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Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Glycoprotein Gm And The Membrane Associated Protein Ul11 Are Required For Virus-Induced Cell Fusion And Efficient Virus Entry, In Joong Kim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

HSV-1 facilitates virus entry into cells and cell-to-cell spread by mediating fusion of the viral envelope with cellular membranes and fusion of adjacent cellular membranes. Although virus strains isolated from herpetic lesions cause limited cell fusion in cell culture, clinical herpetic lesions typically contain large syncytia, underscoring the importance of cell-to-cell fusion in virus spread in infected tissues. Certain mutations in gB, gK, UL20 and other viral genes, drastically enhance virus-induced cell fusion in vitro and in vivo. Recent work has suggested that gB is the sole fusogenic glycoprotein, which is regulated by interactions with viral glycoproteins gD, gH/gL, gK, …

Effects Of Amino Acids And Fatty Acids On Rice Starch Properties: Thermal, Pasting, Resistant Starch And Structural Characterization, Yu Jiang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this study, the effects of fatty acids and amino acids on rice starch were determined in aspects of pasting properties, thermal characteristic, starch digestibility and crystallinity structure. Results from viscosity analysis showed significantly low peak viscosity when rice starch was combined with 1.0% stearic acid and 6% lysine without any pH adjustment; within 0.6%-1.0% of stearic acid and 6% of lysine addition, there was a linear regression relationship between peak viscosity and the level of stearic acid. Similar pasting curves were found in rice starch with 1.0% stearic acid and 6% glutamine, or 6% cysteine, or 6% glycine in …

Aesthetics In The Classroom For Social Justice : How Do The Theories Of John Dewey, Maxine Greene, And Jane Piirto Inform Us?, Valerie Meiners Comeaux

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study asks 1) What is the relationship between art, creativity, and social justice? 2) How do the theories of John Dewey, Maxine Greene, and Jane Piirto inform our understanding of this relationship? 3) What is the role of the arts in contemporary curriculum? To answer these questions, the study chronicled the various roles of art in Western society, from Classical Greece through the present day, before exploring the aesthetic theories of Dewey, Greene, and Piirto. The findings suggest that the absence of an arts-integrated curriculum in most American public schools does not imply the absence of art programs in …

Structural And Synthesis Studies Of The Pro¹⁴³ Region Skp1 In Dictyostelium Discoideum, Chamini V. Karunaratne

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In Skp1 of Dictyostelium discoideum (Dd), Pro143 is located at the N-terminus of an α-helix with four consecutive Glu residues immediately following Pro. Preceeding Pro143 is a segment of random coil. The proline residue undergoes post-translational modifications: hydroxylation and glycosylation. A cytoplasmic prolyl hydroxylase (P4H1) delivers a hydroxyl group to Pro143 and N-acetylglucosamine transferase 1 (Gnt1) transfers GlcNAc from UDP to Hyp143 of Skp1. The installation of the first GlcNAc residue in Skp1 in Dictyostelium is important for the organism to differentiate into a fruiting body to disperse spores. We describe herein some structural and synthesis studies of the Pro143 …

Depositional History Of The Trinity-Tiger Shoals Region : A Transgressed Delta Complex Of The Middle Holocene Mississippi Delta, Clint Hoyt Edrington

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Holocene Mississippi River Delta is arguably the world’s most thoroughly researched deltaic system. However, much of this research has occurred predominantly within the present-day subaerial delta, whereas comparatively little research has been attempted downdip within the offshore, more difficult-to-reach parts. This study advances our understanding of the Holocene delta by examining deltaic sediments within the Trinity-Tiger Shoals Complex region, located ~ 30 – 40 km offshore of central Louisiana. Specifically, this study addresses two questions. Which delta complex prograded into this offshore region? Do the overlying transgressive deposits reflect that predicted by the prevailing transgressive depositional systems model? To …

Time Of Day Preferences And Resource Allocation, Alicia Marie Briganti

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Previous studies have shown that circadian rhythms can have a significant impact on cognitive task performance (Bodenhausen, 1990; May, Hasher, & Stoltzfus, 1993), and that performance is better during participants’ optimal time of day for explicit memory tasks and for tasks where inhibition of responses is required. Researchers have concluded that deficits during one’s non-optimal time of day are due to inefficient inhibition (e.g., May & Hasher, 1998). However, previous studies have not sufficiently addressed possible changes in resource allocation, or the amount of resources that are allocated to the primary task versus the amount of resources used to actively …

