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The morphology of the internal male genitalia of selected genera of Melanoplinae (Orthoptera: Acrididae) was studied. A detailed comparison of these structures was carried out, in an attempt to identify new characters that may be useful in analyzing relationships between the members of the subfamily. Twenty-two genera were examined, mostly of North American distribution, using one exemplar species for each of them. Standard dissection and drawing techniques were followed. The epiphallus and the apical parts of the aedeagus were found to be the most important taxonomic characters. The genera Aptenopedes and Buckellacris were highly divergent from the rest of the melanoplines, while the close relationship between Appalachia, Dendrotettix and Podisma was confirmed by genital characters. Internal male genitalic characters did not provide significant support for many currently recognized tribes and subtribes, suggesting that there is a great need for reclassification in the subfamily.

The movements of digestion markers in the gut of the rat were investigated and the results of the investigation are reported in two manuscripts. The objective of the first study was to determine the influence of particle size of dietary wheat bran, chosen as a representative insoluble fiber, on the mean retention time (MRT) of digesta in the rat. The study design included a control group to detect the influence of particle size of digestion marker on the observed retention times. Additionally, a comparison was made between bran and the soluble fiber pectin. Both the soluble cobalt EDTA (Co EDTA) and insoluble chromium mordanted bran (CrMB), of two size ranges were administered to 4 groups of rats fed a semi-purified diet supplemented with wheat bran or pectin (10% dilution). Bran size and particulate marker size were large/large, large/small, small/small and pectin/small for the 4 groups. Mean retention times for CrMB were significantly longer in the pectin than the bran supplemented groups. Differences were not significantly different within the bran supplemented group. No significant differences were found between the rate of passage of CrMB and Co EDTA in any group. The second study was designed to identify pooling of markers in the rat gut. A mathematical model was developed as a system of equations which predicted the marker distribution along the gut following dosing. The model assumed that two pools, the stomach and cecum, were kinetically recognizable in the rat. The predicted distribution of CrMB and Co EDTA was compared to in vivo distribution at 4 h intervals by sequential termination and dissection of the animals. The smaller particle bran had a longer MRT in the cecum and a shorter MRT in the proximal colon. Total MRT to the mid-colon was similar in all bran supplemented groups. Pectin fed animals had significantly enlarged gut organs which explained the slower movement of marker in these animals. The cecum was found to delay the transit of marker from the small intestine to the proximal colon as much as 2.1 h. This delay resulted in the gut appearing as a single pool overall and therefore led the model to overpredict the initial rate of appearance of marker distal to the cecum. A streamlined system was developed to digest the fecal samples in preparation for atomic absorption spectroscopy, the method used to quantify digestion marker recovery. The development of the method is discussed and supporting data are presented on the reproducibility and limits of the method. / Graduation date: 1991

Bibliography: leaves 217-244. / x, 246 leaves : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Tachykinins are implicated in the mediation of airway inflammatory responses and may have roles in airway remodeling and healing. The actions of tachykinins are mediated by specific receptors, designated NK1, NK2 and NK3. Tachykinin degredation, an important mechanism for limiting the effects of these peptides, is principally mediated by neutral endopeptidase (NEP). This thesis investigates the role of tachykinins, in vivo, in an ovine model and in human airway epithelium. Results show that the nett effect of tachykinins in the airway will depend on the relative balance between the expression of receptors, tachykinins and NEP. Assessment of these molecules in the airway epithelium from subjects with normal lungs or chronic bronchitis showed that preprotachykinin-A gene expression was relatively higher in the disease group whereas NEP and NK1 receptor levels were unchanged. These studies provide new insights into the role of tachykinins in airways disease. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine, 1999

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Adelaide, 1987. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-201).

Thesis (D.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, 1981.

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine, 1999. / Bibliography: leaves 217-244.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2008. / Committee Chair: Sambanis, Athanassios; Committee Member: Long, Jr., Robert C.; Committee Member: Ludovice, Peter J.; Committee Member: Prausnitz, Mark R.; Committee Member: Song, Ying C.