Digital Commons Network^™

Design And Regioselective Synthesis Of Fullerene Derivatives For Metal-Organic Hybrid Architectures, Catalina Suarez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the last years different fullerene derivatives and endohedral fullerenes have been reported and their potential applications as electronic, magnetic, catalytic, biological and optical materials have been explored. In this work we describe the characterization of new endohedral fullerenes; the exohedral functionalization of fullerenes with organic addends or metal clusters and their application in metal-organic hybrid architectures.

We synthesized fullerene polymers with a variety of staircase linear architectures, zigzag polymers and a perfectly linear polymer using an hexakis-fullerene adduct with two 4,5-diazafluorene groups located at trans-1 positions, using Hg, Cd, Zn and33 Cu as the metal centers. Our results showed …

Exposure Of Commercial Titanium Dioxide And Copper Hydroxide Nanomaterials On Basil (Ocimum Basilicum): A Life Cycle And Transgenerational Study, Wenjuan Tan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Although thousands of reports have shown that engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) can alter several agronomical, physiological, and biochemical parameters in plant and mammal systems, the effects of long-term exposure and varietal responses are scarce. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) and copper hydroxide nanoparticles [nano-Cu(OH)2], which are widely used in agriculture, medicine, food industry, textile, among other areas, are among the ENMs with high production and consumption globally. Though reports indicate that these ENMs affected plant development and metabolism, their interactions with basil (Ocimum basilicum) are unknown. Basil is a popular culinary herb worldwide, featured in Asian and European cuisine and has more …

Concreteness, Frequency, And Bilingual Language Dominance: Implications For The Impact Of Context Availability In Explicit Memory, Randolph Taylor

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

One explanation for why concrete words are better recalled than abstract words is systematic differences across these word types in the availability of context information. In contrast, explanations for the concrete word advantage in recognition memory do not consider a possible role for context availability. Like concrete words, low-frequency words and L2 words also demonstrate item recognition advantages over high-frequency words and L1 words, respectively. Although the theories explaining these advantages do not explicitly discuss context availability, the mechanisms described suggest that context availability may play a role. The present study examined the extent to which context availability can explain …

Active Learning Effect On The Public's Perception Of Anthropogenic Global Climate Change, Ivy Gisselle Trevizo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Anthropogenic, or human-caused global climate change has been debated for many years among the public despite the growing evidence that there is scientific consensus on this topic. A gap has been discovered between scientific evidence of increasing temperatures and the public's perception on climate change. This gap has been hypothesized to come from the method in which the scientific community represents scientific evidence. The goal of this study was to determine if active learning techniques around local and regional climate change and climate change impacts changes the awareness, perception, and behavioral intentions of different segments of the public. The study …

Neutrino Oscillations And The Reno Experiment, Karla Rosita Tellez Giron Flores

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Neutrinos are the second most common particles in the universe, after the photons. Neutrinos (and antineutrinos) exist in three different "flavors", namely, electron, tau and muon neutrinos. A physical neutrino, however, can oscillate among these three flavors and, thus, it is said to be a mix of the three flavor states. In quantum mechanics representation, it is said that the three flavor states are the mixture of the three mass states. This mixture of neutrinos can generally be parameterized by the three so-called mixing angles (&thetas;12, &thetas;23, &thetas;13), three squared mass differences Δmij 2, i, j = 1, 2, 3 …

Burning Signs Of Blue, John Veldt

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

I am a beginning poet, and these are my beginning poems. Indeed, I am not Lorca. However, I do believe that his spirit of duende is visible in my work.There is the visible anguish of desire in these poems (just to name a few): the desire to receive a father's love, the desire to be the human animal, the desire to find truth, and a parent's desire to protect her children. It is a longing, a melancholic desire, tinged and/or consumed with the knowledge of death and loss. There is the desire for lost lovers and lost children, the desire …

Synthesis And Post-Synthetic Transmetalations Of Metal-Organic Frameworks Containing Bimetallic Centers, Jose Miguel Veleta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The heterobimetallic metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of the type HKUST-1 were obtained through post synthetic cation exchange processes, where Cu3(BTC)2 (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylate) was exposed to solutions of Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, or Ni2+ at time intervals of 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours. The elemental composition of the products was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), showing partial substitution of copper ions in the frameworks. Transmetalations done with Mn2+ and Ni2+ show a relatively low cation exchanged through the different time intervals, with maximum transmetalation percentages of 2.4 % for Mn2+ and 2 % for Ni2+ …

Design Optimization For Heat Dissipation In Polymer Additive Manufacturing With Joule Heating, Tania Alejandra Ventura

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Nowadays, the use of additive manufacturing (AM) is mainly focused on the production of prototypes with the purpose of evaluating a design. This industry has become a subject of constant reinvention; in fact, an emerging application of AM is focused on creating parts with embedded electronics. However, the development of both traditional and additive manufactured electronics has led to an increase in power densities and size reduction. Consequently, thermal management has become essential in electronics, as overheating decreases reliability of the component leading to a premature failure.

