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Understanding Phosphorus Dynamics Of Two Alluvial Soils Grown With Corn At Different Phosphorus Rates, Marilyn Sebial Dalen

LSU Master's Theses

There is little information documented on the influence of soil properties on P availability of Louisiana alluvial soils thus this pot experiment was conducted in 2011 to: 1) evaluate the effect of P fertilizer rate on growth and development of corn grown on Perry clay and Commerce sl soils, 2) relate soil test P values using Mehlich-3 and Bray-2 procedures with yield, total biomass, and P uptake of corn, and 3) identify the soil properties that influence P partitioning into functional fractions of two alluvial soils. Different P fertilizer rates (0, 34, 67, 101 and 134 kg P2O5 ha-1) were …

Growth Rate And Productivity Of A Louisiana Native Microalgae/Cyanobacteria Co-Culture: Feasibility For Use In Industrial Biotechnology Applications, Athens Gomes Silaban

LSU Master's Theses

Interest in biofuels research has increased in the era of uncertainty of the current fossil fuel sustainability and global climate concerns. Microalgae offer advantages over terrestrial plants as a potential source of biomass-based fuel. In this study, a Louisiana native microalgae/cyanobacteria (Chlorella vulgaris/Leptolyngbya sp.) co-culture was examined to provide foundational information of its growth conditions. Batch studies were conducted to determine optimum nitrogen and irradiance level that yields maximum co-culture biomass growth and productivity under aerated and non-aerated conditions. The optimum nitrogen level was 2.94 mM N and the optimum initial scalar irradiance range was between 400 – 800 µmol …

Investigating The Role Of Genetic Variation In Long Run Economic Outcomes, Charles Justin Cook

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation empirically tests whether adaptations resulting from the Neolithic Revolution, or the widespread adoption of sedentary agriculture for sustenance, have led to economic differences. The development of sedentary agriculture constituted an environmen- tal shift from the previous sustenance method of hunting and gathering. This environmental shift resulted in the natural selection of certain traits. I seek to exploit differences in these traits to measure differing economic outcomes. Two main adaptations are considered in this work: the ability to consume milk, or lactose tolerance, and resistance to infectious Eurasian diseases, which is the result of genetic variation. The first essay …

The Use Of A Mixed Chlorella Cyanobacteria Culture As A Protein Source For Aquaculture, Marjan Sadat Mohtashamian

LSU Master's Theses

The increase in the global demand for fish feed in the last decades has resulted in the over exploitation of natural resources to produce more fishmeal supplies for aquaculture industry. The supply issues and high prices of fishmeal products have raised the incentives to seek for suitable alternatives to replace fishmeal protein. As a by-product of biofuel production process, residual microalgal biomass may be a low cost feed ingredient to the aquaculture diet. The potential of the use of a post lipid extraction Chlorella vulgaris/Leptolyngbya sp. Co-Culture (Louisiana co-culture) as a protein source in aquaculture feeds could help offset fishmeal. …

Insights Into The Catalytic Mechanisms Of The Protein Enzymes, Pfkfb3 And Vlde, Using X-Ray Crystallography, Michael Christopher Cavalier

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This work describes the crystallographic studies of two enzymes and provides mechanistic insights into their respective catalytic processes. The first study investigates the molecular basis of the fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase reaction of the inducible isoform of the bifunctional enzyme, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB3). The bifunctional enzyme is solely responsible for the cellular concentration of a regulator of glucose metabolism, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. PFKB3 was investigated using the crystal structures of the enzyme in a phospho-enzyme intermediate state (PFKFB3-P•F-6-P), in a transition state-analogous complex (PFKFB3•AlF4), and in a complex with pyrophosphate (PFKFB3•PPi). With these structures, the structures of the Michaelis complex and the transition state were extrapolated. …

An Exploratory Study Of Informal Science Learning By Children Ages 2-12 Years At Selected U.S. Children's Gardens, Mary Flake Legoria

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT This exploratory study was conducted at four children’s gardens in major botanical gardens across the United States to determine if children became more aware and knowledgeable of plants while visiting these gardens. This was determined through the children’s garden stakeholders’ perspectives; the stakeholders of this study were the children and parents who visited the gardens. Their views were acquired through on-site observations and interviews. The purposive sample comprised 64 participants including 40 children (19 girls and 21 boys, ages 2- 12 years). There were 18 mothers, 3 fathers, 3 grandmothers, and 1 grandfather. The 40 children were observed and …

