Digital Commons Network^™

Enhancing Mechanical Properties Of Poly(Lactic Acid) Through Its In-Situ Crosslinking With Maleic Anhydride-Modified Cellulose Nanocrystals From Cottonseed Hulls, Ling Zhou, Hui He, Mei Chun Li, Siwei Huang, Changtong Mei, Qinglin Wu

Faculty Publications

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were extracted from waste cottonseed hulls. The obtained CNCs were grafted with maleic anhydride (MA) and then in-situ crosslinked with Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as the crosslinking initiator. MA-grafted CNCs (MACNCs) exhibited improved dispersion state than that of pristine CNCs in the PLA matrix. The in-situ crosslinking reaction further provided a strong bridge for chemical bonding between MACNCs and PLA. The resultant PLA/MACNC composites showed a comprehensive improvement in both tensile and thermomechanical performances. At the 5 wt.% loading rate of MACNCs, the ultimate tensile strength and Young's modulus of crosslinking PLA/MACNC composites reached …

A Strategy For Sperm Cryopreservation Of Atlantic Salmon, Salmo Salar, For Remote Commercial-Scale High-Throughput Processing, Huiping Yang, E. Hu, John T. Buchanan, Terrence R. Tiersch

Faculty Publications

Sperm cryopreservation is an essential tool for long-term storage of genetic resources for aquaculture fishes. The goal of this study was to develop an efficient and streamlined protocol for high-throughput processing for sperm cryopreservation in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar. The objectives were to evaluate: (1) osmolality of blood serum for determining extender osmolality, (2) effects of extenders for fresh sperm dilution and refrigerated storage, (3) effects of methanol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) on fresh sperm motility, and (4) motility and fertility after thawing. In this study, sperm samples were collected at a hatchery site in Canada and shipped to a …

Quality Evaluation Of Sperm From Livebearing Fishes: Standardized Assessment Of Sperm Bundles (Spermatozeugmata) From Xenotoca Eiseni (Goodeidae), Yue Liu, Leticia Torres, Terrence R. Tiersch

Faculty Publications

Standardized evaluation of sperm quality is essential for research, commercial-scale cryopreservation, and induced spawning. However, standardized methods for evaluation of sperm bundles (spermatozeugmata or spermatophores) have not been established. The purpose of the present study was to use Redtail Splitfin (Xenotoca eiseni) as a model for freshwater livebearing fishes to establish initial standardized methods to collect sperm bundles, and quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate quality-related attributes. No sperm or sperm bundles were able to be collected by stripping. Testes were removed, rinsed, weighed, placed in 50 μL of buffer solution on a glass slide, and crushed gently 3–5 times with angled …

Intergenerational Social Mobility And Religious Ecology: Disaggregating The Conservative Protestant Bloc, Joseph Clark, Samuel Stroope

Faculty Publications

We extend research on the effects of religious ecologies by examining the role of religious ecologies in intergenerational socioeconomic mobility. We do so first by providing a theoretical framework addressing the diverse cultural influences of religious traditions and their impact on intergenerational mobility. We argue that certain otherworldly orientations among conservative Protestants suppress mechanisms of upward mobility, and that there are meaningful distinctions between sub-groups of conservative Protestants (evangelicals, fundamentalists, and Pentecostals). An analysis of county-level data from the recently released Equality of Opportunity Project and the Churches and Church Membership Survey is used to empirically examine the relationship between …

Spatial Rice Yield Estimation Based On Modis And Sentinel-1 Sar Data And Oryza Crop Growth Model, Tri D. Setiyono, Emma D. Quicho, Luca Gatti, Manuel Campos-Taberner, Lorenzo Busetto, Francesco Collivignarelli, Francisco Javier García-Haro, Mirco Boschetti, Nasreen Islam Khan, Francesco Holecz

