Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Advances In Quantum Optical Metrology And The Establishment Of An Invisible Quantum Tripwire, Steven Blane Mccracken

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This thesis presents a summary of the foundation and background of the field of quantum optics, and an analysis of some recent discoveries in various fields of which I have aided in furthering investigative research and advancement through publications. Such topics include numerical optimization of generalized quantum states used in phase sensitive quantum metrology, an analysis of object detection through the use of quantum interferometry in the presence of lossy conditions, and the use of the latter technique to propose an invisible quantum tripwire. First is a collaborative effort to numerically optimize quantum optical states for quantum metrological applications. We …

Assessing Effectiveness Of Concept Map As Instructional Tool In High School Biology, Ritchie Adlaon

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis emphasizes on an alternate instructional tool called “Concept Map”. The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of using concept maps in improving the science achievement of 10th -grade students and compare it with a traditional approach for a Biology unit. Furthermore, the interaction of the student’s concept mapping ability and their learning gains was investigated. Both the control and the experimental groups were required to take a pre test before instruction and a posttest at the end of three weeks. The test consisting of 31 questions was used to assess learning gains on a Biology …

Comprehensive Planning And Resilience: A Study Of Louisiana Parishes After Hurricane Katrina, Mary Paille

LSU Master's Theses

When hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in 2005, widespread devastation was felt in over half of the parishes in the state. More than 200,000 homes were damaged and more than 1500 people lost their lives. During this transitionary period, communities were vulnerable and looked for rebuilding leadership. As part of a post-catastrophe resilience movement, the Louisiana Recovery Authority formulated a 50-year regional plan for recovering south Louisiana called Louisiana Speaks. This planning process opened up an opportunity to reach those communities that otherwise may not have considered planning or how it could help them prepare for future events. This places …

Investigations Into The Role Of Humic Acid In Biomembrane Permeability And The Effects Of Naturally Formed Gold And Silver Nanoparticles On These Interactions, Loice Marklyne Ojwang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The mechanism and kinetics of the interaction of humic acids (HAs) with a 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-Sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (POPC) large unilamellar vesicle (LUV) model biomembrane system were studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. All three HAs studied induced a perturbation to the biomembrane bilayer structure at pH 4.8. Concentration dependence studies revealed that biomembrane perturbation increased with increasing HA concentrations for Suwannee River HA (SWHA) from 0 to 20 mg C/L. For both Leonardite HA (LAHA) and Florida Peat HA (FPHA) aggregation influenced biomembrane perturbation at concentrations above 5 and 7.5 mg C/L, respectively. Temperature studies over the environmentally relevant ranges of 10 to 30 °C …

Design Of Electron Dual Foil Scattering Systems For Elekta Infinity Radiotherapy Accelerators, Justin Deloy Leblanc

LSU Master's Theses

Purpose: To design a dual foil scattering system within Elekta Infinity radiotherapy accelerator constraints that results in clinical electron beams that meet flatness criteria of ±3% (±4%) along its principal axes (diagonal axes) for the 25x25cm2 applicator and most probable surface energies of 7-20 MeV (1 MeV increments). Methods: An analytical electron dual scattering foil system simulator was commissioned and verified using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Verification required comparing analytical simulator with MC-calculated electron fluence profiles for identical geometries: (1) only primary foil and (2) both primary and secondary foils in the beam. Also, simulator-calculated bremsstrahlung dose was validated by …

The Effects Of Spatial Confinement And Oxygen Stoichiometry On Complex Metal Oxides, Zhaoliang Liao

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Complex metal oxides, such as transition-metal oxides, appearing with exotic properties and optimal functionalities, present formidable challenges in condensed matter physics, while at the same time, immense opportunities in materials science and engineering. The signature of these materials is the multitude of competing ground states that can be tuned or manipulated by doping, structural modification, strain induction, or the application of external stimulus, such as pressure, electric or magnetic fields, etc. The interest in these materials stems from the richness of their novel properties, the complexity of underlying physics, and the promise of technological applications. Novel phenomena emerge by spatial …

