The periodicity of formation of growth increments in the otoliths of South African sparids was validated by the oxytetracycline labelling technique. Intramuscular injections of oxytetracycline at a dosage of 250mg/kg marked the otoliths of laboratory held juvenile sparids, while a dosage range of 50 - 100mg/kg oxytetracycline, injected intramuscularly, marked adult sparids in the field. Laboratory held, larval sparid otoliths were marked by immersion for 24hrs a solution of 100-150mg/l alizarin complexone. Both daily (microstructural) and annual (macrostructural) growth increments were identified in the otoliths. The micro incremental pattern of deposition in the sparid otoliths conformed to the general pattern of otolith structure. Sparid otoliths consisted of a central opaque nucleus composed of multiple primordia. surrounding this nucleus were daily increments which decreased in width as the distance from the nucleus increased. Both check rings and subdaily increments were visible throughout the otolith. Minor environmental changes did not affect micro incremental deposition. Narrow opaque and wide hyaline annual growth zones were identified in sectioned sparid otoliths. Scanning electron microscope analysis of the annual growth zones revealed that microincrements within the opaque zone were narrowly spaced with prominent discontinuous phases. This resulted in the greater optical density and higher protein content of the zone. The hyaline zone was composed of widely spaced daily increments with prominent incremental phases accounting for the translucent nature of this zone. Opaque zone formation in the otoliths of many South African sparids was found to occur primarily during periods of reproductive activity and was shown to be indicative of slow otolith growth. The hyaline zone was formed after the spawning season, representative of fast otolith growth. The results of this study have resolved much of the controversy surrounding the rate of growth and time of formation of the opaque and hyaline growth zones in South African sparid otoliths.

Experimental data in the literature suggests that the upper break frequency of the human otolith organ is about 1.5 rad/sec. This paper presents an analytical technique to show that this value is approximately two orders of magnitude too small. The accepted lumped parameter model of the otolith organ is approximated to be independent of cupular stiffness for small time. Removal of the stiffness leads to a problem which, when subjected to a change in linear velocity, is analogous to Stokes' impulsive plate problem. The displacement of this"elasticity-independent" impulsive plate problem is compared with that predicted by the lumped parameter model when subjected to the same input. The solution of the former is approximated to be in the same exponential form as the latter, from which a value for the short time constant of the system is extracted. This value, the reciprocal of the upper break frequency, is approximately .0067 sec, giving a value for the upper break frequency of 150 rad/sec. This value is shown to be supported by several sources. / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / Physiology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Sc.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND AERONAUTICS. / Vita. / Bibliography: leaves 233-238. / by Byron Kurt Lightenberg. / Sc.D.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-183).

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- McMaster University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available via World Wide Web,

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-203).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 181-203) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2009. / Title from title screen (site viewed January 12, 2010). PDF text: v, 128 p. : ill. ; 1 Mb. UMI publication number: AAT 3360500. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in microfilm and microfiche formats.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.