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Medical Muse Volume 19 Issue 1 - Spring 2014

Medical Muse

No abstract provided.

The Economic Impact Of Oil And Gas Production In The Permian Basin, Aditi Sarkar

Economics ETDs

The dissertation aims to analyze the economic and social consequences of unconventional oil and gas (UO&G) production in the Permian Basin, located in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. The first paper focuses on the effect of methane reduction regulations imposed by the United States (US) government on the production of natural gas and the drilling of new wells. Specifically, the question asked is “what is the impact of methane reduction regulations on the drilling of new wells and the production of natural gas over a 40-year time horizon?” I develop dynamic optimization in a system dynamic setting to assess …

Advanced Quantitative Approaches To Unveil Social Inequities In Educational Contexts, Manuel J. Jiménez, Vanessa Svihla, Karl Benedict, Victor Law, Meeko Oishi

Organization, Information and Learning Sciences ETDs

Chapter 2 introduces an innovative method integrating Geographic Information Systems and Machine Learning to evaluate educational policy outcomes. This approach overcomes the limitations of traditional statistical methods and effectively analyzes complex relationships between educational data and demographic factors.

The study in Chapter 3 developed a prediction model for school report cards in New Mexico using census data and applying the methods described in Chapter 2. The accurate predictions suggested that the school accountability system disproportionately assigned failing grades to schools serving minoritized students. The study also confirmed that status measures depend more on demographics than growth measures.

The study in …

Analysis Of Interprofessional Education Inclusion Within U.S. Dental Hygiene Programs’ Curricula, Jennifer M. Pacheco

Dental Hygiene ETDs

The purpose of this study was to collect information on the implementation of IPE activities within U.S. dental hygiene programs and whether program faculty are implementing these components into their program curricula. Furthermore, the study would identify which types of IPE activities were being conducted and if these activities met the CODA standards. An original survey was sent out to dental hygiene program directors and faculty. Results revealed both programs agreed that IPE is a significant component to include in hygiene curricula to better equip students as members of the healthcare team to deliver comprehensive care. IPE activities implemented were …

Examining The Effects Of Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles On Primary Gingival Keratinocytes For The Prevention Of Oral Disease, Jennifer C. Carranza

Dental Hygiene ETDs

Oral plaque biofilm has been identified as the primary contributor to dental conditions such as dental caries and periodontal disease that promotes a diverse and pervasive collection of microbial species to inhabit the oral cavity. Disrupting the plaque matrix early could help combat this global disease burden. This study evaluated the effect of IONPs on primary gingival keratinocytes.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine existing research regarding nanoparticles and determine if IONPs affect the PGK cell membranes with preliminary research to find the maximum lysis possible with PGK cells.

Methods: IONP core/shell syntheses were performed. Considering keratinocyte characteristics, examining data …

Determining The Existence And Regulation Of Microlipophagy In Primary Brown And White Adipocytes, Sara C. Arenas De Leon

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Lipids are one of life’s four main macromolecules and provide essential functions to cells.

The degradation of lipid droplets and mobilization of lipids occurs through lipolysis. Emerging evidence demonstrates evidence of a selective form of autophagy in lipolysis. The process of microlipophagy has only recently been described, and many features of its regulation are still poorly understood. Our recent study showed that inhibiting mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) pathway by depletion of Raptor in adipocytes led to an influx of lysosomes and accumulation of lipid droplets within lysosome. Here, we expand on these previous findings. We were able …

Effects Of Acute And Chronic Gut Injury On Secretory Lineage Differentiation, Roger Atanga

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Acute and chronic injury to the gut has several detrimental consequences. However, dysregulation of secretory lineage cells is a common observation. To model acute gut injury, we use non-fissile uranium bearing dust (UBD), an environmental toxicant prevalent in communities adjacent abandoned uranium mines, majority of which are located in the Southwestern United States. Repeated exposure to environmental toxins and heavy metals has been obscurely linked to intestinal inflammation, increased susceptibility to pathogen-induced diseases, and higher incidences of colorectal cancer. However, there is no molecular evidence that non-fissile uranium can cause damage to the intestinal epithelia. Human colonoids exposed to UBD …

