Digital Commons Network^™

Hurricanes And Human Health In Louisiana: Insights From Hurricanes Laura, Delta, And Ida, Shobha Kumari Yadav, Robert V. Rohli, M. E. Betsy Garrison, Elisabeth Ponce-Garcia, Nazla Bushra, Charleen Mcneill

Faculty Publications

Louisiana is one of the most disaster-prone states, with hurricanes ranking among the most destructive hazards. Hurricanes impede sustainability by straining hospital infrastructure, overwhelming emergency departments, and disrupting continuity of care. Louisiana’s healthcare system, characterized by high uninsured rates, limited rural access, and notable racial and socioeconomic disparities, is particularly vulnerable during disasters. This research explores trends of mental and respiratory health in Louisiana surrounding Hurricanes Laura (2020), Delta (2020), and Ida (2021). Analysis reveals a substantial increase in admissions after landfall of all three storms, with mental health conditions showing a larger surge than respiratory ones in already-vulnerable communities. …

Nonlinear Proudman Resonance Under Moving Atmospheric System, Chunyan Li

Faculty Publications

A nonlinear theoretical model with an exact solution is developed to critically examine the Proudman resonance problem. In this framework, a moving atmospheric pressure system forces a wave governed by the square of the wave Froude number (n=F²). Proudman’s classical linear solution, although widely cited, diverges to infinity at resonance (n=1), limiting its physical realism. This work extends the linear regime into the nonlinear by solving the governing equations exactly. The resulting solution remains finite at resonance. The first-order approximation recovers Proudman’s solution, while the second-order approximation already yields a finite resonant response—providing a more accurate and physically …

Ocean–Atmosphere–Land Interactions And Their Roles In Climate Change, Biyun Guo, Chunyan Li

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Louisiana Children's Trust Fund: Annual Report 2024-2025, Elizabeth Winchester, Jada Thomas-Smith, Quynh-Tram Tran, Aimee Moles, Judith L. F. Rhodes

Reports

LCTF makes annual grant awards to aid in the prevention of child abuse and neglect in the state. Grant awards fund programs and conferences, which are implemented in five LCTF identified areas of intervention, namely: 1) Teaching children personal safety and life skills; 2) Education and support services for parents; 3) Hospital and/or home visitation and support services to families; 4) Public awareness and education programs for adults; and 5) Training and education of teachers, professionals, and volunteers.

To ensure accountability for grant funding, an annual review of funded proposals assesses program planning, implementation, and evaluation. The annual review involves …

Contrasting Climate Oscillations Impacts On Phytoplankton In The Western And Eastern Tropical Pacific, Lina An, Edward A. Laws, Xin Liu, Ruiying Chen, Shanlin Wang, Shijian Hu, Yuchen Zhang, Yibin Huang, Feipeng Xu, Fei Chai, Bangqin Huang

Faculty Publications

Climate oscillations like the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation significantly impact marine ecosystems. Traditionally, warm events are thought to suppress nutrient availability, reduce phytoplankton biomass, and change community structure. However, using two decades of field observations, remote sensing, Copernicus reanalysis, and Earth system modeling, we find very different responses in the western tropical Pacific. During El Niño, chlorophyll concentrations and diatom contributions increase, while La Niña reverses that trend. The further amplification of these El Niño-Southern Oscillation-driven contrasts by the Pacific Decadal Oscillation can be attributed to its effects on regional circulation, including the enhancement of eddy activity …

Bringing Weak Transitions To Light, Yu He, Xiao Min Tong, Shuyuan Hu, Gergana D. Borisova, Hao Liang, Maximilian Hartmann, Veit Stooß, Chunhai Lyu, Zoltán Harman, Christoph H. Keitel, Kenneth J. Schafer, Mette B. Gaarde, Christian Ott, Thomas Pfeifer

Faculty Publications

Weak transitions between quantum states are of fundamental importance for a broad range of phenomena from analytical biochemistry to precision physics, but generally challenge experimental detection. Due to their small cross sections scaling with the absolute square of their transition matrix elements, spectroscopic measurements often fail in particular in the presence of competing background processes. Here we introduce a general concept to break this scaling law and enhance the transition probability by exploiting a stronger laser-coupled pathway to the same excited state. We demonstrate the concept experimentally by attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy in helium atoms. The quasi-forbidden transitions from the …

