Digital Commons Network^™

Soil Carbon And Nitrogen Mineralization And Crop Parameters In Typical Maize-Bean Intercropping In Western Kenya, Judith A. Odhiambo, Urszula Norton, Emmanuel C. Omondi, Dennis Ashilenje, Jay B. Norton

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Smallholder farmers in western Kenya who plant maize (Zea mays L.) intercropped with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) face many challenges associated with nutrient-poor soils and weather-related crop failures. In regions where temperatures are favorable, crops are grown twice per year during long and short rainy seasons and in other regions, once per year during one long growing season. Growing crops two times per year necessitates frequent land preparation using inversion-type tillage. Little is known about the impact of current tillage-intensive crop management on annual soil organic matter (SOM) recovery. The aim of this study was to assess changes to soil …

Statistical Inference For The Mean Outcome Under A Possibly Non-Unique Optimal Treatment Strategy, Alexander R. Luedtke, Mark J. Van Der Laan

U.C. Berkeley Division of Biostatistics Working Paper Series

We consider challenges that arise in the estimation of the value of an optimal individualized treatment strategy defined as the treatment rule that maximizes the population mean outcome, where the candidate treatment rules are restricted to depend on baseline covariates. We prove a necessary and sufficient condition for the pathwise differentiability of the optimal value, a key condition needed to develop a regular asymptotically linear (RAL) estimator of this parameter. The stated condition is slightly more general than the previous condition implied in the literature. We then describe an approach to obtain root-n rate confidence intervals for the optimal value …

New Class Roles: Building Environments Of Cooperation, Lori Desautels

Scholarship and Professional Work – Education

We see students survive every day. We ourselves survive every day -- a class, a test, a conflict, a relationship, and a challenge. Yet surviving is very different than thriving! Many students that we see daily bring a degree of their stress into our classrooms. Thankfully, many of them also have supports in their lives that allow them to manage this stress in a productive manner.

Digital Finger Painting: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Tablet Computer And Its Artistic Implications In An Early Childhood Setting, Sarah Nicole Ackermann

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to better understand the implications of the tablet computer for learning and, specifically, in the art classroom. A qualitative study was designed following grounded theory measures for data analysis in order to explore timely questions regarding the tablet computer and how young children react to such technology as a drawing tool. An early childhood center was accessed for this research, and 30 children between the ages of three and five years old consented to participate. Four educators and 35 parents were also enlisted in an effort to elicit substantive perspectives regarding the tablet and …

Electrostatic Force Microscopy And Electrical Isolation Of Etched Few-Layer Graphene Nano-Domains, D. Patrick Hunley, Abhishek Sundararajan, Mathias J. Boland, Douglas R. Strachan

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Nanostructured bi-layer graphene samples formed through catalytic etching are investigated with electrostatic force microscopy. The measurements and supporting computations show a variation in the microscopy signal for different nano-domains that are indicative of changes in capacitive coupling related to their small sizes. Abrupt capacitance variations detected across etch tracks indicates that the nano-domains have strong electrical isolation between them. Comparison of the measurements to a resistor-capacitor model indicates that the resistance between two bi-layer graphene regions separated by an approximately 10 nm wide etch track is greater than about 1×10¹² Ω with a corresponding gap resistivity greater than about …

Bovine Colostrum Supplementation Optimises Earnings, Performance And Recovery In Racing Thoroughbreds, C. K. Fenger, Thomas Tobin, P. J. Casey, Edward A. Roualdes, J. L. Langemeier, D. M. Haines

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Bovine colostrum (BC) is the first milk produced by cows after calving and contains numerous beneficial substances for the immunity and development of the newborn calf. Because of the growth and immune factors in BC, it has become an attractive supplement for use by athletes to support immunity and health during athletic performance. In order to evaluate the effects of oral BC supplementation on equine athletes, this study evaluated the earnings, performance, recovery and incidence of upper respiratory infections (URTI) in racing horses. The study design was a randomized cross-over racing performance study. 21 horses in race training were randomly …

No One Is Alone: Responsibility, Consequences, And Family In Into The Woods, Jennifer White

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Elliptic Curve Cryptography, Kerrie Pratt

