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Categorization And Indentification Of Mechanisms Of Sugarcane Resistance To The Sugarcane Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Waseem Akbar Jan 2009

Categorization And Indentification Of Mechanisms Of Sugarcane Resistance To The Sugarcane Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Waseem Akbar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Sugarcane in Louisiana is colonized and sometimes heavily infested by two aphid species, the sugarcane aphid, Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner), and the yellow sugarcane aphid,Sipha flava(Forbes). Melanaphis sacchari, the main vector of sugarcane yellow leaf virus, is distributed throughout Louisiana’s sugarcane-growing regions. Five cultivars representing 90% of the commercial acreage in Louisiana (LCP 85-384, HoCP 91-555, Ho 95-988, HoCP 96-540,L 97-128) were evaluated for resistance to aphids in the greenhouse. Antibiosis was the primary category of resistance to both aphid species. Based on the intrinsic rate of natural increase, L 97-128 and HoCP 91-555 were comparatively susceptible and resistant cultivars, respectively. …


Isoflavone Distribution In Soy Seed And Antioxidant Activity Of Defatted Soy Flour Extract, Xiaohua Yue Jan 2009

Isoflavone Distribution In Soy Seed And Antioxidant Activity Of Defatted Soy Flour Extract, Xiaohua Yue

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Soy isoflavones distribution in soy cotelydon, coat and germ were determined. The ƒÀ-Glucoside form of isoflavones was the major class of isoflavones in all three soy parts. Soy germ was the richest source of the isoflavones among the three soybean parts. Distribution of the isoflavones in soy cotyledon was different from that in soy coat or germ. As defatted soy flour is a main byproduct in the soy oil refining process, utilizing the low value byproduct as a valuable food antioxidant was investigated in this study. The level of isoflavones in the defatted soy flour extract was 55 mg/g, which …


Essays On Environmental Issues Associated With The Diary Production Region In Louisiana, Larry Michael Hall Jan 2009

Essays On Environmental Issues Associated With The Diary Production Region In Louisiana, Larry Michael Hall

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Louisiana dairy production region (LDPR) is located in southeast Louisiana and includes five parishes (Tangipahoa, Washington, Livingston, St. Helena, and St. Tammany). It is home to approximately 90% of the state’s dairy industry and is a major contributor to nonpoint source pollution (NPS) in the area’s watershed through nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment effluents. While point source (PS) effluents are easily identified and subject to federal and state regulations, NPS mitigation efforts must address uncertainties such as location of the NPS as well as stochastic parameters such as rainfall and its effect on nutrient and sediment flow. This dissertation presents …


Remittances, Foreign Direct Investment And Economic Growth In Latin America And The Caribbean, Pablo Antonio Garcia-Fuentes Jan 2009

Remittances, Foreign Direct Investment And Economic Growth In Latin America And The Caribbean, Pablo Antonio Garcia-Fuentes

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Some of the literature about foreign direct investment (FDI) analyzes the location of FDI. It tries to identify the factors that affect FDI flows. On the association between remittances and growth, this is still an open discussion. This journal style dissertation is an attempt to investigate about the associations between remittances and FDI and growth in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The first paper investigates the effect of remittances on U.S. FDI outflows to LAC. It uses data on 14 LAC countries for the period 1983-2003. The results show that market size is one of the main determinants of …


The Interactive Effects Of Phosporus And Calcium On Phosphorus Requirement, Utilization, And Phytase Efficacy In Poultry, Syrena Powell Jan 2009

The Interactive Effects Of Phosporus And Calcium On Phosphorus Requirement, Utilization, And Phytase Efficacy In Poultry, Syrena Powell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This research was conducted with broilers to investigate the interactive effects of P and Ca on P requirement, digestibility, utilization, and phytase efficacy. Each treatment had a minimum of 6 replications. One experiment with 3 trials was conducted to identify the nonphytate P (nPP) requirement of 0 to 14 d old broilers. The nPP levels fed ranged from 0.30 to 0.60% with a Ca:nPP of 2.22:1 or 1.9:1. Requirement estimates for 0 to 14 d ranged from 0.52 to 0.60% nPP. One experiment with 2 trials was conducted to identify the nPP requirement of 14 to 28 d old broilers. …