Patterns Of Lung Cancer Care And Associated Health Outcomes Among Elderly Medicare Fee For Service Beneficiaries In West Virginia And In The United States, Pramit Amrutlal Nadpara

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The elderly carry a disproportionate burden of lung cancer in the US. Although significant improvements have been made during the past decade in cancer treatment, substantial disparities still exist in guideline-based lung cancer care and outcomes. Such variation in lung cancer care is a cause for major concern in rural areas like West Virginia (WV). The purpose of this study was to do a comprehensive evaluation of variations in lung cancer care and associated health outcomes in the elderly. This retrospective study was conducted using SEER-Medicare and WVCR--Medicare linked data files for the years 2002-2007. As part of the project, …

When The Mouse Meets The Elephant : A Manual For String Bass Players With Application Of The Philosophy And Principles Of The F. M. Alexander Technique, Yun-Chieh Chou

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study was concerned with the use of the Alexander Technique principles in avoiding unwanted muscular tension and maintaining proper use of the body in double bass playing. Of particular importance was how the Alexander Technique could facilitate the fundamentals of double bass playing. The Alexander Technique is a hands-on method which aids the individual in achieving muscular coordination which is free and lively. Applying the principles of the Alexander Technique helps one achieve a harmonious psychophysical state, which results in greater ease, poise, and physical coordination in any activity, even the most demanding of virtuoso works for double bass. …

Identity As A Compass For Understanding Media Choice, Emily Marie Pfetzer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The changes to our socio-technological media environment over the past 30 years have heightened the interest in identity across the social sciences. The spread of networked digital communication technologies and mobile media have increased the urgency for media scholars to better understand how and why individuals consume media as they do. Several media choice scholars have recently started considering how individuals’ identity and self-concept relate to media choice, but have not yet systematically addressed how identity might be related. This dissertation takes the first steps toward advancing an identity-based approach to understanding individual media choice in the 21st century by: …

Effects Of Environmental Conditions On Characteristics Of Prescribed Fires And Resprouting Of Hardwoods In Shortleaf Pine-Oak-Hickory Ecosystems Of The United States, Tracy Lynn Hmielowski

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fire is an essential process for maintaining pine-dominated ecosystems in the southeastern United States. Fire opens space for pine recruitment, consumes fine fuels, stimulates flowering of herbaceous plants, and topkills woody plants. Topkill is the death of the aboveground portion of the plant, which does not necessarily lead to mortality. Most of the woody species in these ecosystems are able to resprout following topkill, sprouting new shoots from meristems at the base of the plant. In the absence of fire, pine-dominated ecosystems transition to closed canopy hardwood forests. Prescribed fires can be applied to mimic the historical fire regime, but …

Studying Mechanisms Of Ionizing Radiation Resistance In Bacteria: Evidence For Multiple Pathways, Kathiresan Selvam

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Our lab created ionizing radiation (IR) resistant populations of E. coli MG1655 through twenty cycles of exposure to IR and outgrowth. To identify the genetic alterations responsible for increased IR tolerance, a total of seven isolates from the evolved final population were re-sequenced. However, the individual isolates sequence analysis revealed wide variety of unique genomic alterations with little overlap between the seven isolates and therefore, did not reveal the clear picture of the mutations responsible for IR resistance. Our current research focused on distinguishing the relevant mutations from the non-relevant mutations that contribute to IR resistance by using two methods: …

Sediment Impact On The Formation Of Hypoxic Waters In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico: A Synthesis Of Sediment Texture, Composition, Erodibility And Transport, Rangley Claude Mickey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Annual hypoxic events have been found to occur over the past several decades in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) and have prompted researchers to begin studying the mechanisms that control hypoxia formation so they may advise policy makers on the appropriate mitigating responses. This has led to the development of 3-dimensional modeling systems that incorporate marine physical, biological, geological, and chemical processes that may impact the formation and duration of hypoxic regimes in the nGOM. This study used field, laboratory, and modeling techniques to examine how sediment may be eroded from the seabed and where/how it is transported across …

