Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Compound-Specific Isotope Records Of Dust Provenance And Hydroclimate In The North Pacific And Marginal Seas Of East Asia: Integrating N-Alkane Δ13c And Δd With Standardized Analytical Frameworks, Julian W. Traphagan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents advancements in compound-specific isotope analysis (CSIA) through methodological innovation and paleoclimate reconstruction in Central and East Asia. Utilizing plant wax n-alkanes from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) sediment cores, this research reconstructs atmospheric circulation shifts responding to tectonic evolution and climate transitions since the Late Miocene.

Chapter 1 investigates hydrogen isotope compositions (δD_wax) from IODP U1430 (Sea of Japan), ODP 886, and ODP 1208 (North Pacific) to trace dust provenance and hydroclimate changes since ~13 Ma. Results reveal persistently segmented source-to-sink systems: the Sea of Japan dominated by westerly …

Effect Of Seasonal Variability In Methane Emissions And Iron Redox Chemistry At Terrestrial-Aquatic Interfaces, Hermes C. Ruiz

Master's Theses

Methane (CH₄) emissions at terrestrial–aquatic interfaces (TAIs) are significant contributors to the global carbon budget, yet the mechanisms driving methanogenesis remain poorly understood. Limited data exist on how seasonal variations and redox processes influence CH₄ fluxes in these dynamic ecosystems. This study addressed two questions: (1) How are CH₄ fluxes in riverine floodplains and adjacent hillslopes impacted by seasonal variations? (2) What roles do metal redox processes (e.g., iron (Fe)) play in regulating methanogenesis?

In-situ CH₄ flux and solid-phase Fe speciation were quantified in East River, CO, under flooded and drained conditions. Groundwater chemistry, gas flux, and soil physical properties …

Access To Information On Toddler Family Development Program And Family Participation In Child Growth And Development, Dita Dhammayanti, Demsa Simbolon, Lissa Ervina, Yusran Fauzi

Kesmas

The comprehension of the Toddler Family Development (TFD) Program among families in Indonesia remains limited, likely due to insufficient access to information and low participation rates. Limited participation can negatively affect a family’s ability to support optimal child growth and development. This study examined the relationship between access to information on the TFD Program and family participation in child growth and development. Using secondary data from the 2019 Program Performance and Accountability Survey in Indonesia, the cross-sectional analysis included 21,497 respondents. The results revealed an association between access to information on the TFD Program and family participation in child growth …

Global Commons, Local Crises: The Ecological Embeddedness Of Global Production Networks, Christopher R. Whynacht

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Notions of Global Production Networks (GPNs) are popular approaches to studying the complex, dispersed, and socially embedded production of goods and services. Yet, these concepts have largely struggled with incorporating environmental resources, risks, and actors. My dissertation leverages insights from Actor-Network Theory (ANT) to contextualize ecological elements of production as coequal participants with social stakeholders. I describe how GPNs are ecologically embedded and nested within the natural environment. I draw from ANT to develop a GPN framework that internalizes ecological dimensions. The second chapter in this dissertation develops these ideas and provides theoretical framing for further empirical chapters. The third …

Characterizing Fish Communities Using Traditional And Emerging Monitoring Approaches In San Diego County Estuaries, Natalie Katherine De Wet

Theses

Fish communities are essential to estuarine health, playing key roles in food webs, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem functioning. However, the persistence of native fish populations is increasingly threatened by the cumulative impacts of coastal development, pollution, and climate change. Rapid, effective monitoring of species distributions is a priority, enabling timely conservation and management. However, the study of any ecosystem is limited by time, resources, and the consideration that research of a system can damage the ecosystem under study.

This research aimed to characterize fish species richness and evaluate the benefits and limitations of different estuary monitoring approaches. Specifically, this study …

Design And Development Of A Standalone Digital Holographic Microscope Employing Phase-Driven Reconstruction And Classification For Biomedical Imaging And Optical Diagnostics, Charlotte Kyeremah

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Access to advanced biomedical imaging technologies remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings, especially for early disease detection and monitoring of diseases such as malaria, HIV, and other blood-borne diseases. Although point-of-care (POC) devices have gained popularity in global health, many rely on antibody-based tests, lateral flow strips, or optical readouts that often lack quantitative capabilities, sensitivity to early infections, or versatility in different diagnostic targets. In addition, these systems are typically dependent on disposable reagents or manual interpretation, which limits their effectiveness in remote areas. Digital Holographic Microscopy (DHM) presents a promising alternative as a label-free imaging method capable …

Sugar: A Sequence Unfolding Based Transformer Model For Group Activity Recognition, Yash U. Gondkar

Graduate Masters Theses

Large Language Models have improved significantly in the past couple of years due to the adoption of transformers. However, transformers still find it challenging to process videos due to limited context size caused by their quadratic computing cost. Therefore, we studied a booming field in machine learning which powers applications like social scene analysis and video surveillance systems called Group Activity Recognition (GAR). We found that recent models were able to achieve more than 90% accuracy on popular datasets like the Volleyball dataset, however, it turned out that even they relied on transformers.

