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Perioperative Immunonutrition in Gastrointestinal Oncology: A Comprehensive Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis on Behalf of TROGSS—The Robotic Global Surgical Society
No full textIntroduction: Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Surgical resection, the primary treatment, often induces immunosuppression and increases the risk of postoperative complications. Perioperative immunonutrition (IMN), comprising formulations enriched with omega-3 fatty acids, arginine, nucleotides, and antioxidants, has emerged as a potential strategy to improve surgical outcomes by reducing complications, enhancing immune function, and promoting recovery. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library was conducted on 28 October 2024 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses evaluating perioperative IMN versus standard care in adult patients undergoing GI cancer surgery were included in the search. The outcomes assessed included infectious and non-infectious complications, wound healing, hospital stay, and nutritional status. The study quality was evaluated using AMSTAR 2, and the meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models to calculate the pooled effect sizes (risk ratios [RRs], odds ratios [ORs], mean differences [MDs]) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Sixteen systematic reviews and meta-analyses, including a total of 41,072 patients, were included. IMN significantly reduced infectious complications (RR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.55&ndash;0.70; <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 63.0%), including urinary tract infections (RR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.61&ndash;0.89; <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.0%) and wound infections (OR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.55&ndash;0.73; <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 34.4%). Anastomotic leak rates were notably lower (RR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.62&ndash;0.75; <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 8.2%). While no significant reduction in pneumonia risk was observed, non-infectious complications decreased significantly (RR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75&ndash;0.92; <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 30.6%). IMN also reduced the length of hospital stay by an average of 1.92 days (MD: &minus;1.92, 95% CI: &minus;2.36 to &minus;1.48; <i>I</i><sup>2</sup> = 73.5%). Conclusions: IMN provides significant benefits in GI cancer surgery, reducing complications and improving recovery. However, variability in protocols and populations highlight the need for standardization and further high-quality trials to optimize its application and to validate its efficacy in enhancing surgical care
Beyond fear: Architectural solutions for nuclear infrastructure
No full textBeyond Fear: Architectural Solutions for Nuclear Infrastructure is an architecture honors thesis blending nuclear engineering, architecture, and history. This concept directly addresses the fear, skepticism, and political anxiety surrounding nuclear power by using architecture as a tool for public trust, environmental harmony, and socially conscious infrastructure. Rather than isolating nuclear facilities as restricted, alienating spaces, the project proposes a new hybrid typology, best described as a national park anchored by a modular power plant. Built around Small Modular Reactor (SMR) technology, the project responds to Puerto Rico's urgent energy vulnerabilities by demonstrating how critical infrastructure can operate transparently within public and ecological contexts, transforming disaster prone regions into nuclear networks. Beyond Fear's mission is to redefine the relationship between people and power generation, combining resilient modular design, seismic and environmental adaptation, and public accessibility into a replicable model. Additionally, Beyond Fear utilizes Puerto Rico's short yet unique nuclear history, occupying the same site of the islands first and only nuclear generation station, using this opportunity to create a functional infrastructure that equally educates visitors of the site. Positioned as a pragmatic vision for future energy systems, Beyond Fear challenges architects to move beyond passive observation and reclaim an active role in shaping the infrastructures that sustain society. It demonstrates that energy facilities can evolve alongside their communities, adapting over time as environmental, social, and technological conditions change. By designing nuclear stations with long-term public utility, landscape integration, and future reprogramming in mind, Beyond Fear offers a replicable framework where infrastructure is not abandoned after decommissioning, but is transformed into lasting civic, educational, and ecological assets.Honors CollegeArchitecture and Design, Gerald D. Hines College o
A Prayer a Day Keeps CAPS Away: Is Religiosity Associated With the Happiness and Mental Well-Being of Minority College Students?
