Rapid population growth in Texas has accelerated urbanization and land-use/land-cover (LULC) changes, increasing pressure on groundwater resources and influencing the processes that control groundwater chemistry. To better capture the inherent heterogeneity of groundwater systems, a logistic distribution–based approach was applied instead of simple averaging, enabling a more robust assessment of long-term trends, pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), major cations and anions, buffering capacity, and partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂). Analysis of nine major aquifers from 1985 to 2014 reveals a gradual decline in pH associated with increasing pCO₂ and carbonic acid formation, alongside strong variability in TDS driven by lithology, residence time, and recharge conditions. Carbonate buffering moderates these changes, with limestone-dominated aquifers showing greater resistance to pH variation, while hydrochemical facies indicate that groundwater evolution is primarily controlled by rock weathering and evaporation. A focused assessment of the Trinity Aquifer in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex (2015–2024) highlights clear depth-dependent differences, where shallow groundwater reflects recharge-driven, CO₂-influenced conditions and deeper groundwater exhibits more evolved, carbonate-buffered chemistry. Overall, the results demonstrate that natural hydrogeochemical processes, particularly carbonate equilibrium and water–rock interaction, remain the dominant controls on groundwater chemistry, with anthropogenic influences playing a secondary role despite rapid urban growth.

The Southern Oklahoma aulacogen is a northwest-trending structure containing abundant igneous rocks representing the remains of a major Cambrian rift zone. Previous geologists have mapped numerous igneous intrusions in Colorado that follow the same trend, ranging from Ediacaran to Ordovician in age, and have speculated that these intrusions may be a part of the same rift. These intrusions include abundant igneous dikes of various compositions that originated from deeper magmatic bodies, filling fracture systems in older igneous rocks and Precambrian gneisses. This study involves the geochemical analysis of samples we collected from diabase dikes found along that northwest trend in southern Colorado. The dikes include a prominent diabase dike swarm in the Gunnison area as well as other individual dikes in the Wet Mountains and Front Range farther east. On the discrimination and REE diagrams, twenty-six representative dike samples from both sample regions plot tightly together, indicating the clustered dikes share a petrogenetic history of E-MORB-type magma that interacted with intercontinental lithosphere. In addition, this cluster generally plots within the same regions as data from diabase dikes associated with the Southern Oklahoma aulacogen.
Fifteen samples were taken from generally NW-trending diabase dikes in the Gunnison dike swarm, and these make up the majority of the dike samples that cluster together. The remaining eleven samples originate from general NW-trending diabase dikes in other locations across southern Colorado. Five samples were taken from WNW- to NW-trending diabase dikes in the Wet Mountains. Five samples were taken from NW- to NNW-trending diabase dikes in the Front Range, ~80 km north of the Wet Mountains. One sample was taken from a NW-trending diabase dike in the Unaweep Canyon, ~270 km west-northwest of the Wet Mountains.
The geochemical similarities between diabase dikes sampled for this study and those within the Southern Oklahoma aulacogen suggest a linked petrogenetic history. Furthermore, the distribution of these samples raises the intriguing possibility that dikes related to Ediacaran-Ordovician intraplate magmatism in Colorado may be more extensive than previously thought.

Landslides are among the most common and, at times, the most destructive natural hazards, posing significant risks to infrastructure, ecosystems, and human populations. Central Texas, particularly the Texas Hill Country, is recognized as a landslide-susceptible region due to its rugged topography and variable geology. This project maps landslide susceptibility across the region using spatial analysis techniques in a GIS framework. Multiple datasets were integrated, including Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) to derive slope and flow accumulation, as well as geologic formations, soils (hydrologic and erosion data), and stream networks. Each variable was reclassified according to relative landslide risk and combined using a weighted overlay analysis to generate a landslide susceptibility map identifying areas of high, moderate, and low risk. The resulting analysis provides a framework for environmental hazard assessment and can inform land-use planning and risk mitigation strategies in Central Texas.

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument onboard of the Suomi-NPP satellite has provided unprecedented night time light data that could be used as an indirect indicator of various parameters, including light pollution, population distribution, etc. The proposed project will integrate multi-temporal night light data from VIIRS with other datasets, including population data from the most recent census, ground-based light classification data (Bortle scale) to better understand how population growth affects light pollution over time, and to give insight into the importance of Dark Sky Preserves as population growth continues, across the State of Texas. Various spatial and statistical analysis techniques will be applied to address the objectives of this proposal including hotspot and density analyses, and statistical analysis of changes in population datasets.

The Fort Worth Nature Center (FWNC) is one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the U.S., located in northwest Tarrant County. It covers over 3,600 acres, including nearly 20 miles of hiking trails. The park is home to a wide variety of species within a diverse ecosystem that includes forests, prairies, and wetlands. Currently, there are multiple ongoing projects assessing invasive species, habitat management and restoration, and the impact of park visitors, among others. However, little has been done to understand the local hydrology, its dynamics across the park, and its interactions with watershed-scale processes, as well as the resulting impacts on refuge habitat. This project aims to integrate multiple spatial datasets and analysis tools, including digital elevation models (DEMs) and high-resolution hydrography datasets from the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), to delineate hydrological features within the refuge, understand their dynamics, and assess their interactions with the medium and habitat within the refuge. The ultimate goal is to generate a product that can serve as input in FWNC’s efforts to monitor flood risk and support critical ecosystem and refuge planning.

