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2008

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The Effect Of An Inshore Artificial Reef On The Community Structure And Feeding Ecology Of Estuarine Fishes In Barataria Bay, Louisiana, Kirsten A. Simonsen Jan 2008

The Effect Of An Inshore Artificial Reef On The Community Structure And Feeding Ecology Of Estuarine Fishes In Barataria Bay, Louisiana, Kirsten A. Simonsen

LSU Master's Theses

Recently we have begun to understand the importance of inshore hard-bottom substrate, including oyster reefs, to estuarine fish communities in the Gulf of Mexico, especially in the context of identifying Essential Fish Habitat (EFH). However, problems such as habitat loss, disease, overharvest, and failure to replace shell have severely decreased the amount of high-relief oyster reef habitat available to finfish. The purpose of this project was to establish an artificial high-relief mimic-oyster reef in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, and monitor its use by economically and ecologically important finfish, including spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) and Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). The finfish and …

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Pilot-Scale Study On Anaerobic Digestion Applied To A Saline Industrial Waste Activated Sludge, Changjiang Shen Jan 2008

Pilot-Scale Study On Anaerobic Digestion Applied To A Saline Industrial Waste Activated Sludge, Changjiang Shen

LSU Master's Theses

In the field of municipal wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion is a well-established, effective process for stabilization of organic sludge with the attractive features of low operating costs and production of methane as a useful by-product. Application of anaerobic digestion for the treatment of saline industrial wastewater sludge, however, has not been well established. The studies described in this thesis were conducted with the overall goal of assessing the feasibility of mesophilic anaerobic digestion processes for treatment of waste activated sludge (WAS) containing moderate salinity (approximately 3% m/v). Experiments employed two 30-gallon conical-bottom HDPE reactors. In the first phase of testing, …

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The Influence Of Calf Selenium Status On Gpx-1 And 3 Activity And Liver Gpx-1 Mrna, Genevieve Elizabeth Tanner Jan 2008

The Influence Of Calf Selenium Status On Gpx-1 And 3 Activity And Liver Gpx-1 Mrna, Genevieve Elizabeth Tanner

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of dietary Se on glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-1 and 3 activities and relative liver GPx mRNA levels in growing Holstein bull calves. Calves (n = 14) were started 28 d after birth on either a Se adequate (0.15 ppm Se) or deficient (0.01 ppm Se) diet consisting of 3 growth phases and maintained on the diet until 180 d of age. Blood samples were taken from each calf for determination of GPx-1 and GPx-3 activity. Three calves were euthanized at d 21 of age for determination of baseline liver GPx-1 mRNA …

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Effects Of Probiotics And Yeast Culture On Rumen Development And Growth Of Dairy Calves, Jennifer Marie Laborde Jan 2008

Effects Of Probiotics And Yeast Culture On Rumen Development And Growth Of Dairy Calves, Jennifer Marie Laborde

LSU Master's Theses

Forty-eight calves (heifers n=20, bulls n=28) were randomly assigned one of four dietary treatments which included no additive (C); the yeast culture Saccharomyces cerevisiae (YC); the probiotics Bacillus lichenformis and Bacillus subtilis (P); and both yeast culture and probiotics (YCP). Calves were administered treatments from day 2 to 56 in starter and from day 57 to 84 in grower diets. Body weights were measured at birth and weekly thereafter until day 112 of age. Wither and hip heights were measured weekly. Feed intake, water intake, and fecal scores were recorded twice daily until day 56. Rumen fluid was collected on …

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Factors Potentially Influencing The Abundance Of Mosquitoes In Louisiana Rice Fields, Ana Maria Sanchez De Cuadra Jan 2008

Factors Potentially Influencing The Abundance Of Mosquitoes In Louisiana Rice Fields, Ana Maria Sanchez De Cuadra

LSU Master's Theses

The rice stink bug (Oebalus pugnax) is the major pest of late-season rice in Louisiana. Prior studies indicate that large populations of mosquitoes are often present in rice fields during the time that rice fields are infested with rice stink bugs. Lambda-cyhalothrin (Karate®) is widely used to control rice stink bugs. The purpose of this study was to determine if application of the insecticide Karate® at a rate of 0.033 kg/ha, for rice stink bug control had an effect on the population of mosquitoes in rice fields. This effect was assessed by monitoring natural populations of mosquitoes before and after …

