Browsing by Department "Polymathic Scholars"
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Item Bioenergy for Electricity Generation(2016-05) Den, Jennifer; Eaton, DavidEnergy from biological materials addresses a number of key energy and environmental issues, including climate change, energy security, and replacement of carbon-intensive energy sources. This thesis assesses the feasibility of using three types of biological material for U.S. electricity generation: wood chips, biofuels, and organic waste. To evaluate economic feasibility, this paper examines system design, feedstock availability, and other advantages and disadvantages of alternative biological feedstocks. It also discusses three cost-benefit studies evaluating wood chips, biofuels, and waste-to-energy. This thesis recommends that the U.S. electricity sector consider investing in additional use of wood chips and organic waste and continue developing research for next-generation biofuel. Wood chips can cost less than heating oil. Municipal solid waste as a fuel could manage and reduce carbon. Although next-generation biofuels are more expensive in terms of capital and operating costs than conventional biofuel and fossil fuels, their use could mitigate food security and environmental concerns. All three technologies are used globally, proving technical feasibility. The availability of wood and waste in the U.S. offers another incentive for feedstock. Additional funding and research remain challenges for next-generation biofuel. Future research in bioenergy could include cost-benefit and carbon emission analyses that incorporate additional production pathways, comparisons to current renewable feedstocks, and recommended sites for the three technologies this paper addresses.Item Cancer Epidemiology in American Romanies(2018) Arani, Naszrin; Hancock, IanRomanies are one of history’s most misunderstood ethnic populations. Since medieval times, they have faced slavery, forced assimilation, sterilization, genocide, and other forms of ethnic cleansing. Their cultural and historical persecution has led to adverse health outcomes. Studies on health inequality among Romanies have been conducted in the past, as well as fragmented research on their genetic predisposition to disease; however, there is a gap in available information regarding precancerous health risks, especially at the upstream, social end of the spectrum. Thus, their oppression is largely unacknowledged. This holds true in the United States where their numbers are far smaller than the majority who live in Eastern Europe. Ignorance of their history and culture breeds stigma, erecting a barrier to positive health outcomes for Romani-Americans. The primary objective of this study is to analyze the biological, cultural, and socioeconomic factors leading to cancer and other chronic disease in Romani-Americans through a review of the existing literature. I point out the most prominent causes of chronic disease as a proxy to cancer in Romani-Americans; I also hope to draw attention to the lack of research in the field and inspire others to pursue such research.Item A Characterization of Systemic Heteronormativity in Schools(2023-05-26) Curl, Brandon James; Irizarry, Yasmiyn; Russell, StephenAlthough schools are central places of learning and development for all youth, gender and sexually diverse (GSD) individuals often face significant challenges when navigating educational spaces. Historically, queer scholarship has focused on specific interventions to improve the experiences and outcomes of GSD students, yet the field has frequently failed to recognize the structural role of heteronormativity within schools. Inspired by the works of Ray (2019) and Sewell (1992), I propose a novel theory of heteronormativity that treats the school as an organization embedded in the larger social order. I argue that the school itself is a heteronormative structure resulting from the cyclical connection between schemas and organizational resources. This phenomenon benefits students who conform to gender and sexual norms at the expense of students who do not, ultimately leading to differential outcomes. Furthermore, these effects are mediated by the diversion of social and material resources away from GSD students, such as denying them access to a classroom for Gay-Straight Alliance meetings. To demonstrate the utility of this framework, I analyze specific manifestations of heteronormativity and describe how they substantiate the core principles of my theory. I then note prominent disruptions (e.g., inclusive curricula) to the dominant heteronormative system and provide insights into the dismantling of this system, with a particular focus on the challenges to be faced. This framework can inform parents, teachers, administrators, researchers, and lawmakers about the role of systemic heteronormativity within the school and provide clear guidance for improvement and future research.Item Efficiency and design optimization in healthcare facilities(2020-05) Gandhi, Annika; Anderson, EdwardMaximizing operational efficiency in both hospitals and clinics has become increasingly important in the last decade as elements of the healthcare industry continue to evolve. As care becomes more expensive and there is a shift towards consumerism and higher competition in the market, more efficient and satisfactory care is paramount to the success of providers. Aside from the quality of practitioners and facilities, one way that clinics and hospitals in the U.S. can increase efficiency of patient care and improve patient experience is to implement