Fouquieria splendens (ocotillo) is a large, basally branching, shallow-rooted, drought deciduous shrub native to the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts. Ocotillos, like all Fouquieriaceae, have gelatinous fibers (g-fibers), which typically occur in tensio . . .

∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s principal psychoactive component, is known to suppress resistance to bacterial, viral and protozoan infections. However, the effect of THC on resistance to fungal infections is unclear. Recently, we found tha . . .

The fitness of an organism depends on its energetics, which includes both the amount of energy entering the individual and the distribution of energy within the individual. The present thesis examined the energetics of a scleractinian coral during and . . .

Gastrulation is a fundamental process that mediates formation of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm in most animals. Revealing the mechanism of gastrulation will provide a better understanding of embryonic development. Due to its transparency, simplicity . . .

The differentiated state of somatic cells can be reprogrammed to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), leading to the reactivation of the inactive X chromosome (Xi) of female differentiated cells in the mouse. In somatic cells, the Xi is very stable . . .

Microarray data can be used to derive an understanding of the relationships between the genes involved in various biological systems of an organism, given the availability of web applications and databases of gene expression measurements from the comp . . .

Sarcoma 180, a mouse ascites tumor, was examined ultrastructurally using transmission electron microscopy. Its general fine structure, and the cell surface interactions occurring as a result of agglutination were examined. Three types of agglutinins w . . .

Stem cells are necessary for proper development, tissue homeostasis and regeneration while dysregulation of their activity leads to diseases such as diabetes, neurodegeneration and cancer. Yet, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that drive stem cel . . .

Various stages of developing sea urchin embryos were fixed and fractured open in order to study the structural nature of the blastocoel. Fine structural analyses revealed a voluminous, fibrillar, extracellular matrix (ECM) composed of collagen-like fi . . .

Metastatic spread of tumors in the breast account for over 95% of cancer-related deaths. Before cancer cells can survive in distant microenvironments, the tissues must be primed and acquire tumor-permissive properties. The primary tumor communicates w . . .

Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of 50 strains has shown that the fatty acid composition of the genus Simonsiella, a gliding bacterium found in the oral cavity of warm blooded animals, is not unlike that of some other Gram-negative bacteria and con . . .

A persistent challenge for ecologists is characterizing patterns of diversity in community structure, and understanding the importance of species interactions that shape communities across environments. Both foundation and invasive species have strong . . .

Introgression in Salvia apian and S. mellifera was studied in two parts, a geographical study and a study over a timespan of thirteen years. Samples taken from north-south and east-west transects throughout most of the sympatric range of the two speci . . .

A developmental reaction norm integrates three tightly linked factors of ontogeny, genotype, and environment to address the ability of an organism to deal with environmental change. This concept of organismic flexibility is termed plasticity, and is w . . .

Herbivorous fishes are an important component of the marine reef communities. They convert primary production directly into fish tissue. Grazing of algae by herbivores can also alter marine communities by impacting the growth, recruitment, and mortali . . .

A comparative assay of the transferrin binding ability of mouse embryo and teratocarcinoma cells was conducted using techniques of fluorescent antibody labelling. Five to six days after conception, developing blastocysts were removed from the uterine . . .

The development of the cranial and branchial skeleton of the surfperch Amphistichus argenteus, a member of the family Embiotocidae, is described, and phylogenetic and functional aspects of the skull development of this species are discussed. The earli . . .

X-linked dominant Chondrodysplasia Punctata (CDPX2) also known as Conradi-Hunermann-Happle Syndrome is a rare human genetic disorder resulting from disfunction of Emopamil Binding Protein (EBP). EBP is better known as Sterol isomerase (SI),which it ac . . .

Apoptotic cell death is essential for embryonic development, tissue homeostasis, and a well-functioning immune system. Impaired apoptosis is both critical in cancer development and is a major barrier to effective treatment. In response to diverse intr . . .

Chemokines are signaling proteins released by cells in response to chemical stimuli in their environment. The chemokine stromal derived factor 1 (SDF1) has been regularly studied due to its role in the growth and metastasis of multiple cancers, includ . . .