Honors Program Theses and Projects

In the present day, security is essential for sending and receiving information. There are always stories about bank accounts being hacked, credit card numbers being stolen, and secret information being decoded. With the technology of the Internet age growing at a rapid pace, security is essential to keep privileged information safe. In order to ensure this information is kept private, so that information can be sent and received without being hacked and decoded, organizations employ different types of encryption. One of the current encoding systems is Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC). ECC uses elliptic curves over finite fields to send information …

Transfer Of Arabic Grammatical Knowledge To Spanish Subject-Verb Agreement, Jennifer Herzog

Honors Program Theses and Projects

In the field of second language acquisition (SLA), research has shown that one’s first language (L1) has proven to positively and negatively transfer to one’s second language (L2). A possible area of transfer is subject-verb agreement. Transfer becomes much more difficult when two languages utilize different writing scripts. What remains unknown, and what the present study aims to determine is if transfer of subject-verb agreement can occur between two languages that use different writing scripts. This study examines five L1 Arabic/English participants in their acquisition of Spanish subject-verb agreement by recording their reaction time for reading Spanish sentences with subject-verb …

Music Therapy And Communication Disabilities: Singing, Speech, And The Brain, Jennifer Drake

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Music therapy interventions, especially singing, can aid those with communication disorders to attain and develop verbal and non-verbal communication and language skills, as well as functional social skills. Throughout my own interactions with those with communication impairments, I have witnessed many individuals who struggle with typical speech, but are better able to communicate when music is involved. For instance, a young boy with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who does not typically speak independently or when prompted is able to sing every word to familiar songs on the radio that he enjoys. Such evidence of the positive effect that music can …

Developing A Book Buddies Curriculum For English Language Learners, Melissa M. Cieto

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Rooms Without Men, Kailey Brennan

Honors Program Theses and Projects

No abstract provided.

Deriving The Dyer-Roeder Equation From The Geodesic Deviation Equation Via The Newman Penrose Null Tetrad, Aly Aly

Honors Program Theses and Projects

In this paper we examine the geodesic deviation equation using the Newman-Penrose (N-P) formalism for a flat Friedmann-Lemaitre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) metric (Carroll, S. (2004); Ryden, B. (2003); Newman & Penrose (1962)). We solved the geodesic deviation equation for angular diameter distance, using the relevant N-P components, and the resulting expression was the Dyer-Roeder equation of cosmology (Ryden, B. (2003)) (Schneider et al. (1992)). This leads us to believe that we can apply the N-P formalism to a perturbed FLRW metric and find a solvable equation for angular diameter distance (Kling & Campbell (2008)). The perturbed FLRW metric incorporates clumps of matter …

Low Mineral Density Of A Weight-Bearing Bone Among Adult Women In A High Fertility Population, Jonathan Stieglitz, Bret Beheim, Benjamin C. Trumble, Felicia C. Madimenos, Hillard Kaplan, Michael Gurven

ESI Publications

Evolutionary theories of aging posit that greater reproductive effort causes somatic decline given a fundamental trade-off between investing energy in reproduction and repair. Few studies in high fertility human populations support this hypothesis, and problems of phenotypic correlation can obscure the expected trade-off between reproduction and somatic condition. This cross-sectional study investigates whether greater reproductive effort is associated with reduced calcaneal bone mineral density (BMD) among female Tsimane forager-farmers of lowland Bolivia. We also investigate whether female Tsimane BMD values are lower than sex- and age-matched US reference values, despite the fact that Tsimane engage in higher physical activity levels …

Understanding Bystander Behavior In Cyberbullying Encounters: An Application Of Bystander Apathy Theory, Jodie M. Bowers

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

Cyberbullying consequences are increasingly turning tragic with the victims committing suicide. Cyberbullying is carried out through computer mediated communication and due to public nature of social media platforms, it is natural to believe any number of individuals are witnessing any and all acts of communication. This becomes especially problematic during cyberbullying encounters because the victim is vulnerable to hurtful communication from anyone who views the attack. The victim is also subject to humiliation because of sharing capabilities that computer mediated communication provides. However, it has been proven that bullies will typically back down in face-to-face situations if a witness intervenes, …

