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The origins of Texas’s white primary election system, 1878-1906
No full textThis dissertation tells the story of the rise of the White man’s political and social movement and the Texas White primary election system they created during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The genesis of the White man’s movement was the desire of Southern White men to reclaim their political supremacy in Texas and throughout the South. The associations sought to circumvent the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, which guaranteed equal legal treatment, citizenship, and voting rights for the freedmen. Like the rest of the South, Texas devised multiple layers of obstacles to disfranchise the freedmen but differed from the other Confederate states due to the highly decentralized nature of its election system.
Using White supremacy to rally White voters, the White man’s associations initially targeted counties and towns of the state’s “Black Belt,” where Black voters outnumbered native-born Whites. The associations employed violence, fraud, and physical and economic intimidation to remove Black politicians and their allies from elected offices. Once White rule was restored, the associations leveraged White primary elections to secure, retain, and perpetuate their dominance.
The White man’s movement began slowly in the late 1870s and was initially constrained by federal authorities. During the 1880s, rising violence against African American political involvement and the waning interest and oversight from national Republicans and the courts buoyed supporters. From late 1889 to 1892, the associations reclaimed many of Texas’s Black majority counties and a few towns. The movement paused briefly as Populism threatened Democratic Party rule, but after the 1896 elections, when Populism was soundly defeated, the movement resumed with even more vigor. This time, White primary elections proved popular even in White majority counties and towns. Former Populists returning to the Texas Democratic Party bitterly blamed Black voters for the failure of the People’s Party demanding White supremacy and the legal disfranchisement of voters of color. During the early 1900s, White primary elections spread throughout the state, and by 1906, White primary elections had become a state-sanctioned institution.
Texas’s White man’s associations were much more than clubs for local White men interested in politics. The associations and their White primary elections achieved that and more as they extended their influence beyond politics and into a local communities' social and economic fabric. Membership in the associations could benefit the business and social prospects of ambitious young men on the make. The associations became county and city political machines controlled by local elites. The county bosses restored and enhanced their power, wealth, and social standing that had been challenged by the South’s defeat in the Civil War. The leaders created highly authoritarian structures that gave these men enormous power, which they used to promote elite-oriented political, social, and economic policies locally and throughout the state
"They don’t want us anywhere": The impact of anti-homelessness laws on unsheltered residents of Fort Worth, Texas
No full textAccess to public space is not afforded equally amongst the population. Often, the people who must spend most of their time in these spaces, people experiencing homelessness, are barred by local or state law from being there. Fort Worth, Texas, implemented a camping ban in 2019 that prohibits camping on public or private property. This article explores the impact of this ban on unsheltered people experiencing homelessness using semi-structured interviews with 18 people residing in encampments across the city. The findings document the tangible and existential losses endured by this group and the impact on the perception of their place in the city’s evolving social landscape
The model†sizing dilemma: The use of varied female model sizes helps the impressions of brand values but hurts shopping ease
No full textConsumer demand for size†inclusive fashion is growing, including the call for clothing to be modeled in larger sizes. This call has prompted brands to decide how to model their clothing, in particular, on category pages (i.e., webpages where consumers compare different items). Should brands use varied model sizing, where clothing is presented using models of various sizes? Or should brands use traditionally thin models who are the same nonvaried model size? This research explores female consumers' responses to varied model sizing. Across five studies, we demonstrate a model†sizing dilemma where female consumers rate impressions of brand values higher but rate shopping ease lower when brands use varied rather than nonvaried model sizing. We show the decrease in shopping ease is driven by lower perceptions of organization during the shopping experience. Importantly, we find that this dilemma can be mitigated by displaying varied model sizing in a more organized manner using hover and filter features
Personal and environmental change: A Hip Hop school counseling intervention
No full textScholars criticize the profession of school counseling for the delivery of inadequate school counseling services to Black and Brown youth. Within schools, particularly those populated by Black and Brown youth, exist environmental barriers to youths’ wellness and development including a shortage of mental health professionals (i.e., high student†to†counselor ratios) or oppressive school structures (i.e., deficit†oriented curriculum and discipline policies). This case study examined the use of a culturally responsive and theoretically sound Hip Hop and school counseling intervention that captures the experiences of students and adult participants. The results from this study help illustrate how the school studio, as a liberatory space, offered a hospitable environment that invited students’ authentic identity expression, fostered increased relationships with staff and their peers, and offered students a sense of confidence or personal empowerment
Exploring intramolecular interactions, structure, and dynamics in a series of 24-membered triazine macrocycles
No full textIn 2020, Vishal Sharma synthesized a glycine-containing triazine macrocycle in yields exceeding 93%.1 In the solid-state, the macrocycle adopts a folded, compact structure, however, no solution structure was rigorously assigned. Three areas of investigation are born out of these observations: what is the source of the quantitative yields, what is the solution structure, and what is the dynamic behavior in solution.
