Digital Commons Network^™

Microplastic Accumulation In Soils: Unlocking The Mechanism And Biodegradation Pathway, Minh-Ky Nguyen, Md. Refat Jahan Rakib, Myung Hwangbo, Jongsun Kim

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Plastic pollution has become a pressing environmental issue, with significant quantities of microplastics (MPs) contaminating terrestrial ecosystems. In agro-environments and soils, the abundance of MPs has been reported to range from 3.7 to 40,800 items per kilogram. Once MPs enter the soil, their accumulation can have several detrimental effects on the soil environment and ecosystems. This review summarizes current research on the biodegradation of MP-contaminated soils. The primary mechanism of MP biodegradation involves enzymatic oxidation and hydrolysis, leading to the formation of functional groups. The interaction between microorganisms and polymers involves various processes, including colonization, biofilm formation, and biodegradation. Microorganisms …

Ramanujan–Fine Integrals For Level 10, Shaun Cooper, Timothy Huber, Jeffery Opoku

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

We investigate the question of when an eta quotient is a derivative of a formal power series with integer coefficients and present an analysis in the case of level 10. As a consequence, we establish and classify an infinite number of integral evaluations such as

∫e−2π/10√0q∏j=1∞(1−qj)3(1−q10j)8(1−q5j)7dq=14(10−45–√−−−−−−−−√−1). We describe how the results were found and give reasons for why it is reasonable to conjecture that the list is complete for level 10.

The Detrimental Effects Of A Competitive Classroom Environment, Angelina Gonzalez

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

In this paper, I will be analyzing the appearance of the Electrical Engineering classroom environment by utilizing the unique perspective I have as a student of Electrical Engineering and Philosophy. I will be drawing on philosophical approaches to pedagogy that I have studied and developed as both a student and tutor of Philosophy.

El Papel De La Regulación Cognitiva De Los Docentes Para Incorporar De Forma Reflexiva El Enfoque De Stem, Milagros De Jesus Cazares Balderas, Alma Adrianna Gómez Galindo

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

Se propone incluir en la formación docente un enfoque STEM desde una perspectiva crítica, que promueva la reflexión sobre las prácticas de enseñanza. Este enfoque busca desarrollar habilidades y estrategias didácticas en el área de ciencias a través de la regulación cognitiva individual y social.

Implementation And Assessment Of A Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (Cure) In General Microbiology, Sheritta Fagbodun

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

The STEM workforce is large and fast-growing. However, underrepresented minorities- URMs (African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans) remain poorly represented within the STEM workforce. This is partly due to the lack of retention of URMs in STEM majors. It has been shown by various studies that immersion in undergraduate research enhances the educational experience of science undergraduates and attracts and retains talented students to careers in science. However, access to undergraduate research experiences is few and often limited to high performing students. Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) engage more students in research-based learning. In this study a network-based CURE was …

Manejo Y Conocimiento Del Cafetal Como Espacio Para El Fortalecimiento Educativo En Escuelas De Zonas Indígenas Y Rurales, Atzin Elihu Calvillo-Arriola, Alma Adrianna Gómez Galindo

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

El café es uno de los cultivos más importantes en el mundo, en México este sistema agroforestal, considerado de bajo impacto para los ecosistemas, es manejado por familias campesinas e indígenas, esto abre la posibilidad de valorar y reconocer al cafetal como un laboratorio viviente para la enseñanza de las disciplinas STEM.

Stem Como Respuesta A La Interdisciplinariedad En El Currículum Mexicano, María Del Rocío Hernández Hernández, Alma Adrianna Gómez Galindo

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

No abstract provided.

Pensar El Enfoque Stem Desde Los Lugares Habitados Por Los Estudiantes, Yeison Andres Arboleda Piedrahita, Alma Adrianna Gómez Galindo, Alejandra García Franco

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

Abordamos el tema de los árboles, que surge del diálogo con padres de estudiantes de un poblado indígena al sur de México. Este tema es potente para pensar en la implementación del enfoque STEM desde una perspectiva situada y relevante, considerando los vínculos de las personas por los lugares habitados.

Red De Milpas Escolares De Nuevo León Una Comunidad De Aprendizaje Docente Y Su Impacto En El Aprendizaje De Los Estudiantes, Reina Janeth Morales González, Alma Adrianna Gómez Galindo

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

Red de Milpas escolares de Nuevo León, es una comunidad de aprendizaje entre docentes interesados en la implementación de las milpas. Esto conlleva retos como actividad agroecológica y escolar. El aprendizaje en comunidad representa una forma de enfrentarlos abonando al conocimiento de los estudiantes y a la formación del profesorado.

