The Intermountain West is comprised of impressive land formations, numerous ecoregions, and a unique biota. The area has many flora and fauna that have been investigated, but the region is generally considered undersampled when it comes to insects. However, I propose the matter to be a lack of shared experience in identifying key insect species and the underutilization of professional and personal collections. These impediments are highlighted by two insect groups in the Intermountain West: spongillaflies and tiger moths. Spongillaflies can be difficult to recognize for the general entomologist and have rarely been recorded in the Intermountain West. My colleagues and I recently discovered a large population of spongillaflies in Utah that we present as a substantial additional record. I also followed the population throughout the 2016 field season to make natural history observations. I identified the spongillaflies to be Climacia californica and their associated host to be Ephydatia fluviatilis. During the season, a total of 1,731 specimens were collected, light traps were the most effective sampling technique and the population had one mass emergence event. I hope my work and figures will help investigators as they continue to search the area for spongillaflies. Tiger moths on the other hand have largely been collected in the Intermountain West and are easily recognized, generally being brightly colored. Because of these bright colors, they attract collectors and have been sampled heavily throughout the Intermountain West. However, until now, these records have not been utilized and tucked away in collections. We took the vast amount of records and used them to create predicted models of biogeography for each tiger moth species in the area. We successfully created species level ecological niche models (ENM) analyzing environmental variables such as temperature, precipitation, elevation, and vegetation. Overall, I found tiger moths can be collected almost everywhere and during each month of the year with 93 different species scattered across the region. I anticipate our ENM models to help researchers locate tiger moths of interest to investigate within the Intermountain West. During my studies, I investigated in detail the lichen feeding tiger moths (Lithosiini). Many tiger moths eat toxic plants, but only a few in the area consume lichen, an unusual host because of their secondary defensive chemicals. I investigated how these chemicals impacted Cisthene angelus caterpillars host selection by simultaneously offering them various lichens with differing chemistries. I expected these caterpillars to avoid usnic acid as it deterred other lichen feeding tiger moths. However, these caterpillars surprised me by consistently consuming the acid and being largely polyphagous. Our future work will be directed at how caterpillars balance nutritional needs and the chemicals they sequester.

Sponges (Porifera) are a major component of coral reef ecosystems. They outnumber coral species on the Florida Reef Tract, and in places, account for more living cover. Because coral reefs are a vital part of Florida’s economy, it is important to understand how local sponge assemblages vary spatially and temporally, especially as corals continue to decline. However, long-term observations of sponge assemblages (species richness, diversity and abundance) are lacking. To address this, annual photoquadrats were analyzed from a series of 25 sites off Broward County between 2000 and 2015. Variations in sponge assemblages were then compared to several natural and anthropogenic stressors. Statistical analysis via PERMANOVA, PERMDISP and linear mixed-effect (lme) models revealed significant changes in total sponge composition, with spatial and temporal trends evident among different habitat types and sites. A total of 85 species were identified to the lowest taxonomic level. Common species included Spirastrella coccinea, Niphates erecta, Aplysina cauliformis, and Amphimedon compressa. Species richness increased with depth and habitat type. The Linear Middle Reef had the highest species abundance and richness, while the Shallow Ridge had the lowest of both. Contrary to trends seen in coral species, sponge composition did not decrease with an increase in latitude. Natural fluctuations in sponge abundance and richness via the sponge loop were intensified by natural events. Five common species (Amphimedon compressa, Aiolochroia crassa, Desmapsamma anchorata, Ircinia strobilina, and Xestospongia muta) were selected to monitor growth and mortality over time. All species except for Am. compressa had significant change in area from 2000 to 2015, and D. anchorata exhibited faster growth rates than all other species. This 15-year study provides a baseline of sponge assemblages on the Southeast Florida Reef Tract and insights into individual sponge communities. Sponges are essential organisms on coral reefs. As hard coral continues to decline, and natural and anthropogenic events intensify, this baseline data will serve to inform future studies.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(医学) / 乙第13068号 / 論医博第2123号 / 新制||医||1019(附属図書館) / 33219 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 妻木 範行, 教授 開 祐司, 教授 戸口田 淳也 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Utilizing the polyvinyl sponge-implant model in the rabbit we have previously demonstrated modification in low density lipoproteins (LDL) of interstitial tissue fluid obtained in association with a cellular inflammatory response. In order to examine the interaction between the inflammatory response and lipoproteins from hypercholesterolemic rabbits, 30 male, New Zealand White rabbits were fed standard chow supplemented with 0.5% cholesterol for 4 weeks prior to sponge implantation. Lipoproteins were prepared from interstitial inflammatory fluid (IF) as well as homologous whole plasma (WP). Total IF cholesterol was positively correlated with plasma cholesterol (459 ± 43 vs. 1485 ± 130 mg/dl, X ± SEM, r = 0.81, P < 0.01). Distribution of lipoproteins in IF was similar to WP in both particle size and density. Beta-migrating VLDL were the predominant particles in both WP and IF, containing 43.7 ± 3.4 and 42.2 ± 5.1% of WP and IF cholesterol, respectively. IF-VLDL were similar to WP-VLDL in lipid and apoprotein composition, morphology and particle size distribution. We conclude from these data that the observed dramatic alterations in lipoprotein distribution in response to a dietary cholesterol challenge in rabbit plasma is essentially unaltered in interstitial inflammatory fluid obtained from these animals.

