Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Elevation In The Migration, Physiology, And Genomic Diversification Of Birds, Jessie L. Williamson

Biology ETDs

Elevational gradients cause profound eco-climatic variation across short distances. Partial pressure of oxygen (PO₂) is a severe challenge that organisms face at high elevations; due partly to specialization on PO₂, most Neotropical bird species have narrow elevational ranges. However, a small fraction are elevational generalists that span sea level to high elevations, and a subset undertake extreme migratory journeys from low to high elevations biannually. My dissertation combines diverse approaches across levels of biological organization to understand how elevation impacts the ecology, evolution, physiology, and migration of montane birds. I examined ‘extreme’ elevational …

Engineered Nucleic-Acid Binding Intrinsically Disordered Proteins For Biomedical Applications, Telmo Diez Perez

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

This dissertation explores the use of intrinsically disorder proteins (IDPs) in biomedical applications related to the detection and biosensing of nucleic-acid species. We engineer several low critical solution temperature (LCST) nucleic-acid binding elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) as model IDPs and study their potential in biomedical application via interactions with short single-stranded (ss) DNA, tRNA and viral RNAs. First, we engineer a simple polycationic ELP capable of recruiting DNA on demand in a DNA-protein-rich condensate via LLPS. Moreover, we develop a modified Flory-Huggins theory to quantify the partitioning of DNA and protein upon coacervate formation with and without salts. We then design …

A New Approach Of Tree Soft Set With Mcdm Technique For Leadership In International Climate Policy: Measuring Renewable Energy Sources And Policies, Nouran Ajabnoor

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

Green technological progress can be achieved by mitigation efforts of leadership in climate policy. Renewable energies need to develop technological innovations for more competitive advantages. This study proposed a decision-making methodology for evaluating renewable energy sources under leadership in international climate policy. This study used the multi-criteria decision-making methodology to deal with conflicting criteria in the decision-making problem. The evaluation is based on the distance from the average solution (EDAS) method, which ranks the alternatives. The criteria weights are computed by using the average method. The neutrosophic set deals with uncertainty and vague information in the evaluation process. The neutrosophic …

Trf-Bwm-Neutrosophic-Topsis Strategy Under Svns Environment Approach And Its Application To Select The Most Effective Water Quality Parameter Of Aquaponic System, Pragnaleena Debroy, Priyanka Majumder, Surapati Pramanik, Lalu Seban

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

The rapid emergence of aquaponics presents a promising solution for food production in arid regions, heavily reliant on maintaining optimal water quality parameters for overall success. However, monitoring and controlling these parameters can be complex and costly, involving numerous sensors and actuators. Focusing on the most significant parameter for fish growth could alleviate some of this complexity and promote sustainability by ensuring a balanced system. This study introduces a novel fuzzy-based Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodology, combining Trapezoidal Fuzzy with the Best Worst Method (BWM) and Neutrosophic-TOPSIS strategy, to identify the primary water quality parameters impacting fish growth. Through …

Harmonic Mean Operator Based Madm-Strategy Under Svpn-Set Environment, Bimal Shil, Suman Das, Rakhal Das, Binod Chandra Tripathy

Neutrosophic Sets and Systems

By using single-valued pentapartitioned neutrosophic set (briefly SVPN-set), one can express uncertainty events having incomplete, indeterminate, and erroneous information in practical applications. This study's primary goal is to present a multi-attribute decision-making (briefly MADM) algorithm that operates in the SVPN-set environment using the notion of single-valued pentapartitioned neutrosophic harmonic mean (briefly SVPNHM) operator and single-valued pentapartitioned neutrosophic weighted harmonic mean (briefly SVPNWHM) operator. Further, we provide a numerical illustration here like, “Location Selection for Installation of Outdoor Air Purifier” to validate the effectiveness and rationality of the proposed MADM algorithm.

