Digital Commons Network^™

From Savage To Noble Savage: Understanding The Changing Role Of Native Americans Within The United States' National Story, Caitlyn Bender

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Gis Analysis Of Dvāravatī Dharmacakras And The Rise Of Buddhism In Thailand, Areerut Patnukao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores how GIS as well as spatial and statistical analyses could be used to advance the understanding of Dvāravatī settlement and Dharmacakras locations. The research employs archaeological and geographical parameters to measure and quantify the patterns of Dvāravatī settlements, Dharmacakra locations, their interrelationship, and their relationship with environmental setting. The different types of spatial analyses, parameter settings within each analysis, and approaches are used to examine and explore the differences and commonalities of these variables at three different geographic levels: national, regional, and river basin levels.

Four distinct approaches are incorporated in this study. Chi-Square analysis shows significant …

Interaction Of Cocoa Powder With Intestinal Microbiota, Martha M. Escoto Sabillon

LSU Master's Theses

Cocoa is the fully fermented and dried seed of the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao L.) which has prebiotic properties, due to their high concentration of polyphenols. Therefore, the ingestion of cocoa could cause changes in the proportions of the intestinal microbiota that can influence the intestinal immune response. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of alkalization process of the cocoa bean in the diversity of the gut microbiota. The samples were “lavado” unprocessed cocoa powder, “natural” unprocessed cocoa powder, “D-11-S” as alkalized cocoa powder, “D-11-B” heavily alkalized cocoa powder, and raw cocoa “shells” and a control …

Giant Salvinia, Salvinia Molesta (Salviniaceae): Evaluation Of Sub-Optimum Temperatures On Survival Of The Giant Salvinia Weevil, Cyrtobagous Salviniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) And Integration Of Management Practices With Aquatic Herbicides, Lauren W. Cozad

LSU Master's Theses

Salvinia molesta is one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds and has cost Louisiana nearly $7 million worth of damage and economic impact each year. While aquatic herbicides and the biological control agent, Cyrtobagous salviniae, are the most efficacious control methods, there are limitations with each technology. Therefore, studies were conducted to evaluate insect mortality at upper and lower lethal temperatures and investigate integrated pest management (IPM) with insects and herbicides. Three Louisiana populations of C. salviniae were tested to evaluate cold tolerance and found that at 0°C, the Bayou Nicholas population was 1.3- and 1.4-times more cold tolerant …

Modifiable And Non-Modifiable Factors Related To The Macular Pigment Optical Density (Mpod) In A Population Of College-Aged Adults, Genesis Gisselle Guerra Gaitan

LSU Master's Theses

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the leading causes of blindness among the elderly worldwide. Retinal problems, specifically in the macula, hold potential for development of AMD. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) gives a measure of the thickness of the macula and therefore health of the macula. Some of the populations at risk for development of AMD include being white, female, and having light eye color. Factors related to the development of the disease have been divided into modifiable and non-modifiable; non-modifiable include a genetic predisposition. Control of modifiable factors, including body mass index (BMI) and diet [dietary intake …

Isolation, Detection, And Prevention Of Foodborne Bacteria In Irrigation Water And Dairy Food, Mohammed Saleemallah Alhejaili

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Foodborne microorganisms can be beneficial to humans or cause disease. Salmonella is one of the most causative foodborne disease outbreaks in the U.S.A. Salmonella has been detected in surface water used in irrigation, and can survive for weeks to years in water. The purpose of the study was to detect low levels of Salmonella spp. by comparing surfactant modified zeolite (SMZ) filtration and Activated Carbon (AC) filtration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method 1200. Also, to determine the generic E.coli counts and if there was a direct correlation of Salmonella to generic E. coli in irrigation water. The EPA …

Bringing New Books Into The Classroom: A Review Of 2014-2015 Children’S Literature, Esther Fusco

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

No abstract provided.

The Global Leaders Of Tomorrow: Shaping Critical Thinking And Social Justice Through Literacy, Lucinda M. Juarez, Regina C. Rodriguez

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

The relatively new Common Core Standards seem threatening to educators at first, but with careful planning and the assistance of seasoned English language arts teachers, the Core Standards become manageable. This article presents a variety of literature and informational texts, suitable for the K- 12 grade levels, which focus on social justice and global thinking. Each text listed has an activity that was designed to meet at least one of the Common Core Standards and also includes the integration of technology and creativity in literacy instruction. With resources like the ones discussed in this article, teachers can easily tackle the …

The Neglected Readers: Differentiating Instruction For Academically Gifted And Talented Learners, Laurie A. Sharp, Patricia Clemmer

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

The educational needs for academically gifted and talented learners (AGTLs) are often not met in public schools as much of schools’ resources are directed towards meeting minimum performance standards. During reading instruction, AGTLs require differentiation with curriculum and instructional strategies that provide purpose and authentication of reading instruction to prevent boredom, deepen their love for reading and broaden their interests, and encourage them to move from avid reading to critical reading. The purpose of this article is to describe several research-based strategies within each of these areas to assist educators with differentiated reading instruction for AGTLs.

