Areas Of Louisiana Research Articles

Changes in Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colony Swarming and Survival Pre- and Postarrival of <I>Varroa destructor</I> (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) in Louisiana

Abstract The impact of Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) on colonies of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in southern Louisiana was evaluated by analyzing changes in swarming and longevity of colonies for 17 yr. Swarming rates were calculated from yearly captures of swarms in bait hives placed in five areas of Louisiana from 1991 to 2006. Colony longevity was monitored in 104 swarms established from 1990 to 2000 and followed until 2004. In the first years, before V. destructor, average swarm capture rates ranged from 0.85 to 0.95 swarms per bait hive-year, and survival of colonies established from swarms averaged 14 mo. In years immediately after the arrival of V. destructor (1993–1996), swarming rates and colony longevity decreased to 0.36–0.60 swarms per bait hive-year and 10 mo, respectively. After ≈5 yr in the presence of V. destructor, both rates recovered to levels at least as high as those seen before varroa arrived; swarm capture rates were 0.75–1.04 swarms per b...

Registration of ‘L 79‐1002’ Sugarcane

‘L 79‐1002’ (Reg. No. CV‐132, PI 651501) sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum officinarum L., S. spontaneum L., S. barberi Jeswiet, and S. sinense Roxb. amend. Jeswiet) was released on 26 Apr. 2007 by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in cooperation with the USDA‐ARS and the American Sugarcane League, Inc. The cross for L 79‐1002, a F1 hybrid, was made in 1974 using ‘CP 52‐68’ as the female parent and Tainan, a S. spontaneum clone, as the male parent. Initial clonal selection was done in single stools. Testing was done from 1976 through 1983 in yield trials conducted in the traditional sugarcane growing area in south Louisiana and in the colder, non‐sugarcane growing regions of north Louisiana. Yield testing was resumed in 2002 through 2005 as interest in biofuels research renewed. L 79‐1002 was released for an emerging biofuels industry because of its high fiber content and biomass (cane yield) potential. Average fiber content for L 79‐1002 is approximately 257 g kg−1 The new cultivar also has excellent vigor and ratooning ability. Experiments conducted at Bossier City, Louisiana (32.1° N lat) indicated a broader range of adaptability than sugarcane cultivars grown for the production of sucrose.

Predicting Economic Losses from the Continued Spread of the Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)

The Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is an invasive species that originated from Mexico, and it is threatening to cause major economic losses to sugarcane, Saccharum spp., and rice, Oryza sativa L., industries in Louisiana. The insect is expected to reach sugarcane and rice production areas in Louisiana by 2008, and infest all of Louisiana sugarcane and rice industries by 2035. When all sugarcane in Louisiana becomes infested, annual yield losses of $220 million would be expected for a cultivar of comparable susceptibility to LCP 85-384 (assuming this cultivar is planted on 100% of the production area). This also assumes the use of the current practice of rainfed production and one application of insecticide, which is presently used by farmers in Louisiana. Irrigation with 30 cm of water is predicted to reduce estimated losses by 29%, whereas four applications of a biorational insecticide such as tebufenozide are expected to reduce the loss in revenue by 53%. The use of the resistant 'HoCP 85-845' would reduce the projected loss in revenue by 24%. Combining all three management tactics on sugarcane, anticipated net loss in revenue would decrease by 66%. The rice industry in Louisiana is projected to suffer from a loss in revenue of $45 million when the entire state is infested. A 77% reduction in loss in revenue is expected with one application of lambda-cyhalothrin. A quarantine on east Texas sugarcane is estimated to save the Louisiana industry between $1.1 billion and $3.2 billion (depending on management) during the time needed for the insect to fully invade the state's sugarcane and rice producing area by natural migration rather than by accidental introduction. The rapid deployment of appropriate management tactics will have a key role in reducing the anticipated economic impact of E. loftini once it becomes a pest in Louisiana sugarcane and rice.

Temporal Increase and Spatial Distribution of Sugarcane Yellow Leaf and Infestations of the Aphid Vector, Melanaphis sacchari.

