Digital Commons Network^™

Classifying Soft X-Ray Objects In The Galactic Bulge, Joshua D. Wetuski

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Galactic Bulge Survey (GBS) is a broad and shallow X-ray survey designed to detect quiescent X-ray binary systems in the direction of the Milky Way bulge, which include objects such as low-mass X-ray binaries, cataclysmic variables, and symbiotic binaries. LMXBs can provide constraints to the neutron star equation of state and symbiotic systems and are likely progenitors of double white dwarf systems which are themselves candidate progenitors to type Ia supernova. We seek to improve identification and classification of optical counterparts to GBS in several ways. By improving upon the original GBS, an updated catalog was created to help …

The Young Black Girl: A Narration Of Stem Identity Through Science Origin In Elementary School, Heather F. Lavender

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

An ethnographic qualitative case study was conducted by examining the perceptions of two 5^th grade Black girls at an independent school about their involvement with school science, the impact of race and gender towards their perception, and the influence of teachers, peers, and family on their science identity. Black girls are often relegated to outsider status within the classroom, lacking power and authority, which results in Black girls being denied a rightful presence in their learning community (Dumas & Ross, 2016). Additionally, their presence in STEM careers does not reflect their presence nationwide (Graves et al., 2014). The proposed …

Calculating Infinitesimal Generators, Majnu John, Yihren Wu

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

Integrated Nutrient Management And Cover Cropping Practices In Louisiana Sugarcane Production Systems, Daniel Erneso Forestieri

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Integrating effective fertilizer management with conservation practices is essential to improve farm income and promote environment friendly sugarcane production systems. A study was conducted in multiple to document the impact of nitrogen (N) source and cover cropping on sugarcane yield and quality components. The treatment consisted of different N sources: urea, knife-in urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) solution, calcium nitrate-CaNO3, ammonium sulfate-NH4SO4, and knife-in UAN. + foliar N, applied at 90 kg ha-1 and control (0 N). The cover crops included: crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), and oilseed radish (Raphanus sativus L.) planted at 13, 17, and 1 …

Potent Anti-Inflammatory, Arylpyrazole-Based Glucocorticoid Receptor Agonists That Do Not Impair Insulin Secretion, Brandon J. Kennedy, Ashley M. Lato, Alexander R. Fisch, Susan J. Burke, Justin K. Kirkland, Carson W. Prevatte, Lee E. Dunlap, Russell T. Smith, Konstantinos D. Vogiatzis, J. Jason Collier, Shawn R. Campagna

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in medicine for their role in the treatment of autoimmune-mediated conditions, certain cancers, and organ transplantation. The transcriptional activities GCs elicit include transrepression, postulated to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity, and transactivation, proposed to underlie the undesirable side effects associated with long-term use. A GC analogue that could elicit only transrepression and beneficial transactivation properties would be of great medicinal value and is highly sought after. In this study, a series of 1-(4-substituted phenyl)pyrazole-based GC analogues were synthesized, biologically screened, and evaluated for SARs leading to the desired activity. Activity observed in compounds bearing …

Diffusional Fractionation Of Helium Isotopes In Silicate Melts, Haiyang Luo, Bijaya Karki, Dipta B. Ghosh, Huiming Bao

Faculty Publications

Estimating Helium (He) concentration and isotope composition of the mantle requires quantifying He loss during magma degassing. The knowledge of diffusional He isotope fractionation in silicate melts may be essential to constrain the He loss. Isotopic mass dependence of He diffusion can be empirically expressed as D3He/D4He = (4/3)^β, where D is the diffusivity of a He isotope. However, no studies have reported any β values for He in silicate melts due to technical challenges in both experiments and computations. Here, molecular dynamics simulations based on deep neural network potentials trained by ab initio data …

Big Bird Plots: Benchmarking Neotropical Bird Communities To Address Questions In Ecology And Conservation In An Era Of Rapid Change, W. Douglas Robinson, Dan Errichetti, Henry S. Pollock, Ari Martinez, Philip C. Stouffer, Fang Yu Shen, John G. Blake

Faculty Publications

Extensive networks of large plots have the potential to transform knowledge of avian community dynamics through time and across geographical space. In the Neotropics, the global hotspot of avian diversity, only six 100-ha plots, all located in lowland forests of Amazonia, the Guianan shield and Panama, have been inventoried sufficiently. We review the most important lessons learned about Neotropical forest bird communities from those big bird plots and explore opportunities for creating a more extensive network of additional plots to address questions in ecology and conservation, following the model of the existing ForestGEO network of tree plots. Scholarly impact of …

Northeast- Fall 2021, Lsu Agcenter

Horticulture Hints

No abstract provided.

Northwest- Fall 2021, Lsu Agcenter

Horticulture Hints

No abstract provided.

Southwest- Fall 2021, Lsu Agcenter

Horticulture Hints

No abstract provided.

