Digital Commons Network^™

Le Québec Entre Le « Past-Self » Et Le « Possible-Self » Dans La Face Cachée De La Lune, Andisheh Ghaderi

Tête à Tête: Journal of Francophone Studies

No abstract provided.

Tumultuous Devotions: Female Entrapment & Empowerment In The Lais Of Marie De France, Trent Dunkin

Tête à Tête: Journal of Francophone Studies

No abstract provided.

Lrtransformer: Learn-Region Transformer For Object-Agnostic Point Cloud Segmentation, Dipesh Gyawali

LSU Master's Theses

3D point cloud segmentation segments the 3D point cloud data into different regions/instances depending on their features that have numerous applications in robotics, autonomous driving, digital twinning, augmented reality, etc. The majority of the existing point cloud segmentation methods depend on class labels to identify 3D objects in the surroundings. Our work focuses on segmenting point clouds into different regions/instances in an object-agnostic manner for any number of objects in the environment. Given the point cloud, our method can segment the entire scene into multiple instances without depending on object shape and size. We leverage the power of the self-attention …

How Ubiquitous Is Entanglement In Quantum Field Theory, Ivan Agullo, Béatrice Bonga, Patricia Ribes-Metidieri, Dimitrios Kranas, Sergi Nadal-Gisbert

Faculty Publications

It is well known that entanglement is widespread in quantum field theory, in the following sense: every Reeh-Schlieder state contains entanglement between any two spatially separated regions. This applies, in particular, to the vacuum of a noninteracting scalar theory in Minkowski spacetime. Discussions on entanglement in field theory have focused mainly on subsystems containing infinitely many degrees of freedom - typically, the field modes that are supported within a compact region of space. In this article, we study entanglement in subsystems made of finitely many field degrees of freedom, in a free scalar theory in D+1-dimensional Minkowski spacetime. The focus …

Ready Worker One? High-Res Vr For The Home Office, Anastasia Ruvimova, Felipe Fronchetti, Boden A. Kahn, Luiz Henrique Susin, Zekeya Hurley, Thomas Fritz, Mark Hancock, David Shepherd

Faculty Publications

Many employees prefer to work from home, yet struggle to squeeze their office into an already fully-utilized space. Virtual Reality (VR) seemingly offered a solution with its ability to transform even modest physical spaces into spacious, productive virtual offices, but hardware challenges - such as low resolution - have prevented this from becoming a reality. Now that hardware issues are being overcome, we are able to investigate the suitability of VR for daily work. To do so, we (1) studied the physical space that users typically dedicate to home offices and (2) conducted an exploratory study of users working in …

Backward Stochastic Differential Equations In A Semi-Markov Chain Model, Robert J. Elliott, Zhe Yang

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

International Pediatric Covid-19 Severity Over The Course Of The Pandemic, Yanshan Zhu, Flávia Jacqueline Almeida, J. Kenneth Baillie, Asha C. Bowen, Philip N. Britton, Martin Eduardo Brizuela, Danilo Buonsenso, David Burgner, Keng Yih Chew, Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit, Cheryl Cohen, Stephania A. Cormier, Nigel Crawford, Nigel Curtis, Camila G.A. Farias, Charles F. Gilks, Anne Von Gottberg, Diana Hamer, Daniel Jarovsky, Waasila Jassat, Ana Rita Jesus, Lisa S. Kemp, Benjawan Khumcha, Georgina Mccallum, Jessica E. Miller, Rosa Morello, Alasdair P.S. Munro, Peter J.M. Openshaw, Srivatsan Padmanabhan, Wanatpreeya Phongsamart, Gary Reubenson, Nicole Ritz, Fernanda Rodrigues, Supattra Rungmaitree

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Importance: Multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants have emerged over the COVID-19 pandemic. The implications for COVID-19 severity in children worldwide are unclear. Objective: To determine whether the dominant circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) were associated with differences in COVID-19 severity among hospitalized children. Design, Setting, and Participants: Clinical data from hospitalized children and adolescents (younger than 18 years) who were SARS-CoV-2 positive were obtained from 9 countries (Australia, Brazil, Italy, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, UK, and the US) during 3 different time frames. Time frames 1 (T1), 2 (T2), and 3 (T3) were defined to represent periods of dominance by …

