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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Louisiana Agriculture Fall, 2006, Lsu Agcenter Oct 2006

Louisiana Agriculture Fall, 2006, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.


Louisiana Agriculture Summer, 2006, Lsu Agcenter Jul 2006

Louisiana Agriculture Summer, 2006, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.


Calcium Intake, Bone Mineral Density, And Percent Body Fat Of University Students, Beth Peterson May 2006

Calcium Intake, Bone Mineral Density, And Percent Body Fat Of University Students, Beth Peterson

Honors Theses

No abstract provided.


Louisiana Agriculture Spring, 2006, Lsu Agcenter Apr 2006

Louisiana Agriculture Spring, 2006, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.


Louisiana Agriculture Winter, 2006, Lsu Agcenter Jan 2006

Louisiana Agriculture Winter, 2006, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.


Sensory Characteristics Of Salt Substitute Containing L-Arginine, Pamarin Waimaleongora-Ek Jan 2006

Sensory Characteristics Of Salt Substitute Containing L-Arginine, Pamarin Waimaleongora-Ek

LSU Master's Theses

Dietary salt restriction is a common approach recommended by physicians in the treatment and prevention of hypertension. Salt substitute is a potential alternative. The most popular salt substitute is KCl, having similar physical properties to NaCl. Because of the higher molecular weight of cations (K+), KCl imparts undesired bitterness and metallic aftertaste. L-arginine has been found to have the bitterness-suppression property. Therefore, it may be used in the mixture of salt substitutes. In the first study, NaCl and four salt substitute solutions consisting of KCl, NaCl, and L-arginine, were developed at 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% w/v. A discriminative test was …


Inhibition Of Hormone Dependent And Independent Breast Cancer Cells By Oyster(Crassostrea Virginica) Ceramide, Madhavi Chintalapati Jan 2006

Inhibition Of Hormone Dependent And Independent Breast Cancer Cells By Oyster(Crassostrea Virginica) Ceramide, Madhavi Chintalapati

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this research was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anti-angiogenic properties of ceramide isolated from oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Ceramide was isolated from oyster by silicic acid chromatography, purified by alkaline hydrolysis, and analyzed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). In vitro, the activity of ceramide on human hormone-dependent (MCF-7) and hormone-independent (MDA-MB-435s) breast cancer cells was evaluated for cell viability and proliferation, VEGF-induced cell migration and invasion, apoptosis, and autophagy. The activity of ceramide was also evaluated for VEGF-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) tube formation. The protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor …


The Effects Of Perceptions On Consumer Acceptance Of Genetically Modified (Gm) Foods, Jae-Hwan Han Jan 2006

The Effects Of Perceptions On Consumer Acceptance Of Genetically Modified (Gm) Foods, Jae-Hwan Han

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigates the effects of risk/benefit beliefs on consumer purchase intentions for genetically modified (GM) foods. A random, national, mail survey is conducted. Three main problems are addressed in the study. The first problem addressed is to analyze the relationship between consumers risk/ benefit beliefs regarding GM foods, and their willingness to buy GM crop and meat products. The second problem deals with linkages between a consumer’s risk/benefit beliefs about GM foods and willingness to pay (WTP) for GM foods with a benefit disclosure. The third problem addressed is to test a causal relationship between knowledge and trust toward …


Examination Of The Constructs Of The Transtheoretical Model In Patients With Heart Failure: A Focus On Physical Activity Readiness, Tracie Rena Parish Jan 2006

Examination Of The Constructs Of The Transtheoretical Model In Patients With Heart Failure: A Focus On Physical Activity Readiness, Tracie Rena Parish

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of this research was to gain greater understanding about the management of heart failure patients. A particular focus was to evaluate exercise tolerance and behavior. The major findings of the first study included: (1) evidence that few heart failure patients receive adequate information regarding physical activity; (2) performance on a six-minute walk test were ~42% lower, and SF-36 scores were also lower in heart failure patients compared to controls; (3) stability in hemodynamic measures and distance walked on the 6-minute walk test were adequate, and (4) home exercise resulted in 19% improvement in maximum walking distance and 30% …


Vitrification And Dehydration For The Preservation Of Gametes, Allison E. Moisan Jan 2006

