Digital Commons Network^™

Spatiotemporal Variability Of Fishery‐Dependent Indices For The Declining Louisiana Southern Flounder Fishery, David R. Smith, Michael A. Dance, Joe West, Stephen R. Midway

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Body Size, Trophic Position, And The Coupling Of Different Energy Pathways Across A Saltmarsh Landscape, Friedrich W. Keppeler, Jill A. Olin, Paola C. López‐Duarte, Michael J. Polito, Linda M. Hooper‐Bùi, Sabrina S. Taylor, Nancy N. Rabalais, F. Joel Fodrie, Brian J. Roberts, R. Eugene Turner, Charles W. Martin, Olaf P. Jensen

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Terrapin Station: Individual, Sex, And Site Factors Related To Turtle Growth Variability, Leigh Anne Harden, Stephen R. Midway, J. Whitfield Gibbons

Faculty Publications

For many turtle species, life history traits such as body size, age at maturity, and somatic growth rate can vary among individuals and habitats and between the sexes. Therefore, it is important to consider factors that may influence growth when modeling (somatic) growth for turtles. Long-term capture-mark-recapture studies lend themselves to studying somatic growth in turtles due to the repeated measurements of individuals over time. We used a long-term dataset to examine growth patterns of philopatric Diamondback Terrapins (Malaclemys terrapin) on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA. We used a hierarchical three-parameter von Bertalanffy model to estimate individual growth of 44 …

Shark Side Of The Moon: Are Shark Attacks Related To Lunar Phase?, Lindsay A. French, Stephen R. Midway, David H. Evans, George H. Burgess

Faculty Publications

Animals across taxa have shown behaviors linked to moon phase (or the proxy of lunar illumination), and marine organisms are well-documented to calibrate certain activities with the moon. Few studies have looked at a possible connection between moon phase and shark attacks on humans, and the results have been preliminary or lacking relationships. We used nearly 50 years of shark attack data from across the globe to test for a relationship between shark attacks and moon phase. We examined factors of geography, shark species, and outcome of attack. From 12 relationships that we tested (totaling 120 comparisons), we found 12 …

Twelve-Month Specific Igg Response To Sars-Cov-2 Receptor-Binding Domain Among Covid-19 Convalescent Plasma Donors In Wuhan, Cesheng Li, Ding Yu, Xiao Wu, Hong Liang, Zhijun Zhou, Yong Xie, Taojing Li, Junzheng Wu, Fengping Lu, Lu Feng, Min Mao, Lianzhen Lin, Huanhuan Guo, Shenglan Yue, Feifei Wang, Yan Peng, Yong Hu, Zejun Wang, Jianhong Yu, Yong Zhang, Jia Lu, Haoran Ning, Huichuan Yang, Daoxing Fu, Yanlin He, Dongbo Zhou, Tao Du, Kai Duan, Demei Dong, Kun Deng, Xia Zou, Ya Zhang, Rong Zhou, Yang Gao

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

To investigate the duration of humoral immune response in convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, we conduct a 12-month longitudinal study through collecting a total of 1,782 plasma samples from 869 convalescent plasma donors in Wuhan, China and test specific antibody responses. The results show that positive rate of IgG antibody against receptor-binding domain of spike protein (RBD-IgG) to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the COVID-19 convalescent plasma donors exceeded 70% for 12 months post diagnosis. The level of RBD-IgG decreases with time, with the titer stabilizing at 64.3% of the initial level by the 9th month. …

5-Ht Recruits Distinct Neurocircuits To Inhibit Hunger-Driven And Non-Hunger-Driven Feeding, Yanlin He, Xing Cai, Hailan Liu, Krisitine M. Conde, Pingwen Xu, Yongxiang Li, Chunmei Wang, Meng Yu, Yang He, Hesong Liu, Chen Liang, Tingting Yang, Yongjie Yang, Kaifan Yu, Julia Wang, Rong Zheng, Feng Liu, Zheng Sun, Lora Heisler, Qi Wu, Qingchun Tong, Canjun Zhu, Gang Shu, Yong Xu

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Obesity is primarily a consequence of consuming calories beyond energetic requirements, but underpinning drivers have not been fully defined. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) neurons in the dorsal Raphe nucleus (5-HTDRN) regulate different types of feeding behavior, such as eating to cope with hunger or for pleasure. Here, we observed that activation of 5-HTDRN to hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (5-HTDRN → ARH) projections inhibits food intake driven by hunger via actions at ARH 5-HT2C and 5-HT1B receptors, whereas activation of 5-HTDRN to ventral tegmental area (5-HTDRN → VTA) projections inhibits non-hunger-driven feeding via actions at 5-HT2C receptors. Further, hunger-driven feeding gradually activates ARH-projecting 5-HTDRN …

