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The Role Of Histone Methyltransferases In Determining Developmental Potential Of Bovine Oocytes, Jairo Alberto Sarmiento Jan 2014

The Role Of Histone Methyltransferases In Determining Developmental Potential Of Bovine Oocytes, Jairo Alberto Sarmiento

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Histone proteins are proteins found in eukaryotic cells that associate with DNA to form the most basic structural unit of chromatin, called nucleosomes. The post-translational modifications of histones regulate developmental competence in bovine oocytes and early embryos. The difference in developmental competence between in vitro matured oocytes and in vivo matured oocytes was used to investigate the accumulation of transcripts for histone methyltransferases (HMTs) during oocyte maturation. Methyltransferases ASH1L, EHMT2, SUV39H1 and KDM6B were selected as genes of interest. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration (TUGA) was used to collect immature and in vivo matured bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). Immature COCs collected via …


Exchange Rate Volatility Effects On Brics Countries Exports, David Isaias Maradiaga Pineda Jan 2014

Exchange Rate Volatility Effects On Brics Countries Exports, David Isaias Maradiaga Pineda

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The leaders of the leading emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) claim that increased currency exchange rate volatility (CERV) from USD, EUR, and JPY (G-3) negatively impacts their exports, and expressed their desire for less trade dependence on these currencies. The literature on the impact of CERV on trade is vast. However, no consensus on the impact’s direction and significance has been reached yet. The motivation of this study was: first, to contribute to the existing empirical literature by using an alternative methodology; and second, to provide empirical evidence to the claim’s validity or nullity by …


The Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Vitamin D And Exercise, Laura Ann Forney Jan 2014

The Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Vitamin D And Exercise, Laura Ann Forney

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Elevated inflammation is associated with several chronic diseases, including obesity. Exercise is an established effective treatment of this condition by decreasing adiposity and independently regulating inflammatory pathways. The potential for vitamin D to confer anti-inflammatory benefits has been explored in cell culture studies, but few have explored its action at the whole body level. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers in trained and untrained individuals with vitamin D levels either above or below a suggested optimal concentration. METHODS: College-aged females (N = 63), both trained and untrained, reported to the lab four times: to assess body size and …


Palatable Foods For A Methionine Restricted Diet, Gabriela Melissa Crespo Gutierrez Jan 2014

Palatable Foods For A Methionine Restricted Diet, Gabriela Melissa Crespo Gutierrez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Protein oxidation results in loss of tryptophan, oxidation of cysteine to cysteic acid, oxidation of methionine to methionine sulfoxide and ultimately to methionine sulfone. Methionine sulfoxide has been shown to be completely unavailable to mammalian cells and promote improved insulin sensitivity, lifespan extension, weight loss induction and reduce tumor growth in rat studies. Casein was oxidized with ozone or hydrogen peroxide to reduce the cysteine and methionine levels for use in sulfur amino acid restricted diets. Casein was isoelectrically precipitated from skim milk and oxidized with hydrogen peroxide at various pH levels, from 2.5–11. Two strong oxidizers were used: hydrogen …


Chemistry And Application Of Pulses As Value-Added Ingredients In Processed Foods, Darryl Holliday Jan 2014

Chemistry And Application Of Pulses As Value-Added Ingredients In Processed Foods, Darryl Holliday

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Chemical characterization of pulses allows for varying rates of water absorption, least gelation capacity, and retrogradation depending on species. Nutritionally, pulses are good sources of protein while being low in fat. Pulses deliver a readily bioavailable food form of several key minerals. Additionally, they deliver fiber. The insoluble fiber components are both natural and formed resistant starch in addition to the oligosaccharide content. Therefore, pulses can serve both a nutritional and functional role when used as a value-added ingredient. Meat patties were produced from beef and 23 different pulses at 35%, 42.5%, and 50% ratios. Each patty was tested for …


The Control Of Amplitude And Direction In Bimanual Coordination, Zhujun Pan Jan 2014

The Control Of Amplitude And Direction In Bimanual Coordination, Zhujun Pan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Spatial coordination of bimanual movements is important when performing daily activities. Whereas, older adults and individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD) commonly show difficulties in temporally coordinating the hands in bimanual coordination tasks, the effects of aging and Parkinson’s disease on the quality of spatial coordination between the hands are unclear. Thus, the present work investigated the impact of older age and PD on the spatial interference in a bimanual task in which 48 right hand-dominant participants (16 young adults, 16 older adults and 16 individuals with PD) drew simultaneously two lines with both hands with varied movement amplitudes (3 and …


