Digital Commons Network^™

Cover Crop-Induced Improvements To Soil Hydraulic Properties And The Role Of Termination Time In Mitigating Negative Soil Moisture Impacts, Fabrizio Javier Pilco

Theses and Dissertations

In the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, water scarcity and drought pose ongoing challenges for farmers. Although cover crops are promoted for improving soil health and moisture, their effects on soil hydraulic properties in this region remain understudied. This thesis addresses both long-term (Chapter 2) and short-term (Chapter 3) impacts of cover crops on soil hydraulic properties and soil moisture. Long-term effects were evaluated through a three-year participatory field trial across four farms using a BACI design, while short terms were evaluated using a complete randomized block design. Soil hydraulic properties (residual water content θr, saturated water content …

The Effect Of Hiv-1 Infection Associated Bacterial Lipopolysaccharide (Lps) On Human Oral Keratinocytes: Implications For Promoting Chronic Inflammation, Md Shafayat Jamil

Theses and Dissertations

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) remains a major global health concern, affecting approximately 39 million people worldwide, with 500,000 new infections reported in 2022. While combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has significantly reduced viral replication, HIV-1 infection is linked to various comorbidities, including oral dysbiosis and accelerated aging. Immune dysregulation in HIV-1–infected individuals promotes the proliferation of pathogenic gram-negative bacteria like Porphyromonas gingivalis, a key contributor to periodontal disease. P. gingivalis secretes lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which adversely affects human oral keratinocytes (HOK), the first line of defense against microbial threats in the oral cavity. HOK recognize LPS as a threat, …

Identification Of Cadmium As A Structural And Functional Modulator Of Psd-95 Regulating Nmdars At Postsynaptic Membranes, Claudia Garza

Theses and Dissertations

Postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) is an essential scaffolding protein in excitatory neurons. PSD-95’s N-terminal palmitoylation region elicits synaptic plasticity by targeting, anchoring, and trafficking glutamate receptors, such as N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), to the postsynaptic membrane. The molecular interactions of PSD-95 and its dysregulation in excitatory synapses are currently being explored as primary causes of neurodegenerative diseases and disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Schizophrenia, and Parkinson’s disease. Recent studies demonstrate an overaccumulation of zinc at two cysteines (C3 and C5) and two histidines (H24 and H28) of PSD-95 blocks palmitoylation, causing a loss of NMDAR at the postsynaptic membrane. In addition, exposure …

Development Of A New Seismic Metamaterial For Passive Vibration Control Of Civil Structures, Shayan Khosravi

Theses and Dissertations

Seismic metamaterials are engineered structures that control mechanical wave propagation through frequency bandgaps, making them useful for structural control and seismic hazard mitigation. This study introduces the Passive Friction Seismic Metamaterial Base Isolation (PFSMBI) system, which combines frequency bandgaps and solid friction energy dissipation to improve the seismic performance of civil structures. The PFSMBI consists of a lattice structure with identical cells connected by springs and dampers, shifting a building’s natural frequency away from earthquake excitations. A dynamic model analyzes the system’s absolute acceleration, drift responses, and base shear force, optimizing parameters such as frequency ratios, mass ratios, and the …

A Modern Prometheus: Frankenstein's Relevance In Our Modern Society, Amanda C. Partida

Theses and Dissertations

For over two hundred years Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein has been in the public consciousness. It took only five years for the first adaptation, Presumption; or the Fate of Frankenstein, to be staged in 1825. Since then, there has been at least one adaptation every decade, with Universal Studios’ 1931 Frankenstein as the most famous adaptation, which shows just how much Shelley’s novel of science and hubris has resonated with audiences for many years.

