Digital Commons Network^™

Defining The Social Licence Of Large Language Models In Healthcare, Robin L. Pierce, Jack Gallifant, Ashley Cordes, Amelia Fiske, Matilda Dorotic, Mataroria Lyndon, Shrey Jain, Joe Zhang, Judy Gichoya, Leo Anthony Celi

Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental, & Innovation Law

As Large Language Models (LLMs) continue to grow and evolve, the ethical, social, and legal challenges they present, especially in terms of data use and sharing, come sharply into focus. Particularly in high-risk domains like healthcare, where the sensitivity of data is pronounced, and the ramifications of data leakages or misuse are profound. These licenses, envisioned to address the complexities introduced by LLMs, still grapple with barriers that hinder their full potential: notably, the absence of authoritative regulatory bodies, ambiguities in defining what constitutes 'sufficient public benefit', issues of data sovereignty, and dilemmas surrounding responsibility and liability. Herein, we delve …

Integrating Traditional And Western Healing Practices For American Indian Patients, Victoria Blacksmith

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community experiences disproportionally high rates of mental health disorders. Although research had examined the benefits of using traditional AI/AN health practices, little was known about how integrating traditional and Western treatment methods works. Using historical trauma theory and oppression theory, this qualitative study explored how AI/AN clinicians integrate traditional health practices into Western treatment methods when treating mental health disorders in AI/AN patients. Data were collected through semistructured interviews with five clinicians. Data analysis via deductive coding revealed two main themes: lived experiences of AI/AN clinicians and integration strategies. Cultural knowledge was the most prominent …

Electric Utility Industry Safety Plan Filing And Accident Reporting Impact On The Number Of Accidents, Rishi Singh

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Safety is of paramount importance in the electric utility industry. Construction is the basis of electric work and is one of the most dangerous industries, with a high rate of accidents and fatalities. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between the organizational leaders’ decision to file safety plans and accident reporting to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration or utility commissions on the number of accidents in the electric utility industry. The decision-making theory provided the study’s foundation. The study used secondary data from 2019 to 2023 for electric utility companies from California. Published …

Engineering Biomaterial Interfaces For Microbial Control, Yikang Xu

Dissertations - ALL

Since its inception as early as ancient Chinese placing bamboo pegs in place of missing teeth over 4,000 years ago, biomaterials have been an indispensable component of medical tools at human’s disposal. While early implants rely solely on the material properties themselves, modern devices have become much more than just materials. Topographic features, coatings, surface energy, and even embedded electronics have all added dimensions to the complexity of biomaterials and medical devices. Interaction between these materials and host cells and tissues, as well as microbes that can cause infections. Although well recognized for its significance, controlling biomaterial associated infections is …

Privacy Protection In Machine Learning Via Exploitation Of Constrained Adversarial Evasion, Brian Testa

Dissertations - ALL

Deep neural networks are extensively applied to real-world tasks. In many cases, the data feeding these tasks are human generated content, which emphasizes the criticality of privacy and data protection. The diverse modalities of this user data provide fertile ground for 3rd parties to monetize a user’s data. This work considers two such modalities: user speech when interacting with smart speaker voice assistants (VAs) and images shared with online service providers. In these cases, the user would like to support some form of machine learning (ML) inference without allowing others. A user interacting with a smart speaker would like the …

Elementary Science Instruction: A Document Analysis Of Teacher Messaging Across Two Sets Of Curriculum Materials, Jessica Mary Whisher-Hehl

Dissertations - ALL

Elementary teachers are tasked with teaching multiple subjects within an instructional day. One mechanism to support this task is through strong curriculum materials, which lay out a course of instruction aligned with instructional standards. This is helpful when teachers are trying to teach to a new set of standards, such as the Next Generation Science Standards, which require a significant shift in instructional strategies. In cases such as this, educative features embedded in the curriculum materials can assist teachers in making the required shifts in instruction. However, sometimes the instructional time required by curriculum materials, especially in elementary science, is …

Estranged Bodies, Race, And Sectarianism: An Historical Bioarchaeology Of Ottoman And French Beirut, Tony John Chamoun

Dissertations - ALL

Modern imperial formations involve a violent reconfiguring of difference that is inseparable from the everyday. Modern-world archaeology as a project that studies interlocking vicissitudes of modernity globally has done much to elucidate the varied social orders and politics of knowledge through which such reshuffling occurs. Yet largely missing from this conversation is the bioarchaeology of the Middle East and North Africa region; as such, the very bodies who shaped and were shaped by modern conditions in a major world circuit are also missing. To advance a more global and grounded investigation of modernity, I turn to the port city of …

Vimentin Inside And Outside The Cell: From Cell Spreading To Nuclear Mechanics To Covid-19, Maxx Swoger

