Digital Commons Network^™

Magnetic Softness Tuned Superparamagnetic Nanoparticles For Highly Efficient Cancer Theranostics, Jie Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided magnetic nanofluid hyperthermia (MNFH) using iron oxide based superparamagnetic nanoparticles (SPNPs) has recently attracted considerable attention as a treatment modality for cancer theranostics, because MRI-guided MNFH can allow for diagnosis, therapeutics, and prognosis simultaneously using the same administrated magnetic nanofluid agent. However, several primary limiting factors: (1) insufficient AC magnetic heating induction (specific loss power/intrinsic loss power, SLP/ILP) at the biologically safe and physically tolerable range of AC magnetic field (H_AC,safe: f_appl × H_appl < 3.0 ~ 5.0×10⁹ A·m^-1·s^-1), (2) low _r2- relaxivity directly related to the low resolution of …

An Exploration Of Racial Trauma And Protective Factors In Black Youth, Daria Chantal Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

Black students’ experiences in school can vary due to racism and discrimination within and outside of the classroom, which can impact their academic progress and overall well-being. In this three-part study, the impact of discrimination is observed to determine if there is a long-term effect of these situations and, if so, determine if there is utility to implement school-based resources to decrease these negative effects. The first study examined whether ethnic-racial socialization in childhood could moderate against symptoms of trauma in young adulthood that were potentially caused by discrimination from peers and teachers in childhood through hierarchical regressions. The second …

Molecular Mediators Of Axonal Transport And Local Translation Of Cdc42, Rhoa Molecular Mediators Of Axonal Transport And Local Translation Of And Calreticulin Mrnas And Their Implications For Axon Growth And Regeneration, Matthew Davis Zdradzinski

Theses and Dissertations

Neurons are highly polarized cells with expansive cytoplasmic processes, axons and dendrites, which create unique subcellular domains. Localization and translation of mRNAs in these subcellular regions is now recognized as a critical mechanism through which polarized cells establish and maintain the specialized domains that are needed for their functions. RNA profiling studies have uncovered hundreds to thousands of mRNAs in axons and these axonal mRNA profiles differ across neuronal populations, physiological conditions, and developmental growth states. Functionally organizing these mRNA populations into cohorts of coregulated mRNAs via RNA binding proteins allows us to better understand how the transcriptome is regulated …

Laboratory Management Models In Core Facilities, Karmen Michael Owen

Theses and Dissertations

Core biotechnology facilities are often defined as laboratories that house shared resources for research. These laboratories are of great importance to research communities because a large portion of scientific research data is generated at these facilities. Different investigators can use core facilities to help further their research. In a university setting, there are several management strategies from small cores that house a specific type of instrument, to large cores that house many different technologies. Funding strategies also differ significantly, from those that are funded by a small group of well-funded investigators, to cores managed by a specific department or school, …

The Effect Of Visual Feedback On Vocal Compensation Abilities In Individuals With Post-Stroke Aphasia, Marissa Rylee Olson

Theses and Dissertations

Speech production is a complex and highly organized process comprised of various sensory and perceptual components. Post-stroke aphasia can impair speech production abilities by interrupting individuals’ ability to detect and correct speech errors and produce their targeted behavior. Contemporary models of speech production aim to understand the relationship between sensory systems and the human ability to produce perceptually accurate speech. This study seeks to understand the relationship between visual feedback and vocal compensation abilities in individuals with post-stroke aphasia to determine the effectiveness of incorporating visual feedback into therapeutic expressive language intervention. It was hypothesized that that the multi-sensory experimental …

Advanced Prognostic Modeling For Breast Cancer Patients: Leveraging Data-Driven Approaches For Survival Analysis, Theophilus Gyedu Baidoo

Theses and Dissertations

Breast cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer in women in the United States. Each year, about 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and of this number, about 42,000 women lose their lives as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Early detection and effective treatment are crucial for improving survival rates and reducing mortality. This study aimed to explore the influential factors that may risk the survival of women with the disease and compare their predictive abilities using several error and performance metrics. The study uses a dataset from the National Cancer …

