Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Machine Learning Based Models For Simulation And Analysis Of Bulk Earth Melt System, Abin Shakya

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Understanding the segregation of bulk Earth melt systems into metallic (core) and silicate (mantle) phases under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions is central to modeling Earth’s interior, yet relevant experimental and computational studies remain limited. This work develops a machine learning–based simulation pipeline that iteratively couples first-principles (quantum mechanical) calculations with neural network training to generate high-fidelity force fields. Using major-element Fe–Mg–Si–O melt systems, with and without H and N, as testbeds, we demonstrate that this framework enables large-scale molecular dynamics simulations at near first-principles accuracy. We further introduce a sequence of phase identification methods, progressing from statistical binning of elemental …

Extremal Connectivity In Graphs And Matroids, Yiwei Ge

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Connectivity is a central theme in both graph theory and matroid theory. This dissertation investigates extremal connectivity in graphs and matroids, with emphasis on unavoidable structures and minimal connectivity phenomena.

Chapter 2 introduces cycle-contraction minors of graphs and investigates their structural properties. We establish a connection between cc-minors and induced subgraphs via graph duality. The main result gives an unavoidable-families characterization for cc-minors of sufficiently large loopless $2$-connected graphs.

Chapter 3 studies super-minimally $3$-connected graphs, namely $3$-connected graphs that have no proper $3$-connected subgraphs. We establish extremal bounds on structural parameters of these graphs, including the minimum number of degree-$3$ …

Circuits And Enumeration Problems For Matroids, Christine H. Cho

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation is a collection of work concerning the structure and enumeration of circuits and other distinguished sets in a matroid. The Tutte polynomial, recognized as the universal deletion-contraction invariant in matroid and graph theory, is a natural starting point when considering enumeration problems for matroids. The main result in Chapter 2 generalizes a theorem of Dean Lucas concerning the Tutte polynomial and its behavior under rank-preserving weak maps. This generalization provides an avenue for comparing the numbers of circuits, bases, rank-k flats, and hyperplanes of a matroid containing an element given two distinct, yet related, elements.

Chapter 3 addresses …

Effect Of Light Elements On The Melting Behavior Of Liquid Iron Alloys Under Earth’S Inner Core Boundary Conditions, Olaniyi Anisere

LSU Master's Theses

The temperature at Earth’s inner core boundary (ICB) is set by the melting temperature of the iron-rich outer core at core pressures, yet this remains uncertain because melting depends strongly on composition and pressure. Light elements are required to explain the core’s density deficit, but the identity, abundance, and combined influence of these elements on melting under ICB conditions are still debated. This thesis quantifies how candidate light elements modify the melting behavior of iron alloys at ICB-relevant pressures and uses these composition-dependent melting relations to constrain ICB temperature.

Melting relations were determined using molecular dynamics simulations in VASP accelerated …

Curriculum For A Two Semester Calculus Course Specializing In Life Science And Data Science, Patrick Mcclain

LSU Master's Theses

Traditionally, introductory calculus has been designed for engineering and physics students, often leaving students majoring in data science or life sciences with a curriculum that lacks professional relevance and is overly reliant on problems that focus on computational fluency. This thesis proposes a two-semester sequence, called MATH 153X and MATH 154X, specifically tailored for the Louisiana State University (LSU) Dual Enrollment program and university-level data science and life sciences majors. By integrating modern computational tools—such as symbolic calculators and artificial intelligence (AI) tools—the proposed curriculum shifts the pedagogical focus from procedural symbolic manipulation toward conceptual literacy.

Through a series …

Marine Vehicle Dynamics Using Koopman Operator Theory With Hybrid Observables, Mikhalib A L Green

LSU Master's Theses

Accurate modeling of marine vehicle dynamics remains challenging due to strong nonlinear hydrodynamic effects, environmental disturbances, and sensitivity to configuration changes, particularly for small-scale platforms. Classical physics-based models require extensive parameter identification and often exhibit degraded performance outside narrow operating regimes, while purely data-driven approaches may lack structure or impose high computational cost. This thesis presents a data-driven Koopman operator framework with hybrid observables for modeling the dynamics of unmanned marine vehicles. The proposed approach combines structured monomial observables with a learned neural network embedding to construct a lifted state representation in which the nonlinear vehicle dynamics are approximated by …

