Biology Commons^™

Studies On The Effect Of Aeration On Spore Germination, Mary Jane Wilson

Biology ETDs

Bacterial spores are refractile bodies formed within vegetative cells, generally of the genera Bacillus and Clostridium. Spores have also been reported in certain cocci, spirilla, and Azotobacter, although their kinship to spores of Bocillus and Clostridium is not well understood (Robinow, 1960). The spore is characterized by its refractility, impermeability to basic dyes, and increased resistance to heat, chemicals, radiation (Vinter, 1961), enzymes, and freezing (Murrell, 1961b). The spore is also well defined by its mode of formation, its peculiar structure, and its unique chemical composition.

The possibility that biological contamination in the form of spores might seriously confuse the …

A Microbiological Evaluation Of A Laminar Down-Flow Hood, Robert Henry Staat

Biology ETDs

An Envirco Model DF-400 laminar down flow hood with an exhaust HEPA filter adaptation was tested for its efficiency by using Bacillus subtilis var. niger as an indicator organism. The experimental emphasis was on the bacterial spore penetration of the frontal barrier and of the exhaust system. Interior and exterior challenges were made. The interior challenge utilized two heights and progressed from the front of the hood to the rear. Bacterial migration on the hood surface, surface impingement, ambient air conditions, and exhaust air were checked. All ambient air sampling was done with Andersen samplers. The exterior challenge consisted of …

The Effects Of Coelomic Fluid And Isotonic Homogenates Of The Freshwater Bryozoan Lophopodella Carteri On Fish Tissue, Roger H. Meacham

Master's Theses

A study was made to determine if fish tissue was poisoned by the coelomic fluid extracted from the common coelomic cavity of colonies of the freshwater bryozoan, Lophopodella carteri (Hyatt). Additional studies were made of fish tissues, in vivo and in vitro, when exposed to homogenates of crushed colonies of L. carteri in isotonic medium.

The fish exposed to the coelomic fluid did not show any signs of respiratory distress and therefore the poisonous quality must be located elsewhere in the bryozoan. The homogenates were determined to be poisonous as fishes exposed to a 3.0% solution were killed within an …

A Comparative Study Of The Sulfhydryl Groups In The Gastrocnemius Of The Normal And X-Irradiated Pet Mouse, Robert Edward Shervette

Master's Theses

It has been recognized that hyperpigmentation of the skin is the result of eliminating the. -SH inhibition when treatment is by x-irraidiation. The results of a. study by fieams and Schaeffer indicate : a progressive increase of melanocytes in the skin with an increasing dosage of x-irradiation. However, it was also noted that the effect of x-irradiatin on the gastrocnemius of the PET mouse resulted in a decrease in the number of intramuscular melanocytes. The present study was designed to determine whether the changes in the x-irradiated muscle is related to possible changes in -SH concentration.The technique employed is a …

The Ultrastructure Of The Vibratory Muscle Of Crotalus Horridus, Louis Pastore

Master's Theses

A comparison of the vibratory and epaxial muscles of Crotalus horridus horridus Linnaeus wa smade. muscle fibers, fibrils, filaments, mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum were described in this study. The sarcomeres of the epaxial muscle were almost three times the length of those of the vibratory muscle. The A band was observed to be about twice the length of the I band in the vibratory muscle. As seen in cross section the vibratory muscle had fibrils arranged in discrete packets with a limited number of thick myofilaments. In contrast, the fibrils of epaxial muscle were less conspicuously separated from each other …

Periosteal Circulation And Its Contribution To The Nutrition Of Compact Bone, Jean Elaine Tassell

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

[Abstract Not Included]

Purification And Properties Of Triosephosphate Isomerase From Selected Chlorophyta, John C. Meeks

All Master's Theses

It is the purpose of this study to purify and investigate some of the properties of triosephosphate isomerase from two unicellular green algae 1 Ankistrodesmus Braunii and Scenedesmus acuminatus, and one filamentous green alga, Chara sp.

Development And Vasculature Of The Flowers Of Lophotocarpus Calycinus And Sagittaria Latifolia (Alismaceae), Robert B. Kaul

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

The development of the bisexual flower of Lophotocarpus calycinus and of the unisexual flowers of Sagittaria latifolia has been observed. In all cases floral organs arise in acropetal succession. In L. calycinus, after initiation of the perianth, the first whorl of stamens to form consists of six stamens and is ordinarily followed by two alternating whorls of six stamens each. The very numerous carpels are initiated spirally. In the male flower of S. latifolia the androecium develops in spiral order. A few rudimentary carpels appear near the floral apex after initiation of the stamens. There are no staminodia. The female …

