Digital Commons Network^™

Diagnostic Techniques For Detection Of Permethrin-Resistant Soybean Loopers, Pseudoplusia Includens (Walker), Determination Of The Impact Of Insecticide Treatments On Age-Specific Mortality And Feeding Activity, And Estimation Of Field Control., Jeffrey Scott Mink

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

A glass vial bioassay was developed to detect permethrin resistance in soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker), larvae. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth instar soybean loopers from laboratory (susceptible) and field strains were exposed to several concentrations of permethrin in 20 ml glass vials. LC$\sb{50}$'s for third, fourth, and fifth instars from each field strain were not significantly different. A discriminating concentration of 0.5 $\mu$g permethrin per vial was identified for detection of permethrin resistance in soybean looper field populations. Field strains from cotton-soybean agroecosystems exhibited higher levels of resistance than strains from soybean-corn agroecosystems. The reliability of the vial bioassay …

A Comparison Of Language And Graphic Products Of Students From Kindergarten Classrooms Differing In Developmental Appropriateness Of Instruction., Jean Germany Mosley

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study examines the ways in which kindergartners from more and less developmentally appropriate classrooms negotiate the process of graphic communication. Both quantitative and qualitative aspects of this process are examined. Eighty-one kindergarten children from four classrooms were asked to tell a story both verbally and graphically. They were encouraged to include drawing, writing, or both on their paper. Then they were asked to tell the story that they had produced graphically. The children were students in one of four classrooms from a single school system that were identified as: (a) most developmentally appropriate beliefs and practices; (b) developmentally appropriate …

Analysis Of Protein Factors Involved In Transport Of The Precursor Of The Small Subunit Of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Into Intact Chloroplasts., Steven Mark Pomarico

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Two protein factors involved in the transport of precursor proteins into intact chloroplasts have been examined. The first of these was observed in experiments utilizing fusion proteins containing various lengths of wheat pS fused to CaM. Transport experiments with these fusion proteins demonstrated a requirement for transport of a pS/CaM fusion protein of a portion of mature S greater than 4 amino acids. Additionally, when the CaM portion of a fusion protein adopted a stable conformation by binding Ca$\sp{2+}$, a larger portion of mature S was needed for efficient transport. A second protein factor was examined using DIDS, and the …

The Life And Work Of The Orchestral Bass Trombonist, Allen Ostrander, And The Development Of His Bass Trombone Methods And Solos., Ronald Gene Smith

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this monograph is to document the career of Allen Ostrander as an orchestral bass trombonist as well as an arranger and composer for the instrument. It also examines the significant contributions be made regarding performance skills, teaching, and improvements to the bass trombone. The research was accomplished primarily by conducting an interview with Ostrander. Additional information came from former colleagues, students, and orchestras that give insight into his life and career as performer, composer, and teacher. The monograph begins with a discussion of Ostrander's tenor trombone studies before he became a professional bass trombonist. He studied with …

The Stability Of Thick, Self-Gravitating Disks In Protostellar Systems., John William Woodward

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

We perform a computational survey of the stability of protostellar systems which contain a self-gravitating disk. The systems are initially represented by a point mass $M\sb{c}$ at the center and a geometrically thick, axisymmetric disk of mass $M\sb{d}$ that supports uniform specific angular momentum and obeys an n = 3/2, polytropic equation of state. The equilibrium disk structure is uniquely defined upon the specification of two key dimensionless system parameters: $M\sb{d}/M\sb{c}$ and $T/\vert W\vert$ (the ratio of rotational kinetic energy of the disk to the gravitational potential energy of the system). The focus of this work is the identification of …

Phylogenetic Systematics Of The Ulvophyceae (Chlorophyta) Based On Cladistic Analyses Of Ribosomal Rna Genes And Morphology., Frederick William Zechman

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Cladistic analyses of non-molecular and nuclear-encoded rRNA sequence data provided the basis for hypotheses of relationships for the green algal class Ulvophyceae. Non-molecular data rooted with Chara support hypotheses which group the Chlorophyceae and Pleurastrophyceae with ulotrichalean and ulvalean Ulvophyceae. Analyses of rRNA sequence data group the siphonous and siphonocladous Ulvophyceae (i.e. Caulerpales, Siphonocladales, and Dasycladales) with the Chlorophyceae and Pleurastrophyceae. Although hypotheses supported by these independent data sets are incongruent, they suggest that the Ulvophyceae is not monophyletic. Based on rRNA sequences, pleurastrophycean taxa, which, like the Ulvophyceae, possess a counter-clockwise arrangement of flagellar basal bodies, are more closely …