Large-Scale File Fragment Classification Via Multi-View Learning, Samuel Hildebrand

LSU Master's Theses

File reassembly is one of the most fundamental tasks in digital forensics, enabling recovery of data from potentially damaged storage media even when file system metadata is unavailable. This thesis reviews more than two decades of work in the realm of file carving, with a particular focus on fragmented file carving, which remains a focus of research, and file fragment classification, a principal component of fragmented file carving. This thesis serves a literature review of both file carving and fragmented file carving, surveys the massive amounts of data needed for the task of fragment classification and the datasets that serve …

Recovery And Validation Of Fragmented Rar Files Through The Scalpel3 Application, Thomas L. Landaiche Iii

LSU Master's Theses

A core component of filesystems includes an address table or other means of tracking metadata on where a given file resides within a disk image. This is crucial for regular operation of a computer, or disk analysis in digital forensics. When filesystem information is missing or corrupted, locating saved files on a disk becomes challenging. Whether the disk was accidentally wiped or intentionally tampered with, data still present on the disk, even while untracked, can possibly be recovered beyond what the filesystem registers. File carving in digital forensics is important for these scenarios when data recovery is necessary but address …

From Network Packets To Physical Consequences: Network-Level Spoofing And Loss Of Visibility In Industrial Control Systems, Lillian B. Beck

LSU Master's Theses

Industrial Control Systems (ICS) are the foundation of critical infrastructure as they provide resources like clean water, electricity, and natural gas to support our everyday functions. Given their essential role in modern society, the failure or compromise of ICS systems can lead to significant negative consequences and public safety impacts. Understanding how these systems can be targeted and exploited by malicious actors is necessary to improve their security and resilience.

This research examines how an attacker could manipulate a real-world ICS network by targeting a fully functional Natural Gas (NG) Compressor Station Platform that emulates real operations. This research led …

Forbidden Induced Restrictions And Unavoidable Minors In Matroids, Matthew P. Mizell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Targets are matroids that arise from a nested sequence of flats in a projective geometry. This class of matroids was introduced by Nelson and Nomoto, who found the forbidden induced restrictions for binary targets. In this dissertation, their result is generalized to targets arising from projective geometries over $GF(q)$. In addition, targets arising from nested sequences of affine flats are introduced and the forbidden induced restrictions for these affine targets are determined.

In 1963, Halin and Jung proved that every simple graph with minimum degree at least four has $K_5$ or $K_{2,2,2}$ as a minor. Mills and Turner proved an …

Biogeochemical Controls On Phosphorus Transport And Legacy Storage Across A Coastal Watershed, Lee Potter

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Excess phosphorus (P) loading is a key driver of eutrophication and harmful algal blooms (HABs) in aquatic systems worldwide. This relationship is of increasing concern in coastal Louisiana, where climate variability, altered hydrology, and land-use change converge, resulting in increased hydrologic and nutrient loading into coastal systems. This dissertation examines controls on P cycling in the Lake Pontchartrain Basin through a multi-scale framework linking estuarine processes, watershed loading, climate and weather patterns, and sediment dynamics. The dissertation begins with an overview of the study region, P dynamics, and changes in hydrology and nutrient loading patterns. Chapter 2 presents a spatial …

Minimal Supersolution Of Bsdes Driven By Continuous Martingales In A General Filtration, Badr Elmansouri, Mohamed El Otmani

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

In this paper, we study minimal supersolutions of backward stochastic differential equations (BSDEs) driven by a continuous local martingale in a general filtration. We establish existence, uniqueness, and stability results under various mild conditions on the terminal value and the generator. Additionally, we explore the connection between the concept of non-linear expectation and minimal supersolutions, emphasizing the specific properties that are relevant to our framework. We also prove a general monotonic limit theorem and apply this result to determine the smallest constrained supersolution of a BSDE with a possibly non-convex constraint.

