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Identifying Biological Control Agents Against Oak Wilt to Reduce Environmental Toxicity
Full text linkOak wilt, a vascular disease affecting oak trees (Quercus spp.), is caused by the fungus Bretziella fagacearum (Fig. 1), also known as Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt, Endoconidiophora fagacearum Bretz, Chalara quercina Henry, and Thielaviopsis quercina (EPPO, 2023). Red oaks are highly susceptible to this disease, often succumbing within a few months, while white oaks are more resistant to this disease (Bourgault et al. 2022).
Oak wilt has been found in Texas, as well as in the midwestern and eastern states in the United States (Fig. 2), and in certain Canadian provinces (Bourgault et al. 2022; EPPO 2025).
The ongoing spread of oak wilt is causing significant tree loss, threatening ecosystem services like runoff control, shade, carbon sequestration, and wildlife habitat. It could also severely impact the oak log industry (Pedlar et al. 2020; Bourgault et al. 2022), and property values.
Propiconazole, a fungicide, has been found to reduce oak tree mortality rates, but concerns persist about its environmental persistence and potential for fungicide-resistant pathogen populations (Brooks et al. 1994).
Therefore, there is a need for cost-effective methods to prevent and manage oak wilt, including the use of biological control agents (BCAs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different commercial biofertilizers against Ceratocystis fagacearum (Bretz) Hunt (ATCC 200423).Agricultural SciencesChemistry and Biochemistr
Pediatric resuscitation, parental presence, and provider perspective
No full textA pediatric resuscitation is chaotic in many ways and involves a vast range of emotions for both the healthcare providers and parents. Historically, parents have been removed from the room during resuscitation efforts. This changed in 1994, at a trauma center in Dallas Texas, when a nurse received permission from the resuscitation team to allow the parents to be present during their son’s attempted resuscitation. The parents were able to tell their son they loved him and were thankful to the doctors for allowing their presence during the resuscitation process. This experience was covered in the media nationwide which sparked dialogue within the healthcare community. As researchers began to study the issue, this prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics, Emergency Nurses association, and the American College of Emergency Physicians to establish joint policy and position statements supporting parental presence during resuscitation.Respiratory CareNursin
ResearchBuddy AI: LLM-Powered Assistant
No full textThis paper presents ResearchBuddy AI, an LLM-powered assistant that addresses modern research information overload problems. The project has three essential features, including finetuning of large language models for structured research paper summarization, prompt engineering for flexible summarization of variable formats of GitHub READMEs, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for context-aware question answering over domain-specific documents. The research explains model selection through self-hosted open-source models with LoRA (Low Rank Adaptation) and other techniques to achieve cost-effectiveness and control. The research paper summarization capability was developed through an iterative process. I began with small model and dataset experiments before scaling to a larger model with expanded datasets. During optimization on powerful hardware, I identified a “token performance paradox” about long context utilization. The development process faced three main challenges, which involved dealing with different input formats and managing token limits, optimizing computing resources, and solutions are presented. The RAG chatbot architecture uses vector databases together with powerful LLMs to generate responses that remain grounded in the original content. The future research agenda includes two main directions: investigating new model architecture suitable for processing long documents and developing YouTube video summarization with timestamp capabilities. ResearchBuddy AI is designed to provide researchers with intelligent tools for more efficient information management, with early development indicating strong potential to address research information overload.Computer Scienc
Multi-Scale Design, Thermal Simulation, Fabrication, Surface Engineering and Characterization of TPMS Structures for Atmospheric Water Generation
No full textThe objective of this research is to improve the performance of Atmospheric Water Generators (AWG) by engineering the condensation surface across multiple scales. Specifically, this study explores the use of Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS) as condensation surfaces in Peltier-driven AWG systems—an approach that departs from traditional flat or finned designs. This multiscale engineering strategy integrates macroscale geometry optimization, microscale surface roughness control, and nanoscale analysis of surface coatings and elemental composition.
TPMS structures are known for their exceptionally large and complex surface area and are widely used as heat sink. The novelty of this work lies in the introduction of TPMS as a condensation surface for AWG applications, combined with a detailed investigation of all contributing factors from macro- to nanoscale. In this study, they were parametrically modeled and thermally simulated to evaluate their surface area-to-volume ratio and cooling performance to identify the most promising designs. Regression analyses and multi-objective optimization were performed to identify optimal design parameters for each geometry that maximize water collection efficiency.
Selected TPMS geometries were prototyped using additive manufacturing and underwent detailed evaluation process, including surface topography, wettability, roughness, and the effects of various surface treatments aimed at enhancing condensation performance. Multiscale materials characterization provided critical insights into how fabrication and post-processing influence surface properties. The engineered TPMS structures were then integrated into a Peltier-based AWG laboratory setup, and their water collection performance was evaluated before and after surface treatments.
