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Comparative Aspects Of The Control Of Posture And Locomotion In The Spider Crab Libinia Emarginata, Andres Gabriel Vidal Gadea Jan 2008

Comparative Aspects Of The Control Of Posture And Locomotion In The Spider Crab Libinia Emarginata, Andres Gabriel Vidal Gadea

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The study of pedestrian locomotion in crustaceans has largely focused on forward walking macrurans, or sideway walking brachyurans. The spider crab, Libinia emarginata is a brachyuran that, unlike its close relatives, preferentially walks forward. The phylogenetic position, behavioral preference, and amenability to experimental techniques make spider crabs an attractive model for comparative studies of crustacean locomotion. This dissertation looks at the neuroethology of forward walking in L. emarginata. I described the skeletal, muscular, and neural anatomy of the walking machinery of L. emarginata and found adaptations at each level that reflect its walking preference. The ranges of motion of leg …

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Brachial Artery Flow Mediated Vasodilation: Effect Of Chemical Analytes, Diet, Exercise, And Genetic Markers, Joanie Brocato Wilson Jan 2008

Brachial Artery Flow Mediated Vasodilation: Effect Of Chemical Analytes, Diet, Exercise, And Genetic Markers, Joanie Brocato Wilson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of this research was to gain a better understanding of interplay between molecular biology, physiology, biochemistry, functionality with disease and interventions. The primary findings of the first study were that there was a significant inverse correlation between homocysteine and brachial artery flow mediated dilation (BAFMD) and baseline brachial artery diameter. Interestingly, there was a significant difference in BAFMD between methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotype groups. Regression analysis indicated that the MTHFR genotype, homocysteine and age were significant predictors of BAFMD. The second study revealed that vascular reactivity as measured by BAFMD was modifiable. A meta-analysis of 22 intervention …

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Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Adeno-Momp And Momp Dna Vaccines Against Chlamydophila Psittaci Challenge In Cockatiels (Nymphicus Hollandicus), David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman Jan 2008

Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Adeno-Momp And Momp Dna Vaccines Against Chlamydophila Psittaci Challenge In Cockatiels (Nymphicus Hollandicus), David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman

LSU Master's Theses

Chlamydophila psittaci causes severe disease in birds and humans, and important economical losses in the avian companion and poultry industry. Vaccines are the most cost-effective measure to control and help prevent infectious diseases, but to date there is no commercial vaccine available. A randomized clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of two recombinant DNA vaccines against C. psittaci in Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). The first recombinant DNA vaccine has a gene encoding MOMP and the immunostimulant chitosan (MOMP DNA vaccine). The second recombinant DNA vaccine, contained the gene encoding MOMP that was vectored by a replication defective human adenovirus …

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Survival, Growth, And Behavior Of Helicoverpa Zea (Boddie) And Heliothis Virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) On Genetically Engineered Cotton Expressing The Vip3a Insecticidal Protein, Padma Latha Bommireddy Jan 2008

Survival, Growth, And Behavior Of Helicoverpa Zea (Boddie) And Heliothis Virescens (F.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) On Genetically Engineered Cotton Expressing The Vip3a Insecticidal Protein, Padma Latha Bommireddy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Larval behavior, survivorship, and injury potential of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (F.), was evaluated on cotton plants genetically engineered to express Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal proteins, Vip3A and Vip3A +Cry 1Ab (VipCot™). Larvae (2-d-old) of both species were infested on plant terminals of vegetative or flowering stage cotton plants. Regardless of species, more larvae migrated from the plant terminals of Vip3A and VipCot plants compared to larvae infested on a conventional non-Bt cotton line (Coker 312). Larval (2-d-old) survivorship on VipCot™ plant structures was generally lower than that on similar structures of the Vip3A cotton line. …

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One Rhizome, Two Unstoppable Blossoms: Environmental Communication And Ecological Rhetoric, Kevin James Ells Jan 2008

One Rhizome, Two Unstoppable Blossoms: Environmental Communication And Ecological Rhetoric, Kevin James Ells

