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An Analysis Of Mercury Accumulation Within The Upper Estuarine Food Chain Of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Jeffrey W. Tingle

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Analysis of the level of mercury contamination within the sediments and fish associated food chain of Lake Charles, Louisiana, an area located within the Calcasieu River system, were assessed. Sediment levels were found to be slightly elevated (0.33µg Hg/g) from natural background levels (0.20 µg Hg/g). Levels found within the fish of the region were also found to be slightly elevated (0.287 µg Hg/g) from natural levels. This is below the hazardous level designated by the Food and Drug Administration (0.50 µg Hg/g). The statistical analysis of the pathway of mercury through a food chain composed of eight different species …

Water Quality Dynamics In Commercial Crawfish Ponds And Toxicity Of Selected Water Quality Variables To Procambarus Clarkii, Thomas Michael Hymel

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Water quality in five southern Louisiana commercial crawfish (Procambarus clarkii and P. acutus acutus) ponds was monitored from November 1982 through May 1983. Two ponds were planted with rice (Oryza sativa) and three ponds had volunteer terrestrial and semi-aquatic vegetation as crawfish forage.

Water quality was poorest in November, April, and May when water temperatures exceeded 18"C. However, only dissolved oxygen (DO) attained concentrations low enough (<1.0 mg/liter) to be acutely toxic to crawfish. Free carbon dioxide (CO2) attained levels (12.0 mg/liter) that could potentially harm crawfish during periods of low DO (<2.0 mg/liter). The temperature, pH, free CO2, nitrate, total phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chlorophyll a, total hardness, and total alkalinity did not differ significantly among rice ponds and ponds with volunteer vegetation. The DO, nitrite, total nitrogen, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were highest in rice ponds (P<0.05). The soluble inorganic phosphorus (SIP) and conductivity were highest in ponds with volunteer vegetation (P<0.05).

Free CO2, SIP, conductivity, and total alkalinity levels were positively correlated with an increase in macrophytic biomass (P<0.10). Nitrite, total nitrogen, COD, BOD, turbidity, temperature and DO decreased with increased vegetative biomass. Crawfish catch was positively correlated with total ammonia, BOD, COD, and water temperature, and negatively correlated with total phosphorus, total nitrogen, SIP, total alkalinity, and DO.

The toxicity of hydroxyl and hydrogen ions (i.e., pH), ammonia, and nitrite to juvenile P. …

Inverse Spectral Modeling Of Geopotential Fields Over Sedimentary Basins., Michael Terry Angelich

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Interpretation of geopotential data using inverse spectral modeling techniques eliminates the ambiguous results produced by the standard forward-modeling approach. However, applying the spectral modeling procedures by hand is time-consuming and lacks precision. This study expands on current spectral analysis techniques by adding least-squares statistical rigor to the fitting of the chosen model. Automating the model fitting procedure allows an investigator to examine quickly many overlapping sections (windows) of mapped data. Successive overlapping of neighboring windows suggests a correlation between the ensemble-average depth solutions unique to each window is possible. This technique was shown to be especially useful in Louisiana and …

The Interaction Of Conceptual Tempo And Modeling On Motor Performance (Learning Style)., Shirley Devard Brown

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This experiment was designed to examine the effects of conceptual tempo and modeling on performance of a serial motor task. There were 48 subjects, 10- and 11-years old males and females, classified as impulsive or reflective. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three modeling groups or a control group. The modeling strategies included: silent-model, verbal-model and verbal-model with self-instruction. The task was a motor skill obstacle course in which both speed and errors were scored. Data were analyzed by a 2 x 4 (Cognitive Style x Model Type) MANOVA with the number of trials to criterion, the average number …

Modification Of Rice Flour And Its Potential Use In The Food Industry., Samir Sideek Alhusaini

