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Articles 119101 - 119130 of 255894

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

At Risk Of Being Risky: The Relationship Between “Brain Age” Under Emotional States And Risk Preference, Marc D. Rudolph, Oscar Miranda-Domínguez, Alexandra O. Cohen, Kaitlyn Breiner, Laurence Steinberg, Richard J. Bonnie, Elizabeth S. Scott, Jason Chein, Kim Taylor-Thompson, Karla C. Fettich, Jennifer A. Richeson, Danielle V. Dellarco, Adriana Galván, B.J. Casey, Damien A. Fair Jan 2017

At Risk Of Being Risky: The Relationship Between “Brain Age” Under Emotional States And Risk Preference, Marc D. Rudolph, Oscar Miranda-Domínguez, Alexandra O. Cohen, Kaitlyn Breiner, Laurence Steinberg, Richard J. Bonnie, Elizabeth S. Scott, Jason Chein, Kim Taylor-Thompson, Karla C. Fettich, Jennifer A. Richeson, Danielle V. Dellarco, Adriana Galván, B.J. Casey, Damien A. Fair

Faculty Scholarship

Developmental differences regarding decision making are often reported in the absence of emotional stimuli and without context, failing to explain why some individuals are more likely to have a greater inclination toward risk. The current study (N = 212; 10–25y) examined the influence of emotional context on underlying functional brain connectivity over development and its impact on risk preference. Using functional imaging data in a neutral brain-state we first identify the “brain age” of a given individual then validate it with an independent measure of cortical thickness. We then show, on average, that “brain age” across the group during the …


The External Microbiome Of Bats: Effects Of Season, Site, Host Species, And Body Region, Kyle G. George Jan 2017

The External Microbiome Of Bats: Effects Of Season, Site, Host Species, And Body Region, Kyle G. George

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

White-nose syndrome is a cutaneous fungal disease that has been detrimental to North American bats for over 10 years, but few investigators have examined the natural microbiota living on these mammals. I explored the influence of season, geographic site, host species, and body region on the external microbiome of four cave-hibernating and two migratory species. Automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis was used to profile bacterial communities from three cutaneous regions of 222 bats across winter and summer sites in Michigan, Illinois, and Kentucky. Season, site, host species, and body region all influenced the composition of external bacterial communities, but geographic …


Evaluation Of Estrous Response Patches As A Tool To Determine Optimum Timing For Artificial Insemination And If Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Is Needed At Timed-Ai In Beef Cattle, Danilo Demeterco Jan 2017

Evaluation Of Estrous Response Patches As A Tool To Determine Optimum Timing For Artificial Insemination And If Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Is Needed At Timed-Ai In Beef Cattle, Danilo Demeterco

LSU Master's Theses

Two experiments evaluated using an estrous-detection patch to identify animals that are in standing estrus at split-timed AI (STAI) and the necessity of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection at STAI on a 7-Day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol. In experiment 1 (n=216) and in experiment 2 (n=101), multiparous lactating crossbred beef cows were stratified by age, BW, BCS, and post-partum interval to 2 treatment groups: CTRL=timed-AI (TAI) at 72h post CIDR removal, or TRT=STAI at 72 or 84h post CIDR removal. All females received GnRH plus a CIDR on d0, prostaglandin-F2α, CIDR removal, and an Estrotect estrous-detector patch on d7. At …


Design And Humoral Analysis Of Two Epitope-Based Brucella Abortus Dna Vaccines, Michael Mcgee Jan 2017

Design And Humoral Analysis Of Two Epitope-Based Brucella Abortus Dna Vaccines, Michael Mcgee

LSU Master's Theses

Brucella is a genus of Gram negative, facultative intracellular pathogens which cause brucellosis, one of the most wide spread zoonotic diseases. Brucellosis causes a severe economic burden due to reproductive loss in animals and human infection. Vaccination of animals has proven to be the most effective means of controlling brucellosis; however the current live-attenuated vaccines are not considered ideal. The live-attenuated vaccines Brucella abortus Strain 19 and RB51 remain pathogenic to humans, and the former interferes with diagnostic tests due to induction of antibodies against the O-polysaccharide. DNA vaccination with single antigens has proven to be successful at protecting mice …