Cluster Based Jamming And Countermeasures For Wireless Sensor Network Mac Protocols, David Trammell

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a collection of wireless nodes, usually with limited computing resources and available energy. The medium access control layer (MAC layer) directly guides the radio hardware and manages access to the radio spectrum in controlled way. A top priority for a WSN MAC protocol is to conserve energy, however tailoring the algorithm for this purpose can create or expose a number of security vulnerabilities. In particular, a regular duty cycle makes a node vulnerable to periodic jamming attacks. This vulnerability limits the use of use of a WSN in applications requiring high levels of security. …

Ionic Materials For Applications In Sensing And Optoelectronics, Sergio L. De Rooy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Organic salts consist of bulky anions and/or cations whose properties can be tailored for specific purposes. Ionic liquids (ILs) are (semi)organic salts with melting points below 100 ºC. They typically exhibit neglible vapor pressures, high thermal stability, wide liquidus range, and tunable solubility. Moreover specific functions can be built into their respective ions. The first part of the dissertation involves discussions of chiral ionic liquids with additional protic, magnetic, and magneto-luminescent properties, respectively. In addition to their enantioselective sensing capabilities, the ILs may find use in chiral separations and catalysis. The second part of the dissertation involves discussions of fluorescent …

Ecology Of Rusty Blackbirds Wintering In Louisiana: Seasonal Trends, Flock Composition And Habitat Associations, Emma Elizabeth Deleon

LSU Master's Theses

With an estimated population loss of at least 5% annually and a 100-year history of decline, Rusty Blackbirds (Euphagus carolinus) are one of the fastest declining bird species in North America. Determining cause of decline is important, both for conserving the species and for identifying threats to the wooded wetland ecosystems they use on their boreal breeding-grounds and their wintering-grounds in the southeastern United States. One hypothesis is that loss of wintering ground habitat, possibly in conjunction with competition or disease, is causing Rusty Blackbird decline. To determine contribution of wintering ground conditions, it is important to understand the behaviors …

Object Protocols As A Tool For Debugging Method Call Sequencing Constraints, Ronald William Gilkey

LSU Master's Theses

Clearly conveying and enforcing the proper ordering of method calls on objects has become a common problem among developers and interface designers. Without the ability of the compilation environment to enforce these constraints, programmers must rely on clear documentation being provided and diligence in programming to ensure that a proper sequence of operations is performed. Commonly, though, type-checking becomes the only tool to help support the correctness of operation sequences as API documentation rarely describes inter-object communications. Thus, the likeliness of producing erroneous and buggy software increases. Object protocols provide a simple and straight-forward approach to solving this problem. They …

Total Synthesis Of A Virotoxin And Analogs For Conformational Studies, Benson Jumba Edagwa

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation describes the first total synthesis of alloviroidin in trace amounts, along with that of three analogs containing L-proline (Pro), trans-3-hydroxyproline (3-Hyp) or cis-4-hydroxyproline (4-hyp) residue substituting for 2,3-trans-3,4-trans-dihydroxyproline in the natural product. We report herein an efficient strategy that provides a dipeptide containing a (2S,4S)-4,5-dihydroxyleucine (dihyLeu) residue, including a diastereoselective dihydroxylation. Nα-Carbobenzyloxy-(2S)-4,5-dehydroleucine was coupled with valine ethyl ester to give a dipeptide that was subjected to a Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation to introduce the diol. The relative configuration at C4 was assigned as S by X-ray crystallography after derivatization as an α-amino-γ-lactone hydrochloride salt. The preparation of the 2-(methylsulfonyl)tryptophan …

Pah Concentrations Found Within Gulf Menhaden (Brevoortia Patronus) Populations Located Off Of The South/Southeast Coast Of Louisiana, Gregory Michael Olson

LSU Master's Theses

In April 2010, large quantities of crude oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) raising questions about the possible contamination of marine organisms with constituents of concern known as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). In order to determine the impact of the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) crude oil spill, Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) were harvested from two coastal regions of Louisiana. Tissue analysis to determine total PAH concentration was conducted using an adapted matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) method; a Soxhlet extraction process was used to determine fish oil to mass ratios for “small” (fork length < 16 cm) and “large” (fork length > 16 cm) menhaden. Menhaden …

