Digital Commons Network^™

Activity And Selectivity In The Electrochemical Reduction Of Co2 At Cusnx Electrocatalysts Using A Zero-Gap Membrane Electrode Assembly, Monsuru Dauda, John Hendershot, Mustapha Bello, Junghyun Park, Alvaro Loaiza Orduz, Orhan Kizilkaya, Phillip Sprunger, Anthony Engler, Koffi Yao, Craig Plaisance, John Flake

Faculty Publications

In this study Cu, Sn, and bimetallic CuSnx nanoparticles were synthesized and evaluated as electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction using zero gap membrane electrode assemblies. Results show bimetallic electrocatalysts with Sn contents above 10% yield formate as a primary product with Faradaic Efficiencies near 70% at 350 mA cm−2. Cu-Snx electrocatalysts with less than 10% Sn yield CO at current densities below 350 mA cm−2 and relatively lower cell potentials. When the low-Sn content bimetallic electrocatalysts were evaluated in alkaline anolytes at 350 mA cm−2, ethanol was recorded as the primary product (FE = 48.5% at Ecell ≥ 3.0 V). We …

An Adaptive Nonlinear Least-Squares Finite Element Method For A Pucci Equation In Two Dimensions, Susanne C. Brenner, Li Yeng Sung, Zhiyu Tan

Faculty Publications

We present an adaptive nonlinear least-squares finite element method for a two dimensional Pucci equation. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated by a numerical experiment.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Of Cancer: Where Do We Stand Now?, Rolf F. Barth, Gong Wu, Maria Da Graca H. Vicente, John C. Grecula, Nilendu Gupta

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Learning Nonlinear Dynamics In Synchronization Of Knowledge-Based Leader-Following Networks, Shimin Wang, Xiangyu Meng, Hongwei Zhang, Frank L. Lewis

Faculty Publications

Knowledge-based leader-following synchronization of heterogeneous nonlinear multi-agent systems is a challenging problem since the leader's dynamic information is unknown to any follower node. This paper proposes a learning-based fully distributed observer for a class of nonlinear leader systems, which can simultaneously learn the leader's dynamics and states. This class of leader dynamics is rather general and does not require a bounded Jacobian matrix. Based on this learning-based distributed observer, we further synthesize an adaptive distributed control law for solving the leader-following synchronization problem of multiple Euler–Lagrange systems subject to an uncertain nonlinear leader system. The results are illustrated by a …

Lipids To The Rescue In Pulmonary Fibrosis: Biosynthesis, Bioenergetics, Or Epigenetics?, Manas Ranjan Gartia, Victor J. Thannickal

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Storm Surge Modeling In The Ai Era: Using Lstm-Based Machine Learning For Enhancing Forecasting Accuracy, Stefanos Giaremis, Noujoud Nader, Clint Dawson, Carola Kaiser, Efstratios Nikidis, Hartmut Kaiser

Faculty Publications

Physics simulation results of natural processes usually do not fully capture the real world. This is caused for instance by limits in what physical processes are simulated and to what accuracy. In this work we propose and analyze the use of an LSTM-based deep learning network machine learning (ML) architecture for capturing and predicting the behavior of the systemic error for storm tide forecast models with respect to real-world water elevation observations from gauge stations during hurricane events. The overall goal of this work is to predict the systemic error of the physics model and use it to improve the …

Hyperpolarized Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolomics, And Artificial Intelligence To Interrogate The Metabolic Evolution Of Glioblastoma, Kang Lin Hsieh, Qing Chen, Travis C. Salzillo, Jian Zhang, Xiaoqian Jiang, Pratip K. Bhattacharya, Shyan Shams

Faculty Publications

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant Grade VI cancer type with a median survival duration of only 8–16 months. Earlier detection of GBM could enable more effective treatment. Hyperpolarized magnetic resonance spectroscopy (HPMRS) could detect GBM earlier than conventional anatomical MRI in glioblastoma murine models. We further investigated whether artificial intelligence (A.I.) could detect GBM earlier than HPMRS. We developed a deep learning model that combines multiple modalities of cancer data to predict tumor progression, assess treatment effects, and to reconstruct in vivo metabolomic information from ex vivo data. Our model can detect GBM progression two weeks earlier than conventional MRIs …

