Digital Commons Network^™

Role Of Varietal Resistance In Managing The Rice Water Weevil, A Major Insect Pest Of Louisiana Rice, Maisarah Mohamad Saad

LSU Master's Theses

Resistance of several commercial rice varieties widely grown in Louisiana was assessed against the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel), the major insect pest of rice in the United States. A five-year field study was conducted to identify resistant genotypes among conventional inbred, herbicide tolerant, conventional hybrid, and herbicide tolerant hybrid varieties. Resistance was evaluated in two different locations to enable selection of rice varieties with wide adaptability over diverse environments. There were no large differences in the resistance found amongst commercial rice varieties over the five-year field study. Jefferson was frequently found to support lower larval densities than other …

Comparison Of Two Near-Isogenic Lines Of Bell Pepper (Capsicum Annuum): One Endornavirus-Infected And The Other Endornavirus-Free, Cesar Escalante Guardado

LSU Master's Theses

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) is an economically important food crop cultivated worldwide. So far, all tested commercial cultivars have been shown to be infected with Bell pepper endornavirus (BPEV). Although BPEV does not cause apparent disease, the effect of this virus on bell pepper has not been investigated. A comparative study that included plant phenotype and some physiological characteristics was conducted with two near-isogenic lines (NIL) of the bell pepper cv. Marengo: one infected with BPEV and the other BPEV-free. The interaction of BPEV with a disease-causing virus of pepper, Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), was also investigated. Differences in …

The Ontological Nature Of Theology: On Heidegger's "Phenomenology And Theology", Casey Garrett Spinks

LSU Master's Theses

Following his newfound celebrity upon publication of Being and Time, Martin Heidegger delivered a lecture in 1927 and 1928, titled “Phenomenology and Theology,” where he discussed how his recent groundbreaking work in existential phenomenology relates to Christian theology. Far from offering his philosophy as a method for theology, he instead attempted to utterly separate the two, setting the former as fundamental ontology and the latter as a positive science more akin to history, with the Christian faith as its positive object of study. The lecture was left unpublished until 1969, when Heidegger added an appendix, a piece exemplary of the …

Optimization Of The Extraction Of Procyanidin B-2 Rich Extract From Unfermented Cocoa Using Response Surface Methodology And Interaction Of Procyanidin B-2 Rich Cocoa Extract With Collagenase And Elastase As Biomarkers Of Skin Aging, Marco Eduardo Toc Sagra

LSU Master's Theses

Skin ageing is a natural process accelerated by environmental exposure that generate reactive oxygen species and activates enzymes that degrade the integrity of the dermis. Cocoa powder (Theobroma cacao) is a good source of polyphenols, particularly procyanidins and flavan-3-ols, with potential enzyme inhibitory activities. In this study we determined whether cocoa extraction standardized to its procyanidin B-2 content has a potential application as anti-ageing bioactive compound. Oil-bath-assisted extraction (OBAE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) were optimized for procyanidin B-2 rich extract using response surface methodology and water as solvent. Methanol (70% in water) extraction was the control to which other extraction …

Sociodemographic, Health, Health-Related, Health Risk, Psychosocial, And Treatment-Related Characteristics Associated With Retention Among Community Mental Health Clients In An Integrated Health Program, Katherine Anne Thomas

LSU Master's Theses

Individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) have higher rates cardiometabolic conditions than the general population, which put them at increased risk for early mortality. Treatment retention is especially important as it may prevent worsening of mental and physical health symptoms and lower such risks. Models of integrated primary and behavioral health care (PBHC) are promising for treating co-morbid mental and physical health conditions common to individuals with SMI. Previous research identified that individuals with SMI drop out of care at higher rates than other individuals with mental illness. Past studies on treatment retention with this population have been qualitative and …

Composting The Garden: Hybrid Geographies Of Baton Rouge Urban Gardens, Lauren Hull

LSU Master's Theses

Home gardens are intimate spaces of interaction between humans and the natural world. This study examines how relations and practices within gardens both perpetuate and disrupt perspectives on human separateness from nature. Nine Baton Rouge gardeners participated in this study, sharing stories about their lives and garden through interviews and garden walk-throughs. By adopting more-than-human social theory, this study explores these stories to answer three questions: (1) What types of relationships are found between garden inhabitants in Baton Rouge? (2) How do these relationships influence garden practices? And (3) How do relationships and practices create hybrid garden spaces? Garden inhabitants …

