Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Louisiana State University

Discipline
Keyword
Publication Year
Publication
Publication Type
File Type

Articles 10051 - 10080 of 12394

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Statistical Prediction Based On Censored Life Data, Luis A. Escobar, William Q. Meeker Jan 1999

Statistical Prediction Based On Censored Life Data, Luis A. Escobar, William Q. Meeker

Faculty Publications

This article describes methods for using censored life data to construct prediction bounds or intervals for future outcomes. Both new-sample prediction (e.g., using data from a previous sample to make predictions on the future failure time of a new unit) and within-sample prediction problems (e.g., predicting the number of future failures from a sample, based on early data from that sample) are considered. The general method, based on an assumed parametric distribution, uses simulationbased calibration. This method provides exactly the nominal coverage probability when an exact pivotal-based method exists and a highly accurate large-sample approximation, otherwise. To illustrate new-sample prediction, …


Portraits Of Teachers: The Professional And Personal Characteristics Of Twelve Primary Teachers., Veronica Faye White Jan 1999

Portraits Of Teachers: The Professional And Personal Characteristics Of Twelve Primary Teachers., Veronica Faye White

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the personal and professional characteristics of six teachers who reported high developmentally appropriate beliefs and practices and six teachers who reported low developmentally appropriate beliefs and practices. The sample was identified using teachers' scores on a self-reported survey measure of developmentally appropriate practice based on the 1987 guidelines by NAEYC. Qualitative data were collected through interviews with open-ended questions. By providing an in-depth description as a literary portrait of each teacher, this study provides insight into the beliefs and practical knowledge that inform the teaching practices of 12 primary grade teachers. A …


Numerical Simulation And Experimental Verification Of Cone Penetration Rate And Anisotropy In Cohesive Soils., Daekyu Kim Jan 1999

Numerical Simulation And Experimental Verification Of Cone Penetration Rate And Anisotropy In Cohesive Soils., Daekyu Kim

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This research focuses on the effects of cone penetration rate and anisotropy on the results of piezocone penetration and subsequent dissipation tests. Finite element analyses, and miniature piezocone penetration and dissipation tests in a calibration chamber were performed, then the results were compared. The anisotropic elastoplastic-viscoplastic; bounding surface model was chosen as a soil model and it was implemented into a computer program, ANCALBR8. The isotropic/anisotropic triaxial compression, creep tests, and oedometer tests were performed to determine the model parameter values and verify the model. The model showed very good agreement with the triaxial test results. The theoretical formulation was …


Studying The Importance Of Hurricanes To The Northern Gulf Of Mexico Coast, Gregory W. Stone, Ping Wang, David A. Pepper, John M. Grymes, Harry H. Roberts, Xiongping Zhang, S. A. Hsu, Oscar K. Huh Jan 1999

Studying The Importance Of Hurricanes To The Northern Gulf Of Mexico Coast, Gregory W. Stone, Ping Wang, David A. Pepper, John M. Grymes, Harry H. Roberts, Xiongping Zhang, S. A. Hsu, Oscar K. Huh

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.


Balancing Domain Decomposition For Nonconforming Plate Elements, Susanne C. Brenner, Li Yeng Sung Jan 1999

Balancing Domain Decomposition For Nonconforming Plate Elements, Susanne C. Brenner, Li Yeng Sung

Faculty Publications

In this paper the balancing domain decomposition method is extended to nonconforming plate elements. The condition number of the preconditioned system is shown to be bounded by C[1 + ln(H/h)] , where H measures the diameters of the subdomains, h is the mesh size of the triangulation, and the constant C is independent of H, h and the number of subdomains. 2


Certification In Honduras: Perspectives Of Wood Product Manufacturers, Consumers, Ngos And Government Forest Policymakers, Richard P. Vlosky, Juan Antonio Aguirre, Edna Carolina Soihet Montes, Lucie K. Ozanne, Gabriela Silva Jan 1999

