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From the Moon to Charon: Mission-Inspired Laboratory Investigations Into Space Weathering and Polar Reddening
Full text linkRecent spacecraft observations have revealed small Solar System bodies such as our Moon and Pluto’s moon Charon to present surface albedos shaped by their environments. The lunar surface is subject to space weathering—solar wind irradiation and micrometeoroid bombardment—which affects surface far-ultraviolet (FUV) reflectance observed by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft’s Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP) instrument. Methane trapped at Charon’s winter poles is exposed to interplanetary medium Lyman-α photons, generating mostly ethane which may be further altered to produce the red-hued landscape observed in New Horizons images. Understanding these planetary surfaces through interpretation of spacecraft data often requires robust laboratory-based experiments. Presented in this dissertation are three such experimental thrusts applied to the Moon and Charon. The first compares FUV reflectance spectra of lunar simulants JSC-1A and LMS-1 and Apollo lunar soil sample 10084. Differences in the FUV reflectance of these soils point to space weathering as the primary contributor to backscattering behavior and high titanium-bearing mineral content possibly correlating to decreased brightness at shorter wavelengths. The second study extends these FUV measurements to Apollo soils 68501 and 71061. Space weathering is found to likely influence the scattering anisotropy of these soils; however, 10084 and 68501 show nearly identical reflectance, implying that FUV spectra are unable to strongly distinguish between highly space weathered mare and highland soils. The final investigation of this dissertation presents UV-Visible-NIR reflectance spectroscopy of ethane ice relevant to Charon, showing a “thermal reddening” process which potentially contributes—along with solar-wind processing of the ethane—to Charon’s colorful polar landscape.Physics and Astronom
Dietary Differences in the Maya Lowlands: Using Isotopic Analysis of Remains in Archeological Context to Understand Differences in Maya Diet
Full text linkThe goal of this study is to understand variation in Maya diets across the Southern Maya Lowlands using statistical models of isotopic data from archaeological burial contexts. This project explores three different factors that may have influenced differences in observable Maya diet, specifically space, time, and social status. To address how each factor might have shaped diet, isotopic data from five different sites was compiled and analyzed. In deciding what studies to use, this research focused on studies that published complete collagen data and chose sites that represented a broad area across the Southern Maya Lowlands. To account for the differences in social status, this project tested multiple data sets using a variety of classifications and compared each one statistically. To analyze the data, statistics were run using R. Mixed effects models were implemented using the spaMM package and were run on each of the different data sets, and a PseudoR2 was generated for each of the different data sets. Results showed that the factor most influencing diet is sites where the individuals were found. While all factors had a statistically significant impact, the differences between sites were by far the most significant. Overall, this project demonstrates that there are definite differences in the diets people had access to at different sites.Anthropolog
Voices in a Volatile Era: Faculty Perspectives on the Shifting Landscape of Academic Work in Small, Private, Tuition-Dependent Institutions
Full text linkThis study examined how faculty at small, private, tuition-dependent higher education institutions make sense of their professional roles amid escalating political and financial volatility. Using a qualitative multiple case study design, the research explored how faculty experience and navigate risk, fear, and institutional instability within the context of neoliberal governance and renewed federal intervention in higher education. The study was grounded in neoliberalism (Giroux, 2008), risk (Beck, 1992), and fear (Ahmed, 2005) as both an affective and structural mechanism of control, offering a critical lens through which to understand how political and economic pressures shape academic labor and identity.
Through in-depth interviews with faculty across diverse disciplines and ranks, this study illuminated how risk operates as a constant condition of academic life rather than a singular crisis event. Participants described environments characterized by scarcity, uncertainty, and fear. These conditions often compelled self-censorship, overwork, and emotional exhaustion for the study participants. Yet, the study also revealed practices of resistance and care, sustaining one another through mentorship, collaboration, and advocacy. These relational forms of resilience underscored the moral and emotional labor that upholds higher education in precarious times.