Yellow leaf, caused by Sugarcane yellow leaf virus (ScYLV), is a potentially important disease of sugarcane first found in Louisiana during 1996. A survey during 2002 determined that ScYLV infection was present in all sugarcane-production areas of Louisiana. Virus was detected in 48% of 42 fields, and incidence averaged 15% in these fields. Disease progress curves determined in four fields during two growing seasons indicated that the greatest temporal increase of virus infection occurred during late spring and early summer and coincided with the initial infestation and increase of the virus vector, the sugarcane aphid (Melanaphis sacchari). Aphid infestations in the experimental fields during 2002 and 2003 ranged from 1.2 to 33.0 and 1.0 to 4.2 aphids per leaf, respectively. Final disease incidences of 2.9, 5.2, and 5.2% were recorded in three fields planted with virus-free seed-cane. Distribution of ScYLV infections and aphids evaluated with spatial autocorrelation analysis indicated that ScYLV and its aphid vector both exhibited a predominantly random spatial distribution, with occasional aggregation. The low incidence and rates of disease increase observed, despite the widespread occurrence of potential vectors, suggest that inoculum pressure remains low in Louisiana. Therefore, it may be possible to keep yellow leaf at low levels by planting virus-free seed-cane.

IBERIABANK Corp

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)IBERIABANK is the bank holding company for IBERIABANK (the Bank), a Louisiana chartered commercial bank. As of Dec 31 2006, The Bank operated 49 branch offices in seven areas of Louisiana, as well as six loan production offices in Mandeville, Morgan City, Metairie, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. Co. provides a variety of financial services and a range of product line including retail, commercial, private banking, mortgage, cash management, online banking and investment services to individuals and businesses throughout its service area. As of Dec 31 2006, Co. had total assets of $3.20 billion and total deposits of $2.40 billion.

Registration of ‘L 97‐128’ Sugarcane

‘L 97‐128’ (Reg. No. CV‐129, PI 650858) sugarcane (a complex hybrid of Saccharum officinarum L., S. barberi Jeswiet, S. spontaneum L., and S. sinense Roxb. amend. Jeswiet) was released on 5 May 2004 by the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in cooperation with the USDA‐ARS and the American Sugarcane League, Inc. L 97‐128 has early high sucrose content, high cane yield potential, and resistance to common brown rust disease (Puccinia melanocephala H. and P. Syd.). Both the cross and the early stage clonal selection were made at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center's Sugar Research Station, St. Gabriel; permanent cultivar assignment was done in 1997. The cross was made on 25 Sept. 1992. Early stage clonal selection was done as single stools in 1994 followed by first clonal line trial selection in 1995 and second clonal line trial stage selection in 1996. Testing in replicated yield trials was conducted through the sugarcane growing area in south Louisiana from 1998 through 2003. Plant patent 17,636 was issued on 24 Apr. 2007.

Reproductive and seedling ecology of a semelparous native bamboo (Arundinaria gigantea, Poaceae)1

Abstract Canebrakes were monodominant stands of bamboo once common in bottomlands throughout the southeastern U.S. They were habitat for many wildlife species, and have declined drastically since the 18th century. Knowledge of the reproduction of canebrake bamboos is sparse and often contradictory. We studied reproduction and the role of disturbance in one canebrake bamboo, Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl., at two field sites in Louisiana. We noted flowering with little or no seed-set during each of four years at our primary study site, and a mass-flowering event at a second site from which we collected 2,000 seeds. Of these, 82–95% proved viable in germination trials. We used these seeds in a 2 × 2 factorial design at the Buckhorn Wildlife Management Area in NE Louisiana to test the effects of prior windstorm and fire on seed germination and seedling survival. Results indicate that A. gigantea is capable of reproducing in the leaf litter and partial shade typical of open forest habitat but may have pro...

Hurricane Disaster Response by School-Based Health Centers

In the summer of 2005, Hurricane Katrina displaced residents from the city of New Orleans and the eastern coastal area of Louisiana, and a month later, Hurricane Rita displaced many residents from the western coastal areas of Louisiana. The middle coastal area of Louisiana served as refuge for many evacuees, and a unique story documenting the health care provided to children emerged from the School-Based Health Center (SBHC) of St. Martin Parish. Quarterly reports filed by the program with the Louisiana Office of Public Health for the 2004–05 and 2005–06 school years document an increase in visits and the cost of care provided. Qualitative data document the clinics' experiences responding to the evacuee children and their families. Among the lessons learned was that the presence of a SBHC facilitated the evacuees' transitions and was an integral part of the community response to displaced students and their families.

