Digital Commons Network^™

Recovery Resiliency Of Interdependent Power Systems Infrastructure Subject To Extreme Events, Partha P. Sarker

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

When Hurricane Maria struck the island of Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, it devastated the island’s aging power systems infrastructure and inflicted an island-wide power outage that left Puerto Rico in total darkness for an entire week before the system slowly started to recover. This unprecedented failure of the critical power systems infrastructure exacerbated the failure of other critical infrastructures or lifeline systems of the island. This research explores and quantifies the relationships or interdependencies that exist between the power systems and other critical infrastructure systems by investigating the post-hurricane recovery data of these lifeline systems. Subsequently, the research …

Three-Dimensional Environmentally Sustainable Neuromorphic Computing System Based On Natural Organic Memristor, Mohammed Rafeeq Khan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

A three-dimensional neuromorphic (3D) computing architecture based on environmentally sustainable natural organic honey memristors is proposed in this thesis. A set of comprehensive and experimental results indicate that the proposed systems exhibit remarkable inference accuracy, consistently surpassing the 90% threshold, even with different challenges such as device variations and nonlinearity. This study also considers four different conductance drift situations, the effects of analog-to-digital converter (ADC) quantization, and multiple algorithms, such as VGG8 and DenseNet-40. The deliverable of this thesis will test the stability of the proposed systems and explore their potential applications and scalability in real-world situations.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment Among Vulnerable Small Business Owners In El Paso County, Texas, Sadie H Conway, Denise Vasquez, Kristina D Mena, Louis D Brown, Soyoung Kwon, Janelle Rios

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Our objective was to deliver actionable, worksite-specific COVID-19 risk assessments and mitigation strategies tailored to vulnerable workers in one of the highest-risk areas in the US.

Methods: Four trained, bilingual (English/Spanish) community health workers (CHWs) recruited small businesses (ie, ≤20 employees) across various industries and executed novel on-site infectious disease risk assessment surveys of at least one employer and one employee.

Results: Of 102 participating businesses (95% Hispanic-owned), 96% were characterized as "high risk" or "very high risk" for disease transmission. All businesses reported implementing at least one practice to reduce disease transmission; however, almost half of businesses lacked …

Perceived Stigma's Influence On The Association Between Suicide Risk Severity And Help-Seeking For Suicidal Crises, Donna Zastrow

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Unfortunately, research examining help-seeking for suicide is limited. This study examined age, race, gender, suicide risk severity, and perceived stigma as predictors of formal and informal help-seeking behaviors individuals engage in during suicidal crises, and explored perceived stigma as a moderator of the relationship between risk severity and help-seeking. Method: Data from 80 college students who had experienced a past suicidal crisis were analyzed using two moderation analyses. Results: Rates of formal (67.5%) and informal (86.2%) help-seeking were high in the study sample. Higher suicide risk severity was positively associated with formal help-seeking (b = …

Evaluation Of The Etiology Of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (Rpl): An Explanatory Mixed Methods Study Exploring Obstetrician Gynecologist Clinical Provider Behaviors And Factors Contributing To Incomplete Evaluations, Emelia Grant

Doctor of Philosophy in Translational Health Sciences Dissertations

Background: More than 50% of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are left without explanations for their losses. However, current research suggests that up to 90% of these individuals could receive explanations through evidence-based laboratory testing. Professional guidelines vary in their recommendations for laboratory testing and RPL evaluation, which can contribute to delayed or fragmented care and untreated maternal disease. Inequities in access to genetic testing further complicate the diagnostic landscape of RPL since payor policies often determine which tests are covered, leaving many patients without access due to financial constraints.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate current practices of …

Incarcerated Persons Litigation | Notes, Arthur S. Leonard

Other Publications

No abstract provided.

Mechanical Stability Of Body-Centered Cubic Iron At Earth's Core Pressure And Temperature Conditions Using A Molecular Graph Kernel Regression And Gaussian Process., Blaise Awola Ayirizia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

We used machine learning to study nonmagnetic BCC iron in conditions similar to thosefound in the Earthâ??s core. Our model predicts the stability of BCC iron at high temperatures and pressures by analyzing a dataset from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The framework uses Gaussian process regression to make predictions by comparing the similarity between molecules. This comparison is made using the marginalized graph kernel. To use the marginalized graph kernel, the framework applies a spatial adjacency rule to convert molecules into graphs, where the vertices and edges are labeled by elements and interatomic distances, respectively. We can use this …

D-Optimal Joint Best Linear Unbiased Predictors In Progressively Type-Ii Ordered Statistics, Tamim Alam

