The Valles Caldera in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico exhibits modern hydrothermal and fumarolic activity. The ~22-km-diameter caldera was formed by two large eruptions (>300 km3) at 1.6 Ma and 1.2 Ma. The caldera-forming eruptions were followed by re-fill of the magma chamber that resulted in a resurgent dome, a long period of lava dome formation (~1.2 Ma to ~0.5 Ma), and a series of explosive and effusive events in the SW sector of the caldera, the youngest of which occurred between ~70 ka and ~40 ka. Today, the Valles caldera has a well-developed hydrothermal system. Many locations within the caldera host warm springs and fumaroles. The most notable of these sites is Sulfur Springs in the western portion of the resurgent dome. Past mapping efforts of the Sulfur Springs area have not been integrated with investigations documenting the gas and spring chemistry. Thus, it is not well known how the locations of hydrothermal features are related to the shallow geology and structural features. Furthermore, the interactions between the different hydrothermal fluids have not been well characterized. To address these questions, I have created a multi-parameter map of the Sulfur Springs area (1:2500 scale) that includes structural and geothermal features overlain by water chemistry and CO2 gas concentration. I show that surface geothermal features are related to fault locations and suggest that magmatic gasses use the faults as pathways to reach the surface. I also show that magmatic gas dissolution produces highly acidic water (pH <2) and propose a conceptual model for a subsurface storage zone which allows for mixing of these fluids. Measured gas concentrations in one hot spring (~2 meters in diameter) at 4 separate degassing sites show different temporal patterns and a large range in CO2 concentration (302-10545 ppm). Such fine scale variation in concentration and temporal pattern is not widely documented in similar systems. Thus, I propose future studies into temporal gas measurements of caldera-hosted hydrothermal systems incorporate fine scale measurements to discern if this is a phenomenon common amongst these systems.

This dissertation reports a study that investigated the modeling of a civically engaged podcasting unit within a methods of composition course. The participants were eight preservice secondary English Language Arts teachers. The qualitative data used in this study were survey responses, writing samples, and journal entries of teacher observations. The data was coded based on categories related to the podcasting genre, civically engaged writing, and identity. Findings indicate that participating in the podcasting unit encouraged preservice teachers to connect their writing to their identities and their lives outside the methods classroom. The findings also indicate a need for thorough direct instruction, scaffolding, and extended time in order for students to complete the podcast editing process. The study also highlights the benefits of students listening to completed peer podcasts individually through headphones, rather than over a speaker as a whole class, in order to increase student comfort. The civically engaged podcasting unit modeled a writing activity which centers the identity and lived experiences of the student.

This mixed-methods phenomenological action research study was conducted to mine meaning from the lived experiences of student-participants and a teacher-researcher engaged in Teaching as Producing™ (TAP). TAP is a novel pedagogical approach rooted in John Dewey’s Theory of Experience. It aligns with experience-based learning models like Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Action-Oriented Pedagogy. It integrates media production elements into teaching practices to demonstrate connections between teacher and media producer skill sets, which can facilitate experience-based, hands-on learning opportunities for students who conceptualize and execute an event or activity designed to address a need or opportunity identified within their school context. The study was conducted in a 6 - 12 grade public school setting. Student-participants and the teacher-researcher co-planned and co-produced a schoolwide assembly and festival commemorating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) month using a structured six-phase process reflecting the pre-production, production, and post-production stages used in media production. This agentic approach empowered students to enhance 21st century skills – communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity – and demonstrate their learning by creating an experience they conceptualized, designed, and executed, positively impacting their school environment.
The teacher-researcher used hermeneutic phenomenological analysis to identify rich, descriptive themes that portrayed the lived experiences of the student-participants' learning, their perceptions about traditional and innovative instructional practices, their level of engagement, and their sense of agency, belonging, and cultural pride. These findings provide insights into the potential of TAP, suggesting avenues for improved educational practices and future research.

With no current treatment, an effective Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine is crucial to preventsevere disease and reduce the risk of congenital Zika-associated syndrome (CZS). ZIKV is
susceptible to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), where non-neutralizing antibodies
upregulate infection. To overcome this, the E domain III (ZE3) is chosen for its ability to generate
neutralizing antibodies (nAb) without the risk of ADE. While ZE3 is poorly immunogenic on its
own, it has been demonstrated to produce a protective immune response when displayed on
vaccine platforms. One such platform is the recombinant immune complex (RIC), a self-binding
antibody-antigen complex that is able to generate robust immune responses through stimulating
the complement cascade. Previous RIC studies demonstrate enhancement of nAb titers and
potency when RIC vaccines are co-administered with virus-like particle (VLP) vaccines displaying
the same antigen. Since VLPs stimulate the innate immune system by acting as pathogen
associated molecular patterns (PAMP)s, we theorize that PAMPs and complement stimulation
reinforce each other, allowing for greater immune response.
In this thesis, the coadministration of ZE3 RICs and several adjuvants was evaluated in
preliminary mouse trials. The adjuvants used were the TLR5 binding segment of bacterial
flagellin, polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (Poly(I:C)) and Alum. The ZE3 RIC, ZE3 VLP, and flagellin
constructs were all produced in Nicotiana benthamiana plants through the use of geminiviral
vectors. All vaccine groups generated significant antigen-specific antibody responses, with titers
at least five-fold higher than the PBS control. Non-significant differences between vaccine groups
included a trend of increased antibody production in the Poly(IC) group. Cytokine analysis
demonstrated no significant difference between the PBS group in any vaccine group, likely
indicating poor cell stimulation in the assay, but there were trends indicating enhanced cytokine
production in the flagellin group. While adjuvant enhancements may be more prominent with
greater study duration or dosing, the lack of significant difference between the vaccine groups
reinforces the RIC platform is able to generate a robust immune response without need for
adjuvant enhancement. This demonstrates the RIC’s potential as a versatile vaccine platform for
not only ZIKV, but other vaccine targets as well.

