Digital Commons Network^™

Negotiating Gender And (Free And Equal) Citizenship: The Place Of Associations, Linda C. Mcclain

Faculty Scholarship

This article focuses on the place of associations within John Rawls's political liberalism and in feminist liberalism. It revisits crucial components of political liberalism in light of feminist criticisms, such as those of Susan Moller Okin and Martha Nussbaum, that political liberalism's protection of associational life hinders women's free and equal citizenship. Offering a different reading of Rawls, it finds greater potential to draw on political liberalism to support such citizenship. It then brings liberal feminist ideas about the place of associations into dialogue with recent feminist work on gender, rights, and culture calling for models of rights within culture …

The Social Insurance Crisis And The Problem Of Collective Saving: A Commentary On Shaviro's Reckless Disregard, David I. Walker

Faculty Scholarship

Long-range Social Security and Medicare spending projections vastly exceed projected program revenues. If left unchecked, the resulting fiscal imbalance (estimated at $40 to $70 trillion in present value terms) would fall primarily on future generations. To avoid generational inequity, and perhaps fiscal meltdown, Professor Daniel N. Shaviro and others propose immediate fiscal austerity. This reply Commentary argues that near-term austerity is unlikely to play a significant role in overcoming the fiscal imbalance, which can be thought of as a balloon payment due mid-twenty-first century. Significant near-term fiscal austerity would eliminate the public debt and replace it with a public surplus. …

Strengthening Domestic Corporate Activity In Global Capital Markets: A Canadian Perspective On South Africa's Corporate Governance, Janis P. Sarra

All Faculty Publications

As a Canadian corporate law scholar who recently had the opportunity to visit South Africa, I was humbled by both the profound challenges and the immutable positive spirit of the South African people when it comes to thinking about their economic and social future. Hence while this paper is a reflective discussion on the kinds of challenges that exist and the strategies that could be deployed to enhance corporate governance in South Africa, it must be emphasized at the outset that it is for Sub-Saharan African nations to develop their own governance models. They are best positioned to adopt strategies …

Separation, Neutrality, And Clergy Liability For Sexual Misconduct, William P. Marshall

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

The Empty Promise Of Compassionate Conservatism: A Reply To Judge Wilkinson, William P. Marshall

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Aquifer Denitrification : Correlation Of ¹⁵N Isotopic Enrichment And First-Order Rate Constants, Ryan Klapperich

Undergraduate Theses and Senior Projects

Denitrification is the process by which potentially dangerous nitrate is biogeochemically reduced into harmless nitrogen gas. This process is mediated by bacteria in the presence of suitable electron donors, such as organic carbon, sulfide, and ferrous iron. Due to its potential utility in the remediation of contaminated environments, the process of denitrification has received considerable attention. However, a relationship between the rate constant of the reaction and isotopic enrichment of 15N, which occurs as a direct result of the chemical reaction, has received little consideration. A strong correlation between these two factors could lead to a technique to estimate denitrification …

Arrive, Explore, Reflect: The Development And Evaluation Of A Web-Based Program To Introduce High School Students To Landscape Architecture, Courtney Bailey

LSU Master's Theses

The profession of landscape architecture has struggled with public perception since the mid-nineteenth century. Community programs, coloring books, and educational toolkits are just some of the methods employed in the profession's attempt to improve public perception. Very little research has been conducted to test the efficiency of these educational attempts. The goal of this thesis is to create a Web-based program to effectively educate young members of the public. The program uses five "mini lessons" to present information about landscape architecture to the student. Links to the World Wide Web are scattered throughout the program to supplement lesson material. A …

The Atchafalaya Basin Proposal For Nomination To The World Heritage Site List, Mitchell W. Coffman

LSU Master's Theses

The Atchafalaya Basin in the Southern United States is a cultural, environmental, historical and natural land region of such universal importance, designation as a World Heritage Site is appropriate. This thesis provides a justification for this designation through compliance with cultural and natural criteria detailed in the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of 1972. The treaty, also known as the World Heritage Convention (WHC) promotes natural and cultural landscape preservation on an international level. This thesis lists the cultural and natural arguments for nominating the Atchafalaya Basin to the World Heritage Site list.

