Paralabrax clathratus, commonly known as the kelp bass, is an important sportfish to the Southern California angler, ranking among the top sportfish on commercial passenger fishing vessels since the 1950's. They commonly occur in a patchy distribution . . .

Clusterin is a multi-functional protein that was initially isolated from ram testis. It was first identified for its ability to promote aggregation of cells, hence the name clusterin (Fritz et al., 1983). Subsequent research has identified clusterin i . . .

Cell surface properties play an important role in embryonic morphogenesis and in malignant invasion. Cell surface sugar chains extend away from the cell membrane and are believed to be involved in cellular migration and adhesiveness. Some of these sug . . .

Ammonia, glutamate, or glutamine can be utilized as sole source of nitrogen by Sporosarcina ureae. The growth rate is proportional to the concentration of ammonia up to a set value of 0.6 div./h at 84 mM, but concentration independent for glutamate at . . .

Many studies have examined the effects of free lectins such as Concanavalin-A (Con-A) on sea urchin development and suggested that lectin binding ligands play a role in embryonic cellular interactions. In this study, the effects of immobilized Con-A o . . .

The sea urchin is the material of choice for studying many early developmental events. Methods to extend the viability of sea urchin gametes have not received much attention, but it is well known that the eggs are easily damaged by freezing (4). This . . .

Cell adhesion has been studied for almost a century beginning with H.V. Wilson's classic studies on sponge cell aggregation. Cell adhesion plays an important role in morphogenesis and malignancy, but its molecular basis is poorly understood. As the ce . . .

Iranian Jews constitute a growing minority in metropolitan cities around the United States. They are part of a close-knit community, with strong family and cultural values. Prevailing negative attitudes in the Iranian Jewish society towards disease an . . .

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the level of folic acid (FA) in human blood serum affects the number of fragile sites observed in cultured T-lymphocytes. Private practice patients (Internal Medicine) who evidenced no symptoms of sign . . .

The homocystinurias are a group of autosomal recessive disorders which are caused by various inborn errors of metabolism. Tnese disorders are characterized by high plasma and urinary ieveis of homocysteine and methionine, and low levels of cysteine. T . . .

A variety of models of cell adhesion have been proposed by previous investigators; each depended heavily on details of the biochemistry of cell surface sugars. In this study, Lytechinus pictus sea urchin embryos were used to study the molecular mechan . . .

Applications of a low-speed centrifuge rotor designed to separate whole cells at very low g-forces in partially reoriented, shallow density gradients are presented. The particle separation chamber was fabricated using Lucite so that gradient behavior . . .

Habitat fragmentation plays a major role in species extinction and the loss of biodiversity around the globe. When fragmentation occurs, the initial loss of overall habitat alone causes species extirpation. However, species that survive this initial l . . .

The susceptibility of ecosystems to the introduction of non-native species has increased drastically with the development of advanced transportation technologies. It is now quite common for organisms to be easily transported by humans across physiolog . . .

In sea urchin eggs the hexose monophosphate shunt is the main glycolytic pathway before and after fertilization, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the main regulatory enzyme of the pathway. Activity of the enzyme increases with fertiliza . . .

Invasive plants threaten native biodiversity and ecosystem function. Non-native plants can out-compete native plants for resources, reducing population sizes. For rare species, this can increase the chances of extinction. Pentachaeta lyonii is an enda . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

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 . . .

The oceans have absorbed excess carbon dioxide (CO2) resulting from anthropogenic activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. As a result, seawater chemistry has shifted causing an increase in bicarbonate ions (HCO32-) and hydrog . . .

The electrophoresis of whole cellular DNA from the non-photosynthetic alga Polytomella parva revealed a distinct 3.7 kb band. This band of DNA was isolated from the agarose gel and used to construct a non-radioactive probe utilizing Photobiotin. Cellu . . .

Investigation into the acclimation patterns of Embryonic Limax flavus clearly suggests that heart rate, when measured over a period of time or throughout a temperature range) shows compensatory response patterns similar to those described for oxygen c . . .

