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Biogeography Of Biological Control: Spatial Variation In Agent-Host Interactions, Nathan Harms

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Management of plant invasions using biological control has the potential to generate spatial patterns which reflect geographic or genetic variation in invader or control agents. Despite its rarity in practice, investigations into the biogeography of interacting species (i.e., plant invader and control agent) in the context of biological control can lend insights into species distribution-abundance patterns and provide predictions for spatial variation in control success. I explored spatial variability in biological control agent-plant interactions using two wetland weed study systems with large geographic distributions: flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus L.) and alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb). Through literature and …

Influence Of Health Beneficial Monk Fruit Sweetener On Microbial And Physicochemical Characteristics Of Camel Milk Yogurt, Alina Buchilina

LSU Master's Theses

Camel milk contains all the essential nutrients found in cow’s milk and has potentially health beneficial compounds such as anti-carcinogenic, anti-hypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and insulin and insulin-like substances. Camel milk has been reported as a treatment for diseases such as diabetes and autism. Camel milk favorably alters gut microbiota to a higher abundance of bifidobacteria.

Sweetness is one of the most desirable tastes in people’s diet; however, the surplus consumption of sugar has a negative effect on human health. Monk fruit sweetener is a natural zero caloric sweetener with many health beneficial properties, namely, prevention of asthma, prevention of oxidation, liver …

Modifications To Infant Formula Instructions Improve The Accuracy Of Formula Dispensing, Linda A. Gilmore, Abby D. Altazan, Emily W. Flanagan, Alexandra G. Beyer, Kelsey N. Olson, Alexis A. O’Connell, Timothy H. Nguyen, Robbie A. Beyl, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Readability of infant formula preparation instructions is universally poor, which may result in inaccurate infant feeding. Given that inaccurate formula dispensing can lead to altered infant growth and increased adiposity, there is an increased need for easy to follow instructions for formula preparation. We hypothesize that altering infant formula instruction labels using feedback from iterative focus groups will improve the preparation accuracy of powdered infant formula in a randomized controlled trial. Participants were recruited from the community, 18 years of age or older, willing to disclose demographic information for focus group matching, and willing to participate freely in the first …

Review Of Racial Disparities: Healthcare, Health Outcomes, And Outreach Programs, Lauren Bagneris

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Correlation Between Leaf Morphology And Environmental Niche In The Eucentropogonid Subclade Of Species-Rich Neotropical Bellflowers (Campanulaceae), Ayah Ibrahim

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Racial Differences In Body Composition And Cardiometabolic Risk During The Menopause Transition: A Prospective, Observational Cohort Study, Kara L. Marlatt, Leanne M. Redman, Robbie A. Beyl, Steve R. Smith, Catherine M. Champagne, Fanchao Yi, Jennifer C. Lovejoy

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Obesity disproportionately affects more women than men. The loss of ovarian function during the menopause transition coincides with weight gain, increases in abdominal adiposity, and impaired metabolic health. Racial differences in obesity prevalence that results from the menopause transition are not well understood. Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess longitudinal changes in body composition and cardiometabolic risk among black and white women during the menopausal transition. Study Design: In a secondary analysis of a prospective, observational cohort study (the Healthy Transitions study), 161 women ≥43 years old with a body mass index of 20–40 kg/m2 and …

Psychological And Behavioral Determinants Of Weight Loss: A Need For Research To Determine Causation, Corby K. Martin, Eric Ravussin

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Increased Energy Intake After Pregnancy Determines Postpartum Weight Retention In Women With Obesity, Jasper Most, Abby D. Altazan., Marshall St Amant, Robbie A. Beyl, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M. Redma

