UTSA Runner Research Press (Univ. of Texas at San Antonio)
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IntoTheRabbitHole: A Web Application for Teaching Middle School Students About Search Algorithms
Full text linkAs artificial intelligence (AI) technology rapidly advances and integrates further into everyday life, building AI literacy in children is now more important than ever. AI literacy includes understanding key AI concepts such as search algorithms, which are foundational and have wide-ranging real-world applications. To support curricula that foster AI and computational literacy in K-12 students, we developed a novel, easy-to-use software tool to introduce this foundational topic by teaching two search algorithms to middle school children. We present IntoTheRabbitHole, an interactive web application where users help a rabbit find its carrot to learn about Depth First Search (DFS) and Breadth First Search (BFS). In this work, our research questions were: (RQ1) Can we develop an engaging and enjoyable web application to teach search algorithms?; (RQ2) Could we find evidence of student learning of Depth First Search and Breadth First Search from using our application?; and (RQ3) How do students compare Depth First Search and Breadth First Search after interacting with IntoTheRabbitHole? We collected both quantitative and qualitative data on student use of IntoTheRabbitHole at an after-school AI program. We found that IntoTheRabbitHole was successful in fostering an understanding of both DFS and BFS. Furthermore, we obtained a statistically significant result showing that interaction with IntoTheRabbitHole led to better performance on a DFS traversal pre- and post-survey item, indicating that many students learned DFS through interaction with our tool.Information Systems and Cyber Securit
Development of Modern Miniaturized Extracorporeal Life Support System for Selective Organ Perfusion and Adjunct Therapies
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 project was focused on the miniaturization of extracorporeal life support technologies in order to create specialized therapies to 1) maintain limb and organ viability, 2) remove toxins and metabolites, 3) apply novel therapies for infection control and pathogen eradication and 4) combine multiple treatments and life support devices on a modular portable platform. A downscaled life support system was created for perfusion of kidneys and limbs, showing improved tissue oxygen saturation and tissue viability compared to cold storage standard of care. Another therapy system was created to utilize a sorbent-based device to remove potassium from whole blood. A six-hour circulation study showed reduction in potassium levels from 9mmol/L to 4mmol/L in one hour, while maintaining blood viability. Another variation of a miniaturized extracorporeal system was developed to use ozone gas as a treatment for bacterial infections in donor blood. Ozone was dissolved into blood without embolisms using a specialized oxygenator device. A 1-hour study was performed using infected blood to test the effects of ozone on bacterial counts. Effect of ozone treatment on bacteria counts was not observed. Blood viability was not deteriorated by ozone treatment. Finally, this led to the development of a modular portable ECLS platform incorporating an oxygenator and dialysis membrane, and nitric oxide gas delivery for localized anticoagulation. Platform was tested ex vivo and in vivo and was successful in mitigating effects of injury and operate solely on batteries for a 72-hour study duration.Biomedical Engineerin
Experiencias de Padres Inmigrantes Latinos Recién Llegados Apoyando la Educación de sus Hijos en una Escuela Secundaria Pública
Full text linkThis critical qualitative multi-participant study explored the experiences of six newly arrived Latino immigrant parents as they navigated their middle school newcomer children's education during their initial years in the United States. Grounded in the LatCrit framework and drawing on counter-storytelling as a form of resistance to deficit thinking (Valencia, 2010; Yosso, 2005), the study sought to challenge dominant narratives that portray Latino immigrant families as uninvolved or disinterested in their children's education. Specifically, the research investigated the types of involvement these parents engaged in-both in their home countries and in the United States-, the challenges they encountered, and the cultural wealth they leveraged to support their children's academic success.The findings revealed four major themes: 1) examining the counterstories of recently immigrated families navigating systemic barriers in education, (2) mobilizing social networks that reflect everyday resilience and resistance, (3) enacting existing parental cultural wealth before and after migrating, and (4) demonstrating intrinsic awareness of the importance of school-based involvement. Despite limited access to traditional forms of school-based engagement in the United States, participants demonstrated high levels of home-based involvement and a deep commitment to their children's academic futures.This study contributes to the growing body of research that repositions newly arrived Latino immigrant families as active agents in their children's education, not passive recipients of school mandates. By amplifying their voices and lived experiences, the findings offer a counternarrative to deficit-based assumptions and present practical implications for educators and school leaders to develop inclusive, culturally responsive engagement practices that honor the assets these families bring to the educational landscape.Este estudio crítico, cualitativo y de múltiples participantes exploró las experiencias de seis padres inmigrantes latinos recién llegados mientras navegaban la educación de sus hijos recién llegados a la escuela secundaria durante sus primeros años en los Estados Unidos. En el marco de LatCrit y utilizando la contranarrativa como forma de resistencia al pensamiento deficitario (Valencia, 2010; Yosso, 2005), el estudio buscó desafiar las narrativas dominantes que retratan a las familias inmigrantes latinas como poco involucradas o desinteresadas en la educación de sus hijos. Específicamente, la investigación examinó los tipos de participación en los que estos padres se involucraron—tanto en sus países de origen como en los Estados Unidos—, los desafíos que enfrentaron y la riqueza cultural que aprovecharon para apoyar el éxito académico de sus hijos.