This thesis aims to connect the ever-changing scientific anxieties of society with the most well-known Frankenstein film adaptations. By focusing on four specific films Frankenstein (1931), …

Two Essays On Finance And Culture, Gia Han Ngoc Doan

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation consists of two essays on finance and culture. The first essay examines the relationship between corporate quality culture and product recalls. The results show that firms with a stronger quality culture are less likely to have product recalls. This relationship is stronger for firms with more female directors and higher levels of managerial ability. We also find that for firms in high-tech industries, the impact of quality culture on product failure is more profound. The results are robust to various endogeneity tests and alternative models. Our findings support that a firm’s quality culture significantly influences product success and …

Analysis And Modeling Of Porous Media Networks In Petroleum Reservoirs Through Microscale Thermography And Core Flooding, Alan Petrovich-Mar

Theses and Dissertations

Reservoir rocks are porous materials that are an important area of study since they are present in reservoir sites rich in crude oil. It is important to understand the spreading phenomena on the rock surface and through the porous structure during fluid flow through these porous materials. For a complex system like reservoir rocks, factors such as spatially varying chemical composition and topography, multidimensional porosity, temperature, humidity, and existing oil/water in the pores can affect wettability and be a detriment to oil recovery.

The interaction of core samples with different porosity and permeability with water after proper cleaning procedures and …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Composite Hydrogels For Tissue Engineering: An Investigation On Mechanical Properties And Biocompatibility, Ismael Lamas Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)/agar double-network (DN) hydrogels for biomedical applications, focusing on mechanical strength, biocompatibility, and tissue engineering potential. Techniques like swelling ratio analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), alongside antibacterial and cytotoxicity assays, were employed to evaluate the hydrogels' properties. Results show that increasing agar content enhances mechanical and physical properties, with swelling ratios increasing by 300% when agar makes up 6% of the hydrogel, compared to 140% without agar. A positive correlation was observed between agar concentration and compressive and tensile moduli. Load-relaxation rates, essential for viscoelastic properties, also improved with …

The Impact Of Politics On Romantic Relationships: Longevity, Quality, And Political Beliefs Or Candidate Choice?, Jadelyn Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

This project aimed to understand how polarization in the United States affects romantic relationships. Other studies in this area have only gauged samples that were either couples in relationships or singles. This work compared the responses of individuals based on their relationship status (in a relationship or not), to note the differences, if any, between samples. This research was conducted through surveys on The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley student population.

In understanding how political opinions affect relationship longevity, satisfaction, and whether candidate choice or opinions matter more, there were interesting findings. Regarding relationship longevity, there was a significance …

Territorio Nepantla: A Visual Exploration Of The Matamoros – Brownsville Borderlands, Michel Valeria Flores Tavizón

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines the work presented in the MFA exhibition titled Territorio Nepantla. A multidisciplinary exhibition featuring a visual exploration of the Matamoros and Rio Grande Valley borderlands through the perspective of a Mexican transfronteriza traversing the Matamoros – Brownsville border. The feminist Chicana theory of nepantla, a word from Nahuatl origin meaning “in-between” is central to the exhibition. Scholar Gloria Anzaldua defines the borderlands as a nepantla space, a liminal space where art and la frontera intersect. Nepantla represents the in-betweenness beyond physicality. A nepantla space can be emotional, spiritual, sexual, linguistical and more. This body of work …

Survival, Biofilm Formation, And Control Of Foodborne Pathogens In Hydroponic Systems, Sai Rithin Reddy Kothur Thirupathi

Theses and Dissertations

The growing global population and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns have intensified the demand for sustainable food production methods. Hydroponics, a form of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), has gained attention as a viable solution due to its efficient use of resources such as land and water. Although hydroponic systems are perceived as safer alternatives to conventional farming, recent foodborne outbreaks associated with these systems have raised significant public health concerns. This thesis research investigated the food safety risk in hydroponic, particularly the survival and persistence of foodborne pathogens. Chapters I and II provide a comprehensive overview of hydroponics and the microbial …

Unveiling Perspectives: Young Adults Banned Books Critical Content Analysis, Tiffany Ladonna Jarebica

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation conducts a critical content analysis of seven banned young adult novels—All Boys Aren’t Blue, All the Things We Do in the Dark, Almost Perfect, Ask the Passengers, The Bluest Eyes, The Hate U Give, and The Kite Runner—within one Texas school district. Using intersectionality theory as a lens, the study explores how intersecting identities such as race, gender, sexuality, and trauma are portrayed in these narratives and examines the role these portrayals play in the censorship process. The analysis investigates the socio-cultural, political, and institutional factors that influenced the removal of these texts, considering how their …

