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The Role of Soft Infrastructure in Developing Sustainable Volunteer-Based Healthcare for Transient Migrants in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez Border Region
No full textEach year since 2018, unprecedented numbers of people have been arriving at the border cities of Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico and El Paso, Texas, United States, creating a local and national quandary due to concerns related to insecurity and lack of resources (Martínez, 2021, p. 182; Campbell, 2021, p. 9). Most of these people were—and continue to be—asylum seekers, not having the border as their final destination (Delgado et al., 2022). They are considered transient migrants in this research because “[t]ransit migration occurs as people stop in places between origin and intended destination, sometimes for short periods of time and sometimes for many years” (Castañeda, 2023, p. 35). Although this migratory situation intensified wary and ambivalent sentiments about migration vis-à-vis local and national security, it has also been a trigger event for remarkable local philanthropic mobilizations for migrant care (Martínez, 2021, p. 184)
Characterization of the Androgen Receptor H1-H3 Loop as a Putative FKBP Regulatory Surface
No full textProstate Cancer (PCa) is one of the most common life-threatening malignancies diagnosed among American men. Initiation and progression of PCa are dependent upon androgen receptor (AR) regulated genes. Functional receptor conformation is influenced by the cooperation of chaperone and cochaperone proteins including the 52 and 51 kDa FK506 binding proteins (FKBP52 and FKBP51). FKBP52 is known for being a positive regulator of AR, PR (progesterone receptor), and GR (glucocorticoid receptor) activity, whereas FKBP51 negatively regulates steroid hormone receptor activity. As a result, these two proteins have become highly promising therapeutic targets for the disruption of mechanisms important in several endocrine-related diseases such as prostate cancer. Previous studies have identified the BF3 surface as an AR-specific regulatory site for FKBP52, and it is likely that there is another common FKBP regulatory surface among all the regulated receptors, like the H1-H3 loop. GR is known to be more hypersensitive to FKBP52 regulation, and mutations within the GR H1-H3 loop affect FKBP-mediated receptor activities. Thus, we conducted site-directed mutagenesis to identify the residues within the human AR H1-H3 loop that are critical for FKBP co-chaperone regulation. Taking advantage of the distinct GR hypersensitivity to FKBP52, two classes of functional mutants were generated to make the human AR H1-H3 loop more like human GR or guinea pig GR. In addition, yeast-based reporter assays were performed to assess the role and relevance of those mutations in receptor activity. Similarly, mammalian reporter assays were conducted to corroborate our findings in a higher vertebrate model system. Our current data shows that, mechanistically, the H1-H3 loop is a relevant FKBP regulatory surface for the steroid hormone receptors AR and GR, and suggests that the H1- H3 loop may represent a novel target surface for the simultaneous inhibition of AR, GR, and PR
The Daughters of La Malinche: A Heideggerian Analysis of the Pazian Archetypal Masks Portrayed in Art
No full textIn this thesis, I present a Heideggerian phenomenological analysis of the Pazian archetypal masks present in The Labyrinth of Solitude, such as El Macho, La Llorona, La Mala Mujer, La Chingada, and La Malinche, and how these masks are represented and depicted by women in art. I analyze the authentic or inauthentic identity and conditions expressed by Mexican women in art through a mimetic lens and extend that analysis to gendered concerns that have emerged in the past fifty or so years in Mexico and the U.S. Mexico border. Such issues include the pervasive machismo culture and the alarming increase in the rates of femicides as depicted in art. These issues are intrinsically linked to various female archetypes, a connection this study explores by analyzing the Pazian archetypal masks mentioned above. I utilize the art of Maria Izquierdo, Frida Kahlo, and Irisol Gonzalez-Vega to focus on the particularity of Mexican women. Drawing from Heidegger’s “Analytic of Dasein,” I grapple with issues such as authenticity and inauthenticity, thrownness, everydayness, and the overarching importance of care and guilt to explore how art paves a path for the authentic understanding of the other, specifically through the use of the Pazian archetypal masks mentioned above. Art, by disclosing and bringing to the forefront the thrown and inauthentic situations of the other, allows for a call of conscience in which the concepts of guilt, care, and love disclose the potential authentic Being of the Other
Investigating changes in surface water chemistry across the Llano Uplift and the Balcones fault zone in central Texas using strontium and uranium isotopes
