Open Source GIS: From QGIS to Python

This workshop will guide attendees through open source GIS workflows using QGIS's approachable user interface and demonstrate how to replicate those processes programmatically in Python for enhanced reproducibility and efficiency. GIS beginners can expect a well rounded introduction to geospatial data and software, while seasoned users will benefit from techniques for automating their workflows with Python.UT Librarie

Controls on carbonate precipitation in subsurface environments using microfluidics

Research on carbonate resevior is critical for advancing both enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and geologic gas storage, offering significant benefits in energy security and environmental sustainability. Carbonate formations, such as limestone and dolomite, make up over half of the world's petroleum reserves. These formations, hoIver, present challenges due to their complex and heterogeneous structures, which include variations in porosity and permeability. Advances in EOR techniques, such as CO₂ injection and low-salinity water flooding, help to overcome these challenges through enhancing the mobility of oil within these rock structures. Moreover, carbonate reservoirs hold enormous capacity for CO₂ storage, but are encumbered by their reactivity with CO₂ which raises questions on the long-term security of injected CO₂. Research in this field allows for the development of optimized EOR strategies that improve oil extraction in challenging carbonate settings and enables safe, long-term CO₂ storage, contributing to a balanced pathway toward a low-carbon future. First, I use a micromodel with pore geometry and geochemistry representative of geologic media to promote deep microbially-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) penetration into subsurface formations as a natural approach to secure the geologic storage of gases (e.g., CO₂, H₂, CH₄). Cracks in embrittled Illbore cement, for example, provide a pathway for atmospheric gas leakage, while permeability heterogeneities in the storage reservoir leads to fingering effects that diminish the storage capacity. The design of MICP processes, hoIver, remains a challenge due to limited understanding of the coupled nonlinear reaction kinetics and multiphase transport involved. Specifically, previous attempts at MICP through porous media have been encumbered by carbonate precipitation localized to the first 1-3 cm of the bulk injection surface. I use a micromodel to image direct pore- and pore-ensemble-level mineral, fluid, and microbial distributions. An approach to adsorb microbes uniformly across the micromodel, rather than local accumulation near the inlet, is developed that enables deep MICP penetration into the porous medium. A sensitivity analysis was performed to investigate the impact of injection conditions (e.g., rates, concentrations) required to maximize CaCO₃ precipitation away from the injection site. With multiple cycles of MICP, a 78% reduction in permeability was achieved with ~ 8% carbonate pore volume occupation. Second, I present a novel improved oil recovery approach whereby MICP reduces the local permeability of water-saturated preferential flow paths to improve the overall sIep of the reservoir. Mobility contrasts betIen oil and water, along with permeability heterogeneity, lead to fingering instabilities that impede the recovery of hydrocarbons from the subsurface. With MICP, local pore geometry in preferential pathways are altered to divert successive injection fluids to oil-saturated pores. I demonstrate the feasibility of the approach using a silicon microfluidic device with etched geometries representative of real rock pores, where a ~ 5 % reduction in the porosity of preferential flow paths increased overall oil recovery by ~ 28 % original oil in place (OOIP). I performed a sensitivity analysis on the injection conditions required to maximize oil recovery and bacterial growth. Overall, I show that calcium carbonate grains grown using MICP can provide a secure and stable method to control fluid flow in situ and recover additional hydrocarbons to provide an avenue for cost-effective and environmentally-benign hydrocarbon extraction. Third, I functionalized a micromodel with dolomite to study the confinement integrity of formation during carbon dioxide storage and sequestration. Calcite was selectively precipitated along the edges of silicon grains, and dolomitized hydrothermally using a magnesium-rich fluid. Mineral dissolution and re-precipitation Ire observed through the microfluidic platform, and mineral composition evolution was characterized by using X-ray crystallography (XRD) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). After dolomitization, the carbonate volume decreased by 14.5%, sligh higher than the 11%-14% reduction reported in previous studies. Insights into the dissolution and precipitation of the dolomite rind enhance our understanding of the diagenetic history of carbonate reservoirs, influencing interpretations of hydrocarbon potential and informing reservoir management strategies.Petroleum and Geosystems Engineerin

