Digital Commons Network^™

Rendering Knowledge Graphs From Aerospace Dentistry Processes For Clinical Decision Support Systems, Muhammad Tuan Amith, Jessica Vu, Serena Hou, Vinu Sista, Yang Gong, Ronak Shah, Ana C Neumann

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

NASA and commercial space flight companies expect to make long-term missions into deep space with the Artemis project and Mars mission. Health care in deep space is a priority as the missions require limited crew and equipment to accommodate astronauts' needs. Analyzing the probable clinical procedures and workflows for this setting is needed to ensure quality care and safety. This paper introduces Business Process Modeling and Notation (BPMN) and OWL2-based modeling to represent aerospace dental workflows for low-earth orbit and potential deep space missions. We developed BPMN process models and created ontology-based knowledge graph representations for individual dental procedures using …

Provgen: A Privacy-Preserving Approach For Outcome Validation In Genomic Research, Yuzhou Jiang, Tianxi Ji, Erman Ayday

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

As genomic research has grown increasingly popular in recent years, dataset sharing has remained limited due to privacy concerns. This limitation hinders the reproducibility and validation of research outcomes, both of which are essential for identifying computational errors during the research process. In this paper, we introduce PROVGEN, a privacy-preserving method for sharing genomic datasets that facilitates reproducibility and outcome validation in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Our approach encodes genomic data into binary space and applies a two-stage process. First, we generate a differentially private version of the dataset using an XOR-based mechanism tailored to biological characteristics. Second, we restore …

Digital Communication Strategies For Culinary Medicine In Cancer Prevention And Survivorship: Information-Seeking Habits And Content Preferences Of Online Cooking Media Among Adults Participating In Four Cancer Prevention And Control Cohort Studies, Margaret Raber, Sara Fares, Maria Vazquez, Larkin Strong, Carrie Daniel-Macdougall, Lorna Mcneill, Karen Basen-Engquist

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Introduction

Poor diet and excess weight have been linked to increased risk for at least 13 types of cancer. Culinary medicine utilizes experiential cooking skill development to improve individuals’ capacity for healthy eating. Digital communication strategies offer pathways for scalable culinary medicine interventions, but little research has explored how online cooking tools could be leveraged for cancer prevention messaging. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study exploring online cooking information-seeking habits and content preferences among participants in four cancer prevention and control cohorts to inform future digital culinary medicine interventions.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey study was conducted with a convenience sample …

Management Of Retropharyngeal Lymph Node Metastases In Thyroid Cancer, Isabelle Fournier, Ashwini Venkata Bandi, Sarah Hamidi, Priyanka Iyer, Naifa L Busaidy, Maria E Cabanillas, Ramona Dadu, Mimi I Hu, Steven G Waguespack, Ugur Nur Basmaci, Michelle D Williams, Mena Mansour, Maria Gule Monroe, Neil D Gross, Ryan P Goepfert, Nancy D Perrier, Victoria Banuchi, Jennifer R Wang, Anastasios Maniakas, Mark E Zafereo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) metastases in thyroid cancer are rare, with optimal management underreported.

Methods: Retrospective study of consecutive thyroid cancer patients with RPLN metastases treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center between 2000 and 2024.

Results: One hundred and sixty-seven patients (75% differentiated, 21% medullary, 4% poorly differentiated thyroid cancer) were divided into three groups: active surveillance (AS) (13%), surgery (56%), and nonsurgical treatment (31%). In the AS group (median follow-up 2.3 years), RPLN metastases grew a median 3% (range: 0-56) or 0.02 cm (range: 0-0.7) per year. Surgical therapy included transcervical (73%), transoral robotic (14%), transoral (12%), and …

Enhancing Mental Health Through Occupational Therapy, Evelyn G. Garibay

OT Doctoral Capstones

Behavioral health providers may have limited knowledge of occupational therapy and its role in supporting individuals with mental health conditions, which can limit opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and the use of occupation-based approaches in practice. This capstone project aimed to increase behavioral health providers’ awareness and understanding of occupational therapy in mental health through an interactive educational program. Following a site needs assessment, an educational series was developed that combined presentations with hands-on, occupation-based activities focused on areas including daily functioning, emotional regulation, social participation, and health and wellness. Implementation also included the development of a comprehensive participant handbook containing …