The Effects Of Teaching Style On Student Learning Of Dna, Rebecca Branton

LSU Master's Theses

New methods and practices are constantly being introduced in education due to new research that emerges as a push for student achievement increases. We as teachers must adapt to these new ideas to ensure student success. This study was completed to determine if inquiry-based teaching methods would be more beneficial in learning Biology concepts than traditional lecture instruction. The students were divided into two groups, which differed based solely on their instructional format. The activities involved in this study included inquiry-based activities and traditional activities, i.e. PowerPoints, guided notes, experiments and worksheets. The participants in this study, students in a …

The Effect Of Inorganic Fillers On The Properties Of Wood Plastic Composites, Birm June Kim

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The effect of inorganic fillers including precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), glass fiber (GF), and nano-clay on properties of structured WPCs was investigated. In PCC-bamboo-polymer hybrid composites, tensile and flexural moduli were improved with increasing PCC content. After silane treatment of bamboo, RBF-filled hybrid composites showed better mechanical properties compared to those of GBP-filled hybrid composites. The hybrid composites showed 3-4 times higher modulus than those of PCC-filled composites at high PCC levels. Various property differences were observed between weak- and strong-core coextruded systems with shell composition changes. While the weak-core systems showed improved flexural strengths compared to their core-only control, …

The Effects Of Oyster Harvest On Resident Oyster Reef Communities And Reef Structure In Coastal Louisiana Proper, Steven Lee Beck

LSU Master's Theses

Harvest of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is a primary contributor to oyster reef habitat disturbance in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The impacts of oyster dredging on reef substrate and resident fauna have not been thoroughly examined on the extensive sub-tidal oyster reefs of Louisiana. Several reef structure and resident community metrics were compared on unharvested and harvested reefs during the spring, summer, and fall of 2010. Unharvested reefs had higher amounts of oyster clusters, solid reef substrate, and more large oysters, while harvested reefs had higher amounts of loose shell, mixed shell/mud substrate, and elevated chlorophyll-a levels. Overall, …

Semantically-Aware Data Discovery And Placement In Collaborative Computing Environments, Xinqi Wang

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

As the size of scientific datasets and the demand for interdisciplinary collaboration grow in modern science, it becomes imperative that better ways of discovering and placing datasets generated across multiple disciplines be developed to facilitate interdisciplinary scientific research.

For discovering relevant data out of large-scale interdisciplinary datasets. The development and integration of cross-domain metadata is critical as metadata serves as the key guideline for organizing data. To develop and integrate cross-domain metadata management systems in interdisciplinary collaborative computing environment, three key issues need to be addressed: the development of a cross-domain metadata schema; the implementation of a metadata management system …

Design And Analysis Of Peer 2 Peer Operating System, Anudeep Meka

LSU Master's Theses

The peer to peer computing paradigm has become a popular paradigm for deploying distributed applications. Examples: Kadmelia, Chord, Skype, Kazaa, Big Table. Multiagent systems have become a dominant paradigm within AI for deploying reasoning and analytics applications. Such applications are compute-intensive. In disadvantaged networks the ad-hoc architecture is the most suitable one. Examples: military scenarios, disaster scenarios. We combine the paradigms of peer-to-peer computing, multiagent systems, cloud computing, and ad-hoc networks to create the new paradigm of ad-hoc peer-to-peer mobile agent cloud (APMA cloud) that can provide the computing power of a cloud in “disadvantaged” regions (e.g., through RF using …

Effect Of Hurricane Forward Speed And Approach Angle On Coastal Storm Surge, Chenguang Zhang

LSU Master's Theses

Hurricane induced storm surges can be destructive and can pose great threats to coastal communities. There are many factors affecting storm surges, including the hurricane’s intensity and movement, the bathymetry and coastline of affected area, rainfall, tide, and river stage. This thesis focuses on the effects of hurricane approach angle (θ) and forward speed (U), which together describe the hurricane’s motion. The problem is approached through several numerical experiments with increasing complexity. First are some process studies of long wave propagations near the coast, followed by examination of the generation of long waves by a traveling wind field. The central …

