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Cryopreservation Of Domestic Cat Epididymal Spermatozoa, Jesse Ray Saenz Jan 2015

Cryopreservation Of Domestic Cat Epididymal Spermatozoa, Jesse Ray Saenz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The primary lines of defense in preventing any exotic species from becoming endangered or extinct should be the protection of their habitat and from poaching. For wildlife conservationists, these primary measures are often not feasible, and thus cannot be the only means to prevent extinction. The objective of this research was to identify a semen extender that contained little to no egg yolk and could still effectively freeze domestic cat epididymal spermatozoa, for the purpose to sort spermatozoa into X and Y, using flow cytometry. In the first experiment we compared a TesT (Tes + Tris) 20% egg yolk extender …


Active Versus Passive Control Of Arm Swing: Implication Of The Restriction Of Pelvis Rotation During Human Locomotion, Stephen Paul Canton Jan 2015

Active Versus Passive Control Of Arm Swing: Implication Of The Restriction Of Pelvis Rotation During Human Locomotion, Stephen Paul Canton

LSU Master's Theses

To date, it remains unclear how passive dynamics and active neural control contribute to arm swing during human locomotion. The passive hypothesis attributes arm swing to the passive transfer of energy from the legs to the arms via biomechanical linkages, while the active hypothesis states that arm swing is actively driven by muscles via neural mechanisms. The present study aims to investigate this phenomenon further by disrupting the biomechanical linkages, thereby directly challenging the passive hypothesis. Ten healthy individuals walked on a treadmill with and without an apparatus that constrained pelvis rotation at 3 different speeds (2 mph, 3 mph, …


A Quantitative And Molecular Evaluation Of Bovine Respiratory Disease, Growth Traits, And Carcass Traits In Crossbred Steers, Samantha Lidia Miller Jan 2015

A Quantitative And Molecular Evaluation Of Bovine Respiratory Disease, Growth Traits, And Carcass Traits In Crossbred Steers, Samantha Lidia Miller

LSU Master's Theses

The first objective of the two studies presented herein evaluated on farm sources of variation and correlated effects contributing to BRD incidence in a population of crossbred steers sent to the feedlot from 2010-2013. Analyses revealed that incidence of BRD was lowly positively correlated to birth weight (BW) and lowly negatively correlated to weaning weight (WW), hip height (HH), sire breed, site, and birth year. These results indicate that the traits analyzed herein are not precursors for BRD in the current population. However, since little is still known about the correlation between genetic predisposition to BRD and animal performance, further …


Evaluation Of The Impact Of Changes In Commodity Income Support Measures Included In The Agricultural Act Of 2014 On Equitable Louisiana Rice Production Rental Arrangements, Abdallahi Ould Abderrahmane Jan 2015

Evaluation Of The Impact Of Changes In Commodity Income Support Measures Included In The Agricultural Act Of 2014 On Equitable Louisiana Rice Production Rental Arrangements, Abdallahi Ould Abderrahmane

LSU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT This research uses a Simetar simulation technique to evaluate the effect of the adoption of the Price Loss Coverage program included in the 2014 Agricultural Act on Louisiana’s rice equitable rental arrangement choices. Two scenarios are examined: one in which prices of the last three years are detrended and a second one in which they are not detrended. Each scenario includes six rental arrangements (Cash rent, Fixed Price, Fixed Yield, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20) and each rental arrangement has four adjustments (base, price trigger, yield trigger, and price and yield trigger). Three different risk measure analysis were conducted: Mean-Variance, Value …


Salt Tolerance Of Lactococcus Lactis R-604 As Influenced By Exposure To Various Stress Conditions, Ernesto Emilio Gonzalez Duran Jan 2015

Salt Tolerance Of Lactococcus Lactis R-604 As Influenced By Exposure To Various Stress Conditions, Ernesto Emilio Gonzalez Duran

LSU Master's Theses

Lactococcus lactis is a dairy culture bacterium widely used in dairy products that contain salt (NaCl) such as cheese and salted butter. Osmotic conditions generally hinder the growth of both pathogen and desirable bacteria. It has been observed that many stress-induced proteins are produced after exposure to an environmental stress protecting the cell against other stresses since the first exposure starts the defense mechanisms of the cells creating an effect of cross-protection. If salt tolerance is enhanced in desirable bacteria they would survive better in salty environments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the salt tolerance of Lactococcus …


