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The Modification, System Software Development, Validation, And Clinical Trial Of A Novel Ankle Stiffness Testing Device, T. Tyler Clement Jan 2009

The Modification, System Software Development, Validation, And Clinical Trial Of A Novel Ankle Stiffness Testing Device, T. Tyler Clement

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this project is to modify, validate, and gather preliminary clinical data on a novel ankle stiffness device that measures stiffness (torque / degree) and range of motion (ROM) of the ankle joint complex (AJC). The initial device was designed by a mechanical engineering design group at Louisiana State University in 2006, but had not been tested on human participants. Clinical evaluation of the ankle joint is important in patients afflicted with diabetes mellitus, Hansen’s disease, or peripheral neuropathies. The combination of peripheral neuropathies, decreased ankle range of motion, and increased stiffness pose a threat to these patients, …


The Feasibility Of Using Select Landscape Species For Phytoremediation Of Cumene And 4-Cumylphenol Contaminated Groundwater, Kathryn Karsh Fontenot Jan 2009

The Feasibility Of Using Select Landscape Species For Phytoremediation Of Cumene And 4-Cumylphenol Contaminated Groundwater, Kathryn Karsh Fontenot

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Chemical manufactures are often associated with a negative publicity due to chemical spills that can cause human health problems and environmental pollution. Innovative methods such as phytoremediation in lieu of traditional remediation methods are being researched to determine environmentally friendly options for remediation. Phytoremediation was studied as an alternative remediation method for removal of chemicals in a contaminated groundwater plume in Louisiana. The main constituents of concern in the plume were cumene and 4-cumylphenol. Two pilot phytotoxicity studies were funded to determine an optimum tree species for removal and control of the constituents of concern. A greenhouse and hydroponic system …


Effect Of Milk Replacer Composition On Growth And Rumen Development Of Neonatal Holstein Calves, Anthony Joseph Bridges Jan 2009

Effect Of Milk Replacer Composition On Growth And Rumen Development Of Neonatal Holstein Calves, Anthony Joseph Bridges

LSU Master's Theses

A study was conducted to determine effects of differing fat and protein levels in commercial milk replacers on the growth performance and rumen development of neonatal Holstein calves. Fifty-three calves (23 male; 30 female) were assigned to one of three dietary treatments which included 3 milk replacers (20/20; 25/15; 28/20) fed once per day at 10% of birth weight through weaning. Calves were offered a 20% CP calf starter and water free choice beginning on day 5. All calves were weaned on day 42. Body weights were measured at birth and weekly through weaning. Additionally, hip height, wither height, and …


Supercritical Fluid Extraction And Analysis Of Plant Oils, Tianchuan Du Jan 2009

Supercritical Fluid Extraction And Analysis Of Plant Oils, Tianchuan Du

LSU Master's Theses

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of oxeye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum L.) seed, heartwood of Port-Orford cedar (POC) (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), Alaska yellow cedar (AYC) (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), and Eastern red cedar (ERC) (Juniperus virginiana L), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum L. Roxb. ) seed was investigated in this study and compared with other extraction methods. For the oxeye daisy seed extraction, Soxhlet extraction (SE) with hexane, microwave assisted extraction (MAE), and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) were conducted. The results showed that as the extraction temperature decreased from 100 °C, the extraction rate increased until 30 °C using SFE. With an increase of extraction …


Identification Of Adropin As A Secreted Factor Linking Dietary Macronutrient Intake With Energy Homeostasis And Lipid Metabolism, K. Ganesh Kumar, James L. Trevaskis, Daniel D. Lam, Gregory M. Sutton, Robert A. Koza, Vladimir N. Chouljenko, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Pamela M. Rogers, Robert A. Kesterson, Marie Thearle, Anthony W. Ferrante, Randall L. Mynatt, Thomas P. Burris, Jesse Z. Dong, Heather A. Halem, Michael D. Culler, Lora K. Heisler, Jacqueline M. Stephens, Andrew A. Butler Dec 2008

Identification Of Adropin As A Secreted Factor Linking Dietary Macronutrient Intake With Energy Homeostasis And Lipid Metabolism, K. Ganesh Kumar, James L. Trevaskis, Daniel D. Lam, Gregory M. Sutton, Robert A. Koza, Vladimir N. Chouljenko, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Pamela M. Rogers, Robert A. Kesterson, Marie Thearle, Anthony W. Ferrante, Randall L. Mynatt, Thomas P. Burris, Jesse Z. Dong, Heather A. Halem, Michael D. Culler, Lora K. Heisler, Jacqueline M. Stephens, Andrew A. Butler

