Digital Commons Network^™

Linking Oxygen And Carbon Uptake With The Meridional Overturning Circulation Using A Transport Mooring Array, Dariia Atamanchuk, Jaime Palter, Hilary Palevsky, Isabela Le Bras, Jannes Koelling, David Nicholson

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Integrated Approach Of Deep Learning And Augmented Reality For Pneumonia Detection In Chest X-Ray Images, Jeevarathinam Senthilkumar

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Pneumonia is a viral or fungal illness that spreads to the lungs of the human body, causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs' air sacs. Millions of people are affected by this disease each year. One of the most common radiological diagnostics for diagnosing and screening this kind of sickness is a chest X-ray. The most commonly available radiological test for diagnosing and screening this kind of illness is a chest X-ray. An inaccurate diagnosis, especially over-diagnosis and under-diagnosis, is a common issue in the medical sector. As another issue, human-assisted diagnosis has limitations like the availability of an expert, …

Marine Phytoplankton Functional Types Exhibit Diverse Responses To Thermal Change, S. I. Anderson, A. D. Barton, S. Clayton, S. Dutkiewicz, T. A. Rynearson

Graduate School of Oceanography Faculty Publications

Marine phytoplankton generate half of global primary production, making them essential to ecosystem functioning and biogeochemical cycling. Though phytoplankton are phylogenetically diverse, studies rarely designate unique thermal traits to different taxa, resulting in coarse representations of phytoplankton thermal responses. Here we assessed phytoplankton functional responses to temperature using empirically derived thermal growth rates from four principal contributors to marine productivity: diatoms, dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria, and coccolithophores. Using modeled sea surface temperatures for 1950–1970 and 2080–2100, we explored potential alterations to each group’s growth rates and geographical distribution under a future climate change scenario. Contrary to the commonly applied Eppley formulation, our …

Development Of Metaheuristic Algorithms For The Efficient Allocation Of Power Flow Control Devices, Eduardo Jose Castillo Fatule

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Modern energy grids have become extremely complex systems, requiring more variable and active flow control. As a remedy to this, Distributed Flexible AC Transmission Systems (D-FACTS) are cost-efficient devices used to mitigate power flow congestion and integrate renewable energies. The objective of this research is then to propose an efficient multiple objective evolutionary algorithm to solve a stochastic model for D-FACTS allocation, which aims to optimize various objectives related to cost, grid health, and environmental impacts. The model was implemented on a modified RTS-96 test system, and the results show that optimally allocating D-FACTS modules using the proposed model can …

Drying Of Digested Biosolids For Weight Reduction Prior To Disposal, Juan Manuel Canales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Disposal of belt filter pressed digested sludge (known as biosolids) to landfills cost El Paso Water about $1.1 million in the past year. With an increasing population, the amount of influent wastewater to El Paso treatment plants will also increase, resulting in increased biosolids generation and biosolids disposal costs. A method for reducing biosolids transportation cost is biosolids drying.The cost that El Paso Water pays for transporting biosolids to a dedicated landfill facility is based on the weight of the biosolids that are carried. Biosolids collected from the belt filter presses is about fifteen percent solids by weight, with water …

Cell Bioprinting: A Novel Approach For Alpha Cell To Beta Cell Transdifferentiation, Atzimba Casas

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs in the body when the pancreas fails to either produce insulin (TID) or does not effectively use the insulin produced (TIID) and poses further health complications as well as an insurmountable economic impact.[1] Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by a deficient amount of insulin production on account of the body’s immune system destroying its own β-cells.[2] Current diabetes treatment methods include the administration of insulin via injections or islet transplantation therapy. However, although both are viable options, they come with limitations that make the managing of this disease difficult. It …

Phase Transformation And Strain Hardening Mechanisms In Advanced Engineering Steels, Hangyu Dong

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Strain hardening and associated deformation mechanisms play a determining role in the performance of metallic materials. The objective of the doctoral research was to explore and fundamentally understand the strain hardening mechanisms in the next generation of advanced engineering steels. Two main work hardening mechanisms, notably, twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP)) were identified that governed strength and ductility. In the nanograined austenitic steel with high strength-high ductility combination, processed by the novel phase reversion concept, twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) was the governing deformation mechanism and contributed to good ductility. In striking contrast, transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) was the deformation mechanism …

Calving, Alicia Clavell

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In this preface, I will highlight other readings and poems that further illustrate this basket weaving technique in which I imagine the river reeds, or the materials that encompass the works of the poems herein, to include: 1) em dashes, 2) forms of narrative point of view, in conversation with narrative self, and in dialogue with others, 3) fill-in-the-blank styles, 4) enjambments that can break the line, and the sentence, towards sexuality, 5) mixing of mediums, and 6) poetic images of the female body in separation, and in unifying collision, with other bodies. It is my hope that these materials, …