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Context: This study was designed to understand causes and critical periods for postpartum weight retention by characterizing changes in body composition, energy intake, energy expenditure and physical activity in women with obesity during pregnancy and postpartum. Design: In this prospective, observational cohort study, body composition (plethysmography), energy expenditure (doubly labeled water, whole-body room calorimetry), physical activity (accelerometry), metabolic biomarkers, and eating behaviors were measured. Energy intake was calculated by the intakebalance method for pregnancy, and for 2 postpartum periods (0 to 6 months and 6 to 12 months). Results: During the 18-month observation period, weight loss occurred in 16 (43%) …

Circulating Lysophosphatidylcholines In Early Pregnancy And Risk Of Gestational Diabetes In Chinese Women, Jinnan Liu, Jing Li, Sainan Li, Junhong Leng, Weiqin Li, Wen Yang, Xiaoxu Huo, Liwei Chen, Ronald C.W. Ma, Gang Hu, Zhongze Fang, Xilin Yang

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study aimed to explore associations of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) in early pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and whether LPCs mediated the associations of bile acids with GDM risk or had interactive effects with bile acids on GDM risk. Design: We conducted a 1:1 nested case-control study (n = 486) from a large prospective pregnant women cohort in urban Tianjin, China. Blood samples were collected at their first antenatal care visit (median at 10th gestational week). LPCs were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Conditional binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis were used to identify cutoff …

Predicting Weight Loss Using Psychological And Behavioral Factors: The Pounds Lost Trial, Xiaoran Liu, Dennis J. Hanseman, Catherine M. Champagne, George A. Bray, Lu Qi, Donald A. Williamson, Stephen D. Anton, Frank M. Sacks, Jenny Tong

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Context: Eating habits and food craving are strongly correlated with weight status. It is currently not well understood how psychological and behavioral factors influence both weight loss and weight regain. Objective: To examine the associations between psychological and behavioral predictors with weight changes and energy intake in a randomized controlled trial on weight loss. Design and setting: The Prevention of Obesity Using Novel Dietary Strategies is a dietary intervention trial that examined the efficacy of 4 diets on weight loss over 2 years. Participants were 811 overweight (body mass index, 25-40.9 kg/m2; age, 30-70 years) otherwise healthy adults. Results: Every …

Towards Better Evidence-Informed Global Action: Lessons Learnt From The Lancet Series And Recent Developments In Physical Activity And Public Health, Ding Ding, Andrea Ramirez Varela, Adrian E. Bauman, Ulf Ekelund, I. Min Lee, Gregory Heath, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Rodrigo Reis, Michael Pratt

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

In the past few decades, the field of physical activity has grown and evolved in scope, depth, visibility and impact around the world. Global progress has been observed in research and practice in physical activity regarding surveillance, health outcomes, correlates/determinants, interventions, translation and policy. The 2012 and 2016 Lancet series on physical activity provide some of the most comprehensive global analysis on various topics within physical activity. Based on the Lancet series and other key developments in the field, literature searches, and expert group meetings and consultation, we provide a global summary on the progress of, gaps in and future …

Lipids And Ketones Dominate Metabolism At The Expense Of Glucose Control In Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Hyperglycaemic Clamp And Metabolomics Study, Jacob T. Mey, Adithya Hari, Christopher L. Axelrod, Ciarán E. Fealy, Melissa L. Erickson, John P. Kirwan, Raed A. Dweik, Gustavo A. Heresi

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Individuals with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) display reduced oral glucose tolerance. This may involve defects in pancreatic function or insulin sensitivity but this hypothesis has not been tested; moreover, fasting nutrient metabolism remains poorly described in PAH. Thus, we aimed to characterise fasting nutrient metabolism and investigated the metabolic response to hyperglycaemia in PAH. 12 participants (six PAH, six controls) were administered a hyperglycaemic clamp, while 52 (21 PAH, 31 controls) underwent plasma metabolomic analysis. Glucose, insulin, C-peptide, free fatty acids and acylcarnitines were assessed from the clamp. Plasma metabolomics was conducted on fasting plasma samples. The clamp verified …