Reducing Classical Communication Costs In Multiplexed Quantum Repeaters Using Hardware-Aware Quasi-Local Policies, Stav Haldar, Pratik J. Barge, Xiang Cheng, Kai Chi Chang, Brian T. Kirby, Sumeet Khatri, Chee Wei Wong, Hwang Lee

Faculty Publications

Future quantum networks will have nodes equipped with multiple quantum memories, allowing for multiplexing and entanglement distillation strategies for long-distance entanglement distribution. In this work, we focus on quasi-local policies for multiplexed quantum repeater chains. In fully-local policies, nodes use the knowledge of only their own states, whereas more efficient global policies use knowledge of the entire network state. The classical communication costs of using this knowledge have not been explored in existing literature. We show that quasi-local policies not only obtain improved performance over local policies, but also reduce classical communication costs considerably. Our policies also outperform the widely …

Population Dynamics, Host Range, And Impact Of The Naturalized Weevil Ochyromera Ligustri: A Potential Biological Control Agent Of Invasive Ligustrum Sinense, Brandi H. Misiaszek

LSU Master's Theses

Invasive woody plants have become dominant components of many forest understories in the southeastern United States. These species can displace native species, disrupt ecosystem processes, and reduce biodiversity. Chinese privet (Oleaceae: Ligustrum sinense Lour.) is an invasive shrub distributed through the Southeastern United States. The ligustrum weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ochyromera ligustri Warner) is a non-native insect that was first found in the U.S. on Ligustrum in 1959. This weevil is considered a potential fortuitous biological control agent of invasive Ligustrum spp. in the U.S. The objectives of this study were to evaluate O. ligustri as a potential biological control agent …

Exploring The Recognition Of Internalizing Problems Among Black Students: Delving Into The Youth Mental Health Help-Seeking Pathway, Marketta A. Adams

LSU Master's Theses

The mental health of Black adolescents is a growing concern, with high prevalence rates of internalizing disorders such as anxiety and depression. National studies report that nearly 47% of Black adolescents experience a mental health disorder by age 18, with over 60% reporting moderate to severe depressive symptomology. Despite these alarming rates, Black youth underutilize mental health services, often due to cultural stigma, limited access to culturally competent care, and under-recognition of their mental health needs. This study aimed to explore problem recognition as a key component in the mental health help-seeking pathway for Black adolescents in school settings. Grounded …

Streamlined Real-Time Qpcr Detection Assay And Nucleic Acid Extraction Protocols For Leaf Scald And Ratoon Stunt Disease In Louisiana, Joao Vitor Pelizzaro Morales

LSU Master's Theses

Leaf scald (LS) and ratoon stunt disease (RSD) are important sugarcane diseases that can cause yield losses. LS and RSD are caused by the vascular system-inhabiting bacteria Xanthomonas albilineans and Leifsonia xyli subsp. xyli, respectively. As using pathogen-free sugarcane propagative material is an important management strategy against LS and RSD, accurate and efficient pathogen detection is crucial. Our study aimed to increase pathogen detection sensitivity and efficiency through a cost-effective real-time PCR protocol and high-throughput DNA extraction methods. A SYBR-based qPCR assay detecting the RSD and LS causal agents was 100 times more sensitive than traditional PCR. Additionally, multiplex …

Unveiling Satisfaction: The Impact Of Social Identity, Inclusivity, Belonging And Authenticity On The Undergraduate Sorority Membership Experience In The National Panhellenic Conference, Ronalda Teresia Greer Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to comprehensively explore factors that psychologically bond members of sororities to their chapter membership experience. Through a quantitative approach, the research investigated the role Social Identity (Race, Sexual Orientation, Religion), Authenticity, Diverse and Inclusive Practices, and Sense of Belonging play in Overall Satisfaction and Affective Organizational Commitment for members in National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities. By examining these dynamics within a distinct type of campus organization, it aimed to highlight both the unique and overlapping dynamics that support community building and affinity. Key focuses of this study centered understanding the literature, implications of practices, …

Drawing Disintegration: A Twice-Exceptional Individual’S Autoethnographic Inquiry Into Graphic Narrative Creation As A Tool For Processing Trauma, Natalie J. Krusemeier

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This autoethnographic study explores the researcher’s lived experience of childhood trauma as a twice exceptional individual with an arts-based autoethnography research design, specifically in the form of graphic narrative. Grounded in Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration (TPD), this study examines how emotional and sensory intensity, overexcitability (OE), and psychological disintegration intersect with twice-exceptional (2e) identity development and identity authenticity potential. Data sources include personal artifacts from childhood and adulthood—journals, letters, graphic narrative, documents, and photographs—alongside reflective writings and completed graphic narrative pages. Using descriptive coding and TPD’s developmental levels as analytic lenses, the study interprets the processes of disintegration and …