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Land Alive!, Or Metamorphosis In The Sportsman's Paradise, Adam Tourek Jan 2008

Land Alive!, Or Metamorphosis In The Sportsman's Paradise, Adam Tourek

LSU Master's Theses

"Land Alive!" is best described a multimedia work. The produce of travels to the area of the Mississippi River delta, along with text-based research, formed the materials from which two evenings of participative performance were crafted. Personal narratives were used alongside evaluations of administrative programs, and the space in the Backyard Gallery was transformed using shovels, buckets, and teamwork. Found chairs, rope, and other objects, through ritualized interaction, became an aesthetic formation; everyone present worked together in the assembly of a boat, which contained the results of these interactions between myself, six volunteers, and an audience turned participants. The evenings …

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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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Can We Estimate Stature From The Scapula? A Test Considering Sex And Ancestry, Rachel Marie Burke Jan 2008

Can We Estimate Stature From The Scapula? A Test Considering Sex And Ancestry, Rachel Marie Burke

LSU Master's Theses

The biological profile is one of the most important things that forensic anthropologists accomplish in their work. This includes the determination of age, race, sex, and stature. These four components of the biological profile aid in the identification of an individual in the forensic context. Since the beginning of the field of physical anthropology, osteologists and anatomists have studied human remains in order to provide new and more accurate ways of building the biological profile. Two published studies have attempted to estimate stature from measurements of the scapula. One previous study found that certain measurements of the scapula were highly …

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Hatchability Of Post-Peak Egg Production Broiler Breeder Eggs As Influenced By Pre-Incubation Warming, Cameron Benjamin Wiggins Ii Jan 2008

Hatchability Of Post-Peak Egg Production Broiler Breeder Eggs As Influenced By Pre-Incubation Warming, Cameron Benjamin Wiggins Ii

LSU Master's Theses

This research was conducted to determine the effects of pre-incubation warming on the hatchability of post-peak egg production broiler breeder eggs. An experiment with six trials was conducted with 7,920 freshly laid eggs from Ross 308 and 708 broiler breeders from 61-67-wks of age. For each trial, 1,320 eggs were used to determine if pre-incubation warming treatments of 0, 2, 4, and 6, or 0, 3, 6, and 9, or 0, 9, 12 and 15 hrs (at 37.6°C) could improve the hatchability of eggs stored (at 15.5°C) for three days. After a storage period of three days, the eggs were …

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Iron And Zinc Physiology In Sweetpotato, Mary Catherine Singleton Jan 2008

Iron And Zinc Physiology In Sweetpotato, Mary Catherine Singleton

LSU Master's Theses

Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is an important provider of nutrition in developing countries. High productivity in the form of starch and beta carotene richness underlies its potential. A sweetpotato with adequate levels of iron and zinc would greatly aid efforts to reduce dietary deficiencies of iron and zinc. The objective of this work is to document the physiological accumulation of iron and zinc in sweetpotato during development and the mechanisms responsible for iron uptake. Six varieties (‘IPS 163, ‘Beauregard’,‘Koto-puki’, ‘Pung-mi’, ‘Duanyanghon’, and ‘Xushu 18’) were compared to understand iron and zinc accumulation during development. Results showed that micronutrient content …

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Drift, Emily Jane Cook Jan 2008

Drift, Emily Jane Cook

LSU Master's Theses

Drift is a movement by, or as if by, a current of air or water . It can mean the depositing of debris by such a current. It can also connote a veering off from a projected path. What interests me about the word is that it suggests a slight loss of control, but not a devastating one. Most importantly, for this body of work, it implies a passive movement, a transition in which one is not able to control every part. We can perhaps choose the river we get into but not the direction of its flow. Using properties …

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Molecular Determinants Of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Tumorigenicity, Haixia Kong Jan 2008

Molecular Determinants Of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Tumorigenicity, Haixia Kong

