Digital Commons Network^™

Bubble Nucleation And Cooperativity In Duplex Stretching Of A Helicoidal Dna Model, Pawan Kumar Thapaliya

Theses and Dissertations

Denaturation of DNA means separation of dsDNA into ssDNA due to the breaking of hydrogen bond by the application of heat or another mechanical method to carry out the processes like translation,transcription, and replication. Single-molecule DNA stretching experiments displayed a force-induced transition at a force of 65pN for long dsDNA molecules. In these experiments, double stranded DNA molecules are stretched by a force applied to opposite ends of the DNA, e.g., in anatomic force microscope or an optical tweezers instrument. Here we study the thermal and force-induced denaturation of the helicoidal DNA bubble-in-the middle sequence by Monte-Carlo simulations technique. We …

The Conical Diffraction And Adiabatic Elimination In Pt-Symmetric Systems, Mojgan Dehghani

Theses and Dissertations

Dehghani, Mojgan, The Conical Diffraction and Adiabatic Elimination in PT-Symmetric Systems. Master of Science (MS), July, 2019, 75 pp., 32 figures, references, 69 titles. Since almost two decades ago, the non-Hermitian Hamiltonians with combined parity and time-reversal symmetry, having entirely real spectra, have been outstanding candidates for characterizing the features of open systems. In this thesis, we investigate the dynamics of certain PT systems. In chapter I, we present a brief review of the fundamentals of PT-symmetric systems. Chapter II focuses on the conical diffraction in a PT-symmetric waveguide lattice. We explore the evolution of a wave packet, which forms …

Development Of Prognostics Techniques For Surface Defect Growth In Railroad Bearing Rolling Elements, Nancy De Los Santos

Theses and Dissertations

One of the major causes of failure in railroad bearings used in freight service is rolling contact fatigue (RCF). RCF is due to subsurface inclusions which are a result from impurities in the steel that is used to fabricate the bearings. Once the bearings initiate subsurface fatigue cracks, they will then propagate upward and initiate spalling of the rolling surfaces. These spalls will begin small and continuously propagate with operation as this induces additional crack forming and spalling. Studies have indicated that bearing temperature is not a good indicator of spall initiation. In many cases, the temperature of the bearing …

Reduction Of The Kp Hierarchy, Adrian Eugenio Torres

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will delve into the Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation or KP equation and it's hierarchy. More specifically, the solition theory around it. To do so, we first explore the soliton theory for the Korteweg de-Vries equation or KdV equation by analysing it through the inverse scattering transform method and presenting it's soliton solutions. Second, we will introduce, Hirota's bilinear form, and understand its main idea. Third, introduce Sato Theory, and use it to formulate the KP hierarchy, via using pseudo-differential operators, presenting the lax operator, the dressing operator, Sato’s equation, and the zero curvature equation (Zakharov-Shabat Equation). Fourth, find the general …

I Influence Too: The Role Of Professors In Developing Bilingual Teachers' Spanish Proficiency, Zulmaris Diaz, Gina Lydia Garza-Reyna

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

To support the growing number of English learners (ELs) across the nation, professors in the field of bilingual education are being called to prepare highly effective bilingual teachers who not only have linguistic proficiency in English and Spanish but can also successfully perform in academic settings. As a result, we, two bilingual education professors working at two different institutions along the Texas–Mexico border, conducted a duoethnography study to explore the question, How are our practices impacting the students we teach?—an area in the field of bilingual education that has been relatively unexplored. We examine our practices using the existing literature …

Engineered Porous Media For Groundwater Contaminant Remediation: Applications Of Nano-Tio2, Sheng Yin

Theses and Dissertations

Nonmetallic Arsenic and hydrocarbon BTEX are the most common and harmful contaminants in groundwater. Many oxide, biological and metal based adsorbent materials have been investigated in the laboratory and in the field environment. These materials, especially for nano-TiO2, have been extensively studied in the laboratory due to its high efficiency and remediation outcomes. This research compared two different synthetic nano-TiO2, aggregated dendritic nano-scale anatase TiO2 and the polymorphed rutile nano-TiO2 attached to the surface of SiO2, to study the feasibility of nano-TiO2 in geoenvironmental engineering applications. Characterization of crystal structure, purity, and morphologic, microscopic features of the materials were examed …

