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LSU Doctoral Dissertations

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Self-Assembly And Its Inhibition In Bolaform Amphiphilic Dendrimers, Jirun Sun Jan 2006

Self-Assembly And Its Inhibition In Bolaform Amphiphilic Dendrimers, Jirun Sun

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Self-assembly is scientifically interesting, technologically important, and sometimes life-threatening. A striking example: Alzheimer’s disease is caused by the self-assembly of the â-amyloid fragment of amyloid precursor protein. Such natural amphiphiles normally are very expensive and complicated to isolate. Synthetic mimics that are much cheaper and easier to prepare can facilitate the development of efficient characterization methods, even as they suggest new materials science applications. Two-directional arborols are synthetic bolaform amphiphilic dendrimers. They dissolve in hot water and form reversible gels at room temperature. Bundles of fibrils, which are made by self-assembly of arborols, are found in the gels. The properties …


Applications Of Titanium-Mediated Reductive Coupling And Cyclocarbonylation Reactions Toward Natural Product Synthesis, Maria A. Appeaning Jan 2006

Applications Of Titanium-Mediated Reductive Coupling And Cyclocarbonylation Reactions Toward Natural Product Synthesis, Maria A. Appeaning

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Previous work in our laboratory has demonstrated not only a synthetic value of tandem reductive cyclization - carbonylation reactions in the preparation of complex molecules but also the interesting stereoselectivity observed therein. The first part of this work employs the titanium-mediated cyclocarbonylation of tethered dienals for the synthesis of prostaglandin analogues, in particular PGF and methyl jasmonate. Based on this hetero Pauson-Khand strategy, we have established an efficient racemic route to both the prostaglandin and the methyl jasmonate core skeletons. Moderate to excellent selectivities with regard to the hetero Pauson-Khand reaction were observed in both cases. The second part …


Factors Influencing The Participation In Environmental Stewardship Programs: A Case Study Of The Agricultural And Forestry Sectors In Louisiana, Carrie Castille Mendoza Jan 2006

Factors Influencing The Participation In Environmental Stewardship Programs: A Case Study Of The Agricultural And Forestry Sectors In Louisiana, Carrie Castille Mendoza

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Considerable research has been conducted to evaluate the adoption of agricultural best management practices and their overall impact on improving environmental quality. However, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the behavioral factors that influence the adoption of these practices in the context of educational programs The goal of this study is to determine the factors that influence farmer conservation behavior that might lead to an increased probability of improving agriculture and forestry watersheds. A conceptual model was developed to identify the: 1) identify landowner participation in watershed conservation projects, and 2) determine the factors influencing agriculture and forestry landowners …


Multianalyte Detection Of Breast Cancer By Fabrication Of Hybridmicroarrays On Polymer-Based Microanalytical Devices, Suying Wei Jan 2006

Multianalyte Detection Of Breast Cancer By Fabrication Of Hybridmicroarrays On Polymer-Based Microanalytical Devices, Suying Wei

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Breast cancer is one of the most common and fatal cancer diseases that affect women worldwide. As is true with most other cancer diseases, early detection of breast cancer is very crucial for proper medical treatment because treatment of advanced breast cancer will be much more difficult and inconsistent. Screening and testing of breast cancer biomarkers, either genetic or proteomic, are among techniques used for diagnosis of breast cancers. Nevertheless, none of the biomarkers is by itself sensitive and selective enough for diagnosis of breast cancer, and thus, multi-analyte assays towards detection of multiple breast cancer biomarkers from different classes …


Fabrication, Characterization And Properties Of Hiercchically Ordered Nanocomposites, Avinash Dundigalla Jan 2006

Fabrication, Characterization And Properties Of Hiercchically Ordered Nanocomposites, Avinash Dundigalla

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objectives of this research are to study the structure, morphology and properties of poly(ethylene-oxide) (PEO)-clay nanocomposites using various imaging techniques. Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy are used to image structures on all length scales. Complementary scattering experiments are discussed along with preliminary differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy results. In particular we investigated the multilayered structures of PEO-Laponite and PEO-Montmorillonite multilayered films made from solution. The shear orientation of a polymer-clay network in solution combined with simultaneous solvent evaporation leads to supramolecular multilayer formation in the film. The resulting …