Mitigation Of Droughts And Floods From Conjunctive Water Resource Management Using Managed Aquifer Recharge (Mar): Experiments And Numerical Modeling, Sumiaya Amin Preota

Theses and Dissertations

Water supply of Rio Grande Valley in South Texas has been impacted by intensified climate extremes such as droughts and floods. This research assessed the viability of conjunctive water resource management using Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) carbon-modified infiltration basins. Multiple environmental variables in the Arroyo Colorado watershed were investigated, i.e., (i) water availability- quantity of floodwater can be repurposed, (ii) storativity and suitability - capacity within the unsaturated aquifer and ideal locations for building infiltration basins, (iii) water quality- contaminant removal using active carbon/biochar.

Unappropriated flow and high magnitude flow (HMF) analysis indicated that excess floodwater can be a …

Translanguaging As A Cultural Bridge: Entretejiendo Voces Bilingües En La Frontera [Translanguaging As A Cultural Bridge: Interweaving Bilingual Voices At The Border], Gloria Sarahi Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

El presente estudio cualitativo explora las autohistorias de cuatro maestras bilingües que viven y enseñan en el Valle del Sur de Texas, una región fronteriza entre Estados Unidos y México. A través de pláticas íntimas, tejimos juntas narrativas que revelan la complejidad de ser mujer, ser educadora, ser transnacional, y ser bilingüe en un espacio donde las lenguas, culturas e identidades se cruzan, se fracturan y se reconstruyen. “Pláticas can provide a space of healing as the platicadoras release past trauma and current struggles rigged with sexism, racism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and ableism” (Morales et al., 2023). Utilizando un …

A Comparative Study Of Urban And Natural Nesting Gray Hawks In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of South Texas, Evan Farese

Theses and Dissertations

Urbanization can negatively impact birds of prey, which occupy higher trophic levels. The Gray Hawk (Buteo plagiatus) is a neotropical raptor inhabiting the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas, where it is threatened. The species’ ecology has been little studied and it is unclear how urbanization may affect population viability. I studied Gray Hawk reproductive success, diet, and thermal ecology at nests in urban and natural habitats in the LRGV. Camera trap data showed adults at urban nests delivered mostly avian prey, while mammalian prey was most frequently brought to natural nests. Data from temperature loggers showed …

Gothic Monstrosity And The Historical Context Of Colonial Violence In The Borderlands In Isabel Cañas’ Vampires Of El Norte, Paulina Longoria

Theses and Dissertations

The speculative genre has become a venue for Chicanx cultural producers to narrate their own histories, preserve their cultural identities, and reaffirm their rightful place in the United States. This thesis explores the redefinition of gothic monstrosity in Isabel Cañas’ Vampires of El Norte (2023), a contemporary novel within the Latinx speculative fiction genre. The novel blurs the boundaries between the supernatural threat posed by the vampires and the human threat embodied by the Anglo American settlers as both endanger Mexicans living in the Borderlands during the Texas Revolution and the U.S.-Mexico War. Drawing from L. Heidenreich’s theoretical framework, this …

The Benefits Of Fantasy Book When Used As A Coping Measure Against Interpersonal Conflict In Hispanic College Women, Ruby Kaitlynn Tijerina

Theses and Dissertations

High mental health disparities among Hispanic individuals have been well-documented. One potential contributing factor to mental health challenges is interpersonal conflict, which is prevalent among Hispanic young adults. Effective interventions are needed to treat psychological symptoms associated with interpersonal conflict, and one possible approach is bibliotherapy via fantasy fiction reading. This study examined the therapeutic benefits of fantasy fiction reading compared to self-help and scholarly reading materials among 109 Hispanic college women. Participants attended two lab sessions scheduled one week apart. In Session 1, self-report measures and a reading assignment were administered to participants, while in Session …

Emotional Outbursts In Latinx Autistic Youth With Intact Or Non-Intact Families; Frequency, Severity, And Socio-Demographic Correlates, Sandra Lucia Masso Hernandez