Certification In Honduras: Perspectives Of Wood Product Manufacturers, Consumers, Ngos And Government Forest Policymakers, Richard P. Vlosky, Juan Antonio Aguirre, Edna Carolina Soihet Montes, Lucie K. Ozanne, Gabriela Silva

Faculty Publications

Although research has been conducted that examines certification issues from stakeholder perspectives in temperate forest regions, very little has been done in tropical supplier countries. This study identifies key certification issues in Honduras, a Central American producer and exporter of forest products. Five stakeholder groups were studied: primary wood products manufacturers, secondary manufacturers, government forestry policymakers, non-governmental organizations and consumers. Results indicate that there a general lack of awareness about certification, an increasing willingness-to-pay for certification as one moves from the forest to the consumer, the need for transparency in the process, and the belief that certification should be conducted …


Sweetpotato Clone Tolerance To Weed Interference, Don R. La Bonte, Howard F. Harrison, Carl E. Motsenbocker Jan 1999

Sweetpotato Clone Tolerance To Weed Interference, Don R. La Bonte, Howard F. Harrison, Carl E. Motsenbocker

Faculty Publications

Field experiments were conducted to assess how sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] clones interfere with weeds and how clones tolerate weed interference. Eleven clones with architecturally different canopies were evaluated for yield, canopy surface area and dry mass, weed dry mass, and light interception at ground level. A 2-fold difference in ground area covered by canopy surface area was observed among the eleven clones 42 days after planting, and a 3-fold difference in canopy dry mass at harvest. Yields were reduced from 14% to 68% by weed interference. The yields of high-yielding clones, 'Beauregard', 'Excel', L87-125, 'Regal', 'Centennial', and W-274, …


Effects Of 4 X 4 Block Scheduling On Student Discipline, Faculty Collegiality, And Obstacles To Teaching In Louisiana High Schools., Mary Helen Smith Mccoy Jan 1999

Effects Of 4 X 4 Block Scheduling On Student Discipline, Faculty Collegiality, And Obstacles To Teaching In Louisiana High Schools., Mary Helen Smith Mccoy

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

During the last decade, the allocation of time emerged as an important reform initiative in secondary schools. For nearly a century, secondary school students attended approximately six to seven classes daily. In the early 1990s, more flexible scheduling configurations were proposed, including block scheduling. One block scheduling format, known as 4 x 4, allows students to attend four classes daily for 90-minute blocks of time. Block scheduling advocates claimed benefits for students, teachers, instructional innovation, and school climate, but provided little empirical base for these claims. The present study examined the effects of 4 x 4 block scheduling on four …


Parental Participation In A Title I Family Literacy Program: Results From A Mixed -Model Study., Karen Boudreaux Jan 1999

Parental Participation In A Title I Family Literacy Program: Results From A Mixed -Model Study., Karen Boudreaux

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

A family literacy, Title I program was studied to determine the attitudes and beliefs which affect parental participation in a family literacy program. The theoretical framework of cultural capitol assumed that parents who chose to participate in a family literacy program possess different components in their cultural capitol than parents who choose not to participate. There were 3 Hypotheses and 6 Study Questions which guided this parallel mixed model study with dominant (qualitative)-less dominant (quantitative) design. A Title I Family Literacy Program located in a large, urban, public school system was the study site. The sample size consisted of 40 …


Characterization Of A Simian Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Large Envelope Glycoprotein Gene And Its Product., Xiaochun Wang Jan 1999

Characterization Of A Simian Hemorrhagic Fever Virus Large Envelope Glycoprotein Gene And Its Product., Xiaochun Wang

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this project was to determine the genome organization, replication strategy and identification of the large envelope glycoprotein (GL) gene of simian hemorrhagic fever virus (SHFV). This virus is the fourth member of the new virus family Arteriviridae. The 3' end of the RNA genome from the prototype isolate of SHFV was cloned and sequenced. This 6,314 nucleotide (nt) sequence consisted of nine complete overlapping open reading frame (ORFs 2, 2a, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9). At the 5' end of this sequence is a partial ORF, ORF 1b, and the 3' end is a …