The purpose of this research was to determine if two commonly used soil-washing extracting agents, namely EDTA and nitric acid, could be recycled and reused in subsequent soil-washing processes. This research focuses on the removal of lead from three real-world soils collected from military installations and the evaluation of a chelating polymer termed Type-M Forager® Sponge to recycle the soil-washing effluent. The results of this experiment indicate that the EDTA soil-washing effluent was as effective at removing lead from soil after two recycle processes as it was during the initial simulated soil-washing process. The nitric acid extracting agent solution, however, was neutralized during the first soil-washing simulation for each of the soils tested. Therefore, the Type-M Forager® Sponge was evaluated and proved to be effective as a waste minimization process for the acid soil-washing effluents.

Climate change is predicted to cause an increase in cloudbursts and heavy precipitation, which makes urban flooding an issue that needs to be dealt with. The term Sponge city is a theory that intends to deal with urban flooding and worsening water quality in urban areas with absorption. The study area Hemlingby is an area that has been prone to flooding before, for instance on the 17–18 of August 2021. The area is located about 3 km from the city center Gävle with Hemlingbybäcken running north through the study area. The study was performed in several parts, the first was to use the GIS tool ArcMap 10.8 and hydraulic software CAESAR-lisflood 1.8 to investigate which areas are considered sensitive. In ArcMap 10.8, a bluespot map was created to estimate how much water is needed to fill different areas of Hemlingby, and in CAESAR-lisflood 1.8, the flood inundation area was mapped based on different water flow scenarios. Subsequently, two site visits were made to the study area to photograph and validate the results from the GIS analyses. Based on the GIS analyses, an interview with the municipality of Gävle and an extensive literature analysis, measures were identified that suited both the concept and the study area. The results show what affects the drainage in Hemlingby and how it could be improved through the use of Sponge city. Hemlingbybäcken, which is easily flooded by large water flows, and the topography of the area are factors that have been identified as particularly problematic for the study area's drainage. To show how the area could be planned after the Sponge city concept, proposals for both types of measure and location have been presented, also restrictions and how similar concepts can be applied in other areas are presented. Given that the frequency and intensity of future cloud bursts are not known, there is no answer as to whether the measures presented in the study would stop the study area from being flooded in the future. Especially when data and statistics from previous rainfall were missing, the area's exact reaction to a cloud burst could not be analyzed. On the other hand, it is possible to determine from the analyzes in the method that the study area was not adapted to the type of downpour it was affected by. Therefore, measures aimed at Hemlingbybäcken become significant as the topography or soil type of the area is much more difficult to influence. In order to investigate exactly what impact the proposed measures would have on Hemlingby, further studies need to be carried out to map both the collection capacity and the impact on Hemlingbybäcken the proposal has. / Klimatförändringar förutspås i framtiden leda till en ökning av antalet skyfall och kraftig nederbörd generellt, vilket gör översvämningsproblematiken i urbana områden till ett allt större problem som måste hanteras. Konceptet Sponge city syftar på en teori vars huvuduppgift är att hantera urbana översvämningar och försämrad vattenkvalitet i städer med hjälp av absorberande ytor. Studieområdet Hemlingby i Gävle är ett område som tidigare drabbats av kostsamma översvämningar vid skyfall, bland annat 17–18 augusti 2021. Studieområdet ligger cirka 3 kilometer från Gävle stadskärna och har Hemlingbybäcken rinnandes norrut genom området. Studien utfördes i flera delar, där den första var att med hjälp av GIS-verktyget ArcMap 10.8 och den hydrologiska programvaran CAESAR-lisflood 1.8 utreda vilka områden som bedöms känsliga för översvämning. I ArcMap 10.8 skapades en bluespot-karta för att uppskatta hur mycket vatten som krävs för att fylla olika områden av Hemlingby och i CAESAR-lisflood 1.8 karterades översvämningsutbredningen utifrån olika vattenföringsscenarion. Därefter utfördes ett platsbesök i studieområdet för att fotografera och