Journals and Conference Proceedings
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Browsing Journals and Conference Proceedings by Type "Poster"
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Item A Model-based Test for Treatment Comparison based on Left-truncated and Interval-censored Survival Data(2023-04) Zhao, Qiang; Wang, YiIn this research, we develop a new model-based test to compare treatments based on left-truncated and interval-censored (LTIC) data.Item A Pilot Study Introducing How Rural Texas Librarians Can Convene Community Resiliency Collaborations(2024-03) Eger, Elizabeth; Long, Rex; McNally, Allister; Tonciu, Anca; Vasallo, Johnny; Lamper, RowanOur pilot project incorporated Communication Studies theories of community collaboration to adapt the COPEWELL (Composite of Post-Event Well-Being) framework to address resiliency planning in rural Texas communities. This project positioned Library Directors from two rural Texas libraries as community conveners for resiliency planning. Through our partnership with Maria Freed of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC), 34 libraries expressed interest in participating in our pilot project. The Pottsboro Library in Pottsboro, TX, and the Lee-Bardwell Public Library in Gladewater, TX, were selected as finalists after our interviews with semi-finalists. Working with the Library Directors, we utilized requisite diversity(Heath & Isbell, 2017) to assemble stakeholders in each community to best represent a variety of interests, identities, and perspectives. This approach led to valuable conversations and insights, and the development of actionable next steps to address core community needs. Our data collection process with both libraries and their stakeholders included: •Two 90-minute focus groups •A COPEWELL self-assessment adapted into survey format (20-30 minutes) •Individual exit interviews with stakeholders and librarians (60-80 minutes) Our project also developed best practices and lessons learned that librarians and researchers can use in adapting the COPEWELL framework and addressing community resiliency in their areas. Across both project sites, we found a need for increased and improved communication between the communities and local governments, and that local stakeholders should collaborate on grants and create initiatives to implement community resiliency goals. This poster will highlight site-specific insights and our overall takeaways and recommendations for utilizing our community resiliency collaboration process. Use the link or QR code associated with each section to access our applied reports for further reading. This project has been made possible through our partnership with TXST's Translational Health Research Center.Item A Snapshot in Time: TXST undergraduate Student Veterans Capture Well-Being via Photo Taking(2023-04) Clary, Kelly; Selber, Katherine; Ortiz, Rachel; West, BryanStudent Veterans face unique challenges transitioning to civilian life and higher education; Challenges related to well-being and mental health have changed and increased due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Background: Photovoice methodology is an innovative and creative approach to understanding new phenomena. Aims: Understand how TXST student veterans conceptualize and experience well-being; Examine the benefits of using photovoice methodology.Item A Study of Weight Stigma, Body Appreciation, and Disordered Eating Behaviors among Promotores and Community Health Workers in Texas(2024-03) Johnson, Cassandra M.; Biediger-Friedman, Lesli; Menge, Lindsey; Butler, Lauren; Lang, JulianneWeight stigma, a form of discrimination, affects around 40% of the US population. Previous research suggests that weight stigma is: - negatively associated with body appreciation, an indicator of positive body image. - positively associated with disordered eating behaviors. Due to systemic inequities, racial and ethnic minority groups, including persons of Mexican heritage, may be more vulnerable to weight stigma. Promotores and community health workers (CHWs) serve a dual role as healthcare provider and community member, particularly in Hispanic communities in Texas (TX). A formative study of weight stigma among promotores and CHWs is important to developing systems level, destigmatizing community-engaged interventions in TX.Item A Twitter Case Study: The Spreadability of the Viral Chilean Feminist Anthem #UnVioladorEnTuCamino(2021-04) Blanco, Clarice A.Digital Activism has become notorious for not creating real change and, instead, creating Slacktivist or Clicktivist who consider the passive actions of sharing and liking social justice posts as real activism. Boots on the ground, picket lines, and marches are the traditional get-off-your-ass type of activism that enacts real change, or so we thought. This study explores