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Child Support Collections To Offset Out Of Home Placement Costs: A Study Of Cost Effectiveness, Trish Skophammer

School of Business Student Theses and Dissertations

Families experiencing out-of-home placement (OHP) are in crisis. The fact that a child has been removed from the home means the family has become involved with the child welfare or juvenile justice system. Families that experience OHP are disproportionately poor, and the reasons for OHP often stem from poverty. Because OHP is expensive, and society values parental responsibility, federal and state laws require that parents be referred to the child support system to help offset the cost of OHP through child support collections. This study explores practices around OHP cases in the child support system and adds to the small …

Much Ado About The Tpp’S Effect On Pharmaceuticals, Emily Michiko Morris

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Role Of Fgf23 In Pediatric Hypercalciuria., Maria Goretti Moreira Guimarães Penido, Marcelo De Sousa Tavares, Uri S. Alon

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background: This study explored the possible role of FGF23 in pediatric hypercalciuria.

Methods: Plasma FGF23 was measured in 29 controls and 58 children and adolescents with hypercalciuria: 24 before treatment (Pre-Treated) and 34 after 6 months of treatment (Treated). Hypercalciuric patients also measured serum PTH hormone, 25(OH)vitD, phosphate, calcium, creatinine, and 24 h urine calcium, phosphate, and creatinine.

Results: There were no differences in age, gender, ethnicity, or body mass index either between controls and patients, or between Pre-Treated and Treated patients. Median plasma FGF23 in controls was 72 compared with all patients, 58 RU/mL (p = 0.0019). However, …

Components Of Effective Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy For Pediatric Headache: A Mixed Methods Approach., Emily F. Law, Sarah E. Beals-Erickson, Emma Fisher, Emily A. Lang, Tonya M. Palermo

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Internet-delivered treatment has the potential to expand access to evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for pediatric headache, and has demonstrated efficacy in small trials for some youth with headache. We used a mixed methods approach to identify effective components of CBT for this population. In Study 1, component profile analysis identified common interventions delivered in published RCTs of effective CBT protocols for pediatric headache delivered face-to-face or via the Internet. We identified a core set of three treatment components that were common across face-to-face and Internet protocols: 1) headache education, 2) relaxation training, and 3) cognitive interventions. Biofeedback was identified as …

A Novel Compound-Heterozygous Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Mutation In Tufting Enteropathy., Valentina Shakhnovich, Darrell Dinwiddie, Amber Hildreth, Thomas M. Attard, Stephen Kingsmore

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

No abstract provided.

Bleeding Meckel's Diverticulum In Children: The Diagnostic Value Of Double-Balloon Enteroscopy., Lan-Lan Geng, Pei-Yu Chen, Qiang Wu, Hui-Wen Li, Ding-You Li, Min Yang, Si-Tang Gong

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Background. Meckel's diverticulum (MD) is the most common congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value and safety of double-balloon enteroscopy (DBE) for bleeding MD in children. Methods. We included consecutive children who were highly suspected of MD between 2012 and 2013. All patients underwent Meckel's scan. DBE was performed for patient with negative Meckel's scan. An exploratory laparoscopy was performed in children with positive Meckel's scan or DBE. Results. 42 patients met the inclusion criteria. 40 patients were confirmed to have MD by exploratory laparoscopy. Meckel's scan …

International Consensus (Icon) On: Clinical Consequences Of Mite Hypersensitivity, A Global Problem., Mario Sánchez-Borges, Enrique Fernandez-Caldas, Wayne R. Thomas, Martin D. Chapman, Bee Wah Lee, Luis Caraballo, Nathalie Acevedo, Fook Tim Chew, Ignacio J. Ansotegui, Leili Behrooz, Wanda Phipatanakul, Roy Gerth Van Wijk, Demoly Pascal, Nelson Rosario, Motohiro Ebisawa, Mario Geller, Santiago Quirce, Susanne Vrtala, Rudolf Valenta, Markus Ollert, Giorgio Walter Canonica, Moises A. Calderón, Charles S. Barnes, Adnan Custovic, Suwat Benjaponpitak, Arnaldo Capriles-Hulett