In Praise Of Miscues And The Comprehension Of Complex Texts, Stephen B. Kucer Dr.

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

The reading of complex texts is a critical dimension of the Common Core State Standards. We have little knowledge, however, of the impact of reader miscues on the comprehension of such texts. This issue is explored through a look at fourth graders transactions with literary and scientific texts. The impact of two types of reading behaviors on comprehension are examined: (1) portions of text read with no miscues and (2) portions of text read with meaning maintaining miscues. It was found that readers were significantly more likely to comprehend and recall information that was read with meaning maintaining miscues than …

Using Their Own Stories: A Culturally Relevant Response To Intervention, Maggie Struck, Mark D. Vagle

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

Driven by sociocultural theories, First Author, Maggie conducted a critical action research study of her attempts to enact culturally relevant practices in a Response to Intervention (RtI) reading group. A grounded theory approach informed the analysis of her data. In this paper, we theorize three themes that were generated from the data analysis. We assert that in order to prevent RtI from becoming another unsuccessful, de-contextualized, large-scale effort, teachers and students would benefit from a culturally relevant response to intervention—a commitment to locate the contextual contingencies in which RtI is being implemented; to pay attention to what happens in the …

Text Selection For Read-Alouds: The Influence Of Topic In Children’S Discussions Of Literary Texts, Kim Skinner

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

In today's classrooms, the teacher’s text selection for read-alouds directly impacts students’ opportunities to systematically participate in higher order thinking about texts. This ethnographic study examined the discursive processes and practices over time of elementary students (and their teacher) before, during, and after teacher-led read-aloud discussions of literary texts in an after-school philosophy club. The study investigated the student opportunities for talking, thinking, and understanding provided by discussing the controversial topics of the texts. The analyses illustrate the consequences to student thinking and meaning-making when controversial texts are used in read-alouds as a springboard for discussion, as well as the …

Infusing Technology Into The Balanced Literacy Classroom, Jennifer Shettel, Kevin Bower

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

This article focuses attention on how technology is being utilized in classrooms, with an emphasis on literacy learning. The authors explore the integration of technology within a balanced literacy classroom and identify three levels of technology integration commonly found within a typical K-12 classroom. Specific examples are provided for each level and classroom vignettes from the second author’s classroom are utilized. In addition, the authors provide suggested resources throughout the article for further exploration.

Proverbs: Wisdom Of The Ages In Contemporary Literacy Instruction, Bonnie Johnson

The Journal of Balanced Literacy Research and Instruction

Proverbs, sayings that give advice or offer insights about life, are found in all countries and cultures. They are used in societies with writing systems and in those whose communications rely on oral traditions. Proverbs are concise, some rhyme, several use alliteration, and many are metaphorical. They can be found in ancient and contemporary literature. This article discusses the multicultural nature of proverbs and gives examples from various locales. The article also illustrates how proverbs lend themselves to interdisciplinary literacy integration. The use of proverbs in implementing specific grade-level Common Core State Standards is addressed. Resources for proverb study are …

Retinoic Acid Induces White Adipose Tissue Browning By Increasing Adipose Vascularity And Inducing Beige Adipogenesis Of Pdgfrα+ Adipose Progenitors, Bo Wang, Xing Fu, Xingwei Liang, Jeanene M. Deavila, Zhixiu Wang, Liang Zhao, Qiyu Tian, Junxing Zhao, Noe Alberto Gomez, Sophie C. Trombetta, Mei Jun Zhu, Min Du

Faculty Publications

© 2017 The Author(s). Formation of beige adipocytes within white adipose tissue enhances energy expenditure, which is a promising strategy to reduce obesity and prevent metabolic symptoms. Vitamin A and its bioactive metabolite, retinoic acid (RA), have regulatory roles in lipid metabolism. Here we report that RA induces white adipose tissue browning via activating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling. RA triggered angiogenesis and elicited de novo generation of platelet-derived growth factor receptor α positive (PDGFRα +) adipose precursor cells via VEGFA/VEGFR2 signaling. In addition, RA promoted beige/brown adipocyte formation from capillary networks in vitro. Using PDGFRα tracking mice, we …

Fibroblast-Specific Tgf-Β-Smad2/3 Signaling Underlies Cardiac Fibrosis, Hadi Khalil, Onur Kanisicak, Vikram Prasad, Robert N. Correll, Xing Fu, Tobias Schips, Ronald J. Vagnozzi, Ruijie Liu, Thanh Huynh, Se Jin Lee, Jason Karch, Jeffery D. Molkentin

