Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond A Protagonist Bias In Narrative Identity Research: Methods For Identifying Master Narratives In Interview Data, Andrew D. Coppens, Jayson Seaman, Cindy Hartman

Faculty Publications

This article advances a methodological shift in narrative identity research by addressing the field’s protagonist bias – the tendency to rely on first-person autobiographical accounts as the primary evidence for identifying cultural master narratives. We integrate Erikson’s psychosocial identity framework, Vygotsky’s “tool and result” methodological insight, and sociolinguistic approaches to narrative to develop a three-stage analytic logic: (1) identifying small-n narratives through scenes conveyed in discourse; (2) grouping these into Big-N narratives that cohere thematically across scenes (Tannen, 2007, 2008); and (3) assessing candidate master narratives using McLean and Syed’s (2016) five criteria. We demonstrate this approach through a case …

A Review Of Yellow Fever: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Clinical Manifestations, Treatment, Prevention, And Prognosis, Farah Ebrahim, Samina Somji, Reena Shah, Salim Surani

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. Despite the availability of an effective live-attenuated vaccine, the disease remains endemic in regions of Africa and South America. Transmission occurs primarily via an infected mosquito called Aedes aegypti, with distinct urban, sylvatic, and intermediate transmission cycles. Clinically, infection ranges from mild febrile illness to severe disease, which is characterized by jaundice, hemorrhage, and multiorgan failure. Pathogenesis involves viral replication in hepatocytes, immune-mediated injury, and dysregulated inflammatory responses, leading to characteristic hepatic mid-zone necrosis. Diagnosis relies on molecular detection …

Smu Launches Longevity Societies And Economies Institute To Advance Knowledge And Innovation For Singapore’S Longevity Transition, Singapore Management University

SMU Press Releases and News

Singapore Management University (SMU) launched the SMU Longevity Societies and Economies Institute (LSEI) which will focus on the economic and societal transitions needed for economies and societies to continue thriving despite an ageing population. The new institute will consolidate SMU’s ageing-related research and drive an interdisciplinary agenda to build resilient and opportunity-rich longevity societies and economies.

Evaluation Of Tick-Derived Peptides For Transmission-Blocking Vaccine Candidates, Madelyn Futral

Honors Theses

The lack of effective preventive measures for tick-borne diseases represents a major public health challenge. Transmission-blocking vaccines targeting tick molecules essential for feeding or reproduction could provide a sustainable and broad-spectrum solution. In this study, we evaluated two tick-derived proteins as potential vaccine antigens, subolesin, a key regulator of blood-feeding and cellular processes, and vitellogenin, a protein involved in egg development. Using bioinformatic tools, we identified immunogenic peptide sequences from each protein and chemically conjugated them to virus-like particles (VLPs) to enhance antigen presentation. C57BL/6 mice were immunized intradermally with VLP-peptide conjugates, followed by a booster dose. Blood and spleen …

Voices | Risd Mfa Illustration Anthology 2026, Illustration Department, Illustration Mfa, Jaleen Grove, Minglu Du, Manuela Guzman, Rhea Hu, Faith Huang, Burcu Koleli, Airien Ludin, Ranran Ma, Mervin Miao, Nayyab Naveed, Rhea Pradeep, Pingfan Que, Mot Tuman, Skye Wang

Illustration MFA Anthologies

Illustration has often been dismissed as just a mechanical art, concerned with technique more than intellect. In fact, illustration is a theory of something’s essence, expressed and communicated visually. Craftsmanship – or a playful, mindful lack of it – is always in service to a concept and a purpose. The Masters theses summarized in this book are the result of struggles to give form to more than the tangible world. As writers and visualizers our students picture new meanings and refreshed experiences for the familiar; they define things previously unnamed.

Budgeting Apps, Financial Literacy, And Financial Control, Max Masabo, Abdullah Mohammad Mahi

Presentations - 2026

Our paper shows the real hidden connections between budgeting app usage and financial wellbeing of U.S Households

The Acute Effects Of Heat Exposure On Cognitive Function, René Barbier

Presentations - 2026

Passive heat exposure negatively impacts: •Executive function & response inhibition •Attention & processing speed •Workplace productivity

Older adults face heightened vulnerability to cognitive decline under heat stress (Schlader et al., 2015).

Who is most affected?

•Outdoor & industrial workers •Athletes training in summer heat •First responders (firefighters, EMTs) •Older adults with thermoregulatory decline

San Antonio context: persistent summers, growing population, occupational health implications.

