UTSA Runner Research Press (Univ. of Texas at San Antonio)
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Wearable Technology to Measure the Occurrence of Self-Injury During a Functional Analysis
Get PDFConducting a functional analysis (FA) is considered the gold standard for assessing the function of disruptive behavior and informing function-based treatment plans for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities. However, data collected during FAs are subject to human error. Accelerometers are wearable sensors that capture an individual’s movement and can be used to identify behavioral events. The purpose of this study was to pilot the use of accelerometers to identify the occurrence of self-injurious behavior events during a FA. Three participants with autism, who engaged in self-hitting behaviors, participated in this study. Researchers conducted a FA with the participants while they wore small accelerometer devices. Observational data were collected using (1) live observation (“clinical-grade”), (2) from frame-by-frame video analysis (“research-grade”), and (3) via accelerometers. Researchers calculated interobserver agreement across data sets. Discussion of results and recommendations for practice and future research are included.Education Psycholog
Expression Profiling of Novel Tspan8-CreERT2 Transgene in Mice
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 31, 2027Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) develop from prospermatogonia, but the specific mechanisms regulating this process remain elusive. One possibility is that a subset of prospermatogonia are determined to become SSCs while the rest bypass the SSC pool and contribute to the first wave of spermatogenesis. Alternatively, all prospermatogonia could be equipotent and a subset is selected to become the SSC pool. The Hermann lab previously demonstrated by single-cell RNA-seq analysis that a subset of M- and T1-prospermatogonia exhibit an SSC-like signature of mRNA abundance and is actively dividing at embryonic day (E) 13.5 and E14.5. Moreover, metabolic labeling studies indicated that Id4-eGFP+ postnatal day (P) 0 SSCs preferentially arose from dividing E13.5 and E14.5 prospermatogonia. Thus, these data support the determination hypothesis, but there is no definitive genetic evidence supporting the formation of SSCs because of experimental limitations. To address this need, the Hermann Lab devised Cre-lox lineage tracing and ablation studies to assess the hypothesis that a subset of prospermatogonia is determined to form the SSC pool. The Hermann lab also previously demonstrated that TSPAN8, a cell-surface protein, enriches for transplantable SSCs upon FACS-based selection at P6. Importantly, subsets of prospermatogonia expressing Tspan8 are present throughout fetal and neonatal testis development. This experiment will employ Tspan8-CreERT2 transgenic mouse, generated by CRISPR/Cas9-dependent knock-in, to lineage trace TSPAN8 expressing cells. Here, I confirmed that the transgene expression profile by RT-PCR analysis faithfully mimics endogenous Tspan8 expression. In future studies, I will investigate the functional characteristics this Cre mouse in pups at P6 to further validate the potentiality of this transgenic mouse line for lineage tracing subsets of prospermatogonia.Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biolog
Cyrus A. Raji, MD, PhD, is the recipient of the 2025 Mark A. Smith Alzheimer Award
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Relationship Between Imitation and Sensory Processing in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Get PDFBackground: Imitation difficulties are common in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with prior work examining facial, gestural, and action-on-object tasks. ASD impacts social, cognitive, sensory processing, and praxis abilities. Objective: This study evaluated imitation performance using a praxis-based whole-body imitation task in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) peers and examined its age-related changes and relationship to sensory processing using the Sensory Processing Measure–2 (SPM-2). Method: Sixty-seven children (29 ASD, 38 TD), ages 5–12, completed an underhand tossing imitation task with three trials. Performance was scored using 9 biomechanical criteria. The SPM-2 was administered as a one-on-one interview with the participants’ caregivers. Results: The ASD group showed significantly lower imitation scores and significantly higher SPM-2 scores than TD peers, indicating greater imitation and sensory processing challenges in ASD. Age was significantly associated with imitation performance within each group. Imitation scores, however, did not significantly correlate with SPM-2 in any sensory domains. Conclusions: The present study assessed whole-body imitation performance in ASD and TD children, showing a positive association with age. Sensory processing difficulties failed to predict imitation within each group, suggesting further investigations to identify mechanisms that may play a central role in imitation challenges in ASD.Health and Kinesiolog
Fair Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning for Traffic Control
Get PDFIn this article, we address the issue of learning fair policies in decentralized cooperative multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL), with a focus on traffic light control systems. We show that standard MARL algorithms that optimize the expected rewards often lead to unfair treatment across different intersections. To overcome this limitation, we design control policies that optimize a generalized Gini welfare function that explicitly encodes two aspects of fairness: efficiency and equity. Specifically, we propose three novel adaptations of MARL baselines that enable agents to learn decentralized fair policies, where each agent estimates its local value function while contributing to welfare optimization. We validate our approaches through extensive experiments across six traffic control environments with varying complexities and traffic layouts. The results demonstrate that our proposed methods consistently outperform existing MARL approaches both in terms of efficiency and equity.Electrical and Computer Engineerin
Drawing Out Student Veteran Workforce Transitions: Inscriptions, Editions, and Discoveries