An Investigation Of The Protein Quality Of Several Protein Materials, Marvin Eugene Buck

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Comparative Osteology Of The Trunk Skeletons Of Three Species Of Paralichthys, Family Bothidae, From North Carolina, William Marion Hall

Master's Theses

Paralichthys albigutta Jordan and Gilbert, the gulf flounder, which occurs over sand bottoms, and Paralichthys let:nostigma Jordan and Gilbert, the southern flounder,which occurs over mud bottoms , are southern species with ranges extending into the Gulf of Mexico.Paralichthys dentatus, the summer flounder, is tho northern species and is tolerant of several types of bottoms but is most frequently found over sand or hard bottoms. The ranges of the three species overlap in an area along the eastern coast of the United States from central North Carolina to near Jacksonville, Florida. The flounders are closely related and unless the pig­ment pattern …

A Study Of Hybridization And Behavioral Characters In Percina Notogramma (Rany And Hubbs) And Percina Peltata (Stauffer), Family Percidae, Jules J. Loos

Master's Theses

In view of the close phylogenetic relationship between the two sym­patric species of darters, Percina notogramma (Raney and Hubbs) and Percina peltata (Stauffer), placed in the subgenus Alvordius by Bailey and Gosline (1955), it is of interest to compare them in more detail than has been done in the past. Percina notograrnma occurs only in the Chesapeake Drainage in Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia whereas P. peltata ranges from Virginia to New York. Adequate comparisons of their external. morphological characters have been presented by Raney and Hubbs (1948) in their original description of P. notogramma. Supplementary data were provided by …

Electrical Response Of Frog Skin Epidermis To Sodium Ions, James H. Martin

Master's Theses

Presently, the theory is held that the total frog skin potential (P.D.) is generated within the epidermis at two borders, the "outer border" and the "inner border, " which are said to be specifically permeable to Na⁺ and K⁺, respec­tively. This thesis concerns itself only with the electrical response of the "outer border" to varying Na⁺ concentrations in the solutions at the epidermis, [Na⁺]_o. Contrary to expectation from the Nernst equation, the P.D. changes by only 17 to 35 mV, instead of theoretically 58 mV upon a 10 fold change in [Na …

Respiratory Activity Of Vibratory, Tail Epaxial And Midbody Expaxial Muscle In Crotalus Horridus, Aqkistrodon Contortrix, And Thamophis Sirtalis., James E. Forbes

Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine if the muscles associated with tail vibration in snakes are physiologically specialized for vibration. Timber rattle­ snakes (Crotalus horridus) , copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix) and garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) were used. The copperhead represented a species which vibrates its tail but has no vibratory apparatus comparable to that of the rattlesnake. The garter snake does not vibrate its tail. A comparison of respiratory activities was made between the vibratory and tail epaxial muscle and the mid­ body epaxial muscle within and between the three species. Oxygen consumption of teased muscle fibers and muscle …

Evaluation Of The Short Sternum As Diagnostic Evidence For Trisomy-E, Frank George Deeter

All Master's Theses

This study has demonstrated that a reliable technique for determining short sternums has been developed. Evidence for its reliability is given by two distinct and highly significant correlations.

Aspects Of The Life History And Distribution Of The Jemez Mountains Salamander, Plethodon Neomexicanus, Douglas P. Reagan

Biology ETDs

Plethodon neomexicanus, the Jemez Mountains Salamander, is endemic to the Jemez Mountains where it is restricted to talus slopes that are forested and shaded and that have suitable conditions of moisture and temperature. During the summer of 1966 four new localities were found, yielding information on the combination of factors which favor the presence of this salamander. Its habitat is at elevations of 7900-9200 ft within the upper montane forest of the Rocky Mountains. In the Jemez Mountains this forest exists at these elevations only on shaded north-facing slopes or in deep, shaded canyons. The presence of volcanic talus provides …

The Effects Of A Nerve Growth-Promoting Protein On The Integument Of Pet Mice, Craig Bauman Satterlee

Master's Theses

A factor which specifically stimulates the growth of sensory and sympathetic nerve cells has been under investigation for a number of years. This factor, originally isolated in 1951, from mouse sarcomas 37 and 180, was named the "nerve growth factor". Its action was first shown in vivo by inoculating the sarcoma into chick embryos and subsequently in vitro by culturing chick ganglia and mouse sarcoma together. In the years immediately following the initial discovery, much more potent sources of NGF were found in the salivary glands and salivary secretions of a variety of species. These include rattle snake venom, and …

Structure Of Two Cover Types Of Southern Oak Woodland In California, Henry A. Zuill

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The southern oak woodland of southern California was analysed relative to the local distribution of the trees, density per acre, relative density, relative dominance, percentage of trees growing in close association to boulders, percentage of trees forked below breast height, frequencies of tree diameter and percentage of cover. These characteristics, with the exception of cover, were derived from measurements made using the wandering quarter method. Cover was computed from measurements made on aerial photographs.