Envis: A User-Centered Web-Based Tool For Interactive Visualization Of Environmental Geospatial Data, Saima Sanjida Shila

LSU Master's Theses

Data visualization is an essential part of analyzing environmental geospatial data. Despite having the availability of large environmental datasets, there remains a lack of easily accessible, user-friendly, and interactive visualization tools in this field. Therefore, this study aims to develop a user-friendly and easily available web-based visualization tool. Before developing the tool, we conducted a survey of researchers at the LSU Coastal Studies Institute to collect their opinions on currently available visualization tools. In the survey, 55% of participants responded between somewhat satisfied to dissatisfied with their current visualization tools. Most of the participants mentioned two major limitations of existing …

From Sensibility To Critical Engagement: Sympathy, Animality, And Subjecthood In Wollstonecraft’S Maria And Vindication, Yingnan Shang

Comparative Woman

This paper examines Mary Wollstonecraft’s strategic use of sentimental animal tropes alongside rationalist critique in Maria, or The Wrongs of Woman (1798) and A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792), arguing that she mobilizes sensibility not as an end in itself, but as a pedagogical instrument within a broader project of aesthetic education—one intended to move readers from affective sympathy toward political and philosophical judgment. Focusing in particular on animal metaphors—especially in the character of Jemima, who repeatedly figures herself as a domesticated and brutalized creature—I trace how Wollstonecraft employs tropes of animality to illuminate the processes by which …

Beyond The Madrasah: Digital Pedagogies And Nigerian Yoruba Muslim Women's Engagement With Islamic Knowledge, Abdulgafar Olawale Fahm

Comparative Woman

This paper explores how digital pedagogies are reshaping the landscape of Islamic education among Nigerian Muslim women, with a primary focus on Yoruba communities in Southern Nigeria. Historically, Islamic learning in Nigeria has been rooted in traditional institutions, notably the madrasa, characterized by face-to-face instruction and rigid gender norms. However, the proliferation of digital technologies - particularly online madrasas, WhatsApp study groups, Zoom-based Qur’anic classes, and Islamic mobile applications - has significantly altered women’s access to religious knowledge. Utilizing ethnographic evidence and qualitative interviews, this interdisciplinary study examines how digital platforms enhance accessibility, overcome sociocultural barriers, and enable Nigerian Yoruba …

Properties Of Liquid Fe-Ni Alloys Under Planetary Core Conditions And Their Geophysical Implications, Sajin Satyal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The composition of Earth’s core remains unsolved, yet it carries critical implications for planetary evolution, thermal history, magnetic fields, and habitability. Planetary models derived from seismological observations, such as the Preliminary Reference Earth Model (PREM), indicate that Earth’s core is significantly less dense than pure iron, implying the presence of light elements, including sulfur, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and silicon. However, the exact composition and distribution of these elements remain largely unknown. In constraining Earth’s core composition, the density and compressional wave velocity of iron-rich alloys are often compared with seismologically derived models. However, no single iron–light-element alloy can simultaneously reproduce …

Sunburned Plankton: Ultraviolet Radiation Inhibition Of Phytoplankton Photosynthesis In The Community Earth System Model Version 2, Joshua Coupe, Nicole S. Lovenduski, Luise S. Gleason, Michael N. Levy, Kristen Krumhardt, Keith Lindsay, Charles Bardeen, Clay Tabor, Cheryl Harrison, Kenneth G. Macleod, Siddhartha Mitra, Julio Sepúlveda

Faculty Publications

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can damage DNA and kill cells. We use laboratory and observational studies of the harmful effect of UV radiation on marine photosynthesizers to inform the implementation of a UV radiation damage function for phytoplankton photosynthesis in a modified version of the Community Earth System Model version 2 (CESM2-UVphyto). CESM2-UVphyto is capable of simulating UV inhibition of photosynthesis among modeled phytoplankton and ocean column penetration of UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C radiation. We conduct a series of simulations with CESM2-UVphyto using the Marine Biogeochemistry Library (MARBL) ecosystem model to understand the sensitivity of phytoplankton productivity to UV radiation. Results …

