Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Benefits Of An Outdoor Adventure Program For Improving Self-Esteem And Self-Efficacy And Reducing Problem Behaviors In Adolescent Girls, Kristen O'Shea

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The study assessed change in self-efficacy, self-esteem, and problem behaviors from pre-treatment to post-treatment and at 6-month follow-up for adolescent girls enrolled in an outdoor adventure program. Family security and previous program experience were also considered. Participants included 62 girls (ages 10 - 18) from diverse ethnic and SES backgrounds (the majority were Euro American from middle class backgrounds). As expected, problem behaviors were negatively correlated with self-esteem throughout the trip; they were negatively correlated with self-efficacy at 6-month follow-up. Girls from "higher security" families reported significantly higher levels of self-esteem (p < .05) and fewer problem behaviors (p < .01) than girls from "lower security" families. A principal components analysis (PCA) was run to review test properties of one of the study measures, the modified General Self-Efficacy Scales. Limitations of the study, including low power and few statistically significant results, are discussed.

Mallard Nesting Ecology In The Great Lakes, Jonas Ian Davis

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Understanding how habitat features influence vital rates that drive population growth is fundamental for delivery of effective conservation programs. Past decisions in management of Great Lakes mallard (Anas platyrynchos) populations were based largely on paradigms established in the mid-continent because regional data were lacking. Recent sensitivity analyses from the Great Lakes Mallard Study show that population growth (i.e., λ) is most sensitive to changes in nest success (16%) and duckling survival (32%). In spring of 2001 to 2003, as part of the Great Lakes Mallard Study, 536 mallards were radio-marked at nine sites in four states (Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and …

Disruption Of 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine Dna Glycosylase (Ogg1) Antioxidant Response Capacity By Sodium Arsenite, David Paul Cox

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine DNA glycosylase is the first step and rate-limiting enzyme involved in the removal of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine via the base excision repair pathway. Transcriptional regulation of human Ogg1 is sensitive to redox changes via modulation of intracellular glutathione. In response to changes in glutathione, changes in hOgg1 transcription occur similar to genes regulated by the transcription factor Nrf2. It was determined that positions - 47 to - 44 in the hOgg1 promoter are necessary for basal transcription of Ogg1 determined by site-directed deletion. This region is capable of interacting with nuclear protein determined by binding assays. Furthermore, transcription factor Nrf2 is …

Peter Severinus: From Humours To Chemistry In The Sixteenth Century, Michael T. Walton, Robert M. Fineman

Quidditas

The re-discovery of the works of Mendel and others has added greatly to our understanding of genetics. Such is now the case of Peter Severinus, with the recent recovery (or re-discovery) of his seminal work, Idea Medicinae Philosophicae (1571). Severinus concurred with Paracelsus’s (1493-1541) concept of seeds (little chemical factories) that worked on matter to form living things; but he was also aware of transplantation (grafting and cross-pollination) that changed phenotypes and genotypes in plants. Severinus applied this understanding to hereditary diseases in humans and extended Paracelsian theory. He believed that certain diseases in one’s offspring were caused by a …

Instead Of Enda, A Course Correction For Title Vii, Jennifer S. Hendricks

Publications

In September 2008, the D.C. federal court issued a landmark decision holding that discrimination against a transgender person was sex discrimination under Title VII. This decision throws into sharp relief the ongoing debates among supporters of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act about whether the compromise on including protection for gender identity claims. Consideration of ENDA in some form will likely be early on the agenda of the next Congress, especially under a Democratic administration likely to support the bill. This essay proposes an alternative to ENDA that would embrace the theoretical connections between sex, gender, and sexual orientation, with important practical …

An Introduction To Systems Biology For Mathematical Programmers, Evind Almaas, Allen G. Holder, Kevin D. Livingstone

Mathematics Faculty Research

Many recent advances in biology, medicine and health care are due to computational efforts that rely on new mathematical results. These mathematical tools lie in discrete mathematics, statistics & probability, and optimization, and when combined with savvy computational tools and an understanding of cellular biology they are capable of remarkable results. One of the most significant areas of growth is in the field of systems biology, where we are using detailed biological information to construct models that describe larger entities. This chapter is designed to be an introduction to systems biology for individuals in Operations Research (OR) and mathematical programming …

Wildland Firefighter Health Risks And Respiratory Protection, Claire Austin

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Les pompiers forestiers sont exposés à un mélange complexe de produits de combustion, inclusion faite du monoxyde de carbone, de vapeurs et de gaz irritants, d’agents cancérogènes, de particules inhalables et de nanoparticules. Ils fournissent un niveau d’effort considérable lorsqu’ils combattent des incendies, et leurs quarts de travail peuvent s’étendre jusqu’à 16 heures ou plus.

