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Essays on Knowledge Management in the Age of AI
No full textKnowledge Management (KM) research in Information Systems (IS) has evolved over the last thirty years. Being a fundamental area of the IS field, this research stream has helped organizations to understand and manage their knowledge resources. Although the frequency of KM research in IS has declined in the last few years, the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly the advent of generative tools like Generative AI (aka. GenAI), herald a new epoch in organizational KM, filled with possibilities and complexities. The remarkable capabilities of AI have ushered in novel avenues for bolstering KM practices, especially knowledge transfer, across diverse sectors. By influencing every facet of KM processes, AI facilitates the generation of new knowledge and a seamless transfer of codified knowledge. With the emergence of self-learning algorithms, AI has facilitated the transfer of tacit knowledge as well, which was previously deemed impossible. By taking a historical reflection on previous KM research, my dissertation research provides two major insights- how traditional KM can guide future AI-led KM and how the future AI-led KM will change traditional KM research and practice. My dissertation research is designed to create three studies. Based on a comprehensive literature review of KM research in IS, the first study provides a holistic view of diversified KM areas and an assessment of to-date KM research. Based on a concept-centric analysis, this review explores and summarizes the KM literature in IS, determines the degree to which KM areas have progressed, provides a collective sense of the entire body of work, recognizes the current limitations, and identifies future research directions. By informing future researchers about what has been done to date in the KM topic in IS, this review paper provides a necessary resource for researchers working on KM and framing for future endeavors. Founded on the review of the first study, the second study develops a knowledge transfer framework illustrating different outcomes of transferring knowledge with different levels of tacitness. The current IS studies on knowledge transfer largely overlooked how the tacitness of knowledge and features of knowledge transfer mechanisms influence knowledge transfer outcomes as they interact with each other. To address this gap, my second study offers a three-dimensional knowledge transfer framework illustrating how knowledge transfer outcomes may vary as knowledge types (e.g., explicit vs. tacit), knowledge transfer mechanisms (e.g., codification vs. personalization), and task types (e.g., cognitive vs. psychomotor) interact. Based on the framework from the second study, the third study empirically tests the effectiveness of different training tools in improving health workers' knowledge and skills. Specifically, this study examined the impact of different training tools (e.g., virtual reality and video) in improving unskilled nurses’ resuscitation knowledge and skills. Intrapartum-related events such as birth asphyxia cause the death of millions of newborn babies across the globe, especially in low and medium-income countries (LMICs). Training health workers on neonatal resuscitation can significantly lower this death rate. Results from a randomized controlled experiment, conducted in two LMICs- Kenya and Nigeria, showed that different training tools differentially impact different types of resuscitation knowledge and skills
2-D Binary Classifier for Linearly Separable Points Through Geometric Line Stabbing
No full textIn this work, we propose a novel algorithm for classifying linearly separable points that remains scalable to higher dimensions. Unlike traditional methods, our approach does not depend on the number of features or dimensions. We achieve this by leveraging Edelsbrunner's line stabbing algorithm and extending it to the hyperplane stabbing problem. Our linear separator in 2D is a line, and in higher dimensions, it generalizes to a hyperplane, offering an efficient alternative to conventional classifiers.Computer Science, Department ofHonors CollegeMathematics, Department o
Social Support and Gender as Moderators of the Association of Ethnic Minority Status Stress with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among Hispanic College Students
No full textDepression and anxiety are the most prevalent mental health concerns among college students. In addition to the typical college stressors, Hispanic students may experience minority status stress associated with their membership in a socially stigmatized ethnic and cultural group. Ethnic minority status stress has been positively associated with psychological distress. Therefore, this study examined, among Hispanic college students, (a) gender differences in the associations of ethnic minority status stress and social support to depression and anxiety symptoms, (b) if social support buffered the association of minority stress with depression and anxiety symptoms, and (c) if the social support moderation effect differed by gender. The results indicated that the negative association of social support to depression symptoms was stronger for women than men and that social support buffered the association of ethnic minority status stress to depression symptoms only for women. The negative association of minority status stress to depression symptoms was statistically significant only for women who reported lower levels of social support. No gender or social support moderation effects were observed in relation to anxiety symptoms for women or men. The results highlight the importance of social support in ameliorating the potential impact of ethnic minority status stress on psychological distress among Hispanic college women
Noisy Delay Stabilizes Bistable Genetic Network
