Ecophysiological and Transcriptomic Response of Prymnesium parvum to Environmental Stressors: The Role of Phosphorus Availability and Glyphosate

Prymnesium parvum is a harmful algal bloom (HAB) species responsible for large-scale fish kills and significant economic losses globally. This species is capable of thriving in various environmental conditions, especially in eutrophic waters. Furthermore, the rise of anthropogenic pollution and nutrient-rich runoff from agricultural and urban areas have led to increased risk of HABs, including those of P. parvum. This study aims to comprehensively explore the physiological and transcriptomic response of P. parvum to phosphate (P) availability. Moreover, the following objectives were established to shape the three research chapters that compose this dissertation: 1) determine the influence of different concentrations and constant supply of P on the growth and toxicity of P. parvum, 2) determine the physiological and transcriptomic response of P. parvum to P limitation across its growth curve, and 3) determine the effect of the phosphonate pesticide glyphosate on the growth and toxicity of P. parvum under P-sufficiency and P-limitation. To address the first objective, cultures of P. parvum were grown in modified artificial seawater medium at salinity of 5 psu and under the following sodium phosphate concentrations: 0 µg ml-1, 2.5 µg ml-1, 5 µg ml-1, and the control. Steady-state conditions were maintained for 0, 2.5, and 5 µg ml-1, except for control, which had an initial phosphate concentration of 5 µg ml-1 added only at the beginning of the experiment. For cultures under 2.5 and 5 µg ml-1, phosphate was repleted every three days to keep the concentrations constant. The cell density was recorded and acute daphnia toxicity tests were performed every three days during a 15-day period. To address the second objective, cultures were grown under phosphate-sufficient and phosphate-limited conditions. Cell density and toxicity were recorded every three days for 15 days. Additionally, RNA samples from each replicate (n = 3) were taken every three days from each experimental condition from day 6 to day 15 (total n = 24). Short reads were de novo assembled for subsequent differential expression analysis. For the third objective, four concentrations of glyphosate were tested: 0, 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mg l-1. Growth and toxicity were recorded as previously mentioned. The continuous supply of P accelerated P. parvum’s growth during the early phase. Additionally, it appeared to reduce P. parvum’s toxicity. Cultures with complete P deprivation and those with no continuous supply (control) exhibited the highest toxicity in early and late growth phases respectively. P-limitation significantly impacted P. parvum’s growth, also characterized by higher toxicity compared to P sufficiency. The transcriptomic analysis revealed higher abundance of genes under P limitation and more specifically, the upregulation of stress-related genes, potentially as an adaptive strategy for prioritizing survival mechanisms. Genes involved in phosphate uptake were also upregulated, suggesting enhanced mechanisms to acquire external phosphate, especially during the early growth phase. Genes involved in metabolic processes required for rapid growth were more active at the early growth phases, while genes involved in survival and stress response were more active in the stationary growth phase regardless of P supply. Upregulation of phospholipid metabolism and cell integrity and stress response were significantly correlated with toxicity. Lastly, glyphosate at lowest concentration tested (0.1 mg l-1) stimulated P. parvum’s growth in P-sufficiency and enhanced its toxicity under both P conditions but with a more substantial effect under P-sufficiency. Together, these findings confirm the critical role of P availability in P. parvum’s growth, toxicity, and transcript abundance, emphasizing the alga’s adaptive mechanisms under nutrient stress. The potential of glyphosate to enhance growth and toxicity is consistent with a previously suggested role of agrochemicals in promoting HABs. Future research integrating multi-omics approaches, studying interactions with other aquatic organisms, and examining the effects of various anthropogenic pollutants are necessary to enhance our understanding of HAB dynamics and develop more effective mitigation strategies

Petropolis: A Study of Urban Growth Patterns with reference to Hydraulic Fracturing in the Greater Midland-Odessa Region