Development Of Analytical Techniques For The Analysis Of Submicron Particles And Protein Aggregates, Yohannes H. Rezenom Jan 2006

Development Of Analytical Techniques For The Analysis Of Submicron Particles And Protein Aggregates, Yohannes H. Rezenom

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of the research presented in this dissertation is to develop analytical techniques for the analysis of heterogeneous mixtures of submicron particles and protein aggregates. In Chapter 2, a simple and reproducible technique for constructing perfectly aligned gaps in fused-silica capillaries has been developed for postcolumn reagent addition with capillary electrophoresis (CE) to take advantage of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. This technique uses laser ablation with a Nd:YAG laser to create gaps of 14.0 ¡Ó 2.2 ƒÝm. These structures have been used for reagent addition for postcolumn derivatization with LIF detection and have been tested for the separation of …


Investigation Into The Dirhodium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation Of 1-Alkenes And Preparation Of A Novel Tetraphosphine Ligand, Alexandre R. Monteil Jan 2006

Investigation Into The Dirhodium-Catalyzed Hydroformylation Of 1-Alkenes And Preparation Of A Novel Tetraphosphine Ligand, Alexandre R. Monteil

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The reaction of the tetraphosphine ligand rac-et,ph-P4 (et,ph-P4 = PEt2CH2CH2(Ph)PCH2P(Ph)CH2CH2PEt2) with 2 equiv. of [Rh(nbd)2]+ (nbd = norbornadiene) generates [rac-Rh2(nbd)2(et,ph-P4)]2+, which is the precursor to a highly active and regioselective hydroformylation catalyst system. The “key” catalyst species generated under H2/CO pressure has been proposed to be the dihydrido complex [rac-Rh2H2(ì-CO)2(et,ph-P4)]2+, and represents one of the most dramatic example of homobimetallic …


Simulating Protein Evolution Via Thermodynamic Models, Yanlong Xu Jan 2006

Simulating Protein Evolution Via Thermodynamic Models, Yanlong Xu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Natural proteins are results of evolution and they need to maintain certain thermodynamic stabilities in order to carry out their biological functions. By simulating protein evolution based on thermodynamic rules, we could reconstruct the evolution trajectory and analyze the evolutionary dynamics of a protein population, and further understand the protein sequence-structure-function relationship. In this study, we have used both a simplified lattice model and a high-resolution atomic model to simulate protein evolution processes. With the lattice model, we have investigated general theoretical questions about how protein structural designability would affect protein evolution, particularly how it would affect protein recombination and …


Some Factors Affecting The Interfacial Interaction At Thermomechanical Pulp Fiber And Polypropylene Interphase, Sangyeob Lee Jan 2006

Some Factors Affecting The Interfacial Interaction At Thermomechanical Pulp Fiber And Polypropylene Interphase, Sangyeob Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation focused on some selected factors that influence the interfacial interactions at the interphase between wood based materials and thermoplastic surfaces. Several treatments were applied to enhance interfacial properties. In general, interfacial properties were altered by physical and chemical surface modification. Study of the interfacial interactions between wood fiber surfaces as a reinforced material and thermoplastics as a matrix material is important to understand fundamentals of wood fiber-plastic composites (WPC). This study represents fundamental research to define treatment effects on surfaces of wood pulp fibers and polypropylene (PP) film. Two thermosets, ion implantations, and maleic anhydride (MA) grafting were …


Synthesis, Crystal Growth, Magnetic And Transport Properties Of Ln-M-X (Ln=Lanthanide, M=Transition Metal, X=In, Ga) Compounds, Willa Maria Williams Jan 2006

Synthesis, Crystal Growth, Magnetic And Transport Properties Of Ln-M-X (Ln=Lanthanide, M=Transition Metal, X=In, Ga) Compounds, Willa Maria Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