Findings contribute to scholarship on faculty work, academic freedom, and institutional governance by amplifying the perspectives of those in non-elite, tuition-dependent institutions, an often-overlooked sector of higher education. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that fear and risk are not only outcomes of neoliberal systems but also forces that organize institutional life, shaping how faculty endure, resist, and reimagine their professional futures.Educational Leadership and Policy Studie
Examining Freshwater Salinity Variability in the San Antonio River
Full text linkFreshwater salinization impacts urban rivers, affecting ecosystems and water quality. This thesis investigates salinization in the San Antonio River, Bexar County, Texas, from August 2024 to August 2025, across six sites: Tuleta Crossing, Jones Ave, Boat Garage, South Outlet, Padre Park, and Mission Espada. Monthly salinity and temperature were measured using a YSI EcoSense 300M meter, with monthly rainfall totals and stream discharge gathered from USGS gauges. Land use was assessed via the 2023 National Land Cover Database within 500-meter buffers of the sample site. The study quantifies salinity, assesses spatial-temporal trends, and evaluates potential drivers of salinity changes: distance to San Antonio Water System (SAWS) outlet, rainfall, land use, water temperature and stream discharge. This was accomplished using hand-collected field data that was processed in R. The ANOVA showed salinity varied significantly across sites and over time. Tuleta Crossing displayed the highest average salinity of 810 ppm and exceeded the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality 750 ppm limit, while Mission Espada downstream from the SAWS outlet exhibited lower salinity. Spearman correlations highlighted a negative relationship with distance to the SAWS outlet (rho = -1.00, p < 0.001) and a statistically insignificant relationship with rainfall (rho = 0.30, p = 0.31). Multivariate regression (R² = 0.522) identified distance to the SAWS outlet as the most significant predictor of salinity. It appears that SAWS discharge potentially raises salinity and may pose an emerging concern for species like Texas Logperch and Prostrate Milkweed, requiring balanced management to sustain ecosystem benefits.Political Science and Geograph
Application of Augmented Reality Technology as a Dietary Monitoring and Control Measure Among Adults: A Systematic Review
Full text link<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Traditional dietary monitoring methods such as 24 h recalls rely on self-report, leading to recall bias and underreporting. Similarly, dietary control approaches, including portion control and calorie restriction, depend on user accuracy and consistency. Augmented reality (AR) offers a promising alternative for improving dietary monitoring and control by enhancing engagement, feedback accuracy, and user learning. This systematic review aimed to examine how AR technologies are implemented to support dietary monitoring and control and to evaluate their usability and effectiveness among adults. <b>Methods</b>: A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase identified studies published between 2000 and 2025 that evaluated augmented reality for dietary monitoring and control among adults. Eligible studies included peer-reviewed and gray literature in English. Data extraction focused on study design, AR system type, usability, and effectiveness outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool for randomized controlled trials and ROBINS-I for non-randomized studies. <b>Results</b>: Thirteen studies met inclusion criteria. Since the evidence based was heterogeneous in design, outcomes, and measurement, findings were synthesized qualitatively rather than pooled. Most studies utilized smartphone-based AR systems for portion size estimation, nutrition education, and behavior modification. Usability and satisfaction varied by study: One study found that 80% of participants (N = 15) were satisfied or extremely satisfied with the AR tool. Another reported that 100% of users (N = 26) rated the app easy to use, and a separate study observed a 72.5% agreement rate on ease of use among participants (N = 40). Several studies also examined portion size estimation, with one reporting a 12.2% improvement in estimation accuracy and another showing &minus;6% estimation, though a 12.7% overestimation in energy intake persisted. Additional outcomes related to behavior, dietary knowledge, and physiological or psychological effects were also identified across the review. Common limitations included difficulty aligning markers, overestimation of amorphous foods, and short intervention durations. Despite these promising findings, the existing evidence is limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneity in intervention and device design, short study durations, and variability in usability and accuracy measures. The limitations of this review warrant cautious interpretation of findings. <b>Conclusions</b>: AR technologies show promise for improving dietary monitoring and control by enhancing accuracy, engagement, and behavior change. Future research should focus on longitudinal designs, diverse populations, and integration with multimodal sensors and artificial intelligence
Placekeeping as Social Equity: Heritage and Gentrification In San Antonio, Texas
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 December 11, 2028.This research project examines the relationship between art found along streetscapes in San Antonio, Texas, gentrification, and spatial equity. It centers placekeeping, wherein groups actively resist top-down changes from commercial and governmental forces in an effort to maintain group identity and self-governance in their neighborhoods. As the process of gentrification increases in San Antonio, Texas, people organize to resist changes in housing and the aesthetic changes on streetscapes that gentrification affects. Drawing from space and place theory as well as value theory, this project explores the relative value of streetscape aesthetics as markers of place and the effects of changes on the streetscape for community stakeholders. Spatial equity is at stake when residents and places face gentrification. This project advances anthropological theory by focusing on placekeeping practices, substantively adding to space and place literature.Anthropolog
Infrastructure, and Security: Advancing Smart Manufacturing Through Review, Modeling, and Optimization
Full text linkThis dissertation advances resilient smart manufacturing by unifying evidence-based cybersecurity synthesis with optimization models for infrastructure and cyber-defense decisions. The study pursues three aims: (i) organize the evolving knowledge base on industrial cyber-physical security through a literary review; (ii) optimize electric-vehicle (EV) fleet charging location assignment under operational and grid constraints; and (iii) quantify cost-aware IT/OT defense portfolios using attack-graph-driven stochastic optimization.
