Digital Commons Network^™

An Automated Pipeline For Scattered Light Noise Characterization, Stefano Bianchi, Alessandro Longo, Guillermo Valdes, Gabriela González, Wolfango Plastino

Faculty Publications

Scattered light noise (or scattering) affects the sensitivity of gravitational wave detectors in their detection frequency band. The mitigation of such nonlinear and nonstationary noise can be carried out experimentally and employing data analysis techniques, e.g., applying adaptive algorithms to the data affected by noise. We present gwas , a fully automated pipeline based on the time-varying filter empirical mode decomposition (tvf-EMD) algorithm, to identify, characterize, and monitor objects inducing scattering to the gravitational wave detector’s output. The tvf-EMD algorithm is suitable for decomposing signals with time-dependent frequency, such as scattering. The pipeline application to LIGO Livingston data shows that …

Optimizing Self-Pollinated Crop Breeding Employing Genomic Selection: From Schemes To Updating Training Sets, Felipe Sabadin, Julio César Dovale, John Damien Platten, Roberto Fritsche-Neto

Faculty Publications

Long-term breeding schemes using genomic selection (GS) can boost the response to selection per year. Although several studies have shown that GS delivers a higher response to selection, only a few analyze which stage GS produces better results and how to update the training population to maintain prediction accuracy. We used stochastic simulation to compare five GS breeding schemes in a self-pollinated long-term breeding program. Also, we evaluated four strategies, using distinct methods and sizes, to update the training set. Finally, regarding breeding schemes, we proposed a new approach using GS to select the best individuals in each F2 progeny, …

Novel Texture-Based Probabilistic Object Recognition And Tracking Techniques For Food Intake Analysis And Traffic Monitoring, Robert Jacob Dibiano

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

More complex image understanding algorithms are increasingly practical in a host of emerging applications. Object tracking has value in surveillance and data farming; and object recognition has applications in surveillance, data management, and industrial automation. In this work we introduce an object recognition application in automated nutritional intake analysis and a tracking application intended for surveillance in low quality videos. Automated food recognition is useful for personal health applications as well as nutritional studies used to improve public health or inform lawmakers. We introduce a complete, end-to-end system for automated food intake measurement. Images taken by a digital camera are …

Self-Healing And Rejuvenating Materials For Asphalt Mixtures, Marwa Hassan, Max Abelardo Aguirre Deras

College of Engineering Patents

Asphalt rejuvenating fibers and asphalt rejuvenation materials for self-healing asphalt applications are provided. The asphalt rejuvenating fibers can include a shell surrounding a hollow space. The shell can include alginate salts, an emulsifier, and a plasticizer. The asphalt rejuvenation materials can include the asphalt rejuvenating, an asphalt binder, and aggregate blends.

Transitioning In A Time Of Crisis: Understanding The Impact Students’ Prior Online Learning Experiences Have On Online Course Achievement, Clayton F. Benton

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This quantitative study examines the impact that selected academic and personal demographic characteristics had on the successful completion of online coursework during the Covid-19 pandemic. Focused on a high-research university in the Southeastern United States during the Fall of 2020, this research looked the potential influence that prior online learning experiences had on students’ abilities to transition to the online modality during a time of crisis.

Data for this study was retrieved from institutional sources and the sample consisted of 5,739 second-year students at the institution. After describing the sample and population, exploratory regressions were conducted to establish models for …

Are Existing Modeling Tools Useful To Evaluate Outcomes In Mangrove Restoration And Rehabilitation Projects? A Minireview, Victor H. Rivera-Monroy, Xiaochen Zhao, Hongqing Wang, Zuo George Xue

Faculty Publications

Ecosystem modeling is a critical process for understanding complex systems at spatiotemporal scales needed to conserve, manage, and restore ecosystem services (ESs). Although mangrove wetlands are sources of ESs worth billions of dollars, there is a lack of modeling tools. This is reflected in our lack of understanding of mangroves’ functional and structural attributes. Here, we discuss the “state of the art” of mangrove models used in the planning and monitoring of R/R projects during the last 30 years. The main objectives were to characterize the most frequent modeling approach, their spatiotemporal resolution, and their current utility/application in management decisions. …

