Digital Commons Network^™

Biotechnology For Sustainable Materials: Innovating Today For A Greener Tomorrow, Shashi Kant Bhatia, Saurabh Bhatia, Maria Eugenia Inda-Webb, Konstantina Kourmentza, Tae Seok Moon, Vijai Singh, Vishal Ahuja, Jingbo Li, Sanjeet Mehariya, Jikai Zhao

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Unbiased Estimation Of Gravitational-Wave Anisotropies From Noisy Data, Nikolaos Kouvatsos, Alexander C. Jenkins, Arianna I. Renzini, Joseph D. Romano, Mairi Sakellariadou

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

One of the most exciting targets of current and future gravitational-wave observations is the angular power spectrum of the astrophysical GW background. This cumulative signal encodes information about the large-scale structure of the Universe, as well as the formation and evolution of compact binaries throughout cosmic time. However, the finite rate of compact binary mergers gives rise to temporal shot noise, which introduces a significant bias in measurements of the angular power spectrum if not explicitly accounted for. Previous work showed that this bias can be removed by cross-correlating GW sky maps constructed from different observing times. However, this …

A Novel Positive-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Line Marker For High-Dose-Rate (Hdr) Mri-Assisted Radiosurgery (Mars), Li Wang, Yao Ding, Teresa L. Bruno, R. Jason Stafford, Eric Lin, Tharakeswara K. Bathala, Jeremiah W. Sanders, Matthew S. Ning, Jingfei Ma, Karen S. Martirosyan

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can facilitate accurate organ delineation and optimal dose distributions in high-dose-rate (HDR) MRI-Assisted Radiosurgery (MARS). Its use for this purpose has been limited by the lack of positive-contrast MRI markers that can clearly delineate the lumen of the HDR applicator and precisely show the path of the HDR source on T1- and T2-weighted MRI sequences. We investigated a novel MRI positive-contrast HDR brachytherapy or interventional radiotherapy line marker, C4:S, consisting of C4 (visible on T1-weighted images) complexed with saline. Longitudinal relaxation time (T1) and transverse relaxation time (T2) for C4:S were measured on a 1.5 T …

Review Of Teaching Math For Emergent Bilinguals: Building On Culture, Language, And Identity, Tim Sears

Open Educational Resources - Reviews

No abstract provided.

Avoiding Pitfalls In Molecular Simulation Of Vapor Sorption: Example Of Propane And Isobutane In Metal–Organic Frameworks For Adsorption Cooling Applications, Filip Formalik, Haoyuan Chen, Randall Q. Snurr

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

This study introduces recommendations for conducting molecular simulations of vapor adsorption, with an emphasis on enhancing the accuracy, reproducibility, and comparability of results. The first aspect we address is consistency in the implementation of some details of typical molecular models, including tail corrections and cutoff distances, due to their significant influence on generated data. We highlight the importance of explicitly calculating the saturation pressures at relevant temperatures using methods such as Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations and illustrate some pitfalls in extrapolating saturation pressures using this method. For grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) simulations, the input fugacity is usually calculated …

Nanograv 15-Year Gravitational-Wave Background Methods, Aaron D. Johnson, Patrick M. Meyers, Paul T. Baker, Neil J. Cornish, ‪Jeffrey S. Hazboun, Tyson B. Littenberg, Joseph D. Romano, Stephen R. Taylor, Michele Vallisneri

Physics & Astronomy Faculty Publications

Pulsar timing arrays (PTAs) use an array of millisecond pulsars to search for gravitational waves in the nanohertz regime in pulse time of arrival data. This paper presents rigorous tests of PTA methods, examining their consistency across the relevant parameter space. We discuss updates to the 15-year isotropic gravitational-wave background analyses and their corresponding code representations. Descriptions of the internal structure of the flagship algorithms enterprise and ptmcmcsampler are given to facilitate understanding of the PTA likelihood structure, how models are built, and what methods are currently used in sampling the high-dimensional PTA parameter space. We introduce a novel version …

Faculty Senate Minutes 2024-05-07 - B, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Faculty Senate Minutes 2024-05-07 - A, The University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Minutes

No abstract provided.

Studying Hilbert’S 10th Problem Via Explicit Elliptic Curves, Debanjana Kundu, Antonio Lei, Florian Sprung

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

N. García-Fritz and H. Pasten showed that Hilbert’s 10th problem is unsolvable in the ring of integers of number fields of the form Q(p–√3,−q−−−√) for positive proportions of primes p and q. We improve their proportions and extend their results to the case of number fields of the form Q(p–√3,Dq−−−√) , where D belongs to an explicit family of positive square-free integers. We achieve this by using multiple elliptic curves, and replace their Iwasawa theory arguments by a more direct method.

