Biology Commons^™

Stressor- And Corticotropin Releasing Factor-Induced Reinstatement And Active Stress-Related Behavioral Responses Are Augmented Following Long-Access Cocaine Self-Administration By Rats, John R. Mantsch, David A. Baker, David M. Francis, Eric S. Katz, Michael A. Hoks, Joseph P. Serge

Biomedical Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

Rationale Stressful events during periods of drug abstinence likely contribute to relapse in cocaine-dependent individuals. Excessive cocaine use may increase susceptibility to stressor-induced relapse through alterations in brain corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) responsiveness.

Objectives This study examined stressor- and CRF-induced cocaine seeking and other stress-related behaviors in rats with different histories of cocaine self-administration (SA).

Materials and methods Rats self-administered cocaine under short-access (ShA; 2 h daily) or long-access (LgA; 6 h daily) conditions for 14 days or were provided access to saline and were tested for reinstatement by a stressor (electric footshock), cocaine or an icv injection of CRF and …

The Role Of Causal Processes In The Neutral And Nearly Neutral Theories, Michael Dietrich, Roberta L. Millstein

Dartmouth Scholarship

The neutral and nearly neutral theories of molecular evolution are sometimes characterized as theories about drift alone, where drift is described solely as an outcome, rather than a process. We argue, however, that both selection and drift, as causal processes, are integral parts of both theories. However, the nearly neutral theory explicitly recognizes alleles and/or molecular substitutions that, while engaging in weakly selected causal processes, exhibit outcomes thought to be characteristic of random drift. A narrow focus on outcomes obscures the significant role of weakly selected causal processes in the nearly neutral theory.

Biological Collections Get International Certification, Aldemaro Romero Jr.

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Book Slated On Biologists’ Adventures, Aldemaro Romero Jr., Joy Trauth

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Population Structure Of The Invasive Round Goby (Neogobius Melanostomus) Along The Eastern Shore Of Lake Michigan, M. Ben Stacey, Ryan Thum, Carl Ruetz Iii, Tyler Armstrong

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

Round gobies are an invasive species that have proliferated throughout the Great Lakes since 1990. Today, anthropogenic forces are causing an increasing number of invasions causing great economic and ecological damage. The round goby invasion, because of its high level of success and recent occurrence, may represent a model system to study the evolutionary dynamics and formation of genetic population structure in novel habitats. Our study is a fine scale examination of the round goby genetic population structure along the eastern shore of Lake Michigan.

Polyaniline Nanofiber-Based Gas Sensors, Zhe-Fei Li, Frank D. Blum, Massimo F. Bertino, Chang-Soo Kim

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

There has been recent interest in conducting polymers that have very promising chemical and electrical applications. Some of these polymers have shown great potential for use in sensors.1 Polyaniline is one particular example of a prospective material. In our laboratory, we have studied the synthesis of polyaniline nanofibers. We have carried out one-pot syntheses to obtain polyaniline nanofibers in aqueous solutions where the polymerization was influenced by γ-radiation2 or UV-radiation.3 This polymer can also be patterned with an appropriate photo mask. In our present report, polyaniline nanofiber thin film sensors have been fabricated in one step by employing UV-irradiation and …

Medusan Morphospace: Phylogenetic Constraints, Biomechanical Solutions, And Ecological Consequences, John H. Costello, Sean Colin, John O. Dabiri

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Medusae were the earliest animals to evolve muscle-powered swimming in the seas. Although medusae have achieved diverse and prominent ecological roles throughout the world's oceans, we argue that the primitive organization of cnidarian muscle tissue limits force production and, hence, the mechanical alternatives for swimming bell function. We use a recently developed model comparing the potential force production with the hydrodynamic requirements of jet propulsion, and conclude that jet production is possible only at relatively small bell diameters. In contrast, production of a more complex wake via what we term rowing propulsion permits much larger sizes but requires a different …