Des études sur les pompiers forestiers ont été réalisées aux États-Unis et en Australie, mais jamais au Québec. Ces pompiers font souvent état de troubles respiratoires et neurologiques. Une déperdition de la fonction respiratoire a aussi …

The Meaning Of Work, Mental Health And Organizational Commitment, Estelle Morin

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Le projet présenté ici vise à déterminer les facteurs reliés au sens du travail qui ont un impact sur la santé mentale au travail et l’engagement organisationnel. Les résultats attendus sont d'une part, vérifier les relations entre les facteurs du sens au travail, la santé mentale au travail et l’engagement organisationnel et d'autre part, recommander des actions visant à corriger ou améliorer les facteurs qui affectent le sens du travail.

Les hypothèses suivantes ont été testées :

1. Les caractéristiques du travail suivantes sont positivement corrélées entre elles : l’utilité du travail, …

Développement De Marqueurs Et Validation D’Outils De Diagnostic Pour Le Dépistage De L’Hypersensibilité Induite Par Le Béryllium, Michel Fournier, Jacques Bernier, Pauline Brousseau, Daniel Cyr, Guy Viel, Sébastien Sauvé

Rapports de recherche scientifique

Le béryllium est connu pour sa grande toxicité. Il provoque, suite à l’inhalation de poussières ou de vapeurs des pneumopathies sévères (bérylliose) et des atteintes chroniques dite maladie chronique du béryllium (MCB). En moyenne, 1à 20% des travailleurs exposés deviennent sensibilisés, desquels 1 à 10 % développent la MCB. Il existe un test de laboratoire couramment utilisé pour déceler la sensibilisation d’un travailleur au béryllium; il s’agit du test de prolifération des lymphocytes en présence de béryllium le "Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test" (BeLPT). Bien que ce test permette de détecter la sensibilisation, il offre peu de valeur prédictive quant aux …

Disability And “Late Style” In Music, Joseph N. Straus

Publications and Research

“Late style” is a longstanding aesthetic category in all the arts. Late-style music is presumed to have certain internal qualities (such as fragmentation, intimacy, nostalgia, or concision) and to be associated with certain external factors (such as the age of the composer, his or her proximity to and foreknowledge of death, lateness within a historical period, or a sense of authorial belatedness with respect to significant predecessors). Upon closer inspection, it appears that many of these external factors are unreliably correlated with a musical style that might be described as late. Late style is often better correlated with the bodily …

Fundamentals Of Biology 1 Lab, Todd Schraw

Syllabus Repository

No abstract provided.

Chemical Analysis Of Polymer Blends Via Synchrotron X-Ray Tomography, Heath Alan Barnett

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Material properties of industrial polymer blends are of great importance. X-ray tomography has been used to obtain spatial chemical information about various polymer blends. The spatial images are acquired with synchrotron X-ray tomography because of its rapidity, good spatial resolution, large field-of-view, and elemental sensitivity. The spatial absorption data acquired from X-ray tomography experiments is converted to spatial chemical information via a linear least squares fit of multi-spectral X-ray absorption data. A fiberglass-reinforced polymer blend with a new-generation flame retardant is studied with multi-energy synchrotron X-ray tomography to assess the blend homogeneity. Relative to other composite materials, this sample is …

Dactyls Reveal Evolutionary Patterns In Decapod Crustaceans, Jeffrey Guy Agnew

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Because of their high preservation potential and uses in foraging and defense, decapod crustacean dactyls (movable fingers of claws) are potentially excellent test subjects for an ongoing debate concerning the relative importance of top-down (predators) and bottom-up (prey) controls on morphologic diversification and evolution. The utility of dactyls for inferring evolutionary patterns were evaluated using living and subfossil xanthoid crabs sampled from the southeast U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts, and were used to: (1) distinguish the roles of selection and constraint on dactyl morphology through allometric and shape comparisons in the context of the crab’s phylogenetic relationships and …

Fabrication Of Micro Bumps For Micro Scale Thermal Management, Ajay Ashok Kardak

LSU Master's Theses

Cryopreservation is storage of biological systems at ultra low temperatures for a prolonged duration; such that they can be thawed and restored to the same living state. It is important to understand the behavior of cells when they are subjected to subzero temperatures. Research in this area has shown the occurrence of two main biophysical events; cellular dehydration and intracellular ice formation. Current techniques for characterizing the dehydration in cells as part of a tissue are not adequate for studying intracellular ice formation in tissues. An integrated device consisting of an array of thermal sensors (microthermocouples) and actuators (microthermoelectric coolers) …

Three Papers On The Behavior Modeling Of The Shrimp Fishermen In The Gulf Of Mexico, Tao Ran

