Digital Commons Network^™

Effect Of Sampling Method On Detection Of The Equine Uterine Microbiome During Estrus, B. A. Heil, M. Van Heule, S. K. Thompson, T. A. Kearns, E. L. Oberhaus, G. King, P. Daels, P. Dini, J. L. Sones

Faculty Publications

Bacterial endometritis is among the most common causes of subfertility in mares. It has a major economic impact on the equine breeding industry. The sensitivity of detecting uterine microbes using culture-based methods, irrespective of the sample collection method, double-guarded endometrial swab, endometrial biopsy, or uterine low-volume lavage (LVL), is low. Therefore, equine bacterial endometritis often goes undiagnosed. Sixteen individual mares were enrolled, and an endometrial sample was obtained using each method from all mares. After trimming, quality control and decontamination, 3824 amplicon sequence variants were detected in the dataset. We found using 16S rRNA sequencing that the equine uterus harbors …

Editorial Introduction: Exploring Policy Theories, Narratives, And Policing, Geoboo Song, Melissa K. Merry, Holly L. Peterson, Davor Mondom, Briana Huett, Izehi Oriaghan, Creed Tumlison, Camille Gilmore, Gwen Arnold, Aaron Smith-Walter, Saba Siddiki, Heasun Choi

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Understanding And Modeling Drivers’ En-Route Diversion Behavior During Congestion, Mohammad Shapouri

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the field of transportation, traffic assignment models primarily have been used to forecast driver route preferences, translating their choices into traffic flow patterns across networks. These models are grounded in distinct behavioral theories and strive to explain how drivers navigate routes based on network features and personal tendencies. Using an aggregation approach, conventional traffic assignment models distribute demand among paths, considering utility and attractiveness. Despite their prevalent use in transportation planning and operations, the fundamental behavioral assumptions of these models have rarely been thoroughly explored. This gap is further compounded by their limited consideration of real-time adjustments and choices …

Controlling Guest Binding To Transition Metal Hosts Via Redox Stimuli, Jasmine S. Sanford

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Several metal complexes were investigated as potential hosts to execute controllable host- guest interactions using a redox stimulus. Previously, our group has synthesized new Cu^II m-xylylenebis(pyridyltriazole) (m-xpt) hosts and their redox properties were analyzed. In Chapter 2, we take advantage of the Cu^II host’s ability to perform redox to investigate its interaction with chloride guest ions. This study was executed with two main Cu-xpt hosts: [Cu₂(m- xpt)₂(NO₃)₂](PF₆)₂ and [Cu₂(m-xpt)₂Cl₂]Cl₂. The host-guest interaction was analyzed with additions …

Politics In Applicant Attraction And Recruitment: Firm Response To Abortion Legislation And Its Impact On Applicant Interest, Madeleine Coward

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Effectiveness Of Static Versus Dynamic Language Assessments, Lauren Betzer

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Estimating Household Willingness To Pay For Improved Water Quality Via Community Sewage System, Daniel Harris

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Reactive Oxygen Species Production By Isolated Mitochondria From Embryos Of Artemia Franciscana During Normoxic Recovery After Anoxia, Olivia G. Moncrief

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Conducting Enchantment: Organized Sound And Ritual Spaces In Modern And Ancient Worlds, Haley Stuckey

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

A Descriptive Study Of Louisiana 4-H 8th Through 12th Graders' Perceptions Of Career And College Readiness, Carrie M. Lane

LSU Master's Theses

As youth leave primary education and enter college or a career path, preparing those youth to ensure success has fallen, in large part, upon formal and non-formal youth educators. Encouraging students to apply and complete college has been a focus of education professionals for many years. Historically, gauging college and career readiness (CCR), academic institutions have relied on academic performance in areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics (Mattern, et. al, 2014). The use of academic focused measures instead of student-based evaluation had its drawbacks. While core education is important, measuring soft skills needed for the workforce and college environment …

Integrating The Concept Of Complete Streets Into Pavement Preservation, Sirisha Gangireddy