These observations are general: triazine macrocycles of varying compositions are made in high yields. 1H NMR spectroscopy shows macrocycles form as a singular isomer in solution along with evidence for rotamers found in the intermediates. In total, 17 macrocycles were made and characterized.
The quantitative dimerization of these macrocycles occurs through a templated intermediate. Crystal structures of the macrocycles exhibit the hypothesized hydrogen bonding network. DFT calculations provide evidence for the hydrogen bonding pattern. The pKa of the triazines are determined using titration data and is confirmed by 1H NMR spectroscopy.
Xray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy elucidates the three-dimensional conformation of these triazine-containing macrocycles. 1H-1H rOesy spectroscopy provides relevant correlations for structure determination that are present in solid-state structures. Additionally, using subtle differences in downfield chemical shifts and the network of correlations to a singular proton, nuanced differences in structure can be quickly determined. The role of protonation on structure is probed by variable temperature NMR.
The dynamic motion of some triazine-containing macrocycles can be examined through computational modeling and variable temperature NMR experiments. Here, the macrocycles hinge from one closed state to another closed state. Internal (steric bulk) and external (solvent polarity) factors influence the hinge barrier. Isosteric and isomorphic macrocycles with shared dynamic behavior are investigated.
Altogether, this work focused on expanding the library of 24-membered triazine macrocycles to probe quantitative yields, conformation, and dynamics through a variety of computational methods and NMR spectroscopic techniques
We barely wrote this paper: Sociolinguistic relativity in Southwestern U.S. schools and its impact on English language teaching
No full textThis paper offers a critical discourse analysis of three potentially challenging communicative interactions between teachers and Spanish-speaking Active Bilingual Learners of English (ABLE) students in Southwestern U.S. schools. 1. Passive voice in situations involving causality is much more common in Spanish than in English; 2. results from a pilot study show how the word “barely” is frequently used as a temporal adverb, like “just,” by many individuals living in the Southwest who have grown up in a figured world influenced by the Spanish language and/or Chicano English; and 3. within the figured worlds of many students from Latin America, it is common to respectfully call one’s teacher, simply maestro, profe, Señor, or Señora. The equivalents of these in English often are met with disapproval by U.S. teachers feeling disrespected by being called “teacher,” “mister,” or “miss,” instead of their last name. Although certainly not comprehensive, these three kinds of language use uncover both the ubiquitous and the implicit sociolinguistic relativity of what we refer to as the “linguistic figured worlds” of Spanish-speaking ABLE students in the U.S. Southwest. We use a systemic functional linguistics approach to document this sociolinguistic relativity and to analyze its potential impact on English language teaching
Uncertainty in healthcare operations: How hospitals weather the perfect storm
No full textWe focus on two of the many sources of uncertainty in healthcare operations, mix uncertainty – the variation in the complexity of care required by the patient mix, and volume uncertainty – the variation in the volume of care demanded by the patient population. Using an interdisciplinary perspective, we study the impact of mix and volume uncertainties on two important healthcare outcomes, length of stay and number of procedures, along with the mitigation impacts of the operational concepts of related focus and utilization levels. Based on large dataset of 830,853 patient discharges in 26 clinical departments across 731 hospitals in five U.S. Midwest states, our results indicate that mix and volume uncertainties each have a significant impact on patient care. We also find that related focus and department utilization levels have a mitigating effect on uncertainty in healthcare settings. Lastly, we find considerable heterogeneity in the effects of uncertainty across hospital types and departments. We discuss key research and managerial implications of our findings
Using the VENDYS Peripheral Vascular Function Test and Blood Glucometer to Determine the Effects of Diabetes Mellitus on Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction
No full textAccording to a 2022 report by the Center for Disease Control, 37.3 million people, or
11.3% of the U.S. population, have diabetes. The impact of diabetes on the circulatory system
has been widely accepted and long established (Schofield et al., 2019). However, less is known
about the underlying mechanisms for this relationship. The growing body of evidence (Schofield
et al., 2019) shows endothelial dysfunction is seen frequently in those diagnosed with diabetes
and is associated with atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular risk factors. The activity of the
endothelium that is involved in both macro- and microvascular diseases extends far beyond the
control of vascular reactivity. It is also involved in the release of vasodilating mediators.
