Study Protocol For Measuring Stigmatization In Persistent Tic Disorders: Development And Validation Of The Tourette Discrimination-Stigmatization Scale, Jaclyn M Martindale, Victor M Ringheanu, Kelly A Pring, Sandra Norona, Kimberly Wiseman, Roy E Strowd, Leah Chapman, Joseph Rigdon, Stephen R Rapp, Eric A Storch, Edward Ip, Jonathan W Mink

Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy Staff Publications

Introduction: Persistent Tic Disorders such as Tourette Syndrome are common neurodevelopmental disorders that are highly stigmatized. Many individuals with Persistent Tic Disorders experience peer rejection, loneliness, and self-stigma. Experiencing stigmatization during childhood can influence the persistence of moderate-to-severe tics later in life. Additionally, these factors have been associated with increased suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and psychiatric symptom severity. There is a need for interventions to reduce stigma and stigmatization in Persistent Tic Disorders. Before developing cost-effective interventions to mitigate stigma's profound downstream health impacts, a reliable measure of stigmatization must be created. The overarching goal of this research is to …

Mitral Valve Regurgitation In Klippel-Feil Syndrome With Related Thoracic Deformity, Yuki Endo, Yoshiei Shimamura, Hiroshi Niinami

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Klippel-Feil syndrome, characterized by congenital fusion of any 2 or more cervical vertebrae, is a rare disorder in which skeletal and other organ system-related abnormalities have been reported. This article reports a case of mitral valve regurgitation in a patient with Klippel-Feil syndrome and related thoracic deformity who underwent mitral valvuloplasty. Postoperatively, the mitral valve regurgitation disappeared, and there has been no recurrence for 3 years. This case highlights mitral valvuloplasty via median sternotomy as an excellent treatment for mitral valve regurgitation in a patient with thoracic deformity related to Klippel-Feil syndrome.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting In A Patient With Multivessel Disease And Dextrocardia With Situs Inversus Totalis, Rohit Shahani, Adham Ahmed, Frank M Rosell, Alexander Iribarne

The Texas Heart Institute Journal

Dextrocardia with situs inversus totalis is a rare hereditary condition characterized by reversed orientation of the major thoracic and abdominal organs. Though dextrocardia itself is not believed to increase the risk of coronary artery disease, the workup and surgical management of patients with this condition may be technically challenging to heart team clinicians. This report describes the case management of a high-risk 56-year-old man with dextrocardia who presented with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Outcomes For Patients With Head And Neck Sarcoma Treated Curatively With Radiation Therapy And Surgery, Alison K Yoder, Ahsan Farooqi, Devarati Mitra, J Andrew Livingston, Dejka M Araujo, Erich M Sturgis, Ryan Goepfert, Andrew J Bishop, B Ashleigh Guadagnolo

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

PURPOSE: Soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) of the head and neck (H&N) are rare malignancies that are challenging to manage. We sought to describe the outcomes of patients treated with curative intent using combined surgery and radiation therapy (RT) for H&N STS.

METHODS AND MATERIALS: We performed a single-institution retrospective review of patients with nonmetastatic STS of the H&N who were treated from 1968 to 2020. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate disease-specific survival (DSS) and local control (LC). Multivariable analyses (MVAs) were conducted using Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two patients had a median follow-up of 82 …

Understanding Primary Care Physician Perspectives On The Diagnosis And Management Of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Qualitative Study, Natalia I Heredia, Jemima C John, Sonia Singh, Jessica P Hwang, Larkin L Strong, Maya Balakrishnan, Lorna H Mcneill

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are well suited to manage patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the limited, existing research suggests inadequate knowledge about the natural history, diagnostic methods, and management of NAFLD. The purpose of this qualitative study is to further understand the knowledge and practices for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD among PCPs. We conducted in-depth interviews with PCPs in the Greater Houston area, addressing current clinical practices used for diagnosing and managing NAFLD, as well as the perceptions of the PCPs regarding the burden of NAFLD on patients. We recorded interviews, transcribed them, coded transcripts, …

Enhancement Pattern Mapping For Early Detection Of Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Patients With Cirrhosis, Newsha Nikzad, David Thomas Fuentes, Millicent Roach, Tasadduk Chowdhury, Matthew Cagley, Mohamed Badawy, Ahmed Elkhesen, Manal Hassan, Khaled M Elsayes, Laura Beretta, Eugene Jon Koay, Prasun Kumar Jalal

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Limited methods exist to accurately characterize the risk of malignant progression of liver lesions. Enhancement pattern mapping (EPM) measures voxel-based root mean square deviation (RMSD) of parenchyma and the contrast-to-noise (CNR) ratio enhances in malignant lesions. This study investigates the utilization of EPM to differentiate between HCC versus cirrhotic parenchyma with and without benign lesions.

