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Chromosomal Stability And Epigenetic Modifications Of Fibroblast Cells Used For Nuclear Transfer, Angelica Maria Giraldo Gomez Jan 2007

Chromosomal Stability And Epigenetic Modifications Of Fibroblast Cells Used For Nuclear Transfer, Angelica Maria Giraldo Gomez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Investigations into the importance of the nuclear integrity of the donor cell prior to nuclear transfer (NT) are limited. In Experiment 1, the proliferative characteristics, chromosomal stability and level of histone phosphorylation in cell lines established by explants and enzymatic dissociation at different population doublings (PDs) were investigated. The cells divided at a constant rate and cell cycle length increased only at the end of the proliferative stage. The level of aneuploidies was high and remained elevated throughout the study independent of the technique used to establish the primary culture. High levels of multinucleated cells and abnormal spindle configurations were …

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Visualizing The Menstrual Cycle: Effects Of A Redesigned Cycle Diagram On Community College Biology Students' Learning, Francesca Maria Mellieon-Williams Jan 2007

Visualizing The Menstrual Cycle: Effects Of A Redesigned Cycle Diagram On Community College Biology Students' Learning, Francesca Maria Mellieon-Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods, exploratory study investigated the importance of the menstrual cycle diagram for understanding human reproduction. Several theories were used to support this study including Visual Design Theory (Tufte, 1990, 1997, 2001), and Human Constructivist Theory (Mintzes, Wandersee, Novak 1998). The two sexuality education programs used by society, abstinence-only programs and comprehensive sex education programs were compared to illustrate how this study applies to the current state of sexuality education in the United States. Community college students from two institutions in the southern region of the United States, registered in five introductory biological science courses, participated in a unit …

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Understanding The New York Rabies Epizootic 1985-2005, David Dorrell Jan 2007

Understanding The New York Rabies Epizootic 1985-2005, David Dorrell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Surveillance data are an important part of medical geography. These data are used to produce much of the analyses that define the subdiscipline. It is understood that surveillance data may contain biases, but there have only been limited studies devoted to determining in what ways the data are not representative of actual disease prevalence. New York was selected for this research for several reasons. First, it has a strong rabies data set. Second, it has a centralized system of licensing animal and dog control officers. Third, it is well-represented in terms of local media. This dissertation attempts to better understand …

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Electrodeposition Of Rare Earth-Transition Metal Alloy Thin Films And Nanostructures, Rohit Mishra Jan 2007

Electrodeposition Of Rare Earth-Transition Metal Alloy Thin Films And Nanostructures, Rohit Mishra

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Rare earth-transition metal alloys are of interest in MEMS and magnetic storage industries because of their unique magnetic properties. However, the applications of these alloys have been limited to bulk and thin film architectures because of the limitations of the contemporary vapor deposition technique to fabricate high aspect ratio nanostructures. The objective of this study is to develop an electrochemical process to deposit rare earth-transition metal alloys thus making it possible to deposit high aspect ratio nanostructures such as nanowires and nanotubes, which helps to tune their properties for specific applications. Electrodeposition of rare earth-transition metal alloys was achieved from …

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Assessment Of Thelypteris Palustris, Asparagus Sprengeri, And Lolium Perenne For Their Potential Use In The Phytoremediation Of Arsenic-Contaminated Soils, Lashunda L. Anderson Jan 2007

Assessment Of Thelypteris Palustris, Asparagus Sprengeri, And Lolium Perenne For Their Potential Use In The Phytoremediation Of Arsenic-Contaminated Soils, Lashunda L. Anderson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of this study is to evaluate the potential of three plants, Thelypteris palustris (marsh fern), Asparagus sprengeri (asparagus fern), and Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) for use in phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils. Specifically, the objectives of this study are to (1) confirm if arsenic accumulation occurs in the selected plants, (2) to examine morphological effects of arsenic in the selected plants, and (3) to evaluate the oxidation state of arsenic upon accumulation in the selected plants. The analytical method combination of ICP-MS, SEM, and XANES was used to accomplish the objectives of this study. The results indicate marsh fern, …

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Experimental And Modeling Studies Of Contaminant Transport In Capped Sediments During Gas Bubble Ebullition, Qingzhong Yuan Jan 2007

