The University of Texas at Tyler
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CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY AND CELLULAR ACTIVITIES FROM ELECTROSPUN FIBERS
No full textElectrospun drug-eluting fibers have demonstrated potential applications in topical drug delivery, where modulations of drug releases were achieved through polymer fiber compositions. In this study, blend fibers of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) at various compositions were electrospun from 10 wt% of polymer solutions to encapsulate a model drug of ibuprofen (IBP). Results showed that average polymer solution viscosities determined the electrospinning parameters and the resulting average fiber diameters. In vitro release of IBP suggested a transition from a gradual release to a fast release when increasing PEO contents in the PCL/PEO blend fibers up to 120 minutes. In vitro viability of PCL/PEO blend fibers using MTT assays showed that the fibers were biocompatible with MEF-3T3 fibroblasts. To further modulate the drug release rate, fibers with a core/shell hierarchical structure were electrospun to encapsulate IBP as well as epidermal growth factor (EGF). Results suggested a gradual release of IBP up to 120 hours, dependent on core composition and shell layer thickness. In vitro viability of IBP-loaded PCL fibers showed that the fibers were biocompatible with NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. In vitro release of EGF from PCL core/shell fibers showed two stages of release profiles: an initial burst release on the first day followed by a sustained release over 21 days. Specifically, the 1C2S fibers exhibit an initial burst release, with a sharp increase in EGF release within the first few hours, followed by a slower release to achieve a complete release within 11 days. The cumulative release of EGF from the 1C4S and 1C8S fibers increased gradually over time, achieving 85% and 77 %, respectively, at 21 days. In vitro viability of EGF-loaded fibers showed biocompatibility of the fiber with NIH-3T3 fibroblasts. In addition, in vitro cell proliferation showed an increased number of cells over 7 days, while scratch assay confirmed that the release of EGF from the core-shell fibers maintained their biological cues to promote cellular activities. In conclusion, microfibers with hierarchical designs are capable of modulating IBP and EGF releases and are suitable for topical drug delivery applications
BIO-INSPIRED ROBOTIC FRAMEWORK FOR SPATIOTEMPORAL ANALYSES IN ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING APPLICATIONS
No full textFrequent fluctuations in the environment\u27s temperature and climate significantly impact our crop fields. Floods and droughts occur in different places in different seasons, which is very unusual and affects the crops\u27 health and productivity. During these calamities, they are also not able to monitor their crop fields. However, if it is possible by providing farmers with information about their fields\u27 conditions like temperature, pressure, and soil moisture, we can help them assess environmental conditions for specific areas. This data can also aid farmers in determining the appropriate amounts of fertilizers and pesticides to apply to their crops and which crops are best suited for their fields. Developing data-driven models for such applications can effectively address this issue, enabling predictions for optimal crop choices based on field quality and seasonal conditions. However, conducting large-scale data collection in agricultural fields through traditional methods is time-consuming and resource-intensive. Furthermore, geologists and earth scientists can also benefit from this data for their research purposes. To address these challenges, we have designed and fabricated a bio-inspired modular robot capable of hopping and flying within the target area to collect real-time data with spatial and temporal variations. The primary goal of this robot is to achieve agile and versatile movement suitable for a variety of surveillance applications. Drawing inspiration from nature\u27s remarkable jumping abilities, the robot\u27s design incorporates principles of efficient energy transfer and dynamic control. Utilizing a unique thrust mechanism characterized by a rich trajectory and metamorphic features, the robot demonstrates remarkable hopping efficiency, propelled by only two servo motors as actuators. To enhance its capabilities, the robot integrates three legs to facilitate self-righting, steering, and take-off. The presence of three legs aids in stabilizing the robot during falls, contributing to its overall robustness. Additionally, the robot\u27s ability to adjust its center of mass (COM) using the main body enables it to execute jumps in various directions. Our innovative system is compact and designed for collecting environmental data in agricultural fields, regardless of whether the crops are newly planted or fully grown. The robot can maneuver by hopping from one location to another. Upon deployment in an area, it will immediately collect meteorological data from the environment, including temperature, pressure, altitude, and more. This data will then be transmitted to a cloud server for analysis. After completing data collection and analysis in one area of the field, the robot can hop to another area to continue gathering valuable information. Additionally, we collected data using this bio-inspired hopping robot and trained the dataset using machine-learning models for monitoring. With more data, this can be an autonomous hopping robot with intelligent sensing methodologies. Moreover, this proposed bio-inspired robot can be integrated with different sensors for innovative real-time applications
Improving Palliative Care Knowledge in the Acute Care Setting
Full text linkAim: The aim of this paper is to present an education intervention for bedside nursing staff to improve their palliative care knowledge and the end-of-life care provided for terminally ill patients.