Joint International Consensus Statement For Ending Stigma Of Obesity, Francesco Rubino, Rebecca M. Puhl, David E. Cummings, Robert H. Eckel, Donna H. Ryan, Jeffrey I. Mechanick, Joe Nadglowski, Ximena Ramos Salas, Phillip R. Schauer, Douglas Twenefour, Caroline M. Apovian, Louis J. Aronne, Rachel L. Batterham, Hans Rudolph Berthoud, Camilo Boza, Luca Busetto, Dror Dicker, Mary De Groot, Daniel Eisenberg, Stuart W. Flint, Terry T. Huang, Lee M. Kaplan, John P. Kirwan, Judith Korner, Ted K. Kyle, Blandine Laferrère, Carel W. Le Roux, La Shawn Mciver, Geltrude Mingrone, Patricia Nece, Tirissa J. Reid, Ann M. Rogers, Michael Rosenbaum, Randy J. Seeley

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

People with obesity commonly face a pervasive, resilient form of social stigma. They are often subject to discrimination in the workplace as well as in educational and healthcare settings. Research indicates that weight stigma can cause physical and psychological harm, and that affected individuals are less likely to receive adequate care. For these reasons, weight stigma damages health, undermines human and social rights, and is unacceptable in modern societies. To inform healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public about this issue, a multidisciplinary group of international experts, including representatives of scientific organizations, reviewed available evidence on the causes and harms of …

Effects Of Sea-Level Rise On Physiological Ecology Of Populations Of A Ground-Dwelling Ant, L. M. Hooper-Bùi, R. M. Strecker-Lau, D. M. Stewart, M. J. Landry, A. M. Papillion, S. N. Peterson, R. A. Daniel

Faculty Publications

Introduction Sea-level rise is a consequence of climate change that can impact the ecological and physiological changes of coastal, ground-dwelling species. Sea-level rise has a potential to inundate birds, rodents, spiders, and insects that live on the ground in coastal areas. Yet, there is still much to be learned concerning the specifics of these impacts. The red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta (Buren) excavates soil for its home and is capable of surviving flooding. Because of their ground-dwelling life history and rapid reproduction, fire ants make an ideal model for discovery and prediction of changes that may be due to …

Nucleolar Stress In Drosophila Neuroblasts, A Model For Human Ribosomopathies, Sonu Shrestha Baral, Molly E. Lieux, Patrick J. Dimario

Faculty Publications

Different stem cells or progenitor cells display variable threshold requirements for functional ribosomes. This is particularly true for several human ribosomopathies in which select embryonic neural crest cells or adult bone marrow stem cells, but not others, show lethality due to failures in ribosome biogenesis or function (now known as nucleolar stress). To determine if various Drosophila neuroblasts display differential sensitivities to nucleolar stress, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt the Nopp140 gene that encodes two splice variant ribosome biogenesis factors (RBFs). Disruption of Nopp140 induced nucleolar stress that arrested larvae in the second instar stage. While the majority of larval …

The Visualization And Quantification Of Adipose Tissue Innervation, Sanjeev Samuel Gummadi

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Using A Difference-In-Differences Approach To Examine The Impact Of The State Earned Income Tax Credit On Student Educational Outcomes, Caroline Louise Vanchiere

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Shifts Between Maternal Care And Infanticide Behaviors In Female Mouthbrooding Astatotilapia Burtoni Are Associated With Activation Of Galanin Neurons, Erandi Madushani Herath

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of A Blueberry-Enriched Diet On Particulate Matter-Induced Lung Injury, Oxidative Stress, And Inflammation In An Adult Mouse Model, Jimmy Taylor

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

A Natural Experiment Of State-Level Physical Activity And Screen-Time Policy Changes Early Childhood Education (Ece) Centers And Child Physical Activity, Chelsea L. Kracht, E. Kipling Webster, Amanda E. Staiano