Arbitrage-Free Pricing With Diffusion-Dependent Jumps, Hamza A. Virk, Yihren Wu, Majnu John

Journal of Stochastic Analysis

Standard jump-diffusion models assume independence between jumps and diffusion components. We develop a multi-type jump-diffusion model where jump occurrence and magnitude depend on contemporaneous diffusion movements. Unlike previous one-sided models that create arbitrage opportunities, our framework includes upward and downward jumps triggered by both large upward and large downward diffusion increments. We derive the explicit no-arbitrage condition linking the physical drift to model pa- rameters and market risk premia by constructing an Equivalent Martingale Measure using Girsanov’s theorem and a normalized Esscher transform. This condition provides a rigorous foundation for arbitrage-free pricing in models with diffusion-dependent jumps.

Improving Stem Assessments: Strategies For Increasing The Accessibility And Adoption Of Two-Stage Exams, Kristina Callaghan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Over three decades of research have shown that students taught using active learning strategies achieve better learning outcomes compared to those taught using traditional methods. Two-stage exams, which pair a traditional exam with a group component, are an increasingly popular method for incorporating active learning within the assessment component of a course. Previous studies have shown this assessment strategy provides a variety of benefits for students, including increased engagement and collaboration, immediate feedback, and potentially increased content retention. However, the unique circumstances of each instructor can pose a non-trivial barrier to the implementation of two-stage exams. In this thesis, we …

Applications For The Quasi-Atomic Orbital And Constrained Density Functional Theory Methods On Catalytic Reactions, Alvaro David Loaiza Orduz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Selective activation of C–O, C–H, and C–C bonds underpins biomass upgrading, alkane functionalization, and CO₂ conversion. Despite their importance, the electronic factors governing catalytic performance remain incompletely understood, and many industrial processes still rely on empirical trends or material-specific observations. This dissertation addresses this gap by applying density functional theory (DFT), thermodynamic decomposition, and electronic-structure analysis to identify unifying principles of reactivity across transition-metal phosphides, vanadate oxides, copper-based electrocatalysts, and mixed IrO₂–RuO₂ layers. This work examines how charge transfer, orbital localization, and ligand-induced perturbations control reaction pathways in diverse catalytic systems. C–O bond scission in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MTHF) and methanol was …

Measurement Of 18f(Alpha,P)21ne With The Array For Nuclear Astrophysics And Structure With Exotic Nuclei (Anasen), Keilah S. Davis

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Certain (α,p) reactions on proton-rich nuclei are among the most important nuclear reactions occurring during Type I X-ray bursts, as well as being impactful in stellar explosions during the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) phase and on accreting white dwarfs (WD). However, large uncertainties remain for reaction rates on some radioactive nuclei due to the lack of direct measurements. The Array for Nuclear Astrophysics and Structure with Exotic Nuclei (ANASEN) is a gas target and charged-particle detector designed for direct measurements of (α,p) reactions. ANASEN was redesigned with two hexagonal barrels of 100-µm-thick silicon strip surrounding the beam axis over a …

Metacommunity Coupled Epidemiological And Biophysical Modeling Of An Emergent Coral Disease, Benjamin Holmes Farmer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Emerging infectious diseases pose imminent risk to the marine realm and coral reefs in particular. Since its emergence in 2014, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has dramatically reduced living coral cover in Florida and charted a similar course in the Caribbean. SCTLD is by far the most severe coral disease in history and has driven highly susceptible species to local extinction, yet the mechanisms driving the regional epizootic are not well understood. Here, we developed reef-scale parameterizations of disease spread using model sites in the lower Florida Keys, developed extensive metacommunity habitat maps for the US Caribbean, and then …

Supplemental Bibliographic Details. From 2001 Mars Odyssey To Earth’S Climate Crisis: Integrating Gamma Spectroscopy, Martian Soil Simulants, And Plant Genomes For Agroecology, Anchored In Sri Lanka’S Mars-Context Serpentinites, Suniti Karunatillake, Maheshi Dassanayake, Carlos Gary Bicas

Planetary Science Lab

Bibliographic details follow to supplement hyperlinked citations in the multinational GANGOTRI-supporting project conceived by Karunatillake, Dassanayake, and Gary-Bicas

Quantifying Uncertainty In Landscape Evolution And Provenance Analysis: Insights From Statistical And Numerical Modelling, Vivian Carmello Grom

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Landscape evolution models (LEMs) and detrital zircon provenance are widely used to investigate Earth surface processes, yet both face challenges related to quantifying model behavior and interpreting sedimentary signals under realistic, heterogeneous conditions. This thesis addresses these challenges through analysis and case studies that develop and apply new approaches for analyzing landscape dynamics and assessing uncertainties in sediment provenance.

