Digital Commons Network^™

Examination Of 21st Century Organization Development: An Ethnography Of A Distance Learning Support Department At A Hispanic Serving Institution Of Higher Education, Bobbie Myatt

Theses and Dissertations

This study used an ethnographic lens to examine the historic organizational development of a distance education support department within a Hispanic-serving institution of higher education. The Borderlands University (BU; pseudonym) Online Teaching, Learning, and Technology Center (OTLT) is representative of the structure and culture of a successful distance education support department for the 21st century. Through qualitative ethnography, this research study examined the development of cultural and structural components necessary for the success of this organization. This includes the internal community of support departments housed within institutions of higher education. Technologically raised generations emerging from traditional schools, “digital natives,” are …

Removal Of Arsenic (Iii) And Arsenic (V) From Aqueous Solution Via Common Sunflower Helianthus Annuus By Phytoremediation, Irving A. Vazquez Hurtado

Theses and Dissertations

Phytoremediation provides a cost-effective, non-invasive technique to remove contaminants from the soil and groundwater. Sunflowers are fast growing and have a showed effective at removing various pollutants from soil, including lead and other heavy metals. Health issues related to arsenic are mainly attributed to exposure of arsenite, whereas arsenate is much less toxic. The common sunflower Helianthus annuus was the species used to remove both arsenic (III) and As(V) ions from hydroponics solutions. In the present study sunflower seeds were germinated for a week, placed under the sun for a day and subsequently placed in a nutrient solution to aid …

Zinc-Mediated Regulatory Function Of Psd-95 On Nmdar At Post-Synapses, Luis F. Acosta

Theses and Dissertations

Postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) is a membrane-associated guanylate kinase that mediates localization of receptors in the excitatory postsynaptic density. It has been reported that PSD-95 mediates postsynaptic localization of NMDA receptors and anchors postsynaptic AMPAR receptors mainly through its postsynaptic membrane targeting by its N-terminal palmitoylation. Recent studies have shown that Ca2+/calmodulin blocks palmitoylation of PSD-95 by binding at the N-terminus of PSD-95, which promotes dissociation of PSD-95 from the postsynaptic membrane and causes loss of surface AMPARs in cultured neurons. Another metal ion zinc is found in various areas of the brain. As an endogenous neuromodulator, zinc plays a role …

Career And Technical Education Teacher Self-Efficacy Of Staff Development As Part Of A Beginning Teacher Induction Program: A Qualitative Research Of Cte Teacher Externs Of A South Texas School District…From The Classroom To The Job Site, And Back Again, Raul Alvarez Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Career and Technical Education (CTE) has proven itself through substantial research, to provide a positive impact on the U.S. economy and the job market in its college and career preparedness of high school students. However, the ability of school districts in retaining competent CTE teachers is not as reassuring. The progressive years for any beginning CTE teacher are during their initial tenure in the profession. Teacher self-knowledge is also developed during these years inclusive of the occupational reflection of either removing oneself from or continuing as a teacher. Therefore, it can be stated that it is during this period when …

An Experimentally Validated Finite Element Model Of Thermal Transient Response Of A Railroad Bearing Adapter, Javier E. Arroyo

Theses and Dissertations

Wayside hot box detectors (HBDs) are devices used to determine the health of railcar components such as bearings, axles, and brakes by monitoring the radiated temperature form these components. HBDs have been instrumental in reducing rail derailments in the decade, but the number of non-verified bearing removals has increased significantly. To combat these limitations, researchers have opted to use wireless onboard sensor devices directly mounted on the bearing adapter. The wireless onboard health monitoring system developed by the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) utilizes temperature and vibration sensors to detect the condition of rolling stock. However, because the …

Targeting Protein Synthesis In Clostridioides Difficile To Develop Antimicrobial Candidate, Elvira L. Alanis