Experimental And Modeling Studies Of Contaminant Transport In Capped Sediments During Gas Bubble Ebullition, Qingzhong Yuan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fluxes of the three organics and eighteen metals from sediments were measured with diffusion chambers, and the effectiveness of a sand cap ascertained. The influence of sediment consolidation on contaminant flux and the mass transfer coefficient at the sediment-water interface was studied. A two-layer diffusion-advection model and consolidation model were coupled to elucidate the effect of sediment consolidation on chemical transport in the sediment-cap system. The model was tested and verified by the experimental data from microcosms, and then was used to predict phenanthrene flux under field conditions. The simulation results showed that consolidation could accelerate phenanthrene breakthrough and enhance …

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Gulf Coast Journalists And Hurricane Katrina: Mounting Challenges To The Work Routine, Shearon Roberts Jan 2007

Gulf Coast Journalists And Hurricane Katrina: Mounting Challenges To The Work Routine, Shearon Roberts

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore through sourcing and framing the changes Gulf Coast journalists made in their news reporting as a result of directly experiencing Hurricane Katrina. Data for this study was obtained through the archives of The New Orleans Times-Picayune and through the Nexis/Lexis database. Many Gulf-Coast journalists lost their homes and were affected by the storm in various degrees with one case of a reported suicide attempt. The daily newspapers of the cities of New Orleans, La. and Biloxi, Miss., received Pulitzer Prizes for Public Service for ceaseless and tireless reporting of the disaster. This …

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Linking Public Opinion To State Legislative Behavior: The Partial Birth Abortion Issue, Michael Bruce, Jr. Jan 2007

Linking Public Opinion To State Legislative Behavior: The Partial Birth Abortion Issue, Michael Bruce, Jr.

LSU Master's Theses

The effect of public opinion on state legislative behavior has been an important and extensively explored topic. However, not much research has been conducted regarding public opinion on the abortion issue and how it influences state legislative behavior. Previous theory suggests that highly salient and controversial issues increase the probability that state legislators will respond to public opinion when voting. Arguing that issue salience and interest groups act as facilitating factors, I hypothesize that public opinion plays a significant role in determining whether or not state legislatures pass bans on partial birth abortion. Using Brace et al (2002) state-level opinion …

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Evaluating Seashore Paspalum Seed Germination And Enhancement, Erosion Abatement And Potential Use As A Vegetative Landfarm Cap, Dexter Paul Fontenot Jan 2007

Evaluating Seashore Paspalum Seed Germination And Enhancement, Erosion Abatement And Potential Use As A Vegetative Landfarm Cap, Dexter Paul Fontenot

LSU Master's Theses

Four temperatures were tested to determine the optimum temperature for seed germination of Paspalum vaginatum 'Seaspray' seed. Results indicated that Paspalum vaginatum germination percentage was greatest at 30°C. Three seed enhancement treatments were applied to Paspalum vaginatum seed to determine improvements in germination percentage and MTG of the seed. Potassium nitrate, GA, and soaking seed in distilled water yielded greater germination percentages than the dry control. Seeds subjected to enhancement treatments had significantly faster MTG rates than the dry control seeds. Seeds also had higher germination percentage with exposure to light when compared to seeds that germinated in conditions not …

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Uncomfortable Performances: Discovering A Subversive Scenario For Rape Discourse, Annamaria Ruffino Jan 2007

Uncomfortable Performances: Discovering A Subversive Scenario For Rape Discourse, Annamaria Ruffino

LSU Master's Theses

Current trends in representations of rape show a new fascination with a rape scenario, a fascination that puts a normative slant on discourse surrounding rape. Normalizing the rape scenario carries various consequences for women; the first and foremost is that it turns the experience of rape into an entertainment commodity, thus causing women’s voices to be appropriated into dominant discourses and the capitalist project. One possible way to circumvent this normalization is to look toward feminist performance strategies in order to subvert this rape scenario and the discourses surrounding it from within. In this thesis, I explore ways to accomplish …

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African Art Music For Flute: A Study Of Selected Works By African Composers, Wendy Kristin Hymes Onovwerosuoke Jan 2007

African Art Music For Flute: A Study Of Selected Works By African Composers, Wendy Kristin Hymes Onovwerosuoke

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Recent years have witnessed an increase in the number of Western classical music performers actively programming works employing multi-cultural musical idioms. Though there exist many compositions by African composers, African art music is not often programmed by Western performers because of the lack of exposure these compositions have received, lack of commercially-available recordings, and the difficulties of obtaining information about African musical styles. The information presented in this research aims to aid performers in their preparation and approach to performing African art music compositions, specifically those for the western flute. This research includes biographical information and compositional philosophies of five …

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Balch Internet Research And Analysis Tool Development Case Study, Charles V. Balch Jan 2007

Balch Internet Research And Analysis Tool Development Case Study, Charles V. Balch