Single-Screen Bark Particle Separation Can Be Used To Engineer Stratified Substrate Systems, Jeb S. Fields, Kristopher S. Criscione, Ashley Edwards

Faculty Publications

Substrate stratification is an emerging substrate management strategy involving layering multiple substrate materials within a single container to modify physiochemical characteristics of the substrate system. Specifically, stratifying allows growers and researchers to rearrange the air–water balance within a container to modify hydraulic characteristics. Moreover, fertilizer can be incorporated into just the upper strata to reduce leaching. Research to date has shown benefits associated with resource efficiency, production timing, and weed control. With the associated benefits for substrate stratification, interested growers will need pragmatic solutions for onsite trials. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify a cost-effective solution for …

Characterization Of Resistance To The Mexican Rice Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) Among Sugarcane Cultivars, Leonardo D. Salgado, Blake E. Wilson, Hannah J. Penn, Randy T. Richard, Michael O. Way

Faculty Publications

Cultivar resistance is an essential management strategy for the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar), in sugarcane in the USA, but resistance mechanisms are poorly understood. Resistance was evaluated among Louisiana’s (USA) commercial sugarcane cultivars and experimental clones through field screenings, greenhouse trials, and a diet incorporation assay. Cultivars L 01-299 and HoCP 85-845 had the lowest borer injury levels, while HoCP 00-950 and L 12-201 were among the most heavily injured in field and greenhouse trials. The variability of results between the two field trials suggests that a genotype × environment interaction might affect the expression of resistance. Oviposition …

Fall Facts, 2022, Louisiana State University

Fall Facts

No abstract provided.

Fall 2022 Catalog, Lsu Press

LSU Press Seasonal Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Genome-Wide Epistatic Interaction Between Def1b And Apol1 High-Risk Genotypes For Chronic Kidney Disease, Ha My T. Vy, Bridget M. Lin, Faris F. Gulamali, Charles Kooperberg, Mariaelisa Graff, Jenny Wong, Kirk N. Campbell, Tara C. Matise, Josef Coresh, Fridtjof Thomas, Alexander P. Reiner, Rami Nassir, Peter F. Schnatz, Tanya Johns, Steven Buyske, Christopher Haiman, Richard Cooper, Ruth J.F. Loos, Carol R. Horowitz, Orlando M. Gutierrez, Ron Do, Nora Franceschini, Girish N. Nadkarni

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Inheritance Of Resistance To Cry1a.105 In Helicoverpa Zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Wenbo Yu, Graham P. Head, Fangneng Huang

Faculty Publications

Cry1A.105 is a bioengineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticidal protein consisting of three domains derived from Cry1Ac, Cry1Ab, and Cry1F. It is one of the two pyramided Bt toxins expressed in the MON 89034 event, a commonly planted Bt maize trait in the Americas. Recent studies have documented that field resistance of the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), to the Cry1A.105 toxin in maize plants has become widespread in the United States. To investigate the inheritance of resistance to Cry1A.105 in H. zea, two independent tests, each with various genetic crosses among susceptible and Cry1A.105-resistant populations, were performed. The responses of …

Coupled Situational Awareness System To Improve Transportation Infrastructure Performance During Extreme Events, Hatim Sharif, Samer Dessouky, Md Jobair Bin Alam, Raghava Kommalapati, Hongbo Du Ph.D

Publications

The dense road networks and numerous low water crossings throughout Texas may be contributing to the higher recurrence rates of floods that pose a danger to vehicles. A timely issue that should be addressed by researchers is the compounding of disaster. Flooding can be combined with other life-threatening occurrences such as power loss and interruptions of health and emergency services. During these events, rescue requests from the stranded communities overwhelm the emergency response facilities; impassable roadways and the paucity of reliable information on the affected areas and their accessibility hamper emergency response operations, causing several detours and delays that put …

F22rs Sgcr No. 2-7, 10-49, 51-85 (Appointments And Vacancies), Olivia Devall

Student Senate Enrolled Legislation

To appoint a member or fill a vacancy

Louisiana Agriculture Fall, 2022

Louisiana Agriculture

Livestock industries contribute $2.5 billion to the state’s economy, and beef cattle production is one of the most important sectors of the state’s agricultural enterprise. LSU AgCenter researchers study how to improve cattle production at research stations across the state. AgCenter Extension agents in every parish connect producers with their findings.