Theses and Dissertations

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, communication, and restricted repetitive behaviors. One of the core difficulties in individuals with ASD is related to emotional outbursts. Emotional outbursts (EO) are behavioral episodes in response to situations, environmental and physiological stimuli that occur in an extreme, unpleasant, sometimes aggressive way, often disproportionate to the context. Considering the impacts that EO’s can cause in populations with neurodevelopmental disorders and on the well-being and mental health of parents/caregivers, the need arises to evaluate these populations. Due to the core characteristics of ASD (such as a rigid mentality, …

Mixed-Mode Fracture Analysis Of Additively Manufactured Periodic Orthotropic Functionally Graded Microcellular Materials, Behnam Shahbazian

Theses and Dissertations

The quest for safety, efficiency, and innovation in aerospace engineering demands a relentless focus on understanding how materials and structures behave under extreme and complicated loading conditions. Among the many challenges faced by engineers in this field, predicting and preventing structural failure stands out as both a fundamental necessity and a complex problem. Fracture mechanics, the science of how materials fail under stress, is a cornerstone of this effort. Whether it is the fuselage of an aircraft enduring cyclic loading or the lightweight components of a spacecraft resisting impact, the ability to accurately predict fracture behavior directly influences the reliability …

Transcription Factor Y- Box Binding Protein 1 (Ybx1) Enhances Sorafenib Resistance And Tumorigenic Capacities In Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hcc), Dennis Kwabiah

Theses and Dissertations

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer, with early-stage cases potentially benefiting from surgical treatments like liver transplantation and hepatectomy. However, advanced HCC stages have poor prognosis due to resistance to therapies, especially sorafenib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for late-stage HCC. Despite its clinical use, sorafenib has limited efficacy in prolonging survival, and the mechanisms of resistance remain unclear. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) HCC dataset shows elevated Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) expression in HCC tumors compared to normal liver tissues. Previous studies have indicated that YBX1 is involved in drug resistance in various …

Entre Magia Y Olvido: A Narrative Journey Of Latinos/Hispanics In Fantasy Literature, Kendra Edith Lara

Theses and Dissertations

This story was born from imagination and a deep desire for inclusivity. “Corazon de Magia” is told through the perspective of Julietta Hernandez, a young Mexican American woman who is thrust into a magical adventure. Aided by friendship and intuition, Julietta investigates a mysterious pendulum that is the key to finding a missing shopkeeper. This story is a tribute to the Hispanic/Latino community- a celebration of strength, resilience and possibility.

We can be magic too.

Climate Change And The Field Of Farm Labor In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, Cody Richard Mortell

Theses and Dissertations

Farm workers in the United States are often vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change, particularly extreme heat. This study explores farm workers’ climate change perceptions (CCP) as a mediating force in climate adaptation. Using latent class analysis, in-person survey data (n=404) from Lower Rio Grande Valley, TX (2024) and NOAA data were analyzed. Results were interpreted using Bourdieu’s field analysis framework and his notions of capital and symbolic power. Findings include: a social hierarchy with three latent classes of workers based on economic, cultural, social, and symbolic capital, which statistically significantly affected CCP. Workers in higher structural positions were …

Art And Effort, Saul Gabriel Dominguez Ii

Theses and Dissertations

Since childhood I questioned living and my life itself. I wondered the extent of our own free will since people live to cry, to hate, to think they’ve been born simply to die. I use philosophers and some contemporary fiction to portray a lens of living where we must romanticize the present, rather than an uncertain future, and remove the idea that there is a reason for our living. This method of present thinking is a characteristic of a life-well lived. The manuscript will largely be told from my point of view, a young aspiring author with limited experience, through …

Effects Of Different Blue Light Conditions On Saos-2 Cell Viability, Differentiation, And Mineralization, Jamielyn Alcantara Jarvis

Theses and Dissertations

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a low-intensity light therapy that uses non-ionizing forms of energy to induce a directed cellular response. Prior work has investigated the effects of blue light exposure at energy densities ranging from 1 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2 on osteogenic differentiation of human gingival mesenchymal stem cells (hGMSCs), human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs), and stem cells from the apical papilla (SCAPs) and shown promising outcomes at 4 J/cm2 and then having a detrimental impact at higher energy densities. One key caveat in prior studies is that the blue light energy density was modulated by changing the light exposure …

Experimental And Theoretical Fracture Analysis Of Rift Manufactured Carbon Fiber-Vinyl Ester Lamina, Daniel Joseph Longo

