A unique, previously undescribed Gram-negative bacterium was isolated from several soils in Texas and extensively characterized in this study. The cells measured 1-2 by 4-6 μm. The distinguishing characteristic of the bacterium is the extraordinary capsular material which surrounds the cells. The new isolates are aerobic, mesophilic, non motile and have the ability to utilize a variety of organic compounds as the sole source of carbon and energy. The organism grows optimally at 30° C and the optimal pH lies between 7.0-8.0. The isolates produce catalase but oxidase is not produced. They do not produce indole or hydrogen sulfide. The organism can hydrolyze gelatin and Tween 80 but not starch, esculin and casein. The major cellular fatty acid is anteiso 15:0. The guanine and cytosine content is 58-62 mole%. The organism's taxonomic position was further established by specific gene probes, 16S rRNA homology, DNA homology and "ribotyping." These data showed that it was most closely related to members of the genus Paenibacillus, although somewhat divergent from other species classified in this genus. After careful evaluation of the results obtained during this study, it is proposed that this unique bacterium be named Paenibacillus velasolus sp. nov.

Previously, Whipp et. al. (J. Appl. Physiol.: Respirat. Environ. Exerc. Physiol. 50(1):217-221, 1981) demonstrated the feasibility of determining four parameters of aerobic function, identified as maximum oxygen uptake (μVO_2), VO_2 at anaerobic threshold (θan), the time constant for oxygen uptake kinetics (rVO_2) and work efficiency (η), using a short duration ramped bicycle ergometer exercise test. Because of the importance of being able to measure these parameters on a variety of measurement instruments a short duration ramping treadmill protocol has been developed. The ability of this protocol to determine the four aerobic parameters has been validated against conventional methods. The results of this investigation indicate that μVO_2, θan, rVO_2 and, η may be obtained from a single, short-duration ramping treadmill test.

The effects of single injections and daily oral administration of ethanol on plasma levels of ACTH, beta endorphin, and corticosterone in response to cold stress were examined. The long-term experimental animals were given 0.25 ml of 28% ethanol or water orally once a day, five days a week, for fourteen months. Plasma levels of ACTH, beta endorphin, and corticosterone were lower in alcohol-treated rats as compared with water-treated rats when exposed to cold stress. The effects of a single injection of ethanol significantly elevated plasma levels of all three hormones. Mortality in sham-treated males was higher than ethanol-treated.

Biological diversity is a key component in assessing ecosystem health. Alteration, degradation and loss of habitat due to human influence is currently the primary stressor resulting in decreases in diversity. Reliable assessment of large areas in terms of biological integrity are needed for conservation and preservation efforts. Remotely sensed data provide an integrated view of reflected electromagnetic energy over large areas of the earth. These energy patterns provide unique spectral signatures which can be correlated to land cover and habitat. This research sought relationships between traditional ecological measures and information gathered from satellite digital imagery. Reliable interpretation of earth surface characteristics relies largely on accurate rectification to a map projection and subsequent thematic classification. Use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for rectification was superior than digitizing topographical maps. Differentially corrected GPS locations provided optimum rectification with SPOT satellite imagery while marginally better rectifications were obtained for Landsat MSS imagery using uncorrected GPS positions. SPOT imagery provided more accurate land cover classifications than did MSS. Detection of temporal land cover change using MSS imagery was hampered by confusion among intermediate successional classes. Confusion between upland and bottomland forest classes occurred with both SPOT and MSS. Landscape analyses using thematic maps …

A publication by the National Academy of Sciences, USA (1979) outlined some of the research need for a great variety of economically important woody species whose remaining genetic resources need urgently to be collected and conserved. A viable regeneration system was established via tissue and cell suspension culture for Albizia falcataria and A. lebbeck, two important wood yielding leguminous tree species. The culture medium was standardized after several trials to obtain callus from the leaflet explants of these two tree species. The optimum use of casein hydrolysate (w/v) and coconut milk (v/v) in addition to 6-Benzylaminopurine and Indole-3-butyric acid could induce morphogenesis and somatic embryogenesis in the cultured tissue. This reports the first observation on somatic embryogenesis ofA. lebbeck using leaflets as the explants. Scanning Electron Microscopy and histological studies were done on the different stages plant development following standard techniques. Embryogenesis in suspension culture followed regeneration of plantlets in A. lebbeck. In A.falcaaria the regenerative process followed via organogenesis from the shoot buds developed on the leaf explants. After hardening the regenerated plants were transferred to the greenhouse. Some of the trees grew more than 25 feet tall within a few months outside the greenhouse. Karyotype of the three …

