Digital Commons Network^™

Improving Cellphone-Based Bio-Imaging Technique For Fluorescence Detection, Erteza T. Efaz

LSU Master's Theses

The research presented in this thesis focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of a fluorescence detection system. The system is implemented primarily as an Android application, Auto Camera, which leverages smartphone cameras to capture and analyze fluorescent images. The application provides a user-friendly interface with some configurable features like exposure time, ISO speed, and storage limit; as well as defining detection thresholds and setting acquisition intervals. This study begins with the architectural framework of the Android application, which is written in Java using Android Studio. The API compatibility is set to version 33, and users are prompted to grant …

Surrogate-Assisted Simulation-Optimization Framework For Groundwater Management In A Multi-Aquifer System, Melika Mani

LSU Master's Theses

Uncontrolled groundwater exploitation can lead to aquifer depletion, land subsidence, and saltwater intrusion. Effective groundwater management is challenging due to the intricate nature of subsurface hydrogeology and spatiotemporally variable pumping, especially in a multi-aquifer system. To ensure sustainable withdrawal, multi-objective optimization is an effective tool for balancing management goals and drawdown effects. However, running simulation-optimization using detailed groundwater models is computationally expensive, pushing decision-makers to decide based on limited scenarios. In this study, a hydrogeological framework was constructed for the Capital Area, Louisiana, allowing for individual assessment of each unit to better understand each aquifer's condition. Moreover, a surrogate-assisted simulation-optimization …

Chiral Fermion Anomaly As A Memory Effect, Adrián Del Río, Ivan Agullo

Faculty Publications

We study the nonconservation of the chiral charge of Dirac fields between past and future null infinity due to the Adler-Bell-Jackiw chiral anomaly. In previous investigations [A. del Rio, Phys. Rev. D 104, 065012 (2021)PRVDAQ2470-001010.1103/PhysRevD.104.065012], we found that this charge fails to be conserved if electromagnetic sources in the bulk emit circularly polarized radiation. In this article, we unravel yet another contribution coming from the nonzero, infrared "soft"charges of the external, electromagnetic field. This new contribution can be interpreted as another manifestation of the ordinary memory effect produced by transitions between different infrared sectors of Maxwell theory, but now on …

Microfluidic Isolation Of Tumor Cells Or Other Rare Cells From Whole Blood Or Other Liquids, Steven A. Soper, Michael C. Murphy, Juan Feng, Robin L. Mccarley, Andre A. Adams

College of Science Patents

No abstract provided.

Investigations Of Emerging Zoonotic And Vector-Borne Viruses At The Juncture Of Environmental, Human, And Animal Health, Erik A. Turner

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Reemerging and emerging zoonotic viruses are some of the most important public and One Health threats facing the world. Understanding the transmission dynamics of these viruses is vital to reducing the disease burden, and one of the key aspects to these transmission systems is the environmental vertex of the One Health triangle. SARS-CoV-2 has only recently emerged as a global public health threat, and within 4 years, over 700 million cases have been reported. As a novel pathogen, many aspects of transmission, including environmental fomite transmission and disinfection, were initially a glaring gap in knowledge. Additionally, while chikungunya virus (CHIKV) …

Optimizing Virulence And Understanding The Endophytic Colonization Of Metarhizium Spp. In Sweetpotato For The Control Of Cylas Formicarius Elegantulus (Summers), Santosh Bhandari

LSU Master's Theses

In the United States, control of the sweetpotato weevil [SPW, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers)] occurs through quarantine and regular use of chemical insecticides. However, an overreliance on chemical control may lead to resistance. Entomopathogenic fungi have potential to act as an alternative to chemical control. In this study, we assessed four different strains of Metarhizium isolated from soil collected in Louisiana (Mp-K048, Ma-K056, Mr-K082, and Mr-K101) and compared them to a well-known licensed strain (Mb-ARSEF 1095) for virulence against C. formicarius elegantulus. Results suggested that Mp-K048, Ma-K056, and Mr-K082 …

A Study Of Tissue-Specific Rho Signaling Activation During Tubular Organ Formation In Drosophila, Charlotte Jean-Louise Adams

LSU Master's Theses

Several organs within the human body are tubular in structure. In the event of a malfunction in the development of these tubular structures, maladies like spina bifida, anencephaly, and several other defects can arise. To understand the mechanisms of tubular organ formation, we use the Drosophila embryonic salivary gland (SG) as a model. During embryogenesis, SG cells undergo a series of cell shape changes, like apical constriction, to accommodate the developing gland. Apical constriction is regulated in part by the signal of the secreted ligand Folded gastrulation (Fog) and its G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) at the cell membrane, which leads …