Central- Fall 2021, Lsu Agcenter

Horticulture Hints

No abstract provided.

Southeast- Fall 2021, Lsu Agcenter

Horticulture Hints

No abstract provided.

F21rs Sgb No. 6 (Sg Budget), Harris Quadir

Student Senate Enrolled Legislation

A Bill

To establish the 2021-2022 Fiscal year Student Government Budget

(Mislabeled SGB #, correct number SGB 6)

Searching For Solar Kdar With Dune, A. Abed Abud, B. Abi, R. Acciarri, M. A. Acero, M. R. Adames, G. Adamov, D. Adams, M. Adinolfi, A. Aduszkiewicz, J. Aguilar, Z. Ahmad, J. Ahmed, B. Ali-Mohammadzadeh, T. Alion, K. Allison, S. Alonso Monsalve, M. Alrashed, C. Alt, A. Alton, P. Amedo, J. Anderson, C. Andreopoulos, M. Andreotti, M. P. Andrews, F. Andrianala, S. Andringa, N. Anfimov, A. Ankowski, M. Antoniassi, M. Antonova, A. Antoshkin, S. Antusch, A. Aranda-Fernandez

Faculty Publications

The observation of 236 MeV muon neutrinos from kaon-decay-at-rest (KDAR) originating in the core of the Sun would provide a unique signature of dark matter annihilation. Since excellent angle and energy reconstruction are necessary to detect this monoenergetic, directional neutrino flux, DUNE with its vast volume and reconstruction capabilities, is a promising candidate for a KDAR neutrino search. In this work, we evaluate the proposed KDAR neutrino search strategies by realistically modeling both neutrino-nucleus interactions and the response of DUNE. We find that, although reconstruction of the neutrino energy and direction is difficult with current techniques in the relevant energy …

Lsu Research Fall 2021, Louisiana State University And Agricultural And Mechanical College

Research Magazine

LSU Research is published annually by the Office of Research & Economic Development, Louisiana State University.

Genetic Knockouts Indicate That The Abcc2 Protein In The Bollworm Helicoverpa Zea Is Not A Major Receptor For The Cry1ac Insecticidal Protein, Omaththage P. Perera, Nathan S. Little, Heba Abdelgaffar, Juan Luis Jurat-Fuentes, Gadi V.P. Reddy

Faculty Publications

Members of the insect ATP binding cassette transporter subfamily C2 (ABCC2) in several moth species are known as receptors for the Cry1Ac insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Mutations that abolish the functional domains of ABCC2 are known to cause resistance to Cry1Ac, although the reported levels of resistance vary widely depending on insect species. In this study, the function of the ABCC2 gene as a putative Cry1Ac receptor in Helicoverpa zea, a major pest of over 300 crops, was evaluated using CRISPR/Cas9 to progressively eliminate different functional ABCC2 domains. Results from bioassays with edited insect lines support that mutations …

Leptin Receptor Signaling Is Required For Intact Hypoglycemic Counterregulation: A Study In Male Zucker Rats, Christopher D. Morrison, Marina A. Duvall, Cristal M. Hill, Redin A. Spann, David H. Mcdougal

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Hypoglycemia is a major barrier to clinical management of persons with diabetes. Emerging evidence supports a role for leptin in gating hypoglycemic counterregulation. This work demonstrates that male leptin receptor null, Zucker (fa/fa), rats display severe impairments in hypoglycemic counterregulation. Thus, augmenting leptin levels may have clinical utility for preventing hypoglycemia.

Effect Of Aerobic Exercise-Induced Weight Loss On The Components Of Daily Energy Expenditure, Nicholas T. Broskey, Corby K. Martin, Jeffrey H. Burton, Timothy S. Church, Eric Ravussin, Leanne M. Redman

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Introduction Exercise usually results in less weight loss than expected. This suggests increased energy intake and/or deceased expenditure counteract the energy deficit induced by exercise. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in components of daily energy expenditure (doubly labeled water and room calorimetry) after 24 wk of exercise training with two doses of aerobic exercise. Methods This was an ancillary study in 42 (29 women, 13 men) sedentary, middle-age (47.8 ± 12.5 yr) individuals with obesity (35 ± 3.7 kg·m-2) enrolled in the Examination of Mechanisms of Exercise-induced Weight Compensation study. Subjects were randomized to three groups: …

Analysis Of A New Multispecies Tumor Growth Model Coupling 3d Phase-Fields With A 1d Vascular Network, Marvin Fritz, Prashant K. Jha, Tobias Köppl, J. Tinsley Oden, Barbara Wohlmuth

