Student Research Symposiums
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Item A fine-tuned large language model for improved click-bait title detection(2023-08-29) Vuppala, Pavan Sai; Sekharan, Chandra N.The internet has experienced a widespread phenomenon of clickbait, especially on social media platforms and news websites. Clickbait headlines and descriptions attract clicks and generate ad revenue by using exaggerated, sensational, or misleading language. Clickbait can harm online users by wasting their time, spreading misinformation, damaging reputations, or even exposing them to malware or phishing attacks. Detecting clickbait manually is subjective and time-consuming since different people may have different opinions on what constitutes clickbait. Rule-based approaches, machine learning models[8], deep learning models[9] and natural language processing techniques are some of the existing methods for clickbait detection. However, clickbait detection remains a challenging task due to the diversity and complexity of clickbait content, as well as the constantly evolving strategies used by clickbait creators. In this research, we employed a methodology to detect clickbait titles using a fine-tuned large language model (LLM) that was trained on a limited dataset of clickbait titles.Item A look into the diversity of culturable bacterial root endophytes in Batis maritima(2023-08-30) Rush, Grace I.; Lumibao, CandiceCoastal ecosystems face increased anthropogenic and climatic-related stressors. Batis maritima dominates coastal marshes. Known for its high salinity tolerance.Item A mental health literacy intervention to improve psychological treatment-seeking attitudes and intentions in African Americans(2023-08-29) Gipson-Washington, Raven K.; Houlihan, Amy E.Systemic-Level Barriers: The ineligibility of services, treatment disparities, limited access to treatment facilities, and the lack of culturally-relevant care Cultural Barriers: Spiritual beliefs and community stigma Individual-Level Barriers: Limited finances, lack of insurance coverage, lack of transportation, childcare, lack of social support, the fear of being locked away, the fear of losing one’s children, and negative experiences with the mental healthcare system (personal experiences or learning of others’ experiences) Psychological Barriers: The inability to recognize symptoms of mental illness, the perceived insusceptibility to mental illness, the belief that there is no need for treatment, internalized stigma, and the Black strength schema. African Americans are disproportionately less likely to receive treatment for their mental illness(es) (39.4%) than their European American counterparts (52.4%; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2021). This is a public health problem. To confront this problem, it is necessary to address the issue of treatment-seeking. Typically, the first step in the treatment life-cycle is to decide to seek psychological treatment. For African Americans, this decision is often complicated by a significant number of barriers to treatment, unique to the Black experience (Bryant et al., 2013; Conner et al., 2010; Davis et al., 2008; Haynes et al., 2017; Jegede et al., 2021; Redmond et al., 2019; Sonik et al., 2020; Ward et al., 2009; Williams et al., 2012): The present study will address the psychological barriers. The primary aim of the study is to increase formal psychological treatment-seeking attitudes and intentions by increasing mental health literacy, reducing internalized stigma, and redefining the Black strength schema. To do this, a single-session, online mental health literacy intervention, has been developed specifically for African Americans: The Black Mental Health Education Program - Anxiety and Depression (BMHE-AD).Item Abundance of bottlenose dolphins (tursiops truncatus) in Texas coastal bend(2022-04) Wilkins, Allison; Orbach, Dara N.Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are the only species of marine mammal residing in the Texas Coastal Bend and have been specifically identified as imperiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It has been almost 40 years since research has been published on the local population of bottlenose dolphins. In recent decades, the Texas Coastal Bend has substantially expanded in industrial growth and the Port of Corpus Christi is the third largest port in crude oil exportation in the U.S.A. The Corpus Christi Shipping Channel is also undergoing continual dredging to widen and deepen the channel to attract more commercial and industrial developments. With increasing and rapid changes and associated threats, it is important to monitor the local population of bottlenose dolphins and quantify how they are impacted by anthropogenic disturbance to inform policymakers for conservation mitigation. The population abundance of dolphins inhabiting the Texas Coastal Bend was determined by counting the number of animals based on unique markings. Photographs were captured of the individually distinctive dorsal fins of dolphins from a research vessel during 45 survey days since 2018. Photographs were subjected to quality