In this study, a polycarbonate component design with integral electrical circuitry that is …

Alá Es Primero: Faith And Culture On The Mexican-American Border, Alan Ventura

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this Thesis is to show how El Paso Latino Muslims create a new cultural language when they harmonize their Mexican cultural practices with Islam.

Spectroscopic Analysis Of Neurotransmitters: A Theoretical And Experimental Raman Study, Matthew Alonzo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was applied to investigate the feasibility in the detection and monitoring of the dopamine (DA) neurotransmitter adsorbed onto silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) at 10-11 molar, a concentration far below physiological levels. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were obtained with the Gaussian-09 analytical suite software to generate the theoretical molecular configuration of DA in its neutral, cationic, anionic, and dopaminequinone states for the conversion of computer-simulated Raman spectra. Comparison of theoretical and experimental results show good agreement and imply the presence of dopamine in all of its molecular forms in the experimental setting. The dominant …

Comprehensive Finite Element Modeling Of Ti-6al-4v Cellular Solids Fabricated By Electron Beam Melting, Edel Arrieta

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing permits the fabrication of cellular metals which are materials that can be highly customizable and possess multiple and extraordinary properties such as damage tolerance, metamorphic and auxetic behaviors, and high specific stiffness. This makes them the subject of interest for innovative applications. With interest in these materials for energy absorption applications, this work presents the development of nonlinear finite element models in commercial software platforms (MSC Patran/Nastran) that permit the analysis of the deformation mechanisms of these materials under compressive loads. In the development of these models, a detailed multiscale study on the different factors affecting the response …

Material Behavior Of Window 7 Carrier Panel Tiles And Thermal Pane Fragments Recovered From The Space Shuttle Columbia, Brenda Roseanne Arellano

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Since the end of the space shuttle program, a new generation spacecraft has been developed to transport humans back into space. NASAâ??s Orion will carry a crew beyond low-earth orbit and the exploration of Mars may be possible in the future. Space safety becomes significant with human spaceflight and the risks are high. However, aerospace materials may provide opportunities to prevent future disasters. When the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated during re-entry in 2001, thousands of debris were collected for analysis. In contrast, when the Challenger space shuttle broke apart in 1986, all shuttle debris were buried. These tragic disasters are …

Grasshopper (Orthoptera: Caelifera) And Plant Community Relationships On Indio Mountains Research Station, Hudspeth County, Texas, Sara Ebrahim Baqla

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

An ecogeographic analysis of a grasshopper survey was conducted at eight sites on Indio Mountains Research Station (IMRS) in the Chihuahuan Desert during September 2014 through December 2015. Five sites contained ephemeral water sources (earthen tanks), one had perennial water (spring system), and two were open desert. A total of 23 grasshopper species were identified, and six of those were new records for the property. The most species rich site was Echo Tank, with 14 grasshopper species. A UPGMA dendrogram showed Red Tank and Rattlesnake Tank, both wetland sites, to be the most similar (CBR = .84). A poisson model …

Label-Free Raman Imaging To Monitor Breast Tumor Signatures, John Ciubuc

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Methods built on Raman spectroscopy have shown major potential in describing and discriminating between malignant and benign specimens. Accurate, real-time medical diagnosis benefits in substantial improvements through this vibrational optical method. Not only is acquisition of data possible in milliseconds and analysis in minutes, Raman allows concurrent detection and monitoring of all biological components. Besides validating a significant Raman signature distinction between non-tumorigenic (MCF-10A) and tumorigenic (MCF-7) breast epithelial cells, this study reveals a label-free method to assess overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) in tumor cells. EGFR overexpression sires Raman features associated with phosphorylated threonine and serine, and …

The Interplay Between Grain Size And Austenite Stability On Deformation Behavior Of High Strength-High Ductility Combination Nanostructured Stainless Steel, Venkata Sai Ananth Challa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The concept of phase reversion involving severe cold deformation of metastable austenite to generate strain-induced martensite, followed by temperature-time annealing sequence, was used to obtain varying grain size from nanograined/ultrafine-grained (NG/UFG) to coarse-grained (CG) regime. This concept was used to obtain â??high strength-high ductilityâ?? combination in nano/ultrafine-grained (NG/UFG) austenitic stainless steel. Using this concept, the objective of the study is to elucidate the dependence of grain size on deformation mechanisms and deformation-induced microstructural changes. The objective was accomplished by combining depth-sensing nanoindentation experiments conducted at various strain rates, and interrupted tensile testing at various strain and post-mortem analyses of deformed …