Tio2 Coating Methods On Sb2o3 And Their Use As Anode Material In Lithium-Ion Batteries, Kithzia Czarina Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis is concentrated on the development of TiO2Sb2O3 composite material through the hydrolysis of TiCl4 to be applied as anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Antimony (Sb) has been a material of interest due to its high capacity and good chemical properties. The TiO2 accommodated the harsh volume expansion that Sb encounters during the alloying process while still preserving the high capacity offered by Sb. Its electrochemical performance exhibited a stabilized capacity of 523 mAhg-1 after reaching 40 cycles with a capacity loss of 2.4% till reaching 100 cycles. High reversible capacity characteristics were present with an initial capacity …

The Role Of Tc-Ptp-Mediated Suppression Of Autophagy During Skin Carcinogenesis, Obed Asare

Theses and Dissertations

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation can distort cellular homeostasis and predispose the skin to carcinogenesis. Amongst the deteriorating effects of the sun’s UVB radiation on cellular homeostasis is the formation of DNA photoproducts such as cyclobutene pyrimidine dimers. These photoproducts can cause significant changes in the structure and conformation of the DNA, inducing gene mutations which may accumulate to trigger the formation of skin cancer. Photoproducts are typically repaired by nucleotide excision repair. Notwithstanding, when the repair mechanism fails, apoptosis ensues to prevent the accumulation of mutations and to restore cellular homeostasis. We have identified T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) as …

Optimizing Convolutional Neural Networks For Transient Detection In Optical Astronomy With Augmented Datasets, Wendy Mendoza

Theses and Dissertations

We present a technique for optical transient detection using artificial neural networks, particularly a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), a deep learning algorithm. This method analyzes images of the same area of the sky captured by several telescopes, with one image serving as a reference for a probable transient’s epoch and the other as an image from a previous epoch. We train the CNN on simulated sources and test it on actual image data samples using data from the Dr. Cristina V. Torres Memorial Astronomical Observatory and Sloan Digital Sky Survey. This autonomous detection method replaces the standard procedure, which involves …

Using Deep Learning For Encrypted Traffic Analysis Of Amazon Echo, Surendra Pathak

Theses and Dissertations

The adoption of the Amazon Echo family of devices in modern homes has become very widespread at the current time, with hundreds of millions of devices sold. Moreover, the global smart speaker market size is growing vigorously and is projected to continue to bigger. Smart speakers allow users hands-free interaction by allowing voice control, promoting human-computer interaction to greater avenues. Though smart speaker can be useful assistant, it has some serious security concerns that need to be studied. In this study, an analysis of the security and privacy concerns of smart speakers is presented along with a passive attack, namely …

The First Peoples Of The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas And Northern Mexico: An Interdisciplinary Approach To Defining The Paleoindian Period, Starr Elena Hein

Theses and Dissertations

The archaeological record of the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and northern Mexico is poorly understood. There are few excavated sites at which Paleoindian cultural materials have been found, and in these cases the context is uncertain. In order to better understand the Paleoindian period, projectile points that reside in private collections are documented, and the time period they are assigned to, based on absolute dating from surrounding regions, is used to cross-date local materials. This is limited by the lack of named typology for Upper Paleolithic materials in the Americas. Clovis is well represented in the Lower Rio …

Impacts Of Land Use On Stormwater Runoff In The Lower Rio Grande Valley And Improving Long Term Municipal Stormwater Management Systems, Maria Vanessa Pruneda

Theses and Dissertations

Exponentially noticeable growth in population and land development in the Lower Rio Grande Valley has directly influenced growth in urbanization. Urbanization is the leading cause for lower pervious cover, and the increase in storm water runoff. The increase of storm water runoff leads to excess flooding areas and higher peak flows. The overflow flows freely and is exposed to contaminants, affecting the consumption and use factors. The changes of land use have a direct relationship with impervious cover limitations and individual site retentions. This study will assess the relationship between stormwater quantity and land use in the Lower Rio Grande …

Biochar Reduces The Pupation And Eclosion Of A Specialist (Manduca Sexta) And A Generalist Pest (Spodoptera Frugiperda), Nischal Wagle

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: This chapter incorporates detailed information about the biochar concept, its production, composition, and properties, harmful arthropods and their damage, the effect of soil on the arthropod community, and the application of biochar on arthropod control.