You Can't Imagine This Life. Diaries And Letters Of A Southern-Jewish Grande Dame, Josephine Joel Heyman, 1901-1993., Cynthia Betty Levy Jan 1999

You Can't Imagine This Life. Diaries And Letters Of A Southern-Jewish Grande Dame, Josephine Joel Heyman, 1901-1993., Cynthia Betty Levy

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Josephine "Jo" Joel Heyman (1901--1993) provides an intimate and touching record of twentieth century upper-middle-class Atlanta-Jewish life through her teenage and young adult diaries and letters. Through her autobiographical writings, this twentieth century Southern-Jewish woman's regional, ethnic, and gender identities are revealed. Mrs. Heyman, an influential civic leader in Atlanta, Georgia, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Smith College. She began writing diaries as a child to express her private feelings and thoughts, and as a young adult she wrote letters from college to her future fiance. The backdrop of her personal story is the story of the Southern-Jewish community, which …


Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict, Situational Formality, And Personality As Causes Of Interpersonal Equivocation., Richard Steven Bello Jan 1999

Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict, Situational Formality, And Personality As Causes Of Interpersonal Equivocation., Richard Steven Bello

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study explores the causes of a widespread and important communication phenomenon, interpersonal equivocation. Literature is reviewed which shows clearly that a sufficient cause of interpersonal equivocation is situational avoidance-avoidance conflict, but also which suggests the possibility of additional situational (formality of social setting) and trait (self-monitoring) precursors of equivocation. Using a questionnaire technique, participants were asked to imagine themselves in three different interpersonal situations, which were manipulated to vary the level of situational formality. In addition, in each situation, they were asked to respond to a question from their hypothetical conversational partner. These questions were designed to manipulate the …


The Values-Ethical Dimension: Do Bsw Students In State-Supported And Religiously Affiliated Programs Differ?, Wade Milton Tyler Jan 1999

The Values-Ethical Dimension: Do Bsw Students In State-Supported And Religiously Affiliated Programs Differ?, Wade Milton Tyler

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Although an important aspect of any baccalaureate social work program is the inculcation of social work values, there has not been an abundance of studies in this area. Many of those that exist have been criticized for their methodology in measuring values. It is appropriate to examine that which has been termed the "fulcrum" of social work practice relative to the educational processes which purport to put that fulcrum in place. The purpose of this study was to compare BSW students in religiously-affiliated institutions of higher education with those in state-supported institutions on three dimensions: adherence to social work values, …


A Description And Analysis Of The Scholarly Response Paper As An Academic Genre: Determining How Linguistic, Social, And Psychological Variables Affect Its Success/Failure And The Professional Credibility Of Its Author., Lynna Dunn Peneguy Jan 1999

A Description And Analysis Of The Scholarly Response Paper As An Academic Genre: Determining How Linguistic, Social, And Psychological Variables Affect Its Success/Failure And The Professional Credibility Of Its Author., Lynna Dunn Peneguy

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The study of various documents and genres within professional discourse communities can provide valuable insight into what does or does not constitute successful written communication within such groups. The primary purpose of the current study was to examine scholarly response papers published in five different "English" journals in order to (1) define and describe the scholarly response paper and (2) explore various theories/rules/studies which could be used to gauge its success: in this case, Grice's Maxims, studies of semantic (denotative and evaluative) verb force, Lakoff's Rules of Politeness, and studies of language intensity. Findings showed that the primary purpose of …


Analysis Of Self -Directed Learning In Secondary Business Educators., James Ernest Bartlett Ii Jan 1999

Analysis Of Self -Directed Learning In Secondary Business Educators., James Ernest Bartlett Ii

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study (1) described secondary business educators on demographic variables; (2) described the self-directed learning level of business educators according to the OCLI and Bartlett-Kotrlik Inventory of Self-Learning; (3) determined if relationships existed between learning levels and selected variables; (4) developed a graphic model to explain the relationships of self-directed learning level; (5) determined if demographic variables can be used to explain variance in self-directed learning level; (6) determined if demographic variables can be used to explain variance in self-directed learning level; and (7) determined if the perceived importance of learning resources can be used to explain variance in self-directed …


