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Studying Mechanical And Structural Properties Of Β-Lg And Β-Cn Fibrils Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Hugo A. Villar Dec 2018

Studying Mechanical And Structural Properties Of Β-Lg And Β-Cn Fibrils Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Hugo A. Villar

Theses and Dissertations

Amyloid fibrils from milk proteins have recently been the subject of extensive investigations in biophysics. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the dynamics of fibrillation and the mechanical properties of β-LG and β-CN fibers using AFM-Quantitative Nanomechanical Mapping (QNM) and AFM-force spectroscopy. β-LG required one day of heating at 80 °C , pH 2 to fibrillate in solution; β-CN required three days. Using the AFM-QNM mode an average elastic modulus of 4.3 GPa was determined for the β-LG fibers and 3.1 GPa for β-casein fibers. A persistence length of 920 nm was determined using end to end distance …


Identification Of Receptor Ligands In Apo B100 Reveals Potential Functional Domains, Juan Guevara Jr., Jamie Romo Jr., Ernesto Hernandez, Natalia Valentinova Guevara Dec 2018

Identification Of Receptor Ligands In Apo B100 Reveals Potential Functional Domains, Juan Guevara Jr., Jamie Romo Jr., Ernesto Hernandez, Natalia Valentinova Guevara

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

LDL, VLDL and other members of the low-density lipoparticles (LLPs) enter cells through a large family of receptors. The actual receptor ligand(s) in apolipoprotein B100, one of the main proteins of LLP, remain(s) unknown. The objective of this study was to identify true receptor ligand(s) in apo B100, a molecule of 4,563 residues. Apo B100 contains 33 analogues of Cardin-Weintraub Arginine/Lysine-based receptor ligand motifs and shares key Lysine motifs and sequence similarity with the LDL receptor-associated protein, RAP, MESD, and heat shock proteins. Eleven FITC-labeled synthetic peptides of 21 – 42 residues, with at least one ligand, were tested for …


Functional Materials, Device Architecture, And Flexibility Of Perovskite Solar Cell, Istiak Hussain, Hoang Phong Tran, Jared R. Jaksik, Justin Moore, Mohammed Jasim Uddin Dec 2018

Functional Materials, Device Architecture, And Flexibility Of Perovskite Solar Cell, Istiak Hussain, Hoang Phong Tran, Jared R. Jaksik, Justin Moore, Mohammed Jasim Uddin

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

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are an emerging photovoltaic technology that promises to offer facile and efficient solar power generation to meet future energy needs. PSCs have received considerable attention in recent years, have attained power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) over 22%, and are a promising candidate to potentially replace the current photovoltaic technology. The emergence of PSCs has revolutionized photovoltaic research and development because of their high efficiencies, inherent flexibility, the diversity of materials/synthetic methods that can be employed to manufacture them, and the various possible device architectures. Further optimization of material compositions and device architectures will help further improve efficiency …


Investigating Faculty Across The Disciplines Perceptions And Practices Of Reflective Writing In Community Engaged Courses: A Comparative Study, Marcela Hebbard Dec 2018

Investigating Faculty Across The Disciplines Perceptions And Practices Of Reflective Writing In Community Engaged Courses: A Comparative Study, Marcela Hebbard

Theses and Dissertations

Recently, research in composition studies and Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) has focused on understanding better how student reflective practices assist on their transfer of writing knowledge across contexts (Yancey et al., 2014; Taczak & Robertson, 2017, Lindenman et al., 2018). However, not much research has been done that investigates faculty beliefs and practices about reflective writing, how they use it to measure student outcomes and achievement in community engaged courses and the implications this might have for the transfer of knowledge and practice of writing. This study draws primarily on activity theory to better understand whether there is a …


Changes In Acceptance Of Dating Violence And Physical Dating Violence Victimization In A Longitudinal Study With Teens, Marie E. Karlsson, Maegan Calvert, Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Rebecca Weston, Jeff R. Temple Dec 2018

