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Thermal Pore Connectivity Development in Midra Shale Outcrop Samples and its Impacts on the Formation Transport Properties
No full textShale reservoirs are characterized by ultra-low matrix permeability on the order of nanoDarcy and require production wells to be hydraulically fractured to recover economically hydrocarbon reserves. Hydraulic well fracturing demands significant volumes of water, which may potentially impact the environment and water resources. Cryogenic fracturing is a waterless rock stimulation that can be used to improve hydrocarbon recovery from shale formations. However, pore structure and fluid phase behavior in shale nanopores following cryogenic stimulation remain unclear, with the process modeling efforts being limited to either homogenous media or granular topologies. This study focuses on void space to account for heterogeneity, pore structure, and fluid-flow features in shale formations. It integrates laboratory experiments and analytical models to determine the effects of cold shock on shale rock pore structure for samples with temperatures ranging from ambient conditions to 250°C. The work uses gas adsorption and mercury injection capillary pressure measurements to determine the effects on the rock pore body and pore throat distributions. Crucially, it separates the characterization of pre-shock and post-shock samples and analyzes the shift in critical properties of hydrocarbon in micro- and nanopores using the Lennard–Jones potential model. The proposed approach implements the pre-shock and post-shock pore body and pore throat distributions to determine the cold shock impact on matrix permeability via network modeling. Microscopic imaging showed that the pore structure alteration increased with the shale sample temperature. Results also revealed a consistent trend of increasing pore volumes of pores narrower than 40 nm, indicating increased complexity and fracture size with shock intensity. The porosity values are higher than the anticipated normal range for shale formations, thus indicating the influence of using weathered shale outcrops in this investigation. Furthermore, the results show that the induced cracks dominated the flow path, leading to a 20% enhancement in permeability, much lower than the values reported in the literature. Estimated permeability enhancement depended non-monotonically on the cold-shock intensity, suggesting the existence of an optimal treatment condition that requires experimental determination. Thermal treatment effects on critical properties were insignificant, but pore structure alterations are critical in multiphase fluid flow in shale formations
Exploring the Frontiers of the Fungal Holobiont: Deciphering the Impact of Endo Hyphal Bacteria on Fungal Growth, Microbiome Composition, and Metal Tolerance
No full textFungi and bacteria associated with the rhizosphere play important ecological roles in soil ecosystems, yet most studies have not fully described the intricate interactions and functions among them. This work elucidates the co-occurring interactions and potential functions of endo- and exo-bacteria present in the fungal microbiome found in different plant rhizospheres. The fungi and associated bacterial microbiomes were obtained using fungal-highway columns with plant-based media, followed by their identification using Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, respectively. The sequencing results were analyzed using bioinformatic tools, such as Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt2), Network Analysis, and Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA). The bioinformatic analyses allowed visualization of the underlying patterns and evaluation of metabolic functions of the fungal microbiome. Analysis of the fungal-associated endosymbiont revealed a dual composition: a cosmopolitan component, including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, and Stenotrophomonas, and a species-specific component. The latter included the previously unreported associations of Pseudorhodoferax-Kalmusia, and Curtobacterium-Didymella. Additionally, a shared endobacterial core, composed of Brevundimonas, Methylobacterium, Phyllobacterium, Acidovorax, Achromobacter, Herbaspirillum, Stenotrophomonas, Bradyrizobium, Novosphingobium, was found in most isolated fungi. PICRUSt2 analysis of the endobacterial core suggests its potential role in nitrogen cycling. Comparative analysis of endo- and exo-bacteria showed that not all exo-bacteria were part of the endo-bacteria fungal microbiota. For instance, Bacillus co-occurred as an exo-bacterium in 80% of the fungal isolates but as an endobacterium in only 15% of the isolates, suggesting differential endosymbiotic colonization capabilities for certain bacterial species in different fungi. Investigations of metagenomic functions in endobacteria highlighted potential factors needed to establish endosymbiosis, including loss of amino acids and energy production pathways, and the presence of lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis pathways to evade host defenses. Moreover, to elucidate the role of the endobacterial presence on fungal fitness (i.e. growth) during co-culture with exo-bacteria, we selected three Fusarium isolates and treated them to reduce their endobacterial load. These treated fungal isolates, along with their untreated counterparts and corresponding exo-bacteria obtained from the fungal highway column, were used to construct a synthetic microbial consortium as a proxy for the soil microbiome. The fungal growth of the fungi with reduced endobacterial loads and wild types was monitored and compared in the presence or absence of exo-bacteria. Results showed that the isogenic lines with reduced endobacterial load typically exhibited enhanced mycelial growth compared to the wild type. However, when these lines interacted with the external microbiota, they generally displayed reduced competitive fitness, suggesting that the presence of endobacteria may confer an adaptive advantage in the context of complex microbial interactions. Furthermore, metal tolerance with fungi containing or not endosymbionts was further investigated with two fungal species. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis determined fungal hyphae functional groups interacted with metals. Results showed that endobacteria increased tolerance and removal for some metals but decreased it for others. Higher metal concentrations led to reduced endobacteria presence. Overall, this work demonstrated that bacterial endosymbionts play a key functional role in fungal-bacteria interactions, influencing host metabolism, microbiome interactions, and metal tolerance. Elucidating this tripartite symbiosis advances our understanding of microbiome functions in the rhizosphere
School and Neighborhood Health Perceptions of Hispanic and African American Youth: Advocating for Healthy Communities
No full textChildren and adolescents of color often have limited access to essential amenities and resources that support preventive healthcare, proper nutrition, and overall well-being, contributing to higher rates of chronic illness and poorer health outcomes. These health disparities disproportionately affect minority youth in Houston, underscoring the need to uplift their voices and address their specific health challenges. To drive systemic change that truly meets the needs of future generations, it is crucial to prioritize and actively listen to youth perspectives. Study Purpose: To explore neighborhood and school health perceptions among Hispanic and African American children and adolescents. Research Question: How do Hispanic and African American children and adolescents perceive their health in their school and neighborhood?Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, Department ofHonors Colleg
Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Associations Between Personal Narrative Themes (Human vs. Computer Coded) and Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-being
No full textPersonal narratives offer insight into well-being, traditionally analyzed through human coding. With the rise of computerized text analysis, this study compares both methods in predicting a diverse set of well-being outcomes, aiming to clarify how specific narrative themes relate to different well-being dimensions. To this end, we collected three waves (N1 = 663, N2 = 455, N3 = 291) of longitudinal data from a sample of US adults during the COVID-19 pandemic (mean age = 39; 53% male; 75% White/European American, 25% Person of Color). At baseline, participants narrated how the pandemic changed them and completed hedonic (anxiety, depression, affect, life satisfaction) and eudaimonic (purpose, hope) well-being measures. Four and nine months later, we reassessed the same well-being measures. Narratives were coded (human and computerized) for motivational (agency, communion) and affective (redemption, contamination) themes. Regression analyses showed that human-coded themes more consistently predicted hedonic and eudaimonic well-being cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Controlling for human-coded themes, only computer-coded communion showed unique predictive effects. Dominance analyses revealed that human-coded motivational themes best predicted eudaimonic well-being, whereas human-coded contamination (but not redemption) best predicted most hedonic outcomes. For computer-coded themes, communion was the strongest predictor of all well-being outcomes. These findings highlight the relative strengths of human and computerized narrative coding in capturing well-being associations
Vouchers and Vulnerabilities: How School Voucher Legislation Affects Special Education in Texas
No full textThis study explores the potential effects of school choice legislation like Senate Bill 1, on special education in Texas. Special education (SPED) students face unique challenges and disparities in educational outcomes, and school choice policies, such as voucher programs, could significantly impact their access to quality education. The study begins by examining the history and current state of special education in the United States and Texas, highlighting persistent issues such as racial disproportionality, inadequate funding, and lack of compliance with special education laws. It reviews the outcomes of school voucher programs in states like Arizona, Florida, and Indiana, with a focus on their impact on SPED services. Additionally, the study evaluates the current state of private special education in Texas by compiling and analyzing data on the location, tuition, enrollment, and demographic information for all special education schools in the state. This comprehensive analysis aims to ascertain the capacity of private facilities to meet the needs of special education students and the viability of future school choice legislation in Texas.Honors Colleg
Global Change Affects Height of Salt Marsh Grasses
