UTSA Libraries and Museums

Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12588/16

UTSA Libraries and Museums advance research and education, stimulate discovery and creativity, and engage and transform our diverse communities by providing distinctive expertise, high-quality information resources, inspirational spaces, and innovative and responsive services.

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A Review of Research on Mathematics Teacher Educator Knowledge: Mapping the Terrain
(2024-07-25) Castro Superfine, Alison; Olanoff, Dana; Welder, Rachael M.; Prasad, Priya V.
Over the past two decades, the landscape of research on mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) has grown considerably. One particular area of interest has focused on MTE knowledge and the ways in which it is developed and used in teaching practice. However, studies have conceptualized MTE knowledge in different ways and have employed considerably different methodologies and approaches to its study. In an effort to understand this varied landscape, we conducted an extensive review of research on the nature and development of MTE knowledge. This review provides a broad descriptive analysis of the existing theoretical and empirical research on MTEs’ knowledge, explores the theoretical underpinnings of the existing frameworks for and studies on MTE knowledge, and considers implications for future research.
A Scoping Review on Gender/Sex Differences in COVID-19 Vaccine Intentions and Uptake in the United States
(SAGE Publications, 2023-10-17) Sileo, Katelyn M.; Hirani, Inara M.; Luttinen, Rebecca L.; Hayward, Matt; Fleming, Paul J.
Objective: To explore the empirical literature on gender/sex differences in vaccine acceptance among U.S.-based adults and adolescents in approximately the first 2 years of the pandemic. Data source: Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, EBSCO, CINAHL, Web of Science Study inclusion and exclusion criteria: Peer-reviewed studies conducted in the U.S. with those aged 12 and older, published in English before January 12, 2022, examining the relationship between gender/sex on COVID-19 vaccine intentions and/or uptake. Data extraction: Three authors screened studies and extracted data. Data Synthesis: Univariate and multivariate results are summarized. Results: A total of 53 studies met inclusion criteria (48 intentions, 7 uptake), using mostly cross-sectional designs (92.5%) and non-random sampling (83.0%). The majority of studies supported men’s greater intentions to vaccinate compared to women, and men’s greater vaccine uptake in univariate analyses, but most multivariate analyses supported no gender differences in uptake. Few studies examined gender beyond binary categories (women/men), highlighting a gap in the studies inclusive of transgender or gender-diverse populations in analyses. Conclusion: Women may have been more hesitant to get the vaccine than men early in the pandemic, but these differences may not translate to actual behavior. Future research should include non-binary/transgender populations, explore the gender-specific reasons for hesitancy and differences by sub-populations, utilize more rigorous designs, and test gender-sensitive public health campaigns to mitigate vaccine concerns.
Alternative Treatments to Exercise for the Attenuation of Disuse-Induced Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in Rats
(2024-07-22) Park, Jinho; Symons, T. Brock; Kwon, Eun Hye; Chung, Eunhee; Lee, Sukho
The prevalence of skeletal muscle atrophy, caused by disease and aging, is rising as life expectancy increases. Exercise is the most effective treatment option; however, it is often impractical for individuals suffering from disease or bedridden. The formulation of non-exercise-based interventions is necessary. This study assessed the impact of acupuncture (AC), electro-acupuncture (EA), and electrical stimulation (ES) on muscle mass and contractile properties in a model of casting-induced muscle atrophy. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40) were assigned to five groups: control (CON), cast (CT), cast receiving AC (CT-AC), cast receiving EA (CT-EA), and cast receiving ES (CT-ES) (n = 8 each). Treatments were 15 min and three times/week for 14 days. Contractile properties and protein markers of atrophy and inflammation were measured. Casting decreased muscle mass and fiber cross-sectional area, but AC, EA, and ES attenuated cast-induced muscle atrophy. All treatments increased peak twitch tension compared to CT. CT increased the protein levels of MAFbx and MuRF1, while AC, EA, and ES mitigated the elevation of these proteins. Our results indicate that acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and electrical stimulation show promise as therapeutic strategies to counteract skeletal muscle loss and dysfunction resulting from disuse atrophy caused by injury, disease, and aging.