Study Of Nanofluid Flow In A Stationary Cone–Disk System With Temperature-Dependent Viscosity And Thermal Conductivity, Anagha Susan John, Mahanthesh Basavarajappa, Igor V. Shevchuk

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

The substantial temperature gradient experienced by systems operating at relatively high temperatures significantly impacts the transport characteristics of fluids. Hence, considering temperature-dependent fluid properties is critical for obtaining realistic prediction of fluid behavior and optimizing system performance. The current study focuses on the flow of nanofluids in a stationary cone–disk system (SCDS), taking into account temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and viscosity. The influence of Brownian motion, thermophoresis, and Rosseland radiative flux on the heat transport features are also examined. The Reynolds model for viscosity and Chiam's model for thermal conductivity are employed. The Navier–Stokes equation, the energy equation, the incompressibility condition, …

Peace With Painful Memories, Mona Muzammil, Muzammil Arshad, Washain Muzammil

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

This Book helps you identify and heal from childhood emotional neglect so you can be more connected and emotionally present in your life.

Do you sometimes feel like you’re just going through the motions in life? Do you often act like you’re fine when you secretly feel lonely and disconnected? Perhaps you have a good life and yet somehow, it’s not enough to make you happy. Or perhaps you drink too much, eat too much, or risk too much to feel something good. If so, you are not alone and you may be suffering from emotional neglect.

Are you one …

Understanding Student Perspectives On Higher-Level Mathematics Courses At A Higher Level Institution On The U.S.–Mexico Border, Diego Rivera

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

This project explores students' perspectives on mathematics courses at a higher-level institution along the U.S.–Mexico border. Traditional mathematics instruction is often delivered from an objective standpoint, but this study investigates how students perceive courses like college algebra and calculus when taught using a practical approach that incorporates their cultural background and personal knowledge. The study involves interviews with three students from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), majoring in Statistics, Biomedical Science, and Engineering. The paper includes detailed descriptions of the students and their responses, concluding with insights derived from the interviews.

Interview With Lee Zyrus Hernandez, Lee Zyrus Hernandez, Diego Rivera

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

The interview with Lee Zyrus Hernandez explores the potential impact of incorporating Borderlands culture into higher-level mathematics education. Rivera seeks to understand if a practical approach, utilizing the cultural knowledge of Borderlands people, could enhance students' experiences with mathematical courses like college algebra and calculus at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV). Hernandez, a student with a background in applied statistics and data science, reflects on his experiences with math education, including dual enrollment courses and studies in New York and Atlanta. He discusses the lack of cultural relatability in his math education and expresses support for incorporating …

Interview With Annette Garcia, Annette Garcia, Diego Rivera

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

Interview with Annette Garcia focusing on experiences with mathematics at a border institution. The interview explores potential impacts of teaching mathematical courses with a practical approach rooted in the culture of the Borderlands people. Annette reflects on her background, multilingualism, academic pursuits, and experiences with math courses, both in high school and college. She discusses the teaching approaches, cultural relevance, and potential benefits of incorporating cultural references into math content. Annette also shares insights on the prospect of math courses being taught in Spanish and proposes a math problem integrating US-Mexico border culture. Overall, the interview provides valuable perspectives on …

Interview With Angelina Gonzalez, Angelina Gonzalez, Diego Rivera

ANTH 4306/6306 Anthropology of Borders

Interview with Angelina Gonzalez exploring the experiences of UTRGV students with mathematics in higher education. Rivera investigates the potential impact of incorporating Borderlands people's funds of knowledge into mathematical courses, moving beyond a purely theoretical approach. Gonzalez reflects on her upbringing in the Rio Grande Valley, her educational journey, and her experiences with mathematics at UTRGV. She discusses the challenges of transitioning from high school to college-level mathematics, noting the disconnect between her cultural background and the content taught in classes. Gonzalez expresses support for math courses that incorporate cultural references, suggesting it would enhance understanding and accessibility for students, …

Exploring The Potentials Of Delafossite-Coated Cotton Textiles: Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning, Uv-Blocking, Anti Microbial Activity And Hydrophobicity, Shahria Ahmed

Theses and Dissertations

Delafossite materials demonstrate multifunctional applications due to their excellent catalytic properties, which vary depending on their morphology, particle size, and synthetic method. Herein, a few novel applications of the delafossites are reported, which can be implemented in commercial, medical, and domestic settings. In present work we are presenting two different delafossite CuGaO2 and CuFeO2 nanoparticles and its composite with cotton fiber. Multifunctional cotton fabric is prepared by depositing a uniform coating layer of CuGaO2 and CuFeO2, exhibits excellent photocatalytic self-cleaning, UV blocking, and antimicrobial activity. CuGaO2 and CuFeO2 nanoparticle concentrations of 1mM and 2mM were deposited over the cotton fabric …

Relation Between Cognitive Assessment And Clinical Physical Performance Measures After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Prokopios Antonellis, Margaret M. Weightman, Peter C. Fino, Siting Chen, Mark E. Lester, Carrie W. Hoppes, Leland E. Dibble, Laurie A. King

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objectives

To investigate the relation between cognitive and motor performance in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury(mTBI) and examine differences in both cognitive and motor performance between adults after mTBI and healthy controls.