principles of operations management that can optimize how a patient flows through a healthcare system. This paper aims to ascertain the most successful aspects of facility design in both outpatient and inpatient settings that allow for optimal efficiency using principles of operations management. The main concepts applied to healthcare from operations management are the utilization of lean methodology, which focuses on reducing wasted time and materials, and minimizing flow time of patients through the system. This paper will review existing literature and highlight common successful designs and techniques through analysis of case studies from clinics and hospitals in the United States. A gap exists in the literature as to whether there are direct patient benefits to a lean-focused clinic and hospital design. The findings of this paper demonstrate that design layouts that prioritize patient and practitioner flow through the system are likely to have a positive effect on a patient’s satisfaction with their visit and ultimately better patient outcomes. Highlighting the direct impact on patients will elucidate to administrators and physicians alike the benefits of implementing these methodologies to reduce frustrations of inefficiencies felt by both patients and practitioners.Item Human Health in Space Travel: Limitations and Opportunities(2022-11-20) Tang, Bill; Yankeelov, ThomasSpace travel presents unique environmental challenges that enact molecular, cellular, and physiological changes across many regions within the human body. Specifically, the high energy and variable mass of the particles from space radiation present new and unexplored consequences in which astronauts will be at greater risk of deleterious health effects beyond Earth's protective magnetosphere. Longer missions beyond low Earth orbit will result in greater doses of space radiation, increasing the risk of developing degenerative tissue diseases from the accumulation of genetic mutations and high oxidative stress. This thesis maps the findings of space-related biological research on humans and animals exposed to spaceflight effects –to present the risks associated with spaceflight, health responses to these risks, and the mitigative strategies that can be applied to counteract deleterious health effects and ensure successful spaceflight missions in the future.Item Is crime hereditary? An analysis of biological ideas from eugenics to the human genome project.(2020) Tong, Xin Ying; Levine, PhilippaEugenics, the idea of improving the biological quality of the human race, has been interrelated with concepts of crime since at least Classical times. The eugenics doctrine has fueled mental institutions and state-owned penitentiaries, as well as manifested itself in popular culture and scientific studies. With a focus on post-1883 American history, I examine the evolving relationship between eugenics and crime through a historical lens and into the modern day to present a stance on the an age-old question: is crime hereditary? I follow the separate but concurrent development of eugenics and the idea of the biological criminal, then I examine the distinct concept of a born criminal through eugenic family studies, court cases, and prison eugenics. Although eugenic criminology has lost momentum, it continues to influence modern thought, particularly in legal proceedings and the use of biological technologies. I identify a return to the biological basis of crime throughout history, and I assert that this tendency will continue with American society accepting increasingly scientific explanations for crime. Thus, based on societal definitions of criminal behavior, crime will inherently be considered hereditary. I argue that the fluid role biology plays is largely based on social climate, and therefore biology does not take precedence over socio-environmental factors-- a mistake that has been committed in the past. With advancing biological and reproductive technologies, novel issues surrounding the biological basis of crime arise: will this result in interventionalist policies before an "at-risk" individual commits a crime? How will this impact our criminal justice system? If criminality carries a biological basis, these issues must be addressed promptly.Item It Takes a Village: Participation, Data, and Ethics in Health AI(2023) Richardson, Jensen; Graham, S. ScottNew artificial intelligence (AI) tools will shift the paradigm of healthcare and redefine how triage, diagnosis, and treatment are performed. This thesis examines studies analyzing ethical and practical issues of developing health AI tools and some suggested solutions, such as changes in data collection and study design. Though the dangers of AI of which we are aware are currently well-described, none of them have a simple solution. After an extensive narrative literature review of AI scholarship, I present common issues discussed in the literature and propose some solutions gleaned from them. One such solution is participatory design methods. Participatory design methods can guide the development of more ethical AI tools by involving the communities they affect from the beginning of the project. If participatory methods were consistently integrated into clinical trials, they could help resolve problems such as disconnects between factions of multidisciplinary research groups, patient data concerns about overbroad and irrelevant data collection, and even racial bias from data sources and uneven/unrepresentative data collection. The integration of participatory methods in clinical trials would lead to better and more