"Transgender Insanity" And Scapegoating: President Donald Trump's Political Rhetoric Regarding Transgender Americans, Savannah Torres

Presentations - 2026

The political rhetoric used by President Donald Trump to refer to transgender Americans results in their scapegoating.

Spanglish: Un Viaje Al Pasado Observado Por El Presente, Nyleen Benavides, Raquel Christopherson, Rose Jouini, Kennedy Kuchta

Posters - 2026

Since its founding in 1852, St. Mary’s University has evolved from a small institution into a diverse and inclusive community that has worked to overcome discriminatory barriers. Originally founded to serve Mexican students in underserved communities, the university has reflected San Antonio’s Cultural diversity since its earliest years. Its founder, Reverend John Marie Odin, envisioned supporting a “melting pot” of cultures within the city (Flores, 2019). While the university has grown significantly in enrollment, Hispanic culture and traditions have remained a central part of its identity. Today, with over two thousand students enrolled, St. Mary’s University continues to not only …

Trust In The Supreme Court, Mia Isabella Ramirez

Posters - 2026

The central research question asks: What factors influence  individuals' approval or disapproval of the way the Supreme Court is handling its job?

- Gender
- Education
- Political Party

Budgeting Apps, Financial Literacy And Financial Distress: Evidence From U.S. Households, Max Ngenzi Masabo

Posters - 2026

• First, it provides the first large-scale, nationally representative evidence on how budgeting app usage relates to household financial distress in the United States. Contrary to the intended purpose of these tools, we find that app users, especially frequent users, experience significantly higher levels of financial strain. • Second, we show that financial literacy is a critical moderating factor. The adverse association between budgeting apps and financial distress is substantially stronger among low-literacy individuals, highlighting financial literacy as an essential safeguard against harmful fintech outcomes. • Third, we identify behavioral mechanisms through which budgeting apps may exacerbate financial difficulties. App …

Chasing The Enslaved, Not Justice: Rangers Of Oppression, Mackenzie Arendall

Posters - 2026

01. Introduction: Rangers Policed & Profited in Slavery The Underground Railroad did not lead only north. It also led south into Mexico, where slavery had been abolished since 1829. Enslaved Texans risked the perilous journey, hundreds of miles, across unforgiving terrain. Even more dangerous than the harsh elements were the slavecatchers. Enslavers offered generous bounties, advertised in newspapers, for the recapture of their human “property.” Among the slavecatchers profiting from and policing slavery were many members of the infamous Texas Rangers. The Texas Rangers have been commemorated for heroism on the western frontier and honored for upholding the law and …

Comparative Analysis Of Mlp And Cnn Models For Cardiac Arrhythmia Classification, Veltman Okey-Ejowhor, Vahid Emamian

Posters - 2026

Electrocardiogram (ECG) is a record of the electric activity of the heart over time. ECG analysis plays a pivotal role in diagnosing critical heart conditions. Significant developments have been made in the realm of deep learning and applied artificial intelligence. These deep learning models have been utilized heavily because of their ability to analyze deep morphological features of each signal. The model architecture used in this study is a convolutional neural network (CNN) combined with a multi-layered perceptron (MLP). The MLP acts as an input filter that classifies normal heartbeat signals from abnormal. The CNN is the second filter in …

The Willow Who Kept The Secrets Of The Heart, Ana Suarez

Speak for the Trees!

This digital museum exhibit features the climate change fairy tale The Willow Who Kept the Secrets of the Heart, presented as a written narrative and recorded reading that explores the symbolic relationship between the Weeping Willow, water, and ecological care in the face of climate change. It also includes an infographic highlighting the Weeping Willow’s habitat, characteristics, and environmental challenges in Texas, along with a curator’s talk and curator’s board. The exhibit features an artifact entry using a half-filled vial of water to represent climate instability and the often-overlooked resources that sustain life, as well as a persuasive essay, …

Slurry-As-A-Service: A Modest Proposal On Scalable Pluralistic Alignment For Nutrient Optimization, Rachel Hong, Yael Eiger, Jevan Hutson, Os Keyes, William Agnew

Articles

Pluralistic alignment has emerged as a promising approach for ensuring that large language models (LLMs) faithfully represent the diversity, nuance, and conflict inherent in human values. In this work, we study a high-stakes deployment context—mulching—where automated systems transform selected individuals into nutrientrich slurry for the dual purposes of food security and aesthetic population management. Building on recent pluralistic alignment frameworks, we introduce ValueMulch™, a reproducible training, deployment, and certification pipeline for aligning mulching models (MMs) to a wide range of community norms. Through a real-world testbed spanning 32 communities, we show that ValueMulch™ improves distributional agreement with community mulching preferences …

