Master of Science in Biological Sciences
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Item Preliminary Survey of the Insects of the Ouachita Mountains Biological Station, Polk County, Arkansas(2023-08) Lewis, Marlon JeromeThe purpose of this study is to contribute to the scientific understanding of the biological systems of the Ouachita Mountains Biological Station (OMBS), an intact example of forest undisturbed by fire management, within the Ouachita Mountain range. The combination of the high number of endemics and low number of studies promotes the likelihood of new species discovery and high insect diversity. Samples of the terrestrial insects occurring on the OMBS were made in order to establish baseline data on these organisms. Surveys were done periodically throughout the year to monitor seasonal variations in population occurrence. Coordinates of sample locations using Trimble Geo XT GPS were obtained. Black light traps were used to collect nocturnal insects. Pitfall traps were used to collect ground dwelling insects. Berlese funnel traps were used to collect leaf-litter dwelling insects, and other methods (sweep netting, hand capture, etc.), were used where appropriate. Insect identification to species was made using literature and the entomology collections at LSU-Shreveport and LSU-Baton Rouge campuses. The United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Forest Service recognizes 9 different ecologically distinct zones within this southern, Ouachita section of the Interior Highlands. Comparisons of samples from the various sections were compared. This research has filled in the gaps in the current literature on the biodiversity of this unique area and provides a baseline entomological reference for future studies, and a basis for comparison to other undisturbed, mixed hardwood forest ecosystems.Item In-Silico and In-Vitro Drug Analysis of Selected Flavonoids, Including Fusarochromanone(2019-05) Stratton, Christopher A.In recent years, there has been a shift in the pre-clinical drug discovery paradigm from a strict in-vitro process toward an in-silico based process. The in-silico process allows the researcher to perform in-depth screening of drug-like properties of compound analogs, such that potential optimal lead drug(s), from a library of test compounds, can be quickly identified. This provides a means to determine which compounds to apply more funding and time towards developing. Many lead drug failures are pharmacokinetic in nature and fall into the realm of one or more of the following ADMET areas: absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, or toxicity. We utilized ADMET Predictor, a software package produced by Simulations Plus, Inc., to perform this analysis. The proliferation studies in the PANC1 cell line were conducted by the Innovative North Louisiana Experimental Therapeutics (INLET) group at the Louisiana State University Health Science Center in Shreveport (LSUHSC). This study reviews a library of flavonoid compounds, determining the ones reflecting the best bioavailability, lowest ADMET risk, and greatest inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Flavonoid compounds include a family of molecules that are polycyclic in structure and have a skeleton consisting of a chromanone substituted with a benzene ring. These molecules have been studied extensively and found to contain therapeutic properties such as anti-cancer and anti oxidant effects. In addition to the in-silico studies above, Fusarochromanone, a unique flavonoid compound and a potent anti-cancer agent, was analyzed with respect to the International Council of Harmonisation (ICH) requirements. Fusarochromanone has been studied extensively at LSUS from the perspective of in-vitro and in-silico drug discovery methodologies including drug response profiling and target identification. These studies have been very fruitful, such that LSUS needed to begin performing the work required to submit an investigational new drug application. One key point is to ensure proper assessment for drug identity, quantity, purity, and stability. The establishment of a stability indicating method for Fusarochromanone constitutes the second part in this thesis.Item The Profile of Carotenoids Lutein and Zeaxanthin in the Yellow Plumage of Parulidae and Vireonidae in the Northwest Louisiana Area(2019-05) Clinton, Eric DeanProgress is being made in the pathways involved in how aviary organisms obtain, metabolize, and utilize carotenoids for immune function and plumage. Whether carotenoids are used for plumage as sexual coloration or avoidance of biodegradation due to photo-oxidation has yet to be elucidated amongst the avian community. Carotenoids have been biochemically characterized for many animal species, but speculation of others have been made which hinders the advancement of understanding the mechanism of carotenoid acquisition and utilization among avian species. Parulidae and Vireonidae are especially underrepresented in studies possibly