Faculty Publications

Obesity and nutrient homeostasis are linked by mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. Here we describe a secreted protein, adropin, encoded by a gene, Energy Homeostasis Associated (Enho), expressed in liver and brain. Liver Enho expression is regulated by nutrition: lean C57BL/6J mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) exhibited a rapid increase, while fasting reduced expression compared to controls. However, liver Enho expression declines with diet-induced obesity (DIO) associated with 3 months of HFD or with genetically induced obesity, suggesting an association with metabolic disorders in the obese state. In DIO mice, transgenic overexpression or systemic adropin treatment attenuated hepatosteatosis and …


Identification Of Adropin As A Secreted Factor Linking Dietary Macronutrient Intake With Energy Homeostasis And Lipid Metabolism, K. Ganesh Kumar, James L. Trevaskis, Daniel D. Lam, Gregory M. Sutton, Robert A. Koza, Vladimir N. Chouljenko, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Pamela M. Rogers, Robert A. Kesterson, Marie Thearle, Anthony W. Ferrante, Randall L. Mynatt, Thomas P. Burris, Jesse Z. Dong, Heather A. Halem, Michael D. Culler, Lora K. Heisler, Jacqueline M. Stephens, Andrew A. Butler Dec 2008

Identification Of Adropin As A Secreted Factor Linking Dietary Macronutrient Intake With Energy Homeostasis And Lipid Metabolism, K. Ganesh Kumar, James L. Trevaskis, Daniel D. Lam, Gregory M. Sutton, Robert A. Koza, Vladimir N. Chouljenko, Konstantin G. Kousoulas, Pamela M. Rogers, Robert A. Kesterson, Marie Thearle, Anthony W. Ferrante, Randall L. Mynatt, Thomas P. Burris, Jesse Z. Dong, Heather A. Halem, Michael D. Culler, Lora K. Heisler, Jacqueline M. Stephens, Andrew A. Butler

Faculty Publications

Obesity and nutrient homeostasis are linked by mechanisms that are not fully elucidated. Here we describe a secreted protein, adropin, encoded by a gene, Energy Homeostasis Associated (Enho), expressed in liver and brain. Liver Enho expression is regulated by nutrition: lean C57BL/6J mice fed high-fat diet (HFD) exhibited a rapid increase, while fasting reduced expression compared to controls. However, liver Enho expression declines with diet-induced obesity (DIO) associated with 3 months of HFD or with genetically induced obesity, suggesting an association with metabolic disorders in the obese state. In DIO mice, transgenic overexpression or systemic adropin treatment attenuated hepatosteatosis and …


Latent Common Genetic Components Of Obesity Traits, B. O. Tayo, R. Harders, A. Luke, X. Zhu, R. S. Cooper Dec 2008

Latent Common Genetic Components Of Obesity Traits, B. O. Tayo, R. Harders, A. Luke, X. Zhu, R. S. Cooper

Faculty Publications

Background: Obesity is rapidly becoming a global epidemic. Unlike many complex human diseases, obesity is defined not just by a single trait or phenotype, but jointly by measures of anthropometry and metabolic status. Methods: We applied maximum likelihood factor analysis to identify common latent factors underlying observed covariance in multiple obesity-related measures. Both the genetic components and the mode of inheritance of the common factors were evaluated. A total of 1775 participants from 590 families for whom measures on obesity-related traits were available were included in this study. Results: The average age of participants was 37 years, 39% of the …


Continuous Microwave Processing Of Peanut Beverages, Cristina M. Sabliov, Dorin Boldor, Pablo Coronel, Timothy H. Sanders Dec 2008

Continuous Microwave Processing Of Peanut Beverages, Cristina M. Sabliov, Dorin Boldor, Pablo Coronel, Timothy H. Sanders

Faculty Publications

The feasibility of peanut beverage sterilization by continuous microwave heating as an alternative to conventional ultrahigh temperature (UHT) system processing was studied. Dielectric properties of two products, Peanut Punch (Nestle Trinidad and Tobago Ltd., Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) and Jamaican Irish Moss Peanut Drink (distributed by Eve Sales Co., Bronx, NY) were measured. The products had similar dielectric properties. Values for the dielectric constant (average of 60) and dielectric loss (average of 23) indicated that the two products were good candidates for rapid microwave heating. The products were processed in a 5 kW focused microwave unit, at two …