METHODS: Patients with cirrhosis undergoing MRI surveillance were studied prospectively. Cases (n=48) were defined as patients with LI-RADS 3 and 4 lesions who developed HCC during surveillance. Controls (n=99) were patients with and without LI-RADS 3 and 4 lesions who did not …

Understanding Primary Care Physician Perspectives On The Diagnosis And Management Of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Qualitative Study, Natalia I Heredia, Jemima C John, Sonia Singh, Jessica P Hwang, Larkin L Strong, Maya Balakrishnan, Lorna H Mcneill

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Primary care physicians (PCPs) are well suited to manage patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but the limited, existing research suggests inadequate knowledge about the natural history, diagnostic methods, and management of NAFLD. The purpose of this qualitative study is to further understand the knowledge and practices for the diagnosis and management of NAFLD among PCPs. We conducted in-depth interviews with PCPs in the Greater Houston area, addressing current clinical practices used for diagnosing and managing NAFLD, as well as the perceptions of the PCPs regarding the burden of NAFLD on patients. We recorded interviews, transcribed them, coded transcripts, …

Trauma Patients Have Reduced Ex Vivo Flow-Dependent Platelet Hemostatic Capacity In A Microfluidic Model Of Vessel Injury, Kimberly A. Thomas, Rassam M. G. Rassam, Ronit Kar, Devin M. Dishong, Katelin C. Rahn, Ricardo Fonseca, Melissa Canas, Jose Aldana, Hussain Afzal, Kelly Bochicchio, Matthew D. Neal, Grant V. Bochicchio, Philip C. Spinella, Susan M. Shea

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Trauma is the leading cause of death in individuals up to 45 years of age. Alterations in platelet function are a critical component of trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC), yet these changes and the potential resulting dysfunction is incompletely understood. The lack of clinical assays available to explore platelet function in this patient population has hindered detailed understanding of the role of platelets in TIC. The objective of this study was to assess trauma patient ex vivo flow-dependent platelet hemostatic capacity in a microfluidic model. We hypothesized that trauma patients would have flow-regime dependent alterations in platelet function. Blood was collected from …

Graceful Gait: Virtual Ballet Classes Improve Mobility And Reduce Falls More Than Wellness Classes For Older Women, Elinor C Harrison, Allison M Haussler, Lauren E Tueth, Sidney T Baudendistel, Gammon M Earhart

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Dance is an effective and motivating form of exercise for older women, but few studies have quantified the benefits of virtual dance classes nor, specifically, ballet. This study tested the effectiveness of virtual ballet compared to virtual wellness classes, with the goal of reaching underserved populations. It is among the first to explore the effects of virtual classical ballet on functional gait mobility, balance, and quality of life measures in older women.

METHODS: Older women were recruited in two waves and randomized to two groups: a ballet class modified for older adults and a wellness-based control class. Both groups …

The Ithildin Library For Efficient Numerical Solution Of Anisotropic Reaction-Diffusion Problems In Excitable Media, Desmond Kabus, Marie Cloet, Christian Zemlin, Olivier Bernus, Hans Dierckx

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Ithildin is an open-source library and framework for efficient parallelized simulations of excitable media, written in the C++ programming language. It uses parallelization on multiple CPU processors via the message passing interface (MPI). We demonstrate the library's versatility through a series of simulations in the context of the monodomain description of cardiac electrophysiology, including the S1S2 protocol, spiral break-up, and spiral waves in ventricular geometry. Our work demonstrates the power of Ithildin as a tool for studying complex wave patterns in cardiac tissue and its potential to inform future experimental and theoretical studies. We publish our full code with this …

Understanding Insider Threats: Learning From Related Research Streams, Matthew Allen, Kat Parsons, Tin L. Nguyen, Lauren Zimmerman

Reports, Projects, and Research

This state of science review summarizes practitioner-oriented and behavioral and social science literature related to insider threat. Practitioner perspectives reveal both overlapping and unique risk factors from cases of espionage, sabotage, and workplace violence. Social and behavioral science research points to the value of focusing on dynamic risk factors for engaging in destructive behaviors, as well as potential organizational interventions that could deter and mitigate insider threat risk.