Geospatial Analysis Of Environmental, Tick, And Host Interactions With Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever In The Southwestern United States, Al Ekram Elahee Hridoy

Geography ETDs

This study examines the spatiotemporal distribution and determinants of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) incidence in Arizona from 2006 to 2021. Utilizing climate variables, land cover types, and socio-economic indicators, we employed Negative Binomial Regression, Spatial autocorrelation, and Random Forest-based classification to identify key predictors and patterns of RMSF spread. Results indicate positive correlations between RMSF incidence and precipitation and shrub cover, while veterinary access, forest cover, and relative humidity show negative associations. Spatial analysis revealed significant case clustering, with limited veterinary access associated with higher RMSF incidence. A Random Forest-based predictive model was developed to identify potential tick-host interactions, …

Adaptive Immune Profiling Of Sin Nombre Hantavirus And Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection, Tonilynn M. Baranowski

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Hantaviruses are causative agents of potentially fatal respiratory illness and/or organ failure in humans worldwide. In the United States, the predominant hantavirus species, Sin Nombre hantavirus (SNV), causes a severe disease pathology, called hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). Infection with SNV and subsequent clinical manifestations of HCPS lends itself to case fatality rates approaching 40%, even under supportive care. This is partially due to the lack of FDA-approved vaccines and antivirals, in addition to a deficit in our knowledge regarding the human immune response to SNV. Further investigation of the adaptive immune response may reveal key targets to mediate disease outcome. …

Thermal Oxidative Degradation Of Polystyrene Plastics Used For Food Packaging During Incomplete Waste Incineration, Maycee Hurd

Civil Engineering ETDs

We identified the physical and chemical degradation of polystyrene (PS) plastic used for food packaging after thermal oxidative weathering. Open waste incineration is a widely used waste management practice in isolated and underserved communities. However, the generation of partially incinerated plastics and microplastics (MPs) from this practice is overlooked. Near surface XPS C 1s high resolution analyses show an increase in the intensity of peaks greater than 285 eV corresponding to C/O bonds after burning of PS. Bulk analyses using ATR-FTIR show that thermal oxidation decreased the alkene (3040-3000 cm-1) and alkane (3000-2850 cm-1) C-H stretch signals suggesting PS chain …

Grievability And The Contingency Of Life Value In Twenty-First-Century Science Fiction, Emily A. Reiff

English Language and Literature ETDs

Using Judith Butler’s framework of grievability, this dissertation explores twenty-first-century science fiction by British, Irish, and Caribbean authors whose novels grapple with legacies of colonialism and imperialism that relied on dehumanization and subjugation. Beginning with Sarah Maria Griffin’s Spare and Found Parts (2016), chapter one explores neocolonial rationales—purportedly based on health—which recreate colonial divisions of class and labor and enforce systems of diminishing grievability in a post-apocalyptic Irish context. Chapter two contends that Kazuo Ishiguro’s Klara and the Sun (2021) illustrates the danger inherent to value systems that center “normative” embodiment in worlds that reconfigure hypercapacitated human beings as the …

Mixed Potential Sensor For Natural Gas Leak Detection Design, Manufacturing, And Simulation, Sleight Halley

Chemical and Biological Engineering ETDs

There is a need for a low-cost robust sensor accurately detecting leaks from oil and gas infrastructure. This work presents the development of an electrochemical sensor based on an yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) electrolyte with La_0.87Sr_0.13CrO₃, Indium Tin Oxide (In₂O₃ 90 wt%, SnO₂ 10 wt%), Au, Pt electrodes. Selectivity to target gasses of the three sensing electrodes in conjunction with machine learning allows for the accurate discrimination between possible methane sources as well as the quantification of methane concentration. Sensor sensitivity is improved through a low-ionic conductivity substrate of magnesia …

Teachings From The Hogan Floor: Preserving Culture And Language Through Museum Collections, Nonabah B. Sam

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

In 2021, we faced the unexpected impacts of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, especially on the Navajo Nation. There were many things to realize, but one that hits hardest is the loss we suffered with many traditional practitioners passing from this illness. The purpose of this study was to examine linguistic and cultural contributions that Knowledge Keepers might consider making for the future of our Navajo Nation and Diné College. Drawing on my cultural teachings and knowledge, I conducted semi-structured interviews in Navajo and English with 10 participants, including leaders, alumni, staff, and traditional practitioners; I also utilized a circling back …