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation will contribute to the project of explaining what environmental communication studies may offer theoretically to an understanding of communication and rhetoric in general, investigate a complex problem in rhetoric from a variety of methodological approaches, offer examples of rhetorical criticism relevant to environmental communication researchers, and delve into certain salient aspects of ecological rhetoric (defined herein as rhetoric from an ecological perspective). The hypothesis of this doctoral thesis is twofold: 1) studying environmental communication can illuminate much about communication and rhetoric in general, and 2) ecological rhetoric has considerable persuasive potential in itself for reasons that can be …

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Is Oxidative Stress The Cause Of Death When Recalcitrant Spartina Alterniflora Seeds Are Dried?, James Hammond Chappell Jan 2008

Is Oxidative Stress The Cause Of Death When Recalcitrant Spartina Alterniflora Seeds Are Dried?, James Hammond Chappell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Recalcitrant seeds, which die when desiccated, can be difficult to study because of their generally large size, high metabolism, and poor storage properties. However, recalcitrant seeds from the salt-marsh grass Spartina alterniflora are unique when compared to most other recalcitrant species because the seeds are dormant and small; Spartina pectinata and S. spartinae, which produce orthodox seeds, can be used as controls. Because of these somewhat rare characteristics, S. alterniflora is a good model system to study recalcitrance. In the present study, the following physiological parameters were examined: Cardinal temperatures for germination, a viability test to determine if seeds are …

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"I Will Learn You Something If You Listen To This Song": Southern Women Writers' Representations Of Music In Fiction, Courtney George Jan 2008

"I Will Learn You Something If You Listen To This Song": Southern Women Writers' Representations Of Music In Fiction, Courtney George

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation offers a rhetorical analysis of the formation of women’s memory, history, and communities in intersections of musical and literary expression in the American South, a region graced with a vital but underexamined tradition of female musicianship. Recent scholars have deconstructed the imagined narrative of southern culture as static, patriarchal, and white to uncover alternative stories and cultures that exist outside of canonical literature. This project significantly expands current understandings of these conflicting narratives by investigating how women writers recall, reclaim, and re-envision women’s roles in southern music to challenge, comply, and/or identify with women’s prescribed place in the …

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Environment, Labor, And Race: An Historical Geography Of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, 1878-1956, Amy Rhiannon Sumpter Jan 2008

Environment, Labor, And Race: An Historical Geography Of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, 1878-1956, Amy Rhiannon Sumpter

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, is known as a white suburb of New Orleans. It also has a well-known history as a health resort for wealthy New Orleanians during the summer months, particularly during yellow fever outbreaks in the late nineteenth- and early twentieth centuries. This research investigates the historical geography of this parish in terms of race and attempts to answer the question of how St. Tammany became an attractive place for the development of white subdivisions in the 1950s. I uncover the connections between race, labor, the environment, and political culture of the parish from 1878—the year Reconstruction ended—to …

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Evaluating The Economic And Environmental Impacts Of Water Subsidies In Kuwait, Mohammad Alshawaf Jan 2008

Evaluating The Economic And Environmental Impacts Of Water Subsidies In Kuwait, Mohammad Alshawaf

LSU Master's Theses

Kuwait and the other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have experienced rapid growth in population coupled with a rise in the standards of living and acceleration in social, agricultural, and industrial growths, which greatly increased the demand for water supplies. Due to the scarcity of water resources in the region, non-conventional water supplies such as seawater desalination are and have been the main water resource. Kuwait has so far been able to meet demand by using its access to both the sea and abundant oil needed in the desalination plants. The quantity of water consumed per capita in Kuwait is …

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Utilization Of Aptamers As Affinity Probes In Polymeric Microdevices For Disease Management And The Production Of A Recombinant Membrane Protein, Anne Obubuafo Jan 2008

