University of Memphis

Reimagining Inquiry Through AI: Emerging Technologies for Scalable Complex Problem-Solving

Abstract This emerging technology report examines the design, development, and implementation of an artificial intelligence (AI)d chatbot to support inquiry-based learning within a K–12 capstone context. Grounded in the increasing emphasis on ill-structured problem-solving aligne...

Can LLMs effectively annotate learner writing? Prompting strategies and proficiency effects in annotating L2 learner argumentative essays

Recent research has demonstrated promising performance of large language models (LLMs) in genre-based discourse annotation. However, most existing work has focused on academic research genres, with less attention paid to the annotation of learner writing, where argumentative elem...

Freshwater Salinization and Its Contribution to Urinary Electrolyte Excretion in Coastal Bangladesh

Abstract To evaluate the role of drinking water salinity in electrolyte excretion, we analyzed household-stored drinking water and 24-hour urine samples collected during 9,748 person-visits across three cohort studies in southwest coastal Bangladesh. We fit three-level hierarchic...

Scour-Induced Bearing Capacity Degradation of Strip Foundations under Vertical, Horizontal, and Moment Loading

Abstract This study investigated scour-induced degradation of shallow and intermediate strip foundations subjected to vertical, horizontal, and moment loading using adaptive finite element limit analysis. Soil cohesion, friction angle, embedment ratio, and normalized scour depth...

Evolutionary dynamics of plant cell wall-degrading enzymes reflects feeding ecology in weevils

Abstract Many herbivorous beetles depend on plant cell wall-degrading enzymes (PCWDEs) to access the nutritious plant cell content. However, the evolution of PCWDEs in weevils, the most diverse lineage of herbivores, remains poorly understood. Using transcriptomic and genomic ana...

A Qualitative Examination of Barriers to Substance Misuse Treatment for Veterans with Disabilities

This qualitative study explored the experiences of veterans with disabilities (VWDs) seeking substance misuse treatment. Participants were recruited through advertisements placed in 75 newspapers across the United States and interviewed by telephone. Twenty VWDs participated in t...

More Than Hurt Feelings: Associations Between Perceived Racial Discrimination and Mental Health, Substance Use, and Victimization Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Adolescents

Abstract Background Although prior research has linked perceived racial discrimination (PRD) to adverse outcomes among adolescents, fewer studies have comprehensively examined its associations with mental health, substance use, and victimization outcomes within a single nationall...

The Python simulations of chemistry framework: 10 years of an open-source quantum chemistry project

Over the past decade, the Python-based Simulations of Chemistry Framework (PySCF) has developed into a widely used open-source platform for electronic-structure theory and quantum chemical method development. This article reviews the major advances since the previous overview in...

Prevalence and determinants of self-reported all-cause dementia among middle-aged and older adults in the United States: Results from a nationally representative survey

Dementia encompasses a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders characterized by progressive cognitive decline that impairs memory, executive function, and activities of daily living. Although dementia includes multiple subtypes, nationally represent...

GenAI in Occupational Therapy: A Survey of Adoption, Ethical Concerns, and Training Needs

Importance Occupational therapy practitioners are rapidly adopting generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools in clinical settings, yet little is known about current usage patterns, ethical concerns, or training needs specific to the profession. Objective To examine how occ...

Radiation induced free radical stability and degradation behavior in GUR resin and 1900 resin types UHMWPE over 20 years of aging

Abstract Radiation-induced free radical stability was evaluated using Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) for two medical-grade Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) resins, GUR 4150 and 1900H, after 20 years of aging in air and vacuum at 23 °C, 37 °C, and 75 °C. Spectral a...

Modulatory effects of S1QEL on OxLDL-induced metabolic alterations and inflammatory responses in human monocytes

Background Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL) plays a key role in initiating monocyte activation, glycolytic reprogramming, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production—processes that contribute to aging and progression of age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis and steato...

Suite of Regional Seismic Velocity Models for the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains (CPVMv2.0): Incorporating Epistemic Uncertainty in Velocity Models

The U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain (CP) sediments are kilometers‐thick, low‐velocity deposits underlain by high‐velocity bedrock that create regional patterns of amplification and attenuation of ground motions. Capturing these effects is challenging because of the limited s...

Paying upfront: successful initial infections protect against severe future infections

Abstract Understanding the consistency with which individual hosts respond to repeated pathogen exposures is crucial for accurately modeling pathogen transmission and eco-evolutionary dynamics. When hosts face repeated pathogen exposures, immune memory is expected to reduce the p...

Robustness of Regionally Derived, Short-Duration Rainfall Depth-Duration-Frequency Estimates to the Choice of Minimum Interevent Time: Evidence across Climates, Rain Gauge Densities, and Regionalization Approaches

Abstract The choice of minimum interevent time (MIT)—a criterion used to discern independent events from a continuous rainfall record—can affect the resulting partial duration series (PDS) and depth-duration-frequency values (DDFs). However, the mechanisms by which MIT choice aff...

Obstructive shock from delayed blunt cardiac injury after chest trauma

Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) is a rare but serious presentation in emergency departments (EDs) nationwide. These injuries arise in trauma and may be accompanied by confounding injuries that complicate the clinical picture. Timely recognition is crucial, as BCI may lead to complicat...

Searching for the elusive “A” horizon in buried paleosols

ABSTRACT Presence of an A horizon in paleosols is important for taxonomic classification, interpreting pedogenic processes, and reconstructing paleoenvironments. However, identifying the A horizon in buried contexts is challenging because of potential erosion during burial and po...

How do Americans and Chinese in greater China living in the United States self-disclose in online dating profiles? A content analysis

Abstract Purpose The goal of the study is to examine how Americans and Chinese in the United States self-disclose in online dating profiles. It also examines how men and women self-disclose in online dating profiles. Design/methodology/approach A content analysis of 400 online da...

Copper–SodiumLignosulfonate Antifouling-CoatedIon-Selective Electrodes for Reliable Long-Term Ammonium Monitoringtoward Data-Driven Wastewater Control

Abstract Ammonium (NH4+) monitoring is essential for process control and effluent compliance in wastewater treatment, but conventional grab sampling provides delayed, discrete measurements that cannot capture rapid concentration fluctuations. Solid-state ion-selective electrodes...

Illegal markets for cigarettes and e-cigarettes

This paper discusses the long-standing illegal markets for cigarettes and the more recently emerged illegal markets for e-cigarettes. We identify three distinctive market fundamentals that help explain many features of the illegal markets. First, in contrast to some illegal goods...