A Qualitative Examination Of Mentoring Practices For First-Generation, Low-Income Stem Students Through A Critical Intersectionality Lens, Christina Torres Garcia, Laura Zamudio-Orozco, Martin Meraz Garcia

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Arts and Humanities

This study examines the mentoring experiences of first-generation, lowincome, and underrepresented students in STEM through the lens of Critical Intersectional Mentoring (CIM). Drawing on testimonios from McNair Scholars, this study identifies the systemic barriers and power dynamics that shape mentoring relationships and limit academic success. Traditional mentorship models often ignore intersecting identities, leading to experiences of marginalization, mentor absenteeism, and cultural disconnection. The CIM framework integrates Critical Race Theory, Intersectionality, and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy to reframe mentoring as a social justice practice grounded in equity, empowerment, and relational trust. Using qualitative content analysis of pláticas, the study uncovers three key …

Japan's 5-Year Plan With India: Rethinking Cultural Homogeneity In The Workplace, Sydeny Nieto

Posters - 2026

In 2025, Japan and India had finalized the Japan-India 5-year Action Plan, where Japan will open their workplaces to over 500,000 Indian citizens over the next 5 years. While studies show how the plan would help fix labor shortage and population problems, it lacks public analysis and the data supporting Japan's readiness to take on this demographic change. This research addresses this gap by analyzing both economic benefit and public perspective toward migration. Highlighting broader impacts the plan would have on Japan's society, along with cultural challenges it may pose for Japan.

Turn Out, Having Latinx Faculty Doesn't Mean The School Sucks: The Faux Relationship Between Latinx Saturation Rate And Institutional Prestige, Julianne Pena

Posters - 2026

• 25% or more full time students that are of Latinx decent (U.S. Department of Education) • Since 1992, enrollment and attendance of students increased (Vela & Gutierrez, 2017) • Latinx students more likely to enroll in HSIs over non HSIs (Vargas et al., 2019) • Latinx faculty to Latinx students 146:1, White faculty to White students 10:1 (Vargas et al., 2019) • Overrepresentation of White faculty and Underrepresentation of Latinx faculty (Robertson, 2023) • Diverse faculty is impactful (Contreras, 2017; Dayton et al., 2004; Turner & Gonzales, 2014) Purpose: The purpose of this topic is to bring awareness to …

Increasing Affordability And Safety In Our Surrounding Community: Subsection 6 Of The St. Mary's Gateway, Addysen Schniederjan

Posters - 2026

Unaffordability is a widespread problem not only across San Antonio and the sub a rea of the St. Mary’s Gateway district. Affordable housing is defined as no more than 30% of a resident's income spent on housing (Bhasin, 2024). Subsection 6 faces a layered set of challenges:

- aging housing stock - proximity to industrial uses - limited neighborhood amenities - safety threats-decreasing property value

America First: U.S Justification For Intervention In Latin America, Lenardo Buentello

Posters - 2026

In November 2025, the United States released a new National Security Strategy that strongly focuses on securing key resources before rival countries, especially in the Western Hemisphere. This approach is like policies like the Monroe Doctrine, which emphasized U.S. influence in the region. This strategy is already being put into action in Venezuela, where U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife on drug trafficking charges. These actions reflect the strategy’s focus on national security and resource control. Many countries question whether the U.S. acted legally and argue that it ignored international norms. Latin America has become a region …

Artificial Intelligence And The Future Of Global Inequality, Valentina Caceres

Posters - 2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a central tool in the global system, shaping economic growth, political power, and international influence. While AI is often celebrated for innovation and progress in different sectors like education, healthcare, security and more, its development is uneven and mostly concentrated in wealthy countries. Because AI is increasingly embedded in economic production, public administration, and social services, access to AI capabilities has become a key determinant of global competitiveness and influence. Many developing nations lack the capital, infrastructure, and technological capacity needed to compete in the global economy driven by AI. This imbalance matters because …

Foxbuddy, Luis Eduardo Garza Jr.

Posters - 2026

Emergency preparedness remains a significant challenge for individuals due to disorganized resource management and lack of accessible guidance. Additionally, cybersecurity risks during emergencies are often overlooked, leaving individuals vulnerable to digital threats such as phishing, scams, and data exposure. FoxBuddy provides a centralized, user-friendly platform that enhances both physical preparedness and cybersecurity awareness.