Accumulation And Dynamics Of Petrogenic Pahs On Leaves Of Black Mangrove (Avicennia Germinans), Matthew Decell

LSU Master's Theses

Crude oil from Deepwater Horizon Macondo oil spill is currently present in Louisiana coastal surface sediments and its effects on the coastal ecosystem are still being realized. Deposition of 2- and 3-ring PAHs (alkylated naphthalenes and phenanthrenes) on the exterior of Spartina alterniflora and Avicennia germinans leaves have been demonstrated in marshes impacted by Macondo spill. Whether these deposition events result from contaminated tidal water or volatilization followed by deposition onto the leaf surface has not been conclusively established. Measurements of PAH deposition on the leaf surface of black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) can provide important evidence of the mechanism of …

Fitness Costs And Inheritance Of Bt Cry2ab2 Resistance In Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J.E. Smith), Binod Acharya

LSU Master's Theses

Evolution of resistance in target pest populations is a major threat to the sustainability of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins. Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a cross-crop target pest of Bt corn, Bt cotton, and Bt soybean. This pest, thus far, is the only target pest species that has developed field resistance to Bt crops in multiple areas across countries. Cry2Ab2 is a common Bt protein expressed in transgenic corn and cotton targeting lepidopteran pests including S. frugiperda. The objective of this study was to characterize fitness costs and inheritance of Cry2Ab2 resistance in S. frugiperda. …

Interrelationships Among Medication Types And Health Characteristics In Individuals With Bipolar Disorder Receiving Integrated Health Services, Laura Pier Valle

LSU Master's Theses

Integrated primary and behavioral healthcare (PBHC) programs are a recent development in the field of mental health. The purpose of these programs is to combat the sizeable health discrepancies among persons with serious mental illness (SMI), who suffer from more comorbidities and lower life expectancy than the general population. Bipolar disorder (BPD) is a common SMI diagnosis that is associated with a substantial health burden. Research has shown that Bipolar disorder (BPD) responds well to medication, but clients with BPD often struggle with adherence to a medication regimen. Side effects and other health-related factors are often cited by clients as …

The Effectiveness Of Isco Injection Methods For Remediation Of Groundwater, Matthew Ryan Vidrine

LSU Master's Theses

In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) injections were performed at Petro Stopping Centers # 10 (Petro) in December 2013 and June 2015. The methodology was direct injection of a heavy oxidizer, RegenOx®, followed by a time-release oxygen compound, ORC Advanced®, into a plume of gasoline sitting on top of the water in the aquifer in hope that this remediate the aquifer. Both chemicals are registered trademarks of the Regenesis® Company. The levels of contaminates have dropped considerably. However, Petro has not achieved closure criteria according to RECAP standards. The site is classified as a GW-1B, subject to the most stringent of remediation …

On-Site Sperm Cryopreservation For Aquatic Repository Development And User Group Linkage, William Martin Childress

LSU Master's Theses

Although on-site cryopreservation of aquatic species sperm in nitrogen-vapor shipping dewars has been used for more than 30 yr, many limitations remain. Due to the size of shipping dewars, most studies are small scale and can only produce tens of samples. The freezing temperatures that can be achieved are also affected by the size of the dewar and the number of samples being frozen due to the heat load. In addition, often due to timing or remote location these samples cannot be shipped, and if they are shipped, quality can be lost and the samples must be discarded. The goal …

In Search Of Lost Selves: Memory And Subjectivity In Transnational Art Cinema, Anders J. Bergstrom

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation begins from the position that cinema’s ongoing persistence as a specific operation of subjective perception is intimately related to the questions of self and memory it raises. Even as digitization and global capitalism have ostensibly led to the creation of a “post-cinematic” culture, cinematic forms and practices remain inextricably related to the larger (often unacknowledged) metaphysical concerns of the cultures and social contexts in which they continue to signify. These concerns—which include beliefs in perceptual realism, the relations between images and the past, and notions of selfhood—shape both the production and consumption of cinema as a tool which …

Size And Shape Control In Metal Nanoparticles And Nanocomposites, Tomendro Subedi