Exposure to Hurricane-Related Stressors and Mental Illness After Hurricane Katrina

Uncertainty exists about the prevalence, severity, and correlates of mental disorders among people exposed to Hurricane Katrina. To estimate the prevalence and associations between DSM-IV anxiety-mood disorders and hurricane-related stressors separately among prehurricane residents of the New Orleans metropolitan area and the remainder of the areas in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi affected by Katrina. Community survey. A probability sample of 1043 English-speaking prehurricane residents of the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina was administered via telephone survey between January 19 and March 31, 2006. The survey assessed hurricane-related stressors and screened for 30-day DSM-IV anxiety-mood disorders. The K6 screening scale of anxiety-mood disorders and the Trauma Screening Questionnaire scale for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), both calibrated against blinded structured clinical reappraisal interviews to approximate the 30-day prevalence of DSM-IV disorders. Prehurricane residents of the New Orleans metropolitan area were estimated to have a 49.1% 30-day prevalence of any DSM-IV anxiety-mood disorder (30.3% estimated prevalence of PTSD) compared with 26.4% (12.5% PTSD) in the remainder of the sample. The vast majority of respondents reported exposure to hurricane-related stressors. Extent of stressor exposure was more strongly related to the outcomes in the New Orleans metropolitan area subsample than the remainder of the sample. The stressors most strongly related to these outcomes were physical illness/injury and physical adversity in the New Orleans metropolitan area subsample and property loss in the remainder of the sample. Sociodemographic correlates were not explained either by differential exposure or reactivity to hurricane-related stressors. The high prevalence of DSM-IV anxiety-mood disorders, the strong associations of hurricane-related stressors with these outcomes, and the independence of sociodemographics from stressors argue that the practical problems associated with ongoing stressors are widespread and must be addressed to reduce the prevalence of mental disorders in this population.

IBERIABANK Corp

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)IBERIABANK is the bank holding company for IBERIABANK (the Bank), a Louisiana chartered commercial bank. As of Dec 31 2006, The Bank operated 49 branch offices in seven areas of Louisiana, as well as six loan production offices in Mandeville, Morgan City, Metairie, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. Co. provides a variety of financial services and a range of product line including retail, commercial, private banking, mortgage, cash management, online banking and investment services to individuals and businesses throughout its service area. As of Dec 31 2006, Co. had total assets of $3.20 billion and total deposits of $2.40 billion.

Obesity at diagnosis increases relapse rate and shortens time to relapse in breast cancer patients

21123 Objective: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in US women. One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Obesity, one of the 10 leading US health indicators, is associated with breast cancer risk and outcome in various studies. Louisiana is one of the three states with obesity prevalence above 30%. Feist-Weiller Cancer Center (FWCC) in Shreveport serves a large area of Louisiana as far as Baton Rouge. There is a large population of African American patients who are followed in FWCC. The objective of this study is to examine the association of obesity with breast cancer in our patient population. Study Design: A retrospective study from single institution. Medical records of the breast cancer patients in FWCC electronic data management system are reviewed. National Institutes of Health criteria are used to stratify patients: normal or underweight (NW, body mass index or BMI < 25kg/m2, overweight (OW, BMI 25–29.9), and obese (OB, BMI > = 30). Relapse and time to relapsed are compared among three groups. Result: In analysis using multivariant Cox proportional regression model, BMI at diagnosis is a statistical significant predictor of time to relapse. In univariant analysis, increased BMI at diagnosis is associated with 3.3% risk of disease relapse per year. The results demonstrates a positive association of obesity and disease course in breast cancer patients treated at FWCC. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

IBERIABANK Corp

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)IBERIABANK is the bank holding company for IBERIABANK (the Bank), a Louisiana chartered commercial bank. As of Dec 31 2006, The Bank operated 49 branch offices in seven areas of Louisiana, as well as six loan production offices in Mandeville, Morgan City, Metairie, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. Co. provides a variety of financial services and a range of product line including retail, commercial, private banking, mortgage, cash management, online banking and investment services to individuals and businesses throughout its service area. As of Dec 31 2006, Co. had total assets of $3.20 billion and total deposits of $2.40 billion.

