Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Life Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 20 of 20

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Discrimination Of Cardiac Health And Disease By Assessment Of Heart Rate Variability: Wavelet Vs. Fast Fourier Transformation, Jusonda Leray Derouen Jan 2002

Discrimination Of Cardiac Health And Disease By Assessment Of Heart Rate Variability: Wavelet Vs. Fast Fourier Transformation, Jusonda Leray Derouen

LSU Master's Theses

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation of the heart is of clinical importance because of its relevance to risk of life threatening arrhythmic events. Decomposition of heart rate variability (HRV) has been used to quantify ANS control of the heart. The traditional method for frequency analysis has involved the use of fast Fourier transformation (FFT). However, heart rate data typically violate assumptions of the FFT. Therefore, the assessment of HRV may benefit from other, potentially more suitable, mathematical approaches. For example, the discrete wavelet transformation (DWT) appears to have promise with respect to its ability to discriminate between healthy and …


A Comparison Of Self-Report And Performance-Based Measures Of Physical Function In Older Adults, Amy Elizabeth Dunbar Jan 2002

A Comparison Of Self-Report And Performance-Based Measures Of Physical Function In Older Adults, Amy Elizabeth Dunbar

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to examine the associations between perceived quality of life (QOL)and self-report and performance-based measures of function. An additional purpose of this thesis was to determine whether the afore-mentioned tests could differentiate between independent-living and assisted-living older adults. A total of 36 residents, independent-living (n=22) and assisted-living (n=14), of a continuing care retirement community (age range=65-94) completed the study. Perceived QOL was assessed using the SF-36 and Nottingham Health Profile. The Barthel Index and Functional Status Index (FSI) were used to assess Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Physical function was measured using the reduced Continuous …


Permeability Of Rice Cystatin Across Caco-2 Cells, Tania Serigado Antunes Jan 2002

Permeability Of Rice Cystatin Across Caco-2 Cells, Tania Serigado Antunes

LSU Master's Theses

The present work aimed at recovering, purifying, and testing rice cystatin or oryzacystatin I (OCI) bioavailability, to provide scientific evidence that rice cystatin can be used as a functional food ingredient. OCI was extracted from rice bran using 25 mM sodium phosphate buffer containing 0.15 M NaCl at pH 7.0. The resulting homogenate was heat treated, cooled and precipitated with ammonium sulfate. The recovered protein was dialyzed against 50 mM sodium acetate buffer pH 4.8 and sequentially purified by cation exchange, size exclusion, and anion exchange chromatography. Nine hundred and seventy micrograms of protein were obtained from 1 kg of …


The Effect Of Nocturnal Sampling On Semen Quality And The Efficiency Of Collection In Bovine Species, Jennifer H. Yates Jan 2002

The Effect Of Nocturnal Sampling On Semen Quality And The Efficiency Of Collection In Bovine Species, Jennifer H. Yates

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of this study was to evaluate two semen collection schedules utilizing the assumed behavioral differences between bovine species. The efficiency was measured by bull behavior and semen quality parameters. Four Holstein and four Brahman bulls were collected each during a morning and a night collection time weekly. Ejaculates (n=64) were obtained via artificial vagina over four-weeks. To avoid masking benefits of night collection, the first collection of the week was alternated between night and day. Two collection teams were employed to reduce the time needed for collection, and the variability in collection method. Sampling order and collection team …


An Economic Analysis Of Pre-Harvesting Marketing Strategies And Financial Performance, Manuel Duarte Filipe Jan 2002

An Economic Analysis Of Pre-Harvesting Marketing Strategies And Financial Performance, Manuel Duarte Filipe

LSU Master's Theses

Risk is an important concern in the management of a farm business. The rising input prices along with the variability in the farm commodity prices may result in a risk environment. Government programs have generally provided income support to farmers. However, there has been considerable discussion regarding this support in recent years. The farm act of 2002 and farm bill of 1999 are good examples of such discussions. These uncertainties emphasize the need to improve information for farm's income risk management, and make some one ask if there is not out there any alternative way of managing income risk besides …


Reliability Of Wavelet Analysis Of Heart Rate Variability During Rest And Exercise, Deborah Jean Stone Jan 2002

Reliability Of Wavelet Analysis Of Heart Rate Variability During Rest And Exercise, Deborah Jean Stone

LSU Master's Theses

The reliability of wavelet analysis (DWT), of heart rate variability during rest and exercise was examined for this study. All twenty-three participants visited the lab on two separate occasions no less than four weeks apart. All twenty-three participants were subjected to the spontaneous breathing (SB1), and HG60 exercise condition. Of those twenty-three participants, nine performed the HG20 exercise condition as well. It was found that during the SB1 condition, the R-R intervals were fairly reliable between days. However, the reliability of all the HRV parameters (SDNN, spectral components and wavelet components) were quite poor. Interestingly, however, during HG20, the reliability …