LSU Master's Theses

This study is motivated by the evident gap in integrating Complete Streets principles into pavement preservation. Complete Streets opportunities, which aim to accommodate all road users, are typically encouraged in all kinds of projects including new construction, reconstruction, preservation, and rehabilitation. While the concept of Complete Streets is understood in terms of new construction (e.g., building sidewalks), its application through pavement preservation programs is not well-developed. To bridge the gap between the Complete Streets and pavement preservation, this study conducted a comprehensive review on how state Department of Transportation (DOTs) are currently incorporating Complete Streets into pavement preservation and identified …

Electrophertic Deposition And Characterization Of Molybdenum Disulfide On Silicon Substrates, Alex J. Young

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The electrical characteristics of 2D materials such as high electron mobility and current density are of great interest to various fields from optoelectronics to renewable energy. Researchers have focused their efforts on transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) due to their direct energy band gap. One such TMDC that has garnered much attention is molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). MoS2 has electrical properties comparable to graphene and is a TMDC with characteristics amenable to applications such as solar cells and sensors. Commonly deposited through time-consuming and complex deposition methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), the viability of MoS2 as an electronic material will …

Homeless Friendly Campus: An Exploratory Case Study Of University Liaisons, Brandy Gros

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study aimed to explore how University Liaisons respond to homelessness on their campus. With new federal and state laws being enacted, little research focuses on the policies, programs, and services at universities. Community Colleges tend to be a more attractive option for homeless youth due to the low cost; however, universities are also seeing an increase in the homeless student population, and more research is needed at the university level. The overarching research question is: How are universities' liaisons with state legislation responding to homelessness? This study used a comparative multiple-case study approach to explore how ULs respond to …

Work Hard For The Money: Performance-Based Funding In The State Of Louisiana, Victoria C. Lloyd

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to examine in what ways, if any, the introduction of the equity incentive portion of Louisiana’s performance-based funding model impacted the underserved student groups it was designed to support. I employed a quantitative quasi-experimental design for this study by running three outcome variables (Adult Learner Enrollment, First-Time Enrollment for Racially Minoritized Students, and Low-Income Student Enrollment) by sector (two- and four-year public institutions) and employing a differences-in-differences regression with panel data. In my analysis I uncovered two main findings: 1) Louisiana’s equity incentive is showing early signs of success for all three underserved groups …

A Comparative Analysis Of Models Of Cybersecurity In Louisiana Public School Systems, Bonnie B. Chelette

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

K-12 schools in Louisiana face unique cybersecurity challenges due to the state's high poverty rate, resource constraints, infrastructure weaknesses, and vulnerability to natural disasters. Public school systems in Louisiana have been particularly vulnerable to these attacks, with incidents of cyberattacks tripling in 2020 alone. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has implemented several cybersecurity initiatives, including the Louisiana Cybersecurity Commission and the Louisiana Cybersecurity Information Sharing and Analysis Organization (LaCISO). However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of these initiatives and cybersecurity models in Louisiana public schools. This study aims to address this gap in understanding by conducting a …

Yeast Crf1p: An Activator In Need Is An Activator Indeed, Sanjay Kumar

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Ribosome biogenesis is an energetically costly process, and tight regulation is required for stoichiometric balance between components. This requires coordination of RNA polymerases I, II, and III. Lack of nutrients or the presence of stress leads to downregulation of ribosome biogenesis, a process for which mechanistic target of rapamycin complex I (mTORC1) is key. mTORC1 activity is communicated by means of specific transcription factors, and in yeast, which is a primary model system in which transcriptional coordination has been delineated, transcription factors involved in regulation of ribosomal protein genes include Fhl1p and its cofactors, Ifh1p and Crf1p. Ifh1p is an …

Productivity Of Wood Ducks, Black-Bellied Whistling-Ducks, And Hooded Mergansers Using Nest Boxes In Louisiana, Dylan L. Bakner

