Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating Species And Population Level Foraging Variation And Individual Specialization In Pygoscelis Penguins Using Stable Isotope Analysis, Rachael W. Herman

LSU Master's Theses

Gentoo Penguins (Pygoscelis papua) are known to be generalist foragers, while Adélie (P. adeliae) and Chinstrap (P. Antarctica) tend to specialize on krill within the Western Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, particularly during the breeding season. However, little is known on temporal consistency in diet and foraging habitat of these species, particularly at the individual level. We used stable isotope analysis (SIA) of blood and feathers to evaluate seasonal and individual foraging consistency within Adélie, Chinstrap and Gentoo Penguins breeding in the South Shetland Islands, as well as among three Gentoo Penguins’ populations in the Western Antarctic Peninsula and …

The Photodegradation Of 2,6-Dichloro-4-Nitroaniline (Dcna) In Freshwater And Saltwater, Emily Noelle Vebrosky

LSU Master's Theses

The fungicide 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline (DCNA) is applied to crops grown in areas near both freshwater and saltwater bodies and it can enter the surface waters where it is susceptible to photolysis; limited information is published on the photodegradation of DCNA. It has been shown that the salinity of seawater can influence both the overall rate of degradation of chemicals and impact the distribution and types of photoproducts generated during the photodegradation processes of a pesticide. The photodegradation of DCNA was measured in distilled water, artificial seawater, estuarine water, and phosphate buffer to determine the degree of differences in the degradation rate …

Fishes Associated With Oil And Gas Platforms In Louisiana's River-Influenced Nearshore Waters, Ryan Thomas Munnelly

LSU Master's Theses

A distinctive feature of coastal Louisiana is the unrivaled network of oil and gas installations (platforms) extending from inshore waters to the deep Gulf of Mexico. Since 2007 there has been a 38% reduction in platform numbers with the highest removal rates occurring in shallow (< 18 m) nearshore waters. Many fishes and invertebrates are attracted to platforms, presenting a unique opportunity to study detailed species-specific responses to the river-influenced hydrographic characteristics of Louisiana’s nearshore zone (5–25 km water depth). Prior studies of fishes around platforms focused on a few relatively large platforms in water depths ≥ 18 m. However, about one-third of all platforms are small, unmanned and non-drilling platforms located in waters < 18 m depth. Paired video and hydrographic data were collected at 150 small platforms in < 18 m water depth during the summers of 2013–2014. Fifty-four species of fishes were associated with small platforms. The assemblage(s) included juveniles of 29 species, indicating the importance of nearshore platforms as diverse nursery habitat. The coastal zone was divided into three regions based on broad-scale interactions between freshwater input and bathymetry driving major distinctions in interregional hydrography and fish assemblages. Co-occurring within this expansive artificial reef network is the second largest hypoxic area (dissolved oxygen (DO) < 2.0 mg l−1) on Earth. Platforms offer reef-like habitat features in the upper water column that may offer refugia for some reef-associated species during hypoxic events. Significant intraregional differences in physicochemical features were related to the presence of hypoxia (defined as DO < 50% saturation), as well as the distribution of sandy shoals. Eleven species accounted for most of the assemblage dissimilarities, composing ~93% of fishes observed. Habitat suitability indices for these 11 species provided information about habitat selection across horizontal and vertical physicochemical gradients throughout the coastal zone, and within hypoxic and well-oxygenated stratified water columns. East Bay, near the outlet of the Mississippi River, exhibited less hypoxia and a distinct fauna that included four adult goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara). This endangered fish was observed during spawning season (summer), suggesting that East Bay might support a spawning aggregation.

Influences On The Successful Implementation Of The Convention On Wetlands Of International Importance (Ramsar) Among Member Countries, Aziza Saud Al Adhoobi

LSU Master's Theses

Wetlands are very dynamic ecosystems and are featured all over the world’s landscape. Recent studies suggested that wetlands are in continuous decline, both and quantity and quality and between 64-71% is the estimated global wetland loss in the 20th century (Davidson 2014; Gardner et al., 2015). Therefore, as wetland loss increases around the world, more effort to protect and restore wetland habitat, values, and services become crucial. For this reason, the Ramsar Convention was established four decades ago to highlight the severity of wetland loss and to produce guidelines that aim to guide Contracting Parties toward sustainable and efficient management …

Biomass Catalytic Upconversion With A Metallic Catalyst Bed Under Radio Frequency Induction Heating, Mohammad Abu-Laban