a moment in which social media activism creates change by building a collective voice, community, and bringing awareness to gendered violence and gender inequalities—topics not usually discussed in public or private spaces. To understand how the #UnVioladorEnTuCamino anthem and Twitter movement became a global social media activism movement, the author rhetorically analyzed several Twitter posts from the beginning of the movement in November of 2019 to early 2020, as it is ongoing and still referenced online. The results of this study indicate the simplicity of use, convenience, and accessibility of Twitter internationalized this anthem and message. These results suggest the spreadability of the hashtag #UnVioladorEnTuCamino is in direct relation with the easy-to-use social media platform that already had a reputation for social activism, as well as an anonymous space provided to discuss such controversial topics of gendered violence and gender inequalities. On this basis, it is important to note the #UnVioladorEnTuCamino movement does not behave like traditional social media activism movements; it began as live performances, shifted to being shared on Twitter, and eventually adapted to Twitter by being performed and discussed for the online space.Item Academic Burnout in Health Professions Students(2024-03) Sawyer Theaker, Katherine; Trad, Megan; Herrin, Shannon; Gibbs, KarenPhotovoice and Interprofessional Education To reduce stress and create a meaningful educational experience, researchers developed an interprofessional education (IPE) experience utilizing photovoice. Faculty from the Radiation Therapy (RTT) program and the Physical Therapy (DPT) program asked students to submit one image that represented the most significant thing from their academic experience and explain its significance through a reflective response. Photovoice has been documented as a low stress teaching methodology that has been utilized in a variety of fields, including radiation therapy, to stimulate reflection and growth. Purpose The purpose of this study was to create cohesion and community among two student cohorts of differing programs and allow them to visualize how their educational journey was similar to or different from each other. Researchers hoped to gain insight into their students’ academic journey to better meet the needs of future students. The finding of academic burnout was an incidental finding and sparked the researchers’ interest in this topic.Item Item Adding Value to Hydroponic Production with Oyster Mushrooms(2018-04-26) Soza, Marisol; Wendt, Eric; Mix, Kenneth D.; Wagner, NicoleSpecialty mushrooms, such as shiitakes and oysters, are a high value crop which totaled $96 million in sales in 2017. Oyster mushrooms are sold at $3.10/pound, illustrating their economic value (USDA, 2017). To produce these specialty mushrooms, specific environmental conditions are required, including high humidity and warmth. Indoor hydroponic systems are a specific type of closed operation system, which utilizes a controlled environment with moderate to high humidity and temperature to produce agricultural crops with faster turnover rates. This project explores vertically integrating a layer of high value mushroom crops into a hydroponic plant-production system to increase the economic return per area. Specifically, we will compare the viability, compatibility, and competitiveness of traditional mushroom farming to conjunctive hydroponic/mushroom production. The experimental design will have three plots, the first two of which will mimic traditional mushroom production: 1) HVAC controlled environment with no light, 2) no HVAC with no light, and 3) a Buddha Box hydroponic unit that is a controlled environment with high humidity and is lit by LEDs.Item Advancing Lightweight Engineered Cementitious Composites: An Interpretable Machine Learning Framework(2024-04-02) Uddin, Md Nasir; Shi, XijunIn recent years, the integration of Machine Learning (ML) techniques to predict the properties of Lightweight Engineered Cementitious Composites (LWECCs) has garnered significant attention. The Compressive Strength (CS) and Flexural Strength (FS) are pivotal attributes of LWECCs, underpinning their utility in various civil engineering endeavors. This research aims to collate mixture design components and their associated strengths of LWECCs, specifically those reinforced with polyethylene, and polyvinyl alcohol fibers, from the extant literature. To predict the CS and FS of LWECCs, models based on eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) were developed. Emphasis was placed on hyperparameter optimization using GridSearchCV to refine model performance for LWECCs. Additionally, the influence of mixture properties on model outcomes was investigated through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis, providing