Forage Systems For Finishing Steers In South Louisiana, Jose M. Rodriguez

LSU Master's Theses

Research has found conflicting results on animal performance and carcass traits associated with the use of forage as the primary feed source for finishing cattle. Consumer interest in forage-fed products has grown and little research has been done comparing performance of forage-fed animals and beef finished on different forages. Spring weaned calves (n=54; 257 ± 2.5 kg; 3/8 Gelbvieh, 3/8 Red Angus, and 1/4 Brahman) were used in the evaluation of three forage systems (S1, S2, and S3) on a 100% forage diet in two consecutive years (June 2009 and 2010). Steers were divided into 9 groups based on initial …

Comparison Of The Effects Of Two Oat-Based Cereals On Appetite And Satiety, And The Effect Of A Fat Emulsion Of Appetite, Satiety, Food Intake, And Body Weight, Candida Joan Rebello

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of these studies was to investigate the satiety effects of foods typically consumed as part of a breakfast meal, and a novel fat emulsion designed to stimulate satiety signals. The first study compared the satiety effects of oatmeal with a popular ready-to-eat breakfast cereal (RTEC). The second study assessed the effects of the fat emulsion Olibra¢â, on satiety, food intake, and body weight. Forty-eight healthy individuals, ¡Ã18 years of age were enrolled in a randomized controlled crossover trial. Following an overnight fast, subjects consumed either oatmeal or RTEC in random order at least a week apart. Visual analogue …

Canning Foods And Selling Modernity: The Canned Food Industry And Consumer Culture, 1898-1945, Kristi Renee Whitfield

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

At the turn of the twentieth century, Americans feared commercially canned foods. From the Spanish American War until well into the 1920’s, canned foods received a barrage of media attacks and accusations of unhealthiness, lack of cleanliness, and a lack of transparency and regulation in processing. Moreover, as gastrointestinal distress was quite prevalent among American society, many Americans feared that it was commercial foods that were making them sick. By the time Americans were coming home from World War II, the climate of opinion concerning commercially canned foods had changed, and this was in large part due to the unyielding …

Defense Gland Protein From Coptotermes Formosanus, Ioan-Horia Negulescu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki is the most invasive termite species and has the largest economic impact of all the subterranean termites in the US. Although a lot of work has been done on the determination of chemical composition of frontal gland secretion from different families of termites, the protein component of those secretions was relatively overlooked. This study started with the observation that proteins are present in the frontal gland secretion of Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki soldiers. The goal was to characterize one of these proteins by identifying its DNA sequence which would lead to protein sequence, function, structure and role it …

A Novel Immunomodulatory Subunit Vaccine To Combat The Involvement Of Bovine Respiratory Coronavirus Infections In Shipping Fever, Genevieve Elizabeth Lum

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Bovine respiratory coronavirus (BRCoV) is a group 2a coronavirus expressing both hemagglutinin-esterase and spike (S) envelope glycoproteins. The S glycoprotein is a primary coronavirus virulence factor responsible for both receptor specificity and membrane fusion-mediated entry into host cells. In addition, the S glycoprotein serves as a major antigen targeted by both the cellular and humoral immune responses and, as such, is an important target for antibody-facilitated virus neutralization. The objective of this research was the design of a safe and effective vaccine against BRCoV using a “prime-boost” vaccination approach. This method utilized an initial DNA vaccine encoding either the soluble …

Food Cravings And Food Cue Responding Across The Menstrual Cycle, Megan Apperson Mcvay

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Food cravings have been linked to obesity and eating disorders. Women report craving food more than men, and women experience greater rates of obesity and eating disorders. Retrospective and quasi-prospective studies have suggested that food cravings may be more common during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Unfortunately, these studies have been limited by the use of poorly defined menstrual cycle phases, disregard for individual differences in menstrual cycle length, and absence of validated measures of cravings. The current study examined the effects of menstrual cycle phase on 1) cravings in response to a high fat/high sugar chocolate candy …

Development Of Cost-Effective And Benign Lipid Extraction System For Microalgae, Javed Iqbal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A laboratory-made continuous flow lipid extraction system (CFLES) was devised to extract lipids from microalgae Nannochloropsis sp., a potential feedstock for biodiesel fuel, with a focus to assess the workable temperatures and pressures for possible scale-up applications. Using conventional solvents, the CFLES recovered 100% of the lipids recovered with conventional Soxhlet extraction (USEPA method 3540) at moderate 50 psi pressure and 100°C temperature; conditions significantly lower than those normally used in pressurized liquid extractions requiring specialized equipment. Approximately 87% of the extracted oil was successfully transesterified into biodiesel fuel. For exploring the solvent potential of biodiesel, CFLES was also tested …

