17179 research outputs found
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Creative Thinking and its Clinical and Neurocognitive Correlates in an Analogue Sample of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
No full textAmple research has investigated the association between creativity and psychopathology, and in particular, how certain mental disorders may be associated with elevated creativity. However, there is a dearth of research investigating the opposite association—how some disorders may relate to decreased creativity. One such disorder could be obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Indeed, OCD is associated with several neurocognitive and psychological mechanisms that may hinder creativity, such as cognitive inflexibility and intolerance to uncertainty. However, the association between OCD and creativity has never been directly assessed. The aim of the present exploratory study was to conduct the first multidimensional examination of creativity in OCD, by assessing various clinical and neurocognitive elements associated with the condition. The study utilized an analogue sample methodology, comparing individuals with elevated obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms to individuals with minimal OC symptoms. The study’s general exploratory hypothesis was that elevated OC symptoms would be associated with inhibited performance on tasks assessing creativity. Results indicated that there were no significant group effects. However, effect sizes were found to be in the direction of the hypotheses, where reduced divergent and convergent thinking was found among individuals with high OC levels compared to those with low OC levels. However, neurocognitive performance did not seem to differ between groups. This may suggest that a potential disparity in creative task performance between high and low OC symptomology may be associated with OCD epiphenomena, such as intolerance to uncertainty, as opposed to neurocognitive performance. This study can pave the way for understanding the nature of both OCD and creativity, though further research is needed to replicate and expand upon the results of this exploratory study, as it was underpowered. Clinical and theoretical implications as well as the limitations of this study are discussed.Psycholog
Understanding Health Challenges in Rural East Texas Communities: How Qualities of People and Places Shape Access to Care
No full textThis report presents findings from a place-based survey of over 400 residents across 22 rural counties in East Texas, conducted by the Translational Health Research Center at Texas State University with support from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation. The study investigates how local context and individual circumstances shape healthcare access and health outcomes in medically underserved rural communities.
Despite variation across the region, the data reveal that rural Texans face persistent and widespread challenges in accessing healthcare. Key barriers include the high cost of care, limited provider availability, and long distances to services, even for those with insurance. Socioeconomic insecurity, such as difficulty meeting basic needs like food, housing, and transportation, is closely linked to reduced access and lower satisfaction with care. While trust in individual healthcare providers is generally strong, trust in broader health systems remains low, particularly among economically vulnerable or geographically remote populations.
The report offers four key recommendations to address these challenges:
1. Expand financial support mechanisms to offset care costs, even for the insured
2. Integrate resource referral strategies into healthcare delivery to address structural and socioeconomic barriers
3. Support local providers as trusted access points to care and health system engagement
4. Leverage community networks to share accurate health information and encourage the timely use of services
The findings underscore the need for locally informed, community-specific approaches to rural health improvement. By recognizing and addressing the unique needs of rural residents, stakeholders can enhance health access and improve outcomes, ensuring rural communities are both valued and supported as integral to Texas’ overall health and well-being.T.L.L. Temple Foundation (https://tlltemple.foundation/
Analysis of Muscle Movements and Muscle Activation During Construction Roofing Tasks
No full textThis study explores muscle activation patterns and joint angle changes during kneeling, stooping and standing (right and left leg up) on a 30-degree sloped surface. Surface Electromyography (sEMG) sensors were placed on twelve muscle groups of the participants to track muscle activation patterns, and 17 Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors were placed throughout the body to calculate changes in joint angles of the participants across repeated sessions on a 30-degree sloped surface. Eight participants performed each posture four times for four minutes with a minute of rest in between sessions. The results indicated posture specific muscle activation patterns. During stooping, the left biceps femoris exhibit the highest activation, while kneeling lumbar were the most activation muscle groups. In both standing postures, distinct cross body activation patterns were experienced. One factor ANOVA was performed to analyze the significance of mean angle changes per session and reveal the flexion of left hip during stooping and left knee during kneeling posture exhibits significant changes over the sessions. The findings of the study provided important insights into the ergonomic risks associated with roofing postures while exploring the benefits of using wearable sensor technologies into occupational health strategies. These technologies can help to provide real-time feedback to workers and minimize the risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Moreover, specific intervention techniques for different roofing postures should be developed as each posture activated different groups of muscles.Engineering Technolog
CMOS-Compatible Ultrasonic 3D Beamforming Sensor System for Automotive Applications
No full textThis paper presents a fully electronic, CMOS-compatible ultrasonic sensing system integrated into a 3D beamforming architecture for advanced automotive applications. The proposed system eliminates mechanical scanning by implementing a dual-path beamforming structure comprising programmable transmit (TX) and receive (RX) paths. The TX beamformer introduces per-element time delays derived from steering angles to control the direction of ultrasonic wave propagation, while the RX beamformer aligns echo signals for spatial focusing. Electrostatic actuation governs the CMOS-compatible ultrasonic transmission mechanism, whereas dynamic modulation under acoustic pressure forms the reception mechanism. The system architecture supports full horizontal and vertical angular coverage, leveraging delay-and-sum processing to achieve electronically steerable beams. The system enables low-power, compact, and high-resolution sensing modules by integrating signal generation, beam control, and delay logic within a CMOS framework. Theoretical modeling demonstrates its capability to support fine spatial resolution and fast response, making it suitable for integration into autonomous vehicle platforms and driver-assistance systems.Engineering Technolog
Queer Hispanicism in South Texas: The Gallery
No full textThis online gallery offers insight and an exploration into queer Hispanicism experiences by curating pieces celebrating the joys of this culture. Despite my personal disheartening gender experiences, and current political climate, bringing a new light to my loving culture is an honor.