No full textBiochemical reactions within gene networks are inherently noisy. Additionally, gene networks experience varying delays during the several steps of protein production. The inherent stochasticity of our system produces the effect of bistability. Bistable dynamics are commonly found in biological processes. For instance, bistability plays a central role in cellular differentiation; the system's dynamics control the fate of the cells. In bistable systems, a large enough perturbation due to a random event triggers switches from one stable state to the other. In gene networks, the protein production delay also plays a role in this switching rate. Previously, it has been determined that longer fixed protein production delays increase residency times in the stable states of bistable gene networks. However, the effect of distributed delay on switching rates has not been investigated in the context of bistable systems. Here, we address what happens to the rate of switches between stable states if we hold the mean of the protein production delay fixed and increase the variance. To implement our stochastic model, we use a version of the Gillespie algorithm with distributed delay. Our results indicate that increasing protein production delay variance leads to increased residency times in bistable genetic regulatory networks.Mathematics, Department ofHonors Colleg
Development of Implantable Bioelectronic Device for Bladder Stimulation
No full textThe purpose of this research is to develop and test flexible scaffolds that could be integrated with electronics to restore normal bladder contractions in patients with detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD). In this study, four different scaffold designs made from Ecoflex were evaluated using a water balloon model to simulate bladder expansion and contraction. The scaffolds were applied to the balloon, and two points were marked to measure the distance between them using ImageJ, assessing the effect of the scaffold on balloon expansion. Water volumes ranging from 5 mL to 20 mL were injected incrementally, simulating bladder mechanics. The results showed that the greatest difference in expansion occurred between Scaffold Design 3 and the control (Δd=0.54cm), with other designs showing minimal deviations. Despite some differences in expansion between designs, all scaffolds exhibited negligible constriction and had no visible deformation or fatigue. These findings suggest that Ecoflex scaffolds have the potential to support bladder function without significantly hindering its natural behavior. Future work will focus on integrating electronic components into the scaffold for active stimulation of bladder contractions, with the ultimate goal of improving bladder function in patients with DSD and other urological conditions.Biomedical Engineering, Department ofHonors Colleg
A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Transgender Identity Development
No full textRising levels of attention have been paid to the transgender population in the United States. However, while research has investigated correlates of well-being in this population and experiences of stigma and discrimination, less research has been conducted regarding the development of transgender identity. This research utilized a self-determination theory perspective to further our understanding of how transgender people come to integrate their identities into their selves and how this relates to one’s negative feelings regarding their identities. The research surveyed 250 transgender adults in the United States that had identified as transgender for less than one year. This study found significant associations between basic psychological needs regarding transgender identity and mental health outcomes where worse mental health outcomes were associated with more frustration and less satisfaction of one’s identity specific needs. The study also found that better feelings regarding and incorporation of one’s identity was associated with greater satisfaction and less frustration. The study also tested how supportive and restrictive policies were associated with these outcomes and how this could be mediated by basic psychological needs. However, the associations were mixed, and there was no evidence of mediation or of moderation. An exploratory hypothesis further sought to determine if education could be utilized as a potential protective factor for transgender people living in states that had more restrictive policies. Another exploratory hypothesis used proposed laws as a predictor of these outcomes being mediated by satisfaction and frustration. This yielded interesting significant results in all outcomes aside from anxiety. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects and associations as well as to determine demographic factors that may serve as protective or risk factors
Binding of BCL11A Zinc Fingers to DNA Motifs in the ß-Globin Locus
No full textBCL11A, a transcription factor, is vital for hematopoiesis, including B and T cell maturation and the fetal-to-adult hemoglobin switch. Mutations in BCL11A are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. BCL11A contains two DNA-binding zinc-finger arrays, low-affinity ZF2-3 and high-affinity ZF4-6, separated by a 300-amino-acid linker. ZF2-3 and ZF4-5 share 73% identity, including five out of six DNA base-interacting residues. These arrays bind similar short sequence motifs in clusters, with the linker enabling a broader binding span. Crystallographic structures of ZF4-6, in complex with oligonucleotides from the ß-globin locus region, reveal that DNA sequence recognition by residues Asn756 (ZF4), Lys784 and Arg787 (ZF5). A Lys784-to-Thr mutation, linked to a neurodevelopmental disorder with persistent fetal globin expression, reduces DNA binding over 10-fold but gains interaction with a variable base pair. BCL11A isoforms may form oligomers, enhancing chromatin occupancy and repressor functions by allowing multiple copies of both low- and high-affinity ZF arrays to bind DNA. These distinctive properties, apparently conserved among vertebrates, provide essential functional flexibility to this crucial regulator. [This project was completed with contributions from John R. Horton, Jujun Zhou, Meigen Yu, Xing Zhang, and Xiaodong Cheng from UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.]Honors Colleg
Characterization of Shale Sealing with Hydrogen Storage
No full textHydrogen has become a promising candidate for mitigating carbon dioxide emissions, but its low density requires large storage volumes. Porous media in the subsurface have contained methane for centuries, which suggests that they could be used for hydrogen storage with specific emphasis on ensuring integrity against leakage. Thus, in evaluating hydrogen storage, this study examined the capillary and adsorption trapping mechanisms within shale caprock. There are two principal hypotheses.