Host-Microbiome Interactions In The Teleost Brain, Amir Mani Varnoosfaderani

Biology ETDs

This dissertation investigates host-microbial interactions within the teleost brain, previously considered sterile. Reviewing current literature highlights significant gaps in understanding teleost brain immunity, despite prevalent neurotropic diseases. We mapped the immune profiles of rainbow trout brains and meninges, revealing the olfactory bulbs as the immune effector part of the brain and the optic tectum as a nod2 expression hub. High il6 and il10 levels were noted in the telencephalon. A persistent bacterial community within healthy salmonid brains shares diversity with gut and blood microbiota. Brain bacterial isolates exhibit genomic signatures for brain colonization and polyamine biosynthesis. The microbiota shifts across …

Trauma, Memory, Imagination, And Survivance: Uncovering Haunting Stories Within The Southwest Borderlands, Tania Paloma García

American Studies ETDs

This dissertation project explores hidden histories of the García/Espinosa/Sargent/Burns family in northern New Mexico/southern Colorado during the middle-to-late eighteenth/early nineteenth centuries, and continuing into the present. The project, in part, focuses on prominent rancher, lawyer, landowner, and territorial representative of New Mexico and Colorado, José Victór García. García’s life and legacy is examined regarding the lesser-known story of his “ownership” of several enslaved Indigenous youths on his property in Conejos County, Colorado. The methodology of haunting is employed to expose complex histories of Indigenous peoples in the Southwest borderlands, and within a broader context of colonialism. Indigenous enslavement is considered …

Patterns Of Stand Structure And Species Composition Through Time And Space In A Piñon- Juniper Woodland In The Southwestern Us, Kyle H. Gonterman

Biology ETDs

Piñon- juniper (PJ) woodlands in the Southwest United States are expected to see mortality and structural change in response to climate change. The extent to which this habitat structures itself as well as its response to these changes over time are not well known yet and have not been examined to this extent for the location of this study within the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. Within a small range, we discovered these woodlands consist of persistent woodland, shrubby woodland, and juniper savanna in which structural, spatial, and regeneration patterns differ. In this study, we discovered the specific differences between these …

Conservation Genomic Investigation Of A Threatened Trout Species Endemic To The Gila River, David Thomas Camak

Biology ETDs

Climate change is a looming threat to the persistence of species, especially aquatic, imperiled species. Species native to desert streams are at a particular disadvantage, as many species already face drought, floods, wildfires, and threats from nonnative species, all of which are thought to be exacerbated by climate change. Species such as the threatened Gila Trout (Oncorhynchus gilae) already have small ranges and persist in fragmented and isolated habitats that limits gene flow between populations. Therefore, it is important to understand the current genomic status of such populations to be able to predict the future effects of climate …

3d Printing Of Local New Mexican Soil Material: Improving Durability Properties By Assessing Traditional Methods Towards Alternative Sustainable Construction, Daiquiri Devon Zozaya

Civil Engineering ETDs

3D printing (3DP), or additive manufacturing, represents a dynamic and swiftly advancing manufacturing method in which diverse materials are deposited layer by layer through computer-controlled processes, creating intricate geometries. This technology has demonstrated success in various construction applications, including the construction of bridges, bus stop stations, and even residential homes. Nonetheless, the predominant application of 3DP in construction relies heavily on cement due to its robustness, convenience, and ease of use. Regrettably, the cement sector is a substantial source of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for approximately 8% of worldwide CO₂ emissions. Investigating all facets of carbon emissions reduction is …

A Phenomenological Exploration Of Language Shift Of Ikalanga In Botswana: Implications For Language Revitalization, Annah Sephene Macha

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

This study explores the phenomenon of language shift among the Bakalanga community in Botswana, focusing on the gradual displacement of the iKalanga language by dominant languages such as Setswana and English that hold official status for education and broader communication. iKalanga faces significant challenges, as minority languages face extinction globally, the Bakalanga’s experience reflects broader trends where dominant languages supplant indigenous ones in education and wider communication. This research employed a phenomenological approach to investigate how the Bakalanga transmit knowledge amidst this language shift. Data was collected through focus groups, life history narratives, documents, and individual interviews, and analyzed using …

Media Road To Violence: A Process Of Racialization Of Rohingya Ethnic Minority, Md Didarul Islam