Cold Tolerance And Overwintering Physiology Of The Salvinia Weevil (Cyrtobagous Salviniae): Improving The Biological Control Of Giant Salvinia In Temperate Louisiana, Alana D. Russell Jan 2017

Cold Tolerance And Overwintering Physiology Of The Salvinia Weevil (Cyrtobagous Salviniae): Improving The Biological Control Of Giant Salvinia In Temperate Louisiana, Alana D. Russell

LSU Master's Theses

Cyrtobagous salviniae is widely used for biological control of Salvinia molesta. Despite success in tropical and subtropical regions, the effectiveness of C. salviniae on S. molesta is inconsistent in temperate regions, indicating the need for a better understanding of the thermal biology of this agent. The objectives of this study were to compare cold tolerance of C. salviniae populations from the temperate native range and Louisiana, and characterize the overwintering physiology and population dynamics of C. salviniae in Louisiana. Surveys of the Lower Paraná-Uruguay Delta resulted in the first record of C. salviniae in Uruguay, and revealed the most southern …


Nealley's Sprangletop (Leptochloa Nealleyi Vasey) Management And Interference In Rice Production, Eric Allen Bergeron Jan 2017

Nealley's Sprangletop (Leptochloa Nealleyi Vasey) Management And Interference In Rice Production, Eric Allen Bergeron

LSU Master's Theses

A glasshouse study was conducted on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge to evaluate herbicide activity on Nealley's sprangletop. Herbicides were applied to Nealley’s sprangletop plants in the one-two tiller stage with height of 20-30 cm. Nealley's sprangletop control, leaf number, height, tiller number, and fresh weight biomass were evaluated. Nealley's sprangletop treated with glyphosate, quizalofop, fenoxaprop, and clethodim was controlled 89 to 99%. A field study was conducted at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station (RRS) and a grower location (GL) to evaluate herbicide rates and timings for control of Nealley's sprangletop in drill-seeded rice. Herbicide treatments …


Effects Of Timing Of Local Anesthesia On Physiological Responses In Calves After Dehorning, Amanda Jane Mathias Jan 2017

Effects Of Timing Of Local Anesthesia On Physiological Responses In Calves After Dehorning, Amanda Jane Mathias

LSU Master's Theses

The American Veterinary Medical Association has stated the importance of minimizing pain associated with dehorning to limit the amount of distress and changes in the animal’s behavior and physiological states (AVMA, 2014b). The following studies aim to determine the effect of timing of lidocaine administration on physiological responses in calves after dehorning. The first study compared cortisol and substance P levels in calves dehorned immediately after administration of lidocaine and meloxicam, calves dehorned 10 minutes after the administration of lidocaine and meloxicam, and calves that were administered lidocaine and meloxicam and not dehorned. It was concluded waiting 10 minutes after …


Molecular Genetics Of Cold Tolerance At Germination And Seedling Stages In Rice, Anna Hissahe Borjas Artica Jan 2017

Molecular Genetics Of Cold Tolerance At Germination And Seedling Stages In Rice, Anna Hissahe Borjas Artica

LSU Master's Theses

Low temperature stress is a major constraint for rice production in temperate and high altitude areas of the world. Delayed germination coupled with reduced seedling vigor hinders crop establishment and crop growth resulting in reduced rice productivity. Mapping of chromosomal regions controlling cold tolerance will accelerate marker-assisted breeding of cold tolerant rice varieties. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population involving a rice cultivar ‘Bengal’ and a US weedy rice accession ‘PSRR-1’ was evaluated for cold tolerance at both germination and seedling stages. Observations on germinating ability and seedling vigor were recorded under both low temperature (13oC) and optimum temperature …


Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Yield In Louisiana Sugarcane Production Systems, Daniel Ernesto Forestieri Jan 2017

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Yield In Louisiana Sugarcane Production Systems, Daniel Ernesto Forestieri

LSU Master's Theses

Proper nitrogen (N) management is essential to optimize crop production. This study was conducted to evaluate different N fertilizer management strategies to improve N use efficiency and yield in sugarcane production in Louisiana. This research was initiated in 2013 at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA and was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications consisting of different N rates (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg N ha-1) and sources (urea-46% N, ammonium nitrate [AN]-34% N, and urea-ammonium-nitrate solution [UAN]-32% N dribbled and knifed-in) as treatments. Sensor readings were taken from different N response trials …


Evaluation Of Biochar As A Feed Additive In Commercial Broiler Diets, Brandon Michael Cheron Jan 2017

Evaluation Of Biochar As A Feed Additive In Commercial Broiler Diets, Brandon Michael Cheron

LSU Master's Theses

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate sugarcane biochar as a feed ingredient in commercial broiler diets. Experiment 1 was conducted for 11 days using 300 male Ross 708 broilers. Broilers were allotted to one of five treatment diets containing 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2%, or 4% biochar. Experiment 2 was conducted for 19 days using 450 male Ross 708 broilers. Chicks were allotted to one of 9 treatment diets containing 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75%, 1%, 1.25%, 1.5%, 1.75% or 2% biochar. Broilers and feed were weighed at day 0 and 10 in experiment 1 and day 0, 10 and 18 in …


Effects Of Silicon And Nitrogen Fertilization On Growth, Yield, And Leaf Rust Disease Development In Wheat, Maryamossadat Shahrtash Jan 2017

Effects Of Silicon And Nitrogen Fertilization On Growth, Yield, And Leaf Rust Disease Development In Wheat, Maryamossadat Shahrtash

LSU Master's Theses

There are so many people who have helped me throughout my graduate studies and for whom I am grateful. I would like to take this opportunity to first and foremost thank God for his always guidance throughout my life and giving me the wisdom and the patience I needed to finish my thesis. I would like to thank Dr. Brenda Tubana for taking me in and providing me with guidance and knowledge. I also would like to thank my committee members, Prof. Brian D. LeBlanc who guided me, encouraged me and provided me with knowledge about sustainable agriculture and Dr. …


Dynamic Modelling Of Local Government Wealth When Shocked By Natural Disasters, Alejandra Brevé Ferrari Jan 2017

Dynamic Modelling Of Local Government Wealth When Shocked By Natural Disasters, Alejandra Brevé Ferrari

LSU Master's Theses

Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm on August 29th of 2005. It is the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Communities across the country are increasingly at risk of being affected by natural and environmental disasters. The Public Assistance Grant Program (PA Program) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is available for states and communities that have received a major or emergency disaster declaration. Most of Emergency Management (EM) research has focused on preparedness and mitigation activities; considerably less research has studied post disaster response. Two of the initial and most important aspects …


Comparative Viability Of Spray Dried Lactobacilli Affected By Different Protective Agents And Storage Conditions, Vondel Vandeker Reyes Ortega Jan 2017

Comparative Viability Of Spray Dried Lactobacilli Affected By Different Protective Agents And Storage Conditions, Vondel Vandeker Reyes Ortega

LSU Master's Theses

Because of their health benefits, probiotics are a significant part of the functional food industry. Spray drying is reported as the most common method used in the food industry to encapsulate probiotics. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of protective agents on the viability of lactobacilli after spray drying and during storage at different conditions and to evaluate spray drying conditions to produce these probiotic powders. Lactobacillus plantarum NRRL B-4496 (LP) and Lactobacillus acidophilus NRRL B-4495 (LA) were separately grown (~109 CFU/ml) and suspended in a 200 g/L solution of high maize starch (HM); maltodextrin (MD); …