validera resultatet från GIS-analyserna. Utifrån GIS-analyserna, intervju med Gävle kommun samt omfattande litteraturanalys identifierades åtgärder som både passade konceptet och studieområdet. Resultatet visade vad som påverkar dräneringen i Hemlingby och hur den skulle kunna förbättras genom implementering av konceptet Sponge city. Hemlingbybäcken, som lätt översvämmas vid stora vattenflöden, samt områdets topografi är egenskaper som identifierats som särskilt problematiska för studieområdets dränering. För att visa hur området skulle kunna planeras efter Sponge city har förslag på både åtgärdstyp och placering presenterats, men även begränsningar och hur liknande koncept kan appliceras i andra områden presenteras. Med tanke på att frekvensen och intensiteten på framtida skyfall inte går att veta exakt, finns inget svar på om åtgärderna presenterade i studien skulle stoppa studieområdet från att översvämmas i framtiden. Eftersom data och statistik från tidigare skyfall till viss del saknats har områdets exakta reaktion på ett skyfall inte kunnat analyseras. Däremot går det att utifrån analyserna i metoden fastställa att studieområdet inte var anpassat för den typen av skyfall det drabbats av. Därför blir åtgärder riktade mot Hemlingbybäcken av mycket stor vikt, eftersom områdets topografi eller jordarter är betydligt svårare att förändra. För att undersöka exakt vilken påverkan föreslagna åtgärder skulle ha på Hemlingby behöver ytterligare studier genomföras för att kartlägga både uppsamlingsförmågan och påverkan på Hemlingbybäcken förslaget har.

Les éponges d'eau douce (Porifera) produisent des spicules siliceuses dont la morphologie a une valeur taxonomique et environnementale. Les sédiments très concentrés en spicules, dénommés spongilite, sont présents en abondance dans le nord-ouest du Minas Gerais (Brésil). Ils se sont formés au cours des derniers 28000 ans. Afin d'étudier l'aptitude de ces dépôts à enregistrer les paléoenvironnements, nous avons procédé, à partir des éponges produites actuellement dans un dans un petit lac du nord-ouest du Minas Gerais (Lagoa Verde), à 2 types de calibrations. (1) Le suivi écologique de M. spinata, éponge unique du lac, a été fait au cours de son cycle de vie annuel. L'éponge produit 4 catégories de spicules en lien avec les variations saisonnières de l'équilibre entre précipitation et évaporation, de la température de l'eau et de la concentration en silicium dissout. La mise en évidence de ces relations conforte les interprétations paléoenvironnementales précédemment tirées des assemblages de spicules fossiles. (2) La composition isotopique en oxygène (δ18O) des silicates biogéniques est communément utilisée comme marqueur paléoenvironnemental. Ce marqueur n'a jamais été calibré pour les spicules d'eau douce. Nous avons testé si M. spinata précipitait ses spicules en équilibre isotopique avec l'eau du lac. La composition δ18O des spicules montre une relation thermo-dépendante positive avec la composition δ18O de l'eau, inverse de ce qui est attendu pour une précipitation à l'équilibre isotopique. Ce résultat suggère un fractionnement cinétique d'origine biologique à déterminer en vue de reconstitutions paléoenvironnementales. / Freshwater sponges (Porifera) produce siliceous spicules with taxonomic and paleoenvironmental value. Sediments with high concentrations of spicules, called spongilite, are present in NW Minas Gerais (Brazil). They formed during the last 28000 years. In order to investigate the reliability of these deposits to record past environmental changes, we proceeded to two kinds of calibration, from sponges currently produced in a small lake of NW Minas Gerais (Lagoa verde). (1) The ecology of M. spinata, the only sponge of the lake, was monitored over its annual cycle. The sponge produced 4 spicules categories in relation with seasonal changes in precipitation, evaporation, water temperature and dissolved silicon content. These relationships confirm previous paleoenvironmental reconstructions from fossil spicule assemblages. (2) The oxygen isotopic composition (δ18O) of biogenic silica is commonly used as a paleoenvironmental proxy. This proxy has never been calibrated for fresh water sponge spicules. We checked whether M. spinata formed its spicules in isotopic equilibrium with the lake water. The δ18O signature of the spicules showed a positive thermo-dependent relationship with the δ18O of the lake water, conversely to what was expected for an equilibrium precipitation. This result suggests that a biological kinetic fractionation occurred. This kinetic fractionation needs to be systematically characterized for paleoenvironmental reconstruction purpose.