ABSTRACT This dissertation focuses on the structural stability, magnetic and transport properties of ternary lanthanide compounds grown using indium and gallium flux. Single crystals of TbRhIn5 were synthesized using indium flux. TbRhIn5 is isostructural to the well known LnnMIn3n+2 (n = 1, 2, ∞; Ln = La, Ce; M = Rh, Ir) and adopts the HoCoGa5 structure type and crystallizes in the space group P4/mmm, Z = 1. Lattice parameters are a = 4.6000(6) Å and c = 7.4370(11) Å, V = 157.29(6) Å3. A sharp antiferromagnetic transition is observed at TN = 48 K for TbRhIn5. Single crystals of …


Quantifying Changes In Fish Habitat Use In Coastal Waters Of Louisiana, Usa: A Hydroacoustic Approach, Kevin Mershon Boswell Jan 2006

Quantifying Changes In Fish Habitat Use In Coastal Waters Of Louisiana, Usa: A Hydroacoustic Approach, Kevin Mershon Boswell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The development of reliable tools for identifying essential fish habitat (EFH) has proven problematic. Knowledge of the distribution and biomass of fishes over discrete habitat types is a prerequisite for effective use of EFH in the management of important commercial and recreational fish species. Resolution of the influence of habitat type and environmental factors on the distribution of fishes is confounded by limitations of traditional sampling gears. To date, hydroacoustic technology has been widely accepted as a tool for surveying fishery resources; however few studies have implemented acoustics in ultra shallow (<2 m) coastal waters. Efforts should be made to utilize hydroacoustics for quantifying changes in fish distributions within estuarine environments given the benefits provided through acoustic technology (e.g. ease of deployment, reduced sampling effort, and non-invasive sampling attributes). A technique was developed for acoustically sensing fishes in the shallow, turbid waters of Barataria Bay, Louisiana. A robust and lightweight remotely-controlled transducer platform was designed for deploying acoustic gear. Sources of scattering within the bay were identified through a series of exclosure net experiments designed to quantify potential effects of plankton and suspended solids on acoustic scattering. Analysis filters were developed to reduce the effects of bubble-induced noise, often observed during periods when wind speeds were greater than 4.5 m s-1. Side-aspect acoustic target strength-length and target …


Structural And Forecasting Softwood Lumber Models With A Time Series Approach, Nianfu Song Jan 2006

Structural And Forecasting Softwood Lumber Models With A Time Series Approach, Nianfu Song

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The development of cointegration theories and the presence of nonstationarity in time series raised serious concerns about possible spurious estimations in forest products models. Based on the results of Hsiao (1997a, 1997b), all the virtues of two-stage least square (2SLS) hold if there are sufficient cointegration relations. Stationary null and nonstationary null unit root tests and monthly seasonal unit root tests were applied to the time series used in this dissertation. Cointegration tests with exogenous variables were performed to justify the 2SLS. A regional error correction model (ECM) with four regional lumber supply and demand equations and a U.S.-Canada supply …


A Computational Framework For The Structural Change Analysis Of 3d Volumes Of Microscopic Specimens, Madhusudhanan Balasubramanian Jan 2006

A Computational Framework For The Structural Change Analysis Of 3d Volumes Of Microscopic Specimens, Madhusudhanan Balasubramanian

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Glaucoma, commonly observed with an elevation in the intraocular pressure level (IOP), is one of the leading causes of blindness. The lamina cribrosa is a mesh-like structure that provides axonal support for the optic nerves leaving the eye. The changes in the laminar structure under IOP elevations may result in the deaths of retinal ganglion cells, leading to vision degradation and loss. We have developed a comprehensive computational framework that can assist the study of structural changes in microscopic structures such as lamina cribrosa. The optical sectioning property of a confocal microscope facilitates imaging thick microscopic specimen at various depths …


River, Tidal And Wind Interactions In A Deltaic Estuarine System, Gregg Snedden Jan 2006

River, Tidal And Wind Interactions In A Deltaic Estuarine System, Gregg Snedden

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The balance between river and marine influences is important in governing landscape sustainability in river deltas. River- and atmospherically driven sea level variability, sediment loading, and estuary-ocean exchange in the Mississippi River delta are examined in this study. Subtidal estuarine sea level variability in the Breton Sound estuary was driven by a combination of remote atmospheric forcing outside the estuary over the continental shelf and controlled river inputs through a gated diversion structure at the estuary head. The highly-frictional deltaic landscape acted as a low-pass filter to coastal fluctuations near the estuary mouth. When substantial quantities river water were discharged …