Sensory Journey: Equipping Children’S Museum Staff To Support All Children, Denisa A. Felix

OT Doctoral Capstones

Museums ensure access to important opportunities for learning, exploration, and community participation; nevertheless, limited staff training and sensory-friendly resources may generate limitations for children and families with sensory processing needs. A needs assessment at La Rodadora Espacio Interactivo in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, highlithed limited staff knowledge of sensory processing and sensory integration, lack of formal sensory-related protocols, and limited sensory accommodations. The purpose of this Capstone project was to improve museum staff and volunteer knowledge, awareness, confidence, and preparedness to support visitors with sensory processing needs and foster inclusive museum experiences. An evidence-based educational intervention was developed based on occupational …

Mind Over Matter: Navigating The Psychological Challenges In Prosthetic Adaptation, Jeff Arruiza

OT Doctoral Capstones

My capstone project improves access to local resources that support recreational participation, well-being, and quality of life for individuals living with limb loss in the El Paso community. Limited awareness of available resources and gaps in services can create barriers to accessing care and participating in meaningful occupations. To address these barriers, I developed an accessible, centralized resource that connects individuals with community programs, recreational opportunities, adaptive activities, and support services. By increasing access to resources and education, the project promotes meaningful occupational participation through social and recreational engagement while advancing occupational justice by reducing barriers to community participation.

Empowering Youth: Building Life Skills For A Brighter Future, Chastidy S. Urteaga

OT Doctoral Capstones

At-risk youth experience many barriers that may impact their participation in daily life activities, development in life skills, and opportunities for them to create positive social connections. This doctoral capstone project explored the role of occupational therapy within a community- based setting and the development and implementation at the Philosophic Systems Institute/ Alamito STREAM Center in El Paso, Texas. The program's purpose was to provide at-risk middle school youth with practical life skills that can help promote independence and lifelong success in everyday life.

This project was guided by the Person Environment Occupation (PEO) Model. This six-week life skills program …

Every Child Deserves To Play: Inclusive Playgrounds In School Settings, Irene Rios

OT Doctoral Capstones

Children with disabilities experience barriers that limit meaningful participation and social interaction during school playground play. Despite ADA standards, many playgrounds lack inclusive features that support participation for students of all abilities. YISD identified the need for a comprehensive resource to evaluate playground Accessiblity and inclusivity beyond ADA compliance.

Project Purpose: Develop an Inclusive School Playground Assessment Toolkit (ISPAT), an evaluation criteria and guidelines to assess the Accessiblity and inclusivity of elementary school playgrounds.

Implementation: Evaluate five YISD school playgrounds using ISPAT

Outcomes: Using IPSAT and its scoring system, only one playground achieved a Mostly Inclusive rating (70-85%), one achieved …

The Next Step: Building Strength Through Life Skills, Victoria Nunez

OT Doctoral Capstones

Adolescents who are at risk or facing mental health challenges often miss out on chances to build the practical life skills they need for everyday life and a smooth transition into adulthood. While traditional rehabilitation programs tend to focus on stabilization and therapy, they frequently fall short when it comes to preparing young people for independent living. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement a structured, occupation-based life skills program to promote well-being, independence, and meaningful participation among adolescents. The Life Skills Program (Life Lab) took place at the Alamito STREAM Center in Segundo Barrio, …

Promoting Social Participation In Pediatric Behavioral Health, Desirae Gomez

OT Doctoral Capstones

Children receiving behavioral health services may experience challenges with social participation, including difficulty communicating, forming friendships, and engaging with peers. A needs assessment identified a need for more opportunities to develop social skills and support emotional well-being within an outpatient behavioral health setting. The purpose of this capstone project was to develop and implement an occupational therapy-driven social participation program that promoted social engagement, coping skills, emotional expression, and interpersonal skills among children receiving behavioral health services. Weekly group workshops were implemented using evidence-informed, occupation-based activities, such as art and emotional expression, social stories, board games, and collaborative activities. Pre- …