Changes In Acceptance Of Dating Violence And Physical Dating Violence Victimization In A Longitudinal Study With Teens, Marie E. Karlsson, Maegan Calvert, Juventino Hernandez Rodriguez, Rebecca Weston, Jeff R. Temple

Psychological Science Faculty Publications

Teen dating violence is a pervasive issue in adolescence and has been linked to maladjustment (Temple, Shorey, Fite, et al., 2013). Physical dating violence is a particularly significant problem with one in five adolescents reporting experiencing physical teen dating violence (TDV; Wincentak et al., 2016). Acceptance of violence has been suggested to increase the risk of TDV; however, most studies to date have been cross-sectional. The purpose of the current study is to examine patterns of acceptance of dating violence and TDV victimization across time. Participants were ethnically diverse teenagers (N = 1,042; ages 13 – 18) …


Aligning Anatomical Knee Model With Kinematic Experimental Data To Investigate Squat Exercise, Jose Mario Salinas Dec 2018

Aligning Anatomical Knee Model With Kinematic Experimental Data To Investigate Squat Exercise, Jose Mario Salinas

Theses and Dissertations

A two-dimensional inverse dynamics anatomical model of the human knee was developed by aligning anatomical structures of the knee (taken from x-rays) with kinematic experimental data (collected from motion capture cameras). The mathematical model was used to study the forces related to the tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joints during the squat and knee extension exercises. Forces calculated by the model included: tibiofemoral contact force, patellofemoral contact force, forces generated by cruciate ligaments, quadriceps force, and patellar tendon force. Bone alignment consisted of superimposing the geometric center of the lateral femoral condyle (from x-rays) with the relative instantaneous center of rotation of …


The Rider (2018-11-26), Victor G. Ramirez Nov 2018

The Rider (2018-11-26), Victor G. Ramirez

The Rider Archives

Vol.4 No.13


Molecular Modulation Of Osteoblasts And Osteoclasts In Type 2 Diabetes, Selvalakshmi Rathinavelu, Crissy Guidry-Elizondo, Jameela Banu Nov 2018

Molecular Modulation Of Osteoblasts And Osteoclasts In Type 2 Diabetes, Selvalakshmi Rathinavelu, Crissy Guidry-Elizondo, Jameela Banu

Health & Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Diabetes is a common disease affecting majority of populations worldwide. Since 1980, there has been an increase in the number of people diagnosed as prediabetic and diabetic. Diabetes is characterized by high levels of circulating glucose and leads to most microvascular and macrovascular complications such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, stroke, and myocardial infarction. Bone marrow vascular disruption and increased adiposity are also linked to various complications in type II diabetes mellitus. In addition to these complications, type 2 diabetic patients also have fragile bones caused by faulty mineralization mainly due to increased adiposity among diabetic patients that affects both osteoblast …


Mesobot : An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle For Tracking And Sampling Midwater Targets, Dana R. Yoerger, Molly Curran, Justin Fujii, Christopher R. German, Daniel Gomez-Ibanez, Annette F. Govindarajan, Jonathan C. Howland, Joel K. Llopiz, Peter H. Wiebe, Brett W. Hobson, Kakani Katija, Michael Risi, Bruce H. Robison, Cailean J. Wilkinson, Stephen M. Rock, John A. Breier Nov 2018

Mesobot : An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle For Tracking And Sampling Midwater Targets, Dana R. Yoerger, Molly Curran, Justin Fujii, Christopher R. German, Daniel Gomez-Ibanez, Annette F. Govindarajan, Jonathan C. Howland, Joel K. Llopiz, Peter H. Wiebe, Brett W. Hobson, Kakani Katija, Michael Risi, Bruce H. Robison, Cailean J. Wilkinson, Stephen M. Rock, John A. Breier

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Mesobot, a new class of autonomous underwater vehicle, will address specific unmet needs for observing slow-moving targets in the midwater ocean. Mesobot will track targets such as zooplankton, fish, and descending particle aggregates using a control system based on stereo cameras and a combination of thrusters and a variable buoyancy system. The vehicle will also be able to collect biogeochemical and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples using a pumped filter sampler.


