Digital Commons Network^™

High Frequency Study Of Magnetic Nanostructures, Abhishek Srivastava

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The work in this thesis is divided in three parts. In part one we developed electrodeposition method of Nickel Nanowire in commercial AAO template in constant current (Galvanostatic) mode, further we tried to estimate the growth rate from theory, from saturation magnetization and direct measurement from SEM image.

In part two we focused on using the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) to measure the Ferromagnetic Resonance (FMR))of various magnetic Nanowire arrays. We employed different measurement geometries using microstripline and coplanar waveguide as microwave transmission lines.

In part three our aim was to study the magnetic properties of complex ferromagnetic system, especially …

Rna Compass: Rna Comprehensive Multi-Processor Analysis System For Sequencing, Guorong Xu

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The main theme of this dissertation is to develop a distributed computational pipeline for processing next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. RNA-seq experiments generate hundreds of millions of short reads for each DNA/RNA sample. There are many existing bioinformatics tools developed for the analysis and visualization of this data, but very large studies present computational and organizational challenges that are difficult to overcome manually. We designed a comprehensive pipeline for the analysis of RNA sequencing which leverages many existing tools and parallel computing technology to facilitate the analysis of extremely large studies. RNA CoMPASS provides a web-based graphical user interface and …

Surface Functionalized Water-Dispersible Magnetite Nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization And The Studies Of Their Bioapplications, Haiou Qu

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle synthesis and their surface functionalization hold a crucial position in the design and fabrication of functional materials for a variety of biomedical applications. Non-uniform nanoparticles with poor crystallinity, prepared by conventional methods, have only limited value in biological areas. Large scale synthesis methods that are able to produce high quality, mono-dispersed iron oxide nanoparticles using low cost and environment friendly chemicals are highly desirable. Following synthesis, appropriate surface functionalization is necessary to direct the dispersibility of nanoparticles in aqueous solution in order to provide them with acceptable colloidal stability against the ion strength and many biomolecules …

Birds In Residential Metropolitan New Orleans Neighborhoods And Their Relationships To The Batture And Yard Vegetation, Ruth A. Guymon

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Metropolitan New Orleans Neighborhoods were surveyed in order to determine how bird populations responded to distance from the batture, percent canopy cover, stem counts, and understory vegetation. Surveys were conducted in the spring and summer of 2010. It was found that batture birds, urban birds, and pooled birds all had greater species richness and abundance in the spring in areas with more canopy cover, higher stem counts, more understory vegetation, and distances closer to the batture. In the summer, batture birds had greater richness and abundance in areas with more canopy cover, higher stem counts, and more understory cover. This …

Comparative Phylogeography Of Central African Duikers Using Non-Invasive Sampling Methods, Stephan Ntie

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The present study sets out to assess patterns of evolutionary diversification in central African duikers (subfamily Cephalophinae). The sampling strategy consisted of collecting geo-referenced duiker feces across 43 sites and seven countries. However, several challenges related to the use of non-invasive samples needed to be addressed prior to large scale DNA amplification. First, the best storage method for obtaining DNA from fecal samples needed to be established. Our study revealed that while silica is best for nuclear microsatellite analyses, RNAlater is the best storage medium for maximal mitochondrial amplification. Moreover, extracting DNA as early as possible always provided the …

Widespread Disruptive Selection In The Wild Is Associated With Intense Resource Competition, Ryan A. Martin

Faculty Scholarship

Background: Disruptive selection has been documented in a growing number of natural populations. Yet, its prevalence within individual systems remains unclear. Furthermore, few studies have sought to identify the ecological factors that promote disruptive selection in the wild. To address these issues, we surveyed 15 populations of Mexican spadefoot toad tadpoles, Spea multiplicata, and measured the prevalence of disruptive selection acting on resource-use phenotypes. We also evaluated the relationship between the strength of disruptive selection and the intensity of intraspecific competitionan ecological agent hypothesized to be an important driver of disruptive selection. Results: Disruptive selection was the predominant mode of …

Cellular Automata-Based Parallel Random Number Generators Using Fpgas, David H.K. Hoe, Jonathan M. Comer, Juan C. Cerda, Chris D. Martinez, Mukul V. Shirvaikar

Electrical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cellular computing represents a new paradigm for implementing high-speed massively parallel machines. Cellular automata (CA), which consist of an array of locally connected processing elements, are a basic form of a cellular-based architecture. The use of field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for implementing CA accelerators has shown promising results. This paper investigates the design of CA-based pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) using an FPGA platform. To improve the quality of the random numbers that are generated, the basic CA structure is enhanced in two ways. First, the addition of a superrule to each CA cell is considered. The resulting self-programmable CA …