Dissertations - ALL

Cells are constantly subjected to both external forces encountered from the extracellular environment and internal stresses generated by the cell necessary to migrate and undergo healthy cellular function. Central to the ability of cells to both generate and mediate forces is the cell cytoskeleton, which forms the muscles and bones for cells. There are three main components of the cell cytoskeleton: microtubules, actin, and intermediate filaments. The role of actin and microtubules in cell function, particularly force generation and mediation have been well studied; however, the role of intermediate filaments is less understood. Intermediate filaments represent a broad and diverse …

Design, Construction And Installation Of The Upgrade Tracker(Ut) In The Lhcb Experiment, Joseph D. Shupperd

Dissertations - ALL

The LHCb detector has undergone a substantial upgrade to cope with increased luminosity and increased data-taking utilizing a purely software trigger. The Upstream Tracker (UT) is a component of the new tracking system, together with the VELO vertex detector and the SciFi outer tracker. The UT allows for momentum determination that is important in the forward tracking algorithm, integral to the purely software trigger. This detector system is situated just upstream of the LHCb dipole magnet and comprises four planes of silicon strip detectors. The assembly of the modules hosting the Si detectors with the front-end electronics, and the construction …

Thermodynamics And Shear Flow Dynamics Of Block Copolymer Morphologies In Solution, Senyuan Liu

Dissertations - ALL

Block copolymers (BCPs) have been a focal point of research for several decades. They have been engineered to produce various morphologies by altering the combinations of chemically distinct polymer segments that interact selectively with their environment, such as in aqueous or organic solvents, or within a polymer matrix. The ability to tailor morphological features by manipulating polymer chain length, composition, and monomer chemistry has led to applications in advanced material manufacturing, catalysis, emulsification, environmental remediation, targeted drug delivery, gene therapy, and medical diagnostics. Consequently, understanding the relationship between copolymer architecture and the self-assembled morphologies at equilibrium, the pathways of structure …

Challenges To Reproductive Justice: An Ethical Analysis Of Reproductive Technologies And Disparities, Courtney Brenner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation analyzes the Reproductive Justice Framework to describe possible solutions to the ethical challenges related to reproductive healthcare disparities. Various frameworks to support reproductive equity fail to address the challenges marginalized individuals face in accessing reproductive health services. The four ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice serve as foundational tools to support reducing these disparities. This dissertation uses the Reproductive Justice Framework to analyze the unequal distribution of harms among marginalized women. It highlights how access to care, such as Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), is disproportionately inaccessible to marginalized women. Then, it discusses the relationship between marginalized …

How Scientists Can Investigate Perception: Phenomenological Foundations For Qualitative Research, Kimberly Tucker

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

While medicine makes visible symptoms of disease, phenomenology provides a different tool for making illness experience visible. Phenomenology offers a tool for a new kind of description and a different kind of knowledge of disease. It holds a unique epistemic power through the descriptions it generates through the application of the transcendental phenomenological method. Husserl’s method, outlined in Ideas I, provides the steps for its implementation in clinical research. This dissertation explores the application of the transcendental phenomenological method as a foundation for research on perception, with the goal of characterizing phenomenological validity as a proper goal of medical epistemology. …

Wounded And Healing: Licensed Counselors’ Experience With Personal Suicide Loss And The Impact On Clinical Practice, Supervision, And Self-Disclosure, Shannon Strohl

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study sought to explore the lived experiences of licensed counselors who experienced personal suicide loss and the impact of their loss on their professional lives. Of particular interest was the impact of the loss on countertransference, professional direction and choices, and self-disclosure with clients and other professionals in the field (e.g., supervisors, professors, and colleagues). The concept of the wounded healer, as described by Zerubavel and Wright (2012), served as the theoretical framework used to understand the participants’ stories. Previous studies have examined the wounded healer among psychologists; however, few studies explored the experience of licensed counselors as wounded …

Toward Effective Interfaith Relations Between Christianity And Indigenous African Religious Tradition In The Obolo Context In Nigeria – A Decolonial Theological Approach, Jerome Etenduk

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study focuses on the need for effective interfaith relations between Christianity and the Indigenous African Religious Tradition (IART) in a post-colonial Obolo context in Nigeria. It explores a history of complex religious crises in Obolo and identifies that Eurocentric/colonial theological imagination constitutes a significant reason for the problematic interfaith relations in Obolo. The dominant Eurocentric/colonial theology is founded on the theoretical framework that assumes that Europe (and America) is the hubris of knowledge. It negates and discounts the knowledge systems of other people. To know, they must learn from Europe and America. In this way, European missionaries to Obolo …

Development Of Methods For Predicting Second Harmonic Generation (Shg) Responses Of New Infrared Nonlinear Optical (Ir-Nlo) Materials, Katherine Colbaugh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dissertation supervised by Dr. Jennifer A. Aitken.