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Background: Early childhood education (ECE) centers are an important place for preschool-aged children to obtain physical activity (PA). A U.S. state government (Louisiana) recently updated requirements for licensed centers' PA and screen-time policies, which allowed for assessment of 1) ECE center practices, environment, staff behaviors, and policies changes on child-level PA and 2) state level changes on the ECE center. Methods: ECE centers were assessed at the beginning of state licensing changes and 1-year later. The ECE centers were assessed via the Environmental Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) tool. The EPAO Sedentary Opportunities score, which primarily assesses television viewing time, …

Barriers And Facilitators Influencing Compliance With Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Protocol: A Qualitative Study, Paige Boudreaux

LSU Master's Theses

Standardization in many industries has proven to lead to improved productivity and efficiency, however, standard practice in healthcare has proven difficult due to patient and physician variation. Evidence-based practices provide an opportunity to create more standardization. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs are attempting to standardize the surgical pathways of patients by implementing standard evidence-based steps, beginning in the surgeons office and continuing through a patients discharge (Ljungqvist, Scott, & Fearon, 2017). Implementing ERAS to standardize the surgical care of patients has shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce length of stay and reduce readmissions, however, there is a lack of …

Inhibiting Iron Mobilization From Bacterioferritin In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Impairs Biofilm Formation Irrespective Of Environmental Iron Availability, Anabel Soldano, Huili Yao, Josephine R. Chandler, Mario Rivera

Faculty Publications

Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society. Although iron is essential for bacteria, the nutrient presents problems of toxicity and solubility. Bacteria circumvent these problems with the aid of iron storage proteins where Fe3+ is deposited and, when necessary, mobilized as Fe2+ for metabolic requirements. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Fe3+ is compartmentalized in bacterioferritin (BfrB), and its mobilization as Fe2+ requires specific binding of a ferredoxin (Bfd) to reduce the stored Fe3+. Blocking the BfrB-Bfd complex leads to irreversible iron accumulation in BfrB and cytosolic iron deprivation. Consequently, given the intracellular iron sufficiency requirement for biofilm development, we hypothesized that blocking the …

Sex-Related Differences In Brain Volumes And Cerebral Blood Flow Among Overweight And Obese Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Exploratory Analyses From The Action For Health In Diabetes Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study, Mark A. Espeland, Kathleen M. Hayden, Samuel N. Lockhart, Hussein N. Yassine, Siobhan Hoscheidt, Sevil Yasar, Jose A. Luchsinger, Rebecca H. Neiberg, Roberta Diaz Brinton, Owen Carmichael

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Sex may be an important modifier of brain health in response to risk factors. We compared brain structure and function of older overweight and obese women and men with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Cross-sectional cognitive assessments and magnetic resonance images were obtained in 224 women and 95 men (mean age 69 years) with histories of type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight or obesity. Prior to magnetic resonance images, participants had completed an average of 10 years of random assignment to either multidomain intervention targeting weight loss or a control condition of diabetes support and education. Total (summed gray …

Modeling And Data Infrastructure For Human-Centric Design And Operation Of Sustainable, Healthy Buildings Through A Case Study, Yong X. Tao, Yimin Zhu, Ulrike Passe

Faculty Publications

This paper focuses on data infrastructure that is central to the modeling of design and operation of sustainable and healthy buildings. While reducing energy consumption by making buildings more energy efficient has been touted as an easily obtainable approach to promoting carbon-neutral energy societies, the sustainable buildings’ benefits and impacts on human wellbeing have not been clearly quantified to the extent that they may directly influence the decision of adopting sustainable building designs. The authors argue that focusing on the wellbeing of people occupying the buildings will lead to significant changes in the decision-making process of the design and operation …

Two Weeks Of Moderate Hypoxia Improves Glucose Tolerance In Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes, Kara L. Marlatt, Frank L. Greenway, J. Kyle Schwab, Eric Ravussin