Vitrification And Dehydration For The Preservation Of Gametes, Allison E. Moisan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Of the 36 species of felines in the world, all except the domestic cat are listed as endangered or threatened. To preserve the genetic diversity of felines and other species, genome resource banks have been established. Due to limited availability of germ cells for research, studies must use models to optimize the techniques before they are applied to endangered species. In this study, preservation of oocytes and spermatozoa was examined using the bovine as a model for felines. In the first series of experiments, bovine and feline oocytes were dehydrated, vitrified, warmed and cultured to assess their ability to undergo …


Validity Of The Yale Physical Activity Survey For Older Adults, Angela Nickole Solomito Pugh Jan 2006

Validity Of The Yale Physical Activity Survey For Older Adults, Angela Nickole Solomito Pugh

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to determine the validity of the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) in a population of oldest-old adults residing in Southeastern Louisiana. Methods: Participants were older adults (n=273) in two distinct age groups; 60-81 years of age (YOUNG-OLD) AND 29-103 years of age (OLDEST-OLD). YPAS estimates of physical activity will be compared to physical function as measured by the continuous scale physical function performance test. Results: The OLDEST-OLD demonstrated lower physical function scores and reported less physical activity (and more time sitting) in comparison to the YOUNG-OLD. The correlation between Total Time Summary Index and …


Analysis Of U.S. Aquacultural Producer Preferences For Genetic Improvement And Cryopreservation, Brian Paul Boever Jan 2006

Analysis Of U.S. Aquacultural Producer Preferences For Genetic Improvement And Cryopreservation, Brian Paul Boever

LSU Master's Theses

Aquaculture industries in the U.S. generate $1 billion in farm-level sales. Genetic improvement of fish stocks may be a way to increase the market share of aquaculture within the U.S. seafood market as well as the market share within the world market. This study evaluates the preferences, beliefs, and opinions of aquaculture producers across the U.S. about topics such as cryopreservation, genetic improvement, and the future of the aquaculture industry. Willingness-to-pay values for specific genetic improvements by aquaculture grow-out producers were elicited. A national survey of aquaculture producers was used to elicit the information used in the analysis. The survey …


Interactions Between Formosan Subterranean Termites, Brown Rot Fungus (Gloeophyllum Trabeum) And Some Of The Fungi Present On The Termite Integument And Gut, Poornima Jayasimha Jan 2006

Interactions Between Formosan Subterranean Termites, Brown Rot Fungus (Gloeophyllum Trabeum) And Some Of The Fungi Present On The Termite Integument And Gut, Poornima Jayasimha

LSU Master's Theses

Although the brown rot fungus, Gloeophyllum trabeum (Pers.:Fr.) Murrill, has been shown to be attractive and beneficial to subterranean termites, including Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, to date no research has been conducted to determine if the association is mutualistic. We first set out to determine if the fungus could be spread by termites. This would represent an obvious benefit to the fungus. We found that C. formosanus does not spread G. trabeum. Unexpectedly, Formosan subterranean termites were found to suppress the growth of G. trabeum. To further investigate this finding, Formosan subterranean termite workers were released into Petri dishes with wood …


Evaluation Of Bovine Spermatid Sex Ratio By Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization, Michael Alan Stout Jan 2006

Evaluation Of Bovine Spermatid Sex Ratio By Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization, Michael Alan Stout

LSU Master's Theses

The objective of this study was to use fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to determine if a skew in the sex ratio was present at the level of the bovine round spermatid. Paraffin embedded bovine testicular tissue obtained from biopsies were used to perform FISH, and the seminiferous tubules were examined. Our findings show that the skew does exist within the round spermatids. Analysis of variance on X- and Y-chromosome bearing round spermatids as affected by sex, slide, picture set, and tubule was performed. Sex showed that the variation in round spermatid sex ratio differed between slides (P = 0.0001). …


Antimicrobial Activity Of Cpc And Asc Against Foodborne Pathogens And The Physiological Effect On Fresh-Cut Cantaloupe Cubes At Refrigerator Temperatures, Allison Marie Dumas Jan 2006

Antimicrobial Activity Of Cpc And Asc Against Foodborne Pathogens And The Physiological Effect On Fresh-Cut Cantaloupe Cubes At Refrigerator Temperatures, Allison Marie Dumas

