An observational study on fathers’ self-disclosure and vulnerability in conversations with their adolescent children

Self-disclosure and vulnerability are two constructs that play an important role in relational intimacy. To date, almost no research investigates if or how fathers engage in self-disclosure or express vulnerability with their adolescent children. This study addresses this gap by providing a qualitative, thematic account of paternal self-disclosure and vulnerability obtained through observations of fathers engaging in conversations with their adolescent children. Results from this study suggest that, in certain contexts, fathers do self-disclose and express vulnerability with their adolescent children. Additionally, results from this study provide four distinct dimensions of self-disclosure that can be used for further research investigating individuals’ self-disclosure tendencies. Finally, several themes engorged from the data that demonstrate possible methods fathers can use to engage in self-disclosure and vulnerability with their adolescent children.Educational Psycholog

Effects of key, controversial dietary factors on inflammation, glycemic control and expression of circulating microRNAs, novel biomarkers with identified signatures in cardiometabolic disease

Dysregulation of metabolism is a common factor across obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and disturbs metabolic pathways that are tightly regulated at the genetic level. At this level, post-transcriptional modifiers known as microRNA are aberrantly expressed in a state of dysregulation, released into circulation and contribute to the development and severity of chronic conditions. Although a number of dietary factors influence cardiometabolic health, it is unclear whether they do so through altered miRNA expression. Therefore, we aimed to examine the impact of consuming 1) diets with and without fresh, lean beef; 2) energy-restriction diets containing higher- vs normal-protein, animal source foods; and 3) breakfasts varying in protein content on 12 a priori circulating miRNA associated with cardiometabolic disease risk in healthy, overweight populations. In our first study, we aimed to identify whether a healthy dietary pattern containing fresh, lean beef influences the expression of miRNA compared to a healthy dietary pattern void of fresh, lean beef. Further, this study sought to understand the potential associations between changes in circulating miRNA expressions and markers of cardiometabolic disease risk. The expression of miR-15b-5p was higher following the consumption of a diet containing 2 servings of fresh, lean beef/d vs. a diet void of fresh lean beef. In our second study, we aimed to identify whether an energy-restriction, higher-protein diet, containing approximately 4 servings of fresh, lean beef alters expression of circulating miRNA selected based on their recorded signatures in obesity, T2D and CVD compared to an energy-restriction, normal protein diet containing approximately 1 serving of fresh, lean beef. No differences in miRNA expression were detected between diets. The third and final study sought to examine whether the consumption of breakfast, varying in protein quantity, alters the expression of miRNA associated with cardiometabolic disease risk compared to skipping breakfast. The habitual consumption of HP breakfast resulted in higher expression of miR-126-3p and miR-223-3p compared to breakfast skipping. Collectively, these studies aid in informing future dietary recommendations concerning the impact of key dietary factors on metabolic disease risk and assist in understanding the contribution of miRNA activity in this context.Nutritional Science

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

MLPs and KANs for data-driven learning in physical problems : a performance comparison

There is increasing interest in solving partial differential equations (PDEs) by casting them as machine learning problems. Recently, there has been a spike in exploring Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs) as an alternative to traditional neural networks represented by Multi-Layer Perceptrons (MLPs). While showing promise, their performance advantages in physics-based problems remain largely unexplored. Several critical questions persist: Can KANs capture complex physical dynamics and under what conditions might they outperform traditional architectures? In this work, we present a comparative study of KANs and MLPs for learning physical systems governed by PDEs. We assess their performance when applied in deep operator networks (DeepONet) and graph network-based simulators (GNS), and test them on physical problems that vary significantly in scale and complexity. Drawing inspiration from the Kolmogorov Representation Theorem, we examine the behavior of KANs and MLPs across shallow and deep network architectures. Our results reveal that although KANs do not consistently outperform MLPs when configured as deep neural networks, they demonstrate superior expressiveness in shallow network settings, significantly outpacing MLPs in accuracy over our test cases. This suggests that KANs are a promising choice, offering a balance of efficiency and accuracy in applications involving physical systems.Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematic

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

Characterizing the protein landscape in thylakoid membranes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using a Monte Carlo-simulated annealing algorithm

Thylakoid membrane organization plays a crucial role in photosynthetic efficiency, yet the spatial arrangement of protein complexes within the membrane remains challenging to resolve experimentally. To address this, we developed a computational framework that employs coarse-grained modeling and advanced algorithms to simulate the distribution of major protein complexes, including PSII supercomplexes, cytb₆f, and LHCII. By systematically varying membrane size and protein composition, we analyzed protein organization using statistical methods such as the radial distribution function (g(r)) and the nearest neighbor distribution function (NNDF). Comparing our simulated membranes to experimental cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) data, we observed strong agreement in protein spacing and clustering trends. Specifically, our results indicate that Chlamydomonas thylakoid membranes primarily contain the C₂S₂M₂ PSII supercomplex, as suggested by NNDF comparisons. While the presence of larger C₂S₂M₂N₂ complexes has been reported, their abundance likely varies depending on environmental conditions and stress factors. These findings demonstrate the potential of our computational approach to complement experimental techniques, providing insights into protein organization at a resolution that remains difficult to achieve in in situ studies. Future applications of this framework could extend to different membrane systems and varying physiological conditions, further refining our understanding of dynamic thylakoid architecture.Chemistr