A Multi-Theoretical Analysis Of Motivation In College Activity Courses, Louis Hines Jan 2015

A Multi-Theoretical Analysis Of Motivation In College Activity Courses, Louis Hines

LSU Master's Theses

College activity courses present an opportunity for physical educators to increase physical activity among young adults. Facilitating motivation in activity courses may lead to increased engagement and future participation in physical activities. The purpose of this study was to examine motivation in college activity courses utilizing a multi-theoretical approach in order to assess changes in physical self-concept and intention for participation in physical activities. It was hypothesized that a task-involved motivational climate would predict need satisfaction, which would in turn predict self-determined motivation. It was further hypothesized that this motivational sequence would predict changes in physical self-concept and intention to …


Three Essays On Food Demand, Land Use Intensity, And Food Crop Portfolio Choice Under Weather Risk, Aditya Raj Khanal Jan 2015

Three Essays On Food Demand, Land Use Intensity, And Food Crop Portfolio Choice Under Weather Risk, Aditya Raj Khanal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Food security and adaptation to climate change has been an important research and development agenda in most of the development organizations and in the national policy of developing countries. The most vulnerable population from climate change and food security problems are rural and agricultural households in the developing and low income countries. Weather and climatic factors and food security has a direct link with poverty because a large majority of poor live in rural areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. The primary focus of this dissertation is to analyze consumption and production aspects of the rural agricultural households. …


Study Of Factors Affecting Growth And Development Of Narrow Brown Leaf Spot Of Rice Caused By Cercospora Janseana (Racib.) O. Const., Kirandeep Kaur Mani Jan 2015

Study Of Factors Affecting Growth And Development Of Narrow Brown Leaf Spot Of Rice Caused By Cercospora Janseana (Racib.) O. Const., Kirandeep Kaur Mani

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Studies evaluated the effects of planting date, cultivar susceptibility, fungicide application timing, nitrogen management, and tillage practices on the severity of narrow brown leaf spot of rice (NBLS) caused by Cercospora janseana. All factors evaluated affected NBLS severity. The mid-April planted rice had less NBLS as compared to mid-May, late planted rice. Propiconazole fungicide (Tilt) application at panicle initiation or early boot stage was found equally effective in terms of disease reduction in mid-April planting while panicle initiation stage was the best time to apply fungicide in the late planting (mid-May). Early onset and higher severity of NBLS was observed …


The Effects Of Post-Exercise Consumption Of A Kefir Beverage On Performance And Recovery During Intensive Endurance Training, Keely Virginia O'Brien Jan 2015

The Effects Of Post-Exercise Consumption Of A Kefir Beverage On Performance And Recovery During Intensive Endurance Training, Keely Virginia O'Brien

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study was designed to determine whether kefir accentuates the positive health benefits assessed by measures in fitness and/or body composition, as a measure of cardiovascular disease risk as well as the biomarker c-reactive protein. Sixty-seven adult males and females aged 18-35 years were assigned to one of four groups: 1) endurance training + control beverage, 2) endurance training + kefir beverage, 3) active control + control beverage or 4) active control + kefir beverage. The exercise groups completed 15 weeks of structured endurance training while the active control groups maintained their usual exercise routine. Baseline physiological and exercise measurements …


The Effect Of Processing Method Of Distiller's Dried Grains With Solubles On Hen Egg Production, Egg Quality, And Yolk Color, Lindsay Renee Brunet Jan 2015

The Effect Of Processing Method Of Distiller's Dried Grains With Solubles On Hen Egg Production, Egg Quality, And Yolk Color, Lindsay Renee Brunet

LSU Master's Theses

Distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is a common byproduct of the ethanol industry and is used in animal feeds. Carotenoids (xanthophylls) are already present in the human eye, and increasing the amount of carotenoids in the eye can help prevent eye diseases. The purpose of this research was to confirm that adding DDGS to standard corn and soybean meal hen diets may increase the amount of lutein available in egg yolks. An experiment was conducted with Hy-Line W-36 hens to evaluate the effects of DDGS in corn-soybean meal diets. Three hundred fifteen hens were fed one of seven treatment …