LSU Master's Theses

In the last few decades, fresh-cut fruit products have gained popularity with consumers. They require little to no further processing prior to consumption. Fresh-cut products also make fruits and vegetables more conveniently available to consumers year-round. There are limitations, however, to fresh-cut fruit and vegetables in the marketplace. These products are very perishable and could become contaminated with foodborne pathogens. Most fresh-cut fruits and vegetables will only last a short period of time at refrigerator temperatures. There are many possible routes of bacterial contamination in the fresh-cut produce industry. There is a need for antimicrobial compounds that can be applied …


Depolymerization And Decolorization Of Chitosan By Ozone Treatment, Seung-Wook Seo Jan 2006

Depolymerization And Decolorization Of Chitosan By Ozone Treatment, Seung-Wook Seo

LSU Master's Theses

Currently, depolymerization and decolorization of chitosan are achieved by chemical or enzymatic methods which are time consuming and expensive. Ozone has been shown to be able to degrade macromolecules and remove pigments due to its high oxidation potential. In this study, the effects of ozone treatment on depolymerization and decolorization of chitosan were investigated. Crawfish chitosan was ozonated in water and acetic acid solution for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes at room temperature with 12wt% gas. For the determination of viscosity–average Molecular weight of chitosan, an ubbelohde viscometer was used to measure the intrinsic viscosity, and the Mark-Houwink …


Effect Of Light Intensity And Weld Thickness On The Performance Of Uv-Cured Frp Composite Joints, Jerry Alan Peck Jan 2006

Effect Of Light Intensity And Weld Thickness On The Performance Of Uv-Cured Frp Composite Joints, Jerry Alan Peck

LSU Master's Theses

Thirty-six FRP composite welds were wetted with UV curing vinyl ester resin and used to join fiberglass tubes. The effects of UV light intensity and weld thickness on performance (as measured by bursting pressure and stiffness) were evaluated to determine optimal conditions for joint construction. The joined composite pipes were cured vertically with UV lamps at three different light intensities, 80 mW/cm2, 35 mW/cm2 and 15 mW/cm2 to isolate the effect of UV light intensity. Eight-layer, five-layer and three-layer joints were prepared and cured at constant light intensity to evaluate the effect of reducing the thickness of the composite joint. …


Interrelationships Between Mitochondrial Function, Maximal Oxygen Consumption, Running Economy, And Diet In Elite Male And Female Runners, Ryan Peyton Mcmillan Jan 2006

Interrelationships Between Mitochondrial Function, Maximal Oxygen Consumption, Running Economy, And Diet In Elite Male And Female Runners, Ryan Peyton Mcmillan

LSU Master's Theses

The relationships between maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), mitochondrial function and running economy were investigated in a population of twenty-one endurance trained males and females (range=18-54 yrs). The purposes of this study were: 1) to determine whether mitochondrial oxidative capacity, as defined by the maximal activities of citrate synthase (CS), cytochrome c oxidase (COX), and beta-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (BHAD), is a significant determinant of maximal oxygen consumption in endurance trained men and women, and 2) to observe the relationship between maximal oxygen uptake and running economy in the same population. Muscle biopsy samples were taken from the vastus lateralis prior to a …


Determination Of Antioxidant Capacity In Corn Germ, Wheat Germ And Wheat Bran Using Solvent And Microwave-Assisted Solvent Extraction, David Swenson Oufnac Jan 2006

Determination Of Antioxidant Capacity In Corn Germ, Wheat Germ And Wheat Bran Using Solvent And Microwave-Assisted Solvent Extraction, David Swenson Oufnac

LSU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT Solvent extraction methods are widely used for extracting antioxidant in foods and other sources. In this study, Traditional Solvent Extraction (TSE) and Microwave-Assisted Solvent Extraction (MASE) were utilized to determine the content of antioxidants in corn germ, wheat bran and wheat germ. Corn germ, wheat bran and wheat germ all contain different levels of antioxidants; TSE and MASE were utilized to determine the content of antioxidants in these three samples. TSE was performed at 60 ¨¬C employing three solvents, acetone, hexane and methanol. MASE was performed using the solvent methanol at four different temperatures, 60, 80, 100 and 120 …


A Semiparametric Assessment Of Export-Led Growth In The Philippines, Lorna E. Amrinto Jan 2006

A Semiparametric Assessment Of Export-Led Growth In The Philippines, Lorna E. Amrinto