Central Blockade Of Oxytocin Receptors During Mid-Late Gestation Reduces Amplitude Of Slow Afterhyperpolarization In Supraoptic Oxytocin Neurons, R. Teruyama, D. L. Lipschitz, L. Wang, G. R. Ramoz, W. R. Crowley, S. L. Bealer, W. E. Armstrong Nov 2008

Central Blockade Of Oxytocin Receptors During Mid-Late Gestation Reduces Amplitude Of Slow Afterhyperpolarization In Supraoptic Oxytocin Neurons, R. Teruyama, D. L. Lipschitz, L. Wang, G. R. Ramoz, W. R. Crowley, S. L. Bealer, W. E. Armstrong

Faculty Publications

The neurohypophysial hormone oxytocin (OT), synthesized in magnocellular paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei, is well known for its effects in lactation. Our previous studies showed that central OT receptor (OTR) binding is increased during gestation and that blockade of central OTRs, specifically during mid-late gestation, causes a delay in OT release during suckling and reduces weight gain in pups, suggesting decreased milk delivery. In the present study, we tested whether central OTR blockade during late gestation disrupts the gestation-related plasticity in intrinsic membrane properties. Whole cell current-clamp recordings were performed in OT neurons from pregnant rats (19-22 days in …


Effect Of Treating Field Spatial Variability In Winter Wheat At Different Resolutions, B. S. Tubaña, D. B. Arnall, S. L. Holtz, J. B. Solie, K. Girma, W. R. Raun Nov 2008

Effect Of Treating Field Spatial Variability In Winter Wheat At Different Resolutions, B. S. Tubaña, D. B. Arnall, S. L. Holtz, J. B. Solie, K. Girma, W. R. Raun

Faculty Publications

This study was conducted to determine the scale at which spatial variability should be treated using an in-season nitrogen fertilization optimization algorithm (NFOA). Treatments included variable nitrogen (N) rate applications at three resolutions (0.84, 13.4, and 26.8 m2), two treatments of 90 kg N ha-1 fixed rate applied preplant or midseason, and a check plot. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications established at two locations for three years. On average, the NFOA-based N rates achieved a higher N use efficiency (NUE) of 41% compared with only 33% of the 90 kg N ha-1 fixed rate …


Dietary Resistant Starch Upregulates Total Glp-1 And Pyy In A Sustained Day-Long Manner Through Fermentation In Rodents, June Zhou, Roy J. Martin, Richard T. Tulley, Anne M. Raggio, Kathleen L. Mccutcheon, Li Shen, Samuel Colby Danna, Sasmita Tripathy, Maren Hegsted, Michael J. Keenan Nov 2008

Dietary Resistant Starch Upregulates Total Glp-1 And Pyy In A Sustained Day-Long Manner Through Fermentation In Rodents, June Zhou, Roy J. Martin, Richard T. Tulley, Anne M. Raggio, Kathleen L. Mccutcheon, Li Shen, Samuel Colby Danna, Sasmita Tripathy, Maren Hegsted, Michael J. Keenan

Faculty Publications

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY) are anti-diabetes/obesity hormones ecreted from the gut after meal ingestion. We have shown that dietary-resistant starch (RS) increased GLP-1 and PYY secretion, but he mechanism remains unknown. RS is a fermentable fiber that lowers the glycemic index of the diet and liberates short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) through fermentation in the gut. This study investigates the two possible mechanisms by which RS stimulates GLP-1 and PYY secretion: the effect of a meal or glycemic index, and the effect of fermentation. Because GLP-1 and PYY secretions are stimulated by nutrient availability in the gut, the …


Sugary Soda Consumption And Albuminuria: Results From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004, David A. Shoham, Ramon Durazo-Arvizu, Holly Kramer, Amy Luke, Suma Vupputuri, Abhijit Kshirsagar, Richard S. Cooper Oct 2008

Sugary Soda Consumption And Albuminuria: Results From The National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004, David A. Shoham, Ramon Durazo-Arvizu, Holly Kramer, Amy Luke, Suma Vupputuri, Abhijit Kshirsagar, Richard S. Cooper

