19304 research outputs found
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Language Processing in Children
No full textIn this study, we investigated how children's language skills relate to their ability to distinguish differences in sound rules and grammar rules between two dialects: Mainstream American English (MAE) and African American English (AAE). We will use an eye-tracking device to examine language processing and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-4) to examine receptive vocabulary. The results suggest that a strong receptive vocabulary contributes to more efficient language processing. Receptive vocabulary plays a vital role in language processing and comprehension in children. This emphasizes the importance of educators implementing strategies that enrich students' vocabularies to support their overall language development.Communication Sciences and Disorders, Department ofHonors Colleg
From the War Room to the Classroom: A Human Capital Approach for Recruiting Military Veterans as Second-Career Teachers
No full textBackground: In the aftermath of COVID-19, teacher shortages are on the rise. More teachers are needed than the education community can provide. With the increase in teacher shortages (Carver-Thomas & Darling-Hammond, 2017) and a decline in traditional teacher preparation program enrollments, alternative certification routes are becoming a necessity for school districts. As a result, state and school officials are seeking innovative ways to attract others to the teaching profession. One identifiable group of potential teacher candidates is military veterans. Purpose: This study examined the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) that aided in the transition of military veteran, second-career teachers, making veterans a prospective pool of alternative candidates to fill teacher vacancies. Research questions: This study addressed the following research questions: (1) How do military veterans perceive their transition to becoming teachers? (2) How do administrators perceive military veterans as teachers in the classroom? (3) How would participants (administrators and military veterans) connect the education and military communities for the purpose of attracting military veterans to the teaching profession? Method: This qualitative study used a combination of case study and the methodological approach of interview research to collect data. One-on-one interviews were conducted with four school administrators and four military veteran, second-career teachers, in semi-structured, open-ended interviews. For data analysis, a combination of software was used to record, code, and analyze data to gain insight and to identify common themes within participant responses. Results: The overall objective of this study was to identify the KSAs that aided military veterans in their transition to become second-career teachers. Although military veterans do not bring homogeneous experiences to the field of education, once they become teachers, their skills offer contributions to the field that transcend the particularities of their time in the military. Regardless of the branch of service, the military veterans and administrators agree that the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) obtained while enlisted aided the military veterans’ transition to teaching. The administrators’ observations of the military veterans support prior research suggesting that individuals transitioning to second-career teachers typically possess characteristics that separate them from others (Feistritzer, 2005; McNay, 2001; Resta et al., 2001). Seven themes emerged from the data analysis: 1) becoming a student again, 2) having the desire to teach, 3) transferability of military skills and experience to teaching, 4) building connections, 5) military veterans’ expectations, 6) military veterans’ rigid mindset, and 7) bridging the gap between the school districts and the military community. Conclusion: Due to the annual costs associated with human capital investments, organizations should strategically plan new ways to engage current talent and seek ways to attract new talent (Wuttaphan, 2017). As attrition rates continue to rise, the need to broaden the pipeline and attract other professionals to teaching is evident. The U.S. Armed Forces is composed of millions of men and women who will eventually leave the military and reintegrate in search of civilian employment. The implications of the study are that veterans possess KSAs that are directly transferable from the military to the classroom. As military veterans transition to the civilian workforce, state and school officials should consider this group a potential pool of alternative candidates to fill teacher vacancies
CXCR3 Antagonism Reduces Zika and West Nile Virus Replication Across Various Cell Types