Faculty Publications

In this work, we present and analyze a mathematical model for tumor growth incorporating ECM erosion, interstitial flow, and the effect of vascular flow and nutrient transport. The model is of phase-field or diffused-interface type in which multiple phases of cell species and other constituents are separated by smooth evolving interfaces. The model involves a mesoscale version of Darcy's law to capture the flow mechanism in the tissue matrix. Modeling flow and transport processes in the vasculature supplying the healthy and cancerous tissue, one-dimensional (1D) equations are considered. Since the models governing the transport and flow processes are defined together …

Modeling And Simulation Of Vascular Tumors Embedded In Evolving Capillary Networks, Marvin Fritz, Prashant K. Jha, Tobias Köppl, J. Tinsley Oden, Andreas Wagner, Barbara Wohlmuth

Faculty Publications

In this work, we present a coupled 3D–1D model of solid tumor growth within a dynamically changing vascular network to facilitate realistic simulations of angiogenesis. Additionally, the model includes erosion of the extracellular matrix, interstitial flow, and coupled flow in blood vessels and tissue. We employ continuum mixture theory with stochastic Cahn–Hilliard type phase-field models of tumor growth. The interstitial flow is governed by a mesoscale version of Darcy's law. The flow in the blood vessels is controlled by Poiseuille flow, and Starling's law is applied to model the mass transfer in and out of blood vessels. The evolution of …

Foregut Exclusion Enhances Incretin And Insulin Secretion After Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes, John P. Kirwan, Christopher L. Axelrod, Emily L. Kullman, Steven K. Malin, Wagner S. Dantas, Kathryn Pergola, Juan Pablo Del Rincon, Stacy A. Brethauer, Sangeeta R. Kashyap, Philip R. Schauer

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: Patients with type 2 diabetes experience resolution of hyperglycemia within days after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery.This is attributed, in part, to enhanced secretion of hindgut factors following exclusion of the gastric remnant and proximal intestine during surgery. However, evidence of the mechanisms of remission remain limited due to the challenges of metabolic evaluation during the early postoperative period. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the role of foregut exclusion in the resolution of type 2 diabetes after RYGB. Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 15) undergoing RYGB had a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placed in …

Dynamin-Related Protein 1 Regulates Substrate Oxidation In Skeletal Muscle By Stabilizing Cellular And Mitochondrial Calcium Dynamics, William T. King, Christopher L. Axelrod, Elizabeth R.M. Zunica, Robert C. Noland, Gangarao Davuluri, Hisashi Fujioka, Bernard Tandler, Kathryn Pergola, Gerlinda E. Hermann, Richard C. Rogers, Sandra López-Domènech, Wagner S. Dantas, Krisztian Stadler, Charles L. Hoppel, John P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Mitochondria undergo continuous cycles of fission and fusion to promote inheritance, regulate quality control, and mitigate organelle stress. More recently, this process of mitochondrial dynamics has been demonstrated to be highly sensitive to nutrient supply, ultimately conferring bioenergetic plasticity to the organelle. However, whether regulators of mitochondrial dynamics play a causative role in nutrient regulation remains unclear. In this study, we generated a cellular loss-of-function model for dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), the primary regulator of outer membrane mitochondrial fission. Loss of DRP1 (shDRP1) resulted in extensive ultrastructural and functional remodeling of mitochondria, characterized by pleomorphic enlargement, increased electron density of …

Legacy Of A 10-Year Multidomain Lifestyle Intervention On The Cognitive Trajectories Of Individuals With Overweight/Obesity And Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Kathleen M. Hayden, Rebecca H. Neiberg, Joni K. Evans, José A. Luchsinger, Owen Carmichael, Gareth R. Dutton, Karen C. Johnson, Steven E. Kahn, Stephen R. Rapp, Sevil Yasar, Mark A. Espeland

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Introduction: Weight loss and increased physical activity interventions are commonly recommended for individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and overweight or obesity. We examined the impact of randomization to an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) on trajectories of cognitive function over 10 years in a cohort of participants in a randomized clinical trial who had T2D and overweight/obesity at baseline. Methods: Participants aged 45-76 years were enrolled in 2001-2004 and were randomized to the ILI or a diabetes support and education (DSE) condition. Cognitive function was assessed in 3,938 participants at up to 4 time points 8-18 years after randomization. General …

X-Ray Observations Of Two Candidate Symbiotic Binaries In The Galactic Bulge, Joshua Wetuski, R. I. Hynes, T. J. Maccarone, C. Heinke, M. A.P. Torres, P. G. Jonker, Christopher T. Britt, D. Steeghs, G. Nelemans

Faculty Publications

This paper analyses X-ray observations by the Chandra X-ray Observatory of CXOGBS J174614.3-321949 (CXB3) and CXOGBS J173620.2-293338 (CX332), two symbiotic binary star candidates identified by the Galactic Bulge Survey. Using new Chandra observations, we improved their X-ray positional uncertainties to 0.24 and 0.92 arcsec, respectively, confidently associating them with single optical counterparts. In particular, new observations of symbiotic X-ray candidate CX332 further solidify confidence in its coincidence with a carbon star. We demonstrate X-ray variability in both targets with a more recent observation of CX332 showing a decrease in brightness by a factor of 30, while CXB3 observations show it …