Effects Of Detrital Subsidy On Arthropod Communities In Louisiana Rice Fields And Predation On Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus Oryzophilus), Nathan Mercer Jan 2015

Effects Of Detrital Subsidy On Arthropod Communities In Louisiana Rice Fields And Predation On Rice Water Weevil (Lissorhoptrus Oryzophilus), Nathan Mercer

LSU Master's Theses

The rice water weevil (RWW), Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus (Kuschel), is the most important insect pest of rice in the United States. Integrated pest management strategies for RWW in Louisiana consist of cultural controls, resistant cultivars and chemical insecticides. The fourth component of IPM, biological control, is largely absent from the literature for RWW, making exploration of biological control a logical next step in developing a full set of IPM strategies. The three main types of biological control are augmentation, classical and conservation. With little known about RWW predators, conservation biological control makes the most sense as local natural enemy abundance is …


Effects Of Spinosad On Formosan Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes Formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Dependra Bhatta Jan 2015

Effects Of Spinosad On Formosan Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes Formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Dependra Bhatta

LSU Master's Theses

Formosan subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus, are economically important structural pests of warm and humid regions. Different control measures have been developed to avoid the damage caused by them. Among the available measures, chemical treatments have predominated for the last five decades. In our study we tested the effect of spinosad, a biopesticide, on C. formosanus. Spinosad is composed of bacterial metabolites that have been widely used to control various agriculture pests. It has been tested on Kalotermitidae and Termitidae; however, not on Rhinotermitidae, the most destructive of termite families. Both no choice and choice tests were conducted using three concentrations, …


Evolutionary Relationships Among Fungal Soybean Pathogens And Molecular Marker Development In The Genus Cercospora, Sebastian Albu Jan 2015

Evolutionary Relationships Among Fungal Soybean Pathogens And Molecular Marker Development In The Genus Cercospora, Sebastian Albu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) and purple seed stain (PSS) are common soybean diseases in the Gulf South of the United States (USA). For nearly a century, Cercospora kikuchii has been considered as the only pathogen causing these diseases. However, previous reports of genetic diversity among isolates collected throughout Louisiana suggested the presence of multiple lineages or species. Recent systematic studies classified species of Cercospora using a taxonomic system based on phylogenetic analysis of five nuclear loci (legacy genes). Using a similar approach, cercosporoid fungi tentatively identified as C. kikuchii were evaluated along with 53 other species of Cercospora. No …


Impact And Management Of The Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) In Bioenergy Crop Agroecosystems, Matthew Travis Vanweelden Jan 2015

Impact And Management Of The Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) In Bioenergy Crop Agroecosystems, Matthew Travis Vanweelden

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is an invasive stem borer pest of sugarcane, rice, corn, and sorghum, and poses a threat to the production of dedicated bioenergy feedstocks in the U. S. Gulf Coast region. Studies were conducted to assess insect-plant interactions between E. loftini and bioenergy and conventional cultivars of sugarcane and sorghum, including yield response, oviposition preference, and host suitability. In addition, the efficacy of select cultural and biological control tactics to manage E. loftini in these crops was assessed. Bioenergy sugarcane (energycane) and sweet sorghum exhibited reduced E. loftini injury; however, these crops …


Three Essays On Economic Analysis Of Production Systems Of U.S. Grass-Fed Beef Industry, Basu Deb Bhandari Jan 2015

Three Essays On Economic Analysis Of Production Systems Of U.S. Grass-Fed Beef Industry, Basu Deb Bhandari

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation research consists of three essays. The first two studies analyze experimental research data based on three pasture systems for grass-fed beef (GFB) production in the Gulf Coast Region. System 1 included bermudagrass and ryegrass; System 2 included bermudagrass, ryegrass, rye, dallisgrass, and clover mixtures (red, white, and berseem clovers); and System 3 included bermudagrass, soybean, sorghum sudan hybrid, ryegrass, rye, dallisgrass, and clover mixtures (red, white, and berseem clovers). Fifty-four Fall-born steers were weaned in May and grouped into nine groups and randomly blocked into treatments and replicates. Inputs and output data were recorded on a daily basis. …


Evaluation Of Whey-Protein-Isolate Edible Films Containing Oregano (Origanum Vulgare) Essential Oil To Improve Shelf Life Of Cheeses During Refrigerated Storage, Cristhiam Gurdian Jan 2015

