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

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

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 …

Central Lean Mass Distribution And The Risks Of All-Cause And Cause-Specific Mortality In 40,283 Uk Biobank Participants, Li Ding, Yuxin Fan, Jiaxing Wang, Xiaohui Ma, Lina Chang, Qing He, Gang Hu, Ming Liu

Population and Public Health Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of central lean mass distribution with the risk of mortality. Methods: This cohort study included 40,283 UK Biobank participants. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the association of central lean mass distribution, i.e., trunk-to-leg lean mass ratio, assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, with the risk of mortality. Results: The median age of the participants was 65 years, and 52% were women. During a median follow-up of 4.18 years, 674 participants died, of whom 366 were due to cancer and 126 were due to cardiovascular causes. Compared …

The Anatomy Of Inequality: Medicine, Mourning, And Socioeconomic Status In Victorian England, Molly G. Decker

LSU Master's Theses

"The Anatomy of Inequality: Medicine, Mourning, and Socioeconomic Status in Victorian England," examines the historic relationships between socioeconomic inequality, death, and medical practice during the Victorian period, with specific ttention on London and surrounding areas. I argue that the extreme socioeconomic disparities of the time were deeply intertwined with the practices surrounding death, mourning, and medical care. The first chapter, "The Price of Sorrow," explores the elaborate mourning rituals and displays of status among the wealthy and upper to middle-class Victorians, detailing how these practices were not only expressions of grief but also conspicuous displays of social status and wealth. …

Ion-Mediated Structural Discontinuities In Phospholipid Vesicles, Judith U. De Mel, Stefanie Klisch, Sudipta Gupta, Gerald J. Schneider

Faculty Publications

Despite intense research, methods for controlling soft matter’s spontaneous self-assembly into well-defined layers remain a significant challenge. We observed ion-induced structural discontinuities of phospholipid vesicles that can be exploited for controlled self-assembly of soft materials, using DOPC and NaCl as a model system. The observations were made for the 0.25 wt % lipid concentration. We used dynamic light scattering, zeta-potential measurement, cryo-electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray, and small-angle neutron scattering to understand the reason for the discontinuities. For salt concentrations below 8 mM, we observed a decrease in the liposome diameter with increased NaCl concentration. Above 8 mM, we measured a …

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 …

An Analysis Of The Development Of Cognitive Control In Young Children Within An Auditory And Visual Modality., Lauren A. Schiro

LSU Master's Theses

The Dual Mechanisms of Cognitive Control Framework (DMC) posits that cognitive control is directed through two different modes: proactive and reactive control. Proactive control involves the maintenance and manipulation of information in preparation of a response while reactive control would involve little to no preparation until after a response prompt. The AX-Continuous Performance Task (AX-CPT) is a cognitive control task that is often utilized in studies looking at proactive and reactive control as it measures context processing and goal maintenance. The aims of this study were to validate the auditory version of the AX-CPT and to then apply this task …

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

Harmony In Collaboration: Curating Sustainability In Post-Pandemic Arts, Natalie M. Stepaniak

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In an interconnected world, collaboration in the arts is rising, challenging the traditional notion of the solitary artist. Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for advancing performing and visual arts, especially amidst declining audience attendance. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating challenges for the arts sector, recent data suggests a gradual recovery, with collaborative efforts fostering resilience.

This dissertation investigates the transformative potential of interdisciplinary collaboration from the perspective of musicians and their organizations. Through three case studies—collaborations between the Rapides Symphony Orchestra and Play On Theater Company, The Next Festival for Emerging Artists, and violist-composer Leilehua Lanzilotti and her collaborative relationship with …

An Exploration Of The Drivers Of Intraspecific Variation In Arthropod Phenotypes, Jamie Phelps

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Herein we explore the various forces that drive phenotypic variation in arthropods focusing on spatial and temporal differences as well as sexual dimorphism. We use both marine, Tigriopus californicus, and terrestrial, Melitaeini, organisms to investigate these forces.

