Are Business Cycles All Alike?

This paper examines two questions. The first is whether economic fluctuations-business cycles-are due to an accumulation of nall shocks or instead mostly to infrequent large shocks. The paper concludes that neither of these two extreme views accurately characterize fluctuations. The second question is whether fluctuations are due mostly to one source of shocks, for example monetary, or instead to many sources. The paper concludes that evidence strongly supports the hypothesis of many, about equally important, sources of shocks.To analyze the empirical evidence and to reach these conclusions, the paper uses two different statistical approaches. The first is estimation ofa structural model, using a set of just identifying restrictions. The secondis non-structural and may be described as a formalization of the Burns Mitchell techniques. Both approaches are somewhat novel and should be of independent interest.

Educational Perspectives: Integrating a Student Post-Stroke Clinic within a First-Year Occupational Therapy Kinesiology Course

ABSTRACTPurpose: In many occupational therapy graduate programs, student experiences with actual patient evaluation and intervention typically occur following several semesters of didactic instruction. We explored the impact of an early immersive and reflective hands-on patient experience on student learning and clinical skill development. Method: Following participation in five task-specific occupational therapy clinical sessions that were embedded into an applied kinesiology course, students performed reflections on the experience. These reflections included thoughts on kinesiology course content and clinical skill development through patient sessions over the semester. Results: A qualitative thematic analysis of student reflections was conducted. Findings reflected themes of improvement in observation skills, intervention abilities and communication. Conclusion: Early reflective and immersive clinical experiences may be helpful in the reinforcement of course content and in the development of clinical skills of occupational therapy graduate students prior to full intervention content exposure

African Americans (Research Report #121)

From the early 18th century to now, African-Americans have lived in Louisiana and the other Gulf states and played an integral role in shaping the linguistic and cultural traditions of the region. The seventh in the series discusses the experiences of African-Americans in the region.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1006/thumbnail.jp

Swing: 2D and 3D Animation in Virtual Reality Work-In-Progress

Swing is a narrative film in virtual reality space utilizing 2D and 3D animation techniques combined in Unreal. The story unfolds in overlapping acts that depict the internal and external struggles of a young girl who is attempting and failing to swing on a playground swing. As she struggles with the swing, a rising inferno of jealousies surround her and the VR viewer. In this headspace, she imagines the demise of the children swinging successfully around her, and anger continues to build until she ends up taking it out on herself. When she finally hits rock bottom, she lets go, leans back, and swings. This film is a collaborative project between Mari Jaye Blanchard, Mark Reisch, Vicky Mejia Yepes, and was presented by Assistant Professor Reisch

Asians (Research Report #117)

This is the third in a series of reviews. This review discusses the experiences of other Asians (not Vietnamese) in the region. Given the significant number of Vietnamese immigrants living in the southeastern United States, a vast body of literature in the social sciences has described, explored and explained the presence of Vietnamese immigrants living along the Gulf of Mexico.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1004/thumbnail.jp

Croatians (Research Report #119)

This is the fifth in a series of reviews about the experiences of various racial and ethnic groups in the Gulf of Mexico region.This one focuses on the experiences of Croatians. Although relatively small in number, Croatians have had considerable influence in the southeastern United States, particularly in the economic life of southern Louisiana. Commonly known to have transformed and substantially grown the oyster industry, Croatians also have a complex history and culture.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1002/thumbnail.jp

Native Americans (Research Report #120)

This is the sixth in a series of reviews. This review discusses the experiences of Native Americans in the region – a group that was the foundation of the southeastern United States long before European or Spanish colonization. Although much of the documentation about American Indian history, migration and culture is fragmented, this group had substantial effects on the economy, culture and history of the southeastern United States.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1007/thumbnail.jp

Latinos (Research Report #115)

This first review in this series focused on various racial and ethnic groups in the Gulf of Mexico region explores the experiences of Latinos -- a group that has gained significant local and national attention over the past 20 years as the number of Latinos residing in the area, and in the nation, has drastically increased.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1001/thumbnail.jp

Vietnamese (Research Report #116)

This review discusses the experiences of Vietnamese in the region. This group that became prominent in the United States during the Vietnam War.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1003/thumbnail.jp