Digital Commons Network^™

I'M Going Cycle Every Day, Lauren Nguyen

LSU Master's Theses

Many designers and scientists have been able to integrate design and science in their respective fields to create works that effectively inform their audiences of complicated subjects. Each of these individuals can express their creativity and viewpoint of the subject matter in a way that is interesting, visually appealing, and informative. Using the medium of graphic design, I created printed posters that represent the way I view the processes of the human body that are technical, yet also visually appealing.

My thesis exhibition walks my audience through the biological cycles that maintain the human body on an everyday basis from …

The Characterization Of Alpha-Carbonic Anhydrases Through Mutagenesis And Subcellular Localization In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Lance E. Pounds

LSU Master's Theses

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are zinc metalloenzymes which catalyze the interconversion of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate. It is hypothesized that CA activity facilitates CO₂ flux in leaf mesophyll cells to maintain optimal rates of photosynthesis or to maintain a pool of inorganic carbon for other metabolic processes. There are three classes of CAs (α, β, and γ) in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The βCAs and γCAs have been well studied, but the αCAs have received relatively little study. There are eight αCA genes in Arabidopsis. This study investigates which αCAs are expressed in shoots, their tissue-specific expression, their …

Evotext: A New Tool For Analyzing The Biological Sciences, Grant Ramsey, Charles H. Pence

Faculty Publications

We introduce here evoText, a new tool for automated analysis of the literature in the biological sciences. evoText contains a database of hundreds of thousands of journal articles and an array of analysis tools for generating quantitative data on the nature and history of life science, especially ecology and evolutionary biology. This article describes the features of evoText, presents a variety of examples of the kinds of analyses that evoText can run, and offers a brief tutorial describing how to use it.

Effects Of Traditional Versus Electronic Note Taking In A High School Biology Classroom, Chelsea Ann Duhon

LSU Master's Theses

This study investigated the effect of traditional and electronic note taking on student achievement and engagement in a Louisiana high school biology classroom. Over a 20-week period, traditional students (n= 58) took notes using pencil and paper and electronic note takers (n=46) used their laptop computers. Each group of students was given identical pre and posttests covering three units and a practice End of Course exam. Normalized learning gains were compared for each unit and suggest there is no significant difference in academic achievement between the traditional note takers and the electronic note takers. An attitudinal survey was also administered …

Antisense Regulation And Tissue-Specific Roles Of Peg3 In Lactation And Maternal Care, Wesley D. Frey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Genomic imprinting is characterized by the restrictive expression of a gene from one of the two inherited parental alleles. Many of these genes have been implicated in neonatal growth and mammalian reproduction. The two studies discussed in this dissertation focus on the tissue-specific contributions of Paternally Expressed Gene 3 (Peg3) on lactation and maternal care as well as the regulation of this gene through an antisense RNA (APeg3). In the first study, a conditional knockout allele has been developed to further characterize these known functions of Peg3 in a tissue-specific manner. The mutant line was first crossed with germline Cre, …

The Effect Of Teaching Biology Concepts With Animations Compared To Static Cartoons On Content Retention, Rebecca Adams Polk

LSU Master's Theses

This study explores the effect of animations versus static cartoons on students’ content retention in a high school biology classroom. Students were pre-tested prior to the introduction of content in three units of study: cellular transport, protein synthesis, and mitosis. After instruction on the topic via PowerPoint presentations, students were randomly assigned to either the test group or experimental group for each unit. The control group was removed from the room and given a series of static cartoons with captions to view. The experimental group viewed an animation on the topic, accompanied by teacher narration, which consisted of the captions …

Taxonomy And Systematics Of New Zealand Faronitae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae), Jong-Seok Park

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The New Zealand Faronitae was revised at the species level, and a phylogenetic study was performed based on morphological and molecular data. Eight new genera and 143 new species were discovered. Three new genera, “Brounea”, “Ahnea” and “Pseudoexeirarthra” were designated based on the species originally described in the genus Sagola. Five new genera, “Aucklandea”, “Chandlerea”, “Nunnea”, “Leschenea” and “Pseudostenosagola” were designated by new species. Three known genera, Exeirarthra, Stenosagola and Sagola were also revised at species level. Eighty four names were synonymized, two in Exeirarthra, four in Stenosagola and 78 in Sagola. Lectotypes of seven species, Sagola terricola Broun, S. …

Lsu Research Fall 2012, Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College

Research Magazine

LSU Research is published annually by the Office of Research & Economic Development, Louisiana State University.

