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Multi-Sensory Cartography of Natural Stimuli
No full textMulti-sensory mapping involves identifying and visualizing sensory stimuli within an environment to better understand their effects on human perception and brain activity. Understanding these influences is essential for designing environments that promote well-being and cognitive health. This study aims to identify and quantify common patterns among sensory stimuli, with a particular emphasis on olfactory stimuli due to their direct neural pathways and significant impact on cognition and emotion. Exposure to nature has been shown to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance cognitive function. This project seeks to: 1) develop dynamic multi-sensory maps external and internal environments (see sister posters) by documenting multiple natural sensory stimuli, 2) quantify and qualify the major olfactory stimuli, and 2) investigate how these nature-derived sensory inputs (auditory, olfactory, and visual) shape learning and memory.Biology and Biochemistry, Department ofHonors Colleg
The Meanings and Verification Processes of the Stand-up Comedian Identity
No full textRole identities, like that of the stand-up comedian, are defined by the meanings attached to the role and by what is expected to be accomplished within it. Once an identity is assumed, they undergo verification processes, in which others may evaluate the performance of that given identity. This study applies identity theory to the role of the stand-up comedian, a role that is unique in its direct and immediate feedback loop with the audience. Through in-depth interviews with fifteen stand-up comedians, I uncover the underlying meanings of the “comedian identity” and their responses to the verification process from both the audience and their peers. The findings show the meanings associated with the comedian identity and how those meanings are performed within the identity. Audience reception, through laughter and connection, and peer feedback, through compliments and bookings, play a major role in verifying the comedian identity. This verification elicits positive emotions within the comedian and reinforces the identity. Conversely, poor reception from the audience or negative feedback from their peers is nonverifying and evokes negative emotions. Comedians may employ various techniques, on stage with the audience and in their relationships with other comedians, to increase their likelihood of achieving verification. While comedians claim that they prefer verification from their peers, the emotional effects they experience from audience verification are far greater. This study contributes to identity theory by applying it to a performative, creative role identity and examining varying effects from different appraisers
Everything rises: Creative playwriting and queer theatre history
No full textEverything Rises is a queer, nonlinear memory play set in the small, fictional town of Sherwood, Texas. It tells the story of Elliot, a high school student who falls in love with his best friend, Malachi. In lieu of scene breaks, the play "blinks" across four years of time through which Elliot grieves Malachi's death, the result of a horrific hate crime, and his journey towards self-acceptance. Everything Rises asks performers and audience, together, to bear witness to acts of love and hate and the effects these acts have on the community around them. The play questions how they relate to the dominant powers represented onstage, including masculinity and religion. In the Fall of 2024, Everything Rises was produced at the University of Houston School of Theatre and Dance. This thesis includes the latest draft of Everything Rises; the changes reflect all I learned through the rehearsal process and the research of queer theory and queer theatre history discussed in the critical introduction.Honors CollegeTheatre Progra
Advance Time-lapse Imaging Microscopy in Nanowell Grids (TIMING) with Deep Learning and Generative Models
No full textWe present two studies on applying deep learning models to high-throughput label-free microscopy with the ultimate goal to advance live-cell microscopy and facilitate the development of cancer immunotherapy. Firstly, reliable label-free methods are needed for detecting and profiling apoptotic events in time-lapse cell-cell interaction assays. Prior studies relied on fluorescent markers of apoptosis, e.g., Annexin-V, that provide an inconsistent and late indication of apoptotic onset for human melanoma cells. Our motivation is to improve the detection of apoptosis by directly detecting apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs) in a label-free manner. Our trained ResNet50 network identified nanowells containing ApoBDs with 92% accuracy and predicted the onset of apoptosis with an error of 1 frame (5 mins/frame). In addition, our ApoBD segmentation yielded an IoU accuracy of 75%, allowing associative identification of apoptotic cells. Our method detected apoptosis events, 70% of which were not detected by Annexin V staining. Secondly, high-throughput time-lapse imaging is a fundamental tool for efficient living cell profiling at single-cell resolution. Label-free phase-contrast video microscopy enables non-invasive, non-toxic, and long-term imaging. The tradeoff between speed and throughput, however, implies that despite the state-of-the-art autofocusing algorithms, out-of-focus (OOF) cells are unavoidable due to the migratory nature of immune cells (velocities >10 μm/min). Here, we propose PostFocus to: (1) identifying OOF images within time-lapse sequences with a classifier, and (2) deploy a de-noising diffusion probabilistic model (DDPM) to yield reliable in-focus images. Our results showed that the DDPM outperformed deep discriminative models with a superior performance on the whole image and around cell boundaries. In addition, PostFocus improves image analysis (cell and contact detection) accuracy and the yield of usable videos