Perspectivas De Docentes De Secundaria Frente A Una Enseñanza Con Enfoque Stem En Escuelas Rurales, Yesenia Castaño Torres, María Teresa Guerra Ramos

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

Se analizan las perspectivas de docentes de una escuela ubicada en una zona rural de México sobre el enfoque STEM para la enseñanza de los saberes escolares en secundaria. Se reflexiona sobre lo que entienden los docentes sobre las disciplinas STEM y la viabilidad del enfoque en contextos escolares rurales.

Amplifying Student Voices: Cultural Identity And Funds Of Knowledge In Stem Education Through Interactive Cross-Cultural Dialogue, Uma Ganesan

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

This paper examines the outcomes of an innovative interactive session at the 2024 STEM Education Conference held in Mission, Texas, that brought together Indigenous high school students from the Umonhon Nation Public School (UNPS), Rio Grande Valley (RGV) high school students, and preservice teachers from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Participants explored the intersection of cultural identity, student funds of knowledge, and STEM education through structured speed-chatting activities and facilitated dialogues. The session, co-facilitated by University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Associate Professor Dr. Amanda Morales and UTRGV Assistant Professor Dr. Uma Ganesan, along with UNL preservice teachers Ms. …

Bridging Indigenous And Hispanic Knowledge Systems Through Collaborative Panel Discussions: Stem Teachers’ Perceptions Of Culturally Sustaining Nature-Based Pedagogy, Uma Ganesan

Critical Proceedings of the STEM ED Conference (2024)

This paper presents findings from a transformative collaborative panel discussion session at the 2024 STEM Education Conference, examining how nature-based, environmentally conscious, and culturally sustaining science teaching practices implemented at the Umonhon Nation Public School (UNPS) in Nebraska can inform teaching practices in the Rio Grande Valley. The session was co-facilitated by University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Associate Professor Dr. Amanda Morales and UTRGV Assistant Professor Dr. Uma Ganesan. The study combines panel discussion analysis with qualitative survey data from participating STEM educators, providing rich insights into teachers’ perceptions of implementing culturally and linguistically sustaining (CLS) practices in diverse contexts. By …

Single-Molecule Dna-Flow Stretching Assay As A Versatile Hybrid Tool For Investigating Dna-Protein Interactions, Sadaf Shehzad, Hyeongjun Kim

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Single-molecule techniques allow researchers to investigate individual molecules and obtain unprecedented details of the heterogeneous nature of biological entities. They play instrumental roles in studying DNA-protein interactions due to the ability to visualize DNA or proteins and to manipulate individual DNA molecules by applying force or torque. Here, we describe single-molecule DNA-flow stretching assays as hybrid tools that combine forces with fluorescence. We also review how widely these assays are utilized in elucidating working mechanisms of DNA-binding proteins. Additionally, we provide a brief explanation of various efforts to prepare DNA substrates with desired internal protein-binding sequences. More complicated needs for …

Image Of Mathematics: A Case Study Of Two Women's Early Mathematics Experiences, Lili Zhou, Elizabeth Suazo-Flores, Bima Sapkota, Rose Mbewe, Jill Newton

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

People often view mathematics as abstract, cold, and irrelevant to real life, and their school experiences likely influence such views. In this case study, we investigated the mathematics experiences of two women who participated in an afterschool girls-only STEM club 30 years ago when they were in fifth and sixth grades. We explored how the participants' early in- and out-of-school experiences informed their images of mathematics. We collected data through a survey, focus group interviews, and individual interviews. We employed oral history methods in interviews to grant participants a significant degree of freedom to retrospectively recount and reconstruct their experiences. …

Development And Validation Of Rapid Edna Detection Method For Yellow Mud Turtle, Kinosternon Flavescens: A Field Study In South Texas, Usa, Sakib Tahmid Rishan, Richard Kline, Md Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The conservation of freshwater turtle species depends on precise and effective monitoring techniques. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is a potential method for identifying cryptic and elusive turtle species in aquatic ecosystems. eDNA analysis can help to identify key regions for conservation efforts and monitor changes in population levels over time. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a rapid eDNA detection method for the yellow mud turtle (Kinosternon flavescens, an indicator species that is endangered in some states in the USA), which inhabits local oxbow lakes (e.g., resacas) in Cameron County, South Texas. A species-specific nested PCR …

Optimal Reconstruction Of The Hellings And Downs Correlation, Bruce Allen, Joseph D. Romano