Los hallazgos revelaron cuatro temas principales: (1) examinar las contranarrativas de familias recién inmigradas que enfrentan barreras sistémicas dentro del sistema educativo; (2) movilizar redes sociales que reflejan resiliencia y resistencia cotidianas; (3) poner en práctica la riqueza cultural parental existente antes y después de la migración; y (4) demostrar una conciencia intrínseca sobre la importancia de la participación escolar. A pesar del acceso limitado a formas tradicionales de participación escolar en los Estados Unidos, los participantes demostraron altos niveles de participación basada en el hogar y un profundo compromiso con el futuro académico de sus hijos.
Este estudio contribuye al creciente cuerpo de investigación que reposiciona a las familias latinas inmigrantes recién llegadas como agentes activos en la educación de sus hijos, y no como receptoras pasivas de los mandatos escolares. Al amplificar sus voces y experiencias de vida, los hallazgos ofrecen un contrarrelato a las suposiciones basadas en el déficit y presentan implicaciones prácticas para que los educadores y líderes escolares desarrollen prácticas de participación inclusivas y culturalmente receptivas que honren los recursos que estas familias aportan al ámbito educativo.Bicultural-Bilingual Studie
Acute Physical Pain & Authenticity
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 14, 2027.Previous literature has established a relationship between acute physical pain and the manifestation of negative affect. Research has also shown a connection between negative affect and its impacts on authenticity– the sense of alignment with one’s true or real self. The current study aims to explore the extent to which the experience of acute physical pain impacts felt authenticity in an individual. Participants were asked to either complete a word search task (pain-free task) or a cold-pressor task (pain-inducing task), following instructions that led them to believe that they were to meet a certain goal. This goal, which varied based on the task and performance of the participant, was then relayed to them following their participation in the task. Upon completion of the behavioral task, participants were asked to respond to multiple authenticity scales (Wood’s Authenticity Scale, SAS, RSOS), with a focus on measuring state authenticity, in addition to the PANAS scale. We hypothesized that participants who experience the pain-inducing task will report higher levels of inauthenticity, which was supported by the current study. The effect was observed on the first authenticity measurement only and dissipated over subsequent assessment checkpoints. We also anticipated that participants who meet a goal will report higher levels of authenticity, as compared to those who do not meet a goal. We examined the possible interaction between meeting a goal and experiencing pain. This study aims to establish a connection between acute physical pain and authenticity, with potential implications for rehabilitative processes and treatments.Psycholog
Language Skills and Income: Evidence from Xizang’s Rural Households in China
Full text linkLanguage competence, particularly in the national standard language ability (NSLA), constitutes a critical dimension of human capital. According to classical human capital theory and endogenous growth models, proficiency in NSLA enhances individuals’ capacity for information acquisition, social communication, and labor market integration, thereby improving employment outcomes and income levels. Drawing on data from the 2021 wave of the Annual Livelihood Survey of Farmers and Herders in Xizang in China, this study investigates the relationship between NSLA and household income among Tibetan farmers and herdsmen. Using an extended Mincerian earnings function, we find that: (1) NSLA has a statistically significant positive effect on household income; (2) among the four dimensions of language competence—listening, speaking, reading, and writing—speaking ability exerts the greatest impact; and (3) the income effect of NSLA varies considerably across income groups, with limited returns for low-income households and diminishing marginal returns for high-income households. These findings suggest that promoting NSLA among the rural Tibetan labor force can enhance income generation capacity and contribute to reducing income inequality. The study offers policy implications for advancing inclusive development and linguistic equity in multilingual, service-oriented economies like Xizang in China.Sociology and Demograph
ENACTMENT AND CONCEALMENT: THE INTERACTIONS OF CENTRAL IDENTITY EXPRESSIONS ON FELT-AUTHENTICITY