Faculty Publications

Crop insurance is a viable solution to reduce the vulnerability of smallholder farmers to risks from pest and disease outbreaks, extreme weather events, and market shocks that threaten their household food and income security. In developing and emerging countries, the implementation of area yield-based insurance, the form of crop insurance preferred by clients and industry, is constrained by the limited availability of detailed historical yield records. Remote-sensing technology can help to fill this gap by providing an unbiased and replicable source of the needed data. This study is dedicated to demonstrating and validating the methodology of remote sensing and crop …

A Three Year Study Of Metal Levels In Skin Biopsies Of Whales In The Gulf Of Mexico After The Deepwater Horizon Oil Crisis, John Pierce Wise, James T.F. Wise, Catherine F. Wise, Sandra S. Wise, Christy Gianios, Hong Xie, Ron Walter, Mikki Boswell, Cairong Zhu, Tongzhang Zheng, Christopher Perkins, John Pierce Wise

Faculty Publications

In response to the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and the massive release of oil that followed, we conducted three annual research voyages to investigate how the oil spill would impact the marine offshore environment. Most investigations into the ecological and toxicological impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil crisis have mainly focused on the fate of the oil and dispersants, but few have considered the release of metals into the environment. From studies of previous oil spills, other marine oil industries, and analyses of oil compositions, it is evident that metals are frequently encountered. Several metals have been reported in …

In Vitro Digestible Properties And Quality Characterization Of Nonsucrose Gluten-Free Lentinus Edodes Cookies, Tao Feng, Wenxin Wang, Haining Zhuang, Shiqing Song, Lingyun Yao, Min Sun, Zhimin Xu

Faculty Publications

Lentinus edodes was included in nonsucrose gluten-free cookie formulations. Their digestible properties and quality features were analyzed. Six various types of cookies were prepared through the use of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% of Lentinus edodes powder. The quality features of cookies and cookie dough, as well as digestibility were measured. To which level consumers were attracted by the six types of cookie was assessed. The quality features of the six types of cookies varied significantly to different degrees. Nevertheless, these differences failed to change the acceptance of consumers for nonsucrose gluten-free Lentinus edodes cookies. The digestibility properties …

Role Of Resistant Starch On Diabetes Risk Factors In People With Prediabetes: Design, Conduct, And Baseline Results Of The Starch Trial, Kara L. Marlatt, Ursula A. White, Robbie A. Beyl, Courtney M. Peterson, Corby K. Martin, Maria L. Marco, Michael J. Keenan, Roy J. Martin, Kayanush J. Aryana, Eric Ravussin

Faculty Publications

Dietary resistant starch (RS) might alter gastrointestinal tract function in a manner that improves human health, particularly among adults at risk for diabetes. Here, we report the design and baseline results (with emphasis on race differences) from the STARCH trial, the first comprehensive metabolic phenotyping of people with prediabetes enrolled in a randomized clinical trial testing the effect of RS on risk factors for diabetes. Overweight/obese participants (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2 and weight ≤ 143 kg), age 35–75 y, with confirmed prediabetes were eligible. Participants were randomized to consume 45 g/day of RS (RS = amylose) or amylopectin (Control) for …

Trade-Offs And Synergies Of Ecosystem Services In The Taihu Lake Basin Of China, Xuning Qiao, Yangyang Gu, Changxin Zou, Lei Wang, Juhua Luo, Xianfeng Huang

Faculty Publications

Understanding the spatial interactions among multiple ecosystem services is crucial for ecosystem services management. Ecosystem services, including crop production, freshwater supply, aquatic production, net primary production, soil conservation, water conservation, flood regulation, forest recreation, were measured at 1-km grid scale covering the Taihu Lake Basin (TLB) of China. Our objective is to get a comprehensive understanding of the spatial distributions, trade-offs, synergies of multiple ecosystem services across the TLB. Our results found that: 1) majority of ecosystem services were clustered in space and had a similar spatial distribution pattern with the geographical resource endowment. Most of the landscape contributed a …

Applications Of Position-Based Coding To Classical Communication Over Quantum Channels, Haoyu Qi, Qingle Wang, Mark M. Wilde