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Resident female wood ducks (Aix sponsa) in the southeastern United States are managed through nest box programs, with the goal of enhancing local hunting opportunities. Historically, hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) were the only other cavity-nesting waterfowl species in the southeastern United States known to use these nest boxes. However, the recent northward range expansion of black-bellied whistling-ducks (Dendrocygna autumnalis) has extended into the range of wood ducks and mergansers. All three species are brood parasites, potentially using one another as hosts for their parasitic eggs and impacting their reproductive output. My research evaluated the …

Multichannel Low-Cost Sensor For Iaq Monitoring: Implementation And Guidelines, Isaac Ntiamoah

LSU Master's Theses

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is adversely affected by both indoor and outdoor environments, and rental homes occupied by low-income families suffer the most. Poor indoor air can be detrimental to the health of occupants, especially for susceptible populations like those with respiratory diseases such as asthma. Although IAQ monitoring is necessary, it is a challenging, costly, and time-intensive task. Moreover, the protocol for assessing IAQ in residential settings varies, and additional research is needed to establish a standard operating procedure that incorporates new monitoring technologies, such as low-cost air sensors. However, there is a dearth of comprehensive, evidence-based protocols for …

Becoming Avian: Amazonian Featherworks From The John P. O’Neill Collection, Madeline R. Blanchard

LSU Master's Theses

In 1998 ornithologist John P. O’Neill donated an ethnographic collection of 434 objects he was gifted from researcher Charles Fugler or purchased from persons in Pucallpa, Peru, during his time there studying Amazonian birds. I evaluate 18 feathered objects. According to O’Neill, the cultures responsible for the items are the Cashinahua, Aguaruna, Achual, and Arawak. Eighteen of these items are beautifully crafted arrangements of feathered clothing and objects. The collection includes five headdresses, five bouquets, a hat, a necklace, three tassels, a backrack, a scarf, and a hair tie.

The objects and the seventeen species of bird used are active …

Quality Control For Net Zero Energy Modular (Nzem) Homes And In-Factory Solar Plus Storage (Sps) System, Min Bahadur Pun Kayat

LSU Master's Theses

A Net Zero Energy Modular (NZEM) home provides an opportunity to achieve the quality and cost savings benefits of modular construction of zero energy homes. Compared to traditional code-built homes, the NZEM home has a better insulation system, leakage-proof envelope system, energy efficient lights and appliances, high-performance windows, and solar plus storage (SPS) system. The onsite construction industry is scrutinized for its poor productivity and quality standards compared to other sectors. In NZEM construction, the factory environment removes issues that can arise during onsite construction, including weather delays and material damage, leading to higher production costs. Most factories currently use …

Integrated Pest Management And Behavior Of Stored Grain Beetles, Ethan Doherty

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, and the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, are two of the most destructive pests of stored rice. Their management has relied heavily upon fumigant insecticides. However, amid growing concerns that fumigant-resistant pests are becoming widespread, there is an urgent need for diversified management techniques and integrated pest management. Here, we explored management techniques and the behavior of these beetles. Host plant resistance toward both beetles was evaluated for 13 varieties of rice. We found large differences among varieties for both beetles in all resistance measures. We found that while nutritional components of a …

The Effects Of Disruption Type, Trip Purpose, Gender, And Age On Driver Diversion Willingness In The United States Of America, James D. Fuller

LSU Master's Theses

When drivers encounter traffic congestion, one of the most common ways to avoid excessive delays is to divert to an alternate route. Despite the commonplace nature of such routing decisions, relatively little is known about the specific influencers, motivators, and preferences that affect diversion choices under disrupted conditions. Understanding these driver motivations is important for improving the ability of transportation authorities to plan, design, operate, and maintain transportation networks. The research described in this thesis utilizes a driver survey to investigate the situational factors and personal characteristics that may play a significant role in determining a decision to divert or …

Does Grazing Winter Cereal Rye In Iowa, Usa, Make It Profitable?, A. Plastina, J. Acharya, F. M. Marcos, M. R. Parvej, M. A. Licht, A. E. Robertson