control checks, cropped, matched by a minimum of two researchers, and scored based on quality. Preliminary results show that the current population of bottlenose dolphins consists of over 1,300 individuals, indicating a substantial population growth from the 593 dolphins reported in 1983. Findings from this study and additional photo- identification surveys will provide insights on the stability of the population that can be used as baseline data for conservation, including if dolphins are year-round residents and frequently inhabit areas of high vessel traffic.Item Activated carbon as a redox flow battery(2022-04) Burghoff, Alexis; Holubowitch, NicolasWith the increase of renewable wind and solar energy, there is a need for long-term, low-cost energy storage systems to buffer their variable output. Redox flow batteries (RFBs) have the potential to store large amounts of energy for on-demand power generation and long-duration discharge. RFBs consist of two soluble redox couples stored in separate tanks that are flowed through a stack during charge/discharge, decoupling the battery’s power and energy capacity to meet custom scaling requirements. Despite this flexibility, RFBs currently have low energy densities compared to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries due to poor aqueous solubility of the active species and/or low voltage outputs. Robust, high voltage catholytes are needed in RFBs. The catholyte iron (II/III) tris-2,2’-bipyridine,Item Alkane composition of the microlayer in Corpus Christi Bay: Implications of HAB formation(2023-08-29) Hodge, Wayne; Silliman, JamesShort-chain n-alkanes (n-pentadecane, n-heptadecane, and n-nonadecane) stem primarily from algae. Long-chain n-alkanes (n-heptacosane, n-noncosane, and n-hentriacontane) originate from terrigenous/land plants and are introduced to coastal waters by runoff. Since alkanes are hydrophobic compounds, they tend to concentrate in the microlayer (air-water interface). This study strives to ascertain the efficacy of using the aquatic-terrigenous ratio (ATR) as a precursor to harmful algal bloom (HAB) formation. Since the ATR is a new HAB parameter, it may further our understanding of HAB formation. Corpus Christi Bay microlayer samples have been collected via the glass plate method. Although algal and terrigenous n-alkanes have been detected in these samples using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), they are present in lower concentrations than expected. As a result, new microlayer samples are currently being collected at larger volumes to increase their n-alkane concentrations. Once adequate concentrations have been achieved, ATRs will be calculated in order to establish a range in baseline values for Corpus Christi Bay. ATR values are expected to increase prior to and during HAB events.Item An analysis of the El Nino Southern Oscillation's effects on tropical cyclones(2023-08-30) Lilljedahl, Madalyn; Liu, Chuntao; Lavigne, ThomasIn the 20 years, 2,023 tropical cyclones provide us a robust sample size to study the impact of the El Nino Southern Oscillation on tropical cyclone with respect to precipitation on a global scale. It is clear that the El Nino Southern Oscillation does play a significant role in the intensity, location and magnitude of tropical cyclones. We also found that the depending on which phase of ENSO and whether it’s a major or minor tropical cyclone, different parts of the globe have experienced more or less precipitation that can be attributed to tropical cyclone. How does ENSO influence frequency of tropical cyclones globally? What is the global precipitation contribution from tropical cyclones? How does ENSO influence global precipitation that is contributed by minor and major hurricanes?Item Analysis of coastal spatial-temporal systems of two species competition: Impact of the parameters of the system on species survival(2022-04) Wang, Youwen; Vasilyeva, Maria; Stepanov, Sergei; Sadovski, Alexey LThis presentation deals with the spatial-temporal dynamical models of two-species competition in 1D and 2D spaces. We have applied factor analysis to the results of tens of thousands of simulations with different combinations of parameters and initial conditions. Firstly, we have found that initial populations, if they are not too small, don’t affect equilibriums. Secondly, we have discovered that the diffusion rate has an impact on whether one or both species survives. Thirdly, the ratios of birthrates to competition parameters play significant role in which of two species survives.Item Analyzing the disparity between those that show need for mental health services and those that utilize mental health services in Nueces County(2023-09-19) Burks, Cherish; Gonzales, Dr. EIn 2020, a comprehensive behavioral health community assessment showed that Nueces County had an odd disparity between residents who utilized community mental health resources and residents who had need for mental health resources. This project proposes a descriptive cross-sectional survey of the residents of Nueces County to gather information on the community’s understanding and utilization of behavioral