No full textMosquito-borne flavivirus infections impact around 400 million people globally each year, posing a serious threat to public health. While infections tend to be mild in most cases, severe cases can cause complications such as hemorrhagic fever, organ failure, and neurological damage. Currently, there are no commercially available antiviral agents specifically for treating these diseases. CXCR3, a receptor influenced by the interferon protein gene, IP-10, plays a role in flavivirus immune responses. In a previous study, CXCR3 blockade reduced ZIKV and WNV replication in prostate cells. Therefore, we hypothesized CXCR3 antagonism blocks replication in ZIKV and WNV in other cell types. We used two distinct cell types to explore different mechanisms: THP-1 monocytes to model mosquito bite transmission and HTR-8 placental cells to model maternal-fetal transmission. There were significant reductions in ZIKV and WNV virus expression in CXCR3 antagonist-treated cells compared to untreated controls. Our findings reveal that CXCR3 antiviral activity is not only effective against a range of flaviviruses but also extends across different cell types. This is significant because if CXCR3 is confirmed as a novel flavivirus cofactor it could serve as a promising target for developing antiviral therapeutics across flaviviruses. [This project was completed with contributions from Jennifer L. Spencer Clinton from the National School of Tropical Medicine and Baylor College of Medicine.]Honors CollegeBiology and Biochemistry, Department o
2023 Harris County Homelessness Mortality Report
No full textMortality among individuals experiencing homelessness in Harris County continues to rise, with two deaths every three days in 2023. A local community report analyzed the demographics, causes and manners of death, geography, and seasonal trends of homelessness mortality using data from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS), Census data, and Point-In-Time counts of homelessness in Harris County. Findings revealed that 85.5% of decedents were male, with Black (37.6%) and non-Hispanic White (48.8%) individuals disproportionately affected. The median age at death (51 years) was nearly three decades younger than the general population (79 years). Acute drug toxicity (46.3%) was the leading cause of death, followed by hypertensive cardiovascular disease (26.4%). Mortality peaked in August (heat-related) and December (cold exposure), with cardiovascular deaths surging in winter and drug-related deaths spiking in summer. These findings underscore the need for harm reduction strategies, expanded healthcare access, and targeted prevention to address substance use and cardiovascular disease progression within this uniquely vulnerable population. [This project was completed with contributions from Vishaka Varshney and Shriya Swamy from University of Texas Austin; Carlie Stratemann from UTHealth Houston; and Ben King from LSU-New Orleans.]Medicine, Tilman J. Fertitta Family College ofHonors Colleg
Mapping Houston's Old Chinatown
No full textHouston's Old Chinatown, once a vibrant commercial and cultural hub in East Downtown, has largely faded from public memory due to urban redevelopment, gentrification, and infrastructural changes. Mapping Houston's Old Chinatown, initiated in 2023 by Dr. Melody Yunzi Li, aims to reconstruct and preserve this overlooked history through archival research, oral histories, and geospatial mapping. The project explores the origins of the enclave in the 1950s, when the On Leong Chinese Merchants Association established a community center on Chartres Street, catalyzing the growth of Chinese-owned businesses, churches, and social organizations. By the 1980s, however, urban constraints and competition from Bellaire's New Chinatown led to its decline, culminating in the 2011 demolition of the On Leong building. Our research integrates materials from the Woodson Research Center, the Chao Center for Asian Studies, the Southwest Chinese Journal, and Houston city directories to trace the enclave's development and eventual disappearance. Given the scarcity of physical remnants, we rely on oral histories and historical records to fill critical gaps in documentation. The project also examines the broader implications of urban erasure and displacement, particularly in light of TxDOT's highway expansion plans that threaten to remove the last traces of Old Chinatown. Through ArcGIS mapping, a digital archive, and planned AR/VR reconstructions, this project seeks to digitally restore the history of Houston's Old Chinatown while raising awareness of the challenges in preserving marginalized communities' historical narratives.Modern and Classical Languages, Department ofHonors CollegeInformation Science Technology, Department ofHistory, Department o
Essays on Applied Macroeconometrics