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

Decarbonizing the suburbs : how regenerative design can minimize the carbon footprint of single-family homes and communities

This Professional Report investigates the possibility for regenerative design techniques to effectively reduce the carbon footprint of single-family homes in suburban and exurban communities. The onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic opened the door for an urban exodus with many Americans redefining their work-life priorities and lifestyle preferences. In this new era where a significant share of the population seek to settle in low- to moderate-density built environments, there is value in advancing the sustainability and resilience of these communities as a facet of the broader effort to address the climate crisis. The regenerative design and development approach introduces a paradigm shift beyond conventional sustainability where energy efficiency and net-positive impact act as guiding principles. The central element of this report is the exploration of two case study communities in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos metropolitan area that employ regenerative design techniques: The Genesis Collection, a niche cluster of 3D-printed concrete homes and Whisper Valley, a master planned community that operates on a geothermal energy grid. To support this evaluation, this report also contains an analysis on intra-regional migration patterns in the United States, a literature review on consumer preferences for energy-efficient home features, and an overview of the potential tools local governments and municipalities can use to incentivize the development of regenerative, positive-impact communities. By incorporating the regenerative design framework into the planning and development of single-family communities, built environment practitioners can create communities that actively restore, rehabilitate, and reconnect.Community and Regional Plannin

Exploring the relationships between local fish consumption, diet quality, fishing practices, and food security

In 2022, the food insecurity rate of the Coastal Bend in Texas was 19.4%, higher than the food insecurity rate in Texas (16.4%) and the U.S. (12.8%). The Coastal Bend is a community where fish consumption is common due to its proximity to the ocean. While food insecurity is associated with poor diet quality, fish consumption could be associated with improved diet quality. Therefore, the study aimed to 1) assess correlations between food security, fishing practices, local fish consumption, and diet quality and 2) identify the relationships between local fish consumption and diet quality. An online survey and the Dietary History Questionnaire III (DHQ3) were distributed in the Coastal Bend region. The survey measured food security, fishing practices, and local fish consumption. The DHQ3 was used to calculate Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores to measure diet quality. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population characteristics. Pairwise correlations were used to assess correlations between key variables. Linear regression was used to examine the association between diet quality and local fish consumption. Overall, 20.9% of the sample were considered to be experiencing low food insecurity, and 37.31% were experiencing very low food security. Diet quality was low with a mean HEI score of 58.695. Significant correlations were found between food security and HEI scores (r = -0.28, p < 0.01), food security and fishing practices (r = 0.20, p < 0.05), and local fish consumption and fishing practice (r = 0.59, p < 0.01). Significant association was found between very low food security and diet quality (r = -7.00, p < 0.05). Linear regression analysis found no direct relationships between local fish consumption and diet quality were identified, yet together, results suggest there may be an underlying relationship between food security and fishing practices. Furthermore, due to the Coastal Bend’s high food insecurity prevalence, local fish should be considered a high-quality source of food that is accessible and affordable to this community. Research should continue to explore the relationship between food security and local fish consumption given its potential to improve the diet quality of food insecure communities.Nutritional Science

Revisiting the model minority myth : the multiple pathways after high school among Asian American students

Asian American students have long been stereotyped as a model minority who excel academically and thus gain admission prestigious four-year colleges. However, not all Asian American students pursue four-year colleges. Asian American students’ college pathways can be more diverse than the dominant narrative for Asian success. In this sense, this study focused on the factors that influence Asian American students’ college choices, including how they navigate their college pathways after high school. To that end, this study explored the context of families, schools, and communities to gain detailed knowledge and a nuanced understanding of how these factors shape the college pathways of Asian American students, including two-year community college and four-year college. I employed a qualitative research approach and conducted 24 semi-structured in-depth interviews to accomplish this purpose (19 four-year college students and 5 community college students). The research revealed a mixed picture of the resources available to Asian American students as they navigate their college pathways. On the one hand, my findings indicated that Asian American four-year college students had supportive resources in accessing college, including parents’ higher socioeconomic status, competitive high school environment, and college-educated communities. On the other hand, Asian American community college students had fewer options in navigating and accessing college due to parents’ lower socioeconomic status, career-bound programs in high school, and lack of community support. Particularly, my findings highlight that parents’ economic status not only played a more significant role than their education in shaping college pathways but also influenced parents’ expectations and authority over their child’s college pathways. In this sense, Asian American students from both higher and lower socioeconomic backgrounds decided to attend affordable colleges in consideration of their parents’ financial circumstances. My dissertation sheds light on how Asian American students, often labeled as a successful model minority, resist cultural and structural constraints in accessing college.Educational Leadership and Polic