health services. understanding and utilization of behavioral health services. In the short-term, we aim to identify if social determinants of health, such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, access to health insurance, and annual income, impact understanding and/or utilization of behavioral health services. In the long-term, the goal of the project is to obtain information that can be utilized by stakeholders engaged in behavioral health for improving access and utilization of services. The survey was offered in high-traffic areas including, but limited to, health fairs, churches, community events, and on-campus events at TAMUCC and Del Mar. The data showed that it was more a lack of information that caused the need/usage disparity. With that in mind, the best course of action to reducing the need/usage disparity is making the local services offered in Nueces County more well-known and better available.Item Animal-assisted therapy in pediatric oncology: An integrative literature review(2022-04) Statzer, Emily; Anderson, Abby; Floores, Lauren; Medrano, Sarena; Greene, PamelaPediatric oncology patients face many new and uncomfortable experiences associated their treatment. These experiences can be overwhelming and frightening. Due to the nature and severity of oncology in pediatric patients and the treatment regimes, pediatric patients are at risk for developing anxiety, depression and other emotional as well as physical distress. Atraumatic care is a priority to counter the potential lasting trauma. Non-pharmacological interventions options are used to help pediatric patients cope with their treatment and hospitalization without adding to their list of medications. Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been implemented as a means of comfort, therapy, education, plan, and overall distraction. A comprehensive, integrative literature review was conducted. An evidence table was constructed to use in the analysis of the data found in current studies. The information from current studies was used to answer the question: In hos- pitalized pediatric oncology patients, how does animal assisted therapy compare to using other distractions in managing anxiety during hospitalizations? The findings from the research were analyzed and synthesized to answer the question and make recommendations. Findings confirmed the benefit of using ATT alone or in combination with other forms of distraction. Educating parents, patients, and healthcare providers on the benefit of Animal Assisted Therapy and advocating for its use is an effective way for nurses to provide holistic are and improve pediatric oncology patients’ overall hospital experience. ATT also is an effective intervention for reducing the long-term risks associated with trauma.Item Application of immersive VR system in the rehabilitation of ACL injuries(2022-04) Torres, Brian; Park, JangwoonAnterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are undoubtably some of the hardest injuries to recover from on the lower extremity. Patients report up to 75% degradation in knee quality of life within 20 years post-surgery, however, conventional rehabilitation methods are limited to non-immersive equipment and mostly unquantifiable data to track someone’s recovery progress. Those factors along with the extended recovery time of an ACL injury (8-12 Months) decrease the patient’s adherence to rehabilitation plans. The present study is intended to validate the use of a fully instrumented Bertec Corporation Treadmill along with an immersive virtual reality (VR) motion capture system, to enhance and objectify targeted feedback and biofeedback from motor control as well as sensorimotor performance data. The rehabilitation system components include three PCs which connect a large 270-degree screen, a projector, nine motion capture cameras, and a treadmill with arm supports and force plates. With such a system in place, the process of rehabilitating an ACL injury can be optimized and quantified using motion capture markers to measure range of motion (ROM) in a customizable environment that simultaneously activates sensorimotor functions in a patient by providing a fully immersive experience.Item Are you truly monolingual?(2023-08-29) Mings, Sofia; Moreno, MiguelRaise your hand if this sounds English, Which language is this? How did you guess that?Item Autonomous GPS ground vehicle navigation(2023-08-30) Mathew, MohitAutomation is a major part of today’s world, automation can potentially save both time and resources in this fast paced world. It took a while for automation to become a mainstream part of everyday life, and there were many small steps made towards this goal. Incremental step that we have made towards automating small tasks is a GPS guided unmanned ground vehicle that can eventually be the groundwork for automating many small monotonous tasks. Small ground vehicles can be an extremely dynamic tool in terms of automation. They can assist in hauling, gardening, gathering information, and etc.. There is a nearly limitless amount of tasks that a ground based drone can perform. There are a few setbacks though, how accurate