Evaluation Of Economic Injury Levels And Chemical Control Recommendations For Rice Stink Bug (Oebalus Pugnax) In Louisiana, Bryce Blackman Jan 2014

Evaluation Of Economic Injury Levels And Chemical Control Recommendations For Rice Stink Bug (Oebalus Pugnax) In Louisiana, Bryce Blackman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Experiments were carried out from 2010 to 2013 to investigate multiple aspects of rice stink bug (RSB) integrated pest management (IPM): insecticide recommendations, sampling efficiency, treatment thresholds, farmer practices, and improved educational tools. The first objective of this research was to compare the efficacies of currently used insecticides with that of a new product from the neonicotinoid class of insecticides. Experiments were carried out in the laboratory, small field plots, and commercial fields across Louisiana. Results from efficacy trials showed that the neonicotinoid was comparable to pyrethroid products used most by rice producers in Louisiana. Conversely, in separate experiments the …


Genetics And Genomics Studies Of Rice Disease Resistance And Development Of Alternative Disease Management Methods For Bacterial Panicle Blight And Sheath Blight, Bishnu Kumar Shrestha Jan 2014

Genetics And Genomics Studies Of Rice Disease Resistance And Development Of Alternative Disease Management Methods For Bacterial Panicle Blight And Sheath Blight, Bishnu Kumar Shrestha

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Bacterial panicle blight (BPB) and sheath blight (SB), caused by the bacteria Burkholderia glumae and B. gladioli, and the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, respectively, are two major rice diseases in southern rice growing regions of US. No completely resistant rice cultivars have been identified for these diseases. However, a medium-grain cultivar, Jupiter, showed partial resistance to BPB. In order to understand the mechanisms of rice resistance against BPB and SB, rice genetics and genomics studies have been conducted. Alternative methods to suppress BPB and SB were also studied. Broad-sense heritability and correlations were calculated for the traits, BPB and SB disease …


Effects Of Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation On Bovine Oocyte Lipid Metabolism, Lipid Composition And Embryo Cryotolerance, Cody Lee Bailey Jan 2014

Effects Of Dietary Conjugated Linoleic Acid Supplementation On Bovine Oocyte Lipid Metabolism, Lipid Composition And Embryo Cryotolerance, Cody Lee Bailey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Variation in cryotolerance exists between embryos from different animal breed, species and management conditions. Reduced tolerance to chilling and cryotolerance of oocytes and embryos has been associated with greater cytoplasmic lipids (Kim et al., 2001; Seidel, 2006). Previous studies in the cow have demonstrated nutrition-induced modification of follicular components. Trans-10, cis-12 conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) was identified as a potent inhibitor of milk fat synthesis in lactating cows (Baumgard et al., 2000) and inclusion of CLA in bovine embryo culture medium improved post-thaw embryo survival (Pereira et al., 2007). Dietary supplementation of cows with CLA could alter oocyte fatty acid …


Estimating U.S. Household Seafood Demand Based On Longitudinal And Cross-Sectional Data, Huabo Wang Jan 2014

Estimating U.S. Household Seafood Demand Based On Longitudinal And Cross-Sectional Data, Huabo Wang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This overall goal of this research is to examine and update U.S. at-home household demand estimates for seafood (including species and generic products) that can be used in policy formulation (by both the private and public sector). As such, this study estimated quantity-based household demand functions for seafood in aggregate, by generic product form (fresh, frozen, and prepared), and primary species. Given that the role of quality has been shown to significantly influence expenditures and seafood demand, this paper also seeks to incorporate the household quality choice into the demand model. In order to help to tailor the market strategy, …


The Effects Of Respiratory Muscle Warm-Up On Exercise Performance And Pulmonary Functions, Dennis Jonathan Guillot Jan 2014

The Effects Of Respiratory Muscle Warm-Up On Exercise Performance And Pulmonary Functions, Dennis Jonathan Guillot

