Digital Commons Network^™

Snap Use Among Older Adults, Jennifer R. Geiger

LSU Master's Theses

Older adults participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) at much lower rates than the general population. Possible explanations for this disparity include stigma, lack of information, and lack of transportation. However, past research focusing on SNAP use among older adults is limited and utilizes age cohorts in their analyses that may not accurately reflect actual age differences in SNAP participation. This study explored four different models of age categorizations as they relate to SNAP participation rates among older adults over 55. Using a sample of 10,116 from the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study (HRS), the research used …

La Citoyenneté Aux Etats-Unis : Une Valeur En Perpétuel Devenir, Elisabeth Zoller

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Promises To Keep: Ensuring The Payment Of Americans' Pension Benefits In The Wake Of The Great Recession, Kenneth G. Dau-Schmidt

Articles by Maurer Faculty

In this essay, I examine the problem of designing a pension plan within the context of our larger public policy of encouraging workers to save for retirement. I discuss the various problems and risks inherent in encouraging workers to adequately save for retirement, invest those assets efficiently, and ensure the planned level of retirement consumption for the remainder of their lives. I also discuss the three major types of pension plans in the American retirement system, defined benefit, defined contribution, and hybrid, and assess how well each of these types of plans deals with the problems encountered in designing a …

Synthesis Of Poly(L-Lactic Acid) Scaffolds From Dioxane/Ethanol Using Control Rate Freezing And Study Of Its Microstructural Properties, George Idicula

LSU Master's Theses

Bio-degradable poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) scaffolds were prepared by using thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) method. A solution of PLLA-Dioxane was formed by dissolving PLLA in dehydrated 1,4-Dioxane at three wt/vol percentages, specifically 3, 7 and 10%. This PLLA-Dioxane solution was then frozen in borosilicate glass vials (5mL) at three cooling rates (1, 10 and 40 ˚C/min) in a commercially available controlled rate freezer (CRF). The frozen solution was freeze-dried to sublimate the Dioxane. The microstructural properties of the resulting PLLA scaffolds were determined utilizing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images and uni- axial compressive testing. The relationship between the wt/vol …

Effect Of Atmospheric Boundary Layer Conditions On Agricultural Spray Drift, William Tollefson

LSU Master's Theses

Drift of pesticides can be a significant health hazard, particularly in areas where agricultural land is adjacent to a school, retirement home, or other populated area. Off-target drift of pesticides depends on many atmospheric variables, both mechanical and thermal. While non-atmospheric variables, such as applicator nozzle size, height of application, and particle size, can be controlled by the applicator to reduce drift potential, understanding how atmospheric conditions set a framework for drift potential enables applicators to choose to spray when the weather conditions would minimize drift. Specifically, atmospheric stability plays an important role in the near-ground concentration of sprays downwind …

An Analysis Of Femininity : How Popular Female Characters In The Media Portray Contemporary Womanhood, Stephanie Ortego Roussell

LSU Master's Theses

The impact of the media on adolescent girls has received greater theoretical, legal and societal focus over the last few decades. Several studies link the development of women’s gendered identities, healthy sexual activity and self-efficacy to how the media portray women. Restrictive or unrealistic themes of womanhood or femininity in the media can impact a young girl’s social construction of identity and provide limited examples of what it means to be a woman in today’s society. This study qualitatively examines femininity in contemporary media by analyzing—via textual analysis and focus groups—how popular female characters embody, portray and promote different conceptualizations …

The Creative Development Of The One-Person Play, "Turkey Boys," A Production Thesis In Acting, Nicholas Andrew Hamel

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis details the writing process and performance of the author‘s partially autobiographical one-person play, "Turkey Boys." The play presents varying points of view on events in and around the small community of Atalissa, IA where, in 2009, 21 mentally disabled men were removed from the building where most of them had been living communally for more than 30 years. The men‘s employer, Henry‘s Turkey Service, was accused of mistreating the men, paying them at a sub-minimum wage level, providing inhumane living conditions, and verbally and physically abusing them. The piece is told in a documentary theatre style from multiple …

"A Simple Zeal And Earnest Love To The Truth" : The Religious Journeys Of Catherine Willoughby, Duchess Of Suffolk, And Katherine Parr, Queen Of England, Megan Elizabeth Spruell

