Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Predicting Immunization Status At Arrival In Tennessee Stocker Calves, Claire E. Hunkler

Masters Theses

Bovine respiratory disease is a multifaceted disease with agent, host, and environmental factors. Stocker calves are at high risk of contracting the disease through many stressors like weaning, transportation, commingling, etc. The purpose of this project was to test if externally observed physical characteristics of calves on arrival at a stocker facility can be used to predict calfhood vaccination status determined based on antibody titer levels. Knowledge of highly correlated characteristics could allow stocker operators to reduce the occurrence of BRD through targeted management strategies, thus lowering morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs. Ear notches, blood, and visual characteristics were collected …

Comparison Of The Humoral Immune Response Following Both Bacterial Challenge And Rnai Of Major Factors On Proliferation Of Bartonella Quintana In The Human Louse, Jake Zina

Masters Theses

Human body lice, Pediculus humanus humanus, and head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, have been hematophagous ectoparasites of humans for thousands of years. Despite being ecotypes, only body lice are known to transmit bacterial diseases to humans, and it appears that lower humoral and cellular immune responses allow body lice to possess a higher vector competence. We previously observed that the transcription level of the defensin 1 gene was up-regulated only in head lice following oral challenge of Bartonella quintana, a causative agent of trench fever, and also that body lice excreted more viable B. quintana in their …

Effects Of 17Β Estradiol In The Metabolism And Morphology Of Bluegill Sunfish (Lepomis Macrochirus), Neeta Parajulee Karki

Masters Theses

Fish natural habitats are increasingly contaminated with various estrogenic compounds, including 17β estradiol (E2). This compound causes adverse effects on the reproductive system of male fish; however, the effects of E2 on other aspects of fish metabolism, morphology and histopathological changes in internal organs are not well known. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of E2 exposure on the basal and stressed metabolic rate, morphological changes in body shapes, and histological changes in the liver tissues of sunfish species. Fish were held individually in ten gallon tanks under two treatments of 40 and 80 ng/L and …

Follicular Dynamics In Insulin Resistant Mares, Julio Cesar Prado

Masters Theses

Obesity and insulin resistance have been linked to prolonged interovulatory period, aberrations in the estrous cycle, and continuous reproductive activity during the non-breeding season. EMS has been determined to influence the intrafollicular environment of mare ovaries. In humans, insulin resistance has been linked to polycystic ovaries as part of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). A study was conducted to determine 1) the impact of insulin resistance on follicle growth and size at ovulation, and 2) whether predicted ovulatory follicles respond to hCG administration in Insulin-resistant (IR) mares. Mares were selected for the study based on insulin sensitivity and separated into an …

The Human Intruder Test: An Anxiety Assessment In Rhesus Macaques (Macaca Mulatta), Emily J. Peterson

Masters Theses

The human intruder test (HIT) is a noninvasive tool widely used for assessing anxiety in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). This thesis explores the HIT procedure and applies it to a population of monkeys with a self-injurious behavioral pathology. Individual variation on this test can be used to assess anxiety and temperament. The first experiment of this thesis applied two different procedures of the HIT to 17 monkeys at UMass. Monkeys displayed little response to the intruder, and no significant differences were detected for the two procedures. To determine whether these responses were unique to the UMass monkeys, their …

Regional Differences In Adipose Tissue Of The Sinclair Minipig, Suzanne Lauren Booker

Masters Theses

Adipose tissue is an endocrine organ, and its homeostatic mechanisms in normal weight, overweight and obese subjects must be elucidated. We sought to determine the basal adipose tissue biology of visceral (VIF) and subcutaneous (SQF) fat depots in 8 month old Sinclair minipigs, an animal that has been shown to be physiologically similar to humans.

Metabolic analysis showed a decrease in LDL, white blood cells (WBC), and lymphocyte percentages as the minipigs aged from 6 to 8 months (p <0.0001 and = 0.0046 and 0.0165 respectively). There were no significant changes in triglycerides, HDL, VLDL, and neutrophil percentages. There was a trend in insulin increase (P=0.0722).