Diet And Reproductive Biology Of The Blacknose Shark (Carcharhinus Acronotus) From The Southwestern Atlantic Ocean, Ryan Michael Ford

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The blacknose shark (Carcharhinus acronotus) is a common small coastal shark species found in nearshore waters along the southeast coast of the United States, from North Carolina into the Gulf of Mexico and extending further south into the Bahamas. There has been some debate in recent years over the reproductive periodicity of C. acronotus in waters off the U.S. coast. Earlier studies have suggested that Gulf C. acronotus reproduce on an annual basis whereas the Atlantic populations of this species may reproduce biennially. Additionally, there have been no known studies on the diet of C. acronotus. The goal of the …

Body Image And Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Among University Students, Tracy L. Wright

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Children develop beliefs about ideal body image and carry these perceptions into adulthood. Consequences of poor body image may include decreased self-esteem, depression, unhealthy lifestyle, and eating disorders. Understanding healthy lifestyle behaviors and the relationship between body image and these behaviors can empower individuals to engage in behaviors to improve health. Pender’s health promotion model provided the theoretical framework for this study. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between body image and healthy lifestyle behaviors among undergraduate university students. An email was sent to undergraduate students, providing a link to the survey that included: demographic, body …

Improving Quit Rates For Tobacco-Dependent Hospitalized Patients, Marion G. Mann

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate outcomes of an existing inpatient tobacco cessation counseling program with 30-day follow-up among recently admitted tobacco-dependent patients who were tobacco-dependent.

Background/Significance: Tobacco use is considered the number one most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. Despite associated dangers, approximately 21% Americans currently smoke. This has led to increased hospital admissions and chronic disease management, costing the United States approximately $96 billion per year. Decades of research and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines substantiate that inpatient tobacco cessation counseling has the potential to improve quit rates post-hospital …

Vitamin D Status, Adiposity, And Athletic Performance Measures In College-Aged Students, Laura Forney

LSU Master's Theses

Research suggests that elevated serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) are associated with slowing the development of many age-related chronic diseases. Recent reports also show a positive relationship between 25OHD and muscle synthesis, strength, power and decreased body fat in elderly individuals. However, these findings have not been consistently reported in younger, healthy populations. PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between 25OHD levels, body composition, measures of aerobic fitness and muscular strength and power in a young, physically active population. METHODS: Thirty-nine active subjects (20 males, 19 females; 23 ± 0.7 years old) reported to the lab six times for testing. …

Measurement Of Pain, Pain Disability, And Pain Beliefs Of Morbidly Obese Adults, Brooke Louise Barbera

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Both obesity and pain are pervasive public health problems, contributing to significant disability in the United States and worldwide. Studies have demonstrated a positive association between obesity and pain, with increasing BMI related to increasing levels of pain intensity; however, the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not well understood. The present study assessed the presence of pain, pain-related disability, and pain beliefs in a morbidly obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2) sample participating in a medically-supervised, nonsurgical weight loss intervention. After controlling for demographic variables and depression, pain was reported in 36.7% of the sample (N = 390). Results indicated that greater …

Direct-To-Consumer Genetic Testing: Learning From The Past And Looking Toward The Future, Stephanie Bair

Faculty Scholarship

A decade after the complete sequencing of the human genome, we have seen a proliferation of genetic testing services marketed directly to the consumer and purporting to use genetic information to generate individualized health information. These tests have been subject to only minimal regulation, despite the fact that scientists and policymakers have serious concerns about both the clinical effectiveness of the tests and the safety of releasing certain types of health information to the public without the supervision of a health care professional. Proponents of minimal regulation argue that the tests allow for patient autonomy and privacy of genetic information, …

Unlocking The Mystery Of Health Care Planning For Retirement, Jamers Sullivan

Guides, Handbooks and Manuals

No abstract provided.