Statin Prescription For Patients With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease From National Survey Data, Kristina Vatcheva, Vicente Aparicio, Ayesha Araya, Eduardo Gonzalez, Susan T. Laing

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Despite strong evidence for the use of statins for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), statin prescription is still suboptimal. We aimed to determine the rates and factors that influence statin prescription using national survey data. This is a cross-sectional retrospective study on 8,468 patients with clinical ASCVD who were drawn from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from years 2011 to 2015. Survey-weighted analysis was conducted to estimate weighted prevalence and odds ratios for statin prescription. There was a significant increase in statin prescription from the years 2011 to 2015. Nevertheless, …

Investigation Of Precise Molecular Mechanistic Action Of Tobacco-Associated Carcinogen ‘Nnk’ Induced Carcinogenesis: A System Biology Approach, Ad Anukriti, Anupam Dhasmana, Swati Uniyal, Pallavi Somvanshi, Uma Bhardwaj, Meenu Gupta, Shafiul Haque, Mohtashim Lohani, Dhruv Kumar, Janne Ruokolainen, Kavindra Kumar Kesari

School of Medicine Publications

Cancer is the second deadliest disease listed by the WHO. One of the major causes of cancer disease is tobacco and consumption possibly due to its main component, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). A plethora of studies have been conducted in the past aiming to decipher the association of NNK with other diseases. However, it is strongly linked with cancer development. Despite these studies, a clear molecular mechanism and the impact of NNK on various system-level networks is not known. In the present study, system biology tools were employed to understand the key regulatory mechanisms and the perturbations that will happen in the …

A Novel Method For Intelligent Single Fault Detection Of Bearings Using Sae And Improved D–S Evidence Theory, Jianguang Lu, Huan Zhang, Xianghong Tang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

In order to realize single fault detection (SFD) from the multi-fault coupling bearing data and further research on the multi-fault situation of bearings, this paper proposes a method based on features self-extraction of a Sparse Auto-Encoder (SAE) and results fusion of improved Dempster–Shafer evidence theory (D–S). Multi-fault signal compression features of bearings were extracted by SAE on multiple vibration sensors’ data. Data sets were constructed by the extracted compression features to train the Support Vector Machine (SVM) according to the rule of single fault detection (R-SFD) this paper proposed. Fault detection results were obtained by the improved D–S evidence theory, …

Searches For Gravitational Waves From Known Pulsars At Two Harmonics In 2015–2017 Ligo Data, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Malik Rakhmanov, Robert Stone

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present a search for gravitational waves from 222 pulsars with rotation frequencies ≳10 Hz. We use advanced LIGO data from its first and second observing runs spanning 2015–2017, which provides the highest-sensitivity gravitational-wave data so far obtained. In this search we target emission from both the l = m = 2 mass quadrupole mode, with a frequency at twice that of the pulsar's rotation, and the l = 2, m = 1 mode, with a frequency at the pulsar rotation frequency. The search finds no evidence for gravitational-wave emission from any pulsar at either frequency. For the l = …

Size, Structure, And Luminescence Of Nd2zr2o7 Nanoparticles By Molten Salt Synthesis, Jose P. Zuniga, Santosh K. Gupta, Maya Abdou, Hector A. De Santiago, Alexander A. Puretzky, Melonie P. Thomas, Beth S. Guiton, Jue Liu, Yuanbing Mao

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Pyrochlore materials with novel properties are in demand with multifunctional applications such as optoelectronics, scintillator materials, and theranostics. Many reports have already indicated the importance of the synthesis technique for Nd2Zr2O7 (NZO) nanoparticles (NPs); however, no explanation has been provided for the reason behind the nature of its phase selectivity. Here, we have explored the structural and optical properties of the NZO NPs synthesized by a molten salt synthesis method. We have synthesized size-tunable NZO NPs and correlated the particle size with their structural behavior and optical performance. All NZO NPs are stabilized in defect fluorite phase. Neutron diffraction provided …

Metric Geometry And The Determination Of The Bohmian Quantum Potential, Paul Bracken