Chapter 1 introduces a quantitative framework for evaluating LEM outputs using Shannon Entropy, Moran’s I, and Geary’s C. Applied to simulations with steady uplift, periodic uplift, spatially variable uplift, and a timeseries of DEMs, these metrics capture spatial organization and information …

Satellite-Mediated Quantum Clock Synchronization: Towards Precise Timing At A Global Scale, Sage B. Ducoing

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Accurate timekeeping is essential for scientific and technological advancements, particularly in areas of communication, networking, navigation, and high precision measurements. While many methods of time resolution are already established using classical resources, they fail to combine high precision outcomes with large-scale implementations. Additionally, numerous quantum networking architectures using satellite-assisted methods have demonstrated quantum communication on scales exceeding ground-based methods. For these reasons, we propose the use of a time synchronization method by which pairs of highly time-correlated photons are exchanged between clocks on satellites and clocks on Earth, al- lowing users to reconstruct the time offsets between their clocks. This …

Properties Of Liquid Fe-Ni Alloys Under Planetary Core Conditions And Their Geophysical Implications, Sajin Satyal

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The composition of Earth’s core remains unsolved, yet it carries critical implications for planetary evolution, thermal history, magnetic fields, and habitability. Planetary models derived from seismological observations, such as the Preliminary Reference Earth Model (PREM), indicate that Earth’s core is significantly less dense than pure iron, implying the presence of light elements, including sulfur, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and silicon. However, the exact composition and distribution of these elements remain largely unknown. In constraining Earth’s core composition, the density and compressional wave velocity of iron-rich alloys are often compared with seismologically derived models. However, no single iron–light-element alloy can simultaneously reproduce …

Computational Data Analysis, Kathryn S. Biles

LSU Master's Theses

Data science has emerged as a cornerstone of innovation, shaping an ever-expanding range

of professional careers. As technology advances and the volume of data expands expo-

nentially, the ability to extract meaningful insights from data has become indispensable

across industries. Far from representing a single career path, data science enables profes-

sionals in nearly every domain to make informed decisions, optimize systems, and drive

innovation. Yet, many high school students and incoming college freshmen have limited

exposure to data science fundamentals or the career opportunities they unlock. This is

the gap that Computational Data Analysis, a high school-level curriculum I …

Effects Of Code Scaffolding In Increasing Student Confidence In Programming Cryptography, John Denny

LSU Master's Theses

Cryptography is essential for secure communications, and new threats require more students willing to program and interact with cryptographic systems. Previous research is focused on tools for teaching these systems at a high level, teaching through attacks against these systems, and proper use of these systems in software development. In this paper, we seek to design a workshop to use scaffolded Python code to teach how these cryp- tographic systems are designed. We explore the use of code scaffolding for students to program an example implementation of the McEliece crypto- graphic system to build confidence in working with these systems. …

Determining The 17f(Α,P)20ne Reaction Rate For Application In Type I X-Ray Bursts, William Braverman

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The ¹⁷F(α, p)²⁰Ne reaction has been identified as an alternate pathway for breakout from the hot-CNO cycle that can be important in some X-ray burst scenarios. The ¹⁷F(α, p)²⁰Ne reaction rate was previously determined through a parameterized exponential S-factor with a large enhancement from thermally-excited states based on statistical models with large uncertainties. We have measured the time-inverse ²⁰Ne(p,α)¹⁷F cross section at center-of-mass energies ranging from 5.50 to 7.10 MeV using an activation method with a proton beam on a neon gas cell. Coincident detections of 511-keV γ-rays, resulting from electron-positron …

Practical Real-Time Permanent Magnet Energy Spectrometer Using A Diode Array For Therapeutic Electron Beam Tuning And Quality Assurance, Mason W. Heath

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Purpose: Develop a practical, real-time permanent magnet electron energy spectrometer and evaluate it for beam tuning and quality assurance (QA) of therapeutic electron beams.