Tract-Based Analyses Of White Matter In Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Aging, And Dementia Using High Spatial And Directional Resolution Diffusion Imaging: A Pilot Study, Daniel Mamah, Shingshiun Chen, Joshua S Shimony, Michael P Harms

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Structural brain connectivity abnormalities have been associated with several psychiatric disorders. Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a chronic disabling disorder associated with accelerated aging and increased risk of dementia, though brain findings in the disorder have rarely been directly compared to those that occur with aging.

METHODS: We used an automated approach to reconstruct key white matter tracts and assessed tract integrity in five participant groups. We acquired one-hour-long high-directional diffusion MRI data from young control (CON, n =28), bipolar disorder (BPD, n =21), and SCZ (n =22) participants aged 18-30, and healthy elderly (ELD, n =15) and dementia (DEM, n …

Transcriptional Precision In Photoreceptor Development And Diseases - Lessons From 25 Years Of Crx Research, Yiqiao Zheng, Shiming Chen

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The vertebrate retina is made up of six specialized neuronal cell types and one glia that are generated from a common retinal progenitor. The development of these distinct cell types is programmed by transcription factors that regulate the expression of specific genes essential for cell fate specification and differentiation. Because of the complex nature of transcriptional regulation, understanding transcription factor functions in development and disease is challenging. Research on the

Researching Covid To Enhance Recovery (Recover) Pediatric Study Protocol: Rationale, Objectives And Design, Rachel S Gross, Deanna M. Barch, Andrew C. Heath, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

IMPORTANCE: The prevalence, pathophysiology, and long-term outcomes of COVID-19 (post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 [PASC] or "Long COVID") in children and young adults remain unknown. Studies must address the urgent need to define PASC, its mechanisms, and potential treatment targets in children and young adults.

OBSERVATIONS: We describe the protocol for the Pediatric Observational Cohort Study of the NIH's REsearching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative. RECOVER-Pediatrics is an observational meta-cohort study of caregiver-child pairs (birth through 17 years) and young adults (18 through 25 years), recruited from more than 100 sites across the US. This report focuses on two of …

Intermuscular Coherence As An Early Biomarker For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: The Protocol For A Prospective, Multicenter Study, Naoum P Issa, Serdar Aydin, Eric Polley, Nathan Carberry, Mark A. Garret, Sean Smith, Ali A. Habib, Nicholas W. Baumgartner, Betty Soliven, Kourosh Rezania

2020-Current year OA Pubs

OBJECTIVE: To describe the protocol of a prospective study to test the validity of intermuscular coherence (IMC) as a diagnostic tool and biomarker of upper motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

METHODS: This is a multicenter, prospective study. IMC of muscle pairs in the upper and lower limbs is gathered in ∼650 subjects across three groups using surface electrodes and conventional electromyography (EMG) machines. The following subjects will be tested: 1) neurotypical controls; 2) patients with symptomatology suggestive for early ALS but not meeting probable or definite ALS by Awaji Criteria; 3) patients with a known ALS mimic. …

Buffered Lugol's Iodine Preserves Dna Fragment Lengths, P M Gignac, D Valdez, A C Morhardt, L M Lynch

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Museum collections play a pivotal role in the advancement of biological science by preserving phenotypic and genotypic history and variation. Recently, contrast-enhanced X-ray computed tomography (CT) has aided these advances by allowing improved visualization of internal soft tissues. However, vouchered specimens could be at risk if staining techniques are destructive. For instance, the pH of unbuffered Lugol's iodine (I

Proceedings Of The 11th Annual Deep Brain Stimulation Think Tank: Pushing The Forefront Of Neuromodulation With Functional Network Mapping, Biomarkers For Adaptive Dbs, Bioethical Dilemmas, Ai-Guided Neuromodulation, And Translational Advancements, Kara A Johnson, Nico U F Dosenbach, Evan M Gordon, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

The Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Think Tank XI was held on August 9-11, 2023 in Gainesville, Florida with the theme of "Pushing the Forefront of Neuromodulation". The keynote speaker was Dr. Nico Dosenbach from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. He presented his research recently published in Nature inn a collaboration with Dr. Evan Gordon to identify and characterize the somato-cognitive action network (SCAN), which has redefined the motor homunculus and has led to new hypotheses about the integrative networks underpinning therapeutic DBS. The DBS Think Tank was founded in 2012 and provides an open platform where clinicians, engineers, and …