due to their propensity to feed primarily on insects and infrequently visit feeders. The diet of insectivores is amongst the most poorly characterized of avian diets regarding carotenoid content. The presence of lutein and zeaxanthin in many of the individuals confirms the utilization of these carotenoids in the plumage of these families of birds. Concentrations were not measured to identify saturation of the carotenoids deposited in plumage. A few unidentified peaks suggest the presence of metabolites of lutein and zeaxanthin in the pathway from producer to primary consumer (insects) to secondary consumer (bird).Item Progress Towards the Total Synthesis of a Novel Caffeic Acid Analog with Anti-Cancer Activity(2020-05) Long, Darbi L.The goal of this project was to design, synthesize, and investigate a novel compound that has anti-cancer potential as a chemotherapeutic drug. The backbone of the molecule was chosen as a bioisostere of a natural polyphenol scaffold. Leading the field of chemotherapeutic research is the notable anti-cancer molecule caffeic acid. Proving promising, caffeic acid and its derivatives are already being studied for their targeted effect on the cell signaling pathway. The aim of this project is to increase the potency of lead drug compounds by varying the functional groups within molecules and then determining their capacity to act as anti-cancer agents. The significance of functional group modification on drug biological characteristics lead to the development of a synthesis pathway, with a target molecule containing a tetrazole functional group. The tetrazole group is comparable to the carboxylic acid group on caffeic acid. Because compounds similar in structure often have similar biological properties, we speculate that the variation in functional groups will produce a favorable change in polyphenol drug potential in vivo. Biological activity tests were used to determine the efficacy of the novel compounds. Cytotoxicity assays and metabolic profiles were some of the analyses performed. This compound and its variations provide a promising avenue of research for novel anti-cancer agents.Item Evaluation of Different Furrow Irrigation Methods on Corn Water Use, Growth, and Grain Yield(2022-08) Whitten, MadisonCorn (Zea mays L.) is economically important crop for the United States. Corn is one of the crops that is very sensitive to water stress, and often irrigation is critical for attaining optimal yields. Though Louisiana receives an abundance of rainfall on an annual basis, often, sufficient rainfall is missing during the corn reproductive stages. Currently, over 70% of corn acreage is under irrigation in Louisiana, and the majority of those acres receive irrigation by the furrow irrigation method. Furrow irrigation has lower irrigation water productivity (IWP) and greater loss of nutrients, soil, organic matter, and agrochemicals than other irrigation methods. Alternate furrow irrigation (AFI) has been proposed as a best management practice to overcome these problems. The present study evaluated AFI compared to every furrow irrigation (EFI) on improving corn growth, grain yield and IWP in different soil types. A three-year corn field study was conducted in a very fine sandy loam (VFSL) and a silty clay loam (SCL) during 2016, 2018, and 2021. Three-years of data showed that plant height did not differ significantly between EFI and AFI in both the soil types, though EFI had considerably taller plants in VFSL in proportion to the number of irrigations and growth stage at irrigation initiation. Effect of EFI and AFI on leaf tissue and stover, which are the leaves and the stalk, nutrient concentrations were not significantly different; however, in general, EFI had higher soil and biomass nutrient concentrations for most of the nutrients including nitrogen (N) compared to AFI. Conversely, AFI had higher tissue N concentrations than EFI in SCL soil. Similarly, in VFSL soil, EFI displayed consistently higher grain nutrient concentrations, especially N, than AFI, though these differences were statistically insignificant. Corn grain yields were also similar between EFI and AFI in both soil types except in 2018 for VFSL soil where EFI was significantly higher. Monitoring of the soil moisture data showed that AFI improved water distribution of SCL soil due to good lateral seepage, while in VFSL soil, due to poor lateral irrigation water flow, AFI forced plant roots in the unirrigated furrow to use water from deeper soil layers. Overall, data indicates that though the AFI is conserving irrigation water, plants were still using similar amount of water as in EFI but from the deeper layers in the unirrigated furrows. The IWP was considerably small for the additional water received by corn in EFI. Overall, the study indicates adopting AFI is beneficial in heavier soil types while frequency of irrigation may need to be increased for light textured soils such as VFSL to minimize significant yield drop during the prolonged drought conditions.