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

Since mite allergens are the most relevant inducers of allergic diseases worldwide, resulting in significant morbidity and increased burden on health services, the International Collaboration in Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (iCAALL), formed by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI), the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), and the World Allergy Organization (WAO), has proposed to issue an International Consensus (ICON) on the clinical consequences of mite hypersensitivity. The objectives of this document are to highlight aspects of mite biology that are clinically relevant, to update the …

The Immediate And Extended Effect Of Diet And Exercise On Metabolic Flexibility, Timothy Allerton

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Metabolic inflexibility is an emerging physiological marker indicative of metabolic dysfunction and associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity. Exercise is a potent stimulus to improve metabolic health, however, not much is known about the acute effects of exercise on metabolic flexibility (METFLEX). The purpose of this dissertation was study the time-course of diet and exercise and its effects on METFLEX. Three studies were conducted to investigate molecular and clinical aspects of diet and exercise and how these stimuli may alter the metabolic response to fuel. The first study was conducted on obesity-prone, Osborne-Mendel (OM) and obesity-resistant S5B/Pl (S5B) …

Assessing The Effects Of The Smartphone As A Learning Tool On The Academic Achievement And Motivation Of High School Agriculture Students In Louisiana, Henry Eric Smith

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Perhaps the most influential device in modern society is the smartphone. Over 90% of Americans aged 18-29 own a smartphone and 74% of teenagers reported using a smartphone as their primary internet connection. Students perceived that using smartphones in the classroom aided learning. However, two-thirds of American high schools ban students from using phones in the classroom. Secondary science curriculum focuses on subjects that regard the biodiversity of plant and animal species, but disregard the student’s ability to identify species. Consequently, secondary students in general are very poor at identifying species of trees. Previous research supports the idea that advanced …

Lignocellulosic Syrup Production From Energy Cane Bagasse And Fumaric Acid Fermentation, Fang Deng

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Lignocellulosic syrup from dilute ammonia pretreated energy cane bagasse is a promising fermentable sugar feedstock that can improve the logistics associated with long-distance transportation, long-time storage, and year-round supply of lignocellulosic biomass to processing industries. However, non-sugar compounds such as organic acids, furans and phenolic compounds formed during pretreatment can have negative effects on downstream processes such as fermentation. This dissertation focused on addressing challenges associated with the bioconversion of energy cane bagasse to syrup and its fermentation to fumaric acid. The first goal (Chapter 2) was to evaluate the removal of non-sugar compounds with minimal sugar losses from dilute …

Three Essays On Consumption Behavior, Credit, And Labor Supply Of Farm Households In Sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence From Uganda, Seydina Ousmane Sene

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Consumption patterns, credit, and labor supply are determinants of human welfare, and also indicators of a country's economic progress, poverty, and inequalities. In this study, I review many of the stylized facts regarding consumption behaviors, credit, and the decision to engage in off-farm labor supply. I also put the life cycle model into an empirical model and perform testing. This is done in a three-essay format with a focus on the country of Uganda. In the first essay, I test whether farm households’ consumption behavior is consistent with an optimization process predicted by economic theory. In essay II, I evaluate …

The Roles Of Avr4 In Fungal Virulence,Cercosporin Biosynthesis And Its Potential Use In Host Induced Gene Silencing For Controlling Cercospora Leaf Blight Disease Of Soybeans, Josielle Santos Rezende

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The AVR4 effector, secreted by Cladosporium fulvum, has been demonstrated to be involved in pathogen virulence. Recent studies further demonstrated that Avr4 is highly conserved among several Cercospora species, indicating a potential important role of this gene in fungal virulence. Therefore, investigation to determine whether this fungal effector gene is present in Cercospora cf. flagellaris (previously known as C. kikuchii), the causal agent of soybean cercospora leaf blight (CLB) disease, and whether it plays any role in CLB disease development, is of great interest. In the present study, the Avr4 gene from C. cf. flagellaris was cloned and mutants lacking …