Communication ETDs

ABSTRACT

This dissertation examines how ideologically loaded news media representations advanced the complex and ambiguous process of racialization of the Rohingyas, an ethnic Muslim minority in Myanmar. This study first interrogates the dominant patterns in news sourcing and thematic emphasis in the coverage of Rohingya; secondly, it sheds light on how these representations contribute to reproducing dominant ideologies and power relations. I selected two English-language newspapers published in Myanmar: The Global New Light of Myanmar and the Myanmar Times. I applied the notions of media representation (Hall, 1997), ideology (Althusser, 2007), and racialization (Garner & Selod, 2015) as the central …

Insight Into Complexity: Novel Information Theoretic Analysis Of Spatiotemporal Interactions, Humayra Tasnim

Computer Science ETDs

Complex systems are comprised of different components. Interactions and associations among these components define the functionality of the system. For example, T cells must directly interact with virally infected cells to kill them. This research characterizes the most relevant components of complex systems by analyzing interacting relationships using information theoretic measures. It emphasizes the importance of spatial and temporal dynamics, which occur when components share spatial proximities or temporal sequences. Novel information theoretic analyses are proposed for quantifying the degree of association among system components, which is key to defining the spatiotemporal dynamics. One focus of this work is the …

White Corn Boy Yellow Corn Girl Find Success On Their Educational Journeys, Sarah Curley

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This study aimed to provide a narrative analysis of the storied Diné beliefs and values of three Yellow Corn Girls and one White Corn Boy. My research questions were: How do Diné language and culture influence high school students’ success in high school? What cultural beliefs and values contribute to the success of high school students transitioning into their first year of community college? Utilizing the theoretical framework of The Beauty Way of Life (BWOL) model and its philosophies, I gathered narrative data using individual interviews. I examined the impact of the Diné language, cultural beliefs, and values on their …

A Stable Isotope Study To Investigate Water Movement In The Los Lagos Region Of Southern Chile, Kritan Subedi

Civil Engineering ETDs

The Los Lagos region in southern Chile, located in northwest Patagonia, features rain-fed agricultural lands, glacial lakes, forests, farmlands, and volcanic soils. This study investigates water movement within a micro-basin using stable isotope analysis and hydrological modeling over eight weeks. It aims to develop a conceptual model of water movement by elucidating interactions between precipitation, soil water, and streamflow. Findings highlight the critical role of deeper soil layers in sustaining streamflow during dry spells and indicate that soil acts as a buffer, maintaining hydrological continuity despite variable precipitation. Improved understanding of these dynamics can inform watershed management and water resource …

Transnational(Izing) African Communication: A Post-/Decolonial Approach To Nollywood And Globalization, Tomide Oloruntobi

Communication ETDs

In this dissertation, I examine culture and communication in transnational Nigeria, focusing on Nollywood and its industrial politics. Through a critical ethnographic examination of Nollywood’s reception among global and transnational audiences, I critique the evolving patterns of difference, power, and politics informing production, distribution, consumption, and performance/communication of otherness. With four composite dimensions of decoloniality: structural, epistemic, personal, and relational as theoretical foundation, I analyzed observations and interviews with 21 transnational Nigerians, online focus group discussions, user reviews, movies/series, and blogposts. I discuss the emergent themes of coloniality of space, mobility, and culture; re-making of racial otherness and hetero-patriarchy/normativity; cultural …

Embracing Social-Emotional Learning And Nurturing Character: A Systematic Review Of Intersectional-Eq Strategies For Educational Leaders, Leticia G. Candelaria-Archuleta

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

The COVID-19 pandemic expanded education beyond traditional academics, highlighting the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) and character education (CE) for positive youth outcomes. This study examined the role of educational leadership in implementing SEL and CE in schools through a term coined Intersectional-EQ. This study centered on a cutting-edge approach using grey literature, specifically doctoral dissertations, to capture current trends in unprecedented times. A systematic review through Covidence, guided by PRISMA and PICO frameworks, was conducted. Findings highlight the impact of leadership on SEL and CE through an intersectional lens. Future work is aimed to support holistic student growth by …

Chemical And Physical Properties Of Fine Fractions From A Village Proximate To A Uranium Mine: Insights About Soil Health, Mary P. Haley

Nanoscience and Microsystems ETDs

Thousands of abandoned uranium mines (AUM) in Native American tribal lands have not been fully remediated, leaving uranium mine wastes exposed and accessible for potential erosion and transport by wind. Analyzing the metal and organic content of the fine-grained fractions in soils could uncover the impact of mine legacy on the soil health in communities that live in proximity to AUM. This study investigates the physical and chemical properties of the fine-grained fraction (μm) of soils to quantify the effect of heavy metal-bearing particulates on the soil health in the village of Paguate and within the Jackpile-Paguate AUM located on …