Get PDFThe landscape of central Texas is shaped by over one billion years of Earth\u27s history. An array of lithology lies within central Texas along with two large geological structures. The Llano Uplift, characterized by Proterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks dating back to 1.37 billion years ago, is encircled by Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. To the southeast of the Llano Uplift lies the Balcones Fault Zone (BFZ), an extensional structural system of mostly normal faults that delineates the transition between Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and Cenozoic sedimentary cover, which are influential to the regional hydrogeology. This study investigates the hydrogeological dynamics influenced by these geological features, focusing on spatial variations in surface water chemistry across these two features. In this region, rivers traversing through Paleozoic-Mesozoic carbonate rocks exhibit elevated electrical conductivity (EC) and bicarbonate (HCO3) concentrations due to chemical weathering processes, while those flowing over Proterozoic crystalline rocks demonstrate lower EC levels. This study also reveals significant trends in strontium and uranium isotopic ratios, providing insights into water-rock interactions and potential groundwater influences in the BFZ and the Llano Uplift. These insights advance our understanding and knowledge of the hydrogeological processes and implications for water resource management, groundwater sustainability, and contamination mitigation efforts in central Texas
Energy Optimization In Pneumatic Systems Using Ens-200 Energy Saving Trainer
Get PDFVarious industries such as manufacturing and assembly, the automotive sector, printing and paper handling, packaging, aerospace, etc., widely use pneumatic systems for a variety of operations. Enterprises use pneumatic systems for cost-effectiveness, reliability, and simplicity. However, they also have certain inefficiencies, leading to high operating costs and reduced efficiency in various applications. The focus of this research is on energy optimization in pneumatic systems to improve efficiency in industrial applications, minimize energy waste, and reduce operational costs. The best practices for enhancing energy efficiency in pneumatic systems were proper system design, pressure regulation, leak detection and repair, energy-efficient components, and regular maintenance.This study utilized the ENS-200 Energy Saving trainer, which consisted of a standard actuator, double forced cylinder, air guns, primary pressure regulator, auxiliary pressure regulator, and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). The energy-saving trainer provided a platform to investigate processes to optimize energy efficiency by reducing excess operating pressure, the impact of using a pressure regulator on an actuator requiring lower pressure, proper selection and sizing of pneumatic components, and the effect of leaks in the pneumatic system, along with strategies to minimize their impact through sectorization. Overall, this research emphasized the importance of addressing energy optimization in pneumatic systems to achieve cost savings while maintaining the performance and reliability necessary for various industrial applications
So That Our Children May Have the Opportunity That You and I Did Not : Segregated Mexican Schooling in West Texas, 1954-1979.
No full textThis project looks at the unique circumstances of ethnic Mexican students in West Texas following the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. It reveals intentional school segregation in the West Texas cities of Midland, Odessa, Pecos, and El Paso and utilizes various court cases that took place between 1950 and 1980 in the Lone Star State to highlight the ways that the federal mandate neglected Mexican children in the Southwest. It includes archival sources, historical litigation, educational records, and oral histories to piece together a historical narrative that has been overlooked
Bilingual Comprehension of Accented Speech and Spoken Code Switches
Get PDFAcross three experiments, the current study explored how accented speech and coarticulation impact how bilingual listeners comprehend code-switches in speech. Eye-tracking methodology was used to compare responses to single-language and code-switched sentences. Experiment 1 observed how accented speech influenced the costs involved in comprehending code-switches by comparing responses to speakers that had North American English accents to speakers with Juarez/El Paso Spanish accents when speaking English. Experiment 2 compared responses to English speech produced by speakers with North American English, Flemish, and Bulgarian accented speakers. To examine coarticulation as a cue to an upcoming code-switch, Experiment 3 compared naturally produced speech to speech that manipulated coarticulation prior to a code-switch. Results demonstrated that switch costs are involved in the comprehension of code-switches, non-English accents impact a listenersâ?? comprehension of English speech, and the relative impacts of accent on switch costs vary across accent types. Additionally, the subtle cue of coarticulation assists listeners when comprehending code-switches. These findings suggest that bilinguals may use accent as a cue to anticipate upcoming speech. However, when a cue is deemed unreliable based on a bilingualâ??s previous experiences, the listener then uses sub-lexical cues such as coarticulation to facilitate the comprehension of code-switches
Assessing Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid Properties And Its Potential Therapeutic Effect For Glioblastoma