Navigating Child Development: A Toolkit For Bridging Knowledge And Strengthening Caregiver Confidence, Kristen Sarai Martinez

OT Doctoral Capstones

Children involved in the child welfare system are at increased risk for trauma, prenatal substance exposure (PSE), adverse childhood experiences, and developmental challenges that may affect participation and well-being. A needs assessment conducted at CASA of El Paso identified a need for practical resources to strengthen advocates’ knowledge and confidence related to child development, trauma-informed care, PSE, play-based strategies, and communication with caregivers. The purpose of this doctoral capstone project was to develop and implement an evidence-based occupational therapy toolkit and educational workshop to increase CASA advocates’ knowledge, confidence, and skills in supporting children and families. The project included a …

Non-Smooth Solutions Of The Navier-Stokes Equation And Their Means, James Glimm, Jarret Petrillo

Department of Applied Mathematics & Statistics Faculty Publications

Non-smooth (finite time blowup) Leray-Hopf solutions of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equation are constructed. The initial data for blowup is characterized by nonzero energy related turbulent fluctuations. The construction occurs in a finite periodic cube T3. The mean value of a weak solution of the Navier-Stokes equation is identified as a smooth solution of the Navier-Stokes equation.

The Lysine Demethylase Kdm4c Is An Oncogenic Driver And Regulates Erk Activity In Kras-Mutant Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Menna-T-Allah Shaheen, Sarah Dhebat, Kimal I Rajapakshe, Bidyut Ghosh, Benson Chellakkan Selvanesan, Shariq S Ansari, Cara L Haymaker, Dorsay Sadeghian, Huamin Wang, Ching-Fei Li, Haoqiang Ying, Anirban Maitra

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Deregulation of proteins involved in chromatin regulation is common in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Lysine demethylase 4C (KDM4C) is one of the chromatin-modifying proteins frequently overexpressed across multiple solid cancers and is linked to chromatin instability, increased cell proliferation, and enhanced stem cell–like behavior. We observed upregulation of KDM4C protein in a panel of human PDAC cell lines and patient samples compared with nonneoplastic controls. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of KDM4C in human and murine PDAC cells reduced proliferation, clonogenicity, and increased survival of orthotopically implanted murine PDAC allografts. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that loss of KDM4C in both human and …

Initial Experience With Remote Mri Scanning Support In An Oncology Focused Practice: Opportunities For Expanded Access To Radiology Care, Christopher M Walker, Maria G Maldonado, Megan C Jacobsen, Suprateek Kundu, Michelle L Underwood, Joshua P Yung, Brandy J Reed, David Jaffray, R Jason Stafford, Marshall E Hicks, Caroline Chung, Aradhana M Venkatesan

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: As medical imaging demand grows, there is increasing stress on the currently available workforce to deliver consistent, high-quality imaging studies while ensuring rapid study turnaround times and round-the-clock radiology coverage. Advances in remote access technology facilitating remote scan assistance and control are now commercially available to address these pressing clinical needs.

Methods: This work evaluated an early clinical application of a virtual scanner operations system (syngo Virtual Cockpit (VA13A, Siemens Healthineers, Erlangen, Germany) for remote magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) monitoring and scan control at three geographically distant outpatient sites associated with our primary institution.

Results: The system facilitated execution …

Expanding Professional Practice For Pre-Service Teachers Through Online International Engagement, Rhonda Di Biase, Katrina Burge, Sarah Baldacchino, Ann Dongyu Gu

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study investigated the professional learning of pre-service teachers (PSTs) involved in an international online project, known as the International Literacy Project, that evolved during the Covid-19 pandemic. The project promotes international engagement across diverse sites, with sessions in classes centred around storytelling and story-making across a range of countries. Using vignettes, the study explored how involvement in the project presented additional opportunities for personal and professional learning for the PSTs through interacting with the diverse international settings. We considered the learning opportunities from such international online engagement, the usefulness of expanded opportunities for professional practice and how Zoom enabled …

Indicators Of Mid-Career Teacher Quality Through Perspectives Of Key Stakeholders, Maria Azfar Karimullah, Wayne G. Cotton, Louisa Peralta