Modification, Validation, And Testing Of The Eating And Food Literacy Behaviors Questionnaire With Cooking Enjoyment With Young Adult University Students, Imani J. Carr

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A modified version of the Eating and Food Literacy Behaviors Questionnaire (EFLBQ) with a new construct called cooking enjoyment was developed and validated. The instrument was titled the Eating and Food Literacy Behavior Questionnaire with Cooking Enjoyment (EFLBQ-C). The EFLBQ-C was developed with data from 18- to 30-year-olds who attended a university in the United States collected by an online survey platform. The 515 students who completed the questionnaire answered using a 4-point Likert scale of Never=1,” “Seldom=2,” “Often=3,” and “Always=4.” The responses were divided into an EFLBQ-C cohort (Group 1: 258 participants) and an EFLBQ cohort (Group 2: 257 …

Mirna As Systemic Mediators For Environmentally Persistent Free Radical-Induced Cardiovascular Dysfunction, Ankit Aryal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Air pollution is consistently linked with elevations in cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its mortality. Particulate matter (PM) is a pivotal factor in air pollution-associated CVD. PM containing environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFR) forms from the incomplete combustion of organic wastes. These products adhere to particulate matter carrying redox-active transition metals on its surface. To enable systematic research of the health impacts of EPFR, our colleagues developed a combustion method to produce EPFR-containing PM that closely resemble urban PM and validated their use for typical laboratory settings. We exposed mice to laboratory generated EPFR through whole-body inhalation and investigated their dose-dependent …

Understanding And Modeling Drivers’ En-Route Diversion Behavior During Congestion, Mohammad Shapouri

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the field of transportation, traffic assignment models primarily have been used to forecast driver route preferences, translating their choices into traffic flow patterns across networks. These models are grounded in distinct behavioral theories and strive to explain how drivers navigate routes based on network features and personal tendencies. Using an aggregation approach, conventional traffic assignment models distribute demand among paths, considering utility and attractiveness. Despite their prevalent use in transportation planning and operations, the fundamental behavioral assumptions of these models have rarely been thoroughly explored. This gap is further compounded by their limited consideration of real-time adjustments and choices …

Vegetation And Habitat Classification Of Created And Natural Brackish Marshes Via Unoccupied Aerial Systems And Potential Monitoring Applications, Seth T. Chapman

LSU Master's Theses

Louisiana’s coastal marshes are some of the most valuable natural, economic, and cultural state resources that however, have been severely deteriorating over the last century. Federal and state agencies have pooled billions of dollars into coastal restoration projects in Louisiana of which marsh creation is a primary focus. Traditional monitoring of created marshes involves in-situ vegetation sampling and aerial imagery from fixed-wing occupied aircraft, but these methods have limitations and/or can negatively impact sites. My thesis explores the use of Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS; i.e., drones) to classify vegetation and habitat in coastal marsh systems, compare habitat and vegetation cover …

From Empowerment Movement To Hijacked Hashtag: A Thematic Analysis Of #Shoutyourabortion, Sidney R. Reynen

LSU Master's Theses

This study delves into the digital landscape of the contentious abortion debate, focusing on the use and hijacking of the Shout Your Abortion hashtag. Drawing parallels to previous research on digital feminism, hashtag activism, and hashtag hijacking, this study further expands such literature by revealing shifts in anti-abortion rhetoric and strategies post-Dobbs. I identified seven themes within the supportive discourse: abortion narratives, pro-choice and other feminist rhetoric, calls to action, feminist art and shareables, reproductive health information and resources, positive-to-neutral mentions of the movement, and engagements with anti-abortion users. Within the hijacked posts, I identified five themes: Shout …

Investing In Farmland And Farmland Derivatives, Damilola Stephen Adebayo

LSU Master's Theses

Investing in farmland has evolved from the traditional ownership of farmland for farming to alternatives such as direct farmland purchases for rental income, farmland real estate investment trusts (Farmland REITs), investing in farmland stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and crowdfunding platforms. This study analyzes the dynamic relationship between physical farmland values, farmland derivative prices, and the S&P 500 using annual data from 1970 to 2021. Cointegration methods are used to analyze dynamics and the capital asset pricing model (CAPM) and Sharpe ratios to measure risk-return properties of farmland assets. It is found that real farmland values, derivatives prices, and the S&P …

