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Effects Of Redox Potential And Ph On The Fate Of Nitroglycerin In A Surface And Aquifer Soil, Sally Yost

LSU Master's Theses

Nitroglycerin, used in propellant formulations and ignition cartridges in military weapons, has been found as a surface soil contaminant on military installations. Concerns have arisen since the fate and mobility of nitroglycerin is not understood in these natural environments. The objective of this study was to determine the fate of nitroglycerin in natural field soils. Nitroglycerin degradation was examined using a surface soil and an aquifer soil under aerobic and anaerobic conditions at three pH levels. Studies were also performed to determine the influence of a supplemental carbon source on degradation. Radiolabeled 14C-nitroglycerin was used to trace the partitioning between …

Hydroclimatic And Circulation Anomalies Associated With The North Atlantic Subtropical High, Brian Taylor Allen

LSU Master's Theses

Hydroclimatic and circulation variability in regions around the Atlantic sector are linked to the intensity, location, and areal extent of the North Atlantic subtropical high (STH). Few analyses focus directly on the influence of the STH on climatic variability. Using sea level pressure (SLP) data from the NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis dataset, a time series of the STH was produced using principal components analysis (PCA) to describe the temporal variability of the STH from January 1948 to December 2001. A simple area average of SLP across the PCA domain is shown to describe the same phenomena (the dominant mode of the STH …

Travel Time Tomographic Imaging Of The Distribution Of The Effective Stress In Clean Sand Under A Model Footing, William M. Tanner

LSU Master's Theses

The use of high-speed data acquisition systems, inexpensive and reliable transducers, and better models of interpretation have combined to make elastic wave tomographic imaging of geotechnical engineering systems easier to accomplish both in the laboratory and in the field. An important application of these developments is that the evaluation of states of effective stress in soils using images of elastic wave velocity distribution. As a consequence, it is possible to experimentally estimate the state of induced and in-situ effective stresses and to compare these results with established models of stress distribution based on the theory of elasticity (e.g., Boussinesq’s solution). …

Freedom Of Expression In The Republic Of Georgia: Framing The Attempted Shut-Down Of The Independent Tv Station, George Sulkhanishvili

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this study is to examine the perception and the level of freedom in the media of the Republic of Georgia. The study examines the media’s perception of freedom by identifying the frame newspapers used while covering the event between the government and the independent media outlet. The main interest is to define the predominant frame. A content analysis of 115 news articles of the four Georgian daily newspapers find that responsibility and conflict frames were more frequently used than economic consequences frame and morality frames. The study concludes that the Georgian media have considerable freedom from external …

Watermarking Using Decimal Sequences, Navneet Kumar Mandhani

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis introduces the use of decimal sequences in watermarking to hide information for authentication. The underlying system is based on code division multiple access (CDMA), which is a form of spread spectrum communication. Different algorithms for the use of decimal sequences have been formulated for use in black and white images. The watermark is spread across the carrier image by using the d- sequences of optimal period and retrieval is made by the use of correlation. Matlab version 6.5 was used to implement the algorithms discussed in this thesis. The advantage of using d-sequences over PN sequences is that …

The Importance Of Fluent Component Skills In Mathematical Comprehension, Chisato Komatsu

LSU Master's Theses

The primary question to be addressed by the present study was whether fluency on component skills is important in the development of overall competency in mathematics. Reading fluency has served as an excellent predictor of one’s reading comprehension. However, few studies have investigated whether the fluency on component skills is essential in the development of overall competency in mathematics. In fact, there has been a push for instructional strategies to deemphasize the importance component skills. In the current study, 140 students in second- through fourth- grade classrooms from general education participated. Each student took three curriculum-based measurement probes (a single-skill …

Louisiana State University Nasalance Protocol Standardization, Kathryn Ruth Kendrick

LSU Master's Theses

It was the purpose of this study to obtain nasalance values using the Nasometer and a resonance evaluation created at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Speech and Hearing Clinic. The Nasometer was used to measure the amount of nasal acoustic energy in the speech of 40 normal young adults during sustained vowel production, consonant vowel reduplications, and connected speech using the Rainbow Passage. Means and standard deviations are presented for the individual speech tasks and according to gender. Nasalance values for the sustained vowels were significantly higher for the high front vowel /i/ than any other vowel, and the lowest …

Abiotic And Biotic Factors Affecting The Distribution Of Solenopsis Invicta Buren, Brachymyrmex Sp., And Linepithema Humile (Mayr) In East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana, Jessica Lynn Rosson

LSU Master's Theses

Ant populations and their distribution are affected by many circumstances. Abiotic factors such as weather, water availability, and soil characteristics may determine if a habitat is suitable for ants. Other factors such as level of disturbance, available food resources, reproductive biology, and natural enemies also contribute to defining ant distribution. Three ant species in East Baton Rouge parish, Louisiana were studied to determine what factors affected their distribution by measuring abiotic and biotic factors at sampling sites throughout the parish. These factors included weather, water availability, vegetation types, level of disturbance, and soil characteristics. Factors which predict abundance of Solenopsis …