Degradative Tubular Lysosomes Link Pexophagy To Starvation And Early Aging In C. Elegans, D A. Dolese, M P. Junot, B Ghosh, T J. Butsch, D A. Dolese, K A. Bohnert

Faculty Publications

Organelle-specific autophagy directs degradation of eukaryotic organelles under certain conditions. Like other organelles, peroxisomes are subject to autophagic turnover at lysosomes. However, peroxisome autophagy (pexophagy) has yet to be analyzed in a live-animal system, limiting knowledge on its regulation during an animal's life. Here, we generated a tandem-fluorophore reporter that enabled real-time tracking of pexophagy in live Caenorhabditis elegans. We observed that pexophagy occurred at a population of non-canonical, tubular lysosomes specifically during starvation and aging. Remarkably, in these contexts, tubular lysosomes were the predominant type of lysosome in the intestine, transforming from vesicles. Though we found that peroxisomes were …

The Dynamics Of Introgression Across An Avian Radiation, S Singhal, G E. Derryberry, G A. Bravo, E P. Derryberry, S Singhal, M G. Harvey

Faculty Publications

Hybridization and resulting introgression can play both a destructive and a creative role in the evolution of diversity. Thus, characterizing when and where introgression is most likely to occur can help us understand the causes of diversification dynamics. Here, we examine the prevalence of and variation in introgression using phylogenomic data from a large (1300+ species), geographically widespread avian group, the suboscine birds. We first examine patterns of gene tree discordance across the geographic distribution of the entire clade. We then evaluate the signal of introgression in a subset of 206 species triads using Patterson's D-statistic and test for associations …

Immune-Related Genes Of The Larval Holotrichia Parallela In Response To Entomopathogenic Nematodes Heterorhabditis Beicherriana Lf, Ertao Li, Jianhui Qin, Honglin Feng, Jinqiao Li, Xiaofeng Li, Innocent Nyamwasa, Yazhong Cao, Weibin Ruan, Kebin Li, Jiao Yin

Faculty Publications

Background: Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) emerge as compatible alternatives to conventional insecticides in controlling Holotrichia parallela larvae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). However, the immune responses of H. parallela against EPNs infection remain unclear. Results: In present research, RNA-Seq was firstly performed. A total of 89,427 and 85,741 unigenes were achieved from the midgut of H. parallela larvae treated with Heterorhabditis beicherriana LF for 24 and 72 h, respectively; 2545 and 3156 unigenes were differentially regulated, respectively. Among those differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 74 were identified potentially related to the immune response. Notably, some immune-related genes, such as peptidoglycan recognition protein SC1 (PGRP-SC1), pro-phenoloxidase …

Comparison Of Trapping Methods For Use In Surveys For Potential Culicoides Vectors Of Orbiviruses, Michael Becker, Jeong Seok Park, Glen Gentry, Claudia Husseneder, Lane Foil

Faculty Publications

Background: Bluetongue virus (BTV) and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) are orbiviruses that can cause fatal vector-borne diseases in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Trapping methods for collecting potential Culicoides vectors of orbiviruses were compared to optimize surveillance studies. Methods: The number of captured midges and the virus infection rates of midge pools were compared for dry ice-baited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) traps with or without black light. The number of individual midges of different Culicoides species captured at different crepuscular and nocturnal periods using rotator traps also was determined. The number of species/specimens of Culicoides was measured …

Association Of Body Composition With Odds Of Breast Cancer By Molecular Subtype: Analysis Of The Mechanisms For Established And Novel Risk Factors For Breast Cancer In Nigerian Women (Mend) Study, Tomi Akinyemiju, Kelley Jones, Anjali Gupta, Taofik Oyekunle, Veeral Saraiya, April Deveaux, Omolola Salako, Allison Hall, Olusegun Alatise, Gabriel Ogun, Adewale Adeniyi, Omobolaji Ayandipo, Thomas Olajide, Olalekan Olasehinde, Olukayode Arowolo, Adewale Adisa, Oludolapo Afuwape, Aralola Olusanya, Aderemi Adegoke, Trygve O. Tollefsbol, Donna Arnett, Samuel Ajayi, Yemi Raji, Timothy Olanrewaju, Charlotte Osafo, Ifeoma Ulasi, Adanze Asinobi, Cheryl A. Winkler, David Burke, Fatiu Arogundade, Ivy Ekem, Jacob Plange-Rhule, Manmak Mamven