LSU Master's Theses

This study contributes to the literature on the export-led growth (ELG) hypothesis by adopting a semiparametric approach under two levels of temporal aggregation to investigate the ELG hypothesis in the Philippines. To assess the impact of model specification on the ELG hypothesis, parametric and semiparametric ECMs are estimated using Philippine annual and quarterly data on GDP, exports, exchange rates and gross fixed-capital formation, focusing on the role of exchange rates. The causal relationship between exports and economic growth is examined using the Granger-causality procedure. It can be concluded that for the Philippines, the ELG hypothesis is (a) sensitive to model …


Strain To Strain Differences In The Growth, Survival And Adaptation Of Vibrio Vulnificus And Vibrio Parahaemolyticus In Broth, Veronica Elaine Burnham Jan 2006

Strain To Strain Differences In The Growth, Survival And Adaptation Of Vibrio Vulnificus And Vibrio Parahaemolyticus In Broth, Veronica Elaine Burnham

LSU Master's Theses

Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are natural inhabitants of estuarine environments of the Gulf of Mexico. V. vulnificus is the leading cause of death, while V. parahaemolyticus is a leading cause of foodborne gastroenteritis from the consumption of seafood in the United States. Refrigeration is commonly used as a preservation method to control the growth of microorganisms in food. The ability of some microorganisms to adapt, as a survival response when exposed to a downshift in temperature, could compromised efforts to use low temperature storage to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Limited research is available on the growth characteristics …


Trade Creation And Trade Diversion Effects In The Eu-South Africa Free Trade Agreement, Gregory Emeka Kwentua Jan 2006

Trade Creation And Trade Diversion Effects In The Eu-South Africa Free Trade Agreement, Gregory Emeka Kwentua

LSU Master's Theses

This study examines trade creation and trade diversion effects in the EUSAFTA using the standard gravity model of bilateral trade flows. The estimation of the gravity equation was carried out using the OLS analysis. In order to ascertain the overall trade creation and trade diversion effects explanatory variables such as GDP, distance and dummy variables were incorporated into the estimation equation to explain bilateral trade flows and exports respectively. The main focus was on the estimation of trade creation and trade diversion effects, resulting from participation in selected regional and preferential trade agreements like EU, COMESA, SACU and EUSAFTA. Additionally, …


Examination Of Blood Flow Using Vasoconstrictor And Vasodilator Stimuli: Stability And Reproducibility, Robert B. Lestage Jan 2006

Examination Of Blood Flow Using Vasoconstrictor And Vasodilator Stimuli: Stability And Reproducibility, Robert B. Lestage

LSU Master's Theses

Blood flow distribution relies on the vasculature’s ability to vasodilate and vasoconstrict throughout the body. Most previous research has focused on only one of these abilities, either vasodilation or vasoconstriction. For example, Thijssen et al. (2005) focused their research on vasodilation by studying reactive hyperemia, while Kinuyoshi et al. (2003) studied the possible vasoconstriction effect with increasing muscle sympathetic nerve activity. The purpose of this study was to assess vascular function using a variety of stimuli to potentially learn more about overall vascular health, while determining the stability and reliability of blood flow measurements using strain gauge plethysmography. Measures of …


Understanding Parents' Decisions About Serving Vegetables To Their Children, Alissa Villarrubia Jan 2006

Understanding Parents' Decisions About Serving Vegetables To Their Children, Alissa Villarrubia

LSU Master's Theses

With the increasing rate of childhood obesity it is important to examine obesity prevention programs and strategies. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) has been identified as a successful framework to examine and understand human behavior and obesity prevention research. However, there is limited support for the TPB regarding its use and efficacy for understanding parents’ influence on the health behavior of their children. The purpose of this study was to: (a) describe the most common behavioral, normative, and control beliefs of parents’ serving vegetables to their children; (b) examine the social cognitive correlates of parents’ intentions to serve vegetables …


Agrobacterium Tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation Of Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum L.) Leaf Disks: Evaluation Of The Co-Cultivation Conditions To Increase Beta-Glucuronidase Gene Activity, Sunjung Park Jan 2006

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens-Mediated Transformation Of Tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum L.) Leaf Disks: Evaluation Of The Co-Cultivation Conditions To Increase Beta-Glucuronidase Gene Activity, Sunjung Park

LSU Master's Theses

Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation is generally used for genetic transformation of higher plants. Several experimental factors important for the increase of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene activity were evaluated in this study using leaf disks of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi). We found that co-cultivation temperature at 20C is the most critical factor to obtain the reproducible enhancement of GUS activity. pCAMBIA 1305.01 resulted in higher GUS activity than the other two pCAMBIA vectors 1301 and 1305.02. The highest GUS activity and transformation efficiency were achieved under the following experimental conditions: Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 containing pCAMBIA1305.01 was grown overnight at …