Seven collaborators and I will be the artists creating the pieces, each representing a different area of South Texas and their experiences therein. The pieces created will be donated to the gallery. The completion of this project includes regular check-ins with collaborators to verify their progress before the deadline.
The communities that have brought me and so many others joy does not thrive in being fear-ridden. This collection exists to tie experiences together past geographic county lines and the prejudices that lie within Hispanic culture. The collection acts as a tether to outsiders, to show how we celebrate living as a coalition of queer Hispanics.Journalism and Mass Communicatio
Dynamic Sensing of a Dynamic System: Mobile Water Quality Monitoring at Spring Lake, San Marcos, Texas
No full textThis study uses a boat-mounted continuous monitoring device to collect real-time water-quality data, providing insight into the patterns and drivers of variability in Spring Lake and comparable karst systems. From June 22, 2022, to June 11, 2023, a solar-powered continuous monitoring device mounted by Spring Lake staff on the stern of the 1953 glass-bottom tour boat automatically collected water-quality measurements every 15 seconds. Over the monitoring period, the device recorded more than 35,000 individual data points for total dissolved solids and temperature, providing high-resolution coverage of water-quality conditions in Spring Lake. I applied data-quality control procedures to remove incomplete or anomalous measurements and uploaded the cleaned dataset into a geographic information system to support detailed spatial mapping and analysis of water-quality patterns within the lake. I performed statistical analyses that show periods of low spring flow coincide with reduced total dissolved solids and slightly lower temperatures. I also identified greater variability in both measures during transitional months, highlighting the influence of shifting spring sources on water quality. Through spatial analysis, I documented clear gradients, with higher total dissolved solids in downstream areas and lower values in the upstream headwaters. I found that the temperature remains generally uniform but stays warmer and more stable in central areas and slightly cooler along the lake margins. These results demonstrate the sensitivity of Spring Lake to changes in spring flow and show how groundwater mixing processes shape the lake’s chemical and thermal conditions. The high-frequency dataset generated by the mobile monitoring device allowed me to identify these fine-scale spatial and temporal patterns, underscoring the value of real-time, boat-based sensing for improving water-quality monitoring in surface water systems.Geography and Environmental Studie
An Interview with Patricia Shields: I am an American Philosopher
No full textIn this short interview, published by the Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy, Patricia Shields describes her journey as someone who discovered philosophy later in her career. It highlights her philosophic publications and examines her mediator role as a philosopher in the fields of research methods, public administration, and peace studies.Political Scienc
Where to publish? Navigating the journal jungle and avoiding predators
No full textThis Grad Shop Talk covers Open Access as a publishing model, understanding predatory publishers and how to avoid them, and how to evaluate publishers for publishing one's work.University Librarie
Assessing Barriers to CGM Utilization in Latinos with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes: A Systematic Review of the Literature [paper]
No full textThis systematic review examines barriers to access and utilization of continuous glucose monitoring among Latinos with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. A systematic literature review was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases to identify studies published within the last ten years. Inclusion criteria required peer-reviewed primary research studies focused on Latino populations and continuous glucose monitor utilization. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were appraised using Rapid Critical Appraisal tools. Thematic analysis guided by the Socio-Ecological Model identified barriers across four levels: individual, community, organizational, and policy. Individual-level barriers included device discomfort, mistrust, and knowledge gaps. Community barriers involved resource scarcity and social determinants of health, such as transportation and food insecurity. Organizational barriers included provider bias, gatekeeping, limited cultural competence, and inadequate technology infrastructure. Policy-level barriers centered on insurance authorization delays and language-related inequities. Findings highlight that systemic inequities and provider practices significantly limit equitable continuous glucose monitor access among Latinos. Advanced practice nurses can address these barriers through culturally competent education, workflow reform, and advocacy for policy change. Future research should emphasize intervention studies targeting Latino populations to improve the adoption of continuous glucose monitors and diabetes outcomes.Nursin
Evaluating Pavement Deterioration Rates Due to Flooding Events Using Explainable AI
No full textFlooding can damage pavement infrastructure significantly, causing both immediate and long-term structural and functional issues. This research investigates how flooding events affect pavement deterioration, specifically focusing on measuring pavement roughness by the International Roughness Index (IRI). To quantify these effects, we utilized 20 years of pavement condition data from TxDOT’s PMIS database, which is integrated with flood event data, including duration and spatial extent. Statistical analyses were performed to compare IRI values before and after flooding and to calculate the deterioration rates influenced by flood exposure. Moreover, we applied explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques, such as Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) and Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations (LIME), to assess the impact of flooding on pavement performance. The results demonstrate that flood-affected pavements experience a more rapid increase in roughness compared to non-flooded sections. These findings emphasize the need for proactive flood mitigation strategies, including improved drainage systems, flood-resistant materials, and preventative maintenance, to enhance pavement resilience in vulnerable regions.Engineerin