17179 research outputs found
Sort by
Closing Cases: Understanding the Solvability of Long-Term Unidentified Persons Cases Throughout the United States
No full textThe tens of thousands of missing and unidentified persons across the United States has been labeled the nation’s silent mass disaster, with growing numbers of unresolved cases in medical examiner and coroners’ (ME/C) offices. This dissertation conducts an in-depth examination of long-term unidentified persons cases around the country to inform decedent identification processes and the mitigation of case backlogs. Taking a quantitative and qualitative approach that draws on anthropological theories of marginalization, structural vulnerability, and humanitarian forensic action, the project conducts three studies to address the central question of: what most impacts the solvability of long-term unidentified persons cases throughout the United States? By comparatively analyzing case records data from four ME offices and interviews with practitioners across seven states, the project assesses trends in the demographics and case characteristics of long-term cases, differences in the availability and utilization of antemortem and postmortem evidence, and challenges and best practices for decedent identification. Quantitative analyses utilize data from 4,395 long-term unidentified persons cases (1,337 resolved cases and 3,058 unresolved cases) that have taken one month or more to resolve from 1957 through December 31, 2022 from the following ME offices: the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner (PCOME) in Tucson, AZ, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences (HCIFS) in Houston, TX, the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office (WCMEO) in Detroit, MI, and the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (NYCOCME) in New York, NY. Semi-structured interviews include 12 medicolegal professionals from nine ME/C offices across seven states. The first manuscript focuses on the sex, age, and population affinity distributions of the 4,395 resolved and unresolved cases, as well as frequencies of manner of death, location type, and inventory and condition of remains. Chi-square tests of independence assess the significance of these variables on case solvability. The second article thematically analyzes the perspectives of interviewed medicolegal professionals on the solvability of longterm unidentified persons cases. Participants provide invaluable insight into questions pertaining to case-related and agency-related variables influencing decedent identification. The third study conducts multiple correspondence analyses on numerous variables of the 4,395 long-term cases, looking at the various relationships between identification status and demographics, case characteristics, circumstantial and biometric postmortem evidence, and case duration. This study also examines the identification methods used to resolve the identified cases. Finally, the Conclusion chapter integrates the findings of all three manuscripts to summarize consistencies and variation between the quantitative and qualitative data. Overall, trends are upheld between the univariate and multivariate approaches, while interviews provide important information that cannot be captured by case records data alone. It is the hope that this body of research will inspire further work to mitigate the disaster of long-term unidentified persons around the country and bring much-needed visibility to this humanitarian crisis.Anthropolog
Beyond the Bounds of Time: Synthetic Playgrounds for Reinforcement Learning in Finance
No full textNo abstract prepared.Business Administratio
Associations Among Internalization of Western Media Appearance Ideals, Acculturative Stress, and Body Image Problems in Asian American Men
No full textPast studies revealed that stress emerging from acculturation and the influence of Western media body ideals have a great influence on body dissatisfaction as well as on disordered eating. However, that existing literature was based largely on women and on some Hispanic men. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the associations among acculturative stress, internalization of Western media body ideals, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating specifically among Asian American men. For this purpose, 75 Asian American men, who were recruited through the online Prolific platform, completed the Qualtrics survey that consisted of the measures assessing these variables. Controlling for BMI, regression analyses indicated that both acculturative stress and internalization of Western media body ideals predicted various dimensions of body dissatisfaction (muscularity, low body fat, and height), as well as eating concerns that characterize disordered eating. A serial mediation analysis revealed that acculturative stress was associated with greater internalization of Western media body ideals, subsequently heightening body dissatisfaction, which in turn increased disordered eating behaviors. This study’s findings imply the importance of culturally informed interventions and preventative strategies targeting acculturative stress and promoting critical awareness of media body ideals. Future studies are needed to better understand the underlying causes of these associations, as well as to tailor intervention targeting this particular cultural group.Psycholog
Implementing Automation in the Design and Manufacturing of Vetiver Planting System and Analyzing Vetiver Growth Data
No full textThe large-scale cultivation of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) plays a crucial role in soil erosion control, land restoration, and sustainable agriculture. However, traditional manual planting methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to inconsistencies. This research addresses these challenges through the design and development of a semi-automated vetiver planting system, aimed at improving planting efficiency, consistency, and scalability. In parallel, a comprehensive data analysis was conducted to examine the influence of environmental factors such as soil moisture, pH, nutrient levels, and rainfall on vetiver growth. The study presents a functional prototype that significantly reduces manual effort and enhances planting precision, particularly in terrains where conventional methods are difficult to apply. Key environmental variables were identified, and their correlation with plant health was explored using field collected data. The findings not only demonstrate the viability of semi-automated planting systems but also highlight the potential for future innovations including real-time soil sensing, predictive irrigation, and UAV assisted deployment. This research provides a foundation step toward sustainable, data-driven, and scalable vetiver grass cultivation systems adaptable to diverse field conditions.Engineerin
From Local Legacy to National Register: Ethical Issues in Preserving Cultural Heritage in East Austin
No full textThis project explores the ethical challenges of practicing local historic preservation through research and reflection on the nomination of San Bernard Street to the National Register of Historic Places. This project consists of two main components: the first section of this project is a reflective essay that critically examines the broader process of historic preservation, focusing on the inherent biases that shape decisions regarding what is preserved, how history is interpreted, and whose stories are prioritized on the National Register. The second sections offer a detailed investigation of a specific property on San Bernard Street, The Alice B. Foster House, which will contribute to the nomination of San Bernard Street as a National Historic District to preserve Black history in East Austin. This research involves an in-depth analysis of the property’s historical significance and the role of the Foster and Woodward families within the local community. Through contributions to a grant-funded districting project and a theoretical exploration, this project aims to contribute to ongoing discussions about the complex and often contested nature of preserving cultural heritage.Histor
Cutting Through the Clutter: Demystifying Texas State University Parking Resources
No full textAs of Fall 2024, the University Police Department (UPD) at Texas State University absorbed the Parking Services Department and now enforces Texas State’s parking regulations. Only very involved faculty, staff, and students who pay attention to parking regulations regularly would have noticed that this merger occurred because the announcement was not made public. Texas State is known for keeping faculty, staff, and students up to date on new changes, so it was odd that changes to parking enforcement were not as celebrated as the other updates occurring in the Fall 2024 semester. I began to question why Texas State didn’t want to draw attention to parking.