Heterogeneous Volumetric Data Mapping And Its Medical Applications, Huanhuan Xu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

With the advance of data acquisition techniques, massive solid geometries are being collected routinely in scientific tasks, these complex and unstructured data need to be effectively correlated for various processing and analysis. Volumetric mapping solves bijective low-distortion correspondence between/among 3D geometric data, and can serve as an important preprocessing step in many tasks in compute-aided design and analysis, industrial manufacturing, medical image analysis, to name a few. This dissertation studied two important volumetric mapping problems: the mapping of heterogeneous volumes (with nonuniform inner structures/layers) and the mapping of sequential dynamic volumes. To effectively handle heterogeneous volumes, first, we studied the …

Evaluation Of Single Electron Transfer Reduction Products Of 3-Oxoindoles As Antibacterial Agents, Debasish Bandyopadhyay, Irani Biswas, Subrata Laskar, Bidyut Basak

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Objective: The objective of the present study is to assess the antibacterial properties of six indole derivatives viz, 3-(Naphth-1-y - methyl) –indole (II), 3-(1-Naphthylcarbonyl – indole (III), 3,3' –diformyl-2,2' –bis indole (IV), 1,4- (3,3' –di indolyl) – 1,4-dioxobutane (V), 3-benzoyl indole (VI) and 1,1 – bis – (3-indolyl)- ethane (VII) synthesized by single electron transfer reduction of 3-formylindole (I) against two Gram +ve and two Gram –ve bacteria which usually cause human infections.

Methods: Synthesis of 3-formyl indole from which the indole derivatives were prepared were further characterized by IR and NMR analysis. The six synthesized compounds were screened for …

Modeling Temporal And Spatial Variations In Dissolved Oxygen In Amite River, Vahid Zahraeifard

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A watershed-based modeling framework is developed in this dissertation for simulating temporal and spatial variations in DO in lowland rivers with organic-rich fine-grained sediment. The modeling framework is based on three major contributions/new models, including (1)VART-DO model for improved estimation of reaeration coefficient (K2) in natural streams, (2)VART-DOS model for simulation of temporal variations in DO in response to sediment resuspension, and (3)VART DO-3L model for simulation of spatial variations in DO. A major advantage of VART-DO model is the capability of simulating DO exchange across the water-sediment interface through the hyporheic exchange mechanism in addition to the air-water exchange. …

Molecular Products From The Thermal Degradation Of Selected Tobacco Components: Lignin, Tyrosine, Glutamic Acid, And Modeling Of Lignin Pyrolysis Using Chemkin Combustion Suite, Joshua Kiprotich Kibet

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study explores the thermal decomposition behavior of selected tobacco components: lignin, tyrosine, and glutamic acid using the system for thermal diagnostic studies (STDS) in an in-line gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analytical technique. The pyrolysis conditions employed in this study were a flowing atmosphere of nitrogen and 4% O2 in nitrogen at a residence time of 0.2 seconds for a total pyrolysis time of 3 minutes. The results identified common relationships between the two modes of reaction atmospheres, as well as some differences. While some products were favored by an inert regime, some were favored under an oxidative regime. Oxidative pyrolysis …

Ecosystem Metabolism In Coastal Plain Streams Of Southeast Louisiana : Environmental And Watershed Effects, Jonathan L. West

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Since its introduction in 1956, the use of open-system, diel dissolved oxygen curves for estimating the components of ecosystem metabolism in the lotic setting have been important in determining the current ecosystem theory of streams, both spatially among multiple systems and longitudinally within the same system, as well as identifying potentially impaired systems, especially when contrasted with streams considered unimpaired. Several factors have been identified as controls on both components of ecosystem metabolism and include light, nutrients, and stable substrates for gross primary production (GPP) and a source of organic matter (OM) for ecosystem respiration (ER). Stream size is important …

Transport And Adsorption-Desorption Of Heavy Metals In Different Soils, Tamer A. Elbana

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding the reactivity and mobility of heavy metals in soils is indispensable for assessing their potential risk to the environment. In this study, column transport and batch kinetic experiments were performed to assess the sorption-desorption and mobility of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Sn in alkaline and acidic soils. Furthermore, sequential extractions were accomplished to examine their behavior in soils. Also, the competitive reactivity of Sn and Pb in two acidic soils was quantified. Additionally, the effect of introducing Cd and Cu after a Pb pulse in calcareous soil was presented. Modeling of these heavy metals retention and transport was carried …