Faculty Publications

The master cytokine TGF-β mediates tissue fibrosis associated with inflammation and tissue injury. TGF-β induces fibroblast activation and differentiation into myofibroblasts that secrete extracellular matrix proteins. Canonical TGF-β signaling mobilizes Smad2 and Smad3 transcription factors that control fibrosis by promoting gene expression. However, the importance of TGF-β-Smad2/3 signaling in fibroblast-mediated cardiac fibrosis has not been directly evaluated in vivo. Here, we examined pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis in fibroblast- and myofibroblast-specific inducible Cre-expressing mouse lines with selective deletion of the TGF-β receptors Tgfbr1/2, Smad2, or Smad3. Fibroblast-specific deletion of Tgfbr1/2 or Smad3, but not Smad2, markedly reduced the pressure overload-induced fibrotic …

Lsu Research Fall 2017, Louisiana State University And Agricultural & Mechanical College

Research Magazine

LSU Research is published annually by the Office of Research & Economic Development, Louisiana State University.

How Important Is Farm Profitability To Meat Goat Farmers?, Narayan P. Nyaupane, Jeffrey M. Gillespie, Kenneth W. Mcmillin

Faculty Publications

© 2017 American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists This study investigates United States meat goat producers’ goal structure and examines whether these goals are consistent with farm profitability. Data were collected using a nationwide mail survey, and 7 potential goals of meat goat farmers were analyzed. Results showed that “maximize profit” and “have family involved in agriculture” were the 2 most important goals, whereas “control weeds/vegetation” and “increase farm size” were the least-ranked goals. Regression results showed that farmer demographics, farm characteristics, economic indicators, and regional variables affected farmer goal structure. Results did not support a correlation between farm profitability …

Louisiana Agriculture Fall, 2017, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.

Variation In Seed Size Is Structured By Dispersal Syndrome And Cone Morphology In Conifers And Other Nonflowering Seed Plants, Andrew B. Leslie, Jeremy M. Beaulieu, Sarah Mathews

Faculty Publications

© 2017 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2017 New Phytologist Trust Seed size varies tremendously in plants and its evolution is influenced by multiple ecological and biological factors that are difficult to disentangle. In this study, we focus on understanding the role of seed dispersal by animals in the evolution of seed size in conifers, the most diverse extant nonflowering seed plant group. Relationships among seed size, dispersal syndrome, climate and cone morphology were analyzed across conifers using quantitative models of character evolution and phylogenetic regression techniques. Dispersal syndrome is a more consistent predictor of seed size within major extant …

Distribution And Female Reproductive State Differences In Orexigenic And Anorexigenic Neurons In The Brain Of The Mouth Brooding African Cichlid Fish, Astatotilapia Burtoni, Danielle T. Porter, David A. Roberts, Karen P. Maruska

Faculty Publications

© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Integration of reproduction and metabolism is necessary for species survival. While the neural circuits controlling energy homeostasis are well-characterized, the signals controlling the relay of nutritional information to the reproductive axis are less understood. The cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni is ideal for studying the neural regulation of feeding and reproduction because females cycle between a feeding gravid state and a period of forced starvation while they brood developing young inside their mouths. To test the hypothesis that candidate neuropeptide-containing neurons known to be involved in feeding and energy homeostasis in mammals show conserved distribution patterns, …

How We Make Teaching Remain A White Profession: The Teacher Of Color In The Urban High School Genre Film, James L. Hollar

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

The Sociopolitical Vessel Of Black Student Life: An Examination Of How Context Influenced The Emergence Of The Extracurriculum, Andre Perry, Rashida Govan, Christine Clark

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

Education For Whom? Word Problems As Carriers Of Cultural Values, Anita Bright

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

Abo-Digitalism: Youth Identity, Critical Pedagogy, And Popular Media, Colin Scheyen

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

Liminal Eroticism: Emerging Forms Of Gender Identity And Performance In E-Romances And Their Feminist Electronic Communities, Kerrita K. Mayfield

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

Feminism Comes Of Age On Television: The Portrayals Of Empowered Older Women From Murder She Wrote To Damages, Myrna A. Hant

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

Preparing Teacher-Researchers For Local-Global, Multicultural Classrooms: Prospects For Postcritical And Feminist Qualitative Methodologies, Katharine Sprecher

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

Structured Spaces Of Play In A Southwestern U.S. Urban Elementary Classroom: Dialectics Of Community And Academic Rigor, G. Sue Kasun

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.

To Protect Children From A Child Abusive Industry, Legislation, Education, And Public Mobilisation Required, Jacques Brodeur

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

No abstract provided.