the location system is, what algorithm it uses to move, and battery life. This study will test the accuracy of the drone as well as which algorithm works the best for a real drone. The goal of this paper is to find which algorithm works the best and how accurate is possible within these hardware limitations. The secondary goal is to be employed in farms as a small field hand noting occurrences in the fields. Eventually being outfitted with machine learning and a possible limb to allow for manipulation of its surroundings to allow for the drone to do tasks.Item Autonomous UAVs navigation considering fixed/moving obstacles and no-fly-zones(2023-08-29) Izzat Ullah, SyedDrones Everywhere..!!!, Background - Drones Control, Single-Drone, Autopilot System: Drones fly autonomously through the programmed route, operator monitoring the drone during the flight time, no knowledge of other drones --> Hence most susceptible to collisions!Item Beyond the writing: Students' perspectives of the CASA writing center(2023-08-30) Riojas, BrendaGraduate assistant experience, Dr. Murphy’s, “’Just Chuck It: I Mean, Don't Get Fixed On It’: Self Presentation in Writing Center Discourse”, Student confessionsItem Bottlenose dolphin (tursiops truncatus) spatial dispersion and orientation in pods(2022-04) Partin, Caitlynn; Orbach, Dara N.; Ramos, Eric Angel; Magnasco, Marcelo O.; Reiss, DianaBottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are commonly found in the waters of Turneffe Atoll, Belize, where they inhabit areas that vary in physical features. Variables such as water depth, prey abundance, and location are related to the spatial dispersion of bottlenose dolphins. The spatial dispersion (areas within a pod) and orientation (line abreast, parallel, scattered, facing inward) of bottlenose dolphin pods have yet to be examined in relation to pod size, substrate type, and behavioral state. We explore how abiotic and biotic factors may affect bottlenose dolphin movement. Video recordings of free-swimming bottlenose dolphins were taken by drone in Turneffe Atoll, Belize and transformed into a series of screenshots for data extraction. Pod size (3-15), substrate type (boundary, seagrass, mixed), and behavioral state (forage, social, rest, travel) were categorized from the screenshots. Spatial dispersion and orientation were measured in ImageJ and data were averaged per video. Spatial dispersion of dolphin pods was significantly related to pod size, substrate type, and behavioral state (F = 3.375, P < 0.05). Pods were most dispersed when engaged in social activities, suggesting frequent events of separation. When swimming over a mixed substrate, spatial dispersion was also high, potentially indicating a lack of predators or an abundance of non-schooling prey. Small pods (n < 15) showed low spatial dispersion, suggesting a potential defensive strategy against predators. Assessment of dolphin activity researched using non-invasive techniques yield insights to how dolphins use their habitat when exposed to minimal human encroachment.Item Bridged bis-bipyridinium-based amphiphiles for template-directed self-assembly(2022-04) Tran, Ha; Jakharia, Vandan; Olson, MarkAmphiphilic surfactants are the principal components of soaps and detergents which are responsible for their ability to lower the surface tension of water to and solubilize hydrophobic agents. Their actions in aqueous solutions are due, in part, to their ability to undergo a concentration dependent self-assembly process which leads to the formation of larger molecular ensembles called micelles. The self-assembly of these micellar aggre- gate superstructures is driven by the hydrophobic effect. In the case of charged amphiphiles, the size of the micelles formed is limited by the electrostatic repulsion that builds among contiguously assembled molecules that comprise the micelle itself. It is possible however to design amphiphile systems which employ molecular recognition motifs to order the self-assembly of molecules in a programmed manner. Towards this end, we have constructed a series of alkyl-bridged (5, 7, and 9 hydrocarbon chain) and glycol-bridged (tetraethylene glycol chain) bis-bipyridinium-based gemini amphiphiles. The bipyridinium units of these amphiphiles are strongly -electron deficient and can form donor-acceptor - stacked charge transfer (CT) complexes with -electron rich molecules in aqueous solution, in this case, the neurotransmitter melatonin. In this system, the -electron rich donor molecular template, melatonin, serves as “molecular glue”, capable of decreasing the electrostatic repulsion among the charged assembled amphiphiles. The addition of the melatonin molecular template to solutions of the bipyridinium-based amphiphiles resulted in: 1) the formation of larger micelles; 2) a more thermodynamically favorable self-assembly process; and 3) an overall increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of the amphiphile to lower the surface tension of water. This supramolecular system was characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and various 2D NMR techniques. The formation of CT complexes was confirmed by UV-Vis, 2D DOSY, and 2D ROESY NMR spectroscopies. This work augers well for further investigation into soft matter capable of undergoing template-directed self-assembly.Item Can a multi-metric bioassessment tool be used to assess faunal communities in tidal streams along the lower Texas coast?