Qtl Analysis Of Ray Pattern In Caenorhabditis Elegans Recombinant Inbred Lines, Adam Joseph Guess

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Ray pattern is the most divergent morphological character among rhabditid nematodes. The ancestral ray pattern of Elegans group nematodes is commonly referred to as a 2(1)3+3 pattern, with rays 1 and 2 located anterior of the cloaca, ray 3 positioned at the cloaca, and rays 4-6 and 7-9 grouped in two clusters posterior of the cloaca. C. elegans males primarily exhibit the 2(1)3+3 pattern; however some isolates display variant patterns at a low frequency. The Hawaiian strain CB4856 exhibits a 3/3+3 pattern at a frequency of 0.09. In this pattern, ray 3 is located anterior of the cloaca in a …

Using Geographic Information Systems To Select Sites For Wetland Restoration In West Central Ohio's Agricultural Areas, Janice M. Hartkorn

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The Mississippi River Basin, includes a major part of Ohio has encountered increasing phosphorus and nitrogen loads from agricultural fields since the 1800's when intensive agriculture moved into the Midwest. Agriculture has drained ninety percent of Ohio's native wetlands. A portion of those drained wetlands can be restored to functional wetlands to intercept excess nutrients from non-productive or low yield agricultural fields to improve overall water quality. Little is known about finding potential restoration sites, partly because of the difficulty in locating sites capable of supporting successful restoration.

This study investigated the utility of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a …

Immunomodulation Of Human Skin Cells By Extracts Of The Scabies Mite, Sarcoptes Scabiei, Jeremi Stevan Mullins

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Sarcoptes scabiei infests its host through burrowing into the stratum corneum layer of skin. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts responding to the burrowing mite(s) and/or mite products produce inflammatory and immune activating cytokines and chemokines. The purpose of this study was to determine if an extract of S. scabiei can modulate cytokine and chemokine expression from keratinocytes and fibroblasts in vitro. Normal human keratinocytes and fibroblasts were exposed to an extract of S. scabiei var. canis with or without various pro-inflammatory stimuli. Cytokine and chemokine expression were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Scabies extract increased expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), growth-related oncogene-α …

The Effects Of Nutritional Supplement, Mass Fx™, On Muscular Strength, Body Composition, And Blood Chemistries In Resistance Trained Adult Males, Patrick S. Dib

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a nutritional supplement, Mass FX, on muscular strength, body composition, and blood chemistries in resistance-trained adult males. Eight subjects, mean age 25 +/- 3.02 years, were randomly assigned to two groups (n=4). Each group was given either Mass FX or a Placebo in a double-blind manner to be taken orally for six weeks (4caps/day regardless of bodyweight). For the duration of the study, both groups were following the same training program and a diet customized to each subject's bodyweight in conjunction to the supplementation. Data were analyzed using Analysis …

Effects Of Forest Fragmentation And Honeysuckle Invasion On Forest Lepidoptera In Southwest Ohio, Annie Lynn Doyle

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Habitat loss and exotic species invasion is a rapidly growing threat facing forest animal communities worldwide. The goal of the current study is to assess the impact of forest fragmentation and the associated invasion of honeysuckle on immature tree-feeding Lepidoptera communities in southwestern Ohio. Caterpillar abundance, richness, and honeysuckle density were sampled along 100 meter transects conducted in ten forest fragments. Generalized linear models were developed to determine the effects of fragment area, landscape forest cover, and honeysuckle density on caterpillar abundance and richness. Caterpillar abundance and richness was positively related to landscape forest cover and fragment area. However, these …

The Community Structure Of Methanogenic, Methanotrophic, And Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria In Vertical Flow Greenhouse Wetland Mesocosms Exposed To Pce, William Evan Gruner