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Effect of a Specific Respiratory Warm-up on Run Performance, Pulmonary Functions, and Rating of Perceived Breathing The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a respiratory warm-up for five minutes using an inspiratory/expiratory (IEC) device on pulmonary function (PFT) (FVC, FEV©û, FEF 25-75%, PEF), rate of perceived exertional (RPE) breathing, and performance time [300 yard shuttle run (300y) and 1.5 mile run (1.5m)] in asthmatics and non-asthmatics. Ten non-asthmatics males (22.6¡¾7.4 years) participated in phase I, twenty non-asthmatic males (24.2¡¾9.8 years) in phase II, and five asthmatics (20.8¡¾3.2 years) in phase III of this study. The Phase …


Evaluation Of Pyramided Bt Corn For Management Of Corn Earworm And Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Fei Yang Jan 2014

Evaluation Of Pyramided Bt Corn For Management Of Corn Earworm And Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Fei Yang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, and corn earworm (CEW), Helicoverpa zea, are two target pests of pyramided Bt corn in the U.S. This study determined the susceptibility of the two pests to pyramided Bt corn and evaluated if a 95:5% seed mixture of Bt and non-Bt corn was an appropriate approach for providing refuge populations of CEW for resistance management. Firstly, susceptibility of 150 F2 two-parent families to three common pyramided Bt corn traits was examined using 7-day leaf tissue bioassays and whole plant tests. A few families survived the 7-day leaf tissue bioassays but progeny of the survivors …


Influence Of Feeding Anise Oil To Piglets And Broilers, Jose Wando Charal Jan 2014

Influence Of Feeding Anise Oil To Piglets And Broilers, Jose Wando Charal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objectives of this research were to determine 1) the effect of anise oil (AO) in pigs after exposure and re-exposure by dietary additions to sow and nursery diets; and 2) the maximum level of AO that could be fed to broilers and its effect on in-vitro growth of Clostridium perfringens (ClP); 3) to determine the effect of AO and diet type on growth performance of broilers after a challenge with ClP; and 4) to determine the effect of AO fed to broilers under commercial conditions. The results indicated that exposing lactating pigs to AO through the sow diet had …


Analysis Of Media Coverage Of Selected Food Safety Events On The Demand For The Recalled Products, Abhishek Bhagwat Bharad Jan 2014

Analysis Of Media Coverage Of Selected Food Safety Events On The Demand For The Recalled Products, Abhishek Bhagwat Bharad

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The major focus of this study was to identify the linkage between information and consumer behavior and to examine the role that a new media index played in the identifying the tone of news stories. Past studies have relied on using the number of media stories but, this study tests a new approach, i.e., in order to analyze the effect of information by incorporating the sentiment indices. These indices were created based on the tone of the news story. The results from sentiment indices were compared to the results from the information index. Barten’s Synthetic model (BSM) was used to …


Research In Biological Control Of The Formosan Subterranean Termite, Cai Wang Jan 2014

Research In Biological Control Of The Formosan Subterranean Termite, Cai Wang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is a worldwide distributed pest of wooden structures and living plants that causes huge economic losses. Compared to chemical pesticides, biological control may provide a more environmentally friendly and persistent method for the control of C. formosanus. In this research, a series of studies were conducted to understand the termite-pathogen interaction and to develop a feasible biological control strategy. In the first part of the research, the toxicity of Bt toxins expressed by genetically modified maize to termites was tested. Plant tissues or extracts of three commercially planted Bt maize and two non-Bt …


United States Meat Goat Production Economic Performance Measures: A Stochastic Production Frontier Analysis, Berdikul Qushim Jan 2014

United States Meat Goat Production Economic Performance Measures: A Stochastic Production Frontier Analysis, Berdikul Qushim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The meat goat industry is relatively a newcomer to the U.S. agricultural production and one of the fastest growing livestock industries in the U.S. Despite the growth of the meat goat industry, little is known about meat goat production economics. Information is needed concerning the drivers of production efficiency, optimum size of operation, and scope economies in the industry. A nationwide mail survey of U.S. meat goat producers who advertise their meat goat production via the internet for this efficiency analysis was conducted. Costs and returns data for 2011 expenses from those meat goat producers were collected. This survey was …


Application Of Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis To Determine Consumers' Preferences And Willingness To Pay For Grass Fed Beef In The United States, Franklin Fernando Vaca Moran Jan 2014

