Digital Commons Network^™

Broken Rituals: Contending Gods And Sacred Cows In Religious Racial Reconciliation And Race Relations, Ewart E. Forde

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Race remains one of the most important determinants of a host of sociological outcomes despite claims that social characteristics such as class matter more. For example, racial inequalities are apparent in educational outcomes and regarding to asset-ownership. Perhaps the most troubling evidence of persistent racial inequities is the killing of Black people by law enforcement officials or civilians while they are engaged in such mundane activities, such as jogging in a neighborhood or selling compact discs (CDs). In the aftermath of these unnatural killings, there are often calls for racial reconciliation, faith based racial reconciliation. In times where it appears …

'There Is That Of God In All Of Us': Church, State, And Restrictive Abortion Policies, Kimsey J. Stewart

LSU Master's Theses

Unsafe abortion affects millions of women around the globe every year. Unsafe abortions are more likely to occur in countries with restrictive abortion policies. Yet, these policies persist, and the worldwide trend of liberalization of abortion laws is at risk of reversal. There is a disconcerting lack of research regarding what factors cause governments to enact, retain, and enforce restrictive abortion policies. This paper is an attempt to fill in such a gap. I theorize that countries in which the government has closer ties with religious organizations will have more restrictive abortion policies. My results indicate that this is likely …

A Comparative Case Study Of Mentoring Practices By National Board Certified And Non-Certified Teacher Mentors, Bethany Mcclure

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

As preservice teacher candidates engage in field experiences that shape their development of teacher identity, it is important to examine their perceptions of the mentoring process. This study explored how preservice teacher candidates construct their own knowledge about mentoring as a process, as well as explored the perceptions of mentor teachers, both National Board Certified, and non-National Board Certified, as they facilitated the learning and growth of their mentees. Many prior studies on the mentoring process exist, however, a gap in the literature that was identified and explored through this study included the impact that National Board Certified Teachers have …

Digital Forensics And Ai: Artifact Analysis And Using Ai In The Forensics Domain, Clinton Joel Walker

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Digital Forensics (DF) is a field of forensic science focusing on the acquisition, authentication, and analysis of digital evidence while maintaining integrity of that data. DF analysts use forensic tools to parse large volumes of data for investigations and depend on them for identification of pertinent digital evidence in vast amounts of data. Keeping up with innovations and ever-expanding data volumes is a constant challenge for these investigators. The prevalence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in everyday computing is rapidly expanding, with the use of Machine Learning (ML) and Large Language Models (LLM)s becoming increasingly commonplace. Innovations in technology bring new …

With Vim And Courage: Confederate Soldiers And The Politics Of War, Michelle N. Norello

LSU Master's Theses

The Confederate cause has captivated historians for many decades. At first glance, the Confederacy embodies a persistent effort to promote white supremacy, the planter class, and independence. While this assessment is accurate, individual Confederate soldiers possess diverse narratives that both challenge and support the labels assigned over the years. The political dimension of the Civil War opens new avenues for scholarly exploration concerning Confederate soldiers. But what insights might this offer regarding the nature of the Confederacy, civilian political engagement, and democracy? The answer to this question is complex and nonlinear. Previous research has acknowledged the numerous reasons why Confederate …

A Systems Engineering Approach To Improve Alarm Management And Nurse Mental Workload, Benjamin D. Elmore

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Alarm fatigue has been a consistent problem nurses have experienced for decades. The effects of excessive nuisance alarms leads to adverse effects such as desensitization, missed alarms, frustration, and increased risk to patient safety. Other research has provided explanations on alarm fatigue causes and developed solutions for reducing nuisance alarms or minimizing effects, but few have examined the problem from a sociotechnical systems perspective. This study applied the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework to define, design, and test an alarm management intervention compatible with a Progressive Care Unit (PCU)’s sociotechnical subsystems. The SEIPS application is unique from …

Distinguishing Primary And Secondary Anomalous Self-Experience Using Momentary Variability, Michael D. Masucci