Tigriopus californicus and Heat Hardening: The study explores how Tigriopus californicus, a copepod, adapts to thermal variation along the North American Pacific Coast. Researchers investigated intraspecific variation in heat hardening, measuring differences in upper lethal limits (ULLs) and potential fecundity costs across five populations. We found a cost of heat hardening: the size of the first brood produced after heat shock …

Revisiting The Preparation And Catalytic Performance Of A Phosphine-Modified Co(Ii) Hydroformylation Precatalyst, David R. Holzknecht, Alexandra K. Van Alstine, Brandon P. Russell, David J. Vinyard, Fabrizio Donnarumma, Matthew B. Chambers

Faculty Publications

In light of recent conflicting reports regarding the hydroformylation catalytic activity derived from cationic Co(II) precatalysts of the form [Co(acac)(bis(phosphine))]BF4, the synthetic procedures and characterization of [Co(acac)(dppBz)]BF4, 1, are evaluated. Leveraging calibrated ESI-TOF MS methodologies, substantial quantities of Co(acac)2(dppBz), 2, were observed within samples of 1. The source of the impurity, 2, is determined to derive from incomplete protonolysis of the Co(acac)2 precursor and ligand scrambling occurring during the synthesis of 1. Revised synthetic procedures using lower temperature conditions and longer reaction times afford analytically pure samples of 1 based on ESI-TOF MS and NMR spectroscopic analysis. Complex 1 is …

Limit Theorems For Increments Of Branching Particle Systems With Linear Rates And Poisson Initial Condition, Alexander Kreinin, Vladimir V. Vinogradov

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

Mental Practice: Practical Application In Violin And Viola Private Lessons, Natasha Sieczkowska

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation aimed to better understand how violin and viola private instructors teach Mental Practice in their studios, investigating different approaches on how to apply and teach auditory, motor, and visual imagery, score study, and auditory modeling, as well as its benefits. This research was divided into two different stages. In the first stage, the researcher conducted interviews (n = 19) and collected questionnaire responses (n = 14) from 33 upper-string instructors teaching at the pre-college and collegiate levels in the US. This research stage was based on the grounded theory approach since there was not much research …

Quiet No More: An Analysis Of Women's Protest Music, Jillian Vogel

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation explores the multifaceted role of music in women’s protests, emphasizing how it serves as a unifying and rallying tool in the fight against inequality. By delving into the interdisciplinary realms of music theory, sound studies, and women’s and gender studies, this work highlights how women’s protest composers utilize musical texts and content to turn their music into a tool to inspire change. This dissertation investigates the musical structures and harmonic innovations in suffrage movement music, examining how suffragettes with varying musical knowledge engaged with music to further their cause. The suffragette music analyses combine text analysis, harmonic analysis, …

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 …

Towards Addressing Mental Health In Rural Louisiana: Blueberry Supplementation As A Natural Intervention, Katy E. Venable

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Depression and anxiety are major public health issues; however, there is an unmet need for novel effective and accessible treatments, particularly in rural communities. Blueberries are an unexplored nutraceutical for these conditions due to their excellent nutritional profile, with particularly high levels of polyphenols and anthocyanins and benefits on mood, cognition, and health. Therefore, we conducted a double-blind, randomized pilot study in a rural population. We employed a cross-over design to test the effects of 12 weeks daily ingestion of 24 g of whole freeze-dried blueberry powder versus placebo on symptoms of depression and anxiety in those diagnosed with depression …

Hydrogen Adsorption On Ordered And Disordered Pt-Fe And Pt-Co Alloys, Andrew Okafor, William A. Shelton, Ye Xu