Design

Multi-center, cross-sectional study.

Setting

Three institutional sites (Courage Kenny Research Center, Minneapolis, MN, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, and University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT).

Participants

Data were collected from 110 participants (N=110), including those with mTBI and healthy controls, who completed cognitive and physical performance assessments.

Interventions

Not applicable.

Outcome Measures

Cognitive assessments involved the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics to evaluate …

Care-Teach: Proposing An Open-Source Approach To Personalized Learning, Jaime Augusto Alvarez Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Care-Teach is an algorithmic educational model that provides teachers and educators with the tools to create interactive, text-based lessons that address a student’s need for continuity and reinforcement. Care-Teach is built around two core components: a Student Behavior Profile and the Skill Tree. These models work together to give each student a personalized learning experience that reinforces their pre-existing strengths and inclinations. The Student Behavior Profile model keeps track of a learner’s inclinations and mood, utilizing metrics such as average response time and accuracy to categorize opportunities for educator involvement. The Skill Tree is an organizational …

Electrocatalytic Degradation Of Bisphenol A Using Nickel Sulfide Supported On Graphene Oxide And Cobalt Sulfide Supported On Graphene Oxide Composite Materials, Katherine Ellynn Wright

Theses and Dissertations

The degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) by nickel sulfide supported on graphene oxide (NiS/GO) and cobalt sulfide supported on graphene oxide (CoS/GO) composite materials was investigated. The catalysts were studied to determine the optimal conditions for BPA degradation using electrocatalysis. Electrocatalytic trials were performed using varying parameters, which included electrolyte concentrations of 1.0 g/L, 2.0 g/L, and 4.0 g/L Na2SO4, pHs of 2, 4, and 6, and constant currents of either 0.100 A or 0.200 A. During the reaction samples were taken before the current was applied and 30 minutes and 60 minute intervals to observe the degradation of …

Machine Learning Predictive Models For Load Identification Of Railroad Bridges Subjected To Train-Induced Vibration, Md Masnun Rahman

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. rail network is among the world's largest, safest, and most efficient. However, many its railway bridges, which play an essential role in its connectivity, are over 100 years old, showing signs of structural deterioration exceeding their practical service life. The increased weight and speed of modern trains also pose a risk to these bridges. Traditional load identification and monitoring technologies like Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) systems are rarely used on railway bridges due to their cost and practical limits. This thesis explores a cost-effective approach to utilize vibration sensors on railway bridges to identify and predict train load features (speed …

Numerical Study Of New Tuned Mass Friction Damper For Seismic Protection Of Civil Structures, Syed Muhammad Bilal Haider

Theses and Dissertations

Tuned Mass Friction Dampers (TMFDs) are passive control systems designed to mitigate vibrations in civil structures subjected to extreme lateral forces such as windstorms and earthquakes. The objective of this thesis is to propose a new TMFDs with enhanced energy dissipation capability for seismic protection of multi-story frame buildings. This new TMFD is termed as “Tuned Mass Multi-Sliding Friction Damper” (TMMSFD) consisting of multiple masses connected to the primary structure through linear springs and while sliding relative to each other at multiple sliding surfaces. TMMSFD offers an improved damping mechanism with reduced stick-slip motion effects compared to standard TMFDs which …

Model-Based And Model-Free Control Approaches In Subgrids: A Conceptual Review Of Control Strategies In Microgrids, Omobolade H. Abioye

Theses and Dissertations

Increased reliance on the power grid and concerns over climate change issues have resulted in the rapid adoption of renewable energy technologies. Consequently, it is necessary to consider how renewable energy resources are combined and controlled. The microgrid serves as the control center for distributed energy resources. This thesis paper introduces the microgrid elements and framework, its control strategies highlighting frequency and voltage control, and the prospects of artificial intelligence for control, considering two significant approaches. Key components of sub grids like the energy management system (EMS) and energy storage systems (ESSs) are discussed, and lastly, the …

Bayesian Estimation Of Reproduction Numbers From Distributions Of Outbreaks Sizes: Branching Process Approach, Alberta Araba Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

The Generalized Poisson distribution is useful in modeling epidemiological processes as a branching stochastic processes problem. Our goal is to construct accurate and reliable estimators for the reproduction number (R0) (i.e., the number of secondary infections), particularly in the context of disease outbreaks modeled by a Galton-Watson process. Towards this goal, we construct the classical Bayes estimator, the Maximum Likelihood estimator, and the Empirical Bayes (EB) estimator under the Square Error Loss function in Chapter II. We prove that the Empirical Bayes estimator is asymptotically optimal and estimate the rate of convergence. We then proceed to monotonize the Empirical Bayes …