The Impact Of Lutein-Loaded Poly(Lactic-Coglycolic Acid) Nanoparticles Following Topical Application: An In Vitro And In Vivo Study, Renee T. Carter, Sean Swetledge, Sara Navarro, Chin C. Liu, Nikole Ineck, Andrew C. Lewin, Fabrizio Donnarumma, Ede Bodoki, Rhett W. Stout, Carlos Astete, Jangwook P. Jung, Cristina M. Sabliov

Faculty Publications

Antioxidant therapies are of interest in the prevention and management of ocular disorders such as cataracts. Although an active area of interest, topical therapy with antioxidants for the treatment of cataracts is complicated by multiple ocular anatomical barriers, product stability, and solubility. Entrapment and delivery of antioxidants with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles is a possible solution to these challenges, however, little is known regarding their effects in vitro or in vivo. Our first aim was to investigate the impact of blank and lutein loaded PLGA nanoparticles on viability and development of reactive oxygen species in lens epithelial cells in vitro. Photo-oxidative …

Development Of Cyclic Scb Test For Evaluating Fatigue Cracking Resistance Of Asphalt Mixture At Intermediate Temperature, Ye Ma

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Asphalt pavements are subjected to premature cracking due to traffic loading and environmental effects. The Semi-Circular Bending (SCB) test has been traditionally conducted in a monotonic, displacement-controlled mode at intermediate temperature to assess the fatigue crack resistance of asphalt mixtures. However, fatigue damage is essentially deterioration in material integrity as a result of repeated loading. This study aims to develop a cyclic SCB test to characterize the fatigue cracking properties of asphalt mixture utilizing Paris’ Law model. A secondary goal is to apply the Paris’ Law coefficients measured from the developed cyclic SCB test in predicting the fatigue life of …

Stochastic Solutions For Hyperbolic Pde, Abdol-Reza Mansouri, Zachary Selk

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

A Friendship Of Two Prima Donnas: The Letters Of Adelina Patti To Giulia Valda, Jacquelyn Ancelet

LSU Master's Theses

Of the many prima donnas of the nineteenth century, Adelina Patti (1843–1919) stands out as one of the most successful, with a fifty-year international concertizing career. Biographers across multiple languages have covered her career in great depth, but devote little attention to her close friendships. Herman Klein (in The Reign of Patti [1920]) and John Cone (in Adelina Patti: Queen of Hearts [1993]), for instance, claim that Patti was known by many, but understood by few. One who does seem to have understood her and developed a close relationship with her was Giulia Valda (1850–1925), herself a professional singer, if …

Development Of Satellite-Assisted Forecasting System For Vibrio Vulnificus Prevalence In Coastal Waters, Saber Aradpour

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Vibrio vulnificus is a halophilic gamma proteobacterium that is autochthonous to coastal waters and is responsible for 50% of seafood-related deaths in the United States. This study presents a series of nowcasting and forecasting models for predicting vibrio vulnificus abundance in oysters by identifying the long-range dependence of vibrio vulnificus abundance on antecedent environmental conditions and detecting the environmental conditions using satellite remote sensing technology. It was discovered that vibrio vulnificus abundance exhibits a long-range dependence on antecedent environmental conditions which can be characterized by seven independent environmental predictors (stressors) including sea surface temperature (SST), water level (WL), sea surface …

Synthesis Of Portions Of An Acinetobacter Baumannii Lipooligosaccharide (Los), Brandon Conrad

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Glycoconjugate vaccines have become an effective strategy for protection against an array of globally persistent diseases resulting from pathogenic bacteria such as Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Neisseria meningitidis, and Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi. Comprised of a carbohydrate (referred to as glycan) covalently inked to a carrier protein, these vaccines can initiate adaptive immunity by inducing B and T cell responses once in the lymphatic system. This is particularly relevant for infants two years of age and younger whose immune systems are not fully developed. A continuously emerging threat in clinical settings, Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative bacterium …

Effect Of Micellar Morphology On The Temperature-Induced Structural Evolution Of Abc Polypeptoid Triblock Terpolymers Into Two-Compartment Hydrogel Network, Naisheng Jiang, Tianyi Yu, Meng Zhang, Bailee N. Barrett, Haofeng Sun, Jun Wang, Ying Luo, Garrett L. Sternhagen, Sunting Xuan, Guangcui Yuan, Elizabeth G. Kelley, Shuo Qian, Peter V. Bonnesen, Kunlun Hong, Dongcui Li, Donghui Zhang

