Plethodontid salamanders have served as an informative vertebrate system for studying the role of chemical signals in facilitating social and reproductive behaviors. Individuals produce complex mixtures of chemicals from multiple glandular regions. In total, these secretions convey a wide variety of information, and are important for numerous inter- and intraspecific...
Climate change is predicted to affect ecosystems, including systems already stressed by human impacts. One ecosystem that is already highly impacted by human land use is the cold headwater stream system of the Pacific Northwest. One method of assessing the function of an ecosystem is by using an indicator species....
The study was a creative endeavor in which researchfindings from the areas of medicine, mental health andeducation concerning effects of background music were combinedinto an experimental musical form designed to promote andfacilitate the relaxation response. This experimental musicwas cormared with Baroque largo musical background, as recommendedin Lozanov's method of accelerated...
The direct and indirect effects of ocean acidification (OA) are a growing concern, particularly in areas already experiencing elevated levels of oceanic CO₂. Studies with marine fishes suggest that elevated CO₂ levels may affect behavior by interfering with an important brain neurotransmitter. Studies examining the effects of OA fish behavior...
Oceanic uptake of rising anthropogenic CO₂ emissions has caused the emergence of ocean acidification as a major threat to marine ecosystems worldwide. Along eastern boundary current systems, seawater is naturally acidified due to coastal upwelling of low pH seawater from depth. Compounded by ocean acidification, upwelling regions are expected to...
The use of an antibiotic as a growth promoter (AGP) began in the 1940’s with the discovery of growth responses from Streptomyces aureofaciens in the monogastric diet. However, resistance and residue problems have increased the negative consumer perception of growth promoting antibiotic use in animal diets. Although no direct link...
The following experiment presented herein compared growth, physical activity, stress-related responses, and puberty attainment in heifers reared on high- (HIDENS) or low-stocking densities (LOWDENS). Sixty Angus x Hereford heifers were ranked by age and BW (210 ± 2 d and 220 ± 2 kg, respectively) on d 0, and assigned...
Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease, affecting a third of women and a fifth of men over age 65. In the US, annual health care costs associated with osteoporosis are estimated to be over $20 billion. Osteoporosis is associated with increased fracture risk, which has been demonstrated to predict...
The present study explored the effects of intranasal oxytocin (OT), a naturally occurring hormone, on the behavior of pet dogs in an attachment test. Each dog participated in two testing sessions. On one visit saline was administered nasally and on another OT was administered nasally. Condition order was counterbalanced. Following...
For more than 30 years, researchers have investigated the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) platforms on athletic performance. WBV is a modality in which an individual stands on a vibrating platform to obtain performance effects. Frequency and amplitude of the vibration are the commonly adjusted parameters. The use of...
Although the potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a global crop, few growing regions rival the high yields of the Columbia Basin of Eastern Oregon and Washington. Two research projects were conducted in Hermiston, OR to contribute to best management practices for the region. The first project evaluated the efficacy of...
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of excess neutral lipids within the parenchymal cells of the liver. The primary etiology is diet-induced and most often exists as a comorbidity with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and/or Type 2 Diabetes. The development of excess liver lipid can be self-limiting...
Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of ischemic heart disease and stroke and is the leading cause of death worldwide, especially in developed countries. As an inflammatory disease of arteries in a hyperlipidemic milieu, expression of adhesion molecules, such as endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), on endothelial...
The symbiosis between cnidarians, such as corals and sea anemones, and photosynthetic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Symbiodinium spp. is one of the most productive in the marine environment. This mutualistic endosymbiosis allow reef-building corals to lay down the foundation of coral reef ecosystems, which supports a highly biodiverse community...
The primary goal of my study was to evaluate the effects of high dietary vitamin E on the rodent skeleton. The outcomes from my study assess the impact of high intakes of vitamin E and increased concentrations of its metabolite, carboxy ethyl hydroxy chromanol (CEHC), on bone turnover and skeletal...
A significant body of research demonstrates that phytochemical intake favorably influences hepatic metabolism via a number of different biological mechanisms. Other research has shown a positive effect of certain phytochemicals on kidney health, specifically in ameliorating symptoms of kidney disease. The current research used three separate studies that tested the...
The objective of this work is to add to the body of translational data between high dose animal model research and the environmentally relevant human metabolism of the persistent pollutant dibenzo[def,p]chrysene (DBC). We furthered the knowledge of gene/exposure interactions by determining the carcinogenesis risk based on Cyp1b1 genotype following in...
Mercury and arsenic are known developmental toxicants and environmental exposures are ubiquitous worldwide from natural and anthropogenic sources. Prenatal exposure to both contaminants are independently associated with adverse perinatal health outcomes and latent disease risk that could be in part mediated by epigenetic reprogramming events. Fetal programming events involving DNA...
Perinatal growth restriction programs higher risk for chronic disease during adulthood via morphological and physiological changes in organ systems. Perinatal growth restriction is highly correlated with a decreased nephron number, altered renal function and subsequent hypertension. I hypothesize that such renal maladaptations result in altered pharmacologic patterns for life. Pregnant...
Numerous populations of salmon and trout undergo extensive migrations, migrating from freshwater to the sea and throughout ocean basins. Years later they return to their natal streams with remarkable accuracy and precision. The outward migration is accomplished without the benefit of following experienced migrants or prior individual experience. Evidence suggests...
The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is tightly regulated in biological systems as overproduction can lead to oxidative stress and result in a number of diseases. Due to its negative effects, antioxidants are studied and used against ROS in medicine, pharmaceuticals and therapeutics. Because of issues with the uptake...