Students Exploring Careers In Occupational Therapy, Shayna Kymes, Mary Thelander

InterProfessional Education Research and Scholarship

To engage students from rural and underserved communities, the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program participated in a Students Exploring Careers in Health (SECiH) event. We introduced the students to Occupational Therapy (OT) during the morning and provided three examples of assessments during the afternoon portion. We chose to have them explore one handed baby dressing, name as many animals as they can in 60 seconds per the Animal Naming Test (ANT) and the Minnesota Spatial Relations Test. We chose these assessments as the ANT is an equipment free test that can be given bedside to test for minimal or covert hepatic …

Compassionate Care In Elementary General Music Teaching And Learning As A Way To Respond To The World: A Narrative Inquiry, Julia K. Church Hoffman

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

In this narrative inquiry, where stories were the data, three experienced music teachers from one public school district in the southwestern United States shared stories about their experiences as elementary general music teachers. The stories were told through the lens of compassionate care, a perspective that implies a shared experience between teacher and learners (Hendricks, 2018, 2023). The stories, and my interpretation of them, revealed an understanding of elementary general music, a multimodal, fun, school subject, as a vehicle for teaching children how to be kind and respectful humans. Threads that emerged from the stories linked connections between compassionate care, …

Gnss And Insar Observations Of Vertical Motion In The Valles Caldera, Nm, Savannah Chase Devine

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The Valles caldera is a rhyolitic “supervolcano” formed 1.231 Ma. An understanding of whether Valles caldera is currently deforming is needed to inform volcanic hazard estimates for northern New Mexico and will allow for a better understanding of the hazards presented by other rhyolitic caldera systems. Here, we present an InSAR time series of the Valles Caldera using 37 interferograms, spanning 2014 to 2022, which show a small but consistent signal of broad pattern subsidence/yr. We also present GNSS observations from a survey conducted in October 2022 and compare the results to surveys in 2002 and 2003 to estimate the …

Conserved Mechanisms Of Drug Induced Lifespan Extension In S. Cerevisiae And C. Elegans, Christine E. Robbins

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Aging is a phenomenon that brings aches, pains and a risk of developing diseases. Many researchers have discovered pathways that regulate aging by altering gene expression. Understanding genetic regulation of aging is key but identifying drugs that target aging will result in translatable treatments. Additionally, understanding how drugs are interacting with our cells allows us to create targeted therapies. I study two types of drugs. First, tRNA synthetase inhibitors are a class of drugs that inhibit charging of tRNAs. I identified a mechanism of lifespan extension by upregulation of the conserved transcription factor, Gcn4 / Atf-4. Second, I found that …

Cell And Molecular Mechanisms Of Plasticity And Injury Associated With Spreading Depolarization, Jordan E. Weisend

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Spreading depolarization (SD) is now established as a critical event contributing to the expansion of acute brain injuries. In areas with insufficient access to metabolites, SD results in episodic glutamate accumulation and NMDA receptor over-activation. Intriguingly, in areas with sufficient access to metabolites SD can result in synaptic strengthening, together suggesting SD consequences may vary widely based on metabolic context. Utilizing acute murine brain slices, this dissertation sought to interrogate the cell and molecular mechanisms of SD induced detriment and revitalization. We describe evidence that the primary NMDAR subtype involved in SD is GluN2A-containing NMDARs, and when targeted during SD …

Deep Sequence-Coupled Biopanning And Vaccine Development, Julianne Peabody

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Virus-like particles (VLPs) are nanoparticles comprised of viral structural proteins. They physically resemble the virus from which they are derived but lack genomic material. They are non-infectious, non-replicating, and have a favorable safety profile. VLPs are highly immunogenic with a dense, repetitive structure that is strongly activating for B cells. VLPs can be utilized to develop vaccines and can be used either as direct immunogens or platforms for the display of heterologous antigens. The display of foreign peptides on VLPs can be used to elicit high-titer antibodies against the displayed peptide. A virus-like particle based on the RNA bacteriophage MS2 …