Digital Commons Network^™

Characterization Of Cry1f Resistance In Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J.E. Smith) Obtained From Puerto Rico And Florida, Vikash Dangal

LSU Master's Theses

The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith)) is a major pest targeted by transgenic corn expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins in both North and South America. The objective of this study was to characterize the inheritance and fitness costs of the Cry1F resistance in two fall armyworm populations collected from Puerto Rico (RR-PR) and Florida (RR-FL). To determine the inheritance of the resistance, besides RR-PR, RR-FL, and a Cry1F-susceptible population (Bt-SS), 14 other populations were developed by reciprocal crosses, F1 by F1 crosses, backcrosses, and crosses between RR-PR and RR-FL. Diet-incorporated bioassays were conducted to determine the Cry1F susceptibility …

An Efficient Approach To Epid Transit Dosimetry, Bart Alan Morris

LSU Master's Theses

Introduction: In order to maintain uniform standards in the accuracy of fractionated radiation therapy, quantification of the delivered dose per fraction accuracy is required. The pupose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of a transit dosimetry method using the electronic portal imaging device (EPID) for dose delivery error detection and prevention. Methods and Materials: In the proposed method, 2D predicted transit images were generated for comparison with online images acquired during treatment. Predicted transit images were generated by convolving through-air EPID measurements of each field with pixel-specific kernels selected from a library of pre-calculated Monte Carlo pencil kernels …

Direct Marketing Of Louisiana Shrimp: A Cost-Earnings Analysis, Jill Christoferson

LSU Master's Theses

Secondary data on cost and earnings from a 2012 survey of inshore Louisiana shrimpers was used as the foundation this partial budget analysis examining the feasibility of supplementing direct marketing (DM) strategies for Louisianan shrimp harvesters. Refinement of key variables for the analysis was conducted using supplemental surveys in 2014 of DM shrimp harvesters and DM consumers. The DM harvester survey (n= 72) produced information on actual price per pound for DM shrimp, as well as catch grade distribution, product marketing mix, and labor estimates. The DM consumer survey (n=255) yielded information on participants’ preferences for DM shrimp, including actual …

Application Of Tubular Crossflow Microfiltration In Harvesting Microalgae, Mostafa Khademi

LSU Master's Theses

Separation of microalgal cells from culture medium is a challenging phase of algal production. Application of microfiltration as Stage 1 harvesting technology to pre-concentrate algal suspension from 0.2 g-dry/L to 10 g-dry/L (1% solids) prior to the final dewatering stage by centrifugation (Stage 2) was studied in this research. A bench-scale filtration setup with three tubular crossflow membrane modules (pore sizes: 0.05 µm, 0.1 µm, 0.5µm) equipped with data acquisition systems was constructed. In phase-1 experiments, the influence of algal species and the size of particles in the culture media on the filterability of microalgae were studied. It was found …

Production, Discard, And Urban Life At The Early Horizon Center Of Caylán, Coastal Peru, Jacob Pate Warner

LSU Master's Theses

In this thesis I examine material production, discard, and trash flow at the Early Horizon urban center of Caylán (800 – 1 cal. BC) on the Peruvian North-Central coast. Trash (or garbage, refuse, litter, or waste) is a central source of information for archaeologists examining prehistoric lifeways in Peru. Despite frequent use of trash as a source for radiocarbon samples, cultural material, and dietary evidence, few studies utilize the transportation and concentration of trash to examine human behavioral patterns. The Early Horizon, as a transitional period in Peruvian prehistory, presents an opportunity to test the utility of trash deposits in …

Effects Of Salinity And Temperature On Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis Of Gulf Killifish, Fundulus Grandis, Shea A. Miller

LSU Master's Theses

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has been proposed as an easy and accurate technique for a non-lethal index of condition in fish; however, factors affecting its accuracy have yet to be properly identified. The technique uses the resistance (R) and reactance (Xc) of water and lipids in contiguous tissues to estimate lipid content. Studies have investigated the use of BIA on fish, but with mixed results, possibly caused by unrecognized sources of influences. Our study explored possible sources of variance for BIA measurements in gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, through laboratory feeding and fasting experiments, and experimental exposures to acute changes in …

Determination Of Predominant Species Of Oil-Degrading Bacteria In The Oiled Sediment In Barataria Bay, Louisiana, Lauren Nicole Navarre

LSU Master's Theses

The effects of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill on the bacterial communities in coastal sediments are relatively known but few studies have been published evaluating the impacts of the spill on oil-degrading bacterial populations in the salt marsh sediments of Barataria Bay, Louisiana. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of the oil spill on the microbial community in Barataria Bay, Louisiana through the determination of predominate species of oil-degrading bacteria in marsh sediments, and to determine how well certain bacterial isolates can degrade crude oil in the region by taking samples from three areas of …

