APeX 2022-2023

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/12061

This collection gathers recordings and materials presented as part of the 2022-2023 APeX Lecture Series

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    Feasibility of Virtual and In-Person Qigong for Cancer Caregivers during COVID-19 Pandemic
    (2023-03-29) Shani, Pinky
    In the United States, there are approximately 43.5 million caregivers providing greater than 40 hours of home care per week. Cancer caregiving can cause signi cant distress leading to lower quality of life and this burden has increased during the pandemic. Research has not evaluated the virtual delivery of mind-body programs for caregivers. This presentation will focus on preliminary ndings of a randomized clinical trial evaluating the feasibility of a popular mind-body intervention, Qigong, among caregivers. Evidence supports that Qigong in groups can improve physical and emotional health in diverse populations. In this study, caregivers (n=47) were randomized into one of three, 12-week programs: (1) in-person; (2) internet-based modules supplemented with one-on-one virtual learning support; or (3) a self-care group. Outcomes include quality of life, distress, perceived social support, physical and cognitive function at 12 weeks and 6 months. Participants completing the Qiqong intervention (in-person or virtual) during the pandemic had higher adherence rates (class attendance and home practice) than those who attended pre-pandemic. Caregivers receiving the virtual intervention during the pandemic had decreased burden and improved quality of life. This study highlights the importance of addressing caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and supports use of virtual interventions for this underrepresented population.
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    Supporting and Developing Future Scholars, Practitioners through Collaborative Leadership: Examining Critical Strategies of Social Justice to Meet Individual Needs through a Holistic Approach
    (2023-02-22) Johnson, Detra
    My research is primarily guided by sociological theories and understandings of education but is also informed by specific theoretical and conceptual frameworks including ecological systems theory, cultural competence, internationality, and resiliency. The research questions that I answer are best explored using multiple research methods and research designs such as qualitative methods (e.g., narrative inquiry, case study, auto-ethnography) and quantitative methods (e.g., descriptive and correlational statistics). To date, I have examined and investigated social justice issues in three areas: educational disparities, educational leadership (teacher and administrators), and diversity, equity, and inclusion. My scholarship, teaching, and service aligns with my research agenda that intersects with social justice practices to address systematic and institutionalized issues in PK-20 learning environments. Through the intersections of my research, teaching and service, my work informs our educational institutions of how to address social justice issues resulting from systemic and institutionalized disparities in PK-20 schools.
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    Tracking and Defining Mortality Associated with Homelessness in Harris County, 2009-2021: A Collaboration Between Public Health and Community Programs
    (2023-01-25) King, Ben
    In January of 2020, there were 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in the United States. Due to a web of risk factors, individuals who experience homelessness have dramatically higher mortality rates. Though homelessness remains a persistent issue in the U.S., few studies have been conducted to examine the causes of death in the homeless population beyond isolated urban communities, making it difficult to generalize findings. This failure leads to a lack of prevention programs targeted on the unique health conditions, social and environmental exposures experienced by those experiencing homelessness in Harris County.
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    Understanding and Controlling Microbial Persisters
    (2022-10-26) Orman, Mehmet
    Our bodies have trillions more microbial cells than human cells. Although most of these microorganisms are symbiotic and harmless, and play crucial roles in our health, some of them are pathogenic and can survive asymptomatically for a long time without proliferating. Due to their transient non-growing state, these pathogens can regain the ability to initiate cell growth, controlled by a phenotypic switch that is poorly understood, and establish cell populations that can cause diseases. My research group aims to characterize the microbial phenotypes that exist in a transient, growth-inhibited state. These so-called persister cells can survive high concentrations of antibiotics due to their growth-inhibited state. Antibiotic failure is a growing concern worldwide, and persister cells significantly contribute to this problem, as they can promote the emergence of antibiotic-resistant mutants and facilitate the recurrence of microbial infections. A fundamental understanding of the molecular make-up of persister cells will facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Therefore, a major goal of my research is to study their physiology: the metabolite, RNA, and protein contents that allow them to tolerate extraordinary concentrations of drugs.
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    Trump vs. Fox News: How Elite Press Attacks Reshape the Partisan Media Landscape
    (2022-09-28) Archer, Allison
    Individuals seeking partisan news face a variety of options in the current media landscape, yet research provides little evidence regarding the conditions under which they become more or less open to different co-partisan outlets. I argue that elite rhetoric plays an important role in this process and focus specifically on Donald Trump’s critiques of Fox News and promotion of far-right alternatives. I  first conduct a content analysis of Trump’s tweets from 2017-2020 and  find that he increasingly attacked Fox News, a trend that correlates with decreases in Fox’s daytime and primetime ratings. Two survey experiments further examine how partisans respond to this rhetoric. I  find Trump’s attacks significantly change partisan’s perceptions of Fox. Notably, Trump’s critiques of Fox and promotion of an extreme alternative undermine Republicans’ willingness to consume Fox vis-à-vis OANN. The results highlight the strength of individuals’ loyalty to party leader over co-partisan media and suggest elite attacks have fueled increasing partisan media competition.