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The Necessary And Proper Stewardship Of Judicial Data, Aziz Huq, Zachary Clopton

Articles

Governments and commercial firms create profit and social gain by exploiting large pools of data. One source of valuable data, however, lies in public hands yet remains largely untapped. While the deep reservoirs of data produced by Congress and federal agencies have long been available for public use, the data produced by the federal judiciary is only loosely regulated, imperfectly available to the public at large, and largely ignored by scholars.

The ordinary process of litigation in federal courts generates an enormous volume of data. Especially after recent developments in large language models, this data holds immense potential. It can …

Institutional Racism In The United States Revisited, Carmichael Peters, Louis L. Knowles, Rodè F. Cramer, Glennan Keldin, Hayley Nelson, Lucia Beatty

Open Educational Resources

This book aims to examine the current state of systemic racism in the United States as compared to baseline data collected in 1969. Using recent findings in the fields of history, economics, education, political science and public health, the work reveals the ways in which systemic racism in the US has and has not been addressed in the past five decades.

Modeling Complex Dynamic Systems Using Graph Neural Networks, Shruti Udupa

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

Our work investigates the use of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) for modeling complex dynamic systems. Understanding dynamic systems is essential for comprehending how physical and social interactions in real-world systems evolve over time and how they can be influenced or controlled. Conventional techniques often use differential equations and numerical methods, which are computationally expensive and demand detailed knowledge of the system’s physical behavior. GNNs provide an alternative by adopting a data-driven approach that learns directly from data, making them especially valuable for systems without closed-form solutions. This work aims to harness GNNs to predict and simulate dynamic behaviors in graph-based …

Amplification-Free Rapid Detection Of Specific Oligonucleotides Through Formation Of Core-Satellite Nanostructures On Solid Substrates, Vineet Kumar Jayakrishnan

Material Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

A rapid, portable, and highly sensitive method for detecting specific pathogens like Covid-19 would be invaluable for public health and emergency responses. The current standards like PCR and RT-PCR, are incredibly sensitive but also time-consuming, require skilled personnel, and demand substantial lab space. Here, we propose an alternative method capable of detecting specific oligonucleotide sequences within just 3 minutes, using a portable silicon or glass substrate (6 mm x 9 mm). We demonstrated this using 67-mer oligonucleotides with a Covid-19 sequence as a model system, achieving a detection sensitivity down to 1 nM. Our approach involves sandwiching target COVID-19 oligonucleotides …

Long-Term Simulation Of Stem Cell Mechanobiology, Manoochehr Rabiei

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

An accurate representation of cellular mechanobiology necessitates the inclusion of subcellular elements characterized by minute masses and dimensions. These minute objects yield multiscale dynamic models with disproportionate terms, which require inordinate amounts of computational time to simulate. The computational requirements limit the time span of the simulation to time histories shorter than one second, even when employing supercomputers. This work presents a high-speed approach to simulating the mechanobiology of stem cells. The proposed approach separates the computational time from the size, and distribution, of masses of the subcellular elements, enabling the simulation of weeks-long cellular processes within hours on a …

Investigation Of Bone Structure And Composition Differences In Osteofibrous Dysplasia And Neurofibromatosis Type 1, Farzaneh Fereidouni

Material Science and Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Abstract

Investigation of Bone Structure and Composition Differences in Osteofibrous Dysplasia and Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Farzaneh Fereidouni, Ph.D.

The University of Texas at Arlington, 2024

Supervising Professor: Harry F. Tibbals

Bone genetic diseases such as Osteofibrous Dysplasia (OFD) and Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) present significant challenges, particularly in children, due to their effects on skeletal homeostasis. This study aims to apply advanced material analysis to elucidate the biological disparities associated with OFD and NF1 bone dysplasia and contribute to developing diagnostic protocols and remediation approaches for these and similar bone disorders.