Faculty Publications

Background: The association between obesity and breast cancer (BC) has been extensively studied among US, European and Asian study populations, with often conflicting evidence. However, despite the increasing prevalence of obesity and associated conditions in Africa, the continent with the highest age-standardized BC mortality rate globally, few studies have evaluated this association, and none has examined in relation to molecular subtypes among African women. The current analysis examines the association between body composition, defined by body mass index (BMI), height, and weight, and BC by molecular subtype among African women. Methods: We estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals …

A Multi-Study Examination Of The Role Of Repeated Spaced Retrieval In The Word Learning Of Children With Developmental Language Disorder, Laurence B. Leonard, Sharon L. Christ, Patricia Deevy, Jeffrey D. Karpicke, Christine Weber, Eileen Haebig, Justin B. Kueser, Sofía Souto, Windi Krok

Faculty Publications

Background: Many children with developmental language disorders (DLD) have well-documented weaknesses in vocabulary. In recent years, investigators have explored the nature of these weaknesses through the use of novel word learning paradigms. These studies have begun to uncover specific areas of difficulty and have provided hints about possible intervention strategies that might help these children learn words more accurately and efficiently. Among the studies of this type are those that incorporate repeated spaced retrieval activities in the learning procedures. Methods: In this study, we examined the data from four of these studies that employed the same types of participants (4- …

Behavioral Characteristics And Self-Reported Health Status Among 2029 Adults Consuming A "Carnivore Diet", Belinda S. Lennerz, Jacob T. Mey, Owen H. Henn, David S. Ludwig

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Background: The "carnivore diet,"based on animal foods and excluding most or all plant foods, has attracted recent popular attention. However, little is known about the health effects and tolerability of this diet, and concerns for nutrient deficiencies and cardiovascular disease risk have been raised. Objectives: We obtained descriptive data on the nutritional practices and health status of a large group of carnivore diet consumers. Methods: A social media survey was conducted 30 March-24 June, 2020 among adults self-identifying as consuming a carnivore diet for ≥6 mo. Survey questions interrogated motivation, dietary intake patterns, symptoms suggestive of nutritional deficiencies or other …

Deciphering An Agrp-Serotoninergic Neural Circuit In Distinct Control Of Energy Metabolism From Feeding, Yong Han, Guobin Xia, Dollada Srisai, Fantao Meng, Yanlin He, Yali Ran, Yang He, Monica Farias, Giang Hoang, István Tóth, Marcelo O. Dietrich, Miao Hsueh Chen, Yong Xu, Qi Wu

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Contrasting to the established role of the hypothalamic agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons in feeding regulation, the neural circuit and signaling mechanisms by which they control energy expenditure remains unclear. Here, we report that energy expenditure is regulated by a subgroup of AgRP neurons that send non-collateral projections to neurons within the dorsal lateral part of dorsal raphe nucleus (dlDRN) expressing the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), which in turn innervate nearby serotonergic (5-HT) neurons. Genetic manipulations reveal a bi-directional control of energy expenditure by this circuit without affecting food intake. Fiber photometry and electrophysiological results indicate that the thermo-sensing MC4RdlDRN neurons …

Overfeeding-Induced Weight Gain Elicits Decreases In Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin In Healthy Males—Implications For Body Fat Distribution, Prachi Singh, Naima Covassin, Fatima H. Sert-Kuniyoshi, Kara L. Marlatt, Abel Romero-Corral, Diane E. Davison, Ravinder J. Singh, Michael D. Jensen, Virend K. Somers

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Objective: Obesity and upper-body fat elevates cardiometabolic risk. However, mechanisms predisposing to upper-body fat accumulation are not completely understood. In males, low testosterone (T) frequently associates with obesity, and estrogen deficiency may contribute to upper-body adiposity. This study examines the effects of overfeeding-induced weight gain on changes in gonadal hormones in healthy males and its association with regional fat depots. Methods: Twenty-five males (age: 29.7 ± 6.9 years; BMI: 24.7 ± 3.1 kg/m2) were overfed for 8 weeks to gain approximately 5% body weight. Changes in total and regional fat depots were assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and abdominal computed …