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Chlorinated ethenes are among the top contaminants on the EPA National Priorities List due to their abundance in contaminated sites and their recalcitrant nature. These compounds, which are used in large scale degreasing and textile processes, are known liver and kidney toxins, and suspected carcinogens. Wetland ecosystems are capable of degrading PCE and its breakdown products TCE, DCE, and VC by providing anaerobic and aerobic growth conditions for microbes that express enzymes such as dehalogenases and monooxygenases with dual affinity for chlorinated solvents. Greenhouse mesocosms at Wright State University are used to mimic field conditions at a treatment wetland at …

Ecological Genomics: Understanding Gene And Genome Function In The Natural Environment, M. C. Ungerer, L. C. Johnson, M. A. Herman

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The field of ecological genomics seeks to understand the genetic mechanisms underlying responses of organisms to their natural environments. This is being achieved through the application of functional genomic approaches to identify and characterize genes with ecological and evolutionary relevance. By its very nature, ecological genomics is an interdisciplinary field. In this review, we consider the significance of this new area of study from both an ecological and genomic perspective using examples from the recent literature. We submit that by considering more fully an ecological context, researchers may gain additional insights into the underlying genetic basis of ecologically relevant phenotypic …

The Spectrum Of Mitochondrial Mutation Differs Across Species, Kristi L. Montooth, David M. Rand

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

Mutations are ubiquitous, and many arise during the very process of replicating and transmitting genomes. This process is the source of the genetic variation that provides the raw material for both evolutionary novelty and human disease. Mutation rates are known to vary among nucleotides, across genomic regions, and between taxa. It is conventional wisdom that animal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is one genomic region that has a particularly high mutation rate. Until recently, this high rate of mutation has been predominantly inferred from high levels of mitochondrial sequence divergence between species. However, the apparently simple process of mutation and sequence divergence …

Genome-Wide Compensatory Changes Accompany Drug-Selected Mutations In The Plasmodium Falciparum Crt Gene, Hongying Jiang, Jigar J. Patel, Ming Yi, Jianbing Mu, Jinhui Ding, Robert Stephens, Roland A. Cooper, Michael T. Ferdig, Xin-Zhuan Su

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mutations in PfCRT (Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistant transporter), particularly the substitution at amino acid position 76, confer chloroquine (CQ) resistance in P. falciparum. Point mutations in the homolog of the mammalian multidrug resistance gene (pfmdr1) can also modulate the levels of CQ response. Moreover, parasites with the same pfcrt and pfmdr1 alleles exhibit a wide range of drug sensitivity, suggesting that additional genes contribute to levels of CQ resistance (CQR). Reemergence of CQ sensitive parasites after cessation of CQ use indicates that changes in PfCRT are deleterious to the parasite. Some CQR parasites, however, persist in the …

Oviposition Behavior Partitions Aquatic Landscapes Along Predation And Nutrient Gradients, C. A. Binckley, W. J. Resetarits Jr.

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

That individuals attempt to minimize the ratio of mortality risk/growth rate (μ/g) when foraging within individual habitat patches is well established. Do species partition among spatially discrete communities embedded in complex landscapes in a similar manner? We investigated how 3 ovipositing species (2 Hyla treefrogs and a hydrophilid beetle, Tropisternus lateralis) responded to simultaneous gradients of nutrients and predation risk. Species partitioned our experimental metacommunity primarily by reducing oviposition with fish. Tropisternus positively responded to increased nutrients, but the effect decreased with increasing risk, as predicted by μ/g theory. Use of fish habitats by Tropisternus was unrelated to breeding …

Swimming Dynamics And Propulsive Efficiency Of Squids Throughout Ontogeny, Ian K. Bartol, Paul S. Krueger, Joseph T. Thompson, William J. Stewart

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Synopsis Squids encounter vastly different flow regimes throughout ontogeny as they undergo critical morphological changes to their two locomotive systems: the fins and jet. Squid hatchlings (paralarvae) operate at low and intermediate Reynolds numbers (Re) and typically have rounded bodies, small fins, and relatively large funnel apertures whereas juveniles and adults operate at higher Re and generally have more streamlined bodies, larger fins, and relatively small funnel apertures. These morphological changes and varying flow conditions affect swimming performance in squids. To determine how swimming dynamics and propulsive efficiency change throughout ontogeny, digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) and kinematic …