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

A geometric approach to quantum mechanics which is formulated in terms of Finsler geometry is developed. It is shown that quantum mechanics can be formulated in terms of Finsler configuration space trajectories which obey Newton-like evolution but in the presence of an additional kind of potential. This additional quantum potential which was obtained first by Bohm has the consequence of contributing to the forces driving the system. This geometric picture accounts for many aspects of quantum dynamics and leads to a more natural interpretation. It is found for example that dynamics can be accounted for by incorporating quantum effects into …

Implementation Of Visual Supplements To Strengthen Pedagogical Practices And Enhance The Physical Understanding Of Fundamental Concepts In Engineering Mechanics, Eleazar Marquez, Samuel Garcia, Samuel Molina

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Mechanical Engineering is a discipline highly dependent on designing and implementing mechanical, thermal, or energy systems for the improvement of the human environment. Thus being a proficient Engineer involves having a strong mathematical background and a thorough physical understanding on how systems operate in order to apply analytical or numerical schemes during a design process. However, most of the students’ academic development is centered on deriving tedious equations and solving textbook problems, which are difficult to visualize and physically understand, and cloud their intuitive nature to comprehend a problem on its entirety. These conventional approaches and methods of disseminating content …

Incorporating Antecedent Soil Moisture Into Streamflow Forecasting, Abdoul Oubeidillah, Glenn Tootle, Thomas Piechota

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

This study incorporates antecedent (preceding) soil moisture into forecasting streamflow volumes within the North Platte River Basin, Colorado/Wyoming (USA). The incorporation of antecedent soil moisture accounts for infiltration and can improve streamflow predictions. Current Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) forecasting methods are replicated, and a comparison is drawn between current NRCS forecasts and proposed forecasting methods using antecedent soil moisture. Current predictors used by the NRCS in regression-based streamflow forecasting include precipitation, streamflow persistence (previous season streamflow volume) and snow water equivalent (SWE) from SNOTEL (snow telemetry) sites. Proposed methods utilize antecedent soil moisture as a predictor variable in addition …

Unexplored Diversity Of The Mesophotic Echinoderm Fauna Of The Easter Island Ecoregion, Ariadna Mecho, Erin E. Easton, Javier Sellanes, Matthias Gorny, Christopher Mah

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The Easter Island ecoregion (EIE) is one of the most remote marine areas of the world and encompasses a vast and fragile ecosystem including oceanic islands and seamounts. In January 2014 and March 2016, a remotely operated vehicle was used to explore a subsurface peak off Easter Island (27.23°S, 109.48°W) and a seamount (26.92°S, 110.26°W), respectively located 10 km southwest and 98 km west of the island. More than 950 echinoderms were observed in the 5 h of video recorded during the seven dives conducted at depths between ~ 160 and 280 m. The communities of echinoderms observed at these …

Thermodynamics Of Neutrons In A Magnetic Field And Its Implications For Neutron Stars, Efrain J. Ferrer, Aric Hackebill

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We investigate the effects of a magnetic field on the thermodynamics of a neutron system at finite density and temperature. Our main motivation is to deepen the understanding of the physics of a class of neutron stars known as magnetars, which exhibit extremely strong magnetic fields. Taking into account two facts, (i) the existence of a pressure anisotropy in the presence of a magnetic field and (ii) that the quantum field theory contribution to the pressure is non-negligible, we show that the maximum value that the inner magnetic field of a star can reach while being in agreement with the …

Optimal Quantization For The Cantor Distribution Generated By Infinite Similutudes, Mrinal Kanti Roychowdhury

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

Let P be a Borel probability measure on ℝ generated by an infinite system of similarity mappings {Sj : j ∈ ℕ} such that P=Σ∞j=112jP∘S−1j, where for each j ∈ ℕ and x ∈ ℝ, Sj(x)=13jx+1−13j−1. Then, the support of P is the dyadic Cantor set C generated by the similarity mappings f1, f2 : ℝ → ℝ such that f1(x) = 1/3x and f2(x) = 1/3x+ 2/3 for all x ∈ ℝ. In this paper, using the infinite system of similarity mappings {Sj : j ∈ ℕ} associated with the probability vector (12,122,...), for all n ∈ ℕ, we …