Background: When dying in the hospital, patients experience higher discomfort, lower quality of life, and prolonged family grieving. Suffering worsens when patient needs are unmet and can contribute to a traumatic death. Providing end-of-life education will increase a nurse’s knowledge of palliative care, address knowledge gaps, and promote better patient outcomes through improved clinical practice.
Design: The proposed intervention has three prongs which include: (1) virtual training using the facility’s learning management system (LMS) (2) department in-services on evidence based palliative care interventions with local content experts, and (3) hour-long training sessions with staff selected to serve as palliative care champions on their nursing units
Results: The outcome of this intervention on nursing knowledge will be measured using the Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN) at week 11 and 52, and EHR evaluation at week 52. It is expected that there will be a significant improvement in both outcomes.
Conclusion: Nursing staff can improve a patient’s and family’s death experience by providing competent care during the end-of-life. Palliative care continuing education is necessary to improve a nurses’ knowledge and increase the provision of these evidence-based interventions
A Criteria to Reduce Interhospital Transfer of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Greater East Texas
Full text linkBackground
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to single-level falls (SLF) are frequent and often require interhospital transfer. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess the safety of a criteria for non-transfer among a subset of TBI patients who could be observed at their local hospital, vs mandatory transfer to a level 1 trauma center (L1TC). Methods
We conducted a 7-year review of patients with TBI due to SLF at a rural L1TC. Patients were classified as transfer/non-transfer according to the Brain Injuries in Greater East Texas (BIGTEX) criteria. The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of a critical event defined as deteriorating repeat head computed tomography (CT) scan or neurological status, neurosurgical intervention, or death. Results
Of the 689 included patients, 63 (9.1%) were classified as non-transfer. Although there were 4 cases with a neurological change and one with a head CT change among the non-transfer group, there were no neurosurgical procedures or deaths. The Cox Proportional Hazard model showed a near 3-fold increased risk of experiencing a critical event if classified as a non-transfer. The multivariable regression model showed patients with an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) of 3 was twice as likely to experience a critical event, with an AIS of 4, three times, and 3 times more likely to be classified to transfer. Discussion
The BIGTEX criteria identify a subset of patients who can safely be observed at their local hospital. To confirm the safety and efficacy of this transfer criteria recommendation, a prospective study is warranted
Housing Affordability: How Big is This Problem in Tyler?
No full textThe Hibbs Institute\u27s brief, Housing Affordability: How Big is This Problem in Tyler? analyzes the impact of rising housing costs and stagnant income growth on affordability in the United States, with a focus on the Tyler Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Nationally, the median sale price of residential housing surged by 45.8% from February 2020 to June 2022, driven by low mortgage rates and increased demand. This trend led to a significant affordability gap, peaking in October 2023, when the income required to afford a median-priced home was 51% higher than the national median household income. In the Tyler MSA, a similar pattern emerged, with median sale prices increasing by 46% from 2020 to 2023. Despite a slight decrease in home prices in early 2024, the affordability gap persisted, with the income needed to purchase a median-priced home exceeding the area\u27s median household income by 54.3% in December 2023. The brief highlights the growing challenge of housing affordability, particularly for younger generations, and underscores the need for strategies to address this issue in both national and local contexts
Can Seasonal Events Boost Local Economies? The Total Solar Eclipse Weekend in Tyler, Texas
No full textThe Hibbs Institute\u27s brief titled Can Seasonal Events Boost Local Economies? The Total Solar Eclipse Weekend in Tyler, Texas examines the economic impact of the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse on Tyler, Texas. The study highlights how such rare events attract tourists, leading to increased demand for local services and products. Specifically, the influx of visitors during the eclipse weekend resulted in higher hotel occupancy and room rates, indicating a significant boost to the local economy. The brief underscores the potential of seasonal events to serve as temporary economic stimulants for regional economies
PATHWAYS TO WOMEN\u27S CAREER SUCCESS: CAREER TRANSITIONS, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND CAREER OPTIMISM AS A CATALYST TOWARD SUCCESS