The Rhetoric Of Redemption: A Development Of Kenneth Burke's Theory Of Guilt-Purification-Redemption And Its Application To Martin Luther King, Jr.'S "I Have A Dream" Speech., David A. Bobbitt

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This dissertation presents an exposition and development of Kenneth Burke's theory of guilt-purification-redemption (also referred to as the "redemption drama"), and then an application of that theory through a critical analysis of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. King's speech is treated as the "representative anecdote" of the moderate wing of the first phase of the civil rights movement. The speech became an authorizing text on race relations and provided the movement with an articulation of its logic and narrative form. Usually Burke's theory is seen as positing two primary modes of purification of guilt: victimage and …

The Theatre Of Religion: Jimmy Swaggart Within American Myth Discourse., Terry Grant Byars

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study explores the myth of the self-made man in American popular culture and how Jimmy Swaggart, the renowned televangelist, manipulates this myth in representing himself as an American hero. Central to such inquiry is Swaggart's use of theatrical device in promoting his heroism. Three fundamental questions provide the focus for investigation: (1) How in general does the creation of myth serve the needs of culture? (2) How specifically does the myth of self-made-ness benefit American culture? and (3) How is Swaggart able to participate in this powerful myth (especially using theatrical modes) in order to gain cultural sanction? In …

Jeremy Rifkin Challenges Recombinant Dna Research: A Rhetoric Of Heresy., Wiley Michael Futrell

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Western culture, in large part, is a product of scientific inquiry, technological development and the ability to harness some of nature's resources. Much of society looks to science for technology-related solutions to many of its ills. As it develops new technology, science necessarily seeks to understand and control the forces of nature. Although science assumes a prominent role in contemporary society, that prominence does not necessarily translate into cultural consensus on the progress achieved by technological developments. Another perspective is represented by those who contend that continued technological advancement is the source of existing problems, not the solution. As these …

The Rhetoric Of Synnationalism: A Model Of Foreign Policy Discourse., Ralph A. Hamlett

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The United States, as other nation-states, claims legitimacy as an agency for the expression of the aspirations of its people. This political structure appeared as part of a historical process that implied a transfer of authority from ruling elite(s) to the public. However, U.S. foreign policy discourse evidences an incomplete relocation of authority. In matters of sovereignty and national interests, the policy establishment considers itself more capable of decisions than ordinary people. The establishment tends to view citizens as masses disinterested in and incapable of understanding vital decisions of the state. The policy establishment assumes the public's role is best …

Students' Use Of Teacher Feedback During Badminton Instruction., Nyit Chin Keh

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the relationship between teacher feedback variables, student process variables, and student achievement. Another purpose was to investigate the mediating role of student process variables in student achievement. The subjects were 41 college students enrolled in two beginning badminton classes, and an experienced physical education teacher volunteered to teach both classes. Ten 45 minute instructional sessions took place over a 5 week period. Each class session was videotaped for subsequent coding. Subjects were pretested, posttested, and given a retention test on three badminton skills, the forehand high serve, the forehand overhead clear, and the backhand overhead clear. Student …

Parallel Geometric Algorithms., Fenglien Lee

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Geometric algorithms have many important applications in science and technology. Some geometric problems require fast response time that could not be achieved by traditional sequential algorithms. However, the speed, power and versatility of parallel computers can be exploited to develop efficient geometric algorithms as shown in this dissertation. Our study focuses on designing efficient parallel geometric algorithms and analyzing their computational complexities. In this research, first we developed a parallel algorithm to find the maxima of a set of N points in the d-dimensional space, d $>$ 3, on a hypercube SIMD machine. Our algorithm is a parallel implementation …

Taxonomic Treatment Of Indigofera L. (Fabaceae: Faboideae) In The New World., Alan Wayne Lievens

