Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring Students’ Cultural Competence Development During A Short-Term International Experience: A Q-Sort Study, Shelli Rampold, Bradley Coleman, J. C. Bunch, Richie Roberts

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Pressure Monitoring For Subsurface Leakage Characterization, Mojtaba Mosaheb

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Undesirable leakage from underground sedimentary formations is a matter of considerable concern due to implications for water resources contamination and greenhouse gas emissions. Leakage in underground formations can remain undetected for a long period. Pressure monitoring is a dynamic method that can be used for leakage detection and characterization. The pressure signals are affected by the hydraulic characteristics of the reservoir media and leakage pathways. Consequently, the pressure data can be interpreted to obtain information about the hydraulic characteristics of the system. Pressure interpretation is useful for early leakage detection, because the pressure signals travel fast in reservoir media. In …

Hydraulic Effects Of The Lower Mississippi River Batture, David P. May

LSU Master's Theses

The Lower Mississippi River (LMR), since the creation of the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) project, has been extensively modified to support navigation and flood risk reduction. The components of the MR&T system, implemented to support the above missions, have performed successfully for many decades, but not without contention. Rising stages in recent years have led to the questioning of the hydraulic impact of navigation dikes and river training methodologies. Multiple studies have been performed (Biedenharn, 2000, May 2017, Mayne, 2018, and Simon, 2019) that indicate these river training structures have minimal impact to stage during flood conditions. It has …

Solvation Structures And Dynamics Of Small Molecules: Experimental And Computational Studies Using Carbonyl Vibrational Modes As Probe, Xiaoliu Zhang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Solutions are ubiquitous in both the global environment and the human body, and play a significant role in scientific research and industrial production. The structures and dynamics of solutions have been studied for centuries. However, conventional experimental methods, whose intrinsic measuring time is on the order of nanoseconds to microseconds, could not detect the fast dynamics taking place in the solution on the timescale of femto- and pico-second. In this dissertation, the ultrafast two-dimensional infrared (2DIR) spectroscopy was applied to characterize the structure and dynamics in three different types of solutions on the sub-picosecond timescale. Linear Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy …

Polymeric Nanoparticles As An Antioxidant Delivery System For Age-Related Eye Disease, Sean M. Swetledge

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Advantages of polymeric nanoparticles as ocular drug delivery systems include controlled release, enhanced drug stability and bioavailability, and specific tissue targeting. Nanoparticle properties such as hydrophobicity, size, and charge, mucoadhesion, as well as administration route and suspension media affect their ability to overcome ocular barriers and distribute in the eye, and must be carefully designed for specific target tissues and ocular diseases. A review was conducted to serve as a guide to optimizing polymeric nanoparticle delivery systems for ocular drug delivery by discussing the effects of nanoparticle composition and administration method on their ocular penetration, distribution, elimination, toxicity, and efficacy, …

Text-Influenced Expressions Of Understanding: Differences In Kindergartners’ Discourse And Written Retellings Of Traditional And Digital Texts During Buddy Reading, Julie Parrish

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Buddy reading a text is a collaborative act that typically generates discourse that provides researchers with a glimpse of the comprehending taking place. However, in recent years, the infusion of technology in classrooms has resulted in many traditional texts being replaced by digital versions. Thus, this qualitative case study examined the spoken and written discourse of 12 kindergartners (6 dyads) as they buddy read a traditional and digital text.

Drawing upon two distinct lenses—sociocultural and comprehension signifier—video recordings, transcriptions, and written retellings were analyzed. Specifically, process coding and in vivo coding were used to construct categories and uncover sociocultural patterns …

Bendit_I/O: A System For Extending Mediated And Networked Performance Techniques To Circuit-Bent Devices, Anthony Thomas Marasco

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Circuit bending—the act of modifying a consumer device's internal circuitry in search of new, previously-unintended responses—provides artists with a chance to subvert expectations for how a certain piece of hardware should be utilized, asking them to view everyday objects as complex electronic instruments. Along with the ability to create avant-garde instruments from unique and nostalgic sound sources, the practice of circuit bending serves as a methodology for exploring the histories of discarded objects through activism, democratization, and creative resurrection. While a rich history of circuit bending continues to inspire artists today, the recent advent of smart musical instruments and the …

Edwardsiella Ictaluri Is Capable Of Persisting In Channel Catfish By Evading Host T Cell And Cell Death Responses, Elizabeth Watts Griggs

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Edwardsiella ictaluri is a gram-negative bacterium of the family Enterobacteriaceae that infects and causes enteric septicemia (ESC) of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), a fatal disease costing the catfish industry millions of dollars in losses each year. Edwardsiella. ictaluri is capable of replicating in catfish head-kidney-derived-macrophages (HKDM), and like many other gram-negative bacteria, E. ictaluri encodes a Type III Secretion System (T3SS) that is required for virulence and intracellular replication. In the case of E. ictaluri, the T3SS translocates effectors from the Edwardsiella containing vacuole (ECV) through the bacterial cell wall and the vacuolar membrane directly to the …