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

We previously showed that nightly exposure to moderate hypoxia reduces fasting glucose levels and improves both whole-body skeletal muscle and hepatic insulin sensitivity in individuals with obesity. The goal of this study was to extend this observation in an “at home” setting and determine if nightly exposure to moderate hypoxia improves glucose tolerance in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Eight adults, ages 20–65 years with type 2 diabetes enrolled in our study and slept for 14 consecutive nights at home in a hypoxic tent maintained at 15% O2 (~2400 m). The primary endpoint was insulin sensitivity (Matsuda Index) calculated from …

Health In Preconception, Pregnancy And Postpartum Global Alliance: International Network Pregnancy Priorities For The Prevention Of Maternal Obesity And Related Pregnancy And Long-Term Complications, Briony Hill, Helen Skouteris, Jacqueline A. Boyle, Cate Bailey, Ruth Walker, Shakila Thangaratinam, Hildrun Sundseth, Judith Stephenson, Eric Steegers, Leanne M. Redman, Cynthia Montanaro, Siew Lim, Laura Jorgensen, Brian Jack, Ana Luiza Vilela Borges, Heidi J. Bergmeier, Jo Anna B. Baxter, Cheryce L. Harrison, Helena J. Teede

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

In this article, we describe the process of establishing agreed international pregnancy research priorities to address the global issues of unhealthy lifestyles and rising maternal obesity. We focus specifically on the prevention of maternal obesity to improve related clinical pregnancy and long-term complications. A team of multidisciplinary, international experts in preconception and pregnancy health, including consumers, were invited to form the Health in Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum (HiPPP) Global Alliance. As an initial activity, a priority setting process was completed to generate pregnancy research priorities in this field. Research, practice and policy gaps were identified and enhanced through expert and …

Video Games, Obesity, And Children, Chelsea L. Kracht, Elizabeth D. Joseph, Amanda E. Staiano

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To examine associations between video game play and obesity in children. RECENT FINDINGS: Based on a scoping review of 26 studies (25 cross-sectional; 1 longitudinal) published in 2013-2018, 14 studies (53%) reported no association between video game play and obesity, and 12 studies reported positive associations. In a review of 8 systematic reviews, there was preliminary evidence on the effectiveness of exergame (physically active) play for weight reduction and to attenuate weight gain but little indication that interventions effectively reduced video game play or general screen time. This review found ambiguous evidence on the extent to which …

Naringenin Increases Insulin Sensitivity And Metabolic Rate: A Case Study, Navya Murugesan, Kaylee Woodard, Rahul Ramaraju, Frank L. Greenway, Ann A. Coulter, Candida J. Rebello

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Our studies in primary human adipocytes show that naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, increases oxygen consumption rate and gene expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), glucose transporter type 4, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1β (CPT1β). We investigated the safety of naringenin, its effects on metabolic rate, and blood glucose and insulin responses in a single female subject with diabetes. The subject ingested 150 mg naringenin from an extract of whole oranges standardized to 28% naringenin three times/day for 8 weeks, and maintained her usual food intake. Body weight, resting metabolic rate, respiratory quotient, and blood chemistry panel including glucose, insulin, and safety …

Potential Population Growth Of Melanaphis Sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Under Six Constant Temperatures On Grain Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L.), M. F. Souza, J. A. Davis

Faculty Publications

Sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari Zehntner (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is now widely established in sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench (Poaceae), production areas of the USA, and is an important economic pest. To calculate economic thresholds, population growth parameters under varied temperature conditions are needed. However, detailed laboratory studies of temperature effects on the biology and population parameters of M. sacchari since the sorghum outbreak in the US have not been performed previously. Therefore, this study evaluated the response of M. sacchari to 6 different constant temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 32, and 35 °C) on sorghum tissue. Aphid development, age-specific survivorship, fecundity, …

Gnrh As A Neuromodulator In Midbrain Sensory Regions During The Female Cichlid Reproductive Cycle, Mark Anthony Maier Ii

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.