A Holistic Approach For Enhancing Distributed Education With Multi-Campus Course Delivery Methods, Mahmoud K. Quweider, Ala Qubbaj, Liyu Zhang, Fitratullah Khan, Hansheng Lei

Computer Science Faculty Publications

To create an emerging research institution, a regional university was created that spans multiple campuses within a radius of more than one hundred miles by merging at least three current institutions. The merge allowed the university to pool its human and technical resources. Students can now pursue new degrees that were not available before at one campus or another, take a newly available technical or specialty courses, and even select their own preferred professor when a course is offered by many faculty. In order to serve students at multiple campuses that are geographically far a part, the university instituted policies …

Spherically Quasinormal Pairs Of Commuting Operators, Raul E. Curto, Jasang Yoon

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We first discuss the spherical Aluthge and spherical Duggal transforms for commuting pairs of operators on Hilbert space. Second, we study the fixed points of these transforms, which are the spherically quasinormal commuting pairs. In the case of commuting 2-variable weighted shifts, we prove that spherically quasinormal pairs are intimately related to spherically isometric pairs. We show that each spherically quasinormal 2-variable weighted shift is completely determined by a subnormal unilateral weighted shift (either the 0-th row or the 0-th column in the weight diagram). We then focus our attention on the case when this unilateral weighted shift is recursively …

Growth Factors In The Human Body: A Conceptual Update, Estefania Alexandre, Debasish Bandyopadhyay

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Growth factors are found in most of the organisms including insects, humans, plants, etc. The name ‘growth factors’ became known when the substances were active in stimulating the growth of cells and tissues. Growth factors are regulatory species (signaling molecules mainly proteins) that are generated by the body which function in binding to receptors on the cell surface and are required to stimulate the growth in living responsive cells by triggering cellular proliferation and/or cellular differentiation pathways, as well as by regulating gene transcription in the nucleus. They are quite versatile by promoting cell growth and act in a paracrine, …

Toward The Ultrasonic Sensing Of Organic Carbon In Seagrass-Bearing Sediments, Gabriel R. Venegas, Abdullah Rahman, Kevin M. Lee, Megan S. Ballard, Preston S. Wilson

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Ten percent of all organic carbon (Corg) absorbed by the ocean each year is stored in seagrass-bearing sediments. The preservation of these carbon stores is considered a vital method to mitigate climate change. Seagrass-bearing sediments have been correlated with sediment geophysical properties yet have not been related to sediment acoustic properties. For this purpose, sediment cores were collected from a Thalassia testudinum seagrass meadow in South Texas, USA, where geophysical, acoustical, and Corg properties were measured. It is hypothesized that when deposits of Corg adsorb onto mineral surfaces and are stored in pore spaces, compliant layers between grain contacts and …

“We Listened To Each Other:” Social-Emotional Growth In Literature Circles, Elena M. Venegas

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Literature circles undoubtedly foster literacy. Yet successful participation in literature circles requires social and emotional competence of students. This article presents findings from a study of a fifth-grade student who demonstrated social-emotional growth while participating in literature circles. Specifically, growth in intrapersonal and interpersonal skills such as self-management, social awareness, social metacognition, and empathy were evident. These findings suggest that literature circles not only foster literacy but also social-emotional learning.

Optimal Staged Self-Assembly Of Linear Assemblies, Cameron Chalk, Eric M. Martinez, Robert Schweller, Luis Vega, Andrew Winslow, Tim Wylie

Computer Science Faculty Publications

We analyze the complexity of building linear assemblies, sets of linear assemblies, and O(1)-scale general shapes in the staged tile assembly model. For systems with at most b bins and t tile types, we prove that the minimum number of stages to uniquely assemble a 1 n line is (logt n + logb n t + 1). Generalizing to O(1) n lines, we prove the minimum number of stages is O( log n tb t log t b2 + log log b log t ) and

( log n tb t log t b2 ). Next, we consider assembling sets …

Equation Of State Of A Magnetized Dense Neutron System, Efrain J. Ferrer, Aric Hackebill

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We discuss how a magnetic field can affect the equation of state of a many-particle neutron system. We show that, due to the anisotropy in the pressures, the pressure transverse to the magnetic field direction increases with the magnetic field, while the one along the field direction decreases. We also show that in this medium there exists a significant negative field-dependent contribution associated with the vacuum pressure. This negative pressure demands a neutron density sufficiently high (corresponding to a baryonic chemical potential of ��=2.25 GeV) to produce the necessary positive matter pressure that can compensate for the gravitational pull. The …