Single-Well Gas-Assisted Gravity Drainage Process For Oil Recovery, Dandina N. Rao, Bikash D. Saikia

College of Engineering Patents

Disclosed is a less expensive, more efficient process for enhanced oil recovery, particularly useful in high cost environments such as offshore. This process is known as single well gas assisted gravity drainage (SW-GAGD). The process comprises the steps of drilling from a single wellbore one or more horizontal laterals near the bottom of a payzone and injecting a fluid displacer such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide through injection points. The injectant sweeps the oil and other produced fluids in the reservoir towards other producing perforations in the single well.

Identification And Quantification Of Microplastic Pollution In Water Samples And Four Species Of Fish From The Mississippi River, Kerrin E. Toner

LSU Master's Theses

Microplastics (£5 mm) have become a persistent anthropogenic pollutant and a growing environmental concern with evidence of them being found throughout several ecosystems. In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that rivers play a major role in transporting plastics from the land to the sea. The Mississippi River is the largest river in North America, draining land populated by over 100 million people. With high numbers of microplastics found in the waters of the northern of the Gulf of Mexico, it is likely that the Mississippi River is the primary source of these plastics. This study quantifies and …

Dsrna As A Potential Tool For Cercospora Leaf Blight Management And Elucidation Of A Factors That Contribute To Late Disease Onset In The Reproductive Growth Stage Of Soybean, Marija Zivanovic

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Cercospora leaf blight (CLB) of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), an important disease in Louisiana, is primarily caused by Cercospora cf. flagellaris. The pathogen produces cercosporin, a toxin necessary for fungal virulence. So far, there are few commercial cultivars of soybean with CLB resistance and few effective fungicides to manage this disease. Consequently, alternative management approaches are needed. With that in mind, the first objective was to develop a screening method to compare the effectiveness of bacterially-expressed double stranded (ds) RNAs corresponding to genes associated with cercosporin accumulation (Avr4, CTB1, CTB8, AY-1 and HN-2 …

Evaluating The Effects Of A Brief Assertiveness And Help Seeking Skill Intervention, Madeline S. Blocker

LSU Master's Theses

Children in foster care lead their lives at an increased risk for mental health issues that are often complicated by the unstable and unpredictable nature of their living arrangements and interpersonal relationships. As such, there is substantial need to examine brief therapies and interventions for use with children in foster care and children who have experienced similar trauma and instability. Mental health care providers for children in foster care often may not have sufficient periods of time to implement treatment with fidelity. The present study investigated the efficacy of a summer camp based, brief behavioral intervention targeting help-seeking behavior and …

Identifying Structure Transitions Using Machine Learning Methods, Nicholas Walker

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Methodologies from data science and machine learning, both new and old, provide an exciting opportunity to investigate physical systems using extremely expressive statistical modeling techniques. Physical transitions are of particular interest, as they are accompanied by pattern changes in the configurations of the systems. Detecting and characterizing pattern changes in data happens to be a particular strength of statistical modeling in data science, especially with the highly expressive and flexible neural network models that have become increasingly computationally accessible in recent years through performance improvements in both hardware and algorithmic implementations. Conceptually, the machine learning approach can be regarded as …

Β-Hydroxybutyrate Is Reduced In Humans With Obesity-Related Nafld And Displays A Dose-Dependent Effect On Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial Respiration In Vitro, Jacob T. Mey, Melissa L. Erickson, Christopher L. Axelrod, William T. King, Chris A. Flask, Arthur J. Mccullough, John P. Kirwan

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

β-Hydroxybutyrate is reduced in humans with obesity-related NAFLD and displays a dose-dependent effect on skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiration in vitro. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 319: E187-E195, 2020. First published May 12, 2020; doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00058.2020.-Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic fat accumulation and impaired insulin sensitivity. Reduced hepatic ketogenesis may promote these pathologies, but data are inconclusive in humans and the link between NAFLD and reduced insulin sensitivity remains obscure. We investigated individuals with obesity-related NAFLD and hypothesized that β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB; the predominant ketone species) would be reduced and related to hepatic fat accumulation and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, …

Louisiana Agriculture Summer, 2020, Lsu Agcenter

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.

Northeast- Summer 2020, Lsu Agcenter

Horticulture Hints

No abstract provided.