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Internet has become increasing popular as a vehicle to deliver surveys. An essential objective of research is to collect accurate data and there has been little work to insure that Internet survey systems are employing best practices as defined by academic and professional research to collect data. My dissertation reviews the current literature relating to best practices in Internet survey design and best practices in software design and development. I then document the development and deployment of an Open Source and publicly licensed Internet survey system that allows researchers to easily create, deploy, and analyze the results of Internet …

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Using Time-Lapse And Stroboscopic Photography To Enhance Student Understanding Of Plant Growth, Structure, And Pollination: An Inquiry-Based Study, Louis John Schultz Jan 2007

Using Time-Lapse And Stroboscopic Photography To Enhance Student Understanding Of Plant Growth, Structure, And Pollination: An Inquiry-Based Study, Louis John Schultz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of allowing students to generate their own images in a science class as opposed to using pre-existing images. The participants in the study were 7th grade science students enrolled in a small, rural, Louisiana school. A mixed methods design was used so that call available data was collected and analyzed. The lessons used in the study were based on plant structure, growth, and propagation which fit into the mandated 7th grade science curriculum. The students were involved in the taking of still, time-lapse, and stroboscopic images throughout the study. Although an analysis …

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Flow And Distribution Of Water In Fractional Wettability Unsaturated Porous Media, Zaydoun Turkey Abusalem Jan 2007

Flow And Distribution Of Water In Fractional Wettability Unsaturated Porous Media, Zaydoun Turkey Abusalem

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In recent years, interest in fluid flow and transport in the unsaturated zone has gained more attention, due to growing concerns that the quality of the subsurface environment is adversely affected by agricultural, industrial, and municipal activities. The wettability properties (e.g., water repellency) of soil in the unsaturated zone play an important role in determining fluid movement and ultimate distributions. A number of studies have shown that preferential flow and spatially variable moisture content is likely to occur in water repellant soils. Development of appropriate constitutive relations for numerical modeling becomes even more difficult in systems that contain water repellant …

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News Narratives And Television News Editing, Keren Esther Henderson Jan 2007

News Narratives And Television News Editing, Keren Esther Henderson

LSU Master's Theses

This study seeks to understand how and why television news editors impose meanings onto news packages through montage editing. Through a qualitative content analysis and in-depth interviews, this study will advance the notably few past narrative editing studies by investigating the norms and routines of television news editors. While other researchers recognize the significance of studying montage editing in television news, this is the first study to clarify the relationship between montage techniques and the creation of television news narratives.

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What Remains, Cynthia A. Giacheti Jan 2007

What Remains, Cynthia A. Giacheti

LSU Master's Theses

My goal with this body of work was to create an installation that would resemble both a chapel and a shotgun house. The installation was constructed out of mixed media vignettes revealing both memories and constructed commentaries that reflect and document a moment of “real time” for me. The work I have created over the past several years speaks of human frailty and the mystery of existence. My thesis exhibition has allowed me to further develop my own personal symbols, which serve as fragile reminders of hope and transformation in a hostile world. I have created an environment with an …

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I Want To Know You I Want To Understand You, Jeane Dos Santos Alves Cooper Jan 2007

I Want To Know You I Want To Understand You, Jeane Dos Santos Alves Cooper

LSU Master's Theses

I want to know you I want to understand you is a new media work that uses the World Wide Web to discuss the issues of traditional and new methods of communication, as well as exploring the concepts of collaborative and interactive art.

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The Black Church And Political Mobilization Of African Americans, Misty Noel Johnson Jan 2007

The Black Church And Political Mobilization Of African Americans, Misty Noel Johnson

LSU Master's Theses

This study investigates the political and social activities of black church congregations within a southern community by assessing the effectiveness of three churches in mobilizing their congregations and serving as channels for political communication. The study pays particular attention to the differences between affiliations within the black church, the influence of religious leaders on political involvement, attitudes regarding political involvement and political influences outside of the church. The thesis begins by placing the black church in its historical context —as a giver of spiritual and community orientation as well as a social and political mobilization agent. Using survey results from …

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Particle And Dredge-Scale Kinetic Studies Of Hydrophobic Organic Chemical Desorption From Sediment, Justin Edward Birdwell Jan 2007

Particle And Dredge-Scale Kinetic Studies Of Hydrophobic Organic Chemical Desorption From Sediment, Justin Edward Birdwell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The discharge of hydrophobic organic chemicals (HOCs) and other hazardous substances from anthropogenic sources to surface waters and the atmosphere has led to the widespread contamination of bottom sediments throughout the world. HOCs collect in sediments due to their affinity for organic matter and other sorbents present on and within their solid matrices. There is interest in the movement of HOCs from historically contaminated, resuspended sediments to surface waters due to the connection between chemical desorption and bioavailability. Quantitatively accurate predictions of contaminant concentrations in environmental media are needed for reliable risk assessment and to develop strategies for protection of …