Peroxiredoxin (Prx) enzymes catalyze the reduction of hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrous acid, and organic peroxides, and are extremely efficient peroxidases, with k[subscript cat]/K[subscript M] on the order of 10⁷ - 10⁸ M⁻¹ s⁻¹. Besides their role in oxidative stress defense, evidence has accumulated that some eukaryotes, including humans, use Prxs as...
Wheat (Triticum aestivum) is one of the world’s major staple food crops, with flour produced from starchy endosperm being used for breads, cakes, noodles and various other wheat-based foods. The unique bread making properties of wheat are primarily attributed to its gluten-forming storage proteins: gliadins and glutenins. This study investigated...
Precision irrigation has made spatially explicit water management a reality. However, detailed knowledge about the spatially variable evapotranspiration is often unavailable. One example location where we can begin to understand the impact of spatial variability on evapotranspiration is at the field edge, which contains a sharp discontinuity in surface conditions....
Moderate wine consumption, particularly pigment-rich red wine, is thought by many to be beneficial for the cardiovascular system. Both ethanol and phytochemicals are thought to contribute to this cardioprotective property. Metabolic disturbances associated with overconsumption of food are related to the initiation and progression of many chronic diseases, and cardiovascular...
Metabolic improvements and changes in gene expression were measured in mice fed polyphenol-rich extracts derived from apples and sweet cherries, and the common phytochemicals, quercetin and ellagic acid. Polyphenol-rich extracts were produced by solid phase extraction and column chromatography. Extracts and purified compounds were mixed into a high-fat (HF, 60%...
Data were taken, following irradiation exposure to
100r and 300r cumulative dose, on 89 rabbits of three
breeds that vary greatly in body size. Hematological,
intestinal motility, and ear vascularity examinations
were performed. Least square estimates have been obtained and an analysis of variance has been conducted in
order estimate...
Excessive environmental vibrations can have deleterious effects in a variety of animals. Despite the potentially detrimental effects vibrations may have on animal health and experimental results, they remain poorly understood in the animal laboratory setting. This study investigates the consequences of excessive train vibrations on the breeding success of laboratory...
The effect of 2-aminoethyl-2-thiopseudourea[superscript .]Br[superscript .]HBr (AET),
2-mercaptoethylamine[superscript .]HC1 (MEA) and trisodium calcium chelate of
diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (CaNa₃DTPA) on the radiosensitivity
of rat fetus was investigated. A total of 1256 fetuses were
critically examined.
Exposure of rats to 200 r whole-body X-irradiation at 9.5 days
of gestation resulted in a...
The effects of estrogen treatment on uterine weight, uterine
nucleic acid content and adrenal weight were studied. Daily doses
of 0.05μg or 0.1 μg of Estradiol 17-β were administered subcutaneously
to seven day castrated female rats for periods varying
from 0 to 168 days. After two days of treatment uterine...
White muscle disease or muscular dystrophy of sheep is a selenium
responsive malady common to many areas with an inherent natural
deficiency of selenium in the forage. The disease can be prevented in
lambs by adding trace amounts (approximately 0.1 ppm) of selenium to
the otherwise selenium deficient, forage fed...
The susceptibility of milk to copper-induced or accelerated off-flavors is well known. Other animal products, including meats have not been so extensively studied. In this study different species of animals (pigs, calves, lambs and rabbits) were fed on normal rations with and without supplements of copper sulfate. During the course...
The objective of the thesis was to determine the effects of
isolated coumestrol on the growth, carcass characteristics and
certain organs of wether lambs. The first of two trials was conducted
over an eight week period with two groups of heavy wether
lambs. Trial two was conducted over an 11...
Newborn rats exhibit a torporous response to cold stress at 2°C
from which they revive after several hours exposure even though
respiratory, cardiovascular, and muscular movements have ceased.
At less severe temperatures (20 to 25°C) the rats respond with a non-torporous
decrease in metabolic and physiologic activity and a lowering...
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, arising from malignant transformation of pigment-producing melanocytes. The primary risk factor for melanoma and other skin cancers is DNA damage resulting from unprotected solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). If incorrectly repaired, this damage can result in incorporation of mutations that cause aberrant cell...
Studies were undertaken to determine the extent and rate of
binding of Hg-203 labeled phenylmercuric acetate and mercuric ace
tate in rat kidney and liver slices and their subcellular fractions
after 37°C incubation of the slices in Krebs-Ringer -phosphate solutions
containing the mercurials at 10⁻⁴ molar. A fast and parallel...
The effects of coumestrol on the uterine weight, uterine fluid
imbibition, uterine nucleic acid content, adrenal weight and body
weight of female rats were studied. Daily doses of 20 micrograms
of coumestrol per 0.1cc propylene glycol were administered subcutaneously
to spayed rats following a seven day recovery period,
for durations...
Beginning with the discovery of x-rays by Wilhelm
Konrad Roentgen in 1895, man has had the capacity to
greatly increase radiation levels of his environment,
especially with the advent of nuclear weapons in recent
years. Radioisotopes are finding progressively wider
use in medicine, research, power production, etc., with
increased hazards...
A total of five individual experiments were conducted with
gonadectomized, male sheep to study the influence of estrogen on
the plasma level of pituitary activities, with the greatest emphasis
given to gonadotropic activity. Estrogen treatments employed were
as follows:
1. 12 mg. diethylstilbestrol (DES) implanted subcutaneously.
2. 1 mg. DES...