Hydraulic Habitat Suitability For The Rio Grande Silvery Minnow At The Los Chavez Irrigation Outfall, New Mexico, Haley A. Ormsbee

Civil Engineering ETDs

It is essential to manage the Middle Rio Grande for aquatic species to preserve the native biodiversity of the river. During periods of low flow, endangered species such as the Rio Grande Silvery Minnow (RGSM) may get trapped in a drying reach without the ability to escape from isolated pools. Very little is known about how areas of refuge, such as irrigational outfall channels, buffer RGSM from stream flow intermittency. Hence, there is a crucial need to quantify available habitat for RGSM in areas of refuge. This study aims to make connections between flow regimes and physical-habitat conditions to help …

Noise-Resilient And Adaptive Distributed Control Techniques For Microgrids, Seyed Iman Habibi

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

This dissertation focuses on addressing the critical tasks of secondary control in microgrids, particularly in the islanding operating mode. The presence of noise in sensors and communication links necessitates the design of a noise-resilient secondary control approach. In response, this dissertation introduces the Nonlinear Generalized Minimum Variance (NGMV) control approach into the islanded AC and DC microgrid's secondary control system. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through MATLAB simulations. Additionally, the dissertation presents an adaptive, model-free, and data-driven control approach for secondary voltage control in AC microgrids, addressing uncertainties. By employing Unfalsified Adaptive Control (UAC), the approach selects …

The Water Mills Of The Historic Río Arriba In Northcentral New Mexico, 1598-1975, José A. Rivera Ph.D, Thomas F. Glick Ph.D

Faculty Publications

The water mills of New Mexico played a major role in the agricultural economy of the Río Arriba for centuries following the introduction of wheat from the Old World to the Americas. Wheat, in its ground form as flour, was a staple during the Spanish colonial period. To process raw wheat, local grist mills (molinos) were essential infrastructure as were the aceq uias (ditches) that powered them. Situated near the banks of rivers, the internal components of each mill were driven by the gravity force of water from an acequia, itself diverted from the river. Researchers have documented …

Wirelessly Powering A Sea Of Sensors For Perimeter Security Applications, Ian River Chavez

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

his thesis presents an innovative application of Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) technology for perimeter security systems. The approach leverages the physical properties of IPT to detect intrusions by monitoring voltage changes in wirelessly powered sensor nodes, which can double as components of an intrusion detection system. Disturbances in node orientation, indicative of potential intrusions, alter the sensor node’s resonant frequency and create measurable voltage shifts. This study explores the concept in-depth, from the analysis of resonant inductive coupling in various resonant inductive modes, to the design of transmit loops, sensor nodes, and the techniques required to ensure optimum power transfer. …

Electromagnetic Simulations Of The Lansce Chopper Structure, Yusuf Sahin

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Particle accelerators are important for basic research as well as in applications such as ion implantation and cancer therapy. One important accelerator is the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE) located at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that primarily produces neutrons for research. The beam chopper simulation described here is a study to provide better modeling of this subsystem of LANSCE. A chopper is a device in which particles are intermittently sliced and directed to a target and/or experiment. The simulations in this thesis are used to analyze the correct operating parameters of the chopper. A good chopper model can …

Speaker Diarization Of Noisy Classrooms From A Single Microphone Based On An Array Of Virtual Microphones And Machine Learning, Richard Briggs

Electrical and Computer Engineering ETDs

Speaker diarization from a single microphone is extremely challenging in noisy classroom environments. A new method based on simulating a microphone array has shown promising results, while requiring very little training. It used a minimum distance classifier to identify the speaker among a list of possible speakers. This thesis investigates machine learning methods for determining the speaker. The AOLME dataset that was used contains 758 samples totaling 894.4 seconds. Each is taken from a noisy classroom environment, focusing on five speakers - any one of whom could be active in a given sample - lasting an average of 1.2 seconds. …