Evaluation Of Whey-Protein-Isolate Edible Films Containing Oregano (Origanum Vulgare) Essential Oil To Improve Shelf Life Of Cheeses During Refrigerated Storage, Cristhiam Gurdian

LSU Master's Theses

Oregano essential oil (OEO) is recognized for antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Incorporation of OEO into an edible film prepared with whey protein isolate (WPI) may improve the shelf-life of queso blanco (cheese). The overall goal of the proposed study was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of antimicrobial and antioxidant WPI edible films (WPIFs) with OEO to improve the shelf life of queso blanco wrapped in the WPIFs during one month of refrigerated storage. Production of potential antimicrobial and antioxidant WPIFs with OEO (WPIOF) was possible. Flaxseed oil (FO) was incorporated into cheese by homogenization (HFQ), which caused significant susceptibility …


Factors Influencing Sustainable Cocoa Production In Northern Haiti, Wegbert Chery Jan 2015

Factors Influencing Sustainable Cocoa Production In Northern Haiti, Wegbert Chery

LSU Master's Theses

Given the environmental concerns on the one hand, especially soil erosion and deforestation, and the hope that the global cocoa market offers on the other hand, cocoa production is a potential candidate to simultaneously guarantee a competitive return to investment for farmers in northern Haiti and mitigate the negative environmental impact of farming practices. It becomes crucial for policy makers and investors to know and understand the key elements of the decision to produce cocoa. Though there has been substantial effort to improve the cocoa sector in Haiti, cocoa production systems in Haiti lag behind in the area of sustainability. …


Genetic And Transcriptomic Analyses Of The Rice Pathogenic Bacterium, Burkholderia Glumae, Reveal The Important Roles Of The Regulatory Gene, Tepr, For Bacterial Survival In Environmental Stresses, Jingyu Peng Jan 2015

Genetic And Transcriptomic Analyses Of The Rice Pathogenic Bacterium, Burkholderia Glumae, Reveal The Important Roles Of The Regulatory Gene, Tepr, For Bacterial Survival In Environmental Stresses, Jingyu Peng

LSU Master's Theses

Burkholderia glumae causes bacterial panicle blight in rice by producing the phytotoxin, toxoflavin, as a major virulence factor. Production of toxoflavin is negatively regulated by tepR, which encodes a sigma 54-dependent response regulator. In order to gain insights into the comprehensive biological functions of tepR, the genome-wide transcriptional profile dependent on tepR was analyzed through comparative transcriptome analysis between a tepR defective mutant and the wild-type strain, resulting in the identification of 238 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated that genes involved in flagella assembly and stress response were highly enriched in tepR defective strain. Kyoto …


Effects Of Milk Replacer And Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation On Performance Of Heat Stressed Dairy Calves, Steven Joseph Blair Jan 2015

Effects Of Milk Replacer And Multivitamin-Mineral Supplementation On Performance Of Heat Stressed Dairy Calves, Steven Joseph Blair

LSU Master's Theses

Seventy-one Holstein calves were used to evaluate the effects of milk replacer (MR) feeding management alone or in combination with a multivitamin-electrolyte supplement on growth and mitigation of heat stress. Milk replacer treatments consisted of Land O’Lakes Herdmaker Supreme (20% CP, 20% fat) and Land O’Lakes Warm Front (27% CP, 10% fat). Calves received either 0 or 20 ml Palamountains Calf Boost® in MR once daily. Calves were offered treatments beginning on day 4. Calves on 27% CP : 10% fat MR were fed 2.72kg MR twice daily for the first three weeks of life, and 3.86kg twice daily until …


Fermentable Non-Digestible Dietary Fiber And Bioactive Compounds Affect Aging And Fat Deposition In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Chenfei Gao Jan 2015

Fermentable Non-Digestible Dietary Fiber And Bioactive Compounds Affect Aging And Fat Deposition In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Chenfei Gao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Overweight and obesity have been imposing $147 billion a year to the health care system in the United States. Limited medications are available in the market with side effects. Surgical treatments are second-line obesity treatments. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced from the fermentable resistant starch improves the secretion of satiety hormones peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) from L-endocrine cells of cecum and colon. We hypothesized that consumption of fermentable non-digestible dietary fiber and bioactive compounds will increase insulin sensitivity, reduce body fat, and improve healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), and hyperglycemia (2% glucose) that may …