Effect Of Tissue Source On Adult Equine Multipotent Stromal Cell Pluripotency Induction Treatment With Synthetic Mrna, Javier Martin Jarazo

LSU Master's Theses

Autogenous and autologous adult multipotent stromal cells are applied to treat equine musculoskeletal injuries in clinical practice. However, options for autologous therapy in the equine specie are restricted due to the limited biological material obtained or MSCs tissue harvest procedure and because of their unpredictable in vivo behavior. Induced pluripotent stem cells represent an alternative to overcome these limitations. Traditionally, iPSCs are produced by introducing DNA for early embryonic genes into cells with viruses. The method tested in this study, avoids the use of viral vectors and potential for exogenous DNA integration into the cell’s genome by utilizing a lipid …

Distributed Stabilization Of Nonlinear Multi-Agent Systems, Jianming Zhou

LSU Master's Theses

The study of multi-agent systems (MASs) is focused on systems in which many autonomous agents interact and operate within a limited communication environment. The general goal of the MAS research is to design interconnection control laws such that all the dynamic agents in the group are synchronized to a desired common trajectory by exchanging information with adjacent agents over certain constrained communication networks. Based on the review and modification of existing results concerning the consensus control of linear heterogeneous MASs in Moreau (2004) [21], Scardovi and Sepulchre (2009) [25], Wieland et al (2011) [30], and Alvergue et al. (2013) [1], …

Predator Exclosures, Predator Removal, And Habitat Improvement Increase Nest Success Of Snowy Plovers In Oregon, Usa, Stephen J. Dinsmore, David J. Lauten, Kathleen J. Castelein, Eleanor P. Gaines, Mark A. Stern

Institute for Natural Resources Publications

Management to increase reproductive success is commonly used to aid recovery of threatened and endangered species. The Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus) breeds from coastal Washington, USA, to Baja California, Mexico, and in disjunct interior sites. The Pacific coast population is federally listed as Threatened; habitat loss and nest loss to a suite of terrestrial and avian predators are thought to be primary factors limiting population growth in this species. In coastal Oregon, USA, a consortium of state and federal management agencies deployed nest exclosures on active Snowy Plover nests, initiated a lethal predator management program, and …

Raíces En Ambos Países : Voices Of Latino Immigrant Parents Raising U.S. Born Children In The Washington Metropolitan Area, Vanessa A. LeóN

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The following qualitative study sought to explore the living and parenting experiences of Latino immigrant parents in the Washington Metropolitan Area. Snowball sampling, via an email to the researcher's family, friends and colleagues, was used to recruit a total of twelve individuals (female=8; male=4) for participation in the study. Participants ranged from 31 to 68 years of age and had immigrated to the United States from Peru (n=6), Colombia (n=2), El Salvador (n=2), Ecuador (n=1) and Uruguay (n=1). Data for the study was gathered during individual, semi-structured interviews between the researcher and participants, which were audio recorded, transcribed and manually …

The Clinical Implications Of Dissolutioned Adoption : A Theoretical Intersection Of The Neurosequential Model Of Therapeutics And Attachment Theory, Mikayla C. Holcomb

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical investigation of adoption dissolution integrates psychodynamic theory and the neurodevelopmental impact of trauma into clinical practice with children. After providing an in depth review of available literature on adoption dissolution, the focus will shift to the chosen theories. The two theory chapters within this research utilize attachment theory as the core psychodynamic theory and the neurosequential model of therapeutics to provide a neurodevelopmental perspective and treatment interventions as related to dissolutioned adoptions. A discussion chapter will critique the chosen theories and integrate the research into practice by utilizing a case study, and lastly provide recommendations for individual therapy …

A Sense Of Pride Over My Size : A Qualitative Study Of Women Of Size Who Consider Themselves Body Positive, Ruth A. Salen

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative exploratory study investigated how women who self identify as a person of size and who have a positive body image developed their positive body identity. Through the process of a semi-structured interview, the study explored the personal experience of the participants from their youth into adulthood regarding the messages they received about their bodies and how they responded and resisted the impact of those messages. The theoretical underpinnings of this study were based on body objectification theory, stigma theory and feminist theory. Sixteen female participants participated in the study and shared what they believed contributed to their body …

The Impact Of Parental Narcissistic Traits On Self-Esteem In Adulthood, Brittany N. Bach

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Very little research directly addresses the question of how a parent's narcissistic traits affect the development of their children into adulthood. In this qualitative study, 9 adults were interviewed to explore how they experienced the effects of a parent's narcissism, especially in relation to their understanding of their own self-esteem in adulthood. All 9 participants identified these parental traits as having an impact on their self-esteem, and nearly all of them (n=8) felt these experiences significantly affected their lives as adults. Many participants described needing external support or validation from others to feel competent or worthy, and some reported feeling …

Exile And Ethnography; Jacques Roumain And The Problem Of Place In Haitian National Thought; 1927-1944, Joshua Clough

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

A Cultural And Macroeconomic Perspective On Mate Selection, Samantha Kanouse Bissell

Dissertations and Theses

No abstract provided.