The Effect Of Urbanization On Ant Abundance And Diversity: A Temporal Examination Of Factors Affecting Biodiversity., Grzegorz A. Buczkowski, Douglas S. Richmond

Department of Entomology Faculty Publications

Numerous studies have examined the effect of urbanization on species richness and most studies implicate urbanization as the major cause of biodiversity loss. However, no study has identified an explicit connection between urbanization and biodiversity loss as the impact of urbanization is typically inferred indirectly by comparing species diversity along urban-rural gradients at a single time point. A different approach is to focus on the temporal rather than the spatial aspect and perform “before and after” studies where species diversity is cataloged over time in the same sites. The current study examined changes in ant abundance and diversity associated with …

Comparative Analysis Of The Genomes Of Two Field Isolates Of The Rice Blast Fungus Magnaporthe Oryzae., Minfeng Xue, Jun Yang, Zhigang Li, Songnian Hu, Nan Yao, Ralph A. Dean, Wensheng Zhao, Mi Shen, Haiwang Zhang, Chao Li, Liyuan Liu, Lei Cao, Xiaowen Xu, Yunfei Xing, Tom Hsiang, Ziding Zhang, Jin-Rong Xu, You-Liang Peng

Department of Botany and Plant Pathology Faculty Publications

Rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most destructive diseases of rice worldwide. The fungal pathogen is notorious for its ability to overcome host resistance. To better understand its genetic variation in nature, we sequenced the genomes of two field isolates, Y34 and P131. In comparison with the previously sequenced laboratory strain 70-15, both field isolates had a similar genome size but slightly more genes. Sequences from the field isolates were used to improve genome assembly and gene prediction of 70-15. Although the overall genome structure is similar, a number of gene families that are likely involved …

Preparation And Characterization Of A Self-Crimp Side-By-Side Bicomponent Electrospun Material, Yang Han

Theses and Dissertations

Bicomponent composite fibers have been widely used in the textile industry and are gaining increasing attention on biomedical applications. In this research, polycaprolactone/poly (lactic acid) side-by-side bicomponent fibers were created for the application of a biodegradable scaffold. The side-by-side structure endowed the fiber with self-crimps when it was processed under certain conditions. This material was produced by electrospinning and collected on a high speed rotating mandrel to get highly oriented fibers. A mechanical stretch at the same direction was done followed by a wet heat treatment for polymer retraction. Crimped fibers were demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. The quantitative porosity …

Municipal Wastewater Disinfection With Electromagnetic Waves Using Escherichia Coli Concentration As Measurement Of Quantification, Lauren M. Cagle

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Wastewater treatment is essential to protecting the environment and human welfare. Although chlorination is widely used, the environmental and health concerns associated with chlorine are growing. Treatment facilities are implementing alternative technologies, though the cost and efficiency associated with these practices leave much room in the wastewater field for innovation.

Hydropath Technologies Limited introduced a piece of equipment that uses the properties of a transformer to pass an alternating electric current through the pipe and into the contents of the channel. Hydroflow claims that the charged microorganisms react with the oppositely charged water molecule to force osmosis and kill the …

The Effect Of Mixing Events On The Dynamics Of Ph1n1 Outbreaks At Small Residential Colleges, Karen Palin, Meredith Greer

All Faculty Scholarship

Objective: The authors examine the dynamics and the impact of all-campus events on pH1N1 spread at Bates College in fall 2009, with comparisons to 3 other campuses. Participants: Students (N = 285) presented or called in to the Bates Health Center with symptoms consistent with influenza-like illness. Methods: Health Center staff at Bates collected data on the outbreak; data from other colleges are from Web sites and journal articles. Data were analyzed using a mathematical model for influenza. Results: Bates held 2 vaccine clinics mid-outbreak. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the vaccine clinics may have altered …

2011-2012 Arkansas Test Results, Reed Greenwood, Gary W. Ritter

Policy Briefs

On Monday, July 30, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) released the 2011-2012 test score results. The following brief will highlight the results of these tests, compare achievement scores over time, and provide a glimpse of regional achievement results for the following exams:  Benchmark Exam (Grades 3-8)  End-of-Course Exam (Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, and Grade 11 Literacy).  Iowa Test of Basic Skills (Grades 1-9)

An Examination Of Maternal Stress, Inflammatory Markers, And Preterm Labor In Pregnant Women, Cecilia Boateng

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Novel Role Of A Cypovirus In Polydnavirus-Parasitoid-Host Relationship, Philip Houtz

Kaleidoscope

No abstract provided.

