Digital Commons Network^™

In Memoriam: Yale Rosenberg, Nancy B. Rapoport

Scholarly Works

In memory of Yale Rosenberg, much-appreciated colleague at the University of Houston Law Center.

The Intractable Problem Of Bankruptcy Ethics: Square Peg, Round Hole, Nancy B. Rapoport

Scholarly Works

This article continues my earlier research on conflicts of interest in bankruptcy cases, particularly in chapter 11 cases. It suggests that conflicts in interest in chapter 11 bankruptcy cases should not be handled the same way that conflicts are handled under state ethics rules, and it proposes a new section of the Bankruptcy Code to cover conflicts of interest in cases filed under chapter 11.

Is "Thinking Like A Lawyer" Really What We Want To Teach?, Nancy B. Rapoport

Scholarly Works

This article argues that the phrase thinking like a lawyer assumes that other professions don't have their own ways of approaching problems and that law schools only need to teach how lawyers think, rather than how lawyers do what they do. It suggests that law schools should do much more than just teach law students how to think.

Development Of Trip Generation Models Of Hurricane Evacuation, Bing Mei

LSU Master's Theses

In this study, alternative trip generation models for hurricane evacuation movement were developed using logistic regression and neural networks. The southwest Louisiana post-Andrew survey data were used for model estimation, validation, and comparison. The performance of the alternative models was compared with each other as well as against that of an existing evacuation model, the PBS&J model, developed for the same area. The results showed that the models developed in this study displayed similar performance. It was also found that the models developed in this study performed better than the existing PBS&J model in predicting household evacuation trip generation for …

Cases And Guidelines In Genetics, Roger B. Dworkin

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Understanding "Depolicing": Symbiosis Theory And Critical Cultural Theory, Frank Rudy Cooper

Scholarly Works

Doctrinal analyses help us understand what law does. Identity theory helps us understand why law operates in certain ways. Cultural studies can help us understand that where law operates is crucial to both how it operates, and on whom.

Nancy Ehrenreich's Subordination and Symbiosis: Mechanisms of Mutual Support Between Subordinating Systems is especially valuable because her symbiosis theory expands identity theory. Ehrenreich turns our attention to the subjectivities of those who are partly subordinated but mostly privileged-those who accept their own oppression in return for the "compensation" of being able to use the law to subordinate others. Nonetheless, symbiosis theory …

The Un-Balanced Fourth Amendment: A Cultural Study Of The Drug War, Racial Profiling And Arvizu, Frank Rudy Cooper

Scholarly Works

In this Article, Professor Frank Rudy Cooper provides a cultural studies approach to the encoding and decoding of the drug war that will allow us to draw important conclusions about the effects of the drug war on the Court. In Part I of this Article, he describes how the field of cultural studies reads popular culture through the analytical tools of "encoding" and "decoding." In Part II, he analyzes why and how law enforcement has encoded the drug war as requiring increased prosecution of drug users and drug dealers. In Part III, he considers how the Court's decoding of law …

Mexican Women And Migration: The Effects Of Education And Family Status, Veronica Cuartas Aravena

LSU Master's Theses

Much existing research on migration of Mexican women has focused on those who migrate to the United States. However, most Mexican female migrants move within the country. This study asks two interrelated questions: (1) Does education, marital status, and the number of children influence Mexican women's migration status and (2) are there any differences in the way these factors affect internal versus international migration. Data from the Mexican Migration Project (2001) collected during the winter months of 1987-1997 (N=7610) are employed and three models are constructed, where non-migrants serve as the reference category. These models are also used to examine …

Ecologically Sensitive Wetland Sites: An Investigation Of Land Use Attitudes And Development Trends With Educational Objectives, Linda A. Chance