Litter And Ground Dwelling Spiders Of Mixed Mesophytic Forest In Southeast Louisiana, Joyce Fassbender Jan 2002

Litter And Ground Dwelling Spiders Of Mixed Mesophytic Forest In Southeast Louisiana, Joyce Fassbender

LSU Master's Theses

During Pleistocene glaciation much of the southeastern United States was covered with mixed mesophytic hardwood forest. These forests are composed predominantly of magnolia, holly, and beech with a mixture of other tree species, such as oak and hickory, and a distinct understory. Remnants of mixed mesophytic hardwood forests occur in the southern United States and are important refugia for disjunct and habitat-restricted species. In Louisiana, the mixed mesophytic forest habitat is found mostly in West Feliciana Parish, particularly in the area around St. Francisville. I chose two sites to conduct a study of spider diversity in litter habitats of disturbed …


Economic Evaluation Of Alternative Rough Rice Marketing And Storage Strategies, April Street Jan 2002

Economic Evaluation Of Alternative Rough Rice Marketing And Storage Strategies, April Street

LSU Master's Theses

The alternative rough rice marketing and storage strategies were evaluated using three methods of analysis. The methods used in this study were MOTAD, simulation, and stochastic dominance. Historical rough rice prices from 1980/81 - 2000/01 was used and tested for trends and seasonality in order for the methods to be formed properly. SAS was used to verify that the data used in this study did not follow any time trend or reflect seasonality. MOTAD, simulation, and stochastic dominance were used to determine the most efficient marketing and storage strategy that will enable rice farmers to make the best decisions and …


The Effects Of Growth Hormone Or Melatonin On The Reproductive Axis Of Stallions, William Andrew Storer Jan 2002

The Effects Of Growth Hormone Or Melatonin On The Reproductive Axis Of Stallions, William Andrew Storer

LSU Master's Theses

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of growth hormone (GH) or melatonin on the reproductive axis of the stallion. In Experiment 1, nine stallions were treated with GH (20 µg/kg BW) or saline for 21 d starting in January. During the last week of treatment, stallions were subjected to low and high dose injections of luteinizing hormone (LH), as well as low and high dose combined injections of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH). Two months after the onset of GH treatment, semen was collected from all stallions every other day for 2 weeks. Treatment …


Follicular Growth And Development And Gonadotropin Response Of Mares Treated With Dihydrotestosterone And Estradiol Benzoate, Scarlett Lynn Mcmeen Jan 2002

Follicular Growth And Development And Gonadotropin Response Of Mares Treated With Dihydrotestosterone And Estradiol Benzoate, Scarlett Lynn Mcmeen

LSU Master's Theses

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and estradiol benzoate (EB) given simultaneously on concentrations of FSH and LH and the associated follicular activity, and to monitor the subsequent recovery of the gonadotropes and follicular growth following treatment with either DHT or EB. Twelve mares were assigned to daily treatments of DHT (150 Fg/kg BW) plus EB (22 Fg/kg BW) from d 0 through 30 (Phase I). Beginning on d 31, mares were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: 1) oil, 2) DHT (150 Fg/kg BW), or 3) EB (22 Fg/kg BW). On d …


The Effects Of Phytase In Nutritionally Adequate Diets, Diets Deficient In Calcium And Phosphorus, And The Interactive Effects Of Phytase And Eimeria Acervulina Infection In Broiler Chicks, Brandy Centrell Watson Jan 2002

The Effects Of Phytase In Nutritionally Adequate Diets, Diets Deficient In Calcium And Phosphorus, And The Interactive Effects Of Phytase And Eimeria Acervulina Infection In Broiler Chicks, Brandy Centrell Watson