No full textThis dissertation consists of two chapters. In the first chapter, I explore the long-lasting impacts of unemployment on earnings and consumption using a consumption-savings model that incorporates unemployment into an earnings process. First, I contribute to the literature by specifying a novel earnings process incorporating unemployment and developing a method (Efficient Method of Moments) to estimate the process. In the earnings process, unemployment affects earnings in two ways: an immediate loss through reduced working hours and persistently by diminishing the permanent component. The reduction in the permanent component caused by unemployment depends on unemployment duration. Using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics data for estimation, I document that a full year of unemployment, on average, reduces the permanent earnings component by 25% in the following year. The loss in earnings persists throughout one's working life. Second, I model a consumption-savings model with the earnings process incorporating unemployment to gain new insights into the life-cycle implications of unemployment on welfare and inform policy design. My model replicates the patterns of earnings and consumption dynamics around the unemployment year. It reveals that unemployment leads to significant and slow recovery declines in consumption, which lasts throughout an individual's lifetime. The model can serve as a valuable tool for evaluating unemployment-related policies. In the second chapter, I study the relationship between CO2 emissions, electrification, fossil energy consumption and energy transition in the US from 1960 to 2022. Using a time series econometric analysis, this paper introduces a new approach to examine the impact of electrification on CO2 emissions in the US. Johansen’s cointegration test suggests a long-run relationship between variables. Without significant energy transition efforts, increased electrification may result in higher CO2 emissions intensity of gross domestic product (GDP) due to reliance on fossil fuels. The positive impact of energy transition on reducing CO2 emissions intensity of GDP emphasizes the importance of accelerating the adoption of renewable energy sources. The impulse response functions show that positive shocks to electrification and fossil energy consumption result in permanent increases in CO2 emissions intensity of GDP. Conversely, a positive shock to energy transition leads to a permanent decrease in CO2 emissions intensity of GDP
MTSS for Equity: A Mixed-Methods Study of Policy Alignment and Achievement Gaps in Three States
No full textBackground: This study addresses the ongoing challenge of ensuring equitable outcomes for all learners, particularly in K–12 public schools where Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) guidance varies significantly at the state level. Many districts struggle to establish coherent, data-driven interventions when state policies offer unclear or inconsistent directives on mitigating achievement gaps. Purpose: This research explores (1) how Texas, Florida, and Iowa differ in their MTSS frameworks and policy guidance; (2) how each state's policies align with best practices from the AIR MTSS Fidelity Rubric; and (3) whether subgroup reading achievement gap trends over the last decade reflect these policies. Method: A mixed-methods approach was used. State documents were scored using the AIR MTSS Fidelity Rubric, and NAEP 4th-grade reading data from 2015 to 2024 were analyzed to track gap trends. Results: MTSS policy alignment varied significantly. Iowa showed the strongest fidelity, followed by Florida, with Texas lagging. However, achievement gaps remained essentially unchanged across all three states, suggesting recent improvements may not yet have measurable effects. Conclusion: Stronger policy guidance alone is insufficient to close persistent gaps. Local-level action—focused on implementation fidelity, assessment literacy, and collaborative data practices—is essential. A professional learning series presented in this study offers a systems-level approach districts can adopt now to advance equity
Impact of Enterprise Inventory Software Optimization on Inpatient Pharmacy Operational Metrics
No full textIntroduction:
Effective inventory management is a cornerstone of pharmacy operations, ensuring the availability of medications while minimizing waste and controlling costs. Hospital pharmacies face unique challenges in inventory management due to the increasing costs of medications, the regulatory environment, and the need to maintain a consistent supply of medications. When used optimally, enterprise inventory software allows hospitals and health systems to manage medications, simplify workflows, improve productivity, and reduce medication costs and waste. Enterprise inventory software provides visibility into all medication storage areas (including both automated dispensing cabinets (ADC) and the central pharmacy) to enable integrated medication management across the enterprise. There have been multiple articles on analyzing inventory management utilizing various matrix analyses. One study explored inventory management techniques using ABC (Always Better Control) and VED (Vital, Essential, Desirable) analyses. Additionally, one study examined how Lean and Six Sigma methodologies optimized hospital pharmacy operations globally. Lastly, two articles discussed automated dispensing cabinet inventory optimization. One addressed implementing and optimizing Automated Dispensing Cabinet (ADC) technology to enhance medication distribution efficiency, improve patient safety, and support workflow optimization in healthcare settings. The other compared two ADC optimization methods used to adjust 'par levels. Using the available literature, elements can be identified for optimizing inventory and workflow. However, a literature gap indicates a need for best practices in central pharmacy inventory optimization.