Energy sprawl is the most significant driver of land use change in the United States. US energy production is predicted to rise 27% by 2040, directly impacting over 200,000 square km of additional land. Presently, the majority of US oil and gas comes from unconventional drilling. Unlike other energy sources, extractive energy must continually be drilled and mined to sustain production, significantly impacting land use land cover (LULC). Hydraulic fracturing uniquely affects urban growth due to its rapid production and distribution process. Being at the forefront of domestic production, the Permian Basin played an essential role in the economic development of cities such as Midland and Odessa. Due to the advancement of seismic imaging and other technologies, producers widely started using hydraulic fracturing around 2010. Hydraulic Fracturing or Fracking is the controversial technological process of petroleum extraction that involves injecting a high-pressure liquid mixture to open up the subterranean rock formation. Although debated for its negative environmental consequences, fracking is commonly considered an agent of accelerated economic growth. This rapid expansion, combined with the environmental impacts, becomes an actor of change in urban fabric. Although many researchers have studied the significant habitat loss and fragmentation directly associated with energy sprawls, the land use implications, especially the urban growth patterns, need to be better understood. The urbanizing impacts of hydraulic fracturing are both spatial and temporal; this study aims to understand how oil and gas extraction has influenced the urban growth in the Greater Midland-Odessa region before and after the implementation of widespread fracking within the timeframe 2001-2011 and 2011-2021. NLCD land use data and other relevant data sets are acquired, and urban sprawl's extent and spatial characteristics are analyzed. In the later part of the study, the growth characteristics are explained by re-conceptualizing urban spatial elasticity. The analysis reveals a ‘ripple effect’ of upward and downward curve of growth rings with approximately 10-mile radius with peak density in the mid-zones. This research also identifies multiple types of sprawls and more satellite growth after widespread fracking. The key land use change patterns are identified along with a trend that indicates the fusion of both Midland and Odessa into a larger metropolitan area. An explanation is provided for the mechanism of how the extraction activities attract urban growth as ‘pull-factors’. Based on this analysis, a set of guidelines are suggested for planning and policy, addressing strategies for adaptation as well as future growth. This study is one of the earliest to examine the urbanization driven by oil and gas production in the US, and recommendations are also made in the end for much-needed future research

3D Printing of Synthetic Organs: Mechanical Testing and Manufacturing Characterization of Blood Vessels

The field of biomedical engineering has seen transformative advancements with the introduction of 3D printing technology, particularly in the fabrication of synthetic organs. This study focuses on the mechanical testing of 3D-printed synthetic organs and material characterization to assess their performance in medical applications. Through using printing design, materials and techniques, synthetic organs can be produced with high precision, mimicking the complex structures and mechanical properties of natural tissues. This research investigates the mechanical property such as tensile strength, of different types of synthetic biomaterials such as resin, TPU materials and the printing accuracy of the blood vessel. The samples were prepared with dumbbell shape and subjected to uniaxial tensile tests according to the ASTM D412 standard. The data obtained from the tensile test is further analyzed using the Curve Fitter 2022 tool, the curve is plotted using the Uniaxial tensile test data, and the hyper-elastic model is applied to the study. Hyper-elastic models are used to describe the non-linear stress-strain behavior of these materials. Two prominent hyper-elastic models were used: the Yeoh 3rd order model and the Ogden 3rd order model and the constants of the model were calculated. Both models offer detailed mathematical frameworks for predicting the mechanical response of materials under large deformations, although the TPU material has a better elongation property than resin, making it good for applications requiring elasticity and resilience. The data helps in understanding how both materials behave under different stress and strain conditions at the same room temperature, which is important for designing flexible biomaterials that can withstand stress. However, it was observed that Yeoh model was better fitted for the test data compared to the Ogden model. The findings aim to enhance the understanding of material behavior under physical conditions, thereby informing the design and development of reliable synthetic organs. The results of this work are to contribute significantly to the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, ultimately improving patient outcomes in organ transplantation and repair

Parent and caregiver preferences for eHealth programs

Background Online programs serve as an important avenue for delivering mental health and parenting services worldwide. The quantity of online programs proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic with developers emphasizing the potential to improve accessibility and reduce barriers of in-person programming (e.g., arranging transportation, childcare, and scheduling). However, Canadian parents’ and caregivers’ preferences for features they desire in online family mental health supports are unknown. Understanding these preferences would better allow for the creation of programs that are best suited to meet parents’ needs. Thus, the present study examined parent mental health program preferences, barriers to access, and how different sociodemographic factors predicted preferences for aspects such as program features (e.g., duration delivery format). Methods Self-report surveys were administered in 2023 via the online crowdsourcing platform AskingCanadians to parents and primary caregivers of children ages 0 to 5 years. Descriptive statistics examined parent mental health program preferences and barriers. Regression models examined sociodemographic predictors of these preferences and barriers. Results Participants identified a range of preferences across program structure and coaching, as well as challenges associated with program access. Parents most preferred programs with a web-based delivery format (72%), a duration of 2–4 weeks (27%), and psychologists as program coaches (51.4%). The most highly endorsed barriers were lack of time (42.2%) and limited internet access (25.1%). Sociodemographic factors including parent gender, household income, education, and ethnicity also consistently predicted preference for various program characteristics. Conclusions This research provides an important first step toward creating more accessible online mental health and parent mental health programs by ensuring the voices of the parents who will use these services are heard in program development and adaptation. Future research should investigate how to address accessibility and inclusivity barriers to participating in parent mental health programs for diverse families based on their differential preferences