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Reliability and life-testing experiments play a crucial role in understanding the longevity and performance of systems and components, particularly in high-stakes applications such as engineering, manufacturing, and quality control. In this thesis, we focus on the prediction of future unobserved failure times by employing joint predictors based on progressively Type-II censored data obtained from such life-testing experiments. Specifically, we derive explicit analytical expressions for the joint best linear unbiased predictors (BLUPs) of two future order statistics under the D-optimality criterion. The derivation involves minimizing the determinant of the variance-covariance matrix of the predictors within the context of progressively Type-II censored …

The Journey And Lived Experience Of Dropout, Hispanic, Teen Fathers, Patricia Ann Cuevas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The dropout phenomenon in the United States is an ongoing concern, especially regarding teen fathers. The purpose of this qualitative phenological study was to examine how Hispanic men who fathered a child as adolescent understood and made sense of their lived experiences of dropping out of high school and later returning to their studies. Semi-structured interviews were utilized to gather the data. An analysis of the findings was conducted, revealing the themes of emotional distress, expectations, hard lessons, and the impact of fatherhood. The themes were then applied to the theorical framework of Sensemaking. The results revealed that the participants …

Microwave-Assisted Pyrolysis Of Hydrocarbons Using Iron-Based Alumina Catalysts Obtained Via Solution Combustion Synthesis, Zachary Aidan Chanoi

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The demand for hydrogen is growing which makes the development of clean and efficient H2 synthesis technologies imperative. Microwave-assisted, thermocatalytic, dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons has demonstrated the ability to generate H2 with high yield/selectivity and leaving behind valuable solid carbon byproducts. However, this microwave-assisted process is unoptimized which prevents it from being utilized in industry. A critical component of optimization is the development of a catalyst that is catalytically active, a good microwave absorber, and can be regenerated for repeated dehydrogenation cycles. Previous studies that focused on plastic waste decomposition have used iron-based alumina (FeAlxOy) made via solution combustion synthesis (SCS). …

Geotechnical Aspects Of Extraterrestrial Regolith Simulants, Jesus Baca

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Geotechnical engineering has been crucial to the success of construction projects on Earth, and now it is time to extend this expertise to other celestial bodies. As NASA planned the Apollo missions, geotechnical engineers conducted extensive studies to understand the properties of lunar soil, using analogs like volcanic ash and other terrestrial materials to simulate the moon's surface. Nevertheless, it was not until the inception of the year 1968 that the Surveyor landers were able to give the first actual estimates of the moon soil geotechnical characteristics such as bearing capacity, void ratio, etc. With the development of more refined …

Accessibility And Usability Of Medical Devices For Users With Disabilities: Insights From A Bibliometric And Thematic Analysis, Karen Daniela Gonzalez Silva

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Integrating Responsible And Ethical Conduct Of Research Into Cures: A Longitudinal Study Observing Professional Development Of Fellows Within The Ethics Network For Course-Based Opportunities In Undergraduate Research, Aimee Angelica Hernandez-Gaytan

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Thermal Inequity Along The Us-Mexico Border: An Analysis Of El Paso, Texas, Mia Alexandra Trevino

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Urban Heat Island effect (UHI) combined with rising average global temperatures invariably results in thermal inequality, the unequal distribution of temperature patterns by different socioeconomic and sociodemographic groups, resulting in an array of negative public health impacts. This thesis research focused on the historical factors that contribute to UHI and tree cover in historically underserved neighborhoods in El Paso, Texas. The impact of maps from 1933-1954 created by the Home Ownerâ??s Loan Corporation (HOLC), a federal selective lending program, resulted in decades of disinvestment and inequality especially in redlined areas. Geospatial analyses of environmental and socioeconomic indicators such as …

The Back Page: The Personal Touch Makes The Difference, Riley Schaff D.D.S.

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Dr. Riley Schaff discusses the importance of personal connection in engaging new dentists with organized dentistry. Drawing from his own experience of being personally invited to chair a New Dentist Study Club, he emphasizes that direct, personal outreach is more effective than digital communication in encouraging participation among early-career dentists.

The article highlights ongoing efforts at the state level to increase engagement, including enhanced presence at local events and networking programs. However, Schaff argues that grassroots efforts at the local component level are crucial for significant change in membership rates. He concludes that personal engagement from existing members is essential …

What You Must Know: Retention And Destruction Of Dental Records And Your Most-Asked Questions About Dental Records, Daniel Schulte Jd

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

An overview of the basic information about dental records, including retention and destruction, that you and your staff should be aware of, provided by MDA Legal Counsel Dan Schulte, J.D. Plus, for your reference, answers to the questions Michigan dental offices are asking about dental record retention, access, release, and destruction.