Repair Of A Wellbore Microannulus, Serafin Garcia Fernandez

Civil Engineering ETDs

In wellbore systems, the microannulus between the steel and the cement has been shown to be a critical leakage pathway. This microannulus offers unique roughness, aperture distribution, and wetting conditions, which are critical in understanding and explaining the potential sealing efficiency of a repair material. An experimental configuration was developed to better understand how a repair material would displace an existing material in the microannulus, visually evaluate potential instabilities on the flow patterns developed, and how efficient the potential repair would be. For that purpose, the experimental configuration consisted of a planar, rough cement surface and a transparent acrylic plate …

Investigation Of Issues Concerning Wellbore Leakage, Ishtiaque Anwar

Civil Engineering ETDs

A range of applications, such as subsurface fluid storage facilities, geothermal wells, and CO2 storage wells, are concerned about leakage along wellbores. The research described in this dissertation was largely directed toward wellbore leakage concerns for the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). For SPR wellbores, multiple fluids are likely to exist in fractures and flow paths associated with leaky wellbores, including liquids (e.g., liquid hydrocarbon - crude oil) and gases (e.g., gas ex-solved from liquid and/or nitrogen from MIT tests). Anomalous pressure records have been observed at the wellhead of SPR wellbores, indicative of wellbore leakage. In a few cases, …

Experimental And Numerical Investigation Of Fluid Flow Behavior Through Fractured Wellbore Cement, Mahya Hatambeigi

Civil Engineering ETDs

Leakage from wellbores has been a major challenge in the energy industry, leading to groundwater contamination, reduced productivity, safety hazards, and increased operating costs. Cemented annulus fractures are a common type of leakage pathway in wellbores that can form due to various physical and chemical conditions. The number of wellbore leaks continues to increase globally, making it imperative to develop a better understanding of the complex mechanisms governing fluid flow through fractured wellbore cement. Understanding the behavior of fluid flow through a leaky cemented annulus is crucial for evaluating the leakage potential and risk assessments in wellbore systems, as well …

Heterochiral Dna Nanotechnology For Biomedical Applications, Tracy L. Mallette

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

In the past 30 years, there have been major advancements on how to treat and diagnose disease because of the improvement and increase in accessibility of sequencing technology. Nucleic acid-based therapeutics can manipulate protein expression. Likewise, pathogens can be identified and detected with single nucleotide specificity. However, the underlying oligonucleotide technology requires protection against natural defense systems that have evolved to destroy foreign nucleic acids. Many chemical modifications that can protect nucleotides also have significant cytotoxic side effects and must be carefully designed into the strands. A novel way to protect against nuclease-mediated degradation is through the use of mirror-image, …

Sociolinguistics Of Saudi Vision 2030: Paradigm Shift Through English Faculty’S Perspectives Of Translanguaging At A Saudi University., Naif Masrahi

Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies ETDs

Many educational systems around the world insist on applying an English Only Policy (EOP) when teaching the English language at universities without addressing their contextual needs. In Saudi Arabia, this problem leads to reduced satisfaction among faculty regarding students’ English level (Alharbi & Alqefari, 2022; Alkhairy, 2013; Alqahtani, 2020; Alsaawi, 2019; Alshammari, 2022; Altale & Alta’ani, 2019; Alzahrani, 2019; Elyas & Picard, 2010). However, the new educational transformation promised by Saudi Vision 2030 (2016) supports the Arabic language as a mother tongue for Saudis, English as an important language, and the teaching of critical thinking to respond to current global …

Myeloid Fth1 Deficiency Protects Mice From Colitis And Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer Via Reducing Dmt1-Imported Iron And Stat3 Activation, Zhaoli Liu, Mariella Arcos, David R. Martin, Xiang Xue

Pathology Research and Scholarship

BACKGROUND: Myeloid cells are critical for iron and immune homeostasis. Ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) is essential for intracellular iron storage. Myeloid FTH1 is important in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases. However, the role of myeloid FTH1 in colitis and colitis-associated cancer has not been determined.

METHODS: Myeloid FTH1 deficient and wild-type mice were treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) or azoxymethane (AOM)-DSS to compare their susceptibility to acute colitis or colitis-associated cancer.