Master of Science / Food Science Institute / Daniel Y.C. Fung / There are many different environmental sampling methods that are currently used in the industry. They include swab, sponge, flocked swab, direct agar contact, and M-Vac. Several studies have been conducted to determine the benefits and drawbacks of each method. Sampling methods utilized in this study were the swab, flocked swab, and M-Vac. Three surfaces were utilized in this study: ultra high density polypropylene, 304 stainless steel with a 2B finish, and 304 stainless steel with a 2B finish and a buffed surface. Surfaces sampled were 100 cm2. Prior to inoculation, surfaces were autoclaved for 15 min at 121 °C for sterilization. Surfaces were inoculated by either Listeria monocytogenes or Escherichia coli O157:H7 at a concentration of 9 log10 CFU/ml by painting the inoculum onto the surface with a sterilized paintbrush. Brushes were dipped in inoculum for 2 sec before painting from left to right once and then from up to down once. Brushes were redipped for 2 sec and the painting step was repeated. The same brush was used for all E. coli O157:H7 samples and a different brush was used for all L. monocytogenes samples. Then, the surfaces were allowed to dry for 30 min before sampling took place. Listeria monocytogenes samples were appropriately diluted and plated in duplicate onto Tryptic Soy Agar (TSA) and Modified Oxford Media (MOX). Escherichia coli O157:H7 samples were properly diluted and plated in duplicate onto TSA and MacConkey Sorbital Agar (MSA). After plating, dry surfaces were stained using LIVE/DEAD® BacLight™ Bacterial Viability Kit. The Zeiss LSM 5 Pascal confocal laser scanning electron microscope was used for microscopy images and photographs. Six 1 mm by 1 mm random and representative images were taken of each surface. Viable cell count results show that the sponge sampling method, in general, recovered a higher number of microorganisms. The swab was normally shown to recover the least number of microorganisms. When examining the microscopy images it can be concluded that biofilms are more easily formed with L. monocytogenes than E. coli O157:H7. Imaging also allowed for a visual representation of the remaining organisms that made it appear as if there was actually more bacteria recovery when the M-Vac sampling method was employed than when the sponge method was utilized.

In order to study the potential effects of an oil spill on coral reef organisms, the marine sponge, Cinachyrella spp. was investigated. In this study, Cinachyrella spp. was placed in a closed aquaculture system and exposed to sub-lethal water-accommodated fractions (WAFs) of Macondo crude oil and chemically-enhanced water accommodated fractions (CE-WAFs) of the dispersant, Corexit 9500, over a 24-hour time course, in order to model the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and oil spill sponge response. Illumina RNA sequencing and gene expression analysis utilizing hierarchical clustering, principal component analysis, and KEGG bioinformatic database generated 34,147 unique transcripts with differential expression of 483 transcripts across all samples related to metabolism, genetic, environmental, and cellular processes, and associations with pathways involved in human disease development and progression. These pathways highlight the induction of Rac1, a GTPase in the Ras superfamily responsible for cell proliferation, differentiation, and senescence and SOS, a set of specialized Ras-GTP activators. These Ras-regulated signaling proteins are thought to play a significant role in the development of human malignancies, specifically Rac1. The data reported here helps support the possible role of Cinachyrella spp. as an ecotoxicological model for oil and dispersant pollution as well as the identification of potential biomarkers of stress and environmental perturbation. These results have important implications in identifying stress response in coral reef associated communities, and will ultimately be useful in coral reef conservation, management, and oil spill mitigation activities.