LSU Master's Theses

Acid bogs, one of the rare plant communities, are on the brink of extinction in the southeastern United States. This study uncovers what issues are at stake in land use, land development, and regulations of two specific areas in south Louisiana that contain this type of wetland. This is an educational project oriented toward development of methods and information related to planning and design for the use of wetland sites while still protecting them. A hypothesis is presented that a combination of education with land use guidelines, helpful resources and regulatory incentives may help slow the eradication of bogs in …

The Ligase Detection Reaction: The Evolution Of A Mutation Detection Strategy, Hannah D. Farquar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Early detection of genetic mutations is important for control of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's. Early detection requires methods that detect small amounts of mutated DNA in very large amounts of normal or wild type DNA. One method to detect mutated DNA is the ligase detection reaction (LDR). Since its inception LDR has evolved greatly from a simple detection reaction after PCR amplification to PCR/RE/LDR, a scheme which uses nucleoside base analogs in PCR to convert wild type sequences to sequences containing restriction endonuclease (RE) sites which can then be cleaved leaving only mutant sequences for detection by LDR. …

The Effects Of Implicit, Explicit, And Synergistic Training On Learning An Artificial Grammar, Thomas James Domangue

LSU Master's Theses

Participants were trained to generate exemplars of an artificial grammar by bubbling-in letters from exemplars (implicit training), observing a diagram of the grammar then reproducing it (explicit training), or tracing the path of exemplars through a diagram of the grammar (synergistic training). Performance was measured using a cued-generate task. It provided a template for an exemplar with two letters filled in. Participants attempted to generate exemplars that fit the template. The computer corrected the exemplar when it matched at least 70% of the letters in a valid string. Results showed that both explicit and synergistic training led to generation of …

The Effect Of Resource Cycling And Food Insecurity On Dietary Intake And Weight Of Low-Income, Single Mothers Living In Rural Louisiana, Jennifer Smith

LSU Master's Theses

Food security, nutritional adequacy, and anthropometrics were assessed in 30 low-income women living in rural Louisiana. For food stamp recipients, a 24-hour-diet recall was collected at the beginning (Day 1) and another at the end (Day 2) of their monthly resource cycle; for non-food stamp recipients, the first 24-hour diet recall was collected at a time that was specified by participants (Day 1) and the second was collected approximately 31/2 weeks later. Twenty-one of the 30 participants received food stamps. Ten of the 30 participants were food insecure. Of the 10 food insecure participants, seven received foods stamps. As a …

Aisthetic Eros And Athenian Political Crisis: An Interpretation Of Plato's Seventh Letter, John Baltes

LSU Master's Theses

This paper investigates Plato's solution to political and social disorder by analyzing his advice and epistemology in the Seventh Letter. The first of three primary divisions provides the historical context of Platonic philosophy. The second discusses the central themes of his metaphysics, with specific attention to the Phaedo and Republic. The third analyzes the importance of aisthetic eros for the ascent to the Agathon, culminating in an interpretation of the relevant sections of the Seventh Letter.

"Los Motz E.L So": Words Melody, And Their Interaction In The Songs Of Folquet De Marseille, Nancy Ellen Washer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Although the poems of the troubadours have been extensively studied almost since they were first composed and the troubadours themselves indicate that they tried to create interactions between the melodies and the words, the melodies and the interactions between the poems and melodies in the complete songs have been examined much less intensively. In this dissertation I delve into the songs of the late twelfth-century troubadour Folquet de Marseille whose thirteen songs surviving with their melodies provide a varied collection of a suitable size to permit intensive analysis of poetic and musical compositional practices and the interactions between the two. …

False Memories For Threat In Socially Anxious And Nonanxious Individuals, Candice M. Jostad

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

I Can Be Materialistic And Follow Christ ... True Or False?, Taryn Abbott Mcdowall

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Initial Coping Strategies On Subsequent Appointment Attendance In Individuals With Hiv: A Longitudinal Analysis, Deann Morris Johnson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