Hurricane Katrina's Impact on Pediatric and Adult Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Hurricane Katrina, making landfall in the U.S. in late August 2005, disrupted the medical infrastructure of New Orleans. We hypothesized that Hurricane Katrina measurably affected the ability of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) to receive necessary and adequate health care. Differences in health care delivery among children and adults in New Orleans prior to the hurricane prompted our interest in these two groups. In May 2006, an anonymous survey was administered via either telephone or written questionnaire to patients in the greater New Orleans, Louisiana area with SCD and/or their guardians. The survey was intended to gauge patients' access to and satisfaction with specialized health care in the months following Hurricane Katrina. Adult patients with SCD who relied almost exclusively on New Orleans' main public hospital (Charity Hospital) for specialized sickle cell services reported significant frustration/dissatisfaction with their medical care eight months after the storm. In contrast, pediatric patients with SCD and their guardians, who rarely received care within the public hospital system, reported more satisfaction with their care. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in their responses to the perception of quality of their health care.

IBERIABANK Corp

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)IBERIABANK is the bank holding company for IBERIABANK, a Louisiana chartered commercial bank. The Bank operates 49 branch offices in seven areas of Louisiana. The Bank also operates six loan production offices in Mandeville, Morgan City, Metairie, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport. Co. provides a variety of financial services and offers a range of product line including retail, commercial, private banking, mortgage, cash management, online banking and investment services to individuals and businesses throughout its service area. As of Dec 31 2006, Co. had total assets of S3.20 billion and total deposits of $2.40 billion.

Environmental Consequences of Water Pumped from Greater New Orleans Following Hurricane Katrina: Chemical, Toxicological, and Infaunal Analysis

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS, conducted a study to determine the extent to which Hurricane Katrina floodwaters in the New Orleans, Louisiana area may have had impacts on wildlife habitat and other biological resources in surrounding areas. These studies were conducted as part of the Interagency Performance Evaluation Taskforce, an investigation of environmental impacts originating from the failure of the hurricane protection system during Hurricane Katrina. This paper presents data regarding the effects of pumped floodwaters on sediment chemistry, toxicity, and benthic invertebrate assemblages near pumping stations that discharged floodwaters into marshes near Chalmette and Violet, Louisiana. Chemical contamination of sediments was observed and varied among sample locations (e.g., outfall locations, wastewater treatment plant, canals, and wetlands); however, trends in the chemistry data were not always consistent with bioassay results. A comparison of the sediment chemistry data from this study with three other studies reporting concentrations of chemicals in sediments within the city of New Orleans suggested that sediments and associated contaminants present within the levees were not pumped into the marsh in appreciable quantities.

Health Effects of Toxic Organic Substances from Coal: Toward “Panendemic” Nephropathy

Coal contains myriad organic compounds, some known to be toxic and others that are potentially toxic. Toxic organic compounds found in coal of particular interest include: i) condensed aromatic structures (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which can act as mutagens, cancer promoters, and endocrine disrupters; ii) aromatic amines, which have probable nephrotoxic activity; and iii) heterocyclic compounds, which may be carcinogenic and nephrotoxic. Toxic organic compounds can be leached from coal into water supplies, and longterm human exposure to these compounds may lead to disease occurrence, including cancer and renal disease. Despite these potential hazards, little is known about the impact and toxicity of organic substances derived from coal in water supplies. One example of a disease hypothesized to be linked to coal-derived toxic organic compounds in water supplies is Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN). In this paper, we summarize results from our studies linking BEN to the leaching of toxic organic compounds from low rank (lignite) Pliocene coal deposits into water supplies (well and spring water) of the rural villages where the disease occurs. We also introduce the idea of panendemic nephropathy (PEN) for BEN-like diseases that are linked to coal-derived toxic organic compounds in water supplies, but that occur outside the Balkans. Preliminary results supporting the PEN hypothesis are presented, with results from proposed PEN areas in Wyoming (WY) and Louisiana (LA). Results of toxicological studies of the effects of organic compounds isolated from water supplies in BEN and PEN areas on human cell cultures are also discussed. China, India, Turkey, and Portugal represent other areas where BEN-like diseases may occur, as a result of the presence of extensive low rank coal deposits and rural populations using untreated water in contact with coal in these nations.