LSU Master's Theses

Six experiments were conducted to determine the interactive effects of Eimeria acervulina (E. acervulina) infection and phytase, and the effects of phytase in nutritionally adequate diets and in diets deficient in Ca and available P (aP). Corn-soybean meal (C-SBM) diets were used. In Exp 1, treatments were: 1) C-SBM, 1.0% Ca and 0.45% aP; 2) C-SBM, 0.80% Ca and 0.25% aP; 3) Diet 1 + 600 FTU phytase/kg; 4) Diet 2 + 600 FTU phytase/kg; 5 to 8) Diets 1 to 4 but infected with coccidiosis. Weight gain (ADG), feed intake (ADFI), and gain:feed were reduced (P < 0.01) by the coccidial infection and the reduction in Ca and aP. Phytase increased (P < 0.02) ADG and ADFI, regardless of the Ca and aP content of the diet or the presence of coccidiosis. Gain:feed was increased by phytase but only in uninfected chicks (phytase x coccidiosis interaction, P < 0.02). Phytase increased (P < 0.02) bone ash percentage but only in diets deficient in Ca and aP (P < 0.01). Experiments 2 and 3 included only treatments 1 to 4 of Exp 1. The reduction in Ca and aP reduced (P < 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and gain:feed. Phytase addition increased (P < 0.02) ADG and ADFI in diets deficient in Ca and aP and in the nutritionally adequate diets. Experiments 4, 5, and 6 were conducted to determine the effects of phytase on intestinal transit time in broilers. Diets were: 1) C-SBM, 0.9% Ca and 0.35% aP; 2) C-SBM, 0.80% Ca and 0.25% aP + 600 FTU phytase/kg. Transit time on Day 1, but not on Day 7, was faster (P < 0.03) in chicks fed phytase. These data indicate that phytase is effective in the presence of a coccidial infection, but it may not be as effective as in uninfected chicks. Futhermore, phytase increases growth in diets deficient in Ca and aP and in diets formulated to be adequate in all nutrients. This increase in growth may be due to a faster transit time of feed through the digestive tract, resulting in a greater feed intake and gain.


Coordination Of The Lower Extremity Muscles During Gait Transitions, Lorna Louise Ogden Jan 2002

Coordination Of The Lower Extremity Muscles During Gait Transitions, Lorna Louise Ogden

LSU Master's Theses

Often the approach to investigating muscular coordination during transitions entailed conducting tests at speeds held constant. This study investigated muscular activity during continuously changing speeds in order to further detail and quantify neuromuscular changes during gait transitions. Twelve healthy adults, 18-41 years of age, were recruited as participants. Informed consent was obtained. Gait transitions were induced by the speed of the treadmill changing with constant acceleration. Reflective markers were placed on anatomical landmarks of the hip, knee,ankle, heel, and 5 th metatarsal joint. Bipolar surface electrodes were positioned on the subjects’skin over the muscular bellies of the gluteus maximus (GM), …


Analysis Of Consumer Perceptions Toward Biotechnology And Their Preferences For Biotech Food Labels, St. Everald A. Mclennon Jan 2002

Analysis Of Consumer Perceptions Toward Biotechnology And Their Preferences For Biotech Food Labels, St. Everald A. Mclennon

LSU Master's Theses

Using a sample from the seven largest metropolitan areas in the United States, (Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, New Orleans, New York, and Houston), consumer attitudes concerning agricultural biotechnology is examined. Conjoint analysis is used to examine consumer preferences for the labeling of biotech foods. The study examines the relationship between the consumer’s knowledge and attitudes regarding biotech foods and their preferences for food labels. Consumers’ attitudes regarding a healthy diet, and their risk perceptions regarding biotech foods were found to have a significant effect on the general use of food labels and preferences for labeling of biotech foods. The …


Leg-Extensor Strength And Continuous-Scale Physical Functional Performance In Independent-Living Older Adults, Kathryn O'Bryan Wilson Jan 2002

Leg-Extensor Strength And Continuous-Scale Physical Functional Performance In Independent-Living Older Adults, Kathryn O'Bryan Wilson

LSU Master's Theses

A clear relationship between age-related decrements in leg strength and physical function have been reported. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the relationship between quadriceps strength tested at various velocities and the CS-PFP 10 items. Thirty-three older adults (ages 70-95 years) were assessed using the CS-PFP 10 test battery and performed quadriceps strength testing at 0, 90, 180º/sec using the Biodex dynamometer. Values for torque are reported as peak torque (PT) and relative peak torque (AdjPT) in Nm/kg body weight. The range of values for PT was (PT0: 20.2-144.3 Nm; PT90: 14-113.6 Nm; PT180: 9.6-86.4 Nm). Simple correlation …


Management Of Imidazolinone-Tolerant (It) Rice In Drill- And Water-Seeded Rice, Kristie J. Pellerin Jan 2002

Management Of Imidazolinone-Tolerant (It) Rice In Drill- And Water-Seeded Rice, Kristie J. Pellerin