National, …

Numerical Simulation And Field Verification Of Inclined Piezocone Penetration Test In Cohesive Soils, Lei Wei

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A large strain finite element analysis is performed to analyze the effect of soil anisotropy on the inclined piezocone penetration test in normally consolidated cohesive soils. The piezocone penetration is numerically simulated using the commercial finite element code ABAQUS. The saturated clay is modeled as a two-phase material and the effective stress principle is used to describe its behavior. A frictional contact interface utilizing Mohr-Coulomb's theory was chosen to represent interactions between the surface of the cone and the soil. The Anisotropic Modified Cam Clay Model (AMCCM) by Dafalias (1987) was chosen and implemented into ABAQUS through user subroutine UMAT. …

Commitment To Displaying Positive Emotions At Work: An Examination Of Individual And Situational Antecedents, Meredith H. Croyle

LSU Master's Theses

Studies show that employee emotional displays impact customer behaviors and attitudes (Grandey, Fisk, Mattila, & Sideman, 2002; Pugh, 2001; Tsai, 2001). However, the factors influencing employees' emotional displays have not received much attention. More specifically, research suggests a need to more fully understand the motivational processes underlying employees' emotional displays, particularly in customer service where positive emotional displays are related to customer behaviors and sales performance (Brown & Sulzer-Azaroff, 1994; Diefendorff & Gosserand, in press; Grandey, Fisk, Matilla, & Sideman, 2002; Pugh, 2001; Tsai, 2001). To this end, this investigation examined an expectancy theory model of commitment to positive emotional …

Modulation Of Gabaergic Signaling In Retinal Amacrine Cells, Brian Kevin Hoffpauir

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The intricate circuitry formed by amacrine cells in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the retina suggests that these interneurons play a major role in shaping the visual message. The majority of amacrine cells in the vertebrate retina are GABAergic. Thus, elucidating how GABAergic signaling is modulated in the IPL is critical in order to understand how the visual message is processed in the retina. The results presented here suggest that GABAergic signaling between amacrine cells can be modulated by the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) or by the production of the second messenger, nitric oxide (NO). A …

Performance Assessment Of Coated Cemented Carbide Tools In Turning Aisi 1018 Steel, Mohamad Nouilati

LSU Master's Theses

In this study, the machining performance of a series of commercially available coated tungsten based cemented carbides, with 55o diamond shape, were investigated during finish turning of AISI 1018 steel under dry conditions. The inserts tested had a coating of TiN, Al2O3, TiN/Al2O3 and TiC/Al2O3/TiN respectively. For comparison, uncoated cemented tungsten carbide was also tested under the same cutting conditions. The coated tools exhibited superior wear resistance over the uncoated tool. The TiC/Al2O3/TiN coated tool had the lowest flank wear due to the high abrasive resistance of the TiC layer. The Al2O3 coated tool showed superior wear-resistance over the TiN/Al2O3 …

The Syntheses Of Novel Indicators And Materials For Chiral Separation, Rolanda Johnson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The colorimetric properties of resorcinarene solutions had not been fully investigated since von Baeyer's initial synthesis. We find that the solutions containing resorcinarene macrocycles develop color upon heating or standing. In the presence of saccharides, these solutions exhibit significant color changes which are readily observable by visual inspection. We determined that the solution color is due to macrocycle ring opening and oxidation. The optical responses to saccharides are due to complexation of the sugar with the acyclic chromophores. We have applied these mechanistic insights towards the challenging problems of the visual detection of saccharides and other important biologically analytes. In …

Towards Automation Of Forensic Facial Reconstruction, Hemant Narendra Khatod

LSU Master's Theses

Forensic facial reconstruction is a blend of art and science thus computerizing the process leads to numerous solutions. However, complete automation remains a challenge. This research concentrates on automating the first phase of forensic facial reconstruction which is automatic landmark detection by model fitting and extraction of feature points. Detection of landmarks is a challenging task since the skull orientation in a 3D scanned data cloud is generally arbitrary and unknown. To address the issue, well defined skull and mandible models with known geometric structure, features and orientation are (1) aligned and (2) fit to the scanned data. After model …

From Guerrilla Theater To Media Warfare Abbie Hoffman's Riotous Revolution In America: A Myth, Bruce Eric France, Jr.