Childhood Depression And Obesity: Role Of The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (Hpa) Axis Activity, Joanne Tyler

Kaleidoscope

This study examined relations between child depression and eating behavior and weight problems, including the role ofbaseline cortisol and cortisol reactivity in these relations. Data were drawn from a larger study, and included 50 children between the ages of6 and 12. Children reported on their depressive symptoms, and children and parents reported on child engagement in external eating, under-eating, over-eating, parental pressure to eat, enjoyment of food, and food and satiety responsiveness. For children exhibiting hypercortisolism, depression was associated with decreased over-eating and food responsiveness. Hypercortisolism was especially important for girls and children later in pubertal development. The reduced appetite …

Morphological And Genetic Activation Of Microglia After Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury In The Rat, Tuoxin Caou, Amanda M. Lisembee, Kelley D. Hall, James R. Pauly, Jonathan Lifshitz

Kaleidoscope

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors experience long, term post-traumatic morbidities. In diffuse brain injured rats, a chronic sensory sensitivity to whisker stimulation models agitation in brain injury survivors and provides anatomical landmarks across the whisker-barrel circuit to evaluate traumatic neuropathology. As a consequence of TBI, acute and chronic microglial activation can contribute to degenerative and reparative events underlying post-traumatic morbidity. Here, we hypothesize that delayed microglial activation is concomitant with neuroplastic change after diffuse brain injury in the rat, by examining differential microglial activation states and neuroplasticity through gene and protein expression. Adult male, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a …

Medicaid Assistance For Elective Abortions: The Statutory And Constitutional Issues, Zave M. Unger

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.

Sex-Based Discrimination In New York Statutory Law: A Roadmap For Legislative Reform, Therese M. Haberle

St. John's Law Review

No abstract provided.

Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling Of Acetaminophen Metabolism And Toxicity, David M. Ng, Ali Navid

STAR Program Research Presentations

Acetaminophen is a common analgesic and antipyretic. Metabolism of acetaminophen and acetaminophen-induced liver necrosis are predicted using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. Pharmacokinetic means the model determines where the drug is distributed in the body over time. Physiologically-based means the anatomy and physiology of the human body is reflected in the structure and functioning of the model. Acetaminophen is usually safe and effective when taken as recommended, but consumption at higher levels may lead to liver damage. Additionally, other factors such as alcoholic liver disease, smoking, and malnutrition affect the maximum safe dose of acetaminophen.

Improving The Efficiency Of Homologous Gene Replacement By Disrupting Non-Homologous End Joining Pathway Gene Kusa In The Oleaginous Fungus Mortierella Alpina, Kathleen T. Krueger, Ziyu Dai Dr, Ugur Uzuner, Scott E. Baker Dr

STAR Program Research Presentations

Mortierella alpina , a oleaginous filamentous fungus, is one of industrial fungal strains known for the production of arachidonic acid. It is also of particular interest for hydrocarbon biofuel production since it is able to produce up to 50% of its mass in rich, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA’s]. In addition to high fatty acid production, M. alpina like many other oleaginous fungi, already have mechanisms for accumulating significant concentrations of hydrophobic compounds making it a naturally equipped candidate to handle potential toxic concentrations of hydrocarbons. To date, three different transformation methods have been established for M. alpina that are …

A Genetic Survey Of English Sole Populations In The Salish Sea, Elizabeth S. Gutierrez, Gary A. Winans, Jon Baker, Amanda Cope

STAR Program Research Presentations

This summer I interned at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA and participated in NOAA’s Salish Sea Project. The Salish Sea Project’s goal is to identify genetically distinctive groups of species in the Salish Sea that may have unique evolutionary and/or adaptive backgrounds. These findings will allow NOAA to promote and monitor the natural production of species in the Salish Sea, to select representative populations for experimental work regarding pollution, ocean acidification and climate change, to contribute to managing the ecosystem for intra- and inter-species diversity, and to help make informed decisions about adaptive management and marine protected …

Using Stable Isotope Analysis To Study Zooplankton Trophic Ecology In San Francisco Estuary, Steven C. Westbrook, Julien Moderan, Wim Kimmerer

STAR Program Research Presentations

Zooplankton biomasses in estuaries are often high and represent an important food source for fish, like theendangered Delta Smelt. Human interferences (nitrates from crops, freshwater flow alteration, invasive species introduction…) have altered the structure of the San Francisco Estuary (SFE) ecosystem. We use stable isotope analysis to improve our knowledge of the planktonic food web in the SFE and gain insights into its evolution over the past decades. Every living thing has a specific isotopic signature. For example, in the plankton we study exists Carbon 13 and Carbon 12. Carbon 13 is different only because it has one extra neutron, …

Functional Response Of Protected Larval Stage Delta Smelt (Hypomesus Transpacificus), Jorge Ruiz, Lindsay Sullivan, Wim Kimmerer, Joan Lindberg