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 12, 2028Everyone has identities they consider personally meaningful and at times express or conceal them. Self Determination Theory posits that individuals feel most authentic when they can freely enact their identities. Due to a lack of research, this study attempts to explore how enactment impacts felt-authenticity when other central identities are being concealed at the same time. Main effects are hypothesized in that enacting two central identities will lead to the highest felt-authenticity and concealing two with the lowest. It is also hypothesized that enacting a central identity can eliminate the aversive effects of concealing on felt-authenticity. It is alternatively hypothesized that concealing even one central identity is enough to reduce felt-authenticity. In a writing task, participants (N = 289) either enacted and/or concealed a freely chosen central identity and their political identity. After taking authenticity scales, they were asked to guess which condition they were in. Due to a lack of significance, none of the hypotheses were supported. However, when dividing participants by their guessed condition significant differences were found, main effects were supported, and the exploratory hypotheses were partially supported. These findings suggest that it mattered more what participants believed rather than what they actually enacted and/or concealed. The interactions suggest that participants felt more authentic when enacting their freely chosen identity and concealing their political identity. Conversely, they felt less authentic when enacting their political identity and concealing their freely chosen identity. Implications of findings are discussed further.Psycholog
Beyond Accessibility: Understanding the Ease of Use and Impacts of Digital Collaboration Tools for Blind and Low Vision Workers
Full text linkReal-time collaboration tools (e.g., videoconferencing or project management) are central to modern work but often pose significant accessibility challenges for blind and low vision (BLV) people. While these tools can support both in-person and remote collaboration, barriers to usability and access can hinder full workforce participation. Prior research has explored accessibility issues with specific tools, but broader insights into how BLV people use and experience mainstream collaboration platforms remain limited. We conducted an online survey with 155 BLV users, evaluating the ease of using 30 widely used collaboration tools. Findings show that Zoom is rated as the easiest tool to use, however, project management and whiteboarding tools are rated relatively difficult to use. Over half of the respondents reported that accessibility barriers negatively impact their collaboration, job performance, and career growth. We discuss the compounding effects of inaccessible collaborative tools and offer design recommendations for more inclusive digital workspaces.Computer Scienc
Assessment of Advanced Materials for Sustainability Applications: Environmental Sensing and Hydrogen Storage
Full text linkThe presented work objective is the development of advanced nanostructure materials for environmental applications. This work will be focused on two main applications: (1) sensing of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in freshwater, and (2) hydrogen storage materials. The first part of the study involves the development of a Core-shell nanoparticle (CS-NP) system composed of an iron oxide (Fe3O4) core and a thick plasmonic gold shell. These composite nanoparticles combine the plasmonic properties of gold, such as enhanced scattering and refractive index sensitivity, while they also exhibit magnetic properties that allow the manipulation of the particles. The CS-NPs were synthesized by a novel wet chemistry method that allows thick gold shell particles that enhance their optical properties. Their plasmonic properties were characterized by analytical and computational models that enable characterization of the optical properties of the particles and assist in the development of a functional sensing device. The second part of this work consists of the development of high-surface-area carbon (HiSAC) particles via a novel plasma-based approach that enables the surface modification of the particles, their morphological features, and the optimization of the fabrication process was optimized via state-of-the-art electron microscopy and well-established techniques to evaluate the performance of the synthesized material.Physics and Astronom
Co-activation of Wnt/β-catenin and c-MET induced inflamed hepatocellular carcinoma responsive to immune checkpoint therapy