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The ongoing quest of quality education has focused on teaching quality in K-12 classrooms globally, as evidenced by recent research, reviews, and media coverage. Yet, identifying, defining, and measuring ‘teacher quality’ remains a complex challenge, particularly during the crucial mid-career stage. The focus on mid-career teachers in educational research is often neglected, when compared with early career teachers or teachers in leadership. This qualitative study explores the characteristics that mid-career teachers, teacher leaders and accreditation personnel perceive as the indicators of a quality mid-career teacher. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 29 participants including 23 mid-career teachers, five school principals, and …

Exploring Technology Supporting Explicit Teaching And Learning Of Educator Skills And Knowledge: An Ipa Study, Renee Crawford

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Teacher shortages and increasing accountability measures have placed pressure on initial teacher education (ITE) programs to demonstrate their impact on graduate readiness. This study aimed to explore how technology can support explicit teaching and learning of educator skills and knowledge within a constructivist blended learning framework. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, the research examined preservice teachers’ (PSTs) perceptions and experiences during and after completing an ITE secondary music methods unit where the approach was implemented and modelled. Results indicate that making pedagogy visible through technology enhanced strategies provided PSTs with opportunities to develop critical skills and knowledge aligned …

Induction For Non-Beginning Teachers: An Attempt To Connect Induction To Continuous Professional Development, Gulcin Cosgun, Derin Atay

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Since there is limited research exploring the impacts of induction on the teaching practices of newly recruited experienced teachers, in this paper, findings of a study whose purpose is to explore the impacts of a comprehensive induction model on non-novice teachers in regards to their teaching practices will be reported. 11 mentees involved in a mandatory comprehensive induction program at the English preparatory school in a Turkish foundation university participated in this study. The observation data collected at three phases- the onset of the induction program at the beginning of the first year, on completion of the program at the …

Enablers And Constraints To Implementing Intellectual Virtues Pedagogy In A Higher Education Context: A Teacher Educator Perspective, Ellen Larsen, Katie M. Burke, Melissa Fanshawe A/P, Yvonne Salton, Mark Oliver

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Higher education aims to develop graduates with specific professional and disciplinary expertise and lifelong learning capabilities. We argue that instruction for these learning dispositions, conceptualised in this study as intellectual virtues, is challenging and complex. We report on practitioner research conducted by nine teacher educators as we worked to implement intentional instruction of intellectual virtues in our teacher education courses. Drawing on online surveys and reflective conversations, we used descriptive statistical and thematic analysis to investigate the approaches taken to integrate the intellectual virtues and, more specifically, the challenges and opportunities for doing so. Findings highlighted the structural, cultural, and …

Provoking Generative Ai Futures: Merging Theory And Praxis, Regina M. Luttrell Ph.D., Nick Bowman

Media Studies - All Scholarship

An accessible exploration of the myriad applications and challenges of generative AI for media and communication students, scholars, and practitioners alike.

The latest emergence of increasingly low-cost and scalable AI technologies presents a point of both celebration and concern for the contemporary media and information ecosystem. To this end, this edited volume gathers media and communications scholars and practitioners to engage in discussions and exchange ideas about current trends and developments in the field. Questions this volume asks include: What are the essentials of generative AI from a media and communication perspective? How has generative AI influenced research and scholarship? …

Excluded At The Root: Health Insurance Discrimination Against Hair Loss Conditions, Stacey A. Tovino, Tracy Hresko Pearl

Faculty Articles

No abstract provided.

The Unconstitutional Attempt To Criminalize Naming Ice Agents, Noah C. Chauvin

Faculty Articles

Some members of Congress propose to make it a crime to publish the name of a federal official with the intent of obstructing that official’s law or immigration enforcement duties. This Essay considers whether the lawmakers’ bill, the Protecting Law Enforcement from Doxxing Act, is consistent with the First Amendment. It is not.