Comparing Bermudagrass And Bahiagrass Cultivars At Different Stages Of Harvest For Dry Matter Yield And Nutrient Content, Ryan Thomas Dore' Jan 2006

Comparing Bermudagrass And Bahiagrass Cultivars At Different Stages Of Harvest For Dry Matter Yield And Nutrient Content, Ryan Thomas Dore'

LSU Master's Theses

Rapid growth of warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) is associated with a decline in their nutritional value. This study was initiated to provide production and composition data with different cultivars of bermudagrass (common, Russell, Jiggs) and bahiagrass (Tifton-9, Pensacola, Argentina). Dry matter (DM), ash, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) composition and production were evaluated every two weeks for a ten-week period on six different cultivars. Also, Russell bermudagrass was evaluated in a second trial very similar to the first trial for composition and production but was started …


Estradiol Interactions With Dopamine Antagonists In Mares: Prolactin Secretion And Reproductive Traits, Kristian Kandis Kelley Jan 2006

Estradiol Interactions With Dopamine Antagonists In Mares: Prolactin Secretion And Reproductive Traits, Kristian Kandis Kelley

LSU Master's Theses

Two experiments studied the effects of pretreatment with estradiol benzoate before treatment with a dopamine antagonist on prolactin secretion and reproductive traits in mares during 1) the seasonal anovulatory period and 2) the normal breeding season. Experiment 1 was performed in winter with 17 mares selected for low follicular activity. Nine mares received estradiol benzoate injections every other day for a total of 10 injections; 8 mares received similar injections of vehicle. Ten days after onset of injections, all mares were placed on a daily injections of sulpiride (250 mg) for 45 d or until ovulation. Plasma prolactin concentrations were …


Quality Characterization Of Cholesterol-Free Mayonnaise-Type Spreads Containing Rice Bran Oil, Karen Melissa Garcia Jan 2006

Quality Characterization Of Cholesterol-Free Mayonnaise-Type Spreads Containing Rice Bran Oil, Karen Melissa Garcia

LSU Master's Theses

Traditional mayonnaise is manufactured with soybean oil (SBO) and egg-yolk containing ingredients. About 1/4 of American consumers have some forms of cardiovascular disease, accounting for >40% of all deaths in USA. Rice bran oil (RBO), a healthy lipid source, has cholesterol-lowering effects, and could be used to replace SBO in mayonnaise preparation. To take advantage of the health benefits associated with RBO, food products containing RBO need to be developed and characterized. Cholesterol-free mayonnaise-type spreads containing RBO were developed using a constrained mixture design. Two studies were performed to determine sensory attributes driving acceptance and purchase intent and to optimize …


The Effects Of Carbonated Marinade On The Shelf Life Of Enhanced Pork, Maria Ofelia Guerra Jan 2006

The Effects Of Carbonated Marinade On The Shelf Life Of Enhanced Pork, Maria Ofelia Guerra

LSU Master's Theses

Brine incorporation into meat products has become a well established practice in the United States. Brines are used to enhance the eating quality of pork by improving its tenderness and juiciness. Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide have been used in modified atmosphere packaging as antimicrobial agents and color stabilizers, respectively, to increase the shelf life of retail meats. The objective of this experiment was to analyze the effects of incorporating carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide into brine solutions to subsequently inject into raw chilled pork. Pork loins were injected with brine solutions containing 2.27% phosphates, 3.79% salt and dissolved gas …


A Comparative Study Of Household Demand For Meats By U.S. Hispanics, Carlos Ignacio Garcia Jan 2006

A Comparative Study Of Household Demand For Meats By U.S. Hispanics, Carlos Ignacio Garcia

LSU Master's Theses

The general objective of this research project was to study the consumption behavior of U.S. Hispanics for meat products. A comprehensive review of literature on the studies of U.S. Hispanic consumers was performed by means of a systematic survey; different sources of information useful in studying Hispanic consumers were documented. The simultaneous increase in population and income of Hispanics in the United States is attractive to food companies, and makes more relevant the study of their consumer behavior patterns for discovering future market opportunities. Censored incomplete demand systems of the LinQuad form were used for recognizing the consumption patterns by …