Biology Commons^™

Co-Operative Actions And Degradation Analysis Of Purified Lignocellulose-Degrading Enzymes From Thermomonospora Fusca Bd25 On Wheat Straw, Müni̇r Tuncer, Andrew S. Ball

Turkish Journal of Biology

In industrial hydrolysis processes the lignocellulose-degrading enzymes may have a potential application as an alternative to chemical treatments because they produce high specificity, mild reaction conditions, no toxic chemical hydrolysis inhibitors, and no loss of substrate due to chemical modifications. The amounts of reducing sugars released from the degradation of wheat straw by the action of endoxylanase, peroxidase, \beta-xylosidase, and \alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase, which were produced by T. fusca BD25,were equal to 3.0 percent, 0.2 percent, 0.3 percent, and 0.2 percent hydrolysis (as xylose equivalents) of the substrate used, respectively, after 10 h of incubation. In the same conditions, the hydrolysis rate …

Eicosanoids Act In Nodulation Reactions To Bacteria Serratia Marcescensin Hemipteran Pest, Eurygaster Integriceps, Hasan Tunaz

Turkish Journal of Biology

In insects, nodulation is the first step in cellular defense reactions to bacterial, fungal, and some viral infections. The hypothesis was posed that the hemipteran pest E. integriceps produces melantoic nodulation reactions to bacterial challenge and that eicosanoids mediate these reactions. Treating the adult of E. integriceps with Serratia marcescens induced nodulation reactions in a challenge dose-dependent manner. Injecting the adult E. integriceps with eicosanoid biosynthesis inhibitors, immediately before intrahemocoelic injections of the bacterium Serratia marcescens, sharply reduced the nodulation response to bacterial challenges. Separate treatments with specific inhibitors including dexamethasone (a phospholipase A_2 inhibitor), indomethacin, naproxen, ibuprofen, piroxicam (cyclooxygenase …

Multielement Determination In Fruit, Soaps And Coffee Of Pistacia Terebinthus L. By Icp-Oes, Mehmet Sayim Karacan, Fatma Çağran

Turkish Journal of Biology

Multielement analyses were carried out on whole fruit, soaps, gummy extract, and fresh infusions of Pistacia terebinthus using the ICP OES technique. Digestion processes were optimized in a microwave oven. Qualitatively, the elements Al, As, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ge, Hg, In, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Pd, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Te, Ti, V, W, and Zn were found in the fresh fruit. Al, Cd, and Pb levels in the infusions of gummy extract exceeded the upper limits specified by the Turkish Food Codex and filtration was …

Propagation Of Endangered Thermopsis Turcica Tan, Vural & Küçüködük Using Conventional And In Vitro Techniques, Süleyman Cenkçi̇, Mehmet Temel, Mustafa Kargioğlu, Sergun Dayan

Turkish Journal of Biology

This report deals with the successful clonal propagation of endangered T. turcica using rhizome cuttings and epicotyl explants. Rhizome cuttings were treated with \alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) before planting for vegetative multiplication. Rhizome cuttings pretreated with NAA (10 mg/L) were both rooted and sprouted (66.6 percent) after 100 days. Application of NAA induced callus and adventitious root formation in epicotyl explants and 6-benzyladenine (BA) induced production of microshoots. Low levels of NAA (0.5-1 \muM) together with BA promoted shoot initiation and development. The highest regeneration rate (86.6 percent), with a mean number of shoots (3.05) and a …

The Effect Of Environmental Factors On The Growth And Size Structure Of Two Dominant Phytoplankton Species In The Büyükçekmece Reservoir (İstanbul,Turkey), Yelda Aktan, Cenk Gürevi̇n, Zeynep Dorak

Turkish Journal of Biology

The aim of this study was to investigate seasonal variability in the growth and size structure of dominant phytoplankton species in Büyükçekmece Reservoir, and to determine the environmental factors that affect morphological plasticity in those dominant species. In total, 78 taxa from 8 algal divisions were identified. Bacillariophyta and Chlorophyta were the most important divisions with respect to species number, but cryptomonads Plagioselmis nannoplanctica (Skuja) Novarino, Lucas, and Morrall, and a Cryptomonas sp. were dominant in terms of density and biomass. P. nannoplanctica was the major contributor of biomass in the reservoir. A significant difference in Plagioselmis species biovolume was …

Biological Screening Of Vitis Vinifera L. Leaf Fractions, Di̇dem Deli̇orman Orhan, Ni̇lüfer Orhan, Berri̇n Özçeli̇k, Fatma Ergun