Faculty Publications

Background: End-stage renal disease rates rose following widespread introduction of high fructose corn syrup in the American diet, supporting speculation that fructose harms the kidney. Sugar-sweetened soda is a primary source of fructose. We therefore hypothesized that sugary soda consumption was associated with albuminuria, a sensitive marker for kidney disease. Methodology/Principal Findings: Design was a cross-sectional analysis. Data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 1999-2004. The setting was a representative United States population sample. Participants included adults 20 years and older with no history of diabetes mellitus (n = 12,601); after exclusions for missing outcome …


Drought Stress And Preharvest Aflatoxin Contamination In Agricultural Commodity: Genetics, Genomics And Proteomics, Baozhu Guo, Zhi Yuan Chen, R. Dewey Lee, Brian T. Scully Oct 2008

Drought Stress And Preharvest Aflatoxin Contamination In Agricultural Commodity: Genetics, Genomics And Proteomics, Baozhu Guo, Zhi Yuan Chen, R. Dewey Lee, Brian T. Scully

Faculty Publications

Throughout the world, aflatoxin contamination is considered one of the most serious food safety issues concerning health. Chronic problems with preharvest aflatoxin contamination occur in the southern US, and are particularly troublesome in corn, peanut, cottonseed, and tree nuts. Drought stress is a major factor to contribute to preharvest aflatoxin contamination. Recent studies have demonstrated higher concentration of defense or stress-related proteins in corn kernels of resistant genotypes compared with susceptible genotypes, suggesting that preharvest field condition (drought or not drought) influences gene expression differently in different genotypes resulting in different levels of "end products": PR(pathogenesis-related) proteins in the mature …


Louisiana Agriculture Fall, 2008, Lsu Agcenter Oct 2008

Louisiana Agriculture Fall, 2008, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.


The Effects Of Packaging Film And Storage Temperature On The Internal Package Atmosphere And Fermentation Enzyme Activity Of Sweet Potato Slices, Elif Erturk, David H. Picha Oct 2008

The Effects Of Packaging Film And Storage Temperature On The Internal Package Atmosphere And Fermentation Enzyme Activity Of Sweet Potato Slices, Elif Erturk, David H. Picha

Faculty Publications

Fresh-cut sweet potato slices were packaged in low- (PD900), medium- (PD961) and high-permeability (PD941) film bags, and were stored at 2 or 8C for 14 days. Changes in O 2, CO 2, ethanol and acetaldehyde concentrations in the headspace were monitored over 14 days. The activities of fermentation enzymes and the concentration of fermentation volatiles were measured from tissue extracts on days 0, 7 and 14. Storage at 8C was an excessively high temperature for fresh-cut sweet potatoes to maintain aerobic respiration for 14 days. Low-permeability film bags resulted in anaerobiosis at 2 and 8C. Medium-permeability film bags were able …


Erratum: Hypertension In Mexico And Among Mexican Americans: Prevalence And Treatment Patterns (Journal Of Human Hypertension (2008) 10.1038/Jhh.2008.9), S. Barquera, R. A. Durazo-Arvizu, A. Luke, G. Cao, R. S. Cooper Sep 2008

Erratum: Hypertension In Mexico And Among Mexican Americans: Prevalence And Treatment Patterns (Journal Of Human Hypertension (2008) 10.1038/Jhh.2008.9), S. Barquera, R. A. Durazo-Arvizu, A. Luke, G. Cao, R. S. Cooper

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Energy Expenditure And Adiposity In Nigerian And African-American Women, Kara E. Ebersole, Lara R. Dugas, Ramon A. Durazo-Arvizu, Adebowale A. Adeyemo, Bamidele O. Tayo, Olayemi O. Omotade, William R. Brieger, Dale A. Schoeller, Richard S. Cooper, Amy H. Luke Sep 2008

Energy Expenditure And Adiposity In Nigerian And African-American Women, Kara E. Ebersole, Lara R. Dugas, Ramon A. Durazo-Arvizu, Adebowale A. Adeyemo, Bamidele O. Tayo, Olayemi O. Omotade, William R. Brieger, Dale A. Schoeller, Richard S. Cooper, Amy H. Luke

Faculty Publications

Objective:Obesity is a prevalent condition in industrialized societies and is increasing around the world. We sought to assess the relative importance of resting energy expenditure (REE) and activity EE (AEE) in two populations with different rates of obesity.Methods and Procedures:Women of African descent between 18 and 59 years of age were recruited from rural Nigeria and from metropolitan Chicago. Total EE (TEE) was measured using the doubly labeled water (DLW) technique and REE by indirect calorimetry; AEE was calculated as the difference between TEE and the sum of REE plus a factor for the thermic effect of food. In the …