Faculty Publications

We exploit a coding technique called position-based coding in the entanglement-assisted setting to establish lower bounds for error exponents, lower bounds on the second-order coding rate, and one-shot lower bounds, and we also demonstrate that position-based coding can be a powerful tool for analyzing other communication settings. In particular, we reduce the quantum simultaneous decoding conjecture for entanglement-assisted or unassisted communication over a quantum multiple access channel to open questions in multiple quantum hypothesis testing. We then determine an achievable rate region for entanglement-assisted or unassisted classical communication over a quantum multiple-access channel, when using a particular quantum simultaneous decoder. …

Preparation And Characterization Of Nanocellulose And Its Application In Composite Materials, Xiuxuan Sun

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Transparent cellulose films from 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical oxidized cellulose nanocrystals (TOCNs) and 64 wt% sulfuric acid treated cellulose nanocrystals (SACNs) were prepared from bleached wood pulps. Film morphology, optical, mechanical, thermal, and surface wettability properties were characterized and compared. The results showed that TOCNs and SACNs had different average length, diameter, and aspect ratio.

The effect of cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) on flow, hydration, morphology, and strength of oil well cement (OWC) was investigated using a range of spectroscopic methods coupled with rheological modeling and strength analysis. The Vom-Berg model showed the best fitting result of the rheology data. The addition of …

Half-Century Perspectives On North American Spring Snowline And Snow Cover Associations With The Pacific-North American Teleconnection Pattern, Robert Rohli

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

U.S. Demand Analysis For Fresh Bell Pepper: A Seasonal And Dynamic Iaids Approach, Felipe Elmy Peguero Perez

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The bell pepper is nearly a US$2.5 billion industry, from which the U.S. producers have less than a 40% market share, and have been losing market share continuously since 1998. This dissertation provides valuable information that could be used by stakeholders and policy-makers to help the industry or in the eventuality of a trade dispute. Several LA/IAIDS[1] and NL/IAIDS models are fitted to monthly data to calculate the substitution possibilities between the local and the imported bell pepper. Results show that the U.S. and Mexican bell peppers have higher substitution possibilities than the U.S. and ROW[2] bell peppers. …

Rice Nucleosome Patterns Undergo Remodeling Coincident With Stress-Induced Gene Expression, Qi Zhang, Dong Ha Oh, Sandra Feuer Ditusa, Mangu V. Ramanarao, Niranjan Baisakh, Maheshi Dassanayake, Aaron P. Smith

Faculty Publications

© 2018 The Author(s). Background: Formation of nucleosomes along eukaryotic DNA has an impact on transcription. Major transcriptional changes occur in response to low external phosphate (Pi) in plants, but the involvement of chromatin-level mechanisms in Pi starvation responses have not been investigated. Results: We mapped nucleosomes along with transcriptional changes after 24-h of Pi starvation in rice (Oryza sativa) by deep sequencing of micrococcal nuclease digested chromatin and ribosome-depleted RNA. We demonstrated that nucleosome patterns at rice genes were affected by both cis- and trans-determinants, including GC content and transcription. Also, categorizing rice genes by nucleosome patterns across the …

First Record Of The Non-Native Pacu, Piaractus Brachypomus, In Lago Petén-Itzá, Guatemala, Central America, Diego J. Elias, Susan F. Mochel, Prosanta Chakrabarty, Caleb D. Mcmahan

Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University

We documented the first record of the non-native species Piaractus brachypomus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) in Lago Petén-Itzá, Petén, Guatemala. One brined specimen was donated by a local fisherman in San Benito, El Petén. The captured specimen was reportedly collected in the southern basin of the lake. We used the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI) to validate identity of the specimen. We hypothesize that the local aquarium trade is the most likely source of introduction of the non-native Pacu in Lago Petén-Itzá.