No full textWomen’s careers are often described as complex and fragmented due to the complexities they encounter while balancing work and life priorities. This balancing act leads many women to follow a self-directed career path, on their quest to attain their personal conception of career success. This dissertation argues that although contemporary career theories attempt to explain women’s career thinking, there is still a gap in offering sufficient support resources to assist a woman while navigating the challenges she encounters in a dynamic and complex business environment. This study explores this argument through a stream of inquiry on women’s careers. Career transitions, the protean career attitude, career optimism, and subjective career success were explored from the lens of women navigating the contemporary work environment. A conceptual model for women’s career transitions was introduced, in addition to an empirical exploration of African American women’s career transitions to entrepreneurship. Further, a hypothesized model of the relationship between the dimensions of the protean career attitude, career optimism, and subjective career success was tested with a sample of U.S. women. Finally, implications for research, practice, and society are discussed
EXPRESSIVE AND EPISTEMIC PEDAGOGIES: A BLENDED APPROACH TO VOICE DEVELOPMENT
Full text linkAs contemporary basic writing courses lean on Current Traditional texts that emphasize the inductive nature of thought in its relation to truth, this thesis explores expressivist and epistemic pedagogical approaches complemented by metacognition in their contribution to the development of voice with respect to student disengagement due to a disconnect in the understanding of writing for the academy in the basic writing student. The elements of the expressivist methodology as embodied in Writing with Power by Peter Elbow and the epistemic in Facts, Artifacts, and Counterfacts by Dave Bartholomae and Anthony Petrosky each contribute to the research of this thesis in its exploration of specific assignments from each text that prove useful in the endeavor of voice development through their active involvement in the processes of reading and writing within a basic writing course. The blending of these methods offers basic writers opportunities to benefit from the introspection afforded by expressivism and the collaborative nature of epistemic evaluating the process of thought through metacognitive exercises allowing the learning experience to be at the hands of the students. This thesis ultimately culminates by providing a sample of such activities through a unit of curriculum influenced by the aforementioned incorporation of pedagogical approaches specifically created as a means to allow basic writers to connect with their ethos along with potential cultural and social influences and engage with their cognitive process for the sake of voice development
NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS ON RAYLEIGH TAYLOR INSTABILITY FOR CO2 SEQUESTRATION IN SALINE AQUIFERS
Full text linkThe density-driven convection appears promise for CO₂ storage, precise prediction on a reservoir size is problematic due to limited data availability. Changes in permeability impact flow patterns and the effectiveness of mixing processes. Permeability differences influence the sorts of density-driven mixing phenomena such as fingering and stable mixing. Improving CO₂ storage models is challenging due to the unpredictable nature of these processes. The study looks at the flow phenomena in which carbon dioxide with a lower viscosity displaces on heavier fluid water. Causes instability by producing finger-like structures at the gas-liquid interface. This study uses the species transport technique to investigate how CO₂ dissolves in water via convection and diffusion in a Hele Shaw cell environment. A unique technique which includes a pressure condition is introduced to examine patterns over time and obtain states quickly. The study investigates a set of equations governing mass conservation, momentum, and species transfer. The study examines how convection patterns change over time and how model properties influence mixing behaviors in convection processes. It employs Finite Volume Method analysis in ANSYS software to show Rayleigh Taylor instability effects on flow driven by permeability variations. Shape changes affect the presence of fingers within formations. Narrower apertures size of the cell permit CO₂ to stay around longer, increasing the dissolution rate and also increase in number of fingers. This data improvements models for storing CO₂ by looking at the concentration of dissolved CO₂ in the liquid phase over time until it reaches the bottom of the cell and considering factors like Rayleigh number range for natural convection flow patterns based on density differences in fluid mixtures and characteristics like permeability and porosity to understand when convective movement starts occurring naturally during storage for extended periods
Housing Affordability: How Big is the Problem in East Texas?
No full textThe Hibbs Institute\u27s June 2024 newsletter examines recent trends in the U.S. housing market, with a particular focus on East Texas. Key findings include:
Mortgage Rates: As of early June 2024, the 30-year and 15-year fixed mortgage rates were 6.99% and 6.29%, respectively. Both rates are expected to remain elevated in the near future due to prevailing economic conditions and policy decisions.
Home Prices: Over the past decade, East Texas has experienced significant growth in the housing market, with average home prices increasing by approximately 92%. Notably, the price trend has accelerated in the past five years, indicating a more rapid rise in home prices recently.
Building Permits: Reflecting the region\u27s growth and development trends, the number of building permits issued in East Texas has increased substantially. While the overall number of permits in Texas is proportionally higher, East Texas has been growing at a faster rate since 2018.
These insights highlight the dynamic nature of the East Texas housing market, influenced by rising mortgage rates, increasing home prices, and a surge in building permits