An Extensible And Scalable Pilot-Mapreduce Framework For Data Intensive Applications On Distributed Cyberinfrastructure, Pradeep Kumar Mantha

LSU Master's Theses

The volume and complexity of data that must be analyzed in scientific applications is increasing exponentially. Often, this data is distributed; thus, the ability to analyze data by localizing it will yield limited returns. Therefore, an efficient processing of large distributed datasets is required, whilst ideally not introducing fundamentally new programming models or methods. For example, extending MapReduce - a proven effective programming model for processing large datasets, to work more effectively on distributed data and on different infrastructure (such as non-Hadoop, general-purpose clusters) is desirable. We posit that this can be achieved with an effective and efficient runtime environment …

Neutrino Data Analysis Using The Side Muon Range Detector (Smrd) Of The Tokai To Kamiokande (T2k) Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment, Jeremiah John Haremza

LSU Master's Theses

In this thesis we describe data quality considerations for the Side Muon Rang Detector (SMRD), one of the six sub-detectors of the ND280 near detector of the Tokai to Kamiokande (T2K) long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment. Herein we show that the data quality of the SMRD has taken good data 99.9584% of the time it has been recording data. Also, 99.676% of SMRD data channels are shown to be operating optimally. In addition we discuss the stability of the SMRD. We _x000C_find that based on a subset of data unbiased cosmic triggers have light yield of 112.8 +/- 0.3 p.e. …

Do Learning Logs Have An Impact On The Conceptual Mastery Of Force And Motion?: Subtitle, John Arthur Underwood

LSU Master's Theses

This two-week study was conducted to investigate the impact Learning Logs have on student conceptual mastery of force, motion, and kinematics. To begin the study a sample of 554 ninth grade students were selected from a suburban public school in Louisiana. The students were randomly divided into experimental and control groups within four teachers’ classrooms. This distribution was to examine the impact of Learning Logs regardless of the teaching style or time of day. Upon the study’s conclusion there was no significant differences noted due to teaching style or time of day. The Force Motion Concept Evaluation (FMCE) was used …

The Feasibility Of Using Megavoltage Ct For The Treatment Planning Of Hdr Cervical Brachytherapy With Shielded Tandem And Ovoid Applicators, Jeffrey Roger Kemp

LSU Master's Theses

Purpose/Objectives: A drawbackof tandem and ovoid (T&O) ICBT is exposure of the posterior bladder and anterior rectal walls to relatively high isodoses. To mitigate this effect, intra-ovoid shielding may be used to reducedose to these OARs. However, metal artifactspresent in images acquired via kVCT make anatomy segmentation and catheter localization difficult for the purpose of 3D treatment planning. We present a method that combines MVCT-based imaging and applicator modeling to increase the quality of 3D treatment plans for shielded T&O ICBT. Materials/Methods: Using Oncentra’s TPS, 9 participants from multiple institutions performed organ segmentation and catheter reconstruction for KVCT and MVCT …

Effects Of Varying Land Use On Headwater Stream Fish Assemblages And In-Stream Habitats In Southwestern Louisiana, Alexandra Marie Fitzgerald

LSU Master's Theses

Although watershed land use effects on in-stream fish habitat and fish-macrohabitat associations have been widely studied in the past, low-gradient, coastal Louisiana streams have been poorly described in the literature. In this thesis, I report the results of a two-year study exploring relationships among regional land use, in-stream physical habitat, and headwater stream fish assemblages. In chapter two, I examined in-stream habitat variables such as depth, flow, and substrate combined with three-pass electrofishing depletion estimates at thirteen 100-m stream sites. I used a combination of principle component analysis and structural equation modeling to determine if trends were present in the …