Utilization Of Aptamers As Affinity Probes In Polymeric Microdevices For Disease Management And The Production Of A Recombinant Membrane Protein, Anne Obubuafo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Aptamers have emerged as potential affinity agents that rival or complement antibodies in developing diagnostic assays for disease detection. We have demonstrated the use of PMMA microfluidic devices for conducting rapid affinity microchip CGE of a target protein using aptamers as the affinity probes with an electrophoresis development time of <2 min. Migration times were reproducible for thrombin complexes and free aptamers in CGE buffer with device-to-device RSD variations below 10%. By removing salts from plasma and adding an unlabeled random sequence oligonucleotide to the plasma, thrombin was detected in plasma. This method can be easily adapted to high-throughput parallel screening of plasma samples in multi-channel polymeric microdevices. The expression of rEpCAM in bacteria and mammalian cells was investigated with results showing successful expression in the mammalian systems, while protein expression in the bacteria was inhibited. Higher and prolonged expression levels were obtained in Cos 7 cells as compared to BHK and Hep2 cells due to episomal expression in Cos 7 cells. By combining a one-step IMAC procedure with electrophoresis and electro elution a more selective approach to obtaining electrophoretically pure rEpCAM was achieved. We developed dual-aptamer sandwich assays for thrombin and PDGF-BB targets on PMMA substrate using UV modification with a one-step EDC/NHS coupling reaction. Results indicate that the use of high EDC concentrations lead to faster immobilization and increased coverage density with a shorter sandwich assay development time. The assays were sensitive for both proteins and showed linearity in fluorescence response to changing protein concentration. Single molecule detection methods provide high sensitivity techniques in which aptamers can find use. We have demonstrated the use of two aptamers in a FRET-based assay for the detection of low levels of thrombin. Sensitivity and reliability of the aptamer smFRET assay depends on complex formation and stability. Due to the dissociation constants of the aptamers, single molecule events detected were below the calculated value for a 6 pM concentration of thrombin. Future work will involve adjusting the single molecule system by the use of pinholes to enable analysis of higher sample concentrations.

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Fate And Transport Of Microorganisms In Coastal Subsurface-Experiment And Modeling, Haibo Cao Jan 2008

Fate And Transport Of Microorganisms In Coastal Subsurface-Experiment And Modeling, Haibo Cao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation was to investigate the fate and transport of microorganisms in coastal subsurface. Two topics were studied: (1) evaluation of the performance of the Marshland Upwelling System (MUS) in removing fecal bacteria and the background recovery after it is shut down; (2) Investigation of the effects of salinity and soluble organic matter (SOM) on sorption of MS-2 and development of a model to describe the sorption and transport process. The MUS showed effective performance in removing fecal bacteria during its 32 month operation period at Bayou Segnette Site. The removal efficiency was increased with its operation …

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Revolutionizing Genomic Analyses: Mutation Analyses Using Novel Enzyme-Based Assays With Laser-Induced Fluorescence And Polymeric Microfluidic Devices As Electrophoretic Platforms, Rondedrick Deshaun Sinville Jan 2008

Revolutionizing Genomic Analyses: Mutation Analyses Using Novel Enzyme-Based Assays With Laser-Induced Fluorescence And Polymeric Microfluidic Devices As Electrophoretic Platforms, Rondedrick Deshaun Sinville

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Polymer-based microelectrophoresis was investigated to analyze known (mutation detection) and unknown (mutation scanning) low-abundant mutations in genomic DNA with high diagnostic value for colorectal cancers. For our mutation detection assays, point mutations in the K-ras oncogene were identified using the ligase detection reaction (LDR). For the mutation scanning assay, which searches for sporadic mutations, an EndoV-LDR assay was utilized with mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene used as a model. A poly(methylmethacrylate), PMMA, microchip filled with a 4% linear polyacrylamide (LPA) gel was used to electrophoretically sort products formed from LDRs, which produced oligonucleotides <65 bp in length. Using microchip electrophoresis with the LPA, a 44 bp ligation product was resolved from a 100-fold molar excess of unligated primers (25 bp) in approximately 120 s, which was ~17 times faster than conventional capillary gel electrophoresis. In order to simplify the electrophoretic process and further reduce development time, the LDR products were sorted in the absence of the sieving gel using free solution conjugate electrophoresis (FSCE). FSCE incorporated polyamide “drag-tags” onto LDR primers, which provided DNA fragment mobilities in free solution that were dependent upon their size. LDR/drag-tagged (LDR-dt) products could be formed in a multiplexed format for mutant-to-wild-type ratios as low as 1 to 100 with single base resolution. Separations were conducted using capillary array electrophoresis (CAE) and PMMA microchips filled with only a TRIS buffer. Analysis times for the LDR-dt products were less than 11 min using CAE and ~85 s for PMMA microchips with high reproducible migration times within and between microchips. PMMA-based microchips were also evaluated for the identification of sporadic mutations using an endonuclease V – LDR (Endo V/LDR) technique. Endo V cleaves heteroduplexed DNA one base 3’ of single-base mismatched sites as well as nicking DNA at some matched sites as LDR reseals miscleaved sites to reduce false positive signals. Results suggested that Endo V/LDR products from p53 mutations could be successfully separated and detected using a PMMA microfluidic chip filled with a sparsely cross-linked replaceable polyacrylamide gel in less than 6 min, which was approximately 10-fold shorter compared to CAE.

