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Perceptions: A Qualitative Study on Marvel's Black Panther Influence on Pan-African Identity Among 2nd Generation Nigerian Americans & Black Americans
No full textBlack Panther (2018) was a commercially successful film that featured positive Black representation in Hollywood. Though previous scholars highlight film's positive affect of empowerment and reshaped views of Africa, they overlooked the nuanced experience of the Black diaspora in America. My summer research used Black Panther as a case study to examine how the film may have influenced Pan-African views among 2nd generation Nigerian Americans and Black Americans; and how the film impacted their perceptions, interactions, and identity.Communication, Jack J. Valenti School ofHonors CollegeComparative Cultural Studies, Department o
Examining the Association Between Racial Identity and Suicidal Ideation Among Black Youth
No full textAgainst the background of increasing rates of suicide among Black youth, researchers have identified the relation Black youth have to their identity as an important factor that may provide insight into the risk of suicide in this population. Preliminary work suggests that racial identity might serve as protective factor for psychological distress, though the literature is somewhat mixed, especially when suicidality is an outcome. Moreover, this research has predominantly concentrated on adults and/or community samples of youth. As of yet, the extent to which Black youth's attitudes and beliefs regarding their Black identity associate with current or past suicide ideation (SI) or behavior is under-investigated. The current study uses the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity-Teen (MIBI-t) to assess the relationship between aspects of Black identity with depression and suicidal ideation. Data was collected from a sample of 90 Black youth between the ages of 11-17 with current or a history of suicidal behaviors and/or moderate levels of depression. Results indicate that youth with greater centrality (i.e., the centrality of race to one's self-concept) were more likely to endorse greater symptoms of depression and SI. However, the association between centrality and SI was moderated by perceived racism as a risk factor for suicide, such that this link was only significant at moderate and high levels of endorsement of racism as a risk factor. Overall, findings suggest that racial centrality and racism together play a role in SI among Black youth, and future work can further explore these associations. [This project was completed with contributions from Ryan M. Hill from Louisiana State University, and Danielle R. Busby from Black Mental Wellness Corp., and Jennifer Brown from Purdue University.]Psychology, Department ofHonors Colleg
Reading the descent otherwise: Notes toward a Black feminist analysis of Dante and the journey in twentieth-century literature of the Black diaspora
No full textThis thesis examines the influence of Dante's Divine Comedy in the works of twentieth-century writers from across the African Diaspora. I argue that Black writers use the Comedy as inspiration - a waypoint - from which to express their views on Black experiences and reconstruct the historically white Western literary canon into a distinct literary style. Often, the relationship between Black diasporic literature and the deep past - the influence of classical antiquity and medieval literature on modern writing - has been overlooked by scholars. Yet recently, the work of Emily Greenwood, Justine McConnell, Dennis Looney, and Matthew X. Vernon, among others, has pioneered the critical concepts of Black classicism and Black medievalism. My project builds on this scholarship to examine why Black writers turn to Dante. That is, they turn to Dante not only because of the Italian poet's use of the classical past and audacious use of the vernacular, but also to integrate their projects into and critique the historically white literary canon. This project illuminates a chronological tapestry of Black medievalism, the use of the medieval past by Black artists, that unites artists across the Black diaspora, revealing a broader global literary project. Reading these texts together illuminates the multiplicity of Black diasporic experiences. Furthermore, it reveals how each writer speaks to the other(s) via allusions to Dante, as well as producing a call to the next generation of Black writers to pick up the mantle. Importantly, however, I also draw attention to the dearth of scholarly attention to Black women's receptions of Dante, and to what our reading of these texts through the lenses of Dante, Black feminism, and Black medievalism can bring to our understanding of Black women's literary traditions.Honors CollegeEnglish, Department o
ESG Risks and Market Valuations: Evidence from the Energy Sector