STAR Program Research Presentations

Delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) is a protected slender-bodied fish endemic to the San Francisco Estuary. Smelt prey upon various zooplankton including the copepods such as Pseudodiaptomus forbesi. This experiment studied the prey maximum feeding rate of 2 larval stages (21 DHP, 35 DPH) of Delta smelt on various concentrations of P. forbesi. The copepod prey was offered at 7 different concentrations (2No./L–120No./L). After feeding was terminated the free prey and ingested prey were counted and analyzed to find the feeding rate of Delta smelt. Maximum feeding rate was found to be at much higher prey densities …

Quantification And In Vitro Analysis Of Nanolipoproteins (Nlps) Containing Adjuvants, Purna Venkataraman, Craig Blanchette, Nicholas O. Fischer

STAR Program Research Presentations

Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) self-assemble into nanoscale structures that can be used as vaccines or drug delivery agents. Due to the nature of the NLPs, a variety of immune stimulating compounds or adjuvants can be readily incorporated into NLPs: a characteristic difficult to engineer into most other nanoscale platforms. In light of this, a method for quantifying the amount adjuvant actually incorporated into NLPs is a question of high importance. Through the use of reverse phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and an Evaporative Light Scattering Detector (ELSD), standard curves can be constructed by analyzing mixtures of NLP components of known concentration, …

Analyzing Environmental Microbes For Genomic Regions Promoting Ionic Liquid Tolerance In E. Coli, Ann Nguyen, Alison Richins, Thomas Rüegg, Steven Singer, Michael Thelen

STAR Program Research Presentations

Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising as solvents to increase the efficiency of biofuel production; however, ILs are toxic to microbes used in the fermentation of liquid fuels. To engineer IL resistant biofuel hosts, environmental bacteria were screened for tolerance, and these were used to create gene libraries to test in E. coli. Future characterization of these libraries using molecular techniques will be used to identify genes that contribute IL-tolerance to transformed microbes.

Screening The Farallon Island Bacterial Collection For Ionic Liquid Tolerance To Create Genomic Libraries, Alison Richins, Ann Nguyen, Thomas Rüegg, Steven Singer, Michael Thelen

STAR Program Research Presentations

To find a gene that confers ionic liquid resistance in bacteria, environmental samples of bacteria were taken from a high salt environment in the FarallonIslands. The bacteria were grown on different media that contained either 1‐Ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride (EMiM‐Cl) or 1‐Ethyl‐3‐ methylimidazolium acetate (EMiM‐Ac) to determine which bacteria should be used to create a genomic library to screen for genes conferring ionic liquid resistance. Bacterial isolates IL 210, IL 15, CX32 AND CX 38 grow on media containing EMiM‐Cl as well as media containing EMiM‐Ac and are recommended for the creation of a gene library.

Molecular Modeling Of Novel Fuel Cell Membranes, Tessa Brown, Ram Devanathan

STAR Program Research Presentations

Fuel cells are clean and efficient energy conversion devices. The fuel cells of interest contain polymer electrolyte membranes (PEMs) that inhibit the conduction of electrons and facilitate the transport of protons. Nafion® is the most widely used membrane for fuel cell applications. However, alternatives are desired because Nafion is expensive, allows significant amounts of methanol crossover, and functions poorly at low humidity or high temperature. An acid-base blend membrane composed of both acidic sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone ketone) (Ph-SPEEKK) and basic polysulfone tethered with 5-amino-benzotriazole (PSf-BTraz) has been show to perform better than traditional acidic PEMs such as Nafion and …

Characterization Of Coke From The Catalytic Pyrolysis Of Biomass, Kristen Ryan, Kristiina Lisa

STAR Program Research Presentations

The conversion of non‐food sources of biomass to liquid transportation fuels could be a viable alternative to non‐renewable petroleum based fuels with high carbon dioxide emissions if the process can become cost effective. One of the problems with the catalytic pyrolysis as a thermochemical pathway to biomass based fuel production is the accumulation of carbonaceous deposits (aka coke) that can completely deactivate catalysts over time. A multiple technique approach was used to analyze four different stages of coke development. Solid samples of coke were analyzed via multiple techniques; elemental, 13C NMR, TGA, and SEM analysis confirmed the presence of two …

Propidium Monoazide Qpcr For Viability Assessment Of Microbes With Species Specificity, Carolyn Laymon, Adrian Ponce, Nicholas Fingland

STAR Program Research Presentations

Currently, there are no portable instruments capable of both pathogen viability assessment and microbial identification. There is an urgent need to distinguish between viable and inactivated microorganisms, as well as assess if they are pathogenic. Propidium monoazide (PMA) is a DNA intercalating dye that is cell membraneimpermeable, thus it only comes in contact with the DNA of dead cells. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplifies specific sequences of DNA allowing for the precise identification of organisms, such as pathogens. Through binding of DNA, PMA strongly inhibits PCR amplification of dead cells, which enables the selective DNA‐based detection of viable pathogens. Therefore, …