In this work, calculations-based methods were evaluated for use in prediction of second harmonic generation (SHG), specifically χ⁽²⁾ values, of infrared nonlinear optical (IR-NLO) materials. Net dipole moment and dipole moment per volume were calculated by the bond valence sum method. Average F-index, proposed in this research, and group F-index, both representing induced dipole moment were also calculated. Each calculation was evaluated by comparing the results to single crystal and powder χ⁽²⁾ measurements of IR-NLO materials. The selected dataset consisted of ninety-six compounds including polar and nonpolar structures, newly discovered and …

Rna Structural-Dynamical Hierarchy: Sars-Cov, Sars-Cov-2, And Delta/Omicron Variant S2m Monomers, Kissing Complexes, And Extended Duplexes, Adam Kensinger

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The power and promise of ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules are only beginning to be realized in living organisms and pharmaceutical intervention. Specifically, defining the chemical physics of RNA’s heterogenous structural ensemble and dynamics, which has experienced expansive growth over the last few years, is central to a complete understanding, yet continues to be a significant challenge. A 41-nucleotide hairpin called the stem-loop II motif (s2m), present in the viral genomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), SARS-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the Delta and Omicron variants responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, is a potential antiviral target due to its high sequence conservation …

Protocol For Monitoring Clonal Hematopoiesis In Transgenic Mouse Models Using Multispectral Imaging, Priyanka Khanna, Lauren B Ostermann, Shayaun Khazaei, Ran Zhao, Michael Andreeff, Rasoul Pourebrahim

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Clonal hematopoiesis involves the clonal expansion of hematopoietic cells, potentially progressing into hematological malignancies. Here, we present a protocol for the development and characterization of two mouse models designed to simulate clonal hematopoiesis and acute myeloid leukemia. We describe steps for model generation, monitoring clonal expansion, harvesting, fixation, and staining of bone marrow and spleen tissues. We specifically focus on the visualization and analysis of p53 mutant clonal expansions, providing a comprehensive protocol for studying these phenomena in mouse models. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Pourebrahim et al.

From Sampling To Simulating: Single-Cell Multiomics In Systems Pathophysiological Modeling, Alexandra Manchel, Michelle M. Gee, Rajanikanth Vadigepalli

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

As single-cell omics data sampling and acquisition methods have accumulated at an unprecedented rate, various data analysis pipelines have been developed for the inference of cell types, cell states and their distribution, state transitions, state trajectories, and state interactions. This presents a new opportunity in which single-cell omics data can be utilized to generate high-resolution, high-fidelity computational models. In this review, we discuss how single-cell omics data can be used to build computational models to simulate biological systems at various scales. We propose that single-cell data can be integrated with physiological information to generate organ-specific models, which can then be …

Formulation And Characterization Of Biologics – From Sirna To Monoclonal Antibodies, Chinmay M. Jogdeo

Theses & Dissertations

Biologics are a rapidly growing class of therapeutics, encompassing a wide range of modalities, with gene therapy products and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) constituting the majority. Proper formulation and characterization of these complex therapeutics is crucial to ensure their safety and therapeutic efficacy.

This dissertation focuses on two main areas: the development of a novel renal-targeted siRNA delivery system and the assessment of structural and conformational stability of mAbs in a simulated subcutaneous (SC) environment.

The first part of this dissertation presents the synthesis and characterization of a novel renal-targeted polymer for selective siRNA delivery to injured kidneys. Inulin was modified …

Harmonic Impedance Modeling And Oscillation Analysis Of Modular Multilevel Converter, Yuhong Wang, Wensheng Chen, Shilin Gao, Jianquan Liao, Yangfan Cheng

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: To facilitate rapid analysis of the oscillation stability mechanism in modular multilevel converter-based high voltage direct current (MMC-HVDC) systems and streamline the simulation process for determining MMC impedance characteristics, a simplified mathematical simulation model for MMC closed-loop impedance is developed using the harmonic state space method. This model considers various control strategies and includes both AC-side and DC-side impedance models. By applying a Nyquist criterion-based impedance analysis method, the stability mechanisms on the AC and DC sides of the MMC are examined. In addition, a data-driven oscillation stability analysis method is also proposed, leveraging a global sensitivity algorithm based …

Path Planning Of Desert Robot Based On Deep Reinforcement Learning, Ming Li, Wangzhong Ye, Jiehua Yan

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: Due to the complexity and variability of the desert environment, the key to the high-efficient of mobile robot is how to avoid obstacles and plan its path. To solve the problems of poor search efficiency and slow convergence of deep reinforcement learning algorithm in complex environment, an improved deep reinforcement learning path planning algorithm is proposed. The exploration factor is improved and dynamically adjusted according to the convergence degree of the algorithm, so that the exploration factor dynamically decreases with the increase of the understanding degree of the agent to the environment, thus speeding up the convergence speed of …

