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Louisiana Agriculture Fall, 2003, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.

Action Based Approach To The Dynamics Of Extended Bodies In General Relativity, Jeeva Anandan, Naresh Dadhich, Parampreet Singh

Faculty Publications

We present, for the first time, an action principle that gives the equations of motion of an extended body possessing multipole moments in an external gravitational field, in the weak field limit. From the action, the experimentally observable quantum phase shifts in the wavefunction of an extended object due to the coupling of its multipole moments with the gravitational field are obtained. Also, since the theory may be quantized using the action, the present approach is useful in the interface between general relativity and quantum mechanics.

Thermodynamics Of The Binding Of Thermus Aquaticus Dna Polymerase To Primed-Template Dna, Kausiki Datta, Vince J. Licata

Faculty Publications

DNA binding of the Type 1 DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus (Taq polymerase) and its Klentaq large fragment domain have been studied as a function of temperature. Equilibrium binding assays were performed from 5 to 70°C using a fluorescence anisotropy assay and from 10 to 60°C using isothermal titration calorimetry. In contrast to the usual behavior of thermophilic proteins at low temperatures, Taq and Klentaq bind DNA with high affinity at temperatures down to 5°C. The affinity is maximal at 40-50°C. The ΔH and ΔS of binding are highly temperature dependent, and the ΔCp of binding is -0.7 to -0.8 …

Mitochondrial Mrna Stability And Polyadenylation During Anoxia-Induced Quiescence In The Brine Shrimp Artemia Franciscana, Brian D. Eads, Steven C. Hand

Faculty Publications

Polyadenylation of messenger RNA is known to be an important mechanism for regulating mRNA stability in a variety of systems, including bacteria, chloroplasts and plant mitochondria. By comparison, little is known about the role played by polyadenylation in animal mitochondrial gene expression. We have used embryos of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana to test hypotheses regarding message stability and polyadenylation under conditions simulating anoxia-induced quiescence. In response to anoxia, these embryos undergo a profound and acute metabolic downregulation, characterized by a steep drop in intracellular pH (pHi) and ATP levels. Using dot blots of total mitochondrial RNA, we show that …

Cultural Variations Of Internet Development And Use, Hong Xu, Bin Li, Silvia Barcellos Southwick, Anita Komlodi, Tracy Haidar

Faculty Publications

We are rapidly constructing a global network infrastructure for moving information across national boundaries. Is there a universal way of developing and using the Internet across different geographic areas with different culture? The first panelist in this session will discuss cultural, economic, political systems differences between United States and China in Internet development and Internet use. Second presentation will focus on cultural and social issues in adopting Internet technology in Brazil. The next two presentations will examine how cultural background affects information seeking behavior of Web users from different culture.

The Effect Of Density-Dependent Catastrophes On Population Persistence Time, Chris Wilcox, Bret Elderd

Faculty Publications

1. There has been increasing recognition that catastrophes are an important factor in modelling threatened populations. However, density dependence has generally been omitted from models of threatened populations on the assumption that this omission yields conservative predictions. We explore the significance of including density-dependent catastrophes in models of threatened populations. 2. Using an analytical model, we show that density-dependent catastrophes have a significant effect on population persistence, decreasing mean persistence time at large population sizes and causing a relative increase at intermediate sizes. 3. We illustrate our results with empirical data from a disease outbreak in crabeater seals Lobodon carcinophagus …

On Series-Parallel Extensions Of Uniform Matroids, Brahim Chaourar, James Oxley

Faculty Publications

This paper gives an excluded-minor characterization of the class of matroids that are series-parallel extensions of uniform matroids. © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Nonexistence Of Regularization Operators, Ricardo Estrada

Faculty Publications

We show that there are no continuous regularization procedures for the extension of distributions. We also show that there are no continuous projection operators from the spaces of distributions onto subspaces of distributions with support on a given closed set. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Discrete Quantum Gravity: A Mechanism For Selecting The Value Of Fundamental Constants, Rodolfo Gambini, Jorge Pullin

Faculty Publications

Smolin has put forward the proposal that the universe fine tunes the values of its physical constants through a Darwinian selection process. Every time a black hole forms, a new universe is developed inside it that has different values for its physical constants from the ones in its progenitor. The most likely universe is the one which maximizes the number of black holes. Here we present a concrete quantum gravity calculation based on a recently proposed consistent discretization of the Einstein equations that shows that fundamental physical constants change in a random fashion when tunneling through a singularity.