Chapter 2: The comprehensive lab experiment was conducted with modified pupation media enriched with walnut shell biochar (Chapter II) to evaluate the effects of biochar on the pupation and eclosion success rates of a specialist (Manduca sexta) and a generalist pest (Spodoptera frugiperda). We found that the biochar treatment led to a significant reduction in pupal mass, adult mass, adult wingspan, body length, …

Image Segmentation With Human-In-The-Loop In Automated De-Caking Process For Powder Bed Additive Manufacturing, Vincent Opare Addo Asare-Manu

Theses and Dissertations

Additive manufacturing (AM) becomes a critical technology that increases the speed and flexibility of production and reduces the lead time for high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. One of the major bottlenecks in further increasing its productivity lies around its post-processing procedures. This work focuses on tackling a critical and inevitable step in powder-bed additive manufacturing processes, i.e., powder cleaning or de-caking. Pressing concerns can be raised with human involvement when performing this task manually. Therefore, a robot-driven automatic powder cleaning system could be an alternative to reducing time consumption and increasing safety for AM operators. However, since the color and surface texture …

Soil Moisture Dynamics In Cover Cropping Systems: From Local To Global Scales, Manish Gautam

Theses and Dissertations

Cover cropping systems, which have gained recognition for their ability to enhance soil health and promote sustainability are also associated with potential risks related with declining soil moisture and pose a dilemma for farmers considering the adoption of cover crops in water deficit semi-arid settings worldwide. To address this pressing issue, we conducted a participatory cover cropping trial in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region, encompassing four different farms and supplemented this experiment with a meta-analysis to answer our soil moisture and climate parameters and quantify the impact of cover crops on soil moisture levels. The findings revealed that …

Tamaulipan Thornforest Restoration: Factors Influencing Restoration Outcomes And Impacts Of Cover Crops During Replanting, Jerald T. Garrett

Theses and Dissertations

Though the rate of deforestation has slowed in recent years, it remains a primary cause of land cover change within forest ecosystems. The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas (LRGV) has lost nearly 95% of its native thornforest since the early 1900’s due to agricultural and urban expansion. The focus of this study is to assess the current vegetative state of restored thornforest sites located in the eastern LRGV and to evaluate the use of cover crops during replanting of native seedlings. Our assessment of restored thornforest sites revealed actively restored sites demonstrated higher overall averages of richness, abundance, and diversity …

Drug Repurposing: New Mechanisms And Applications Of Existing Compounds, Biyun Celia Cui

Theses and Dissertations

HIV infection remains a significant global health challenge. Despite the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy, people living with HIV (PLWH) still face a disproportionate burden of major health problems. One of these problems is HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), which includes a spectrum of cognitive, motor, and behavioral impairments. Although severe forms of HAND have decreased, milder forms are on the rise, posing a significant obstacle for PLWH.

The persistence of HIV in the central nervous system (CNS) is a challenge of HAND treatment and involves a combination of factors, including neurotoxic HIV proteins, chronic neuroinflammation, and comorbidity with substance …

Cdk8 And Cdk19 Mediator Kinases As Novel Targets In Advanced Prostate Cancer, Jing Li

Theses and Dissertations

Following androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), prostate cancers (PCa) progress to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) status, where their growth becomes independent of androgen signaling, through altered androgen receptor (AR) signaling or other genetic or transcriptional changes. Metastatic CRPC remains incurable, and the most potent new drugs prolong survival by only a few months. There is an urgent need for novel agents against advanced CRPC. Here we have investigated the roles of CDK8 and CDK19, two isoforms of Mediator kinase, which regulates transcriptional reprogramming, in regard to their biological activities and as potential novel targets for the treatment of CRPC.