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 Jan 2017

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 …


Evaluation Of The Microbial Quality Of Cantaloupe Fruit Produced On Raised Or Flat Beds Following A Flooding Event, Isaack Kikway Jan 2017

Evaluation Of The Microbial Quality Of Cantaloupe Fruit Produced On Raised Or Flat Beds Following A Flooding Event, Isaack Kikway

LSU Master's Theses

Floodwater can contain microbial contaminants such as plant and foodborne pathogens and can compromise the quality of fresh fruit and vegetables produced in Louisiana. The goal of this research was to determine the impact of flooding on microbial quality (foodborne and plant pathogens) of cantaloupe fruit produced on raised or flat beds. Cantaloupe fruit produced on 30 cm raised beds or flat ground, were flooded with a mixture of surface and well water spiked with three generic Escherichia coli strains (ATCC 23716, 25922, 11775). Mean baseline generic Escherichia coli and total coliform populations in flood water (mixture of spiked well …


Physiological And Psychological Well-Being During The Spring Season In Female Soccer Players, Adam Conrad Lowe Jan 2017

Physiological And Psychological Well-Being During The Spring Season In Female Soccer Players, Adam Conrad Lowe

LSU Master's Theses

Female student-athletes are an understudied population that are exposed to athletic stressors in addition to academic and social stressors. This study is designed to investigate the physiological and psychological well-being during the spring season in female Division I soccer players. During the 2017 spring season, participants competed in five matches over five weeks and participated in three to four soccer training sessions in between match days. To measure well-being, both objective and subjective measures were used. Activation state was collected via the Activation Deactivation Adjective Checklist (AD-ACL) before all matches. Heart rate and heart rate variability were measured during all …


Preferences And Values For The Gulf Coast Ocean Observing System, Cody Lynn Plummer Jan 2017

Preferences And Values For The Gulf Coast Ocean Observing System, Cody Lynn Plummer

LSU Master's Theses

Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) provide real time oceanic data and sea state forecasting information that is utilized by numerous public and private sectors engaging in maritime activities. The U.S. Gulf Coast constituent of this system (GCOOS) consists of 321 platforms, buoys, and sensors that provide measurements of wind speed, wave height, water quality, and other parameters. Government entities have proposed an expansion of this infrastructure by 40% at an estimated cost of $35 million for installation and $33 million annually for maintenance. As part of a larger project commissioned to estimate monetized benefits of this expansion, this study applied …


Soil Properties' Response To Wheat And Corn Stubble Residue Management In Louisiana, Autumn Danielle Acree Jan 2017

Soil Properties' Response To Wheat And Corn Stubble Residue Management In Louisiana, Autumn Danielle Acree

LSU Master's Theses

Crop residue plays an important role in improving soil fertility. Crop residue affects soil biological and chemical properties by increasing soil organic matter, nutrient status and availability, and microbial activity. The degree of the effects of crop residue on soil fertility depends on the crop residue management practice. Samples were collected in 2014 in wheat (Triticum spp.) stubble and corn (Zea mays) stubble residue. A second soil sample collection under wheat stubble residue was taken in 2015 in the prescribed fire and no-till sections. A total of 342 soil samples (0-2.5cm) were collected across conventional tillage, no-till, and prescribed fire …


Descriptive Aanalysis Of Agritourism In Louisiana: Motivation. Marketing. Limitations., Denys Maksymov Jan 2017

Descriptive Aanalysis Of Agritourism In Louisiana: Motivation. Marketing. Limitations., Denys Maksymov

LSU Master's Theses

This study aims to present information on the existing Louisiana agritourism industry and create a descriptive profile of agritourism operators, addressing specifically what motivates people to engage in agritourism. A subsequent focus of the study is to document marketing approaches used in promoting agritourism operations and concerns and limitations faced by Louisiana agritourism operators. These will be achieved through the following objectives: 1. Use a survey instrument to collect information on the demographics of farmers interested and/or engaged in agritourism, farm characteristics, types of activities offered in the agritourism operations, as well as motivators for engaging in agritourism. 2. Analyze …