Determining The Accepability Of Menus And Recipes That Meet The 2005 Dietary Guidelines For Americans By Low Socioeconomic Status Individuals In South Louisiana Using Focus Group Discussions, Anna L. Mullenix Aug 2008

Determining The Accepability Of Menus And Recipes That Meet The 2005 Dietary Guidelines For Americans By Low Socioeconomic Status Individuals In South Louisiana Using Focus Group Discussions, Anna L. Mullenix

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.


Size And Heterozygosity Influence Partner Selection In The Formosan Subterranean Termite, Claudia Husseneder, Dawn M. Simms Jul 2008

Size And Heterozygosity Influence Partner Selection In The Formosan Subterranean Termite, Claudia Husseneder, Dawn M. Simms

Faculty Publications

In monogamous species that exhibit extensive biparental investment, such as termites, both sexes are predicted to be selective when choosing a mate. Size-related traits are expected to be important in partner selection because the fat reserves of the colony founders sustain the incipient colony. Partner relatedness and heterozygosity determine the degree of inbreeding and genetic diversity within the colony and may thus also influence partner selection. To test these predictions, we investigated whether phenotypic and genetic traits influence mate choice and/or competitive advantage during pair formation of Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Pair formation in termites normally occurs …


Leaf Area Index Simulation In Soybean Grown Under Near-Optimal Conditions, T. D. Setiyono, A. Weiss, J. E. Specht, K. G. Cassman, A. Dobermann Jul 2008

Leaf Area Index Simulation In Soybean Grown Under Near-Optimal Conditions, T. D. Setiyono, A. Weiss, J. E. Specht, K. G. Cassman, A. Dobermann

Faculty Publications

Different approaches have been used to simulate leaf area index (LAI) in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr). Many of these approaches require genotype-specific calibration procedures. Studies modeling LAI dynamics under optimal growth conditions with yields close to the yield potential of soybean have remained scarce. A sink-driven approach was developed and evaluated for LAI simulation in soybean under near-optimal environments. The rate of change in expanding leaf area was simulated using the first derivative of a logistic function accounting for plant population density, air temperature, and water deficit. The rate of change in senescing leaf area was also simulated using …


Louisiana Agriculture Summer, 2008, Lsu Agcenter Jul 2008

Louisiana Agriculture Summer, 2008, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.


Effect Of Shilianhua Extract And Its Fractions On Body Weight Of Obese Mice, Jun Yin, Aamir Zuberi, Zhanguo Gao, Dong Liu, Zhijun Liu, William T. Cefalu, Jianping Ye Jul 2008

Effect Of Shilianhua Extract And Its Fractions On Body Weight Of Obese Mice, Jun Yin, Aamir Zuberi, Zhanguo Gao, Dong Liu, Zhijun Liu, William T. Cefalu, Jianping Ye

Faculty Publications

Five commercial botanical products (Shilianhua [SLH] tablets, Shiu Huo pills, Fenulyn, Bitter Melon, and Glucose Metabolic Support), available in the US market, with reported claims for regulation of metabolism were screened for their effect on body weight gain in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Pilot results suggested that SLH tablets attenuated body weight gain, whereas Shiu Huo pills and Fenulyn tended to promote weight gain in the mice on the high-fat diet. To investigate the bioactive components in the SLH tablet, the wild SLH plant (Sinocrassula indica Berge) was collected from China and used to make a variety of extracts including …


Botanicals As Epigenetic Modulators For Mechanisms Contributing To Development Of Metabolic Syndrome, Heather Kirk, William T. Cefalu, David Ribnicky, Zhijun Liu, Kenneth J. Eilertsen Jul 2008

Botanicals As Epigenetic Modulators For Mechanisms Contributing To Development Of Metabolic Syndrome, Heather Kirk, William T. Cefalu, David Ribnicky, Zhijun Liu, Kenneth J. Eilertsen

