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King and Queen Nike L — Grant Kirkpatrick and Ashleigh Guagliardo will bid adieu Saturday when the children’s Krewe of Nike presents its ball at 7 p.m. at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. All viewing is invitation only. Members of the krewe will parade behind the Krewe of Galatea procession that begins at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 in Morgan City.

BATON ROUGE — When babies are born, a knit hat is one of the first pieces of clothing they will wear. But what if that hat could be used for more than a warm and cozy covering?
One LSU researcher is exploring ways to use “smart clothing” to track newborns’ temperatures.
Sibei Xia, assistant professor in the LSU Department of Textiles, Apparel Design and Merchandising, is developing body-tracking wearable technology, or smart clothes, through thermochromic yarn that changes color based on body temperature.
The hat will monitor the infant’s temperature. Its threads will change colors to alert others if there is a temperature spike.
“If the newborn’s temperature goes really high, it’s going to change the hat to a beige color so that we don’t have to necessarily measure the temperature that often or use other technologies to monitor temperature,” Xia said.
Using thermochromic technology may reduce the need to monitor a newborn’s temperature using thermometers and other invasive technologies. The hat also has the potential to reduce the number of times the infant is disturbed for a temperature check.
Xia’s hats are designed to have a band that combines functional and cotton yarn to detect temperature without influencing its comfort.
Xia said advanced knitting technology makes it possible to explore functional yarns in the medical field.
“One requirement of wearable technology is to make it really close to our body, and that can be achieved perfectly through knitting technology,” she said.
The prototype for the hat was produced using the department’s flatback knitting machines. These versatile machines are fully computer-controlled, allowing the operator to customize patterns and tension.
The thermochromic yarn threshold temperature can be changed by adding additional yarns or changing the knitting pattern. Xia’s research explores different yarn colors, knitting structures and threshold temperatures to determine which combination produces the desired color-changing effect.
“We are hoping that by implementing other structure variations and color variations, it will create the linear range between 37.5 Celsius to 38.5 Celsius,” she said. In infants, a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius — about 99.5 F — or higher is considered a fever.
The Provost’s Fund for Innovation in Research is funding this emerging research. It supports interdisciplinary research in five priority areas, including biotechnology and agriculture.
The funding will be used to test the threshold temperature that is most accurate for infants. The threshold temperature is the temperature the yarn will change color. Xia’s prototype changes from purple to beige around 36 degrees Celsius.
Xia will be testing the color change through heated water. She plans to collaborate with faculty in the School of Renewable Natural Resources to further test the garment in a thermal chamber that allows the researchers access to a controlled environment.
As part of the study, she is developing a survey for mothers at various stages to understand their expectations for the product and to explore their needs for the garment.
Xia hopes to secure funding for an infant thermomanikin. This manikin is controlled for both thermal and moisture levels and could simulate sweating and fevers. She thinks the manikin would be a major player in the testing procedures.
The department is exploring other ways to implement functional yarn that can be used for other medical needs — such as highly elastic yarn used for compression.
“I’m very fascinated by the technology and all the products that can be made from the knitting machines,” she said.
Xia recently trained on new knitting machine technology that has many applications in the medical field. If the department can acquire the new machine, it would open opportunities to explore other medical uses of functional yarns.
The department currently has two knitting machines and three design stations communicating to the machines.
“If we broadcast the technology, we will have a lot of creative ideas, and then we could work collaboratively for potential applications, not only in functionality, such as wearable technology, but also creative design,” Xia said.
Researchers are not the only ones using these machines. For example, fashion design students could use the machines to design clothing.
Xia hopes the department can introduce knitting technology to students who want to learn about product development and entrepreneurship.

The children’s Krewe of Nike take the stage Saturday as Mardi Gras festivities continue in the Tri-City area.

Five more balls will follow leading up to Fat Tuesday, which is Feb. 21.

Seven area Mardi Gras parades will be held in the Tri-City area beginning Feb. 17 and ending on Mardi Gras day.

Ball patrons are reminded that tableaus begin promptly and everyone should be seated prior to the krewe’s stated start time.

Krewe of Nike

The children’s Krewe of Nike will present its ball at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. All viewing is invitation only.

Bidding adieu will be King and Queen Nike L Grant Kirkpatrick and Ashleigh Guagliardo.

Members of the krewe will parade behind the Krewe of Galatea procession that begins at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 in Morgan City.

Krewe of Galatea

The women’s mystic Krewe of Galatea will hold its tableau at 8 p.m. Feb. 4 at the auditorium. Viewing is by invitation only.

Queen and King of Galatea LIII Mrs. George Jeffrey Beattie and Lee Dragna will make a farewell appearance.

Galatea will present its annual parade at 2 p.m. Feb. 19 in Morgan City. The procession will organize on Second Street under the U.S. 90 Grizzaffi Bridge and proceed to Onstead Street, Sixth Street,

Marguerite Street, Ninth Street, Clothilde Street, Victor II Boulevard and ending at the auditorium on Myrtle Street.
Krewe of Dionysus

The Krewe of Dionysus will host its coronation at 8 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the Berwick Civic Complex. Floor seating is invitation only.

Public viewing is available in the balcony.

A farewell appearance will be made by King and Queen Dionysus XLI Steve Kennedy and Laura Kennedy.

Dionysus’ parade in Berwick will begin at 2 p.m. Feb. 18.