Regional Variation In The Trophic Ecology Of Wahoo (Acanthocybium Solandri) In The Western Atlantic Ocean, Brendan Gough, Alexandra Prouse, Michael A. Dance, R. J.David Wells, Jay R. Rooker

Faculty Publications

Intrinsic tracers, such as stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen, are common dietary markers that accumulate in the muscle tissue of consumers and can be used to determine the dietary sources and trophic positions of consumers. The aim of this study was to assess regional variation in the trophic ecology of wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) using bulk stable isotopes. Muscle biopsies of wahoo were collected from four regions in the western Atlantic Ocean: the eastern Gulf of Mexico, western Gulf of Mexico, Northwest Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea. Muscle tissue δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values for wahoo ranged …

A Single-Cell Atlas Of Bovine Skeletal Muscle Reveals Mechanisms Regulating Intramuscular Adipogenesis And Fibrogenesis, Leshan Wang, Peidong Gao, Chaoyang Li, Qianglin Liu, Zeyang Yao, Yuxia Li, Xujia Zhang, Jiangwen Sun, Constantine Simintiras, Matthew Welborn, Kenneth Mcmillin, Stephanie Oprescu, Shihuan Kuang, Xing Fu

Faculty Publications

Background: Intramuscular fat (IMF) and intramuscular connective tissue (IMC) are often seen in human myopathies and are central to beef quality. The mechanisms regulating their accumulation remain poorly understood. Here, we explored the possibility of using beef cattle as a novel model for mechanistic studies of intramuscular adipogenesis and fibrogenesis. Methods: Skeletal muscle single-cell RNAseq was performed on three cattle breeds, including Wagyu (high IMF), Brahman (abundant IMC but scarce IMF), and Wagyu/Brahman cross. Sophisticated bioinformatics analyses, including clustering analysis, gene set enrichment analyses, gene regulatory network construction, RNA velocity, pseudotime analysis, and cell–cell communication analysis, were performed to elucidate …

Louisiana Agriculture Magazine, Fall 2023, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

Hemp has been cultivated for thousands of years. It was grown widely in the United States until the mid-1900s, when laws limited the growth of hemp and later banned it entirely. Since the 2018 Farm Bill removed legal barriers to growing the crop, Louisiana created a structure to regulate hemp farming in 2019.

Because little information existed about hemp in Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter created the Industrial Hemp Working Group to study the crop, create production practices and help growers interested in this ancient plant.

This issue of Louisiana Agriculture focuses on the work of these researchers and the growers …

Fall Facts, 2023, Louisiana State University

Fall Facts

No abstract provided.

Chemical Communication In Insects: New Advances In Integrated Pest Management Strategies, Angel Guerrero, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Message Or Messenger? Source And Labeling Effects In Authoritarian Response To Protest, Daniel Arnon, Pearce Edwards, Handi Li

Faculty Publications

Authoritarian regimes in the 21st century have increasingly turned to using information control rather than kinetic force to respond to threats to their rule. This paper studies an often overlooked type of information control: strategic labeling and public statements by regime sources in response to protests. Labeling protesters as violent criminals may increase support for repression by signaling that protests are illegitimate and deviant. Regime sources, compared to more independent sources, could increase support for repression even more when paired with such an accusatory label. Accommodative labels should have opposing effects—decreasing support for repression. The argument is tested with a …

Relational Sanctification, Communal Coping, And Depression Among African American Couples, Antonius D. Skipper, Andrew H. Rose, Noel A. Card, Travis James Moore, Debra Lavender-Bratcher, Cassandra Chaney

Faculty Publications

Despite the common use of religious buffers, African Americans are disproportionately affected by depressive symptoms. Communal coping may serve as one factor in helping religious African American couples alleviate the symptoms of depression. This study examines the association between relational sanctification and depressive symptoms as mediated by the communal coping of 467 African American married and cohabiting couples. Data from the sampled couples were analyzed using a common fate model, and analyses revealed higher scores on the measure of sanctification were associated with more communal coping; more communal coping was associated with fewer depressive symptoms among women and men, and …

Genetic Deletion Of Dnajb3 Using Crispr-Cas9, Produced Discordant Phenotypes, Shadi Nejat, Kalhara R. Menikdiwela, Aliyah Efotte, Shane Scoggin, Bolormaa Vandanmagsar, Paul J. Thornalley, Mohammed Dehbi, Naima Moustaid-Moussa