Hypercube Diagrams For Knots, Links, And Knotted Tori, Ben Mccarty

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

For a knot K the cube number is a knot invariant defined to be the smallest n for which there is a cube diagram of size n for K. Examples of knots for which the cube number detects chirality are presented. There is also a Legendrian version of this invariant called the Legendrian cube number. We will show that the Legendrian cube number distinguishes the Legendrian left hand torus knots with maximal Thurston-Bennequin number and maximal rotation number from the Legendrian left hand torus knots with maximal Thurston-Bennequin number and minimal rotation number. Finally, there is a generalization of cube …

Chemical And Biological Evaluation Of Antibiotic-Based Ionic Liquids And Gumbos Against Pathogenic Bacteria, Marsha Rae Cole

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The research presented in this dissertation explores a novel pragmatic therapeutic approach for control, prevention, and treatment of infectious disease using Active-Pharmaceutical Ingredient-based Ionic Liquids (API-ILs) and Groups of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts (GUMBOS). Accordingly, several antiseptic- and antibiotic-based API-ILs and GUMBOS were synthesized and characterized using a combination of analytical and microbiological techniques. Overall, this research presents an advanced alternative to combination antibiotic therapy by using a novel group of ionic antimicrobial materials that have controlled pharmacokinetics, improved bioavailabilities, reduced toxicities, multi-modal properties, and potent antimicrobial spectrum of activity as a viable alternative to combating bacterial infections. …

The Context Of Public Acceptance Of Hydraulic Fracturing: Is Louisiana Unique?, Crawford White

LSU Master's Theses

Hydraulic fracturing has received increased attention over the past decade. The rapid adoption of this technique coupled with accurate directional horizontal drilling has unlocked several US shale formations. Amid the possibility of 100% domestically sourced natural gas, public perception varies and opponents question the long-term risks and repercussions of the technique. This thesis will provide context to some of the variation seen in the public perception of hydraulic fracturing among three states: Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Two surveys of Louisiana stakeholders were conducted in order to rank the state in terms of acceptance amongst previously conducted surveys of its two …

Mathematical Models For Interest Rate Dynamics, Xiaoxue Shan

LSU Master's Theses

We present a study of mathematical models of interest rate products. After an introduction to the mathematical framework, we study several basic one-factor models, and then explore multifactor models. We also discuss the Heath-Jarrow- Morton model and the LIBOR Market model. We conclude with a discussion of some modified models that involve stochastic volatility.

Unit Assessments For High School Geometry, Damayanthi Srimathi Jegart

LSU Master's Theses

Abstract Eight unit tests closely aligned with the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum for high school geometry were developed. Five of these were administered, each to the same 115 students spanning all ability and attainment levels in a magnet school in a semi-rural Louisiana district. The results were analyzed to determine the quality of the questions as well as to glean information about student-learning. The test scores were compared to the results of the state-administered end-of-course test for high-school geometry. The main findings were as follows: a) most students do not communicate their reasoning or justification unless directed to do so, and …

Educational Looping And Retention In The Middle School Setting, Mary Elizabeth Feighery

LSU Master's Theses

Educational looping is an educational method where teachers remain with the same core group of students over multiple academic years. The current research on this topic shows a strong positive correlation between the effects of looping and the growth of personal relationships between students and teachers, but neglects to examine the connection between looping and student educational growth. This paper explores the relationship between looping and academic gains, as well as between looping and retention of content material over time. This paper explores both the relationship between looping and academic gains and between looping and retention of content material, and …

Challenges In The Discovery And Characterization Of Magnetic Intermetallics, William A. Phelan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The crystal growth and characterization of four families of compounds, LnFeSb3 (Ln = Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, and Tb) and CeCo(Sb, Sn)3, Ln2Fe4Sb5 (Ln = La – Nd and Sm), LnCu2(Al,Si)5 (Ln = La and Ce), and Ln(Cu,Al,Ga)13 (Ln = La – Pr and Eu), are presented in this dissertation. Special emphasis is placed on describing their structure-magnetic properties correlations. Discoveries and studies of these systems were motivated by their structurally related predecessors, which are comprised of complex structural subunits and exhibit unusual physical properties. The magnetic behaviors exhibited by a selection of these intermetallics include the large magnetoresistances and …