No-reference image and video quality assessment for user-generated media

User-generated content (UGC) constitutes a significant portion of global internet traffic, with billions of videos and images shared daily on social media and streaming platforms. Despite its ubiquity, UGC often suffers from diverse and complex perceptual quality issues due to distortions introduced during capture, processing, and sharing. Addressing these challenges is critical for improving user experience, enabling better content optimization, and providing tools for inclusive content creation. This dissertation focuses on three critical problems in no-reference (NR) perceptual quality assessment for UGC: video quality prediction, image quality enhancement for visually impaired users, and the quality assessment of text embedded in multimedia content. First, we tackle the challenging and unsolved problem of NR video quality assessment (VQA) for UGC. Traditional VQA models struggle to generalize to the diverse and “in-the-wild” nature of UGC. To address this gap, we developed the largest subjective video quality dataset to date, containing 38,811 real-world distorted videos, 116,433 space-time localized video patches, and 5.5 million human perceptual quality annotations. Using this dataset, we proposed two novel NR-VQA models: (a) Pathc-VQ (PVQ), a region-based architecture that captures local-to-global quality relationships, achieving state-of-the-art performance on three benchmark UGC datasets, and (b) PVQ Mapper, the first space-time video quality mapping tool that visualizes and localizes perceptual distortions. These models advance the state of the art in VQA, offering robust predictions and actionable insights into the quality of real-world UGC videos. Second, we address the unique challenges faced by visually impaired users in capturing high-quality images. This demographic often produces content exhibiting severe distortions, including blur, noise, and poor exposure, which pose significant barriers to quality assessment and actionable feedback. To address these issues, we created the LIVE-Meta VI-UGC Database, the largest dataset of its kind, comprising 40,000 distorted images, 40,000 patches, and 2.7 million human perceptual quality and distortion labels. Leveraging this dataset, we developed a blind image quality predictor that models local-to-global spatial relationships, achieving state-of-the-art prediction accuracy on VI-UGC data. Furthermore, we designed a prototype feedback system based on a multi-task learning framework, empowering visually impaired users with actionable insights to improve their photography and confidently share higher-quality content on social media. Third, we investigate the underexplored problem of assessing the quality and legibility of text embedded in UGC, particularly in short-form videos. The quality of embedded text significantly affects user comprehension and the overall perception of multimedia content, as well as applications like visual search and recognition. To advance this domain, we created two novel datasets: the LIVE-COCO Text Legibility Database, featuring 74,440 text patches with subjective legibility annotations, and the LIVE-YouTube Text-in-Video Quality Database, containing approximately 19,000 subjective quality ratings on 405 videos and 641 text patches. Using these datasets, we developed models capable of predicting both text quality and legibility. We further introduced a multi-task model that simultaneously predicts overall video quality and local text quality, addressing the interplay between text legibility and multimedia quality in UGC. Overall, this dissertation presents a comprehensive approach to improving the perceptual quality of UGC through the development of advanced datasets, innovative quality prediction models, and user-centric tools. By addressing the diverse challenges of video, image, and text quality in UGC, this work provides solutions that enhance user experience, optimize content, and support accessibility. The outcomes of this dissertation are expected to benefit applications such as quality monitoring, content creation tools, accessibility enhancements, and user guidance, ultimately improving the global experience of social media and streaming platforms.Electrical and Computer Engineerin

Restoring the Land: Pro-Blackness as a Healing Force Against Anti-Black Classroom Management

This paper critically examines the systemic harm inflicted on Black students through anti-Black classroom management and disciplinary practices, positioning Pro-Blackness as a transformative framework for healing and justice. Grounded in healing justice and African Diaspora Literacy, the discussion highlights the pervasive impact of the “white gaze” in perpetuating inequities and the urgent need for educators to reject Eurocentric standards. The authors argue for a shift from punitive to Pro-Black classroom management practices that affirm Black cultural dimensions and foster holistic growth. Integrating strategies for self-reflection, relational accountability, and the inclusion of Black-centered pedagogy provides a roadmap for educators committed to creating equitable, affirming spaces for Black students. The paper ultimately challenges educators to engage in collective action to “heal the land” by honoring the humanity and potential of Black children.Educatio

Transparency Under Takeover: Financial Ramifications of the TEA Takeover of Houston ISD

This paper examines the financial transparency and accountability practices before and after the 2023 state takeover of the Houston Independent School District (HISD). Superintendent Mike Miles and his Board of Managers reallocated critical district resources towards troubling new “priorities,” while the district was facing a sizable deficit. Parents and community members raised concerns about the district’s transparency and accountability practices, which sparked backlash throughout the first year and a half of the takeover. Using a historical case study methodology (Widdersheim, 2018) and qualitative document analysis (Bowen, 2009), we examined school board meeting content, online news articles, and state policy to analyze the financial changes that HISD underwent as they transitioned to a state appointed superintendent and school board during the first two years of the state takeover. Findings suggest patterns of concerning fiscal practices under the post-takeover administration. We make recommendations for local and state educational agencies that may improve financial transparency and solvency during state takeovers.Educatio