Technology In The Classroom: Effect Of Student Blogging On Learning Gains In A High School Classroom, Mandy Lynn Lebourgeois

LSU Master's Theses

This study explores the benefits of student use of web logs (blogs) in a high school Biology classroom. Students were assigned to blog by answering questions on topics from the Miller and Levine (2010) Biology textbook, which correlated to the Louisiana Grade-Level Expectations (GLEs), benchmarks that should be familiar to students at the end of a course. Raw gains (from pretest to posttest) were compared for the study group of 124 ninth and tenth grade students to determine if blogging increased student learning gains by increasing student accountability. The Louisiana Enhanced Assessment of Grade-Level Expectations (EAGLE) test bank was used …

Community College Students' Plant Biodiversity Learning Experience In An Introductory Biology Course: Exploring The Value Added By Using A Cd-Rom To Develop Inquiry Lessons, Sandra M. Guzman-Rodriguez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined the value added to standard textbook-based instruction of plant biodiversity by the use of the exemplary interactive CD-ROM, Conserving Earth’s Biodiversity. This CD-ROM features renowned conservation figure E.O. Wilson. The setting of the research was an introductory biology course in a rural public community college in the Deep South. Six participants were purposively selected to represent three levels of achievement and two groups, the CD-ROM group (exposed to CD-ROM in addition to the textbook) and the textbook group (only course textbook). Students experienced lecture-based, textual, virtual, and real experiences, and examined their ability to understand biodiversity-related concepts …

Systemic And Colonic Hemodynamic And Vasomotor Responses To Adenosine Triphosphate In Horses., Joanne Tetens

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Clinically healthy horses were instrumented to measure hemodynamic, metabolic, hematologic, and serum biochemical variables and monitor clinical signs during and after IV infusion of ATP-MgCl2. Conscious horses were administered ATP-MgCl2 (0.05 mg ATP/kg body weight/min; 0.05 mg/kg/min increments; maximum rate-1.0 mg/kg/min), which caused a rate-dependent increase in cardiac output, decrease in systemic vascular resistance, and mild pulmonary hypertension. The maximal safe infusion rate was 0.3 mg ATP/kg body weight/min. Anesthetized horses administered ATP-MgCl2 (0.1 to 1 mg/kg/min; 0.1 mg/kg/min increments) developed a rate-dependent decrease in systemic and colonic vascular resistance via vasodilatation. In conscious horses administered lowdose endotoxin, ATP-MgCl2 (dose-100 …

Red Morningglory (Ipomoea Coccinea L.) And Sugarcane Response To Soil-Applied Herbicides., Blaine Joseph Viator

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted to determine if reported red morningglory (Ipomoea coccinea L.) control failures with atrazine in sugarcane are due to triazine-resistant mutants. Terminal fluorescence of leaf material from locations with and without a history of atrazine use increased after treatment with atrazine, indicating electron transport inhibition and hence, triazine susceptibility. Postemergence (POST) application of atrazine controlled plants from all populations at least 99%, supporting findings of the fluorescence assay. A field study was conducted to evaluate red morningglory control and sugarcane injury with herbicides applied at layby. At 45 days after treatment (DAT), control with sulfentrazone …

Pathobiology Of Streptococcus Iniae Infections In Cultured Tilapia., Alvin Cyril Camus

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Streptococcus iniae was first isolated in 1972 from an Amazon River dolphin. It reappeared as a fish pathogen in Japan several years later. Since then it has steadily increased in incidence and host range worldwide, and is a known zoonotic agent. In the United States it is the most significant pathogen affecting growth of tilapia aquaculture. Histopathologic descriptions are incomplete and little is known concerning pathogenesis of the disease or virulence mechanisms of the organism. A composite of lesions was compiled from diseased tilapia evaluated by the Aquatic Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Louisiana State University from 1995--2001. In common with …

Metal Partitioning Among Tissues And Exoskeleton Of Palaemonetes Pugio And Its Role In Depuration And Trophic Transfer., Kristen Annette Keteles

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The objective of this dissertation was to determine the partitioning of Cu, Zn and Cd between tissues and exoskeleton of the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio Holthius, and to examine the consequences of this association. The role of the exoskeleton in the potential for depuration of metals through ecdysis was examined first. The portion eliminated with the exuviae varied for each metal; 11% Cu, 18% Zn, and 26% Cd of the total intermolt body burden was associated with exuviae. Some fraction of Cu and Cd in the exoskeleton was likely reabsorbed before molting but excess Zn was likely depurated through excretion. …