Studies On Regulation Of Dihydrotestosterone Binding To And Releasing From The Androgen Receptor, Tahyra M. Resto Santos

Theses and Dissertations

The androgen receptor (AR) is a nuclear receptor that responds to testosterone and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by modulating gene expression in a variety of cells, including prostate and muscle tissues. Studies of small molecule interaction with AR have shown diphenyl compounds inhibiting through a binding site labeled Binding Function 3 (BF3). The goal of this research is to analyze the interaction of the BF3 site with DDT and related compounds. Amino acids that are exposed on the surface of the BF3 that might interact with different compounds were mutated. Mutant proteins were tested experimentally for their impact on the inhibition the …

Biomechanics Of Lower Limb During The Golf Swing Using Opensim Modeling, Andrew B. Butler

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to investigate the biomechanics of the lower-limb using an inverse dynamics model. Experimental data, recorded by an integrated Motion Analysis – Force Plate System in the UTRGV Biomechanics Laboratory, is used to determine ground reaction forces and marker trajectories. OpenSim, a graphical musculoskeletal and computational platform, is used to model the body in three dimensions. The human body is modeled as a 12-segment linkage, consisting of 23 degrees-of-freedom and 92 muscles. The experimental data for the Biomechanics Laboratory is imported in OpenSim. Then, joint angles, generalized coordinates & accelerations of lower-limb segments, muscle forces, …

Existence And Classification Of Solutions To Nonlinear Elliptic Equations, Haseeb E. Ansari

Theses and Dissertations

The so-called Lane-Emden equation is a model in astrophysics, useful to problems in analysis and conformal geometry, and is closely related to the Yamabe Problem and the Uniformization Theorem. We discuss several important results for the equation, which include proving that the equation admits a distribution solution if and only if p is greater than the Serrin exponent, that classical solutions admit the form of a "bubble function" if p is equal to the Sobolev exponent, and no classical solutions exist for p less than the Sobolev exponent. A new proof of an extended result is also included.

A Case Study Of Hispanic Stem Teacher Preparation, Pamela L. Groves

Theses and Dissertations

There is a shortage of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers in the US (Aragon, 2016; National Science Board, 2003). Hispanics are underrepresented in STEM teaching (Aragon, 2016; Texas Education Agency, 2017; US Census Bureau, 2016b; US Department of Education, n.d.). In order to improve the state of STEM teaching in the US we must tap into this underrepresented group. This exploratory case study examined the experiences of Hispanic students pursing STEM teacher preparation and how the UTeachRGV program impacts student persistence and retention.

UTeachRGV is a STEM teacher preparation program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley …

Mobile Solar Energy Environmental Control System With Remote Accessibility, Luis S. Garay

Theses and Dissertations

The proposed system, Mobile Solar Energy Environmental Control System with Remote Accessibility (mSEECS w/ RA), is based on the utilization of an already available Energy Storage Unit (ESU) in a Transport Unit System (TUS) to harness solar energy to provide a system to enhance the environment, safety and security of a TUS in a stationary or a mobile state by monitoring and controlling the operation of its onboard systems, and provide remote accessibility to know the state of affairs at any time. To relate to a real world application, the battery (ESU) of a vehicle (TUS) is underutilized …

The Development Of Screening Platforms To Identify Novel Anti-Infectives That Inhibit Protein Synthesis In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Casey Anne Hughes

Theses and Dissertations

Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen, is a leading cause of nosocomial infections and is becoming increasingly antibiotic resistant. Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) catalyze the covalent attachment of amino acids to their cognate tRNAs and serve as validated targets for the development of new anti-infectives. In P. aeruginosa, the genome contains two genes (tyrS and tyrZ) which encode two distinct TyrRS enzymes. The genes encoding both P. aeruginosa TyrRS-Z and TyrRS-S were cloned, overexpressed in E. coli cells, and purified to homogeneity. Both forms of TyrRS were active in aminoacylation and were developed into screening platforms using scintillation proximity …