To …

Becoming A Man: Concepts Of Writing Witness And Masculinity For Black Adolescent Males In Children’S And Young Adult Literature, Chelsea Danielle Rogers

Theses and Dissertations

Historically, the black male has had the world at his back, from the moment he stepped onto American soil, kidnapped and enslaved, the pressures to be a “good man” as a student or eventually as a father, to the need to “be somebody” as a proud American citizen, a human. In my dissertation, I evaluate further the position of the adolescent black male through the lens of young adult literature. The framework of a young adult novel is grounded in the experience of youth and adolescence rather than in adulthood and its nostalgic tendencies. The young black male experience and …

A Qualitative Study Examining And Comparing Families’ And Teachers’ Perceptions Of School Readiness, Shalonya Cerika Knotts

Theses and Dissertations

A child’s readiness for school can impact their trajectory in subsequent grades and later in life. Therefore, children must be prepared when transitioning to kindergarten. As a kindergarten teacher at a Title I elementary school, I noticed a lack of readiness and conducted this qualitative action research study to create a readiness plan for my school by examining and comparing families’ and teachers’ perceptions of school readiness. The participants included my students’ parents and caretakers and my fellow kindergarten teachers. The findings indicate similar perceptions of school readiness. The family and teacher samples both associated readiness with academics and peer …

Stem Educators’ Perceptions Of Gender Bias And The Contributing Factors That Persist For Women In Stem Education, Haleigh Nicole Kirkland

Theses and Dissertations

Social influence from society holds the key to social norms that influence students and their future aspirations. Gender bias is considered one of the influencing factors that affects the decisions of female high school students on participating in STEM education. This descriptive study describes the key factors that STEM educators perceived as influential for female high school students' participation in STEM education. The research questions of the study included: (1) What are high school STEM educators’ perceptions regarding gender bias in the STEM School of Study cluster at Skyler High School and (2) What factors do high school STEM educators …

Insurance Status And Cancer Staging, Time To Treatment, And Mortality: Examining Cancers Of The Breast, Colon, And Lung, Gabriel A. Benavidez

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: When examining cancer outcomes, timely detection and treatment are critical factors for favorable prognoses. Previous studies have shown that individuals with public health insurance, specifically Medicaid, have worse cancer outcomes than those with private insurance. While differences in socioeconomic status may account for this disparity, one potential area for further investigation is the effect of Medicaid enrollment timing on cancer outcomes. In some states, individuals may not be eligible for Medicaid until after their cancer diagnosis, potentially nullifying health insurance benefits. This analysis examines the impact of Medicaid enrollment timing on cancer outcomes by comparing patients not enrolled in …

Measuring Social Vulnerability And Exposure To Potential Risks Induced By Spaceport Operations In South Texas: An Empirical Study Utilizing Gis Methods And Social Vulnerability Indicators, Evan D. Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

The commercialization of space has increased spaceport development and activity across the United States. The magnitude of growth can be witnessed through the spaceport expansion and spacecraft testing at the SpaceX “Starbase” Launch Facility, located along the Texas-Mexico border. Matching the pace of SpaceX’s growth while evaluating levels of risk, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) diligently conducted a comprehensive Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA). While this assessment provides significant environmental impact data and risk analysis, much is left to understand regarding hazards and risk exposure to local communities. More specifically, research is needed to understand hazards associated with operational- and anomaly- …

Comparative Analysis Of Soil Properties, Microbial Community Composition, And Yield Responses To Cover Crops In Different Ecoregions Of South Texas, Daphne Zapsas

Theses and Dissertations

Comprehensive understanding of soil properties, their interdependencies, and the effects of management practices is crucial for designing sustainable agricultural strategies. By adopting site-specific and need-based practices that enhance soil health, farmers can optimize crop growth, increase yield, and contribute to long-term environmental sustainability. Cover crops have been recognized for enhancing soil fertility, promoting microbial activity, and increasing organic matter content. However, while their effectiveness is well documented in temperate regions with readily available water, their impact in water limited systems in subtropical regions remains mixed. The aim of this study is to assess soil conditions in four different farms across …

Cover Crops Influence Arthropod Community Dynamics Through Seasonal Variation And Cascading Effects, Adegboyega Fajemisin

Theses and Dissertations

Chapter 1: This chapter gives an overview of how cover crops influence soil’s physical, chemical, and biological properties, and their role on mediating arthropod community dynamics with implications for pest management in the subsequent cash crop.