Carbonate Precipitation Behavior In Co2 Mea Electrolyzers With Cu Electrocatalyst, John C. Hendershot

LSU Master's Theses

Annually, over 35 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) are emitted into Earth’s atmosphere. The accumulated CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere over the last century drive climate change. CO₂ electroreduction (CO₂ER) is an emerging technology that aims to recycle carbon emissions from the industrial sector by using CO₂, H₂O, and electricity as a feedstock to produce ethylene (C₂H₄) at current densities as high as 1 A cm^-2 and Faradaic efficiencies (FE) of 60%. However, CO₂ electrolyzers currently demonstrate poor durability at industrially relevant …

A Dance Of Resistance: The Puerto Rican Bomba As A Means To Challenge Intersections Of Discrimination On The Island, Daniel Loving

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the Puerto Rican Bomba as a multifaceted cultural and political phenomenon, focusing on its pivotal role in challenging and subverting the enduring issues of racial and gender discrimination on the Island. Drawing from an interdisciplinary framework that encompasses cultural studies, anthropology, history, performance and film studies, this research elucidates the complex interplay between Bomba's rhythmic and choreographic elements, its historical evolution, and its contemporary significance in the context of Puerto Rico's sociopolitical landscape. By analyzing Bomba's historical roots in African and indigenous traditions, its adaptation during colonial and post-colonial eras, and its ongoing relevance in the struggle …

Induction Heating Driven Heterogeneous Catalysis: Magnetically Induced Nanoparticle Catalysts, Cameron Lee Roman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Heterogeneous catalysis has been and continues to be highly studied due to being one of the cornerstones of the chemical industry. With an increasing demand for chemicals and rising costs, there is a growing need to adapt to changing feed stocks and increase production efficiency. Polymers, oxygenates, and other chemical intermediates are predicted to experience continued growth, corresponding to an increased need for olefines. Due to the abundance of shale gas, researchers and producers are interested in meeting this demand via the dehydrogenation of light alkanes.

While dehydrogenation catalysts are a valuable tool in olefin production, selectivity and deactivation remain …

Understanding The Impacts Of Molecular And Macromolecular Crowding Agents On Protein-Polymer Complex Coacervates, Shanta Biswas, Alison L. Hecht, Sadie A. Noble, Qingqiu Huang, Richard E. Gillilan, Amy Y. Xu

Faculty Publications

Complex coacervation refers to the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) process occurring between charged macromolecules. The study of complex coacervation is of great interest due to its implications in the formation of membraneless organelles (MLOs) in living cells. However, the impacts of the crowded intracellular environment on the behavior and interactions of biomolecules involved in MLO formation are not fully understood. To address this knowledge gap, we investigated the effects of crowding on a model protein-polymer complex coacervate system. Specifically, we examined the influence of sucrose as a molecular crowder and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a macromolecular crowder. Our results reveal …

The Structures And Functions Of Offices Of Academic Affairs: A Case Study, Ryan Thomas Landry

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study sought to describe how offices of academic affairs (administrative offices supporting provosts) at public, research-intensive universities in the United States are structured and what kind of work these offices do. There is a dearth of scholarly literature on the topic, indicative of an overall lack of knowledge about these organizations. From a practical standpoint, I intended for this study to contribute to the body of knowledge of higher education administration with hopes that it provides helpful insights to administrators as they consider organizational design. Using the theoretical framework of modern organization theory, I employed an embedded case study …

Modeling Multi-Grained User Preference In Location Visitation, Yingrong Qin, Chen Gao, Zhen Tu, Hongsheng Wu, Shuangqing Wei, Yue Wang, Lin Zhang, Yong Li

Faculty Publications

Location prediction acts as a fundamental service in today's location-based information platform, which helps users access locations satisfying their demands, improving both user experience and platform profit. Since users with unambiguous demands prefer specific locations while users with compound demands consider first regions and then specific locations, it is necessary to model multi-grained user preferences at different geographical scales. However, most of the existing works concentrate on user preferences at the location-scale only, which can not understand users traveling behaviors thoroughly. In this paper, we propose to model both the fine-grained user preferences at the location scale and the coarsegrained …

Evaluating Hpx And Kokkos On Risc-V Using An Astrophysics Application Octo-Tiger, Patrick Diehl, Gregor Daiss, Steven Brandt, Alireza Kheirkhahan, Hartmut Kaiser, Christopher Taylor, John Leidel

