This study analyzes the spatial relationship between energy infrastructure and population growth in Texas using GIS. Energy datasets, including power plants and pipelines, are combined with population data to evaluate whether infrastructure aligns with areas of increasing demand. Areas that do not have the infrastructure to handle the demands will result in blackouts and possibly more permanent issues to the power grid. Results are expected to show high energy concentration in low-population regions like West Texas, while rapidly growing urban areas such as Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston may face increasing demand pressures. These findings will inform energy planning and infrastructure development for these various energy companies and ONCOR.

Students find it difficult to work in uncomfortable temperatures. The temperature of the Paschal High School auditorium has been a complaint of students and staff for years. A recent survey found that 75% of students and teachers find the auditorium either uncomfortably cold or uncomfortably hot. This research explores the temperature fluctuations in the auditorium in the context of events taking place in the auditorium. Six sensors were placed around the Paschal High School auditorium and recorded the temperature and humidity every couple of seconds from December 19 to March 1st. From this data, I was able to calculate “feel’s like” temperature, and graph this against time, taking note of any significant events that may have affected temperature.

As climate-related health effects become increasingly more visible, the public perceptions of planetary health education may change. This study explored public expectations for the role of health professionals in planetary health advocacy, education, and clinical practice. A link to an online Qualtrics survey was sent to potential participants through community service events, coalition meetings, and websites. Responses were validated for a final analytical sample of 88 adults aged 18 and older. Results indicate that a large majority of participants have a positive view on environmental conservation, reflected by a mean score of 54.7 (SD 7.8) out of a possible 75 on the New Ecological Paradigm Scale. A majority of respondents indicated they were already observing health impacts of climate change in their daily lives, most commonly as increased allergy-related symptoms (70.2%), injuries due to severe weather events such as storms or floods (64.3%), and heat-related illnesses (57.1%). Respondents indicated that health professionals and professional organizations should play an active role in educating the public and advocating for policy responses to the health effects of climate change. The most frequent responses were found for health professionals bringing climate-health effects to public attention (88.1%), professional organizations engaging in significant advocacy (86.9%), and clinicians leading sustainability efforts in hospitals and clinics (85.7%). Significantly, 78.6% of participants expressed that health professionals have a responsibility to discuss these health effects directly with their patients. Overall, this sample of adults perceives that human health is already negatively affected by environmental changes and strongly supports health professionals to take advocacy and educational roles to address planetary health problems.

This study investigated behavioral indicators of reproductive receptivity in captive Texas kangaroo rats (Dipodomys elator). Video-based behavioral observation surveys were conducted to compare behaviors and frequency of behaviors between isolated individuals and paired individuals, as well as among different combinations of paired individuals. In total, 18 unique behaviors were identified. Overall, the frequencies of behaviors were low, and no consistent differences were detected between pairing types. Under the current setup, behavior did not provide a reliable indicator of reproductive receptivity. We recommend that future studies house males and females separately prior to trials to ensure interactions between unfamiliar individuals.

When Roundup is used on plants and soils, Glyphosate has different effects on the solubility (LogKow) and degradation pathways of molecules based on soil factors. These soil factors have to do with the organic composition of the soil. Organic matter in soils comes from 1,2,4-Trihydroxybenzene, Ferulic Acid, and Vanillic Acid. Pesticides degrade these molecules and make daughter molecules. This can show the assessment on how glyphosate alters degradation by comparing parent–daughter product distributions and LogKow.