Family Care And Health Behavior: A Sociocultural Perspective On Ebola Virus Disease Transmission In Sierra Leone, Abubakarr Jalloh

Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences

The 2013–2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was the largest and deadliest in the four-decade history of the disease. This study examined the sociocultural context of EVD transmission during the outbreak, with a particular focus on a high-risk behavior—caring for sick relatives. Guided by a sociocultural perspective on health, it specifically explored the role of family-based caregiving practices in the transmission of EVD during an outbreak. Utilizing a qualitative collective case study, I interviewed three Ebola survivors in Makeni, Sierra Leone. Content analysis resulted in two themes: (1) family care and perceived EVD transmission and (2) how …

Revisiting Territorial Sovereignty: Origins, Legitimacy, And Modern Implications, Henan Hu

San Diego International Law Journal

The conventional linkage between territory and sovereignty in international law requires reevaluation, with territorial rights shifting from states to nations. Drawing on Anthony Smith’s theory of historical continuity between pre-modern ethnic communities and modern nations, this article argues that legitimate claims to territory are grounded in the historical consolidation of social, economic, and political ties by ethnic groups to specific lands. It traces the evolution of territorial rights from loosely defined ethnic living areas and fluid state boundaries to the modern conception of national territories under effective control. By distinguishing sovereignty as a construct of the state and territory as …

Evolving Uk Biology Education, Helen R. Watson

Peninsula Medical School

School science curriculum reform is underway in the UK. Whilst each of the four devolved nations is at a different stage in this process, it is clear we are entering an era of opportunity for positive change, where curricula can be updated to reflect our current understanding of science and to better prepare learners for further study, work, and modern life more broadly.

The Occurrence And Biogeochemical Cycling Of Quaternary, Ternary And Volatile Amines In Marine Systems, Mark Fitzsimons, Ruth Airs, Yin Chen

School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

This review provides a critical assessment of knowledge regarding the occurrence and behaviour of volatile, low molecular weight amines, particularly methylamines and quaternary amines, in marine aquatic systems. It provides an up-to-date evaluation of their presence within marine ecosystems, the processes likely to control their flux across the sea-air interface, and analytical techniques associated with their measurement. Interest in the occurrence and cycling of these groups of compounds in seawater has increased within the last 10–15 years, due to their potential role in climate regulation. As such, the need for wider measurements and mechanistic studies to elucidate their role within …

Protecting The Integrity Of Sports, Matthew J. Parlow

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

A New Form Of Greenwashing: Why The Implementation Of Carbon Capture Cannot Be Justified For The Public Good Under The Takings Clause Of The Fifth Amendment, Emma Valiante

Seton Hall Law Review

No abstract provided.

Bone-Ivd Crosstalk And The Role Of Rage Signaling In An Ivd Injury Model, Remy Walk

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Low back pain (LBP) is the number one musculoskeletal cause of disability with a lifetime prevalence of up to 85%. The causes of LBP are multifactorial with potential contributions from factors such as tissue injury and degeneration as well as social economic and psychological factors. Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is associated with 26-40% of LBP cases and in a 2015 meta-analysis, it was estimated that a total 403 million people suffer from symptomatic IVD degeneration. IVD degeneration is characterized by loss of hydration in the nucleus pulposus (NP), damage accumulation in the annulus fibrosus (AF) and calcification of the cartilaginous …

Multimodal Representation Learning Frameworks For Modeling Progression And Heterogeneity In Alzheimer’S Disease, Sayantan Kumar

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, characterised by cognitive and functional impairments that disrupt daily activities. Different clinical modalities such as neuroimaging biomarkers, cognitive assessments, fluid biomarkers and genetic data provide unique and complementary information, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of disease progression and heterogeneity in disease characteristics. With recent advancements in computational capabilities, particularly in deep learning, multimodal representation learning frameworks aim to integrate diverse clinical modalities into a cohesive framework, capturing the most significant patterns within each modality. Existing data-driven multimodal representation learning frameworks in AD research have two major limitations. First, AD progresses …

Pan-Cancer Analysis Of Rna Dysregulation, Somatic Mutations, And Matrix Stiffness Using Bioinformatics Approaches, Gongyu Tang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Cancer is a complex disease driven by genetic mutations, epigenetic modifications, and alterations in the tumor microenvironment. Understanding these intricate molecular mechanisms is crucial for advancing cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool to study cancer by providing comprehensive insights into gene expression, alternative splicing, and mutations at the transcriptome level. This dissertation leverages RNA-seq data to explore different dimensions of cancer biology through multi-omics integration and computational approaches. The research is divided into three main projects. First, I developed OncoDB, an interactive database to analyze gene expression, methylation patterns, and viral interactions …