Southwest- Summer 2020, Lsu Agcenter

Horticulture Hints

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Chemotherapeutic Activities Of Rhodamine-Based Gumbos And Nanogumbos, Nimisha Bhattarai, Mi Chen, Rocío L. Pérez, Sudhir Ravula, Robert M. Strongin, Karen Mcdonough, Isiah M. Warner

Faculty Publications

© 2020 by the authors. Rhodamine derivatives have been widely investigated for their mitochondrial targeting and chemotherapeutic properties that result from their lipophilic cationic structures. In previous research, we have found that conversion of Rhodamine 6G into nanoGUMBOS, i.e., nanomaterials derived from a group of uniform materials based on organic salts (GUMBOS), led to selective chemotherapeutic toxicity for cancer cells over normal cells. Herein, we investigate the chemotherapeutic activity of GUMBOS derived from four different rhodamine derivatives, two bearing an ester group, i.e., Rhodamine 123 (R123) and SNAFR-5, and two bearing a carboxylic acid group, i.e., rhodamine 110 (R110) and …

Rationale And Study Design For Lifestyle Intervention In Preparation For Pregnancy (Lipp): A Randomized Controlled Trial, M. L. Erickson, J. T. Mey, C. L. Axelrod, D. Paul, L. Gordesky, K. Russell, H. Barkoukis, P. O'Tierney-Ginn, R. A. Fielding, J. P. Kirwan, P. M. Catalano

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: Maternal obesity increases neonatal risk for obesity and metabolic syndrome later in life. Prior attempts to break this intergenerational obesity cycle by limiting excessive gestational weight gain have failed to reduce neonatal adiposity. Alternatively, pre-conception lifestyle interventions may improve the in utero metabolic milieu during early pregnancy leading to improved fetal outcomes. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) is evaluating whether a lifestyle intervention to reduce weight and improve maternal metabolism in preparation for pregnancy (LIPP) attenuates neonatal adiposity, compared to standard medical advice. Material and methods: Overweight/class 1 obese women after a previous pregnancy, ~12 weeks postpartum, preparing for …

Fully Automated Pipeline For Body Composition Estimation From 3d Optical Scans Using Principal Component Analysis: A Shape Up Study, Sima Sobhiyeh, Nathan Borel, Marcelline Dechenaud, Clinten A. Graham, Michael Wong, Peter Wolenski, John Shepherd, Steven B. Heymsfield

Faculty Publications

The increasing prevalence and adaptability of 3D optical scan (3DO) technology has invoked many recent studies which use 3DO scanning as a convenient and inexpensive means for predicting body composition and health risks. The Shape Up studies seek a device-agnostic solution for body composition estimation based on principal component analysis (PCA). This paper reports a progress made on Shape Up's previous work which served as a criterion analysis for PCA-based body composition and health risk prediction. This study presents proof-of-concept for a novel automated landmark detection step that allows for a fully automated PCA-based approach to body composition estimation that …

Social Capitalization As A Positive Emotion Regulation Strategy In Individuals At-Risk For Developing A Schizophrenia-Spectrum Disorder, Elana Klein Schwartz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Extant literature indicates that emotional deficits, such as impaired emotion expression/experience, are prominent in schizophrenia-spectrum psychopathology and linked with poorer functional (e.g. social) outcomes. Interestingly, individuals exhibiting schizotypy, an underlying personality organization that confers a vulnerability to developing schizophrenia, report more abnormalities in emotion experience compared to healthy controls and individuals with schizophrenia, a phenomenon termed the “schizophrenia-spectrum emotion paradox.” To aid in the clarification of emotional abnormalities and explore the dynamic nature of emotion experience in individuals with schizotypy, the present study enrolled 93 college-aged individuals to examine positive emotion regulation through the use of social capitalization. In social …

Components Of Psychological Flexibility And Inflexibility That Predict Risk-Taking Behaviors, Shelley Renee Upton

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Psychological flexibility is conceptualized as contact with the present moment and the ability to persist or change one’s behavior to achieve valued ends. The opposite of this process is known as psychological inflexibility, which is posited to lead to the development and maintenance of various psychological disorders. There are 6 components underlying psychological inflexibility—these are cognitive fusion, experiential avoidance, fixating on the past or future, self-conceptualization, lacking contact with values, and inaction toward valued ends, as well as 6 components underlying psychological flexibility (i.e., defusion, acceptance, present moment awareness, self-as-context, contact with values, and committed action). Psychological inflexibility may be …

Sperm Decondensation And Male Pronuclear Formation In Bovine Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, Lauren Gatenby

LSU Master's Theses

This study assessed the effects both DTT and progesterone have on bovine spermatozoa to induce decondensation or the acrosome reaction in order to facilitate male pronuclear formation after ICSI. Sperm prepared by swim-up in a 5 mM concentration of DTT displayed time dependent morphological changes resulting in decondensation over a 6-hour period. An estimated 90% of treated sperm displayed early changes in morphology after the second hour of incubation. Sperm displaying partial decondensation of the nucleus was estimated as 42% by the 3^rd hour and increased to 62% by the 5^th hour of incubation. Fully decondensed sperm or …