RECUERDOS: Storymaking in Mexican American Spaces

This article explores the collaboration of the Southwest Collection/Special Collections (SWC) Library at Texas Tech University with the Fort Stockton, Texas, Barrio Fest, a community celebration of the legacy of Mexican American culture and history in that West Texas town. Barrio Fest represents an act of community storymaking: the composition and preservation of community memories, histories, and identities, that simultaneously decenter the academic archive and integrate the resources of research universities into achieving the goals of Fort Stockton’s Mexican American community. The SWC’s partnership with Fort Stockton highlights the need for academic archives to foster relationships that make communities aware of their resources without displacing community leadership of such projects

Understanding Key Physical and Surface Representation Processes in the WRF Model for Exploring Boundary Layer Features

In the rapidly warming climate of the 21st century—marked by intensifying weather extremes, escalating billion-dollar disasters, and increasing societal vulnerability—the demand for accurate and reliable weather forecasts has become more critical than ever before. Central to weather prediction and climate projection is the planetary boundary layer (PBL), the turbulent lowest portion of the troposphere that directly interacts with the Earth's surface and responds to surface forcings on hourly timescales or less. Despite its importance, accurate representation of the PBL remains one of the most persistent sources of uncertainty in numerical weather prediction. This dissertation investigates the sensitivity of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to variations in physical parameterizations, terrain resolution, and urban land cover within a multi-scale modeling framework. The primary objective is to advance our understanding of how surface representations and model configurations affect the simulation of lower-atmospheric processes, particularly those associated with PBL dynamics, across diverse spatial and temporal scales. The first part of the analysis explores surface–atmosphere interactions over the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains (ARM SGP) site under clear-sky conditions, focusing on the effects of grid resolution, lateral boundary condition (LBC) update frequency, and thermal roughness length (z₀ₕ) parameterization. Results reveal nonlinear interactions among these factors: high-resolution grids improved slope-flow representation and PBL structure; infrequent LBC updates restricted mixed-layer development, while overly frequent updates introduced boundary discontinuities. Additionally, initial surface temperature biases from the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) were shown to influence flux partitioning and PBL growth. The second part evaluates the influence of terrain resolution by comparing simulations using the Global 30 Arc-Second Elevation Dataset (GTOPO30) and the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) dataset over the complex terrain of the Korean Peninsula. Spectral decomposition and structural diagnostics demonstrate that fine-resolution SRTM terrain amplifies terrain-driven circulations, enhances sub-kilometer-scale energy, and strengthens dynamic–thermodynamic coupling. These improvements led to more realistic simulations of upslope lifting, gravity wave activity, and spatial distributions of moisture and heat fluxes. Case studies focusing on the evaluation of the precipitation field further confirmed the presence of enhanced rainfall intensity and improved microphysical variability in simulations using SRTM-based terrain. These results suggest that higher-resolution terrain data allows for better representation of topography-induced convective processes, leading to more realistic simulation of precipitation characteristics. The final part of the work investigates the impact of progressive urbanization in the Phoenix metropolitan area from 2001 to 2021 by integrating temporally updated National Land Cover Database (NLCD) datasets with observation-validated WRF simulations. This section examines how changes in urban land cover influence key near-surface meteorological variables—specifically, air temperature, humidity, and wind speed—and evaluates model performance against ground-based station observations. The results indicate that urban expansion during this period significantly intensified the urban heat island (UHI) effect, increasing 2-meter air temperatures by up to 5.6°C in newly urbanized areas, reducing near-surface specific humidity by 0.8–1.2 g/kg, and lowering wind speeds by 1.2–1.8 m/s. The simulation incorporating 2021 NLCD data exhibited the highest agreement with observational data (R > 0.85 for temperature and wind speed), underscoring the importance of using temporally accurate urban surface information to realistically represent land–atmosphere interactions in rapidly urbanizing regions. Collectively, the findings of this research demonstrate that detailed terrain representation and evolving urban land cover act as critical drivers of mesoscale atmospheric structure and variability. The accuracy of WRF simulations is highly sensitive to surface boundary definitions and the treatment of initial and LBCs. These results offer practical guidance for enhancing high-resolution numerical modeling in complex urbanized environments and provide implications for severe weather forecasting, land–atmosphere interaction studies, and urban climate resilience planning