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis investigates the fracture behavior of unidirectional carbon fiber-vinyl ester (CFVE) laminates manufactured using the Resin Infusion with Flexible Tooling (RIFT) process, a cost-effective alternative to autoclave-based fabrication methods. Composite materials like CFVE are increasingly adopted in high-performance applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance; however, their anisotropic nature presents challenges in predicting crack initiation and propagation. To address this, a comprehensive approach combining experimental testing, finite element modeling (FEM), and classical fracture mechanics was employed. Orthotropic mechanical properties were first determined through tensile and shear tests, providing critical properties for FEM simulations. A series of …

Developing A Small Molecule To Inhibit Hsf1 Expression In Cancer And Evaluating Natural Genetic Variation In Small Molecule Toxicity., Michaela Kendal Foley

Theses and Dissertations

Each year cancer affects nearly 20 million people worldwide and genetic differences across populations can impact cancer onset and progression. Specifically, tumors with high levels of HSF1, the master regulator of the cytoprotective heat shock response (HSR), are correlated with poor patient outcomes in multiple cancers such as prostate, breast, and melanoma. Subsequently, the development of pharmacological inhibitors of HSF1 represents a promising strategy for anticancer therapeutics. Using a luciferase-based transcriptional reporter, two small molecule libraries were screened for inhibitors of HSF1 expression in human embryonic kidney cells, yielding ten compounds that decrease HSF1 expression. To identify if cancer lines …

Cross-Dataset Fairness Evaluation Of Transformer-Based Sentiment Models, Sara Zuiran

Theses and Dissertations

With the growing exploration of Natural Language Processing (NLP) systems in decision-making environments, it is essential to evaluate technical and ethical aspects of the dataset and the NLP model to improve fairness. To assess fairness, the thesis examines demographic imbalances in sentiment classification models by evaluating transformer-based models fine-tuned on the Stanford Sentiment Treebank version 2 dataset (SST-2) against the demographically annotated Comprehensive Assessment of Language Model dataset (CALM). This work identifies performance disparities in sentiment prediction across demographic groups by examining sensitive attributes such as gender and race. The study evaluates both the RoBERTa and MentalBERT transformer models using …

Are You Patronizing Me? Understanding And Identifying The Implications For Benevolent Racism On Inclusion In The Workplace, Nisha Quraishi

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the construct of benevolent racism. The purpose of this study was to address the following areas. First, to distinguish benevolent racism in the racism, benevolence, and sexism literature. Second, to examine how minorities experienced benevolent racism in the workplace. Third, to use that data to conduct a quantitative analysis that examined the impact of benevolent racism on work group identification and inclusion. To do so, two studies were conducted. The first study was a qualitative study that conducted interviews which examined how benevolent racism impacted minorities in the workplace. The second study was a quantitative study that …

Trends In And Factors Associated With Science Achievement Among Fourth Graders In Saudi Arabia: A Secondary Analysis Of Timss Data, Reda Massawe

Theses and Dissertations

This secondary analysis examined trends and factors associated with science achievement among fourth-grade students in Saudi Arabia using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Between 2007 and 2019, Saudi students consistently scored below the international average in science, with female students outperforming males by more than 30 points. The study addressed two issues: (1) reasons behind Saudi students’ underperformance and (2) limited research on contributing factors. TIMSS data from 2011, 2015, and 2019 were analyzed using descriptive, correlational, and regression methods. While trends across the years were explored, only 2019 data were used for detailed …

Ai-Enhanced Flipped Classroom Approach For Chinese Vocabulary And Grammar Learning, Haotian Ye

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the effectiveness of ChatGPT-4 in enhancing L2 Chinese learners' vocabulary and grammar acquisition within a flipped classroom setting, focusing on its impact on learning outcomes, student motivation, and associated challenges. Conducted over 10 weeks, the study involved 19 native English speakers enrolled in a third-year Chinese course at a U.S. university. The experimental group (n = 11) used ChatGPT to self-study six target words and five grammar structures before attending Tuesday and Thursday sessions, while the control group (n = 8) followed a textbook-based approach. Participants completed in-class vocabulary and grammar quizzes twice a week, three journal …