O alcoolismo é considerado um redutor da formação óssea, podendo levar a distúrbios osteometabólicos, já a rhBMP-2 é uma proteína morfogenética conhecida por desempenhar um papel importante nos processos de reparação e indução da formação óssea. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a ação do alcoolismo e a resposta do reparo em defeitos ósseos (DO) na calvária de ratos, após a aplicação da rhBMP-2, pura e combinada a uma matriz de colágeno. Foram utilizados 80 ratos divididos em 8 grupos, cada um deles com um período de espera até o sacrifício de 4 e 6 semanas, após a criação cirúrgica do defeito ósseo na calvária de 5 mm. Os grupos foram divididos em G1) água \"ad libitum\" + DO, G2) álcool \"ad libitum\" + DO, G3) água + DO + 5&mu;g rhBMP-2 pura, G4) álcool + DO + 5&mu;g rhBMP-2 pura, G5) água + DO + carreador esponja de colágeno, G6) álcool + DO + carreador esponja de colágeno, G7) água e + DO + 5&mu;g rhBMP- 2/esponja de colágeno, G8) álcool + DO + 5&mu;g rhBMP-2/esponja de colágeno. Os dados radiográficos e os dados para a análise de fibras colágena tipo I e III foram submetidos à análise estatística Kruskal-Wallis e Dunn\'s Multiple, os dados histológicos ao teste de análise de variância (ANOVA) e Tukey. O resultado encontrado para a análise radiográfica no tempo de 6 semanas demonstrou que os grupos tratados com rhBMP-2 independente da utilização do carreador e do etanol apresentaram maior neoformação óssea (p<0,05), para o tempo de 4 semanas não foi encontrada diferença estatística. Para a análise imunoistoquímica, a ostecalcina (OC) e sialoproteína óssea (BPS) foram predominantes nos grupos tratados com rhBMP-2. Para a análise histológica, a quantificação de fibras colágenas tipo I apresentou diferença estatística entre os grupos (p<0,05), com aumento destas fibras principalmente nos grupos tradados com rhBMP-2 associado a esponja de colágeno; e na análise quantitativa por estereologia, o volume de tecido ósseo neoformado foi maior para os grupos tratados com rhBMP-2 pura ou associada ao carreador, porém para os grupos tratados com etanol, houve maior neoformação óssea para o grupo tratado com rhBMP-2 associado ao carreador nos períodos de 4 e 6 semanas (p<0,001). Concluiu-se neste modelo experimental que, o carreador foi efetivo na bioliberação da rhBMP-2, mesmo na presença do etanol. / Alcoholism is considered a reducer for new bone formation, may leading to osteometabolic disturbance, considering that the rhBMP-2 is a morphogenetic protein known to play an important role in the bone healing processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of alcoholism and its effect on the repair of bone defects (DO) performed in rat calvaria after the rhBMP-2 application, pure or combined with a collagen matrix. We used 80 rats divided into eight groups, each one with a waiting period for sacrifice of 4 and 6 weeks after the bone defect (5mm) delineation in the rat skull. The groups were divided into: G1) water \"ad libitum\" + DO, G2) alcohol \"ad libitum\" + DO, G3) water + DO + 5&mu;g pure rhBMP-2, G4) alcohol + DO + 5&mu;g pure rhBMP-2, G5 ) DO + water + collagen sponge carrier, G6) alcohol + DO + collagen sponge carrier, G7) and water + DO + 5&mu;g rhBMP-2/collagen sponge, G8) alcohol + DO + 5&mu;g of rhBMP-2/collagen sponge. The radiographic data were submitted to statistical analysis Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn\'s Multiple, histological data to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test. Radiographically, it was found after 6 weeks that the groups treated with rhBMP-2, independently of the carrier use and ethanol administration, more new bone formation (p<0.05), at 4 weeks it was not found statistical difference. For immunohistochemical analysis, ostecalcin (OC), and bone sialoprotein (BPS) were predominant in groups treated with rhBMP-2. For histological quantification of collagen type I fibers, statistical difference between groups was found (p<0.05) with the increasing of these fibers in the groups treated with rhBMP-2 combined with collagen sponge; and quantitative by stereology, aiming to calculate the volume of new bone, it was found higher values for the groups treated with rhBMP-2 pure or combined to the carrier; but for the groups treated with ethanol, it was found higher bone formation in the groups treated with rhBMP-2 associated to the carrier in the periods of 4 and 6 weeks (p <0.001). It was concluded in this experimental model that the carrier was effective for rhBMP-2 delivery, even in the presence of ethanol.