Nostoc punctiforme is a filamentous cyanobacterium capable of multiple cellular differentiation from vegetative cells into akinetes, heterocysts and hormogonia. In order to control this differentiation, tight regulation of gene expression is required. . . .

Conidiation in N. crassa can be either induced or suppressed by altering the growth media. When grown in standing cultures, strain Lind+ forms about 105 conidia per ml of medium. This conidial production occurs during the second to fifth day. The leve . . .

The purpose of this investigation was to study the metabolism of three species of young and adult Peromyscus by means of oxygen consumption. Young Peromyscus were used to determine the timing of the onset of homeotherapy and to ascertain whether age o . . .

A variety of models of cell adhesion have been proposed by previous investigators; each depended heavily on details of the biochemistry of cell surface sugars. In this study, Lytechinus pictus sea urchin embryos were used to study the molecular mechan . . .

Cultures of a serine auxotroph of Neurospora crassa, ser (JBM 4-13), demonstrate a high frequency of spontaneous reversion to prototrophy. This study examines two questions: First, whether the phenomenon of spontaneous reversion occurs in all vegetati . . .

Motivated by the growing number of studies reporting inter-specific differences for the effects of OA on calcifying taxa, this study tested the hypothesis that taxonomically diverse calcifying cnidarians show differential responses to OA. Phylogenetic . . .

Metastatic breast cancers carry a 5-year survival prognosis of less than 20%. Thus, it is highly desirable to identify therapeutic strategies that specifically target both primary and metastatic tumors. It is generally accepted that epithelial-mesench . . .

The human gut is home to trillions of microbial cells whose functions are essential for normal human physiology. However, quantitative linkages between diet and gut microbiome composition are lacking, particularly in post-weaned, pre-pubescent childre . . .

The feeding behavior of five species of tellinaceans was studied in four locations in California, USA. The organisms were studied in areas where they occurred sympatrically with other tellinaceans and in other areas where no other tellinaceans were pr . . .

Recent studies suggest that species identity is of great importance in determining how herbivores structure coral reef communities. This study provides evidence that echinoid species differentially shape the community through unique feeding strategies . . .

Applications of a low-speed centrifuge rotor designed to separate whole cells at very low g-forces in partially reoriented, shallow density gradients are presented. The particle separation chamber was fabricated using Lucite so that gradient behavior . . .

Scleractinian abundance has declined over the last few decades on most coral reefs. This reduction in scleractinian cover is associated with multiple types of disturbances including outbreaks of predators and diseases, mass coral bleaching, storms and . . .

Phorid fly parasitoids of ants are capable of decapitating their host during development and have been used as attempted biological control agents for imported fire ants. Little is known about the interactions between the native Velvety Tree Ant host, . . .

The effects of the telomere, centromere, and centric heterochromatin on recombination were assessed using two paracentric inversions, scute-4 (sc4) and scute-8 (sc8) in both homozygous and heterozygous combination. The centromere effect was verified b . . .

Mitochondrial differentiation and development within Fucus sperm is characterized by a series of internal rearrangements and mass acquisitions relating to overall form and organelle disposition within the mature sperm cell. Moreover, it seems clear th . . .

Bone marrow transplantations for leukemia patients are currently limited because Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) ex vivo expansion is constrained. We investigated a cell surface marker, GPI80, which isolates for a purified population of human HSC in the . . .

The cranial osteology of the genus Uma is described in detail, interspecific variation is analyzed, and the natural selective forces which produced this variation are discussed. The variation is interpreted with respect to the phylogeny and biogeograp . . .

A cell line of Polytomella parva resistant to the metabolic inhibitor antimycin A was isolated. These cells are resistant at a concentration of 2 X 10-5M. Studies on the growth of this resistant cell line (designated P. parva 17-9AA) showed significan . . .

In the dimorphic aquatic bacterium Caulobacter crescentus, genes are transcribed immediately before their protein products are required. Groups of genes, or genetic modules, are temporally controlled by oscillating master regulators. Oscillation is dr . . .