Reef Fish Demographics On Louisiana Artificial Reefs : The Effects Of Reef Size On Biomass Distribution And Foraging Dynamics, Kirsten A. Simonsen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding the role that habitat plays in the life history of reef-associated fishes is particularly significant given the dramatic increase in the number of artificial reefs deployed in coastal ecosystems over the past 50 years. In the Gulf of Mexico, the oil and gas industry has added a significant amount of structure to the Louisiana continental shelf, creating the largest de facto artificial reef deployment area in the world. Noting their usefulness as fish habitat, the Louisiana Artificial Reef Program was established to convert decommissioned platforms into artificial reefs. However, very little quantitative information exists on how these habitats affect …

Permaganometric Determination Of Sumatriptan Succinate In Pure Drug And Pharmaceutical Formulation, K.N. Prashanth, K. Basavaiah, M.S. Riaghu

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Based on the reduction of permanganate by sumatriptan succinate (STS) in acidic medium, two simple, sensitive and cost-effective methods were described for the determination of STS in bulk drug and in formulation. In titrimetry (method A), STS was oxidized by a known excess of potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) in H₂SO₄ medium followed by determination of unreacted permanganate by titration with ferrous ammonium sulphate. In spectrophotometry (method B), STS was treated with a measured excess of permanganate in acid medium and the unreacted oxidant was measured at 545 nm. The molar combining ratio in titrimetry and the optimum assay conditions were studied. …

Antibacterial Activitry Of Crude Extracts From Edible Mushrooms Pleurotus Citrinopileatus And Tricholoma Crassum Berk, Prontep Chomcheon, Bancha Kheawkum, Pornsinee Sriwiset, Suphak Dulsamphan, Chalernkieat Dulsamphan

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

The purpose of this research was to study antibacterial activity of crude extracts derived from the culture broths of two edible mushrooms, Pleurotus citrinopileatus and Tricholoma crassum Berk, cultivated in submerged fermentation. Potato dextrose broth (PDB) and yeast extract sucrose broth (YES) were used as culture media. Each culture filtrate was extracted and evaporated to yield a crude extract. Antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 were determined by paper disc diffusion assay. Crude extract (1 mg) of P. citrinopileatus culturing PDB showed the widest inhibition zones against E. coli ATCC 25922 (34.47 ± 0.50 …

Biological Activities Of Cajanus Cajan Ethanolic Extracts, Ubon Rerk-Am, Bantika Kongsombat, Sinn Tangsatirapakdee, Chuleratana Banchonglikitkul

The Thai Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences

No abstract provided.

Organic Farming In Nazi Germany: The Politics Of Biodynamic Agriculture, 1933-1945, Peter Staudenmaier

History Faculty Research and Publications

The controversy over the nature and extent of official support for organic agriculture in Nazi Germany has generally focused on the minister of agriculture, R. W. Darré, and his putative endorsement of biodynamic farming. By shifting focus from the figure of Darré to other sectors of the Nazi hierarchy, this article reexamines a contested chapter in the environmental history of the Third Reich. Using previously neglected sources, I trace several important bases of institutional support for biodynamic agriculture spanning much of the Nazi period. Both the biodynamic movement and the Nazi Party were internally heterogeneous, with different factions pursuing different …

Suicide And Eating Disorders: The Role Of Religiosity, Spirituality And Religious Coping Style, Natalie Goodwin

All ETDs from UAB

Suicide is a leading cause of death in persons diagnosed with an eating disorder. Religious factors have been demonstrated to be protective against many negative outcomes, including suicidality. Research has demonstrated that religious factors may be important in both the development and treatment of an eating disorder. The present study examines whether religiosity, spirituality, positive and negative religious coping style are protective against suicidal ideation and retrospective report of suicide attempts. The study included 91 mostly White, female participants from a residential treatment center for eating disorders. Participants were diagnosed with either anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) or eating …

The Burden Of Chronic Conditions On Self Reported Health Status In A Medicare Advantage Plan Population, Barbara Ann Guerard

