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Special Issue: Electron Diffraction and Structural Imaging—Volume I
Full text linkIn recent years, electron diffraction (ED) and structural imaging have undergone a major resurgence in the scientific community, driven by continuous advancements in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) instrumentation, such as Cs correctors, direct detection cameras and automation, and the development or expansion of analytical methods, such as cryo-EM, beam precession, 4D Scanning Electron Diffraction, 3D electron diffraction, 4D-STEM, and ptychography [...]Physics and Astronom
Death by Politics: Examining Patterns in Mortality and Life Expectancy Through the Political Determinants of Health Framework in the Southern United States
No full textThe purpose of this study is to expand on the political determinants of health framework to examine national and state level political and poverty contexts and their influence on population health in US southern states. In this study, the structural and political influence on health outcomes is measured by a categorization of counties in the South region based on the 2020 presidential election winner drawn from the Dave Leip’s Atlas of U.S. (Liep, 2025) and the level of poverty (high poverty including counties with poverty rates above the average family poverty rate and low poverty including counties with poverty rates below the average family poverty rate). The study consists of three different analyses and sub analyses that examine the influence of the political environment throughout different stages of life. First, child and adolescent mortality are examined in light of recent trends showing a rise in deaths across the younger age years and the causes of those deaths (preventable deaths and suicide). Second, all-cause mortality and life expectancy are examined as health outcomes. The United States is an outlier when it comes to life expectancy and avoidable deaths since having the lowest life expectancy at birth among high income countries and the highest death rates for avoidable or treatable conditions among high income countries, including maternal/infant mortality and suicide (Gunja, Gumas, & Williams, 2022). All-cause mortality and life expectancy were selected because they provide a measure of overall health and therefore may serve as indicators of social, political, and economic conditions in the environment. To localize the political determinants, life expectancy was specifically analyzed among Texas counties. Third, given the impact of the COVID-19 health pandemic, and the differing attitudes at the onset and during the pandemic about preventative measures, a final portion of this analysis focuses on COVID-19 mortality at the county level to help inform how local political contexts impacted population health. A final analysis measures state-specific political alignment to assess its influence on child and adolescent mortality, all-cause mortality, and COVID-19 deaths. Generalized linear models were primarily used for these analysis and mortality data was sourced from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) WONDER database. Findings reveal that associations between political alignment and poverty levels to health outcomes exist, vary in strength and sometimes direction by race/ethnicity, and when tested separately, are still associate to population health outcomes.Applied Demograph
Contraceptive Use and Risk of Unintended Pregnancy Among Females in the United States: Trends and Characteristics Between 2019 and 2022
Full text linkBackground: Little is known about women’s contraceptive use in the United States during the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic and the risk of unintended pregnancy. Methods: We compared the weighted response rates on contraception use for female respondents aged 18–44 from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) between 2019 and 2022. Results: Our study reveals a significant increase of 16.1% (CI = 0.145, 0.177) in the proportion of women using contraception in 2022 as compared to 2019. The largest increase in the use of non-reversible contraception was seen in the proportion of female sterilization, at 3.0% (CI = 0.017, 0.043), mostly attributed to non-Hispanic Black individuals with a 12% increase (CI = 0.046, 0.198). The largest decrease was seen in the use of condoms, at 7.4% (CI = −0.094, −0.055). This was driven by both non-Hispanic Black and multiracial groups, each experiencing a 19% decrease (CI = −0.251, −0.127; CI = −0.304, −0.068, respectively). The proportion of women at risk of unintended pregnancy increased by 3.7% (CI = 0.010, 0.063). These increases were observed among those with an income of less than USD 15k, showing a 14.9% increase (CI = 0.037, 0.262). Older females and those with Medicaid insurance were more likely to use female sterilization. Hispanics, college graduates, and those with Medicaid insurance were more likely to use condoms. Non-White females and those without annual checkups were more at risk of unintended pregnancy. Conclusions: Contraceptive methods shifted among females with slightly increased sterilization in the years 2019 to 2022
The Four-Fold Foundations: Measuring the Four Pathways to Belonging