RESULTS: Myeloid FTH1-deficient mice fed with a high-iron diet were less susceptible to DSS-induced acute colitis than wild type mice. Mechanistic studies showed that myeloid FTH1 deficiency …

Performance Evaluation Of E-Ticketing Technologies On Asphalt Paving Projects In New Mexico, Gena C. Robertson

Civil Engineering ETDs

The collection and processing of paper tickets for construction material delivery is an inefficient and antiquated practice that exposes inspectors on highway paving projects to substantial safety risks. An alternative to the collection of paper tickets is e-Ticketing, which uses web-based systems to deliver similar information. This research documented a current paper ticketing process and compared it to an e-Ticketing process that was implemented on several pilot projects. Data were obtained using stakeholder meetings, personnel interviews, and surveys. When compared to a paper ticketing system, e-Ticketing was shown to have fewer opportunities for error, require fewer decision points, and provide …

Development Of The Navigator: A Lagrangian Smart Sensing System To Characterize Aquatic Ecosystems., Aashish Sanjay Khandelwal

Civil Engineering ETDs

Most freshwater aquatic studies rely on Eulerian monitoring, i.e., water quality and quantity are monitored using grab samples or semi-continuous sensors deployed at fixed cross-sections. While Eulerian monitoring is practical, it provides a limited understanding of spatial and temporal heterogeneity and their effects on environmental processes. This dissertation summarizes the design and application of The Navigator, an alternative Lagrangian monitoring system that offers cost-effective solutions for in-situ, real-time data collection in lotic and lentic freshwater ecosystems such as streams, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. The Navigator features a suite of methods – an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) with GPS and LTE …

Synthetic Biology Enabled Modification Of Bone Cells And Impact On Bone Mineral Resorption, Dulce C. Hayes

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Development of a cell culture based bone model can contribute to biomedical research by producing a reproducible model system that mimics a bone remodeling disorder and reduces the use of animals in research studies. Synthetic biology was used to engineer osteoblast cell lines to alter a key protein in the RANKL pathway in efforts to control the bone remodeling process. Osteoblast cell lines, K7M2 and MC3T3-E1 Subclone 4 were engineered to express osteoprotegerin (OPG) and inhibit OPG expression, respectively. The upregulation of OPG expression was confirmed with Real Time PCR and Quantikine® Immunoassay. To identify the functionality of the engineered …

Near- And Far- Field Optical Response Of Ensembles Of Nanostructures, Lauren Zundel

Physics & Astronomy ETDs

The ability of metallic nanostructures to support collective oscillations of their conduction electrons, known as surface plasmons, makes them attractive candidates for a wide range of applications in areas as diverse as cancer therapy, biosensing, and solar energy harvesting. These applications are especially promising for periodic arrays of nanostructures, which can support collective modes known as lattice resonances, and for nanostructures with extreme aspect ratios that give rise to enhanced light-matter interaction. In this Thesis, we employ a coupled dipole model to theoretically explore the lattice resonances supported by complex arrays of nanoparticles containing multiple nanoparticles per unit cell. We …

High-Power Laser Cooling And Temperature-Dependent Fluorescence Studies Of Ytterbium Doped Silica, Brian Topper

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

Experimental observation of optical refrigeration using ytterbium doped silica glass in recent years has created a new solution for heat mitigation in high-power laser systems, nonlinear fiber experiments, integrated photonics, and precision metrology. Current efforts of different groups focus on compositional optimization, fiber fabrication, and investigating how much silica can be cooled with a laser. At the start of this work, the best effort in laser cooling ytterbium doped silica saw cooling by 6 K from room temperature. This dissertation follows the experimental efforts that culminated in the increase of this initial record by one order of magnitude. Comprehensive spectroscopic …