No full textThe link between ESG and financial performance is still under debate. In this study, we explore which aspects of ESG specifically drive market valuations through both systematic and idiosyncratic risk channels. We analyze the impact of the three core ESG pillars, 10 subcategories, and associated controversies on market valuations in the energy sector. This analysis reveals that the environmental factor has a stronger impact (regression coefficient = 0.05) than the governance factor (regression coefficient = 0.003), emphasizing the need to prioritize environmental performance in ESG strategies. The positive coefficients for environmental resource use (0.005) and innovation (0.008) indicate that investments in efficiency and clean technologies are beneficial, while the negative coefficient for emissions (−0.004) underscores the risks associated with poor emissions management. These findings suggest that environmental risks currently outweigh governance risks for the energy sector, reinforcing the importance of aligning governance practices with environmental goals. To maximize ESG effectiveness, energy firms should focus on measurable improvements in resource efficiency, innovation, and emissions reduction and transparently communicate this progress to stakeholders. The evidence suggests that energy firms approach the ESG landscape differently, with sustainability leaders benefiting from higher valuations, particularly when ESG efforts are aligned with core competencies. However, many energy companies under-invest in value-creating environmental initiatives, focusing instead on emission management, which erodes value. While they excel in emission control, they lag in innovation, missing opportunities to enhance valuations. This underscores the potential for ESG risk analysis to improve portfolio performance, as sustainability can both create value and mitigate risks by factoring into valuation equations as both risks and opportunities. This study uniquely contributes to the ESG–financial performance literature by disentangling the specific ESG dimensions that drive market valuations in the energy sector, revealing that value is created not through emission control but through strategic alignment with eco-innovation, governance, and social responsibility
Robust Control of Input-Delay Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) Systems
No full textPractical systems are nonlinear and time-varying and thus linear techniques can expose their control design to extra conservatism. Nevertheless, the Linear Parameter-Varying (LPV) representation can effectively describe them, which in contrast to linearization, maintains the principal dynamic modes of the original system. Additionally, the LPV and gain-scheduling control design benefit from the wealth of robust and optimal control techniques to acquire better performance over classical linear methods. Moreover, the majority of engineering systems are affected by input delays. Since there is a lag between the control signal and the system's response to it, input delay degrades a system's performance by reducing the bandwidth and even cause instability in severe cases. This research on input-delay LPV systems addresses their robust control in the presence of parameter variations and also time-varying delays. Previous works have typically addressed the LPV systems with state delays which are constant or mostly slowly varying. In contrast to such works, our first approach through the frequency-domain analysis assumes the delay and system parameters can vary arbitrarily within a priori known bounds which are pre-determined through tests. Then a low-pass filter is proposed to acquire robust stability over all parameter and delay variations for first-order time-delay systems which leads to a closed-form inequality for the filter tuning parameter in terms of nominal parameters and delay and their bounds. The results are applied to Air-Fuel Ratio (AFR) control in Spark-Ignition (SI) lean-burn engines and automated Mean Arterial Blood Pressure (MAP) regulation for the clinical resuscitation of hypotensive patients. In our second approach, time-domain techniques are employed to stabilize input-delay LPV systems characterized via a prescribed level of performance for the closed-loop system. It is assumed that parameters and the delay rate are varying within a priori known bounds. Moreover, the problem of such systems under input constraints or saturation is addressed in this framework and stabilizability conditions are described via convex constraints, known as Linear Matrix Inequality (LMI) conditions, to be solved numerically. The results are applied to AFR control in conventional SI engines and the MAP LPV model estimation and control for clinically resuscitating patients with hypotension
Predictive Modeling of Weather Trends
No full textIn my research, I examined the performance of various machine learning models for predicting weather patterns in Houston and Dallas. I wanted to see which model improves forecasting capabilities the most by comparing the accuracy of Decision Tree, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, and Linear Regression models. The gradient boosting performed better than the other models. This implies that ML is effective and can help predictive accuracy.Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department ofHonors CollegeElectrical and Computer Engineering, Department o
Sex Differences in Strength, Self-Estimation, and Pain Perception Based on Physical Activity After Rotator Cuff Repair