The Trinity River is a major recreational and ecological waterway that flows through the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) metroplex in North Texas. In downtown Fort Worth, the Clear Fork and West Fork branches merge to form the main Trinity River. These branches drain watersheds with different land-use characteristics: the West Fork drains a heavily industrialized region, while the Clear Fork drains a primarily urbanized watershed. This confluence provides an opportunity to examine how distinct watershed environments influence river chemistry and how these chemical signatures interact upon mixing. Biweekly sampling of the Clear Fork, West Fork, and their confluence measures key hydrochemical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, and major cations and anions. These data help characterize spatial variations in water chemistry and mixing dynamics within the Trinity River system. Establishing baseline hydrochemical conditions is particularly important as the upcoming Panther Island River project will modify river channels and the location of the confluence.

Science for Starters is a student-led outreach initiative that provides weekly after-school STEM programming for elementary grade students at the Como Community Center in a historically underserved neighborhood. Supported by the EPIC (Experiential Projects to Impact the Community) grant, the program aims to address gaps in grade-level STEM skills and limited access to hands-on learning opportunities. TCU undergraduate volunteers lead each session, which includes relationship-building activities, a brief introduction to a STEM concept, and a hands-on, inquiry-based activity that encourages problem-solving and collaboration. Topics explored include chemistry, physics, space exploration, engineering, and the human body. Through these experiences, the program fosters curiosity in STEM while promoting mentorship, leadership development among undergraduate volunteers, and sustainable STEM enrichment within the Como community.

Unhoused individuals with diabetes frequently present to the Beautiful Feet Ministries Medical Clinic with preventable foot complications due to limited access to foot care supplies and limited education on preventive practices. This project addresses these gaps through a combined resource distribution and educational intervention model. Free foot care kits, patient-friendly educational materials, and an instructional video were developed to support preventive foot care and improve recognition of warning signs. Awareness workshops further expand outreach and encourage clinic-based foot screenings. By integrating accessible resources with targeted education, this initiative aims to empower unhoused individuals with diabetes to take a proactive role in their foot health and reduce avoidable complications.

Quantifying the Reach of Social Determinant–Focused Supplemental Benefits in Medicare Advantage: A Health Informatics Approach
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans now offer supplemental benefits that go beyond traditional medical coverage. These include things like transportation to appointments, meal delivery, housing support, utility assistance, and pest control, all of which target the social determinants of health (SDOH) that affect patient outcomes well before a doctor visit ever happens. Federal policy, particularly through the expansion of Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI), has given plans more flexibility to offer these services. But offering a benefit and actually getting it to the people who need it are two different things. I wanted to find out how many plans are really providing these benefits, and how many beneficiaries are actually enrolled in them.
Using SAS, I combined multiple CMS administrative datasets, including Plan Benefit Package (PBP) data and MA Enrollment by Plan files from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, into one analytic dataset. I linked plan-level benefit indicators to enrollment counts so I could estimate both the proportion of MA plans offering specific SDOH-related benefits and the percentage of beneficiaries enrolled in those plans.
What I found early on is a clear gap. Plans may list SDOH benefits on paper, but enrollment in those plans varies sharply depending on the benefit type. That disconnect between what is offered and who it actually reaches matters, because it tells us that expanding policy alone does not guarantee equity. This project shows that publicly available CMS data, when properly organized and integrated through health informatics methods, can expose these gaps and move the conversation from policy language toward something measurable.

Background: It is estimated that close to 50% of Americans experience stress daily. Research has documented that Latinos report higher levels of stress than other ethnicities. Stress is a normal occurrence and defined as the body and brain's natural, automatic response to any demand, challenge, or perceived threat. There are many factors that can impact stress, including sleep, diet, and exercise which are modifiable risk factors. These factors may affect ethnic groups in different ways. Purpose: The purpose of this integrative literature review is to explore the impact of exercise, diet, and sleep on the stress levels or perceptions of stress in the Hispanic and Non-Hispanic population. Methods: Databases used for this review included: CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycInfo, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria were randomized control trials, mixed-method studies, quantitative and qualitative studies, systematic reviews, individuals age 18 or greater, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic populations. The articles reviewed included the years 2006-2026 utilizing the PRISMA extraction system. Conclusion: The findings should help researchers identify strategies to mitigate negative responses to these factors. Based on the increasing Hispanic demographic in the US, future research should address the inclusion of this population to address health disparities and gaps and enhance culturally competent interventions

Key words: exercise, diet, sleep, stress, Hispanic, Non-Hispanic, perceptions, diet quality