By employing various analytical methods, including analysis of mineral-to-matrix …

Predicting Future States With Spatial Point Processes In Single Molecule Resolution Spatial Transcriptomics, Biraaj Rout

Computer Science and Engineering Theses - Archive

In this thesis, we present an innovative framework centered around the application of Random Forest Regression to forecast the prospective distribution of cells expressing the Sog-D gene (active cells) during the embryogenesis process in Drosophila. Our methodology specifically targets the Anterior-to-posterior (AP) and Dorsal-to-Ventral (DV) axes, unraveling the intricacies of gene expression control in living organisms at super-resolution, single-molecule resolution through whole embryo spatial transcriptomics imaging. The Random Forest Regression model serves as a pivotal tool in predicting the succeeding stage’s active cell distribution, capitalizing on the insights obtained from the preceding stage. We integrate temporally resolved, spatial point processes …

A Low-Noise, Low-Power Cmos Readout Ic For Amperometric Electrochemical Sensing System, Manu Chilukuri

Electrical Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Electrochemical sensing systems have become essential tools in numerous fields due to their exceptional sensitivity, selectivity, and versatility. They play a critical role in modern research, industry, environmental monitoring, and healthcare applications. In environmental monitoring, these systems are utilized to detect pollutants, heavy metals, and toxic gases, enabling real-time monitoring and ensuring environmental protection. In the biomedical sector, electrochemical sensing systems are vital for diagnosing diseases, monitoring biomarkers, and transforming healthcare practices.

Affordable wearable electrochemical sensing devices are crucial for making healthcare more accessible and improving public health outcomes. These devices allow for continuous monitoring of physiological parameters, supporting early …

Design And Experimentation Of Novel Human Head Surrogate Models For Sensing Traumatic Brain Injury, Arthur T. Koster

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Brain injury is a significant source of mortality in the US and has been an important area of research over the past century. The need to understand injury thresholds and pathology coupled with the difficulty of measuring relevant injury mechanisms in a living subject logically gives rise to the idea that researchers need to create head models for use in simulation and experimentation. This study focuses on understanding the effects of material properties, size, and shape on the dynamic response of a head model so that head models used in simulations and experiments can more accurately represent the real human …

Experimental Investigations And Optimization Of 3d Printed Cellular Structures For Protection Against Traumatic Brain Injury, Aaron R. Jackson

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) disrupts brain function due to head impacts, blast exposures, and ballistic penetrations. It is a significant cause of mental health issues and disability, particularly among military personnel. Historically, combat helmets were designed primarily to protect against fragments. However, recent data highlights the need for helmets that also protect against blast and blunt impacts. Effective TBI prevention requires helmets that address various energy threats while remaining lightweight. A critical metric in this effort is head acceleration, which is closely linked to injury across different scales of brain damage.

Four lattice structures were 3D printed using Digital ABS …

Image-Based Thermal And Mechanical Analysis Of Polymers, Yukti Shinglot

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Theses - Archive

In recent years, application of polymers have rapidly expanded across industries due to their versatility, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability to diverse manufacturing techniques, including 3D printing. Innovations in PolyJet technology enable the creation of complex geometries with tailored color combinations, transparency, and flexibility, broadening applications in medical, aerospace, and automotive sectors. Advances in processing viscoelastic rubbers like PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) have further enhanced its mechanical properties, expanding its use in biomedical devices and electronic components. However, polymers are susceptible to complex deformation and failure under thermal and mechanical stresses, which can impact their performance and safety. This research examines the thermal behavior …

Generalizable Fugitive Carrier Method For 3d Printing Of Hydrogels, Hakan Arslan

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Dissertations - Archive

Hydrogels, with physical characteristics resembling biological soft tissues, hold great potential for bioinspired and biomedical applications. However, using them in additive manufacturing systems has challenges because of their poor mechanical and rheological properties. In response to these challenges, we introduce a fugitive carrier method, a novel and generalizable approach for materials incompatible with pneumatic-based extrusion three-dimensional (3D) printers. Our developed fugitive carrier method allows the 3D printing of a broad spectrum of hydrogel precursors with low viscosity while retaining their inherent properties. This technique has been successfully demonstrated by creating biomimetic structures with anisotropic and programmable systems utilizing temperature-sensitive hydrogel …

Human System Composite Performance Measures: General Systems Performance Theory Insights, Lawrence Disalvi

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Composite Performance Measures (CPMs) of human performance are widely employed in applications that range from mundane to life-changing, yet they are frequently presented without explanation or reference to theoretical underpinnings. The conceptual soundness of a widely used CPM approach, based on additive combination of constituent components, has been called into question by Kondraske. He argues the relevance of General Systems Performance Theory (GSPT) and performance capacity envelope concepts when applied to multidimensional CPM measures.