System-threat: Distress and Selective Exposure Processes
No full textThe present study sought to use an experimental design to assess the effects of system-threat on selective exposure processes in the context of the status-legitimacy hypothesis. It recruited a sample of 176 undergraduate students who volunteered for course credit at the University of Houston. These participants were young, above average on socioeconomic indicators, and recruited for a study of political perceptions during an active presidential election cycle. There were promising intercorrelations for the study’s hypothesis, but the experimental manipulation was not seen to influence biased information processing as had been expected by the study’s hypothesis. Despite biased informational processing occurring within the sample, it was unrelated to the experimental manipulation. The study did not find support for the status-legitimacy hypothesis but did demonstrate the expected biased information processing phenomenon in its association with a system justifying belief. Possible explanations for the failure of the experimental manipulation were discussed
The Role of Social Capital in Closing the Achievement Gap: A Study into African American Males Who Have Applied for College
No full textBackground: Bourdieu and Wacquant define social capital as the resources derived from a network of institutionalized relationships. This study explores how African American male students perceive social capital, particularly its role as a lever or barrier in their decision to apply for college. The achievement gap, which affects opportunities for educational attainment, employment, and health, is shaped by disparities in social capital, institutional resources, and support systems. Research into the achievement gap is essential for understanding how educational inequality impacts students' future opportunities and societal progress. Purpose: This research investigates the role of social capital—social, cultural, and organizational influences—in helping African American male students build networks within their communities and schools. The research aims to provide insights into how social capital can contribute to closing the achievement gap, offering recommendations for policymakers and educational institutions to promote educational equity. Research Questions: The primary research question asks: What is the role of social capital in closing the achievement gap amongst African American male students applying for college? Sub questions pertain to participant perceptions of the various associations between social capital and the prevalence and redress of academic achievement gaps. Methods: A qualitative case study approach was employed, beginning with a literature review and an analysis of the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with African American male students who participated in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program and subsequently applied to college. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis to identify patterns of meaning, with follow-up interviews conducted to enhance the study's reliability. Findings: Findings reveal that social capital, particularly familial influence, mentorship, and school support, plays a critical role in guiding African American male students through the college application process. Despite challenges such as racial discrimination and COVID-19 disruptions, resilience is fostered through strong community networks and targeted support. Conclusion: The study concludes that building social capital within educational frameworks can help close the achievement gap and promote long-term equity in education
"Whatever Were We Fighting For?": M*A*S*H and the Vietnam Era
No full textDoes entertainment reflect society, or does entertainment influence society? Throughout the Vietnam era, the United States faced societal and political strife. With draft dodgers, student protests, and the Watergate scandal, the 1970s evolved to have anti-government, anti-military, anti-authority, and antiwar attitudes. M*A*S*H (1972–1983) became a cultural phenomenon that quietly protested the Vietnam War. In the first three seasons, M*A*S*H reflected common sentiments from the 1960s and 1970s; thus, many of these early episodes contained themes of anti-government, anti-authority, and even anti-military attitudes. These attitudes were demonstrated through characterization, plotlines, and humor. After the third season, the focus of M*A*S*H became antiwar sentiment. While M*A*S*H indisputably reflected these attitudes, particularly in early seasons, the show came to influence society through its conversations concerning mental health. M*A*S*H began to destigmatize mental illness — particularly post-traumatic stress disorder — through Hawkeye Pierce and Sidney Freedman and by combining mental health-centric episodes with antiwar themes. By using the television episodes, memoirs written by the cast and creators, newspapers, museum programs, and images, I argue that M*A*S*H both reflected and influenced society
Interpretative Analysis: José F. Vásquez, Concerto for Violin and Orchestra no. 1 (1921)