The Effects Of Chemical Reagents And Physical Environment On The In Vitro And In Vivo Properties Of Adipose-Derived Multipotent Stromal Cells Isolated From Different Species, Wei Duan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Adult adipose derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASCs) have been characterized in various species. Many factors may affect ASC fate and ASCs from different species may have different response to these factors. The first study was to identify the differences of the canine ASCs isolated from subcutaneous and infrapatellar adipose tissues, and evaluate the impact of cryopreservation on the cells. Based on paired comparisons of fresh and cryopreserved ASCs, cryopreserved ASCs had lower CD29 and CD44 protein expression and lower proliferation rates. The cryopreserved ASCs had relative lower mitochondria in the cytoplasm compared to the fresh ASCs regardless of tissue sources. …

Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Is A Novel Protein Sensor In Pregnancy, Elizabeth Frost Sutton

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The twenty-first century has experienced a shift in cause of death worldwide from communicable diseases to noncommunicable diseases. Interestingly, many of these implicated chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, have been shown to be programmed in the womb. As first posited by the Barker Hypothesis, adverse exposures in utero can increase an individual’s risk for chronic disease later in life. Therefore, pregnancy is an opportune time for intervention to improve the health of future generations. Studies of exposures known to negatively impact infant health, e.g. states of overnutrition (obesity, diabetes, excess gestational weight gain) and undernutrition (starvation, …

Human Gut Microbiota And Obesity: How Is Gut Microbiota Associated With Obesity Improvement Induced By Bariatric Surgeries Or Low-Calorie Diet Treatment?, Rui Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

An increasing number of studies suggest that the complex microbial community of the human gut may have an important role in human health and disease conditions such as obesity and diabetes. However, the causal relationship among gut microbiota, obesity, weight loss, and the influence of bariatric surgery remains largely unknown. This study investigated the correlation between human gut microbiota and obesity via determining how gut microbiota is associated with obesity improvement induced by bariatric surgeries (BRS) and low-calorie diet (LCD) treatment. Specifically, we investigated the effects of various bariatric surgery (BRS) procedures and a low-calorie diet (LCD) treatment on the …

The Fooding Of Narrative In Contemporary Women's Transnational Fiction, Stacey Marie Amo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Fooding of Narrative in Contemporary Women’s Transnational Fiction examines how foodstuffs are strategically deployed in recent fiction about migration to the United States. The novels examined, all set in the period following the passage of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, depict the experience of resettlement from a diverse set of postcolonial sites: Haiti, Cuba, Vietnam, and India. The Fooding of Narrative argues that food is deployed as a structuring trope and acquires narrative significance in articulating the profound sense of identity crisis that frequently accompanies the immigration experience. By focusing on food’s narrative significance in a broad …

Determining The Influence Of Imidacloprid And Glufosinate Ammonium On The Population Dynamics Of Twospotted Spider Mite Populations In Louisiana Cotton, Sebe Anthony Brown

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Twospotted spider mites, Tetranychus urticae, is an important agricultural pest of many field crops worldwide. This study investigated the impacts of imidacloprid seed treatments on populations of twospotted spider mites while also investigating if exogenous applications of jasmonic acid can offset any hormone modulating effects caused by seed treatments. Imidacloprid seed treatments significantly increased cumulative adult mite days in 2013 but not 2015 or 2016 in the field. Applications of 10 millimolar jasmonic acid did not reduce mite severity or injury in all field trials. Imidacloprid seed treatments significantly increased all spider mite life stages in the laboratory while applications …

Examining The Impact Of Participating In A Nutrition-Education And Culinary Skills-Building Program On Intrinsic Motivation To Prepare Healthy Foods And Diet Quality In High School Adolescents, Derek Charles Miketinas

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The objective of these studies was to develop a questionnaire that could measure the psychosocial constructs identified by the Self Determination Theory (SDT) as they relate to adolescents’ food preparation attitudes and their learning environment. The questionnaire included items that measured intrinsic motivation (IM), perceived competence (PC), relatedness, autonomy, and autonomy support. These studies explored the questionnaire’s validity, reliability, and ability to measure construct changes. The Adolescent Motivation to Cook Questionnaire (AMCQ) was developed in the first study to measure high school students’ IM and PC to prepare healthy foods, and their relatedness, autonomy and autonomy support within the classroom. …

Condition Of Birds In Amazonian Rainforest Fragments And Second-Growth Forests, Angelica Maria Hernandez Palma