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Schizophrenia is associated with significant decreases in functioning and costly psychiatric hospitalization. However, it is frequently misdiagnosed due to phenotypic overlap with other disorders, and misdiagnosis can contribute to its functional and economic cost. Schizotypy and psychosis risk syndrome frameworks have been used to predict who will eventually develop schizophrenic psychosis, but accurate prediction caps at about 30% for individuals who are identified as “at risk” by these frameworks. Anomalous Self Experience (ASE), an alternative framework for understanding psychosis risk developed by phenomenological psychiatry, proposes that identifying fundamental alterations to sense of self are specific to schizophrenia and distinguish those …

Manual For Independence: How Democratic-Republicans Used The Memory Of The Revolution To Start The War Of 1812, Chloe Pellegrin

LSU Master's Theses

In its earliest form, the memory of the American Revolution was far from pure, riddled with partisan jabs and purposeful currents of present events. This, however, has received little attention even with the rise of memory studies within professional history. Scholars have addressed the popular memory of a variety of other pivotal moments from the Civil War to both World Wars. Revolutionary memory has been studied within the contexts of later eras, but almost never in the era immediately following the end of the war. Other scholars such as Alfred Young, Margot Minardy, and Michael McDonnell have all done work …

Assessing Natural Resources Conservation Service (Nrcs) Impacts On Rice And Soybean Efficiency In The Mid-South, Ayodeji Samuel Ayiti

LSU Master's Theses

The study investigates how the Mid-South region of the U.S. rice and irrigated soybean production efficiency is influenced by (NRCS) incentives. To evaluate the effect of crop insurance, subsidies, and conservation incentives on lowering inefficiency, this study used a stochastic frontier model (SFA). The dataset covered the years 2010 – 2023, which allowed for a thorough evaluation of efficiency trends over time. While crop insurance programs reduce inefficiency in rice production, it shockingly increases inefficiency in soybean production, according to the study, which highlights the disparate effects of net support (insurance-subsidy).

The results show that while external factors like changes …

Low Temperature Methane Coupling With Co And Co2, A K M Kazi F.M. Aurnob

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Methane is the smallest hydrocarbon and the most abundant component in natural gas. Despite its availability, its chemical utilization has remained limited due to the challenges associated with direct methane activation and conversion. Most of the methane oxidation and oxidative carbonylation reactions in literature have been carried out at high-pressure using batch reactors or at ambient pressure using flow reactors. While batch reactors have been shown to have higher product yields, they are limited in their capability to provide real-time kinetic insights and comprehensive mechanistic understanding of the reactions involved due to the long residence time. This limits rationalization of …

Investigation Of Subcellular Damage And Long-Term Non-Cancerous Cardiovascular Effects Following Whole-Body Photon Irradiation, Nousha Afshari

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Current radiobiological models focus primarily on nuclear DNA damage and fail to fully explain radiation-induced noncancerous health effects. This dissertation investigates whether non-nuclear subcellular structures contribute to radiation-induced biological damage through experimental biomarker analysis and computational microdosimetry. The central hypothesis posits that whole-body photon irradiation results in subcellular non-nuclear damage, specifically increased circulating mitochondrial DNA concentrations, that correlates with radiation dose and long-term noncancerous effects such as cardiovascular disease.

Specific Aim 1 measured mitochondrial and nuclear DNA concentrations in banked blood samples from 72 Chinese rhesus macaques that previously received whole-body photon irradiation ($0-10$ Gy) from Cobalt-60 or LINAC sources. …

Increasing The Economic And Social Viability Of Carbon Capture Using Biomass Slurry Fracture Injection, Zachary G. Laird

LSU Master's Theses

The climate is changing. This is a fact not a statement, not a theory, and not a falsehood, this is a fact. At the current projections the world’s average temperature is expected to rise by at least 2°C from pre-industrial averages by 2050 (Emissions Pathways to 2100 - Climate Action Tracker, 2024). This temperature rise will be catastrophic for a vast number of communities. What is driving this changing climate? Humans. In particular the carbon emissions caused by human activities. As humans we consume large amounts of meat, causing the need for cattle to increase, generating large amounts …

Elucidation Of A Role In Biofilm Production For The Tyrosine Catabolism Pathway In Vibrio Cholerae And Analysis Of Reversible Phase Variation In Vibrio Vulnificus, Aheli S. Mukerji