Faculty Publications

Epigenetics refers to heritable changes in gene expression that are not attributable to changes in DNA sequence and impacts many areas of applied and basic biology including developmental biology, gene therapy, somatic cell nuclear transfer, somatic cell reprogramming, and stem cell biology. Epigenetic changes are known to contribute to aging in addition to multiple disease states. Epigenetic changes can be influenced by environmental factors that in turn can be inherited by daughter cells during cell division and can also be inherited through the germ line. Thus, it is intriguing to consider that epigenetics, in general, may play a role in …


Mitochondria In Energy-Limited States: Mechanisms That Blunt The Signaling Of Cell Death, Steven C. Hand, Michael A. Menze Jun 2008

Mitochondria In Energy-Limited States: Mechanisms That Blunt The Signaling Of Cell Death, Steven C. Hand, Michael A. Menze

Faculty Publications

Cellular conditions experienced during energy-limited states - elevated calcium, shifts in cellular adenylate status, compromised mitochondrial membrane potential - are precisely those that trigger, at least in mammals, the mitochondrion to initiate opening of the permeability transition pore, to assemble additional protein release channels, and to release pro-apoptotic factors. These proapototic factors in turn activate initiator and executer caspases. How is activation of mitochondria-based pathways for the signaling of apoptotic and necrotic cell death avoided under conditions of hypoxia, anoxia, diapause, estivation and anhydrobiosis? Functional trade-offs in environmental tolerance may have occurred in parallel with the evolution of diversified pathways …


Preparation Of Botanical Samples For Biomedical Research, Zhijun Liu Jun 2008

Preparation Of Botanical Samples For Biomedical Research, Zhijun Liu

Faculty Publications

Plants are chemical storehouses, a fact which has driven countless multidisciplinary quests for bioactive compounds. As the very first step of botanical research, the whole desire is to find "hit" plants with specific bioactivities. It is logical to use some strategies that can maximize the chances of finding these "hits" with limited time and resources. In addition to selecting the right plants for screening, how the plant extracts are prepared can also influence the bioactivity screening outcomes. An extract from the same plant material can be quite different in chemical composition having different preparations. Because of the complex mixture nature …


Rapid Increases In Obesity In Jamaica, Compared To Nigeria And The United States, Ramón A. Durazo-Arvizu, Amy Luke, Richard S. Cooper, Guichan Cao, Lara Dugas, Adebowale Adeyemo, Michael Boyne, Terrence Forrester May 2008

Rapid Increases In Obesity In Jamaica, Compared To Nigeria And The United States, Ramón A. Durazo-Arvizu, Amy Luke, Richard S. Cooper, Guichan Cao, Lara Dugas, Adebowale Adeyemo, Michael Boyne, Terrence Forrester

Faculty Publications

Background. Weight gain in adulthood is now common in many populations, ranging from modest gains in developing countries to a substantial percentage of body weight in some Western societies. To examine the rate of change across the spectrum of low to high-income countries we compared rates of weight change in samples drawn from three countries, Nigeria, Jamaica and the United States. Methods. Population samples from Nigeria (n = 1,242), Jamaica (n = 1,409), and the US (n = 809) were selected during the period 1995-1999 in adults over the age of 19; participation rates in the original survey were 96%, …


Genome Analysis Of The Platypus Reveals Unique Signatures Of Evolution, Wesley C. Warren, La Deana W. Hillier, Jennifer A. Marshall Graves, Ewan Birney, Chris P. Ponting, Frank Grützner, Katherine Belov, Webb Miller, Laura Clarke, Asif T. Chinwalla, Shiaw Pyng Yang, Andreas Heger, Devin P. Locke, Pat Miethke, Paul D. Waters, Frédéric Veyrunes, Lucinda Fulton, Bob Fulton, Tina Graves, John Wallis, Xose S. Puente, Carlos López-Otín, Gonzalo R. Ordóñez, Evan E. Eichler, Lin Chen, Ze Cheng, Janine E. Deakin, Amber Alsop, Katherine Thompson, Patrick Kirby, Anthony T. Papenfuss, Matthew J. Wakefield, Tsviya Olender, Doron Lancet May 2008

Genome Analysis Of The Platypus Reveals Unique Signatures Of Evolution, Wesley C. Warren, La Deana W. Hillier, Jennifer A. Marshall Graves, Ewan Birney, Chris P. Ponting, Frank Grützner, Katherine Belov, Webb Miller, Laura Clarke, Asif T. Chinwalla, Shiaw Pyng Yang, Andreas Heger, Devin P. Locke, Pat Miethke, Paul D. Waters, Frédéric Veyrunes, Lucinda Fulton, Bob Fulton, Tina Graves, John Wallis, Xose S. Puente, Carlos López-Otín, Gonzalo R. Ordóñez, Evan E. Eichler, Lin Chen, Ze Cheng, Janine E. Deakin, Amber Alsop, Katherine Thompson, Patrick Kirby, Anthony T. Papenfuss, Matthew J. Wakefield, Tsviya Olender, Doron Lancet