This research utilized population genetic analyses (protein starch-gel electrophoresis and DNA sequencing of the cytochrome b mtDNA gene), host-parasite specificity (lice coevolution), remote sensing of satellite data, and geographic information systems (GIS) to characterize newly discovered populations of pocket gophers (genus: Geomys) in Arkansas. These populations are isolated and occur in seemingly unsuitable habitat in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Analyses of electrophoretic and ectoparasite data suggested the populations in the Ozark Mountains represented isolates allied to Geomys bursarius, a species not known to occur in Arkansas. Comparison of mitochondrial DNA sequence data of the cytochrome b gene with that of other taxa and morphometric analyses confirmed that these populations are most closely allied to G. bursarius occurring to the north in Missouri. Moreover, these mtDNA sequence analyses indicated a degree of differentiation typical of that between other subspecies of pocket gophers. Therefore, these populations represent a distinct genetic entity in an intermediate stage of speciation and should be designated as a new subspecies, Geomys bursarius ozarkensis. Molecular clock analysis revealed a time of lineage divergence for this new subspecies as approximately 511,000 YBP. Due to the isolated nature and limited distribution of this subspecies, an evaluation of critical habitat …

The 96-hr LC50 of cyfluthrin in Pimephales promelas ata temperature of 23*C and a pH of 8 was 1.08 g/L. The toxicity of cyfluthrin was inversely related to temperature and pH. A temperature of 10*C and a pH of 6 significantly decreased the 96-hr LC50 to 0.009 gg/L. Likewise, sublethal exposures to cyfluthrin significantly affected the fathead minnow's ability to tolerate high and low temperatures. Cyfluthrin compromised the fathead minnow's lower temperature tolerance (CTMin) by 60C and the upper temperature tolerance (CTMax) by 20C. Although cyfluthrin may not be present in the environment in large amounts due to its physical and chemical properties, small concentrations ( g/L) may adversely affect fish populations.

This research compares LC50 and LD50 of earthworms, Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia foetida exposed to cadmium nitrate and chlordane using 48-h contact filter paper (FP) and 14-d artificial soil (AS) protocols. Both LC50 and LD50 showed that chlordane was more toxic than cadmium in both species regardless of the exposure. The reference toxicant 2-chloroacetamide using the standardized 48-h FP exposure was used to assess the general response of the earthworm prior to toxicity experiments. A glucose test was developed as an internal standard to assess homogeneity of mixtures among both replicates and dilutions. Accuracy of dilutions is assessed by the slope of a regression line relating nominal dilution to observed internal standard concentration. Precision of replicate preparation is assessed by among replicate variance.

Tetramethylthiuram disulfide (42-S Thiram), a carbamate fungicide was studied for its mutagenic potential on the germ cell stages of wild-type male Drosophila melanogaster. The mutagenicity was tested using the sex-linked recessive lethal assay (SLRL). Any lethals induced in the F2 generation were evidenced by the absence of wild-type males. Although there was an increase in mutation rates in the 42-S Thiram treated wild-type males over the control wild-type males, it was not significantly higher. According to the laboratory conditions in this preliminary study, tetramethylthiuram disulfide failed to produce mutagenic effect.

A novel Gram negative, capsule-forming bacterium was previously isolated in Dr. G. Roland Vela's laboratory. The distribution of this bacterium in soils from various locations was investigated. Soil samples from 188 locations around the world were examined. Isolates of the bacterium were obtained from 50 of these soils, with 48 of the isolates found in soils from the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This suggests that this region is the natural habitat of the bacterium. The other two isolates were obtained from Madrid, Spain and Taipei, Taiwan. None were found in soils from South America or Australia. A lack of variation in morphology and physiological properties in the isolates suggests that a homogeneous population exists, even from widespread geographical locations.

Culture health of Ceriodaphnia dubia was evaluated for organisms cultured using all combinations of three foods and three waters. Criteria used to assess health of cultures included adult and neonate weights, time required to produce first broods, neonate production, adult survival, and resistance to hexavalent chromium. Diet/water combinations which produced the most neonates were not found to produce adults which were more resistant to chromium than those which produced fewer neonates. Of those evaluated, a diet of Selenastrum capricornutum and a yeast-trout chow-cereal leaf mixture was best for culturing and testing Ceriodaphnia. The best synthetic water tested was a mixture of nine parts reconstituted hard water and one part bottled mineral water.