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis describes major findings on the shape transformation of the precursor silver decahedral nanoparticles (AgDeNPs) with pentagonal symmetry and twin defects into silver pentagonal prism nanoparticles (AgPPNPs) using Br¯ as a shape selective reagent. Silica-encapsulation of the gold-plated AgDeNPs was also carried out forming ordered arrays of silica encapsulated gold-plated AgDeNPs (SiO₂@Au@AgDeNPs) of different sizes. At first, synthetic procedures for AgDeNPs (pentagonal bipyramids), silver pentagonal rod nanoparticles (AgPRNPs) and gold-plating of AgDeNPs (Au@AgDeNPs) were optimized. Gold plating enhances the chemical stability of AgDeNPs and preserves the superior plasmonic properties of silver. This thesis deals with the transformation …

Exclusion From Rights Through Extra-Territoriality At Home: The Case Of Paris Roissy-Charles De Gaulle Airport's Waiting Zone, Pauline Gj Maillet

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

In this dissertation I argue that, since the 1980s, French airports have been designed to exclude people from legal, human and refugee rights. The particular space where this happens has been successively called “international zone”, “transit zone” and “waiting zone” and its scope has been significantly extended overtime. I contend that French authorities have used the concept of extra-territoriality in concert with the material design of the airport to sustain exclusion. While this research focuses on France, findings bear relevance to the global governance of migrants and refugees. The French case epitomizes how states creatively use the law (or absence …

Reproductive Characterization Of Walleye (Sander Vitreus) And Lake Whitefish (Coregonus Clupeaformis) In Tathlina Lake, Nt, Grant M. Harrison Mr

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Tathlina Lake, NT is an ecologically and culturally important lake to the Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation and supports a small commercial fishery for walleye (Sander vitreus) and a subsistence fishery for lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis). The community is concerned about existing fluctuations in the fish populations. They are also concerned with environmental pressures, including potential future oil and gas development in the near-by Cameron Hills and climate change, and desires to institute long-range biomonitoring in the lake. Male and female adult walleye and lake whitefish, in pre- and post-spawning conditions, were collected biannually in March and …

Narrative Pleasures And Feminist Politics: Popular Women’S Historical Fiction, 1990-2015, Victoria Kennedy

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This dissertation contributes to a developing body of work on women’s historical fiction and its significance to feminist discourse. Building from Diana Wallace’s 2005 study The Woman’s Historical Novel: British Women Writers, 1900-2000, I offer a modified definition of “the woman’s historical novel” and a transatlantic consideration of several of the most popular titles in the contemporary period, including The Other Boleyn Girl (2001), Outlander (1991), A Great and Terrible Beauty (2003), and Scarlett (1991). Several studies have followed Wallace’s, notably Ann Heilmann and Mark Llewellyn’s Metafiction and Metahistory in Contemporary Women’s Writing (2007) and Katherine Cooper and Emma …

A Comprehensive Study Of Personal And Social Information Use In Female Brown-Headed Cowbirds, Molothrus Ater, Hayden Davies, David J. White

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Brood parasites face considerable cognitive challenges when locating and selecting host nests for their young. One aspect of this challenge is determining how to use different sources of information to make decisions regarding the quality of a prospective nest. Here we investigate how female-brown-headed cowbirds, Molothrus ater, use information when prospecting for nests, and then expand upon this to investigate decisions related to foraging. In chapter 1, we demonstrated female could use social information acquired from observing the nest prospecting patterns of conspecifics to influence their own patterns of nest selection. Furthermore, we found a negative relationship between a …

The Complexity Of Electron Transport: A Study Of Variegation Through Chemical Inhibition Of Plastoquinol Terminal Oxidase (Ptox) In Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacaum), Hillary Peon

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The photosynthetic electron transport (PET) chain relies on the chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthetic pathways for pigments that harness light, and protect the photosynthetic apparatus from damage by light. The pigment pathways also connect to the PET chain through electron transfer where the plastoquinol (PQ) pool accepts electrons from phytoene desaturase (PDS) of the carotenoid pathway and the aerobic cyclase (ACS) of the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway. Genetic studies have shown a plastoquinol terminal oxidase (PTOX) protein functions to regulate the redox state of the PQ pool. Without PTOX to maintain balance between the two redox states of the PQ pool it …

Determination Of Silver Binding To Natural Organic Matter Using Ion Selective Electrode, Mona Muhawwis Alshammari