Effectively Communicating With Local Policymakers: A Randomized Trial Of Policy Brief Dissemination To Address Obesity, Elizabeth A Dodson, Renee G Parks, Rebekah R Jacob, Ruopeng An, Amy A Eyler, Nathan Lee, Alexandra B Morshed, Mary C Politi, Rachel G Tabak, Yan Yan, Ross C Brownson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based policies are a powerful tool for impacting health and addressing obesity. Effectively communicating evidence to policymakers is critical to ensure evidence is incorporated into policies. While all public health is local, limited knowledge exists regarding effective approaches for improving local policymakers' uptake of evidence-based policies.

METHODS: Local policymakers were randomized to view one of four versions of a policy brief (usual care, narrative, risk-framing, and narrative/risk-framing combination). They then answered a brief survey including questions about their impressions of the brief, their likelihood of using it, and how they determine legislative priorities.

RESULTS: Responses from 331 participants indicated …

Post-Traumatic Stress And Future Substance Use Outcomes: Leveraging Antecedent Factors To Stratify Risk, Henri M Garrison-Desany, Stacey L House, Et Al.

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis) are highly comorbid. Many factors affect this relationship, including sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics, other prior traumas, and physical health. However, few prior studies have investigated this prospectively, examining new substance use and the extent to which a wide range of factors may modify the relationship to PTSD.

METHODS: The Advancing Understanding of RecOvery afteR traumA (AURORA) study is a prospective cohort of adults presenting at emergency departments (N = 2,943). Participants self-reported PTSD symptoms and the frequency and quantity of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use at six total …

Case Report: Long-Term Follow-Up Of Patients Who Received A Fimch Vaccine For Prevention Of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections Caused By Antibiotic Resistant Enterobacteriaceae: A Case Report Series, Elise Perer, Helen Stacey, Terri Eichorn, Heidi Hughey, Julie Lawrence, Eric Cunningham, Mark O'Neil Johnson, Kevin Bacon, Andrew Kau, Scott J Hultgren, Thomas M Hooton, Jennifer L Harris

2020-Current year OA Pubs

Urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are considered one of the most urgent health threats to humans according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO). A FimCH Vaccine expanded access study is being conducted in patients with a history of antibiotic resistant UTIs who are considered to be at risk for development of CRE UTI. This case series describes the clinical, safety and immunogenicity findings for four participants who received a FimCH four-vaccine series. Participants were followed for 12 months after administration of the fourth vaccine for safety, general health status …

Interventions Connecting Young People Living In Africa To Healthcare; A Systematic Review Using The Re-Aim Framework, Titilola Abike Gbaja-Biamila, Chisom Obiezu-Umeh, Ucheoma Nwaozuru, David Oladele, Alexis Engelhart, Thembekile Shato, Stacey Mason, Victoria Carter, Juliet Iwelunmor-Ezepue

2020-Current year OA Pubs

INTRODUCTION: Africa's young people are among the least focused groups in healthcare linkage. The disproportionally high burden of youth-related health problems is a burden, especially in developing regions like Africa, which have a high population of young people. More information is needed about factors that impact linkages in healthcare and the sustainability of health interventions among young people in Africa.

METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed from October 2020 to May 2022 in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Global Health, and the Web of Science. Studies included in the review were conducted among young people aged 10-24 living in Africa, written …

Development, Usability, And Preliminary Efficacy Of A Virtual Reality Experience To Promote Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors In Children: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Lauren A. Fowler, Melissa M. Vázquez, Bianca Depietro, Denise E. Wilfley, Ellen E. Fitzsimmons-Craft

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Virtual reality (VR) shows promise for supporting behavior change in children. This study used user-centered design to translate key tenets of behavioral health interventions into VR for children aged 6-12 years and their caregivers and examined the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the VR experience in a pilot parallel, two-group randomized controlled trial (RCT).

METHODS: The VR experience incorporates psychoeducational content from evidence-based behavioral health interventions using voiceover and an interactive go-kart game related to the concepts of "food as fuel" and nutrition guidelines. Study 1 involved usability testing with n=5 child-caregiver dyads, which informed technical and content …

Examination Of The Differences And Similarities In The Classification Of Multiple Homicide Perpetrators, Lucy M. Papp

Theses and Dissertations

The applied dissertation compares the lifestyle and behavioral characteristics of mass, serial, and spree murderers. Historically, studies have focused on serial murder according to the perpetrator's typology or indicators at the crime scene. The current topics of research lack a comparison of these classifications. While the classification and described typologies are essential for academic and investigative purposes, understanding the impactful lifestyle factors of these perpetrators may also serve as an essential factor in predictive analysis, victimology, and the motive behind their heinous crimes.