Turkish Journal of Biology

The fractions of different polarity, namely chloroform, ethylacetate, n-butanol, and remaining water fractions, were fractionated from an aqueous extract of V. vinifera leaves. The antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant activities, and total phenolic content of these fractions were investigated. The chloroform fraction showed a promising effect against Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and Parainfluenza viruses (PIV). The results indicated that all the fractions were more pronounced against gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and E. faecalis) than against gram-negative bacteria (E. coli and P. aeruginosa). On the other hand, the fractions showed equal antifungal activity against the genus Candida (C. albicans and C. …

A Phylogeographic Analysis Of Fiddler Crabs, Uca Longisignalis And U. Pugnax, Cydney Brooks

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Uca pugnax and U. longisignalis are fiddler crabs commonly found in the southeastern United States. These sibling species occupy distinct regions. Uca pugnax is found on the Atlantic and U. longisignalis on the Gulf coasts. Their distributions are separated by the Florida peninsula. Many different taxa with similar distributions in this region have been the focus of phylogeographic studies. In these studies, it appears there is no simple pattern to explain genetic variability. Previous studies of Uca pugnax and U. longisignalis reveal no significant morphological or physiological differences within either species across its respective region. The purpose of this study …

The Effect Of Zinc On L-Leucine Transport In Lobster Intestine, Anna Lynn Mullins

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The current study is a characterization of L-leucine absorption across the American lobster intestine in order to determine the likelihood of a bis-complex formation with zinc ([Leu]-Zn-[Leu]) as a possible substrate for PEPT1. This study required isolated lobster intestines to be mounted in a perfusion chamber in order to quantify 3H-L-leucine transport. It was hypothesized that an apical dipeptide transporter, PEPT1, was responsible for uptake of L-leucine via formation of a bis-complex with zinc ([Leu]-Zn-[Leu]) in the form of molecular mimicry, where the bis-complex mimics the normal dipeptide substrate of the proposed carrier system. It was found that L-leucine transport …

Vegetation Response To Restoration Treatments In A Former Pine Plantation In North Florida, Ryan C. Meyer

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As the human population in Florida continues to expand, development follows, and tree farms give way to homes and businesses. As parks are established, restoration of these semi-natural plantations may provide critical habitat for species conservation. This study evaluates vegetation response to restoration treatments at two study sites, formerly tree farms, now preserves in NE Florida. Treatments included thinning, clearing, or control (no treatment) within 10m^2 plots. Thinning reduced tree canopy to 20% (2-3 pines/plot) and removed all other vegetation; clearing treatments removed all biomass to bare soil; no herbicides were used. Within these plots richness and abundance was assessed …

Nona-Arginine Peptides Facilitate Cellular Entry Of Semiconductor Nanocrystals: Mechanisms Of Uptake, Yi Xu

Masters Theses

"Luminescent semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have recently been used for delivering and monitoring biomolecules, such as drugs and proteins. However, QDs alone have a very low efficiency of transport across the plasma membrane. In order to increase the efficiency of QD delivery, synthetic nona-arginine (sR9) was used, a cell penetrating peptide, to facilitate uptake. Data demonstrated that sR9 could significantly increase the cellular uptake of QDs by noncovalent binding between QDs and sR9. Furthermore, the mechanisms of QD/sR9 cellular internalization were investigated. Low temperature and metabolic inhibitors markedly inhibited the uptake of QD/sR9, indicating that internalization is an energy-dependent process. …

Evaluating Acute Toxicity Of Cadmium To Chironomid Using Hemoglobin As A Molecular Biomarker, Jun Taek Oh

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Effects of cadmium (Cd), a heavy metal contaminant, on hemoglobin were investigated in aquatic midge fly larvae of the Family, Chironomidae. In this study, chironomid populations from one polluted site, Kearny Marsh, New Jersey, two reference sites, North East Creek, and Bass Harbor, ME, and a laboratory population were taxonomically identified and tested for their sensitivity to Cd. Heavy metals in tissue, water and sediment were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Water quality at each site was assessed by measuring pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidation-reduction potential ( eH), salinity and temperature. Hemoglobin proteins in individual larvae were easily detected using …

The Effect Of Homocysteine On Development Of Contractions And Expression Of Β-Catenin In Chick Embryo Precardiac Mesoderm, Michelle Lee Formanek

Honors Program Theses

In the chick embryo, homocysteine (Hcys) is teratogenic at elevated levels, causing neural tube defects and cardiac malformations. There is evidence for several Hcys mechanisms of action, including inhibition of cyclin A and cdk2 in the cell cycle, increasing cytosolic calcium levels, and acting as a calcium chelator within adhesion molecules. Elevated Hcys also promotes detachment of endothelial cells, increases migration and proliferation of trunk neural crest cells, and acts as an antagonist to the NMDA receptor that mediates sympathetic pathways to the cardiovascular system. Elevated Hcys' effects on the cell cycle, intracellular and blood calcium levels, and cell proliferation …