Determination of Metals in Seafood and Fish in Southwest Louisiana

This review presents results of concentrations of various metals in seafood such as shrimp, oysters, alligators, crayfish, and crabs. The majority of results are presented from the authors' area of interest, namely southwest Louisiana. This area is typical and fairly representative of many areas around the world where the seafood industry and industrial chemical plants co‐exist. Inclusion of organics and near by areas of southwest Louisiana as well as selected results from around the world are presented for completeness. Heavy and toxic metals including Hg, Pb, and Cd have attracted the most interest. Concentrations of metals in seafood are often higher than expected. Studies on soil and sediments have allowed extrapolation of toxicity in seafood.

The Invasive Cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in Southern Louisiana

Since 2002 two areas in southern Louisiana (Caernarvon Breton Sound estuary and Atchafalaya basin region) were studied regarding the occurrence of the invasive and potentially harmful cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. In the Caernarvon Breton Sound estuary, the species was detected for the first time in Louisiana in July 2002 in Grand Lake during monthly phytoplankton monitoring surveys. The species occurred again in the estuary in summer and fall 2003 and 2004. Three distinct morphotypes (straight, curved, curled) were present, with the curved or curled varieties usually most abundant (>80%). During summer 2003 the cell numbers in Grand Lake exceeded the critical level of potential toxicity (>20 X 106 cells liter-1). In 2004 the species was a rare sight in the estuary and was not detected any more in 2005. In the Atchafalaya basin region, C. raciborskii was frequently detected in fall 2004. The greater Lake Fausse Pointe area was especially a hot spot, with critical level abundances up to 30 X 106 cells liter-1. In both areas C. raciborskii occurred only in summer and fall at elevated water temperatures (>25-33 C). It was more frequently detected in the southern, less diversion-influenced part of the Caernarvon Breton Sound estuary, whereas it occurred more often in the northern part of the Atchafalaya basin. The species was present in a conductivity range from μS cm-1 700 to 10,000 within the Caernarvon Breton Sound estuary. Samples containing Cylindrospermopsis generally were significantly higher in total and cyanobacterial chlorophyll compared to samples without Cylindrospermopsis.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Evacuee Healthcare Efforts Remote from Hurricane Affected Areas

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita produced the largest evacuation due to a natural disaster in United States history. Many people were evacuated or rescued from New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, resulting in a need for mass disaster shelters and medical care for months following the storms. The shelter healthcare system that was successfully developed in the Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana area was accomplished with little support from customary sources. This report is written after much discussion and introspection of community leaders involved "on the ground," who organized and provided medical services to evacuees of south Louisiana. Its purpose is to compile "lessons learned" in preparation for the next disaster recovery effort that might affect this or any other region of our country.

Experts Work to Prevent College Suicides

in hopes of improving preparedness for future disasters. Project Director RonaldKessler,PhD,professorofhealthcare policy at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass, and colleagues plan to interview about 3000 people, a representative sample of the 6.5 million adults affectedbyKatrina, every6monthsover the next 2 years. The researchers identified these individuals via random digit dialing of more than 100 000 residences nationwide, using lists from relief agencies, hotels, shelters, and other sources. Participants in the Hurricane Katrina Community Advisory Group include residentsof theNewOrleansmetropolitan area and hurricane-affected areas of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Researchers conducted baseline interviews between January and March 2006, asking the same questions used in the Third National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), a face-toface household survey conducted between 2001 and 2003, also directed by Kessler. Availability of NCS-R data collected from 800 people in the same areas in 2003 allows comparisons of the same population before and after the hurricane, Kessler said. Results from the first wave of interviews are scheduled to be released in August in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization (http: //www.who.int/bulletin/en/). Researchers digitally recorded individuals’ hurricane stories and will gather updates on how their lives progress as the study continues. More than 1000 oral histories are available at http:// www.hurricanekatrina.med.harvard .edu.