LSU Master's Theses

A conditional silencing system using anti-gB siRNAs was devised to investigate the structure and function of the KSHV gB. Transient co-transfection of plasmids constitutively expressing gB and anti-gB siRNAs in 293 cells substantially inhibited gB mRNA levels and protein production. Similarly, transient expression of siRNAs into the basal cavity-based lymphoma cells (BCBL-1) caused substantial reduction of gB transcription and protein synthesis. TaqMan real-time PCR and infectivity assays showed that gB was essential for virion egress and infectivity. Transfection of a codon-optimized gB not recognized by the anti-gB siRNAs, efficiently rescued virion egress and infectivity in BCBL-1 cells in the presence …

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Impact Damage Between The Collision Of A Vessel And Protective Fender Systems, Paul Joseph Kocke Jan 2008

Impact Damage Between The Collision Of A Vessel And Protective Fender Systems, Paul Joseph Kocke

LSU Master's Theses

Vessel collision with bridge pilings can cause a catastrophic event and are occurring at an alarming rate. Such events can lead to the collapse of a bridge, causing deaths, shutting down a primary route of transportation and costing millions of dollars in repairs. Today, the AASHTO Bridge Code gives designers a methodology toward designing bridge pilings to withstand the impact of an errant vessel. However, bridges designed before this code was written require a protective system that is capable of redirecting a colliding vessel without causing severe damage to the pilings or the vessel. This research will look into three …

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Nanoclay Syntactic Foam Composites, Sameer Leo Peter Jan 2008

Nanoclay Syntactic Foam Composites, Sameer Leo Peter

LSU Master's Theses

Syntactic foams are composite materials in which the matrix phase is reinforced with hollow particles called microballoons. They possess low moisture absorption, low thermal conductivity and high damage tolerance because of their compositions. Traditionally, syntactic foams are used in many high strength applications such as in aerospace and marine industries, thus there is a need to achieve both high compressive strength and high fracture strain with minimal increase in density. This research studies the effect of nanoclay on the high strain rate mechanical properties of syntactic foams. Nanoclay reinforced syntactic foams are fabricated by adding 1, 2 and 5% volume …

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Transitioning To Organic: Fertility Management In Potato Production, Lacey Theresa Dupreé Jan 2008

Transitioning To Organic: Fertility Management In Potato Production, Lacey Theresa Dupreé

LSU Master's Theses

An increasing demand for organic crops in the US represents a considerable opportunity for organic, as well as conventional growers interested in exploring the transition to organic production. Renewed interest in organic farming has resulted in a need for research involving organic fertilizers. Limited research has been conducted on organic vegetable production with previous research conducted primarily outside the Deep South US. Field studies were conducted at the Louisiana State University (LSU) AgCenter Burden Center to investigate the effect of three levels of pre-plant organic NPK fertilizer (8-5-5, Nature Safe) combined with a sidedress application of organic NPK fertilizer (13-0-0, …

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Transcriptional Control Of The Adiponectin Gene By Stat5a, Joel Maier Jan 2008

Transcriptional Control Of The Adiponectin Gene By Stat5a, Joel Maier

LSU Master's Theses

Adiponectin is a hormone secreted from adipocytes that plays an important role in insulin sensitivity and fatty acid oxidation. The secretion of adiponectin from adipose tissue has been shown to be attenuated by treatment with prolactin (PRL). PRL is a potent STAT5 activator, and studies have indicated that it can modulate the expression of several genes in adipocytes. In this study, we demonstrate that 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with PRL exhibit a reduction in adiponectin levels. Furthermore, we identified three putative STAT5 binding sites in the mouse adiponectin promoter and show that only one of these, located at -3809, binds nuclear …

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An Analysis Of The Benefits And Patterns Of Public Support For Urban Forestry Programs, Barbi Marisa Landano Jan 2008

An Analysis Of The Benefits And Patterns Of Public Support For Urban Forestry Programs, Barbi Marisa Landano

LSU Master's Theses

Trees are an essential element in a healthy urban community. They provide many benefits if they are properly managed and maintained throughout their lives. In order to accomplish this, urban forestry programs need to be established and there needs to be a good support system within the city. The objectives of this study are to identify key factors that may influence public support for urban forestry programs and to examine the role of nonprofit organizations in building support for and implementing urban forest programs. Surveys of Baton Rouge, Louisiana residents were conducted to identify the variables that are associated with …