Quality Evaluation Of Cheddar Cheese Containing Gamma-Oryzanol, Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez

LSU Master's Theses

Health benefits from consuming rice bran oil (RBO) have been extensively studied in humans. RBO has been shown to decrease cholesterol absorption by inhibiting the oxidation of the LDL-cholesterol. Gamma-Oryzanol is one of the RBO components that possess antioxidative properties; it is a polyphenolic compound resembling tocopherol (vitamin E), which is another component of RBO. There are evidences that oryzanol has potential applications for enhancing shelf-life of foods containing fats processed at a high temperature, decreasing the total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels in plasma lipids, and healing ulcers. In order to take advantage of the health benefits of oryzanol, …

The Gender Gap In Political Knowledge: A Comparison Of Political Knowledge Levels In The United States, Canada, And Great Britain, Emily Marie Guynan

LSU Master's Theses

Previous research indicates that there is a gender gap in political knowledge. I examine whether the gender gap exists in the United States and what the significant determining variables are aside from gender. I also examine whether the gender gap exists in other countries and whether the variables that are significant in the United States are significant in other countries. I examine political knowledge levels in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain. By utilizing crosstabulations and multiple regression models, I find that a gender gap does exist in the United States as well as in Canada and Great Britain. …

Evaluation Of Growth, Production And Cold Tolerance Of Four Varieties Of Tilapia, Patricio Enrique Paz

LSU Master's Theses

As global tilapia production grows, it is important to characterize varieties available for production and generate data on environmental tolerances. This study generated data on tolerances, adaptabilities and production characteristics of four tilapia varieties. Goals of this study were to: (1) compare growth of four tilapia varieties in two types of recirculating systems, (2) evaluate juvenile growth of seven tilapia varieties in fresh and brackishwater mesocosms, and (3) estimate cold tolerance of juveniles of four tilapia varieties in fresh and brackishwater. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus), Mississippi commercial strain tilapia (MCS), and Florida red tilapia (FRT) were …

Comparative Analysis Between Different Flood Assessment Technologies In Hazus-Mh, Jennifer Carol Meyer

LSU Master's Theses

Natural disasters devastate the United States through both economic loss and loss of life. The world wide economic damage that results from natural disasters has more than tripled in the last thirty years. Of these natural disasters, floods are the most chronic and costly disasters, comprising an average $5 billion dollars of damage each year. FEMA has released a new software program called HAZUS-MH, which attempts to capture economic losses caused by flooding before losses occur and predict losses from real-time events. This estimate is accomplished through the coupling of flood hazard modeling with local data. FEMA’s goal is that …

Design And Fabrication Of Electromagnetic Micro-Relays Using The Uv-Liga Technique, John Dalton Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation reports a research effort to microfabricate an electromagnetic relay for power applications using a multilayer UV-LIGA process. A mechanically wrapped coil was used and very simple design for the magnetic circuit was adopted to increase the design flexibility and performances. The broad material selection and the capability of making high aspect ratio microstructures of the UV-LIGA make the technology best suited for fabricating microelectromechanical power relays. Fabrication of the device required significant advances in the optical lithography of SU-8 negative photoresist. Research proved that aspect-ratios up to 40:1 in isolated open field structures of thickness between 1 and …

Media Coverage Of The 2003 Parliamentary Election In The Republic Of Georgia, Baadur Koplatadze

LSU Master's Theses

The November 2, 2003, parliamentary election caused a significant political crisis in the Republic of Georgia. During the election campaign, the political parties questioned the desire of the government to carry out a fair election. They blamed President Edward Shevardnadze for fabricating the election. After the election, the opposition parties did not recognize the results and claimed that there were massive fabrications (the number of people who voted was much more than the number of people who were in voters’ list). The public supported this position, and several huge demonstrations demanded the resignation of President Shevardnadze. Two weeks after the …

A Novel Mechanical Seal Design With Superior Thermal Characteristics, Anoop Kumar Somanchi

LSU Master's Theses

A mechanical face seal is an important component of variety of pumps used in chemical, petrochemical and process industry. The primary function of a mechanical seal is to prevent leakage of the process fluid from the pump housing and shaft to the environment. The factors that affect the performance of a mechanical seal to leak are friction, wear and its thermal characteristics. Improving upon the thermal characteristics of a mating ring in a mechanical seal would enhance its performance. Implanting a heat exchanger in the mating ring hold great promise for improving the performance of mechanical seals from the viewpoint …