A test for homogeneity applied to the distance measurements divided the woodland into two groups relative to local distribution. Both woodlands are non-random with one (dense …

Nutritional Relationship Between The Copepod Parasite Charopinus Dentatus (Wilson) (Lernaeopodidae) And The Skate Host, Raja Binoculata Girard, Donald W. Rigby

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Of 1,798 parasitic copepods, Charopinus dentatus (Wilson), collected from the skate host, Raja, binoculata Girard, 1,615 (89.87.) were obtained from the mucosa lining the mouth and pharynx. None were collected from the gill filaments. Host tissue damage was not seen grossly or microscopically around the attached parasite nor did the gut contents of female parasites give evidence microscopically or chemically that they are blood feeders. Green material from the gut of female parasites was made up of cell-like structures occurring singly and in clumps. Spectrophotometrically this material demonstrated spectral maxima (670, 410 'FM) similar to maxima of degradative products of …

The Nitrogen Nutrition Of Emmonsia (Moniliales, Aleurismaceae), Gary L. Bradley

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The questions posed in this research concerned both the comparison of the nitrogen nutrition between Emmonsia parva and Emmonsia crescens and the comparative nitrogen utilization within the species. This fungus is a parasite with a rather uncomplicated life-cycle. Thus it lends itself well to study of the host-parasite relationship at the molecular level. This research contributes toward that long-range goal.

Five replicate floating cultures of each species were grown in 125 ml Erlenmeyer flasks containing a chemically defined basal medium plus one of the 29 nitrogen sources tested. Utilization of a particular source was determined by dry weight. The results …

Carbon Dioxide Fixation In Schistosoma Mansoni, Clint Earl Carter

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Adults of the blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni were perfused from the hepatic portal system of CF1 female mice sixty to seventy days post infection. The worms were then incubated in Eagle’s minimal essential medium with glutamate and 0.03 mg/100 ml of nonlabelled aspartic acid. To this medium was added 10 μc of either NaH¹⁴0₃, glucose-UC¹⁴ or aspartate-4-C¹⁴. The worms were found to fix carbon from the NaH¹⁴0₃ and to incorporate the glucose and aspartate. The amount of activity recovered in five different chemical fractions after two hours incubation was determined …

The Effect Of Schistosoma Mansoni On Free Amino Acid Levels In Mice, Richard D. Tkachuck

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Free amino acid levels in the blood plasma of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907, were measured at 3, 6, and 9 weeks post-infection with an automatic amino acid analyzer. Significant differences between experimental and control animals occurred at all three time periods. At 3 weeks, asparagine, alanine, citrulline, proline, methionine, and threonine levels all were lower in the infected animals. At 6 weeks, four differences were noted. Alpha-amino-n-butyric acid, ornithine, lysine, and histidine all had lower values in infected animals. At 9 weeks there were 12 differences. Tyrosine, phenylalanine, threonine, serine, proline, citrulline, glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, and …

Studies Of Sodium-22 Distribution During Hypothermia In Rattus Rattus, David N. Danforth Jr.

Biology ETDs

The response of regional circulation to reduced body temperature was studied in the white laboratory rat Rattus rattus, using injected ²²Na as a tracer. Observations made on equilibration of plasma and tissue radiosodium, in normo- and hypothermic animals, provided evidence as to possible mechanisms responsible for transport of sodium at this interface. Evidence is also presented as to disposition of sodium in tissues during the first biological half-life.

Circulation to the peritoneal cavity is reduced to 50%, and to skin and bone approximately 10% and 25% of normothermic values respectively at body temperatures of 16-18 C. The appearance of …

Trypanosomes Found In Four Species Of Peromyscus, Alonzo J. Drummond Jr.

Biology ETDs

Blood of 311 mice belonging to the genus Peromyscus was examined for the presence of trypanosomes. All four species, P. boylii, P. truei, P. leucopus, and P. maniculatus, were found to be infected with the hemoflagellate Trypanosoma peromysci. Mice of the species P. boylii and P. truei were found to have the highest percentage infection, 28.1% and 25.9%, respectively. The other two species, P. leucopus and P. maniculatus, demonstrated lower infection percentages, 7.9% and 11.4%, respectively.