Validation Of Computational Model Of A Piezoelectric Flow Rate Sensor, Eben Roberto Escobedo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study validates a computational simulation of a piezoelectric cantilever beam undergoing different loads by showing a comparison of its results against theoretical calculations. The objective of the computational model is to simulate the behavior of a beam made of a piezoelectric material which can be used as a flow rate sensor due to the ability of the material to convert a mechanical load into an electrical load. After validating the model, different geometries, material properties and loads can be simulated to observe the different behaviors and bring the possibility of selecting the most convenient options according to the needs …

Linking Plot And Landscape Level Phenology, Alejandra Flores

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Plant phenology has become popularize since the 1990s to help understand the effects of climate change on vegetation, it is a way to study the patterns of leaf-out, flowering, and senescing of the life-cycle of the plant. The timing from start of season (SOS) to end-of-season (EOS) of plant leaf-out development has important implication on ecosystem productivity and carbon cycling across ecological scales from individual trees to whole regions. The need for plant phenology studies in dryland are highly anticipated, since they make up 40% of the terrestrial landscape and recently have shown the play an important role in the …

Molecular Mechanism Of Dna Bisintercalator Antibiotic Resistance, Priyanka Rajendra Gade

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Class II UvrA is an ATP-binding cassette protein and a homolog of class I UvrA, the DNA lesion detection component of the universal prokaryotic nucleotide excision repair system. We show that Ecm16, a class II UvrA protein from Streptomyces lasalocidi, specifically recognizes DNA duplex that contains the DNA bisintercalator antibiotic echinomycin. Heterologous expression of Ecm16 in Escherichia coli renders host cells resistant to echinomycin. Interestingly, Ecm16’s antibiotic resistance activity does not require the DNA repair proteins UvrA/B/C/D, indicating that it operates independently of the cell’s nucleotide excision repair pathway. Unlike UvrA, Ecm16 uses the insertion domain to regulate its ATPase …

Reconstructing The Transition From Laramide Contraction To Rio Grande Rift Extension, Aaron Conley

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Exposure of tilted Eocene-Oligocene volcanic and sedimentary units unconformably overlying folded and thrusted Mesozoic rocks in the southern Indio Mountains provide an important geologic record of the transition from Laramide contraction to Rio Grande rift extension. Detailed geologic mapping and cross-section reconstruction combined with sedimentary analysis and geo/thermochronologic methods are used to test the hypothesis that Laramide contractional structures and post-Laramide topography focused ignimbrite and sedimentary deposition within two paleovalleys located in the northwest and northeast portions of the study area. Laramide deformation in the study area is confined to Mesozoic units and includes a series of low-angle thrust faults …

Geophysical Studies Of The Characteristics Of Fluvial And Desert Soils In Rio Grande Valley Of West Texas And Southern New Mexico, Aimee V. Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Agriculture in arid lands, such as in the Rio Grande Valley in west Texas, relies on flood irrigation. However, flood irrigation can cause salt buildup and greenhouse gas emissions associated with pedogenic carbonate precipitation. The ability of irrigation to promote crop growth is influenced by geochemical and hydrological processes controlled, in part, by soil grain size, larger-scale soil structure, and mineralogy. This study investigated soils from 3 regions 1) A pecan orchard in the river valley of Tornillo, TX, with soil derived from fluvial deposits, undergoing flood irrigation every 2 to 3 weeks in spring through fall, 2) The El …

Development Of A Measure Assessing Perceptions Of E-Cigarettes: A Mixed Methods Approach, Dessaray Monique Gorbett

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States (U.S.), killingmore than 480,000 people each year. In recent years, we have seen a steady decline in cigarette smoking but have seen increased alternative tobacco product use (e.g., electronic cigarettes). Positive perceptions of e-cigarettes are associated with increased e-cigarette use (Amrock, Zakhar, Zhou, & Weitzman, 2015; Chen-Sankey & Kong, Choi, 2019; Pokhrel, Fagan, Kehl, & Herzog, 2015; Simmons et al., 2016). However, studies assessing the perceptions of e-cigarettes vary widely and do not adequately capture perceptions of social norms and the addictiveness of e-cigarettes. The current study …

Supercritical Co2 Recompression Closed Brayton Cycle Analysis, Andres Eduardo Gutierrez Hernandez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

On this research, the results of an analysis made of a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (sCO2) Recuperated Closed Brayton Cycle (RCBC) done by performing theorical calculations and comparing it to the results obtained with the use of the software ASPEN Plus will be presented. To demonstrate and determine that this software is a useful tool for modeling the proposed type of cycle, a preliminary comparison was made to verify with previous studies found in literature. A comparison and analysis between the possible working fluids and thermal energy sources was also performed to emphasize the decision of using CO2 as the cycle …