Ethics And Literature: Love And Perception In Henry James, Sarah Hamilton

LSU Master's Theses

In this paper I argue for the value of literature in ethical instruction. Following Martha Nussbaum, I argue that literature often promotes the kind of context-specific judgment, respect for the cognitive value of the emotions and empathy for others that are foundational to the kind of ethical judgment Nussbaum and I support. Like Nussbaum, I find that Henry James's novels evince these same ethical values and that his novels, especially the novels of the late phase, are therefore useful for ethical instruction. Unlike Nussbaum, however, I do not believe that James portrays erotic love as an emotion that is incompatible …

What Irritates Consumers?: An Empirical Examination Of The Antecedents And Consequences Of Consumer Irritation, Sweta Chaturvedi Thota

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation develops a model of consumer irritation in the context of consumer decision-making. Thus, the purpose is to describe and empirically test a model of the antecedents and consequences of consumer irritation. The model incorporates antecedents, moderators and consequences of irritation. It is suggested that irritation in consumers has a direct as well as an indirect influence, through retention of irritation in consumers, on the outcome variables such as attitude towards the advertised brand, and intentions to engage in negative word of mouth (NWOM) behavior. The central aim of this dissertation is to extend our understanding of the irritation …

Effects Of Dietary Protein Level And Fish Meal On Growth And Hormonal Status Of Weaned Dairy Calves, Patricia Terrell Richardel

LSU Master's Theses

Eight weaned Holstein steers approximately 4 mo of age (mean BW = 119.47 ± 2.65 kg) were used in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square designed experiment to study the effects of protein source and level on performance and anabolic hormonal status of weaned dairy calves. Treatments consisted of two diets containing either 16 or 20 % crude protein (CP) with or without fish meal (FM). Experimental diets were corn silage based with soybean meal (SBM) as the source of ruminal degradable protein and FM as the source of ruminal undegradable protein. The animals were fed their respective diets …

Electronic Structural Investigations Of Bi- And Polymetallic Complexes Using Quantum Mechanical Methods, Zakiya Sheni Wilson

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding the dynamics influencing chemical reactivity is essential for properly exploiting matter into more useful purposes. In that manner, computational chemistry is a tool frequently used to study chemical properties at the most intimate level, i.e. the single molecule.

With this work, we probe the chemistry governing a variety of multi-faceted bi- and polymetallic compounds. To date our research consists of four major projects: bimetallic rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation and aldehyde-water shift hydrocarboxylation catalysis; a novel linear M-H-M interaction in a bridged bis(dialkylphosphino)methane complex of nickel; and CeBe₁₃, a heavy fermion conductor. Computational investigations on these systems allow us to …

Estimation Of Living Body Weight Based On Measurements Of Anterior Superior Iliac Spine Breadth And Stature, Jaime A. Suskewicz

LSU Master's Theses

Standard identification criteria for creating a decedent’s biological profile typically include ancestry, sex, age, and stature, but not body weight. Body weight information may not only assist in creating a more complete biological profile but may also provide insight into other forensic considerations, such as taphonomy and body transport and disposal. The current study seeks to establish multiple regression equations for the prediction of living body weight in skeletal remains. Specifically, the measurements of anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) breadth and stature are assessed with regard to living weight. Research was carried out on both a skeletal sample and a …

Effects Of Family Violence And Parental Psychopathology On The Psychological Outcome Of Urban Adolescents Exposed To Community Violence, Shannon Self-Brown

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Previous research has documented an association between adolescents’ exposure to community violence and a range of mental health problems. However, some violence-exposed youth maintain high levels of adaptive behavior and exhibit good psychological functioning. Thus, it appears that protective and/or risk factors are involved in the community violence-psychological outcome relation, which mitigate the conditions under which community violence exposure leads to adverse adolescent outcome. According to the ecological transactional model, protective and/or risk factors may exist within the family that influence adolescent outcome in response to community violence exposure. The purpose of this study was to delineate the relations among …

Experimental And Computational Modeling Of Granular Materials, Orlando Boscan

LSU Master's Theses

4-inch cubical sand specimens were been tested under drained conditions using a wide range of stress paths. The testing was performed by means of a true (cubical) triaxial device that has been conditioned for this study. This testing set-up consisted of a servo-controlled, single-boundary type apparatus, with six flexible membranes that create a center cavity surrounding the soil specimens. This thesis illustrates the functioning of the triaxial device, including detailed descriptions of the device components, sample preparation, and a practical application related to the mechanical characterization of granular materials using critical state soil mechanics. An experimental program, based on the …

The Myth Of Charismatic Leadership And Fantasy Rhetoric Of Crypto-Charismatic Memberships, Shaun Robert Treat