The first hypothesis posits that the safe storage pressure for hydrogen is greater than or equal to the initial methane pressure in the reservoir. Consequently, this study introduces a methodology for calculating the safe pressure and evaluates its uncertainty via Monte Carlo simulation. Additionally, it uses an Artificial Neural Network to estimate hydrogen and methane interfacial tensions in water and brine systems at subsurface conditions. Applying the estimated interfacial tensions to the Ann Mag field in Texas indicates that the caprock can trap hydrogen at pressures reaching 8,438 psi and 10,515 psi at depths of 10,239 ft and 12,020 ft, respectively. Pressures higher than these thresholds may lead to fault slippage or fracture propagation.
The second hypothesis suggests that hydrogen permeability in organic-rich shale is at least twice that of methane because of the reduced adsorption and increased slippage effects. Molecular dynamics simulations and Knudsen criteria support this hypothesis, indicating superior transport properties of hydrogen owing to its reduced affinity for kerogen and pronounced slippage at 370 K and pressure ranging from 500 to 4,000 psi. This study also incorporates these findings into a detailed analysis of the permeability of Barnett shale via network modeling. Finally, it determines the effective conduit size from mercury injection capillary pressure measurements to capture the differences between the respective permeabilities of hydrogen and methane
Health Disparities at the Intersection of Racism, Social Determinants of Health, and Downstream Biological Pathways
No full textDespite overall improvements in the accessibility, quality, and outcomes of care in the U.S. health care system over the last 30 years, a large proportion of marginalized racial and ethnic minority (minoritized) groups continue to suffer from worse outcomes across most domains. Many of these health disparities are driven by inequities in access to and the scope of society’s health-affirming structural resources and opportunities commonly referred to as structural drivers or social determinants of health—SDoH. Persistently health-undermining factors in the social environment and the downstream effects of these inequities on neurocognitive and biological pathways exacerbate these disparities. The consequences of these circumstances manifest as behavioral, neurohormonal, immune, and inflammatory and oxidative stress responses, as well as epigenetic changes. We propose a theoretical model of the interdependent characteristics of inequities in the SDoH driven by race-based discriminatory laws, policies, and practices that eventually culminate in poor health outcomes. This model provides a framework for developing and validating multi-level interventions designed to target root causes, thereby lessening health disparities and accelerating improved health outcomes for minoritized groups
Profiles and Symptoms of PTSD in a Sample of Federal Law Enforcement Officers: the role of social support before and after treatment
No full textBackground: Prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among military/veteran and law enforcement personnel are higher than that of civilian population. There are currently no studies that report prevalence rates nor PTSD criterion expression for federal law enforcement. Social support has been shown to attenuate PTSD symptoms across proxy groups though these relationships remain unexamined among federal law enforcement. Purpose: This study characterized the experience of PTSD symptoms among federal law enforcement personnel at pre-treatment (T2) relative to the general population, military/veteran, and local law enforcement officers. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing PTSD symptoms as well as evaluated whether social support predicted a change in PTSD symptoms reported at pre-treatment (T2) and post-treatment (T3) and 2-months post treatment (T4), respectively. Methods: The sample was comprised of 100 (56% male; Mage= 42.18, SD= 7.8) trauma exposed federal law enforcement personnel who engaged in a 3-day intervention-based program. Results: PTSD symptoms at T2 (15%) were significantly higher when compared with the mean prevalence estimates for the general population (7.5%), military/veteran (10%), and local law enforcement (10%), transformed into Z scores for direct comparisons. ANCOVA analyses revealed no significant effect for time, visual inspection of scores across time suggest that PTSD symptoms decrease from T2 to T3 and from T2 to T4. Correlation analyses revealed PTSD and social support are negatively correlated at T2. Lastly, linear regression analyses indicated that social support predicted a significant change in PTSD symptoms from pre (T2) to post treatment (T3) though not for post (T3) to 2-months post- treatment (T4). Conclusion: These novel findings add vital information on how federal law enforcement personnel experience probable PTSD. In addition, this study’s findings identify that protective factors including social support may aid in the reduction of PTSD symptoms in the short-term