LSU Master's Theses

The following thesis is a discussion of the radical activist Abbie Hoffman's theatrical work to revolutionize the United States. What the author does is explain the historical uniqueness of Hoffman's theatrical techniques as tools for social change. What made Abbie Hoffman such a unique character from that already bizarre and devastating time in the United States known as The Sixties was his ability to infuse pot with politics, fun with social activism and cultural change with his contemporary means of communication. He was able to excite and activate a whole generation of people who would otherwise drop out of society …

Design Exploration: Totem As Alternative For Efficient And Socially Responsive Burial, Mark Evan Bazzell

LSU Master's Theses

American cities are facing unprecedented development pressures. Urban populations in particular are increasing and diversifying, land as a resource is becoming more valuable, and designers/developers are challenged to creatively maximize space for all land uses. As urban populations grow, space for burial of the dead may become limited thereby prompting communities to consider alternatives to traditional burial. The increase in numbers of cremation already points to this trend. In addition to the spatial limitation issues there also exist issues of social and cultural limitation. Ethnic diversity is rapidly increasing and within each group one finds different traditions and needs regarding …

Is The Ecomap A Valid And Reliable Social Work Tool To Measure Social Support?, Alexandra R. Calix

LSU Master's Theses

The ecomap, developed in 1975, is a tool used in social work practice to measure social support (Hartman, 1995). Although the ecomap is widely utilized, due in part to its ease of administration, it has not been validated in the literature as a reliable and valid tool in the measure of social support. This study aims to quantify the ecomap, explore its psychometric soundness, and begin the process of validation using two empirically validated social support measurement tools, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) (Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley, 1988) and the Young Adult Social Support Inventory (YA-SSI) …

Synthesis, Structure, And Tribological Behavior Of Nanocomposite Dlc Based Thin Films, Varshni Singh

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films possess a combination of attractive properties and have been largely employed to modify the tribological behavior of materials. Nanocomposite, metal-containing DLC films are the new generation of these coatings providing tremendous potential to modify and tailor their properties expanding their applications in the field of nanotechnology. The present study investigates nanoscale effects on the tribological behavior of composite nanostructured DLC-based films and functional coatings. Three aspects were studied: (i) effect of Cr interlayer on a functionally gradient substrate; (ii) nanoparticulate Cr-containing DLC (Cr-DLC) films; and (iii) nanocomposite multilayered Cr/DLC coatings. Intensified plasma assisted nitriding produced a …

Middlegate Japanese Gardens: Preservation, Private Property And Public Memory, Margaret Anne Legett

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of thesis is to provide a preliminary history of Middlegate Japanese Gardens and to make public their significance as an example of the landscape architecture that was typical during the Country Place Era, and their significance within the community of Pass Christian and the City of New Orleans. As it now stands the story of Middlegate Japanese Gardens is not known in its own neighborhood. Between 1923 and 1929 New Orleans residents Rudolf Hecht and Lynne Watkins Hecht developed Middlegate Japanese Gardens at their summer home in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The Hecht’s built Middlegate Japanese gardens to perpetuate …

Effective Literacy Instruction In The Elementary Grades, Marie Laurent Bergeron

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify elements present in effective literacy instruction, i.e., those elements that fostered reading, speaking, listening, thinking, writing, and metacognitive skills. By examining variables that promoted literacy acquisition and achievement, a detailed account resulted which described classroom practice as related to teacher beliefs, strategies, materials, and classroom climate. The primary method of qualitative analysis used for this study was the Developmental Research Sequence (DRS) Method (Spradley, 1980). Two classrooms with exemplary teachers were studied extensively. Data collection involved the use of primary sources (interviews, observations, and student and teacher work) and secondary sources (records, …

A Qualitative Exploration Of Students' Experiences With Tutorial Learning, Angela Alexander

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to explore how students perceive their tutorial learning experiences at the collegiate level in a campus-based center and to explore the personality preferences of the students who participate in tutoring, according to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The study is designed to address tutoring from the perspective of the tutee’s experiences and to allow them to tell their story of how tutoring impacted their academic experience. The following research questions guide this study: 1. What are students’ perceptions of their tutorial learning experiences? 2. Are students’ perceptions of their tutorial learning experiences related to …

Pattern-Based Model Transformation: A Metamodel-Based Approach To Model Evolution, Sheena Judson Miller

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Software systems continue to grow in complexity at a rapid pace, creating systems that are complex to build and evolve. The problems that accompany changes in requirements, system upgrades, and error correction produce a desire for software evolution methods that increase the efficiency and effectiveness of adapting complex software to changes. As software systems evolve, design models must be modified to accommodate the required changes. Techniques that control the changes to models in a systematic manner are a key to model evolution. A process that improves the ability to effectively modify a design, thereby enhancing design qualities, supports the need …

Mems Accelerometer: Proof Of Concept For Geotechnical Engineering Testing, Keith Nicholas Hoffman

