Digital Commons Network^™

Gender Beyond Birth: Gender Non-Conforming Students Lived Experiences Residing On-Campus In The Southeast, Tiffany Marlene Shierling

LSU Master's Theses

In this study, using a qualitative approach, gender non-conforming students lived experience living on campus in the south is being investigated. “Trans* students remain largely invisible through college records as no data is collected consistently on their enrollment” (Nicolazzo, 2016 p. 539). Although this is true of all gender non-conforming students, it is even more relevant to those that attend universities in the Southeast. Gender non-conforming students are attending universities in higher numbers than every reported before and yet, student affairs still does not have a theory that relates to these students when teaching their graduate students. The psychological literature …

New Efficient And Robust Multimedia Archiving Technique Using Quick-Response Codes, Sayani Sarkar

LSU Master's Theses

A Quick Response (QR) code is a two-dimensional bar-code, which is quite popular due to its excellent storage capacity and error resilience. Generally, QR codes are widely used to store text information such as URL links, geographical coordinates, name cards, inventory information, authorship, etc. To reach the current limit of QR codes, in this thesis, we would like to propose an innovative multimedia archiving technique, which is built upon the advanced signal processing scheme to tackle the multiple QR codes all at once. The multimedia data often include texts, images, audio data, special-purpose codes, music files etc. The recently proposed …

Reach, Abigail Lauretta Smithson

LSU Master's Theses

During the past three years, I have asked the same two questions over and over again: What is a photograph capable of communicating? What is a document of a place? My thesis exhibition and paper explore these questions using basketball, an art form and creative outlet that I have loved since childhood, as a starting point. Basketball is the lens that I have chosen to look through when approaching my work and a metaphor for larger societal issues, such as racism and gun violence.

Cathartic Ethics In Psychoanalysis, Dylan Timothy O'Brien

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the complex role of ethics within Psychoanalytic theory, finding not a prescriptive ethics, but a reference to ethics in the cathartic methodology that I argue underpinned Psychoanalytic thought from the very beginning. The introduction provides the reader with the necessary background to the material to be covered. The first chapter examines the neglectful attitude found throughout the foundational writings of Psychoanalytic theory in the work of Sigmund Freud, as well as covering two different methods by which ethics are often reduced, and which Freud successfully avoided. The second chapter seeks the origin of an alternative ethics in …

Dislocation, Brian Randall Deppe

LSU Master's Theses

This photographic project, Dislocation, seeks to document the current state and decline of Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The mall was built in 1976 during the height of shopping mall construction and was one of the largest shopping centers in the country with five anchor stores and 139 retail spaces. Now, just 48 stores and two anchor stores remain open. This high vacancy rate and deterioration of the mall is due to suburban flight, the building of new shopping centers in southern Baton Rouge, and changing consumer trends, which has led to malls closing across the country. My photographs …

Immediate Effects Of The Mindful Body Scan Practice On Risk-Taking Behavior, Shelley Renee Upton

LSU Master's Theses

The concept of mindfulness stems from Buddhist philosophies. Recently, it has become secularized and used in psychological and medical treatments. Training in mindfulness has been shown to improve a variety of mental disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety), as well as physical conditions (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain). Additionally, mindfulness training has been shown to improve risk-taking behaviors following several weeks of training. Reducing risk-taking behaviors is of particular importance in regards to specific psychological disorders, such as substance use and eating disorders. Many studies that examine the effects of mindfulness utilize training programs that are typically 8-weeks or longer in …

Palynostratigraphy And Environmental Implication Of Organic-Walled Microfossils Recovered From Iodp Site U1435, Mitchell Clifford Gregory

LSU Master's Theses

Extensive studies have examined the syn- and post-rift sediments in the South China Sea and surrounding margins, but pre-rift, Eocene deposits are rare. Here we examine organic-walled microfossils from the South China Sea, recovered at Site U1435 of IODP Expedition 349 to provide palynostratigraphic control and characterize the environmental setting before, and in response to, the initiation of seafloor spreading in the basin ~33 Ma. The well preserved palynological assemblage recovered allow dating of sediments sampled at Site U1435. Units II and III are now subdivided in 4 subzones; Zone 1 is essentially barren, Zones 2 and 3A are assigned …

The Effectiveness Of Isco Injection Methods For Remediation Of Groundwater, Matthew Ryan Vidrine