No full textSalt marsh grasses, which live in intertidal habitats, are vulnerable to drowning with sea level rise. This concern is becoming especially urgent with the increasing effects of climate change. The height of salt marsh plants is related to their location in the intertidal zone- those closer to the water are taller, while those further away tend to be shorter. Theoretically, salt marsh plants should initially respond to rising sea levels by getting taller. Since the year 2000, sea level has risen by several centimeters along the Georgia Coast. The Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long-Term Ecological Research (GCE LTER) program has monitored plant height at the creek-bank and mid-marsh zones of 10 sites since 2000. Additionally, historical climate data has also been recorded. I organized the GCE LTER data using Rstudio, calculating the annual average shoot height, annual average maximum shoot height, and annual average shoot density at each zone/site. I used these calculations to create graphs that visualize the changes over time with a linear trendline and conducted statistical analysis regarding the significance of my results. I found that the plants near the creek bank were not growing taller, likely because they had already hit maximum height; however, the plants in the mid-marsh did exhibit growth. I also conducted backwards stepwise linear regression on various climate factors to see which most influence the trends in the height and density of salt marsh grasses. I found that river discharge, air temperature, and sea level had the most prominent effects on these trends.Biology and Biochemistry, Department ofHonors Colleg
Integrating Primary Sources Into K-12 Classrooms
No full textThis project provides an overview of the process of incorporating primary documents into curriculum and lesson plans within necessary requirements or restrictions, particularly in elementary schools. It outlines the components of a student-centered lesson that uses primary sources. The goal is to create engaging social studies activities by following Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), English Language Proficiency Standards (ELPS), and hands-on learning to expand the boundaries of teaching resources.Hispanic Studies, Department ofHonors Colleg
Nexus of Economic Growth, Economic Structure, and Environmental Pollution: Using a Novel Machine Learning Approach
No full textThe economy and environment still show complicated relationships, which have generated various and conflicting hypotheses. This study aims to propose a new perspective on the connection between economy and environment across 164 countries using an innovative clustering method, including Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and a machine learning approach. The outcome introduces three clusters of countries with similar economic and environmental characteristics. Cluster 1 constitutes countries with the highest levels of economic development and environmental quality. They include Luxembourg, Switzerland, Ireland, Norway, Singapore, the US, and Australia. Cluster 2 involves countries with less than the highest levels of economic development and environmental quality, covering the right side of the Environmental Kuznets Hypothesis (EKH) and the Pollution Halo Hypothesis (PHH-Halo). These include Qatar, Denmark, Iceland, The Netherlands, Austria, the UK, Germany, UAE, New Zealand, and Israel. Finally, the lowest development levels of economic and environmental development are apparent in the countries in Cluster 3, indicating the left side of the EKH and the Pollution Haven Hypothesis (PHH-Haven). This finding gathers the three hypotheses of EKH, PHH-Halo, and Haven in one unique framework of the economy–environment nexus
Closing the immunization gap: SMS reminders in post-pandemic pediatric care
No full textRoutine childhood immunizations are vital for preventing disease outbreaks and protecting public health (Zhou et al., 2024). Prior to COVID-19, infant vaccination rates in the U.S. were stable and monitored through regular pediatric visits. However, the pandemic caused widespread healthcare disruptions, leading to missed primary care visits and a significant decline in routine immunizations (Nuzhath et al., 2021; Santoli et al., 2020). These lapses have raised global concerns about resurgences of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and pertussis, particularly among pediatric populations (Hamson et al., 2023; Moré et al., 2025; Zhou et al., 2024). Even minor decreases in coverage risk reversing decades of progress, particularly amongst infants (Nuzhathet al., 2021; Santoli et al., 2020). Evaluating trends before and after the pandemic is essential to identify care gaps and guide equitable, targeted interventions (Hamson et al., 2023; Moré et al., 2025).Nursing, Andy and Barbara Gessner College o
Consider compassion: Examining trends of compassion in medical students at the University of Houston's College of Medicine
No full textAs a society, we rely on certain institutions to take care of us and ensure our well-being. We want our government to work for our best interests, our teachers to educate our children, and our doctors to keep us healthy. However, this puts a lot of pressure on these entities, and to ensure that this system continues to work, we must support our critical service providers and encourage empathy and compassion. Multiple studies have confirmed that declining empathy has become prevalent in medical professionals, with more than 20% affected (Menezes et al., 2021). A related concept is compassion, which has not been as well studied as empathy. I intend to investigate the measurement and promotion of compassion in medical school students. More specifically, among the students at The University of Houston College of Medicine, I will examine trends in compassion in first, second, and third-year medical students. Furthermore, methods of intervention to promote compassion, as well as limits and recommendations for future research were discussed.Honors CollegePsychology, Department o