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The overall goal of this research is to empirically analyze shrimp fishermen behavior to help improve the management of the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fleet. Given that optimal management requires consideration of more than the net benefits derived from shrimp harvesting, this research also seeks to provide an empirical framework that would allow future investigators to measure benefits lost through bycatch-related management actions. This paper expands on previous fishing behavior literature by focusing on two of the most important short-run decisions confronting Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishermen (where to fish and how long to fish). A better understanding of these …

Sex-Specific Feeding Rates And Provisioning Of Fruit To Nestling Bell's Vireo, Greg H. Farley

The Prairie Naturalist

Provisioning of fruit to nestlings and possible sex-specific differences in feeding rate have not been reported for Bell's vireo (Vireo bellii; Brown 1993). While studying nesting ecology of Bell's vireo on Konza Prairie Biological Station, Geary and Riley counties, Kansas, I quantified feeding rate by sex and food type delivered to nestlings. Sex was determined by capturing adults with mist-nets and inspecting for a cloacal protuberance, as well as conducting behavioral observations of uniquely-marked individuals. Males sing regularly while moving around territories, as well as during incubation (Nolan 1960). I assigned "female" to the individual in these socially …

Zoological Label As Literary Form, Victor Fet

Biological Sciences Faculty Research

Nabokov’s work is seen through the unique concept of zoological labels and their language. A label, written by a young naturalist, is a concentrated source of information, detail, and “naming the unnamed”; it reflects three Aristotelian unities (place, time, action).

Analysis Of Resonating Microcantilevers Operating In A Viscous Liquid Environment, Cyril Vančura, Isabelle Dufour, Stephen M. Heinrich, Fabien Josse, Andreas Hierlemann

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The characteristics of resonant cantilevers in viscous liquids are analyzed. Various rectangular cantilevers geometries are studied in pure water, glycerol and ethanol solutions of different concentrations, and the results are described in terms of the added displaced liquid mass and the liquid damping force for both, the resonance frequency and the quality factor (Q-factor). Experimental results using a set of magnetically actuated resonant cantilevers vibrating in the out-of-plane (“weak-axis bending”) mode are presented and compared to theoretical calculations. The importance of the study is in the use of resonant cantilevers as biochemical sensors in liquid environments.

Health Effects Of Nanoparticles, Claude Ostiguy, Brigitte Soucy, Gilles Lapointe, Catherine Woods, Luc Ménard, Mylène Trottier

Rapports de recherche scientifique

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Research in the nanoparticle (NP) and nanotechnology field is growing at a breathtaking pace. The reason is simple: the unique properties of NP will allow the development of products with unprecedented characteristics and opportunities in every field of human activity, and with tremendous economic impacts. It is currently anticipated that the number of exposed Quebec workers, not only in manufacturing these products but also in using and processing them, will increase over the next few years. Several products are already available commercially and some Quebec companies now have large-scale NP production …

The Forging Of Races: Race And Scripture In The Protestant Atlantic World, 1600-2000. By Colin Kidd, Armand L. Mauss

BYU Studies

Colin Kidd. The Forging of Races: Race and Scripture in the Protestant Atlantic World, 1600–2000. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2006.

Randomized Controlled Trial Evaluating Adeno-Momp And Momp Dna Vaccines Against Chlamydophila Psittaci Challenge In Cockatiels (Nymphicus Hollandicus), David Sanchez-Migallon Guzman

LSU Master's Theses

Chlamydophila psittaci causes severe disease in birds and humans, and important economical losses in the avian companion and poultry industry. Vaccines are the most cost-effective measure to control and help prevent infectious diseases, but to date there is no commercial vaccine available. A randomized clinical trial was conducted to assess the efficacy of two recombinant DNA vaccines against C. psittaci in Cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus). The first recombinant DNA vaccine has a gene encoding MOMP and the immunostimulant chitosan (MOMP DNA vaccine). The second recombinant DNA vaccine, contained the gene encoding MOMP that was vectored by a replication defective human adenovirus …

Spectrum, 2008, Northwestern College

Spectrum literary magazine

Literary journal

Dosimetry Intercomparison Using A 35-Kev X-Ray Synchrotron Beam, Scott Oves

LSU Master's Theses

Significance: Photon activated Auger electron therapy utilizes a keV-ranged, monoenergetic x-ray beam, and radiobiological and animal experiments studying this therapy require accurate dosimetry techniques. However, there exist few dosimetry protocols for low-energy x-ray beams. This research intended to use the CAMD synchrotron as a source of monochromatic, 35-keV x-rays and test dosimetry techniques of film and ion chamber. The hypothesis of my research was that depth-dose measured in a PMMA phantom using an air-equivalent ionization chamber and radiochromic film dosimeters in a PMMA phantom irradiated by a 35-keV, monochromatic x-ray beam will agree to within 5% of each other and …

Determination Of Ctv-To-Itv Margin For Free-Breathing Respiratory-Gated Treatments Using 4dct And The Novalis Exactrac Gating System With Implanted Fiducials, Jason Edward Matney