Over half of adults use at least one nutritional supplement, and up to 100% of athletes depending on the population. Supplement use is expected to continue to grow, even extending into youth. Due to weak regulation of nutritional supplements on the market athletes are at risk of unknowing exposure to unsafe substances which could pose a risk to safety and threaten eligibility; third-party tested nutrition supplements are seen as a safer alternative. Data suggests athletes acknowledge it is important to know if supplements are tested for banned substances, yet a large percentage of athletes use supplements that are not third-party tested; this brings up the question, why? A validated tool is necessary to help organizations gain insight about this topic to tailor education to athletes' needs. This was a two-part, single cohort survey design validation study using a previously developed nutrition questionnaire composed of 76 questions and 88 items over six themed blocks. In Part 1, reliability was assessed via test-retest method and internal consistency measured using Cronbach's Alpha. In Part 2, face validity was assessed using a focus group.
All participants (N=55) reported the use of at least one nutrition supplement with the most consumed being sports drinks, caffeine, and protein shakes. The questionnaire was found to have a moderate average weighted correlation coefficient of 0.499 and a poor percent match of 37%. Following suggested modifications after initial Round 1 Cronbach's Alpha analysis, the questionnaire would be able to reach an acceptable value of 0.749. Finally, all participants of the focus group reported the questionnaire had too many questions or was too lengthy.
The final suggested version of the questionnaire would include 52 questions reflecting a 32% decrease in length. The questionnaire is customizable in that each block exists on its own and includes an "optional" category. This questionnaire served as an intermediate step towards the development of a shorter questionnaire used to screen athlete behavior as it relates to third-party tested supplements.

This paper examines how people infer the preferences of others, testing a variety of models including those based in egocentric (self-based) and allocentric (other-based) reasonings. In Study 1, 300 participants rated 60 paintings each to confirm a varied stimulus set to use in Study 2 and create an effective recommender system that could be compared to human performance at the task. In Study 2, 110 participants were asked to predict a target profile’s preferences for 18 paintings after viewing 6 reference painting-rating examples from the target profile. Notably, the top 20% of participants outperformed our machine learning models, despite having access to significantly less information (6 vs 50 reference painting-rating examples). A variety of models were then evaluated to find the best fit for each participant. The findings show that most participants incorporated a mix of ideas of the general population’s preferences, egocentric reasoning, profile-specific allocentric reasoning into their strategies to complete this task. These results provide insight into how people reason through making inferences about other’s preferences. The study also has implications for improving recommender systems and better understanding how humans make social judgments.

The global transition to Electric Vehicles (EVs) requires a transformative strategy for planning charging infrastructures. This dissertation introduces a strategic framework for the deployment of EV charging networks, integrating demand-supply dynamics with Bass's theories of innovation diffusion. By employing a continuous-time Newell’s fluid queue modeling framework supported by Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs), this approach offers a refined perspective on market dynamics. It facilitates the creation of dynamic, multi-year supply curves, providing deeper insights into the dynamics of EV market adoption. Further, to identify local covariates that impact the adoption of EVs in the market, multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) and multiscale geographically and temporally weighted regression (MGTWR) are applied. These methods quantify the behavioral and intrinsic contextual effects spatially and temporally across different locations by examining variations in local covariates. This approach helps predict how local preferences for EV adoption might change in both the short and long term. Following this, for charging station location planning (CSLP) within the local network, the capacitated multi-path flow refueling location model (FRLM) is employed to identify optimal charging station sites among potential candidates in a grid-based, multi-level network, considering constraints such as budget, capacity, flow balance, and location preferences. A tri-level approach (Macro-Meso-Micro) ensures thorough coverage, encompassing entire cities, specific EV routes, and targeted local placements.
Applying the proposed methodology to the Chicago sketch network illustrates the model’s practicality and scalability. The findings offer valuable insights into potential risks of overutilization and underutilization, informing policymakers and enabling more refined cost-benefit analyses. The development of the integrated demand-supply model represents a significant contribution to the field, addressing key challenges and providing stakeholders with a comprehensive tool for strategic EV charging network planning.
In conclusion, this dissertation advances transportation planning by offering a refined, scalable, and flexible framework for the methodical expansion of EV charging infrastructures. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the theoretical framework for EV infrastructure planning but also provides actionable insights for the strategic deployment of charging networks, addressing the complex demands of the growing EV market.