Application Of Choice-Based Conjoint Analysis To Determine Consumers' Preferences And Willingness To Pay For Grass Fed Beef In The United States, Franklin Fernando Vaca Moran

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

U.S. consumption of beef has declined during the last three decades. Consumer preferences have shifted toward products that are considered healthy, environmentally friendly and obtained through sustainable production methods. Because of the characteristics of grass-fed beef production, consumers are becoming more interested in grass-fed beef products than conventional beef products. A choice-based experiment was used to assess consumer’s preferences for grass-fed beef. A national online survey was conducted in May 2012 and the information from 4000 respondents was collected from the entire U.S. The respondents were divided in two groups of similar size: grass-fed beef eaters, comprised by the respondents …


Evaluating Alternative Techniques For Forecasting Industrial And Occupational Employment, Drew A. Varnado Jan 2014

Evaluating Alternative Techniques For Forecasting Industrial And Occupational Employment, Drew A. Varnado

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This paper offers three different regional output-by-industry forecasting techniques (time series, Social Accounting Matrix (SAM)-based, and Computable General Equilibrium (CGE)-based) and two different occupation-by-industry matrices (national and state geographies) for use in the creation of industry/occupation employment forecasts. Estimates are compared to actual data from eight years from 2001 to 2010. OLS regressions are run to determine how well modeled employment estimates fit actual employment for the state of Louisiana. A meta-analysis style regression of the R-sqaured values on model characteristics (accounted for using Boolean dummy-variables) determines that industrial output forecasting techniques do not provide statistically different R-squared values, but …


An Analysis Of A University Reclassification Effect On Applications Following A Move To A New Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Dylan P. Williams Jan 2014

An Analysis Of A University Reclassification Effect On Applications Following A Move To A New Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Dylan P. Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Scholars have argued that athletics are utilized by universities to advertise their school to all individuals (Collins, 2012; Dwyer, Eddy, Havard, & Braa, 2010; Toma & Cross, 1998; Washington & Ventresca, 2004; Weaver, 2010). Expectedly, university officials are willing to contribute resources in order to develop an effective athletics program to establish an institution’s legitimacy among other universities (Collins, 2012; Toma & Cross, 1998; Washington & Ventresca, 2004). One tactic employed by schools focuses on the process of athletic association reclassification into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from other member associations (e.g., National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics). Officials consider …


Three Essays On U.S. Meat Goat Production: Goal Structure, Selection Of Breeding Stock, And Meat Goat Marketing, Narayan Prasad Nyaupane Jan 2014

Three Essays On U.S. Meat Goat Production: Goal Structure, Selection Of Breeding Stock, And Meat Goat Marketing, Narayan Prasad Nyaupane

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates three major areas of U.S. meat goat production – goal structure, selection of breeding stock, and marketing, by using survey data received from U.S. meat goat producers. Of 1,600 producers surveyed, 584 usable responses were obtained with an adjusted response rate of 43%. The fuzzy pair-wise comparison method was used to determine producer goal structure. The results showed that profit maximization and leisure-related goals were highly considered goals and controlling weeds/vegetation and increasing farm size were the least considered goals by U.S. meat goat producers. A choice-based conjoint study was conducted to identify producer preferences for meat …


Characterization Of A Novel Negative Regulator Of Toxoflavin Production, Ntpr, In The Plant Pathogen Burkholderia Glumae That Causes Bacterial Panicle Blight Of Rice, Rebecca Ann Melanson Jan 2014

Characterization Of A Novel Negative Regulator Of Toxoflavin Production, Ntpr, In The Plant Pathogen Burkholderia Glumae That Causes Bacterial Panicle Blight Of Rice, Rebecca Ann Melanson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Burkholderia glumae is the major causal agent of bacterial panicle blight of rice, a disease that can cause significant yield losses. This bacterial pathogen produces a number of virulence factors that contribute to disease development. The phytotoxin, toxoflavin is required for full virulence and is the most important virulence factor in B. glumae. The known regulatory cascade of toxoflavin production involves the TofI-TofR quorum-sensing system, the transcriptional activators ToxJ and ToxR, and the toxoflavin biosynthesis and transport genes. Transposon mutagenesis of toxoflavin-producing B. glumae strains generated a number of mutants with increased toxoflavin production. Several of these mutants contained …