Translating Research For The Public: Lab And Online Engagement, Hannah Jiron

Posters - 2026

In the world of psychological research, we spend countless hours in the lab gathering data that has the potential to change lives. But if that data stays locked away in spreadsheets or professional journals, it remains "invisible" to the very people who need it most. As our research moves into the digital age, we have a unique opportunity to "uncloister" science taking it out of the lab and bringing it into the community. This poster explores why simply having good data isn't enough. For research to truly matter, it requires active management and a heart for public outreach. We argue …

How The Korean War Has Affected Security In The Korean Peninsula: Ideological Separations And Lasting Military Alliances In This Region, Teagan Mcsherry

Posters - 2026

Although the Korean War ended in 1953, its effects continue to shape security on the Korean Peninsula today. This paper examines how the war created long-lasting ideological divisions and military alliances, particularly through the involvement of the United States and China. These alliances have helped maintain stability through deterrence but have also prevented meaningful reconciliation between North and South Korea. I argue that these dynamics reinforce a security dilemma, where efforts to increase security also deepen division and mistrust. As a result, the peninsula remains in a prolonged state of tension, demonstrating how unresolved conflicts can continue to influence global …

Using Ai-Based Predictive Scheduling To Improve Patient Flow And Reduce Wait Times In Healthcare Clinics, Oscar Martinez

Posters - 2026

• Healthcare systems face increasing challenges in patient access and wait times
• Average wait times for specialist care continue to rise, creating:
  • Delays in treatment
  • Reduced patient satisfaction
  • Increased system inefficiencies (Sanford, 2025)
• A major contributor is operational bottlenecks, defined as:
  • Points of congestion that slow or disrupt service flow
• Hospitals typically operate under process layouts, which:
  • Handle diverse patient needs
  • Reduce specialization efficiency
• Contributing factors to bottlenecks:
  • Physician shortages and burnout
  • Administrative burden
  • Inefficient scheduling systems (Moura & Pinho, 2025)
• AI offers potential solutions through:
  • Predictive scheduling
  • Automation of administrative processes
  • Data-driven optimization of patient flow

American Death Penalty Opinion's Are Affected By Religion, Right?, Addysen Schniederjan

Posters - 2026

How does religion affect Death Penalty Public Opinion?

• align with doctrine?
• religious beliefs affect political beliefs?
• political ideology?

If public opinion is not affected by religion, what does this say about religious beliefs?

Agglomeration Of Particles Streaming Down A Zigzag, Juan Llamas

Posters - 2026

Zigzags or “letdown ladders” limit the flow speed of dry grains as they flow downward by gravity when loading silos, ships, barges, railcars, or trucks.

• Reduce cracking and shattering of grains.

• Increase grain shelf life.

• Increase grain resale value. • Increase ability of grain to germinate.

• Reduce generation of grain dust, an explosion and environmental hazard.

How can we design a zigzag that we know will not plug?

Umbilical Cord Milking Versus Early Cord Clamping In Late Preterm And Term Neonates Who Are Non-Vigorous At Birth: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial (Cordmilk Trial), Zubair H. Aghai, Sangappa M. Dhaded, S Yogeshkumar, Sunil S. Virnekar, Benjamin L. Leiby, Vinita Jain, Yvonne E. Vaucher, Nitin Chouthai, Meenakshi Girish, Seema Parvekar

Conference Presentation Abstracts

No abstract provided.

Exploring Single Celled Rna Biomarkers Using Deconvolution Analysis For Severe Retinopathy Of Prematurity In Extremely Premature Newborns, Vighnesh Ghatpande, Saachi A. Bodas, Nitin Chouthai

Conference Presentation Abstracts

Background: Timely, precise diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) is key to implementing appropriate treatment, as distinctions between mild-ROP and severe-ROP are the primary factors in its characterization. Deconvolution analysis of bulk RNA sequencing is an indirect method to identify static and dynamic molecular and physiological associations.

Objective: The objective of this this study was to evaluate if deconvolution analysis can be used to identify cellular biomarkers of ROP.

Design/Methods: This is a prospective study (IRB#086113MP2E) with a convenience sample size of 8 neonates with no ROP, 6 neonates with mild to moderate ROP (M-ROP), and 7 neonates with severe …

An Analysis Of Global And Regional Human Rights Standards On Gender-Based Violence, Tamar Ezer, Denisse R. Cordova Montes

Articles

No abstract provided.