Santa Catalina Island, twenty-two miles off the southern California coast, Has the site of a study on the ecology of feral house. cats (Felis domestica). Observation of behavior physical characteristics and capture sites were used to determine whether . . .

Background: In this study, we assessed the ability of human neural progenitor cells (hNPC) to repair and restore the function of dying neurons within the spastic Han-Wistar rat (sHW), the mutant variant of a normal Han-Wistar. The sHW rat suffers from . . .

In benthic associated fish species, the time an individual spends in the larval phase until settlement to a benthic substratum is a vulnerable and critical period determining survival. In many species, the length of this period can strongly influence . . .

In the spring, adult toads move several hundred meters from the surrounding hills to the breeding site in Seminole Lake to spawn, commonly swimming more than 80 m across the lake to the breeding congress. When artificially displaced from the breeding . . .

Sporosarcina ureae is an aerobic, motile, spore-forming Gram-positive cocci that was originally isolated in the early 20th century from soil enrichments with elevated levels of urea. The species is unique in that it is the only known spore-forming coc . . .

Fourteen phenolic compounds and three related nonphenolic compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit GA 3 -induced growth of dwarf pea seedlings. Test concentrations of 10:1, 100:1, and 1000:1 (phenolic or related nonphenolic to GA3 ) by weigh . . .

Orthotrichum (Orthotrichaceae) is a species-rich genus of mosses in California. The last key to Californian Orthotrichaceae was produced in 2004 and included 35 species. Since that time, new discoveries have been made, and new identification tools are . . .

Flooding is a common natural disaster that causes severe crop and soil damage throughout the world. Studies on ethylene have proven that it is effective in improving the flood tolerance in plants. One of the vital enzymes that is involved in ethylene . . .

With more than 42,000 species currently described, spiders are one of the most diverse and abundant predators in terrestrial environments (Platnick 2011; Cardoso et al. 2011; Foelix 2011) and an integral part of well-functioning ecosystems (Uetz et al . . .

Urbanization subdivides natural landscapes creating isolated fragments separated by novel urban habitats. Species vary in their sensitivity to the process of urban fragmentation where some species can tolerate living in urban areas by exploiting resou . . .

In cultured mouse teratoma cells, actinomycin D has been shown to stimulate glutamine synthetase (GS) specific activity with a concomitant increase in intercellular adhesion. Cultured mouse teratoma cells were preincubated for 24 hours with 5 ug/ml ac . . .

Euphorbia terracina is an aggressive and invasive non-native plant that has recently become abundant in some parts of southern California. Its distribution has dramatically increased over the last eight years, with large populations scattered througho . . .

The combination of histochemical methods and electron microscopy provides useful technique for the ultrastructural localization of enzyme activities. Cells from log and stationary phase cultures of the flagellate polytomella agilis were fixed in gluta . . .

Due to elevations in atmospheric CO2 caused by anthropogenic activity, global temperatures are projected to increase 1.8 °C by 2100. The rate and magnitude of this thermal change will have negative impacts on tropical corals and significantly alter re . . .

Lectins, which are carbohydrate binding proteins, are used in the purification of glycan-containing molecules and in histochemical studies that have identified important cellular properties. Differences in cells with various carbohydrates on their sur . . .

Analysis of a number of morphological characteristics in the herbaceous genus Calandrinia H. B. K. (Portulacaceae) suggest that two natural groups of species exist, one in western North and South America and the Galapagos Islands, another in Australia . . .

Akinetes are spore-like cells resistant to desiccation and cold that differentiate from vegetative cells of the filamentous cyanobacterium N. punctiforme in response to phosphate or potassium limitation and low light. Previous microarray data has iden . . .

Adult Hyla cadaverina are found in the open in abundance along lower Trail Creek during spring and fall when temperatures are moderate. During winter, the animals seek shelter in crevices above the high water mark, thereby escaping flash floods. In su . . .

Seven California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) were captured, introduced into a large, outdoor enclosure and observed over one year's time. In addition to observing social behavior, I conducted an experiment to determine the squirrels' resp . . .