Global climate change induces multiple stressors on tropical coral reefs that threaten their persistence. Ocean acidification decreases calcification in most dominant reef builders, such as crustose coralline algae (CCA). Climate change also has the p . . .

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are steroid hormones that elicit a wide array of effects on cells including induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Apoptosis is a complex process that involves many genes and their products. Dexamethasone (Dex), a synthe . . .

Bioethanol production has the potential to produce higher quantities of environment-friendly biofuel compared to other modern platforms. Currently, bioethanol is the main platform produced from sugar-based crops. These crops, however, compete with foo . . .

Foundation species create structure in a community, and understanding their ecological and evolutionary response to global change is of utmost importance to ecological and economic management of these species and the communities that rely on them. Mac . . .

We spend about a third of our lives asleep, but the function of sleep remains a great mystery. Many hypotheses for the function of sleep have been put forward based upon the cellular perturbations associated with sleep deprivation. It has yet to be sh . . .

While the stomach hormone gastrin is known to exist in several species of mammals gastrin activity in. the alimentary tracts of other chordates has not been confirmed. To determine if the gastrin hormone is strictly a mammalian feature with respect to . . .

Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy (HIBM) is a homozygous recessive disorder characterized by the M712T mutation. Humans who inherit this disorder develop skeletal muscle wasting, which is largely attributed to a sialic acid deficiency. In order to de . . .

Foraminiferal concentration above the Santa Catalina Basin was low at the surface and increased with depth to a maximum concentration at 25 to 75 m. The concentration decreased below 75 m to a minimum at 120 m and remained low at greater depth. The co . . .

One approach to the study of cell adhesion is isolation of factors that promote cellular re-aggregation. This laboratory has isolated factors that promote re-aggregation of Stronglocentrotus purpuratus blastula cells. The factors are released from the . . .

Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on the planet and have been compared to rainforests because of their complexity and high species diversity. Tropical reefs have relatively nutrient-poor waters, but they are one of the most productive . . .

How an organism responds to predation risk can greatly affect its reproductive success. When threatened by predators, prey often change their foraging and mating behavior, presumably to maximize current and future fitness. These responses have been st . . .

One of the most spectacular examples of insular adaptive radiation can be found among the Hawaiian silverswords (Asteraceae-Madiinae). This monophyletic group was transported to the Hawaiian archipelago about five million years ago, and today comprise . . .

The ectoderm differentiates into three derivatives, the neural tube, non-neural ectoderm and neural crest cells. Our lab studies the processes controlling the specification and differentiation of these three tissues. Neural cadherin (CDH2) is a calciu . . .

The sequential development of a marine fouling community was studied by the use of submerged glass surfaces which served as the substratum for the attachment and growth of sedentary marine organisms. Four separate stages in community development were . . .

Neural crest cells emerge by delamination from the dorsal neural tube and give rise to various components of the peripheral nervous system in vertebrate embryos. The cells change from non-motile into highly motile cells migrating to distant areas befo . . .

The binding to the surface of Treponema pallidum, Nichols strain, of six mouse-derived monoclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) preparations was demonstrated by whole mount indirect immunoelectron microscopy. T. pallidum from 10-day old rabbit orchitides was . . .

A study was made of Protothaca staminea in the Mugu Lagoon, California. Two areas were studied: a sandy channel and a muddy sand backwater. Random sampling of the two areas was done to determine the relative densities and dispersions of P.staminea. Th . . .

Settlement patterns and pre-settlement larval traits of fish species can directly influence the local population and community structure. Lunar cycles may play a role in determining these settlement patterns and traits. Depending on the lunar phase, o . . .

Ascites fluid from mice 'bearing the Sarcoma 180 ascites tumor enhances the rotation mediated aggregation of S-180 ascites tumor cells, Evidence presented suggests that the aggregation promoting component of the ascites fluid is not produced by the ho . . .

Macrocystis pyrifera (12) were subjected to a controlled shore wash-up treatment to determine which animals leave from and which remain within holdfasts detached from a rocky substrate. The procedure encompassed five phases: 1) separation from bottom . . .

Hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM) is a genetic neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. HIBM is caused by mutations in the GNE gene which encodes the bifunctional enzyme uridine diphosphospho-N-acetylglu . . .

Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative bacterium that causes a severe pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease. L. pneumophila is engulfed by macrophages via phagocytosis, where it avoids being dismantled by the lysosomes through the establishment . . .

Seizures, trauma and many neurologic diseases induce damage to the hippocampus, which can result in deficits in spatial navigation, memory consolidation and depressive-type behaviors. Current drug treatments have limited effectiveness in improving sym . . .

Rates of evaporative water loss were obtained for two geographically and climatically isolated populations of Uta stansburiana hesperis Richardson under specified conditions of temperature, relative humidity and air flow. From these data, equations fo . . .

Previous studies of teratoma cells in batch culture demonstrated that glutamine synthetase (GS) specific activity was cell density dependent, increasing as the culture approached confluency. Other studies also showed that intercellular adhesion and GS . . .

Both stream-dwelling and pond-dwelling Hyla regilla home rapidly and accurately after displacement. The majority of returns occurred within 24 hours and the homing rates ranged from a minimum of 37 m/day (overland) for pond-dwelling frogs to a maximum . . .

Ocean acidification (OA), caused by the dissolution of anthropogenic CO2 into the surface waters of the ocean, threatens the fate of calcifying marine organisms. The effects of OA on adult coral calcification have been well-studied over the past decad . . .

Quantifying the effects of bacterial communities and temperature on coral-associated endosymbionts adds to our understanding of coral health. Genetic variation in endosymbionts may increase the fitness of the holobiont - coral and associated microbes . . .

Fishery management relies on aspects of the life history of a fished species to implement effective management strategies. One aspect that has been underutilized is molecular markers. The addition of these methods can lead to a better understanding of . . .

A study was made of the helminth parasites infecting the Pacific treefrog, Hyla regilla, and the California toad, Bufo boreas, at Malibu Creek and Big Tujunga, California. Malibu Creek represented a cool, humid coastal habitat and Big Tujunga represen . . .

The phosphorylated pathway has been proposed as the major source of serine in Neurospora Crassa (Sojka & Garner, 1967). Chuck (1980) demonstrated that a serine deficient mutant of Neurospora crassa, ser (JBM5), which is isogenic with its progenitor pr . . .

A population of college students with presumably healthy mouths was surveyed for the gliding, mulcicellular filamentous, aerobic oral bacterium Simonsiella. The microscopic examinations of swabbings from the palate showed 32.1% of 212 individuals to h . . .

Niche relationships and coexistence of ten species of rodents occurring in southern California chaparral were studied from October 1975 through September 1976. Habitat selection and utilization were investigated to determine the extent to which the fu . . .

Skeletal muscle myofibers contain muscle stem cells called satellite cells that express the transcription factor PAX7, and regenerate muscle after acute injury. These skeletal muscle progenitor cells (SMPCs), or satellite cells in the adult muscle, li . . .

The agonistic behavior patterns of adult males of Peromyscus boylii and Dipodomys agilis were studied in the laboratory to determine if the degree of aggression was influenced by the type of habitat. After being moved from an artificial densely vegeta . . .

The calcium-magnesium-free sea water (CMFSW) dissociation supernatant (DS), isolated by disaggregating Strongylocentrotus purpuratus blastulae, specifically promotes reaggregation of S. purpuratus blastula cells. The approach used to investigate cellu . . .

Potential Allee effects were investigated in Pentachaeta lyonii, an annual Asteraceae that is listed as federally endangered. Since P. lyonii is self-incompatible and has no evident seed dormancy, pollination service is essential for persistence. Obse . . .

Investigation of the breeding biology of Xantus’ Murrelet (Endomychura hypoleuca) on Santa Barbara Island revealed that 46% of all eggs laid in one area were eaten by deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), while in another only 4% were eaten. Population . . .

Smad4 is the central intracellular mediator of transforming growth factor-β (TGF- β) and BMP signaling pathways. To study the role of Smad4 in skeletal development, we introduced a conditional mutation of the gene in chondrocytes using Cre-loxP system . . .