Dental records are vital for patient care, legal compliance, and professional practice management. Michigan law mandates retaining dental records for a minimum of 10 years, ensuring their confidentiality, accessibility, and integrity. Destruction of records less than 10 years old requires patient notification and authorization, while those over 10 years …

Enhancing The Utility Of Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (Uavs) With Model-Based Systems Engineering (Mbse) And Modular Open Systems Approach (Mosa), Aimee Barraza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAVs) have emerged as versatile tools with significant implications across various industries, particularly in defense. The technological advancements in UAVs have revolutionized military operations, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. However, there exist challenges such as environmental factors affecting sensor and flight performance, limited battery life restricting flight durations, and payload capacity constraints impeding task efficiency.This paper delves into the importance of UAVs in different industries, specifically focusing on their pivotal role in the Department of Defense. It emphasizes the necessity of technological upgrades to overcome current challenges and proposes the adoption of a Modular and Open System Approach …

Optimization And Purification Of Magnesium Borides Fabricated By Combustion Synthesis And By High-Temperature Sintering, Miguel Joaquin Camarena

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Hydrogen as a fuel provides several benefits over the use of fossil fuels; however, one challenge in utilizing hydrogen as an energy carrier revolves around its storage. Achieving sufficient volumetric hydrogen density in a storage solution will facilitate hydrogenâ??s adoption for use in both stationary and mobile applications. Solid-state hydrogen storage provides a promising pathway to solving this problem. However, the hydrogenation of these materials is characterized by slow kinetics and extreme thermodynamic conditions. Magnesium borohydride (Mg(BH4)2) is a promising material in hydrogen storage due to its reversible properties and a theoretical hydrogen capacity of 14.9 wt.%. To synthesize this …

Functionalized Carbon Quantum Dots: A Promising Nanomaterial For Investigating Their Potential In Neurodegenerative Disease Treatment, Sherin M. El Morsy

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and Huntington's Disease (HD) remain incurable, despite extensive research into therapeutic development. In the United States of America, the annual cost of PD and AD in terms of patient care and lost productivity is approximately $200 billion. Consequently, there is a critical and unaddressed need for the development of innovative drugs and drug delivery systems that can decelerate, stop, or ideally reverse neurodegenerative diseases. The dissertation presented here focuses on devising strategies to target PD through multiple mechanisms, including the inhibition of protein aggregation and the reduction of oxidative stress. …

Synthesis Of Materials For Additive Manufacturing Of Enhanced Polymers And Textured Ceramics, Diana Fontes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research will be divided into two sections. The first section investigates the development of textured Barium Titanate (BaTiO3) ceramics fabricated through Direct Ink Write Printing (DIW) integrated with Templated Grain Growth (TGG). This approach aims to develop lead-free piezoelectric materials with grain alignment during printing process to promote high piezoelectric performance comparable to those in lead-based ceramics. This research evaluates the impact of the DIW-TGG process on grain orientation, material densification, and piezoelectric response, illustrating its potential for developing high-performance ceramics for advanced applications such as sensors, actuators, and other piezoelectric devices. The second project explores the chemical stability …

Redefining Approaches For Measuring Landscape Subsidence And Permafrost Degradation In Arctic Tundra Environments, Tabatha Lynn Fuson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

As climate change accelerates in the Arctic, the degradation of permafrost is leading to significant landscape transformation in tundra landscapes. This dissertation investigates the multifaceted responses of permafrost systems to warming, focusing on the dynamics of surface elevation changes and active layer thickness (ALT) across the North Slope of Alaska. In this study, I explore the capacity of repeat Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology for modeling tundra features and detecting surface subsidence, specifically how different climate and landscape conditions during scanning impact TLS model precision. We also compare TLS model precision estimates to TLS model accuracy by comparing elevation values …

General Purpose Gpu Benchmarks For Neural Networks, Jose Maria Granados

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Neural networks are a field of computing experiencing a rise in popularity in recent years due to the utilization of graphics processing units as their computational centerpiece. The lack of neural network benchmarks for the open-source Nyuzi architecture, a developing general-purpose processor with graphical processing capabilities, is the focus of this thesis. This work aims to determine whether Nyuziâ??s performance counters and traceable events suffice for performance tuning of neural network implementations. Given the mathematical intensity of neural networks, a strong emphasis is placed on events related to arithmetic instructions. Experimenting with neural network implementations in C and C++, existent …

Vertically Aligned Nickel Cobalt Molybdenum Copper Oxide Nanotubes For High Performance Asymmetric Supercapacitors, Ricardo Herrera Aguirre

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Designing materials having novel multi metal oxide electrodes with controlled structure and composition is a critical technological challenge for high performance supercapacitor applications. Quaternary metal oxides have attracted considerable attention in this field, where many methods have been used to improve their performance. In the present work, the nickel cobalt molybdenum copper oxide (NCMCuO2) has been synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The effect of different concentrations of Cu doping (0.5%,1.0% and 2.0%) on the NCM frame and structural and electrochemical properties of the quaternary metal oxide (NCMCuO2) are studied thoroughly. The XRD pattern of synthesized NCMCuO2 exhibited predominant (002) orientation …