A Dedicated Lane Analysis For Supply Chain Resilience In The U.S.-Mexico Border: Cost-Comparison And Simulation Models, Carlo A. Zorola Gonzalez

Theses and Dissertations

Supply chains have been actively developing and implementing strategies to enhance resilience in response to various disruptive events like the COVID-19 pandemic, hurricanes, geopolitical tensions, and climate change. These strategies aim to address demand and supply imbalances, logistical challenges, and policy restrictions encountered in transborder commerce. One area significantly impacted by such disruptions is cross-border trade between the US and Mexico. Understanding these strategies is crucial for achieving supply chain resilience, defined as the ability of a supply chain to quickly adapt to sudden disruptions without affecting the flow of goods. In both the US-Mexico and US-Canada borders …

Persistence And Lived Experiences Of Doctoral Students At A Hispanic Serving Institution, Jacob Michael Camacho

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence the completion of PhD degrees and identify obstacles to completion at a Hispanic Serving Institution. Low completion rates are a national and global problem predicted to generate a critical shortage of professionals needed by society. The researcher utilized a phenomenological qualitative study to research the phenomenon through the interpretation of an individual's experiences in various situations (Stake, 2010). This research is important as it aims to analyze programs with high completion rates to find the factors that contribute to or impede dissertation completion. This project will focus on …

Variational Bias Sampling For Collaborative Filtering Recommender Systems, Prisca Stephens

Theses and Dissertations

Advancements in digitalization has yielded enormous growth of data on online platforms, overwhelming users with multitude of options to choose from. Recommender systems narrow down these options to a few relevant ones thereby facilitating the decision-making processes for users. This study presents a framework for integrating variational bias sampling into model-based collaborative filtering techniques for recommender systems. Variational bias sampling is a novel and unique way to account for random factors that affect explicit ratings in collaborative filtering recommender systems. A Gaussian distribution is used to model all the possible random factors that could affect ratings. Sampling user and item …

Mitigation Methods For Instrumental Artifacts In Gravitational Wave Data, Raghav Girgaonkar

Theses and Dissertations

Strain data from ground-based gravitational wave detectors are regularly affected by instrumental artifacts known as glitches. Such glitches form the background of false alarms in the detection of gravitational waves from compact binary coalescences, in-turn reducing search sensitivity. If left unaccounted, these glitches along with other non-stationarity may also contribute towards a corrupted representation of the statistical properties of detector noise, subsequently affecting parameter estimation for detected gravitational wave candidates. Therefore, effective data analysis methods to veto glitches and identify non-stationarities in detector data are crucial to enhancing the sensitivity of a gravitational wave search. In this thesis, we …

Conditional Constrained And Unconstrained Quantization For A Uniform Distribution On A Hexagon, Christina Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis, we have considered a uniform distribution on a regular hexagon and the set of all its six vertices as a conditional set. For the uniform distribution under the conditional set first, for all positive integers n ≥ 6, we obtain the conditional optimal sets of n-points and the nth conditional quantization errors, and then we calculate the conditional quantization dimension and the conditional quantization coefficient in the unconstrained scenario. Then, for the uniform distribution on the hexagon taking the same conditional set, we investigate the conditional constrained optimal sets of n-points and the conditional constrained quantization errors …

Soil Carbon Sequestration Efforts In Arid And Semi-Arid Climates Under Conservation Agriculture And Reforestation, Samantha Lynn Colunga

Theses and Dissertations

Soil organic carbon (SOC) plays a vital role in the global carbon cycle and aids in climate change mitigation. However, deforestation and intensive agricultural practices threaten topsoil and carbon (C) pools through soil disturbances releasing vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) by enhancing the decomposition of organic materials. Degraded soils typically lack stable aggregates, nutrient and water retention, and overall low fertility. In arid and semi-arid regions, soils are in an even more dire situation, as low precipitation and high temperatures slow down the accumulation of SOC. This thesis has two objectives: 1) to evaluate whether conservation tillage practices increase …

How Mathematics Instructors Foster The Development Of Black Students' Mathematics Identity In Undergraduate Active Learning Mathematics Courses, Ashly J. Olusanya

Theses and Dissertations

Black students must overcome unique challenges to succeed in mathematics. Educators are tasked with identifying equitable teaching practices to support these students. Active learning (AL) is a teaching pedagogy that engages students in rigorous mathematical activities and encourages student participation. This research study will explore the professors’ beliefs about how students learn mathematics and why they use active learning in their collegiate mathematics courses. The study explores the connections between these beliefs and their reported use of instructional practices. The study also identifies the instructors’ beliefs about developing students’ mathematics identities, particularly their Black …