insights into optimal mixture designs for LWECCs. This study underscores the potential of enhancing predictive modeling in civil engineering by integrating advancements in machine learning, offering a pathway to more effective and efficient material design.Item Item AI-Powered Auxiliary Medical Diagnostic Systems(2024-03) Farias, Mylène C. Q.Deep Learning models are being used to analyze medical data and, most specifically, medical images, and to identify patterns and abnormalities that may not be (YET) visible to radiologists and physicians in general. These auxiliary diagnostic systems allow for an early detection of chronic diseases, such as heart conditions and cancer. AI models can process large amounts of data quickly and accurately. They can also be used to track health data over time and identify suspicious changes. Finally, AI models can be used to identify rare diseases and conditions that are difficult for humans to diagnose. But the area still faces several challenges: Availability of balanced datasets; Assurance of accuracy and reliability; Explainability; Privacy and security; Robustness to diversity in formats, degradations, etc.Item Alliance of Researchers in Aging(2024-03) Hee Chee, Kyong; Deason, Rebecca; Adi, Nadim; Westerberg, CarmenThe Alliance of Researchers in Aging (ARIA) supports interdisciplinary research on cognition, cognitive decline and dementia, mental health, caregiving, and physical, social, and spiritual wellbeing in later stages of the life course. ARIA is committed to enhancing wellbeing among older adults in Central Texas and beyond through research, education, and service through partnerships with community stakeholders. ARIA began in May 2019 with 12 TXST faculty members. Today, ARIA consists of 16 members, 6 affiliates, and 5 community partners: Members represent 13 departments/schools and 5 laboratories in San Marcos and Round Rock. ARIA is currently led by Executive Committee comprising Chair, Associate Chair, Communications Coordinator, and Outreach Coordinator.Item An Agent-Based Simulation Model to Plan for Continuity of Care for Chronic Diseases after Natural Disasters(2024-03) Pérez, EduardoNo abstract prepared.Item An Assessment of Accessing Mental Health Treatment Among Aging Incarcerated Persons(2022-08) Fritz, KatlynNo abstract prepared.Item An Empirical Study on AI-Powered Edge Computing Architectures for Real-Time IoT Applications(2024-03) Ngu, Anne H. H.; Yasmin, AwatifEdge computing is indispensable for IoT applications, handling data from billions of devices and expected to surpass 41.6 billion installations by 2023. It facilitates swift decision-making at the device level. It conserves network bandwidth by processing data locally, making it suitable for resource-constrained or costly networks. Bolsters privacy and security by storing data locally, particularly crucial for applications that involves processing personal data.Item An Evaluative Study of a Dropout Prevention Program on African American Male Students in Central Texas High Schools(2024-04) Williams, CrosvilleHigh school dropouts are a major concern for many states. It is known that male students drop out at higher rates than female students. In Texas, Black males have been identified as having the highest four-year dropout rates among all ethnic groups at 11.8%, followed by American Indians at 9.7%, then Hispanics at 9.4%. Several factors contribute to dropping out of high school. The literature suggests that dropping out is a process with many push and pull factors influencing Black males to drop out. This study presents not only those influential factors but also identifies dropout prevention programs known to lower dropout rates among Black males. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the Communities in Schools (CIS) dropout prevention program was able to lower the dropout rate among Black males or increase the four-year graduation rate. The results indicate that the CIS program was able to increase the graduation rates among Black male students using key components known to lower Black male dropout. Finally, the research highlights a key area of improvement for the program as well as the future directions that future research should prioritize in the study of at-risk Black male students.Item An Examination of Life Event Type, Valence, and Perceived Stress in Relation to Suicidal Desire Using Ecological Momentary Assessment(2024-03) Rogers, Megan L.; Wilson-Lemoine, Emma; Mitaj, Dea; Udupa, Nikhila S.; Rector, Mark; Barrett, Karrie M.; Staton, TylerStressful life events are related to suicide-related outcomes (ideation, attempts, deaths) over long follow-up periods. A greater number, variety, and specific types of life events (interpersonal, financial, legal) have particularly strong links to suicide-related outcomes. Less understood are relations between