LSU Master's Theses

In-Situ Chemical Oxidation (ISCO) injections were performed at Petro Stopping Centers # 10 (Petro) in December 2013 and June 2015. The methodology was direct injection of a heavy oxidizer, RegenOx®, followed by a time-release oxygen compound, ORC Advanced®, into a plume of gasoline sitting on top of the water in the aquifer in hope that this remediate the aquifer. Both chemicals are registered trademarks of the Regenesis® Company. The levels of contaminates have dropped considerably. However, Petro has not achieved closure criteria according to RECAP standards. The site is classified as a GW-1B, subject to the most stringent of remediation …

Fitness Costs And Inheritance Of Bt Cry2ab2 Resistance In Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (J.E. Smith), Binod Acharya

LSU Master's Theses

Evolution of resistance in target pest populations is a major threat to the sustainability of transgenic crops expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins. Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a cross-crop target pest of Bt corn, Bt cotton, and Bt soybean. This pest, thus far, is the only target pest species that has developed field resistance to Bt crops in multiple areas across countries. Cry2Ab2 is a common Bt protein expressed in transgenic corn and cotton targeting lepidopteran pests including S. frugiperda. The objective of this study was to characterize fitness costs and inheritance of Cry2Ab2 resistance in S. frugiperda. …

Song And Russian Futurism: The Early Vocal Works Of Nikolay Roslavets And Arthur Lourié, Savanna Rigling

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis analyzes Nikolay Roslavets’s Four Compositions for Voice and Piano and Ar-thur Lourié’s Azbuka and Corona Carminum Sacrorum, all works written during the height of the composers’ involvement with the Russian Futurist movement. These works represent oppo-site means of compositional experimentation. Lourié used Russian folk influences to stretch the limits of tonality through the use of peremennost’. Azbuka and Corona Carminum Sacrorum contain equal tonal centers of A minor and C major with secondary harmonic areas of E minor and G major. Roslavets, however, invented his own system of composing with synthetic chords to free himself from past artistic …

Evaluation Of Broad Anti-Herpesviral Activity With Α-Hydroxytropolones, Shannon David Dehghanpir

LSU Master's Theses

Herpesviruses are ubiquitous in animals and cause economic losses concomitant with many diseases, including upper respiratory disease, keratitis, abortion, neonatal death, and neurologic disease. The majority of the domestic animal herpesviruses are within the subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae, along with the prototypical human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Suppression of HSV-1 replication has been reported with α-hydroxytropolones (αHTs), which are aromatic ring compounds that have broad bioactivity due to potent chelating activity. It is postulated that αHTs inhibit enzymes within the nucleotidyltransferase superfamily (NTS), similarly structured enzymes that require divalent cations for nucleic acid cleavage activity. One potential herpesviral target includes the …

Role Of Varietal Resistance In Managing The Rice Water Weevil, A Major Insect Pest Of Louisiana Rice, Maisarah Mohamad Saad

LSU Master's Theses

Resistance of several commercial rice varieties widely grown in Louisiana was assessed against the rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel), the major insect pest of rice in the United States. A five-year field study was conducted to identify resistant genotypes among conventional inbred, herbicide tolerant, conventional hybrid, and herbicide tolerant hybrid varieties. Resistance was evaluated in two different locations to enable selection of rice varieties with wide adaptability over diverse environments. There were no large differences in the resistance found amongst commercial rice varieties over the five-year field study. Jefferson was frequently found to support lower larval densities than other …

On-Site Sperm Cryopreservation For Aquatic Repository Development And User Group Linkage, William Martin Childress

LSU Master's Theses

Although on-site cryopreservation of aquatic species sperm in nitrogen-vapor shipping dewars has been used for more than 30 yr, many limitations remain. Due to the size of shipping dewars, most studies are small scale and can only produce tens of samples. The freezing temperatures that can be achieved are also affected by the size of the dewar and the number of samples being frozen due to the heat load. In addition, often due to timing or remote location these samples cannot be shipped, and if they are shipped, quality can be lost and the samples must be discarded. The goal …

Grounds For Displacement: Issues Of Migration On Louisiana's Disappearing Coast, Jessica Rose Simms

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This research inquiry engages with residents from three Louisiana parishes who have already or are currently facing possible migration decisions. The research focuses on understanding the links among the influence and mobility of three factors: social relations (i.e., faith-based networks, civic organizations, family, cultural and heritage identities, etc.), inherent resilient practices, and place, including sense of and attachment to it. It will draw from those bodies of literature as well as environmental migration literature, while underscoring that decisions of migration are influenced by environmental factors, but ultimately shaped by a complexity of often simultaneous forces, including social, political-economic, and cultural …

End Of The Racial Age: Reflections On The Changing Racial And Ethnic Ancestry Of Blacks On Affirmative Action, Kevin D. Brown

Articles by Maurer Faculty

No abstract provided.