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) detect gravitational waves (GWs) via the correlations they create in the arrival times of pulses from different pulsars. The mean correlation, a function of the angle between the directions to two pulsars, was predicted in 1983 by Hellings and Downs (HD). Observation of this angular pattern is crucial evidence that GWs are present, so PTAs “reconstruct the HD curve” by estimating the correlation using pulsar pairs separated by similar angles. Several studies have examined the amount by which this curve is expected to differ from the HD mean. The variance arises because (a) a finite set …

Active Learning In Medical Education: A Brief Overview Of Its Benefits, Varuneshwar Parsad, Jeevan Divakaran

School of Medicine Publications

The traditional lecture-based model of medical education is increasingly being replaced by active learning methodologies that focus on interactive, student-centered approaches to enhance knowledge retention, clinical reasoning, and professional development. This brief review highlights the benefits of active learning techniques such as problem-based learning (PBL), team-based learning (TBL), case-based learning (CBL), and simulation-based learning (SBL) in medical education. These active learning methods promote a deeper understanding and application of medical knowledge, improve clinical reasoning, increase student engagement and motivation, and foster the development of interpersonal skills essential for healthcare practice. Furthermore, active learning bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and …

Spatial And Spectral Characterization Of The Gravitational-Wave Background With The Pta Optimal Statistic, Kyle A. Gersbach, Stephen R. Taylor, Patrick M. Meyers, Joseph D. Romano

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) have made tremendous progress and are now showing strong evidence for the gravitational-wave background (GWB). Further probing the origin and characteristics of the GWB will require more generalized analysis techniques. Bayesian methods are most often used but can be computationally expensive. On the other hand, frequentist methods, like the PTA optimal statistic (OS), are more computationally efficient and can produce results that are complementary to Bayesian methods, allowing for stronger statistical cases to be built from a confluence of different approaches. In this work we expand the capabilities of the OS through a technique we call …

Can Trichoderma Spp. Contribute To The Bioremediation And Biostimulation Of Plants In Soil Contaminated With Herbicides?, Elaine Damiani Conte, Elton José Da Rosa, Gabriel Rieth Silvestrini, Daiane Da Silva Motta, Christiane Fernandes De Oliveira, Carine Cocco, Gabriel Fernandes Pauletti, Taísa Dal Magro, Joséli Schwambach

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

This work aimed to evaluate the potential of Trichoderma spp. in the bioremediation of herbicides and biostimulation of plants in herbicide-contaminated soils. In the first phase, the experiment followed a completely randomized design in a 4 × 3 × 4 factorial scheme with five replications, four strains of Trichoderma spp., three herbicides, and four herbicide doses. The mycelial growth speed index (MGSI) of Trichoderma spp. was obtained by growing it in a Petri dish with PDA associated with different doses of herbicides and evaluated every 24 h for 10 days. Results indicated the selection ofTrichoderma harzianumT1A to continue …

Elastomeric Nanocomposite With Solvent-Free, One Step, In Situ Shear Exfoliation Of Graphite To Graphene, Ashiqur Rahman, Md Abdur Rahman Bin Abdus Salam, Matthew G. Boebinger, Ahmed Touhami, Jennifer Lynch, Ali Ashraf

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

A graphene nanoflake (GNF)-enhanced elastomeric nanocomposite (G-EMC) is fabricated following an innovative, cost-effective, single-step, in situ shear exfoliation (ISE) method from low-cost bulk material, graphite, where uniform mixing happens simultaneously within the elastomer matrix. Electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and photo-induced force microscopy results show good dispersion of GNFs with exfoliation to a few layers and uniform distribution in the elastomer matrix. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis shows less than 1% oxygen-containing functional groups/impurity, enhanced bonding through the formation of edge sites as fracture occurs across the GNF basal plane, and pi-pi interactions with newly exfoliated planar basal plane surfaces of …

A Second Candidate Magnetic Helium Core White Dwarf And 3 Other Variable White Dwarfs In The Globular Cluster Ngc 6397, Manuel Pichardo Marcano, Liliana E. Rivera Sandoval, Thomas J. Maccarone, Rene D. Rohrmann, Leandro G. Althaus, Craig O. Heinke, Diogo Belloni, Arash Bahramian

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Using archival Hubble Space Telescope observations, we report the discovery of four variable low-mass white dwarfs (WDs; 0.18 M⊙ ≤ M ≤ 0.5 M⊙) in the globular cluster NGC 6397. One source exhibits a periodic optical modulation of 5.21 ± 0.02 hr, which we interpret as potentially due to the rotation of a magnetic helium core WD (He WD). This makes this candidate the second magnetic He WD in NGC 6397, and one of the few He WDs with a measured rotation period. The other three candidates show aperiodic variability, with a change in magnitude ranging from ∼0.11 …

Faculty Senate Standing Committees, Councils, And Working Groups, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Administrative Documents

No abstract provided.