Prevalence Of Campylobacter Jejuni In Small-Scale Broiler Operations And The Effects Of Sulfadimethoxine Administered To Control C. Jejuni Infection In Broilers, Wannee Tangkham Jan 2014

Prevalence Of Campylobacter Jejuni In Small-Scale Broiler Operations And The Effects Of Sulfadimethoxine Administered To Control C. Jejuni Infection In Broilers, Wannee Tangkham

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Campylobacter spp. particularly C. jejuni has been recognized as one of the most prevalent causes of foodborne bacterial illnesses in humans. Most previous studies have focused on the transmission routes of C. jejuni from commercial flock farms to the final retail product. To date, no in vivo studies have addressed the efficacy of sulfadimethoxine in the control of C. jejuni in poultry. This dissertation research proceeds along two lines of investigation. The objectives of the first line of investigation are to determine the enumeration of Campylobacter spp. and the prevalence on both Campylobacter spp. and C. jejuni on live egg …


The Worlds Of Agriculture In Asia : Agricultural And Economic Development, Lorna Econg Amrinto Jan 2014

The Worlds Of Agriculture In Asia : Agricultural And Economic Development, Lorna Econg Amrinto

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The agro-fundamentalists consider agriculture as the engine of growth while agro-pessimists argue that economic growth causes agricultural productivity. It is the main engine of growth in agriculture-based countries; less important in transforming economies; and plays the same role as other tradable sectors in urbanized countries (World Bank, 2008). This work revisits agriculture’s role in the development process within the experience of Asia where the majority of the population heavily depends on agriculture. Chapter 2 presents the results of causality tests between agriculture and economic growth in bivariate systems using the TYDL methodology. For some of agriculture-based Asia (Bhutan, Lao, Cambodia …


Production Of 2-Propanol, Butanol And Ethanol Using Clostridium Beijerinckii Optonii, Adam Hoogewind Jan 2014

Production Of 2-Propanol, Butanol And Ethanol Using Clostridium Beijerinckii Optonii, Adam Hoogewind

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

With an unpredictable market for gasoline and increased concerns with the pollution created by burning fossil fuels, there is a push for developing suitable replacements for gasoline. While corn-based ethanol production is the most common renewable biofuel produced in the United States, ethanol is not an ideal solution to gasoline replacement due to low energy density, hygroscopic and corrosive properties and inability to purify by distillation alone. Higher alcohols such as butanol do not have the same problems with energy density, purification and hygroscopic and corrosive properties. The fermentation of butanol by using solventogenic Clostridium species, creating acetone, butanol and …


Resiliency And Selfless Service Development In Army Rotc Physical Training: A Qualitative Investigation, Molly Voelz Fischer Jan 2014

Resiliency And Selfless Service Development In Army Rotc Physical Training: A Qualitative Investigation, Molly Voelz Fischer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Leadership in the United States Army is essential for successful completion of domestic and international missions. Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs are used to effectively develop leadership skills within the Army. Physical training (PT) is a mandatory component in ROTC, used to improve physical ability and prepare cadets for the rigors of the “big Army” environment. Resiliency and selfless service development are seen as critical elements of leadership, yet little is known about the formal and informal experiences in ROTC PT that facilitate or hinder resiliency and selfless service during early career preparation. The overall purpose of this dissertation …


The Effects Of Peripheral Nerve Impairments On Postural Control And Mobility Among People With Peripheral Neuropathy, Shuqi Zhang Jan 2014

The Effects Of Peripheral Nerve Impairments On Postural Control And Mobility Among People With Peripheral Neuropathy, Shuqi Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Approximately 20 million Americans are suffering Peripheral Neuropathy (PN). It is estimated that the prevalence of all-cause PN is about 2.4% in the entire adult population, whereas over 8-10% in the population segment over the age of 55 (Martyn & Hughes, 1997). Peripheral Neuropathy leads to a high risk of falling, resulting from the deficits of postural control caused by the impaired peripheral nerves, especially the degenerative somatosensory system. To date, there is no effective medical treatment for the disease but pain managements. The deficits of postural control decrease the life quality of this population. The degeneration of peripheral nerves …