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study will analyze the relationship between myth and the fantasy rhetoric of charismatic leadership by employing Fantasy Theme Analysis to examine the pervasive discourses invoking this enduring folk belief. Fantasies of the Charismatic Superhero are explored within the popular leadership treatises of successful “management gurus” and in our popular culture entertainments. The rhetorical visions of Stephen Covey’s “Principle-Centered Leadership,” Jim Collins’ “Level 5 Leadership,” and Manz and Sims' “SuperLeadership” are examined for their displacement of charismatic leadership in favor of the empowered crypto-charisma of self-leading memberships. Findings suggest “empowerment” rhetorics, like the rhetorical visions championed by many populist “gurus,” …

Jesse Knight And His Humbug Mine, J. Michael Hunter

Faculty Publications

Born in Nauvoo, Illinois to faithful Mormon parents, Jesse Knight later withdrew from activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). In this biographical sketch, the events associated with his “religious awakening” are recounted, as are the circumstances that led to his amassing a fortune in the mining industry. Considering his wealth to be a stewardship from the Lord, he used it to create jobs for the unemployed, promote education, encourage wholesome recreation, and save the credit of the LDS Church. “Uncle Jesse” was an example of kindness and generosity to all.

Combining Learning Approaches For Incremental On-Line Parsing, Deryle W. Lonsdale, Michael B. Manookin

Faculty Publications

This paper discusses the integration of two different machine learning approaches to modeling language, NL-Soar and analogical modeling (AM). The resulting hybrid system is capable of functionality that is not possible when using only one of the systems in isolation. After a brief introduction of each system, an explanation is given of how AM is used to provide information useful to NL-Soar for two tasks. Examples are given, and related issues are outlined.

Human Capital And Learning As A Source Of Sustainable Competitive Advantage, Nile W. Hatch, Jeffrey H. Dyer

Faculty Publications

This paper seeks to identify the sources of wide and persistent variations in learning performance in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. In the resource-based view of the firm, human capital is frequently assumed to contribute to competitive advantage due to its inimitability based on its intangible, firm-specific, and socially complex nature. Consistent with this view, we find that investments in firm-specific human capital have a significant impact on learning and firm performance. More specifically, human capital selection (education requirements and screening), development through training, and deployment significantly improve learning by doing, which in turn improves performance. However, we find that acquiring …

Employee Stock Purchase Plans, Gary V. Engelhardt, Brigitte C. Madrian

Faculty Publications

Employee stock purchase plans (ESPPs) are designed to promote employee stock ownership broadly within the firm and provide another tax-deferred vehicle for individual capital accumulation in addition to traditional pensions, 401(k)s, and stock options. We outline the individual and corporate tax treatment of ESPPs and the circumstances under which ESPPs will be preferred to cash compensation from a purely tax perspective. We then examine empirically ESPP participation using administrative data from 1997-2001 for a large health services company that employs approximately 30,000 people. The picture that emerges from the analysis of these data suggests that there is substantial non-participation in …

The Effect Of Transaction Size On Off-The-Run Treasury Prices, David F. Babbel, Craig B. Merrill, Mark F. Meyer, Meiring De Villiers

Faculty Publications

A price pressure effect is implied by segmentation in the market for a security. An empirical property of a segmented market is that the price of the security is sensitive to supply and demand conditions for that specific security, absent changes in risk and absent any new information. This paper examines intra-day trading data from the inter-dealer broker market for U.S. Treasury securities and finds that there is a price pressure effect in the off-the-run Treasury market. Thus, securities that would appear to be very close substitutes, i.e., on-the-run and off-the-run Treasury bonds, behave as if there is some degree …

A New Look At The Multiclass Network Equilibrium Problem, Patrice Marcotte, Laura Wynter

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

The multiclass network equilibrium problem is expressed in general as a nonmonotone, asymmetric, variational inequality problem. We show that in spite of the nonmonotonicity of the cost operator, the problem may actually satisfy a weaker property, induced by the hierarchical nature of the travel cost interactions. This property allows a natural decomposition approach, not otherwise available, that admits provably convergent algorithms. We present one such algorithm, easily implementable using a solver for the single-class network equilibrium problem, together with a convergence proof.

On The Cranial Anatomy Of The Polycotylid Plesiosaurs, Including New Material Of Polycotylus Latipinnis, Cope, From Alabama, F. Robin O’Keefe

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

The cranial anatomy of plesiosaurs in the family Polycotylidae (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) has received renewed attention recently because various skull characters are thought to indicate plesiosauroid, rather than pliosauroid, affinities for this family. New data on the cranial anatomy of polycotylid plesiosaurs is presented, and is shown to compare closely to the structure of cryptocleidoid plesiosaurs. The morphology of known polycotylid taxa is reported and discussed, and a preliminary phylogenetic analysis is used to establish ingroup relationships of the Cryptocleidoidea. This study also presents new material referable to Polycotylus latipinnis from the Mooreville Chalk Formation of Alabama. This skeleton is largely …