Methods: Aim 1: A 0.55 T permanent magnet was coupled to Sun Nuclear SRS MapCHECK® PC boards, providing two interlaced diode arrays. Detector response, R_meas(z_diode) versus diode position z_diode, was extracted from raw diode array readings, correcting for diode sensitivity and other factors. Using Monte Carlo (MC) computed, monoenergetic detector response functions, a curve-fitting algorithm extracted the energy spectrum, from R_meas(z_diode). The energy spectra for 7-20 …

Exploring Runtime Evolution In Android: A Cross-Version Analysis And Its Implications For Memory Forensics., Babangida Bappah

LSU Master's Theses

Userland memory forensics has become a critical component of smartphone investigations and incident response, enabling the recovery of volatile evidence such as deleted messages from end-to-end encrypted apps and cryptocurrency transactions. However, these forensics tools, particularly on Android, face significant challenges in adapting to different versions and maintaining reliability over time due to the constant evolution of low-level structures critical for evidence recovery and reconstruction. Structural changes, ranging from simple offset modifications to complete architectural redesigns, pose substantial maintenance and adaptability issues for forensic tools that rely on precise structure interpretation. Thus, this paper presents the first systematic study of …

Dynamics Of Meandering River Cutoffs And Post-Cutoff Sedimentation, Dylan T. Shoemaker

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Meander cutoffs are pivotal events in the life cycle of rivers, abruptly adjusting flow fields and reshaping riparian environments. The consequences of cutoffs extend beyond geomorphology, influencing aquatic ecosystems, sediment storage within the floodplain, nutrient and contaminant cycling, and risks to human infrastructure. Yet, research of cutoffs has not produced a clear conceptual understanding of the persistence of oxbow lakes, and the dynamics of post-cutoff planform change that aligns with the observations of cutoff events on a global scale. This research aims to use satellite imagery to further clarify our understanding of the post-cutoff morphometrics and processes that constrain the …

Synthesis And Evaluation Of Bodipy-, Azabodipy- And Chlorin-Based Conjugates For Imaging And Photodynamic Therapy Of Egfr-Overexpressing Cancers, Simran Dhingra

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation discusses the design of EGFR-targeted small-molecule agents that unite molecular imaging with photodynamic therapy. Chapter 1 frames the clinical need for early detection and selective treatment and surveys BODIPY, aza-BODIPY, and chlorin scaffolds as tunable chromophores for near-infrared imaging and photosensitization. It also outlines EGFR as a validated target and compares two ligand classes used throughout this work: the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib and the cyclic peptide KLARLLT.

Chapter 2 describes the synthesis of a near-IR BODIPY bearing either one or two erlotinib units. Docking and SPR show specific interactions with the EGFR kinase domain, and both conjugates …

Versatile Nitration Of Bodipy Dyes Using No₂Bf₄: Effects Of Nitro Substituents On Spectroscopic And Self-Assembly Properties, Caroline Sarange Gwaro

LSU Master's Theses

This study explores the regioselective nitration of BODIPY dyes at the 2, 3- and 2,6-positions using nitronium tetrafluoroborate (NO₂BF₄), offering a high-yielding and mild synthetic route. The introduction of nitro groups significantly alters the dyes’ photophysical and self-assembly properties. Mono-nitrated BODIPYs exhibit hypsochromic shifts in absorption and emission spectra, increased dipole moments, enhanced Stokes shifts, and reduced molar absorptivity. In contrast, di-nitrated analogs show bathochromic shifts and decreased dipole moments in both ground and excited states. Spectroscopic characterization was performed using UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy, supported by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Self-assembly behavior was investigated in polar (acetonitrile) and …

Establishing A Framework Of Best Management Practices For Sustainable Water Quality: Integration Of Technology And Remote Sensing, Mason L. Marcantel

LSU Master's Theses

Water quality security is a complex management issue that is constantly challenged by factors of seasonal variability in climate change, urban population growth, and agricultural intensification. These factors warrant the need for innovative technological adaptations to management practices that integrate remote monitoring, predictive modeling, and sustainable resource utilization. This study establishes a framework for sustainable water quality practices through the integration of remote sensing technology for urban wastewater treatment and agricultural irrigation systems. This dual-site research study explores seasonal water quality dynamics and technological interventions to create a more proactive approach to water quality security.

In the first study, water …