Historical Mammal Extinction On Christmas Island (Indian Ocean) Correlates With Introduced Infectious Disease, Kelly B. Wyatt, Paula F. Campos, M. Thomas P. Gilbert, Sergios-Orestis Kolokotronis, Wayne H. Hynes, Rob Desalle, Peter Daszak, Ross D.E. Macphee, Alex D. Greenwood

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

It is now widely accepted that novel infectious disease can be a leading cause of serious population decline and even outright extinction in some invertebrate and vertebrate groups (e. g., amphibians). In the case of mammals, however, there are still no well-corroborated instances of such diseases having caused or significantly contributed to the complete collapse of species. A case in point is the extinction of the endemic Christmas Island rat (Rattus macleari): although it has been argued that its disappearance ca. AD 1900 may have been partly or wholly caused by a pathogenic trypanosome carried by fleas hosted …

Waterhole Dynamics And Chemical Signals Of African Elephants ( Loxodonta Africana ), Stacie Marie Castelda

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The distribution of mammals in a savanna environment is influenced by abiotic and biotic factors. The African savanna experiences distinct wet and dry seasons. Species become spatially restricted around water resources during the dry season, resulting in increased intraspecies and interspecies resource-based aggregation. A dominate species, such as the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), may influence this aggregation. I examined the influence of wet and dry seasons and ambient temperature on the use of a waterhole by elephants as well as the co-occurrence of elephants and other mammals at the waterhole. Biodiversity scans (October 2004-June 2007) and were performed at a …

Chitinase Production By Serratia Marcescens Gg5, Gursharan Singh, Joginder Ram Sharma, Gurinder Singh Hoondal

Turkish Journal of Biology

Swollen chitin, flake chitin, powder chitin, and mushroom paste were used as substrates for chitinase production by Serratia marcescens GG5 in submerged fermentation. Enzyme production was 0.3 U/ml when the organism was grown in M9 medium supplemented with 0.5% swollen chitin and 0.5% soluble starch. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that Serratia marcescens GG5 digested the chitin flakes by producing chitinase.

The Effects Of Mistletoe (Viscum Album L. Subsp. Album) Extracts On Isolated Intestinal Contractions, Alper Karakaş, Erdi̇nç Seri̇n, Bülent Gündüz, Arzu Uçar Türker

Turkish Journal of Biology

Throughout history folk medicine has served as an alternative or complimentary method of treating disorders like intestinal colic. Mistletoe is a common name for many species of semi-parasitic plants that grow on trees throughout the world, and has been used widely to treat intestinal colic. We conducted a study to evaluate the effect of freeze-dried (group 1) and heat-treated (group 2) extracts of Viscum album subsp. album leaves on contractions induced by acetylcholine in isolated hamster intestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum, and ileum). Freeze-dried extracts decreased intestinal contractions in all the intestinal segments (P < 0.05). The strongest relaxant effect was observed in the jejunum and the weakest was seen in the duodenum. Higher doses of heat-treated extracts were required to affect segmental contractions than that of freeze-dried extracts (P < 0.05); heat-treated extracts had the greatest effect on reducing contractions in the jejunum and the least effect in the duodenum. Mistletoe extracts affected the level of contractions in a dose- and extraction preparation-dependent manner. The results of this study show that mistletoe extracts could be effective against intestinal motility problems and that they have potential use as a therapeutic remedy for intestinal colic.