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Several pathways and/or genes have been shown to be dysregulated in obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). We previously showed, for the first time, impaired expression of DNAJB3 mRNA and protein in subjects with obesity, which was concomitant with increased metabolic stress. Restoring the normal expression of DNAJB3 attenuated metabolic stress and improved insulin signaling both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting a protective role of DNAJB3 against obesity and T2D. The precise underlying mechanisms remained, however, unclear. This study was designed to confirm the human studies in a mouse model of dietary obesity-induced insulin resistance, and, …

Impact Of A Nutrient Formulation On Longitudinal Myelination, Cognition, And Behavior From Birth To 2 Years: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Nora Schneider, Mickaël Hartweg, Jonathan O’Regan, Jennifer Beauchemin, Leanne Redman, Daniel S. Hsia, Pascal Steiner, Owen Carmichael, Viren D’Sa, Sean Deoni

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Observation studies suggest differences in myelination in relation to differences in early life nutrition. This two-center randomized controlled trial investigates the effect of a 12-month nutritional intervention on longitudinal changes in myelination, cognition, and behavior. Eighty-one full-term, neurotypical infants were randomized into an investigational (N = 42) or a control group (N = 39), receiving higher versus lower levels of a blend of nutrients. Non-randomized breastfed infants (N = 108) served as a reference group. Main outcomes were myelination (MRI), neurodevelopment (Bayley-III), social-emotional development (ASQ:SE-2), infant and toddler behavior (IBQ-R and TBAQ), and infant sleep (BISQ) during the first 2 …

Responses Of Phytoplankton Communities To Internal Waves In Oligotrophic Oceans, Lingqi Ma, Xiaolin Bai, Edward A. Laws, Wupeng Xiao, Cui Guo, Xin Liu, Kuo Ping Chiang, Kunshan Gao, Bangqin Huang

Faculty Publications

Understanding the potential impacts of internal waves on phytoplankton communities in oligotrophic oceans remains an important research challenge. In this study, we elucidated the impact of internal waves on phytoplankton communities through a comprehensive 154-hr time-series of observations in the South China Sea (SCS). We identified distinctive variations in phytoplankton pigment biomass and composition across the upper, middle, and lower layers of the euphotic zone, which we attributed to the perturbations triggered by internal waves. Phytoplankton other than Prochlorococcus in the lower, nutrient-replete layer likely benefitted from allochthonous nutrients introduced by internal waves, but their growth rates were constrained by …

Engineering Super-Poissonian Photon Statistics Of Spatial Light Modes, Mingyuan Hong, Ashe Miller, Roberto De J. León-Montiel, Chenglong You, Omar S. Magaña-Loaiza

Faculty Publications

The nature of light sources is defined by the statistical fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. As such, the photon statistics of light sources are typically associated with distinct emitters. Here, the possibility of producing light beams with various photon statistics through the spatial modulation of coherent light is demonstrated. This is achieved by the sequential encoding of controllable Kolmogorov phase screens in a digital micromirror device. Interestingly, the flexibility of this scheme allows for the shaping of spatial light modes with engineered photon statistics at different spatial positions. The performance of this scheme is assessed through the photon-number-resolving characterization of …

Machine-Learning-Based Thermal Conductivity Prediction For Additively Manufactured Alloys, Uttam Bhandari, Yehong Chen, Huan Ding, Congyuan Zeng, Selami Emanet, Paul R. Gradl, Shengmin Guo

Faculty Publications

Thermal conductivity (TC) is greatly influenced by the working temperature, microstructures, thermal processing (heat treatment) history and the composition of alloys. Due to computational costs and lengthy experimental procedures, obtaining the thermal conductivity for novel alloys, particularly parts made with additive manufacturing, is difficult and it is almost impossible to optimize the compositional space for an absolute targeted value of thermal conductivity. To address these difficulties, a machine learning method is explored to predict the TC of additive manufactured alloys. To accomplish this, an extensive thermal conductivity dataset for additively manufactured alloys was generated for several AM alloy families (nickel, …

Structured Ethical Review For Wastewater-Based Testing In Support Of Public Health, Devin A. Bowes, Amanda Darling, Erin M. Driver, Devrim Kaya, Rasha Maal-Bared, Lisa M. Lee, Kenneth Goodman, Sangeet Adhikari, Srijan Aggarwal, Aaron Bivins, Zuzana Bohrerova, Alasdair Cohen, Claire Duvallet, Rasha A. Elnimeiry, Justin M. Hutchison, Vikram Kapoor, Ishi Keenum, Fangqiong Ling, Deborah Sills, Ananda Tiwari, Peter Vikesland, Ryan Ziels, Cresten Mansfeldt