Get PDFThis study employs a combination of theoretical and experimental analysis to spectroscopically investigate the biomechanistic structure relationship and therapeutic effects of the Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid (NDGA) chemical derived from the Larrea Tridentata plant. These relationships are crucial for understanding NDGA\u27s efficacy in disease prevention, treatment, and potential toxicological effects. While the medicinal and antiviral properties of the NDGA have been studied extensively, there remains a gap in optically identifying and reporting its structural changes. The current research successfully reveals evident trends in NDGA\u27s vibrational signatures, particularly highlighting the absence of the Raman feature at 780 〖cm〗^(-1) as indicative of a fully oxidized structural form contributing to its bio-toxicity alongside ortho-quinone accumulation. Additional characteristic signatures of these toxic forms include the Raman lines at 1582 and 1698 〖cm〗^(-1) and the IR vibrational line at 1680 〖cm〗^(-1). By elucidating these morphological changes, this study offers valuable insights for the development and implementation of new drugs. Connecting evidence in supporting this statement is the second part of the study, where the NDGA was used for glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. Again, combined experimental Raman and statistical analyses were implemented to detect the drug effect on GBM-treated human cells. As a potential therapeutic agent, NDGA is a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger and antioxidant. This phenolic lignan had positive effects on multi-organ malignant tumor reduction and inhibition. Although the drug concentrations were beyond the Raman capability limit of their detection, the results show a decrease in altered protein content and ROS-damaged phenylalanine upon NDGA administration. The use of phenylalanine as a biomarker for differentiating across samples and evaluating NDGA\u27s effectiveness is a new finding discussed here. The creation of lipid droplets and a decline in the altered protein content indicate that treatment with a low dosage of NDGA over long periods reduces abnormal lipid-protein metabolism. The knowledge acquired via this research is significant for comprehending both the positive and negative bio-effects of NDGA as a potential treatment for brain cancer
Analysis Of Drying Behavior Of Robocasted Barium Titanate
Get PDFFinding an adequate ceramic formulation for material extrusion is a time-consuming process. The necessary equipment may be unavailable to perform the desired test. This study demonstrated an alternative to observe a material after extrusion to understand its drying process. This study focused on 55 solid loading volume percent and a 39 solid loading volume percent, each with two different binder treatments focusing on fresh same day made binder, a 30 day old, aged binder and lastly an artificial binder obtained by a fuming process. Firstly, a formulation was created and loaded onto a pressure-based syringe to be extruded with a custom-made ceramic extrusion printer. Six cylindrical samples with a 12.7 mm diameter were printed to analyze. A CMOS camera was required to capture images though time and analyze with a custom python script to determine drying rate per formulation. The system captured images periodically every 60 seconds through 45 minutes. The images were then transferred to the processing software where the surface wet area was calculated in pixel squared to determine the surface drying rate percentage. The individual inspection of each frame was necessary to determine the drying behavior as it is important to consider the drying rate of the ceramic paste as it may lead to deformation and defects from drying to be detected before the printing process. By calculating the area per frame, it was possible to analyze the behavior of the samples through time to determine a drying factor of 47.5% and 51.3% reduction for 39vol% with versus 55vol% respectively with the only change in formulation being the binder treatment. The test allowed to observe samples lifting from printing substrate and when no lifting occurred the samples showed significant cracking. Additionally, the test identified the 55vol% formulation with an artificial binder performed better as it had the least leveling after extruding
For 2 x n Cases, Proportional Fitting Problem Reduces to a Single Equation
Get PDFIn many practical situations, for each of two classifications, we know the probabilities that a randomly selected object belong to different categories. For example, we know what proportion of people are below 20 years old, what proportion is between 20 and 30, etc., and we also know what proportion of people earns less than 10K, between 10K and 20K, etc. In such situations, we are often interested in proportion of people who are classified by two classifications into two given categories. For example, we are interested in the proportion of people whose age is between 20 and 30 and whose income is between 10K and 20K. If we do not have detailed records of all the objects, we select a small sample and count how many objects from this sample belong to each pair of categories. The resulting proportions are a good first-approximation estimate for the desired proportion. However, for a random sample proportions of each category are, in general, somewhat different from the proportions in the overall population. Thus, the first-approximation estimates need to be adjusted, so that they fit with the overall-population values. The problem of finding proper adjustments is known as the proportional fitting problem. There exist many efficient iterative algorithms for solving this problem, but it is still desirable to find classes for which even faster algorithms are possible. In this paper, we show that for the case when one of the classifications has only two categories, the proportional fitting problem can be reduced to solving a polynomial equation of order equal to number n of categories of the second classification. So, for n = 2, 3, 4, explicit formulas for solving quadratic, cubic, and quartic equations lead to explicit solutions for the proportional fitness problem. For n \u3e 4, fast algorithms for solving polynomial equations lead to fast algorithms for solving the proportional fitness problem