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Rice flour was modified with either 0.1, 1.0 and 5.0% acetic or succinic anhydride for 1, 6 and 18 hr under basic conditions. The pH was maintained above 7.0 using either sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate. The results showed that modified rice flours had lower fat content as compared with the unmodified rice flour (control). The type of anhydride significantly influenced the fat content of rice flour. Ash content of rice flour increased significantly due to the anhydride concentrations and alkali type. Significant differences were also found in the protein content of modified rice flours due to the use of …

The Biology Of Egg Production In The House Cricket, Acheta Domesticus L., Craig William Clifford

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Oogenesis commenced on day 3 (day 0 = adult ecdysis) in Acheta domesticus L., which, based on degeneration of the flight muscles, was approximately when juvenile hormone was released. Starvation did not prevent the onset of oogenesis, although egg production was greatly reduced. Virgin females did not oviposit and the oviducts filled with eggs by day 15. Compaction appeared to be a factor limiting oogenesis. The digestive tract was compressed and feeding reduced, which might be the primary factors terminating oogenesis. The concentration of juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) did not change as virgins filled with eggs, which indicated that JHE …

Karyology Of Lower Teleost Fishes (Clupeiformes, Taxonomy, Elopiformes, Phylogeny)., Albert John Doucette Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Karyotypes of nine species (Megalops atlanticus, Elops saurus, Brevoortia patronus, B. smithi, B. tyrannus, Dorosoma cepedianum, D. petenense, Harengula clupeola, and Anchoa mitchilli) and one hybrid (B. smithi x B. tyrannus) of teleost fishes revealed diploid complements ranging from 28 to 50 chromosomes and comprised of uniarmed elements or combinations of uniarmed and small and large biarmed elements. The occurance of large metacentric-submetacentric chromosomes was usually associated with a reduction in total chromosome number suggesting fusion events in the evolution of karyotypes from ancestral complements with 48 to 52 acrocentrics. Information from karyotypes is used to characterize species, genera, and …

Assessment Of Dairy Product Quality Utilizing Bacterial Enumeration And Metabolite Detection., Jay Russell Bishop

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

A study was conducted to investigate the use of bacterial numbers and metabolites as estimators of the potential shelf-life of perishable dairy products, i.e., whole milk, skim milk and cottage cheese. The study was conducted in three phases. In the first phase, a method of impedance detection was performed at two incubation temperatures (18(DEGREES)C and 21(DEGREES)C), and its ability to estimate shelf-life of 100 commercially purchased milk samples compared to standard plate count (SPC), psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC), modified psychrotrophic bacteria count (mPBC) and Mosely keeping quality test (MSPC). MSPC appeared to possess an adequate relationship to shelf-life (R = …

Determinants Of Bid Premiums In Mergers: Information Or Wealth Transfer Effects?, Fayez Arafat Elayan

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Although empirical evidence consistently finds large premiums paid to target firms in acquisitions, the evidence concerning the acquiring firm is mixed. Some studies show that acquiring stockholders earn a significantly positive excess return, others find that the returns are negative, and still others conclude that acquiring stockholders earn normal returns like any other investment. There is limited evidence concerning the impact of mergers on bondholders of the participating firms. Asquith and Kim (1982) indicate that bondholders of the merging firms neither gain nor lose from mergers, while Settle et al. (1984) finds evidence that bondholders gain from mergers. Thus, while …

Development Of A Reliable And Valid Diagnostic Assessment Instrument For Migraine And Muscle-Contraction Headaches (Psychometrics, Classification)., Stanford Wayne Granberry

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The reliability and validity of a headache questionnaire, designed as a diagnostic instrument, were investigated. The questionnaire was administered to 117 headache sufferers in individual interviews. Following a 2 week interval the same questionnaire was readministered to 66 of these subjects. All subjects were independently diagnosed by a board certified neurologist and an advanced graduate student in clinical psychology using an Ad Hoc Committee's (1962) criteria. The categories of headache investigated were: muscle-contraction headache (N = 38), combined headache (N = 28), classic migraine (N = 19) and common migraine (N = 32). A factor analysis of the questionnaire data …