Full text linkResearch demonstrates that a sense of belonging is fundamental to psychological well-being and significantly impacts mental health and social behavior. However, perspectives vary on what conditions and processes best explain an individual’s perceptions of their achieved belonging. This study investigated the four-paths to belonging model proposed by Hirsch and Clark (2019). This model outlines four distinct pathways to belonging: communal belonging, group membership, general approbation, and minor sociability. Each pathway represents a different route through which individuals seek and experience belonging. While Hirsch and Clark provide a valuable framework for understanding belongingness, an empirical study that directly examined this model remained to be conducted. This research addresses this gap by employing an experimental researcher design that predicts achieved belonging based on the four domains of the four-path model. 428 participants were given a series of questions assessing each of the four factors that were used to predict achieved belonging. We hypothesized that the communal belonging pathway and group membership pathways would provide significant correlations to belongingness compared to the general approbation and the minor sociability pathways. The major question we asked was whether general approbation and minor sociability explained achieved belonging after accounting for the previous two pathways. Results demonstrated general approbation as the strongest predictor, communal belonging and groups membership as moderate predictors, and minor negligible predictor of achieved belonging. By exploring these correlations, this study sought to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how the different pathways combined within the four-paths to belonging model.Psycholog
Culturally Sustaining Biliteracy and Oracy Practices in Early Childhood Education: Challenging Deficit Perspectives Around Young Latina/o Children
No full textThe full text of this item is not available at this time because the author has placed this item under an embargo until August 26, 2028.This dissertation aims to document and promote culturally sustaining oracy and biliteracy practices to transform deficit-oriented educational practices pervasive in the education of young Latina/o children in dual language programs. Through a practitioner-based piece and a qualitative case study, this multiple-paper dissertation examines the creation and implementation of riddles and sayings (practitioner piece), the socio-dramatic learning center, and interactive read-alouds as enactments of culturally sustaining pedagogies in a prekindergarten dual language classroom in a Title I school in South Texas. The first paper offers guidance to early childhood and elementary teachers around using sayings and creating riddles to support the academic achievement, language development, and cultural competence of emergent bilingual children. The second paper documents the interactions of young Latina/o children at the socio-dramatic learning center and its affordances to sustaining young children’s cultures, languages, and literacies. The third paper examines culturally sustaining interactive read-alouds to support the language, biliteracy, and positive identity development of young Latina/o children.
This dissertation has implications for early childhood and elementary educators, as well as school administrators, who aim to support and advance the education of young Latina/o children. Throughout the three papers, it is evident that the benefits of culturally sustaining biliteracy practices extend to academic achievement, cultural competence, and the overall well-being of young Latina/o children and all children, offering several trajectories to transform highly structured and narrow pedagogical practices that affect the educational journeys of young Latina/o children in the United States.Interdisciplinary Learning and Teachin
PROTECTING BEEF MEAT FROM LIPID OXIDATION THROUGH THE POWER OF TEXAS HONEYS: EXPLORING THE ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF TEXAS HONEY IN MEAT PRESERVATION
Full text linkFoodborne illnesses pose a significant threat to public health, with improper meat preservation being a key contributor to spoilage and food safety concerns. This research explores the potential of honey as a natural preservative, leveraging its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties to inhibit lipid oxidation in beef products. Three honey samples SLF Honey from New Jersey, Texas Grocery Store Honey, and local Texan Honey—were tested for their effects on meat quality indicators, including pH, moisture content, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and zones of inhibition (ZOI) against Staphylococcus aureus. The TBARs experiment was conducted with beef chunks submerged in honey were stored 4℃. TBARS assay results showed that G-19 honey provided substantial inhibition of lipid oxidation (80.75%), with NJ-15 and SA-31 offering moderate inhibition at 52.07% and 46.73%, respectively. Although STPP exhibited a higher inhibition rate of 95.7%, its use is associated with health risks such as kidney failure and gastrointestinal issues, raising concerns for prolonged consumption. These findings suggest that high-bioactivity honeys could serve as a natural and safer alternative to synthetic preservatives in meat, effectively inhibiting lipid oxidation and potentially extending shelf life without adverse health effects.Biolog
Optimizing Machine-to-Machine Reproducibility with Deep Auto-Encoding Multi-Task Gaussian Processes