The Acute Transcriptional Responses To Dietary Methionine Restriction Are Triggered By Inhibition Of Ternary Complex Formation And Linked To Erk1/2, Mtor, And Atf4, Kirsten P. Stone, Sujoy Ghosh, Jean Paul Kovalik, Manda Orgeron, Desiree Wanders, Landon C. Sims, Thomas W. Gettys

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

The initial sensing of dietary methionine restriction (MR) occurs in the liver where it activates an integrated stress response (ISR) that quickly reduces methionine utilization. The ISR program is regulated in part by ATF4, but ATF4’s prototypical upstream regulator, eIF2α, is not acutely activated by MR. Bioinformatic analysis of RNAseq and metabolomics data from liver samples harvested 3 h and 6 h after initiating MR shows that general translation is inhibited at the level of ternary complex formation by an acute 50% reduction of hepatic methionine that limits formation of initiator methionine tRNA. The resulting ISR is induced by selective …

Nt-Pgc-1Α Deficiency Attenuates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity By Modulating Food Intake, Fecal Fat Excretion And Intestinal Fat Absorption, Jihyun Kim, Jiyoung Moon, Chul Hong Park, Jisu Lee, Helia Cheng, Z. Elizabeth Floyd, Ji Suk Chang

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α and its splice variant NT-PGC-1α regulate metabolic adaptation by modulating many gene programs. Selective ablation of PGC-1α attenuates diet-induced obesity through enhancing fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis by upregulation of NT-PGC-1α in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Recently, we have shown that selective ablation of NT-PGC-1α reduces fatty acid oxidation in BAT. Thus, the objective of this study was to test our hypothesis that NT-PGC-1α−/− mice would be more prone to diet-induced obesity. Male and female NT-PGC-1α+/+ (WT) and NT-PGC-1α−/− mice were fed a regular chow or 60% high-fat (HF) diet for 16 weeks. Contrary to our expectations, …

Broad Spectrum Of Crispr-Induced Edits In An Embryonic Lethal Gene, Kayla T.B. Fuselier, J. Michael Salbaum, Claudia Kappen

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Mendelian genetics poses practical limitations on the number of mutant genes that can be investigated simultaneously for their roles in embryonic development in the mouse. While CRISPR-based gene editing of multiple genes at once offers an attractive alternative strategy, subsequent breeding or establishment of permanent mouse lines will rapidly segregate the different mutant loci again. Direct phenotypic analysis of genomic edits in an embryonic lethal gene in F0 generation mice, or F0 mouse embryos, circumvents the need for breeding or establishment of mutant mouse lines. In the course of genotyping a large cohort of F0 CRISPants, where the embryonic lethal …

Association Between Particulate Matter Containing Epfrs And Neutrophilic Asthma Through Ahr And Th17, Jeffrey N. Harding, Maureen Gross, Vivek Patel, Steven Potter, Stephania A. Cormier

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Background: Epidemiological data associate high levels of combustion-derived particulate matter (PM) with deleterious respiratory outcomes, but the mechanism underlying those outcomes remains elusive. It has been acknowledged by the World Health Organization that PM exposure contributes to more than 4.2 million all-cause mortalities worldwide each year. Current literature demonstrates that PM exacerbates respiratory diseases, impairs lung function, results in chronic respiratory illnesses, and is associated with increased mortality. The proposed mechanisms revolve around oxidative stress and inflammation promoting pulmonary physiological remodeling. However, our previous data found that PM is capable of inducing T helper cell 17 (Th17) immune responses via …

A Deep Learning Framework Identifies Dimensional Representations Of Alzheimer’S Disease From Brain Structure, Zhijian Yang, Ilya M. Nasrallah, Haochang Shou, Junhao Wen, Jimit Doshi, Mohamad Habes, Guray Erus, Ahmed Abdulkadir, Susan M. Resnick, Marilyn S. Albert, Paul Maruff, Jurgen Fripp, John C. Morris, David A. Wolk, Christos Davatzikos, Yong Fan, Vishnu Bashyam, Elizabeth Mamouiran, Randa Melhem, Raymond Pomponio, Dushyant Sahoo, Singh Ashish, Ioanna Skampardoni, Lasya Sreepada, Dhivya Srinivasan, Fanyang Yu, Sindhuja Govindarajan Tirumalai, Yuhan Cui, Zhen Zhou, Katharina Wittfeld, Hans J. Grabe, Duygun Tosun, Murat Bilgel, Yang An