Faculty Publications

The bulk properties and surface chemical reactivity of compositionally disordered Pt-Fe and Pt-Co alloys in the fcc A1 phase have been investigated theoretically in comparison to the ordered alloys of the same compositions. The results are analyzed together with our previously reported findings for Pt-Ni. Nonlinear variation is observed in lattice constant, d band center, magnetic moment, and hydrogen adsorption energy across the composition range (0-100 atomic % of Pt, xPt). The Pt 5d states are strongly perturbed by the 3d states of the base metals, leading to notable density of states above the Fermi level and residual magnetic moments …

Mdf-Dta: A Multi-Dimensional Fusion Approach For Drug-Target Binding Affinity Prediction, Amit Ranjan, Adam Bess, Chris Alvin, Supratik Mukhopadhyay

Faculty Publications

Drug-target affinity (DTA) prediction is an important task in the early stages of drug discovery. Traditional biological approaches are time-consuming, effort-consuming, and resource-consuming due to the large size of genomic and chemical spaces. Computational approaches using machine learning have emerged to narrow down the drug candidate search space. However, most of these prediction models focus on single feature encoding of drugs and targets, ignoring the importance of integrating different dimensions of these features. We propose a deep learning-based approach called Multi-Dimensional Fusion for Drug Target Affinity Prediction (MDF-DTA) incorporating different dimensional features. Our model fuses 1D, 2D, and 3D representations …

Holomorphic Functional Calculus Approach To The Characteristic Function Of Quantum Observables, Andreas Boukas

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

No abstract provided.

A Roadmap To The Next-Generation Technology-Enabled Learning-Centered Environments In Aec Education, Yimin Zhu, Amirhosein Jafari, Amir H. Behzadan, Raja R.A. Issa

Faculty Publications

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) education communities are increasingly facing challenges caused by social, technological, economic, environmental, and political changes. Addressing these issues requires AEC educators and practitioners to systematically rethink and reform many of their current practices. Anecdotal evidence in AEC education already exists with respect to pedagogical improvements made by individual technologies such as immersive computing, artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, cyberinfrastructure, and photogrammetry. However, an effective learning-centered environment is more complex than what any single technology can accomplish. In addition, the relationship between technology-intensive learning and digital inequity in AEC education remains, to the most extent, …

A Compressive Load Bearing Analysis Of 3d-Printed Circular Elements, Ilerioluwa Giwa, Ali Kazemian, Vijaya Gopu, Tyson Rupnow

Faculty Publications

Large-scale construction 3D printing is a promising platform technology that can be leveraged to fabricate structural elements such as columns, piers, pipes, and culverts. In this study, the axial compression and split tensile performance of 3D-printed steel-fiber-reinforced circular elements fabricated with different configurations (hollow, hybrid, mold-cast, and fully 3D-printed) is evaluated. This study further investigates the performance of multi-material circular hybrid elements (3D-printed shells with different backfilled core materials) in an attempt to assess their suitability as a new construction paradigm. The experimental results revealed that the fully 3D-printed steel-fiber-reinforced circular elements exhibited a higher load capacity (up to 36%) …

Review Of Colored Television, Michael F. Russo

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Hd-Tdcs Over Left Supplementary Motor Area Differentially Modulated Neural Correlates Of Motor Planning For Speech Vs. Limb Movement, Fatemeh Tabari, Celeste Patron, Hope Cryer, Karim Johari

Faculty Publications

The supplementary motor area (SMA) is implicated in planning, execution, and control of speech production and limb movement. The SMA is among putative generators of pre-movement EEG activity which is thought to be neural markers of motor planning. In neurological conditions such as Parkinson's disease, abnormal pre-movement neural activity within the SMA has been reported during speech production and limb movement. Therefore, this region can be a potential target for non-invasive brain stimulation for both speech and limb movement. The present study took an initial step in examining the application of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) over the left …

Transcription Decisions Of Conjoined Independent Clauses Are Equitable Across Dialects But Impact Measurement Outcomes, Janna B. Oetting, Tahmineh Maleki