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Comparisons Of Bacterial Community Within The Abdomens Of Formosan Subterranean Termites, Fresh- And Alcohol-Stored, From Their Native (China) And Introduced (U.S.) Range, Huei-Yang Ho Jan 2008

Comparisons Of Bacterial Community Within The Abdomens Of Formosan Subterranean Termites, Fresh- And Alcohol-Stored, From Their Native (China) And Introduced (U.S.) Range, Huei-Yang Ho

LSU Master's Theses

The Formosan subterranean termite (FST), a pest species native to China and introduced to the U.S., is obligatorily dependent on its gut microbiota. Using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the effects of long-term alcohol storage and geographic location on the bacteria composition of the FST colonies were investigated. Initial studies found the use of amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) to be unpractical due to its higher costs compared to the direct sequencing of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Using nine FST colonies consisting of fresh and alcohol-stored Lousiana FST colonies and alcohol-stored China FST colonies, 237 bacteria ribotypes were identified …

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The Impact Of Self-Reported Physical Activity Levels On The Prediction Of Body Fatness From Bmi In White And Black College Students, Michael Zanovec Jan 2008

The Impact Of Self-Reported Physical Activity Levels On The Prediction Of Body Fatness From Bmi In White And Black College Students, Michael Zanovec

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that self-reported physical activity (PA) levels quantified from the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) could be used to improve the prediction of percent body fat (%BF) measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) from body mass index (BMI), gender, and race in White and Black college students. A total of 278 students, aged 18 – 24 yr, volunteered to participate. There were 133 males (85 White and 48 Black) and 145 females (77 White and 68 Black). Total activity levels were quantified in MET-hours per week (MET-hrs•wk-1) using the IPAQ short …

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Elucidating Marine Pore Water Exchange And Fresh Aquifer Sources In Estimates Of Submarine Groundwater Discharge To A Coastal Lagoon, Christopher Gerald Smith Jan 2008

Elucidating Marine Pore Water Exchange And Fresh Aquifer Sources In Estimates Of Submarine Groundwater Discharge To A Coastal Lagoon, Christopher Gerald Smith

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Dynamic balances between fresh groundwater, saline groundwater, and surface water control the physics and chemistry of subterranean estuaries. Investigations were performed in a subterranean estuary on physical processes contributing to fresh groundwater and saline water mixing, vertical and lateral positioning of this mixing zone, and how this mixing affects spatial and temporal distributions of 234,238U, 226Ra, and 222Rn. The subterranean estuary is located in an unconfined aquifer beneath Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA, where I could examine redox responses to altered flow regimes. Continuous groundwater and surface water level measurements suggest a strong hydrologic connection between this …

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When Shakespeare Meets Al Gore: Imagine Interactions, Communication Competence, And Immediacy Traditional And Online-Based Distance Education, Tammy L. Croghan Jan 2008