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Freezing Processes In Cell Suspensions Evaluated Using Cryomicroscopy, Tathagata Acharya Jan 2008

Freezing Processes In Cell Suspensions Evaluated Using Cryomicroscopy, Tathagata Acharya

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis aims at evaluating the freezing response of three different cell types, Pacific Oyster embryos, Jurkats and Helas, using the technique of cryomicroscopy. The choice of cells was primarily based on supporting ongoing research work at the Bioengineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. On a secondary basis, the cells were chosen based on their contrasting nature. While Pacific Oyster being a favorite food in USA calls for successful techniques of cryopreservation of their embryos in order to keep up with the growing demand, Jurkat and HeLa are undesired malignant human cells that …

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Coarse Woody Debris Characteristics Of Managed And Unmanaged Bottomland Hardwood Forests, John Wesley Cochran Jan 2008

Coarse Woody Debris Characteristics Of Managed And Unmanaged Bottomland Hardwood Forests, John Wesley Cochran

LSU Master's Theses

Increasingly, attention is being paid to the role coarse woody debris (CWD) plays in forest ecosystems. CWD has been shown to provide valuable wildlife habitat, support food webs and contribute to nutrient storage and cycling, and mediate hydrological and geomorphic process. Timber management may be altering CWD dynamics by replacing aging stands with younger, more vigorous ones. The specific objectives of this study were 1) to quantify differences in coarse woody debris characteristics among bottomland hardwood forest stands with different management histories, and 2) to determine how differences in tree species composition and forest structure in bottomland hardwood forests influence …

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The Effect Of Calcium Or Silicon On Potted Miniature Roses Or Poinsettias, Mary Beth Louise Robichaux Jan 2008

The Effect Of Calcium Or Silicon On Potted Miniature Roses Or Poinsettias, Mary Beth Louise Robichaux

LSU Master's Theses

Poinsettias are the number one flowering potted plant in the U.S. and it is the most popular Christmas plant sold. Miniature roses have become an increasingly important flowering potted plant. However, growers must overcome production problems to produce a quality finished plant and avoid disease incidence. Supplemental calcium has been proven to increase the amount of good quality flowers and increase disease resistance. Silicon can increase plant growth and crop quality and decrease disease pressures. Two experiments were conducted on miniature rose cultivars ‘Sonya’ and ‘Alto.’ The objective of experiment 1 was to determine the effects of preharvest application of …

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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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Influences On Effective Local Wildfire Mitigation Programs, Kimberly Ann Geaghan Jan 2008

Influences On Effective Local Wildfire Mitigation Programs, Kimberly Ann Geaghan

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this research is to identify key components of community wildfire risk reduction programs and potential influences on the adoption of these program elements. Community wildfire programs have been developed to educate and encourage property owners to adopt “vegetation management” practices such as creating defensible space around structures, landscaping with fire-resistant plants, and removing potential wildfire fuels such as trees and shrubs. The analyses are based on a survey conducted by investigators from Louisiana State University in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service. This survey was distributed to wildfire mitigation program managers listed on the National Wildfire Programs …

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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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Modeling Of Solute Transport And Retention In Upper Amite River, Hoonshin Jung Jan 2008

Modeling Of Solute Transport And Retention In Upper Amite River, Hoonshin Jung

LSU Master's Theses

Streams play an important role in a solute transport through a stream network. Transient storage is one of the important processes that control mass exchange between a main stream and transient storage zones because of increase in the residence time of solute. In order to take account of the effect of transient storage on solute transport in streams, a variable residence time (VART) model was developed. The model is characterized by several features: (1) actual varying residence time was used, (2) no-user specified residence time distributions (RTD) were required, (3) less calibration parameters were involved as compared to existing models, …

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Stochastic Energetics Of The Buttiker-Landauer Motor And Refrigerator, Ronald Benjamin Jan 2008

Stochastic Energetics Of The Buttiker-Landauer Motor And Refrigerator, Ronald Benjamin