Alzheimer’s Amyloid Hypothesis and Antibody Therapy: Melting Glaciers?
(2024-03-31) Høilund-Carlsen, Poul F.; Alavi, Abass; Castellani, Rudolph J.; Neve, Rachael L.; Perry, George; Revheim, Mona-Elisabeth; Barrio, Jorge R.
The amyloid cascade hypothesis for Alzheimer’s disease is still alive, although heavily challenged. Effective anti-amyloid immunotherapy would confirm the hypothesis’ claim that the protein amyloid-beta is the cause of the disease. Two antibodies, aducanumab and lecanemab, have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, while a third, donanemab, is under review. The main argument for the FDA approvals is a presumed therapy-induced removal of cerebral amyloid deposits. Lecanemab and donanemab are also thought to cause some statistical delay in the determination of cognitive decline. However, clinical efficacy that is less than with conventional treatment, selection of amyloid-positive trial patients with non-specific amyloid-PET imaging, and uncertain therapy-induced removal of cerebral amyloids in clinical trials cast doubt on this anti-Alzheimer’s antibody therapy and hence on the amyloid hypothesis, calling for a more thorough investigation of the negative impact of this type of therapy on the brain.
Alzheimer's Amyloid Hypothesis and Antibody Therapy: Melting Glaciers?
(2024-03-31) Høilund-Carlsen, Poul F.; Alavi, Abass; Castellani, Rudolph J.; Neve, Rachael L.; Perry, George; Revheim, Mona-Elisabeth; Barrio, Jorge R.
The amyloid cascade hypothesis for Alzheimer’s disease is still alive, although heavily challenged. Effective anti-amyloid immunotherapy would confirm the hypothesis’ claim that the protein amyloid-beta is the cause of the disease. Two antibodies, aducanumab and lecanemab, have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, while a third, donanemab, is under review. The main argument for the FDA approvals is a presumed therapy-induced removal of cerebral amyloid deposits. Lecanemab and donanemab are also thought to cause some statistical delay in the determination of cognitive decline. However, clinical efficacy that is less than with conventional treatment, selection of amyloid-positive trial patients with non-specific amyloid-PET imaging, and uncertain therapy-induced removal of cerebral amyloids in clinical trials cast doubt on this anti-Alzheimer’s antibody therapy and hence on the amyloid hypothesis, calling for a more thorough investigation of the negative impact of this type of therapy on the brain.
An Iterative Procurement Combinatorial Auction Mechanism for the Multi-Item, Multi-Sourcing Supplier-Selection and Order-Allocation Problem under a Flexible Bidding Language and Price-Sensitive Demand
(2024-07-17) Abbaas, Omar; Ventura, Jose A.
This study addresses the multi-item, multi-sourcing supplier-selection and order-allocation problem. We propose an iterative procurement combinatorial auction mechanism that aims to reveal the suppliers’ minimum acceptable selling prices and assign orders optimally. Suppliers use a flexible bidding language to submit procurement bids. The buyer solves a Mixed Integer Non-linear Programming (MINLP) model to determine the winning bids for the current auction iteration. We introduce a buyer’s profit-improvement factor that constrains the suppliers to reduce their selling prices in subsequent bids. Moreover, this factor enables the buyer to strike a balance between computational effort and optimality gap. We develop a separate MINLP model for updating the suppliers’ bids while satisfying the buyer’s profit-improvement constraint. If none of the suppliers can find a feasible solution, the buyer reduces the profit-improvement factor until a pre-determined threshold is reached. A randomly generated numerical example is used to illustrate the proposed mechanism. In this example, the buyer’s profit improved by as much as 118% compared to a single-round auction. The experimental results show that the proposed mechanism is most effective in competitive environments with several suppliers and comparable costs. These results reinforce the importance of fostering competition and diversification in a supply chain.