Critical Analysis Of Archival Data: The Alvarado V. Episd Case, Mauro Alfredo Hinojosa

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This research analyses the Alvarado vs. El Paso Independent School District legal files, housed at the Sonnichsen Special Collections Department, The University of Texas at El Paso Library. This dissertation explored the following questions: Research question 1 (RQ1): What are the political and social-cultural contexts of the Alvarado case based on the Archives?; and Research Question 2 (RQ2): impact on school education, to include themes in policy and leadership. A qualitative research approach framed through Latino Critical Race Theory exposes how the U.S. education system has historically reinforced White perspectives and marginalized Latino groups, specifically focusing on Mexican-American students in …

Chipless 3d Microfluidic Rf Sensing, Sheikh Dobir Hossain

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Effective management of the cold chain is essential to uphold the quality and safety of products vulnerability to physical factors like temperature, humidity, pressure, etc., including perishable foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines. Chipless Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensors have become increasingly favored as a viable technology for tracking, inventory, and sensing industries due to their wireless and non-line of sight (NLOS) situations, straightforward fabrication, cost efficiency, and adaptability to challenging environmental conditions. However, there is still a need for advancements in RFID sensors to make them promise for cold chain applications. Integration of flexibility and non-volatile memory into the existing RFID …

Thermal Analysis Of Combustion Synthesis Of Fealxoy Catalysts For Dehydrogenation Of Fossil Fuels, Laura Alejandra Martinez Espinoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The growing demand for hydrogen as a clean energy carrier highlights the need for its alternative production method with reduced CO₂ emissions. Microwave-assisted thermocatalytic dehydrogenation of fossil fuels offers a promising solution for clean hydrogen production, with FeAlxOy nanocomposites acting as efficient catalysts due to their thermal stability, catalytic activity, and microwave-absorption properties. FeAlxOy nanocomposites, fabricated by solution combustion synthesis (SCS), have shown good microwave-absorption and catalytic properties. However, the effects of synthesis parameters such as fuel type and Fe:Al molar ratio on the SCS process and properties of the final material are not well understood. The SCS process involves …

Elucidating The Effect Of Milled Glass And Graphite Fiber On The Quasi-Static Properties Of Vinyl Ester Resin Composites, Sarahi Mendivil

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Composite materials can be tailored to various applications, making them one of the most conventional materials. Their ability to enhance desired characteristics enables higher strength while maintaining light weight. However, understanding defects and manufacturing limitations is crucial for optimizing their fabrication processes. This paper focuses on the manufacturing processes of open molding with controlled variations to establish an optimal technique aimed at minimizing defects, such as bubble formation where the focus is on mitigating defects and ensuring uniform dispersion of fiber in fiber-reinforced composites. After refining the manufacturing process, composites with varying resin-to-fiber concentration ratios were manufactured using glass and …

Navigating Social And Academic Spaces As A Non-Traditional Student In A Doctoral Program: An Autoethnography, Luz Elena Nieto

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This autoethnography examines my personal, professional, and academic experiences throughout my educational journey, aiming to address gaps in scholarly literature relevant to non-traditional students at all educational levels, particularly at the doctoral level. As a non-traditional student, I have encountered significant challenges during my academic career. I have often felt like an outsider due to my age, generational gap, and educational background. The impostor phenomenon has intensified my feelings of being an outcast, even though I have had a prosperous professional career. I have drawn upon my memories, reflections, narratives, scholarly literature, documents, and personal artifacts to provide a comprehensive …

Investigating A Study Abroad Program As A Reflective Development Of Intercultural Competence For Students In A Hispanic-Serving University, Akindele Ogunleye

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation project investigates the broad problem of evaluation and effectiveness that have diminished the opportunities that study abroad can potentially offer as part of higher education in the U.S. The research aim was to develop a reflective plan of implementing study abroad to achieve the transformation of intercultural competence of students of higher education in a Hispanic university. The research questions were deduced from a combination of views from literature since the 1920s affirming study abroad as elitist endeavor, female, liberal arts and academically weak. Using a quantitative data methodology, the study were collected data from students who participated …

Blood And Ink: Revenge In Contemporary Fiction, Shadia Sobers

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

They say that revenge is a dish best served cold and that it is sweet, but what about the flavors in between? It is sweet at times, with a hint of saltiness following close behind as you pucker your lips and swish your tongue around. Soon after, a sour taste comes out of nowhere before a tang of umami hits you at the end. The flavor varies from person to person, just as if seeking revenge in and of itself is morally correct.

We’ve seen revenge in countless forms of media: books, movies, and plays. Each takes a slightly different …