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Deforestation modifies otherwise intact expanses of forest into small, isolated fragments. In addition to fragmentation, deforestation also creates abrupt forest edges and large areas of regenerating vegetation where land is abandoned after clearing. Understanding how changes in the landscape affect the physical condition of birds is crucial for managing populations in human-modified landscapes. Here I use the biomarkers feather growth rate and feather quality (ptilochronology), fluctuating asymmetry (FA), and stress hormones from feathers (CORT), to estimate the physical condition of Amazonian understory birds living in forest fragments, second-growth forests, and continuous forests. Feather CORT revealed how fragmentation disrupts interspecific interactions; …

Social Work Practitioners Working In End Of Life Care:Learning To Provide Culturally Appropriate Care To Clients Of Middle Eastern Descent, Laura Shafica Meiki

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study utilized an interpretive qualitative methodological approach to learn about the experiences of individuals with a Master of Social Work degree (MSWs) working in end-of-life (EOL) care with patients of Middle Eastern descent and their families. Specifically, it examined (1) how a sample of social workers obtained the skills necessary to provide culturally appropriate EOL care to clients and families of Middle Eastern descent; (2) the common intervention strategies social workers employ while providing this care; and (3) the recommendations they offer to others who anticipate encountering this population in their own practice. Data collection consisted of in-depth, semi-structured …

Documentation Of Siderophore Activity, Metal Binding, And Its Effect On Symptomatology Of Cercospora Leaf Blight Caused In Soybean By Cercosporin From Cercospora Cf. Flagellaris, Brian Michael Ward

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Cercospora leaf blight of soybean (Glycine max) is a serious problem in the mid-south of the United States and is present in most soybean-growing regions of the world. The causal organisms, Cercospora kikuchii, C. cf. flagellaris and C. cf. sigesbeckiae, utilize the photo-activated toxin cercosporin as the primary pathogenicity factor. The disease has historically been understood to progress from a purpling or bronzing of the leaves to a blight in which tissue dies. Previous literature showed possible binding of cercosporin to metals and previous work in our group showed possible use of minor element nutrition in the plant to reduce …

Branch And Stem Growth As Affected By Loss Of Leaf Area On Selected Branches In Loblolly Pine, Shannon Dumo Kidombo

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Leaf area and crown dynamics control how trees grow through their supply of carbohydrates and growth regulators, and their influence on tree mechanical stability. The influence of leaf area and crown dynamics to tree growth was investigated by testing the interdependence between leaf area, branch, and stem growth on young loblolly pine trees. The objectives were to (1) determine the influence of current and previous year’s leaf area on elongation of branches; (2) describe and test a unique way of quantitatively measuring the effect of neighbor branches on net growth of a target branch; (3) quantify the growth impact of …

Evaluation Of Control Tactics For Management Of Sweetpotato Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Jie Chen

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Sweetpotato weevil (SPW), Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summer), is the most damaging root-feeding insect of sweetpotato, Ipomoea batatas L. (Lam), worldwide. The efficacy and compatibility of host plant resistance and insecticide control were evaluated in this dissertation. cv. Beauregard is the most susceptible cultivar for oviposition and offspring performance of SPW compared to cvs. Evangeline and Murasaki. The oviposition preference was shaped by the larval experience of SPW, providing evidence in support of the Hopkins’ Host-Plant Selection Principle. Although oviposition on cv. Murasaki was reduced, the egg capacity of SPW developed on cv. Murasaki was not decreased, indicating an adaptive behavior …

Maternal Fatty Acid And Inflammatory Status During Pregnancy Are Related To Infant Heart Rate And Heart Rate Variability, Merritt Leanne Drewery

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Early life heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) reflect autonomic maturation. Intervention with n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) during pregnancy favorably affects fetal HR and HRV; similar observations have been reported with infant n-3 LCPUFA intake. Infant HR and HRV have not been assessed in relation to maternal fatty acid status during pregnancy. Further, exposure to intrauterine inflammation may underlie these observations, although this hypothesis has not been tested. The aim of this observational study was to explore associations between maternal fatty acid and inflammatory status during pregnancy and infant HR and HRV. Simple linear and …