An analysis of bibliometric indicators, National Institutes of Health funding, and faculty size at Association of American Medical Colleges medical schools, 1997–2007
(Medical Library Association, 2008-10) Hendrix, Dean
Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze bibliometric data from ISI, National Institutes of Health (NIH)–funding data, and faculty size information for Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) member schools during 1997 to 2007 to assess research productivity and impact. Methods: This study gathered and synthesized 10 metrics for almost all AAMC medical schools (n = 123): (1) total number of published articles per medical school, (2) total number of citations to published articles per medical school, (3) average number of citations per article, (4) institutional impact indices, (5) institutional percentages of articles with zero citations, (6) annual average number of faculty per medical school, (7) total amount of NIH funding per medical school, (8) average amount of NIH grant money awarded per faculty member, (9) average number of articles per faculty member, and (10) average number of citations per faculty member. Using principal components analysis, the author calculated the relationships between measures, if they existed. Results: Principal components analysis revealed 3 major clusters of variables that accounted for 91% of the total variance: (1) institutional research productivity, (2) research influence or impact, and (3) individual faculty research productivity. Depending on the variables in each cluster, medical school research may be appropriately evaluated in a more nuanced way. Significant correlations exist between extracted factors, indicating an interrelatedness of all variables. Total NIH funding may relate more strongly to the quality of the research than the quantity of the research. The elimination of medical schools with outliers in 1 or more indicators (n = 20) altered the analysis considerably. Conclusions: Though popular, ordinal rankings cannot adequately describe the multidimensional nature of a medical school's research productivity and impact. This study provides statistics that can be used in conjunction with other sound methodologies to provide a more authentic view of a medical school's research. The large variance of the collected data suggests that refining bibliometric data by discipline, peer groups, or journal information may provide a more precise assessment.
Analysis of the Skin and Brain Transcriptome of Normally Pigmented and Pseudo-Albino Southern Flounder (Paralichthys lethostigma) Juveniles to Study the Molecular Mechanisms of Hypopigmentation and Its Implications for Species Survival in the Natural Environment
(2024-07-16) Blandon, Ivonne R.; DiBona, Elizabeth; Battenhouse, Anna; Vargas, Sean; Mace, Christopher; Seemann, Frauke
Southern flounder skin pigmentation is a critical phenotypic characteristic for this species’ survival in the natural environment. Normal pigmentation allows rapid changes of color for concealment to capture prey and UV light protection. In contrast, highly visible hypopigmented pseudo-albinos exhibit a compromised immune system and are vulnerable to predation, sensitive to UV exposure, and likely have poor survival in the wild. Skin and brain tissue samples from normally pigmented and hypopigmented individuals were analyzed with next-generation RNA sequencing. A total of 1,589,613 transcripts were used to identify 952,825 genes to assemble a de novo transcriptome, with 99.43% of genes mapped to the assembly. Differential gene expression and gene enrichment analysis of contrasting tissues and phenotypes revealed that pseudo-albino individuals appeared more susceptible to environmental stress, UV light exposure, hypoxia, and osmotic stress. The pseudo-albinos’ restricted immune response showed upregulated genes linked to cancer development, signaling and response, skin tissue formation, regeneration, and healing. The data indicate that a modified skin collagen structure likely affects melanocyte differentiation and distribution, generating the pseudo-albino phenotype. In addition, the comparison of the brain transcriptome revealed changes in myelination and melanocyte stem cell activity, which may indicate modified brain function, reduced melanocyte migration, and impaired vision.
Board Exam Test Prep: A Survey of SCAMeL Library Resources
(2017-10) Johnson, Emily; Amen, Brook
Purpose: The purpose of this survey is to evaluate what board exam question banks, if any, SCAMeL member libraries subscribe to and if these resources are being utilized by their campuses. Participants: Participants were members of the SCAMeL collection development group. SCAMeL consists of 17 academic health science libraries in the South Central region. We requested that one representative from each institution respond to the survey. Methodology: SCAMeL library collection development representatives were emailed a link to the survey on June 7, 2017. The survey consisted of 16 multiple choice and free text questions and was created using Qualtrics. The survey remained active until 5:00 PM CST on June 30, 2017.