Biochemical Systematics Of The Tyrannoidea (Aves) (Electrophoresis, Jackknifing, Phylogenetic Trees, Consensus Methods)., Scott Merrill Lanyon

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The superfamily Tyrannoidea (Aves) has been the subject of numerous systematic investigations, yet the relationships among and within the five component families remain ambiguous. Relationships within the superfamily were investigated using starch gel electrophoresis of 20 enzyme loci in 14 cotinga genera, 12 manakin genera, the flycatcher genus Myiarchus, and each of the genera from the monogeneric families Phytotomidae and Dxyruncidae. Electrophoretic characters were found to contain considerable information concerning familial and subfamilial relationships within this New World assemblage. The Fitch-Margoliash "jackknife strict consensus tree" and a cladogram generated from the character state distributions were very similar and were used …

The Defiant Legacy: Southern Clergy And A Rhetoric Of Redemption For The Reconstruction South., Hal W. Fulmer

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study investigated the rhetorical activities of the unreconstructed southern Protestant clergy during the Reconstruction period of 1865-1877. These years were marked by great social, psychological, and economic chaos with a variety of southern spokesmen attempting to re-establish a sense of order for the people of the region. The clergy were an active and dominating force in the region following the Great Awakenings. These clerics were strong supporters of slavery and secession in the antebellum South. Using a theoretical approach from organizational communication, this dissertation suggests that the various southern Reconstruction denominations may be understood as a single Southern Protestant …

Studies Of Grain Boundary Structure And Annealing Behavior In Nickel Using Transmission Electron Microscopy (Tem, Dislocation)., An-Chich Chou Han

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Transmission electron microscopy has been used to study grain boundary structure and dislocation reactions in annealed pure nickel sheets. In slightly annealed nickel, the dislocation content and distribution in grain boundaries were found to be random. After annealing at 800(DEGREES)C, a temperature within the recovery and recrystallization stage, the majority of grain boundaries contained periodic arrays of dislocations. The hexagonal dislocation networks with Burgers vectors of the type of a/6 were found in a large number of twin boundaries. The origin and the formation mechanisms of this configuration are discussed. The incorporation of absorbed lattice dislocations in the boundary during …

Analysis Of Special Education Due Process Hearings In Louisiana., Leona H. Liberty

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The provision of special education due process hearings is mandated by P.L. 94-142 to resolve any conflict between the parents (or guardian) of the special education child and public school personnel in providing educational and related services that address the unique needs of the child. An impartial hearing officer is to preside at the hearing. This person is empowered to resolve the dispute. If either party is dissatisfied with the decision rendered by the hearing officer, they may appeal to the State, and even higher court level. This investigation was an in-depth analysis of the structural characteristics and outcome of …

Geochronology, Geochemistry And Petrology Of The Precambrian Sandia Granite, Albuquerque, New Mexico., Arunaditya Majumdar

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The Precambrian Sandia granite of north-central New Mexico belongs to the 1.2 - 1.6 Ga. crustal province of the western USA. The granite shows an intrusive contact with the metamorphic country rocks. The Rb-Sr whole rock isochron age of the country rocks is 1.61 (+OR-) 0.06 Ga, (('87)Sr/('86)Sr)(,o) = 0.705 (+OR-) 0.001. The culmination of the intrusion of the Sandia granite took place at 1.44 (+OR-) 0.04 Ga. (('87)Sr/('86)Sr)(,o) = 0.7054 (+OR-) 0.0005. Rb-Sr ages on biotite - whole rock pairs and an ('40)Ar/('39)Ar dating of a biotite from the granite indicate final cooling to 300(DEGREES)-350(DEGREES)C at 1.33 Ga. This …

Pliocene Ostracoda Of The Saline Basin, Veracruz, Mexico (Paleoecology, Tertiary, Gulf)., Maria Luisa Machain-Castillo