Essays On Sofwtare Development Projects: Impact Of Social And Technological Factors On Project Performance And Co-Diffusion Of Software Sourcing Arrangements, Niharika Dayyala

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Software development is a complicated process which is accomplished by the combined effort of the key elements such as people, processes, and technology. Software development firms are on a constant quest to identify the best practices for managing the key elements to improve their software development project outcomes and to deliver successful software projects. This Dissertation aims to study key elements that can influence the software development project performance through three distinctive studies. The first essay of this Dissertation investigates the impact of people factors on software project outcomes. Specifically, it examines the impact of team characteristics on the software …

Stanley V. Illinois'S Untold Story, Joshua Gupta-Kagan

Faculty Scholarship

Stanley v. Illinois is one of the Supreme Court’s more curious landmark cases. The holding is well known: the Due Process Clause both prohibits states from removing children from the care of unwed fathers simply because they are not married and requires states to provide all parents with a hearing on their fitness. By recognizing strong due process protections for parents’ rights, Stanley reaffirmed Lochner-era cases that had been in doubt and formed the foundation of modern constitutional family law. But Peter Stanley never raised due process arguments, so it has long been unclear how the Court reached this …

Reply On The Work Of International Law, Monica Hakimi

Faculty Scholarship

Thanks to the Harvard International Law Journal for hosting a symposium on my Article and to the four respondents for their thoughtful contributions. In the Article, I distill and then criticize a prominent view about the role of international law in the global order. The view — what I call the “cooperation thesis” — is that international law serves to foster a particular kind of cooperation, specifically to help the participants achieve their common aims and curb their disputes. Lawyers who subscribe to this view of course appreciate that international law is, like all law, often contentious in operation. But …

A Tale Of Two Cities: A Business Cycle Index For Midland-Odessa, Elisabeth Downs

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to estimate a coincident index for the Midland-Odessa region using the Stock and Watson (1988) methodology. The model assumes that the co-movements of indicators have a common element that can be summarized as a single underlying and unobservable variable, the “state of the economy” (Stock and Watson, 1988). The model utilizes the Kalman filter smoothing approach which smooths the index across time and across indicators and results in index movements that are less pronounced during expansions and recessions. Indicator series used to estimate the Midland-Odessa BCI are: employment, unemployment rate, real retail sales, and …

The Human Mitochondrial Chaperonin: It Takes Two Single-Rings To Tango, Adrian Sergio Enriquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The human mitochondrial chaperonin is a macromolecular machine that catalyzes the proper folding and assembly of newly imported mitochondrial proteins into their biologically active state. It is composed of two proteins from the highly conserved heat shock protein family, hsp10 and hsp60, that assemble into large oligomeric complexes responsible for mediating the folding of non-native polypeptides in an ATP dependent manner. In addition to its innate role in protein folding, human mitochondrial hsp60 has been implicated in numerous moonlighting cellular activities that have been linked to diseases conditions such as cancer and neurodegeneracy. In light of its cellular importance, the …

Analysis Of Infectious Diseases Screening Systems For Transatlantic Air Passengers, Lukas Gold

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Since transportation systems, especially air transportation, have the potential to spread infectious diseases (e.g. Ebola, SARS) quickly across large geographical area through its users, passenger health screening systems installed at the airports can help to slow down the international spread.

This Thesis identifies and tests health screening system designs using discrete event simulation. The three objectives are: (1) to provide the necessary background regarding the diseases and screening technologies, (2) to create models of an air transportation network in a simulation software, and (3) to conduct simulation experiments, analyze and interpret the results including the formulation of recommendations for decision …

High School Students' Views Of Science In A University Science Internship With Cogenerative Dialogues, Gabriel M. Hayes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this Thesis is to determine how participation in long term university science internships affect nature of science (NOS) conceptual change in high school students. The study was conducted on high school students who volunteered to participate in a seven month university science internship in west Texas. Student views of NOS were measured by pre- and post-internship interviews using five questions about NOS. Internship and no internship student responses were qualitatively analyzed to show change in views of NOS. Findings indicated that participation in long term science internships with cogenerative dialogues improved students conceptualizations of the social dimensions …

Essays On Corporate Vertical Integration, He Li

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

My Dissertation examines the corporate diversification strategy of vertical integration. Vertical integration refers to the organizational structure in which divisions within the firm are integrated along the supply chain. I examine the advantages and disadvantages associated with vertical integration in two chapters.