Actin was isolated and purified from sarcoma-180 ascites tumor cells by a method employing DEAE-cellulose anion exchange chromatography, polymerization-depolymerization and exclusion chromatography. The actin was demonstrated to polymerize in an in vi . . .

A study was made of EMS and X--ray--induced mutations occurring in the immediate vicinity of the vermilion (v, 1-33, 0) locus. This region of the X chromosome was covered by a special Y chromosome containing a duplication extending from salivary chrom . . .

A density dependent stimulation of glutamine synthetase activity (GS) has been observed in cultures of mouse teratoma cells. GS specific activity increases as cultures approach confluency to a level greater than twofold over the basal level found in s . . .

The benthic invertebrate macrofauna and larger meiofauna in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta was sampled from December 2010 to June of 2011 along a salinity gradient from the brackish waters of Mobile Bay up into the fresh waters of the Tensaw River. Community . . .

Heterologous, or interspecies, transformation is the phenomenon in which bacteria of a given species acquire DNA from another species. This transfer can be exploited to test the functional interchangeability of one or more genes from organisms in one . . .

Demand for non-timber plant products has increased and with the stress of pressures, such as invasive species and habitat fragmentation, the sustainability of some culturally important plant populations may be at risk. Salvia apiana (white sage) is a . . .

Aspects of the reproductive behavior of giant sea bass, Stereolepis gigas, were observed and monitored at Goat Harbor, Santa Catalina Island, CA from June 2014 to August 2015. The site was visited daily during the summer months, which is the assumed s . . .

Indirect immunofluorescence was used to localize specific extracellular components in embryos of the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus. Hyalin and S2 (a group of components found in the disaggregation supernatant from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus blastula . . .

Two studies were undertaken that investigate the implications of small biochemical alterations in living systems. First, epigenetic mechanisms have been shown to control gene expression and can permanently silence a gene. We investigate the role of th . . .

Reproductive biology of the solitary hermaphroditic ascidian Styela plicata, was studied at Marina del Rey, California from October, 1971 through January, 1973. Gonadal structure, breeding season, and spawning behavior were examined utilizing histolog . . .

This study included 12 families (157 specimens); 122 specimens represented fourteen species of Emballonuridae (Chiroptera). Four morphologically different sterna have evolved within the family Emballonuridae: 1) a three segment sternum: manubrium, mes . . .

Most aspects of the lives of ectotherms (e.g. distribution, locomotion, digestion, and reproduction) are dependent on body temperature (Tb). For ectotherms living in cool environments, the ability to cope with extreme temperatures and even achieve the . . .

The morphology and development of the pineal complex are similar in Hyla cadaverina and Hyla regilla . The larvae of both species develop all three structures of the complex , end organ , nerve and body before stage 26. Mature adults of both species l . . .

The peach-fluffy-cot mutant of Neurospora is unable to produce macroconidia but is able to differentiate great numbers of microconidia after a predictable length of time of vegetative growth. The relationship of lipid metabolism to the differentiation . . .

An electron microscopic analysis of cells isolated from 16-cell sea urchin embryos indicates that several morphological differences in the cell types exist. The micromeres, which become migratory and give rise to the primary mesenchyme cells, possess . . .

Autonomic control of heart rate during generalized heating and cooling in water was studied in the red-eared turtle, Pseudemys scripta elegans. Sympathetic blockade with propranolol hydrochloride and parasympathetic blockade with atropine sulfate were . . .

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by an overproduction of immature T-cell lymphocytes (blasts) and infiltration into bone marrow and peripheral blood. Deletion and mutation of the tumor suppressor . . .

The growth in length and weight of immature fruit and seed of carob (Caratonia siliqua L.) was studied over a period of seven months. During the early periods of development, seed and fruit growth follow a parallel course; however, the seed continue t . . .

Herbivory is a rare diet specialization in lizards that requires numerous specializations including hindgut microsymbionts to aid in the digestion of plant meals. Researchers first attempted to identify the sources of the gut microbes hosted by herbiv . . .

Cardiomyocytes (CM) are the major cardiac cell type. Even so, not much is known regarding the changes that occur during embryonic development as cardiac stem cells differentiate and proliferate to form an adult heart. In order to better understand the . . .