Documentamos el primer registro de la especie no nativa Piaractus brachypomus (Characiformes: Serrasalmidae) en el lago Petén Itzá, Petén, …

Vocal Expression In Schizophrenia: Examining The Role Of Vocal Accommodation In Clinical Ratings Of Speech, Thanh P. Le

LSU Master's Theses

Diminished vocal expressivity, defined in terms of a diminution in speech production and intonation/emphasis, is a chronic symptom in schizophrenia. On interview-based measures of vocal deficits, clinicians typically rate patients with schizophrenia 4 to 6 SDs below their non-patient peers. However, recent studies utilizing objective computerized measures have failed to observe vocal expressivity deficits that approach this level. It may be that vocal deficits can only be understood within the boundaries of dyadic exchanges during interview-based assessments. Vocal accommodation, or the degree to which vocal characteristics (i.e., mean F0) between interlocutors synchronize over time, has been linked to enhanced social …

Approaches For Approximate Additivity Of The Holevo Information Of Quantum Channels, Felix Leditzky, Eneet Kaur, Nilanjana Datta, Mark M. Wilde

Faculty Publications

We study quantum channels that are close to another channel with weakly additive Holevo information, and we derive upper bounds on their classical capacity. Examples of channels with weakly additive Holevo information are entanglement-breaking channels, unital qubit channels, and Hadamard channels. Related to the method of approximate degradability, we define approximation parameters for each class above, which measure how close an arbitrary channel is to satisfying the respective property. This gives us upper bounds on the classical capacity in terms of functions of the approximation parameters, as well as an outer bound on the dynamic capacity region of a quantum …

Phase Transitions And Related Electrochemical Performances Of Li-Rich Layered Cathode Materials For High-Energy Lithium Ion Batteries, Jianqing Zhao, Xiaoxiao Kuai, Xinyu Dong, Haibo Wang, Wei Zhao, Lijun Gao, Ying Wang, Ruiming Huang

Faculty Publications

The present work systematically probes and tracks the phase transition of Li-rich layered Li[Li0.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13]O2 (marked as LMNCO) by using an ex-situ chemical activation that is realized through ion-exchange and post-annealing processes, in order to understand related electrochemical performances of Li-rich cathode materials for advanced lithium-ion batteries. Ion exchanges of H+-Li+ and subsequent TBA+-H+ (TBA: tetrabutylammonium) in LMNCO are carried out, resulting in its layered-to-spinel phase transition after optimal heat treatments. The resultant compound shows a Li4Mn5O12-type spinel structure. This converted spinel cathode material can deliver discharge capacities higher than 300 mAh/g at 0.1 C and 200 mAh/g at 1 C …

Investigation Of Morphological Changes In Small Coastal Rivers During Flood, Tanzina Afrin

LSU Master's Theses

The delivery of fluvial sediment to coastal margins is one of the major concerns for river and coastal morphodynamics. Relevant research has primarily focused on large rivers that transport substantial sediment load and thus are responsible for building deltaic landscapes. However, less research is concentrated on small coastal rivers. A need exists to better understand the sediment dynamics in small coastal rivers that have different backwater regimes than their larger counterparts. The main objective of this research was to examine the influence of backwater on the morphodynamics of a small coastal meandering river during a large flood event. The investigation …

Experimental Evidence Of A Pathogen Invasion Threshold, Tad A. Dallas, Martin Krkošek, John M. Drake

Faculty Publications

© 2018 The Authors. Host density thresholds to pathogen invasion separate regions of parameter space corresponding to endemic and diseasefree states. The host density threshold is a central concept in theoretical epidemiology and a common target of human and wildlife disease control programmes, but there is mixed evidence supporting the existence of thresholds, especially in wildlife populations or for pathogens with complex transmission modes (e.g. environmental transmission). Here, we demonstrate the existence of a host density threshold for an environmentally transmitted pathogen by combining an epidemiological model with a microcosm experiment. Experimental epidemics consisted of replicate populations of naive crustacean …

Evaluation Of Growth Characteristics, Yield, Marketability And Nitrate Levels Of Lettuce (Lactuca Sativa L) Cultivars Produced In South Louisiana, William D. Afton