Identification Of Falls Risk Factors In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Validation Of The Comprehensive Falls Risk Screening Instrument, Jennifer Marie Fabre Jan 2009

Identification Of Falls Risk Factors In Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Validation Of The Comprehensive Falls Risk Screening Instrument, Jennifer Marie Fabre

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Identifying risk factors and those at risk for falls is necessary. The first purpose of the dissertation was to validate the Comprehensive Falls Risk Screening Instrument (CFRSI) that weights falls risk factors and includes the subscale scores of history, physical, vision, medication, and environment, and a total falls risk score. The CFRSI total falls risk score was compared to subscale scores, physical activity, physical function, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and history of falls (Study 1). The second purpose of the dissertation was to determine associations between the CFRSI total falls risk score, race, education, and income (Study 2). Data …


Three Essays On Environmental Issues Associated With Broiler Production In Louisiana, Nirmala Adhikari Devkota Jan 2009

Three Essays On Environmental Issues Associated With Broiler Production In Louisiana, Nirmala Adhikari Devkota

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The increasing trends of integrated and concentrated broiler production results in a serious threat to environment through excessive litter production and lack of its proper disposal. Production concentration in limited area is a major source of surface as well as ground water pollution. Nonpoint source pollution from broiler litter applied on land remains a major concern in Louisiana and elsewhere in Southeastern USA. This study examines alternative approaches to reduce pollution originating from broiler production. First, I evaluate why some producers adopt BMP faster than others and what kind of factors affect the time to adoption decision. The duration model …


Characterization Of Porcine Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells, Kellie J. Williams Jan 2009

Characterization Of Porcine Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells, Kellie J. Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Nuclear transfer (NT) results in low success rates and research has reported problems with the welfare of cloned animals produced. Evidence suggests the use of a less differentiated donor cell, such as a stem cell, may lead to an increase in the efficiency of the NT procedure. Stem cell characteristics must be clearly defined in order to isolate, identify and optimally culture potential donor cells. Stem cell characteristics such as self-renewal and differentiation have not been identified in stem cells from porcine adipose tissue, an easily attainable tissue resource. The phenotypic profile of cell surface proteins and chromosomal stability of …


Does Practice Of Multi-Directional Stepping With Auditory Stimulation Improve Movement Performance In Patients With Parkinson's Disease, Zahra Kadivar Jan 2009

Does Practice Of Multi-Directional Stepping With Auditory Stimulation Improve Movement Performance In Patients With Parkinson's Disease, Zahra Kadivar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder causing many physical limitations. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) influences motor complications not alleviated by medicine and has been used to modify straight line walking in this population. However, motor complications are exacerbated during more complex movements including those involving direction changes. Thus immediate RAS effects on direction switch duration (DSD) and other kinematic measures during a multi-directional step task were investigated in PD patients. Long term RAS application was also explored by evaluating functional gait and balance and kinematic step measures before and after 6 weeks of multi-directional stepping either with (Cue, …


An Analysis Of The Impact Of The Eu Sugar Policy Reform On Acp Countries: A Quota Market Framework, Liliane Kiswendsida Zoungrana Jan 2009

An Analysis Of The Impact Of The Eu Sugar Policy Reform On Acp Countries: A Quota Market Framework, Liliane Kiswendsida Zoungrana

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The pressures for reform within the World Trade Organization have led to the European Union (EU) reforming its sugar policy with a price cut phased from 2006 and scheduled to end in 2009. The reform will have an impact on the sugar protocol African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries that have a preferential market access to the European Union with a protected price. This study investigates the effect of EU sugar policy reform has on these ACP sugar countries. First, it examines how the protocol countries’ sugar supply and demand determinants. While the determinants of supply in some countries performed …


Three Essays On The World Rice Market: A Structure, Conduct, And Performance Paradigm Approach, Hyunsoo Kang Jan 2009

Three Essays On The World Rice Market: A Structure, Conduct, And Performance Paradigm Approach, Hyunsoo Kang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the past several decades, the international rice market has undergone major changes experiencing a strong expansion in traded volumes and in the volatility of rice prices. International rice prices are, furthermore, expected to remain at relatively high levels because of higher fertilizer and fuel prices, especially as stocks held by those exporters still allow unrestrained sales. With this instability in the world rice market, we need to consider the structure, conduct, and performance (S-C-P) of the world rice market. The main objective of this dissertation will be to examine the world rice market based on S-C-P methods. This dissertation …