When Shakespeare Meets Al Gore: Imagine Interactions, Communication Competence, And Immediacy Traditional And Online-Based Distance Education, Tammy L. Croghan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The growth of distance education, in its many forms, has had consequences for both online universities as well as more traditional universities. This study examines instructional behaviors and communication strategies used in face-to-face and online educational settings. The purpose of this study is to explore student perceptions of instructor immediacy, motivation, and communicator competence in addition to their own motivation and intrapersonal communication use in higher education settings. This dissertation follows a social scientific organizational pattern: introduction, literature review, methods, results, and discussion. The first two chapters examine the purpose of the study and the appropriate research on distance education, …

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Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus Pileatus) And Saproxylic Beetles In Partial Cut And Uncut Bottomland Hardwood Forests, Patricia Jean Newell Jan 2008

Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus Pileatus) And Saproxylic Beetles In Partial Cut And Uncut Bottomland Hardwood Forests, Patricia Jean Newell

LSU Master's Theses

Relative abundance and species richness of saproxylic beetles and nesting, roosting, and foraging ecology of pileated woodpeckers were studied in recent partial cuts and uncut forest during the summers of 2006 and 2007. Relative abundance of saproxylic beetles was greater in one-year old cuts than uncut forest during 2006 but was not consistent during 2007. The number of dead trees, period of capture, and trapping year also influenced beetle abundance. Species richness was similar in partial cuts and uncut forest. Characteristics of habitat used by pileated woodpeckers for nesting and roosting in one-year-old and two-year-old partial cuts and uncut forest …

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Effect Of Hydrology On The Structure And Function Of Mangrove Ecosystems In The Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam, Loi Tan Le Jan 2008

Effect Of Hydrology On The Structure And Function Of Mangrove Ecosystems In The Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, Vietnam, Loi Tan Le

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The influence of hydrology on the mangrove forests of Vietnam has received little scientific attention, even though hydrology is recognized as the primary forcing function in mangrove ecosystems worldwide. The purpose of this dissertation research was to determine the effects of hydrology on specific structural attributes and functional processes within the mangrove forests of Can Gio, a province in southeastern Vietnam. Khe Vinh (KV) and Mui O (MO), two locations within compartment 17 of the Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, were chosen as study sites. This research addressed two questions: (1) What are the characteristics of the hydrological regime at …

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The Effects Of In Utero Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure On Immune Responses To Allergen In Adult Offspring, Rodney Lamar Rouse Jan 2008

The Effects Of In Utero Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure On Immune Responses To Allergen In Adult Offspring, Rodney Lamar Rouse

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fetal stress has been linked to adult atherosclerosis, obesity, and diabetes. Epidemiology studies have associated fetal exposure to maternal smoking and post-natal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) with increased asthma risk. We tested the hypothesis, in a mouse model of asthma, that ETS exposure in utero alters airway function and respiratory immune responses in adult offspring. Pregnant BALB/c mice were exposed daily to ETS or filtered air (AIR). Neonatal gene expression was assessed. Offspring inhaled aerosolized ovalbumin (OVA) or saline in weeks 7-8. Regardless of whether they inhaled OVA or saline, mice were sensitized by OVA injections in weeks …

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The Relationship Between Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines, Prostaglandins, And Fetal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activation In Mares With Infective Pre-Term Delivery, Sara K. Lyle Jan 2008

The Relationship Between Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines, Prostaglandins, And Fetal Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Activation In Mares With Infective Pre-Term Delivery, Sara K. Lyle

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Ascending placentitis is a significant cause of abortions, stillbirths, and perinatal loss in horses. A technique for laparoscopic-guided catheterization of the allantoic space was developed and utilized in an experimental model of streptococcal infective pre-term delivery in pony mares. Mares received either 1 x 107 CFU live S. zooepidemicus (n=3), 5.1 x 108 CFU live S. zooepidemicus (n=1), 1 x 107 heat-killed S. zooepidemicus (n=3), 1 mL sterile PBS (n=3). Sham control mares did not receive a transcervical inoculation (n=3). One mare not instrumented with an allantoic catheter received 5.1 x 108 CFU live S. zooepidemicus. Mares with spontaneous abortion …

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Avian Diversification In The Afrotropics, Ben D. Marks Jan 2008