LSU Master's Theses

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is an important leafy vegetable crop grown in worldwide food systems with the United States ranking second behind China in total production. In 2009 the USDA Food Economic Research Service reported 1,057,715 hectares of lettuce grown in the world. Lettuce is a common market crop grown across the United States. Nitrate (NO^3-) accumulation in lettuce and other leafy vegetables has been found to be a potential health threat and when consumed by humans, potentially causing methaemoglobinaemia and other diseases. There are four main types of lettuce and numerous cultivars within each type. Fresh …

Crayfish Harvesting Practices In The Southern Atchafalaya River Basin: Quantitative And Qualitative Assessment Of Harvester Techniques And Hydrologic Connectivity Influence On Harvesting Strategies, Ivan A. Vargas-Lopez

LSU Master's Theses

Fisheries produce important impacts around the world through the exploitation of a wide range of species. In Louisiana, crayfish is the most emblematic crustacean and supports a multi-million industry based on pond culture and harvest from natural habitats. Although the economic value (USD) of wild-harvested crayfish has decreased from 10% to 3% of total crayfish value from 2013 to 2015, wild harvested crayfish are highly desired by many consumers and have a strong socio-cultural importance in Louisiana and other Gulf of Mexico coastal regions. This project evaluated harvesting practices by: 1) field observation and mapping of harvest sites in southwestern …

Examining Louisiana State University Undergraduate College Of Agriculture Students' Intention To Participate In Study Abroad, Timothy K. Sandles

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine Louisiana State University (LSU) undergraduate College of Agriculture (COA) students’ intention to participate in study abroad. This study aimed to add to the body of research that utilizes Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior as a theoretical framework by exploring COA undergraduate students’ intention to participate in study abroad. This study sought to determine if relationships existed among students’ prior intercultural experiences, perceived motivating factors related to study abroad, perceived barriers to study abroad, outcome expectations, attitude toward study abroad, and students’ intention to participate. Additionally, the study utilized structural equation modeling (SEM) …

Extended Techniques For Intermediate Violin Students, Mariana Krewer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

As we reach the end of the second decade of the 21st century, the performance of contemporary music is not a novelty in any concert hall. American orchestras frequently include contemporary works in their programs, and music schools offer specialized classes, ensembles, and even full degrees dedicated to contemporary music. However, for the violin, there are very few resources explaining extended techniques and other recent aesthetic innovations in a didactic manner. Most of the available material is directed at the advanced student or professional player. On the other hand, traditional instructional material often barely glosses over the 20th century repertoire, …

A 2-D Finite Element Modeling And Simulation Of 3-Roll Forming, Wenbo Zhao

LSU Master's Theses

Medium to large diameter carbon steel pipes are widely used in various applications such as gas and fluid transportation, tunnels construction and building construction. Based on manufacturing techniques and characteristics, they are mainly categorized into three categories: Seamless pipe, Butt-welded pipe and Spiral pipe. The forming of butt-welded and spiral pipe is often performed by a technique called 3-roller bending. While traditional trial-and-error method is costly, the geometry complexity, along with material nonlinearity makes exact theoretical analysis difficult unless heavy simplified assumptions are made. While the forming parameters in the 3-roller forming process of butt-welded pipe has been studied in …

Klezmer Elements In Paul Schoenfield’S Trio For Clarinet, Violin, And Piano: A Violinist’S Perspective, Hannah Phyllis Urdea Marcus

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Paul Schoenfield’s Trio for Clarinet, Violin, and Piano draws extensively on the traditional Klezmer music of the Ashkenazi Jewish people of Eastern Europe. The blending of three very different instruments, as well as the Klezmer elements, unusual for the classically trained musicians, creat difficulties, as well as opportunities, for the composer and for the performers alike.