With advances in HIV treatment regimens, HIV has become a treatable chronic illness that requires extensive clinical management (Kelly, Otto-Salaj, Sikkema, Pinkerton, & Bloom, 1998). Nonadherence to HIV medical regimens is a primary reason for treatment failure. HIV medication regimens are complicated and require extensive time and effort from the patient (Friedland & Williams, 1999). Since the effectiveness of HIV medication regimens can be severely limited by poor adherence, much research has been conducted regarding the influence of psychosocial factors in adherence. However, this research has primarily focused on medication adherence and has not investigated psychosocial aspects associated with other …

Advisory Committee On The Federal Rules Of Evidence: Tending To The Past And Pretending For The Future?, Paul R. Rice

UC Law Journal

This Article characterizes the history of the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Evidence as disappointing. It argues that too often, over too long a period of time, the Advisory Committee has neglected its stewardship responsibilities and the blatant inadequacies of the codified evidence rules. As a consequence, significant problems have gone unattended as the Committee waits to see if the judges can solve the problems their rules have created.

The article notes that some concepts created in the codified evidence rules have proven to be problematic, if not completely inadequate, but there has been no willingness to re-examine …

Analyzing "The Politics Of (Evidence) Rulemaking", Eileen A. Scallen

UC Law Journal

The creation and interpretation of evidence rules is a burgeoning area for evidence scholarship. Recent changes to federal evidence law, such as the addition of rules on the admissibility of a defendant's prior sexual conduct, and the amendments to the rules regarding expert testimony, have highlighted the political and controversial aspects of procedural rulemaking. Professor Scallen, Chair of the Evidence Section of the American Association of Law Schools, was responsible for organizing the panel on "The Politics of [Evidence] Rulemaking." The panel addressed the following questions: who should make the evidence rules-the judiciary, the legislature, the executive? What role should …

Modeling Canopy Structure Effects On Loblolly Pine Growth, Mauricio Jerez Rico

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined several aspects of canopy structure and their influence on growth of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations. Foliage distribution, crown hydraulic architecture, and the effect of chronological changes in canopy structure on stand development were explored as possible components of a future process-based model intended for management purposes. A model based on the Johnson’s SB distribution was developed to predict leaf area distribution of loblolly pine trees. This is a preliminary step for building a submodel capable of simulating chronological changes in canopy structure and stand growth. The model accurately predicted the cumulative distribution of leaf area …

Characterization Of An In Vivo Diode Dosimetry System For Clinical Use, Kai Huang

LSU Master's Theses

An in vivo dosimetry system that uses p-type semiconductor diodes with buildup caps was characterized for clinical use. The dose per pulse dependence was investigated. This was done by altering the SSD, field size and wedge for photons, and by altering SSD and cone size for electrons. The off-axis correction and effect of changing repetition rate were also investigated. A model was made to fit the measured diode correction factors.

Rum Aroma Descriptive Analysis, Sabina Maza Gomez

LSU Master's Theses

Rum contains a large number of compounds that contribute to the complex aroma, some of which present in a very small amount. This fact represents a problem for the use of chemical analysis as a way to ascertain the quality of rum and to determine differences in rums products. Descriptive sensory analysis techniques can be useful in such circumstance, not only because they are easier to achieve, but because they give valuable information on the actual perceived aroma of the products. The first part of this work consisted of the development of lexicon for describing rums. A group of 5 …

Keeping Cross-Examination Under Control, J. Alexander Tanford

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Relationship Between Neuropsychological Deficits And Cerebral Perfusion Abnormalities In Cocaine Abusers, Karen A. Tucker

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the severity of cocaine/alcohol use, neuropsychological functioning, and cerebral blood flow abnormalities. Cocaine users (n = 60) and control subjects (n = 13) were administered a battery of neuropsychological tests that yielded the following factors: Attention/Executive Functioning, Memory, Simple Motor, and Sensorimotor. Participants were assessed for decreased cerebral blood flow with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Examination of group differences indicated that cocaine users performed significantly worse than controls on the Memory and Sensorimotor factors. The frequency/duration of cocaine use, alcohol use, and a combination of both substances were …