LSU Master's Theses

This study focuses on the religious conversions of Catherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk, and Katherine Parr, Queen of England throughout the English Reformation and attempts to explain why their conversions proceeded at different rates. Both women came from similar backgrounds, yet Parr’s conversion to Evangelicalism occurred much sooner than Willoughby’s. Although Willoughby and Parr’s reformist leanings are well researched, their conversion to the new faith is a topic which deserves further attention. Studying their individual conversions will not only add to the histories of their lives, but to the understanding of why they became such passionate advocates of reform. This …

Tops Tech Utilization: Systemic Barriers And Facilitators In Louisiana, Melissa Clare Ledoux

LSU Master's Theses

TOPS Tech is a social welfare program in Louisiana that provides students with financial support to obtain the specific training that they need to get the jobs that are available in Louisiana. Since 1998, 42,918 students were eligible for the award, yet only 5,515 (12.85%) students enrolled full-time and utilized it (Louisiana Board of Regents, 2012). In order for educational leaders in Louisiana to improve participation in the TOPS Tech Program, they must first understand the barriers faced by students who want to utilize it. This study explored the potential factors contributing to the utilization (or underutilization) of TOPS Tech. …

Is There A Role For A Traditional Herbal Formula In The Treatment Of Hepatitis C?, Jenny Lam

Quill & Scope

Perspectives on the role of traditional and alternative treatments for hepatitis C, and the challenges facing practicing physicians on its relationship to established guidelines.

The Doctor And The Person, Charles Volk

Quill & Scope

Physicians are inundated with information, making a life of study inevitable. But where does one draw the line? It’s difficult to justify not spending every available moment studying, as one never knows when some bit of information will save someone’s life. However, living the life of a monk is just not possible for most and personal desires to have experiences outside of medicine actually make a physician more well rounded and better able to connect with the patients in their care.

Delayed Onset Muscular Soreness: A Look Into Post-Exercise Pain, Christopher Meltsakos

Quill & Scope

Delayed onset muscular soreness (DOMS) is a common problem that is experienced by elite athletes and weekend warriors alike. The typical characterization of dull aches, stiffness, and tenderness in one’s muscles 24-72 hours later are a hallmark of this exercise condition that is postulated to result from damage to muscular ultra- structures obtained during eccentric muscle contraction. Because of the prevalence and general lack of awareness for this muscular phenomenon, the purpose of this paper is to provide a definition and summary of DOMS, to discuss the various theories regarding the mechanism of action resulting in muscular damage, and to …

The Need For An Automated Acuity Tool For Children With Special Health Care Needs, Kartik Telukuntla, Lee M. Sanders

Quill & Scope

Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) often require extended and continuous contact with health care professionals due to their chronic conditions. Additionally, some of these children have other non-health burdens, including multiple problems with access to care, that make it even more difficult to treat their medical illness. These extra obstacles illustrate that effective care for CSHCN requires proper care coordination among a network of doctors, nurses, and care coordinators. Unfortunately, care coordination has been inadequate due to large caseload assignments. An automated acuity tool that reassesses the child’s acuity (low, medium or high) regularly would help balance the …

My White Coat, Shmuel Golfeyz

Quill & Scope

A student’s view on the responsibilities and changes inherent in donning a medical student’s white coat for the first time.

Transforming The Medical Psyche, Robert Zheda

Quill & Scope

Due to the multitude of challenges medical students and professionals face, there is a general undercurrent of negativity and a tendency to complain in health care. The purpose of this paper is to 1) discuss whether this negativity is necessary and 2) to advocate a more positive attitude in the medical field.

Convocation Of Thanks, Nina Beizer, Julia Cooperman, Ali-Reza Force, Matthew Garofalo, Andrew Silapaswan, Oded Tal

Quill & Scope

The text of speeches delivered at the annual Convocation of Thanks ceremony, in remembrance of those who donated their bodies to the NYMC gross anatomy program.

Behind The Man In The Suit: Interview With The Chancellor, Julia Cooperman, Bailey Fitzgerald, Eric Routen, Joanne Liu

Quill & Scope

No abstract provided.