Using Carbon Isotope Fractionation To Constrain The Extent Of Methane Dissolution Into The Water Column Surrounding A Natural Hydrocarbon Gas Seep In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, M. Leonte, B. Wang, Scott A. Socolofsky, John A. Breier, John D. Kessler Nov 2018

Using Carbon Isotope Fractionation To Constrain The Extent Of Methane Dissolution Into The Water Column Surrounding A Natural Hydrocarbon Gas Seep In The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, M. Leonte, B. Wang, Scott A. Socolofsky, John A. Breier, John D. Kessler

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

A gas bubble seep located in the northern Gulf of Mexico was investigated over several days to determine whether changes in the stable carbon isotopic ratio of methane can be used as a tracer for methane dissolution through the water column. Gas bubble and water samples were collected at the seafloor and throughout the water column for isotopic ratio analysis of methane. Our results show that changes in methane isotopic ratios are consistent with laboratory experiments that measured the isotopic fractionation from methane dissolution. A Rayleigh isotope model was applied to the isotope data to determine the fraction of methane …


Clio: An Autonomous Vertical Sampling Vehicle For Global Ocean Biogeochemical Mapping, Michael V. Jakuba, John A. Breier, Daniel Gomez-Ibanez, Kaitlyn Tradd, Mak A. Saito Nov 2018

Clio: An Autonomous Vertical Sampling Vehicle For Global Ocean Biogeochemical Mapping, Michael V. Jakuba, John A. Breier, Daniel Gomez-Ibanez, Kaitlyn Tradd, Mak A. Saito

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

We report the design, sea trials, and scientific operation of a fast vertical profiling autonomous underwater vehicle, called Clio, designed to cost-effectively improve the understanding of marine microorganism ecosystem dynamics on a global scale by collecting high-volume filter samples autonomously, in contrast to conventional techniques that require a ship’s wire.


Hot Water Treatment As A Kill-Step To Inactivate Escherichia Coli O157:H7, Salmonella Enterica, Listeria Monocytogenes And Enterococcus Faecium On In-Shell Pecans, Karuna Kharel, Veerachandra K. Yemmireddy, Charles J. Graham, Witoon Prinyawiwatkul, Achyut Adhikari Nov 2018

Hot Water Treatment As A Kill-Step To Inactivate Escherichia Coli O157:H7, Salmonella Enterica, Listeria Monocytogenes And Enterococcus Faecium On In-Shell Pecans, Karuna Kharel, Veerachandra K. Yemmireddy, Charles J. Graham, Witoon Prinyawiwatkul, Achyut Adhikari

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

In-shell pecans are susceptible to microbial contamination. This study was performed to investigate feasibility of using hot water treatment as a kill-step for food-borne pathogens during pecan shelling. In-shell pecans were subjected to hot water at 70, 80 or 90 °C for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 min. The time-temperature treatments to achieve a 5-log reduction of Salmonella enterica, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and non-pathogenic Enterococcus faecium were determined. Thermal death values were determined for each tested condition. L. monocytogenes was most susceptible to heat treatment and were reduced by 4.6 ± 0.35 log CFU/g at 70 …


The Relationship Between Organizational Health And Student Achievement In High Poverty Schools, Rosalinda Hernandez, Roberto Zamora Nov 2018

The Relationship Between Organizational Health And Student Achievement In High Poverty Schools, Rosalinda Hernandez, Roberto Zamora

Organization and School Leadership Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between organizational health and student achievement of economically disadvantaged students in a large school district along the Texas-Mexico border that serves 99 % Hispanic students; districtwide approximately 95 % of the students are economically disadvantaged. All schools in the district are Title I schools and enroll 78%- 100% economically disadvantaged students. About forty-eight percent (48.3 %) of students served are English Language Learners. Student achievement was determined using the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and organizational health was determined using an Organizational Health Inventory that measures the …