Therefore, in this work, we developed a …

The Pure Yang-Mills Field, James Glimm

Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

We construct a pure Yang-Mills quantum gauge field theory. The construction is based on the axial gauge, ghost states, the BRST framework and the entropy production maximizing Gribov extension of the Hamiltonian, with a loop expansion to all finite orders for the dynamics. The construction is established by renormalized perturbation theory to finite order. Reflection positivity and the reconstruction theorem are established. Hilbert space convergence of renormalized perturbation theory is a consequence of the reconstruction theorem. All Osterwalder-Schrader axioms are verified. A two-sided mass gap exists in the energy spectrum for the weak coupling limit of low temperature. The conditions …

Can Artificial Intelligence Models Provide Reliable Medical Counselling To Fertility Patients?, Idan Alcalay, Ariel Weissman, Hadas Ganer Herman, Avi Tsafrir, Matan Friedman, Eran Weiner, Raoul Orvieto, Nikolaos P. Polyzos, Michael H. Dahan, Alex Polyakov, Robert Fischer, Sandro C. Esteves, Baris Ata, Jason M. Franasiak, Yossi Mizrachi

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty Papers

RESEARCH QUESTION: Can generative artificial intelligence (AI) models provide reliable counselling to fertility patients regarding real-world clinical questions?

DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, 12 clinical questions were developed to reflect common, real-life dilemmas encountered during fertility workup and treatment. Responses to each question were generated by two experienced fertility specialists, and two AI models - ChatGPT and Gemini. Eight leading internationally recognized fertility experts, blinded to the source of each reply, independently rated all the responses on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree). Ratings were compared across all four repliers using non-parametric statistical tests.

RESULTS: The …

Exploring Stunting In South Kalimantan Province Using R Programming-Based Data Visualization, Muhammad Hudaya, Wahyudin Nor, Mellani Yuliastina, Muhammad Nordiansyah

Kesmas

South Kalimantan Province continues to face the challenge of relatively high stunting prevalence despite being endowed with abundant coal resources that could serve as a source of funding for public health. Therefore, this study aimed to examine differences in stunting prevalence among cities, mining districts, and non-mining districts in South Kalimantan to raise stakeholder awareness of disparities across these regional types. This study was conducted between April and December 2024, using secondary data obtained from the Indonesian Ministry of Health and the South Kalimantan Provincial Government. R programming was used to process the data, generate visualizations, and perform analysis of …

Towards Age-Inclusive Human Computer Interaction: A Study Of Text Message Adoption By Seniors, Sam Takavarasha, Varaidzo Mapepa

African Conference on Information Systems and Technology

Since mobile phones are increasingly becoming livelihoods-enablers to people in developing economies, inclusive interaction design are critical. This research on the age inclusivity of feature phones was motivated by some observation that elderly users had challenges with adoption of text messaging. We, therefore, hypothesized that elderly people had challenges with texting ‘cash’, ‘cheque’ or ‘visa’ on a feature phone. The paper investigates if the required agility and interface ergonomics were age discriminatory inhibitors of the adoption of text messaging given the diminishing dexterity and cognitive skills of seniors. Using Sen’s (1999) ‘heterogeneity of capabilities’ theory and Davis et al (1989)’s …

Creepy, Invasive, And Exploitative Algorithms: A Cpm Analysis Of Users' Privacy Breakdowns And Recalibration Practices With Social Media Algorithms, Matthew J. A. Craig, Jeffrey T. Child

Human-Machine Communication

Social media content filtering algorithms can both provide desired personalized content and ads for users. However, sometimes these recommendations can resemble individual private information. How might users navigate these experiences to best manage their private information? The present exploratory study utilizes the rules- and systems-based framework of communication privacy management (CPM) theory to explore social media users’ experiences of privacy breakdowns with social media algorithms and investigates what users do in response to said breakdowns. These responses were refined using content analysis and divided into different categories of privacy breakdowns and recalibration strategies. Implications for future research surrounding human-machine communication …

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Faculty Publications Bibliography 2015-2019, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 19 articles about Hurricane Katrina written by authors affiliated with LSU Health – New Orleans between January 2015 and December 2019.

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Faculty Publications Bibliography 2020-2025, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 10 articles about Hurricane Katrina written by authors affiliated with LSU Health – New Orleans between January 2020 and August 2025.

Hurricane Katrina Archive: E-Books And E-Journals A To Z Bibliography 2020-2025, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Elizabeth H. Holt

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 43 electronic books and edited collections created on the topic of Hurricane Katrina by authors and others affiliated with LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans between September 2005 and August 2025.