Co2 Frost Cap Thickness On Mars During Northern Winter And Spring, W. C. Feldman, T. H. Prettyman, W. V. Boynton, J. R. Murphy, S. Squyres, S. Karunatillake, S. Maurice, R. L. Tokar, G. W. Mckinney, D. K. Hamara, N. Kelly, K. Kerry

Faculty Publications

The thickness of seasonal CO2 frost that covers the north pole of Mars during the winter and spring seasons is studied using gamma ray and neutron data measured using the gamma ray spectrometer suite of instruments aboard Mars Odyssey. The resultant seasonal variation of CO2 ice/frost thickness for latitudes greater than +85° is in close agreement (within 9% at maximum) with those predicted using all three major Mars general circulation models presently in use. These observed CO2 ice results are significantly different from those inferred from the Mars Obiter Laser Altimeter experiment aboard Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). A possible explanation …

Pair Distribution Function In A Two-Dimensional Electron Gas, Juana Moreno, D. C. Marinescu

Faculty Publications

We calculate the pair distribution function, g(r), in a two-dimensional electron gas and derive a simple analytical expression for its value at the origin as a function of rs. Our approach is based on solving the Schrödinger equation for the two-electron wavefunction in an appropriate effective potential, leading to results that are in good agreement with quantum Monte Carlo data and with the most recent numerical calculations of g(0) (Bulutay and Tanatar 2002 Phys. Rev. B 65 195116). We also show that the spin-up spin-down correlation function at the origin, g↑↓(0), is mainly independent of the degree of spin polarization …

Quantum Noise In Gravitational-Wave Interferometers: Overview And Recent Developments, Thomas Corbitt, Nergis Mavalvala

Faculty Publications

We present an overview of quantum noise in gravitational wave interferometers. Gravitational wave detectors are extensively modified variants of a Michelson interferometer and the quantum noise couplings are strongly influenced by the interferometer configuration. We describe recent developments in the treatment of quantum noise in the complex interferometer configurations of present-day and future gravitational-wave detectors. In addition, we explore prospects for the use of squeezed light in future interferometers, including consideration of the effects of losses, and the choice of optimal readout schemes.

Winds In R Coronae Borealis Stars, Geoffrey C. Clayton, T. R. Geballe, Luciana Bianchi

Faculty Publications

We present new spectroscopic observations of the He I λ10830 line in R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars that provide the first strong evidence that most, if not all, RCB stars have winds. It has long been suggested that when dust forms around an RCB star, radiation pressure accelerates the dust away from the star, dragging the gas along with it. The new spectra show that nine of the 10 stars observed have P Cygni or asymmetric blueshifted profiles in the He I λ10830 line. In all cases, the He I line indicates a mass outflow with a range of intensity …

Limiting Noises In Gravitational Wave Detectors: Guidance From Their Statistical Properties, Gabriela González

Faculty Publications

It is expected that interferometric gravitational wave detectors such as LIGO1 will be eventually limited by fundamental noise sources like shot noise and Brownian motion, as well as by seismic noise. In the commissioning process, other technical noise sources (electronics noise, alignment fluctuations) limit the sensitivity and are eliminated one by one. We propose here a way to correlate the noise in the output of the gravitational wave detector with other detector and environmental signals not through their linear transfer functions (often unknown), but through their statistical properties. This could prove useful for identifying the frequency bands dominated by different …