In this issue of Louisiana Agriculture magazine, livestock agents and research faculty describe the many programs they have developed to educate cattle producers and help 4-H’ers raise and show animals. Producers discuss what they have learned from Master Cattleman classes, and writer V. Todd Miller details how some cattle …

Re-Training Of Convolutional Neural Networks For Glottis Segmentation In Endoscopic High-Speed Videos, Michael Döllinger, Tobias Schraut, Lea A. Henrich, Dinesh Chhetri, Matthias Echternach, Aaron M. Johnson, Melda Kunduk, Youri Maryn, Rita R. Patel, Robin Samlan, Marion Semmler, Anne Schützenberger

Faculty Publications

Endoscopic high-speed video (HSV) systems for visualization and assessment of vocal fold dynamics in the larynx are diverse and technically advancing. To consider resulting “concepts shifts” for neural network (NN)-based image processing, re-training of already trained and used NNs is necessary to allow for sufficiently accurate image processing for new recording modalities. We propose and discuss several re-training approaches for convolutional neural networks (CNN) being used for HSV image segmentation. Our baseline CNN was trained on the BAGLS data set (58,750 images). The new BAGLS-RT data set consists of additional 21,050 images from previously unused HSV systems, light sources, and …

Microhabitat And Landscape Drivers Of Richness And Abundance Of Freshwater Mussels (Unionida: Unionidae) In A Coastal Plain River, Corinne T. Bird, Michael D. Kaller, Tiffany E. Pasco, William E. Kelso

Faculty Publications

Although rivers support significant unionid mussel (Unionida: Unionidae) diversity, Gulf of Mexico tributary rivers have been subject to changes in water quality and habitat due to altered watershed land use. We quantified mussel species richness and relative abundance and environmental factors in small tributary streams of the Pearl River, Mississippi-Louisiana. Freshwater mussel and habitat surveys were conducted at 27 stream sampling sites over two summers (9 sites revisited), and coverage of seven land use categories and seven geological categories above each reach were calculated. Mussels were patchily distributed (53% of sites sampled yielded mussels) and typically not abundant (only 26% …

Cryopreservation Of Hydractinia Symbiolongicarpus Sperm To Support Community-Based Repository Development For Preservation Of Genetic Resources, Aidan L. Huene, Jack C. Koch, Lucía Arregui, Yue Liu, Matthew L. Nicotra, Virginia M. Weis, Terrence R. Tiersch

Faculty Publications

Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus is an emerging model organism in which cutting-edge genomic tools and resources are being developed for use in a growing number of research fields. One limitation of this model system is the lack of long-term storage for genetic resources. The goal of this study was to establish a generalizable cryopreservation approach for Hydractinia that would support future repository development for other cnidarian species. Specific objectives were to: (1) characterize basic parameters related to sperm quality; (2) develop a generalizable approach for sperm collection; (3) assess the feasibility of in vitro fertilization (IVF) with sperm after refrigerated storage; (4) …

Profiling Of Shelter Campers, Their Attitudes, And Perceptions Towards Environmental Impacts Of Campsite Use And Management: Evidence From National Parks Of Sri Lanka, Priyan Perera, Shashini Tara Mallikage, David Newsome, Richard Vlosky

Faculty Publications

There is a dearth of research describing the campsite user segment and in assessing camp-site users’ perceptions of the bio-physical impacts of campsite use in Sri Lanka. Using a structured questionnaire, we evaluated campsite user characteristics, visitor motivations, behaviors, and how visitor experience is affected by visible biophysical impacts at campsites. Based on underlying visitor motivations derived through a Factor Analysis and Cluster Analysis, we identified three distinct segments of campsite users: Eco-tourists, Prestige seekers, and Adventure seekers. Results indicate that the overall cleanliness of the campsite is an important attribute that affects the visitor experience. The Ecotourist segment reported …

Social Influences On Physical Activity For Establishing Criteria Leading To Exercise Persistence, Ensela Mema, Everett S. Spain, Corby K. Martin, James O. Hill, R. Drew Sayer, Howard D. Mcinvale, Lee A. Evans, Nicholas H. Gist, Alexander D. Borowsky, Diana M. Thomas