Chapter 2: This chapter examines the effects of cover-cash crop rotation on arthropod community dynamics on four growers fields in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas. We assessed the impact of cover crops planted in the summer months on the subsequent cash crops planted in the winter. Our results showed that cover crops had a differential effect on the population of beneficials and herbivores …

Long-Chain Fatty Acid Sensing And Catabolism In Commensal Escherichia Coli Impact Murine Gut Colonization, Tessa Carolina Cox

Theses and Dissertations

The gastrointestinal tract is home to trillions of microbes that collectively influence host physiology, immunity, nutrient metabolism, and infectious disease. The overgrowth of naturally-occurring Escherichia coli in the gut is a common signifier of microbiome dysfunction and occurs in many chronic diseases including obesity. Recent studies have shown that higher fat intake is associated with increased gut E. coli growth. However, it remains unknown whether gut E. coli utilize lipids such as long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) as carbon sources to colonize the mammalian gut. Therefore, the central objective of my dissertation was to utilize bacterial genetics and various mouse …

Nitrous Oxide Cycling In The Eastern Tropical North Pacific Oxygen Deficient Zone From Concentrations, Stable Isotopes And Isotopomers, Margaret Ann Gaspar

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas and ozone depleting substance. It is estimated that the ocean accounts for about one third of total atmospheric emissions, which mostly occur in Oxygen Deficient Zones (ODZs) connected to coastal upwelling regions. Modeling efforts and high-resolution datasets are starting to provide a clearer picture of global marine N₂O fluxes, spatiotemporal variability, and the impacts of submesoscale processes on N₂O distributions. We measured nitrous oxide concentrations, stable isotope ratios and isotopomers at 7 open ocean stations along a transect crossing the Eastern Tropical North Pacific ODZ as …

Babe (Body Appreciation And Better Eating), Just Add A Dash Of Self-Compassion: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study For Black/African American Teenage Girls, Nkechi Bianca Okpara

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction

Body dissatisfaction contributes to disproportionately high rates of disordered eating behaviors observed in Black teenagers. Given that self-compassion is found to buffer against eating pathology and body dissatisfaction and is linked to reduced incidences of binge eating and disordered eating behavior. Incorporating the self-compassion construct, specifically centering on nutrition, with a program that combats negative body image, like the Body Project, may further help decrease body dissatisfaction and improve overall nutrition.

Purpose

The aim of this dissertation was to test (1) the acceptability and feasibility of a novel program, Body Appreciation and Better Eating, add self-compassion (BABE+SC), and to …

Unlocking Population-Specific Treatments To Render Equitable Approaches And Management In Cardiovascular Disease (Upstream Cvd): African American Emerging Adults, Shannon Bright Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in America. African American people have disparate CVD outcomes, and African American emerging adults (AAEAs) aged 18-25 have CVD risk factors. This study aimed to examine the state of CVD risk factors in AAEAs, assess upstream and population factors in AAEAs attending a southeastern historically black college/university (HBCU), compare their perceived and objective CVD risk, explore their level of CVD knowledge, and examine responses when they learn their objective CVD risk.

Chapter 1 presents background literature on CVD in AAEAs and the research plan. Chapter 2 presents a newly synthesized situation-specific …

Exploring Literary Responses To Culturally Relevant Texts Through An Asiancrit Lens: A Collective Case Study Of Chinese American Students In A Community-Based Book Club, Wenyu Guo

Theses and Dissertations

Building on AsianCrit, reader response theory, and critical literacy perspective, this dissertation study investigated how second-generation Chinese American students at age eight to twelve respond to culturally relevant texts which portray contemporary and historical Chinese American people’s lives and experiences in the United States. In addition, this study explored how these students negotiate their understanding of race, racism, and anti-Asian racism through associating with the stories, their everyday experiences, family traditions, and interactions with peers and researcher in a community-based book club. Specifically, this study examined how students of Chinese descent respond to xenophobia, discrimination, and racism towards Asian people, …