Optimization Of Process Parameters For Alkaline Protease Production By Bacillus Licheniformis N-2 And Kinetics Studies In Batch Fermentation, Muhammad Nadeem, Javed Iqbal Qazi, Qurat-Ul-Ain Syed, Shahjahan Baig

Turkish Journal of Biology

Production of alkaline protease from B. licheniformis N-2 was studied in shake flask experiments in growth medium comprised of (g/l): glucose, 10; soybean meal, 10; K_2HPO_4, 5; MgSO_4.7H_2O, 0.5; NaCl, 0.5; CaCl_2.2H_2O, 0.5. Different process parameters, such as fermentation period, initial pH, incubation temperature, agitation speed, and size and age of inoculum, were optimized for the maximum yield of the alkaline protease. Maximum enzyme production (991.04 PU/ml) was obtained after 24 h of incubation at 37 °C in growth medium of pH 10. The optimum inoculum size and age were determined as 2.0% (v/v) and 24 h, respectively. Kinetics of …

The Interaction Effects Of Flooding And Kinetin On Growth Criteria, Chlorophyll Content, And 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase Activity In Corn Seedlings, Rashid Jamei, Reza Heidari, Jalil Khara, Samad Zare

Turkish Journal of Biology

The interaction effects of kinetin and flooding on growth indexes, chlorophyll content, and the activity of 5-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D; EC 4.2.1.24) in seedlings of corn (Zea mays L. cv. 704) were investigated. Samples were taken 48, 96, 144, and 192 h after the start of treatment. Growth criteria (root length, shoot height, and dry weight) were inhibited more in flooded plants than in control plants. The pattern of growth changes was similar to chlorophyll a and b, as well as ALA-D activity. The exogenous application of kinetin (100 ppm) nullified the resulting decrease in growth and chlorophyll, but only …

In Vivo Anti-Ulcerogenic Activity Of Equisetum Telmateia Ehrh. Extracts Used In Turkish Folk Medicine, İlhan Gürbüz, Erdem Yeşi̇lada

Turkish Journal of Biology

The aerial part of Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. is used against various conditions including stomachache and peptic ulcer in Turkish folk medicine. In order to prove the claimed anti-ulcerogenic potential of the plant, aqueous and methanol extracts were prepared from aerial parts of E. telmateia and investigated for their anti-ulcerogenic effect on ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in rats. Pharmacological experiments clearly demonstrated that the oral administration of both methanol and aqueous extracts of Equisetum telmateia Ehrh. plant showed significant stomach protection (77.9% and 100% ulcer inhibition, respectively) against the applied model of ulcerogenesis (P < 0.001). Since both extracts were found significantly active, 80% ethanol was preferred for the extraction of the plant material and this crude methanolic extract was further fractionated by successive solvent extractions with chloroform and H_2O saturated n-BuOH to obtain the chloroform and n-BuOH extracts as well as the remaining aqueous extract. The 80% ethanol extract and the solvent extracts were then submitted to pharmacological assay using the same in vivo experimental ulcer model. All the extracts statistically showed potent anti-ulcerogenic effect on this model (P < 0.001). However, the remaining aqueous extract was found prominent (98.2% ulcer inhibition). Consequently, folkloric utilization of E. telmateia on peptic ulcer has been confirmed in the present study by using ethanol-induced experimental ulcer model in rats.

Determination Of Antimicrobial And Antioxidant Activities Of Turkish Endemic Salvia Halophila Hedge, Sevi̇l Albayrak, Ahmet Aksoy, Ergi̇n Hamzaoğlu

Turkish Journal of Biology

In this study, the antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of Salvia halophila Hedge (Lamiaceae) was evaluated by 2 antioxidant assays, including phosphomolybdenum reduction and free radical scavenging activity. The ethanol extract showed free radical scavenging activity with IC_{50} of 67.73 \mug/mL in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The antioxidant activity of the extract was found to be 84.87 ± 0.7 mg ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/g extract in phosphomolybdenum assay. In the addition to the antioxidant activity of the extract, the total phenolic content was measured. Total phenolic content of ethanol extract was found to be 8.21 ± 0.0 mg gallic acid equivalent …