Faculty Publications

Wastewater-based testing (WBT) for SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly expanded over the past three years due to its ability to provide a comprehensive measurement of disease prevalence independent of clinical testing. The development and simultaneous application of WBT measured biomarkers for research activities and for the pursuit of public health goals, both areas with well-established ethical frameworks. Currently, WBT practitioners do not employ a standardized ethical review process, introducing the potential for adverse outcomes for WBT professionals and community members. To address this deficiency, an interdisciplinary workshop developed a framework for a structured ethical review of WBT. The workshop employed a consensus …

Lipid Correction For Carbon Stable Isotope Analysis Of Yellowfin Tuna, Michael A. Dance, Mitchell S. Lovell

Faculty Publications

Carbon stable isotopes (δ¹³C) are widely used in ecological studies to understand diet, food web dynamics, and movements of marine fishes. Still, δ¹³C is influenced by lipid content and often requires chemical extraction or mathematical correction. Here, we developed a species-specific mathematical lipid correction for white muscle tissue of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares), a highly migratory finfish of considerable economic and ecological value. Lipid extraction was conducted on yellowfin tuna white muscle tissue (C:N range: 2.96–6.49), and both linear and non-linear lipid correction models for δ¹³C were fitted and assessed. Lipid extraction increased δ …

The World's 100 Worst Invasive Alien Insect Species Differ In Their Characteristics From Related Non-Invasive Species, Zihua Zhao, Cang Hui, Shuo Peng, Shanqing Yi, Zhihong Li, Gadi V.P. Reddy, Mark Van Kleunen

Faculty Publications

While there has been great interest in species characteristics that promote invasiveness, still little is known about the characteristics that distinguish invasive from non-invasive insects. Using a database on the naturalised distributions of alien insects and expert opinions about their impacts, we identified the world's 100 worst invasive insect species. By comparing species characteristics reported in the literature using a meta-analysis, between the 100 worst invasive species and related non-invasive species, we found that invasive insects overall have more pathways of introduction, occur in more habitats, have higher fecundities, higher voltinism, more genes, shorted lifespans and faster development from egg …

Exercise-Induced Changes To The Fiber Type-Specific Redox State In Human Skeletal Muscle Are Associated With Aerobic Capacity, James Shadiow, Edwin R. Miranda, Ryan K. Perkins, Corey E. Mazo, Zhen Lin, Kendell N. Lewis, Jacob T. Mey, Thomas P.J. Solomon, Jacob M. Haus

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

The benefits of exercise involve skeletal muscle redox state alterations of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). We determined the fiber-specific effects of acute exercise on the skeletal muscle redox state in healthy adults. Muscle biopsies were obtained from 19 participants (11 M, 8 F; 26 ± 4 yr) at baseline (fasted) and 30 min and 3 h after treadmill exercise at 80% maximal oxygen consumption (V O2max). Muscle samples were probed for autofluorescence of NADH (excitation at 340-360 nm) and oxidized flavoproteins (Fp; excitation at 440-470 nm) and subsequently, fiber typed to quantify the redox signatures …

Reduced Postabsorptive Interoception Of Nutrients In Obesity: Cause Or Consequence?, Hans Rudolf Berthoud

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Sarcopenic Obesity: Emerging Mechanisms And Therapeutic Potential, Christopher L. Axelrod, Wagner S. Dantas, John P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Sarcopenic obesity, or the loss of muscle mass and function associated with excess adiposity, is a largely untreatable medical condition associated with diminished quality of life and increased risk of mortality. To date, it remains somewhat paradoxical and mechanistically undefined as to why a subset of adults with obesity develop muscular decline, an anabolic stimulus generally associated with retention of lean mass. Here, we review evidence surrounding the definition, etiology, and treatment of sarcopenic obesity with an emphasis on emerging regulatory nodes with therapeutic potential. We review the available clinical evidence largely focused on diet, lifestyle, and behavioral interventions to …