To obtain evidence-based answers to assertions regarding CPM types and rationale employed in medical and non-medical contexts, a Systematic Descriptive Review was conducted. Separately, the GSPT-based …

Computational And Experimental Analysis Of Silica Nanoparticles Under Dc And Ac Electric Fields Using A Self-Induced Back Action Actuated Nanopore Electrophoresis (Sane) Sensor, Homayoun Asadzadeh, Scott Renkes, George Alexandrakis, Minjun Kim, Scott Turpin

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

In this dissertation I have studied a novel single-molecule nanosensor that integrates a Solid-State Nanopore (SSNP), milled in silicon nitride with a Double Nanohole (DNH) nanoaperture, milled in gold. This device leverages Self-Induced Back-Action (SIBA) for optical trapping with ssNP electrical sensing and is called the SIBA-Actuated Nanopore Electrophoresis (SANE) sensor. My lab has previously shown that simultaneous acquisition of bimodal optical and direct current (DC) electrical signatures enables more detailed characterization of nanoscopic analytes compared to using electrical data alone, which are typically collected by ssNP sensors. In this work I have first studied by COMSOL Multiphysics simulations the …

Spray-On Sensor Formulations That Enable Detection Of Physical And Chemical Stimuli, Priyanka Shiveshwarkar

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Polydiacetylene based materials have been used for a variety of liquid phase sensing applications. There remains a need for low cost, easy-to-read gas phase sensors for continuous monitoring of physiological parameters and environmental hazards at work or at home. Such sensors could have applications in everyday life, for example as point-of-care or at home testing devices to enable early detection of disease to reduce healthcare costs. Making accessible and non-invasive technologies for monitoring of health and health risks provides individuals with the ability to be proactive in regard to their health and safety. In other examples, environmental monitoring systems could …

Development Of Anti-Microbial Nanocoatings On Metallic Surfaces To Prevent Infections, Luis Fernando Soto Garcia

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Healthcare-associated infections have a prevalence of about 7% in the United States and up to 50% in some developing nations. They not only present a constant risk for inpatients and healthcare workers but are also a serious challenge to human health services worldwide. These infections can be transmitted via contaminated non-critical surfaces like doorknobs and bedrails, which are routinely cleaned with low-level disinfectants approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, this strategy has limited efficacy since recontamination occurs, resulting in these surfaces again becoming vectors of infection. In this work, we addressed this issue by developing a self-disinfecting nanocomposite …

Explaining The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence Victimization And Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status In Transgender And Nonbinary Individuals, Kimberly A. Ingold, Brent Teasdale

Faculty Publications - Criminal Justice Sciences

Study Questions: Previous research has shown that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization are correlated. Furthermore, it has been consistently reported that transgender individuals are at an increased risk of experiencing IPV victimization and testing positive for HIV compared to cisgender individuals. However, past research examining the potential explanations for the correlation between HIV status and IPV victimization in transgender individuals using a large and inclusive sample is nonexistent. Subjects: A total of 12,592 transgender and nonbinary individuals from across the United States were included in the analyses. Methods: Through a bivariate probit analysis of …

Critical Convergence: Mapping The Boundaries Of How Faculty Interrogate Whiteness In The Geoscience Educational Landscape, James E. Hobbs

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

This study examined the role of faculty members in interrogating whiteness within geoscience education. The dominant reliance on whiteness as the primary way of knowing in geoscience education has long perpetuated a singular perspective that serves as a mechanism for reinforcing existing power structures rooted in white supremacy. Drawing on tenets from Critical whiteness Studies, Curriculum Theory, and Transformative Learning Theory, this research investigated U.S. higher education faculty members' strategies and challenges in disrupting whiteness within the geoscience curriculum.