Although glycemic control delays the onset of diabetic vascular complications, this strategy may
not always be successful in all patients.
Endothelial cells form a single layer of cells that line the blood vessels of the body and
regulate exchanges between the bloodstream and surrounding tissues. This single layer of cells is
known as the endothelium. However, dysfunction can occur in the endothelium for a multitude
of reasons, including but not limited to inflammation, tobacco use, hypertension, hyperglycemia,
and more. Increased glucose variability leads to endothelial dysfunction and accelerated
atherosclerosis through increased oxidative stress (Schofield et al., 2019). Atherosclerosis is one
of the leading factors related to cardiovascular disease. Therefore, uncontrolled blood glucose
can negatively affect the endothelium, leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in
those diagnosed with diabetes.
The evidence supporting the relationships between endothelial dysfunction and diabetes
is lacking objective comparison to those not diagnosed with diabetes. The purpose of this
proposed study is to describe vascular reactivity and endothelial function in a sample of young
adults diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in comparison to those without diabetes, utilizing
VENDYS II device to assess vascular reactivity
How Different Demographic Groups Perceive Risk for Alzheimer's Disease
No full textMore than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, a progressive disease that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. This high incidence rate may be partially attributed to level of perceived risk and individuals not understanding proactive lifestyle changes earlier in life can lessen the chance of developing Alzheimer's. Prior research has shown younger people and racial/ethnic minorities have lower risk perception of developing diseases in general. The present work hypothesized that a.) people who are non-white will have a lower perceived risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and b.) people who are young adults will have a lower perceived risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. To investigate, we constructed a one-time online survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire and psychological scale evaluating perceived Alzheimer's risk. 788 American adults independently completed the survey online. Results revealed that there was a significant difference in perception between Black and White individuals and Black and Mixed individuals. Black participants had a lower perceived risk for developing Alzheimer's disease than both the White and Mixed groups. There were no significant differences for age of participants and perceived risk. This study and results provide a foundation for further research into the convergence of marginality and perceived risk for Alzheimer's disease and cognitive health. With more education and support, more people can take informed, preventative measures against this disease at an earlier age, prior to onset
CHARACTERIZATION OF IRON RPy2N2 AZAMACROCYCLIC COMPLEXES AS CARBON-CARBON COUPLING CATALYSTS
No full textThe goal of this project is to offer a more economic and environmentally friendly, alternative carbon-carbon coupling catalyst complex to what is used industrially today. Carbon-carbon coupling is a common reaction performed in the industrial production of organic materials through routes that use palladium and platinum catalysts. These metals, however, are both economically and environmentally costly to acquire. It has previously been demonstrated that iron containing complexes can be used as an alternative to the precious metal complexes. For example, Brewer et al. demonstrated the carbon-carbon coupling ability of iron RPyN3 complexes and characterized the mechanism. Based on these results, we have developed a RPy2N2 series and the iron congeners for C-C catalysis. We characterized the C-C reactivity to understand the relationship between the catalytic performance and the number of pyridine rings and pyridine substitution