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Heterogeneity of brain diseases is a challenge for precision diagnosis/prognosis. We describe and validate Smile-GAN (SeMI-supervised cLustEring-Generative Adversarial Network), a semi-supervised deep-clustering method, which examines neuroanatomical heterogeneity contrasted against normal brain structure, to identify disease subtypes through neuroimaging signatures. When applied to regional volumes derived from T1-weighted MRI (two studies; 2,832 participants; 8,146 scans) including cognitively normal individuals and those with cognitive impairment and dementia, Smile-GAN identified four patterns or axes of neurodegeneration. Applying this framework to longitudinal data revealed two distinct progression pathways. Measures of expression of these patterns predicted the pathway and rate of future neurodegeneration. Pattern expression …

Ale Beer Containing Free And Immobilized Lactobacillus Brevis, A Potential Delivery System For Probiotics, Kriza Faye Calumba, Vondel Reyes, Franklin Bonilla, Elio Villasmil, Subramaniam Sathivel

Faculty Publications

Abstract: Probiotics in ale beer may be attractive to health-conscious consumers. However, beer conditions may decrease probiotic viability. Powder produced from durian (Durio zibethinus) rind, a by-product that is currently unutilized, can be used for the immobilization of probiotics. MRS medium was incubated with Lactobacillus brevis and periodically sampled to obtain the growth curve. Ale beer with free L. brevis and cells immobilized in durian rind powder was produced and separately assessed during storage at 21 °C for 24 days. The physico-chemical parameters of both beers did not differ significantly. Durian rind powder conferred protection up to 12 days of …

E-&Mhealth Interventions Targeting Nutrition, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, And/Or Obesity Among Children: A Scoping Review Of Systematic Reviews And Meta-Analyses, Chelsea L. Kracht, Melinda Hutchesson, Mavra Ahmed, Andre Matthias Müller, Lee M. Ashton, Hannah M. Brown, Ann Desmet, Carol A. Maher, Chelsea E. Mauch, Corneel Vandelanotte, Zenong Yin, Megan Whatnall, Camille E. Short, Amanda E. Staiano

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Childhood obesity is a public health concern. Electronic and mobile health (e-&mHealth) approaches can facilitate the delivery of interventions for obesity prevention and treatment. Synthesizing reviews of e-&mHealth interventions to improve weight and weight-related behaviors (physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet) is useful to characterize the current scope of the literature and identify opportunities for future reviews and studies. Using a scoping review methodology, we aimed to evaluate the breadth and methodological quality of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of e-&mHealth interventions targeting weight and weight-related behaviors in children and adolescents aged < 19 years. A systematic search of seven databases was conducted, including reviews published between 2000 and 2019. Review characteristics were extracted, and methodological quality was assessed using the AMSTAR 2 tool. Forty-five systematic reviews and meta-analyses were included. All reviews evaluated intervention efficacy (100%), but few assessed other aspects (20% in total) such as cost-effectiveness. Smartphone applications (47%), text messages (44%), and websites (35%) were the main modalities. Weight (60%), physical activity (51%), and diet (44%) were frequently assessed, unlike sedentary behavior (8%). Most reviews were rated as having critically low or low methodological quality (97%). Reviews that identify the effective active ingredients of interventions and explore metrics beyond efficacy are recommended.

Fourteen New, Endemic Species Of Shrew (Genus Crocidura) From Sulawesi Reveal A Spectacular Island Radiation, Jacob A. Esselstyn, Anang S. Achmadi, Heru Handika, Mark T. Swanson, Thomas C. Giarla, Kevin C. Rowe

Faculty Publications

After nearly a decade of field inventories in which we preserved voucher specimens of the small terrestrial mammals of Sulawesi, we combined qualitative and quantitative analyses of morphological traits with molecular phylogenetics to better understand the diversity of shrews (Soricidae: Crocidura) on the island. We examined the morphology of 1368 specimens and obtained extensive molecular data from many of them, including mitochondrial DNA sequences from 851 specimens, up to five nuclear exons from 657 specimens, and thousands of ultraconserved elements from 90 specimens. By iteratively testing species limits using distinct character datasets and appropriate taxon sampling, we found clear, mostly …

Culture And Economics: A Literature Review, Faith Howard

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Ncs Assessments Of The Motor, Sensory, And Physical Health Domains, Jane E. Clark, Russell Pate, Rose Marie Rine, Jennifer Christy, Pamela Dalton, Diane L. Damiano, Stephen Daniels, Jonathan M. Holmes, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Susan Magasi, Ryan Mccreery, Kerry Mciver, Karl M. Newell, Terence Sanger, David Sugden, Elsie Taveras, Steven Hirschfeld