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The current taxonomic study of Indigofera (Fabaceae) as it occurs in the New World has several aims. The first addresses taxonomic and nomenclatural issues related to North American taxa. Because such issues have not been well understood for many of these taxa at various ranks, a synopsis of all taxa known to be referable to North America is presented along with a thorough discussion of nomenclatural issues (including synonymy) for each. This discussion is initially placed within the framework of the species groups proposed by Rydberg in 1923. A preliminary cladistic analysis of these North American species groups is presented. …

Applicability Of Bioluminescence Assay And Aerobic Bacterial Counts For The Evaluation Of Raw Milk Quality., Abdul Ghafoor Mian

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Raw milk samples were analyzed to determine the bacteriological quality by the standard plate count (SPC), adenosine-5$\sp\prime$-triphosphate (ATP) assay, preliminary incubation counts, and the psychrotrophic bacteria count (PBC). In a comparison of SPC and ATP content, an overall correlation coefficient of 0.97 was found between the two methods. The correlations between ATP content and SPC of fresh raw milk samples at zero hour and after preliminary incubating these samples at 12.8 and 15.6$\sp\circ$C for 18 hours were.96,.97, and.97, respectively. The regression coefficients for all types of milk samples were highly significant ($P <$.01). High correlation coefficients demonstrated that the ATP measurement in combination with preliminary incubation practices could be a rapid technique for the determination of bacteriological quality of milk at receiving stations and milk processing plants. Median SPC for 175 fresh raw milk samples was 36,000/ml. The bioluminescence technique is reported previously to have a good correlation with SPC in the range of 1.0 $\times$ 10$\sp5$ to 1.0 $\times$ 10$\sp{10}$ bacteria/ml. The commingled milk coming at the receiving stations sometimes have a bacterial count that is less than 1.0 $\times$ 10$\sp{5}$ bacteria/ml. A correlation coefficient of.87 was calculated between the SPC and ATP values for the overall data while lowering the SPC range from 1.0 $\times$ 10$\sp5$ to 1.0 $\times$ 10$\sp4$ bacteria/ml. This range is more practical as a quick screening of raw milk at dairy processing facilities since 81 percent of all raw milk samples fell in this range. An equation (SPC = $-$1642213 + 6751(ATP)) was developed from the combined experimental data which could estimate the SPC of raw milk samples using their ATP content. Another phase of the experiment was to ascertain if the Petrifilm$\sp{\rm TM}$ technique could be effectively used in place of agar method to estimate PBC. The correlation coefficient between the Petrifilm$\sp{\rm TM}$ and the agar plate method for both the fresh and preliminary incubated raw milk samples was.99. A high linearity of relationship shows that one method can be substituted with the other. However, the Petrifilm$\sp{\rm TM}$ technique took longer than the usual time of 25 h to develop red colonies at 21$\sp\circ$C because of the slow reduction of the dye reagent triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) at this temperature.

A Regional Market Model For Construction Aggregate Materials., Alicia Norma Rambaldi

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary objective of this dissertation is to model the regional markets for traditional construction aggregates, sand, gravel, and crushed stone. The long-term dynamics of the construction industry related to the demand for aggregates is modeled through a partial adjustment mechanism. The dynamics of the construction industry is introduced into the estimation of a simultaneous equations model of the demand and supply for aggregates at district levels. An engineering-based cost function for extraction of sand and gravel is estimated based on data collected from an operator's survey in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. A step-supply for …

Developing A Research Agenda For The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service., Fred S. Sanders Jr

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The primary purpose of this study was to determine potential future research priorities for the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. The Delphi method of forecasting was determined to be the most appropriate for use in this study. Having a knowledge of, and a current relationship with, the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (LCES) was the initial criteria for selecting panelists for this study. The final panel consisted of forty LCES personnel. Three rounds of questionnaires were used in this study. The Round 0 questionnaire was open-ended and was used to generate a list of perceived research items most in need of research …

Effects Of Vertebrate Herbivory On Louisiana Coastal Marshes., Katherine Lynn Taylor

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The disturbances of herbivory, simulated "eat-outs" (clipping and removal of above-ground biomass), and burning were examined for their effect on total biomass, individual species abundance, and species richness in several different marsh communities. Herbivory significantly reduced the total community biomass of all the marshes studied. Simulated "eat-outs" reduced the total biomass of the freshwater marsh but had no persistent effect on the total biomass of either the oligohaline or mesohaline marshes of the Pearl River. Both the oligohaline and the mesohaline marshes were able to recover from a removal of above-ground biomass (simulated "eat-out") within two years. The freshwater marsh …