Insights Into The Tectonostratigraphic Setting Of The Southern Appalachians During The Blountian Tectophase From An Integrated Geochemical Analysis Of Magmatic Phenocrysts In The Ordovician Deicke K-Bentonite, Achim D. Herrmann, John T. Haynes, Richard M. Robinet, Jürgen Konzett, Norlene R. Emerson

Faculty Publications

We evaluate competing hypotheses regarding tectonic models of the early Taconic Orogeny in the Southern Appalachians during the Blountian tectophase with new geochemical data obtained from analyses of apatite and zircon phenocrysts, and melt and mineral inclusions therein, from the Ordovician Deicke K-bentonite (453.35 ± 0.10 Ma). Apatite geochemistry confirms that samples from different locations represent the same eruptive event, and zircon geochemistry and U[sbnd]Pb geochronology (including several Grenville-age inherited detrital cores) confirm an evolved magma of continental-arc composition, with the trace-metal geochemistry of magmatic Taconic-age rims on Deicke zircons pointing to a provenance of continental crustal igneous rock melts, …

Consensus Revisited: Quantifying Scientific Agreement On Climate Change And Climate Expertise Among Earth Scientists 10 Years Later, Krista F. Myers, Peter T. Doran, John Cook, John E. Kotcher, Teresa A. Myers

Faculty Publications

The scientific consensus on human-caused global warming has been a topic of intense interest in recent decades. This is in part due to the important role of public perception of expert consensus, which has downstream impacts on public opinion and support for mitigation policies. Numerous studies, using diverse methodologies and measures of climate expertise, have quantified the scientific consensus, finding between 90% and 100% agreement on human-caused global warming with multiple studies converging on 97% agreement. This study revisits the consensus among geoscientists ten years after an initial survey of experts, while exploring different ways to define expertise and the …

Exploring Traffic Safety Problems And Challenges Of Older Roads’ Users In Louisiana: Causes And Countermeasures, Hany Hassan Ph.D, Saba Doulabi

Publications

It is well established that older pedestrians and drivers with 65 years and above are among the most vulnerable road users. As the number and proportion of older road users (as drivers and pedestrians) grows in many countries, as well as their share in pedestrians’ and drivers’ crashes and injuries, it behooves transportation researchers to further investigate the safety and mobility challenges of older road users. This study aims mainly to provide a comprehensive investigation of older pedestrians’ and drivers’ safety challenges. To this end, a three-fold research approach is designed to thoroughly examine older road users’ safety challenges as …

Rapid Repair Of Cracks On The Embankment Slopes Using Bio-Cement, Hai Lin, Guantao Cheng

Publications

This research explored the feasibility of using Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) to improve fine-grained soil mechanical properties, seal the soil cracks, and assess the improvement of MICP on slope stability. The conducted research tasks include (1) direct shear tests to investigate the mechanical behavior and biogeochemical reactions of low-plasticity silt treated by MICP, (2) cyclic wetting-drying tests to assess the feasibility of using MICP to seal and waterproof the soil cracks, and (3) SLOPE/W modeling of a slope treated by MICP. Direct shear tests were used to evaluate the shear responses of the low-plasticity silt under different overburden pressures …

An Examination Of Yoga To Improve Symptoms Of Post-Traumatic Stress In Firefighters, Amanda Joy Weathers-Meyer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Firefighters routinely experience traumatic events while executing their daily occupational duties; in turn, this elevates their risk of experiencing post-traumatic stress symptomatology (PTSS). To successfully contend with repeated trauma exposure, effective and culturally appropriate treatment options for firefighters are needed. A growing body of literature shows that yoga effectively reduces PTSS, notably with those in male-dominated fields. Despite these encouraging findings, the impact of yoga on PTSS among fire service personnel has yet to be examined. Therefore, this dissertation aimed to: (a) obtain preliminary data on yoga’s effectiveness to reduce PTSS in firefighters, (b) investigate cultural appropriateness and firefighter receptivity …

Recoverability For Optimized Quantum F-Divergences, Li Gao, Mark M. Wilde

Faculty Publications

The optimized quantum f -divergences form a family of distinguishability measures that includes the quantum relative entropy and the sandwiched R'enyi relative quasi-entropy as special cases. In this paper, we establish physically meaningful refinements of the data-processing inequality for the optimized f -divergence. In particular, the refinements state that the absolute difference between the optimized f -divergence and its channel-processed version is an upper bound on howwell one can recover a quantum state acted upon by a quantum channel, whenever the recovery channel is taken to be a rotated Petz recovery channel.Not only do these results lead to physically meaningful …