ethical first-generation AI tools, which is essential because the data from these tools will influence those created in the future. This improvement would, in turn, lead to better AI tools in the future by improving and equalizing their performance across more treatment groups, as well as helping to make health AI more useful to patients and physicians.Item The Missing Piece: Music in Geriatric Health(2015) Jean, AliceItem Motivation, Feasibility, and Ethics of Colonizing Mars(2021) Kolli, Divya; Hoffman, David W.Space exploration has excited Americans since the Space Race in the 1950s, which led to humans first stepping foot on the Moon in 1969. The next goal in space exploration is to send humans to Mars, which is driven by scientific interest and the current advancing climate change, overpopulation, and resource depletion of Earth. The potential habitability of Mars makes the planet more amenable than other planets in our solar system for supporting human life, which private companies claim will allow humans to successfully colonize the planet. However, many scientists and ethicists have stated that a pioneering population will face new obstacles in the journey and life on Mars. These hurdles are examined through a literature review focused on the feasibility of a successful colonization, human health in space, and the ethics of space colonization. Space sciences are highly affected by political tensions between technologically developed countries which will likely impact the sociopolitical structure and success of a long-term Martian colony. The pioneering population will also face dangers to their health from the isolation, microgravity, and radiation of space. Lastly, colonization of Mars will lead to the eventual environmental damage of the planet, which is both a scientific and ethical dilemma. The political, scientific, and ethical concerns that are currently unanswered outweigh arguments in support of Martian colonization. To protect the future pioneering population and the environmental health of Mars, these concerns must be mitigated by space agencies before developing the technology needed to send humans to colonize Mars.Item Music's contribution to the formation of self-identity through regressive listening(2014) Gingoyon, MeganThe purpose of this study is to determine how we as listeners use music as a means of expressing and forming our self-identity. How does music contribute to who we are, and how we express ourselves? What is it that makes music so important and personal to us? In order to help me find an answer to these questions I took courses on the history and rhetoric of popular music in the United States. What I have learned is that what enables us to do these things is something that Theodor Adorno has termed “regressive listening,” which he defines as the regression to a state of primitivism while listening to music. Regressive listening involves a theme of repetitiveness that results in the loss of one’s identity, as we grow accustomed to only listening to the type of music the culture industry imposes on us. After taking these classes however, I have learned, that there is a different, but positive definition of regressive listening, the regression into our memories while listening to songs that are the most meaningful to us. This type of regressive listening helps cause the formation of one’s identity. When we listen to a certain song, we relate it to our past experiences. This, in turn, helps us to solidify our sense of identity and gives us a sense of who and what we want to be like in the future.Item The Nature of Space in the Quantum Wave-Function(2014) Bhakta, Raj; Juhl, CoryThe quantum wave-function is at the heart of quantum mechanics. It is the physical state of a quantum system before a measurement is taken. This wave-function is described mathematically by the formulation of matrix mechanics and represents the evolution of the quantum wave-function. In contemporary philosophy of physics, the wave-function’s nature of space is hotly debated. Contemporaries such as David Albert, who posits an ontology which is based off the mathematical features of the wave-function, claim that the dimensionality of our physical space is proportional to 3N, where N is equal to the number of particles in the universe. Others such as Bradley Monton claim quantum mechanics to be a false theory from the outset due to its incompatibility with general relativity and posit a much more realist property-based-physics ontology. However, these ontologies have their problems. Albert’s ontology takes the mathematics of the quantum wave-function at face value and disregards the distance properties of metric space to misconstrue the phase space nature of the 3N-configuration space as a metric space. Monton, on the other hand, questionably grounds his thesis on the incompatibility of quantum mechanics with general relativity and on common sense rather than on observation and experimentation, as required by the scientific method. In this thesis, I discuss the viewpoints of Albert and Monton in detail and explore the nature of space in the quantum wave-function in an attempt to reach a better understanding of the fundamental nature of space in the quantum wave-function.Item The No Child Left Behind Act: Negative Implications for Low-Socioeconomic Schools(2015) Woods, Allison; Gershoff, ElizabethThis thesis examines the effects of The No Child Left Behind Act and it’s impact on low-socioeconomic schools and students. Accountability measured by adequate yearly progress (AYP) and high-stakes testing is closely investigated, along