No full textBackground: The role of physical activity in early recovery following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) remains unclear, particularly regarding potential sex differences. This study examined the effects of physical activity on pain, self-estimation, and strength recovery after ARCR in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: Patients who underwent ARCR were classified into high physical activity (HPA, n = 94) and low physical activity (LPA, n = 99) groups based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain and the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASESs) score for self-estimation were assessed preoperatively and at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Isokinetic shoulder strength was measured at the same intervals except for the 6-week assessment. Results: All groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain reduction and self-estimation over time (p < 0.05). At 6 and 12 weeks, the HPA group showed significantly lower VAS scores and higher ASES scores than the LPA group (p < 0.05). Notably, at 12 weeks, men in the LPA group exhibited pain levels comparable to the HPA group, whereas women in the LPA group continued to report significantly higher pain levels (p < 0.05). Isokinetic strength assessment revealed greater flexion and external rotation strength in the HPA group at 12 weeks (p < 0.05), though no significant between-group differences were observed at 24 weeks. Conclusions: Higher physical activity levels were associated with better early pain relief and self-estimation after ARCR, particularly within the first 12 weeks. These findings suggest that structured physical activity may enhance postoperative outcomes, with potential sex-based differences in pain perception
Association Analysis of Crime From the Victim's Perspective
No full textThis study shifts the focus of crime analysis to the victim's perspective, using data analysis to uncover patterns in assault-related crimes. By examining over 2,300 incidents in Chicago, we explored the relationship between the time of day and the locations where assaults are most likely to occur. Creating an effective dataset was crucial for this research. The analysis relied on selecting the right variables to ensure the Apriori algorithm could generate meaningful insights about the relationships between assault locations and times of day. The dataset used general Chicago crime data from the Chicago Data Portal, augmented with a secondary dataset providing victim-related details. The research aims to contribute to data-driven knowledge which helps in making informed decisions about crime prevention and community safety.Computer Science, Department ofHonors Colleg
Mapping Morphine’s Antinociceptive Impact on the Ventral Tegmental Area During Nociceptive Stimulation: A Novel Microimaging Approach in a Neuropathic Pain Model
No full textThe neurobiology of chronic pain is complex and multifaceted, intertwining with the mesocorticolimbic system to regulate the behavioral and perceptional response to adverse stimuli. Specifically, the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the dopaminergic hub of the reward pathways located deep within the midbrain, is crucial for regulating the release of dopamine (DA) throughout the central nervous system (CNS). To better understand the nuances among chronic pain, VTA response, and therapeutics, implementing progressive approaches for mapping and visualizing the deep brain in real time during nociceptive stimulation is crucial. In this study, we utilize a fluorescence imaging platform with a genetically encoded calcium indicator (GCaMP6s) to directly visualize activity in the VTA during acute nociceptive stimulation in both healthy adult mice and adult mice with partial nerve ligation (PNL)-induced neuropathic pain. We also investigate the visualization of the analgesic properties of morphine. Deep brain imaging using our self-fabricated µ-complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) imaging device allows the tracking of the VTA’s response to adverse stimuli. Our findings show that nociceptive stimulation is associated with a reduction in VTA fluorescence activity, supporting the potential of this platform for visualizing pain-related responses in the central nervous system. Additionally, treatment with morphine significantly reduces the neuronal response caused by mechanical stimuli and is observable using the CMOS imaging platform, demonstrating a novel way to potentially assess and treat neuropathic pain
Assessing Vertical Stratification of Salinity to Understand Sediment Transport with Mathematical Approaches in the Arctic Circle
No full textThis research explores the vertical stratification of salinity and temperature in Arctic waters, with a focus on its effects on sediment transport from deltas in Greenland's coastal regions. Using data collected from Castaway-CTD instruments during the summers of 2022 to 2024, we analyze the relationship between temperature, salinity, and density profiles to understand how these factors influence the movement of sediment plumes in fjords. Findings indicate that the stratification of the water column, especially in the upper 10-20 meters, plays a critical role in controlling the horizontal and vertical dispersion of sediment. During periods of strong stratification, sediment remains in the surface layers, facilitating broader dispersion. Conversely, weaker stratification allows sediments to settle more rapidly into deeper waters. This research has important implications for predicting sediment transport dynamics and the impacts of glacial melt in a warming climate. Future work will incorporate mathematical models, such as the tracer equation, to further assess how stratification influences advection and diffusion processes in Arctic coastal ecosystems.Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department ofHonors Colleg