Avian Diversification In The Afrotropics, Ben D. Marks

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Widespread bird species endemic to the lowlands of the Guineo-Congolian rainforest of Africa have traditionally been thought to lack substantial intraspecific structure. This view owes largely to their widespread distributions coupled with the absence of discrete geographic variation in plumage. In the following chapters I examine the phylogeographic patterns of three such species using a combination of molecular and morphometric data. The three species investigated are the Green Hylia (Hylia prasina), the Red-tailed Bristlebill (Bleda syndactylus), and the Yellow-whiskered Greenbul (Andropadus latirostris). Using the phylogeographic patterns from these data, I assess 1) models of rainforest species diversification, 2) current taxonomy, …

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Digital Storytelling As A Literacy-Based Intervention For A Sixth Grade Student With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Case Study, Brent A. Daigle Jan 2008

Digital Storytelling As A Literacy-Based Intervention For A Sixth Grade Student With Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Case Study, Brent A. Daigle

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates the use of Digital Storytelling as an intervention to improve the academic performance and social interactions of a sixth grade student with High-Functioning Autism. Qualitative methodology, using an inductive approach informed by grounded theory, was employed throughout this exploratory case study. Three separate data sources, consisting of document analysis, interviews, and participant observation, contributed to the findings of this study. Triangulation of inquiry methods enhanced the validity and rigor of this investigation. The findings from this inquiry indicate that Digital Storytelling was beneficial to the participant in this exploratory case study. Engaged student processes and critical analysis …

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Retrotransposon Mediated Genomic Variation In The Human And Chimpanzee Lineages, Jungnam Lee Jan 2008

Retrotransposon Mediated Genomic Variation In The Human And Chimpanzee Lineages, Jungnam Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

LINE-1 (Long INterspersed Element-1 or L1) and Alu elements are important sources of structural variation in primate genomes because they are highly active retrotransposons with copy numbers of ~520,000 and >1.2 million within the human genome, respectively. Although the bulk of these elements have resided in their respective host genomes for a long time, and have thus accumulated random mutations, overall these elements retain high levels of sequence identity among themselves. The presence of many nearly-identical retrotransposons located close to each other (e.g., Alu-Alu or L1-L1 pairs) disposes their host genomes to unequal homologous DNA recombination events that generate genomic …

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Syntheses Of Trimethylamine- And Phosphonate- Substituted Carboranylporphyrins For Application In Boron Neutron Cancer Therapy, Michael William Easson Jan 2008

Syntheses Of Trimethylamine- And Phosphonate- Substituted Carboranylporphyrins For Application In Boron Neutron Cancer Therapy, Michael William Easson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Chapter 1 contains an introduction to porphyrins and carboranylporphyrins, including their physical properties, history, methods of synthesis, medicinal applications, and an overview of recently published compounds. Chapter 2 contains the total synthesis of a series of trimethylamine- and phosphonate-substituted carboranylporphyrins for application in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), including characterization by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, matrix-assisted time-of-flight mass spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, X-ray crystallography, and melting point apparatus. Chapter 3 contains synthetic methods which were investigated as alternate routes to porphyrin synthesis and functionalization. Chapter 4 presents the in vitro biological evaluation of trimethylamine- and phosphonate-substituted …

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Functional Studies On The Extrinsic Proteins Of Photosystem Ii, Haijun Liu Jan 2008

Functional Studies On The Extrinsic Proteins Of Photosystem Ii, Haijun Liu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The function of the PsbO and the PsbR protein in Arabidopsis thaliana were studied. The Arabidopsis mutant psbo1 contains a point mutation in the psbO-1 gene leading to defective expression of the PsbO-1 protein. Functional studies demonstrated both the reducing-side and oxidizing-side of Photosystem II are significantly altered. Using the psbo1 mutant plant as a transgenic host, two plant lines were produced, which contained an N-terminally His6-tagged PsbO-1 protein. Photosystem II closure kinetics demonstrated that the defective double reduction of QB and the delayed exchange of QBH2 with the plastoquinone pool in the psbo1 mutant were effectively restored to the …

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Micropropagation Through Somatic Embryogenesis And Cotyledonary Nodal Culture In Sea Oats (Uniola Paniculata L.), Diptimayee Sahoo Jan 2008