University Academic Committees And Councils, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Administrative Documents

No abstract provided.

Data For Research Collaboration And Co-Authorship In The Gulf Of Mexico, 2000–2018, Owen Temby, Dongkyu Kim, Juliet Vallejo

Datasets

This dataset documents research collaboration and co-authorship among organizations engaged in environmental science in the Gulf of Mexico from 2000 to 2018. The data were compiled through bibliometric analysis of scientific articles, with each record containing publication-level and author affiliation information, as well as institutional and country codes. The dataset provides the basis for network analysis of collaborative patterns among institutions in the United States, Mexico, and Cuba. Variable definitions and data structure are described in the accompanying README file.

Pulse X

Pulse Magazine Archive

No abstract provided.

Topo-Vm-Unetv2: Encoding Topology Into Vision Mamba Unet For Polyp Segmentation, Diego Adame, Jose Angel Nunez, Fabian Vazquez Jr., Nayeli Gurrola, Huimin Li, Haoteng Tang

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Convolutional neural network (CNN) and Transformer-based architectures are two dominant deep learning models for polyp segmentation. However, CNNs have limited capability for modeling long-range dependencies, while Transformers incur quadratic computational complexity. Recently, State Space Models such as Mamba have been recognized as a promising approach for polyp segmentation because they not only model long-range interactions effectively but also maintain linear computational complexity. However, Mamba-based architectures still struggle to capture topological features (e.g., connected components, loops, voids), leading to inaccurate boundary delineation and polyp segmentation. To address these limitations, we propose a new approach called Topo-VM-UNetV2, which encodes topological features into …

Evaluating Annual Precipitation Extremes In The Us Great Plains Using Prism Data, Sumiaya Amin Preota, Gaurav Talukdar, Sam Zipper

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Understanding hydroclimatic extremes in the U.S. Great Plains (USGP) is crucial for effective water resource management, resiliency of agricultural systems, and mitigation of climate change impacts. This study examines changing hydroclimatic conditions in the USGP, with a focus on annual-resolution precipitation trends and extremes over the past 119 years (1904–2022) using precipitation data from the gridded PRISM climate dataset. We categorized annual-scale precipitation totals into six categories of hydroclimatic extremes: (1) isolated wet extremes, (2) isolated dry extremes, (3) dry-to-dry recurring extremes, (4) wet-to-wet recurring extremes, (5) dry-to-wet whiplash extremes, and (6) wet-to-dry whiplash extremes. “Recurring” and “whiplash” are both …

Crises, Coloniality, And Energy Transformations In Puerto Rico, Laura Kuhl, Marla Perez-Lugo, Carlos Arriaga Serrano, Cecilio Ortiz Garcia, Ryan Ellis, Jennie C. Stephens

Sociology Faculty Publications

Increased attention to inclusive processes is essential to ensure injustices are not perpetuated during energy transitions. Crises, such as the collapse of the electric grid in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, present the promise of opening windows of opportunity for new ideas and voices to inform the future, but they also create opportunities for powerful interests to reinforce existing power dynamics. While coloniality has been recognized as a barrier to sustainable energy transformations, greater integration of the literature on climate coloniality and sustainability transitions is needed. This chapter analyzes visions of the future of the energy system among diverse constituents …

Congestion Mitigation For Foraging Robot Swarms Using Spiral Path Strategies, Arturo Gonzalez, Qi Lu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Swarm robotics offers robust and scalable solutions for tasks such as foraging, but congestion near central collection zones remains a critical challenge, especially with increasing swarm sizes. Traditional solutions, such as static path planning or local repulsion-based methods, often fail to prevent interrobot collisions or bottlenecks near the collection zones. This research presents a comparative study of three strategies to mitigate congestion when returning resources to the central collection zone. The research herein focuses on tightly packed environments where, in theory, robots should follow a preplanned spiral, either ad-hoc, square, or circular, with congestion detection as described in the first …

Robust Mitigation Strategy For Misleading Pheromone Trails In Foraging Robot Swarms, Ryan Luna, Qi Lu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

This study advances the security of swarm robotics by examining the resilience of stigmergic communication in foraging robot swarms against deceptive strategies. We specifically investigate the swarm’s vulnerability to attacks via misleading pheromone trails laid by detractor robots, which significantly hinder foraging performance. Through simulations, we evaluated the adverse effects of such attacks on resource collection and forager capture rates, highlighting a notable decline as the percentage of detractors increases. To counter these threats, we implement a robust defense mechanism utilizing DBSCAN for density-based clustering of pheromone trails, complemented by a cluster grouping method that effectively isolates batches of detractors …