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Biofilms produced by the cholera pathogen Vibrio cholerae not only enhance its ability to survive in the environment but also allow pathogenic success of the bacterium. This organism also undergoes phase variation, switching between smooth and rugose colonial phenotypes, the latter forming much more vibrio polysaccharide (VPS) resulting in more robust biofilms and subsequently having an increased level of persistence. In a previous study, many genes were found to be upregulated in the transition from the smooth to the rugose phenotype. Here, several of these upregulated genes were investigated for their potential role in biofilm production, and an additional gene, …

Global Database For Naturally Occurring Radionuclides Associated With Offshore Oil And Gas Production, Ziran Wei, Songjie He, Stephanie Sharuga, Kanchan Maiti

Faculty Publications

This study compiles a comprehensive dataset on the occurrence, distribution, and potential impacts of Naturally Occurring Radionuclides (NORMs) near offshore oil and gas platforms. It encompasses data, including activities (Bq/l) and exposure levels (Msv), derived from various environmental matrices. A particular emphasis is placed on petroleum products and waste, such as produced water, scales, and sludges. The dataset contributes to a better understanding of the distribution of NORM wastes in marine environments, informs future radiological safety standards, contributes to the formulation of regulatory policies, and facilitates the design of mitigation strategies. The information—literature and data from five continents over the …

Metabolic And Physiological Regulation In C. Elegans: Insights Into Sperm Activation And Peroxisome-Mediated Longevity, Yash Flora

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Organelle dynamics lie at the heart of cellular signaling and metabolic regulation, orchestrating physiological processes such as reproduction and aging across the lifespan. In this dissertation, I investigate how organelle-based signaling coordinates sperm activation and modulates organismal aging in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. I identify SPIN-4, a previously uncharacterized Spinster family transporter, as a key regulator of spermiogenesis. SPIN-4 is strongly expressed in developing sperm, localizes to the plasma membrane, and promotes sperm activation by facilitating the export of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Loss of spin-4 results in defective pseudopod formation, reduced motility, and compromised fertility, phenotypes that can be rescued …

Stomach Content And Stable Isotope Analysis Of Invasive Lionfish (Pterois Volitans) In The Florida Keys, Emily E. Shallow, Cassandra N. Glaspie, Michael J. Polito, Mitchell S. Lovell

Faculty Publications

The invasive red lionfish, Pterois volitans, plays a unique role in seagrass and reef ecosystems, where it functions as a top predator and competitor for both food and shelter. Given the ubiquitous distribution of lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean basins, their species provides an excellent opportunity to understand how an invasive predator's diet and primary energy pathways change as a function of size and habitat type. To investigate these patterns, we studied lionfish from a mosaic of deep reef, shallow patch reef, and seagrass bed habitats in the Florida Keys using stomach contents and stable isotope analysis …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of Various Types Of Inert And Active Fillers On Asphalt Mixture Performance, Mohammad Hadizadeh Pirbasti

LSU Master's Theses

Abstract:

The performance of asphalt mixtures is significantly influenced by the type and characteristics of fillers used as a replacement for filler part of the aggregates’ batching. According to this research investigation the performance along with durability characteristics of asphalt mixtures are evaluated through different inert and active fillers. The fillers used include Fly Ash, Cement, steel slag powder, and additional filler. These fillers incorporate into two types of asphalt mix design of Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) and a surface mix. Fillers are categorized according to their reactive properties alongside their physical attributes leading to active fillers strengthening bond formation …

Considering The Ethics Of Conserving American Art: White Nationalism And The Evolving Meanings Of Nineteenth-Century Genre And Landscape Painting, Evan M. Crocker

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis analyzes the stylistic and conceptual qualities of American genre and landscape painting from the antebellum period and how these qualities acted in service to establishing white nationalism before the Civil War. The intricate and calculated system of typing in genre painting presented carefully crafted idealizations of quintessential Americans, defined by their whiteness and maleness. Landscape painters of the early- to mid-nineteenth century endowed their compositions with a sense of wondrous opportunity which justified and upheld westward expansion under Manifest Destiny. At the intersection of genre and landscape practices sits plantation paintings—specifically house portraits—in which the plantation serves as …

From Decriminalization To Social Legitimization: The Lived Experiences Of Non-Conforming Individuals In India, Heeya Datta