Global Analysis Of The Hydrologic Sensitivity To Climate Variability, Marisol Dominguez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Identifying the regions with greatest changes in their hydrologic behavior under extreme weather events in the 21st century, constitutes a study priority of global impact. Here, we present a global assessment assessing the sensitivity of the world’s water landscapes to climate variability during 2001-2016, using a new metric called the Hydrologic Sensitivity Index (HSi). This equation is based on the well-known Budyko curve that uses annual values of Potential and Actual Evapotranspiration (PET and AET), and Precipitation (P), to assess the hydrologic behavior of a location under a given climatic condition by plotting the Evaporative Index (AET/P) against the Dryness …

Experiences Of Latin American Au Pairs In El Paso, Texas: Perceptions And Challenges In A Border Context, Nathaly Carolina Hernandez Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

For the last three decades, the French term Au Pair has been used to name the exchange program that allows foreign young people (primarily women) the possibility to immerse themselves in American culture while living, working, studying, and traveling in the United States. Within the context of globalization in which we live, this program has experienced significant growth in Latin America and Europe, among others. The purpose of this exploratory study was to explore and make visible the concerns raised by female Au Pairs from Latin America who participate in the program in El Paso, Texas, a border community along …

Impact Of Xenobiotics On Neuronal Outcomes, Gabriela Henriquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases are a common affliction of the Central Nervous System. They are caused by age, genetics, and environmental factors. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis are well-known among the host of neurodegenerative disorders, with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease being the leading pathologies across this canvas. It is known that the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is multifactorial due to the involvement of genetic mutations, radical-induced protein damage, abnormal aggregation of misfolded proteins, and the formation of amyloid deposits. The amyloid proteins in neurodegenerative disease include Tau and Amyloid (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease and α-Synuclein in …

Environmental Justice Issues And Sea Level Rise In Frontline Communties Along The Gulf Coast, Karla Michel Lopez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Sea level rise poses a great threat to coastal areas and our way of life. As flooding increases in frequency and intensity across the country, vulnerable populations become a target to its impacts. The U.S. dedicates much research to risk communication and climate change adaptation strategies; however, these coastal areas are home to a large percentage of underserved and underrepresented communities that can be challenging to meaningfully engage. The impacts of short-term sea level rise combined with long-term sea level rise will not only cause flooding, erosion, and intrusion of saltwater into freshwater resources but also increased financial consequences, such …

Developing And Validating The Student Assessment-Based Feedback Literacy (Safl) Instrument: A Mixed-Methods Approach, Yiyu Liao

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Feedback has great influences on student retention and completion, especially on the minority students in higher education. However, the debates on the paradoxical difference between feedback’s theoretical potential and its effect in actual practice remain unsettled. This study seeks to address some primary issues in feedback research by conceptualizing student assessment-based feedback literacy (SAFL) and developing the SAFL instrument. The systematic literature reviews in the study identify two trends of assessment-based feedback in higher education: no universal definition of assessment feedback and the lack of explicit understanding of how assessment and feedback literacies interacted. By building on the exiting student …

Student Attitudes Toward Science: Growth Trajectories And Thematic Analysis Of A Project-Based Internship, Robert Donavin Mccreary

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In order to increase the number of students pursuing science-related careers, science educators and policymakers have advocated for improving student attitudes toward science (SAS) through inquiry-based instruction, such as project-based learning (PBL). While challenges exist in PBL, research suggests cogenerative dialogue (cogen) can ease the transition for students from traditional learning to PBL. In the present study, a secondary analysis was conducted to examine SAS growth trajectories from participants of the Work With A Scientist Program (WWASP) – a student-scientist internship which integrated cogen with PBL. Additionally, a thematic analysis was conducted to explore student attitudes toward cogen. The growth …

Study Of Barrier Heights And Magnetic Property Using Locally Scaled And Perdew-Zunger Self-Interaction Methods, Prakash Mishra

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Kohn-Sham density functional theory is a widely used method to estimate the ground state total energies and densities of interacting correlated electronic structures of atoms, molecules, clusters, solids, and liquids. In theory, exact solutions for these properties can be obtained by solving self-consistent one-electron Schrodinger equations based on density functionals for the energy.The practical application of KS DFT require approximation to the exchange-correlation energy functional. Many density functional approximations (DFAs) have been developed with various degree of sophistication and complexity by the satisfaction of exact constraints. Depending on the complexity, these functionals include electron density, density gradients, density Laplacian, kinetic …

Leading In Gendered Spaces: Women Presidents' Perceptions Of Their Experiences In Community Colleges, Keri Moe

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Gender inequality in leadership is an ongoing challenge found in higher education, including community colleges. Since women remain underrepresented in leadership positions at community colleges, specifically as college presidents, the purpose of this study was to document and better understand the experiences of women in these roles by focusing on three research questions:

• RQ 1: How do women presidents describe their experience in male-dominated community colleges?
• RQ 2: How do gender identity and gender expectations of women impact the behavior of women community college presidents?
• RQ 3: How do women presidents navigate their role within male-dominated community colleges?