LSU Master's Theses

Field studies were conducted over two years in drill- and water-seeded rice to evaluate weed control and crop response with imazethapyr programs. Barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.] was evaluated with imazethapyr applied alone at various rates and timings. Imazethapyr controlled barnyardgrass 95 to 97% with a soil application at 87 or 70 g/ha fb 53 or 70 g/ha EPOST or LPOST. A single EPOST application of imazethapyr at 140 g/ha controlled barnyardgrass and rice yield was equal to or above those treatments receiving two applications of imazethapyr. Research was also conducted at Crowley, LA and Rayne, LA to evaluate the …


Rum Aroma Descriptive Analysis, Sabina Maza Gomez Jan 2002

Rum Aroma Descriptive Analysis, Sabina Maza Gomez

LSU Master's Theses

Rum contains a large number of compounds that contribute to the complex aroma, some of which present in a very small amount. This fact represents a problem for the use of chemical analysis as a way to ascertain the quality of rum and to determine differences in rums products. Descriptive sensory analysis techniques can be useful in such circumstance, not only because they are easier to achieve, but because they give valuable information on the actual perceived aroma of the products. The first part of this work consisted of the development of lexicon for describing rums. A group of 5 …


Treatment Of Organic And Inorganic Pollutants In Municipal Wastewater By Agricultural By-Product Based Granular Activated Carbons (Gac), Rishipal Rastrapal Bansode Jan 2002

Treatment Of Organic And Inorganic Pollutants In Municipal Wastewater By Agricultural By-Product Based Granular Activated Carbons (Gac), Rishipal Rastrapal Bansode

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate pecan and almond shell-based granular activated carbon's viability to effectively remove organic and inorganic pollutants in municipal wastewater compared to commercial carbons, Filtrasorb 200 (bituminous coal-based), and GRC-20, 206C AW (coconut shell-based). The solution to the objective was approached under three distinct phases, namely (I) physical and chemical characterization of the pecan and almond shell-based experimental and bituminous coal and coconut shell-based commercial granular activated carbons; (II) treatment of organic contaminants in municipal wastewater by experimental and commercial GACs; (III) treatment of inorganic contaminants in municipal wastewater by experimental and commercial GACs. …


Development Of Low-Fat Sugar-Free Orange Sherbet Containing Soy Protein, Jonathan Aaron Walker Jan 2002

Development Of Low-Fat Sugar-Free Orange Sherbet Containing Soy Protein, Jonathan Aaron Walker

LSU Master's Theses

Consumer interest in healthy eating and self-medication is not just a passing fad. Soy-based products have become increasingly popular and gradually moved into the mainstream market. Many consumers associate soy with a healthy consumption pattern. Development of frozen desserts that indulge consumers’ eating desire, yet provide potential health benefits, is a challenge. Product appraisal to identify specific sensory attributes driving product acceptance is vital to the introduction of this new product. This thesis research was designed to develop low-fat sugar-free orange sherbet products containing soy protein and to determine the consumer sensory profile driving product acceptance and purchase intent. Two …


Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (Haccp), Microbial Safety, And Shelf Life Of Smoked Blue Catfish (Ictalurus Furcatus), Ligia Virginia Antonia Da Silva Jan 2002

Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (Haccp), Microbial Safety, And Shelf Life Of Smoked Blue Catfish (Ictalurus Furcatus), Ligia Virginia Antonia Da Silva

LSU Master's Theses

Quality deterioration of smoked catfish is caused by lipid oxidation and microbial spoilage. Smoked catfish can be cross-contaminated during processing and may harbor several pathogens, e.g., Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. Lipid oxidation causes unpleasant flavor, thus making smoked fish unacceptable. Hydroperoxides and free radicals, formed during oxidation, may directly react with fish tissues to promote complex reactions. Through such complex reactions, physicochemical properties of smoked catfish may be adversely affected. A combination of smoking and treatments with antimicrobial agents and antioxidants would retard microbial spoilage, extend shelf life, and enhance safety of smoked catfish. The objective of this study …


One-Week Stability Of Forearm Venous Outflow As Assessed By Venous Occlusion Plethysmography, Jennifer Pitre Ortego Jan 2002

One-Week Stability Of Forearm Venous Outflow As Assessed By Venous Occlusion Plethysmography, Jennifer Pitre Ortego

LSU Master's Theses

The aim of this study was to test short-term and long-term reliability of venous outflow (VO) indices using the venous occlusion plethysmography technique. A secondary purpose was to compare venous measures to age, gender and various anthropometrical measures. The study group consisted of apparently healthy males and females, aged 18 to 80 years. Venous indices were under measures on two occasions (1 week apart), under the conditions of rest and following 5 min of upper arm occlusion. Venous outflow measures were calculated from the area under the curve (AUC) as well as the plethysmographic curve technique at the time .5 …