Charitable Trademarks, Leah Chan Grinvald

Scholarly Works

Charity is big business in the United States. In 2015, private individuals or entities donated over $350 billion, which accounted for approximately two percent of the gross domestic product in the United States. Even though this seems like big money, these donations were split among over 1.5 million organizations. And each year, the number of charitable organizations grows and therefore, the competition for public donations increases. In part to succeed in such competition, some charitable organizations have turned to branding and trademarks as a way to differentiate their entities and to encourage donations. Drawing from the for-profit branding and trademarking …

Reuse And Recycling Drill Cuttings In Concrete Applications, Maziar Foroutan

LSU Master's Theses

Drill cutting (DC) is a major waste produced during petroleum extraction, which could present a major source of contamination to soil and groundwater, if not disposed of properly. The objective of this study aims to test the hypothesis that drill cuttings can be incorporated as an aggregate in the production of concrete, and is suitable for use in controlled, low-strength material (CLSM) for non-structural applications. To achieve this objective, the physical and consensus properties of drill cuttings were characterized. Concrete mixtures were designed for CLSM applications with and without drill cuttings sampled from two sources. Prepared concrete mixes were then …

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 …

Denis Diderot's Anglophilia And Its Impact Upon His Salons, William Judson

LSU Master's Theses

The work of Enlightenment philosophe Denis Diderot went largely unpublished during his lifetime, and upon its discovery in the nineteenth century, his originality was overlooked because of the perceived quaintness of his tastes. Thankfully, as his body of work became better understood and more accessible, his reputation steadily improved. The discipline of literary art criticism is now thought of as having its origins in Diderot’s Salons, a series of letters containing his thoughts on the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture’s biennial exhibitions in the Palace of the Louvre. These were circulated among an elite clientele who were not …

Me Paenitet, Joshua Stenvick

LSU Master's Theses

The coming pages will document my journey from the initial creative spark, to the final performance of a one-man show. The first chapter will chronicle the creative process and how I came about the idea. The second chapter will show you the performance text along with analysis to give a side-by-side example. The third and final chapter will detail what this thesis project means to me personally, my graduate degree and how my views on art have evolved. What was my one-man show about? It’s a story about the moment our moral compass is turned upside down, and finding our …

"Things Not Seen" In The Frescoes Of Giotto: An Analysis Of Illusory And Spiritual Depth, Aaron Hubbell

LSU Master's Theses

This research explores Giotto di Bondone's (1266-1337) use of empty and concealed space as a means of implying psychological and spiritual concepts. Focused on his narrative frescoes, this project borrows from art historian Mary Pardo's analysis of the Arena Chapel frescoes as examples of Giotto's ingegno, or visual wit. Giotto conveys the emotional and psychological state of his figures as well as the presence of the divine through spatial and architectural divisions between figure groups and the suggestion of narrative elements outside of the viewers' perspective. Along with close visual analysis, this thesis draws on art historical literature on the …

Aperiodic Multilayer Graphene Based Tunable And Switchable Thermal Emitter At Mid-Infrared Frequencies, Safura Sharifi

LSU Master's Theses

Over the past few decades, there have been tremendous innovations in electronics and photonics. The development of these ultra-fast growing technologies mostly relies on fundamental understanding of novel materials with unique properties as well as new designs of device architectures with more diverse and better functionalities. In this regard, the promising approach for next-generation nanoscale electronics and photonics is to exploit the extraordinary characteristics of novel nanomaterials. There has been an explosion of interest in graphene for photonic applications as it provides a degree of freedom to manipulate electromagnetic waves. In this thesis, to tailor the broadband blackbody radiation, new …

Corporate Masters & Low-Wage Servants: The Social Control Of Workers In Poverty, Nantiya Ruan

Scholarly Works

The Article describes and analyzes how the state’s control over low-wage workers has been relegated to private employers. While the state has historically controlled and limited the lives of poor people, today, people in poverty are subjugated through the privatizing of poverty governance by corporate masters who control the lives and shape the behaviors of their low-wage worker servants. The policies of these employers ensures that low-wage work is precarious, unpredictable, and insufficient.