Full text linkThis poster was presented at the 2025 Postdoctoral Appreciation Week event.Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the major form of liver cancer, is often detected at advanced and unresectable stages, making it one of the deadliest cancers in adults. The front-line treatment for unresectable advanced HCC involves immune checkpoint therapy (ICT), which shows complete response only in 20-30% of patients. Mutational activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway due to gain-of-function mutations in β-catenin gene (CTNNB1) is a major oncogenic event driving hepatocarcinogenesis accounting for about a third of HCC. However, oncogenic forms of β-catenin often cooperate with other oncogenes like c-MET, K-RAS, and AKT for tumor development and progression. For instance, activated β-catenin in HCC can induce the expression of c-MYC, which facilitates metabolic adaptation of HCC cells and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs). Several clinical and preclinical studies have shown that HCC tumors with CTNNB1 mutation are often less inflamed with limited immune cell infiltration making the tumors “immune-cold” and resistant to ICT. On the other hand, mutational activation of the Wnt/β-catenin also occurs in “immune-hot” HCC tumors suggesting that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is co-regulated by other oncogenic events. Although, murine HCC tumors generated by hydrodynamic co-transfection of ΔN90-β-cat (a constitutively active β-catenin) and c-MYC are “immune-cold”, the events that cooperate with β-catenin activation leading to “immune-hot” tumors are unknown. In this study, we used hydrodynamic tail vein injection (HTVI) of plasmids expressing ΔN90-β-cat and c-MET to investigate their effect on HCC development, progression, and TIME. Immune-profiling of our ΔN90-β-cat and c-MET tumor model showed increased infiltration of PD-1+ cytotoxic T cells and Th1 cells, both of which are crucial for anti-tumor response. Although T cells were present in the tumor microenvironment, the upregulation of PD-1 indicates an exhausted state of T cells, permitting HCC progression. Therefore, we sought to reactivate the exhausted T-cells by checkpoint blockade with anti-PD1 treatment. The preliminary data from these ongoing studies show that anti-PD1 antibody treated mice show significant tumor regression (or stabilization) compared to those treated with isotype control antibodies as indicated by lower levels of plasma alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), a biomarker of HCC. Complete data including liver weight, tumor volume, and immune infiltration status will be presented at the completion of the study. Our findings so far indicate that HCC tumors formed by combination of ΔN90-β-cat and c-MET are “immune-hot” and respond to ICT. Therefore, co-activation of c-MET and β-catenin could serve as biomarkers for HCC patient inclusion in ICT.Cell Systems and AnatomyImmunology and MicrobiologyTransplant Cente
¿Quiénes Somos?: A Historical Study of Afro-Uruguayan and Charrúas in Uruguayan National Identity
Full text linkMy research project focuses on Afro-descendants and Charrúas (one of Uruguay’s Indigenous groups), inspecting their roles within Uruguay’s colonial and republican origins. Memory and identity are key concepts I analyzed throughout Uruguay’s various historical developments from the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. To do so, I investigated negritude (a Pan-African movement) parallels in Uruguay. Afro-descendants embraced their identity within Uruguay through positive cultural, political, literary, and artistic practices similar to the negritude movement from the United States. I also incorporated indigenismo (a movement that promoted fictionalized narratives rather than accurate or inclusive portrayals of Indigenous groups) to compare with the perceptions and writings from white Uruguayan elites and scholars towards Charrúas. The purpose of this study is to understand acceptance and rejection in Uruguayan social belonging. To accomplish the purpose, I will focus on othered groups.
My thesis research uses postcolonial, poststructuralist, social, and cultural theories. I inspect Uruguayan nationality through geographic landscapes, language, and social practices. This thesis mainly incorporates state-given information through Uruguay’s Archivo General de La Nacion and the Biblioteca Nacional, which lacks other sources that embrace a subaltern perspective. Primarily, accounts, newspapers, anthropology books, and photographs of paintings made from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries were abundant sources for this research. I traveled to Uruguay and stayed for a month to collect primary resources while interviewing historians and professors regarding Afro-descendants and Charrúas in Uruguayan national identity. I also utilized digital archives for secondary sources, such as journal articles and manuscripts, and other primary sources, like the Archivo de la Memoria Charrúas. I conclude that Uruguay incorporated the cultural identities of Charrúas and Afro-descendants to maintain sovereignty and gave the illusion that its national identity was inclusive.Histor