Microarray analysis was performed to determine transcriptome differences between VIF and SQF. When VIF was compared to SQF, expression of a …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Aerobic Dance To Water Aerobic Training On Maximal Oxygen Consumption, Terri L. Bedford, Tamara A. Dusterwinkle, Darcy J. Hoppman

Masters Theses

Water aerobics is one mode of exercise that is gaining popularity. Water aerobics allows adults who participate in an exercise program to improve their cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this study was to determine if water aerobic training is as effective as land dance aerobic training in improving cardiorespiratory fitness in sedentary healthy adults. Eighteen subjects participated in this study; nine in dance aerobics and nine in water aerobics. Before and after eight weeks of training, subjects performed a graded maximal exercise test on a Schwinn Air-Dyne while maximal oxygen uptake was measured via a Beckman Metabolic Cart. ANCOVA was …

The Effect Of High Intensity Exercise Training Verses Low Intensity Exercise Training On Fractionated Plasma High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, Teresa L. Spate

Masters Theses

Exercise training is thought to result in an elevation of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and the cardioprotective subfraction HDL{dollar}\sb2{dollar}. Twenty-five healthy women (39 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 7.8 yrs; 70 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 14 kg) walked two miles three times per week for 12 weeks to examine the effect of exercise intensity on the HDL profile. The L.I. group (N = 12) walked at 60% of the heart rate reserve (HRR) and the H.I. group (N = 13) walked at 80% HRR both maintaining the prescribed distance and frequency. A 22% increase in total HDL (from 32 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 6 to 39 {dollar}\pm{dollar} 8 mg/dl) and a …

Effects Of Methylxanthines On Newborn Rat Respiration, Craig Gatto

Masters Theses

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

The Effects Of Xanthine And Adenosine Analogs On Rat Pup Diaphragmatic Contractility, Liam C. Farrell

Masters Theses

Methylxanthines are commonly used in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as asthma, apnea of prematurity and Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Recently, certain methylxanthines have been found to potentiate the contraction of the diaphragm and increase contraction strength of the fatigued diaphragm. The mechanism of action of the methylxanthines is unknown. Three theories have been proposed but each has its supportive and negative points. One theory is that methylxanthines inhibit cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) which facilitates contraction by increasing cyclic AMP levels in the cell. Another theory is that methylxanthines antagonize adenosine, thus blocking the adenosine-induced inhibition of contraction. The third theory …

Observations On Relationships Between Limb Measurements And Mode Of Locomotion In Malaysian Turtles, Duayne Nyckel

Masters Theses

Twelve Genera (spanning three Families) of Malaysian Turtles were studied to determine whether bone lengths could be correlated to mode of locomotion. Ulna, humerus, tibia, femur, coracoid (among others) were measured and results were presented graphically. Five of the genera were observed singly in a large aquarium. Data were recorded on the amount of time each spent in different locomotor modes. Both limb length data and aquarium observations suggest that turtles can be grouped into three main locomotor habits (i.e. terrestrial walking, bottomwalking, and swimming). The terrestrial group includes the genera, Geochelone, Kinixys, and Gopherus. Bottomwalkers include …

Effects Of Indomethacin On Gastric Secretion And Duodenal Ulcer Formation In Bile Duct-Ligated Rats, Diane M. Przewozniak

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Effect Of Cold Exposure On Serum Levels Of Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin In Male And Virgin Female Rats, Erik R. Larsen

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Studies On The Grooming Behavior And Morphology Of The Freshwater Prawn, Palaemonetes Kadiakensis, Bruce E. Felgenhauer

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Parasites Of Channel Catfish In Illinois Hatcheries, Charles Dale Meryman

Masters Theses

Ninety channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were trapped during September 1973 through April 1974 at three hatcheries located at Worden, Centralia, and Kinmundy, Illinois. All were examined for parasites and 87 were parasitized. The trematodes Azygia angusticauda and Neascus sp. were found in the gastrointestinal system and Cleidodiscus floridanus and Dactylogyrus sp. were attached to the gills. Five cestode genera, including Bothriocephalus sp., Corallobothrium giganteum, Eubothrium sp., Haplobothrium sp., and Proteocephalus ambloplitis were present. Rhabdochona sp. was the only nematode found. Protozoans; Costia sp., Myxobolus sp., Scyphidia macropodia and Trichodina discoidea and one kind of glochidium were observed. …