No full textIn many cultures, religious-based coping has been cited as an effective method to strengthen mental well-being, a sentiment reflected in the literature as religion is positively associated with subjective well-being (i.e., happiness) and mental health (i.e., absence of depression, stress, and anxiety; Rizvi & Hossain, 2016). As humanity moves towards an era where mental health awareness is on the rise, mindfulness interventions are increasingly seen as sufficient treatments to manage stress, anxiety, and depression (Dawson et al., 2020). Spring 2024 pre-semester data from the Mindful Ambassador Program, an intervention targeting student well-being through mindfulness, was utilized to analyze possible associations between religiosity, happiness, and well-being of minority college students. We expected to find that religiosity would be positively correlated with happiness and well-being. In other words, minority students who engage in religious practices will experience higher levels of happiness and greater mental well-being. A sample of 128 minority undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Houston took the survey that incorporated Rohrbaugh and Jessor Religiosity Scale (RJRS) to assess the type and frequency of religion, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) to measure psychological distress, and the Pemberton Happiness Index (PHI) to measure hedonic, eudaimonic, social, and well-being across cultures. We found no significant associations that supported our hypothesis. Future research could include the utilization of different measures and a qualitative methodology to better understand the relationship between the constructs.Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, Department ofHonors Colleg
In Defense of Political Independents: Understanding the Role and Impact of Pure Independents in American Politics
No full textThis dissertation examines the role and behavior of political independents in the United States, with a particular focus on “pure” independents—individuals who do not lean toward either the Democratic or Republican party. The study aims to explore the increasing group and shed light on how their emergence challenges the traditional two-party system, and what this means for political engagement and representation. Using data from the American National Election Studies (ANES), Cooperative Election Study (CES), and Texas Politics Project, my research explores pure independents’ demographic trends, attitudes, and political behaviors. This analysis highlights the diversity within this group and distinguishes the unique behaviors and attitudes of pure independents. This group of people shows variable levels of political engagement and a distinct responsiveness to political events, differentiating them from their partisan counterparts. Moreover, this study examines the behavior of independents, emphasizing their potential role as swing voters and their impact on influencing election outcomes. By examining both voting and non-voting behaviors, the research offers strategies to better engage this growing group of people, thereby enhancing democratic participation. The findings suggest that understanding political independents is important for understanding broader public sentiments and addressing dissatisfaction with the current political system in the United States. This dissertation contributes to political theory by elucidating the role of independents in an era of increasing polarization, suggesting that their influence may reshape policy, governance, and the future trajectory of American democracy
Sex-specific HPA Axis Development and Subsequent Susceptibility to Binge Alcohol in Females
No full textBinge drinking is the most common form of alcohol consumption with 1 in 6 American adults reportedly engaging in the behavior. This is cause for concern because binge alcohol consumption is associated with cognitive and behavioral impairments in addition to being a better predictor of alcohol-related neurodegeneration than is total lifetime consumption of alcohol. While the majority of past research has been conducted using male subjects, it is especially important that we study and understand the consequences of binge alcohol in females for two reasons. Binge drinking in females is on the rise, and research suggests that the female brain may be especially vulnerable to binge-related damage. A possible explanation is differences in the development and activation of the HPA axis. Females show heightened HPA response to stressors compared to males and alcohol is a physiological stressor. Therefore, in the current study, rats underwent a 4-day binge exposure, which has previously shown females to be selectively vulnerable. This vulnerability is demonstrated in the form of cell loss in the hippocampus. Groups were comprised of vehicle male animals, vehicle female animals, and female animals that were given neonatal injections of testosterone in order to masculinize the development of the HPA (and by extension, the stress response to alcohol). Groups were compared for differences in levels of stress hormone, neurotrophic factor, and neurodegeneration. Results show that testosterone-treated females did not differ significantly from their vehicle female counterparts in terms of remaining granule neurons, corticosterone levels, or behavioral intoxication. We conclude that binge ethanol exposure produces significant hippocampal damage in rats, however, variability in the degree of damage may be partly influenced by organizational hormones and early life experience
