The Middle Cenomanian Woodbine sandstones act as a major reservoir system for many large oil fields throughout East Texas. Although numerous studies have been completed on Woodbine outcrops within DFW Metroplex, none have used modern techniques or tools, or utilized facies model concepts to study their reservoir characteristics or environment of deposition. Prior studies interpreted these outcrops as a shelf-strandplain coastal setting or a fluvial-dominated delta plain. However, this study of Woodbine outcrops along Lake Grapevine identified evidence of significant tidal influence.
The focus of this project was to determine the depositional environment and obtain a better understanding of the reservoir characteristics of the upper Woodbine (Lewisville) sandstones found in outcrop along the southeastern shores of Lake Grapevine in Tarrant County, TX. A detailed study of the lithofacies, ichnofacies, and biofacies, along with handheld spectral gamma ray and permeameter analyses, from 8 measured sections were conducted to identify representative lithofacies. Oversized thin-sections were made to estimate porosity ranges for each lithofacies, and to identify the types and extent of cement in the sandstones. Photomosaics were utilized to delineate sand body geometries by tracing out the lateral extent of the units and identifying significant surfaces and potential fluid barriers or baffles.
Seven lithofacies were distinguished in the outcrops of the study area: Bioclastic, massive bioturbated sandstone, mudstone, heterolithic sandstone and mudstone, crossbedded sandstone, flaser-bedded sandstone, and cemented sandstone. Two of the most common and laterally continuous lithofacies, the massive bioturbated and crossbedded sandstones, also had the best reservoir characteristics, with average porosities of 26% and 27%, and average measured permeabilities of 6,300 mD and 10,700 mD, respectively. The lower permeabilities in the massive bioturbated sandstone are related to clay-rimmed burrows. The bioclastic, mudstone, and cemented sandstone lithofacies are potential barriers to fluid flow, as they all have low porosities (less than 2%) and permeabilities (less than 200 mD).
The data acquired during this study were all consistent with an interpretation of a tidally-influenced estuarine to shallow marine depositional environment for the upper Woodbine in the study area, which differs from previous studies. The high abundance of trace fossils that are commonly found in tidally-influenced depositional systems, including Conichnus/Bergaueria, Cylindrichnus, Planolites, Palaeophycus, Rosselia, Rusophycus, Skolithos, and Thalassinoides, coupled with the presence of heterolithic deposits and common oyster shells led to this interpretation.
This study is the first to analyze outcrops of the Lewisville (upper Woodbine) sandstones in their type area specifically for their reservoir characteristics, and to document tidal influences during deposition. Considering the considerable volumes of hydrocarbons that have been produced from the Woodbine in the adjacent East Texas Basin, this study could provide valuable data for building reservoir models of upper Woodbine sandstones for both hydrocarbon production and potential CO2 sequestration.

PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF FOOD INSECURITY AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

Maddie Jacobs; Gina Hill, PhD, RD, LD; Kelly Fisher, DCN, RD, LD; Kristi Jarman, PhD

Background - The USDA defines food insecurity (FI) as when individuals lack the resources to obtain food in socially acceptable ways. According to the USDA, 10.2% of the U.S. population was food insecure in 2021. According to current literature, university campuses have an average of 36% FI. There are limited studies regarding FI at private universities, likely because FI is assumed to be low.

Objective – This study aimed to identify the rate and distribution of FI at a private university in North Texas and to analyze the demographic, socio-economic, and other factors associated with FI among college students.

Design – In this cross-sectional study, participants completed a one-time online survey.

Methods – The survey included sociodemographic questions and the validated USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module to measure FI status among current university students >18 years of age. Ordinal logistic regression, based on the Proportional Odds model, was conducted to determine the association between FI and sociodemographic variables.

Results – The majority of participants were white (82%, n=288), non-Hispanic (83%, n=293), and women (77%, n=271) with a mean age of 22.5±6.6. Of the 353 participants in the study, 22.4% (n=79) were classified as food insecure and 9.6% (n=34) were classified as having very low food security with evidence of reduced intake and disrupted eating patterns. Participants who were underclassmen (p=0.029), receiving more financial aid (p=0.016), international (p=0.081), Hispanic/Latinx (p=0.478), and older (p=0.283) were more likely to have greater FI. Among the food insecure participants, 30.4% (n=24) were aware of resources to obtain food on or near campus.