Global Rural Health Disparities In Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias: State Of The Science, Lisa Ann Kirk Wiese, Allison Gibson, Marc Aaron Guest, Amy R. Nelson, Raven Weaver, Aditi Gupta, Owen Carmichael, Jordan P. Lewis, Allison Lindauer, Samantha Loi, Rachel Peterson, Kylie Radford, Elizabeth K. Rhodus, Christina G. Wong, Megan Zuelsdorff, Ladan Ghazi Saidi, Esmeralda Valdivieso-Mora, Sanne Franzen, Caitlin N. Pope, Timothy S. Killian, Hom L. Shrestha, Patricia C. Heyn, Ted Kheng Siang Ng, Beth Prusaczyk, Samantha John, Ambar Kulshreshtha, Julia L. Sheffler, Lilah Besser, Valerie Daniel, Magdalena I. Tolea, Justin Miller, Christine Musyimi, Jon Corkey, Veronica Yank

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

INTRODUCTION: Individuals living in rural communities are at heightened risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), which parallels other persistent place-based health disparities. Identifying multiple potentially modifiable risk factors specific to rural areas that contribute to ADRD is an essential first step in understanding the complex interplay between various barriers and facilitators. METHODS: An interdisciplinary, international group of ADRD researchers convened to address the overarching question of: “What can be done to begin minimizing the rural health disparities that contribute uniquely to ADRD?” In this state of the science appraisal, we explore what is known about the biological, behavioral, …

Leveraging Cultural Wealth, Identities And Motivation: How Diverse Intersectional Groups Of Low-Income Undergraduate Stem Students Persist In Collegiate Stem Environments, Raeshan D. Davis, Zakiya Wilson-Kennedy

Faculty Publications

Grounded in a conceptual framework incorporating intersectionality, motivation, self-determination, and self-efficacy, this empirical study investigated how individuals’ identities, mindsets, and resources in educational environments intentionally cultivated to support their decision-making, development, and connections in the science community, can significantly increase the recruitment, persistence, and success of low-income, academically talented science students from diverse backgrounds. Several factors—academic performance in coursework, self-image, self-agency, financial support, and social integration in the science culture—continue to significantly impact student retention and persistence in STEM disciplines. Many of these factors are negatively affected based on a students’ intersecting identities, which can be detrimental to their academic …

Probiotic Characteristics Of Streptococcus Thermophilus And Lactobacillus Bulgaricus As Influenced By New Food Sources, Ashly Castro, Ricardo S. Aleman, Miguel Tabora, Shirin Kazemzadeh, Leyla K. Pournaki, Roberto Cedillos, Jhunior Marcia, Kayanush Aryana

Faculty Publications

The current research aimed to evaluate the potential effects of Solanum mammosum, Dioon mejiae, and Amanita caesarea on Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus survival and performance after exposure to different harsh conditions such as bile, acid, gastric juice, and lysozyme to mimic the digestive system from mouth to the intestine. Probiotic protease activity was observed to evaluate the proteolytic system. Probiotics were cultured in a broth mixed with plant material, and after incubation, the results were compared to the control sample. Therefore, plant material’s total phenolic compound, total carotenoid compound, antioxidant activity, sugar profile, and acid profile were …

Esprit De Corps And Thinking On (And With) Your Feet: Standard, Enactive, And Poststructuralist Aspects Of Relational Autonomy And Collective Intentionality In Team Sports, John Protevi

Faculty Publications

To concretize my discussion of relational autonomy and collective intentionality, I present a case study in which we can see several themes in that scholarly literature exemplified in a real-life event. The event in question is the Megan Rapinoe-Abby Wambach goal in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup of 2011, one of the greatest in all World Cup history (A video clip of the goal can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B4q6di-3fg.). In the case study, I concentrate on the ontological status of two key aspects of soccer, the linking of teammates by a pass, and the emergence of the team …

Investigating Expectancy Values In Online Apparel Rental During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic: Moderating Effects Of Fashion Leadership, Sukyung Seo, Kittichai Watchravesringkan, Uma Swamy, Chunmin Lang

Faculty Publications

Online apparel renting has become a popular type of consumption. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the sharing economy, including online renting. This cross-sectional study examined the effects of expectancy values on intention towards online apparel rental during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and investigated the moderating role of personal traits of fashion leadership. A total of 431 valid samples from college students in the US were collected. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was conducted to test the hypothesized relationships, and moderation analysis was performed to test the moderating effects of fashion leadership. The results indicated that expectancy values affecting consumer …