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Despite well-documented health benefits from exercise, a study on national trends in achieving the recommended minutes of physical activity guidelines has not improved since the guidelines were published in 2008. Peer interactions have been identified as a critical factor for increasing a population’s physical activity. The objective of this study is for establishing criteria for social influences on physical activity for establishing criteria that lead to exercise persistence. A system of differential equations was developed that projects exercise trends over time. The system includes both social and non-social influences that impact changes in physical activity habits and establishes quantitative conditions …

A Physical Activity Intervention In Older African Americans: The Paace Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Robert L. Newton, Robbie Beyl, Callie Hebert, Melissa Harris, Leah Carter, William Gahan, Owen Carmichael

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Introduction Older African Americans have low levels of physical activity, which increases the risk of aging-related health conditions. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of, and satisfaction with, a community-engaged physical activity intervention targeting older African Americans. Methods Fifty-six older African Americans were randomized to a successful aging group (SAG) or a physical activity group (PAG) for 12 wk. The PAG consisted of two weekly group exercise sessions and two to three home-based exercise sessions per week. The SAG consisted of weekly group educational sessions related to various aspects of healthy aging. Physical activity was measured by ActiGraph accelerometers …

Event-Triggered Control Of Robotic Fish With Reduced Communication Rate, Wenyu Zuo, Animesh Chakravarthy, Michael Malisoff, Zheng Chen

Faculty Publications

Underwater robots often need to communicate with external localization sensors. The low bandwidth in such communications is one of the bottlenecks in achieving accurate tracking control. Toward this end, we adopt a novel periodic event-triggered control (PETC) which allows a robotic fish to reduce its communication load in tracking a desired heading angle with position feedback from an external sensor. To design the PETC, a linear state-space model is derived from a nonlinear dynamic model of the robotic fish with a small perturbation assumption. The PETC consists of an observer, state-feedback controller, integrator, event-trigger rule, and predictor. The observer and …

All-Sky Medium Energy Gamma-Ray Observatory Explorer Mission Concept, Regina Caputo, Marco Ajello, Carolyn A. Kierans, Jeremy S. Perkins, Judith L. Racusin, Luca Baldini, Matthew G. Baring, Elisabetta Bissaldi, Eric Burns, Nicholas Cannady, Eric Charles, Rui M.Curado Da Silva, Ke Fang, Henrike Fleischhack, Chris Fryer, Yasushi Fukazawa, J. Eric Grove, Dieter Hartmann, Eric J. Howell, Manoj Jadhav, Christopher M. Karwin, Daniel Kocevski, Naoko Kurahashi, Luca Latronico, Tiffany R. Lewis, Richard Leys, Amy Lien, Lea Marcotulli, Israel Martinez-Castellanos, Mario Nicola Mazziotta, Julie Mcenery, Jessica Metcalfe, Kohta Murase

Faculty Publications

The All-sky Medium Energy Gamma-ray Observatory eXplorer (AMEGO-X) is designed to identify and characterize gamma rays from extreme explosions and accelerators. The main science themes include supermassive black holes and their connections to neutrinos and cosmic rays; binary neutron star mergers and the relativistic jets they produce; cosmic ray particle acceleration sources including galactic supernovae; continuous monitoring of other astrophysical events and sources over the full sky in this important energy range. AMEGO-X will probe the medium energy gamma-ray band using a single instrument with sensitivity up to an order of magnitude greater than previous telescopes in the energy range …

Academic Program Recommendations For Graduate Degrees In Medical Physics: Aapm Report No. 365 (Revision Of Report No. 197), Jay W. Burmeister, Nathan C. Busse, Ashley J. Cetnar, Rebecca R. Howell, Robert Jeraj, A. Kyle Jones, Steven H. King, Kenneth L. Matthews, Victor J. Montemayor, Wayne Newhauser, Anna E. Rodrigues, Ehsan Samei, Timothy V. Turkington, Mary P. Gronberg, Brian Loughery, Alison R. Roth, Michael C. Joiner, Edward F. Jackson, Paul A. Naine, Leonard H. Kim