Methods integrate a systematic literature review for cybersecurity in smart manufacturing, including associated enabling mechanisms (model-based engineering, federated testbeds, quantitative risk/ROI). For infrastructure planning, a mixed-integer location assignment model incorporates regional accessibility, capacity limits at substations/hubs, travel distance, and incentive parameters, evaluated through computational experiments and sensitivity analyses. For cybersecurity investment, an attack-graph formulation couples adversary progression with candidate detection/mitigation controls; sample-average approximation and design-of-experiments assess solution quality, robustness, and budget trade-offs.
The review clarifies adoption gaps, and provides a roadmap for validation and workforce readiness. The EV model yields feasible site selections and assignments that extend robustly to larger fleets, geographies, and deployment phases while remaining computationally tractable. The stochastic cyber-defense model delivers measurable expected-loss reductions and identifies efficient control portfolios under budget limits. Collectively, the contributions form a cohesive toolkit that links evidence, optimization, and engineering practice to guide manufacturers and municipal partners toward secure, grid-aware, and cost-effective operations.Mechanical Engineerin
The Specification and Functional Maturation of Sub-Cerebral Projection Neurons Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Full text linkHuman induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) are an invaluable resource for investigating the molecular mechanisms regulating cell fate specification during brain development. However, most directed differentiation methods exhibit significant cell fate heterogeneity and require several months to become functional. To address this challenge, we developed a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter system in hiPSC by targeting the genomic locus of Forebrain Enriched Zinc Finger 2 (FEZF2), which encodes a transcription factor essential for the fate specification of sub-cerebral projection neurons (SCPN) during forebrain development. Using this FEZF2-GFP reporter hiPSC line, we optimized a directed differentiation protocol to rapidly and efficiently generate pallial progenitors and glutamatergic neuronal subgroups after 3 weeks. Through fluorescence activated cell sorting for both GFP and CD200, isolated post-mitotic SCPN immediately displayed electrophysiological properties and formed glutamatergic synapses within 4 additional weeks of in vitro cell culture. Co-culture with hiPSC-derived spinal motor neurons further enhanced these electrophysiological characteristics, improved viability, and increased synapse formation in SCPN. This study presents a streamlined and effective strategy to generate, isolate, and characterize human motor neuron circuits, providing insights into the molecular determinants regulating synaptogenesis and functional maturation.Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biolog
From Phishing to PLCs: AI-Driven Security Solutions Using Behavioral and Industrial
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 December 11, 2027.This dissertation advanced security across cyber-physical infrastructures and human-centered domains through an integrated, three-part program of research spanning (i) anomaly detection for industrial control systems (ICS), (ii) learning-guided fuzz testing of ICS protocols, and (iii) trait-informed prediction of fraud susceptibility. First, I developed an ICS testbed that synchronized Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) network traffic, power signals, and simulated process data. I also designed an intrusion-detection pipeline that combined eleven engineered features and evaluated GRU and SimpleRNN baselines. The novelty lay in its session-separated evaluation and compact 11-feature fusion of power, network, and process data, with real-time retraining hooks, which together delivered robust and reproducible IDS performance. Second, I introduced a learning-guided fuzzing framework for identifying protocol-level vulnerabilities in CIP. A two-tier architecture, XGBoost stacked with a small MLP gating network, formed a Calibrated Stacked Gating Ensemble (CSGE). The novelty was its two-stage calibrated gating with entropy-aware deployment thresholds, which achieved superior data-efficiency over random fuzzing. Across more than 15 million labeled command-response pairs, the framework achieved 98.70% accuracy and a ROC AUC of 0.987, with adaptability confirmed through threshold-sensitivity studies and retraining experiments. Third, I modeled psychological vulnerability to fraud using a multi-stage pipeline that combined psychometric surveys with hierarchical logistic regression and modern ensemble methods. The novelty was a trait-informed fraud risk pipeline with a validated SDPI construct, coupled with ML models offering global and local interpretability. Top models, including Random Forest and gradient-boosted trees, attained F1 scores above 0.90, demonstrating the feasibility of real-time fraud risk prediction. Together, these contributions advanced both secure systems and secure people. By advancing session-separated evaluation, calibrated gating, and trait-informed risk modeling, this work delivered calibrated, reproducible, and operationally actionable methods for protecting programmable infrastructures and the individuals who use them.Electrical and Computer Engineerin
The Art Of Catching Smoke
Full text linkMy mission in The Art of Catching Smoke is to render as complete an image of the addict as possible—to show what it means to labor in one’s own destruction, to witness revelation on the road toward recovery, to fail and grieve, and, above all, to live as an American in an America driven by wanting and lacking, whose unifying forces are yearning and consumption.Englis