Evaluating The Effects Of Vacuum Tumbling With Chitosan Nanoparticles And Water-Soluble Chitosan On The Shelf Life Of Cryogenically Frozen Shrimp, Alexander Chouljenko Jan 2015

Evaluating The Effects Of Vacuum Tumbling With Chitosan Nanoparticles And Water-Soluble Chitosan On The Shelf Life Of Cryogenically Frozen Shrimp, Alexander Chouljenko

LSU Master's Theses

Chitosan (CH) is a biopolymer obtained from the deacetylation of chitin, a polysaccharide present in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and cell walls of fungi. Application of CH may be limited by its water-insolubility. It can be dissolved in acids and forms relatively high viscosity solutions. CH solutions have antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. CH penetration into shrimp may be facilitated by vacuum tumbling with low viscosity chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate (CH-TPP) nanoparticle or water-soluble chitosan (WSC) solutions. It is expected that this would reduce lipid oxidation and microbial loads. In this study, CH-TPP and WSC solutions were developed and applied to shrimp, and …


Effects Of Minor Elements On Cercospora Kikuchii, Cercospora Leaf Blight And Rust On Soybeans, Brian Michael Ward Jan 2015

Effects Of Minor Elements On Cercospora Kikuchii, Cercospora Leaf Blight And Rust On Soybeans, Brian Michael Ward

LSU Master's Theses

Soybean (Glycine max) is one of the most widely grown crops in the world. Many pathogens attack soybeans, but of particular importance to tropical and subtropical areas such as Louisiana is Cercospora leaf blight (CLB). This disease is caused by the fungus Cercospora kikuchii and favored by high temperatures. This fungus utilizes a toxin, cercosporin, as its primary pathogenicity factor. Soybean rust (SBR), caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, is another common disease that occurs in Louisiana under cooler environmental conditions of spring and fall. Both diseases occur regularly in Louisiana and may result in severe yield losses. Cercospora kikuchii has recently …


Development And Evaluation Of Fiber And Pectin Based Delivery Systems For Delivering Lactobacillus Plantarum , Arranee Chotiko Jan 2015

Development And Evaluation Of Fiber And Pectin Based Delivery Systems For Delivering Lactobacillus Plantarum , Arranee Chotiko

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Probiotics may improve gut microbial composition and immune function. Introduction of probiotics via foods or supplements may result in the probiotics not surviving during processing and passage through the stomach to the large intestine. The overall objective of this study was to develop and investigate three delivery systems for delivering live probiotic cells (Lactobacillus plantarum NRRL B-4496) (LP). The three delivery systems were: (1) immobilized LP (~108-109 CFU/mL LP Free Cells) on purple rice bran fiber (PRF) (Delivery system 1), (2) encapsulated LP with combined pectin-rice bran extract (Delivery system 2), and (3) double encapsulated LP …


Sensory Perception Of Saltiness And Bitterness In Oil-In-Water Emulsions, Damir Dennis Torrico Jan 2015

Sensory Perception Of Saltiness And Bitterness In Oil-In-Water Emulsions, Damir Dennis Torrico

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of this research was to evaluate saltiness and bitterness perception in oil-in-water emulsion systems. For that purpose, three experiments were performed: A sensory threshold study, a descriptive sensory and physical property evaluation, and a psychophysical assessment of taste perception in emulsion systems. Experiment-I: Sensory detection and recognition thresholds of NaCl, caffeine, and KCl in aqueous-solutions vs. oil-in-water emulsions were evaluated. For saltiness recognition thresholds, KCl thresholds were higher compared to those of NaCl. For NaCl and KCl, emulsions did not significantly affect the saltiness recognition threshold compared to that of solutions. The bitterness recognition thresholds of caffeine and …


An Investigation Of The Quality And Quantity Of Student Motivation In Physical Education, Trey Douglas Willoughby Jan 2015

An Investigation Of The Quality And Quantity Of Student Motivation In Physical Education, Trey Douglas Willoughby