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

A detailed systematic study of samples from the Pliocene of the Saline Basin, Veracruz, Mexico, shows characteristic ostracode assemblages fro the Encanto, Lower and Upper Concepcion, and Agueguexquite strata. The remaining units, Filisola, Paraje Solo and Cedral, did not contain ostracodes. Ninety species belonging to 53 genera are determined and described. The ostracode assemblages of the studied units indicate a general upward shallowing trend during the Pliocene. The Encanto strata, constituting the oldest unit (N 19 or upper N 18), are characterized by Ambocythere spp., Argilloecia posterotruncata Bold, Bradleya normani (Brady), Krithe trinidadensis Bold, and Parakrithe spp. indicating a middle …

Nicotinic Acid Crown Ethers: Syntheses, Characterization, Complexation, And Nadh Model Reaction (Lariat Ether, Enzyme Model)., Charles Ray Marston

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This research effort dealt primarily with the synthesis of nicotinic acid derivatives, either incorporated into crown ether frameworks via 2,6-methylene bridges, or as appendage groups on nitrogen or carbon pivot lariat ethers. These crown ethers were also investigated as possible NADH mimics. During the course of this study three different types of nicotinic acid crown ethers were prepared: (1) 2,6-Methylene bridged nicotinic acid crown ethers, (2) 6-Methylene bridged nicotinic acid lariat ethers, (3) N-bridged nicotinic acid pyridinium salt lariat ethers. Various 1:1 and 2:2 isomeric macrocyclic 2,6-methylene bridged-(5,5-dimethyloxazolyl)pyridines were generated by treatment of 2,6-bis bromomethyl-3-(5,5-dimethyloxazolyl)pyridine , prepared from ethyl 2,6-dimethylnicotinate, …

A Theoretical Study Of Silicon-Centered Radicals (Ab Initio, Perturbation, Molecular Orbitals, Inversion Barriers, Pyramidalization)., Raymond V. Piccione

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Energies and structures for a series of silicon-centered radicals were calculated by ab initio methods. The lowest energy conformation of trimethylsilyl radical is found to be pyramidal. The angle formed by an Si-C bond and the plane formed by silicon with the two other carbons is 52.6 (3-21G(,*)). The inversion barrier through the higher energy planar C(,3v) structure is calculated to be 17.8 kcal/mol. The planar C(,3h) geometry lies still higher in energy. In the planar forms of the methyl-substituted radicals, the methyl groups are slightly distorted so that the CH bond more eclipsed with the SOMO is bent away …

College Cheaters In An Educational Intervention Program: Their Characteristics, Self-Perceptions, And Summative Evaluation Responses (Moral Reasoning, Judgment, Locus Of Control, Developmental Tasks, Values, Self-Actualization)., Nancy Irle Mathews

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

As an alternative to disciplinary suspension, Louisiana State University implemented an educational intervention program for students found guilty of charges of academic dishonesty as defined by the Code of Student Conduct. The purpose of this study was fourfold: (a) to describe the characteristics of 68 cheaters who participated in the intervention programs over four different semesters, (b) to describe the psychosocial and environmental factors that were perceived by identified students as influencing their decisions to cheat, (c) to determine the extent of change in selected psychological measurements of cheaters upon completion of the program, and (d) to describe cheaters' summative …

Children's Affective Expression In Human Figure Drawings: Adult Recognition Of Children's Depiction Of Six Affective Expressions., Ralph Darrell Ramsden

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The understanding of children's abilities to express affect in drawings of the human figure has clinical and developmental significance, yet is an area that until recently has received relatively minimal research attention. The present study investigated the abilities of child psychologists, graduate psychology students, and non-mental health raters to correctly identify the attempts of 72 kindergarten, second, fourth, sixth, eighth, and tenth-grade students to depict six common affective expressions in human figure drawings. The affective expressions were: happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, surprise, and fear. Thirty-six adult raters (18 female; 18 male) reviewed 216 drawings, identified the perceived affective expression, and …