Fitness Costs And Inheritance Of Bt Cry2ab2 Resistance In Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J.E. Smith), Binod Acharya Jan 2017

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. …


Susceptibility Of The Southern House Mosquito, Culex Quinquefasciatus, In East Baton Rouge Parish To Larval Insecticides, Nicholas Alexander Delisi Jan 2017

Susceptibility Of The Southern House Mosquito, Culex Quinquefasciatus, In East Baton Rouge Parish To Larval Insecticides, Nicholas Alexander Delisi

LSU Master's Theses

Mosquito control districts in Louisiana focus their efforts on Culex quinquefasciatus, the primary vector of West Nile virus in the southern United States, with rigorous larvicide treatments. However, the development of resistant populations of Cx. quinquefasciatus in response to extensive insecticide application has been demonstrated repeatedly. Examining changes in insecticide susceptibility and larvicide efficacy in real world scenarios can help inform mosquito control districts as to whether or not their treatments are killing mosquitoes. We hypothesized that frequent larvicide applications for the control of mosquitoes in East Baton Rouge Parish had lowered susceptibility of wild Cx. quinquefasciatus to insecticides, and …


The Effect Of Storage Temperature And Time On The Quality Of Spray Dried Egg Powder, Fallon Polette Salinas Gonzalez Jan 2017

The Effect Of Storage Temperature And Time On The Quality Of Spray Dried Egg Powder, Fallon Polette Salinas Gonzalez

LSU Master's Theses

Dehydration is a good approach for egg preservation. However, dried egg products may still suffer from deterioration if stored in an abused temperature environment or prolonged times. Storage conditions can induce undesirable reactions and loss of functionality and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and functionality of spray dried egg yolk powders, which included plain whole egg (PLWE), free flow yolk (FFY), enzyme modified yolk (EMY), and free flow whole egg (FFWE) stored at 4 °C, 25 °C, 43 °C or 54 °C, over a 2-month period; and provide useful suggestions to maximize quality …


Role Of Varietal Resistance In Managing The Rice Water Weevil, A Major Insect Pest Of Louisiana Rice, Maisarah Mohamad Saad Jan 2017

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 …


Occurrence And Phenology Of Polistine Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) In Southern Louisiana, Scott Nacko Jan 2017

Occurrence And Phenology Of Polistine Wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) In Southern Louisiana, Scott Nacko

LSU Master's Theses

Phylogenetic studies suggest that historically all paper wasps (Vespidae: Polistinae) in North America have tropical origins. However, paper wasps have adapted to thrive in temperate conditions. Subtropical and temperate climates allow for a study of adaptive traits which can be retained or lost within populations, and ultimately help elucidate the process of social wasp evolution. Additionally, species occurrence patterns can help us to understand partitioning and resource use within populations. We investigated the occurrence and phenology of each Polistine species found at four sites in southern Louisiana around Baton Rouge, and also examined the occurrence and behavior of a closely …


Quizalofop-P-Ethyl Herbicide Interactions In Accase-Resistant Rice Production, Samer Y. Rustom Jr. Jan 2017

Quizalofop-P-Ethyl Herbicide Interactions In Accase-Resistant Rice Production, Samer Y. Rustom Jr.

LSU Master's Theses

A field study was conducted in 2015 and 2016 at the H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station (RRS) to evaluate mixture interactions of quizalofop and ALS-inhibiting herbicides. Quizalofop was applied at 120 g ai ha-1. Mixture herbicides included penoxsulam at 40 g ha-1, penoxsulam plus triclopyr at 352 g ha-1, halosulfuron at 53 g ha-1, bispyribac at 34 g ha-1, orthosulfamuron plus halosulfuron at 94 g ha-1, orthosulfamuron plus quinclorac at 491 g ha-1, imazosulfuron at 211 g ha-1, and bensulfuron at 43 g ha-1. All ALS herbicides mixed with quizalofop indicated antagonistic responses for weedy rice or barnyardgrass control …