No full textThis essay aims to summarize José F. Vásquez’s life and explore the history behind his violin concertos, focusing mainly on the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra no. 1 (1921), a composition recently discovered by the conductor and violinist Ludwig Carrasco. Despite Vásquez’s significant contributions as a composer, conductor, and educator, much of his work, including his violin concertos, remains neglected in both scholarly study and performance repertoire. This study also examines how the structure, melodies, and phrasing of the first concerto represents the tragic journey of a heroic character who, despite the challenges faced, ultimately achieves triumph. Through a combination of musicological research, archival investigation, theoretical analysis, and performance studies, this essay seeks to bring new insights into this violin concerto and advocate for the revival of Vásquez’s music in concert programs
Getting Everyone on the Same Page: Self-Determination Agreement Amongst Raters on the AIR Self-Determination Rating Scale and Post-Secondary Outcomes
No full textBackground: According to the Individuals with Disabilities education Act (IDEA), a student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) must include transition by the time the student turns 16. Transition services can continue for students in special education who exhibit a need for them until they are 22. Eighteen-plus transition programs were created to bridge the gap between high school and post-secondary life for students with disabilities. Two areas that an 18-plus program focuses on are self-determination and the condition of graduation. Self-determination is one’s ability to make choices and decisions about life. It has also been shown to be an indicator of post-secondary success such as employment status. The graduation conditions are often represented by graduation codes determined as students exit 18-plus programs. Purpose: The AIR self-determination scale is often used to measure self-determination in students with disabilities. Parents’, teachers’, and students' ratings are summed to make a total percentage score. Little research has been done to see how the variance between raters affects outcomes for the students. This study aimed to analyze the self-determination scores of the various raters for students of an 18-plus program in Texas and compare them to the graduation codes determined for those same students. Method: This archival descriptive study utilized information from students who have graduated from an 18-plus program between the years 2021-2024. This data was de-identified and disaggregated by gender, race, guardianship status, age, graduation code, self-determination score at time of graduation, graduation year, and disability. The researcher utilized this data to analyze patterns in self-determination scores, agreement levels between raters, and the association between the various self-determination ratings and students’ graduation codes. Results: The study found that students who graduated at age 22 had lower self-determination scores than students who exited the program younger. The data also showed that students who aged out of the district had lower self-determination scores than students who exited in any other manner. When looking at individual raters, family members on average scored the student’s the lowest on the AIR self-determination score and students scored themselves highest. For students who exited high school by aging out of the 18-plus program this discrepancy was larger than students exiting in any other manner. Conclusion: This study showed the variations of self-determination scores in an 18-plus program in Texas. This study revealed that there is a discrepancy between raters of the scale and proposes parent training to help families understand what self-determination is and how to appropriately complete the scale
Lysosome Functions in Atherosclerosis: A Potential Therapeutic Target
No full textLysosomes in mammalian cells are recognized as key digestive organelles, containing a variety of hydrolytic enzymes that enable the processing of both endogenous and exogenous substrates. These organelles digest various macromolecules and recycle them through the autophagy–lysosomal system. Recent research has expanded our understanding of lysosomes, identifying them not only as centers of degradation but also as crucial regulators of nutrient sensing, immunity, secretion, and other vital cellular functions. The lysosomal pathway plays a significant role in vascular regulation and is implicated in diseases such as atherosclerosis. During atherosclerotic plaque formation, macrophages initially engulf large quantities of lipoproteins, triggering pathogenic responses that include lysosomal dysfunction, foam cell formation, and subsequent atherosclerosis development. Lysosomal dysfunction, along with the inefficient degradation of apoptotic cells and the accumulation of modified low-density lipoproteins, negatively impacts atherosclerotic lesion progression. Recent studies have highlighted that lysosomal dysfunction contributes critically to atherosclerosis in a cell- and stage-specific manner. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of lysosomal biogenesis and its regulatory role in atherosclerotic lesions. Based on these lysosomal functions, we propose that targeting lysosomes could offer a novel therapeutic approach for atherosclerosis, shedding light on the connection between lysosomal dysfunction and disease progression while offering new insights into potential anti-atherosclerotic strategies