Marital Status And Human Rights, Jessica Tueller

Faculty Articles

Although human rights law has established a clear prohibition on discrimination based on marital status, this prohibition is vastly underutilized. This Article argues that increased attention to human rights law's prohibition on marital status discrimination, accompanied by clearer, more consistent, and more robust analysis of this phenomenon, is needed to ensure that everyone whether they choose to remain unmarried or to marry, whether they file for divorce or are widowed-continues to have and enjoy the same human rights and fundamental freedoms as any other person throughout their lifetime. This Article specifically recommends a focus on harmful marital status stereotypes that …

Generative Ai And The Purpose Of Legal Scholarship, Michael L. Smith

Faculty Articles

What does generative artificial intelligence mean for the future of legal scholarship? The topic has been the talk of the town around academic watercoolers. Some legal scholars have tried their hand at producing legal scholarship using generative Al. The accompanying commentary is varied, but advocates for the technology suggest that generative Al may become a common tool for legal scholars, leaving those who refuse to adapt at a severe disadvantage.

In this article, I contemplate a world in which legal scholars routinely use generative Al to produce academic writing. I argue that an instrumental view of legal scholarship's value-a view …

The Rhetoric Of Law In Executive Order No. 12,333, Noah C. Chauvin

Faculty Articles

Scholars have long disputed the extent to which Congress may permissibly regulate the nation's foreign intelligence apparatus. Positions in this debate range from the view that Congress and the President share power over intelligence to the opinion that intelligence matters fall within the President's exclusive Article II authority. This Article examines the extent to which the text of Executive Order No. 12,333-the intelligence community's governing charter-supports the most expansive conceptions of presidential authority over intelligence matters. It concludes that the Order is best understood as recognizing Congress's power to pass laws governing the conduct of intelligence-laws that preclude executive refinement …

Meat Is Dead, Melissa D. Mortazavi

Faculty Articles

The legal and cultural landscape surrounding meat in the United States is evolving as plant-based alternatives, GMO farm animals, and cell-cultivated meat move from test tube to table. While global demand for meat rises amid environmental, ethical, and resource challenges, cell-cultivated meat emerges as a scientifically viable alternative, offering identical nutritional value without the drawbacks of conventional livestock production. Despite federal regulatory approval from USDA and FDA, multiple states have enacted unusually restrictive laws—including bans— targeting cell-cultivated meat. These are motivated largely by economic protectionism, but also deeper cultural anxieties tied to tradition and identity. This Article argues that food …

Decluttering The Orbital Commons: A Proposal For The Regulation Of Privately Created Space Debris, Rose W. Cobey

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Space is one of the only resources shared by every person in every country at all times. The problem of space debris is therefore one that affects everyone living on our planet. Scientists and politicians have warned about crowding, collisions, and murky liability for decades, and each of these issues will only worsen without intervention. Space debris has caused damage on Earth since the Space Race, and it now endangers people and property in orbit. We are at an ever-increasing risk of building a wall around our planet and locking ourselves inside. In the last ten years, a new wrinkle …

Void In Space: How Loper Bright And The Major Questions Doctrine Affect The Federal Communications Commission’S Regulatory Authority Of Orbital Debris, Hernan Valles

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

Since the dawn of the space race, countries have been reaching for the stars. Recently, companies have joined the race. The space race and technological advancement of near-Earth orbital satellites have caused a buildup of debris in near-Earth orbit. The exponential increase of orbital debris in Earth’s orbit threatens the environmental system of the planet, the safety of astronauts aboard the International Space Station, the structure of other spacecraft, and modern economies relying on operational satellites to provide rapid communication, navigation, and weather forecasting information.

Yet there is a void among U.S. regulators in setting rules that mitigate orbital debris …

Outer Space Employment Tax And Grounded Enforceability: A Node-Based Approach Under International Space Law, Binbin Guo

Journal of Air Law and Commerce

As commercial space activities move from state-led exploration to market operations, outer space is changing from a mission space into a workspace. As a result, the traditional connecting point for employment taxes, centered on the workplace, begins to lose force. This Article develops the concept of outer space employment taxation and argues that its key issue is not taxation in orbit, but enforceability. International space law does not directly provide the tax base, tax rates, or specific withholding rules. But through state responsibility, authorization and continuing supervision, and registration coupled with jurisdiction and control, it already provides institutional interfaces through …