The results demonstrate that TPMS, when carefully designed and modified, can serve as a viable and innovative alternative to conventional flat or finned surfaces in AWG systems. Notably, the Diamond and Schwarz structures exhibited the highest water collection performance in their untreated state, primarily through film-wise condensation. In contrast, the Gyroid and Lidinoid geometries showed significant performance improvements after surface treatment, enabling efficient dropwise condensation. This research represents a significant engineering milestone by combining insights from geometry design, additive manufacturing, and materials modification to create an integrated, multiscale solution for atmospheric water harvesting. The findings are useful for further advancements in AWG technology and broader applications of TPMS in thermal-fluid systemsMaterials Science, Engineering, and Commercializatio
Developing Solar War
No full textFive years ago, I started development on Solar War, with the intent that I would someday publish it. During that time, I worked tirelessly to add features that would make this game unique and stand out. There were also setbacks during my journey, and times when I had to set the game’s development aside for a while. However, after the demo was published, work on Solar War picked up, culminating in the self-publishing of my game on Steam on March 17th, 2025.Englis
A Case Study of Queer Student Identity and the Influence of Text
No full textThis dissertation sought to understand better how queer students understand their identity and how texts they interact with affect that understanding. To comprehend this experience, I utilized Yin’s (2009; 2014) case study approach. To conceptualize the data, I used a theoretical framework consisting of beloved community (King, 1957), discourse (Gee, 2004), and queer theory (de Lauretis, 1991). In total, there were seven participants, each of whom is conceptualized as a case. Data collected from the individual interviews were analyzed via within case analysis and cross-case analysis. The within case analysis was conducted through the crafting of individual vignettes, and the cross-case analysis took place using a thematic analysis (Creswell & Poth, 2016; Guest et al., 2011). Several themes emerged during the thematic analysis, such as agency, freedom, and support. Theoretical and practical implications were provided.Curriculum and Instructio
The Impact of Emergency Department Visits on Child Flourishing and Family Resilience: Identifying Promotive Factors
No full textFamily resilience is the ability to utilize positive coping skills that contribute to overall family dynamics, relationships, and strengths within a time of recovery or adversity (Black & Lobo, 2008). Understanding family processes of resilience is significant as it provides the foundation for child flourishing, enabling families as a unit to move beyond negative experiences and thrive as a result (Herbell et al., 2020). Previous research of children experiencing frequent emergency department (ED) visits highlights the negative implication for both children and their families (Gripko et al., 2023; Mandelberg et al., 2000; Sun et al., 2003). Although it is important to prevent children from repeated exposure to emergency department settings, it is also critical to identify promotive factors that could help children flourish and families adopt resilience despite ED visits. Existing literature on family resilience and child flourishing within hospital settings has traditionally focused on patients outside the emergency department setting (Nikkhah et al., 2022). As such, there is limited research examining how frequency of contact with emergency department settings relates to young children’s flourishing and family resilience. The present study addresses previous literature gaps by using data from the 2022 National Survey of Children’s Health to examine how frequency of contact with EDs impacts child flourishing and family resilience by identifying protective measures for children experiencing repeated ED visits. The present study first examined (1) the association between contact with EDs on child ability to flourish and family resilience and (2) mechanisms that protect families and children from the negative relationship between ED visits on child flourishing and family resilience.Family and Consumer Science
Exploring Solutions to Nonogram Puzzles
No full textNonograms, also known as Hanjie, Griddlers, Paint by Numbers, or PIcross, are logic puzzles where a grid must be filled with black and white squares according to numerical clues, ultimately revealing a hidden picture. While typically solved as recreational puzzles with unique solutions, nonograms can exhibit non-uniqueness or multiple solutions and even have no solutions, depending on the constraints. This work explores these properties, analyzing conditions that lead to ambiguity or infeasibility in solutions. Understanding these structural aspects is essential when considering nonograms beyond entertainment. We investigate potential uses of nonograms in encoding and interpreting data structures such as networks and affinity matrices. The constrained nature of nonogram solutions may provide a novel approach to secure data transmission and pattern recognition in cybersecurity contexts.Mathematic
Comparing Mind-Wandering Measurement Using EEG and Cognitive Tasks
Full text linkMind-wandering has received rising attention in psychology research. However, the issue of measurement of mind-wandering still remains a challenge. The present study addressed this issue by employing multiple approaches to measuring mind-wandering. Participants completed two cognitive tasks, the Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) and a Digit Span task, while recording from electroencephalography (EEG) to correlate neural markers of mind-wandering based on self-reported thought probes. EEG and behavioral data were compared and contrasted across the different tasks. A resting state task was also conducted to investigate raw EEG activity associated with self-reported mind-wandering. The result indicated no neuronal difference between mind-wandering and on-task thoughts during the SART and Digit Span tasks; however, task performance error associated with mind-wandering was statistical different between on-task thoughts. Additionally, resting state EEG did not distinctly show the neuronal difference between mind-wandering and on-task. These findings suggest that despite the conflict of findings regarding levels of neuronal marker and task performance data, future studies need to consider different aspects to measure mind-wandering and triangulate the construct of interest.Psycholog
The “Rainey Street Ripper”: An Independent Analysis of the Evidence
Full text linkThe theory that a serial killer is drowning men from Austin’s Rainey Street District has been advanced by social and mainstream media for over two years now. Much of this coverage has criticized the failure of authorities to recognize the threat of a violent offender. But while police must properly respond to the risk of a predator, it is also important they not waste limited resources pursuing a criminal who does not exist. In response to these claims, the Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation, working in cooperation with the Austin Police Department, conducted an evidence-based and scientific study of the data, for the purpose of understanding the nature and cause of these incidents and any possible connection to a serial killer. The project was completely independent and a commitment was made to publicly release the results of the analysis