No full textManufacturing industries seek cost-effective ways to enhance product quality. Machine learning, particularly kernelized algorithms, excels at identifying complex patterns in large datasets. This study employs a kernelized algorithm in Python to improve the quality of parts produced via a Form 3+ SLA 3D printer. By analyzing input parameters and dimensional deviations, the algorithm predicts deviations based on specific printing conditions. This method reduces waste and production costs while efficiently identifying key factors affecting part quality. Results show the algorithm makes reliable predictions across multiple Form 3+ printer units, demonstrating its efficiency despite the limited dataset size. This study marks progress in optimizing manufacturing processes, with future work focusing on expanding the dataset to further enhance accuracy and applicability.Mechanical Engineerin
Cortisol Response as a Predictor and Correlate of Treatment Outcomes for Service Members With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Secondary Data Analysis
No full textThe unique nature of military-related trauma exposure, including a higher likelihood of multiple trauma exposures and sustained operational stress while deployed, may play a role in desensitizing the stress response system. Because the effectiveness of trauma-focused therapy is thought to rely on a heightened stress response, service members may not benefit from exposure therapy as much as civilian populations. Research on stress response system functioning in the military PTSD population is limited. The goals of this study were to examine cortisol awakening response (CAR) as well as cortisol reactivity as predictors and correlates of PTSD treatment outcomes among service members who participated in an experimental PTSD treatment program. Additionally, I explored if cortisol levels at baseline predict treatment attrition. Linear mixed models were used to evaluate baseline CAR and cortisol reactivity as predictors of PTSD treatment outcomes. Cross-lagged panel models were used to assess the relationship between cortisol levels and PTSD symptom severity over time. Finally, logistic regression and survival analysis were used to examine if cortisol level at baseline were associated with treatment attrition by end-of-study and time-to-attrition during treatment. No significant relationships were found between CAR or cortisol reactivity and PTSD outcomes. CAR was a significant predictor of attrition (β = 0.40, σ = 0.15, p < .01) and time-to-attrition (β = -0.31, σ = 0.12, p < .01). This research adds to the scarce research exploring HPA axis dysregulation in the military population. In particular, it underscores the association between HPA axis functioning and treatment completion.Psycholog
Women of Color during the U.S.-Mexican War
No full textThe presentation addresses the historical underrepresentation of women of color during the U.S.-Mexican War, emphasizing their struggles and contributions in the mid-19th century. The research highlights the scarcity of primary sources and provides broader insights into how focusing on these women's experiences reveals insights into social and cultural changes during this period.Histor
Optimization of Thermosensitive In Situ Gels for In Vitro Evaluation of Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
No full textTraumatic optic neuropathy (TON) is a rare neurodegenerative condition caused by head or facial trauma, often leading to severe vision loss and irreversible blindness. Current treatment options, including observation, surgery, and corticosteroids, remain controversial and lack consensus on efficacy. This study utilizes an innovative injectable drug delivery platform to optimize therapeutic strategies for TON. The platform employs thermosensitive in situ gels formed from Pluronic F-127 for future delivery of therapeutic agents. The properties of synthesized in situ gels are temperature-sensitive with a time-sensitive gelation point at approximately 30°C, posing challenges in temperature maintenance during standard in vitro testing conditions (i.e., room temperature-37°C). This study focused on developing a platform to ensure control of in situ hydrogel gelation for future cell studies. Varied concentrations (12-20% w/w) of Pluronic F-127 were tested to determine the ability to maintain gelation in a water bath at 37°C. Once gelled, the samples were removed from the water bath, and the time required for reverse gelation (transition back to liquid) at room temperature was recorded. Then, a similar reverse gelation study was conducted for in situ gels in transwells for subsequent in vitro experiments. Transwells of varying pore size were used as they feature a permeable membrane for gel placement and transport, without direct contact with cells. In situ gel contact in transwells with pore sizes of 0.4 µm and 3 µm were tested to determine gel transport through the membrane for up to 1 minute. Gels placed in transwells with larger pores (3 µm) resulted in gel transport across the membrane within 10 seconds, while gels maintained in transwells with a smaller pore size (0.4 µm) were retained. Moreover, gels synthesized from 18% and 20% Pluronic F-127 provided the greatest stability when used in 0.4 µm transwells. This study optimized the gel formulation conditions for subsequent in vitro experiments to improve the gel’s thermal stability and functional performance at physiological conditions. Future work will involve culture studies using human retinal epithelial cells to evaluate material biocompatibility, efficacy of loaded drug transport, and potential applications of the optimized formulation in biological systems.Biolog