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Natural organic matter (NOM) is considered an important factor in the protection of the aquatic environments; organic ligands can complex with metals, to decrease their toxicity and bioavailability. NOM is measured as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in mg C/L. Silver metal can enter into the aquatic environment from natural and anthropogenic sources, and is found in different chemical forms. Free silver ion (Ag+) is considered as the most toxic form of the metal. However, it can form complexes with both inorganic and organic ligands, such as ammonia, chloride, hydroxyl, carbonato, phosphato, and thiol groups. Thiol is the most important ligand …

The Effect Of Twist On The Mechanical Properties Of The Intervertebral Disc, Maxine Harvey-Burgess

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: Intervertebral disc (IVD) herniation is a common injury to the IVD and a frequent source of low back pain. IVD herniation occurs when the nucleus pulposus migrates through both the inter- and intralamellar matrices of the annulus fibrosus (AF). There are a number of mechanical risk factors associated with herniation, including repetitive flexion and twist. In vivo, twist combined with repetitive flexion has been associated with increased experience of low back pain and herniation. Additionally, in vitro, when repetitive flexion is combined with twist, IVD herniation occurs more easily than repetitive flexion alone. However, the mechanisms behind …

The Experiences Of Athletes, Parents, And Coaches With The Long-Term Athlete Development Model (Ltad) In Youth Soccer Academies, Kody Watson

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The Long-Term Athlete Development Model (LTAD) has been developed to allow children the best chance of engaging in lifelong sport and physical activity. The LTAD focuses on long-term development, not short-term success, which allows for the best opportunity of sport participation and optimal sport potential throughout life (Balyi, Way, & Higgs, 2013). Research surrounding the LTAD model has stated that there is a lack of empirical evidence of the model being utilized within sport, as some researchers believe that it is more theoretical than practical (Lloyd & Oliver, 2012). However, even with this criticism of the LTAD model, Canadian sport …

Experiences Of Racialized Service Providers Who Work With Racialized Clients: Functions And Constraints Of Master And Counter-Narratives Of Helping, Racism, And Vicarious Racism, Prapti Giri

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

What are the experiences of racialized frontline workers? How do they experience vicarious racism? I interviewed 8 frontline workers who were involved in counseling racialized individuals. The narrative paradigm, constructivist self-development theory (CSDT), and critical race theory (CRT) were the theoretical frames that guided the interviews and data analysis in order to answer these questions. I conducted a structural narrative analysis, which revealed how participants utilized assumptions from master narratives and at other times countered them. Interviewees occasionally stepped outside of the master narrative entirely, for example, by rejecting the categorization of race. According to CSDT, our meanings are determined …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Intervertebral Disc Puncture, Inflammation, And Tissue Mechanics Using A Rat-Tail Model., Brigitte Laird

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Introduction: The intervertebral disc (IVD) is composed of the annulus fibrosus (AF), which surrounds and contains the nucleus pulposus (NP). It is hypothesized that when the IVD becomes injured, in the case of IVD herniation, a localized innate immune response is initiated. Although the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines in injured IVDs has been well documented, the extent to which inflammation affects the mechanical properties of the IVD remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of IVD damage (via puncture) and inflammation (via lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure) on the mechanical and structural properties of the IVD. …

Diversity And Evolution Of Fruits In Cuscuta (Dodders; Convolvulaceae), Anna Ho

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Cuscuta (dodder) is a genus of roughly 200 species of obligate stem parasites with sub-cosmopolitan distribution. The fruit, generally regarded as a capsule, has a thin pericarp containing one to four seeds and opening at the base (circumscissile dehiscence; DE), or remaining closed (indehiscent; IN). IN has evolved multiple times in Cuscuta from DE, and is most common in the North American clades of subgenus Grammica. In addition, some species produce fruits that open irregularly. Characteristics pertaining to the fruits of Cuscuta are important as their seeds contribute most to their distribution and prevalence across the globe, and their reduced …

Behavioral Ecology Of An Invasive Species: Habitat And Mate Preference(S) In Drosophila Suzukii, Yvonne Young, Natasha Buckiewicz, Tristan Af Long Dr.