Lipopolysaccharide Receptor, Toll -Like Receptor 4, Mediated Signaling Pathways Leading To Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression In Murine Macrophages., Sang Hoon Rhee

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Genetic evidence indicating that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor in mice was reported. However, biochemical evidence that murine TLR4 confers LPS responsiveness has not been convincingly demonstrated. Inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) is selectively expressed in LPS-stimulated macrophages in part mediated through activation of NFkappaB. Thus, we determined whether murine TLR4 confers LPS responsiveness as evaluated by activation of NFkappaB and COX-2 expression. Expression of the constitutively active form (DeltaTlr4) of TLR4 in murine macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) is sufficient to activate NFkappaB and COX-2 expression and to stimulate prostaglandin E2 synthesis. The truncated form [DeltaTlr4 (P712H)] …

T -Cell Cytokines And Equine Nematode Infections., Jenifer Dee Edmonds

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

To address the role of parasites on subsequent antigenic challenge, humoral, lymphoproliferative and cytokine responses to a single intramuscular injection of keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) were compared between groups of ponies with high, medium or low gastrointestinal parasite burdens. Heavy and moderately parasitised animals showed a trend towards reduced KLH-specific lymphoproliferation and reduced antigen specific total immunoglobulin, IgG(T) and IgA compared to lightly parasitised ponies. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from medium and heavily parasitised ponies also had significantly lower levels of IL-4. These data indicate that heavily parasitised animals have uniformly decreased cellular and humoral immune responses to …

Body Condition, Leptin, And Reproductive Characteristics In Horses., Laura Roland Gentry

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

A series of experiments was conducted to gain a better understanding of the effects of nutrition and hormonal manipulation on the reproductive processes of the horse. In Experiment 1, body condition score (BCS) and ultrasonic backfat measurements were highly correlated in mares, especially over the tailhead area. In Experiment 2, high BCS (HBCS) mares continued to ovulate during the winter anestrous period, whereas low BCS (LBCS) mares went deeply anestrous. Daily hormone concentrations were not affected by BCS, however, responses to hormonal challenges indicated cyclicity in HBCS mares and reproductive quiescence in LBCS mares. In Experiment 3, treatment of average …

Statistical And Simulation Modeling Of Brown Shrimp Population Dynamics In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico., Heather Lynn Haas

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation used statistical and simulation modeling to examine population dynamics of brown shrimp, Penaeus (Farfantepenaeus ) aztecus. Brown shrimp are ideal to use in examining recruitment because shrimp represent a common life history strategy, because they are commercially important, and because there are extensive data available. In the first section of this dissertation, I used long-term monitoring data to examine correlative relationships between annual, stage-specific abundance estimates and environmental factors. Criticisms of traditional correlative studies were addressed by using a spatially and temporally-extensive dataset, by comparing stepwise multiple regression to Bayesian model averaging, and by investigating nonlinear relationships with …

The Across-Shelf Distribution Of Larval, Postlarval And Juvenile Fishes Collected At Oil And Gas Platforms And A Coastal Jetty Off Louisiana West Of The Mississippi River Delta., Frank Joseph Hernandez Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

A cross-shelf transect of three petroleum platforms and a coastal rock jetty (another hard-substrate, artificial habitat) in the northcentral Gulf were sampled to examine the role that oil and gas platforms (hard substrate habitat) may play in the early life history stages of reef-dependent and reef-associated fishes. The ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish assemblages were sampled at Green Canyon 18 (GC 18; 230 m depth, shelf slope); Grand Isle 94 (GI 94; 60 m depth, mid-shelf); and South Timbalier 54 (ST 54; 20 m depth, inner shelf) with passive plankton nets and light-traps and at a coastal rock jetty (Belle Pass; …

Systematics Of Neotropical Satyrine Butterflies (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae: Euptychiina) Based On Larval Morphology And Dna Sequence Data And The Evolution Of Life History Traits., Debra Lynne Murray

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Although satyrine butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) are highly diverse and found worldwide in most terrestrial habitats, they have received little attention from systematists. This research focuses on one of the largest satyrine groups, the euptychiines, found from central United States to Argentina, with the greatest diversity in the Amazon. The subtribe Euptychiina has a troubled taxonomic history. Most genera were erected without diagnoses and placed within the subtribe without being examined. Before this project was initiated, little was known of their basic biology and morphology. Therefore, considerable attention was given to this area in my research. I describe the larvae …