(2022-04) Neffinger, Lexie; Beseres Pollack, Jennifer; Palmer, Terry; Breaux, NatashaTidal streams are dynamic, transitional systems that provide key habitat to many ecologically and economically important species. Currently, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) monitors tidal streams in Texas using only physicochemical parameters and lacks a standardized biomonitoring protocol. To address this gap in management tools, a multi-metric index of biotic integrity (IBI) was created to assess the condition of tidal stream nekton and benthic macroinfauna assemblages along the lower Texas coast. By identifying biotic metrics that are differently sensitive to anthropogenic impairment, the IBI synthesizes complex biological data into a practical management tool. To create the IBI, 15 sites were classified as having high (reference) or low (test) anthropogenic impairment based on surrounding land-use land cover, watershed population density, and historical conventional parameter concentrations for each tidal stream. During 2020 and 2021, sites were sampled for nekton, via seine hauls, and benthic macroinfauna, via benthic cores. Water quality, conventional parameter, and habitat measurements were also assessed during these sampling periods. Results show distinction between reference and test communities based on multivariate analyses. IBI metrics were derived from historical IBI studies and community analyses based on their ability to discriminate between test and reference conditions. Selected metrics included abundance of certain nekton taxa, abundance and biomass of benthic macroinfauna taxa, measures of diversity, and faunal functional groups. Refinements to the IBI should consider further regionalization based on coastal climate zone, assessing multiple sites per stream along the upstream-downstream salinity gradient, and incorporating long- term monitoring data. Once validated, the tidal IBI will enhance the TCEQ’s monitoring and management program by providing a standardized protocol to evaluate the biological communities in tidal streams and identify areas most in need of management attention.Item Can a would-be predator itself become a prey?(2022-04) Kohne-Sanchez, Amerika; Shankara Narayana Rao, Bheemaiah VeenaThe cyclical relationship of the Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model is a critical base component for expansion in the research field of mathematical modeling. Our study focusses on a species relationship, the blue striped fang blenny, and the lizardfish, that has not yet been analyzed in this capacity. Fang blenny are interesting as they have a distinct character of changing colors and are able to mimic different species of fish by changing color. Fang blenny as a predator mimics harmless cleaner wrasse, consumes a bite from its larger prey and retreats the safety of its den. Unfortunately for the Fang blenny, the lizardfish is not fooled, and a would-be predator can itself become the prey. This species relationship is being observed through modeling.Item Carbonate chemistry trends in the northwestern gulf of Mexico(2022-04) Kumbula, Nicole; Hu, XinpingHumans over the years have contributed to the changes in sea water chemistry. These changes stem from human caused carbon dioxide (CO2) releasing activities related to burning of fossil fuels, cement production, and land use changes associated with agricultural activities among others. From the beginning of the industrial revolution atmospheric CO2 has increased from 280 ppm to the current 419 ppm. In the same period, global oceans have taken in 30% of the global emissions as dissolved CO2 therefore playing a role in climate change mitigation. Increase in dissolved CO2 causes ocean acidification (OA). In the northwestern Gulf of Mexico (nwGOM), a decadal acidification has been observed in the shelf-slope region. For coastal areas the short term and long-term changes in the carbonate chemistry vary by location and can be influenced by river input, water stratification, ocean currents, and biogeochemical processes (photosynthesis, respiration, carbonate formation and dissolution). Despite its ecological and economic significance, the Gulf of Mexico and its current OA conditions are still misunderstood. This preliminary master’s thesis research will focus on spatial and temporal changes of carbonate chemistry trends of the nwGOM with a goal to understand the regions carbon dioxide sequestration over the past 5-10 years. Open access data from the Gulf of Mexico and East Coast Carbon (GOMECC) cruises-2007, 2012, 2017 and 2021 have been employed to explore this question. These expeditions have supplied comprehensive measurements of all primary inorganic carbon system parameters in these coastal waters. In addition, automated devices such as gliders equipped with sensors also collected additional measurements.