Leadership Practice Differences In Positive Climate Schools, Latoya Nicole Dixon

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the leadership practice differences in positive climate schools when grouping for school size, poverty index, and gender of the principal. This study utilized Kouzes and Posner's Leadership Practice-Self inventories as a tool for measuring perceptions of leadership practice.

The researcher surveyed 47 South Carolina elementary principals to measure leadership practices in schools with documented positive climate. Principals self assessed their leadership practices on the inventories, measuring 30 behaviors on a ten point Likert scale. The 30 behaviors are categorized into five leadership practices: 1) Model the Way, 2) Inspire a Shared Vision, …

Application Of Somatic Interventions In Clinical Practice, Rebecca L. Rothberg

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study examined the extent to which and the ways in which somatic interventions are integrated into clinical mental health practice, and the thoughts, feelings and beliefs behind clinicians' decisions to integrate the body into mental health treatment. The study included twelve clinicians prepared at the master's level or higher who self-identified as having utilized at least one somatic intervention in thirty days prior to screening. Participants engaged in a 45-60 minute qualitative, semi-structured interview designed to elicit a greater understanding of how individuals conceptualize their use of the body in treatment based on their individual theoretical orientation, what somatic …

Exploring Ways White Children Are Taught About Race And Racism, Angela M. Clark

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

In this theoretical study, I will explore ways White children are taught about race and racism, and ways this subject can be explored with White youth in therapeutic contexts. In the United States, racism continues to have a significant negative impact on the material and psychological experiences of people of color, limiting life chances while it is largely ignored by White individuals and White-dominated institutions. One factor that serves to maintain the existence and influence of racist systems is White people's ignorance of the degree to which racism is present in our institutions, dominant discourse and ideology, and in ourselves. …

The Intergenerational Transmission Of Parenting Beliefs And The Impact Of The Supporting Father Involvement Program On Parenting Beliefs In Western Canada, Rachel H. Honig

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This research examined the intergenerational transmission of parenting beliefs and the impact of the Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) program on parenting beliefs of program participants. In phone interviews, 49 participants from Western Canada were asked about parenting beliefs they hold most dear from their own growing up experience, how these beliefs influence their parenting, and if SFI strengthened or changed their beliefs. All participants had previously participated in SFI, an intervention designed to strengthen parenting, co-parenting, and couple relationships. Results from this study found the intergenerational parenting beliefs of participants to be putting the family first, discipline, unconditional love and …

Exploring The Relationship Between Maternal Childhood Maltreatment History, Parent-Child Relations And Child Emotion Regulation, Chelsie D. Sampayan

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Child maltreatment is an issue that has serious psychological and behavioral consequences in children now and in the future. This exploratory study used the developmental psychopathology framework to examine the relationships between maternal childhood maltreatment, parent-child relations, and child emotion regulation. I performed a secondary data analysis on 228 preschool-aged children (118 boys and 110 girls) and their biological mothers. Data was originally collected as part of a longitudinal study called the Child Regulation and Representation Project (CHiRRP). Mothers responded to a semi-structured interview, which was then coded for severity ratings of childhood physical abuse (CPA) and childhood sexual abuse …

Supporting Resilience In Chldren And Youth Impacted By Complex Trauma, Rachel E. Stoddard

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Exposure to repeated traumatic events, including abuse, neglect, and domestic and community violence is often referred to as complex trauma. This research was conducted to better understand the developmental impact of complex trauma on children and adolescents, and to consider what treatment approach might best serve this population. The author first examined the impact of repeated victimization on child neurobiological development, with particular attention to the areas of attachment, affect regulation, behavioral control, cognition, and self-esteem. Complex trauma treatments that are more individually focused and grounded in cognitive-behavioral theory were then compared to those that are more systems-focused and stem …

The Application Of Yoga As A Biopsychosocial-Spiritual Approach To Social Work, Karen L. Tsai