Cambridge Structural Database (WebCSD)
(Issues in Science & Technology Librarianship, 2019-08-20) Hayward, Matt
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Associated with Magnesium and Vitamin D Nutrients during Pregnancy—A Narrative Review
(2024-08-09) Naowar, Maisha; Dickton, Darby; Francis, Jimi
This narrative review comprehensively explores the cardiometabolic implications of two vital nutrients, magnesium and vitamin D, during gestation. Magnesium, a key regulator of vascular tone, glucose metabolism, and insulin sensitivity, plays a crucial role in mitigating gestational hypertension and diabetes, a point this review underscores. Conversely, vitamin D, critical for immune response and calcium level maintenance, is linked to gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The authors aim to enhance comprehension of the complex interaction between these nutrients and cardiometabolic function in pregnancy, knowledge that is pivotal for optimizing maternal–fetal outcomes. The mother’s health during pregnancy significantly influences the long-term development of the fetus. Recognizing the impact of these nutrient deficiencies on the physiology of cardiometabolic cycles underscores the importance of adequate nutritional support during pregnancy. It also emphasizes the pressing need for future research and targeted interventions to alleviate the burden of pregnancy complications, highlighting the crucial role of healthcare professionals, researchers, and policy makers in obstetrics and gynecology in this endeavor.
Characterization of Trabecular Bone Microarchitecture and Mechanical Properties Using Bone Surface Curvature Distributions
(2024-08-22) Xiao, Pengwei; Schilling, Caroline; Wang, Xiaodu
Understanding bone surface curvatures is crucial for the advancement of bone material design, as these curvatures play a significant role in the mechanical behavior and functionality of bone structures. Previous studies have demonstrated that bone surface curvature distributions could be used to characterize bone geometry and have been proposed as key parameters for biomimetic microstructure design and optimization. However, understanding of how bone surface curvature distributions correlate with bone microstructure and mechanical properties remains limited. This study hypothesized that bone surface curvature distributions could be used to predict the microstructure as well as mechanical properties of trabecular bone. To test the hypothesis, a convolutional neural network (CNN) model was trained and validated to predict the histomorphometric parameters (e.g., BV/TV, BS, Tb.Th, DA, Conn.D, and SMI), geometric parameters (e.g., plate area PA, plate thickness PT, rod length RL, rod diameter RD, plate-to-plate nearest neighbor distance NND_PP, rod-to-rod nearest neighbor distance NND_RR, plate number PN, and rod number RN), as well as the apparent stiffness tensor of trabecular bone using various bone surface curvature distributions, including maximum principal curvature distribution, minimum principal curvature distribution, Gaussian curvature distribution, and mean curvature distribution. The results showed that the surface curvature distribution-based deep learning model achieved high fidelity in predicting the major histomorphometric parameters and geometric parameters as well as the stiffness tenor of trabecular bone, thus supporting the hypothesis of this study. The findings of this study underscore the importance of incorporating bone surface curvature analysis in the design of synthetic bone materials and implants.