Increasing Women's Body Satisfaction Through Dialogue, Suzanne Michelle Burdick

Communication & Leadership Dissertations and Theses

This qualitative study investigated how and to what extent dialogue can serve to increase women’s sense of satisfaction with their bodies. It is based on Martin Buber’s philosophy of “being” versus “seeming” in dialogue. Its theoretical basis consists of Cognitive Dissonance Theory, Coordinated Management of Meaning Theory, and Dialogism. For the research, two sessions of the Body Project’s Body Acceptance Class, a small-group discussion-based eating disorder prevention program, were facilitated. Participants were surveyed before and after to assess their levels of body satisfaction. Participant observations and intensive interviews were conducted to explore if, how, and to what extent participation in …

The Narratives Of Young Women With Brca 1/2 Gene Mutation: A Qualitative Analysis, Drew D. Reilly

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

A narrative qualitative research design was used to understand the stories of young women diagnosed with BRCA1 and BRCA 2 genetic mutation. Four participants were selected who met the following criteria: (a) the participant is diagnosed with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic mutation, b) is within the age range of 18 to 35, (c) is without a cancer diagnosis, and is (d) not currently pregnant and does not have children. The four participants were interviewed through open-ended inquiry. The participants’ narratives proved both similar and dissimilar. The themes were organized into within-case narratives and across-case narratives. The narratives revealed that young …

The Association Between Trauma Exposure, Maladjustment, And Aggression In Detained Boys, Kelli R. Thompson

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has demonstrated an association between violence exposure and aggression; however, research exploring the association between violence exposure and the forms and functions of aggression is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between trauma exposure with both reactive and proactive functions of aggression by examining two potential mediators (e.g., psychopathic traits and emotional dysregulation). Participants included 132 male juvenile offenders mandated to treatment in a residential facility (M = 16.78 years old; SD = 1.25). Results indicate emotional dysregulation partially mediated the association between trauma exposure and reactive aggression while controlling for proactive …

Identification Of Hydrodynamic Forces Developed By Flapping Fins In A Watercraft Propulsion Flow Field, Erdem Aktosun

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In this work, the data analysis of oscillating flapping fins is conducted for mathematical model. Data points of heave and surge force obtained by the CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) for different geometrical kinds of flapping fins. The fin undergoes a combination of vertical and angular oscillatory motion, while travelling at constant forward speed. The surge thrust and heave lift are generated by the combined motion of the flapping fins, especially due to the carrier vehicle’s heave and pitch motion will be investigated to acquire system identification with CFD data available while the fin pitching motion is selected as a function …

Fifty Years Of Weathering The Storm: Are The Louisiana Gulf Coastal Parishes Prepared For Another Major Hurricane?, Danielle L. Boudreau

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study examines ten major storms that have affected Louisiana in the last fifty years, beginning with Hurricane Betsy in 1965. The goal is to determine if the nine coastal parishes are prepared adequately for another major hurricane impact. It examines storms that have affected the state physically, in terms of property and ecological damages. It also considers storms that provided non-physical influences, by way of mitigation policy changes and social, economical, ecological, and political policy alterations. The main focus is on the transformations, if any, of social vulnerability in light of emergency preparedness in the areas impacted, particularly along …

The Relationship Between Head Coaches’ Influence And Student Engagement Of Ncaa Di Women Basketball Players: Implications For Student-Athlete Success, Kiki Baker Barnes

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) recently passed new legislation highlighting the critical role coaches play in student-athlete success called the Head Coach’s Academic Progress Rate (APR). The APR measure does not calculate the actions of the head coach and is therefore an inadequate measure of coaches’ influence. There are numerous verbal accounts of the influence of the coach on student-athlete success, but there is little quantitative data to support this claim. As a result, this correlational study explored the relationship between head coaches’ influence and student engagement among a sample of 135 women basketball players at National Collegiate Athletic …

The Croatian Community Of Southeastern Louisiana: Immigration, Assimilation And The Retention Of Ethnic Identity, Renee Danielle Bourgogne

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This work is a study of a community of Croatian immigrants to Southeast Louisiana in the twentieth century. Drawn from a multidisciplinary approach that included spatial analysis of settlement patterns, quantitative analysis of seafood industry data, the records of voluntary associations, and guided by the oral histories of men and women of Croatia who immigrated to Louisiana, this work reveals a community that has managed to maintain close ties despite its distribution both in urban New Orleans and rural coastal Louisiana through links created by and supportive of the state’s seafood and restaurant industries. The study points out how the …

Site Visitation: School Leaders' Perceptions Of A Diagnostic Tool For School Improvement, Mary Shannon C. Chiasson