Music is often considered a language. As with any language, in order to be fluent, one must understand the cultural aspects that shape that language and the people who speak it. The way the performers present a piece greatly influences the way it is …

An Optimizing Java Translation Framework For Automated Checkpointing And Strong Mobility, Arvind Kumar Saini

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Long-running programs, e.g., in high-performance computing, need to

write periodic checkpoints of their execution state to disk to allow

them to recover from node failure. Manually adding checkpointing code

to an application, however, is very tedious. The mechanisms needed

for writing the execution state of a program to disk and restoring it

are similar to those needed for migrating a running thread or a mobile

object. We have extended a source-to-source translation scheme that

allows the migration of mobile Java objects with running threads to

make it more general and allow it to be used for automated

checkpointing. Our translation …

On The Interpretation Of The Fermi-Gbm Transient Observed In Coincidence With Ligo Gravitational-Wave Event Gw150914, V. Connaughton, E. Burns, A. Goldstein, L. Blackburn, M. S. Briggs, N. Christensen, C. M. Hui, D. Kocevski, T. Littenberg, J. E. Mcenery, J. Racusin, P. Shawhan, J. Veitch, C. A. Wilson-Hodge, P. N. Bhat, E. Bissaldi, W. Cleveland, M. M. Giles, M. H. Gibby, A. Von Kienlin, R. M. Kippen, S. Mcbreen, C. A. Meegan, W. S. Paciesas, R. D. Preece, O. J. Roberts, M. Stanbro, P. Veres

Faculty Publications

The weak transient detected by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) 0.4 s after GW150914 has generated much speculation regarding its possible association with the black hole binary merger. Investigation of the GBM data by Connaughton et al. revealed a source location consistent with GW150914 and a spectrum consistent with a weak, short gamma-ray burst. Greiner et al. present an alternative technique for fitting background-limited data in the low-count regime, and call into question the spectral analysis and the significance of the detection of GW150914-GBM presented in Connaughton et al. The spectral analysis of Connaughton et al. is not subject …

The First Post-Kepler Brightness Dips Of Kic 8462852, Tabetha S. Boyajian, Roi Alonso, Alex Ammerman, David Armstrong, A. Asensio Ramos, K. Barkaoui, Thomas G. Beatty, Z. Benkhaldoun, Paul Benni, Rory O. Bentley, Andrei Berdyugin, Svetlana Berdyugina, Serge Bergeron, Allyson Bieryla, Michaela G. Blain, Alicia Capetillo Blanco, Eva H.L. Bodman, Anne Boucher, Mark Bradley, Stephen M. Brincat, Thomas G. Brink, John Briol, David J.A. Brown, J. Budaj, A. Burdanov, B. Cale, Miguel Aznar Carbo, R. Castillo Garcia, Wendy J. Clark, Geoffrey C. Clayton, James L. Clem, Phillip H. Coker, Evan M. Cook

Faculty Publications

We present a photometric detection of the first brightness dips of the unique variable star KIC 8462852 since the end of the Kepler space mission in 2013 May. Our regular photometric surveillance started in 2015 October, and a sequence of dipping began in 2017 May continuing on through the end of 2017, when the star was no longer visible from Earth. We distinguish four main 1%-2.5% dips, named "Elsie," "Celeste," "Skara Brae," and "Angkor," which persist on timescales from several days to weeks. Our main results so far are as follows: (i) there are no apparent changes of the stellar …

First Search For Nontensorial Gravitational Waves From Known Pulsars, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott, F. Acernese, K. Ackley, C. Adams, T. Adams, P. Addesso, R. X. Adhikari, V. B. Adya, C. Affeldt, M. Afrough, B. Agarwal, M. Agathos, K. Agatsuma, N. Aggarwal, O. D. Aguiar, L. Aiello, A. Ain, P. Ajith, G. Allen, A. Allocca, P. A. Altin, A. Amato, A. Ananyeva, S. B. Anderson, W. G. Anderson, S. Antier, S. Appert, K. Arai, M. C. Araya, J. S. Areeda, N. Arnaud

Faculty Publications

We present results from the first directed search for nontensorial gravitational waves. While general relativity allows for tensorial (plus and cross) modes only, a generic metric theory may, in principle, predict waves with up to six different polarizations. This analysis is sensitive to continuous signals of scalar, vector, or tensor polarizations, and does not rely on any specific theory of gravity. After searching data from the first observation run of the advanced LIGO detectors for signals at twice the rotational frequency of 200 known pulsars, we find no evidence of gravitational waves of any polarization. We report the first upper …