Get PDFThis qualitative study examined how two student veterans experienced and reflected on their transition from higher education into military-affiliated civilian employment, and what those reflections reveal about the role of higher education in shaping that process. Despite widespread institutional investment in veteran services, support remains inconsistent and often tethered to return-on-investment logics that privilege economic productivity over lived transformation. Guided by Veteran Critical Theory (Phillips & Lincoln, 2017), John Dewey’s Art as Experience (1934/2005), and Elliot Eisner’s (2002) arts-based heuristic, this research positioned veterans as epistemic agents whose creative and narrative expressions illuminated how institutional ecosystems enable or constrain meaningful transition. Two student veterans participated in semi-structured interviews and produced visual artworks reflecting on their college-to-career transitions. Using Veteran Critical Theory and Eisner’s heuristic, artworks and narratives were analyzed as forms of epistemic labor—revealing how veterans translate military ways of knowing, relating, and being into civilian and professional contexts. Four interrelated themes emerged: Selfless Service, Lifelines and Islands, Generating Countercurrents, and A Return Home. Together, these findings show that veterans’ transitions are not discrete events but continuous negotiations of identity, purpose, and belonging that exceed institutional metrics of success. The study contributes to the literature on veteran reintegration by advancing an arts-based framework for listening to and learning from veterans’ own meaning-making processes. Implications include reorienting higher education and workforce policy toward culturally attuned mentorship, applied learning aligned with veterans’ civic and vocational motivations, and evaluative frameworks that recognize aesthetic and reflective dimensions of learning as central to reintegration.Educational Leadership and Policy Studie
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS UNDERPINNING THE ROLE OF BORRELIA HOST ADAPTATION PROTEIN (BADP) IN PATHOGENESIS OF THE AGENT OF LYME DISEASE
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, 2030.The causative agent of Lyme Disease (LD) Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) derives its ability to transmit from tick vector to vertebrate host via host-dependent gene regulatory mechanisms. Modulation of gene expression in response to signals from the environment in the tick vector and vertebrate host is essential for the ability of Bb to survive in these highly divergent hosts. One such protein is Borrelia host adaptation protein (BadP) that has been shown to play a major role in Bb adaptation and colonization of the vertebrate host.
The purpose of this study was to delineate the biochemical functions of BadP and potentially uncover the role of different domains of BadP in modulating gene expression in Bb influencing its survival and virulence in vertebrate hosts. BadP has been annotated as a magnesium chelatase-like AAA+ ATPase and has been predicted through HHPRED analysis to be a multi-domain protein with a Lon protease, AAA+ ATPase, and magnesium chelatase domains respectively. Moreover, badP deletion mutants are incapable of survival in vertebrate hosts and have reduced expression of several virulence associated proteins critical for colonization of vertebrate hosts. My central hypothesis is that BadP is a canonical AAA+ ATPase modulating vertebrate host adaptation of Bb. Recombinant BadP fused to Maltose binding protein (MBP) or an N-terminal 6x histidine tag had relatively high levels of ATPase activity, compared to a known borrelial AAA+ ATPase, using a calorimetric assay measuring the production inorganic phosphate. Proteolytic activity of BadP was assessed using a caseinolytic assay with a fluorescent labelled protein substrate, FITC-Casein. Proteolytic activity was also observed by immunoblot analysis using serum directed at the C-terminal region of the protein and measured comparing size of cleavage products. BadP does hydrolyze ATP and undergoes proteolysis of which Walker box motifs have been implicated as holding key roles in the ability for BadP to perform both functions. BadP also exhibits what seems to be autoproteolysis determined via immunoblotting indicating some sort of self-regulation or increased biological efficiency. To uncover potential protein-protein interactions in BadP I employed both structural/interaction analysis via Alphafold 3 prediction and an affinity based in vitro protein pull down assay to capture these protein interactions. Predictive analysis gave potential interactions with comparable confidence scores. Additionally, protein pull down assessments yielded potential interactions with DNA protecting protein A (DprA) and Borrelia oxidative stress Regulator (BosR) and are yet to be validated using conventional pull down assays.Molecular Microbiology and Immunolog
Touchless Restroom Monitoring: A Privacy-Preserving System for Patient Care
Get PDFWith the growing demand for continuous home monitoring in healthcare, developing an effective reminder system has become crucial. Restroom monitoring is a vital application for logging urination and defecation to prevent excretion issues while maintaining privacy and convenience. We introduce a touchless restroom monitoring system designed to preserve privacy and enhance patient care. Our solution is scalable, non-intrusive, and equipped with strong privacy protection, while supporting for multiple communication protocols, timely reminders, and adaptability to various restroom layouts. To assess its performance, we conducted a preliminary experiment, demonstrating that our system can accurately infer real-time activities and recognize different movements, making it a valuable tool for managing restroom-related tasks. Additionally, the touchless sensing system offers a versatile solution for other monitoring and reminder systems that focus on tracking presence and activity while prioritizing privacy preservation. The system design is available online1.Computer Scienc
Zn–Si Electrodeposited Coating: Effects of Deposition Parameters and Surface Treatments on Corrosion Behavior
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, 2030.This research investigates the influence of electrodeposition parameters and surface preparation on the performance of Zn–Si coatings applied to mild-steel substrates for enhanced corrosion resistance. The study addresses two critical aspects of Zn–Si systems: (1) how process parameters, current density, bath temperature, and plating time, govern coating mass gain, thickness, and corrosion behavior and (2) how mechanical and chemical surface treatments affect coating morphology, and corrosion behavior.