Micropropagation Through Somatic Embryogenesis And Cotyledonary Nodal Culture In Sea Oats (Uniola Paniculata L.), Diptimayee Sahoo

LSU Master's Theses

Uniola paniculata, commonly known as sea oats, is a C4 perennial grass capable of stabilizing sand dunes. Although this species is extensively used in beach restoration projects, production and availability of sea oats seedlings is seriously constrained due to disappearance of the natural stands. Other limitations are poor seed production, seed dormancy, and low seedling survival. With increasing interest in dune restoration, an efficient micropropagation technique is essential to generate sea oats seedlings in mass scale. In this study an efficient, rapid and reproducible plant regeneration system was successfully established for sea oats through somatic embryogenesis and cotyledonary nodal culture. …

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Durable And Reusable Antimicrobial Textiles, Leila Elizabeth Bonin Jan 2008

Durable And Reusable Antimicrobial Textiles, Leila Elizabeth Bonin

LSU Master's Theses

Antimicrobial textiles are a large research focus in the textile industry. There is an apparent need for creating reusable and durable antimicrobial textiles. Most of the textiles with antimicrobial properties effective against Staphylococcus aureus are disposable. To address the issue, two types of biopolymer solutions were created in a USDA lab. Both solutions displayed antimicrobial properties. A medium weight, plain weave cotton sheeting was used as the test fabric. Samples of the sheeting were cut, treated, and tested to determine their efficacy as antimicrobial textiles. The tests performed included tensile deformation, bending, shearing, compression, surface friction, surface roughness, and treatment …

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Measurement Of Nutrient Availability In Feedstuffs For Florida Pompano And Development Of Formulated Diets For Pompano Aquaculture, Craig Gothreaux Jan 2008

Measurement Of Nutrient Availability In Feedstuffs For Florida Pompano And Development Of Formulated Diets For Pompano Aquaculture, Craig Gothreaux

LSU Master's Theses

Consistently high market demand combined with low commercial catches have made Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus, one of the highest valued finfish from the Gulf of Mexico. Economic incentive has spurred interest in pompano culture since the 1950s, yet the body of nutritional research on pompano is still sparse. This study was conducted to measure the apparent digestibility of nutrients among a selection of common feed ingredients, and determine the optimum dietary protein level for juvenile Florida pompano at a fixed protein-to-energy ratio, in order to formulate nutritionally complete, cost-effective diets. The four ingredients tested in the digestibility trial were soybean …

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The Food Patterns Of Southern Louisiana Residents, Chad Eriksen Jan 2008

The Food Patterns Of Southern Louisiana Residents, Chad Eriksen

LSU Master's Theses

Obesity is one of the most pressing public health concerns in Louisiana. There are numerous reasons believed to be major contributors to the obesity epidemic, one of which is dietary habits. The purpose of this study was to investigate and identify the dietary patterns of southern Louisiana residents. A self administered, semi-quantitative questionnaire was used. Subjects (n=308) were recruited from Louisiana State University (LSU). Results suggested that it is possible to describe the dietary patterns of a southern Louisiana population. Compared to whites, the percentage of African Americans who were served or consumed fried fish, rice, red beans and rice, …

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Macroh2a1 Knockdown Effects On The Peg3 Imprinted Domain, Jung Ha Choo, Jeong Do Kim, Joomyeong Kim Dec 2007

Macroh2a1 Knockdown Effects On The Peg3 Imprinted Domain, Jung Ha Choo, Jeong Do Kim, Joomyeong Kim

Faculty Publications

Background: MacroH2A1 is a histone variant that is closely associated with the repressed regions of chromosomes. A recent study revealed that this histone variant is highly enriched in the inactive alleles of Imprinting Control Regions (ICRs). Results: The current study investigates the potential roles of macroH2A1 in genomic imprinting by lowering the cellular levels of the macroH2A1 protein. RNAi-based macroH2A1 knockdown experiments in Neuro2A cells changed the expression levels of a subset of genes, including Peg3 and Usp29 of the Peg3 domain. The expression of these genes was down-regulated, rather than up-regulated, in response to reduced protein levels of the …

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