Dialogue Journal Writing In A Foreign Language Classroom: Assessing Communicative Competence And Proficiency., Lynn Patricia Baudrand-Aertker

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

This research studied dialogue journal writing, as it occurred between a teacher and twenty-one students in a French III high school. Results on attitude questionnaire indicated that dialogue journals helped students overcome their fear of the written form and increase their self-confidence and willingness to write. By demystifying the writing process, writing in their dialogue journals helped these students develop positive attitudes. The results on writing proficiency pre and post-tests indicated that students performed as well or better than students after four years of a foreign language in a high school setting or four semesters of college instruction. The dialogue …

Pedological Investigation Of Mangrove Soils In Relationship To Rice Management In The Republic Of Guinea., Sekou Cisse

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Mangrove soils along the Guinea coast are among the most fertile and potentially suitable soils for rice production. Rice production success and feasibility is hampered by adverse soil chemistry conditions and the use of traditional farming methods. The objectives were to undertake a pedological investigation to characterize these soils during the wet and dry seasons, provide an understanding of fertility constraints, and develop a management plan to improve rice production. Seasonally and permanently flooded soils categories were recognized. Seasonally flooded soils are subjected to drainage and permanent protection from saltwater intrusion. These soils were correlated as Typic Endoaquerts, Typic Endoaquepts, …

Synthesis Of Novel Metallocenes: Asymmetric Hydrogenation Catalysts To Conductive Polymers., Mark Steven Erickson

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The goal of this research was to synthesize conductive polymers based on repeating ferrocene units. During the course of this study, the design of the conductive polymers evolved from the initial model based on "stacked" ferrocenes where ethano bridged cyclopentadienyl rings are linked by iron(II), to the latest ferrocene-diene model where ferrocene units were linked by double bonds. In the pursuit of these elusive monomers, attempts at their synthesis led down dead-end routes, even though new molecules were synthesized. Some of these dead-ends proved productive as in the synthesis of chiral titanocene derivatives. All the work reported in this dissertation …

Regional Comparative Advantage And Inefficiency In Production: Methodological And Empirical Issues., Barun Kanti Kanjilal

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The general objective of this study was to provide a methodological framework for evaluating stochastic comparative advantage of a crop in a multi-region multi-crop framework and its link with inefficiency at the firm level. In the first stage, regional comparative advantage, defined in terms of relative profitability, was theoretically analyzed on the basis of a firm's behavior under uncertainty. The empirical application involved derivation of a comparative advantage index for major crops produced in different regions of Louisiana. The results revealed heterogenous survival potential of each crop across regions. Sugarcane was found to have comparative advantage over rice and soybeans …

Behavioral Influences On Predator-Prey Interactions Between Juvenile Teleosts And Meiofauna., John Nathan Mccall

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Predator-prey relationships between post-larval and juvenile teleosts are greatly influenced by the manner in which feeding behavior of fish interacts with the behavior of meiofaunal prey. Juvenile starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus Pallas) in a southeastern Alaskan bay fed disproportionately on the harpacticoid copepod Microarthridion littorale (Poppe), particularly on males. This apparent selectivity was not due to differing vertical distribution of harpacticoid species or to feeding in other locations. Comparison of ingested prey to harpacticoid assemblages collected by various techniques (including near-bottom collections) suggested that the prey selection shown by starry flounder may be the result of emergent behavior of its …

A Computational Framework For Efficient Error Correcting Codes Using An Artificial Neural Network Paradigm., Maung Maung Htay

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

The quest for an efficient computational approach to neural connectivity problems has undergone a significant evolution in the last few years. The current best systems are far from equaling human performance, especially when a program of instructions is executed sequentially as in a von Neuman computer. On the other hand, neural net models are potential candidates for parallel processing since they explore many competing hypotheses simultaneously using massively parallel nets composed of many computational elements connected by links with variable weights. Thus, the application of modeling of a neural network must be complemented by deep insight into how to embed …