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Kmt-2021-Blg-0171lb And Kmt-2021-Blg-1689lb: Two Microlensing Planets In The Kmtnet High-Cadence Fields With Followup Observations, Hongjing Yang, Weicheng Zang, Andrew Gould, Jennifer C. Yee, Kyu Ha Hwang, Grant Christie, Takahiro Sumi, Jiyuan Zhang, Shude Mao, Michael D. Albrow, Sun Ju Chung, Cheongho Han, Youn Kil Jung, Yoon Hyun Ryu, In Gu Shin, Yossi Shvartzvald, Sang Mok Cha, Dong Jin Kim, Hyoun Woo Kim, Seung Lee Kim, Chung Uk Lee, Dong Joo Lee, Yongseok Lee, Byeong Gon Park, Richard W. Pogge, John Drummond, Dan Maoz, Jennie Mccormick, Tim Natusch, Matthew T. Penny, Wei Zhu, Ian A. Bond, Fumio Abe

Faculty Publications

Follow-up observations of high-magnification gravitational microlensing events can fully exploit their intrinsic sensitivity to detect extrasolar planets, especially those with small mass ratios. To make followup observations more uniform and efficient, we develop a system, HighMagFinder, to automatically alert possible ongoing high-magnification events based on the real-time data from the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet). We started a new phase of follow-up observations with the help of HighMagFinder in 2021. Here we report the discovery of two planets in high-magnification microlensing events, KMT-2021-BLG-0171 and KMT-2021-BLG-1689, which were identified by the HighMagFinder. We find that both events suffer the 'central-resonant' caustic …

Trends In Obesity Prevalence Among Children And Adolescents Aged 2 To 19 Years In The Us From 2011 To 2020, Kathy Hu, Amanda E. Staiano

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ground-Penetrating Radar Detection Of Hydrologic Connectivity In A Covered Karstic Setting, Joseph P. Honings, Carol M. Wicks, Steven T. Brantley

Faculty Publications

Increasing demand for water for agricultural use within the Dougherty Plain of the southeastern United States has depleted surface water bodies. In karstic landscapes, such as the Dougherty Plain in southwest Georgia where the linkages between surface and ground waters are close, there is a need to understand the physical characteristics of the subsurface that allow these close linkages. Having a better understanding of the subsurface characteristics will aid numerical modeling efforts that underpin policy decisions and economic analyses. Two common features on this karstic landscape are draws and geographically isolated wetlands. Using LiDAR, aerial imagery, and ground-penetrating radar, this …

Genomic Basis For Individual Differences In Susceptibility To The Neurotoxic Effects Of Diesel Exhaust, Alexandra Noël, David G. Ashbrook, Fuyi Xu, Stephania A. Cormier, Lu Lu, James P. O’Callaghan, Shyam K. Menon, Wenyuan Zhao, Arthur L. Penn, Byron C. Jones

Faculty Publications

Air pollution is a known environmental health hazard. A major source of air pollution includes diesel exhaust (DE). Initially, research on DE focused on respiratory morbidities; however, more recently, exposures to DE have been associated with neurological developmental disorders and neurodegeneration. In this study, we investigated the effects of sub-chronic inhalation exposure to DE on neuroinflammatory markers in two inbred mouse strains and both sexes, including whole transcriptome examination of the medial prefrontal cortex. We exposed aged male and female C57BL/6J (B6) and DBA/2J (D2) mice to DE, which was cooled and diluted with HEPA-filtered compressed air for 2 h …

Permeable Curbs For Storm Water Pollution, Aldo Hernandez, Drew Johnson, Marcio Giacomoni

Publications

One of the problems that increased urbanization poses is storm water pollution. Several control measures exist that are used to treat and reduce pollution in our waterways, one of those being permeable concretes; but these have not been widely adopted. The goal of this project was to develop a permeable curb apparatus that could be used in retrofitting conventional streets. The permeable curb is comprised of a permeable concrete mix with a perforated pipe running through its center, this allows for water to filter through the porous concrete and continue downstream through the perforated pipe which would eventually lead to …

Measuring The Effect Of Bipartisan Support For Foreign Policy Initiatives In The Senate On U.S. Policy Success, Emily Fitkin

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.