LSU Master's Theses

Geotechnical engineering materials are inherently variable, which leads to many simplifications when trying to model their behavior. The materials must always be characterized prior to any design work so that the engineer knows which direction he must progress to have a reliable design. Although subsurface characterization techniques and geotechnical design steadily improve, they are by no means infallible. The combination of geotechnical subsurface characterization along with geophysical techniques for improved design and construction monitoring has begun to surface as a viable alternative to the standard techniques in geotechnical engineering. This is important because there is a lack of Quality Control/Quality …

Microsatellite Instability In Squamous Cell Carcinoma And Lichen Sclerosus Of The Vulva, Sidney Joseph Marlborough

LSU Master's Theses

The usefulness of detecting genomic instability in the form of microsatellite instability (MSI) has been examined in a number of cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adjacent normal and lichen sclerosis (LS) samples were taken from patients with radical vulvectomies. Vulvar SCC samples were compared with adjacent normal samples using four oligonucleotide markers (BAT-25, BAT-26, D10S208 and D10S587) found to be informative with other carcinomas. Using polymerase chain reaction techniques, 30 vulvar SCC DNA samples were examined for MSI. BAT-26 displayed the highest level of MSI and was considered to be the most sensitive marker in studying vulvar SCC. There …

Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization: Effect On Strength And Range Of Motion, John Frederick Burnside

LSU Master's Theses

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine strength changes in the knee measured throughout full range of motion following Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization. METHODS: 13 subjects underwent pre-screening for existing soft tissue lesions. Subjects performed multiple angle isometric strength testing at the knee (15°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 115° of knee flexion) prior to beginning a 4-week resistance training protocol. Subjects performed knee extension/flexion exercises (2x15) 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Following the training period, subjects were post tested using the same protocol as used in the pre-test. DATA ANALYSIS: A paired sample t-test was used …

Development Of Chicken Polyclonal And Mouse Monoclonal-Based Enyzyme Immunoassays For The Detection Of Β-Cyclocitral In Catfish Pond Water, Cate Nakaweesa Munene

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Catfish industry faces a problem of off-flavors due to odorous compounds produced by cyanobacteria and blue-green algae. Beta-Cyclocitral imparts a hay-woody odor to pond water and fish tissues. At present there are no reliable pond treatment methods available to control these off-flavors. To monitor the levels of this compound for quality control, rapid, sensitive and inexpensive methods are needed. The major goal of this study was to develop enzyme-linked immunoflow assays based on monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies that are specific and sensitive enough to detect beta-cyclocitral in catfish pond water. Beta-Cyclocitral-PPD conjugate was prepared and used to immunize two …

An Analysis Of Cardiovascular And Respiratory Mortality As A Function Of Ambient Ozone And Fine Particulate Matter In The Baton Rouge Air Quality Control Region, Thomas James Wiley Iv

LSU Master's Theses

The Baton Rouge Air Quality Control Region has come under fire due to difficulties in reaching attainment of one-hour daily ozone limitations and its general perception as being a polluted place to live. Ozone is a reactive oxygen species which has been shown to result in damage to biological molecules and is detrimental to human physiology, especially in regards to cardio-respiratory structure and function. In the last decade, fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in mean aerodynamic diameter have been identified as a possible pollutant that is affecting public health at levels lower than the EPA’s established limits. PM2.5 …

Improved Methods For The Isolation And Characterization Of Flavobacterium Columnare, Bradley Donovan Farmer

LSU Master's Theses

Columnaris disease, caused by the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare, is an economically significant problem in many warmwater fish species. Difficulties encountered in the isolation and culture of F. columnare have been an impediment to research on the organism and the disease it causes. The goal of this study was to improve the methods for isolation, culture, identification and maintenance of F. columnare. Following the evaluation of different culture media selective cytophaga agar was determined to be the optimum isolation medium, Flavobacterum columnare growth medium proved to be the optimum culture medium, and tryptone yeast extract agar with increased moisture was best …

Bioethics? The Law And Biomedical Advance, Roger B. Dworkin

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Written Language Skills Of Middle And High School Students In An Alternative Program, Zuhar Rende

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the written language skills of middle and high school students who were attending alternative programs in Southern California. The participants of this study were 114 students who were identified and served under Delinquency Prevention Program (DPP) and 83 students who were identified and served under Court Ordered Probation (COP). The Test of Written Language -3 (TOWL-3) (Hammill & Larsen, 1996) was administered to the participants in order to obtain written language measures. In addition, this study investigated whether any relationships exists between written language skills, academic measures and selected demographic characteristics of …