Research question:
How does enterprise inventory software optimization affect operational efficiency?
Hypothesis:
Enterprise inventory software optimization will improve the rate of medications out of stock within the central pharmacy.
Methods:
This single-center, retrospective study aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of enterprise inventory software optimization on pharmacy operational efficiencies within a 215-bed, level 3 trauma hospital. The enterprise inventory software workflow optimization intervention began in April 2024, followed by a two-month washout period for operational adjustments and staff education. The study evaluated inventory metrics six months before the intervention (pre-implementation: October 2023 - March 2024) and six months after the washout period (post-implementation: July 2024 – December 2024). The primary objective was to determine the change in inventory out of stock rates within the central pharmacy. The secondary objective was to assess changes in available medications in the enterprise inventory software post-optimization and to evaluate changes in ADC stockout replenishment turn-around-times. All statistical analyses were performed using R Statistical Software (v4.4.1; R Core Team 2024).
Results:
A total of 152,059 transactions were analyzed across the pre-and post-intervention periods. In the pre-intervention period, there were 70,607 transactions, of which 1,554 resulted in an out-of-stock occurrence, corresponding to a 2.20% out-of-stock rate. In the post-intervention period, there were 81,452 total transactions, with 1,445 leading to an out-of-stock event, resulting in a 1.77% out-of-stock rate. A Pearson’s chi-squared test demonstrated a statistically significant difference in out-of-stocks between the pre-and post-intervention periods (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Overall, this study reinforced the value of enterprise inventory software in improving central pharmacy efficiency, reducing stockouts, and streamlining inventory tracking. These improvements aligned with the project’s goals of enhancing medication availability, reducing inefficiencies, and improving overall operational performance. However, continued monitoring, iterative workflow improvements, and integration with predictive analytics are necessary to maximize its benefits across all aspects of inventory management
FPGA Implementation and Optimization of Bit Flipping Key Generation Algorithm for Post Quantum Cryptography in Embedded Systems Applications
No full textThe expeditious advancement of quantum computing has created a threat to classic cryptographic systems, calling for post-quantum cryptography (PQC) solutions like Bit Flipping Key Encapsulation (BIKE) algorithm, which utilizes Quasi-Cyclic Moderate Density Parity-Check (QC-MCPC) codes for a secure key exchange. Even though BIKE has cryptographic strengths like structural simplicity, and compact key sizes, it suffers from high dynamic power consumption due to its computationally intensive modular arithmetic operations, which include polynomial multiplication, inversion, and hashing. These factors limits its FPGA implementation power for embedded and IoT applications. This research work presents a resource-constrained FPGA implementation of BIKE on the Artix-7 FPGA, designed for integration into an IoT temperature sensor system on the STM32 microcontroller. This work focuses on basic design algorithms such as shift and XOR for polynomial multiplication, Itoh-Tsujii for polynomial inversion, validated through complete simulation of BIKE’s key operations such as key generation, encapsulation, and decapsulation. Although the current implementation focuses on generating a single set of keys and ciphertext per run, it lays a solid foundation for scalable, power-efficient enhancements in the future. This work underscores that even with restrained resources, BIKE can be made realistic, bridging the gap between PQC and real-world embedded systems deployment
Undergraduate Research Day: Celebrating 20 Years, April 10, 2025
No full textProgram booklet for the 2025 Undergraduate Research Day at the University of Houston. - - In 2009, at the fifth annual Undergraduate Research Day (URD), when Stuart Long was asked about the success of that year's event, he stated, "You haven't seen anything yet. We are just getting started." 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of URD, UH's leading multidisciplinary forum for presenting undergraduate research. Coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Major Awards (OURMA), this event unites students, faculty, staff and departments in celebration of a strong culture of undergraduate research.Honors Colleg