LSU Master's Theses

This study investigated the thermal performances of platinum particles when coupled on a steel support, under the application of a radio frequency (RF) field. Platinum nanoparticles were reduced on the surfaces of type-316 stainless steel balls, based on published methods of Pt reduction from chloroplatinic acid. Alternatively, 1wt. % Pt/Al2O3 commercial catalyst pellets were mixed with stainless steel balls and investigated for hydro-deoxygenation of pyrolysis oil from pine sawdust biomass. The catalysts were placed inside an electric insulator tube suspended within a looping copper coil connected to the induction heater, and heated at different power levels. An infrared camera was …

Interplay Between Her2, Parp1, And Nf-Κb In Breast Cancer: Potential Therapeutic Implications, Monicka Ewa Wielgos

All ETDs from UAB

We previously reported that HER2+ breast cancers are susceptible to Poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) alone, agents that are efficacious against homologous recombination (HR) deficient tumors. However, this phenomenon was determined to be independent of a HR repair deficiency but rather due to suppression of NF-κB activity and signaling by PARP inhibition. Further, HER2 overexpression itself was necessary and sufficient to confer this susceptibility. Interestingly, PARP1 and phosphorylated RelA/p65 (NF-κB) levels were found to be elevated in human HER2+ breast cancers compared to luminal breast cancers. These data suggest a possible interplay between HER2, PARP1, and NF-κB, and how this …

The Role Of Glutamate In Immune Cell Infiltration And Excitotoxic Mechanisms In Autoimmune Demyelination, Kirsten Scarlett Evonuk

All ETDs from UAB

Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological disorder in young adults. Current treatments modulate the immune system, but no treatments prevent central nervous system damage. Inflammation occurs even during disease remission, contributing to ongoing damage and resulting in disease progression. The lack of neuroprotective treatments despite continued inflammatory onslaught in the central nervous system indicates the need for therapeutic discovery in this area. One potential therapeutic target is glutamate, whose dysregulation in multiple sclerosis has been implicated in excitotoxic cellular death. Herein we describe the roles of glutamate in multiple sclerosis and explore the blockade of a source of excitotoxic …

Epigenetic Dysregulation In Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia, David Anthony Figge

All ETDs from UAB

Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is a persistent behavioral sensitization that develops after repeated levodopa (L-DOPA) exposure in Parkinson disease (PD) patients. LID is characterized by a “priming effect”, whereby initial administrations of L-DOPA trigger a sensitized biochemical and transcriptional response upon subsequent administrations of L-DOPA. In neurons, transcriptional regulation through dynamic changes to epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone acetylation, have been shown pivotal to many long-term behavioral modifications; however, their role in LID has been minimally explored. Using a rodent model, we show LID development leads to the aberrant expression of DNA demethylating enzymes and locus-specific changes to DNA …

Differential Effects Of Short-Term Morphine Treatment On Brain Volumes Of Men And Women With Low Back Pain, Kelsey Campbell

All ETDs from UAB

Objective: Long- and short-term opioid use is associated with morphological changes in the human brain. Opioids have analgesic and adverse effects, including addiction, that differently impact men and women. The current study aimed to investigate whether differences exist between men and women in gray matter volume changes after acute morphine treatment for chronic low back pain. Methods: This study analyzed data from 27 chronic low back pain patients (17 men, 10 women) who were treated with oral morphine over a period of 30 days. High-resolution structural images were acquired immediately before and after morphine treatment. Images were compared using voxel …

Microfluidic Device For Motility And Osmolality Analysis Of Zebrafish Sperm, Jacob Ethan Beckham

LSU Master's Theses

An increasing number of laboratories are evaluating sample quality via motility analysis by means of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) after sperm activation by manual dilution and mixing. Even with the use of CASA, due to user variation, there is a lack of control over the activation process, resulting in inconsistent motility analysis. Low sample volume (~1-2µL), and a short motility duration (burst motility of less than 15s) add to the complexity of these difficulties. The objectives of this study were to develop a microfluidic device with the capabilities to (1) standardize the method of activation for zebrafish sperm so that …

Determining Seasonal Emergence, Growth Characteristics, And Control Programs For Henbit (Lamium Amplexicaule L.), Brandi C. Woolam

LSU Master's Theses

To provide for a weed-free seedbed, Louisiana crop producers typically apply a burndown herbicide four to six wk prior to seeding summer annual crops; however, these treatments often provide inadequate henbit (Lamium amplexicaule L.) control. Research was conducted in Louisiana to evaluate henbit emergence from north to south, compare growth of henbit accessions based on emergence date, and control with fall-applied residual herbicides. For the emergence study during the weeks of Oct 17 to Dec 12 at all locations in all years, soil temperatures at 2.5 cm averaged between 10 and 18.5 C. Henbit at densities of at least 50 …