Evolutionary Interactions Of Feather Molt In Birds, Ryan Scott Terrill

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The evolution of feathers was a key innovation for birds. The many functions that feathers provide have allowed birds to diversify into myriad habitats and styles of life. However, feathers are lightweight and break down, and must be replaced regularly in a process known as molt. The patterns and timing with which birds molt varies within and between species, and these different strategies are likely a product of the different ways birds use their feathers and the uneven distribution of resources available for molt in time and space. So far, no studies have attempted to place these strategies into an …

Evaluation Of Estrous Response Patches As A Tool To Determine Optimum Timing For Artificial Insemination And If Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Is Needed At Timed-Ai In Beef Cattle, Danilo Demeterco

LSU Master's Theses

Two experiments evaluated using an estrous-detection patch to identify animals that are in standing estrus at split-timed AI (STAI) and the necessity of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection at STAI on a 7-Day CO-Synch + CIDR protocol. In experiment 1 (n=216) and in experiment 2 (n=101), multiparous lactating crossbred beef cows were stratified by age, BW, BCS, and post-partum interval to 2 treatment groups: CTRL=timed-AI (TAI) at 72h post CIDR removal, or TRT=STAI at 72 or 84h post CIDR removal. All females received GnRH plus a CIDR on d0, prostaglandin-F2α, CIDR removal, and an Estrotect estrous-detector patch on d7. At …

Molecular Genetics Of Cold Tolerance At Germination And Seedling Stages In Rice, Anna Hissahe Borjas Artica

LSU Master's Theses

Low temperature stress is a major constraint for rice production in temperate and high altitude areas of the world. Delayed germination coupled with reduced seedling vigor hinders crop establishment and crop growth resulting in reduced rice productivity. Mapping of chromosomal regions controlling cold tolerance will accelerate marker-assisted breeding of cold tolerant rice varieties. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) mapping population involving a rice cultivar ‘Bengal’ and a US weedy rice accession ‘PSRR-1’ was evaluated for cold tolerance at both germination and seedling stages. Observations on germinating ability and seedling vigor were recorded under both low temperature (13oC) and optimum temperature …

Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Yield In Louisiana Sugarcane Production Systems, Daniel Ernesto Forestieri

LSU Master's Theses

Proper nitrogen (N) management is essential to optimize crop production. This study was conducted to evaluate different N fertilizer management strategies to improve N use efficiency and yield in sugarcane production in Louisiana. This research was initiated in 2013 at the Sugar Research Station in St. Gabriel, LA and was arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replications consisting of different N rates (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg N ha-1) and sources (urea-46% N, ammonium nitrate [AN]-34% N, and urea-ammonium-nitrate solution [UAN]-32% N dribbled and knifed-in) as treatments. Sensor readings were taken from different N response trials …

Effects Of Silicon And Nitrogen Fertilization On Growth, Yield, And Leaf Rust Disease Development In Wheat, Maryamossadat Shahrtash

LSU Master's Theses

There are so many people who have helped me throughout my graduate studies and for whom I am grateful. I would like to take this opportunity to first and foremost thank God for his always guidance throughout my life and giving me the wisdom and the patience I needed to finish my thesis. I would like to thank Dr. Brenda Tubana for taking me in and providing me with guidance and knowledge. I also would like to thank my committee members, Prof. Brian D. LeBlanc who guided me, encouraged me and provided me with knowledge about sustainable agriculture and Dr. …

Vertebral Pathologies And Implications For Economic Lifestyle Changes In Two Prehistoric Skeletal Populations, Alyxandra Leigh Stanco

LSU Master's Theses

Little research considers the vertebral column in relation to inter-populational variation and changes in economic lifestyle. Numerous studies have been conducted regarding the influence of activity-related stress on post-cranial elements such as the knees, hips and shoulders, but few studies have considered the vertebral column. This study examined the vertebral columns of two prehistoric skeletal populations. The Indian Knoll site, home to a population of early hunter-gatherers, is located in Ohio County, Kentucky along the Green River. Indian Knoll was first excavated in 1915 by C.B. Moore. The Moundville site, a chiefdom of early agriculturalists, is located in the Black …