Meiofaunal Colonization Of Artificial Substrates., Nazan Atilla

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Meiofaunal colonization of artificial substrates was investigated in a shallow estuarine embayment. Meiofauna colonized various artificial substrates rapidly, at a rate of 1000 individuals collector-1 day -1 regardless of season, suggesting that high abundances of meiofauna commonly exist in the water column. These water-column meiofauna may be important in fish diets and may serve as a dispersing pool that aids recolonization after disturbance events. Colonization of artificial substrates by transient meiofauna of unknown origin(s) occurred through the water column. To determine the source of meiofauna colonizing artificial substrates, sediment and pier-piling meiofauna were sampled and compared to artificial-substrate colonists. Assemblages …

Factors Affecting Community Structure Of Mangroves Associated With Point Bars And Islands In A Costa Rican Estuary., Patricia Delgado-Sanchez

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

A conceptual model of relationships between mangrove community structure and their physico-chemical environment is developed for point bars and islands in the Tempisque-Bebedero estuarine system, Pacific coast, Costa Rica. The model identifies key variables whose relationships to mangrove forest structure are the focus of extended field and mesocosm studies. Point bars and islands are very dynamic features constantly modified by hydrology and sediment dynamics. In the Tempisque-Bebedero system, they are additionally modified by extensive agricultural activities. High riverine sediment loads, associated with irrigation and seasonal wind-driven resuspension, result in significantly higher sediment deposition in lower intertidal zones; upper intertidal zones …

Two Splice Variants Of Nopp140 In Drosophila Melanogaster., John Mark Waggener

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The activities of non-ribosomal nucleolar proteins are now understood to be important for the normal functions of both nucleoli and C&barbelow;ajal B&barbelow;odies (CBs). Although these proteins have been studied extensively in other eukaryotes, knowledge of non-ribosomal nucleolar proteins in Drosophila melanogaster lags far behind. The n&barbelow;ucleo&barbelow;lar p&barbelow;hosphop&barbelow;rotein of 140 kDa (Nopp140) may function to shuttle box C/D and box H/ACA s&barbelow;mall n&barbelow;ucleo&barbelow;lar (sno)RNAs from the nucleus to the nucleolus, where they function in the 2 '-O-methylation and pseudouridylation of rRNA, respectively. Nopp140 homologues have been described in rat, human, Xenopus laevis , and yeast. This dissertation describes the cloning of …

The Role Of Immunity In Resistance Of Gulf Coast Native Sheep To Haemonchus Contortus Infection., Maria Teresa Pena

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Haemonchus contortus is a serious constraint for sheep production in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The use of genetically resistant animals is a promising alternative for controlling nematode infections without relying on the use of anthelmintics. Extensive epidemiological studies demonstrated that Gulf Coast Native sheep are naturally resistant to H. contortus infection, but the mechanism underlying this resistance is not well known. The main purpose of this research was to define the components of the immune response that may be involved in resistance of GCN to H. contortus infection. Three studies were conducted. In the first study, a …

Effects Of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitors On Equine And Bovine Follicular Dynamics And Steroidogenesis., Carlos Roberto Fontes Pinto

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Current scientific literature has shown that: (1) NO is a pro-ovulatory agent and inhibition of its production inhibits ovulation, and (2) NO has strong antisteroidogenic activity, especially on estradiol (E2) production by granulosa cells. The experiments described in this dissertation were designed to answer the following questions involving effects of NO on ovarian physiology: (1) is the inhibitory effect of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors on ovulation irreversible (follicular atresia) or temporary (delayed ovulation)? and (2) what is the relationship between NO and hCG-induced preovulatory luteinization? Accordingly, cycling mares were subjected to treatment with NOS inhibitors (L-NAME or aminoguanidine) during …

A Drifter Study Of Advection, Deformations, And Patch Variances With Application To Larval Transport And Dispersal In Barataria Bay, Louisiana., Terry L. Schaefer

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Field studies were conducted to characterize flow fields and their effect on larval transport and retention within Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Drifter tracking and passive larval sampling was conducted monthly during the spring and summer months from 1994 through 1996. Fifteen drifter tracking sessions were conducted over full tidal cycles (diurnal). Drifter positions were determined approximately every thirty minutes using a GPS receiver. A spline interpolation was used to estimate drifter positions at synchronous five-minute intervals. An analytical methodology of Okubo and coworkers was used to compute deformations; and changes in patch variances from the drifter positions. Mean tidal advection and …