Through the …

Supply Chain Optimization Of A Local Small Business From The Food-Service Industry Using Simulation Models, Aimee Montalvo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Various supply chain disruptions can cause revenue losses, low productivity, and damaged reputations. Some examples of such disruptions include increased supply costs, labor shortages, pandemics, natural disasters, or transportation delays. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, several small and medium enterprises (SMEs) suffered greatly from labor shortages, delayed and costly supplies, and decreased demand. In this research, we present a case study of a small local business from the fast-food industry that experienced the loss of employees and delays and analyzed the increased cost of supplies. We created visualization modules with the SMEs supply chain performance measures to see the …

The Rhetorical Relationship Between 911 Call Takers And 911 Callers In Police Emergency Response Operations, Nadia Hamilton Morales

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In this project, I interrogated the rhetorical relationship between 911 Call Takers and 911 callers in Garland, Texas in order to evalulate the quality of 911 emergency information transfer and its impact on 911 event final outcomes. I compiled a three-part data set that included transcriptions of 27 911 call audio recordings, 27 Computer Aided Dispatch Event Chronology Reports, and 27 Police/Incident Reports. My data set was specific to the following 911 event classifications: Disturbance/Weapon in Progress, Disturbance/Weapon Involved, Shooting, and Stabbing. My data sample came from 911 calls under these classifications made during the month of August 2020. Through …

Associations Between Living On The Texas-Mexico Border, Drug Use, And Sexual Behaviors Among Sexual Minority Men During The First Shelter-In-Place Order Of The Coronavirus Pandemic, Nqobile Nzama

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Background: There have been changes in drug use and sexual behaviors among sexual minority men since the coronavirus pandemic. At this time, there is not adequate literature focusing on the state of Texas. Aims and Objective: The aims of this secondary data analysis and exploratory study are to determine associations between sociodemographic characteristics and living on the Texas-Mexico border, drug use, sexual behaviors, and use of dating/hook-up apps among sexual minority men who completed the COVID-19 & You Survey conducted between May 1, 2020 to July 31, 2020, during the first shelter-in-place order of the Coronavirus pandemic. Hypotheses: The hypotheses …

Goes-16 Level 2 Land Surface Temperature Product-Filling For Cloud Masked Data, Guadalupe Ortega

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The GOES-16 satellite ground segment team develops different levels of environmental products and makes them readily available to the public. The level 2 Land Surface Temperature (LST) product aims to provide a remote measurement of the Earth’s surface temperature every hour. LST is of fundamental importance to many aspects of the geosciences, for example, to study the Urban Heat Islands (UHI) effect. The product however, does not provide values for pixels where the satellite imager’s view is obstructed by clouds, as determined by a cloud mask intermediate product. The objective of this thesis is to estimate LST in the cloud …

Train Sounds: A Novel, Nancy E. Polin

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Grad School has indicated that this isn't a necessity at the Graduate Level.

Demystifying The Practices Of Software Design And The Impact On Codebase Quality And Sustainability, Khandoker Rahad

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Software systems continue to increase in size and complexity to match the ever-increasing user expectations. Designing and engineering such complex software systems brings about unique challenges. Complex systems are not only expensive to develop, but even more expensive to maintain. Most software systems must adapt to continuously changing business contexts and requirements. In the process, software accumulates arbitrary complexities making its maintenance even more challenging. Design and modeling are the primary methodologies to develop reliable, sustainable, maintainable systems. The development of novel design languages, tools, and methodologies is frequently not able to keep up with the exponential increase in software …

The Cursed Child And The Trickster Fox (A Novel), Leah Elizabeth Robinson

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Cursed Child and the Trickster Fox (A Novel) is a fictional representation of the stigma of mental illness in the black community. The story focuses on Frankie Marchand, a woman child with bipolar disorder with psychotic features. Frankie has lost her mother, father, and twin brother in a tragic accident, which she is the sole survivor of, and is still coming to grips with what is now her new reality. Unfortunately, this new reality is without immediate familial support or mental stability because family and the black community view mental illness exclusively as a "white people" issue.