The first phase applied a Taguchi L9 orthogonal array, an experimental design method, to quantify the effects of the electrodeposition parameters on coating properties. Integrated sensor-based monitoring ensured thermal and current control, while corrosion performance was assessed using ASTM B117 exposure and MATLAB-based digital image analysis. Temperature was identified as the dominant factor in corrosion resistance, with the optimal deposition condition determined as 1.37 A/dm², 37.8 °C, and 60 minutes.
The second phase evaluated multiple surface-conditioning methods, including wire wheel abrasion, fine SiC grinding, and chemical activation sequences. Characterization via SEM/EDS, optical profilometry, contact angle analysis, bend testing, and SAE J2334 cyclic corrosion demonstrated that substrate condition strongly determines coating uniformity, nucleation density, and electrochemical stability. The optimal chemical pretreatment incorporated a combination of acetone in ultrasonic bath for 5 mins at 23 ±2°C, a hot alkaline bath (50 g/L NaOH) in ultrasonic bath to keep solution at 80 ±2°C for 5 mins, followed by an acid bath (10% H2SO4) for 5 sec at 23 ±2°C, which produced the densest microstructure and highest corrosion resistance.Mechanical Engineerin
MARVEL: MAGNETIC ARTERIOVENOUS LATTICE FOR IMPROVED KIDNEY DIALYSIS
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, 2026.This research focuses on the development of a magnetoactive, stent-like lattice capable of dynamic, non-invasive, and externally controlled for use in arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Current stent technologies lack the ability to adapt post-deployment, leading to clinical complications such as restenosis, infection, and poor vascular support. To address these limitations, this study explores the use of magnetoactive elastomers (MAEs), a type of smart materials composed of biocompatible silicone and carbonyl iron particles, to create a flexible lattice that deforms in response to externally applied magnetic fields.
This work demonstrates proof-of-concept for a smart implant that integrates both shape memory behavior and remote controllability, offering improved performance over traditional fixed-geometry stents. Results from deformation testing support the feasibility of achieving ~20–30% diameter change under controlled magnetic actuation. By enabling post-deployment modulation of stent geometry, this device has the potential to enhance long-term AV access outcomes, reduce surgical revisions, and contribute to the next generation of intelligent vascular implants.
A second set of devices were fabricated using carbonyl iron microparticles and nanoparticle powders and silicone rubbers to create MAE lattices of two different magnetic domains. The lattices were designed to expand or contract when exposed to controlled magnetic fields generated by permanent electromagnets. The controlled magnetic actuation was performed using a Bruker EMX 070 electromagnet system from 0 Tesla to 0.65 Tesla in increments of 0.1 units. Experimental methods include the synthesis of MAEs, mechanical characterization, and parallel and perpendicular deformation testing of lattice under magnetic loading. The deformation tests on both microparticle and nanoparticle lattices demonstrated that the lattices could achieve successful controlled actuation, achieving up to 12% increase in length for parallel testing and 35% increase in width for perpendicular testing, achieving the hypothesized goal of 30% deformation under magnetic actuation.
This work establishes the foundation for potential capability of safe dilation and contraction of the vessel temporarily to enable easier needle access and faster blood evacuation, easing and speeding the HD process. This approach prioritizes fast magnetically response times, controlled actuation, and adaptability to physiological vessel changes, offering a potential solution for patient-specific stent adjustment without the need for reintervention.
Future work should refine material composition, improve particle dispersion strategies, and testing under human-like vascular systems. Additional work will also be required to evaluate durability, thermal safety, biocompatibility, and device delivery under physiological conditions.Mechanical Engineerin