Autobiographical Amnesia: Memory, Myth, Curriculum., Gregory Michael Nixon

LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses

Autobiography in curriculum theory and practice is being more and more acknowledged as a major force leading toward the development of reflectively analytical teachers, reflexive practitioners, and discursively self-aware individuals. I look to two vital aspects of self-narration to explore. I speak firstly of memory, without which narrative continuity would be impossible. Memory is as involved with learning as it is with storytelling, and I would agree with Krell (1978) that "inquiry into memory and the theory of pedagogy go hand in hand" (p. 131). I eschew the models of memory provided by the behavioral sciences, empirical psychology, cognitive psychology, …

The Forgotten Victims, Suzanna Sherry

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

The attention and hand-wringing lavished on race relations by Aleinikoff and many others obscures the fact that by every measurement of formal equality, and by many measures of substantive equality, white women are further behind than black men (black women, unsurprisingly, are on the bottom). It leads us to focus our energies, our remedies, and our scarce resources on race discrimination, often at the direct expense of women. I hope to do three things in my brief remarks today. First, I will suggest that Professor Aleinikoff's paper exaggerates the problem it addresses. Second, I will explain what I mean when …

On "Hindutva" And A "Hindu-Catholic," With A Moral For Our Times, Julius Lipner

Journal of Hindu-Christian Studies

The purpose of this article is to comment on the term hindutva, viz. "Hinduness," with special reference to a 19th century Bengali thinker who sought to indigenise his Christian faith, and to draw some topical conclusions. The thinker is Brahmabandhab Upadhyay (1861-1907) whom his sometime friend, Rabindranath Tagore, Bengal's greatest luminary, described as "a Roman Catholic ascetic, yet a Vedantin -- spirited, fearless, self-denying, erudite and uncommonly influential." No doubt Upadhyay was influential then; he had a powerful impact on Tagore himself especially when they were jointly establishing what would later develop as Tagore's brainchild of Santiniketan. For years previously …

How Actualities Affect The Credibility And Audience Evaluation Of Radio Newscasts, Michael G. Bradd

Masters Theses

This study tests the hypotheses that actualities increase the audience appeal and credibility of a radio newscast. Two treatment newscasts of identical content were produced using the same announcer. One of the treatments used actualities in four of the seven stories while the other treatment had no actualities. Analysis of variance was used to compare subjects' evaluations of the two treatments. The study found that contrary to common wisdom in the radio industry, actualities have no statistically significant impact on the audience appeal of a newscast. The data did not confirm the credibility hypothesis; it strongly suggested that actualities do …

Ricardian Equivalence Or The Indifference Between Tax And Debt Financing, Chad Moutray

Masters Theses

Ricardian equivalence is a topic which has attracted much attention in the economic journals in the past couple of decades. Economic theory states that a tax cut gives the public a greater disposable income. Thus, the public will consume more, and the economy will grow. However, if the tax cut is financed by debt, the public will perceive that a future tax increase is inevitable to pay off the debt. Under this scenario, the public will not consume more. Instead, they will save all of their increased disposable income in anticipation of the future tax increase. Ricardian equivalence then is …

Expectations As Character Development In Chaucer's Clerk's Tale, Kevin Gorham

Masters Theses

The Clerk of Oxenford in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is often maligned for lacking development as a literary character. Frequently, the Clerk has been dismissed as a stereotype or an ideal rather than a multi-dimensional character. The Clerk's character, much like the meaning of his tale, is concealed from the reader and veiled behind expectations.

Chaucer manipulates readers by exploiting expectations associated with fourteenth century clerks. These expectations derive from historical and literary stereotypes which constitute the General Prologue portrait of the Clerk. Because Chaucer's description of the Clerk is populated with stereotypes, the reader expects the Clerk to tell a …

Chaucer's "Nether Ye": A Study Of Chaucer's Use Of Scatology In The Canterbury Tales, Brook Wilson

Masters Theses

Chaucer's use of scatology throughout the Canterbury Tales offers a new frontier for Chaucerian research. To this date, no book-length work dealing exclusively with the scatological elements found in his works exists. Too often, the serious and artistic effects of scatology become lost in the great comedy the device generates. Furthermore, many readers and scholars seem to find themselves somewhat "squaymous" when confronted with the "nether ye" of Chaucer. While Chaucer employs scatology perhaps less frequently than Swift or Rabelais, his mastery of this device remains unquestionable.

Recognizing that the uses for scatology extend far beyond creating humor, Chaucer instead …