Theses and Dissertations

Clostridioides difficile is a gram positive, spore forming, obligate anaerobic bacterium that causes Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) which can result in pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. In the case of this research a focus on Protein synthesis is made since it is an essential metabolic process and is a validated target for antibiotics. Protein synthesis begins with Initiation which includes the three translation initiation factors. Through the NMR chemical shift assignments, the IF1 structure was determined, and it was found to be composed of a short α helix and five β helixes. A peptide was designed after the short α …

Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex Sp.) Seed Preferences And Distribution In A Suburban Setting, Lilly V. Elliott

Theses and Dissertations

Harvester ants (Pogonomyrmex sp.) are omnivorous ants native to Texas and are the main food source for the threatened Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum). Little research has been conducted on harvester ants in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) and their interactions with their environment. For this purpose, a variety of experiments were conducted to better understand these interactions and preferences. In CHAPTER I, suburban harvester ants were exposed commonly used cover crop seeds in the LRGV and inoculated seeds via seed depots over the course of 24 hours. We found that harvester ants do …

Discourses Surrounding Specific Learning Disability In Reading: An Exploration Across Special Education Policies, Martha M. Briseno

Theses and Dissertations

Individuals with disabilities have been subjected to deficit models that have led to unfair treatment, exclusion, and an unfitting education for years. Historical factors have informed policies toward the educational treatment and rights of individuals with disabilities in the United States since the 1600s. Before the enactment of The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA) in 1975, it was common practice for children with disabilities to be segregated, excluded, and given an unsuitable education in comparison to their nondisabled counterparts. Throughout history, the language used in legislation and educational documents have compartmentalized students with disabilities based on …

Effects Of Tributyltin Exposure On 8-Ohdg And Dsdna Expressions, Oxidative And Nitrative Stress In The American Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, Mohan Kumar Dash

Theses and Dissertations

Environmental pollution increases due to anthropogenic activities. Different types of pollutants and/or chemicals impair growth, reproduction and development in aquatic organisms. Tributyltin (TBT, an organotin compound) is a tremendously toxic substance which widely uses as antifouling paints used in boats, hulls, and ships. The toxic effect of TBT is well documented in teleost species. The American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an ideal shellfish species to study on TBT exposure DNA lesion and oxidative/nitrative stress. In this study, the effects of TBT on 8’-hyrodxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG, a molecular marker), dsDNA, dinitrophenyl protein …

Cloth-Water Interaction For Air Humidification In Hdh Desalination, Alejandro Corona Martinez

Theses and Dissertations

The humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination technology is a promising desalination process that has the potential to provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly saltwater desalination, especially when combined with renewable energy sources. The working principle mimics the natural hydrologic cycle, involving the evaporation of seawater into water vapor (humidification) and condensation into freshwater (dehumidification). HDH desalination can be land-based or ocean-based. Some of the advantages of ocean-based systems include removing pretreatment processes, utilization of ocean energy (i.e. thermal and kinetic), and eliminating brine production. This study focuses on the design and experimental testing of a novel humidifier …

Postprandial Hemodynamics In Hispanics With And Without A Family History Of Type 2 Diabetes, Gabriel Alejandro Figueroa

Theses and Dissertations

Hispanics of the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) have the highest rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the country, conditions often associated with cardiovascular disease and increased mortality. This study investigated the physiological factors affecting postprandial hemodynamic responses differently between FH+ and FH- groups. Thirty-one healthy Hispanic individuals volunteered in this study. Overall, FH+ individuals had higher pressures at rest compared to FH-, However, these differences were not statistically significant. When controlling for blood chemistries such as blood glucose, cholesterol, lipoproteins, and triglycerides, family history appears to have no effect on fasted or postprandial hemodynamics and pulse wave …

Forecasting Salinity In The Laguna Madre Using Deep Learning, Martin J. Flores Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

Salinity is an important metric in the Laguna Madre for establishing the long term health of the local ecological population. By utilizing Deep Learning (DL) techniques, the predicted and forecasted salinity in the Laguna Madre is generated from data provided by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)-Aqua satellite.