All ETDs from UAB

THE BURDEN OF CHRONIC CONDITIONS ON SELF REPORTED HEALTH STATUS IN A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN POPULATION BARBARA GUERARD ADMINISTRATION-HEALTH SERVICES ABSTRACT This dissertation was a multi-staged research study with two goals. The first goal was to assess survey respondents' characteristics to better understand the influence of the characteristics on the validity of self-reported survey responses. Second, the study analyzed the relationship between certain chronic conditions and survey participants' responses to questions related to their overall physical health and mental health to further understand the burden of chronic conditions on self- reported survey responses. Secondary data derived from a patient satisfaction …

Targeting Ovarian Cancer Through Epigallocatechin Gallate And Sulforaphane Combinational Treatment, Huaping Chen

All ETDs from UAB

The cellular development of resistance to chemotherapy contributes to the high mortality noted in patients affected by ovarian cancer. Novel compounds that can enhance efficacy of conventional chemotherapy or target both drug-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancers directly are highly desired. Previous epidemiological studies indicate that consumption of green tea and cruciferous vegetables is inversely associated with occurrence of ovarian cancer. Therefore, revealing the effects and mechanisms of major components of green tea (epigallocatechin gallate, EGCG) and cruciferous vegetables (sulforaphane, SFN) on ovarian cancer cells will provide necessary knowledge for developing potential novel treatments for the disease. Since drug resistance generation …

Blood Pressure Control And Perceived Stress, Job Satisfaction, Life Satisfaction, And Perceived Health Status In Municipal Workers, Debra D. Baldwin

All ETDs from UAB

Although hypertension is highly prevalent, associated with serious health consequences and treatable, fewer than half of those with hypertension have achieved blood pressure control (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011b). Limited studies have examined the influence of perceived stress, job satisfaction, life satisfaction, and perceived health status may have on blood pressure control, although epidemiological evidence reveals psychological factors can mediate and negatively influence health behavior leading to hypertension (Blanchflower & Oswald, 2008; Kulkarni, Farrel, Erasi, & Kochar, 1998; Walcott-McQuigg, 2000). The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence of hypertension, obesity, and blood pressure control …

The Molecular Basis Of Male Sex Determination During Temperature-Dependent Sex Determination, Kayla Bieser

All ETDs from UAB

The red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta) possesses temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD) in which the incubation temperature of the developing embryo determines gonadal sex. Although a number of mammalian gene homologues have been identified in the sex determination/differentiation cascade of reptiles with TSD, the exact trigger(s) is not well understood. As such, this dissertation research addresses the mRNA expression profiles of putative sex-determining/differentiation genes (Dmrt1, Sox9, Amh, Lhx9, and Foxl2) with an emphasis on the male cascade in embryonic gonads of T. scripta. Additionally, this research addresses the influence of exogenous estrogen and aromatase inhibitors on gene expression. Lastly, this dissertation …

The Role Of Il-21 And Il-17 In Regulating Follicular T Helper Cells In Germinal Center Response Of Autoimmunity, Yanna Ding

All ETDs from UAB

Overreactivity of the germinal center (GC) is a central feature of autoantibody-mediated autoimmune diseases. Follicular T helper (Tfh) cells are the primary T helper subset that migrates to the incipient GC and forms close contacts with GC-B cells to promote GC formation and help GC-B cell differentiation, resulting in high-affinity antibody production. Increased levels of interleukin (IL)-21 and aberrant accumulation or function of Tfh cells have been associated with autoimmune disease severity in humans and lupus-prone mice. Follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells are the regulatory T cell subset that also localizes in the GC and inhibits GC B cell differentiation. …

The Evolution And Phylogeography Of A Glade-Restricted Species Of Prairie Clover (Dalea Cahaba J. Allison) From Bibb County, Alabama: A Molecular Approach, James Diggs

All ETDs from UAB

The Cahaba prairie clover (Dalea cahaba) is one of eight species endemic to the dolomitic glades of Bibb County, Alabama. The evolutionary history of this species is currently unknown. This study tests the hypothesis that the species is a result of adaptive radiation from a widespread congener. The phylogenetic histories of several eastern species of Dalea are reconstructed using two genes that have previously been informative in plant molecular systematic studies: the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the matK gene. Morphological similarities between D. cahaba and a Texas-endemic species, D. tenuis, have prompted questions of whether similar traits imply common …