Through critical qualitative narrative inquiry, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with geoscience faculty members across multiple institutions across the United …

Surveilling Disability, Harming Integration, Prianka Nair

Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Stomach And Womb: Early Modern Recipes For The Perinatal Woman, Grace E. Beacham

English Theses - Archive

Stomach and Womb examines the recipes from early modern obstetrical treatises and midwifery manuals, revealing an ontology of parturiency that winds through the concurrent Shakespearean plays, Twelfth Night and The Winter’s Tale. Gynecological and obstetrical texts from the era detail how pregnant women were to order themselves after conception with utmost concern for their diet, governing the outputs of their bodies by managing the inputs, the foods they ingested before, during, and after pregnancy and childbirth. Further, the associated images of the stomach and the womb during this time present an essential link between foodways and a construct of …

Plant Water Uptake Strategies In An Urban Green Landscape, Erica G. Almance

Earth & Environmental Sciences Theses - Archive

Urban green landscapes have been widely recognized for potentially reducing surface water pollution and flood impacts. However, the understanding of the role that plants play in partitioning the urban water cycle is still limited. We present a study in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden to understand water uptake strategies from three common urban tree species (Elderberry, Sambucus canadensis; Cherry laurel, Prunus caroliniana; and Boxelder maple, Acer negundo) from February 2023 through January 2024. Stem (N=110) isotope ratios (δ18O and δ2H) are compared to multiple endmembers, including precipitation (N=509), throughfall (N=37), and soil water (N=135) at different depths (0- 38 cm). …

Chemoselective Reduction Of Dicarboxylic Acids Via Iridium Catalyzed Hydrosilylation, Linda Lallawmsangi

Chemistry & Biochemistry Theses - Archive

Reduction of esters to aldehydes poses a challenge since the resulting aldehydes are often more reactive than the initial esters toward nucleophilic hydride-reducing agents. Although bulky, more controllable reducing agents such as lithium tri-tert-butoxyaluminum hydride or diisobutylaluminum hydride (DIBAL-H) have been developed, they are hazardous, sensitive to moisture and air, needing strict reaction conditions, and unsuitable with a wide range of functional groups. We present the design of an iridium-catalyzed chemoselective hydrosilylation method for dicarboxylic imides, followed by hydrolysis to eliminate the amide and yield aldehydes. This approach offers versatility in general reduction chemistry, holds promise for application …

Pathophysiologic Consequences Of Pericardial Adipose Tissue Assessed By Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Sauyeh K. Zamani

Kinesiology Dissertations - Archive

Obesity is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease; however, the exact mechanism remains incompletely understood. Conventional metrics, like body mass index, fail to represent fat distribution and its impact on health. A growing body of literature suggest differences between subcutaneous and visceral fat in relation to cardiovascular risk. This specificity has also been extended to the fat surrounding the heart, collectively known as pericardial fat, which includes epicardial adipose tissue (EAT)— located between the myocardium and the visceral layer of the pericardium— and paracardial adipose tissue (PAT)—found outside the parietal pericardium in the mediastinum. Importantly, these two depots have distinct …

The Role Of Uchl1 In Skeletal Muscle Development And Regeneration, Ryan Antony

Dissertations and Theses

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that was originally discovered in neurons. UCHL1 is also expressed in skeletal muscle, but its functions remain to be fully understood. Myogenesis is a critical process involved in embryonic development, growth, and regeneration following injury. Skeletal muscle injury is prevalent in trauma and surgical procedures, and skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a common yet dangerous public health problem. Here we reported that UCHL1 negatively affects muscle growth during aging as well as the regeneration process following IR injury. First, we observed that UCHL1 knockdown in C2C12 myoblasts resulted in increased …

A Field-Based Study Of Dust Emissivity In The Northern Chihuahuan Desert, U.S.: Testing The Preferential Dust Source Scheme, Gwenn L Harsha