The researcher collected data on the classifications for each type of multiple homicide perpetrator: mass, serial, and …

Navigating Black Identity: Black Young Adults’ Perception Of Being ‘Black Enough’ In America, Tabitha Omanano

Masters Theses

This thesis highlights young adults’ assumptions that social performance and certain cultural proficiencies validate one’s Blackness. I discuss cultural expressions and differences and social behaviors and why such markers and differences are insufficient to define and authenticate Black identity. I posit that the primary determinant of Blackness is a matter of biology and a shared historical context. I begin by reviewing historical and contemporary perspectives on the racial identity of African Americans and Black Africans across various eras in the United States. This is followed by analyzing the ways in which young people question their Black identities—ethnic, cultural, social, and …

Edison Elliot And The Midas Files, Brianne Hankes

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Autophonia: A Memoir In Essays, Amy Blanchard

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

An Analysis Of Precision: Occlusion And Perspective Geometry’S Role In 6d Pose Estimation, Jeffrey Choate, Derek Worth, Scott Nykl, Clark N. Taylor, Brett J. Borghetti, Christine M. Schubert Kabban

Faculty Publications

Achieving precise 6 degrees of freedom (6D) pose estimation of rigid objects from color images is a critical challenge with wide-ranging applications in robotics and close-contact aircraft operations. This study investigates key techniques in the application of YOLOv5 object detection convolutional neural network (CNN) for 6D pose localization of aircraft using only color imagery. Traditional object detection labeling methods suffer from inaccuracies due to perspective geometry and being limited to visible key points. This research demonstrates that with precise labeling, a CNN can predict object features with near-pixel accuracy, effectively learning the distinct appearance of the object due to perspective …

Gnss Software Defined Radio: History, Current Developments, And Standardization Efforts, Thomas Pany, Dennis Akos, Javier Arribas, M. Zahidul H. Bhuiyan, Pau Closas, Fabio Dovis, Ignacio Fernandez-Hernandez, Carles Fernandez-Prades, Sanjeev Gunawardena, Todd Humphreys, Zaher M. Kassas, Jose A. Lopez Salcedo, Mario Nicola, Mario L. Psiaki, Alexander Rugamer, Yong-Jin Song, Jong-Hoon Won

Faculty Publications

Taking the work conducted by the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) software-defined radio (SDR) working group during the last decade as a seed, this contribution summarizes, for the first time, the history of GNSS SDR development. This report highlights selected SDR implementations and achievements that are available to the public or that influenced the general development of SDR. Aspects related to the standardization process of intermediate-frequency sample data and metadata are discussed, and an update of the Institute of Navigation SDR Standard is proposed. This work focuses on GNSS SDR implementations in general-purpose processors and leaves aside developments conducted on …

A Simple, Inexpensive Alkaline Method For Bacterial Dna Extraction From Environmental Samples For Pcr Surveillance And Microbiome Analyses, Abdulkarim Shwani, Bin Zuo, Adnan Alrubaye, Jiangchao Zhao, Douglas D. Rhoads

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

DNA extraction for downstream molecular diagnostic applications can be an expensive, time-consuming process. We devised a method to quickly extract total bacterial DNA from environmental samples based on the sodium hydroxide lysis of cells with or without capture by magnetic beads for subsequent PCR or quantitative PCR. The final DNA extraction method using NaOH is extremely low-cost and can be completed in as little as 10 min at room temperature with dilution, or the DNA can be further purified using silica-coated paramagnetic beads. NaOH extraction was effective for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in samples from air, soil, sewage, food, laboratory …

North American Energy In The Crossfire, Guillermo J. Garcia Sanchez, James W. Coleman

Faculty Scholarship

North America is the beating heart of global energy markets un-dergoing a terrible energy crisis that threatens to upend both the economy and global security. The clearest path out of this global crisis is increasing energy supplies from North America, which can restore energy security and drive a transition to cleaner energy sources. The U.S., Mexico, and Canada have abundant and varied resources to surmount this challenge but are in dire need of stronger cooperation across borders, and between private and public actors to achieve this goal. This Article shows how energy law changes in the U.S. and Mexico present …