Production And Application Of Antibodies Produced Against The Flagella And Hemolysin Of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Shreya Datta Jan 2009

Production And Application Of Antibodies Produced Against The Flagella And Hemolysin Of Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, Shreya Datta

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine bacterium which is the leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis due to consumption of raw or undercooked bivalve molluscan shellfish in United States and is considered an important seafood-borne pathogen throughout the world. The conventional methods for enumerating this bacteria from seafood is laborious and time consuming, hence the objective of our study was to develop antibody based method which would be sensitive, user-friendly and less time consuming to detect and enumerate Vibrio parahaemolyticus from oysters. In order to condense time and material two rapid and specific antibody based test methods were developed. In the first …


Evaluation Of Pectin Methylesterase And Lactobacillus Spp. Isolated From Tabasco Peppers (Capsicum Frutescens L.), Sonja Tanee Jones Jan 2009

Evaluation Of Pectin Methylesterase And Lactobacillus Spp. Isolated From Tabasco Peppers (Capsicum Frutescens L.), Sonja Tanee Jones

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

One of the major concerns of the hot sauce manufacturers is separation of sediments and layering of the sauce. Separation is an undesirable production condition because consumers view this as a defect which consequently increases manufacturing costs. Pectins play an important role in pepper processing since it forms gels and influences the final viscosity of the sauce. Hence, its integrity during processing influences the quality of the final product. Failures in pectin stability can sometimes be related to the presence of enzymes. Understanding how the pectin enzymes function during fermentation of pepper sauce is a necessary step in controlling the …


Motivating Middle School Students To Be Physically Active: The Role Of Supportive Environments, Tao Zhang Jan 2009

Motivating Middle School Students To Be Physically Active: The Role Of Supportive Environments, Tao Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

It is clearly documented that promoting regular physical activity participation at young ages increases the likelihood that school-aged students will lead active lifestyles as adults. Unfortunately, more than a third of school-aged students do not engage in sufficient amounts of physical activity necessary to produce significant health benefits (USDHHS, 2000, 2008). Public health officials and physical educators highlight the importance of promoting motivation for physical activity by creating a supportive physical activity environment that should positively influence students’ choices to be physically active. The major objective of this dissertation was to explore the roles of supportive social environments and physical …


A Divided-Attention Timed Stepping Accuracy Task As A Procedural Learning Intervention Improves Balance And Functional Performance In Healthy Older Adults, Susan Joy Leach Jan 2009

A Divided-Attention Timed Stepping Accuracy Task As A Procedural Learning Intervention Improves Balance And Functional Performance In Healthy Older Adults, Susan Joy Leach

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

For both healthy individuals and individuals at high risk of falling, certain environments, such as a dual-task situation, require more resources than others to prevent a loss of balance. Stepping assessment tasks can be used to predict falls, and it has been suggested that impaired voluntary stepping may be a contributing factor to falls (Lord & Fitzpatrick, 2001). In this research, a stepping task was used not as an assessment, but as a therapeutic intervention. The purpose of this research was to determine how training with a task that provides a procedural learning environment can affect balance and functional outcomes. …


A Comparison Of Isotonic And Elastic Resistance Exercise On Trapezius Muscle Balance In Overhead Athletes, Phillip Page Jan 2009

A Comparison Of Isotonic And Elastic Resistance Exercise On Trapezius Muscle Balance In Overhead Athletes, Phillip Page

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The scaption exercise (elevation of the arm in the scapular plane) is often performed in shoulder rehabilitation and preventive exercise programs. Three studies were performed to better understand the activation characteristics of the upper trapezius (UT) and lower trapezius (LT) muscles during scaption. The purpose of these studies was to 1) quantify and compare trapezius muscle activation ratios and onset of activation in normal subjects, 2) compare the findings from normal subjects with overhead athletes, and 3) compare the activation ratios and onset of the trapezius with 2 modes of resistance (elastic and isotonic) in overhead athletes. Methods. Healthy college-aged …


The Expansion And Diversification Of The Export Sector And Economic Growth: The Costa Rican Experience, Gustavo Filipe Canle Ferreira Jan 2009