Dissertations and Theses

We characterized spatiotemporal dust emissivity in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert (New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona, U.S.) using the Portable In-Situ Wind Erosion Lab (PI-SWERL) and measurements of soil crust strength, soil texture and soil moisture. Field-based measurements of emissivity were compared to the results of the Preferential Dust Source (PDS) scheme (Bullard et al., 2011) in the Chihuahuan Desert (Baddock et al., 2011) where 48% of satellite-observed plumes were sourced from ephemeral and dry lakes. Six landforms were tested: 1) ephemeral and 2) dry lake, 3) high and 4) low relief alluvial, and aeolian 5) sand sheet and 6) dunes. …

The Mystification Of Gender Affirmation: Galathea, Gender, And Fantasy, Jubilee W. Finnegan

International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

John Lyly's Galatea centers the role that gender expression plays in both communal interactions and interpersonal relationships. I argue that the way in which Galatea and Phillida present themselves within the play parallels the modern interpretation of transgender theory as outlined by Judith Butler. The actions that the two take are in service of manufacturing the kind of gender expression that breaks from conventional norms. While still rooted within fundamentalist dynamics, Lyly breaks free of bioessentialist understandings of gender in favor of a more liberating approach.

Subsurface Redox Interactions Regulate Ebullitive Methane Flux In Heterogeneous Mississippi River Deltaic Wetland, Jiaze Wang, Theresa O'Meara, Sophie Lafond-Hudson, Songjie He, Kanchan Maiti, Eric J. Ward, Benjamin N. Sulman

Faculty Publications

As interfaces connecting terrestrial and ocean ecosystems, coastal wetlands develop temporally and spatially complex redox conditions, which drive uncertainties in greenhouse gas emission as well as the total carbon budget of the coastal ecosystem. To evaluate the role of complex redox reactions in methane emission from coastal wetlands, a coupled reactive-transport model was configured to represent subsurface biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur, along with production and transport of multiple gas species through diffusion and ebullition. This model study was conducted at multiple sites along a salinity gradient in the Barataria Basin at the Mississippi River Deltaic Plain. Over …

Orange Mesocarp Extract As A Natural Surfactant: Impact On Fluid−Fluid And Fluid−Rock Interactions During Chemical Flooding, Amalate Ann Obuebite, Obumneme Onyeka Okwonna, William Iheanyi Eke, Onyewuchi Akaranta

All Grantees Publications

Surfactant flooding has suffered a huge setback owing to its cost and the ecotoxic nature of synthetic surfactants. The potential of natural surfactants for enhanced oil recovery has attracted a great deal of research interest in recent times. In this research, orange mesocarp extract (OME) was studied as a potential green surface-active agent in recovering heavy oil. The extract obtained from the orange (Citrus sinensis) mesocarp using alkaline water as solvent was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry . Phase behavior was studied to ascertain its stability at 100 °C and compatibility with divalent ions. Microemulsion system, interfacial …

In-Vitro Study On Cellular Damage Of Chemobrain, Zitao Ma

Selected Full-Text Master Theses 2021-

Chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI), commonly referred to as "Chemobrain", represents a significant challenge for cancer survivors, affecting their quality of life by impairing memory, attention, and executive function. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind CICI and evaluate the efficacy of potential neuroprotective agents in mitigating its effects. By focusing and developing in-vitro models, including differentiated SH-SY5Y neuron-like cells, undifferentiated SH- SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and co-culture systems with astrocytoma CCF-STTG1 and human microglia HMC3 cells, this study provides insights into the cellular and molecular alterations induced by chemotherapy and explores the protective capacities of selected compounds.

Chemotherapy drugs such …

Charting The Scorched Trails: A Comparative Analysis Of Roadway Damage From Historical Megafires To The Unprecedented 2020 Labor Day Wildfires On The Usa West Coast, Kevin Christiansen, Ayat Al Assi, Rubayet Bin Mostafiz, Robert V. Rohli

Faculty Publications

Roadways in the US states of Washington (WA), Oregon (OR), and California (CA) incurred extraordinary damage during the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. However, the cost and risk of these fires have not been placed in a historical perspective. This study examines the damage to roadways affected by the 2020 Labor Day wildfires in relation to the history of megafires in WA (1902–2023), OR (1845– 2023), and CA (1889–2023) using carefully selected data sets gathered from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). A method for classifying road damage from …