The Effect Of Elevated Homocysteine On The Expression Of Cadherins 6b, 7, And 11 In Migrating Neural Crest Cells Of Chick Embryos, Chelsea L. Reinhard

Honors Program Theses

Following neurulation in the chick embryo, the pleuripotent neural crest cells (NCC) migrate from the dorsal neural tube to form a variety of tissues, including the dorsal root ganglia, craniofacial cartilage, melanocytes, and the adrenal medullae. Type II cadherins, calcium-dependent mesenchymal cell adhesion molecules, are expressed in NCCs prior to and during migration, including a period of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Among teratogenic substances known to cause congenital malformations, including heart and neural tube defects, which involve NCCs, homocysteine (Heys) is a natural blood amino acid known to disrupt EMT. The purpose of this thesis was to study the effect of …

Assessing The Potential Habitat Value Of Biomass Production Fields For Grassland Birds, Mandy Larson

Honors Program Theses

In this paper, I researched the habitat requirements of grassland birds in general, including an in-depth analysis of the specific habitat requirements of four selected species: Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), Dickcissel (Spiza Americana), Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), and Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis). In the second part of my research, I evaluated three possible scenarios that could be used for biomass production in Iowa and reviewed the methods producers employ in establishing and managing their fields. I evaluated area, species diversity, timing of harvest, edge habitats, and fertilizers/chemicals used during production. Then I compared these three biomass production scenarios to the habitat …

Microarray And Cdna Sequence Analysis Of Transcription During Nerve-Dependent Limb Regeneration, J. R. Monaghan, L. G. Epp, S. Putta, Robert B. Page, J. A. Walker, C. K. Beachy, W. Zhu, G. M. Pao, I. M. Verma, T. Hunter, S. V. Bryant, D. M. Gardiner, T. T. Harkins, S. R. Voss

Biology Faculty Publications (Archived)

Background: Microarray analysis and 454 cDNA sequencing were used to investigate a centuries-old problem in regenerative biology: The basis of nerve-dependent limb regeneration in salamanders. Innervated (NR) and denervated (DL) forelimbs of Mexican axolotls were amputated and transcripts were sampled after 0, 5, and 14 days of regeneration. Results: Considerable similarity was observed between NR and DL transcriptional programs at 5 and 14 days post amputation (dpa). Genes with extracellular functions that are critical to wound healing were upregulated while muscle-specific genes were downregulated. Thus, many processes that are regulated during early limb regeneration do not depend upon nerve-derived factors. …

Pollution Swapping: The Effect Of Phosphorus Sequestration On Denitrification In Wetland Sediments, Nathaniel Femi Adegboyega

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Surface water quality is currently one of the most important environmental issues facing the state of Iowa since the ecological and recreational health of water bodies are threatened by non-point pollution. Most of Iowa's lakes are polluted because of their high concentration of nutrients, often phosphorus (P), which leads to excessive algal growth (eutrophication). To prevent eutrophication, it is necessary to prevent P from entering surface waters or to sequester (make unavailable to algae) the P that is already in the water body. One method to achieve this is to introduce substances that can tightly fix P (sorption).

Previous studies …

Resistance To And Virulence Of Fusarium Verticillioides, Tracy Lynn Bruns

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The filamentous fungus Fusarium verticillioides is plant pathogen that is responsible for billions of dollars in crop loss world wide. Fusarium verticillioides is of concern as it causes serious infections in maize and other agronomically important crop plants worldwide. Toxins produced by this fungus make grains from infected crops unusable. Plant resistance (or lack thereof) to disease is and has been for centuries a problem in agricultural productivity. Recent advances in the understanding of plant disease resistance promises to allow us to discover ways to counter the invasive properties of Fusarium verticillioides. Currently, very little is known about the virulence …

The Effects Of Varying Seeding Rates Of Bouteloua Curtipendula And Mowing On Native Plant Establishment In A New Prairie Reconstruction, Ryan Leon Welch

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

A major problem early in prairie reconstruction is weed competition. Research has shown that mowing in the first year can increase establishment and survival of prairie plants. The use of nurse crops (companion crops) has been suggested as an alternative to mowing for weed suppression. The goal of this study was to examine various seeding rates of B. curtipendula, as a nurse crop in mowed and unmowed plots to determine if it suppressed weeds and aided in the establishment of natives. We hypothesized that increasing the seeding rate of B curtipendula will reduce weed growth and promote an increase in …