All ETDs from UAB

We investigated the energetics of a Brownian motor driven by position dependent temperature, commonly known as the B¨uttiker-Landauer motor. Overdamped models (M = 0) predict that the motor can attain Carnot efficiency. However, the overdamped limit (M → 0), contradicts the previous prediction due to the kinetic energy contribution to the heat transfer. Using molecular dynamics simulation and numerical solution of the inertial Langevin equation, we confirmed that the motor can never achieve Carnot efficiency and verified that the heat flow via kinetic energy diverges asM−1/2 in the overdamped limit. The reciprocal process of the motor, namely the B¨uttiker-Landauer refrigerator …

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Enzymatic And Proteomic Analysis Of Spinal Cord In A G93a Als Mouse Model, Page Jones Jan 2008

Enzymatic And Proteomic Analysis Of Spinal Cord In A G93a Als Mouse Model, Page Jones

All ETDs from UAB

Mutations to copper,zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn SOD or SOD1) are the only known causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by death of spinal motor neurons. While the molecular mechanisms responsible for motor neuron death in this disease remain to be elucidated, recent studies implicate mitochondrial dysfunction as a key factor in the pathogenesis of ALS. In support of this, we observed ALS-dependent alterations in key functions including creatine kinase activity and ATP levels, which could be linked to changes in the mitochondrial proteome. Importantly, extensive research efforts have failed to develop a treatment that significantly …

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Calmodulin Binding To Cellular Flice Like Inhibitory Protein Modulates Fas-Induced Signaling And Tumorigenesis In Cholangiocarcinoma, Pritish Subhash Pawar Jan 2008

Calmodulin Binding To Cellular Flice Like Inhibitory Protein Modulates Fas-Induced Signaling And Tumorigenesis In Cholangiocarcinoma, Pritish Subhash Pawar

All ETDs from UAB

Cholangiocarcinoma, a fatal tumor arising from biliary epithelium, has very poor 5-year survival rate due to lack of early diagnosis and effective therapies. Induction of the Fas-mediated apoptosis is a promising therapeutic target in this tumor. Studies from our group and others have indicated that Fas-expression correlates inversely with disease progression and that CaM-antagonists induce apoptosis in cholangiocarcinoma cells in a Fas related manner. Further, we reported a direct and dynamic interaction of CaM and Fas and that CaM is recruited into the Fas-stimulated death inducing signaling complex (DISC), suggesting a cross talk between Fas and CaM pathways. The studies …

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Food Handling Practices Of High-Risk Populations, Bobby Babak Rasulnia Jan 2008

Food Handling Practices Of High-Risk Populations, Bobby Babak Rasulnia

All ETDs from UAB

Populations such as the immuno-compromised (HIV/AIDS, chemotherapy, and transplant patients) and those with chronic conditions (gastric illness, cirrhosis, on anti-microbial therapy, antacid medication and steroid medications) are more susceptible to food borne illness. Examining differences in food handling practices and personal characteristics of high-risk groups verses the general population is the focus of this research. This study is based on secondary data from an established quantitative survey instrument developed and administered by the 2001 FDA Food Safety Survey. Descriptive, chi square, and logistic regression methods were used in the analysis. A statistically significant relationship was not found between health status …

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Expression And Function Of Aqua Porins In Malignant And Non-Malignant Astrocytes, Eric S. Mccoy Jan 2008

Expression And Function Of Aqua Porins In Malignant And Non-Malignant Astrocytes, Eric S. Mccoy

All ETDs from UAB

No abstract provided.

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Using Biosolids To Enhance Phytoremediation Of Oil-Contaminated Soil, Heather N. Markway, Duane C. Wolf, Kaaron J. Davis, Edward E. Gbur Jan 2008

Using Biosolids To Enhance Phytoremediation Of Oil-Contaminated Soil, Heather N. Markway, Duane C. Wolf, Kaaron J. Davis, Edward E. Gbur

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

While the plant rhizosphere and associated microbial processes have been shown to amplify the degradation rate of chemical residues in soils, phytoremediation can be a slow process. The objective of this greenhouse study was to determine if the addition of biosolids as an organic soil amendment would enhance growth of plants in oil-contaminated soil and thus potentially increase effectiveness of phytoremediation. Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) or sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf (Piper)) was grown in a Captina silt loam (finesilty, siliceous, mesic Typic Fragiudults) contaminated with 5% crude oil (v/w) and amended with 24 g biosolids/kg soil. …

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