An Investigation Of Opinions Of Public Officials And The General Public Concerning Solid Waste Issues With Implications For Extension Programming., William A. Carney Jr Jan 1999

An Investigation Of Opinions Of Public Officials And The General Public Concerning Solid Waste Issues With Implications For Extension Programming., William A. Carney Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine opinions of public officials and the general public concerning solid waste disposal, and to make recommendations for future Extension programming. The study utilized four focus group interviews to obtain qualitative data. The two urban groups were composed of municipal public officials from the parishes of Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Rapides and general public participants from the parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, and Livingston. The two rural groups consisted of public officials from the parishes of Acadia, Jefferson Davis and Vermilion and general public participants from the …


The Role Of Trait And State Anxiety In Semantic Network Organization Of Information Related To Current Concerns., Gretchen Joan Diefenbach Jan 1999

The Role Of Trait And State Anxiety In Semantic Network Organization Of Information Related To Current Concerns., Gretchen Joan Diefenbach

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

In the first study of this report empirically-derived cognitive networks were established for high trait test anxious participants ( n = 28) and low trait test anxious participants (n = 25) during periods of both high and low exam stress. Cognitive networks were created using the Pathfinder algorithm, which transforms pair-wise word similarity ratings into an associative network. Information included in the networks pertained to the following word categories: testing situations, positive performance evaluation, and negative performance evaluation. Contrary to predictions, there was no effect of either trait or state test anxiety on semantic network organization. These findings fail to …


Hyperdeprivation And Race -Specific Homicide, 1980--1990., Matthew Raleigh Lee Jan 1999

Hyperdeprivation And Race -Specific Homicide, 1980--1990., Matthew Raleigh Lee

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Research on the nature of the urban underclass suggests that socioeconomic deprivation is multidimensional and involves more than just the personal experience of poverty. When negative characteristics like poverty and unemployment are concentrated geographically, it means that one is not only deprived of personal resources, but also deprived of contact with those who do have resources. Thus, when social disadvantage is concentrated, as it may be in underclass communities, this augments the effect of poverty, creating a situation of hyperdeprivation, by placing beyond reach those segments of mainstream society that are necessary for success. This dissertation extends this line of …


Tragicomedy: An Attempt At Classification., Jeri Laureen Lowe Jan 1999

Tragicomedy: An Attempt At Classification., Jeri Laureen Lowe

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study has attempted to identify the specificity of tragicomedy in light of the lack of any critical consensus as to its nature by looking at tragicomedy as theatre. Theatre's difference from other genres lies in the importance of the spectator's role in the theatrical event, and it is the premise of this analysis that it is in the role of the spectator that the specificity of tragicomedy is to be identified. Whereas in tragedy and comedy the spectator is made to participate in closure by a well-constructed structure which leads him/her to a conclusion ("catharsis" or "epiphany"), this study …


Intervention Implementation And Intervention Outcomes For Teenage Mothers In School -Based Treatment For Social And Academic Problems., Cherri Edenfield Penton Jan 1999

Intervention Implementation And Intervention Outcomes For Teenage Mothers In School -Based Treatment For Social And Academic Problems., Cherri Edenfield Penton

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The effects of a strong treatment package, comprised of 2 types of performance feedback plus incentives, on the social behavior and academic progress of 9 minority teenage mothers attending an inner-city high school, was investigated. Treatment integrity of their teachers and parents was also evaluated. Research shows that academic deficits and conduct problems are strong correlates of early pregnancy, Many students experience academic failure and related disciplinary problems because no one monitors their behavior. In this study, a comprehensive treatment was developed to be used across settings (home, school and a school-based health clinic) and across treatment agents (parent, teacher, …


The Effects Of Team-Member Attributes On Team Performance: A Model Of Individual Contribution To Team Performance., Joe J. Yum Jan 1999