A Case For Patient Empowerment Through Education, Gabrielle Hatton

Quill & Scope

Non-communicable diseases are now the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. These non-communicable diseases are primarily influenced by sustainable health behaviors such as eating, exercise, and substance use. In order for patients to be held accountable for their health behavior, they must be properly educated on the relationship between behavior and disease prevention. The investment in primary and second-ary health education should be a top strategy in decreasing the incidence of chronic diseases and health care spending in the United States.

Interrelationships Of Caregiving Characteristics, Burden Of Caregiving, Depressive Symptomology, Physical Health, Self-Care, Life Satisfaction And Social Support Of Social Workers, Katherine Riker Sternberg

LSU Master's Theses

With increasing numbers of Americans engaged in unpaid, informal caregiving for adults over the age of 18, there is a need for research that investigates caregivers’ experiences, with particular emphasis on their health and well being. This is the first known study to examine the experiences of social workers, engaged in direct practice, who are also managing responsibilities related to informal caregiving. The study examined interrelationships among social workers’ caregiving characteristics, burden of caregiving, depressive symptomology, physical health, self-care, life satisfaction and social support. Hypotheses included: (1) Burden of caregiving is positively correlated with depressive symptomology. (2) The burden of …

Activity Of Halide-Free Flux At Copper And Tin Surfaces, Guoying Qu

LSU Master's Theses

The activity of halogen-free carboxylic acid flux is considered one of the most important aspects in controlling flip chip joint quality recently. In this work, we examined the CuOx removal effectiveness of carboxylic acid solutions at Cu substrates using electrochemical methods at elevated temperatures from 100ºC to 180ºC. Reaction kinetics of CuOx removal were investigated by chronopotentiometry and gravimetric analysis. FTIR was used to study the surface chemistry, and spectrophotometry was used to understand reactant and product solubility. Kinetics of carboxylic acid solution such as adipic acid or maleic acid in polyethylene glycol (PEG) with and without complexing agents such …

Some Effects Of Nutrient And Flooding Stress Manipulation On Coastal Louisiana Wetland Vegetation, James Stephen Ialeggio

LSU Master's Theses

Freshwater diversions are a relatively recently utilized tool in wetland loss mitigation that stimulate an organic accretion response in marsh vegetation, which is based in root production and thus belowground biomass. The effectiveness of freshwater diversions in slowing marsh loss probably varies across a gradient of the factors they supply: decreased salinity, increased nutrient concentrations, and increased inundation. Flooding stress is commonly thought to be the overriding factor limiting wetland vegetation growth, however its influence may vary across salinity and nutrients. Therefore, plugs of Spartina patens were planted in four “marsh organs” consisting each of 36 sediment-filled PVC pipes of …

Peel-Off Lawyers: Legal Professionals In India's Corporate Law Firm Sector, Jayanth K. Krishnan

Articles by Maurer Faculty

This study is about hierarchy within the legal profession – how it presents itself, how it is retained, and how it is combated. The socio-legal literature on this subject is rich, with many roots tracing back to Professor Marc Galanter’s famous early 1970s article on the ‘Haves’ and ‘Have-Nots.’ Galanter’s piece and the work of those influenced by him rightly suggest that resources – institutional, financial, and demographic – contribute to whether lawyers are, and remain as, part of the ‘Haves.’ Yet, while resources of course greatly matter, as this study will argue other forces are significant as well. One …

Validation Of The Remote Food Photography Method To Quantify Intake Of Infant Formula, Abby Duhe

LSU Master's Theses

Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since the 1970s, and this increased prevalence is cause for concern as childhood obesity increases the risk of adult obesity and other comorbid diseases. Evidence suggests that the origins of obesity can be identified in infanthood. Accurate methods of assessing food intake in infants can be utilized to establish effective feeding practices in infanthood and to assess the relationship between infant feeding practices and the risk of childhood obesity. Current methods are either subjective or have limited ability for widespread use beyond clinical research settings due to cost and high burden. The aim …