Ancient peoples did not distinguish between philosophy, religion, and science. Scientific truth did not exist apart from divine truth. Any new idea, finding, or theory was assimilated into a monolithic mythological structure. This is one of the causes of the underestimation of ancient science: it is always packaged in a myth - the method of preserving information in an oral culture. The mythological medium allowed the preservation and dissemination of hard-won, empirical, scientific knowledge through generations of preliterate peoples. The context for mythological memorization, or simply tradition, needed to be easily and naturally acquired. The ideal context was the anthropomorphic context, the ontogenic context. This is the Grand Allegory - the anthropomorphization of information. Biomyths are essentially biological texts allegorized in esoteric language.

Concurrent outdoor aquatic 1950 L microcosm and 0.04 ha mesocosm experiments with bluegill sunfish evaluated the ecological impact of cyfluthrin. Cyfluthrin effects were not observed on mesocosm bluegill; a slight decrease in growth was observed in the microcosm bluegill. Otolith weight to length relationships between bluegill size-classes from microcosms, local streams, and a fish hatchery revealed no differences. Our results indicated bluegill predation impacts were slight on benthic invertebrates. Extensive predation on emerging insects was observed. Microcosm bluegill impacts on zooplankton populations followed expected predation effects, resulting in larger populations of smaller taxa. Bluegill functioned as "keystone" predators for microcosm taxa and improved taxa richness for benthic colonizing invertebrates and zooplankton.

Cyanide was rapidly removed when added to culture supernatants of seven different Pseudomonas. The ability to remove cyanide was correlated with the accumulation of α-keto acids (pyruvate and α-ketoglutarate). These compounds react with cyanide forming less toxic cyanohydrins, thus conferring a mechanism for bacterial cyanide tolerance. When added to growth media the α-keto acids were shown also to serve as effective cyanide antagonists. While all bacteria tested accumulated α-keto acids, only those capable of utilizing cyanide as a nutritional nitrogen source were able to metabolize cyanohydrins. In P. fluorescens NCIMB 11764, the same enzyme (cyanide oxygenase) shown previously to be involved in cyanide metabolism appears responsible for cyanohydrin transformation. Keto acid excretion is believed to represent a new mechanism of bacterial cyanide detoxification with further enzymatic metabolism of the cyanohydrins helping to explain how cyanide can satisfy the nitrogen requirement in cyanide-utilizing bacteria.

Three overlapping DNA fragments from the lower operon of Pseudomonas putida TOL plasmid pDK1, covering the xy1IH genes and downstream flanking region, were cloned into pUC19. They include a 2.8 kbp XhoI fragment, a 2.7 kbp PstI fragment and a 2.0 kbp EcoRI-HindIII fragment. They were subjected to DNA sequence analysis. The xy1I (4-oxalocrotonate decarboxylase) and xy1H (4-oxalocrotonate tautomerase) genes were found to possess coding regions of 792 and 189 nucleotides, respectively. A possible transcriptional terminator resembling E. coli rho-independent terminators was identified downstream of the translational stop of xy1H. An additional stem and loop structure was found in the intergenic region between xy1I and xy1H. The individual ORF's of the oxalocrotonate branch (xy1G, xy1I and xy1H) have been cloned into pUC18/19. The expression of the xy1G gene in E. coli was successfully assayed spectrophotometrically.

Experiments were performed to assess the suitability of Rhabditis pellio, a nematode found in earthworms, as a challenge organism for use in development of a biomarker assay to determine the potential of chemicals to suppress the immunocompetence of the non-specific immune system. To accomplish this goal, information on the life cycle of R. pellio was determined; including effects of incubation time and temperature on growth rates; along with information on the immune response elicited in the earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris. Immune parameters measured were coelomocyte migration toward and attachment to R. pellio larvae and adults. Preliminary background information showed that R. pellio has potential as a challenge organism for development of a biomarker assay.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is usually a self-limiting lesion on the skin while visceral leishmaniasis is a progressive, systemic disease with high mortality even if treated. The problem associated with treatment and vector control justifies a search for an effective vaccine which seems to be the only practical means to control the disease. The aim of this study is to identify immunological surrogate marker(s) associated with protection against Leishmania infection. The results indicate that a single dose of ALM+BCG induced Thl-like response but the level of such response is not sufficient for full protection. Accordingly, further evaluation of the vaccine is necessary other strategies multiple injections or changing the adjutant.