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Characterization Of Advanced Composites- A Nondestructive Approach, Phani Surya Kiran Mylavarapu Jan 2007

Characterization Of Advanced Composites- A Nondestructive Approach, Phani Surya Kiran Mylavarapu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Adhesively bonded sandwich structures comprising of particulate composites as core and graphite epoxy skins as stiffeners are widely used for various applications in the marine and aerospace industry. The core material and the stiffener are held together by an adhesive bond. Particulate composites are made from a mixture of a polymer resin and hollow or solid particles. Hollow particulate composites are known as syntactic foams. Particulate composites possess attractive mechanical and physical properties such as high compressive strength etc, making them attractive materials for use in structural applications. Characterization of the adhesive bondline and core material in sandwich structures is …

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Development Of Micropump For Microfluidic Applications, Dong Eun Lee Jan 2007

Development Of Micropump For Microfluidic Applications, Dong Eun Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation covers the research work on two types of micropumps, one is based on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) principle that utilizes Lorentz force for actuation, and the other is based on electrochemical actuation. The AC-type MHD micropump was designed and analyzed as a solution to the bubble formation problem encountered in DC-type MHD micropump. A UV-LIGA process using thick layer of SU-8 negative photoresist was successfully developed to microfabricate the AC MHD micropump. Preliminary studies and tests of the AC MHD micropumps demonstrate that bubble formation was significantly reduced to permit the proper function of the micropump. A continuous flow was …

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Stereochemical And Regiochemical Trends In The Selective Spectrophotometric Detection Of Biological Molecules, Shan Jiang Jan 2007

Stereochemical And Regiochemical Trends In The Selective Spectrophotometric Detection Of Biological Molecules, Shan Jiang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Useful mechanistic studies to date concerning sugar detection by arylboronic acid chemosensors have mainly involved the elucidation of equilibrium constants and the role of boron-nitrogen interactions in signal transduction. However, several discreet sugarboronate complexes exist in solution. This is due to the complex equilibria between isomeric species of even the simplest monosaccharides. Relatively few reports have been devoted to a systematic study of the structures of each of the corresponding individual sugar-boronate complexes. We have investigated some of the precise regio- and stereochemical features of the various equilibrating sugar isomers that induce selective signal transduction. As a result of this …

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Synthesis Of Quaternary Dendronized Cellulose Derivatives And Their Potential Biological Applications, Changde Zhang Jan 2007

Synthesis Of Quaternary Dendronized Cellulose Derivatives And Their Potential Biological Applications, Changde Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, novel dendronized cellulose derivatives with biodegradable backbones were created by using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the starting material. CMC was first transformed into its corresponding tetrabutyl ammonium salt, which reacted with 2-chloro-N-methylpyridinium iodide (CMPI) to produce an activated ester of [2-(N-methyl pyridium) carboxymethyl cellulose] iodide (MPCMCI). The reaction of MPCMCPI and di-tert-butyl 4-[2-(ter-butoxycarbonyl)ethyl]-4-aminoheptanedicarboxylate (BA) produced a new derivative with BA dendron elaborated on cellulose backbone (CMCBA). The degree of substitution (DS) of CMCBA was adjusted by controlling the relative concentration of CMPI and by choosing CMC with different DS or different molecular weights. Thermogrametric analysis (TGA) …

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Measurement Of Metal Migration In Sediment Caps With X-Ray Fluorescene, Ming Yin Jan 2007

Measurement Of Metal Migration In Sediment Caps With X-Ray Fluorescene, Ming Yin

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT Sand is often used as a passive barrier to slow release of metals from the sediment and to separate benthic organisms from the sediment. Materials that effectively adsorb metals have the potential to provide significantly greater effectiveness by further retarding metal release. In this thesis, the effectiveness of apatite and Phosphil®, which contain phosphate in a form that can absorb many metals, is evaluated with a series of sorption and migration column experiments using Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb. Langmuir shape isotherms were observed suggesting that the effectiveness of these materials decreases at high concentration. The sorption isotherm experiments …

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Synthesis And Evaluation Of Derivatives And Analogs Of Xanthene Dyes, Xiangyang Xu Jan 2007