The Expansion And Diversification Of The Export Sector And Economic Growth: The Costa Rican Experience, Gustavo Filipe Canle Ferreira

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A large body of empirical literature has investigated the linkages between exports and output. Nevertheless, empirical evidence remains inconclusive and the topic remains open to discussion. Additionally, a number of studies have examined the positive effects that export diversification may have on economic growth. Within the Latin America region, Costa Rica has been lauded for its long democratic tradition, relative economic stability, and for evolving from being a small economy heavily reliant on exports of coffee and bananas, to become the largest software exporter per capita in Latin America. This study examined the impact that the expansion and diversification of …


The Economic Importance And Management Of Mercury Contamination In Pelagic Fisheries, Tina Marie Willson Jan 2009

The Economic Importance And Management Of Mercury Contamination In Pelagic Fisheries, Tina Marie Willson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The presence of mercury in the U.S. fish supply is a growing public health concern. At high levels, mercury can be harmful to humans and ecosystems, and represents a growing threat not only to public health, but also to the economic and ecological viability of many fisheries. This research examined the economic issues surrounding mercury contamination in fish, developed a population dynamics and bioeconomic model to investigate the problem, and compared a variety of management actions to reduce consumer exposure to contaminants. The dissertation begins with an overview of contamination issues in U.S. fisheries, including a review of the historical …


An Analysis Of Government Policy Impacts In The Ethanol And Sugar Markets, Hassan Marzoughi_Ardakani Jan 2009

An Analysis Of Government Policy Impacts In The Ethanol And Sugar Markets, Hassan Marzoughi_Ardakani

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT This study determines the impact of U.S. government policies on U.S. ethanol market and its consequences for the U.S. corn, sugar, and HFCS markets. Using corn as the primary input in ethanol and HFCS production in the United States, along with the substitutability between sugar and HFCS, has linked the U.S. ethanol market to the U.S. HFCS, sugar, and corn markets. To address the problem, two sets of data, quarterly and annual data, were collected and a simultaneous econometric model was constructed. Estimated results show that the “2007 Energy Independence and Security Act” will increase the domestic corn price …


A Critical Examination Into Motivation And Gender In Youth Physical Fitness Testing, Elizabeth A. Domangue Jan 2009

A Critical Examination Into Motivation And Gender In Youth Physical Fitness Testing, Elizabeth A. Domangue

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Fitness testing in physical education classes has emerged as an important component in efforts to assess and address health concerns related to children’s physical inactivity. To date, motivational aspects of fitness testing, especially in regard to students’ future intention to participate in fitness-related activities, have not been closely examined. Fitness testing practices have been identified as a dominant discourse in physical education that continue to separate girls’ and boys’ physicalities along gendered lines. This lack of understanding about the motivational implications of fitness testing programs, coupled with concerns related to the gendered nature of fitness testing, emphasize the significance of …


Biophysical Economic Analysis Of Nutrient And Sediment Management Practices In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Augustus Nyako Matekole Jan 2009

Biophysical Economic Analysis Of Nutrient And Sediment Management Practices In The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Augustus Nyako Matekole

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Conventional drainage systems and poorly drained soils tend to increase row crop agriculture nutrient and sediment effluent loads. Best management practices help reduce row crop production environmental pollution. This dissertation looked at nutrient and tillage management practices that could help farmers address future total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for the Cabin-Teele sub-watershed, within the lower Mississippi River Basin. The dissertation had two objectives. The first objective was to examine the economic and environmental impact of tillage and nutrient management practices in reducing agricultural pollutants to meet TMDL requirements. Relative cost effectiveness of different tillage and nutrient management practices were analyzed …


Development And Application Of An Optimization Model For Elite Level Shot Putting, Michael Young Jan 2009

Development And Application Of An Optimization Model For Elite Level Shot Putting, Michael Young

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Shot putting is one of the most ancient forms of athletic competition. Considerable research has been performed on the event. Despite this fact, research examining performance in the women’s shot put and using the spin technique is very limited. Also, only one attempt has been made to optimize the movement of elite shot putting and no attempts have been made to use the optimization model as a standard for technical training intervention. A series of three experiments were used to explore the development of an optimization model for shot putting and its application as a basis for technical intervention for …