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This case study explored the use of site-visitation as a diagnostic tool for school improvement. Nine charter schools in New Orleans were selected for the study. Based on qualitative research and systems theory, a within- and cross-case analysis of nine semi-structured interviews with school leaders were conducted. The school leaders’ experiences with the state-run site-visitation model and their use of the findings for school improvement was explored. The findings led to the development of a hybrid accountability model that encompasses the components school leaders believe will lead to school improvement. This study aims to assist educators, policy makers, and researchers …

The First Foretelling, Cynthia M. Davidson

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This is an original work. It is a full length novel. The main character is Zeso Eliza Greylin.

Attentional Blink: An Antecedent To Binge Eating Behavior, Gregory Denke

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This study examined how attentional sub-processes contribute to binge-eating. Dense-array EEG and a version of the canonical attentional blink task were used to ascertain the neural correlates underlying the attentional sub-processes that comprise the Posner model of attention (alerting, orienting, and executive control) and how attentional activation differs for binge-eaters vs. non-binge eaters. Furthermore, we examined a number of the event-related potentials (ERP), including P2 activation, which has been linked with orientating of attention, and N2 activation which has been linked with attentional conflict. We found decreased P2 activation for binge-eaters, in the negative condition, for incorrect target 2 (T2) …

Parents’ Concerns About Their Gay And Lesbian Children: An Attachment Perspective, Danielle Desnoyers

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore the concerns of parents upon learning about their children’s gay or lesbian sexual orientation from the conceptual framework of attachment theory. Personal and contextual factors such as parents’ attachment anxiety and avoidance, parent and child gender, length of time since disclosure, and parents’ prior interpersonal contact with gay and lesbian person(s) were examined to see how they influence parents’ concerns. Members of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) support groups were electronically surveyed using the Experiences in Close Relationships - Short Form (ECR-S; Wei, Russell, Mallinckrodt & Vogel, 2007) and …

Cruise Ship Preliminary Design: The Influence Of Design Features On Profitability, Justin Epstein

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

This thesis provides a means to estimate the physical and performance characteristics of a preliminary cruise ship design. The techniques utilized to estimate these characteristics are showcased in the user-friendly interface known as the Cruise Ship Analysis Tool (CSAT). Using the CSAT, the implications that design feature decisions in the preliminary design stage have on a cruise ship’s profitability is analyzed. Then, the most profitable design feature assemblage among a finite number of varying design feature combinations is estimated and compared among cruise ship designs with different passenger carrying capacities. Profitability is analyzed using the measure of merit (MOM) known …

The Garnet Line In Oxford County, Maine Pegmatites., Myles Mathew Felch, Myles M. Felch

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

The garnet line is a planar fabric occuring within the intermediate and core zone in many of the Oxford County, Maine pegmatites. This study focuses primarily on the textural and chemical characteristics of the garnet line within the Mt. Mica and western Mt. Apatite quarries. Smaller, but similarly textured garnet line analogs from the Bennett, Emmons, Havey and Tamminen quarries are also investigated. All of these textures represent specific fractionation events within their respective dikes. In some of these locations, multiple stages of crystallization occur and appear to be post-magmatic, related to late stage metasomatism. These late stage fluids are …

Crescent City Nightingales: Gender, Race, Class And The Professionalization Of Nursing For Women In New Orleans, Louisiana, 1881-1950, Paula A. Fortier

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Through the examination of primary sources largely overlooked by historians, this dissertation traces the professionalization of nursing in New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1881 to 1950 while placing this localized history within the context of national trends. In the late nineteenth century, nursing developed into a middle class profession for women inspired by the careers of Florence Nightingale and Clara Barton. This dissertation investigates the process by which women became professional nurses while a complex intersection of issues related to gender, race, and class at times advanced, and at other times, hindered their progress towards professionalization. New Orleans serves as a …

Statistical Partition Problem For Exponential Populations And Statistical Surveillance Of Cancers In Louisiana, Jin Gu

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, we consider the problem of partitioning a set of

k population with respect

to a control population. For this problem some multistage methodologies are proposed and their

properties are derived. Using the Monte Carlo simulation techniques, the small and moderate

sample size performance of the proposed procedure are studied.

We have also considered at statistical surveillance of various cancers in Louisiana.