Super-Resolution Microscopy With Color Centers In Diamond, Forrest A. Hubert

Optical Science and Engineering ETDs

This dissertation explores the development and application of diamond color centers, specifically the silicon-vacancy (SiV) and nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centers, in super-resolution microscopy and magnetic imaging techniques. It demonstrates the potential of SiV centers as photostable fluorophores in stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, with a resolution of approximately 90 nm. The research also presents a method for nanoscale magnetic microscopy using NV centers by combining charge state depletion (CSD) microscopy with optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) to image magnetic fields produced by 30 nm iron-oxide nanoparticles. The individual magnetic feature width reaches ~100 nm while resolving magnetic field patterns from nanoparticles …

Seismic Analysis Of The Upper & Lower Falls Of The Yellowstone River, Loring Schaible

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Twelve years of concurrent hydrologic and continuous seismic data along with temporary seismic data demonstrate that the Upper and Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River comprise a highly localized source of 0.5-5 Hz seismic energy that overwhelms anthropogenic contributions. In aggregate, seismic amplitude from 2008-2019 is linearly related to discharge with a correlation coefficient of 0.96. Repeated deviations from this linear relationship persist for 1-2 weeks prior to the date that Yellowstone Lake becomes clear of winter ice coverage. Seismic efficiency increases by ~50-250% during this period of ice-breakup, during which lake ice flows into the …

Hydrothermal Liquefaction Of Wastewater Sludges For Energy Resource Recovery, Carl L. Abadam

Civil Engineering ETDs

This study aims to identify how variabilities in wastewater process configurations impact the biocrude yields from sludges processed and stabilized by hydrothermal liquefaction. Clean and renewable energy sources are vital to ensure a sustainable future. However, the current consumption of fossil fuels limits the ability to achieve this goal. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a thermochemical process that converts wet biomass to valuable biocrude oil and biochar while reducing solid masses. Wastewater sludges were sampled across three facilities with varying influent design capacities and biological treatment configurations. Lipids extracted via solvent extraction and biocrudes produced from HTL were determined gravimetrically. Relative …

Role Of Endophytic Fungi On Arsenic Uptake In Solution: Insights For Bioremediation, Taylor Lillian Busch

Civil Engineering ETDs

Hazardous metals mobilized from natural deposits and mining legacy are environmental and human health concerns. The waters of our partner Native American communities affected by uranium and gold mining legacy exceed the EPA MCL of 10 µg/L arsenic (As). Bioremediation is a novel technology that uses native resources to remediate metals in the soil and groundwater. Plant-fungi symbiosis for bioremediation is widely studied, but the role of endophytic fungi in metal uptake is not well understood. The objectives of this study are to 1) determine As uptake by symbiotic endophyte Cadophora sp. and little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scoparium) …

Identifying The Required Ecological Flow For Sediment Movement In The Río Chama: Field Data Informed Visual Spatial Model, Cristian Kremer

Civil Engineering ETDs

The continuous alteration of flow regimes in rivers has led to negative impacts on habitats and biotic communities, causing irreversible effects on river biodiversity. Implementing e-flows in management strategies can repair historical mismanagement, prevent further degradation, and restore ecosystem services. In the case of the Rio Chama, damming has altered its hydrological regime, affecting sediment transport. Experts recommend specific e-flow conditions for the Rio Chama to improve ecological conditions, in particular a bankfull discharge of 70 m³s^-1 every 2 years for sediment flushing and channel maintenance. The Río Gallina, a tributary of the Rio Chama, plays a …

Combining Semi-Continuous And Discrete Water Quality Data To Characterize Solute Transport, Biogeochemical Processes, And Wildfire Disturbances In Fluvial Systems, Justin Rae Nichols

Civil Engineering ETDs

In the past decade, high-frequency water quality sondes have become more abundant in watersheds across North America and Europe and are gaining a foothold in Asia and South America. In this dissertation, three relevant topics associated with high-frequency data are investigated, i.e., the impact of winter’s precipitation on surface water quality and stream metabolism, the longitudinal propagation of wildfire disturbances through a fluvial network, and the use of machine learning with high-frequency data to estimate fluvial nutrient processing. First, we found that significant snow precipitation can cause surface water anoxia and declines in stream metabolism. Second, our data illustrate that …