Evaluation of racial disparities in the hepatitis B care cascade

Background: Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is one of the leading etiologies for cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer. Despite public health initiatives and availability of antiviral therapy, previous studies have suggested that evaluation, retention and initiation of treatment remain suboptimal in the care of CHB. In addition, literature has noted that patients of Asian descent are more likely to initiate treatment compared to other races. Therefore, we aim to evaluate whether racial disparities exist across the care cascade. Objective: To assess differences in the management and treatment of CHB across different racial groups Methods: This retrospective study evaluated patients ≥18 years old with CHB from January 1st, 2016, to December 31st, 2023, utilizing electronic health records from a large healthcare system in Texas. Data collected included demographic information, laboratory results such as HBeAg status, ALT serum levels, and HBV DNA levels, and outpatient visits. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess differences in the evaluation and initiation of treatment across racial groups. Results: A total of 911 patients were included in the study: 371 patients (40.7%) self-reported as Asian, 212 patients (23.3%) as White, and 249 patients (27.3%) as Black. The median [IQR] age was 47 [37-57] years. Patients had suboptimal linkage to care with one-third of patients being seen by a specialist. Evaluations of HBV DNA levels and HBeAg status were low at 38% and 60%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the likelihood of being eligible for treatment or receiving treatment across racial groups. Conclusion: Our study highlighted gaps in the care cascade for CHB in an integrated delivery network. No racial disparities were identified, and future research should focus on improving care delivery to patients with CHB through provider and patient education.Pharmaceutical Science

Season 5, Episode 8: How Writing Center Workers Write : Jennifer Juszkiewicz

University Writing Cente

Life after death : Naranjo's scrambled stairway

Ancient Mesoamericans believed in the animation of their materials and built environments. According to most scholars, animation is created with activation rituals, or is innate to the object at the time of its creation, and is ultimately ended in so-called “termination rituals.” In this view, objects are either alive or dead, and a termination ritual carries a sense of finality, regardless of the afterlife of the terminated object. My thesis uses the Naranjo Hieroglyphic Stairway as a case study to question theoretical ideas about object termination, and ultimately to offer a new understanding of “termination rituals” as transformation rituals instead. The Naranjo Hieroglyphic Stairway is unique, as the monument actually originated in Caracol, a site 100 kilometers to the south of Naranjo. During a military conquest, Naranjo armies fragmented and removed the stairway from Caracol and installed it on the backside of their own E-group, deliberately scrambling the hieroglyphic inscription. I posit that although the scrambling of the blocks appears to be a kind of “termination ritual,” the monument’s continued visibility, and prominent visibility for that matter, indicates a continued animacy, or a new life for this stairway. In this thesis, I will provide a full interpretation of the Naranjo Hieroglyphic Stairway’s first life in Caracol and again in Naranjo to establish that the monument was animated in both sites, despite the “termination ritual” it underwent. Finally, I will introduce the concept of “transformation rituals”, in which objects are either partially de-animated or otherwise completely transformed, with their materials retaining a certain amount of animacy. I suggest that Maya people were primed to view life and death–and thus, animation and termination–as transformative, not final, and that the same view applies to animated objects.Art Histor

Online and offline solidarities : Dignidad Rebelde’s multi-platform art-activism

With the advent of Web 2.0, users consistently connect with others and access information. Online applications, such as Social Media platforms, are a creative space for consuming cultural content, digital marketing, and spreading awareness. Social Media giant Meta, specifically their app Instagram, allows public and private photo and video sharing. How are artists and creatives manipulating Instagram as a national and global platform to forward political values and community goals? Artist-Activist collaborative Dignidad Rebelde’s artwork exemplifies the tension between offline and online methods for advocating for social justice issues through visual and rhetorical means. In this thesis, I demonstrate how Dignidad Rebelde’s performance on Instagram does more than spread information on their artistic production and personal lives by also creating and linking networks of solidarity through complementing their offline cultural work. Through crafting an online persona that rallies for Palestinian liberation, I question how performing solidarity online accumulates a form of social capital for the artists while simultaneously employing marketing strategies for their offline screen-printed work. This project focuses on three of Dignidad Rebelde’s transmedia images, Free Palestine/Viva Palestina Libre, We Teach Life, and Hola Gatita Dice Ceasefire, primarily looking at how the works operate as posts on their Instagram page (@dignidadrebelde) in conjunction with their physical presence at local events and exhibitions. Oakland First Fridays, Crosspollination Block Party, Hands Off Rafah Rally, and the exhibition Exist & Resist & Decolonize & Indigenize & Free Palestine are events where these images reappear throughout the Bay Area in 2024. The methods of the thesis are intentionally interdisciplinary. I draw on visual analysis from an art historical lens to dive into the composition of the images. I also incorporate scholarship from American Studies and Indigenous Studies to establish a historical background between the solidarities between Chicana/o/x and Indigenous peoples with Palestinians. I bring in Digital Media Studies through the discussion of how hashtags open spaces for creating networks but also leave behind a trail for possible censorship efforts. Interviews with both the artists are interwoven throughout the thesis as their input was crucial to the development of the project.Art Histor

The Prague Spring Archive

An archived version of the Prague Spring Archive site created by Ian Goodale, European Studies and Linguistics Librarian at UT-Austin, in 2017. The site contains links to guides to Box 179, Box 180, and Box 181 of the archival holdings in the LBJ Presidential Archives, a page on key figures in the Prague Spring, a timeline of events in the Prague Spring, a collection of key documents from Boxes 179-181, a guide to using Texas ScholarWorks to search and download additional documents, and a finding aid for the physical collections housed in the LBJ Presidential Library.UT Librarie