Isar Autofocus Imaging Algorithm For Maneuvering Targets Based On Phase Retrieval And Gabor Wavelet Transform, Hongyin Shi, Ting Yang, Zhijun Qiao Nov 2018

Isar Autofocus Imaging Algorithm For Maneuvering Targets Based On Phase Retrieval And Gabor Wavelet Transform, Hongyin Shi, Ting Yang, Zhijun Qiao

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The imaging issue of a rotating maneuvering target with a large angle and a high translational speed has been a challenging problem in the area of inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) autofocus imaging, in particular when the target has both radial and angular accelerations. In this paper, on the basis of the phase retrieval algorithm and the Gabor wavelet transform (GWT), we propose a new method for phase error correction. The approach first performs the range compression on ISAR raw data to obtain range profiles, and then carries out the GWT transform as the time-frequency analysis tool for the rotational …


On The Origin Of Crystallinity: A Lower Bound For The Regularity Radius Of Delone Sets, Igor A. Baburin, Mikhail M. Bouniaev, Nikolay Dolbilin, Nikolay Yu. Erokhovets, Alexey Garber, Sergey V. Krivovichev, Egon Schulte Nov 2018

On The Origin Of Crystallinity: A Lower Bound For The Regularity Radius Of Delone Sets, Igor A. Baburin, Mikhail M. Bouniaev, Nikolay Dolbilin, Nikolay Yu. Erokhovets, Alexey Garber, Sergey V. Krivovichev, Egon Schulte

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The mathematical conditions for the origin of long-range order or crystallinity in ideal crystals are one of the very fundamental problems of modern crystallography. It is widely believed that the (global) regularity of crystals is a consequence of `local order', in particular the repetition of local fragments, but the exact mathematical theory of this phenomenon is poorly known. In particular, most mathematical models for quasicrystals, for example Penrose tiling, have repetitive local fragments, but are not (globally) regular. The universal abstract models of any atomic arrangements are Delone sets, which are uniformly distributed discrete point sets in Euclidean d space. …


Separating Between Unobserved Consumer Types: Evidence From Airlines, Diego Escobari, Manuel A. Hernandez Oct 2018

Separating Between Unobserved Consumer Types: Evidence From Airlines, Diego Escobari, Manuel A. Hernandez

School of Economics and Finance Faculty Publications

We propose an alternative approach to identify unobserved consumer types and assess whether firms price discriminate. Unlike other screening schemes that rely on quantity discounts or product differentiation, in our finite mixture structure individuals have unit demands and the product is homogeneous. We implement the model using an original U.S. airlines data set. The results support the existence of two demand types. The high-type “business” traveler is less price sensitive, has a higher valuation, and pays a higher price than the low type “tourist.” The proportion of high types also increases as the departure date nears. (JEL C23, L93, …


The Rider (2018-10-29), Victor G. Ramirez Oct 2018

The Rider (2018-10-29), Victor G. Ramirez

The Rider Archives

Vol.4 No.10


Molten-Salt Synthesis Of Complex Metal Oxide Nanoparticles, Jose P. Zuniga, Maya Abdou, Santosh K. Gupta, Yuanbing Mao Oct 2018

Molten-Salt Synthesis Of Complex Metal Oxide Nanoparticles, Jose P. Zuniga, Maya Abdou, Santosh K. Gupta, Yuanbing Mao

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

The development of feasible synthesis methods is critical for the successful exploration of novel properties and potential applications of nanomaterials. Here, we introduce the molten-salt synthesis (MSS) method for making metal oxide nanomaterials. Advantages over other methods include its simplicity, greenness, reliability, scalability, and generalizability. Using pyrochlore lanthanum hafnium oxide (La2Hf2O7) as a representative, we describe the MSS protocol for the successful synthesis of complex metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Furthermore, this method has the unique ability to produce NPs with different material features by changing various synthesis parameters such as pH, temperature, duration, and post-annealing. By fine-tuning these parameters, we …


Organizational Learning And Green Innovation: Does Environmental Proactivity Matter?, Yali Zhang, Jun Sun, Zhaojun Yang, Shurong Li Oct 2018