Roadside LiDAR-based Vehicular Trajectory Repair and Lane Marking Identification for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

Roadside LiDAR has emerged as a promising sensing technology for intelligent transportation systems, offering high-resolution spatial data for tasks such as vehicle tracking, digital map generation, and traffic analysis. However, its practical deployment remains limited due to critical challenges including occlusion-induced data loss, sparse point density at long distances, and the labor-intensive nature of traditional map construction methods. Therefore, we propose a cross-modal integration framework that significantly enhances the completeness, accuracy, and scalability of roadside LiDAR applications. First, a lightweight and low-cost lane-level mapping method is developed by aligning aerial imagery with roadside LiDAR data. Through building edge matching and a novel rotation estimation strategy, this approach enables accurate map alignment without requiring dense traffic or repeated scanning. The resulting lane-level maps demonstrate a high trajectory alignment accuracy, providing a scalable solution for large-scale digital twin construction. Second, a trajectory supplementation method is proposed to reconstruct vehicle paths under conditions of full occlusion and limited data points. By associating fragmented vehicle IDs and identifying representative frames with the highest point density, the method restores tracking continuity even in dense urban intersections and peripheral sensing zones. This enhancement significantly improves tracking reliability and enables extended-range analysis. Lastly, the improved trajectory data is used to support shape-based vehicle classification, enabling the differentiation of vehicle types in a more accurate and consistent manner. These contributions transform roadside LiDAR from a geometry-limited sensor into a semantically enriched, cross-modally aware platform suitable for modern ITS infrastructure. The proposed framework lays the groundwork for scalable, accurate, and low-cost deployment of LiDAR in real-world traffic environments

How Topher Tophered while Translanguaging between Lengua de Señas Mexicana and American Sign Language: A Critical Autoethnography on Language, Power, and Identity Formation

This study presents a structured and reflective autoethnographic inquiry into the identity formation of the researcher, Topher Ávila, a Brown Latinx Disabled/Deaf Queer Immigrant who translanguages through multilingual and multimodal means (signed languages: LSM and ASL; written languages: Español and English) while navigating the U.S. education system from pre-K through postsecondary. The central research question guiding this study asked: How have my identity and language—as a multilingual multimodal Disabled/Deaf learner—been shaped in pre-K to postsecondary education system in the U.S.? This question responds to the central research problem: the U.S. education system’s persistent neglect to recognize and/or support sign language translanguaging, which results in the systemic denial of language access for multilingual and multimodal Disabled/Deaf students. Chapter 1 outlines the background, purpose, research question, scope, and significance of the study. Chapter 2 presents the theoretical framework Deaf-LatCrit, and a literature review addressing gaps in translanguaging and educational equity. Chapter 3 outlines the methodology of autoethnography in the form of los testimonios, along with methods of data collection and analysis. Chapter 4 presents two categories of testimonios: artifact-based and critical events-based narratives. Chapter 5 analyzes themes and offers pedagogical recommendations for justice-centered educational transformation. This dissertation calls for multilingual and multimodal approaches in educational policy and practice, with pedagogical possibilities for BIPOC/Latinx Disabled/Deaf learners to thrive in linguistically affirming and inclusive environments

Improving Reading in Middle School: A Design-Based Study on Using Authentic Data Teaming and Culturally Responsive Teaching Via Professional Learning Communities

This insider action research study investigates how or in what ways utilizing data teaming and culturally responsive teaching practices via professional learning communities (PLCs) affect sixth-eighth-grade teachers’ abilities to plan differentiated lessons to meet the needs of their diverse students in reading. This study takes place at a middle school in an urban district in Texas. The campus serves over 70% of students in the free and reduced lunch program. Student demographics are diverse and vibrant. Therefore, there is a need to understand ways to build teacher capacity by utilizing data teaming and culturally responsive teaching practices through PLCs to better meet the needs of this diverse community. This study validates and affirms students’ cultural identities by integrating culturally responsive teaching (CRT) practices with data-teaming strategies. This literature review explores the intersection of CRT, data-teaming, and PLCs as essential tools for equitable and effective instruction