In Vitro Evaluation Of Bioactive Glass Scaffolds And Modified Bioactive Glasses With An Osteogenic Cell Line, Vernon C. Modglin

Masters Theses

"This investigation consisted of two parts focused on bioactive glasses and scaffolds for in vitro growth of bone cells for tissue engineering and bone repair. The first part involved evaluation of the ability of two new types of porous 13-93 bioactive glass scaffolds to support the growth and differentiation of mouse MLO-AS cells, an established osteogenic cell line used as a model of developing bone tissue. The two scaffold types tested included 13-93 glass fiber and trabecular-like scaffolds seeded with MLO-AS cells and cultured for intervals of 2 to 12 days. Collectively, in vitro results indicate that the 13-93 glass …

Pollen-Based Biome Reconstructions For Latin America At 0, 6000 And 18 000 Radiocarbon Years Ago, Rob A. Marchant, Antoine M. Cleef, Sandy P. Harrison, Henry Hooghiemstra, Vera Markgraf, John H. Van Boxel, Thomas A. Ager, Lucia Almeida, R. Anderson, C. Baied, H. Behling, J. C. Berrio, R. Burbridge, S. Bjorck, R. Byrne, Mark B. Bush, J. Duivenvoorden, J. Flenley, P. De Oliveira, B. Van Geel, K. Graf, W. D. Gosling, S. Harbele, T. Van Der Hammen, B. Hansen, S. Horn, P. Kuhry, M.-.P Ledru, F. Mayle, B. Leyden, S. Lozano-Garcia, A. M. Melief, P. Moreno, N. T. Moar, A. Prieto, G. Van Reenen, M. Salgado-Labouriau, F. Schabitz, E. J. Schreve-Brinkman, M. Wille

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The biomisation method is used to reconstruct Latin American vegetation at 6000±500 and 18 000±1000 radiocarbon years before present (14C yr BP) from pollen data. Tests using modern pollen data from 381 samples derived from 287 locations broadly reproduce potential natural vegetation. The strong temperature gradient associated with the Andes is recorded by a transition from high altitude cool grass/shrubland and cool mixed forest to mid-altitude cool temperate rain forest, to tropical dry, seasonal and rain forest at low altitudes. Reconstructed biomes from a number of sites do not match the potential vegetation due to local factors such as human …

Unique Contractile And Structural Protein Expression In Dog Ileal Inner Circular Smooth Muscle, Thomas J. Eddinger

Biological Sciences Faculty Research and Publications

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that there is heterogeneous expression of contractile and structural proteins between the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the inner and outer circular muscle (ICM and OCM) layers of the ileum. Immunohistochemical staining and quantitation of fresh frozen sections of the dog ileum was performed using protein specific antibodies. Smooth muscle (SM) SMA myosin heavy chain (MHC), α- and γ-SM actin, and vinculin all show greater expression in the ICM relative to the OCM. SMB MHC and fibronectin show the opposite pattern, with greater expression in the OCM relative to the ICM. Differences …

Spectral Reflectance And Digital Image Relations Among Five Aquatic Weeds, James H. Everitt, Kenneth R. Summy, Chenghai Yang

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

This study reports on the use of an artificial quartz halogen lighting source to facilitate the acquisition of spectral light reflectance measurements and digital imaging of invasive aquatic weeds. Spectral leaf or leaf/stem reflectance measurements were made on five aquatic weeds: Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.), hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (L. F.) Royle], parrotfeather [Myriophyllum aquaticum (Vall.), waterhyacinth [Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms], and waterlettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.). Reflectance measurements were studied at five wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum: 450 nm (visible blue), 550 nm (visible green), 650 nm (visible red), 680 nm (visible red edge), and 850 nm (near-infrared). Reflectance values …

Comparison Of Leaf-Clipping And Leaf-Piercing Techniques As Applied To The Seagrass Syringodium Filiforme, Joseph L. Kowalski, Hudson R. Deyoe, Christian P. Krull, Terry C. Allison

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Leaf elongation rates of the seagrass Syringodium filiforme (Kütz., 1860) were assessed at two sites in a subtropical lagoon of Texas on eleven occasions from January 1996 to April 1997 using two methods, clipping and leaf piercing (marking) to estimate leaf growth. Pierced shoots grew at a significantly faster rate than clipped shoots irrespective of site. Clipping underestimated leaf elongation by 30%–38%, although differences at individual sites were as high as 69%–72%. Underestimation of leaf growth rate derived by clipping could be corrected using a site-specific linear regression relationship between leaf growth rates determined by clipping and piercing methods. The …

Tournefortia Hirsutissima (Boraginaceae) New To The Flora Of Texas, Alfred Richardson, Ken King

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Toumefortia hirsutissima (Boraginaceae) is reported for extreme south Texas, a new record for the state of Texas.