Treflan And The Oxygen Consumption Of Green Sunfish (Lepomis Cyanellus), Barbara Jo Warner

Masters Theses

Oxygen consumption rates of 51 green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus, Rafinesque) were monitored over five hours exposure to Treflan E.C. concentrations of 0, 0.32, 0.56, 1.0, and 2.0 ppm. There was a great variation in the responses of the fish at each concentration; and Student's t-tests revealed no significant differences. However, graphs of the mean hourly oxygen consumption rates showed certain trends. During the fifth hour of exposure, there appears to be an acclimation to the Treflan at concentrations of 0.32 and 0.56 ppm; but no such acclimation at the higher concentrations of 1.0 and 2.0 ppm. Hourly oxygen …

Pesticide Residues In The Illinois Wild Turkey, John M. Bridges

Masters Theses

Adipose tissue from 55 turkeys, killed during the 1974 hunting season in southern Illinois, was grouped by age and location of the birds, and the pesticide concentrations in them were determined by gas/liquid chromatography. Twelve different pesticides were identified in the samples with only four, total DDT, heptachlor epoxide, toxaphene, and linuron, being present in all samples. Concentrations ranged from 0.02 ppm to 0.88 ppm.

The Effects Of Crowding On The Diurnal Ascorbic Acid Levels Of Albino Rats, Mary Jo Barr

Masters Theses

The adrenal physiology of the albino rat was studied through the measurement of adrenal ascorbic acid levels. A cyclic phenomenon was observed which follows the diel periodicity of the animal. Ascorbic acid values were found to be characteristically higher in males than in females. A similar difference was also seen in populations divided into young animals (body weight less than 175 grams) and old animals (body weight greater than 175 grams). Crowding, induced by manipulating the area of cage space per gram of body weight, was observed to be a definite stressor and caused the adrenal ascorbic acid levels to …

Seasonal Variation In The Tubular And Interstitial Areas Of The Testes In Sternotherus Odoratus L., Robert Hans Spaet

Masters Theses

Seasonal changes within the tubular and interstitial areas of the testes in Sternotherus odoratus are investigated, histologically and histochemically. Forty specimens were collected in Illinois, Tennessee and Louisiana between May, 1969 and August, 1972.

Many of the histological and macroscopic observations made by Risley (1938) on the spermatogenic cycle of S. odoratus in Michigan are confirmed. Contrary to his findings, fluctuations in interstitial cell nuclear diameters are observed during spermatogenesis. Greatest diameters coincide with what Risley has considered " . . . period of most active breeding." Sertoli cell nuclear diameters undergo similar fluctuations being greatest during spring breeding and …

The Effects Of Acute Stress On Adrenal Ascorbic Acid Levels, Robert Joseph Collier

Masters Theses

The diurnal rhythm of adrenal ascorbic acid (DAR) displays an inverse relationship to the diurnal rhythm of circulating levels of plasma corticosteroids. Alloxan monohydrate, 175 mg/kg body weight was given subcutaneously to albino rats to determine the effect of the diabetic state on the DAR. A total of 200 female albino rats were divided into two study groups. Study Group I was composed of 150 animals divided into populations of 15, each including 3 controls. Study Group II was composed of populations of 5, each group containing all controls or all alloxinated rats. The populations of 15 were sacrificed at …

A Study Of Thoracic Skeletomusculature In Peracarida (Crustacea), Donna R. Gill

Masters Theses

Two species of peracarid malacostracans, a mysid, Neomysis americana, and an oniscid isopod, Trachelipus cf. rathkei, were used to study the skeletomusculature system. Serial sections, whole mounts, and gross dissections were made. Coxal promotors and remotors and basal adductors and abductors were the muscle groups examined.

The promotor and remotor muscles of N. americana were found to be numerous, well developed, taking origin primarily from the dorsal thoracic wall, and extending nearly ventrally to insert in the coxa; the adductor muscle and two abductor muscles are weakly developed. The coxa in T. cf. rathkei is incorporated completely …

The Comparative Morphology Of The Female Gonads Of Two Members Of The Nematode Order Tylenchida, Owen G. Coker

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Survey Of The Incidence Of Salmonellosis In Three Groups Of Wild Animals, James T. Heiberger

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.