characteristics of life events (valence, type, perceived stressfulness) and suicide-related outcomes in the short term (i.e., hours to days). The present study examined associations between characteristics of life events and concurrent (same time point) and prospective (2 hours later) suicidal desire using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) We made several a priori hypotheses: Negative events would be more strongly associated with suicidal desire than positive/neutral events. Higher perceptions of stress would be positively associated with severity of suicidal desire. The relationship between perceived stress and suicidal desire would be stronger for (1) negative events and (2) specific types of life events (e.g., interpersonal, health-related, financial).Item An Upsurge of Type 2 Diabetes in the United States(2022-04) Das, SnehaBackground: Diabetes is a growing health concern in all nations of the world. It is a non-communicable disease that is the ninth leading cause of death globally (WHO, 2021) and an increasing cause of disability. It is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. (CDC, 2020). Type 2 diabetes develops in individuals over 45 years of age, but recently, more children and adolescents are developing it, affecting the nation's overall health (CDC, 2020). This disease burdens individuals, families, and society physically, emotionally, and economically. Hence it is a significant public health concern that calls for attention. Methods: The magnitude of diabetes is measured through the National Diabetes Statistics Report and surveys. The assessment process of diabetes is ongoing and continuous because of new challenges and changes in health determinants. This research has evaluated the various available resources, such as DSHS health risk assessment, to determine the preventive measures to reduce the diabetic population. Results: This report suggests that effective interventions, at both the individual and population levels, exist to slow the diabetes epidemic and reduce diabetes-related complications. This research describes the current diabetes epidemic and the health and economic impact of diabetes complications on individuals and the health care system. The report also provides suggestions by which the epidemic can be curbed. Conclusion: Diabetes awareness campaigns, promotion of a nutritious diet, and encouragement to increase physical activity can aid in controlling diabetes. This report can help public health professionals plan to reduce the future burden of diabetes.Item Analysis of Reflectograms of Pile Integrity Test Using Image Processing Technique(2024-04) Debnath, Picasso KumarPile foundations are typically used for major constructions and in cases when the soil at shallow depths is insufficient to withstand excessive settlement, uplift, and so on. Excavating a hole in the ground and filling it with concrete with various types of reinforcement is how cast-in-situ piles are constructed. It has become clear that even the most advanced piling technique can't guarantee flawless results. Integrity testing identifies areas with reduced cross-sections (necking) or poor material qualities. Minor faults, such as microscopic cracks, can often be predicted, but their nature must be confirmed through visual inspection. The main objective of this thesis work is to identify the condition of the cast-in-situ pile and to identify the faulty piles. From recent studies, Sonic Integrity Testing (SIT) is a type of low-strain testing that is an effective instrument for detecting faults and estimating pile length. The success of integrity testing in its current state is dependent on two key factors: the quality of gathered signals and the interpreter's experience. A computer-based analysis of the test results is required to determine the best result in place of the human. As highlighted in the ICE manual handbook, CIRIA 144 (1997), proposes a taxonomy of three types (Type 0, 1, and 2) of Reflectogram signal responses. Here, MATLAB is used to create an image-based analysis that digitally represents the signal type. After that, the data is sorted in an Excel file for numerical analysis. The created method was used on 204 signals of 68 piles at SKS LPG Mongla, with 2 piles classified as Type 0, 171 piles classified as Type 1, and 31 piles classified as Type 2. The image-based algorithm and expert judgment were found to be almost identical. Because the analysis is so good, it's more practical to apply it instead of the traditional approaches for pile testing mechanisms.Item Assessing the Effectiveness of a Virtual Intergenerational Service-Learning Project on Students' Ageism Attitude Towards Seniors and on Seniors' Social Competence(2023-04) Ramamonjiarivelo, Zo; Osborne, Randall E.; Renick, Oren; Sen, Keya; Pacheco, Gerardo J.; Lee, KimberlyNo abstract prepared.