Conclusions - More research is needed regarding FI at private universities. However, this study provides sufficient data to take action to address FI by means of advocacy, dissemination of resource information, and the addition of new resources, such as an on-campus food pantry.

Background: Eating disorders (EDs) can lead to decreased quality of life (QOL), medical complications, and death, with the second highest mortality rate of all mental illnesses. ED treatment can include psychologists, registered dietitians (RD), and/or physicians. Insufficient research exists regarding RDs’ effects on ED treatment.
Objective: Describe the impact of RDs on ED treatment and QOL.
Design: A cross-sectional sample of participants with a history of ED completed a one-time, online survey.
Methods: Healthcare providers were emailed with recruitment materials for clients >18 years. Survey included demographic, validated Eating Disorder Quality of Life scale (EDQOL), and RD effects and helpfulness questions. In SPSS, paired t-test was used to assess QOL post-treatment for RD vs non-RD groups, plus effect size. Independent-samples t-tests were used to compare post-treatment QOL scores and mean differences in pre- and post-treatment QOL scores for RD vs non-RD groups. Using conventional qualitative analysis, narrative responses to the question “How has working with a registered dietitian (RD) affected your eating disorder recovery?” were coded by two researchers separately, then consensus was reached for final themes.
Results: Participants (n=70) were 87.1% (n=61) white, 90% (n=63) female, and RD treatment group (n=60). Most participants had positive perceptions of RD impact on ED recovery and described RDs as helpful, supportive educators. Over 62% of participants (n=35) reported that the RD helped reduce disordered eating behaviors a great deal/a lot. Statistically significant improvement in QOL after treatment existed for both RD treatment (-22.68, n=56, p < 0.001) and non-RD treatment groups (-14.9, n=10, p=0.008), without a significant difference between groups (p=0.193).
Conclusions: Results suggest RDs contribute to certain aspects of recovery. Participants reported that RDs helped decrease ED behaviors, shame, and meal skipping. Future research needs include the effects of RDs on ED treatment in larger, diverse samples.

A novel approach is presented that increases sensitivity and specificity for detecting minimal traces of DNA in liquid and on solid samples. Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) from YOYO to Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) substantially increases signal from DNA bound EtBr highly enhancing sensitivity and specificity for DNA detection. The long fluorescence lifetime of the EtBr acceptor, when bound to DNA, allows for multi-pulse pumping with time gated (MPPTG) detection, which highly increases the detectable signal of DNA bound EtBr. A straightforward spectra/image subtraction eliminates sample back-ground and allows for a huge increase in the overall detection sensitivity. Using a combination of FRET and MPPTG detection an amount as small as 10 pg of DNA in a microliter sample can be detected without any additional sample purification/manipulation or use of amplification technologies. This amount of DNA is comparable to the DNA content of a single human cell. Such a detection method based on simple optics opens the potential for robust, highly sensitive DNA detection/imaging in the field, quick evaluation/sorting (i.e., triaging) of collected DNA samples, and can support various diagnostic assays.

Galaxies, like our Milky Way, harbor stars and planets that are created out of gas. We utilize observations from Mapping Nearby Galaxies at Apache Point Observatory (MaNGA) and Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to inspect the gas in and outside of galaxies. We then use these data to compare against the rate at which these galaxies are forming stars. We use ratios of spectral emission and absorption lines from MaNGA to determine whether a particular point in the galaxy best resembles a star-forming region, an active galactic nucleus, or something in between. We will further assess the star-formation activity in the galaxies based on their ionized gas and stellar spectral indices. We will use HST observations of the same galaxies to quantify the amount and properties of the gas surrounding them to better understand how the environments of galaxies impact the activity occurring within them. Through this work, we will contribute to our understanding of the galactic gas cycle and its connection with star formation within these galaxies.