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores how queer and non-conforming individuals in urban India navigate, resist, and reimagine dominant norms of kinship, intimacy, and family. Drawing on 18 in-depth interviews, it examines the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the aftermath of legal reforms such as the decriminalization of Section 377 and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act. While these reforms mark symbolic progress, queer individuals continue to face social stigma, legal exclusions, and familial rejection. The study is divided into three chapters: the first analyzes the dual role of homosociality as both a space of refuge and constraint; the second investigates …

Investigating The Role Of Aerosols In Extreme Precipitation Events Along The Gulf Coast Of The U.S.A., Wenjia Cao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Atmospheric aerosols have been found to influence tropical cyclone (TC) and flood event development. In this study, the Weather Research and Forecasting model is applied to investigate specific microphysical impacts and aerosol sensitivity to heavy precipitation and TC events in the U.S. Gulf Coastal area. The Thompson aerosol-aware scheme with regular and adjusted aerosol concentration scenarios is used to quantify precipitation, wind field, horizontal/vertical structures, and track variations, by aerosol mixing ratio. In general, results for the three storms analyzed (the 2016 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, flood event (Chapter 2); Hurricane Harvey in 2017 (Chapter 3); and an idealized storm event …

Enduring Words: Resistance Through Sculptural Libraries, Alex C. Jacobs

LSU Master's Theses

Enduring Words: Resistance Through Sculptural Libraries is a thesis exhibition that challenges book censorship by transforming reading into a public and defiant act. Through direct sculptural interventions, the exhibition confronts cultural erasure, questions who controls the literature we consume, and highlights the role of art in safeguarding contested knowledge. This thesis focuses on a current body of exhibited sculptural works that embody the tension between access and erasure. These installations engage with the viewer by using a lighthouse built of books and a speech-bubble-shaped library embedded with censored texts. They do not quietly mourn the suppression of knowledge; they confront …

Optimizing The Sustainability Of Asphalt Pavements Through Incorporating Crumb Rubber In High-Modulus Asphalt Concrete (Hmac) Mixtures In Louisiana, Heena Dhasmana, Marwa Hassan, Mohamed Abdelmageed

Publications

Asphalt mixtures are traditionally produced using the Superpave mix design method, which emphasizes volumetric properties; however, current research is shifting toward performance-based and sustainable approaches. Within this context, the French High Modulus Asphalt Concrete (HMAC) design focuses on achieving specific performance criteria for workability, stiffness, rutting resistance, and fatigue behavior, employing a hard binder with higher asphalt content and fewer air voids than Superpave mixes. In this study, HMAC mixtures were developed using crumb rubber and locally sourced Louisiana materials. Five HMAC mixes using PG 76-22 and PG 67-22 binders with 10% and 20% crumb rubber were prepared, along with …

Gendered Expectations: Do Voters Reward Women For Supporting Women's Interests?, Nichole M. Bauer, Anna Gunderson, Jeong Hyun Kim, Elizabeth Lane, Belinda Davis, Kathleen Searles

Faculty Publications

Are women legislators punished for not supporting women's substantive policy interests? We test these gendered expectations. We marshal an original content analysis of cable news coverage and two survey experiments testing voters' assessment of hypothetical legislators on the issues of abortion and equal pay. We find that voters rate both women and men legislators positively for supporting women's issues and negatively evaluate legislators of both genders when they do not support women's interests. We also find that women voters negatively evaluate women legislators who act against women's interests at a greater rate than men voters. While we do not find …

Estimating The Future Frequency Of Bonnet Carré Spillway Openings, Kayla Thomas

LSU Master's Theses

In the 2010s, the Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS) in southeastern Louisiana, U.S.A., experienced an unprecedented uptick in openings to mitigate the possibility of flooding, including a record double-opening in 2019. Both the environmental consequences of BCS openings associated with nutrients that run from the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain and the synoptic-scale meteorological conditions that necessitate these openings are poorly understood. With the unexpectedly frequent openings in recent years and the ever-present threat of climate change, it is vital to consider the future shift of synoptic-scale climate patterns and how it can relate to BCS openings. Understanding the potential for …

Fishing For Solutions: Compensation For Bycatch Reduction In The Gulf Of Mexico Shrimp Fishery, Daniel W. Harris

LSU Master's Theses

Bycatch, unintentionally caught non-target species, harms the profitability of commercial fishing operations and leads to death and injury of hundreds of thousands of marine animals per year. In the Gulf of Mexico, commercial shrimpers are required to use a bycatch reduction device (BRD). Better BRDs are being tested to further reduce bycatch. Because their use will not be mandatory, it is important to measure shrimper willingness to voluntarily adopt this conservation technology to predict potential fleet participation. This study uses contingent valuation to elicit commercial shrimpers’ willingness to accept compensation for using these new devices.