Cyclometallated Compounds Of Ruthenium(Ii): Characterization, Photophysical And Electrochemical Properties., Patricio Gabriel Reveco

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The first examples of ruthenium mixed ligand complexes of the type Ru(bpy)(,2) L ('+), in which bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine and L = the cyclometallating ligands 2-(3'nitrophenyl)pyridine (1), 2-phenylpyridine (2), benzo h quinoline (3), azobenzene (4), and p-dimethylaminoazobenzene (5), have been prepared and characterized. The first use for this type of compound of two-dimensional homo-nuclear decoupled auto-correlated Fourier transform ('1)H NMR (HDCOSY) spectra, have allowed the assignment of all distinguishable aromatic protons in each compound, and have confirmed the cyclometallation of L. The absorption spectrum of each of the complexes contains several low energy bands which are assigned as metal-to-ligand charge-transfer …

A Rhetorical Analysis Of The Political Preaching Of The Reverend Jerry Falwell: The Moral Majority Sermons, 1979 (Electric Church, Demagogue)., Vernon Oliver Ray

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Jerry Falwell has risen in recent years from near obscurity as a Baptist pastor in Lynchburg, Virginia, to national celebrity as the founder and President of Moral Majority, Inc., the front-line political action organization of the new Religious Right. This study discusses (1) Falwell's background and speaker preparation, (2) the historical setting surrounding the recent resurgence of Fundamentalism and its political involvement, (3) Falwell's audiences and occasions, (4) his use of evidence and lines of argument, (5) his style and delivery, and (6) his effectiveness. The study is based on a series of sermons delivered on five consecutive Sundays beginning …

Phase-Sensitive Detection And The Back-Action Evasion Of Amplifier Force Noise (Measurement Theory, Transducers, Antenna, Gravitational Radiation, Accelerometer)., Gary W. Spetz

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Limitations on the sensitivity for detecting a weak classical force acting on a harmonic oscillator are imposed by the quantum mechanical properties associated with a "standard" amplitude-and-phase measurement and, classically, by the back reaction noise associated with the finite noise temperature of the amplifier used to process the measurement. These are known as the "standard quantum limit" and the "standard amplifier limit", respectively. We present the theoretical motivation behind the quest to circumvent these limits, and examine a single-transducer back-action evading measurement scheme designed to perform a phase-sensitive coupling to the oscillator, with the concomitant circumvention of the standard amplifier …

Secondary Memory Functioning In Good And Poor Readers (Interference)., Elizabeth B. Williford

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This research compared the short-term memory deficit and the verbal ability deficiency theories of reading disability by examining reaction time performance of good readers and inferior readers in both primary and secondary memory tasks, using a combination of the Sternberg memory scanning paradigm and the Brown-Peterson distractor tasks. One hundred ninety-two Louisiana State University students from the psychology and remedial reading departments were randomly assigned to one of eight experimental groups. Subjects received test material of either four or two item memory sets. The 48 test trials consisted of three trials from each of 16 different categories, with trials grouped …

The Impact Of Individual Species And Complexes Of Pest Arthropod Species On Soybean Grown On Various Row Spacings (Insect Pest Complexes, Non-Conventional Row Spacing)., Jaime Yanes Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

During 1982 and 1983, selective soil and foliar insecticides were applied to soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, planted on narrow (51 cm) and wide (76 cm) row spacings to manipulate soybean insects. Individual species and complexes of arthropod species were manipulated in plots to determine the effects of subterranean and above-ground insects on soybean growth and yield potential. Selective insecticides used in a selective manner proved to be an effective tool for studying insect pest complexes. Sub-threshold levels of individual pest species, in combination, had a significant negative impact on yield. In addition, in 1982, the plots in which soybean …

Student Practice And Selected Teacher Behaviors In Elementary Physical Education (Effectiveness, Experimental Unit, Process-Product Study)., Madge Holden Ashy