Currently, only one other DL model has been used to forecast Sea Surface Salinity (SSS), being a Recurrent Neural Network (RNN). However, the RNN model requires the prediction of a full area of salinity to function.

As such, several model architectures were tested, with the best one, being a Multi-input MPNN, utilized …

Huérfanos: A Memoir, Mauricio Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

If you look hard enough, there are stories of children in foster care. Tales of their plight, longing for love, the love of their parents, love from the foster care system, or a foster care family. However, despite their existence, so much is left in the unknown. The story of how this child’s life came into the world, what outcomes transpired for a parent to give up a child, and the journey the child may have to take for closure. Answers to the why. Why was I given up, why was I not sought out, why did my family …

Non-Negative Discriminative Data Analytics, Md Imrul Kaish

Theses and Dissertations

Due to advancements in data acquisition techniques, collecting datasets representing samples from multi-views has become more common recently (Jia et al. 2019). For instance, in genomics, a lymphoma patient’s dataset may include data on gene expression, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and array Comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) measurements. Learning from multiple views about the same objective, in general, obtains a better understanding of the hidden patterns of the data compared to learning from a single view data. Most of the existing multi-view learning techniques such as canonical correlation analysis (Hotelling et al. 1936) and multi-view support vector machine (Farquhar et …

Nanostructured Materials For Biomedical Applications, Silverio Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

Nanotechnology has been used in an increasing number of applications in biochemistry and molecular biology. Compared to bulk materials, nanoscale materials offer a variety of advantages in applications due to an increased surface-to-volume ratio of the reactants. The unique properties of nanostructured materials and their properties such as stability, reactivity, magnetic response, pressure discharge performance and biocompatibility depend on particle size and shape. This work focuses on a nanoenergetic material composed of Aluminum (Al), Copper II oxide (CuO), and Iodine (I) pentoxide (I2O5), and the biomedical application of nanoscale dextran-coated magnetite (Fe3O4), which was produced using microfluidics to tune particle …

A Narrative Study Of Secondary After-School Robotics Experiences In The Rio Grande Valley: Empowering Students' Academic And Life Skills Through A Constructivist Approach, Lorena Cristina Lopez

Theses and Dissertations

This narrative study investigated the experiences of three Hispanic students in South Texas who participated in after-school robotics programs in secondary school and discover the role these experiences had on their academic and life skills. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with one female participant and two male participants in the Rio Grande Valley. The data were analyzed using the NVivo software to identify patterns and themes amongst the participants followed by a narrative analysis of the participants’ stories, which was guided by the emerging themes.

The findings showed that the secondary after-school robotics programs played a role in …

Assessing The Effects Of Levonorgestrel (Lng) On Neural Differentiation In The Developing Hypothalamus Using The Zebrafish (Danio Rerio) As A Model, Gabriella Hinojosa

Theses and Dissertations

Neurogenesis is a critical component of fetal neurodevelopment consisting of: migration, proliferation and differentiation. Health concerns from anxiety to reproductive issues have been linked to alterations of neurogenesis processes. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can mimic hormones vital to this process, potentially adversely affecting the susceptible fetal brain. One EDC, Levonorgestrel (LNG), is a testosterone-like progestin used in birth control methods that has a high bioavailability and long half-life. Using zebrafish embryos as a model, this lab previously discovered that an environmentally relevant LNG dose (5 ng/L) significantly increased anxiety behaviors. The hypothalamus is responsible for the development …

Corrido Of A Returning Angel: A Collection Of Stories, Ricardo Marez Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

As a Chicano (Mexican-American), person of color with a lower-middle class, American, South Texas upbringing, the world of authors and literature has always felt out of reach and not particularly inviting towards people like me—let alone representative or celebratory. In spite of this, or perhaps owing to it, I have decided to shoot my literary shot, unremittently holding onto my unique voice and unconventional styles in this first collection of short stories. I discuss in depth my inspirations and role models in writing, including Henry Miller and Whitman, with discussion of literary style and genre that include: surrealism, absurdism, allegory, …