Analysis of Natural Convection Effects in Insulation Layers of Cryogenic Storage Tanks
No full textLiquid hydrogen (LH2) has one of the highest gravimetric energy densities out of many options available for hydrogen storage and this makes it an attractive candidate for transportation through maritime route. The challenge is to store LH2 at 20K in vessels of size 40k-100k m3 for extended periods of time. The state-of-the-art technology is the vacuum storage which is not scalable to the commercial size requirement. Current efforts are directed at non-vacuum based insulation, similar to that used in liquified natural gas (LNG) storage. The non-vacuum insulation layer under large temperature difference can exhibit natural convection inside it, increasing the heat ingress. In this work, we study the natural convection in the insulation layers under different operating conditions and tank sizes with the aim to minimize convection. In horizontal layers, the stability of the base conduction state with respect to convective perturbations is analyzed to determine the critical permeability (or Rayleigh number) for the onset of natural convection. A temperature weighted streamfunction is utilized resulting in analytical simplifications and a model that is valid throughout the cryogenic regime. It is shown that in horizontal cryogenic insultation layers with large temperature difference between the cold and warm boundary, convective solutions emerge by sub-critical bifurcation whereas in the insulation layers of spherical tanks, the solution branches are disconnected. Furthermore, a novel dual-layer insulation design is proposed for LH2 tanks. The inner layer is filled with hydrogen gas while the outer layer is filled with nitrogen gas that has lower thermal conductivity. The impermeable barrier separating the two layers is placed such that it is above the liquefaction temperature for nitrogen gas. Linear stability analysis shows bi-modal neutral curves. The conduction state is stabilized by the barrier and by filling less permeable material in the inner layer. The bifurcation diagrams depict cold boundary migration towards the hot boundary due to convection which can lead to condensation of nitrogen gas in the outer layer. The dual-layer insulation, designed below the limit point of subcritical pitchfork results in overall thinner insulation system as compared to the single layer design
Functional Material for High-Capacity Hydrogen Storage
No full textIn the context of sustainable energy and climate mitigation, hydrogen has emerged as a vital energy carrier for both stationary and mobile applications. However, the development of high-capacity, safe, and cost-effective hydrogen storage systems remains a significant barrier to advancing the hydrogen economy. Traditional storage materials—including metal hydrides, metal-organic frameworks, and two-dimensional materials—often suffer from drawbacks such as high operating pressures, slow kinetics, and energy-intensive hydrogen release processes. This dissertation explores an alternative approach by investigating hydrogen solubility and hydrate formation under confinement. First, we examine how nanoscale confinement affects hydrogen solubility in water, revealing that pore size and geometry critically influence molecular interactions and hydrate stability. We then employ a modified zeolite platform, termed Z3, featuring rationally tuned pore dimensions and tailored surface chemistry. This structure enhances hydrogen solubility by restructuring water molecules and facilitating double donor–acceptor (DDAA) hydrogen bonding, enabling hydrogen storage in the form of hydrates at pressures as low as 8 –10 bar, two orders of magnitude lower than conventional systems. Building upon these findings, we introduce a novel solid–liquid hybrid platform: the Solid–Liquid Storage Material (SLSM). SLSM is consist of tiny porous silica materials filled with water-based solutions and covered by liquid layers. This architecture promotes water molecule reorganization and DDAA bonding within confined domains, significantly enhancing hydrogen solubility. Notably, SLSM generates internal pressures of approximately 500 bar under ambient conditions, eliminating the need for external compression. The SLSM achieves a hydrogen storage capacity of 0.043 kg H₂ per liter of system volume, meeting the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2025 volumetric storage target. By integrating low-pressure operation, fast kinetics, and high storage density, this work presents a promising pathway for next-generation hydrogen storage technologies critical to enabling a clean and efficient energy transition
Machine Learning in Carbon Capture, Utilization, Storage, and Transportation: A Review of Applications in Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction
No full textCarbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies have emerged as indispensable tools in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and combating climate change. However, the optimization and scalability of CCUS processes face significant technical and economic challenges that hinder their widespread implementation. Machine Learning (ML) offers innovative solutions by providing faster, more accurate alternatives to traditional methods across the CCUS value chain. Despite the growing body of research in this field, the applications of ML in CCUS remain fragmented, lacking a cohesive synthesis that bridges these advancements to practical implementation. This review addresses this gap by systematically evaluating ML applications across all major CCUS components&mdash;CO<sub>2</sub> capture, transport, storage, and utilization. We provide structured representative examples for each CCUS category and critically examine various ML techniques, optimization objectives, and methodological frameworks employed in recent studies. Additionally, we identify key parameters, practical limitations, and future opportunities for applying ML to enhance CCUS systems. Our review thus offers comprehensive insights and practical guidance to CCUS stakeholders, supporting informed decision-making and accelerating ML-driven CCUS commercialization
Group-Based Trajectory Model to Assess Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy Adherence Pattern in HR-Positive Breast Cancer: Results from Rio Grande Valley Patients
No full text<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Adherence to oral endocrine therapy (OET) is essential to reduce recurrence but is predominantly lower among underserved patients, leading to worse health outcomes. We aimed to depict longitudinal patterns of OET adherence using group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) and identify predictors associated with each adherence trajectory. <b>Methods</b>: A single-center, retrospective study was conducted to analyze data from women 18 years or older with metastatic breast cancer who initiated with an OET and were treated from January to December 2022. Adherence was measured using a proportion of days covered (PDC &gt; 80%) for 12 months. Binary monthly indicator of PDC was incorporated into GBTM. Four models were generated by changing the number of groups from 2 to 5, using a 2nd-order polynomial function of time. A multinomial logistic regression model was run to evaluate the predictors of non-adherence trajectories, and &ldquo;adherence&rdquo; was considered the reference group. <b>Results</b>: A total of 346 women had a (mean age of 60) years; 93% were Hispanic or of Mexican origin; 90% were taking aromatase inhibitors (AIs), with an endocrine therapy of 1.05 years. Three trajectories of adherence to GBTM were identified: a gradual decline in adherence (<i>n</i> = 88, 25.5%), improving suboptimal adherence (<i>n</i> = 106, 30.6%), and adherent (<i>n</i> = 152, 43.9%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that significant predictors are diabetes (odds ratio (OR), 2.96; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.57&ndash;5.57) and fewer years of therapy (OR, 2.96; 95% CI, 1.57&ndash;5.57). Suboptimal adherence among RGV patients receiving OET, with approximately 56% following a non-adherent trajectory. <b>Conclusions</b>: Suboptimal adherence among RGV patients receiving OET, with approximately 56% following a non-adherent trajectory. Significant predictors should be considered when designing targeted interventions
Ink, Piercings, and Prejudice: Exploring the Intersections of Race, Gender, and Stigma
No full textVisible body modifications like tattoos and body piercings are becoming increasingly commonplace, however, some stigma associated with them remains. This study examines how Black and Latina women with visible body modifications experience and navigate stigma across different social networks—the family, romantic relationships, and the workplace. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, this research explores how systems of oppression like sexism and racism impact perceptions of bodily capital, stigma and acceptance. Using theories of intersectionality and cultural capital, this study highlights three key findings: (1) gendered expectations reinforce sexism within social networks (2) race-linked stereotypes inform perceptions of appearance (3) stigma operates through both hierarchical and compounded effects where one identity may be more salient, or multiple identities intersect to produce unique experiences with stigma. The findings reveal that while body modifications can serve as a source of empowerment, they also subject women to intensified forms of social control, particularly through familial disapproval, sexual objectification in romantic relationships and racialized perceptions of respectability and professionalism. This research advances sociological discussions on embodied stigma by demonstrating how bodily capital is negotiated within structural power dynamics and cultural expectations