In Vitro Study Of The Microsporidian Parasite Loma Morhua, Using Cod-Derived Cells And Novel Culture Techniques, Michael J. Macleod

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The cod populations of the Canadian Atlantic were once highly productive, generating enormous annual harvests and attracting fishing fleets from many nations. However, through the late 1980s improved fishing technology, unprecedented capture rates, and poor fishery management brought wild stocks beyond the point of collapse. Dwindling harvests in the early 1990s resulted in cod fishing moratoriums, and an end to the productivity for which the fishery was once renowned. Atlantic cod remains a popular food worldwide and the collapse of cod fisheries has done little to abate market demands. Consequently, the cod is considered a prime candidate for aquaculture production, …

Brown V. Ema/Esa: U.S. Supreme Court Stops California From Playing Games With The First Amendment, Christian Genetski

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

An Occupational Therapy-Based Education Program For Caregivers Of Individuals With Cerebral Palsy: A Culturally Conscious Perspective, Allison L. Kalb, Diana L. Huettl

Occupational Therapy Capstones

Introduction: Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) are able to lead functional, productive, and fulfilling lives when provided the opportunity. In the country of Ghana, the prevalence of CP is estimated to be one out of every 300 births (Purple Field Productions [PFP], 2011), however, a lack of education about CP and other disabilities, limited access to healthcare services, and scarce resources hamper the Ghanaian people’s opportunities for habilitation (Reynolds, 2010; Tinney, Chiodo, Haig, & Wiredu, 2007). In addition, cultural beliefs and societal attitudes toward people with disabilities in Ghana pose a barrier for those individuals to fully participate in occupation. …

A Hospital For Maine: Part 8- Index, Maine Medical Center

Histories

No abstract provided.

Time To Cut The Fat: The Case For Government Anti-Obesity Legislation , Stephen A. Mcguinness

Journal of Law and Health

This Article examines—and ultimately rejects—this anti-paternalism argument against government anti-obesity policies. It argues that government intervention in the food industry for the purpose of stemming the American obesity epidemic is justified and survives paternalistic objections to the contrary. This Article begins by briefly outlining the nature, severity, and causes of the obesity epidemic. It considers what can be done about the problem, finding that only government intervention is capable of effectively combating the crisis. It also outlines several types of potentially successful government anti-obesity strategies. Finally, it considers the primary topic of this Article: whether government anti-obesity policies constitute unjustified …

Tax Policy And The Obesity Epidemic, Merav W. Efrat, Rafael Efrat

Journal of Law and Health

This Article begins with a brief summary of the growing obesity epidemic in the U.S. It then explores some of the central contributing factors to the mounting obesity problem among U.S. children and adults. It also examines the adverse impact and costs associated with the obesity problem. Next, this Article discusses the justification for government intervention, as well as the benefits and disadvantages of using the tax system as a way of shaping consumption and physical activity patterns. It then summarizes recent efforts by various levels of government in the U.S. to use the tax system to affect eating and …

A Commentary: Presidents Adams And Jefferson, With A Few Others, Discuss Health Reform With A Disabled Lawyer, Gary C. Norman

Journal of Law and Health

Washington lawyers constitute strategic actors within executive, legislative, and judicial forums. This Article discusses the interaction of Washington lawyers in these branches of government regarding healthcare law and policy. The Article discusses how access to technology inhibits a disabled lawyer from equal involvement in the governmental process. The Article also thematically presents the position Presidents Adam and Jefferson would likely harbor on healthcare reform. Public discourse must be more intellectual like that of the founding generation, and it should be improved in its civility.

A New Statistic: The Us Census Bureau’S Supplemental Poverty Measure, Philip N. Jefferson

Economics Faculty Works

This article examines the dynamic relationship between macroeconomic performance and measures of poverty in the United States. The article is organized as follows. Section 2 presents insights on the relationship between poverty and macroeconomic performance that emerge from the literature. The emphasis is on empirical studies from 1986 to 2011. Section 3 provides a snapshot of the change in poverty over National Bureau of Economic Research-dated recessions for a variety of poverty measures. Section 4 uses vector autoregressions (VARs) to characterize the response of poverty to innovations in various social indicators and measures of macroeconomic performance. Section 5 expands the …

The Oxford Handbook Of The Economics Of Poverty, Philip N. Jefferson

Economics Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Rustbelt Theater: Children's Environmental Justice Narratives From South Elyria, Oh, Lissette Lorenz

Honors Papers

Children's knowledge of their eco-social environment is rarely privileged in environmental literature. Their voices help to broaden conceptions of environmental justice, to the benefit of both the environmental justice movement and the emerging discipline of environmental studies. In this community-based research project conducted in partnership with Save Our Children, an afterschool/summer enrichment center, in South Elyria, Ohio, third and fourth grade children utilized Theater of the Oppressed techniques to create an environmental justice narrative in the form of an original play. The goal of Theater of the Oppressed is for participants to dramatically analyze real-life oppressions/obstacles/challenges they face and act …