Mice of the subadult and young adult age group were found to have a higher percentage of infection than did mice of the juvenile …

Studies Of Sodium-22 In Active And Hibernating Citellus Lateralis, Rex H. Howard

Biology ETDs

Interest in hibernation has risen in past years. With new techniques we are now better able to observe and evaluate some of hibernation's mysteries. Investigation of electrolyte metabolism and its regulatory systems at low temperatures may provide clues to the adaptive mechanism of hibernation. With sodium as the principal extracellular cation of the mammalian organism, information about the above might be gained from studies utilizing radiosodium (22Na) and isotope tracer techniques. Radiosodium studies were therefore initiated for several reasons: (i) an interest in hibernation, (ii) an interest in factors regulating electrolyte metabolism, (iii) an attempt to define the temperature dependent …

Aquatic Phycomycetes Of Lily Lake, Hugh Macmillan Rooney

Theses and Dissertations

Lily Lake, a subalpine lake in the Wasatch National Forest Tl5, R9E, S31, of the Uinta Mountain Region, Utah, is located about one-half mile west of Trial Lake at an elevation of 10,000 feet. This Lake, which is one of the acidic, cold, lentic bogs characteristic of this area, has been selected for a taxonomic and seasonal distribution study of acquatic phycomycetes. This study is a beginning to our knowledge of the role of the fungi in the hydrobiology of Lily Lake and will supply the first information on record of the water molds of this area. The study identifies …

Factors Influencing Population Growth Of Tribolium Brevicornis In The Laboratory, Amin Gulla

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

To determine the effect of the factors of the environment (temperature, relative humidity, and food) on the population growth of Tribolium brevicornis, different levels of temperatures from 17.5°C - 37.5°C were used. Effect of these IeveIs of temperatures was tested upon both pre-embryonic and post-embryonic development. No hatching occurred at 17.5°C, but the threshold temperature (the minimum temperature for the development) was just before 17.5°C. The optimum temperature for the embryonic development was found to be between 32.5°C - 35°C.

With the use of the saturated salt solution according to Buxton (1931) and Buxton and Melanby (1934), certain humidity …

An Examination Of A Putative System For The In Vitro Synthesis Of Drosophila Tryptophan Pyrrolase, John P. Phillips

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A system, reported by Morrison (1964), for the in vitro synthesis of Drosophila tryptophan pyrrolase has been critically studied. This putative system is based on the addition of a Drosophila "RNA" extract to a Drosophila cell-free protein synthesizing system; the synthesized enzyme is then allowed to catalyze a specific reaction, the product of which is measured by direct adsorption.

The results of this study present a three-fold argument against the interpretation of synthesis of tryptophan pyrrolase in the Morrison in vitro system: (1) RNA from a null-allele, v^36f, stimulated the same tryptophan pyrrolase "activity" in the in vitro …

The Ecology Of The Black-Bellied Tree Duck In Southern Texas, Eric George Bolen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The black-bellied tree duck (Dendracygna autumnalis) is one of eight tree ducks (whistling ducks) in the genus Dendracygna. This group shares enough characteristics--reticulated tarsus and symmetrical syrinx structure, among others--with the swans and geese to warrant a common subfamily, Anserinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae. DeIacour and Mayr (1945) make a tribal distinction, however, between the tree ducks (Dendracygnini) and the swans and geese (Anserini) based, in part, an differences in size, vertebrae number, and downy plumage. These same authors remark that the tree ducks are the least known of the waterfowl largely because there are no …

A Study Of The Genus Phacelia In New Mexico, Helen M. Bobisud

Biology ETDs

From Introduction:

Phacelia, the largest genus in the family Hydrophyllaceae, consists of some 150 to 200 species. The genus is heterogeneous and has undergone several revisions of both infrageneric organization and species classification. The type species is P. secunda J. F. Gmelin, Syst. 2:330. 1791.

In 1789. Jussieu assigned the genus to what is now the family Boraginaceae. Brown (see Edwards, 1817) assigned Phacelia to the order Hydrophylleae. In 1875 Asa Gray united the order Hydrophylleae with the family Hydroleae and formed the family Hydrophyllaceae. He divided the genus Phacelia into seven subgenera based on characteristics of ovules, seeds, and …

Crab Spiders (Araneida, Thomisidae) Associated With Plants In Central New Mexico, Daniel T. Jennings

Biology ETDs

A total of 2,034 crab spiders, representing 1,899 juveniles and 135 adults, were collected chiefly by sweeping pure and mixed stands of plants in central New Mexico. The spiders collected belong to 24 taxa and include 17 species, Plant associations were determined for most of the species and compared with previously published records. The species of crab spiders collected seem to occur more frequently on grasses and composites than on any other kinds of plants. Juvenile crab spiders were found to have less plant specificity than do mature crab spiders. Six species, Coriarachne aemula, Misumenops californicus, Philodromus droseroides, Rhysodromus histiro …