Total Synthesis Of Mansouramycin A, Abigail M. Zepeda

Theses and Dissertations

In 2009 bioactive compounds from marine Streptomyces species was isolated which resulted in deriving four isoquinoline-quinone alkaloids known as Mansouramycins A-D. There have been reports that there are 36 non-small cancer cells against cytotoxicity in Mansouramycins A-C in lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, and prostate cancer cells. Reports that have conducted total syntheses were all specific to a single compound only Mansouramycin A and D. However, in precedent methods, to obtain the derivatives with different substituents are limited when the substituents are on the fused-pyridine ring. Thus, a develop a systematic synthetic methods of isoquinoline-quinones, which are to be able …

Comparing Various Physiological System Adaptations Following 8 Weeks Of Resistance Training With Or Without Bfr In Older Males, Ricardo Parra

Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 8 weeks of resistance exercise training with and without BFR on: 1), arterial elasticity and hemodynamics (e.g., blood pressure and resting heart rate), 2) muscular force production (e.g., maximal voluntary contraction, force production, electromyography, and estimated one-repetition maximum) in males between the 50 to 70 years of age.

RESULTS: Significant condition difference for reflection magnitude occurred in BFR group (p < 0.05). Significant time*condition effect occurred in Leg Press 1RM, Leg Extension 1RM, Leg Curl 1RM, Chest Press 1RM, and Shoulder Press 1RM (p < 0.05). Significant condition* time interaction occurred for Isokinetic Leg Extension Test (60°/s) (p < 0.05). A significant time*condition interaction occurred during Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) – Root Mean Square for both vastus medialis and vastus lateralis (p < 0.05). A significant time main effect occurred in the BFR group for the amplitude mean of the MVC in the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis (p < 0.05). A significant time main effect occurred for median frequency of the MVC (p < 0.05). A significant difference in Estimated Visceral Adipose Tissue occurred in the BFR group (p < 0.05). A significant condition*time interaction occurred in arm fat percentage (p < 0.05). The BFR group had significantly less fat tissue (%) in the left arm (p < 0.01) and in the right arm (p = 0.04). A significant time*main effect occurred in the total lean tissue for the left side of the body (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION: Using BFR resistance training at a low intensity can achieve similar adaptations seen at high intensities while reducing the risk of injury that comes with heavier loads.

Live, Love And Lyft, Daniel Olivarez

Theses and Dissertations

My thesis has a critical introduction that gives a short history of creative nonfiction. I focus on Lee Gutkin’s contribution to creative nonfiction. I also gave some examples of creative nonfiction in my introduction. I included Mary Karr, Lauren Slater, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and William Shakespeare. My thesis contains twelve pieces of writing ranging from narrative nonfiction to poetry, highlighting my experiences growing up in a single parent home in a small border town. I utilize the literary aspects of totemic writing, the journey to the green world, the motif of loss and growing up in a small town, and the …

Hydrologic Modeling Study To Determine Hydrologic Impact Of Resacas On The Lower Laguna Madre Watershed, Antonio L. Reyna

Theses and Dissertations

During a high intensity storm events, a series of catastrophic events occur. These catastrophic events include flooding and destruction of infrastructure. Engineers have determined a method to design for high intensity storms based off hydrologic analysis of previous storms. With this data engineers can determine the outflow of major rivers and streams that may impact infrastructure. By determining the watershed engineers can predict the flow of the water and as well as the location of the outfall. In the Rio Grande Valley, water quality is very important because after rain events stormwater from cities is carried out towards the Laguna …

Acoustic And Perceptual Effects Of Mask-Wearing On Voice And Communication In Healthcare Practitioners, Astrid C. Ortiz Garcia

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the present study aims to determine the perceptual and acoustic voice effects experienced by healthcare practitioners following prolonged use of face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 19 participants were recruited and divided into control and experimental groups. Of these 19, 10 were assigned to the experimental group (E) which required participants to engage in increasing their fluid intake by 1 liter per day, while the remaining 9 were part of the control group (C) and had no additional instructions.