The Effects Of Team-Member Attributes On Team Performance: A Model Of Individual Contribution To Team Performance., Joe J. Yum

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Although team composition is one of the most frequently studied topics in team research, much remains unknown regarding what attributes to look for when selecting team-members and how these attributes affect team performance. The purpose of this study was to present and to test a theoretical model that depicts how individual attributes affect team-member performance and how team-member performance ultimately affects team performance. The proposed model is based on the integration of research on team and individual performance. From a practical standpoint, understanding the relationships among the variables in the proposed model may be important for the selection of employees …


Effect Of An Individualized Treatment Protocol On Competency Restoration In Pretrial Forensic Inpatients., Lisa Jo Bertman Jan 1999

Effect Of An Individualized Treatment Protocol On Competency Restoration In Pretrial Forensic Inpatients., Lisa Jo Bertman

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Competency to stand trial refers to a defendant's ability to consult with his attorney with a reasonable degree of factual and rational understanding of the proceedings against him. If declared incompetent to stand trial by the courts, judicial proceedings are postponed until a defendant's competency deficits are remediated. However, there is a paucity of data on treatment of individuals who have been declared incompetent to stand trial. This study evaluated the effectiveness of individualized treatment on competency restoration in pretrial patients. This investigation improved upon previous group treatment studies, all but one of which were uncontrolled. Treatment groups were: Deficit-Focused …


The Effects Of Roundhouse Diagram Construction And Use On Meaningful Science Learning In The Middle School Classroom., Robin Eichel Ward Jan 1999

The Effects Of Roundhouse Diagram Construction And Use On Meaningful Science Learning In The Middle School Classroom., Robin Eichel Ward

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This research explored the effects of Roundhouse diagram construction and use on meaningful learning of science concepts in a 6th-grade science classroom. This investigation examined the transformation of students' science concepts as they became more proficient in constructing Roundhouse diagrams, what problems students encountered while constructing Roundhouse diagrams, and how choices of iconic images affected their progress in meaningfully learning science concepts as they constructed a series of Roundhouse diagrams. The process of constructing a Roundhouse diagram involved recognizing the learner's relevant existing concepts, evaluating the central concepts for a science lesson and breaking them down into their component parts, …


Ideomotor Apraxia And Lesion Location: Analysis Of Error Types, Motor Function, And Task Demands., Brenda Hanna-Pladdy Jan 1999

Ideomotor Apraxia And Lesion Location: Analysis Of Error Types, Motor Function, And Task Demands., Brenda Hanna-Pladdy

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Ideomotor apraxia is a disorder of learned skilled movement which typically has been attributed to damage confined predominantly to the frontal and parietal cortical areas within the hemisphere dominant for speech. However, most studies of the anatomical basis of apraxia have relied on case studies or have only approximate lesion localization, and few studies have examined motor performance in relation to lesion location. This study examined the relationship of apraxia severity to lesion location (in both cortical/subcortical dimensions and anterior/posterior dimensions), aphasia, motor performance, and task demands, and identified the existence of subtypes of apraxia with characteristic performance profiles (error …


Characterization Of The Microsomal Mixed -Function Oxidase System Of Several Species Of Sea Anemones (Phylum: Cnidaria)., Linda Marie Heffernan Jan 1999

Characterization Of The Microsomal Mixed -Function Oxidase System Of Several Species Of Sea Anemones (Phylum: Cnidaria)., Linda Marie Heffernan

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Several studies have demonstrated detrimental effects of anthropogenic compounds on coral reef communities. These compounds are known to be bioaccumulated rapidly, but eliminated slowly by anthozoans (i.e., corals and sea anemones). The cytochrome P450-dependent mixed function oxidase (MFO) system is the primary pathway for initial oxidation of many hydrophobic exogenous compounds; however, its presence had not been well documented in anthozoans. The studies reported herein show that a functional cytochrome P450-dependent MFO is present in the microsomal fraction of the sea anemones Anthopleura xanthogrammica , A. elegantissima, and Bunodosoma cavernata . The evidence is based on the presence of classical …