Effective Inter-Organizational Information And Communication Technology Adoption In Business-To-Business Customer Interface, Sanna Maria Kallioranta Jan 2006

Effective Inter-Organizational Information And Communication Technology Adoption In Business-To-Business Customer Interface, Sanna Maria Kallioranta

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Past research has found that 80-90 percent of IT investments do not meet corporate performance objectives, primarily due to non-technical reasons such as human and organizational aspects. When Inter-organizational Information and Communication Technology (IICT) implementation is properly managed IICT can help manage the flow of goods, services, and information between business partners in the supplier-customer dyad, thus reducing transaction costs along the entire value chain. Using the underlying Resource-Based View theoretical foundation, this research approaches effective IICT implementation capability as a holistic organizational capability that extends beyond tangible IT resources. This research investigates business outcomes of IICT adoption in the …


An Inverse Homogenization Design Method For Stress Control In Composites, Michael Stuebner Jan 2006

An Inverse Homogenization Design Method For Stress Control In Composites, Michael Stuebner

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis addresses the problem of optimal design of microstructure in composite materials. The work involves new developments in homogenization theory and numerical analysis. A computational design method for grading the microstructure in composite materials for the control of local stress in the vicinity of stress concentrations is developed. The method is based upon new rigorous multiscale stress criteria connecting the macroscopic or homogenized stress to local stress fluctuations at the scale of the microstructure. These methods are applied to three different types of design problems. The first treats the problem of optimal distribution of fibers with circular cross section …


Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Methylaluminoxane (Mao) Synthesis By Hydrolysis Of Trimethylaluminum, Lacramioara Negureanu Jan 2006

Ab Initio Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Methylaluminoxane (Mao) Synthesis By Hydrolysis Of Trimethylaluminum, Lacramioara Negureanu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

MAO is the co-catalyst in the metallocene catalytic systems, which are widely used in single site olefin polymerization due to their high stereoselectivity. To date, the precise structure of MAO, the particular compound or compounds catalytically active in MAO, have eluded researchers. MAO, a white amorphous powder, is not a good sample for a direct spectroscopic characterization, and its NMR spectra are broad and almost featureless. Many structural models have been proposed but none are generally accepted. In the first part of this work the MAO formation mechanism was addressed. Molecular dynamics simulations at MP2 configuration interaction theory level have …


Infrared Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Fundamental And Applications, Mark Little Jan 2006

Infrared Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Fundamental And Applications, Mark Little

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation on infrared laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry encompasses fundamental studies of the desorption/ionization process and direct-from-gel laser desorption/ionization applications. Understanding of the fundamentals behind desorption and ionization can lead to improvements in the technique and to new applications. Experiments aimed at advancing this goal are wavelength studies and two-laser infrared/ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization experiments. The direct-from-gel laser desorption/ionization application in which infrared laser desorption/ionization of analytes directly ionized after gel electrophoretic separation will also be presented. Protein and peptide standards were used as test analytes and the infrared lasers used were a 10.6 micrometers carbon-dioxide laser and a mid-IR …


Influence Of Surface Chemistry On The Aggregation Of Beta Amyloid Peptide, Mariah Joan Wooldridge Mcmasters Jan 2006

Influence Of Surface Chemistry On The Aggregation Of Beta Amyloid Peptide, Mariah Joan Wooldridge Mcmasters

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological ailment affecting 4.5 million aging Americans. The disease is characterized by the presence in the brain of self-assembled fibrils consisting of beta amyloid protein (Aβ). Soluble Aβ protein is present in normal human cerebrospinal fluid, but it is unclear what makes the protein aggregate into insoluble plaques. There is evidence that the Aβ fibril assembly is affected by interactions with biological surfaces, such as neuronal membranes. Here, surfaces consisting of self-assembled alkanethiol monolayers with different end groups were used to test the effect of surface chemistry on the structure and morphology of aggregates formed …