Approximation And Parameterized Algorithms For Covering With Disks Of Two Types Of Radii, Sayan Bandyapadhyay, Eli Mitchell

Computer Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

We study the Discrete Covering with Two Types of Radii problem motivated by its application in wireless networks. In this problem, the goal is to assign either small-range high frequency or large-range low frequency to each access point, maximizing the number of users in high-frequency regions while ensuring that each user is in the range of an access point. Unlike other weighted covering problems, our problem requires satisfying two simultaneous objectives, which calls for novel approaches that leverage the underlying geometry of the problem. In our work, we present two new algorithms: the first is a polynomial-time (2.5 + ϵ)-approximation, …

Reconstruction Of Water Storage Variability In The Aral Sea Region, Nikita Murzintcev, Sahibjamal Nietullaeva, Timur Berdimbetov, Buddhi Pushpawela, Asiya Tureniyazova, Sherly Shelton, Bakbergen Aytmuratov, Khusen Gafforov, Kanat Parakhatov, Alimjan Erdashov, Abdul-Aziz Makhamatdinov, Timur Allamuratov

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, operational from 2002 to 2017, provided critical measurements of Earth's gravity field anomalies which have been extensively used to study groundwater and terrestrial water storage (TWS) dynamics. In this research, we utilize GRACE data to identify, model, and analyze potential climate parameters contributing to the reconstruction of TWS variability in the Aral Sea Basin region (ASB). We assess the impact of climate change and anthropogenic nature management on TWS change using a quantitative method. Our analysis reveals a significant decline in the TWS at a rate of 0.44 cm year^-1 during …

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Libraries Catalog Bibliography, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Elizabeth H. Holt

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 15 books, videos, and edited collections created on the topic of Hurricane Katrina by authors and others affiliated with LSU Health Sciences Center - New Orleans between September 2005 and August 2025.

Prediction-Powered Inference For Clinical Trials: Application To Linear Covariate Adjustment, Pierre-Emmanuel Poulet, Maylis Tran, Sophie Tezenas Du Montcel, Bruno Dubois, Stanley Durrleman, Bruno M. Jedynak

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

Prediction-powered inference (PPI) (Angelopoulos et al., Science 382(6671):669-674, 2023) and its subsequent development called PPI++ (Angelopoulos et al., 2023) provide a novel approach to standard statistical estimation, leveraging machine learning systems, to enhance unlabeled data with predictions. We use this paradigm in clinical trials. The predictions are provided by disease progression models, providing prognostic scores for all the participants as a function of baseline covariates. The proposed method would empower clinical trials by providing untreated digital twins of the treated patients while remaining statistically valid. The potential implications of this new estimator of the treatment effect in a two-arm randomized …

Understanding User Needs In Health Crisis Risk Monitoring Information System Development: A Lesson From Tasikmalaya District, Indonesia, Arief Tarmansyah Iman, Hari Kusnanto, Ariani Arista Putri Pertiwi

Kesmas

A health crisis risk monitoring information system needs to be developed, especially during the pre-disaster phase; therefore, understanding the needs of prospective users is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the needs of potential users regarding the development of this system. This study employed a qualitative, exploratory approach to gather user needs from stakeholders through interviews (n = 7) and one focus group discussion (n = 12). The data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then thematically analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The need for information was related to disaster preparedness and its preferred format. The system should be targeted, multiplatform, …

A Partial Resolution Of Hedden’S Conjecture On Satellite Homomorphisms, Randall Johanningsmeier , '24, Hillary Kim , '25, Allison N. Miller

Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Works

A pattern knot in a solid torus defines a self-map of the smooth knot concordance group. We prove that if the winding number of a pattern is even but not divisible by 8, then the corresponding map is not a homomorphism, thus partially establishing a conjecture of Hedden.

Low Economic Level And The Risk Of Overweight Among Indonesian Junior And Senior High School Students, Ariyanto Nugroho, Purwo Setiyo Nugroho, Amarin Yudhana, Sri Sunarti

Kesmas

Overweight and obesity among Indonesian adolescents have emerged as a pressing public health issue, reflecting global trends. This study examines the relationship between economic status and overweight prevalence among junior and senior high school students in Indonesia, using secondary data from the Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS). This study analyzed data from 9,977 students aged 11–18 years through a cross-sectional design and binary logistic regression, adjusting for dietary habits, physical activity, and sedentary behavior. Overall, 14.7% of students were overweight; the prevalence was notably higher among low-income students (27.4%) compared to high-income groups (14.2%). Students from lower economic backgrounds were …

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Faculty Publications Bibliography 2010-2014, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 45 articles about Hurricane Katrina written by authors affiliated with LSU Health – New Orleans between January 2010 and December 2014.