LSU Master's Theses

The purpose of this project was to investigate the interplay between gating window characteristics and target margin required to compensate for residual motion during the gating window. This project investigated the accuracy of ExacTrac and 4DCT imaging localizing an implanted coil at various phases of respiration. Radiochromic film measured delivered dose patterns for selected gating intervals over a variety of respiratory patterns. In order to establish accurate dosimetry, this project implemented and tested an EBT radiochromic film dosimetry system. Film testing showed that the performance of a medical grade Vidar Dosimetry Pro radiographic film scanner and an Epson V700 Photo …

Concentration Of Phosphorylated Proteins Using Modified Pmma Microanalytical Devices, Jowell Guerra Bolivar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This work describes the application of PMMA-based microanalytical devices for the affinity-type preconcentration of posttranslational modified proteins (PTMs). The choice of poly(methyl methacrylate), PMMA, is based on its biocompatibility, its functional methyl ester group for potential modification, and its extensive applications to create biological microelectromechanical systems (BioMEMS). Developing methodologies for preconcentration of PTMs is important for cancer diagnosis due to PTMs’ influence in the regulatory mechanism underlying the early stage of apoptosis or regulated cell death. Towards this goal, nitroavidin which can reversibly binds to biotin (and biotinylated proteins), was prepared using reported procedure and was characterized using several techniques …

Novel Oncolytic Herpesviruses For Breast Cancer Treatment, Anna Israyelyan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Oncolytic herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) has shown great potential as an effective agent for cancer therapy ¨C oncolytic virotherapy. To enhance oncolytic capabilities of previously reported agents, new oncolytic and fusogenic HSV-1 OncSyn and OncdSyn viruses were constructed based on wild type HSV-1 (F) strain. To provide for safety and tumor selectivity, the viruses carried a large deletion including one of the two ¦Ã134.5 genes. The ¦Ã134.5 gene, a major neurovirulence factor, was replaced by a gene cassette constitutively expressing the red fluorescent protein. Homologous recombination was utilized to transfer the fusogenic gBsyn3 mutation to the viral genome to …

Detection Of Rare Tp53 And Kristen-Ras Mutational Frequencies In Human Sperm, Derek N. Cole

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

There is mounting evidence of impacts of single base substitutions in both somatic and inherited genetic diseases. However, the occurrence of single base mutations in the germline and gametes has previously only been by conjecture and assumption. There is a need for understanding the risk of offspring inheriting small intragenic mutations, the frequencies at which these mutations are present in germ cells, and the impact that these inherited mutations may have son the predisposition to somatic disease during one’s lifetime. The present study attempts to establish baselines of mutational frequencies in two well characterized genes in human tissues, and demonstrate …

Distributions And Associations Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms In The Leptin Gene Of Bos Taurus And Bos Indicus Cattle, Douglas Henry Fischer, Jr

LSU Master's Theses

In recent years, the use of genetic markers has become more and more prevalent in beef breeding programs. This research focused on four previously identified single nucleotide polymorphisms in a leptin gene on chromosome 4 of beef cows. The SNP were E2FB, T945M, UA1, and UA2. Beef cows used in this research were maintained at the Louisiana State University AgCenter Central Research Station. Cows consisted of purebred Bos tauras and Bos indicus cattle as well as crossbreds. The objectives were to estimate genotypic and allelic frequencies for each SNP and to determine the influence of cow breed type, cow age, …

Durable And Reusable Antimicrobial Textiles, Leila Elizabeth Bonin

LSU Master's Theses

Antimicrobial textiles are a large research focus in the textile industry. There is an apparent need for creating reusable and durable antimicrobial textiles. Most of the textiles with antimicrobial properties effective against Staphylococcus aureus are disposable. To address the issue, two types of biopolymer solutions were created in a USDA lab. Both solutions displayed antimicrobial properties. A medium weight, plain weave cotton sheeting was used as the test fabric. Samples of the sheeting were cut, treated, and tested to determine their efficacy as antimicrobial textiles. The tests performed included tensile deformation, bending, shearing, compression, surface friction, surface roughness, and treatment …

Failure-Awareness And Dynamic Adaptation In Data Scheduling, Mehmet Balman

LSU Master's Theses

Over the years, scientific applications have become more complex and more data intensive. Especially large scale simulations and scientific experiments in areas such as physics, biology, astronomy and earth sciences demand highly distributed resources to satisfy excessive computational requirements. Increasing data requirements and the distributed nature of the resources made I/O the major bottleneck for end-to-end application performance. Existing systems fail to address issues such as reliability, scalability, and efficiency in dealing with wide area data access, retrieval and processing. In this study, we explore data-intensive distributed computing and study challenges in data placement in distributed environments. After analyzing different …