Faculty Publications

Unproven economic returns at the farm level are a major barrier to large-scale adoption of cover crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the short-run private net returns to producers implementing a cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) cover crop preceding the no-till corn (Zea mays L.) phase of a US Midwest corn-soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) rotation in an integrated crop and cow-calf operation. We used experimental agronomic data from six location-years in Iowa to estimate private net returns to cereal rye across alternative scenarios in a partial budget framework. Net returns in the absence of grazing averaged …

Do Fishery Meeting Attendees Represent The Fishing Industries?, Dominique Seibert

LSU Master's Theses

Public meetings are a highly utilized tool for disseminating important or useful information. Many agencies rely on them to reach various stakeholders and community representation at these meetings is important. A substantial amount of research has been conducted on various aspects of public meetings including different techniques, factors impacting attendance, and representativeness, that is attendees’ opinions representing the opinions at-large. A noticeable gap in the research includes information on public fishery meetings, commercial fishing industries, and their members’ participation. With the U.S. commercial fishing industries supporting more than a million jobs and providing more than a 200-billion-dollar economic impact annually, …

Nikolai Medtner And The Beethoven Tradition In Performance And Pedagogy, Jamie E. Gurt

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The compositions of Nikolai Medtner (1880-1951) have received increasing attention in both performance and scholarship. This monograph explores the influence of the Beethoven tradition in Medtner’s piano sonatas with a focus on performance and pedagogy. An examination of Medtner’s biography contextualizes Medtner’s training in composition and performance, as well as philosophical and personal influences. Next, the study examines Medtner’s writings on Beethoven as well as current scholarship on the piano sonatas of the two composers, observing influences in overall formal and stylistic characteristics. Exploring performance and pedagogy, the study considers examples from Medtner’s recordings of his Sonata Tragica, Op. …

The Effects Of Amira Learning On Literacy Development In Early Childhood Education, Caroline C. Tolentino

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of an Artificial Intelligence software, Amira Learning, on literacy development in early childhood education. Specifically, the research investigated the impact of Amira Learning software usage, the feedback it provided, and teachers' perspectives on its alignment with the Science of Reading. The study employed quantitative analyses of oral reading fluency outcomes and compared the pretest and posttest scores of the students after the 6-week usage of the software.

Quantifying The Effect Of Covid-19 On Port Congestion, Corey R. Mayeux

LSU Master's Theses

The Covid-19 pandemic caused unprecedented disruptions in global supply chains and port operations, leading to congestion, delays, and container shortages. Governments implemented containment measures, affecting social behavior and economic activity. Ports faced significant challenges due to shifts in demand, labor shortages, and supply chain bottlenecks. E-commerce surge and other disruptions intensified pressures on ports. The pandemic's impact exacerbated challenges for ports and supply chains, and triggered inflationary pressures. This research aims to investigate the impact of Covid-19 on port congestion and the global supply chain at the Port of Long Beach, Port of New York and New Jersey, Port of …

On A Stationary Random Knot, Andrey A. Dorogovtsev

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

Building Solidarity Between Minority Groups, Seonwoo Kim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Although a considerable number of scholars agree that an intergroup coalition among minorities will be more powerful in changing biased perceptions, regulations, and policies (e.g., Burson & Godfrey, 2020; Lane et al., 2019), cross-minority solidarity is challenging due to the inherent difficulties in establishing a shared goal and reaching a consensus on methods and tactics (Gawerc, 2021; Rogers, 2004) and competing policy stances and stereotypes (Hope, 2019; Nopper, 2006). Numerous instances of social movements that failed due to the failure of coalitions to form have been documented in the literature (e.g., Almeida, 2010; Ferree & Roth, 1998; Gelb & Shogan, …

France Within Louisiana Law, Government, And Media, Nicolas Garon

Tête à Tête: Journal of Francophone Studies

No abstract provided.