The procession will line up on Gilmore Drive and turn on John Street, Robichaux Street, Mount Street, Gilmore Drive, right on La. 182, Tournament Boulevard, Fairview Drive then to Pattie Drive, where it will disband at Berwick Junior High School.

Krewe of Hannibal

The Krewe of Hannibal will celebrate with a ball at 8 p.m. Feb. 11 at the auditorium. This is an invitation-only event.

Bidding adieu will be royalty XL — King Hannibal Cornelius “C.C.” Stewart Jr. and Queen Cleopatra Thetis Dural.

Krewe members are still deciding which area parades in which to participate.

Krewe of Amani

The Krewe of Amani’s coronation is 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Patterson Area Civic Center. Floor seating is invitation only.

Amani patrons are reminded that doors to view the tableau will close at 7:45 p.m. and not reopen until the presentation is complete.

Making a farewell appearance will be King and Queen Amani XXIII Renwick McPherson and Eartha Lewis.

Amani will hold its Lundi Gras parade at 2 p.m. Feb. 20 in Patterson. The procession will line up at Patterson High School and proceed down La. 182 (Main Street) and end at the Place Norman Shopping Center.

Following the parade, a block party will be held on Martin Luther King Avenue.

Krewe of Hephaestus
The oldest area krewe, the Krewe of Hephaestus, will hold its carnival court at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at the auditorium. Floor seating is invitation only.

Public viewing is available from the balcony.

Taking to the stage for a final appearance will be King and Queen Hephaestus LXI Gerard Bourgeois and Emma Levert Aucoin.

Krewe members will parade at 2 p.m. Fat Tuesday in Morgan City. The procession will organize on Sixth and Sycamore streets and proceed down Sixth Street to Marguerite Street, Ninth Street, Clothilde Street, and Victor II Boulevard, ending at the auditorium on Myrtle Street.

Siracusa/Greenwood

The Siracusa/Greenwood Community has announced that it will hold its Mardi Gras Parade on Fat Tuesday at 2 p.m.

Participants will line up on Siracusa Road at 1 p.m. then proceed to James Street and Grace Street before ending at the Siracusaville Recreation Center.

Anyone wishing to participate or for information may call Leroy Trim at 985-385-4224, or 985-759-1689, or Mary Jones at 985-519-0547.

Parade Summaries
—Krewe of Adonis: Friday, Feb. 17, 7 p.m., Morgan City.
—Krewe of Dionysus: Saturday, Feb. 18, 2 p.m., Berwick.
—Krewe of Galatea: Sunday, Feb. 19, 2 p.m., Morgan City.
—Krewe of Amani: Monday, Feb. 20, 2 p.m., Patterson.
—Krewe of Hera: Monday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m., Morgan City.
—Siracusa/Greenwood: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m., Siracusaville.
—Krewe of Hephaestus: Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2 p.m., Morgan City.

Ochsner Health has been named one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity in 2023 by Newsweek.

Ochsner, which operates Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City, earned 4.5 of 5 stars on a scored list of 1,000 companies that most respect and value having different kinds of people.

The list of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2023 will be published in the Newsweek print issue Friday.

“We are honored that Newsweek recognizes the ongoing work at Ochsner to be a more diverse and inclusive employer,” said Deborah Grimes, system vice president and chief diversity officer for Ochsner Health.

“Our strategic plan is led by a vision to celebrate the uniqueness of all people, with a particular focus on inclusion—it’s one of our core values. As Louisiana’s largest health care system, we must provide equitable care in a culturally aware manner, and our employees represent the communities we serve.”

To determine most diverse workplaces, Newsweek based its scoring on a review of publicly available data, interviews with HR professionals and an anonymous online survey of a diverse pool of employees at companies with 1,000 or more employees in the United States.

This independent study was conducted in cooperation with market data research firm Plant-A Insights Group. Respondents were asked questions about corporate culture, working environment and other subjects at both their own companies and others they were familiar with. The survey yielded more than 350,000 company reviews.

“At Ochsner Health, we believe that teamwork and our diversity make us stronger. We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment where employees and patients feel their unique experiences and perspectives are respected and valued,” said Tracey Schiro, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Ochsner.
Some of the diversity initiatives underway at Ochsner:

—A chief diversity officer whose role focuses on developing policies and practices that promote focused attention to diversity and inclusion matters including recruitment, retention, workforce planning and career development.

—A team of diversity & inclusion leaders who work collaboratively with local and system-level Ochsner leaders to foster a supportive environment, connecting and aligning those teams with Ochsner’s system-wide efforts.

—Diversity, Equity and Inclusion councils represent employees in every region and in key roles.

—Diversity, Equity andOchsner offers workforce training programs to help unemployed and underemployed find meaningful careers in health care.
Ochsner works within and across communities to emphasize the need to reduce disparate health outcomes and improve healthcare equity for all Ochsner patients.
 
Ochsner employees are encouraged to embrace the value of inclusion with the understanding that it creates synergy to celebrate individual uniqueness among people, cultures and structures. This leads to better collaboration—which ultimately empowers the Ochsner team to drive innovation and excellent outcomes.
 
“Our number one priority at Ochsner Health – always – is our patients,” said Grimes. “And in order to do our best to serve our patients, we have to invest in the wellbeing of our workforce. Diversity and Inclusion is essential to that process because when we feel supported—when we are within a fair and nurturing and compassionate work environment—we are inspired to do our best.”