To gather perceptual data, a survey was created and conducted via Qualtrics software, and addressed …

School Leadership That Impacts Student Achievement In Blue Ribbon Schools In The Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Sonya Y. Rodriguez

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to determine the leadership actions, behaviors, and practices of effective school leaders in Blue Ribbon Schools in South Texas who resulted in the schools receiving the distinction by the U. S. Department of Education of being a Blue Ribbon School. Data were collected through a series of interviews with principals and teachers from the selected sample of Blue Ribbon Schools in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using inductive coding to determine themes.

An Application Of Matrices To The Spread Of The Covid 19, Selena Suarez

Theses and Dissertations

We represented a restaurant seating arrangement using matrices by using 0 entry for someone without covid and 1 entry for someone with covid. Using the matrices we found the best seating arrangements to lessen the spread of covid. We also investigated if there was a factor needed to create a formula that could calculate the matrix that shows who would be affected with covid with each seating arrangement. However, there did not seem to be a clear pattern within the factors. Aside from covid applications, we also investigated the symmetries in seating arrangements and the possible combinations with these arrangements …

Blockchain Value Creation Logics And Financial Returns, Daniel Narh Treku

Theses and Dissertations

With its complexities and portfolio-nature, the advent of blockchain technology presents several use cases to stakeholders for business value appropriation and financial gains. This 3-essay dissertation focuses on three exemplars and research approaches to understanding the value creation logics of blockchain technology for financial gains. The first essay is a conceptual piece that explores five main affordances of blockchain technology and how these can be actualized and assimilated for business value. Based on the analysis of literature findings, an Affordance-Experimentation-Actualization-Assimilation (AEAA) model is proposed. The model suggests five affordance-to-assimilation value chains and eight value interdependencies that firms can leverage to …

Structures And Regulations Of Translation Initiation Factors In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Protein Biosynthesis To Develop New Potential Antimicrobial Agents, Nicolette Valdez

Theses and Dissertations

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative, multidrug resistant bacterium that has been recognized as the prominent cause of nosocomial infections. Untreated acute and chronic infections associated with P. aeruginosa can develop into other diseases such as pneumonia, otitis externa, and osteomyelitis. P. aeruginosa infections commonly affect immunocompromised individuals such as cystic fibrosis, cancer, and burn patients. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the increased antibiotic resistance in P. aeruginosa and thus has led to an unmet need for discovery of novel antibiotic candidates. Protein biosynthesis is an essential metabolic process occurring in all bacteria and a validated target …

Water Quality Monitoring To Assess Pollutant Loadings In Brownsville Ship Channel Watershed, Ivan Rene Santos Chavez

Theses and Dissertations

The Brownsville Ship Channel (BSC) was listed as an impaired waterway from 2010 to 2018 due to screening levels of bacteria concentration. This study aims to address water quality at the three main tributary ditches draining into Brownsville Ship Channel to model present along with future pollutant loads within Brownsville Ship Channel Watershed. Load Duration Curves (LDCs) and Spatial Explicit Load Enrichment Calculation Tool (SELECT) models were developed to determine if current pollutant loads meet water quality standards stablished by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), and to estimate average daily potential E. Coli loading contribution from sub-watersheds within …

Mental Health In The Catcher In The Rye And Thirteen Reasons Why, Zugay Trevino

Theses and Dissertations

J.D. Salinger’s 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye shows the life of seventeen-year-old Holden Caulfield and the aftermath of his expulsion from Pencey Prep. Jay Asher’s 2007 book Thirteen Reasons Why centers on seventeen-year-old Clay Jensen’s aftermath of his friend Hannah Baker’s death. Although both novels are written, published, and set decades apart, both have more in common than originally thought. Both books were originally heavily challenged or banned upon their initial release. Although they were challenged due to different reasons, both are better understood after analyzing mental health in the books. The books deal with unawareness of mental …

Building Services Engineering May/June 2022

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.