Assessing Breastfeeding Knowledge, Attitudes And Intention Among Adult Female Undergraduate And Graduate Students, Kritee Niroula

LSU Master's Theses

This study measured the breastfeeding knowledge, attitude and intention of adult female students of Louisiana State University. Participants (n=1039; mean age 20.12 ± 3.122 years) were recruited to complete the questionnaire. Racial/ethnic representation was White (76.1%), African American (14.3%), Asian (5.5%), American Indian/ Alaska Native or Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander (0.8%) and Multi-racial (3.3%). The questionnaire was used to deliver a set of knowledge, attitude and intention items. Participants were evaluated based on their scores in each section. The questionnaire was pilot tested among five students for comprehensibility and understandability and necessary changes were made according to their suggestions. The …

Antimicrobial Strategies For Topical Applications, Kelsey Marie Lopez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Bacteria can thrive in diverse environments and are often harmless or beneficial. Bacteria in digestive tracts is one example of beneficial bacteria; however, bacteria can be harmful and when this type proliferates, it can cause infections within hosts. Bacterial infections are easily treated with antibiotics in most cases. However, bacteria are also capable of developing mutations which could cause them to become multi-drug resistant and eventually, “superbugs.” Therefore, the development of novel antimicrobial agents and materials capable of combating drug-resistant bacteria is necessary. Research presented in this dissertation focuses on different strategies for minimizing and preventing topical bacterial infections using …

The Role Of An Educational Intervention In Addressing Parent Spectator Behaviors In Louisiana Youth Sports, Jerry F. Reynolds Ii

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Contemporary youth sports environments present significant psychosocial challenges to the family system. Among the greatest challenges to address are spectator behaviors of parents, which in the public eye has deteriorated and is out of control. Spectator behaviors and their impact upon the sports environment and family system is the topic of investigation in this study. Within the state of Louisiana, the advent of Act 355 extends the consequences of parent behavior and presents challenges to families, referees, and sports organizations. To better understand how legislation impacts parent perceptions of their spectator behaviors, the author examined spectator behaviors parents are observing, …

Mitochondrial Utilization Of Competing Fuels Is Altered In Insulin Resistant Skeletal Muscle Of Non-Obese Rats (Goto-Kakizaki), Nicola Lai, Ciarán E. Fealy, Chinna M. Kummitha, Silvia Cabras, John P. Kirwan, Charles L. Hoppel

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Aim: Insulin-resistant skeletal muscle is characterized by metabolic inflexibility with associated alterations in substrate selection, mediated by peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor δ (PPARδ). Although it is established that PPARδ contributes to the alteration of energy metabolism, it is not clear whether it plays a role in mitochondrial fuel competition. While nutrient overload may impair metabolic flexibility by fuel congestion within mitochondria, in absence of obesity defects at a mitochondrial level have not yet been excluded. We sought to determine whether reduced PPARδ content in insulin-resistant rat skeletal muscle of a non-obese rat model of T2DM (Goto-Kakizaki, GK) ameliorate the inhibitory effect …

Cultural Heritage And User Interface Design, Narges Tavakoli

LSU Master's Theses

This study centers around localizing the user interface and experience design of digital products considering the culture of the audience and their visual heritage. Even though it seems the internet has made the distance between developing and advanced countries less than before, there are still fundamental differences between people’s beliefs and expectations. As a graphic designer who is based in The United States and is from Iran, I noticed the digital products (web, mobile applications) produced in Iran disregard the Iranian’s specific needs and emulate western patterns. So, I researched the dissimilarities between the two countries by using Greet Hofstede’s …

A Case Study On Alternative Spring Break: Supporting Black Women At An Hbcu, Aeryel Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a college-based travel program in which students spend their traditional spring break vacation traveling to a new domestic or international city to complete a service-learning project such as community restoration in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. As a result of participating in Alternative Spring Break, students gain invaluable experiences and transferable skills that can be applied to their academic and career goals. In this dissertation, the specific transferable skill explored is emotional intelligence.

The purpose of this dissertation is to illuminate the lived experiences of Black women who have participated in a college-based travel program …

Design, Synthesis And Characterization Of New Superconductors, Xin Gui

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Design and synthesis of new materials are a long-standing goal for chemistry, physics and material science, especially those with intriguing properties such as magnetism and superconductivity. With consideration and incorporation of the highlights in some existing design rules, we successfully designed and discovered the superconductivity in BaPt₂Bi₂, SrSnP and Yb_xPt₅P.

With the help of valence electron counting method, we synthesized a new intermetallic compound, BaIr₂Ge₂, which was then found to be non-superconducting above 1.8 K. Thus, we considered both valence electron counting and chemical pressure adjustment to reach …