A quick glance at the public Texas State University Parking Services' website began to answer some of my questions. Most of the website hasn’t been updated since the Spring 2022 semester, which makes the data mostly irrelevant to any individual looking at it. It appears that Texas State is struggling to quantify and reflect on their parking data, especially when compared to the university parking websites of other Texas Emerging Research Universities. For my project, I verified the 2022 parking data by hand counting parking spots and double-checking university maps. To support the verification of the 2022 parking data, I created audiovisual media that interprets Texas State’s parking data and regulations. My audiovisual media is intended to be in a more digestible format than the current parking website for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. With my research I have created a more useful parking resource for faculty, staff, and students that includes all the information I would expect from a Texas Emerging Research University.Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education, and School Psycholog
Investigating School Resource Officers and Other Security Personnels' Relationship with Student Disciplinary Outcomes
No full textThis research investigates the relationship between School Resource Officers (SROs) and other types of school security personnel with student disciplinary outcomes. Since their widespread adoption in the 1990s, SROs have been increasingly deployed in schools nationwide to enhance safety and deter crime. However, concerns have arisen regarding the impact of law enforcement in schools on student disciplinary measures such as suspensions, expulsions, and police referrals. Drawing on restricted-use data the School Survey on Crime and Safety, this study employs regression analysis to explore how the presence of SROs and other security personnel correlate with the number of incidents of crime and bullying recorded by schools and reported to police. Additionally, it examines how this relationship is influenced by school enrollment size and urbanicity, as well as other school and student characteristics. Findings suggest a weak positive correlation between SRO presence and reported incidents, with other types of security relating more strongly. The influence of urbanicity, enrollment size, and student demographics moderate this relationship substantially. This study offers insights into the effectiveness and implications of SRO programs in school safety strategies, informing policy discussions and practices aimed at optimizing school environments for student well-being and security.Finance and Economic
Introduction to Teaching English Abroad to Young Children
Get PDFTeaching English abroad means teaching English to people from around the world where English is not the primary language. At least that’s what most people think teaching English abroad is all about. In truth, there is far more to it. Just like there are basic requirements to be able to teach in Texas, there are also some requirements for those that want to be able to teach English abroad. Through my research, I found that there are many different requirements and ways to be able to do this. I focused on the two most common programs that people use: Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA).
To get a better understanding of teaching English abroad, I researched how it’s done for young children through trusted resources such as the Cambridge University Press and Assessment and journal articles from the TXST Research Databases. I presented the results of my research through a website which will cover three subtopics: Basic requirements to teach, the Difference between TEFL and CELTA, and Teaching strategies to help support your future students. The goal of this research is not only for my benefit, but also to share it with those who are interested in the occupation but do not know where to start.Curriculum and Instructio
Leaf Anatomy and Morphology of Barclaya (Nymphaeaceae)
Get PDFBarclaya is an aquatic plant classified in the family Nymphaeaceae. It is endemic to Southeast Asia. Field studies of Barclaya were conducted in the southern state of Johore, Malaysia. Leaf anatomy and morphology were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Leaf shape, size, and thirty-two anatomical characters were used in a systematic study of the taxon. Morphological and anatomical evidence supports the recognition of four species: B. longifolia, B. kunstlen, B. motleyi, and B. rotundifolia.Biolog
Automating a Pump Cleaning System
Get PDFCGT Limited is a company in New Braunfels that, among other things, produces the material used for car seats for major car companies such as Ford. The process involves the use of Di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP), commonly known as plasticizer. The plasticizer is dyed, then heated, then poured and spread across various materials, then cooled at a specified rate. Before the plasticizer is dyed, it needs to be cleaned. At the cleaning station, the new plasticizer is mixed with used plasticizer to make it suitable for use. Previously, this step was done manually, so I was tasked with leading a team of 6 people in creating an automated pump cleaning system. We designed and attempted to implement the automized system, to varying degrees of success, which involved 4 subprojects: building a frame to hold the system; setting up hoses and associated parts to transport the DPHP; programming the pump to fit certain parameters; and creating a wiring harness system that could put the wires in one place and convert the program into physical actions. This thesis will cover the several-month long process required to complete these tasks. All the details will be included in this final report, from how our team found out about the project, to the major steps taken, to the successes and setbacks, to the ultimate result.Engineering Technolog