Faculty Publications

In recent years, computers based on the RISC-V architecture have raised broad interest in the high-performance computing (HPC) community. As the RISC-V community develops the core instruction set architecture (ISA) along with ISA extensions, the HPC community has been actively ensuring HPC applications and environments [10, 29] are supported. In this context, assessing the performance of asynchronous many-task runtime systems (AMT) is essential. In this paper, we describe our experience with porting of a full 3D adaptive mesh-refinement, multi-scale, multi-model, and multi-physics application, Octo-Tiger, that is based on the HPX AMT, and we explore its performance characteristics on different RISC-V …

Translation Speed Influence On Tropical Cyclone Storm Tide And Surge Generation Along The Gulf Of Mexico Coast, Samantha L. Camarda

LSU Master's Theses

This research examines tropical cyclone translation speed as a factor in storm tide and surge height upon landfall on the United States Gulf Coast. Understanding the effect of translation speed on peak storm tide/surge height is needed to better prepare for and predict future damage from tropical cyclone events. Tropical cyclone data are taken from hourly interpolated best-track HURDAT2 data from 1970–2021. This study uses the HURDAT2 hourly interpolated observation data points (24-hours) pre-landfall to landfall. Translation speed is calculated based on the distance traversed between hourly points. Peak storm tide and storm surge data are taken from SURGEDAT from …

Top Ten Priorities For Global Saltmarsh Restoration, Conservation And Ecosystem Service Research, Julien Pétillon, Emma Mckinley, Meghan Alexander, Janine B. Adams, Christine Angelini, Thorsten Balke, John N. Griffin, Tjeerd Bouma, Sally Hacker, Qiang He, Marc J.S. Hensel, Carles Ibáñez, Peter I. Macreadie, Simone Martino, Elwyn Sharps, Rhoda Ballinger, Davide De Battisti, Nicola Beaumont, Daryl Burdon, Pedro Daleo, Andrea D'Alpaos, Mollie Duggan-Edwards, Angus Garbutt, Stuart Jenkins, Cai J.T. Ladd, Heather Lewis, Giulio Mariotti, Osgur Mcdermott, Rachael Mills, Iris Möller, Stefanie Nolte, Jordi F. Pagès, Brian Silliman

Faculty Publications

Coastal saltmarshes provide globally important ecosystem services including ‘blue carbon’ sequestration, flood protection, pollutant remediation, habitat provision and cultural value. Large portions of marshes have been lost or fragmented as a result of land reclamation, embankment construction, and pollution. Sea level rise threatens marsh survival by blocking landward migration where coastlines have been developed. Research-informed saltmarsh conservation and restoration efforts are helping to prevent further loss, yet significant knowledge gaps remain. Using a mixed methods approach, this paper identifies ten research priorities through an online questionnaire and a residential workshop attended by an international, multi-disciplinary network of 35 saltmarsh experts …

Efficient Chemical-Free Degradation Of Waterborne Micropollutants With An Immobilized Dual-Porous Tio2 Photocatalyst, Daniel E. Willis, Ella C. Sheets, Mary R. Worbington, Madhusudan Kamat, Sarah K. Glass, Ma Cayla J. Caso, Tochukwu Ofoegbuna, Liz M. Diaz, Caleb Osei-Appau, Samuel D. Snow, Kevin M. Mcpeak

Faculty Publications

Photocatalytic advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) promise a chemical-free route to energy-efficient degradation of waterborne micropollutants if long-standing mass transfer and light management issues can be overcome. Herein, we developed a dual-porous photocatalytic system consisting of a mesoporous (i.e., 2-50 nm pores) TiO2 (P25) photocatalyst supported on macroporous (i.e., >50 nm pores) fused quartz fibers (P25/QF). Our reusable photocatalytic AOP reduces chemical consumption and exhibits excellent energy efficiency, demonstrated by degrading various pharmaceutical compounds (acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, and carbamazepine) in natural waters with electrical energy per order (EEO) values of 4.07, 0.96, and 1.35 kWh/m3, respectively. Compared to the conventional H2O2/UVC AOP, …

Uavs And Deep Neural Networks: An Alternative Approach To Monitoring Waterfowl At The Site Level, Zachary J. Loken

LSU Master's Theses

Understanding how waterfowl respond to habitat restoration and management activities is crucial for evaluating and refining conservation delivery programs. However, site-specific waterfowl monitoring is challenging, especially in heavily forested systems such as the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV)—a primary wintering region for ducks in North America. I hypothesized that using uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) coupled with deep learning-based methods for object detection would provide an efficient and effective means for surveying non-breeding waterfowl on difficult-to-access restored wetland sites. Accordingly, during the winters of 2021 and 2022, I surveyed wetland restoration easements in the MAV using a UAV equipped with a dual …