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

As part of the National Children's Study (NCS) comprehensive and longitudinal assessment of the health status of the whole child, scientific teams were convened to recommend assessment measures for the NCS. This manuscript documents the work of three scientific teams who focused on the motor, sensory, or the physical health aspects of this assessment. Each domain team offered a value proposition for the importance of their domain to the health outcomes of the developing infant and child. Constructs within each domain were identified and measures of these constructs proposed. Where available extant assessments were identified. Those constructs that were in …

Protein Kinase Sgk2 Is Induced By The Β3 Adrenergic Receptor-Camp-Pka-Pgc-1Α/Nt-Pgc-1Α Axis But Dispensable For Brown/Beige Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis, Chul Hong Park, Jiyoung Moon, Minsung Park, Helia Cheng, Jisu Lee, Ji Suk Chang

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Brown and beige adipocytes are specialized to dissipate energy as heat. Sgk2, encoding a serine/threonine kinase, has been identified as a brown and beige adipocyte-specific gene in rodents and humans; however, its function in brown/beige adipocytes remains unraveled. Here, we examined the regulation and role of Sgk2 in brown/beige adipose tissue thermogenesis. We found that transcriptional coactivators PGC-1α and NT-PGC-1α activated by the β3 adrenergic receptor-cAMP-PKA pathway are recruited to the Sgk2 promoter, triggering Sgk2 transcription in response to cold. SGK2 elevation was closely associated with increased serine/threonine phosphorylation of proteins carrying the consensus RxRxxS/T phosphorylation site. However, despite cold-dependent …

The Use Of Rna Interference To Investigate The Role Of Zmpr10 In Salt Stress Response And Mtl/Nld/Zmpla1 In The Improvement Of Haploid Induction In Maize, Max Carl Miller

LSU Master's Theses

RNA interference (RNAi) is a useful tool in gene characterization and its use is expanding into more practical fields. Two RNAi techniques were used in this case. The studies conducted in the chapter two use transgenic maize lines containing an RNAi construct targeting ZmPR10 to characterize its potential role in growth and development in response to salinity stress. T₁ transgenic plants from events A44S1-35-3 and A44S1-3-4, which had significantly reduced ZmPR10 expression compared to the non-transgenic controls, showed no differences compared to the controls in heights after 30 and 60 days, nor did the T₂ transgenic from these …

Evaluating Consumers’ Perception Of Gluten-Free/Clean-Label Muffins, Vanesa Chicaiza

LSU Master's Theses

The gluten-free-natural-ingredient (GF/NCL) product demand is globally increasing and driven by the growing prevalence of celiac-diseases. Nevertheless, the quality of GF product is often inferior compared to wheat-flour counterparts due to the removing of gluten, which, compromises the appearance, structure, and nutritional value. The addition of fiber into GF/NCL products has been considered to improve nutritional values while maintaining quality attributes. According to the US-FDA, a product containing ≥2.5 grams of fiber/serving can be claimed as a “good-source-of-fiber.” However, adding dietary fiber to baked products affects their qualities, and hence possibly lowering product acceptability.

The main objective of this research …

Hemp Microgreen Mineral Content, Cannabinoids, Total Phenolics, And Antioxidants, Cheston T. Schayot

LSU Master's Theses

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) L. microgreens were grown to 7 and 12 days with and without supplemental lighting and/or fertilizer. The principal macronutrient found in hemp microgreens was nitrogen (N), followed by potassium (K), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S). The principal micronutrient found in hemp microgreens was iron (Fe), followed by manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), boron (B), and copper (Cu). Hemp microgreens were similar to other commonly grown microgreen species in minerals except for P and Mg, where they could potentially be an excellent source, and Zn, where they fell below previously reported amounts. The …

Response Of Roseau Cane (Phragmites Australis) To Two Biotic Stresses: Hyalopterus Pruni And Bipolaris Yamadae, Heather E. Cizek

LSU Master's Theses

Roseau cane (Phragmites australis) is considered an invasive plant because of its ability to replace native plant species. However, in Louisiana it plays an important role protecting coastal infrastructure and being part of the marsh ecosystem in the lower Mississippi River Delta. In recent years, Roseau cane has been affected by a die-off, a problem that has also been reported in some European countries. Possible biotic and abiotic factors that have been associated with the die-off include scale insects, climate change, pollution, salinity levels, and pathogens.

In this research, the individual and combined effect of a foliar disease …