Ecology Of Lesser Scaup Amphipods In The Upper-Midwest: Scope And Mechanisms Of The Spring Condition Hypothesis And Implications For Migration Habitat Conservation, Michael Jason Anteau Jan 2006

Ecology Of Lesser Scaup Amphipods In The Upper-Midwest: Scope And Mechanisms Of The Spring Condition Hypothesis And Implications For Migration Habitat Conservation, Michael Jason Anteau

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

I tested the scope of the Spring Condition Hypothesis in explaining the continental population decline of lesser scaup (Aythya affinis; hereafter scaup) and explored potential mechanisms affecting female body condition to assist conservation efforts for population recovery. Lipid reserves of females currently are lower than historical values during spring migration throughout Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota; females catabolized lipids throughout this area (indexed by concentrations of plasma-lipid metabolites, which accounted for 75% of the variation in mass change). My results indicate that a large segment of the continental scaup population likely is affected by decreased lipid reserves, which could cause …


Belowground Biomass Of Spartina Alterniflora: Seasonal Variability And Response To Nutrients, Faith Armand Darby Jan 2006

Belowground Biomass Of Spartina Alterniflora: Seasonal Variability And Response To Nutrients, Faith Armand Darby

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Spartina alterniflora is a salt marsh macrophyte found from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico which often provides the dominant plant cover. Although S. alterniflora is well known for its high aboveground productivity, fifty to ninety percent of the total plant production occurs belowground. No previous studies address the seasonal variation of belowground biomass or the response of above-and belowground biomass to nutrients at the southern limits of its U. S. range. The objectives of this study were to: 1) document the seasonal variability of its above- and belowground biomass and test for responses to various combinations of N, P, …


Circuits And Structure In Matroids And Graphs, Brian Daniel Beavers Jan 2006

Circuits And Structure In Matroids And Graphs, Brian Daniel Beavers

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation consists of several results on matroid and graph structure and is organized into three main parts. The main goal of the first part, Chapters 1-3, is to produce a unique decomposition of 3-connected matroids into more highly connected pieces. In Chapter 1, we review the definitions and main results from the previous work of Hall, Oxley, Semple, and Whittle. In Chapter 2, we introduce operations that allow us to decompose a 3-connected matroid M into a pair of 3-connected pieces by breaking the matroid apart at a 3-separation. We also generalize a result of Akkari and Oxley. In …


Effects Of Diesel-Fuel And Copper Contaminants On Benthic Microalgae, Soraya Silva Jan 2006

Effects Of Diesel-Fuel And Copper Contaminants On Benthic Microalgae, Soraya Silva

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Salt marshes are dynamic, highly productive habitats and serve as nursery grounds for many commercially and economically important species. Benthic microalgae (BMA) are considered an important food source for benthos and provide the principal source of nutrition that fuels secondary production. Estuarine sediments around the world are a repository for many contaminants from anthropogenic sources. In particular, hydrocarbons and metals are ubiquitous contaminants in coastal systems. The primary goal of this study was to study the effects of diesel fuel and copper, alone and in combination, on the BMA assemblage from a coastal salt marsh. To achieve this objective, salt …


Integral Cohomology Of The Siegel Modular Variety Of Degree Two And Level Three, Mustafa Arslan Jan 2006

Integral Cohomology Of The Siegel Modular Variety Of Degree Two And Level Three, Mustafa Arslan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this thesis work Deligne's spectral sequence Ep,qr with integer coefficients for the embedding of the Siegel modular variety of degree two and level three, A2(3) into its Igusa compactification, A2(3)*, is investigated. It is shown that E3 = E and this information is applied to compute the cohomology groups of A2(3) over the integers.