LSU Master's Theses

Physical inactivity is a prevalent problem in the United States associated with numerous health risk factors. Over half the population fails to meet prescribed physical activity recommendations, suggesting that individuals become less active as they age. It is important to observe individuals in the Physical Education setting because it is an ideal environment to provide meaningful physical activity, while promoting lifetime physical activity. This research sought to understand motivational behaviors in high school adolescents, attempting to draw links between physical education, student satisfaction, and leisure-time physical activity. Three research questions were present: (1) What relationships do high school student perceive …


Health Effects Of Dietary Fermentable Fiber (Resistant Starch), Diana Gabriela Carvajal-Aldaz Jan 2015

Health Effects Of Dietary Fermentable Fiber (Resistant Starch), Diana Gabriela Carvajal-Aldaz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Resistant starch (RS) reaches the large intestine for fermentation and is considered a prebiotic. We wanted to determine if we could reduce fermentation for future mechanistic studies and how there is improved insulin sensitivity in human studies with or without increased incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). Two main studies were performed. In the first main study, low potency antibiotics (Ampicillin 1g/L and Neomycin 0.5g/L) were added to the drinking water of rats to reduce fermentation of RS. Antibiotics were used either prior (first) to or during (second) feeding of RS. Results demonstrated that low potency antibiotics given prior to …


Integrated Multiple-Tactic Management Of The Redbanded Stink Bug On Soybeans In Louisiana, Miyanda Nzala Moonga Jan 2015

Integrated Multiple-Tactic Management Of The Redbanded Stink Bug On Soybeans In Louisiana, Miyanda Nzala Moonga

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are major pests of soybeans in Louisiana and heavy infestations often lead to economic losses. The stink bug species complex has changed in the past decade with the prevalence of the invasive redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood), which causes greater damage than other stink bug species. Moreover, control of the redbanded stink bug has been faced with challenges because it is less sensitive to recommended insecticides. Therefore, studies were conducted to evaluate different control options for P. guildinii. Among the studies conducted was the current status of egg parasitoids of stink bugs in Louisiana. Telenomus …


Principal Motives Of Positive Youth-Adult Relationships: A Model For Identifying The Motives Of Adult Volunteers And Youth-Adult Relationships In Physical Activity-Based Youth Development Programs, Stephanie Marie Goudeau Jan 2015

Principal Motives Of Positive Youth-Adult Relationships: A Model For Identifying The Motives Of Adult Volunteers And Youth-Adult Relationships In Physical Activity-Based Youth Development Programs, Stephanie Marie Goudeau

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The field of positive youth development has evolved in response to the growing effort to provide youth with safe and healthful activities during leisure time. Physical activity-based youth development programs (PA-based YDPs) utilize a range of individual and team sports and physical activities as tools to simultaneously teach character development and physical skills for the acquisition of life skills. The intentional focus on positive youth development provides a suitable context for the development of a youth-adult relationship (YAR). The bonding between a youth and adult is critical to the development of adaptive responses and life skills which ultimately impact the …


Motor Learning Effects Of Two Types Of Stressors: Implications For Practice Specificity, Christopher Adam Aiken Jan 2015

Motor Learning Effects Of Two Types Of Stressors: Implications For Practice Specificity, Christopher Adam Aiken

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Various types of stress have been found to have both positive and negative effects on motor performance (Szalma & Hancock, 2011; Van Gemmert & Van Galen, 1997). One potential explanation for these diverse findings is that stress increases the amount of neuromotor noise in the system (Van Gemmert, 1997). Low levels of stress may have an activating effect on the system which may improve motor performance whereas larger levels of stress decrease motor performance. Research has also suggested that increases in stress increase effort (Hockey, 1997) which may in turn facilitate motor learning (Lee, Swinnen, & Serrien, 1994). The primary …


A Market-Based Approach For Valuing Ecosystem Services On Coastal Properties, Michelle A. Savolainen Jan 2015

A Market-Based Approach For Valuing Ecosystem Services On Coastal Properties, Michelle A. Savolainen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

As part of ongoing efforts to assess ecosystem services provided by wetlands, this research focuses on estimating the private monetary value of wetland services to residential property owners in Louisiana and Alabama using a hedonic price model. Understanding that tradeoffs must be made with limited resources, valuing ecosystem services is important for policy and decision making purposes, such as determining how much public and private financial resources should be put towards wetland maintenance and restoration. Data on property transactions, wetland coverage, and built infrastructure were collected for the analysis. Based on theory and results from a Box-Cox model, the log-linear …