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Eight preservice physical education teachers participated in this study to examine the effects of correct practice attempts, total practice attempts, and selected teacher behaviors on student achievement in a novel motor skill. Each teacher taught two 20-min lessons to 10 fourth graders. Four more and four less effective teachers were identified by cluster analysis using student posttest scores as the criterion. Eight teacher behaviors were observed and measured, four on frequency (cues, demonstration, knowledge of performance, encouragement) and four on duration (specific observation, general observation, management, instruction). Comparisons were made between the more and less effective teacher groups in two …

Host Responses To The Phenolic-Glycolipid-1 Antigen Of Mycobacterium Leprae (Elisa, Leprosy, Epidemiology, Armadillo, Human)., Richard W. Truman

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Antibody responses to the apparently species specific phenolic-glycolipid-1 (Phen-Gl-1) antigen of Mycobacterium leprae were examined in humans and armadillos using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Statistical definitions for the interpretation of positive and negative reactions were derived. A retrospective serological survey of armadillos indicated that leprosy in the wild armadillo is a naturally acquired zoonosis. Presently 12.5% of the armadillos in 2 parishes in south central Louisiana have detectable IgM antibodies to Phen-Gl-1. Approximately 2.7% of these histologically exhibit clinical disease. Antibodies were not detected in Florida armadillo sera. Variations in prevalence rates were noted, and may be due to environmental …

Structural Chemistry Of Several Compounds Elucidated By Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction., Khalil Abdallah Abboud

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The single crystal X-ray diffraction structure of four compounds have been determined. Crystals of bis((mu)-acetato-O:O')-bis 4'-nitro-2'-(2-pyridyl)phenyl-N dipalladium (II), (PdC(,13)H(,10) N(,2) O(,4))(,2), are monoclinic, space group I 2/c, with lattice constants: a = 14.300(3)(ANGSTROM), b = 9.939(1)(ANGSTROM), c= 18.822(2)(ANGSTROM), (beta) = 91.01(3)(DEGREES). The structure was solved by the heavy atom technique, and full-matrix least squares refinement resulted in a final R-value of 0.029, Rw = 0.050. The molecule has a folded conformation with Pd---Pd = 2,822(6)(ANGSTROM). Crystals of pseudo penta-O-acetyl-(beta)-D,L-Glucopyranose are monoclinic, space group P2(,1)/c, a = 11.580(2)(ANGSTROM), b = 8.276(1)(ANGSTROM), c = 22.031(2)(ANGSTROM), (beta) = 104.33(1)(DEGREES). The structure was solved …

Paleoenvironmental Reconstructions And Organic Matter Characterizations Of Peats And Associated Sediments From Cores In A Portion Of The Lafourche Delta (Foraminifera, Maceral Analysis, Gemmules, Louisiana)., Scott Warren Beckman

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study of peats and associated sediments from a portion of the Lafourche delta had four objectives: (1) to develop methods for reconstructing paleoenvironments of buried peats and their associated sediments from core material; (2) to apply these paleoenvironmental methods to reconstructing the history of sedimentation; (3) determine the relationships between peat formation and deltaic environmental conditions; and (4) to reconstruct the development of an interdistributary basin during the Lafourche deltaic episode. Three cores and several auger derived samples were recovered from a portion of the Lafourche delta, southeast Louisiana. Paleovegetation analysis of the cores was accomplished by comparing the …

The History And Development Of The Marimba Ensemble In The United States And Its Current Status In College And University Percussion Programs (Musser)., David Paul Eyler

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

In comparison with other percussion instruments, the marimba made a belated entrance into the musical world of the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine the history and development of the marimba ensemble in the United States and to determine its current status in collegiate percussion programs. This study begins by tracing the history of the marimba from its origins in Indonesia and Africa to its migration to the Americas during the early days of the slave trade. During the first decades of the twentieth century, marimba bands from Guatemala and Mexico toured extensively in the United …