Wind Driven Shelf Circulation: Effects Of Shoreline Orientation, Bathymetry, And Surface Cooling, Xiaodong Wu Jan 2017

Wind Driven Shelf Circulation: Effects Of Shoreline Orientation, Bathymetry, And Surface Cooling, Xiaodong Wu

Theses and Dissertations

The dynamic region extending from the inner- to outer-shelf is the nearshore region where an accurate understanding of the development of cross-shore flows is important as they control the exchange of constituents (e.g., pollutants, larvae, heat and biota) between the coastline and the open ocean. These flows are driven by a variety of forces, including wind and buoyancy. The wind forcing relevant to shelf circulation broadly falls within the synoptic scale of storm events, consisting of frontal systems (cold and warm fronts) and tropical storms. The buoyancy on the shelf is characterized by a vertical stratification or a pronounced cross-shore …


The Effect Of Energy-Matched Exercise Intensity On Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor And Motor Learning, Jessica F. Baird Jan 2017

The Effect Of Energy-Matched Exercise Intensity On Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor And Motor Learning, Jessica F. Baird

Theses and Dissertations

Brain plasticity is important to motor learning, and is a critical component of motor rehabilitation. Exercise prior to motor training may facilitate plasticity by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). However, many studies that have investigated exercise-enhanced plasticity have assessed motor skill performance on tasks involving single finger button presses or small movements of a joystick, results that may not relate to more complex, real-world movements. Additionally, while high-intensity exercise has been shown to benefit motor learning, the effects of low-intensity exercise have yet to be fully investigated. A bout of low-intensity exercise, when completed at an energy expenditure that is …


Maternal Physical Activity And Cardiorespiratory Fitness During Pregnancy And Its Relation To Infant Size, Samantha M. Mcdonald Jan 2017

Maternal Physical Activity And Cardiorespiratory Fitness During Pregnancy And Its Relation To Infant Size, Samantha M. Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations

Recent evidence indicates that U.S.-born infants are larger today compared to 20 years ago. A strong determinant of neonatal size is maternal body mass, where larger mothers deliver larger infants. Consistent evidence indicates that higher levels of maternal physical activity (PA) during pregnancy reduce the risk of delivering a larger infant. However, this protective effect has only been demonstrated in normal weight pregnant women. Little is known about the relationship between maternal PA and neonatal size in overweight or obese pregnant women. Moreover, no studies have examined the association between maternal cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), an indicator of habitual PA, on …


The Role Of Lipocalin-2 In The Hepatic Microenvironment Of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis, Daniel Titus Hughes Jan 2017

The Role Of Lipocalin-2 In The Hepatic Microenvironment Of Colorectal Cancer Metastasis, Daniel Titus Hughes

Theses and Dissertations

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. The major cause of death is metastasis and the frequent target organ is the liver. When diagnosed early at a localized stage, the five year survival rate after resection is 90%. However, after metastasis has occurred, this drops to less than 12%. Metastasis is often asymptomatic and diagnosed at the final stage when therapeutic options are limited. Because of this, the genetic and cellular mechanisms regulating metastasis are still poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that prior to the arrival of cancer cells at the …


Mercury Bioaccumulation In Three Popular Subsistence And Recreational Estuarine Fishes From Southeastern U.S.A., Taylor Cannon Jan 2017

Mercury Bioaccumulation In Three Popular Subsistence And Recreational Estuarine Fishes From Southeastern U.S.A., Taylor Cannon

Theses and Dissertations

A rising concern in recent years has occurred over the presence of methylmercury in seafood, particularly fishes, and its impact on human health. However, fish also provide many health benefits, including improved cardiovascular health and neurodevelopment. Because fishes are the main source of methylmercury exposure to humans, and are such an integral part of the human diet, understanding the risks versus the benefits of fish consumption is imperative in allowing the public to make healthy, educated choices. One way that state and federal governments attempt to do this is through issuing fish consumption advisories. Unfortunately, these advisories do not always …