Integrative Approach To Online Quality Management: Process Control And Packout Verification In An Intelligent Manufacturing Workcell., Turuvekere R. Sethumadhava Jan 1999

Integrative Approach To Online Quality Management: Process Control And Packout Verification In An Intelligent Manufacturing Workcell., Turuvekere R. Sethumadhava

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The current global competition and the economic situation in the United States and the world is forcing industries to produce quality products quickly and at a competitive price. Many industries are aiming towards world class manufacturing objectives like responsive delivery, defect free product and declining cost. Industries in the present environment can survive and produce the quality products to customer expectations only if they implement new technologies. The key element in the success of industries is using the continuous process improvement strategies like reducing process variability and reducing response time to process deviations. Achieving quality in manufacturing processes is an …


Elongational Rheology Of Polyethylene Melts., Bijan Seyfzadeh Jan 1999

Elongational Rheology Of Polyethylene Melts., Bijan Seyfzadeh

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Elongational melt flow behavior is an important and fundamental concept underlying many industrial plastics operations which involve a rapid change of shape as for example fiber spinning and stretching, bottle blow molding, and film blowing and stretching. Under high process loads polymeric materials experience enormous stresses causing the molecular structure to gain considerable orientation. This event has significant effects on the melt flow behavior and can be measured in terms of elongational viscosity and changes in enthalpy and entropy. Different polymeric materials with unique molecular characteristics are expected to respond uniquely to the elongational deformation; hence, molecular parameters such as …


Customers' Perceptions Of The Service They Receive: The Influence Of Employee Extra -Role Job Behaviors., Robert Carlton Baker Iv Jan 1999

Customers' Perceptions Of The Service They Receive: The Influence Of Employee Extra -Role Job Behaviors., Robert Carlton Baker Iv

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Today's organizations face increased global and domestic competition, more downsizing, growing emphasis on team based work, and increased focus on customer service issues. This changing work environment necessitates a more complete examination of contextual factors impacting service delivery, including extra-role employee job behaviors (Bettencourt & Brown, 1997; Borman & Motowidlo, 1997). The current study examines the effects of employees' extra-role job behaviors on customers' perceptions of service. Specifically, the present study investigates two types of employee extra-role job behaviors: (1) organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs), and (2) organizationally deviant behaviors (ODBs). These specific employee extra-role job behaviors are studied in order …


Convergent And Divergent Validity Of The Learning Transfer Questionnaire., Annette Irving Bookter Jan 1999

Convergent And Divergent Validity Of The Learning Transfer Questionnaire., Annette Irving Bookter

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The Learning Transfer Questionnaire (LTQ) was developed as a comprehensive instrument to identify potential factors in the work environment that influence learning transfer (Holton & Bates, 1996). The purpose of the study was to examine the construct validity of the LTQ by focusing on convergent and divergent validity. Specific objectives included: to identify a set of theoretically-based, psychometrically-valid measures which could be used the examine the convergent and divergent validity; and, utilizing correlation analysis, to examine the associations between the 16 LTQ factors and the identified measures. Scales from seventeen measurement instruments were utilized as comparison measures to correlate with …


The Perceptions Of Members Of Boards Of Directors For State Associations Serving Community-Based Development Organizations Regarding *Policy And Governance., Ernie Troy Hughes Jan 1999

The Perceptions Of Members Of Boards Of Directors For State Associations Serving Community-Based Development Organizations Regarding *Policy And Governance., Ernie Troy Hughes

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of members of boards of directors for state associations serving CBDOs regarding policy and governance, procedures and how they are achieving organizational goals and objectives. The target population for the study was defined as members of boards of directors of state associations serving CBDOs. The instrument used in this study was a researcher designed questionnaire. It was comprised of two sections---demographics and perceptions of the roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments of the organization. As the literature review established, boards of directors play an important role in the life of associations …