Fertilized and unfertilized Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytechinus pictus egg membrane preparations including plasmamembranes and egg envelopes, were obtained via gentle homogenization and centrifugation in Tris- MgCl2 solutions. Membrane prepar . . .

The sites of activity of Na+,K+-ATPase in the sea urchin egg and embryo were determined using a cytochemical localization technique. Fertilized and unfertilized eggs, and embryos at stages of development from 2 to 16-cells were lightly fixed with 2% p . . .

Ocean acidification (OA), the decrease in the seawater pH and carbonate ion concentration due to the uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) with no change in total alkalinity, threatens coral reefs worldwide as studies predict the decline of cal . . .

Four vegetative characters of leaves (length, width, petiole length and a number of teeth) and two reproductive characters (acorn length and acorn width) were measured in 58 individual plants located in Wildwood Park, a natural area in Thousand Oaks, . . .

The hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) activity increases at ta fertilization. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the enzyme that catalyzes the first reaction of the HMS and is considered to be the site of regulation for the pathway. Previous w . . .

Defects in stem cell proliferation and/or differentiation can lead to disease. While many master regulatory genes that promote stem cell self-renewal or differentiation have been identified, we have a relatively poorer understanding of the downstream . . .

The behavioral ecology of feral horses Equus caballus) was studied in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, between March, l974, and August, 197 4. Horses became established in the study area about 60 to 200 years ago and currently number about 78 indi . . .

This autoradiographic study was performed to determine the localization of the tritiated amino acids, tyrosine and proline, in the structures of cysticercoids and adults of the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. Localization by the cysticercoids was p . . .

Five species from two families of Collembola (Insecta: Entomobryidae: Entomobrya (Entomobryoides) guthriei Mills, 1931, Pseudosinella sexoculata Schott, 1902, Sinella (Sinella) curviseta Brook, 1882; Isotomidae: Cryptopygus thermophiles (Axelson), Pro . . .

The pollination ecology of Dipteryx panamensis (Pitt) Record and Mell, a leguminous lowland tropical wet forest emergent tree, was studied at Finca La Selva, Costa Rica, on the Caribbean slope. This was done with the aid of a new tree-climbing techniq . . .

As a result of anthropogenic increases in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, mean global temperature has increased 0.5 °C since the 1970s, with a further expected increase of 2.6 - 4.8 °C by 2100. If realized, rising temperatures will negatively impact m . . .

A dissociation supernatant (DS), has been previously shown to promote re-aggregation of Strongylocentotus purpuratus blastula cells. The factor(s) was isolated from S. purpuratus blastula cells as they disaggregated from each other in calcium-magnesiu . . .

How organisms survive starvation is poorly understood at the cellular level. This study uses the model organism Caulobacter crescentus, which evolved to survive long periods of starvation, to address this important question. To determine how the cell . . .

Activity patterns in the foraging activity of two species of acmaeid limpet, Collisella limatula (Carpenter, 1864) and Collisella scabra (Gould, 1846) were documented over the entire tidal cycle. Collisella limatula was found to be active only while a . . .

Forty six strains of Simonsiella and two strains of Alysiella, large filamentous, gliding bacteria from the oral cavities of warm-blooded animals, were grown under various environmental conditions in order to study aspects of the taxonomy of these org . . .

Genetic variation and diversity provide the fuel for natural selection and evolution, but also play roles in ecological processes. The ability of organisms to respond to global change will depend on their genetic identity-they can migrate, acclimatize . . .

The cyanobacterium, Nostoc punctiforme is capable of differentiating into various cell types that allow adaptation and survival under various environmental threats. It has proven to be a unique model system for investigating genetic regulation leading . . .

Membranes from immature and mature 1-methyladenine induced P.miniata oocytes were isolated, their lipid extracted, and the fatty acids of the lipid fractions (phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phospatidyl choline, phosphatidyl serine, phosphatidyl inosiltol, . . .

Proteins and glycoproteins associated with cell surfaces are thought to be important in mediating selective cellular adhesion (9,21,26,29), while the lipid elements may also be involved (4). In isolating cell surface adhesion proteins for study, biolo . . .