Investigation Of The Antimutagenic Potentials Of The Methanol Extract Of Origanum Vulgare L. Subsp. Vulgare In The Eastern Anatolia Region Of Turkey, Tüli̇n Özbek, Medi̇ne Güllüce, Fi̇kretti̇n Şahi̇n, Hakan Özkan, Sevgi̇ Sevsay, Özlem Bariş

Turkish Journal of Biology

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimutagenic activity of the methanol extract of Origanum vulgare L. subsp. vulgare. Antimutagenic activity was estimated by employing the plate incorporation AMES/Salmonella histidine reversion assay. The base pair substitution tester strain Salmonella typhimurium TA1535 and the frame shift mutagen strain S. typhimurium TA1538 were used against direct acting mutagens - sodium azide (NaN_3), 4-nitro-1-quinoline oxide (4NQO) and the S9-dependent mutagen 2-aminofluorene (2AF). The results suggested that in the absence of S9 metabolic activation, all 3 doses (5, 0.5, and 0.05 \mug/plate) of the plant extract tested caused statistically significant (P < 0.05) antimutagenic activity on TA1535 strain, but not on TA1538 strain. However, in the presence of S9 microsomal fraction, the plant extract exerted moderate antimutagenic activity against the 2AF mutagen and reduced mutant colonies in TA1535 and TA1538 strains. As a result, the methanol extract of Origanum vulgare subsp. vulgare showed antimutagenic effects at 5, 0.5, and 0.05 \mug/plate concentrations. These effects may be explained with the antioxidant activity mechanism, changes in membrane lipids, and permeability of ion channels.

Analysis Of Ki-Ras Exon 2 Gene Mutations In 3-Methylcholanthrene And Butylated Hydroxytoluene-Induced Rat Lung Tissues, Fi̇kri̇ye Polat, Öztürk Özdemi̇r, Şahende Elagöz

Turkish Journal of Biology

3-Methylcholanthrene (MCA) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and potent carcinogenic agent that is often used in experimental cancer studies. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) has been widely used for many years as an antioxidant to preserve and stabilize the freshness, nutritional value, flavor, and color of foods. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the application of MCA and BHT in the development of lung cancer, and to detect any mutation in the Ki-ras gene exon 2. Rats were killed by cervical dislocation 26 weeks after the last BHT injection and lung tissues were surgically removed. Lung …

The Effects Of Micronuclei With Whole Chromosome On Biological Dose Estimation, Funda Si̇bel Pala, Fadi̇me Alkaya, Kiymet Tabakçioğlu, Füsun Tokatli, Cem Uzal, Şule Parlar, Çeti̇n Algüneş

Turkish Journal of Biology

The total micronucleus (MN) assay has been used for purposes of biological dosimetry for many years. The variable spontaneous incidence of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes affects the sensitivity of biological dose estimations at low doses. It has been suggested that this problem could be solved by using the micronuclei-centromere assay. In this study, Co-60 gamma ray dose response curves for micronuclei (MN) and micronuclei without centromeres (MNC-) in the range of 0-5.0 Gy were established using a pancentromeric FISH probe on cultured binucleate lymphocytes from 2 donors. There were no significant inter-donor differences in the dose responses for either …

Phytoplankton Species Composition And Seasonal Variation At Wadi Al-Arab Dam Lake, Jordan, Ismail M. Saadoun, Erwah Bataineh, Adil Alhandal

Turkish Journal of Biology

The composition of phytoplankton species thriving in Wadi Al-Arab Dam Reservoir, Jordan and their seasonal variation in relation to water ecology were studied between February 2001 and February 2002. A total of 75 species of phytoplankton were identified: Bacillariophyceae (diatoms) contributed with the highest number of taxa (39) followed by Chlorophyceae (23), Cyanophyceae (9), and Dinophyceae (4). Diatoms constituted 52% of the total phytoplankton flora of the reservoir and the most common species were Synedra ulna, Cymbella affinis, and Cyclotella meneghiniana with pennate and centric diatoms being the dominant species in May and October-November, respectively. Although Chlorophytes occurred most of …