On Moment Conditions For The Girsanov Theorem, See Keong Lee Jan 2006

On Moment Conditions For The Girsanov Theorem, See Keong Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, the well-known Girsanov Theorem will be proved under a set of moment conditions on exponential processes. Our conditions are motivated by the desire to avoid using the local martingale theory in the proof of the Girsanov Theorem. Namely, we will only use the martingale theory to prove the Girsanov Theorem. Many sufficient conditions for the validity of the Girsanov Theorem have been found since the publication of the result by Girsanov in 1960. We will compare our conditions with some of these conditions. As an application of the Girsanov Theorem, we will show the nonexistence of an …


Two-Dimensional And High-Throughput Electrophoretic Separation Of Proteins Using Polymeric Microchips, Hamed Shadpour Jan 2006

Two-Dimensional And High-Throughput Electrophoretic Separation Of Proteins Using Polymeric Microchips, Hamed Shadpour

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A major task in proteomics is to identify proteins from a biological sample using two-dimensional (2-D) separation prior to mass spectrometry of peptides generated via proteolytic digestion of the proteins. For 2-D separations, microfluidic devices are superior to bench top and capillary-based systems since they potentially provide higher separation efficiencies due to the minimal dead volumes produced during peak transfer between the two separation dimensions. In addition, fast separations can be envisioned because the column lengths are typically shorter in microfluidic platforms without scarifying peak capacity. High-throughput capabilities are extremely desirable for many types of bio-analytical analyses, such as understanding …


Magnetic, Thermodynamic And Transport Properties Of The Magnetic Semiconductor Fe₁₋Xcoxs₂ And Superconducting Lasb₂, Song Guo Jan 2006

Magnetic, Thermodynamic And Transport Properties Of The Magnetic Semiconductor Fe₁₋Xcoxs₂ And Superconducting Lasb₂, Song Guo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In recent years magnetic semiconductors have attracted a great deal of attention because it is thought that they can be used to generate spin polarized current in spintronics, an emerging field where the spin degree of freedom of charge carriers is utilized in microelectronic devices. In this dissertation work, we investigate the magnetic, thermodynamic, and transport properties of the magnetic semiconductor Fe1-XCoxS2 for x less than 0.14, the doping range where Insulator-to-Metal and paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transitions occur. We discovered that the Kondo effect is an important ingredient in the paramagnetic region of magnetic semiconductor Fe1-X …


Integrating Micro-Scale Separations To Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption And Ioniation Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (Maldi-Tof-Ms) For Protein Analysis, Harrison K. Musyimi Jan 2006

Integrating Micro-Scale Separations To Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption And Ioniation Time Of Flight Mass Spectrometry (Maldi-Tof-Ms) For Protein Analysis, Harrison K. Musyimi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation describes the integration of micro-scale separations to matrix assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF MS) for protein analysis. MALDI MS provides unsurpassed accurate mass measurements of intact bio-molecules, for example peptides and proteins, which in turn generate high molecular specificity enabling the identity, function and structure of these molecules to be characterized. However, in order to realize the full potential of MS in proteomic studies, integrated sample processing on automated and high throughput platforms is required to address the complexity, diversity and the dynamic range of proteomic analysis. The work described here contributes towards …


Direct Detection Of Homocysteine And Syntheses Of Lanthanide Complexes As Biosensors, Weihua Wang Jan 2006

Direct Detection Of Homocysteine And Syntheses Of Lanthanide Complexes As Biosensors, Weihua Wang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

At elevated levels, homocysteine (Hcy) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s also implicated in a number of other diseases such as neural tube defects, pregnancy complications, and renal failures. The monitoring of Hcy levels in plasma is of current concern. To date, the biochemical mechanism by which Hcy is involved in disease states is unclear. Herein, we describe highly selective colorimetric methods for the direct determination of Hcy. Inexpensive, commercially available materials are reported. The results show potential application for the detection of Hcy in human blood plasma. Additionally, new HPLC postcolumn detection methods for …


Topics In Quantum Topology, Khaled Moham Qazaqzeh Jan 2006

Topics In Quantum Topology, Khaled Moham Qazaqzeh

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In chapter 1, which represents joint work with Gilmer, we define an index two subcategory of a 3-dimensional cobordism category. The objects of the category are surfaces equipped with Lagrangian subspaces of their real first homology. This generalizes the result of [9] where surfaces are equipped with Lagrangian subspaces of their rational first homology. To define such subcategory, we give a formula for the parity of the Maslov index of a triple of Lagrangian subspaces of a skew symmetric bilinear form over R. In chapter 2, we find two bases for the lattices of the SU(2)-TQFT-theory modules of the torus …