Come together: Engaging campus partners to respond to OER and textbook legislation in Texas
(2022-10) Louis, Lisa; Davis, Sabrina; Ivie, DeeAnn
Numerous pieces of legislation around textbooks, OER, and inclusive access have been passed across the United States the past few years. In Texas, SB 810-focused on transparency around OER-was passed in 2017. In 2021, Texas passed HB 1027, mandating transparency around inclusive access programs. In this panel discussion Texas Digital Library OER Ambassadors will share experiences working with their respective campus partners to implement practical and innovative solutions in response to this legislation. This panel will have a special focus on the innovative sleuthing and problem-solving necessary to craft frameworks supporting these mandates. Librarians will also shed light on the practical mechanics necessary for setting textbook legislation into motion at Texas institutions, including ensuring representation of critical players on system-wide and institutional task forces and highlighting virtues of the legislation in conversations with campus partners. The Texas Digital Library (TDL) is a collaborative consortium based in Texas and rooted in higher education. Texas Digital Library builds capacity among its membership for ensuring equitable access to and preservation of digital content of value to research, instruction, cultural heritage, and institutional memory. In 2020, TDL expanded its services to include support for Open Educational Resources (OER). Charged with developing a Community of Practice, TDL's OER Ambassador program provides a forum for member libraries to discuss and share challenges and achievements around OER initiatives that impact student success, retention, graduation rates, and the cost of higher education for college students in Texas. By attending this session, attendees will be able to: 1. Create a game-plan to support cross-campus collaboration in support of legislative mandates around OER and textbooks 2. Leverage OER and textbook legislation to help improve the campus experience for students 3. Connect with campus partners to navigate complex technological and infrastructure challenges posed by legislative mandates around OER and textbooks
Computer Vision for Safety Management in the Steel Industry
(2024-07-19) Lan, Roy; Awolusi, Ibukun; Cai, Jiannan
The complex nature of the steel manufacturing environment, characterized by different types of hazards from materials and large machinery, makes the need for objective and automated monitoring very critical to replace the traditional methods, which are manual and subjective. This study explores the feasibility of implementing computer vision for safety management in steel manufacturing, with a case study implementation for automated hard hat detection. The research combines hazard characterization, technology assessment, and a pilot case study. First, a comprehensive review of steel manufacturing hazards was conducted, followed by the application of TOPSIS, a multi-criteria decision analysis method, to select a candidate computer vision system from eight commercially available systems. This pilot study evaluated YOLOv5m, YOLOv8m, and YOLOv9c models on 703 grayscale images from a steel mini-mill, assessing performance through precision, recall, F1-score, mAP, specificity, and AUC metrics. Results showed high overall accuracy in hard hat detection, with YOLOv9c slightly outperforming others, particularly in detecting safety violations. Challenges emerged in handling class imbalance and accurately identifying absent hard hats, especially given grayscale imagery limitations. Despite these challenges, this study affirms the feasibility of computer vision-based safety management in steel manufacturing, providing a foundation for future automated safety monitoring systems. Findings underscore the need for larger, diverse datasets and advanced techniques to address industry-specific complexities, paving the way for enhanced workplace safety in challenging industrial environments.
Cultural Bounty: The Beckstead, Lerma, Annala collection
(2024) Almeida, Arturo
UTSA Arts, in partnership with the UTSA Libraries and the UTSA School of Art, proudly presents "Cultural Bounty: The Beckstead-Lerma-Annala Collection," an exhibition that will run for a limited time from August 1 to November 2, 2024. This showcase features 48 selected works from a generous donation by Alan Craig Beckstead, Danny Lerma, and Stephen Alexander Annala to the UTSA Art Collection and the Arturo Infante Almeida UTSA Art Collection Endowment. Visitors will have the unique opportunity to view pieces by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Longo, Robert Mapplethorpe, Richard Armendariz, Sara VanDerBeek and Caroline Korbell Carrington alongside an array of works by emerging and established local talents. The collection represents a rich tapestry of artistic expression, capturing the cultural and aesthetic diversity that defines San Antonio's art scene. This exhibition celebrates the generosity of Beckstead, Lerma, and Annala and underscores the university’s commitment to enhancing its cultural resources. The collaboration between UTSA Arts and UTSA Libraries in organizing this event reflects a shared mission to enrich San Antonians' educational experience.