This Article starts an important conversation about how today’s low-wage employers are corporate masters that control their servants through poverty-level pay and precarious positions. Work is scheduled …

Cold Tolerance And Overwintering Physiology Of The Salvinia Weevil (Cyrtobagous Salviniae): Improving The Biological Control Of Giant Salvinia In Temperate Louisiana, Alana D. Russell

LSU Master's Theses

Cyrtobagous salviniae is widely used for biological control of Salvinia molesta. Despite success in tropical and subtropical regions, the effectiveness of C. salviniae on S. molesta is inconsistent in temperate regions, indicating the need for a better understanding of the thermal biology of this agent. The objectives of this study were to compare cold tolerance of C. salviniae populations from the temperate native range and Louisiana, and characterize the overwintering physiology and population dynamics of C. salviniae in Louisiana. Surveys of the Lower Paraná-Uruguay Delta resulted in the first record of C. salviniae in Uruguay, and revealed the most southern …

Development And Application Of A Modis Inorganic Sediment Model During The 2016 Mississippi River Diversion In Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, Robert Lee Iles Iv

LSU Master's Theses

The Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS) is a Mississippi River diversion located on the southwestern coastline of Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana. The discharge of potentially high amounts of Mississippi River nutrients and sediments during BCS diversion events has a noted ecological impact on the Lake Pontchartrain estuary. Projected river flooding prompted the opening of the Spillway from 10 January to 1 February 2016. MODIS satellite images were aerosol-corrected and then compared to in-situ measurements of inorganic sediment concentration (ISC) to derive a predictive algorithm for estimating ISC (in mg L^-1) in Lake Pontchartrain for satellite images in January and February. The …

Estimation Of Rfid Tag Population Size By Gaussian Estimator, Md Mahmudul Hasan

LSU Master's Theses

Radio Frequency IDenti cation (RFID) systems are prevalent in all sorts of daily life endeavors. In this thesis we propose a new method to estimate RFID tag population size. We have named our algorithm "Gaussian Estimation of RFID Tags,"namely, GERT. We present GERT under both {0,1} and {0,1,e} channel models, and in both cases the estimator we use is a well justi ed Gaussian random variable for large enough frame size based on Central Limit Theorem for triangular arrays. The most prominent feature of GERT is the quality with which it estimates a tag population size. We support all the …

Sediment Infilling Of Louisiana Continental-Shelf Dredge Pits: A Record Of Sedimentary Processes In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Meg Cathlin O'Connor

LSU Master's Theses

Sediment cores were collected at continental-shelf sites of the Northern Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana to develop a better understanding of post-dredging evolution of mud-capped dredge pits. The two pits studied were Sandy Point (SP) and Raccoon Island (RI) (both with water depths of ~10m and dredged to ~ 15-20 m below water surface), which were dredged in 2012 and 2013 respectively. Vibracores and multicores were collected in 2015. Preliminary radiochemistry analyses identified Beryllium-7 distribution in multicore samples from both sites. SP1, the northwestern site in the Sandy Point dredge pit, showed 26 cm of 7Be penetration. …

Social Media And Discourse: A Comparative Study Of English And Spanish Apologies, Adam Logan Majors

LSU Master's Theses

This research is based on the combination of the age-old discussion between written and oral discourse with the emergence of using multimedia to publish apologies for widespread audiences. Because social media applications like Twitter and YouTube give instant publication access to its users, the continuum between written and oral discourse is continuing to shorten not just amongst Americans, but numerous cultures. The aim of this thesis is to observe a number of tweets and videos to determine whether or not multimedia is aiding this movement, as well as whether English and Spanish speech act-making strategies (specifically for apologies) are affected. …

Nealley's Sprangletop (Leptochloa Nealleyi Vasey) Management And Interference In Rice Production, Eric Allen Bergeron

LSU Master's Theses

A glasshouse study was conducted on the Louisiana State University campus in Baton Rouge to evaluate herbicide activity on Nealley's sprangletop. Herbicides were applied to Nealley’s sprangletop plants in the one-two tiller stage with height of 20-30 cm. Nealley's sprangletop control, leaf number, height, tiller number, and fresh weight biomass were evaluated. Nealley's sprangletop treated with glyphosate, quizalofop, fenoxaprop, and clethodim was controlled 89 to 99%. A field study was conducted at the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station (RRS) and a grower location (GL) to evaluate herbicide rates and timings for control of Nealley's sprangletop in drill-seeded rice. Herbicide treatments …

A Comparative Study Of The Effects Of River Flow Rates On Decomposition, Maddisen Paige Neuman

LSU Master's Theses

While the general biological processes of decomposition are known to forensic anthropologists, data on aquatic decomposition is in need of refinement. Water composition varies in mineral content, temperature, flow rate, and scavengers; each of these elements can have an effect on the rate of decomposition. This study specifically focuses on the effects of river flow rates on decomposition by comparing the rate of decay of three feral pigs (Sus scrofa) on land (control specimen), in faster flowing water, and in slower flowing water. The hypothesis states that the pig placed in the faster section of the river will decompose more …