Home range, homing and orientation in a population of Uta Stansburiana were studied over a period of thirteen months. I found the home range sizes (males 36.8 m2, females 30.7 m2 and juveniles 16.4 m2} to be smaller than those reported in previous stu . . .

Seedlings of five species of plants were grown in darkness or light for two weeks. Shoots were measured in length and exhaustively extracted. The total phenolic content was determined colorimetrically after addition of Folin-Denis reagent. In all spec . . .

In order to help learn about the possible role of carbohydrate – containing molecules in gastrulation in the model sea urchin embryo (Lytechinus pictus), 24 hr sea urchin embryos were incubated with 3 lectins (carbohydrate binding proteins) Triticum v . . .

To determine the distribution, relative densities and habitat associations of Gopherus agassizi in Nevada, a 5500 square mile study area was surveyed using 312 strip transects. Evidence of tortoises was found to the eastern, western, and southern boun . . .

Legionella pnuemophila is an intracellular pathogen that is phagocytized by macrophage of our immune system. The bacterium uses a Type IV secretion system to secrete proteins across the phagosome membrane into the cytosol. Secreted effector proteins b . . .

The ability to survive freezing temperatures is of paramount importance to organisms living at high elevations. Many ectothermic vertebrates have traits that allow them to cope with extreme cold, such as the ability to supercool and/or tolerate freezi . . .

Recent studies have shown bacteriophages infect living organisms from all three domains of life, however, not much is known about phages that infect the Archaea. Of the approximate 50 reported archaeal phages, PG is one of only three known viruses tha . . .

Male guinea pig vocalizations emitted in response to conspecific aggression were tape recorded. This was done by using an experimental method through which vocalizations of a starved individual could be recorded as it protected a single piece of food . . .

Certain physical properties (e.g. density, viscosity and refractive index) of saline-based solutions of the density gradient solutes sucrose, Ficoll, metrizamide, Ludox, Percoll and CsCl were determined at 4°C and 22°C. The values obtained were compar . . .

While it is known that octocorals and trees share many similarities in form and function due to their sessile, modular nature, and octocoral communities create dense canopies termed "animal forests," there has been little quantification of whether the . . .

Natural communities are expected to undergo shifts in composition and species interactions as a result of environmental change, such as changes to regional temperature regimes and increased nutrient input into ecosystems. Predicting how communities wi . . .

Direct reprogramming offers a promising alternative method in producing cells for regenerative medical applications. However, a major obstacle in this process is the selection of transcription factors best suited to initiate reprogramming. By comparin . . .

The use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) in the California desert has become increasingly popular during the past 15 years. This study was designed to assess the impact of this activity on habitat quality and the small vertebrate fauna in the creosote bush . . .

Using the NIH designated sea urchin embryo model, we are studying the molecular basis of a set of cellular interactions that have interested investigators for over a century, archenteron organization/elongation/attachment to the blastocoel roof. Here . . .

An indirect immunofluorescence method was used to localize and trace the expression of an aggregation-promoting factor(s) (S-2) in the early stage embryos (1, 2, 4, 8, and 16-cell) of two species of sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytech . . .

Nostoc punctiforme is a filamentous cyanobacterium that has an immense potential to be used as a platform to produce biofuels and other high-value compounds. Their ability to synthesize lipid droplets and other valuable metabolites while eliminating t . . .

The sea urchin embryo is a NIH designated model system to study mechanisms that may be involved in human health and disease. In order to determine if mannose residues are involved in sea urchin embryo cellular interactions at gastrulation, 6324 Lytech . . .

Moderate aerobic exercise has been shown to enhance motor skills and protect the nervous system from injury and neurodegenerative diseases, like ataxia. Our lab uses the spastic Han-Wistar rat as a model of ataxia. Mutant rats develop fore limb tremor . . .

Temperature has a profound influence on most aspects of an ectotherm's life. Most of the world's 1500+ gecko species are nocturnal and therefore presumably active at body temperatures (Tbs) that are suboptimal for performance. However, several clades . . .

Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer because it is resistant to most common cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation. In 2014, a novel immunotherapy based on the blockage of the PD-1/PDL-1 signaling pathway was approved for . . .

