The hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus kills Melongena corona solely to acquire a better fitting shell. This finding is contrary to previous studies, which found that hermit crabs of other species cannot kill gastropods or, in most instances, remove freshly dead gastropods from their shells. This interaction cannot be classified as predation because Melongena tissue was never consumed. Clibanarius killed Melongena only when by doing so they could trade up to a better fitting shell. It cannot be classified as competition because there is no opportunity for Melongena to gain from the interaction. Therefore the term “lethal eviction” is hereby proposed for this interaction. The ability to kill a gastropod to obtain a superior shell gives Clibanarius vittatus an evolutionary advantage over other hermit crab species. It is not known if the outcome of this interaction is widespread where both species occur or if it is confined to the study area. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Locomotion persists despite changes in external and internal circumstances. Motor responses to gait impairment exhibit commonalities across various taxa and types of injury, yet we lack a systematic understanding of compensation strategies. The objective of this dissertation is to uncover principles governing implicit goals within the control of locomotion. I propose that coordination of injured locomotion will demonstrate that these goals follow a hierarchical organization of the neuromuscular system. Accurate quantification of gait deficits in rodents demands sophisticated measurement techniques. I utilize X-ray technology to examine intralimb and interlimb coordination after unilateral injury in rats. My findings indicate that compensation to injury involves the coordination of lower-order motor elements to preserve the pre-injury behaviors of higher-order elements. Specifically I present evidence that preservation of limb angle and limb length are critical task goals that transcend injury states and afferent sensory feedback conditions. Broadening my investigation to include interlimb coordination revealed that task goals may change to satisfy the goals of a higher hierarchical level. This work is a necessary precursor to study locomotor coordination and injury compensation in more complex rodent injury models such as self-reinnervation, sciatic nerve, and spinal cord injury. These results could also translate to clinical gait rehabilitation through future protocols that address motor patterns of the entire limb over the behavior of individual joints.

Bibliography: leaves 133-148 / x, 148 leaves, [3] leaves of plates : ill ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, 1984

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 198-229).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Florida, 1981. / Description based on print version record. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 328-345).

Plasticity of residual cortical tissue has been identified as an important mediator of functional post-stroke recovery. After neonatal stroke the thickness of residual tissue can change, the tissue can move, and tissue can fill in the stroke core. Nevertheless, the majority of preclinical stroke research utilizes adult rats. Thus, the purpose of the present thesis was to systematically document such gross morphological changes in peri-infarct tissue after stroke in the adult rat. Morphological changes were assessed in pial strip devascularization, photothrombotic occlusion, and middle cerebral artery occlusion models of stroke using histological and magnetic resonance imaging. Decreases in cortical thickness, volume, and neural density were found to extend far beyond the stroke infarct and included the sensorimotor regions of the intact hemisphere. Movement of residual tissue towards the infarct was observed and confirmed using anatomical markers placed in intact cortical tissue at the time of stroke induction. I conclude that the extensive time-dependent morphological changes that occur in residual cortical tissue must be considered when evaluating plasticity-related cortical changes associated with post-stroke recovery of function. / ix, 162 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm

Patients with macular degeneration (MD) often fixate with a preferred retinal locus (PRL). Eye movements made while fixating with the PRL (in MD patients) has been observed to be maladaptive compared to those made while fixating with the fovea (normal sighted individuals). For example, in MD patients, PRL eye movements negatively affect fixation stability and re-fixation precision; consequently creating difficulty in reading and limits to their execution of other everyday activities. Abnormal eye movements from the PRL affect research on the physiological adaptations to MD. Specifically, previous research on cortical reorganization using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), indicates a critical need to accurately determine a MD patient's point of gaze in order to better infer existence of cortical reorganization. Unfortunately, standard MR compatible hardware eye-tracking systems do not work well with these patients. Their reduction in fixation stability often overwhelms the tracking algorithms used by these systems. This research investigates the use of an existing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based technique called Predictive Eye Estimation Regression (PEER) to determine the point of gaze of MD patients and thus control for fixation instability. PEER makes use of the fluctuations in the MR signal caused by eye movements to identify position of gaze. Engineering adaptations such as temporal resolution and brain coverage were applied to tailor PEER to MD patients. Also participants were evaluated on different fixation protocols and the results compared to that of the micro-perimeter MP-1 to test the efficacy of PEER. The fixation stability results obtained from PEER were similar to that obtained from the eye tracking results of the micro-perimeter MP-1. However, PEER's point of gaze estimations was different from the MP-1's in the fixation tests. The difference in this result cannot be concluded to be specific to PEER. In order to resolve this issue, advancements to PEER by the inclusion of an eye tracker in the scanner to run concurrently with PEER could provide more evidence of PEER's reliability. In addition, increasing the diversity of AMD patients in terms of the different scotoma types will help provide a better estimate of PEER flexibility and robustness.

Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringa) is a kind of easy adaptation to the Brazilian semiarid region, but its cultivation is rudimentary. Missing information about the physical and physiological quality of seeds, seedlings assessment under conditions of water stress and the development of plantations in different spacings. Thus, the present study aimed to characterize the internal morphology and identification of fungi from the seeds, the physiological assessment of seedlings subjected to water restriction and evaluation of the initial growth of moringa under gradient spacing. The morphology of the seeds was observed using the X-ray test with an intensity of 22 kV for 14.8 s in Laboratório de Análise de Sementes of the Universidade Federal de Laras (UFLA) using 200 seeds of two different genotypes. The identification and quantification of fungi were made by the blotter test the Laboratório de Patologia de Sementes of the UFLA using 200 seeds of two different genotypes. The seedlings from seeds of a genotype were evaluated under water restriction at 40, 60, 80 and 100% of field capacity for 21 days to ecophysiological parameters and biometric. The gradient spacing planting was installed in the Experimental Campus of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe using the systematic design, with 10 different densities, and the plants were grown from seeds of four genotypes. Seeds in relation to their internal morphology were divided into three classes: (a) full and well formed, (b) with space and malformed and (c) stained or damage. The health test were observed following fungi: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp. and Phomopsis sp. Moringa seedlings are more sensitive to water deficit restriction under 40% of field capacity with respect to gas exchange parameters. Plants under gradient spacing showed better development unit of area equal to or greater than 9.5 m2 plant-1. We conclude that planting moringa can be deployed with a density less than or equal to 1,000 plants per hectare and irrigation between 100% and 60% of field capacity. / Moringa oleifera Lam. (moringa) é uma espécie de fácil adaptação ao semiárido brasileiro, contudo o seu cultivo é rudimentar. Faltam informações sobre a qualidade física e fisiológica das sementes, avaliação de mudas sob condições de restrição hídrica e o desenvolvimento de plantios em diferentes espaçamentos. Assim, o presente trabalho teve por objetivo a caracterização da morfologia interna e identificação de fungos das sementes, a avaliação fisiológica de mudas submetidas à restrição hídrica e a avaliação do desenvolvimento inicial de plantas de moringa sob gradiente de espaçamento. A morfologia interna das sementes foi observada empregando o teste de raios X com intensidade de 22 kV por 14,8 s no Laboratório de Análise de Sementes da Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), utilizando 200 sementes de dois diferentes genótipos. A identificação e quantificação de fungos foram realizadas por meio do blotter test no Laboratório de Patologia de Sementes da UFLA, utilizando 200 sementes de dois diferentes genótipos. As mudas, provenientes de sementes de um genótipo, foram avaliadas sob restrição hídrica a 40, 60, 80 e 100% da capacidade de campo durante 21 dias para os parâmetros ecofisiológicos e biométricos. O gradiente de espaçamento em plantio foi instalado no Campus Experimental da Universidade Federal de Sergipe empregando o delineamento sistemático, com 10 diferentes densidades, e as plantas foram oriundas de sementes de quatro genótipos. As sementes com relação à sua morfologia interna foram divididas em três classes: (a) cheias e bem formadas, (b) com espaço e mal formadas e (c) manchadas ou com dano. No teste de sanidade foram observados os seguintes fungos: Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp. e Phomopsis sp. As mudas de moringa são mais sensíveis à restrição déficit hídrica sob 40% da capacidade de campo com relação aos parâmetros de trocas gasosas. As plantas sob gradiente de espaçamento apresentaram melhor desenvolvimento em unidade de área igual ou superior à 9,5 m2 planta-1. Conclui-se que plantios de moringa podem ser implantados com densidade igual ou inferior a 1.000 plantas por hectares e com irrigação entre 100% e 60% da capacidade de campo.