Hurricane Katrina Archive: Faculty Publications Bibliography 2005-2009, Lsu Health Sciences Center - New Orleans Libraries, Sharon Duffy, Matthew Folse

LSUHSC Hurricane Katrina Archive: Bibliographies

This bibliography includes 91 articles about Hurricane Katrina written by authors affiliated with LSU Health – New Orleans between January 2005 and December 2009.

Sociohydrodynamics: Data-Driven Modeling Of Social Behavior, Daniel S. Seara, Jonathan Colen, Michel Fruchart, Yael Avni, David G. Martin, Vincenzo Vitelli

Data Science Faculty Publications

Living systems display complex behaviors driven by physical forces as well as decision-making. Hydrodynamic theories hold promise for simplified universal descriptions of socially generated collective behaviors. However, the construction of such theories is often divorced from the data they should describe. Here, we develop and apply a data-driven pipeline that links micromotives to macrobehavior by augmenting hydrodynamics with individual preferences that guide motion. We illustrate this pipeline on a case study of residential dynamics in the United States, for which census and sociological data are available. Guided by Census data, sociological surveys, and neural network analysis, we systematically assess standard …

Symmetrically Threaded Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices As Next-Generation Kerr-Cat Qubits, Bibek Bhandari, Irwin Huang, Ahmed Hajr, Kagan Yanik, Bingcheng Qing, Ke Wang, David I. Santiago, Justin Dressel, Irfan Siddiqi, Andrew N. Jordan

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Kerr-cat qubits are bosonic qubits offering autonomous bit-flip protection, traditionally studied using driven superconducting nonlinear asymmetric inductive element (SNAIL) oscillators. Here, we theoretically explore an alternative circuit for Kerr-cat qubits based on symmetrically threaded superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). The symmetrically threaded SQUID (STS) architecture employs a simplified flux-pumped design that suppresses two-photon dissipation, a dominant loss mechanism in high-Kerr regimes, by engineering the drive Hamiltonian’s flux operator to generate only even-order harmonics. By fulfilling two critical criteria for practical Kerr-cat qubit operation, the STS emerges as an ideal platform: (1) a static Hamiltonian with diluted Kerr nonlinearity (achieved via …

Re: July 2025 Berkeley Pit Migratory Waterfowl Protection Monthly Report, Mark Thompson, Loren Burmeister

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Spectrum Analysis Of Thermally Driven Curvature Inversion In Strained Graphene Ripples For Energy Conversion Applications Via Molecular Dynamics, James M. Mangum, Md R. Kabir, Tamzeed B. Amin, Syed M. Rahman, Ashaduzzaman, Paul M. Thibado

Physics Faculty Publications and Presentations

The extraordinary mechanical flexibility, high electrical conductivity, and nanoscale instability of freestanding graphene make it an excellent candidate for vibration energy harvesting. When freestanding graphene is stretched taut and subject to external forces, it will vibrate like a drum head. Its vibrations occur at a fundamental frequency along with higher-order harmonics. Alternatively, when freestanding graphene is compressed, it will arch slightly out of the plane or buckle under the load. Remaining flat under compression would be energetically too costly compared to simple bond rotations. Buckling up or down, also known as ripple formation, naturally creates a bistable situation. When the …

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Liposomes: Structure, Dynamics, And Applications, Ehsan Khodadadi, Ehsaneh Khodadadi, Parth Chaturvedi, Mahmoud Moradi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications and Presentations

Liposomes are nanoscale, spherical vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers, typically ranging from 50 to 200 nm in diameter. Their unique ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules makes them powerful nanocarriers for drug delivery, diagnostics, and vaccine formulations. Several FDA-approved formulations such as Doxil (R) (Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, USA), AmBisome (R) (Gilead Sciences, Inc., Foster City, CA, USA), and Onivyde (R) (Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals, Inc., Basking Ridge, NJ, USA) highlight their clinical significance. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of how molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, particularly coarse-grained (CG) and atomistic approaches, advance our understanding of liposomal membranes. We …

Enhancing Reliable And Energy-Efficient Uav Communications With Ris And Deep Reinforcement Learning, Wasim Ahmad, Umar Islam, Abdulkadhem A. Abdulkadhem, Babar Shah, Fernando Moreira, Ali Abbas

All Works

The rapid growth in wireless communication demands has led to a surge in research on technologies capable of enhancing communication reliability, coverage, and energy efficiency. Among these, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) and reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) have emerged as promising solutions. Prior research on using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to integrate RIS with UAV concentrated on enhancing signal quality and coverage, but it ignored the challenges caused by electromagnetic interference (EMI). This article introduces a novel framework addressing the challenges posed by EMI from Gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifiers in RIS-assisted UAV communication systems. By integrating DRL with quadrature phase …