The effect of pH upon the aquatic toxicity of cyfluthrin was determined in 48 h static acute toxicity tests using 2nd instar Chironomus tentans larvae. Tests were conducted in both dechlorinated tap water and lake water of pH 8.0, 7.2, and 6.6. After 48 h, immobilized and dead larvae were removed and replaced with 2nd instar larvae to assess the persistence of toxicity. Midges were cultured in water adjusted to the pH values used in testing. Toxicity if cyfluthrin varied inversely with pH. An increase in the pH of tap water by 2 units resulted in a 2-decrease in toxicity. Toxicity of cyfluthrin also varied between tap and lake water of the same pH. EC50 values in lake water were approximately 2-3 times lower than those in tap water. Toxicity in the lake water and tap water at every pH tested was also significantly different when regression line elevations were compared. Natural waters amended with cyfluthrin were consistently more toxi to the chironomids than tap water of the same pH. Persistence of cyfluthrin at low pH also influenced chironomid behavior. Recovery of normal behavior generally began within 24 h at pH 8.0 At pH 6.0, recovery did not begin until …

Six sites within the Denton and Hickory Creek watersheds were sampled over three years to assess the impact of seasonal intermittent stream conditions on the ichthyofauna. An integrated approach using field and laboratory techniques was employed to evaluate the responses of the fishes.

Acclimation temperature had a significant effect on the lethality of copper to fathead minnows in replicated 96-hour lethality tests. Lowest median lethal copper concentrations (LC50) were recorded at 12 and 22°C, with LC50s at 5 and 32°C at least 140 μg/1 higher. This research found LC50 copper concentrations in the 300 to 500 μg/1 range and a polynomial relationship between LC50s and acclimation temperature. Following a 24-hour exposure to three sublethal concentrations of copper, critical thermal maxima (CTMax) were tested in minnows acclimated to four temperatures. Sublethal exposure to copper significantly decreased the CTMaxs relative to controls at three of the four temperatures. Control CTMaxs ranged from 28.6 to 40.4°C and increased 0.46°C for each 1°C increase in acclimation temperature.

The life history and ontogenetic microhabitat change of Mayatrichia ponta Ross were investigated in Honey Creek, Turner Falls Park, Murray Co., Oklahoma, U.S.A. from August 1994 to August 1995. The shape of larval cases changed from a small cone to a cylinder. M. ponta had an asynchronous multivoltine life history with considerable cohort and generation overlap; five generations were estimated. The development rate was reduced in winter. The winter generations of M. ponta had wider head capsule widths (136-165 μm) than summer generations (121-145 μm). The sex ratio of adults was 1.43 ♂ : 1 ♀. Fecundity ranged from 46 to 150 eggs/female. Fifth instar larvae and pupae aggregated on the bottom side of substrates. Early instars were distributed evenly on all sides of substrates. General patterns of ontogenetic microhabitat shift in aquatic insects are categorized as flow mediated, flow independent, and population interactions and other resources mediated.

Caddisflies (Trichoptera) were collected from over 500 different locations throughout the Interior Highlands (Ozark, Ouachita, Arbuckle, and Wichita Mountains) between March 1990 and March 1994. I systematically sampled representative lotic and lentic habitats in 131 natural watersheds that comprise the 17 different physiographic subregions of this area. From my examination of approximately 60,000 specimens, surveys of regional museum collections, and review of literature records, I document 229 species distributed in 16 families and 58 genera. Included in this total are 27 endemic species and 15 new regional records. Descriptions are provided for a species new to science (Cheumatopsyche robisoni), four larvae (Helicopsyche limnella, H. piroa, Marilia species A, Polycentropus crassicornis) and a female (Helicopsyche piroa). Hydropsyche reiseni Denning, previously known only from the Arbuckle Mountains, is reduced in synonymy with H. arinale Ross. Further, I provide illustrated family, generic, and selected species-level keys that reflect this regional biodiversity.

Geographic information systems (GIS) technology was used to analyze factors influencing habitat use by an endangered species, the red-cockaded woodpecker. The study area was the western part of the Raven Ranger District of the Sam Houston National Forest, Texas. The factors considered included both structural characteristics and spatial relationships among stands of trees in the habitat.

Ten bacteria capable of growth on the metal-cyano complex, tetracyanonickelate (II) {K2 [Ni(CN)J } (TCN), supplied as the sole nitrogen source, were isolated. Seven isolates were identified as pseudomonads while the remaining three were classified as Klebsiella species. In addition to TCN, all isolates were able to utilize KCN although it was significantly more toxic. The degradation of TCN was most complete when supplied at growth-limiting concentrations, did not occur when ammonia was present, and resulted in the formation of nickel cyanide [Ni(CN)2] as a degradation product.