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

There is growing evidence emerging from the biomedical, behavioral science, and mental health literature suggesting that yoga may be an effective treatment for a wide range of mental health symptoms. Curiously, there has been very little social work literature published about yoga's therapeutic potential. As one of the most popular complementary and alternative approaches to health in the United States, yoga is not to be overlooked as a potential social work methodology to reach diverse populations and improve or complement mental health treatment rates and outcomes. Yoga's multifaceted ability to affect well-being makes it an important therapeutic approach to mental …

Best For Baby : What Factors Influence New Mothers When Choosing Between Breastfeeding And Bottle Feeding Babies Under The Age Of Two, Jacquelyn S. Andrews

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

Mothers often find themselves under supported after the birth of a baby. This mixed method research study examines the factors that are considered influential to new mothers when making their initial infant feeding choice between breastfeeding and bottle feeding. This study presents the data from 1017 mothers who self identified as either primarily breast feeding mothers or bottle feeding mothers and indicated which biological, social, circumstantial, financial, psychological, and medical factors were the most influential in their choice. Both the breastfeeding and the bottle feeding samples consistently ranked health of the baby as the most influential factor. Bottle feeding mothers …

Who Cares? : Psychotherapy As Care Work, Explored Through Socialist Feminist And Relational Perspectives, Sarah L. Beller

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This project was undertaken to better understand psychotherapy within the broader historical concept of "care work." The methodological approach involved using key concepts from feminist socialist theory and relational theory to explore what it means to consider psychotherapy as care work. The two theories helped flesh out some of the tensions between "care" and "work," as well as illuminated the way that the line between the two might be seen as a dichotomy. The project has implications for psychotherapists practicing within the United States system of the "White supremacist capitalist patriarchy" who want to engage in a co-created journey with …

The Call For Help : A Theoretical Study On The Changes That Occur Between A School Social Worker And His Or Her Child Client After Reportinng To Child Protective Services On Suspected Abuse And Neglect, Aramie Brooks-Salzman

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical study explores a unique conceptualization of the relationship between a school social worker and his or her relationship with the child client and the child's family after a Child Protective Service report was made. In this paper I will explore the concepts of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth when discussing attachment theory and W.R.D. Fairbairn when discussing object relations theory. Through the lens of these two theories I will critique and improve upon the child welfare and school constructs in how families are dealt with during the process of working with Child Protective Services (CPS). Attachment and object …

Heterosexual Men In The United States Of America : Are The Oppressors Also Oppressed?, Shanta P. Cortez-Greig

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study examines the experiences of heterosexual men in the United States, exploring their disadvantages, in particular. The responses of the men studied showed that they did feel oppressed on some level, and/or that they perceived that heterosexual men they knew experienced oppression because of the social expectations for men. On their own accord, they also acknowledged their privileges and that it is great to be a man. The most salient forms of oppression discussed involved feelings of limitations in their authentic self-expression and disenfranchisement in unwed fathers. Research data were collected from a focus group of five men …

We Need A Good War : Factors That Influence The Experience Of Racism In The United States Military, Sarah E. Chotkowski

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

The purpose of the quantitative study was to explore the experience of racism in the United States military in the context of the historical evolution of racial integration policies. The present study aims to clarify how factors such as race, era of service, exposure to combat, rank and gender influence the experience of racism. A total of 112 veterans completed a survey online or in person through their local American Legion, VFW, or student center. The survey was a 22-item measure with six demographic questions and 14 Likert scale questions designed to solicit feedback about a wide range of experiences. …

Trauma, Criminalization, And Movements For Healing Justice : A Theoretical Study Of Relational Theory And Transformative Justice Interventions In The Treatment Of Juvenile Sexual Offending, Megan E. Shaughnessy-Mogill

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This theoretical thesis explores the etiology and treatment of juvenile sexual offenders from the perspectives of psychoanalytic relational theory and the emerging grassroots theory of transformative justice, drawing together the often-disconnected spheres of the individual and the systemic in the study and treatment of child sexual abuse. This study traces the concepts of dissociation and reenactment to examine the role of unconscious traumatogenic phenomena and the apparent parallel process across the individual and systemic dimensions of juvenile sexual offending. Engaging two theories from outside the mainstream treatment model, this study asks what clinical understandings and treatment possibilities may be foreclosed …

Invisible Victims : The Effects Of Secondary And Vicarious Trauma On Milieu Staff Members, Jennifer K. Mello

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) and Vicarious Trauma (VT) in non-clinically trained milieu staff members working in close collaboration with victims of trauma. This study also aimed to discover the extent to which these individuals experience these effects, and will hopefully help bridge the existing gap in the literature around VT and STS in non-clinically trained populations of helpers. In a study of 49 participants including milieu staff members from both inpatient and residential school settings, prevalence of PTSD symptomology as a result of Secondary Traumatic Stress was explored through the use …