Faculty Publications

We investigated the temperature-dependent structural evolution of thermoreversible triblock terpolypeptoid hydrogels, namely poly(N-allyl glycine)-b-poly(N-methyl glycine)-b-poly(N-decyl glycine) (AMD), using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) with contrast matching in conjunction with X-ray scattering and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) techniques. At room temperature, A100M101D10 triblock terpolypeptoids self-assemble into core-corona-type spherical micelles in aqueous solution. Upon heating above the critical gelation temperature (Tgel), SANS analysis revealed the formation of a two-compartment hydrogel network comprising distinct micellar cores composed of dehydrated A blocks and hydrophobic D blocks. At T ≳ Tgel, the temperature-dependent dehydration of A block further leads to the gradual rearrangement of both …

Susceptibility Of Spodoptera Frugiperda And Helicoverpa Zea Populations In The Southern Region Of The United States To Common Chemical Insecticides, Bhavana Patla

LSU Master's Theses

Abstract

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda and corn earworm/bollworm, Helicoverpa zea, are two polyphagous pests prevalent in the U.S. In recent years, there were increased infestations of the two pests in the U.S., especially in its southern region. Information on the susceptibility/resistance status of the two pests in the region to chemical insecticides, especially to some new chemistries, is very limited or has not been updated for many years. In this study, susceptibility of 17 S. frugiperda and six H. zea field collected populations from the southern U.S. during 2021-23 to common insecticides was investigated in the laboratory. Dose-responses with …

Reality Capture Technologies For Continuous Inline Quality Monitoring In Construction 3d Printing, Michael J. Martin Ii

LSU Master's Theses

Extrusion-based construction 3D printing (C3DP) is an innovative and emerging technology aiming at the modernization of the construction industry. It uses robots and computer control to reduce the need for human labor and to decrease construction time and cost. C3DP creates elements layer by layer without using formworks, and it is critical to detect layer defects and deformations to ensure that each layer is printed with the desired dimensions. These defects can lead to a variety of issues during or after the construction process, including the collapse of freshly printed elements. In order to detect such deformations and to enable …

Computational Design Of An Electro-Organocatalyst For Conversion Of Co2 Into Long Chain Aldehydes, Foroogh Khezeli, Craig Plaisance

Faculty Publications

Density functional theory calculations employing a hybrid implicit/explicit solvation method were used to demonstrate that an electro-organocatalyst designed in our previous work for reducing CO2 to formaldehyde could also be capable of coupling formaldehyde to form long chain aldehydes. The catalytic activity is enabled by an electron-rich vicinal enediamine (>N-C═C-N<) backbone that activates formaldehyde by reversing the polarity on the carbon atom, enabling it to act as a nucleophile in the subsequent aldol addition step. The catalyst then enables reductive dehydroxylation of the aldol addition product by facilitating outer-sphere electron transfer. The optimal pH as well as the limiting potential and formaldehyde concentration are identified and related to the kinetic balance between several rate limiting steps. Finally, the optimal conditions for coupling with the CO2 reduction cycle are discussed, demonstrating that the electro-organocatalyst is capable of efficiently converting CO2 into aldehyde products with a turnover frequency (per carbon atom) on the order of 0.1-1 s-1

Unveiling Competitive Adsorption In Tio2 Photocatalysis Through Machine-Learning-Accelerated Molecular Dynamics, Dft, And Experimental Methods, Omar Allam, Mostafa Maghsoodi, Seung Soon Jang, Samuel D. Snow

Faculty Publications

The efficient harnessing of solar power for water treatment via photocatalytic processes has long been constrained by the challenge of understanding and optimizing the interactions at the photocatalyst surface, particularly in the presence of nontarget cosolutes. The adsorption of these cosolutes, such as natural organic matter, onto photocatalysts can inhibit the degradation of pollutants, drastically decreasing the photocatalytic efficiency. In the present work, computational methods are employed to predict the inhibitory action of a suite of small organic molecules during TiO2 photocatalytic degradation of para-chlorobenzoic acid (pCBA). Specifically, tryptophan, coniferyl alcohol, succinic acid, gallic acid, and trimesic acid were selected …