The Role Of Nadph Oxidase 2 (Nox2) In High-Fat Diet-Induced Adiposopathy And Brain Dysfunction In A Mouse Model, Jennifer Kathleen Pepping

LSU Master's Theses

Obesity can have numerous detrimental consequences, namely metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease. The pathogenesis and physiologic consequences of obesity are unknown, but they are often associated with increased inflammation and oxidative stress in both the body and in the brain. One factor that has been implicated in causing inflammation associated with a high fat diet is the enzyme NADPH oxidase, or NOX, specifically the subunit NOX2. Two studies were performed in order to assess the effects of a high fat diet in combination with a universal NOX2 deficiency and a NOX2 deficiency targeted to …

Effect Of Increasing Levels Of Dietary Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), And Copper (Cu) From Organic And Inorganic Sources On Egg Quality And Egg Zn, Mn, And Cu Content In Laying Hens, Nancy Katherine Rubio Zapata

LSU Master's Theses

Feeding laying hens or broiler breeder hens organic sources of trace minerals can improve egg quality, especially as related to shell quality. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of increasing laying hen dietary zinc (Zn) levels on the content of Zn and other minerals in eggs (boron (Bo), iron (Fe), and calcium (Ca)), and to evaluate the effect of feeding increasing Zn, manganese (Mn) and copper (Cu) levels from inorganic (ITM) and organic (OTM) sources on egg quality and yolk content of Zn, Mn, and Cu. In the first experiment, a total of 64 (48 weeks …

Cockroaches (Blattodea) Of Southern Louisiana: Morphology, Diversity, And Life Histories, Forest Brady Huval

LSU Master's Theses

The state of Louisiana has both temperate and subtropical climates and includes six ecoregions. Two ecoregions in south-central Louisiana were surveyed for members of the order Blattodea to better describe the diversity, life histories, and taxonomy of adult and nymphal cockroaches. Blattodea, excluding the newly included epifamily Termitoidae, is an understudied order of insects in spite of the importance species that are infamous peridomestic pest. The order Blattodea currently contains 9 families comprising of 460 genera. There are approximately 7570 described species 4641 of which are cockroaches and 2929 are termites. Complete information on life histories lacks for the majority …

The Effect Of Artificial Light On The Community Structure And Distribution Of Reef-Associated Fishes At Oil And Gas Platforms In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Victoria Anne Barker

LSU Master's Theses

The northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) contains approximately 2,500 oil and gas platforms, resulting in one of the largest de facto artificial reef systems in the world. As of 2013, 1,227 additional structures had ceased to produce oil and gas and have been decommissioned and removed. While active platforms are lit by high-pressure mercury vapor lights, inactive platforms are only minimally lit for navigation. The positively phototaxic behavior of many fish species causes lit oil platforms to act as fish attraction devices, especially at night. Though a variety of fish species have been reported near these structures, changes in fish …

Individuals With Dementia In Respite Care: Longitudinal Changes In Anxiety, Social Engagement, And Problem Behaviors, Rachael Elizabeth Mills

LSU Master's Theses

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia commonly referred to as persons with dementia (PWD), often experience behavioral and psychological symptoms as a result of the disease process. With no cure for AD and no way to prevent the onset of this disease, studies are analyzing methods to manage the symptoms of this disease. Previous literature on the effect of social adult day models is limited, especially pertaining to particular symptoms linked to this disease. This study explored three presenting symptoms associated with AD: anxiety, problem behaviors, and social engagement. Using a secondary data analysis, a sample of 30 participants …

Efficacy And Feasibility Of Alginate Bait For The Louisiana Commercial Blue Crab (Callinectes Sapidus) Fishery, Elizabeth Lorraine Clowes

LSU Master's Theses

Louisiana leads all U.S. states in blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) landings, but high fuel and bait costs have hindered commercial fishing productivity of Louisiana in recent years. The primary baitfish, Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus), has steadily increased in price and decreased in availability, while crab prices remain low. To reduce costs for fishermen, an alternative bait was developed that incorporates shrimp waste into a semi-rigid alginate matrix. Lab testing and preliminary field tests show that shrimp-alginate bait may be a suitable alternative to menhaden for Louisiana crab fishermen. I evaluated bait performance by conducting field sampling to compare catch rates …

