, there is no single adequate work which aptly describes the herpetology of Kentucky as a whole. When one realizes the keystone position of Kentucky in relation to northern and southern forms, the need of a zoogeographical summary of the state becomes even more apparent. Therefore, …

The Incidence Of Trichinella Spiralis In The Diaphragms Of Swine From The Louisville Abattoirs., Stuart Lyle Adams

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Trichinosis is a disease caused by the parasitic nematode Trichinella spiralis. When meat containing encysted larvae is consumed the cysts are dissolved by the action of the gastric juice in the stomach and the larvae migrate to the intestine where they mature, copulate and give birth to living young within a week of the original infection. The larvae enter the lymph spaces and are carried to the thoracic duct from which they reach the venous circulation and thence the arterial circulation by way of the heart and the pulmonary capillaries. From the arterial blood the larvae enter most of the …

The Influence Of Nutrition On Sporangial Formation In Araiospora Streptandra., Richard Curtis Webster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

A Study Of The Relationship Between Blood Flow And Limb Volume In The Hind Limb Of The Dog., J. P. Holt

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Potassium-Iodide On The Embryological Development Of The Chick With Special Reference To The Growth Of The Long Bones., David M. Polot 1904-1978

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The Natural Factors In The Selection Of Diet., Lamar William Neblett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.