The genetic causes of β-thalassemia are largely well described. However, the disease is very heterogeneous at both the molecular and clinical levels. Studying the transcriptome profiles of β-thalassemia patients, especially individuals who carry novel . . .

The complex nature of the teratoma cell adhesion system has been demonstrated. Fractionation of crude ascites fluid on a DEAE cellulose ion exchange column made it possible to show that two or more components are involved in teratoma adhesion factor ( . . .

TIhe effects of mechanical habitat conversion on eight species of rodents were studied in the San Gabriel Mountains north of Pacoima, Los Angeles County, California, from November 1973 to December 1974. Two kinds of 'type-conversion', fuel break grass . . .

The cerebral cortex is a specialized region of the brain responsible for higher neurological functions such as sensory processing, learning and memory, cognition, and abstract thinking. This region is disproportionally enlarged in humans and other pri . . .

Mating signals play an important role in both mate selection and species recognition. Acoustic mating signals have been shaped under various evolutionary constraints with remarkable malleability in response to variable conditions. These same traits ha . . .

The vulture guild is comprised of two distinct groups, Old and New World, that provide a unique insight into how morphology varies among convergent species. All vultures are considered to be large birds of prey that utilize a style of flight called th . . .

Schwann cells are vital to sustaining the neurons and making myelin in the Peripheral Nervous System, and play a key role in some neurodegenerative illnesses such as the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The Schwann cell is derived from a transient populat . . .

Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) are seabirds that depend on their hind limbs and beak to pursue and capture their prey underwater, rendering these apparatuses critical for their survival. Although the group is cosmopolitan, cormorant communities of thr . . .

Landscape genetics combines principles of landscape ecology and population genetics to determine the effect of landscape characteristics on the functional connectivity of populations. Functional connectivity, the degree to which organisms move across . . .

An aggregation inhibitory factor (AIF) has been extracted from mouse ascites teratoma cells that retards adhesion of cultured teratoma cells of the same cell line. Preliminary characterization of AIF on polyacrylamide gels suggests that AIF is a carbo . . .

Muscular dystrophies are a group of inherited disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakness, and degeneration. One approach to treatment would be the replacement of the deficient protein via gene therapy. For effective gene therapy, both effi . . .

Coral reefs, some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, face increasing pressures from global and local-scale anthropogenic stressors. Nutrient enrichment and sediment loading could make corals more vulnerable to global climate change by suppre . . .

Fifty-one strains of Sporosarcina ureae were isolated from 198 soils by plating diluted soil samples onto a complex agar medium containing 1. 5% filter sterilized urea. S. ureae was found to be widely distributed the United States and in various parts . . .

A deterministic model for growth of species of giant kelp, Macrocystis, of the southern California coast was developed and analyzed using FORTRAN. Factors modifying only light and temperature are required to simulate empirically derived growth curves. . . .

Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy (HIBM) is a disorder caused by a mutation in the GNE gene. Although there are 60 known mutations, this research study focused on the M712T mutation. The mutation causes complications in the production of sialic acid, . . .

Cyanide exerts its toxic effects by inhibiting cellular respiration, specifically by inhibiting cytochrome oxidase. In many bacteria, algae, protozoa and plants cyanide resistance has been demonstrated and is usually associated with an alternate elect . . .

Agglutination of S-180 ascites tumor cells mediated by Concanavalin A (ConA) and biologically active succinyl and acetyl ConA derivatives was quantitatively measured and compared, using an electronic particle counter assay. ConA causes agglutination o . . .

Neurodegeneration is the progressive breakdown of neurons resulting in impairment of cognitive functions and motor abilities, and has been attributed to such neurological diseases as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosi . . .

Habitat fragmentation plays a major role in species extinction and the loss of biodiversity around the globe. When fragmentation occurs, the initial loss of overall habitat alone causes species extirpation. However, species that survive this initial l . . .

Glial cells were first observed in the nervous system of vertebrates as neuronal supportive cells. In recent years they have been credited for not only supporting and sustaining neuronal cells but for playing roles in testis development, neuron migrat . . .