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Toumefortia hirsutlssima (Boraginaceae) se cita de! extremo sur de Tejas, es el primer registro para el estado de Tejas.

Great Curassow And Crested Guan Near Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Timothy Brush

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Biology)

Great Curassow (Crax rubra) and Crested Guan (Penelope purpurascens) were rediscovered in the Ciudad Victoria area of southwestern Tamaulipas, Mexico for the first time since 1909. Birds were found in low elevation canyons containing permanent running water, with riparian forest dominated by Montezuma bald-cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) and steep scrub-covered slopes. These records represent the northernmost known points of the ranges of both species. Additional field work will be needed to determine whether these small populations are isolated from the nearest known populations in the El Cielo/Gómez Farías area of southern Tamaulipas.

Substrate And Regulation Of Mitochondrial Μ-Calpain, Aashish Joshi

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

μ -Calpain is localized to the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Apoptosisinducing factor (AIF), which executes caspase-independent cell death, is also localized to the mitochondrial intermembrane space. Following processing at the N-terminus, AIF becomes truncated (tAIF) and is released from mitochondria. The protease responsible for AIF processing has not been established. The same submitochondrial localization of mitochondrial μ-calpain and AIF gives support to the hypothesis that mitochondrial μ-calpain may be responsible for processing AIF. Atractyloside-induced tAIF release in rat liver mitochondria was inhibited by cysteine protease inhibitor MDL28170, but not by calpain inhibitors PD150606 or calpastatin. Moreover, μ-calpain immunoreactivity was difficult to …

A Comparative Study Of Larval Gene Expression Between A Paedomorphic And Metamorphic Species Of Ambystomatid Salamander, Meredith A. Boley

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Ambystoma tigrinum undergoes an obligatory metamorphosis while A. mexicanum fails to metamorphose and exhibits paedomorphosis. While it is clear that salamander paedomorphosis is associated with genetic changes that delay developmental timing, it is not clear when and how these changes manifest during development. It is possible that paedomorphic and metamorphic larvae show equivalent patterns of developmental until late in the larval period, when brain regions become competent to stimulate the release of metamorphic hormones. To test this hypothesis, I compared gene expression patterns between the brains of A. mexicanum and A. t. tigrinum larvae. In support of the developmental equivalence …

Furthering Pharmacological And Physiological Assessment Of The Glutamatergic Receptors At The Drosophila Neuromuscular Junction, Junyoung Lee

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Drosophila larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) serve as a model for synaptic physiology. The molecular sequence of the postsynaptic glutamate receptors has been described; however, the pharmacological profile has not been fully elucidated. Despite the postsynaptic molecular sequence used to classify the receptors as a kainate subtype, they do not respond pharmacologically as such. Kainate does not depolarize the muscle, but dampens evoked EPSP amplitudes. Quantal responses show a decreased amplitude and area under the voltage curve indicative of reduced postsynaptic receptor sensitivity to glutamate transmission. ATPA, a kainate receptor agonist, did not mimic kainate’s action. The metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist …

Antibacterial Activity Of Seed Extracts Of Commercial And Wild Lathyrus Species, Noor Afshan Khan, Sadaf Quereshi, Akhilesh Pandey, Ashutosh Srivastava

Turkish Journal of Biology

Butanolic extract of seeds from 2 different Lathyrus species (Lathyrus ratan [commercial variety] and L. aphaca [wild variety]), were investigated for their in vitro antibacterial activity. The antibacterial activity against plant and human pathogenic bacteria was evaluated on the basis of inhibition zones (IZs) measured by disc diffusion method. The maximum inhibition was shown by L. ratan against the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. L. aphaca seeds also showed inhibition but were inactive against Klebsiella pneumoniae. L. ratan extract was more active than L. aphaca. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values for both the seeds (in …

Cytogenetic Effects Of Fungicide Applications On Meiosis Of Tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum Mill.), İlkay Öztürk Çali

Turkish Journal of Biology

In the present study, the cytogenetic effects of the fungicide Agri Fos 400 (400 g/l mono- and di-potassium phosphonate) on meiosis of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Family: Solanaceae) were studied. The fungicide was applied to tomatoes grown in greenhouse conditions at the dosage (400 ml/100 l water) recommended by the manufacturing company and double the recommended dosage (800 ml/100 l water). All dosages of the fungicide Agri Fos 400 caused various abnormalities in meiosis when compared with the control. This situation could lead to a decrease in the productivity of fruits.