When massive stars in a galaxy die, they explode and create clouds of gaseous debris. If these clouds of debris break out of the galaxy, they can create galactic winds. The nearby Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) galaxy is ideal for studying galactic winds as it is oriented face-on and is driving out 85 million Sun’s worth of gas. Using observations from the Hubble Space Telescope, we are studying chemical absorption fingerprints from the light that passes through the LMC’s galactic winds. These chemical fingerprints enable us to assess the physical properties of the winds. We are using the light from 150 young, massive stars in the LMC to probe through the LMC’s galactic winds. In order to determine where the LMC’s disk ends and the winds begin, we utilize the Galactic All-Sky Survey observations to trace the motions of the neutral hydrogen gas. Together, these observations will allow us to measure how fast the winds are moving, how much gas they contain, and their ionization states. Exploring the LMC’s galactic outflows will contribute to our understanding of the relationship between a galaxy’s environment and its evolutionary progression.

The antimicrobial properties of ZnO are well documented. Demonstrated effectiveness against various strains of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in addition to being an abundant and inexpensive material leave it well positioned for application as an antibacterial agent. ZnO based antibacterial agents see current usage in biomedical, water treatment, food storage and various other industries. Despite the significant promise and proven application, realization of both novel and efficient, targeted applications is hindered by a lack of understanding in the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the antimicrobial properties of ZnO. In particular the role and nature of components of the local bacterial environment in mediating/hindering these antibacterial interactions. Phosphate-rich environments in particular have been observed to inhibit antimicrobial behavior in ZnO though the manner in which this occurs has not been adequately described. To elucidate the environmental interactions relevant to the antimicrobial action of ZnO we investigated the effects of interactions with both bacteria and the bacterial environments on the physicochemical and optoelectronic properties of the free crystalline surface of ZnO microparticles (MPs). This involves exposing hydrothermally grown ZnO MPs to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) media both with and without the presence of Newman strain S. aureus bacteria. Changes in the surface electronic structure and charge dynamics due to these exposures are monitored via both time and energy dependent surface photovoltage (SPV) conducted prior to and following biological assays. In doing so we demonstrate significant changes in the characteristic timescales of long-lived processes in the SPV transients after exposure to phosphate-rich environments. Such findings point to significant phosphate adsorption at the free crystalline surface. This is further supported by suppression of oxygen rich defect centers after exposure to PBS media. We also comment on the interaction of bacteria as the presence of S. aureus suppresses this adsorption and influences charge transfer processes at short and intermediate timescales.

Excitation and emission (observation) conditions heavily impact fluorescence measurements. Both observed spectra and intensity decay (fluorescence lifetimes), when incorrectly measured, may lead to incorrect data interpretations. The necessity of using so-called total fluorescence intensity or intensity measured under magic angle (MA) conditions is demonstrated for both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence measurements. Rhodamine 6G (R6G) in two solvents - ethanol and glycerol have been used in order to demonstrate the general importance of Magic Angle observation.

Star clusters have long been used as chemical and dynamical tracers for our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Many of these clusters are the old, metal poor, and massive objects known as globular clusters. These globular clusters are ideal test-beds for studying stellar evolution, stellar dynamics, and Galactic evolution since all the included stars are born from the same gas cloud. In this work, we combine the positions and motions of stars on the sky, provided by the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope, with the high-resolution chemical abundances from the Apache Point Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) to create a catalog of globular clusters. By only using data from two sources this sample of clusters is less susceptible to systematic offsets induced by combining multiple literature datasets. Overall, our catalog includes nearly half of all known Milky Way globular clusters, and a total of 5000 likely stellar members with APOGEE chemical abundances. We use these data to explore the internal properties of globular clusters as well as the population of the clusters as a whole to paint a picture of what the Milky Way looked like when it was first forming.

Characterizing Galactic sub-structures is crucial to understanding the assembly history and evolution of the Milky Way. To accomplish this, we need to identify and analyze the accreted sub-structures. With ESA Gaia and SDSS-IV/APOGEE, studies have been done to analyze the kinematics and chemical abundances, respectively. However, one challenge that still remains is deriving reliable ages for these sub-structures. We utilize the new relationship between the carbon to nitrogen ratio and stellar age derived by the OCCAM team, which has recently been extended to the metal-poor regime, to probe stars within the sub-structures in the metallicity range -1.2 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ +0.3 dex. This allows us to determine the ages of a greater number of stars within these sub-structures, which paints a more coherent picture of the original galaxies that have been disrupted to form the Milky Way’s halo. Using the sample of halo sub-structures in Horta et al. (2023), we apply the newly extended calibration to determine ages of stars within these sub-structures and compare them to previous age estimates.