The Hydrological Impacts Of Woody Plant Encroachment On Coastal Tallgrass Prairie Of Texas, Zhiwei Guo

LSU Master's Theses

Globally, woody plant encroachment into grassland and savanna ecosystems impacts the hydrological functions of grasslands and associated wetlands. In the coastal tallgrass prairie of Texas, encroachment of woody plants has altered vegetation structure, but the hydrological impacts are poorly understood. In this study, I evaluated and quantified how woody plant encroachment affects hydrological processes on the pimple mounds and inter-mound freshwater marsh, including precipitation partitioning, infiltration in the vadose zone, groundwater recharge, and water volume in the inter-mound marsh. I randomly selected three pimple mounds with woody plants and three pimple mounds with tallgrass w to quantify hydrologic processes. The …

Investigation Of Solvation Structures And Dynamics Of Li-Ion Battery Electrolytes And Amides In Water: An Infrared Spectroscopy, Electrochemical And Computational Study, Ernest O. Nachaki

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The investigation of solvation structures and dynamics in lithium-ion battery electrolytes and amides in water has significant implications for both fundamental science and practical applications. Understanding the solvation dynamics of lithium electrolytes can lead to the development of safer and more efficient LIBs. The study of hydrogen bond dynamics of N-alkyl substituted amides has important implications for the development of thermos-responsive polymers used in biomedical applications. By understanding how N-alkyl substitutions affect the hydration structure and dynamics of amides, this research can inform the design of polymers with tailored properties for drug delivery, tissue engineering, and other medical applications. This …

Asymptotic Formula For Scattering Problems Related To Thin Metasurfaces, Zachary Jermain

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The goal of this work is to develop an asymptotic formula for the behavior of a scattered electromagnetic field in the presence of a thin metamaterial known as a metasurface. By using a carefully chosen Green’s function and the single and double layer potentials we analyze the perturbed scattering problem in the presence of the metamaterial and a background scattering problem. By using Lippman-Schwinger type representation formulas for the two fields we develop the asymptotic formula for the perturbed field. From here we prove the asymptotic formula holds up to a specific error term based on the size of the …

Riesz Particle Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods, Xiongming Dai

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are simulations that explore complex statistical distributions, while bypassing the cumbersome requirement of a specific analytical expression for the target. This stochastic exploration of an uncertain parameter space comes at the expense of a large number of ``burn-in'' samples, and the computational complexity leads to the curse of dimensionality. Although at the exploration level, some methods have been proposed to accelerate the convergence of the algorithm, such as tempering, Hamiltonian Monte Carlo, Rao-redwellization, and scalable methods for better performance, they cannot avoid the stochastic nature of this exploration. We develop algorithms for the energy …

Entanglement From Rotating Black Holes In Thermal Baths, Ivan Agullo, Anthony J. Brady, Adrià Delhom, Dimitrios Kranas

Faculty Publications

We extend previous efforts to quantify the entanglement generated in Hawking's evaporation process by including rotation and thermal environments (e.g. the cosmic microwave background). Both extensions are needed to describe real black holes in our Universe. Leveraging techniques from Gaussian quantum information, we find that the black hole's ergoregion is an active source of quantum entanglement and that thermal environments drastically degrade entanglement generation. Our predictions are suitable to be tested in the lab using analog platforms and also provide tools to assess the fate of quantum information for black holes in more generic settings.

Evaluation Of Dotd’S Aggregate Sources Friction Using Laboratory And Accelerated Testing, Sudhir Bharati

LSU Master's Theses

Roadway safety is of utmost importance to the state transportation agencies. One of the major factors of roadway safety that agencies have control over is pavement friction which is affected by aggregate and mixture type. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) currently uses Polished Stone Values (PSV) obtained from the British Pendulum Device to rate its aggregates. These ratings determine the applicability of aggregates for various projects. However, the ratings are inconsistent, posing significant safety and financial risks. The first part of the thesis compares the currently adopted British Wheel Polisher-based Standard Practice for the Accelerated Polishing of …

Leveraging The Genomic Tools To Explore The Molecular Basis Of Salinity Tolerance In Rice And Soybean, Rajat Pruthi