Relative Resistance To Breaking Of Pinus Taeda L. And Pinus Palustris, Cory Glenn Garms

LSU Master's Theses

Patterns from hurricane damage give an indication that longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) is more windfirm than loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Tree windfirmess has been attributed to many factors including species and material properties like wood strength and stiffness. Because longleaf pine wood is stronger and stiffer than loblolly pine wood, this study used static winching methodology to see if these properties account for differences in windfirmness by measuring bending force required to break stems (MMAX). Stress-strain diagrams were constructed for pulled trees to explore how they behave under increasing loads. Based on these diagrams, it appears that living trees can …

Evaluation Of Alkaline- And Fungal-Assisted Wet Storage Of Energycane Bagasse, Jing Cao

LSU Master's Theses

Lignocellulosic biomass is a promising renewable resource for the production of biofuels and biochemicals. Energycane is considered a lignocellulosic biomass characterized by its high fiber content and cold tolerance. It can be planted on marginal land and does not need to compete with the food supply. Wet storage in combination with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) or white-rot fungi was applied to energycane bagasse to preserve the lignocellulosic polymeric sugars (cellulose and hemicellulose) during short-term storage (60 days) and to make them accessible for conversion into biofuels and biochemicals. Alkaline-assisted wet storage was successful in preserving the biomass by minimizing microbial degradation, …

Metric Variation In The Human Sacrum: Costal Process Length Among Black And White South Africans, Christy Rose Wayne

LSU Master's Theses

Considerable attention has been given to the measureable differences that exist between different human populations in the size and shape of the pelvis, with Africans having a narrower pelvis than Europeans. By collecting data on sacral breadth from a South African skeletal population, this study (1) tests the hypothesis that African blacks possess a narrower sacrum, and by inference pelvis, than whites and (2) considers whether the size variation between blacks and whites is due to nutritional, historical and social differences, to a genetic basis related to climatic adaptation, or to both. White South Africans were found to possess a …

Reactivity Of Iron-Sulfur Proteins With Nitric Oxide, Md Julkernine Julfiker

LSU Master's Theses

Iron-sulfur ([Fe-S]) proteins are widely distributed in the biological systems. These proteins are involved in diverse fundamental life processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, ribosome biogenesis, DNA synthesis, and repair. Dysfunction of these proteins or their biogenesis has been implicated in causing cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and various cancers. Iron-sulfur proteins are highly sensitive to nitric oxide (NO) and readily form dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs) upon exposure. Restoration of the iron-sulfur cluster in the NO-modified protein requires a two-step repair process. The first step is to remove DNICs from proteins. The second step is to re-assemble the iron-sulfur cluster in proteins. …

Interrelationships Among Physical Health, Health Risk Factors, Psychosocial Characteristics, And Social Support In Individuals With Major Depressive Disorder Receiving Integrated Care In Community Mental Health Settings, Blaine Stewart Masinter

LSU Master's Theses

Integrated primary and behavioral health care (PBHC) programs in community mental health (CMH) settings is a topic of burgeoning interest in the current literature. These settings aim to counter the health discrepancies and inordinate mortality of persons with serious mental illness (SMI) and comorbid medical conditions. Within the SMI population, the most prevalent diagnosis is Major Depression (MDD). MDD has been well studied in the literature and has been associated with increased rates of physical health conditions. Research has correlated higher levels of social support to lower levels of psychological distress and increased physical health. This cross-sectional, descriptive study examines …

Atp6v1c1 Enhances Breast Cancer Growth By Activating V-Atpase Mediated Mtorc1 Signaling And Metastasis By Increasing V-Atpase Activity In Cancer Cells, Matthew J. Mcconnell

All ETDs from UAB

It is known that the vacuolar ATPase has a number of functions related to tumor growth and progression such as involvement in drug resistance, pH regulation, autophagy, and lysosomal acid protease activation, as well as invasion and metastasis. Here we specifically describe the role of ATP6v1c1 in murine and human models of breast cancer. ATP6v1c1 is the dominant isoform of the coordinating subunit (ATP6v1c) involved in the assembly of the vacuolar ATPase complex which plays a key role in cancer growth and progression. We also describe how ATP6v1c1 knockdown impairs tumor nutrient signaling through mTORC1 and tumor cell proliferation, by …

A Moving Imagination In Spaces Of Distress: Teacher And Student Agency In A Science Classroom, Annie Sunshine Adamian

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the ways in which our classroom community (students and teacher) engaged with humanizing pedagogy in a seventh grade science classroom, toward the full development (e.g. personal, social, emotional, academic) of our classroom community, and the dismantling of inequitable practices and unjust policies that we recognized in our science classroom, school and/or community while utilizing the process of teacher and student participatory action research (tsPAR) (Adamian, 2015) and Critical Race Praxis for Educational Research (CRP-Ed) (Jayakumar & Adamian, 2015).