Techniques And Algorithms For Immersive And Interactive Visualization Of Large Datasets, Ashish Sharma

LSU Master's Theses

Advances in computing power have made it possible for scientists to perform atomistic simulations of material systems that range in size, from a few hundred thousand atoms to one billion atoms. An immersive and interactive walkthrough of such datasets is an ideal method for exploring and understanding the complex material processes in these simulations. However rendering such large datasets at interactive frame rates is a major challenge. A scalable visualization platform is developed that is scalable and allows interactive exploration in an immersive, virtual environment. The system uses an octree based data management system that forms the core of the …

Litter And Ground Dwelling Spiders Of Mixed Mesophytic Forest In Southeast Louisiana, Joyce Fassbender

LSU Master's Theses

During Pleistocene glaciation much of the southeastern United States was covered with mixed mesophytic hardwood forest. These forests are composed predominantly of magnolia, holly, and beech with a mixture of other tree species, such as oak and hickory, and a distinct understory. Remnants of mixed mesophytic hardwood forests occur in the southern United States and are important refugia for disjunct and habitat-restricted species. In Louisiana, the mixed mesophytic forest habitat is found mostly in West Feliciana Parish, particularly in the area around St. Francisville. I chose two sites to conduct a study of spider diversity in litter habitats of disturbed …

Audience And The African American Playwright : An Analysis Of The Importance Of Audience Selection And Audience Response On The Dramaturgies Of August Wilson And Ed Bullins, Ladrica C. Menson-Furr

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this study I discuss the importance of audience selection and response upon the dramaturgies of African American playwrights August Wilson and Ed Bullins. Using the theories and criteria for African American art and theatre as espoused by Alain Locke, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Amiri Baraka, and created by the 1960s and 1970s Black Theatre and Black Aesthetic movements, I discuss the importance of audience selection to Wilson's dramas, especially given his tremendous success on Broadway. I also explore the claimed lack of importance of audience to Bullins's dramaturgy, particularly as demonstrated in those plays written during his brief tenure …

The Effectiveness Of Managerial Leadership Development Programs: A Meta-Analysis Of Studies From 1982-2001, Doris B. Collins

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Many organizations are committing to education and training that deepens skills, perspectives, and competencies of their leaders. This research located 103 studies from 1982-2001 with a full range of managerial leadership development interventions including feedback, developmental relationships, on-the-job experiences, and formal training. It integrated results of 83 of these studies with formal training interventions via meta-analytic techniques to determine the effectiveness of interventions, in their enhancement of performance, knowledge, and expertise at the individual, team or group, or organizational level. The studies were viewed through a "macro-lens," that used a full range of managerial leadership development interventions (McCauley, Moxley, & …

Three Essays On Real Estate Research, Ming-Long Lee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation consists of essays relating to the three important real estate research topics: spatial statistics, mortgages, and real estate investment trusts (REITs). In the first essay, “Spatial Distribution of Retail Sales,” we apply retail gravity models to examine the spatial distribution of retail sales for a retail chain in the Houston market. Unlike previous empirical studies, our study models both the spatial dependencies among both consumers and retailers. Our results show both the spatial dependencies have significant impacts on the estimates of parameters in retail gravity models. Contrary to the suggestions of Guitschi (1981) as well as Eppli and …

Attributional Style, Depression And School Mobility : Assessing The Impact On Academic Achievement, Anne Grey

Theses : Honours

Academic achievement can impact on psychological wellbeing and can have a profound impact on later educational and vocational opportunities. Failure to achieve well academically has been associated with a number of factors including depression, a pessimistic explanatory style and mobility. There is evidence too to suggest that the impact of these variables is greater on younger boys and older girls. One hundred and eight students (54 M, 54 F) from two Catholic metropolitan schools took part in this study into the impact of depressive symptomatology, attributional style and school mobility on academic achievement. It was hypothesised that lower levels of …