Computational Data Analysis, Kathryn S. Biles

LSU Master's Theses

Data science has emerged as a cornerstone of innovation, shaping an ever-expanding range

of professional careers. As technology advances and the volume of data expands expo-

nentially, the ability to extract meaningful insights from data has become indispensable

across industries. Far from representing a single career path, data science enables profes-

sionals in nearly every domain to make informed decisions, optimize systems, and drive

innovation. Yet, many high school students and incoming college freshmen have limited

exposure to data science fundamentals or the career opportunities they unlock. This is

the gap that Computational Data Analysis, a high school-level curriculum I …

Energy-Efficient Photocatalysis: Toward Practical Degradation Of Waterborne Pollutants, Mary Worbington

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Freshwater scarcity poses a growing threat to human welfare and society, with 4 billion people experiencing severe shortages at least one month of the year and half a billion affected year-round. Rising demand from population growth and development combined with the impacts of climate change on water supplies further intensifies this crisis, underscoring the need for improved water reclamation and treatment technologies. Photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes have great potential for chemical-free, energy-efficient degradation of waterborne pollutants, provided long-standing issues including poor light management, mass transfer limitations, and high charge carrier recombination rates are addressed.

Here, we report the development of …

Effects Of Code Scaffolding In Increasing Student Confidence In Programming Cryptography, John Denny

LSU Master's Theses

Cryptography is essential for secure communications, and new threats require more students willing to program and interact with cryptographic systems. Previous research is focused on tools for teaching these systems at a high level, teaching through attacks against these systems, and proper use of these systems in software development. In this paper, we seek to design a workshop to use scaffolded Python code to teach how these cryp- tographic systems are designed. We explore the use of code scaffolding for students to program an example implementation of the McEliece crypto- graphic system to build confidence in working with these systems. …

Consumer Preferences And Willingness To Pay For Hemp-Blend Fabric Items, Gerardo Guevara

LSU Master's Theses

The textile industry is a major contributor to climate change, and uses high amounts of chemicals, energy, and water. The textile industry is exploring less resource consuming alternatives like hemp as an option for conventional fibers used in the industry, due to its social, economic, and environmental sustainability potential. Although hemp is not a new agricultural crop in the United States, its production was banned in the 1930s. Recent farm bills have revitalized potential for industrial hemp production. Industrial hemp is less resource and emission intensive for production compared to other fibers such as cotton, and synthetic fibers. There is …

Integrating Augmented Reality (Ar) Into Industrial Engineering Education: Supporting Assembly Line Operations In Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory, Fidan Abdullayeva

LSU Master's Theses

The rapid development of innovative technology underscores the importance of preparing students to meet industry expectations. This study aims to design, develop, and integrate Augmented Reality (AR) applications into Industrial Engineering (IE) education, specifically within LSU’s IE 2400 System and Work Methods course. The research incorporates technology like Microsoft HoloLens 2 into laboratory exercises. It seeks to enhance students’ comprehension and visualization of complex industrial systems and concepts, while familiarizing them with AR technology’s potential in the manufacturing industry. The AR application features functionalities tailored to support specific roles. These include AR-enhanced assembly manuals for Assemblers and quality inspection tools …

Optimization Of Rheological Models Using Machine Learning-Based Surrogates, Sourav Saha

LSU Master's Theses

This study addresses the challenge of accurately modeling flows of complex, multiphase media through fluid machines, where highly viscous, compressible, and shear-thinning behavior of the medium complicates the construction of predictive models. Such media include slurries, biomass, foods, and other materials of high value and societal importance. A high-fidelity CFD model of a screw-type fluid machine with an outlet flow restriction is developed. The flowing medium is treated as a single-phase, compressible, non-Newtonian fluid. The model incorporates a non-linear pressure-dependent density model and a strain-rate-dependent viscosity law (Cross power law). A parametric study is conducted by varying key rheological parameters …

Impact Of Physiological And Environmental Variation On The Behavioral Response Of The Two Biological Control Agents Of The Emerald Ash Borer To Host-Associated Odors, Vanshika Jindal

LSU Master's Theses

Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire; EAB) is an invasive pest that threatens ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) throughout North America and Europe. Since its introduction to North America, EAB has killed hundreds of millions of trees, resulting in severe ecological and economic damage exceeding 10 billion US dollars. Classical biological control involves the introduction of natural enemies from the native range of pests to manage their populations. Specialist parasitoid wasps have been released to reduce the populations of EAB. Detection and response to long-range attractants associated with EAB is critical for the location and parasitism by classical biological …

