Riparian Vegetation Susceptibility to Wind and Flooding Impacts of Hurricanes

Vegetation in riparian zones of southern Texas largely consist of woody trees, shrubs, and vines that grow densely within a short distance from the river. The rich and productive nature of these environments provides critical habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species of commercial and recreational value. This study examines how woody vegetation within the Mission River riparian zone has been impacted by Hurricane Harvey that brought category 3 winds and significant flooding to the areas around the Mission River. To determine the density and the species composition of the vegetation on the riparian zone of the Mission River, vegetation was surveyed in plots that are located along the river. Density and composition of woody riparian species within these plots were determined using measurements of diameter at breast height (DBH) and compared to the findings from previous studies on the Mission River riparian zone. Based on preliminary analyses of ground and aerial images and literature on hurricane impacts to riparian zones, it is expected that Hurricane Harvey caused widespread snapping of trunks/limbs and weakened roots of larger woody vegetation. Structural compromise to woody vegetation can also reduce their ability to stabilize their crowns, resulting in a high volume of downed trees while making way for pioneering species. There are limited studies on disturbance to riparian systems that is induced by hurricanes and this research increases our understanding of how these systems respond to these types of extreme events

Cracking the Door to State Recovery from Federal Thrifts

In the midst of the Great Depression, Congress created the Office of Thrift Supervision (“OTS”) to oversee and regulate the federally chartered thrift industry. Congress granted the OTS the power to create regulations to examine thrifts, ensure they were sound, and to preempt state laws affecting their operations, but not the power to provide remedies to a thrift’s customers. Over the next 70 years, the courts consistently interpreted Congress’ grant of regulatory authority as plenary—preempting almost any state law that affected, even minimally, the operation of a federal thrift. The Seventh Circuit, in In re Ocwen Loan Servicing, LLC Mortgage Servicing Litigation, reinterpreted the regulations governing when a state law may incidentally affect thrift operations. More importantly, the court went further than other courts in opening the door to state regulation. While nominally applying the same precedent, the court fluidly interprets the meaning of what it means to “incidentally affect” lending operations of a federal thrift. The court’s analysis allows it to nominally follow precedent while increasing court and state oversight of federal thrifts. The court effectively cracks the door to a more active role for the states in ensuring consumers are protected and that banks are ultimately held accountable when they fail to uphold fair business ethics

Utilizing community media to facilitate cross-cultural communication between LSU AgCenter field and state agents and Louisiana agricultural producers

The primary purpose of this study was to determine how Louisiana agricultural producers get information related to their crops. Specifically, this study examined how Louisiana agricultural producers used the Louisiana State University AgCenter’s website and other media sources so that it could be determined which form of community media could be used to facilitate cross-cultural communication between LSU AgCenter field and state agents and Louisiana agricultural producers. Data for this study were obtained from 187 usable surveys completed by Louisiana agricultural produceragricultural producers. The data were analyzed to determine if producers utilized the LSU AgCenter website, the frequency they utilized it, detect the trust Louisiana producers had in information provided by the LSU AgCenter on its website, ascertain what additional information Louisiana producers would like to see provided on the LSU AgCenter’s website, determine if social media was an acceptable means of communicating with producers, and identify factors related to how and when information provided by the LSU AgCenter was used in Community media vehicles. The study’s findings indicated The Delta Farm Press was the source producers used to get agriculture-related information. Ag consultants were the second most used source that Louisiana agricultural producers used to receive information. LSU AgCenter agents/offices were the third highest source and the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation was listed as the fourth highest source for agriculture-related information. It was also found that the largest number of producers who accessed the LSU AgCenter’s website did so on a monthly basis and that they trusted material provided by the LSU AgCenter. In addition, the study found Louisiana producers wanted a mobile weather application, as well as more information about markets, more interactive material, and information available in Spanish. In addition, several of the producers indicated they were not aware of all of the services offered on the LSU AgCenter’s website. For instance, weather information is one of the services producers indicated they would like to see on the website. Weather information is available on the website, but it may not be structured so that it is easily found by visitors to the website

Senior Recital

Senior recitals of Kimberley Attaway and Alexis Morgan for MUAP 4040. Accompanied by Susan Monroe and Phyllis Walker on piano

Riparian Vegetation Susceptibility to Wind and Flooding Impacts of Hurricanes

Vegetation in riparian zones of southern Texas largely consist of woody trees, shrubs, and vines that grow densely within a short distance from the river. The rich and productive nature of these environments provides critical habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species of commercial and recreational value. This study examines how woody vegetation within the Mission River riparian zone has been impacted by Hurricane Harvey that brought category 3 winds and significant flooding to the areas around the Mission River. To determine the density and the species composition of the vegetation on the riparian zone of the Mission River, vegetation was surveyed in plots that are located along the river. Density and composition of woody riparian species within these plots were determined using measurements of diameter at breast height (DBH) and compared to the findings from previous studies on the Mission River riparian zone. Based on preliminary analyses of ground and aerial images and literature on hurricane impacts to riparian zones, it is expected that Hurricane Harvey caused widespread snapping of trunks/limbs and weakened roots of larger woody vegetation. Structural compromise to woody vegetation can also reduce their ability to stabilize their crowns, resulting in a high volume of downed trees while making way for pioneering species. There are limited studies on disturbance to riparian systems that is induced by hurricanes and this research increases our understanding of how these systems respond to these types of extreme events

Influence of an Expanded Framework of Shopping Motivations and Inclusion of Non-Store Retailers on the Choice Set Formation Process.

Much of the research in marketing involves the study of consumer choice behavior. This study in concerned with the development and testing of a theory of retail choice or patronage. The last several years have witnessed dramatic changes in the retailing industry. In addition to the traditional department, discount, and specialty stores, consumers may increasingly choose from a wide variety of non-store retailers. Thus, any comprehensive study of retail outlet choice behavior should incorporate all of the alternatives available to the consumer. This research developed a model of patronage which extended previous research with the addition of alternative retail outlets and the explication of important determinant variables. The inclusion of all available retail outlets presents a more comprehensive view of consumers\u27 retail choice decisions and aids researchers in understanding the varied choice behavior of individuals. Consumer shopping motivations, involvement, experience, knowledge, and contextual influences were proposed as primary determinants of retail outlet choice. A large focus of the dissertation research involved the construction and validation of a consumer shopping motivation scale. Three stages of data collection were conducted to develop a comprehensive, a reliable and valid measure. Motivations were proposed to represent underlying forces that stimulate and compel individuals to interact with the retailing community. The research proposed motivations to greatly influence the number and types of retailers consumers patronize. In operationalizing retail choice, this dissertation employed a choice set process paradigm. Herein, the research considered store or outlet choice to be a complex decision process. The choice set formation process recognizes consumers have many alternatives to choose from in selecting a retail outlet and is concerned with the cognitive process of alternative evaluation and the derivation of choice sets. The dissertation proposes consumers categorize retail alternatives into four groups. The results of the dissertation demonstrate the proposed shopping motivation scale to be a reliable and valid indicator of consumers\u27 underlying needs. In addition, the results demonstrate how the various determinants of patronage are related to each other as well as their influence on the size of consumers\u27 choice sets

Worldwide Deployment of Predictive Asset Management at Air Liquide

TutorialAir Liquide launched an international program to monitor and assess equipment asset health, resulting in a positive step-change in availability and reliability worldwide. Using predictive analytics, potential asset failures may be identified and appropriate intervention planned. Intervention prior to failure averts a possible reliability incident, adverse customer impact, and costly emergency maintenance activitie