We employ an incentivized payment …

Proteomic Comparison Of Canine Gallbladder Versus Hepatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms, Nadia Richmond

LSU Master's Theses

Hepatobiliary neuroendocrine neoplasms (HBNENs) are uncommon tumors in people and dogs, and the limited understanding of their biologic behavior often poses a diagnostic and prognostic challenge in the clinical setting. Though only a low number of cases have been described in dogs, there is evidence to indicate that primary gallbladder NENs may carry a more favorable prognosis compared to primary hepatic NENs. The emergence of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in proteomic analysis has permitted large-scale analysis of neoplastic proteomes, allowing for better understanding of tumor pathophysiology while simultaneously enabling the rapid identification of protein biomarkers. Previous work in our laboratory …

Promoting Social Inclusion Through Sport: A Case Study Of Uyghur Youth In China, Hongxin Li, Yunchao Bai, John Nauright

Faculty Publications

This study examines the role of sports as a means of promoting social inclusion among Uyghur youth in China, drawing upon social inclusion theory. Utilizing a qualitative case study methodology, we explored the perspectives of Uyghur youth athletes to gain insight into the challenges they face in achieving social inclusion without feeling “othered” or excluded. Data analysis followed an inductive grounded theory approach, identifying first‐order concepts, second‐order themes, and aggregate theoretical dimensions. Our findings reveal that social inclusion of Uyghur youth through sports participation is influenced by multiple factors, including language barriers, stereotypes, cultural differences, high expectations, and government policies. …

A Natural Short Sleep Mutation Promotes Longevity Through Mitochondrial Respiration In Drosophila, Pritika Pandey

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Aging is an irreversible process characterized by progressive physiological decline and an increased risk of metabolic disorders, cognitive impairment, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration. Disruptions to the circadian clock—whether due to genetic mutations or behavioral factors—accelerate aging and age-related pathologies, highlighting a strong link between circadian regulation and longevity. However, certain individuals harbor a dec2^P384R mutation, which enables natural short sleep without the detrimental effects of chronic sleep deprivation. This suggests that these individuals have evolved adaptations that activate pro-health pathways, allowing them to function optimally with reduced sleep. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying these changes, we developed a …

Multiparticle Quantum Plasmonics: Fundamentals And Applications, Mingyuan Hong

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Quantum plasmonics explores the interaction between light and collective charge oscillations at metal-dielectric interfaces, enabling strong light confinement and enhanced quantum effects at the nanoscale. While traditional quantum optics has primarily focused on single-photon systems, an intermediate regime exists between classical and single-photon optics - multiparticle (or multiphoton) quantum optics. In this regime, classical light sources, when analyzed through techniques such as photon-number-resolving (PNR) detection and projective measurement, can reveal nontrivial quantum correlations. This thesis investigates how multiparticle quantum plasmonics harnesses these correlations to control quantum statistical properties, enhance coherence, and enable novel applications in quantum technologies.

In this thesis, …

Innovative Design Methodology For Durable Open-Graded Friction Course Asphalt Mixtures, Anas Abualia

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Open-graded friction course (OGFC) is a thin asphalt mixture surface layer with a high percentage of coarse aggregates and high interconnected air voids, which provides improved skid resistance, visibility, and decreased pavement-tire noise. However, construction personnel at DOTD reported that conventional OGFC mixtures have short service life (raveling distress). Further, their structural contribution to the pavement structure is commonly neglected and designed only for functionality purposes.

The objective of this study was to develop a rational mix design methodology to improve the durability of OGFC asphalt mixtures. Specific objectives are to: (1) conduct a rheological and chemical characterization of polymer-, …