This study examined the complexities of mutually engaging across differing positionalities while intentionally working in spaces of distress …

An Investigation Of Multimedia Instruction, The Modality Principle, And Reading Comprehension In Fourth-Grade Classrooms, Laura Angela Sandoval

Doctoral Dissertations

Elementary-school teachers are faced with the responsibility of finding the most effective ways to educate their students using multimedia approaches. The use of instruction with visuals and audio has resulted in positive learning outcomes on retention and transfer tasks for junior-high and high-school students. This approach that results in the modality principle has been tested less frequently in elementary-aged students.

The purpose of this study was to examine two different multimedia instructional approaches to investigate which condition offers beneficial learning outcomes through recall and transfer assessments during a lesson on different types of energy in fourth-grade classrooms using a Powerpoint® …

Measurement Of Non-Covalent Aromatic Interactions Using Molecular Balances, Jung Wun Hwang

Theses and Dissertations

Non-covalent aromatic interactions govern many of the unique structures and properties of biological and synthetic molecules. Despite the importance of these interactions, their weak nature makes it challenging to study the interactions. To accurately measure weak non-covalent aromatic interactions in solution, we have designed molecular torsion balances that provide a quantitative measure of non-covalent intramolecular interaction strengths. First, we investigated the importance of electrostatic interactions in aromatic interactions. Substituent effects were strongly correlated with electrostatic Hammett parameters. In addition, the substituent effects were additive and showed significant direct substituent-arene interactions that support the recent direct substituent effect model. Next, the …

Fabrication Of Electrospun Tio2/Polymer Composite Nanofibers For Photocatalysis And Degradation Of Toxins, Danielle L. Mccarthy

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Our society has made significant advancements in technology as it continues to grow in size which in turn has led to an accumulating amount of toxic threats. Some types of harmful pollution our society is currently facing include industrial waste such as organic dyes, pharmaceutical pollution and chemical warfare agents (CWAs). To date the nerve agent, O-ethyl S-[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonothioate), also known as VX, is the world’s most lethal chemical substance. Some of these deadly nerve agents have been employed in various conflict and terrorist attacks. Currently available CWA degradation techniques include incineration and water hydrolysis followed by biotreatment …

Leadership Preparation Programs And Social Justice, Lessons Learned From A Graduate School Of Education, Jason Robert Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the influence of a graduate school of education on adult learning to determine if transformative learning has taken place. This qualitative study analyzed the stories and experiences of six graduate students to determine if there had been transformative learning and if transformative learning had influenced leadership behaviors that promote social justice in schools. A steady demographic shift over the years has resulted in schools with a higher percentage of minority and poor students. Many of these students are in marginalized in schools. In these marginalized schools, social justice reforms are necessary to address the needs of all …

Modeling Radionuclide Diffusion Using Moose A Multiscale, Multiphysics Platform, Jonathon Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

Very durable ceramic waste forms have been proposed which offer longterm stability by binding certain radionuclides in their specific crystalline network. Moreover, multiple such ceramic phases can be tailored to contain specific radionuclides generated in the fuel cycle. Many such candidate ceramic forms are in the early stages of development with limited data. Modeling and simulation including modeling of diffusion can inform and provide direction to ongoing fabrication and experimental efforts. Material properties important in modeling can be obtained through laboratory measurement where available and atomistic simulation. Since diffusion occurs over multiple scales and follows multiple pathways, multiscale modeling is …

Establishing An Anthropogenic Nitrogen Baseline Using Native American Shell Middens, Autumn Oczkowski, Thomas Gumbley, Bobbi Carter, Ruth Carmichael, Austin T. Humphries

Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Sciences Faculty Publications

Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, has been heavily influenced by anthropogenic nutrients for more than 200 years. Recent efforts to improve water quality have cut sewage nitrogen (N) loads to this point source estuary by more than half. Given that the bay has been heavily fertilized for longer than monitoring programs have been in place, we sought additional insight into how N dynamics in the system have historically changed. To do this, we measured the N stable isotope (δ¹⁵N) values in clam shells from as early as 3000 BP to the present. Samples from Native American middens were compared …