Faculty Publications

Purpose: Transcription of conjoined independent clauses within language samples varies across professionals. Some transcribe these clauses as two separate utterances, whereas others conjoin them within a single utterance. As an inquiry into equitable practice, we examined rates of conjoined independent clauses produced by children and the impact of separating these clauses within utterances on measures of mean length of utterance (MLU) by a child’s English dialect, clinical status, and age. Method: The data were archival and included 246 language samples from children classified by their dialect (African American English or Southern White English) and clinical status (developmental language disorder [DLD] …

Review Of How To Leave The House, Michael F. Russo

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Secondary Production And Biomass In Mussel Assemblages Relate To Species Richness And Stream Size But Not Life History, Jonathan W. Lopez, Carla L. Atkinson, Angela K. Burrow, Garrett W. Hopper, Wendell R. Haag

Faculty Publications

Increases in species richness with habitat area (species–area relationship, or SAR) and increases in ecosystem function with species richness (biodiversity–ecosystem functioning, or BEF) are widely studied ecological patterns. Incorporating functional trait analysis into assemblage datasets may help clarify interpretations of SAR and BEF relationships in natural ecological systems. For example, life history theory can be used to make predictions about what species are most important in generating ecosystem function given a certain set of environmental conditions. We used quantitative assemblage data for freshwater mussels at nine sites in western Alabama, USA, to test for SAR and BEF relationships. At each …

A Longitudinal Evaluation Of Personalized Intrinsic Network Topography And Cognitive Decline In Parkinson's Disease, Renxi Li, Vincent Pozorski, Kevin Dabbs, Maureen Haebig, Christopher R. Cox, Colleen Pletcher, Alexandra Wey, Amy Barzgari, Frances Theisen, Ozioma Okonkwo, Catherine L. Gallagher

Faculty Publications

Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI) offers insight into how synchrony within and between brain networks is altered in disease states. Individual and disease-related variability in intrinsic connectivity networks may influence our interpretation of R-fMRI data. We used a personalized approach designed to account for individual variation in the spatial location of correlation maxima to evaluate R-fMRI differences between Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who showed cognitive decline, those who remained cognitively stable and cognitively stable controls. We compared fMRI data from these participant groups, studied at baseline and 18 months later, using both network-based statistics (NBS) and calculations of …

Effects Of The Menstrual Cycle And Hormonal Contraceptive Use On Metabolic Outcomes, Strength Performance, And Recovery: A Narrative Review, Hannah E. Cabre, Lacey M. Gould, Leanne M. Redman, Abbie E. Smith-Ryan

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

The effects of female sex hormones on optimal performance have been increasingly recognized as an important consideration in exercise and sport science research. This narrative review explores the findings of studies evaluating the effects of menstrual cycle phase in eumenorrheic women and the use of hormonal contraception (oral contraceptives and hormonal intrauterine devices) on metabolism, muscular strength, and recovery in active females. Ovarian hormones are known to influence metabolism because estrogen is a master regulator of bioenergetics. Importantly, the menstrual cycle may impact protein synthesis, impacting skeletal muscle quality and strength. Studies investigating muscular strength in eumenorrheic women report equivocal …

An Algorithm To Simulate Missing Data For Mixed Meal Tolerance Test Response Curves, Grover Jake Laporte, Skyler Chauff, Josephine Cammack, Britt Burton-Freeman, Jonathan Krakoff, Emma J. Stinson, Barbara Gower, Leanne M. Redman, Diana M. Thomas

Clinical Research Faculty Publications

Background: Response curves formed by analyte concentrations measured at sampled time points after consuming a mixed meal are increasingly being used to characterize responses to differing diets. Unfortunately, owing to a variety of reasons, analyte concentrations for some of the time points may be missing. Objectives: This study aimed to develop an algorithm to estimate the missing values at sampled time points in the analyte response curve to a mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT). Methods: We developed an algorithm to simulate the missing postprandial concentration values for an MMTT. The algorithm was developed to handle any number of missing values …