Isolation And Characterization Of A Rhodobacter Capsulatus Hemc Mutant., Karen Coleman Sullivan

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Rhodobacter capsulatus, a purple, nonsulfur photosynthetic bacterium, uses the tetrapyrrole pathway to synthesize four end products: heme, bacteriochlorophyll, vitamin B12, and siroheme. This laboratory has focused on the regulation of the common pathway leading from aminolevulinate to protoporphyrin IX in R. capsulatus. The common portion of the pathway is regulated up to 100-fold by changes in oxygen tension. Research on the regulation of this pathway has been hampered due to a lack of mutants. Until now, the only mutants isolated which block heme production are hemA mutants, which lack aminolevulinate synthase. Since R. capsulatus lacks a cytochrome-independent growth mechanism, mutations …

Epidemiology Of Salmonella In The Green Iguana (Iguana Iguana)., Mark Anthony Mitchell

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The incidence of iguana-associated salmonellosis reported in humans during the 1990's is a public health concern. This research is the first attempt to describe the epidemiology of Salmonella in the green iguana. Seasonal prevalence of Salmonella in green iguanas and their environment were estimated at a commercial iguana farm in El Salvador. The prevalence of Salmonella was lower in adult iguanas (44%) than in yearlings (50%) (Odds ratio (OR): 0.77, 95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 0.6--0.96) and higher in male iguanas (50%) than females (41%) (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2--1.8). Salmonella recovery was lower in the fall (41%) sampling period than …

Ecological Structure Of Estaurine Fish Communities: Habitat Linkages Among Dominant Species Groups In Terminos Lagoon, Mexico., Ana Laura Lara-Dominguez

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Terminos Lagoon in the southern Gulf of Mexico has 5 ecological subsystems: (1) fluvial lagoon systems (FLS) with permanent river discharge, low salinity, high turbidity and nutrients. (2) Central basin (CB) between marine and river conditions, intermediate salinity and variable transparency. (3) Inner littoral of Carmen Island (ILCI) with strong marine influence, high transparency and extensive seagrass meadows. (4) Carmen inlet (Estero Pargo, ESP) with a net outflow of water and high turbidity. (5) Puerto Real inlet (PR) with a net inflow of waters, high transparency and seagrasses. During a 15-month sampling, 13,691 individuals of 79 different species were collected …

Evaluation Of Insecticide Resistance In Louisiana Adult Mosquitoes And The Efficacies Of Selected Larvicides., Stacy Lee Bearden

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Pesticide resistance in Louisiana mosquitoes has never been examined on a state-wide basis. In 1996, first component of this monitoring program examined selected pesticide efficacies and documented current pesticide resistance. Ground ULV-applied FyfanonRTM (96.8% malathion and Pyrocide RTM (96.8% + 1% natural pyrethrum) were applied to caged Culex quinquefasciatus adults (Denham Springs [Livingston Parish] and Lake Charles [Calcasieu Parish]) and Aedes sollicitans (Vermilion Parish). FyfanonRTM caused significantly different (p < 0.05) mortalities among each species and strain within 24hrs (95% Aedes, 48% Denham Springs, and 14% Lake Charles). Pyrocide RTM also produced significantly different mortalities (99%, 70%, and 38%, respectively). Malathion and permethrin were topically applied to 3--5 day old adult mosquitoes from 14 parishes. St. Martin parish Cx. quinquefasciatus was most susceptible to malathion (2.58 mug/mul), and the Vermilion strain was most resistant (417.05 mug/mul). Resistance is based on a ≥5-fold resistance ratio. Calcasieu parish strain was least resistant to permethrin (1.93 mug/mul), and the St. Tammany parish strain was most resistant (40.86 mug/mul). Detecting pesticide resistance by bottle bioassay technique was compared to topical bioassay. Both techniques were effective in detecting resistance for selected Aedes, Anopheles, and Culex species in Louisiana. Ground ULV 97% malathion was applied to caged Cx. quinquefasciatus adults from a mosquito abatement district, agrichemical farmland, and a susceptible colony. No significance (p > 0.05) existed in mosquito mortality between the agrichemical area and the abatement district. Bacillus thuringiensis var. israeliensis (VectoBacRTM WDG and VectoBacRTM 12AS) and Bacillus sphaericus (VectoLexRTM WDG and VectoLexRTM CG) were …