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The invasive Spotted-Wing fruit fly, Drosophila suzukii, has inflicted substantial economic losses to the soft-fruit agriculture industry worldwide due to the ability of females in this species to use a large, serrated ovipositor to cut the fruit’s skin and lay eggs directly into the mesocarp of ripening fruit. Once the eggs hatch, larvae consume the fruit flesh, ultimately leaving the fruit unmarketable. This species parasitizes numerous commercial fruit types (including blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries and occasionally grapes) as well as fruits from a variety of wild plant species. Since fruit types vary in their nutritional composition, as well as their …

“Serial Killers Are Interesting, They’Re Not Heroes”: Moral Boundaries, Identity Management, And Emotional Work Within An Online Community, Michael Spychaj

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This research project examines the functioning of one specific serial murderer fandom community present online. Using ethnographic content analysis, the fandom was shown to undergo the creation, reinforcement and subversion of its own moral boundaries, undertake strategies of identity management in relation to their fan identity, and undergo emotion work to cope with the realities of serial murderers.

Marine Protected Areas In Colombia: Re-Connecting Social, Ecological, And Policy Aspects Through A Governance Perspective, Luisa Ramirez

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

The purpose of this doctoral research is to examine opportunities and constraints for integrating key aspects of governance into marine conservation strategies and for shifting top-down approaches toward collaborative and integrative forms of governance that enhance conservation and social outcomes in marine protected areas (MPAs).

Although there is evidence that demonstrates that MPAs are an effective tool for marine conservation, shortcomings in addressing ecological characteristics and particularly in addressing social factors in the design and planning of MPAs often constrain achieving conservation and sustainability goals. These shortcomings are particularly acute in MPAs implemented through top-down governance approaches that overlook stakeholder …

Structure-Function Investigation Of Proteins Involved In Cellulose Biosynthesis By Escherichia Coli, Thomas Brenner

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Bacteria thrive within multicellular communities called biofilms consisting of a self-produced matrix. Biofilm matrices improve bacterial adherence to surfaces while creating a barrier from host immune responses, disinfectants, antibiotics and other environmental factors. Persistent colonization by the widely distributed pathogens, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., has been linked to production of biofilms composed of the exopolysaccharide cellulose. Cellulose-containing biofilms are also important to Acetobacter, Sarcina, Rhizobium and Agrobacterium species to form symbiotic and pathogenic interactions. In Enterobacteriaceae, two operons (bcsABZC and bcsEFG) are proposed to encode for proteins that form a cellulose biosynthetic complex that spans the …

Development Of 3d Pcl Microsphere/Tio2 Nanotube Composite Scaffolds For Bone Tissue Engineering, Kimia Khoshroo, Tahereh S. Jafarzadeh Kashi, Fathollah Moztarzadeh, Mohammadreza Tahriri, Hossein E. Jazayeri, Lobat Tayebi

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

In this research, the three dimensional porous scaffolds made of a polycaprolactone (PCL) microsphere/TiO₂ nanotube (TNT) composite was fabricated and evaluated for potential bone substitute applications. We used a microsphere sintering method to produce three dimensional PCL microsphere/TNT composite scaffolds. The mechanical properties of composite scaffolds were regulated by varying parameters, such as sintering time, microsphere diameter range size and PCL/TNT ratio. The obtained results ascertained that the PCL/TNT (0.5 wt%) scaffold sintered at 60 °C for 90 min had the most optimal mechanical properties and an appropriate pore structure for bone tissue engineering applications. The average pore size …

Optimizing Anterior Implant Outcome Immediately After Implant Placement And Grafting By Using Patient’S Extracted Teeth: A Case Report, Soni Prasad, Jay Darryl Banez, Despoina Bompolaki, Yvonne Hart

School of Dentistry Faculty Research and Publications

Optimizing anterior implant outcome using patient’s extracted teeth.

Successful implant treatment in the anterior maxilla is predicated on providing a functional and esthetically acceptable outcome. As well, achieving a predictable ideal emergence profile and soft tissue contour is expected. Placing immediate provisional restorations utilizing the patient’s modified extracted teeth can facilitate initiate facial soft tissue contouring while precluding undue pressure on the surgical site during the early healing phase. This allows for a one stage surgical procedure, fixed provisionalization and ideal tissue contouring.

This clinical report presents the use of a patient’s modified extracted permanent teeth as bonded fixed provisional …