Empowering Voices: Teacher Well-Being In The Face Of Racial Microaggressions, Leila Fitt

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis investigates the relationship between racial microaggressions and teacher burnout, with a specific focus on emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Teachers of color in predominantly White or less racially diverse schools may experience unique racial stressors, such as microaggressions, that impact their mental health and teaching efficacy (Hemric et al., 2010; Lambert et al., 2009; Maslach & Jackson, 1986; Skaalvik & Skaalvik, 2011; Sue et al., 2007; Zee & Koomen, 2016). The study (a) examined the direct relationship between racial microaggressions and teacher burnout; (b) explored the moderating role of school connectedness in this relationship; and (c) investigated whether teaching …

Integrating Cereal Rye Cover Crop And Herbicide Programs To Manage Glyphosate-Resistant Italian Ryegrass In The Midsouth, Bhupesh K. Dhaka

LSU Master's Theses

Glyphosate-resistant (GR) Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) has become an economically significant weed management challenge in Louisiana row crop production systems. The problem is further exacerbated by the occurrence of biotypes with resistance to acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) and acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitors—herbicide sites of action (SOAs) commonly used for ryegrass control in soybean (Glycine max) and cotton (Gossypium). Field, greenhouse, and laboratory experiments were conducted during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 growing seasons at the LSU AgCenter Northeast Research Station in St. Joseph, LA, and at the LSU AgCenter Weed Science facilities in Baton …

“Do Women Have To Be Naked To Get Into The Met. Museum?”: An Exploration Of Contemporary Feminist And Women’S Exhibitions And Collectives, Demi R. Dauterive

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the creation and evolution of feminist art exhibitions and collectives in the United States from the early 1970s through the 2020s. These exhibitions and the work they contain are analyzed alongside each wave of feminism that ran parallel to their existence. Beginning with the 1970s and Second Wave Feminism, Chapter One explores Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro’s Womanhouse in addition to Lucy Lippard’s Twenty Six Contemporary Women Artists and the work of other smaller collectives. Chapter Two explores the DIY initiatives and subversive ideologies of Third Wave Feminism through artist groups such as the Guerrilla Girls and …

Determining The 17f(Α,P)20ne Reaction Rate For Application In Type I X-Ray Bursts, William Braverman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The ¹⁷F(α, p)²⁰Ne reaction has been identified as an alternate pathway for breakout from the hot-CNO cycle that can be important in some X-ray burst scenarios. The ¹⁷F(α, p)²⁰Ne reaction rate was previously determined through a parameterized exponential S-factor with a large enhancement from thermally-excited states based on statistical models with large uncertainties. We have measured the time-inverse ²⁰Ne(p,α)¹⁷F cross section at center-of-mass energies ranging from 5.50 to 7.10 MeV using an activation method with a proton beam on a neon gas cell. Coincident detections of 511-keV γ-rays, resulting from electron-positron …

Non-Reciprocal Coupling Of Minimal Active Colloids Under Confinement: Rotating Ferromagnetic Janus Particles Near Boundaries, Amrutha Raghu

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Active colloids are microscopic particles that convert energy at the single-particle level into sustained motion and dynamically evolving assemblies. Their ability to transform continuous energy input into controlled motion opens new frontiers in microrobotics, adaptive materials, and targeted transport. Yet, achieving efficient propulsion at the microscale remains fundamentally challenging because viscous forces dominate while inertia becomes negligible. Unlike macroscopic systems that sustain propulsion through momentum, active colloids must harness non-reciprocal interactions with the surrounding fluid to generate persistent, time-irreversible motion. Studying minimal active systems—the simplest realizations that still capture the essential physics—provides a powerful route to uncover the non-equilibrium principles …

Practical Real-Time Permanent Magnet Energy Spectrometer Using A Diode Array For Therapeutic Electron Beam Tuning And Quality Assurance, Mason W. Heath

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: Develop a practical, real-time permanent magnet electron energy spectrometer and evaluate it for beam tuning and quality assurance (QA) of therapeutic electron beams.

Methods: Aim 1: A 0.55 T permanent magnet was coupled to Sun Nuclear SRS MapCHECK® PC boards, providing two interlaced diode arrays. Detector response, R_meas(z_diode) versus diode position z_diode, was extracted from raw diode array readings, correcting for diode sensitivity and other factors. Using Monte Carlo (MC) computed, monoenergetic detector response functions, a curve-fitting algorithm extracted the energy spectrum, from R_meas(z_diode). The energy spectra for 7-20 …