The Dimensions Of Judicial Impartiality, Charles G. Geyh

Articles by Maurer Faculty

Scholars have traditionally analyzed judicial impartiality piecemeal, in disconnected debates on discrete topics. As a consequence, current understandings of judicial impartiality are balkanized and muddled. This Article seeks to reconceptualize judicial impartiality comprehensively, across contexts. In an era when "we are all legal realists now," perfect impartiality-the complete absence of bias or prejudice-is at most an ideal; "impartial enough" has, of necessity, become the realistic goal. Understanding when imperfectly impartial is nonetheless impartial enough is aided by conceptualizing judicial impartiality in three distinct dimensions: a procedural dimension, in which impartiality affords parties a fair hearing; a political dimension, in which …

The American Judicature Society And Judicial Independence: Reflections At The Century Mark, Charles G. Geyh

Articles by Maurer Faculty

A logical starting point in a symposium commemorating AJS at the century mark is with judicial independence – a sweeping topic with a complex architecture that gives structure to the AJS mission. The many and varied contributions that AJS has made to the administration of justice over the past one hundred years can best be understood and appreciated as means to further the overarching objective of promoting an independent and accountable judiciary.

Comparing Social Skills In Children Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorders According To The Dsm-Iv-Tr And The Proposed Dsm-5, Jennifer Susan Beighley

LSU Master's Theses

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is currently defined using criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). With the fifth edition of the DSM (DSM-5) forthcoming, one change the American Psychiatric Association has proposed is an increase in the number of overall symptoms necessary to meet criteria for ASD. Because social skills is well established as a core symptom of autism, the present study explores differences in social functioning using the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills in Youngsters-II (MESSY-II) in three groups of children ages 3-16 years including those diagnosed with ASD using the …

Aqueous Red-Emitting Silicon Nanoparticles For Cellular Imaging: Consequences Of Protecting Against Surface Passivation By Hydroxide And Water For Stable Red Emission, Sheng-Kuei Chiu, Beth Ann Manhat, William J.I. Debenedetti, Anna L. Brown, Katye Fichter, Tania Vu, Micah Eastman, Jun Jiao, Andrea Mitchell Goforth

Chemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Stable, aqueous, red-to-near infrared emission is critical for the use of silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) in biological fluorescence assays, but such Si NPs have been difficult to attain. We report a synthesis and surface modification strategy that protects Si NPs and preserves red photoluminescence (PL) in water for more than 6 mo. The Si NPs were synthesized via high temperature reaction, liberated from an oxide matrix, and functionalized via hydrosilylation to yield hydrophobic particles. The hydrophobic Si NPs were phase transferred to water using the surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) with retention of red PL. CTAB apparently serves a double role …

The Skeptic's Guide To Information Sharing At Sentencing, Ryan W. Scott

Articles by Maurer Faculty

The “information sharing model,” a leading method of structuring judicial discretion at the sentencing stage of criminal cases, has attracted broad support from scholars and judges. Under this approach, sentencing judges should have access to a robust body of information, including written opinions and statistics, about previous sentences in similar cases. According to proponents, judges armed with that information can conform their sentences to those of their colleagues or identify principled reasons for distinguishing them, reducing inter-judge disparity and promoting rationality in sentencing law.

This Article takes a skeptical view of the information sharing model, arguing that it suffers from …

Government Spending And Child Well-Being : A Correlational Study Of The Organization For Economic Co-Operation And Development (Oecd) Countries, Rachel Suzanna Foretich

LSU Master's Theses

Children who live in poverty are more likely to suffer from avoidable illnesses, become teenaged parents, be involved in the criminal justice system, and mature into adults who live in poverty (Isaacs et al., 2011). This study examines the relationship between government spending as a percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and 21 child well-being indicators. The samples in this study were collected from 30 Organization of Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) countries for the years 2009 and 2012. The major finding of this study reveals that there is a statistically significant relationship between government spending as a percent of …

Conflicts Of Interest In Medicine, Research, And Law: A Comparison, Stacey A. Tovino

Scholarly Works

Several of the remarks and articles presented in this symposium have addressed conflicts of interest arising during the provision of legal counsel to individuals who are elderly, including specific conflicts of interest implicated by estate planning, retirement planning, and long-term care planning. Topics examined thus far include conflicts of interest with respect to the application of rules of confidentiality within state rules of professional conduct to elderly clients with impaired decision-making capacity; conflicts of interest involving representative payees for Social Security benefits; conflicts of interest in distributions when parents enter into marriages that are unprotected by law; and conflicts of …