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Derivatives And Analogs Of Xanthene Dyes, Xiangyang Xu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Xanthene dyes are one of the oldest synthetic dyes. Fluorescein was first synthesized by von Baeyer in 1871. Since its discovery, it has been extensively studied. Fluorescein can exist as four different ionic forms (cationic form, neutral form, monoanionic form and dianionic form). Under physiological conditions (pH 7.4), fluorescein mainly exists as the dianionic form which grants it large quantum yield and excellent solubility in water. This renders fluorescein and its derivatives useful for studies in biological media. Cysteine (Cys) and homocysteine (Hcy) are of the few amino acids which contain sulfur and both of them are believed to be …

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Characterization Of Unsaturated Soils Using Elastic And Electromagnetic Waves, Bashar Alramahi Jan 2007

Characterization Of Unsaturated Soils Using Elastic And Electromagnetic Waves, Bashar Alramahi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Recent advances in laboratory instruments and techniques enabled researchers to explore new aspects of the behavior of geomaterials and perform measurements that would be otherwise impossible to acquire using traditional geotechnical laboratory techniques. This dissertation is focused on utilizing elastic and electromagnetic wave measurements and SMCT imaging to non-destructively characterize different aspects of the behavior of unsaturated soils. A model that relates P-wave velocity in soils to the volumetric water content was used to develop a new methodology to determine the in situ density and moisture content of soils. It was numerically and experimentally verified to assess it validity and …

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"But Seriously, Folks...": Understanding The Political Effects Of Late Night Television Comedy, Danielle Lynn Sarver Jan 2007

"But Seriously, Folks...": Understanding The Political Effects Of Late Night Television Comedy, Danielle Lynn Sarver

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The potential political effects of late night comedy programs have been a subject of much debate and concern, particularly since the 2000 Presidential election. Research into this area has been characterized by inconsistency in operationalizations of audiences and an almost exclusive focus on quantitative research. This project was designed to address key concerns that are central to this burgeoning literature by examining “heavy” viewers of late night talk shows (including audiences of Leno, Letterman, and Conan O’Brien) and “heavy” viewers of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” A combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used to understand the relationships …

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Toward A New Understanding Of Wisdom: The Role Of Communication On Perceptions Of Wisdom, Jon M. Croghan Jan 2007

Toward A New Understanding Of Wisdom: The Role Of Communication On Perceptions Of Wisdom, Jon M. Croghan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Wisdom is a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional, multidisciplinary construct which has been discussed and examined since the beginning of recorded history. Many classical and contemporary scholars have sought to define wisdom, but a precise definition has proven elusive. Since wisdom often defies easy categorization, this dissertation examines wisdom using a multi-methodological perspective. Four chapters of this dissertation discuss the historiography of various societal attributions of wisdom using performance studies techniques. Three chapters examine wisdom and the instruments constructed to measure the construct from a social scientific approach. This study seeks to clarify, while simultaneously deconstructing, the definition of wisdom. The four performative …

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Peforming Louisiana: The History Of Cajun Dialect Humor And Its Impact On The Cajun Cultural Identity, Debrah Royer Richardson Jan 2007

Peforming Louisiana: The History Of Cajun Dialect Humor And Its Impact On The Cajun Cultural Identity, Debrah Royer Richardson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Cajuns, the descendants of the Acadian diaspora begun in 1755, chose to live a largely isolated existence in Louisiana until elements in the nineteenth century began concerted efforts to assimilate the Cajuns. By the beginnings of the twentieth century, the dual challenges of enforced schooling and the prohibition of spoken French affected the Cajun sense of pride. Around the same time, outsiders (satirists from Louisiana who were not of Cajun descent) used the Cajun dialect, in publications and on the radio, to humorously skewer Louisiana politics. Over the last century, Cajun dialect humor has evolved along specific lines that have …

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Structural Manipulation Of Pyrrole-Terminated Dendrimers To Create A More Efficient Encapsulation/Release System, Henry Wiggins Jan 2007

Structural Manipulation Of Pyrrole-Terminated Dendrimers To Create A More Efficient Encapsulation/Release System, Henry Wiggins

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This work demonstrates the ability to manipulate the structure of pyrrole-terminated dendrimers by modifying solution conditions which directly affects their encapsulation properties. Investigations were conducted using FTIR and 2D NMR to determine the location of end groups. NMR relaxation studies were conducted at various temperatures and different solution pH to gain an understanding of the relative mobility and rigidity of different areas of the dendrimer. It was found that that the release properties were affected by the solution pH and the presence of salt. Further the effectiveness of retaining molecular guests by oligo-pyrrole terminated dendrimers with a range of oligomer …

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