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Salinity stress significantly challenges agricultural productivity, particularly affecting major crops like rice and soybean. This research investigates the genetic basis of salt tolerance in both crops through high-resolution genetic mapping, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and RNA-Seq analysis. In rice, we examined quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with salt tolerance at the seedling and flowering stages using a population of advanced backcrossed introgression lines (ILs). A genetic map, constructed with 14,230 polymorphic SNP markers, identified distinct QTLs and candidate genes for salt tolerance at both stages, suggesting differential genetic controls. Notable genes such as OsHAK13 and OsCYP21-4 were upregulated under salt …

Elementary Science Teachers' Experiences: A Case Study On The Use Of Science+Cyber Curriculum, Laurie Salvail

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The field of science education in the United States has undergone a major reform since 2015. A little more than twelve years ago, work began on constructing a framework for elementary, middle, and high school science education. This framework emphasized the shift from science being merely a memorization of facts to experiences that include science and engineering practices applied through crosscutting concepts and focused on core ideas in the field of science. With new standards teachers also have to overcome a) not having adequate time available to devote to science instruction b) lack of updated instructional materials aligned to the …

Investigations And Characterization Of Loud Transient Noise In Advanced Ligo Detectors, Shania Nichols

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the era of gravitational wave (GW) astronomy, the detection of cosmic events such as black hole and neutron star mergers has become routine due to the Advanced LIGO (aLIGO) detectors. However, the sensitivity of these detectors also makes them susceptible to loud transient noise, which can obscure GW signals. This thesis investigates loud transient noise with a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) greater than 100, focusing particularly on the most extreme transients with SNR exceeding 1000.

We begin by analyzing the impact of loud transient noise on the binary neutron star (BNS) range of aLIGO detectors across observation runs O2, O3, …

Unpacking Influence: Dissecting Engagement Drivers And Dynamics For Effective Influencer Marketing Strategies, Nichole W. Santee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Despite influencer marketing's growing significance, brands face challenges in identifying the most effective influencers for their campaigns. This dissertation addresses a gap in influencer marketing engagement literature, focusing on the determinants of consumer engagement in social media interactions.

The impact of specific characteristics found within the proposed influencer marketing sender-receiver communication model on eight behavioral social media engagement metrics is analyzed through a non-traditional content analysis of 218 Instagram influencers utilizing AI analytics platforms. Results reveal several characteristics that significantly affect behavioral engagement, while others have conflicting effects, highlighting the complex nature of the IM industry. Eight hierarchical regressions showed …

27-Hydroxycholesterol Acts On Estrogen Receptor Α Expressed By Pomc Neurons In The Arcuate Nucleus To Modulate Feeding Behavior, Hui Ye, Xiaohua Yang, Bing Feng, Pei Luo, Valeria C.Torres Irizarry, Leslie Carrillo-Sáenz, Meng Yu, Yongjie Yang, Benjamin P. Eappen, Marcos David Munoz, Nirali Patel, Sarah Schaul, Lucas Ibrahimi, Penghua Lai, Xinyue Qi, Yuliang Zhou, Maya Kota, Devin Dixit, Madeline Mun, Chong Wee Liew, Yuwei Jiang, Chunmei Wang, Yanlin He, Pingwen Xu

Division of Basic Science Faculty Publications

Oxysterols are metabolites of cholesterol that regulate cholesterol homeostasis. Among these, the most abundant oxysterol is 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC), which can cross the blood-brain barrier. Because 27HC functions as an endogenous selective estrogen receptor modulator, we hypothesize that 27HC binds to the estrogen receptor α (ERα) in the brain to regulate energy balance. Supporting this view, we found that delivering 27HC to the brain reduced food intake and activated proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (POMCARH) in an ERα-dependent manner. In addition, we observed that inhibiting brain ERα, deleting ERα in POMC neurons, or chemogenetic inhibition of …

Performance Assessment Of Aboveground Storage Tanks During Flood Events, Md Manik Mia

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This research addressed the performance of aboveground storage tanks (ASTs) and connected pipelines during floods. ASTs, integral to the oil and gas industry, store hazardous materials like crude oil and chemicals. Positioned near coastal regions, especially the hurricane-prone Gulf Coast, these areas are vulnerable to natural hazards such as floods and hurricanes. This vulnerability can lead to potential environmental and economic disasters, as seen with past hurricanes.
The primary objectives were to investigate AST bottom plate failure mechanisms under flood conditions, assess material failure in tank shells and bottom plates using finite element models, examine the behavior of connected pipelines, …