Faculty Publications

We present a draft genome sequence of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus. This monotreme exhibits a fascinating combination of reptilian and mammalian characters. For example, platypuses have a coat of fur adapted to an aquatic lifestyle; platypus females lactate, yet lay eggs; and males are equipped with venom similar to that of reptiles. Analysis of the first monotreme genome aligned these features with genetic innovations. We find that reptile and platypus venom proteins have been co-opted independently from the same gene families; milk protein genes are conserved despite platypuses laying eggs; and immune gene family expansions are directly related to platypus …


Temperature-Dependent Development, Survival, And Potential Distribution Of Ischnodemus Variegatus (Hemiptera: Blissidae), A Herbivore Of West Indian Marsh Grass, Rodrigo Diaz, William A. Overholt, J. P. Cuda, Paul D. Pratt, Alison Fox May 2008

Temperature-Dependent Development, Survival, And Potential Distribution Of Ischnodemus Variegatus (Hemiptera: Blissidae), A Herbivore Of West Indian Marsh Grass, Rodrigo Diaz, William A. Overholt, J. P. Cuda, Paul D. Pratt, Alison Fox

Faculty Publications

The bug Ischnodemus variegatus (Signoret) (Hemiptera: Blissidae) is an adventive herbivore, native to South America that feeds in the invasive grass Hymenachne amplexicaulis (Rudge) Nees (Poaceae). This grass is a problematic weed in Florida and Australia, but it is a highly valued forage in Mexico, Cuba, and Venezuela. We studied the influence of nine constant temperatures (8-38°C) on the developmental time and survival of I. variegatus. Complete egg and nymphal mortality occurred at temperatures ≤20.5°C and at 38°C. Developmental time decreased linearly with temperature until 28-30°C and then increased at 33°C. Mortality of first, second, and third instars was high …


Chiral Recognition Of Amino Acids By Use Of A Fluorescent Resorcinarene, Gerald I. Richard, Hadi M. Marwani, Shan Jiang, Sayo O. Fakayode, Mark Lowry, Robert M. Strongin, Isiah M. Warner May 2008

Chiral Recognition Of Amino Acids By Use Of A Fluorescent Resorcinarene, Gerald I. Richard, Hadi M. Marwani, Shan Jiang, Sayo O. Fakayode, Mark Lowry, Robert M. Strongin, Isiah M. Warner

Faculty Publications

The spectroscopic properties of a chiral boronic acid based resorcinarene macrocycle employed for chiral analysis were investigated. Specifically, the emission and excitation characteristics of tetraarylboronate resorcinarene macrocycle (TBRM) and its quantum yield were evaluated. The chiral selector TBRM was investigated as a chiral reagent for the enantiomeric discrimination of amino acids using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy. Chiral recognition of amino acids in the presence of the macrocycle was based on diastereomeric complexes. Results demonstrated that TBRM had better chiral discrimination ability for lysine as compared to the other amino acids. Partial least squares regression modeling (PLS-1) of spectral data for macrocycle-lysine …


Culture-Independent Identification Of Gut Bacteria In Fourth-Instar Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis Invicta Buren, Larvae, Albert H. Lee, Claudia Husseneder, Linda Hooper-Bùi May 2008

Culture-Independent Identification Of Gut Bacteria In Fourth-Instar Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis Invicta Buren, Larvae, Albert H. Lee, Claudia Husseneder, Linda Hooper-Bùi

Faculty Publications

Red imported fire ants (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, are medical, urban, and agricultural pests from South America. They are successful invaders due to their preference for disturbed habitats, high reproductive rates, and the ability to feed on a wide variety of food items (omnivorous). Fourth-instar larvae are used by the colony to digest solid food and then regurgitate it for consumption by workers and queens. Larvae are an ideal source of investigations of endosymbiotic bacteria possibly involved in nutrient distributions. Our study utilized 16S rDNA sequencing to describe the composition of the bacterial community in fourth-instar ant larvae in order …