Organizational Learning And Green Innovation: Does Environmental Proactivity Matter?, Yali Zhang, Jun Sun, Zhaojun Yang, Shurong Li

Information Systems Faculty Publications

Emerging economies face the challenge of striking a balance between development and the environment. To adapt to the changes, organizations must develop dynamic capabilities for green innovation and corporate sustainability. Based on a resource-based view integrated with contingency and stakeholder theories, this study examines how strategic contingency makes differences in the transformation between learning and performance resources through innovation efforts. Oriented toward external and internal stakeholders, respectively, learning resources comprise absorptive capacity and transformative capability, innovation efforts include green product innovation and green process innovation, and performance resources contain green image and competitive advantage. Depicting their mediating relationships moderated by …


The Rider (2018-10-15), Victor G. Ramirez Oct 2018

The Rider (2018-10-15), Victor G. Ramirez

The Rider Archives

Vol.4 No.8


Gw170817: Measurements Of Neutron Star Radii And Equation Of State, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Malik Rakhmanov, Robert Stone, Wenhui Wang Oct 2018

Gw170817: Measurements Of Neutron Star Radii And Equation Of State, B. P. Abbott, R. Abbott, T. D. Abbott, Teviet Creighton, Mario C. Diaz, Soma Mukherjee, Volker Quetschke, Malik Rakhmanov, Robert Stone, Wenhui Wang

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

On 17 August 2017, the LIGO and Virgo observatories made the first direct detection of gravitational waves from the coalescence of a neutron star binary system. The detection of this gravitational-wave signal, GW170817, offers a novel opportunity to directly probe the properties of matter at the extreme conditions found in the interior of these stars. The initial, minimal-assumption analysis of the LIGO and Virgo data placed constraints on the tidal effects of the coalescing bodies, which were then translated to constraints on neutron star radii. Here, we expand upon previous analyses by working under the hypothesis that both bodies were …


No Net Charge Separation In Hot Qcd In A Magnetic Field, Efrain J. Ferrer, Vivian De La Incera Oct 2018

No Net Charge Separation In Hot Qcd In A Magnetic Field, Efrain J. Ferrer, Vivian De La Incera

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

We study the realization of axion electrodynamics in QCD in the presence of a background magnetic field at temperatures high enough for the occurrence of topological charge transitions that are reflected in the presence of a ��-vacuum term in the action. We show that in this system, the Maxwell equations contain two equal and opposite electric currents that are proportional to the time derivative of the axion field ��. One of these currents comes directly from the Abelian chiral anomaly term in the action and can be interpreted as a polarization current due to the magnetoelectricity of the system with …


The Rider (2018-10-08), Victor G. Ramirez Oct 2018

The Rider (2018-10-08), Victor G. Ramirez

The Rider Archives

Vol.4 No.7


Utrgv Commencement – Fall 2018, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley Oct 2018

Utrgv Commencement – Fall 2018, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley

UTRGV Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.


The Rider (2018-10-01), Victor G. Ramirez Oct 2018

The Rider (2018-10-01), Victor G. Ramirez

The Rider Archives

Vol.4 No.6


An Acoustical Analogue Of A Galactic-Scale Gravitational-Wave Detector, Michael T. Lam, Joseph D. Romano, Joey Key, M. E. Normandin, ‪Jeffrey S. Hazboun Oct 2018

An Acoustical Analogue Of A Galactic-Scale Gravitational-Wave Detector, Michael T. Lam, Joseph D. Romano, Joey Key, M. E. Normandin, ‪Jeffrey S. Hazboun

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

By precisely monitoring the “ticks” of Nature's most precise clocks (millisecond pulsars), scientists are trying to detect the “ripples in spacetime” (gravitational waves) produced by the inspirals of supermassive black holes in the centers of distant merging galaxies. Here, we describe a relatively simple demonstration that uses two metronomes and a microphone to illustrate several techniques used by pulsar astronomers to search for and detect gravitational waves. An adapted version of this demonstration could be used as an instructional laboratory investigation at the undergraduate level.