In Chapter 2, I model how inter-divisional spillover effects mitigate internal capital market (ICM) inefficiencies. The model shows that the spillover effect helps align the objectives of division managers and the objective of the CEO and the firm, and thus facilitates efficient capital allocation at equilibrium. Empirically, I measure the size of the spillover effect by the degree …

Perceptions On Collaborative Writing: Exploring Student And Instructor Perceptions Of Collaborative Writing Practices In Professional Communication, Levi Ray Martin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research study focuses on the perceptions of collaborative writing held by undergraduate students enrolled in professional writing course at The University of Texas at El Paso. Working with current scholarship surrounding effective collaborative writing practices as well as Achievement Goal Theory (AGT), the author observed two different courses of professional writing. Three types of data were collected: 1. survey responses from participants at the beginning-of and end-of the course; 2. interviews with participants at the end of the semester; and 3. classroom observations. The range of data collected provided similar and different perceptions held by the student participants. The …

The Rhetoric Of Mental Health: An Examination Of The Recategorization Of Autism Spectrum Disorder In The Dsm-5 And Its Absorption Into Public Discourse, Elsa Martin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This Dissertation explores the discourse of mental health across genres and public spaces. The research of this project is situated within the overlap of the fields of Disability Studies (Brewer, Selfe, Yergeau, 2014; Brueggeman and Kleege, 2003; Kerschbaum, 2012; Lewiecki-Wilson, 2003) and Rhetorics of Health and Medicine (Keränen, 2013; Kopelson, 2009; Segal, 1994; Scott, Segal, & Keränen, 2013), a space that focuses on the rhetoric of mental health (Chrisman, 2008; Emmons, 2008; Hacking, 2009). Following the principles of these fields, this project deconstructs the recategorization of autism in the DSM-5, the media coverage it received, and the public reception of …

Teacher Challenges In Implementing Cognitively Demanding Tasks In The Mathematics And Science Classrooms, Angelica Monarrez Monarrez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This mixed methods study examines secondary school mathematics and science teachersâ?? understanding of cognitive demand and the challenges in implementing tasks at different levels of cognitive demand. The conceptual framework for this study is grounded on the conception of cognitive demand proposed by Stein, Smith, Henningsen, and Silver (2000), which includes the following levels: memorization (level 1), procedures without connections (level 2), procedures with connections (level 3), and doing mathematics and science (level 4). The study attempts to address the following research questions: 1) To what extent are secondary mathematics and science teachers able to recognize, solve and construct tasks …

Moore Kinship: Foreword, R.A. Lenhardt, Clare Huntington

Faculty Scholarship

Forty years ago, Mrs. Inez Moore, a widowed black mother and grandmother of little means, secured a victory that likely seemed improbable to many. Without any money, but with the assistance of a team of dedicated Legal Aid attorneys, she took her lawsuit challenging an East Cleveland, Ohio, zoning ordinance that made it a crime for her to live with her grandson all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court and won. The ordinance permitted certain extended family configurations to reside together within the city’s limits, but it prohibited Inez’s family arrangement. Just by bringing her infant grandson John Jr., …

Language Of Intervention In A Bilingual Child With Autism, Amelie Muzza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study was conducted to address language of intervention for the rapidly-growing bilingual population of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a monolingual English or bilingual Spanish/English condition would yield a greater number of request types in a 3-year-old bilingual participant with autism. A single-subject, rapid alternating treatments design with baseline and a final maintenance phase was used to alternate between monolingual English and bilingual Spanish/English interventions. Results did not meet the criteria set for continuation of treatment in either condition; therefore, both monolingual and bilingual interventions …

The Texas Sales Tax Rebate Program, Jose Angel Moreno

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The sale tax rebate program has existed in states along the U.S. â?? Mexico border for over 60 years and, in Texas, it has been the subject of much debate regarding both its legitimacy and its efficacy in stimulating real retail sales particularly in border cities. No empirical research exists, though, that provides insight into the statistical relationships between the Texas retail sector and total certificates issued by Private Customs Brokers (PCBs) in border cities. This study fills this research gap by creating a model that tests the statistical significance of real retail sales on total certificates issued in Texas. …

How The Other Half Continues To Live: A Rhetorical, Nuanced Redefining Of The Colonia Phenomenon, James Michael Nielsen

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

â??Coloniasâ?? is a colloquial term used along the U.S.-Mexico border to simply mean informal housing practices. This Thesis uses critical discourse analysis theory to analyze the way the media, government, and law theorists perceive and legitimize the colonia phenomenon through discursive texts, leading to a discussion of hegemonic oppression and racism spelled out in a rhetoric of the colonias section. This Thesis also details the history of the colonias with a focus particularly on El Paso County, Texas, looking primarily at the law-based history of this phenomenon. The critical discourse analysis (CDA) conducted was influenced by rhetorical theory, particularly Bitzerâ??s …