On Virtue Ethics Theory And Elementary Music Education, Joshua Burgos

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation uses virtue ethics theory, teacher research method, and self-study to examine how I perceive myself as contributing to cultivating virtuous persons. Virtue ethics theory, teacher research method, and self-study are empirical, using concrete methods of data generation and analysis, and conceptual, relating to studying philosophical research, ideas, and interpretations (Annas, 2007; Check & Schutt, 2012; Kemmis & McTaggart, 1988). The study aimed to discover how virtue is cultivated through music education and improve teaching practice using virtue ethics theory and empirical research to offer insight into how virtue is cultivated. The study was conducted in an elementary school …

Estuarine-Coastal Connectivity And Partial Migration Of Southern Flounder In The Gulf Of Mexico, Christopher Steffen, Shane Stephens, Michael A. Dance, Daniel L. Lippi, Christine C. Jensen, R. J.David Wells, Jay R. Rooker

Faculty Publications

Southern flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) from an estuarine complex in the Gulf of Mexico were tagged with acoustic transmitters (n = 60) from 2016 to 2018 to assess estuarine-coastal connectivity during fall/winter spawning runs. Both egress and residency behaviors were observed for adult southern flounder caught in the Galveston Bay Complex (GBC), and individuals were classified as migrators or residents based on their maximum distance detected (MDD). Migrators (MDD >5 km; mean 13.8 km) displayed directed egress out of the GBC, with individuals moving through the tidal pass in November and December, peaking in mid to late December. In contrast, residents …

Extended Defects And Linear Junctions At The Surfaces Of Topological Insulators, Eklavya Thareja

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Topological Insulators (TIs) have emerged as promising candidates for spintronics and quantum computing applications. Two properties that underlie these applications are the locking of spin and momentum of the surface electrons and topological protection of surface states. While the existence of gapless surface states is guaranteed by topology, as long as time-reversal symmetry is intact, other properties of the surface states are still tunable. Spin-momentum locking makes these states immune to scattering from non-magnetic point impurities. However, extended defects can scatter the states even with electrostatic potential. We show that a line defect with magnetic and electrostatic potential scattering hosts …

Evaluating Attack Surface Management In An Industrial Control System (Ics) Environment: Leveraging A Recon Ftw For Threat Classification And Incident Response, Nathalia De Sa Soares

LSU Master's Theses

Protecting Industrial Control Systems (ICS) from cyber threats is paramount to
ensure the reliability and security of critical infrastructure. Organizations must proactively identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their incident response capabilities as attack vectors evolve. This research explores implementing an Attack Surface Management (ASM) approach, utilizing Recon FTW, to assess an operating ICS environment’s security posture comprehensively.
The primary objective of this research is to develop a tool for performing recon-
naissance in an ICS environment with a non-intrusive approach, enabling the realistic simulation of potential threat scenarios and the identification of critical areas requiring immediate attention and remediation. We aim …

Containerized Satsuma Mandarin Production Under Protective Screens As A Management Strategy, Anna Timmerman

LSU Master's Theses

Many of the world’s citrus growing regions are experiencing challenges related to citrus greening, also known as Huanglongbing (HLB) caused by the presumed bacterial agent Candidatus Liberibacter spp. HLB is vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) and through propagation of infected citrus material. HLB impacts tree health as well as fruit development, ripening, and quality of the resulting citrus fruit, often leading to an unmarketable product. Producers are growing citrus in high density orchards underneath protective screening material that excludes the Asian citrus psyllid, preventing new HLB infections. Four ultra-high containerized tree spacings of 2 feet …

Development, Implementation, And Evaluation Of Swirl-Combustion Strategies For Optimal Performance Of Ammonia As A Fuel For Gas Turbine Engines, Varun Nanjunda Rao Viswamithra

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In an effort to reduce harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions, ammonia is being pursued as a fuel for power generation as it is a carbon-free energy source. However, the use of ammonia-air mixtures in premixed swirl combustors poses challenges due to low flame speed and reactivity resulting in combustor stability issues in addition to high Nitrous Oxide (NOx) emissions due to the presence of fuel-bound Nitrogen. The first part of this study attempts to overcome lean blowout limits of methane-ammonia-air mixtures using a novel, multi-point () injection strategy, whereby micron-sized holes on the swirler vanes generate a co-flowing stream …