Advanced Cotton Fibers Exhibit Efficient Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning And Antimicrobial Activity, Jared Jaksik, Phong Tran, Veronica Galvez, Isaac Martinez, Darian Ortiz, Andy Ly, Monica Mcentee, Erin M. Durke, Sayeeda Tj Aishee, Margaret Cua, Ahmed Touhami, H. Justin Moore, M. Jasim Uddin Oct 2018

Advanced Cotton Fibers Exhibit Efficient Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning And Antimicrobial Activity, Jared Jaksik, Phong Tran, Veronica Galvez, Isaac Martinez, Darian Ortiz, Andy Ly, Monica Mcentee, Erin M. Durke, Sayeeda Tj Aishee, Margaret Cua, Ahmed Touhami, H. Justin Moore, M. Jasim Uddin

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

Functional cotton fibers have a wide range of applications in domestic, commercial, and military settings, and so enhancing the properties of these materials can yield substantial benefits. Herein, we report the creation of functional fibers that are self-cleaning, anti-microbial, and protective against UV radiation. A uniform, and high surface area films of TiO2 were deposited on cotton fibers and gold/silver nanoparticles were directly incorporated on the nanostructured TiO2 surface. The synthetic method is simple and the produced TiO2 film is homogenous and the nanoparticles were shown to be effectively distributed on the surface using a simple photocatalytic reduction method. …


Non-Stationary Platform Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Maneuvering Target Imaging Based On Phase Retrieval, Hongyin Shi, Saixue Xia, Qi Qin, Ting Yang, Zhijun Qiao Oct 2018

Non-Stationary Platform Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar Maneuvering Target Imaging Based On Phase Retrieval, Hongyin Shi, Saixue Xia, Qi Qin, Ting Yang, Zhijun Qiao

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

As a powerful signal processing tool for imaging moving targets, placing radar on a non-stationary platform (such as an aerostat) is a future direction of Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) systems. However, more phase errors are introduced into the received signal due to the instability of the radar platform, making it difficult for popular algorithms to accurately perform motion compensation, which leads to severe effects in the resultant ISAR images. Moreover, maneuvering targets may have complex motion whose motion parameters are unknown to radar systems. To overcome the issue of non-stationary platform ISAR autofocus imaging, a high-resolution imaging method based …


Vitamin D: Controversy Cancer And Beyond, Cristian J. Rosales, Debasish Bandyopadhyay Oct 2018

Vitamin D: Controversy Cancer And Beyond, Cristian J. Rosales, Debasish Bandyopadhyay

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

Vitamins are an essential part to wellbeing. This was not something always known however, as the Germ theory was the accepted thesis of the 18th century. It was found that certain accessory factors helped mitigate and even cure these diseases such as beriberi, scurvy, and rickets. Accessory factors, later coined vitamins by Casimir Funk, are an essential constituent of the human diet. Vitamin D is technically not a vitamin but functions as a steroid hormone whose most well-known purpose is calcification of the human skeleton. This helps prevent osteomalacia in adults and rickets, a serious problem in children due to …


Strengthening The Reader Self-Efficacies Of Reluctant And Struggling Readers Through Literature Circles, Elena M. Venegas Sep 2018

Strengthening The Reader Self-Efficacies Of Reluctant And Struggling Readers Through Literature Circles, Elena M. Venegas

Bilingual and Literacy Studies Faculty Publications

Although a subskills approach to reading instruction is merited in improving the reading skills of struggling readers, struggling readers also benefit from balanced literacy instruction. An overemphasis on reading subskills arguably minimizes students’ enjoyment of reading and motivation to read and may inevitably result in the formation of reluctant or struggling readers. In turn, this may diminish the self-efficacies of reluctant or struggling readers. I designed an embedded multiple case study framed by social cognitive theory to explore the potential influence of literature circles, a balanced literacy instructional strategy, on the reader self-efficacies of reluctant and struggling readers in Grades …