Comparative Thermal Denaturation Of Thermus Aquaticus And Escherichia Coli Type 1 Dna Polymerases, Irene Karantzeni, Carmen Ruiz, Chin Chi Liu, Vince J. Licata

Faculty Publications

Thermal denaturations of the type 1 DNA polymerases from Thermus aquaticus (Taq polymerase) and Escherichia coli (Pol 1) have been examined using differential scanning calorimetry and CD spectroscopy. The full-length proteins are single-polypeptide chains comprising a polymerase domain, a proofreading domain (inactive in Taq) and a 5′ nuclease domain. Removal of the 5′ nuclease domains produces the 'large fragment' domains of Pol 1 and Taq, termed Klenow and Klentaq respectively. Although the high temperature stability of Taq polymerase is well known, its thermal denaturation has never been directly examined previously. Thermal denaturations of both species of polymerase are irreversible, precluding …

The Cayley-Hamilton And Frobenius Theorems Via The Laplace Transform, William A. Adkins, Mark G. Davidson

Faculty Publications

The Cayley-Hamilton theorem on the characteristic polynomial of a matrix A and Frobenius' theorem on minimal polynomial of A are deduced from the familiar Laplace transform formula ℒ(e ) = (sI - A) . This formula is extended to a formal power series ring over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0, so that the argument applies in the more general setting of matrices over a field of characteristic 0. © 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. At -1

Faculty Senate Resolution 03-13, Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College

LSU Faculty Senate Publications

Faculty Senate Resolution regarding posting faculty salaries on the web, adopted on September 3, 2003.

Faculty Senate Resolution 03-12, Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College

LSU Faculty Senate Publications

Faculty Senate Resolution on analyses of LSU salary data; failed, not adopted.

Faculty Senate Resolution 03-11, Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College

LSU Faculty Senate Publications

Faculty Senate Resolution on guidelines and recommendations for establishing criteria for awarding merit and equity raises, adopted on September 3, 2003.

Baseball In Blue & Gray: The National Pastime During The Civil War, James D. Hardy

Civil War Book Review

America's game

Book explores sport as a reflection of national ideals

Gettysburg, Cornelius Cronin

Civil War Book Review

Pennsylvania invasion

Campaign history offers lucid and detailed account

Lincoln And Booth: More Light On The Conspiracy, Frank J. Williams

Civil War Book Review

Trigger man

Author exposes details of murder and trial

Glory In The Name: A Novel Of The Confederate Navy, Don Evans

Civil War Book Review

Secesh at sea

Novel considers the war on the water

Live Your Own Life: The Family Papers Of Mary Bayard Clarke, 1854-1886, Giselle Roberts

Civil War Book Review

Literary lady

Collection traces southern woman's professional journey

Mr. Lincoln And The Time Train, Meg Galante Deangelis

Civil War Book Review

Life without Lincoln?

Children's book imagines American culture without the influence of the 16th President

My Dearest Cecelia: A Novel Of The Southern Belle Who Stole General Sherman's Heart, June Pulliam

Civil War Book Review

Star-crossed lovers

Novel tells the story of an unlikely romance

Notorious In The Neighborhood: Sex And Families Across The Color Line In Virginia, 1787-1861, Mary R. Block

Civil War Book Review

Mixed marriage

Work analyzes both legality and reality of interracial relationships

A Perfect War Of Politics: Parties, Politicians, And Democracy In Louisiana, 1824-1861, Mark R. Cheathem

Civil War Book Review

Preserving white liberty

Regional politics overshadowed state interests in secession crisis

A Sphinx On The American Land: The Nineteenth Century South In Comparative Perspectives, James L. Peacock

Civil War Book Review

Many souths

Slim volume asserts broad comparative methodology in study of region

Unknown Tongues: Black Women's Political Activism In The Antebellum Era, 1830-1860, Patrick Rael

Civil War Book Review

Vindicated voices

Study recovers history of struggle