with negative results of curriculum narrowing and school restructuring sanctions. The current system of waivers is also closely reviewed. Data from government reports, literature reviews, case studies, and newspapers are used to argue that No Child Left Behind has hindered the nation’s schools, especially those in low-income areas, and has done little to improve the achievement gap. With No Child Left Behind currently up for reauthorization, it is important to look closely at how the law has adversely impacted our nation’s schools so that new legislation can be passed to better serve all schools, and guarantee that ‘no child is really left behind.’Item The No Child Left Behind Act: Negative Implications for Low-Socioeconomic Schools(2015) Woods, AllisonItem The positive psychology of Christian repentance: An analysis of hope, gratitude, and forgiveness(2014) Forbis, Alex; Domjan, WendyThis study analyzes the psychological constructs of hope, gratitude, and forgiveness and the psychological benefits they confer. These same benefits are then argued to be conferred to those in Christianity that practice genuine repentance within each specific realm of each construct, due to the ongoing, guiding role that repentance plays in each construct, shown to be influenced by various theologies and practices of Christianity.Item Proposing Interventions for Disabled Americans Pushed into Incarceration and Homelessness(2023) Seyer, Caroline; Thurman, WhitneyMass incarceration and homelessness are prevalent issues in the United States, affecting hundreds of thousands of people each year. Additionally, about a quarter of Americans have at least one disability (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2022). While there is literature that documents the relationship between disability and homelessness and disability and incarceration, research has yet to connect the pipelines that push disabled Americans into both of those systems. The purpose of this literature review, therefore, is to synthesize existing research, news articles, and advocacy information into a diagram describing the factors that push disabled Americans into incarceration and/or homelessness over the life course. I then propose points of intervention to dismantle these pipelines. Disabled people face barriers to receiving a high-quality education, are more likely to be affected by the school-to-prison pipeline, and face discrimination in employment, housing, and community involvement. Additionally, the effects of homelessness and incarceration on disabled individuals have substantial overlap in the spheres of health, employment, housing, and community involvement. These challenges compound each other across the life course and are thus very important to dismantle. The points of intervention identified in this thesis have serious implications for expanding public policy to target disabled people affected by incarceration and homelessness in this country.Item The Role of Language Concordance in Pediatric Epilepsy Care in Austin, Texas(2002-05) Shah, Prachi; Jacobs, ElizabethRecent research has shown significant disparities between the outcomes and experiences of patients who receive language concordant (in which patient and provider speak the same primary language) versus language discordant care. As demographic trends indicate an ever-increasing number of people in the US with limited English proficiency (LEP), the importance of providing language concordant care only increases. However, the mechanisms and extent of how language concordant care can impact healthcare experiences and outcomes, and how this varies based on specialty and patient demographics is still unknown. This paper includes 1) potential historical and cultural factors that can contribute to disparities for the LEP community, 2) a review of literature showing the potential consequences of the exclusion of language concordant care from pediatric and adult medicine, and 3) early findings of a pilot longitudinal study testing an entirely Spanish pediatric epilepsy clinic in Austin, Texas. In this study, patients receiving both language concordant and language discordant care were interviewed about their experience, perceptions, trust, and knowledge about epilepsy (amongst other factors). In addition, data from these patients’ electronic medical records was analyzed for patterns in physician documentation. The literature review revealed that significant disparities exist between Hispanic and non-Hispanic patient groups, and between English-proficient and LEP patients. Preliminary findings reinforce that language concordance can improve patient trust, quality of communication, and knowledge of epilepsy. Additionally, results indicate that language concordance can lead to more thorough documentation by providers, and be a valuable tool for improving patient knowledge and experience. Understanding the full scope of the impact of language concordance is critical to effective training, resource allocation, and policy-making decisions in the future.Item The Role of Pharmaceutical Companies in the Opioid Crisis(2022-05-10) Iyer, Sathwik; Pounders, KathrynnToday, the Opioid Crisis in the United States continues to rage on as pharmaceutical companies fight battles in both criminal and civil courts. While there have been several victories against pharmaceutical companies in recent months, there is still a long road ahead in terms of combatting the Opioid Crisis in the United States. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the role of pharmaceutical companies and physicians in perpetuating the current Opioid Crisis taking place in America today. I conducted a literature review to determine and understand the different facets and avenues of action that pharmaceutical companies have taken to push opioids on the general public. First, I discussed and reviewed the different waves of the Opioid Crisis. This is followed by the presentation and discussion of three case studies that demonstrate the role that pharmaceutical companies and physicians play in the Opioid Crisis. Specifically, the legal court cases and settlements from the Sackler Family and Purdue Pharma as well as Janssen, McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen are discussed. Next, this thesis explores the role that pharmaceutical companies’ marketing strategy plays in understanding the Opioid Crisis. Finally, this work offers a conclusion that offers ideas for future research in this area.Item The Role of Sober High Schools in Continuing Care for Adolescent Alcohol(2020) Tran, ThiAlcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a psychiatric syndrome that is prevalent in a large percentage of society. AUD is particularly important to study in adolescents ages 10-19 years, because this is a time of critical physical and neural development. Adolescents who are exposed to certain risk factors, such as low sociodemographic factors and limited social network, are more prone to develop AUD than adults exposed to the same risks. In recovery high schools around the US, adolescents are allowed a place for recovery where they are removed from risky environments. In this literature review, I analyze peer reviewed papers on risk factors and therapies surrounding continuing care for adolescent AUD. The risk factors include sociodemographic factors, genetics, health literacy, social networking, and conflict. The continuing care therapies analyzed include family based interventions, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, and 12-step facilitation. I then discuss the application of these therapies and risk factors in the context of the University High School at the University of Texas, a sober high school where students are removed from risky environments. I argue that recovery high schools are beneficial for the continuing care of adolescents in recovery. I also argue that the formation of recovery high schools in partnership with college universities is beneficial for both parties. The goals of this effort are to provide adolescents in recovery with a structured mentorship system and access to extracurricular activities, ultimately benefitting in recovery.Item Socioeconomic and Political Determinants of Refugee Mental Health(2019-01) Kharbat, Abdurrahman F.; Walker, Lorraine O.The refugee crisis in the Middle East is the largest and most pressing displacement crisis of our time. As the crisis unfolds, it is clear that a majority of asylum seekers and refugees are encumbered by mental health stress due to the traumas suffered throughout the conflicts they fled. It is crucial to understand the socioeconomic and political determinants of mental health that refugees are subjected to through displacement in order to elevate the quality of healthcare and to pursue better mental health outcomes. Refugees contribute to host nations’ workforces, whilst endeavoring to integrate into their societies. Yet mental health stress and its stigma hinder the rehabilitation of those who fled persecution. Establishing a better understanding of refugee mental health allows healthcare professionals and policy makers to provide better care for these populations by developing effective measures that support rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to analyze the socioeconomic and political determinants of mental health of refugees in the Middle East through a review of the existing literature, in conjunction with my observations and experiences serving as a medical assistant in U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) clinics in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Results indicate that mental stress affects refugees not only during the course of displacement, but also during the asylum seeking process, further demonstrating a need for revised measures. Therefore, I suggest future directions in healthcare protocols and policy making that would improve the quality of life and the mental health of refugees and asylum seekers.Item A Surrealist Homecoming: An Investigation of Corporeal Metamorphosis in Leonora Carrington's Down Below(2018-05) Zhang, Yaowen (Laura)During the 1920s, war, political flux, and social revolution ravaged Western Europe as xenophobic and violent rhetoric fueled political ambitions. Starting with the 1924 Surrealist Manifesto written by French author André Breton, surrealism championed anti-colonialism and anti-colorism while elevating madness as transcendent moments of creative innovation. In the subtle transition from the “sex object” to the “surrealist object,” women were idealized as the femme-enfant (i.e., the irrational and innocent “woman-child”). Down Below takes place in this context. In this 70-page memoir, surrealist artist Leonora Carrington details her experiences in a Spanish asylum in 1940. In my thesis, I will explore the three types of corporeal transformation the narrator undergoes in the memoir: bestial, material, and spiritual. By drawing on the perverse and inextricable link between the body and mind, Carrington tactfully reclaims women’s significance in the universal amphitheater while tackling larger themes such as political violence, mental illness, and the gendered unconsciousness.