Differential Reinforcement without Extinction: An Assessment of Sensitivity to and Effects of Reinforcer Parameter Manipulations
(2024-06-28) MacNaul, Hannah; Cividini-Motta, Catia; Randall, Kayla
Although functional communication training (FCT) usually includes extinction, withholding reinforcement is not possible or ethical with certain individuals, for some topographies of problem behavior, or in certain contexts. The current study evaluates the effects of two variations of FCT, both without extinction, on problem behavior and communication. Further, the intervention procedures were designed to evaluate participant reactivity to reinforcer parameters (e.g., magnitude, delay, and quality) in the context of the FCT variations. The parameter sensitivity assessments were effective at identifying relevant reinforcer parameters for each participant and both FCT interventions were effective in decreasing problem behavior and increasing communication for all participants. The results demonstrated that FCT was effective regardless of which reinforcer parameter was manipulated. Moreover, all sessions were conducted in participants’ homes and caregivers reported high degrees of social validity for the intervention procedures and outcomes.
Episode 1: Preserving the ITC's treasured collections
(University Office of Strategic Communications, 2024-05-23) Elizondo, John; Perales, Monica
The ITC's history in San Antonio runs deep -- in fact, many of us have vivid childhood memories exploring the facility and exhibits from our K-12 school years. In the series opener, Monica Perales, ITC associate vice provost, will discuss the role the museum plays in collecting, preserving and sharing the state's diverse cultural history. Take a peek at what's in store for the museum as it prepares to move to its new temporary space in Frost Tower, located in the heart of San Antonio.
Episode 2: The role of Tier One museums and libraries
(University Office of Strategic Communications, 2024-05-28) Elizondo, John; Hendrix, Dean
How do great museums and libraries support great cities and research universities? Explore this and other topics with Dean Hendrix, vice provost of the UTSA Libraries and University Librarian. Listen as Hendrix describes the relationship between the ITC and UTSA, shares the many opportunities that academic libraries and museums offer their communities, and imagines the potential of the ITC to reach learners of all ages in Texas and beyond.
Episode 3: Building a world-class museum for San Antonio
(University Office of Strategic Communication, 2024-05-30) Elizondo, John; Shipley, Heather
How can the ITC attract world-class exhibits to San Antonio? How can it inspire the next generation of storytellers? Join ITC: Museum of the Future as UTSA Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Heather Shipley explores the benefits of building an American Alliance of Museums-accredited museum in San Antonio.
Evolution Characteristics of Meteorological and Hydrological Drought in an Arid Oasis of Northwest China
(2024-07-24) Dan, Yier; Tian, Hao; Farid, Muhammad Arsalan; Yang, Guang; Li, Xiaolong; Li, Pengfei; Gao, Yongli; He, Xinlin; Li, Fadong; Liu, Bing; Li, Yi
In the context of global warming, the acceleration of the water cycle increases the risk of meteorological drought (MD) and hydrological drought (HD) in the arid region of Northwest China. The Manas River Basin is a typical agricultural oasis and the largest oasis farming area in Xinjiang, Northwest China. Droughts in this basin have significant implications for both agricultural production and the livelihoods of inhabitants. To evaluate the MD and HD and provide information for drought relief in the MRB, the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and standardized runoff index (SRI) were calculated using long-term rainfall and runoff data. Subsequently, combined with ArcGIS 10.3 software and the trend analysis method, the SPEI and SRI characteristics were evaluated at different time scales (1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month). There were three main findings. First, both MD and HD were alleviated, with significantly more HD alleviation. MDs in spring and autumn exhibited a trend of aggravation. The SRIs in summer, autumn, and winter increased significantly at a confidence level of p < 0.01, with an insignificant decline in spring. In the 2010s, the frequency of light drought of MD was stable at 10% to 20%, while severe and extreme droughts increased. The frequency of HDs has decreased since the 1990s. Second, on annual and seasonal scales, MDs occurred mainly as light and moderate droughts. The highest frequency of MD was 24% of moderate droughts in winter. Spatially, the northern region of the MRB was characterized by more frequent light and extreme droughts. Third, runoff in the Manas River Basin increased significantly during the 1990s, which may have been related to the acceleration of glacial retreat in the Tianshan Mountains. This study can effectively reveal the changes in meteorological and hydrological drought in NWC and provide the basis for risk decision-making and management for watershed managers.

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